Researchers at the and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (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 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. “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 惭腻苍辞补’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 糖心视频 Cancer Center Director Naoto T. Ueno. “The research advances made possible by PAC-AID will further the 糖心视频 Cancer Center鈥檚 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 糖心视频 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); 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 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 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, including the , and the .

The heart of University of Hawaiʻi at 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 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鈥檛 been updated since it first opened in 1974. This project aims to change that鈥攆ocusing 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鈥� room, new carpet, and fresh paint.”

Bidding farewell to lengthy lines

That restroom expansion isn鈥檛 just a minor detail鈥攊t is a massive win for anyone who has ever attended a crowded show.

“The expansion of the ladies鈥� 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鈥檒l have a mini-season in the fall 2026 with a couple of presented artists and an in-house holiday musical production of ‘Dr. Seuss鈥檚 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鈥檛 been built yet. That鈥檚 the challenge NASA faces at the Moon鈥檚 south pole, where astronauts must survive two weeks of darkness at a time. A team of students from University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and 糖心视频 Hilo tackled that problem through a NASA competition, developing Project PETAL, a self-building, nuclear-powered energy system designed to support future lunar missions.

糖心视频鈥檚 Project PETAL鈥攕hort for Power Energy Transfer Architecture for the Lunar Surface鈥攚as created for NASA‘s Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts鈥揂cademic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition, which challenges university students to solve real engineering problems facing future space missions.

“For this competition, we鈥檙e actually the first team from Hawaiʻi in its 25-year history,” said Nathan Chong, a Waipahu High School graduate and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 freshman who led the team.

Out of a national field, 糖心视频鈥檚 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鈥攁nd that鈥檚 what the RASC-AL judges are looking for,” Chong said with a smile.

Dress rehearsal for Mars

糖心视频鈥檚 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. 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 teams focused on power systems, while 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 West Oʻahu interim Chancellor Carlos Pe帽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帽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.鈥�

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: H艒k奴 Kwan and Macie Remular
  Expands a culturally grounded pipeline to boost student access, persistence and workforce readiness through integrated programming.
• Ke K膩墨 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.
• N膩limakui 鈥� 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 惭腻苍辞补 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 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 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 惭腻苍辞补 School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), was as a Fellow by the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS).

Wang鈥檚 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鈥檚 landmark contributions

Wang鈥檚 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鈥檚 group has advanced regional and global climate modeling, cloud鈥搑adiation 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 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

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 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 News article: 糖心视频 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鈥檚 call to build ‘a space of new possibilities’ led her to reflect on ʻike k奴puna (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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 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 糖心视频 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鈥檚 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 糖心视频 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 fastest-growing and most strategically important technology sectors.

糖心视频 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 糖心视频鈥檚 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 糖心视频 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.

糖心视频鈥檚 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 糖心视频鈥檚 microelectronics internship, .

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

Related 糖心视频 News stories:

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

Tucked away at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.

贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 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鈥檚 performance in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 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.

The received high marks in the , earning recognition for its international research excellence and academic performance.

糖心视频 Mānoa ranked in the top 2.6% internationally and top 3.3% nationally. 糖心视频 Mānoa placed No. 84 in the nation () and No. 643 globally () in the rankings released on June 17 HST, June 18 BST.

QS measured performance across areas including academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact, international engagement, sustainability, faculty-student ratio and employment outcomes. According to QS, 糖心视频 Mānoa‘s strongest performance areas included its international research network, citations per faculty, international faculty and academic reputation.

“These recognitions reflect the dedication of our faculty, students and staff to advancing knowledge that serves Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and communities around the world,” incoming 糖心视频 Mānoa Chancellor and interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “At 糖心视频 Mānoa, we are committed to providing opportunities for students to learn through discovery, tackle complex challenges and contribute meaningful solutions that make a difference locally and globally.”

Other recent rankings

糖心视频 Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026–27 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, June 16, 2026
• 2026 U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 Best Graduate Schools rankings, April 8, 2026
• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

When recent severe storms knocked out power and caused destructive flooding across Oʻahu, many community members were underprepared. Enter Watson Culley, an Oʻahu middle school student who spends most of his free time playing basketball. Inspired by a recent service-learning class that emphasized the power of being community-minded, Watson wanted to turn the classroom ideas into concrete action.

The spark fully ignited after he volunteered to help distribute Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency food rations to students at the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST). Interacting with the students, he noticed how many people lacked the most basic supplies to be prepared for a crisis.

