A multi-year University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research project exploring the largely hidden biodiversity of Hawaiʻi Island’s lava tubes is coming to life for the public through a new exhibit at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.

The exhibit features a lava tube “caving” experience, examples of Hawaiʻi’s cave biodiversity and information about how scientists discover and name new species. It also highlights the development of Hawaiian names for cave species through collaboration with members of the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group Nomenclature Hui.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa researchers Rebecca Chong and Megan Porter have played leading roles in renovating ʻAʻaʻā o Hawaiʻi: Cave Bugs of Hawaiʻi, an exhibit in Bishop Museum’s Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center. The exhibit gives visitors an opportunity to explore the unique ecosystems found beneath Hawaiʻi Island’s surface and learn about the scientists working to understand them.

“It’s exciting to see years of research transformed into something that people can experience for themselves,” said Chong, an associate professor in the School of Life Sciences. “These lava tubes contain species found nowhere else in the world, and this exhibit gives us a chance to share what we’ve learned while helping people understand why these ecosystems are so important.”

Porter, a professor and associate director of research in the School of Life Sciences, said the exhibit represents another important step in the research process.

“Discovering a species is only the beginning,” Porter said. “We want to document these organisms, understand their ecosystems and preserve that knowledge for future scientists. Working with Bishop Museum allows us to bring that knowledge out of the caves and into the community.”

Uncovering hidden ecosystems

Chong and Porter have spent years exploring lava tubes, documenting cave-adapted arthropods and working with collaborators to understand how these underground ecosystems function. Their research has helped identify species new to science and expand knowledge of how native ʻōhiʻa forests support life underground.

The project began in 2022 with a multi-year, $1.29 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to Chong and Porter, along with collaborator Annette Engel of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

As the NSF-funded project concludes in 2027, the Bishop Museum exhibit provides a public-facing culmination of that work, connecting scientific discovery, museum collections, cultural knowledge and community outreach.

“Lava tube ecosystems are incredibly understudied, and there is still so much we don’t know,” Porter said. “We hope that by sharing what we’ve discovered, we can inspire people to be curious about these remarkable places and support the next generation of scientists who will continue this work.”

The exhibit is now on permanent display at the Bishop Museum’s Science Adventure Center. The School of Life Sciences is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

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

, and were ranked among the country’s 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,” ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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 ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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 ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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. ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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.

“ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s strong showing reflects the depth and breadth of a flagship institution that combines outstanding undergraduate education with nationally recognized research and professional programs,” said ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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.”

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Hilo ranked No. 17 as a top public school, No. 77 (tied) for social mobility and No. 153 overall.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ±á¾±±ô´Ç’s 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’re proud to see ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Hilo recognized among the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges,” ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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’s a testament to the strong community we’ve built at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Hilo and our commitment to student success.”

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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 ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ West Oʻahu,” ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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’re proud of our students and grateful to everyone who contributes to their success.”

Ranking categories

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ 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.

More than 100 chess players of all ages and skill levels gathered at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in September 2026 for the 2026 Hawaiʻi Open State Championship, showcasing the campus as a hub for learning, competition and community connection.

The three-day tournament in the Campus Center Ballroom, was jointly organized by the Hawaiʻi Chess Federation and the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa in the . Players from across Hawaiʻi competed in multiple divisions, including many students from ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ campuses and local high schools. One of the tournament’s winners, Gabriel White, is a ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa alumnus.

The event also highlighted a connection between chess and mathematics while introducing prospective students and their families to the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa campus.

“Hosting the Hawaiʻi Open at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa was a wonderful opportunity to bring together people from across our community around chess, mathematics and learning,” said Department of Mathematics Chair and Professor Malik Younsi. “We were especially excited to welcome so many young players to campus and show them the opportunities available at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. We hope this partnership with the Hawaiʻi Chess Federation can continue and grow in the years ahead.”

The tournament featured five-round open and reserve competitions, a one-day tournament for lower-rated players and a blitz chess championship.

The collaboration reflects ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s commitment to serving as a gathering place for Hawaiʻi while creating opportunities that connect academic disciplines with the broader community. The Department of Mathematics and Hawaiʻi Chess Federation hope to build on the successful event through future collaborations promoting chess, mathematics and community engagement.

• Related ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News story: National master, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ lecturer headlines chess exhibition at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa, December 23, 2025

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has been awarded $999,997 from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build a Tunable Photoionization Chemical Dynamics Facility—a powerful scientific facility that lets researchers closely examine chemical reactions, helping them understand not just what chemicals are produced and what happens during chemical reactions, but exactly how and why the reactions happen.

With the new facility, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ researchers will be able to uncover the hidden processes behind chemical reactions—knowledge that could help advance cleaner energy technologies and lead to future scientific discoveries.

