Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 9, 1 September 2021 — Native Hawaiian Scientists Travel to Papahānaumokuākea [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Scientists Travel to Papahānaumokuākea

By Sterling Wong In late July, a hui of Native Hawaiian scientists departed from Kāne'ohe Bay on a 15-day scientific research voyage into the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM). The voyage was supported, in part, by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Sailing aboard the Makani 'Olu, a 96-foot, tri-ple-masted schooner, 12 Native Hawaiian researchers visited Nīhoa, Mokumanamana and Lalo (French Frigate Shoals), the monument's eastern-most islands. "OHA is proud to support some of the most brilliant scientific minds of our lāhui, whose research in the kūpuna islands in Papahānaumokuākea will help us create better management strategies to deal with elimate change and sea level rise affecting our eommunities here in the younger islands," said OHA Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey. The hui collaborated on two separate scientific studies on sea-level rise and intertidal fisheries management, working alongside eaeh other during field work and expanding on future cross-collaborations. Led by Haunani Kāne, an assistant professor at the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Scienee at Arizona State University, the first study identified shifts in dominant sediment types and its sources from the nearshore reefs at Lalo. "I couldn't have hoped for a more successful trip," said Kāne. "We were able to conduct high quality research, share space and time with our kūpuna islands, and the trip itself provided numerous opportunities for our haumāna to grow as young leaders. "Eaeh of the graduate students stepped up big in some way. By the end of our huaka'i, Kainalu Steward led all land-based GPS surveying at Tern Island - whieh will be very important as the PMNM Lalo task force begins to envision options for the future of these moku as the climate changes. Aloha Kapono led all of the marine surveys and successfully collected sediment samples and videos with her team that will

Taking a mueh needed breather on a hot day at Nihoa. - Photo: Hanalei Wann-Keli'iho'omalu

be used to describe the impacts of Hurricane Walaka on the reef in 3D. And Lauren Kapono stepped up big time and led the intertidal surveys while also navigating challenging conditions at both Kamohoali'i and Nīhoa." In 2018, Hurricane Walaka devastated this area and resulted in the loss of an entire islet and large expanses of pristine reef. The study helped improve understanding of the potential loss and timescales for recovery of critical habitat following extreme storm events. The study also focused on learning more about how the predicted increased sea level rise and hurricane activity in Hawai'i will impact essential habitats for priority species, such as sea turtles, monk seals, and various seabirds. This project was also supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Science Foundation and Arizona State University. "We hope that our trip will help to inspire other Native Hawaiians to push the boundaries of Hawaiian perspectives in their field, even when they feel like their voice is the minority," Kāne said. "This was the first time that an entire crew of Hawaiian scientists led research in Papahānaumokuākea under a research permit and our research will directly contribute to four Native Hawaiian graduate degrees and an early career professor." The second study was conducted by Nā Maka Onaona in partnership with UH Mānoa and UH Sea Grant to build on more than a decade of partnerships with various organizations and communities monitoring the dynamic Hawaiian intertidal fishery in the main Hawaiian Islands and Papahānaumokuākea. Led by Pelika Andrade and Kanoe'ulalani Morishige, the research focused on developing sustainable harvesting and adaptive management strategies that support 'āina momona, healthy and productive communities of people and plaee. One of the ancestral knowledge systems integrated into the project was the use of Huli 'Ia, a traditional observational process

that documents seasonal changes and shifts across entire landscapes. "Paired with Huli 'Ia, we interweave community engagement, ancestral knowledge systems, and institutional research, creating a unique research approach called 'Productivity and Carrying Capacity' (PACC) to better understand seasonal changes on patterns of reproduction, recruitment, growth, and productivity of 'opihi and intertidal ecosystems," said Morishige, a UH Mānoa Marine Biology PhD candidate. "Our work across the pae 'āina, including Papahānaumokuākea, broadens our understanding and collectively informs our research on the breadth and depth of productive systems and 'āina." "It was an honor to participate in this huaka'i with these amazing kānaka who are looking to push the boundaries of contemporary sciences by ensuring Indigenous perspectives remain at the forefront of their studies," said OHA's Papahānaumokuākea Program Specialist Ka'aleleo Wong. "This trip helped create SEE PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA ON PAGE 23

Haunani Kāne, Kainalu Steward, and Kammie Dominique Taveres eolleā GPS data points on Tern lsland, Lalo to aid in determining how the island has been affected after Hurricane Walaka in 2018. - Photo: Brad Ka'alaleo Wonq

UH-Hilo Graduate Student Lauren Kapono led the research team in conducting 'opihi surveys at Lalo ana Nīhoa. - Photo: Jason Patterson, 'Ōiwi IV

PAPAHĀN AU M 0 KUĀKE A

Continued from page 5 lasting impressions and lessons learned for all those involved and further reinforces the need to provide opportunities for other Native Hawaiians to experience Papahānaumokuākea in this way." Added Kāne, "Sailing to and from Papahānaumokuākea was a lesson in itself and one that we all will forever cherish. The crew of Makani 'Olu were great teachers, and it was rewarding to work so hard to get to the kūpuna islands and back home again. We were also blessed with amazing community members who kept us well fed and happy with fresh fish!" OHA's support of this cultural and scientific voyage aligns with Mai Ka Pō Mai, a groundbreaking guidance document recently approved by the Papahānaumokuākea Management Board. Mai Ka Pō Mai uses traditional concepts and cultural traditions related to the monument to set a foundation for how management should be conducted. 'As a co-trustee of the monument, OHA is excited to promote projects that demonstrate there has never been a separation between our culture and science," said Lindsey. "These researchers are following in the footsteps of our kūpuna as they use our native language, traditional protocols, and cultural worldview to pursue a better understanding of our environment and develop new methods to help us survive in our island home." ■ More information on Mai Ka Pō Mai ean be found at www. oha.org/maikapomai.