New law designates Hawai‘i a hub for ocean innovation and stewardship
Attendees gather after the bill signing ceremony held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol on July 6, 2026.
On July 6, 2026, Governor Josh Green signed a bill (SB 2907, Act 186) that lays the groundwork for cohesive management of Hawai‘i’s blue economy—centralizing marine affairs oversight and formally designating the state as a hub for ocean innovation and stewardship. The bill transforms the Marine Affairs Advisory Committee, which has several University of Hawai‘i (UH) members, into the new state Marine Affairs Governing Board; and re-establishes the position of Marine Affairs Coordinator.
“John Craven was the first and, to date, only State of Hawai’i Marine Affairs Coordinator,” said Dave Karl, UH Mānoa oceanography professor and director of the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) who has been the chair of the Marine Affairs Advisory Committee since Earth Day 2024 and attended the bill signing. “During his decade-long tenure in the 1970s, he built many enduring marine programs and planted the seed for the creation of SOEST in 1988. The re-establishment of this key leadership position is timely and important. A key goal is to support marine research and education, and to promote novel blue economy partnerships throughout the state and across the Pacific basin. UH is well-positioned to contribute to this new marine vision.”
As shared in the Governor’s office press release, Hawai‘i’s “blue economy” is defined by the sustainable use of ocean and aquatic resources to support economic growth and job creation, in turn ensuring the preservation of essential marine ecosystems. Hawai‘i stands as a national leader, driven by its unique position as the United States’ only island state in the Pacific and its long-standing cultural, economic and scientific ties to the ocean.
“SOEST is deeply committed to advancing Hawaiʻi’s blue economy by integrating world-class research with education in ways that strengthen student engagement, expand workforce opportunities, and accelerate innovation,” said SOEST Dean Chip Fletcher who also attended the bill signing and will be one of the two UH members of the new Marine Affairs Governing Board. “Our responsibility is not only to generate new knowledge, but to apply those discoveries to improve the resilience and well-being of Pacific communities. This work is fully aligned with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s journey to become a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, grounded in stewardship, reciprocity, and a deep respect for the ocean and the communities it sustains.”
As shared in the Governor’s office press release, “a centralized office allows the state to focus its efforts on advancing Hawaiʻi’s blue economy while eliminating the fragmented approach of the previous system. By consolidating expertise, resources and strategic planning under a single entity, Hawaiʻi will be better positioned to support innovation, strengthen partnerships and capitalize on emerging opportunities in ocean-related industries.”
Read more on the Governor’s Newsroom, Seafood Source. HPR and UH News.