The new facility will bring together key chemical technologies under one roof:

• Tunable high-power lasers (powerful adjustable lasers used to precisely study molecules)
• Molecular-beam experiments (controlled streams of molecules used to study chemical reactions)
• Isomer-selective photoionization (a technique that distinguishes between molecules with the same ingredients but different structures)
• A chemical microreactor (a small device used to conduct chemical reactions under controlled conditions)
• Machine-learning-accelerated simulations (computer simulations that use AI to speed up predictions)

“This is an opportunity to build a novel capability from the ground up—one that will be unique in the United States,” ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Professor Ralf I. Kaiser said. “We want to understand chemical reactions not simply by looking at what comes out at the end, but by determining the molecular processes that lead to the products we observe.”

Revealing how strong chemical bonds break

The facility’s first major research project will tackle a fundamental question with implications for cleaner energy technologies: How does hydrogen help break strong carbon–sulfur (C–S) bonds in sulfur-containing compounds widely found in petroleum-derived fuels?

Breaking strong C–S bonds could help improve cleaner fuel production, but scientists still do not fully understand how hydrogen helps break them. Researchers will investigate this process using precisely controlled clusters of titanium, aluminum and boron. By combining laboratory experiments, computer simulations and machine learning, the team aims to understand not just whether these bonds break, but why and how different chemical pathways make the reactions possible.

The project is led by Kaiser, with Professor Rui Sun, a former ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa chemistry faculty member now at Iowa State University, serving as co-principal investigator, and Peng Xu of Ames National Laboratory as a collaborator.

“The power of this approach is that experiment and computation can work together,” Sun said. “The experiments tell us what the molecules are doing, while advanced simulations allow us to understand the underlying pathways and predict how changes in molecular structure can influence the reaction.”

A new scientific asset for Hawaiʻi and the nation

The DOE investment will establish a nationally unique research capability and creates a foundation for future studies of molecular reaction dynamics. For Hawaiʻi, the facility will expand advanced scientific infrastructure and provide undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with hands-on training in molecular reaction dynamics, laser-based experimentation, photoionization, molecular-beam science, chemical microreactors and computational chemistry.

“This facility gives us the ability to ask questions that are extremely difficult to answer with conventional approaches,” Kaiser said. “We are building the experimental capability first, and that opens the door to discoveries that go beyond this initial research problem.”

The project will build not only new instrumentation, but also the scientific workforce needed to use and advance it. The collaboration with Ames National Laboratory will connect ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa to the DOE national laboratory system and brings national-laboratory expertise into development of the new facility.

The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Gas-Phase Chemical Physics program, through DOE EPSCoR, and by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa‘s .

A team of researchers led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has uncovered a faster way that large carbon-based molecules may form in space, helping solve a long-standing mystery about how some of the building blocks of the universe grow.

The study, and first-authored by chemistry graduate student Shane Goettl identifies a new chemical process that could explain the rapid formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—large molecules made of carbon and hydrogen that are found throughout the universe, from dying stars to clouds of gas between stars.

Scientists have known these molecules are abundant in space, but existing theories could not explain how they formed quickly enough to match what telescopes observe or the material space missions returned from carbonaceous asteroids such as Ryugu.

Faster chemical process

The research shows that a newly identified chemical reaction can build these complex molecules much faster than previously thought. Rather than adding carbon atoms one at a time, the process allows several new chemical bonds to form in a single step, speeding up the growth of larger molecules.

The team demonstrated the process in laboratory experiments that recreated the extremely high temperatures found around aging stars and other energetic environments in space. The reactions produced several large PAHs that had been predicted, but were difficult to explain using older models.

The discovery could improve scientists’ understanding of how carbon evolves in the universe and how increasingly complex molecules are created. Those molecules are believed to play an important role in the chemistry of stars, planets and the material that eventually forms solar systems.

“This discovery changes how we think these large carbon molecules are built,” said Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “For years, we knew they existed in enormous numbers throughout space, but we couldn’t explain how nature produced them so efficiently. We’ve now identified a much faster pathway that helps connect the smallest carbon molecules to the complex structures found across the universe.”

The research was led by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa in collaboration with researchers in Taiwan (Agnes Chang) and the synchrotron facility SOLEIL in France (Laurent Nahon).

The Department of Chemistry is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

A University of Hawaiʻi-led research network that helps scientists monitor space weather and cosmic rays has received a nearly $1 million award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

The three-year, $922,511 continuing award will support the operation and maintenance of the Simpson Neutron Monitor Network, a global system of ground-based detectors that measure cosmic rays—high-energy particles that travel through space and constantly strike Earth’s atmosphere.

Led by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Chair and Professor Veronica Bindi and co-principal investigator Nikolay Nikonov, the project provides critical data used by researchers, space weather forecasters and industries that rely on sensitive technology.

Sun influence, space weather

Neutron monitors are ground-based particle detectors that measure secondary particles produced when cosmic rays and solar energetic particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere. These measurements are essential for understanding how solar activity influences the heliosphere and the near-Earth radiation environment.

