The 20th Anniversary Campaign

PACIFIC 2026

Light brown coral with branching finger-like structures on a rocky seabed against a black background.

Pacific Mission

Updates From the Field

Follow the Pacific campaign as it unfolds — aerial mapping, dive surveys, and ground operations across the Western Pacific.

PHASE 1

Securing the Hawaiian Launchpad

The Pacific campaign launches from Hawaiʻi — coral surveys, water quality runs, and a first-ever satellite ground-truth with Planet Labs.

View Mission Update→

Aerial view of a large forested volcanic mountain under a clear blue sky.

PHASE 1

The ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Coastline Survey

A 120-mile contiguous reef survey along West Hawaiʻi — from ʻUpolu Point to South Point — mapping one of the longest unbroken coral corridors in the state.

View Mission Update→

PHASE 1

DLNR Kona Low Storm Response

Following severe storm systems earlier this year, GAO rapidly deployed across Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi to map reef impact for Hawaiʻi's Department of Land and Natural Resources.

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PHASE 2

Guam & CNMI Mapping Complete

After months based out of Guam, GAO has completed aerial mapping across the full CNMI island chain — and the team is heading underwater next.

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Phase 1: Hawaiʻi January 2026

20 Years of GAO: Born in Hilo

The Pacific campaign officially launches in the GAO's birthplace of Hilo. Marking 20 years since its inception in 2006 following 8 previous years of Big Island development, operations assemble here before expanding across the ocean pipeline.

19.72410°N 155.08680°W

Phase 1: Hawaiʻi January 2026

ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Coastline: ʻUpolu Point

Airborne mapping teams initiate the contiguous 120-mile West Hawaiʻi reef survey at the island's northernmost tip. Flight passes baseline fragile coral habitats alongside native terrestrial forest ecosystems mapping critical land-to-sea interfaces.

20.26250°N 155.88210°W

Phase 1: Hawaiʻi January 2026

ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Coastline: Keahole Point

Tracking south along the volcanic shore to Keahole Point. Airborne arrays sweep past the operational flight lines at KOA and the NELHA facilities, capturing intense high-resolution imagery over the core reef restoration development sectors.

19.72750°N 156.06010°W

Phase 1: Hawaiʻi January 2026

ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Coastline: South Point (Ka Lae)

Completing the massive West Hawaiʻi environmental transect at the southernmost point of the United States. High-speed mapping sweeps capture the high-energy marine currents and final baseline boundaries of the contiguous coral corridor.

18.91030°N 155.67920°W

Phase 1: Hawaiʻi May 2026

DLNR Kona Lows Assessment

Following severe storm systems earlier this year, GAO rapidly deployed statewide flight lines across Oahu, Maui, and Kauai to map nearshore sediment plumes and critical reef impact zones for the Hawaiʻi DLNR.

Statewide Assessment Grid

Phase 1: Hawaiʻi May 2026

Tanager-1 Satellite Underflights

Returning to Hilo to execute advanced validation lines. In direct partnership with Planet Labs, GAO conducted targeted underflights of the new Tanager-1 satellite, ground-truthing data from the upper atmosphere down to the living reef.

19.72410°N 155.08680°W

Phase 2: Transit May 2026

Westbound Departure: Lihue

The transit to the Western Pacific begins. The GAO aircraft departs Hilo and makes its final Hawaiian staging stop at Lihue Airport (LIH) on Kauaʻi to take on fuel before heading out into the open ocean pipeline.

21.97600°N 159.33890°W

Phase 2: Transit May 2026

Mid-Ocean Pivot: Marshall Islands

Crossing the International Date Line. The crew touches down at Amata Kabua International Airport in Majuro, Marshall Islands, navigating a critical mid-ocean refueling checkpoint to sustain the trans-Pacific flight line.

7.06450°N 171.27210°E

Phase 3: Deployment May 2026

Guam Operational Base Established

Touchdown at the primary operations hub. The GAO aircraft establishes its permanent command center out of Guam—serving as the central strategic launch site for the deep Western Pacific tracking web.

13.44430°N 144.79370°E

Phase 3: Deployment >May – June 2026

Northern Mariana Islands

Branching out immediately from the new Guam hub, mapping patterns track north into the CNMI archipelago, capturing synchronized marine-atmospheric interface data across Saipan and the surrounding island chains.

15.09790°N 145.67390°E

Phase 3: Deployment June 2026

Palau Archipelago Survey

Heading southwest into the westernmost edge of Micronesia. Airborne imaging systems survey Palau’s highly protected marine sanctuaries and barrier reef networks to record long-term climate baselines.

7.35100°N 134.47770°E

Phase 3: Deployment June 2026

Ngulu Atoll Remote Deep Dive

An intensive mapping track over an incredibly isolated marine ecosystem. Low-altitude flight passes map pristine coral structures entirely removed from direct localized human pressures.

8.45000°N 137.48330°E

Phase 3: Deployment June 2026

Yap State Data Baseline

Completing the massive mid-2026 regional sweep. Data tracking consolidates over the main islands of Yap, finalizing a comprehensive regional web of ecological baselines before routing back to the main command hub.

9.51200°N 138.12870°E

Multi-Year Outlook 2026 - 2029

The Next 3 Years: Based Out of Guam

With regional baseline surveys completed, the GAO aircraft returns to Guam. This strategic base will serve as the permanent multi-year home of the GAO for the next 3 years, anchoring long-term monitoring across the entire South Pacific.

Permanent Regional Command Hub

"We work the problems one at a time at max intensity."

— Sheldon, GAO Field Team