Pacific RISA

Last month, ASU GIOSI Associate Vice President Dave White, Program Manager Lauren Bataska, and PI Victoria Keener got a tour of ‘Iole, a 2,400 acre ahupua‘a located in North Kohala on the Island of Hawai‘i, from CEO Todd Apo. ‘Iole is a living scientific laboratory and research center that develops sustainability solutions. The center brings together academic experts, Native Hawaiian practitioners, community members, students, and government representatives to find solutions that are based on indigenous practices and ancestral knowledge. After learning more about the history and ecology of ‘Iole, the team discussed possible ways to bring in student cohorts to learn about and restore the ahupua‘a. #ahupuaa #sustainability #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous #ASU #uhmanoa #research #science

Pacific RISA Co-Investigator Zena Grecni joined the Heeia NERR education team last week at Limahuli Garden and Preserve to learn about biocultural restoration. Limahuli Garden and Preserve stewards a large valley in the ahupua’a of Hā’ena on Kauai, with intact archaeological complexes, native forest, a biodiverse stream, and numerous descendants of the valley’s original inhabitants caring for it. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from this model of preservation and sustainability. #NERRS #sustainability #kauai #haena #hawaii

Yesterday, Pacific RISA Co-Director Laura Brewington participated in the nonprofit Healthy Climate Communities annual Martin Luther King day clean-up of Hamakua Canal, home to three species of endangered and endemic birds. Around 100 volunteers in kayaks and on land cleaned over 1000lbs of trash from the canal, and the event was even covered by local news station KHON2. https://lnkd.in/gzzPXGyq Photos: Laura Brewington

The Pacific RISA team sends you our warmest wishes this holiday season! It was a busy and exciting year for us all – especially Zena, who welcomed our newest team member, baby Miro the little kāhuli ?? Mahalo for all your support and commitment to our Pacific Island communities! With warm aloha, Laura, Viki, Zena, Krista, Chelsey, Paula, & Mari

Pacific RISA's Dr. Laura Brewington is featured on the latest podcast from The Association of Foreign Press Correspondents USA, "Island Nations on the Frontlines of Climate Change." Click here to listen: https://lnkd.in/ggbepsQA

Landmark proceedings on climate change and the role of nations to mitigate its effects have begun before the International Court of Justice. Two Pacific Island leaders have given their testimony on this important issue and how it affects the largely majority-Indigenous countries of the Pacific. They include: ?? Ralph Regenvanu (Uripiv of Malakua Island, Vanuatu) Vanuatu Member of Parliament and Special Envoy for Climate Change and Nia Tero Advisory Council member ?? Julian Aguon (CHamoru, Guam) Founder, Blue Ocean Law and past Nia Tero Storytelling Fellow ?? Swipe to learn more about this historic convening ?? Watch the proceedings here: https://lnkd.in/e9Yuz6-b ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/ekCUHUgd ?? by Cami Diaz Egurrola #PacificIslands?#IndigenousRights?#IndigenousGuardians?#IndigenousGuardianship?#Vanuatu?#Guam?#NiaTero

Visiting North Carolina CAP team members Katherine Anarde and Ryan McCune and Pacific RISA RA Gorberg participated in a workday at lo?i kalo being restored in Waikāne, O?ahu with KEY Project community liaison Joe Wat. Wetland kalo (taro) systems provide flood mitigation in addition to cultural, food security, ecosystem, and community benefits. Pacific RISA is collaborating with the Carolinas Collaborative on Climate, Health, and Equity (C3HE), the NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships team for the Carolinas region, to conduct community-engaged research to support equitable flood resilience in Hawai?i and North Carolina. The North Shore and northern Ko?olaupoko to southern Ko?olauloa regions on O?ahu are priority regions for flood risk. Find out more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/giUNVSHd #climate #climatechange #hawaii #northcarolina #flooding #flood #resilientoahu

This past Saturday was the 3rd Annual Kāhuli Festival, hosted by @bishopmuseum. The festival brought together the research community and conservation partners, along with local artists and other community organizations to celebrate Oahu’s 759 known species of land snails, many of which are critically endangered. The event also featured a panel discussion with conservation experts that are at the forefront of saving Hawaii’s endangered kāhuli (snails) and manu (birds). The panel emphasized the importance of community education and outreach to inspire people (especially future generations) to care for these species, and the establishment of a “green fee” for visitors to the island that would directly contribute to conservation efforts. #bishopmuseum #hawaii #conservation #kahuli #snail #hawaiilife #research #climatechange #climateaction

Our work with the County of Kaua?i Resilience Team on peer-to-peer exchanges between Kaua?i County, other Hawai?i county offices, and the City of Boston has been published in Ocean & Coastal Management! Titled “Peer-to-Peer Exchanges on Island Resilience Planning for Transformative Adaptation to Climate Hazards,” the paper describes the 4 exchanges and social learning outcomes, with lessons learned for transformational adaptation research. We’re especially grateful to the County of Kaua?i team as our co-authors, two of whom are on Pacific RISA’s Advisory Committee. Access it here: https://lnkd.in/gDdc2u28 Arizona State University Laura Brewington ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory ASU College of Global Futures

What exactly does Pacific RISA do? Explore the 2023-2024 Annual Report to see how we accelerated research, outreach, and policy implementation across all aspects of the program to support Pacific island and coastal communities in adapting to the impacts of climate variability and change. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gyYAJjya