Since the first major bleaching event in 1996, Hawaiian corals have been subject to increasing heat stress and more prevalent bleaching events. New research from oceanographers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa used over the 21st century. Comparing this heat stress to previous estimates of the rate at which corals may adapt to changing conditions, the authors found that Hawaiian corals have the possibility of adapting to future heat stress, even under a high emissions scenario.

“Our research shows that Hawaiian corals may be exposed to unprecedented human-induced heat stress in the coming decades,” said Kate Feloy, lead author of the study, who conducted this work as part of her doctoral research in the in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST). “However, our results also provide some surprising hope that Hawaiian corals may be able to adapt to increasing temperatures.”

Feloy and co-authors used high-resolution ocean simulations, run under three different climate emissions scenarios. The modeling approach accounts for small-scale processes and can reveal important spatial patterns in local warming. This is the first time this type of high-resolution climate projection has been used to assess future heat stress around the main Hawaiian islands.

Differences across the island chain

Coral reefs have high cultural and economic value and are a critical source of food and coastal protection in Hawaiʻi. This study provides projected heat stress not just for the region as a whole but examines differences across and between individual islands. The team鈥檚 results show that not all coastal locations are projected to experience human-induced climate change at the same rate. They found that corals around Hawaiʻi Island are projected to experience higher heat stress than the other islands.

“The differences in warming are caused by complex ocean dynamics on small spatial scales in the waters around Hawaiʻi,” Feloy said. “These dynamics change the spatial patterns of human-induced coastal warming. Because of the spatial differences in projected heat stress, the rate at which corals will need to adapt in order to keep pace with increasing temperatures varies around the islands.”

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Human activities are fundamentally altering the chemical makeup of local coral reefs, according to a study led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and published in . The research team discovered that 25 contaminants from agricultural, industrial and pharmaceutical sources accumulated in the soft tissues of coral around Maui. Additionally, in areas impacted by human activities, the energy and nutrient availability within the coral鈥檚 tissue decreases, making them significantly less resilient to environmental stressors such as warmer or acidic waters.

“Our findings suggest that monitoring the pool of chemicals within the coral tissues, called metabolomes, can serve as a powerful tool for tracking the hidden impacts of anthropogenic [human induced] disturbance on marine life,” said Zach Quinlan, lead author and research biologist at the (HIMB) in the 糖心视频 Mānoa .

Quinlan and an international team of researchers tested the metabolomes of 380 lobe corals (Porites lobata) and rice corals (Montipora capitata) from 16 sites off west and south Maui. They found that human activities both within the adjacent watershed and in the marine ecosystem altered the composition of the corals鈥� metabolomes. In areas with more ecosystem disturbance, there was increased accumulation of contaminants and a decrease of nutrient and energy reserves in the coral tissues.

“It was extremely surprising that the metabolomes of both coral species had almost identical trends,” said Quinlan. “These corals have very different life strategies, and we wouldnʻt normally expect them to accumulate contaminants the same or even necessarily respond the same to disturbances.”

Clues from 2016 bleaching event

Using historical trends in coral from five of the sites they sampled, the team found that sites that had the most severe declines in coral cover after the 2016 bleaching event are the sites with the most impacted metabolomes. At more impacted sites, nitrogen and energy reserves were reduced, while stress chemicals were enriched.

The research team proposed two potential mechanisms by which human activities and contamination of marine environments lead to decreased coral resilience: 1) accumulation of anthropogenic molecules such as pharmaceuticals and industrial byproducts, and 2) increased pressure from anthropogenic activities requires coral to utilize portions of their nitrogen and energetic reserves.

Tracing contaminants through the ecosystem

The researchers propose that monitoring the metabolomes of coral or other coastal seafloor species can be used as a powerful tool to track human impacts on natural ecosystems.

“Beyond the implications for coral health and resilience, this study demonstrates how many anthropogenic contaminants are escaping into marine ecosystems,” Megan Donahue, senior author on the paper and HIMB director. “We see increasing evidence that anthropogenic contaminants have broad cumulative impacts that can undermine the resilience of coastal ecosystems.”

Looking ahead, Quinlan and team are searching for ways to enrich coral tissue nitrogen and energy reserves in controlled experiments to determine whether those increases lead to more resilient corals.

Additional co-authors include researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, University of Newcastle (Australia), University of New South Wales (Australia), Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute (Australia), The Nature Conservancy, University of California Merced, Princeton University and James Cook University (Australia).

Coral reef decline driven by climate change could cost Hawaiʻi residents between $1.8 billion and $3 billion in lost reef-related activities by 2100, according to a published in Ecological Economics. The research projects these burdens will not fall equally, with lower-income and disadvantaged communities in the state facing disproportionate impacts.

The study was led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR), alongside scientists from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the University of Trento. It is one of the first studies to combine detailed ecological models with community-level economic data across the state.

