The University of �鶹��ý has been designated as a new Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute (Pacific RRCI) by the (NOAA) to support coral reef conservation in the Pacific through research, collaboration and public education.

The Pacific RRCI will be housed in UH’s , under the aegis of the , and will perform the following critical functions: conduct federally directed research to fill national and regional gaps; collaborate with relevant states and territories, Indigenous groups, coral reef managers, non-governmental organizations, and other coral reef research centers; assist in the implementation of the NOAA’s National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy and coral reef action plans; build non-federal capacity for management and restoration practices; and conduct public education and awareness programs.

“This new institute combines UH’s strengths in cutting-edge, ocean-related research and our collaborative, place-based approach to working with resource managers throughout �鶹��ý and the Pacific to protect our vital coral reefs,” said Chad B. Walton, UH interim vice president for research and innovation. “At the same time, it provides us with further opportunities to develop our region’s next generation of researchers and managers in the field of conservation futures.”

To restore and preserve coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. from natural and human-related effects, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 was reauthorized and modernized by the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, which was included in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act that became law in 2022. The reauthorized law required the designation of two RRCIs, one each in the Atlantic and Pacific basins, was required. The RRCIs were chosen from 32 preselected coral reef research centers and were designated based on the results of technical merit and panel reviews. The Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021 was introduced and sponsored by �鶹��ý Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie K. Hirono, and Congressman Ed Case.

The UH-led institute will be guided by experienced reef researchers from UH Mānoa’s Kewalo Marine Laboratory and the �鶹��ý Institute of Marine Biology, UH Hilo’s Marine Sciences program, and the University of Guam’s Marine Laboratory. It will support research, monitoring, capacity building and outreach for coral reef management throughout the U.S states and territories of American Samoa, Guam, �鶹��ý, and the Northern Marianas Islands and with the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

“Many people worked many years to make this vision for collaborative reef research across the Pacific a reality,” said Suzanne Case, director of the Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures. “We’re excited to jump in with scientists and communities and agencies across the region to take it forward.”

A University of �鶹��ý-born climate technology startup has been named a winner of the Water Resilience Challenge, an international competition announced in Davos, Switzerland.

HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited) Group and UpLink, the early-stage innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, selected as one of 10 “aquapreneurs” from more than 300 applicants worldwide. The challenge is part of the CHF (Confoederatio Helvetica Franc, the official currency code for the Swiss franc) 15 million Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative supporting scalable solutions to global freshwater challenges.

The winning ventures, representing nine countries, will share CHF 1.75 million (approx. $2.25 million USD) in funding and receive mentorship and access to global networks to help scale their technologies. This year’s challenge focused on strengthening water infrastructure resilience, improving water use in agriculture and increasing efficiency across technology and energy sectors.

Hohonu: real-time flood, water-level monitoring

Founded by UH Mānoa faculty and staff, Hohonu develops real-time, hyperlocal flood and water-level monitoring systems using connected sensors and cloud-based software. The company’s low-cost sensors transmit data every few minutes, providing communities with timely information to guide emergency response, infrastructure planning and climate adaptation.

“This recognition affirms that solutions developed in island communities can have global relevance,” said Brian Glazer, Hohonu CEO and co-founder, and associate professor in UH Mānoa’s . “Building tools alongside the people most affected by flooding has shaped how we think about access, equity and long-term resilience, and it’s exciting to see that approach resonate on an international stage.”

Hohonu was launched in 2019, resulting from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, National Science Foundation and philanthropic funded research in Glazer’s lab dating back to 2014. The company also received early support and seed funding through UH innovation and commercialization programs, including investment from the student-run Calvin Shindo Student Venture Fund out of UH’s . UH is a partial equity owner.

Hohonu has deployed sensors across �鶹��ý and today operates in 18 states and more than 200 locations, supporting projects ranging from Native Hawaiian fishpond restoration to large-scale coastal resilience efforts on the east coast of the U.S. Its technology is designed to democratize access to environmental data for frontline communities facing increased flooding driven by climate change.

