AGP Executive Report

Coastal Resilience in the Spotlight: Officials are backing a sand-trucking plan to save Maui’s Ka’anapali Beach as erosion eats away at shoreline and hotel infrastructure, but locals worry the fix could worsen access and impacts. Wildlife Conservation: A new University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa statewide study finds vehicle collisions are the leading cause of documented pueo deaths, with trauma dominating and many cases tied to roads—prompting calls for safer driving and better rodenticide awareness. Local Climate Tech: UH’s Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal is rolling out free, personalized monthly climate summaries that translate neighborhood-level rainfall, temperature, and drought data into plain-language updates using moku and ahupuaʻa boundaries. UH in the Media Tech Stack: Hawaii News Now is set to take over local TV rights for UH sports, aiming to expand reach and upgrade production with new partners and mobile production capabilities. Space & Science: Mauna Kea observatories helped identify a distant star-forming galaxy (“Shadow Blaster”) as the likely source of a high-energy neutrino detected by IceCube, strengthening the case for faraway galaxies as cosmic neutrino factories. Volcano Science Legacy: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory marked the retirement of UH volcanologist Bruce Houghton, highlighting his work on reading eruption deposits to understand explosive processes.

Kīlauea Update: Episode 50 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly at 5:10 p.m. after about seven hours of lava fountaining, with officials warning tephra could still fall on communities and roads in Kaʻū. Wildlife Conservation: A statewide UH Mānoa-led study found most Pueo deaths are caused by trauma, with 62% linked to vehicle collisions or road-adjacent incidents—plus 13% tied to wind turbines—suggesting many deaths may be preventable. Public Health Research: UH Mānoa won a $2.2M NIH grant for the next phase of the Maui Learnings to Overcome Adversities study, focusing on long-term health and well-being impacts after the 2023 wildfires. Local Tech & Safety: Hawaii’s redesigned driver’s licenses are rolling out with TSA-compatible security features and new holographic elements, aiming to fix airport scanning problems. STEM in the Sky: Mauna Kea observatories helped identify a likely source galaxy for IceCube’s high-energy neutrino event “Shadow Blaster,” strengthening the case that distant star-forming galaxies produce cosmic neutrinos. Energy & Buildings: A decarbonization push argues the fastest path is cutting building energy demand first—through air sealing, insulation, and energy recovery ventilators—before adding more tech. Coral Recovery: Kahaluu Bay’s cauliflower coral is rebounding after major heat-wave losses, with recent milky-white water signaling heavy spawning.

Kīlauea Update: Episode 50 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly at 5:10 p.m. after about 7 hours of lava fountaining, with tephra fallout still possible for Kaʻū as flows covered roughly 30% of the crater floor. Public Health & Research: UH Mānoa won a $2.2M NIH grant for the next phase of the Maui Learnings to Overcome Adversities study, building on findings that wildfire mental health impacts spread beyond burn zones. Brain Health: The Alzheimer’s Association Brain Health Summit at UH JABSOM highlighted new blood biomarker testing, diagnosis advances, and lifestyle steps for cognitive health. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Hawaiʻi Pacific University researchers presented early results on turning ocean plastic and fishing nets into asphalt roads, aiming to cut landfill and marine impacts. Wireless Policy: The FCC’s AWS-3 spectrum auction wrapped above $3.57B, with Honolulu among the highest per-unit prices. Community Safety: Honolulu police arrested a suspect after a Nanakuli stabbing sent multiple people to the hospital. Volcano Science: A UH study says stress on the San Andreas Fault system has reached a 1,000-year high, raising the odds of large multi-fault ruptures.

Electric Aviation in Hawaiʻi: Beta Technologies and Surf Air Mobility kicked off electric aircraft flight demos in Hawaiʻi, aiming to prove the CX300 can slot into real airline operations. Defense Tech at RIMPAC: 3YOURMIND and Phillips are running a distributed manufacturing experiment with the Naval Postgraduate School during RIMPAC 2026, testing how parts could be produced on demand across a joint-force network. Volcano Watch: Kīlauea’s summit eruption stayed paused, then showed renewed activity with lava overflow at the north vent; USGS raised the alert to WATCH and aviation color to ORANGE. Local Resilience & STEM: Maui is seeking more amateur radio operators ahead of hurricane season, and Maui Economic Opportunity is placing summer interns on community-focused projects. Ocean & Food Security: Hawaiʻi Island’s Kaʻūpūpūlehu Marine Reserve reopening is delayed until later in 2026 as co-management and a fisheries plan are finalized. Research Spotlight: A UH study says San Andreas Fault stress has hit a 1,000-year high.

