ABSTRACT. Ever since I told my family and friends that I wanted to move to the opposite side of the world to go to college I have been asked; Why do you wanna go so far away? Isn’t it expensive? Why would you go to Hawai'i when you can go to college for free in Norway? This documentary is about my journey on how I ended up in Hawai'i studying multimedia cinematic production at Hawai’i Pacific University.

I talk through my childhood and how I have always had a love for attention and cameras, and how my passion for creative content grew alongside me. My family is included too, where they talk about their positions being on the side, watching me grow and pursue my dreams. I talk about how much of an impact HPU has had on my life and how grateful I am for these past three years. Everything is tied back to the questions about why I would spend so much time, energy, and money on a degree on the opposite side of the world.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this project is to get a Grant from Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Services Block Grant in order to help those at Kahauiki Village. The community members at Kahauiki Village are previously homeless families who are working to get back on their feet. With that being said, many of these people have mental health issues some of which may stem from drug and alcohol abuse. The Goal of the program is to start AA / NA meetings in the village with a healthcare director in charge. Hopefully it can be someone who has experience with drugs and society. Another thing this project is going to do is get some counselors at the village two or three times a week to have community members meet with them and improve their mental health. We can also have self-care days where we paint, draw, do yoga, or go out into nature to help the community members with their mental health. Of course the problem is trying to help those in the community better their mental health and try to limit or stop the use of controlled substances.

ABSTRACT. Alzheimer's disease has been identified as the most typical form of dementia in many developing countries. Caring for patients with dementia is an issue that has evoked intensive research on the challenges surrounding patients with dementia. Recent studies on dementia have revealed a significant trend in the rising cases of dementia in Nigeria, similar to other parts of the world. This study explores the stigma of dementia and the experiences of Nigerian caregivers. This study will utilize a mixed-methods design and a non-probability purposive sample will be recruited and a thematic analysis was used to interpret and analyze the data. A minimum sample of 6 participants (3 Nigerian health providers and 3 Nigerian caregivers) will be recruited for interviews and answering a questionnaire. This research revealed that patients with dementia caregivers face various challenges such as shame, stress, depression, social isolation, less professional support, and lack of knowledge. In addition, subjects shared the ongoing stigma associated with their family members’ diagnoses. This study will provide valuable insights into the challenges of caregivers and providers for the stigmatized Alzheimer's disease within the cultural context of Nigeria. It has implications for the need for education, policies, and additional research on the topic.

ABSTRACT. Depression rates have been climbing throughout recent years, not just within the United States but across the globe. Cardiovascular exercise creates biological reactions within the body to keep its homeostatic state. The increased heart rate and blood flow to the brain result in exposure to more oxygen and nutrients along with chemical changes such as increased levels of dopamine and serotonin. These factors all have been proven to positively improve mood and ease depressive episodes. The goal is to further explore the effects of cardiovascular exercise on the treatment of depression by leveraging literature from basic sciences and psychology to determine if cardiovascular exercise is a possible modality of treatment for people with anxiety and/or depression. For this project, a short educational video will be presented to college athletes on campuses and their opinions of cardiovascular exercise and its importance in relation to depression will be noted before and after viewing the video. It’s the hypothesis that the view of their relationship between exercise and curbing depressive symptoms will be in favor of incorporating cardiovascular exercise to treat depression after watching the video. A qualitative collection of information will be utilized; words and perceptions of the participants will be analyzed.

ABSTRACT. Executive Summary Homeless encampments have become a major crisis in the nation, with many states seeing an increase in homeless persons sleeping on public streets. “Sweeping” or clearing out homeless encampments has caused undue stress for the unsheltered and those who care for them. In order to draw a parallel between past and present policies, a brief look at historical bills is essential. The evaluation of two (2) Honolulu city bills (Bill 54 and Bill 73) provides insight into the ordinance that regulates the removal of homeless persons and their property. The Ethics of Care, a structural model of the framework, was introduced as the outline of the research to assist with understanding the stages of impact on displaced homeless individuals and their property. This policy analysis examined Hawai’i state laws that govern the movement of homeless persons sleeping outside in public spaces with no permanent shelter. It assessed the effects of local policies and whether policy decisions to relocate the unsheltered have limited caregivers’ access to the homeless. The policy analysis found that sweeping homeless encampments placed numerous relationship barriers between care partners and accessibility for services, which has implications regarding social and economic consequences for the state.

ABSTRACT. Veterans in the United States face an increase in homelessness related to addiction and mental health. This study examined the relationship between chronic homelessness, addiction, mental health, and abuse over three years in veterans in Hawaii. The research question is: How many times is a veteran homeless in 3 years because of addiction, abuse, or mental health? The Vulnerability Index - Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool was used to identify homeless veterans that are vulnerable within the community. Data consisted of questions to determine a client's vulnerability within the homeless community. The data were analyzed using chi-square because the type of data was nominal. Two hundred male veterans filled out the questionnaire, and 26 veterans' data were used. The age group ranged from 33 -74 years old. The knowledge gained by examining the data will further illustrate the dire need to assist homeless veterans in Hawaii with getting into permanent housing and providing veterans the help they need to deal with addiction, mental health, and abuse.

ABSTRACT. Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use rates are exponentially increasing in adolescents and young adults, particularly within Hawai‘i’s high concentration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations. Disproportionately high ENDS use rates for AANHPI adolescents, young adults, and active-duty military highlight the need to understand the empirical literature on ENDS use for these populations. This is a prerequisite to effectively curb AANHPI young adults’ elevated use of ENDS. Studies within this systematic literature review included empirical research published between 2010-2020, had a minimum of 50% AANHPI participants, and focused on correlates to ENDS use. A total of 11 articles were included. The 11 studies found individual (e.g., sensory satisfaction, self-regulation, social enhancement) and interpersonal (e.g., social factors including peer and/or familial) correlates to ENDS use. Notably, there were no published ENDS intervention studies specific to AANHPI adolescents, young adults, or active-duty service members (ADSM). The findings from this study indicate social workers’ need to work in the field of prevention and intervention to address not only ENDS use, but ENDS use as an entry to other illicit substances.

ABSTRACT. Posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) is a syndrome of prolonged stress reactions that can develop following a traumatic event consistent with the DSM-5. In the last 21 years, almost 20% of veterans are diagnosed with PTSD each year from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom era. Service dogs are frequently used by veterans with combat-sustained injuries to manage physical disabilities. This systematic literature review assessed what published research accurately demonstrated how service dogs supplement other PTSD treatment approaches for veterans. There was a total of 45 articles included from 20 databases, with publication dates between 2013-and 2022. Main findings suggest service dogs’ assistance in reducing PTSD symptoms for veterans, but there is still action needed, since published studies are inconsistent regarding the best understanding of how effective service dogs have been in terms of specific levels of assistance. Overall, despite this shortcoming, social work practitioners may want to consider referring their veteran clients with PTSD to qualified service dog programs for adjunctive support when they are having difficulty engaging with or benefitting from office-based traditional therapy approaches.

ABSTRACT. An interdisciplinary approach involving the disciplines of economics, psychology, and philosophy reveals that standardized testing causes teacher stress, and leads to “teaching to the test,” rather than investing in pedagogies that nurture relevant skills of the 21st Century. This research is a compilation of both traditional and action research. The traditional research examines multiple studies and literature reviews across the disciplines to come to a more comprehensive conclusion on what it should mean for a student to be academically successful. The action research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection in order to determine the effectiveness of inquiry-based learning on nurturing the 4 Cs of 21st Century learning: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. The primary research question for the action research was “How effectively does inquiry-based learning nurture opportunities for the 4 Cs of 21st Century education in a low-income first grade classroom?” The research yields that inquiry-based learning may nurture more opportunity for students to engage in the 4 Cs, achieve high scores on the assessment, and have an increased level of engagement. This research serves as precedent for the potential of inquiry-based learning in all classrooms.

ABSTRACT. In the Papakolea, community health workers try to ensure that some aspects of advance care planning are done: Advance Medical Directives and assigning successors. These findings were discovered through qualitative surveys done with six community health workers. In the survey, we also addressed the importance of advance care planning, cultural barriers, training, and self-application. The motivation behind this research is to discuss the importance of legalized planning to make end of life transitions and unexpected death easier for individuals, families, and the community.

Through my practicum experience in Papakolea, I discovered how systems theory, social work practice, and advance care planning can be applied to the community. On the individual level, social services are concentrated on the elderly. On the family level, social services are coordinated with the elderly and supporting family members. On the community level, social services are organized to bring the whole community together to help make life easier. Including advance care planning on these levels help the community and multiple generations transition easier when death at any level happens.

ABSTRACT. Mental health is a serious yet under-addressed issue, especially within the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community, and indigenous young adults are significantly impacted by mental health risks compared to other age groups (Fang, 2018; Guerrero et al., 2019). Additionally, little is known about mental health experiences from a Native Hawaiian perspective due to limited, ethnically aggregated data (Okamoto, & Yee, 2019). However, researchers identify cultural identity as a protective factor and argue that understanding well-being from a cultural lens may bridge the gap between high rates of mental health risks and low use of mental health services among indigenous young adults (Lavery, 2010). Using Dr. Gone’s (2010) cultural reclamation theory, which argues that indigenous people are healthier when they embrace their cultural practices, I analyze data from the Native Hawaiian Young Adult Well-being Survey to test the relationship between cultural engagement and perceived stress levels among Native Hawaiian young adults. Although no data between the cultural engagement and perceived stress level questions was statistically significant, responses revealed high levels of perceived stress as well as high importance of Hawaiian identity in relation to overall well-being, which are important to consider in future mental health initiatives.

