To support community-engaged design, outdoor recreation and conservation initiatives across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was awarded a $439,576 grant by the National Park Service (NPS).

The grant spans the next three academic years. The funding will directly support Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) graduate students as they conduct collaborative design research focused on public parks, trail systems and conservation projects.

Up to two graduate assistants per year, mentored by faculty members, will provide technical assistance to state, municipal, non-profit and community groups requesting design support. This initiative addresses both past and future technical assistance requests to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program.

Real-world impact for students and communities

The project offers MLA students a unique hands-on opportunity to work directly with public and non-profit partners to develop natural, cultural and historical resource design projects outside the classroom, all while receiving financial support for their education.

Judith Stilgenbauer, professor of landscape architecture, serves as the principal investigator for the initiative. Stilgenbauer was instrumental in bringing the grant to the School of Architecture, leveraging 糖心视频‘s existing 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥扬补肠颈蹿颈肠 Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit master agreement.

“In my view, it goes to show how incredibly relevant landscape architecture is as an academic discipline and profession when it comes to providing design services that increase community and environmental resilience,” said Stilgenbauer.

She noted that during her 14 years at 糖心视频, small specialized degree programs in the School of Architecture have rarely secured federal funding of this magnitude dedicated primarily to graduate student support.

Work under the new grant will be carried out in close collaboration with NPS partners. Initial project selections and student hiring will begin in the coming months.

Incarcerated individuals on Kauaʻi have a transformative pathway toward workforce readiness and higher education, through a new partnership between Kauaʻi Community College and the Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center (KCCC).

This summer, Kauaʻi CC Carpentry Instructor Duke Lang led a cohort of 16 students at KCCC through a carpentry microcredential offered by the college鈥檚 Office of Continuing Education and Training (OCET). Participants gained practical experience by constructing a new classroom and office space, a project designed to resolve the shortage of secure instructional areas at the facility.

For student Stephen Spigner, who is nearing his release, the program served as a critical turning point.

“It seems sort of like a miracle,” Spigner said. “It’s really divine timing that this program is being offered while I’m here.”

Laying the foundation

Upon completing the microcredential, students earn credit for foundational coursework. This allows them to bypass introductory classes if they enroll in the college鈥檚 associate in applied science in carpentry program after their release.

“We’re hoping to give them a different opportunity when they get out from doing their time here,” Lang said. “The feedback they’re giving me is, ‘Wow, I can really see how this can be useful. When I get out, I think I’m going to come see you.’”

Kauaʻi CC Chancellor Margaret Sanchez said the lack of a secure space for classes at KCCC has been a hurdle, but with the completion of the classroom, the partnership can continue to grow.

“The students are learning hands-on to provide a classroom space to increase future educational opportunities at KCCC,” Sanchez said.

‘Knowledge is power’

The initiative is building bridges to long-term stability.

“The students are engaged,” said KCCC Educational Specialist Darcy Yamamoto. “They’re asking questions. They are diligent about coming to class. We’re hoping they will have an idea of what they want to do or the path that they need to be on.”

OCET Education Specialist Pomai Burkart added, “There’s a sense of dignity these students are going to have when they leave KCCC,” she said. “Knowledge is power, and you can’t take knowledge away from someone.”

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—By Caitlin B. Fowlkes

The seven University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges, 糖心视频 Hilo and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu have extended their application deadline to August 14, giving prospective students additional time to apply and begin classes this fall. 糖心视频 Mānoa’s application deadline has passed, but all students who have been accepted are encouraged to enroll and register for classes.

Apply, explore programs or connect with an enrollment specialist

Fall classes begin August 24.

“Many people assume they have missed their opportunity once summer is coming to an end, but that is simply not the case,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “Whether you are a recent high school graduate, a working adult or someone ready to return to college, there is still time. We want to help you take that next step because there is a place for you at 糖心视频.”

Students can choose from nearly 200 degree, certificate and career and technical education programs across the 10-campus 糖心视频 System, with day, evening, online and hybrid options designed to fit a variety of schedules, career goals and life circumstances. Whether students are looking to start college, prepare for a new career, earn a credential or continue toward a bachelor’s degree, there are still opportunities to begin this fall.