“Coral reefs are foundational to life in Hawaiʻi culturally, ecologically and economically,” said lead author Ashley Lowe Mackenzie, an affiliated faculty member in the CTAHR Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM). “Our work makes visible something that is often invisible in policy conversations by valuing real welfare losses that residents will experience as these ecosystems degrade.”

Mapping future losses

The research team used a sophisticated biophysical simulation called the Atlantis ecosystem model to project how coral cover will change across nearshore reef systems through the year 2100. They tested three different climate pathways representing low, mid-range and high global emissions scenarios.

By connecting these ecological shifts with a recreation demand model, they mapped potential economic losses for residents at a precise 1-kilometer resolution. Because the figures only capture local recreational use—such as swimming, snorkeling and diving—the authors emphasize that the $1.8 billion to $3 billion estimate represents a lower end of total economic damage.

Key findings include:

• The earliest and most severe losses are projected along the leeward (west and south) coasts of Hawaiʻi Island and Maui.
• Recreational losses are expected to spread northward to Oʻahu by mid-century.
• Under a high-emissions climate scenario, nearshore reefs face a near-total collapse by 2100. Under a low-emissions scenario, some windward (east and north) coastlines show signs of partial recovery late in the century.

Disproportionate impacts on local communities

Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 environmental justice tool (EJScreen), the researchers discovered that disadvantaged communities often face higher per-person welfare losses. Traditional economic methods usually project lower monetary losses for lower-income groups, making this finding particularly striking. The data indicate that vulnerable communities are disproportionately exposed to the specific areas experiencing the steepest reef declines.

“This study puts numbers to what our communities have long understood—that losing our reefs means losing the recreational opportunities, cultural practices, and quality of life that define what it means to live in Hawaiʻi,” said Brian Neilson, administrator of the Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources. “Reef-based recreation is deeply tied to traditions of fishing, gathering, and caring for our nearshore waters.”

A call for local action

The findings connect directly to local state-led efforts such as 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 Holomua Marine Initiative, which works with communities and Indigenous knowledge holders to design site-specific reef management.

“The magnitude of those potential losses should be a wake-up call to take action now to protect our nearshore environment,” said senior author Kirsten L.L. Oleson, NREM professor. “Our lab’s research suggests that a lot can be accomplished through local action, particularly by reducing land-based pollution and over-harvesting.”

The research was supported by NOAA鈥檚 Ocean Acidification Program.

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

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

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

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

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

A new $4.6–million multi-institute collaborative project to help grow coral restoration capacity in American Samoa will begin in early 2026, leveraging more than two decades of coral heat tolerance studies to inform a restoration with resilience approach.

The project will bring together partners from American Samoa Community College, , American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, 糖心视频 Mānoa and Old Dominion University with local agencies and village leaders to focus on restoring healthy coral reefs and training the next generation of natural resource managers.

American Samoa has some of the healthiest coral reefs within inhabited U.S. waters that are exceptionally heat tolerant, as well as the world’s oldest continuously monitored coral reef transect, making it an excellent coral reef study site. American Samoa also has the highest rate of relative sea-level rise recorded within the NOAA global tide gauge network. Since the fringing reef crests (the shallow part of the reef where the waves break) remove up to 97% of wave energy before reaching the shore, maintaining healthy reefs is key to protecting the land. Coral restoration, where corals are grown and outplanted onto the reef, is one method of helping reefs recover from impacts such as storms and ship groundings.

Understanding heat tolerant corals

Researchers have made progress in understanding the environmental and genetic drivers of heat tolerant corals.

“Heat tolerance is key for coral survival due to the increase in marine heatwaves causing mass coral bleaching and coral die-offs,” said Kelley Anderson Tagarino, 糖心视频 Sea Grant College Program extension agent in American Samoa and co-lead on the project. “By ensuring some of the corals in our restoration nurseries are heat tolerant, we can help our reefs have a better chance to withstand marine heatwaves. American Samoa has long been known to have highly resilient corals, and now we will be able to weave together local knowledge with Western science to help our reefs continue to protect our islands and feed our people.”

Funding student positions

The project includes funding for three graduate student positions for residents of American Samoa to study coral restoration at either 糖心视频 Mānoa or Old Dominion University, and will provide support for local positions focused on coral restoration in partnership with the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

Oceana Francis, professor in the 糖心视频 Mānoa and coastal sustainability faculty with the 糖心视频 Sea Grant College Program, will provide critical project support by conducting hydrodynamic modeling (understanding how our ocean water moves) to help identify suitable places for the restoration nurseries as well as which shorelines are at most risk to flooding. These areas will be prioritized for coral restoration outplanting.

The project was funded by the NOAA Coastal Zone Management program.

From the coral reefs of the tropics to the oyster reefs of temperate estuaries, nature’s most diverse ecosystems are built by “master architects.” A study revealed that the complex shapes of these reefs are not random—they follow precise geometric rules that maximize survival.

