Ka Pili Kai 2016 - Hawaii Sea Grant

Ka Pili Kai
University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant College Program

Vol. 38, No. 1
Graduate Student
Research 2016

Spring 2016
University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program
Ka Pili Kai
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Contents
Vol. 38 No. 1
Humpback Whale Vocal Communications Between
Mothers and Calves
Ka Pili Kai (ISSN 1550-641X) is published
quarterly by the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant
College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant), School
of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
(SOEST). Hawai‘i Sea Grant is a unique
partnership of university, government and
industry, focusing on marine research, education
and advisory/extension services.
University of Hawai‘i
Sea Grant College Program
2525 Correa Road, HIG 208
Honolulu, HI 96822
Director:
Darren T. Lerner, PhD
Wastewater’s Influence on Coastal Groundwater
Quality and the Health of Coral Reefs in Maunalua
Bay, O‘ahu
Communications Leader: Cindy Knapman
Attack of the Drones: Characterizing Groundwater
Discharge on Maui Using the Latest Research Tools
Periodicals postage paid at
Honolulu, HI
Simulating Sea-Level Rise Induced Groundwater
Inundation of O‘ahu’s Most Highly Developed
Coastal Zones
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Fellowship Opportunities with Hawai‘i Sea Grant
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2015 Peter J. Rappa Sustainable Coastal
Development Fellow
In this issue...
The year 2016 is a major milestone for Sea Grant as it marks the 50th
anniversary of the passing of the National Sea Grant College and Program
Act of 1966. Since that time Sea Grant has been on the ground in every
coastal and Great Lakes state and Guam, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia,
American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to listen to
needs, respond with science, and transfer new information directly to
the communities. The University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program
(Hawai‘i Sea Grant) was one of the first five programs in the network,
and since opening our doors in 1968 we have understood the importance
of training the next generation of scientists and policymakers, and have
trained over 1,000 students to be leaders in their field. In this issue you will
hear from a few of the students currently participating in our Sea Grant
Graduate Trainee Program and learn about the cutting-edge research they
are conducting to help our state and nation face the new environmental
challenges ahead.
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Multimedia Specialist
Assistant Communications Leader:
Heather Dudock
Postmaster: Send address changes to: Ka Pili Kai, 2525 Correa Road, HIG 208
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 956-7410; fax: (808) 956-3014
uhsgcomm@hawaii.edu
http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu
The University of Hawaiÿi was designated a Sea
Grant College in 1972, following the National
Sea Grant College and Program Act of 1966.
Ka Pili Kai is funded by a grant from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, project C/CC-1, sponsored by
the University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant College
Program/SOEST, under Institutional Grant No.
NA14OAR4170071 from the NOAA Office of
Sea Grant, Department of Commerce. The views
expressed herein are those of the authors only.
UNIHI-SEAGRANT-NP-16-02
Ka Pili Kai Editor:
Cindy Knapman
Layout and Design:
Heather Dudock
On the Cover: A young female
humpback whale spyhops in order
to take a closer look at the research
vessel both above and under water. Photo taken under NOAA NMFS
permit #14682.
Photo credit: Jessica Chen
Humpback Whale Vocal Communications
Between Mothers and Calves
By Jessica Chen, Hawai‘i Sea Grant graduate trainee
Breach by a male
escorting a mothercalf pair. NOAA
Permit #14682-01
Photo: Jessica Chen
“Thar she blows!”
Lahaina, Maui was a bustling port for whaling ships in the 1800s, called the whaling capital of the world during
the mid-1800s. Nowadays it is still a popular destination for whales, but for the activity of whale watching
rather than hunting. A portion of the North Pacific humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) population
migrates every winter from the cold waters off Alaska and the Bering Sea to the warm waters of Hawai‘i to give
birth, begin raising their calves, and mate. The Maui Nui area between Maui, Kaho‘olawe, Läna‘i, and Moloka‘i
is a particularly popular area for mother-calf pairs due to the warm shallow waters.
