PDKE PAST AND FUTURE EVENTS
March 24, 2025
VIDEO: Exploring Two New Data Tools for Resource Managers in Hawaiʻi
Ryan Longman, Derek Ford and Cherryle Heu presented a webinar for the seminar series “New Tools and Applications for Drought Management in Hawaiʻi.” Over 70 attendees tuned in to hear about two recently developed decision support tools by the PDKE:
- Climate Change, Climate Variability, and Drought Portfolios
- Hawai‘i Rangeland Information Portal
The joint presentation provided an overview of the development of these decision support tools and include a demonstration of how they can be accessed and utilized.
March 17, 2025
VIDEO: Assessing Drought in Hawaiʻi: Trends, Tools, and Future Research Needs
Abby Frazier presented a webinar for the seminar series “New Tools and Applications for Drought Management in Hawaiʻi.” Her talk was titled: “Assessing Drought in Hawaiʻi: Trends, Tools, and Future Research Needs.” Over 62 attendees tuned in to hear Dr. Frazier discuss her research and ongoing projects answering the following questions:
- How does drought impact Hawaiʻi?
- How has drought been changing in Hawaiʻi?
- What are the gaps / needs with respect to drought?
- What new tools / research are in development?
Some of the topics included: compound events, global drought and climate change, current drought impacts on streams and water supply in Maui, the Hawaiʻi Drought Needs Assessment, the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP), new Hawaiʻi Climate Divisions and NOAA NCEI products, the Hawaiʻi Mesonet, new NASA CMIP6 statistically downscaled climate projections, and the Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange (PDKE).
March 2025
Mariana Islands Conservation Conference
Abby Frazier traveled to Guam in March 2025 for the Mariana Islands Conservation Conference where she presented on the Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange (PDKE). While in Guam, she met with partners at the National Weather Service, the University of Guam, and the Guam Department of Agriculture Forestry and Soil Resources Division. She discussed ongoing research projects, including the PDKE and Pacific RISA compound events work, and potential new collaborations and knowledge products.
November 25, 2024
Kea‘ahuli O Pana‘ewa Technical Advisory Committee meeting
Harmony Yomai and Cherryle Heu visited Pana‘ewa on Hawai‘i Island to attend the first Technical Advisory Committee meeting for the Kea‘ahuli O Pana‘ewa project. This initiative is a collaboration between the Keaukaha-Pana‘ewa Farmers Association, NOAA, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, UH Mānoa, and East-West Center.
Kea‘ahuli O Pana‘ewa, meaning “The Changing Roots of Pana‘ewa,” symbolizes a Hawaiian concept of building upon the foundation set by ancestors while growing and evolving from that legacy for future generations. The project combines traditional Hawaiian knowledge with Western science to co-create tools and climate-related decision-making resources tailored to support the cultivation of canoe plants for Pana‘ewa farmers. Through this collaboration, the community will leverage HCDP data to strengthen its resilience to shifting environmental conditions, ensuring a thriving future for the land and its people.
November 22, 2024
Hawai‘i Cattlemen’s Council Annual Meeting
Members of the PDKE stewardship participated in the Hawaiʻi Cattleman’s Council Annual Meeting last week on Hawaiʻi Island. During the event, the team demonstrated newly developed decision-support tools, including the Hawaiʻi Rangeland Information Portal (H-RIP). This tool leverages HCDP data to provide rainfall projections and forage growth estimates, aiding ranchers in proactive planning.
A key highlight was the recent upgrade of H-RIP to a mobile-friendly platform, enabling ranchers to access near-real-time climate information from anywhere with cell service.
This marked the team’s third consecutive year attending the event, underscoring their ongoing commitment to supporting the ranching community—a dedication warmly recognized and appreciated by those they serve.
November 6-7, 2024
PDKE Stewardship Team Retreat
The PDKE stewardship team convened in person for the first time in Hilo to discuss future PDKE goals and action plans. Additionally, they delivered a presentation to the staff at the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry and facilitated a site visit to a weather station at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve.
