The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa has identified a large-scale tropical disturbance called the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) as a significant driver of the islands’ climate, including extreme events, such as the extraordinary rainfall Â鶹´«Ã½ experienced in March and April. This weather pattern travels eastward through the tropics every 30–60 days and, , significantly boosts rainfall during its active phases, particularly on windward slopes.

This research advances scientific knowledge of the processes that influence ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s climate and can help improve forecasts one to three months in advance.

“Understanding how the MJO affects ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s climate helps explain rainfall variability on timescales of weeks to months,” said Audrey Nash, lead author of the study and doctoral candidate in the in UH ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s . “The MJO evolves slowly and can be monitored in real time. Understanding its influence can help scientists and forecasters better anticipate periods of heavy rainfall, drought conditions, and shifts in weather patterns across the islands.”

High-resolution data reveals the pattern

While the MJO was known to influence weather patterns across the tropics, its impact on Â鶹´«Ã½ had not previously been examined in detail at timescales of one to three months.

Nash and Giuseppe Torri, associate professor of atmospheric sciences, analyzed long-term, high-resolution atmospheric and rainfall datasets covering Â鶹´«Ã½ and the surrounding Pacific Ocean, including data from the Â鶹´«Ã½ Climate Data Portal. By compositing rainfall, temperature and atmospheric variables across different phases of the MJO, they identified consistent patterns showing how the MJO modulates rainfall and climate conditions across the Hawaiian Islands.

“We expected a small impact, but it was surprising how consistently rainfall across the islands responds to active and suppressed phases of the MJO,” said Nash.

Active phases of the MJO are also associated with cooler temperatures, higher humidity and stronger northeasterly winds across the islands. The authors note that these patterns appear to be linked to large-scale atmospheric responses to the MJO, including slow moving Rossby waves in the central North Pacific and strengthening of the local Hadley Circulation, a major feature of global atmospheric movement that cools the tropics and warms the poles.

“Improving our understanding of rainfall variability is critical for water management, agriculture, and hazard preparedness,” said Nash. “This work reflects the University of ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s mission to study the unique environmental systems that shape life in the islands and to provide science that benefits local communities.”

The earned high marks in nearly 20 academic subjects in the , with , and leading the way among the highest-ranked programs.

Oceanography ranked No. 5 in the U.S. and No. 7 in the world, atmospheric science placed No. 8 nationally and No. 11 worldwide, and hospitality and tourism management ranked No. 12 in the U.S. and No. 32 in the world.

The rankings were released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy and is considered one of the most comprehensive and objective assessments of university performance by discipline.

UH Mānoa also posted strong global and national placements across science, engineering, social science and other fields. tied for No. 17 in the U.S. and ranked No. 51–75 worldwide, while ecology and each tied for No. 24 nationally and placed No. 76–100 globally.

Additional UH Mānoa subjects recognized in the 2025 rankings include communication, education, political science, water resources, biological sciences, civil engineering, food science and technology, environmental science and engineering, agricultural sciences, economics, management and physics.

“These rankings reflect the depth and consistency of excellence at UH Mānoa,” Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “Our faculty are advancing research that matters locally and globally, while preparing students to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our world.”

UH Mānoa was evaluated alongside approximately 2,000 universities from more than 100 countries and regions, selected from a global pool of more than 25,000 institutions. The rankings are based on measures such as world-class faculty, world-class research output, high-quality research, research impact and international collaboration.

Other recent rankings:

• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, October 9, 2025
• Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, October 2, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, September 23, 2025

For more information, .

—By Marc Arakaki

With a focus on marine and atmospheric sciences, researchers from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa and University of Tokyo, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI) convened in Tokyo, Japan for a three-day conference in early October.

The 2025 Joint Conference on Ocean, Coastal, and Atmospheric Sciences, the fifth such joint event since 2008, is designed to facilitate the exchange of research findings and provide opportunities for future collaboration and partnership on grants, research and publications among participants.

“This long-standing collaboration between UH Mānoa and the University of Tokyo reflects the best of international science—grounded in trust, shared purpose, and a collective commitment to understanding and protecting our planet’s ocean and atmosphere,” said Darren Lerner, interim associate dean for research at the UH Mānoa (SOEST) and (Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant) director.