“In my service-learning class, we learned about the benefits of these kinds of projects,” Watson said. “We learned that if everyone helps just a little, it can make a big difference.”

Watson drafted a list of essential supplies, calculated expenses and developed a plan to make it happen. Included in the compact, waterproof kits would be a Mylar blanket, water purification tablets, matches, a whistle, granola bars, a basic first aid kit, an emergency contacts card, batteries and a headlamp.

“The name Give-and-Go Emergency Box was inspired by my love for basketball,” Watson said, referring to a classic basketball play wherein two teammates work together to make an open shot or layup.

Immediate impact

With the help of his family and monetary donations from his neighbors, Watson launched the “Give-and-Go” Emergency Box project. Thirty SOEST undergraduate and graduate students recently received the first round of Give-and-Go boxes at no cost. The impact was immediate for Watson and the student recipients.

For Watson, the project gave him experience in planning and executing his vision. It also helped him build community with the people in his neighborhood and at 糖心视频 Mānoa. And, he shared, “it felt good to spread aloha.”

In a follow-up survey, 100% of student recipients rated the boxes as a 5 out of 5 for usefulness, noting that the kits made them feel significantly more prepared. Furthermore, 97.5% of respondents noted that the boxes would help safeguard others in their households.

For cash-strapped students, the kits filled critical gaps. One student shared that they didn’t have spare batteries or blankets before receiving the box. While another noted, “All of our appliances in our apartment are electric, and so when we first went through a series of blackouts we had no battery lights or candles. So the headlights that were included were so, so helpful!”

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—By Marcie Grabowski

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Incoming Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos announced on June 17 that 糖心视频 Mānoa is now soliciting nominations for the position of interim provost. Syrmos, who has served as interim provost since July 2025, will officially begin his tenure as chancellor on July 1 following the 糖心视频 Board of Regents’ approval of his appointment during a special meeting on June 4.

The provost serves as the chief academic officer responsible for student success, academic excellence and enrollment management. Filling the provost position will allow the incoming chancellor to focus on shaping a compelling vision and strategic direction for the future of the campus while overseeing an enterprise with an annual budget exceeding $800 million and more than 5,000 employees.

“We hope to have someone in this role before the beginning of the fall semester to ensure continuity in academic leadership,” Syrmos said in a June 16 email to the campus. “If you are interested or know someone who would be a strong candidate, we invite you to submit nominations or self-nominate for this interim position.”

A national search for a permanent provost will be launched during the upcoming academic year. The individual selected to serve as interim provost will be eligible to apply for the permanent position.

Ideal candidates

Ideal candidates will have an affiliation with 糖心视频 and significant leadership or administrative experience in higher education. They should demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting 糖心视频 students, faculty and the broader campus community, along with an understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges facing 糖心视频 Mānoa.

Self-nominations should include a brief statement of interest (one page or less) and a current curriculum vitae. Individuals who are nominated and determined to be qualified will be contacted to confirm their interest.

To submit a nomination, including self-nominations, please email manoa.chancellor@hawaii.edu by July 1.

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from the Office of Communications.

A Hawaiian Monk seal and her pup play in the shallow water. These photos were taken at a distance, and 糖心视频 News wants to remind everyone to respect our wildlife by giving them the space to thrive.

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—Mongoose.

More ʻ艑lelo of the Week

“Ua holo ka Manakuke ma luna o ke alanui (The Manakuke ran across the road).”

—Noel Mendoza, he haumāna ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the 糖心视频 Hilo .

This article by Native Hawaiian Initiative Alakaʻi (coordinator) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Kamakanaokealoha Aquino was first published in .

A new graduate certificate in will be offered at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. A partnership between the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Social Sciences and the Kamakak奴okalani Center for Hawaiian Studies in the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, this graduate-level certificate offers students and professionals an in-depth understanding of Indigenous Peoples, processes, and practices to enrich urban and regional planning.

Through planning and several consultations over the past 2 years, Priyam Das, a professor in urban and regional planning, and Konia Freitas, a specialist in Hawaiian studies, developed a program that will prepare students to engage respectfully with Indigenous worldviews, knowledge systems, and methodologies; to apply Indigenous and Hawaiian-informed approaches to land use, sustainability, housing, and community development; and to center planning practices around core values such as pilina, kuleana, and aloha, with a focus on ethics, equity, and inclusion.

Students and professional planners will be equipped with culturally grounded tools to navigate complex land-use, social, and environmental challenges. This certificate requires the completion of six courses: one required course in the foundations of Indigenous planning; one capstone course on an individual project of analysis, plan preparation, policy, and program evaluation; and selection of four elective courses from planning, Hawaiian studies, geography, law, natural resource management, political science, or Pacific Island Studies.

