An invasive algae already well-established in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is raising concern among researchers as it threatens to spread into the main Hawaiian Islands. Scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have identified a potential ally in slowing its advance: sea turtles.

Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) have been documented for the first time actively grazing on Chondria tumulosa, an aggressive invasive red alga that has spread rapidly across reefs among three of the northernmost atolls in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM).

The findings, recently published in the journal by researchers, suggest that honu may play a meaningful role in controlling this ecologically damaging species—while also potentially spreading it.

“After these exciting finds, our multi-partner effort to prevent this seaweed from taking hold in the Main Hawaiian Islands must include a plan to increase numbers of threatened, native green sea turtles, as well as ramping up efforts to identify all routes that could allow Chondria to spread to Oʻahu,” said Celia Smith, 东精影业 Mānoa‘s professor and senior author of the study.

Dangers of C. tumulosa

First detected at Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll) in 2016, C. tumulosa has since expanded to more than 101 square kilometers of reef habitat (nearly the size of Kahoʻolawe), including Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) in 2021 and Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) in 2022. The alga forms dense mats more than 6 centimeters thick that can smother live coral and displace native reef species, making it one of the most pressing threats to the monument’s reef ecosystems.

Turtles take a bite

Using a stationary GoPro camera deployed on a reef at Midway Atoll in June and July 2025, the research team captured approximately 50 minutes of footage showing three honu grazing on C. tumulosa mats. One female took up to 18 bites in a 95-second burst, leaving disruptions 5–15 cm in diameter across the algal canopy—substantially larger than what urchins or fish could achieve. A complementary necropsy of a stranded adult female confirmed C. tumulosa fragments throughout her digestive tract, accounting for roughly 25% of the material in her esophagus and crop.

“These turtles are consuming a meaningful amount of this alga in a single foraging session,” said Tammy Summers, USFWS staff biologist and co-author of the study. “It鈥檚 exciting because it points to honu as a native megaherbivore with the potential to suppress C. tumulosa biomass—but it also raises important questions about whether fragments excreted during their migrations between atolls could accelerate the alga鈥檚 spread.”

The findings carry immediate management implications. Because 96% of Hawaiian green sea turtles nesting occurs at Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) before individuals disperse to foraging grounds across the archipelago, the authors recommend eDNA monitoring at Lalo to track potential spread of C. tumulosa beyond its known range.

The study was a collaboration between 东精影业 Mānoa‘s School of Life Sciences and USFWS Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and was funded by USFWS Invasive Species Strike Team funds through a cooperative agreement with 东精影业 Mānoa. Smith leads the Limu Lab at 东精影业 Mānoa, where research on C. tumulosa physiology, distribution and ecology has been ongoing for several years. Other authors on the paper are Caroline Pott from USFWS and Angela Richards Donà from the School of Life Sciences.

This work was accomplished under permit numbers PMNM-2025-001, USFWS 274 Recovery Permit TE72088A-3, Recovery Sub-permit TE163899-2, NOAA Permit 21260, and 275 State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Land and Natural Resources Special Activity Permit 2026-01.

The School of Life Sciences is housed in 东精影业 Mānoa‘s .

Related 东精影业 News stories on 东精影业 Mānoa research on C. tumulosa:

• Nuisance alga detected beyond Papahānaumokuākea for the 1st time, December 16, 2024
• Early detection system for nuisance alga infesting Papahānaumokuākea reefs, September 25, 2022
• Algae species discovered infesting NW waters has been identified, July 7, 2020

The University of Hawaiʻi has been designated as a new Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute (Pacific RRCI) by the (NOAA) to support coral reef conservation in the Pacific through research, collaboration and public education.

The Pacific RRCI will be housed in 东精影业鈥檚 , under the aegis of the , and will perform the following critical functions: conduct federally directed research to fill national and regional gaps; collaborate with relevant states and territories, Indigenous groups, coral reef managers, non-governmental organizations, and other coral reef research centers; assist in the implementation of the NOAA鈥檚 National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy and coral reef action plans; build non-federal capacity for management and restoration practices; and conduct public education and awareness programs.

“This new institute combines 东精影业鈥檚 strengths in cutting-edge, ocean-related research and our collaborative, place-based approach to working with resource managers throughout Hawaiʻi and the Pacific to protect our vital coral reefs,” said Chad B. Walton, 东精影业 interim vice president for research and innovation. “At the same time, it provides us with further opportunities to develop our region鈥檚 next generation of researchers and managers in the field of conservation futures.”

