Kainana S. Francisco

Natural Resource Specialist
Ecosystem Function and Health Program
60 Nowelo Street
Hilo, HI 96720-6805
United States
Hilo, HI 96720-6805
United States
Phone
808-854-2649
Current Research
• Studying the impacts of removing non-native predators from fragmented native forest habitat
• Implementing place-based learning and citizen science in our education systems as a tool for studying climate change
• Developing a program for K-12 education that teaches the cultural and environmental significances of ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha), and promotes the use of ohia in urban forestry
• Integrating multiple knowledge systems in research, conservation, natural resource management, and environmental education
• Exploring the use of dendrochronology in Hawaiian forests to study growth habits, stand history, and past climate variability
• Implementing place-based learning and citizen science in our education systems as a tool for studying climate change
• Developing a program for K-12 education that teaches the cultural and environmental significances of ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha), and promotes the use of ohia in urban forestry
• Integrating multiple knowledge systems in research, conservation, natural resource management, and environmental education
• Exploring the use of dendrochronology in Hawaiian forests to study growth habits, stand history, and past climate variability
Education
- University of Hawaii at Hilo, M.S., Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, 2012
- University of Hawaii at Hilo, B.S., Environmental Science, 2008
Other Publications
- Luiz, Blaine C.; Giardina, Christian P.; Keith, Lisa M.; Jacobs, Douglass F.; Sniezko, Richard A.; Hughes, Marc A.; Friday, James B.; Cannon, Philip ; Hauff, Robert ; Francisco, Kainana ; Chau, Marian M.; Dudley, Nicklos ; Yeh, Aileen ; Asner, Gregory ; Martin, Roberta E.; Perroy, Ryan ; Tucker, Brian J.; Evangelista, ʻAleʻalani ; Fernandez, Veronica ; Martins-Keliʻihoʻomalu, Chloe ; Santos, Kirie ; Ohara, Rebekah. 2022. A framework for establishing a rapid ‘Ōhi‘a death resistance program
- Kamelamela, Katie L.; Springer, Hannah Kihalani; Ku'ulei Keakealani, Roberta ; Ching, Moana Ulu; Ticktin, Tamara ; Ohara, Rebekah Dickens; Parsons, Elliott W.; Adkins, Edith D.; Francisco, Kainana S.; Giardina, Christian. 2022. Kōkua aku, kōkua mai: an indigenous consensus-driven and place-based approach to community led dryland restoration and stewardship
- Barney, Sarah ; Leopold, Devin ; Francisco, Kainana ; Flaspohler, David ; Fukami, Tadashi ; Giardina, Christian ; Gruner, Daniel ; Knowlton, Jessie ; Pitt, William ; Wilson Rankin, Erin E.. 2021. Successful management of invasive rats across a fragmented landscape
- Dacks, Rachel ; McMillen, Heather ; Heimuli, Pua ; Kahaleua, Kimberly ; Burgess, Sanoe ; Giardina, Christian P.; Francisco, Kainana ; Ticktin, Tamara. 2021. The important role of environmental stewardship groups in supporting human health and well-being
- Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Kekuhi ; Sato, Aimee Y.; Giardina, Christian P.; Litton, Creighton M.; Ramavarapu, Smrity ; Hutchins, Leslie ; Wight, Evelyn H.; Clark, Michelle ; Cordell, Susan ; Francisco, Kainana S.; McMillen, Heather ; Pascua, Pua‘ala ; Yogi, Darcy. 2021. Increasing conservation capacity by embracing ritual: kuahu as a portal to the sacred
- McMillen, Heather L.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Svendsen, Erika S.; Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Kekuhi ; Francisco, Kainana S.; Giardina, Christian P.. 2020. Biocultural stewardship, Indigenous and local ecological knowledge, and the urban crucible
- McMillen, Heather ; Campbell, Lindsay ; Giardina, Christian ; Svendsen, Erika ; Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Kekuhi ; Francisco, Kainana. 2020. Living in kinship within urban landscapes through equitable, multicultural, and collaborative stewardship in New York City
- Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Kekuhi ; McMillen, Heather ; Giardina, Christian ; Francisco, Kainana. 2019. Cultivating sacred kinship to strengthen resilience
- Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Kekuhi ; Kurashima, Natalie ; Francisco, Kainana ; Giardina, Christian ; Louis, Renee ; McMillen, Heather ; Asing, C. ; Asing, Kayla ; Block, Tabetha ; Browning, Mililani ; Camara, Kualii ; Camara, Lahela ; Dudley, Melanie ; Frazier, Monika ; Gomes, Noah ; Gordon, Amy ; Gordon, Marc ; Heu, Linnea ; Irvine, Aliah ; Kaawa, Nohea ; Kirkpatrick, Sean ; Leucht, Emily ; Perry, Cheyenne ; Replogle, John ; Salbosa, Lasha-Lynn ; Sato, Aimee ; Schubert, Linda ; Sterling, Amelie ; Uowolo, Amanda ; Uowolo, Jermy ; Walker, Bridget ; Whitehead, A. ; Yogi, Darcy. 2018. Ritual + sustainability science? A portal into the science of aloha
- Francisco, Kainana S.; Hart, Patrick J.; Li, Jinbao; Cook, Edward R.; Baker, Patrick J.. 2015. Annual rings in a native Hawaiian tree, <em>Sophora chrysophylla</em>, on Maunakea, Hawai‘i