Significant upgrades across the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� campus demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. With the support of , ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� has completed several energy-saving projects including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and LED upgrades that reduce energy consumption and lower operating costs.

“These projects happening around campus are all important steps toward a more energy efficient campus and ultimately becoming a ‘net-zero energy’ campus,” said engineering student Nicolas Atkins.

Lighting the way

Several buildings on the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� campus have transitioned from outdated, inefficient lighting systems to new LED installations.

Teams replaced nearly 1,800 dim, high-pressure sodium lights in the Zone 20 parking structure, saving ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� around $470,000 on its annual energy bill and earning a rebate amount for $260,000 from Hawaiʻi Energy for this retrofit.

����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s Office of Sustainability, Hawaiʻi Energy, and ����Vlog�ٷ� Athletics teamed up to improve the lighting at the Stan Sheriff Center. Funded by the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� , 139 outdated lights were replaced with state-of-the-art LEDs, bringing the arena up to broadcast quality while cutting energy use by 462,630 kWh annually. That’s more than $138,000 a year saved in electricity—plus a $46,000 rebate from Hawaiʻi Energy to reinvest in future projects.

The machine shop upgraded its 20 HighBay fixtures, earning nearly $750 by improving lighting quality and reducing maintenance. On top of the rebate, the new lights are projected to save enough energy to power a 10-minute hot shower for 40 days, or 5,645.26 kWh annually—resulting in about $1,600 in savings per year.

The Agricultural Science Building’s 29 downlights and 12 corn cob lights were replaced, earning a $532 rebate and cutting annual energy use by approximately 8,011 kWh per year.

“Small but impactful upgrades like this help us move closer to our sustainability goals,” said Miles Topping, director of sustainability at the ����Vlog�ٷ� Office of Sustainability. “By switching to LED lighting, we’re not only cutting costs but improving lighting quality, reducing maintenance and also contributing to a more energy-efficient campus.”

Additionally, one of the latest initiatives includes the installation of an advanced HVAC occupancy control system at Sakamaki Hall, which earned an estimated $13,642.20 rebate. This system is designed to optimize HVAC usage, reducing energy consumption during off-peak hours and when the building is unoccupied.

For more on ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s energy efficiency, go to the ����Vlog�ٷ� Office of Sustainability.

A University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�-led project using artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize farming irrigation practices has received a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This initiative represents a significant step toward sustainable water use in Hawaiʻi‘s agricultural sector.

“This technology has the potential to transform irrigation practices across Hawaiʻi, helping our farmers conserve water while maximizing crop yields,” said Sayed Bateni, project principal investigator and professor in the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� and (WRRC). “By putting AI-enhanced tools directly into the hands of local producers, we’re not just developing new technology—we’re cultivating a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future for our islands.”

Despite abundant rainfall in some areas, Hawaiʻi‘s high seasonal variability often leaves vegetable crops without adequate water throughout the year. The project will leverage data from a dense network of weather stations across the islands, feeding it into an innovative AI-enhanced irrigation management system.

According to co-principal investigator Jonathan Deenik, department chair, professor and extension specialist in the in the , farmers in Hawaiʻi have the opportunity to effectively and efficiently reduce irrigation water and enhance yields by adopting CropManage.

“The AI enhanced CropManage irrigation scheduling software will assist farmers better match water delivery to meet specific crop water needs with multiple benefits including conservation of precious fresh water resources, increased profitability for farmers through the reduction in water costs and increased overall sustainability of agriculture in Hawaiʻi,” Deenik said.

How it works

Farmers can easily create an account on the CropManage irrigation tool and add the characteristics of their farms (e.g., crop type, acre, location, irrigation system, etc.) to CropManage. This irrigation tool determines when and by how much farmers need to irrigate each crop type in their farms.

Fourteen collaborating farms will host intensive on-farm irrigation trials to test and refine the technology. Results from these trials will be shared with agricultural producers, aiming to encourage widespread adoption of the advanced irrigation management tool. The project is expected to start in 2024 and end in 2029.

This project is a joint effort among WRRC, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and College of Engineering at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, and the .

This is one of 53 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) projects around the nation that earned a total of $90 million, which supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. Increased funds were available in 2024 due to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which is funding CIG projects that address climate change. .

The future of Hawaiʻi’s agriculture, which is vital to the state’s local food supply and economic health, hinges on the next generation of farmers. To support beginning and small farmers, American AgCredit and CoBank increased their investment in the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�, (CTAHR) farmer training program, . The $1 million gift establishes a matching grant program that will help GoFarm Hawaiʻi graduates grow their agricultural businesses, which enhances food security, provides local fresh food and supports economic growth in the islands.

“Agricultural production in Hawaiʻi is concentrated on smaller farms, and more than a third of Hawaiʻi’s farmers have less than 10 years of experience,” said CTAHR Dean Nicholas Comerford. “Supporting these young, beginning and small farmers is important to help alleviate Hawaiʻi’s reliance on imported food, which restricts access to fresh food and makes our island state especially vulnerable to disruptions in food supply. This grant enables our GoFarm Hawaiʻi graduates to build farming businesses that benefit all of us here in Hawaiʻi.”

Today, GoFarm Hawaiʻi stands as one of the largest and most successful farmer development programs in the nation, graduating 480 participants since its inception in 2013. The program provides young, beginning and small farmers with business technical assistance, educational opportunities and access to a suite of resources designed to remove barriers to farming and agribusinesses.