Although whaling has decreased significantly since the 1982 moratorium imposed by the International Whaling
Commission, humans still pose a threat to all whales. Some threats include loss of food resources due to
overfishing, pollution, and climate change, risk of entanglement from fishing lines and gear, ship strikes from
increased number of vessels in the ocean, and disturbance from human generated sounds. We are interested in
studying the effects of human generated sound. In Hawai‘i underwater noise may come from small recreational
or fishing boats, whale watching boats, large barges and cargo ships, military ships, sonar and fish-finders, and
coastal construction. In particular, we want to know what effects underwater noise may have on humpback
whale mother-calf pairs.
Less is known about humpback whale vocalizations termed “social sounds,” used to communicate when feeding
or traveling in groups, than “song,” comprehensively studied since the 1970s. In addition, little is known about
vocal development, or how whales learn to make their many song and social vocalizations. Since whales
produce so many types of sounds it is logical to assume the sounds are essential for communication. Learning
is most likely involved because of the wide diversity of sounds produced; vocalizations are not limited to
stereotyped calls produced by all animals and appear to be important in a social context.
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How do whales learn to make the varied sounds they
use for communication? What are the important
aspects of these sounds? We can speculate based on
what we know about other species. However, it is
almost impossible to know exactly how a humpback
whale learns, especially when we still do not know
how they produce sounds or what sounds they can
hear! We also have no way of knowing what aspects
of a sound are most important to a whale. What we
can do is characterize the sounds the humpback
whale calves make by determining parameters such
as frequency (pitch), amplitude (loudness), and type
(frequency modulated, amplitude modulated, or burst
pulse). Pairing acoustics with a calibrated underwater
video system, we can examine whether the calves
develop more complex sounds as they grow older, or
if they produce fully formed sounds from birth. The
video can also be examined for behavioral context of
sound production. For example, does the calf call to
the mother when separated, or together? Does it make
certain sounds when disturbed by a boat or swimmer?
The characterization of humpback whale sounds
produced by calves and mothers also allows us to
determine possible effects of human made noises. If
they make sounds in the same range as local whale
watching boat engines, their communications are
more likely to be obscured than if they call at higher
or lower frequencies or they may be more likely to
be affected by the lower frequency noise from large
cargo ships. Because vocalizations are apparently very
important to humpback whales, it is imperative for the
whales to be able to hear each other, especially when a
calf is young and in the process of learning.
To learn about the sounds and behavior of humpback
whales, we use suction cup acoustic recording
tags placed on the whale, an array of underwater
microphones (hydrophones), underwater video,
photo identification, and behavioral observations.
Throughout the last three humpback whale seasons,
I have deployed tags on three calves and seven
mothers. So far, analysis of the sound recordings from
the tags indicate that both mothers and calves are
relatively quiet. In fact, one 3.5 hour recording from
a mother contained no vocalizations! Vocalizations
also tend to occur in bouts, rather than being evenly
spaced throughout the recording. The vocalizations
recorded from calves so far show much less
variation than song units, and appear to be largely
stereotyped. Vocalizations recorded from mothers
show slightly more variation in sound parameters. In
the ongoing analysis, I plan to develop a more robust
categorization system and to correlate vocalization
production to behavioral state and location in the
water column. If vocalizations are correlated with
certain behavioral states, acoustic disruption may be
more likely to occur when the whales are exhibiting
certain behaviors such as traveling or resting. In the
future, vocalization parameters will be compared to
recordings of local whale-watching boats. This will
allow us to determine if boat engine noise is likely to
mask the social sounds of mothers and calves, which
could jeopardize the calf’s learning or safety. I hope
to continue this line of research to collect enough
samples to create a timeline of vocal development,
furthering the understanding of whale behavior and
interaction with humans.
NOAA NMFS Permit #14682
Photo: Lee Shannon
NOAA NMFS Permit
#14682-01Photo: Adam Pack
Jessica placing an Acousonde suction cup acoustic and data
recording tag on a mother humpback whale.
Bioacoustic Probe suction cup acoustic and data recording tag attached
to mother humpback whale with calf surfacing next to mother.
