Honolulu鈥檚 Bill 7 housing program has helped bring hundreds of affordable apartments to neighborhoods near public transit. A new report from the (糖心视频ERO) finds that allowing more apartments per project, streamlining permitting and making construction grants available earlier could help the city build on that progress.

The report, , examines the city鈥檚 Affordable Rental Housing Program, which began in 2019 to encourage apartment construction on small lots. The program offers incentives such as fee waivers, grants and tax breaks in exchange for keeping most units affordable to moderate-income households.

Key takeaways from the November 9 report

• More apartments are in the pipeline. As of September 2026, seven projects with 224 apartments had been completed since the program began, and another 776 apartments across 22 projects had received permits. Those permitted projects could help bring the program closer to the city鈥檚 goal of completing 500 apartments per year.
• Bill 7 makes small-lot projects more financially viable. On a representative 10,000-square-foot lot, researchers estimated that Bill 7 would allow 49 apartments, up from 26 under the zoning rules in place before 2026. The estimated return also improved, though it remained below the industry benchmark used in the study.
• Projects are close to public transit. Every Bill 7 project in the study is within a quarter mile of a bus stop, and six are within a half mile of a current or planned Skyline station.
• Several changes could help more projects move forward. Higher borrowing and construction costs, along with longer permitting timelines, have made development more difficult. Researchers found that allowing more apartments per project could improve financial feasibility without increasing the city鈥檚 subsidy per apartment. The report also identifies opportunities to streamline permitting and make construction grants available earlier.

“Despite unexpected macroeconomic challenges, the Bill 7 program has produced hundreds of workforce housing units in central locations with excellent transit access,” the report said.

糖心视频ERO is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will continue helping develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools that could make it faster and less expensive to design and test everything from airplanes to wind turbines, thanks to a new $20 million federal grant.

Three 糖心视频 Mānoa faculty members—Assistant Professors Chrisy Xiyu Du and Andrei A. Klishin from the , and Associate Professor June Zhang from the —will serve as senior personnel in the . The five-year award supports a multi-university collaboration focused on using AI to better understand and predict how complex physical systems behave.

NSF initially funded the institute for 2021–26. This renewed award will support its next phase of research from 2026 through 2031.

The institute brings together researchers from universities across the country to develop AI methods for engineering challenges, including how air moves around an airplane wing, how industrial systems operate and how engineers can improve the design and manufacturing of complex products.

Unlike general-purpose AI tools such as ChatGPT, which primarily work with text and images, the institute focuses on AI that learns from physical data and the laws of science. These approaches could help engineers test ideas more efficiently, reduce the need for costly computer simulations and improve designs before building expensive physical prototypes.

Long-term opportunities for 糖心视频 researchers

The institute鈥檚 funding gives participating faculty members greater flexibility to pursue research questions over several years, support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and collaborate with experts at other universities.

Klishin鈥檚 work at 糖心视频 Mānoa builds on this approach to using AI and physics to better understand complex systems. In a 2025 study, he and fellow researchers developed a method to help AI identify the underlying rules behind noisy, real-world data, with potential applications ranging from engineering and environmental science to economics and medicine.

“AI can help engineers move beyond simply predicting how a system will behave to exploring how to make it work better,” Klishin said. “By combining AI with our understanding of physics, we can develop tools that help researchers test more ideas, improve designs and potentially bring useful technologies to people faster.”

Zhang鈥檚 research aims to teach AI systems to better train themselves in applications where there is a limited amount of data.

Potential real-world benefits

One example developed through the institute is HydroGym, an open-source platform that allows researchers to test AI methods for predicting and controlling fluid flows. Understanding how fluids such as air and water move is important in designing aircraft, ships, wind turbines and other technologies, but accurately simulating these flows can require substantial computing power. By making simulation tools more accessible, researchers can build on one another鈥檚 work and test new approaches to controlling fluid movement.

The institute is led by the University of Washington, and includes 糖心视频 Mānoa as a participating campus alongside institutions such as Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of Michigan and Caltech.

Hawaiʻi has a more even distribution of income than the nation overall, but the gap between upper-middle- and lower-middle-income earners is wider than some traditional measures of inequality suggest, according to a new (糖心视频ERO) analysis.

A published October 27 by 糖心视频ERO Professor Peter Fuleky and PhD candidate Vanessa Pepino examined how Hawaiʻi compares with other states using two measures of income inequality.

One measure, the Gini coefficient, considers the overall distribution of income. In 2024, Hawaiʻi scored 0.41, compared with 0.45 nationally. The lower score indicated a more even distribution of income, which the authors attributed in part to Hawaiʻi having fewer extremely high earners than states with major technology and finance industries.