ABSTRACT. Micronesian families make up about 1% of the total population in Hawaii at around 15,000 people. While they represent such a small portion of the islands, Micronesians have faced the largest amount of discrimination among all other minority groups in Hawaii dating back to the enactment of the Compacts of Free Association in 1986. Discrimination among other factors have led to Micronesian youths on Oahu being one of the highest risk groups worked with by various helping agencies. In this research project, I interviewed or plan to interview helping professionals at Adult Friends for Youth, We are Oceania, and Kokua Kalihi Valley, in order to find avenues in which the three organizations can collaborate to better meet the needs of this target population. Early findings suggest that collaboration is desired amongst these organizations and a path for open communication can be forged. Even while considering limiting factor, like lack of adequate state and federal funding, findings suggest that if helping these agencies collaborated in working with Micronesian youth, then these youth would have a more comprehensive basis from which they can grow.

ABSTRACT. Hawaii has the second highest homeless population in the nation with approximately 15,000 homeless individuals. Kahauiki Village is one of many organizations dedicated to helping this community. The purpose of this grant proposal is to promote better health outcomes for the children at Kahauiki Village. Creating opportunity and confidence within each child to end the homeless cycle. This will be done through an after school program to better their mental, emotional, and physical health. It will also focus on the child's education and grades. In hopes to improve areas of struggle and promote higher education among this community. The program will incorporate tutoring sessions, counseling sessions, and physical activity.

ABSTRACT. This intervention will emphasize the importance of preventive health screenings that the Straub Clinics offer to their patients by having a mobile clinic drive to underserved communities on the West side of Oahu. This intervention stemmed from the problems with the health screening return rate, the ongoing health complications within the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, and the issue of difficulty obtaining transportation to and from patient’s appointments. The goal is to increase the percentage of patients doing their yearly cancer screenings, to decrease the chronic morbidity within Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and to help the transportation problem by bringing cancer screening services into the communities of need.

ABSTRACT. Many kūpuna suffer from obesity and sedentary behavior, which predispose numerous people to diseases that rank among the leading causes of death: including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and dementia. My approach is to create brochures and go to senior care homes to educate kūpuna on how they can better their diets, get more active, and apply for free and qualifiable health programs. The program is designed to enhance and promote longevity of kūpuna. Our mission and objective of the program is to get kūpuna aware of small lifestyle changes such as healthier diet and tailored home exercises/physical activity to better their health. Long term goals: permanent lifestyle changes to improve quality of life. Specific health outcomes for the program participants include: exercising at least 2.5 hours weekly by the end of the program, maintaining a healthy BMI, a full day of healthy eating at least 5 times a week - incorporating healthier foods into their diet. Limit empty calories, like sugars and foods with little or no nutritional value. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze data collected through quantitative questions in the survey.

ABSTRACT. Sexual harassment and sexual assault have been an increasingly rampant problem within the United States Army (USA) for decades. The Army implemented the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program however, research implicates that occurrences continue to rise despite their training efforts. Consequently, soldiers’ safety is at risk. This exploratory, qualitative study utilized a semi-structured interview to pinpoint the program’s deficiencies by gathering input from seven soldiers of diverse rank and gender by providing their lived “boots on ground” experiences of the program. Consistently throughout the interviews, emerged themes suggest that quality and consistency of the training content and the delivery of the material taught by the SHARP Representative contribute to the ineffectiveness of the program. Trust amongst the program and leadership was also heavily highlighted. This study reveals the imperative need to reshape the SHARP Program in order to strengthen the ranks. The information gathered from this study provides insight that social workers may use in order to help restructure the program and to support soldiers needing services dealing with sexual harassment and/or assault.

ABSTRACT. Developmental disability is a broad term used to describe a group of conditions diagnosed with physical, learning, language, or behavioral impairments. In 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that about 17% of children ages 3 through 17 years old had a developmental disability diagnosis. Given the importance of having social support as a protective factor in parental stress and marital quality between parents of a child with a developmental disability, this study aimed to answer the question, “Does living with extended family promote a higher level of marital quality for parents of a child with a developmental disability?” The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) survey was used to measure marital quality (Graham et al., 2006). A total of fourteen respondents completed an online survey. The results of this quantitative study revealed that parents of a child with a developmental disability and living with extended family did not have a significantly different DAS score from that of parents of a child with a developmental disability and not living with extended family. Although the results did not reach statistical significance, results proved different from the study by Breitkreuz in 2014.

ABSTRACT. Starting health education as early as kindergarten can lead to lifelong healthy practices, making health education invaluable. The Hawaii State DOE has outlined eight important health standards which are the following standards are comprehending concepts, analyzing influences, accessing information and services, interpersonal communication, decision making, goal setting, self-management, and advocacy. To support elementary teachers and educators in making health education a part of their curriculum, I propose with my partner Holly Tarver the creation of a website that includes lesson plans and a resource library. The lessons would be split for grades kinder through second grade and third through fifth grade. With the support of the resources, the aim is to allow teachers to feel empowered by equipping them with the right tools to teach health and nutrition in their classrooms.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of my research aims to bring awareness to the layperson in an attempt to alleviate some variations of unfortunate circumstances LGBTQ youth face. I wish to demonstrate that showing support for the LGBTQ youth will allow for transition into their adult life with greater aspirations for their future. Specifically, looking at the work that is done at YMCA with their LGBTQ programs and how this has allowed for growth of these youth. These programs include zoom calls, which I co-facilitate in order to create a “safe-space” (a non-judgmental environment). I used impact evaluation to determine they have an increased sense of agency, self confidence and accountability. My findings suggest that GSA’s (gay-straight alliances) also create a non judgmental environment, similar to the spaces created by YMCA. Thus, I can correlate GSA’s with the programs at YMCA as they both provide the same core value of allowing for a non-judgmental environment. The data I have analyzed through surveys shows that youth in schools with GSA’s have a higher level of agency compared to youth in schools without GSA’s. The implication of these findings can influence other organizations to reach the demand of creating safe spaces for this population.

ABSTRACT. Many indigenous populations in the United States suffer from health disparities, even when common barriers related to gaps in access, quality, and affordability to medical care are comparable to non-indigenous groups. Native Hawaiians have some of the worst health outcomes in the state. Complex factors such as socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and genetics contribute to poor health outcomes. This paper focuses on the role of healthcare workers in patient care and the need for cultural humility training in Hawai’i. Furthermore, this paper shares the framework of a cultural training program tailored for healthcare workers serving Wai’anae, a predominantly Native Hawaiian community in rural O'ahu. This program is uniquely developed to share Native Hawaiian traditional and cultural beliefs, practices, and values and the historical and cultural histories of the Wai’anae community with healthcare workers. Reported outcomes of the program include deepened cultural and community understanding, improved sense of place and self, and learned strategies to enhance patient care. The program plans to expand its curriculum to focus on other racial and ethnic groups and improve evaluation and assessment practices. Programs like this one will lead future efforts to enhance cultural humility amongst healthcare workers and organizations serving indigenous communities in Hawai’i.

ABSTRACT. How does an individual's connection to their culture affect their well-being? Historically, Indigenous cultures have been viewed by colonial powers as mechanisms through which sub-par living standards are perpetuated throughout Indigenous communities. Contrary to this narrative, Cultural Reclamation theory argues that culture is a protective factor within Indigenous populations. This paper examines the relationship between cultural connectedness and well-being in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities, which have been subject to the outlawing of cultural practices under colonial rule. Due to the general absence of data, and lack of disaggregation within data, Asian Pacific Islander (API) substance abuse-related death counts across 33 counties in the US is employed as a crude measure of community well-being. An original database was constructed using GuideStar to count the number of cultural organizations within counties, which will be used as a crude measure of cultural connectedness. These two variables are compared using a bivariate regression model. I expect that as the number of NHPI-related cultural organizations within a county increases, the number of API substance abuse-related death rates will decrease. Implications regarding cultural reclamation, data feminism, and the negative impact of acculturation are discussed.

ABSTRACT. The opioid epidemic is a national crisis that has been going on for many years with significant impact on the macro, mezzo, and micro level. In the last 30 years, almost 841,000 people have died from drug overdoses; in 2019, over 70% of drug overdoses involved an opioid (CDC). Multiple health professionals with different educational backgrounds and different career objectives, such as doctors, nurses, and social workers, have played a unique role in the opioid crisis.This systematic literature review assessed what published research accurately demonstrated the role social workers have played in the on-going opioid crisis. There were a total of 20 articles included from 32 different databases, with publication dates between 2013 - 2022. Main findings suggest that social workers have played an important role in different ways, but there is still action needed. Some of those actions include more education, training, intervention methods, and clinical practice with substance abuse and opioid overdoses. This study discusses suggestions that social workers should consider implementing into their practice and career responsibilities to help tackle the opioid epidemic. Overall, this study reveals social workers are playing a role in the opioid epidemic.

ABSTRACT. Hawaii is recognized as a state that experiences greater life expectancy than the United States overall. Looking at the state as a whole, hides life expectancy inequity that can be observed within a state at the sub-county level. Why are there discrepancies between life expectancy within Hawaii and is it related to home ownership? My hypothesis is that as home ownership rates increase so will life expectancy. I examine the association between life expectancy and home ownership rates within the state of Hawaii. Utilizing data from the 2012 American Community Survey of estimated “Owner Occupied Housing rate” by Zip Code Tabulated Area and Life Expectancy data from Hawaii Department of Health that used the Sub-County Life Expectancy(SCALE) methodology. Findings showed no correlation between life expectancy and owner-occupied housing rate by zip code. Observations of this comparison reveals that Hawaii as a state has on average a higher life expectancy rate(82.3 years) than the US as a whole(78.7). Hawaii also has a lower average owner-occupied housing rate(58.2%) than the US as a whole(65.5%). Comparisons showed significant discrepancies between life expectancy by zip codes within Hawaii and several zip codes with above average owner occupied housing and lower than average life expectancy.