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Wastewater’s Influence on Coastal
Groundwater Quality and the Health of
Coral Reefs in Maunalua Bay, O‘ahu
By Christina Richardson, Hawai‘i Sea Grant graduate trainee
Groundwater is vitally important in Hawai‘i as it supplies over 99 percent of our drinking water. Beyond its
consumptive uses, groundwater also creates unique coastal estuaries in the Hawaiian Islands – areas where
groundwater mixes with sea water in coastal embayments inhabited by corals. My research focuses on three
of these “coastal estuaries” in Maunalua Bay, O‘ahu: Black Point, Kawaikui, and Wailupe. Previous studies
in the area have documented high nutrient loads (nearly 200 times greater than oceanic concentrations) in
groundwater discharging along the coast at Black Point. Elevated nutrient concentrations can affect a range
of marine organisms in Hawai‘i since our ocean water is typically nutrient-poor. Many algal species thrive in
these nutrient-rich conditions while corals suffer from increasingly poor water quality and decreased sunlight
availability as algae clouds the water column.
In January 2015, working alongside my primary advisor, Dr. Henrietta Dulai, I completed field surveys at each
location to monitor the nutrient concentrations in groundwater and the surrounding coastal water. I also sampled
three terrestrial groundwater wells in the Black Point area to see how land-use may be affecting groundwater
chemistry as it traveled mauka (toward the mountains) to makai (toward the sea). Black Point’s groundwater is
entrained in an entirely separate storage unit, or aquifer, than that of Wailupe’s and Kawaikui’s groundwater.
The implications of this are that land-use practices that impact groundwater in the Black Point area will not
affect the neighboring Kawaikui and Wailupe field sites. Similar to past studies, we found that nutrient loads
were highest in coastal groundwater in the Black Point area whereas Wailupe’s and Kawaikui’s groundwater
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nutrients resembled concentrations commonly
observed upgradient of development. So, where are
the nutrients at Black Point coming from?
To answer this question, I looked at nitrate stable
isotopes which are commonly used to track sources of
nitrogen in water. The resulting stable isotope values
can tell scientists whether the nitrate originates from a
waste source or fertilizer, for example. As such, I also
sampled the upland wells and groundwater sources
at each of my three coastal field sites for these water
constituents. My results suggested that Black Point’s
elevated nutrient loads were the result of wastewater
inputs. Both Wailupe’s and Kawaikui’s groundwater
showed no signs of wastewater influence, however.
In Hawai‘i, on-site sewage disposal systems (OSDS)
are a common alternative to wastewater treatment
facilities for disposing of household waste. Cesspools
are the dominant form of OSDS in Hawai‘i, with
an estimated 14,000 units on the island of O‘ahu
alone. A cesspool is an unlined underground pit that
directly receives household waste. Little to no primary
treatment of sewage occurs in these units. This
untreated wastewater is free to percolate down into
the water table where it can be readily conveyed to the
ocean via groundwater.
Working with Dr. Robert Whittier at the Hawai‘i State
Department of Health, I examined the locations and
density of OSDS in each field area. Black Point’s
aquifer contained 328 OSDS, primarily cesspools,
and nearly 120 of these were within 1 km of the coast.
For comparison, the aquifer feeding both Kawaikui
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and Wailupe contained a total of just 51 units. To
confirm the wastewater hypothesis, I also utilized a
computer model that estimated the relative volumetric
contribution of wastewater to groundwater in the
aquifer and associated nutrient loads. The results from
this model aligned with my geochemical data. It was
clear that the elevated nutrients in the groundwater
discharging at Black Point were indeed influenced by
wastewater.
Studies have shown that high nutrient concentrations
may also influence the ecological composition of reefs
by shifting community dominance from coral to algae.
This shift from coral to algal dominance results in
changes to carbonate system chemistry. I completed
two 24-hour surveys at Black Point and Wailupe in
the fall to examine night-day changes in carbonate
chemistry. My preliminary results show larger
fluctuations in carbonate system parameters at Black
Point compared to Wailupe, evidence that the excess
nutrients in Black Point groundwater may be fueling
biological activity.
Hawai‘i recently passed HAR 62, legislation
prohibiting the construction of new cesspools.
The future of OSDS in Hawai‘i and how to handle
wastewater leachate from established OSDS such
as cesspools is still widely debated though. This
research is an important aid for community members
and lawmakers as it will help elucidate the potential
effects of OSDS-derived wastewater on our nearshore
environment. Additionally, it is one of the first studies
to document wastewater originating from OSDS
discharging into Hawai‘i’s coastal ocean.
