Keeping History Above Water (KHAW): Pacific Workshop
Video: KHAW 2024 Summary
The 2024 Keeping History Above Water (KHAW): Pacific Workshop was hosted by the United States Department of Defense and the Newport Restoration Foundation on June 13, 2024 in Honolulu, HI. The meeting served as a venue for cultural and natural resource practitioners, military personnel, scientists, state and local leaders, and others to discuss community-driven solutions for preserving Pacific Islands physical and intangible cultural heritage in the face of coastal inundation.
Oli, Welcome, and Opening Plenary
Video: Oli, Welcome, and Opening Plenary
Slide Deck: Oli, Welcome, and Opening Plenary
- Honorable Kitlang Kabua begins the Workshop by describing the importance of cultural heritage protection in the face of climate change and coastal inundation, highlighting her experiences from the Marshall Islands.
Session Presentations: On-the-Ground Work – Citizen Climate Literacy And Communication in the Pacific
Video: Session Presentations: On-the-Ground Work – Citizen Climate Literacy And Communication in the Pacific
Slide Deck: Session Presentations: On-the-Ground Work – Citizen Climate Literacy And Communication in the Pacific
- Shubhra K. Misra presents on climate literacy and climate change adaptation and planning in the US Department of Defense. Kevin K. J. Chang shares the story of Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo (KUA), a community-based network backbone organization, and how integrated community-based natural and cultural resources restoration and protection is central to developing resilient solutions to sea level rise. Solynn Bajo speaks on the challenges, solutions, and initiatives for the Alele Museum & National Archives in the face of climate change and coastal inundation. Jonathan Kanekoa Kukea Shultz presents on Kāko‘o ‘Oiwi’s role as a Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration partner and the successes of supporting Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i land stewardship activities.
Small Group Exercise
Slide Deck: Small Group Exercise
Booklet: Small Group Exercises Case Study
- This interactive session allowed participants to engage with their peers to develop solutions to a case study on coastal inundation in the Pacific.
Panel on Intersection of Climate and Culture
Video: Panel on Intersection of Climate and Culture
- Sam ‘Ohu Gon III facilitated a panel discussion on the development of solutions for preserving Pacific Island cultural heritage in the face of coastal inundation.
Next Steps, Moving Forward
Slide Deck: Next Steps, Moving Forward
- Logan Myers facilitated a discussion amongst Workshop participants on how best to continue the conversation for protecting Pacific Island heritage resources from coastal inundation following the Workshop.
Closing Remarks
Video: Closing Remarks
- Honorable Brendan Owens elaborates on the Department of Defense’s commitment to sustaining positive relationships with Pacific Islanders and residents; the importance of considering cultural heritage when developing climate adaptation strategies; and a commitment to continue the conversation of the Workshop.
Post-Meeting Webinar
Video: 2024 Keeping History Above Water (KHAW): Pacific Workshop — Impact and Next Steps
Moderator
Margaret Back | Preservation Projects Manager, Newport Restoration Foundation
Panelists
Stanton Enomoto | Senior Program Director, Department of the Interior, Office of Native Hawaiian Relations
Gregg Nakano | Climate Security Advisor, Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory
Kate Plimpton | Senior Cultural Resource Advisor, ODASD (EM&R)
- This webinar discussed the impact of the 2024 KHAW: Pacific Workshop and next steps to build on the successes of the meeting. Panelists shared their thoughts on the follow-on benefits of the conference including the discussions it sparked throughout the Pacific, plans for additional stakeholder meetings, and the ways in which attendees praised DoD community cooperation initiatives.
Podcast
America Adapts Podcast: Safeguarding Pacific Island Heritage: Adapting to Climate Change with the U.S. Department of Defense
An episode of the America Adapts podcast highlighted KHAW, interviewed several workshop speakers, and discussed the Department of Defense’s efforts to preserve cultural resources in the Pacific.