An effort to clean up the Ala Wai Canal led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa celebrated two meaningful milestones in April. The reached 300,000 Genki Balls, and the City and County of Honolulu proclaimed April 2026 as “Genki Ball Month.” This bioremediation initiative involves Genki Balls—mud balls containing billions of Effective Microorganisms® (EM)—that are tossed into one of the state’s most polluted waterways where they sink to the bottom of the canal to help break down the sludge.

More than 150 students from Kamehameha Schools’ Kapālama elementary campus, Hawaiʻi School for the Deaf & Blind, Pearl City Elementary School, and Leilehua High School joined the Earth Day celebration at the Diamond Head end of the Ala Wai Canal.

The proclamation, signed by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and presented at the celebration, designated Genki Ball Month in “recognition of the many dedicated individuals and organizations collaborating on the Genki Ala Wai Project” and honored the “noble efforts to keep Honolulu’s waterways vibrant, safe and clean.”

7 years and 300,000 balls later

EM Technology has been successful in more than 100 countries worldwide over the past 30 years, inspiring Kenneth Kaneshiro, director of the Center for Conservation Research and Training in the at ����Ӱҵ Mānoa, and others to initiate this effort in 2019. Kaneshiro and his team determined that deploying Genki Balls was an approach that could engage community members and begin to enhance the water quality in the Ala Wai Canal.

The project has truly been a community-based effort, with more than 100 schools and organizations and 21,100 volunteers contributing over the past seven years. Students and community members helped make Genki Balls and tossed them into the canal, all while learning about the place where they live, work, and play.

“What is most gratifying for me is to see how the kids can be influenced by the project and be inspired to go into STEM fields,” said Kaneshiro. “In one instance, a student from ʻIolani School discovered a new species of bacteria which she named and described and published in a scientific journal. Another student built a drone using 3D printing technologies to be able to collect water samples from the Ala Wai to bring back to the lab for analyses of water quality.”

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The University of Hawaiʻi at ��ā�ԴDz�’s Bachman Hall earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED Gold certification on April 22, exceeding the university’s standard sustainability target for major renovations. ����Ӱҵ has the largest inventory of sustainable buildings in the state, with 28 buildings certified under the LEED program.

The certification recognizes the building’s performance in energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, water conservation and indoor environmental quality following its recent modernization. University policy calls for a minimum LEED Silver certification, making Bachman Hall’s rating a notable achievement for a historic campus facility.

Originally built in 1949 and designed by Hawaiʻi architect Vladimir Ossipoff, Bachman Hall is one of the most recognizable buildings on campus. It houses administrative offices, including the Office of the President and Board of Regents (BOR), and features two lobby murals by artist Jean Charlot.

“We are proud to be leaders in energy and environmental designs for our campus built environments,” said ����Ӱҵ Office of Sustainability Director Miles Topping. “With this project, we have reduced our dependence on fossil fuel, conserved water, and preserved historical significance. We are committed to a sustainable future, and will continue to lead by example.”

Maintaining historic character

From 2021 to 2023, the renovation maintained much of the building’s original structure, reducing the need for new materials and limiting construction-related impacts. Design elements were updated to improve performance while maintaining the building’s historic character.

Energy-efficient lighting and a new air conditioning system reduce energy use by about 22%. A 47-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system further lowered consumption, bringing the building to roughly 45% of baseline energy use. Water efficiency improvements such as low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce water use by 37%, saving an estimated 56,661 gallons annually. Permanent water meters were installed to help monitor usage and identify future conservation opportunities.

Indoor environmental quality was addressed through the use of low-emitting materials, including paints, coatings and flooring, along with improved ventilation and occupant-controlled lighting and temperature systems. Original-style jalousie windows were replaced with energy-efficient double-pane windows that include operable awnings. A reflective roof and added landscaping help reduce heat absorption, while exterior lighting was designed to minimize light pollution.

The renovation also addressed long-standing maintenance issues, including damage caused by roof leaks linked to earlier mechanical installations. The building was fully updated inside, creating flexible office space for approximately 65 employees, six conference rooms and a 2,500-square-foot boardroom used for BOR meetings.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has leveled up its commitment to a greener future, earning a (STARS) Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. This achievement recognize is publicly available on the STARS website.

“Earning a STARS Silver rating is a testament to the incredible collaboration across our campus to integrate sustainability into everything we do—from the classroom to our physical facilities,” said ����Ӱҵ Mānoa (ISR) Director Makena Coffman. “This framework not only celebrates our current successes in teaching and research but provides us with a clear roadmap to further reduce our environmental footprint and enhance resilience both for our campus and island community.”

STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. The rating marks a significant step forward from previous benchmarks, aligning ����Ӱҵ Mānoa with top-tier peer institutions dedicated to environmental stewardship.

The successful reporting process was a joint effort between ISR and the ����Ӱҵ Office of Sustainability with essential contributions from a range of departments and offices across campus. By documenting data ranging from energy-efficient infrastructure to sustainability-focused curriculum, the university has established a clear baseline for future growth.

“In the process of compiling data for this year’s STARS Report, I probably sent over 50 emails to individuals and departments across campus,” said Elisabeth Earley, administrative officer at ISR. “Everyone I reached out to was so kind and helpful and I am very thankful for their support in the reporting process. This Silver rating could not have been achieved without the wonderful folks from all corners of ����Ӱҵ Mānoa.”

Leading by example

����Ӱҵ already maintains the largest inventory of LEED-certified buildings in Hawaiʻi, including the recently awarded LEED Gold certification for historic Bachman Hall. University policy currently requires all new construction and major renovations to meet a minimum of LEED Silver standards.

“We are incredibly proud of this milestone, which showcases that we are not just talking about sustainability, but actively measuring and improving our impact,” said Miles Topping, director of the ����Ӱҵ Office of Sustainability. “Our goal is to continue pushing these ratings to the highest level possible. By tracking these metrics, we are better equipped to lead by example and ensure a sustainable legacy for the ����Ӱҵ System and the state of Hawaiʻi.”

The first cohort of the at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa includes 14 students, seven of whom are supported through from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hawaiʻi (DAR) and a Hawaiʻi-based philanthropic organization. Students and their ����Ӱҵ advisors will work collaboratively with the sponsoring agencies and Hawaiʻi communities on their graduate research projects.

“It is really encouraging to see the significant support for this new program from the community and the state and federal agencies we partner with,” said Jeff Drazen, sustainable fisheries program graduate chair and oceanography professor in the ����Ӱҵ Mānoa (SOEST). “Welcoming the first cohort of students is an exciting milestone, and having this level of community collaboration will really advance our goal of ensuring sustainable fisheries for people throughout the Pacific.”

The incoming students receiving fellowships are Kai Holdaway, Alexander Jemal, Ashley Meara, Kahakuhailoa Poepoe, Mackenzie Thielmann, Andrea Vega and Jake Zikan. Of the seven students, six will pursue master’s degrees, and one will pursue a doctoral degree; two are from Hawaiʻi, and five are from the U.S. continent.

Students address fisheries near and far

Supported by one of two DAR Fellowships, Thielmann’s research will focus on finding “nursery” areas where young fish grow along Oʻahu’s coastlines to help protect future fish populations. By analyzing a large state dataset, Thielmann will identify where juvenile fish are most common and see if these “hotspots” match up with where legal-sized adult fish live. This project will use advanced science to ensure that culturally important reef fish remain abundant for local families and fishers. Further, this will help DAR create better fishing rules and habitat protections.

One of the four fellowships supported by the in Honolulu, awarded to Holdaway, will support building a computer model that predicts where the Hawaiʻi longline fishing fleet might shift to as ocean conditions and fishing laws change. By analyzing vessel data and interviewing fishers, Holdaway wants to understand how factors like earnings, weather, and mapping tools influence a captain’s decisions. Ultimately, this work seeks to balance catching target fish with avoiding protected species to ensure a healthier marine ecosystem.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

An innovative mass-timber public space designed for the Kakaʻako Ma kai shoreline was presented by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students at the 2026 International Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon. “The Hale” integrates Indigenous architectural principles with modern sustainable materials to propose a new model for public gathering spaces in Honolulu.

The project was originally developed in a first-semester graduate design studio by architecture students Edwin Sun, Jayden Uowolo and Dylan Martos. Reimagining the traditional Hawaiian “place of shelter” as a contemporary civic space, the design adapted cross-laminated timber and glue-laminated timber systems for long-term performance in tropical marine environments.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to present my team’s work at the International Mass Timber Conference and represent the School of Architecture,” said Uowolo. “This experience pushed me to think more deeply about how traditional Pacific Island ideas can shape contemporary design, while also connecting me with a global community of designers, builders and thinkers. I left with a stronger understanding of how culture, material systems and industry all connect in the making of architecture.”

Addressing coastal challenges

The project addressed coastal challenges by elevating the structure to mitigate projected sea-level rise, storm surges and salt exposure. It also incorporated climate-specific durability strategies such as marine-grade coatings, protected steel connections and rainscreen façades integrated with cross ventilation.

Supported by School of Architecture Dean Mo Zell and guided by professors Ben Parker and Ho Kyung Lee, the students’ research also explored using locally harvested softwoods to strengthen regional supply chains and reduce transportation-related carbon emissions.

“Opportunities like this are so valuable to students,” said Parker. “They give them early exposure to the critical topics professional architects are discussing, and provide chances to network and connect with firms as they plan their own future careers. These events also enrich the school and the profession, as the exchange helps everyone to integrate education and research with real-world concerns.”

For decades, scientists have worked to improve predictions of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate powerhouse that can cause droughts, flooding, marine heatwaves and more around the world. Researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa a study showing that they can skillfully predict El Niño and La Niña 15 months ahead of time using only observations of the ocean surface temperature and height—no complex climate model needed.

“We found that it can predict El Niño and La Niña surprisingly well, with useful skill up to about 15 months ahead,” said Yuxin Wang, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher with the in the ����Ӱҵ Mānoa (SOEST). “Accurately predicting ENSO more than a year in advance is important because it can provide early warning, allowing communities, governments and resource managers to take actions and make adaptations to reduce the potential impacts from El Niño and La Niña.”

“Our simpler, data-driven empirical climate model, built only from ocean observations related to two core climate memories known for over 50 years, achieves ENSO forecast skill comparable to, and in some cases better than, many of today’s more complex climate models and leading AI-based approaches,” added Wang.

Building on past discoveries

Klaus Wyrtki, a pioneering oceanographer at SOEST in the 1960s through 1990s, was the first to show that sea level changes can reveal heat build-up in the tropical Pacific, which led him to propose using tide gauge observations to predict El Niño. Klaus Hasselmann, a German oceanographer and Nobel laureate, showed that the ocean can retain a memory of past climate conditions through large-scale temperature patterns, including sea surface temperature patterns outside the tropical Pacific that can still influence ENSO.

Building on these two principles, the SOEST team developed the “Wyrtki-CSLIM,” short for Wyrtki CycloStationary Linear Inverse Model, a computer model to predict ENSO.

Predicting future ENSO

The Wyrtki-CSLIM currently predicts the development of a strong El Niño, more than 2°C warmer than normal over the equatorial eastern Pacific, toward the end of this year. This up-to-date is available online at the ����Ӱҵ Sea Level Center.

“Our Wyrtki model is predicting a stronger El Niño than most of the other statistical models, and it is in line with the much more sophisticated dynamical models,” said Matthew Widlansky, study co-author and associate director of the ����Ӱҵ Sea Level Center. “However, it is important to note that all models have uncertainties, and the climate impacts of each El Niño event are different.”

This new research also offers a clear direction for other ENSO forecasting systems.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) is reopening the (ADSC). Local farmers will once again have access to soil and plant testing here in Hawaiʻi at a reasonable cost, instead of sending samples to the U.S. continent.

The center’s reopening also allows CTAHR to offer free soil and plant testing through July 21, 2026 to farmers whose land and crops were affected by Kona low flooding in March and April.

Every affected farmer can submit up to three free samples for each of the following services:

• Soil nutrient analysis: To determine if essential minerals were leached.
• Plant tissue nutrient analysis: To assess the current nutrient uptake and health of surviving crops.
• Plant disease diagnostics: To identify plant pathogens/outbreaks that may impact crops following flooding.
• Insect identification: To monitor for shifts in pest populations following the storms.

The ADSC will continue to provide soil and plant testing services at reasonable prices to farmers who were not affected by the floods.

“The reopening is a pivotal moment in CTAHR’s mission to support stakeholders and food security across the state,” said CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal. “Fortunately the timing of the reopening also means we can deliver more support to farmers recovering from the floods. We are providing these tests at no cost for the next three months to help our agricultural partners get back on their feet.”

“ADSC has reopened with an improved customer experience, including online payments, rapid turnaround of results, and interpretation of results and recommendations by CTAHR experts,” Parwinder said.

Brian Miyamoto, executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau, noted, “The reopening of the ADSC, along with three months of free testing, comes at a crucial time and helps farmers move forward with recovery and replanting. CTAHR is truly stepping up for our farmers, and we appreciate their leadership and commitment to supporting �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s agricultural community during this critical time.”

