Hawaii

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

Published

4 months ago

August 6, 2025

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.”

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.

“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.

“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

Hawaii field goal kicker Matsuzawa had ‘humble beginnings’ | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

13 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Hawaii field goal kicker Matsuzawa had ‘humble beginnings’ | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Before the legend of the “Tokyo Toe,” before the hot-selling jersey with the surname in kanji, before the record streak and all those watch lists, there was the video.

Kansei Matsuzawa’s form needed polishing in 2022, and the competition at Hocking College was befitting of a junior college. But Matsuzawa’s powerful right leg was evident on highlight videos.

Thomas Sheffield, Hawaii’s special teams coordinator, learned of Japan-reared Matsuzawa’s back story of watching YouTube for pointers, practicing for hours at a community park, and pestering junior colleges for a shot.

UH already had a dependable kicker in Matthew Shipley.

“We always need kickers,” UH head coach Timmy Chang said.

In receiving permission to add Matsuzawa to the Warriors’ 2023 class as a preferred walk-on, Sheffield thought, “I liked his humble beginnings. I liked his story. I thought he’d fit really well inside our program.”

Most of all, as apparent from videos and recommendations, “he had leg power,” Sheffield said. “That’s why I brought him in. That’s why I recruited him.”

Matsuzawa did not participate in any games during the 2023 season. Soon after, Shipley announced he was entering the transfer portal, eventually transferring to Arkansas. After an impressive spring training and offseason workouts, Matsuzawa was named as Shipley’s successor.

“I always projected him to start at some point in his career,” Sheffield said. “He was always, in my head, the replacement for Matt Shipley. He was always the next one in line for me.”

Last year, Matsuzawa converted on 12 of 16 field-goal attempts, slightly short of Shipley’s 14 of 18 in 2023.

“I wasn’t happy with my stats and how I spent the season,” Matsuzawa said.

Sheffield said: “I always knew he could be better than 75%.”

In January, Sheffield brought in former TCU kicker Caleb Sempebwa — along with his long-snapper Jax Thompson — to challenge for the starting kicker’s job. Sempebwa and Thompson left UH at the end of the spring semester.

Sheffield then signed James Madison transfer Jack Mowrey, who was once the nation’s most highly rated high school long-snapper. After several auditions, Matsuzawa chose backup quarterback Caleb Freeman as his holder.

The snap-hold-kick operation had glitches in player-run practices during the summer. They decided Matsuzawa would be more comfortable if Freeman received the snap eight yards from the line of scrimmage instead of the conventional seven yards. Mowrey’s 40-mph, laces-out snaps compensated for the extra yard.

Matsuzawa “just found a (pre-snap) routine that works for him,” Sheffield said. “We tweaked the little things in his kicking form. For him, it was mostly finding what works for him, and the routine from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed.”

With guidance from a sports psychologist, Matusuzawa has silenced what he called the outside “noise.” That includes the Manoa mist, Colorado State’s slippery turf, Air Force’s thin air, and that recent on-line chatter, including talk of a Heisman Trophy candidacy.

“I never get too excited or too low,” Matsuzawa said. “Every time I (aim for) the middle, and focus on doing my job. We focus on the process and the results.”

Matsuzawa’s 23 field-goal attempts are the most by a UH kicker since Tyler Hadden went 18-for-23 in 2014.

Sheffield figured Matsuzawa would connect on 85-90% of his field-goal attempts.

“I didn’t know he would be 100% at this point of the season,” Sheffield said. “He works hard. He does a lot of mental training with a sports psychologist. Those all play a factor. At the end of the day, it’s his discipline and his love for football.”

Matsuzawa said: “I just do my routines, small things right every day. Don’t skip the process. I never get bored with what I’m doing.”

Matsuzawa and punter Billy Gowers are advocates of stretching. After flights to and from road trips, they will stretch in hotel foyers or at Ching field.

“We have to take care of our bodies,” Matsuzawa said.

Matsuzawa also finds inspiration from campus life.

“Just spend the time in the facility longer,” he said. “I don’t like to go home. Once you go home, it’s done. It’s not easy to do something at home. I wake up early for practice and stay longer, as long as I can, and do something every day.”

WYOMING COWBOYS (4-7, 2-5 MWC) AT HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS (7-4, 4-3)

When/Where: 6 p.m. Saturday / Ching Complex • TV: Spectrum Sports • Radio: 1420-AM / 92.7-FM • Line: UH by 71

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Chinatown shops offer Black Friday deals, features local products

Published

1 day ago

November 26, 2025

Press Room

Chinatown shops offer Black Friday deals, features local products

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Chinatown businesses are participating in the annual Shop Around event on Black Friday and throughout the holiday season.

The Shop Around features deals on locally-made products and Hawaii-themed merchandise.

Roberta Oaks owns a shop at the intersection of Nuuanu Avenue and North Pauahi Street called Roberta Oaks Hawaii.

It releases new items specifically for Black Friday each year.

“We always love to put out a couple of new things on Black Friday,” Oaks said. “Our bamboo and chartreuse shirt this year will be a great Christmas shirt coming up.”

Local partnerships support event

American Savings Bank sponsors the Shop Around event, which Oak says is helpful for business.

“They’ve sponsored us for a few years now,” Oaks said. “They totally help us get print materials figured out. We’re able to hire a local artist to do our graphics, and then they also sponsor all of the tote bags that we end up giving away to customers on Black Friday.”

Focus on Hawaii-made products

Oaks’ shop features textiles, including aloha shirts, kitchen linens, and pouches, with a gift-with-purchase pouch promotion planned for this year.

The store also carries products from local artists, including blankets, jewelry made in the islands, bags made in Kaimuki, and ceramics.

“I’m really big on supporting local artists and other handmade items,” Oaks said.

She emphasized the importance of supporting Hawaii-made products during the holiday shopping season.

“Made in Hawaii products, it’s so important to support the economy here in the islands,” Oaks said. “We are a very self-contained place. Supporting local made products, keeps jobs local. And shopping small, shopping local really does go a long way.”

The Chinatown Shop Around event runs Black Friday and Saturday, with participating businesses offering deals throughout the holiday season.

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Navy sailor dies after attempting to rescue children at Hawaii beach

Published

2 days ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Navy sailor dies after attempting to rescue children at Hawaii beach

A U.S. Navy sailor assigned to the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands died Saturday after attempting to rescue children from high surf at a Kauai beach, authorities said.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jeffrey Diaz died after first responders pulled him from waters off the military installation along the Hawaiian island’s western shore, the Kauai Police Department said in a release Monday.

On Saturday afternoon, emergency personnel were dispatched to Waiapua‘a Bay near Shenanigans, a restaurant located along the beach at PMRF, after reports of a swimmer in distress, according to the release.

Authorities said Diaz had entered the water to rescue two children who were “struggling in high surf.”

“While the children made it back to shore safely, he encountered trouble in the water,” the Kauai Police Department said.

Ocean Safety Bureau and Barking Sands Fire and Emergency Services Department personnel rescued the 47-year-old from the water and undertook lifesaving efforts, authorities said. He was transported to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea, where he was later pronounced dead.

Diaz reported to PMRF in October, according to the Navy. He previously served on the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross and at Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia, among other duty stations.

His awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation and Kosovo Campaign Medal, among others.

Diaz enlisted in the Navy in 1997, according to service records. He promoted to master-at-arms 1st class in 2022.

About Beth Sullivan

Beth Sullivan is an editor for Military Times. Previously, she worked as a staff reporter for The Daily Memphian and as an assistant editor at The Austin Chronicle.

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