A $2.8 million partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and the U.S. Forest Service will help Pacific Island landowners protect forests and prepare for wildfire, drought, and severe storms.

The will fund five new Forest Service-affiliated junior extension agents through 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’蝉 (CTAHR).

The positions will serve American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. Applications for all five positions open November 9, 2026, with agents expected to begin working in their respective locations by May 2027.

An informational webinar about the program and the five positions will be held November 18, at 2 p.m. Hawaiʻi time. .

Regional collaboration

Funded by the U.S. Forest Service and delivered through CTAHR, the program will support implementation of the participating jurisdictions’ Forest Action Plans. The five positions were developed with the Forest Service to support that work.

“Many Pacific Islands face shared challenges, from wildfires and drought to severe storms,” said Ashley McGuigan, program lead and CTAHR extension specialist. “A regional approach brings forestry programs, agencies and communities together to learn from one another, share knowledge and resources, and support locally driven efforts to sustain forests and the communities that depend on them.”

Practical support

The program will bring together the U.S. Forest Service, local forestry agencies, extension personnel, and communities to develop workshops, knowledge-sharing events, and educational resources supporting land stewardship practices such as agroforestry, reforestation, and pest management.

For more information, contact Ashley McGuigan at aamcguig@hawaii.edu or Christian Colo at colo@hawaii.edu.

The next generation of sustainable poultry production students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) got a big boost through a $600,000 grant from the United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture鈥檚 National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Undergraduate students from all 糖心视频 campuses can qualify, including community college students.

Trainees will receive a stipend between $2,800 and $3,000 per month, plus a $500 bonus after completing the program. The funding covers housing, food, and living costs. Grant funds will pay for flight travel for neighbor island students who travel to Oʻahu for summer training.

The four-year project will strengthen food security across island communities by expanding local food production and reducing reliance on imports. Poultry and egg production account for roughly 2% of the total distribution of farms by industry type in the state, according to the .

Eight-week training and research program

Associate Professor Birendra Mishra of CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Science will lead the project. “For cattle you need large land, and for pigs you need big structures, but people can raise chickens on small patches of land,” said Mishra. “Our goal in four years is to train 32 undergraduate students who can start farms or support existing operations.”

The eight-week program will start in summer 2027, training eight undergraduates a year at the college鈥檚 Center for Applied Research and Extension Services in Waimānalo. Students will manage newly hatched chicks through a 35-day production cycle, learning bird husbandry, feed nutrition, and health management. They will also conduct lab research on alternative feed ingredients from local agricultural byproducts with the goal of reducing the need to import expensive feed.

Business leadership and community outreach

Trainees will also learn the business side of agriculture: marketing, leadership, and farm management with faculty mentors. They will attend the national Poultry Science Association conference to meet industry leaders and researchers. Mishra anticipates the students will host community workshops around the state to encourage engagement in poultry farming.

Student recruitment is underway this fall.

As climate change, biodiversity loss, and competing ocean uses place increasing pressure on marine ecosystems, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is launching a new Center for Ocean Policy to bring together ocean science and legal expertise to develop solutions for some of the most pressing ocean and climate challenges facing Hawaiʻi and the world.

The novel collaboration between 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 Department of Oceanography, in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), and the William S. Richardson School of Law will open new opportunities for interdisciplinary education, applied research, and policy engagement. Students will gain firsthand experience working at the intersection of science, law, and public policy through clinics, capstone projects, and advocacy initiatives focused on real-world environmental issues.

Since 2020, The Healy Foundation has partnered with to support an annual research assistant position known as The Healy Foundation Climate Change Fellow. In 2024, the partnership expanded to three Fellows, who conduct research and provide other support activities for the City and County of Honolulu Climate Change Commission.

Additionally, The Healy Foundation has systematically supported 糖心视频 through a number of initiatives including , 糖心视频 Maui College s and

Suzanne Geary, executive director of The Healy Foundation, said, “The Center for Ocean Policy offers a powerful new bridge between science and law. It creates a platform for scientific insights to directly inform the policies and decisions that protect our oceans and coastal communities.” she added, “We are excited to support this forward-thinking approach and continue building on our long-standing partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation and 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 Institute for Sustainability and Resilience.”

糖心视频 Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos called the Center a major milestone for the institution.

“As a flagship university in the middle of the Pacific, it is our kuleana (responsibility) to apply our unique place-based knowledge and cutting-edge research to help shape the future of ocean stewardship,” he said. “The Center for Ocean Policy brings together the expertise needed to translate scientific knowledge into meaningful policy solutions for Hawaiʻi and communities around the world.”

Law-Ocean Clinic

One of the Center鈥檚 first initiatives will be a Law-Ocean Clinic, which will pair law and oceanography students with local nonprofit organizations to conduct policy research and advocacy during the Hawaiʻi legislative session.

“This partnership will equip our law students to tackle complex environmental challenges and advance policies that support coastal resilience in Hawaiʻi,” said Camille Nelson, dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law. “By understanding the science behind the policy, they will be better prepared to advocate for our island communities.”

The Center will also offer interdisciplinary seminars and launch an annual symposium beginning in its second year, bringing together researchers, policymakers, legal practitioners and community members to address emerging ocean policy issues.

