The Hawaiian Islands encompass a dynamic region featuring iconic habitats and species at risk from a number of stresses. Climate change impacts, coupled with land use changes, invasive species spread, and population growth and development, all have important implications for the ecosystem services upon which over 1.4 million people rely. This project brings together Hawai'i's resource managers and conservation planners to discuss these challenges, share knowledge, identify needs, and prioritize key actions to reduce the vulnerability of resources to climate change.

The Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative initiated a multi-year Hawaiian Islands Terrestrial Adaptation Initiative (HITAI) to assist managers in all aspects of confronting the challenges presented by climate change. To place this Initiative on a firm scientific foundation, the PICCC asked EcoAdapt to develop comprehensive, science-based syntheses of current and projected future climate change and impacts on, and adaptation options for, terrestrial and freshwater resources within the main Hawaiian Islands.

• Convene an effective science-management partnership to evaluate climate impacts to and adaptation options for focal resources;
• Identify climate science available to and used by managers and conservation planners, as well as critical needs and gaps;
• Identify and synthesize best available climate science to support reliable and timely decision making and stewardship;
• Increase understanding of the climate-related vulnerabilities of key resources, in addition to the compounding effects of non-climatic stressors;
• Facilitate the creation of adaptation options to reduce these vulnerabilities; and
• Create a climate-engaged public that can make informed decisions to support sustainable management of terrestrial and freshwater resources.

• Vulnerability Assessment Workshops: Maui (Maui, Lānaʻi, and Kaho'olawe), O'ahu, Kaua'i, Hawai'i
• Climate Adaptation Planning Workshops: Maui (Maui, Lānaʻi, and Kaho'olawe), Moloka'i, O'ahu, Kaua'i, Hawai'i

• Hawaiian Islands Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Synthesis Report
• Vulnerability Assessment Technical Syntheses
• Adaptation Strategy Summaries
• Vulnerability-Adaptation Two-Page Briefs
• Webinar Recording: 12/4/2017

Scott Fretz, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Skippy Hau, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources

Pōmaika'i Kaniaupio-Crozier, Pu‘u Kukui Watershed Preserve

Erica von Allmen, Auwahi Forest Restoration Project

Rhonda Loh, National Park Service

Colleen Cole, Three Mountain Alliance

Susan Cordell, USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station

Jim Kraus, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge

Trae Menard, The Nature Conservancy

Paul Higashino, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission

Victoria Keener, East-West Center

Jason Jeremiah, Kamehameha Schools

Megan Laut, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Matt Brown, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Dennis LaPointe, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Ed Misaki, The Nature Conservancy

Kapua Kawelo, Army Natural Resource Program

Leah Laramee, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Sherri Mann, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Darcy Hu, Hawai'i-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

Vickie Caraway, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service