Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� were awarded a $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the next phase of the Maui LOA (Learnings to Overcome Adversities) study, which examines the long-term impacts of the 2023 Maui wildfires and factors that influence health and well-being after disasters.

The three-year award is led by Alex Ortega, dean of the , and Keawe Kaholokula, chair and professor in the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the (JABSOM).

“The first phase of Maui LOA revealed important lessons about the health and mental health consequences of the wildfires,” said Ortega. “With NIH’s continued support, we can now translate those lessons into evidence-based strategies that improve disaster preparedness, recovery and resilience for communities facing future disasters.”

Lessons from Maui residents

Researchers will survey 1,200 adults who were living on Maui during the wildfires, including those who were displaced, to examine factors that influence long-term recovery and disaster response among individuals, families, communities, healthcare systems and social service organizations across Maui.

Related ������Ƶ News story: Study links 2023 Maui wildfire to spike in suicide, overdose, August 7, 2025

The new award builds on an initial phase that gathered perspectives from residents, community organizations, emergency responders and healthcare providers to help guide the survey design.

Recent findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in August 2025 showed that the mental health effects of the wildfires extended across Maui, not just within burn zones. The study identified housing displacement and income loss as key drivers of depression and anxiety.

The survey findings are expected to inform public policy, emergency response planning, health services and community recovery efforts in Hawaiʻi and nationwide.

“Nearly three years into the recovery, we hope to learn more about the personal, sociocultural, community and system-level factors that promote health and well-being after experiencing a devastating disaster, such as the 2023 Maui wildfire,” Kaholokula said.

He added, “Recovery is not the same for everyone. We hope to understand how these factors evolve over time and vary across different populations as communities continue to rebuild.”

One year ago, a dedicated cohort of students entered the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)’s . On June 10, standing before family and friends, graduates celebrated the completion of their year-long post-baccalaureate journey and their admission to medical school. The ceremony marked the culmination of a year of long hours and academic and personal growth.

Building a foundation for success

For , ʻImi Hoʻōla, which means “those who seek to heal,” has helped prepare students for the academic rigor of medical school while developing a commitment to serve the community.

While the coursework tested students academically, graduates cited the cohort’s strength as a reason for their success.

“The people who I graduate with are really amazing people,” graduate Tyler Chock said. “I’m really happy to have made it here with them.”

That sense of community was evident as the cohort gathered for the final grade reveal of the spring semester. Students braced themselves for what had become a familiar process. Instead, the tutors entered and delivered the news all at once.

“They just said that we all passed, and we were all done,” graduate Nanea Delostrico recalled. “We all kind of jumped up and hugged each other. It was a beautiful moment and just a big celebratory excitement that we had all made it, and we all did it together.”

The completion ceremony was capped off by a speech from 2005 JABSOM graduate and 2001 ʻImi Hoʻōla alumna, Chia Granda. Graduates were then presented with gifts from the McGuire ʻohana and Friends of ʻʻImi Hoʻōla.

The Queen’s Health Systems provided stipend support to students during their time with the program and has extended its commitment by awarding five full-tuition, four-year medical school scholarships to the current ʻImi graduates. The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation has also provided its second recipient with a full-tuition, four-year scholarship to support a current graduate’s medical education.

Now that ʻImi Hoʻōla is behind them, the graduates turn their attention toward the next chapter of their journey: medical school.

Read more at .

Hawaiʻi is advancing its commitment to becoming the nation’s first trauma-informed state—a systemic shift that prioritizes government policies and services that recognize the pervasive impact of trauma. To support this effort, the State’s Office of Wellness and Resilience (OWR) worked with faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s to develop a new certification program.

In May, Gov. Josh Green recognized the inaugural cohort of more than 100 individuals who completed this training. Created following Green’s 2024 executive order, the OWR’s program equips professionals with strategies to recognize trauma, respond effectively to stress, and build trust within state systems, helping integrate trauma-informed practices into workplace culture, policymaking and public services.

A collaborative model for governance

The curriculum was developed under the leadership of OWR Director Tia Hartsock, a Thompson School alumna and adjunct faculty member of the (DSW). Hartsock collaborated with a statewide team of experts, including DSW faculty members Aimee Chung and Michael DeMattos.

This training increases effectiveness, reduces harm and fosters long-term resilience across the state.
—Aimee Chung

“Our collaboration with the Office on Wellness and Resilience creates a partnership that will lead to systemic shifts needed to equip a workforce that is empathic, sustainable and trustworthy,” said Chung. “This training increases effectiveness, reduces harm and fosters long-term resilience across the state.”

In recognition of his contributions to the program, DeMattos served as a keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony. His remarks highlighted the essential role social workers play in community healing.

