Alumni News

Wildfires on Pacific Islands isnʻt so much a story of climate change but rather, how human actions (and inaction) have created highly flammable landscapes. The good news? If human activity can be altered, so can landscapes – and restored to be less vulnerable to fire. “What is unique about fire on Pacific Islands is how clearly it is linked to people,” writes Extension Specialist Clay Traurnicht of the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management in an opinion-editorial article published in The Hill. “Lightning is rare on small islands, restricting “natural” fires to volcanic events. When Pacific Islands were first settled, the ignition switch was flipped on, as fire was used for many purposes like clearing land for farming, maintaining access to forested areas, and controlling pests.”

Clay adds, “Even now, nearly all fires on Pacific Islands are started by people, with ignitions tightly correlated with population. This also means that forest-dwelling plants and animals of Pacific Islands, many of which are found nowhere else, are poorly adapted to fire. However, it is important to understand that the negative impacts of fire on Pacific island ecosystems radically increased with colonization and militarization that brought in weeds, many of which promote fire.”

Read the full op-ed article in The Hill.

CTAHR is supporting Washington Middle School in its project, “STEAM Entrepreneurship and Research Network,” where students and teachers engage in interdisciplinary learning activities to re-connect students to science and connections to community in their world through immersion in culture, sustainable agriculture, community service and personal growth. This project received a $150,000 grant. Several University of Hawai?i projects were each awarded $100,000–$450,000 as part of Gov. David Ige’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects encompass STEM education, project-based learning opportunities and leadership development programs, and are scheduled to run through June 30, 2022.

“These projects demonstrate our faculty’s innovative spirit and commitment to improve learning across our islands,” UH President David Lassner said. “Our post-pandemic priorities recommitted us to help teachers and ensure that students at all levels can advance along their educational pathways to achieve success in their careers and communities. These projects help show the way forward in education, health and more.”

Read the Office of the Governor’s news release, “Governor Ige invests $8.1 million in 31 innovative education programs.”

High on the slopes of the world’s tallest* mountain, these alpine stone desert and subalpine mamane scrub habitats are home to the endemic Wekiu Bug, as well as some of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic native flora and fauna. But for natural resource managers who want to improve the conservation efforts of these endemic species, and better understand the most problematic introduced species, more information is needed. Specifically: the arthropods’ habits and dietary requirements, effects of introduced species on their trophic network, and flow of energy and resources between the alpine and subalpine habitats. Enter Brad Reil, a graduate student researcher in the Insect Systematics and Biodiversity Lab, part of the Dept. of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Brad and his graduate advisor, Dan Rubinoff, have traded in their T-shirts for warmer wear as they hike atop this massive mountain, collecting specimens necessary for food web construction and for analyzing the arthropod communities.

“Mauna Kea is a special place for many reasons,” says Brad. “Ecologically, the endemic species that call the mountain home are found nowhere else on earth and have adapted to the harsh dry cold conditions on the volcano. At the summit, the aeolian stone desert ecosystem obtains much of its resources from wind-borne materials (bits of plants, dead insects, dust, etc.) instead of plant species, resulting in uniquely adapted inhabitant species such as the Wekiu Bug.”

The specimen collection phase that began in 2018 will soon finish up, and Brad will switch to processing the specimens, analyzing the results, and writing up his final reports. He thanks the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy (Hale Pohaku); Mauna kea Access Road; Mauna kea Science Reserve; Mauna kea Ice Age NAR; Mauna kea Forest Reserve; and associated rangers and managers. The project is being funded by the Office of Mauna kea Management.

“This research is exciting because it will provide information about the underlying interactions between the arthropod species that support these diverse habitats, and will help to ensure we have the knowledge necessary to properly manage and conserve them,” he says.

Catch Brad and Dan on Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s The Conversation.

*Measured from base to peak, Mauna Kea (33,500+ feet) is taller than Mt. Everest (29,029 feet).

Ceremony and tradition surround Merrie Monarch, and this includes a live fashion show, held mid-week during the festival and hosted by the Grand Naniloa Hotel. This year, the crowds had to watch video from their living rooms, due to Covid. Thankfully, the beauty and excitement didn’t lose a beat. Featured on Hawaiʻi News Now, the first-ever televised Hawaiʻi Fashion Showcase was an inspiring visual journey. Under the theme, “Mauka to Makai,” it showcased seven local designers amid the beauty of Hawai'i Island – including CTAHR’s very own Sharayah Chun-Lai, alum of the Fashion Design and Merchandising program in the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences.

“Director Noel Ross envisioned putting together a Fashion Showcase so that Hawaiʻi designers could still be part of the Merrie Monarch celebration this year,” says Sharayah. “This was an amazing experience for me. To be able to see my designs, clothing, bags, and more on the runway was very surreal. It was such a wonderful way to get myself out there and show the meaning and story behind what I love to do most.” 

Watch the Hawaiʻi Fashion Showcase on HNN (fast forward to 9:40 for Sharayah’s segment).

*****

Ola Hou Designs

by Sharayah Chun-Lai, Class of 2016, Fashion Design and Merchandising

Ola Hou Designs tells stories. Stories that you see, wear and represent. These designs convey my heart. Each print represents a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. It’s a representation of family, friends, culture, life and love, intertwined together to create artistic fashion collections. 

Since I was a young girl, fashion has always been a passion that never grew old with age. From dressing up in my motherʻs shoes and grandmotherʻs skirts, and “shopping” in my older sisterʻs closet, it’s a love that I decided to turn into a career. So I pursued my dreams by enrolling in CTAHR’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Program, earning my Bachelor’s degree in 2016. I am forever grateful to CTAHR and Fashion Design and Merchandising. It has truly paved the path for me and continues to do so for my future. 

After becoming a mother to my daughter, I made it a priority to become a positive role model in her life and show her that if you set your mind to it, work hard, and dedicate time and effort in what you do, you can truly achieve anything. 

In the Hawaiian Language, which are my cultural roots, Ola Hou translates to “New Life.” My goal, through this business, is to bring forth new styles and designs that fit into the modern Hawaiian-inspired clothing that we call Aloha Wear.

A high demand for applied science was very apparent June 30, and again July 29, as Oʻahu farmers and Master Gardeners arrived at CTAHR’s Urban Garden Center for workshops on compost quality. Extension agent Josh Silva and I are excited to resume hosting outdoor events at UGC, which were very popular with stakeholders prior to Covid. Special talks and demonstrations were provided by Koon-Hui Wang of the Dept. of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, Sustainable Pest-Management Specialist Kaili Kosaka, the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Response Team, and Marvin Min of Hawaiian Earth Products.

This was a great opportunity to learn about compost, compost quality, compost processing, composting methods, vermicomposting with red worms, compost management for CRB prevention, carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios, and related topics. Our guests were able to walk through the UGC grounds – which staff and volunteers have done a spectacular job in renovating – including the new raised-bed systems planted with locally-produced compost from Hawaiian Earth Products. Mahalo HEP!

Participants were very impressed by the presentations and topics covered. In fact, their warm responses prompted us to hold a second workshop for our volunteers and Master Gardeners.

“This was a great and beneficial event. All speakers did a very good job. Mahalo for the free compost samples” and “Please keep providing us with this type of workshops” are just a few of the positive comments we received.

Our goal is to increase awareness of the quality and availability of locally produced compost. We want to improve understanding of composting as a great method of waste management, what can be expected from compost application, how to increase the benefits from compost application, how to improve compost quality, and which compost quality parameters to look for.

Mahalo to everyone who helped make these workshops successful, and we look forward to hosting another one soon.