Hawaiʻi‘s rapidly aging population faces a higher cost of meeting basic needs, with housing costs driving much of the difference compared with the rest of the nation, according to a new (ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO) analysis.

In a new piece published October 7, James Mak, professor emeritus of economics and a ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO fellow, uses the 2025 to estimate the minimum income older adults need to live independently without public or private subsidies. The Elder Index estimates basic expenses for older households but does not include costs such as dining out, vacations, savings, gifts, entertainment or long-term care.

The analysis found that for a couple in good health who rents, the estimated monthly budget is $4,585 in Hawaiʻi, compared with $3,918 nationally. For a single renter, the estimated monthly budget is $3,436, compared with $2,836 nationally.

Housing accounts for much of the difference. For older adults who rent or still have a mortgage, housing is the largest monthly expense, while health care is the largest expense for couples who have paid off their mortgages.

Basic needs differences among counties

The analysis also found significant differences among Hawaiʻi‘s counties. Honolulu County was generally the least affordable for older adults, while Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi counties were more affordable. For example, a single renter in Honolulu County would need an estimated $3,563 per month to meet basic needs, compared with $3,106 in Kauaʻi County and $3,172 in Hawaiʻi County.

Hawaiʻi‘s aging population adds urgency to the issue. In 2024, more than 310,000 Hawaiʻi residents were 65 or older, representing 21.5% of the state’s population. A decade ago, it was only 16.2%. By 2035, one in four Hawaiʻi residents is expected to be 65 or older.

Health care a growing concern

Mak also highlighted health care as a growing concern as the state’s population of adults age 85 and older increases. Older adults in poorer health face substantially higher health care costs, and the state already faces a shortage of physicians.

Mak concludes that addressing housing affordability and health care access would benefit not only older adults but Hawaiʻi residents more broadly.

.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO is housed in .

The findings and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or official positions of ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ, or any funding or supporting organization.

Three University of Hawaiʻi students are leveraging their ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ education to empower local communities thousands of miles away in the Marshall Islands, bringing technology, mapping and biocultural restoration to the Pacific nation.

Through the Transcending Barriers to Success in Economics (TBSE) program—a partnership between and ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s and supported by a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation—students Zachary Gibson, Hedsey Rowa and Jason Nichols gathered critical data, updated mapping infrastructure and supported youth programs on the island of Ebeye for a month in summer 2026.

The connection between the students grew out of Kapiʻolani CC. Rowa, who was born in Ebeye and grew up in Kosrae with family ties across Micronesia, introduced Gibson to the region after meeting in a lab and taking summer ethnic studies classes together. Nichols, a Kapiʻolani CC alumnus now attending ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa, joined after conducting research with TBSE program coordinator Miku Lenentine.

Their recent work builds on foundational trips from prior years. During his first visit in 2025, Gibson spent more than three weeks conducting 14 interviews with local residents to understand community needs, infrastructure limits and the feasibility of implementing telehealth services. For Rowa, returning to the Marshall Islands as an academic researcher has been both challenging and deeply meaningful.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I’m just gonna make it my whole life for me just to keep going back,” Rowa said. “It’s nice to get back to the islands.”

For Nichols, making his first journey to Ebeye after months of preparation was a transformative experience that began as soon as the team crossed Kwajalein Atoll to reach Ebeye.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to go for me,” Nichols said. “Despite having known that I was going to go for a while and planning, it’s like when you first step foot there, it really hits you how unique and special of a place it is.”

Empowering youth through tech and tradition

During their trip, the team volunteered at Spartan Camp, a summer program bringing top-performing and at-risk students together to learn environmental sciences, artificial intelligence, drone operations and traditional skills such as canoe building, sailing and net fishing.

To improve digital navigation on the island, the team partnered with NGO Pacific Allies to equip local youth with 360-degree cameras. Together, they walked the streets to record GPS coordinates and upload interactive mapping data to Google Street View and Organic Maps. Because the Marshall Islands is one of the least visited countries in the world, accurate street-level mapping helps visiting scholars, emergency response teams and local government officials navigate the area effectively.