ABSTRACT. The adoption process can be fraught with many stressors and unique marital satisfaction challenges among adoptive parents. This study expands upon possible predictors that can contribute or negatively impact adoptive parents' marriages. The purpose is to identify possible predictors like the age of the adopted child, race, sex, culture, international or domestic adoption, developmental disability, physical disability, and the parents' financial status within the adoptive parent's marriage. The study attempts to receive input from married parents after the adoption of a child regarding their marital satisfaction. The results from the (n=8) participants did not produce statistically significant correlations between adoptive parents' marital satisfaction and the predictor's variables. However, this study suggests that further research could be useful for service providers among adoptive parents pre- and post-adoption.

ABSTRACT. The non-profit organization Paepae o Heʻeia and the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) are focused on restoring Heʻeia Fishpond (loko iʻa) in an effort to combat challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and invasive species. Native fish targeted for harvest include the ʻamaʻama (striped mullet) and awa (milkfish), which primarily feed on microalgae (i.e. diatoms) (Hiatt, 1947). The goal of increasing fish production requires the understanding of phytoplankton communities within the loko iʻa. As a Pacific Island Climate Adaptation Science Center research intern, I worked with Paepae and the NERR to develop a baseline of phytoplankton within the Heʻeia Fishpond using the FlowCam, an integrated method of flow cytometry and microscopy. The objectives of this study were to describe the phytoplankton communities within the loko iʻa and to determine changes in diatom communities throughout the year. Phytoplankton diversity varied between mākāhā and time, with phytoplankton communities composed primarily of diatoms. Dominant diatom groups also shifted from wet to dry season. Findings and development in the FlowCam method and analysis aid in restoration efforts at Heʻeia Fishpond while also filling the gap from genomic limitations due to a lack of DNA databases for diatoms specific to Heʻeia estuarine environments

ABSTRACT. Plastic pollution in the ocean is becoming increasingly problematic. Where the majority of plastic is accumulating remains unknown because floating debris represents a minuscule percentage of the millions of metric tons of plastic dumped into the ocean yearly. To account for the missing plastic, identifying the driving biotic and abiotic forces affecting the vertical transport of microplastics through time is crucial. Three sizes (small, medium, large) of three different shapes (rod, cube, film) of three different floating polymers (HDPE, LDPE, PP) were incubated in baskets in an outdoor saltwater tank to determine if the particles were floating or sinking over a period of one year. The percentage of floating particles was determined visually from video footage between weeks 16 and 42 of the study. Chlorophyll concentrations in the tank and algal growth on the plastic particles were also monitored. The findings revealed that particles in every basket were sinking throughout this experiment. Multiple regression of PP large films showed a significant sinking trend. While size, shape, polymer, and week were all significant predictors of sinking, algal growth was not. To increase present estimates of plastic accumulation in the ocean, future research should concentrate on plastic transport through depth.

ABSTRACT. I am submitting this proposal on behalf of the MC 3910 Capstone experience team under the Creative work category. I will discuss our creative tactics produced for NSAC- National Student Advertising Competition. We worked in collaboration with MC 4900 capstone class on the NSAC 2022 client is the Meta Quest 2 which is a virtual reality headset. The goal for this competition is to successfully create a campaign strategy to reach a target demographic: 18–24-year-old college students, as well as showing the students that the VR headset can be used for schoolwork. Therefore, we made creative videos that will be posted on strategically selected social media channels to show and illustrate how the headset can be used for different purposes. We will use the channels to target different audiences: college students, workers and high school students. We will achieve this by using social media influencers, social media contests and through hosted events. By using the hashtag: #WhatsYourQuest, people can show how they use the product, and start a conversation building awareness and engagement for the Meta Quest 2 headset.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this research was to understand the needs of a geriatric client in Our Kupuna, an agency that assists the Senior population in Hawaiʻi; Systems Theory applied and how the experience taught the author a lesson in awareness of boundaries as a helping professional. The author was not only a practicum student with Our Kupuna but also a volunteer for the organization. There was a qualitative interview to ascertain the overall effective intervention a helping professional applied as a member of an agency for the Senior population. The research explored how the helping professional must have clear ethical boundaries in client and agency relationships. This research aims to improve a helping professional's understanding of the importance of setting professional boundaries that protect them, the geriatric community, and the agency.

ABSTRACT. A growing body of literature connects participation in sports by girls with increased success as leaders. There is a considerable gender gap in political ambition and the competitiveness connected with sports appears to be a strong predictor of interest in running for office. It has been found that women who participated in athletics were around 25% more likely than those who did not express political ambitions. Encouraging women’s participation in sports increases their involvement as leaders in the private and public sectors. Sports teach girls teamwork and how to effectively communicate to solve problems. Achieving goals in sports develops girls' self-confidence and positively impacts girls’ perception of themselves. There were 256 female candidates who participated in the 2018 General Congressional Election. I created my own data by researching if each candidate participated or currently participates in organized sports or athletics and if they won or lost the election. It was found that there are more female political candidates who participated in sports and won compared to those who participated in sports and lost. This indicates a slight correlation between females participating in sports and being elected for political office.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of my research project is to explore the effectiveness of hospital visits on the mental wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families, looking specifically at the local nonprofit, HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support). These families require increased support, as they are going through extreme hardships, which puts stress on every member of the family. I used outcome evaluation by examining yearly HUGS surveys that measure family satisfaction with the various services that are provided, in order to gauge how the hospital outreach program was received by families. My findings suggest that when these families receive hospital visits, they are better able to cope with the child’s illness and the anxieties that come with it, and feel supported as they face the unknown. The visits also assist children in fighting feelings of boredom and fear that result from hospitalization, and help them and their siblings better understand what is going on. The broader implications of my project are the ability for HUGS to enhance their hospital outreach program, and the capability for these findings to be used at other non-profit organizations to help families across the country that are in similar situations.

ABSTRACT. ​​Make A Wish foundation is a wish granting organization for children with critical to terminal illness ages 2 ½ to 18. It is a nonprofit organization that focuses on children. But what about the support system for the children? Who helps them with their mental and physical wellness? The project that I am proposing is to help the parents and caregivers of Make A wish children through an intervention of a support group. The support group’s mission is to help these parents and caregivers have a safe space to talk and relate to each other’s experiences with hospitals, sickness, and coping mechanisms. The support group class will be a once a week commitment after work with just parents and caregivers. The class will provide ways of coping through stress that can be used in everyday life. The goal of this project is for parents and caregivers to have a space to talk freely about their experiences and integrate positive coping mechanisms into their family’s lifestyle.

ABSTRACT. Hawaii has seen an increase in Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) cases as a direct result of social stigmas. Professional medical providers often lack the current STI-related information and the ability to properly convey the information to patients. This neglect often translates to the providers redirecting patients to a busy specialist causing patients to receive suboptimal care. STI rates have seen a steady rise with a 30% increase in reported STIs since 2015. Programs and initiatives have been created but have shown mixed results. Educating the public starts with the medical professional's ability to convey information in a consumable manner. This STI action toolkit focuses on providing up-to-date and easy-to-digest information to medical professionals. This action toolkit contains information on how to take a sexual history, how to provide STI treatment and testing, and the proper way to offer a routine screening. The outcome is to create well-educated medical providers that understand how to deal with and properly inform, reach out and guide Hawaiian patients in any STI situations. Long-term implementation goals are to reduce stigmas on STIs, improve public education on safe practices, and increase confidence in medical professionals' ability to provide the highest quality of care.

ABSTRACT. This project is a website redevelopment with enhancements for Kula No Nā Po'e Hawai'i’s Kūpuna Community Care Network II (KCCN II) Program. The enhancements aim to improve the user experience of kūpuna and their caregivers interacting with the website in a secured setting. Our project accomplishes this by employing some best practices for web design for the elderly found in research, including larger text, contrasting colors, and simplified navigation throughout the website. The website allows registered users to sign up for workshops, view videos and images of previous workshops and events, access resources provided by the organization, and view the history and frequently asked questions of the KCCN Program. The development team built the website with WordPress provided by WPEngine and used WordPress plug-ins for additional functionality and customization. The team used an agile development framework, SCRUM, which allowed members to self-organize and work efficiently. At the end of each one-week sprint, a demo was conducted with the client, documenting the project's progress. This framework emphasizes the importance of accountability and communication between the client and team. Usability testing was also conducted with kūpuna to get input on the features implemented and how to improve their user experience.

ABSTRACT. This research examines the impact of mindfulness practices at Waikiki Elementary school on teachers and parents, measured by surveys and interviews. It analyzes the social and emotional well-being of parents and teachers after using mindfulness practices while dealing with the adversities of COVID-19. Mindfulness practices are scientifically proven to increase a person’s social and emotional well-being and contribute to the greater well-being of communities. Existing peer-reviewed literature on the benefits of mindfulness practices exists; however, more studies need to be conducted in school environments to validate the effectiveness of mindfulness further. I address the gap in research by conducting a study in a school setting, focusing on parents and teachers. The research was conducted using a survey and an interview with a response that exceeded the proposed number of participants. All participants have students who attend the school, indicated that Waikiki’s recommended mindfulness practices help manage stress and anxiety, strengthen cognitive health and attention, and create greater awareness and balance. Despite the varying demographics of participants, COVID-19 negatively affected all 16 participants. The evidence reflects that mindfulness practices benefited their social and emotional well-being. This study informs our understanding of mindfulness practices and highlights the benefits of mindfulness.

