University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa atmospheric scientists found that the century-old yardstick used across many industries to estimate air-conditioning and refrigeration energy demand—called cooling degree days—is missing something fundamental.

Published in , the study reports a new, physics-based version of the metric—effective cooling degree days—that captures how temperature and humidity together impact the actual work a cooling system is required to do. Applying it across North America, they found that cooling efficiency has been declining by 2–4% per decade since 1971, and that the old temperature-only metric misjudges how much cooling is required in different regions. This has led to overstating demand in some places and understating it in others.

“Estimates of cooling degree days are used everywhere,” said Jake Casselman, postdoctoral researcher in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST). “Utility companies, grid operators, energy planners, and engineers use them to anticipate electricity demand, and financial markets trade futures on them to hedge against unusually hot summers. If that yardstick is biased in ways that depend on a region’s climate, then the planning decisions built on it are biased too. That can mean building the wrong amount of power generation in the wrong place, or misjudging where the grid is most at risk during a heat wave.”

Challenging an old assumption

The previous approach to estimating cooling requirements assumes every degree of heat takes the same amount of energy to cool, no matter the conditions. But real cooling systems don’t work that way: they get less efficient as it gets hotter, and humidity makes it worse, because the system has to spend energy wringing moisture out of the air, not just lowering the temperature.

Casselman and Christina Karamperidou, an atmospheric sciences professor in SOEST, combined climate science with refrigeration engineering to develop a new cooling demand metric that explicitly accounts for how cooling system efficiency changes with temperature and humidity. Their approach incorporates a simplified model of the refrigeration cycle—the same physics governing every air conditioner and refrigerator—to estimate how efficiently a cooling system can remove heat under different atmospheric conditions. They applied this new cooling demand metric to 50 years of high-resolution weather data (1971鈥�2020) across North America to quantify how climate-driven changes in cooling efficiency have already reshaped cooling demand across regions.

They repeated the analysis using projections from 19 climate models under a high-emissions scenario to assess future changes. Finally, they mapped the results onto the U.S. electricity grid, accounting for where people live, to identify the regions and power systems most likely to experience the largest shifts in cooling demand.

“Our results show that the regions facing the steepest future increases in cooling demand are the Northwest, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic, where some grid regions are projected to see cooling-related electricity demand more than double by mid-century in this high-emissions ‘worst-case scenario,’” Karamperidou said. “Getting cooling demand right isn’t an academic exercise; it directly affects how we plan, size, and operate future energy infrastructure as the climate changes.”

Pulling in opposite directions

The impact of humidity introduced a real twist on the findings. They reported that in some regions, like the desert Southwest, they expected efficiency to decline However, they found that as the air grows drier, the ease of cooling offsets the penalty of higher temperatures, keeping efficiency steady or even improving it in some spots. In humid regions, heat and moisture compound each other, so the energy burden is worse than temperature alone would suggest.

“Seeing these two effects pull in opposite directions across the continent, what we ended up calling a ‘tug-of-war,’ is something a temperature-only view would never reveal,” said Casselman.

To ensure their model was both applicable and accurate, the researchers incorporated a refrigeration framework that captures the specific physics of how temperature and humidity affect efficiency. This project was made possible through the researchers鈥� interactions with thermal-management engineers at the , of which 糖心视频 is a key partner institution.

In celebration of World Oceans Day, the Alaska SeaLife Center featured a captivating exhibit that bridges the worlds of microscopic marine science and fine art. The “Plankton Mandala Art Exhibit” is the culmination of a multi-year collaboration between a team of ocean ecologists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and an Alaska-based artist and educator. The intricate artwork captures the beauty of the smallest ocean animals, all created during an artist-in-residence program at Seward Middle School and community workshops at Alaska SeaLife Center. The exhibit opened in April and is still available to the public.

“It is easy to overlook the details of an organism—until you try to draw it,” said Petra Lenz, project lead and research professor at the (PBRC) in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST). “Combining art and science allows us to introduce concepts and characteristics that are easily missed. Sensory hairs, eyes, and symmetry take on a new meaning when they become part of a drawing.”

Sharing discoveries with communities

The National Science Foundation-funded science driving this initiative focuses on the annual “spring restart” of the zooplankton community in the Gulf of Alaska, a time when tiny crustaceans awake from a wintertime lull and flourish as days become longer. The PBRC research team is assessing the understudied winter and early spring cycles to determine how species of zooplankton grow, stay healthy and are distributed throughout the water depths. Zooplankton, particularly tiny crustaceans known as copepods, serve as the crucial link connecting microscopic algae to economically vital fisheries, seabirds and marine mammals.

Lenz worked with Alaska artist Kim McNett to develop an innovative educational experience that translates complex biological concepts into hands-on art. While McNett developed the art component, how to engage students and adults in plankton theme artwork, select art materials, sample drawings and reference materials; Lenz and her graduate student Lauren Block worked on the scientific concepts and hands-on science activities.

Latest research

Block also spearheaded much of the fieldwork and foundational research for the project. Highlighting the scientific success of the project, her findings were published in . Block鈥檚 research integrated traditional sampling methods with modern molecular approaches to characterize the diversity, development, feeding and physiology of zooplankton in a deep Alaskan Fjord, Resurrection Bay.

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Marine mammal research has attained new heights as scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa are deploying noninvasive suction-cup tags onto humpback whales using drones. Traditionally, researchers from the (MMRP) in the approached animals closely via boats, deploying tags using a seven-meter carbon fiber pole. Now, technological advances are allowing the team to tag whales from the sky, dramatically shifting how marine data is collected.

During their February 2026 field season off the coast of Maui, the MMRP team successfully utilized drones to deploy Customized Animal Tracking Solution (CATS) accelerometer tags. This innovative method provides a safer, less invasive tag deployment system for both the marine mammals and the human researchers. The team can deploy tags from several hundred meters away from their research vessel—greatly minimizing human intrusion.

“We do not need to get close to the whales to tag them, so we don’t disturb them,” said Lars Bejder, MMRP researcher. “Additionally, we are able to tag whales that we previously were not able to approach and get close to. This opens up many new opportunities for low-impact research on whales and dolphins to inform on their conservation and management.”

A prime example of this success occurred when the team successfully drone-tagged a skittish, singing male humpback whale during its final surfacing bout—a feat that would have been impossible using traditional pole-tagging methods.

Critical data collection

In total, the expedition deployed 22 tags on lactating females, a calf and adult males.

The high-resolution data collected—including fine-scale movements and energy expenditures—is critical for wildlife management. It allows researchers to quantify the biological consequences of disturbances, such as changing climatic events, vessel traffic or military activities, ultimately helping forecast population trajectories and establish vital evidence-based mitigation strategies to protect these marine species.

The fieldwork was supported by the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Navy’s Living Marine Resources program, Dolphin Quest and philanthropic donations.

Read more at.

What began 15 years ago as a federally funded research, training and outreach program has grown into an uplifting public health movement across the Pacific. The (CHL), based at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 , is celebrating a decade and a half of pioneering work in childhood nutrition, health, and community empowerment.

The center launched in 2011 with a $25 million USDA grant to create partnerships and build capacity across the region. Since then, it has worked with communities to improve the health and nutrition of thousands of children in Hawaiʻi, Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States in Micronesia.

Putting communities first

“Our whole philosophy is really around promoting health and finding things that work, to always focus on the positive,” said Rachel Novotny, director of CHL. “The real work is with people: collaborating with communities on new playgrounds, adopting new policies about what kinds of foods are in schools, and working with kids on how to garden and grow their own fruits and vegetables, for example.”

A signature of CHL‘s impact is its . National health surveys often overlook Hawaiʻi and the remote Pacific jurisdictions; the center stepped in to track data on children鈥檚 diets, physical activity and early physical signs of conditions like prediabetes.

A global success story

CHL has accomplished something rare: proven success in lowering childhood obesity. Participating communities saw a 4% drop in child overweight and obesity rates during the two-year program compared to non-participating areas. Six years later, that difference widened to 12%, showing the program’s long-term power.

The program has also become a centerpiece for mentoring and professional development for community health. Former CHL staffers and students now serve as deans, directors and lead researchers throughout the Pacific and the world, multiplying the positive impact on global food security.

CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal noted, “This is a remarkable example of a collaborative innovation success story, where CTAHR faculty have taken an impactful, community-based and data-driven approach to address nutritional security challenges in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. I commend Rachel for her leadership in building such a broad coalition to conduct place-based research while also training the future workforce.”

“One of our advisors said to me, ‘You know, Rachel, this isn’t so much a research trial anymore, it’s a movement,’” Novotny said. “I considered that a positive thing. It’s true that we’re after real societal change, and I think we have been able to accomplish that because of the people and the communities.”

In July, Gov. Josh Green (, Act 186) that lays the groundwork for cohesive management of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 blue economy—centralizing marine affairs oversight and formally designating the state as a hub for ocean innovation and stewardship. The bill transforms the , which has several University of Hawaiʻi members, into the new state Marine Affairs Governing Board; and re-establishes the position of Marine Affairs Coordinator.

“John Craven was the first and, to date, only State of Hawaiʻi Marine Affairs Coordinator,” said Dave Karl, 糖心视频 Mānoa professor and director of the in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST) who has been the of the Marine Affairs Advisory Committee since Earth Day 2024 and attended the bill signing.

“The re-establishment of this key leadership position is timely and important,” he said. “A key goal is to support marine research and education, and to promote novel blue economy partnerships throughout the state and across the Pacific basin. 糖心视频 is well-positioned to contribute to this new marine vision.”

