Other sponsored projects

Project Title: Costs and Tradeoffs of Sea Level Rise Adaptation in Island Urban Centers: The Case of Waikīkī
Investigators: Ketty Loeb (PI), Makena Coffman (co-PI), Oceana Francis, Christopher Wada, Shellie Habel, Dolan Eversole, Eileen Peppard, Wendy Meguro (Key Persons)
Source of Support: Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Total Award Amount: $300,000
Total Award Period Covered: 08/01/2024 – 7/31/2026
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Current
Description: The objective of this research is to better define the costs and tradeoffs of the various sea level rise (SLR) response strategies available to coastal urban centers in the Pacific Islands. Building upon a cost analysis model the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Sustainability and Resilience has been piloting on Oahu’s North Shore, we propose to identify the costs and tradeoffs of SLR response strategies available to coastal communities in the Pacific Islands by applying and developing the new model in a dense island urban context. Specifically, we propose to apply this model to the famous urban resort area of Waikīkī.

Project Title: Pathways for Advancement of Pacific Islanders
Investigators: Pakieli Kaufusi (PI), Tina Tauasosi, Christine Quemuel, Adrialina Guerero, Oceana Francis, Kelley Withy, Richard Yanagihara, Joseph Keawe'aimoku Kaholokula, Kimberly Yamauchi (co-PIs)
Source of Support: Strategic Investment Initiative, OVCR, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $250,000
Total Award Period Covered: 08/15/2022 – 02/14/2024
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Current
Description: Establish a Pathways for Advancement of Pacific Islanders (PAPI) program to boost enrollment, retention and graduation success of Pacific Islander undergraduate students, particularly in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine), and to integrate indigenous values into STEMM education and mentoring to foster inclusive excellence.

Project Title: Hoʻōla Lako Pono: Restoring Holistic Abundance at Waiale‘e, O‘ahu
Investigators: Rosie Alegado (PI), Nick Kawelakai Farrant, Katy Hintzen, Sara Kahanamoku, Davianna McGregor, Ty Kawika Tengan, Melissa Price, Noelani Puniwai, Alex Mawyer, Oceana Francis, Roger Chen, Wendy Meguro, Bundit Kanisthakhon (co-PIs)
Source of Support: Strategic Investment Initiative, OVCR, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $311,786
Total Award Period Covered: 08/15/2022 – 02/14/2024
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Current
Description: Develop a sustainable research infrastructure hub at Waiale’e, Oahu through 1) community-led design and implementation, 2) Instructional and research innovation, 2) place-based grounding through service, 4) supporting student success in a rural community.

Project Title: Stormwater Management for Transportation Planners and Engineers
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: University of Hawaii (via UH Pacific Southwest Region 9 University Transportation Center)
Total Award Amount: $25,200
Total Award Period Covered: 07/01/2018 – 09/30/2019
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Develop a five-hour training course for transportation planners, highway engineers, law enforcement, and others involved in managing traffic and implementing hazard mitigation and climate adaptation strategies. The research provides educational and training opportunities for students and transportation professionals.
Students/Postdocs supported: Linqiang Yang (Postdoc CEE)

Project Title: INDIGENOUS HAWAIIAN SCIENCE AND RESILIENT ISLANDS under the project “ENGAGING SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS, STEWARDSHIP AND INDIGENOUS SCIENCES: ENHANCING STUDENT, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY
Investigators: Davianna McGregor (PI), Christopher Baker, Rosie Alegado, Oceana Francis, Joshua Kaakua (co-PIs)
Source of Support: Strategic Investment Initiative, OVCR, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $47,000
Total Award Period Covered: 01/01/18 – 06/30/19
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Conduct two faculty development workshops on Kanaloa Kahoʻolawe. The first part of the work envisions and designs projects that will support the sustainability and resilience of island ecosystems that can be piloted on the island of Kanaloa Kaho’olawe. The second part of the work designs Indigenous Hawaiian science programs and curriculum that can be offered by departments in the UH system as part of the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, bridging Indigenous sciences with Western science.

Project Title: KŪʻOKOʻA: SUSTAINING ABUNDANT ʻĀINA & RESILIENT LEADERSHIP
Investigators: Mehana Vaughan, Kamana Beamer, Greg Chun, Malia Akutagawa,
Malia Nobrega-Oliveira (co-PIs); Noelani Puniwai, Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua,
Kekuewa Kikiloi, Rosie Alegado, Oceana Francis, Noa Lincoln and Carl Evensen
(Leadership Team)
Source of Support: Strategic Investment Initiative, OVCR, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $327,241
Total Award Period Covered: 01/01/18 – 06/30/19
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Establish a certificate program for graduate students & professionals focused on culturally grounded resource management & sustainability and enhance University-wide collaborative scholarship and teaching on issues of culturally-grounded sustainability, resilience and mālama ʻāina.

