The first cohort of the at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa includes 14 students, seven of whom are supported through from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), �鶹��ý (DAR) and a �鶹��ý-based philanthropic organization. Students and their UH advisors will work collaboratively with the sponsoring agencies and �鶹��ý communities on their graduate research projects.

“It is really encouraging to see the significant support for this new program from the community and the state and federal agencies we partner with,” said Jeff Drazen, sustainable fisheries program graduate chair and oceanography professor in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “Welcoming the first cohort of students is an exciting milestone, and having this level of community collaboration will really advance our goal of ensuring sustainable fisheries for people throughout the Pacific.”

The incoming students receiving fellowships are Kai Holdaway, Alexander Jemal, Ashley Meara, Kahakuhailoa Poepoe, Mackenzie Thielmann, Andrea Vega and Jake Zikan. Of the seven students, six will pursue master’s degrees, and one will pursue a doctoral degree; two are from �鶹��ý, and five are from the U.S. continent.

Students address fisheries near and far

Supported by one of two DAR Fellowships, Thielmann’s research will focus on finding “nursery” areas where young fish grow along Oʻahu’s coastlines to help protect future fish populations. By analyzing a large state dataset, Thielmann will identify where juvenile fish are most common and see if these “hotspots” match up with where legal-sized adult fish live. This project will use advanced science to ensure that culturally important reef fish remain abundant for local families and fishers. Further, this will help DAR create better fishing rules and habitat protections.

One of the four fellowships supported by the in Honolulu, awarded to Holdaway, will support building a computer model that predicts where the �鶹��ý longline fishing fleet might shift to as ocean conditions and fishing laws change. By analyzing vessel data and interviewing fishers, Holdaway wants to understand how factors like earnings, weather, and mapping tools influence a captain’s decisions. Ultimately, this work seeks to balance catching target fish with avoiding protected species to ensure a healthier marine ecosystem.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

For decades, scientists have worked to improve predictions of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate powerhouse that can cause droughts, flooding, marine heatwaves and more around the world. Researchers from the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa a study showing that they can skillfully predict El Niño and La Niña 15 months ahead of time using only observations of the ocean surface temperature and height—no complex climate model needed.

“We found that it can predict El Niño and La Niña surprisingly well, with useful skill up to about 15 months ahead,” said Yuxin Wang, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher with the in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “Accurately predicting ENSO more than a year in advance is important because it can provide early warning, allowing communities, governments and resource managers to take actions and make adaptations to reduce the potential impacts from El Niño and La Niña.”

“Our simpler, data-driven empirical climate model, built only from ocean observations related to two core climate memories known for over 50 years, achieves ENSO forecast skill comparable to, and in some cases better than, many of today’s more complex climate models and leading AI-based approaches,” added Wang.

Building on past discoveries

Klaus Wyrtki, a pioneering oceanographer at SOEST in the 1960s through 1990s, was the first to show that sea level changes can reveal heat build-up in the tropical Pacific, which led him to propose using tide gauge observations to predict El Niño. Klaus Hasselmann, a German oceanographer and Nobel laureate, showed that the ocean can retain a memory of past climate conditions through large-scale temperature patterns, including sea surface temperature patterns outside the tropical Pacific that can still influence ENSO.

Building on these two principles, the SOEST team developed the “Wyrtki-CSLIM,” short for Wyrtki CycloStationary Linear Inverse Model, a computer model to predict ENSO.

Predicting future ENSO

The Wyrtki-CSLIM currently predicts the development of a strong El Niño, more than 2°C warmer than normal over the equatorial eastern Pacific, toward the end of this year. This up-to-date is available online at the UH Sea Level Center.

“Our Wyrtki model is predicting a stronger El Niño than most of the other statistical models, and it is in line with the much more sophisticated dynamical models,” said Matthew Widlansky, study co-author and associate director of the UH Sea Level Center. “However, it is important to note that all models have uncertainties, and the climate impacts of each El Niño event are different.”

This new research also offers a clear direction for other ENSO forecasting systems.

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University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa professor David Ho was selected as a lead author for the on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). The report will give guidance to countries regarding how to estimate and report the emissions they manage through those methods as part of their national greenhouse gas inventories.

CDR and CCUS are tools to help countries achieve their emissions and climate targets, and the diversity of approaches to remove and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are growing fast.

“However, countries currently lack consistent, scientifically rigorous guidance on estimating and reporting the emissions they manage through these technologies in their national greenhouse gas inventories,” said Ho. “Without that, it’s very difficult to hold anyone accountable or to determine whether CDR and CCUS are actually delivering on their promises. This methodology report is about building the foundation to get the accounting right so that progress in CDR and CCUS is real and verifiable.”

The current federal administration withdrew the U.S. from the IPCC process earlier this year, creating a gap in U.S. expert representation in the IPCC. An observer organization nominated Ho so that U.S.-based expertise could still contribute to this report.

