Three years after the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, substantial steps forward have been made, but important gaps remain, according to a new report from the (UHERO) released on August 11. Housing has stabilized for many affected families, with more households in permanent homes, and some able to return to their communities. But employment and incomes have moved little over the past year. The report presents findings from the Maui Recovery Survey, an ongoing survey of people who lived, worked, or owned a business in West Maui or Kula at the time of the disaster.

Key findings from the August 11 report:

• Displacement has declined modestly. The share of households no longer displaced rose modestly over the past year, and fewer are displaced from both their home and West Maui. Of those displaced from both their home and West Maui in early 2025, about one in six have returned to West Maui but not yet to their home. Displacement also continues to extend beyond the burn area, where the share displaced from their home but remaining in the same area has risen.
• Housing stability has continued to improve. Homeownership has recovered slightly from 38% to 42%. For some, relief programs met needs that predated the fires. About 60% of those who were unhoused or in informal arrangements before the disaster had a rental by 2025, and a further 20% by 2026. About two-thirds of fire-affected households now live in permanent housing, up from just over half in early 2025. Households are also moving far less than in the first two years, and among those still in temporary arrangements the share at the same address for more than a year has tripled to almost two-thirds. However, overall rates of temporary and unstable housing remain elevated.
• Rental costs have eased for smaller properties, but remain heightened for larger units. Median rent for studios and one-bedrooms has fallen to roughly its pre-fire level by May 2026. Rents for larger units have stayed broadly flat and well above pre-disaster levels. Overall, almost half of fire-affected renters now pay less than before the fires (largely because of rental assistance), but at the same time almost 40% pay more. The share of households receiving full or near-full rental assistance has been cut by more than half, from 37% in January 2025 to 15% in May 2026.
• Employment continues to be an area of limited progress. 42% of fire-affected people work full-time, unchanged from a year earlier and still well below the 62% who did so before the fires. Unemployment has fallen from 10% to 8%, but exits from the labor market through retirement or no longer seeking work have risen from 26% to 30%. Even among working-age people, more than one and a half times as many are out of the labor force as before the disaster. Among people employed in the visitor industry before the fires, about two-thirds still work in the sector, with little change over the last year.
• Poverty levels have risen since the wildfires, but some improvements are emerging. The share of households in poverty has declined modestly over the past year but remains markedly above pre-fire levels, and most households are still poorer than before. The share of households above but near the poverty threshold has increased the most after the wildfires, but it has also been on a downward trajectory in the last few months.
• Unmet needs have declined slightly, but assistance has fallen substantially. Financial assistance remains the most frequently reported need. FEMA assistance has been cut in half over the last year and a half. Other government assistance has also declined, and only half as many people now receive help from community organizations compared with the start of 2025. About half of fire-affected people received no assistance of any kind in May 2026, almost double the share a year earlier. Some of this decline may reflect households regaining stability, but the scale suggests assistance has likely also fallen for households who still need it.

With support from the , UHERO will continue to monitor and analyze the progress of the recovery in its fourth year.

.

UHERO is housed in �鶹��ý����ԴDz�’s .

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa atmospheric scientists found that the century-old yardstick used across many industries to estimate air-conditioning and refrigeration energy demand—called cooling degree days—is missing something fundamental.

Published in , the study reports a new, physics-based version of the metric—effective cooling degree days—that captures how temperature and humidity together impact the actual work a cooling system is required to do. Applying it across North America, they found that cooling efficiency has been declining by 2–4% per decade since 1971, and that the old temperature-only metric misjudges how much cooling is required in different regions. This has led to overstating demand in some places and understating it in others.

“Estimates of cooling degree days are used everywhere,” said Jake Casselman, postdoctoral researcher in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “Utility companies, grid operators, energy planners, and engineers use them to anticipate electricity demand, and financial markets trade futures on them to hedge against unusually hot summers. If that yardstick is biased in ways that depend on a region’s climate, then the planning decisions built on it are biased too. That can mean building the wrong amount of power generation in the wrong place, or misjudging where the grid is most at risk during a heat wave.”

Challenging an old assumption

The previous approach to estimating cooling requirements assumes every degree of heat takes the same amount of energy to cool, no matter the conditions. But real cooling systems don’t work that way: they get less efficient as it gets hotter, and humidity makes it worse, because the system has to spend energy wringing moisture out of the air, not just lowering the temperature.

Casselman and Christina Karamperidou, an atmospheric sciences professor in SOEST, combined climate science with refrigeration engineering to develop a new cooling demand metric that explicitly accounts for how cooling system efficiency changes with temperature and humidity. Their approach incorporates a simplified model of the refrigeration cycle—the same physics governing every air conditioner and refrigerator—to estimate how efficiently a cooling system can remove heat under different atmospheric conditions. They applied this new cooling demand metric to 50 years of high-resolution weather data (1971–2020) across North America to quantify how climate-driven changes in cooling efficiency have already reshaped cooling demand across regions.

They repeated the analysis using projections from 19 climate models under a high-emissions scenario to assess future changes. Finally, they mapped the results onto the U.S. electricity grid, accounting for where people live, to identify the regions and power systems most likely to experience the largest shifts in cooling demand.

“Our results show that the regions facing the steepest future increases in cooling demand are the Northwest, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic, where some grid regions are projected to see cooling-related electricity demand more than double by mid-century in this high-emissions ‘worst-case scenario,’” Karamperidou said. “Getting cooling demand right isn’t an academic exercise; it directly affects how we plan, size, and operate future energy infrastructure as the climate changes.”

Pulling in opposite directions

The impact of humidity introduced a real twist on the findings. They reported that in some regions, like the desert Southwest, they expected efficiency to decline However, they found that as the air grows drier, the ease of cooling offsets the penalty of higher temperatures, keeping efficiency steady or even improving it in some spots. In humid regions, heat and moisture compound each other, so the energy burden is worse than temperature alone would suggest.

