Most people will never visit Papahānaumokuākea. But an Emmy-winning episode of the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s takes viewers to the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where crews tackle massive amounts of plastic pollution.

That story earned the series, produced by the , a regional Emmy Award. The episode, won in the category Environment/Science – News / Long Form Content.

The episode follows people caring for a place sacred to Hawaiian communities. Through photography and video, viewers encounter its wildlife, learn about its cultural importance and see the demanding work of removing plastic from its waters and islands.

“At its heart, it is a story about mālama ʻāina—people in Hawaiʻi caring for the places that sustain us,” said host and producer Kanesa Duncan Seraphin.

Duncan Seraphin, producer Thor Seraphin and project photojournalist Andrew Sullivan-Haskins recently received their Emmy statuettes. The award came from the San Francisco/Northern California chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which includes Hawaiʻi and Guam.

“It’s a privilege to document the extraordinary wildlife, cultural significance, and conservation work of Papahānaumokuākea, and help share a place that few people will ever experience firsthand,” Sullivan-Haskins said.

For Thor Seraphin, the images and the people behind them made the episode stand out.

“This is a story about hard work and sacrifice. Everyone involved in this episode worked as hard as they could, for something bigger than themselves. I think the voters felt that,” he said.

The series has more than 70 award-winning episodes, with honors including Emmys and Tellys.

airs on KFVE Saturdays and Sundays at 6 p.m. Episodes are also available on the series’ website.

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

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

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

Interactive abilities

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

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

Statewide monitoring, accessible data

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coral skeletons

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

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

Researchers paired the chemical record with measurements of coral growth, historical records of land-use change, and large-scale climate patterns such as El Niño. The coral recorded both natural climate variability and major changes occurring within the watershed. The research occurring at Olowalu is particularly important because it is one of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s largest continuous reef systems, and an important source of coral larvae for reefs throughout Maui Nui.

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

–By Cindy Knapman

From wildfire mitigation in Waiʻanae to dry forest restoration in Molokaʻi, four Hawaiʻi students spent their summer learning how caring for ʻāina can help build more resilient communities.

In August, 2026 Peter J. Rappa Resilient and Sustainable Coasts Fellows wrapped up their summer projects, sharing their work in final presentations at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The fellowship honors the legacy of longtime coastal sustainability extension agent Peter Joseph Rappa of the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant).

“The fellowship is made in Peter’s vision for outreach and extension work in Hawaiʻi, which is interdisciplinary and place-based,” said Maya Walton, associate director for research, fellowships, and administration at Hawaiʻi Sea Grant. “He really thought that people should come from different academic disciplines and work together on our most pressing coastal questions.”

“I think the fellowship is an amazing opportunity for students that are just starting off in their early careers, and that just want to learn more about what possibilities are out there,” said Rappa Fellow Near-Peer Mentor Oli Carbi.

2026 cohort

This year’s cohort, Marley Kong-Mercado, Ila Nako, Shaelaree Pelekane-Manosa and Haya Stein, were paired with mentors from Pili Nā Moku, a five-year project dedicated to developing and implementing holistic resilience initiatives from mauka to makai. Focused on five moku, Waiʻanae on Oʻahu, Kona Kauaʻi, Central Maui, Molokaʻi and Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island, the project aims to strengthen adaptive capacity and build a more resilient future for Hawaiʻi.

“I think something special about the fellowship was that we were all working on such different projects, and we’re able to connect each one of them together to create a big approach to helping our community, but in many different ways,” said Stein.

Kong-Mercado and Nako, were based in Waiʻanae, where they focused on wildfire mitigation and the role native vegetation and restoration can play in reducing risk. The fellows worked with Firewise, Kaʻala Farm and Mālama Learning Center. Nako also traveled to Molokaʻi to work with ʻĀina Pulapula at the Hoʻolehua Homestead, where she learned about growing the plants needed for future outplanting.

Also on Molokaʻi, Pelekane-Manosa worked with community members Uncle Bobby Alcain and Kaipu Makani; she used historical research, community interviews and mapping to trace changes in sedimentation, land use, water and the coastline over time.