“The Center for Ocean Policy perfectly aligns with 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 academic mission to foster innovative, cross-disciplinary education,” said Margaret McManus, chief academic advancement officer in the Office of the Chancellor and director of the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography. “These unique opportunities will prepare a new generation of leaders to work across the intersections of science, law and policy, and help address the challenges facing our oceans.”

SOEST Dean Chip Fletcher emphasized that the Center builds on the longstanding strengths of both schools while deepening 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 commitment to Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Pacific communities.

“SOEST and the William S. Richardson School of Law each have long and distinguished records of working with Native Hawaiian and other Indigenous Pacific communities on issues of ocean stewardship, climate resilience, resource management, and justice,” Fletcher said. “The Center for Ocean Policy builds on that shared foundation, bringing science, law, and Indigenous knowledge together to help shape policies that are effective, place-based, and responsive to the communities whose lives and futures are most closely tied to the ocean.”

When we took you to Molokai Farm last year, we introduced you to new Farm Manager ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Schonely Spencer and described our multi-year plan to revitalize the farm into a thriving educational, agricultural, cultural and community hub. We鈥檙e going back to share what鈥檚 been accomplished, specifically cultivation projects involving two essential ancestral plants—niu (coconut) and kalo (taro)—and the establishment of a new Agricultural Entrepreneurship program.

“Through its niu project, the farm partnered with many community organizations to collect and propagate 1,200 niu from across the Island,” explains ʻ艑濒别濒辞. “Each was documented according to its collection location and known characteristics to help preserve the diversity of Molokaʻi鈥檚 niu. As the seedlings mature, they鈥檒l be distributed throughout the community to support the restoration of ulu niu and the long-term perpetuation of niu as an important cultural, ecological, and food resource.”

The farm鈥檚 kalo project strengthens students鈥� connections to ʻ腻颈苍补, culture, and community as they receive hands-on instruction in dryland kalo cultivation, propagation, and soil care while practicing traditional values such as kuleana, laulima, and aloha ʻ腻颈苍补.

“The farm is currently cultivating more than 50 varieties of kalo,” says ʻ艑濒别濒辞. “The huli (cuttings suitable for planting) will be shared with the community and planted during future farm cycles to help perpetuate the crop鈥檚 rich diversity. The project supports Molokaʻi鈥檚 food sovereignty while strengthening the intergenerational transmission of ʻ腻颈苍补-based knowledge and practices.

Last month, the Molokai community celebrated both these plants. The Niu & Kalo Festival weekend began with a “ Celebrating Kalo” event held in partnership with Sustainable Molokai, featuring kuʻi kalo (poi pounding), huli exchange, kalo tasting, keiki activities, music, and a kalo poke demonstration by Chef Sam Choy.

About 200 community members, cultural practitioners, students, educators, and partner organizations attended the Saturday event. “It was a day dedicated to celebrating the history, cultural significance, use, protection, and perpetuation of these two important ancestral plants,” explains ʻ艑濒别濒辞, “with something for everyone from keiki to k奴puna.”

The new Agriculture Entrepreneurship program launched this fall, combines hands-on agricultural training with business and entrepreneurship education. Students gain practical experience in sustainable crop production, greenhouse and nursery management, irrigation, equipment operation, food safety, and internships while developing the skills needed to start or support a farm-based enterprise. The program is helping to build the next generation of local farmers and agriculture entrepreneurs while strengthening Molokai鈥檚 food system, food security, and agricultural resilience.

Kurt Go is one of the students in the first cohort. His association with our Molokai Education Center goes back to 2021 when he attended an open house for the construction technology program. In 2025, he was one of only three adult students who graduated with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Construction Technology. Which came in handy when, as empty nesters, he and his wife Kelly decided to revive their home garden and remodel their old greenhouse.
“The rising prices of groceries and shipping costs have prompted my wife and I to consider growing our own produce,” explains Kurt as the impetus to join the cohort. “We have friends who started growing fruits and vegetables in their yards, who have inspired us to do the same. This cohort will provide me with the necessary knowledge and skills to start a home garden and possibly a small business.”

Kanoe Dudoit is also a member of the new cohort. “Being raised off grid on Molokai, my ʻohana often relied on producing our own food. Hunting, fishing and growing fruits or vegetables were always part of everyday life. I鈥檝e always been passionate about living a sustainable lifestyle and now being on Hawaiian Homestead, I would love to make that a reality. Its health benefits can last for generations,” she says. “When I saw the AG Entrepreneurship cohort, I felt it would be the perfect fit and boost I needed to finally break ground.”

Kanoe also has a long association with our Molokai Education Center. “As someone who learns best through hands-on experience, I am fortunate to have built a relationship with the Molokai Education Center, CTAHR, and Molokai Farm. Each offered real-time, life skills experience through countless workshops, courses, webinars, farm visits, cohorts, and internships,” she says.

“The Center has opened doors for me to accept my first scholarship, multiple degrees, and future career opportunities. With CTAHR, I鈥檝e made connections from the Harvest 2 Market cohort that continues to meet each week, helping each other get one step closer to growing something at our own locations. At the Molokai Farm, I learned about the static hydroponic method, got to take home a mini greenhouse with a container of plant nutrients, and harvested more lettuce than I could have imagined from such a simple setup! All inspiring and providing me with the action steps towards my ultimate goal!” That ultimate goal is to utilize much of her homestead to contribute to a thriving lifestyle鈥or her family AND for her Island.

To learn more about Molokai Education Center, please visit

Plastic water jugs become a lion’s head. Old VHS tapes, balloons and cutlery become colorful costumes. At the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’蝉 , students are learning to turn everyday trash into theatrical magic.

The creative work is part of the musical running October 23–31. Reimagined by director and master of fine arts candidate Jack Romans, the beloved classic is set in a world inspired by a landfill. The production follows Dorothy’s journey home, with familiar songs, imaginative costumes and puppets made from discarded materials.

Learning through creativity

Led by 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 costume design professor Maile Speetjens, students are discovering that working with unusual materials requires more than sewing. They’re learning to solve problems and find creative ways to make costumes wearable and durable.

“It has been an extremely exciting and rewarding experience watching students in the costume shop problem-solve their way through these unconventional materials!” Speetjens said.

Puppets made from everyday objects

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 alumna and puppet designer Jill Jackson is bringing familiar characters to life using unexpected materials. The Cowardly Lion features a head made from plastic water jugs, toenails made from hangers and a body built from discarded packaging.

Toto, Dorothy’s beloved dog, has a skeleton made from plastic pipes and bolts, with foam and fabric scraps giving him shape. His floppy ears are one of Jackson’s favorite details.

“I just love when something as simple as hot gluing fabric onto foam can have an adorably profound impact on the believability of a puppet,” Jackson said.

The hands-on experience shows how creativity can transform even the simplest materials into something extraordinary.

“You don’t have to have a lot of specific tools and training for this,” Jackson said. “Puppets can be made with items found around your house and your own imagination! You just have to be willing to see things in a different way.”

Six University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 students took their educational journey to Japan and the Arctic through an international educational exchange with Hokkaido University focused on climate change, ocean conservation and sustainable resource management.

The exchange connects 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (鲍颁鈥翱) in the (SOEST) with Hokkaido University鈥檚 Uehiro Laboratory for Oceanography.

The ocean connects all of us

ldquo;When students work side by side with colleagues from Hokkaido University, at sea, on the coast, and in the watershed, they see that the ocean connects all of us,” said Margaret McManus, director of 鲍颁鈥翱.

Global Environmental Science undergraduate students Ruby Helmuth and Kyoko Suzuki participated in a 26-day Arctic expedition aboard Hokkaido University鈥檚 training ship Oshoro-Maru, gaining hands-on experience in oceanographic sampling and marine research.

Oceanography master鈥檚 student Tyra Arends and undergraduate Flannery McGreevy spent a week studying coastal environmental challenges, including pollution, biodiversity loss and erosion.

In northern Hokkaido, undergraduate students Rex Bregman and Sean Michael Monte explored connections between forests, rivers and coastal ecosystems through field surveys and visits to aquaculture facilities.

The exchange provided students with opportunities to develop scientific skills, learn from international researchers and explore approaches to protecting marine ecosystems.

Read the for more about the students鈥� experiences and the international exchange.

Human rights lawyer and climate justice advocate Julian Aguon, an alumnus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa , has been named to the , TIME鈥檚 annual list recognizing 100 rising leaders shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.

Aguon was selected in the Innovators category for his groundbreaking work advancing climate justice and the rights of Pacific Island nations and communities. TIME100 Next recognizes individuals across five categories: Artists, Phenoms, Leaders, Advocates and Innovators.

In his TIME100 Next profile, Aguon is recognized for serving as lead counsel to the Republic of Vanuatu in the landmark climate proceedings before the International Court of Justice, which resulted in a unanimous 2025 advisory opinion on countries鈥� legal obligations to address climate change.

“It鈥檚 an honor to be included. And a little wild, if I鈥檓 gonna be honest,” said Aguon. “But it鈥檚 also heartening to see how wide their conception of influence is at TIME. I鈥檓 not the first from the climate justice movement to make the list, and I hope not to be the last. Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and so we need every single light shone on it, with a view toward widening our collective vision and our sense of what is possible.”

More on Aguon

A 2009 graduate of the 糖心视频 law school, Aguon is an internationally recognized human rights lawyer and founder of Blue Ocean Law, a law firm based in Guam that works across the Pacific on issues of self-determination, environmental justice and Indigenous rights.

The TIME100 Next recognition follows several major honors for Aguon and his work. In 2025, Aguon and the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change received the Right Livelihood Award for their efforts to bring the call for climate justice before the world鈥檚 highest court.

“Julian Aguon鈥檚 recognition as a TIME100 Next 2026 honoree celebrates an international leader whose courageous advocacy has expanded our sense of what can be achieved by presciently harnessing the power of human rights, environmental justice and Indigenous wisdom,” said 糖心视频 law school Dean Camille Nelson. “For our students and community, he is an inspiring example of what is possible when excellence is fortified by conviction, compassion and a profound sense of responsibility to others and the planet.”

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Hawaiʻi‘s rapidly aging population faces a higher cost of meeting basic needs, with housing costs driving much of the difference compared with the rest of the nation, according to a new (糖心视频ERO) analysis.

In a new piece published October 7, James Mak, professor emeritus of economics and a 糖心视频ERO fellow, uses the 2025 to estimate the minimum income older adults need to live independently without public or private subsidies. The Elder Index estimates basic expenses for older households but does not include costs such as dining out, vacations, savings, gifts, entertainment or long-term care.

The analysis found that for a couple in good health who rents, the estimated monthly budget is $4,585 in Hawaiʻi, compared with $3,918 nationally. For a single renter, the estimated monthly budget is $3,436, compared with $2,836 nationally.

Housing accounts for much of the difference. For older adults who rent or still have a mortgage, housing is the largest monthly expense, while health care is the largest expense for couples who have paid off their mortgages.

Basic needs differences among counties

The analysis also found significant differences among Hawaiʻi‘s counties. Honolulu County was generally the least affordable for older adults, while Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi counties were more affordable. For example, a single renter in Honolulu County would need an estimated $3,563 per month to meet basic needs, compared with $3,106 in Kauaʻi County and $3,172 in Hawaiʻi County.

Hawaiʻi‘s aging population adds urgency to the issue. In 2024, more than 310,000 Hawaiʻi residents were 65 or older, representing 21.5% of the state’s population. A decade ago, it was only 16.2%. By 2035, one in four Hawaiʻi residents is expected to be 65 or older.

Health care a growing concern

Mak also highlighted health care as a growing concern as the state’s population of adults age 85 and older increases. Older adults in poorer health face substantially higher health care costs, and the state already faces a shortage of physicians.

Mak concludes that addressing housing affordability and health care access would benefit not only older adults but Hawaiʻi residents more broadly.

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糖心视频ERO is housed in .

The findings and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or official positions of 糖心视频ERO, 糖心视频, or any funding or supporting organization.

Gabrielle (Gabi) Kics, now a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, participated in a summer work exchange program on a permaculture farm in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador following her high school graduation. This experience sparked her interest in sustainable land management practices and has taken her around the world to explore native forests and the interconnectedness of nature and humans.

“I am interested in native ecosystem restoration as a means to address climate resilience and watershed stability, and as a means for individuals and communities to continue having relationships with native plants and spaces,” she shared.

Kics was drawn to the (GES) program in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (SOEST) as an opportunity to learn about a broad spectrum of environmental issues and conduct research. Now, Kics is wrapping up her degree and her latest research experiences, which included projects in M膩kaha Valley on Oʻahu and South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

M膩kaha Valley to Indonesia

Kics鈥檚 senior research project centers around native forest restoration in M膩kaha Valley with 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 professor Tamara Ticktin and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 professor Travis Idol. Her project explores how planting a native sedge at different densities and weeded at different intervals impacts native and invasive plant recruitment.

“As a result of western contact, native Hawaiian forests have been degraded, which includes habitat loss, species extinction, invasion of foreign species, changes in watershed, and alteration of soil stability,” Kics explained. “The project I鈥檓 working on supports restoration of native forests in order to increase ecosystem stability, protect endangered species, and maintain the connection between people and native plants and animals.”

“Conventional forest restoration starts with planting one or two native overstory trees to create an overstory canopy and favorable environment for planting other native species in the understory,” Idol shared. “Gabi鈥檚 project is using a native ground cover to hopefully suppress invasive species and thus create a more favorable environment for natural regeneration of native species. This would help rebuild ecosystem resilience, along with biodiversity.”

Kics also received a grant from the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program to support her participation in research projects in South Sulawesi, Indonesia for the past two years in partnership with a university in Makassar.

“Through this research, I learned that government-imposed land management policies harm local livelihoods and connections to forests,” Kics shared. “We further learned how villagers resist these pressures through upholding their cultural practices and identity. This experience has really emphasized the importance of co-creating management practices with communities in order to address ecosystem and community resilience.”

When Azi Moses-Khoii was a fifth-grader at Hawaiʻi Technology Academy, his teacher Ms. Gillespie, challenged students to develop a passion project as the culmination of their elementary education.

Moses-Khoii, age 13, chose to hold a Trash-a-Thon to raise money for the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CRL), by gathering sponsorships for each pound of trash he picked up from nearby beaches.

Every spring since 2024, Moses-Khoii dedicates two to three weeks to comb the beaches, gathering pledges from family, friends and community members based on every pound of trash he picks up.

Moses-Khoii鈥檚 April cleanups have pulled a total of 310 pounds of marine debris off local shores (85 lbs the first year, 130 lbs the second, and 95 lbs this past spring). Pledges have added up to $3,942 across his three annual drives. The money donated to CRL helps fund the advancement of new technologies to uncover and understand the mechanisms and drivers of coral bleaching.

“I want to donate because I love Hawaiian octopuses, and I want to help them by protecting the reef,” Moses-Khoii said in a note included with his gift to the CRL.

To share their appreciation, the CRL team invited Moses-Khoii and his family to participate in hands-on activities in the lab at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, and a snorkel in 碍腻苍别ʻ辞丑别 Bay. For Moses-Khoii, experiencing the patch reefs up close was a highlight. Moses-Khoii also fragmented corals and fixed them to a module molded in his name, to honor his continued support for coral research.

Protecting the reefs for future generations

Madeleine Sherman, CRL鈥檚 project manager, said, “Azi is an inspiring young man who gives me hope for the future generation. I was absolutely blown away by his efforts to raise money and to help protect coral reefs.”