The students presented their data to local government officials, school principals, the commissioner of education and the emergency operations command center. Additionally, on the private islet of Nene, the team conducted forest mapping, trail routing and drone documentation alongside landowners and local youth.

“When we’re over there and we’re able to provide the need that they’re asking for, it does feel like a deep sense of gratitude, but also it feels honoring to the people who taught us—the teachers before,” Gibson said.

Fostering future leaders

Faculty mentors said the hands-on experience demonstrates the true potential of collaborative partnerships.

“Seeing our students take the skills and ʻāina-based economic frameworks learned in Hawaiʻi and apply them directly to community-identified needs in the Marshall Islands shows the profound impact of place-based education,” Lenentine said. “Zachary, Hedsey and Jason embody the spirit of reciprocal learning and leadership that we hope to foster across the Pacific.”

“This initiative demonstrates the immense power of the pathway between ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa and Kapiʻolani Community College,” said Denise Eby Konan, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa interim provost and co-principal investigator on the NSF grant. “By empowering our students to bridge academic research with meaningful community engagement, we are not only expanding educational access across our campuses, but also deepening our commitment to serving Indigenous and Pacific communities throughout the region.”

Read the entire story on the .

The ranked in nearly 20 academic subjects in the released in September 2026, including four subjects that placed among the top 16 in the country and another six placed in the nation’s top 27.

Oceanography ranked No. 4 in the U.S. and No. 6 globally, while atmospheric science ranked No. 9 in the U.S. and No. 15 worldwide. Geography tied for No. 14 in the U.S. and No. 51–75 tier in the world, and hospitality and tourism management ranked No. 16 in the U.S. and No. 43 globally.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa also ranked across a broad range of science, engineering, social science and other academic and research fields. In the U.S., public administration tied for No. 21, civil engineering tied for No. 23, Earth sciences tied for No. 24, agricultural sciences tied for No. 26 and ecology and food science and technology tied for No. 27. Public administration, Earth sciences and ecology placed in the No. 76–100 tier globally, civil engineering and agricultural sciences ranked in the No. 151–200 tier worldwide, and food science and technology placed in the No. 301–400 tier globally.

The rankings were released by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy and are considered one of the most comprehensive and objective assessments of university performance by discipline.

“Rankings like these reflect the breadth and quality of the work being done by our faculty and students at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa,” Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “Their important contributions through research, teaching and innovation across a wide range of disciplines, further strengthens our place as Hawaiʻi’s flagship campus—where access meets excellence.”

Additional ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa subjects recognized in the 2026 rankings include:

• Water resources: Tied No. 44 U.S., No. 201–300 world
• Environmental science and engineering: Tied No. 56 U.S., No. 301–400 world
• Political science: Tied No. 69 U.S., No. 201–300 world
• Sociology: Tied No. 69 U.S., No. 201–300 world
• Biological sciences: Tied No. 75 U.S., No. 301–400 world
• Education: Tied No. 79 U.S., No. 201–300 world
• Management: Tied No. 110 U.S., No. 401–500 world

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa was evaluated alongside approximately 2,000 universities from nearly 100 countries and regions, selected from a global pool of more than 25,000 institutions. The rankings are based on measures such as world-class faculty, world-class research output, high-quality research, research impact and international collaboration.

.

Announced on August 15, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy ranked ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa in the No. 95—111 tier in the U.S. and No. 401—500 tier worldwide in the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Recent rankings

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2027 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges ranking, September 22, 2026
• 2027 The Princeton Review “The Best 392 Colleges” guide, August 19, 2026
• 2026–27 Global University Visibility Rankings, July 23, 2026
• 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, June 17, 2026
• 2026–27 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, June 16, 2026

For more information, visit the .

Two University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ graduate students received the 2025–26 Ping Yip and Jong Hung Chan Award, recognizing their commitment to community, integrity and creating greater harmony through their work and actions.

The award, coordinated by the , recognizes graduate students who exemplify moral character, strength and integrity through personal or public behavior. With a strong pool of applicants, two recipients were selected: Alondra Reyes and Ernest Bethe IV. Each received a $2,500 award.