“Seeing these two effects pull in opposite directions across the continent, what we ended up calling a ‘tug-of-war,’ is something a temperature-only view would never reveal,” said Casselman.

To ensure their model was both applicable and accurate, the researchers incorporated a refrigeration framework that captures the specific physics of how temperature and humidity affect efficiency. This project was made possible through the researchers’ interactions with thermal-management engineers at the , of which UH is a key partner institution.

University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu faculty have advanced international research and practice on preparing food systems for climate-related disasters, pandemics and other interconnected disruptions through the completion of the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems special research topic, “,” now published as an open access e-book that can be downloaded.

“Universities create their greatest value by translating recent scientific knowledge into practical action. This research topic, our �鶹��ý disaster preparedness study, and the Resilient by Design initiative demonstrate a knowledge-to-action model that connects research, community partnerships and public policy to build resilient agri-food systems,” said Albie Miles, associate professor of sustainable community food systems.

Miles, who is also the co-director of the UH’s Ke Ō Mau Center for Sustainable Island Food Systems, served as lead associate editor for Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. This collection, which comprises 14 articles by 61 authors, has already garnered more than 98,000 views and downloads.

Need for improved preparedness

The research is particularly relevant for �鶹��ý. Recent history has illustrated the fragility of local food access, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the devastating 2023 Lahaina wildfires and frequent severe weather. The publication explores these types of vulnerabilities while offering evidence-based strategies for disaster preparedness, recovery and adaptation.

A recurring theme in the research is the need for improved household preparedness. A previous by UH West Oʻahu Professor Konstantinos Zougris and Miles found that only 12% of 1,006 surveyed �鶹��ý households maintained the state recommended 14-day supply of food, water and essential medicine. This finding underscores the necessity of strengthening household preparedness as a foundation for broader food system resilience.

The project also dovetails with the Resilient by Design: Reimagining Pacific Food Systems initiative that focuses on transforming Pacific food security, climate adaptation, and regional sovereignty. As a co-lead on the project’s steering committee, Miles helped bridge global resilience science with Pacific Island priorities to strengthen partnerships across the region.

Since the first major bleaching event in 1996, Hawaiian corals have been subject to increasing heat stress and more prevalent bleaching events. New research from oceanographers at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa used over the 21st century. Comparing this heat stress to previous estimates of the rate at which corals may adapt to changing conditions, the authors found that Hawaiian corals have the possibility of adapting to future heat stress, even under a high emissions scenario.

“Our research shows that Hawaiian corals may be exposed to unprecedented human-induced heat stress in the coming decades,” said Kate Feloy, lead author of the study, who conducted this work as part of her doctoral research in the in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “However, our results also provide some surprising hope that Hawaiian corals may be able to adapt to increasing temperatures.”

Feloy and co-authors used high-resolution ocean simulations, run under three different climate emissions scenarios. The modeling approach accounts for small-scale processes and can reveal important spatial patterns in local warming. This is the first time this type of high-resolution climate projection has been used to assess future heat stress around the main Hawaiian islands.

Differences across the island chain

Coral reefs have high cultural and economic value and are a critical source of food and coastal protection in �鶹��ý. This study provides projected heat stress not just for the region as a whole but examines differences across and between individual islands. The team’s results show that not all coastal locations are projected to experience human-induced climate change at the same rate. They found that corals around �鶹��ý Island are projected to experience higher heat stress than the other islands.

“The differences in warming are caused by complex ocean dynamics on small spatial scales in the waters around �鶹��ý,” Feloy said. “These dynamics change the spatial patterns of human-induced coastal warming. Because of the spatial differences in projected heat stress, the rate at which corals will need to adapt in order to keep pace with increasing temperatures varies around the islands.”

.

Three years after the 2023 Maui wildfires, residents are showing meaningful signs of recovery—but persistent food insecurity, housing instability, health concerns and weakening social support continue to place many families at risk. That is the central finding of a new community report released July 27 from the (MauiWES), led by researchers at the University of �鶹��ý.

The report, “,” follows many of the same adults and children over time, allowing researchers to examine how their health and living conditions have changed since the disaster. The findings show that recovery is underway, but that progress remains uneven across Maui families.

MauiWES has conducted more than 4,000 appointments and screenings to more than 2,500 participants, providing residents with mental health assessments, blood pressure checks, lung function testing, blood testing, social needs screening, health information and referrals.

Key findings

• Employment among returning adults increased from 62.0% to 80.9%.
• Health insurance coverage increased from 85.1% to 90.5%.
• Participants living in temporary housing declined from 40.6% to 34.4%, while those who felt secure in their housing increased from 72.2% to 79.6%.
• Food insecurity remained widespread, affecting 44.9% of returning adults. The most severe level of food insecurity remained essentially unchanged at approximately 23%.
• High social support declined from 62.3% to 53.7%, suggesting growing recovery fatigue and strain on families and community networks.
• Nearly one in two adults continued to report depressive symptoms, approximately one in four screened with moderate-to-severe anxiety and nearly one in three reported post-traumatic stress symptoms.

“These findings show that Maui’s recovery is moving forward, with real progress in employment, insurance coverage and housing stability,” said Ruben Juarez, co-director of MauiWES and –HMSA Distinguished Professor of Health Economics. “The opportunity now is to build on that progress by connecting housing, food, healthcare and social support so that every family has the foundation needed to recover and thrive.”

The report identifies four closely connected foundations of long-term health recovery:

• Food and income security
• Stable and secure housing
• Access to healthcare and follow-up
• Strong family and community support

Researchers found that residents facing food insecurity, housing insecurity or limited social support consistently experienced greater emotional distress. For example, half of adults who felt insecure in their housing reported moderate-to-severe post-traumatic stress symptoms, compared with about one-quarter of those who felt secure.

“The progress is real, and it should be recognized,” said Alika K. Maunakea, MauiWES co-director and professor. “But the biological, emotional and social consequences of a disaster do not disappear on the same timeline as debris removal or reconstruction. Long-term recovery requires continued health monitoring, early intervention and trusted pathways to care.”

