A multi-year scientific expedition including the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and led by researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara and collaborating institutions, were able to find critical connections between land, rainwater and lagoon waters.

The researchers determined that land use on tropical islands can shape water quality in lagoons and that rainfall can be an important mediator for connections between land and lagoon waters. These findings provide vital information for ecosystem stewards facing global reef decline. Their findings were published in .

“The links between land and sea are dynamic and complex, so it’s a topic that has remained elusive to science,” said Mary Donovan, co-author and faculty at the in the UH ����ԴDz� (SOEST). “It took a dream team to pierce through that complexity. We brought together a group of interdisciplinary thinkers, from students to senior investigators, across at least five major institutions to tackle this immense challenge.”

Understanding the phase shift

Scientists have long been concerned that with an increase in human-associated inputs from land to a coral reef, there is often a “phase shift”—a decline in corals accompanied by an increase in harmful algae. This ecological shift is often linked to excessive nutrients and changes in the microbial community, but the precise connection between land use and coral reef health has been poorly understood.

Through its investigation, the team found that nutrients in the lagoons off Moʻorea were highest in concentration closer to the island, lower farther offshore.

Informing stewardship efforts

“Gravity is a unifying force in ecology, and islands are always uphill from the coral reefs that surround them,” said Christian John, lead author of the study and postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Across Pacific Island systems, the flow of nutrients from mountains to the ocean is a central focus for coastal resource management. Targeted strategies, such as reducing polluted runoff, developing buffers along rivers, or actively mitigating soil loss at development sites, can significantly dampen the adverse effects of land use on lagoon water quality.

“The ahupuaʻa, land use divisions that connect mauka to makai, are central to watershed management here in �鶹��ý,” said Nyssa Silbiger, co-author and associate professor in the SOEST Department of Oceanography. “Understanding water quality is a fundamental challenge for everyone: it is key to assessing coral reef health and it is inseparable from human health.”

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Lisa C. McManus, a theoretical marine ecologist in University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (HIMB) in the , was named a 2025 Ecological Society of America (ESA) Early Career Fellow on April 29. The society’s fellowship program recognizes contributions to ecological research, communication, education, management and policy throughout the United States. McManus is among 10 new Early Career Fellows in the country, and is recognized for notable efforts to investigate how climate change impacts coral reef ecosystems.

“I’m deeply honored,” McManus said. “Many ecologists I’ve long admired were previous ESA Early Career Fellows, and it’s humbling to be included among such distinguished researchers. This recognition energizes me to pursue even more ambitious questions at the intersection of theoretical ecology and coral reef science.”

In her research, McManus uses ecological theory to understand and predict the responses of marine organisms to changing ocean conditions. Her current projects examine coral-algal regime shifts, coral adaptive potential and marine conservation strategies. Through this work, McManus aims to inform conservation policies that address the long-term resilience of coral reefs. She earned her PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University.

McManus is an assistant professor at HIMB, where she is part of a team of more than 200 faculty, staff and students who study everything from marine microbes to marine mammals to better understand and protect the ocean, both locally and globally.

“The research community at the �鶹��ý Institute of Marine Biology is exceptional—not just for the scientific excellence, but for the genuinely supportive culture,” McManus said.

HIMB Director Megan Donahue said, “Lisa has made exceptional contributions to the understanding of coral reef ecology and management, and HIMB has benefited from her open, collaborative approach and strong student mentorship. We are thrilled to see her achievements recognized by this prestigious award from ESA.”

ESA established its Fellows program in 2012, with the goal of honoring its members and supporting their competitiveness and advancement to leadership positions in the society, at their institutions and in broader society. Early Career Fellows are elected for five years, and are members within eight years of completing their doctoral training (or other terminal degree) who have advanced ecological knowledge and applications and show promise of continuing to make outstanding contributions to a wide range of fields served by ESA.

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In a series of newly published groundbreaking studies, researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (HIMB) identified 10 new species of marine sponges found in Kāneʻohe Bay, shedding light on an often-overlooked but vital part of coral reef ecosystems.

Published in the journals and , these findings were discovered using an innovative technique that explores both genes and structural characteristics. Despite their status as one of Earth’s oldest lifeforms, marine sponges remain vastly understudied. These newly identified species contribute to a broadening understanding of sponge biodiversity within the Hawaiian archipelago and throughout Oceania.

