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������Ƶ posts $647.3M in FY 2026 extramural funding, 2nd-highest total and 5th year $500M+

Video News Release

Link to video, sound and stills (details below):  

***SUGGESTED VOSOT SCRIPT BELOW***

Despite the ongoing overhaul of federal science funding that has rocked university research across the country, the University of Hawaiʻi has secured its second highest extramural funding record amount of $647.3 million in fiscal year 2026 (FY 2026). While it represents a slight decrease of 11.8% from last year’s record-setting total of $734 million, it also marks the fifth consecutive year that ������Ƶ has topped half a billion dollars in extramural funding.   

“The true measure of this investment is not just the funding secured, but the discoveries made, students trained and communities strengthened because of this work,” ������Ƶ President Wendy F. Hensel said. “������Ƶ research addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing Hawaiʻi and the world, and these achievements reflect the dedication of our researchers and the importance of sustaining a strong research enterprise for generations to come.”

Extramural funding is defined as investments from external agencies such as the federal government, industry and non-profit organizations that support research and training activities conducted by university faculty and staff. Projects funded by extramural funds support research and innovation that helps to provide solutions to improve the quality of life not only in Hawaiʻi, but across the nation, and around the world.   

“During this extremely difficult period of federal funding for university research, achieving a fifth consecutive year of securing over half a billion dollars in extramural funding is something that both the University of Hawai‘i and the state of Hawai‘i can really be proud of,” said ������Ƶ Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad B. Walton. “It is a clear testament to the effort, dedication, and true nature of our dedicated and hardworking faculty, staff, and students that continues to successfully fuel the ������Ƶ research enterprise—a major contributor to Hawai‘i’s economy.”

A strong research community

Leading the way for ������Ƶ in FY 2026 was ������Ƶ Mānoa, the research flagship of ������Ƶ’s 10 campus system, with an extramural award amount tally of $516.0 million. The ������Ƶ System brought in $88.4 million, ������Ƶ Community Colleges totaled $21.1 million, ������Ƶ Hilo received $17.9 million, and ������Ƶ West O‘ahu totaled $3.9 million. 

“I am extremely proud of the ������Ƶ Mānoa research community for their efforts and remarkable resilience during this unprecedented period in federal research funding,” said ������Ƶ Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos. “Their dedication and commitment to their craft has once again positioned ������Ƶ Mānoa to be a major contributor to ������Ƶ’s extramural funding and reaffirms our on-going commitment to become the premier global flagship in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Syrmos, who also oversees federal relations for the ������Ƶ System, noted that the uncertainties surrounding federal and state research funding will continue to have a profound and long-lasting impact on university research across the nation, including key ������Ƶ Mānoa projects in the areas of agriculture, astronomy, climate resilience, conservation and health that are vital to the state.

The following are examples of ������Ƶ programs that attracted the attention of funders:

• The ������Ƶ Mānoa College of Social Sciences received a $12.5 million award from the Office of the Governor—State of Hawai‘i for the Social Science Research Institute to serve as the lead unit in expanding virtual care statewide as part of Hawai‘i’s Rural Health Transformation Program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• The National Science Foundation awarded $4.1 million to ������Ƶ Mānoa’s College of Engineering to continue its efforts in recruiting high-quality scholars for cybersecurity careers including recruitment of Native Hawaiian and female students. These efforts have led to jobs in the cyber security workforce in Hawai‘i as well as nationally.
• The ������Ƶ System Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation received a $2.8 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense to work with industry, communities and state and federal government agencies to build Hawai‘i’s innovation economy with an emphasis on blue economy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
• The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at ������Ƶ Mānoa received a $2.8 million award from the National Institutes of Health to provide data for state and local nutrition programming policy aimed at reducing food insecurity and health disparities among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities.
• The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources awarded $1.9 million to ������Ƶ Mānoa’s College of Natural Sciences to mitigate threats to the health and resilience of the Olowalu reef, which is a critical resource for fishers, recreational users, community groups, and businesses in West Maui.
• The School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology at ������Ƶ Mānoa received a $1.6 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense to explore the feasibility of using techniques such as desalinization to develop and maintain resilient drinking water supplies for its bases, such as Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, and their surrounding communities.
• The ������Ƶ Cancer Center received a $1.5 million award from the National Cancer Institute to continue work under a Specialized Program of Research Excellence, which conducts translational research to help alleviate lung cancer and breast cancer, which are highly relevant to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.

