Hawaiian Islands Research Articles

Climatic drought and trophic disruption in an endemic subalpine Hawaiian forest bird

Overexploitation, habitat conversion, and introduced species have caused unprecedented extinctions and heavily degraded native bird populations in island ecosystems. In the Hawaiian Islands, stemming these losses has proven difficult as the highly specialized avifauna are often impacted – among other things – by poorly understood trophic disruptions as well as persistent climatic shifts. Here we investigate these dynamics by examining the trophic positions of 7 different taxa of producers and consumers across the last century in the subalpine māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) forest ecosystem on the island of Hawaiʻi. From museum collections and contemporary sampling, we analyzed the stable nitrogen (δ15N) values of producers and consumers to identify trophic and source amino acids and derive trophic enrichment constants specific to this food web. This enables us to reconstruct the diet of the palila (Loxioides bailleui), a critically endangered finch whose population recently declined 90 %. Our results show that from 1890 to 2006, the palila trophic position declined from 2.6 to 2.2, with cascading implications for its diet. Bayesian mixing model reconstructions indicate that palila trophic position changes likely arose from a 76 % decline (69.3 % to 16.6 % of diet) in the consumption of native moth caterpillars, and a 172 % increase (30.7 % to 83.4 %) in native plants. From the available ecosystem variables, exploratory Bayesian multiple regressions selected surface temperature changes, and the interactions of surface temperatures with drought and caterpillar parasitism as the primary drivers of these trophic changes. Despite the predicted increases of warming and drought, management interventions may build resiliency in this unique island ecosystem.

The effective elastic thickness along the Emperor Seamount Chain and its tectonic implications

Summary The Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain, a pre-eminent example of a hotspot-generated intraplate seamount chain, provides key constraints not only on the kinematics of plates but also on their rigidity. Previous studies have shown that the effective elastic thickness, Te, a proxy for the long-term strength of the lithosphere, changes abruptly at the Hawaiian-Emperor ‘bend’ from low values (∼16 km) at the Emperor Seamounts to high values (∼27 km) at the Hawaiian Ridge. To better constrain Te along the poorly explored Emperor Seamounts we have used a free-air gravity anomaly and bathymetry gridded data set, together with fully 3-dimensional elastic plate (flexure) models, to estimate the continuity of Te and volcano load and infill densities along 1000 profiles spaced 2 km apart of the chain. Results show that Te generally decreases northward along the chain. The decrease is most systematic between Ojin and Jimmu guyots where Te depends on the age of the lithosphere at the time of volcano loading and is controlled by the 340°C and 400°C oceanic isotherms. The largest variation from these isotherms occurs at the northern and southern ends of the chain where Te is smaller than expected suggesting the influence of pre-existing, older, loads. We use these results to constrain the subsidence, flexural tilt, rheological properties, and tectonic setting along the seamount chain. We found an excess subsidence in the range 1.2-2.4 km, a tilt as large as 2-3°, oceanic lithosphere that is weaker than it is seaward of the weak zone at subduction zones, and a tectonic setting at Detroit and Koko seamounts that, despite their forming an integral part of the hotspot generated seamount chain, retains a memory of their proximity to earlier loads associated with plume influenced mid-oceanic ridges.

Schiedeawaiahuluensis (Caryophyllaceae), an enigmatic new species from Kaua'i, Hawaiian Islands and the first species discovered by a drone collection system.

During a survey by the National Tropical Botanical Garden drone team, an enigmatic Schiedea was observed in December 2021on steep, rocky cliff faces of the Waiahulu Valley in the Waimea Canyon of Kaua'i. Subsequently, another survey was conducted in March 2022 and, by use of a remotely controlled cutting device suspended below the drone, the first herbarium specimen was collected, as well as a seed collection of an undescribed cliff-dwelling species of Schiedea. Detailed study of the collections and plants grown at the University of California, Irvine greenhouse showed that it had enlarged, somewhat whitish sepals similar to those of cliff-dwelling S.attenuata (the sole species in sect. Leucocalyx), yet differed significantly from all other species in the genus. It also shares with S.attenuata a woody habit, hermaphroditic flowers, coloured nectar and styles 5 to 7 or 8. We describe it here as S.waiahuluensis given the only known localities are on the cliffs of this valley and place it in an enlarged sect. Leucocalyx. With the discovery of this new species, there are 36 species in this Hawaiian endemic genus.

