Source: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEMS submitted to
KA WAI OLA: THE LIVING WATERS OF MAUI
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1017216
Grant No.
2018-38426-28812
Project No.
HAWW-2018-04721
Proposal No.
2018-04721
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
RD
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2018
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2020
Grant Year
2018
Project Director
Hokoana, L.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEMS
310 KAAHUMANU AVE
KAHULUI,HI 96732
Performing Department
Maui College
Non Technical Summary
This Standard USDA ANNH Integrated Research, Extension, and Education Project proposes to address water-quality concerns--watersheds, agriculture, ocean, residential--through establishing a Maui-based water-quality analysis laboratory, Science Lab Technician Certificate, noncredit Water-Quality Testing (WQT) modules, as well as recruitment (Science LabTech Summer Bridge, noncredit to credit matriculation) and a leadership program (Water Warriors) for Native Hawaiian students to improve water quality and conservation of limited water resources. This innovative project,Ka Wai Ola:The Living Water of Maui, spans multiple Food, Agriculture, Natural resources, and Human science (FANH) disciplines from medical lab technicians to agriculture industries to nonprofit organizations addressing conservation of the watersheds (Ridge 2 Reef) and ocean (Hui O Ka Wai Ola, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council). The project reaches new populations, such as Native Hawaiian adult learners, by providing industry-aligned noncredit modules with college credit matriculation agreements. Through this work, new relationships will be built between industry, nonprofit organizations, and postsecondary education to meet Maui's water-quality needs. This integrated model addresses water concerns, especially in rural locations, through education and extension. Project lead, UHMC Chancellor Lui Hokoana, along with the Key Personnel Team will establish the Water Analysis Lab in Spring 2019 to support project activities.The project addresses a critical need to establish a Water Analysis Lab on Maui and develop the relatedwater quality testing workforce.Currently, no such lab or trained workforce exists on Maui, impacting community organizations protecting Maui's watersheds and coral reefs, agriculture, and dental offices.Each month, hundreds of water samples from Maui aresent to Oahu, or even the mainland, incurring high shipping costs on the frozen samples as well as long wait times for results. A water analysis lab and trained workforce are needed to meet the demands of community organizations protectingMaui's watersheds and coral reefs as 100% of Maui's coastal watersheds currently fail to meet state standards and25% of Maui's surveyed coral reef sites have died over the past two decades with remaining reefs in declining health. With the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) coming into effect2020-2022, Maui's farmers and producers have increased water quality testing needs, especially for those with alternative water sources, such as streams and popular water catchment systems. Furthermore, Dental Unit Waterlines have recently been identified as an area of attention, as recent national reports show standard care practices may not prevent bacteria growth outside the Center for Disease Control's recommended limit.The project addresses these emerging local needs to develop student leaders, related water-quality testing curriculum, and provide educational community outreach.The project uses four approaches to address these needs.First, the Water Warrior Student Leadership program will train students on water quality testing, relatedcommunity needs, as well asleadership development. The student leaderswill complete research projects, technical papers, and provide community outreach presentations at local events to inform the community about water quality and sustainability issues. Second, the project will focus on recruiting Native Hawaiian students, forming partnerships with Native Hawaiian-serving programs, schools, and organizations. A Science LabTech Summer Bridge program will be developed to introduce students to water quality testing, laboratory techniques, related careers, and connect the students to pre-college resources.Third, The University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) will create a Science Lab Technician Certificate as part of the Natural Science and Sustainable Science Management degree programs.Fourth, UHMC will create noncredit Water-Quality Testing Modules to address local water testing needs. The modules will be aligned to the Science Lab Technician Certificate courses and can be used as a nontraditional pathway to postsecondary education to underserved populations, such as Native Hawaiian adult learners.Ka Wai Ola's mission is to positively impact water quality and sustainability issues on Maui by developing leaders, providing educational community outreach on water issues, expanding the pipeline to related disciplines, especially for Native Hawaiian students, as well as developing industry-aligned credit and noncredit options to meet the local emerging workforce needs.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
25%
Developmental
75%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
11202103020100%
Knowledge Area
112 - Watershed Protection and Management;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
GOAL 1: Build Water Warrior Student Leadership Program, with a focus on Native Hawaiian leaders, to promote water quality and conversation through community extension educationGoal 1 Objectives and Related Efforts1.a. 20 students will complete the Water Warrior Student Leadership Program Fall 2019-Spring 2020; 50% will be Native HawaiianEfforts:Develop recruitment pipelines with Native Hawaiian-serving programsOffer Water Warriors program--Undergraduate Research Experience (SCI 295) with leadership training1.b. 10 community extension education presentations on water-related topics; 75% of attendees will indicate intent to change behaviorEfforts:In groups of 2, student leaders provide community extension education presentations as the final course outcomeSurvey to extension presentation attendees on intent to change behaviors1.c. 75% of student leaders will report additional leadership activities in related areas by the end of the semester-long courseEfforts:Leadership training includes experiential community interaction, education, and extensionIdentification of leadership opportunities during courseGOAL 2: Recruit Native Hawaiian high school students into FANH postsecondary educationGoal 2 Objectives and Related Efforts2.a. Collaborate with at least 3 Native-Hawaiian serving schools and/or programs serving high schools students for recruitment pipelineEfforts:Outreach to Kamehameha Schools (Native Hawaiian-serving school), N? Pua No'eau (NH pre-college program), and Hawaiian Immersion program2.b. 24 high school students will complete the Science LabTech Summer Bridge; 50% will be Native HawaiianEfforts:Enroll 12 students each in Summers 2018 and 2019 through NH outreach effortsOverview FANH disciplines: lab tech, biology, chemistry, water-quality, physical science2.c. 60% of the Science LabTech Summer Bridge completers will indicate interest in pursuing FANH degreesEfforts:Overview of postsecondary FANH programs in the UH system and potential careersReferral to programs that provide support in completing college admissions and financial aid applicationsGOAL 3: Develop Science Lab Technician CertificateGoal 3 Objectives and Related Efforts3.a. Collaborate with at least 4 local industries to develop Science Lab Technician CertificateEfforts:Advisory Council meetings to include key industry stakeholders to inform curriculum development3.b. Create 3 courses for the Science Lab Technician CertificateEfforts:Establish and equip Water Analysis LabCurriculum developed by Co-PIs and UHMC approved3.c. 15 students will complete the Science Lab Technician Certificate; 50% will be NH studentsEfforts:Certificate promoted through summer bridge, UHMC, NH pipelines, and noncreditSCI 190 offered Fall 2019 and SCI 290 Spring 2020GOAL 4: Create noncredit Water-Quality Testing (WQT) modules with matriculation agreement for college credit to the Science Lab Technician CertificateGoal 4 Objectives and Related Efforts4.a. Collaborate with at least 4 local related industries to develop noncredit WQT modulesEfforts:Hold Advisory Council meetings to include key stakeholders in water testing needs to inform curriculum development4.b. Create the related industry-aligned noncredit WQT modules, to include matriculation to Science Lab Technician CertificateEfforts:Establish and equip Water Analysis LabCurriculum developed with Co-PIs, informed by key stakeholders on community needs4.c. Collaborate with at least 3 organizations to recruit adult learners into the noncredit WQT modulesEfforts:Promote program through relevant paths (NH Chamber of Commerce, extension education, Hawaii Farmers Union United, nonprofits, NPDES permit holders)4.d. 30 students will complete WQT modules by grant end; 50% of completers will be Native HawaiianEfforts:Noncredit WQT modules promoted through OCET brochures; offered Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, & Summer 2020
Project Methods
PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND EFFORTSWater Warrior Student Leadership Program. The Water Warrior Student Leadership Program will be offered twice through a semester-long course, once in Fall 2020 and once in Spring 2020. The course (SCI 295) will be promoted to various target groups to include: Science LabTech Summer Bridge completers, Native Hawaiian schools and organizations, students enrolling in the Science Lab Technician Certificate, as well as students enrolled in the NSCI and SSM degree programs. Through the course, students will be introduced to industry (dental, agriculture, farmers, producers, etc.), nonprofit organizations (e.g., Ridge 2 Reef, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council), and other related organizations (e.g., UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources) to choose a research project in pairs of two. The problem-based learning approach will lead students through the questions and provide in-the-moment instruction on water-quality testing and science laboratory techniques in the newly developed Water Analysis Lab. As a final course product, students will prepare technical papers on their research as well as provide at least one community extension education presentation. Presentation attendees will be given a survey (computer based with laptops in the room and paper-based as needed) to understand if the presentation effectively influenced the attendees' intent to make positive behavior changes.Leadership training will be incorporated into the course. The Water Warrior student leaders will be supported in identifying additional leadership opportunities. Water Warriors will earn a $500 stipend for successful completion of the program.Recruitment of Native Hawaiian Students. The project will draw on collaborations with