Sustainable use of resources, preservation of ecosystems

As shared in the , 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 “blue economy” is defined by the sustainable use of ocean and aquatic resources to support economic growth and job creation, in turn ensuring the preservation of essential marine ecosystems. Hawaiʻi stands as a national leader, driven by its unique position as the only U.S. island state in the Pacific and its long-standing cultural, economic and scientific ties to the ocean.

“SOEST is deeply committed to advancing 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 blue economy by integrating world-class research with education in ways that strengthen student engagement, expand workforce opportunities, and accelerate innovation,” said SOEST Dean Chip Fletcher. “Our responsibility is not only to generate new knowledge, but to apply those discoveries to improve the resilience and well-being of Pacific communities.”

As shared in the Governor鈥檚 office press release, “a centralized office allows the state to focus its efforts on advancing 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 blue economy while eliminating the fragmented approach of the previous system.”

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Equipped with cutting-edge marine robotics, hyperspectral imagers and aerial drones, five University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (MOP) alumni reunited aboard the R/V Searcher in June for a 22-day expedition into Papahānaumokuākea. Their mission was to deploy advanced autonomous systems to combat an invasive macroalgae called Chondria tumulosa.

The expedition highlights the impact of 糖心视频鈥檚 50-year-old undergraduate program, proving how MOP produces scientists, engineers and leaders who work fluently across disciplines, agencies and oceans.

“We have a unique opportunity to work with brilliant marine roboticists to develop tools to help combat one of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 most mysterious and potentially devastating marine macroalgae species, Chondria tumulosa,” said Chief Scientist Keolohilani H. Lopes Jr., a MOP alumnus and 糖心视频 Mānoa PhD candidate.

High-tech tools, interagency collaboration

The voyage brought together diverse expertise to monitor and protect fragile ecosystems. Three advanced marine robotic packages—equipped with computer vision cameras, a hyperspectral imager and an environmental DNA (eDNA) profiler—were provided by Matthew Dunbabin鈥檚 lab at Queensland University of Technology. Meanwhile, PhD student Anna Baker Mikkelsen of the Climate Resilience Collaborative (CRC) led aerial mapping of Sand Island at Kuaihelani (Midway) using a drone.

Shellie Habel, a coastal geologist with the CRC and , served as primary drone pilot for aerial mapping. At Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll), the team conducted aerial operations over shallow reef flats to supplement in-water surveys of macroalgae. The team also evaluated shoreline changes at Tern Island and East Island of Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) to support research led by Sara Kahanamoku and Haunani Kane at 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 (SOEST).

Decades of trust, leadership

Crucial permit compliance, field safety, and historical context were overseen by MOP alumnus Jason Leonard, Marine Operations Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Leonard, who has visited the sanctuary for more than 25 years, credited MOP and its Quantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques field program with preparing exceptional marine field personnel.

糖心视频 Mānoa MOP Coordinator Jeff Kuwabara also served as expedition photographer.

“What made this expedition possible wasn’t just funding or equipment,” Kuwabara said. “It was a network of trust built over decades, by people who trained together, dove together, and learned to work across disciplines before they ever had professional titles. That network is MOP‘s quiet legacy: not a single discovery or expedition, but a generation of professionals who know how to collaborate because they were taught to from the start.”

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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Last fall, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers asked the question: Can Hawaiʻi grow rice again? Now, a new study has given a data-driven answer: Yes, and the quality might be higher than expected.

The report is the work of scientists from the 糖心视频 Mānoa (CTAHR) and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. They found that high-quality Japanese rice types can thrive in fields with traditional irrigation systems, instead of traditional flooded paddies.

The collaboration evaluated two of Japan’s premier short-grain varieties, Koshihikari and Hitomebore, during the 2025 summer season.

The team tested upland cultivation in fields in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi, owned by farmer Jerry Ornellas, a former CTAHR field technician. Yields in Kapaʻa reached 3.79 to 4.01 tons per hectare, comparable to many fields in Tokyo. Surprisingly, while the crops in Japan required 134 days to mature, 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 crops were harvested in 97 days. Shorter tropical daylengths accelerated their growth.

“This was an excellent start to the collaborative research to explore the potential of bringing back rice farming to Hawaiʻi,” said Professor Tomoaki Miura of CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management.

贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 stable temperatures and abundant sunshine generated heavier grains, yielding an outstanding grain-filling rate of up to 93.9%. The island-grown rice also achieved a superior whole-grain ratio and a lower protein content, a trait highly prized for creating a softer, stickier eating texture.

Hawaiʻi imports 100% of its rice, totaling 140 million pounds a year. Because residents consume three times the national average, establishing local production can play a major role in the state鈥檚 food security.

When talking about 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 food security, the conversation often focuses on physical infrastructure — warehouses, cold storage, and doubling crop production to combat importing 90% of our food. A new by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher contends that physical infrastructure and production are essential, but incomplete when looking at the challenges.