To restore and preserve coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. from natural and human-related effects, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 was reauthorized and modernized by the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, which was included in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act that became law in 2022. The reauthorized law required the designation of two RRCIs, one each in the Atlantic and Pacific basins, was required. The RRCIs were chosen from 32 preselected coral reef research centers and were designated based on the results of technical merit and panel reviews. The Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021 was introduced and sponsored by Hawaiʻi Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie K. Hirono, and Congressman Ed Case.

The 东精影业-led institute will be guided by experienced reef researchers from 东精影业 Mānoa鈥檚 Kewalo Marine Laboratory and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Marine Sciences program, and the University of Guam鈥檚 Marine Laboratory. It will support research, monitoring, capacity building and outreach for coral reef management throughout the U.S states and territories of American Samoa, Guam, Hawaiʻi, and the Northern Marianas Islands and with the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

“Many people worked many years to make this vision for collaborative reef research across the Pacific a reality,” said Suzanne Case, director of the Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures. “We鈥檙e excited to jump in with scientists and communities and agencies across the region to take it forward.”

The one-year anniversary of the official designation of Papahānaumokuākea as a National Marine Sanctuary was celebrated on March 3, a historic milestone in the ongoing protection of one of the most sacred and ecologically significant places on Earth. In recognition of this anniversary, the (PMDP), (SAC) and the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) are starting the new, community-centered initiative, Papahānaumokuākea: Bringing the Place to the People.

Papahānaumokuākea is a place of profound cultural, ecological and ancestral significance. Yet for many, it remains distant and abstract. The project seeks to bridge that distance by fostering meaningful, community-led engagement that deepens public awareness, stewardship, trust and cultural connection to the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Beginning in summer and fall 2026, PMDP, SAC and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will host community talk story sessions on Hawaiʻi Island (Hilo and Kona), Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

This initiative centers Native Hawaiian voices, values and leadership, elevating cultural resource conservation and protection as foundational to the sanctuary鈥檚 past, present and future. Their vision is a living, island-to-island exchange where communities do not simply learn about Papahānaumokuākea, but actively shape how its story, stewardship and future are carried forward.

Rooted in listening

These gatherings are not presentations delivered to communities, they are conversations rooted in listening. This initiative allows SAC, whose kuleana is to represent the communities, to learn directly from each island community and amplify their voices. The sessions will explore how Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems can be meaningfully integrated, community perspectives on stewardship and management, cultural resource protection priorities, opportunities for youth engagement and leadership, and how communities wish to remain connected to Papahānaumokuākea.

Community organizations, cultural practitioners, educators and schools, conservation groups, youth leaders, kupuna and ʻike holders, and interested individuals are invited to express their interest in hosting, partnering or participating in a talk story session on their island. The initiative is an invitation to listen, learn and steward together.

The initiative was funded by the . Find more information on .

The , a beacon of marine education and conservation for over a century, is marking its 122nd anniversary in March. Under the new leadership of Interim Director Judy Lemus, the institution is embarking on a period of revitalization, with innovative exhibits, strategic collaborations, and a continued commitment to the unique aquatic ecosystems of Hawaiʻi and the tropical Pacific.

The aquarium will host a 122nd birthday celebration on March 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day kicks off with a community coastal cleanup followed by a suite of family-friendly activities.

A new chapter

Lemus brings a wealth of experience in marine facility management, research, and education. Lemus served for four years as the interim director of the (HIMB) within the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (SOEST) and is currently the interim associate dean for academic affairs in SOEST. Her primary focus at the aquarium is on operational improvements and enhancing the institutionʻs role in education, marine conservation, collaborative research, and community engagement.

“Managing the Waikīkī Aquarium is about more than just animal husbandry; it鈥檚 also about our engagement with the public and contribution to conservation of Pacific species, and our role as a public outlet for 东精影业 research,” said Lemus. “As we celebrate 122 years, we are not just honoring our history, but building the systems, facilities, and stories that will carry us through the next century.”

One major accomplishment under her leadership has been the successful return of Hōʻailona, the beloved Hawaiian monk seal, to his refurbished enclosure.

