Climate Change Commission Members
Rosanna ʻAnolani Alegado, Ph.D., Chair
Dr. Alegado’s lab investigates the role of microbes across spatial and temporal scales. By bringing together microbial ecologists, biogeochemists her group examines the influence of microbial communities on coastal ocean processes, especially in light of a changing climate. A recent project in her lab involves using indigenous historical records to reconstruct Hawaiian regional climate beyond conventional instrument records in collaboration with the International Pacific Research Center and Puakea Nogelmeier at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language.
Victoria Keener, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Dr. Keener is a Research Fellow at the East-West Center and is also the Lead Principal Investigator of the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences & Assessments (Pacific RISA) program, and earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering from the University of Florida, specializing in hydro-climatological research dealing with the effects of climate variability. Dr. Keener coordinates an interdisciplinary team of social and physical scientists that aims to reduce Pacific Island communities vulnerability to climate change by translating academic research into actionable knowledge for a variety of stakeholders at the local, state, and regional level—especially regarding the management of fresh water resources. She is the Lead Author of the Pacific Islands Chapter of the 4th U.S. National Climate Assessment (2018) and the Lead Editor and a Chapter Author for the 2012 Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) report.
Melanie Islam, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, LFA
With a commitment to sustainable thinking and integration into projects, and over a decade of experience in master planning and all stages of architectural project delivery, Ms. Islam is the Principal and Sustainability Director at MASON. She is a highly respected leader in the Architectural and Sustainability fields and a pillar of the community. Ms. Islam holds valuable experience in the built environment—in both designing and preserving—and is a Board Member of both AIA Honolulu and US Green Building Council Hawaiʻi.
Kiana Otsuka
Kiana Otsuka is the Vehicle Miles Traveled and Active Transportation Specialist at the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office. In her current role is focused on reducing vehicle miles traveled throughout all of Hawaiʻi through expanding transportation choices and reducing transportation costs. Kiana is passionate about working towards land-use and transportation changes, so that all or many of people's daily needs can be done by walking, rolling, riding a bike, or taking transit. She hopes that through her work, she will provide safer, more convenient, and enjoyable transportation choices to help Hawaiʻi residents save money, time, and achieve better health outcomes, and help Hawaiʻi meet its climate and clean energy goals in a resilient and equitable manner. Kiana holds a MSc in Regional and Urban Planning Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a BA in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University, and is a proud graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute.
Brad Romine, Ph.D.
Dr. Romine is extension faculty with the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program and is the deputy director of the university consortium of the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC). His research and extension work is focused on understanding our dynamic coasts and applying the latest and best-available science in reducing natural hazards and climate risks. Dr. Romine works closely with federal, state, and county government offices and communities to support sustainability and climate adaptation across the Pacific Islands. He completed his Ph.D. in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2013 and has published research articles on coastal geology, beach processes, and sea level rise impacts in Hawaiʻi. Dr. Bromine contributed to the 2017 State of Hawaiʻi Sea Level Rise Viewer and coordinated the development of the companion Hawaiʻi Sea Level Rise Viewer.