Honolulu, HI, July 13, 2024 – On Saturday, July 13th, The Oceanit Research Foundation (ORF) held the final presentation of the Climate Change Toolkit program, the culmination of a six-month collaboration with student ambassadors and community stakeholders to protect the coastal community of Paia Mantokuji Temple from climate change-driven coastal erosion. The event, which took place shortly before the 2024 Paia Mantokuji Bon Dance Festival, showcased the students’ work in studying Mantokuji Bay in preparation for a long-term shoreline restoration plan.
The Paia Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission Temple, founded in 1906 and listed on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places, was selected for this collaboration due to the significant threat coastal erosion poses to the temple. With the shoreline eroding at an average rate of about 1.6 feet per year, coastal erosion has already claimed one acre of Mantokuji’s land, causing some gravesites in the cemetery to fall away into the ocean. This beloved community gathering place, which hosts events like the annual Obon festival, is also a valuable nesting habitat for turtles, ocean plants, and small animals.
The final presentation, attended by elected officials, state and county agencies, and legislative representatives, emphasized the importance of public awareness and understanding of the long-term impacts of climate change and sea level rise on our coastal communities. The Climate Change Toolkit program provided a unique opportunity to develop a sustainable coastal adaptation strategy for the Mantokuji Temple.
Dr. Patrick K. Sullivan, founder and CEO of Oceanit, expressed his sentiments at the event, stating, “This is a special place loved by many, and it’s heartbreaking to see it deteriorate when we have the means to protect it. Our team initially provided a temporary fix for the erosion and has been eager to implement a long-term solution. The Climate Change Toolkit program was a great opportunity to develop a long-term coastal adaptation strategy and to equip students with the skills needed to assist coastal communities in need.”
The program empowered student ambassadors Peyton Tokishi, Noah Munz, Sam Dameg, Dyther Jay Bugtong, and Llyw MacMillian to gain knowledge and hands-on experience in understanding how climate change affects the Maui coastline and included them in creation of possible adaptation strategies. Mentored by Oceanit experts, the students learned critical skills in data collection and analysis, communication and collaboration, problem-solving, and the use of GIS mapping technologies. The combined team conducted an environmental engineering assessment of Mantokuji Bay, providing valuable data for the long-term sea level rise plan.
The coastal assessment helped students understand coastal dynamics and informed the plan to replenish or renourish the beach without harming existing ecosystems. Data collected during the six-month study included studying the bay’s biology, sand characteristics, water quality, topography, ocean current patterns, and visual monitoring of erosion progression.
The team’s findings and data collection process were shared with the community through short and long-form videos posted to YouTube by Oceanit Research Foundation. This initiative not only educated the community on the effectiveness of the toolkit but also encouraged collaboration with federal, state, and county agencies. The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, whose grant funded the effort, played a key role in supporting this critical work.
During the event, attendees participated in a shoreline site visit and an information booth was set up at the Bon Dance festival for the general public to learn more about the program. The Oceanit Research Foundation would like to thank State Representative Mahina Poepoe, Glenn Yamasaki representing Representative Kyle Yamashita, Rebecca Crall representing Senator Lynn DeCoite, and Kamaunu Kahaialii from the Office of Economic Development and representative of Mayor Bissen, who were all in attendance.
The Climate Change Toolkit presentation followed the graduation ceremony for the student ambassadors held earlier in May. To read more about the graduation ceremony, click here: https://oceanit.com/news/climate-change-toolkit-student-ambassadors-graduate/
Looking ahead, Oceanit plans to implement the Climate Change Toolkit program in other coastal communities in Hawaii, raising awareness about the importance of coastal adaptation in a world increasingly affected by climate change.