At ground level, cosmic rays are not hazardous because Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field provide substantial shielding. However, radiation exposure is significantly higher at aviation altitudes and in space, where the protective atmosphere is reduced. For this reason, neutron monitor data is used by space science researchers, space weather forecasters, aviation and satellite communities, and industries concerned with radiation effects on microelectronics.

“This award strengthens the University of Hawaiʻi’s role in national space weather research and infrastructure,” Bindi said. “Neutron monitors provide a unique ground-based view of energetic particles from the Sun and from the galaxy. These data are critical for both fundamental heliophysics and practical space weather applications.”

The network’s detectors collect continuous measurements of cosmic ray intensity from locations around the world. Researchers use the data to study solar storms, energetic particles released by the Sun and other phenomena occurring throughout the solar system. The project also supports specialized tools, including a Ground Level Enhancement Alert System that provides real-time notifications when unusually large solar particle events are detected.

The award supports research infrastructure that enables continuous, long-term measurements needed to understand solar modulation, detect major solar particle events and provide data to the international space weather community.

The award complements ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ’s broader space weather activities, including neutron monitor infrastructure in Hawaiʻi that helps fill an important observational gap in the Pacific region, and the development of space radiation monitoring and forecasting capabilities at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. Together, these efforts support a growing national need to better identify, characterize and mitigate space weather events that can affect infrastructure, society, aviation, satellites, space missions and government functions.

“This is an important step toward building a stronger space weather capability at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ,” Bindi said. “Our goal is to connect high-quality observations, advanced analysis and forecasting tools to support science, education and operational awareness.”

The network honors John A. “Jack” Simpson, a pioneer of cosmic ray research whose neutron monitor design became a foundation for long-term space weather observations worldwide.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

Two University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research projects have been selected for the inaugural , placing ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ’s flagship research campus among a select group of universities and research institutions nationwide using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate scientific breakthroughs.

In the , the DOE said the projects were selected to develop and demonstrate AI-enabled tools and workflows designed to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, science and national security. Each project is eligible for Phase I awards of $500,000–$750,000 over nine months, providing investigators with the opportunity to develop innovative AI-driven research while positioning them to compete for future Phase II awards of up to $15 million.

“The selection of not one, but two ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa projects for this highly competitive DOE mission reflects the strength of the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ research community and the creativity of our faculty in pursuing solutions to some of the most complex challenges facing society,” said ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad B. Walton. “At ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ, we are committed to fostering an environment where bold ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration and emerging technologies can come together to create meaningful impact not only in Hawaiʻi, but across the nation, and around the world.”

The two ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa projects selected are led by researchers in the and the .

AI security for critical infrastructure

One project, led by Assistant Professor Liuwan Zhu from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, focuses on improving the security and reliability of AI systems used in critical infrastructure. The project, called STRATOS (Security and Trust Runtime Architecture for Time-critical Operational Science), will develop an AI security platform designed to detect and respond to cyber threats targeting AI systems used in real-time operations, such as electrical grid management and forecasting.

The research team will test the technology using a dual-site platform that includes the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa campus microgrid and real-time computing systems at Argonne National Laboratory. The project includes collaborators from Old Dominion University and Argonne National Laboratory.

AI advances the search for extremely rare decay processes

The second project, led by Professor Zepeng Li from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, will develop an AI foundation model to support searches for neutrinoless double beta decay, one of the most important unanswered questions in nuclear and particle physics. Neutrinoless double beta decay is an extremely rare nuclear process that, if observed, could help scientists better understand the nature of neutrinos, the mysterious “ghost particles” that are abundant in the universe and are constantly passing through us without interacting. In particular, this rare decay process could tell us whether the neutrino is its own anti-particle.

Researchers around the world are searching for this phenomenon using different types of detectors, but each experiment typically relies on its own specialized software and analysis methods. Li’s project aims to create a shared AI framework that can learn from data across multiple detector technologies, helping researchers identify patterns, analyze results and improve collaboration among experiments studying this rare event. The project will develop a unified AI framework that streamlines data analysis across the diverse detector technologies used in neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments, accelerating the search for this rare process.

The Genesis Mission brings together DOE laboratories and universities to combine advanced AI, high-performance computing and scientific expertise. ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa was among 168 universities selected for the first round of Genesis Mission projects, which included a total of 278 research efforts involving more than 340 institutions across the country. Through these projects, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ researchers will contribute to emerging applications of AI in fundamental physics, energy systems and national security, while strengthening Hawaiʻi’s role in cutting-edge scientific research.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa physicist is part of an international team behind a new approach to studying some of the universe’s most mysterious particles&@8212;using mountains instead of ice.

A paper published July 15 in outlines the scientific potential of the (TAMBO), a proposed neutrino observatory that would use a deep valley in the Peruvian Andes to detect some of the highest-energy neutrinos ever observed.

Neutrinos are tiny, nearly massless particles created during some of the universe’s most powerful events, such as exploding stars and supermassive black holes. Because they rarely interact with matter, they can travel across the universe almost unchanged, carrying clues about where they came from. That same property, however, also makes them extremely difficult to detect.

