The University of Hawaiʻi helped bring technology professionals, community members, educators, policymakers and other stakeholders together for the inaugural (HiSIG), a one-day symposium focused on the future of Internet and digital governance in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

About 80 people attended the September 4 event at Servpac’s Activity Room in Mililani Tech Park during Hawaiʻi Tech Week. The free symposium featured presentations and discussions on Internet governance, artificial intelligence, digital equity, Indigenous knowledge and online safety under the theme “Navigating Global Digital Governance.”

The ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa in in the was a sponsor of the event, with faculty and students participating in the symposium. The program’s involvement reflects its commitment to preparing students to understand the rapidly changing digital environment and its impacts on communication, society and communities.

Shaping Hawaiʻi’s digital future

“Internet governance is no longer simply a technical conversation. It touches how we communicate, how information is shared and who has a voice in shaping our digital future,” said School of Communication and Information Chair and Communication Professor Wayne Buente. “Having our faculty and students participate in these discussions creates an important opportunity to bring communication perspectives to issues that will affect communities across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.”

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ also was represented on a panel examining Indigenous knowledge in the digital age. Leimomi Bong of the joined other experts to discuss the importance of ensuring that Indigenous communities have control over how traditional knowledge is digitized, protected and used.

The symposium featured national and international experts addressing topics including Internet governance, the multistakeholder model, digital equity, inclusive Internet access, and trust, safety and risk in a connected artificial intelligence world.

The keynote address, “State of the Internet,” was delivered virtually by Internet pioneer Vint Cerf, chief Internet evangelist at Google. The session explored the history of the Internet in Hawaiʻi and how the technology continues to evolve.

Building digital connections across the Pacific

HiSIG was created to raise awareness and build capacity around digital technologies across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. The initiative grew from discussions held with the Internet Governance Secretariat during the World Summit on the Information Society+20 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 2025.

Participants in HiSIG gained a deeper understanding of how the Internet works, the factors that shape its development and the ways communities can contribute to the evolution of their digital pilina (connection, relationships).

Award winning technology journalist and bestselling author Karen Hao is the 2026 Dai Ho Chun Distinguished Chair at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s . Hao will give a free public lecture exploring how the race for artificial intelligence is reshaping society, economics and the environment. Hao’s talk, scheduled for October 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Kennedy Theatre, will draw on years of reporting to examine the extraordinary concentration of wealth, resources and power behind the artificial intelligence boom and its consequences for communities around the world.

“Karen Hao’s work has been cited as a must-read for those who are interested in deepening our understanding of societal shaping of this key technology. She will provide nuanced contexts to the AI debates,” said Denise Konan, interim provost at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹.

AI and society

Hao, one of the world’s leading AI reporters, argues that companies like OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are gaining enormous power. Her lecture will explore what that means and how governments, universities and the public can help shape AI’s future.

“Universities have served as a public space to discuss important social and environmental issues,” said Aya H. Kimura, senior sustainability advisor and professor of sociology in the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ College of Social Sciences. “We envision her talk to be a part of such broader discussion on how to govern AI with the principles of sustainability, transparency and accountability.”

Legacy gift

Hao’s appearance is made possible by the late Dai Ho Chun through his estate gift to the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation. The endowment is held in the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ College of Social Sciences.

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

The (COH) in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s is marking its 50th anniversary, commemorating five decades of preserving the state’s history through first-person accounts. Since its founding, the center has archived more than 1,200 personal, multi-ethnic accounts from Native Hawaiian and local populations, spanning historic events, cultural traditions and everyday life.

Preserving Hawaiʻi voices

As one of the nation’s oldest oral history institutions, COH serves as a critical bridge between generations. Its collection features documented accounts of how past generations navigated major environmental, social and economic shifts. Today, this archive provides unique insights for policymakers, educators and youth who are addressing contemporary island challenges such as food security, shoreline preservation and cultural sustainability.

“Our textbooks offer facts, but it is the recorded voices of our kÅ«puna that capture the true resilience and spirit of Hawaiʻi,” said Mary Kunmi Yu Danico, COH director. “As our islands evolve rapidly, preserving this collective memory ensures that future generations have a cultural and historical roadmap to guide them.”

Join in anniversary events

In celebration of its 50th anniversary milestone, the center is hosting a series of educational workshops and outreach events across the state. The events open to the general public include:

• August to November: Oral history community consultation meetings.
• September 22, 2026: (Time TBA) Livestreaming of Museum of Korean Emigration Exhibit in Incheon, South Korea, on the Korean Prisoners of War at Honouliuli (research from National Parks Service).
• October 16, 2026: 4–9 p.m. Livestreaming of the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Music, Art, Poetry and Talk story. Opportunities to sponsor.
• Late October/Early November: (TBD) Kahoʻolawe Aloha ʻĀina Oral History Project launch (public talk in conjunction with the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana’s 50th anniversary).
• November (TBD): Kauaʻi 1924 Hanapēpē Strike Event.
• November 9–22: Oral History Talks and Workshops: Video streamed on YouTube regarding Kosovo-Fulbright Specialist award.

To ensure these vital preservation efforts continue in perpetuity, COH is inviting the community —effectively preserving the past for the future.