Affordable, flexible and worth the investment

A 糖心视频 education is more affordable than many people realize. Most 糖心视频 students graduate debt free, with about 90% of 糖心视频 Community College graduates and nearly 70% of graduates from 糖心视频‘s four-year campuses completing their degrees without student loan debt. Eligible community college students may also qualify for the Hawaiʻi Promise Program, which helps cover direct education costs for tuition, fees and books.

“There has never been a better time to invest in yourself,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for the 糖心视频 Community Colleges. “Whether your goal is to earn a degree, gain workforce credentials, transfer to a four-year university or explore a new career, we are ready to help you get started.”

A 糖心视频 education remains one of the best investments students can make in their future. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree, associate degree or career and technical certificate often see the benefits right away, earning higher wages when they enter the workforce while building toward lifetime earnings that can exceed $2 million more than those of someone without a college education. They also enjoy greater career opportunities, stronger job security and increased access to benefits such as healthcare, retirement plans and paid leave.

Personalized support every step of the way

Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to maximize course options and allow time to complete financial aid, academic advising, registration and other enrollment steps before classes begin on August 24. Students do not have to navigate the process alone. Enrollment specialists are available to provide personalized assistance with applying, financial aid, advising, registration and preparing for the first day of class.

To apply, explore programs or connect with an enrollment specialist, visit applytouh.org.

More than 100 students gathered at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 for the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Symposium, showcasing research and creative work projects that addressed some of today’s most pressing challenges, from preserving Hawaiʻi‘s history to restoring fragile ecosystems.

Hosted by the (UROP), the annual symposium provides students with an opportunity to present mentored research and creative work while sharing their discoveries with the 糖心视频 community. This year’s event featured 96 projects presented by undergraduate students from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, local high schools and universities across the country.

“The SURE Symposium gives students the opportunity to share months of dedicated work while building confidence as scholars and communicators,” said Creighton Litton, director of UROP. “It’s always exciting and rewarding to see their initial curiosity develop into mentored projects that can make a meaningful impact in Hawaiʻi and beyond.”

Research begins with questions

During her keynote address, 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel encouraged students to embrace curiosity and see research as a way to serve their communities.

“One of the greatest misconceptions about research is that it begins with answers,” Hensel said. “In reality, research begins with questions. Questions like: What if? Why? How can we do better?”

She emphasized that the university’s role extends beyond creating new knowledge. Through undergraduate research and creative work, students learn to think critically, solve complex problems and contribute to Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Preserving Hawaiʻi‘s history

Among the presenters was Amy Li, a rising junior at Kalani High School, whose project explored mold identification in library environments.

Li’s research focuses on identifying specific mold contaminants that threaten historical collections, allowing preservation professionals to develop more targeted mitigation strategies. The work could help protect irreplaceable documents, including plantation-era records that tell Hawaiʻi‘s story.

“In a sense, this is keeping Hawaiʻi‘s historical narrative alive,” Li said.

She added that the research is especially relevant in Hawaiʻi, where the humid climate creates ideal conditions for mold growth and increases the importance of preserving archival collections.

Restoring island ecosystems

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 student Lina Claire Reyes, a rising junior majoring in natural resources and environmental management (NREM), studied the recovery of native cactus populations on an uninhabited island in the Gal谩pagos after years of damage caused by invasive feral goats. Her research provides new insights into how native plants regenerate over time following disturbances, and highlights how those findings could help guide restoration efforts in Hawaiʻi and on islands globally.

“I think it’s really important to be looking at invasive species… in hopes of restoring these amazing landscapes to what they once were,“ Reyes said. “That can be applied in the Gal谩pagos and also in Hawaiʻi.”

Discovery with impact

Throughout the symposium, students presented projects spanning environmental science, healthcare, artificial intelligence, Hawaiian history and cultural preservation. While the topics varied, they shared a common goal: using curiosity to better understand the world and improve their communities.

For more information on SURE Symposium and other undergraduate research and creative work opportunities at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, visit the or reach out to urop@hawaii.edu.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its (VEMBA), marking a quarter century of preparing business leaders and strengthening economic and educational ties between Hawaiʻi and Vietnam.

To mark the milestone, hundreds of alumni representing all 33 VEMBA cohorts joined faculty, university leaders and distinguished guests at anniversary celebrations in Vietnam. Held in both Hanoi, where the program welcomed its first cohort, and Ho Chi Minh City, where it later expanded to meet growing demand, the events honored a quarter century of academic excellence, international partnership and leadership development.

Since its founding in 2001, VEMBA has graduated more than 1,000 business leaders who now serve in executive roles across Vietnam and beyond.

