Economics

Plant covered dunes end in abrupt meter-high drop-offs to a narrow remnant of beach washed by low surf, as beachgoers sit, walk, and play along the eroded shoreline.

Estimating the economic value of coastal tourism under climate change using revealed mobile phone network data

 Research Projects 2024-2026 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Nori Tarui Co-INVESTIGATORS: Takahiro Tsuge, Takahiro Kubo Sea Grant Graduate Fellow: Albert Yee Research Track: Island Resilience and Sustainability Tourism is one of the leading drivers of economic activity in Hawaiʻi, with beaches and ocean ...
Ala Wai Watershed Grants Opportunity

Ola Waikīkī!

Ola Waikīkī! Ola In Hawaiian, means well-being, living, thriving, and healthy—but it also connotes salvation, healing, and survival.  This webpage is a resource for community members, planners, and policy makers to learn about water quality issues the Ala Wai Watershed ...
Cover of the Salt Pond Hydrogeologic Investigation report

Salt Pond Hydrogeologic Investigation Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i

The Hawaiian cultural practice of making salt is one of Hawai‘i’s oldest traditions and Hanapēpē Salt Pond is one of the last places in all of Hawaiʻi that continues this tradition. The area and practice is highly treasured and protected ...
Cover of report including an image of Waikiki beach from the ocean.

Economic Valuation of changes in Waikīkī Beach characteristics

Executive Summary Waikīkī Beach accounted for some $7.8 billion in visitor expenditures in 2019, representing 38% of total visitor expenditures statewide. Though the economic value of Waikīkī Beach is considered to be substantial, few studies have estimated the value in ...
A crowded beach scene with beach goers, umbrellas, and even a boat, with sparkling blue-green water in the background

Must like long walks on the beach

Must like long walks on the beach by Marcus PengA day of surveying starts with arriving in Waikīkī early in the morning. As I sit down at the Starbucks Reserve store with a coffee, I start to plan out the ...
Close up of a hand holding a large oyster

Research and education to support development of open-water restorative and production aquaculture in Hilo Bay

 Research Projects 2022-2024 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Maria Haws Co-INVESTIGATOR: Karla J. McDermid Smith Sea Grant Graduate Fellow: Christian Colo Research Track: Aquaculture The Hilo Bay Research and Training Farm is one of the few open-water, near-shore examples of mariculture in Hawaiʻi ...
A view across mild waters towards built up skyline of Waikiki, while a monk seal basks on the beach

Using natural capital accounting to embed climate impacts into routine decision-making

 Research Projects 2022-2024 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Kirsten Oleson PI-CASC Graduate Scholar: Louis Chua Bing Chao Research Track: Interdisciplinary Traditional economic indicators underestimate the value of marine ecosystems, despite their importance to people as sources of food, livelihood, and recreation. This undervaluation often ...
Green seaweed grows through netting spread across a PVC frame

Exploring nutrient utilization in native Hawaiian seaweeds for parallel aquaculture development across restoration and sustainability applications

 Research Projects 2022-2024 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Craig Nelson Sea Grant Graduate Fellow: Sean Swift Research Track: Aquaculture The primary nutrient source for limu aquaculture by Ocean Era, LLC, an industry partner, is deep ocean water retrieved from 3,000 ft using a ...
Turbulent muddy waters tumble down a vegetated slope behind a house in a heavy rain

Economic impacts of severe weather events

 Research Projects 2022-2024 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Peter Fuleky Co-INVESTIGATORS: Makena Coffman, Nori Tarui, Victoria Keener Sea Grant Graduate Fellow: Sadichchha Shrestha, Luke Miller Research Track: Interdisciplinary There is clear scientific evidence that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather ...
article spread including headshot of Matt Gonser and community volunteers

Q & A with Matthew Gonser

by Cindy Knapman and Kanesa SeraphinMatthew Gonser, former extension faculty with the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, was recently appointed as the chief resilience officer and executive director of the City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate ...