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 M膩noa. 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 M膩noa 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.”

For Janie-Maria Kikila, graduating from Leeward Community College this May is more than earning a degree—it鈥檚 a deeply personal milestone shaped by resilience, growth and determination. As a nontraditional student, mother and the first in her family to graduate from college, Kikila sees this moment as proof of perseverance.

“This shows me that if you keep going, you can finish what you started,” she said.

Raised in Whitmore Village, Kikila attended Leilehua High School before transferring to Waiʻanae High School. Her journey hasn鈥檛 been easy, but she鈥檚 remained focused on a bigger goal.

“I鈥檝e gone through a lot—from not always feeling safe as a child to postpartum depression as an adult—but I made a decision not to let those things define me,” she said. “I want to break generational cycles, and I want to be someone my keiki can look up to.”

Finding support at Leeward CC

Kikila first enrolled at Leeward CC in 2013 but stepped away to build a career in management. That was disrupted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

“It was hard going from being financially independent to needing help,” she said. “I knew if I was going to start over, I needed a clear direction.”

She returned to Leeward CC in 2023 to pursue a degree in business management. Back on campus, Kikila found support that helped her stay on track鈥攏ot just academically, but personally. Through Leeward鈥檚 counseling services, she began working with mental health therapist Lori Lum.

“I鈥檝e been seeing Lori for a little over a year, and she鈥檚 been amazing,” Kikila said.

Turning challenges into motivation

She also credits flexible student employment and mentors, such as business division faculty Tina Lee and Dag Faustino.

“Janie leads with intention and heart,” Lee said. “She鈥檚 someone who turns challenges into motivation.”

Kikila founded , Leeward鈥檚 first marketing club, open to students of all majors across the 糖心视频 System. It brings students together to connect, collaborate and gain real-world experience.

“She saw a need and built something that brings students together in a meaningful way,” Faustino added. “That kind of initiative is what sets her apart.”

Kikila plans to transfer to 糖心视频 West Oʻahu to continue her studies in business and marketing, with the goal of one day serving in a leadership role within the State of Hawaiʻi.

By Tad Saiki

At the Merrie Monarch Festival, hula’s most celebrated stage, one hālau‘s story of change and renewal rose to the top in 2026.

Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua earned top honors at the 63rd annual competition in Hilo, sweeping major categories. The group earned first-place finishes in kāne (men) overall, kāne ʻauana (modern hula), and both wāhine (women’s) kahiko (ancient hula) and kāne kahiko.

The hālau is led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV, a graduate of Honolulu Community College.

“I’m still in shock,” Kaʻupu said. “I’m not surprised because they worked hard and they did exactly what they needed to do, but I’m in shock. This year more than ever it was the purpose of the journey, more than the destination. And so I am really appreciative for the recognition. There are no words to really describe what I feel.”

Turning point

The win followed a year of deep change.

Kaʻupu and Kumu Hula Lono Padilla founded the hālau together. In 2025, Padilla stepped away for personal reasons. The departure reshaped the Oʻahu hālau.

Kaʻupu described it as a time of upheaval. One that pushed both him and his haumāna (students) to reflect and rebuild.

“That’s part of the process,” he said. “Acknowledging the catastrophe, acknowledging the upheaval, acknowledging the overturn. Our lives were deconstructed and now let’s find the processes to reconstruct, rebuild, regenerate, re-energize.”

That idea guided their performances at this year’s festival.

Hulihia, overturning

Kaʻupu chose mele (songs) that mirrored both his experience and that of his hālau. Their performances centered on hulihia, a Hawaiian concept that speaks to overturning and transformation.

In the kahiko category, the wāhine performed hula kālaʻau (dancing stick) to Kau Kahaʻea Ke Ao Uahi I Luna. The mele is a creation story, where akua (deities) shape a submerged island still forming off Hawaiʻi Island.

Kaʻupu‘s kāne followed with Hulihia Ka ʻĀpapa Ka Unu Koʻakoʻa O Ka Moana. Their performance evoked the ocean floor shifting and fire rising from below, as life emerges through heat and pressure.

Together, the pieces reflected a simple truth that change can be destructive, but it also creates space for renewal.

