geography | University of Hawaiʻi System News /news News from the University of Hawaii Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:04:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /news/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-UHNews512-1-32x32.jpg geography | University of Hawaiʻi System News /news 32 32 28449828 Student scholars shape global dialogue at milestone conference /news/2026/02/27/international-graduate-student-conference/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:02:51 +0000 /news/?p=230153 The 2026 conference centered on the theme, “Legacies Through Time: Rethinking the Past, Confronting the Present, Shaping the Future.”

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The conference was organized entirely by a graduate student team and supported by the East-West Center.

Graduate and advanced undergraduate students from across the University of 鶹ý System and around the world gathered February 12–15, for the (IGSC) at the East-West Center, marking a milestone year for the long-running, student-led event.

person presenting a poster
Poster presentation session at the International Graduate Student Conference

Organized entirely by a graduate student team and supported by the , the 2026 conference centered on the theme, “Legacies Through Time: Rethinking the Past, Confronting the Present, Shaping the Future.” Over three days, approximately 140 participants representing more than 25 countries and regions across North America, the Asia-Pacific and Europe, representing more than 65 institutions, transformed the 鶹ý Imin International Conference Center into a hub of interdisciplinary exchange.

“Planning this conference reminded us that scholarship is not just about individual achievement—it’s about building relationships and creating spaces where emerging scholars feel seen, challenged and supported,” said Xiaoyun Neo, a master’s student in at UH Mānoa and one of the conference’s organizers. “Watching students step into that space with confidence and generosity was the most rewarding part of this milestone year.”

Neo added, “I also echo the sentiment expressed by IGSC co-chairs Tiến Nguyễn Minh (MA, ) and Oliver Lilford (MA, ) that as scholars, artists and practitioners, we do not simply inherit legacies—we negotiate, challenge and reshape them in the present, using them to reinterpret the past or set the course for different, more hopeful futures.”

Nearly 30 themed panels—including paper presentations, poster sessions, a roundtable discussion and an evening session featuring creative projects and films—highlighted the depth and diversity of student scholarship. Topics ranged from intergenerational memory and language preservation to environmental change and artistic expression, reflecting how legacies shape identities, institutions and futures.

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East-West Center President Celeste Connors addressing presenters at the opening ceremony.

For many presenters, the conference offered a first opportunity to share research in a supportive, peer-centered environment. Graduate student moderators guided discussions, facilitated questions and fostered dialogue across disciplines, creating space for feedback and collaborations.

“Besides the intensive three-day conference, this year’s IGSC also curated pre- and post-conference activities supported by our incredible partners and sponsors,” said Minh. “Our participants enjoyed a field trip to the Mānoa Heritage Center; a tour at the East-West Center Art Gallery; a keynote address in honor of the 25th IGSC by renowned scholar, also an alumna of UH Mānoa, Dr. Katerina Teaiwa, sponsored by the Asian American-Pacific Islander, Environmental Humanities and Environmental Justice Initiative; and a play about Joseph Kekuku and his steel guitar invention at the Honolulu Theatre for Youth. These activities not only fostered connections between our participants with local institutions, they also provided opportunities for us to introduce 鶹ý’s own legacies through diverse and interactive approaches.”

Launched in 2002, the International Graduate Student Conference continues to serve as a meeting place for emerging scholars to test ideas, build networks and experience academic exchange beyond the classroom.

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Ჹɲ‘i CC expands traditional Hawaiian place name mapping /news/2025/12/08/hawaii-cc-traditional-mapping/ Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:39:52 +0000 /news/?p=226621 The new Hilo map, completed in spring 2025, features ahupuaʻa across Hilo and is fully bilingual in ʻō 鶹ý and English.

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Hakalau-Kamaʻeʻe falls within the moku (district) of Hilo.

faculty, staff and students are helping revive the traditional place names of 鶹ý Island through a growing series of bilingual geographic maps that honor ancestral knowledge and strengthen community connection to the ʻ徱Բ (land).

