After graduating from Kalaheo High School, Hope Kanoa knew she wanted to focus on Hawaiʻi’s water resources while attending the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She found a fitting option in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), which offers a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Earth Science.
As an undergraduate student, Kanoa conducted a research project with Xiaolong (Leo) Geng, assistant professor in the SOEST Department of Earth Sciences, to measure the concentration of microplastic in coastal environments around Oʻahu. After working on this project together, Geng extended an invitation for Kanoa to join his research group as a master’s student.
“Its incredible to see how connected different reservoirs of water are in Hawaiʻi,” Kanoa said. “I’m very interested in addressing the challenge of modeling how this contaminant is transported on and in our islands.”
“Hope has demonstrated an exceptional ability to work across disciplines, connecting fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and environmental science outreach,” Geng shared. “She is never afraid to try new approaches, and her willingness to step outside her comfort zone has been a defining strength in her growth as a researcher.”
Now a graduate student in the Earth and Planetary Sciences program, Kanoa is expanding her research to understand microplastic concentrations in coastal environments and is also assessing riverine and oceanic environments, so as to get a more complete picture of how this contaminant is moving through Hawaiʻi’s water cycle.
“This degree felt like a perfect fit,” said Kanoa. “It provided the opportunity to pursue hydrology and hydrogeology in greater depth, with great potential to investigate water resources in Hawaiʻi.”
For more information, see SOEST’s website.
—By Marcie Grabowski
