The University of Hawaiʻi celebrates May 2026 faculty and staff anniversaries.

40 years

Hu, Esther M
Researcher, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Inafuku, Derek T
Vice Chancellor, Honolulu CC

30 years

Kumagai, Chrisjames K
IT Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Lozanoff, Scott
Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

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April 2026
March 2026
February 2026
More anniversary lists

20 years

Clayton, Cathryn H
Associate Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Imanaka, Teri R
Educational Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Jenkins, Thomas Y F
Building and Grounds Custodian, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu

Koizumi, Lauren L
Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist, 糖心视频 System

Saeki, Lori Ann Y
Librarian, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Taketa, Charmaine Y
Budget Analyst, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Ye, Carrie K W
Fiscal Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

10 years

Andrade-Fujii, Colette
Student Services Specialist, Kapiʻolani CC

Moss, Evelyn M
Human Resources Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Saavedra, Rosary J R
Library Assistant, Honolulu CC

Saito, Jenna L A
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Seto, Justin K K
Building Maintenance Worker, Kauaʻi CC

Taniguchi, Kelton R
Lab Manager, Leeward CC

Tavares, Kylie L T
Assistant Extension Agent, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 will celebrate the exceptional achievements of its faculty, staff and students at the 2026 , set for May 5 at 3 p.m. in Kennedy Theatre.

糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos and Board of Regents Chair Gabe Lee will recognize this year鈥檚 honorees for their outstanding accomplishments.

A live video stream of the event will be available for those unable to attend in-person.

Congratulations to all our winners!

2026 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Awards winners

• Cheehyung Harrison Kim, associate professor, history
• Miyoko Teddy Pettit-Toledo, assistant professor, law
• Subhashni Raj, assistant professor, urban and regional planning
• Eirik J. Saethre, professor, anthropology
• Tamara Ticktin, professor, botany
• Kara Noelani Wong Ramsey, associate professor, pediatrics

• Nicolas Gaillard, associate researcher, Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute
• Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula, professor, Native Hawaiian health
• Victor M. Lubecke, professor, electrical and computer engineering

• Lisa M. Vallin, instructor, women, gender, and sexuality studies
• Lolita Perez-Ayala, graduate assistant, communication and information sciences

• Yoshimi (Shimi) M. Rii, assistant specialist, Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology

• Ethan Caldwell, associate professor, ethnic studies
• Jane Chung-Do, professor, public health
• Jeffrey Drazen, professor, oceanography
• J. Lorenzo Perillo, associate professor, theatre and dance
• Cathi Ho Schar, associate professor, architecture
• N. Haʻalilio Solomon, assistant professor, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language

• Michelle Myrie, deputy chief, Department of Public Safety
• Earl Matsushita, work coordination center manager, Campus Operations and Facilities
• Evelyn Mangadlao, janitor, Campus Operations and Facilities
• Dina Shek, director, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawaiʻi

• Karen Harper, fiscal officer, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
• Paula MacCutcheon, operations coordinator, Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office
• Roy Suda, IT specialist, Enrollment Management

• Merle R. Kataoka-Yahiro, professor, nursing

• Lauren Prepose-Forsen, director, 惭腻苍辞补 Transfer Coordination Center

• John G. Souza, assistant professor, family and consumer sciences
• Tianlu Wang, assistant professor, mechanical engineering

• Dhvanil Desai, PhD candidate, astronomy
• Sophia Rahnke, PhD candidate, marine biology
• Jannatun Noor Sameera, PhD candidate, electrical and computer engineering

• Kate Sapigao, lead student mentor, GEAR UP 惭腻苍辞补

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa professor David Ho was selected as a lead author for the on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). The report will give guidance to countries regarding how to estimate and report the emissions they manage through those methods as part of their national greenhouse gas inventories.

CDR and CCUS are tools to help countries achieve their emissions and climate targets, and the diversity of approaches to remove and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are growing fast.

“However, countries currently lack consistent, scientifically rigorous guidance on estimating and reporting the emissions they manage through these technologies in their national greenhouse gas inventories,” said Ho. “Without that, it’s very difficult to hold anyone accountable or to determine whether CDR and CCUS are actually delivering on their promises. This methodology report is about building the foundation to get the accounting right so that progress in CDR and CCUS is real and verifiable.”

The current federal administration withdrew the U.S. from the IPCC process earlier this year, creating a gap in U.S. expert representation in the IPCC. An observer organization nominated Ho so that U.S.-based expertise could still contribute to this report.

