Safeguarding Pacific Island Heritage: Adapting to Climate Change with the U.S. Department of Defense

In episode 214 of America Adapts, we partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense to show their work in adapting cultural resources in the Pacific islands. We traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii to cover the Keeping History Above Water workshop and the PICARD, Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Research and Development conference. These two events were combined and sponsored by the Department of Defense.  The podcast covers how cultural resources are at threat from climate change and the unique challenges Pacific Islanders have in adapting to these threats. You’ll also hear about some exciting adaptation technology to help islanders adapt to climate change. The three day event was a fantastic mix of indigenous people, adaptation experts and government representatives all converging to share their stories and approaches to adaptation. A special emphasis was placed on the Marshallese islands and you’ll hear from a state senator from those islands who shares what’s at stake for the Marshallese. This episode will get you to rethink what you know about cultural resources and you’ll learn about the innovative ways Pacific islands are adapting.

Experts in this Episode:

• Kate Plimpton – Senior Cultural Resource Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Department of Defense – Interview at 0:01:16-0:05:40
• Eric Rasmussen - Principal Scientist and Research Director Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory – 0:05:43 – 0:22:20
• Dr. Michael Langston – Acting Deputy Program Manager, Resource Conservation and Resilience & Climate Resilience Program Areas, SERDP & ESTCP – 0:22:30 – 0:31:31
• State Senator Kitlan Kabua of the Marshall Islands  - 0:31:35 – 0:42:44
• Stanton Enomoto – Program Director at the US Dept of Interior’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations – 0:42:50 – 0:54:25
• Margaret Back – Preservation Projects Manager at the Newport Restoration Foundation – 0:54:33 – 1:02:52
• Kevin Chang – Executive Director Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) Organization – 1:02:53 – 1:09:55
• Karleen Sudol – AAAS Science Technology & Policy Fellow with the US Department of Defense – 1:09:59 – 1:19:32
• Patrick Lujan – Guam State Historic P