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.”

Read more about it in the Dec. 01, 2025, University of Hawai‘i News item.