For Stein, the summer was about using storytelling to connect people with the work happening across Hawaiʻi, while also collaborating with her fellow Rappa Fellows. In Waiʻanae, she documented Kong-Mercado and Nako’s wildfire mitigation work. In the other moku, she learned about the landscapes, listened to the moʻolelo of place, and met with partner organizations working to care for their communities and ʻāina.

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 �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s 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. ������Ƶ 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.

A new University of Hawaiʻi report released August 17 finds that the ������Ƶ System has significant strengths in water-related education, research and workforce development, but greater coordination across programs could help Hawaiʻi build stronger pathways into careers focused on wai (water) stewardship.

The report co-authored by a multidisciplinary team of ������Ƶ researchers is based on interviews with 38 ������Ƶ faculty members, alumni, program directors and coordinators. It identifies opportunities to better connect students with water-related courses, hands-on learning, mentors and employment opportunities across the state.

Key insights from interviews:

• Interviewee career pathways were often shaped by connections to family and place (especially for ʻōiwi and kamaʻāina interviewees), mentors (inside and outside of academia) and funding availability.
• There are many water-related courses already offered by ������Ƶ Mānoa and many faculty with water relevant expertise. These tend to be scattered across different departments because of the broad multi-disciplinary nature of water stewardship.
• Overall, interviewees felt that despite strong wai course offerings across the ������Ƶ Mānoa campus, there was a lack of coordination or visibility of water courses and a need for clearer connections between curriculum and employment opportunities.
• Despite the absence of a singular wai degree pathway, several existing programs offer freshwater credentialing options. Faculty and program coordinators help students navigate their academic journeys and find relevant wai courses and mentors using informal referral networks built on pre-existing relationships.
• Interviewees discussed a variety of ideas for credit and non-credit wai education options including certificates, a water focused master’s degree, non-credit training and a Wai 100 course.
• The ������Ƶ System has strong research infrastructure and existing mechanisms for student research. However, faculty and alumni expressed support for more experiential learning opportunities and curriculum incorporating place- and culture-based learning.
• Faculty and staff understanding of and connection to water sector employers plays a key role in student access to career pathways.
• Personnel from long-standing education and career pathway programs emphasized a few key aspects of their programming approaches, including that 1) programs are adaptive, allowing space and time for growth of the program, 2) programs emphasize nurturing the “gifts” of participants rather than attempting to identify and fill gaps in skills or knowledge and 3) relationships are central and developing trust across staff and program participants is important.
• These programs consider the long-term trajectory of their participants as their primary indicator of success. They want to see program participants secure employment or pursue a degree in a particular field.
• Silos in curricula and conceptualizations of wai may be limiting Hawaiʻi’s progress in developing effective water management. Leadership to support coordination and systems alignments is needed.

This research is a multi-department collaboration including the ������Ƶ Mānoa , , , and . Funding for this work comes from the Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, host and producer of the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program’s television series and director of its , raced to a first place victory in the 2026 Molokaʻi 2 Oʻahu (M2O) Paddleboard World Championships on July 27, winning her ninth prone paddleboard race across the Kaʻiwi Channel—a decade after her last race in 2016.

In the fastest race of her career, with a personal best time of 5 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds, this year’s effort put her back in the women’s top 10 overall fastest times, 12th overall, and fourth among all competitors in the unlimited division.

‘Draw of the open ocean’

“This year I felt the draw of the open ocean and a need to cross the channel,” said Seraphin. “Enough years had gone by that just being able to paddle in the event was satisfying. So, getting a best time is really icing on the cake, especially as our overall speeds are largely determined by the conditions on the given race day! I am extremely grateful to have been out there this year and to have had real, challenging channel conditions with wind and swell! Mahalo to my family, friends, coworkers, and supporters who got me there. It’s a solo sport, but it really takes a whole community to make it happen!”

With strong northeast tradewinds, the remnants of Hurricane Fausta, and a high-surf advisory south swell, conditions across the Kaʻiwi Channel were extremely challenging. However, an afternoon incoming tide contributed to good downwind conditions for experienced paddlers, and the competitors finished with some of the fastest performances ever recorded at M2O.

