University of Hawai'i at Hilo Secures Nearly $24 Million in External Financial Support
The University of Hawaii (UH) system has announced a significant increase in external funding for fiscal year 2025, with a total of $734 million received from various sources, including the federal government, industry, and nonprofit organisations.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa received tens of millions in federal funding for the UH Cancer Center and UH John A. Burns School of Medicine. This funding will support research and training conducted by UH faculty and staff.
The University of Hawaii community colleges received a total of $31.3 million. Meanwhile, UH Hilo's Director of Research and Administrative Operations, Eric Matsunaga, stated that the funding for UH Hilo was "in the ballpark" of previous years, with a $1.3 million fluctuation considered typical.
UH Hilo was awarded $23.9 million in the 2025 fiscal year, marking a fourth consecutive year of record-breaking external funding to the university system. The funding for the Department of Geography at UH Hilo is intended for environmental and cultural protection efforts, remote sensing, data modeling, and forecasting the spread of rapid ohia death. It also includes improving high-resolution documentation and identification of cultural resources, and aiding in condition assessment and monitoring protocols.
The Department of Geography at UH Hilo received substantial funding in 2025, with $1.49 million from the National Park Service and $2.25 million from NOAA. The funding for the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at UH Hilo received $620,873 from the U.S. Geographical Survey in 2025.
UH West Oahu was awarded a total of $9.7 million in donations. Gov. Josh Green emphasized the University of Hawaii's essential role in tackling pressing challenges, including health equity and climate resilience. He stated that the University of Hawaii is a critical driver of innovation, health, and economic resilience.
Despite extensive searches, no precise public data was found about UH Hilo Geography Department’s 2025 specific research projects or funding related to environmental and cultural protection efforts. To obtain the exact and up-to-date information, one may explore direct contact with the UH Hilo Geography Department or university research offices, university research grant databases or annual reports, and funding agency websites associated with environmental and cultural studies in Hawaii.
The search results do confirm academic activities and job postings in geography and environmental science at UH Hilo but do not disclose project or funding specifics. However, related environmental research and projects in Hawaii more broadly include efforts like the Ala Wai Watershed Restoration and Revitalization Project, which applies systems thinking to ecosystem monitoring and water quality improvement using bioremediation technologies.
In conclusion, the University of Hawaii has secured a substantial amount of funding for its research and educational initiatives, with UH Hilo receiving a significant portion. While specific details about the Geography Department's research projects and funding for 2025 related to environmental and cultural protection efforts could not be found in publicly available data, further investigation through university channels is encouraged.
- The University of Hawaii's (UH) Geography Department at UH Hilo received funding from the National Park Service and NOAA in 2025, intended for environmental and cultural protection efforts, among other projects.
- The University of Hawaii system's funding for fiscal year 2025 includes external financing for education and self-development, as well as environmental science, health equity, and climate resilience initiatives.
- The University of Hawaii West Oahu received donations totaling $9.7 million, reflecting its critical role in addressing pressing challenges like health equity and climate resilience.
- To find precise public data about UH Hilo Geography Department’s 2025 specific research projects or funding related to environmental and cultural protection efforts, one may directly contact the UH Hilo Geography Department, university research offices, or explore university research grant databases and funding agency websites associated with environmental and cultural studies in Hawaii.
