Approximately 125 University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 students put their emergency response skills to the test during a simulated airplane crash at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on October 23. Hosted by the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Airports Division, the Triennial Airport Disaster Exercise (TADE) tested preparedness during a simulated mass-casualty incident.

Senior nursing students took on roles as first responders on the tarmac, while student volunteers portrayed injured passengers. The simulation provided hands-on experience in a high-pressure environment alongside emergency personnel from state, federal and local agencies.

For second-year nursing student Alejah Callorina, portraying an injured passenger offered a new perspective on patient care during emergencies.

“When you’re on the nursing side, it’s really easy to get caught up in tasks,” Callorina said. “Playing the victim made me realize that we’ve got things going on too, and we’re people as well.”

First-year nursing student Amanda Miller, a 20-year Army combat veteran, saw the exercise reinforce the importance of preparing for emergencies before they happen.

“No matter how much education or experience you have, it is vitally important to practice, to rehearse,” Miller said. “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”

Preparing for real-world emergencies

“Exercises like TADE instill the critical thinking, rapid decision-making and adaptability our students need to respond effectively during real-world crises,” said Michele Bray, assistant professor and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 nursing faculty lead for the exercise.

No matter how much education or experience you have, it is vitally important to practice, to rehearse.
—Amanda Miller

Bray emphasized that the airport partnership allows students to practice disaster response skills that cannot be taught in traditional classroom settings.

With Hawaiʻi facing threats from natural disasters and other emergencies, preparing future nurses to respond effectively is essential to strengthening community resilience, according to Gary Glauberman, associate professor and chair of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Department of Nursing.

“Engaging with our state and emergency response partners through the TADE, working side-by-side with seasoned first responders, ensures that our graduates enter the workforce as skilled, confident leaders ready to serve Hawaiʻi‘s communities in times of need,” Glauberman said.

Expanding hands-on learning

Funding secured through the provided trauma kits and medical shears for the exercise. The support also funded simulation resources that will enhance classroom tabletop exercises and clinical skills laboratory activities in future semesters, extending the benefits to future nursing students.

Steam rose from plates of chili and rice at the Kauaʻi Community College cafeteria as students gathered for a special free hot meal in October. It was one of multiple hot meals prepared by culinary students and instructors at Kapiʻolani Community College, then frozen and flown over.

For many Kauaʻi students— juggling damaged homes, prolonged power outages and academic deadlines after Hurricane Lowell—the lunches offer far more than physical nourishment.

Student Hiʻilani Cremer said she was not able to work for two weeks after the storm, and knowing she had something to eat at school helped tremendously.

“Mahalo nui loa to Kapiʻolani Community College. We thank you so much for your generosity,” said Cremer.

Student Brandon Routh added, “It helps a lot because you know we did miss a lot of work, so our paychecks were impacted because we’re not salary workers so these meals help because you know we don’t have to go buy food.”

College helping college

The meal preparation initiative came together following a conversation between Kauaʻi CC Chancellor Margaret Sanchez and Kapiʻolani CC Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi, who sought immediate, meaningful ways to support the Garden Isle campus after the hurricane disrupted the lives of an estimated 80% of students.

“The gift of hot meals from Kapiʻolani Community College not only provides meals for our campus ʻohana, but also allows us to come together and heal as a community,” Sanchez said. “This gift demonstrates the aloha we have across our 糖心视频 Community Colleges.”

The urgent need for food relief was underscored by a Kauaʻi CC student impact survey, which revealed that 39.2% of responding students lost food or groceries and continued to worry about reliable access to meals and essential supplies. Compounding those hardships, 22.8% sustained direct damage to their homes, 73.4% lost electricity and internet, and 53.2% experienced a loss of income or work hours

From across the channel, Kapiʻolani CC was eager to answer the call.

“When one of our campuses needs help, we show up for each other,” Takabayashi said. “We鈥檙e part of one system, and it鈥檚 been encouraging to see our community come together to support the relief and recovery efforts. For our students, being part of that effort is a chance to see, and experience, how much it matters when people help one another.”

Applying learning to real-world needs

To produce the dishes, culinary arts students and instructors mobilized inside Kapiʻolani CC鈥檚 teaching kitchen over multiple sessions. Preparing roughly 150–200 pounds of food weekly, the culinary team utilized a specialized cook-chill method to ensure food safety before packaging and flying the meals, which included sweet sour pork and chicken curry, to Kauaʻi.

For Kapiʻolani CC Chef Alan Tsuchiyama, a L墨huʻe native who grew up minutes from the campus, the mission was deeply personal.

“I think we should give Kauaʻi a hand in any way we can, you know, whether it be financial or whether it be by food or volunteering. I think that is important—that we should always be helping those who need help,” Tsuchiyama said.

Third-year culinary student Nalu Iwata eagerly volunteered to cook.

“I鈥檓 very proud of doing this work,” Iwata said. “Enjoy it, because we want to help you guys out. We know how much you guys have been through.”

The health consequences of catastrophic wildfires that burn through towns and cities may extend far beyond the period when flames are extinguished and smoke disappears, according to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 (MauiWES).

A study of 1,400 Maui adults 6–18 months after the August 2023 wildfires found substantially elevated concentrations of several metals in participants鈥� urine, and also discovered that greater amounts of metals accumulated in the body was associated with abnormal lung function. Researchers measured 24 metals while assessing pulmonary function through standardized breathing tests at the same visit. The findings were .