“The IPCC has brought together lead authors from a wide range of disciplines and geographies, and the conversations are already substantive and rigorous,” Ho said. “There’s a real shared sense that this report matters, that it will shape how governments think about CDR and CCUS for years to come. It’s a significant commitment, but one I think is genuinely worth making.”

The first lead author meeting was held in Rome, Italy, in April. More than 150 experts, selected by the IPCC Task Force Bureau, are participating in the writing process.

For more information, .

Oceanographers from the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa discovered that microbial communities—from the sunlit surface to extreme depths—in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre exhibit robust seasonal cycles. provides new insight into how high levels of biodiversity are maintained in the open ocean.

“A long-standing question in biological oceanography, which we refer to as the ‘paradox of the plankton,’ asks: How can open ocean species diversity be so vast and sustained, in a seemingly homogeneous environment like the open ocean?,” said Fuyan Li, lead author of the study and affiliate researcher in the in the UH Mānoa .

The blue, deep waters of the Pacific Ocean have extremely low nutrient concentrations compared to coastal areas that teem with visible life, such as kelp forests off California or coral reefs in �鶹��ý.

“Theoretical ecology suggests that one way co-occurring species diversity can be maintained, is if shared resources, such as nutrients, are used at different times of year, thereby minimizing competition,” Li said. “Though seasonal cycles are a fundamental property of many diverse ecosystems, seasonality in the tropics is less pronounced than in temperate or polar ocean habitats.” This work was funded by the Simons Foundation project called the SCOPE.

Tracking microbes through DNA

To determine whether microbial communities at Station ALOHA, a tropical, open ocean research station 60 miles north of Oʻahu, have seasonal cycles, Li and colleagues analyzed microbial DNA in samples collected monthly over eight years, leveraging the �鶹��ý Ocean Time-series (HOT) program. The combination of frequent sampling over a long time period, and high-resolution species identification, allowed the researchers to make these new and unprecedented open ocean observations.

They found that more than 60% of the microbial groups they tracked exhibited seasonal cycling. While these seasonal cycles diminished at depths below 150 meters, surprisingly, they remained measurable in some deep-sea microbial species at depths of nearly two and a half miles.

“Notably, very closely related species or subspecies ‘bloomed’ at different times of the year, similar to seasonal patterns observed in some terrestrial plants and animals,” Li said. “Taking turns with respect to nutrient use throughout the year seems to be a key ecological strategy for microbial communities to maintain their diversity.”

By sustaining their populations throughout the year, microbial communities consistently supply organic matter and energy to organisms higher in the food web, for example larval fish. In this way, microbes ensure the stability of the marine food web and productivity in waters across the Pacific Ocean.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa Professor Emeritus of and pioneering marine microbiologist , was as a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology. The recognition celebrates outstanding scientific achievement and leadership in microbiology.

DeLong is considered a trailblazer in the field of metagenomics—the study of all genetic material from all organisms in a particular environment—whose research has transformed understanding of the ocean’s microbial life. His work advanced innovative gene cloning and sequencing, allowing scientists to study complex marine microbial communities and their role in the environment without the use of traditional microbial cultures.

“I was thrilled to hear the news about Ed’s election to the European Academy of Microbiology, a well-earned honor,” said David Karl, UH Mānoa oceanography professor,DeLong’s long-time colleague and co-director of both the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education and the . “Ed and other newly elected members represent the second golden age of microbiology, one centered on microbial oceanography and ecology.”

Scientific breakthroughs

Early in DeLong’s career, he used methodologies developed by his postdoctoral research advisor Norm Pace to identify microbes “in the wild.” Together they discovered two new lineages of a major microbial group called Archaea (previously not thought to live in seawater) were abundant everywhere—from in the Pacific Ocean to Antarctica, and from the sea surface to the seafloor.

Later, new methods that DeLong’s group adapted from the Human Genome project to study microbial ecology led to the discovery that most bacteria in the upper ocean can use sunlight to generate biochemical energy using proteins called opsins. This finding revealed a widespread, previously unknown solar energy-gathering mechanism in the ocean, with significant implications for the global carbon and energy cycles.

“To be recognized and honored by world-renowned microbiologists of the European Union was unexpected, and very humbling,” DeLong said. “I believe that scientific disciplines like microbiology should have no geographic or cultural boundaries—yet in today’s political landscape there are increasing challenges to free and open international collaborations. To me, this makes recognition by the European Academy of Microbiology all the more potent of an honor.”

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An analysis of more than 2,300 seawater samples from more than 20 field studies around the globe indicates that human-made chemicals—from plastic additives and industrial lubricants to pharmaceuticals and pesticides—are widespread in the marine environment, particularly in coastal and estuarine waters. The study, co-authored by University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa oceanographers and led by biochemists at the University of California, Riverside, represents one of the most comprehensive chemical analyses of coastal oceans to date.

The team analyzed seawater samples collected over a decade from coastal regions from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Reported in , the findings show that industrial chemicals, many of which are rarely monitored, are far more abundant and widespread than previously recognized.