Published in Food Policy by Sothy Eng, an associate professor in the (CTAHR), the article emphasizes that cultural and social capital are under-recognized parts of achieving food self-sufficiency.

Cultural capital refers to the tastes, knowledge, and familiarity that influence what people value and consume; social capital refers to networks of trust, cooperation, and connection.

Eng, who teaches in CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, states that expanding food production requires deliberate attention to culture, inclusion, and trust. His draws on a statewide survey of 313 farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than asking for fertilizer, soil, or fencing, local growers identified peer-to-peer networks, resource sharing, and community engagement as their most critical needs to sustain operations and morale.

Strongest driver of farming efficiency

Global data indicate that social capital is often the strongest driver of farming efficiency, outweighing both human and natural capital. Trust is vital for coordination, inclusion, and resilience across farmers, institutions, and consumers. Cultural and social capital help explain why production alone may not translate into local food consumption or stronger food security.

To bridge the gap between what Hawaiʻi grows and what its communities actually eat, Eng advocates for investing in “relationship/symbolic infrastructure.” Practical solutions include expanding university campus farmers鈥� markets and recipe-sharing programs. These initiatives serve as cultural classrooms that build familiarity with local crops such as taro leaves and moringa, naturally driving local demand.

To achieve true food security, Eng concluded, food policy should grow relationships alongside crops. As he writes in the article, “Cultural and social capital are not substitutes for technology or infrastructure; they are the relational soil in which sustainability takes root.”

The (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) has been awarded approximately $2.4 million in federal funding to advance island sustainability, protect unique marine ecosystems, support research, and develop a robust blue economy workforce. The funding is part of a continued, bipartisan investment by the U.S. Congress to extend the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant funding through 2026.

While the program operates as a federal-university partnership across , this localized funding ensures Hawaiʻi can continue to address the accelerating environmental and economic challenges specific to island communities.

“We are deeply grateful to the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation and the bipartisan coalition in Congress for their continued investment in the National Sea Grant College Program and in the communities we have served for nearly 60 years across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific,” said Darren T. Lerner, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant director. “This support strengthens Hawaiʻi Sea Grant鈥檚 ability to connect university research, community knowledge, and on-the-ground action to address coastal hazards, restore ecosystems, support sustainable seafood and aquaculture, and prepare the next generation of ocean and coastal leaders.”

Congressional support for local initiatives

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz played a pivotal role in the reauthorization and amendment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act in 2020.

“Sea Grant does incredibly important work, including promoting adaptation to king tides in Waikīkī, fighting to save corals, and leading community-based stewardship of land and ocean across the state,” said Schatz. “We鈥檙e going to continue working to deliver more funding so that Sea Grant can keep building a more resilient Hawaiʻi.”

U.S. Rep. Ed Case emphasized that this funding is a critical safeguard for the state鈥檚 future, particularly as we face extreme disasters.

“In these uncertain times, we must redouble our efforts to support all those working to preserve and protect our coastal and marine ecosystems like our University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program,” said Case. “Hawaiʻi Sea Grant is a prime example of focus over decades on critical issues related to sustainable coastal development, tourism, hazard resiliency, sustainable aquaculture, Indigenous knowledge, and the impacts of climate change.”

Building a resilient future

With this $2.4 million allocation, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will continue to bridge the gap between academic research and community action. By securing these funds, the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation has ensured that the state鈥檚 coastal communities remain vibrant, sustainable and prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.

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Nine forest landowners from Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu officially graduated from the 10th annual Forest Stewards program on June 28, following an immersive three-day workshop in Pāhoa on Hawaiʻi Island.

Housed in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR), the initiative helps people master the fundamentals of sustainable forest management, then design and implement community projects that bring this knowledge to their local neighborhoods.

Blending science, business and worldviews

Led by CTAHR Extension Forester J. B. Friday, the program covers practical, ecological and cultural dimensions of land stewardship. This year鈥檚 curriculum delved into the forest history of Hawaiʻi, strategic tree selection, aggressive weed control and agroforestry practices — the practice of combining trees and shrubs with crops or livestock to create more productive, sustainable and diverse land-use systems.

Participants also learned how to navigate the layers of local government to maximize property tax incentives for designated forest lands. They learned Hawaiian words for the land and explored how modern land management in Hawaiʻi is shaped by both Western and traditional Hawaiian worldviews.

While the newest cohort of graduates is currently designing their projects, they follow a legacy of alumni who have transformed conservation in their communities. Past Forest Stewards program achievements include:

• Hosting public educational field days in their personal forests for friends and neighbors.
• Outplanting native species in highly visible community spaces.
• News articles highlighting the critical role of regional forests.
• Working with county officials to expand property tax incentives for active reforestation projects.