Project Title: Modernization of Coastal Processes Modeling
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: Department of Defense
Total Award Amount: $30,000 
Total Award Period Covered: 8/15/2016 – 10/14/2017
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: This study proposes to take existing, outdated codes, improve their computational schemes, and assist in the conversion to programming languages that are compatible with internet protocols. The modules would be revised based on recent experimental data and updates would be performed on many of the mathematical manipulations contained within the old versions. Several project sites will be analyzed with the new version to capture a wide range of coastal conditions. The results from the updated codes will be compared to the older versions to verify accuracy of computations. The flexibility of the new programming procedures would allow ERDC-CHL personnel to perform quality control on the applications to further advance the software by incorporating up-to-date technological advancements into the code on a regular basis.
Students/Postdocs supported: Yaprak Onat (PhD ORE)

Project Title: Research Experience for Undergraduates for 2015-2016: Pōkāneloa Hydrologic Modeling Study, Kaho’olawe, Hawai’i
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: College of Engineering, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $2,000
Total Award Period Covered: 11/01/2015 – 04/23/2016
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Use of a hydrologic model to correctly identify and realistically simulate the important hydrologic processes in the gully in order to help provide the needed parameters for erosion mitigation. This includes the Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis to simulate different types of runoff production and determine the controlling physical processes in the gully to predict future hydrologic processes at Pōkāneloa which will help to mitigate against future erosion. Deployed two types of instruments: weather station (precipitation) for input into the model, and water level loggers for open channel measurements to validate model.
Students/Postdocs supported: Alexander Gomes (UG CEE)

 
Project Title: Nutrient and Sediment Contributions from Urban Storm Water
Investigators: Roger Babcock (PI), Sayed Bateni, Steve Dollar, Oceana Francis (coPIs)
Source of Support: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Total Award Amount: $66,525
Total Award Period Covered: 11/03/2014 – 12/30/2015
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Collect data on storm water samples to enable management decisions on determining target areas that contribute the greatest sources of pollutants to marine waters. The project is located in two West Maui watersheds that are designated as priority watersheds due to concerns of persistent decline in coral health. This project fills in the data gaps about the relative pollution contribution of selected drainage areas, establish baseline information for the urban environment, and allow funds for implementation projects to be targeted to areas that can achieve the most ecological good. Storm water monitoring equipment was installed at 5 locations to collect samples. All samples will be analyzed for dissolved and total nutrients, sediment, pH and conductivity. Data from these surveys were used to compare nutrient/sediment loading rates from each catchment.
Students/Postdocs supported: Jeff Nielson (MS CEE)

Project Title: Research Experience for Undergraduates for 2014-2015: Bottom mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: College of Engineering, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $2,000
Total Award Period Covered: 11/01/2014 – 04/23/2015
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (already provided), a bottom mounted platform is needed to acquire measurements in the reef zones. The in situ wave measurements collected will be used to validate wind-driven wave models which will also be conducted for this project, to better understand how waves are affecting a coral reef region over the long term.
Students/Postdocs supported: Tatiana Oje (UG CEE)

Project Title: Research Experience for Undergraduates for 2014-2015: Surface winds for coastal and offshore applications
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: College of Engineering, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $2,000
Total Award Period Covered: 11/01/2014 – 04/23/2015
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Gathered new wind measurements and used in situ wind measurements to create a wind hindcast in an area lacking in situ measurements, to help predict the loads which will affect the coastal and offshore infrastructure.
Students/Postdocs supported: Darren Ramos (UG CEE)

Project Title: Preliminary Engineering Analysis and Development of Retrofit Designs: Sediment Retention at Honokowai Structure #8, Wahikuli-Honokowai Priority Site, Maui, Hawaii
Investigators: Roger Babcock (PI), Sayed Bateni, Oceana Francis (coPIs)
Source of Support: Department of Land and Natural Resources
Total Award Amount: $51,000
Total Award Period Covered: 10/15/2013-09/30/2014
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Evaluated Honokōwai watershed hydrology, original debris basin design parameters, and existing basin characteristics, operations and performance. Analyzed potential trapping efficiency and sediment retention for a suite of design alternatives. Evaluated the cost-effectiveness, dam safety ramifications, and hydrologic impacts of various retrofit approaches in reducing basin-delivered sediment loads across a spectrum of future conditions for stream input and basin operations. 
Students/Postdocs supported: Jeff Nielson (MS CEE)

Project Title: Physical Oceanographic and Meteorological Data for Beaufort and Chukchi Seas to Support Reliability-based Design Criteria for Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Structures
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Total Award Amount: $36,000
Total Award Period Covered: 07/01/2013  – 06/30/2015
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Gathered and provided meteorological data, which include winds, air temperature, precipitation, and visibility at land-based sites and satellite measurements, through an extensive literary and database search in order to update the ISO / DIS 19906 for the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas regions.
Students/Postdocs supported: Darren Ramos (UG CEE)

 
Project Title: Design and development of a public water supply system for Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island), Hawai’i, USA
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawaii
Total Award Amount: $42,000
Total Award Period Covered: 06/01/2013 – 12/31/2016
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Assess the feasibility of a public water system that will supply the entire Coconut Island over the present day and long term, while practicing sustainable engineering using available resources. Design and develop a water catchment system as a main source of potable water. Assess the projected climate change effects on the water catchment system.
Students/Postdocs supported: Joshua Lelemia Irvine (PhD CEE)

Project Title: Cordova Sectional Barge Study
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Total Award Amount: $11,226
Total Award Period Covered: 09/01/2012 – 08/31/2013
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Developed a coastal design for wave energy based on wave heights and periods predicted to be generated by a storm of a given exceedance probability. The wave energy developed provided a source of accurate, scientifically determined wave characteristics for use in the design of coastal structures for the shoreline of Cordova.

Project Title: Water, Energy and Soil Sustainability (WESS) Course Development
Investigator: Oceana Francis (PI)
Source of Support: Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI)
Total Award Amount: $22,644
Total Award Period Covered: 08/01/2012 – 06/30/2013
Location of Project: University of Hawaii
Status: Completed
Description: Development of the CEE 441 Principles of Sustainability Analysis course offered at the University of Hawaii.
Students/Postdocs supported: Joshua Lelemia Irvine (PhD CEE), Maura Sateriale (PhD ME)