Electric Aviation in Hawaii: BETA Technologies and Surf Air Mobility kicked off a six-to-eight-week electric aircraft demonstration in the islands with Hawaiian Airlines support, aiming to test battery life, costs, and infrastructure needs for future zero-emission cargo and passenger service. Space Watch: A Hawaii-discovered asteroid, 1997 NC1, will safely pass Earth this weekend at about 1.6 million miles, with skywatchers able to spot it as a faint point of light. AI Policy in Hawaii: Sens. Brian Schatz and others introduced an AI Labeling Act of 2026 that would require clear labeling of AI-made digital content and push for shared authenticity standards. Local Resilience & STEM: Maui Economic Opportunity is hosting summer interns focused on community needs, including tech and AI-related concerns, while Maui also seeks more amateur radio operators ahead of hurricane season. Marine Conservation: The Kaʻūpūlehu Marine Reserve reopening has been delayed until later in 2026 as partners finalize its fisheries management plan and co-management agreement. Business Recovery: Hawaii County opened applications for a Kona Low Business Recovery Grant Program, offering up to $10,000 for eligible storm-impacted businesses. Tech & Travel Connectivity: Alaska and Hawaiian airlines are expanding Starlink high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi across more aircraft, with full widebody coverage targeted by this fall.

Electric Aviation in Hawaiʻi: BETA Technologies and Surf Air Mobility kicked off a six-to-eight-week electric aircraft demonstration using the ALIA CTOL, with Hawaiian Airlines supporting feasibility work for future interisland cargo and passenger service. Volcano Science: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports Kīlauea summit Episode 50 is likely today, with frequent gas jetting, large flames, and spatter at the south vent; no lava overflows reported so far. Local Courts & Health: DOJ announced $17M in Red Hill settlement payments for hundreds of Central Oʻahu plaintiffs, part of broader litigation tied to 2021 jet fuel contamination. AI & Travel Discovery: A new study says major AI platforms can accurately describe named independent luxury hotels, but often omit them in broad “best hotel” category searches—depending on what sources the AI reads. Space Watch: A Hawaii-discovered asteroid (1997 NC1) will pass Earth this weekend at a safe distance, with skywatchers potentially spotting it as a faint moving point. Research Funding: UH researchers received a $12M grant to advance AI and data science in medicine.

Electric Aviation in Hawaii: BETA Technologies is running Hawaii’s first operational electric cargo test flights with Mokulele Airlines, training pilots for Honolulu–Molokai/Lanai runs while touting zero tailpipe emissions (FAA approval still pending). Electric Aircraft Expansion: A separate Hawaii test program also has Hawaiian Airlines involved as electric aircraft begin crisscrossing the islands. Defense & Infrastructure: The U.S. Navy has started the required environmental review to homeport up to nine new Medium Landing Ships at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, with a preferred Ford Island site and a study expected to finish by late summer 2027. Local STEM & Research: UH Mānoa is launching free personalized climate summaries for Hawaii subscribers, and researchers received major funding for Maui wildfire recovery and AI/data science in medicine. Earth & Ocean Science: A 3.1 quake hit Hawaii Island; researchers say recent major quake activity is broadly in line with expectations. Conservation: NOAA says a Nanakuli monk seal died from toxoplasmosis. Native Hawaiian Media: OHA trustees advanced due diligence on a potential KITV/KIKU acquisition to expand Native Hawaiian ownership in media. Small Business Support: Hui Kapili Accelerator is mentoring and connecting local construction firms, helping one Haloa Construction grow about 50%.

Electric Aviation in Hawaii: Beta Technologies and Surf Air Mobility have started a six-to-eight-week trial of the all-electric Alia CX300, with cargo-focused demo flights over the islands and data collection aimed at interisland passenger and medical-cargo service. Public Health Tech: A free Summer Health Screening and Cancer Prevention event in Beaver Dam offers blood pressure, vision, dementia, and cancer education plus a limited mobile mammography unit by advance registration. Space Science & Health Forecasting: NASA is working on longer-range forecasting to better predict dengue risk in Puerto Rico, noting cases have also been reported in Hawaii and other mainland states. Earth & Infrastructure: Hanwha Philly Shipyard delivered the subsea rock installation vessel Acadia to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, the first of its type in the U.S.-flag fleet for protecting cables, pipelines, telecom lines, and offshore wind foundations. Volcanic/Seismic Watch: Kīlauea-related updates and major earthquake coverage continue to draw attention to Hawaii’s broader geoscience risk landscape.