When asked what he鈥檇 tell other kids his age who want to help out, Moses-Khoii鈥檚 response is simple: “Go out in nature and do something.”

A new framework designed to guide one of the hardest decisions in conservation—whether to move a species outside its historical range to save it from extinction—has been , capping a multi-year, Pacific-wide effort in which the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa played a central supporting role.

The framework helps managers to decide whether a “conservation introduction” that moves a plant or animal outside its historic range is the right call, and how to do it responsibly.

Professor Melissa Price with College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR)鈥檚 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM) and a co-author of the paper, served as a co-principal investigator alongside lead investigator Mark W. Schwartz of the University of California, Davis and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Pacific Region. Price, 糖心视频 Mānoa graduate students and others helped facilitate community engagement, gathering input from more than 250 people across the Pacific region.

Years of conservation, community discussions

“This framework is the product of years of conversations with the people who actually do this work: biologists, cultural practitioners, Tribal and Indigenous community members, land managers, and agency staff across an enormous and diverse region,” said Price. “糖心视频 Mānoa’s role was to help make sure that engagement was real, not a formality, and that the framework reflected the full range of perspectives and places it’s meant to serve.”

That place-based, relationship-first approach sets the framework apart from earlier tools. It is built around considering cultural and community values alongside ecological risk.

“For Hawaiian forest birds, we don鈥檛 have the luxury of waiting until we have perfect information to make difficult decisions,” said Hanna Mounce, coordinator of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. “We are often making high-stakes decisions under a lot of uncertainty, and this framework gives us a way to work through those decisions thoughtfully and transparently, while making sure the right people are part of the conversation.”

Learn more

Community members interested in learning more are invited to a panel discussion on conservation introductions and forest bird translocations in the Hawaiian Islands at the NREM Departmental Research Seminar on Wednesday, October 28, from 3 to 4 p.m., hosted by CTAHR in the St. John Plant Science Laboratory, Room 011, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822.

The panel will feature Hanna Mounce (Maui Nui Forest Bird Recovery Project), Megan Laut (USFWS), and Lucas Fortini (U.S. Geological Survey).

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has saved $6 million in Hawaiian Electric (HECO) utility costs, while a 糖心视频 system-wide solar maintenance initiative is delivering $1 million per year in future energy savings across all 10 campuses. Detailed in the university鈥檚 , these milestones reflect ongoing efficiency retrofits, campus infrastructure upgrades, and an effort to restore solar power production across the campuses. These savings are an important part of the university鈥檚 effort to move toward its “net zero” goal by 2035 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This progress is a credit to the teams across our university who are finding creative, cost-effective ways to advance our net-zero goals,” said Jan Gouveia, 糖心视频 vice president for administration. “By reducing energy use, restoring renewable energy systems and maximizing our existing resources, we are generating significant savings while reducing our environmental impact and creating a more sustainable university.”

Modernizing infrastructure, slashing demand

At 糖心视频 Mānoa, the campus has steadily decreased its reliance on the HECO electricity supply. While increased on-site renewable power has contributed, the primary driver of the $6 million in savings comes from ongoing energy efficiency improvements and advanced controls for lighting and building air conditioning systems.

“As we repair and replace aging infrastructure, we enhance operations, improve campus experience, and reduce waste,” said 糖心视频 Director of Sustainability Miles Topping. “A big mahalo to our dedicated facilities management teams, campus chancellors and vice chancellors, and procurement officers across the 糖心视频 System who made these accomplishments possible.”

Campus improvements are visible across 糖心视频 Mānoa, notably through comprehensive light-emitting diode (LED) lighting replacements for street lights and parking lots. Additionally, sustainability principles are woven into new construction and major facility overhauls through award-winning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building standards. Notable projects include the Isabella Aiona Abbott Life Sciences Building, Bachman Hall, Sinclair and the Snyder replacement building.

糖心视频 Mānoa has successfully reduced its peak utility demand by more than 16% compared to 2016 levels. Peak demand management is critical because it reduces the instantaneous electrical load the campus draws from HECO. By easing strain on the local electrical grid during high-use periods, 糖心视频 Mānoa helps HECO accommodate additional capacity for other renewable energy customers across Oʻahu.

$1M annual savings

In addition, 糖心视频鈥檚 System-wide Photovoltaic (PV) Maintenance Program is generating more than $1 million in annual future energy savings. Over previous years, PV systems installed across 糖心视频‘s 10 campuses were unmaintained, leading many to underproduce energy.

By repairing these assets, the program has brought megawatts of solar capacity back online, producing renewable energy directly on 糖心视频 campuses.

“PV systems, like any other building system, require annual maintenance to ensure it operates at 100%. This PV maintenance program has demonstrated this success and all campuses are extremely happy with the results,” Topping said.

In the world of aquatic life, the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is remarkably tolerant to salt water, surviving in habitats ranging from fresh water to hypersaline ponds three times saltier than the ocean.

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR) have unlocked one of the molecular mechanisms underlying this remarkable feat. The study, published in , was led by Andre Seale, a researcher and professor in CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, alongside 糖心视频 student researchers.

The team discovered how the fish survive under extreme salt stress by gradually increasing tank water salinity with artificial sea salt. Several fish species, including tilapia, need the hormone prolactin to prevent excessive water uptake and ion loss in fresh water, and turn it down when entering salt water. However, in extreme hypersalinity, prolactin signaling continues to be suppressed, while a continuous shift in the types of prolactin genes being expressed takes place.

