Search Results (124)

The transition to 100% renewable energy systems is critical for achieving global sustainability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Island power systems, due to their geographical isolation, limited interconnectivity, and reliance on imported fuels, face unique challenges in this transition. These systems’ vulnerability to supply–demand imbalances, voltage instability, and frequency deviations necessitates tailored strategies for achieving grid stability. This study conducts a systematic review of the technical and operational challenges associated with transitioning island energy systems to fully renewable generation, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Out of 991 identified studies, 81 high-quality articles were selected, focusing on key aspects such as grid stability, energy storage technologies, and advanced control strategies. The review highlights the importance of energy storage solutions like battery energy storage systems, hydrogen storage, pumped hydro storage, and flywheels in enhancing grid resilience and supporting frequency and voltage regulation. Advanced control strategies, including grid-forming and grid-following inverters, as well as digital twins and predictive analytics, emerged as effective in maintaining grid efficiency. Real-world case studies from islands such as El Hierro, Hawai’i, and Nusa Penida illustrate successful strategies and best practices, emphasizing the role of supportive policies and community engagement. While the findings demonstrate that fully renewable island systems are technically and economically feasible, challenges remain, including regulatory, financial, and policy barriers. Full article

Bagrada hilaris is an invasive stink bug causing important yield losses in Brassica crops. It originates from India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South Africa and is reported as invasive in several southwestern US states, Hawaii, Mexico, Chile and in the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Pantelleria (Italy). In this study, we tested the effects of gamma rays on the longevity, fecundity and fertility of bagrada bugs. We irradiated them at two different stages of their life cycle (fifth-instar nymphs and two-week-old adults). Irradiation at the nymphal stage had a strong impact on female fecundity, with egg numbers approaching zero at a dose of 80 Gy. Similarly, a full suppression of female fertility was achieved at 80 Gy when they were mated with males irradiated as nymphs or as mature adults. For longevity, gamma rays had only a slight impact on adult male and female life span. Due to the evidence of a gregarious phase during the autumn, these results suggest that small-scale SIT-localized applications by massive collections of bagrada bugs at various stages of development during autumn, followed by irradiation and reintroduction to the field, might be a safe and economically sound approach of control. Research is currently underway to evaluate the fitness of sterile males and mating patterns. Further studies in confined-field conditions will be needed. Full article

Bagrada hilaris (known as painted bug) is a pest native to India, Southeast Asia, and middle and central Africa and was reported as invasive in the southwestern USA, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, and two Mediterranean islands. The feeding activity results in extensive damage to economically important Brassicaceae crops. Among sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is considered a promising strategy because it relies on the release of competitive sterile males that can reduce the pest reproduction. In this study, the efficacy of different doses of gamma irradiation (60, 80, and 100 Gy) was evaluated to identify the treatment that would ensure high sterility without compromising the competitiveness of the treated males. Observational tests showed that the doses of 60 Gy and 80 Gy showed no difference in mating times compared to non-irradiated males, in contrast to 100 Gy. Thus, 80 Gy was identified as the most promising dose. For further investigation, tests were conducted under choice and no-choice conditions at 80 Gy for three days. The results showed that irradiated males had a comprehensive higher mating rate than non-irradiated males, and under choice conditions, they were often preferred by females, confirming that SIT has potential as an environment-friendly method for controlling B. hilaris. Full article

Indigenous women experience disproportionately higher rates of adverse health outcomes. Few studies have explored the root of these problems or defined health and wellness from the perspectives of Indigenous women. Our objective was to elicit views on Indigenous women’s health from women who are Indigenous and/or have experience working with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and Hawai‘i (e.g., United States). Informed by intersectionality as a social critical theory, we convened a workshop to engage in a co-creative consensus-building and expert decision process using design thinking. The two-day workshop embraced Indigenous values of land, sacred spaces, genealogy, family, rituals, and culture. Participants included United States-based Native and Indigenous women (n = 16) and allies (n = 7). Participants focused on answering key questions such as “What are priority areas for Indigenous women’s health”? and “What are the key facilitators and barriers to improving Indigenous women’s health”? Co-created priority lists for each of these topics were generated. Participants overwhelmingly reported satisfaction with the workshop process and emphasis on a strength-based, culturally driven approach to share their stories, which contextualized the ideas, concerns, and priorities of Indigenous women who self-reflected on their own health and wellness. Creating culturally safe spaces for Indigenous people to reflect on their own hopes for the future relates to the theme by describing a process to bridge traditional healing with modern-day practices to build pilina. Full article

The reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production in insular regions creates critical environmental, economic, and logistical challenges, particularly for ecologically fragile islands. Transitioning to renewable energy is essential to mitigate these impacts, enhance energy security, and preserve unique ecosystems. This systematic review addresses key research questions: what practical strategies have proven effective in reducing fossil fuel dependency in island contexts, and what barriers hinder their widespread adoption? By applying the PRISMA methodology, this study examines a decade (2014–2024) of research on renewable energy systems, highlighting successful initiatives such as the integration of solar and wind systems in Hawaii, energy storage advancements in La Graciosa, hybrid renewable grids in the Galápagos Islands, and others. Specific barriers include high upfront costs, regulatory challenges, and technical limitations, such as grid instability due to renewable energy intermittency. This review contributes by synthesizing lessons from diverse case studies and identifying innovative approaches like hydrogen storage, predictive control systems, and community-driven renewable projects. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and researchers to accelerate the transition towards sustainable energy systems in island environments. Full article

Acanthococcus ironsidei (Williams) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) is an invasive pest of macadamia, Macadamia integrifolia, in Hawai’i, causing death to macadamia trees and decreased nut productivity. Monitoring relies on wrapping double-sided sticky tapes over tree branches to trap dispersing crawlers (i.e., mobile immature stage), but this is tedious for growers, especially in large orchards. From September to November 2022 and December 2022 to February 2023, at two commercial macadamia orchards on Hawai’i Island, the use of colored sticky cards was assessed for improving the monitoring of A. ironsidei and to investigate the Hymenopteran parasitoid complex that inhabits macadamia canopies. At each study site, four different colored sticky cards (yellow, lime green, dark green, and white) were placed on the lower canopy of five trees, and on each tree, a transparent double-sided sticky tape was deployed. At bi-weekly intervals, the sticky cards were replaced and re-randomized on each tree, and the double-sided sticky tapes were replaced. The results showed that the sticky cards captured both A. ironsidei crawlers and (winged) male adults, while the double-sided sticky tapes captured only crawlers. The trap color did not have significant effects on the captures of A. ironsidei male adults at the sites, while the captures of crawlers on sticky cards were lowest on the dark green sticky traps at one site. The captures of A. ironsidei adult males on white sticky traps were generally correlated with the number of crawlers captured on the double-sided sticky tapes. The parasitoid complex captured had disparities in the attraction to color; however, the yellow, lime green and dark green colors were seemingly more effective for monitoring Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese & Paoli), a reported parasitoid of A. ironsidei. These results have useful practical implications for improved monitoring of A. ironsidei crawlers, male adults and associated natural enemies. Full article

This study examines predictors of life satisfaction in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NH/PI) college students, who form an underrepresented group in well-being research. In a sample of 128 NH/PI students from a public university in Hawaii, self-report measures of life satisfaction, affect, stress, and mood were analyzed. The results indicate that positive affect and mood are significant positive predictors for life satisfaction, while negative affect predicts lower satisfaction. By contrast with other racial/ethnic groups, perceived stress did not significantly impact life satisfaction in NH/PI students. These findings suggest that emotional well-being is a key determinant for life satisfaction in NH/PI students, and stress is not. Culturally responsive interventions that focus on positive emotions and community support can enhance well-being and academic success in this population. This study contributes to the understanding of unique cultural influences on well-being in NH/PI students and provides implications for targeted interventions. Full article

Objective: This mixed methods study explores gender differences in, and reasons for, toothbrushing and flossing among Mexican-origin adults. Methods: Interviews and surveys about oral hygiene behaviors were collected from 72 adults (ages 21–40) living on the California–Mexico border. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed in their original language (English/Spanish), then coded. Survey responses were linked to coded transcripts in Dedoose. Qualitative reports were thematically analyzed for each behavior, stratified into four groups by gender and whether or not participants met American Dental Association (ADA) weekly guidelines (brushing ≥ 14/week; flossing ≥ 7/week). Self-reported weekly frequencies of brushing and flossing were collected continuously, and then dichotomized as meeting guidelines or not. Kruskal–Wallis and chi-square tests assessed differences in hygiene behavior frequency by gender. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were performed, accounting for socio-demographic characteristics. Results: Overall, 76% and 40% of adults met ADA guidelines for brushing and flossing, respectively. There were no differences in meeting ADA guidelines by gender. When brushing was examined continuously, women brushed 1.24 (1.05–1.47; p = 0.0099) times the rate of weekly brushing than men in the full model; flossing frequency differences were not found. Men and women, whether ADA guidelines were met or not, identified similar brushing and flossing facilitators (health concerns, aesthetics), and barriers (lack of time, not being home). Some women (mothers) were motivated to brush to be role models for their children. Self-efficacy, or confidence in ability to brush or floss, was described differently by adults who met ADA guidelines (high self-efficacy) compared to the adults not meeting guidelines (low self-efficacy). Conclusions: Integrating quantitative and qualitative data obtained from Mexican-origin adults identified few differences in both oral hygiene behaviors and the factors that influence their enactment. Full article