糖心视频 roots

Kaʻupu, a Keaukaha native, attended 糖心视频 Hilo before moving to Oʻahu. He continued his studies at Honolulu CC, entering the cosmetology program and graduating in 2007.

“I thought I knew how to do hair until I went through the program,” he said. “They just expedited and transcended the technical skills for me. I am super, super grateful for that.”

For years, those skills helped shape his presence at Merrie Monarch, where he handled his dancers’ hair and makeup, an important part of the competition’s scoring. He also designs every costume, sketching ideas by hand before working with a seamstress to bring them to life. However, for each of his Miss Aloha Hula contestants, he sews each piece himself.

In many ways, that same cycle of creating, overturning and rebuilding reflects where Kaʻupu stands now, as he continues to grow into his role.

“Trust your gut, trust your kūpuna (elders),” he said. “Find the things that serve you and let go of the things that don’t. There’s always regeneration. You just have to trust the process.”

—by Moanikeʻala Nabarro

For nearly 20 years, Rachel Hualani Loo has graced the Merrie Monarch stage on 贬艒ʻ颈办别 night as an ʻ艒濒补辫补, or dancer, with H膩lau o Kekuhi. This year, she returned to the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in a profoundly different role: as the 2026 惭艒ʻ墨 Wahine (Queen) of the Merrie Monarch Royal Court.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo alumna and the director of the , Loo has spent over a decade supporting Hawaiian students on their educational journeys. But when the Merrie Monarch Festival committee asked her to serve in this role, the weight of carrying this kuleana (responsibility) for her community felt different.

“Just to be included in all of this鈥攏ot just the honor on an individual and personal level, but the real honor is continuing to be part of this community in a different capacity,” Loo expressed.

One of the most special things about being in Hilo during Merrie Monarch week is the opportunity to witness the community鈥檚 hospitality and ability to hoʻokipa, to host. Whether welcoming family, friends, or h膩lau hula, Hilo鈥檚 community shows up year after year to graciously welcome everyone. Growing up in Hilo and being part of the Merrie Monarch in different capacities has shaped Loo鈥檚 own commitment to this practice.

What the Merrie Monarch Festival and its stage represent isn鈥檛 lost on her. Loo recalled the words of her Kumu Hula N膩lani Kanakaʻole Zane, whose legacy continues to permeate the festival: “She would remind us that this is the biggest stage for hula: an opportunity to share our language, culture, and dance in excellence. It鈥檚 an example of Hawaiian excellence at its highest level.”

.

Now in its sixth decade, the Merrie Monarch Festival draws visitors from across the state and beyond, celebrating Hawaiian culture through hula, music, and artistry. The influx of visitors also supports independent marketplaces throughout Hilo, where local businesses can showcase their work.

Two University of Hawaiʻi alumni—Summer Shiigi of Ten Tomorrow and Lana Gronwald of Jules and Gem Hawaii—are vendors at the Mākeke Naniloa marketplace at the Grand Naniloa Hotel, returning to Hawaiʻi Island after participating together last year.

Shiigi, a former 糖心视频 Mānoa psychology student, runs and designs the resort women鈥檚 clothing brand Ten Tomorrow.

“My family is from Hilo, so being able to go and visit for work is really special to me,” said Shiigi. “It鈥檚 an exciting time. It feels very meaningful and deep and cultural.”

Gronwald, the owner and founder of Jules and Gem Hawaii, a luxury fragrance brand, graduated from 糖心视频 Mānoa in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“Merrie Monarch is a special time. It鈥檚 beautiful to see all the different artists that come out and all those small businesses that are truly local who come from here and have roots in Hawaiʻi,” said Gronwald.

Supporting local businesses

Both businesses make their products in Hawaiʻi. With customers and businesses converging in Hilo, both women are appreciative of the opportunities it presents.

“The dollars being spent all with local companies is something really beautiful,” said Shiigi. “Being able to have that hard earned dollar spent in a local community and turning it back into someone who鈥檚 based here, who has local employees, who might even make things here, I think that鈥檚 really important.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ballroom dance team won its third consecutive national title at the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27–29.