The HIMB research team, working out of the , used autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS)—specialized devices that mimic the reef’s natural environment—to collect sponge specimens without disturbing the fragile ecosystem.

“We used ARMS to collect sponges from within the reef,” said Rachel Nunley, a Scientists in Parks (SIP) intern at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park and lead author of the PeerJ study that identified six new species. “After sponge collection, we used DNA analysis to narrow down what species we were looking at. We found that these species in Kāneʻohe Bay were new to science and have not been documented anywhere else in the world.”

Kāneʻohe Bay, where HIMB is located, is abundant with small, isolated “patch reefs,” which are teeming with undescribed sponge species as well as non-native species introduced from the Caribbean and the Western Indo-Pacific.

Challenges of studying sponges

Unlike other marine life, sponges present unique research challenges due to their small size, fragility and dynamic nature.

“Sponges are found within the ‘nooks and crannies’ of the reef, making them difficult to collect without destroying the reef,” said Jan Vicente, a postdoctoral researcher at ToBo Lab and lead author of the Zootaxa study that identified four additional sponge species.

“Sponges are widely underappreciated, even though they play an essential role in cycling nutrients that help maintain coral reef biodiversity in remote island archipelagos where nutrients in coral reefs are scarce,” said Vicente.

Merging science with ʻike �鶹��ý (ancestral knowledge)

To honor the cultural significance of their discovery, researchers named the new species based on traditional moʻolelo (stories) or ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language) that reflect the species’ characteristics.

“They were found in Kāneʻohe Bay off the island of Moku o Loʻe, and their names come from Native Hawaiian stories,” explained Robert Toonen, principal investigator of the ToBo lab and co-author on both studies. “�ĘL��ʻ��,’ for example, was the sister of three brothers who kept honesty within the family.”

Future of reef research

The research team has sampled more than 1,000 specimens from the coral reef cryptic fauna using ARMS in Kāneʻohe Bay, and they have also recovered ARMS from five different ecoregions across the Pacific. In time, they hope to understand the complete diversity of Oceania. HIMB researchers want to determine which species are endemic, native, and which have been introduced to the Hawaiian archipelago, and how the species are connected.

Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Acidification Program.

Endangered Hawaiian monk seals and other marine life have benefitted from 25 years of large-scale marine debris removal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), according to the cover story in the current issue of .

Scientists from NOAA Fisheries (PIFSC) have been studying the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and coral reefs for more than 40 years. To reduce harm to Hawaiian monk seals, as well as the broader marine ecosystem, large-scale, multi-agency, and multi-partner marine debris removal efforts were initiated to decrease impacts of plastic marine debris, primarily abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear.

A team of researchers from PIFSC, the , and the (�鶹��ý Sea Grant) examined Hawaiian monk seal entanglement records spanning more than 40 years, both before and after large-scale removal efforts were initiated, and found a substantial reduction in the rate of entanglement where the debris removal effort was most concentrated.

Jason Baker, marine biologist with the NOAA PIFSC Protected Species Division and lead author on the study, said “Now we know that all the hard work and dedication of so many people and organizations that contributed to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands marine debris cleanup did achieve its aim of reducing monk seal entanglement, saving seal lives and improving nearshore habitats.”

Mary J. Donohue, affiliate faculty with �鶹��ý Sea Grant and co-author on the study, has spent her career researching the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on marine mammals and coral reefs. In �鶹��ý she served as chief scientist on the first systematic at-sea expeditions to document, study, and remove marine debris from the NWHI.

“We’ve shown that you can, in fact, clean up at least parts of the ocean, and it can be consequential, particularly for species of conservation or cultural concern,” said Donohue. “For lasting solutions we also need to reduce the input of fishing gear that becomes derelict, both from legal and illegal fisheries.”

The team’s work——is available online beginning September 26 and in print on September 27.

Plastic waste poses a triple threat to living organisms and the environment: the physical material itself, the chemicals associated with it, and disease-causing microorganisms that hitchhike on it. The longevity of plastic waste and its fragmentation results in impacts on multiple scales, from marine mammal entanglement in derelict fishing gear to tissue and cellular interactions with the tiniest nanoplastics. As stated in the paper, “Large-scale and sustained removal of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear meaningfully benefits marine ecosystems and has the potential to be transformational in restoration efforts.”