Compared with U.S. biomonitoring data, Maui participants had markedly higher concentrations of several metals, including antimony at nearly 40 times, manganese at 3.8 times, barium at 2.3 times and arsenic at 2.2 times U.S. reference values. Across three complementary statistical approaches, higher combined metal exposure was associated with several measures of abnormal lung function. Arsenic, cadmium, copper and antimony were among the metals that contributed most strongly to those patterns.

The researchers emphasize, however, that the elevated metal burden likely reflects a complex mixture of exposures rather than a single source. Some exposures may have existed before the wildfire because of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 geology, historic agricultural and industrial land use, diet and other environmental factors. The disaster may then have introduced new contaminants while also disturbing and remobilizing pollutants already present in soil, dust and the built environment.

Because pre-fire biomonitoring data are not available, the current study cannot determine precisely how much of the measured burden came directly from the wildfire versus chronic, persistent or other ongoing exposures. Longitudinal biomonitoring and environmental sampling will be critical to disentangling those pathways.

“The biggest message is that exposure may not end when the smoke clears,” said Ruben Juarez, MauiWES co-director and –HMSA Distinguished Endowed Professor of Health Economics at 糖心视频 Mānoa. “What we are likely seeing is a complex combination of exposures—some that may have been present for years and others that may have been generated or remobilized by the wildfire. When a disaster burns through a community, it can fundamentally change how contaminants move through the environment. The next scientific challenge is to disentangle those sources and understand which exposures persist, where they come from and what they mean for long-term health.”

A different kind of wildfire

Much of what is known about wildfire health effects comes from studying smoke generated by burning vegetation. But fires such as those that devastated Lahaina represent a fundamentally different type of disaster.

Wildland-urban interface fires can burn homes, vehicles, electronics, treated lumber, electrical systems and other infrastructure, generating complex mixtures of contaminants while simultaneously disturbing pollutants accumulated in soil from earlier agricultural, industrial or other land uses. Those materials may remain in ash, settled dust, soil and debris or be redistributed across the landscape during cleanup and recovery. Potential pathways of continued exposure include resuspended fine particles, contact with contaminated dust and debris and indirect environmental exposure even after visible smoke has dissipated.

“We have traditionally thought about wildfire exposure primarily through the lens of smoke,” said Alika Maunakea, MauiWES co-director and professor at the 糖心视频 Mānoa . “But when an entire community burns, we are dealing with a much more complicated exposure environment. The biology is telling us that we need to understand not only what was in the air during the fire, but what was already present in the landscape, what the disaster may have mobilized, and what is actually getting into people鈥檚 bodies during the months and years that follow.”

Exposure was not confined to Lahaina

The study also identified substantial geographic differences in both metal exposure and pulmonary health across Maui.

Lahaina residents showed a distinct metal profile, including relatively elevated concentrations of arsenic and cadmium, while Wailuku/Kahului residents had the highest median concentrations of copper, iron and molybdenum. Kula and Kihei showed different metal profiles as well, underscoring that there was no single uniform exposure pattern across the island.

Pulmonary impairment also varied across Maui. Among interpretable breathing test results, Wailuku/Kahului exhibited some of the highest prevalence of abnormal lung-function measures, while Lahaina also showed substantial pulmonary impairment and Kula generally showed the lowest burden.

Those patterns suggest that the exposure landscape after a major disaster may be more complicated than simply comparing people inside and outside a burn zone. Researchers believe the measured metal mixtures may reflect overlapping contributions from wildfire-generated material, contaminants remobilized by the disaster, historically contaminated soils, local land use, geology and other ongoing environmental sources. Determining the relative contribution of each pathway is now a major focus of the research.

Implications far beyond Maui

The findings from Maui have implications beyond Hawaiʻi. As destructive fires increasingly reach developed communities, researchers say disaster-response systems may need to look beyond short-term measurements of smoke and particulate matter. Future responses could include longer-term environmental monitoring, human biomonitoring, respiratory surveillance and targeted assessment of soil, ash and settled dust, particularly in places with histories of agricultural or industrial contamination.

New NIH study will disentangle legacy and disaster-related exposures

The next phase of research will investigate the sources of the metal contaminants. In September 2026, 糖心视频 announced a five-year, $3.6 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to investigate pollutants left behind by decades of agricultural and industrial activity in Hawaiʻi and examine whether wildfires and other disasters can remobilize those contaminants, creating new pathways of human exposure.

The project is led by Maunakea, Juarez and Alison Lee of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. It will follow approximately 1,000 Hawaiʻi residents over five years and combine environmental measurements, biological samples and cardiopulmonary assessments. The research will help distinguish persistent background exposures, legacy contamination and disaster-related exposures, while examining how those different sources contribute to heart and lung health over time.

Together, the studies shift the scientific question from simply “What did the wildfire release?” to a broader one: “How does a disaster transform an existing environmental contamination landscape and change what people are exposed to?”

Connecting participants with information, care

Researchers emphasized that the study is designed not only to document health effects, but also to connect participants with information and care. MauiWES participants receive access to their individual health results, opportunities to discuss those findings and referrals when screening identifies potential health concerns. The study will continue following families over time to understand how health changes during Maui鈥檚 recovery.

“We know these findings may be difficult for families who have already been through so much,” Juarez said. “Our responsibility is not simply to publish the science. It is to help people understand what we are finding, return information to the community, connect people with care when they need it, and continue learning alongside Maui as the community recovers.”

