The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is expanding its environmental monitoring and research capabilities thanks to a $30,000 donation from the Hawaiʻi Water Environment Association (HWEA).

The HWEA gift will help upgrade the college鈥檚 environmental engineering lab through the acquisition of advanced instruments—most notably a state-of-the-art gas chromatograph system that acts like a high-tech “nose” that can sniff out and measure different gases in the air—expanding 糖心视频鈥檚 ability to analyze environmental samples with higher precision. The measurement of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, as well as compounds tied to odor and corrosion concerns, are key issues for wastewater facilities, community health and regulatory compliance.

“This gift is a vital investment in the research and education capacity of our Environmental Biotechnology Research Group at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补,” said Zhiyue Wang, assistant professor in the and the . “By supporting everything from the acquisition of advanced analytical equipment and software to student travel and professional seminars, these resources allow us to maintain the high-level technology and scholarly records necessary to solve Hawaiʻi鈥檚 most pressing environmental challenges.”

The upgraded instruments will also provide new learning opportunities for students through lab instruction, capstone projects and research experiences involving advanced analytical techniques used across commercial and municipal laboratories. It also opens the door for deeper collaboration and knowledge exchange between 糖心视频 and water environment professionals statewide, including potential lab tours, seminars and shared learning opportunities.

The lab鈥檚 enhanced capabilities align with HWEA鈥檚 mission to protect and enhance Hawaiʻi鈥檚 water environment by supporting research at the intersection of air and water quality and by helping train the future workforce in modern analytical methods.

In 2025, Hawaiʻi experienced its second–driest year in more than a century, alongside persistently above average temperatures throughout the year—a stark reality detailed in the inaugural . Published by the , this first-of-its-kind report uses plain language, along with easy-to-interpret maps and figures, to summarize statewide rainfall, temperature, and drought conditions over the past year.

The report is designed to connect communities, resource managers, and policymakers with the climate data behind what many experienced firsthand, providing essential information to support climate preparedness and long-term planning across the islands.

This report reflects decades of effort to monitor Hawaiʻi鈥檚 climate and conduct high-level scientific research, paired with more than eight years of collaboration by a team of climate and data scientists to develop an expanding suite of high-quality climate maps and decision support tools. These maps are hosted on the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP) and, for the first time, make it possible to summarize climate conditions consistently across the entire state.

“Throughout 2025, we heard people across the state talking about just how hot and dry the year felt,” said Ryan Longman, director of the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal. “Now we have the data to show what people were experiencing on the ground. We hope this type of reporting helps connect residents to their own lived experiences with Hawaiʻi鈥檚 climate and gives communities the information they need to plan for what鈥檚 ahead.”

The report is accompanied by a detailed, interactive website that allows users to explore the same climate information for individual islands and even for specific ahupua驶a or watersheds. Together, the report and website provide a clear picture of what many residents across Hawaiʻi experienced firsthand in 2025.

Highlights from the report

• 2025 was the second driest year in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 106-year record, with statewide rainfall averaging just 42 inches—about 20 inches below the 30-year average.
• Maui experienced its driest year on record, while Hawaiʻi Island recorded its second driest year.
• Rainfall was below average for 11 out of 12 months, and August ranked as the driest August in the past 35 years.
• Statewide, 2025 ranked as the sixth warmest year on record, averaging 0.8掳F warmer than normal. For Maui and Kauaʻi, it was the third warmest year since 1990.
• Drought conditions were widespread and severe. By the end of the year, 65% of the state was classified as abnormally dry or worse, and all of Molokaʻi experienced dry conditions. The most intense drought occurred in February, when 56% of Hawai驶i was in severe drought or worse.

Future data collection to expand

Looking ahead, the establishment of the Hawaiʻi Mesonet is expected to further improve the quality and detail of future reports by expanding on-the-ground climate observations. This report marks the first in a new annual series, to be released at the start of each year and refined and expanded over time as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 climate data and monitoring networks continue to grow.

The report also announced the launch of monthly climate update summaries, expected later this spring, which will send the latest information on rainfall, temperature and drought directly to subscribers鈥� inboxes, with a focus on the parts of the island chain that matter most to the individual subscribers.

“The goal of the monthly climate summaries is to provide an early signal of emerging rainfall and drought conditions,” said Longman. “By delivering site-specific information at the scales people actually work at, these updates can support more proactive planning and decision-making.”

The report was compiled by the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal and Hawaiʻi Mesonet teams. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Hawaiʻi Commission on Water Resource Management, and the U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center.

A new species of bacteria has been discovered off the coast of Oʻahu, shedding light on how unseen microbial life connects Hawaiʻi鈥檚 land and sea ecosystems.

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa identified Caulobacter inopinatus, a previously unknown species of bacteria found in seawater collected near a beach on Oʻahu鈥檚 south shore. The finding——was unexpected because all other known species in the Caulobacter genus (a scientific group that includes closely related species) are from freshwater or soil environments, not the ocean.

The discovery, made during a 糖心视频 Mānoa undergraduate marine microbiology class, began as a routine demonstration on how to grow bacteria from seawater samples. When one colony growing on a Petri dish looked different from all the other colonies, further testing confirmed it was something entirely new.

From land to sea

Scientists found that C. inopinatus cannot survive in salt concentrations typical of seawater, despite being isolated from it. This paradox led researchers to investigate how it ended up in the ocean. They determined it was likely transported from land by submarine groundwater discharge—the natural movement of fresh groundwater through the seabed into the sea. These discharges are known to carry nutrients and pollutants into nearshore waters; in this case, they may also move land-based microorganisms. Microbial exchanges are important because bacteria play critical roles in nutrient cycling, water quality and coastal ecosystem health.

“Understanding how microbes move between land and sea helps scientists track the flow of nutrients and contaminants that can affect coastal water quality, fisheries and coral reef health—issues that directly impact Hawaiʻi鈥檚 communities and economy,” said study co-author and 糖心视频 Mānoa Professor Stuart Donachie. “Discoveries like C. inopinatus help us better trace how land-based activities and natural processes influence marine environments at a microscopic level.”

The species name, inopinatus, comes from the Latin word for “unexpected,” reflecting both the chance nature of its discovery and its surprising characteristics.

Collaborative work

The research was part of ongoing microbial diversity studies led by Donachie. Undergraduate researchers Austin Dubord and Mia Sadones contributed to the project through 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 , which supports student-led research and creative work. Collaborators included 糖心视频 Mānoa faculty Michael Norris and Jennifer Saito, graduate students Chiyoko Onouye and Thi Hai Au La, and University of Mississippi Assistant Professor and 糖心视频 Mānoa PhD graduate Rebecca Prescott.

The study is dedicated to the late 糖心视频 Mānoa Earth Sciences Professor Craig Glenn (1954–2024), whose pioneering research on submarine groundwater discharge in Hawaiʻi helped illuminate how freshwater and seawater interact along island coastlines, and to former 糖心视频 undergraduate student Justin Bukunt (1983–2011), whose early research on groundwater discharge at Kawaikui Beach Park informed this discovery. Their contributions continue to inspire new generations of scientists exploring Hawaiʻi鈥檚 unique coastal environments.

The School of Life Sciences is housed in 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 .

Most people who were affected by the November 2021 Red Hill fuel spill continued to experience physical, emotional, social and/or financial impacts more than 20 months after the incident, according to a released October 15, 2025, by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (糖心视频ERO).

The report provides results from a follow-up self-administered online survey conducted in July 2023 (20 months after the spill) with 174 people who had participated in earlier studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Main findings reported in 2023

Ongoing physical and mental health impacts:

• About three quarters (79%) of respondents reported one or more new or worsening physical and/or mental health symptoms since the 2021 fuel spill.
• A majority (68%) reported ongoing symptoms in 2023, nearly two years after the spill.
• Nearly half of respondents (49%) continued to suffer from mental health impacts, followed by neurological symptoms (44%), gastrointestinal issues (36%) and skin/eye symptoms (34%).

Healthcare response:

• The majority (65%) of respondents sought medical care related to the spill.
• Experiences with medical care were mixed: 24% of respondents rated the medical care they received for their exposure to the fuel spill as excellent or good whereas 36% rated their care as bad or very bad.
• More than 50% of respondents said they have a great deal of trust in their healthcare provider to provide correct information; less than 5% said they have no trust.
• The vast majority of open-ended responses about healthcare described dismissed concerns, insufficient documentation of symptoms, inadequate testing options and challenges accessing specialists.

Social and economic impacts:

• Many reported feelings of isolation as a result of health impacts and disaster response.
• Some respondents also pointed to ways that the community organized and supported one another in disaster response.
• Some (18%) reported income loss (median = $13,750 annual income), while the majority (82%) incurred additional out-of-pocket expenses (median = $8,200).
• Only 12% of those with out-of-pocket expenses said they were fully reimbursed, and more than a third (36%) said they received nothing at all.

Institutional trust and perceptions of institutional crisis response:

• Respondents were most satisfied with how the Honolulu Board of Water Supply responded to the crisis and least satisfied with the response of the Navy.
• Many expressed feelings of betrayal, particularly toward the Navy. Many respondents said they felt lied to about the safety of the water, and cited inadequate medical and other crisis response as factors undermining trust.
• Participants discussed a need for greater transparency, accountability and empathy in future crisis response.

“Findings reveal significant and ongoing well-being impacts including physical and mental health challenges, disruptions to social networks and relationships and financial losses,” the study wrote.

The report was authored by experts from 糖心视频ERO, , , , and , all at 糖心视频.

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糖心视频ERO is housed in 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 .

Low pay, limited advancement opportunities, and a small applicant pool for specialized positions are among the biggest challenges facing Hawaiʻi鈥檚 water sector, according to a new University of Hawaiʻi report. The study also found a strong commitment among water professionals to public service and community well-being, and highlighted opportunities for 糖心视频 to help strengthen education and career pathways that support a thriving water future for the state.