A second measure compared incomes at the 80th and 20th percentiles, providing a closer look at the gap between upper-middle- and lower-middle-income earners. In Hawaiʻi, those at the 80th percentile earned about 2.8 times as much as those at the 20th percentile in 2024. That ratio narrowed from 3.2 in 2012.

The report explained that the two measures can tell different stories. Hawaiʻi鈥檚 relatively lower incomes at the very top of the distribution reduce its overall inequality score, while comparatively strong earnings among upper-middle-income households widen the gap between the 80th and 20th percentiles.

The narrowing income gap reflects several factors, including increases in the state鈥檚 minimum wage, relatively high unionization, government assistance and stronger labor markets that helped raise wages for lower-paid workers.

However, income inequality measures do not show how far household earnings go. Hawaiʻi remains one of the nation鈥檚 most expensive states, and the authors noted that high living costs can place a disproportionate burden on lower-income households.

“In Hawaiʻi, income is distributed more evenly than in most states, yet it still falls short for a large share of residents,” the authors wrote. “The more telling benchmark is not how residents鈥� incomes compare with one another, but how they compare with the cost of rent, groceries, utilities and health care. Those costs take a far bigger bite at the bottom of the income ladder than at the top. While the narrowing of the gap between high and low earners is an encouraging development for Hawaiʻi, it is not the same as a better standard of living. Closing the gap between earnings and living costs is the harder task still ahead.”

.

糖心视频ERO and the Department of Economics are housed in .

The findings and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or official positions of 糖心视频ERO, 糖心视频, or any funding or supporting organization.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher is helping explain how mantis shrimp see colors and detect types of light that humans cannot, offering new clues about how eyes sense the world.

Megan Porter, a professor in the , co-authored a study published in October 2026 in that explores how mantis shrimp eyes detect light. The researchers found that special proteins and natural pigments work together to help the animals sense a wider range of light, including far-red light, which is beyond the range of human vision.

Mantis shrimp have some of the most unusual eyes in the animal world. They have at least 12 types of light receptors that respond to different parts of the light spectrum. Humans have three types of color-sensitive cells, which work together to let us see millions of colors.

The researchers studied 17 types of proteins called rhodopsins. These proteins absorb light and help turn it into signals that the nervous system can interpret. Three of the proteins were able to absorb light with wavelengths longer than 600 nanometers, reaching into the far-red part of the spectrum. Together with natural pigments called carotenoids that act like filters, these proteins help mantis shrimp detect a broader range of light than most other animals, humans included.

What this means for humans

The findings help scientists understand how eyes can detect different types of light and turn that information into signals. While the study does not point to a direct medical use, understanding these natural systems could inspire new ways to detect light using technology.

Scientists have already used mantis shrimp eyes as inspiration for small sensors that can detect not only color but also the direction light waves travel or vibrate. The study also revealed a trade-off. The pigments that help mantis shrimp detect far-red light can block much of the light from reaching certain receptors. This suggests that their ability to detect these wavelengths may work best in bright conditions.

“By understanding how these proteins respond to different wavelengths of light and how they work together within a mantis shrimp eye, we can better understand the biological mechanisms that make this remarkable visual system possible,” Porter said.

The research shows how evolution has shaped the mantis shrimp鈥檚 eyes to detect light in unusual ways. By uncovering how this system works, scientists may also find new ideas for designing technology that senses light.

The School of Life Sciences is housed in .

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) have achieved a breakthrough in floriculture by breeding new “tropical” pincushion protea (Leucospermum) hybrids that bloom near sea level, reducing local reliance on imported flowers.

“These new genetic combinations allow growers at all elevations to harvest flowers nearly year-round. They also make colorful contributions to urban, commercial and resort landscapes,” said CTAHR Professor Kenneth Leonhardt of the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences.

Overcoming mountain-high barrier

Pincushion proteas are native to South Africa and need cool night temperatures to grow their famous flower buds. 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 commercial protea production was limited to elevations between 2,500 and 4,000 feet, primarily in Upcountry Maui and on Hawaiʻi Island’s high-elevation areas.

This kind of agricultural land is scarce and expensive, pricing many local cut-flower growers out of the protea market.

Science behind breakthrough

Led by Leonhardt, the research team conducted years of warm-temperature tolerance trials, as well as trials at low elevations such as Two Bee鈥檚 Protea Farm on 翱ʻ补丑耻鈥檚 North Shore. He identified three seldom-used species as key sources of heat resistance and used that insight in a successful, years-long breeding program.

These new varieties of protea have several standout traits:

• Created to grow abundant floral buds in warmer, coastal environments without requiring cool mountain nights.
• Selected for vibrant colors, extended blooming seasons, straight stems and reduced leaf/stem fuzz.
• 18 of the new cultivars have been internationally registered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, establishing CTAHR as a premier global leader in tropical ornamental breeding.