Resources for Maui residents

Research about the wildfires may raise health questions or bring back difficult memories. Maui residents can access the following resources:

• Current environmental conditions and advisories: The maintains a Maui Wildfire Environmental Monitoring Data Portal with current information on air, soil, ash and debris, coastal waters and other environmental monitoring.
• Medical and behavioral health resources: The provides medical, mental health and recovery resources, including materials in multiple languages.
• Emotional or crisis support: Hawaiʻi CARES 988 provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day. Call or text 988. Local counselors can assist with mental health, crisis and substance-use concerns.
• Help finding community services: Aloha United Way 211 connects Hawaiʻi residents with health care, housing, food, financial assistance, mental health services and other local resources. Dial 211 or visit the statewide resource directory.
• MauiWES participants: Participants can access individual health results through the MauiWES participant portal. Send questions about the study to mauiwes@hawaii.edu.

Tropical Storm Nolo is approaching Hawaiʻi and is likely to bring heavy, potentially flood-causing rainfall and high winds, especially to Hawaiʻi Island.

The Hawaiʻi Mesonet – Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP) team at the University of Hawaiʻi has launched a new website that provides easy access to up-to-date rainfall and wind observations from Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations across the state.

Tropical Storm Nolo Viewer

“The goal is to make the observations collected by the Hawaiʻi Mesonet readily accessible during the storm, so that people can quickly see where rainfall and strong winds are occurring and how conditions are changing over time,” said Matt Lucas, who, along with Cherryle Manzano, developed the Nolo weather tracker.

The website provides two tools for monitoring the storm:

• Current storm conditions: A map at the top of the page allows users to view either cumulative rainfall (current storm total) or maximum wind gust speed at Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations. Selecting an individual station brings up graphs showing rainfall and wind speed over time.
• Storm evolution: An animated map at the bottom of the page displays either 1-hour rainfall or maximum hourly wind gust velocity at all Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations. Users can select a specific hour to examine conditions at that time or play the map as an animation to visualize the chronology of the storm and how rainfall and wind conditions change over time.

The tracker provides observations from Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations and is intended to offer a straightforward way for residents, emergency managers, researchers, media and others to monitor observed rainfall and wind conditions as Tropical Storm Nolo approaches and moves through Hawaiʻi.

Campuses closed

• 糖心视频 Hilo and Hawaiʻi CC, Thursday and Friday
• 糖心视频 Maui College, Friday
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 CTAHR offices on those islands

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Hawaiʻi Community College and other 糖心视频 units on Hawaiʻi Island will be closed Thursday and Friday, September 23—24, as Tropical Storm Nolo approaches the state and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane.

糖心视频 Maui College and other 糖心视频 units in Maui County will be closed Friday.

The closures include 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience extension offices on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui.

Gov. Josh Green ordered state offices and public schools on Hawaiʻi Island and in Maui County to close on those days.

According to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s latest update, Nolo has strengthened south of Hawaiʻi Island and is moving in a west-northwest direction. The storm is expected to make a sharp turn to the north late Wednesday and rapidly intensify into a hurricane within the next 24 hours and could become a major hurricane by this weekend.

The current forecast has Nolo bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Hawaiʻi Island as early as Thursday. However, the storm’s exact path and strength remain uncertain.

Hurricane watch issued

A hurricane watch is in effect for Hawaiʻi County, meaning hurricane conditions are possible.

Heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding, mudslides, high surf and dangerous rip currents could affect parts of the state. Hawaiʻi Island and Maui County face the greatest risk of life-threatening flooding.

A storm surge of 1–3 feet could cause coastal flooding in Hawaiʻi County. Large and dangerous waves could worsen flooding along the coast. Power outages are also possible.

糖心视频 leaders continue to closely monitor the storm.

As the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 new director of emergency management/university resilience, Jerusha Kasch is focused on strengthening preparedness across the 10-campus system and giving the 糖心视频 community the tools and training to respond when crises occur.

Kasch, who joined 糖心视频 in July 2026, brings extensive emergency management experience and higher education leadership, most recently serving as director of emergency management at Rice University.

Her first-year priority is to listen, learn and understand 糖心视频鈥檚 operations, essential functions and risks before strengthening emergency plans and processes across the system. She plans to expand training and exercises, establish a coordinated incident management team and help students and employees develop skills to handle crises.

“This is where many organizations miss the true benefit of a resiliency program because we have defaulted to calling it “emergency management,” Kasch said. “This position isn’t just about managing emergencies. It is about understanding our organizational mission, how to accomplish the mission safely, effectively, and with the intended outcomes––even when there are risks and hazards that will occur.”

Through these initiatives, she envisions a fully empowered university community equipped with a robust structure and the confidence to navigate future crises effectively.

Drawn to 糖心视频鈥檚 unique challenge

糖心视频 marks the fifth emergency management or organizational resilience program Kasch has helped build or expand and the third specifically in higher education. The complexity of a statewide university system spread across multiple islands was part of what attracted her to 糖心视频.

“I love a complicated challenge,” Kasch said. “When I started looking into the University of Hawaiʻi as an organization—combined with the unique complications of a small island-big ocean and limited resources—I was hooked.”

Kasch served at Rice University for nine years, bringing nearly 20 years of emergency management experience and more than 14 years in higher education leadership. Before higher education, Kasch worked as an emergency manager for the government and across emergency medical services, law enforcement, hospitals and clinical care. She is a certified emergency manager and holds a master鈥檚 degree in criminology with a focus on emergency management from Portland State University and an executive certificate in public leadership from Harvard University.

“I love teaching people how to be the best versions of themselves, even when the worst is happening around them, and helping them understand the true power in collaborative teamwork,” Kasch said.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Lala, which brought damaging winds and severe flooding to Hawaiʻi Island, members of the Hawaiʻi Community College kauhale (village) rallied to support hard-hit families in 碍补ʻ奴.