The report, published October 8, shares insights from 43 representatives from federal, state and county agencies, as well as private and nonprofit organizations. The findings emphasized the need for both technical expertise and a holistic understanding of the political, cultural, economic and historical dimensions of water in Hawaiʻi.

One key finding was, “Many suggested that the University of Hawaiʻi has an important role to play in convening organizations and people across the water sector and in conducting applied and policy relevant research.”

Interviewees cited recruitment and retention challenges driven by low salaries and slow hiring processes, along with a need for more training in specialized areas such as engineering, hydrogeology and aquatic biology. Many also noted that institutional culture and job descriptions do not always effectively attract local candidates with lived experience and a commitment to mālama ʻ腻颈苍补, or caring for the land. The research highlighted the importance of comprehensive, practical training in communication, project management, fieldwork and community engagement.

The report represents the first phase of a collaborative project involving the (糖心视频ERO), , , and .

Funded by the Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, the next phase will focus on interviews with 糖心视频 departments and professional development programs to identify assets, gaps and best practices for water-related education and careers statewide.

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Community members gathered at Moanalua High School on August 2, for the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Launch and Community Fair, an event aimed at promoting awareness and support for those who experienced the 2021 fuel release into the Navy鈥檚 drinking water system on Oʻahu.

The launch marked the public debut of the Red Hill Registry, an independent initiative designed to track health outcomes and connect individuals who were exposed to the water crisis with resources. The registry was developed through a partnership between the and community members.

“What I hope is that people will really feel connected and they have a community,” said Aimee Grace, principal investigator and director of the 糖心视频 Office of Strategic Health Initiatives. “If they have some sort of need, whether it鈥檚 a health need or whether it鈥檚 a social service need, they can come to us and we can help navigate that process and find the resources they need.”

“It鈥檚 extremely important that anybody who experienced the Red Hill water crisis enroll in the registry,” said Rosana “Sanie” Weldon, 糖心视频 Red Hill Registry director. “That way we can get the most comprehensive data so that we can really start to determine whether there are links between the jet fuel exposure in the drinking water and any health outcomes.”

The family-friendly event featured informational booths, keiki activities, food and opportunities for attendees to learn more about the registry and how to enroll. Community organizations and support service providers were on hand to offer guidance and assistance.

The registry seeks to build a comprehensive picture of the long-term impacts of the Red Hill fuel release, with participation open to anyone who lived, worked, attended daycare or studied in affected areas. Organizers emphasized that enrollment is valuable regardless of whether individuals have experienced health issues to date. .

“On the one hand, I鈥檓 gratified that we鈥檙e doing this. It鈥檚 the right thing to do. We have to do this to take care of folks,” U.S. Rep. Ed Case said. “On the other hand, we鈥檝e got to track this over time, get the word out to anybody that you should register so that we can determine these health consequences over time.”

“To me, it always had to be with entities like the University of Hawaiʻi, run by kids who literally drink this water themselves and understand how important it is for us to make good on our obligations to take care of the community,” U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda said.

The public is invited to attend the Launch and Community Fair on August 2, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Moanalua High School cafeteria and courtyard.

The Red Hill Registry aims to track health outcomes and provide resources for those who experienced the 2021 fuel release into the Navy鈥檚 drinking water system on Oʻahu.

The independent initiative is led by the University of Hawaiʻi System , and was co-designed with the community.

“This registry will serve as a crucial tool for both monitoring health outcomes and ensuring that individuals have access to the support they need,” said Rosana Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry. “Every enrollment in the Red Hill Registry, whether an individual experienced health effects or not, helps us build a more comprehensive picture of the long-term impact of this crisis.”

This family-friendly event will feature a variety of activities, food, resource booths and more. The fair will bring together community partners and members of the Red Hill community, offering an opportunity to learn more about the registry, receive assistance with pre-enrollment and connect with various support services.

“The launch of the Red Hill Registry is a significant milestone for our community,” said Tara Sutton, director of community engagement at the Red Hill Registry. “From the beginning, we have worked hard to build a strong foundation of trust with our community by speaking with and engaging individuals across the community throughout the registry鈥檚 development.”

Questions about the event can be sent to info@redhillregistry.org. More information about the Red Hill Registry, including background, frequently asked questions and more can also be .

A new tool developed by University of Hawaiʻi researchers allows anyone in the state to generate custom, site-specific climate reports to support decisions related to drought, wildfire and land management—a major step forward in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 climate resilience efforts.

The was unveiled at a May 2025 meeting of the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP) User Group, which drew lawmakers, emergency managers and wildfire officials. The new system lets users select or draw an area of interest, enter basic details and receive a tailored climate portfolio by email. It is free to use and portfolios are generated and delivered in less than an hour.

“We used to generate these portfolios one at a time, but the demand for them was so great that we decided to automate the entire process,” said Ryan Longman, lead researcher on the HCDP project and the 糖心视频 consortium director of the .

