Maui’s precious native seabirds are critically important to the environment and shoreline ecosystem. They are culturally significant and, for some families, ‘aumakua. They are also threatened — by light pollution, feral cats and other predators, and loss of their natural habitats. If we asked you to come up with innovative ways to mitigate these dangers — in just four weeks — could you? That’s what was asked of the 31 Maui County high school student participants in the 2023 Upward Bound Summer Program. Their creative solutions — and their creative processes — are inspiring.
Every year, this program provides a college-going experience for low-income, first-generation high school students to prepare them for college. They partner with a community organization — this year it was the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project — and are assisted by educators and experts.
“This is a completely different way of learning,” explained Upward Bound Director Jana Wilkinson. “It’s a ‘design-thinking model’ and, working with a group, the students are empowered to take control of their own learning. More important than their results is the growth mindset process. We say ‘here are some messy, real problems’ and give them the opportunity to figure it out.”
All six groups followed the same process path. First, they determined where all the stakeholders’ empathies for the seabirds converged. Then they collected information and created a story line to help them visualize possible solutions — something akin to a filmmaker’s storyboard. Then they “ideated” — decided as a group which solutions were best. Finally, they created prototypes utilizing high-tech, 3D printing and, in some cases, good old DIY. Every team faced challenges — some solutions couldn’t be perfected in the short time frame — but all were undeterred and pressed on.
Team Birdies built ROY (Red Orange Yellow), a motion-sensor dimming light that increases brightness only when it detects human activity. The students also designed an app to spread awareness about the seabirds and even included a hotline to report the location of injured birds.
The Fledglings decided enhancing the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project’s online presence was the best way to spread awareness. After interviewing visitors and residents about their social media habits, the group made four attention-grabbing Instagram ads illustrating the dangers the seabirds face. Team member Sonia Rojas found great value in the experience.
“We worked to help the native seabirds, once again, flourish in their native habitat. Although we did not have much time, it was a great opportunity to learn and help ideate solutions,” she said.
Da Coconuts wanted to increase the ability of the seabird organization to rescue birds in a timely manner. And so, the Seabird Recovery Box. Equipped with a movement sensor with a connecting green light, an app would send notifications on the status of the box to the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project. The group also created a commercial video on how to use the box correctly and safely.
Kama’ole Beach Park 3 is a popular tourist destination but most visitors are unaware that it is also an important nesting site. New Beginningz proposed a seabird sanctuary with predator-proof fencing, 3D printed screens that point out both nesting sites and native plants, digital signs to raise awareness through engagement and a merchandise kiosk, too.
The Super Duper Soaker 2099 — a water gun that uses a sensor to detect and fend off cats — was a great idea that, unfortunately, proved a bit too complicated to engineer in a short time. But Team Rachel was determined to solve the issue of cat predation. The ‘Ua’u Catcurity app (‘ua’u is the Hawaiian petrel and “catcurity” is a play on cat security) educates cat owners and encourages them to empathize with the plight of the seabirds. Users can even adopt a nesting site.
Light pollution emerged as the seabirds’ biggest challenge — artificial light causes them to lose their way. Keisha’s Cool Kids came up with the Dim-A-Dome — dimmer covers that could be installed on both street and home lights that not only dim the light but lowers the temperature of the light, too. Team member Fernando Rosete — who was skeptical about the program at first — sums up what this Summer Program is really all about.
“The opportunity provided me something that I’ll always remember and that I’ve never felt anything quite like, and working together in a team to have fun and make our presentations really made it worthwhile,” Rosete said. “The chance to learn about college does have me considering where to go, so I plan to start small and attend UH-MC, and hope to attend somewhere on the Mainland later on to study bio-engineering or music.”
Mission accomplished.
Our college’s three Upward Bound programs — Central Maui and Molokai, Maui Outlying, and Central Maui and Molokai Math and Science — have just been awarded more than $1 million in grants, which are administered through the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO program, for the next fiscal year. As you can tell from the accomplishments of this year’s Summer Program participants, it will be money extremely well spent. Learn about Upward Bound at maui.hawaii.edu/upward/.
Complete information about UH-MC is available at maui.hawaii.edu/. Apply easily and quickly for the fall 2023 semester at maui.hawaii.edu/apply/.
* Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawai’i Maui College. Ka’ana Mana’o, which means “sharing thoughts,” is scheduled to appear on the fourth Sunday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from UH-Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.
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