CERENE February Newsletter

As we connect together and move through 2025, we'd like to continue to reflect on community resilience. Our "blue skies" committment to supporting community resilience is flourishing. This month, CERENE explored the Hawaiian Star Compass with Hōkūleʻa co-captain Kaleo Wong, helped restore the Waiakeakua forest, and partnered with the Diamond Head State Monument Foundation for a successful Lēʻahi Adopt the Park Launch! We also had the opportunity with students to contribute to and take time reflecting on sustainability efforts at JABSOM’s Māla space.

We'd also like to celebrate the opportunities ahead as we work toward a more resilient future. Our community has been active supporting resilience hubs across O'ahu with the Ko'olau Network meeting regularly now and launching into working groups! Keep an eye out for our next Resilience Hub Learning Community (HLC) Zoom gathering and check out the latest NDPTC Third Thursday recording on "Empowering Communities Through Info Hubs - lessons learned from Maui and wildfires" and a powerful study on neighbor-to-neighbor resource sharing during disasters.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom of our newsletter for grant opportunities, upcoming trainings and community bulletin posts. Lots of good events coming up to train up and strengthen resilience for you and the communities you serve. Mahalo for being part of this journey as we continue to strengthen our communities and build resilience together despite the turbulent waters many have been experiencing!

Mahalo nui loa,
Dr. Miku Lenentine, Chris Pascua, and the CERENE Team

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The Koʻolau Hub Network Roundtable is continuing to meet monthly now. They are focused on sharing resources and activities to strengthen individual and community resilience, planning skills-based training to support disaster preparedness and overall well-being, and coordinating efforts to build connections across Koʻolau communities.

Participants provide updates on their Hub Action Plans and Activity Logs, and contribute to discussions on resilience initiatives locally at each monthly Round Table. This month's agenda includes reguar updates and also planning for the upcoming ʻĀina Workday at Hakipuʻu.

Email us at cerene15@hawaii.edu so we can share with our learning community!

"Where one goes, we all go." Let's strengthen our resilience together!

Aloha PRiMO ʻOhana,

We've been hearing from many of you lately asking about the PRiMO Conference, scheduled for March 17-20, 2025. We've been monitoring our registration rates, and they are lower than we'd like them to be. We all recognize the uncertainty within our system right now, and because of this, we decided to postpone this year's conference to a later date.

For those of you who have already registered, we want to thank you. Please be assured that you will receive a full refund of your registration as quickly as possible.

We were all looking forward to gathering together again in Honolulu. For the past 22 years PRiMO has helped advance the coordination needed to build resilience across our region. We appreciate all the contributions that federal, state, and local agencies, public-and private-sectors, and community partners have made and benefited from over the years. Even as we postpone this meeting, we remain committed to continuing to do the good work of PRiMO and to come together again as a family when we can. We apologize for any inconvenience that this might cause. If you have any questions, please reach out to primo.partnership@gmail.com.

Mahalo,
PRiMO Navigators Council

On February 22nd, CERENE partnered with the Diamond Head State Monument Foundation for a productive restoration workday at Leahi Park. After gathering at Kapi‘olani Community College, participants carpooled to Muriel Flanders Park for a morning of cultural education, safety briefings, and hands-on restoration work.

Thanks to everyone who helped with maintenance and cleanup tasks, and a special mahalo to the Diamond Head State Monument Foundation for their support in making this event a success. We wrapped up with a group lunch and a reflection on the day’s achievements.

Once again, CERENE had the opportunity to engage in biocultural forest restoration in the Waikeakua Forest area. Our efforts focused on revitalizing the land by reintroducing and propagating native plants, with the goal of healing the ecosystem and providing food for those in need. As local community members, we are dedicated to stewarding the Waiakeakua Forest, creating a healthy, thriving environment to share with future generations. We are proud to be part of this ongoing, community-led initiative and are glad to continue contributing to the restoration and care of this precious land.

As part of CERENE’s ongoing efforts to revitalize native spaces and promote sustainability across the university and academic communities, we recently had the opportunity to visit the JABSOM School of Medicine in Honolulu! While there, we teamed up to give their Mala space some much-needed love and attention. A big mahalo to JABSOM for hosting us and making this experience possible! We’re excited to continue supporting their environmental initiatives and continue partnering with them.

On February 10, CERENE had the privilege of experiencing Nainoa Thompson's Hawaiian Star Compass at Kapi‘olani Community College’s Makahiapo Great Lawn.

Guided by Hōkūleʻa co-captain Kaleo Wong, we explored how Polynesian navigators use the Star Compass for wayfinding, bridging celestial navigation, culture, and modern education.

The journey continued on February 11 at the Maunalua Bay Community gathering at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, where Hōkūleʻa crew members Kai Hoshijo and Austin Kino shared more about the art and tradition of Polynesian voyaging.

Mahalo to the dedicated community partners and ‘Āina organizations who joined us, sharing their knowledge and efforts to strengthen a more resilient Maunalua Bay.

🌟 In Case You Missed It 🌟
Check out NDPTCs latest Third Thursday Event on YouTube! 🎥 This month’s topic:
"Empowering Communities Through Info Hubs: Lessons from Red Hill and the Maui Wildfires"

🌍 Topic: Empowering Communities Through Info Hubs – Lessons from Red Hill & the Maui Wildfires
🎤 Presenters:
✅ Mia Comeros – Pacific Water Resilience and Security Program Lead, Water Resources Research Center
✅ Lisa Webster – GIS Specialist, NDPTC / Hawaiʻi Coastal Zone Management Program Analyst

🔍 Key Takeaways:
✅ How innovative Esri Info Hubs are transforming community engagement and data accessibility in disaster response
✅ The role of cross-sector and university-wide collaboration in building proactive, long-term solutions

📲 Watch now: https://youtu.be/sxQCugBnIbU

✨ Please join us for the next Third Thursday event! Together, we build resilient communities! 🌏

🔹 Course: Leveraging Tools for Conducting Damage Assessments
✅ Status: FEMA Certified & Listed in NTED Catalog
📆 Duration: 8 Hours | 🎓 Credits: ASFPM (6.5), IACET (0.6), IAEM (5.5)
📍 Delivery: Instructor-Led | 💰 Cost: FREE (Travel/Lodging Not Covered)

🔥 What You’ll Learn

✔️ Damage assessment processes & tools
✔️ Develop & apply assessment action plans
✔️ Hands-on practice with real-world tools

🎯 Who Should Attend?

