The University of �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý 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 �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s climate and can help improve forecasts one to three months in advance.

“Understanding how the MJO affects �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’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 ��ā�ԴDz�’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 �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý and the surrounding Pacific Ocean, including data from the �鶹��ý 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 �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s mission to study the unique environmental systems that shape life in the islands and to provide science that benefits local communities.”

In 2025, �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý’s 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 �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý’s climate and gives communities the information they need to plan for what’s 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 ahupuaʻa or watersheds. Together, the report and website provide a clear picture of what many residents across �鶹��ý experienced firsthand in 2025.

Highlights from the report

• 2025 was the second driest year in �鶹��ý’s 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 �鶹��ý 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°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 Hawaiʻi was in severe drought or worse.

Future data collection to expand

Looking ahead, the establishment of the �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý’s 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’ 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 �鶹��ý Climate Data Portal and �鶹��ý Mesonet teams. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of �鶹��ý Commission on Water Resource Management, and the U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center.

A new tool developed by University of �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý’s climate resilience efforts.

The was unveiled at a May 2025 meeting of the �鶹��ý 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 UH 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 �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý 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 UH News

“This dashboard puts real-time data at the fingertips of the people who need it most,” said Tom Giambelluca, �鶹��ý Mesonet project lead, Change �鶹��ý co-principal investigator and former director of the at UH. “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 UH 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 �鶹��ý.

A recent round of federal funding cuts included the termination of a $3 million grant from the Office of Naval Research to the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. The grant, awarded to Chip Fletcher, interim dean of the (SOEST), supported the (CRC), which provided data and high-resolution modeling of sea level rise impacts, heat exposure and precipitation extremes—critical tools that inform decisions made by state and county agencies, urban planners, infrastructure designers, and emergency managers.

“The loss of federal funding for �鶹��ý’s climate and sea level rise research will have devastating consequences for the state’s ability to plan, adapt and protect its people and resources,” said Fletcher.

“The models we develop and their supporting databases underpin key pieces of �鶹��ý’s climate legislation and coastal permitting regulations, including assessments of flood risk, groundwater inundation, coastal erosion, coastal construction setbacks and public safety. Without sustained federal investment, �鶹��ý will lose its capacity to provide accurate climate projections tailored to island topography, severely hampering our preparedness for compound hazards such as king tides, rain-at-high-tide flooding and storm-driven flooding.”

CRC employed 15 people, including graduate students, climate researchers, policy experts and geospatial analysts. To prepare for and adapt to the growing threats related to climate change in �鶹��ý and the Pacific region, this team gathered data and developed new modeling tools that reduce vulnerabilities to community and infrastructure on the island of Oʻahu.

Specifically, the CRC team has been modeling the impacts of sea level rise including flooding, coastal erosion, drainage failure, wave impacts at higher sea level and groundwater pollution with higher sea level.

Data guides land management, policies

Various state laws and policies rely on CRC data and models: construction setbacks on Maui, Kauaʻi, and Honolulu; mandatory disclosure of sea level rise impacts in real estate transactions; Special Management Area designations on Maui and Oʻahu; Kauai County sea level rise constraint district; and the required analysis of sea level rise impacts in state Environmental Policy Act, including environmental impact statements and environmental assessment permits.

“The loss of these data systems will undermine the scientific foundation of climate resilience policies, stall progress on community adaptation, and increase the vulnerability of coastal populations, public infrastructure, and cultural heritage,” Fletcher emphasized. “Maintaining federal support is not just about sustaining science—it is about safeguarding �鶹��ý’s future.”

—By Marcie Grabowski

A new study from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� revealed that a lesser-known Pacific climate pattern can bring heavier spring rains—and a higher risk of flooding—to parts of �鶹��ý, 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 �鶹��ý, and adjacent continents. However, new research led by UH ����ԴDz� 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 �鶹��ý. 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 �鶹��ý 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 ����ԴDz� (SOEST), and �鶹��ý State Climatologist.

During the positive state of the PMM, weaker trade winds in the northeast Pacific Ocean between �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý, the Pacific Meridional Mode has a pivotal role in spring rainfall, particularly for Maui and the Island of �鶹��ý,” 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 �鶹��ý,” 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 �鶹��ý and beyond.”

—By Marcie Grabowski

A new real-time dashboard launched by the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� offers public access to live weather data from nearly 70 monitoring stations across the state, marking a major milestone in the �鶹��ý Mesonet project. The launch coincides with Wildfire Awareness Month and represents a pivotal moment in the effort to make climate data available to the public.

�鶹��ý’s diverse geography and microclimates present unique challenges that require precise monitoring to accurately capture weather events. Annual rainfall in parts of Maui, for example, can vary by more than 140 inches within a single mile. The �鶹��ý Mesonet’s data has the potential to inform planning and decision-making in emergency management, agriculture, water resource, conservation and many other sectors.

Developed by an interdisciplinary team of scientists at UH ����ԴDz� and the �鶹��ý Department of Land and Natural Resources, the project aims to deploy 100 high-tech weather stations to provide critical data for forecasting, disaster response and improving climate resilience. The dashboard is expected to play a critical role in supporting wildfire and flood early warning systems, particularly as climate-related disasters are expected to become more frequent and severe.

