As a testament to its deep roots across the islands, the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) has been honored with the Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Engagement from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). This national recognition spotlights JABSOM鈥檚 dedication to Hawaiʻi—from rapid disaster response and compassionate care for individuals experiencing homelessness to vital neighbor island outreach and empowering local student programs.

“We are so connected to this community,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “It starts with our medical students, 90% of whom come from this state, and they have a sense of service to this place that raised them and that flows through everything we do at JABSOM.”

JABSOM continues to actively recruit more students from public high schools and neighbor islands to build a diverse physician workforce capable of serving the entire state’s population.

Small school, national recognition

JABSOM Office of Medical Education Director Jill Omori noted the award recognizes the collective work across the medical school.

Since 1965, JABSOM has trained more than 3,000 physicians

“We鈥檙e all the way out here, we鈥檙e a very small school and sometimes it鈥檚 hard to compete with the big fish in the ocean,” she said. It鈥檚 nice to know that [we] can be recognized for something like this–it really does show our commitment to the community, and hopefully future students or even future faculty will want that kind of environment for themselves and think about coming to JABSOM,” she said.

Since 1965, JABSOM has trained more than 3,000 physicians, with about half of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 practicing physicians having graduated from JABSOM or serving on its faculty.

“We do important work at JABSOM,” said Shomaker. “Not only training the next generation of physicians, but the research, the community outreach that we do, we are woven into the fabric of this community that no other medical school that I鈥檓 aware of, is woven into the community it serves.”

The ranked No. 65 among the best universities in the nation and No. 299 in the world, according to the 2027 , an independent global assessment of universities, released on September 30 BST (September 29 HST). The recognition highlights 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 strength in teaching reputation, research quality and other key measures of excellence.

This recognition places 糖心视频鈥檚 flagship campus in the top 2.5% in the U.S. out of and in the top 1.2% in the world out of .

“糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 continued recognition as being one of the world鈥檚 leading universities reflects upon the extraordinary work happening across campus by our students, faculty, and staff to address the challenges that matter to Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, and beyond,” 糖心视频 Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “This latest ranking by Times Higher Education is a true testament to the strength of our research and academic programs, and of our renewed commitment to making 糖心视频 Mānoa a place where access meets excellence.”

Times Higher Education, which produces these rankings annually, is one of the leading international university rankings organizations. To qualify for these rankings, Times Higher Education first determined the top 168 U.S. universities and top 2,297 universities worldwide.

Rankings criteria

Times Higher Education evaluated 18 indicators in its rankings:

• Research quality: 30% (citation impact: 15%, research strength: 5%, research excellence: 5% and research influence: 5%)
• Teaching (the learning environment): 29.5% (teaching reputation: 15%, doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 5.5%, staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%, institutional income: 2.5% and doctorate-to-bachelor鈥檚 ratio: 2%)
• Research environment: 29% (research reputation: 18%, research income: 5.5% and research productivity: 5.5%)
• International outlook: 7.5% (proportion of international students: 2.5%, proportion of international staff: 2.5% and international collaboration: 2.5%)
• Industry: 4% (industry income: 2% and patents: 2%)

Other rankings

糖心视频 Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities, August 21, 2026
• 2027 The Princeton Review “The Best 392 Colleges” guide, August 19, 2026
• 2026–27 Global University Visibility Rankings, July 23, 2026
• 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, June 17, 2026
• 2026–27 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, June 16, 2026

Rescue dogs are lending a paw to help University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo pharmacy students manage the stress of finals.

糖心视频 Hilo pharmacy student and student senator Anna Alfred launched “Pause for Paws,” where students can take a break from studying and spend time with rescue dogs. The first event drew 41 students during finals week last May, with another planned for this fall.

“As pharmacy students, finals week can be incredibly stressful and emotionally draining, so I wanted to create an opportunity for students to take a short break, decompress, and connect with something positive during such a demanding time,” Alfred said.

Three rescue dogs鈥擮reo, Phoebe and Cora鈥攙isited the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy through Action 4 Animals Hawaiʻi, a nonprofit co-founded by 糖心视频 Hilo anthropology professor Lynn Morrison.