“The VEMBA program is the only program of its kind and has established itself as a leader in executive education in Vietnam,” said Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley. “As we celebrate this milestone, we also look toward the future by expanding our impact throughout Southeast Asia while continuing to strengthen the global network that has become one of VEMBA‘s greatest strengths.”

Bold vision to a nationwide network

VEMBA traces its roots to a 1997 United States Agency for International Development-funded initiative that brought Shidler faculty to Vietnam to help train business educators as the country transitioned to a market economy. That effort inspired the creation of Vietnam鈥檚 first Executive MBA program offered by an American university. The inaugural cohort welcomed 29 executives in Hanoi in 2001, followed by the program鈥檚 expansion to Ho Chi Minh City in 2007. In 2024, VEMBA evolved into one nationwide cohort, further strengthening connections among executives across the country.

Today, more than 1,000 graduates from 33 cohorts representing 21 countries comprise one of Vietnam鈥檚 most influential executive leadership networks. Alumni serve as CEOs, founders and senior executives across major industries.

Tung Bui, professor of information technology management, Matson Navigation Company Chair of Global Business and longtime faculty director of VEMBA, noted that the program has grown alongside Vietnam鈥檚 own economic transformation.

“Twenty-five years ago, the primary concern of VEMBA students was how to optimize operations, improve accounting systems and refine internal human resource management,” Bui said. “Today, our executives are thinking much bigger and looking outward. The most vibrant classroom discussions now revolve around artificial intelligence, global branding, exports and navigating international supply chains.”

For the entire story and information on how to support the Shidler College of Business, .

Recap video of the event in Ho Chi Minh City

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s (RoSE) is celebrating one of the most successful years in the student engineering organization’s history after earning international recognition, competing on the world stage and expanding its portfolio of aerospace projects.

Over the past spring and summer, the student-led team represented 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 at several 2026 events:

• University Rover Challenge World Finals (27th out of 116 teams) International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Foundation Excellence in Systems Engineering Award (finalist)
• Project PETAL at NASA’s Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts鈥揂cademic Linkage (RASC-AL) Forum

“Our team has grown tremendously in size, number of projects and student ambition throughout the past year,” said Micah Tajiri, project manager for the University Rover Challenge team. “We’re proud to represent 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and excited to keep building on this momentum.”

Competing among the world’s best

From May 27 to 30, Team RoSE competed at the University Rover Challenge World Finals at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah.

The team’s rover featured a robotic arm, autonomous navigation system, science payload and communications platform designed and built by students.

The rover team’s work also earned recognition beyond the competition. Team RoSE was named one of just 13 finalists from more than 100 teams worldwide for the inaugural INCOSE Foundation Excellence in Systems Engineering Award, recognizing its systems engineering approach and performance during the competition.

Building Beyond the Rover

Team RoSE‘s success extended beyond the rover program.

Project PETAL was selected as one of 14 finalists from more than 150 applicants nationwide for NASA‘s RASC-AL Forum, where students presented a scalable lunar power management and distribution system to NASA engineers and industry professionals.

Project PETAL became the first multi-campus student-led engineering project involving students from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and 糖心视频 Hilo, while the organization established new business and marketing training opportunities for students.

Team RoSE also completed the latest iteration of the 糖心视频 Advanced Balloon Satellite, which now features autonomous recovery capabilities, and launched CapM74, a new student project focused on developing a low-cost astrophotography telescope in partnership with the Institute for Astronomy.

Team RoSE is one of more than 20 (VIP) housed in the . VIPs connect undergraduate students with faculty-led research teams, giving students hands-on experience through long-term, project-based work alongside graduate researchers and faculty mentors.

The team’s work is supported by the College of Engineering and the , whose support helps provide students with opportunities to design, build and compete on national and international stages.

University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu faculty have advanced international research and practice on preparing food systems for climate-related disasters, pandemics and other interconnected disruptions through the completion of the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems special research topic, “,” now published as an open access e-book that can be downloaded.

“Universities create their greatest value by translating recent scientific knowledge into practical action. This research topic, our Hawaiʻi disaster preparedness study, and the Resilient by Design initiative demonstrate a knowledge-to-action model that connects research, community partnerships and public policy to build resilient agri-food systems,” said Albie Miles, associate professor of sustainable community food systems.

Miles, who is also the co-director of the 糖心视频鈥檚 Ke 艑 Mau Center for Sustainable Island Food Systems, served as lead associate editor for Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. This collection, which comprises 14 articles by 61 authors, has already garnered more than 98,000 views and downloads.

Need for improved preparedness

The research is particularly relevant for Hawaiʻi. Recent history has illustrated the fragility of local food access, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the devastating 2023 Lahaina wildfires and frequent severe weather. The publication explores these types of vulnerabilities while offering evidence-based strategies for disaster preparedness, recovery and adaptation.

A recurring theme in the research is the need for improved household preparedness. A previous by 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Professor Konstantinos Zougris and Miles found that only 12% of 1,006 surveyed Hawaiʻi households maintained the state recommended 14-day supply of food, water and essential medicine. This finding underscores the necessity of strengthening household preparedness as a foundation for broader food system resilience.

The project also dovetails with the Resilient by Design: Reimagining Pacific Food Systems initiative that focuses on transforming Pacific food security, climate adaptation, and regional sovereignty. As a co-lead on the project鈥檚 steering committee, Miles helped bridge global resilience science with Pacific Island priorities to strengthen partnerships across the region.

For two Kapiʻolani Community College students, studying Hawaiʻi鈥檚 k艒lea (Pacific golden plovers) took them from campus to the birds鈥� Arctic breeding grounds in Alaska.

In late June, Kealaokalani Kaaloa and Thor Donola traveled to Nome, Alaska, as Hawaiʻi Audubon Society K艒lea Quest scholarship recipients.

“One thing that was really put into perspective for me is just how little we truly know about bird species,” said Kaaloa, a biology major. “Just the concept of the k艒lea migrating to Alaska was too vast to really grasp how incredible the journey really is, until you put yourself on a plane and actually go to Alaska.”

Over five days, the group observed at least 15 k艒lea, documented 70 Arctic bird species and explored the Bering Strait region. The Kapiʻolani CC students also shared their Hawaiʻi-based research with fellow participants.

Recommended by Kapiʻolani CC professor of biology and ecology Wendy Kuntz, who organized and led the trip, Kaaloa and Donola became the college鈥檚 eighth and ninth participants in the K艒lea Quest program since 2023.

“Observing k艒lea on their summer breeding grounds and experiencing the tundra helps students to connect the questions we explore together at Kapiʻolani CC to the broader story of migration and conservation, and to the biological and cultural ties between Hawaiʻi and Alaska,” Kuntz said.

Sharing culture

At a Katirvik Cultural Center gathering, Kaaloa offered traditional chants, including K奴 Ka ʻ础濒腻, “Transformed Waterworn Stones,” composed by Kapiʻolani CC Vice Chancellor 狈腻飞补ʻ补 Napoleon, to elders of the King Island community.

“Through sharing our culture together, I鈥檝e come to realize that the most important thing one must do to keep their culture and their history alive is to have pride in it,” said Kaaloa. “When songs and art are continued through the youth, the culture will continue to live.”

The students will conduct future k艒lea counts in Hawaiʻi, support community outreach events and visit classrooms to share their experience. Their participation was made possible through Hawaiʻi Audubon Society scholarships, with airfare funded by the Kapiʻolani CC Lunalilo Scholars Program (which offers scholarships, mentoring and a strong support network).

—By Lisa Yamamoto

What began 15 years ago as a federally funded research, training and outreach program has grown into an uplifting public health movement across the Pacific. The (CHL), based at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 , is celebrating a decade and a half of pioneering work in childhood nutrition, health, and community empowerment.

The center launched in 2011 with a $25 million USDA grant to create partnerships and build capacity across the region. Since then, it has worked with communities to improve the health and nutrition of thousands of children in Hawaiʻi, Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States in Micronesia.

Putting communities first

“Our whole philosophy is really around promoting health and finding things that work, to always focus on the positive,” said Rachel Novotny, director of CHL. “The real work is with people: collaborating with communities on new playgrounds, adopting new policies about what kinds of foods are in schools, and working with kids on how to garden and grow their own fruits and vegetables, for example.”

A signature of CHL‘s impact is its . National health surveys often overlook Hawaiʻi and the remote Pacific jurisdictions; the center stepped in to track data on children鈥檚 diets, physical activity and early physical signs of conditions like prediabetes.

