United
States Department of the Interior
Biological Resources
Division, USGA
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Center for Conservation Research and Training
University of Hawaii, Gilmore Hall, Room 406
3050 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 956-5668 or -5691, FAX: (808) 956-5687, E-mail: Steiner@Hawaii.edu
December 23, 1996
To: Hawaii Database Working Group
From: William W. M. Steiner
Subject: Minutes of 21 Nov Meeting and Call for Meeting 4 of the Group
After being away to the mainland traveling, a research trip to Kaha'olawe, and a bout with pneumonia. I am finally able to pay some attention to continuing our development of ways to tie together the extant databases in Hawaii.
BRIEF MINUTES: At our last meeting, Kent reported that the State Partnership preproposal to BRD was not selected which was a unfortunate since I reported that a trip to Washington and discussions with the BRD data technology group there gained their support in terms of a matching grant if the State-BRD preproposal was selected for development and funding. I also reported that I left a document with various Hawaii Senate and House Legislative offices outlining what we were attempting, how it would help conservation efforts in Hawaii, and giving a vision of where we wanted to go, and what it would take to get there. Phil Thomas and Rod Low had not had much opportunity to work on their linkage efforts as a pilot study, and Allen Allison gave his views on database linking, reminding us in the process of the history of efforts in this area in the past, and where Bishop Museum was going with their database linking efforts at the national level. New members from TNC, DBEDT-OP (State Operations] and the University of Otago in New Zealand were present. After the official meeting, Steve Israel presented a paper to us on application of remote sensing techniques to mapping benthic vegetation demonstrating some interesting technology in the process. The 3-hour session closed with the suggestion that I try to determine if Gladys Cotter and her BRD group would still be interested in supplying us with seed dollars to do demonstration linkages etc., to get us started toward our common goal.
CALL FOR MEETING. I have now received word that Gladys Cotter and Gary Waggoner, both of Biological Resources Division Information and Technology Services (Reston VA and Denver CO, respectively) are coming to Hawaii. They would like to meet with us on Friday, 3 January 1997 to review our approach, discuss what is further needed in terms of technology as well as approach, and examine the possibilities of funding our effort. Thus, I would like to propose we meet in the usual place at the USFWS Conference Room, beginning at 9AM that morning and running through the day with a one-hour break for lunch. The suggested agenda is attached.