Kapp and Ells in front of their map presentation
Kapp and Ells-Hoʻokano presented the first map in their series, Puna, at a geography conference.

The project began several years ago when Geography Assistant Professor Drew Kapp and his student Kaylyn Ells-Hoʻokano combined their shared passion for mapping and inoa ʻ徱Բ (traditional Hawaiian place names) to produce a community map of the ahupuaʻa (land divisions) of Puna. In 2025, the pair were joined by Hawaiian studies student Yuna Inoue to create a second map of the ahupuaʻa of Hilo.

“I view this work as a means to highlight the significance of place names and their role in indicating how to interact with the environment, to honor the stories that are embedded within them, and to contribute in ensuring their regular use and vibrancy,” said Kapp.

The new Hilo map, completed in spring 2025, features ahupuaʻa across Hilo and is fully bilingual in ʻō 鶹ý (Hawaiian) and English. Ells-Hoʻokano served as mapmaker using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), while Inoue and Kapp researched inoa ʻ徱Բ, historic land divisions and cartographic considerations.

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Yuna Inoue at Laupāhoehoe

“One challenge we had was to figure out how to best fit a large moku (district) like Hilo with its approximately one hundred ahupuaʻa, on a single sheet,” said Kapp.

Inoa ʻ徱Բ significance

Kapp said that working with historical place names required careful attention. “We encounter so many variations of names in our research, many of which are incredibly compelling, meaningful and deeply sourced,” he noted. “We hope people will use these maps as resources to strengthen connections with their moku, ahupuaʻa and ʻ徱Բ.”

鶹ý CC Hawaiian language and studies Assistant Professor Ākeamakamae Kiyuna emphasizes the broader cultural importance of this work.

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Waiākea, Kaumaui-²ʻōԲ in the moku of Hilo.

“Inoa ʻ徱Բ are far more than simple labels; they are informative narratives that embody the mana (power) and unique character of a place,” Kiyuna explained. “Their restoration and presence on updated geographic maps are crucial for cultural preservation, historical accuracy, and honoring Indigenous identity and sovereignty.”

Research sources

Their research drew on Native Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena ūʻ’s scholarship, historic maps, kaʻao (legends) of Hawaiian akua (goddesses) Pele, Hiʻiakaikapoliopele and kupua (supernatural being) Kamiki, and old nūpepa (newspaper).

Community members, faculty experts and librarians, including 鶹ý CC’s Kiyuna and Assistant Professor Kuʻulei Kanahele, UH Hilo Librarian Annemarie Paikai and former lecturers Lokelani Brandt and Manaiakalani Kalua also served as integral resources for the collaborative project.

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Fulfilling Nobumoto Tanahashi’s vision of peace: From Bali to musical composition /news/2025/11/26/tanahashi-peace-fellowship/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 22:55:41 +0000 /news/?p=226050 The Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution awards the fellowship each spring.

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person working in a rice field
Wiwik Dharmiasih helps with harvesting rice during her field research at the Subak Jatiluwih in Bali, Indonesia.

Two University of 鶹ý at Mānoa doctoral students are advancing their dissertation work in peace studies as 2025 Nobumoto Tanahashi Peace Fellows.

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Emi Obana is completing her PhD with the Department of Music. She specializes in jazz composition.

Wiwik Dharmiasih, a PhD student in , is researching efforts to protect Bali’s subak—thousand-year-old, cooperative rice terraces that utilize an ecologically sustainable irrigation system. Her work examines how local farmers view the sustainability of UNESCO protections and how community driven decision making can help preserve the cultural landscape.

Fellow recipient Emi Obana, a PhD student in music composition and graduate certificate candidate in conflict resolution, is exploring peace through musical composition. Her dissertation centers on how personal transformation can inspire community peace, and she plans to use the fellowship to support a live performance of her final piece.

“I was deeply inspired by Nobumoto Tanahashi and his vision,” Obana said. “He made world peace his personal mission. Going through the application process helped me reflect on what peace truly means for me, and it strengthened my resolve to make world peace my own personal mission.”