A global success story

CHL has accomplished something rare: proven success in lowering childhood obesity. Participating communities saw a 4% drop in child overweight and obesity rates during the two-year program compared to non-participating areas. Six years later, that difference widened to 12%, showing the program’s long-term power.

The program has also become a centerpiece for mentoring and professional development for community health. Former CHL staffers and students now serve as deans, directors and lead researchers throughout the Pacific and the world, multiplying the positive impact on global food security.

CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal noted, “This is a remarkable example of a collaborative innovation success story, where CTAHR faculty have taken an impactful, community-based and data-driven approach to address nutritional security challenges in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. I commend Rachel for her leadership in building such a broad coalition to conduct place-based research while also training the future workforce.”

“One of our advisors said to me, ‘You know, Rachel, this isn’t so much a research trial anymore, it’s a movement,’” Novotny said. “I considered that a positive thing. It’s true that we’re after real societal change, and I think we have been able to accomplish that because of the people and the communities.”

Longtime leader Denise Eby Konan has been selected as interim provost, with her appointment set to take effect on August 7 following notice at the next meeting. 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos appointed Konan to serve as the campus’ chief academic officer while a national search is conducted for a permanent provost.

Konan has served as dean of the since 2012, leading 11 academic departments that deliver nearly a fifth of the degrees offered at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. She joined the university in 1993 as an assistant professor of economics and has since held several senior leadership positions, including interim chancellor and interim assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs. Altogether, she brings 19 years of executive leadership experience and 33 years of service at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“Dr. Konan is an accomplished academic leader whose deep understanding of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and unwavering commitment to our students, faculty and staff make her exceptionally well suited for this role,” Syrmos said. “As we prepare for the fall semester and continue advancing our vision for 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 as a premier global public flagship university, I am confident her experience, collaborative leadership and dedication to academic excellence will help move the campus forward.”

Interim provost kuleana (responsibilities)

As interim provost, Konan will oversee the university’s academic enterprise, including enrollment management and student success, and the development of key performance indicators for 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’s new strategic plan.

“It is an honor to serve 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in this capacity,” Konan said. “I look forward to working alongside our faculty, staff, students and campus leadership to strengthen academic excellence, expand opportunities for student success and build on the many strengths that make 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 a world-class university. Together, we will continue advancing our mission of education, research and service for Hawaiʻi and the broader Pacific region.”

An internationally recognized economist, Konan has conducted research and consulted on international trade and economic policy throughout Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. She has served as a consultant to the World Bank, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Arab League and multiple national governments. She is also president of the Hawaiʻi Asia Pacific Institute and the Northeast Asian Economic Forum.

In addition to her leadership of the College of Social Sciences, Konan is an Economic Advisor to the Republic of Palau for the U.S. Department of Interior and a research fellow with the 糖心视频 Economic Research Organization.

Details on a search for a permanent provost will be announced at a later date.

Student innovators at the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) showcased their business evolution during a PACE Entrepreneurs event in July. Program organizers emphasized that the core objective was helping participants transition their projects forward.

“If the students came in here with an idea, the goal was to launch a minimum viable product (the most basic version of a new product),” said PACE Entrepreneur-in-Residence Jeff Hui. “If you had a product, the goal was to get customers. Everyone was supposed to get to the next phase, and everyone accomplished that.”

PACE is a unit of the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 that coordinates and offers educational opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization to students at all 10 campuses throughout the 糖心视频 system.

Recent 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 marketing graduate Keʻalohilani Bloom, founder of Brightness of Heaven Co., said, “With this program, I was able to go from just an LLC (limited liability corporation) with no products or designs to the end where I could launch my products.”

Featured student ventures

• 
  Bloom鈥檚 venture bridges the gap between mature, premium, versatile style and Christian apparel. Reflecting on her time in the program, Bloom noted her progression from having a non-functional website to debuting 11 products.
• 
  Sarah Benimana, a PhD student in tropical plant and soil science who is also pursuing a master’s degree in urban and regional planning, introduced this agricultural recycling concept. She was struck by how much imported food ends up in local landfills, while local livestock and aquaculture industries struggle with mainland feed costs. Her venture has already secured small-scale production equipment and a manufacturing space at the W膩hiawa Value-Added Product Development Center.
• 
  Business students Macy Ferguson and Sophia Franco developed Kumulink to streamline the fragmented systems used to monitor Individualized Education Plans for special education students within the Hawaiʻi Department of Education. The team highlighted that special education teachers currently navigate four to five systems to document data, communicate with families and track progress. Kumulink has established an active data-sharing agreement draft with the Maui complex area and aims to initiate a school pilot program this academic year.
• 
  Ernest Bethe IV, a graduate student finishing his coursework in urban and regional planning, designed Kumu Planning Systems to help government agencies efficiently track and report on municipal plans. The software leverages AI to extract goals and metrics out of massive planning documents. Bethe reported that the venture has pivoted successfully to a service-based platform model, capturing multiple beta testing agreements and closing a $4,500 conversion with the Commission on Water Resource Management.