This allows the fish to fine-tune their ability to to regulate salt and water balance even during transitions into salty environments.

“This salinity acclimation capacity is gradual, and even this species will fail to survive a direct transfer from fresh water to seawater. Understanding the rate and limits of how these fish tolerate higher salinities, also helps improve production traits, including growth, feed efficiency and nutritional value,” said Seale.

Preserving freshwater resources

Tilapia is a staple of global aquaculture and local Hawaiian aquaponics. Understanding the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance enables farming in brackish water , preserving precious freshwater for agriculture and drinking. It also allows for the investigation of how salt water may affect the nutritional quality of the fish.

By enabling tilapia farming in salty water, this research could play a role in boosting fish production and quality in regions with limited freshwater supply.

The research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Hawaiʻi farmers are learning how to integrate aquaculture to their operations through GoFish Hawaiʻi, a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 program designed to expand food security. Led by Assistant Professor Kai Fox and Professor Ted Radovich, the program operates at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience鈥檚 Center for Applied Research and Extension Services in Waim膩nalo.

Since the program began in 2020, GoFish Hawaiʻi has trained more than 70 participants. The aquaculture program combines five workshops, field experience, technical assistance and online learning. Participants include beginning farmers, Native Hawaiian producers, military veterans and local educators.

Responding to community needs

The program鈥檚 goal is to increase commercial aquaculture across Hawaiʻi and boost the state鈥檚 food security.

“GoFish was developed to respond to community demand for practical, locally relevant training that helps participants pursue aquaculture as a business, career, or addition to an integrated venture on an existing farm,” Fox said.

Beginning aquaculture students study fish husbandry, aquaponic system design, water quality management, plant nutrition and business economics. Students learn to use nutrient-rich water to produce a wide variety of vegetables and fruit trees, reducing fertilizer costs and water consumption.

Workforce development

Among students is Jack Lee, a Cohort 3 participant who is developing a commercial aquaponics farm in Kahuku.

“Without the GoFish program, I don鈥檛 think I would have the confidence to start up a larger-scale commercial operation,” Lee said.

The program鈥檚 next phase will expand workforce development and entrepreneurship by connecting alumni with apprenticeships, job opportunities and direct-to-consumer markets.

GoFish is supported by CTAHR, the college鈥檚 Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, and 糖心视频 Sea Grant.

A living laboratory at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Magoon Research and Education Station is exploring ways to cool buildings and homes without expensive electricity bills while increasing local food production.

Led by Andy Kaufman, associate professor in the (CTAHR), the project evaluates vegetated roof and living wall systems designed for tropical island environments.

“There’s nothing like this that we know of in the world that’s this high-tech and this real-world application,” Kaufman said.

Eco-shed testing site

The half-acre facility features miniature structures called “eco-sheds” set in gravel to simulate dense urban centers. One traditional asphalt-shingle shed serves as a baseline control. Four experimental sheds test commercial tray installations along with single-layer planted roofs.

Kaufman and his team compare the performance of native Hawaiian and non-invasive ornamental plants under identical conditions. Solar panels power all monitoring equipment, keeping operations off the electrical grid.

Monitors located outside and inside each eco-shed record internal heat, humidity, soil moisture, and solar radiation. Early trials on unplanted roof media showed cooling capacity before vegetation took root.

“Before we planted, when we just had the media on, we had an eight- to nine-degree difference between the control shed and the sheds that had just the media on the roof,” Kaufman said.

Lowering temperatures and growing food

Living wall systems display culinary crops like tomatoes, kale, and herbs. These systems allow apartment residents lacking yard space to produce fresh food. The team spent five years developing lightweight growth media that retain nutrients and slow stormwater runoff into ocean waters.

Eighteen students contributed to building the site and data gathering. Kaufman wants to continue hosting public tours and partner with the landscape industry, the state Department of Education, as well as other local and State governments to expand green infrastructure across Hawaiʻi.

Funding is provided by the Ulupono Initiative, the City and County of Honolulu, and the Land Economics Foundation.

The first study to measure wild ungulate (axis deer, mouflon sheep, goats, pigs, etc.) grazing on Hawaiʻi rangelands finds forage losses at two-thirds of sites surveyed, with axis deer the clearest driver of decline across ranches on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui.

Led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), the research provides the first evidence that grazing by wild ungulates, particularly invasive axis deer, is reducing the forage at Hawaiʻi’s working cattle ranches. Published in Rangeland Ecology & Management, .

“This is the first study to actually measure how much forage wild ungulates are removing from working ranchlands in Hawaiʻi, and the losses are significant,” said Professor Melissa Price, corresponding author and researcher at CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM).

Measuring forage loss

Non-native ungulates were largely introduced between the 1700s and 1960s. On Maui, axis deer were detected at 95% of surveyed sites, with roughly 47,000 deer ranging across a third of the island at elevations up to 2,150 meters.

“Axis deer came out as the biggest driver of declining rangeland condition, which matches what ranchers have been telling us for years,” said CTAHR Extension agent Mark Thorne, a study co-author and rangeland specialist.

