The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹´«Ã½, 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.”

To celebrate Charles Darwin’s 217th birthday, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ (CTAHR) Insect Museum in Gilmore Hall buzzed with scientific discovery on February 12. Darwin Day 2026 honored the importance of evolution and science in daily life showcasing a dynamic range of research from across the islands.

Scientists from the Kewalo Marine Laboratory showcased “tide pool critters,” including corals and various marine invertebrates.

“Darwin Day is about raising awareness of how science has a positive impact on everybody’s lives,” said Dan Rubinoff, UH Insect Museum director and CTAHR professor. “It’s really fun for us because it’s collaborative. We have so many other labs sharing their research with the public in this context”.

The Honolulu Zoo Society presented an educational display of skulls and “biofacts” to illustrate the impact of the environment on animal evolution.

The event also featured planthoppers from the UH Chong Lab, mantis shrimp from the UH Porter Vision Lab, Darwin’s finches presented by Luke Campillo, Native Hawaiian plants from Lyon Arboretum and endemic snails from the Bishop Museum.

Education and outreach

The event is part of the museum’s broader mission to support research and engage the public through tours and seasonal outreach events.

“We want people to take away that science is important and that they should support it,” Rubinoff said.

For more information on the museum and its collections, .

A University of at Mānoa graduate’s new research reveals that plastic pollution poses a significant, unseen threat to endangered coral reefs. The study found that chemicals leaching from plastics disrupt the two most critical processes for reef survival—the reproduction of adult corals and the settling of their larvae.

The work by Keiko Wilkins, who recently earned her PhD from the UH Mānoa , is among the first to demonstrate these hidden dangers, which may help explain why some reefs are failing to recover after mass–bleaching events.

“When people think of threats to coral reefs, microplastics are often unnoticed,” said Wilkins. “Not only do corals eat microplastics, microplastic–associated chemicals may have hidden impacts. My research highlights this issue, urging us to see plastic pollution as a complex stressor to our reefs.”

Unseen threat

Coral reefs in and around the world are vital ecosystems facing extreme pressure from climate change. Wilkins’ work, conducted at the , was published in two parts.

showed that plastic leachates—chemicals released from plastics into the water—significantly reduced fertilization rates in corals.

demonstrated that these same chemicals negatively affected the ability of coral larvae to settle onto reefs, a step essential for replenishing coral populations.

“Keiko’s research is timely and essential in supporting efforts at the protection of coral reefs and all who depend on them,” said Bob Richmond, director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory and Wilkins’ advisor. “Her results provide proof of the unseen, damaging effects of plastic pollution and the need to urgently address this problem if we are to leave a legacy of vital coral reefs for future generations.”

Scholarship support, real-world impact

Wilkins conducted much of her research with support from a highly competitive NOAA Nancy Foster Scholarship. This allowed her to collect coral samples in protected areas, including the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The scholarship also supported her outreach and education efforts, through which she has connected with communities and schools across American Sāmoa to share her findings and raise awareness about the health of our oceans. She is now investigating how many microplastic particles are being ingested by corals in these regions.

As a kid, Maya Singh heard from her family stories about the ocean and land in Fiji that inspired her passion for the outdoors and, ultimately, for environmental science.

“I grew up in British Columbia, Canada, but my family is from Fiji,” said Singh, who will be graduating this month from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ with a bachelor’s degree in (GES). “My grandpa would tell me stories of him and his brothers catching shrimp outside and playing in the ocean and rivers. It really inspired me to want to live closer to the ocean.”

With a passion for the environment and ocean, Singh moved to Â鶹´«Ã½ after graduating high school to pursue a degree at the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ . For her senior research, Singh worked with mentor and Assistant Prof. to support coastal management and preservation on ³¢Äå²Ô²¹ʻ¾±. She developed a beach carrying capacity tool to determine the maximum number of visitors a beach can hold without surpassing the limits of acceptable environmental or social change at the beach.

As the culmination of this research effort, Singh wrote a senior thesis and presented her findings at the Spring 2025 GES Symposium, a showcase of the research conducted by graduating GES students.

“This tool was developed as a means to understand the changes at the beach and how we can best preserve the beach for future generations,” said Singh. “The thing I enjoy most about conducting this research is being able to work with the community and make a difference. Talking to the local community in the field and connecting with high school students to share the research we are conducting and why it’s important is very fulfilling.”

Meet more amazing UH spring graduates

Supported by funding from the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ , Singh also worked with Keiko Wilkins, a doctoral candidate in Bob Richmond’s research group at , to investigate how plastic pollution threatens marine ecosystems. Specifically, she tested the effects of microplastics on sea urchin fertilization. Singh also assisted with collecting and preparing coral samples for Wilkins’s dissertation research on microplastic effects on corals in the Pacific Ocean.

The academic and research experiences Singh has had through the GES program have solidified her commitment to pursuing a career in Â鶹´«Ã½ in environmental science after graduation. Eventually, she hopes to continue with her education by working toward a graduate degree in oceanography.

—By Marcie Grabowski

With 2024 officially the hottest recorded year in human history—surpassing the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels—climate change remains a global crisis. In response to these growing concerns, a University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa professor taught a course on climate change for government, private sector and academic leaders in Cairo, Egypt, in January.

Bob Richmond, research professor and director of the , focused on climate change impacts to Egypt and the broader Middle East—North Africa region. Egypt has experienced associated problems of flooding, drought, extended periods of elevated temperatures, bleaching of coral reefs in the Red Sea and human health consequences.

“The need for scientists who can clearly communicate across audiences, from K–12 students and community stakeholders to national leaders and policy makers has never been greater,” said Richmond, who teaches a graduate seminar in communicating science. “All the cutting-edge data in the world is of little use if it’s not accessible to our communities. This was a great opportunity to engage leaders from other nations to address an existential problem for all of humanity.”

Topics included causes and needed interventions, actions and solutions that could be undertaken at multiple levels, from individuals to nations. The course was held at the American University in Cairo and was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The course was co-led by Seham Elmrayed, an epidemiologist, who highlighted the disease and human health impacts. Richmond led discussions on environmental consequences, the environmental health—human health connections and the need for international cooperation to address the climate change crisis.

Richmond’s invitation came via the American Bar Association as a request for scientists who could communicate across professional target audiences that included members of governmental judicial, executive and legislative branch members, academia and the private sector.

A judge from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court in California, who recommended Richmond, had participated in a Pacific Judicial Council environmental conference held in Palau in November 2024, where Richmond organized the science presentations for the regional judiciary.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ played a pivotal role in the Pacific Judicial Council’s (PJC) Environmental Conference held in Palau, which featured discussions on the judiciary’s role in addressing pressing environmental challenges in the Pacific region. Faculty and students from the (KML), and (NREM) served as speakers and panelists at the October event.

Speakers included Nicole Yamase, who earned her PhD from UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ in marine biology in 2022, and Alexi Meltel, a UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ PhD candidate in marine biology, conducting her dissertation research in Palau and at KML. Yamase is Pohnpean, and the first Micronesian woman to earn her PhD in marine biology. Meltel, who is Palauan, will be the second.

Experts noted that many of those challenges are now being addressed through lawsuits, and it is critical that the courts have the required knowledge to guide their decision-making.

“The fact that the Pacific Judicial Council is engaging with regional scientists is truly wonderful and cause for optimism that accurate science can lead to critically important outcomes that affect our natural resources and all who depend on them ecologically, economically and culturally,” said Research Professor and Director of KML Bob Richmond, who served as the conference organizer for the scientific panels.

The three-day conference focused on climate change, marine pollution, fisheries and economics as well as the intersection between law and science including recent court decisions.

“This conference provided invaluable education and training on the use of science as the core of decision making and action on the most pressing issues facing the Pacific, such as the protection of the marine environment and climate change,” said Professor Sherry Broder from the William S. Richardson School of Law, who provided the legal framework and context for addressing environmental problems in the courts. “Understanding how to use science as the basis for decision making in policy and law contributes to the development of protections of the environment.”

The audience included more than 100 judges, justices, legislators and leaders from across the Pacific, including Guam, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands.

“It was a unique and somewhat intimidating experience to translate science for justices, judges, and lawyers in the region,” said NREM Professor Kirsten Oleson, who presented on the economic impacts of environmental damage and degradation. “I enjoyed discussions about how science and law intersect. Many people seemed to appreciate learning how we rigorously assign monetary metrics to nature’s benefits. It is important to give them confidence in the numbers when, for instance, dealing with damage liability or safeguarding the public trust.”

The marine tubeworm Hydroides elegans is a major problem for the shipping industry, as it coats the hulls and propellers of ships, as well as piers, nets of mariculture facilities, and the pipes that bring cooling sea water to electrical and industrial facilities. But what causes this marine invertebrate—that starts as a tiny, swimming larva—to settle onto a surface and transform?

A , led by Marnie Freckelton, a postdoctoral researcher at the , a unit of the (PBRC) in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (SOEST), revealed that the carbohydrate portion of a complex molecule, called lipopolysaccharide, produced by specific bacteria is a signal to the tubeworms that they have found the “right spot,” when settling on ships or marine facilities.