🏛️ Government Officials | 🚑 EMS | 🔥 Fire Services | 👮 Law Enforcement | 🤝 NGOs | 🏢 Private Sector | 🚨 Emergency Management & More

🔗 How to Enroll

📍 Contact your State Administrative Agency (SAA) via firstrespondertraining.gov
📡 Host Requirements: Wi-Fi & Power Supply

🏆 Certification & Testing

✅ Pre-Test: Required before course
✅ Post-Test: 70%+ for FEMA Certificate

🚀 Max Enrollment: 30-40 Participants – Sign Up Today!

In a new study co-authored by Professor Cynthia Chen, local peer-to-peer (P2P) resource sharing is shown to significantly improve community resilience during disaster isolation periods. Published in Nature Cities, the research reveals that connecting neighbors through social ties can reduce resource shortages by up to 100% in some cases! Key findings include:

✅ Social Ties Matter: Even a small increase in community social connections can drastically boost resource sharing.
✅ Survival Resources: P2P sharing proved most effective for survival resources like food, medication, and warmth.
✅ Beyond Government Aid: While government assistance is essential, local, community-driven resource sharing is a transformative approach for disaster preparedness.

This study, which focused on two socio-economically distinct Seattle neighborhoods, offers a proven model for building resilience through community-based efforts. Learn more about how local networks can be pivotal in disaster scenarios and why strengthening social connections can pave the way for stronger, more resilient communities.

Read the full article and explore the findings that could help shape future disaster response strategies! 🌍

🌿 Join the ISR Spring Seminar Series on Resilient Landscapes and Fire Risk Reduction! 🌿

Save the dates for an exciting lineup of experts who will share insights on how Hawai‘i can support more resilient landscapes and reduce fire risk. These seminars will take place Wednesdays from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM in Kuykendall Hall 201, starting February 12th.

Lunch will be provided 🍽️, and while a remote option will be available, we encourage in-person attendance to foster connection and dialogue.

Did you know that several important federal datasets, including the CDC PLACES, Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), and Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), were recently purged from federal websites? While we’re uncertain when or if this data will return, PolicyMap has made sure you can still access these valuable resources!

For those working on community resilience, disaster planning, and data analysis, PolicyMap is your go-to platform for accessing these critical datasets without disruption. You’ll find the most recent and historic versions of the data, available and ready to use.

📌 Check out PolicyMap now to explore the essential datasets and stay ahead with the information you need!

Clean Energy Group's Technical Assistance Fund (TAF) is accepting applications for grants of approximately $8,500 to support resilience hub projects serving low-income and BIPOC communities. The TAF provides one-on-one guidance, technical expertise, and funding for solar+storage feasibility assessments, which can support the resilient power element of your Resilience Hub. The TAF offers critical support for community-serving organizations pursuing resilient solar and battery storage projects. This is an excellent opportunity to advance your community's Resilience Hub work. Click here to apply for support.

Spark Magazine is inviting scholars to submit pitches for a new series on Community Resilience and Response to Extreme Weather and Fire. The series will explore how marginalized communities navigate climate-related disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes, focusing on displacement, economic challenges, and resilience strategies. Contributions should offer insights on environmental justice, historic redlining, and local knowledge networks.

Pitches are due by March 15, 2025, and selected essays (800–1,200 words) will be published in Summer 2025. Priority will be given to members of the Diversity Scholars Network. For more details, contact Laura Sanchez-Parkinson (lasanche@umich.edu).

🌱 Mālama Māunuunu Workdays

Join us for hands-on restoration and cultivation of bio-cultural resources at Kapiʻolani CC. It’s a chance to support the health of this special ʻāina and give back to your home campus.

Waiwai ka ʻĀina no ke Kanaka – The wealth of the land is determined by its people, and healthy people are found where the land is thriving. 🌍

📅 Workdays:

• March 14 ⏰ 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• April 11 ⏰ 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• April 25 ⏰ 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

⚡ The Energy Equity Hui’s Community Empowerment Working Group ⚡

The Energy Equity Hui’s Community Empowerment Working Group is a statewide public-private collaborative network focused on ways to help you and your community participate in an equitable energy future for Hawai‘i.

This survey is aimed at community organizations to suggest educational materials and events that would support your needs. It can also be the starting point for collaboration between your community and energy industry professionals to access free targeted resources and educational opportunities.

Please complete the survey by February 28th to be entered for a chance to win one of five $50 gift cards! 🎁

If you have any questions, please contact the working group at energyhui.cewg@gmail.com

🌊 Water Testing Project Needs Volunteers! 🌊

A 2022 State Department of Health report named Hauʻula the 2nd most polluted community in the State! We need YOU to help collect water samples and support efforts to clean up our watershed and ocean.

The Hauʻula Community Association and Hui O Hauʻula are working with WAI, a nonprofit leading this project. We need volunteers to collect samples from January to June.

Thanks to WAI and the Harold KL Castle Foundation for their support!

CALL NOW 📞 at 808-293-5000 to sign up. Mahalo! 🙏

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