–By Cindy Knapman

Sharks, a species often misunderstood and feared, play crucial roles in ocean ecosystems as top predators. In honor of Shark Awareness Day on July 14, UH News interviewed shark expert Carl Meyer, researcher at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa , on the importance of sharks to ocean health, common misconceptions and safety tips for being in the ocean.

What types of sharks do you study?

Our research focuses on coastal species such as tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks and scalloped hammerhead shark; bathyal or deep sea species such as bluntnose sixgill sharks, prickly sharks and Pacific Sleeper sharks; and enigmatic pelagic species such as oceanic whitetip sharks and cookiecutter sharks. We use technology to reveal the hidden lives of sharks. For example, we attach sophisticated biologging devices to sharks that track their movements and swimming behavior and give us a shark’s eye view of their lives. These devices help us to understand where sharks roam and how they use their natural habitats.

Why are sharks important to ocean ecosystems?

Sharks are very important for the health of ocean ecosystems. They are top predators that regulate the populations of other animals in the ocean and ensure that no one species becomes dominant and disrupts the marine ecosystem. Sharks are indicators of ocean health. If you have abundant sharks, then your ecosystem is healthy. If you see a decline in sharks, it indicates that there may be a problem with the marine environment.

What are common misconceptions people have about sharks?

The single biggest misconception that people have about sharks is that they’re all dangerous. And this is simply not the case. Most shark species represent little or no threat to humans simply because they consume very small prey, and even the species that we might consider to be dangerous such as tiger sharks, white sharks and bull sharks, actually bite people very infrequently. So these are rare events. Although we might consider them to be dangerous, in fact, we are a lot more dangerous to sharks than sharks are to us. We need to address these misconceptions about sharks in order to have effective conservation measures that allow us to coexist successfully with these really ecologically important predators.

Are sharks mistaking people for prey?

So when sharks bite humans, it’s likely because people in the water have size and movement characteristics that make sharks view them as potential prey.

The mistaken identity hypothesis is a popular misconception that stems from viewing shark behavior through a human lens. Sharks are not mistaking humans for another type of prey. They are opportunistic predators that routinely explore objects with certain size and movement characteristics to see whether they are potential prey. So for example, when we put small video cameras on tiger sharks, we see them routinely investigating inanimate objects like floating coconuts, leaves, plastic bags, those are clearly not things that they’re going to eat, but they go and they investigate them to see if they are potential prey. So when sharks bite humans, it’s likely because people in the water have size and movement characteristics that make sharks view them as potential prey.

What are some safety tips you recommend?

Although the risk of being bitten by a shark is very low, there are some things that we can do to reduce the probability of being bitten and also to improve the outcome in the event that we encounter a shark that tries to bite us. The single biggest thing that we can do is to always do our ocean recreational activities with other people. There is more safety in numbers. It reduces the probability of you being bitten. And if you are extremely unlucky and you get bitten, then there are other people around to help you. So a lot of the time when there’s a shark bite incident, the severity of the outcome is determined by whether there’s somebody close at hand to help the person that’s injured.

Growing up in California, Jennifer Smith loved spending time in the water. But it wasn’t until pursuing a year-long exchange at the University of �鶹��ý at Hilo and graduate studies at UH ����ԴDz�, that she found her calling in researching and teaching conservation biology, human impacts on marine communities, ocean sustainability and more.

“For people who are interested in studying tropical ecosystems, whether it be on land or in the ocean, there’s no better place in the entire United States than to go to UH because you literally have these natural laboratories right outside your door,” Smith said.

Making a difference in �鶹��ý

Smith, who is now a professor in marine ecology and conservation at the in San Diego, California, went to UH Hilo to focus on marine science, while she was earning her bachelor’s degrees in biology and zoology from Humboldt State.

“The time I spent there underwater, realizing there were all these issues happening in �鶹��ý that weren’t really being addressed with invasive seaweeds taking over reefs, and there were big seaweed blooms choking out coral in a lot of places,” Smith said. “There were also other different things happening, everything from sewage runoff, fueling these massive seaweed blooms, to overfishing of parrotfish and surgeonfish, causing seaweeds to take over in other places.”

Her experiences fueled her interest in more research opportunities. After talking with her UH Hilo professors, they recommended pursuing a graduate degree at UH ����ԴDz� under the guidance of Professors Celia Smith and Cindy Hunter. Smith said that UH ����ԴDz� was the only program she applied to and was ecstatic when she got accepted.