“The new grant directly supports GoFarm Hawaiʻi program graduates, who are now local farmers,” said GoFarm Hawaiʻi Director Janel Yamamoto. “It equips these farmers with the knowledge, experience and confidence to build and grow their farm—and contribute to Hawaiʻi’s food security and economic growth.”

The grant, which must be personally matched by the farmer, provides up to $25,000 per applicant, which may be used to finance a land purchase, operating expenses or equipment. The farmer match may consist of cash, a bank loan or a combination of both.

“We focus on support for young, beginning and small farmers and ranchers as a critical part of our cooperative’s mission,” said Fred Dixon, regional banking executive for American AgCredit’s coastal region. “In our experience, to be successful these farmers need capital to get started, and they need resources like business training and support. We’re pleased to partner with GoFarm Hawaiʻi to provide the foundation that young, beginning and small farmers need—in terms of capital and skills—to kickstart their future, and agriculture in Hawaiʻi.”

“CoBank is delighted to expand on our partnership with American AgCredit and GoFarm Hawaiʻi to support a new generation of agriculture in Hawaiʻi,” said Brenda Frank, executive vice president of CoBank’s Farm Credit Banking Group. “The GoFarm Hawaiʻi program creates opportunities for entry and strong pathways toward success for young, beginning and small producers, which in turn strengthens local agriculture and food access throughout the state.”

This grant rounds out American AgCredit and CoBank’s $3 million commitment to invest in food security in the islands and support young, beginning and small farmers new to the agriculture space.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: $2M gift to develop local farmers, food supply, January 31, 2021

“It is truly inspiring to see partners such as American AgCredit and CoBank step in with their generous donations to address critical issues like Hawaiʻi’s food security and local economy,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president of advancement. “We are grateful for their investment in Hawaiʻi’s next generation of farmers.”

This effort is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Every two years, the hosts a 1,000-tree giveaway event, handing out free trees to anyone interested in the community. For this year’s event, participants will likely receive a tree from the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s .

On March 11, the arboretum hosted volunteers from the ����ԴDz� Outdoor Circle to harvest seeds and seedlings for its tree giveaway later this year. Varieties included mountain apple, kukui (candlenut), mānele (soap berry), ulu (breadfruit), māmaki (Hawaiian medicinal plant), kokiʻo keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian Hibiscus), koa, ʻō��ʻ�� lehua, and cacao (chocolate). Approximately 500 trees will be grown from material sourced from Lyon.

“We are always looking for opportunities to connect with the local community and spread knowledge about the importance of plants in our everyday lives, and the larger role they play to provide us with important ecosystem services,” said Tim Kroessig, Lyon Arboretum horticulture manager.

Kroessig worked with Liloa Dunn, Lyon’s ground and collections manager, to develop a list of Hawaiian, Polynesian and fruiting plants that they could easily harvest from their collection and grow to a decent size within the timeframe of the project, which was less than a year. Kroessig said he was happy to assist the volunteers from the ����ԴDz� Outdoor Circle, and said they were enthusiastic and easy to work with. One of the volunteers, Vanessa Distajo, said the enthusiasm and positivity went both ways.

“He said that being at Lyon Arboretum was his ‘dream job’ and you could really tell just from his passion, knowledge and expertise about all of the different plants,” said Distajo, who is the vice president of the ����ԴDz� Outdoor Circle and . “…It’s such a blessing to work with people like that in the community.”

Tree giveaway event

Distajo said they hope to host the 1,000-tree giveaway event sometime in November 2022 as part of the 110th anniversary of The Outdoor Circle, and they are currently working to secure the venue. For updates, visit the . According to Kroessig, those who receive a tree at the event will see many benefits.

“Trees can provide shade, food in the form of fruit, and aesthetic appeal to your yard or property. They also provide habitat for other organisms such as birds and pollinator insects like butterflies and bees. If you grow Hawaiian and Polynesian trees and plants you are also helping to preserve a part of the Native Hawaiian culture and ecosystems,” Kroessig said.

Allison Fisher, a ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� senior majoring in biology in the and a board member for ����ԴDz� Outdoor Circle, is looking forward to assisting with the organizing and planning for the tree giveaway.

“Lyon Arboretum’s involvement has given us an exciting opportunity to incorporate varieties of plants that may not be easily accessible to the general public,” Fisher said. “They have large reserves of desirable native species and fruit trees that add value to our inventory.”

Fisher added, “With Outdoor Circle I have had the opportunity to see how the passion of those who care for the ����ԴDz� Valley can translate to tangible progress. As a newer resident (compared to those who have been here for decades), I think it’s important to understand how the most pressing issues, such as redistricting, development and cultural preservation, really affect the community and how they can be addressed in a collaborative manner. I believe my biggest contributions to the organization are being a voice for younger residents and showing up when hands-on work is needed.”

Bringing the ����ԴDz� community together

This collaboration between Lyon Arboretum, ����ԴDz� Outdoor Circle and Malama ����ԴDz� was birthed out of a summit in December 2021 for ����ԴDz� stakeholder organizations to become more familiar with one another through discussions, social network mapping, problem solving and more. The organizations shared their mission statements, needs and suggested community service projects for potential collaborations. Distajo connected with Lyon Arboretum Education Manager Raedelle Van Fossen who then connected her with Kroessig. The three groups hope to collaborate on more activities in the future.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Community summit connects ����Vlog�ٷ�, ����ԴDz� stakeholders, December 9, 2021

For more on Lyon Arboretum’s events and activities, .