On August 21, members of the Hawaiʻi CC-affiliated K奴k奴ʻena hula cohort, college faculty and staff joined forces with University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo colleagues to support community-led relief efforts. In 奥补颈ʻ艒丑颈苍耻, the group met with Hawaiʻi CC alumni Nohealani Kaʻawa, Kaila Kaʻawa and Lanihuli Kanahele, who were establishing a community relief hub.

Partnering with staff from The Nature Conservancy, the 糖心视频 team delivered food, water and critical supplies to households in the Green Sands area, where residents had been without power and water for a week.

‘Stark, visceral reminder’

Seeing the physical and emotional impact of the storm firsthand left a strong impression on the volunteers.

“What stayed with me most was the strength and resilience of the people in 碍补ʻ奴,” said Nohea Pua, a support specialist for career and technical education at Hawaiʻi CC. “Going house to house, we were met with so many smiles and so much positivity in the midst of such a difficult time.”

Hawaiʻi CC Sociology Instructor Michael Branch noted the power of reciprocal community support, especially with students living in the affected area.

“It was a stark, visceral reminder of the extent to which a storm can disrupt the basic things that people depend on every day, but also of just how quickly people can come together and care for one another,” Branch said.

Following the initial trip, Hawaiʻi CC and 糖心视频 Hilo organized a campus donation drive. On August 27, team members returned to 奥补颈ʻ艒丑颈苍耻 with a van packed with donated supplies.

To support ongoing recovery efforts, follow and message on Instagram for updates on current needs at the K艒kua 碍补ʻ奴 Hub.

— By Katie Young Yamanaka and Drew Kapp

Almost two million Olympic-size pools of water (1.3 trillion gallons) inundated Hawaiʻi August 14–16, as Hurricane Lala tracked just south of the islands. Delivering one of the state’s most significant tropical cyclone impacts in decades, the storm triggered severe flash flooding and damaging winds. Through the University of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 Hawaiʻi Mesonet and the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP), researchers captured the massive scale of this storm.

While Lala never made an official landfall, its close pass as a Category 1 hurricane brought average statewide rainfall of 11.4 inches. Hawaiʻi County received 66% of the total rainfall volume—equivalent to 1.2 million pools (833 billion gallons).

Naʻalehu flash flooding and station records

Communities such as Naʻalehu on Hawaiʻi Island experienced devastating inundation from flash flooding. Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations highlighted the extreme localized intensity of the storm: the Laupahoehoe station in Hamakua recorded a daily maximum rainfall of 32.1 inches on August 15. Almost simultaneously, the Kaiholena station, located upslope of the Naʻalehu area, recorded 24.4 inches, including a remarkable 4.4 inches of rain in a single hour, 7:30–8:30 p.m. This was the highest observed hourly rainfall rate in the state during the entire three-day event. Combined with steep mountain slopes, this intense rainfall resulted in flash flooding that severely impacted the community in Naʻalehu.

As the storm progressed, the rest of the counties experienced their peak rainfall a day later, on August 16. While their totals were lower than Hawaiʻi Island’s, they still saw substantial averages: Maui County recorded a cumulative 6.6 inches of rain, equivalent to 203,595 pools (134 million gallons). Honolulu County (Oʻahu) recorded 5.5 inches of rain, equivalent to 86,357 pools (57 million gallons), and Kauaʻi County recorded 3.1 inches, equivalent to 45,055 pools (29 million gallons).

“Storms like Lala remind us why sustained, high-quality rainfall measurement matters so much in Hawaiʻi,” said Tom Giambelluca, director of the Hawaiʻi Mesonet. “Our terrain can turn the same storm into a 2-inch event in one valley and a 40-inch event a few miles away—without a dense network like the Mesonet, we’d have no way to capture that difference or understand what actually happened on the ground.”

Strong winds and dangerous gusts

The storm also unleashed high winds, with station-derived hourly wind speeds peaking at 60 mph on Hawaiʻi Island. Strong winds were also measured on Maui (56 mph), Oʻahu (39 mph) and Kauaʻi which led to downed power lines and fallen trees across the islands. Wind gusts of 80 mph were recorded at Puʻuloa in Kohala, and up to 79 mph on Haleakalā. Researchers expect that wind gusts were even more intense in some areas that do not have a climate station.

“One of the biggest challenges with wind is that we simply don’t have stations everywhere, especially at higher elevations and in remote terrain,” said Matt Lucas, HCDP product development lead. “Newly developed high-resolution wind speed maps let us estimate conditions in the gaps between stations, especially in extreme terrain where winds can be accelerated 2–4 times by landscape effects. This means disaster responders, property owners, and land managers aren’t left guessing about what happened in places where we didn’t have a station.”

The Hawaiʻi Mesonet, a statewide network of state-of-the-art weather stations, provides critical weather information across the islands giving a birds eye view into the data behind extreme weather events. Using observations from the Hawaiʻi Mesonet and digital maps produced on the HCDP maps, the team has released a new interactive website documenting the weather impacts of Hurricane Lala. 糖心视频 the HCDP Extreme Event Page to explore new interactive rainfall and wind speed maps as well as station data from the event. End users can sort information by county and for each day of the storm.

When disaster struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, the (PDC)—a University of Hawaiʻi applied science center—was ready. Two massive earthquakes, measuring M7.2 and M7.5, devastated the region, triggering the largest international urban search and rescue (USAR) mobilization in the region鈥檚 history. As 67 international search and rescue teams converged, the PDC鈥檚 technology became the critical lifeline for coordinating their efforts as an authoritative data provider.