“It has been really gratifying to see all the contributions the graduates of our program have made in educating their communities on how to care for our forests,” said Friday.

Get involved

The program is expanding its network of dedicated land managers who protect 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 fragile ecosystems. Forest landowners, managers or conservation enthusiasts interested in joining the 2027 cohort are encouraged to contact Friday directly at .

For centuries, plants like māmaki and noni have been used to heal and restore. Now, a researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is using bioengineering to better understand how these plants produce their healing power and how to naturally boost those medicinal properties for the future.

Nan Jiang, an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering in the (CTAHR), is leading a first-ever study to map the genetic and chemical blueprints of some of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 most significant medicinal plants.

Bio-factories

His research focuses on the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds found in noni, māmaki and moringa.

“We are looking at the ‘bio-factory’ inside the cells,” Jiang said. “If we can identify the limiting steps in how a plant produces an antioxidant, we can use natural breeding or environmental triggers to boost that production.”

To decode these complex processes, Jiang uses a new ally: Nicotiana benthamiana, a relative of tobacco, as a research tool. His lab tests specific enzymes from plants such as noni and moringa in Nicotiana plants, using them as natural incubators to see which genetic combinations yield the highest medicinal value.

The research has practical applications for 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 economy. Many local entrepreneurs produce teas, powders and supplements using native plants, and Jiang鈥檚 research has the potential to increase the potency and quality of these health products.

Growing resilience

The project, which has been underway for more than a year, is an example of the mission of the CTAHR. By focusing on plants that are uniquely suited to the islands’ environment, Jiang is helping to build a more resilient future for both local agriculture and community health. This research is supported by the CTAHR CARES Initiative and the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation.

“Our greenhouse and lab work is designed to honor the plants that are native to this place and find ways to make their healing properties more accessible to everyone.”

For decades, Professor Emerita Mary Tiles shaped the minds of students at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Today, her philanthropic commitment to the university continues to impact the campus community. In recognition of her generosity and lifelong dedication to cross-disciplinary education, the (CSS) recently named its sustainability teaching honor the Mary Tiles Sustainability Teaching Award.

This year鈥檚 recipient is Felix Mantz, an assistant professor with the . His work closely aligns with Tiles鈥檚 vision of bridging the humanities and social sciences to solve modern global issues.

“This recognition means a great deal to me,” Mantz said. “My teaching and research are based on a commitment to challenge unjust systems of power. By looking at the myriad ways in which the global political economy, planetary environmental crises and colonial structures of power are entangled, I hope to inspire students to help recover, rebuild and defend a world in which many worlds fit.”

In her nomination of Mantz for the award, CSS senior sustainability advisor Aya H. Kimura said students have given positive reviews of his teaching and praised the impact he has had on them.

“Even outside of the classroom, Felix has been a huge support in mentoring me for my own research regarding food security,” said student India Buchanan. “Through teaching and mentoring, he has become my main resource for environmental justice related issues.”

More on Mary Tiles

A former chair of the 糖心视频 Mānoa until her retirement in 2009, Tiles鈥檚 leadership in this role contributed to strengthening the department鈥檚 focus on interdisciplinary approaches, building on her own expertise in epistemology (the study and theory of knowledge) and the philosophy of science. Her academic work heavily explored the history and philosophy of science and technology. Tiles joined the department in 1989 after teaching at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and at Swarthmore College.

CSS Dean Denise Konan noted her close personal relationship with the professor emerita and her impact as a benefactor and scholar.

“I have had the distinct privilege of calling Mary a dear friend and colleague for many years,” Konan said. “Her brilliant mind and unwavering commitment to cross-disciplinary education have left an indelible mark on 糖心视频 Mānoa. It is incredibly moving to see her legacy honored through an award that celebrates the very kind of innovative teaching she has always championed.”

Read the entire story by Simplicio Paragas on the .

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate candidate Ernest Bethe IV has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship for the 2026–27 academic year. After completing his master of degree from the this August, Bethe will embark on a 10-month research initiative in Ecuador. Based in Puerto Ayora—the fastest-growing town in the Galápagos Islands—he will investigate how overlooked urban spaces can be leveraged for ecological resilience (ability of ecosystems to adapt to environmental change).

Rethinking ‘informal’ green spaces

As tourism and development exert heavy pressure on the limited land resources of island ecosystems, Bethe鈥檚 research will look at cost-effective frameworks for sustainable growth. His project will focus on “informal green spaces”—such as vacant lots, roadside vegetation and unmanaged patches of land—and will examine their potential to:

• Support vital habitats for native bird species.
• Reduce localized flooding and mitigate the urban heat island effect (where built-up areas trap more heat than natural surroundings).
• Develop sustainable growth that balances tourism and development needs with limited land resources.

In Ecuador, Bethe will be hosted by the Charles Darwin Foundation, with a secondary academic affiliation at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.

