UH Earth scientists author children’s book, support O‘ahu keiki to mālama ‘āina

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A researcher-keiki collaboration aims to foster a deep connection to the land and community through storytelling. The Coastal Research Collaborative (CRC) at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa developed The Sand Dance, a storybook that was inspired by a play researchers co-created with students at Ka'a'awa Elementary.

"It's a poetic tale about friendship and beach dynamics, where dunes and waves dance in harmony, much like the relationships we nurture in life," Andrade said. "When children explore the environment with wonder and care, they grow into empowered, compassionate citizens who understand the importance of mālama 'āina."

The story, written by Earth Sciences doctoral student Helena Andrade and illustrated by CRC researcher Richelle Moskvichev, is available online and as an audiobook, and draws from Andrade's years of coastal fieldwork in Brazil and Australia, her love for dance, and friendship with UH Mānoa Department of Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Social Sciences doctoral student Kammie Tavares.

Tavares, who has engaged elementary to high school students in science education since the beginning of her academic career, shared, "As researchers, we have a kuleana to our community, including our keiki. Creating activities to explain complicated issues may seem challenging but in my experience teaching science through play is really heart-warming and has refined my own understanding of concepts. I highly recommend it!"

The Sand Dance is one of the newest products of Andrade's CRC Keiki, the educational extension of the Coastal Research Collaborative which is led by Chip Fletcher in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

Supporting stewardship and future leaders

Andrade's doctoral research focuses on using beachrock to reconstruct sea-level history in Hawai'i. Understanding past sea-level fluctuations provides context for understanding modern trends and anticipating future changes. In Hawaiʻi, sea-level rise has already resulted in chronic coastal erosion, loss of cultural and ecological landscapes, and threats to freshwater aquifers and nearshore ecosystems.

"If children grow up connected to their environment, as a valuable part of their communities, they learn how to mālama 'āina, how to have their voices heard, and how to stand for what they love," said Andrade when asked about the importance of involving children in environmental stewardship activities. "These are lifelong values that shape who they become and how they lead."

As stewards of their coastline, students from Kaʻaʻawa Elementary started a dune restoration project. And recently, CRC Keiki participated in a coastal education workshop where second graders from Ka'a'awa taught first graders from Lā'ie Elementary about coastal erosion and mālama 'āina.

"It was an incredibly inspiring experience to see young children take the lead in environmental education to their peers and community," said Andrade. "Through storytelling, an Indigenous way of learning, we are providing children the opportunity to develop deep emotional and cultural ties to their beaches and learn that they too can be agents of change and future leaders."

The students also created artwork that can be viewed in the CRC Keiki Art Gallery titled "How do we love and protect our beaches?" Their pieces reflect their learning and connection to place.

Joy Shlachter, a teacher who brought The Sand Dance into her classroom and led dune restoration efforts, shared with Andrade, "Your book is truly a treasure. I loved how beautifully you wove ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi into the story, and the way you connected the intricate relationship between the beach, sea, sand, and dunes was simply breathtaking."