“Trauma-informed care offers a way of being that prioritizes care for those we love,” DeMattos said. “It teaches us not to ask, ‘What is wrong?’ but rather, ‘What happened?’ It helps us move beyond the belief that people are broken. Most importantly, it helps ensure that instead of suffering alone, we heal together.”

The Learning Resource Center at Kauaʻi Community College buzzed with energy as 77 incoming students and their families flooded the campus in June for the sixth annual ʻOhana Night, turning the often daunting college enrollment process into a supportive celebration of future academic success.

Attendees tackled the essentials of starting college—registering for classes, applying for financial aid and navigating campus resources—all in one place. Nursing staff offered free TB testing to clear health requirements, while Student Government Association members engaged with future leaders. Students in the (a scholarship and support program) connected with mentors for the first time, creating a strong sense of community that stretched from the food tables to the resource booths.

Uplifting students

“[ʻOhana Night] turns what can be an intimidating, bureaucratic process into a welcoming, celebratory community event where we uplift our students and their families as they begin their academic journey,” said Admissions Specialist Keanna Pavao.

Attendees received personalized support to ensure they were ready for the fall. Workshops on financial aid and employment opportunities provided extra value, while campus tours showcased vital services like the Veteran Support Center and the on-campus food pantry.

With nearly 48% of Kauaʻi CC
students identifying as first-generation college students during the 2025–26 academic year, the family-centric model of ʻOhana Night has become increasingly critical.

“This event is unique because it’s an opportunity to visit the college after hours and allows students to get all of their questions answered … and complete everything they need to enroll at Kauaʻi CC,” said Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Noʻeau Keopuhiwa. “We encourage students to bring their parents, children and anyone else in their family who wants to learn more about college and the opportunities available to them.”

As families walked away with their next steps secured, the event solidified its role as a cornerstone of the Kauaʻi CC experience—helping new students launch their academic futures with confidence. For enrollment assistance, visit .

Four University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo golfers have been named to the 2025–26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their success in the classroom and on the course.

The honorees are:

• Jacob Torres (ʻAiea)—senior, chemistry–health sciences
• Kailee McKee (Kapolei)—sophomore, communication
• Elle Otani (Hilo)—senior, accounting and business administration
• Kiersten Saludares (Hilo)—senior, business administration

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes for combined excellence in academics and athletics. Honorees advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.

For more information, visit the .

The University of Hawaiʻi (IfA)’s annual TeachAstro program brought 16 STEM teachers to Hilo for a week of hands-on learning, collaboration and discovery. TeachAstro is designed to share astronomy with Hawaiʻi’s grade 6–12 classrooms and to foster a community of practice in astronomy education throughout the state.

The third year of this summer professional development program hosted a cohort of 12 teachers from Hawaiʻi Island and four from Oʻahu. Throughout the week, participants worked alongside IfA faculty to learn about state-of-the-art astronomy data and tools and then collaborated to develop classroom lessons to bring astronomy concepts back to their students. The program concluded with educators presenting their newly created lesson plans.

“TeachAstro is about giving teachers authentic experiences in astronomy and helping them transform those experiences into engaging lessons for their students,” said IfA faculty member and TeachAstro director Michael Liu. “When our teachers are excited and inspired, that enthusiasm reaches thousands of students across the state.”

Astronomy up close

Participants also took a daytime excursion to the summit of Maunakea and visited several world-class observatories including ������Ƶ’s , the , the , and . Alumni from previous TeachAstro programs also attended.

New additions to TeachAstro this year included an in-person session at to witness nighttime observing in action, as well as an evening talk-story session at the at ������Ƶ Hilo that focused on Maunakea, led by members from the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

The program was led by ������Ƶ faculty members Michael Liu, Jennifer van Saders, David Jones and Mike Nassir, along with science teacher Stephanie Pickett of Kealakehe High School. It was supported by partnerships with ʻImiloa and Keck Observatory, and funding was provided by the Heising-Simons Foundation.

“Teachers play a critical role in inspiring the next generation of scientists and explorers,” said IfA Director Doug Simons. “Programs like TeachAstro help build those connections and expand opportunities for students throughout Hawaiʻi.”

The next TeachAstro program is planned for summer 2027 on Oʻahu.

The has received a $630,000 estate gift—the largest in the history of the —to establish the center’s first permanent endowment, ensuring long-term support for student writing services. The gift was directed by historian Lisa Olsen Tait in honor of her late aunt, LaRene Despain, an English professor who co-founded the Writing Center in the 1970s.

The endowment provides stable, ongoing funding to expand tutoring, outreach and support services, particularly for first-generation and international students. Writing centers are often among the most heavily used academic resources on campus, offering one-on-one guidance that helps students succeed across disciplines.