Smith remembers spending countless hours doing the research she enjoyed out in the ocean, and even got opportunities to travel across many of the Hawaiian Islands and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, before it was deemed a marine conservation area.

“It’s hard to imagine having something that could have been better for what I was doing, which was spending a lot of time underwater trying to characterize what was going on across the reef and across the whole state,” Smith said.

Learning from the ‘First Lady of Limu’

Smith also recalls many encounters with Professor Emerita Isabella Aiona Abbott, also known as the “First Lady of Limu,” as their offices were down the hall from each other. Smith said she frequently brought Abbott “gifts from the ocean” since she wasn’t getting out into the field as much and relied on students and faculty members to bring her samples.

Abbott became the first woman and the first person of color to become a full professor of biology at Stanford University and co-wrote a book called Marine Algae of California, which Smith said is like the Bible for studying seaweeds on the California coast.

“When I look at the book, it’s like having a conversation with Izzy,” Smith said. “I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had that opportunity at UH. I try to pass on her stories and her passion to all of my students.”

Annual return to Maui waters

Smith graduated with her PhD in botany, ecology, evolution and conservation biology from UH ����ԴDz� in 2003. Her dissertation was on the impact of algal blooms (rapid increase in the density of algae in an aquatic system) on coral reefs statewide.

After graduation, Smith continued that work as a faculty researcher at UH ����ԴDz�. She then became a marine ecology researcher at Scripps for a year, before joining the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at UC Santa Barbara as a postdoctoral scholar. Smith then rejoined Scripps in 2008 where she worked her way up from an assistant professor to an associate professor and to a full professor where she is now.

Smith also said that she has continued the work she started in waters off Maui every year since her graduate studies, taking her students to survey and document the health of the coral reefs along with other UH scientists and the Maui Division of Aquatic Resources.

—By Marc Arakaki

Recently named Fulbright Scholar Lindsay Young will head to the University of the Philippines in Manila to develop a research program and teach a course on blue carbon, carbon stored in coastal marine ecosystems that can fight climate change and protect these areas from natural disasters. Young is an affiliate graduate faculty member from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� ’ (CTAHR) and the executive director of , a �鶹��ý-based conservation nonprofit organization.

Young will expand on research on the effects of such areas by compiling information on blue carbon restoration projects to create a publicly accessible online geo spatial database, ultimately allowing others to review project outcomes and identify future sites that could benefit from restoration. Her graduate level course will complement the public impact research program, combining the fundamentals of coastal ecology while integrating the concepts of blue carbon restoration and climate mitigation strategies.

“I am humbled to receive this award, particularly since my career path has been a hybrid of academic and applied work,” Young said. “I look forward to not only developing a new program, but learning from my colleagues and students in the Philippines.”

Combating climate change

Blue carbon is stored in ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses, and can be sequestered in large quantities in both the plants and sediment below. In a publication from the , research shows that 50% of all carbon in the ocean is stored in coastal habitats, despite taking up only 2% of ocean area, indicating that these ecosystems could be an underutilized, yet critical component, to battling climate change.

Young explained that coastal ecosystems have a disproportionately high impact on storing carbon to alleviate the impacts of climate change.

“Coastal marine ecosystems have the potential to store 3-5 times the amount of carbon per acre compared to tropical forests, while also providing significant protection against the impacts of natural disasters,” said Young. “This not only serves to potentially sequester carbon and thus reduce the impacts of climate change, but also mitigate the impacts of severe storms on areas that preserve and restore these habitats.”

The global impact of place-based research

Consisting of more than 7,700 islands with thriving mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, the Philippines is an ideal location to expand the knowledge of blue carbon initiatives on a global scale. Moreover, it will provide academics and managers in the country with the knowledge and tools needed to grow this important initiative.

“As the country with the fifth-longest coastline in the world, the Philippines has the potential to contribute significantly to carbon sequestration in the coastal environment,” said Young.

Despite being in different parts of the Pacific, Young’s research in the Philippines will still be beneficial to �鶹��ý.

“The course and skills will be highly transferable to students at the University of �鶹��ý—particularly given that the State of �鶹��ý faces the similar environmental threats as the Philippines as a tropical archipelago,” Young added.