Students spent time petting the dogs, taking photos and relaxing together outside the classroom.

“Many students shared that spending even a few minutes with the dogs helped ease stress and improve their mood during finals week,” Alfred said.

Alfred hopes to bring the dogs back for December finals and continue other efforts that support student wellbeing and build community.

Hawaiʻi farmers are learning how to integrate aquaculture to their operations through GoFish Hawaiʻi, a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 program designed to expand food security. Led by Assistant Professor Kai Fox and Professor Ted Radovich, the program operates at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience鈥檚 Center for Applied Research and Extension Services in Waim膩nalo.

Since the program began in 2020, GoFish Hawaiʻi has trained more than 70 participants. The aquaculture program combines five workshops, field experience, technical assistance and online learning. Participants include beginning farmers, Native Hawaiian producers, military veterans and local educators.

Responding to community needs

The program鈥檚 goal is to increase commercial aquaculture across Hawaiʻi and boost the state鈥檚 food security.

“GoFish was developed to respond to community demand for practical, locally relevant training that helps participants pursue aquaculture as a business, career, or addition to an integrated venture on an existing farm,” Fox said.

Beginning aquaculture students study fish husbandry, aquaponic system design, water quality management, plant nutrition and business economics. Students learn to use nutrient-rich water to produce a wide variety of vegetables and fruit trees, reducing fertilizer costs and water consumption.

Workforce development

Among students is Jack Lee, a Cohort 3 participant who is developing a commercial aquaponics farm in Kahuku.

“Without the GoFish program, I don鈥檛 think I would have the confidence to start up a larger-scale commercial operation,” Lee said.

The program鈥檚 next phase will expand workforce development and entrepreneurship by connecting alumni with apprenticeships, job opportunities and direct-to-consumer markets.

GoFish is supported by CTAHR, the college鈥檚 Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, and 糖心视频 Sea Grant.

Column by University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Chancellor Lui Hokoana was published by on September 24, 2026.

Readers of this column know that we鈥檙e committed to training Maui鈥檚 future workforce and we鈥檙e big on partnerships that help us achieve that goal. One of the best examples of the confluence of these is our participation, along with other stakeholders, in the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union鈥檚 Farm Apprentice Mentoring (FAM) Program. It鈥檚 a free, seven-month training for aspiring farmers and, after the setbacks our state鈥檚 farmers have faced following the spring and summer storms, it is particularly important to support folks who want to make their living feeding the rest of us.

The program consists of classroom and field components. Our college, with the help of a grant from the County of Maui, provides the classroom and equipment for once-weekly evening classes and then on Saturday mornings, the “classroom” moves to farms all across Maui County for hands-on instruction from established farmers. The field modules move through the working year of a farm—from December to June—and touch on every aspect of agriculture from design to planting, water management to composting and everything in between. And, of course, students learn about the cultural significance of farming in Hawaiʻi.

Since it began 12 years ago, the FAM program has graduated more than 250 students from Maui, Molokai and 尝腻苍补ʻ颈. John Yarborough is one of them. Initially, he wanted to learn about opportunities to lease or purchase land to farm. “The program offered a diverse range of agriculture education which opened up several ways of thinking about agriculture, sustainability, and conservation,” says Yarbrough.

His open mind led him right back to us. Today, he鈥檚 the full-time coordinator of our WaiPono Farm. He calls his work “incredibly purposeful.” “Each week, we harvest fresh produce that goes directly back into our community. We support 糖心视频MC students through Basic Needs and we have a great relationship with our Culinary Arts Department, where our produce can be used to experiment, educate, and create a true farm-to-table experience,” says Yarbrough.

“We also personally deliver produce to Lahaina to support fire-impacted communities, including new housing developments, the fire department, canoe club, aquatics programs, and elementary schools. In addition, we contribute produce bi-weekly to Maui Memorial Medical Center for a ‘Food as Medicine’ research project that is helping demonstrate the health benefits of consuming fresh, locally grown produce.