The bacterial communities that rapidly coat newly submerged surfaces in the seas create a biofilm and produce chemical signals that are detected by swimming larvae. The new research is groundbreaking in its analysis of the chemicals from specific biofilm bacterial species that interact with the larvae of this tubeworm and induce them to settle and transform.

“In this way, biofilm bacteria initially establish and then maintain communities of animals and plants on the ocean bottoms by recruiting their larvae and spores to the sites,” said Freckelton. “The research provides strong evidence for the bacterial-molecular basis of the formation and maintenance of all benthic marine communities in the world’s seas.”

Mysteries remain

The team of scientists, including Michael Hadfield, senior author on the paper and emeritus professor in PBRC, noted that many other—in fact, most—biofilm bacterial species do not induce settlement in the tubeworm larvae. And even among different strains of the same bacteria collected from different habitats, some will induce settling and others will not.

“Looking to the future, we are interested in an in-depth structural understanding of the parts of these molecules that induce settlement and metamorphosis in marine species and how they interact in the larvae,” said Freckelton. “We also plan to test the larvae of other marine invertebrates, such as coral, for patterns in their settlement cues.”

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The is leading a team of higher-education institutions across the Pacific with a $5-million grant that aims to support Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders pursue degrees in marine and environmental sciences. These groups are highly underrepresented in STEM disciplines. Over the five-year grant period, institutions expect to help approximately 250 scholars and culturally connected students, allowing them to serve their local communities.

The grant was awarded from the U.S. National Science Foundation to a consortium of Pacific Island institutions of higher education. The grant will buoy students attending UH Mānoa, Palau Community College (PCC), American Samoa Community College, the College of Micronesia – FSM, the College of the Marshall Islands and Northern Marianas College.

“The project addresses a primary cause of low enrollment of island-based students in STEM: financial challenges and the associated need to work while also attending classes,” said Bob Richmond, director of the UH Mānoa (KML) in the . “Removing this barrier is a way to support the recruitment and retention of talented students with bright minds, cultural connections and passion into these fields who might otherwise not have access to higher education opportunities.”

The program will be led by Richmond; Lauren Wetzell, education specialist and doctoral student at the College of Education; Noelani Puniwai, associate professor at the UH Mānoa ; Kaho Tisthammer, research associate at KML; Patrick Tellei, president of PCC; and Vernice Yuji, chair of PCC’s Science Department.

Throughout the Pacific, there is a need for well-educated scientists who are prepared with the skills and knowledge necessary to address a multitude of challenges including sustainability, ecosystem conservation, climate change adaptation, food security and natural hazard preparedness.

“Providing scholarships for students who are from Â鶹´«Ã½ and from the Pacific to stay and work and be connected is a huge investment into the future of the Pacific and this is where we should be putting our efforts into,” said Puniwai.

Major step forward

This new project builds on existing, successful partnerships between these institutions that supported the strengthening of their marine and environmental science associate degree programs over the past 18 years. The new scholarship program is seen as a major step forward in building on past successes in regional capacity development for Indigenous students.

“It will address the fact that there aren’t many Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian students in these fields even though we’re people of the ocean and we’re out here in the Pacific,” said Alexi Meltel, a Palauan PhD student at KML. “So hopefully with this grant we’ll be able to get more students into those fields and into long careers.”

To support students who are often the first in their families to attend college, the project will provide guidance in critical activities, such as navigating challenging degree programs, understanding STEM career paths, developing key skills for academic success and addressing barriers to achievement.

Educational research led by Wetzell will further the team’s understanding of how to scale up mentorship practices in culturally meaningful ways such as implementing a dual mentorship model. This research design differs from other mentorship studies in that it concerns the experiences of STEM students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education.

With training in marine and environmental sciences, students can become skilled professionals who can address national and regional needs in critical STEM areas including ocean health, natural resource assessment, protection, restoration and resilience in the face of climate change, and other challenges to environmental and natural resource sustainability.

A leading institution in exceptional marine biology—the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa’s (KML) celebrated its 50th anniversary in August.

KML, housed in the UH Mānoa , began operations in 1972. Over the past five decades, KML has supported cutting-edge research focused on the study of unique marine organisms of Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific, their evolution and development, ecological relationships, responses to both anthropogenic and natural stressors and their conservation biology.

“We are delighted to celebrate this milestone of 50 years at the Kewalo Marine Lab,” said Bob Richmond, director of KML. “Our research spans from molecules to ecosystems and has brought millions of dollars to Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific Islands to support research and train students at all levels. We bridge science to policy, and knowledge to action in order to protect the marine biodiversity and marine resources of ecological, economic, and cultural value. We are excited for the future of KML as we continue excellence in both basic and applied research and keep Â鶹´«Ã½ at the forefront of experimental marine biology.”

