Major research areas include terrestrial and marine plant ecology, evolution, systematics, conservation, ethnobotany and plant microbe interactions.

Hawai`i provides an outstanding location for many types of botanical studies. The rich endemic flora and the insular isolation provide unique opportunities for studies of evolution, conservation biology, and alien plant invasions. Similarly, a mixture of local cultures and our proximity to the other Pacific island nations allow studies of plants in a human context.

Research studies are not limited to the Hawaiian Islands. Faculty and students have research projects in many areas throughout the world.