• Access the dashboard

The dashboard allows users to view current weather conditions at stations spanning the Hawaiian Islands, including temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, solar radiation and soil moisture. The real-time data is updated every 15 minutes, creating one of the most comprehensive and timely weather data resources available in the state.

“This dashboard represents years of effort to build a system that’s tailored to �鶹��ý’s unique needs,” said Tom Giambelluca, �鶹��ý Mesonet project lead, long-time professor in the , and former director of the UH (WRRC) “It’s not just about data—it’s about giving our communities the tools to adapt and respond.”

The launch comes as federal agencies such as the National Weather Service and NOAA face data removal and staffing cuts under the Trump administration. With gaps in data availability growing, the �鶹��ý Mesonet system is poised to become a key source of reliable, localized weather intelligence.

Data from the system is stored in �鶹��ý Climate Data Portal (HCDP), which is available to the public and is used to create recently launched new wildfire risk maps and other climate maps. The HCDP pulls data from multiple sources, including the �鶹��ý Mesonet and as well as other federal datasets.

“The real concern is that most of these federal datasets will no longer be available in the near future—making the �鶹��ý Mesonet and the HCDP the sole resource for real time weather and climate information in the state,” Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center University Consortium Director Ryan Longman said. “A big uncertainty is how the state will fill critical funding gaps left by the federal government to support these important efforts.”

For more information, visit the �鶹��ý Mesonet website.

A team of five students, including University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduate student Cameron Richardson, won one of three top prizes of $10,000 at an international pitch competition focused on approaches for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The student group, which also includes three students from Dalhousie University and one from Acadia University, represented Canada and the U.S. in the during the in Larvik, Norway.

“The competition provided an invaluable professional development opportunity for our entire team, and allowed me to make meaningful international connections in the carbon dioxide removal sector, an industry I am considering working in after my graduate research,” said Richardson.

Equlantic Aquatic Monitoring Inc., the new startup founded by the student group, aims to improve monitoring of carbon dioxide removal in marine environments. The students were chosen from a pool of more than 100 other teams as finalists to make their pitch in Larvik, Norway.

Innovations in monitoring carbon dioxide removal

In an effort to combat rising levels of CO₂, researchers and industry leaders are looking for ways to actively reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere. Among the approaches is marine carbon dioxide removal, wherein carbon from the atmosphere is transformed and sequestered in the deep sea. Along with innovations that prompt carbon sequestration, scientists are developing new ways to assess and monitor the effectiveness of these approaches.

The Equlantic team designed a sensor package that measures ocean-based water quality, specifically the marine carbonate system. Their design, called the Auto-Spec Carbon Analyzer, integrates commercially-available sensors that measure pH, temperature, salinity and carbonate.

“Our device, now patent pending in Canada, can reduce uncertainty in our understanding of the carbonate system in areas undergoing various stages of marine carbon dioxide removal,” said Richardson. “The device also autonomously collects water samples, which can be processed in the laboratory with traditional methods afterward for validation of the autonomous sensor measurements.”

As finalists in the competition, they made a seven-minute presentation to an audience of carbon-management leaders. Equlantic feels optimistic about the market potential for the project. They are now trying to make this concept a reality, having secured additional funding to develop a prototype this coming summer.

See the entire story on the .

Scientists at the University of �鶹��ý have developed new wildfire risk maps to better predict fire danger across the state. Unlike the current Red Flag Warning system, which relies on weather from a limited number of stations, these maps provide a daily, high-resolution look at the most current fire ignition risks statewide.

“This new mapping system gives us a clearer, more detailed picture of wildfire risks across �鶹��ý. By providing daily updates and a long-term dataset, we hope to improve preparedness and help protect communities from future fires,” said Professor Sayed Bateni of UH ����ԴDz�’s (WRRC) and .

Publicly available on the �鶹��ý Climate Data Portal (HCDP), the maps are easy to access and available to communities and emergency responders to alert them to the risk of potential wildfires. Users are able to zoom in to a particular area to assess the current fire risk, and generate customized packages of data to export from the portal. Historical fire risk maps are also available for the past 20 years.

The maps are generated using real-time data obtained from various weather networks across the state including the . The �鶹��ý Mesonet currently consists of over 60 advanced weather stations with a total goal of 100 within the next two years. These stations provide valuable weather and climate monitoring and forecasting. The data collected can also be used for water resource management, agriculture, ranching, ecosystem and cultural resource protection and more.

“It’s all about improving preparedness, especially in light of recent disasters like the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and the tragic Lahaina fire,” said Tom Giambelluca, retired UH ����ԴDz� professor of Geography and Environment, former director of the WRRC, and leader of the �鶹��ý Mesonet. “With real-time data on factors like soil moisture, we can better identify areas at high risk for wildfires or flooding.”

Utilizing a well distributed network of weather stations is crucial in �鶹��ý, where diverse landscapes create extreme climate variability. In West Maui, annual rainfall can differ by more than 140 inches within a mile, highlighting the need for precise, localized data.

“The �鶹��ý Mesonet is adding high quality weather observations in places where they are most needed,” Giambelluca said.

“This mapping system is a game-changer for wildfire preparedness in �鶹��ý,” said Clay Trauernicht, assistant specialist in the UH ����ԴDz� . “Using current data allows us to better anticipate fire risks and take proactive measures to protect communities.”

The �鶹��ý Emergency Management Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and �鶹��ý State Legislature provided funding to create the fire ignition probability maps.

Bateni, Giambelluca, Trauernicht and Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center University Consortium Director Ryan Longman will host a presentation in person and online on April 1 at noon to explain how the maps were created, how they predict fire risk and how to access and use the data.

• Note: To view the most current maps, visit the �鶹��ý Climate Data Portal website, click on “visualize data,” then “ignition probability” to select the dataset you would like to view and then click submit at the bottom.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� 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 ����ԴDz�. His groundbreaking studies helped shape modern understanding of El Niño and its impacts on weather patterns worldwide.

• Related UH News story: �鶹��ý 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 ����ԴDz�’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 �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� 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 ����ԴDz�’s , International and U.S. CLIVAR, IAPSO/IUGG, CIMAR and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research.

Some parts of �鶹��ý are sinking faster than others. That discovery, by researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, also highlights that as sea level rises, the infrastructure, businesses and communities in these low-lying areas are at risk of flooding sooner than scientists anticipated, particularly in certain urban areas of Oʻahu.

“Our findings highlight that subsidence (gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land) is a major, yet often overlooked, factor in assessments of future flood exposure,” said Kyle Murray, lead author of the study and researcher with the (CRC) at the UH ����ԴDz� (SOEST). “In rapidly subsiding areas, sea level rise impacts will be felt much sooner than previously estimated, which means that we must prepare for flooding on a shorter timeline.”

Localized sinking

As islands in �鶹��ý move farther from the hotspot beneath �鶹��ý Island, they very slowly sink due to their own weight. This island-wide subsidence rate is low on Oʻahu, around 0.6 millimeters, about the thickness of 10 sheets of printer paper, each year. However, the researchers found localized areas on the south shore of Oʻahu where land is sinking nearly 40 times faster, exceeding 25 millimeters per year. The rate and localized nature of the sinking surprised the research team.

“Much of the urban development and infrastructure, including parts of the industrial Mapunapuna area, is built on sediments and artificial fill,” said Murray. “We think the majority of subsidence is related to the compaction of these materials over time.”

Murray and co-authors analyzed nearly two decades of satellite radar data to measure vertical land motion across the Hawaiian Islands. They also developed a high-resolution digital elevation model to accurately map coastal topography. By combining these datasets, they modeled how sea level rise and ongoing subsidence will exacerbate future flooding.

“In places like the Mapunapuna industrial region, subsidence could increase flood exposure area by over 50% by 2050.” — Phil Thompson

“This rate of land subsidence is faster than the long-term rate of sea level rise in �鶹��ý (1.54 millimeters per year since 1905), which means those areas will experience chronic flooding sooner than anticipated,” said Phil Thompson, study co-author and director of the UH Sea Level Center in SOEST. “In places like the Mapunapuna industrial region, subsidence could increase flood exposure area by over 50% by 2050, while compressing flood preparedness timelines by up to 50 years.”

The shoreline plays a vital role in sustaining �鶹��ý’s coastal communities, economy and infrastructure. The researchers found that sinking rates of certain coastal regions have remained consistent over the past two decades, suggesting that subsidence will persistently exacerbate flooding for parts of the island. If subsidence is not accounted for, urban planning and coastal adaptation strategies may underestimate the urgency of mitigation efforts.

“Our research provides critical data that can inform state and county decision-making, helping to improve flood exposure assessments, infrastructure resilience and long-term urban planning,” said Chip Fletcher, co-author, director of CRC, and interim dean of SOEST. “This work directly serves the people of �鶹��ý by ensuring that local adaptation strategies are based on the best available science, ultimately helping to protect homes, businesses, and cultural areas.”

—By Marcie Grabowski

A groundbreaking University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� study on the freezing of water droplets suspended in air sheds light on a key process in Earth’s water cycle: the transformation of supercooled water into ice.

Conducted using a novel cryogenically cooled ultrasonic levitation chamber, the research captures real-time molecular-level changes during the freezing process, mimicking conditions in the Earth’s atmosphere. This innovative setup enables researchers to observe how water droplets transition to ice at subzero temperatures, providing valuable insights into cloud formation and precipitation.

This research ties into the larger effort by UH ����ԴDz� researchers and their collaborators to address climate challenges through a $26 million project to develop sustainable refrigerant technologies.

“By uncovering the mechanisms of supercooled water freezing, we open pathways to innovations in low-temperature chemistry and climate-friendly cooling technologies,” said UH ����ԴDz� Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “This research holds particular importance for �鶹��ý, where sustainable cooling solutions are vital to addressing the region’s unique environmental and energy challenges.”

The research findings were published in the .

More about the research

By recreating atmospheric conditions, including pressure and temperature variations, the study also opens the door for future experiments involving chemically reactive trace gases, advancing our understanding of ice nucleation (process where ice begins to form, starting with tiny ice crystals developing in supercooled water) under realistic scenarios. Understanding the molecular interactions driving ice formation can help refine models of cloud dynamics and precipitation patterns, both of which play critical roles in predicting weather and climate changes.

The refrigerant project focuses on reducing harmful emissions from heating and cooling systems, a major contributor to global greenhouse gases. By integrating findings from studies such as the water droplet research, scientists can better predict how new refrigerants interact with atmospheric ice particles, ultimately informing climate-friendly innovations.