September 24, 2024
A fellowship creates online resources for drought solutions
PDKE hosted its first fellowship, thanks to funding from a Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC) grant, helping PDKE expand its efforts in Hawaiʻi. Learn more about the PDKE fellows here.
July 30 – Aug 1, 2024
Hawai‘i Conservation Conference (HCC), Honolulu, HI
Several members of the PDKE stewardship team attended the 2024 Hawaii Conservation Conference in Honolulu Hawaii. At the conference they shared 6 new island-specific factsheets describing freshwater resources and management challenges.
April 8-13, 2024
Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS), Tumon Bay, Guam
Ryan Longman attended the CIS in Tumon Bay in Guam, where he presented on the PDKE project to meeting attendees. The University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability is a chance for Islanders and allies from around to share progress, innovations, and strategies to collectively move toward a sustainable global future.
March 6, 2024
PDKE Annual Meeting
On March 6, 2024, the PDKE held an annual meeting at the East-West Center to update the Steering and Advisory committee members on recent progress and events. The meeting was attended by 35 individuals representing 21 different agencies (14 Federal, 5 State & 4 Non-profit). One key objective of the meeting was to discuss future trajectories of the project.
February 26 – March 1, 2024
Sector-Based Climate Services and Coordination Workshop, Koror, Palau
Abby Frazier attended the Sector-Based Climate Services and Coordination workshop in Koror, Palau, where she presented on the US Drought Monitor and PDKE project to meeting attendees. At the workshop, she shared a new 2-page informational factsheet on the PDKE which was customized for Palau. The goals of the workshop were to (1) facilitate the development, delivery, and application of locally-relevant climate information products and services, and (2) foster alignment and coordination across multiple project streams.
February 2024
Climate Stations in American Samoa
In February 2024 PDKE Project Specialist Derek Ford traveled to American Samoa to assist in upgrading climate stations for the development of island-wide daily rainfall maps and to engage with local managers and stakeholders on issues regarding drought and climate variability.
October 5, 2023
The Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council Convention and Annual Meeting
On October 5, 2023, the PDKE team attended the Hawai‘i Cattlemen’s Council Annual Meeting to demonstrate the Hawaii Rangeland Information Portal Tool and Custom Ranch-specific climate portfolios with the Ranching Community.
July 10, 2023
EARTH Workshop
Dr. Ryan Longman and Dr. Alyssa Anderson presented on climate change and resources at the 2023 Earth Workshop for educators in Honolulu Hawaiʻi hosted by PICASC and MBARI.
July 7, 2023
Ranch Visits
PDKE team members visited ranches and met with ranchers on Hawaiʻi Island.
July 5-6, 2023
Ecosystems Meeting
PDKE team members presented at the Hawaiʻi Ecosystems Meeting on Hawaiʻi Island at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus.
June 29, 2023
2023 Hawai’i Conservation Conference – 30th Anniversary
The PDKE team hosted a forum at the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference on new tools, data sources, and approaches for managing climate impacts in Hawaiʻi. The forum consisted of six presentations followed by a talk story session with the audience.
June 17, 2023
The PDKE hosted an exhibitor booth with the inaugural Climate Community Fair at the Hilo Civic Center Auditorium on Hawaiʻi Island.
June 2023
Drought Meetings
In June, PDKE team members presented at drought meetings held on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island.
May 20, 2023
In May, the PDKE team attended the Celebrate Micronesia Festival at the Bishop Museum.
March 21, 2023 11:00 am – 12:00 noon (HST)
Save the date! This month’s Pacific Fire Exchange Talk Story Tuesday is an opportunity to engage in lively, fun and casual conversation with the latest experts and scientists on a variety of wildfire evaluation, prevention and mitigation tools as well as topics like wildfire history and its impacts in the Pacific.
Dr. Clay Trauernicht fire & ecosystems scientist with UH Mānoa Cooperative Extension and Dr. Alyssa Anderson, Postdoctoral Fellow, Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center will present wildfire in Hawai‘i in the context of Hawaiian language 19th century “nupepa” (newspapers), as well as the historical landscape changes of the 20th century.
January 10, 2023
2023 Hawaiʻi Climate Adaptation Science Summit
In the beginning of the 2023 New Year, PDKE team members presented on drought and wildfire at the PICASC 2023 Hawaiʻi Climate Adaptation Science Summit. The full agenda and presentation recordings can be found on the PI-CASC website.
November 18-19, 2022
The Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council Convention and Annual Meeting
Members of the PDKE team will be attending and presenting at this event. They will be showcasing the PDKE program, CCVD portfolios and factsheets at their booth as well as leading a live demonstration of the Hawaii Rangeland Information Portal (HRIP).
October 3-7, 2022
Hawai’i Drought Monitoring and Knowledge Exchange Meeting
The National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA Southwest Climate Hub and Forest Service, Clark University, and East-West Center invite you to join us for a day of learning about drought monitoring tools and collaboration/partnership opportunities.
Goals for the meetings include: increasing awareness of the United States Drought Monitor (USDM) process; increasing coordination and knowledge regarding drought monitoring efforts; and building connections between entities involved in drought coordination. See the draft agenda below for additional details.
Four meetings will be held during the week of October 3, 2022. Each meeting will be from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and lunch will be provided. These meetings will be held in person at the locations listed below and virtually. Space is limited for the in person sessions, so register soon to secure your spot.
The four locations for the meetings are (exact meeting locations TBD):
October 3 – Lihue, Kaua’i
October 4 – Mānoa, O’ahu
October 6 – Kahului, Maui
October 7 – Hilo, Hawai’i
For more information contact Brian Fuchs at bfuchs2@unl.edu
June 15, 2022
East-West Center Insights: The Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange
Join Dr. Ryan Longman as he discusses the PDKE program and how plans to scale up the program in the Pacific are underway. This talk highlights past achievements, ongoing projects, and future trajectories of the PDKE.
The Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange (PDKE) seeks to facilitate collaborative relationships between scientist’s and resource managers in Hawaii and in Pacific Island Nations. The PDKE works to produce site specific, customized climate and drought related information and products through active co-production model of engagement. The PDKE strives to make data, information, and data products more accessible to stakeholders so it can be used in planning and resilience building initiatives.
May 18, 2022
USDA Region 5 Climate Change Integration Team Webinar
The webinar opened with an overview of the Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange (PDKE). The PDKE seeks to facilitate collaborative relationships among drought stakeholders in Hawaii and in Pacific Island Nations. The PDKE works to co-produce site-specific, customized climate- and drought-related products through active engagement between researchers and resource managers. The PDKE strives to make data and data products more accessible to stakeholders, so that they can be used for planning and resilience-building initiatives.
The webinar then transitioned into a presentation of results from several studies conducted across a model system consisting of 12 streams located across a steep and highly constrained mean annual rainfall gradient (MAR from 3000 to 6500 mm), where air temperature, substrate, and vegetation were constant. This Hawaii Island gradient was used as a model ecological system to examine how decreasing MAR impacts the ecological, hydrological, and biogeochemical functioning of tropical streams. Stream flow is a critical component needed by unique assemblages of amphidromous shrimp, fish, and snails that are characteristic of tropical Pacific Island streams.
April 5, 2022
Join Dr. Abby Frazier as she discusses how the PDKE demonstrates a successful climate co-production model, with lessons learned that can inform other efforts seeking to collaboratively develop climate products that enhance stewardship capacity and result in timely and relevant drought-related tools and information needed to inform planning on different scales.
July 13, 2019
Professor Abby Frazier is interviewed in this story of drought in the Hawaiian Islands.
Ka Pili Kai is Hawai‘i Sea Grant’s free biannual magazine. It celebrates the people and places across the Pacific region and our deep connection to all things related to the sea through vivid photographs and inspiring stories.
July 1, 2012
Climate Matters for Ranchers in Hawai’i Documoment
Climate matters every day to different people all over the world. Michelle Galimba runs Kuahiwi Ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii and tells us how important climate information can be for producing food for communities.
This “documoment” is provided by the East-West Center and the Pacific RISA, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Program Office.