A model for island cities

The upcoming fieldwork builds directly on Bethe鈥檚 capstone project at 糖心视频 Mānoa, which focused on ecological urban design. A core outcome of his Fulbright project will be a bilingual planning toolkit designed for local officials and community stakeholders in Ecuador. However, the implications of his work extend far beyond the Galápagos.

“Islands everywhere are dealing with the same issue: how do you grow without paving over the very thing that makes the place worth living in?” said Bethe. “If we can highlight how the green spaces we usually overlook are actually cooling our streets, soaking up stormwater, and giving our native birds somewhere to land, that鈥檚 a low-cost tool that any island city—including Honolulu—can put to work.”

Ashok Das, urban and regional planning professor and department chair, said, “Ernest鈥檚 winning the Fulbright award is a matter of great pride for our department, college and university. It is a testimony to his ability to apply multiple concepts in creative ways to advance a core mission of urban planning鈥攕ustainable development.”

“It also underscores his commitment to making vulnerable island communities more resilient. Having grown up in Indonesia and studied in Hawaiʻi have definitely shaped his worldview. He is multilingual, loves experiencing new cultures and thrives in multicultural settings. He will be a wonderful ambassador of the Fulbright program and 糖心视频 Mānoa.”

The is administered by the U.S. Department of State and is one of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious international exchange initiatives. It aims to expand perspectives through academic and cultural exchange in partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide.

Tucked away at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa鈥檚 Komohana facility in Hilo, a small team of researchers from the (CTAHR) is building the clean seed pipeline that could help secure the future of the state鈥檚 sweetpotato industry. Clean seeds are vine cuttings that are free from harmful viruses.

The National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) Sweetpotato-Hawaiʻi Center is part of the USDA-supported , a national network of clean plant centers, scientists, regulators, and growers. It is the only center in the network dedicated to Okinawan and Hawaiian heritage ʻuala (sweetpotatoes).

The center combines advanced tissue culture and diagnostics with strong partnerships among farmers, researchers, and cultural practitioners. Together, they are laying the groundwork for a reliable, local system for ʻuala and Okinawan sweetpotato health.

贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 sweetpotatoes

While programs on the U.S. continent work with orange-fleshed varieties, the Hawaiʻi center, led by CTAHR Extension Agent Sharon Wages, prioritizes purple-fleshed Okinawan types and traditional ʻuala that are central to local diets and markets.

“Hawaiʻi has the corner on Okinawan sweetpotato in the U.S.,” she said, noting that continental U.S. climates often cannot match the crop鈥檚 performance in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 tropical weather.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) is a major crop in Hawaiʻi, with 6.2 million pounds grown here in 2025, according to the USDA. Nine out of 10 ʻuala are produced on Hawaiʻi Island, particularly along the Hāmākua Coast.

Establishing a virus-free foundation

Supported by researchers Achyut Adhikari and Elisa Urano Mow, a tissue culture specialist, the sweetpotato center uses meristem-tip tissue culture to clean infected plant lines for each kind of ʻulua and establish virus-free foundation material for growers. This clean stock can then be multiplied and distributed, giving farmers a healthier starting point for new plantings.

While all NCPN centers follow a standard virus testing protocol, CTAHR researcher Anna Halpin-McCormick has documented additional viruses in the state. The Hawaiʻi center is now incorporating two of these locally significant viruses into its regular diagnostics, strengthening protection against region-specific threats.

The center has 11 unique sweetpotato varieties. The staff works closely with local growers to advance lines that are both nutritious and marketable, including several Okinawan-type selections and important heritage ʻuala.

A lifetime of service to Hawaiʻi agriculture earned retired University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa professor and former Maui County administrator Harold Keyser the 2026 Maui Legacy Farmer award. The retired soil microbiologist with the (CTAHR) was recognized for his contributions to agricultural education and community partnerships.

The honor was presented on May 30, 2026, during the 17th annual Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair. Held at the War Memorial Special Events Field, the celebration kicked off at the beloved Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast.

“I appreciate the diversity of the agriculture industry,” Keyser said. “I’m grateful to have played a part in strengthening and perpetuating it during my career.”

Lifetime of service to Maui agriculture

After joining CTAHR in 2002 and serving as Maui County administrator, Keyser became a champion for the local farming community. He provided essential, science-based perspectives on complex community issues, ranging from water rights to agricultural biotechnology.

During a challenging period of declining institutional funding, Keyser led a county government funding partnership. This collaborative milestone brought together the Maui County Farm Bureau, CTAHR, and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, securing long-term funding for cooperative extension programs and experiment stations.

In retirement, he continues to volunteer with community programs, offering pesticide safety training and helping establish the Kula School Agricultural Science Program at Kēōkea.

