Insights
Puʻulani: Biocultural restoration of agroforestry in Heʻeia, Oʻahu
By Leah Bremer, Zoe Hastings, Maile Wong, and Tamara Ticktin Puʻulani (heavenly ridge) sits above the loʻi kalo (taro patches) that Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi, a community-based
Cliffs in the GAP: A Design Flaw with an Easy Fix
By Dylan Moore How much more am I getting? I’m getting $80 a month before taxes, and I’m going to lose a $1000 benefit… It’s
Time for A Carbon Tax for Hawaii?
By James Mak and Erik Haites Hawaii’s constitution requires a Tax Review Commission (TRC) be appointed every five years to review the state’s tax/revenue system.
VOG – Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Impact of Pollutants on Learning Outcomes
By Rachel Inafuku. Joint research with Tim Halliday, Lester Lusher and Aureo de Paula. Introduction While an extensive number of studies have shown that pollution
Rethinking HTA’s “Regenerative Tourism Fee”
By James Mak and Robert D. Ebel Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Oahu Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) proposes to “Establish a ‘Regenerative Tourism Fee’ (RTF)
New publication analyzes the effects of a state-level carbon reduction strategy for Hawai‘i
A new publication by Makena Coffman, Paul Bernstein, Maja P. Schjervheim, Sumner La Croix, and Sherilyn Hayashida looks at the effects of Hawai‘i’s Renewable Portfolio
UHERO to collaborate with Honolulu in development of housing database
We are excited to announce a new partnership between UHERO and the City and County of Honolulu to develop and maintain an Oʻahu housing database.
Justin Tyndall awarded the Stough-Johansson Springer Award for research in pedestrian safety
Congratulations to Justin Tyndall, whose joint work with Cody Nehiba was awarded the Stough-Johansson Springer Award. Their paper, titled “Highways and Pedestrian Deaths in US
The 2023 ‘Imi Pono Survey: Share your unique experience and perspective on wellbeing!
For the last two years, UHERO and Kamehameha Schools have been working together as part of a strategic partnership. We share many common interests in
New publication in Ecosystem Services analyzes the costs of nature-based solution programs
Nature-based solutions are growing around the world, and there is a clear need to understand the types of costs associated with these programs along with
Public Campaign Financing: Evidence and Opportunities for Hawai‘i
By Colin Moore Concerns about the corrupting influence of money in politics have led to renewed interest in public campaign financing. Some argue that using
Hawai‘i Tourism in Search of the Promised Land
By Paul Brewbaker, Frank Haas and James Mak Public pressure has been mounting on the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) to shift its focus from mainly
Measuring the Burden of Housing Regulation in Hawaii
By Rachel Inafuku, Justin Tyndall, and Carl Bonham Home prices in Hawaii are among the highest in the nation: in 2021 the median single-family home resale
COVID-19 Mandates: Recommendations for Hawaiʻi Businesses
Read the summary blog post. By Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, May Okihiro, and Carl Bonham Faced with the largest increase in cases since the beginning
Developing a Dream Destination: From Laissez-Faire to Destination Management
Read the summary blog post. By James Mak In 2008, I published an interpretive history of how public policies toward tourism in Hawaii changed over
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaii: Hawaii’s Soft Landing Still in the Cards
Our Hawaii outlook continues to see economic slowing but no recession. While international tourism will continue to recover, domestic travel will soften as the US
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaii: Global war on inflation will hinder Hawaii growth
The global outlook continues to darken, but prospects for Hawaii remain largely unchanged from our last report. Rising interest rates, dwindling pandemic era savings, and
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaii: US recession will weigh on Hawaii’s recovery
The economic horizon has darkened since our last forecast. The global economy has slowed sharply, and the US is headed for a mild recession in
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaii: Foreign visitors will provide lift, but risks have multiplied
Hawaii’s recovery has resumed now that the Delta and Omicron waves are behind us. Once the Asian COVID-19 wave recedes, the long-awaited return of international
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaii: With Omicron in the rearview mirror, a clearer road ahead?
The two COVID-19 waves since last summer caused a pullback in Hawaii tourism and a pause in labor market recovery. Visitor arrivals are now picking
Public Health Report: Vaccination Booster Uptake Lags as COVID Impact Reach Widens
As we enter a new phase of the pandemic, Hawai‘i’s populations are becoming more confident that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, driving
UHERO Public Health Report: Health Effects and Views of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i
The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant adverse impacts in the state of Hawai‘i beyond the direct effects of COVID-19 itself, including indirect effects on mental
Restoring Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity through Cost-Effective and Resilient Agroforestry Systems
Since September 2018, our project team, composed of University of Hawai‘i faculty and students, Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi staff, and other partners have worked together to: 1)
Economic Impact of Astronomy in Hawai‘i: 2019 Update
Astronomy continues to be a sizable and stabilizing source of economic activity. In 2019, local astronomy related expenditures in the state totaled $110.02 million with
The Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan: Understanding its Pros and Cons and Ideas for How to Improve it
By Carl Bonham and Sumner La Croix A team of 19 planners, engineers, data and policy analysts, attorneys, and community development professionals has developed a
A Comparison of State-Level Carbon Reduction Strategies: A Case Study of Hawai‘i
Abstract: State-level electricity standards are proliferating and becoming more ambitious, with numerous US states adopting a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and a small but increasing
Investing in nature-based solutions: Cost profiles of collective-action watershed investment programs
Abstract: Worldwide, an increasing number of watershed management programs invest in nature-based solutions (NbS) to water security challenges. Yet, NbS for water security currently are
An environmental justice perspective on ecosystem services
UHERO Environment is part of an international collaboration focused on addressing environmental justice in ecosystem services research and practice. Their new publication in Ambio, “An
The effects of the pandemic on the economy of Hawaii
Abstract: Hawaii was vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic due to its reliance on tourism. This article analyzes the pandemic’s economic impact in Hawaii by comparing
Non-native fallows hold high potential for restoration through agroforestry in a Pacific Island ecosystem
Abstract: Agricultural land abandonment affects millions of hectares of cultivated lands globally. While ending cultivation can lead to spontaneous reforestation and ecological benefits, the resulting