For more information about the upcoming anniversary events, .

Related ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News stories:

• Preserving Maui’s stories: ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Center for Oral History lands $538K in new funding, August 13, 2026
• Lahainaluna boarding stories preserved in new ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ oral history collection, April 13, 2025
• ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ students preserve Waialeʻe’s cultural legacy through oral history project, December 4, 2023

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumna Martha Carrell was drawn to ideas and to people who explored them. She enjoyed conversations that moved easily between subjects, from philosophy to everyday habits, and she made space for others to join in. In classrooms, living rooms or public media, she brought people together, asking questions and letting discussion unfold.

“She was fierce, complex, determined and smart,” said Diane Smith, a close friend and trustee of Carrell’s estate. “For many years we were members of a small discussion group that met monthly and picked a different topic every month, such as quantum physics, diets, solar energy, or the nature of faith. What a great ride that was.”

Smith met Carrell in retirement. Their group’s conversations could be lively and contentious, but they were always educational. This approach carried through Carrell’s work. Born and raised in Honolulu, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. Her career spanned public broadcasting, education and communications, and she worked for PBS stations and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Carrell produced in Hawaiʻi and, unsatisfied with the final scene, stepped in to perform a hula herself. She also taught speech and coached debate, bringing the same focus on clarity and exchange into the classroom. In later years, this instinct found a home at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at a university in Las Vegas. Her classes became some of the most popular in the program.

Supporting future students

Her lifelong connection to communication now continues through an estate gift establishing the at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. The fund supports students in the in the School of Communication and Information, within the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa , with a preference for Hawaiʻi residents with financial need.

“In an era where digital noise often replaces meaningful connection, teaching human communication skills to our students is more essential than ever for individual success and a healthier society,” said Hye-ryeon Lee, former ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa communicology department chair. “Martha’s life clearly illustrates this point, and we are tremendously grateful for her vision and generosity. This scholarship will provide our communicology students with financial support so that they can fully focus on their academic and professional growth.”

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When the online (ES) 213 class, (contemporary issues of race, class and gender in popular culture) meets in fall 2026, 40 students will log in. But they won’t share the same classroom or even the same continent. Half will be University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CSS) students in Honolulu, while the other students will join from Meiji Gakuin University (MGU) in Tokyo.

The collaboration is an example of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), a growing global educational model in which CSS is an established leader. COIL links classrooms from higher education institutions in different countries to facilitate cross-cultural learning.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa students who complete three COIL courses—ES 101 (Introduction to Ethnic Studies), ES 213 (Race, Class, Gender and Popular Culture) and ES 422 (Mixed Race Identities)—earn an Identities and Global Citizenship micro-credential. The college’s COIL program received for innovative use of educational technology to create impactful educational experiences.

The ES 213 online class is taught by Roderick Labrador, CSS director of student academic services. It is strategically timed to take place at 2:15 p.m. Mondays in Hawaiʻi, which corresponds to 19 hours ahead on Tuesday mornings in Japan. It gives students in both countries a means to interact and explore ES, a subject not commonly taught in Japan.

“COIL is called virtual student mobility in Japan,” said Labrador, “because it’s basically studying abroad without traveling.”

New perspectives, lasting lessons

Two ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa students can attest to the effect of COIL on their future studies. CSS alumni Mamaylia Soungie and William “Liam” Burke were impacted by the lessons learned in spring 2026, when they enrolled in ES 422, “Mixed Race Identities,” taught by Associate Professor Ethan Caldwell.

“What I enjoyed most were the smaller discussion groups made up of both ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa and MGU students,” said Soungie, who earned her BA in ES and , and is now preparing for the graduate record exam. “During the first couple of classes, many Japanese students seemed a bit nervous about differences in language proficiency during classroom discussions. But as we progressed through the course, they became much more comfortable.”

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While long-term data shows that Hawaiʻi is getting drier overall, short, intense downpours that cause sudden, dangerous flash floods are getting stronger in the islands, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Published in the , the research from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) is the first comprehensive study to analyze extreme hourly rainfall patterns across the state over 50 years (1966–2020). The team examined decades of hourly data from 117 rain gauges across Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, uncovering climate trends that traditional 24-hour daily averages often miss.

Bursts of intense rain

In steep, mountain-filled tropical watersheds like ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s, bursts of intense rain lasting one to six hours can overwhelm stream channels and storm drains before emergency alerts are even issued.

“If we want to understand extreme weather, like storms and floods, we really need to look at short-duration, high-temporal-resolution data rather than daily or monthly averages,” said Professor Yinphan Tsang of CTAHR’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and the principal investigator.

The study’s major findings include:

• Common heavy rains, happening once every two years, are generally becoming less intense across the state.
• Short, sudden bursts of rain lasting one to three hours—the severe storms that usually occur only once every 20 to 100 years—are getting significantly stronger.
• Storms lasting 6 hours or longer are weakening more noticeably than shorter one- to three-hour storms.

Researchers noted that rainfall trends vary widely even between neighboring areas. Because of ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±â€™s unique mountains and island terrain, rainfall intensity can increase in one neighborhood while decreasing just a few miles away.

