Coastal ecosystems

Aerial drone oblique view of a coastal parcel with wetlands, trees, meadows, and a narrow sandy coastline

Developing an ecosystem-based monitoring program for adaptive management of Kalou lo‘i and loko wai

 Research Projects 2024-2026 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Carmella Vizza Sea Grant Graduate Fellow: Adrian Dougherty Research Track: Aquaculture Wetland restoration efforts in Hawaiʻi exist at the unique interface of traditional Hawaiian practices, conservation, agriculture, and aquaculture. These efforts involve enlarging endangered Hawaiian ...
A dim reefscape contrasts bright healthy corals with dingy, sediment covered outcrops.

Mapping coral response to water quality stressors to improve coral restoration planning and ridge-to-reef management

 Research Projects 2024-2026 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Lillian J. Tuttle Raz Co-INVESTIGATORS: Megan J. Donahue, Kim Falinski Sea Grant Graduate Fellow: Justin Berg Research Track: Island Resilience and Sustainability Successful reef restoration requires detailed, site-specific information on the tolerances to prevailing environmental ...
A framework to elucidate historical dynamics and support adaptive management on Hawaiian coral reefs

A framework to elucidate historical dynamics and support adaptive management on Hawaiian coral reefs

 Research Projects 2024-2026 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Lisa McManus Co-INVESTIGATORS: Yoshimi Rii, Kawika Winter, Ryan Okano, Sophia Rahnke Research Track: Island Resilience and Sustainability The global decline of coral reef environments poses complex challenges for researchers, managers, and coastal communities that depend ...
A few healthy corals are scattered across a landscape of unhealthy encrusted and porous reef structures

Assessing the sensitivity of coral reef accretion and bioerosion to acidification and eutrophication

 Research Projects 2024-2026 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Andrea Kealoha Co-INVESTIGATOR: Katie Shamberger PI-CASC Graduate Scholar: Raffi Isah Research Track: Ocean Acidification Coral reefs are threatened by a range of stressors, including those related to global climate change and local land-use. These stressors ...
Effects of climate-driven increases in sediment delivery on coral reef ecosystem productivity and accretion: Developing predictive models for management priorities across Maui

Effects of climate-driven increases in sediment delivery on coral reef ecosystem productivity and accretion: Developing predictive models for management priorities across Maui

 Research Projects 2024-2026 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Andrea Kealoha Co-INVESTIGATOR: Craig Nelson PI-CASC Graduate Scholar: Sean Swift Research Track: Island Resilience and Sustainability Climate change is increasing sediment delivery to Hawaiian coral reefs. However, differences in the source, composition, and ecological impacts of ...
Evaluating the resilience of productive rocky intertidal ecosystems to sea-level rise using a community-based approach

Evaluating the resilience of productive rocky intertidal ecosystems to sea-level rise using a community-based approach

 Research Projects 2024-2026 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Haunani Kane Co-INVESTIGATORS: Atsuko Fukunaga, John Burns, Kainalu Steward PI-CASC Graduate Scholar: Makoa Pascoe Research Track: Island Resilience and Sustainability Healthy and productive intertidal ecosystems support cultural identity through subsistence gathering and restoration of traditional ...
Ka Pili Kai spread for a seaweed as food security article. Contains images of livestock and a farmer feeding his cattle

Seaweed Solutions for Feeding the Planet

by Cary DeringerTo increase future sustainable food production while reducing methane emissions, scientists are turning to the ocean, specifically seaweed, for answers. Food production needs will have to double to feed nearly ten billion people by 2050. However, production of protein-rich foods ...
Ka Pili Kai spread for page 'hope for the seas', featuring colorful fish under a piece of coral

Hope For The Seas

by Liz ColeyIf “developing solutions to monitor, protect, manage, and restore” ocean ecosystems sounds like a challenge the human species is unprepared to face, author Deborah Rowan Wright offers good news in Future Sea: How to Rescue and Protect the World’s Oceans. Her treatment of the subject ...
Cover image for Ka Pili Kai Article 'the united nations Ocean Decade, 10 years, 10 challenges. Contains an image of light beaming into the ocean, taken from underwater and 10 small images of fish, marine debris, and coastlines

Haunting the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

by Damond BenningfieldGhosts haunt the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. They glide in with the currents and tides, from all around the North Pacific Ocean. They destroy coral reefs and ensnare seals, sea turtles, and other endangered animals. They foul the beaches, present a hazard to boats, ...
Cover image for Ka Pili Kai Article 'the united nations Ocean Decade, 10 years, 10 challenges. Contains an image of light beaming into the ocean, taken from underwater and 10 small images of fish, marine debris, and coastlines

10 Years, 10 Challenges: Innovative Ocean Science Solutions in the Pacific

by Rayne SullivanWith worsening ocean health, the Pacific and much of the world are facing a multifront threat to heritage and culture, livelihoods, security, health, and ultimately their very existence. In Palau, it is said that when there is threat to one mesekuuk (surgeonfish), ...
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