PIPES Alumni by Intern Year: 2017

All PIPES Alumni by Year

2017 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Interns

Adel Sharif

From: Pennsylvania.

Project: Comparing near shore water quality in front of properties with Cesspools, Septic Tanks, and Aerobic Treatment Units in Puakō, Hawaiʻi.

Mentor: Tracy N. Wiegner.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Marine Science Department.

Amanda Wong

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Microclimate of leaf litter in ecological restoration of Hawaiian lowland wet forests.

Mentor: Rebecca Ostertag and Susan Cordell.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Biology Department and USDA Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

Amy Olsen

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Assessing Bacteria and Water Quality in Keaukaha Coastline.

Mentor: Tara Holitzki.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Marine Science Department.

Ashley Romero

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Investigating the Behavior of Rats, and Their Response to Population Control Measures.

Mentor: Paul Banko.

Host Organization: United States Geological Survey.

Claire Dobry

From: Michigan.

Project: Pseudoalteromonas rubra strain PPB1, isolated from locally sourced marine sponge of genus Petrosia, as bacterial biocontrol agent in mosquito larvicide .

Mentor: Jolene Sutton.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Biology Department.

Giovanni Tolentino-Ramos

From: Oklahoma.

Project: The Effects of 1% Coconut on Bell Labs Bait’s Preference Ratios and Consumption Rates Among Wild House Mouse (Mus musculus).

Mentor: Dean Foster.

Host Organization: USDA National Wildlife Research Center.

Jihoo Kim

From: Chicago.

Project: Species Richness and Diversity of Oribatid Mites in Hawaiian Lowland Wet Forest.

Mentor: Rebecca Ostertag, Robert Peck, and Susan Cordell.

Host Organization: University of Hawai’i at Hilo, United States Geological Survey, and the United States Department of Agriculture: Institute for Pacific Islands Forestry.

Kainalu Steward

From: Maui.

Project: Understanding Hydrology at Honokea Loko Iʻa & Comparing pH and Alkalinity Levels Between 12 Springs Along the Honohononui and Keaukaha Shoreline.

Mentor: Steven Colbert and Cherie Kauahi.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Marine Science Department.

Katherine Hiu

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Nutritional Composition of Five Endemic Hawaiian Fruits at ‘Alalā Release Site.

Mentor: Bryce Masuda, Jon Price and Rebecca Ostertag.

Host Organization: Hawaiʻi Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

Marcel Kate Jardeleza

From: Guam.

Project: Seasonal and elevation changes in phenotype of the Spotted Wing Drosophila suzukii on Hawaiʻi Island.

Mentor: Jonathan Koch.

Host Organization: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES).

Mehana Sabado-Halpern

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Developmental Rates of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei).

Mentor: Robert Hollingsworth and Lindsey Hamilton.

Host Organization: USDA US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.

Sierra Ching

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Quantifying vegetation, structure, and canopy density at ʻalalā release site.

Mentor: Bryce Masuda, Jon Price and Rebecca Ostertag.

Host Organization: Hawaiʻi Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

Tyler Gerken

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Determining Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Fecal Indicator Bacteria concentrations in soils of the Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve, Hawai‘i Island.

Mentor: Tracy N. Wiegner.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Marine Science Department.

2017 University of Hawaiʻi Hawaiian Internship Program (UH-HIP) Interns

Angelica Melone

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Cost Effective Decision Making for Land Use Change on the Island of Maui.

Mentor: Kirsten Oleson.

Host Organization: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Aurora Jeffrey

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Considering what communities are being served and how better to promote programming for the ʻImi Pono no ka ʻĀina Kahuapono Student Enrichment Program 2017.

Mentor: Lahela Camara.

Host Organization: Three Mountain Alliance: ʻImi Pono no ka ʻĀina.

Candice Miner-Ching

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Connecting Communities and Science: Collaboration.

Mentor: Noelani Puniwai and Cherie Kauahi.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Marine Science Department.

Claire Rossi de Leon

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Intra- vs. Interspecific seedling competition between a native and non-native Acacia.

Mentor: Kasey Barton.

Host Organization: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Botany: Kasey Barton Lab.

David Russell

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Three-dimensional modeling for change detection at Honoli‘i, Hawai‘i.

Mentor: Rose Hart.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Lab.

Flame Porter

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Water Trials on ʻAʻaliʻi Outplanting in High-Erosion Areas.