Researchers also identified two distinct peaks when Hawaiʻi is most vulnerable to extreme hourly rain events: October through December and February through March. These heavy rains are overall driven by cold fronts, Kona storms and other winter weather systems moving through the islands. The extreme events occurring from February through March, near the end of the wet season, were unexpected and could take people by surprise. Other systems, such as tropical storms, could also bring extreme rainfall during the summer season.

Vital data for climate adaptation

The findings offer updates for emergency responders, county planners and infrastructure design.

The study was a collaborative effort at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa bringing together experts from CTAHR, the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, the College of Social Sciences and the Water Resources Research Center. The research was primarily compiled by Maxime Gayte with co-authors including faculty members Professor Yinphan Tsang, Professor Pao-Shin Chu (Hawaiʻi State Climatologist), Professor Thomas W. Giambelluca, Jr., Researcher Yu-Fen Huang, and Researcher Hanpei Zhang.

Hawaiʻi high school students spent part of their summer exploring global politics, national security and potential careers through the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s (AHI-SP).

Offered through the in the , the three-week program serves local high school students and incoming college freshmen. Participants who successfully completed the program earned college credits for POLS 120: Introduction to World Politics.

Diplomacy, intelligence, strategy

Students spent the first two weeks learning virtually about international diplomacy, history and modern intelligence agencies. During the final week, they lived on the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus, participated in strategy simulations, visited historic sites and met with intelligence leaders.

“The 2026 AHI-SP class was an exceptional group,” said Jairus Grove, program director and political science professor. “They worked together to understand the complexities of world politics and began the journey to making a better future.”

The statewide cohort included students from Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, with 68% attending public schools.

“AHI has helped me understand and get a glimpse into how government thinks, acts and reacts,” said Zoe Sokei-Ganir, a freshman from Kapaʻa High School on Kauaʻi. “I’ve been influenced into considering new and unique career goals.”

Student expenses, including tuition, fees, learning materials and travel and housing costs for neighbor island participants, were fully funded by the (P3I).

For more information visit the .

University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ student journalists earned top honors for reporting on some of Hawaiʻi’s most pressing issues at the 2025 Society of Professional Journalists Hawaiʻi Chapter Excellence in Journalism Awards.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ students received all 24 awards across eight student categories, with work examining federal research funding, Native Hawaiian programs, agriculture, immigration, local sports and other community issues. The awards were presented July 29 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi.

“From in-depth coverage of the federal research funding environment to striking photos of shark diving expeditions, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ journalism students continue to document the life and communities of Honolulu,” said Journalism Program Director John Temple. “Journalism at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ has never been more vital.”

First-place winners

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ students earned first place in all eight student categories:

• Alani Calderon, Student Investigative Journalism in Any Media
• Laurel Galvin, Student Breaking News in Any Media
• Malia Manuel, Student Feature Journalism in Any Media
• Yuzu Martin, Student Sports Journalism in Any Media
• Jordan Kala‘waia Nunies, Student Journalism Featuring Video
• Gabriela Cervantes, Student Journalism Featuring Photography
• Emma Caires, Student Journalism Featuring Audio
• Tia Lewis, Student Editorial/Opinion Writing

Students also earned every second- and third-place award. The winners included students taking journalism courses in the School of Communication and Information in the College of Social Sciences, along with students reporting and creating for Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s student newspaper.

The range of recognized work reflects the breadth of storytelling produced by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ students across written, audio and visual journalism.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ the for the complete list of winners and their award-winning work.

A surge of new funding is highlighting the critical mission of one of Hawaiʻi’s most significant digital archives. Multiple grants are flowing into the ’ (COH) in recognition of its vital work to preserve the history, voices and experiences of Maui communities.

Housed in the on the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa campus, COH is leveraging these resources to launch a series of Maui-based projects focused on recovery, cultural continuity and environmental history.

“Taken together, these four projects form a complementary portfolio that documents Maui’s people, places, environments and institutions during a critical period of transformation,” said COH Director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico. “They intersect through their shared reliance on oral history, commitment to community collaboration, dedication to cultural preservation and focus on creating accessible and sustainable historical resources. Collectively, they not only preserve the past but also contribute to Maui’s recovery, resilience and future generations’ understanding of their heritage.”

Four major initiatives

Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation—$250,000

• Project: “Lahaina Memories: Preserving Oral Histories Through Intergenerational Storytelling”

“Lahaina Memories” is a community-centered initiative designed to document and preserve the lived experiences, cultural knowledge and historical memory of Lahaina residents following the 2023 Maui wildfires. The project will produce up to 100 hours of recorded oral history interviews, including 40 hours conducted by COH and 60 hours led by trained educators, youth and community members.

National Endowment for the Humanities grant—$159,000

• Project: “Echoes of Wai (Water): Oral Histories from Maui”

“Echoes of Wai” seeks to document the voices and experiences of Maui residents through 30 oral history interviews. The project will conduct 20 interviews in West Maui, with a particular focus on Lahaina, where many residents were directly affected by the August 2023 wildfires. An additional 10 interviews will be conducted with residents of Central Maui, specifically within Nā Wai ʻEhā (The Four Great Waters), encompassing the districts of Wailuku, Waiehu, Waikapū and Waiheʻe.