The collaborative research of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (HIMB) and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, offers a proven guide for reviving damaged marine habitats and protecting the vital seafood sources that communities depend on.

“This work shows that there are universal architectural rules for reef persistence,” said Joshua Madin, a senior author of the study, HIMB research professor, and a principal investigator of the HIMB Conservation Innovation Group. “Nature has already solved the design problem. Our job is to read that blueprint and scale it up to help reefs grow faster and survive longer.”

Geometry of survival

Using high-resolution 3D mapping and field experiments in Australia, the team engineered concrete structures spanning a wide range of surface complexities. They discovered that while simple structures left juvenile oysters exposed to predators, and overly complex structures offered diminishing returns, survival peaked at a specific, optimal combination of height and fractal dimension—exactly the geometry found in thriving natural reefs.

“Reefs are not just piles of skeletons or shells,” said Juan Esquivel-Muelbert, the study’s lead author from Macquarie University. “They are finely tuned three-dimensional machines. Their shape controls who lives, who dies, and how fast the reef grows.”

While the fieldwork focused on oysters, the theoretical principles were developed at HIMB and apply directly to coral reefs.

R3D project

The study provides the biological validation for cutting-edge restoration work currently underway in Hawaiʻi. The geometric principles utilized in this paper are a driving force behind the 糖心视频 project Rapid Resilient Reefs for Coastal Defense (R3D), a project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that is deploying immense, geometric reef modules off the coast of Oʻahu.

By mimicking the “optimal geometry” of coral reef, using the same principles identified in the study, these artificial structures are designed to do more than just break waves—they are engineered to attract coral larvae, protect them from predators and grow into a thriving coral reef.

“We are applying these exact principles to coral restoration here in Hawaiʻi,” said Madin. “Recent work at HIMB testing these 3D-printed designs showed we could increase the settlement and survival of corals by 80-fold compared to natural reef surfaces. By building with the right geometry, we can jump-start the feedback loops that allow reefs to build themselves.”

A group of colorful hexacorals (aquatic organisms in the group of stony corals and anemones), known as “zoantharians” is defying the traditional laws of evolution by remaining virtually identical across the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans, according to a led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补.

The study, led by Maria “Duda” Santos of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (HIMB) ToBo Lab and the University of the Ryukyus, began with a moment of “déjà vu” underwater.

“During my first dive in Okinawa, I was surrounded by a multitude of species I had never seen in my homeland of Brazil,” said Santos. “But then I saw the zoantharians. They looked exactly like the ones back home—the same colors, shapes and sizes. It was striking.”

While the Indo-Pacific typically hosts 10 times the species diversity of the Atlantic for most reef animals, this research found that the genetic and morphological divergence between oceans for these creatures is surprisingly narrow.

By combining DNA data and records from Mexico to the Philippines, the team has provided the first-ever global “atlas” for a group of animals that has remained in the shadows for decades. This map of the past and present provides a vital baseline for monitoring how marine life will navigate climate change.

Secrets of the ultimate travelers

The researchers suggest that zoantharians may be the ultimate oceanic travelers. Their secret likely lies in high dispersal via an “epic” larval phase, where young zoantharians can survive in open water for more than 100 days, paired with an ability to “raft” across ocean basins by hitchhiking on floating objects. In addition, an unusually slow evolutionary rate appears to keep distant populations looking and acting like siblings, even after long time of separation.

As climate change stresses traditional stony corals, zoantharians are increasingly moving in to fill the void.

“In some habitats impacted by stress, some zoantharian species can outcompete stony corals,” said Santos. “We are seeing ‘phase shifts’ where reefs once dominated by corals are being taken over by zoantharians. Understanding how they spread helps us forecast what the reefs of the future will look like.”

This study represents an international effort, uniting a team from Hawaiʻi, Okinawa, Russia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia.

A multi-year scientific expedition including the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and led by researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara and collaborating institutions, were able to find critical connections between land, rainwater and lagoon waters.

The researchers determined that land use on tropical islands can shape water quality in lagoons and that rainfall can be an important mediator for connections between land and lagoon waters. These findings provide vital information for ecosystem stewards facing global reef decline. Their findings were published in .

“The links between land and sea are dynamic and complex, so it鈥檚 a topic that has remained elusive to science,” said Mary Donovan, co-author and faculty at the in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (SOEST). “It took a dream team to pierce through that complexity. We brought together a group of interdisciplinary thinkers, from students to senior investigators, across at least five major institutions to tackle this immense challenge.”

Understanding the phase shift

Scientists have long been concerned that with an increase in human-associated inputs from land to a coral reef, there is often a “phase shift”—a decline in corals accompanied by an increase in harmful algae. This ecological shift is often linked to excessive nutrients and changes in the microbial community, but the precise connection between land use and coral reef health has been poorly understood.