Sharing knowledge, expanding connections

Twenty faculty members, postdocs and graduate students from SOEST and other UH departments shared their latest work on marine debris and microplastics; changing ocean currents and climate; biology and ecology of sharks, coral, and deep-sea animals; sustainable aquaculture; and more. After two days of presentations, UH Mānoa participants were invited to visit AORI laboratories and field research activities related to their interests.

“Meeting with collaborators at AORI expanded my understanding of how processes that affect our home communities in Â鶹´«Ã½—like ocean warming, deoxygenation, and changing climate cycles like El Niño–manifest in Japan’s coastal waters,” said Sara Kahanamoku-Meyer, SOEST assistant researcher and Early Career Research Fellow who participated in the conference.

The Joint Conference on Ocean, Coastal, and Atmospheric Sciences is aligned with an agreement between UH Mānoa and the University of Tokyo to encourage the exchange of faculty, scholars, students, academic information and materials for the benefit of both institutions and the participants. Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant has been the lead coordinator of the conference and the facilitator of the related memorandum of understanding since 2007.

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A six-week, hands-on lunar and planetary science education program, “Exploring the Moon and Beyond,” was offered at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua in spring 2025. The opportunity was developed by researchers and staff members at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ and Washington University in St. Louis (WashU).

People who are incarcerated represent a significantly underserved community with barriers to accessing opportunities to learn and advance in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) fields.

“There are huge obstacles preventing incarcerated people from pursuing further education and professional careers in STEAM,” said Barb Bruno, program co-creator and research specialist at the in the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (SOEST). “We recognized the need to provide scientific outreach and education to this community of learners. We’re hoping this program helps inmates to imagine a positive future when they are released, and to imagine the possibility that they could be a scientist.”

Sparking imaginations

The non-credit program reached maximum enrollment of 12 students and utilized the Moon and planets as vehicles to teach STEAM content, build STEAM skills and self-efficacy, share cutting-edge NASA research, improve college readiness and stimulate further interest in education.

Each two-hour class was planned and taught by a team of SOEST and WashU researchers, staff, graduate students and a community member, including Bruno, Nina Webb, Marcie Grabowski, Matt Miller, Emma Layton and Hawkins Biggins. Classes focused on the solar system, Moon, meteorites, requirements for NASA’s future missions to the Moon, and conditions for life on Earth and beyond.

“The students engaged in meaningful and positive learning experiences each week,” said Miller, program instructor who was an graduate student during the outreach program. “This experience really affirmed how powerful access to education can be in sparking peoples’ imaginations. Science, and a love for geoscience especially, changed how I see the world, and I really enjoyed sharing how exciting science is.”

Students in the course received a certificate of participation, which is placed in their case file to acknowledge their effort in taking pro-active steps to make positive plans for their future. The team plans to offer an additional six-week program at the men’s Waiawa Correctional Facility in fall 2025.

Education to prevent recidivism

A by the U.S. Department of Justice that followed released inmates from 30 different states, found that 68% were arrested for a new crime within three years of release. That number jumped to 79% after six years and to 83% after nine years.

“These results beg the question: what works to reduce recidivism?” said Webb, staff scientist at WashU and co-creator of the outreach program. “Although the answer is clearly complex, many proven approaches involve education.”

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Spring 2025 graduates of the (GES) undergraduate program at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ took with them a bachelor’s degree and real-world, hands-on experiences with research that benefits communities and ecosystems in Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond. Through the GES program in the at the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (SOEST), students such as new graduate Ian Chung engage in original research, write a senior thesis and present their findings at a research symposium.

“I commend and congratulate our graduates for successfully completing their required faculty-mentored thesis experience,” said Michael Guidry, chair of the GES program. “Ian’s research regarding microplastics deposition on Oʻahu is a perfect example of what is accomplished by combining talented and dedicated students with cutting-edge research opportunities and quality faculty mentorship at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. Our graduates are well prepared for their next steps either in the workforce or professional/graduate school, and I eagerly look forward to seeing their future successful endeavors.”

Drive to promote sustainability

Growing up in Makakilo and Kapolei, Chung spent a lot of time frequenting beaches and hiking, and developed an appreciation for the island’s natural beauty and the sense of peace it offers him.