CTAHR is working to further expand its services to include seed testing, heavy metal testing, animal health diagnostics and food nutrient content analysis for food product labeling. ADSC is also expanding its seed production capacity and will add clean seedling production, which are young plants that are free from germs or disease.

Order soil, plant tests online

Farmers can order tests, find sampling instructions, and a list of CTAHR facilities on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi and Kauaʻi accepting samples at the .

Temporary in-person collection site until July 21, 2026

To increase accessibility for ��ʻ�����’s heavily affected north shore community, a temporary collection site has been set up at Twin Bridge Farms in Waialua:

• Soil and plant samples can be dropped off at Twin Bridge on Mondays between 8 a.m and noon
• Soil samples can also be dropped off on Thursdays between 8 a.m. and noon.

Farmers should call CTAHR at (808) 453-6050 or ugc@hawaii.edu to confirm they are dropping off samples at Twin Bridge Farms.

Permanent collection sites

Drop off sites for samples on Oʻahu are:

• The Urban Garden Center in Pearl City on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 955 Kamehameha Hwy., behind the Home Depot.
• Farmers should contact (808) 453-6050 or ugc@hawaii.edu to confirm they plan to drop off samples.
• ����Ӱҵ ��ā�ԴDz�’s Sherman Lab, room 115, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1910 East-West Rd., Honolulu HI 96822.
• Farmers should call (808) 956-5437 or adsc@hawaii.edu to confirm they plan to drop off samples.

Visit the ADSC of drop off locations, including the neighbor islands.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers revealed that Waikīkī is facing a fundamental shift in flood hazards as sea levels rise—transitioning from a flooding that is driven primarily by rainfall to events increasingly dominated by tidal processes. The team identified two key pathways that will become more significant with sea-level rise, both of which will increase public exposure to sewage-contaminated waters. The study was published in .

“Our findings make clear that current flood management strategies for Waikīkī are incomplete,” said Kayla Yamamoto, climate modeling analyst at the in the ����Ӱҵ Mānoa (SOEST). “Most planning focuses on surface damage and economic loss from storms, but largely ignores the contamination dimension. Our results show that contaminated flooding will become more frequent, more extensive, and eventually a daily occurrence rather than a storm-driven one. There are currently no effective management strategies in place to address this.”

Simulating future scenarios

The team used an open-source, physics-based flood model to simulate how multiple flood sources interact in Waikīkī. The team used an advanced flood model that, unlike previous models, integrates all sources of flooding—rain, tides, underground water behavior, and storm drains—to provide a single, complete view of the hazard

“What we found is that during extreme rainfall like we’ve been experiencing, high tides and elevated water levels in the Ala Wai can combine to create conditions where contaminated water flows back into low-lying streets and sidewalks,” said Shellie Habel, study co-author and coastal geologist with the Coastal Research Collaborative and . “As sea level rises, it will take less extreme rainfall and tides to cause similar flooding in the future.”

The two key pathways they identified were: storm drain backflow, where polluted water from the Ala Wai Canal is forced into streets and public spaces in Waikīkī through drainage systems, and groundwater emergence, which brings sewage and other contaminants from aging and leaking sewage infrastructure to the surface.

The model simulations show that storm drain backflow is projected to occur even when there is no rainfall:

• 1 foot of sea-level rise: Storm drain backflow occurs during extreme tides, even without rain.
• 2 feet of sea-level rise: Storm drain backflow occurs during moderate daily tidal conditions.
• 4 feet of sea-level rise: Groundwater emergence (bringing sewage to the surface) begins to occur without rain.

Researchers compared their model simulations against tide gauges, canal water level sensors, groundwater monitoring wells, and photographs of street-level flooding during three real recent storm events, including a major 50-year Kona storm in December 2021, a moderate storm in April 2023, and a five-year Kona storm in May 2024.

Implications for Waikīkī, beyond

The Ala Wai Canal is one of the most polluted waterways in Hawaiʻi, containing sewage, heavy metals and pathogens such as Vibrio and MRSA. Exposure to these waters is a documented risk, with MRSA infections linked to Hawaiʻi waters already contributing to an estimated 200 deaths per year in the state. Because Waikīkī is a primary economic engine where residents and visitors are in constant contact with coastal waters, the anticipated flooding represents a growing public health and environmental crisis.

Many coastal cities around the world rely on estuarine waterways to drain their stormwater, and face the same combination of aging infrastructure, rising seas and contaminated waters.