“The IPCC has brought together lead authors from a wide range of disciplines and geographies, and the conversations are already substantive and rigorous,” Ho said. “There’s a real shared sense that this report matters, that it will shape how governments think about CDR and CCUS for years to come. It’s a significant commitment, but one I think is genuinely worth making.”

The first lead author meeting was held in Rome, Italy, in April. More than 150 experts, selected by the IPCC Task Force Bureau, are participating in the writing process.

For more information, .

Leeward Community College automotive instructor Nolan Miyahara received the 2026 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Award at the American Association of Community Colleges conference held in Seattle, Washington in April. The award recognizes community college educators nationwide for excellence in teaching, leadership and student success.

This marks the fourth straight year—since 2023—that a Leeward CC faculty member has been selected for the award.

Full circle

Miyahara, an assistant professor, former program coordinator and Honda Professional Automotive Career Training coordinator, has been teaching in the college’s Automotive Technology program since 2016. The Leeward CC alumnus brings more than 20 years of industry experience into the classroom and holds multiple certifications, including National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence Master Automobile Technician.

“I was once a student here, so this really comes full circle for me,” Miyahara said. “Everything I do is about making sure our students are ready—not just for their first job, but for a career where they can keep learning and growing. In the end I hope our students can make the full circle like I did and come back to teach for our program one day.”

His approach centers on preparing students for a fast-changing industry, while building strong connections with local dealerships and national automotive partners. He also mentors newer faculty and helps guide the program’s direction.

Miyahara encourages students to get involved beyond the classroom, from community service projects to hands-on and informational events, such as career fairs.

Chancellor Carlos Pe帽aloza said Miyahara’s recognition reflects both his individual commitment and the college’s broader impact.

“Nolan’s dedication to his students and to the automotive field is clear in everything he does,” Pe帽aloza said. “This award speaks to the quality of our faculty and the strength of our programs.”

—By Tad Saiki

Windward Community College Professor of Art and Gallery ʻIolani Director Kapulani Landgraf has been named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow. Landgraf is one of just 223 distinguished individuals selected from a highly competitive pool of nearly 5,000 applicants for this honor.

The fellowship will support Landgraf鈥檚 project, What Was Taken, What Remains, a body of work confronting colonial histories and reasserting Hawaiian visual sovereignty. Through archival research, photographic interventions, collage and the integration of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and moʻolelo (stories), the project reframes dominant narratives to restore voices to histories long obscured.

‘On our own terms’

“My work has always been about accountability—of images, of histories, and of the ways they are constructed and carried forward,” Landgraf said. “This fellowship supports the continuation of that work, but it also underscores its urgency. What has been taken cannot remain unexamined, and what remains must be made visible on our own terms.”

Widely recognized for her multimedia installations and photography exploring ʻāina (land) and the impacts of colonialism, Landgraf positions the camera as both a witness and an intervention. At Windward CC, she has transformed Gallery ʻIolani into a space centered on Hawaiʻi-based artists and cultural continuity. She is also the author of multiple monographs, including Nā Wahi Pana O Koʻolau Poko and Nā Wahi Kapu O Maui, which extend her explorations of ʻāina, moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy), and resistance.

Established in 1925, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation provides monetary stipends allowing scholars and artists to pursue independent work under “the freest possible conditions.” The Foundation has granted nearly $450 million to more than 19,000 Fellows, an elite group that includes Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and cultural icons.

Before launching her local clothing and accessory brand, , Hilo native Tania Takashiba made the decision to continue her education at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. She spent several years studying on the U.S. continent before attending the Shidler College of Business, where she earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in marketing in 2002.

A member of the business fraternity Pi Sigma Epsilon, Takshiba said her time at Shidler played a pivotal role in shaping her professional network and lasting friendships.

“I think graduating from ”糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 was the perfect transition into adulthood,” said Takashiba. “[I] did internships, I was able to get a job pretty easily, and I couldn鈥檛 be more thankful for the people I met.”

Those connections continue to play a role in her life today. Takashiba stays in touch with several friends from her Shidler years, including one who serves as her financial advisor.

Building a local business

Takashiba started MaruMaru Hawaii with her sister in 2015. She said it was hard to find local brands that offered clothes for kids, so they decided to create their own. The brand has taken off, and Takashiba has run into people at the airport and on vacation wearing her clothes.

“Our designs are super simple, but I think because they鈥檙e based on real things, it resonates with a lot of people,” said Takashiba.