“This historic gift ensures the Writing Center will continue to be a vital resource, helping students from all backgrounds find their voices and strengthen their writing,” said Peter Arnade, dean of the .

A legacy of teaching and mentorship

Despain joined ������Ƶ Mānoa in 1972 while completing her PhD at the University of Connecticut and became an early leader in the emerging field of composition studies. She advocated for a collaborative, student-centered approach to writing, emphasizing drafting, peer feedback and mentorship over rigid instruction.

“The ’70s and ’80s were a formative time in English studies, and LaRene was on the cutting edge of that movement,” Tait said. “Her work shaped how writing was taught, including her textbook Writing: A Workshop Approach, which I used in my own teaching.”

Beyond the classroom, Despain was known for her commitment to students and colleagues, particularly through her work at the Writing Center.

“The Writing Center became a really important place for LaRene,” Tait said. “She valued the opportunity to work one-on-one with students and to mentor both writers and tutors.”

Expanding impact for future students

“It allows us to turn ideas into reality.” — Assistant Professor and Writing Center Director Isaac Wang

Leaders say the new endowment will allow the Writing Center to grow its reach and deepen its impact across campus.

“This gift gives us the ability to build partnerships, expand outreach and create resources we’ve long envisioned,” said assistant professor of English Isaac Wang, who also serves as the director of the Writing Center. “It allows us to turn ideas into reality.”

.

Science educators around the world will get a front-row seat to groundbreaking research and innovation from the University of Hawaiʻi during a free virtual unconference showcasing Hawaiʻi science excellence.

For the first time, is partnering with —an educational technology company that creates tools and resources to support hands-on STEM learning—to present the 16th annual on July 22 and 23, connecting thousands of teachers worldwide with ������Ƶ scientists and other experts through interactive online sessions.

Session topics will include astronomy, forest ecology, volcanology, ocean sensing, wayfinding, marine biology, environmental science and coastal monitoring. ������Ƶ Mānoa will be represented with the (including , and ), , and , along with ������Ƶ Hilo’s . , chief evangelist of Canva and , will be a keynote speaker.

Attendees will be in one Zoom room, with the goal of creating a collaborative experience throughout the day. Unlike a traditional conference, an unconference emphasizes interactive, participant-driven discussions and collaboration, allowing attendees to engage directly with presenters and one another rather than simply listening to lectures. Professional development certificates are provided for all attendees and video recordings of all sessions are available afterwards.

Amazing science, amazing educators

More than 22,000 educators signed up for the event last year, and organizers are aiming for more than 20,000 this year. ScIC is designed for teachers, however, anyone interested in STEM topics are welcome to join.

“As part of our mission to connect University of Hawaiʻi research and innovation with K–12 classrooms, it was an easy decision to partner on Science Is Cool,” STEM Pre-Academy Director Lauren Kaupp said. “We’re excited for teachers both locally and globally to see some of the amazing science that happens every day across Hawaiʻi.”

Kanesa Seraphin, director of the ������Ƶ Sea Grant Center for Marine Science Education, will be sharing her work, including .

“I am really excited about this event because it is so interactive; we get to talk live and take audience questions—and it’s going to be huge!” Seraphin said.

Researchers at the and ������Ƶ ����ԴDz� (JABSOM) were awarded more than $12 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID)—a new research center dedicated to accelerating biomedical discoveries through artificial intelligence and data science to benefit people in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, and worldwide.

Funded through the NIH‘s (COBRE) program, the five-year award will provide approximately $12 million through February 2031. The award was administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, with a federal award date of June 4, 2026.

The center will be led by Principal Investigators John Shepherd and Youping Deng. Shepherd is chief scientific officer at the ������Ƶ Cancer Center, and B.H. and Alice C. Beams Endowed Professor in Cancer Research at JABSOM. Deng is co-director, Genomics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, at the ������Ƶ Cancer Center; and professor and director, Bioinformatics Core Facility, at JABSOM.

PAC-AID will serve as a central hub integrating AI into biomedical research to improve health outcomes in Hawaiʻi. Over five years, the project will renovate the ������Ƶ Cancer Center Data Center to establish a new Medical AI Core (MedAI Core), providing advanced, high-performance computing resources and AI expertise. Physically located within both the ������Ƶ Cancer Center and JABSOM on the shared Kakaʻako campus, PAC-AID will directly fund four major inaugural research projects and establish a Pilot Projects Program to support more than eight new, locally relevant pilot studies.

“At the heart of our mission as a flagship research university is the drive to translate innovation into meaningful impact,” said Vassilis Syrmos, incoming chancellor of ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�. “PAC-AID is a vital expansion of that mission, enabling our faculty to harness the power of artificial intelligence to pioneer new avenues of biomedical inquiry that were previously unreachable, solidifying the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s role as a global leader in health innovation.”