Economic estimates of invasive wild ungulate damage to livestock producers in Hawai'i.

Invasive ungulates (hoofed mammals), including deer, feral pigs, feral goats, and feral sheep, are known to cause damage to agriculture, property, natural resources, and many other commodities. Most of the information regarding the economic impacts of wild ungulates is from North America, where some of these species are native. To evaluate invasive ungulate damage to livestock producers in the Hawaiian Islands, which have no native ungulates, a survey was distributed to livestock producers across the state. Survey results described how total annual costs are distributed among damage, control, and repairs for survey respondents, who represented a significant percentage of total ranchland acreage across the islands. The estimates, excluding fixed fence installation, revealed an annual cost to livestock producers who responded to the survey of US$1.42 million, which ranged from $3.6 million to $7.5 million when extrapolated to the entire state. The large cost contributors included damage to property, pastureland repair, control costs (excluding fencing), supplemental feed, and predation of calves by wild pigs. Additionally, producers reported spending more than $2 million in upfront fence installation costs. Most of these costs were reported by respondents on the islands of Hawai'i and Moloka'i. Study results revealed substantial damage to state livestock producers due to wild ungulates and are useful in determining an invasive ungulate management strategy that can appropriately aid the most impacted sectors of Hawai'i. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Remote Impacts of Cyclonic Eddies on Productivity Around the Main Hawaiian Islands

AbstractThe Hawaiian Island chain lies on the southern limb of the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, an area characterized by low productivity. In this region, productivity is controlled by several factors, including the island mass effect and mesoscale eddies generated by wind stress curl in the lee of the islands. This study identifies high‐chlorophyll events that occur periodically off the northern coasts of the Main Hawaiian Islands. These events are present in the satellite record and can be reproduced using a regional dynamical model. Model results indicate events are characterized by increases in total phytoplankton and total zooplankton, and a shift in phytoplankton size structure. We show these events are uniquely driven by the presence of cyclonic mesoscale eddies located downstream, on the opposite side of the island chain. While these eddies are known to impact productivity locally, we reveal that nutrients upwelled by these eddies can also be transported around the islands, counter to the mean background flow. These results demonstrate how leeward cyclonic eddies can have far‐reaching, remote impacts on productivity around the Hawaiian Islands.

The Role of Geography, Diet, and Host Phylogeny on the Gut Microbiome in the Hawaiian Honeycreeper Radiation.

The animal gut microbiome can have a strong influence on the health, fitness, and behavior of its hosts. The composition of the gut microbial community can be influenced by factors such as diet, environment, and evolutionary history (phylosymbiosis). However, the relative influence of these factors is unknown in most bird species. Furthermore, phylosymbiosis studies have largely focused on clades that diverged tens of millions of years ago, and little is known about the degree of gut microbiome divergence in more recent species radiations. This study explores the drivers of microbiome variation across the unique and recent Hawaiian honeycreeper radiation (Fringillidae: Drepanidinae). Fecal samples were collected from 14 extant species spanning the main islands of the Hawaiian archipelago and were sequenced using three metabarcoding markers to characterize the gut microbiome, invertebrate diet, and plant diet of Hawaiian honeycreepers. We then used these metabarcoding data and the honeycreeper host phylogeny to evaluate their relative roles in shaping the gut microbiome. Microbiome variation across birds was highly individualized; however, source island had a small but significant effect on microbiome structure. The microbiomes did not recapitulate the host phylogenetic tree, indicating that evolutionary history does not strongly influence microbiome structure in the honeycreeper clade. These results expand our understanding of the roles of diet, geography, and phylogeny on avian microbiome structure, while also providing important ecological information about the diet and gut microbiota of wild Hawaiian honeycreepers.

