Dr. Michael Hadfield Kewalo Marine Laboratory Department of Zoology Dr. Celia Smith Department of Botany
Biofouling Research Center
The United States Navy has maintained a large base in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii (right) since the late 1800s. Not surprisingly, there is also a long history of study of the fouling organisms colonizing submerged surfaces (including ship hulls) in the Harbor. Since 1991 the University of Hawaii has participated in Navy/Department of Defense programs aimed at developing new antifouling and foul-release hull coatings. We maintain two test sites within Pearl Harbor: one at Hospital Point (A) for short-term (7-90 d) field testing of natural products with potential antifouling activity, novel encapsulation treatments, or experimental coatings with particular surface characteristics; and one on Ford Island (B) for long-term (1-2 yr) testing of coated bilge keel panels. In addition, we are able to test natural products and other compounds for their ability to inhibit settlement of algal spores and invertebrate larvae using laboratory bioassays. The links listed below provide greater detail on the diversity of testing services we provide.