Popular designs such as “Hilo Das Why” and “Hilo Love” reflect the brand鈥檚 commitment to represent Hilo and its people.

Rooted in Hilo

Despite the brand鈥檚 popularity, Takashiba has intentionally chosen to keep MaruMaru Hawaii rooted on the Big Island. She said she does not plan to expand through pop-ups on Oʻahu or other islands, even when opportunities arise.

“I think there鈥檚 something to be said about being able to give Hilo people something first,” said Takashiba. “There鈥檚 nothing like Hilo; it鈥檚 very special. The community here is amazing, you鈥檙e connected to everybody, and it鈥檚 just Hilo das why.”

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa senior student has earned one of Stanford University鈥檚 most competitive graduate awards, underscoring the growing impact of 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 engineering programs.

Andrea Murillo, who is graduating this spring, has been admitted to the PhD program in electrical engineering at Stanford and is believed to be the first 糖心视频 Mānoa recipient of the Stanford Graduate Fellowship, an award given annually to about 100 incoming doctoral students across the university. The fellowship provides up to three years of funding, including tuition and stipend support, to top scholars in science and engineering fields.

Murillo鈥檚 path at 糖心视频 Mānoa reflects a multidisciplinary journey shaped by hands-on research and mentorship. She began her undergraduate journey as a mechanical engineering major before transitioning to computer engineering and ultimately electrical engineering in the electrophysics track, where she found her passion in mixed-signal circuit design.

Through work in several research labs, including projects on embedded systems, TinyML (Tiny Machine Learning), and integrated circuit design, Murillo discovered a passion for building more efficient hardware. She plans to continue that work at Stanford, focusing on circuit design and new technologies that can make electronics faster and use less energy.

“My experiences at 糖心视频 helped me discover not just what I enjoy studying, but how I want to contribute to the field,” said Murillo, who is an international student from Mexico. “The support from faculty, mentors and my peers gave me the confidence to pursue graduate school and aim for opportunities like this.”

Community leadership

Beyond the classroom, Murillo has been active in the community as a leader in the FabLab maker space, a member of engineering student organizations and a leader who won an award at the 2024 Honolulu Tech Week hackathon.

Her achievement highlights the role of 糖心视频 Mānoa in preparing students for advanced study and contributing to innovation in high-demand fields such as electrical engineering and artificial intelligence hardware.

“By leveraging the full breadth of opportunities at 糖心视频, Andrea developed a profound understanding of the grand challenges facing contemporary hardware design. Reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence, she has secured a place in one of the country鈥檚 most prestigious doctoral programs,” said 糖心视频 Mānoa Professor Boris Murmann, who mentored Murillo and was on the faculty at Stanford for 20 years.

Murillo is expected to begin her doctoral studies this fall.

Former Hawaiʻi Gov. George R. Ariyoshi died on April 19, 2026, at the age of 100. As Hawaiʻi鈥檚 third and longest-serving governor (1973–1986), and the first Asian-American elected to a governorship in U.S. history, Ariyoshi left an indelible mark on both the nation, state and the University of Hawaiʻi.

Ariyoshi鈥檚 connection to 糖心视频 began early in his academic journey—he attended 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 before transferring to Michigan State University. In 2009, he was named a distinguished 糖心视频 alumnus. He received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in 1986. Throughout his remarkable career in public service, his leadership continually intersected with and championed the university鈥檚 research and educational missions.

‘Quietly and effectively’

His campaign slogan touted him as working “quietly and effectively” for Hawaiʻi. During his time in office, Ariyoshi played a pivotal role in advancing critical health research at 糖心视频. He notably signed the legislation that created the , working alongside former director Lawrence Piette. This foundational legislative support helped the grow into the world-class, NCI-designated research institution it is today.

Ariyoshi鈥檚 visionary approach to international relations laid the groundwork for expanding 糖心视频‘s global academic footprint. Drawing on his family鈥檚 roots, he spearheaded the creation of the Hawaiʻi-Fukuoka sister-state relationship more than three decades ago—Hawaiʻi鈥檚 first sister-state international relationship. This enduring diplomatic tie directly paved the way for system-wide international agreements between 糖心视频 and the Fukuoka-based Tsuzuki Education Group, enriching student exchange and collaborative research in fields such as sustainability, traditional medicine and disaster resilience.

