Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Research

Helping Pacific communities through coastal and marine research from 2014 to today

Elevated view looking down into clear waters of Hanauma Bay, circled by elevated land on three sides, the nearest of which has a white sandy beach before a line of palm trees

About Hawaiʻi Sea Grant

Founded in 1968, the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) is part of a national network of 34 programs that promote better understanding, conservation, and use of coastal resources. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant works in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi’s prestigious  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technolog y (SOEST) and the  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  (NOAA) to identify Hawaiʻi’s critical resource management issues and guide cutting-edge scientific research to address these challenges.

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant supports an innovative program of research, extension, education, and communication services directed to the improved understanding and stewardship of coastal and marine resources.

Keliʻi Kotubetey stands on the rock wall of Heʻeia fishpond, gesturing at the open ocean beyond, and explaining to two visitors.
Keliʻi Kotubetey stands on the rock wall of Heʻeia fishpond, gesturing at the open ocean beyond, and explaining to two visitors.

Realizing the necessity of collaboration to address coastal resource issues, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant also provides links between academia, federal, state, and local government agencies, industries, and local community members.

A group of mixed ages stands on a gravel walkway looking out at the mud flats and water of Heʻeia Fishpond, with green Koʻolau Mountains in the distance. An instructor stands thigh-high in muddy water gesturing and describing the view.
A group of mixed ages stands on a gravel walkway looking out at the mud flats and water of Heʻeia Fishpond, with green Koʻolau Mountains in the distance. An instructor stands thigh-high in muddy water gesturing and describing the view.

Together with partnering faculty and institutions throughout the university, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant developed a new model for Sea Grant that is based fundamentally on enhanced collaboration – the Center of Excellence model. Sea Grant’s traditional excellence in marine and coastal extension, research, and education now brings the capabilities of the broader university community to the people of Hawaiʻi.

Currently, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant has six Centers of Excellence: • Smart Building and Community Design • Sustainable Coastal Tourism • Ulana ʻIke • Coastal and Climate Science and Resilience • Pacific Region Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Hub  • Marine Science Education

Collage of patterns and logos associated with the six Centers of excellence described in the text

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant has four focus areas which explore pressing issues related to the health and well-being of our coasts and coastal economies:

• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems • Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture • Resilient Communities and Economies • Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development

Collage of four images illustrating the four focus areas: upper left is a vibrant reef system with fish swimming around; upper right is a school of Taape (snapper) by a reef; bottom left shows a Sea Grant employee presenting the King Tides Project to the public at a museum; bottom right shows a line of people passing buckets on a gravel walkway at Heʻeia fishpond

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant-funded Research

Explore the variety of research projects we have funded over the years across Hawaiʻi and Pacific Basin on the following interactive maps. (Zoom in or out using the +/- buttons, and move the map by click-dragging with a mouse.) To access project details, select a flag on the map or a thumbnail from the list on the left. More details of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant efforts and accomplishments can be found at  our website .

Current Research Projects (2024-2026)

Past Research Projects (2022-2024)

Past Research Projects (2020-2022)

Past Research Projects (2018-2020)

Past Research Projects (2016-2018)

Past Research Projects (2014-2016)

A note about diacritical marks

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant recognizes the use of diacritical markings of the Hawaiian language such as the ‘okina (also called a glottal stop) and the kahakō (also called a macron) and use them wherever possible. Diacritical markings have been omitted in some circumstances where the program interface interferes with the correct font display. Please note that screen readers may not read or pronounce the Hawaiian words correctly. We realize the importance of diacritical markings and continue to use them outside of the online platform.