Neutrinos, rocks, cascades of particles

Unlike the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, which detects neutrinos using sensors embedded deep in glacial ice, TAMBO would use the natural landscape of a mountain valley. When a rare, high-energy tau neutrino passes through Earth’s crust and interacts with rock, it can produce a particle that escapes into the valley and creates a cascade of particles in the air. Thousands of detectors placed on the opposite side of the valley would capture that signal.

By focusing on high-energy tau neutrinos (one of three types of neutrinos), researchers expect TAMBO to identify cosmic neutrinos with far less interference from particles produced in Earth’s atmosphere. That could help scientists pinpoint the powerful cosmic objects that generate them and provide new opportunities to test fundamental laws of physics.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Assistant Professor Peter Lewis is a member of the international TAMBO collaboration, which includes researchers from 26 institutions across nine countries. TAMBO was originally proposed by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ alumnus Andres Romero-Wolf, who until recently served as the project’s manager.

“Neutrinos are exceedingly weird and challenging to detect, but we need to study them to understand the universe,” Lewis said. “TAMBO will fill a critical gap in our understanding of neutrinos. It will also continue a very long and rich tradition of neutrino detection leadership at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. TAMBO will give our students a unique opportunity to collaborate with an international collaboration on fast-paced, innovative work in advanced detector design and neutrino physics.”

Researchers are evaluating the Colca Valley in Peru as a potential site for the observatory. Construction of TAMBITO, a prototype for the project, is already underway, with the full TAMBO observatory expected to be completed in 2028. The collaboration is also working with local communities and social scientists to help ensure the project is developed responsibly while supporting education and research opportunities in the region.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (ICS) students showcased innovative solutions to real-world challenges during their Spring 2026 Capstone Project Day in May 2026.

The event featured poster presentations and demonstrations from undergraduate and graduate students who spent the semester collaborating with government agencies, private industry, nonprofit organizations and ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ departments on projects designed to address practical needs across Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Projects ranged from integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools for legislative operations and developing cybersecurity training platforms for critical infrastructure systems to creating immersive educational experiences, analyzing environmental and fisheries data, tracking coffee provenance through blockchain technology and applying AI to agricultural research.

Capstone teams partnered with organizations including the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives, Department of Defense, MITRE, Business Solution Technologies, Pacific Economics, Kahuku Apps, Blockchain in Paradise and the Waikīkī Aquarium. Additional collaborations involved ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Shidler College of Business, College of Engineering and College of Natural Sciences.

“Technology evolves quickly, but curiosity, creativity and collaboration remain essential skills,” said ICS Department Chair Guylaine Poisson. “These projects give students an opportunity to explore emerging technologies while developing the judgment and leadership abilities that will help them make meaningful contributions throughout their careers.”

Classroom knowledge, professional workplaces

The gives students opportunities to work directly with clients, define project requirements, develop software solutions and present their results to stakeholders. The experience mirrors professional workplace environments while allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to meaningful community, industry and government challenges.

Project Day also featured presentations from the Naval Information Warfare Center internship program at Kapiʻolani Community College and video games developed by students in the department’s Video Game Design courses.

The capstone program continues to serve as a bridge between the university and industry partners, providing organizations with innovative solutions while helping students build technical, communication and project management skills through hands-on experience.

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa .

The Kekūhaupiʻo Tech Mentorship Program (KTMP) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa completed its spring 2026 program, pairing students from information and computer sciences, management information systems and engineering programs with technology professionals across Hawaiʻi’s tech sector.

The collaboration among the (ICS), (Association for Computing Machinery) and brought together 14 student mentees and 13 industry mentors in structured mentorship relationships focused on career readiness and professional development.

Hands-on opportunities for students

ICS led workshops covering résumé development, networking skills and workplace preparation, helping students build practical tools for internships and early career pathways.

“I had an excellent experience this semester with the Spring 2026 KTMP program,” said ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa student Isabella Mow. “This was almost entirely because of my mentor (Alan Ito), who helped me meet with people in different industries and guided me through choosing my major. He used his experience in life to give me advice that he would have wanted to hear at my age. He also helped connect me to various people who helped polish my app.”

Ito, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ’s IT workforce development and regulated policy lead, said, “The CIO Council of Hawaiʻi is happy to support the KTMP Mentorship Program and work with our ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ students to help prepare them to enter the tech workforce and provide them guidance regarding life skills in general. As a mentor, it’s always exciting to try to view our world today through a mentee’s eyes as they’re embarking on their careers. They represent our future, and it’s really a privilege to have the opportunity to provide some, hopefully meaningful, input. Isabella has been great, and I’m excited to continue to follow her career at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ and beyond.”

ACM at Mānoa and CIO Council of Hawaiʻi coordinated mentor matching and organized three networking mixers throughout the semester for students to engage directly with professionals, build connections and explore career paths in the industry. The program included regular mentor meetings, ongoing communication and monthly progress check-ins.

“It was awesome giving students like me the chance to get their own professional (mentor) to grow in a more personal way,” said ACM at Mānoa operations coordinator Christian Komo. “I feel like building connections is one of the best ways to develop your career, and it’s something they need to emphasize more in computer science classrooms. That’s why it felt great giving back with ACM and bridging the gap between students and the smartest leaders in the tech world.”

The program is expected to continue in future semesters with an emphasis on expanding student participation and strengthening connections between ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa students and Hawaiʻi’s tech industry.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa project focused on identifying early brain-based markers in infants exposed to methamphetamine before birth has been awarded a $50,000 grant from through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The research represents a critical step toward improving how children at higher risk for adverse developmental outcomes are identified and supported early in life.

The project aims to identify neurodevelopmental biomarkers that can detect early neurobehavioral impairments associated with prenatal methamphetamine exposure. If successful, this work could lay the foundation for scalable screening tools and targeted intervention programs designed to improve outcomes for children across Hawaiʻi and beyond.

“This project is about providing families with answers sooner and equipping providers with better tools to deliver care,” said Katy Tarrit, assistant professor in the in the , principal investigator of the study, and director of the Hawaiʻi Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory. “The identification of objective neurodevelopmental biomarkers of risk in infancy enables a transition from reactive detection of developmental delays to early, targeted interventions that support optimal brain development during critical stages of neurodevelopment.”

Prenatal methamphetamine exposure has been linked to long-term cognitive, behavioral, motor, and developmental challenges. However, many children are not identified until these delays become more pronounced, often years later.

By identifying measurable early biomarkers of neurodevelopmental risk, the research team aims to establish a framework for early, targeted intervention—particularly in communities with limited access to specialized healthcare services.

More about Ola HAWAIʻI

Ola HAWAIʻI is a ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Research Center in Minority Institutions Specialized Center funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health. Based at the , the center works to advance minority health and health disparities research in Hawaiʻi, focusing on communities that experience disproportionate disease burden and limited access to care. Supported through a five-year federal NIH award, Ola HAWAIʻI strengthens research capacity, mentors investigators and partners with communities to improve health outcomes statewide.

• Related ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News story: Array of health threats to Native Hawaiians focus of $22.5M grant, September 21, 2022

Twenty 6th-12th grade students from across Oʻahu shared websites and coding projects they built during the spring 2026 semester at the annual ICSpark Spring Showcase on April 25 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Campus Center Ballroom.

The student-led event, organized by student organization in the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Department of Information and Computer Sciences, featured final projects from students enrolled in the program’s free Intro to Web Development course, where participants spent four months learning HTML, CSS and JavaScript from ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa student mentors. Projects were presented in a science fair-style format, giving families, friends and community members a chance to explore the students’ work and hear directly from the young developers.

“This year was quite the challenge for sure,” said ICSpark President Cody Torres. “Our team faced numerous challenges, including limited access to technology, old practices we relied on breaking and the Kona Low storms. Despite all of that, we’ve managed to pull off yet another great year of ICSpark! Super proud of both our students and mentors for keeping the spark alive for yet another year, and looking forward to continuing this path for others to follow!”

This year’s showcase also included the second annual SWITCH x ICSpark Hackathon, where students collaborated on coding challenges and competed for awards presented during the event.

The spring program ran every Saturday from January through April and offered both in-person classes at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa and online participation through Zoom. No prior coding experience was required, making the program accessible to students exploring computer science for the first time.

Founded in 2019, ICSpark is a registered independent organization at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa and is part of Technology Outreach Hawaiʻi, a nonprofit focused on promoting technology education across the state. The organization’s mission is to provide motivated middle and high school students with a fun, supportive and nonintimidating environment to learn coding skills and connect with college mentors.

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa brought together cybersecurity experts, researchers and industry leaders on April 29 for the Indo-Pacific Cybersecurity Innovation Forum, a daylong event focused on strengthening digital security, critical infrastructure resilience and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Held at Campus Center, the forum featured technical talks, policy discussions and workshops aimed at expanding regional cybersecurity capacity and building stronger public-private partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. Speakers included David Carroll of GDIT; Josiah Dykstra and Mengran Xue of RTX BBN; Robert Martin and Nick Tsamis of MITRE; as well as leaders from local fintech organizations and startups, highlighting the forum’s emphasis on cross-sector collaboration.

“ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa is positioning Hawaiʻi as a hub for Indo-Pacific cybersecurity by uniting academia, industry and government to address real-world threats and strengthen critical infrastructure resilience,” said ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Professor Mehdi Tarrit Mirakhorli.

Threats, resilience

Speakers addressed emerging threats to critical infrastructure, supply chain security and the growing role of AI in both cyberattacks and defense systems. Sessions also examined how organizations can better anticipate and respond to evolving risks in complex digital environments.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa faculty and researchers joined national experts from government, industry and research institutions to discuss strategies for improving cybersecurity readiness. Topics included protecting transportation systems, securing software supply chains and improving detection of adversarial behavior in critical networks. The event also included a panel of chief information security officers from financial institutions and ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa, who discussed real-world challenges in protecting sensitive data and maintaining secure operations in fast-changing threat landscapes.