“AI has the potential to unlock major medical breakthroughs and help people live healthier lives, and we need to take advantage of it,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who played a pivotal role in securing the grant. “This new funding will help Hawaiʻi continue to attract top-tier talent and develop treatments and cures that will benefit people across the state.”

“The $12 million over five years will substantially strengthen AI and data science capabilities and support the development of the next generation of investigators,” said ������Ƶ Cancer Center Director Naoto T. Ueno. “The research advances made possible by PAC-AID will further the ������Ƶ Cancer Center’s work toward new understandings and treatments for cancer, to save lives in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, and across the globe.” In addition, high paying jobs generated by this project will have a strong economic benefit for our local communities.

“At JABSOM, our mission is to improve the health of Hawaiʻi through education and research,” said Sam Shomaker, JABSOM dean. “This investment will help accelerate discoveries that address the real health challenges facing our communities and ensure that advances in AI translate into better outcomes for patients.”

Enabling workforce development

Shepherd and Deng will oversee efforts to build research capacity, as well as foster the next generation of independent investigators using artificial intelligence and advanced data science approaches to address critical medical and public health challenges. Beyond funding research, this award establishes a workforce development mechanism to support the next generation of faculty investigators.

“This COBRE award provides the critical infrastructure to bridge advanced AI computational methods with our specific clinical and community health challenges,” Shepherd said. “By fostering a collaborative environment for our investigators, we are equipping them with the technical capabilities to tackle the most persistent health disparities in our islands and turn complex data into actionable health solutions.”

“By the end of this project, we expect to have a nationally competitive Medical AI Core, four independently funded research leaders, and more than 10 pilot projects,” said Deng. “Through these efforts, alongside workshops and collaborative research opportunities, we will significantly strengthen Hawaiʻi‘s capacity for AI-enabled biomedical research and innovation to address important health challenges in our region and beyond.”

Transforming medical research with AI

Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming healthcare and biomedical research by helping scientists analyze large and complex datasets, identify patterns that may otherwise go undetected, and accelerate the development of new approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

AI has the potential to unlock major medical breakthroughs and help people live healthier lives, and we need to take advantage of it.
—U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

Shepherd, who leads the , is using a massive breast imaging database to develop AI biomarkers that predict cancer risk specifically for Asian and Pacific Islander populations.

The new PAC-AID will support similar faculty-led research projects, provide funding for pilot studies, and establish shared research resources that can be used by investigators across disciplines.

Initial funded projects include AI-driven research by ������Ƶ Cancer Center researchers Kevin Cassel (using full-body imaging to triage skin lesions) and Elizabeth Nakasone (studying pancreatic cancer in Native Hawaiian and Japanese populations); ������Ƶ ����ԴDz� public health researcher Jonathan Huang (modeling environmental toxicant effects on fetal development); and JABSOM researcher Yiqiang Zhang (identifying genetic traits in congenital heart disease).

COBRE Phase 1 grants focus on the development of independent biomedical researchers and research centers, and are designed to have a 15-year cycle.

“PAC-AID is specifically designed to develop six to eight early-stage faculty members at the University of Hawaiʻi and across Pacific Island institutions who will use artificial intelligence and data science to address cancer and chronic disease outcomes in one of the nation’s most medically underserved and understudied regions,” Shepherd said.

He added that the expected impact to Hawaiʻi is substantial. “Our benchmark for success is that the funded faculty projects, four initially and two to four more when those graduate in year 3, and will later achieve independent NIH R01 (Research 01 level university) funding at an estimated $3.25 million per award. That represents a projected $19.5 million in additional federal research funding returned to the State of Hawaiʻi (six funded R01s) on top of the initial $12 million COBRE award itself — a combined potential economic and research impact of more than $31 million for Hawaiʻi‘s research and healthcare workforce. These estimates are for the first 5-year period.”

PAC-AID joins a growing portfolio of NIH-funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence at ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�, including the , and the .

The heart of University of Hawaiʻi at �ᾱ����’s creative community is getting a well-deserved upgrade. Beginning in January 2027, the (PAC) will undergo a major $6 million renovation, closing its doors for eight months to transform the 50-year-old facility into a more modern, efficient space for artists and audiences alike.

“We want to ensure we have welcoming and up-to-date facilities for our students, faculty, staff and community that provide a quality environment to showcase the great work and talent of our institution and visiting performers from around the world,” said Lee Barnette-Dombroski, the Performing Arts Center manager.

Long-awaited face-lift

While the building remains structurally sound, many of its public spaces haven’t been updated since it first opened in 1974. This project aims to change that—focusing heavily on cosmetic and functional upgrades to the exterior, lobby, inner auditorium and box office.

