WAIMEA — Two Native Hawaiian scholars pursuing their doctoral degrees at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have been awarded fellowships by The Kohala Center, a Waimea-based nonprofit focused on research, conservation and education.
Narrissa P. Spies, who is pursuing a doctorate in zoology, and Lelemia Irvine, a doctoral candidate in civil and environmental engineering, will each receive $45,000 and mentorship through the fellowship program to enable them to focus on completing and defending their dissertations during the 2017–18 academic year.
Formerly known as the Mellon-Hawaii Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, the center’s Hawaiian Scholars Doctoral Fellowship Program supports the work of emerging Native Hawaiian scholars who advance knowledge of Hawaii’s natural and cultural landscape and Hawaiian history, politics and society. The one-year fellowships are funded with support from Kamehameha Schools, the Deviants from the Norm Fund and Dr. Paul and Elizabeth Nakayama.
“The Kohala Center is committed to cultivating indigenous leadership and increasing the representation and visibility of Kanaka Oiwi (Native Hawaiian) scholars in academia, research institutions and publications,” said Cheryl Ka’uhane Lupenui, president and chief executive officer of The Kohala Center. “We are excited to welcome Narrissa and Lelemia to a larger cohort of 35 distinguished alumni who are advancing ike Hawaii (Hawaiian knowledge) for generations to follow.”
In the face of declining coral health in Hawaii and beyond due to rising ocean temperatures, pollutants and sediment runoff, Spies’ research investigates, at a molecular level, how certain species of coral are thriving despite stress. After decades of ecosystem degradation in Honolulu Harbor, compounded by a massive molasses spill in 2013, Spies observed two resilient coral species that continue to thrive in the harbor. Her efforts focus on understanding the conditions under which these corals continue to adapt to stress and regenerate, in hopes of unlocking clues that could benefit corals struggling to survive in other parts of Hawaii and the world.
“While corals continue to face stress as a result of climate change, these two coral species serve as excellent models for studying the resilience of corals to stress, and may provide insights that can help resource managers in other parts of the world,” Spies said. “My work lays the foundation for understanding resilient coral species, which can hopefully give us clues as to why they’re so well adapted to inhospitable habitats such as harbors. If there are still healthy corals in Hawaii in 50 years, I hope it will be because we’ve been able to build off the work I’ve done throughout my Ph.D. and applied this to other corals on our reefs.”
Spies lived in the Kawaihae area during part of her childhood and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Her mentor for the fellowship year is Dr. Robert Richmond, professor and director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory, which is part of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at UH-Manoa.
The aim of Irvine’s dissertation is to develop a better understanding of low-impact development and green infrastructure approaches. He uses computational fluid dynamics and 3-D modeling techniques to solve engineering challenges to predict process performance of these engineered systems. Irvine’s research aims to help find new ways to increase sustainable landscapes, communities, villages and cities. One particular area of focus examines bioswales technology as a means to improve storm water management, protect Hawaii’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems from non-point source pollutants and reduce the potential for urban flooding.
“My life’s research work in water has taken me to more than 20 countries to learn how to solve challenges in transforming rain’s tears to clean water,” Irvine said. “My work in sustainability merges engineering and culture in an effort to solve some of the daunting problems Hawaii faces. Through the moolelo (written and oral narratives) and active mentorship of my ohana (family) and kumu (teachers), I learned that I am descended from great engineers, and I strive to channel their wisdom from within to help bring long life to my ohana, our island communities and Honua (Earth) itself.”
Irvine is from Waianae, Oahu, and received his bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from UH-Manoa. He is being mentored by Albert S. Kim, an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at UH-Manoa.
Since 2008, The Center’s doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship programs have awarded $1.57 million in support to 37 Native Hawaiian scholars, many of whom have since received tenure in academic institutions and published original research. The Center is seeking new partners so that it may continue to offer fellowships to advance intellectual leadership rooted in Hawaii.