All of these efforts contribute to food security in different ways. Beyond providing fresh food to people who can use it, they help strengthen community connections, support education and research, and demonstrate the value of local farmers and sustainable agriculture in Maui.”

There are even more innovative agricultural opportunities at our college this fall. “糖心视频MC is excited to coordinate free regenerative agriculture courses this fall 2026 semester,” says Dr. Nicolette van der Lee, Program Manager for 糖心视频CC Workforce Innovation.

An eight-week Sustainable Aquaponics Systems course begins September 30 and aims to advance innovative, sustainable food-system methods for urban and rural settings using cutting-edge aquaponics and hydroponics technologies. . The Practical Applications in Natural Farming workshop starts October 6 and runs Tuesdays and Thursdays through October 22. .

“Both courses provide hands-on training in agricultural methods that reduce reliance on imported inputs like expensive fertilizers, upskill both new and experienced farmers, and increase the amount of food we grow locally to support community food security,” explains van der Lee.

Our new agriculture instructor Barry Henry, a graduate of GoFarm and founder of Happy Lau Farms, is both a proponent and a practitioner of natural farming methods. “True food security for Maui means empowering our community with sustainable, accessible agricultural practices. The Natural Farming workshop bridges a vital economic gap by using Jadam (an organic fertilizer and pesticide practice used in the Korean natural farming methodology) and natural farming techniques to give local growers the practical tools they need to cultivate resilient farms and gardens at minimal cost,” says Henry.

The deadline to apply for the FAM program 2026–2027 cohort is October 15th. The program accepts 30 students from across Maui, Molokai, and 尝腻苍补ʻ颈. Apply at hawaiifarmers.org or by emailing fam@hfuu.org.

For complete information about 糖心视频 Maui College, please visit

Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Kaʻana Manaʻo, which means “sharing thoughts,” is scheduled to appear on the fourth Thursday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from 糖心视频 Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County with information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.

Tropical Storm Nolo is approaching Hawaiʻi and is likely to bring heavy, potentially flood-causing rainfall and high winds, especially to Hawaiʻi Island.

The Hawaiʻi Mesonet – Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP) team at the University of Hawaiʻi has launched a new website that provides easy access to up-to-date rainfall and wind observations from Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations across the state.

Tropical Storm Nolo Viewer

“The goal is to make the observations collected by the Hawaiʻi Mesonet readily accessible during the storm, so that people can quickly see where rainfall and strong winds are occurring and how conditions are changing over time,” said Matt Lucas, who, along with Cherryle Manzano, developed the Nolo weather tracker.

The website provides two tools for monitoring the storm:

• Current storm conditions: A map at the top of the page allows users to view either cumulative rainfall (current storm total) or maximum wind gust speed at Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations. Selecting an individual station brings up graphs showing rainfall and wind speed over time.
• Storm evolution: An animated map at the bottom of the page displays either 1-hour rainfall or maximum hourly wind gust velocity at all Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations. Users can select a specific hour to examine conditions at that time or play the map as an animation to visualize the chronology of the storm and how rainfall and wind conditions change over time.

The tracker provides observations from Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations and is intended to offer a straightforward way for residents, emergency managers, researchers, media and others to monitor observed rainfall and wind conditions as Tropical Storm Nolo approaches and moves through Hawaiʻi.

A new free digital textbook designed to promote child health across the Pacific Region has been published by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CHL). The Pacific Food Systems for Children鈥檚 Healthy Living Open Educational Resource textbook features nine chapters examining the region鈥檚 agricultural landscape, food environment, and consumer behavior.

The resource draws on Indigenous culture and regional lived experiences and includes case studies from Hawaiʻi, Alaska, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

CHL is a program of the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR).

Trainees from the Children鈥檚 Healthy Living Food Systems program served as lead content writers for their respective jurisdictions.

The book is a collaboration among the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, University of Alaska Fairbanks, American Samoa Community College, Northern Marianas College, and the University of Guam. It serves as an educational tool to build local capacity and train future leaders using systems science and community engagement to prevent nutrition-related chronic conditions.

An accompanying free Instructor Resource Website offering lecture slides, assignments and question banks will be available to faculty and instructors in early 2027. .

