Research Projects

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

Underwater scene of colorful corals and fish

Sea-level rise impacts on coral reef and mangrove interactions and resulting coastal flooding hazards

PI: Curt Storlazzi, Research Geologist, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Co-I: Karen Thorne, Research Ecologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center
Funded: FY2021
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Image of shoreline with only remnant trees after vegetation removal

Microbial biogeochemical cycling across a chronosequence of mangrove introductions across Hawai‘i

PI: Rosie Alegado, Associate Professor, Dept. of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Becca Lensing, Dept. of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
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Plant seedlings grow in small black buckets

Vulnerability of coastal ecosystems to increased salinity from climate change

PI: Kasey Barton, Associate Professor of Botany, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Anna McCormick, Department of Botany, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
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Students taking water measurements while standing in a stream

Fostering a SOEST culture of place- and community-based pedagogy in support of coastal sustainability in Hawai‘i

PI: Barbara Bruno, Specialist, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Tineill Dudoit, Department of Earth Sciences, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
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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 very dry landscape with brown grassy hills and brown, dead trees

Scaling up the Hawai‘i Drought Knowledge Exchange

PI: Christian Giardina , Research Ecologist, Inst. of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Co-PI: Abby Frazier , Research Fellow, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
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A shallow valley is covered with dead brown grass and a scattering of dead and dying tree trunks.

Malo‘o ka lani, wela ka honua (When the sky is dry, the earth is parched)

PI: Christian Giardina, Research Ecologist, Inst. of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Co-PI: Katie Kamelamela, Postdoctoral Researcher, Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests
Funded: FY20
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Hilly barren landscape with low burnt browned grass

Biochar as a mitigation tool for soil rehabilitation in Guam’s badlands and savannah grasslands

PI: Mohammad Golabi, Professor of Soil Science, University of Guam
Co-PI: Patrick Keeler, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
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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Underwater image of colorful varieties of coral

Identifying locations for coral reef climate resilience

PI: Monica Moritsch, Research Ecologist, USGS Western Geographic Science Center
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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A group of college students on the shore all look to one holding a water sample.

Develop, coordinate, and build capacity for educational and community outreach opportunities for PI-CASC

PI: Sheree Watson, Program Director, USGS Office of Science Quality & Integrity
Funded: FY2020
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Predicting the Effects of Climate Change on the Spread of Fire-Promoting Plants in Hawai‘i

PI: Curt Daehler, Professor of Botany, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Lucas Fortini, Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center; Clay Trauernicht Associate Fire Specialist, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2019
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Climate change, variability, and drought in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands

PI: Abby Frazier, Research Fellow, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Christian Giardina, Research Ecologist, Inst. of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service;Susan Cordell, Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service; Clay Trauernicht, Associate Fire Specialist, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2019
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