The response began within minutes. Six minutes after the earthquakes, DisasterAWARE had issued early warnings for the quakes and tsunami hazard, along with estimated impacts and needs. By 11 minutes, PDC Smart Alerts had reached more than 3.5 million DisasterAWARE users worldwide. And within 30 minutes, direct operational support to responders had activated, with continuous updates flowing thereafter.

Real-time assessments

PDC鈥檚 initial estimates placed 13.5 million people within the shaking zone, including a vulnerable population of 4.46 million—many of whom live in informal hillside settlements exposed to destruction from quakes and rain-triggered landslides. With so many vulnerable people inside the shaking zone, and critical infrastructure badly destroyed, impeding USAR and humanitarian relief access, ground-level situational awareness and advanced logistics planning became critical to the mission.

With PDC analysts directly embedded into mission operations, real-time impact assessments flowed quickly to decision makers. The Center also developed 96-hour needs forecasting and infrastructure updates that guided responders through severed roads and collapsed buildings. DisasterAWARE acted as the central nervous system, integrating data from dozens of organizations—including the U.N. and the World Food Programme—into a single, unified view.

“We don’t just provide data. We provide clarity in the middle of chaos,” said PDC Deputy Executive Director Erin Hughey. “When 2,500 responders from around the world arrived with different systems, we bridged the interoperability gaps. By creating a shared operational picture, we ensured that aid and rescue teams were deployed to the areas that needed them most, turning complex data into decisive, lifesaving action.”

Anticipating needs

The center鈥檚 role proved vital. From identifying functional airports and seaports for relief cargo to flagging emerging demands in health systems and transitional sheltering, the PDC鈥檚 forward-looking analytics allowed planners to anticipate needs before they became crises.

The mission is not finished. PDC platforms remain the operational backbone for tracking evolving impacts, coordinating relief and supporting evidence-based decisions as Venezuela鈥檚 recovery continues.

—By Chani Goering

With more than 6.5 million fans from more than 100 countries converging on cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, public health stakes are significant. Mass gatherings create conditions where localized outbreaks can rapidly become international events, making timely, integrated situational awareness essential for officials protecting public health. This summer, that critical role is being filled by a new Health Security Operations Center (HSOC) that relies on the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 (PDC)鈥檚 platform as a key data source and decision-support tool.

Georgetown University and MedStar Health established the HSOC under their joint National Center for Health Security and Resilience. The team is leveraging DisasterAWARE to fuse disparate data streams—including wastewater surveillance, electronic health records, hospitalizations and real-time health reports—gathered across all 16 host cities.

By integrating and analyzing disease signals, they provide decision makers with early, actionable warnings. More than 350 organizations, including hospital emergency managers, state and local health officials, and federal agencies, are enrolled to receive the HSOC鈥檚 daily situation reports.

Hazard intelligence, complex missions

“Working alongside MedStar and Georgetown officials on the inside of the HSOC, DisasterAWARE is revolutionizing how we monitor disease during large-scale events,” said Tim Manning, former deputy administrator of FEMA and PDC senior advisor. “PDC鈥檚 hazard intelligence capabilities bridge health data streams from numerous sources into a single, coherent operating picture, significantly enhancing the way we protect public health when the world comes together.”

PDC鈥檚 support during this high-profile event demonstrates how purpose-built hazard intelligence can be rapidly adapted to meet complex, emerging missions. For an organization that has spent decades building the tools, frameworks and partnerships that help nations anticipate and respond to disasters of every kind, supporting the HSOC is a natural extension.

“DisasterAWARE was built to deliver clarity in the world鈥檚 most complex, high-stakes environments, and a global event of this magnitude, the World Cup, is exactly that kind of environment,” said Erin Hughey, deputy executive director of the Pacific Disaster Center. “Seeing our platform serve as a cornerstone of national health security operations at this scale is a powerful testament to what PDC has built over decades: a globally trusted capability that protects people wherever the threat originates.”

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A data scientist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has launched a year-long project to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can help scientists, students, emergency managers, and the public better understand natural hazards such as volcanic activity, wildfires, tsunamis, and other disasters. The main idea of the project, named VULCAN-AI, is to use AI as a support tool for hazard intelligence and public communication.

“During a disaster, there is often a huge amount of information coming in at once: live camera feeds, satellite images, sensor readings, weather data, maps and scientific reports,” said Sukhwa Hong, 糖心视频 Hilo associate professor of and who specializes in AI for business analytics. “VULCAN-AI is designed to help organize that information and turn it into clear, plain-language summaries that people can understand.”

With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF)鈥檚 throughout the next year, Hong plans to build and test the AI-agent system using live Hawaiʻi Island volcano feeds, environmental data, and example volcanic and wildfire scenarios.

He emphasizes that the goal of the project is not to replace scientists or official emergency alerts. Instead, the goal is to show how AI can responsibly support human experts by helping detect changes, organize information, and explain what is happening more clearly to the public.

“What excites me most is that this project shows a positive use of AI,” said Hong. “AI is often discussed as a threat, but when used carefully and responsibly, it can help communities, support science, improve emergency communication, respect local knowledge, and give students hands-on experience with technology that serves the public good.”

He plans to hire 糖心视频 Hilo students through NSF鈥檚 undergraduate research program to work with him on AI testing, live-feed monitoring, data preparation, visualization and public communication.

