Kimberly Burnett
Expensive Exotics: Snakes in Hawaii
Last month a juvenile ornate tree snake (Chrysopelea ornate) was captured by military personnel near the airfield at Hickam Air Force Base. Inspectors from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture were notified and took custody of the foot-long snake. Ornate tree snakes are mildly venomous and are related to the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), which […]
Read MoreUHERO 101.2: Purchasing Power of Paradise
One dollar in Hawaii does not go as far as one dollar in South Dakota. Regional Price Parities (RPPs) measure differences in the price levels of goods and services across states and metropolitan areas for a given year. RPPs are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level for each year. In 2011 […]
Read MoreUHERO 101.1: Unemployment Rate
How can economics help me understand the world around me? Check in every Friday for UHERO 101: explaining news that matters with basic economic concepts. UHERO cuts through the jargon and tells you what this means to you. Hawaii’s unemployment rate is often praised as being below the national average. While this is mathematically correct, there are […]
Read MoreThe Economic Impact of the University of Hawai‘i System
The University of Hawai‘i (UH) generates economic activity through its purchases from local businesses, its payment to its employees, and spending by students and visitors. This report estimates UH’s total economic activity in the state of Hawai‘i in fiscal year 2012. Following a standard approach, we define economic impact to be the direct, indirect, and […]
Read MoreEnvironmental Security in the Asia-Pacific Ring of Fire: Exploring the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
This month, UHERO’s Project Environment will be commencing a joint project with Japan’s Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). Climate change and economic development are causing increased pressure on water, energy and food resources, presenting communities with increased levels of tradeoffs and potential conflicts among these resources. The water-energy-food nexus is one of the most important […]
Read MoreThe Contribution of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa to Hawai‘i’s Economy in 2012
The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) generates economic activity through its purchases from local businesses, its payment to its employees, and spending by students and visitors. This report estimates UHM’s total economic activity in the state of Hawai‘i in fiscal year 2012. Following a standard approach, we define economic impact to be the direct, […]
Read MoreFoundations for Hawai‘i’s Green Economy: Economic Trends in Hawai‘i Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resource Management
This report provides the first comparison of standard economic indicators for three sectors that are key to future sustainability in Hawai‘i: renewable energy, agriculture, and natural resource management.
Read MoreSpecies Invasion as Catastrophe: The Case of the Brown Tree Snake
This paper develops a two-stage model for the optimal management of a potential invasive species. The arrival of an invasive species is modeled as an irreversible event with an uncertain arrival time. The model is solved in two stages, beginning with the post-invasion stage. Once the arrival occurs, the optimal path of species removal is […]
Read MoreAn economic approach to assessing import policies designed to prevent the arrival of invasive species: the case of Puccinia psidii in Hawai‘i
Since its first documented introduction to Hawai‘i in 2005, the rust fungus Puccinia psidii has already severely damaged Syzygium jambos (Indian rose apple) trees and the federally endangered Eugenia koolauensis (nioi). Fortunately, the particular strain has yet to cause serious damage to Metrosideros polymorpha (‘ōhi‘a). However, the introduction of more virulent strains and the genetic […]
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