The tool is part of the larger project, which is working to transform how the state tracks weather, drought and wildfire risk using advanced climate modeling, real-time data systems and artificial intelligence. Change Hawaiʻi is part of the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research or .

Real-time dashboard

At the meeting, researchers also rolled out a newly developed, open-source dashboard for the Hawaiʻi Mesonet—a growing network of 110 weather monitoring stations statewide, 66 of which are now operational. Each station collects 21 environmental variables and generates more than a million data points daily that feed into predictive models for wildfire and drought.

• Read more about the dashboard on 糖心视频 News

“This dashboard puts real-time data at the fingertips of the people who need it most,” said Tom Giambelluca, Hawaiʻi Mesonet project lead, Change Hawaiʻi co-principal investigator and former director of the at 糖心视频. “High-quality data has never been easier to access, and future applications with the data are limitless.”

Wildfire system

The team has developed daily wildfire probability maps and forecasts statewide through the use of optimized machine learning models for more accurate fire behavior forecasting and drought assessment. The user-friendly, real-time data is accessed through the HCDP, which is publicly available. Read more on 糖心视频 News.

The goal is to provide early warning to fire managers, emergency responders and landowners so they can deploy resources, issue public advisories and reduce risks through more informed planning. This wildfire system can identify critical wildfire ignition factors, including relative humidity, temperature, rainfall, normalized difference vegetation index (components of wildfire fuel) and land cover.

Future efforts will leverage robust cyberinfrastructure, advanced data visualization, and innovative AI and machine learning applications, including computer vision and edge AI systems, to create a more resilient Hawaiʻi.

In advance of the launch of the Red Hill Registry this summer, a team of international, national and local public health and environmental science experts convened May 8–9, at the East-West Center鈥檚 Imin International Conference Center to discuss the health impacts of the 2021 jet fuel spill at Red Hill, and to advise the University of Hawaiʻi System-based registry on data protocols and methodologies.

The Red Hill Registry, led by the 糖心视频 System in partnership with the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 , and , as well as University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi, aims to track health outcomes and provide resources for those affected by the fuel spill.

In May, the Thompson school鈥檚 Registry Hub convened, for the second time, a Scientific Oversight Workshop with key experts from around the world to develop the best ways to track the health impacts of thousands of Hawaiʻi residents who consumed the fuel-tainted water.

“The Scientific Oversight Workshop aimed to again bring together independent experts whose experience and perspectives will support the success of our project,” said Catherine Pirkle, the registry鈥檚 scientific director and professor of public health in the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health.

Topics included the chemistry of chemicals in drinking water, statistical methods to estimate exposure, analysis of the media surrounding the Red Hill water crisis, environmental health communication with the community and the health impacts of environmental hazards.

“Our Scientific Oversight Workshops are vitally important to develop a registry that is scientifically sound, culturally grounded and co-created with the community,” said Rosana (Sanie) Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry. “In addition to assisting the community with referrals and educational resources, a main goal of the Registry is to be a data repository that researchers can use to investigate links between exposure and long term health effects. These conversations are also important to the broader community that has been exposed to jet fuel in the drinking water, such as in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.”

Another scientific workshop will take place prior to the launch of the Red Hill Registry this summer.

Formal enrollment in the Red Hill Registry is set to begin in mid-2025, with .

Six grants totaling $200,000 (between $10,000-$50,000 per award) for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects in the Ala Wai watershed were awarded by the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant). These projects are part of the project, a transformative effort aimed at improving the health of the Ala Wai Canal by improving water quality, enhancing ecosystem resilience and engaging communities in sustainable solutions.

GSI is a collection of design strategies that mimic nature to manage and treat stormwater and encourages water to infiltrate into the ground, minimizing and slowing the flow of runoff and removing contaminants. It encompasses a variety of nature-based solutions designed to restore natural hydrological processes. They range from native rain gardens and tree planting to floating treatment wetlands, all of which help to filter pollutants, slow runoff and replenish groundwater.

“The pollution of the Ala Wai Canal and the watersheds that feed into it have long been an issue rising to more prominence with the increased frequency of storms, and highlighting the urgent need to develop immediate solutions and strategies for the sustainable long-term management of the watershed,” said Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Director and Principal Investigator Darren T. Lerner. “The Ola Waik墨k墨 effort and associated community-led projects incorporate community input and support real-world pilot projects that residents can see and experience. These projects provide an opportunity to demonstrate small-scale application of GSI that can eventually be scaled up into regional projects that support meaningful and impactful benefits to the environment and community.”

Ola Waik墨k墨 is funded by Congressionally directed spending led by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. The project team includes Lerner and co-investigators Melanie Lander, community planning and design extension agent, and Dolan Eversole, coastal processes specialist.

Community-driven projects making an impact

An expert panel convened by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant identified six community-led projects to demonstrate the power of local action in urban environmental restoration and stormwater management.