ABSTRACT. Certified substance abuse counselors (CSAC) play a significant role for adolescents receiving counseling services for substance use disorders (SUD). Systems Theory explains how adolescents’ micro-, mezzo-, and macro-system affect their development. CSAC addresses the adolescent’s substance use at the different levels of their system. This research project explores the perspective of substance abuse counselors on Oahu, Hawaii using qualitative research. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with CSAC. Themes of adolescent substance use, family support, and delivery of outpatient treatment are important to the progress of an adolescent’s treatment.

ABSTRACT. Octopus oliveri (colloquially known as the Rock Octopus) is a nearshore cephalopod whose ecology is largely unknown. Found throughout the Pacific Ocean, this octopus has maintained its mystique, only recently gathering scientific interest. Keystone species and opportunistic predators, octopuses are able to shift prey abundance and community structure in nearshore habitats. Thus, understanding their role in Hawaiian nearshore waters is imperative. This study describes the habitat preferences of the Rock Octopus as related to substrate composition of three categories: rock, algae, and biotic. Presence as related to tide phase and amplitude was additionally investigated. Twelve timed surveys were conducted after sunset at Kewalo Basin (Honolulu, HI). Observed habitat use of octopuses was paired with control habitat measurements and analyzed for differences via contingency tests. A total of nine specimens were observed. The Rock Octopus shows significant preference for rock cover and may avoid algae cover. The results of this study suggest octopus presence increases at high tide and with higher tidal amplitudes. Overall, these findings indicate that the preferred habitat of this octopus is a rocky shore characterized by high tidal amplitudes. This study contributes to growing cephalopod research in Hawaii and can provide a baseline for future distribution research.

ABSTRACT. Coral ecosystems support high diversity and provide a lifeline for our ocean’s health. As the ocean continues warming, shallow coral reefs are shifting into low-diversity systems dominated by algal overgrowth. Maunalua Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, has long been affected by coastal development. Endemic species populations have declined, coral reef heath has diminished, invasive algae species have erupted, water quality has worsened, and cultural connection has been overlooked. The Kalauha’iha’i fishpond, adjacent to Maunalua Bay, is about to undergo major restoration to revitalize the natural waterways between the land and sea, which has shown replenishment of coral reef health at other fishpond restoration sites. This study explores the relationship between microclimates and substrate (coral and algal) cover before restoration happens. We predict that sites with larger water temperature ranges will support higher coral cover. To test this hypothesis, we deployed 36 temperature loggers across a 97,000 m2 near shore reef for 1,176 hours, visually analyzed 50-point quadrats surrounding each logger, and compared coral and algal cover against microclimate temperature ranges. This baseline will inform future restoration and studies at Maunalua Bay and other fishpond restoration projects around Hawaii.

ABSTRACT. A music video I made for my friend's new song release. I filmed it with a 2x speed sync for the artist to lip sync to in 60fps and slowed it down to 30fps creating the slow motion effect while maintaining the motion of the mouth in real time synced with the song.

ABSTRACT. Experiencing the loss of a loved one through death can be a traumatic experience, especially for young adults who are new to grief and loss. Those who have also faced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may experience further challenges coping with loss. Previous research outlines how ACEs have long-term negative effects on the mind and body; including influencing one’s coping style. A high ACE score increases the likelihood of engaging in avoidant-emotional coping— a known risk factor for persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD). The relationship between ACEs and PCBD and grief intensity has not been extensively studied. This study examined whether or not ACE scores are related to the intensity of the grief response, and PCBD. Participants were 12 young adults aged 18-25 (M=22.58) who had experienced a loss at least one year prior. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between persistent complex bereavement inventory (PCBI) and ACE scores, and Texas-Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG-Present) and ACE scores; there were no statistically significant relationships found. The study highlights the need for more research to be done to better understand whether or not childhood trauma interacts with the grief response.

ABSTRACT. Military life yields multiple unique stressors that impact the well-being of military personnel and their family. Partners of military service members experience stress due to deployment, which often manifests in symptoms of anxiety and depression (Leroux, Kum, Dabney, & Wells, 2016). Without addressing mental and behavioral health concerns among military partners, risky behaviors such as substance use can increase. Because the majority of studies have primarily highlighted the impacts of deployment on military-connected families, there is little research on the rates of substance use and help-seeking behaviors among military service members’ partners. This study uses a quasi-experimental design, to examine the differences between substance use rates and help-seeking intentions between partners of Active Duty and Reservists. Additionally, the relationship between mental help-seeking intentions and the help seeker stereotype among these populations was analyzed. Results of the data analysis showed no statistical differences between Active Duty and Reservist partners; however, statistical differences between branches were observed. Social workers serving families impacted by military deployments can benefit from this study’s findings as they develop competency regarding attitudes about mental health and help-seeking in these communities.

ABSTRACT. U.S. Air Force intelligence specialist spouse’s mental health, specifically depression, may be impacted while married to a remote warrior, who is an Airmen “deployed in place”. In this quantitative design analysis, the main hypothesis was that intelligence specialists’ spouses will present higher rates of negative mental health symptoms, specifically depression, than the U.S. population. Volunteers were solicitated by advertisement on social media platforms and 14 surveys were completed by participants. A total of 11 participants from the sample did differ significantly (M = 11.91, SD = 4.592) from that of the average of the general population t(10) = 8.60, p = <.001. Based on a power analysis, the desired number of participants was 30 spouses (civilian/female). The overall response rate was 46% (n=14). The small sample size was recognized as potential limitation of the study, along with time constraints and availability of spouses. The findings described how the spouses of remote warriors indicated higher levels of depression than the general U.S. population. The outcome of this study may impact social work practice through the provision of mental health services for military spouses. Finally, future research is recommended to progress understanding of the impact of non-traditional deployments on spouses’ mental health.

ABSTRACT. As adults age and social activities decline, social isolation and depression become more prominent among the geriatric population (Santini et. al., 2019). Approximately 10-20% of the geriatric population have a diagnosable form of depression (Blackburn, Wilkins-Ho, & Wiese, 2017). The present study aimed to determine a relationship between social engagement and geriatric depression among adults over 65 through an archival data analysis. Data utilized was collected from The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project and consolidated into categories of social engagement frequency, and quality of partnership, friendship, family, and community involvement. In addition, data provided frequency from a loneliness scale, two depression scales, and a self-rated depression scale. A chi-square (X2) test of independence was performed to examine the relationship between social engagement and geriatric depression, with significant results. Family, partnership, and friendship quality was found to be of high frequency, yet social engagement and community satisfaction were reported with low frequency. Implications of these findings can better inform social workers about the importance of social support quality that may mitigate geriatric depression.

ABSTRACT. The research and survey conducted aimed to answer the question, could social media outdate the Spiral of Silence theory, in relation to the pandemic, by creating accessible online connection between likeminded individuals in the “minority”? The Spiral of Silence theory, created by Elisabeth Noelle-Neuman, explains the idea that humans actively avoid negative consequences caused by publicly sharing their ideas that diverge from the status quo. Social media has endless forums for discussion and is believed to pose as a place for open communication on all topics. The academic setting universities provide is said to hold these same values of inclusion and exploration of differentiating ideas. The survey analyzed participants' comfortability discussing their views on COVID-19 in virtual spaces (social media) in comparison to physical spaces (the classroom). However, results from the survey conducted imply there were correlations between the openness one feels when sharing their views on the pandemic in each of these spaces. These correlations answer the research question by proving that the theory continues to be relevant regardless of media usage. Individuals will continue to avoid the negative consequences which can come from sharing contrasting views on the pandemic in person or online.

ABSTRACT. The project partner called HOPR has launched a privacy-preserving ecosystem running on blockchain. The governance scheme in the form of Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) has been introduced to HOPR community using a voting mechanism for collective decision-makings. This governance ensures that the infrastructure is built, operated, and controlled fairly by all members.

The research question is “What governance models of participation can be used and how decentralized is decentralized?” Blockchain Governance Framework, dissecting into layers and life cycle stages of blockchain, is analyzed against the case study. IT Governance Framework, aligned with key governance areas of blockchain, namely, decision rights, accountability, and incentives, is reflected in the decision-making process.

The research finding methodology comprises primary and secondary research. For primary research, expert interviews are conducted to gather viewpoints and realistic practices of blockchain governance. For secondary research, literature review is carried out to explore relevant theories and best practices in response to the project question.

The research presents effective decision-making models within a blockchain community in keeping blockchain decentralized and not dominated by certain bodies holding more assets or phony identities. Ultimately, effective and evolving governance schemes are essential in ensuring robust operation and long-term viability of a blockchain community.

ABSTRACT. In my piece, Due to my fascination with true crime and the history of Hawaii, I will be creating a short documentary that documents the Honolulu strangler murders during the 1980s and discusses the way that these crimes along with other dark and horrendous crimes in Hawaii have had an effect on the cultural zeitgeist. I will be delving into how media along with the public, in general, tend to brush off and keep these horrible offenses away from the public eye in order to keep the outsider's perspective of the beautiful islands of Hawaii untainted and to keep people coming to the islands. I've used a multitude of research methods from archived newspaper articles, to interviewing locals, and professionals.