For Barnette-Dombroski, who has steered the facility for nearly two decades, the renovations are deeply personal and long overdue. When asked what she is most excited to see, her answer combines practical relief with aesthetic excitement: “The expansion of the ladies’ room, new carpet, and fresh paint.”

Bidding farewell to lengthy lines

That restroom expansion isn’t just a minor detail—it is a massive win for anyone who has ever attended a crowded show.

“The expansion of the ladies’ room will be a big change, reducing the wait time during intermissions and after performances,” Barnette-Dombroski said.

One last act before intermission

Because the facility will be completely closed from January through August 2027, the theatre team is squeezing a lot of energy into a condensed fall 2026 “mini-season.” Patrons can look forward to a vibrant lineup before the construction crews roll in.

“We’ll have a mini-season in the fall 2026 with a couple of presented artists and an in-house holiday musical production of ‘Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,’ and of course our fall special event, the 10th Annual Dance Collective,” Barnette-Dombroski said.

Imagine moving into a brand-new neighborhood where the power grid hasn’t been built yet. That’s the challenge NASA faces at the Moon’s south pole, where astronauts must survive two weeks of darkness at a time. A team of students from University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� and ������Ƶ Hilo tackled that problem through a NASA competition, developing Project PETAL, a self-building, nuclear-powered energy system designed to support future lunar missions.

������Ƶ’s Project PETAL—short for Power Energy Transfer Architecture for the Lunar Surface—was created for NASA‘s Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts–Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition, which challenges university students to solve real engineering problems facing future space missions.

“For this competition, we’re actually the first team from Hawaiʻi in its 25-year history,” said Nathan Chong, a Waipahu High School graduate and ������Ƶ ����ԴDz� freshman who led the team.

Out of a national field, ������Ƶ’s Project PETAL advanced as one of just 14 finalist teams invited to present at the Competition Forum in Cocoa Beach, Florida going up against schools including MIT and Dartmouth.

Too heavy to launch: The battery problem

Instead of relying on massive batteries shipped from Earth, Project PETAL uses small nuclear reactors to generate continuous power on the Moon. Excess heat is stored underground in a vault made from lunar soil and delivered to astronauts through buried power lines.

“We had a very generic problem, but we came up with a solution that was so creative. We made something that no one has ever thought of—and that’s what the RASC-AL judges are looking for,” Chong said with a smile.

Dress rehearsal for Mars

������Ƶ’s Project PETAL is designed for more than the Moon. The technologies could also work on Mars, allowing NASA to test a reliable power system before sending humans there.

Built across the islands

The project brought together students across multiple islands. ������Ƶ ����ԴDz� teams focused on power systems, while ������Ƶ Hilo students worked on sustainability. The groups met online weekly and hope to compete again next year.

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 ������Ƶ West Oʻahu interim Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza. “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.

Peñaloza said, “These 10 inaugural projects represent a powerful mix of modern technology, place-based learning and workforce collaboration. Invest in ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ West Oʻahu Strategic Collaboration
  Lead: Edward Keaunui
  The “Learn and Earn” pipeline offers high schoolers paid insurance apprenticeships, creating a direct path to a ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ West Oʻahu into a unified opt-out model, and dedicating physical space at ������Ƶ 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

Recent Kona low flooding has heightened concerns about leptospirosis, a bacterial disease transmitted through contaminated floodwaters. Now, University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� student researchers at the (JABSOM) are exploring new methods to track and detect the pathogen.

“For years, we’ve primarily thought of this as a waterborne disease,” said graduate student Rodson Zorilla. “Now, we also see the soil as a possible variable. It could serve as another agent that helps transmit the bacteria.”

These insights broaden understanding of exposure risks, revealing that soil acts as an often overlooked variable in the spread of leptospirosis during flooding events.

Researching environmental spread, prevention

Undergraduate student Colby Macapagal is studying how leptospirosis spreads through Hawaiʻi‘s waterways, including ahupuaʻa systems carrying contaminants from the mountains to urban areas. He notes that floodwaters can carry bacteria into local communities, creating health risks for people and wildlife, and emphasizes the need to further study how these contaminants travel downstream.

Other JABSOM researchers are working to improve detection. While current rapid tests are fast, they can lack precision. Researchers are now developing more advanced diagnostic tools that can better identify immune responses and improve early detection.

Sophomore undergraduate Duy Linh Nguyen Tran is working on improving screening methods using blood samples, while also uncovering a concerning trend. Historical long-term data shows leptospirosis remains present in Hawaiʻi, with positivity rates of 3.8% in 1943 and 2.65% from 2020–2024.