Competing against 37 colleges, 糖心视频 Mānoa once again took first place for “highest point average,” as well as a close second place for the overall team championship, asserting its place among the nation鈥檚 top ballroom dance college teams. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires most team members to perform exceptionally well in all events.

The dancers of the Ballroom Dance Club @糖心视频M—a registered independent organization at 糖心视频 Mānoa—are trained and coached by Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti. Narayan and Sumukti also represented Hawaiʻi in the senior age division placing 1st in several events.

“We are no longer the underdogs, so all the other colleges are looking at us as the team to beat,” said Narayan, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the 糖心视频 Mānoa . “The bar is getting raised higher and higher each year, but we prevailed once again. We are incredibly proud of the dedication of our dancers who put in many hours to prepare for this competition. We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from the entire ballroom community in the state of Hawaiʻi.”

The Ballroom Dance Club @糖心视频M was formed in September 2022, and the team took first place for “highest team average” in 2024 and 2025.

“Nationals was an amazing and eye-opening experience for me,” said Caleb Zerbe, who competed in the nationals for the first time. “Getting to see so many people dance and enjoy themselves on the floor made me realize how fun dancing can be, even at the highest stages. It was a moment that helped me build a lot of confidence, and one that I will never forget.”

Christopher Ramirez, who competed on all three victorious 糖心视频 Mānoa teams, added, “Given the opportunity to compete at my third nationals, there is always something new to learn. Winning for the third year in a row has reminded me just how incredible it is to be a part of this team.”

Tough competition

NCDC is a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. It consisted of multiple events based on proficiency (bronze, silver, gold, etc.). Each student danced in up to 32 different events at the bronze and silver skill levels. They competed in all four styles of ballroom dance including International Standard (waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz), American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing, bolero and mambo) and International Latin (samba, chacha, rumba, paso doble and jive).

Several students took individual first place awards in their respective divisions defeating up to 70 other competitors in some events. This trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition, as Hawaiʻi has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all 糖心视频 Mānoa students, faculty and staff in studio 2 in the athletics department from 6—7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, 糖心视频 Mānoa Department of Athletics, Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi, USA Dance Honolulu and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for facility and financial support.

糖心视频 Mānoa 2026 nationals collegiate and adult team roster:

• Ravi Narayan, faculty (computer science), coach and alumnus
• Synthia Sumukti, coach and alumna
• ʻAulani Wagner, library science and American studies
• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Amanda Kanthack, psychology and Japanese
• Caleb Zerbe, computer science
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Christopher Wright, electrical engineering
• Courtney Hisamoto, computer science
• D’Elle Martin, architecture
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Hannah Madiam, kinesiology
• Iris Calauan, pre-nursing
• Jonathan Bona, civil engineering
• Julietta Lopez, architecture
• Kanaru Ebi, psychology
• Karl Merritt, mechanical engineering
• Luis Hernandez, electrical and computer engineering
• Lyndsey Moku, political science
• Maya Ito, psychology
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Noah Asano, computer science
• Samantha Reed, computer science
• Shaelyn Loo, computer science
• Tessa Heidkamp, journalism and political science
• Andrew Lin, computer science alumnus
• Sydney Kim, computer science alumna
• Jason Aguda, computer engineering alumnus
• Matthew Rummel, political science and business alumnus
• Ariel Ramos, cinematic arts animation alumna
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science alumnus
• Wilson Tran, computer science alumnus
• Florence Liu, faculty, mathematics

Luis Hernandez and Maya Ito dancing the American Cha-cha in the Collegiate Team Match where 糖心视频 Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Elijah Saloma and Michaella Villanueva dancing the International Quickstep in the Collegiate Team Match where 糖心视频 Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti dancing the Mambo in the Senior IV American Rhythm Championship final. (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Students cheering for their coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Kaiwipunikauikaw膿kiu Punihei Lipe, who directs the University of Hawaiʻi , is stepping into a new role. A prominent leader in advancing Hawaiʻi-grounded initiatives across the 10-campus system for more than two decades, Lipe has been selected as the new poʻo kula (head of school) at Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha ma Kapālama (Kamehameha Schools Kapālama), where she will support and serve students and educators across the K鈥�12 campus.

Her 糖心视频 service spans key leadership roles having also served as director of the , and director of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

“糖心视频 has always held a special place in my life,” said Lipe, a graduate of 糖心视频 M膩noa and Kamehameha Schools. “This community raised me, and it has been the greatest honor of my professional life to work alongside all of you. 糖心视频 nurtured my growth and strengthened my commitment to ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), to ʻāina (land), and to the relationships that guide our work. In many ways, Kamehameha Schools also shaped my early journey, and at this moment, it is deeply meaningful to return and step into this leadership kuleana (responsibility).”

Related 糖心视频 News stories:

• Punihei Lipe selected to lead systemwide Native Hawaiian initiative, July 23, 2024
• Oli, mele, kuleana guide 糖心视频 M膩noa annual summit, January 22, 2026
• Rebuilding pilina: 2nd annual summit advocates racial healing, January 23, 2024

Rooted path

At 糖心视频, Lipe earned a PhD in and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Hawaiian studies. She also earned a master鈥檚 in counseling psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Lipe鈥檚 work at 糖心视频 has spanned campuses, helping integrate ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) across strategic plans, campus culture, programs and initiatives. Her leadership is grounded in building authentic relationships and connections.

“Punihei has made a lasting impact across our 糖心视频 campuses, helping to center ʻike Hawaiʻi in meaningful ways that will continue to shape our university for years to come,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “Her leadership is characterized by humility, deep aloha, and genuine care for our students and communities. In my time working alongside her, she helped deepen my understanding of ʻike kūpuna, our responsibilities to ʻāina, and the importance of connection in all that we do.”

Work continues

The office that Lipe has built will continue the work of advancing 糖心视频鈥檚 active commitment to becoming grounded and reflective of Hawaiʻi. The team she has trained and mentored is well-prepared to support and continue this endeavor as a permanent leader for the office is identified in the coming months.

Lipe will remain in her current role through the end of May to ensure a smooth transition, before stepping into her new role at Kamehameha Schools on June 15.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 鈥� (TIM School) hosted its 24th annual Celebrate a Legacy in Tourism gala on March 31 at the ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach. As the largest fundraiser in support of TIM School student scholarships, the event raised more than $361,000 through the generous support of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 hospitality and business community.

This year鈥檚 celebration was especially meaningful as the TIM School celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026, honoring six decades of preparing leaders who shape Hawaiʻi鈥檚 visitor industry and the global travel economy.

“As we celebrate 60 years of the TIM School, this event reflects the strong partnership between our students and the industry they will soon lead,” said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business and First Hawaiian Bank Chair of Leadership and Management. “The continued support from our community ensures that future graduates are equipped to advance a visitor industry that is innovative, responsible and grounded in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 culture and values.”

Celebrate a Legacy in Tourism recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding and lasting contributions to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 visitor industry.

At the March 31 gala, the 2026 Legacy in Tourism Award was presented to Elliot Mills (BBA 鈥�93), CEO and managing partner of Hawaiʻi Hospitality Group. Mills was honored for his leadership and long-standing commitment to operational excellence, workforce development and strengthening Hawaiʻi鈥檚 hospitality sector.

Kylie Matsuda-Lum (BS 鈥�01), managing director of Kahuku Farms, was inducted into the TIM Alumni Hall of Honor. A proud TIM alumna, Matsuda-Lum has helped transform her family鈥檚 agricultural enterprise into a successful agritourism destination that connects visitors with local agriculture, sustainability and community.

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to ClimbHI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students explore career pathways and successfully transition from high school into post-secondary education and the workforce. Through industry partnerships and career readiness programs, ClimbHI plays a vital role in strengthening Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future workforce.

The 2026 presenting sponsors were Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa and Bank of Hawaii. Central Pacific Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, Kamehameha Schools and Marriott International served as contributing sponsors, and Daniel K. Hilton was a platinum sponsor. Hawaiʻi Business Magazine again returned as the media partner.