This work is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goals of (PDF), (PDF) and (PDF) one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

—By Marc Arakaki

The focus of much of the world was on climate change for two weeks in early November as part of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow, Scotland. A number of University of Hawaiʻi faculty and students participated, along with ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno who served as a key panelist on two COP26-related online events.

• The Global Safety Podcast, produced by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation in the United Kingdom, featured Bruno as part of a panel on its podcast on November 3. Bruno along with three experts from organizations around the world discussed how coastal communities can build resilience. .
• The Economist hosted on November 17. Bruno joined a panel of global change leaders to discuss the importance of effective ocean engineering and “ocean citizens” for the safe and sustainable use of marine resources. .

Bruno, an expert in ocean observation systems, climate change and community resilience, emphasized the value of community resiliency.

“The importance of community action comes right down to individuals. We find time and time again that before, during and after significant events like a hurricane or tropical cyclone, it is the community that is a source of resilience,” said Bruno in the Global Safety Podcast. “It’s the community that is the source of adaptation. And I think a lot of that falls to us as scientists to educate. It’s going to boil down to communities. I really believe that.”

Bruno has published more than 100 articles in various aspects of these fields, including the book, The Urban Ocean (Cambridge University Press, 2018) that provides a deeper understanding of the physics of the coastal ocean in an urban setting.

“I am honored to be able to keep these conversations going through my participation in these well-respected online forums. It truly takes concerted action by engaged communities to bring about real change, and how great to see our ����Vlog�ٷ� colleagues take part in these global discussions to inspire and help facilitate our next steps in the ongoing climate crisis,” said Bruno.

This is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Hurricanes. Floods. Rising sea levels. No matter where you look, extreme weather events are impacting nations at an alarming rate. And in Hawaiʻi, an island state surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean, the impacts of climate change are of increasing concern. Fortunately, Hawaiʻi has a voice at the (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Marina Karides, a professor in the in the at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, served as an official observer from the (AAG). In this capacity, she was actively involved in the discussions and exchanging insights with other conference participants.

“We’re thrilled to have a Department of Geography and Environment faculty member representing the university and the state at this globally significant event. By participating in COP26, Professor Karides is able to take the perspectives of Hawaiʻi residents directly to the delegates making the decisions about the future of the planet. When she returns to ����Vlog�ٷ�, she will be able to bring the lessons she learns at the convention into the classroom to benefit students,” said Reece Jones, professor of geography and department chair.

AAG is the largest association of geographers in the world, with more than 10,000 members from more than 100 countries. On November 9, Karides participated in the Gender Day event on Advancing Gender Equality in Climate Action. In addition to scientists and activists, the session was attended by politicians including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

“The climate and ecological crisis are global and gendered phenomena. My goal at COP26 is to involve myself in events and meetings to identify how these matters were being addressed and what kind of economic strategies were being considered to shift from fossil fuels and the logic of accumulation. My students and I in GEO/PACS 333 Islands & Archipelagos will be starting our unit on island and climate change in the upcoming weeks. I can now share with them real world experiences of small island developing states and hopefully inspire some of them to participate in global and international NGOs and the UN,” said Karides.

Karides’ research centers on transnational feminisms, island studies, global social movements and economic alternatives. It includes the study of island societies, particularly how gender, race, ethnicity and sexuality are shaped by islands. She is interested in alternative economic models that serve social needs and the natural environment better than dominant economic modes.

This work is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goals of (PDF), (PDF) and (PDF) three of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

On the eve of a United Nations General Assembly meeting, thousands of academics urged governments to negotiate an international treaty that tackles the climate crisis at its source, fossil fuels.

Hundreds of academics across disciplines from 69 countries, including researchers from the , delivered a letter demanding a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to manage a global phase out of coal, oil and gas to governments gathering at the UN General Assembly.

In the open letter, the academics recognize that the burning of coal, oil and gas is the greatest contributor to climate change—responsible for almost 80% of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution. Furthermore, they noted that, “air pollution caused by fossil fuels was responsible for almost 1 in 5 deaths worldwide in 2018.”

The letter comes on the heels of last month’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which was heralded as a “death knell” for the fossil fuel industry by the UN Secretary General, António Guterres and revealed that 86% of CO2 emissions in the last decade are from the burning of fossil fuels.

“The most recent climate report from the IPCC makes it clear that we are approaching dangerous tipping points if humanity does not lower carbon emissions immediately,” said Mark Hixon, professor of marine biology at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa. “As a father and grandfather, I am gravely concerned about our collective future. The solutions to this crisis are within reach—all that is lacking is political and corporate will.”

Despite this, national governments plan to expand fossil fuel production at levels that would result in around 120% more emissions than what is in keeping with the Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C of warming.

“Hawaiʻi and other islands are already facing ever intensifying effects of climate disruption, including altered rainfall patterns, avian malaria mosquitoes reaching endangered birds at higher elevations, coastal erosion caused by sea-level rise, and bleaching and dying coral reefs,” Hixon added. “We need to do our part to address climate change while we still can.”

This effort is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The full letter and list of signatories is .

Since World War II, American cities have been built for cars, with garages and pavement dominating the landscape. Economist Donald Shoup has spent his career arguing that it doesn’t have to be this way.

In a live online event hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi , Shoup will explain how simple fixes to parking policies, such as charging fair market prices for on-street parking and removing off-street parking requirements, can reduce housing costs, bolster public transportation, decrease carbon output, advance social justice, and generally make cities more enjoyable places to live and work.

Shoup, who grew up in Hawaiʻi, is a distinguished research professor in the department of urban planning at UCLA. He is also a world-renowned authority on transportation, public finance and land economics and authored The High Cost of Free Parking and the follow-up collaboration, Parking and the City.

“Shoup is the leading expert on how parking policy affects the functioning of a city,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� College of Social Sciences Dean Denise Konan. “His insights are relevant as we shape �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s transportation policies, and we will benefit from this conversation with a distinguished scholar who is recognized as a pioneer in his field.”

From national issues to the Hawaiʻi experience, Shoup will be interviewed by Makena Coffman, director of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� (ISR) and professor of urban and regional planning. Kathleen Rooney, director of transportation policy and programs at Ulupono Initiative, will also provide insights based on the organization’s 2020 report on The Costs of Parking in Hawaiʻi—the state’s first comprehensive cost inventory that shows the often hidden impact to cost of living, specifically for housing and goods. The event will also feature Katia Balassiano from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting.

The livestream conversation, “The High Cost of Free Parking,” will be held on Wednesday, August 18, at noon.

The event is open to the public. ()

The Better Tomorrow Speaker Series is a joint venture of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Kamehameha Schools and ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. Lead sponsors of the event include the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Ulupono Initiative; and the . Co-sponsors include the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� , , ISR, and the .

For more information, visit the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� website or email btss@hawaii.edu.

This event is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Climate change is threatening coral reefs worldwide, primarily through increased temperature stress, which causes coral bleaching. The granted researchers working to help coral reefs survive the impacts of climate change. Of those selected, a team was awarded $950,000 for a project which aims to speed up the natural evolution of heat resilient corals.

(continuing the legacy of Ruth Gates) at ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s (HIMB) are using selective breeding in corals to speed up natural evolutionary processes and better understand if heat tolerant coral colonies produce offspring better suited to dealing with climate change.

Researchers will identify thermally tolerant corals in the field, breed them in the lab and expose them to anticipated future climate conditions to see how they cope with the increasingly stressful environments they will face. The most resilient corals will then be out-planted and the results of this selective breeding process will be monitored in the field.

Bleached corals lose the algal symbionts living within their cells and can die if they do not recover quickly enough. This process is becoming increasingly frequent and severe, challenging ecosystems everywhere to keep up.

“Nature has lots of ways to deal with change, but we don’t know if they are able to keep pace with climate stress, so we are exploring how the basics of natural processes like selective breeding can be used to support the long-term survival of reefs,” said Crawford Drury, principal investigator of the project.

Finding solutions, pushing boundaries

The award from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation is a big step forward for basic and applied science that informs coral conservation, protects �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s reefs and generates information that is applicable everywhere. This project follows on the proof of concept known as “Coral Assisted Evolution,” which transformed the idea of accelerating natural processes to a mainstream scientific concept. Importantly, the project is focused on finding solutions and pushing boundaries.

“This work is important for HIMB and Hawaiʻi because it supports local efforts to understand the causes and consequences of climate change on natural resources and the services they provide,” added Drury. “We are hopeful that we will continue to develop tools that inform restoration, conservation and management action throughout the state and the Pacific that support coral reefs.”

This project is leveraged by funding from the NOAA Ruth Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grant and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

This research is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF) and ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

More on Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation’s suite of grants will support the next phase of groundbreaking research to identify naturally heat tolerant corals, accelerate corals’ natural evolution processes, improve restoration methods and ultimately slow the decline of coral reefs. Coral reefs sustain more than a quarter of all marine life and drive dollars in ecosystem services each year. Climate change, however, is rapidly accelerating their path toward extinction, threatening the safety, livelihood and food security of almost one billion people across the globe.

The foundation’s $7.2 million in support will allow grantees to build off their successful initial research phases and enter into phase two, which focuses on turning these innovative ideas into scalable, sustainable solutions for coral reefs. This new suite of research grants has been designed with a three-year timeline and is focused on applied solutions that will have tangible impacts by 2024.

Activism comes in many forms and for Craig Santos Perez that form is poetry. The professor pens award-winning poems that express his fear and frustration from global issues such as climate change, toxic waste and human violence. In 2020, Perez, an Indigenous Chamorro published Habitat Threshold, a book filled with poetry that addresses the dark aftermath of ecological colonialism in Hawaiʻi, Guam, and the larger Pacific.

In May 2021, Perez’ book earned the prestigious gold which honors published works about the environment and social justice.

“I feel very fortunate to receive this recognition, which was a bright moment during the pandemic,” he said.

It’s that very blend of poetry and environmental justice that Perez infuses into his courses at ����Vlog�ٷ�. For the past 10 years he has taught creative writing, environmental poetry and Pacific Islander literature in the at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa.

“My goal is to inspire my students to write and care about ecological issues and climate change…I love teaching at ����Vlog�ٷ� because of our diverse student body and our emphasis on environmental and place-based learning,” Perez said.

This spring, Perez racked up yet another accolade. He landed a spot on the 2021 an annual list of 50 emerging leaders in climate, sustainability and equity who are creating change across the nation. Grist, a leading climate media organization, selected Perez out of a pool of 1,000 nominees. The coveted list includes an artificial intelligence guru who develops robots to sort recyclables and a Hip hop artist recording tracks to raise awareness about flood-prone South Carolina’s battles with climate change.