“There have to be some innovative ideas now in which you can really push for prevention,” Nguyen Tran said. “Those ideas will be important for the community to see.”

Zorilla emphasized a broader framework. “These findings highlight what researchers describe as a One Health approach—recognizing the connection between environmental, animal and human health.”

As extreme weather events increase attention on leptospirosis, researchers say improved understanding, detection and prevention remain critical to protecting public health.

The work is supported in part by a Hawaiʻi Community Foundation grant awarded to JABSOM virologist Vivek Nerurkar, with additional support from ������Ƶ ����ԴDz� programs including the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and Minority Health Research Training (MHRT) program.

World-leading tropical meteorologist Yuqing Wang, a professor in the and researcher with the in the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), was as a Fellow by the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS).

Wang’s pioneering research has profoundly advanced understanding of tropical cyclone dynamics, prediction and climate impacts. His work has focused on two main areas of research: understanding the physics of extreme storms including hurricanes and typhoons and building computer models used to predict them and study climate change.

Fellows of the AOGS are selected in recognition of their sustained and distinguished contributions to geosciences in the Asia Oceania region and beyond. Wang will receive the award at the later this summer in Japan.

Wang’s landmark contributions

Wang’s contributions include the discovery of dynamics in the development and breakdown of tropical cyclone eyewalls, the ring of destructive winds surrounding the calm eye of a storm. He has also made fundamental advances in understanding the controls of tropical storm structure and intensity. His theories and models have been used to interpret environmental influences on tropical cyclones, explain long-term variability, and improve physical understanding relevant to tropical cyclone intensity forecasting.

Further, Wang has made major contributions to numerical atmospheric modeling. These models accurately simulated complex dynamics near the ocean surface and of clouds in the atmosphere. Some were so successful that they are incorporated into the community Weather Research and Forecasting model and have been widely adopted by the research and forecasting communities.

Beyond storm-scale research, Wang’s group has advanced regional and global climate modeling, cloud–radiation interaction studies, and created accurate models to assess Pacific Island climates. This research helps to produce influential assessments of the impacts of global warming on tropical cyclone activity in the western North Pacific.

Wang joined SOEST in 2000 and has published more than 300 publications during his 26 years of teaching and research at ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�.

Former University of Hawaiʻi leader Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Punihei Lipe, who recently headed the , received a rare honor when she introduced Hawaiʻi-born former U.S. President Barack Obama at the grand opening of his presidential library in Chicago on June 18.

Drawing on her Native Hawaiian roots, Lipe opened with a message about connection.

“Where I come from, to introduce someone means we have pilina, a connection,” she said. “If this man walked into my home, my children would call him Uncle. Because we are both keiki o ka ʻāina, children of Hawaiʻi.”

Lipe was selected for the honor after years of leadership in education, community engagement and Indigenous advocacy.

In 2019, Lipe was one of 200 emerging leaders selected for the Obama Foundation’s Asia-Pacific leadership program, where she participated in discussions with Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and other leaders on values-based leadership and social change.

She recently transitioned from ������Ƶ to become poʻo kula (head of school) at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama where she will support and serve students and educators across the K–12 campus.

• Related ������Ƶ News article: ������Ƶ leader selected for role at KS Kapālama, April 2, 2026

Draped in lei, Lipe reflected on a shared kuleana, describing a sacred responsibility passed from one generation to the next in Obama’s one hānau (birth sands) to care for people “we will never meet.”

Lipe said Obama’s call to build ‘a space of new possibilities’ led her to reflect on ʻike kūpuna (ancestral wisdom) and the lessons of the ʻaʻaliʻi, an Indigenous plant in Hawaiʻi known for surviving harsh conditions

“A native plant renowned for its versatility and tenacity,” Lipe said, later sharing an ʻōlelo noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb), “He ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani mai au; ʻaʻohe makani nāna e kūlaʻi, I am a wind withstanding aʻaliʻi; no gale can topple me over.” She described the plant as deeply rooted, resilient through storms and drought, and responsive to change.

For Lipe, those qualities embody the spirit of Obama’s signature “Yes We Can” message, one rooted in hope, resilience and perseverance.

The ceremony also featured an emotional speech from Michelle Obama and musical performances by Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder.

The Barack Obama Presidential Center is a museum, library and educational nearly 20-acre campus in Chicago that celebrates the life, legacy and presidency of Barack Obama.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaiʻi (JCCIH) recently presented Hawaiʻi Community College with a record-breaking $20,000 donation raised through its annual Taste of Hilo fundraiser. The gift provides expanded support for student scholarships and initiatives across the college.

This contribution is the largest annual donation JCCIH has made to Hawaiʻi CC through the event, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to higher education on Hawaiʻi Island. Last year, scholarships funded through the partnership supported more than 25 students in programs ranging from liberal arts and sciences to nursing, agriculture and information technology.