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The 鶹ý Peace Memorial honors Japanese immigrants and their descendants.

The fellowship honors the legacy of Reverend Nobumoto Tanahashi, a Japanese businessman and spiritual leader, and founder of the Heiwa Kyokai (Order of Peace Congregation).

His 1986 gift to UH, the 鶹ý Peace Memorial outside Kennedy Theatre, reflects his vision for global harmony and recognizes the contributions of Japanese immigrants to peace in 鶹ý.

The awards the fellowship each spring. For the entire story and more information on the fellowship, .

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Lingering pain, lost trust: Study reveals ongoing effects from 2021 Red Hill spill /news/2025/10/15/uhero-red-hill-report/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:35:42 +0000 /news/?p=223775 The report provides results from a follow-up self-administered online survey conducted in July 2023.

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Aerial view of the Pearl Harbor area

Most people who were affected by the November 2021 Red Hill fuel spill continued to experience physical, emotional, social and/or financial impacts more than 20 months after the incident, according to a released October 15, 2025, by the University of 鶹ý Economic Research Organization (UHERO).

The report provides results from a follow-up self-administered online survey conducted in July 2023 (20 months after the spill) with 174 people who had participated in earlier studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Main findings reported in 2023

Ongoing physical and mental health impacts:

  • About three quarters (79%) of respondents reported one or more new or worsening physical and/or mental health symptoms since the 2021 fuel spill.
  • A majority (68%) reported ongoing symptoms in 2023, nearly two years after the spill.
  • Nearly half of respondents (49%) continued to suffer from mental health impacts, followed by neurological symptoms (44%), gastrointestinal issues (36%) and skin/eye symptoms (34%).

Healthcare response:

  • The majority (65%) of respondents sought medical care related to the spill.
  • Experiences with medical care were mixed: 24% of respondents rated the medical care they received for their exposure to the fuel spill as excellent or good whereas 36% rated their care as bad or very bad.
  • More than 50% of respondents said they have a great deal of trust in their healthcare provider to provide correct information; less than 5% said they have no trust.
  • The vast majority of open-ended responses about healthcare described dismissed concerns, insufficient documentation of symptoms, inadequate testing options and challenges accessing specialists.

Social and economic impacts:

  • Many reported feelings of isolation as a result of health impacts and disaster response.
  • Some respondents also pointed to ways that the community organized and supported one another in disaster response.
  • Some (18%) reported income loss (median = $13,750 annual income), while the majority (82%) incurred additional out-of-pocket expenses (median = $8,200).
  • Only 12% of those with out-of-pocket expenses said they were fully reimbursed, and more than a third (36%) said they received nothing at all.

Institutional trust and perceptions of institutional crisis response:

  • Respondents were most satisfied with how the Honolulu Board of Water Supply responded to the crisis and least satisfied with the response of the Navy.
  • Many expressed feelings of betrayal, particularly toward the Navy. Many respondents said they felt lied to about the safety of the water, and cited inadequate medical and other crisis response as factors undermining trust.
  • Participants discussed a need for greater transparency, accountability and empathy in future crisis response.

“Findings reveal significant and ongoing well-being impacts including physical and mental health challenges, disruptions to social networks and relationships and financial losses,” the study wrote.

The report was authored by experts from UHERO, , , , and , all at UH.

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UHERO is housed in UH āԴDz’s .

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鶹ýhas important role to play in Hawaiʻi’s water future /news/2025/10/08/hawaii-water-future-report/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:33:28 +0000 /news/?p=223365 The report, published October 8, shares insights from 43 representatives from federal, state and county agencies, as well as private and nonprofit organizations.

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water from a stream

Low pay, limited advancement opportunities, and a small applicant pool for specialized positions are among the biggest challenges facing 鶹ý’s water sector, according to a new University of 鶹ý report. The study also found a strong commitment among water professionals to public service and community well-being, and highlighted opportunities for UH to help strengthen education and career pathways that support a thriving water future for the state.