As rising global temperatures drive increased demand for cooling, these research efforts underscore the need for interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate environmental impact while advancing scientific understanding of Earth’s complex systems.

Read more about the ERC EARTH project in this UH News story.

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� students had the rare opportunity to learn from acclaimed environmental journalist Rosanna Xia during her visit in January. Xia, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times, shared her expertise on crafting compelling stories, connecting science and humanity and addressing critical climate change issues such as sea level rise.

Xia’s visit was organized by the university’s (ISR), where she met with PhD students researching sea level rise. The group toured sea level rise hotspots across the island, from the North Shore to Kahala, discussing sea level rise-related challenges and some of the strategies that are being utilized or considered for sea level rise response.

“I really enjoyed learning about her approach to journalism and storytelling about climate impacts and sea level rise in California, and how important it is to connect with and compassionately represent the stories of those who are experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis firsthand,” said Tanya Dreizin, PhD student in the .

Xia also led the workshop for journalism students “Crafting Compelling Stories: Lessons from a Pulitzer Prize Finalist.” Held in Associate Professor Youjeong Kim’s JOUR 330 class, the session focused on narrative-building techniques. Xia emphasized intention, ownership and responsibility in writing while guiding students through the process of integrating technical language with cinematic and sensory details.

“If writing is magic, Rosanna Xia is the magician who reveals her secrets behind the illusion. Not only did Xia expose the techniques but she also taught us how to apply them effectively,” said student Lauryn Johnson.

Xia concluded her visit with a public lecture, “Telling the Story of Sea Level Rise: Lessons from a Los Angeles Times Reporter.” As part of the , sponsored by SSFM International and co-hosted by ISR and the , the lecture drew an audience eager to hear Xia’s perspective on some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

“Her talk was amazing and having the opportunity to spend the day with her was great—there’s so much more to learn from her and her knowledge of sea level rise cases in California,” said Renee Setter, PhD student in the .

A University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�-led project using artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize farming irrigation practices has received a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This initiative represents a significant step toward sustainable water use in �鶹��ý‘s agricultural sector.

“This technology has the potential to transform irrigation practices across �鶹��ý, helping our farmers conserve water while maximizing crop yields,” said Sayed Bateni, project principal investigator and professor in the UH ����ԴDz� and (WRRC). “By putting AI-enhanced tools directly into the hands of local producers, we’re not just developing new technology—we’re cultivating a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future for our islands.”

Despite abundant rainfall in some areas, �鶹��ý‘s high seasonal variability often leaves vegetable crops without adequate water throughout the year. The project will leverage data from a dense network of weather stations across the islands, feeding it into an innovative AI-enhanced irrigation management system.

According to co-principal investigator Jonathan Deenik, department chair, professor and extension specialist in the in the , farmers in �鶹��ý have the opportunity to effectively and efficiently reduce irrigation water and enhance yields by adopting CropManage.

“The AI enhanced CropManage irrigation scheduling software will assist farmers better match water delivery to meet specific crop water needs with multiple benefits including conservation of precious fresh water resources, increased profitability for farmers through the reduction in water costs and increased overall sustainability of agriculture in �鶹��ý,” Deenik said.

How it works

Farmers can easily create an account on the CropManage irrigation tool and add the characteristics of their farms (e.g., crop type, acre, location, irrigation system, etc.) to CropManage. This irrigation tool determines when and by how much farmers need to irrigate each crop type in their farms.

Fourteen collaborating farms will host intensive on-farm irrigation trials to test and refine the technology. Results from these trials will be shared with agricultural producers, aiming to encourage widespread adoption of the advanced irrigation management tool. The project is expected to start in 2024 and end in 2029.

This project is a joint effort among WRRC, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and College of Engineering at UH ����ԴDz�, and the .

This is one of 53 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) projects around the nation that earned a total of $90 million, which supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. Increased funds were available in 2024 due to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which is funding CIG projects that address climate change. .

The University of �鶹��ý is part of a new Pacific initiative focused on regional collaboration among emerging leaders in the Pacific in vital areas including natural resource economics and management, climate resilience, sustainable food systems, renewable energy development, water security, waste management, and more.

The University of the South Pacific was awarded a $5 million grant from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs to establish a resilience and adaptation fellowship program with UH and other partner institutions. President Joe Biden officially announced the grant as part of the .

A UH delegation met with a group from the University of the South Pacific in June 2024 to help launch this new initiative. The UH delegation included UH President David Lassner, UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno, UH ����ԴDz� Interim Christopher Sabine, and UH ����ԴDz� (CTAHR) Climate and Agroforestry Extension Specialist Ashley McGuigan, who also serves as the �鶹��ý U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands Coordinator for the .

“This collaboration represents a pivotal step in nurturing the next generation of Pacific leaders equipped to tackle climate challenges,” Lassner said. “Weʻre sharing knowledge, ideas and experience across the Pacific to create a more sustainable and resilient future for our region.”

Bruno added, “The Pacific Islands are on the frontlines of climate change, and this partnership underscores our unwavering commitment to actionable solutions. Through this program, we’re investing in the human capital that will drive sustainable development and ensure the long-term prosperity of Pacific communities.”