Four decades of Hawaiian monk seal entanglement data reveal the benefits of plastic debris removal.

Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear causes harm to marine species and ecosystems. To mitigate the destruction wrought by this ocean plastic debris, various cleanup programs have been established, though to our knowledge the benefits of such efforts to marine species and ecosystems have not yet been empirically demonstrated. We examined more than 40 years of Hawaiian monk seal marine debris entanglement records before and after large-scale marine debris removal efforts were initiated in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, demonstrating a substantial reduction in entanglement rates where debris removal effort was most concentrated. Large-scale and sustained removal of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear meaningfully benefits marine ecosystems and has the potential to be transformational in restoration efforts.

Characterization of Two Novel Viruses Within a Complex Virome from Flowering Ginger in Hawaii.

Flowering ginger (Alpinia purpurata) is economically and culturally important in Hawaii. In the past decade, a slow decline syndrome has impacted the production of this crop in the state. RNA sequencing analyses and virus indexing surveys were done on samples collected from four of the Hawaiian Islands. Viral sequences corresponding to six viruses were recovered from transcriptomic data from samples with virus-like symptoms. Canna yellow mottle virus (CaYMV, genus Badnavirus) and two novel viruses, Alpinia vein clearing virus (ApVCV, genus Ampelovirus) and Alpinia vein streaking virus (ApVSV, genus Betanucleorhabdovirus), were found at a moderate incidence in diseased plants. Conversely, three other viruses, including the two potyviruses, banana bract mosaic virus and bean common mosaic virus, and a badnavirus, banana streak GF virus, were also found but at a low incidence. Virus detection in potential insect vectors and transmission assays identified the mealybug Planococcus citri as a vector of CaYMV and ApVCV, whereas the aphid Pentalonia caladii was identified as a vector of the novel ApVSV. Both P. citri and P. caladii are common pests of flowering ginger in Hawaii. Transmission of ApVSV was achieved using P. caladii colonies either established in the laboratory or naturally feeding on infected plants, although no transmission was obtained using viruliferous aphids originally reared on taro (Colocasia esculenta). Our study provides insights into the potential association between viral infections and the observed decline symptoms of flowering ginger in Hawaii. However, more definitive studies are needed to link single or mixed viral infections with decline symptoms.

Geographic genetic variation in the Coral Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus (Cirrhitidae), in relation to biogeographic barriers across the Tropical Indo-Pacific

The Tropical Indo-Pacific (TIP) includes about two thirds of the world’s tropical oceans and harbors an enormous number of marine species. The distributions of those species within the region is affected by habitat discontinuities and oceanographic features. As well as many smaller ones, the TIP contains seven large recognized biogeographic barriers that separate the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, the Indian from the Pacific Ocean, the central and eastern Pacific, the Hawaiian archipelago, the Marquesas and Easter Islands. We examined the genetic structuring of populations of Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, a small cryptic species of reef fish, across its geographic range, which spans the longitudinal limits of the TIP. We assessed geographic variation in the mitochondrial cytb gene and the nuclear RAG1 gene, using 166 samples collected in 46 localities from the western to eastern edges of the TIP. Sequences from cytb show three well-structured groups that are separated by large genetic distances (1.58–2.96%): two in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), one at Clipperton Atoll another occupying the rest of that region and the third that ranges across the remainder of the TIP, from the central Pacific to the Red Sea and South Africa. These results indicate that the ~4,000 km wide Eastern Pacific Barrier between the central and eastern Pacific is an efficient barrier separating the two main groups. Further, the ~950 km of open ocean that isolates Clipperton Atoll from the rest of the TEP is also an effective barrier. Contrary to many other cases, various major and minor barriers from the Central Indo-Pacific to the Red Sea are not effective against dispersal by C. oxycephalus, although this species has not colonized the Hawiian islands and Easter Island. The nuclear gene partially supports the genetic structure evident in cytb, although all haplotypes are geographically mixed.

Untangling the colonization history of the Australo-Pacific reed warblers, one of the world's great island radiations.