Volcano Monitoring Upgrade: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is moving into a new permanent research headquarters in Hilo next April, consolidating labs and monitoring gear after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption damaged summit facilities. Kīlauea Update: Large flames at Kīlauea’s summit vents suggest magma is near the surface; USGS says episode 50 is most likely between June 25 and June 27, with Friday looking like the top bet. Public Safety Tech: TSA is partnering with Google Wallet to let eligible travelers enroll in TSA PreCheck Touchless ID inside the app, using facial comparison at dedicated lanes at 65 airports. Local Research Funding: UH Mānoa researchers received a $2.2M NIH grant to continue a long-term Maui wildfire health and well-being study, surveying 1,200 adults for recovery factors. Space Science: Hawaii-linked observations helped Euclid capture the most detailed photo yet of the Milky Way’s heart, a 60-million-star view aimed at improving planet-hunting beyond our solar system. Telecom Spectrum: The FCC wrapped up the AWS-3 spectrum auction, raising about $3.57B to support its “Rip and Replace” program.

TSA + Google Wallet: TSA is rolling out TSA PreCheck Touchless ID opt-in through Google Wallet, letting eligible travelers verify via facial comparison in dedicated lanes without showing physical IDs or boarding passes. Red Hill fallout: DOJ says it distributed about $17M in settlement payments to 629 plaintiffs tied to the 2021 Red Hill jet fuel contamination. Maui wildfire research: UH Mānoa received a $2.2M NIH grant for the next phase of its Maui LOA study, including a planned survey of 1,200 adults on long-term recovery. Kīlauea update: USGS HVO reports large flames at Kīlauea summit vents and says episode 50 is likely between June 25–27. Hemp enforcement: Hawaii’s DOH and AG begin enforcing hemp retailer/distributor registration statewide on July 1 after a grace period. Local tech & safety: Hawaii County pushes composting planning after finding 26% of landfill material is organic; Honolulu faces scrutiny over flood-prone Kaukonahua stream dredging delays. Space science: Euclid captured the most detailed photo yet of the Milky Way’s bulge, using color data from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Deep-sea discovery: A UH Mānoa-led team reports the first live goblin shark sightings in the Central Pacific.

Disaster Recovery Research: UH Mānoa researchers won a $2.2M NIH grant for the next phase of the Maui LOA study, surveying 1,200 Maui residents (including those displaced) to track long-term health and recovery needs after the 2023 wildfires. Medical AI in Hawaii: UH Cancer Center and UH Mānoa received $12M from NIH to launch PAC-AID, building a Medical AI Core to speed AI-driven biomedical research for Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Volcano Watch: USGS reports Kīlauea’s episode 50 lava fountains are likely between June 25 and June 27, with the summit alert level staying at ADVISORY. Clean Energy & Grid Resilience: Hawaii utilities are working to strengthen grid resiliency amid uncertainty in the solar industry’s tax credits. Public Health Policy: A federal judge blocked a Trump-backed SNAP soda restriction effort, a ruling that could affect millions nationwide. Community Tech & Safety: Honolulu is installing 100 enclosed trash bins in Waikīkī to improve cleanliness and reduce litter. Space-Internet Upgrade: United and Southwest are expanding Starlink in-flight Wi‑Fi on more aircraft, pushing satellite internet deeper into everyday travel.

AI in Medicine: UH researchers won a $12M NIH grant to launch the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID), creating a Medical AI Core and upgrading the UH Cancer Center Data Center to speed biomedical discoveries for Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Naval Tech: NUWC Division Keyport finished migrating torpedo maintenance software to the cloud with APCS 3.0, aiming to cut downtime and let sites like Pearl Harbor access records even during local network issues. Water Safety in Oʻahu: The Navy released its environmental assessment for a Red Hill Water Treatment Facility, issuing a “finding of no significant impact” and moving toward reconnecting the Red Hill shaft to the drinking-water system—still facing public skepticism. Energy Resilience: Hawaii utilities and emergency officials are bracing for El Niño-driven storms and warning that major outages could last weeks or months, pushing hardening and coordination. Cybersecurity: MS-ISAC membership topped 5,700 after a funding shift, with Hawaii’s Office of Enterprise Technology Services joining national efforts to strengthen shared cyber support. Public Health Data Gap: A study of 441 U.S. cancer trials found geographic and socioeconomic factors are almost never reported, even as such factors strongly affect outcomes.