The delegations discussed ways to implement the interdisciplinary program, including helping to facilitate PhD students from the University of the South Pacific and its 12 member countries (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) to come to UH to be co-supervised by UH faculty to help develop capacity related to climate adaption, mitigation and resilience in the Pacific. This program is also intended to help support the exchange of UH faculty to the University of the South Pacific.

The University of the South Pacific has also received funding from Aotearoa, New Zealand, a significant contributor to climate change research and action, to establish a center that will contribute to improved institutional capability and evidence-based decision-making in the Pacific region, fostering climate resilience and driving ambitious and innovative action on climate change. UH and the University of the South Pacific also discussed ways both institutions can collaborate and partner under this new center, including via a developing climate partnership with the USDA and CTAHR.

More opportunities related to this project will be announced at a later date.

In a significant development for climate research and management, the �鶹��ý Climate Data Portal (HCDP) is set to expand its reach to additional Pacific islands, and provide more data to help decisionmakers. Launched in 2022, the free online portal developed by researchers from the University of �鶹��ý and the East-West Center is expected to catalyze new research initiatives and inform policy decisions to mitigate climate risks and safeguard natural and human systems.

A major enhancement to the HCDP is the integration of data from the �鶹��ý Mesonet, which plans to establish 100 new climate stations across the state over the next two years. Similar efforts are underway in American Samoa, and funding is being sought for a mesonet in Guam.

“The �鶹��ý Mesonet is filling critical gaps in our understanding of climate in �鶹��ý. Improving monitoring across the Pacific is a goal we are working towards, one station at a time,” said Tom Giambelluca, UH Water Resource Research Center director.

The HCDP‘s recent inclusion in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society underscores its importance in streamlining access to climate information. The HCDP team plans to leverage decades of work developing the portal and expand its utility and function to serve other regions in the Pacific.

User friendly, comprehensive datasets

The user-friendly interface and comprehensive datasets make the HCDP an invaluable resource for improving awareness and facilitating collaboration across sectors. Recent updates feature new gridded surfaces, such as seasonal land cover and daily rainfall and humidity maps.

“Accessing high-quality climate data for �鶹��ý has never been easier,” said Ryan Longman, East-West Center Oceania researcher. “This means greater opportunities for research, community outreach, and developing decision support tools to aid resource managers.”

Federal agencies increasingly leverage HCDP data for various applications:

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency uses the data for an insurance product for ranchers in �鶹��ý.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration produces a monthly state-of-climate report.
• The U.S. Geological Survey develops models to track avian malaria using HCDP‘s gridded products.

Since its launch on March 3, 2022, more than 45,000 unique users have accessed more than 20 million HCDP files. Upcoming developments include mapping hourly wind speed and solar radiation and creating tools for wildfire risk assessment and drought forecasting.

New members of the Climate Advisory Team (CAT) that was convened to give guidance for climate resilience and disaster recovery all have ties to the University of �鶹��ý. Gov. Josh Green announced the members of the CAT in July.

The CAT is charged with developing policy recommendations to minimize the impacts of future climate-related natural disasters and to speed recovery from the physical and financial damage they cause. The team will make policy recommendations in anticipation of the 2025 �鶹��ý state legislative session through consultation with subject matter experts and community leaders.

The CAT is led by Chris Benjamin, chair of Climate �鶹��ý, a special advisor to the governor, former president and CEO of Alexander & Baldwin Inc. and member of the UH ����ԴDz� Advisory Council.

Gov. Green and Chair Benjamin have added the following members to the CAT:

• Denise Antolini—professor of law emerita from the UH ����ԴDz� with 30 years of environmental law experience.
• Robin Campaniano—UH ����ԴDz� alum, chairs the UH ����ԴDz� Shidler College of Business Advisory Council, former insurance commissioner, former president/CEO of AIG �鶹��ý Insurance Co.
• Chip Fletcher—interim dean of UH ����ԴDz�’s with extensive expertise in climate change, coastal community resiliency and sea level rise impacts.
• Kawika Riley—vice president of external affairs at Kupu who earned his PhD in (Indigenous politics and law and policy) from UH ����ԴDz�.
• Gwen Yamamoto Lau—UH ����ԴDz� alumna who is executive director of the �鶹��ý Green Infrastructure Authority and served on EPA’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board.

Maui wildfire devastation

As �鶹��ý continues to recover from the devastation caused by the historic Maui wildfire disaster, Gov. Green has emphasized the importance of climate resilience efforts. In convening the CAT, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to delivering a robust policy framework that prioritizes the well-being and security of residents, while effectively managing state resources for a sustainable and resilient future.

The CAT includes local experts in climate, environmental stewardship and finance and insurance, who are dedicated to finding solutions that emphasize justice, equity and aloha ʻ�徱�Բ�.

Members of the CAT serve as unpaid volunteers and do not require Senate confirmation.

Legislative proposals

The CAT is engaging with a wide range of community stakeholders and experts to inform its work. Its goal is to propose a package of bills for the governor’s review, to be submitted for consideration in the 2025 legislative session.

“Climate-related disaster prevention is the best insurance, but some impacts are likely inevitable; that is why the CAT is focused on developing both resilience and recovery strategies,” Benjamin said. “Resilience initiatives are likely to include investments in our natural environment to minimize the impact of climate change and in our built environment to reduce the potential loss of life and ensure shelter and economic activity.”