Seraphin held the women’s stock board record for 15 years (2004–2019), was inducted into the 2024 Hawaiʻi Waterman Hall of Fame, and has inspired countless athletes through her determination and excellence. She has dedicated her career to furthering the understanding of ocean and coastal ecosystems and the importance of marine conservation, and by successfully merging world-class ocean athleticism with her passion for ocean education and stewardship, she has become a beacon of education and environmental stewardship in Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Premiere paddleboarding event

Over the years, M2O has grown from a grassroots challenge for the Oʻahu lifeguards to the premiere event in the sport of paddleboarding that it is today. This year, men and women from more than 25 countries raced across the Kaʻiwi Channel, the “Channel of Bones,” that connects the islands of Molokaʻi and Oʻahu and is considered one of the most challenging and powerful bodies of water in the world.

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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 ������Ƶ’s 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’s most mysterious and potentially devastating marine macroalgae species, Chondria tumulosa,” said Chief Scientist Keolohilani H. Lopes Jr., a MOP alumnus and ������Ƶ 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’s 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 ������Ƶ ��ā�ԴDz�’s (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’s (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.

������Ƶ 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.”

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’s 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’re 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’s 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’s coastal communities remain vibrant, sustainable and prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.

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The University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) is launching a historic $7 million community funding opportunity through the Pili Nā Moku project to support community-led efforts that care for ʻāina, strengthen cultural and ecological stewardship, and build resilient communities across Hawaiʻi. This funding initiative will invest in projects focused on five moku (district) and hui (group of) moku: Kona Kauaʻi, Waiʻanae (Oʻahu), Molokaʻi, Central Maui and Kohala (Hawaiʻi Island). Up to $1.4 million is available within each moku/hui to support projects that reflect community-identified priorities and advance long-term resilience.

is a project dedicated to reinvigorating the moku system (a framework for traditional Hawaiian land tenure and biocultural stewardship) by investing in ʻāina restoration and governance practices that balance local knowledge and stewardship with centralized decision-making. The initiative is funded through a 2024 award from the NOAA Office for Coastal Management.

Projects grounded in community priorities

This initiative seeks projects that build on established relationships of trust within the moku, invest in long-term community capacity, and embrace multi-generational knowledge. Proposed projects should align with community-identified priorities and contribute to one or more of the following focus areas:

• Conserve and restore forests and watersheds
• Enhance coastal stewardship
• Restore marine abundance
• Share knowledge and strengthen networks across communities
• Reduce risk and improve disaster preparedness
• Expand community governance

“This is a historic opportunity to invest directly in the communities and practitioners who are caring for �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s lands, waters and people,” said Darren Lerner, project principal investigator and director of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant. “Through Pili Nā Moku, we have been provided the privilege and opportunity to help support place-based partnerships that build on generations of knowledge, strengthen community capacity and advance lasting resilience across each moku.”

Flexible funding for local and collaborative efforts

To accommodate a range of project sizes and community needs, the funding opportunity includes two project funding pathways:

• Collaborative project pathway: $1,200,000 in funding available per moku (seeking to fund 1 award per moku) for a funding term of two years.
• Individual project pathway: $200,000 in funding available per moku (seeking to fund 1-2 awards per moku) for a funding term of two years.

How to apply

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with strong place-based relationships and a history of supporting ʻāina restoration and thriving communities in one or more of the five moku/hui moku.

To assist applicants with the proposal submission process, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will offer an informational webinar on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 12 p.m. (HST).

Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to begin conversations with partners and review application materials early. Statements of interest are due by Friday, August 28 at 5 p.m. (HST).

For complete funding guidelines, statement of interest form, proposal templates and application materials, .

Starting July 1, the Hawaiʻi community can receive free, personalized monthly climate updates tailored specifically to their own neighborhood or coastline delivered straight to their inbox. Developed by the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP), the new Monthly Climate Summary tool translates complex scientific metrics into highly localized, plain-language updates on rainfall, temperature and drought conditions.

Whether you are a rancher monitoring drought signs, a water manager tracking watershed health, a teacher looking for real-world classroom data, or a resident wanting to stay connected to a beloved valley, the tool brings high-resolution climate data directly to the community.

“Not everyone understands how much rainfall typically falls in their area of interest,” said Ryan Longman, director of HCDP and Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC) University Consortium program director at (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant). “But if you let them know that it was 50% below normal, or that it was the third driest month in the last century; that’s the type of information that anyone can understand.”