This new graduate certificate is the latest collaboration between the urban and regional planning and Hawaiian studies departments, which began in 2017, when both departments signed a memorandum of agreement allowing urban and regional planning graduate students to enroll in designated Hawaiian studies courses with prerequisites waived.

Then, in Fall 2022, a bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 degree pathway was established. Students can pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Hawaiian studies through a master鈥檚 degree in urban and regional planning within a shorter timeframe of 5 years by double-counting up to three courses at the undergraduate tuition rate. Students are able to save money and time to enter the workforce.

These programs will help build capacity in the planning workforce in Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific that centers Indigenous values, concepts, and methodologies in the field of planning.

Ten University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 student-athletes have been named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic At-Large All-District Team, honoring their achievements in the classroom and in competition.

The CSC Academic At-Large All-District Team recognizes student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA while serving as starters or key contributors for their teams.

The 2026 糖心视频 honorees are:

• Gabrielle Doyle, women’s water polo
• Quintin Greenidge, men’s volleyball
• Julia Lawrenz, women’s beach volleyball
• Daisy Logtens, women’s water polo
• Raha Peiravani, women’s water polo
• Roni Perlman, women’s water polo
• Sydney Miller, women’s beach volleyball
• Nathan Szpakowicz, men’s golf
• Dane Watanabe, men’s golf
• James Whitworth, men’s golf

Several of the student-athletes also earned conference and national recognition during the 2026 season, including All-America honors, All-Big West selections and NCAA championship appearances.

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically and advances eligible honorees to consideration for Academic All-America honors.

For more information, visit the

The has been recognized among the world鈥檚 leading universities in the released on June 16, reflecting its strong research performance and academic reputation. In addition, two subjects at 糖心视频鈥檚 flagship campus placed in the world鈥檚 top 50 and another four were ranked in the world鈥檚 top 150.

Overall, 糖心视频 Mānoa placed in the top 2% internationally and top 4.3% nationally. 糖心视频 Mānoa came in at No. 110 in the nation () and No. 482 worldwide ().

Several disciplines were highly ranked in the best global universities subject rankings:

• No. 20—marine and freshwater biology
• No. 42—meteorology and atmospheric sciences
• No. 77 (tie)—space science
• No. 90—geosciences
• No. 140 (tie)—arts and humanities
• No. 144—ecology

The rankings assessed universities largely on research performance, global and regional reputation, publications and citations.

“These recognitions reflect the dedication of our faculty, students and staff to advancing knowledge that serves Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and communities around the world,” incoming 糖心视频 Mānoa Chancellor and interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “At 糖心视频 Mānoa, we are committed to providing opportunities for students to learn through discovery, tackle complex challenges and contribute meaningful solutions that make a difference locally and globally.”

The U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 Best Global Universities rankings are designed to help prospective students compare institutions worldwide while highlighting universities with strong research programs and global impact.

Other recent rankings

糖心视频 Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 Best Graduate Schools rankings, April 8, 2026
• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

A lifetime of service to Hawaiʻi agriculture earned retired University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 professor and former Maui County administrator Harold Keyser the 2026 Maui Legacy Farmer award. The retired soil microbiologist with the (CTAHR) was recognized for his contributions to agricultural education and community partnerships.

The honor was presented on May 30, 2026, during the 17th annual Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair. Held at the War Memorial Special Events Field, the celebration kicked off at the beloved Maui Legacy Farmers Pancake Breakfast.

“I appreciate the diversity of the agriculture industry,” Keyser said. “I’m grateful to have played a part in strengthening and perpetuating it during my career.”

Lifetime of service to Maui agriculture

After joining CTAHR in 2002 and serving as Maui County administrator, Keyser became a champion for the local farming community. He provided essential, science-based perspectives on complex community issues, ranging from water rights to agricultural biotechnology.

During a challenging period of declining institutional funding, Keyser led a county government funding partnership. This collaborative milestone brought together the Maui County Farm Bureau, CTAHR, and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, securing long-term funding for cooperative extension programs and experiment stations.

In retirement, he continues to volunteer with community programs, offering pesticide safety training and helping establish the Kula School Agricultural Science Program at Kēōkea.

Today, Keyser鈥檚 deep agricultural legacy is carried forward by his son, Jonathan, who co-founded Native Nursery LLC in Kula, a business focused on native plant restoration.