$1.12B commitment: UH research shields, serves Hawaiʻi communities | University of Hawaiʻi System News
Source: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/04/07/uh-research-shields-serves-hawaii
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:17
$1.12B commitment: UH research shields, serves Hawaiʻi communities | University of Hawaiʻi System News
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April 7, 2026
UH News
Reading time:
2
minutes
Installation of a weather station on Mariner’s Ridge with the
Hawaiʻi
Mesonet project
As of March 2026, the
UH
was managing a $1.12-billion portfolio of awards, across 921 projects, mostly focused on improving the lives of state residents. This vast investment—including $945.7 million from federal agencies and $174.3 million from non-federal sources—is directed at areas of vital importance to
Hawaiʻi
, including agriculture/aquaculture, climate resilience, conservation, invasive species, health and health equity, student access and community impact.
MauiWES
health testing and survey event
“The research conducted at the University of
Hawaiʻi
improves the daily lives of every resident in the state,” said
UH
President Wendy Hensel. “These projects—from addressing youth mental health and assessing the long-term impacts of the Maui wildfires, to securing our food and water—are essential services. Protecting and supporting
UH
research is protecting the future and resilience of our island home.”
Providing solutions
UH
research provides tangible solutions to island challenges. A $20-million National Science Foundation award, Change
Hawaiʻi
, is in-part establishing a
statewide climate mesonet
—a network of land and coastal stations that tracks rainfall, temperature, wind and other key variables in real time. This system gives local agencies the data they need to forecast floods and drought, manage wildfire risk and protect critical infrastructure, strengthening community resilience across the islands. At the same time, conservation projects are working to prevent the extinction of 37 endangered and threatened plant species in Maui Nui and to restore climate-resilient ecosystems on
Oʻahu
.
Little fire ants compared in size to a penny
The fight against invasive species is critical to
Hawaiʻi
’s economy, environment, and quality of life. Current
UH
projects support
Little Fire Ant mitigation
and ongoing efforts to manage the
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle
at locations such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In agriculture/aquaculture, research is introducing advanced technology, such as an
AI
-enhanced irrigation scheduling tool
, to enable farmers statewide to benefit from precision water management.
Healthier communities
The impact of
UH
research directly impacts residents’ health and well-being.
UH
manages the
Red Hill Independent Health Registry
, tracking health outcomes and providing resources for those affected by the 2021 fuel release. The Hawaii Clinical Research Network for Health Equity is building a statewide clinical research network to improve health outcomes for underserved communities in
Hawaiʻi
by expanding access to research participation, clinical trials and tailored, community-informed interventions.
UH
is also advancing the overall health and readiness of
Hawaiʻi
’s children through the
Hawaiʻi
Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn
program. Partnering with the
Hawaiʻi
State Department of Education,
UH
Mānoa Nursing leads a statewide, school-based health system that places nurses and other health professionals in public and charter schools to provide on-campus care, preventive screenings, telehealth, and wellness education. By improving access to essential health services, reducing health-related absenteeism, and coordinating care with families and community providers,
Hawaiʻi
Keiki helps ensure that
Hawaiʻi
’s keiki can come to school healthy, stay in class, and thrive academically.
By supporting
UH
, the community ensures that critical, place-based solutions continue to be developed right here at home, guaranteeing a healthier, more resilient future for all of
Hawaiʻi
’s people.
Related Posts:
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Manoa Sustainability
Public Impact Research
sustainability
UH Community Colleges
UH Hilo
UH Manoa
UH Maui College
UH System
UH West Oahu
Windward Community College
Share This
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UH
Mānoa
UH
Hilo
UH
West
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Hawaiʻi
CC
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CC
Kapiʻolani
CC
Kauaʻi
CC
Leeward
CC
UH
Maui College
Windward
CC
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UH
Mānoa chancellor finalists selected; 1st finalist Vassilis Syrmos visit April 27–28
Garret Yoshimi to retire after decade of
IT
leadership at
UH
Kumu hula Robert Cazimero to receive
UH
honorary doctorate
Featured Video
Aloha Bash 2026
previous post:
Moon’s darkest craters hold less surface ice than scientists predicted
next post:
UH
disaster center powers Hawaiʻi’s storm recovery with real-time data
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Skip to content
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April 7, 2026
UH News
Reading time:
2
minutes
Installation of a weather station on Mariner’s Ridge with the
Hawaiʻi
Mesonet project
As of March 2026, the
UH
was managing a $1.12-billion portfolio of awards, across 921 projects, mostly focused on improving the lives of state residents. This vast investment—including $945.7 million from federal agencies and $174.3 million from non-federal sources—is directed at areas of vital importance to
Hawaiʻi
, including agriculture/aquaculture, climate resilience, conservation, invasive species, health and health equity, student access and community impact.
