PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Mehana Vaughan
Graduate fellow: Grace Cajski
Research Track: Island Sustainability and Resilience

Island resilience in Hawaiʻi fundamentally depends on the health of human communities and their dedicated, traditional care (mālama) of ʻāina (lands and waters). A growing movement of local organizations is reviving stewardship efforts in kipuka, patches of social and ecological resilience that foster abundance through biocultural practices. These community-led efforts build broad resilience by enhancing food security, perpetuating cultural knowledge, and augmenting ecosystem services. However, the sustainability and growth of these groups are often threatened by short-term land tenure arrangements and struggles for long-term access and governance authority. This project aims to comprehensively map and document the growth and multi-faceted impacts of these ʻāina hui (community groups) across the islands to illuminate their collective movement. Ultimately, the research will co-develop policy-relevant materials and provide specific recommendations to strengthen community stewardship of ʻāina.