UH Manoa Launches New Center for Ocean Policy

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa established a new Center for Ocean Policy on Monday. The center combines resources from the Department of Oceanography and the William S. Richardson School of Law. Its primary goal is to merge scientific data with legal strategy to solve marine and climate issues.

The initiative targets the growing pressure on local marine ecosystems. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and competing uses of ocean space create these pressures. The center aims to develop policy solutions for these specific problems. It serves both local communities and global stakeholders.

The Healy Foundation has been a key financial partner in this effort. Since 2020, the foundation supported a research assistant position at the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience. This role is known as The Healy Foundation Climate Change Fellow. In 2024, the partnership expanded to fund three Fellows. These individuals assist the City and County of Honolulu Climate Change Commission with research and support activities.

Suzanne Geary, executive director of The Healy Foundation, described the new center as a bridge between two fields. She stated that the center creates a platform for scientific insights to inform policy decisions. Geary added that the foundation is excited to support this approach. She noted that this builds on a long-standing partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation and the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience.

The center’s first major activity is a Law-Ocean Clinic. This program pairs law and oceanography students with local nonprofit organizations. The teams will conduct policy research and advocacy during the Hawaiʻi legislative session. The work focuses on real-world environmental issues affecting the islands.

Camille Nelson, dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law, said the partnership equips students to tackle complex environmental challenges. She explained that understanding the science behind policy prepares students to advocate for island communities. The clinic allows students to gain firsthand experience working across disciplines.

UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos called the center a major milestone for the institution. He emphasized the university's kuleana, or responsibility, to apply place-based knowledge. Syrmos stated that the center translates scientific knowledge into meaningful policy solutions. He noted that this approach helps shape the future of ocean stewardship for Hawaiʻi and communities worldwide.

The center will also offer interdisciplinary seminars for students. It will launch an annual symposium starting in its second year. This event will bring together researchers, policymakers, legal practitioners, and community members. The symposium will address emerging issues in ocean policy. Margaret McManus, chief academic advancement officer, said the center aligns with the university's mission to foster innovative education.

Chip Fletcher, dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, emphasized the center's connection to Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Pacific communities. He noted that both schools have long records of working with these communities on ocean stewardship and climate resilience. Fletcher said the center brings science, law, and Indigenous knowledge together. This collaboration aims to create policies that are effective and responsive to the communities most tied to the ocean.