According to Syrmos, more than $340.1 million in awards were received from the federal government in FY 2026. He attributed much of it as a direct result of the close working relationship between ������Ƶ and Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation, which includes U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and U.S. Representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz

“This new funding is great news for the ������Ƶ, its students, and our state. It will support important research, create opportunities for students, and strengthen programs that benefit communities across Hawaiʻi. While the White House continues to threaten federal funding for universities across the country, we'll keep doing everything we can to protect ������Ƶ and the important work it does.”

U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono

“Despite ongoing attacks on federal funding for higher education and public schools, ������Ƶ remains a beacon of innovation both in Hawai‘i and around the world. Investing in ������Ƶ doesn’t just benefit thousands of students—it fuels our state’s economy and shares our cutting-edge research with the world. I will continue to advocate for ������Ƶ’s federal funding requests and work closely with university leadership to protect its federal funding for years to come.”

U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i – First District)

“This funding for our flagship university is critical on several levels for our Hawai‘i. First, it is a testament to ������Ƶ’s growing research and innovation talent and international recognition. Second, it reflects the advanced partnerships that ������Ƶ has forged over the years in successfully identifying and jointly pursuing funding opportunities. And finally, it increases the university’s contributions to our island economy. In spite of its success, challenges remain, and I stand with our Congressional delegation to continue supporting the mission and advances of ������Ƶ.”

U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (Hawai‘i – Second District)

“Achieving another landmark year reflects the extraordinary talent across the University of Hawaiʻi. These federal investments tackle our state's unique challenges—from advancing rural healthcare and sustainable agriculture to protecting ocean resources. With White House budget cuts threatening these vital programs, our work is far from over. We must stand with our partners and fight to protect the funding that fuels this essential work."

About ������Ƶ Research

Research conducted by the University of Hawai‘i (������Ƶ) impacts the quality of life in the islands and around the world. As the state’s major research university, and because of Hawai‘i’s tremendous geographic diversity, ������Ƶ plays a prominent role in the state’s economic growth and development through its diverse and world-renowned research and innovation programs in astronomy, earth and ocean sciences, medicine and tropical agriculture.

Link to video (6th out of 7th item in folder), sound and stills (details below):  

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SOUNDBITES:

Chad B. Walton, ������Ƶ Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation

(:18)

“I think what they should know is that the majority of the funding that we receive actually has a local impact. So it's federally funded, but these programs are for the state of Hawaiʻi. The congressional delegation has done an extraordinary job of maintaining programs or finding new funding for our researchers to actually pivot to from the traditional streams, but still has that local impact.”

Robert Wright, ������Ƶ Mānoa Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship

(:19)

“We have an excellent research university here. And if they do their degrees here, they can integrate themselves and take advantage of the research opportunities that this half a billion dollars provides, which is the special source on top of their degree, which can help them get a better job than they otherwise would when they graduate.”

Walton

(:17)

“Well, I think what's happened we see on the federal side is that there's been a shift to more local impact. So you're seeing like rural health funding, conservation funding actually take center stage away from the basic research areas that were historically the strongest points of ������Ƶ. So I think that's actually a really big benefit for the state.”

Wright

(:18)

“This is all competitively awarded funding. Nobody just gives it to us. We have to write good proposals, And, the selection rate for federal grants is not very high, you know, 1%, 2%, 5%, usually no more than 10%. So when, when our faculty win these awards, they're competing with all the schools that you've ever heard of.”

VOSOT SCRIPT:

INTRO:

The University of Hawaiʻi is celebrating another strong year for research funding.

VO:

������Ƶ secured 647-point-3 million dollars in extramural funding in fiscal year 2026.

That's the second-highest total in university history.

It also marks the fifth straight year ������Ƶ has topped 500 million dollars.

The funding supports research, training and innovation across the islands.

������Ƶ Manoa led the way with more than 516 million dollars in awards.

University leaders say the funding is especially significant as federal research support faces growing uncertainty nationwide.

SOT:

Chad B. Walton, ������Ƶ Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation

“I think what they should know is that the majority of the funding that we receive actually has a local impact. So it's federally funded, but these programs are for the state of Hawaiʻi. The congressional delegation has done an extraordinary job of maintaining programs or finding new funding for our researchers to actually pivot to from the traditional streams, but still has that local impact.”

Robert Wright, ������Ƶ Mānoa Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship

“We have an excellent research university here. And if they do their degrees here, they can integrate themselves and take advantage of the research opportunities that this half a billion dollars provides, which is the special source on top of their degree, which can help them get a better job than they otherwise would when they graduate.”

VO:

Projects range from rural health care and cybersecurity to ocean science, agriculture and cancer research.