“Our modeling framework is transferable, and we hope this study serves as a wake-up call to modernize stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, integrate contamination risk into coastal flood planning, and build early warning systems before these thresholds are crossed,” Yamamoto said.

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, ����Ӱҵ 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’s 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’s 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 ����Ӱҵ 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 ����Ӱҵ Mānoa. Smith leads the Limu Lab at ����Ӱҵ 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 ����Ӱҵ Mānoa‘s .

Related ����Ӱҵ News stories on ����Ӱҵ 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 ����Ӱҵ’s , 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’s 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 ����Ӱҵ’s 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, ����Ӱҵ interim vice president for research and innovation. “At the same time, it provides us with further opportunities to develop our region’s 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 ����Ӱҵ-led institute will be guided by experienced reef researchers from ����Ӱҵ Mānoa’s Kewalo Marine Laboratory and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, ����Ӱҵ Hilo’s Marine Sciences program, and the University of Guam’s 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’re excited to jump in with scientists and communities and agencies across the region to take it forward.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will welcome physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski for a free public talk inviting audiences to see the ocean in a new way.

Czerski, a professor at University College London, will deliver the Spring 2026 Dai Ho Chun Distinguished Lecture, on April 23 at 7 p.m. in Bilger Hall.

Her message is simple but powerful. The ocean is not just scenery; it is a system that drives life on Earth.

Czerski studies how the ocean works at a physical level. Her research looks at how gases move between air and sea, how sound travels underwater, and even how tiny bubbles behave. Together, these processes help move heat around the planet, shape weather and climate, and support life in the ocean.

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Helen Czerski to ����Ӱҵ,” said Philip Williams, interim dean of the . “Her research shows how the ocean’s physical systems shape our planet, and she has a gift for sharing those insights in ways that capture your imagination. She invites us to see the ocean as a living force, revealing physics that shapes and nourishes our island and the world.”

The lecture is supported by the Dai Ho Chun endowment, established through an estate gift to the ����Ӱҵ Foundation to bring distinguished speakers to campus.

The event is organized in coordination with the , a partnership among ����Ӱҵ Mānoa, The Learning Coalition, and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

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’s 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 .

As of March 2026, the ����Ӱҵ was managing a $1.12-billion portfolio of awards, across 921 projects, mostly focused on improving the lives of state residents. This vast investment—including $945.7 million from federal agencies and $174.3 million from non-federal sources—is directed at areas of vital importance to Hawaiʻi, including agriculture/aquaculture, climate resilience, conservation, invasive species, health and health equity, student access and community impact.

“The research conducted at the University of Hawaiʻi improves the daily lives of every resident in the state,” said ����Ӱҵ President Wendy Hensel. “These projects—from addressing youth mental health and assessing the long-term impacts of the Maui wildfires, to securing our food and water—are essential services. Protecting and supporting ����Ӱҵ research is protecting the future and resilience of our island home.”

Providing solutions

����Ӱҵ research provides tangible solutions to island challenges. A $20-million National Science Foundation award, Change Hawaiʻi, is in-part establishing a —a network of land and coastal stations that tracks rainfall, temperature, wind and other key variables in real time. This system gives local agencies the data they need to forecast floods and drought, manage wildfire risk and protect critical infrastructure, strengthening community resilience across the islands. At the same time, conservation projects are working to prevent the extinction of 37 endangered and threatened plant species in Maui Nui and to restore climate-resilient ecosystems on Oʻahu.

The fight against invasive species is critical to Hawaiʻi’s economy, environment, and quality of life. Current ����Ӱҵ projects support Little Fire Ant mitigation and ongoing efforts to manage the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle at locations such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In agriculture/aquaculture, research is introducing advanced technology, such as an AI-enhanced irrigation scheduling tool, to enable farmers statewide to benefit from precision water management.

Healthier communities

The impact of ����Ӱҵ research directly impacts residents’ health and well-being. ����Ӱҵ manages the Red Hill Independent Health Registry, tracking health outcomes and providing resources for those affected by the 2021 fuel release. The Hawaii Clinical Research Network for Health Equity is building a statewide clinical research network to improve health outcomes for underserved communities in Hawaiʻi by expanding access to research participation, clinical trials and tailored, community-informed interventions.

����Ӱҵ is also advancing the overall health and readiness of Hawaiʻi’s children through the program. Partnering with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, ����Ӱҵ Mānoa Nursing leads a statewide, school-based health system that places nurses and other health professionals in public and charter schools to provide on-campus care, preventive screenings, telehealth, and wellness education. By improving access to essential health services, reducing health-related absenteeism, and coordinating care with families and community providers, Hawaiʻi Keiki helps ensure that Hawaiʻi’s keiki can come to school healthy, stay in class, and thrive academically.