In 2022, the is set to publish an anthology of Pacific Islander Eco-Literature that Perez is co-editing. His words, whether composed free style, haiku or prose are what he considers a megaphone urging society to listen and fight for change.

This work is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), and (PDF)—two of four goals identified in the 2015–25 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.

In absorbing carbon dioxide, the oceans play a crucial role in regulating the climate, a role yet to be fully understood. oceanographer Christopher Sabine co-authored a newly published strategy for comprehensive and coordinated ocean carbon research over the next decade.

The new report, , was published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). It sets out to accomplish the vital task of indicating the current gaps and future directions for the integrated research of the ocean’s carbon cycle.

The ocean currently serves as the “blue lungs” of our planet. However, the ocean’s ability to contribute to climate regulation may decline and even be reversed in the future. The new report thus examines available observations and research to determine whether the oceans will continue to “help” humanity or whether they will turn against it, making mitigation and adaptation to warming more difficult.

International collaboration

In developing the report, the IOC gathered experts from the five international research and coordination programs on ocean-climate interaction.

Sabine, who is one of the lead U.S. editors of the report, said, “Integrating the ocean carbon research conducted through multiple international programs will enhance the U.S. investments in understanding climate change and possible solutions.”

“Bringing together the ocean carbon experts from different disciplines has created an exciting opportunity to address in a holistic fashion the critical questions of how the ocean affects and is affected by climate and our attempts to mitigate climate change,” stated Rik Wanninkhoff at NOAA, the other lead U.S. editor of the report.

This effort is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goals of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

.

–By Marcie Grabowski

The University of Hawaiʻi’s successful farmer-training program, , was awarded a 3-year, $500,000 grant from the (USDA-NIFA). The grant will enable GoFarm Hawaiʻi to continue its partnership with to offer its beginning-farmer training program through the Agriculture and Natural Resources program, and will add an intensive value-added food production training course so students can consider revenue diversification options.

����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College has years of experience in food manufacturing education, and now they will be sharing that knowledge with aspiring farmers. The goal is to help the Valley Isle develop its workforce by providing production, business and leadership skills to those looking to enter the food and agricultural industry.

“We are excited to further collaborate with ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College,” said GoFarm Hawaiʻi Director Janel Yamamoto, who was instrumental in landing one of only 19 Agricultural Workforce Training grants awarded across the country.

“Value-added products can increase the economic value of agricultural commodities and help farmers attain higher revenues and margins,” added Yamamoto. “We are looking forward to recruiting for our next cohort in May and adding food manufacturing to the curriculum!”

Agricultural Workforce Training grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and are designed to provide community, technical or junior college students with the skills and tools necessary to secure industry-accepted credentials in order to join the workforce.

This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative-Agricultural Workforce Training Priority Area, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

More on GoFarm Hawaiʻi

GoFarm Hawaiʻi, a collaborative effort involving ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s (CTAHR), and ����Vlog�ٷ�’s Agribusiness Incubator Program, provides a comprehensive and practical production and business training program, and connects aspiring farmers with CTAHR experts, existing farmers and the local agriculture community. There are six training sites statewide that support farmers and individuals who want to establish businesses in the agricultural industry.

GoFarm Hawaiʻi has been addressing the issue of food security long before the COVID-19 health crisis. Since 2012, it has trained more than 370 aspiring farmers, helping to reduce Hawaiʻi’s dependence on imported food and increase food sustainability.

This effort is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Development of new technologies, climate-change solutions, and student educational and career opportunities are just some of the aims of a new agreement between the University of Hawaiʻi and the (INDOPACOM).

INDOPACOM is tasked with using and integrating the four branches of the military within the Indo-Pacific region to achieve U.S. national security objectives while protecting national interests. A memorandum of understanding was signed at an April 20 ceremony setting the foundation for INDOPACOM and ����Vlog�ٷ� to collaborate in multiple areas and share ideas, initiatives, expertise and values.

����Vlog�ٷ� is a leader in fulfilling the State of Hawaiʻi’s mission to grow and diversify the economy with research and training skilled workers, which aligns with the values of INDOPACOM. The university’s location in the middle of the Pacific bridges the east and west, creating opportunities for influence across its network of international partners and alumni.

“This MOU institutionalizes the shared commitment of ����Vlog�ٷ� and INDOPACOM to advance collaboration in Hawaiʻi and across the Indo-Pacific to promote regional stability, sustainability and resilience through research and education,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President David Lassner. “We are excited about the opportunities for our students and faculty to contribute. And as Admiral Davidson prepares to transition out of his current role, we thank him for all he has done for our region and Hawaiʻi.”

Both institutions will explore potential collaborative efforts in the areas of: community resilience and climate change; technology, experimentation and innovation; and international, intelligence, and futures studies education and workforce development.

“This is an exciting opportunity for INDOPACOM to build on our collaborative relationship with the University of Hawaiʻi,” said U.S. Navy Admiral and INDOPACOM Commander Phil Davidson. “We continue to seek opportunities that leverage the unique strengths of the ����Vlog�ٷ� faculty and students to advance the stability, security, and sustainability of the Indo-Pacific.”

Areas of collaboration

Community resilience and climate change include natural resource management, disaster response and resiliency, and climate change adaptation to build resiliency that enables the security and prosperity of communities around the region. Examples include assessing sea level rise and coastal inundation impacts on the community.