The inaugural Ruth D. Gates Endowed Chair in Coral Reef Systems is Rob Toonen. This position was established to honor the distinguished research and outreach of the late Ruth Gates, at the (HIMB) at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (SOEST). HIMB sought a scientist with a vision for innovative, integrative and transdisciplinary research in coral reef ecology and conservation.

“This position memorializes the global impact of Dr. Ruth Gates, former director of HIMB and widely known through the wonderful documentary Chasing Coral,” said Chip Fletcher, interim dean of SOEST. “In addition to being a widely respected scientist, Ruth was an exceptional communicator known for her candor, humor, integrity and compassion and respect for the interdependence of all living things.”

Toonen joined HIMB in 2003, and has used lab and field experiments, molecular genetics and computer modeling and more in an effort to address a variety of biological questions. From coral bleaching and conservation, to assessing cues for larval settlement and population genetics of marine invertebrates, sharks and turtles, Toonen approaches research from an ecological perspective—scaling up from genes to individuals to populations.

“We are thrilled to have Rob continue his work at HIMB in this new position honoring our inimitable friend and colleague Ruth Gates,” said Megan Donahue, interim director of HIMB. “Throughout his career, Rob has been at the forefront of purpose-driven research for coral reefs, including foundational work on marine connectivity that catalyzed large, ‘Big Ocean’ marine protected areas; influential studies of coral recovery and adaptation in Kāneʻohe Bay, inspiring hope for the future of coral reefs; a vision for community-embedded research and education actualized in the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve; and, most recently, work on coral restoration and artificial reefs designed to work with nature to protect our coastlines. We also know Rob as someone who lifts others up—a caring and effective mentor for students and an open-hearted colleague.”

Hybrid reefs

Toonen’s current coral restoration endeavor is a collaborative hybrid reef project known as . This project seeks to mimic natural reefs and enhance them by developing engineered reef modules that will reduce wave energy, support coastal communities, and also provide additional habitat for the diversity of life that feeds local families and makes coral reefs attractive to visitors.

Committed to UH Mānoa’s strategic priority and institutional goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, HIMB has a deep engagement with, and commitment to, its neighborhood educational and nonprofit organization partners.

“I particularly look forward to working with local communities to incorporate Indigenous management practices into the design with the goal of producing shoreline protection technology that also supports a vibrant and productive coral reef community,” said Toonen.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

Coral reefs are hotspots of biodiversity and are amazingly productive with a vast number of organisms interacting simultaneously. Hundreds of molecules that are made by important members of the coral reef community were recently discovered by a team of scientists. Together, the compounds—modified amino acids, vitamins and steroids—comprise the “smell” or “taste” of corals and algae in a tropical reef, and will help scientists understand both the food web dynamics and the chemical ecology of these ecosystems.

The study, led by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa and the NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research was published in the . It provides the first snapshot of the diversity of dissolved chemicals floating among coral reefs and a window into the interactions among organisms that scientists are just beginning to understand.

Although coral and seaweeds (limu) are fixed to the seafloor, these organisms interact via chemicals dissolved in the water. Despite knowing the importance of these molecules built during photosynthesis and released into the seawater environment, their quantity, energy content and structural diversity have always been a mystery to biologists.

Global impact

Reefs worldwide are changing and degrading under local pressures from human misuse and overuse, as well as global threats of ocean warming and acidification.

“One common global shift is a change from coral dominance to increasing biomass of limu, associated with a shift in the structure and function of the ecosystem and the quantity and types of fish and invertebrates that thrive there,” said Craig Nelson, associate research professor in the UH Mānoa (SOEST) and co-lead author of the work. “Understanding what shifts like this mean to the chemistry of an ecosystem is critical for managers, and this work demonstrates differences in the chemical exudates of corals and algae that can help us understand what changes in coral and algae mean for the ecosystem.”

Thousands of molecules

The team applied a cutting-edge analytical technique, known as untargeted tandem mass spectrometry, to characterize the thousands of small molecules that organisms use for growth, communication and defense.

“We have known for years that organic molecules play a big role in the fate of coral reef systems, but until now we did not have the analytical capabilities to analyze the dynamics of thousands of different molecules that make up the coral reef ’exometabolome,‘“ said Andreas Haas, senior author on the work.

In the reefs surrounding Moʻorea, one of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, the team collected specimens from two reef-building corals (boulder coral and cauliflower coral), one calcified red alga (crustose coralline algae), one brown alga and one algal turf (a mix of microscopic filamentous algae). Then, they isolated and analyzed the molecules that each organism released into the seawater during photosynthesis in the daytime and, separately, at night when photosynthesis ceases.

They found that these organisms release large amounts of hundreds of different compounds which ultimately influence the chemistry of the seawater. The compounds determine nutrient concentrations, the growth of decomposers and the availability of vitamins and minerals essential to the plants and animals which inhabit coral reefs.

Snapshot of the diversity

“There were several surprises with our findings,” said Linda Wegley Kelly, co-lead author of the work. “First, very few molecules were universal to all five of the organisms we studied. Even the two species of corals made few of the same molecules—more than 85% of the molecules we measured were unique to just one specific organism.”

The study demonstrated the release of more than 1,000 distinct molecules with diverse structures, pointing the way forward for new explorations into marine natural products.

This work is an example of UH Mānoa’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa’s (SOEST) announced a seven-year $50 million commitment from Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, which will support various research groups within �鶹��ý Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). HIMB will leverage this gift to make meaningful progress in restoring �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s ocean health.

This gift will fund research and programs that document changing ocean conditions, explore solutions to support healthier ocean ecosystems, enhance coastal resilience from storms and sea-level rise, and tackle challenges to marine organisms ranging from the tiniest corals to the largest predators.

UH President David Lassner said, “This transformative gift will enable our world-class experts to accelerate conservation research for the benefit of �鶹��ý and the world.” Lassner continued, “The ocean ecosystems that evolved over eons now face unprecedented threats from our growing human population and our behaviors. It is critical that we learn from previous generations who carefully balanced resource use and conservation. The clock is ticking, and we must fast-track not only our understanding of marine ecosystems and the impacts of climate change, but the actions we must take to reverse the devastation underway. There is no place on Earth better than �鶹��ý to do this work, and no institution better able than UH. We could not be more grateful for the investment of Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg in a better future for all of us and our planet.”

�鶹��ý is home to a rich diversity of marine life, including many threatened and endangered species. The accelerated pace of climate change and ocean acidification has altered environmental conditions faster than expected. Many species have difficulty adapting to the rapid changes taking place in the oceans and scientists see growing impacts to marine ecosystems.

The gift funds research on the impact of climate change on Hawaiian coastal waters, including areas of particular concern or natural refuges from ocean acidification effects. It will also support research on methods for more accurate forecasting of future ocean conditions, as well as efforts to study marine organisms like coral reefs, sharks, and other species.

“�鶹��ý has one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world—and having a deeper understanding of this ecosystem is the key to preserving and protecting it,” said Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan. “We’re honored to support the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s conservation efforts, including their trailblazing research on coral reef restoration, the impact of climate change on coastal waters, and other areas related to the health of our oceans.”

The seven-year commitment funds research that supports healthier, more climate change-resilient coral reef ecosystems. For example, scaling up strategies for coral reef restoration. It also leverages efforts to grow community partnerships and support Indigenous resource management practices. Further, it supports training for the next generation of coral scientists and ocean conservationists.

Interim SOEST Dean Chip Fletcher points out, “In addition to the research funded through this gift, we will improve support for local students in overcoming obstacles to higher education. Through internships, mentoring, community engagement efforts and graduate research fellowships we will grow our pool of scholars, policymakers, and conservationists from underrepresented communities around our state.”

The School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa is a world-class research and academic institution focused on informing solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems. Through an integrated, comprehensive, and sustained system of Earth and planetary observations, research, and education, SOEST staff work to transform the way people live on Earth by enabling a healthy public, economy, and planet. This gift also funds critical efforts to inform the public, policy makers and resource managers of ocean acidification and warming vulnerabilities.

�鶹��ý Institute of Marine Biology Director Eleanor Sterling added, “This generous gift is a wonderful opportunity to support the much-needed interdisciplinary work that will help us to better understand ocean systems and Indigenous management strategies and to develop effective approaches for ocean conservation. We aim to make significant strides toward ensuring healthy, diverse oceans as well as meeting the needs of local communities.”

University of �鶹��ý Foundation CEO Tim Dolan concluded, “We are tremendously grateful to Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg for their generous gift and commitment to restoring our oceans. Through their visionary generosity, our UH researchers and partners will have the essential funding needed to gain new knowledge and ultimately help our world’s oceans. The timing of this incredible investment will generate enormous momentum for UH’s ambitious capital campaign.”