The report, published October 8, shares insights from 43 representatives from federal, state and county agencies, as well as private and nonprofit organizations. The findings emphasized the need for both technical expertise and a holistic understanding of the political, cultural, economic and historical dimensions of water in 鶹ý.

One key finding was, “Many suggested that the University of 鶹ý has an important role to play in convening organizations and people across the water sector and in conducting applied and policy relevant research.”

Interviewees cited recruitment and retention challenges driven by low salaries and slow hiring processes, along with a need for more training in specialized areas such as engineering, hydrogeology and aquatic biology. Many also noted that institutional culture and job descriptions do not always effectively attract local candidates with lived experience and a commitment to mālama ʻ徱Բ, or caring for the land. The research highlighted the importance of comprehensive, practical training in communication, project management, fieldwork and community engagement.

The report represents the first phase of a collaborative project involving the (UHERO), , , and .

Funded by the Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center of the 鶹ý Community Foundation, the next phase will focus on interviews with UH departments and professional development programs to identify assets, gaps and best practices for water-related education and careers statewide.

.

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Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun award presented to 鶹ýscholar /news/2025/10/03/mcdonald-order-of-the-rising-sun-award/ Sat, 04 Oct 2025 01:03:59 +0000 /news/?p=223131 UH ԴDz associate professor Mary G. McDonald received the Order of the Rising Sun Imperial Decoration from the Government of Japan.

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Mary G. McDonald accepts the commendation from Consul General of Japan Yoshinori Kodama, right.

Mary G. McDonald, who taught and later directed the (CJS) at the University of 鶹ý at ԴDz, has received one of Japan’s top honors for her decades of work advancing ties between the U.S. and Japan.

At a special ceremony on September 26 at the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu, McDonald received the . The award recognizes her decades of work advancing academic exchange, cultural understanding and international collaboration.

“This recognition is entirely due to the tireless dedication to strong community and educational ties,” said McDonald. “I thank the government and people of Japan and 鶹ý for the opportunities our UH students and faculty have enjoyed in Japan. I thank the late Dr. Genshitsu Sen for his generosity to UH ԴDz students, emphasizing peace through The Way of Tea. UH ԴDz is truly an excellent place to study Japan, it has been a privilege to play a small part.”

Building bridges

People participating in a clean-up.
Center for Japanese Studies hosts a semi-annual cleanup of the Ehime Maru Memorial in Kakaʻako with students and staff.

McDonald served on the UH ԴDz faculty for 26 years. She guided countless students and scholars through programs that deepened ties between Japan and 鶹ý. As director of CJS, she strengthened inter-university exchange programs and supported initiatives that brought Japanese culture and research into the heart of the university. She also served on the selection committee for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, also known as JET, helping many participants begin their journeys living and working in Japan.

Mark Levin, the current director of CJS, recalls how McDonald represented the perfect role model in directing the UH ԴDz Center for Japanese Studies.

“She engaged with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community in her soft-spoken but persuasive manner. Among the accomplishments of her term was overseeing the renovations of Jaku’an, the teahouse located on the UH campus, smoothly overcoming a host of logistical challenges from start to finish,” Levin said.

Leadership honored

Mary holding her award certificate surrounded by a group of people.
McDonald is celebrated at recognition ceremony.

At the ceremony, Consul General Yoshinori Kodama praised McDonald’s leadership, especially in study abroad programs and her dedication to advancing Japanese studies in 鶹ý.

The celebration also featured a congratulatory message from Robert Huey, a professor emeritus of the and a kampai (cheers) toast by Jean Ariyoshi, former First Lady of 鶹ý.

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First-of-its-kind agriculture maps help Hawaiʻi track crops, boost food security /news/2025/09/12/hawaii-cropland-data-layer/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:00:43 +0000 /news/?p=221846 鶹ý’s first high-resolution crop maps will help track agricultural diversity, support food security, and improve disaster and wildfire response.

