{"id":221401,"date":"2025-09-04T14:18:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T00:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=221401"},"modified":"2025-09-04T14:18:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T00:18:09","slug":"transform-climate-adaptation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/04\/transform-climate-adaptation\/","title":{"rendered":"Trust between community, researchers, nature can transform climate adaptation"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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(Photo credit: Hoʻāla<\/span> Kealakekua Nui)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Long-term relationships built on a foundation of trust between communities, researchers and the natural world can transform science, education and climate adaptation. That is the central message of a study published in Emotion, Space and Society<\/i><\/a> by Scott Laursen, a climate adaptation extension specialist with the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center<\/a> (PI-CASC<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n

The article, co-led by long-term Kealakekua residents, cultural practitioners and lineal descendants, showcases a decade of community-driven work on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island and its connection to multiple UH<\/abbr> Hilo projects.<\/p>\n

‘Speed of trust’<\/h2>\n

“When science is co-led by communities rooted in place and guided by respect for human and more-than-human relationships, communities and science innovate rapidly; they drive effective actions, and create lasting solutions,” said Laursen. “Moving at the ‘speed of trust’ has been fundamental to the human condition since the dawn of time. Locating and empowering long-term, place-based networks offers a powerful way forward in a rapidly changing world.”<\/p>\n

The research focuses on how “relational worldviews”—where people, places and ecosystems are seen as deeply interconnected—are shaping new and effective approaches to climate adaptation. From coral restoration in Kapukapu to rethinking shoreline management on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island, the article demonstrates how sustained collaboration addresses urgent local challenges while training the next generation of scientists and resource stewards.<\/p>\n

The publication emphasizes:<\/p>\n