The generation of cloud-free satellite mosaics is essential for a range of remote sensing applications, including land use mapping, ecosystem monitoring, and resource management. This study focuses on remote sensing across the climatic diversity of Hawai’i Island, which encompasses ten Köppen climate zones from tropical to Arctic: periglacial. This diversity presents unique challenges for cloud-free image generation. We conducted a comparative analysis of three cloud-masking methods: two Google Earth Engine algorithms (CloudScore+ and s2cloudless) and a new proprietary deep learning-based algorithm (L3) applied to Sentinel-2 imagery. These methods were evaluated against the best monthly composite selected from high-frequency Planet imagery, which acquires daily images. All Sentinel-2 bands were enhanced to a 10 m resolution, and an advanced weather mask was applied to generate monthly mosaics from 2019 to 2023. We stratified the analysis by cloud cover frequency (low, moderate, high, and very high), applying one-way and two-way ANOVAs to assess cloud-free pixel success rates. Results indicate that CloudScore+ achieved the highest success rate at 89.4% cloud-free pixels, followed by L3 and s2cloudless at 79.3% and 80.8%, respectively. Cloud removal effectiveness decreased as cloud cover increased, with clear pixel success rates ranging from 94.6% under low cloud cover to 79.3% under very high cloud cover. Additionally, seasonality effects showed higher cloud removal rates in the wet season (88.6%), while no significant year-to-year differences were observed from 2019 to 2023. This study advances current methodologies for generating reliable cloud-free mosaics in tropical and subtropical regions, with potential applications for remote sensing in other cloud-dense environments. Full article

Compared to the general population of Hawai‘i, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) shoulder a disproportionately high risk for obesity-related cardiometabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The gut microbiome is an area of rapid research interest for its role in regulating adjacent metabolic pathways, offering novel opportunities to better understand the etiology of these health disparities. Obesity and the gut microbiome are influenced by regional, racial–ethnic, and community-specific factors, limiting the generalizability of current literature for understudied populations. Additionally, anthropometric and directly measured obesity indices are variably predictive of adiposity and metabolic health risk in this diverse population. Thus, further NHPI-inclusive research is required to adequately characterize community-specific factors in the context of obesity-related disease etiology. Culturally responsible research ethics and scientific communication are crucial to conducting such research, especially among indigenous and understudied populations. In this review, we explore these limitations in current literature, emphasizing the urgent need for NHPI-inclusive research to assess community-specific factors accurately. Such accuracy in Indigenous health research may ensure that findings relevant to individual or public health recommendations and/or policies are meaningful to the communities such research aims to serve. Full article

The purpose of this study is to describe the development and initial validation of a survey focused on problematic situations involving e-cigarette use by rural Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) youths. A 5-phase approach to test development and validation was used. In Phase 1 (Item Generation), survey items were created from a series of focus groups with middle school youths on Hawai‘i Island (N = 69). In Phase 2 (Item Refinement and Selection), situational items were reduced to 40 e-cigarette offer situations that were selected for inclusion in the survey. In Phase 3 (Item Reduction), items were administered to 257 youths from 11 middle, intermediate, or multi-level public or public-charter schools on Hawai‘i Island. Exploratory factor analysis indicated the presence of three factors accounting for 50% of the variance: E-Cigarette Offers from Friends (24%), E-Cigarette Offers from Non-Friends (16%), and Coercive Pressure to Use E-Cigarettes (10%). Hypothesized relationships between offer situations and e-cigarette use were partially confirmed, supporting the construct validity of the survey. This survey helps to fill the scientific and practice gap in measuring ecodevelopmental risk and protection for e-cigarette use and has implications for e-cigarette use prevention with rural, NHPI, and/or Indigenous youth populations. Full article

A partial mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene haplotype variant of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) Oryctes rhinoceros, classed as ‘CRB-G (clade I)’, has been the focus of much research since 2007, with reports of invasions into new Pacific Island locations (e.g., Guam, Hawaii, Solomons Islands). For numerous invasive species, inference of invasion biology via whole genome is superior to assessments via the partial mtCOI gene. Here, we explore CRB draft mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from historical and recent collections, with assessment focused on individuals associated within the CRB-G (clade I) classification. We found that all Guam CRB individuals possessed the same mitogenome across all 13 protein-coding genes and differed from individuals collected elsewhere, including ‘non-Guam’ individuals designated as CRB-G (clade I) by partial mtCOI assessment. Two alternative ATP6 and COIII partial gene primer sets were developed to enable distinction between CRB individuals from Guam that classed within the CRB-G (clade I) haplotype grouping and CRB-G (Clade I) individuals collected elsewhere. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated ATP6–COIII genes showed that only Guam CRB-G (clade I) individuals clustered together, and therefore Guam was not the source of the CRB that invaded the other locations in the Pacific assessed in this study. The use of the mtCOI and/or mtCOIII genes for initial molecular diagnosis of CRB remained crucial, and assessment of more native CRB populations will further advance our ability to identify the provenance of CRB invasions being reported within the Pacific and elsewhere. Full article

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) are overrepresented in Hawai‘i’s houseless population. Indigenous populations, such as NHPIs, may encounter experiences of historical trauma that impact their well-being. This original research project examines how NHPI identity and houselessness compound to affect the perceived stress and historical trauma of transition-aged youth. Fifty-one participants aged 18 to 24 (M = 21.37, SD = 1.93) completed a survey that included the historical traumatic events scale, historical loss scale, perceived stress scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Over half (n = 26, 51.0%) of the participants identified as NHPI. A two-way ANOVA indicated a non-significant effect of NHPI identity and housing status on perceived stress. However, housed participants scored significantly higher than participants experiencing houselessness on the historical traumatic events scale (p = 0.006). Our findings elucidate the role of knowledge in the experience of historical trauma. Further results, limitations, and future directions are offered. Full article

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a recognized contributor to the hydrological and biogeochemical functioning of coral reef ecosystems located along coastlines. However, the distribution, size, and thermal properties of SGD remain poorly understood at most land–reef margins. We developed, deployed, and demonstrated an operational method for airborne detection and mapping of SGD using the 200 km coastline of western Hawai‘i Island as a testing and analysis environment. Airborne high spatial resolution (1 m) thermal imaging produced relative sea surface temperature (SST) maps that aligned geospatially with boat-based transects of SGD presence–absence. Boat-based SST anomaly measurements were highly correlated with airborne SST anomaly measurements (R² = 0.85; RMSE = 0.04 °C). Resulting maps of the relative difference in SST inside and outside of SGD plumes, called delta-SST, revealed 749 SGD plumes in 200 km of coastline, with nearly half of the SGD plumes smaller than 0.1 ha in size. Only 9% of SGD plumes were ≥1 ha in size, and just 1% were larger than 10 ha. Our findings indicate that small SGD is omnipresent in the nearshore environment. Furthermore, we found that the infrequent, large SGD plumes (>10 ha) displayed the weakest delta-SST values, suggesting that large discharge plumes are not likely to provide cooling refugia to warming coral reefs. Our operational approach can be applied frequently over time to generate SGD information relative to terrestrial substrate, topography, and pollutants. This operational approach will yield new insights into the role that land-to-reef interactions have on the composition and condition of coral reefs along coastlines. Full article

Lava caves are home to a stunning display of secondary mineral speleothems, such as moonmilk and coralloids, as well as highly visible microbial mats. These features contain diverse and under-characterized groups of bacteria. The role of these bacteria in the formation of secondary mineral speleothems is just beginning to be investigated. The lava caves of the Big Island of Hawai`i and in El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico (USA), share many morphologically similar speleothems. This study focused on investigating the overlap in bacteria across a wide range of speleothems in these two geographically distant sites. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 16S rRNA gene analysis, we found that Hawaiian caves have a greater alpha diversity and beta diversity separated by cave and speleothem type. Many Actinobacteriota were in higher abundance in New Mexico caves, while Hawaiian caves contained more bacteria that are unclassified at the genus and species level. Discovering the diversity in bacteria in these secondary speleothems will assist in identifying cave secondary mineral formations that may be good candidates for finding life on extraterrestrial bodies. Full article