American Council of Learned Societies Digital Justice grant—$100,000

• Project: “Nā Moʻolelo o Nā Wāhine: A Digital Justice Oral History Project Preserving Maui’s HerStories”

COH will expand its digital capacity by foregrounding the voices and experiences of women of color on Maui. Their leadership in education, labor, environmental stewardship and community life has shaped Hawaiʻi in profound yet often underrecognized ways. This project brings renewed attention to these narratives and deepens COH’s long-standing commitment to inclusive historical preservation.

National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Grant—$29,000

• Project: “Lahaina Jodo Mission Oral History Project”

The objective is to conduct oral histories that systematically capture the history, memories and lived experiences of temple elders and individuals who attended or lived at the Lahaina Jodo Mission. Through this partnership, COH will leverage community knowledge and preserve these stories for future generations. The information collected will support ongoing efforts to document the history of the Lahaina Jodo Mission as it rebuilds following the August 2023 Maui wildfires.

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Three years after the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, substantial steps forward have been made, but important gaps remain, according to a new report from the (ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO) released on August 11. Housing has stabilized for many affected families, with more households in permanent homes, and some able to return to their communities. But employment and incomes have moved little over the past year. The report presents findings from the Maui Recovery Survey, an ongoing survey of people who lived, worked, or owned a business in West Maui or Kula at the time of the disaster.

Key findings from the August 11 report:

• Displacement has declined modestly. The share of households no longer displaced rose modestly over the past year, and fewer are displaced from both their home and West Maui. Of those displaced from both their home and West Maui in early 2025, about one in six have returned to West Maui but not yet to their home. Displacement also continues to extend beyond the burn area, where the share displaced from their home but remaining in the same area has risen.
• Housing stability has continued to improve. Homeownership has recovered slightly from 38% to 42%. For some, relief programs met needs that predated the fires. About 60% of those who were unhoused or in informal arrangements before the disaster had a rental by 2025, and a further 20% by 2026. About two-thirds of fire-affected households now live in permanent housing, up from just over half in early 2025. Households are also moving far less than in the first two years, and among those still in temporary arrangements the share at the same address for more than a year has tripled to almost two-thirds. However, overall rates of temporary and unstable housing remain elevated.
• Rental costs have eased for smaller properties, but remain heightened for larger units. Median rent for studios and one-bedrooms has fallen to roughly its pre-fire level by May 2026. Rents for larger units have stayed broadly flat and well above pre-disaster levels. Overall, almost half of fire-affected renters now pay less than before the fires (largely because of rental assistance), but at the same time almost 40% pay more. The share of households receiving full or near-full rental assistance has been cut by more than half, from 37% in January 2025 to 15% in May 2026.
• Employment continues to be an area of limited progress. 42% of fire-affected people work full-time, unchanged from a year earlier and still well below the 62% who did so before the fires. Unemployment has fallen from 10% to 8%, but exits from the labor market through retirement or no longer seeking work have risen from 26% to 30%. Even among working-age people, more than one and a half times as many are out of the labor force as before the disaster. Among people employed in the visitor industry before the fires, about two-thirds still work in the sector, with little change over the last year.
• Poverty levels have risen since the wildfires, but some improvements are emerging. The share of households in poverty has declined modestly over the past year but remains markedly above pre-fire levels, and most households are still poorer than before. The share of households above but near the poverty threshold has increased the most after the wildfires, but it has also been on a downward trajectory in the last few months.
• Unmet needs have declined slightly, but assistance has fallen substantially. Financial assistance remains the most frequently reported need. FEMA assistance has been cut in half over the last year and a half. Other government assistance has also declined, and only half as many people now receive help from community organizations compared with the start of 2025. About half of fire-affected people received no assistance of any kind in May 2026, almost double the share a year earlier. Some of this decline may reflect households regaining stability, but the scale suggests assistance has likely also fallen for households who still need it.

With support from the , ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO will continue to monitor and analyze the progress of the recovery in its fourth year.

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ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s .

Three years after the 2023 Maui wildfires, residents are showing meaningful signs of recovery—but persistent food insecurity, housing instability, health concerns and weakening social support continue to place many families at risk. That is the central finding of a new community report released July 27 from the (MauiWES), led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi.

The report, “,” follows many of the same adults and children over time, allowing researchers to examine how their health and living conditions have changed since the disaster. The findings show that recovery is underway, but that progress remains uneven across Maui families.

MauiWES has conducted more than 4,000 appointments and screenings to more than 2,500 participants, providing residents with mental health assessments, blood pressure checks, lung function testing, blood testing, social needs screening, health information and referrals.

Key findings

• Employment among returning adults increased from 62.0% to 80.9%.
• Health insurance coverage increased from 85.1% to 90.5%.
• Participants living in temporary housing declined from 40.6% to 34.4%, while those who felt secure in their housing increased from 72.2% to 79.6%.
• Food insecurity remained widespread, affecting 44.9% of returning adults. The most severe level of food insecurity remained essentially unchanged at approximately 23%.
• High social support declined from 62.3% to 53.7%, suggesting growing recovery fatigue and strain on families and community networks.
• Nearly one in two adults continued to report depressive symptoms, approximately one in four screened with moderate-to-severe anxiety and nearly one in three reported post-traumatic stress symptoms.