Social contexts, racial disparities

Reyes, a PhD student, was selected during her first semester at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. Her research examines how social contexts contribute to racial disparities, including the ways media portrayals can reinforce social inequalities. She also works with community leaders through Mālama I Nā Ahupuaʻa, learning about traditional land preservation and restoration.

“Receiving this award has strengthened my mission as a first-generation PhD student to bridge research with community action, providing the support I need to continue grounding my work in the pursuit of true harmony for the people of Hawaʻi and beyond,” Reyes said.

Urban environments, reconnecting people with nature

Bethe graduated from the master of program in August. His work focused on creating urban environments that reconnect people with nature and each other, including through pollinator-friendly design, informal green spaces and food forests. His capstone explored how Honolulu could become a more multispecies city, where people have more opportunities to encounter and coexist with urban wildlife.

He also worked with the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice to help develop safe walking routes to school in Waipahu. Bethe said the award reminded him that people often discover their capacity to act when others need help.

“I think everyone has this in them. We beat ourselves up for the things we don’t do, but I’d bet most of us do the right thing in a crisis,” Bethe said.

Bethe will embark on a 10-month research initiative in Ecuador through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

The Ping Yip and Jong Hung Chan Award is open to any currently enrolled, full-time graduate student at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, regardless of field of study. Students may self-nominate through the STAR Scholarship portal. The deadline to apply for the 2026–27 award is October 15.

The Department of Psychology and Department of Urban and Regional Planning are housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s .

The health consequences of catastrophic wildfires that burn through towns and cities may extend far beyond the period when flames are extinguished and smoke disappears, according to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s (MauiWES).

A study of 1,400 Maui adults 6–18 months after the August 2023 wildfires found substantially elevated concentrations of several metals in participants’ urine, and also discovered that greater amounts of metals accumulated in the body was associated with abnormal lung function. Researchers measured 24 metals while assessing pulmonary function through standardized breathing tests at the same visit. The findings were .

Compared with U.S. biomonitoring data, Maui participants had markedly higher concentrations of several metals, including antimony at nearly 40 times, manganese at 3.8 times, barium at 2.3 times and arsenic at 2.2 times U.S. reference values. Across three complementary statistical approaches, higher combined metal exposure was associated with several measures of abnormal lung function. Arsenic, cadmium, copper and antimony were among the metals that contributed most strongly to those patterns.

The researchers emphasize, however, that the elevated metal burden likely reflects a complex mixture of exposures rather than a single source. Some exposures may have existed before the wildfire because of Hawaiʻi’s geology, historic agricultural and industrial land use, diet and other environmental factors. The disaster may then have introduced new contaminants while also disturbing and remobilizing pollutants already present in soil, dust and the built environment.

Because pre-fire biomonitoring data are not available, the current study cannot determine precisely how much of the measured burden came directly from the wildfire versus chronic, persistent or other ongoing exposures. Longitudinal biomonitoring and environmental sampling will be critical to disentangling those pathways.

“The biggest message is that exposure may not end when the smoke clears,” said Ruben Juarez, MauiWES co-director and –HMSA Distinguished Endowed Professor of Health Economics at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa. “What we are likely seeing is a complex combination of exposures—some that may have been present for years and others that may have been generated or remobilized by the wildfire. When a disaster burns through a community, it can fundamentally change how contaminants move through the environment. The next scientific challenge is to disentangle those sources and understand which exposures persist, where they come from and what they mean for long-term health.”

A different kind of wildfire

Much of what is known about wildfire health effects comes from studying smoke generated by burning vegetation. But fires such as those that devastated Lahaina represent a fundamentally different type of disaster.

Wildland-urban interface fires can burn homes, vehicles, electronics, treated lumber, electrical systems and other infrastructure, generating complex mixtures of contaminants while simultaneously disturbing pollutants accumulated in soil from earlier agricultural, industrial or other land uses. Those materials may remain in ash, settled dust, soil and debris or be redistributed across the landscape during cleanup and recovery. Potential pathways of continued exposure include resuspended fine particles, contact with contaminated dust and debris and indirect environmental exposure even after visible smoke has dissipated.

“We have traditionally thought about wildfire exposure primarily through the lens of smoke,” said Alika Maunakea, MauiWES co-director and professor at the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa . “But when an entire community burns, we are dealing with a much more complicated exposure environment. The biology is telling us that we need to understand not only what was in the air during the fire, but what was already present in the landscape, what the disaster may have mobilized, and what is actually getting into people’s bodies during the months and years that follow.”

Exposure was not confined to Lahaina

The study also identified substantial geographic differences in both metal exposure and pulmonary health across Maui.

Lahaina residents showed a distinct metal profile, including relatively elevated concentrations of arsenic and cadmium, while Wailuku/Kahului residents had the highest median concentrations of copper, iron and molybdenum. Kula and Kihei showed different metal profiles as well, underscoring that there was no single uniform exposure pattern across the island.

Pulmonary impairment also varied across Maui. Among interpretable breathing test results, Wailuku/Kahului exhibited some of the highest prevalence of abnormal lung-function measures, while Lahaina also showed substantial pulmonary impairment and Kula generally showed the lowest burden.

Those patterns suggest that the exposure landscape after a major disaster may be more complicated than simply comparing people inside and outside a burn zone. Researchers believe the measured metal mixtures may reflect overlapping contributions from wildfire-generated material, contaminants remobilized by the disaster, historically contaminated soils, local land use, geology and other ongoing environmental sources. Determining the relative contribution of each pathway is now a major focus of the research.

Implications far beyond Maui

The findings from Maui have implications beyond Hawaiʻi. As destructive fires increasingly reach developed communities, researchers say disaster-response systems may need to look beyond short-term measurements of smoke and particulate matter. Future responses could include longer-term environmental monitoring, human biomonitoring, respiratory surveillance and targeted assessment of soil, ash and settled dust, particularly in places with histories of agricultural or industrial contamination.

New NIH study will disentangle legacy and disaster-related exposures

The next phase of research will investigate the sources of the metal contaminants. In September 2026, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ announced a five-year, $3.6 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to investigate pollutants left behind by decades of agricultural and industrial activity in Hawaiʻi and examine whether wildfires and other disasters can remobilize those contaminants, creating new pathways of human exposure.

The project is led by Maunakea, Juarez and Alison Lee of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. It will follow approximately 1,000 Hawaiʻi residents over five years and combine environmental measurements, biological samples and cardiopulmonary assessments. The research will help distinguish persistent background exposures, legacy contamination and disaster-related exposures, while examining how those different sources contribute to heart and lung health over time.

Together, the studies shift the scientific question from simply “What did the wildfire release?” to a broader one: “How does a disaster transform an existing environmental contamination landscape and change what people are exposed to?”

Connecting participants with information, care

Researchers emphasized that the study is designed not only to document health effects, but also to connect participants with information and care. MauiWES participants receive access to their individual health results, opportunities to discuss those findings and referrals when screening identifies potential health concerns. The study will continue following families over time to understand how health changes during Maui’s recovery.

“We know these findings may be difficult for families who have already been through so much,” Juarez said. “Our responsibility is not simply to publish the science. It is to help people understand what we are finding, return information to the community, connect people with care when they need it, and continue learning alongside Maui as the community recovers.”

Resources for Maui residents

Research about the wildfires may raise health questions or bring back difficult memories. Maui residents can access the following resources:

• Current environmental conditions and advisories: The maintains a Maui Wildfire Environmental Monitoring Data Portal with current information on air, soil, ash and debris, coastal waters and other environmental monitoring.
• Medical and behavioral health resources: The provides medical, mental health and recovery resources, including materials in multiple languages.
• Emotional or crisis support: Hawaiʻi CARES 988 provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day. Call or text 988. Local counselors can assist with mental health, crisis and substance-use concerns.
• Help finding community services: Aloha United Way 211 connects Hawaiʻi residents with health care, housing, food, financial assistance, mental health services and other local resources. Dial 211 or visit the statewide resource directory.
• MauiWES participants: Participants can access individual health results through the MauiWES participant portal. Send questions about the study to mauiwes@hawaii.edu.

Hawaiʻi’s economy has slowed this year under the weight of war-driven oil prices and an unusually active storm season, including two hurricanes within three weeks, according to the ’s (ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO) quarter 3 forecast for 2026.