Native Hawaiian-serving programs, schools , and organizations to build a pipeline of Native Hawaiian students, to include underserved Native Hawaiian adult learners. The program will begin contacting the programs in early January to promote the Science LabTech Summer Bridge and noncredit WQT modules--both to be offered starting Summer 2019. The Science LabTech Summer Bridge will be offered for early college credit to high school students. The 4-weeks course will be held in the new Water Analysis Lab and overview of laboratory-based investigations within the biological, chemical, physical, and forensic sciences areas. In addition to the overview of multiple disciplines, technical writing, and laboratory techniques, students will visit companies that employ lab technicians, such as the County Public Health Lab and the County Waste Water Treatment Plant. Students will also be introduced to programs supporting the college-going process. After course completion, students will be surveyed on their intent to pursue FANH postsecondary education. Successful Science LabTech Summer Bridge completers (earning a C or higher) will earn a $500 stipend. The course will be offered again in Summer 2020.Science Lab Technician Certificate. The Co-PI team, drawing from expertise of the leadership team (Co-PI, Key Personnel, Advisory Council), will develop three new courses (offered in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020) to create the Science Lab Technician Certificate. The program will be aligned with the industry, nonprofit, and other organizations' workforce training needs.The certificate program will be available to Natural Sciences (NSCI) 2-year degree candidates and will be promoted to students in the Science LabTech Summer Bridge, noncredit WQT modules, NSCI, and SSM programs. UHMC will assume and sustain the curriculum after the first iteration in 2019-2020.Noncredit Water-Quality Testing (WQT) Modules. In Spring 2019, the noncredit WQT modules will be developed in coordination with collaborators (industry, nonprofit organizations, farmers, etc.) to address local water testing needs. A set of modules will be created to align with the first Science Lab Technician Certificate course (SCI 190), with a matriculation agreement for college credit. The modules alone will have value to interested adult learners across multiple disciplines, and can be used as a nontraditional pathway to postsecondary education to underserved populations, such as Native Hawaiian adult learners. The noncredit WQT modules will be offered for four semesters (Summer 2019-Summer 2020).EVALUATION PLANThe evaluation team is comprised of Dr. Judith Inazu (evaluation director) and Nancy Marker (evaluation coordinator) from the Office for Evaluation and Needs Assessment Services in the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) at the UH Manoa.Project Monitoring Strategy. The formative evaluation will monitor the quality of implementation, the integrity of the project, and documentation of lessons learned. One strategy for monitoring the project will be to meet with the leadership team and review project files, including written reports on students' completion of various activities and curriculum development (Science Lab Technician Certificate, noncredit WQT modules). As part of the formative evaluation, students will be a surveyed during the second week of the Water Warriors Student Leadership Program each semester. The survey will seek to determine whether activities and services are being implemented as proposed and to solicit suggestions for improvement. Administering the survey early will help ensure that any corrective measures can be undertaken before the semester's end and maximize the effectiveness of the extension activities.Evaluating Project Effectiveness. One strategy for the summative evaluation to understand the project's effectiveness will be to review institutional and project data collected in databases maintained by the leadership team. The Co-PIs will collect, analyze, and report on measures such as students' completion of the Water Warrior Student Leadership Program, the Science LabTech Summer Bridge, the Science Lab Technician Certificate, and the noncredit WQT modules. This data will inform the extent to which project objectives (number of students and adult learners served, completion of courses, activities, certificates, and extension presentations) were achieved. Another strategy will be to survey students at the end of the program to assess their experiences with specific activities (leadership skills development, roles, and participation in additional leadership activities), to measure their knowledge and awareness of water-quality testing, and to assess the extent to which the program increased their leadership abilities. Faculty Mentors at the students' community extension education presentations will distribute and collect a short survey asking attendees the degree to which they intend to change their behavior.For the Science LabTech Summer Bridge, high school students will complete a posttest survey to measure their level of satisfaction and engagement with the program, interest in STEM, and intent to enroll in FANH programs. Project leadership will obtain parents' consent.Documents will be reviewed to determine if the project's goals to develop new collaborations with three high schools and four local-related industries were achieved. SSRI will discuss results of the formative evaluation with the leadership team two weeks into each semester to discuss challenges and progress. A final evaluation report will be provided at the project's conclusion.