Marine Science: Hawai'i

Marine Science: Hawai'i

• Dates: June 30, 2025 to August 8, 2025
• Units: 3.00 Pre-College units, 9000 level
• Open to: 9th-12th grade students. Recent graduates welcome!
• Application: Click here to apply!
• Application Deadline: Closed
• Course Delivery: In Person
• Tuition: $3,675 which includes course materials, room and board, all meals, ground transportation, and activities. It does not include airfare. 
• Location: O'ahu
• Instructors: Nicole Yen, Sonya Timko, and Alberto Rivera

Hawai‘i’s rich ecological landscapes and deep cultural heritage are anchored in the foundational value of Mālama ʻĀina—“to care for the land”—a principle that embodies a profound environmental ethic and emphasizes the intrinsic relationship between humans and the natural world. Guided by this philosophy, the Research Scholars Marine Science—Hawai‘i Program offers an immersive 10-day academic experience on the island of O‘ahu, designed for students with a passion for marine science, ecological restoration, and environmental stewardship.

In collaboration with Mālama Maunalua, students will actively contribute to conservation and research initiatives in Maunalua Bay. Activities may include restoring the Ala Mahamoe watershed, removing invasive algae, conducting coral reef monitoring via transect surveys, and participating in coral outplanting projects using heat-resilient species. Through the application of ArcGIS, students will analyze the impacts of land-based pollution and climate change on coastal ecosystems using both publicly available datasets and field-collected data, culminating in the creation of a digital story map that documents their findings and supports ongoing restoration efforts.

This program aims to cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders by deepening students’ understanding of ecological interdependence and promoting a sense of responsibility toward local and global marine ecosystems. Participants will be encouraged to translate their learning into action by applying stewardship practices within their own communities.

Through this program, students will:

• Develop a deeper understanding of and connection to natural resources through active participation in ecological restoration and conservation initiatives in collaboration with local organizations, including:

  •  Koʻolau Mountains Watershed Partnership

  • Ka Papa Loʻi O Kānewai

  • Kaulaukalana

  • Mālama Maunalua

• Explore traditional Hawaiian resource management systems, with a focus on the ahupuaʻa model—a holistic approach that integrates land and sea stewardship—by studying:

  • Loʻi kalo (taro cultivation systems)

  • Loko iʻa (traditional Hawaiian fishponds)

• Examine contemporary environmental and climate challenges impacting coral reef ecosystems, and analyze how ahupuaʻa-informed strategies—from mauka (mountain) to makai (sea)—can:

  • Preserve water quality

  • Reduce soil erosion

  • Prevent nutrient runoff

  • Minimize the influx of pollutants into marine environments

• Gain practical experience in ecological restoration and field research by working with Mālama Maunalua to:

  • Remove invasive algae species

  • Conduct coral reef health assessments in Maunalua Bay

  • Collect, analyze, and visualize data using ArcGIS technologies

• Be empowered to become environmental stewards, equipped with the knowledge and tools to apply holistic, place-based management practices within their own communities to drive meaningful and sustainable change.

 Tentative Schedule (subject to change)

• Day 1: Arrival, student welcome, and course introduction

• Day 2: Lanikai Pillbox Hike; Introduction to the island, program activities, and research overview; RA-led evening leadership activities and discussions

• Day 3: Ecological restoration at Ala Mahamoe with Koʻolau Mountains Watershed Partnership; Visit to the Bishop Museum; RA-led movie night

• Day 4: Community farming at Ka Papa Loʻi O Kānewai; Snorkeling at Shark’s Cove on the North Shore

• Day 5: Restoration and research activities with Mālama Maunalua; RA-led evening leadership activities and discussions

• Day 6: Continued restoration and research with Mālama Maunalua; RA-led evening leadership activities and discussions

• Day 7: Fishpond restoration with Kaulaukalana; Continued research with Mālama Maunalua; RA-led evening leadership activities and discussions

• Day 8: Visit to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; ArcGIS mapping workshop with Justin Kellum

• Day 9: Final student presentations; Group outing to Waikīkī

• Day 10: Program closeout, farewells, and departure

 Note: This program involves frequent outdoor, hands-on fieldwork in both terrestrial and marine environments. Students should be prepared for physical activity, exposure to the elements, and getting wet or muddy on most days.