Attack of the Drones: Characterizing
Groundwater Discharge on Maui Using
the Latest Research Tools
By Joseph Kennedy, Hawai‘i Sea Grant graduate trainee
The bay below was about as idyllic as it gets, but I was focused on the tiny object in the sky above when
I heard someone say “that thing sure is noisy!” When I looked over to see who made that statement I saw
a lady staring at me with a look of annoyance on her face. I responded back, “you should hear it when it’s
actually close, but it’s for a good cause. I’m with the University of Hawai‘i doing coastal research.” There
was an initial look of bewilderment as you could tell that was not the answer she was expecting. The research
drone I was flying was some 400 feet above over water and could barely be heard from that altitude, so
I knew her comment probably stemmed from a previous interaction with a drone. This was a wonderful
opportunity to counter her perception of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with information that
would help her see the beneficial side of the dramatic increase in UAV usage that is happening these days.
I continued to explain that I was a graduate student at the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa working on my
master’s degree. Her demeanor quickly changed from annoyance to one of intrigue as she watched me fly
the UAV and land it in the clearing behind us. Once it was on the ground, I was able to focus on having an
engaging conversation about how UAVs are being used in the sciences, but more specifically my graduate
research.
I am studying submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), which is an important part of the water cycle that
continuously supplies new naturally occurring nutrients to the coastal waters of Hawai‘i. However, increased
urbanization and agricultural development have the potential to introduce excess nutrients and other dissolved
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components into the groundwater that flows beneath
such areas and carry them to the coastline where
groundwater seeps out into the ocean as SGD. The
island of Maui has been the focus of SGD research
for over 20 years due to the rapid decline of coral
reefs as well as recurring macroalgal blooms that
not only contribute to coral loss but also foul
picturesque beaches that have cost Maui County
millions of dollars in lost revenue. This has been a
big concern for coastal managers like the State of
Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources as they make
decisions on how best to care for the dynamic yet
fragile ecosystems that are a huge draw for tourists.
SGD is intrinsically difficult to detect, and while
hydrological budgets and groundwater models can
provide estimated discharge rates on a regional
scale, they are unable to provide researchers with
specific locations of discharge for detailed analysis.
My research efforts therefore initially focused on
mapping large portions of the Maui coastline using
thermal infrared (TIR) imagery from an airplane
to locate specific areas where cold groundwater
is discharging into the warmer coastal waters.
These efforts highlighted key areas where SGD
is prevalent, however, imagery from one single
flight is extremely limited in its ability to provide
quantitative information about the temporal nature
of SGD. It was at this point in my research that the
idea of possibly using a drone to obtain imagery at a
much higher frequency became a reality.
The rise of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has
seen a drastic increase of interest due to the possible
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uses for research that exist. The most common
UAVs are multi-copter radio-controlled vehicles
under one meter in length. They are capable of
taking off and landing in extremely tight spaces
and able to hover over areas for upwards of 1520 minutes. They are inexpensive to operate and
can fly over the same area repeatedly as they can
be re-launched within minutes with the change
of a battery. UAVs also have the ability to be
programmed to fly specific routes based on GPS
waypoints and image the exact same area as often
as needed. These aspects make UAVs an ideal
platform for mounting a thermal infrared camera to
obtain time series imagery of SGD.
My advisor and I quickly educated ourselves
on the latest UAV technology and eventually
managed to obtain the necessary UAV research
equipment. The idea was to combine it with the
second phase of my research, time series radon
measurements for SGD flow rate quantification
and associated nutrient fluxes. This had never been
done before, but the benefits were well worth the
steep learning curve that comes with attempting
something new. Radon time series deployments
provide valuable information about the amount
of groundwater that discharges into the coastal
zones and the associated nutrient concentrations
that are brought to these sensitive ecosystems.
The incorporation of simultaneous time series
TIR imagery from a UAV with time series radon
deployments further enabled us to elucidate the
variable nature of SGD by giving us the ability
to see how point source discharge and diffuse
seepage changes both in magnitude and spatial
distribution over the course of a tidal cycle and
within various coastal conditions. The most
significant aspect however, is that this research
has shown that UAVs have quickly become a
valuable research tool for obtaining inexpensive
TIR imagery of the constantly changing nature of
SGD within the dynamic coastal zone. It is clear
that such technological advances will empower
land managers to make the best decisions possible
in regards to the sustainability of Maui’s valuable
coastal resources.