By supporting ����Ӱҵ, the community ensures that critical, place-based solutions continue to be developed right here at home, guaranteeing a healthier, more resilient future for all of Hawaiʻi’s people.

An analysis of more than 2,300 seawater samples from more than 20 field studies around the globe indicates that human-made chemicals—from plastic additives and industrial lubricants to pharmaceuticals and pesticides—are widespread in the marine environment, particularly in coastal and estuarine waters. The study, co-authored by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa oceanographers and led by biochemists at the University of California, Riverside, represents one of the most comprehensive chemical analyses of coastal oceans to date.

The team analyzed seawater samples collected over a decade from coastal regions from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Reported in , the findings show that industrial chemicals, many of which are rarely monitored, are far more abundant and widespread than previously recognized.

“As part of this study we included samples from coral reefs across both the Pacific and Caribbean, including samples throughout Hawaiian and Tahitian ecosystems, and we were struck by how widespread things like pharmaceuticals, pesticides and plastics were even in some remote island reefs and dozens of kilometers offshore,” said Craig Nelson, researcher in the ����Ӱҵ Mānoa , graduate chair of oceanography, and one of the senior authors on the paper.

“Even in places we consider relatively pristine, we found clear chemical fingerprints of human activity,” said Daniel Petras, assistant professor of biochemistry at University of California, Riverside. “The extent of this influence was surprising.”

Impacts nearshore and offshore

The study found that in datasets from coastal environments as much as 20% of the measured organic material was of human origin, compared to about 0.5% in the open ocean. In extreme cases, such as river mouths impacted by untreated or poorly treated wastewater, that figure exceeded 50%. Across all samples, the 248 identified human-derived compounds tracked in this study made up around 2% of the total detected signal.

While pesticides and pharmaceuticals were expected to be most concentrated near shorelines, the study found that industrial compounds, including substances used in plastics, lubricants and consumer products, dominate the anthropogenic (human induced) chemical signal in all areas of the ocean.

The researchers also found that anthropogenic chemicals persist well beyond the coastline. Even more than 20 kilometers offshore, human-derived compounds accounted for roughly 1% of detected organic matter.

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A breakthrough in marine mammal health surveillance can now detect deadly diseases in whales and dolphins in oceans, beaches and remote locations, thanks to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

The ����Ӱҵ Health and Stranding Lab at the (CTAHR) worked together with international researchers to validate a portable, field-deployable molecular diagnostic tool for Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV). The study was published in .

Rapid detection in the field

CeMV has caused mass deaths of thousands of marine animals globally. Traditionally, detecting such pathogens required sending samples to specialized laboratories, often resulting in delays of weeks to months.

“This is the first application of a field-deployable system for rapid testing for whales and dolphins,” said Kristi West, director of the ����Ӱҵ Health and Stranding Lab. “It breaks down barriers to detection because it can be used remotely, even without a traditional lab nearby.”

The portable unit delivers results in about an hour, aiding decision-making during mass stranding events. It is designed for hot, humid environments, making it essential for detecting outbreaks early and potentially preventing larger epidemics. The system uses high-speed testing to provide rapid, on-site results. It proved effective across multiple divergent strains from Hawaiʻi, Europe and Brazil, even in archived tissues up to 28 years old.

“We want to train others so we can increase what we know about disease in many other areas of the world,” West said.

Global collaboration and training

To ensure this technology reaches those who need it most, ����Ӱҵ researchers hosted a workshop in Honolulu with Professor Wei-Cheng Yang from National Taiwan University’s Veterinary School to train stranding responders and scientists from across the Pacific.

Participants included staff from the Taiwanese Cetacean Society, and representatives from the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resource’s Division of Aquatic Resources, NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center, biologists from Guam and Saipan and CTAHR graduate students.

During the workshop, researchers ran tests on known positive and negative samples for diseases impacting dolphins and Nene, the endemic Hawaiian goose. The Taiwanese team also shared their insights from a mass stranding of 11 pygmy killer whales they had responded to just days before arriving in Hawaiʻi, which resulted in the successful release of seven whales.

The project is supported by U.S. Pacific Fleet Environmental Readiness Division and a joint zoonotic disease grant with the state of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Department of Land and Natural Resources and involves collaborators from Taiwan, the Philippines, Spain, and Brazil.