• 
  Dounya Bilal introduced her bespoke floral studio, Orchid Mantis, which focuses on artistic custom installations, and community workshops. Moving away from a background in architecture, Bilal generated $4,000 in seasonal sales and secured an upcoming installation layout for a local fashion show.
• 
  Studi Bunni is a live task-management and productivity web application featuring interactive dress-up elements, micro-breaks and journaling features tailored to alleviate academic stress. The developer, Tawanza Farmer, shared that before entering the cohort, the project had stalled at the wireframe (early layout) stage. Gaining structural motivation from PACE peers, Farmer successfully finalized studibunni.com.
• 
  Gray Stetcher presented Tesray Technologies, an AI workflow automation company executing specialized digital receptionist and onboarding tools for professional practices. Stetcher explained that while Tesray鈥檚 software logic applies to multiple spaces, market research led to targeting legal practices, since law firms demonstrated immediate operational interest and a strong willingness to pay for administrative time-saving solutions.

Organizers praised the summer cohort’s high productivity and outcomes. A larger collective showcase featuring these teams, alongside alumni and new groups, is tentatively scheduled for December.

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Center for Japanese Studies (CJS) has received a transformative $3 million gift from the estate of philanthropist Ina Goodwin Tateuchi.

“Ina always wanted to build bridges between Japan and America,” said James Hurdelbrink, president of the Tateuchi Foundation. “She鈥檇 be glad to know that the work will continue and is in good hands.”

The gift will ensure the Center for Japanese Studies continues to foster the study of Japan across academic disciplines. “We are profoundly grateful to the estate of Ina Goodwin Tateuchi for providing this vital contribution, which will allow the Center to remain a vibrant hub for academic programming concerning Japan,” said Peter Arnade, dean of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 College of Arts, Languages & Letters.

Supporting the next generation of scholars and Hawaiʻi’s Japan-ready workforce

The gift establishes the Tateuchi Memorial Endowed Scholarship fund that will provide essential support to select undergraduate students at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 who are pursuing Japanese language majors or Asian studies with a focus on Japan. Additionally, the scholarship is open to students in other disciplines who demonstrate a strong interest in Japanese studies within their major.

“Our Center for Japanese Studies is the coordinating center for everything relating to Japanese studies at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补,” said Mark Levin, CJS director and professor at 糖心视频 William S. Richardson School of Law. “Undergraduates represent the foundation for everything we do. This scholarship award will provide to multiple recipients coverage for full-tuition and related expenses, fostering workforce development for the state and populating the academic community across disciplinary boundaries into the future.”

“This extraordinary endowment enables our undergraduate students to focus on their education as they develop advanced Japanese language skills and the multi-cultural fluency that 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 is known for in Japanese studies,” said Joan Pan, CJS associate director. “We are excited for this opportunity to build upon our existing foundation of over 100 years of Japanese studies in the university鈥檚 history since Dr. Tasuku Harada arrived in Honolulu from Japan in 1920.”

A century of Japanese studies

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 has been engaged with Japanese studies for more than a century. In 1920, the university appointed Tasuku Harada, the former president of Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, as its first professor of Japanese studies, helping pioneer the academic study of Japan in American higher education. Today, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 offers one of the nation鈥檚 most comprehensive Japanese studies programs, with courses spanning language, history, politics, law, religion, literature, and the arts.

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The (CIP) at Kapiʻolani Community College has opened applications for two advanced culinary courses focused on whole-animal butchery, smoking, curing and sausage making. The first-of-its-kind training is part of a Workforce Development Program partnership with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).

Applications are open through August 21. To learn more or apply, visit .

These five-day, hands-on training sessions are offered at CIP, and were developed specifically for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 culinary industry using ingredients and resources available in the state. Full tuition scholarships are available to help upskill Hawaiʻi鈥檚 culinary professionals without leaving the islands.