The (PDC), a University of �鶹��ý applied science and research center based in Maui, hosted an exchange with disaster management experts from the country of Ghana, representing the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), April 8–12.

The exchange was part of an ongoing collaboration between PDC and Ghana on its National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment. With increasing impacts from extreme rains and fires on the horizon for both Maui and Ghana, addressing the elements that make communities more vulnerable and less resilient, and learning from collective experiences, was a focus for all stakeholders.

The Director General of Ghana’s NADMO Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh opened the exchange by saying,

“Climate change exposed the country to prolonged rainfall which led to [Ghana’s Akosombo] dam spillage in 2023. Over 80,000 individuals were affected due to the overflow of river bodies upstream and the impact of the dam spillage. The affected population includes different demography of vulnerable groups including persons with special needs.”

Agyemang-Prempeh emphasized that the technical exchange between PDC and NADMO promised immense benefit to other disaster management institutions throughout the entire subregion of West Africa. “Ghana’s capacity over the years has been of mutual benefit to all neighboring countries, most notably through training exchange programs, relief support, and response operations.”

PDC’s Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai expressed the importance of collaboration in building the capacity of communities to cope with climate change and extreme hazards globally.

“The increase in frequency and severity of climate-related disasters underscores the need for improved risk assessments, advanced early warning systems, and partnership-based resilience efforts worldwide.”

Sharing challenges and successes

The weeklong engagement included a review and collaboration on preliminary final results from Ghana’s National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment. The two parties helped identify and update the nation’s disaster risk profile, vulnerabilities and unique coping capacities.

The delegation from Ghana and PDC also visited the Maui County Fire Department for a briefing on the recent Maui wildfire disaster and the unique firefighting apparatus available in Maui. During a recent visit to Ghana, PDC was able to meet with the Ghana Fire Administration.

“Exchanges among diverse stakeholders like PDC, Ghana, and the Maui Fire Department are remarkable as they help forge new and innovative strategies for managing risks associated with different types of hazards in different environments. This includes sharing and optimization of limited resources, fortification of response operations, and improved planning for resilience to the hazards that inevitably lie ahead,” said UH President David Lassner who lauded the shared commitment to disaster risk reduction.

“On our current trajectory, every place on Earth will be impacted by climate change. So the work PDC is doing to build strong partnership networks and support risk-informed decision making backed by reliable data is more important now than ever.”

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Increasing contemporary applications of ancestral innovation and resource management sciences is the focus of a University of �鶹��ý conference.

, is the second annual Piʻo Summit to be held at the �鶹��ý Convention Center on December 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., will help create sustainable and just solutions for healthy communities in �鶹��ý and around the world.

UH invites community leaders, stakeholders and members of the public interested in furthering our community’s efforts in this area. The cost to attend the all-day conference is $150 per person and includes breakfast, lunch and a networking reception. Online registration is available until December 6 at .

“With increasing impacts of the climate crisis and economic instability, there is an urgent need and strategic opportunity to diversify and create a circular economy,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, UH ����ԴDz� director and professor at Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies. “We welcome the community to join us in catalyzing these times of crisis toward shifting our economy into one that takes care of our ʻ�徱�Բ�, is regenerative, equitable, and honors our ancestral knowledge and cultural practices.”

Importance of a Circular Economy

The pursuit of profit and convenience today has led to rampant consumerism, throwaway culture, and monumental waste resulting in our current linear “take, make, use, waste” economy built on extracting finite resources to create products destined for landfills. In recent years, growing scrutiny around the linear economy has sparked a demand for urgent action on issues regarding limited natural resources, biodiversity loss, climate change, energy efficiency, mass waste and pollution. Governments across the globe are searching for solutions that decouple economic growth from environmental degradation while ensuring long-term prosperity.

In ancestral �鶹��ý, a similar “give, take, regenerate” circular system led to the development of balanced structures of resource management. One steadily advancing movement is aimed at designing a “Circular Economy,” where waste is minimal, materials and resources are preserved for as long as possible, and modes of production mimic nature’s regenerative processes.

“As the state’s largest research institution, we have an obligation to help improve the quality of life for our residents and others through our innovative research and education,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos, UH vice president for research and innovation. “This conference provides an opportunity to bring together some of the best experts and practitioners of indigenous and contemporary knowledge from across the state and around the world to address and solve today’s complex problems.”

Session topics:

• Overview of the History of Ancestral Circular Economy
• Contemporary Restoration of an Ahupuaʻa
• Doughnut Economics
• Experiences, Challenges and Best Practices of Circular Economy Interventions
• UH’s Role in Creating Opportunities for �鶹��ý’s Future

Keynote speakers and panelists will include:

• Kamanamaikalani Beamer, Dana Naone Hall endowment Chair, Director and professor at and professor at at UH ����ԴDz�
• Kate Raworth, senior associate at Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University
• Sandra Köhler, research associate and chair, production and supply chain management at University of Augsburg
• Simron Singh, professor and associate dean of graduate students, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development at University of Waterloo
• Hiroki Tanikawa, professor of environmental studies at Nagoya University
• Kawika Winter, director of Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve and biocultural ecologist at at UH ����ԴDz�

Advancing a Circular Economy in �鶹��ý is sponsored by the , and in partnership with Piʻo Summit 2023 and . For more information, visit .