• Aliʻiolani Elementary School Cafeteria Rain Garden (Hawaiʻi Green Growth UN Local2030 Hub)
• Increasing Urban Tree Canopy at Jarrett Middle School (The Outdoor Circle)
• M&M (Maintaining & Monitoring) the Kaimuk墨 Rain Garden (Trees for Honolulu鈥檚 Future)
• P膩lolo Hongwanji Sustainable Community Hub (Trees for Honolulu鈥檚 Future)
• Puʻuhonua: Distributed, Scalable Phytoremediation (Grow Good Hawaiʻi and ʻIolani School)
• Restoring Roots at Puʻu o Kaimuk墨 Mini Park (808 Cleanups)

By leveraging community knowledge, hands-on participation, and strong partnerships, these initiatives are a first step toward long-term water quality improvement and urban resilience in Honolulu.

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Conservation efforts protecting Kauaʻi鈥檚 native forests yield significant returns in groundwater recharge (process of water replenishing underground aquifers), with each dollar invested producing an average of 593 gallons of recharged water, according to a . The study analyzed existing and potential conservation fence units and their impact on groundwater over a 50-year period.

Researchers found that protecting watersheds from invasive plants and animals, such as feral pigs and deer, is crucial for maintaining the island鈥檚 freshwater resources. Increased groundwater recharge ensures a steady supply of fresh water, vital for drinking and other essential needs.

The study, conducted by the , and , in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, revealed that areas with natural barriers, such as Wainiha and N膩molokama, showed even higher returns, reaching up to 2,625 gallons per dollar.

Expanding conservation efforts to include proposed fenced areas could increase cumulative groundwater recharge from 21.4 billion to 34.4 billion gallons over 50 years, although the average return per dollar would slightly decrease. Mid-elevation areas were identified as providing the highest groundwater recharge benefits per dollar, as these regions are particularly vulnerable to invasive species.

Benefits of conservation in higher-elevation areas

The study also highlighted the long-term benefits of conservation in higher-elevation areas, where invasive species are expected to spread over time. Beyond groundwater recharge, watershed conservation contributes to biodiversity, reduces erosion and enhances climate resilience.

“The findings indicate that existing conservation efforts have been strategically implemented in high-impact areas, delivering significant returns in terms of groundwater recharge,” the report said. “Expanding these efforts would further enhance water security for the island.”

The report added, “This work contributes to a broader understanding of how conservation investments can be evaluated in hydrologic and economic terms, providing a framework for future decision-making regarding watershed management on Kauaʻi and beyond.”

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糖心视频ERO is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

To gain valuable insight into the groundwater flow near Red Hill, Oʻahu, researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 began a dye tracer study in February. Using a method that has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, the team injected a fluorescent compound to a monitoring well and will study its migration through the aquifer over the spring of 2025.

Following the jet fuel leaks from storage tanks in 2014 and 2021, there has been significant concern from community members and scientists about the safety of drinking water in the area. After the 2021 release of jet fuels, water pumped from Red Hill Shaft no longer supplies public drinking water but rather is entirely discharged to Halawa Stream as part of ongoing recovery efforts at the request of regulators.

Recent geophysical and hydrological studies have begun to provide a better understanding of the regional geology and groundwater flow rates and directions. The dye tracer study will validate those findings and provide data sets to inform current and future modeling efforts. Rhodamine water tracer (WT) was selected for this study because it is non-toxic, straightforward to measure, breaks down in sunlight, doesn鈥檛 bind to soils and washes away easily.

“Fluorescent dyes, such fluorescein and rhodamine, have been used for decades by the U.S. Geological Survey to understand river dynamics and were safely used to study the groundwater migration of freshwater discharge off the coast of Lahaina, Maui in 2011,” said Toomas Parratt, researcher in the at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and lead hydrogeologist on the study.

The team injected dye into RHMW08, a quarter of a mile upgradient from Red Hill Shaft (RHS), which was shut down as a public drinking water supply following the November 2021 fuel leak. However, extraction at RHS is still ongoing with a granular activated carbon treatment system prior to discharge to Halawa Stream. For the tracer study the water extraction rate was temporarily increased to over 4 million gallons per day, consistent with the permitted rate, to maximize the recovery of the injected dye.

The water pumped from RHS will be monitored every 10 minutes to determine the concentrations of the tracer dye in the extracted water. The arrival time of the dye at RHS and the total mass captured by RHS鈥� pump will allow for the estimation of groundwater velocities and the efficacy of dye recovery. The concentration of dye will also be monitored after treatment by the Navy’s activated charcoal filters to ensure adequate dye removal prior to discharge to Halawa Stream, since it is disconnected from the public drinking supply.

“From the ongoing hydrogeological studies the majority of the dye is expected to be captured by RHS and will not discharge to any surface water bodies, including streams, springs and near-shore seeps since the dye was injected below sea level within the capture zone of RHS,” Parratt emphasized.

Additional information

Preliminary results from the dye tracer study will be shared publicly in summer 2025.

An informational webinar about the tracer study and future webinars . For more information, or contact Parratt at toom@hawaii.edu with questions.