“We are incredibly grateful to JCCIH and everyone who supports Taste of Hilo year after year,” said Chancellor Susan Kazama. “This generosity helps reduce financial barriers for our students and reminds them that their community believes in their potential. Partnerships like this make a lasting difference in the lives of our students.”

Celebrating Hawaiʻi Island

Now in its 27th year, the event celebrates the island’s culinary talent, bringing together local chefs, restaurants, and producers. The 2025 fundraiser also featured the 2nd Annual Fuji Experience, a limited-seating showcase highlighting local ingredients.

“Taste of Hilo is a celebration of the people, businesses and culinary talent that make Hawaiʻi Island such a special place,” said JCCIH President Mitchell Dodo. “We’re honored that the event also helps open doors for Hawaiʻi Community College students. Supporting education is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in the future of our island.”

Over the past 26 years, JCCIH has contributed more than $250,000 to Hawaiʻi CC.

“One of the greatest strengths of Hawaiʻi Island is the way people come together to support one another,” Kazama said. “Taste of Hilo is a wonderful example of that spirit in action. We are grateful for JCCIH‘s continued partnership and for the many individuals and businesses whose support helps our students succeed.”

The 28th annual Taste of Hilo is scheduled for October 18, 2026. Tickets will be available in late July at .

• Related story: ‘A Taste of Hilo&arsquo; celebrates local flavors, supports Hawaiʻi CC students, October 24, 2025

In a rapid response to one of the largest tectonic events to shake Hawaiʻi in decades, scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi at ��ā�ԴDz�’s have deployed a network of temporary seismic sensors across the west flank of Maunaloa on Hawaiʻi Island.

“Capturing the aftershock sequence and seismic structure at close range offers a rare opportunity to better understand the fault geometry and seismic hazards across the Hawaiian Islands,” said Sin-Mei Wu, assistant professor in the ������Ƶ Mānoa (SOEST), who leads the initiative.

The emergency mobilization followed a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake near Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo on May 22. Striking at a depth of 22 kilometers, the fault movement triggered a large earthquake that has been followed by an ongoing sequence of aftershocks (including a magnitude 4.0). The initial quake prompted public engagement with more than 7,000 residents across the state submitting U.S. Geological Survey “Did You Feel It?” reports—the for any Hawaiʻi earthquake.

Deploying from ma kai to ma uka

Unlike typical shallow earthquakes tied to the movement of volcanic magma, this deep event was driven by plate flexure—the sheer weight of the massive Hawaiian volcanoes bending the underlying oceanic Pacific Plate. While these flexure earthquakes represent a significant seismic hazard, they are notoriously difficult to study because they frequently originate offshore, far from land-based monitoring networks.

The May 22 event provided a rare opportunity to better understand these hazardous processes, as the epicenter was on land, enabling the deployment of a temporary seismic array to capture detailed aftershock activity. With funding from the SOEST Dean’s Office and sensors from the NSF EarthScope Consortium, Wu and Pablo Urra Tapia and Ian Wynn, two SOEST Earth sciences graduate students, rushed to Hawaiʻi Island for a three-day field campaign.

“It was definitely an all hands on deck to try to get this off the ground as quickly as possible,” said Helen Janiszewski, assistant professor of Earth sciences who supported planning and will focus on data collection and analysis for the project. Similarly, Thomas Lee, assistant professor in the ������Ƶ Hilo Department of Geology helped to coordinate logistics, and will work with undergraduate students in comparing this event to the 2006 Kīholo Bay earthquake and other historical events.

The team also received essential assistance from Kamehameha Schools, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge and Puʻuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park.

“Their help allowed us to deploy 30 seismic sensors from ma kai to ma uka, covering mainshock and aftershock regions,” said Wu. “Our community partners are critical collaborators, as they have enabled us to receive permits and land-access so we could deploy the sensor in time to capture the aftershocks.”

Facing grueling off-road conditions across 80% of the terrain, the team successfully placed sensors at elevations ranging from just 100 feet near the coastline up to 7,500 feet into the high-altitude, old lava fields of Maunaloa.

Hawaiʻi’s seismic hazards

Completed on June 5, the high-resolution array is now actively recording continuous ground vibrations. It has already caught a steady stream of active aftershocks between magnitudes 1 to 3, and the team expects the enhanced local network will catch hundreds of micro-earthquakes of magnitudes 0 to 1 that are invisible to standard infrastructure.

“The enhanced seismic network can detect and characterize those smaller earthquakes that carry equally important information about the earthquake source region,” said Wu. “This project exemplifies SOEST’s commitment to rapid hazard response and we expect to gather data that will benefit both scientific research and seismic hazard assessment in Hawaiʻi.”

The research team will collect the seismic data and then begin to analyze their trove of information in August.

As the nation invests $52.7 billion to strengthen domestic semiconductor design and manufacturing, research and workforce development, University of Hawaiʻi students are gaining a direct pathway into one of the country’s fastest-growing and most strategically important technology sectors.

������Ƶ Mānoa has joined the (PINES), a regional coalition of 30 universities and colleges, industry partners and workforce organizations working together to prepare students for careers in semiconductor design, manufacturing and research. PINES is led by the SEMI Foundation and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Semiconductors, often called the “brains” of modern electronics, power technologies used every day, including smartphones, computers and automobiles, as well as artificial intelligence, satellites, medical devices, renewable energy systems and national defense technologies.

professors Boris Murmann, Jeff Weldon and Jennifer Ott led ������Ƶ’s successful effort to become part of the network, which spans nine western states and Hawaiʻi. The initiative aims to better connect students with educational opportunities, hands-on training, internships and industry partnerships while aligning university programs with the needs of employers.

“This partnership gives our students the chance to receive training in technologies that are shaping the future while building careers in a rapidly expanding industry,” said ������Ƶ Mānoa Dean Brennon Morioka. “By connecting Hawaiʻi with a broader regional ecosystem, we can help develop homegrown talent, strengthen innovation across the islands and ensure our graduates are prepared to make an impact wherever their careers take them.”

The effort comes as demand for skilled workers continues to outpace supply. A May 2026 analysis by the SEMI Foundation and McKinsey projected a shortage of between 127,000 and 157,000 semiconductor workers nationwide by 2030, highlighting the need for expanded education and workforce development programs.

������Ƶ’s participation builds on its growing leadership in microelectronics. In 2024, the university joined a Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley-led initiative that gives students experience with the complete chip development process, from circuit design to manufacturing and testing. For more on ������Ƶ’s microelectronics internship, .

By joining PINES, ������Ƶ students will have greater access to regional collaborations and career pathways while helping strengthen Hawaiʻi’s role in the nation’s expanding semiconductor ecosystem. The partnership will also give ������Ƶ faculty access to shared curriculum, educational resources and best practices developed by universities and industry leaders across the network.

Related ������Ƶ News stories:

• ������Ƶ microelectronics program builds pipeline of homegrown talent, October 9, 2025
• $15.3M funding fuels microelectronics innovation, August 27, 2024
• ������Ƶ professor aims to develop microchips for future, diversify economy, March 25, 2024

Tucked away at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s Komohana facility in Hilo, a small team of researchers from the (CTAHR) is building the clean seed pipeline that could help secure the future of the state’s sweetpotato industry. Clean seeds are vine cuttings that are free from harmful viruses.

The National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) Sweetpotato-Hawaiʻi Center is part of the USDA-supported , a national network of clean plant centers, scientists, regulators, and growers. It is the only center in the network dedicated to Okinawan and Hawaiian heritage ʻuala (sweetpotatoes).

The center combines advanced tissue culture and diagnostics with strong partnerships among farmers, researchers, and cultural practitioners. Together, they are laying the groundwork for a reliable, local system for ʻuala and Okinawan sweetpotato health.

�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s sweetpotatoes

While programs on the U.S. continent work with orange-fleshed varieties, the Hawaiʻi center, led by CTAHR Extension Agent Sharon Wages, prioritizes purple-fleshed Okinawan types and traditional ʻuala that are central to local diets and markets.

“Hawaiʻi has the corner on Okinawan sweetpotato in the U.S.,” she said, noting that continental U.S. climates often cannot match the crop’s performance in �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s tropical weather.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) is a major crop in Hawaiʻi, with 6.2 million pounds grown here in 2025, according to the USDA. Nine out of 10 ʻuala are produced on Hawaiʻi Island, particularly along the Hāmākua Coast.

Establishing a virus-free foundation

Supported by researchers Achyut Adhikari and Elisa Urano Mow, a tissue culture specialist, the sweetpotato center uses meristem-tip tissue culture to clean infected plant lines for each kind of ʻulua and establish virus-free foundation material for growers. This clean stock can then be multiplied and distributed, giving farmers a healthier starting point for new plantings.

While all NCPN centers follow a standard virus testing protocol, CTAHR researcher Anna Halpin-McCormick has documented additional viruses in the state. The Hawaiʻi center is now incorporating two of these locally significant viruses into its regular diagnostics, strengthening protection against region-specific threats.

The center has 11 unique sweetpotato varieties. The staff works closely with local growers to advance lines that are both nutritious and marketable, including several Okinawan-type selections and important heritage ʻuala.