AI in Healthcare: UH is launching a new AI and data science center in medicine with a $12M federal grant, aiming to build an AI data center and train local researchers to tackle Hawaii and Pacific health needs. Astronomy Education: UH Institute for Astronomy’s TeachAstro brought 16 STEM teachers to Hilo for a week of hands-on learning, including visits to Maunakea observatories, with teachers returning to develop classroom lessons. Cybersecurity Growth: MS-ISAC membership topped 5,700 after a funding shift, keeping state and local cyber support moving as federal support changed. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard divers supported Dry Dock 5 preparations, while the U.S. Army moved toward a Next Generation Command and Control common data layer baseline. Earth & Environment: A magnitude-3.8 quake shook South Kona, and Maui County advanced Bill 88 creating new hotel zoning districts to manage the vacation rental phase-out.

UH Tech & Health: The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is turning a garage-sized space into the state’s first AI data center for cancer and other medical research, backed by $12M in NIH funding to build a Pacific-focused database. Local Agriculture: UH Mānoa researchers are building a USDA-supported clean seed pipeline for Okinawan sweet potatoes (ʻuala), aiming to keep heritage crops virus-free and more reliable for growers. Defense & Data Systems: The U.S. Army is setting a Next Generation Command and Control common data layer baseline, with Anduril leading and partners like Palantir and Raft supporting the rollout. Navy Infrastructure: Seabee divers helped prepare Dry Dock 5 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, clearing sediment and excavation work for the next construction phases. Earth & Weather Watch: A magnitude 3.8 quake shook South Kona; separate reporting warns El Niño could bring more tropical storms and longer power outages, pushing Hawaii to harden the grid. Maui Housing Tech Policy: Maui County passed new hotel zoning (Bill 88) to guide vacation rentals as apartment-zoned rules phase out. Tourism & Culture: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened a new spa built around Hawaiian healing concepts.

AI & Youth Safety: Hawaii’s SB 3001 would require AI companion platforms to disclose how they work, set suicide/self-harm response protocols, and report annually to the state health department—now awaiting Gov. Josh Green’s signature. Biomedical AI Boost: UH researchers won a $12M NIH grant to launch PAC-AID, a Pacific Center for AI and Data Science in Medicine, including a new Medical AI Core and upgrades to the UH Cancer Center data center. Chip Research in Hawaii: Samsung won Best Paper at VLSI Symposium 2026 for a breakthrough “3D stacked” transistor approach, aiming for smaller gate pitches and denser designs. Volcano Watch: Kīlauea’s summit eruption remains paused, with USGS forecasting episode 50 lava fountaining likely between June 24–27. Local Tech & Mobility: Honolulu’s Biki bikeshare is drawing heavy complaints over broken stations and fewer working bikes; the city plans $1M to restore 600 bikes. Energy & Policy: Guam officials say they’ve only had informal talks about nuclear microreactors, despite a push that could mandate them regionwide by 2030. Marine Conservation: Hawaii groups warn marine debris programs face funding gaps as federal support shrinks, threatening local cleanup and derelict fishing gear efforts.

UH & NIH Funding: The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center and JABSOM just landed a $12M, five-year NIH grant to build the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID), including a new Medical AI Core and a renovated UH Cancer Center data center aimed at improving cancer research and care across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Local Tech & Community: Honolulu’s bikeshare, Biki, is drawing heavy criticism over broken stations, bike shortages, and customer service, even as the city plans a $1M Climate Resiliency Fund push to get 600 bikes back in circulation and repair stations. Infrastructure Watch: The Puna Alternate Route Study—meant to ease Highway 130 congestion and improve evacuation options—has been delayed by at least six months, with route planning constrained by land-use rules tied to DHHL properties. Marine Debris: Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research says community gear-removal efforts have removed 88 metric tons since 2022, but warns marine groups face funding gaps as federal support shrinks. Governance & Campus Speech: UH President Wendy Hensel plans proposed new “time, place and manner” limits on protests across all 10 campuses, reviving concerns among students and faculty.