ABSTRACT. This thesis hopes to better understand the interactions between Americans and their news sources, media consumption habits, and the differences between traditional media and social media. By using the Agenda Setting and Contagion Theories of Communication, this thesis aims to understand how existing biases in the media are spread. This thesis asks, ‘Does media usage significantly impact an individual’s susceptibility to bias in the news?’ and, ‘Does media usage significantly impact an individual’s polarized behaviors?’ A survey dedicated to analyzing these questions was conducted from March 2, 2022 to March 10, 2022, resulting in a sample size of 117. Survey results suggest that higher usage of traditional media may lead to an increased susceptibility to bias, yet a decrease in polarized actions. Alternatively, low and high usage social media users showed no significant differences. Perhaps media sources are responding to existing polarization rather than creating polarization. Furthermore, despite being a public forum and providing immediate news, social media does not appear to leave a lasting impression on users. Social media appears to be a weak tool for combating polarization and social unrest, and the shift away from traditional media sources is potentially decreasing the population’s comprehension of nuanced world events.

ABSTRACT. Throughout the Hawaiian Islands, nearshore reef fisheries provide valuable food security for local residents. To ensure these fisheries remain sustainable for future generations it is important that fish are allowed to reproduce before being caught. However, certain fish such as the nenue (Kyphosus sp.) have no limits placed on catch size, resulting in individuals being caught before they are old enough to reproduce. This study was conducted through an internship at Poseidon Fisheries Research and focused on finding the size and age of maturity for two species of nenue, Kyphosus hawaiiensis and Kyphosus vaigiensis. Fish were acquired though markets in Honolulu and lab personnel spearfishing in reefs on the East side of Oahu. After lengths were recorded each fish had their otoliths and gonads removed. Annuli inside the otoliths were counted to establish age while gonad histology determined maturity across the two species. The length at which fifty percent reach sexual maturity could be used as a new minimum catch size to ensure sustainability. Through this experience I have learned how fisheries gather data and need for additional research. Working on nearshore projects in Hawaii has implications for future management and sustainability.

ABSTRACT. This paper will explore the factors that come into play with burnout development, ways in which burnout has been measured throughout its time of recognition, ways in which to manage and reduce burnout, and the future benefit in burnout research. This will be accomplished through extensive literature research and additional investigation through personal agency idea and exploration. At this time, literate suggests that with variation in measurement, the exploration of additional factors and variable will need to be taken into consideration when it comes to attribution of burnout development. This leads to the question of whether there need to be an increase in scale complexity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the need to recognize that although a three-dimensional conceptualization dominates literature, there is a need to re-conceptualize burnout as a general phenomenon through additional specific factors being added to explain variance in experiences. With a better understanding of measurement, prevention and management of burnout may be achieved with future research on this increased understanding. This paper will explore these subjects to better identify burnout to develop interventions on lowering the impact on workers, identifying better ways to measure burnout, and address the future in which burnout research can develop.

ABSTRACT. Many octopodes are nocturnal, hunting their prey in the light of the moon. Octopodes have good eyesight and are able to see during the day and at night. Yet, it is unclear if the amount of light illumination affects their vision or their activity patterns. One nocturnal octopus species, Octopus Oliveri, is a largely understudied, small octopus that lives in the rocky intertidal zone. Does the amount of moon illumination have an effect on the abundance and behavior of O. Oliveri? Twelve population surveys were conducted over the span of three months (February – April 2022) at Kewalo Basin, HI. Moon illumination and tide height were recorded, along with the number of individual O. Oliveri observed. R studio and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze the data using two - way Anova and Chi squared tests. The results showed that the abundance of O. Oliveri increased as moon illumination decreased. When considering tide height, a higher number of O. oliveri were found during the low tide. Altogether, these results suggest that tide height has a stronger effect on O. Oliveri than moon illumination. Thus, the research focus needs to shift from octopus eyesight to the composition of available habitat.

ABSTRACT. The detrimental effects of mass incarceration have brought the United States to a tipping point after decades of overreliance on the carceral system. Grassroots organizations advocating for decarceration have the opportunity to transfer momentum into lasting policy change. Decarceration efforts aim to incorporate sustainable solutions to reducing the amount of people in prisons and jails. This research examines whether grassroots organizations with targeted decarceration goals have an impact on the incarceration rate within counties, theorizing that higher presence of local non profit organizations leads to lower incarceration rates. Incarceration rates throughout 63 of the largest counties in the United States were collected, calculated by every 100,000 residents aged 15-64 held in prison and jail. This is compared by the number of nonprofit organizations with focuses on prison reform, abolition, and justice for incarcerated people. Counties with lower incarceration rates have a higher number of grassroots organizations, suggesting higher community support for prison reform, crime prevention, and rehabilitation. The research indicates that local nonprofit organizations are essential in reducing incarceration and promoting communal approaches to restorative justice. Attention is paid to historical efforts by Black women abolitionists and contemporary movements spearheaded by Women of Color.

ABSTRACT. In recent years, Climate Change has continually become a more and more pressing issue. And unfortunately so have the consequences that come with it. An increase in the global atmospheric temperature, about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit from 1901 to 2016 (epa.com), has led to negative shifts in the world's climate and weather. Consequences include the warming of oceans, rising sea levels, and even an increase and the frequency of severe weather such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and even hurricanes. While Climate Change affects everyone, recent studies have shown significant risks for certain groups, classes, and genders. Specifically, studies have explored how Climate Change disproportionately affects women. For example, during natural disasters, women generally experience more domestic abuse and violence. To explore this further, the mortalities that occurred during US Atlantic Hurricanes were identified. The data set was created by going through 75 NOAA Topical Cyclone Reports. I compared the number of male and female deaths but research found that less than half of US hurricane reports in the last 20 years even mentioned gender of the deceased. The inconsistencies in reports revealed a more systemic issue, the lack of federal standards in place for reporting gender.

ABSTRACT. Most incarcerated youth are not serious offenders; about 80% of them have been charged with non-violent offenses such as truancy, low-level property crimes or drug possession. Yet, there is an 82% recidivism rate. We are humans first and foremost. However, those in juvenile detention centers are often stripped of that inherent identity; they are diminished to their inmate number, to their committed crime, to a seemingly inescapable past. When deprived of an identity and instead made into a statistic, the opportunity to become anything but becomes infinitely difficult, and Pow·heard·ful works to change that. By acknowledging the dispensable culture surrounding convicted youth, Pow·heard·ful works to give a voice back to the children who have been incarcerated. This will be achieved through a writing workshop facilitated by an experienced educator who will guide the children through various exercises. This will ultimately lead to encouraging them to tell the story they feel needs to be told, building their confidence and helping them reclaim their voices and identities. Their written work will be compiled and printed into a book which will be distributed to the participants and to the community to inspire community contribution and involvement to help lower recidivism rates.

ABSTRACT. Copper sharks, Carcharhinus brachyurus, are a vulnerable species heavily impacted by overexploitation due to their late maturity and low fecundity. Because C. brachyurus populations have decreased an estimated 50% over the last 70 years, there is a need for long-term research on their population dynamics and movements. Photo identification is commonly used for long-term monitoring of marine species and the advent of the “Identifin” photo identification software has allowed researchers to identify elasmobranch individuals using their unique dorsal fin notch patterns. In this study, I tested Identifin’s ability to correctly identify C. brachyurus individuals and used mark-recapture methods to examine their population dynamics. From August 2018 to February 2022, 328 dorsal fin photographs were taken in Gansbaai (South Africa) and were matched resulting in 61 identifiable individuals with 84% of the individuals being resighted. The software’s accuracy in correctly matching individuals was 82% and a paired t-test confirmed the software can be used to correctly identify C. brachyurus individuals. In conclusion, Identifin is an effective method for quantifying C. brachyurus abundance over time. This is key information for effective management and conservation measures to be put in place.

ABSTRACT. Kepeloa is a short film following the story of a Hawaiian boy named Kolu. He recently lost his mother and was taken in by foster mom, Regina, who is trying her best but just can not connect with him. Kolu is haunted by the spirit of his grief, the Kepeloa. In order to get rid of the dark spirit, Kolu must face his grief and choose the best path for himself.

In the process of shooting this short film, our team gained a lot of experience in the creative and technical aspects of filming. The opportunity to have hands on experience with cinema quality equipment from Sight & Sound Productions has been invaluable and will serve us well in our future careers.

ABSTRACT. Arthritis, or painful joint inflammation, continues to negatively impact patients' lives around the world. As the leading cause of disability, the Arthritis Foundation continually aims to support patients through research, advocacy, and community connections. Since the foundation recently came from Georgia to Hawaii, leaders are exposed to new diverse communities, including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). In its 70 years of activity, the foundation never created a program specific for NHPI. After noticing a lack of participation compared to other ethnicities, the foundation determined a new program should be made for the unique NHPI culture; where they learn through storytelling and connection building. In order to better “conquer arthritis”, the program practices cultural competence while educating NHPIs about arthritis through exercise and the “talk story” method. In this practice of cultural adaptation, the program’s relevance lies in teaching the community in a more appropriate and interactive way. The Arthritis Foundation hopes to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating bonds with the greater Hawaii community and other organizations. An implication for the public health community is how the program aims to broadly peer into health inequities associated with the determinants of education, culture, and community contexts for NHPI’s health.