Support for the project was provided by the , CTAHR, , and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alongside additional grant and scholarship sponsors.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Extension agent Ty McDonald has achieved a milestone with his educational video series on avocado grafting reaching elite educational content status on YouTube.

The two-part series on grafting avocado trees— and —has earned more than 251,000 and 221,000 views, respectively. Fewer than 0.5% of educational videos on YouTube reach more than 250,000 views.

McDonald, an associate extension agent at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), produced the series in 2012 in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Tropical Fruit Growers.

‘What, why, when, and how’ of grafting

McDonald manages the West Hawaiʻi Master Gardener Program in Kona. He brings decades of experience to the series, having first learned grafting techniques at a major Kona avocado nursery in 1985.

In the videos, McDonald addresses the “what, why, when, and how” of grafting while sharing nuanced tips on knife skills and scion cuts that are often missing from other tutorials.

“Grafting is often described as a combination of art and science,” he said. “I explained all the scientific principles behind it, and then I鈥檝e got a certain amount of skill now from having done it a long time to actually make the cuts, and that鈥檚 where the art comes in.”

The series steadily attracts more viewers every year. For McDonald, who has served as a 糖心视频 extension agent for over two decades, helping others is the true reward.

“It鈥檚 the combination of numerous positive comments regarding the quality and helpfulness of the information delivered that is most validating,” McDonald said. “It is also very gratifying when folks tell me they learned how to graft by watching these videos.”

The University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 three 4-year universities earned national recognition in the released September 22, with 糖心视频 West Oʻahu earning two second-place regional rankings and two additional top-10 rankings.

, and were ranked among the country鈥檚 top 4-year institutions by U.S. News and World Report out of based on nearly 20 categories (depending on program ranking), including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, academic and financial resources and student excellence.

“Recognition from U.S. News and World Report reflects the many ways the University of Hawaiʻi is serving students and the state,” 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel said. “From academic programs and student support to opportunities that help students move into careers and build better lives for themselves and their families, these results highlight the strength and value of a University of Hawaiʻi education. We are proud of the work happening across our universities, community colleges and learning centers, and remain committed to providing opportunities for students at every level of higher education.”

The in the 糖心视频 Mānoa ranked No. 23 among the best programs in the nation. Shidler College also came in at No. 129 (tied) among the best undergraduate business programs out of 535 ranked undergraduate business programs.

The flagship campus of the 糖心视频 System ranked No. 96 (tied) as a top U.S. public university; No. 128 for best colleges for veterans; No. 186 (tied) overall in the country; and No. 196 (tied) in social mobility, which measures how well schools graduated students who were federal Pell Grant recipients. 糖心视频 Mānoa was ranked among the national universities category—featuring institutions that offer a range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research.

The is the No. 94 (tied) best undergraduate nursing program among 671 ranked undergraduate nursing programs.

The ranked No. 140 (tied) for best undergraduate economics programs in the nation, and the ranked No. 189 (tied) out of the top 676 best undergraduate psychology programs in the nation. Both departments are housed in the .

The placed No. 146 (tied) among the best undergraduate engineering programs that offer doctoral degrees in the country.

The in the ranked as the No. 173 (tied) best undergraduate computer science program out of 587 ranked programs.

“糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 strong showing reflects the depth and breadth of a flagship institution that combines outstanding undergraduate education with nationally recognized research and professional programs,” said 糖心视频 Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos. “Our faculty, staff, and students should all take pride in their hard work and dedication that led to these results, which can also be attributed to the many unique opportunities we are able to provide to students across our campus and in the field. I’m very pleased to see the fruits of our labor reflected in these rankings by U.S. News and World Report.”

糖心视频 Hilo ranked among the top national liberal arts colleges—a category that compares institutions across the country, rather than within a single region—that focus almost exclusively on undergraduate education and that tend to award most of their degrees in the arts and sciences. In that category, 糖心视频 Hilo ranked No. 17 as a top public school, No. 77 (tied) for social mobility and No. 153 overall.

糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 is the No. 195 (tied) best undergraduate nursing program in the country among 671 ranked undergraduate nursing programs, the ranked No. 255 (tied) out of the top 676 undergraduate psychology programs in the nation, and the placed No. 301 (tied) out of 535 ranked undergraduate business programs.

“We鈥檙e proud to see 糖心视频 Hilo recognized among the nation鈥檚 leading liberal arts colleges,” 糖心视频 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin said. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff and students and the high-quality education and experiences we provide. It鈥檚 a testament to the strong community we鈥檝e built at 糖心视频 Hilo and our commitment to student success.”

糖心视频 West Oʻahu ranked No. 2 (tied) for top public colleges in the West and best colleges for veterans among regional colleges in the West, No. 8 for social mobility for regional colleges in the West and No. 9 (tied) overall among regional colleges in the West.

“These rankings are a reflection of the outstanding work happening every day at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu,” 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Interim Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza said. “Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education and the support they need to succeed. We鈥檙e proud of our students and grateful to everyone who contributes to their success.”

Ranking categories

糖心视频 Mānoa was ranked in the national universities category, which featured institutions that offer a range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research.

糖心视频 Hilo was ranked in the national liberal arts colleges category, which featured institutions that focus almost exclusively on undergraduate education and tend to award most of their degrees in the arts and sciences.

糖心视频 West Oʻahu was ranked in the regional colleges in the West category, which includes schools that focus on undergraduate education and grant fewer than 50% of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.

Hawaiʻi borrowers carry less student debt than those in nearly every other state, earning the state the nation’s second-lowest student debt ranking according to a September 2026 .

The personal finance company compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 12 measures. They included average student loan balances, the share of students with debt and the percentage of loans that are past due or in default.

Hawaiʻi ranked No. 50 overall. Only No. 51 Utah had a lower student debt burden. California, Washington and New Mexico rounded out the five states with the least student debt.

“Our 10 campuses give local students access to high-quality educational opportunities at an affordable cost,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “Through affordable resident tuition, need-based financial aid and pathways across our statewide system, we are working to help students earn a degree without being weighed down by debt.”

Graduating debt-free

At 糖心视频, 80% of first-time undergraduates across 10 campuses graduated debt-free during the 2024–25 academic year. That included 65% of graduates from 糖心视频’s four-year campuses and 90% from community colleges.

Mississippi had the nation’s highest student debt burden, followed by Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and West Virginia.

Outstanding student loan balances exceeded in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Department of Education. That amounts to more than $40,000 per borrower across 42.6 million Americans.

Faculty and lecturers across the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges can now register for the upcoming fall session of the Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning (AITL) course, starting October 26. Following record-breaking enrollment in recent cohorts, this free, five-week asynchronous professional development opportunity equips educators to integrate AI into their courses through clear guidelines, targeted assignments and collaborative reflection.

“This professional development helped me develop AI use and misuse policies, as well as classroom activities that I believe will work well,” shared one 糖心视频 participant. Another noted the shift from a “haphazard” approach to applying “AI strategically in my courses to teach students the critical thinking they need.”

100% helpful

Summer 2026 evaluations highlight the program’s strong impact:

• 100% of respondents learned job-helpful skills, received adequate support and would recommend AITL.
• Post-course ratings showing moderate to high confidence in AI tools surged to 88%, up from just 33.8% beforehand.

Lauren Lum Ho, an instructional designer from Leeward Community College who co-developed AITL, said, “AITL gives faculty scaffolded opportunities to explore what generative AI means for their teaching, students and disciplines. While there are no easy answers, this cross-campus effort has sparked critical conversations, informed decision-making and tangible work to better support students.”

Record participation

AITL has enrolled 173 participants since its summer 2025 launch. The spring and summer 2026 cohorts set a record with 117 participants, with educators taking away valuable insights on developing syllabus policies and teaching activities tailored to their courses with specific feedback from instructional designers.

“As AI reshapes higher education, we must equip faculty with the tools to adapt and thrive,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for the 糖心视频 Community Colleges. “AITL鈥檚 record success is a testament to our educators’ commitment to innovation. By thoughtfully addressing AI in our courses, we ensure students learn to engage with these tools responsibly, ethically and critically.”

