Maunakea Speaker Series
The Maunakea Speaker Series is a monthly scholar-focused presentation offered as a partnership between the Office of Maunakea Management, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Department of Physics & Astronomy. Typically held on the 3rd Thursday of each month, this collaborative venture gives the community unprecedented access to fascinating research taking place on Maunakea and other topics unique to the Island of Hawaiʻi. A venue for scholars to share their stories and learn from discussion, the series promotes understanding and collaboration across all sectors of the community, while addressing the goals of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
Recorded Presentations
- Hot Stars and Dark Matter from the Students of Maunakea Scholars
- Tapping into Local Science and Technology Talent—The Akamai Internship Program
- Evolution of an oddity: An exploration of the wēkiu bug's isolation and adaptations on Maunakea
- What's slowing forest restoration at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge?
- The only way is up? How are Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa alpine plants responding to rapid climate change?
- Tackling Tomorrow's Issues: Hilo High School Student Science
- What's Up on Maunakea? Insect diversity and ecosystem monitoring for conservation and land management
- The Plants and Vegetation of Maunakea from Tree-line to Summit
- Year 11 – The Hawaiʻi Experimental Tropical Forest
- Managing Ants on the Big Island: How to keep the beasts at bay
- Dark Nebula, Dwarf galaxies and the Students who Explore Them: The Maunakea Scholars of Honokaʻa High School
- New Insights into the Groundwater Hydrology of Mauna Kea and Hawaiʻi Island
- Keeping up with the coast: quantifying shoreline change on Hawaiʻi Island
- Mapping change at the Maunakea summit
- Maunakea - what makes it the best astronomical site in the world
- Ten Years of Lunar Eclipse Photometry
- High School Student Presentations
- He Lani Ko Luna, A Sky Above: "In losing the sight of land, you discover the stars"
- The Growth and Evolution of Maunakea Volcano, A Geologic Story of Sibling Rivalry
- Past and Future Climate on Maunakea
- Tracing the Movement of Ancient Hawaiian Adzes through the Islands
- Maunakea Scholars Share their Observation Experience
- Using Environmental Data to Model Habitat Suitability on Maunakea
- Lake Waiau: A Study of a Tropical Alpine Lake, Past and Present
- Arthropod Diversity in the Subalpine Region of Maunakea
- Raising Awareness of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death
- Birds of Paradise Lost: Evolution, Extinction and Conservation of Hawaiʻi's Birds
- The History of Snow & Ice on the Summits of Hawaiʻi
- Tropical Mountain Permafrost
Hot Stars and Dark Matter from the Students of Maunakea Scholars
July 3, 2019
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Ronny Whitter (Kapolei High School), JC Dumaslan (Waipahu High School), and Mary Beth Laychak & Doug Simons (Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope)
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- July 3, 2019 Flyer
Tapping into Local Science and Technology Talent—The Akamai Internship Program
June 19, 2019
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Lisa Hunter, Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators, University of California Santa Cruz
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- June 19, 2019 Flyer
Evolution of an oddity: An exploration of the wēkiu bug's isolation and adaptations on Maunakea
May 30, 2019
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Heather Stever (University of California Merced) and Dr. Jesse Eiben (University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo)
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- May 30, 2019 Flyer
What's slowing forest restoration at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge?
April 4, 2019
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Evan Rehm, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- April 4, 2019 Flyer
The only way is up? How are Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa alpine plants responding to rapid climate change?
March 21, 2019
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. James Juvik, Emeritus Professor at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- March 21, 2019 Flyer
Tackling Tomorrow's Issues: Hilo High School Student Science
January 10, 2019
Local high school students share their insights, enthusiasm and knowledge from Science Fair projects, Internships, and research on topics ranging from engineering internships, public health research, and environmental issues.