ABSTRACT. Deposit-feeding sea cucumbers play important ecological roles on coral reefs and overexploitation has raised concern. Understanding factors that drive patterns of holothurian density and distribution is of importance to ecosystem-based management, since the ecological consequence of removing sea cucumbers by fishing likely vary from one habitat to another. Surveys of the sea cucumbers Actinopyga mauritiana and Holothuria atra were conducted at nine shallow, currently unfished, reef sites around Oahu, Hawaii, to determine substrate preference and to what extent preferred substrate availability explains variation in species density. A. mauritiana preferred vertical and horizontal surfaces of three types of pavements while H. atra preferred two types of rubble. The density of both species increased linearly with percent preferred substrate cover across habitats dominated by other substrates than the preferred. These results reflect the importance of substrate type as a component of the sea cucumber microhabitat and indicate, contrary to what has previously been suggested, that A. mauritiana and H. atra may occupy a variety of local habitats as long as their preferred substrates are available. The present study contributes to the understanding of factors that drive distribution patterns of sea cucumber assemblages, which may have important implications for ecosystem-based fishery management elsewhere.

ABSTRACT. Civil conflicts do not only affect the host country but the violence from the conflict will create spatial spillovers that will influence the neighboring countries that have geographically accessible borders. This leads to the question of in what ways does a civil conflict affects neighboring countries. I test the theory of spatial spillover which is the idea that an increase of refugees entering the neighboring countries will then put social restraints on the countries and have a negative effect on the economic growth of the country. This would be analyzed by running a bivariate regression model on the variables refugee numbers and change in GDP per capita growth in annual % to look at the relationship between these two variables. The data was retrieved from the UN Refugee Agency, World Bank, and Peace Research Institute Oslo, and focused on the timespan 2000 to 2009 in Sub-Saharan Africa. The results showed there is a positive relationship but does not have statistical significance. This can imply there is a relationship between civil conflict and economic growth in neighboring countries but would need to be analyzed through other variables in order to come to a better understanding.

ABSTRACT. It is well understood that food directly impacts one’s physical and mental wellbeing by increasing or decreasing health outcomes or evoking strong emotions as it is a precursor for identity. When applying this intersectional framework to populations impacted by long histories of colonization, such as the Philippines, studies indicate that the mental wellbeing of native Filipinos is likely to decrease due to assimilation away from native identity, lack of access to indigenous foods, and denigration of cultural practices. As there is little on the physical impact of shifting towards colonized ingredients, this essay considers how adaptation to colonized cuisine may increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease as measured through Filipino ingredients’ glycemic indexes. Further, this research argues that shifting from indigenous food customs is a conduit of decreasing physical health and attempts to rewrite the narrative that Filipino food is often unhealthy. It is found that the average glycemic index amongst native Filipino ingredients is statistically lower thus indicating a strong relationship between colonized ingredient choice and worsening health outcome. Since glycemic indexes for ethnic ingredients are not widely available, measurements for various Filipino products were manually analyzed and based upon their translated Western equivalents.

ABSTRACT. Sex trafficking is a significant problem both internationally and in the United States. Over the past ten years, awareness about the issue has improved, yet there is limited programming for vulnerable youth and a lack of knowledge on preventative skills. Hoku Group Services is a program that helps prevent commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), by teaching empowering life skills to various agencies on Oahu and Hawaii Island and reduces the likelihood that vulnerable youth would be targeted by a sex trafficker. This study is a quantitative program evaluation that aims to measure the correlation between the amount of sessions attended and the level of safety and comfort of the participant towards the facilitator and the group. A total of ninety-eight participants completed a survey that were broken down into 5 subscales that equate to feeling safe with facilitators and Hoku sessions. The research question hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation between the number of groups attended and increased wellbeing as measured by the Hoku survey. To test this hypothesis a correlation was conducted r( ), p, CI95%. Although the expected correlation was not achieved, secondary analysis showed there was a significant difference in survey score-based group location.

ABSTRACT. This is a presentation about a short film titled "Phased" that is directed, written and produced by Angeleyh Pasco. The film's narrative follows a day in the life of a young girl that explains her experience with depression within 15 phases. Each one is different and very close to her heart. As she goes through the night she starts to question a lot about herself: “Maybe I'm just exaggerating?”, “am I really depressed?”, “Will this ever get better”? Throughout the phases, Vanessa starts to get emotional as she defines every heart break, disappointment, expectation, and tear that she has shed. Will she ever find the light at the end of the tunnel through all the darkness? The short film goes into detail about mental health with majority of the film as voiceover with actions representing with every line said. The main goal of this short film is to deliver a message to those who suffer from anxiety, depression or any form of mental illness and to shed light to those who are in denial of the fact that they suffer from these conditions.

ABSTRACT. Tobacco use rates among Native Hawaiian, Asian American, and Filipino American young adults within Hawaii has risen exponentially in recent years following the introduction of electronic nicotine delivery systems. Though some research has been done examining tobacco use correlates for these demographics, research examining protective factors such as cultural connectedness is lacking. Additionally, research that disaggregates APIs is scarce despite the differing risk and protective factors that have been determined for each group. This quantitative study tests a secondary data set to examine cultural connectedness among Native Hawaiians, Asian Americans, and Filipino Americans individually to help fill gaps in the current literature. The findings indicated that Asian Americans and Filipino Americans who identify more with their own cultures are less likely to use e-cigarettes (ps = -0.355, -0.515). However, based on the current data, the same cannot be deduced for NHPIs. No significant evidence was found to indicate a relationship between cultural connectedness and combustible cigarette use among any of the sample groups. The lack of relationship between cultural connectedness and tobacco use among Native Hawaiians may be explained by the need for more culturally competent scales (i.e., an enculturation scale) to adjust for indigenous status.

ABSTRACT. Seabirds are proven ecosystem sentinels and useful for determining marine debris trends within their foraging ranges. Wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica, WTSH), a locally breeding seabird on O'ahu and throughout the archipelago, has a relatively limited foraging range (long trip mean 361.8 ± 120.1 km from O'ahu), which is valuable in determining trends specific to the Hawai'i and surrounding waters. During the 2011-2014 fledgling seasons, 110 WTSH 4-5 month old chicks were opportunistically collected and recently necropsied to determine presence, quantity, and composition of ingested plastic. Additionally, prey contents were quantified to determine a significant relationship between food and non-food presence, as well as plastic presence in each stomach chamber, the proventriculus and gizzard. Microplastics were analyzed by type, polymer, density, and color. My findings show that over 60% of WTSH ingested plastic. Microplastics were predominantly made up of polyethylene (81%), followed by polypropylene (16%), and colored white or low-visibility. The stomachs were mostly filled with prey, but the majority of the plastic was present in the gizzard. Plastic was present significantly less than prey, and there was no statistical relationship between the two. This study provides additional evidence of marine debris impacts on North Pacific seabirds.

ABSTRACT. Older adult sexuality is not a well understood or talked about area of health care. Therefore, nurses and social work health disciplines are the most likely to directly engage in older adults' care. Aging sexual health is critical to address; it does affect this population's care. Numerous studies in Europe exposed the negative stigma regarding elderly sexuality within residential homes, hospitals, and clinics. This quantitative study help understands the relationship between knowledge and attitudes toward older adult sexuality among healthcare professionals in the United States. Also, explored knowledge and attitudes towards older adults’ sexuality within two undergraduate programs, social work and nursing. This study can help the educational programs better the knowledge and attitudes toward the elderly sexuality and may improve communication and services among the elderly. A sample of 11 students from the social work and nursing undergraduate programs at Hawaii Pacific University were surveyed using the Aging Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Scale (ASKAS) and Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CR5). The study found no correlation between knowledge and religiosity nor attitudes and religiosity of the students when combined. In addition, there was no significant finding in attitudes or knowledge between nursing and social work students towards older adults’ sexuality.

ABSTRACT. The people of Chuuk are an understudied, underrepresented, and under-focused community in Hawaiʻi that is rapidly growing. There is little research done on this population and nothing can be found in the literature thus far about what connects Chuukese people to their culture and/or each other. This qualitative study is in relation to creating a culturally grounded curriculum intervention to be accessed by at-risk youth and adolescents who are part of the Chuukese community. Using an indigenous framework and grounded theory approach the transcripts of interview participants will be analyzed to find common themes that will inform the curriculum as a whole to better support the generations to come who grow up and live outside of Chuuk. Interviews that are conducted during this study will show the voices of five Chuukese cultural practitioners focusing on language, values, beliefs, and activities and their impact connection to culture living outside of the Chuuk lagoon and outer islands. My practicum sight is at Parents and Children Together. Most of the served population identifies as Chuukese, and the connection between youth, adolescents, parents, and family through activities is encouraged. Findings from this research will be shared with organizations who support the Chuukese community.

ABSTRACT. Hawaii is a state full of beauty and culture and is home to numerous, diverse species that inhabit these islands. Unfortunately, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) lists some of those species as endangered, including the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). For my practicum, I interned with Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR), a large Hawaii-based nonprofit organization, to discern and participate in conservation efforts for the aforementioned endangered species. During my time with HMAR’s Field Support & Outreach program, I performed tasks to help protect individual Hawaiian monk seals and promote species preservation via expanding awareness. Additionally, I worked with HMAR’s Marine Debris program to restore the environment and call attention to the ingestion, entanglement, and death of several endangered sea turtles. Upon completing my two internships, I acquired 560+ field hours performing outreach, collecting data, removing debris from the immediate offshore reefs, and reporting real-time observations to NOAA. Implications of interning with HMAR include increasing support for preservation, recovery, and stewardship of Hawaii’s marine protected species and the ocean ecosystem shared by humans and marine protected animals.