Afternoon sessions highlighted advances in cyber threat intelligence, secure cloud systems and resilience testing for critical infrastructure. Researchers also explored how human behavior, economics and system design influence cybersecurity outcomes.

Craig Opie, co-founder and CTO of Holocron Security, said, “As an island community, critical infrastructure resilience is personal. If power, water, communications or healthcare systems fail, our families and neighbors feel the impact immediately. We have to make the delivery of secure, compliant technology repeatable and built for real-world consequences. I’m proud to be part of events like the Indo-Pacific Cybersecurity Innovation Forum that help educate, empower and protect our community.”

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

The recognized students, faculty and program contributors at its annual award ceremony on April 24.

The event honored 30 graduating seniors, along with 38 new learning assistants and three new faculty members joining the program. The ceremony also highlighted four award categories recognizing excellence in teaching innovation, program advocacy, and student support.

The Learning Assistant (LA) Program places undergraduate students in courses across campus to help facilitate active, discussion-based learning. Learning assistants work with faculty to support collaborative instruction in lectures, labs and discussion sections, helping shift traditionally lecture-based courses into active learning environments. The program, which began in STEM fields, has since expanded to include a wide range of disciplines across ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa.

For the first time, graduating seniors in the LA Program were presented with honors cords, recognizing their academic progress, skill development and contributions to student success. The cords were approved following the LA program’s transition into the , after serving as a successful pilot of the Provost’s office for the past several years.

Program organizers describe the cords as a symbol of dedication, perseverance, and belonging within the LA community. They recognize students who have significantly supported active learning environments while completing their own academic journeys.

“The honor cords recognize meaningful time supporting their peers and partnering with faculty to cultivate active learning communities across disciplines,” said LA Program Director and Professor Tara O’Neill. “This program is about creating meaningful learning experiences on both sides of the classroom—where students and instructors are shaping how knowledge is built and shared at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. As LAs, our students are not only strengthening their own content knowledge, they are transforming learning at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa by creating spaces that encourage engagement, questions and innovation.”

Program awardees

• Outstanding Learning Assistant Award recognizing students for excellence in supporting course instruction and fostering engaging learning environments: Katie Thai, Jack Santos and Kevin Phan
• The Agent of Change Award promoting new approaches to active learning at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa: Instructor Astrid Delorme
• Curriculum Innovation Award for course design work that integrates LAs to improve student learning experiences: Professor Monique Chyba
• LA Advocacy Award for leadership in advancing the program: Interim Vice Provost of Student Academic Success Amy Ebesu Hubbard

Faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (ICS) presented two peer-reviewed papers at the (ICSE 2026) and related events, April 12–18, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mobile app accessibility

ICS Assistant Professor Anthony Peruma presented “” in the ICSE 2026 Research Track, co-authored with ICS master’s alumnus Amila Indika and Professor Rick Kazman from the .

The study examines how mobile app developers approach accessibility across platforms such as iOS and Android. Drawing on a mixed-methods survey of 110 mobile app developers across 43 countries, the research identifies how platform ecosystems, developer experience, organizational constraints and technical limitations shape accessibility practices.

The findings show that while developers recognize the importance of accessibility, accessibility-related testing is often performed late in the development process. The study also revealed meaningful differences in accessibility practices between iOS and Android platforms and across developer experience levels, offering actionable guidance for more inclusive app development.

Improving security for shared software packages

At the Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering conference, which was co-located with ICSE, ICS Assistant Professor Italo Santos presented the paper “.” The paper was co-authored by Peruma, ICS master’s student Truman Choy and ICS master’s alumnus Gerald Lee.

This research investigates how developers who maintain packages in the Node Package Manager (npm) ecosystem—a platform for sharing and managing JavaScript software packages—perceive and address security. Through a survey of 75 npm package developers, the study examines their security practices, the tools they use, barriers to implementing stronger security measures and recommendations for enhancing the security of the npm ecosystem.

The findings highlight concerns such as supply chain attacks, dependency vulnerabilities, malicious code, alert fatigue and false positives, while also identifying opportunities for better detection tools, clearer documentation, stronger account protections and expanded security education.

“Together, these two papers reflect ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s growing contributions to software engineering research, particularly in areas where technical systems intersect with people, organizations and society,” Peruma said. “Our work aims to understand the real-world challenges developers face and provide practical guidance for building software that is more accessible, secure and beneficial to the broader community.”

ICSE is widely recognized as the leading international venue for software engineering research, bringing together researchers, practitioners and educators from around the world to discuss advances, challenges and emerging trends in the field. Acceptance into the ICSE main research track is highly competitive, making the showing a notable achievement for ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa.

