Island Water and Ecology: The Kauai Project
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Kaua'i is the oldest and most diverse of the four main Hawaiian Islands. Kauai’s Mount Waialeale is the wettest place on Earth, receiving more than 400 inches of annual rainfall. This water gives rise to the only perennial rivers in the Hawaiian Islands and to the world’s highest elevation swamp (Alakai), which feeds the island’s spectacular waterfalls. The island is home to the endangered monk seals that use its sandy beaches to rest and the humpback whales that are often seen from shore during the winter months. Kauai’s native animals and plants are threatened by a combination of human activities and introduced species (e.g., goats, pigs, invasive plants). Moreover, the soil erosion resulting from agriculture, development, and feral animals has threatened both freshwater and marine ecosystems. As the only Hawaiian Island not ruled by King Kamehameha, Kaua'i has a rich history that includes ancient people’s understandings of its water, land, oceans, animals, plants, and air—all of which were based on a reverence for the natural beauty of the island. Low-impact and traditional methods of working with the water and land are reemerging thanks to the recent emphasis on sustainability and combined cultural wisdom.
THE PROJECT
In conjunction with current and previous work conducted on Kaua'i by public and private groups, we will focus on critical sections of the island’s diverse watersheds. Specifically, we will document evidence of soil disturbance and stream sedimentation in the heavily forested upslope regions. Depending on weather conditions, we may also observe the relationship between rainfall events, stream flows, and the sediment load carried to downslope wetlands and nearshore marine waters. Additionally, we will be examining a number of parameters that indicate the quality of the islands’ waters and the abundance and diversity of the plant and animal life in them. Identifying and counting fishes, birds, and other wildlife, as well as testing for important water chemistry indicators, will provide us data that we can compare with previous ecological and environmental studies. Finally, we will look at the ways in which the natural landscapes and watersheds have been altered by agriculture, recreation, and development, and how Kauai’s land and waters might be utilized without adversely impacting them. Along the way, we will learn how ancient Hawaiians perceived and worked with the natural rhythms and patterns of Kauai’s ecosystems and how such insights may supplement our scientific data in approaching the island’s environmental challenges. One of the major themes we will address is how we can live in a way that enhances, rather than degrades, the water and land that sustains us.
Full information available on request.
PROJECT LEADERS
D.L. ‘West’ Marrin is a water scientist and writer who has worked on projects ranging from aquifer pollution and marine ecology to greenhouse gases.
Carl Berg is a biologist who has studied the flora, fauna, hydrology, and ecology of Hawaii’s waters, watersheds, and landscapes for over fifteen years.
Nan Marie Greer-Watari is a college instructor who has studied Kauai’s resources and their relationship to agriculture, development, and diverse cultures.