Mentor: Bruce Koebele.

Host Organization: Mālama Learning Center.

Hannah Machiorlete

From: Maui.

Project: Predator control in the Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve and Habitat Restoration in Nakula Natural Area Reserve for the Kiwikiu (Pseudonestor xanthophrys).

Mentor: Hanna Mounce.

Host Organization: Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project.

Jarrett Keoni Kahookele, Jr.

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Kahuku Wind Farm.

Mentor: Aaron Pritchard.

Host Organization: TerraForm Power.

Kalia Kaawa

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Survival Monitoring of Native Plant Species at Kaʻohe and Puʻu Mali Restoration Areas.

Mentor: Kala Asing.

Host Organization: Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project (MKFRP).

Kialoa Mossman

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Managing land-based sediments effects on Coral Reefs in West Maui using Photo Analysis.

Mentor: Kirsten Oleson.

Host Organization: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Kiloaulani Ka’awa-Gonzales

From: Molokai.

Project: An Exploratory Study of the Effectiveness of Two Biological Control Insects Mompha trithalama and Lius poseidon on Managing Clidemia hirta.

Mentor: Tracy Johnson.

Host Organization: USDA Institute of Pacific Island Forestry.

Kodie Solis-Kalani

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: I ola ‘oe, I ola mākou nei: Outreach and Environmental Education Development at Puʻuwaʻawaʻa and Pu’uanahulu.

Mentor: Nāpuʻu Conservation Project.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

Malia Hosoi-Gallucci

From: Oʻahu.

Project: Macro Plastic Marine Debris Research - Identifying Solutions to Prevent Marine Debris.

Mentor: Suzanne Frazer.

Host Organization: Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaiʻi.

Mary Metchnek

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Invasive Plant Remediation: Tools for Kiai Loko Iʻa.

Mentor: Kalani Soller.

Host Organization: Kamuola Marine Science Center, Kamehameha Schools.

Matthew Kahoohanohano

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Grow Your Own Lāʻau Lapaʻau: Plant Resource Guide.

Mentor: Brandon Kobashigawa.

Host Organization: Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi.

Sean Kirkpatrick

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death: Outreach and Education.

Mentor: Corie Yanger.

Host Organization: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Cooperative Extension Services.

Sebastian Wells

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Linking Traditional Knowledge with Emerging Technologies to Restore Hawaiʻi's Unique Cultural Landscape.

Mentor: Tyler Paikuli-Campbell.

Host Organization: Department of Interior: National Park Service.

Serena Massrey

From: Kauai.

Project: He ʻĀina Momona ʻo Hāʻena: Community & Culturally Minded Look into Abundance Levels in Hāʻena Loʻi Complexes .

Mentor: Katie Champlin and Kawika Winter.

Host Organization: Limahuli Garden and Preserve National Tropical Botanical Garden.

Shawna Blackford

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: How the subalpine forest is responding to lower density of ungulates on Mauna Kea: Learning how to protect, restore, and conserve the palila habitat on Mauna Kea.

Mentor: Kala Asing.

Host Organization: : Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project (Department of Land and Natural Resources and Division of Forestry and Wildlife).

Shola Kahiapo

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Plan for native plant restoration near Halepōhaku visitor’s center.

Mentor: Fritz Klasner.

Host Organization: Office of Mauna Kea Management, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

Stephanie Dawrs

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: The Role of Ambrosia Beetles in the Spread of Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death.

Mentor: Curtis Ewing.

Host Organization: University of Hawaii Mānoa Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences.

2017 Micronesia and American Samoa Student Internship Program (MASSIP) Interns

Jason Henson

From: Marshall Islands.

Project: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Response.

Mentor: Darcy Oishi and Michael Melzer.

Host Organization: Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture/University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Jenelle Blesam

From: Palau.

Project: Sustainable Seafoods Palau.

Mentor: Ann Singeo.

Host Organization: Ebiil Society Inc.

Natasha Ripley

From: American Sāmoa.

Project: Assessing Coral Bleaching Surveys in the National Parks of American Sāmoa.

Mentor: Bert Fuiava.

Host Organization: National Parks Service of American Sāmoa.

Risa Myazoe

From: Hawaiʻi Island.

Project: Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Program.

Mentor: Darcy Oishi and Michael Melzer.

Host Organization: Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture/University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.