“These findings show that Maui’s recovery is moving forward, with real progress in employment, insurance coverage and housing stability,” said Ruben Juarez, co-director of MauiWES and –HMSA Distinguished Professor of Health Economics. “The opportunity now is to build on that progress by connecting housing, food, healthcare and social support so that every family has the foundation needed to recover and thrive.”

The report identifies four closely connected foundations of long-term health recovery:

• Food and income security
• Stable and secure housing
• Access to healthcare and follow-up
• Strong family and community support

Researchers found that residents facing food insecurity, housing insecurity or limited social support consistently experienced greater emotional distress. For example, half of adults who felt insecure in their housing reported moderate-to-severe post-traumatic stress symptoms, compared with about one-quarter of those who felt secure.

“The progress is real, and it should be recognized,” said Alika K. Maunakea, MauiWES co-director and professor. “But the biological, emotional and social consequences of a disaster do not disappear on the same timeline as debris removal or reconstruction. Long-term recovery requires continued health monitoring, early intervention and trusted pathways to care.”

Children remain a priority

The report highlights mixed findings among children and adolescents. Overall anxiety and mild-to-moderate depression declined, but severe depressive symptoms increased from 11.8% to 15.1%, and severe post-traumatic stress symptoms increased.

Children’s lung function screening results improved but remained concerning, according to researchers. Stage 1-range blood-pressure readings and obesity also increased, reinforcing the importance of continued pediatric screening, school-based mental-health support and family-centered services.

“Children may appear resilient while still carrying significant emotional and physical effects beneath the surface,” said Christopher Knightsbridge, a MauiWES mental-health therapist based in Lahaina. “Supporting children means supporting the entire family—including their housing, food security, daily routines and access to trusted care.”

From screening to sustained care

The report calls for Maui’s recovery to move from separate emergency programs toward a coordinated health-recovery system connecting healthcare, behavioral health, housing assistance, food programs, schools, insurance enrollment and trusted community organizations.

“Screening cannot end with a result on paper,” Juarez said. “Every concerning result should become a supported pathway to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Families should not be left to navigate a complicated recovery system on their own.”

MauiWES is a community-based partnership involving ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ researchers, local healthcare providers, grassroots organizations and recovery partners across Maui.

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See more ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News stories on MauiWES. For more on MauiWES and information on resources, .

What is the most important trait of a journalist? It’s helpful to be a strong communicator. But ask editors and newsroom leaders what professional strengths are highly valued, and the answers include tenacity, curiosity and, perhaps foremost, someone with high ethical standards who is meticulous about fact-checking.

In May 2024, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser found someone who fit the bill. Victoria Budiono, a ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ double major in and , was hired as a reporter only a year after graduation. That’s partly because the now 23-year-old alumna held multiple internships and freelance opportunities while enrolled at the .

“We couldn’t be prouder of Victoria, or more grateful to ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ, for preparing one promising student after another for our annual winter and summer internships,” said Dan Nakaso, Star-Advertiser capitol bureau chief. “Victoria quickly earned a reputation as a promising, smart, curious and respectful journalist who understood the importance of double- and triple-checking facts. Now she’s a general assignment reporter covering personal tragedies, triumphs and everything in between.”

Budiono grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia, and came to ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ after working on school newsletters and magazines from elementary through high school.

“I’ve always loved writing, talking to people and hearing their stories,” she said. “Through reporting, I saw how these stories could bring attention to issues that often went unnoticed, especially in Indonesia, where many topics are considered taboo, and people are often taught not to air their ‘dirty laundry.’”

Her passion for journalism grew throughout her three years at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ and beyond through multiple learning experiences at news organizations and a nonprofit, including:

• A semester-long internship at Hawaiʻi Business Magazine, during which she contributed to a “My Jobs” series on people with unusual careers. She later returned as a freelance writer, producing feature stories that earned her a Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Hawaiʻi Chapter award.
• Freelancing at Honolulu Magazine and its sister company, Frolic Hawaiʻi, where she wrote articles and did social media posts for the food and lifestyle website.
• A five-month internship at the Aloha Harvest marketing/communications department, where she helped to write reports, update mailing lists and produce a newsletter for the food rescue nonprofit.
• Working at Honolulu Civil Beat through an SPJ summer internship, specializing in general reporting assignments.
• A five-month internship with the ³§³Ù²¹°ù-´¡»å±¹±ð°ù³Ù¾±²õ±ð°ù’s Capitol Bureau, which transitioned into a full-time job as a general assignment reporter once the legislative session ended.

Budiono said she enjoys the eclectic nature of her work.

“Because I don’t cover a single beat, I am constantly learning about new topics and meeting people from different backgrounds,” she said. “On any given day, I might be reporting on government issues, housing, insurance, education or community events—subjects I knew very little about beforehand.”

Read more about Budiono’s journalism journey on the .

For decades, Professor Emerita Mary Tiles shaped the minds of students at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Today, her philanthropic commitment to the university continues to impact the campus community. In recognition of her generosity and lifelong dedication to cross-disciplinary education, the (CSS) recently named its sustainability teaching honor the Mary Tiles Sustainability Teaching Award.