The University of Hawaiʻi has 28 buildings certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, part of the nation’s green building standards, which is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“We have the largest inventory of sustainably designed buildings out of all the state agencies, and we are about to increase our inventory by 14%, once again leading by example,” said Miles Topping, director of energy management.

The certification system evaluates projects across multiple categories, including energy efficiency, water use, materials selection, waste management and indoor environmental quality. To achieve certification, projects must first meet prerequisite requirements and then earn points by meeting specific sustainability criteria. Projects undergo a verification and review process before being awarded one of four certification levels: certified, silver, gold or platinum.

����Ӱҵ System ratings

Across the ����Ӱҵ system, certified facilities include two platinum, 14 gold, 10 silver, and two certified buildings, reflecting the university’s commitment to sustainability and efficient campus development.

����Ӱҵ has adopted green building practices that require new construction and major renovation projects to meet LEED standards, with a minimum certification target of silver. These standards are incorporated into university policy to ensure sustainability is integrated into the planning and design of campus facilities.

Several upcoming ����Ӱҵ Mānoa construction projects also aim to meet the LEED Silver standard, including the Student Success Center, the Bachman Hall renovation, the Seed Lab, and the Snyder Hall Replacement Building. Once completed, these additions are expected to increase the university’s LEED-certified building inventory by 14%, growing from 28 to 32 certified facilities.

While LEED projects may involve slightly higher upfront construction costs due to sustainable design and materials, the long-term benefits often outweigh the initial investment. Many certified buildings incorporate features such as low-flow toilets and faucets to conserve water, bike facilities, natural landscaping and energy-efficient systems, including renewable energy technologies.

Find more information on ����Ӱҵ’s LEED Portfolio.

For 23 of the past 25 years, more residents have left Hawaiʻi than arrived from the continental U.S., according to an . The research finds the answer is not because of high prices or low incomes, but a combination of both that puts the state in a rare and troubling category.

Hawaiʻi stands out nationally for having both high living costs and relatively modest incomes, a mix that researchers say drives persistent outmigration. While expensive continental U.S. cities often retain residents with higher wages, Hawaiʻi more closely resembles economically “left-behind” regions where limited opportunity pushes people to leave.

An analysis of migration patterns across states and 384 U.S. metro areas shows that higher prices tend to push residents out, while higher incomes attract them. In Hawaiʻi, both forces are working in the same direction, but while Hawaiʻi has always been expensive, the widening income gap with the rest of the nation is a growing and more troubling driver.

‘Priced out and left behind’

“This combination places Hawaiʻi in one of the rarest and most concerning categories in the national data: simultaneously priced out and left behind,” wrote ����ӰҵERO authors Steven Bond-Smith and Erich Schwartz. “Residents are not leaving for a single reason. They are responding to a structure of economic pressures that makes staying difficult and makes opportunity elsewhere increasingly attractive.”

In urban Honolulu, high costs account for a significant share of outmigration. Incomes, which have recently fallen below the national average, add growing pressure. On Maui, price and income effects are more evenly matched, with both contributing to residents leaving. In both cases, lagging incomes predict growing shares of outmigration, while the high cost of living predicts relatively constant shares. While Hawaiʻi Island and Hawaiʻi were excluded from the city dataset, researchers believe similar forces are likely happening there too.

Researchers identified additional local factors in Honolulu—including geographic isolation, limited housing supply, congestion and a narrow industry base—that intensify migration pressures beyond what prices and incomes alone would predict.

When adjusting for cost of living, Hawaiʻi’s income levels align more closely with struggling continental U.S. regions than with high-cost, high-wage cities such as San Francisco or Seattle.

This post focuses on a key theme from ����ӰҵERO’s comprehensive report, “Beyond the Price of Paradise: Is Hawaiʻi being left behind?” released on February 1. In that report, researchers say lowering the cost of living alone won’t be enough, and that Hawaiʻi must boost long-term income and productivity growth to remain economically sustainable. They recommend policies that diversify the economy, support innovation and remove barriers to growth, alongside continued efforts to improve affordability.

����ӰҵERO is housed in ����Ӱҵ Mānoa .

From 135 mph wind gusts on Hawaiʻi Island to 62 inches of rainfall on Maui, a recent Kona low system brought weather conditions usually reserved for major hurricanes to the state. These extreme totals were captured by the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Hawaiʻi Mesonet, a weather monitoring system that is mapping localized threats across areas that previously had no data available. ����Ӱҵ’s Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal team created a report on the storm.