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map showing agriculture in the islands
鶹ý Cropland Data Layer

Newly released, first-of-its-kind agriculture maps of the state of 鶹ý are expected to help policymakers, land managers and researchers better monitor crop diversity, evaluate land-use change and design programs that support food security and sustainable agriculture. Experts said the new resource can also assist with post-fire disaster assessments, and in the near future, could potentially help better evaluate wildfire risks before a major disaster occurs, such as the 2023 Maui wildfires.

The University of 鶹ý at Mānoa, led by project director Qi Chen in the , in collaboration with the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), released the high-resolution, crop-specific dataset called 鶹ý Cropland Data Layer (HCDL). The maps are publicly available via NASS’s geospatial portals: and .

Filling in the map ‘desert’

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Professor Qi Chen speaking at a workshop last November to gather feedback for the first prototype of the HCDL maps.

NASS collaborated with UH Mānoa to develop HCDL by using Google Earth Engine and Google’s DeepMind AI-powered data. 鶹ý was previously a “desert” for annual agricultural maps, said Chen in the . He said the lack of maps hinders efforts to track crops, assess land use and support food security in 鶹ý.

“This gap in knowledge became especially evident during the 2023 Maui wildfires, when USDA and state agencies had only limited capacity to assess the agricultural impact,” Chen said. “Without up-to-date, field-scale crop maps, agencies were unable to quickly quantify the extent of cropland loss, identify which crops were most affected or prioritize recovery resources. Instead, assessments had to be pieced together from outdated maps, secondary sources and on-the-ground reports, delaying an accurate picture of the disaster’s effect on 鶹ý’s agricultural sector.”

Maps are currently available for 2024 and 2023. NASS plans to release HCDL for the 2025 crop year in February 2026. This project was supported by a $268,472 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Importance of agriculture maps

Chen said developing such maps for 鶹ý is particularly critical because of the state’s unique agricultural landscape. Unlike large-scale monocultures (the practice of growing a single species of plant over a large area), which are common on the U.S. continent, 鶹ý’s farms are often small, fragmented and characterized by diverse crops cultivated side by side.

“While it makes mapping more difficult, it also means that accurate, high-resolution crop maps can provide transformative insights into resource allocation, irrigation planning, invasive species management and resilience to environmental change,” said Zhe Li, project co-director and geographer in the USDA.

Li added that since annual crop maps for 鶹ý are now available, they can be integrated with real-time satellite data on weather, drought and wildfire risk to safeguard agricultural production.

“Consider a situation similar to the 2023 Maui wildfires: If high-resolution crop maps had been in place, emergency managers could have quickly overlaid fire perimeters with known crop locations to estimate economic losses and identify which producers needed the most help and immediate support,” Chen said. “Beyond disaster response, the same maps could also be used proactively—by identifying cropland areas most vulnerable to drought or invasive species, with agencies directing irrigation resources, extension services or pest management programs to the farmers who need them most.”

In addition to Chen and Li, members of the research team include: Noa Lincoln, researcher in the in UH āԴDz’s ; Zhengwei Yang, geographer with USDA; Haonan Chen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Colorado State University; and Changyong Cao, chief of NOAA’s Satellite Calibration and Data Assimilation Branch in Satellite Meteorology and Climatology Division.

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鶹ýhaumāna explore Kalākaua and Hawaiian Kingdom’s legacy in Japan /news/2025/05/27/kalakaua-and-hawaiian-kingdoms-legacy-in-japan/ Wed, 28 May 2025 01:02:23 +0000 /news/?p=216630 UH Mānoa students retraced King David Laʻamea Kalākaua’s path in Japan, reviving a historic Hawaiian study abroad legacy.

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Japan 1881. Seated from left, Prince Yoshiaki, King Kalākaua and Yoshie Sano Tsunetani. Standing from left, Charles H. Judd, Jugai Tokuno Riyosaki and William N. Armstrong.

A group of University of 鶹ý at Mānoa haumānastudents and faculty travelled through Japan this spring, following the paths of King David Laʻamea Kalākaua’s historic 1881 visit as well as other travels by Hawaiian aliʻiroyalty and haumānastudents in the 19th century. Their nine-day journey in March 2025, part of the UH Mānoa (NHSS) Hawaiian Youths Abroad (HYA) program, connected them to a pivotal moment in Hawaiian history—one that is being brought back to life.