“We are extremely proud of Hohonu’s continuing success and recognition in the water resilience innovation space,” said Chad Walton, interim vice president for research and innovation. “The technology that was developed by Brian Glazer and his team in UH labs and tested in fishponds around the state is a true example of blending Indigenous knowledge with contemporary science to provide solutions not only for �鶹��ý, but for the world.”

Previous UH News stories on Hohonu:

• UH technology startup provides flood monitoring, real-time data in Maryland, June 14, 2024
• Flooding Hawaiian fishponds get help from UH technology startup, February 28, 2023
• New UH student-run venture fund announces first investments, August 18, 2022
• UH innovators, entrepreneurs awarded for ‘re-imagining’ state’s economy, March 9, 2022
• UH startup improves flood-risk management in 54 U.S. communities, October 18, 2021

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa students, faculty and staff brought research from the lab to the Legislature on February 3, showcasing projects that address pressing health, environmental and resilience challenges across �鶹��ý and the Pacific.

The fourth annual UH Mānoa Research Day took place on the fourth floor of the �鶹��ý State Capitol, where approximately 100 undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, faculty and staff shared their work through informational displays, demonstrations and interactive activities.

This year’s event highlighted the theme of “One Health,” an interdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant and environmental health. Exhibits emphasized community-based research designed to strengthen resilience statewide and throughout the Pacific region.

“This is the ‘university of the people.’ It’s the main state research university,” Robert Wright, UH Mānoa Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship said. “The faculty are incredibly inventive, they work very hard, they’re bringing in quite a lot of money. And not everyone, not everywhere has a university like �鶹��ý.”

UH Mānoa Research Day invited state leaders, lawmakers, community advocates and the public to engage directly with researchers and learn how university-led projects are addressing issues such as public health, environmental sustainability, food systems and disaster preparedness.

“The various research components that I’ve seen ranging from childcare, immigrant services to culture and the arts,” Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said. “This is not just important for the sectors that they are representing, but it’s really important for our various industries and our economy as a whole.”

For student researchers, the day offered them an opportunity to share their work beyond campus. Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite that affects people, animals and the environment in �鶹��ý. Jerrisa Ching Choe, a PhD student at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and her research team, use a “one health” approach to understand how the disease spreads between humans, animals and the places we share, with the goal of helping communities, pets and wildlife stay healthier across the islands.

“Being here at UH Mānoa Research Day is such an honorable privilege, to be able to share more about my research, but also be able to engage with the community, our politicians and legislature—and to be able to not only to share new knowledge with people, but to also take action towards addressing some of the challenges that we face here,” she said.

The event comes as UH Mānoa continues to expand its research enterprise. The campus earned a record $570.4 million in extramural awards in fiscal year 2024–25, helping drive UH’s 10-campus system to a record-breaking $734 million in total awards during the same period.

UH Mānoa is one of only four U.S. universities designated simultaneously as a land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant institution. It is also one of 107 public universities classified as Carnegie R1, denoting the highest level of research activity, and is consistently ranked among the top 1–2% of universities worldwide.

More information about UH Mānoa Research Day is .

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa is expanding its role in shaping the state’s energy and resilience future through a new $1.8-million federal investment supporting advanced visualization and planning tools developed by the (LAVA), in partnership with the �鶹��ý State Energy Office (HSEO).

The funding supports the continued development of the �鶹��ý Advanced Visualization Energy Nexus (HAVEN) system—an interactive 3D platform that helps policymakers, planners and communities better understand complex energy infrastructure, land-use tradeoffs and resilience planning decisions. HAVEN makes technical planning data accessible to users with varying levels of expertise, supporting transparent and informed decision making across the state.

