Keolani Kahale-Lua

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Keolani Kahale-Lua is a marine biologist whose research centers on the behavior and ecology of deep-sea fishes, with a particular focus on the enigmatic hagfishes. Her major contribution lies in the detailed behavioral analysis of the Atlantic hagfish (*Myxine limosa*), a species that burrows into muddy substrates at depths exceeding 100 meters. In her most-cited work, "Biphasic burrowing in Atlantic hagfish (*Myxine limosa*)" (2024, 3 citations), Kahale-Lua provides the first comprehensive description of this species' burrowing strategy, revealing a two-phase process that had previously been only glimpsed from submersible observations. This study not only clarifies the mechanics of how these animals navigate the seafloor but also offers insights into their ecological role in deep-sea sediment communities. While her citation count is still growing, her work fills a critical gap in understanding the behavior of a poorly studied group, and she is recognized for bringing rigorous, in-field observation to a species that is notoriously difficult to study in its natural habitat.