Before joining SOEST, he enrolled at Kapiʻolani Community College, attending classes part-time and working in WaikÄ«kī’s restaurant industry. This chapter of his academic journey sparked his interest in pursuing a degree in science and clarified a desire to attain the knowledge and tools to be a benefit to his community by promoting environmental sustainability. This led him to SOEST’s GES program.

Connecting microplastics and the weather

For Chung’s senior research thesis, he worked with Associate Professor Alison Nugent to investigate atmospheric microplastic deposition rates in an urban and suburban setting on Oʻahu. The team used a simple collection tool to collect atmospheric particles as they settle onto the ground. Through a time-intensive process, Chung counted the plastic particles in each sample.

“The most interesting part of my research was finding the relationship between selected weather variables and microplastic deposition rates,” said Chung. “Our data suggest that population density, and wind speed and direction play a role in facilitating the dispersal of microplastics from urban areas to remote locations. We also see that during periods of relatively high precipitation, microplastic deposition was always reduced.”

Beyond gaining insights into the drivers of atmospheric microplastic deposition, this research project helped Chung discover that he enjoys coding and using other analytical tools to describe observed events.

“I hope to continue to expand my knowledge of these tools and skills to better utilize them in the future,” Chung said. “Society has such an impact on the environment. My journey in GES and work on this project showed me where I can take action to contribute the greatest benefit. This wouldn’t have been such a positive experience without the help of Dr. Nugent, Andrew Garma and Tianqi Zuo.”

Looking ahead, Chung hopes to eventually pursue a degree in urban planning to help craft sustainable policies. For now, his focus is on entering the workforce in a sustainability-related role, continuing their mission to protect and preserve Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s natural environment.

—By Marcie Grabowski

A new study from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ revealed that a lesser-known Pacific climate pattern can bring heavier spring rains—and a higher risk of flooding—to parts of Â鶹´«Ã½, while also playing a key role in worsening droughts during dry phases. An example of this happened in the spring (March–May) of 2018, in which this climate pattern contributed to an extensively rainy season.

Most people know about El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which is known to have a significant impact on climate across the Pacific, including Â鶹´«Ã½, and adjacent continents. However, new research led by UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ atmospheric scientists revealed that the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM), another climate pattern that operates in the eastern Pacific Ocean, plays a major role in the variability of rainfall in Â鶹´«Ã½. Their study was published in the .

They determined that in spring, a “positive” PMM state precipitates extensive rainfall across the state, specifically, greater rainfall throughout the islands occurs as cold fronts move through. Additionally, whether the positive state occurs in winter or spring, the result is that the leeward sides of the Hawaiian Islands experience an increase in extreme rainfall events, suggesting a heightened risk of floods. Their analysis also showed that a “negative” state of the PMM corresponded with reduced daily rainfall over windward sides of the islands, potentially exacerbating drought occurrences.

Population growth, increased demand for water

As the state of Â鶹´«Ã½ experiences population growth, the demand increases for water for drinking, food production, agriculture, recreation, construction, medical uses and more.

“This uncertainty in interannual rainfall, together with the increasing demand for water, requires us to better understand the relationship between rainfall and climate variability. We aim for our research to empower our communities with climate and weather information,” said Pao-Shin Chu, study co-author, professor of in the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (SOEST), and Â鶹´«Ã½ State Climatologist.

During the positive state of the PMM, weaker trade winds in the northeast Pacific Ocean between Â鶹´«Ã½ and Baja California occur along with increased sea surface temperatures. During the “negative state,” stronger trade winds and cooler surface temperatures prevail.

Chu and lead author Bo-Yi Lu, who was an atmospheric sciences doctoral student in SOEST at the time of this research, performed diagnostic analyses using a combination of actual weather and sea surface observations, and weather model-generated data to determine how these patterns affect rainfall variation.

“Our study suggests that although El Niño emerges as the primary driver of winter rainfall variability in Â鶹´«Ã½, the Pacific Meridional Mode has a pivotal role in spring rainfall, particularly for Maui and the Island of Â鶹´«Ã½,” said Chu.

“Importantly, our analysis disentangles the respective roles of ENSO and the PMM in driving rainfall variability across seasons and types of weather disturbance in Â鶹´«Ã½,” said Lu. “These findings not only deepen our understanding of regional climate dynamics but also offer valuable insights for water resource management and disaster preparedness in Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond.”