“HAVEN represents a new generation of planning tools that combine immersive visualization, geospatial intelligence and emerging AI capabilities,” said Jason Leigh, UH Mānoa professor and LAVA Lab director. “With this support, we can scale these technologies statewide while training the next generation of visualization, data science and AI professionals here in �鶹��ý.”

Increase security, modernize grid

As �鶹��ý moves to increase energy security and modernize its aging grid, communities face difficult choices around infrastructure siting, regional impacts and costs. HAVEN enables users to visualize scenarios, explore planning model inputs and outputs, and assess cascading impacts related to energy, land use and disaster preparedness.

“HAVEN visualization technologies have proven to be extremely effective in making energy plans and analysis more approachable,” said Chris Yunker, managing director of resilience, clean transportation and analytics for HSEO. “The resulting energy plans incorporate informed input from policy makers and local communities.”

Over a multi-year period, HSEO and the LAVA Lab will expand HAVEN’s capabilities, integrate complementary visualization tools, and explore how AI can help make these visualization tools easier to use and available to more communities. The HAVEN project also supports workforce development by providing UH graduate students with hands-on experience in advanced data visualization.

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s .

Eleven emerging scientists will soon take on some of �鶹��ý’s most urgent environmental and scientific challenges through a new University of �鶹��ý systemwide postdoctoral fellowship program, funded by a $2 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. From safeguarding coral reefs to exploring the origins of the universe, these scholars will help drive discoveries to shape the future of the Pacific and beyond.

“As federal support for research becomes increasingly constrained, philanthropy plays a crucial role in fueling innovation and discovery,” said Harvey V. Fineberg, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. “At the Moore Foundation, we invest where science can make long-term, measurable change and in the talented people whose ideas will shape the future.”

Developed through a partnership among UH’s , UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s (OVPRS) and , this initiative strengthens the university’s research enterprise, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and supports the development of future scientific leaders.

“This fellowship program exemplifies the power of strategic philanthropic partnership,” said OVPRS Research Program Officer Tarra McNally. “Our long-standing relationship with the Moore Foundation continues to nurture the next generation of scholars who will advance research in �鶹��ý and beyond.”

From 2025 to 2028, the program will support 11 postdoctoral scholars working in astronomy, oceanography, life sciences, geophysics, atmospheric science and other fields vital to �鶹��ý and the Pacific. Each fellow will receive up to two years of funding for salary and benefits, enabling them to focus on high-impact projects addressing critical scientific and environmental challenges.

“The Moore Foundation has been a steadfast partner to the University of �鶹��ý for many years,” said Chad Walton, interim vice president for research and innovation. His office oversees research operations across the university’s 10 campuses. “Their sustained investment has strengthened UH research programs across disciplines—supporting scientists, seeding discovery and elevating �鶹��ý’s role as a global leader in innovation.”

Building on that history of support, UH President Wendy Hensel added, “The Moore Foundation’s ongoing commitment has enabled UH researchers to pursue bold ideas that might otherwise go unexplored. This fellowship program continues that legacy, empowering early-career scholars whose work will expand knowledge, drive innovation and benefit communities across �鶹��ý and the Pacific.”

Founded by Gordon and Betty Moore, the foundation supports breakthroughs in science and environmental conservation. Through this fellowship, UH and the Moore Foundation are investing in people, research and ideas that will help build a more sustainable and informed future.

For more information about the fellowship program, .

A health tech startup improving how community health workers (CHW) document client visits took the $2,000 first place prize in the second annual , hosted by the (PACE) in the University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s . The startup was one of 12 interdisciplinary teams made up of UH Mānoa students that competed in the two-week challenge.

The competition was co-hosted by , a software platform led by a Shidler and PACE alumnus, that empowers community-based organizations to address the social drivers of health. It highlighted PACE’s mission to bridge academic learning with practical, work-based problem-solving.

“Innovate 808 shows how powerful interdisciplinary learning can be when we connect students to real community partners,” PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama said. “The ideas generated this year show that innovation truly thrives in collaboration.”

