Today's interview is with Kevin Mukai, COO of Hohonu.
What Is Hohonu?
What Is Hohonu And What Inspired Its Creation?
Kevin Mukai - Hohonu is a climate technology startup that provides real-time environmental water monitoring to help communities adapt to climate change, starting with flooding. The company offers robust, affordable, localized data through sensors and software, enabling data-driven decisions for flood preparedness, response, and recovery.
The inspiration for Hohonu's creation began in Hawai’i working with local fishpond communities that needed real-time, affordable data for localized use. Our cofounder, Dr Brian Glazer, an oceanography professor at the University of Hawai’i recognized that the demand for water monitoring exceeded the capabilities of a traditional research lab and Hohonu was born. The founding team, with academic and research backgrounds, identified the need to democratize access to rigorous, real-time water data for everyone who needs it.
By transforming industry-standard sensors into accessible, real-time water monitoring systems, Hohonu aims to provide communities with the tools necessary to make informed decisions in the face of rising sea levels and increased flooding events.
Community Impact
How Is Hohonu Democratising Water Monitoring? What Steps Have You Taken To Ensure Your Technology Reaches Underserved Or Remote Communities?
Kevin Mukai - Hohonu develops robust yet accessible technology for all communities to answer tough and important questions about flooding. We have learned that a diverse range of customers from Public Safety, Engineers, Researchers, and Insurance, all need better data in order to deliver clear, actionable insights to internal teams, clientele, and the general public.
We ensure that users with limited technical expertise can effectively access and understand their data. Our breadth of users is thanks to many government and nonprofit collaborations with organizations such as the Southeast Coastal and Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). We have worked with these groups to deploy tide, riverine, and flood sensors in communities across the southeastern United States. These partnerships enhance localized flood alerts and community resilience. Hohonu has also installed sensors in underserved coastal watershed counties and traditional Native Hawaiian fishponds, providing critical data to communities that might otherwise lack the resources for such technology.
UN Endorsement
Hohonu Was Recently Endorsed By The UN As A Water Monitoring Provider. Are There Any Specific Projects With The UN That Hohonu Is Currently Involved In Or Plans To Support?
Kevin Mukai - We were thrilled to be endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development for our work with Climate Data for Community Action. We are working towards connecting with other endorsed actions and continue to expand our efforts in providing support to various communities, contributing to global climate resilience and adaptation initiatives. With 2025 marking the midpoint of the decade,we are looking forward to highlighting the need for ocean science in our current economy for sustainable development and forward looking planning.
Inspiration
What Inspired The Idea To Repurpose Hohonu Technology For Tide Monitoring? How Has It Enhanced The Way Communities Understand And Respond To Changing Tide Patterns?
Kevin Mukai - The idea to repurpose our technology was inspired by our users, as is the case with many company decisions we make. Each day we listen to customers to understand their problems and proactively develop solutions.
What we learned is that communities in flood-prone areas feel a lack of control when it comes to answering questions about flooding. Where is flooding happening? Are the models we have correct? Will these flood control designs be effective? Once they’re built, can we prove it? Being data-driven about answering these questions gives communities back a sense of control that they have the tools to protect themselves.
Public Safety departments are using Hohonu data to better prepare and respond to natural disasters, such as within Lee County during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Engineering firms can better communicate design decisions to town stakeholders for multi-million dollar flood control projects. Port operators can provide boaters with real-time tidal data to improve maritime safety.
Fundraising
What Were Some Of The Most Significant Challenges Or Obstacles You Faced While Fundraising For Hohonu? What Specific Strategies Or Lessons Could Other Adaptation Startups Learn From Your Experience?
Kevin Mukai - Fundraising for any startup has its own unique challenges. For Hohonu, one of our challenges has been that the current climate technology is nascent, and climate adaptation even more so. This means a smaller pool of investors who are familiar with the landscape of our market, customers, and technologies. We have been fortunate to identify and align with investors who share a staunch commitment to climate resilience and adaptation like Builder’s Vision, Tailwind Climate, and others.
