RESEARCH PROJECTS
PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.
Kāhuli Conservationists: Caring for the small things to care for the larger honua
PI: Lucas Fortini , Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lilly Thomey, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lilly Thomey, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
Improving tools to monitor bird abundance and detect mosquito invasion in Hakalau Forest
PI: Patrick Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Josephine Tupu, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Donna Ball, Deputy Refuge Manager, Hakalau Forest NWR
Funded: FY2022
MCC Graduate Scholar: Josephine Tupu, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Donna Ball, Deputy Refuge Manager, Hakalau Forest NWR
Funded: FY2022
Developing a climate-resilient restoration approach combining functional, climate, and geographic data
PI: Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Konapiliahi Dancil, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
MCC Graduate Scholar: Konapiliahi Dancil, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
Predicting sea level rise impacts to coastal wastewater infrastructure and water quality
PI: Tracy Wiegner, Professor of Marine Sciences, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Ihilani Kamau, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-Is: Steven Colbert, Associate Professor of Marine Sciences, UH Hilo; Ryan Perroy, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
MCC Graduate Scholar: Ihilani Kamau, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-Is: Steven Colbert, Associate Professor of Marine Sciences, UH Hilo; Ryan Perroy, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2022
He ala ʻae kai – The path near the sea: Climate inflictions upon intertidal
PI: John Burns, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lauren Kapono, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Haunani Kane, Post-doctoral Researcher, Marine Science Department, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lauren Kapono, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Haunani Kane, Post-doctoral Researcher, Marine Science Department, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
How will changing reefscapes affect the prevalence of ciguatera on Hawaiian reefs?
PI: Tim Grabowski, Fish Biologist, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, USGS/Adjunct Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Nikola Rodriguez, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Nikola Rodriguez, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Development of an early warning system for climate-change related invasion by mosquitoes into Hakalau Forest NWR
PI: Patrick Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Stephanie Mladinich, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Stephanie Mladinich, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
A shoreline inventory for Hawai‘i island to increase resilience
PI: Ryan Perroy, Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Graduate Scholar: Aloha Kapono, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Program, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Graduate Scholar: Aloha Kapono, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Program, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Optimizing techniques to restore forest to increase endangered species habitat and mitigate future drought
PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Amberly Pigao, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Amberly Pigao, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Understanding plants of the past to inform community reforestation efforts in the future
PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: David Russell , Restoration & Outplanting Field Assistant, Nāpuʻu Natural Resources Management
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: David Russell , Restoration & Outplanting Field Assistant, Nāpuʻu Natural Resources Management
Funded: FY2020
Water Quality in the face of Climate Change: Establishing a baseline in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
PI: Tracy Wiegner, Assoc. Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Graduate Scholar: Bryan Tonga, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2019
Graduate Scholar: Bryan Tonga, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2019
E Hui Pū: a collaborative approach to understand climate change impacts on traditional Hawaiian ‘ōpelu…
PI: John Burns, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-Is: Tim Grabowski, Research Fish Biologist, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, USGS/Adjunct Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Courtney Hurt, Consultant, Conservation International
Funded: FY2018
Co-Is: Tim Grabowski, Research Fish Biologist, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, USGS/Adjunct Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Courtney Hurt, Consultant, Conservation International
Funded: FY2018
Effectiveness of high-elevation habitat restoration for increasing resiliency of the palila honeycreeper
PI: Pat Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Undergraduate Scholar: Kahua Julian, Department of Agriculture, UH Hilo & Technician, Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project
Funded: FY2018
Undergraduate Scholar: Kahua Julian, Department of Agriculture, UH Hilo & Technician, Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project
Funded: FY2018
Developing geospatial models in Hawaiian watersheds to mitigate erosion and climate change
PI: Ryan Perroy, Assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies (TCBES), UH Hilo
Graduate Scholar: Kimo Melcher, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology (TCBES), UH Hilo
Funded: FY2018
Graduate Scholar: Kimo Melcher, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology (TCBES), UH Hilo
Funded: FY2018
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