The effects of climate change are no longer far-off threats and are now contributing factors to many of today’s disasters, often exacerbating the frequency of wildfires, heat waves and flooding, and the intensity of rainfall during hurricanes and storms. These unprecedented weather events have triggered a global urgency to prioritize research-based initiatives to understand, predict, mitigate and reverse the impacts of climate change.

The at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� has earned both national and international acclaim for its research and is a part of the renowned . In a field often dominated by men, three distinguished female faculty are further elevating the department’s research and prestige, making atmospheric waves in climate modeling and cloud microphysics.

Enhancing global climate models

Professor Christina Karamperidou’s research focuses on El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which is the primary factor affecting variability in water temperature, rainfall and wind strength in the Pacific.

One of the methods Karamperidou uses to study ENSO is to synthesize climate model simulations with paleoclimate data, much of which is gathered from ancient, preserved material such as coral skeletons, shells or lake sediment, which can indicate past temperature and rainfall across the Pacific. Using paleoclimate ENSO records from the Holocene (the past 12,000 years) along with climate model simulations, Karamperidou and her team can study the climate mechanisms behind the ENSO phenomenon—its predictability, impacts and how its characteristics may change under the influence of natural or anthropogenic climate change.

“Coming out of a longer [three-year] La Niña (cooling of sea surface temperatures), most models currently predict a big El Niño for the end of this year, which could lead to potentially more tropical Pacific cyclones, and altered rainfall patterns in our islands and around the world,” said Karamperidou who recently received the Early Career Scientist Award from the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics. “Improving our understanding of ENSO mechanisms through our studies of modern and past climates allows us to improve ENSO representation in global climate model simulations to help reduce uncertainties and improve accuracy of El Niño prediction and future climate projections.”

Understanding clouds

One of the most uncertain and complex Earth systems represented in climate models is clouds and the aerosols that they form on. Studying the fundamental structure and processes involved in clouds and aerosols not only allows scientists to better parameterize them in models, but also improves our understanding of the atmosphere and weather patterns.

Associate Professor Alison Nugent studies orographic precipitation, how mountain topography induces or modifies precipitation. Breaking down cloud microphysics, Nugent explained, “In one cubic centimeter—the size of a sugar cube—a cloud has 100 cloud droplets. In a polluted atmosphere, it can have many more times that in the same volume. The size and number of cloud droplets is important for their relationship to precipitation and to radiation. For example, a cloud with many small cloud droplets will be brighter and reflect more radiation, and may take longer to precipitate than a cloud with fewer, large droplets.”

Nugent recently received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development award that will allow her team to investigate the role of wind, waves and other atmospheric and oceanic properties that influence the production of sea salt aerosols in coastal environments on three Pacific islands. Nugent also helped to secure funding to install 84 climate stations throughout the state.

Broadening horizons in atmospheric sciences

Another researcher making major strides is Associate Professor Jennifer Griswold, the atmospheric sciences department’s first female chair. Since becoming chair in 2021, she has spearheaded a national initiative locally for the past few years called Expand Your Horizons–�鶹��ý, an annual STEM conference for young women in sixth to eighth grades to encourage and support young girls’ enthusiasm in STEM careers.

Prior to joining UH, she helped build the first Phase Doppler Interferometer (PDI) and data processing program, a breakthrough innovation and process that significantly improved the study of cloud structures and properties. Now used at several institutions, the PDI measures cloud droplet size and velocity for each spherical droplet. It also records the arrival time of the droplet to determine clustering and turbulence.

Griswold’s research continues to focus on improving the understanding of physical and dynamical processes governing global cloud aerosol precipitation interactions, from volcanic activity, biomass burning and even changes in anthropogenic aerosol levels during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

“Atmospheric sciences, especially climate and seasonal forecasting, is a data-intensive field and the most important and applied research areas going forward,” said Griswold. “Almost all industries will be impacted by climate change, and knowing how and when things will change can positively or negatively impact a business, community or individuals.”

For more, . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

Four University of �鶹��ý-led projects received a total of roughly $800,000 in expedited RAPID grants from the in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfires. RAPID funding is used for proposals having a severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to data, facilities or specialized equipment, including quick-response research on natural disasters.

Three projects focus on data science, and have a concentrated effort to help prevent and react to future wildfires in �鶹��ý. They include: a multi-hazard monitoring and detection system, computer modeling to assist wildfire response, and wildland and urban fire modeling using high performance computing models. They will address contributors to fires such as invasive grasses and non-native trees such as cook pines and eucalyptus. The fourth project focuses on the human element and involves UH researchers meeting with educators, youth, community members and cultural practitioners to understand the wildfire impact on K–12 education and learn how trauma-informed STEM education could assist with processing and recovery.

Multi-hazard monitoring and detection system

The Lahaina fire was exacerbated by drought, high temperatures and winds from Hurricane Dora which passed south of the islands. This project combines UH’s climate mesonet system (a densely located set of observation stations) with Northwestern University’s Sage Artificial Intelligence-enhanced instrument platform to build a multi-hazard monitoring and detection station for natural disasters such as fires, high winds and floods. The system is being deployed near the Lahaina fire site, to gather data vital to the recovery effort.

The project will gather essential climate and pollutant data to aid clean-up activities in Lahaina, and obtain performance and reliability data, guiding both instrument enhancements and Lahaina’s recovery planning. This project provides essential data for informing Lahaina’s recovery, while highlighting the advantages of adopting recent climate science and cyber-infrastructure advancements. Where possible, local students on Maui will be recruited to participate in the instrument construction, data gathering, analysis and visualization effort.

The project is led by principal investigator and Professor Jason Leigh, and co-principal investigators Thomas Giambelluca and Christopher Shuler from UH ����ԴDz�’s .

“We are deeply pained by the tragic loss of lives and property in the Lahaina fire,” Leigh said. “It’s a somber reminder of the powerful forces of nature that are poised to impact our islands at any time. We hope that our insights and advancements in state-of-the-art technology can help pave the way for better understanding and perhaps preventing such heart-wrenching incidents in the future.”

Computational modeling of wildfire management

Accurate and timely predictions of how a wildfire could spread are essential to inform people, minimize the loss of lives and mitigate damage through effective suppression activities. It is critical to improve on these processes in the aftermath of the devastation of the Lahaina fires. This project, led by UH ����ԴDz� graduate faculty and Maui resident Alice Koniges, will develop wildfire computer models that have the potential to save human lives and infrastructure in future wildfires using mathematical concepts called level-set methods and Hamilton-Jacobi equations.

This research will produce a new model to provide an understanding of the complex algorithmic and mathematical basis for wildfire response that can aid in resource allocation in a real-time disaster situation such as the Lahaina wildfire. A particular emphasis is on improving human evacuation models. The project is joint with Professors Andrea Bertozzi and Stanley Osher from UCLA and Professor Hannah Kerner of Arizona State University. The project will also involve high school and community college students from the ʻĀ���Բ� Data Stewards program on Maui, a program co-founded/co-led by Kerner that teaches students basic concepts in machine learning and data science while enabling them to contribute to active research projects through field data collection. The project will consider the additional risks due to fuel from non-native trees and grasses as well as terrain effects in the wildfire modeling. Additionally the project will engage and train PhD students in mathematically-based methods of disaster mitigation and modeling.

“We are grateful to have experts in mathematical modeling help us to better understand and prepare for future disaster events,” lead principal investigator Koniges said. “Additionally, the training of the next generation of modeling experts will help the future of our island communities.”

Wildland and urban fire modeling

With Lahaina being in an isolated location with limited wind and environmental observations, other data sources will help to advance modeling and simulation research before these sources are lost. This project will capture data from multiple sources including social media and time-stamped photos—organized with AI-enhanced methods for data gathering, processing and infusion. students will play a critical role in this project.

The work will show the importance of data in the understanding of how a wildfire is propagated inside a community and its interaction with urban structures, with an additional goal of educating the public and enabling the �鶹��ý government and emergency response personnel to make decisions in the aftermath of the disaster. The project will use advanced AI techniques deployed on UH’s high performance computing resources, as well as resources from the National Science Foundation and other national infrastructure to process the large volumes of data needed to tune and validate fire propagation and atmospheric simulations. The collected data will be archived and made publicly available.

The principal investigator of the project is Maui resident David Eder who is on UH ����ԴDz�’s graduate faculty in the Physics and Astronomy Department, and co-principal investigators Sean Cleveland, a computational scientist with UH’s , and fire modeling experts at University of Nevada, Reno, University at Buffalo, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

“We focus on the use of high performance computing facilities, both at UH and nationally, and the best available computational models to help understand better the sequence of tragic events that have touched and devastated so much on Maui,” Eder said. “Working directly with students to understand and prevent similar events is one small thing we can do to help.”

Trauma-informed STEM education

In this project, UH researchers will focus on Maui’s educators and youth. They believe that to move forward from the tragedy, it is important to understand the impact of the multiple layers of immediate trauma on K–12 education and learn how trauma-informed STEM education could assist with processing, healing and recovery. As residents and STEM educators in the state of �鶹��ý with rich and deep roots in communities on Maui, the researchers will apply a framework that was developed by principal investigator and Professor Tara O’Neill. It involves connecting with communities, learning from the place, people, kūpuna and moʻolelo. It requires asking and providing kokua and engaging at the invitation of the people in the place.

The horrific fires provide an invaluable source of knowledge related to both the layers of trauma resulting from catastrophic events, such as wildfires, and how trauma-informed STEM education can provide tools for recovery from trauma. There are several excellent schools and community-based STEM education programs on the island of Maui. The project’s goal is to partner with the individual educators, community members and cultural practitioners connected with several of these programs to build knowledge (understand the nature and impact of trauma), and work with the community to build emotionally healthy STEM learning environments where the focus is processing and healing and STEM content and activities are applied as tools for processing and healing.

This project is led by O’Neill, and co-principal investigators UH ����ԴDz� Professor Monique Chyba, Associate Professor Yuriy Mileyko and UH Maui College Assistant Professor Thomas Blamey.

“Our goal is to understand the impact of the multiple layers of immediate trauma on K–12 education to work with the community to build long-term interventions,” O’Neill said. “We believe the information we learn can help inform more mindful short-term and long-term planning by the �鶹��ý Department of Education and other state institutions.”

Chyba added, “Learning, teaching and helping is why I came into academia, and I am honored to be able to try to do exactly that with this project.”