Tailoring data to traditional boundaries

Subscribers can customize their summaries using traditional Hawaiian geographic boundaries—moku and ahupuaʻa—as well as standard climate divisions and watershed boundaries. This reflects the HCDP team’s commitment to making data meaningful within the state’s unique cultural and ecological landscape.

To sign up, users can visit the HCDP Climate Summary page, select an area of interest on an interactive map, and enter their email address. Users can subscribe to multiple locations. Each month, they will receive localized climate overviews alongside access to an online dashboard for digging deeper into current and historical trends.

“We wanted end users to be able to connect with the data from the places that meant the most to them,” said Cherryle Heu, HCDP climate data analyst and lead climate summary developer. “When you select a point on the map the numbers will update to tell you exactly what is going on at that location. Given that �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s climate is so diverse, this type of tool allows for local insights that a single statewide average can’t capture.”

Community-backed resilience

The tool’s development was initially funded by NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System until the grant was canceled in December 2025.

“We were too far along to stop,” Longman said. Support from the DLNR Commission on Water Resource Management allowed the team to complete the tool, a grant from PI-CASC helped support outreach efforts, and the NSF EPSCoR Change Hawaiʻi project provided the cyberinfrastructure foundation that makes it all run.

The HCDP team consists of several grant researchers based in Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and the ������Ƶ Water Resources Research Center. The Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange Team also led this effort along with collaborators across the state who helped shape the final product.

The television series, produced by the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), took home 10 Telly Awards, the world’s largest honor for video and television across all screens, including a gold Telly for (PMDP). This year, the Telly Awards received more than 13,000 entries from across the globe.

The 47th annual Telly Awards Judging Council, who select the winning entries, features more than 250 expert judges from Google, Home Box Office (HBO), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Netflix and more.

“Papahānaumokuākea is more than a protected area, it is a living ancestral and ecological system, connecting people, species, and place across the paeʻāina,” said James Morioka, executive director of PMDP. “Partnering with the Voice of the Sea team on this special episode, sharing our work with the viewers, and being recognized with a Gold Telly helps us continue supporting vulnerable wildlife, restoring sensitive habitats, and perpetuating Hawaiian culture.”

“The level of competition is so high, I’m incredibly excited to win a Gold Telly Awards with our partners and show off the amazing footage PMDP collected,” said Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, Voice of the Sea host and co-producer. “Winning nine more awards is just spectacular!”

Gold and silver winner

shares what it is like to remove massive amounts of plastic pollution from Papahānaumokuākea, the 582,570 square miles of coral reefs, atolls, and aquatic habitat of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The episode was awarded a gold Telly in the not-for-profit category, and a silver Telly in nature & wildlife.

“Working as a storyteller in Papahānaumokuākea means being trusted to share places and stories that most people will never experience firsthand,” said Andrew Sullivan-Haskins, Emmy-award winning conservation expedition photographer with PMDP. “It’s not just about doing the work, it’s about helping people understand why these environments matter.”

Silver and bronze winner

musically celebrates �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s seas that combines science, art, culture and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. It was awarded a Silver Telly in the Culture & Lifestyle category, and a bronze Telly in music, dance & performance.

Multiple bronze winner

visits the north shore of Oʻahu, where oral histories inform the revitalization of this rich community resource; the episode also visits the Center for Oral History at ������Ƶ Mānoa to learn about cataloging �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s past. The episode took home bronze Tellys in the educational institution and history categories.

Silver winners

shares information about ciguatera poisoning, the seafood illness that comes from toxins produced by microscopic algae in warm, nearshore waters, and the research that aims to help people eat safe seafood. It was awarded a silver Telly in public interest & awareness.

looks at the future of aquaculture at the Hawaiʻi Ocean Science and Technology Park at Keāhole Point, on Hawaiʻi Island—where unique seawater facilities support more than 50 cutting-edge tenants, including Blue Ocean Mariculture, Symbrosia and Cyanotech. The episode was awarded a silver Telly in sustainability.

Bronze winners

reviews aquaculture jobs and internships, from innovative fish mariculture and traditional fishponds in Hawaiʻi, to village-level aquaponics in American Samoa. The episode was awarded a bronze Telly in education & training.

shares information on the different types of estuary systems in Hawaiʻi, how the Division of Aquatic Resources Estuary Team monitors estuaries, the importance of estuaries for protecting critical fisheries habitat, and why Waimea River on the west side of Kauaʻi is such a special place. The episode was awarded a bronze Telly in sustainability.