The partnership will also pursue areas of innovation and technology development across multiple disciplines (engineering, cyber security, artificial intelligence, energy, water, communications, waste, mobility and food). One example is further developing the Hacking for Defense program to include more subject areas. Currently, ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s is involved in the program, which provides opportunities for students to develop innovations to address existing national security issues presented by the U.S. Department of Defense. Plans are being made to expand the program into a multidisciplinary course in fall 2021 that will include the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� and .

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: New ����Vlog�ٷ� partnership to aid national security, boost state’s economy, March 17, 2021

The focus on education and workforce development will expand educational opportunities for students while highlighting career pathways in the defense and intelligence communities. One example that resulted from collaborative efforts is an internship course offered in the spring 2021 semester in ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s . The course provides students an opportunity to explore possible careers in national security. Fifteen students were selected to participate in the first “�����ٰ��ʴ��䰿��–U��� Mentoring Program for Intelligence.” Regular fall courses are planned, while a larger certificate program is being developed.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Students discover careers in intelligence through ����Vlog�ٷ�, military partnership, April 5, 2021

This partnership is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), (PDF) and (PDF), three of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

A visionary educational tool aimed at fostering dialogue about future planning along the south shore of urban Honolulu, which stretches from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor, is the result of a two-year, state-funded applied research, analysis and proof-of-concept design project by the .

The completed “” (PDF) project intends to further the contemporary local and global discourse on climate-resilient, adaptive urban waterfront development in tropical island settings. The work visualizes potential long-term sea-level rise scenarios and speculative, nature-based living shoreline design solutions.

“Bringing the South Shore project to its conclusion has felt great because we are proud of the results and happy to disseminate them more broadly!” said Judith Stilgenbauer, principal investigator of the project and professor of landscape architecture in the . “In contrast to many scientific sea-level rise and climate-change studies, which often paint doomsday scenarios, our project highlights opportunities intrinsic to an inevitable need to plan for the adaptation of our coastal urban fabric throughout the remainder of the century.”

Embrace coastal flooding

By investigating past, present and planned shoreline conditions in urban Honolulu, this study advocates for the anticipation of climate-crisis challenges through innovative planning and ecological design that embraces dynamic conditions, such as coastal flooding, rather than preventing them—all while taking inspiration from traditional Native Hawaiian biocultural land-water practices.

“This is critically important work that highlights the vast potential for adapting to sea-level rise,” said Chip Fletcher, associate dean and professor in ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s (SOEST). “The fact-based land-use analysis combined with the creative design depicting flooded landscapes, frees the viewer’s imagination to consider a future for Hawaiʻi in which our communities live with water, rather than fighting it. I will be referring to Judith Stilgenbauer’s work for years to come as it is a source of many solutions that we need to implement on our journey to building climate change resilience.”

This work is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Leveraging sea-level rise research

The project’s four guiding principles, which form the basis for the structure of the research and carry throughout the multi-scalar planning and design proposals—balanced in mutually beneficial ways—include: climate-change resilience, ecosystem performance, connectivity and placemaking.

“Stilgenbauer’s work leverages the sea-level rise modeling that researchers in SOEST produced in 2018,” said Fletcher. “Our models of flooding depict the footprint of sea-level rise impacts this century. It has always been our goal that experts in other disciplines would build on our products, which is exactly what this project does. This is the type of interdisciplinary thinking that needs to be at the heart of solutions to protect our communities in the face of a more dangerous climate.”

For any questions or inquiries regarding the South Shore project, please email Stilgenbauer at jstilg@hawaii.edu.

Nearly 20 students from the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� helped to beautify the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� campus on March 14.

Following COVID-19 safety protocols, the students collected 15 large bags of trash including a broken and rusting pipe, a car mat, discarded and rotting wood blocks, plastic and glass bottles, and styrofoam cups and trays. All bags were discarded in dumpster bins across the campus. The effort was in collaboration with the .

“As officers of the Society for Humanitarian and Sustainability Engineering, we chose to organize a campus cleanup as a club that aims to serve the community,” said Lisa Lowe, project manager and ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� bio-engineering major. “Among these aims, we think it is important to keep the campus as clean as possible for health, safety, and beautification purposes, and having a clean environment.”

Lowe added, “This was our first community service event since the club started this year, and seeing everyone coming together for a common goal to give back to our campus, and understanding the importance of respecting our environment is always good to see.”

The students plan to conduct another cleanup in fall 2021. The Society for Humanitarian and Sustainability Engineering is a registered independent organization housed in the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� .

This effort is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

A doctoral candidate in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa , studying a potential coral-saving strategy, was a recipient of the 2021 David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship by the Society for Conservation Biology and the Cedar Tree Foundation.

Shayle Matsuda will be part of a team of researchers engaging in an international coral reef restoration project. During the fellowship, he will assess how transplanting coral affects their health, specifically the symbiotic relationship between coral and their microbiomes.

“By studying patterns of microbial dysbiosis, the breakdown of the microbiome-host relationship, in multiple key coral species in both Hawaiʻi and Florida, we will better understand the risks of implementing large-scale coral translocation as a conservation strategy,” said Matsuda.

Prepared for the future

Working with Craig Nelson, an associate researcher at the , and the at the , Matsuda has focused his graduate research on the effects of ocean warming on coral-microbial symbioses and coral physiology. With fellowships from , Point Foundation, and Denise B. Evans Fellow plus direct support from Pam Omidyar and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, he has studied coral bleaching and recovery in Hawaiʻi and on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, examining how thermal stress impacts microbial and algal symbioses.