Children remain a priority

The report highlights mixed findings among children and adolescents. Overall anxiety and mild-to-moderate depression declined, but severe depressive symptoms increased from 11.8% to 15.1%, and severe post-traumatic stress symptoms increased.

Children’s lung function screening results improved but remained concerning, according to researchers. Stage 1-range blood-pressure readings and obesity also increased, reinforcing the importance of continued pediatric screening, school-based mental-health support and family-centered services.

“Children may appear resilient while still carrying significant emotional and physical effects beneath the surface,” said Christopher Knightsbridge, a MauiWES mental-health therapist based in Lahaina. “Supporting children means supporting the entire family—including their housing, food security, daily routines and access to trusted care.”

From screening to sustained care

The report calls for Maui’s recovery to move from separate emergency programs toward a coordinated health-recovery system connecting healthcare, behavioral health, housing assistance, food programs, schools, insurance enrollment and trusted community organizations.

“Screening cannot end with a result on paper,” Juarez said. “Every concerning result should become a supported pathway to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Families should not be left to navigate a complicated recovery system on their own.”

MauiWES is a community-based partnership involving UH researchers, local healthcare providers, grassroots organizations and recovery partners across Maui.

.

See more UH News stories on MauiWES. For more on MauiWES and information on resources, .

Last fall, University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researchers asked the question: Can �鶹��ý grow rice again? Now, a new study has given a data-driven answer: Yes, and the quality might be higher than expected.

The report is the work of scientists from the UH Mānoa (CTAHR) and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. They found that high-quality Japanese rice types can thrive in fields with traditional irrigation systems, instead of traditional flooded paddies.

The collaboration evaluated two of Japan’s premier short-grain varieties, Koshihikari and Hitomebore, during the 2025 summer season.

The team tested upland cultivation in fields in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi, owned by farmer Jerry Ornellas, a former CTAHR field technician. Yields in Kapaʻa reached 3.79 to 4.01 tons per hectare, comparable to many fields in Tokyo. Surprisingly, while the crops in Japan required 134 days to mature, �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s crops were harvested in 97 days. Shorter tropical daylengths accelerated their growth.

“This was an excellent start to the collaborative research to explore the potential of bringing back rice farming to �鶹��ý,” said Professor Tomoaki Miura of CTAHR’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management.

�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s stable temperatures and abundant sunshine generated heavier grains, yielding an outstanding grain-filling rate of up to 93.9%. The island-grown rice also achieved a superior whole-grain ratio and a lower protein content, a trait highly prized for creating a softer, stickier eating texture.

�鶹��ý imports 100% of its rice, totaling 140 million pounds a year. Because residents consume three times the national average, establishing local production can play a major role in the state’s food security.

Human activities are fundamentally altering the chemical makeup of local coral reefs, according to a study led by the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa and published in . The research team discovered that 25 contaminants from agricultural, industrial and pharmaceutical sources accumulated in the soft tissues of coral around Maui. Additionally, in areas impacted by human activities, the energy and nutrient availability within the coral’s tissue decreases, making them significantly less resilient to environmental stressors such as warmer or acidic waters.

“Our findings suggest that monitoring the pool of chemicals within the coral tissues, called metabolomes, can serve as a powerful tool for tracking the hidden impacts of anthropogenic [human induced] disturbance on marine life,” said Zach Quinlan, lead author and research biologist at the (HIMB) in the UH Mānoa .

Quinlan and an international team of researchers tested the metabolomes of 380 lobe corals (Porites lobata) and rice corals (Montipora capitata) from 16 sites off west and south Maui. They found that human activities both within the adjacent watershed and in the marine ecosystem altered the composition of the corals’ metabolomes. In areas with more ecosystem disturbance, there was increased accumulation of contaminants and a decrease of nutrient and energy reserves in the coral tissues.

“It was extremely surprising that the metabolomes of both coral species had almost identical trends,” said Quinlan. “These corals have very different life strategies, and we wouldnʻt normally expect them to accumulate contaminants the same or even necessarily respond the same to disturbances.”

Clues from 2016 bleaching event

Using historical trends in coral from five of the sites they sampled, the team found that sites that had the most severe declines in coral cover after the 2016 bleaching event are the sites with the most impacted metabolomes. At more impacted sites, nitrogen and energy reserves were reduced, while stress chemicals were enriched.

The research team proposed two potential mechanisms by which human activities and contamination of marine environments lead to decreased coral resilience: 1) accumulation of anthropogenic molecules such as pharmaceuticals and industrial byproducts, and 2) increased pressure from anthropogenic activities requires coral to utilize portions of their nitrogen and energetic reserves.

Tracing contaminants through the ecosystem

The researchers propose that monitoring the metabolomes of coral or other coastal seafloor species can be used as a powerful tool to track human impacts on natural ecosystems.

“Beyond the implications for coral health and resilience, this study demonstrates how many anthropogenic contaminants are escaping into marine ecosystems,” Megan Donahue, senior author on the paper and HIMB director. “We see increasing evidence that anthropogenic contaminants have broad cumulative impacts that can undermine the resilience of coastal ecosystems.”

Looking ahead, Quinlan and team are searching for ways to enrich coral tissue nitrogen and energy reserves in controlled experiments to determine whether those increases lead to more resilient corals.

Additional co-authors include researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, University of Newcastle (Australia), University of New South Wales (Australia), Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute (Australia), The Nature Conservancy, University of California Merced, Princeton University and James Cook University (Australia).

When talking about �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s food security, the conversation often focuses on physical infrastructure — warehouses, cold storage, and doubling crop production to combat importing 90% of our food. A new by a University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researcher contends that physical infrastructure and production are essential, but incomplete when looking at the challenges.

Published in Food Policy by Sothy Eng, an associate professor in the (CTAHR), the article emphasizes that cultural and social capital are under-recognized parts of achieving food self-sufficiency.