ABSTRACT. Homelessness is a growing epidemic. This qualitative study focuses on the betterment of collaboration efforts in the state of Hawai‘i to solve Hawai‘i’s homeless issue. The purpose of this study is to provide insight on the views and understanding of Hawai‘i’s homeless service providers to improve systems of care. This study sought after the lived experiences of 6 participants who conducted collaboration efforts with other service providers. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the interviews were completed virtually via zoom and recorded for transcription and coding purposes. The themes that emerged from the study were resources, community, and collaboration. The resources mentioned by participants were encompassed by finances and awareness of resources that are needed to improve the homeless epidemic. Community was a common theme mentioned by participants surrounding support of programs/organizations and contributing to the growth/expansion of homeless services. Participants shared the crucial need for collaboration amongst homeless service providers. The importance of service providers staying consistent, creating rapport, and building communication amongst each other creates a foundation for service inclusivity. This contributes to the body of knowledge for social work practice by increasing awareness of the areas of the system of care for the homeless of Hawai‘i.

ABSTRACT. In 2019, the Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) released an updated version of the health and nutrition teaching standards. They adopted the National Health Education Standards (NHES) for the Hawaii public school system. There are eight standards outlined in the document: 1) comprehending concepts, 2) analyzing influences, 3) accessing information and services, 4) interpersonal communication, 5) decision making, 6) goal setting, 7) self-management, and 8) advocacy. In order to help teachers implement these new requirements, we propose the creation of a website for teachers and educators, to easily access lesson plans as well as a resource library. The lesson plans will be complete for elementary school students, grouped in K-2, to 3-5. The lesson plans will include the relevant standards, time estimations, learning outcomes/goals, and engaging activities. The resource library will be for educators to be more familiar with the content so they can equip with the most up-to-date information. This project will combine the Public Health and Education disciplines. We plan to present these lesson plans and a resource library through a website, where anyone can have free access to resources that can support health education in the classroom.

ABSTRACT. Native Hawaiians who become homeless constitute a group of individuals and families with a complex range of needs. In response to these needs, a community came together and established Hui Mahi’ai ‘Aina, a homeless shelter that provides housing and other services to residents through the utilization of a community and cultural approach. This study is a formative qualitative evaluation of Hui Mahi’ai ‘Aina, which aims to address the residents' perspective on their experiences of services in the shelter and their suggestions for improvement. One on one interviews were conducted and overlying themes concluded that the program provided secure shelter, increased cultural identity, and feelings of support. Implementing a collaborative approach proved to be satisfying in many aspects, but residents also shared components of the program they would like to see improved and specific services that can be added to help them escape homelessness. By providing the right services, Hui Mahi’ai ‘Aina can help increase the quality of life for homeless Native Hawaiians and provide them with the necessary skills to be able to fully reintegrate into the community. With the right modifications, Hui Mahi’ai ‘Aina can create a foundation for social workers and other agencies working to resolve homelessness.

ABSTRACT. Should healthcare focus their efforts on veterans with a diagnosis of depression and legal issues? This study analyzes the relationship between depression and legal issues among the homeless veterans. There were a reported 300 cases of homeless veterans in Hawaii from 2018 through 2022 based on cases reported to the V.E.T. program at the Institute for Human Services in Hawaii. Prior authorization was obtained from The Institute for Human Services to analyze a secondary data set of de-identified information on veteran case files through a random sampling (N=30) method. From the secondary data set, cross tabulation method was used to analyze the relationship between depression and legal issues among the homeless veteran population in Hawaii. After a cross tabulation method was applied to the sample (N=30), results yielded higher percentage of veterans who became homeless, included demographics such as a diagnosis of depression and a legal issue that were not addressed. These findings suggest that health care workers need to put a greater emphasis on veteran populations who suffer from depression and legal issues. Veterans diagnosed with depression and have legal issues may be more likely to become homeless in Hawaii if their depression is not addressed and becomes unmanageable.

ABSTRACT. Educators seek impactful, culminating projects that develop knowledge and skills necessary for graduates to succeed in academia and employment. Existing peer-reviewed literature recognizes the importance of rigorous capstone experiences; however more studies are needed to further validate the effectiveness of graduation requirements such as “Senior Thesis,” which have a purposeful combination of beneficial components that are accessible to a diverse student population. This qualitative study examines the benefits of rigorous senior projects, how Senior Thesis builds self-efficacy, and, finally, methods of implementation of Senior Thesis as a graduation requirement. Based on my experience teaching Senior Thesis, I created a survey to address the gap in existing research, and obtained a 76% response rate (n=43). Study participants were graduates of a small, private school on Oahu, who completed this project, and who presently have varying levels of higher education and employment. The data was analyzed and summarized, using descriptive statistics. Responses to the survey and follow-up questions reflect that Senior Thesis augmented self-efficacy in both academic and professional endeavors, and that it was effective for diverse learners. Through a better understanding of how Senior Thesis develops confidence and self-efficacy, policymakers can consider further implementation of this program.

ABSTRACT. In this presentation, we will discuss our campaign strategy for NSAC- National Student Advertising Competition and the client is the Meta Quest 2 which is a virtual reality headset. The purpose is to create a campaign strategy to market and make Quest 2 an essential and coveted back to school product for 18-24 year old college students that will target Fall 2022 and run from September- December and have to accomplish this within a $10 million budget. After conducting background research through surveys, we developed a SWOT and situation analysis. From this we created three objectives for our outcomes 1: Awareness- Increase exposure and shift perception of the product through exposure to 18-24 year old college students. 2: Engagement- Boost engagement and broaden the conversation around the beneficial educational capabilities Quest 2 can do. 3: Trial- Give more opportunities for students to experience the Quest 2 headset. We plan to execute this through our “ Let’s Go on a Quest” campaign which will allow our target audience to see the possibilities of the Quest 2 outside of gaming in an educational setting.

ABSTRACT. Language teachers often assume learners need practice with controlled, even scripted, dialogue before they can converse. In AL 6000 Teaching Second Language: Theory and Practice, I first learned about Michael Long’s Interaction Hypothesis. Briefly, Long asserts that during interaction, learners misinterpret or misunderstand each other. To communicate, however, they learn to “negotiate for meaning,” that is, paraphrase, simplify, and illustrate their original words. Through negotiation, language development takes place and communication succeeds. At first, the Interaction Hypothesis was an appealing, but theoretical, concept. It became real during my student teaching experience in AL 7099 Practicum II and Capstone which I conducted on the job as an ESL instructor at Hawaii Tokai International College. I arranged virtual English conversations with HPU TESOL classmates. During these conversations, Tokai students clearly demonstrated negotiation leading to improved fluency, confidence, and pleasure in using English. Today, I incorporate pair or small group conversation in every lesson and am planning interactive partnerships for future classes with English speakers who are not Tokai classmates. The significance of authentic interaction is not limited to ESL or even language learning in general. For all subjects, students have much to learn through cooperation with others.

ABSTRACT. During our Capstone project we were given the challenge via HOPR, A Switzerland blockchain company, and asked “what is keeping the major players from joining the blockchain space. Does a decentralized environment have any merit?” The research that was included during this project was Journal based literature reviews, articles from recent years, if applicable, interviews were conducted from academia professors, blockchain experts currently working in both the public sector for companies as well as professionals currently contractors with the Department of Defense to provide block chain solutions to the private sector. Through intensive research, there are four types of blockchain that allow different types of business to be conducted whether public or private. In order to stay decentralized, blockchain must stay public so that any one can take part in the blockchain. In a private blockchain, anyone involved must be vetted or accredited through a process to access the blockchain creating a centralize blockchain. The largest challenges to blockchain is its association to cryptocurrency and lack of knowledge, while its greatest advantages allow for transparency and security of data. Multiple companies and countries are adopting blockchain for its transparency and data security making way for the future of blockchain.

ABSTRACT. Homelessness in Hawaii has become a very serious dilemma, which has caused many different social and economic issues over the years. In 2015, the governor of Hawaii issued a state of emergency due to the rising number of homeless individuals and groups within the state (Martin-West, 2019). Homelessness among single mothers was made to be the focus of this project. The statistics are staggering. It is estimated that about 456 people out of 100,000 in Hawaii are homeless, with more than 60% of the number being single mothers and the elderly (Gleason, 2016), with most of those being single mothers, and children which are some of the most vulnerable populations in the nation. The research methods used for this project was an extensive literature review. to try and obtain more information on this social issue, and to see if the holes within the system were identifiable. Many times, these women and their families are victims of domestic violence and need to flee, leaving them with nothing when they go.

ABSTRACT. The political status of Guam has been a table discussion since the late 1900s. Using Cultural Displacement Theory and Critical Indigenous Pedagogy of Place, I examine how cultural and national identity are crucial in forming political attitudes among the CHamoru diaspora. This study aims to determine how the variability of CHamoru and American identities is related to how individuals and groups of the greater CHamoru diaspora may form their opinions on self-determination. In this phenomenon, variability in identity refers to whether they align more American, CHamoru, or feel to be a mix of the two, and how that further informs their decisions.

My dependent variables predict CHamoru attitudes toward a plebiscite— free association, statehood, or independence as a function of their identity (American or CHamoru). Analyzing data from the 2021 Guåhan Survey (Phan & Lee, 2021), I run a tabular analysis and a logit regression. I find no relationship between different identities and potentially voting for statehood or free association. However, an important note is that the Guåhan Survey only had a limited 44 respondents from the diaspora. Future studies are needed to understand the CHamoru diaspora and how their identities shape their political attitudes.

ABSTRACT. Although there has yet to be an official report on data security breaches at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU), the IT department recognizes an increased number of phishing attempts and attacks on the users, network, and database. Without timely preventive and protective measures, HPU information security might be at risk leading to data loss, compromised databases, damages affecting thousands of students, staff, and faculty. Our IS 7500 Capstone group believes that a data audit is the first fundamental step to develop a strategy to improve HPU data security before analyzing and providing suggestions on what could help protect the university data assets more effectively.