Support from sponsors, donors and community partners helps provide critical scholarship funding for students preparing for careers in hospitality, tourism and transportation. Since reunification with Shidler College in 2019, the school has:

• Introduced more than $1.5 million in new student scholarships
• Nearly doubled the size of the faculty
• Created six new faculty endowed fellowships and professorships
• Rising global and national rankings
• Increased undergraduate enrollment by 4.5% from 2024 to 2025
• Awarded more than $560,000 in scholarships during the 2025–26 academic year
• Enabled more than 90% of graduates to find employment or pursue graduate study within three months of graduation
• Established the TIM PhD program

To support the TIM School or Shidler College of Business, contact Jennifer Lieu, director of development, at jennifer.lieu@uhfoundation.org. .

University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa football and basketball statistician Nelson Tokuhama has been named the recipient of the 2025 Charlie Ushijima Award for dedicated and unselfish service to 糖心视频 Athletics.

Tokuhama received the award during intermission of the March 28 men’s volleyball match at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Tokuhama is the 29th recipient of the award, which was established in 1992.

For nearly 50 years, Tokuhama has served in numerous positions within the statistics crew and has rarely missed a home game. A 1975 University of Hawaiʻi alumnus with a degree in architecture, Tokuhama joined the crew under longtime sports information director Ed Inouye. He began working with the men’s basketball crew during the 1976–77 season, and later joined the football stats crew in 1978.

Tokuhama served as chief statistician for many of those years. He has seen the evolution of the profession firsthand, transitioning from the manual era of jotting down numbers with a calculator to modern, computer-generated statistics programs.

“For almost half a century, Nelson has been a cornerstone of our statistics crew, rarely missing a home game,” said Director of Media Relations Derek Inouchi. “His commitment and loyalty to the university are unmatched. His professionalism has earned the 糖心视频 stats crew immense respect among our peers across the country.”

The award is presented annually by ʻAhahui Koa 膧nuenue, the fundraising organization for 糖心视频 Athletics, to an outstanding volunteer. Originally titled the Rainbow Service Award, it was later renamed after its first recipient, the late Charlie Ushijima.

Read more at .

Larry Price, a celebrated University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa scholar-athlete, coach and longtime supporter of the university, is remembered for a life that bridged athletics, education and service to the community. Price died March 27, at the age of 91.

Price distinguished himself as a leader on the football field at 糖心视频 Mānoa, becoming the only player in program history to be elected team captain three consecutive years from 1962 to 1964. He later earned recognition as one of the greatest players in school history, including selection to the program’s all-time team and designation as “Rainbow of the Decade” for the 1960s. He also played in three Hula Bowl games and signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Rams.

Price’s impact at 糖心视频 extended well beyond his playing days. After earning his bachelor’s degree in recreation leadership in 1967 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 1971 from the 糖心视频 Mānoa College of Education, he returned to campus to mentor the next generation. He served as head men’s volleyball coach from 1969 to 1972, resident manager of the athletic dormitory and later head football coach from 1974 to 1976. During his tenure as head coach, 糖心视频 became an NCAA Division I member, changed its nickname to the Rainbow Warriors, introduced the “Hula-T” formation, and on September 13, 1975, christened the newly-built 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium against Texas A&I.

“I’ve considered all of the people I went to school with my friends forever,” Price said in a . “The faculty took particularly good care of me,” he added, specifically pointing to his “favorite faculty member,” Harold St. John, from whom he took a botany course.

In the classroom and across campus, Price was equally dedicated. He went on to earn a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University, while also serving as an assistant professor at Chaminade University of Honolulu. At 糖心视频, he later led the Small Business Management Program, continuing his commitment to education and professional development.

His legacy includes a lasting connection to the broader Hawaiʻi community. Price built a distinguished career in media, joining KSSK Radio and becoming a familiar voice to generations of listeners. As a television journalist with KITV4, he earned national recognition for his documentary work. Price was also known for his sports commentary and his signature “katoosh!” call.

Throughout his life, Price remained closely tied to 糖心视频. He was a , and 1989 糖心视频 Distinguished Alumni Award honoree. Price was also a life member of the 糖心视频 Alumni Association with the 糖心视频 Mānoa Letterwinners Club and College of Education Alumni Association.

—By Marc Arakaki