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Is there fresh water beneath the ocean floor? – West Hawaii Today

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Is there fresh water beneath the ocean floor? – West Hawaii Today


A scientific expedition off the west coast of Hawaii Island has concluded a two-week offshore imaging survey aimed at confirming the existence of a vast underground reservoir of fresh or brackish water beneath the seafloor.

The survey, conducted last month, involved researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, working under contract with the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and funded by the state Legislature.

The study seeks to verify a theory that challenges current understanding of island hydrology: that a deep, confined aquifer of fresh water or brackish water lies trapped beneath layers of volcanic basalt and ash, extending miles offshore.

“If proven, this deep water could explain long-standing mysteries about Hawaii Island’s water cycle — namely, why observed coastal discharge doesn’t match estimated groundwater recharge,” said Peter Kannberg, associate researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology in UH Manoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, who led the survey. “In simple terms, a lot of water is missing from current models.”

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The investigation originated in 2018 when scientists first detected irregularities suggesting the presence of this deep aquifer where none was expected. The theory states that rainwater may be funneled underground and trapped beneath the basal freshwater lens, which lies closer to the surface, extending far beneath the seafloor and offshore.

The 2025 expedition utilized advanced electromagnetic imaging technology. Instruments deployed on the seafloor detected electromagnetic echoes, while a 150-foot-long towed sensor emitted a low-power signal recorded by a 3,300-foot-long receiver array. The survey covered two coastal areas of West Hawaii: north of Kiholo Bay to Honokohau Harbor and from south of Kailua Bay to Kealakekua.

“What we are learning is that the extent of these offshore aquifers is greater than we originally thought, both in breadth and depth,” Kannberg said. “So we have had to leverage different scientific methods to see deep enough into the earth to adequately capture these complex hydrologic systems. Typically for these offshore aquifer surveys, being able to image 1,000 feet below the seafloor is sufficient. Here in Hawaii, we have found that we need to be able to see up to 10 times that to adequately resolve these aquifers.”

Researchers are now processing the collected data to confirm the reservoir’s existence and to estimate the volume of water stored offshore.

“The next steps will be to turn the data we collected into a model of the earth offshore Kona,” Kannberg said. “This model will verify the existence and extent of these offshore aquifers. Once we know how and where these features are, we will be able to make informed policies about the management of these resources.

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“Our current conceptual model of how fresh water should work on islands does not allow for offshore aquifers to exist,” he said. “If we are able to show they do exist, then we need to reevaluate those conceptual models, and update them to reflect the reality that we are seeing.”

Kannberg also addressed the environmental trade-offs of potentially accessing this offshore reservoir.

“These deep aquifers are unlikely to be pure fresh water. If they were to be used as a drinking water source, desalination would likely be necessary. But rather than looking at these features as a potential new water source, we need to look at how the existence of these deeper aquifers affects our understanding of freshwater resources across the islands.”

The implications of the research extend beyond Hawaii Island.

“We have done a similar study offshore southern Oahu, where we found significant volumes of freshened water offshore,” Kannberg said. “There have been a number of studies of offshore fresh water, but almost all of them have been in non-volcanic environments. The volcanic geology of the islands increases the hydrologic complexity significantly.

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“Water flowing through sand is much simpler to understand and model than water flowing through fractures and lava tubes. To understand it, we need to gather as much information as we can, both onshore and offshore, using all available technologies. While our survey is focused on the Kona coast, it will provide a foundation for understanding freshwater resources on volcanic islands both here and abroad.”

Email Daniel Farr at dfarr@hawaiitribune-herald.com.





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Hawaii Island asks for the public’s assistance finding elderly woman, Jacquelyn Glenn

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Hawaii Island asks for the public’s assistance finding elderly woman, Jacquelyn Glenn


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island police are renewing their request for the public’s assistance in locating 82-year-old Jacquelyn Glenn of Kailua-Kona, who was reported missing by her family.

Police said she is considered endangered due to her age.

Glenn was last seen on Friday, Dec. 5, around 6:37 a.m., on the 75-200 block of Nani Kailua Dr. in Kailua-Kona.

She was wearing a peach-colored shirt, blue denim jeans, and black tennis shoes. She reportedly mentioned going to Hilo with friends, but did not say when she planned to return.

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She is described as 5′6″, 125 Ibs, with curly grey hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jacquelyn Glenn to call the Hawaii Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.



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Hawaii gets nearly $190 million for rural health care | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaii gets nearly 0 million for rural health care | Honolulu Star-Advertiser




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Hawaiian announces $600 million airport, wide-body upgrades | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaiian announces 0 million airport, wide-body upgrades | Honolulu Star-Advertiser


COURTESY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

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Hawaiian Airlines today announced an investment of more than $600 million over five years to improve airport passenger areas across the state and interior upgrades to widebody aircraft.

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Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser ahead of today’s announcement at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport that other improvements will include better apps, a better website that will make it easier for passengers to change flights, among other things that also include better integration with Alaska Airlines, which acquired Hawaiian in 2024, making it a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group.

“We have pushed a lot of change through the system for the last couple of months,” Rakow said. “We’re working on integrating our ticketing systems because right now we’re on two separate ticketing systems that don’t talk to each other.”

After late April, she said, booking on the shared Alaska Air and Hawaiian Air ticketing system “will be much more seamless.”

In announcing the renovations and changes, Hawaiian pledged “a significantly smoother guest experience … once Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines share the same passenger service system and Hawaiian Airlines joins the oneworld alliance, both scheduled for late April.”

Right now, Rakow acknowledged, “unfortunately there is some friction.”

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“There’s been so many changes and all of that friction is really painful,” she said. “We are committed to making sure we are addressing the issues. … We are certainly not perfect, but we are committed to working together. … Really, after April, it is going to improve significantly.”

Each island airport also will see renovated lobbies and gates designed to increase comfort, provide better seating and amenities such as improved power charging.

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Daniel K. Inouye International also will get a new 10,600-square-foot lounge at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1.

And starting in 2028, Hawaiian’s wide-body Airbus A330s will get new seats, carpets, lighting, business class suites, a Bluetooth-enabled in-flight entertainment system with high-definition screens and free Starlink Wi-Fi.

Gov. Josh Green said in a statement ahead of today’s announcement that, “Hawaiian Airlines’ investment is exactly the kind of long-term commitment Hawaiʻi needs. Modern, welcoming airports improve the experience for residents and visitors alike, strengthen our economy and keep Hawaiʻi competitive as a global destination. We appreciate Hawaiian Airlines’ partnership in advancing workforce development, regenerative tourism, clean energy, and community programs that reflect the values of our islands.”

The New Year began with a .75% increase in Hawaii’s Transient Accommodations Tax that will help the state fight climate change.

Rakow said that Hawaiian is working to better inform inbound passengers about how to respect Hawaii’s culture and environment.

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Hawaiian said it will continue to support “programs promoting regenerative tourism, culture and conservation.”

The airline also said it will fund grants to nonprofit organizations “promoting cultural programs, environmental preservation, and perpetuation of native Hawaiian art and language through the Alaska Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines Foundation.”




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