—By Susan Enright, 糖心视频 Hilo Stories

The Kona Low storm in March left many residents on the North Shore of Oʻahu devastated, with catastrophic flooding in the Haleʻiwa and Waialua areas. Among the hardest-hit locations was Otake Farms, situated where the Kaukonahua River overflowed its banks, submerged homes and destroyed vital property. In the wake of this disaster, students from Honolulu Community College鈥檚 Diesel Mechanics (DISL) and Fire and Environmental Response (FIRE) programs stepped out of the classroom to provide a critical lifeline to the local community.

The ‘Cavalry’ arrives: Students restore vital equipment

For the seven family farmers at Otake Farms, restoring machinery was the top priority. The storm’s intensity had pushed muddy water above engine levels, severely damaging both mechanical and electronic systems.

Just weeks before graduation, Honolulu CC students applied their skills in a high-stakes “real-world exam,” repairing nine flooded tractors in a challenging field environment. Led by Associate Professor Bobby Salvatierra, the group mobilized twice in April to perform essential technical recovery steps:

• System inspections: Checking engines for structural integrity.
• Fluid remediation: Bleeding water from systems and replacing contaminated fuel and filters.
• Mechanical restoration: Cleaning intake systems and pulling injectors to resolve hydrostatic locked engines.
• Electrical recovery: Recharging batteries and testing damaged electrical systems.

“Today was an awesome day sharing our talent with people in need,” said Salvatierra.

The effort was a resounding success, resulting in the restoration of several major tractors.

“Before, I didn’t know what to do. The job was too big,” said Reun Ath Tab, a farmer. “But now I have my tractor. I feel good.”

First responders in training: The program’s community impact

While the students focused on machinery, students provided essential boots-on-the-ground support for residents near the Waialua River and Long Bridge area.

Transitioning from classroom theory to hands-on emergency response, the class received approval to assist families—including many first responders. Working alongside instructors, recruit training officers and the National Guard, the students tackled the grueling physical labor of recovery, including:

• Manual labor: Shoveling tons of mud from homes and properties.
• Resource support: Donating essential supplies, such as Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) bars and boots, to residents in need.
• Problem solving: Overcoming field challenges, such as equipment failures, to ensure the work continued.

For students Ryoma Sears and Evan Moon, the experience was more than just training; it was an opportunity to integrate with the community they will soon serve as professional firefighters.

Restoring hope, honing skills

These recovery initiatives were made possible through the support of the Honolulu CC administration and generous contributions from industry partners. Bacon International and Allied Machinery provided thousands of dollars in parts and technical assistance to ensure the tractors could return to the fields.

Through these collaborative efforts, Honolulu CC students have not only honed their professional skills but have also helped to restore hope to the North Shore, proving they are ready to meet the challenges of their future careers and their community.

Amalia Pangelinan will graduate in May 2026 with her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 , but in her final month of the program, Super Typhoon Sinlaku shifted her focus from academic preparation to disaster response in her home community of Saipan.

As the storm caused widespread damage across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), disrupting power, communication, transportation and access to services, Pangelinan balanced completing her culminating internship with immediate community needs unfolding around her.

The first Saipan-based student in the Thompson School Department of Social Work驶s distance education MSW pathway, Pangelinan had been completing her field placement at the Commonwealth Healthcare Center when the typhoon struck on April 14. In its aftermath, she adapted her internship to support disaster relief efforts with World Central Kitchen, which provides meals in emergency response settings worldwide. She supported food distribution efforts for residents across Saipan and nearby islands during the recovery efforts.

As social workers, we are taught to meet communities where they are.
—Amalia Pangelinan

“As social workers, we are taught to meet communities where they are,” Pangelinan said. “This experience reminded me that social work is not only about providing services—it is about showing up for your community when people need one another most.”

“Amalia鈥檚 ability to continue moving forward academically while simultaneously supporting disaster relief efforts in her own community reflects the resilience, leadership, and relational accountability that are foundational to social work practice across the Pacific,” said Theresa Kreif, director of the Pacific Partnerships and Workforce Development Initiatives. “Our students are often balancing family, community, work and cultural responsibilities while pursuing higher education. In moments of crisis, they do not step away from community鈥攖hey step further into service.”

• Meet more amazing 糖心视频 graduates

Critical need for locally rooted professionals

Pangelinan鈥檚 experience highlights the importance of locally rooted behavioral health and social service professionals across the Pacific region. Through the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 online MSW pathway, students in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands—including Guam, the CNMI, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands—can pursue graduate education while remaining embedded in their home communities.

That local presence is especially critical during disasters, when outside support may be delayed and culturally grounded responses are essential.

Despite the disruption, Pangelinan completed her degree requirements while continuing to serve her community, preparing to join the social work workforce grounded in place, culture and service.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Order soil, plant tests online

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

Temporary in-person collection site until July 21, 2026

To increase accessibility for 翱ʻ补丑耻鈥檚 heavily affected north shore community, a temporary collection site has been set up at Twin Bridge Farms in Waialua:

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

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

Permanent collection sites

Drop off sites for samples on Oʻahu are:

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

糖心视频 the ADSC of drop off locations, including the neighbor islands.

All state and county offices on Oʻahu, including all University of Hawaiʻi campuses and facilities on Oʻahu, will be closed Friday, April 10, due to expected severe weather conditions. A decision regarding government offices and 糖心视频 facilities in Maui County and Hawaiʻi County will be made early Friday morning.

The official announcements for Oʻahu were issued at 6:40 p.m., Thursday, April 9, by Gov. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

Forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate a prolonged period of heavy rain through the morning and into the afternoon on Oʻahu, with the potential for flash flooding and possible power disruptions. Residents are strongly encouraged to limit travel unless absolutely necessary to allow emergency responders and utility crews to address weather-related impacts.