–By Cindy Knapman

The University of Hawaiʻi is set to play a pivotal role in a new national effort to strengthen America’s 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 ������Ƶ participating as one of five core consortium members in this competitive national program.

The ������Ƶ research team is being led by Associate Professor Chatham Callan out of the ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ Mānoa, and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Associate Director for Extension Darren Okimoto and several other ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ 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’s reach throughout the Pacific.

“This partnership underscores the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s vital role in advancing sustainable aquaculture systems that directly impact our global food supply,” said Norman Arancon, director of the ������Ƶ 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 �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s 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 ������Ƶ, 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’s 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’s 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 ������Ƶ 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’s 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’s 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, .

The Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas, a captivating experience that intertwines projected animation, evocative music, storytelling and hula, will kick off Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra’s (HSO) on June 30.

In a collaboration led by the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), this free, one-hour performance features HSO performing ocean-themed original compositions by celebrated local composers Michael-Thomas Foumai, Herb Mahelona, Logyn Okuda, Justin Park and Takuma Itoh, paired with animations by Kari Noe, Janae Taclas, Dillon Valenzuela, Jewel Racasa, Sam St. John, Edward Ayano, Napua Rice, Huy Nguyen and Kieren McKee with guidance from partners, a storytelling advisory, and students from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Art Department.

The program also features a beautiful mele and hula created by Rosanna “Rosie” ʻAnolani Alegado and Aimee Sato under the guidance of Kumu Hula Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani that re-roots our deep pilina (connections) with Kanaloa and kai (the ocean). Audiences will be guided through time alongside native sea life and ʻaumākua (family or personal gods), exploring the vital role humans play in protecting our cherished waters.

“Hawaiʻi Sea Grant is humbled to support the Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas as this program embodies our mission to connect people to place and the science that sustains us,” Darren T. Lerner, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant director, said. “By uniting cultural practitioners, artists, educators and researchers, we are able to extend the life of moʻolelo (stories) and ocean wisdom through music, dance and animation that speaks directly to the hearts of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s families. It is a beautiful, collective effort to ensure these stories and understanding continue to thrive for generations.”

“The Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas celebrates our deep connection to the ocean, bringing together music, storytelling, hula and animation to inspire care for �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s precious waters,” said HSO President and CEO Amy Iwano. “We are proud to share this immersive, locally created experience with our community through a free public performance.”

Audiences of all ages

HSO’s Blockbuster Summer Festival 2026 is made for audiences of all ages who love to experience something special together. For only the second time, the Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas will be available to the public to enjoy as a free ʻohana concert.

One hour prior to the concert, nearly a dozen organizations that focus on �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s marine and coastal environment will be available in the lobby to share educational information with the concert attendees. Immediately following the concert, there will be a 30-minute talk story session with key contributors Kalilinoe Detwiler, Itoh and Alegado facilitated by Foumai and Beth Lenz.

The Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas brings together the University of Hawaiʻi, local experts and organizations, as well as federal, state and county agencies to weave culture, science and the arts into an inspiring shared experience. By uniting diverse partners under a common vision, the performance highlights the importance of collective stewardship and showcases how music and storytelling can inspire communities to care for �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s unique marine environments.

The program is a collaborative effort funded by the ������Ƶ Mānoa Strategic Investment Initiative awarded to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, initiated by Lerner and led by Lenz with coordinators Itoh (������Ƶ Music Department), Detwiler (������Ƶ Mānoa English Department), Anne Rosa (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), Melissa Price (������Ƶ Mānoa Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management) and Kanesa Duncan Seraphin (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant).

Details:

• Date: Tuesday, June 30
• Doors open at 5 p.m., concert starts at 6 p.m.
• Location: Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall (777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96814)
• Admission: .

Conducted by Foumai and narrated by Kanaka singer, actor and voiceover artist Barrie Kealoha.

–By Cindy Knapman

The University of Hawaiʻi is participating in the 2026 Prada Re-Nylon campaign, produced in collaboration with National Geographic CreativeWorks. Highlighting the “” episode, the campaign features local marine educators Joanna Philippoff, director of the in ������Ƶ ��ā�ԴDz�’s School of Life Sciences and Anuschka Faucci, Leeward Community College instructor, who facilitate the regional hub. This partnership showcases the impact of ocean literacy and the work being done within the Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui to connect students with their marine environment.