Benefits to local growers

The college and its partners have distributed more than 11,000 of the newly bred plants to 33 Hawaiʻi Island farms. Most of these distributions have been in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Tropical Flower Council through their Import Replacement Program, funded by a grant from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Leonhardt and his team are also working with producers of container landscape plants to establish the new tropical proteas in home gardens and commercial and resort landscapes.

The next generation of sustainable poultry production students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) got a big boost through a $600,000 grant from the United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture鈥檚 National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Undergraduate students from all 糖心视频 campuses can qualify, including community college students.

Trainees will receive a stipend between $2,800 and $3,000 per month, plus a $500 bonus after completing the program. The funding covers housing, food, and living costs. Grant funds will pay for flight travel for neighbor island students who travel to Oʻahu for summer training.

The four-year project will strengthen food security across island communities by expanding local food production and reducing reliance on imports. Poultry and egg production account for roughly 2% of the total distribution of farms by industry type in the state, according to the .

Eight-week training and research program

Associate Professor Birendra Mishra of CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Science will lead the project. “For cattle you need large land, and for pigs you need big structures, but people can raise chickens on small patches of land,” said Mishra. “Our goal in four years is to train 32 undergraduate students who can start farms or support existing operations.”

The eight-week program will start in summer 2027, training eight undergraduates a year at the college鈥檚 Center for Applied Research and Extension Services in Waimānalo. Students will manage newly hatched chicks through a 35-day production cycle, learning bird husbandry, feed nutrition, and health management. They will also conduct lab research on alternative feed ingredients from local agricultural byproducts with the goal of reducing the need to import expensive feed.

Business leadership and community outreach

Trainees will also learn the business side of agriculture: marketing, leadership, and farm management with faculty mentors. They will attend the national Poultry Science Association conference to meet industry leaders and researchers. Mishra anticipates the students will host community workshops around the state to encourage engagement in poultry farming.

Student recruitment is underway this fall.

The has received a $2.5 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to expand cancer care, clinical research and specialist training across Hawaiʻi through Ka ʻUmeke Lama.

Launched in 2024 in partnership with the , the statewide initiative aims to reduce geographic barriers to cancer treatment, particularly for neighbor island and rural residents. The award follows a previous $1.2 million Helmsley grant supporting the launch of the 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 Early Phase Clinical Research Center.

“This transformative support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust underscores 糖心视频 M膩noa’s commitment as an R1 flagship institution to serving the health and well-being of our entire state,” said 糖心视频 M膩noa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos.

A 糖心视频 Cancer Center study found that Hawaiʻi residents spent at least $230 million on out-of-state cancer care from 2021 to 2023, highlighting challenges in accessing specialized treatment locally.

Specialized in-state training, access

Ka ʻUmeke Lama will establish Hawaiʻi’s first medical oncology fellowship, allowing physicians to pursue specialized training without leaving the state. It will also expand the Cancer Care Access Program to improve patient navigation, referrals and clinical trial participation statewide.

“This support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust allows us to address systemic barriers to care across Hawaiʻi,” said 糖心视频 Cancer Center Director Naoto T. Ueno.

The initiative will also strengthen precision oncology infrastructure, support genomic research focused on Hawaiʻi’s diverse populations and expand multidisciplinary tumor registries to inform cancer care.

“Every cancer patient, regardless of what island they call home, deserves access to world-class, timely care,” said Walter Panzirer, Helmsley Charitable Trust trustee.

The 糖心视频 Cancer Center is Hawaiʻi and the Pacific’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, focusing on research, education and reducing cancer health disparities.

.

The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is helping support U.S. economic growth, but a recession would still be unlikely without it, according to a new analysis from the (糖心视频ERO).

In a published October 21, 糖心视频ERO Professor Emeritus Byron Gangnes examined how AI-related investments and rising stock market wealth are influencing the economy. He estimated that without these factors, U.S. economic growth over the past year would have been more than half a percentage point to just over 1 percentage point weaker.

AI development has fueled spending on data centers, computer equipment and software, while rising stock values have increased household wealth and helped support consumer spending. Gangnes estimated that AI-related stock market gains have contributed $255 billion to $509 billion in additional consumer spending since late 2022.

However, much of the investment in computer equipment goes toward imported products, limiting its contribution to U.S. economic output. AI investment may also be displacing other construction and business investment.

While Gangnes concluded that the U.S. economy would probably not be in a recession without the AI boom, he warned that a sudden decline in AI-related stock values poses a risk going forward. A sharp stock correction could reduce consumer spending, disrupt planned investments and potentially push the economy into recession.

.

糖心视频ERO is housed in .

The findings and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or official positions of 糖心视频ERO, 糖心视频, or any funding or supporting organization.