“As part of this study we included samples from coral reefs across both the Pacific and Caribbean, including samples throughout Hawaiian and Tahitian ecosystems, and we were struck by how widespread things like pharmaceuticals, pesticides and plastics were even in some remote island reefs and dozens of kilometers offshore,” said Craig Nelson, researcher in the UH Mānoa , graduate chair of oceanography, and one of the senior authors on the paper.

“Even in places we consider relatively pristine, we found clear chemical fingerprints of human activity,” said Daniel Petras, assistant professor of biochemistry at University of California, Riverside. “The extent of this influence was surprising.”

Impacts nearshore and offshore

The study found that in datasets from coastal environments as much as 20% of the measured organic material was of human origin, compared to about 0.5% in the open ocean. In extreme cases, such as river mouths impacted by untreated or poorly treated wastewater, that figure exceeded 50%. Across all samples, the 248 identified human-derived compounds tracked in this study made up around 2% of the total detected signal.

While pesticides and pharmaceuticals were expected to be most concentrated near shorelines, the study found that industrial compounds, including substances used in plastics, lubricants and consumer products, dominate the anthropogenic (human induced) chemical signal in all areas of the ocean.

The researchers also found that anthropogenic chemicals persist well beyond the coastline. Even more than 20 kilometers offshore, human-derived compounds accounted for roughly 1% of detected organic matter.

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A team of researchers are calling for a new generation of carefully designed ocean iron fertilization (OIF) field trials to determine whether this marine carbon dioxide (CO2) removal method can safely and effectively leverage a natural ocean process to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. Led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the authors, including two from the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, argue that larger, longer studies with rigorous monitoring and clear “go/no-go” safeguards, are needed to accurately assess OIF as a potential long-term CO2 storage solution. The paper was .

“The ocean science community must explore all possible means for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and identify any unintended ecological consequences,” said David Karl, co-author, professor of and director of the in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “Humans continue to pollute our planet; the time for bold action is now.”

Past OIF field studies found that relatively tiny additions of iron in some parts of the ocean can stimulate the growth of small, plant-like organisms known as phytoplankton that live in the surface ocean. These organisms use sunlight and CO2 dissolved in seawater to grow and multiply, which in turn pulls more CO2 out of the atmosphere into the surface ocean in the process. However, those early experiments were not designed to assess the efficacy, durability and feasibility of OIF, nor did they specifically evaluate the broader ecological and biogeochemical impacts of large-scale additions of iron.

The next generation of trials would need to capture phytoplankton bloom development, and the process of bloom decay, the fate of newly produced carbon, and any potential ecosystem impacts. The authors propose experiments lasting more than 3–6 months and spanning an area of about 1,000 square kilometers, with an explicit requirement to document a return to natural conditions after iron additions end.

The authors suggested the Gulf of Alaska in the Northeast Pacific as a promising location based on the region’s low-iron conditions, the availability of decades of research in the area at Ocean Station Papa, evidence of natural iron-driven blooms in the past, and physical characteristics that may help keep the iron-fertilized patch from dispersing too rapidly.

After moving from the Philippines to Waipahu at age seven, Sean Michael Valencia Monte arrived at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� with a clear mission: to transform his passion for microbial research into a career in environmental conservation. Building on award-winning Waipahu High School research in soil science, Monte joined the (GES) program in the (SOEST).

Since joining SOEST, Monte has been a part of research in various fields. In summer 2024, Monte participated in the Hollings Preparation Program, working with the NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office on Hawaiian monk seal conservation. While assisting in pup taggings and conducting watches was exciting, his real takeaway was the human connections.

“The most important thing I learned was how to effectively engage with the public,” Monte shared. “I learned how to communicate science in a way that prioritizes both human safety and animal welfare.”

Transformative experiences

In summer 2025, he was selected as part of a five-student cohort that revived the UH Blue Water Marine Lab Program. Aboard the UH research vessel Kaunana, Monte gained hands-on training in plankton tows, marine mammal surveys, and the deployment of autonomous water sampling technology. And, through the National Student Exchange, he attended California State University, Monterey Bay for a semester.

“Spending a semester away from home taught me how much growth can come from the people you meet and the places you experience,” Monte shared. “I met incredible international students from France, Germany, Norway and Japan. Traveling across California and nearby states helped me gain independence and confidence. The experiences that I received proved to be transformative.”

Building connections and looking ahead

At UH ����ԴDz�, Monte is part of the SOEST Maile Mentor Bridge Program, which pairs undergraduate students with near-peer mentors.

“Through my Maile Mentor, Raffi Isah, I was able to connect with and secure GES thesis mentors, and the program has given me a space to share my goals, challenges and experiences with others who understand the demands of SOEST and are motivated by similar interests,” Monte said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other recent rankings:

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

For more information, .

—By Marc Arakaki

University of �鶹��ý researchers have published a new study that brings together ʻike �鶹��ý (Hawaiian knowledge), ʻō������� �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language) and western marine science to shed new light on one of the ocean’s most elusive predators, the cookiecutter shark.