Email uhccids@hawaii.edu for more information.

To honor the enduring legacy of alumna Diane N. Dods, her husband, Walter A. Dods Jr., partnered with the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation to establish the at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补.

The fund recognizes the best research paper written by an undergraduate political science student, carrying forward the academic distinction Diane demonstrated.

As an undergraduate in the 1960s, Diane examined Hawaiʻi‘s power dynamics for her senior thesis. She interviewed top executives to map the state鈥檚 influence network, resulting in her study, “Community Power Structure: A Case Study of Honolulu,” which earned 糖心视频鈥檚 Social Science Prize, and has maintained an air of intrigue.

“All the names were never revealed,” Walter said. “They were all a mystery.”

Distinguished career

After earning a master鈥檚 degree from Northwestern University, Diane became press secretary for then U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye—the youngest press secretary on Capitol Hill at the time. She helped craft Inouye鈥檚 keynote address for the 1968 Democratic National Convention before returning home as press secretary for then-Lt. Gov. George Ariyoshi.

“At the time, I was running George Ariyoshi’s campaigns, and I met her in his office,” Walter said. “I fell in love, and a year later we were married.”

‘Brilliance and deep grace’

Diane later served as director of public affairs and corporate secretary at the East-West Center. Despite her professional achievements, her family knew her best for her dedication as a mother.

“She was making history in Washington and Hawaiʻi but, to us, she was just mom, always present, and always our biggest champion,” said her son, Chris Dods. “She showed us what it meant to lead with both brilliance and deep grace.”

The endowment was established in spring 2026, when Walter received an honorary doctorate from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“We are especially honored to celebrate her life and legacy with this endowment,” said Denise Eby Konan, former dean of the College of Social Sciences and interim provost at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. “Because Diane was a recipient of a similar award as an alumna, she remains a deeply valued part of our history and exemplifies the very best of our department. Through this award, her influence will continue to inspire future generations.”

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College鈥檚 award-winning Culinary Arts Program is offering a new series of five 鈥渏ust for fun鈥� cooking classes this fall. Beginning September 26, these interactive workshops give community members an opportunity to learn practical techniques directly from professional chefs.

All sessions run on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the P膩ʻina Building on the 糖心视频 Maui College Kahului Campus. Registration fees range from $100 to $120 per person.

Fall 2026 class schedule

Each workshop focuses on distinct foundational skills:

• September 26:
• October 17:
• November 7:
• November 21:
• December 5:

Participants learn fundamental concepts in a supportive environment, turning professional methods into approachable home habits.

“Our non-credit classes are all about demystifying techniques,” said Chef Craig Omori. “You don’t need years of culinary training to break down a fish, simmer a great broth, or turn out bakery-quality holiday pastries. Pastry Chef Hannah Stanchfield and I are excited to welcome home cooks into our labs this semester to build solid kitchen fundamentals and have a great time doing it.”

For registration questions or general assistance, email Omori at omoric@hawaii.edu.

Since its launch in 2023, the Euclid space telescope has been sending images of the night sky back to scientists around the world, who combine its observations with data from telescopes on Earth, including the University of Hawaiʻi 鈥檚 on Haleakal膩.

The Euclid space mission is an imaging survey of an extremely large swath of the night sky, with the goals of creating a map of the large-scale structure of the universe in 3D, as well as exploring the nature and evolution of dark energy. But space telescopes like Euclid rarely work alone — their observations are almost always done in partnership with ground-based telescopes, like those on Maunakea and Haleakal膩.

Hawaiʻi telescopes and Euclid

Pan-STARRS is one of four Hawaiʻi-based telescopes working with Euclid to search for some of the earliest objects in the universe and build a richer picture of the deep sky. The collaboration also includes the , and on Maunakea.

The ground-based telescopes complement, enhance or further explore Euclid鈥檚 data, adding wavelengths, colors and detail that the space telescope is not equipped to do alone.