Two seniors beat out hundreds of global competitors—including corporate research teams—to win a $50,000 national NASA award by proving ancient Hawaiian farming holds the key to feeding astronauts on Mars.

Out of more than 100 final competitors in , ʻOh膩 Kanu—created by Leilani Jensen and Raven Kromer—was selected as one of five winning designs nationwide. Their design adapts the ancient Hawaiian ahupuaʻa land management system into a modern, multi-zone space agricultural framework. By integrating hydroponics, aquaculture, field crops, and orchards, the zero-waste system creates a self-sustaining ecosystem that eliminates reliance on resupply from Earth.

“One of the jokes we made was, ‘Ancient Hawaiians were the first space explorers,’” said Kromer, an astronomy and English major who publishes research under the name Raven Daegmorgan.

Ancient wisdom meets deep space tech

The project name, ʻOh膩 Kanu, references the young taro offshoot (ʻoh膩) and the act of planting (kanu). Unlike standard agricultural models that maximize short-term yield, ʻOh膩 Kanu focuses on long-term resilience and complete nutrient cycling.

“We drew upon traditional and Indigenous perspectives for how to produce food,” explained Jensen, a tropical agroecology and environmental science double major. “It was not about designing for maximized productivity. It was designed so that there鈥檚 always food on the table, no matter what happens.”

As people with HIV live longer, how can they also age well? University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa researcher Chase Bryer was selected for a national program advancing aging research exploring that question, with a focus on improving care for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander k奴puna aging with HIV.

Bryer, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, is an assistant professor and gerontologist at the in the . He will join the third cohort of the .

“HIV is no longer a death sentence, and that means we must begin asking different questions about not just how people with HIV can live longer, but how they can thrive later in life,” said Bryer. “Through the CHANGE program, I hope to center the lived experiences and cultural knowledge of k奴puna to help reimagine what HIV and aging care can look like in Hawaiʻi.”

The 18-month national program, supported by the National Institute on Aging, provides mentorship and specialized training in Native aging research. Bryer will receive $50,000 in pilot funding to support community-engaged research on HIV and aging.

Findings could help inform healthcare approaches that support the health and well-being of k奴puna and those aging with HIV.

Centering k奴puna experiences

In partnership with the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center and Lei Pua 驶Ala Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, Bryer will explore pathways to aging well with HIV and culturally grounded approaches to care.

The research team includes Thompson School co-investigators Miquela Ibrao and David Stupplebeen. Together with community partners, they aim to better understand the experiences, needs and priorities of k奴puna aging with HIV.

“What drew me to Hawaiʻi was the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with communities and learn from the knowledge and experiences of k奴puna,” Bryer said. “I look forward to deepening those relationships and conducting research that is responsive to community priorities, with the hope of contributing to more culturally grounded approaches to HIV and aging care here in Hawaiʻi.”

A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo-led study found sewage pollution along Hilo鈥檚 coast, from Keaukaha to Honoliʻi. It is the first to map wastewater pollution hotspots from King鈥檚 Landing to Honoliʻi Beach Park on Hawaiʻi Island.

The findings could help prioritize cesspool replacement near existing sewer lines and guide upgrades to Hilo鈥檚 wastewater treatment system.

糖心视频 Hilo graduate Joseph “Crispin” Nakoa led the research, conducted in 2020–22, along his hometown鈥檚 coast.

“Growing up in Hilo, these aren鈥檛 just study sites, they鈥檙e places I鈥檝e spent my whole life fishing, surfing and spending time with family and friends,” Nakoa said. “Being able to answer questions that so many of us have had about the health of these waters has been one of the most rewarding parts of this project.”

Tracing the sources

Researchers sampled 16 locations monthly, measuring bacteria associated with fecal contamination, nutrients and chemical signatures of nitrogen in water and limu (seaweed). These measurements helped trace wastewater from cesspools and Hilo鈥檚 wastewater treatment plant.

Wastewater was detected at every site, though most pollution indicators were found at low concentrations. Fresh groundwater flowing into the ocean diluted those signals, making contamination harder to detect.

Researchers combined their measurements with nearby cesspool densities to identify hotspots that water testing alone could miss.

Depending on the location, wastewater accounted for 8% to 49% of nitrate, a nutrient, in the water. Groundwater remained the largest source of nitrate.

Supporting community solutions

The study also showed that rivers carry wastewater to the coast.

“We talk a lot about the importance of removing cesspools from near the shoreline, but it鈥檚 also important to remove those near our rivers and streams,” said 糖心视频 Hilo Professor Steven Colbert.

Published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, the findings supported a companion study that traced sewage from homes to shoreline springs within hours to days.

“The goal with this data is to empower the communities鈥o that they can seek funding for solutions to improve water quality, to make it safe for everybody in the community to be able to use these waters,” said 糖心视频 Hilo marine science Professor Tracy Wiegner.

Honolulu voters will decide in November whether to adopt ranked-choice voting for mayoral, prosecuting attorney and City Council elections. The proposal would move the final decision in all contested city races to November, when voter turnout is typically higher, potentially broadening participation in choosing city officials, according to a new analysis from the (糖心视频ERO). Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

In a piece published October 16, Associate Professor Colin Moore examines Question 5, a proposed Honolulu Charter amendment that would change how voters select city officials and how election results are determined.

Under the proposal, races with two to five candidates would be decided through ranked-choice voting in November, giving voters a broader choice than the two finalists in current runoff elections. If six or more candidates run, an August election would narrow the field to five candidates for November. Uncontested candidates would still be elected in August.

If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those ballots are counted for voters鈥� next choices still in the race. The process continues until a winner is determined.

The analysis found that Honolulu turnout averaged about 40% of registered voters in August and 58% in November across the five election cycles from 2016 through 2024.

However, Moore noted that Honolulu already uses a runoff system designed to produce a majority winner, meaning the effects of ranked-choice voting could be more modest than in places where candidates can win with only a plurality of votes.

Research reviewed in the report suggested ranked-choice voting may encourage candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters and may lead to less negative campaigns. Evidence that the system independently increases turnout or significantly changes who runs for office and policy outcomes remains mixed.

The report also emphasized the importance of clear ballot design and voter education, including multilingual outreach, to help voters understand the process and avoid errors.

Question 5 would apply to the mayor, prosecuting attorney and all nine City Council seats. The changes could take effect no earlier than 2032 and would require state authorization for counties to use ranked-choice voting in county elections.

.

糖心视频ERO is housed in .

The findings and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or official positions of 糖心视频ERO, 糖心视频, or any funding or supporting organization.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will host and lead the new (CCIL), a United States (U.S.) Department of State (DOS) program designed to safeguard supply chains and boost local and global production. Clemson University in South Carolina will co-lead the program.

The award is for up to five years, with an initial obligation of $8 million for the first year funded through an agreement with the DOS.

“The Innovation Lab is designed to transform coffee and cacao science into practical benefits for small farmers in Hawaiʻi, the continental U.S., and around the world,” said Parwinder Grewal, dean and director of the 糖心视频 Mānoa and principal investigator of the CCIL. “Hawaiʻi is a fitting living laboratory for this program as the only state in the nation that grows both coffee and cacao commercially. Innovations developed and tested here will support Hawaiʻi farmers and scale to protect our global supply chains.”

Closing a major vulnerability in global supply chains

Coffee and cacao are significant economic drivers—coffee contributes $343.2 billion a year to the U.S. economy, supporting 2.2 million jobs, while chocolate generates $28.4 billion and supports 700,000 jobs. However, with over 99% of U.S. coffee and cacao imported from overseas, the supply chains are highly vulnerable to climate shocks, crop diseases and pests, and overseas trade disruptions.

CCIL will develop heat-, disease-, and drought-resistant crop varieties to combat these threats and secure reliable global supplies. The program will also enhance post-harvest processing and farm management techniques for thousands of smallholder farmers in Hawaiʻi and internationally in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

“This is great news for our small local coffee and cacao farms and showcases 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 global leadership in agricultural research. This new federal funding will give local farmers more tools to fight threats like drought and invasive pests and help boost production of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 world-class coffee and chocolate,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Research across the coffee and cacao value chain

A more resilient global supply, enabled by CCIL research, will strengthen U.S. security, economic, and trade interests while reinforcing America鈥檚 leadership in coffee and cacao research and production.

“By leveraging the U.S. land-grant system and working with a world-class group of research institutions and industry partners, the CCIL will connect innovative research to farms and supply chains. This will boost productivity and profitability for small farmers, improve processing technologies, and ensure quality products for U.S. consumers,” said Congressional Coffee Caucus Co-Chairs 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda and U.S. Rep. William Timmons (South Carolina).

Investing in farmers and research

“Coffee and chocolate are two of the joys in life. I am excited for the benefits this funding brings to American growers and consumers.” Suzanne Shriner, a coffee farmer and the Administrator for the Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council. “Ensuring we can all continue to enjoy these foods means investing in the farmers, research, and practices that keep them thriving. This grant helps secure a strong future for cacao and coffee grown right here in the United States, from the farm to cup and bar.”

The lab brings together major research and industry organizations, including Michigan State University; The Ohio State University; Penn State; the University of California, Davis; Coffee Quality Institute; Mars, Incorporated; PlantVillage+; Synergistic Hawaiʻi Agriculture Council; and World Coffee Research.