The campaign highlights the impact of the education activities of SEA BEYOND, a project by Prada Group conducted in partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO since 2019. “Stewards of the Ocean: Hawaiʻi,” showcases how the Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui supports teachers in integrating ocean learning into their curriculum and connects preK–12 students with local community partners. The is a regional group of the USA Blue Schools and the Blue School Global Network, which is coordinated by UNESCO.

The campaign features elementary students and teachers from and one of its Blue School partners, the , at its fishpond in Kāneʻohe.

“It is incredibly validating to have a global campaign, supported by major partners like Prada and National Geographic, recognize the profound importance of supporting schools in building ocean literacy through place-based action-projects that celebrate �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s unique marine biodiversity and rich cultural legacy,” Philippoff said.

Place-based learning

Philippoff and Faucci are supporting 10 schools over two years in developing curricula grounded in place-based learning and mālama ʻāina. They facilitate monthly teacher professional development workshops that showcase curricular resources and highlight current ocean science issues as related to �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s preK–12 students.

“Our partnership with community sites like Waikalua Loko Iʻa is an incredible example of how we aim to prepare the next generation for ocean stewardship and leadership and inspire, support, and cultivate a committed network of teachers, students, and community educators,” Faucci said.

The campaign’s coverage includes two articles published by National Geographic, one highlights , the other .

The Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui is led by ������Ƶ and , the local chapter of the with additional support from .

Visualizing a future where to survive rising tides has earned a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research team the 2026 Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Best Journal Article Award.

The team leveraged scientific data, studies and community participation to create architectural renderings that visualize how �²�����ī��ī’s built environment can be modified to accommodate future flooding.

“By merging climate science with architectural design and integrating direct community feedback, we are creating forward-looking, actionable visions that will help coastal communities like Waikīkī successfully adapt to the growing realities of sea-level rise,” said Wendy Meguro, principal investigator and associate professor.

Selected for its “exceptional quality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the field,” was honored in April at the 2026 ARCC–EAAE International Conference at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia.

Engaging stakeholders

The research engaged more than 1,000 individuals, including residents, urban planners, government employees and local business owners. Presentations of these strategies have drawn hundreds of participants from recreation, hotel and restaurant industries. The findings are already being utilized by the City and County of Honolulu, the State of Hawaiʻi and the Honolulu Climate Change Commission to guide adaptation policies.

“This recognition underscores the immense value of community-driven design in climate resilience,” said research associate Josephine Briones. “Our process shows that when you actively listen to stakeholders and combine their local insights with rigorous scientific evidence, the resulting adaptation strategies become much more practical, impactful and relevant.”

Authored by Meguro, Briones, German “Gerry” Failano and Charles “Chip” Fletcher, the project represents a partnership between the , and . It was funded by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, National Sea Grant and the Office of Naval Research.

The one-year anniversary of the official designation of Papahānaumokuākea as a National Marine Sanctuary was celebrated on March 3, a historic milestone in the ongoing protection of one of the most sacred and ecologically significant places on Earth. In recognition of this anniversary, the (PMDP), (SAC) and the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) are starting the new, community-centered initiative, Papahānaumokuākea: Bringing the Place to the People.

Papahānaumokuākea is a place of profound cultural, ecological and ancestral significance. Yet for many, it remains distant and abstract. The project seeks to bridge that distance by fostering meaningful, community-led engagement that deepens public awareness, stewardship, trust and cultural connection to the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Beginning in summer and fall 2026, PMDP, SAC and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will host community talk story sessions on Hawaiʻi Island (Hilo and Kona), Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

This initiative centers Native Hawaiian voices, values and leadership, elevating cultural resource conservation and protection as foundational to the sanctuary’s past, present and future. Their vision is a living, island-to-island exchange where communities do not simply learn about Papahānaumokuākea, but actively shape how its story, stewardship and future are carried forward.

Rooted in listening

These gatherings are not presentations delivered to communities, they are conversations rooted in listening. This initiative allows SAC, whose kuleana is to represent the communities, to learn directly from each island community and amplify their voices. The sessions will explore how Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems can be meaningfully integrated, community perspectives on stewardship and management, cultural resource protection priorities, opportunities for youth engagement and leadership, and how communities wish to remain connected to Papahānaumokuākea.