Alongside immense flooding, the storm brought destructive winds. The Hawaiʻi Mesonet station at Kaiāulu Puʻuwaʻawaʻa on Hawaiʻi Island recorded a maximum wind gust of 135.4 mph. Winds were briefly sustained at speeds equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, averaging 105 mph over a 15-minute period.

Maui was hit the hardest, with peak rainfall totals reaching 62 inches in localized regions. Hawaiʻi Island also saw heavy precipitation, with areas recording 16–32 inches, and isolated spots also nearing 62 inches. Both Kauaʻi and Oʻahu recorded maximum totals ranging 16–32 inches. Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi experienced peak amounts 4–16 inches.

The upper elevations of Haleakalā experienced the most extreme rainfall, with 33.2 inches falling during the 24-hr period beginning March 13 at 8:30 a.m., nearly double the highest 24-hr rainfall previously recorded there. That amount is much greater than the NOAA‘s official estimate of 19.7 inches in 24 hours for the 1000-year storm (the rainfall amount with a 0.1% chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year). Rainfall was even higher at the Kuiki Hawaiʻi Mesonet station on the east rim of Haleakalā crater with 36 inches falling in 24 hours beginning at 6 p.m. on March 13. This amount exceeded the NOAA 24-hr 1000-year extreme rainfall estimate of 28.5 inches.

“Before the project began, Hawaiʻi was one of only 20 states without a comprehensive statewide weather monitoring system, meaning we previously had no access to information in many of these areas,” said Tom Giambelluca, Hawaiʻi Mesonet project lead, and former director of the ����Ӱҵ Water Resources Research Center. “Now, the system is constantly collecting data on rainfall, soil moisture, and other weather variables that can tell us in real time if an area is highly susceptible to fires or flooding, which ultimately allows us to be as prepared as possible”

To make this information accessible, ����Ӱҵ launched a real-time weather dashboard offering public access to live weather data from more than 70 monitoring stations currently active across the state. The dashboard updates data every 15 minutes, allowing users to view current, localized conditions including temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, solar radiation and soil moisture. This creates one of the most comprehensive and timely weather resources available in Hawaiʻi.

This article by Assistant Specialist in the College of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Kahea Faria was first published in .

The growth of the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program from its inception to now is a sign that more of our people in Hawaiʻi are turning to the language, culture, and history of our land and the education that is meant to embody it and facilitate the transmission of this knowledge to our children. For most families, this is the primary means of accessing this knowledge, and as such, it represents a public necessity, not a discretionary option.

While this growth has been encouraging, it has also revealed gaps in the structural foundation of the program. Most Hawaiian language immersion programs remain housed within predominantly English-medium schools, with a few stand-alone K–12 programs statewide and even fewer P–12 programs.

These environments are essential, as they create at least one sustained domain in which Hawaiian can function as the sole language of instruction. This model is not intended to produce monolingual speakers, but rather to strengthen pathways toward genuine bilingualism. Consequently, parents within Hawaiian Language Immersion Programs are increasingly advocating for the establishment of P–12 programs in each school district.

Recent efforts to expand access to advanced Hawaiian language instruction—such as online coursework offered through ����Ӱҵ Maui College – along with financial support for teacher candidates from sources such as Kamehameha Schools’ Hookawowo Scholarship, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and the State of Hawaiʻi’s Grow Our Own (GOO) Teachers, have helped to address these challenges.

Despite these efforts, the sustained growth of the program depends on continued investment in teacher preparation. For those who are interested, as well as those who are seeking a meaningful way to support our community through Hawaiian language, history, and culture, please contact either of the Hawaiian Language Immersion teacher preparation programs at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo or at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa.

Finally, the rapid growth of the Hawaiian language immersion program should be addressed in the same manner as those of any thriving public school setting—by being adequately resourced and supported in its expansion, rather than constrained by regulatory frameworks that inhibit development.

The state should take a proactive role in planning for a future that includes P–12 Hawaiian Language Immersion Program schools in every district statewide. Anything less constitutes a disservice to the community and stands in opposition to the program’s purpose and intent to revitalize Hawaiian language, culture and history in Hawaiʻi.

Ke ao ia nei ka naauao, auhea mai nei la hoi ke kahua o ka pono?

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’s also about our engagement with the public and contribution to conservation of Pacific species, and our role as a public outlet for ����Ӱҵ 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’s 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 ����Ӱҵ, the ����Ӱҵ 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 ����Ӱҵ 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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