The team compared vegetation growth with and without ungulates using motion-triggered trail cameras alongside fenced exclusion plots. Sites dominated by axis deer produced about 24% less forage on average than ungulate-free sites. Feral goats showed similar impacts. However, wild pigs and mouflon sheep frequented higher-elevation areas with generally faster forage production, illustrating how species-specific habits complicate land management.

Slow recovery

Several Maui sites sat within areas burned by the August 2023 wildfires. Researchers warned that overgrazed rangelands recover more slowly after fire and stay vulnerable to fire-prone weeds such as fireweed, found at nearly 70% of sites.

“We’ve had to shrink our herds some years because there just isn’t enough grass left once the deer get to it,” said Greg Friel, a Maui island cattle rancher and co-author on the study. “It’s good to finally see numbers behind something ranching families here have been living with for a long time.”

The study was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and led by Lauren Katayama, who recently earned a master鈥檚 degree from NREM.

To help protect 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 vulnerable coastal highways from erosion and rising seas, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) is launching the Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef Project. Developed by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) via its Reefense Program and the University of Hawaiʻi alongside academic, community and industry partners the project is an example of nature-based coastal engineering—an emerging approach that combines engineered infrastructure with natural ecosystems to protect vulnerable coastlines. The hybrid reef system integrates engineered reef structures with living coral to reduce wave energy, strengthen shorelines and improve coastal resilience. The deployment marks the first large-scale ocean demonstration of the technology, following four years of research and development.

“Success at Kalaeloa could provide a model for protecting vulnerable coastlines throughout Hawaiʻi and beyond,” said HDOT Director Edwin Sniffen. “We鈥檙e not just defending our shorelines, we鈥檙e building a resilient, self-sustaining ecosystem. By partnering with DARPA and 糖心视频, we are helping position Hawaiʻi as a global leader in nature-based coastal engineering.”

Funded by DARPA, the hybrid reef structures were researched, developed and deployed in collaboration with 糖心视频, Makai Engineering, Kuleana Coral Restoration and other partners. Following deployment, ownership of the structures will transfer to HDOT.

The first year of monitoring and maintenance of the project is funded by the State鈥檚 Green Fee program, which supports conservation and environmental initiatives that protect and restore 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 natural resources. The investment supports the first large-scale demonstration of a nature-based alternative to seawalls that aims to reduce coastal erosion, wave damage and storm surge while enhancing marine habitat.

“The Green Fee is about investing in innovative solutions that protect 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 people, natural resources and economy for generations to come,” said Governor Josh Green. “The Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef Project is exactly the kind of forward-thinking partnership we envisioned, bringing together science, innovation and environmental stewardship to strengthen our coastlines while preserving the natural resources that make Hawaiʻi unique.”

“Through Reefense, DARPA is reimagining coastal defense by combining cutting-edge materials science with adaptive biology to protect vital infrastructure and personnel from wave damage, erosion, and severe storms,” said Catherine Campbell, DARPA Reefense Program Manager. “Our collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi, state leadership, and local partners at Kalaeloa translates high-risk, high-reward defense research into a scalable, real-world solution that safeguards critical transportation corridors while strengthening the surrounding marine ecosystem.”

A 鈥榣iving鈥� breakwater

The Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef is a 糖心视频-developed living breakwater designed to reduce wave energy while improving the natural habitat. The system consists of 60 engineered, porous concrete reef mimicking structures manufactured in Hawaiʻi that dissipate wave energy while allowing water to flow through the reef. Coral settlement modules attached to the structures will support the recruitment and growth of native corals while specially developed biomaterials will repel competing algae and accelerate coral growth. These and other technologies being tested will allow the reef to develop into a healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem over time.

The project site is a degraded area with a hard rock bottom south of Kalaeloa Harbor. Although there is minimal live coral in the project site, work at Kalaeloa will begin with the careful removal of any coral fragments present and preservation of that coral on growing tables near the project area. Next will be installation of the reef structures, attachment of live coral fragments to the structures, and continued scientific monitoring to evaluate their performance.

The deployment is the result of four years of research and development by the Rapid Resilient Reefs for Coastal Defense (R3D) consortium. Led by the 糖心视频 and the , the initiative brings together researchers from five 糖心视频 laboratories, partner universities and local organizations, including Makai Ocean Engineering and Kuleana Coral Restoration.

“Kalaeloa will become a living laboratory where we can evaluate how nature-based coastal engineering performs under real-world ocean conditions,” said Ben Jones, R3D principal investigator and director of ocean science and technology at the 糖心视频 Applied Research Laboratory. “Our goal is to demonstrate that living breakwaters can provide an effective alternative to traditional shoreline hardening and to collect the scientific data needed to guide future coastal resilience projects in Hawaiʻi and around the world.”

Community helps guide long-term stewardship

Once deployed, the Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef will serve as a living laboratory for the emerging field of nature-based coastal engineering, which integrates engineered infrastructure with natural ecosystems. Long-term monitoring will be guided by the newly established Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef Monitoring Hui, a partnership of researchers, agency representatives, community organizations and cultural practitioners that will assess the reef’s environmental, engineering and cultural impacts. This local partnership includes community stakeholders such as the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board, and the mālama kai organization Hoʻola Hāniʻo.

“This project would not be possible without the partnership of the local community,” said Sniffen. “We are grateful to the organizations and cultural practitioners who have helped shape this effort and will continue to guide its long-term stewardship. Their knowledge and commitment are essential to the project’s success.”

