Since the first major bleaching event in 1996, Hawaiian corals have been subject to increasing heat stress and more prevalent bleaching events. New research from oceanographers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa used high-resolution modeling that includes small-scale processes to examine projected heat stress on coral reefs over the 21st century. Comparing this heat stress to previous estimates of the rate at which corals may adapt to changing conditions, the authors found that Hawaiian corals have the possibility of adapting to future heat stress, even under a high emissions scenario. “However, our results also provide some surprising hope that Hawaiian corals may be able to adapt to increasing temperatures.” This is the first time this type of high-resolution climate projection has been used to assess future heat stress around the main Hawaiian islands.