Island radiations, such as those of the Australo-Pacific, offer unique insight into diversification, extinction, and early speciation processes. Yet, their speciation and colonization histories are often obscured by conflicting genomic signals from incomplete lineage sorting or hybridization. Here, we integrated mitogenomes and genome-wide SNPs to unravel the evolutionary history of one of the world's most geographically widespread island radiations. The Australo-Pacific reed warblers (Acrocephalus luscinius complex) are a speciose lineage including five species that have become extinct since the 19th century and ten additional species of conservation concern. The radiation spans over 10,000 km across Australo-Papua, Micronesia and Polynesia, including the Mariana, Hawaii and Pitcairn Island archipelagos. Earlier mtDNA studies suggested a stepping-stone colonization process, resulting in archipelago-level secondary sympatry of divergent mtDNA lineages in the Mariana Islands and Marquesas. These studies hypothesised that morphologically similar species on neighbouring islands arose from ecological convergence. Using hDNA from historical museum specimens and modern genetic samples, we show that incomplete lineage sorting and/or gene flow have shaped the radiation of Australo-Pacific reed warblers rather than secondary sympatry. The nuclear genome reconstructs a simpler biogeographic history than mtDNA, showing close relationships between species in the Mariana Islands and Marquesas despite their paraphyletic mtDNA lineages. Gene flow likely involved early and late colonizing waves of the radiation before the loss of ancestral dispersive ability. Our results highlight how collection genomics can elucidate evolutionary history and inform conservation efforts for threatened species.

Monitoring native, non-native, and restored tropical dry forest with Landsat: A case study from the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical dry forests are highly threatened at a global scale. Long-term monitoring of remaining stands is needed to assess forest health, efficacy of management practices, and potential impacts of climate change. Using a multi-seasonal Landsat time series, we examined Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) patterns in native dry forest, non-native vegetation types, and dry forest restoration sites from 1999 to 2022 in the Hawaiian Islands. We calculated trends in median NDVI and robust coefficient of variation of NDVI for dry and wet seasons, and used Breaks for Additive Seasonal and Trend analysis to detect trend departures. To assess the impact of regional drying trends, NDVI trends were compared to the seasonal long-term precipitation anomaly and cumulative precipitation anomaly. We found that native dry forest was less green than non-native forest, particularly during the dry season, and that median NDVI increased in both native and non-native dry forests over the study period despite negative precipitation anomaly trends. This result differs from coarser-scale studies in Hawaii, but is supported by trends in other dry forest regions. Greening was also observed in restoration study sites, especially larger sites where native species establishment and recruitment has been reported. Non-native grassland NDVI exhibited a strong positive link to precipitation anomalies, suggesting that drier climate scenarios may exacerbate the invasive grass-wildfire cycle that threatens native dry forest. These results demonstrate that Landsat time series may be used to detect seasonal variation in dry forest plots and to support restoration site monitoring in a highly fragmented ecosystem.

Understanding the Source and Evolution of Precipitation Stable Isotope Composition across O‘ahu, Hawai‘i

Abstract Pacific Islands present unique challenges for water resource management due to their environmental vulnerability, dynamic climates, and heavy reliance on groundwater. Quantifying connections between meteoric, ground, and surface waters is critical for effective water resource management. Analyses of the stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in the hydrosphere can help illuminate such connections. This study investigates the stable isotope composition of rainfall on O‘ahu in the Hawaiian Islands, with a particular focus on how altitude impacts stable isotope composition. Rainfall was sampled at 20 locations from March 2018 to August 2021. The new precipitation stable isotope data were integrated with previously published data to create the most spatially and topographically diverse precipitation collector network on O‘ahu to date. Results show that δ18O and δ2H values in precipitation displayed distinct isotopic signatures influenced by geographical location, season, and precipitation source. Altitude and isotopic compositions were strongly correlated along certain elevation transects, but these relationships could not be extrapolated to larger regions due to microclimate influences. Altitude and deuterium excess were strongly correlated across the study region, suggesting that deuterium excess may be a reliable proxy for precipitation elevation in local water tracer studies. Analysis of spring, rainfall, and fog stable isotope composition from Mount Ka‘ala suggests that fog may contribute up to 45% of total groundwater recharge at the summit. These findings highlight the strong influence of microclimates on the stable isotope composition of rainfall, underscore the need for further investigation into fog’s role in the water budget, and demonstrate the importance of stable isotope analysis for comprehending hydrologic dynamics in environmentally sensitive regions.