Today, Keyser鈥檚 deep agricultural legacy is carried forward by his son, Jonathan, who co-founded Native Nursery LLC in Kula, a business focused on native plant restoration.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) is central to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to protect the state from invasive plant threats. The $322,000 grant will fund two state projects to improve early identification of major hibiscus, banana, and citrus diseases before they gain a foothold in Hawaiʻi.

CTAHR faculty will play a pivotal role in the detection and diagnostics of a statewide nursery and ornamental plant survey. Assistant Professors Jing Zhou, a specialist in plant virology, Marian Luis, a specialist in mycology, and Extension agent Alberto Ricordi, PhD, are serving as co-principal investigators on the survey grant.

Ricordi will assist in coordinating site visits statewide, while professors Zhou and Luis will do preliminary confirmation of suspected plant diseases. Initial screening will take place at the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HDAB), while CTAHR‘s specialized laboratories will confirm the presence of diseases before samples are sent to the USDA.

“Building a relationship with CTAHR and 糖心视频 in general is very important because they’re a great asset for the department,” said Josiah Marquez, HDAB鈥檚 Plant Pathologist and lead on the grant. “In terms of these faculty members being specialists in their fields, it’s important that we take advantage of that.”

In the second project, Assistant Professor Garrett Roell from CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, and Assistant Professor Huaijin Chen from the Department of Information and Computer Sciences will use artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computer programming to predict which plant diseases pose the biggest risk to Hawaiʻi.

This joint initiative is scheduled as a one-year pilot project. A successful first year could pave the way for more funds and a larger scope to detect other invasive threats, such as destructive insect pests or animal pathogens, long before they reach Hawaiʻi.

The University of Hawaiʻi is set to play a pivotal role in a new national effort to strengthen America鈥檚 seafood supply and expand sustainable aquaculture. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the creation of the Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets (CIFARM).

Funded by an initial $13.5 million investment for its first year, this five-year cooperative institute aims to harness partnerships with researchers to unlock the potential of U.S. marine aquaculture. The University of New Hampshire will serve as the host institution, with 糖心视频 participating as one of five core consortium members in this competitive national program.

The 糖心视频 research team is being led by Associate Professor Chatham Callan out of the 糖心视频 Hilo (PACRC). Callan is joined by co-investigators Professor Maria Haws of PACRC, Associate Research Professor Erik Franklin of the in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at 糖心视频 Mānoa, and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Associate Director for Extension Darren Okimoto and several other 糖心视频 Faculty partners.

“Being selected as a core member of CIFARM is a testament to the decades of world-class aquaculture research happening right here in Hawaiʻi,” said Callan. “Through our partnerships with Native Hawaiian communities, we draw on a tradition of ocean stewardship and fishpond engineering that stretches back centuries. Our 糖心视频 team is excited to bring that unique Pacific perspective and expertise to the national stage. By focusing on cutting-edge tech, environmental forecasting, and real-world marine demonstration projects, we are actively building the blueprint for a more resilient, self-sufficient seafood industry.”

$24B in imported seafood annually

CIFARM‘s core mission is to solve real-world challenges affecting seafood producers and consumers while reducing the nation’s reliance on imported seafood. Currently, Americans consume more than $24 billion in imported seafood annually, with approximately half estimated to be farmed overseas. By advancing domestic aquaculture, CIFARM aims to bolster national food security, create jobs and uplift coastal economies in complement to wild-capture fisheries.

The 糖心视频 team will contribute to a broad range of research priorities. CIFARM researchers will investigate scientific solutions that can be leveraged for industry advancement. Key focus areas include engineering and technology development, artificial intelligence for aquaculture, environmental observations and forecasting, and marine aquaculture demonstration projects. The consortium will also conduct critical risk management, vulnerability analyses and seafood market research. The Hawaii team will also partner with USAPI researchers, including University of Guam Sea Grant and the in FSM to extend CIFARM鈥檚 reach throughout the Pacific.

“This partnership underscores the University of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 vital role in advancing sustainable aquaculture systems that directly impact our global food supply,” said Norman Arancon, director of the 糖心视频 Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management. “We have always championed practical, impactful science. Through CIFARM, our researchers and students will be at the forefront of a $13.5 million national effort, utilizing 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 unique seascape to drive economic growth, bolster food security, and train the next generation of leaders in sustainable marine aquaculture.”

Hawaiʻi is uniquely positioned for this work. The state is already home to Blue Ocean Mariculture in Kona, currently the only offshore fish farm in the U.S., providing a vital real-world connection to the consortium’s demonstration and commercialization goals.

In addition to University of New Hampshire and 糖心视频, the network includes Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, New Hampshire Sea Grant, the University of Miami, Florida Sea Grant, the University of Southern Mississippi, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute and California Sea Grant.

Three students from the are spending one year focusing on critical marine policy issues in Washington, D.C. representing the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) as 2026 .

