The University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) and Symbrosia, a Hawai‘i-based cleantech startup dedicated to leveraging seaweed for climate solutions, are thrilled to announce the launch of a new limu restoration partnership made possible by a $500,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). This initiative, entitled “Establishing a Supply and Outplanting Program for Restorative Aquaculture Production of the Hawaiian Red Seaweed, Limu Kohu (Asparagopsis taxiformis),” brings together a diverse network of community organizations, researchers, and educators—including Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, Mālama Maunalua, Pacific American Foundation, Windward Community College’s Kia‘i Center for Limu Research, Kaua‘i Sea Farms, and Waianae High School—to restore limu populations and strengthen cultural and ecological connections across Hawai‘i. The project will span two years, 2025-2026, fostering collaborative efforts to revitalize nearshore ecosystems and deepen community stewardship.

Makanahele Emmsley, Research Scientist at Symbrosia and Co-Principal Investigator on this project, spoke about some factors that contributed to developing this project. “Due to the loss of cultural practices and the near extinction of fluent speakers of ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi following Western influence, traditional limu practices and knowledge, which were verbally passed down through generations, have dwindled,” Emmsley explained.

Through this project, its participants aim to initiate native seaweed restoration of limu kohu (Asparagopsis taxiformis) at selected locations across Hawai‘i in partnership with community organizations involved in Hawaiian fishpond and seaweed restoration while also increasing understanding and awareness of its environmental and cultural significance through education outreach activities. In 2022, Hawaiʻi State Legislature signed HR63 into act, claiming 2023 as the “Year of the Limu.” In the decades leading up to this decision, and certainly after, a resurgence of efforts to protect and revive the Indigenous, cultural methods around fishing and resource management has existed.

“Restoration of limu practices, including fishery management and harvest, has the potential to produce healthy local food and enhance food security,” added Dr. Kai Fox, Co-Principal Investigator and Aquaculture Extension Specialist with the Hawai‘i Sea Grant, “But beyond physical restoration, this projects has the potential to increase Native Hawaiian psychological health, support vibrant communities, increase biodiversity, and share generational knowledge.”

Limu kohu, or Asparagopsis taxiformis, holds a deeply rooted place in Hawaiian culture as both a traditional food source and a vital part of nearshore ecosystems. By restoring its populations through land-based cultivation and loko i‘a (Hawaiian fishpond) integration, this initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening food security, preserving cultural practices, and enhancing biodiversity. As these efforts continue, the project will serve as a model for collaborative, community-led restoration that bridges scientific research with Indigenous stewardship, ensuring that limu kohu thrives for generations to come.