Lawmakers in the US state of Hawaii are pushing for measures to defend the state’s shorelines, including the iconic Waikiki Beach, from rising sea levels caused by global warming. Surveys by the state show that sea levels could rise by up to 90 centimeters by the end of the century, which would inundate its beaches. […]

Hawaiian lawmakers are taking proactive measures to tackle the effects of climate change before it’s too late in a new bid to redevelop Honolulu’s famous Waikiki Beach to protect residents from projected future flooding. Hawaii has seen over half a foot (15 centimeters) rise in sea level over the last few decades and that rises […]

At a Glance Hawaii will see a 3-foot rise in ocean levels by the end of this century, a study found. More than 6,000 of the state’s buildings will experience chronic flooding. The plan would focus on Honolulu but act as a pilot program for the rest of the state. Hawaiian lawmakers, fearing that sea […]

Drone imagery of coral patches along the coast of Maunalua Bay, Oʻahu, where researchers in the Marko Lab use coral DNA from filtered seawater to assess coral cover on local reefs. Photo courtesy of Patrick K. Nichols. Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Biology have developed a technique for measuring the […]

Recycling rates have been dropping on Oahu. While the cost of the program has been rising…thanks in part to contaminated recyclables in those blue bins. Recycling rates have been dropping on Oahu. While the cost of the program has been rising…thanks in part to contaminated recyclables in those blue bins. Everyone has a reason for […]

From the arrival of the first Polynesian settlers, to short term rentals and the tourism industry, a new book chronicles the history of human society in the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change is the work of University of Hawaii economist Sumner La Croix. The tale begins around 1100-1200 AD, […]

In an effort to save lives, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, four county police departments, and our private partners Toyota Hawaii and DTRIC Insurance are working together to educate Hawaii’s roadway users about the dangers of distracted driving throughout National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. In an effort to save lives, the Hawaii Department […]

On June 1, 2019, consumers, businesses, and organizations around the world will be called to action on the inaugural World Reef Day to reflect on the delicate ecosystem of our ocean’s coral reefs and prevent further reef loss. World Reef Day is now the recurring annual day for the world to come together in awareness […]

On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, it is possible to stand in a lush tropical forest that doesn’t contain a single native plant. The birds that once dispersed native seeds are almost entirely gone too, leaving a brand-new ecological community composed of introduced plants and birds. In a first-of-its-kind study published today in Science, researchers […]

Scientists have completed the first comprehensive assessment of UV-filters in surface seawater, sediment, and coral tissue from multiple coral reefs around the island of Oahu, Hawaii. UV-filters are active ingredients in sunscreens, but are also added to many other products, including textile, plastics, and paint to prevent photo degradation. The UV-filters oxybenzone and octinoxate have […]