Reflecting on Ariyoshi鈥檚 monumental impact, Gov. Josh Green said in a statement: “Governor Ariyoshi devoted his life to Hawaiʻi with humility, discipline and an unwavering sense of responsibility to the people he served. He led our state during a pivotal moment with quiet strength and integrity, and his legacy as a trailblazer and public servant will endure for generations. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones.”

Pacific connections

Ariyoshi also played (EWC). In 1975, he worked with the Hawaiʻi State Legislature to establish the center as an independent educational nonprofit corporation. He served as a member of its Board of Governors from 1995 to 2003, including six years as chair.

EWC Board of Governors Chair John Waiheʻe served as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 lieutenant governor under Ariyoshi from 1982 to 1986 before succeeding him as governor.

“George Ariyoshi was a leader of deep integrity and vision who understood the importance of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 connections across the Pacific,” Waiheʻe said in a statement. “His support for the East-West Center and the Pacific Islands Development Program reflected his lifelong commitment to bringing people together in pursuit of shared progress.”

Ariyoshi is survived by his wife Jean, daughter Lynn, and sons Ryozo and Donn.

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 student Elizabeth Rooks is earning national recognition for her research on retinoblastoma, a pediatric eye cancer, during a dedicated research year.

Rooks was awarded the Research to Prevent Blindness Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship, a competitive program supporting students advancing the understanding and treatment of eye disease.

“It鈥檚 an incredible honor,” she said. “This fellowship feels like an investment in my future, but more importantly in work that directly impacts patients.”

Advancing retinoblastoma research

Collaborating with researchers at the University of Washington, Rooks examines the genetic mutations behind the retinoblastoma and how they are inherited.

“Some patients also go on to develop osteosarcomas or other cancers in their 40s and 50s, while others never do,” she said.

Her work uses long-read genetic sequencing, which can identify not only mutations but also which parent passed them on.

“Unlike traditional sequencing methods, long-read sequencing lets us see the parental origin of a mutation without needing to test the parents. This is important because earlier research shows that mutations inherited from the father can make retinoblastoma more aggressive,” she said.

Rooks also helps collect and sequence DNA from patients and return findings to clinicians, potentially informing care in a fast-progressing cancer. Understanding the origin may help identify high-risk children earlier and guide more precise treatment.

After her research year, Rooks will return to Hawaiʻi to complete her medical training.

“I am so grateful for this fellowship and for my team,” she said. “Working with them has taught me so much and has shown me the kind of physician I want to become.”

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A master of hula and Hawaiian music whose influence spans generations, Robert Uluwehion膩puaikaw膿kiuokalani Cazimero will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Hawaiʻi.

The Board of Regents approved the honor at its April 16 meeting at , following a request from Chancellor Carlos Pe帽aloza. The degree will be formally conferred during Leeward CC鈥檚 fall convocation.

“I never really thought about this before, and to have it happen in such a truly beautiful, humbling—and even overwhelming—way, I鈥檓 grateful,” said Cazimero. “I鈥檓 really happy to be here.”

糖心视频 ties and cultural impact

Cazimero is widely recognized for his leadership of H膩lau N膩 Kamalei o L墨l墨lehua and his influence on generations of haum膩na (students), as well as his celebrated career in Hawaiian music. His work has helped strengthen the continuity and global reach of Hawaiian cultural traditions.

Throughout his career, he has been a steadfast partner to 糖心视频, supporting its mission to nurture knowledge, improve cultural identity and inspire future generations. Across 糖心视频鈥檚 10 campuses, he has shared his time and expertise through guest lectures, workshops, performances and mentorship rooted in a deep sense of kuleana (responsibility).

“His engagement with our campus community has provided students, faculty and staff with meaningful opportunities to learn directly from a master practitioner whose work bridges ancestral knowledge and contemporary expression,” said Keala Chock, a former student and Leeward CC vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Related story: Legendary musician Robert Cazimero opens exhibit with Windward CC students, January 2026

Cazimero鈥檚 engagement at Leeward CC reflects an enduring partnership in cultural learning and mentorship, helping to deepen students鈥� experiences with ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge). He is also the featured artist in Ke Kilo Lani, an exhibition presented by Windward CC that highlights his life, legacy and contributions through immersive cultural storytelling.

During the meeting, Regent Neil Abercrombie shared an emotional memory of seeing Cazimero perform for the first time at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Andrews Amphitheatre in the 1970s. Regent Diane Paloma also noted that she was among his students, reflecting his lasting impact as an educator and mentor.

The honorary doctorate recognizes individuals of national or international distinction whose contributions have had a significant impact in areas such as business, public service or scholarship.