Randall K. Kosaki

Randall Kosaki is a retired research ecologist from the NOAA Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. His expertise is in the behavioral ecology, taxonomy, and biogeography of Pacific coral reef fishes.

Early life Kosaki was adopted at birth by two university professors. In 2007, Kosaki reconnected with his biological mother, June Werner and learned he has a half-sister, Kimi Werner, also an avid and accomplished diver. A short film, "Three Hearts Home with Kimi Werner", highlights the three uniting.

Education Kosaki received his Bachelor's of Arts degree with a focus on marine biology in 1985 at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he earned his Master of Science in zoology in 1996 and his Ph.D. in zoology in 1999, the latter with a focus on behavioral ecology of coral reef fishes.

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Randall Kosaki worked with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for over 20 years. From October 2002 to March 2008, Kosaki was Research Coordinator for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve. He became Deputy Superintendent of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) from March 2008 to January 2020 and Research Coordinator from January 2020 to July 2021. He retired from being the Research Ecologist for PMNM in February 2025.

New Species Tosanoides obama in a holding tank on NOAA ship Hi'ialakai after collection. Kosaki specialized in the use of advanced dive technology, such as closed-circuit rebreathers, that allow him to explore the mesophotic zone (150–330 ft. depths). Kosaki was involved in finding a new invasive algae species, Chondria tumulosa, at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in 2016.

Couch, C. S., Burns, J. H. R., Liu, G., Steward, K., Gutlay, T. N., Kenyon, J., Eakin, C. M., & Kosaki, R. K. (2017, September 27). Mass coral bleaching due to unprecedented marine heatwave in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands). PLoS ONE. Kosaki, R.K., Pyle, R.L., Leonard, J.C. et al. 100% endemism in mesophotic reef fish assemblages at Kure Atoll, Hawaiian Islands. Mar Biodiv 47, 783–784 (2017). Papastamatiou, Y. P., Meyer, C. G., Kosaki, R. K., Wallsgrove, N. J., & Popp, B. N. (2015, February 17). Movements and foraging of predators associated with mesophotic coral reefs and their potential for linking ecological habitats. Pyle, R. L., & Kosaki, R. K. (2016, September 6). Prognathodes basabei, a new species of butterflyfish (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae) from the Hawaiian Archipelago. ZooKeys. Sherwood, A. R., Huisman, J. M., Paiano, M. O., Williams, T. M., Kosaki, R. K., Smith, C. M., Giuseffi, L., & Spalding, H. L. (2020). Taxonomic determination of the cryptogenic red alga, Chondria tumulosa sp. nov., (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiʻi, US: A new species displaying invasive characteristics. PLoS ONE, 15(7).

Awards and recognition 1987 - Best Student Paper Award, Tester Memorial Symposium, University of Hawaii

1992 - Edward C. Raney Fund Award

2007 - United States Department of Commerce Gold Medal for Scientific/Engineering Achievement

2010 - University of Hawaiʻi Marine Option Program, Certificate of Recognition in Ocean Leadership

2017 - NOAA Administrator's Award

2024 - NOAA Administrator's Award