Through its investigation, the team found that nutrients in the lagoons off Moʻorea were highest in concentration closer to the island, lower farther offshore.

Informing stewardship efforts

“Gravity is a unifying force in ecology, and islands are always uphill from the coral reefs that surround them,” said Christian John, lead author of the study and postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Across Pacific Island systems, the flow of nutrients from mountains to the ocean is a central focus for coastal resource management. Targeted strategies, such as reducing polluted runoff, developing buffers along rivers, or actively mitigating soil loss at development sites, can significantly dampen the adverse effects of land use on lagoon water quality.

“The ahupuaʻa, land use divisions that connect mauka to makai, are central to watershed management here in Hawaiʻi,” said Nyssa Silbiger, co-author and associate professor in the SOEST Department of Oceanography. “Understanding water quality is a fundamental challenge for everyone: it is key to assessing coral reef health and it is inseparable from human health.”

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Internationally recognized researchers currently or formerly affiliated with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have been honored among the world鈥檚 most influential scientists in Clarivate鈥檚 2025 . The annual analysis identifies just 1 in 1,000 researchers globally—including Nobel laureates—whose publications have demonstrated exceptional influence across their fields.

(SOEST) Professor Fei-Fei Jin and the late Director and Researcher Ruth Gates, were recognized in the cross-field category, which highlights researchers whose influence spans multiple scientific areas. Daniel Mende, a former SOEST postdoctoral researcher, was selected to the biology and biochemistry category.

“This distinction underscores the global influence of 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 research enterprise,” 糖心视频 Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos said. “Our scholars drive discoveries that resonate across disciplines and continents, and their work exemplifies the innovation and excellence that define our university.”

SOEST Professor Fei-Fei Jin

Jin鈥檚 research interests cover a wide range of topics, including the dynamics of large-scale atmosphere and ocean circulations, and climate variability. His primary research focuses are understanding the dynamics of El Niño-Southern Oscillation, climate variability in the extratropical atmospheric circulation and global warming.

The late Ruth Gates

Gates was a tireless innovator and advocate for coral reef conservation. The focus of her most recent research efforts was creating super corals, coral species occurring naturally in the ocean that could be trained to become more resilient to harsh conditions.

Former SOEST postdoctoral fellow Daniel Mende

Mende specializes in environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, metagenomics and more. He came to 糖心视频 Mānoa in 2014 for his postdoctoral studies on microbial communities in oceans. Mende is now an assistant professor at Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam.

These scientists are identified based on their publication of highly cited papers in the Web of Science Core Collection—a widely respected global citation database. Using rigorously curated data, analysts at the Institute for Scientific Information select individuals who have demonstrated remarkable influence in their field.

This story was compiled based on primary affiliation according to the Web of Science鈥檚 Highly Cited Researchers list. If there are other researchers currently or formerly affiliated with 糖心视频 on the list, email Marc Arakaki at marcra@hawaii.edu.

Fifteen years after the devastating poured an estimated 134 million gallons of oil into the marine environment, vital long-term monitoring work involving University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa oceanographers continues to chart the slow path to recovery for the region’s deep-sea coral communities, providing critical information to guide their restoration. The marine organisms, living at depths of 1,000 to 2,000 meters, were directly impacted by the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

In October, two oceanographers from the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST) participated in the that revisited monitoring sites off Louisiana. The team’s mission was to capture new images of more than 200 individual coral colonies using a remotely operated vehicle equipped with high-resolution still and video cameras.

“Processes in the deep ocean are very slow,” said Fanny Girard, assistant professor of oceanography at SOEST and lead investigator in the project. “Many of these animals look exactly the same as they did in 2011. It驶s a sobering reminder that recovery in the deep sea takes time.”

High-tech imaging

The first phase (2011 to 2017) of this work aimed to evaluate impacts to deep-sea corals to inform the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process. Following the 2016 settlement with BP Exploration & Production, the second phase of this work is now informing restoration by providing critical baseline information on coral health, growth and role as habitat for many other species.

Teams took images of the same locations each year, and Girard and her graduate student Jack Howell manually compared the photos, a demanding process that can take hours for a single coral colony.

“We’ve learned that lots of animals, particularly brittle stars, live on these corals,” said Howell, whose project is focused on associations between coral and other organisms. “This seems to be a ‘win–win’ collaboration, where the brittle star may receive food and shelter, while the coral benefits from the brittle star potentially eating parasites and cleaning up sediment that could compromise its health.”

A cutting-edge marine platform designed to revolutionize coral reef monitoring and mapping called ReefVision Robotics was field tested in Kāneʻohe Bay by University of Hawaiʻi researchers.

The successful trial, conducted at the (HIMB) in September, represents a step toward a more scalable and highly accurate method for monitoring and mapping coral reefs. The project鈥檚 initial targets are invasive macroalgae species and marine debris but the technology can be used to detect many coral reef organisms. This test served as one of several trial runs before the technology is deployed in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in summer 2026.

“The integration of these technologies represents a significant step forward in our ability to manage and respond to invasive species threats facing our Hawaiian coral reefs,” said Keolohilani “Keo” Lopes, Jr., the project lead. The research is part of his PhD dissertation in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management within the 糖心视频 Mānoa .

The platform integrates three leading-edge detection methods on a suite of unmanned marine systems—two operating on the surface and one submersible—to provide a comprehensive picture of the reef environment including:

• Computer vision: The surface robot is equipped with advanced camera systems and uses machine learning to visually identify and automatically flag invasive algae or marine debris.
• Environmental DNA (eDNA): A second surface robot also serves as a mobile genetic lab, collecting water samples during deployment for eDNA analysis after its return. This allows researchers to perform rapid, in-field genetic analysis of water samples to confirm the presence of a target species.
• Hyperspectral benthic mapping: A submersible drone dives beneath the surface to scan the reef with a hyperspectral camera. This sensor captures detailed light signatures, creating 3D maps that reveal the specific composition and health of the coral ecosystem.

“We are moving beyond standard visual surveys to provide managers with definitive genetic, spectral and visual data, all collected autonomously,” said HIMB Associate Research Professor Erik Franklin, a collaborator on the project. “While technical challenges related to data synthesis and real-world accuracy remain, the collaborative team–comprising marine biology, invasive species, and technology experts–gives us confidence in the ultimate data products.”

The successful completion of the field test yielded valuable initial data, paving the way for the future research cruise to Papahānaumokuākea. The team aims to demonstrate a suite of technologies that can be deployed across coral reefs globally to protect them for generations.

The project is a collaboration among: 糖心视频, Queensland University of Technology (Australia), NOAA Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the state鈥檚 Division of Aquatic Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A University of at Mānoa graduate鈥檚 new research reveals that plastic pollution poses a significant, unseen threat to endangered coral reefs. The study found that chemicals leaching from plastics disrupt the two most critical processes for reef survival—the reproduction of adult corals and the settling of their larvae.

The work by Keiko Wilkins, who recently earned her PhD from the 糖心视频 Mānoa , is among the first to demonstrate these hidden dangers, which may help explain why some reefs are failing to recover after mass–bleaching events.

“When people think of threats to coral reefs, microplastics are often unnoticed,” said Wilkins. “Not only do corals eat microplastics, microplastic–associated chemicals may have hidden impacts. My research highlights this issue, urging us to see plastic pollution as a complex stressor to our reefs.”

Unseen threat

Coral reefs in and around the world are vital ecosystems facing extreme pressure from climate change. Wilkins鈥� work, conducted at the , was published in two parts.

showed that plastic leachates—chemicals released from plastics into the water—significantly reduced fertilization rates in corals.

demonstrated that these same chemicals negatively affected the ability of coral larvae to settle onto reefs, a step essential for replenishing coral populations.

“Keiko鈥檚 research is timely and essential in supporting efforts at the protection of coral reefs and all who depend on them,” said Bob Richmond, director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory and Wilkins鈥� advisor. “Her results provide proof of the unseen, damaging effects of plastic pollution and the need to urgently address this problem if we are to leave a legacy of vital coral reefs for future generations.”

Scholarship support, real-world impact

Wilkins conducted much of her research with support from a highly competitive NOAA Nancy Foster Scholarship. This allowed her to collect coral samples in protected areas, including the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The scholarship also supported her outreach and education efforts, through which she has connected with communities and schools across American Sāmoa to share her findings and raise awareness about the health of our oceans. She is now investigating how many microplastic particles are being ingested by corals in these regions.

To dramatically increase coral survival rates, scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (HIMB) have developed innovative 3D-printed ceramic structures that provide crucial protection for baby corals. These new designs offer a low-cost and scalable solution to enhance reef recovery worldwide.

The discovery, , addresses a critical challenge in reef restoration—the low settlement and survival rates of juvenile corals, which often die before adulthood due to predation, being overgrown by algae or being swept away by waves.

“We developed structures that help baby corals find safe homes in the reef,” said Josh Madin, principal investigator at HIMB鈥檚 Geometric Ecology Lab and co-author of the study. “Our new designs, with small spiral-shaped shelters called ‘helix recesses,’ give young corals the protection they need during this critical stage.”

Increased baby coral settlement

The study found these sheltered spaces had about 80 times more baby corals settle on them compared to flat surfaces and helped them survive up to 50 times better over the course of a year. The idea was inspired by observing coral larvae in nature, which almost always chose small crevices to settle.

“We wondered if we could recreate these safe spaces in structures that could be easily added to reefs for restoration or built into coastal engineering projects,” said Jessica Reichert, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in HIMB鈥檚 Geometric Ecology Lab.

