RESEARCH PROJECTS
PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.
2023 SURF Projects
Four students completed projects in climate adaptation science for the 2023 SURF program, investigating how forests vegetation shifts in response to climate change, the connection between climate and humpback whale health, whether added nutrients can improve coral thermal resilience, and sea-level rise impacts to community infrastructure.
Enhancing social-ecological resilience through restoration of coastal agroforestry systems
PI: Leah Bremer, Assistant Specialist and Conservation Scientist, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Tressa Hoppe, Botany Department, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Co-PI: Tressa Hoppe, Botany Department, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Unlocking reef resilience drivers to inform Pacific coral reef management
PI: Megan Donahue, Marine Researcher, HIMB, UH Mānoa
Co-PIs: Jessica Glazner, Dept of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa; Chad Wiggins, Palmyra Program Director, The Nature Conservancy
Funded: FY2022
Co-PIs: Jessica Glazner, Dept of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa; Chad Wiggins, Palmyra Program Director, The Nature Conservancy
Funded: FY2022
Applying a novel spatial prioritization technique to support climate-resilient conservation planning in Maui Nui
PI: Lucas Fortini, Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
Co-Is: Christina Leopold, Conservation Ecologist, Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit, UH Hilo; Scott Fretz, DOFAW Maui Branch Manager, Hawaiʻi DLNR
Funded: FY2022
Co-Is: Christina Leopold, Conservation Ecologist, Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit, UH Hilo; Scott Fretz, DOFAW Maui Branch Manager, Hawaiʻi DLNR
Funded: FY2022
Using oral histories of Marshallese and Yapese voyaging to develop sustainable sea transport
PI: Joseph Genz, Associate Professor of Anthropology, UH Hilo
Co-PIs: Jerolynn Myazoe, Dept of Anthropology, UH Hilo; Shania Tamagyongfal, Dept of Anthropology, UH Hilo; Alexander Mawyer, Associate Professor, Center for Pacific Island Studies, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Co-PIs: Jerolynn Myazoe, Dept of Anthropology, UH Hilo; Shania Tamagyongfal, Dept of Anthropology, UH Hilo; Alexander Mawyer, Associate Professor, Center for Pacific Island Studies, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Improving tools to monitor bird abundance and detect mosquito invasion in Hakalau Forest
PI: Patrick Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-PIs: Josephine Tupu, TCBES, UH Hilo; Donna Ball Deputy Refuge Manager, Hakalau Forest NWR
Funded: FY2022
Co-PIs: Josephine Tupu, TCBES, UH Hilo; Donna Ball Deputy Refuge Manager, Hakalau Forest NWR
Funded: FY2022
Developing a Pacific mangrove monitoring network (PACMAN) in response to sea-level rise
PI: Richard Mackenzie, Research Ecologist, USDA FS Pacific Southwest Research Station
Co-PI: Maybeleen Apwong, TCBES, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
Co-PI: Maybeleen Apwong, TCBES, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
Embedding climate impacts into routine decision-making by applying natural capital accounting
PI: Kirsten Oleson, Associate Professor of Ecological Economics, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Louis Chua Bing Chao, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Co-PI: Louis Chua Bing Chao, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Developing a climate-resilient restoration approach combining functional, climate, and geographic data
PI: Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-PIs: Konapiliahi Dancil, TCBES, UH Hilo; Jonathan Price Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
Co-PIs: Konapiliahi Dancil, TCBES, UH Hilo; Jonathan Price Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
Resource habitat mapping and diet characterization of native and non-native mullet species in Heʻeia Fishpond
PI: Shimi Rii, Research Coordinator, Heʻeia NERR/HIMB, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Sheldon Rosa, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Co-PI: Sheldon Rosa, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
2022 SURF Projects
Five students completed projects in climate adaptation science for the 2022 SURF program, investigating fire-prone invasive grasses, spillover effects of Marine Protected Areas, shifts in estuarine fish biodiversity, optimal regeneration conditions for koa, and effects of marine warming on different phytoplankton strains.
Genetic assessment of giant clam stocks in American Samoa
PI: Robert Toonen, Research Professor, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Paolo Marra-Biggs, Department of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Co-PI: Paolo Marra-Biggs, Department of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Integrating social and cultural considerations into community-based monitoring
PI: Mehana Vaughan, Associate Professor, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Kapono Gaughen, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Meghan Tait, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Co-PI: Kapono Gaughen, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Meghan Tait, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Shifts in carbon exports from a Hawaiian watershed under a changing climate
PI: Tracy Wiegner, Associate Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-PIs: Walter Boger, TCBES, UH Hilo; Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
Co-PIs: Walter Boger, TCBES, UH Hilo; Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022