“Hawaiʻi is home to incredible culinary talent, and our goal is to expand opportunities for chefs to continue learning and growing without leaving the islands,” said Grant Itomitsu, Kapiʻolani CC Culinary Arts Department chair. “By bringing nationally recognized instructors together with our local culinary community, we鈥檙e giving chefs the advanced skills to grow their careers and strengthen their kitchens. This program helps advance more sustainable and ethical practices while shaping the future of regional cuisine.”

Cohort 23: Butchery & Whole Animal Utilization (Part 1)

• September 14–18, 2026: Participants will develop essential knife and fabrication skills while learning primal and sub-primal breakdown, nose-to-tail cooking and methods for improving yield and reducing waste.

Cohort 24: Smoke & Sausage: The Craft and Science of Preserving Meat (Part 2)

• September 21–25, 2026: Participants will explore the techniques behind smoking, curing, dehydration and sausage production by preparing jerky, fresh and cured sausages, and smoked meats.

Both cohorts are led by CIA chef educator George Shannon and nationally recognized butcher Bryan Mayer, a staff member and instructor at Kapiʻolani CC.

Applications are open through August 21. To learn more or apply, visit .

Eligibility and scholarships

Applicants must be 18 or older, a Hawaiʻi resident or active military member stationed in Hawaiʻi, and have at least three years of professional culinary experience. Scholarships, valued at $1,500, are funded by the Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance (HACA) CIP x CIA Workforce Development Scholarship Fund and the State of Hawaiʻi.

To support this initiative through a charitable gift to the scholarship fund, contact HACA Vice President Aya Leslie at aya@hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com.

As Hawaiian language immersion schools across the state work to fill a critical teacher shortage, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is preparing the next generation of educators through a program rooted in language, culture and community.

For 25 years, the Kahuawaiola Hawaiian and Indigenous Teacher Training Program has trained future kumu (teachers) through Hawaiian language instruction, extensive classroom experience and mentorship from a statewide network of graduates. The program has become a driving force in strengthening Hawaiian medium education and revitalizing ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).

For candidate Tahiti Chong, the journey is deeply personal. She said her true calling as an educator crystallized when she became a mother.

“I knew that I wanted to raise my daughter in our ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi.”

She aims to show keiki that subjects like math and science are inherently woven into traditional everyday practices.

“It鈥檚 a lot of looking back to move forward,” Chong said, explaining that she draws strength from seeing all her kuaʻana Kahuawaiola (older brothers and sisters from the program) who are now pillars in the l膩hui (Hawaiian community), and “we want to make them and all of our ʻohana (family) proud.”

Many candidates said they began seeking a professional calling anchored in ancestral identity after attending the undergraduate Hawaiian studies program at 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s (JABSOM) marked a major milestone impacting medical care in the state with its White Coat Ceremony in July. The students in the Class of 2030 boosted the school’s Service Commitment Scholarship Program, surpassing 500 years of committed physician service to Hawaiʻi.

The ceremony welcomed 77 incoming medical students, who donned the symbolic white coat marking their entry into the medical profession.

“We are already doing what we’ve dreamed of,” said medical student Gabriela Cruz-Mattos. “Through having the opportunity to focus on academics, to focus on serving our community, I think it’s not just about being able to have that financial support, but being able to have that support just as a community member. I’m just eternally grateful.”

Supporting future physicians

Launched in 2019, the Service Commitment Scholarship Program provides financial support to students who commit to practicing medicine in Hawaiʻi after completing their residency training. Supported by JABSOM and private donors, the program helps address the state’s physician shortage while reducing the financial burden of medical school.

JABSOM awarded about 12 to 13 service commitment scholarships annually during the program’s first several years. This year, the school awarded 21 scholarships, pushing the cumulative service commitment from all recipients beyond 500 years. The long-term impact is expected to be even greater, because many recipients were born and raised in Hawaiʻi and already planned to build their careers here.

For many students, the scholarship allows them to focus on their education while preparing to serve their communities.

Student Tyler Chock hopes to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery to help address cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of illness among Native Hawaiians.

“I’ve always wanted to pursue cardiothoracic surgery,” he said. “My biggest reason is that there’s such a huge disparity, and cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the Native Hawaiian population, so I really wanted to help my community reduce that.”

Preparing physicians who remain in Hawaiʻi is central to the school’s mission.

JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker added, “To the extent our graduates stay and practice medicine here, we’re doing our job and it’s really gratifying to see how many of our graduates wind up deciding to practice here and take care of the communities that raised them.”

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An ancient glass shard. A mural painted thousands of miles from home. A ceremonial headband passed through generations.

These objects tell stories that stretch across generations and oceans in , a new digital exhibition created through the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s (CSEAS) and its (APME) program.

“The APME program was designed to introduce the cohort to museum experts based at cultural institutions in Hawaiʻi as well as museum educators affiliated with the National Park Service,” said APME program director Teri Skillman. “A regional need exists both to upgrade the Asia-Pacific region鈥檚 national and provincial museums and to build a network across the Pacific.”

Stories that span oceans

Among the featured stories is a fragment of Egyptian Roman glass discovered in a burial site in Palau. Researchers traced it to an Egyptian workshop, revealing trade connections that linked distant cultures centuries before modern navigation.

Other stories focus on living traditions. Dissa Aruna Makalingga, collections manager at Museum Affandi in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, tells the story behind The Wisdom of the East, the only mural completed during the lifetime of celebrated Indonesian artist Affandi. As Affandi’s great-grandson, Makalingga traveled to Hawaiʻi to see the mural for the first time at the ‘s Imin Center, joining only two other family members who have ever viewed it in person.

Building museum connections

Beyond creating the exhibition, participants exchanged ideas with museum experts in Hawaiʻi, shared preservation strategies and built a network that continues long after the program ends. The Asia-Pacific is home to about 1,800 cultures that often face similar challenges preserving their heritage, including limited resources and climate impacts. By sharing knowledge and best practices, APME helps museum professionals protect and tell the stories of their communities.

糖心视频ors can explore the exhibition through APME‘s new website, where each story reveals how history lives not only in museum collections, but also in the people and communities who continue to care for them.

APME provides professional development for early- and mid-career museum professionals from small and medium-sized museums and cultural centers across Island Southeast Asia and the western Pacific, helping them strengthen museum practices while building lasting partnerships across the region.

The APME Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Cultural Heritage Center in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and conducted through the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit CESU; TA# P24AC000688.

—by Julia Liu

and the have been recognized as some of the nation’s highest-performing institutions for student satisfaction. Both campuses have earned a place on the inaugural , released by higher education technology company EdSights.

The SVS Honors List recognizes the top-performing 20 percent of participating colleges and universities within each higher education sector, celebrating institutions that set the national standard for student experience and success. Windward CC ranked No. 2 overall among 2-year public institutions nationwide. The 糖心视频 West Oʻahu ranked No. 9 among 4-year public institutions.

Delivering on mission

This recognition signals that 糖心视频 campuses are delivering on their core mission to provide accessible, supportive and high-quality educational environments. According to the report, top-performing 2-year public institutions like Windward CC are providing access, affordability, flexible scheduling and dedicated support staff to help students balance school with work and family.

“The voice of our beloved students in this survey affirms how they flourish through the aloha and dedication of our faculty and staff who live our mission and values,” said Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg. “Windward Community College is a magical place to learn and work because of our people.”

At 4-year public institutions like 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, students highly value approachable faculty, relevant coursework, strong campus communities and comprehensive student services, such as advising and counseling, the report said.

“It brings me great pride to see our campus celebrated through the voices of our own students,” said 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Interim Chancellor Carlos Pe帽aloza. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff, and it affirms that student support and success are at the heart of everything we do at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu.”

‘Where students can thrive’

The SVS benchmark is unique because it captures satisfaction directly from the students themselves at scale. The 2026 SVS Report analyzed feedback from more than 125,000 students attending 257 colleges and universities.

“At a moment when higher education is often thought of in the context of headlines about declining confidence and enrollment challenges, the Student Voice Score^® tells a more nuanced story—students are telling us that many colleges and universities are delivering exceptional experiences,” said Carolina Recchi, co-founder and co-CEO of EdSights. “The institutions recognized on this year’s Honors List have distinguished themselves by listening to students, responding to their needs, and creating environments where students can thrive.”

Under a five-year contract, EdSights has provided each 糖心视频 campus with a proactive AI chatbot designed to check in with students, connect them to resources and provide valuable insights into student needs. The initiative is part of a systemwide student success strategy to create a “common standard of care” for 糖心视频 students across the state.