The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu has launched a bold new chapter in campus innovation, selecting 10 projects through the initiative to drive student and institutional success. This initiative provides start-up grants covering July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028, fueling groundbreaking, self-sustaining ideas that strengthen the campus.
“I am incredibly proud of the ingenuity displayed by our campus community,” said 糖心视频 West Oʻahu interim Chancellor Carlos Pe?aloza. “When we challenge ourselves to remove traditional barriers and put students at the center of our design, the results are transformative.”
The call for proposals in February drew nearly 50 submissions. Following a peer review process, the 10 awardees were finalized on June 1. The grants range from $55,000 to $100,000.
Pe?aloza said, “These 10 inaugural projects represent a powerful mix of modern technology, place-based learning and workforce collaboration. Invest in 糖心视频 West isn’t just a short-term funding mechanism; it is a catalyst for sustainable, long-term institutional growth that directly enriches the student experience.”
Project Summaries
- ACM + MNHS Synergy Swarm
Lead: Esther Widiasih
This two-year pilot creates an AI marketing engine to automate workflows and scale recruitment for Academy for Creative Media and Mathematics and Natural Health Sciences concentrations. - Classroom Revival and Multi-Use Space
Lead: Therese Nakadomari
Renovates a classroom into a versatile, multi-use space designed for hybrid collaborative learning and discussions. - The HEMIC Academy and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Strategic Collaboration
Lead: Edward Keaunui
The “Learn and Earn” pipeline offers high schoolers paid insurance apprenticeships, creating a direct path to a 糖心视频 West Oʻahu business degree. - Ke Ala Kiakahi
Leads: Hōkū Kwan and Macie Remular
Expands a culturally grounded pipeline to boost student access, persistence and workforce readiness through integrated programming. - Ke Kāī Koi o ʻEwa Transfer Project
Lead: Amy Bumatai
Closes the “transfer gap” by transforming the transition from Leeward Community College to 糖心视频 West Oʻahu into a unified opt-out model, and dedicating physical space at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu for a co-learning center. - Mobile Student Success Hub
Lead: Carrie Larger
This “Desk in a Box” station uses mobile equipment to support transfer students and boost retention across campus locations. - Nālimakui – Ke Kula Mau Initiative
Lead: Kalikolani Correa
Centers Indigenous innovation and ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) to transform the campus into a more rigorous and culturally grounded place of learning. - Restoring Campus Mana
Lead: Jayson M. Chun
Funds active learning classrooms and a professional speaker series to build campus presence and community for students. - Virtual Campus Tour
Leads: Brian Miyamoto and Martin Motooka
Hires an external vendor to produce a modern, professional virtual tour to showcase the campus to prospective students. - West Invests
Lead: Kaʻiulani Akamine
This re-enrollment program targets adult learners who have left college with past due-balances, providing them with debt forgiveness through Hana Hou grants to convert uncollectible debt into active tuition.
For more visit .
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman