Armed with everything from 3D printers to Indigenous place-based storytelling (moʻolelo), three student fellows tackled some of Hawaiʻi‘s most pressing coastal challenges this summer through the Peter J. Rappa Resilient and Sustainable Coasts Fellowship, an eight-week paid program from the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant).
From 1979 until his passing in 2011, Rappa was a tireless champion for sustainable coastal communities. The fellowship honors his vision and legacy by training the next generation of leaders in coastal management.
Digital tools for coastal resilience
Olivia Boucher worked under the mentorship of Shellie Habel to explore the use of emerging digital media tools such as virtual reality, 3D printing, and projection for outreach and education on coastal resilience.
“I’m grateful to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and the Rappa Fellowship for helping me deepen my understanding of outreach strategies and further my kuleana to stewardship in Hawaiʻi,” Boucher said. “I’ll carry forward the importance of cross-sector collaboration in finding innovative and inspiring ways to engage communities.”
Children’s science education, traditional storytelling
Mailelauhulaliakauanoe (Maile) Hoe designed accessible keiki field guides to support children’s marine and coastal science education with an emphasis on moʻolelo. Ho worked directly with the Hanauma Bay Education Program, North Shore Community Land Trust, and Pacific American Foundation.
“This summer, I worked with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant’s Hanauma Bay Education Program, Waikalua Loko Iʻa, and Waialeʻe Lako Pono to design children’s activity books that connect scientific observation and moʻolelo, or traditional storytelling,” said Hoe. “Researching completely new environments, designing effective layouts, pitching my ideas, coordinating meetings, fostering new relationships—this project had me learning and growing in so many different ways! I feel much more confident in my professional abilities, and excited to use what I’ve learned in projects to come.”
Mapping technologies
Joey Wu conducted a feasibility study on the use of unmanned aerial systems capable of collecting both land and shallow-water elevation data, which is crucial for understanding wave run-up and flooding in Hawaiʻi’s coastal waters, under the mentorship of Dolan Eversole.
“This summer, I investigated coastal mapping technologies from various perspectives such as technical proficiency, community safety, environmental fit, and economic feasibility,” Wu said. “Uncovering the various tradeoffs and intersections showed me how complicated systematic change can be from a governmental/university perspective. I learned how to frame, identify, and approach open-ended research questions. Understanding the comprehensive impact of science will undoubtedly support my future as a scientist.”
–By Cindy Knapman