University leadership continues to monitor conditions closely and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Official County Notification

Conditions will vary by county and location. The most timely and location-specific alerts will come from the county where you live. Sign-up information for each county鈥檚 notification system is provided below:

• (Oʻahu)

You may also monitor these trusted sources for real-time weather updates:

• The app

糖心视频 RAVE Alert System

For added safety, all 糖心视频 students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for mobile alerts through the 糖心视频 RAVE Alert system to receive emergency notifications directly.

More than 2 trillion gallons of water鈥攅nough to fill 3 million Olympic-sized swimming pools鈥攊nundated 贬补飞补颈驶颈 in March. The accumulated rainfall over 14 days reached as high as 3,000% of normal historical levels for this time of year, culminating in a destructive 鈥渞ain bomb鈥� over 翱驶补丑耻. Through the University of 贬补飞补颈驶颈鈥檚 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Mesonet and the 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Climate Data Portal, researchers captured the scale of these back-to-back Kona low systems, mapping localized threats and providing crucial data on the state’s severe flooding.

Between March 1 and March 23, statewide rainfall averaged 18.25 inches鈥攎ore than 2.6 times the standard March average of 6.85 inches.

While the first storm (March 10鈥�16) brought hurricane-force wind gusts of 135.4 mph to 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Island and up to 62 inches of rain to Maui, the second Kona storm between March 19 and 23 triggered a new wave of devastation. The second storm dumped up to 61 inches of rain in localized areas, producing destructive floods across eastern and central 惭辞濒辞办补驶颈, West Maui and 翱驶补丑耻.

Communities such as Waialua and Haleiwa on 翱驶补丑耻鈥檚 north shore experienced devastating inundation. 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Mesonet stations highlighted the widespread intensity of the storm: the 碍补驶补濒补 station recorded the island’s highest two-day rainfall of roughly 22 inches, including 19.67 inches in a 24-hour period beginning the evening of March 19. Almost simultaneously, the nearby 碍补濒补丑别驶别 Ridge station above Waimea Valley recorded 9.75 inches in 24 hours.

惭腻苍辞补, Palolo flash floods

As the two-week rainy period neared its end, an intense, localized atmospheric event struck 惭腻苍辞补 and Palolo valleys on March 23. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi described it as a 鈥渃lassic rain bomb,鈥� heavy rain caused by a stationary storm cell. This 鈥渞ain bomb,鈥� over 惭腻苍辞补 and Palolo valleys, dropped 2 to 4 inches of rain per hour.

Six 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Mesonet stations in the Nu驶uanu-惭腻苍辞补 area recorded between 3.5 and 6.5 inches of rain, the majority of which fell within a three-hour window. Falling on already saturated ground, this turned streams into raging torrents and triggered significant flash floods.

The 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Mesonet, a statewide network of state-of-the-art weather stations, is proving to be a critical source of weather information, especially valuable during extreme events.

鈥淲e are building the mesonet to serve multiple purposes, including research, resource management, support for farmers and ranchers, and others,鈥� said Thomas Giambelluca, 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Mesonet project lead, and former director of the 糖心视频 Water Resources Research Center. 鈥淏ut, providing data when and where it is most needed before and during extreme events like floods and wildfires, might be its most important purpose. Mesonet data will make us better prepared for future events by improving weather forecasts and enabling emergency managers to plan for and respond to extremes.鈥�

For University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa PhD student Brian Gorberg, the devastating Kona low storms weren’t just an academic research topic—they were a recurring nightmare that inundated his home three times in less than four weeks. Renting the bottom bedroom of a home in Waialua on Oʻahu’s north shore, Gorberg witnessed the final and most severe flood send an 8-foot wall of water through his place.

After experiencing two recent floods that ruined his belongings, Gorberg was seeking refuge at a friend’s house down the street when the third flood hit. The flash flooding was catastrophic, acting like a “dam spillway” through his neighborhood. The water destroyed his Jeep Patriot given to him by his dad, caused a neighboring house to spin off its foundation, and trapped another neighbor in neck-deep water.

“I got woken up by a giant wave,” Gorberg said. “I assumed the worst because I study hydrology. I assumed the dam failed and I knew I had to get out of the watershed. So, I drove all the way to the evacuation site. I actually ran up the hill because I didn’t believe the evacuation site was safe enough.”

Flooding expertise proved critical

Gorberg’s academic background proved critical during the floods. As an student in the and working with the under advisor Chris Shuler, his expertise allowed him to understand the mechanics of the disaster. During the floods, Gorberg spent hours walking through his neighborhood trying to warn residents ahead of the rising waters.

Gorberg鈥檚 current research work is to create high-end, reproducible flood models and stage height maps to better protect local communities. Working alongside undergraduate students Chiara Duyn, Megan Wong and Anne Dominique, Gorberg created a that provides residents with transparent, scenario-based flood information.

While the app and Gorberg鈥檚 maps currently focus on Windward 翱驶补丑耻 watersheds such as Kāneʻohe, the underlying flood models are designed to be reproducible, and Gorberg aims to eventually expand this mapping to any flood zone across Hawaiʻi. The flood maps simulate exact inundation levels when local streams breach their banks at incremental heights—such as 12, 13 or 14 feet—allowing communities to visualize their risk and prepare for an approaching storm.

Reflecting on the tools he is building, Gorberg emphasized the urgent need for better preparedness in Hawaiʻi.

“Every stream gauge in the mainland has these maps. It’s not fair that Hawaiʻi doesn’t have it, especially considering these events,“ Gorberg said. ”And because there are graduate students like myself who have created this… that’s like the missing link in Hawaiʻi that would honestly solve this event, or would have been different if we had those maps.”