Interdisciplinary collaboration

The students in this year’s challenge represented 10 UH Mānoa colleges and schools. The result was a dynamic combination of technical, social and entrepreneurial ideas to support �鶹��ý’s community health workforce.

The winning team, Pear Lens, created a photo-based note capture and conversion tool that allows CHW to document client interactions more efficiently while maintaining data privacy. The team came together as four solo applicants met for the first time during the competition: Justin Paul Alejo (business), Jennifer Kawata (public administration), Biplav Paudel (business) and Ivy Vo (business).

“The competition brought together a diverse team of complete strangers to solve a complex challenge, but we quickly found our rhythm and collaborated seamlessly to propose a simple yet powerful idea,” Kawata said.

Kawehi Kea-Scott, a Pear Suite judge who used to work as a CHW, commended the team for “meeting CHWs where they are” by respecting existing workflows while introducing low-friction technology. “The fact that these students built a fully functioning prototype in just two weeks is remarkable,” Kea-Scott said.

Initially the competition was planned as a winner-takes-all prize structure, but the judges were so impressed by the presentations that three runner-up prizes were added. Each student from the following three teams won $350.

• Jayden Ronel Villanueva, Shannon Tai and Jaylyn-Kate Balon developed a tiered education and certification pathway with AI-generated feedback and mentoring for aspiring CHWs.
• Tate Goodman, Mau Tsujimura, Micah Tajiri and Lenox Covington created a machine-learning workflow tool that helps CHWs select the most effective resources for their clients.
• Logan Lee, Tristan Ta and Yeunggyun Kwon designed a referral platform that connects CHWs and clients based on shared experience and training, fostering stronger engagement.

Takeda invited the winning teams to present their solutions to his executive team and encouraged all participants to consider internships and employment at Pear Suite, as he shared that Pear Suite will be continuing its nationwide expansion after he recently raised $7.6 million in funding.

“Just try it, go out there and find problems to solve,” Takeda said. “Being able to test ideas, try new things and see what the feedback is from your customers is a great way to learn and grow.”

Teams were also mentored by Jeff Hui, PACE‘s entrepreneur in residence, who advised students to “take advantage of these real world experiences. These are the opportunities that open doors to new career paths and set you apart when you are interviewing for a job.”

�鶹��ý’s research community and residents are being asked to help shape the state’s next five-year Science & Technology (S&T) Plan. (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research), managed by the University of �鶹��ý, is gathering public input through an online survey to identify priorities that will guide future research and innovation across the islands.

Help shape �鶹��ý’s science future

The S&T Plan is set to launch in 2026. Community input is being gathered through a brief, 15-question online survey. The survey is open to researchers, educators, policymakers, industry professionals and community members statewide.

The deadline to participate in the survey is October 31.

The S&T plan will serve as a strategic roadmap for �鶹��ý’s research and innovation priorities in light of recent changes to National Science Foundation (NSF) and EPSCoR program policies. Once completed, it will reflect �鶹��ý’s unique needs, perspectives, strengths and opportunities in science and technology, and align the state’s priorities with federal research opportunities.

“This planning process is critical to keeping �鶹��ý competitive for major federal research awards, which bring in millions of dollars into the state to the growth of local science and innovation,” said UH Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad Walton, who also serves on EPSCoR/IdeA Foundation Board of Directors. “We encourage representatives for all sectors and the community to participate, as your insight is essential to strengthening �鶹��ý’s research and development ecosystem and improving our competitiveness for federal research funding.”

For more about the �鶹��ý EPSCoR program or the S&T plan, contact Walton at cwalton@hawaii.edu.

For an island state like �鶹��ý, fresh water is a precious commodity. It is life. That is why in 2016, the NSF awarded UH a five-year $20 million grant for its ʻIke Wai (knowledge of fresh water) project to conduct geophysical research to better understand the dynamics of freshwater aquifers around the state. In addition to providing updated information on water flows and capacities, the study helped to more accurately map the contaminant flow from subsequent leaks into the aquifer that contributed to the eventual shutdown of the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oʻahu in 2022.