Originally founded as a research laboratory, KML supports visiting scientists from the continental U.S. and international research community in the development and application of laboratory-based research approaches and tools, including microscopy, microbiology, molecular biology including multi-omics, ecotoxicology and developmental biology. The research at KML sits at the cutting-edge of conservation and environmental microbiome studies by embracing Native Hawaiian and Pacific culture, traditional knowledge and practice—linking lessons learned from marine systems to ahupuaʻa (from ridge to reef) and human health.

“One of the objectives of KML is to perpetuate place-based knowledge and ecological-based studies that confront challenges facing Pacific Islands and return this knowledge to communities,” said Kiana Frank, assistant professor at KML. “KML has helped to build resources that have increased the participation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in STEM education, restoration and conservation efforts, as well as promoted effective engagement between students, community, researchers and policy makers.”

KML’s training supports research by undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and K–12 students for visits and science fair projects. The lab has been the home of several training programs funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health targeting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students—groups underrepresented in the STEM disciplines—based in Â鶹´«Ã½ and throughout Micronesia.

Faculty have also supported Â鶹´«Ã½-based science education in partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Kamehameha Schools and the Â鶹´«Ã½ State Department of Education. They have also partnered with and supported governmental and local community-based organizations in efforts to conserve ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s precious marine resources of ecological, economic and cultural value.

“This milestone emphasizes how important marine science, especially marine biology, is in Â鶹´«Ã½,” said Michael Hadfield, emeritus professor at KML. “While there has been a lot of news about the roles of Â鶹´«Ã½biologists in oceanography and coral-reef studies, the fundamental research in cell biology, developmental biology and symbiosis has often been overlooked. We stand out at KML and are proud to recognize 50 years of excellent research in Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond.”

See more stories on Kewalo Marine Laboratory.

More on KML history

KML was conceived in the mid-1960s by then UH Vice President Robert Hiatt and ‘s (PRBC) second director, Terence Rogers. The goal was to develop a state-of-the art facility for carrying out experimental marine biology on model organisms for studying basic questions in biological science.

During that time, a $550,000 grant was secured from the National Science Foundation for building funds. The site at Kewalo Basin was leased from the state, and the building was designed by Honolulu architect Richard Dennis. KML’s original five faculty were hired prior to the lab’s opening and worked in labs behind the until construction was completed.

Since 1972, KML has earned an international reputation for excellent research in biological sciences and has played a vital role in fulfilling UH‘s mission in marine biological research. KML faculty and researchers have helped make Â鶹´«Ã½a well-known and respected institution among scientists worldwide for pushing the frontiers of marine biological discovery.

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To support dissertation research on the effects of microplastics on coral reef health and resilience, a doctoral student in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa has been awarded a highly competitive .

Keiko Wilkins’ work will help to establish a baseline of current conditions of microplastic ingestion by corals within the three NOAA national marine protected areas within the Pacific Island region: Papahāumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary of American Sāmoa. Her work will also help to better understand how different species of corals retain plastics as well as determine potential ecological threats posed by microplastic-associated chemical contaminants.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a Foster Scholar and NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Ambassador,” said Wilkins, who joined the Richmond Lab at the in the (SOEST) in fall 2020. “Microplastic pollution is not a new term to most people, but they are often surprised to learn that corals eat microplastics too. As plastic pollution in our oceans continues to increase, we need a better understanding of how corals are being impacted. I am excited to share my findings and bring more attention to microplastic pollution as it affects coral reefs and those who depend on them.”

• See more UH News stories on coral reefs.

As part of the scholarship program, Wilkins will also complete an outreach project to support the local communities that border the protected areas. Through a grant to the Richmond Lab from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program Partnership for Advanced Marine and Environmental Science Training for Pacific Islanders, she will be sharing her research and analytical methods with faculty and students at five regional community colleges in the Pacific Islands.

“Keiko is an outstanding graduate student who is not only performing extremely important and timely research of value to Â鶹´«Ã½, the Pacific Islands, and coral reefs worldwide, but as a member of a highly under-represented minority group in the marine and environmental sciences, is an excellent role model for others who are interested in pursuing STEM careers,” said her doctoral research advisor Bob Richmond, a research professor and director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory. “Indeed, she has been actively engaged at the national level in supporting diversity and inclusivity in STEM fields and has proven to be an outstanding mentor and inspiration to other students.”

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–By Marcie Grabowski