The University of Hawaiʻi’s Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP) team has launched a new interactive website that allows the public to explore how Hurricane Nolo affected weather across the Hawaiian Islands, from its first rain bands over Hawaiʻi Island to the heavy rainfall that later drenched Kauaʻi and Oʻahu.

Among the notable observations, Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations recorded storm rainfall totals exceeding 20 inches at three locations on Hawaiʻi Island, while a United States (U.S.) Geological Survey gauge at Mount Waiʻaleʻale on Kauaʻi recorded more than 38 inches.

“This website allows people to see how a major storm affected different parts of Hawaiʻi, not just through a few headline numbers, but in considerable detail as the event unfolded,” said Cherryle Manzano, who developed the new website with fellow HCDP climate data analyst Matthew Lucas.

Interactive abilities

The Hurricane Nolo website brings together observations from the more than 80 weather stations of the Hawaiʻi Mesonet, other weather monitoring networks, and satellite imagery to provide a detailed picture of the storm’s impacts.

An interactive animation lets users follow the storm hour by hour, showing rainfall, wind gusts and satellite images as Nolo approached, stalled south of Hawaiʻi Island, and eventually moved away. Users can select individual weather stations to examine how conditions changed throughout the storm. A second interactive feature displays daily rainfall maps, allowing users to explore how precipitation varied across the islands.

Statewide monitoring, accessible data

“Extreme weather event analyses such as this one for Hurricane Nolo demonstrate the tremendous value of maintaining a dense, statewide weather monitoring network and making its data readily accessible to the public,” added Thomas Giambelluca, professor emeritus at 糖心视频 Mānoa, Hawaiʻi Mesonet leader and HCDP co-lead, now based at Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program.

The Hurricane Nolo website is the fifth extreme weather event website released by the HCDP team since March 2026. Previous websites documented two Kona low storms in March and Hurricanes Lowell and Lala. These event summaries build on the routine collection, quality control and analysis of weather and climate data.

The Hawaiʻi Mesonet and HCDP provide data and information that support emergency preparedness, weather forecasting, water resource management, agriculture, scientific research and public education.

Rising interest rates around the world could make it more expensive for Hawaiʻi residents to buy homes, for businesses to grow and for state and county governments to fund public projects, according to a new analysis from the (糖心视频ERO).

In a new piece published October 12, 糖心视频ERO economist Peter Fuleky examines why long-term borrowing costs have climbed and how the trend could affect Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose above 5% in September for the first time since 2007. These yields help influence interest rates for major purchases, including homes, because lenders use them as a benchmark when setting loan rates.

Significant Hawaiʻi impacts

For Hawaiʻi residents, the impact is especially significant given the state鈥檚 high housing costs. The analysis estimates that a buyer purchasing a median-priced Oʻahu single-family home of about $1.18 million, with a 20% down payment, would pay approximately $6,270 a month in principal and interest at a 7% mortgage rate. At a 3% rate, the monthly payment would be about $3,970鈥攁 difference of $2,300.

Higher rates can also discourage homeowners with lower-rate mortgages from selling, limiting the number of homes available for sale and adding to housing market challenges.

The effects extend beyond housing. Local businesses may face higher costs to finance expansions and operations, while state and county governments could pay more to borrow for infrastructure projects, leaving less money available for other public services.

Hawaiʻi鈥檚 tourism industry could also feel the effects. Higher U.S. interest rates relative to Japan鈥檚 can contribute to a weaker Japanese yen, making travel to Hawaiʻi more expensive for visitors from Japan.

Several factors are contributing to rising borrowing costs, including large government budget deficits, concerns about future inflation, changing investor demand for government bonds and uncertainty about future interest rates. The Federal Reserve raised its target interest rate by a quarter percentage point in September to help contain inflation.

Fuleky鈥檚 analysis notes that the duration of higher borrowing costs will depend in part on energy prices, the Federal Reserve鈥檚 response to inflation and whether governments address growing debt. For Hawaiʻi, the outlook matters because global financial conditions can directly affect household budgets, local investment and the cost of public projects.

糖心视频ERO is housed in .

The findings and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or official positions of 糖心视频ERO, 糖心视频, or any funding or supporting organization.

examining how tropical cyclone activity near Hawaiʻi could change in a warmer future finds a shift toward stronger storms, even though uncertainty remains about whether the total number of storms near the islands will increase. The study was led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (SOEST).

“This research addresses a hazard that is rare in Hawaiʻi but can have enormous consequences when it occurs,” said Nicole Murray, lead author who was a postdoctoral researcher in the SOEST at the time of this research. “The events of this hurricane season make that especially tangible: storms do not need to make a conventional landfall to disrupt communities, damage infrastructure and create dangerous flooding and wind impacts.”

Only a small number of tropical cyclones have directly affected the islands during the modern observational record. Limited data, however, makes it difficult for scientists to estimate the probabilities of rare events or determine how those probabilities might change in the future.

