{"id":218800,"date":"2025-07-17T09:47:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=218800"},"modified":"2025-07-17T09:47:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:47:40","slug":"the-sand-dance-storybook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/17\/the-sand-dance-storybook\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Earth scientists author children\u2019s book, support O\u02bbahu keiki to m\u0101lama \u02bb\u0101ina"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"book<\/p>\n

A researcher-keiki collaboration aims to foster a deep connection to the land and community through storytelling. The Coastal Research Collaborative (CRC<\/abbr>) at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa developed The Sand Dance<\/em><\/a>, a storybook that was inspired by a play researchers co-created with students at Kaʻaʻawa<\/span> Elementary.<\/p>\n

\"two
Kammie Tavares and Helena Andrade talking with students<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“It\u2019s a poetic tale about friendship and beach dynamics, where dunes and waves dance in harmony, much like the relationships we nurture in life,” Andrade said. “When children explore the environment with wonder and care, they grow into empowered, compassionate citizens who understand the importance of m\u0101lama ʻ\u0101ina<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

The story, written by Earth Sciences<\/a> doctoral student Helena Andrade and illustrated by CRC<\/abbr> researcher Richelle Moskvichev, is available online<\/a> and as an audiobook<\/a>, and draws from Andrade\u2019s years of coastal fieldwork in Brazil and Australia, her love for dance, and friendship with UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Department of Urban and Regional Planning<\/a> in the College of Social Sciences<\/a> doctoral student Kammie Tavares.<\/p>\n

\"kids
Kaʻaʻawa<\/span> Elementary students making observations about the coastline<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tavares, who has engaged elementary to high school students in science education since the beginning of her academic career, shared, “As researchers, we have a kuleana to our community, including our keiki. Creating activities to explain complicated issues may seem challenging but in my experience teaching science through play is really heart-warming and has refined my own understanding of concepts. I highly recommend it!”<\/p>\n

The Sand Dance<\/em> is one of the newest products of Andrade\u2019s CRC<\/abbr> Keiki, the educational extension of the Coastal Research Collaborative which is led by Chip Fletcher in the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology<\/a> (SOEST<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n

Supporting stewardship and future leaders<\/h2>\n

Andrade\u2019s doctoral research focuses on using beachrock to reconstruct sea-level history in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. Understanding past sea-level fluctuations provides context for understanding modern trends and anticipating future changes. In Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, sea-level rise has already resulted in chronic coastal erosion, loss of cultural and ecological landscapes, and threats to freshwater aquifers and nearshore ecosystems.<\/p>\n

\"two
Andrade and Tavares at the site of the dune restoration project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“If children grow up connected to their environment, as a valuable part of their communities, they learn how to m\u0101lama ʻ\u0101ina<\/span>, how to have their voices heard, and how to stand for what they love,” said Andrade when asked about the importance of involving children in environmental stewardship activities. “These are lifelong values that shape who they become and how they lead.”<\/p>\n

As stewards of their coastline, students from Kaʻaʻawa<\/span> Elementary started a dune restoration project. And recently, CRC<\/abbr> Keiki participated in a coastal education workshop where second graders from Kaʻaʻawa<\/span> taught first graders from L\u0101ʻie<\/span> Elementary about coastal erosion and m\u0101lama ʻ\u0101ina<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The students also created artwork that can be viewed in the CRC<\/abbr> Keiki Art Gallery<\/a> titled “How do we love and protect our beaches?” Their pieces reflect their learning and connection to place.<\/p>\n

Read Marcie Grabowski\u2019s entire story on the SOEST<\/abbr> website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UH<\/abbr> researchers and local students teamed up to write a poetic children\u2019s story that connects kids to nature, science and m\u0101lama ʻ\u0101ina<\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":218808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[301,1187,1467,1363,1314,92,1026,73,9,365],"class_list":["post-218800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-college-of-social-sciences","tag-earth-science","tag-manoa-excellence-in-research","tag-manoa-research","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-school-of-ocean-and-earth-science-and-technology","tag-social-science","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-manoa","tag-urban-and-regional-planning","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t