Sweet Archipelagos: Sugar, Empires, and the Making of a Transpacific Insect Trail

Abstract: In 1854, a whaling vessel brought two bundles of sugarcane from Tahiti to Maui, marking the beginning of the Lahaina cane's history and the socioecological transformation of the Hawaiian Islands and the Asia-Pacific. This essay tells a history of sugar through the transpacific crossings of three nonhuman species: sugarcane, the sugarcane beetle borer, and the tachinid fly. It situates nonhuman actors within the historical context of plantation agriculture, capitalist imperialism, and biological globalization of the nineteenth- and twentieth-century Pacific to reconceptualize entomological categories like "pest" and "parasite." Engaging with actor-network theory, animal studies, and island studies, the essay attempts to offer insights into historical agency, human–nonhuman relations, and large-scale ecological change.

Plant extinction in the Anthropocene

Abstract Species go extinct each day, most without notice. The current human-induced extinction rate is up to 700 times higher than the background rate. Extinctions are not different for plants, animals, or fungi, although botanical and invertebrate extinctions are much more poorly documented than those of charismatic vertebrates. In a recent book on extinct plants (Christenhusz & Govaerts, 2023), an overview of botanical extinctions since 1753 was presented, listing which species became extinct and the probable reason for their extinction. As most have a date when they were last documented, a timeline of extinction can also be compiled based on these data. This timeline shows an increase from 1890 to 1940, but a decline in new recorded extinctions after the 1980s, which is likely a result of taxonomic impediment. Extinction rates before 1800 are impacted by the lack of data (here named Berkeley extinction). It can be concluded that extinction is highest in biodiversity-rich areas with high human influence (extinction hotspots). Two new combinations and a new name are proposed here, showing the importance of taxonomy to conservation. Although anthropogenic plant extinction is a global phenomenon, areas of particular concern are the Hawaiian Islands, southern Africa, Australia, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Brazil. Extinctions have been mainly caused by land clearing for agriculture and urbanization, invasive feral animals, mining, river dams, diseases, and poaching. We predict that the unusual weather patterns associated with rapid climate change may result in more plant extinctions. Reintroduction, even if a species persists in cultivation, is not always possible due to lack of suitable remaining habitat where threats are decreased or removed. Successful reintroduction cannot be guaranteed. It is costly and usually dependent on short-term funding, after which these efforts may be in vain. Protection of species in their natural habitat is much more cost-effective in the long term. Sometimes, rescued plants should be introduced in similar habitats outside their natural range where the threats are absent. This follows the programmes of assisted migration for climate change mitigation, but this can also be assisted introduction to prevent extinction. Protection of critically endangered species that have naturalized outside their native range should also be considered.

Ocean windspeeds forecast by Gaidai multivariate risk assessment method, utilizing deconvolution scheme

The current work presents spatiotemporal analysis of areal windspeeds, using state-of-the-art Gaidai multivariate hazards evaluation approach. Environmental dynamic systems being challenging to forecast using existing reliability methods due to their high dimensionality and intricate nonlinear cross-correlations between different environmental system essential dimensions or components. Developing novel multivariate reliability methods for dynamic environmental systems may assist contemporary research on the global climate change effects. Multivariate Gaidai risks evaluation approach is especially well-suited for multi-dimensional structural and environmental dynamic systems, that have been monitored physically or numerically simulated across a representative time-lapse. The current study made use of raw in-situ windspeed data, collected by NOAA (i.e., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) buoys near the Hawaiian Islands in the North Pacific. Resilient island communities/infrastructure can be designed, using advocated multivariate risk/hazard assessment methodology, particularly those that are close to the ocean and hence subject to extreme weather.As was demonstrated in this study, even given limited underlying dataset, it is feasible to conservatively estimate environmental system’s hazard risks. Novel non-parametric deconvolution extrapolation scheme has been utilized to accurately assess hazard risks.

Shifting sands: The influence of coral reefs on shoreline erosion from short-term storm protection to long-term disequilibrium

Climate change is exacerbating shoreline erosion and flooding, posing significant risks to coastal communities. Although traditional coastal defenses such as seawalls, dykes, and breakwaters offer protection from these hazards, their high environmental and economic costs are driving interest in cost-competitive nature-based solutions. Coral reef restoration is a nature-based solution that may be particularly apt to mitigate tropical coastal flooding and shoreline erosion while providing benefits to local tourism, fisheries, and nature. However, the novelty of this field requires studies demonstrating the benefits of reefs for coastal protection. While the flood protection benefits of reefs have been well-documented, their effects on shoreline erosion are comparatively less understood. Here, we investigate the effects of coral reefs on shoreline erosion by comparing tropical beach responses at short and long timescales, as well as identifying important reef structural features influencing coastal erosion rates. Our analyses leveraged two key datasets created in this study: the first derived from a literature review on short-term shoreline erosion due to storm events, and another compiling >80 years of long-term erosion rates, bathymetry, habitat, and wave energy for the Hawaiian Islands of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Maui. Our analyses reveal three key findings regarding the effects of reefs on shoreline erosion. Firstly, we find evidence for the role of reefs in mitigating shoreline erosion during storm events, with coral reef-protected beaches experiencing 97 % less beach volume loss than unprotected beaches. Secondly, a linear regression analysis demonstrates that coral reef structure and wave energy are important predictors of long-term shoreline erosion rates, explaining 34 % of the variation across the Hawaiian Islands. Consistent with prior research, we find beaches protected by coral reefs with shallow reef crests, wide reef flats, calmer offshore conditions, and positioned farther from the shore exhibit lower erosion rates than others. Finally, when comparing historical erosion rates of protected and unprotected beaches in Hawai'i, we find a seemingly incongruous pattern where coral reef-protected beaches eroded up to 2x faster than beaches without reefs. While the cause of the enhanced erosion is yet to be fully understood, a combination of coral reef structural degradation and sea-level rise is likely shifting the equilibrium profiles of reef-protected beaches inshore. These results emphasize the role of coral reefs in reducing coastal erosion during storm events while revealing contrasting erosion patterns over long timescales. Future studies would ideally broaden the scope to include various regions, utilize advanced sediment transport models, and undertake field experiments to deepen our understanding of coral reef-coupled shoreline dynamics.

Do recently translocated black‐footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) chicks respond to artificial social attraction?

AbstractTranslocations of chicks are increasingly being used in seabird restoration projects, along with social attraction of adults using acoustic and visual cues, to establish new colonies or re‐establish extirpated colonies. Many seabird species exhibit high rates of natal philopatry, where most chicks return to the nesting colonies from which they fledged. This makes them ideal candidates for translocation projects since they have a high likelihood of returning to translocation sites if they are relocated prior to imprinting on a natal site. Starting in 2017, Black‐footed Albatross (BFAL) chicks were translocated from populations in the low‐lying Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where they face habitat loss due to sea level rise, to the higher elevation island of O‘ahu, in an attempt to establish a new colony for this species. Additionally, social attraction was utilized at the site to attract potential nesting adults and provide social stimuli for the translocated chicks. Our study examined the response of translocated BFAL chicks to visual and audio stimuli inside a mammalian predator exclusion fence at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on the island of O‘ahu. Decoys constructed in two different poses, representing courtship and resting postures of adult BFAL, were placed in various combinations with playback speakers around the perimeter of artificial shelters. Motion‐activated cameras were used to record and compare the number of visits by chicks to different combinations of visual and acoustic stimuli. We found the number of visits was highest at setups that included a combination of a decoy pair and a playback speaker, suggesting that a combination of visual and audio cues of adult BFAL are most attractive to the chicks. Future studies are needed to evaluate the long‐term impacts of exposure to artificial visual and audio stimuli as chicks on return rates to translocation site and social behavior as adults.

Genomic diversity and evolution of the Hawaiian Islands endemic Kokia (Malvaceae).

Island species are highly vulnerable due to habitat destruction and their often small population sizes with reduced genetic diversity. The Hawaiian Islands constitute the most isolated archipelago on the planet, harboring many endemic species. Kokia is an endangered flowering plant genus endemic to these islands, encompassing 3 extant and 1 extinct species. Recent studies provided evidence of unexpected genetic diversity within Kokia. Here, we provide high-quality genome assemblies for all 3 extant Kokia species, including an improved genome for Kokia drynarioides. All 3 Kokia genomes contain 12 chromosomes exhibiting high synteny within and between Kokia and the sister taxon Gossypioides kirkii. Gene content analysis revealed a net loss of genes in K. cookei compared to other species, whereas the gene complement in K. drynarioides remains stable and that of Kokia kauaiensis displays a net gain. A dated phylogeny estimates the divergence time from the last common ancestor for the 3 Kokia species at ∼1.2 million years ago (mya), with the sister taxa (K. cookei + K. drynarioides) diverging ∼0.8 mya. Kokia appears to have followed a stepping-stone pattern of colonization and diversification of the Hawaiian archipelago, likely starting on low or now submerged older islands. The genetic resources provided may benefit conservation efforts of this endangered endemic genus.

Nā Kānaka Maoli ma nā 'Āina 'Ē: Exploring Place of Residency as a Native Hawaiian Health Predictor During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Little is known about the impacts of living in diaspora from the Hawaiian Islands on Native Hawaiian health. To address this, the authors conducted an exploratory analysis using cross-sectional data from the 2021 Native American COVID-19 Alliance Needs Assessment. A total of 1418 participants identified as Native Hawaiian (alone or in any combination), of which 1222 reported residency in the continental US and 196 in Hawai'i. Residency status in the continental US vs Hawai'i was evaluated as a predictor of survey outcomes using likelihood ratio tests on linear and logistic regression models for linear and binary outcomes, respectively. Results showed that NH residency in the continental US was significantly associated with increased odds of reporting fair or poor self-rated health; increased odds for screening positive for anxiety, depression, and suicidality; and increased odds of health insurance loss (P's < .05). Residency in the continent was also associated with lower odds of reporting a diagnosed chronic health condition (P < .05). Residency in the continental US had no observed effect on the odds that participants engaged cultural activities or cultural coping strategies. These results support the role of place of residency as an important Native Hawaiian health predictor during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Re-Emerging, Under-Recognized Zoonotic, and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Hawai'i.

Hawai'i, the United States' most western geographic state in the Pacific, lies between the North and South American continents and the Indo-Pacific regions, including Japan. The tropical environmental conditions of the Hawaiian Islands provide favorable ecosystems for various infectious pathogens, their vectors, and reservoirs. This creates an environment conducive to the transmission of zoonotic diseases affecting both humans and animals. Hawai'i has experienced an increase in dengue, leptospirosis, and murine typhus outbreaks. Furthermore, toxoplasmosis and neuroangiostrongyliasis cases remain prevalent throughout the state, and the putative presence of autochthonous Zika cases identified in a retrospective study may be of national public health concern. Understanding the factors that affect the transmission and distribution of zoonoses is necessary to identify at-risk locations and populations. The One Health approach seeks to understand, report, and interpret these factors and requires collaboration between private and governmental institutions. One Health should focus on neglected tropical diseases (NTD) and prioritize development of interventions to control and prevent the transmission of diseases that spread between animals and humans. This review focuses on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of under-recognized zoonotic and NTD affecting Hawai'i, including leptospirosis, murine typhus, neuroangiostrongyliasis, toxoplasmosis, dengue, and Zika.