Solar Science in Hawaii: Using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui, scientists captured the first-ever view of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities—tiny swirling patterns near a sunspot—offering a new look at how the Sun’s surface behaves. Volcano Watch (Big Island): Kīlauea’s summit eruption remains paused as deflation continues, while earthquake activity increased in the lower Southwest Rift Zone with a swarm of 18 quakes reported by USGS. Local Research & Education: UH Mānoa CTAHR will expand agricultural education and research at Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo, turning the 22-acre site into an outdoor classroom focused on pest management, soil health, and biosecurity. Wildlife Health Alert: The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says it’s investigating a sudden, unexplained illness that has killed Hawaiian honeycreepers at the Maui Bird Conservation Center; early tests ruled out avian influenza and malaria. Tech & Civil Liberties: Civil rights groups protested Palantir in downtown Honolulu, arguing government surveillance software could enable warrantless data access and mass monitoring. Climate Headline: NOAA reports July 2026 as the hottest month on record for the U.S. (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), driven largely by record-breaking nighttime lows. Defense & Tech: RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii served as a testbed for advanced naval capabilities, with 40 experimentation initiatives across 31 nations.