From the islands of Pohnpei and Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia, Nicole Yamase is the first Pacific Islander and the youngest woman to voyage to the deepest part of the Earth, the Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench at 10.9 km depth. Nicole is a PhD candidate in the Marine Biology Graduate Program that is jointly housed in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) and in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).

Her research examines the effects of climate change on shallow-water marine plant communities. "Nicole is a great representative of young Pacific scientists tackling issues associated with climate change impacts for Pacific Islands. We are proud to highlight this Indigenous woman in STEM," said Celia Smith her advisor in CNS's new School of Life Sciences. Located approximately 200 miles southwest of Guam, the dive time to the ocean floor and back took a total of 10 hours. Congratulations to Nicole and the Pacific Island community for this milestone, inspiring the next generation of STEM scientists. [Photo: Nicole Yamase with the pilot and owner Victor Vescovo in the submersible Limiting Factor. Credit: Nicole Yamase]

Through a virtual forum, the Micronesia Challenge celebrated 15 years of progress and impact towards its commitment to effectively conserve at least 30% of the nearshore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020. His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, hosted the event and gave remarks, along with the Presidents of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau, and the Governors of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The event reflected on successes, lessons learned, and the commitments for the Micronesia Challenge 2030 (full agenda).  [Photo: Shuri Chibana, Micronesia Challenge Youth Champion from the Republic of Palau shares her vision for the future. Credit: Micronesia Challenge]

The University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program is seeking applications for the 2021 E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management Fellowship. The fellowship is a two-year paid fellowship (stipend of $58,000/year), which offers graduate students an opportunity to acquire hands-on, on-the-job experience in the planning, implementation and management of marine, coastal, and/or watershed resource policies and programs in Hawaiʻi. Highly qualified graduate students are matched with hosts in state, federal or municipal agencies and non-profits in Hawaiʻi. Attend a virtual info session on May 3, for more details. Applications are due May 21, 2021. [Photo: Managing natural resources and preserving local traditions through community-based subsistence fishing areas. Credit: Hawai‘i Sea Grant]

Check out the interview "Earth Day: Maui Nui Marine Council cleaning up pollution" on Hawaiʻi Public Radio, The Conversation (story #5). Amy Hodges from the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) talks about water quality monitoring in Māʻalaea Harbor and how PacIOOS' nearshore sensor is supporting their efforts. The MNMRC is participating in the PacIOOS Water Quality Sensor Partnership Program, loaning a sensor package for a one-year period to collect water quality data. [Photo: Staff from the MNMRC dives to deploy the sensor. Credit: MNMRC]

Led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and NOAA's National Weather Service, the Pacific International Training Desk provides weather forecast training opportunities with an emphasis on the tropics. This month, the Pacific Desk Webinar Series focused on wave modeling for marine forecasting. Ocean Wave Model Systems Specialist for PacIOOS and the US Navy's Wave Energy Test Site, Dr. Ning Li, was one of the panelists, presenting on Wave Modeling for Operational Forecasting and Long-Term Hindcasting. Dr. Li shared applications of operational wave forecasts; high-resolution long-term hindcasts for engineering designs and at-sea operations; and plans for future improvements and geographic expansions. PacIOOS currently maintains various wave model grids for Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI.  [Photo: Increase in wave height forecasted for Ritidian Point, Guam, due to Typhoon Surigae in April 2021.]

Yi-Leng Chen, Professor at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and PacIOOS co-investigator, presented on Hindcasts of TC Lane (2018) and TC Wutip (2019) with a New TC Initialization Scheme at the USINDOPACOM Tropical Cyclone Conference. Professor Chen along with this team developed a new tropical cyclone (TC) model with a better initial storm structure; more accurate intensity that is well adjusted to the storm environment to provide enhanced predictions of the storm track; and enhanced structure and rainfall distribution in subsequent forecasts. Post doctoral researcher Feng Hsiao participated in the International Tropical Islands Water Conference organized by the Water Resources Research Center and Hawaiʻi EPSCoR where he presented on Heavy Rainfall Events over Central Oʻahu under Weak Wind Conditions during Seasonal Transitions. [Photo: Wind speed hindcast on PacIOOS Voyager from Tropical Storm Lane approaching the Hawaiian Islands in 2018.]

For the past 27 years, Ron Bregman has worked as a Beach Lifeguard and Water Safety Officer on Oʻahu. He currently serves as the Lieutenant/Supervisor of Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services for the City and County of Honolulu at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. This not only includes responding to ocean-related emergencies at the bay itself, but also covers the stretch of shoreline from Wailupe to Makapauʻu Lighthouse.

Ron utilizes real-time wave buoy data on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis as a safety measure, along with other predictive tools, to warn the public of upcoming changes in ocean conditions which are likely to impact their recreational activities in and around the water. Wave forecasts and atmospheric forecasts are also useful to him in cases of upcoming extreme events, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, and large ground swells. Ron likes corroborating buoy data with actual wave observations at various site locations, and hindcasting predicted swells with actual buoy data. [Photo: Ron responds to ocean-related emergencies along the Ka Iwi Coast, east Oʻahu. Credit: Ron Bregman]