—By Marcie Grabowski

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ hosted the from March 15 to 23, bringing together 32 students and 19 instructors from 16 countries. The program provided an immersive learning experience focused on El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate pattern that influences global weather.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of key milestones in ENSO research, including the work of Klaus Wyrtki, the late renowned oceanographer from UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. His groundbreaking studies helped shape modern understanding of El Niño and its impacts on weather patterns worldwide.

• Related UH News story: Â鶹´«Ã½ State Legislature honors late oceanographer Klaus Wyrtki, March 19, 2025

Over the nine-day program, participants engaged in morning lectures covering ENSO fundamentals, followed by student-led discussions on influential scientific papers. Afternoons featured student presentations, hands-on training and collaborative research projects. The curriculum provided participants a more thorough look at ENSO through real-world data analysis, modeling techniques and forecasting methods.

“This year’s ENSO Winter School was an incredible opportunity for students to engage directly with leading researchers and gain hands-on experience in ENSO science,” said Christina Karamperidou, chair of the school’s scientific organizing committee, and professor and associate department chair in UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s . “Seeing participants from around the world collaborate and deepen their understanding of climate variability was truly inspiring. By hosting this vibrant community of scientists and future research leaders, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ reinforces its reputation as a central hub for cutting-edge ENSO research.”

“Participating in the ENSO Winter School has not only deepened my understanding of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation but also broadened my perspective on nature and its dynamics, as well as strengthened my professional network,” said Roger Manay-Torres from the Instituto Geofísico del Perú. “This experience has been incredibly valuable, both academically and professionally, and it has far exceeded my expectations.”

Regina R. Rodrigues, a professor of physical oceanography at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil was one of the lecturers, and talked about ENSO’s impacts on weather extremes, etc.

“It was a great experience to spend more than a week with students, earlier career researchers and many of the most prominent experts on ENSO,” Rodrigues said. “I learned more about past ENSO from paleoclimate records and about future ENSO from climate projections.”

Jérôme Vialard, a senior scientist at Institut de Recherche pour le Développement in Paris, added, “I have worked on ENSO for almost 30 years, but found the lectures of other instructors useful. Some refreshed my memory, and some taught me new things on topics I know less about, such as paleo-climate or machine learning.”

The school was supported by UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s , International and U.S. CLIVAR, IAPSO/IUGG, CIMAR and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research.

With a focus on advancing diversity in STEM fields, and sharing geoscience research and academic pathways with elementary, middle and high students and community members on Oʻahu, eight graduate students in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (SOEST) participated in an outreach training and development program.

A SOEST staff member and oceanography graduate students, Aaron Judah and Blake Stoner-Osborne, co-led the program with support from an from the Catalyst Awards for Science Advancement. They developed a training workshop to share best practices for science communication and hosted work sessions during which participating graduate students planned and developed their outreach presentations, demonstrations and activities.

“It was such a special opportunity to get to brainstorm new outreach activities with dedicated graduate students!” said Stoner-Osborne. “We’re very fortunate to have such passionate and creative graduate students here in SOEST who are able to connect and share their passions with community members, teachers, and students of all ages.”

Students from SOEST graduate programs in , and , including Carla Baizeau, Harold Carlson, Alexus Cazares, Dianne Deauna, Kuʻi Keliipuleole, Emma Layton, Naomi Rohrbaugh and Chutimon Singhakarn, developed outreach modules and shared them with a range of audiences. The students created presentations and hands-on activities for high school students visiting the UH Mānoa campus and elementary, middle and high schools at their home campuses; a workshop to demystify academic pathways to graduate school; social media videos about the deep sea; and presentations and activities for community members of all ages at public events and a public library.

Their collective efforts resulted in thousands of “likes” on social media and connections with 100 elementary students, hundreds of middle and high school students, and dozens of community members. Through this opportunity, the graduate students enhanced their communication skills and shared their research and passion with local K–12 students and community members.

“Marcie [Grabowski, SOEST outreach specialist], Blake, and Aaron helped me create a fun sea level rise activity which enabled me to actually connect with high school and middle school students on a topic I am really passionate about,” said Baizeau. “The sessions were so enjoyable and enriching. I am excited to do it again!”

–By Marcie Grabowski

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ continues to solidify its status as a leading research institution, ranking No. 92 among the top 660 research universities in the U.S. and No. 68 among the top 420 public universities. This is according to the latest , which measures research and development (R&D) expenditures across various disciplines and serves as the primary source for R&D data in U.S. higher education.

• Related UH News story: UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ among nation’s best in latest research rankings, February 5, 2024

Top-performing disciplines

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ demonstrated research excellence across a range of critical fields, with several disciplines maintaining their place in the top 10% nationally for fiscal year (FY) 2023:

• Ocean sciences and marine sciences: No. 7 out of 414 (top 2%)
• Astronomy and astrophysics: No. 15 out of 517 (top 3%)
• Geological and earth sciences: No. 13 out of 414 (top 3%)
• Computer and information sciences: No. 39 out of 500 (top 8%)
• Communication and communications technologies: No. 37 out of 474 (top 8%, ranked in top 10% for the first time)
• Atmospheric science and meteorology: No. 41 out of 414 (top 10%)

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ also excelled in agricultural sciences (No. 40 out of 343, top 12%) and electrical, electronic, and communications engineering (No. 49 out of 403, top 12%).

“Our continued presence among the nation’s top research universities reaffirms the strength and consistency of our research programs at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹,” said Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship Christopher Sabine. “These rankings are a testament to our faculty and researchers and proof of our commitment to innovative research and scholarship to address challenges here in Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond.”

Examples of UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ projects that attracted significant funding, include:

• The Â鶹´«Ã½ Ocean Time-series (HOT) established in 1988 that studies climate and environmental changes in the North Pacific. After nearly 350 expeditions to the exact same location north of Â鶹´«Ã½ dubbed station ALOHA, the 35-year time-series record is still going strong. Read more on UH News.
• A UH telescope on Maunakea that will support NASA’s $19.5 million Landolt Space Mission by helping calibrate telescopes with an artificial “star” satellite and creating new star brightness catalogs. Read more on UH News.
• Earth scientists studying the chemical evolution of the Hawaiian hotspot and KÄ«lauea’s volcanic cycles, revealing the submarine Hawaiian volcano Kamaʻehuakanaloa has erupted at least five times in the last 150 years. Read more on UH News.

Record-breaking extramural funding

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ received a record $464.9 million in extramural awards in fiscal year 2023-2024, leading the way in the UH 10-campus system’s record-breaking $615.7 million that fiscal year, surpassing the previous year’s record by $99.8 million.

Extramural funding, which comes from external sources, mainly the federal government, supports research and training initiatives by university faculty and staff. This marks the third consecutive year UH has exceeded half a billion dollars in funding.

National research trends

The HERD survey revealed an 11.2% increase in national academic R&D spending in FY 2023, the largest growth rate in two decades. Total U.S. academic R&D expenditures reached $108.8 billion, a $11.0 billion increase from FY 2022.

“UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s performance aligns with this upward trend, further emphasizing its role as a key contributor to the national research landscape,” said UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno.

Enhancing the qualities of whiskeys such as Jim Beam is the job of Moana Abe, a 2018 University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa graduate, who works as a researcher in the Monozukuri (manufacturing)-based Brand and Culture Laboratory at Suntory Holdings Limited in Japan. Suntory founded the country’s first whisky distillery in 1923.

“Our mission as a department is to establish the culture in Suntory Group of crafting the world’s most admired spirits and providing the story to consumers about the dedication and our desires to the sensory quality,” said Abe. “Japanese whisky is known for its dedicated craftsmanship and balance, blending traditional Scotch techniques with Japanese innovation.”

Abe earned a bachelor of science in from UH ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s . She said a small cohort of classmates and professors helped her expand career pathway opportunities.

“I actually started as a production engineer in the beginning,” said Abe. “Your major may not be the only career option, it may connect to many other aspects that could open up for what you truly want.”

Keeping aloha alive

After returning to Japan, Abe was inspired to reach out to fellow UH alumni.

“I realized how much I miss sharing the moments and memories I had in Â鶹´«Ã½,” said Abe. “So, I started reconnecting with a few friends from UH now living in Japan to continue the sparks to keep my aloha living in myself, and started attending alumni events as well.”

Abe also fondly recalled her involvement with UH ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s International Student Association (ISA).

“ISA was the place that blended diverse cultures to create something bigger,” she said. “College is about academics of course, but social experiences like ISA kind of brightens up the memory even more with lifetime friendship.”