Simulating Sea-Level Rise Induced Groundwater Inundation
of O‘ahu’s Most Highly Developed Coastal Zones
By Shellie Habel, Hawai‘i Sea Grant graduate trainee
Local mean sea level in Honolulu, Hawai‘i is expected to rise 0.23 - 0.38 meters by mid-century and 0.63 - 1.14
meters by the year 2100. Groundwater in low-lying coastal areas is closely tied to oscillations of the ocean surface;
hence, it can be assumed that as sea-level rise (SLR) continues, the water table will be elevated by a similar
magnitude.
Honolulu’s coastal zones have generally narrow unsaturated soil space (vadose zones) such that many construction
projects working below grade require dewatering of worksites. Tidally influenced groundwater and narrow vadose
zones produce localized temporary flooding during extreme tide events. Since a 20 centimeter tide above the mean
higher high water (MHHW) point produces flooding in Honolulu, as SLR continues, vadose zones will become
progressively narrowed or eliminated altogether, thus resulting in groundwater inundation (GWI). As the water table breaches the elevation of built infrastructure, flood damage will ensue. Underground
infrastructure such as basements and an array of essential utilities (sewer mains, vented utility corridors, and
cesspools) will be the first to be compromised by inundation. This is especially concerning for corroded sewer
mains due to the likelihood of sewage based contamination of groundwater. Since much of this infrastructure was
installed between the 1930s and the 1950s, sewer mains in Honolulu experience occasional structural failure due to
corrosion.
The threat of GWI has not been considered in most adaptation planning. However, the state has relayed its
concern regarding the threat that GWI poses to miles of underground infrastructure. The conversation has begun
in determining whether anticipatory climate change adaptive design standards should be adopted. It is agreed that
adopting such standards is prudent; however, the lack of hazard projections and mapping is the limiting factor.
This research is quantifying the extent of GWI projected for the years 2050 and 2100 along O‘ahu’s populous
and low lying regions of Waikïkï, Kaka‘ako, and Mo‘ili‘ili. The results reveal that one quarter of the study area
currently has a narrow vadose zone of less than 1 meter, and sea level-rise of 1 meter could produce flooding
over 20 percent of the study area. These results were achieved through the combination of hydrologic modeling,
terrain modeling, and GIS layer data visualization. Flood maps will be extended to various local agencies for use in
determining where and in what time-frame breaching of infrastructure is likely to ensue.
Ultimately, hazards related to SLR will become part of the operational cost of urbanized areas. Honolulu and
surrounding areas are arguably the most economically valuable business locations in Hawai‘i. Drainage problems
due to GWI are already problematic at the convergence of high tide and rainfall events, but with continued SLR,
chronic drainage problems due to GWI will plague this network of commerce, threatening the exchange of tens to
hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
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Fellowship Opportunities with
Hawai‘i Sea Grant
Peter J. Rappa Sustainable Coastal Development Fellowship
To continue the spirit and good work of long-time coastal sustainability extension agent Peter J. Rappa, the Sea Grant
College Program of the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology created a
memorial fellowship. The Peter J. Rappa Sustainable Coastal Development (SCD) fellow will be involved in aspects of
coastal sustainability and work with the Hawai‘i Sea Grant Center for Smart Building and Community Design.
Hawai‘i’s communities statewide are engaging their natural, social, and built environments in efforts to better manage
issues that affect their livability and resiliency. The SCD fellow will work to bring attention to sustainable coastal
development through extension and community-based education in topics of coastal smart growth and community
planning, and the integration with hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation.
John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
The John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship provides a unique educational experience to students who have an
interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
The program, which is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Sea
Grant College Program, matches highly qualified graduate students with host offices in the legislative and executive
branches of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one-year paid fellowship.
NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship
The Coastal Management Fellowship provides on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal
resource management and policy for postgraduate students, and to provide project assistance to state coastal zone
management programs. The program matches postgraduate students with state coastal zone programs to work
on projects proposed by the state and selected by the fellowship sponsor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. This two-year opportunity offers a competitive salary, medical
benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement.
