Student Scientists Respond to Devastating Rains
This month Hawaiʻi has experienced devastating rainfall and flooding from severe weather systems, with stormwater runoff carrying sediment, mud, and other debris from land into coastal waters. These conditions can lead to murky, turbid waters and elevated bacterial indicators that pose health risks to people and ecosystems.
Waikalua Loko I’a received heavy rains in these past two storms, too.
In response, water quality monitoring efforts have ramped up statewide — including nearshore sampling and lab testing — to better understand what these extreme events mean for our oceans, reefs, and communities.
As part of that effort, PAF Kilo Kai Marine Science students took to Kāneʻohe Bay, joining scientists and community volunteers to run systematic north–south sampling transects, collecting water for analysis of turbidity and environmental DNA (eDNA).
These samples will contribute to broader research into how intense rainfall and storm runoff affect water clarity, nutrient loads, and biological communities — information that can help guide recovery, public health guidance, and long‑term stewardship of our coastal waters.
We are so proud of our Kilo Kai students for supporting real‑world science during a critical time for Hawaiʻi’s environment. Mahalo to all partners and volunteers working together to observe, understand, and protect our kai.