Simulating tropical cyclones

Murray and team addressed that problem by using the Columbia Tropical Cyclone Hazard computer model created by study co-authors Chia-Ying Lee and Suzana Camargo at Columbia University. The model generated thousands of years鈥� worth of synthetic tropical cyclones from the atmospheric and oceanic conditions simulated by seven global climate models. This provided the researchers with a much larger sample of possible storms than observations alone could provide.

They examined storms passing within 300 nautical miles of Hawaiʻi and analyzed their frequency, intensity, tracks, duration, speed and landfalls under historical, mid-century and late-century climates. The future simulations use a high-emissions scenario to examine how tropical cyclone activity could respond under substantial future warming. They also separated storms occurring during El Niño and La Niña years, allowing the team to examine whether the relationship between El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Hawaiʻi tropical cyclone hazard could change in a warmer future.

Assessing changes in El Niño and hurricane hazard

El Niño has historically provided useful context for understanding heightened tropical cyclone hazards around Hawaiʻi. This study found an important change in the relationship between El Niño and Hawaiʻi’s tropical cyclone risk. Historically, El Niño tends to favor stronger and more frequent tropical cyclones near Hawaiʻi compared with La Niña. In the team鈥檚 late-century simulations, the differences between El Niño and La Niña become less pronounced, particularly for tropical cyclone wind hazard, while the spatial pattern of storm tracks also changes. During El Niño, tropical cyclone tracks shift southwest of the Hawaiian Islands relative to La Niña conditions.

“The 2026 hurricane season has provided a powerful reminder of this,” said Christina Karamperidou, co-author and SOEST atmospheric sciences professor. “Hurricane Lala passed just south of the islands in August and produced severe flooding and damaging winds across Hawaiʻi; Hurricane Lowell approached Hawaiʻi from the south in September before passing west of the state, producing damaging winds, heavy rainfall and flooding, with particularly severe impacts on Kauaʻi.”

This research connects large-scale climate dynamics of the tropical Pacific with hazards that impact communities across Hawaiʻi. Tropical cyclone risk is not simply a question of how many hurricanes make landfall. Storms passing near the islands can produce damaging winds, extreme rainfall, flooding, landslides, high surf and other cascading hazards.

.

Marine microplastic pollution is associated with higher rates of several cancers in U.S. coastal counties, according to University of Hawaiʻi research.

The study was senior-authored by , assistant professor and Chin Sik and Hyun Sook Chung Endowed Chair in the 糖心视频 M膩noa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health鈥檚 .

Researchers examined 89 coastal counties, representing about 54 million people, and compared marine microplastic pollution with cancer rates from 2013 to 2021. Pollution levels were estimated using beach sand and ocean samples collected in each county and available through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration database.

Counties with higher microplastic pollution tended to have higher rates of digestive, thyroid, prostate, lung and oral and throat cancers.

“It is important to note that these findings are preliminary evidence and require further investigation,” Li said. “However, this is one of the earliest human studies to connect microplastics and cancer at the national level and will provide guidance for future research on what to study specifically.”

Building on microplastics research

Li said future research should measure micro- and nanoplastics in biological samples such as blood to more directly quantify associations with adverse health outcomes.

The cancer study, “,” was published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. The study鈥檚 first author is Nicolas E. Gentile of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and included researchers from 糖心视频 M膩noa and the .

Li is also co-leading a five-year, $3.3 million study that will follow 300 Hawaiʻi families from pregnancy through a baby鈥檚 first year, measuring exposure to microplastics and PFAS and examining potential effects on early brain development.

Hawaiʻi‘s rapidly aging population faces a higher cost of meeting basic needs, with housing costs driving much of the difference compared with the rest of the nation, according to a new (糖心视频ERO) analysis.

In a new piece published October 7, James Mak, professor emeritus of economics and a 糖心视频ERO fellow, uses the 2025 to estimate the minimum income older adults need to live independently without public or private subsidies. The Elder Index estimates basic expenses for older households but does not include costs such as dining out, vacations, savings, gifts, entertainment or long-term care.

The analysis found that for a couple in good health who rents, the estimated monthly budget is $4,585 in Hawaiʻi, compared with $3,918 nationally. For a single renter, the estimated monthly budget is $3,436, compared with $2,836 nationally.

Housing accounts for much of the difference. For older adults who rent or still have a mortgage, housing is the largest monthly expense, while health care is the largest expense for couples who have paid off their mortgages.

Basic needs differences among counties

The analysis also found significant differences among Hawaiʻi‘s counties. Honolulu County was generally the least affordable for older adults, while Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi counties were more affordable. For example, a single renter in Honolulu County would need an estimated $3,563 per month to meet basic needs, compared with $3,106 in Kauaʻi County and $3,172 in Hawaiʻi County.