Update January 22, 2025: The Red Hill Registry Town Hall will shift to a fully virtual event due to overwhelming community preference from those who have expressed interest in attending. It is set to take place on January 26 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. .

Original story:

The , facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi, invites the public to a town hall from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on January 26, at Los Banos Hall at Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial State Park.

The event may be attended in person for the first 100 individuals who . Those unable to attend in person or who prefer to attend virtually/online can also .

The town hall will provide updates on the Red Hill Registry鈥檚 progress, opportunities to share stories and collaborative exercises to identify community priorities related to the registry. Refreshments will be provided for in-person participants.

There will also be an opportunity to nominate up to eight people who can become members of the registry’s community advisory workgroup. .

This town hall event marks an important milestone in the development of the Red Hill Registry to connect those impacted by the Red Hill water crisis to resources and track health impacts over time. The registry is expected to launch in mid-2025.

“The Red Hill Registry is committed to ensuring the community鈥檚 voice is at the center of every Registry effort,” said Tara Sutton, director of community engagement for the Red Hill Registry. “We want the Registry to be a resource that truly serves those impacted by the Red Hill water crisis.”

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The , facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi, is now open for pre-enrollment. Those exposed to jet-fuel-contaminated drinking water from the Navy water line on Oʻahu are encouraged to fill out a short, five-minute questionnaire to provide feedback to guide the development of the registry, in order to better serve their needs.

“Pre-enrollment is an exciting opportunity to start getting counted as an impacted community member,” said Rosana “Sanie” Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry.

During the pre-enrollment process, respondents can confidentially provide their contact information, location and activities in relation to the jet fuel spill at Red Hill and main concerns they would like the Red Hill Registry to address, all in advance of formal enrollment, which will begin in summer 2025.

• . This link is also on the .

“This survey marks our third major step of community engagement in the last two months,” said Tara Sutton, director of community engagement at the Red Hill Registry. “Our focus groups and community-wide surveys have already yielded very useful information as we continue to develop the Red Hill Registry.”

Slated to formally launch enrollment in summer 2025, the Red Hill Registry aims to connect those impacted by the Red Hill water crisis to resources and track health impacts over time.

For more information regarding the Red Hill Registry, or send questions to info@RedHillRegistry.org.

The Red Hill Registry, facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi, seeks community participants for upcoming two-hour virtual focus groups to help guide the development of the registry. The Red Hill Registry will connect those impacted by the Red Hill water crisis to resources and track health impacts over time. The registry is currently in an intensive planning and community engagement stage, and planned to formally launch for enrollment in mid 2025.

Virtual focus groups of community participants will be held from November 21 through 26, and will include separate sessions for impacted community members, concerned residents of Oʻahu who were not directly exposed, and professionals who responded to the crisis or provided support to those affected.

“We are committed to co-designing the registry with the community, including by asking key questions in these focus groups,” said Tara Sutton, director of community engagement for the Red Hill Registry. “We seek to understand what resources the community would like the registry to offer and how the registry can best operate to meet community needs.”

Registration links are below. Virtual community focus groups (limited to 16–24 participants per category):

• : Sessions dedicated to those who were exposed to the contaminated water at their home, workplace, school or child care center.
• (Not directly exposed): Open to residents interested in discussing the impacts of the Red Hill water crisis from a broader community perspective.
• : Focus groups designed for professionals who responded to the crisis or provided support to those affected, such as healthcare providers, educators, advocates and agency representatives.

Individuals interested in participating in these focus groups may register using the links above or by contacting the Red Hill Registry for more information at tsutton@redhillregistry.org. If space is full, a waiting list will be available per the registration links above.

The Red Hill Registry is a project funded by a five-year, $27.2-million federal grant.

For more information about the Red Hill Registry, see this 糖心视频 News story. To sign up for updates, .

To improve water resiliency in the state, the U.S. Department of Defense Naval Facilities Engineering Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) has invested $300,000 toward a new partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi and others to explore new ways to steward, sustain and reimagine water resources in Hawaiʻi through the Hoʻolana Water Resilience Prize Challenge.

The pilot program was launched in fall 2023 by the and as part of their Innovation Challenge initiative. Two of 13 proposed water resilience solutions were selected for further development. One project employs analytical and machine learning image analysis to detect cloud immersion in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 tropical cloud forests (tropical or subtropical forests that are frequently covered in low-lying clouds and mist, creating a persistently wet environment). The other is exploring the potential of oyster aquaculture to improve Pearl Harbor鈥檚 water quality and ecosystems. They each received $75,000 in seed funding and mentorship.

Detecting cloud immersion through machine learning analysis

Between 800–3,500 meters in elevation, tropical montane cloud forests are tropical ecosystems characterized by frequent ground-level cloud immersion or fog. Cloud droplets collecting on vegetation is an important source of water in these forests. However, unlike rainfall, the phenomenon of fog meteorology and its interaction with vegetation is still misunderstood and understudied.