An invasive algae already well-established in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is raising concern among researchers as it threatens to spread into the main Hawaiian Islands. Scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have identified a potential ally in slowing its advance: sea turtles.

Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) have been documented for the first time actively grazing on Chondria tumulosa, an aggressive invasive red alga that has spread rapidly across reefs among three of the northernmost atolls in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM).

The findings, recently published in the journal by researchers, suggest that honu may play a meaningful role in controlling this ecologically damaging species—while also potentially spreading it.

“After these exciting finds, our multi-partner effort to prevent this seaweed from taking hold in the Main Hawaiian Islands must include a plan to increase numbers of threatened, native green sea turtles, as well as ramping up efforts to identify all routes that could allow Chondria to spread to Oʻahu,” said Celia Smith, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa‘s professor and senior author of the study.

Dangers of C. tumulosa

First detected at Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll) in 2016, C. tumulosa has since expanded to more than 101 square kilometers of reef habitat (nearly the size of Kahoʻolawe), including Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) in 2021 and Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) in 2022. The alga forms dense mats more than 6 centimeters thick that can smother live coral and displace native reef species, making it one of the most pressing threats to the monument’s reef ecosystems.

Turtles take a bite

Using a stationary GoPro camera deployed on a reef at Midway Atoll in June and July 2025, the research team captured approximately 50 minutes of footage showing three honu grazing on C. tumulosa mats. One female took up to 18 bites in a 95-second burst, leaving disruptions 5–15 cm in diameter across the algal canopy—substantially larger than what urchins or fish could achieve. A complementary necropsy of a stranded adult female confirmed C. tumulosa fragments throughout her digestive tract, accounting for roughly 25% of the material in her esophagus and crop.

“These turtles are consuming a meaningful amount of this alga in a single foraging session,” said Tammy Summers, USFWS staff biologist and co-author of the study. “It’s exciting because it points to honu as a native megaherbivore with the potential to suppress C. tumulosa biomass—but it also raises important questions about whether fragments excreted during their migrations between atolls could accelerate the alga’s spread.”

The findings carry immediate management implications. Because 96% of Hawaiian green sea turtles nesting occurs at Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) before individuals disperse to foraging grounds across the archipelago, the authors recommend eDNA monitoring at Lalo to track potential spread of C. tumulosa beyond its known range.

The study was a collaboration between ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa‘s School of Life Sciences and USFWS Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and was funded by USFWS Invasive Species Strike Team funds through a cooperative agreement with ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. Smith leads the Limu Lab at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa, where research on C. tumulosa physiology, distribution and ecology has been ongoing for several years. Other authors on the paper are Caroline Pott from USFWS and Angela Richards Donà from the School of Life Sciences.

This work was accomplished under permit numbers PMNM-2025-001, USFWS 274 Recovery Permit TE72088A-3, Recovery Sub-permit TE163899-2, NOAA Permit 21260, and 275 State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Land and Natural Resources Special Activity Permit 2026-01.

The School of Life Sciences is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa‘s .

Related ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News stories on ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa research on C. tumulosa:

• Nuisance alga detected beyond Papahānaumokuākea for the 1st time, December 16, 2024
• Early detection system for nuisance alga infesting Papahānaumokuākea reefs, September 25, 2022
• Algae species discovered infesting NW waters has been identified, July 7, 2020

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty member has earned international recognition for research that advances understanding in a key area of modern mathematics.

Department Chair and Associate Professor Malik Younsi received the 2026 Frontiers of Science Award from the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS). The honor recognizes major breakthroughs in mathematics, physics and engineering.

Younsi was recognized for a research paper co-authored with Dimitrios Ntalampekos on conformal maps, a topic in complex analysis that studies how shapes in the plane can be transformed while preserving angles. In simple terms, it looks at how you can stretch or reshape something—such as a map or a piece of rubber—without changing the way angles and corners fit together, similar to how digital maps adjust views while keeping locations accurate.

“Mathematics is often about finding hidden structure in things that seem complicated at first,” Younsi said. “This recognition highlights the value of staying curious and patient, and I hope it encourages students to see that even abstract ideas can lead to meaningful discoveries.”

The 55-page paper, published in Inventiones Mathematicae, looks at when flat shapes can be transformed into ones bounded by circles and points, building on a long-standing question called the Koebe uniformization conjecture. The research helps describe when there is essentially just one possible way to do transformation, giving a clearer understanding of how these shapes work.

The Frontiers of Science Award, launched in 2023, recognizes recent papers with lasting impact after a competitive global review process. Younsi’s work was selected by an international panel of experts for its contribution to complex analysis. He will be honored at the 2026 ICBS meeting in Beijing on August 9, where leading scientists from around the world will gather to present and discuss new discoveries.

The Department of Mathematics is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

Danielle Bartz, a PhD candidate in at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, has received a . Initially selected by the Zonta Club of Hilo for a $2,000 local award, Bartz advanced to the international competition, where she emerged as one of 16 recipients worldwide. This $10,000 award recognizes outstanding women in STEM, with honorees representing nine countries in this year’s cohort.