MauiWES
health testing and survey event
“The research conducted at the University of
Hawaiʻi
improves the daily lives of every resident in the state,” said
UH
President Wendy Hensel. “These projects—from addressing youth mental health and assessing the long-term impacts of the Maui wildfires, to securing our food and water—are essential services. Protecting and supporting
UH
research is protecting the future and resilience of our island home.”
Providing solutions
UH
research provides tangible solutions to island challenges. A $20-million National Science Foundation award, Change
Hawaiʻi
, is in-part establishing a
statewide climate mesonet
—a network of land and coastal stations that tracks rainfall, temperature, wind and other key variables in real time. This system gives local agencies the data they need to forecast floods and drought, manage wildfire risk and protect critical infrastructure, strengthening community resilience across the islands. At the same time, conservation projects are working to prevent the extinction of 37 endangered and threatened plant species in Maui Nui and to restore climate-resilient ecosystems on
Oʻahu
.
Little fire ants compared in size to a penny
The fight against invasive species is critical to
Hawaiʻi
’s economy, environment, and quality of life. Current
UH
projects support
Little Fire Ant mitigation
and ongoing efforts to manage the
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle
at locations such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In agriculture/aquaculture, research is introducing advanced technology, such as an
AI
-enhanced irrigation scheduling tool
, to enable farmers statewide to benefit from precision water management.
Healthier communities
The impact of
UH
research directly impacts residents’ health and well-being.
UH
manages the
Red Hill Independent Health Registry
, tracking health outcomes and providing resources for those affected by the 2021 fuel release. The Hawaii Clinical Research Network for Health Equity is building a statewide clinical research network to improve health outcomes for underserved communities in
Hawaiʻi
by expanding access to research participation, clinical trials and tailored, community-informed interventions.
UH
is also advancing the overall health and readiness of
Hawaiʻi
’s children through the
Hawaiʻi
Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn
program. Partnering with the
Hawaiʻi
State Department of Education,
UH
Mānoa Nursing leads a statewide, school-based health system that places nurses and other health professionals in public and charter schools to provide on-campus care, preventive screenings, telehealth, and wellness education. By improving access to essential health services, reducing health-related absenteeism, and coordinating care with families and community providers,
Hawaiʻi
Keiki helps ensure that
Hawaiʻi
’s keiki can come to school healthy, stay in class, and thrive academically.
By supporting
UH
, the community ensures that critical, place-based solutions continue to be developed right here at home, guaranteeing a healthier, more resilient future for all of
Hawaiʻi
’s people.
Related Posts:
Health, human rights focus for new Thompson school…
Hope and healing: Windward CC program launches…
Maui fires 1 year on: UH research continues to…
Hawaii Community College
Honolulu Community College
Kapiolani Community College
Kauai Community College
Leeward Community College
Manoa research
Manoa Sustainability
Public Impact Research
sustainability
UH Community Colleges
UH Hilo
UH Manoa
UH Maui College
UH System
UH West Oahu
Windward Community College
Share This
Universities
UH
Mānoa
UH
Hilo
UH
West
Oʻahu
Community Colleges
Hawaiʻi
CC
Honolulu
CC
Kapiʻolani
CC
Kauaʻi
CC
Leeward
CC
UH
Maui College
Windward
CC
Most Popular
UH
Mānoa chancellor finalists selected; 1st finalist Vassilis Syrmos visit April 27–28
Garret Yoshimi to retire after decade of
IT
leadership at
UH
Kumu hula Robert Cazimero to receive
UH
honorary doctorate
Featured Video
Aloha Bash 2026
previous post:
Moon’s darkest craters hold less surface ice than scientists predicted
next post:
UH
disaster center powers Hawaiʻi’s storm recovery with real-time data
Watch the latest news of the University of Hawaiʻi
View News Videos
2444 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
Have a story idea or a question?
Contact
news@hawaii.edu
An
equal opportunity institution
Use of this site implies consent
with our
Usage Policy
copyright © 2026
University of Hawaiʻi
X
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
Contact
UH
If required, information contained on
this website can be made available in
an alternative format upon request.
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
About
Calendar
COVID-19 Updates
Directory
Emergency Information
For Media
MyUH
Work at
UH
English
Gagana Samoa
Kapasen Chuuk
Lea faka-Tonga - Tongan
Tiếng Việt
ภาษาไทย
Ilokano
Tagalog
Cebuano
Kajin Majôl
简体中文
繁體中文
日本語
한국어
Español
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
By Category
dropdown menu
Academic
Research
People
Community
Athletics
Administrative
Videos
By Campus
dropdown menu
Hawaiʻi
Hilo
Honolulu
Kapiʻolani
Kauaʻi
Leeward
Mānoa
Maui
West Oʻahu
Windward
Back To Top