NSF provided this grant through EPSCoR, a federal initiative designed to enhance research capabilities and foster innovation in states or territories that historically receive a smaller share of federal research funding. Its mission is to broaden the distribution of federal research dollars, while strengthening both local and national research infrastructure and capacity. The UH System oversees and provides administrative support for �鶹��ý EPSCoR initiatives.

The University of �鶹��ý is spearheading an advanced manufacturing initiative aimed at transforming the state’s economic vulnerabilities into opportunities for growth, resilience and workforce development.

“For an island state like �鶹��ý, given our finite resources, limited manufacturing footprint and heavy dependency on imports, the onus is high for �鶹��ýto work with our industry partners to help provide the cutting-edge research and a knowledge-based workforce in ‘point-of-need’ manufacturing for the benefit of both our civilian and military communities,” said UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos.

At UH Mānoa, the is leading the initiative, which combines design, material science, 3D printing, corrosion testing and robotics.

“A lot is going on in this space right now, and while it’s generating a lot of excitement around town, there’s also a lot of movement in different directions,” said Dean Brennon Morioka. “That’s why it’s important that we develop a coordinated and shared vision that is centered around an ecosystem that is consistent and transferable across all stakeholders.”

Morioka is relying on four key faculty members to move the initiative forward: Associate Professors Tyler Ray and Joseph Brown, and Professors Lloyd Hihara and Zachary Trimble.

Wearable sensors, aerospace assemblies, more

Ray has championed additive manufacturing since joining UH in 2019, weaving it into undergraduate courses and research. His lab develops 3D printed wearable sensors for health monitoring, new battery technologies and is home to one of the world’s highest-resolution bioprinters.

“For �鶹��ý, advanced manufacturing is more than just an economic opportunity. It’s about building resilience amidst geographic isolation,” Ray said.

Brown integrates materials characterization, mechanical design and advanced fabrication to create resilient structures, from aerospace assemblies to nanometer-thin sensors.

“The initiative represents a major opportunity for UH and the state to not just match what others are doing, but to carve out our own unique approach,” Brown said.

Hihara’s corrosion research leverages �鶹��ý’s diverse climates for testing and will expand with new fabrication technology. Trimble, an expert in precision machine design, helps transition basic research into applied research.

First advanced manufacturing training center

launched �鶹��ý’s first advanced manufacturing training center to support Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, private ship repair facilities and active duty military.

“Our goal is to create an advanced manufacturing ecosystem with seamless skill sets and technology that can be used throughout �鶹��ý and across different industry sectors,” said Honolulu CC Chancellor Karen Lee.

Read more on UH’s advanced manufacturing vision and its role in �鶹��ý’s future . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

What if, instead of trying to fix different gene mutations for different people, one could simply replace the entire mutated gene, safely, efficiently and precisely?

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (JABSOM) Assistant Professor Jesse B. Owens is turning this radical idea into a therapeutic reality. Owens and his team are developing a new gene delivery platform that could revolutionize how doctors treat everything from rare blood disorders to aggressive cancers.

“I want to replace the entire gene, no matter where the mutation is—use one therapy for everyone,” said Owens. “For example, if the gene were a car and one person had a flat tire, and another person had a broken windshield; instead of going to two different shops to do two different repairs, each person just got a brand-new car right away, for no more than the cost of the repair. This could lead to faster, more affordable treatments for a wide range of diseases.”

What is gene therapy?

The thousands of genes that determine traits and characteristics of humans—including looks, personality and body functions—stem from the long, twisted, step-ladder of molecules known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Each step or base, makes up the body’s genetic code, an instruction manual that dictates how cells build and function. Changes to, or mutations in one’s genes can cause genetic disorders such as hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and even certain types of cancer.

