Modified project summary/abstract the pacific is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the University of Hawaii a $600,000 cooperative agreement on February 1, 2026, under the Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development program (CFDA 11.467) to continue and expand the Pacific Islands Training and Development (PITD) initiative for hydrometeorologists from Pacific Island national meteorological and hydrological services.

The PITD, administered and managed by the University of Hawaii's Tsunami and All-Hazards Initiatives (TASI), will train up to 15 participants annually, separated into cohorts of 4–5 participants to attend on-site training at the National Weather Service Forecast Office on the University of Hawaii campus in Honolulu and in-country workshops. The program targets hydrometeorologists from under-resourced Pacific Island meteorological services to improve their technical capacity in severe weather prediction, daily weather forecasting, and preparation and dissemination of locally-produced meteorological, hydrologic, and climate products. In-country training also facilitates participation by non-funded personnel.

The award runs through January 31, 2031. Place of performance is Honolulu, Hawaii.

Small, vulnerable island populations are isolated by vast expanses of ocean. They experience frequent and intense severe weather events - tsunami, floods, landslides, droughts- with disproportionately high economic, social and environmental consequences. The vastness of the pacific and the limited infrastructure and resources make weather forecasting very challenging. There is also a paucity of weather observational data within the region which hinders accurate weather forecasting. Many pacific island countries have under-resourced national meteorological and hydrological services (nhmss), lack adequate infrastructure, trained personnel, and access to modern forecasting systems. Training and capacity building are crucial for strengthening these services and improving nhmss ability to provide essential weather services. Building on the existing pitd structure, this proposal seeks funding to continue and expand the current pitd training as administered and managed by the UH tasi for hydrometeorologists from pacific islands nhmss to improve their ability to predict the onset of severe weather events as well as to forecast daily weather in their areas. The pitd will train up to 15 participants separated into cohorts and/or in-country training annually. Each cohort will consist of 4-5 participants to attend the on-site training program at the NWS forecast office on the university of hawaii campus and in-country workshops. In-country training also allows for non-funded participants to be part of the training. The goal of the pitd is to develop the technical capacity of hydro-meteorologists in the region. The program will focus on participant learning outcomes such as improved ability to predict the onset of severe weather events, forecast daily local weather, and prepare and disseminate locally-produced meteorological, hydrologic, and climate products. The specific objectives of the pitd are: (1) review, refine, and administer the pre-requisite e- learning courses; (2) review, refine and conduct on-site training program; (3) plan and organize short courses (incountry); (4) provide communications technology dissemination and training; and, (6) provide program management and administration. From 2014-2025, the pitd has trained 229 participants from 16 countries from 20142025. The pitd has trained 291 participants from 22 countries in total between 2001-2025.