To test this, the team designed and deployed seven different 3D-printed reef modules at two sites in Kāneʻohe Bay. Over the next year, they tracked the settlement and survival of coral recruits, finding the &#lsquo;helix recess&#rsquo; design to be the most successful.

“We expected the helix recess design to help, but we were surprised by the scale of improvement,” said Reichert. “Seeing thousands of baby corals clustered in these tiny shelters, compared to almost none on flat surfaces, was remarkable.”

Simple to maintain

This method offers a significant complement to current restoration efforts that are often limited by the high cost and labor of rearing and outplanting coral fragments. The new structures are simple to produce, require no ongoing maintenance, and can be integrated into artificial reefs, seawalls, and other coastal infrastructure.

For Hawaiʻi, where coral reefs are vital for coastal protection, fisheries, and cultural heritage, the implications are particularly significant. “Developing and testing these designs in Hawaiʻi allows the 糖心视频 to provide practical, locally driven solutions that help preserve the ecological, cultural, and community benefits reefs provide across the islands,” said Madin.

This research was conducted as part of the Reefense: Rapid Resilient Reefs for Coastal Defense (R3D) program, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, with additional support from the National Science Foundation and the HIMB Director鈥檚 Innovation Fund. The project鈥檚 goal is to develop hybrid reef structures that act as living breakwaters to reduce coastal erosion. The helix recess design is intended to attract and shelter coral recruits within these larger structures, helping to create self-sustaining reef systems.

A research partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has propelled ʻIolani School senior Deborah Park to a major win on the global stage. Park earned in the Plant Sciences category at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this spring after a year–long gene–editing project to fight coral bleaching.

With mentorship from Zhiyan “Rock” Du, an associate professor in the (CTAHR), and 糖心视频 graduate student Pansa Cecchini, Park鈥檚 success is a testament to pathways created by partnerships between 糖心视频 and local high schools. For future students interested in research, Park advises them “to grasp every opportunity you come across. It鈥檚 intimidating to step into a world you know absolutely nothing about, but be proud to be someone willing to explore this new world.”

“Ask all the questions you have, actively participate in those lab–sessions, take in every piece of knowledge thrown at you,” said Park.

Combat coral bleaching

Park began by working with Cecchini on a project developing a strain of algae that can thrive in higher temperatures to help combat coral bleaching—a major issue in Hawaiʻi and globally that occurs when algae living in coral reefs die off as ocean temperatures rise.

Park mutated the algal cells by delivering electric pulses that opened pores in their cell membranes to insert promoter sequences. Her project advanced through the school and state science fairs before reaching the international competition.

Park鈥檚 success in the science fair sparked her interest in the entire field of synthetic biology, and she attended a CRISPR gene editing workshop at CTAHR over summer 2025 to continue her research and expand her skills. The workshop was a positive experience for Park, who had no experience with CRISPR (a family of DNA sequences) and its mechanisms beforehand.

“As you are taking on these opportunities, don鈥檛 place a limit on your own abilities and the impact you can make!” she said.

In a landmark effort to combat the devastating effects of climate change, a new global alliance with key leadership from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has been established to create a “Noah驶s Ark” for coral reefs. The initiative, detailed in a publication in , focuses on building a worldwide network of coral biorepositories to safeguard the genetic diversity of these vital ecosystems.

The research, led by Mary Hagedorn of the 糖心视频 Mānoa and Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, highlights the critical need for a proactive conservation strategy. With global carbon emissions continuing to rise, the alliance aims to provide a critical safeguard against extinction by preserving coral genetic material in biosecure facilities.

‘A bold plan to save coral’

“This is an urgent and ambitious endeavor,” said Hagedorn, lead author of the study. “By integrating and standardizing our processes globally, we can ensure that we have the resources to not only prevent extinction but also to support long-term coral adaptation, resilience and restoration.”

The network will use a three-pronged approach to conservation: frozen nonliving tissue samples, live coral colonies in aquaculture, and cryopreserved (deep-freezing process) samples of frozen and live coral. This innovative approach provides a last-resort safety net, ensuring that essential bio—and genetic diversity can be preserved for future generations.

The global biorepository network will be instrumental in developing new, stronger types of coral, because coral can now be spawned in captivity. Therefore this network can be used to restore damaged reefs and help them survive in a changing climate today while holding other material for the future. The publication calls on the scientific community, conservation organizations and governments to support this critical infrastructure for the future of marine biodiversity.

A new deep-sea coral species in the tropical western Pacific that resembles a highly recognizable character from Star Wars has been discovered and named by a team of researchers including an expert from the University of Hawaiʻi.

The coral, named Iridogorgia chewbacca, is known for its long, flexible branches and shiny surface. The species earned its nickname because the coral鈥檚 “hairy” looking branches and upright, lone-standing appearance reminded researchers of Chewbacca, the furry character from the Star Wars films.