New and upcoming exhibits:

• The Aquaculture Tank: In partnership with Biota, a local aquaculture company, this exhibit will feature fish and coral raised entirely in aquaculture facilities at the Oceanic Institute and Waikīkī Aquarium. This “no-collection” model highlights sustainable trade and will also showcase 3-D structures from HIMB researcher Josh Madin鈥檚 Lab that facilitate coral growth.
• The Edge of Reef Redesign: Formerly an iconic outdoor exhibit, the Edge of Reef was dismantled to make way for a critical infrastructure project. A redesign is planned for this exhibit with support from 东精影业, the 东精影业 Foundation, and the Friends of the Waikīkī Aquarium.
• New Tank for Mullet and More: The large tank that previously featured mullet, a species revered in Hawaiʻi as a staple food and in loko ʻia (Hawaiian fishpond) aquaculture, is being dismantled to make way for a modern habitat. The new enclosure may house mullet and possibly other compatible species such as rays or sea turtles.
• The aquarium is planning new collaborations with a variety of 东精影业 faculty and labs to help bring their work to broader audiences.
• AZA Accreditation: The aquarium is starting a Pathway Toward Membership program with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the gold standard in accreditation for zoos and aquariums, with the goal of achieving AZA accreditation for Waikīkī Aquarium in about 5 years.

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A $2-million gift from Jeff Bezos and Lauren S谩nchez Bezos is supporting University of Hawaiʻi-led research aimed at restoring fire-prone grasslands on Maui and reducing the risk of future wildfires, building on and long-term recovery following the devastating 2023 fires.

Much of Maui鈥檚 former sugar plantation lands are now unmanaged and dominated by invasive species, such as guinea grass, that create more fire-prone vegetation and intensify wildfire risk. Several 东精影业 units are collaborating to address that vulnerability through land stewardship research designed to inform policy and guide on-the-ground management decisions.

The effort brings together researchers from the (东精影业ERO) housed in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , the , and the Ecosystems and Land Care Program in the Department of (NREM) in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. The work will be conducted with watershed partners, ranchers and ʻ膩ina (land)-based organizations across Hawaiʻi.

“Insufficient investment in land care across former plantation lands has left large areas of Maui vulnerable to wildfire,” said Kimberly Burnett, a specialist with 东精影业ERO. “This work builds on evidence that actively managed lands, including forests, well-managed rangelands and agriculture, can significantly reduce fuel loads and support outcomes like erosion reduction, food production, biodiversity and community resilience.”

Data-driven strategies for wildfire prevention

In the early stages of the project, researchers will work closely with partners to co-develop research questions and products that are directly useful for land managers and decision-makers. Anticipated outcomes include statewide wildfire risk and probability maps to help guide fire reduction strategies across a range of land uses, as well as analyses of different wildfire mitigation scenarios over space and time.

Those scenarios may include forest restoration, green breaks, agroforestry, grazing and mowing, with researchers assessing the benefits and costs of each approach.

“We want to look at options beyond just mowing brush given how well these different actions align with other things people value and contribute to public safety,” said Clay Trauernicht, a specialist with NREM.

The project will also examine policy and market-based tools that could help finance and support land-use transitions that advance multiple ecosystem services, including wildfire risk reduction, across Hawaiʻi.

The gift builds on existing support from the Bezos Maui Fund to restore the island鈥檚 watersheds and reduce wildfire risk, and reflects a broader strategy that links environmental recovery with community resilience. That land-based work is complemented by a separate $1.5-million investment to support Lahainaluna High School graduates enrolled at 东精影业 who continue to face economic hardship following the fires.

“We are profoundly grateful to our donors for their continued commitment to Maui,” said 东精影业 Foundation CEO and Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan. “Their support is making a lasting difference for the people and places that define this community.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will lead a new $1.2 million, three-year grant funded by NASA to better understand how 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 coastlines can withstand climate change while expanding hands-on research and workforce development opportunities for students across the 10-campus 东精影业 System.

John Burns, an associate professor of will co-lead the project with Haunani Kane, assistant professor of at the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 .

“We are very excited to connect students from across the 东精影业 system through applied research experiences that help build educational pathways into careers in science and conservation,” said Burns.

The team will study how sea level rise and warming oceans are affecting coral reefs and nearshore areas. Students will learn satellite mapping, drone surveys, reef modeling and data analysis. They will also work with faculty, community partners and NASA scientists.

Burns directs 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 , where he creates detailed three-dimensional maps of reefs. Those maps show how storms, bleaching and human activity change reef structure and health over time.

—By Susan Enright

A live ramie moth (Arcte coerula) caterpillar was discovered on Kauaʻi last month, marking the first detection of this invasive species on the Garden Isle.

The discovery from a community report to the Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee has sparked a swift response from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Growing threat to native ecosystems

Ramie moth caterpillars are prolific feeders known to quickly defoliate māmaki (Pipturus albidus), a native Hawaiian plant vital to our forests and culturally significant for its use in lāʻau lapaʻau, traditional Hawaiian healing practices.