Many of today’s adaptation startups can develop business models and go-to-market strategies that are less capital-intensive and immediately revenue-generating. Prove that you have developed a business that is customer-centric, has good unit economics, and can scale to large markets.
Community Feedback
How Do You Ensure That Local Communities Are Heard And Integrated Into The Feedback Loop For Your Solutions?
Kevin Mukai - Hohonu maintains an ongoing dialogue with local communities, ensuring that our solutions are responsive to the specific needs and concerns of the clients we serve. We actively integrate feedback by revisiting our products and software platforms based on community needs from a diverse range of stakeholders, including emergency management teams, local governments, homeowners' associations, and educational institutions. An example of this development is our recently launched TideCast™ mobile app, which enables community members and the public to access real-time water level data. This transparency allows users to provide informed feedback based on accurate and current information, fostering a collaborative environment where community insights can directly influence system improvements.
Attracting Talent
Hohonu Has Significant Engineering And Tech Talent In-House. How Do You Approach Attracting This Talent In A Field That Requires Both Technical Expertise And A Deep Understanding Of Environmental Impact?
Kevin Mukai - Hohonu has a small but mighty team who work together on continuous engineering and data software solutions. We have been lucky to attract top-tier talent in a field that intersects advanced technology and environmental impact. We think our hiring success has been a result of our compelling mission and selecting passionate and talented individuals. Hohonu’s collaborative culture has also led to a lot of innovation and relationship building with the communities we work in. Our grassroots beginning and working in and with the communities really influences not only our business model but our important partnerships and strong team relations.
Cisco Investment
Cisco’s Recent Investment In Hohonu Marks An Exciting Milestone! It’s Wonderful To Hear That You First Connected With Cisco At Adapt Unbound 2024. How Do You Envision Cisco's Resources Or Expertise Supporting Your Goals?
Kevin Mukai - We are incredibly excited to have recently welcomed additional funding from both new and existing investors, including Cisco and others like Builder’s Vision, Tailwind Climate, and Seabird Ventures.
The highest priority across our business, from customers to teammates to investors, is working with people who are genuinely passionate about our mission. With Cisco Foundation’s goal of building equitable, resilient, and empowered communities - not to mention Cisco’s strengths in networking, IoT, and digital transformation - the fit could not be better. We look forward to scaling our solutions together with Cisco to underserved communities worldwide
A Word From Cisco
A Word From Elias Habbar-Baylac, Climate Investments Lead & Regenerative Future Fund Principal, Cisco:
“Adapt Unbound NY provided an invaluable platform for us to explore the adaptation tech market, engage with industry experts, and refine our investment thesis. The conference facilitated meaningful in-person interactions with ventures in our pipeline, and we credit Adapt as a key factor in our decision to invest in Hohonu, a leader in flood disaster preparedness. The connections and insights gained through Adapt were instrumental in driving this impactful partnership forward.” - Elias Habbar-Baylac, Climate Investments Lead & Regenerative Future Fund Principal, Cisco.
Into The Future
What Message Would You Give Some Of Our Readers About The Most Important Things To Focus On In The Next 24 Months Leading Up To 2030? What Are The Things That Should Be A Significant Focus For People And Decision-Makers In This Space?
Kevin Mukai - In the next few years, we will see a greater urgency to address climate resilience and environmental sustainability via data-driven decision making that puts communities back in control of their destiny. Adaptation is no longer optional. Coastal and flood-prone areas must accelerate investments in resilient infrastructure—everything from smarter urban planning to natural flood barriers—to protect lives, assets, and ecosystems. We need to prioritize accessible, locally-driven environmental data for informed decision-making. Communities and governments must invest in reliable monitoring systems, like those provided by Hohonu, to understand and respond to rising tides, flooding risks, and other environmental challenges. It’s vital to actively involve local communities, indigenous knowledge, and grassroots organizations in resilience strategies. We think that Hohonu’s emphasis on community feedback and engagement sets a powerful example. Adaptation is not a passive process—it’s an active, ongoing commitment. The next two years will set the tone for how effectively we can prepare for a rapidly changing climate.
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