Undersea Defense Tech: RIMPAC 2026 showcased AUKUS Pillar II autonomous and seabed warfare systems, with U.S. and Australian teams testing robotic and remotely operated undersea vehicles and surveillance tech in real-world conditions. Hurricane Lala (Big Island): Lala strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane and threatened a rare direct hit on Hawaii’s Big Island, with forecasts calling for extreme rain, flooding, and mudslides plus power outages as crews worked to restore service. Hurricane Lala (After Skirt): The storm later skirted the Big Island without landfall, but hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and coastal impacts continued into the night, keeping flood and landslide risk high. Local AI Governance: A new push urges Hawaii to set clear rules before large AI data centers arrive, warning about energy, water, grid strain, and infrastructure costs. Space Science: James Webb detected a “black hole star” (MoM–BH–1), a new kind of object emitting vastly more energy than normal stars, with researchers tied to MIT and the University of Hawaiʻi. Solar & Ecology: Research suggests retired farmland can regain native habitat under solar panels within a few years, boosting pollinators and insect diversity. Hawaii Research in Agriculture: Japanese rice varieties are being trialed on Kauaʻi as part of a Japan–Hawaii cultivation exchange. Marine Debris Art: Maui artists and researchers are turning ghost nets and ocean trash into public art while studying how debris moves through Hawaiian waters.