RESEARCH PROJECTS
PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.
Impacts of climate change in loko i‘a (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) management I
PI: Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Cherie Kauahi, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Noelani Punawai, Assistant Professor, Kamakakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2016
MCC Graduate Scholar: Cherie Kauahi, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Noelani Punawai, Assistant Professor, Kamakakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2016
Impacts of climate change in loko i‘a (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) management II
PI: Steven Colbert, Associate Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Kamala Anthony, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Noelani Punawai, Assistant Professor, Kamakakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2016
MCC Graduate Scholar: Kamala Anthony, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Noelani Punawai, Assistant Professor, Kamakakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2016
Collecting elevation data to understand climate change effects in the Marshall Islands
PI: Jeffrey Danielson , Physical Geographer, USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS)
Co-Is: Monica Palaseanu-Lovejoy, Research Geographer, USGS Eastern Geographic Science Center; Cindy Thatcher, Research Biologist, Cooperative Data Acquisition, NGPO; Dean Gesch, Research Scientist, USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center; Matthew Barbee, Biologist, UH Mānoa; Romina King, Asst. Professor of Geography, University of Guam; Maria Kottermair, GIS specialist, University of Guam
Funded: FY2016
Co-Is: Monica Palaseanu-Lovejoy, Research Geographer, USGS Eastern Geographic Science Center; Cindy Thatcher, Research Biologist, Cooperative Data Acquisition, NGPO; Dean Gesch, Research Scientist, USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center; Matthew Barbee, Biologist, UH Mānoa; Romina King, Asst. Professor of Geography, University of Guam; Maria Kottermair, GIS specialist, University of Guam
Funded: FY2016
Changes in water flow through Hawaiian forests due to invasive species and changing rainfall patterns
PI: Lucas Fortini, Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
Funded: FY2016
Funded: FY2016
Mitigating climate change impacts: What drives thermal resiliency in Hawai‘i’s coral reefs
PI: Ruth Gates, Director of Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Shayle Matsuda, Department of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Graduate Scholar: Shayle Matsuda, Department of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Improving culturally relevant educational resources in lesson plans on climate science in Guam
PI: Romina King, Assistant Professor of Geography, University of Guam
Undergraduate Scholar: Cassandra-Jay T. Flores-Hughes, School of Eduction/Geography Department, University of Guam
Collaborator: Suzanne Bells, Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Guam
Funded: FY2016
Undergraduate Scholar: Cassandra-Jay T. Flores-Hughes, School of Eduction/Geography Department, University of Guam
Collaborator: Suzanne Bells, Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Guam
Funded: FY2016
Developing resilience for small businesses affected by climate change
PI: Romina King, Professor of Geography, University of Guam
Graduate Scholar: Marcel Higgs, Micronesian Studies Department, University of Guam
Funded: FY2016
Graduate Scholar: Marcel Higgs, Micronesian Studies Department, University of Guam
Funded: FY2016
Evaluating the economic impacts of climate variability and change on Maui’s freshwater resources and ecosystem services
PI: Kirsten Oleson, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Victoria Keener, PacRISA, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Collaborator: Carlo Fezzi NREM, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Co-I: Victoria Keener, PacRISA, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Collaborator: Carlo Fezzi NREM, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Albizia as a solution for climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture
PI: Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Joanna Norton, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborators: Bruce Mathews, Professor of Soil Science, UH Hilo; Flint Hughes, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Funded: FY2016
MCC Graduate Scholar: Joanna Norton, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborators: Bruce Mathews, Professor of Soil Science, UH Hilo; Flint Hughes, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Funded: FY2016
Estimating coastal erosion rates on Hawai‘i Island to inform setbacks
PI: Ryan L. Perroy, Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Rose Hart, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborators: Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Charles Fletcher, Professor of Geology & Geophysics, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
MCC Graduate Scholar: Rose Hart, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborators: Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Charles Fletcher, Professor of Geology & Geophysics, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Predicting Hawaiʻi water demand under climate change
PI: Michael J. Roberts, Associate Professor of Economics, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Nathan DeMaagd, Department of Economics, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Graduate Scholar: Nathan DeMaagd, Department of Economics, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Assessing the vulnerability of coastal wastewater infrastructure to climate change
PI: Daniele Spirandelli, Asst. Professor of Coastal Policy & Community Development, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Theresa Dean, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, UH Mānoa
Collaborators: Roger Babcock, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UH Mānoa; Suwan Shen, Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
Graduate Scholar: Theresa Dean, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, UH Mānoa
Collaborators: Roger Babcock, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UH Mānoa; Suwan Shen, Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016