{"id":234037,"date":"2026-05-12T15:36:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T01:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=234037"},"modified":"2026-05-12T15:36:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T01:36:50","slug":"meet-hayden-niles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/12\/meet-hayden-niles\/","title":{"rendered":"From South Dakota to the deep sea: Meet Hayden Niles"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Niles
In summer 2025, Niles was selected as an \u201cOcean Explorer\u201d intern for a deep sea exploration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hayden Niles grew up 1,500 miles from the nearest ocean, in Waubay, South Dakota—a landlocked town of 500 where the closest thing to the deep sea was a swimming pool. This spring, he graduates from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo with a bachelor’s in marine science<\/a>, a minor in chemistry<\/a>, a Marine Option Program certificate<\/a>, and his sights set on hydrothermal vents two miles below the surface.<\/p>\n

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Dedicated to food security, Niles partnered with The Food Basket and also helped grow lettuce on hydroponic towers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it came time for college, Niles, who graduated high school with a class of eight students, initially considered a practical path in nursing. But the ocean\u2019s pull was undeniable. He chose UH<\/abbr> Hilo, recognizing it as a realistic option that offered an incredible, accessible marine science program.<\/p>\n

“The opportunities here genuinely are shocking,” Niles said, noting the constant stream of emails about internships and jobs. By his freshman year, he had already earned his scientific diving certification, diving headfirst into his passion. He praises UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s intimate class sizes, which allowed for hands-on learning and tight-knit relationships with professors.<\/p>\n

“You get a chance to really, really get to know your professors, and that helps a ton,” he explained.<\/p>\n

Niles didn\u2019t just study the ocean; he actively engaged with it. Before his senior year, he secured a highly competitive deep-sea exploration internship aboard the research vessel Nautilus<\/a>, an opportunity with only a 2% acceptance rate. This experience, which included crossing the equator and studying unmapped seamounts, solidified his desire to pursue deep-sea microbiology. He specifically hopes to research hydrothermal vent bacteria, noting that “there\u2019s a lot of potential\u2026 specifically in the deep sea,” particularly for discoveries that could lead to treatments for diseases such as cancer.<\/p>\n

But his ambitions extend beyond research. Niles is dedicated to giving back, currently working with the Bonner Program to manage hydroponic food baskets, aiming to bring sustainable agriculture models back to rural communities like his hometown in South Dakota. He believes in the power of agricultural change, stating, “We can make a difference by shaping people\u2019s perspectives.”<\/p>\n

For more go to K\u016bkala N\u016bhou<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Niles
Niles earned recognition for his work in higher education and student mentorship.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s Hayden Niles learned to dive in a swimming pool in a town of 500. This spring, he graduates ready to study microbes that live two miles underwater.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":234202,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[251,234,1535,262,14],"class_list":["post-234037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-chemistry","tag-commencement","tag-marine-option-program","tag-marine-science","tag-uh-hilo","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t