“Shayle’s doctoral work here at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa has broken new ground in understanding how rising ocean temperatures will affect the symbioses between coral, algae and bacteria as coral reef bleaching increases worldwide,” said Nelson. “He has pioneered new molecular techniques to study these symbioses throughout the coral lifecycle. Shayle will bring cutting-edge skills in coral microbiome science and the molecular basis of symbiosis to his Smith fellowship project.”

The Smith Fellowship, one of the nation’s premier postdoctoral programs in conservation science, identifies and supports early-career scientists who will shape the growth of applied conservation science and seeks to find solutions to the most pressing conservation challenges.

This effort is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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–By Marcie Grabowski​

A team of faculty at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and earned a national award for its “Just Play” project, a set of coordinated courses in architecture, landscape architecture and urban and regional planning. Just Play received the 2021 Course Development Prize in Architecture, Climate Change and Society. Columbia University’s Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) presents the award.

����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s Just Play courses received a cash prize and will be recognized at the ACSA 109th annual meeting, which will be held virtually March 24–26, 2021.

“It is a national award that recognizes innovative course development and offers financial support to faculty,” said Phoebe White, an assistant professor in landscape architecture at ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s School of Architecture. “It also highlights our collaborative, interdepartmental efforts at ����Vlog�ٷ� exploring solutions for the critical issues of our times.”

A multi-departmental effort

The Just Play project focuses on social action, empowerment, scenario-planning, systems-understanding, design and education. It represents a multi-departmental effort to expand the reach of educators and advocates through the development of climate equity-based games.

“We will conduct research at multiple scales with assistance from community partners and align our efforts with those of local government agencies focusing on climate change, sustainability, and resiliency,” said Priyam Das, an associate professor and chair of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

The sequence will culminate in a five-week outreach course, offered to participating high schools through the , led by the . This final course will be taught collaboratively and collect insights from all previous experiences.

“This effort will be kickstarted during the spring 2021 semester with a project in the third year undergraduate studio of the Bachelor of Environmental Design at the School of Architecture, where students are exploring design strategies for walkable sustainable and equitable neighborhoods across Oʻahu,” said Karla Sierralta, an assistant professor in architectural design at the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa School of Architecture.

Incorporating climate change into design

Climate change is a multidimensional issue, so exploring it from different disciplinary perspectives is salient. Students can draw from a wide range of concepts, theories and practices which could spark new ideas and approaches. Working closely with the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency will offer them a hands-on experience.

“We are excited to connect the diverse focus areas that we’ve each been working on with state agencies and other partners, and to help students understand their interdependencies through game design and educational play,” said Cathi Ho Schar, assistant professor at the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa School of Architecture and director of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Design Center.

“As a member of the ����Vlog�ٷ� community, I believe that it is critical for each and every one of us to educate ourselves and others about the multidimensional crisis of climate change,” said Maleah Reynolds, a bachelor of environmental design student enrolled in the first course taught as part of the Just Play project. “I am very eager to be a part of this course because it provides the opportunity to not only expand my own grasp on equitable design strategies to combat climate change, but also to effectively communicate and teach this knowledge to others in a fun and creative way.”

This program is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

(AAC) has pledged $2 million to support , one of the largest and most successful beginning farmer development programs in the nation. The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� (CTAHR) program provides business technical assistance, educational opportunities and access to a suite of resources designed to remove barriers to farming and agribusinesses. It also operates five beginning farmer training sites across four islands and an agricultural technician training program at the Waiawa Correctional Facility.

“Food sustainability and economic diversification are key post-pandemic priorities for our state,” ����Vlog�ٷ� President David Lassner said. “Many of the GoFarm Hawaiʻi program’s alumni have started independent businesses or secured jobs in the agricultural industry. This strategic philanthropic investment from AAC provides a major boost to our state’s next generation of farmers and our agricultural community statewide.”

The has a goal of doubling local food production by 2030.

“Hawaiʻi imports about 85–90% of its food, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in food supply,” said CTAHR Dean Nicholas Comerford. “Our GoFarm Hawaiʻi program addresses this by providing farmers with the tools they need to be successful, and expanding our local food supply—a necessity for our entire community.”

National donors

The donation represents the combined contributions of AAC and CoBank, both members of the nationwide Farm Credit System.

“We are thrilled to be able to support the great work GoFarm Hawaiʻi has been doing for nearly 20 years,” AAC President and CEO Curt Hudnutt said. “American AgCredit’s mission, to support all segments of agriculture, is so closely aligned to that of GoFarm Hawaiʻi and this commitment is just a perfect fit for us.”

“Everyone in American agriculture understands the need to grow and develop the next generation of farmers and ranchers,” added Bill Davis, executive vice president of CoBank’s Farm Credit Banking Group. “It is absolutely critical for the industry and for the country as a whole. But for those who don’t come from a farming background, it can be difficult to get started. GoFarm Hawaiʻi has a proven and successful model for engaging beginning farmers and, together with our partners at AAC, we are delighted to be a part of their continued success.”

Diverse local support

GoFarm Hawaiʻi Director Janel Yamamoto added, “We are extremely grateful for American AgCredit and CoBank’s support of our practical training program built around the real-world needs of tomorrow’s farmers. With their support, and the support of other key partners, we can help experienced farmers looking to expand and needing assistance to develop a business plan or proposal, as well as people new to agriculture, wanting to learn the basics of farming.”