King Kalākaua traveled the world to build diplomatic relationships and reaffirm those his predecessors and other Hawaiian officials established before him. During his visit to Japan in March of 1881, Kalākaua met with Japan’s emperor to discuss revising established treaty relations between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan. That treaty, stored away for 154 years, was retrieved during the HYA Japan visit, providing a rare glimpse into Ჹɲʻ’s international past.

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An emotional visit to the Diplomatic Archives in Tokyo to view the original Hawaiian Kingdom treaty with Japan.

“As a Kanaka ʻŌiwiNative Hawaiian history student, seeing the original treaty between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan was a surreal moment. We were the first, if not some of the very few, to have seen the Japanese version of the treaty in over 150 years,” said Kale Kanaeholo, who is pursuing a PhD at UH Mānoa. “I felt a sense of both humility and gratitude: haʻahaʻahumility for being in the same room as this living document and piece of our history, and aloha for Mōʻī KalākauaKing Kalākaua.”

Vision of a monarch

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Haumānastudents explore Yokohama, the historic port city where Kalākaua began his world tour in March 1881.

The NHSS program is a reincarnation of a 19th century program by the same name created by the Hawaiian Kingdom legislature in 1880 that provided funds to support 18 students who studied in six different countries between 1880 and 1892. These students trained in fields such as engineering, medicine, art, music, military science and foreign languages, with the goal of returning home to serve their nation. Funded entirely by the Hawaiian Kingdom, it was one of the world’s first government-sponsored study abroad programs.

NHSS restarted the program in 2018, and have since designed and implemented 4 Hawaiian Youths Abroad program cohorts, led by Nalani Balutski (research specialist) and Willy Kauai (director) of NHSS within the UH Mānoa .

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From left, Kuʻu Lunn and Joy Nuʻuhiwa at Hamarikyu Gardens, site of the former Enryokan Emperor’s guesthouse where Kalākaua stayed.

This year’s cohort of 13 students and six faculty and staff explored Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

On the journey were two UH Mānoa haumānastudents with a remarkable connection to the past—Kuʻu Lunn, a graduate student, and Joy Nuʻuhiwa, an incoming graduate student—both direct descendants of one of Kalākaua’s original Hawaiian Youths Abroad students.

Piʻianāiʻa

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Abraham St. Chad Piʻianāiʻa

“The Hawaiian Youths Abroad program has been a tremendous opportunity for me to learn and build upon a legacy of Hawaiian geography. One of the original HYA students was my great-great-grandfather Abraham St. Chad Piʻianāiʻa, who attended St. Chad’s College in Denstone, England. Years later, he returned to use his education in service to his kingdom. As we explore the world, like our kūpunaancestors did, I hope to share the knowledge and connections we gain with my family and community,” said Lunn.

Harbottle Hakuʻole

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HYA students in 1882 en route to Japan and China. Seated, center, James Hakuʻole; standing, center, Isaac Harbottle

ʻܳ󾱷ɲ’s great-great-grandfather, James Harbottle Hakuʻole, was only 10 years old when he and his brother Isaac were chosen to participate in King Kalākaua’s visionary program to educate Hawaiian youth overseas. In 1882, the brothers from Kīpahulu, Maui, embarked on their journey, among the youngest students selected to study abroad under the king’s initiative.

“It’s pretty heavy,” Nuʻuhiwa reflected. “I didn’t start exploring this history until I heard about this program so it was incredibly meaningful to be able to do this for my family more than anything.”

She found a deep personal connection in walking in her ancestor’s steps.

“To know that we had similar experiences even if it was just trying to navigate Japan…being Hawaiian in Japan and knowing both languages, knowing he also spoke Japanese. To think that maybe if we ever met, we would’ve been able to speak and understand each other in that way.”