“It’s very common for a space telescope to discover something interesting in the sky but not have the capability or size to characterize it more thoroughly,” said John O鈥橫eara, chief scientist and deputy director at W.M. Keck Observatory.

Coming off a groundbreaking performance in Washington, D.C., dancers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo are bringing that national momentum home.

Inside the campus dance studio, they鈥檙e training with nationally renowned choreographer Mike Esperanza to prepare an original work for the stage.

The connection began last May, when instructor Kea Kapahua led 16 糖心视频 Hilo dancers to the American College Dance Association conference in Wyoming. Their performance of Haliʻa Aloha no Kaim奴, honoring Kapahua鈥檚 Kalapana heritage, helped earn 糖心视频 Hilo a spot among just 30 schools nationwide selected for the festival in Washington, D.C.

Esperanza, who served as an adjudicator, was moved by what he saw.

“There was something really spiritual about what we saw,” he recalled.

That encounter eventually brought Esperanza to 糖心视频 Hilo as an artist-in-residence. The week-long residency gave students a taste of professional company life, with fast-paced rehearsals and demanding physical training.

“For 糖心视频 Hilo students to have this opportunity is really special; a lot of larger schools don鈥檛 even get to experience a residency to this capacity,” Esperanza said.

The dancers will premiere the finished work on December 12 at the 糖心视频 Hilo Performing Arts Center.

More than 2,000 haumāna (students), faculty and staff gathered at the on September 10 for , an annual event welcoming the campus community to a new academic year.

Originally scheduled for the first day of the fall semester, the event was postponed because of Tropical Storm Moke.

The afternoon event featured a resource fair spanning the Campus Center Courtyard, Kuykendall Lawn and Legacy Path. Approximately 60 campus departments, programs and organizations participated, sharing information about resources, services, activities and opportunities available to haumāna.

“It’s wonderful after the summer break to see the students back on campus, see the energy, see the young people we bring here to educate, having fun at the Warrior Recreation Center, having fun at Campus Center and going around our facilities,” said 糖心视频 Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos. “It is a great, great vibe and I hope it gets better and better as we get into the semester.”

Haumāna explored resources ranging from academics and student support services to campus activities and employment opportunities. The event also featured food from Mānoa Dining Services and local food trucks, along with music, interactive activities, giveaways and prizes.

“The most valuable thing about this event is the students getting involved and the students knowing what resources are available to them, knowing what support they have on campus,” said Natasha Maʻafala, a junior major. “Even though college and the campus seem super scary, super big, they’re not going through this alone and so many others are here looking for those resources too.”

Welina Mānoa is one of the first major student activities of the academic year, helping students discover resources, services and opportunities available across the 糖心视频 Mānoa campus.

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College secured $178,424 in federal funding for the 2026–27 academic year to modernize classroom technology and expand hands-on training.

Under the direction of Interim Dean of Career and Technical Education Lorelle Peros, the grant will support six campus initiatives aimed at strengthening high-wage workforce pipelines for local students.

“This funding allows us to create meaningful opportunities and connections for our students through hands-on training, modern technology and industry-relevant skills that prepare them for success in the workforce,” Peros said.

High-tech and health upgrades

The funding brings artificial intelligence (AI) into classroom settings and expands equipment across medical programs.

• Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech curriculum: Led by Professor Debasis Bhattacharya, the project funds NVIDIA DGX Spark equipment (a compact desktop AI supercomputer designed for developers, researchers and data scientists to build, test and fine-tune large AI models) and faculty AI certification, impacting up to 1,250 STEM and business students.
• Dental hygiene training: Led by Dental Program Coordinator Leanne Higa, the initiative supports accreditation by Commission on Dental Accreditation, an autonomous body associated with the American Dental Association, and faculty laser therapy certification.
• Nursing lab upgrades: Led by Anne Scharnhorst, funds will purchase multiuse task-trainer manikins for realistic clinical simulations.

Skilled trades and career pathways

The remaining projects focus on automotive tech, trade partnerships and broad workforce development.