NOAA Population and Ecosystem Dynamics Fellowship
The Graduate Fellowship Program awards at least two new PhD fellowships each year to students who are
interested in careers related to the population dynamics of living marine resources and the development and
implementation of quantitative methods for assessing their status. Fellows will work on thesis problems of public
interest and relevance to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the guidance of NMFS mentors at
participating NMFS science centers and laboratories.
NOAA Marine Resource Economics Fellowship
The Graduate Fellowship Program generally awards two new PhD fellowships each year to students who are
interested in careers related to the development and implementation of quantitative methods for assessing
the economics of the conservation and management of living marine resources. Fellows will work on thesis
problems of public interest and relevance to NMFS under the guidance of NMFS mentors at participating
NMFS science centers and laboratories.
Not all fellowships listed are offered annually. For deadline and contact information, please visit:
http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/fellowship-opportunities or contact Maya Walton at (808) 956-7031; waltonm@hawaii.edu.
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Tatiana Oje
2015 Peter J. Rappa Sustainable Coastal Development Fellow
Tatiana Oje was born in Käne‘ohe on the windward side
of O'ahu. Her family moved from O‘ahu to Kaua‘i, then
to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and then to the state of Washington.
Tatiana returned to O‘ahu a few years after she graduated
from high school, and since moving back to O‘ahu she
has been working on her bachelor’s degree in engineering.
She attributes the contrast between the places she has
lived to her interest in how urban communities fit into
the ecosystem. It was this interest that guided Tatiana to
study civil and environmental engineering and to apply
for the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program
(Hawai‘i Sea Grant) Peter J. Rappa Sustainable Coastal
Development Fellowship.
It was in college that she realized she wanted to be an
engineer. While volunteering at Kapi‘olani Community
College’s native plants garden, she was approached by
the volunteer coordinator and offered a position on a
research project. The goal of the project was to design
a mounting system for meteorological instruments on
campus. Tatiana wanted the mounting system to reflect the
project’s integration of Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math (STEM) and Hawaiian culture. She did this by
carving the Hawaiian moon calendar into the wooden post
that the sensor would be installed on. The moon calendar
carving represents the connection between contemporary
climate monitoring and how Hawaiians kept track of the
seasons. Once the instruments were up, Tatiana combined
their data with Hawaiian mo‘olelo (story, legend) to study
how topography and land cover affects wind behavior. After transferring from Kapi‘olani Community College
(KCC) to the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa, Tatiana
joined Dr. Oceana Francis’s lab and focused on modeling
waves off the coast of Kaho‘olawe, an island off the
coast of Maui. In this project she had the opportunity to
apply what she had learned about the atmosphere from
her research at KCC, this time researching how the wind
interacts with the ocean. When the wind sweeps over the
ocean it produces surface waves, and those waves travel
thousands of miles across the open sea until they interact
with the coast. The wind from storms produces huge
swells that can have a devastating impact on Hawai‘i’s
shoreline, and coastal communities throughout the Pacific
are facing this and many other challenges due to the
impacts of climate change.
During her fellowship with Hawai‘i Sea Grant, Tatiana
worked with Matthew Gonser, Hawai‘i Sea Grant’s
community planning and design extension agent, to
research green infrastructure for stormwater management.
Her research took her around the Hawaiian islands to
Kaua‘i, Maui, and O‘ahu. On O‘ahu she discovered that
much of the nonpoint source pollution is a result of urban
runoff. Her trips to the windward side of O‘ahu were
especially impactful as she had the opportunity to see the
places where she grew up from a different perspective.
Throughout her fellowship it became clear that there
is no one-size-fits-all solution, and that addressing
nonpoint source pollution requires integrated rather than
discrete solutions. This project exposed her to the issue
of nonpoint source pollution and the possible approaches
to resolving this threat to water quality. It illuminated the
need for smart and integrated approaches to stormwater
infrastructure planning, and further fueled Tatiana’s
interested in coastal planning as a career. Creativity and
community are two long standing interests of hers, and in
this fellowship Tatiana had the opportunity to weave these
passions into science and engineering. She hopes to take
what she has learned from this fellowship and apply it in
future studies and work.
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