Research Projects

PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.

Students examine rocks and marine life at the oceanʻs edge.

He ala ʻae kai – The path near the sea: Climate inflictions upon intertidal

PI: John Burns , Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Lauren Kapono , Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo; Haunani Kane, Post-doctoral Researcher, Marine Science Department, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
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A small reef fish, with bright yellow rings around the eyes.

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
Co-PI: Nikola Rodriguez, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
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A small, brown bird sits on the branch of a tree

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
Co-PI: Stephanie Mladinich, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
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Spume-capped waves crash against a low black basalt rock shoreline

A shoreline inventory for Hawai‘i island to increase resilience

PI: Ryan Perroy, Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Aloha Kapono, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Program, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
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A dry grassy landscape of gently rolling hillocks and occasional trees.

Optimizing techniques to restore forest to increase endangered species habitat and mitigate future drought

PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
Co-PI: Amberly Pigao, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
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An inner slope of the cone shows grass and sparse trees

Understanding plants of the past to inform community reforestation efforts in the future

PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
Co-PI: David Russell , Restoration & Outplanting Field Assistant, Nāpuʻu Natural Resources Management
Funded: FY2020
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Three students stand on shoreline, one holding a water sample bottle

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
Co-I: Bryan Tonga, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2019
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Man lays a small fish along a ruler, with more fish in a tray nearby.

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
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Green bushes dot a brown, scrubby landscape looking toward distant coastal clouds.

Effectiveness of high-elevation habitat restoration for increasing resiliency of the palila honeycreeper

PI: Pat Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-I: Kahua Julian, Department of Agriculture, UH Hilo & Technician, Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project
Funded: FY2018
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Student controls a drone that has lifted off from an orange landing spot in a scrubby landscape.

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
Co-PIs: Kimo Melcher, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo; Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology (TCBES), UH Hilo
Funded: FY2018
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Impacts of climate change in loko i‘a (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) management I

PI: Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Cherie Kauahi, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborator: Noelani Punawai, Assistant Professor, Kamakakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2016
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Several volunteers work on the rock pile bordering a stream of water leading from the fishpond.

Impacts of climate change in loko i‘a (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) management II

PI: Steven Colbert, Associate Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Kamala Anthony, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborator: Noelani Punawai, Assistant Professor, Kamakakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2016
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Albizia as a solution for climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture

PI: Rebecca Ostertag, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-PI: 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
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An overhead view shows white surf crashing along a dark sandy coastline backed by green vegetation.

Estimating coastal erosion rates on Hawai‘i Island to inform setbacks

PI: Ryan L. Perroy, Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: 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
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A professor reads off an instrument while her student records information, on the blacksand shore of the bay.

Investigating climate driven shifts in Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA for water resource and land management solutions

PI: Tracy Wiegner, Associate Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Louise Economy, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2016
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