Aliʻi footsteps

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Isaac Hakuʻole Harbottle was sent to Japan from 1883–1888.

The NHSS group retraced Kalākaua’s steps from 144 years ago, visiting some of the same train stations, palaces, temples, and even the former site of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s consulate in Shiba.

NHSS hopes to continue to engage future students in international educational experiences and training around the world in service to the ܾnation.

“The Hawaiian Youths Abroad program is emblematic of NHSS programming design and philosophy, which engages students in research, history, and the educational excellence of kūpunaancestors who came before,” said Kauai.

Bridging past and present

The inaugural HYA cohort traveled to France and England in 2018, followed by a journey to England and Italy in 2019. In 2024, UH Mānoa students and faculty followed the path of 19th-century Hawaiians in Tahiti, exploring the legacy they left behind. A fifth iteration of the program is slated for summer 2026 to focus on the Hawaiian footprint in the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver to San Francisco. For each program, a tailored curriculum is developed that explores the themes of Hawaiian education, diplomacy and travel to those particular countries from the 19th century. To date, 48 Hawaiian undergraduate and graduate students from UH Mānoa participated in the NHSS HYA program.

Empowering haumāna

This year’s program is sponsored by the UH Mānoa Provost Office Innovative Initiatives program and Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai Alakaʻina project. Supplemental support was also provided for students by various departments: political science, history, geography, educational administration, communication & information science and the 鶹ýnuiākea Keaweawe a Kalākaua fund.

NHSS is housed in UH āԴDz’s . For more on their journey, .

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NHSS Hawaiian Youths Abroad at the former home of Robert Walker Irwin, Hawaiian Kingdom consul in Japan, in Ikaho.
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Real-time weather dashboard launched by UH /news/2025/05/07/hawaii-mesonet-dashboard-launch/ Wed, 07 May 2025 17:00:18 +0000 /news/?p=215329 The 鶹ý Mesonet’s data has the potential to inform planning and decision-making in emergency management, agriculture, water resource, conservation and many other sectors.

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The launch of the 鶹ý Mesonet dashboard coincides with Wildfire Awareness Month and represents a pivotal moment in the effort to make climate data available to the public. (Photo credit: Mike McMillan/USFS)

A new real-time dashboard launched by the University of 鶹ý at ԴDz offers public access to live weather data from nearly 70 monitoring stations across the state, marking a major milestone in the 鶹ý Mesonet project. The launch coincides with Wildfire Awareness Month and represents a pivotal moment in the effort to make climate data available to the public.

a website with data access
鶹ý Mesonet dashboard homepage

鶹ý’s diverse geography and microclimates present unique challenges that require precise monitoring to accurately capture weather events. Annual rainfall in parts of Maui, for example, can vary by more than 140 inches within a single mile. The 鶹ý Mesonet’s data has the potential to inform planning and decision-making in emergency management, agriculture, water resource, conservation and many other sectors.

Developed by an interdisciplinary team of scientists at UH ԴDz and the 鶹ý Department of Land and Natural Resources, the project aims to deploy 100 high-tech weather stations to provide critical data for forecasting, disaster response and improving climate resilience. The dashboard is expected to play a critical role in supporting wildfire and flood early warning systems, particularly as climate-related disasters are expected to become more frequent and severe.

The dashboard allows users to view current weather conditions at stations spanning the Hawaiian Islands, including temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, solar radiation and soil moisture. The real-time data is updated every 15 minutes, creating one of the most comprehensive and timely weather data resources available in the state.

“This dashboard represents years of effort to build a system that’s tailored to 鶹ý’s unique needs,” said Tom Giambelluca, 鶹ý Mesonet project lead, long-time professor in the , and former director of the UH (WRRC) “It’s not just about data—it’s about giving our communities the tools to adapt and respond.”

person installing a large weather station
Installation of a weather station on Mariner’s Ridge.

The launch comes as federal agencies such as the National Weather Service and NOAA face data removal and staffing cuts under the Trump administration. With gaps in data availability growing, the 鶹ý Mesonet system is poised to become a key source of reliable, localized weather intelligence.