“We are really worried about this because we’ve seen it spread from Maui to the Big Island in 2020, then to Oʻahu in 2024, and now to Kauaʻi,” said Michelle Au, a graduate student at the 东精影业 Mānoa (CTAHR) who has been tracking the pest since 2019.

Au highlighted the broader ecological risk: the caterpillars also feed on other endemic nettles including endangered species like maʻoloa (Neraudia angulata). The ramie moths also compete for the same resources with native species such as the Kamehameha butterfly and endangered endemic land snails.

Finding natural predators

As the moth continues its rapid expansion across the islands, Au’s research has focused on the detection of resident natural enemies that could help manage this pest. “We’ve been looking for predators and parasitoids already in our environment that may expand its host range and attack the eggs, caterpillars, and adults of the ramie moth, helping to manage populations from devastating levels,” Au said.

Au’s research monitors specimens at various field sites to determine what percentage of ramie moth eggs reach adulthood, which then will lay eggs and inflict future damage.

Community help needed

“I rely heavily on public reports of this pest, especially for new detections,” Au said. “The biggest thing for us right now, especially for Kauaʻi, is to raise awareness in order to track the spread of this pest.”

Officials ask the public to report sightings with photos to or email ipmlab@hawaii.edu. Visit CTAHR’s extension page on the for more information.

The University of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Army Reserve鈥檚 9th Mission Support Command (9th MSC) have entered into a new Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) to advance environmental stewardship, conservation and regulatory compliance at Army Reserve facilities throughout the Pacific region.

“The University of Hawaiʻi is excited to further expand our environmental stewardship role through this agreement with the U.S. Army Reserve鈥檚 9th MSC,” said 东精影业 Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad Walton. “We are extremely proud to have been selected as a trusted partner in support of the Army Reserve鈥檚 mission in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific through our expertise in environmental sciences and stewardship.”

The agreement, signed at Fort Shafter on December 1, establishes a collaborative framework for 东精影业 experts to provide environmental compliance, conservation and pollution prevention support to the 9th MSC, ensuring alignment with Department of Defense (DOD), federal, state, territorial and local environmental requirements.

“This partnership underscores UH鈥檚 commitment to applying its expertise in service to our community and environment,” said Suzanne Case, director of the , which is overseeing the IGSA. “By working alongside the Army Reserve, we are helping to safeguard our environment in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, while supporting mission readiness.”

The new agreement reflects a growing model of military-academic partnerships, where institutions of higher education provide specialized expertise to strengthen DOD operations while creating new applied learning and workforce opportunities for students and researchers.

“Our partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi strengthens our shared mission to preserve Hawaiʻi鈥檚 environment and serve the community,” said Brig. Gen. Katherine A. Trombley, commanding general of the 9th Mission Support Command.

The 9th Mission Support Command is America鈥檚 Army Reserve of the Pacific. Under the operational control of U.S. Army Pacific Command, it provides trained and ready forces to overseas contingency operations. The command has 3,500 soldiers and 160 civilians located in three different countries, three states, three American territories and seven time zones throughout the Pacific.

For the first time, scientists have calculated a detailed “energetic budget” for Hawaiʻi‘s short-finned pilot whales, revealing what it takes to power their extreme, 800-meter (2,600-feet) dives for food.

A new study led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 (HIMB) found an average adult whale must eat 142 squid daily to survive, scaling up to 416 million squid annually for the entire population of short-finned pilot whales. This data, published in the , provides a new benchmark for protecting the historically understudied marine mammals.

“Pilot whales are one of the only oceanic dolphins that regularly dive to extreme depths—up to 1,000 meters—to find prey,” said William Gough, (MMRP) postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study. “This deep-diving, high-risk foraging strategy requires a delicate balance between the energy they spend and the energy they acquire. Our study is the first step in quantifying that balance for this specific population.”

Understanding precisely how much energy the animals require is essential for understanding how to effectively manage against threats and ensure their survival.

“This detailed scientific data gives Hawaiʻi management agencies a critical tool to monitor how changes in the ocean—from warming waters to ship noise—might push the pilot whales past their survival limit,” said Lars Bejder, MMRP director and co-author of the study.

The deep waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are home to a genetically distinct population of short-finned pilot whales. These highly social, toothed whales are not migratory; they remain with their tight-knit, multi-generational families in one region for life. The population forages year-round where they pursue their preferred prey: squid.

Requirements can inform effective management

“Deep-diving species like pilot whales are especially vulnerable to human-induced disturbances, such as noises from ships or changes in ocean temperature, which can disrupt foraging or increase their energetic costs,” said Gough. “If they use more energy than they can find, they face an energy crisis that weakens their health, hurts their ability to fight off disease, and ultimately limits their ability to reproduce and recover the population.”

Despite this inherent vulnerability, the Hawaiian pilot whale population benefits from a stable and abundant squid food source, which may better equip them to cope with environmental disturbances than populations elsewhere.

The team placed advanced Customized Animal Tracking Solutions (CATS) tags on eight short-finned pilot whales off the coast of Lānaʻi between 2021 and 2024. The tags recorded movement, depth and sound, and used 2K cameras with LED headlights to observe the whales in their lightless, 800-meter-deep hunting habitat. The researchers developed a new method to estimate minute changes in energy usage by combining data from tags with body measurements from aerial drone footage.

“Getting to be on the water and close to these animals is an absolute joy,” said Gough. “But the fact that we can see into their world, even at 800 meters and under extreme pressures [80 times that at the surface], and observe them capturing their food in complete darkness, feels unbelievable to me. It’s truly a privilege to document the lives of these elusive, deep-diving whales.”

A new study by researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s (HIMB) has revealed that endangered Hawaiian monk seals have a hidden vocal repertoire, using a complex range of sounds to call underwater.

Previously, scientists believed monk seals had a simple repertoire, identifying only six different calls based on seals in human care. In this study, the scientists analyzed thousands of hours of passive acoustic data from the wild, they discovered 25 distinct vocalizations.

The study, published in , also found that these low–frequency calls are produced by the seals throughout the day. These vocal types were heard consistently across the Hawaiian archipelago, with calling rates highest at sites where more seals were present. This new understanding of the monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) vocal repertoire opens up a new window into their acoustic behavior.

“We discovered that Hawaiian monk seals—one of the world鈥檚 most endangered marine mammals—are far more vocal underwater than previously known,” said Kirby Parnell, lead author of the study and a PhD candidate with (MMRP). “By analyzing over 4,500 hours of recordings from across the Hawaiian Archipelago, we identified more than 23,000 vocalizations representing at least 25 distinct call types.”

Monk seal vocalizations

The study, which deployed passive acoustic recorders at five key monk seal habitats from Molokaʻi to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, uncovered:

Expanded vocal repertoire: Researchers identified 20 previously undocumented calls.

Novel communication strategy: The research provides evidence that monk seals can combine different vocalizations together, creating “combinational calls”—a communication strategy never before reported in any pinniped (seals, sea lions and walruses) species.

A foraging call: The team discovered one novel elemental call type “the whine” produced during foraging, representing only the second known example of a seal species using vocalizations while pursuing prey.

“We were surprised by the sheer diversity and complexity of monk seal vocalizations,” said Parnell. “The discovery of combinational calls, where seals link multiple call types together, suggests a previously unknown level of complexity in pinniped acoustic communication. Finding a new call type—the Whine—associated with foraging behavior was also unexpected and suggests that monk seals may use sound not only for mating or socializing, but possibly for foraging purposes as well.”

Seal conservation in Hawaiʻi

These results lay the foundation for using passive acoustics to monitor monk seal populations to protect their acoustic habitats as human activity persists in Hawaiian waters. Future research will decisively link these documented vocalizations to specific Hawaiian monk seal behaviors, such as foraging, swimming, social interactions and reproduction. Next steps involve developing automated detection systems to monitor the seals’ acoustic activity more efficiently and non–invasively.

“This research provides the first comprehensive description of free–ranging Hawaiian monk seal underwater sound production, an important step toward understanding how they use sound for critical life–history events,” said Lars Bejder, director of MMRP, professor at HIMB and co–author of the study. “Because their vocalizations overlap with the same low–frequency range as many human–generated sounds (e.g. vessel noise), this work lays the foundations to evaluate how ocean noise may affect communication, reproduction, and behavior in this endangered species.”

About the team

The team included undergraduate and graduate students, and recent 东精影业 alumni, and coauthors from France and the .

“Manually annotating over 23,000 calls by hand is no small feat, and I have a team of interns to thank for helping with the analysis!” said Parnell. “This research would also not have been possible without the support of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, who deployed and retrieved the acoustic recorders in the .”

The work was supported by NOAA Fisheries via the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) award NA19NMF4720181.