Hawaiʻi‘s aging population adds urgency to the issue. In 2024, more than 310,000 Hawaiʻi residents were 65 or older, representing 21.5% of the state’s population. A decade ago, it was only 16.2%. By 2035, one in four Hawaiʻi residents is expected to be 65 or older.

Health care a growing concern

Mak also highlighted health care as a growing concern as the state’s population of adults age 85 and older increases. Older adults in poorer health face substantially higher health care costs, and the state already faces a shortage of physicians.

Mak concludes that addressing housing affordability and health care access would benefit not only older adults but Hawaiʻi residents more broadly.

.

糖心视频ERO is housed in .

The findings and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or official positions of 糖心视频ERO, 糖心视频, or any funding or supporting organization.

New research led by (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST), and U.S. Geological Survey analyzed a 253-year old core from a massive coral colony at Olowalu Reef off West Maui to reconstruct how Olowalu has changed over time, what has driven those changes, and what restoring healthy connections between land and sea may mean for the reef鈥檚 future.

The study, , analyzed the coral core from approximately 1760 to 2013 which provided a rare glimpse into the conditions that began before large-scale changes to the West Maui landscape following Western contact occurred, and continued through plantation agriculture and modern coastal development.

Chemical indicators associated with sediment, nutrients, and other land-derived inputs generally increased over the 253-year record, with some of the largest changes occurring during the twentieth century as sugarcane agriculture expanded across West Maui. At the same time, the coral鈥檚 growth record showed that calcification increased through much of the record before beginning to decline around the late 1960s, concurrent with sugarcane expansion.

Coral skeletons

Like the rings of a tree, corals build their skeletons incrementally over time. As they grow, elements from the surrounding seawater become incorporated into their skeletons. By measuring this chemistry along the length of the Olowalu core, the researchers were able to reconstruct how conditions affecting the reef changed over generations.

“One of the important lessons from this study is that some of the changes that occurred on land more than a century ago can still provide important context for what we see on reefs today,” said Samuel Kekuewa, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant postdoctoral affiliate researcher. “Understanding these legacy impacts can help us make better decisions about how we manage these areas moving forward.”

Researchers paired the chemical record with measurements of coral growth, historical records of land-use change, and large-scale climate patterns such as El Ni帽o. The coral recorded both natural climate variability and major changes occurring within the watershed. The research occurring at Olowalu is particularly important because it is one of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 largest continuous reef systems, and an important source of coral larvae for reefs throughout Maui Nui.

“Across Hawaiʻi, there is already a large amount of work being done by the community to restore watersheds, retain sediment on land, and protect the downstream coral reefs,” said Kekuewa. “Records like this can help provide the long-term context needed to support and guide that work.”

–By Cindy Knapman

A new framework designed to guide one of the hardest decisions in conservation—whether to move a species outside its historical range to save it from extinction—has been , capping a multi-year, Pacific-wide effort in which the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa played a central supporting role.

The framework helps managers to decide whether a “conservation introduction” that moves a plant or animal outside its historic range is the right call, and how to do it responsibly.

Professor Melissa Price with College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR)鈥檚 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM) and a co-author of the paper, served as a co-principal investigator alongside lead investigator Mark W. Schwartz of the University of California, Davis and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Pacific Region. Price, 糖心视频 Mānoa graduate students and others helped facilitate community engagement, gathering input from more than 250 people across the Pacific region.

Years of conservation, community discussions

“This framework is the product of years of conversations with the people who actually do this work: biologists, cultural practitioners, Tribal and Indigenous community members, land managers, and agency staff across an enormous and diverse region,” said Price. “糖心视频 Mānoa’s role was to help make sure that engagement was real, not a formality, and that the framework reflected the full range of perspectives and places it’s meant to serve.”

That place-based, relationship-first approach sets the framework apart from earlier tools. It is built around considering cultural and community values alongside ecological risk.

“For Hawaiian forest birds, we don鈥檛 have the luxury of waiting until we have perfect information to make difficult decisions,” said Hanna Mounce, coordinator of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. “We are often making high-stakes decisions under a lot of uncertainty, and this framework gives us a way to work through those decisions thoughtfully and transparently, while making sure the right people are part of the conversation.”

Learn more

Community members interested in learning more are invited to a panel discussion on conservation introductions and forest bird translocations in the Hawaiian Islands at the NREM Departmental Research Seminar on Wednesday, October 28, from 3 to 4 p.m., hosted by CTAHR in the St. John Plant Science Laboratory, Room 011, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822.

The panel will feature Hanna Mounce (Maui Nui Forest Bird Recovery Project), Megan Laut (USFWS), and Lucas Fortini (U.S. Geological Survey).