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.

A decade of undergraduate research and stewardship at Kapiʻolani Community College has earned top honors at the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance Conference. Students Charlotte Bender, James Lee, Keala Kaaloa and Xander Nakamura received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation Award for their research: .

The project highlights 10 years of student-led monitoring of the campus鈥檚 nesting population of Manu o K奴 (blue-billed tern).

“It鈥檚 an amazing privilege to study a native bird on our home campus,” said Bender. “While the technical and data-driven aspects are important, it鈥檚 also an opportunity to serve as ambassadors for a native species. When we鈥檙e out surveying, we鈥檙e visible to the public and have a chance to answer questions, share information, and raise awareness of the Manu o K奴. It鈥檚 easy to fall in love with these birds.”

Since 2016, 34 students have participated in the project, producing 25 research posters. Their work documents nesting changes, helps guide campus tree-trimming to protect active sites, and contributes critical data to local conservation databases, broadening students’ professional pathways.

Protecting Manu o K奴

“The return and growth of the Manu o K奴 population on our campus is a powerful reflection of what is possible when dedicated faculty inspire curiosity, students embrace discovery, and our entire campus fulfills its kuleana (responsibility) to care for the ʻ膩ina (land),” said Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi. “This recognition celebrates not only our students鈥� outstanding research, but also a decade of stewardship that has helped to protect Hawaiʻi‘s native species.”

Biology Professor Wendy Kuntz has mentored dozens of students since the project鈥檚 inception.

“Watching this project grow over the past decade has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work at Kapiʻolani CC,” Kuntz said. “I am incredibly proud of the four students who presented this research and of the many students who have built on one another鈥檚 work, creating a valuable long-term record of Manu-o-K奴 nesting on our campus while developing the skills and sense of kuleana needed for conservation work in Hawaiʻi.”

—By Lisa Yamamoto

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.

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 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 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, .

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 television series, produced by the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), took home 10 Telly Awards, the world鈥檚 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鈥檓 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 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 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 糖心视频 Mānoa to learn about cataloging 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 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