Rarely seen but often noticed, the cookiecutter shark is named for the distinctive wounds it leaves behind. Instead of tearing flesh, the small shark removes neat, circular plugs of meat that resemble the cut of a cookie cutter. These unmistakable bite marks are commonly found on prized fish such as ʻahi (bigeye tuna) and aʻu kū (swordfish), providing scientists with rare clues about the shark’s behavior in the deep, open ocean.

“What makes this species so fascinating is that we almost never see the shark itself,” said Justin Suca, an assistant professor in at UH ����ԴDz�. “We’re learning about it by studying when and where those bite marks appear.”

The interdisciplinary study was led by Suca, J. Hauʻoli Lorenzo-Elarco, an assistant professor of at Honolulu Community College and PhD candidate at the UH Hilo , and Donald R. Kobayashi and economist Hing Ling Chan from NOAA’s Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC).

Kobayashi, a biologist at PIFSC and UH ����ԴDz� alumnus, has been a cookiecutter shark enthusiast for decades.

“I’ve been intrigued by these small sharks for over 40 years, when I first learned about them while a graduate student in oceanography at UH ����ԴDz� and we would encounter them in net tows,” Kobayashi said. “These enigmatic creatures have resisted formal study due to their habitat, behavior, and apparent rarity, so it is quite gratifying to personally contribute some solid scientific knowledge towards understanding them and their ways!”

Night patterns

Published in, the study analyzed a much larger dataset than previous research, examining bite patterns recorded across �鶹��ý’s longline fisheries over many years. The results reveal clear and persistent trends: cookiecutter shark bites occur most often at night and are closely tied to lunar cycles, with higher activity during darker, low-illumination periods.

Searching the past

Alongside the scientific analysis, the researchers reviewed Hawaiian-language sources, including historic nūpepa (Hawaiian-language newspapers), and considered knowledge shared across Polynesian cultures to better understand how the shark may have been recognized in �鶹��ý. While no direct references were found, the team believes Hawaiian ancestors were likely familiar with the shark’s distinctive bite marks.

“Our kūpuna (elders) may never have encountered the shark itself,” said Lorenzo-Elarco. “But they almost certainly encountered the evidence it left behind, the distinctive bite marks on fish they brought in from the open ocean.”

ʻŌ������� in science

From that understanding, the team developed a new Hawaiian name for the cookiecutter shark, nahunaiki, meaning “little bites,” and created an ʻō������� noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) describing its bite patterns and connection to nighttime conditions. The study also includes an abstract written entirely in ʻō������� �鶹��ý, highlighting how Indigenous knowledge and modern science can work together to reveal patterns that might otherwise remain unseen. Developed by utilizing elements of traditional Hawaiian proverbs, the ʻō������� noʻeau says, Muku ka malama, nanahu ka nahunaikio o ka pō, When the new moon arises, the cookie cutter shark bites.This ʻō������� noʻeau is aimed at helping current and future generations of ocean stewards connect the lunar cycle to the bites of this shark.

These findings build on earlier UH ����ԴDz� research that linked moonless nights to rare cookiecutter shark bites on humans, particularly swimmers in �鶹��ý’s ocean channels, suggesting darkness plays a key role across very different types of encounters.

Groundbreaking research uncovering life in one of Earth’s most mysterious environments—the deep sea—has earned Gabrielle Ellis, a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduate, the 2024–25 Dr. Clifford K. Mirikitani, MD, JD & John M. Mirikitani, JD, PhD Outstanding Dissertation Award from the .

Ellis, who earned her PhD from the , focused her research on tiny deep-sea animals living more than two miles below the ocean surface in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a vast area between �鶹��ý and Mexico. The region holds valuable mineral deposits important for renewable energy, but is also home to fragile and little-known marine life.

Her dissertation looked at how deep-sea communities change over time and across different habitats, from the smallest larvae to adult animals. By studying thousands of samples, Ellis created one of the most complete pictures so far of deep-sea biodiversity in an untouched environment.

“The award of the Mirikitani Outstanding Dissertation Award is an absolute honor both for me as an emerging scientist, as well as for the recognition of deep-sea ecology as a field,” Ellis said. “Despite increased attention to the deep sea emerging with discussions around deep-sea mining, more than 99.9% of the deep-sea is unexplored, and so many foundational questions are unaddressed. Working in the deep sea is inherently collaborative; we work on ships in the middle of the ocean for long periods of time and often rely on each other for ideas, data and support. As such, credit is also due to my collaborators, including my labmates and advisors, who have really inspired me throughout the years and are absolutely instrumental in the success of my research.”

Her findings include one of the largest collections of deep-sea larvae ever gathered and some of the first detailed information about how these species grow and survive. The work helps scientists and policymakers better understand how deep-sea mining and climate change could affect ocean ecosystems and what steps can be taken to protect them.

• Related UH News story: Rare glimpse at understudied ecosystem prompts caution on deep-sea mining, October 1, 2025

Ellis is now teaching environmental science at Georgetown University, continuing her mission to share the importance of ocean research and inspire the next generation of scientists.