The species belongs to the genus Iridogorgia, a group of deep-sea corals with long, spiraling structures. The new coral was first seen in waters off Molokaʻi in 2006 and later near the Mariana Trench in 2016. The Molokaʻi specimen measured about 4 feet tall, while the Mariana Trench sample was about 20 inches. The branches are flexible and can grow up to 15 inches long.

Les Watling, professor emeritus in 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 and co-author of the , recognized the coral while reviewing research from colleagues in China. His earlier work in Hawaiʻi waters and collaborations with NOAA expeditions helped confirm that it was a new species.

“Seeing this coral for the first time was unforgettable,” Watling said. “Its long, flexible branches and shape immediately reminded me of Chewbacca. Even after years of deep-sea work, discoveries like this still make me stop and take notice.”

The study used both physical characteristics and genetic analysis to describe I. chewbacca and another new species, Iridogorgia curva. It also documented other known species in the western Pacific. Researchers found the region has a high diversity of Iridogorgia, with 10 species recorded in tropical western Pacific waters.

Thousands working together

Each coral colony is made up of thousands of tiny polyps, which work together to form the larger structure. Despite its large size and striking appearance, I. chewbacca usually occurs alone, scattered across deep-sea rocky bottoms.

Watling鈥檚 work highlights 糖心视频鈥檚 contributions to deep-sea research and shows the value of international collaboration in discovering and documenting new marine species. The discovery adds to scientists鈥� understanding of the biodiversity hidden in the deep ocean and demonstrates that even long-studied regions like the Pacific still hold surprises.

The School of Life Sciences is housed in 糖心视频 Mānoa’s .

The and the Keaukaha Community Association hosted the welcome event, He 笔奴办辞ʻ补 Kani ʻ膧颈苍补, on August 2, at the university鈥檚 (PACRC) in Keaukaha, Hilo Bay.

The event brought together Keaukaha community members and ʻohana, 糖心视频 Hilo faculty and student researchers, and local organizations to highlight the collaborative work being done at the center鈥檚 .

The nursery has three main facilities: a lab with 21 flow-through tanks, an invertebrate pool, and four horse troughs used to house corals and run projects. 糖心视频 Hilo students are eligible to volunteer at the nursery during the semester.

“We hope this event strengthens relationships and fosters new collaborations across the community,” said event co-sponsor Steve Doo, a 糖心视频 Hilo assistant professor of who coral and coral reefs.

Ocean stewardship

About 100 visitors from the community 鈥� from keiki to m膩kua (parents) to k奴puna (elders) 鈥� enjoyed the information booths, arts and crafts, land-based coral restoration demonstrations, snorkel surveys and coral outplanting in the bay.

Kaʻaka Swain, president of who also teaches at Ka ʻUmeke 碍腻ʻ别辞 charter school, said the event welcomed the Keaukaha community into PACRC to experience ongoing marine research through hands-on, culturally grounded activities.

“From limu pressing and lauhala fish weaving to touch tanks, coral reef building, and out-planting coral in Puhi Bay, participants explored the connections between culture and science,” said Swain. “Keiki gained a deeper understanding of marine life and a sense of pride in caring for the ocean.”

—By Susan Enright

Bringing Hawaiʻi‘s world-renowned expertise in coral reef science to the global stage, an outreach specialist with the and the 糖心视频 Mānoa represented the International Coral Reef Society at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France this summer.

Mariana Rocha de Souza鈥檚 participation highlighted the vital role of coral reef science in shaping ocean policy and resilience strategies.

“Being at UNOC was a tremendous honor and a unique opportunity to elevate the role of coral reef science in international policy conversations,” said Rocha de Souza. “Reefs are not just biodiversity hotspots—they are essential to global food security, climate resilience, cultural heritage, and livelihoods.”

Co-hosted by the governments of France and Costa Rica, the conference in June convened global leaders under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.” The event brought together heads of state, ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, NGOs and civil society to assess progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and commit to tangible actions for ocean sustainability.

Throughout the conference, Rocha de Souza contributed to high-level panels, science-policy sessions and side events. The conference culminated in the adoption of the , a political declaration aimed at driving coordinated international commitments to ocean sustainability.

Rocha de Souza鈥檚 presence at UNOC reflects Hawaiʻi Sea Grant鈥檚 continued leadership in linking science, community and policy to support resilient coastal and marine ecosystems.

“The world must mobilize collaborative science to protect coral reefs,” Rocha de Souza said. “I left UNOC more committed than ever to ensuring that reef research and local knowledge inform meaningful global action.”

Robert Toonen, a faculty member at the (HIMB in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (SOEST), was honored as the 2025 recipient of the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR) Willard Wilson Award for Distinguished Service. The systemwide award recognizes a 糖心视频 employee whose commitment and performance has made a significant impact on the university. Toonen was presented the award at the July 17 BOR meeting at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“Rob’s career at HIMB has been distinguished by a spirit of generosity and service to the community, his colleagues, and his students and postdocs,” said Megan Donahue, HIMB director. “We are thrilled to see this recognition of his work.”