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- January 10, 2019 Flyer
What's Up on Maunakea? Insect diversity and ecosystem monitoring for conservation and land management
December 20, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Jesse Eiben, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- December 20, 2018 Flyer
The Plants and Vegetation of Maunakea from Tree-line to Summit
November 15, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Grant Gerrish
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- November 15, 2018 Flyer
Year 11 – The Hawaiʻi Experimental Tropical Forest
October 18, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Susan Cordell, US Forest Service - Institute for Pacific Islands Forestry
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- October 18, 2018 Flyer
Managing Ants on the Big Island: How to keep the beasts at bay
September 20, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Michelle Montgomery, Hawaiʻi Ant Lab
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- September 20, 2018 Flyer
Dark Nebula, Dwarf galaxies and the Students who Explore Them: The Maunakea Scholars of Honokaʻa High School
July 19, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Hokunani Sanchez & Keilani Steele of Honokaʻa High School and Mary Beth Laychak & Doug Simons of Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- July 19, 2018 Flyer
New Insights into the Groundwater Hydrology of Mauna Kea and Hawaiʻi Island
June 21, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Donald Thomas, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- June 21, 2018 Flyer
Keeping up with the coast: quantifying shoreline change on Hawaiʻi Island
May 10, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Rose Hart, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- May 10, 2018 Flyer
Mapping change at the Maunakea summit
April 26, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Ryan Perroy, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- April 26, 2018 Flyer
Maunakea - what makes it the best astronomical site in the world
March 14, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Mark Chun, University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- March 14, 2018 Flyer
Maunakea Weather Center: More than Forecasting Passing Showers
February 22, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Ryan Lyman, Maunakea Weather Center
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- February 22, 2018 Flyer
Ten Years of Lunar Eclipse Photometry
February 1, 2018
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Elmar Schmidt, SRH University of Applied Sciences, Heidelberg Germany
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- February 1, 2018 Flyer
High School Student Presentations
January 11, 2018
Local high school students share their insights, enthusiasm and knowledge from Science Fair projects, Internships, and research on topics ranging from engineering internships, public health research, and environmental issues. The speakers include: Caleb Rogers (Hilo High), Anne Nakamoto (Waiakea High), Ara Uhr (Hilo High), Jared Goodwin (Hilo High), and Ina Klasner (Hilo High).
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- January 11, 2018 Flyer
He Lani Ko Luna, A Sky Above: "In losing the sight of land, you discover the stars"
November 30, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Kālepa Baybayan, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center (@ UH Hilo Wentworth Hall Room #1)
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- November 30, 2017 Flyer
The Growth and Evolution of Maunakea Volcano, A Geologic Story of Sibling Rivalry
October 17, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Ken Hon, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Geology
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- October 17, 2017 Flyer
Past and Future Climate on Maunakea
September 26, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Steve Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences - September 26, 2017 Flyer
Due to a power failure only the 1st half of the presentation was recorded. Slides from the 2nd half (slide #44 and on) are available in pdf format.
Tracing the Movement of Ancient Hawaiian Adzes through the Islands
August 24, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Peter Mills, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Anthropology
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- August 24, 2017 Flyer
Maunakea Scholars Share their Observation Experience
June 15, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Hokunani Sanchez & Keilani Steele of Honokaʻa High School and Mary Beth Laychak & Doug Simons of Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- June 15, 2017 Flyer
Using Environmental Data to Model Habitat Suitability on Maunakea
May 31, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Nathan Stephenson, Research Associate at UH Hilo
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- May 31, 2017 Flyer
Lake Waiau: A Study of a Tropical Alpine Lake, Past and Present
May 18, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Jane Massey Licata, Rutgers University
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- May 18, 2017 Flyer
Arthropod Diversity in the Subalpine Region of Maunakea
April 20, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Heather Stever, Research Associate at UH Hilo
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- April 20, 2017 Flyer
Raising Awareness of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death
March 23, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. J.B. Friday, Extension Forester with the University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension Service in Hilo
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences- March 23, 2017 Flyer
Birds of Paradise Lost: Evolution, Extinction and Conservation of Hawaiʻi's Birds
February 9, 2017
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Rob Fleischer, Senior Scientist with Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park
Businger, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Atmospheric Sciences - February 9, 2017 Flyer
The History of Snow & Ice on the Summits of Hawaiʻi
November 20, 2014
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Norbert Schorghofer of University of Hawaii at Manoa
Tropical Mountain Permafrost
October 24, 2014
A Maunakea Speaker Series presentation by Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa of University of Alaska Fairbanks