The Mirikitani Outstanding Dissertation Award is given each year to one UH Mānoa PhD student whose dissertation demonstrates exceptional originality, significance and scholarly achievement.

The Department of Oceanography is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s .

Viewed from space, vast swirls of color appear nearly every summer in the Pacific Ocean north of �鶹��ý. For years, the origins of these massive blooms of photosynthetic microbes remained a mystery. Now, led by University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� oceanographers provides the first comprehensive look at the anatomy of these events.

“This paper represents a synthesis of many different observational perspectives which, only when evaluated together, allowed us to paint the whole picture,” said Rhea Foreman, lead author of the study and researcher in the (C-MORE) in the UH ����ԴDz� (SOEST). “It required multiple people with a range of expertises to work together in order to see the overarching ecological processes.”

Race to sample the bloom

The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is described as an ocean desert due to its low levels of nutrients. However, in late summer, a unique partnership forms between diatoms (marine microbes that live inside a glass shell) and diazotrophs (bacteria that convert nitrogen gas into a biologically usable form, essentially creating fertilizer for the system). Previous research established that summer blooms are often driven by this pairing, but beyond that, the causes of bloom initiation, sustenance and collapse were unknown.

In summer 2022, oceanographers used the R/V Kilo Moana to try and catch a bloom event. When they noticed on satellite imagery that a bloom the size of Minnesota was within range of the expedition, a race was on to investigate.

The team investigated the bloom’s microbial community, nutrient dynamics, composition of particulate matter, rates of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation, and abundances of specific functional genes. Their study revealed that the blooms are likely triggered when the seed population of diatom-diazotroph associations experience favorable conditions such as: above-average concentrations of phosphate and silicate, and a shallower mixed layer at the surface ocean. This shallow mixed layer acts to corral the photosynthetic microbes, keeping them near the surface where sunlight is abundant—something they require for efficient nitrogen fixation.

“This comprehensive expedition required careful planning, skillful execution, effective teamwork and a bit of luck—we went four-for-four!” said David Karl, senior author on the study, Victor and Peggy Brandstrom Pavel Professor of Oceanography, and director of C-MORE.

Understanding lifecycles

The study also relied on the historical context provided by the UH ����ԴDz� (HOT) program that has conducted monthly monitoring of the physical, biological and chemical characteristics at a nearby open ocean field station north of the Hawaiian Islands since 1988.

“By comparing the 2022 expedition data to the HOT data, which shows baseline conditions at Station ALOHA, we were able to distinguish unique bloom characteristics from normal background conditions and that helped us understand the lifecycle of the bloom,” said Foreman.

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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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Internationally recognized researchers currently or formerly affiliated with the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa have been honored among the world’s most influential scientists in Clarivate’s 2025 . The annual analysis identifies just 1 in 1,000 researchers globally—including Nobel laureates—whose publications have demonstrated exceptional influence across their fields.

(SOEST) Professor Fei-Fei Jin and the late Director and Researcher Ruth Gates, were recognized in the cross-field category, which highlights researchers whose influence spans multiple scientific areas. Daniel Mende, a former SOEST postdoctoral researcher, was selected to the biology and biochemistry category.

“This distinction underscores the global influence of UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s research enterprise,” UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos said. “Our scholars drive discoveries that resonate across disciplines and continents, and their work exemplifies the innovation and excellence that define our university.”

SOEST Professor Fei-Fei Jin

Jin’s research interests cover a wide range of topics, including the dynamics of large-scale atmosphere and ocean circulations, and climate variability. His primary research focuses are understanding the dynamics of El Niño-Southern Oscillation, climate variability in the extratropical atmospheric circulation and global warming.

The late Ruth Gates

Gates was a tireless innovator and advocate for coral reef conservation. The focus of her most recent research efforts was creating super corals, coral species occurring naturally in the ocean that could be trained to become more resilient to harsh conditions.

Former SOEST postdoctoral fellow Daniel Mende

Mende specializes in environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, metagenomics and more. He came to UH Mānoa in 2014 for his postdoctoral studies on microbial communities in oceans. Mende is now an assistant professor at Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam.

These scientists are identified based on their publication of highly cited papers in the Web of Science Core Collection—a widely respected global citation database. Using rigorously curated data, analysts at the Institute for Scientific Information select individuals who have demonstrated remarkable influence in their field.

This story was compiled based on primary affiliation according to the Web of Science’s Highly Cited Researchers list. If there are other researchers currently or formerly affiliated with UH on the list, email Marc Arakaki at marcra@hawaii.edu.

Professor Margaret Anne McManus has been appointed as the ’s inaugural chief academic advancement officer by Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos, effective December 1. The three-year appointment runs through November 30, 2028.

Reporting directly to the provost, McManus will lead efforts to align philanthropic initiatives with UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s research, academic and campus strategic priorities. Her responsibilities will include developing and carrying out a comprehensive, multi-year advancement strategy and advising the provost and campus leadership on donor relations and long-term development goals.

“I am honored to serve as the inaugural chief academic advancement officer and to help strengthen the connection between UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s mission and philanthropic partnerships,” McManus said. “This role offers an exciting opportunity to expand support for our students and faculty, as well as research and educational programs in ways that advance the university’s long-term goals. I look forward to working closely with campus leadership and our dedicated community of supporters to cultivate new opportunities that will help move UH Mānoa forward.”

“Dr. McManus’ experience as a prominent researcher and educator, demonstrated success in fundraising efforts, and exceptional leadership as chair, clearly distinguish her as the ideal candidate to take on this important inaugural leadership role,” Syrmos said. “Her deep understanding of our academic mission and her proven ability to build meaningful partnerships will strengthen UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s long-term advancement strategy. I am confident that her leadership will help expand opportunities for our students and faculty while elevating the university’s impact locally and globally.”

McManus’ background

McManus is currently professor and department chair of the in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s , and director of the .

She has played a central role in establishing numerous endowed and programmatic funds that support faculty and student success, enhance education and research, foster global collaboration and advance UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s scholarly impact. Her work has contributed to the development of major academic and research initiatives both within the Department of Oceanography and across the UH Mānoa campus.

“At UH Foundation, we feel enormously privileged to work in collaboration with Dr. McManus in deepening our philanthropic culture across UH Mānoa,” said Tim Dolan, UH vice president of advancement and UH Foundation CEO. “She has proven herself to be a natural leader in this space, and we look forward to our critical work together.”

McManus has been with UH Mānoa since 2003. She earned her PhD and MS in oceanography from Old Dominion University, and BA in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia.

Fifteen years after the devastating poured an estimated 134 million gallons of oil into the marine environment, vital long-term monitoring work involving University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa oceanographers continues to chart the slow path to recovery for the region’s deep-sea coral communities, providing critical information to guide their restoration. The marine organisms, living at depths of 1,000 to 2,000 meters, were directly impacted by the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

In October, two oceanographers from the UH Mānoa (SOEST) participated in the that revisited monitoring sites off Louisiana. The team’s mission was to capture new images of more than 200 individual coral colonies using a remotely operated vehicle equipped with high-resolution still and video cameras.

“Processes in the deep ocean are very slow,” said Fanny Girard, assistant professor of oceanography at SOEST and lead investigator in the project. “Many of these animals look exactly the same as they did in 2011. Itʻs a sobering reminder that recovery in the deep sea takes time.”

High-tech imaging

The first phase (2011 to 2017) of this work aimed to evaluate impacts to deep-sea corals to inform the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process. Following the 2016 settlement with BP Exploration & Production, the second phase of this work is now informing restoration by providing critical baseline information on coral health, growth and role as habitat for many other species.

Teams took images of the same locations each year, and Girard and her graduate student Jack Howell manually compared the photos, a demanding process that can take hours for a single coral colony.

“We’ve learned that lots of animals, particularly brittle stars, live on these corals,” said Howell, whose project is focused on associations between coral and other organisms. “This seems to be a ‘win–win’ collaboration, where the brittle star may receive food and shelter, while the coral benefits from the brittle star potentially eating parasites and cleaning up sediment that could compromise its health.”

Deep-sea mining poses significant risks for a vital, hidden part of the ocean. That’s the message from a new University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa , the first to truly look at the impact of mining waste. Researchers found that more than half of the tiny animals, zooplankton, forming the ocean’s food building blocks in the “twilight zone” (a vital region 200–1,500 meters below sea level) could be harmed, risking bigger creatures further up the food web.

Researchers discovered that waste discharged from deep-sea mining operations in the Pacific’s biodiverse Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) could disrupt marine life in the midwater twilight zone. The study finds that 53% of all zooplankton and 60% of micronekton, which feed on zooplankton, would be impacted by the discharge of the mining waste, which could ultimately impact predators higher up on the food web.

“When the waste released by mining activity enters the ocean, it creates water as murky as the mud-filled Mississippi River. The pervasive particles dilute the nutritious, natural food particles usually consumed by tiny, drifting zooplankton,” said Michael Dowd, lead author of the study and graduate student in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “Micronekton, small shrimp, fish and other animals that swim, feed on zooplankton. Some migrate between the depths and near surface waters and they are consumed by fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Zooplankton’s exposure to junk food sediment has the potential to disrupt the entire food web.”

Effects of mining waste

The study examines the content and effects of mining waste released during a 2022 mining trial in the midwater CCZ, an expansive area of the Pacific Ocean targeted for the extraction of deep-sea polymetallic nodules, which contain critical minerals, including cobalt, nickel and copper. Researchers collected and tested water samples from depths where the mining waste was discharged, finding that these particles had far lower concentrations of amino acids—a key indicator of nutritional value—than the naturally occurring particles that fuel life in these depths.

The twilight zone hosts a staggering diversity of life, including tiny krill, fish, squid, octopus and gelatinous species such as jellyfish and siphonophores. By rising toward the ocean’s surface every night, then swimming back down again, these creatures support the transport of carbon to greater depths in the ocean, which is critical to ocean and human health. These creatures either feed on the particles in the twilight zone or prey on those that do, creating a tightly linked food web that connects the surface ocean to the abyss.

“Our research suggests that mining plumes don’t just create cloudy water—they change the quality of what’s available to eat, especially for animals that can’t easily swim away,” said Jeffrey Drazen, co-author, SOEST oceanography professor and deep-sea ecologist. “It’s like dumping empty calories into a system that’s been running on a finely tuned diet for hundreds of years.”

Urgent concerns with commercial mining

The findings raise urgent concerns about long-lasting, system-wide effects if large-scale commercial mining proceeds without strong environmental safeguards. Pacific tuna fisheries, for example, operate in the CCZ, which means that deep sea mining waste could impact fish that land on dinnerplates globally.

“Deep-sea mining has not yet begun at a commercial scale, so this is our chance to make informed decisions,” said Brian Popp, co-author, SOEST earth sciences professor, and expert in marine stable isotope biogeochemistry. “If we don’t understand what’s at stake in the midwater, we risk harming ecosystems we’re only just beginning to study.”

“This isn’t just about mining the seafloor; it’s about reducing the food for entire communities in the deep sea,” said Erica Goetze, co-author, SOEST oceanography professor and expert in marine zooplankton ecology. “We found that many animals at the depth of discharge depend on naturally occurring small detrital particles—the very food that mining plume particles replace.”

The study comes as some countries ramp up their efforts to meet growing global demand for metals needed for electric car batteries and other low-carbon technologies. Currently, about 1.5 million square kilometers of the CCZ are under license for deep-sea mining.

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University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos has named Robert Wright, the current director of the UH Mānoa (HIGP), as the next Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship, effective January 1, pending UH President Wendy Hensel’s approval and posting at the November 20 Board of Regents meeting. Wright will succeed Christopher Sabine who has served in the position since February 2022.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and to build on the incredible work being done across our campus,” Wright said. “UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s research community has a tremendous impact, from �鶹��ý to the global stage, and I’m excited to help further that momentum.”

Sabine will return to faculty as an professor in the (SOEST).

“It has been an honor to serve on the UH Mānoa leadership team and to contribute to the university’s mission alongside such dedicated colleagues,” Sabine said. “I’m deeply grateful for the support, collaboration and shared commitment that make our work so meaningful. I look forward to returning to SOEST and continuing my research and teaching.”

During Sabineʻs tenure as interim vice provost, UH Mānoa saw extramural funding grow from $352.6 million in FY2021 to a record $570.4 million in FY2025. The external investments—from federal agencies, private industry and nonprofits—support research and workforce development across disciplines.

“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Chris for his dedicated service over the past nearly four years,” Syrmos said. “His leadership, commitment and vision have made a lasting impact on our university community. Chris is also among the most respected researchers in the field of oceanography, and we are fortunate that his expertise will continue to enrich our campus as he returns to the faculty.”

Prior to his appointment as interim vice provost for research and scholarship, Sabine was the associate dean for research at SOEST. Before coming to UH, Sabine was the director of NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and has been a scientific advisor for a number of research programs nationally and internationally. His research focuses on understanding the global carbon cycle, the role of the ocean in absorbing carbon dioxide released from human activity and ocean acidification.

Wright has been the director of the �鶹��ý Institute of Geophysics and Planetology since 2017 and was appointed Director of the Space Science Institute at UH Mānoa in 2025. He is an accomplished Earth scientist whose pioneering work in satellite-based monitoring of volcanoes and remote sensing has earned more than $20 million in research funding from NASA and other federal agencies. He has published extensively, led multiple NASA missions, including the HyTI CubeSat project, and continues to advance UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s global reputation in Earth and planetary science.

The University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s celebrated its 15th anniversary on October 25, marking a decade and a half of cutting-edge discovery and sustainable design.

Opened in 2010, the 26,997-square-foot facility has become a hub for groundbreaking research on marine microbes—organisms that play a vital role in the health of the planet’s oceans and climate. The state-of-the-art building houses laboratories, offices and a conference center designed to foster collaboration among scientists across disciplines and time zones. Its 50-seat auditorium supports video conferencing and live webcasting, connecting researchers around the world.

In 2012, C-MORE Hale was the first research laboratory building in �鶹��ý to achieve LEED Platinum certification for environmental design. The facility incorporates energy-efficient systems and low-flow plumbing. It also features smart lighting controls and water recycling technologies that reduce potable water use by nearly half. The building’s innovative design earned multiple awards, including the Kukulu Hale Award for new commercial projects in 2011.

Leading research in microbial oceanography

David M. Karl, C-MORE’s founding director, member of the National Academy of Sciences and a professor of at UH Mānoa, was instrumental in securing the 10-year, $36.8 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant in 2006 that led to its establishment as an NSF Science and Technology Center. The center unites specialists in biology, chemistry, oceanography and engineering from six partner institutions. Together, these teams investigate the structure, diversity and metabolic function of marine microbes—from those that use sunlight to generate energy to others that recycle organic matter and drive global nutrient cycles.

Beyond the facility itself, Karl and C-MORE have positioned UH Mānoa as a global leader in microbial oceanography by successfully establishing a link between molecular-level biology and large-scale ocean processes. His pioneering research on marine microbes and their role in global biogeochemical cycles has shaped modern understanding of how ocean life regulates Earth’s climate. Today, Karl continues to play a key role in advancing microbial oceanography worldwide.

“The opportunities that have been sustained by the investment in C-MORE Hale have put �鶹��ý on the map of ocean research,” Karl said. “UH is now recognized as one of the top institutions in the world to study microbial oceanography, and we are also training the next generation of leaders. The future is today.”

Modeling the future of Earth’s oceans

C-MORE’s integrated research program is organized around four themes: microbial biodiversity, metabolism and nutrient flow, remote and continuous sensing of ocean processes, and ecosystem modeling and prediction. This approach allows scientists to explore how marine microorganisms influence climate, carbon storage and energy transfer within ocean ecosystems. The center’s work has advanced predictive models of how marine environments respond to environmental change, establishing UH Mānoa as a key contributor to global ocean science.

“C-MORE Hale encompasses all the success in microbial oceanography and David Karl is the founder for microbial oceanography,” UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “He has brought funding—tens of millions of dollars to support this from the National Science Foundation, from the Moore Foundation, so private, public, federal, state, you name it. It is an unbelievable project. He has created a program that is second to none, not only here in �鶹��ý and in the continent, but in the world.”

Karl was instrumental in the establishment of an open ocean time-series, called the �鶹��ý Ocean Time-Series, as a sentinel for observing the effects of climate on the structure and function of microbial communities. C-MORE’s long-term research station, , located about 60 miles north of Oʻahu, was designated a Milestones in Microbiology Site by the American Society for Microbiology in 2015. The recognition honored UH’s historic contributions to understanding marine microbial life and its role in maintaining planetary habitability.

Building �鶹��ý’s future in ocean science

In addition to its research mission, C-MORE supports education and outreach programs that inspire future ocean scientists and engage the public in microbial ecology. These efforts span from pre-college curricula and teacher training to graduate and postdoctoral research opportunities, helping to strengthen the next generation of oceanographers.

C-MORE Hale’s naming under the Daniel K. Inouye Legacy Program honors the late senator’s lifelong commitment to advancing science and education in �鶹��ý.

During C-MORE Hale’s 15th anniversary, many students and staff are aboard the R/V Kilo Moana, a 186-foot UH Mānoa research vessel that supports the center’s oceanographic missions by serving as a mobile platform for sampling, experiments and data collection at sea. Karl said a formal celebration to mark the milestone is planned for later this fall.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa faculty and students were at the forefront of a historic scientific expedition in 1967, using a converted World War II seaplane to unlock the secrets of the tropical Pacific. On board the Tiare Tahiti, researchers including Klaus Wyrtki and graduate student Bob Kendall from the UH embarked on one of the most ambitious tropical field experiments ever attempted—the Line Islands Experiment.

The experiment was a first-of-its-kind campaign to produce meteorological and oceanographic data from the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a dynamic region near the equator that plays a key role in shaping global climate. With support from the National Science Foundation and headed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the project united researchers from multiple institutions.

Wyrtki led the oceanographic component, which provided critical observations of water circulation patterns. As Wyrtki later wrote, the mission delivered data on the equatorial undercurrent with a level of detail never previously achieved. The success of the Line Islands Experiment helped establish a new template for field science in remote regions and influenced subsequent programs such as TOGA (Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere). Wyrtki’s observations provided early evidence of equatorial current variability–concepts essential to later El Niño–Southern Oscillation research.

Warplane turned research lab

Reaching the isolated atolls, each more than 850 miles from Honolulu, was a major logistical challenge. Traditional research vessels were too slow, and few aircraft could land without runways. Enter the Kendall family and the Tiare Tahiti, a modified PBY-5A Catalina. Palmyra’s WWII-era runway was overgrown, so the amphibious design of the Catalina allowed for lagoon landings, making it the only aircraft capable of transporting researchers and instruments to the islands. Without it, continuous staffing and instrument deployment would have been impossible.

The aircraft’s chief pilot was Kendall, then a master’s student at UH working with Wyrtki. However, he wasn’t just flying the plane—he was also doing science. As a graduate student, he coordinated oceanographic research and installed ocean current meters, collecting data that informed Wyrtki’s research and Kendall’s own later doctoral work. Kendall’s wife Inge, also a UH graduate student, served as the plane’s primary navigator, her precision helping ensure the safe transport of scientists across thousands of miles of open ocean.

In a letter of acknowledgment, NCAR researchers explained their indebtedness to the Kendalls, “whose aircraft supported the group when the islands were accessible in no other way.”

Shaping modern climate science

The university’s pioneering scientists and a bold experiment in the heart of the Pacific helped transform a warplane into a vessel of discovery, proving that with ingenuity and partnership, even the most remote corners of the world can become laboratories for scientific progress.

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