In the wake of historic flooding on Oʻahu鈥檚 North Shore, University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) students continue to provide care where it鈥檚 urgently needed. On March 23, JABSOM鈥檚 Houseless Outreach and Medical Education (H.O.M.E.) Project—a student-run initiative that provides free healthcare to unsheltered and underserved communities—set up an on-site clinic at Waialua Elementary, treating 25 patients with a team of 16 student volunteers under the guidance of faculty.

“We鈥檝e been seeing a wide range of patients. We鈥檝e seen a fair amount with wounds and infections, probably from the storm water,” said Jill Omori, H.O.M.E. Project director.

Other patients sought care for back pain, joint pain and eye infections, conditions that can worsen when access to routine care is disrupted.

“We also saw people with GI (gastrointestinal) problems because of the contaminated water, but also just regular medical issues like hypertension or diabetes that still need to be controlled,” Omori said.

Student dedication and rural health disparities

The clinic weaves hands-on care into the JABSOM curriculum, but Omori said the majority of the students today came on their own time.

“A lot of times, the students come down to the North Shore and do service projects here and there,” Omori said. “But something like this really hits home for them. It鈥檚 really nice for them to be able to give back to the community this way.”

Second-year medical student Michael Ajimura saw that impact firsthand.

“A lot of people weren鈥檛 able to get care because of the past few days of flooding, as well as those who were injured helping out or because of the flooding,” Ajimura said. “Just being able to help them has been really rewarding. When we say that we care for the community, it鈥檚 everyone. Being out here is fulfilling, and it鈥檚 something a lot of the students are more than willing to do.”

The response also highlighted the broader issue of rural health in Hawaiʻi, which is exacerbated during a disaster.

“Rural health doesn鈥檛 just mean the neighbor islands,” Omori said. “Waialua is a great example of a rural community right here on Oʻahu. They have some of the same problems that other rural communities have, even without storms. I think it just emphasizes some of the rural health disparities and the need for more equitable care.”

As recovery continues on the North Shore, JABSOM鈥檚 H.O.M.E. Project plans to hold a pop-up clinic every day during the week of March 23. They will either be at Waialua District Park or at Haleiwa Beach Park. .

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This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on March 24, 2026.

Aloha 糖心视频 ʻohana,

We know that the severe weather and flooding over the past two weeks impacted members of our 糖心视频 community in many different ways. Some of our students and employees are dealing with damage to homes, transportation challenges, lost belongings and other disruptions that make it difficult to focus on classes and work.

Please know that the university is committed to supporting members of our 糖心视频 ʻohana during this time.

Students experiencing challenges from these events are encouraged to reach out to their instructors and academic advisors as soon as possible to discuss their circumstances. Faculty and supervisors are asked to continue showing flexibility and understanding as students and employees manage recovery from storm-related impacts. Please monitor your hawaii.edu email account for campus specific information.

Employees experiencing storm-related hardship are encouraged to speak with their supervisors and their campus human resources office about available options and support resources.

Available Resources

Financial aid and basic needs support for students is available through campus-based emergency assistance programs and through the 糖心视频 Foundation, which works closely with the university to help provide support for students and employees facing unexpected hardship. Information about available assistance can be found here:

• Financial Aid
• Basic Needs Resources

Anyone experiencing stress or emotional strain related to the storm impacts is encouraged to reach out to available counseling and support resources:

• Student mental health resources
• 糖心视频 Employee Assistance Program

As recovery efforts continue across the state, please continue monitoring your hawaii.edu email and campus communications channels for updates and additional support opportunities.

Mahalo to everyone across our 10 campuses who continue to show care and flexibility for one another during this time.

With aloha,
Wendy Hensel
糖心视频 President

The 糖心视频 Foundation is working closely with the University of Hawaiʻi to provide financial assistance for members of the 糖心视频 ʻohana who have been impacted by the recent severe flooding across the state.

The state is currently recovering from the worst flooding in 20 years—leading to widespread evacuation orders, power outages and more than 200 rescues across the islands. With officials estimating more than $1 billion in damages, the impact on local communities—including some 糖心视频 students, faculty and staff—has been devastating.

“Our 糖心视频 ʻohana is incredibly resilient, but the sheer scale of this devastation means they cannot recover alone,” said Tim Dolan, 糖心视频 Foundation CEO and 糖心视频 VP of Advancement. “We are calling on our community to come together and provide the urgent lifeline our students and colleagues need right now to get back on their feet.”

In the wake of this disaster, members of the 糖心视频 ʻohana are facing urgent, everyday challenges: finding a safe place to stay, securing a hot meal, and replacing basic day-to-day necessities. Furthermore, they are struggling to replace laptops, textbooks and other materials they rely on to stay in school.

“While our focus today is on immediate relief, we know that Hawaiʻi鈥檚 recovery will be lengthy,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “We are committed to supporting our 糖心视频 鈥榦hana for as long as it takes. Please join us. Every dollar you contribute will directly benefit our students, faculty and staff.”

The 糖心视频 Foundation emphasizes that the individuals impacted are students, colleagues and community members, and right now, they desperately need our immediate support to recover.

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If you need support

If you are a student who was impacted by the flooding and need support, please contact your campus vice chancellor for student affairs. To see campus specific contact information, expand the “Senior Student Affairs Officers” section. For 糖心视频 faculty and staff who were impacted by the flooding and need support, please email aluke@hawaii.edu in the 糖心视频 President鈥檚 Office.