Data from the system is stored in 鶹ý Climate Data Portal (HCDP), which is available to the public and is used to create recently launched new wildfire risk maps and other climate maps. The HCDP pulls data from multiple sources, including the 鶹ý Mesonet and as well as other federal datasets.

“The real concern is that most of these federal datasets will no longer be available in the near future—making the 鶹ý Mesonet and the HCDP the sole resource for real time weather and climate information in the state,” Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center University Consortium Director Ryan Longman said. “A big uncertainty is how the state will fill critical funding gaps left by the federal government to support these important efforts.”

For more information, visit the 鶹ý Mesonet website.

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New maps improve Hawaiʻi’s wildfire risk warnings /news/2025/03/30/new-hawaii-wildfire-risk-maps/ Sun, 30 Mar 2025 18:39:49 +0000 /news/?p=212917 Unlike the current Red Flag Warning system these maps provide a daily, high-resolution look at the most current fire ignition risks statewide.

The post New maps improve Hawaiʻi’s wildfire risk warnings first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News.]]>
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Wildfire in California. (Photo credit: Mike McMillan /USFS)

Scientists at the University of 鶹ý have developed new wildfire risk maps to better predict fire danger across the state. Unlike the current Red Flag Warning system, which relies on weather from a limited number of stations, these maps provide a daily, high-resolution look at the most current fire ignition risks statewide.

map with different colors on the islands
Latest wildfire risk map up to March 27, 2025. Visit the 鶹ý Climate Data Portal website for the most up to date maps.

“This new mapping system gives us a clearer, more detailed picture of wildfire risks across 鶹ý. By providing daily updates and a long-term dataset, we hope to improve preparedness and help protect communities from future fires,” said Professor Sayed Bateni of UH ԴDz’s (WRRC) and .

Publicly available on the 鶹ý Climate Data Portal (HCDP), the maps are easy to access and available to communities and emergency responders to alert them to the risk of potential wildfires. Users are able to zoom in to a particular area to assess the current fire risk, and generate customized packages of data to export from the portal. Historical fire risk maps are also available for the past 20 years.

The maps are generated using real-time data obtained from various weather networks across the state including the . The 鶹ý Mesonet currently consists of over 60 advanced weather stations with a total goal of 100 within the next two years. These stations provide valuable weather and climate monitoring and forecasting. The data collected can also be used for water resource management, agriculture, ranching, ecosystem and cultural resource protection and more.

people installing weather instruments
Installation of a weather station on Mariner’s Ridge with the 鶹ý Mesonet project.

“It’s all about improving preparedness, especially in light of recent disasters like the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and the tragic Lahaina fire,” said Tom Giambelluca, retired UH ԴDz professor of Geography and Environment, former director of the WRRC, and leader of the 鶹ý Mesonet. “With real-time data on factors like soil moisture, we can better identify areas at high risk for wildfires or flooding.”

Utilizing a well distributed network of weather stations is crucial in 鶹ý, where diverse landscapes create extreme climate variability. In West Maui, annual rainfall can differ by more than 140 inches within a mile, highlighting the need for precise, localized data.

“The 鶹ý Mesonet is adding high quality weather observations in places where they are most needed,” Giambelluca said.

“This mapping system is a game-changer for wildfire preparedness in 鶹ý,” said Clay Trauernicht, assistant specialist in the UH ԴDz . “Using current data allows us to better anticipate fire risks and take proactive measures to protect communities.”

The 鶹ý Emergency Management Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and 鶹ý State Legislature provided funding to create the fire ignition probability maps.

Bateni, Giambelluca, Trauernicht and Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center University Consortium Director Ryan Longman will host a presentation in person and online on April 1 at noon to explain how the maps were created, how they predict fire risk and how to access and use the data.

  • Note: To view the most current maps, visit the 鶹ý Climate Data Portal website, click on “visualize data,” then “ignition probability” to select the dataset you would like to view and then click submit at the bottom.
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