Cultural capital refers to the tastes, knowledge, and familiarity that influence what people value and consume; social capital refers to networks of trust, cooperation, and connection.

Eng, who teaches in CTAHR’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, states that expanding food production requires deliberate attention to culture, inclusion, and trust. His draws on a statewide survey of 313 farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than asking for fertilizer, soil, or fencing, local growers identified peer-to-peer networks, resource sharing, and community engagement as their most critical needs to sustain operations and morale.

Strongest driver of farming efficiency

Global data indicate that social capital is often the strongest driver of farming efficiency, outweighing both human and natural capital. Trust is vital for coordination, inclusion, and resilience across farmers, institutions, and consumers. Cultural and social capital help explain why production alone may not translate into local food consumption or stronger food security.

To bridge the gap between what �鶹��ý grows and what its communities actually eat, Eng advocates for investing in “relationship/symbolic infrastructure.” Practical solutions include expanding university campus farmers’ markets and recipe-sharing programs. These initiatives serve as cultural classrooms that build familiarity with local crops such as taro leaves and moringa, naturally driving local demand.

To achieve true food security, Eng concluded, food policy should grow relationships alongside crops. As he writes in the article, “Cultural and social capital are not substitutes for technology or infrastructure; they are the relational soil in which sustainability takes root.”

For many adults at risk for Type 2 diabetes, knowing where to begin can be one of the biggest obstacles to prevention. A new study from the Healthy �鶹��ý Evaluation Team (HHET) at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and the �鶹��ý State Department of Health (HDOH) found that a statewide media campaign helped encourage more adults to take that first step by enrolling in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).

The study, published in , evaluated the statewide Beat Diabetes campaign, a HDOH initiative that ran from July through October 2024 across different media. The campaign encouraged adults at risk for Type 2 diabetes to enroll in the evidence-based DPP, which can reduce the risk of developing the disease by up to 58%. A follow-up survey was conducted from October through December 2024.

The Beat Diabetes campaign targeted Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander and Filipino adults—communities with higher prediabetes rates—using messages tested in focus groups reflecting those populations. Participants responded most strongly to messages urging immediate action, shaping the campaign’s call to enroll in a DPP.

Evaluating campaign impact

To evaluate the campaign’s effectiveness, researchers from HHET, housed in the UH ����ԴDz� , collaborated with HDOH’s (CDPHPD) to survey 860 �鶹��ý residents ages 35 to 64 who reported at least one diabetes risk factor.

“Our programs leverage HHET’s expertise in chronic disease prevention and health communications. We’re excited to use these findings to improve our support for people at risk for diabetes,” said Blythe Nett of CDPHPD.

Among survey respondents, 40% reported seeing or hearing the Beat Diabetes campaign. Those who recalled the campaign were more likely to join the DPP than those who did not.

“Exposure to the campaign may increase one’s likelihood to join a DPP; however, it’s important to also address other structural and logistical barriers that can get in the way of actual enrollment into a DPP,” said Kara Saiki, the study’s lead author and HHET researcher.

The findings suggest that culturally relevant public health campaigns can encourage people to take the first step toward diabetes prevention. Researchers say future efforts may be even more effective by pairing motivational messaging with strategies that reduce barriers such as time, cost and access to prevention programs.

For more information and helpful tips on diabetes prevention, .

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the reclassification of the Aʻeo, or Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act, a rare and hopeful milestone for a native Hawaiian species. The change, published in the Federal Register alongside a species-specific 4(d) rule, reflects more than 50 years of conservation work that has brought the long-legged waterbird back from the brink. The recovery is documented in a new study led by researchers from the University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s (CTAHR) and their partners, published in .

Once abundant across the Hawaiian Islands, the Aeʻo dwindled to roughly 200 birds in the 1940s after decades of overhunting, the loss of wetlands to agriculture and development, and the spread of invasive predators. Following its listing as endangered in 1973 and sustained conservation efforts, the population has since climbed to more than 1,500 birds today.

Community partnering with conservation managers

The team analyzed more than five decades of data, representing more than 2,000 nests across nine wetlands on Oʻahu from 1963 to 2020. They found that nesting success and chick fledging success improved measurably over time, providing evidence that management actions such as predator control and habitat restoration are working.

“This is a bright spot story,” said Melissa Price, associate professor in CTAHR’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. “So many species across �鶹��ý are in decline. The aeʻo demonstrates how community can work in partnership with conservation managers to achieve recovery and rebuild relationships with our native species.”

A promising path

Expanding managed wetland habitat is the key to increasing the Aeʻo population. Aeʻo readily colonize restored and managed wetlands, and recent work has documented the birds nesting in restored Indigenous wetland agro-ecosystems. As sea-level rise threatens existing coastal wetlands, these community- and culturally-grounded restoration efforts offer both new habitat and a model for stewardship.

The new rule accompanying the reclassification is designed to keep the momentum going. It allows certain activities that benefit the Aʻeo to continue, including habitat management and restoration work, even where such activities would otherwise be restricted under the Act. This flexibility is intended to sustain the partnerships and on-the-ground care that the species still depends on as it progresses toward full recovery.

The authors are careful to call the Aeʻo a “conservation success story in progress.” Like many native Hawaiian species, it remains conservation-reliant: dependent on ongoing predator control, water management and habitat protection.

“Downlisting doesn’t mean the work is done,” said lead author Jessica Idle, a manager with the UH Mānoa Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. “It means the work is paying off. Continued monitoring and management, especially expanding protected wetland habitat, will be essential to keep the population growing.”

The research was a collaboration among UH Mānoa, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the �鶹��ý Department of Land and Natural Resources, Tufts University and other partners, reflecting the coordinated, cross-agency effort behind the bird’s recovery.

New research shows the Hawaiian mantle plume has gotten hotter by about 250°C (480°F) over the past 47 million years. Led by Earth scientists at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, the study published in , reverses the long-held idea that hotspots start out very hot and progressively cool with time. Researchers also found that heat surges produced the two largest volcanoes along the Northwestern and Main Hawaiian Island chain.