For decades, researchers have been developing and advancing gene therapies to fix, replace or switch faulty genes in order to treat and prevent diseases. Most approaches use engineered viruses or editing tools to deliver the corrective DNA into a patient’s cells.

One of the most widely used gene therapies today is known as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats or CRISPR, co-developed by Hilo native Jennifer Doudna, who earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. CRISPR works like a pair of scissors, cutting DNA at specific locations, then harnessing the cell’s repair system in hopes that it figures out how to modify or insert the new gene. CRISPR, however, faces limitations—it struggles to insert large DNA segments to fix single-gene disorders, risks harmful mutations and cancer from double-stranded breaks, and works poorly in the non-dividing cells that make up most of the adult human body.

From cutting to inserting: A paradigm shift

Owens’ technology represents a dramatic departure from the CRISPR paradigm. Rather than cutting DNA and relying on the cell to make repairs, his method acts like biological glue—actively inserting large, healthy genes directly into the genome that then take over for the defective gene. The key is a family of viral enzymes called integrases, which facilitate the insertion of DNA into host genomes. Owens’ lab uses a controlled process called “laboratory evolution” to engineer “super-active” enzymes, dramatically boosting their precision and efficiency for inserting genes of interest.

“With these specially engineered integrases, we’re able to carefully insert healthy genes into an exact location without causing breaks in the DNA,” said Owens. “This insertion function has very high efficiencies of up to 96% in human cells, which is unprecedented.”

Read more about Owens and the future of gene therapy in . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

Throughout his remarkable 49 years in Congress, the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye fought hard to bring in billions of dollars in appropriations to help establish or bolster industries with significant, long-term impact to �鶹��ý, including agriculture, astronomy, education, high-technology, military and research. While he helped to position the state as a viable player in these industries and strengthened the state’s economic resilience and sustainability through the federal appropriations process, he knew this would not last forever. Inouye envisioned similar growth opportunities for �鶹��ý’s small businesses centered around partnerships on U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) projects with the University of �鶹��ý.

“Sen. Inouye was well-aware that most of the DODs large contracts in �鶹��ý were being awarded to mainland companies, with only little pieces of it going to local companies as subcontracts,” said UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “To even the playing field, he stressed that UH research must effectively collaborate with local small businesses to develop the necessary expertise and capabilities to successfully compete with the mainland contractors for big-dollar federal projects that are in our backyard.”

Unexploded ordnance removal, undersea munitions assessment

During World War II, the U.S. government turned nearly 200,000 acres of ranch land into the Waikoloa Maneuver Area to train its troops. For the better part of two years, the area was pummeled by explosives, including aerial bombs, artillery rounds and grenades. While a couple of clean-up attempts were made following the war, it was estimated that about 20% of unexploded ordnance remained.

As a result, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) initiated a third clean-up effort in 2002. At the time, the UH Mānoa was already working with a small environmental firm called Environet, Inc. on developing the use of ground penetrating radar technology in aerial flyovers as a faster and cheaper alternative to putting huge teams on the ground. Environet had done prior related work and was already familiar with the clean-up site process through its research partnership with UH.

Prior to 1970, the DOD had disposed of excess, obsolete or unserviceable munitions, including chemical warfare agents, in the ocean waters off the U.S. coasts, including the Hawaiian Islands. In 2007, the U.S. Army embarked on the �鶹��ý Undersea Military Munitions Assessment to learn more about the condition of these munitions and of any potential pollution that could cause harm to humans and ocean life. The seven-year project involved the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, UH and Environet, who had the flexibility to pivot their land-based unexploded ordnance expertise to the open ocean.

Both projects marked a huge turning point for Environet, as the interesting work and publicity generated helped to attract job candidates from varied disciplines, enabling the company to grow and expand its field of expertise. Starting with a handful of employees on �鶹��ý Island, the company helped establish the GSI Family of Companies (GSI), which employs nearly 400 staff and now has offices in �鶹��ý, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, Washington, Guam and Japan. Read more about GSI in . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .