CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS: 2024-2026
Building resilient coastal forests through enhancing biocultural research and career pathways
PI: Leah Bremer
Well-managed coastal forests provide important adaptation benefits to landscapes and populations, but are often overlooked in conservation and restoration. The projects aims to improve understanding of the interactions and possible benefits of co-planted endemic ferns with the success of traditionally valuable, drought-sensitive species in a public agroforestry site in Heʻeia, Oʻahu.
Well-managed coastal forests provide important adaptation benefits to landscapes and populations, but are often overlooked in conservation and restoration. The projects aims to improve understanding of the interactions and possible benefits of co-planted endemic ferns with the success of traditionally valuable, drought-sensitive species in a public agroforestry site in Heʻeia, Oʻahu.
Evaluating the resilience of rocky intertidal ecosystems to sea-level rise
PI: Haunani Kane
Sea-level rise threatens habitats of traditional foods found in the rocky intertidal zone, such as ʻopihi and limu, with unique ecological characteristics adapted to the local tidal gradient. Researchers plan to co-develop products and management tools with local organizations to improve understanding of the resilience and potential migration of robust intertidal ecosystems.
Sea-level rise threatens habitats of traditional foods found in the rocky intertidal zone, such as ʻopihi and limu, with unique ecological characteristics adapted to the local tidal gradient. Researchers plan to co-develop products and management tools with local organizations to improve understanding of the resilience and potential migration of robust intertidal ecosystems.
Assessing the sensitivity of coral reef accretion and bioerosion to acidification and eutrophication
PI: Andrea Kealoha
Coral reefs are threatened by a range of stressors, including those related to global warming and local land-use, that increase dissolution and bioerosion of the reef structure. This project aims to quantify accretion and erosion rates to determine the relative impacts of different scale stressors on coral reefs.
Coral reefs are threatened by a range of stressors, including those related to global warming and local land-use, that increase dissolution and bioerosion of the reef structure. This project aims to quantify accretion and erosion rates to determine the relative impacts of different scale stressors on coral reefs.
Effects of increases in sediment delivery on coral reef ecosystem output and accretion: Developing predictive models for management priorities across Maui
PI: Andrea Kealoha
Global warming is increasing sediment delivery to Hawaiian coral reefs, but differences in the source, composition, and ecological impacts of sediments require research to inform management strategies. This project will investigate sediment delivery impacts on coral reef ecosystem metabolism to improve the understanding of reef resilience to multiple stressors and ecosystem tipping points.
Global warming is increasing sediment delivery to Hawaiian coral reefs, but differences in the source, composition, and ecological impacts of sediments require research to inform management strategies. This project will investigate sediment delivery impacts on coral reef ecosystem metabolism to improve the understanding of reef resilience to multiple stressors and ecosystem tipping points.
A framework to elucidate dynamics for adaptive management on Hawaiian coral reefs
PI: Lisa McManus
The global decline of coral reef environments poses complex challenges for researchers, managers, and coastal groups that depend on the services they provide. This project will produce a modeling framework that incorporates historical ecological dynamics and human-environment interactions, allowing for a more effective evaluation of possible management strategies for maintaining robust coral reefs.
The global decline of coral reef environments poses complex challenges for researchers, managers, and coastal groups that depend on the services they provide. This project will produce a modeling framework that incorporates historical ecological dynamics and human-environment interactions, allowing for a more effective evaluation of possible management strategies for maintaining robust coral reefs.
Effects of loko iʻa (fishpond) restoration on ecosystem dynamics in Kāneʻohe Bay, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
PI: Lisa McManus
Recent loko iʻa (Hawaiian fishpond) restoration projects aim to rebuild their previously large role in an integrated agroecology system, increasing local fish stocks inside ponds and via beneficial spillover effects in adjacent estuaries and bays. However, with the specter of global warming, this work explores possible detrimental effects on restoration efforts and fishpond ecosystem yields.
Recent loko iʻa (Hawaiian fishpond) restoration projects aim to rebuild their previously large role in an integrated agroecology system, increasing local fish stocks inside ponds and via beneficial spillover effects in adjacent estuaries and bays. However, with the specter of global warming, this work explores possible detrimental effects on restoration efforts and fishpond ecosystem yields.
Developing design flood elevations and envisioning sea-level rise adaptation strategies for a densely developed coastal city, Waikīkī, Hawaiʻi, for improved outcomes for the economy and coastal habitats
PI: Wendy Meguro
Sea-level rise is a critical issue worldwide, and Hawaiʻi faces billions of dollars in losses of land and structures, particularly in Waikīkī, the economic hub of Hawai‘i’s tourism industry. This project continues efforts to inform policy on the future built environment, and produce, with public input, improved conceptual architectural renderings of building SLR adaptation.
Sea-level rise is a critical issue worldwide, and Hawaiʻi faces billions of dollars in losses of land and structures, particularly in Waikīkī, the economic hub of Hawai‘i’s tourism industry. This project continues efforts to inform policy on the future built environment, and produce, with public input, improved conceptual architectural renderings of building SLR adaptation.
Management of coastal Pandanus forests to mitigate the effects of global warming in Hawaiʻi
PI: Nina Rønsted
Pandanus forests, that once provided traditional ecosystem services and protection to Hawaiian coastlines, have been partly cleared or mixed with invasive or introduced coastal trees. This project will work with forest stewards to develop a public-based biocultural management plan that provides a robust framework of recommendations for coastal Hawaiian Pandanus forest conservation and management.
Pandanus forests, that once provided traditional ecosystem services and protection to Hawaiian coastlines, have been partly cleared or mixed with invasive or introduced coastal trees. This project will work with forest stewards to develop a public-based biocultural management plan that provides a robust framework of recommendations for coastal Hawaiian Pandanus forest conservation and management.
Development of gonadal maturation and spawning strategies in Hawaiian sea cucumbers
PI: Andre Seale
Sea cucumbers, including the native Hawaiian sea cucumber Stichopus horrens, have become increasingly important economically, with the rise in aquaculture efforts, but the lack of reliable breeding techniques present a bottleneck in its propagation. This research aims to improve sea cucumber propagation by developing and testing hormones specific to S. horrens in controlling its spawning.
Sea cucumbers, including the native Hawaiian sea cucumber Stichopus horrens, have become increasingly important economically, with the rise in aquaculture efforts, but the lack of reliable breeding techniques present a bottleneck in its propagation. This research aims to improve sea cucumber propagation by developing and testing hormones specific to S. horrens in controlling its spawning.
The development of acclimation-based rearing strategies to optimize survival and growth in amaʻama or striped mullet, Mugil cephalus
PI: Andre Seale
Efforts to repopulate Hawaiian fishponds have encountered challenges, as ordinary recruitment of juvenile ʻamaʻama (striped mullet) has become unreliable and direct introduction of hatchery-raised fry has proven unsuccessful. This project tests adjusting the hatchery environment to precondition ʻamaʻama, improve their environmental tolerance, and optimize their survival and growth once introduced to the fishpond setting.
Efforts to repopulate Hawaiian fishponds have encountered challenges, as ordinary recruitment of juvenile ʻamaʻama (striped mullet) has become unreliable and direct introduction of hatchery-raised fry has proven unsuccessful. This project tests adjusting the hatchery environment to precondition ʻamaʻama, improve their environmental tolerance, and optimize their survival and growth once introduced to the fishpond setting.
Estimating the economic value of coastal tourism with future global warming using revealed mobile phone network data
PI: Nori Tarui
Hawaiian coastlines are integral to Hawaiian tourism, a leading economic driver in the state, but are being impacted by global warming and sea-level rise. This study explores the economic repercussions of shifting sites suitable for recreation across the state to understand better the value of coastal and outdoor recreation over time under different future weather scenarios.
Hawaiian coastlines are integral to Hawaiian tourism, a leading economic driver in the state, but are being impacted by global warming and sea-level rise. This study explores the economic repercussions of shifting sites suitable for recreation across the state to understand better the value of coastal and outdoor recreation over time under different future weather scenarios.
Harnessing local fisher knowledge to test hypotheses for estuarine fisheries decline and develop strategies for management and restoration in Hawaiʻi
PI: Robert Toonen
Hawaiian fishpond baitfish populations have plummeted over decades, but causes are uncertain because Hawaiian estuaries are impacted by a range of threats including invasive species, habitat degradation, and global warming. This project investigates decline causes by documenting historical management knowledge, exploring state-wide fish abundance changes, and testing hypotheses related to habitat degradation and invasive competition.
Hawaiian fishpond baitfish populations have plummeted over decades, but causes are uncertain because Hawaiian estuaries are impacted by a range of threats including invasive species, habitat degradation, and global warming. This project investigates decline causes by documenting historical management knowledge, exploring state-wide fish abundance changes, and testing hypotheses related to habitat degradation and invasive competition.
Mapping coral response to water quality stressors to improve coral restoration planning and ridge-to-reef management
PI: Lillian J. Tuttle Raz
In southwest Maui, sedimentation is a major threat to coral-reef well-being, but watershed management projects lack specific, measurable targets for eroded sediment reduction. To address this, researchers will work with local organizations and agencies to develop sediment stress thresholds specific to species and places, to inform both water-based restoration and land management efforts at Olowalu Reef.
In southwest Maui, sedimentation is a major threat to coral-reef well-being, but watershed management projects lack specific, measurable targets for eroded sediment reduction. To address this, researchers will work with local organizations and agencies to develop sediment stress thresholds specific to species and places, to inform both water-based restoration and land management efforts at Olowalu Reef.
Developing an ecosystem-based monitoring program for adaptive management of Kalou lo‘i and loko wai
PI: Carmella Vizza
Wetland restoration in Hawaiʻi combines traditional Hawaiian practices, conservation, agriculture, and aquaculture, and requires public involvement and complementary research efforts for success. This project will create a place-based research program and collection of practitioners at Kalou, O‘ahu with the North Shore Community Land Trust, delivering new insight on water quality, fish populations, and ecosystem output.
Wetland restoration in Hawaiʻi combines traditional Hawaiian practices, conservation, agriculture, and aquaculture, and requires public involvement and complementary research efforts for success. This project will create a place-based research program and collection of practitioners at Kalou, O‘ahu with the North Shore Community Land Trust, delivering new insight on water quality, fish populations, and ecosystem output.
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