The University of Hawaii is well situated for the research in the areas of hydrology and engineering geology of tropical insular environments, especially those involving volcanic and carbonate terrains. Almost all types of hydrologic environments are found in the Hawaiian islands, ranging from near desert conditions with annual rainfall of less than ten inches to the wettest gauged spot on earth - Mt. Waialaeale on Kauai, which has annual rainfall of more than 465 inches; from sea level tropical rain forests to snow and permafrost conditions at the top of Mauna Kea (almost 14,000 feet elevation). Although much of our research is done within the Hawaiian Islands, we also have many research interests in other Pacific islands and in Asia because of our unique geographic location and diverse ethnic population. Other research activities relate to general basic and applied issues in groundwater. For example, recently discovered nitrate contamination of some Oahu groundwater wells is being investigated using GIS-based tools integrated with finite element modeling techniques. The Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology Program is highly multidisciplinary, with cooperating faculty and courses from several other departments, including Civil Engineering, Soil Sciences, and Geography. Because of the wide range of research and teaching interests of the faculty, it is possible to tailor graduate degree work to fit the needs and desires of most candidates. In addition to research conducted through the Department of Geology and Geophysics, students and faculty interact with members of the Water Resources Research Center, a joint federal/state research institute located on the University campus.

• Pesticide contamination and transport studies
• groundwater modeling of Kilauea volcano east rift geothermal system
• modeling of atoll groundwater systems
• hydrogeochemistry and diagenesis of carbonate aquifer systems
• desorption and leachability of pesticides in Hawaiian soils
• wellhead protection area delineation
• analysis and modeling of helium as a groundwater tracer
• geographic information systems in groundwater
• Oahu groundwater nitrates
• central Oahu groundwater modeling
• West Maui non-point source contamination
• fracture rock hydrogeology
• multi-phase fluid transport and contamination
• subsurface hydrogeologic and geotechnical conditions beneath Honolulu.

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