KM26-10

From August 26–31, 2026, the R/V Kilo Mauna will host an instructional and research cruise around Oahu and Kauai, offering University of Hawaii undergraduate and graduate students hands-on experience with cutting-edge oceanographic methodology. Participants will experience a suite of multidisciplinary measurements, including Shipboard ADCP and multibeam bathymetry, CTD/Rosette system water column profiling, sediment collection, and eDNA sampling. The scientific team will also monitor continuous underway carbon metrics (pCO 2 , total alkalinity, and pH), deploy 10 fish aggregating devices (FADs), and conduct evening squid collections for downstream DNA characterization. This cruise serves as a critical academic springboard: the datasets generated will directly support Global Environmental Science (GES) undergraduate theses, while simultaneously allowing graduate students to fulfill their mandatory ship time requirements. Beyond its academic utility, the cruise is designed to broaden students' horizons regarding the multiple career opportunities within marine science. Students will gain firsthand exposure to vital, non-academic professional paths. The close quarters of the R/V Kilo Mauna also break down traditional campus barriers, offering a unique, informal setting where undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty can network, share mentorship, and build lasting professional relationships.