Hawaiian Natural Resources Monitoring Database

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Download current MonDB forms, reports, scripts, libraries, utility directories! ( now includes "SAVEPDOX" routine!)

What is the Hawaiian Natural Resources Monitoring Database?

The Hawaiian Natural Resources Monitoring Database ("the Monitoring Database") is a software package designed as a tool for data entry and analysis for resource monitoring by land managers in Hawaii. The Monitoring Database is a product of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii. The software was developed using Paradox for Windows (Borland), chosen because of its combination of ease of use for end users AND flexibility of custom design (programming) capabilities.

What is the purpose of the Monitoring Database?

The purpose of the Monitoring Database is to facilitate standardized and fully-documented data collection efforts by federal, state, and private agencies. Data collected by various agencies in different areas will then be comparable, enhancing the value of each agency's work by allowing them to compare their data to similar data collected by other agencies. This comparability will allow a "big picture" approach to analysis of this type of scientific data never before possible in Hawaii.

How did the Monitoring Database get started?

The first precursor to the Monitoring Database was an idea to put into a database information on all plant (and invertebrate) taxa in Haleakala National Park (Maui). Information was converted from word processing documents and a database was formed. Other related offshoot projects include a taxon-linked bibliographic tracking database, an alien species database ("Harmful Non­Indigenous Species" [HNIS]), a database of plant pathogens in Hawaii, a database used for tracking the Federal Endangered/Threatened status of Hawaiian species, and a prototyped, soon-to-be-developed database for tracking feral animal control efforts. The main infrastructure common to all these databases (taxon information) was designed to be compatible with that of the Botany Department of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum (Honolulu). (The museum's data structures are based on international biological database standards.)

The actualization of the Monitoring Database was sparked by a need of Guy Hughes (then with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii [TNCH] [Maui], currently a graduate student at Harvard University) to analyze data and incorporate information and graphic output of complex analyses into a report about TNC's Waikamoi Preserve on East Maui. Hughes' field methods were modified versions of those set forth in a document compiled by Pat Dunn describing field data collection methods used/to be used in Hawaii. (Hughes' methods are referred to throughout the Monitoring Database documentation as the "modified Dunn protocol.") The idea of creating a statewide standard monitoring protocol was proposed at a meeting of the East Maui Watershed Partnership (EMWP). Since then, TNCH has used the Monitoring Database to incorporate data from tests (for EMWP) in Waikamoi of new, somewhat modified field methods. Eventually, the methods that are settled upon based on these trials will be proposed as statewide standards for situations to which each respective method is applicable.

How can I obtain a copy of the Monitoring Database?

A license to use the Monitoring Database is available free of charge to qualifying agencies, organizations, businesses, private landowners, educational institutions, and individuals. Use of the Monitoring Database by a wide range of audiences is encouraged. Licenses granted are licenses for USE of the Monitoring Database software; they do NOT transfer ownership of the software, nor do they guarantee support for the product. The software may not be sold or redistributed in part or in whole except as explicitly detailed in the license agreement. One of the main reasons for this is to ensure that all users of the software are known to the Monitoring Database Project Coordinator, so users can be apprised of updates to the software. Contact the Monitoring Database Project Coordinator for further details.

Where can I get more/updated information?

  Additional information, including mportant details about use of the Monitoring Database, as well as copies of standard data and information about data structures, is now available at this site.

 You may download the current draft* of the Monitoring Database documentation from this site now. (*NOTE: The version of documentation available here is ONLY a draft, and is INCOMPLETE as of this posting!) Selected Monitoring Database information, news, updates, and possibly an interactive run-through of the menus and/or a copy of the software itself will eventually be available for download from this website.

If you have specific questions about the Monitoring Database, please contact the Monitoring Database Project Coordinator. To keep up with the latest news about the Monitoring Database, subscribe to HIMONDB­L, the Hawaii Natural Resources Monitoring Database user's list.

What about Technical support?

Technical support is provided via a network of all users, the HIMONDB-L list, and (if necessary) directly from the Monitoring Database Project Coordinator. (Technical support can be provided from the Monitoring Database Project Coordinator only on an "as time allows" basis, unless your organization makes other specific arrangements.)

How do I subscribe to the Monitoring Database internet mailing list?

The HIMONDB­L list is available for users to receive the latest information about the Monitoring Database, as well as to ask and answer questions, provide and receive insights and tips, and have discussions with other users. Subscriptions to the list may be requested by sending e­mail to listproc@hawaii.edu with a BLANK subject line, and the contents of the message being "SUBSCRIBE HIMONDB-L your name" (no quotes) from the e­mail account to be subscribed. After subscribing, you can send correspondence to the group at HIMONDB­L@hawaii.edu.

Thank you for your interest in the Hawaiian Natural Resources Monitoring Database!