Significant upgrades across the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� campus demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. With the support of , UH ����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Several buildings on the UH ����ԴDz� campus have transitioned from outdated, inefficient lighting systems to new LED installations.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 UH ����ԴDz� around $470,000 on its annual energy bill and earning a rebate amount for $260,000 from �鶹��ý Energy for this retrofit.

UH ����ԴDz�’s Office of Sustainability, �鶹��ý Energy, and UH Athletics teamed up to improve the lighting at the Stan Sheriff Center. Funded by the UH ����ԴDz� , 139 outdated lights were replaced with state-of-the-art LEDs, bringing the arena up to broadcast quality while cutting energy use by 462,630 kWh annually.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 �鶹��ý 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 UH 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 UH ����ԴDz�’s energy efficiency, go to the UH Office of Sustainability.

A University of �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý‘s agricultural sector.

“This technology has the potential to transform irrigation practices across �鶹��ý, helping our farmers conserve water while maximizing crop yields,” said Sayed Bateni, project principal investigator and professor in the UH ����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, �鶹��ý‘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 �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý,” 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 UH ����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 �鶹��ý’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 �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, (CTAHR) farmer training program, . The $1 million gift establishes a matching grant program that will help GoFarm �鶹��ý graduates grow their agricultural businesses, which enhances food security, provides local fresh food and supports economic growth in the islands.

“Agricultural production in �鶹��ý is concentrated on smaller farms, and more than a third of �鶹��ý’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 �鶹��ý’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 �鶹��ý graduates to build farming businesses that benefit all of us here in �鶹��ý.”

Today, GoFarm �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý program graduates, who are now local farmers,” said GoFarm �鶹��ý Director Janel Yamamoto. “It equips these farmers with the knowledge, experience and confidence to build and grow their farm—and contribute to �鶹��ý’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 �鶹��ý to provide the foundation that young, beginning and small farmers need—in terms of capital and skills—to kickstart their future, and agriculture in �鶹��ý.”

“CoBank is delighted to expand on our partnership with American AgCredit and GoFarm �鶹��ý to support a new generation of agriculture in �鶹��ý,” said Brenda Frank, executive vice president of CoBank’s Farm Credit Banking Group. “The GoFarm �鶹��ý 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 UH 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 �鶹��ý’s food security and local economy,” said Tim Dolan, UH Foundation CEO and UH vice president of advancement. “We are grateful for their investment in �鶹��ý’s next generation of farmers.”

This effort is an example of UH ����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 �鶹��ý 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 UH ����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 UH News story: Community summit connects UH, ����ԴDz� stakeholders, December 9, 2021

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

This work is an example of UH ����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 �鶹��ý faculty and students participated, along with UH ����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 UH 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 UH ����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 �鶹��ý, an island state surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean, the impacts of climate change are of increasing concern. Fortunately, �鶹��ý has a voice at the (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Marina Karides, a professor in the in the at the University of �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý residents directly to the delegates making the decisions about the future of the planet. When she returns to UH, 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 UH ��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 UH 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.

“�鶹��ý 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 UH ��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 �鶹��ý , 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 �鶹��ý, 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 UH ����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 �鶹��ý experience, Shoup will be interviewed by Makena Coffman, director of UH ����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 �鶹��ý—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 �鶹��ý Community Foundation, Kamehameha Schools and UH ����ԴDz�. Lead sponsors of the event include the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Ulupono Initiative; and the . Co-sponsors include the UH ����ԴDz� , , ISR, and the .

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

This event is an example of UH ����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 UH ��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 �鶹��ý 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 UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF) and UH ��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 �鶹��ý, 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 UH. For the past 10 years he has taught creative writing, environmental poetry and Pacific Islander literature in the at UH Mānoa.

“My goal is to inspire my students to write and care about ecological issues and climate change…I love teaching at UH 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 UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), and (PDF)—two of four goals identified in the 2015–25 �鶹��ý (PDF), updated in December 2020.