• Molokaʻi Skilled Trades Pathway: Led by the Molokaʻi Education Center鈥檚 ʻOlelo Schonely and Kelley Dudoit, the initiative creates an agricultural construction and carpentry pathway with Molokaʻi High School, including Early College courses and internships.
• Automotive technology enhancement: Led by Instructor Lawrence Martinson, funds provide modern steering and suspension lab equipment alongside Automotive Service Excellence certification exams for 50 students.
• Multi-sector workforce project: Led by Peros, the effort broadens access to industry credentials and professional development across healthcare, technology and trades.

The federal investment through the Perkins V funding (supporting career and technical education) ensures 糖心视频 Maui College students gain industry-validated skills to meet evolving local workforce demands.

Building on the success of its drone certification program, has secured a new $920,238 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to expand education using tools such as drone-mounted sensors to collect data across the state. The three-year project aims to meet workforce demand or stackable credentials for use in utilities, civil engineering, agriculture and environmental hazard mitigation.

“Expanding the Impact of Geospatial Remote Sensing in Hawaii,” leverages Hawaiʻi CC鈥檚 existing drone education credentials. By introducing advanced two- and three-dimensional surveying, lidar technology (a remote sensing technology that measures distances using laser pulses) and powerful computational tools, the program will train students not only to fly unmanned aerial vehicles but also to process and analyze complex data.

Students will conduct local projects in several courses in engineering technology, forestry management and surveying, which will lead to a certificate in geospatial remote sensing.

Expanding tech career pathways

Related story: Hawaiʻi CC launches first community college drone certification program

“This new award represents a massive leap forward for our local students,” said Principal Investigator Orlo Steele, an associate professor of agroforestry. “We are integrating cutting-edge technologies directly into our forestry, engineering and surveying courses. Furthermore, by introducing mapping training at our P膩lamanui campus in West Hawaiʻi, we are opening doors for students across the island and partnering with other Pacific Islands to build a truly regional tech workforce.”

The project also aims to expand access to high-tech career pathways for all students and increase their qualifications to be competitive in the rapidly growing drone economy. Strengthening pathways from high school to community college to four-year institutions, while also providing upskilling opportunities for incumbent workers in utilities, agriculture, public safety and natural resource management is also a goal of the project.

“We are focusing deeply on student outcomes and workforce readiness,” explained Co-Principal Investigator Donna Pacheco, an associate professor of engineering technology. “We want to ensure our graduates understand how to apply their skills in the field, making them highly competitive for high-paying positions within private, state and federal engineering and environmental agencies.”

At least 150 students are expected to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and data science concepts to real-world challenges through a new Kapiʻolani Community College and University of Hawaiʻi Maui College project, which received $657,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Transforming Two-Year College Information Technology, Applied AI, and Data Science Programs, is a collaboration with the Institute for Future Intelligence and will combine new and revised credit-bearing courses with industry-informed projects, hands-on learning and AI-supported learning tools鈥攊ntegrating into the colleges鈥� associate degree information technology programs. An industry advisory structure and industry-supported learning experiences will help connect classroom instruction with workforce needs.

“This initiative will equip students with practical AI and data science skills for today鈥檚 evolving workforce while strengthening their abilities in problem-solving, data analysis, collaboration and technology application,” said Principal Investigator Dale Nakasone, a Kapiʻolani CC assistant professor of IT.

Cross-campus opportunities

Students from both campuses will also participate in annual cross-campus project showcases and collaborative applied learning opportunities.

“By embedding AI, data literacy, and hands-on experiential learning into existing IT associate degree programs, we are strengthening workforce-relevant technical skills in applied AI, industry-informed learning experiences, stronger transfer and career pathways,” said Co-principal Investigator Thomas Blamey, an assistant professor of math at 糖心视频 Maui College.

The project will also provide professional development opportunities for working professionals and educators, and foster faculty collaboration across campuses. It will also examine effective approaches for teaching applied AI and data science in hybrid and online learning environments.

Curricular resources, findings and implementation models developed through the project will be shared with other two-year colleges seeking to expand AI education. The goal is to contribute scalable approaches for preparing technicians for increasingly data-driven and AI-enabled workplaces.