Community organizations, cultural practitioners, educators and schools, conservation groups, youth leaders, kupuna and ʻike holders, and interested individuals are invited to express their interest in hosting, partnering or participating in a talk story session on their island. The initiative is an invitation to listen, learn and steward together.

The initiative was funded by the . Find more information on .

Following a competitive proposal process initiated in October 2025, the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) announced five organizations to establish the first–of–its–kind Community Funding Hubs for Resilience and ʻĀina Stewardship. The five regional hubs are across the moku/hui moku (districts) of West Kauaʻi, Waiʻanae (Oʻahu), Molokaʻi, Central Maui and Kohala (Hawaiʻi Island).

Each hub will receive up to $300,000 over three years to strengthen its administrative, financial and relationship–building capacities needed to support future community–led projects. Aligned with the cooperative vision of the project, these hubs will serve as central resources for managing and distributing funding on behalf of community–based organizations, effectively lowering the barriers to local stewardship.

“In Hawaiʻi, we know the health of our families and our communities is inextricably tied to the health of our lands and our waters, and we benefit from ʻIke Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Knowledge) that teaches us how humans and nature can thrive together in our island systems,” said Kawika Winter, associate professor at and director of the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve. “The Moku System provides us a framework to not only address the problems we face today, but to do so while honoring our ancestors and ensuring that our descendants will be better off than we are today.”

The 5 organizations and their projects

• Kauaʻi Economic Development Board—Strengthening West Kauaʻi: A Funding Hub for Community–Led ʻĀina Restoration & Climate Resilience
• ‘Elepaio Social Services—The Waiʻanae Kaiāulu Funding Hub
• Molokai Heritage Trust—Ka Lāhui Hoʻolako
• Living Pono Project—Central Maui Resilience Funding Hub: Expanding Access, Equity, and Administrative Support
• Vibrant Hawaiʻi—Kākoʻo Kohala

Empowering community-led stewardship

The hubs act as trusted intermediaries, forging direct partnerships between funders and local communities. By providing guidance with proposal development and budget management, these hubs help local organizations overcome technical barriers that often prevent small, grassroots groups from accessing vital funding for ʻāina (land) stewardship.

“These hubs are critical for a number of reasons,” said Eric Co, chief executive officer of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. “During COVID, we learned how difficult it was to get support to where trust was greatest and activities were most meaningful—at the grassroots level. These hubs build the equitable capacity needed to do so efficiently across the islands.”

Later this year, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will launch a separate round of adaptation and resilience project funding. These future opportunities will allow smaller community–based organizations to collaborate with their local Community Funding Hub to develop and manage projects.

This effort was made possible through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management awarded in 2024.

A PhD candidate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was selected as one of five 2025 NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)–Sea Grant Joint Fellows across the U.S. Leon Tran is representing the and joins four other fellows who are pursuing doctoral degrees at universities in other states.

The research projects span topics related to modeling and managing systems of living marine resources and fisheries, as well as the economics of their conservation and management.

“I’m honored to be selected for such an exciting opportunity and to contribute to the program’s legacy of conserving our oceans,” said Tran. “Through the fellowship, I’ll be able to move my experimental work in the lab into the conservation sphere, and help me advance my career as a marine conservation biologist and ocean steward.”

Under the guidance of Hawaiʻi–based fisheries researchers Jacob Johansen, Erik Franklin, Tye Kindinger and Lisa McManus, Tran is developing a tool to forecast how future changes impact habitat suitability for important subsistence fisheries. By integrating laboratory studies on the metabolism of the convict tang (manini) and day octopus (heʻe mauli) with computer–based habitat models, he is exploring where these species can thrive across the Pacific. As coral reefs change under local and global pressures, this work helps reveal how animal physiology shapes where it can live, providing essential insight into how coral reef ecosystems can shift in the future.

Former NMFS–Sea Grant Joint Fellows have gone on to serve in key roles within NOAA Fisheries, other agencies, academic institutions and fishery management councils, making substantial contributions to the management and conservation of marine ecosystems.

Since 1999, this fellowship program has supported more than 134 population dynamics fellows and 42 marine resource economics fellows.

–By Cindy Knapman