A team from the is working on using machine learning to detect fog and estimate cloud water content from camera images. This low-cost, image-based solution aims to capture near real-time cloud immersion data and enhance researchers鈥� understanding of fog and its impact on montane regions in Hawaiʻi.

“By using cameras as a low-cost approach for estimating the availability of cloud water in tropical montane cloud forests, we hope to better monitor spatial and temporal cloud immersion patterns across diverse geographies and ecosystems,” said Dylan Giardina, who is part of the team鈥檚 research staff. “This represents an important first step in beginning to understand how much water is intercepted by vegetation, developing wall-to-wall climate maps for cloud immersion, and understanding how cloud water availability might be impacted by climate change.”

Restoring natural habitats of Pearl Harbor

A team from and its community partners are identifying opportunities for using oyster bivalves to improve water quality and habitats in Pearl Harbor. As suspension feeders, oyster bivalves ingest and filter out excess phytoplankton resulting from run-off from terrestrial sources like nitrogen and phosphorus. They also help settle sediment from erosion, helping to maintain water clarity.

“Wai Momi was once a majestic estuary, rich with biodiversity,” said Rhiannon Tereariʻi Chandler-ʻ莫补辞, 糖心视频 Hilo aquaculture policy and extension specialist and former Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian Island executive director. “So much of its natural ecosystems have been transformed or lost; it鈥檚 hard to find even one pearl oyster in the harbor now. It鈥檚 no surprise that water quality is an issue.”

Next steps

Both teams will continue to work with NAVFAC EXWC through the end of the year, and plan to present research updates to government, industry and venture capital communities early next year to determine further development and possible acquisition opportunities.

For more, . Noelo is 糖心视频鈥檚 research magazine from the .

Developing innovative technology aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment facilities is the focus of a new University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 project.

The research team—including Zhiyue Wang, assistant professor in the and the , and Tao Yan, professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering and director of the Water Resources Research Center—aims to investigate a new process that could significantly decrease the environmental impact of traditional nitrogen removal methods in wastewater treatment. Removing nitrogen from wastewater is crucial because excess nitrogen can cause harmful algae blooms in lakes and oceans, while conventional treatment processes release a significant amount of greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.

This effort is supported by a $1,994,225 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, awarded to Kennedy Jenks, a water and environmental engineering and environmental sciences firm. The 糖心视频 team will work with Kennedy Jenks and the City and County of Honolulu to run pilot-scale testing at the Waiʻanae wastewater treatment facility starting 2025.

“This research is particularly crucial for Hawaiʻi, where our unique island ecosystem demands innovative solutions to protect our environment and manage our resources sustainably,” Wang said. “By developing technology that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment while potentially increasing energy recovery, we’re not only addressing global climate concerns but also working towards greater energy independence for our island communities.”

Less greenhouse gasses, improved efficiency

At the heart of this project is the development of the Coupled Aerobic-anoxic Nitrous Decomposition Operation (CANDO) process. This innovative approach focuses on converting ammonia, a common component in wastewater, into nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide can then be burned alongside biogas, improving overall energy efficiency at treatment facilities. Recovery of nitrous oxide, 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, can greatly reduce its release into the atmosphere as well.

Researchers aim to achieve an 80% nitrogen removal rate and a 60% nitrous oxide conversion rate through this method. If successful, this technology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogen removal processes by 50% or more. This project aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 goals for decarbonization in the water treatment sector.

It also addresses challenges associated with co-digestion, a common practice in wastewater treatment where additional organic waste is added to improve biogas production. While beneficial, co-digestion can lead to increased ammonia levels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The CANDO process offers a potential solution by converting this excess ammonia into a usable energy source.

Researchers believe this technology could be integrated into existing wastewater treatment facilities, providing both environmental and economic benefits. The project team estimates that implementing CANDO could increase energy generation from co-digestion by 5% through nitrous oxide recovery.

Editor’s note: The federal government withdrew grant funding for this research in 2025.

New groundbreaking research aims to evaluate potential human health risks from bacteria in surface water systems across four U.S. states.

The project involving the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 will assess the environmental spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens—disease-causing microorganisms that have evolved to withstand the effects of antibiotics and other medicines designed to kill them—through wastewater discharge and agricultural runoff. The three-year study recently received a $2.4 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Hawaiʻi鈥檚 unique combination of cesspools and agricultural runoff flowing into our watersheds presents distinct challenges for antimicrobial resistance spread that we need to understand better,” said Tao Yan, director of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and professor in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 . “This study will help us develop targeted strategies to protect our communities and the pristine water resources that are so vital to our island ecosystems.”

Growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 researchers will focus on Kauaʻi鈥檚 Hanalei River, where they will examine how cesspools and animal agriculture contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The river system in Hawaiʻi, along with waterways in Nebraska, New Jersey and California, were selected to represent diverse environmental conditions and pollution sources.

The study addresses growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance spreading beyond clinical settings. While wastewater treatment plants effectively remove many pollutants, they may inadvertently introduce to the environment antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and genes through effluent discharge into rivers and streams.