The GoFarm Hawaiʻi program is financially supported by competitive grants and private donations. Kamehameha Schools, the Ulupono Initiative, USDA NIFA and the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture have been strong supporters of the program since its inception.

Many additional organizations provide access to financial support, land, facilities, contribute labor/time, resources and expertise to support program participants. Program supporters and collaborators include: Kauaʻi Community College; ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College; Corteva Agriscience; CTAHR Cooperative Extension, Hi!Ag Consortium; ����Vlog�ٷ� Sea Grant; The Kohala Center; Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawaiʻi Department of Public Safety; City and County of Honolulu; County of Hawaiʻi; Kauaʻi County Office of Economic Development; Farm Service Agency; Natural Resource Conservation Service; Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority; Oʻahu Resource Conservation & Development Council; North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership; Farm Link Hawaiʻi; Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaiʻi; Hoʻola Veteran Services; Sustainable Molokaʻi; and the Hawaiʻi Agritourism Association.

This effort is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� has updated the 2015–25 Strategic Plan after extensive engagement with the campus community. The new plan, , articulates how the university will strive to meet its mission statement—“E hoʻomālamalama i kō mālama: Cultivating the potential within each member of our community,” and vision statement—“He lamakū o ke aloha ʻāina: A leading light of aloha ʻāina for Hawaiʻi and the world.” Both statements were updated during the process.

����ԴDz� 2025 identified four goals:

• Becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning
• Enhancing Student Success
• Excellence in Research
• Building a Sustainable and Resilient Campus Environment

The final stages of the years-long effort were completed while the COVID-19 virus spread around the world and as a fiscal crisis in Hawaiʻi caused by the pandemic began.

“Our university’s core values, mission and vision must persist through both normal times and times of crisis,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno in a December 15 message to the campus announcing ����ԴDz� 2025. “We believe that the values, mission, vision and goals articulated in the plan will help us navigate through this crisis and emerge stronger than ever.”

The update started in 2018 as a series of conversations with ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� stakeholders—students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members—about the state of the university and what it should aspire to become. A draft based on those conversations was shared with the campus community in early 2019 and was finalized after receiving feedback from hundreds of stakeholders.

Provost Bruno’s message

Aloha,

As you may recall, in 2018 I charged the strategic planning committee to revisit our goals and update the mission and vision statements for the campus. That effort was guided by a series of campus conversations with students, faculty and staff who shared their thoughts on where we are and what we aspire to be as a university in the next five years. Inspired and informed by these conversations, the committee prepared a first draft of the updated plan, which was shared with the campus electronically in early 2019. The feedback received from hundreds of faculty, staff and students on that draft informed the final draft of our strategic plan, .

We acknowledge that our campus continues to struggle with both the global pandemic and the budget implications of the associated fiscal crisis. Certainly, one could be excused for asking whether the uncertainty about the future should be allowed to upend this strategic plan. But as we state in the plan, we believe that the answer to that question is no—our university’s core values, mission and vision must persist through both normal times and times of crisis. We believe that the values, mission, vision, and goals articulated in the plan will help us navigate through this crisis and emerge stronger than ever.

As always, thank you for your ongoing efforts in support of our campus and our community. On behalf of all who worked on this document, I wish you and yours a joyful holiday season, the best of health, and peace in the New Year.

Mālama pono,
Michael Bruno, Provost

The (REMS) summer program, an advanced, inquiry-driven and experiential marine biology summer course hosted at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� (HIMB), completed its fifth year. The course builds science and environmental literacy skills for Hawaiʻi high school students and recent graduates.

The 2017 cohort of 18 students completed the program and presented their team research projects to family, friends and other distinguished guests. Small groups of students worked with peer mentors and staff instructors to conduct original research related to how human impacts and global change affect coral reef ecosystems.

The goal of the program is to increase interest in marine science fields among students whose ethnicities are underrepresented in marine science majors at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. The program targets participation from students attending Hawaiʻi Public Title I schools with native Hawaiian, Filipino and other Pacific Islander backgrounds. The course is located at Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in ����Ա�ʻ�dz�� Bay and utilizes the expertise of HIMB and ����Vlog�ٷ� researchers, as well as agency and other partner organization experts. Topical content is taught over a two-week period, with appropriate emphasis placed on marine conservation, stewardship and sustainability. Student teams then conceptualize and execute a research plan over the following three weeks, working both in the field and in the lab at HIMB.

“The program provides students with a meaningful and rigorous introduction to marine biology and scientific research, as well as an improved understanding of the connection between coastal resources and the effects of human impacts and climate change on coral reef ecosystems,” said Malia Rivera, program director and HIMB faculty member. “Equally important, it builds valuable skills in science literacy and communication, team work, leadership and mentoring.”

Current Funders

• This past year, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation donated funds to purchase a boat to take students to and from Coconut Island, and to take them to and from research sites around ����Ա�ʻ�dz�� Bay.
• For the past two years, the Hau ʻoli Mau Loa Foundation has supported staff, travel costs, lab costs, college credit fees and other expenses for the program.
• For the past two years, the Pacific American Foundation has supported stipends for student participants through funding from a US Department of Education Native Hawaiian Education Program grant.
• This year, Carol Ann Hayashida donated funds to support the high school mentors (students who graduate the program the year before and are returning to help guide the new students in their experience).
• For the past two years, a Youth Access Grant from the Smithsonian Institution provided funds for creation of new lab modules and graduate student staff instructors.
• The NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training grant provides funds for graduate student instructors.

—By Marcie Grabowski