A nomination letter for this award noted that Toonen, who is the director of the and the Ruth D. Gates Endowed Chair of Coral Reef Systems at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, is “widely recognized for his selflessness, his willingness to go above and beyond, and his genuine care for the well-being of his colleagues and students.”

‘Excellence thrives alongside mutual support’

Another nominator wrote, “Rob consistently advocates for junior faculty members, ensuring our voices are heard and our concerns addressed. This inclusive approach contributes to a collaborative environment at HIMB where all faculty feel valued and supported. Rob has created an environment where excellence thrives alongside mutual support—a rare combination that has made HIMB an exceptional place to work.”

Toonen joined HIMB in 2003 as an assistant professor and since that time he has been a lead or co-author on more than 300 peer-reviewed publications related to diversity of marine organisms and their life-history, coral reef ecology, design of Marine Protected Areas, and origins of invasive species. In 2012, he was awarded the Peter V. Garrod Distinguished Graduate Mentorship Award, and in 2019, the 糖心视频 Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Research in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community.

While at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, Toonen has advised 42 graduate students, mentored 28 postdoctoral researchers, served on the graduate thesis committees of 73 additional students, and advised 13 undergraduate students on their thesis research.

A faculty nominator wrote in their letter, “Rob Toonen is a true leader who shows how to lead by doing it—serving others in his world means investing in those people whom he serves, especially those in need.”

The Willard Wilson Award for Distinguished Service is named in honor of long-time 糖心视频 administrator and secretary to the Board of Regents, Willard Wilson, who set a standard for service to the university during his 40-year career.

• Related 糖心视频 News stories: Meet past Willard Wilson honorees.

For the entire story, .

—By Marcie Grabowski

Across the globe, oceans are acidifying as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, threatening coral reefs and many other marine organisms. , led by oceanographers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, revealed that unprecedented levels of ocean acidification are expected around the main Hawaiian Islands within the next three decades.

Increased ocean acidification has the potential to harm marine life by weakening the shells and skeletons of organisms such as corals and clams, amplifying the effects of existing stressors, and threatening ocean-based ecosystems. However, researchers have hope, as some organisms have shown signs of adapting to the changing waters. The study helps researchers, conservationists and policymakers understand the future challenges facing Hawaiʻi鈥檚 coral reefs and provides information for preserving these critical ecosystems for future generations.

Researchers within the laboratory group of Brian Powell, professor in the at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (SOEST), used advanced, fine-scale computer models to project how ocean chemistry around the main Hawaiian Islands might change over the 21st century under different climate scenarios based on how much carbon dioxide societies continue to emit.

“We found that ocean acidification is projected to increase significantly in the surface waters around the main Hawaiian Islands, even if carbon emissions flatline by mid-century in the low emission scenario,” said Lucia Hošeková, lead author of the paper and research scientist in SOEST. “In all nearshore areas these increases will be unprecedented compared to what reef organisms have experienced in many thousands of years.”

Emissions shape coral reef future

The extent and timing of these changes vary depending on the amount of carbon added to the atmosphere. In the high鈥恊mission scenario, the team found that ocean chemistry will become dramatically different from what corals have experienced historically, potentially posing challenges to their ability to adapt. Even in the low鈥恊mission scenario, some changes are inevitable, but they are less extreme and occur more gradually.

The team calculated the difference between projected ocean acidification and acidification that corals in a given location have experienced in recent history. They refer to this as ‘novelty’ and discovered that various areas of the Hawaiian Islands may experience acidification differently. Windward coastlines consistently exhibited higher novelty, that is, future conditions deviate more dramatically from what coral reefs have experienced in recent history.

“We did not expect future levels of ocean acidification to be so far outside the envelope of natural variations in ocean chemistry that an ecosystem is used to,” said Tobias Friedrich, study co-author and research scientist in the Department of Oceanography. “This is the first ocean acidification projection specifically for Hawaiian waters to document that.”

Corals potential to adapt

Previous studies have shown that a coral that is exposed to slightly elevated ocean acidity can acclimatize to those conditions, thereby enhancing the coral鈥檚 adaptability.

“The results show the potential conditions of acidification that corals may experience; however, the extremity of the conditions varies based on the climate scenario that the world follows. In the best case, corals will be impacted, but it could be manageable. This is why we continue new research to examine the combined effects of stresses on corals,” said Powell. “This study is a big first step to examine the totality of changes that will impact corals and other marine organisms and how it varies around the islands.”

The research team will continue to investigate the future changes in Hawaiian waters, specifically, heat stress, locations of possible refugia (areas where corals may be more sheltered from stress) for coral reefs, and changes to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 fisheries.

—By Marcie Grabowski