The research team will employ advanced shotgun metagenomic sequencing—breaking down all DNA from a sample and analyzing the pieces to identify every organism—to identify and track antimicrobial resistance genes from various sources. Environmental engineers will develop predictive models to understand how these resistant bacteria and genes proliferate in different environments.

A key outcome of the study will be the development of a risk assessment tool enabling stakeholders to better understand the health threats posed by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in their water systems. This information could help water managers and policymakers implement measures to reduce human exposure to these contaminants.

The study is led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and includes expertise from Rutgers University, the University of California Riverside and Iowa State University.

An organization to protect Oʻahu鈥檚 vital water resources, the (KMWP), celebrated 25 years in August. Funded through grants and donations, KMWP operates as a project of the within the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

Founded in 1999 by eight organizations, KMWP has grown into a coalition of 17 landowning partners and 10 associate partners dedicated to preserving the Koʻolau mountains鈥� watershed. This milestone coincides with the time it takes for a raindrop falling on the mountains to reach the underground aquifers that supply 90% of Oʻahu鈥檚 potable water.

The partnership now stewards more than 100,000 acres of public and private lands across the Koʻolau range. Its efforts focus on protecting native forests, which are crucial for soil retention, water absorption and aquifer recharge.

“What makes this partnership special is the immense support that these partner organizations have for one another,” KMWP Program Associate Brad Suenishi said. “It鈥檚 amazing to have so many partnering organizations collaborate with one common goal to preserve the Koʻolau Mountains.”

KMWP鈥檚 work extends beyond the mountaintops, impacting agriculture, residential areas, businesses and ocean ecosystems.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we鈥檙e not just looking back with pride, but forward with renewed commitment,” said KMWP Planner Jesse Adams. “The challenges of climate change and population growth make our mission more critical than ever. We鈥檙e deeply grateful for the support of our partners and the community, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to preserving the Koʻolau watersheds for generations to come.”

Over the years, KMWP has implemented various conservation strategies, including invasive species control, fencing and feral ungulate monitoring, and native plant restoration.

“Landscape level conservation often occurs on long timescales, but I have seen a significant positive impact from KMWP‘s work during my 10 year tenure,” KMWP Wildlife Management Specialist Jordan Lewis said.

Funding for projects comes from a variety of sources, including the Hawaiʻi State Department of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and non-government groups. A recent project, funded by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health鈥檚 Clean Water Branch, resulted in the planting of 574 native plants in the Waiheʻe and 惭腻苍辞补 Cliffs restoration sites.

The organization鈥檚 impact is far-reaching. Approximately 30% of rainfall in the Koʻolau Mountains flows into streams, throughout the entire island from mountains to sea. KMWP鈥檚 efforts help minimize erosion, reduce fire and flooding risks and maintain the health of Oʻahu鈥檚 water systems.

Community support crucial

The partnership鈥檚 success relies heavily on the support of its member organizations and landowners, which provide access to priority watershed forests and, in some cases, funding opportunities.

“The success of KMWP over the past 25 years is a direct result of our dedicated landowner partners who have opened their lands for conservation efforts,” Adams said. “These access rights are vital because plants and animals, whether native or invasive, do not respect property boundaries. Partnership access means that the KMWP project field staff can protect more of our remnant native forests and control invasive species.”

The organization welcomes new partners to join its mission. For more information, .

The August 2023 Lahaina wildfire may have temporarily affected water quality in nearby coastal areas, but long-term impacts appear minimal, according to preliminary results from a recent University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 study.

Researchers monitored polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and a type of fecal indicator bacteria called Enterococci in waters off Lahaina Beach and Puʻunoa Beach, comparing them to unaffected areas. The study found that PAH levels in water samples were higher in September 2023 but dropped to low levels by November. PAHs were mostly undetectable in sand samples.

Low levels of heavy metals were found in both seawater and sand, but researchers noted no clear patterns over time. Bacteria levels also showed no significant trends.

“The results indicated that while wildfires may temporarily increase PAH levels, they may not increase the risk of heavy metal or microbial contamination to the coastal water environment,” said lead researchers Xiaolong (Leo) Geng, assistant professor in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and (WRRC); and Tao Yan, professor in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and WRRC.

The research team used special monitoring wells to track groundwater movement and quality in the affected beach areas. They also created a computer model to better understand how groundwater-driven substances move through the ground in Lahaina’s beach environments.

“This study helps us understand how wildfires can impact our coastal ecosystems,” Geng and Yan added. “It’s crucial information for managing environmental risks after such disasters.”

Researchers emphasize the need for ongoing water quality monitoring to ensure long-term environmental safety and to detect any delayed effects that may emerge over time. Geng and Yan鈥檚 research team plans to submit their findings for peer-reviewed publication.

The research team included Geng, Yan and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 postdocs and students, including Yangyang Zou, Min Ki Jeon, Edward Lopez, Mackaby Pennington and Gabrielle Justine Tapat.

This study was funded by a $200,000 National Science Foundation RAPID grant.