Bartz’s research leverages cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies combined with local ecological knowledge shared by the community to monitor marine biodiversity and assess critical habitats. She developed a novel, low-cost eDNA water filtration system, which has the potential to revolutionize marine biodiversity monitoring by making it more accessible and cost-effective, particularly in resource-limited settings. This project was supported by the Patents2Products Fellowship through the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Office of Innovation and Commercialization.

“It’s an honor to be part of a global group of women working to advance STEM, and I am very thankful for the opportunities I’ve found through the Zonta Club,” Bartz said. “I’ve connected with this phenomenal network of women supporting women. My goal is to make marine research more accessible while working alongside local communities to protect culturally and ecologically important species.”

Bartz’s dissertation examines the disappearance of a culturally and ecologically significant shark species in Hawaiʻi. Her research, which confirmed a shark nursery habitat in Hilo Bay, contributed to the area’s first formal recognition as a vital shark habitat by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

• Related ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News story: Shark nursery habitat research earns PhD candidate top international award, March 20, 2025

The Zonta Women in STEM Award uplifts innovation and celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of women between 18-35 years of age in STEM fields and acknowledges their groundbreaking research, pioneering discoveries, and/or exemplary contributions to advancing knowledge and innovation in a STEM field.

The Marine Biology Graduate Program is an interdisciplinary program co-administered by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa‘s and the .

The University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ will welcome physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski for a free public talk inviting audiences to see the ocean in a new way.

Czerski, a professor at University College London, will deliver the Spring 2026 Dai Ho Chun Distinguished Lecture, on April 23 at 7 p.m. in Bilger Hall.

Her message is simple but powerful. The ocean is not just scenery; it is a system that drives life on Earth.

Czerski studies how the ocean works at a physical level. Her research looks at how gases move between air and sea, how sound travels underwater, and even how tiny bubbles behave. Together, these processes help move heat around the planet, shape weather and climate, and support life in the ocean.

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Helen Czerski to ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ,” said Philip Williams, interim dean of the . “Her research shows how the ocean’s physical systems shape our planet, and she has a gift for sharing those insights in ways that capture your imagination. She invites us to see the ocean as a living force, revealing physics that shapes and nourishes our island and the world.”

The lecture is supported by the Dai Ho Chun endowment, established through an estate gift to the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Foundation to bring distinguished speakers to campus.

The event is organized in coordination with the , a partnership among ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, The Learning Coalition, and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

Ten graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50, and an additional 17 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2026 , released on April 7.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ±á¾±±ô´Ç’s ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa programs were in the , ranking No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs.

The ranked No. 22 (tied) for best international programs, and the (SOEST) placed No. 40 (tied) for best Earth sciences programs. JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care.

“ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “These results reflect the talent and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, and Hawaiʻi can take pride in knowing their university is preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers for our community and the world.”

Rankings were based on multiple factors, including research activity (such as publications and citations), student and alumni outcomes (employment and earnings), quality assessments (from peers and recruiters), student selectivity (GPA and test scores), and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student-to-faculty ratios).

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  Shidler College of Business  |  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Social Sciences  |  College of Engineering  |  College of Natural Sciences  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 16 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs, the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ law school placed No. 91 (tied) among the top law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

• Tax law: No. 80 (tied)
• Criminal law: No. 88 (tied)
• Contracts/commercial law: No. 92 (tied)
• Health care law: No. 92 (tied)
• Constitutional law: No. 95 (tied)
• Business/corporate law: No. 101 (tied)
• Clinical training: No. 102 (tied)
• Intellectual property law: No. 127 (tied)
• Trial advocacy: No. 175 (tied)

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 3 for best medical schools for research.
In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 139 for speech language pathology and No. 171 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. .

Shidler College of Business

The Shidler College of Business placed in nine subject areas. Leading the way were international programs at No. 22 (tied), accounting programs at No. 68 (tied), information systems programs at No. 72 (tied) and marketing programs at No. 91 (tied). In addition, Shidler ranked at No. 104 (tied) for best management programs, No. 113 (tied) for best executive programs, No. 123 (tied) for best finance programs, No. 125 (tied) for best entrepreneurship programs and No. 142 (tied) for best part-time MBA programs.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

SOEST placed No. 40 (tied) among the nation’s best Earth sciences programs.

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene placed No. 55 (tied) for best nursing school–master’s and No. 62 (tied) for best nursing school–doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Both were the only programs in Hawaiʻi to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

College of Education

The College of Education ranked No. 57 (tied) in the U.S., the 21st straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 89 (tied) among the nation’s top public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to an online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences placed among the nation’s best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation’s best in at No. 91 (tied), at No. 92 (tied), and at No. 128 (tied). The College of Engineering overall ranked No. 164 (tied) among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

College of Natural Sciences

The placed among the nation’s best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

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