This year’s recipient is Felix Mantz, an assistant professor with the . His work closely aligns with Tiles’s vision of bridging the humanities and social sciences to solve modern global issues.

“This recognition means a great deal to me,” Mantz said. “My teaching and research are based on a commitment to challenge unjust systems of power. By looking at the myriad ways in which the global political economy, planetary environmental crises and colonial structures of power are entangled, I hope to inspire students to help recover, rebuild and defend a world in which many worlds fit.”

In her nomination of Mantz for the award, CSS senior sustainability advisor Aya H. Kimura said students have given positive reviews of his teaching and praised the impact he has had on them.

“Even outside of the classroom, Felix has been a huge support in mentoring me for my own research regarding food security,” said student India Buchanan. “Through teaching and mentoring, he has become my main resource for environmental justice related issues.”

More on Mary Tiles

A former chair of the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa until her retirement in 2009, Tiles’s leadership in this role contributed to strengthening the department’s focus on interdisciplinary approaches, building on her own expertise in epistemology (the study and theory of knowledge) and the philosophy of science. Her academic work heavily explored the history and philosophy of science and technology. Tiles joined the department in 1989 after teaching at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and at Swarthmore College.

CSS Dean Denise Konan noted her close personal relationship with the professor emerita and her impact as a benefactor and scholar.

“I have had the distinct privilege of calling Mary a dear friend and colleague for many years,” Konan said. “Her brilliant mind and unwavering commitment to cross-disciplinary education have left an indelible mark on ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. It is incredibly moving to see her legacy honored through an award that celebrates the very kind of innovative teaching she has always championed.”

Read the entire story by Simplicio Paragas on the .

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate candidate Ernest Bethe IV has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship for the 2026–27 academic year. After completing his master of degree from the this August, Bethe will embark on a 10-month research initiative in Ecuador. Based in Puerto Ayora—the fastest-growing town in the Galápagos Islands—he will investigate how overlooked urban spaces can be leveraged for ecological resilience (ability of ecosystems to adapt to environmental change).

Rethinking ‘informal’ green spaces

As tourism and development exert heavy pressure on the limited land resources of island ecosystems, Bethe’s research will look at cost-effective frameworks for sustainable growth. His project will focus on “informal green spaces”—such as vacant lots, roadside vegetation and unmanaged patches of land—and will examine their potential to:

• Support vital habitats for native bird species.
• Reduce localized flooding and mitigate the urban heat island effect (where built-up areas trap more heat than natural surroundings).
• Develop sustainable growth that balances tourism and development needs with limited land resources.

In Ecuador, Bethe will be hosted by the Charles Darwin Foundation, with a secondary academic affiliation at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.

A model for island cities

The upcoming fieldwork builds directly on Bethe’s capstone project at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa, which focused on ecological urban design. A core outcome of his Fulbright project will be a bilingual planning toolkit designed for local officials and community stakeholders in Ecuador. However, the implications of his work extend far beyond the Galápagos.

“Islands everywhere are dealing with the same issue: how do you grow without paving over the very thing that makes the place worth living in?” said Bethe. “If we can highlight how the green spaces we usually overlook are actually cooling our streets, soaking up stormwater, and giving our native birds somewhere to land, that’s a low-cost tool that any island city—including Honolulu—can put to work.”

Ashok Das, urban and regional planning professor and department chair, said, “Ernest’s winning the Fulbright award is a matter of great pride for our department, college and university. It is a testimony to his ability to apply multiple concepts in creative ways to advance a core mission of urban planning—sustainable development.”

“It also underscores his commitment to making vulnerable island communities more resilient. Having grown up in Indonesia and studied in Hawaiʻi have definitely shaped his worldview. He is multilingual, loves experiencing new cultures and thrives in multicultural settings. He will be a wonderful ambassador of the Fulbright program and ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa.”

The is administered by the U.S. Department of State and is one of the nation’s most prestigious international exchange initiatives. It aims to expand perspectives through academic and cultural exchange in partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide.

Owning a home remains out of reach for many Americans, but a new analysis from the (ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO) suggests the housing affordability crisis may have reached its peak.

The analysis by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO Professor Byron Gangnes finds that housing affordability deteriorated sharply across the country beginning in 2021 as home prices surged and mortgage interest rates climbed. While affordability has improved modestly over the past two years because of rising incomes, slower home price growth and slightly lower mortgage rates, many housing markets remain unaffordable—especially Honolulu.

Using a measure based on what a median-income household can reasonably afford while spending no more than 30% of its income on housing costs, the analysis found Honolulu to be among the nation’s least affordable housing markets. In 2024, the median home price in Honolulu was about twice what a median-income household could afford.

Comparing Hawaiʻi to other U.S. areas

The report also found that cities once considered relatively affordable, including Charlotte, Atlanta and Dallas, have seen steep declines in affordability since the pandemic because home prices have risen much faster than incomes.

Nationally, affordability has improved since its recent low point as wage growth has helped households keep pace with housing costs and mortgage rates have eased from their highs. Even so, the report said many moderate-income families, particularly those earning below the median income, continue to face significant barriers to homeownership.