The Hawaiian Ridge consists of 65 volcanoes spread over 3,500 km (2,179 miles) that were formed during the past 47 million years as the Pacific plate slowly moved over the Hawaiian hotspot, where a plume of molten material flows out of Earth’s crust. A team of researchers, led by Michael Garcia, Emeritus Professor of in the UH Mānoa , set out to evaluate hypotheses that might explain the 100-fold fluctuation in lava volume along this ridge. By examining olivine basalts from 16 volcanoes, the researchers assessed four testable causes, including changes in lithosphere thickness, magma source composition, rate of the Pacific plate movement and plume temperature.

“It was a major surprise to find such a strong, direct correlation between mantle temperatures and volcano size,” said Garcia. “Other potential explanations simply failed to explain the data.”

Cutting-edge ‘geothermometer’

To uncover this connection, the team developed a cutting-edge “geothermometer” to estimate the temperature of the lava when it first formed deep within the Earth’s mantle. They paired these temperatures with recent, comprehensive ocean floor surveys to calculate more accurate estimates of volcano size along the Hawaiian Ridge.

The results show an overall increase in lava temperature with two heat surges: One at 14–20 million years ago (making the largest and longest lived shield volcano in the last 60 million years, Pūhāhonu) and the other making the Hawaiian Islands (0–6 million years ago).

“The development of the new geothermometer allows one to better understand the history of volcanoes and why some are larger than other volcanoes,” Garcia added.

The researchers suggest that the overall increase in the Hawaiian mantle plume temperature is possibly related to drifting of dense, hot material in the lowermost mantle.

Reliable operation of data centers has become essential to nearly all sectors of modern society, including healthcare, education, government services, power grid operation, banking, defense and disaster relief. New research published in and led by University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa revealed that future climate conditions may reduce the availability of one of the cheapest and most energy-efficient approaches to cooling data centers.

The research team, led by Christina Karamperidou, atmospheric sciences professor in the UH Mānoa , assessed historical and projected temperatures and humidity levels around the world and compared them to the conditions required for “direct air free cooling,” wherein naturally cold outside air is brought in to cool a building or equipment.

A confluence of factors presents a substantial societal challenge: with the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, the demand for data centers is increasing, just as climate conditions are limiting an efficient approach to cooling these facilities.

“We found that periods of time when temperature and humidity exceed recommended operating thresholds for direct air free cooling are becoming more frequent and lasting longer in many regions,” said Karamperidou. “This will reduce the availability of air free cooling for a growing number of data centers globally.”

Looking to the past and future

Karamperidou and co-authors combined high-resolution hourly weather observations with climate model simulations and a global database of data center locations. This allowed them to evaluate how often environmental conditions exceeded recommended operating limits for direct air free cooling, both historically and in future climate scenarios. By analyzing global datasets, they were able to identify large-scale patterns and trends that would not be visible from studies focused on individual facilities.

The researchers found over the past 45 years, the number of hours characterized by high temperature and humidity conditions that limit direct air cooling has increased significantly, particularly across the tropics and the southeastern U.S. A site- and market-level analysis further showed that the share of data centers exposed to conditions that limit air free cooling availability for at least one quarter of the year is rising. Projections through mid-century indicate continued expansion of these constraints with sustained warming and increasing humidity.

Worst-day conditions

One of their key findings is that the largest changes are not always seen in average conditions. In several regions, worst-day conditions are intensifying more rapidly than average conditions, indicating that environmental stress is becoming increasingly concentrated in rare but consequential events.

“From an operational perspective, those worst-day conditions often drive contingency planning, system overrides, redundancy requirements, and reliability decisions,” Karamperidou shared. “This suggests that infrastructure planning may need to account not only for average environmental conditions but also for how the most stressful days are changing over time.”

This work was developed in collaboration with researchers working on cyberinfrastructure and next-generation cooling technologies, including partners through the , where UH is a key partner institution.

Unexpectedly low calf numbers within the spinner dolphin population off �鶹��ý Island were revealed in a study led by scientists with the (MMRP) at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa along with national and international collaborators. Their research, published in , determined that calves make up only about 9% of the population, a stark contrast to the 17% expected in a healthy, stable population, raising urgent concerns about the long-term survival of this isolated population.

Viewing spinner dolphins is an attraction of the tourism industry in �鶹��ý, however, those activities put pressure on the marine species. Previous research has shown that this population of dolphins experiences the highest levels of disturbance exposure recorded for dolphins worldwide.

“The evidence suggests chronic human disturbance—especially tourism and recreational-related interactions during critical dolphin resting periods—as a likely contributing factor affecting reproductive success and calf survival,” said lead author Fabien Vivier, who was a doctoral student at the in the UH Mānoa at the time of this work. “The findings support stronger conservation actions, such as time-area closures for human activities, alongside continued long-term monitoring—actions that have long been called for.”

Drone surveys reveal population trends

To reach these conclusions, scientists utilized drone photography to measure the body length of free-swimming dolphins. By combining these aerial measurements with age-length data from stranded spinner dolphins collected by Kristi West, study co-author and researcher with the UH Health and Stranding Lab at the UH Mānoa , the team created the first age-length growth curve for this specific population. This allowed them to accurately categorize individuals into calves (under 2 years), juveniles (2–9 years), and adults (over 9 years).

Age structure is an early indicator of population health and long-term viability. The documented low proportion of calves suggests the spinner dolphin population off �鶹��ý Island may not be replacing itself fast enough, which could lead to future population decline.

Highly valuable and vulnerable population

In �鶹��ý, spinner dolphins are culturally, ecologically and economically important. Research from 2013 estimated that each individual dolphin is valued at more than $3.3 million over its lifetime and collectively, dolphin tourism generates more than $100 million annually for the state’s economy.

With spinner dolphins following a predictable daily cycle—foraging offshore at night and returning to shallow coastal bays during the day to rest and socialize—they are especially vulnerable to tourism activities in these nearshore habitats.

