Introduction to Data Collection using Global Positioning System for 'Imi Pono no ka 'Āina Spring Returnees

EPSCoR Organizer(s): 

Lisa Canale

Noelani Puniwai

'Imi Pono no ka 'Āina ('Imi Pono), the environmental education and out-reach program for the Three Mountain Alliance (TMA), holds two summer enrichment programs that provide students grades 6-12 the opportunity to learn about Hawai'i's native ecosystems and the relationships within them. After completion of the summer program, students are able to participate in their spring and fall returnee programs. The topics of these programs change each session. Some past topics include, five mountains in five days, Hawaiian plants and their uses, Ka'u coastline walk (Punaluu to Kalae), and Hawksbill Turtle monitoring at Kamehame.

This year's spring program will take place during the Hawai'i Department of Education spring break on March 14-18. For this program the goal is for the students to learned about Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information Science (GIS) as GPS and GIS are becoming such a valuable skill and many of the 'Imi Pono students showed great interest these technologies. The hands-on project for the Spring Returnee's to work on at Keauhou, Ka'u, mapping an out-planting site of native foliage.

In preparation for the student's field work, Noelani Puniwai, Lisa Canale, and Lahela Camara, will create a Native Plant Geo-Treasure Hunt on the grounds of 'Imiloa, as an exercise to discuss data collection and documentation techniques, understand GPS concepts, and learn how to use a handheld GPS, for the morning exercises. The afternoon will be an orientation to University of Hawai'i at Hilo Spatial Data Analysis Labs, introduction to communicating through digital maps, and the potential pathways as a geo-scientist as illustrated by Noelani Puniwai's academic opportunities and achievements.