Gangnes noted that affordability can continue to improve over time as incomes rise and borrowing costs decline, but said policy changes will also be needed. The report points to strategies such as increasing housing construction, streamlining permitting, encouraging smaller homes and expanding assistance with down payments and mortgage costs to help make homeownership more attainable.

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ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

Whether you recognize his voice from Spectrum Sports broadcasts, his face from local television newscasts, or his name from the award-winning production company RKT Media, Ryan Kalei Tsuji seems to be everywhere. But before he was an Emmy-winning CEO, a protocol officer for the governor, or the owner of a booming cocktail bar, Tsuji’s dynamic journey began at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹.

Growing up as a sports fan in Hilo, Tsuji wanted to be a TV reporter and always dreamed of attending ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ. Driven by this passion, he earned bachelor’s degrees in communications and political science in 2007, followed by a master’s degree in public administration in 2009. During his time at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, he also worked his way up from a manager to an assistant coach for the nationally ranked Rainbow Wahine volleyball team under legendary coach Dave Shoji.

“I was like Van Wilder, I was at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ for eight years getting all these different degrees because ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ was paying for it,” said Tsuji. “It was an opportunity for me to just really be a part of the University of Hawaiʻi system and I just loved my experience and time there.”

Tsuji parlayed his education into a multi-faceted career. He launched the video production company RKT Media in 2016, co-hosts the interactive program Spotlight Now, and has been recognized with multiple honors, including being named to Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40. In 2022, he opened The Lei Stand, a bar and lounge, in Chinatown. Now located in WaikÄ«kÄ«, The Lei Stand will be expanding to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Celebrating alumni entrepreneurship

The Lei Stand is one of nearly 40 vendors confirmed for the 5th Annual ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Alumni Makers’ Market on Wednesday, July 29, at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The event is dedicated to showcasing food, drinks and products from alumni-led businesses. .

“It’s a great way to reconnect with former alumni, but also an opportunity to just really be proud of where we came from and all the talent that stayed here in Hawaiʻi and is giving back to the community,” Tsuji said.

Presented by the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Office of Alumni Relations in partnership with the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Alumni Association, a portion of the proceeds will go toward addressing current ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ student needs statewide. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, email .

A new international study co-authored by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher found that drifting devices used by the global tuna fishing industry are entering marine protected areas around the world, creating potential risks for wildlife and sensitive ocean habitats.

The study, , analyzed publicly available data on drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs)—floating rafts equipped with GPS technology that help commercial fishing fleets locate tuna. Researchers estimated the devices have likely drifted through more than half of the world’s marine protected areas by total area.

The findings are especially relevant for Hawaiʻi and the broader Pacific, where vast marine protected areas coexist with some of the world’s busiest tuna fishing grounds. Researchers found hotspots for dFAD interactions in the central Pacific, western Indian Ocean and Caribbean. They also documented at least 6,300 strandings of the devices in 174 protected areas across 53 maritime jurisdictions.

When these floating structures wash ashore or become trapped on reefs, they can damage coral, contribute to plastic pollution and entangle marine animals such as sea turtles and sharks. The study identified nearly 500 at-risk species living within protected areas where dFAD strandings have been observed.

John Lynham, a professor in the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa and in the and a study co-author, said the research highlights an unintended consequence of modern tuna fishing technology.

“Marine protected areas are designed to safeguard ocean ecosystems, but drifting fishing devices do not recognize those boundaries,” Lynham said. “Our findings show there is an opportunity for the fishing industry, governments and conservation groups to work together on practical solutions that better protect these important places.”

The findings come as the future of marine protected areas has drawn renewed attention in the U.S. following President Donald Trump’s decision to lift restrictions on commercial fishing in some marine national monuments. The study itself focuses on the broader issue of drifting fishing devices crossing protected boundaries regardless of whether fishing is allowed inside those areas.

The researchers emphasized that while the fishing industry has made progress by developing less harmful and more biodegradable devices, additional steps are needed. They recommend stronger regulations, greater transparency in tracking the devices and better systems to retrieve them before they become marine debris. The study also found that the burden of removing stranded devices often falls on local communities and marine managers, including those in small island nations that may not benefit economically from the fisheries responsible for the equipment.

This article by Native Hawaiian Initiative Alakaʻi (coordinator) at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Kamakanaokealoha Aquino was first published in .

A new graduate certificate in will be offered at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. A partnership between the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Social Sciences and the KamakakÅ«okalani Center for Hawaiian Studies in the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, this graduate-level certificate offers students and professionals an in-depth understanding of Indigenous Peoples, processes, and practices to enrich urban and regional planning.

Through planning and several consultations over the past 2 years, Priyam Das, a professor in urban and regional planning, and Konia Freitas, a specialist in Hawaiian studies, developed a program that will prepare students to engage respectfully with Indigenous worldviews, knowledge systems, and methodologies; to apply Indigenous and Hawaiian-informed approaches to land use, sustainability, housing, and community development; and to center planning practices around core values such as pilina, kuleana, and aloha, with a focus on ethics, equity, and inclusion.

