Jasmine “Jay” Paredes, a 2026 Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Grau Fellow, is dedicated to advancing sustainable coastal management and improving Waikīkī’s shoreline resilience. Working for the Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District Association, she integrates scientific research, geospatial analysis, and community engagement to support informed decision-making for Hawaiʻi’s cultural, ecological, and economic landscapes. Her fellowship emphasizes data-driven approaches to understand the relationships between people, place, and the coastal environment. Jay holds a Master of Environmental Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, focusing on environmental policy, coastal resource management, stakeholder engagement, and geospatial technologies.

Previously, Jay was selected as a 2024 Peter J. Rappa Resilient and Sustainable Coasts Fellow with the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program. During that summer fellowship, she collaborated with Dr. Beth Lenz and Suzanne Case on the Charting a Path for Conservation Management Education initiative. Her contributions included interviewing leaders, developing recommendations, and presenting research to enhance pathways into environmental leadership. Jay’s passion for geospatial science and data visualization is evident in her work, as she believes every environmental story has a spatial dimension. She utilizes GIS, mapping, and spatial analysis to transform complex datasets into accessible information, supporting collaborative decision-making. By combining scientific research with community knowledge, Jay aims to develop innovative solutions that strengthen coastal resilience and promote sustainable resource management in Hawaiʻi.