“This study provides one of the first population-level demographic signals suggesting those long-term disturbances may now be affecting reproduction and calf survival,” said Professor Lars Bejder, co-author on the study and MMRP director.

A call for stronger protections

While a 2021 federal rule requires people and vessels to remain at least 50 yards away from the dolphins, experts from the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission and the Pacific Scientific Review Group have argued that this measure is insufficient. The study authors are calling for stronger conservation actions, specifically time-area closures that would restrict human access to critical resting bays during the day.

“Understanding these impacts is critical for protecting an isolated local population before declines become irreversible,” Randall Wells, study co-author and director of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s . “We hope this work provides the science-based evidence needed to develop effective protections for spinner dolphins while helping balance marine tourism, cultural stewardship, and long-term ecosystem health in �鶹��ý.”

Future research and monitoring will depend on available funding, with scientists aiming to track long-term changes in age structure, reproduction, and population and further refine non-invasive drone-based methods.

At least $230 million was spent on cancer care delivered outside �鶹��ý between 2021 and 2023, according to a led by researchers at the . Geographic isolation requires many �鶹��ý patients to seek advanced cancer therapeutics and clinical trials on the mainland.

Researchers analyzed de-identified commercial insurance claims from the �鶹��ý Medical Service Association (HMSA) for residents receiving cancer treatment. The data showed that patients with complex cancers, such as leukemia and brain tumors, were most likely to require out-of-state care, highlighting a need to expand local subspecialty capacity.

“Patients who must leave the islands for specialized cancer care bear enormous burdens: On top of medical bills, they may face travel expenses, time away from work, and the emotional challenge of receiving treatment far from home and the support of their loved ones. For some patients, the enormous cost of out-of-state treatment puts that care out of reach,” said Hideko Yamauchi, director of clinical affairs at the UH Cancer Center, and the principal investigator for the study.

Analyzing data on why patients seek treatment out-of-state helps the center identify gaps in local services, allowing them to expand specialized care and keep patients closer to their support networks.

‘Financial toxicity’ places strain on patients

The study found that out-of-state cancer care expenditures totaled approximately $58 million in 2021, rose to $94 million in 2022, and reached nearly $79 million in 2023. Total spending exceeded $230 million during the three-year period.

Patients who must leave the islands for specialized cancer care bear enormous burdens.
—Hideko Yamauchi

Breast cancer accounted for the largest total amount spent on out-of-state care at $59.5 million, due to its high prevalence, researchers said. It was followed by leukemia ($46.4 million), lymphoma ($21.5 million), prostate cancer ($14.9 million), and pulmonary cancer ($14 million).

However, leukemia exhibited the highest proportion of out-of-state spending for treatment, at 39%, followed by lymphoma (29%), central nervous system tumors (27%), multiple myeloma (21%) and breast cancer (21%).

The study analyzed direct medical costs paid via HMSA, excluding out-of-pocket expenses like travel, lodging, and lost income—factors that exacerbate “financial toxicity” for patients.

“A concern raised by these findings is that the patients we can see in the data are only the ones who successfully traveled,” Yamauchi said. “The patients we worry about are the ones we cannot see in this data—those who did not travel and faced barriers to accessing specialized care. Understanding that hidden burden is an important next step for research and policy.”

Expansion of �鶹��ý cancer care

Increased investment in high-demand specialty services, advanced diagnostics, and tele-oncology could reduce the need for travel.

“The UH Cancer Center deeply appreciates HMSA, a member of our , for collaborating on this crucial research. This study demonstrates why continuing to expand cancer care in �鶹��ý is so important,” said Naoto T. Ueno, director of the UH Cancer Center and study co-author.

Initiatives such as the ���‘ō���� Early Phase Clinical Research Center (opening July 6) and the Ka ʻUmeke Lama program are now expanding local access to Phase I trials.

Co-authors also included Deborah Taira, professor, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, UH Hilo; Mark M. Mugiishi, chief executive officer, HMSA; and Jeffrey Tom, clinical systems director for corporate strategy, HMSA.

.

Coral reef decline driven by climate change could cost �鶹��ý residents between $1.8 billion and $3 billion in lost reef-related activities by 2100, according to a published in Ecological Economics. The research projects these burdens will not fall equally, with lower-income and disadvantaged communities in the state facing disproportionate impacts.

The study was led by researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s (CTAHR), alongside scientists from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the University of Trento. It is one of the first studies to combine detailed ecological models with community-level economic data across the state.

“Coral reefs are foundational to life in �鶹��ý culturally, ecologically and economically,” said lead author Ashley Lowe Mackenzie, an affiliated faculty member in the CTAHR Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM). “Our work makes visible something that is often invisible in policy conversations by valuing real welfare losses that residents will experience as these ecosystems degrade.”

Mapping future losses

The research team used a sophisticated biophysical simulation called the Atlantis ecosystem model to project how coral cover will change across nearshore reef systems through the year 2100. They tested three different climate pathways representing low, mid-range and high global emissions scenarios.

By connecting these ecological shifts with a recreation demand model, they mapped potential economic losses for residents at a precise 1-kilometer resolution. Because the figures only capture local recreational use—such as swimming, snorkeling and diving—the authors emphasize that the $1.8 billion to $3 billion estimate represents a lower end of total economic damage.

Key findings include:

• The earliest and most severe losses are projected along the leeward (west and south) coasts of �鶹��ý Island and Maui.
• Recreational losses are expected to spread northward to Oʻahu by mid-century.
• Under a high-emissions climate scenario, nearshore reefs face a near-total collapse by 2100. Under a low-emissions scenario, some windward (east and north) coastlines show signs of partial recovery late in the century.

Disproportionate impacts on local communities

Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice tool (EJScreen), the researchers discovered that disadvantaged communities often face higher per-person welfare losses. Traditional economic methods usually project lower monetary losses for lower-income groups, making this finding particularly striking. The data indicate that vulnerable communities are disproportionately exposed to the specific areas experiencing the steepest reef declines.

“This study puts numbers to what our communities have long understood—that losing our reefs means losing the recreational opportunities, cultural practices, and quality of life that define what it means to live in �鶹��ý,” said Brian Neilson, administrator of the �鶹��ý Division of Aquatic Resources. “Reef-based recreation is deeply tied to traditions of fishing, gathering, and caring for our nearshore waters.”

A call for local action

The findings connect directly to local state-led efforts such as �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Holomua Marine Initiative, which works with communities and Indigenous knowledge holders to design site-specific reef management.

“The magnitude of those potential losses should be a wake-up call to take action now to protect our nearshore environment,” said senior author Kirsten L.L. Oleson, NREM professor. “Our lab’s research suggests that a lot can be accomplished through local action, particularly by reducing land-based pollution and over-harvesting.”

The research was supported by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program.

Forty years ago, Tim Lee was just a self-described “surfer boy” taking classes at and walking the length of Waikīkī begging for a foot in the hospitality door. Today, he is a world-renowned hotelier managing a legendary Michelin Three-Key resort. Yet, his deepest wish is simply to bring his global success back home to give back to the islands.

“I bring my aloha spirit wherever I go,” Lee said. “It’s always a part of the equation.”

Lee’s journey is one of the emotional heartbeats of the 2026 issue of .

Other stories in the issue show UH’s impact in �鶹��ý and beyond:

• A bold new vision for the future: Get an exclusive look at President Wendy Hensel’s first year at the helm. From launching the Direct2�鶹��ýadmission initiative to driving increases in applications from first-time freshmen for fall 2026, UH is breaking down barriers to ensure academic excellence remains accessible and affordable.
• Keeping kamaʻāina home: The mission is clear: keep our kamaʻāina in the islands by building seamless, reliable pathways directly from the classroom to fulfilling careers. This issue highlights UH’s aggressive “generational workforce commitment.”
• Groundbreaking, world-class science: UH continues to lead the globe in environmental and earth sciences. Learn about a revolutionary UH study that discovered how Kīlauea Volcano signals magma shifts through the seismic energy of ocean waves—not just earthquakes—allowing for vastly improved eruption predictions.



• Culturally rooted AI: UH �ᾱ����’s LOHE Lab (Listening Observatory for Hawaiian Ecosystems) has partnered with Google’s Perch AI to process massive amounts of acoustic data in near real-time, creating a life-saving early warning system for �鶹��ý‘s endangered native birds.
• Celebrating alumni creativity and voice: Be inspired by the incredible achievements of our alumni who are dominating the literary world. Celebrate Lee Tonouchi, the acclaimed “Pidgin Guerrilla,” as he takes on the role of �鶹��ý’s new poet laureate, dedicating his term to empowering marginalized communities to embrace their unique voices.
• Magical realism and history: Dive into the world of Hilo-born author Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes’ new novel, The Pōhaku, which weaves 300 years of �鶹��ý-California history and climate themes into a beautiful story of generational healing.

Whether you are passionate about new technology, environmental conservation, local economics or the vibrant arts, this issue of University of �鶹��ý Magazine proves that the legacy you are a part of is stronger—and more impactful—than ever.

University of �鶹��ý Magazine is published by PacificBasin Communications in partnership with the , and annually highlights alumni accomplishments and news from UH’s 10 campuses.

Trauma from vehicle collisions caused the majority of documented deaths for the Pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl), according to a led by researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa. The findings represent the most extensive mortality assessment to date for this culturally significant raptor, which is native to the Hawaiian Islands.

The study was conducted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM) in the (CTAHR). Researchers analyzed 32 years of records (1993–2024) from 10 organizations across the islands.

Researchers compiled 242 documented Pueo mortalities and found that trauma accounted for 62% of deaths. Within those cases, two-thirds were linked to vehicle collisions or occurred in close proximity to roadways. Wind turbines represented 13% of trauma-related deaths, while other identified causes included emaciation and disease.

“Our findings highlight that many Pueo deaths may be preventable,” said Melissa Price, an NREM professor and senior author of the study. “Reducing vehicle collisions and increasing awareness about rodenticide use can help all of us support Pueo conservation. This work is dedicated to University of �鶹��ý alumnus Stephanie Bell, whose work on this project for her undergraduate senior thesis made this statewide assessment possible.”

Complex factors in wildlife deaths

While trauma was often the immediate cause of death, researchers noted that many birds suffered from underlying health issues, including parasites, emaciation or suspected exposure to rodenticides.

“Wildlife mortality is often complex,” said Thierry Work of the U.S. Geological Survey, a collaborator on the study. “Perhaps owls are more likely to forage along roadsides because that is where prey are easily available, or other underlying conditions increase their risk of collision. Without systematic necropsies and toxicology testing, it can be difficult to untangle these contributing factors.”

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Olivia Wang noted, “This study adds to a growing body of research that indicates many native bird species in �鶹��ý are killed by vehicle and infrastructure collisions. Understanding the magnitude of impact of these threats helps us identify areas to target management and outreach efforts so we can minimize and mitigate the various threats Pueo face.”

The study provides the first statewide synthesis of Pueo mortality, identifying critical areas for future research and conservation action. While the number of reported mortalities has increased over time, researchers suggested this could reflect improved reporting efforts, more cars on the road or faster driving speeds. A statewide assessment of Pueo population size is a critical next step to understand how this level of mortality might affect the population over time.

For more than three decades, Richard Stevens has been an educator, mentor and environmental steward, inspiring generations of students at .

Now, the beloved professor is sharing the deeply personal tales that shaped his life in his new book, Storyland.

The memoir traces his extraordinary journey from the battlefields of the Vietnam War to the ancient trails of �鶹��ý Island—a path of healing and discovery heavily influenced by his transformative experiences within the University of �鶹��ý.

Life-changing transformation

Stevens, a former U.S. Marine, credits his time at UH with helping him pivot from the harsh realities of combat to a life dedicated to peace and cultural preservation. After returning from Vietnam and moving in with a Native Hawaiian family who embraced him as their “haole boy,” Stevens eventually pursued master’s and doctorate degrees in history at UH ����ԴDz�. This educational journey offered him a new, profound purpose.

“It completely changed the direction of my life,” Stevens said of his connection to the university. “From being just out of the Marines and now embarked on really a life of peace and nature.”

Mission of harmony and healing

Since teaching his first class at �鶹��ý CC in 1988, Stevens has educated more than 7,000 students. In his classroom, he seamlessly intertwines historical lessons with vivid personal anecdotes—affectionately called “storylands”—which ultimately laid the foundation for his new book.

The university has also inspired previous books. Years ago, after sharing with students in Pālamanui about his Vietnam experiences, a student encouraged and supported him to go back and find a Vietnamese woman warrior who had been captured and interrogated. That journey was relayed in his book Trail to Redemption: Love and War in Vietnam.

“It’s an example of the university and my association with the university playing these huge roles in my life, even giving me a mission,” Stevens said. “I would say that mission is a double one of peace and nature healing, and then giving me the opportunity to talk about it to eager listeners and then to engage those eager listeners in doing things. That has been a glorious part of this whole story of my life.”

Stevens’ impact extends far beyond the classroom walls. He and his students actively restore the island’s natural landscapes, planting thousands of native trees and caring for a 909-acre lowland dry forest preserve adjacent to the Pālamanui campus. Stevens invites his students to dedicate their planted trees to beloved family members, creating what he calls a “Forest of Loved Souls.”

• Related UH News:
  From incarceration to inspiration: �鶹��ý CC Pālamanui transformed Drew Camacho, April 28, 2025
  706-acre Pālamanui ‘living laboratory’ stokes reforestation, July 1, 2022
  706-acre Pālamanui forest preserve a ‘living laboratory’, November 30, 2021

Motivation to find your path

Through Storyland, Stevens hopes to inspire his readers. He invites them to reconsider the impact of their own personal history. The book is not only a testament to resilience and the healing power of storytelling, but also a call for students to discover their own purpose.

“Understanding what you are looking for is helpful but not required. All that’s necessary is the motivation to find your path,” Stevens said, sharing a quote entered in his classes’ “Quote Contests.”

A new international study co-authored by a University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researcher found that drifting devices used by the global tuna fishing industry are entering marine protected areas around the world, creating potential risks for wildlife and sensitive ocean habitats.

The study, , analyzed publicly available data on drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs)—floating rafts equipped with GPS technology that help commercial fishing fleets locate tuna. Researchers estimated the devices have likely drifted through more than half of the world’s marine protected areas by total area.

The findings are especially relevant for �鶹��ý and the broader Pacific, where vast marine protected areas coexist with some of the world’s busiest tuna fishing grounds. Researchers found hotspots for dFAD interactions in the central Pacific, western Indian Ocean and Caribbean. They also documented at least 6,300 strandings of the devices in 174 protected areas across 53 maritime jurisdictions.

When these floating structures wash ashore or become trapped on reefs, they can damage coral, contribute to plastic pollution and entangle marine animals such as sea turtles and sharks. The study identified nearly 500 at-risk species living within protected areas where dFAD strandings have been observed.

John Lynham, a professor in the UH Mānoa and in the and a study co-author, said the research highlights an unintended consequence of modern tuna fishing technology.

“Marine protected areas are designed to safeguard ocean ecosystems, but drifting fishing devices do not recognize those boundaries,” Lynham said. “Our findings show there is an opportunity for the fishing industry, governments and conservation groups to work together on practical solutions that better protect these important places.”

The findings come as the future of marine protected areas has drawn renewed attention in the U.S. following President Donald Trump’s decision to lift restrictions on commercial fishing in some marine national monuments. The study itself focuses on the broader issue of drifting fishing devices crossing protected boundaries regardless of whether fishing is allowed inside those areas.

The researchers emphasized that while the fishing industry has made progress by developing less harmful and more biodegradable devices, additional steps are needed. They recommend stronger regulations, greater transparency in tracking the devices and better systems to retrieve them before they become marine debris. The study also found that the burden of removing stranded devices often falls on local communities and marine managers, including those in small island nations that may not benefit economically from the fisheries responsible for the equipment.

Researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� were awarded a $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the next phase of the Maui LOA (Learnings to Overcome Adversities) study, which examines the long-term impacts of the 2023 Maui wildfires and factors that influence health and well-being after disasters.

The three-year award is led by Alex Ortega, dean of the , and Keawe Kaholokula, chair and professor in the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the (JABSOM).

“The first phase of Maui LOA revealed important lessons about the health and mental health consequences of the wildfires,” said Ortega. “With NIH’s continued support, we can now translate those lessons into evidence-based strategies that improve disaster preparedness, recovery and resilience for communities facing future disasters.”

Lessons from Maui residents

Researchers will survey 1,200 adults who were living on Maui during the wildfires, including those who were displaced, to examine factors that influence long-term recovery and disaster response among individuals, families, communities, healthcare systems and social service organizations across Maui.

Related UH News story: Study links 2023 Maui wildfire to spike in suicide, overdose, August 7, 2025

The new award builds on an initial phase that gathered perspectives from residents, community organizations, emergency responders and healthcare providers to help guide the survey design.

Recent findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in August 2025 showed that the mental health effects of the wildfires extended across Maui, not just within burn zones. The study identified housing displacement and income loss as key drivers of depression and anxiety.

The survey findings are expected to inform public policy, emergency response planning, health services and community recovery efforts in �鶹��ý and nationwide.

“Nearly three years into the recovery, we hope to learn more about the personal, sociocultural, community and system-level factors that promote health and well-being after experiencing a devastating disaster, such as the 2023 Maui wildfire,” Kaholokula said.

He added, “Recovery is not the same for everyone. We hope to understand how these factors evolve over time and vary across different populations as communities continue to rebuild.”