More specifically, the purpose of this project is to discover and document HPU’s current data usage and analysis capabilities before recommending feasible solutions to improve possible shortcomings in the system. In addition to the results of the data audit, two other outputs of this project include a risk management framework for HPU IT department and recommendations on how to better protect data confidentiality, integrity, and availability while remaining transparent to users as possible.

ABSTRACT. Per 100 individuals incarcerated at a federal level, 64 people struggle with mental illness. The hypothesis that if mental health funding per capita increases, the incarceration rates per capita decreases. Economically there wouldn’t be as much money being spent through federal imprisonment due to the consumer rate decreasing. Mental health is a public issue that should be treated as such. Elisa Jácome found a correlation through Harvard studies that low-income men need mental health funding to keep them out of incarceration. However, testing the two variables of all mental health funding per state in the US and all individuals incarcerated per capita in the US would show a more conclusive data set. The dataset that I used consisted of numbers from, National Rehab Directory and World Population Review. After running the regression on mental health funding per capita in the United States and the incarceration rates per capita in the United States in 2020, it was found that the more funding for mental health, the higher the incarceration rates per capita were. Studying one year of data leaves leeway for error, and further studies should address a quasi-experiment that only includes the money used for mental illness.

ABSTRACT. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; i.e., childhood abuse, parental divorce, neglect) have been identified as one of the greatest health challenges society faces today. Previous research demonstrates that ACEs have negative health effects on one’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Protective factors are positive experiences or interactions that can promote resiliency. Previous publications suggest that parents with a history of ACEs are more likely to engage in abuse and neglect. This exploratory study examined the effect that protective factors have on parenting practices among parents with a history of ACEs. Thirty-three parents were recruited to participate in the Adverse Childhood Experience-Questionnaire, the Scale of Protective Factors survey, and the Positive Parenting Practices subscale. A multiple regression analysis examining ACEs and protective factors found no statistical significance on positive parenting practices. Further investigation is needed to examine the effects of ACEs and resiliency and how they contribute to parenting outcomes. This study is relevant to the field of social work as it is important to promote a positive family environment by connecting parents to critical resources and supportive services to address the possible negative effects of their childhood trauma.

ABSTRACT. Plastics were developed as a low-cost alternative to natural resources; however, their durability makes them incapable of breaking down any further than microplastics, plastics <5 mm in size. Using advanced technologies, efforts to monitor marine pollutants has been efficient, but costly and unsustainable. By investigating the frequency of occurrence (FO), mass, composition and retention of plastics in juvenile Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (WTSH) (Ardenna pacifica) my primary goals were to: (i) investigate their potential as biological indicators and (ii) look at natural food ingestion as a function of plastic consumption to examine sublethal effects. We necropsied 107 WTSH birds and looked at both stomach chambers, the proventriculus (pro) and gizzard (giz), of each independently (n=214) over four years (2011-2014). I found that plastic in the giz had higher FO (52.34% vs 23.6%) and mass (1.3107g vs 0.8307g ) than the pro. Fragments accounted for 98% (p=0.02) of all plastic ingested, line for 2% (p=0.03), and foam/sheet were not present. These results highlight the frequency, type and preferred stomach chamber location of plastics ingested by juvenile Hawaiian WTSH between the years 2011-2014 however, further studies are required to determine their utility as biological indicators.

ABSTRACT. Resolving conflict is imperative in the globalized and increasingly polarized world, yet there is little information on conducting resolutions that produce a durable peace. The current literature argues that creating lasting peace involves state capacity, mediation, third-party intervention, and adaptability. These studies are limited in that they focus on the actors and their capabilities – ignoring the potentially key mechanism of time. This paper investigates if the number of peace agreements (as a proxy for length of negotiation) impacts the success of peace. Using the Uppsala Conflict Data Program Peace Agreement Dataset (Version 19.1) and generating two new variables, I run a regression predicting the success of peace agreements as a function of time. Building on deliberation theory, I find a positive relationship between the number of peace agreements and peace durability in a peace process. The results suggest that deliberation and time are critical factors in agreement success.

ABSTRACT. Research of plastic pollution in aquatic environments has been growing exponentially, but current methodologies lack consistency and standardization. In particular, there is a need for a reference material with verified microplastic values to validate and standardize across studies globally. This advancement would facilitate comparable studies and allow method validation. Existing National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material 1941b Organics in Marine Sediment (NIST SRM 1941b) was evaluated for microplastics. SRM 1941b was split into three replicates before undergoing density separation with sodium polytungstate. Separated materials were then analyzed on a Thermo Scientific iN10 micro-FTIR. The micro-FTIR produced IR spectra, which could be used to identify polymers found in the sample. Spectral analysis found variable concentrations of microplastics between the three replicates, which was unexpected since NIST SRMs undergo rigorous processing to ensure homogeneity. This variation could have been due the processing for homogeneity destroying some of the present particles, or external contamination during the study. This study is a first critical step towards the establishment of standard materials to test microplastic extraction methods.

ABSTRACT. The California Wolf Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is home to approximately 30 gray wolves. The CWC provides education on wolf conservation and actively contributes to the recovery of the endangered Mexican gray wolf. The CWC helps through participation in the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan, the Mexican Wolf Conservation Program, and the Working Circle Collaborative. As an animal care and education intern, I worked closely with the staff and volunteers to provide care for the resident wolves, contribute to the upkeep of the facility, and assist in educational programs. During the internship, I gained experience in animal husbandry through preparing food or enrichment, and cleaning and maintenance of the habitats. Assisting with educational programs not only allowed me to gain valuable knowledge on the wolf conservation efforts but also become more comfortable with public speaking. Working in husbandry has allowed me to understand how much I love caring for and learning about animals, thus heightening my interest in animal husbandry for wildlife. This internship has allowed me to understand the inner workings of conservation efforts, help solidify my vision of working in conservation, and allowed me to observe the natural behaviors of wolves firsthand.

ABSTRACT. I am writing a grant proposal for the Kupuna (elderly) at Kahauiki Village located in N. Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, Hawaii. Kahauiki Village is a place to provide permanent housing for previously homeless families. I would like to have a grant that will provide these Kupuna a “Kupuna Center”. The purpose of my project is to provide a safe place for the Kupuna who are residents at Kahauiki Village. Also, the purpose of this project is to allow the Kupuna to interact and socialize with fellow Kupuna as well as the staff who will be working with them. Within the Kupuna Center, there will be mental and physical exercises, events, and there will also be meal assistance and meal planning. There are about 10-15 Kupuna total at Kahauiki Village right now. The Kupuna Center will be open 7 days a week from 9am-5pm and there will be 5 volunteers a day and also, 1-2 staff members of Kahauiki Village that will be present at the Center at all times. The activities will be held everyday either in groups of 2-3 Kupuna or it can be done individually as well.

ABSTRACT. This study investigated what the United States and China invested in foreign aid to certain countries as a power competition from 2019-2021. Power competition meaning having a strategic competition in political governance, economic development, influence, and maximizing global position. Since 2013, the Chinese government has increased trade and investment relationships across the developing regions in infrastructure along their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This study evaluated the BRI implications for the U.S. in a power competition. I hypothesized that the U.S. and China are in a power competition for influence using the example of the BRI and its implications on the U.S. and the G7. This study was done using quantitative and qualitative methods with combined data from the China Global Investment Tracker, AIDDATA, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, to show that the U.S. and China's foreign direct investments to top countries receiving funds from the BRI, (Chile, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan, Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Thailand), vary and are related to a power competition. China is trying to reduce dependence on America while increasing dependence on China thru the development of the BRI. The United States and G7 have responded with the Building Back Better World (B3W).

ABSTRACT. The population of people over the age of 60 years old is growing rapidly in Hawaii. Currently, I am a practicum student at Our Kupuna, a non-profit organization with a vision for kupuna in Hawaii to be supported by the greater community and have food security and access to their essentials. Through my experience and preliminary conversations with kupuna, social workers, case managers and Our Kupuna Staff, it has been identified that many kupuna do not have social workers or case managers who can advocate for their needs and connect them to resources. It is a common occurrence that many kupuna are unaware that they can be assigned a social worker or case manager and they also do not know how to do it. For this project, the data and information of approximately 150 kupuna will be analyzed to determine how many kupuna have someone to advocate for their needs, as well as their insurance. This analysis will help figure out where the gaps are and allow Our Kupuna to have the appropriate information for each insurance company and how to request a social worker or case manager to better support the kupuna they serve.

ABSTRACT. The current project focuses on the health disparities faced by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) minority groups during cancer diagnosis and treatment in the US. The reality of healthcare is it favors majority groups and creates several disadvantages for minorities. The common health disparities among Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders include mental health, mortality rates, disease burden, life expectancy, underinsured and poor access to medical care. This project implements the ideals of the Health Belief Model, Determinants of Health Theory, and Socio-economics Disparities Theory. NHPI has the highest mortality rates of all ethnic groups residing in the state of Hawai'i. This is a qualitative research project that combines public health and biomedicine disciplines to discuss and decipher the health disparities between NHPI and other minority groups. As a result, the current project aims to identify the cause of high mortality rates while focusing on cancer research and diagnosis. Cancer research in Native Hawaiian men and women is significantly limited in comparison to the ethnic groups that populate the state of Hawai'i. This project enables the conversation for this local issue as an outcome but also questions the extent of these two disciplines in deciphering this seemingly social issue.