Students and professional planners will be equipped with culturally grounded tools to navigate complex land-use, social, and environmental challenges. This certificate requires the completion of six courses: one required course in the foundations of Indigenous planning; one capstone course on an individual project of analysis, plan preparation, policy, and program evaluation; and selection of four elective courses from planning, Hawaiian studies, geography, law, natural resource management, political science, or Pacific Island Studies.

This new graduate certificate is the latest collaboration between the urban and regional planning and Hawaiian studies departments, which began in 2017, when both departments signed a memorandum of agreement allowing urban and regional planning graduate students to enroll in designated Hawaiian studies courses with prerequisites waived.

Then, in Fall 2022, a bachelor’s-to-master’s degree pathway was established. Students can pursue a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian studies through a master’s degree in urban and regional planning within a shorter timeframe of 5 years by double-counting up to three courses at the undergraduate tuition rate. Students are able to save money and time to enter the workforce.

These programs will help build capacity in the planning workforce in Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific that centers Indigenous values, concepts, and methodologies in the field of planning.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will host a special public lecture by renowned minister and scholar Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.: “Moral Courage and Nonviolent Transformation.”

, sponsored by Sokka Gakai International–USA and the Tony Group Foundation, is free and open to the community. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, in the Architecture Auditorium on the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa campus. .

Interfaith dialogue, nonviolent conflict resolution

Carter, who served as the dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel and a professor of religion at Morehouse College, will retire on June 30. His work has spanned decades, focusing on the intersection of religion, ethics and nonviolence.

At Morehouse, Carter founded the Gandhi King Ikeda Institute for Ethics and Reconciliation, which facilitates interfaith dialogue; nonviolent conflict resolution based on the philosophies of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Buddhist peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda; and the International Hall of Honor, a gallery featuring more than 300 portraits of global leaders dedicated to civil and human rights. He is also an acclaimed author, with works including A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher and Global Ethical Options: In the Tradition of Gandhi, King, and Ikeda.

“It is an honor for us to welcome Dr. Carter to the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa campus at the conclusion of his storied 40-plus year career in teaching, mentoring and global engagement,” said incoming ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Chancellor and interim Provost Vassilis. L. Syrmos. “His lifelong commitment to foster global peace education and human rights is truly remarkable.”

Conversation: nonviolent transformation, moral courage of leadership

Following Carter’s presentation, the event will transition to a panel discussion moderated by Maya Soetoro of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace. The panelists joining them are Brien Hallett of the Matsunaga Institute for Peace, Ann Hartman of East-West Center and Adin Strauss of Soka Gakkai International–USA. The conversation will touch upon the practical applications of nonviolent transformation in contemporary society and the role of moral courage in leadership.

After the discussion, Carter will be able to sign copies of A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher, which will be available for purchase at the event. Furthermore, those in attendance will have the chance to secure one of five complimentary copies through a special drawing provided by the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Bookstore.

The lecture is presented by the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa Office of the Chancellor in coordination with the Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, with support from the Matsunaga Institute for Peace, East-West Center, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa College of Education, United Nations Association–Honolulu Chapter and Peacebuilding LLC.

As the 2026 World Cup draws millions of spectators to stadiums across North America, the University of Hawaiʻi’s (NDPTC) is training emergency managers, first responders, transportation agencies and stadium operators on risk management and preparedness for extreme weather events.

NDPTC is a Congressionally-authorized, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funded national center which is part of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium. Based at the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa and funded by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Transportation, the training courses on “Extreme Weather Preparedness for World Cup Cities” was developed by subject matter experts in extreme weather, urban planning, transportation, emergency managers and stadium operations in U.S. host cities.

Managing potential extreme weather threats

The training focuses on assessing and mitigating risks associated with extreme heat, lightning, tornadoes, flash flooding and wildfire smoke. Participants learn to use publicly available data, planning tools and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve understanding of extreme weather risk and prioritize actions to increase safety and security for large-scale events.

“Large public events require organizations to prepare for hazards that can change rapidly and affect transportation systems, critical infrastructure and public safety,” said Karl Kim, professor of urban and regional planning in the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa and founding executive director of NDPTC. “Our role is to equip planners and decision-makers with practical tools and evidence-based strategies so they can anticipate risks and respond effectively when conditions change.”

The work involves downscaling climate and extreme weather models to the specific times and locations for the games and identifying protective actions to reduce harm to spectators and those participating in the World Cup. With teams and fans coming from different countries, there are many challenges with communications and coordination. NDPTC uses AI to support readiness and for different applications in urban planning and disaster management. Kim said that since many people are using AI, it is important to incorporate these tools into the work on risk management.

Extending NDPTC‘s impact beyond the tournament

The effort builds on NDPTC‘s broader mission of strengthening disaster resilience nationwide. Working with partners through the Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center and Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety Improvements program, the center develops risk assessment tools and provides training for emergency managers, first responders and community leaders across the country.

The World Cup training is updated regularly as guidance, operational requirements and weather conditions evolve. The curriculum also contains lessons learned from NDPTC‘s broader work in disaster preparedness and risk management. Since its establishment, the congressionally authorized center has trained more than 75,000 first responders and emergency managers nationwide, reinforcing ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ’s role as a leader in disaster preparedness education and applied research.

The World Cup weather preparedness and latest recording of the training on NDPTC’s are available for the public.