Gabrielle Ellis

completed her PhD in biological oceanography in spring 2025, for which she received the Mirikitani Outstanding Dissertation Award. Her dissertation provides baseline ecological descriptions of remote and unexplored habitats of the deep sea, and considers how resilient these habitats are to natural variation and human-induced impacts.

“If I have learned anything through my research as a deep-sea scientist, it is the power of transparent, long-term data in elevating science and protecting important ecosystems,” said Ellis. “I am so excited to witness this through NOAA鈥檚 Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program, and I am honored to be working with the international and multistakeholder network of the Arctic Research Program.”

Jonathan Rosen

began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer as a coastal resource manager, and continued this work in Hawaiʻi supporting the restoration of Hawaiian fishponds and monitoring endangered species in the remote atolls of Papahānaumokuākea. He earned his master鈥檚 degree in marine biology as a NSF Graduate Research Fellow studying the impacts of marine heatwaves on fish physiology.

“To me, this feels like a once in lifetime opportunity to expand my experiences and expertise by working alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ecological Services Headquarters,” Rosen said. “Through this fellowship I hope to apply my experience in conservation, research and communication towards the implementation of legislation on national conservation priorities, including the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.”

Sarah Woo

is currently a PhD candidate in the Natural Resources and Environmental Management Department at 糖心视频 Mānoa focusing on collaborative community-based research, management and governance. Her graduate research is based in Kāneʻohe Bay, working alongside the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve and regional generational lawaiʻa (fishers), marine scientists who work in the Bay, and resource management agencies.

“I feel extremely grateful to have been selected to represent Hawaiʻi as a Knauss Legislative Fellow in Sen. Brian Schatz鈥檚 office focusing on topics such as oceans, climate, fisheries, and water, and assisting with appropriations and science legislation,” said Woo. “Growing up in the Pacific Northwest鈥檚 Washington, I never expected to live and work in Washington, D.C., but am excited for this new adventure to learn about the federal government so that I can come back home to Hawaiʻi after and apply what I have learned to support community needs.”

For more information, .

Growing up on Rapa Nui, Noah Paoa spent his summers camping by the shore, bodyboarding, and exploring the island鈥檚 landscape with his family. A pivotal moment occurred in 2010 when, at 15 years old, a massive earthquake in Chile triggered a tsunami warning for the island. Paoa watched the shoreline recede so far it seemed as if the ocean had never been there. This experience highlighted how closely life on an island is tied to the forces of the sea, eventually guiding him toward a historic academic milestone.

Graduating with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in May, Paoa earned a landmark achievement as the first Rapa Nui person to go through the Rapa Nui school system and earn a doctoral degree. While he is careful to honor those who paved the way, Paoa鈥檚 degree in from the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST) is significant personally and for his community.

“Earning this degree is an honor for me, but it is also the reflection of all the work that Rapa Nui people have done so that Rapa Nui students would have the tools to pursue advanced studies,” Paoa said. “I see myself as a testament and example for future Rapa Nui students and perhaps for students of other small island communities.”

Assessing sea level rise threats

Chip Fletcher, professor and dean of SOEST, served as Paoa鈥檚 advisor for both his master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees. Fletcher said Paoa brought an extraordinary combination of determination, discipline and insight to his graduate work.

“Noah has an incredible work ethic and a rare intuition for coastal science,” Fletcher said. “He has the ability to see both the physical processes shaping island shorelines and the deeper cultural meaning of what is at stake. His research reflects years of hard work, careful thinking, and a deep commitment to serving Rapa Nui and other island communities.”

His doctoral research addresses the , such as ceremonial sites, ancestral landscapes and sacred places.

“Most climate research focuses on impacts to infrastructure and ecosystems, but I wanted to show that coastal cultural heritage is just as vulnerable, and that losing these sites would be more than an archaeological loss, it could result in disruption to cultural identity and continuity,” Paoa said.

Cultural pride and responsibility

Growing up with a Rapa Nui father and a German mother who dedicated part of her life to preserving the Rapa Nui language, Paoa grew up surrounded by both cultural pride and a recognition of the responsibility that comes with preserving language, knowledge and identity. He felt a frustration with the island’s extractive academic past, where outside researchers often benefited their own careers without providing tangible benefits to the local people.

“My research provides new modeling tools and regional datasets to support heritage preservation and climate adaptation planning, but I’ve tried to be clear that what I have produced is to inform management and planning, and that decisions must ultimately be guided by descendant communities and grounded in their own cultural protocols,” Paoa shared.

By pursuing earth sciences, beginning as an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon, Paoa found a way to link geological processes to issues that affect his home island.

“I hope this work inspires future generations of Rapa Nui to pursue scientific paths of their own, helping ensure that research on our island increasingly reflects our own voices, perspectives, and priorities,” said Paoa. “This degree isn’t only mine, it belongs to everyone who made the path possible, and my responsibility now is to carry what I’ve learned back home and put it to use for Rapa Nui.”

–By Marcie Grabowski