The findings will be shared with regulators, engineers and coastal managers to help inform future shoreline protection projects in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere. If successful, the Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef could provide a scalable, nature-based approach to protecting vulnerable coastlines while advancing the growing field of nature-based coastal engineering.

Building a living reef

The Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef is an example of nature-based coastal engineering, integrating coastal engineering, marine biology and innovative deployment techniques to create a living coastal protection system. 糖心视频 has partnered with University of California San Diego (UCSD) and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), Florida Atlantic University and Ohio State University on its development.

Engineered reef structures: The foundation relies on specifically designed concrete reef structures designed by Ocean and Resources Engineering at 糖心视频 cast by Kapolei-based firms Jensen Infrastructure and GPRM Prestress, located less than two miles from the deployment site. In large-scale wave-flume tests, these model breakwaters successfully reduced incoming wave energy by more than 80% while remaining stable during extreme conditions.

3D-printed coral habitat: To kickstart the living reef, the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology developed 3D-printed ceramic modules featuring small, spiral-shaped shelters called “helix recesses.” Experiments in Kāneʻohe Bay showed that these crevices yielded an 80-fold increase in baby coral settlement and up to a 50-fold increase in survival rates compared to flat surfaces.

Biomaterials: Researchers at the UCSD have developed novel materials that reduce algae competition while allowing for coral to grow on the structures. Other materials provision the juvenile coral with nutrients needed in their early life stages.

Acoustic Enrichment: Researchers at UCSD–SIO have recorded sounds of healthy reefs that will be broadcast near the living breakwater to encourage algae-grazing fish to the site.

Low-impact deployment: To minimize disruption to the marine environment during deployment, Makai Ocean Engineering has developed a shallow-water catamaran, eliminating the need for heavy crane barges. Additionally, the structures will be anchored using a novel rotary micropiling system, which significantly reduces the anchoring footprint and sound pollution compared with traditional pile drivers.

What happens to the food in rubbish cans after thousands of fairgoers enjoy plate lunches, watermelon contests, and locally grown fruits and vegetables? At this year鈥檚 Hawaiʻi Farm Fair, nutrient-rich compost was the answer. This was the first zero-waste diversion effort for the farm fair.

Mindy Jaffe, an educational specialist in the (CTAHR) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and founder of the partnered with CTAHR student ambassadors and staff to divert 1,200 pounds of food waste over the two-day event.

Green waste, worm food and compost

CTAHR student ambassadors helped separate uneaten food from disposable packaging. After the fair, Jaffe hauled the waste to the college鈥檚 Magoon Research Station, where food was diverted to green waste, fresh-fed composting worms, or integrated into hot compost piles.

“I thought if there’s any place we should be diverting food waste from the landfill, it’s at the farm fair because these are farmers; they’re dependent on good soil, and it should be composted,” Jaffe said.

Waste diversion and food security

Jaffe plans to scale up the initiative for next year’s fair. She would like to create an official “Farm Fair Pile,” since a single fair generates enough waste to build a 1,000-pound compost pile. The premium compost would be auctioned off at next year鈥檚 fair, with proceeds donated to local agriculture and food security projects.

Jaffe is working with a team of CTAHR faculty and staff and the 糖心视频 Foundation on proposals to expand composting research and community education. “Food waste is a resource. You can do a lot with it, and if we’re not taking advantage of that, we’re crazy,” she said.

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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.

A new study by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers shows that nearly 23% of short-finned pilot whales that stranded over 13 years in the main Hawaiian Islands ingested several pounds of plastic ropes, netting, fishing gear and plastic bags that were discarded in the ocean.

Published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, was led by the 糖心视频 Health and Stranding Lab within the . Researchers examined the stomachs and digestive tracts of 13 stranded short-finned pilot whales; necropsies of three adult males revealed large masses of tangled plastic debris inside their stomachs.

Staggering amount of plastic

The recovered debris was estimated at 4 to 12 pounds per whale, yielding a staggering 6,283 to 35,543 distinct plastic pieces larger than 5 millimeters—about the width of a standard pencil eraser—per individual.

“The presence of human-made materials in the stomachs of these ocean sentinels serves as a stark reminder of the impact of global plastic pollution,” said Kristi West, director of the 糖心视频 Health and Stranding Lab and corresponding author on the study. “It is a clear message of the importance of keeping these materials out of our ocean.”

The debris was primarily abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear, such as monofilament lines, ropes and netting. Sheet plastics, including garbage or carrier bags, were the next most common items. Plastic longer than 200 millimeters—or about 8 inches, about the length of an iPad—contributed more than 70% of the overall debris weight across all three whales.

A vulnerable species

Pilot whales in Hawaiʻi were found to be highly vulnerable to ingesting marine debris. A squid diet and the proximity of the Hawaiian Islands to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located northeast of the archipelago, may increase the risk of marine debris ingestion in these animals.

Although the whales demonstrated normal body conditions, and the debris was not identified as the direct cause of death, researchers warned that plastics cause nutritional stress and have toxic chemicals that accumulate in whale and dolphin tissues.

Data collection spanned seven years, supported by 25 lab members and funding from the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet, Environmental Readiness Division, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Prescott Grant program.