Real GDP growth will fall to about half a percent in 2026, from more than 3% last year, and payroll employment will edge lower. ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO expects gradual relief as energy prices ease and storm recovery proceeds, with growth and hiring firming in 2027 and 2028. An aging, shrinking population will keep job gains modest, and continued AI investment offers upside potential for incomes, although the extent remains uncertain.

“Overall, we expect 2027 to bring gradual economic improvement to the state as energy prices and storm effects recede, although the persistent Middle East conflict remains a primary risk, together with election-related policy uncertainty,” ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO wrote. “Slowly declining population will mean a tepid trend employment path, while AI adoption could provide a potential upside income surprise in the years ahead.”

Takeaways from the September 25 report:

• The U.S. economy continues to grow about 1.5–2%, supported by higher-income households benefiting from AI-related wealth gains and to some extent by the AI buildout. High fuel and other prices strain lower-income families. With core inflation above its 2% target, the Federal Reserve began to raise the federal funds interest rate at its September meeting. Long-term rates have already surged, pushing mortgage rates higher. Growth abroad remains soft, with Canada facing new U.S. tariffs, China growing at its slowest pace since the pandemic, and high oil prices weighing on many trading partners.
• Hawaiʻi tourism faced dual headwinds this year from surging fuel costs and a parade of storms. Hurricane Lowell’s September brush with Kauaʻi will cut that county’s arrivals by more than 6% for the year. Statewide visitor arrivals will decline just over half a percent for the year as a whole, while a sharp drop in reported length of stay will pull the average daily visitor census down more than 6%. Maui tourism continues to recover, and ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO expects modest statewide arrivals growth to resume in 2027 and 2028 as energy prices ease and storm effects fade.
• Hawaiʻi’s job growth has stalled. Maui is the only county that ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO expects to see net gains this year. Weak labor demand, rather than a shortage of workers, is the main story: job postings are down and the unemployment rate has edged up to a still-low 2.7%. Real wage gains have been modest and uneven across industries. Statewide payroll employment will contract slightly this year before a small 2027 rebound, and income growth will slow before recovering.
• Honolulu inflation reached 5.6% over the 12 months ending in July, driven by the energy price surge and continued shelter cost increases. ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO expects inflation to average 4.8% in 2026, easing to 3.3% in 2027 as these pressures fade.
• Construction remains a significant contributor to the state economy, supported by ongoing large federal military projects, the Honolulu Skyline rail project, the Kapālama port upgrade and private condominium development. Construction employment has flattened but should remain above 40,000 workers for some years to come, even as the public infrastructure cycle gradually passes its peak. Changes to federal law and a potential new local financing tool will support more housing development.
• Housing affordability remains strained even though prices have stayed largely flat this year. High mortgage rates—now about 7%—have pushed up monthly payments, and Hawaiʻi’s already-high condo fees could rise further under new federal funding rules. Rebuilding from this year’s storms adds near-term costs for the state and counties, particularly because of long lags in the release of federal recovery funds.

.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO 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.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa nearly $5.9 million through two grants to continue and expand the (MauiWES), Hawaiʻi’s largest and most comprehensive disaster health cohort.

The new funding from the (NIMHD) will allow researchers to continue following adults affected by the August 2023 Maui wildfires and expand the study to 800 children, creating an unprecedented opportunity to understand how a major disaster affects physical health, mental health, development and recovery over many years.

Together, the awards will extend MauiWES through 2031—eight years after the fires.

“These awards transform MauiWES from an emergency response into a long-term commitment to Maui,” said Ruben Juarez, –HMSA Distinguished Endowed Professor of Health Economics and co-principal investigator of MauiWES. “We began studying families within months of the fires. Now we can follow them for years to understand which health problems persist, who is recovering and what we can do to better protect communities after future disasters.”

MauiWES impact

MauiWES was launched following the August 8, 2023 wildfires and enrolled approximately 1,800 adults and 200 children from wildfire-affected communities, including Lahaina and Kula, during its first year. The study brings together health screenings and biological monitoring with information on environmental exposures, mental health, housing, displacement and economic recovery.

What began as an emergency response supported by the State of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi has now grown into a long-term, federally funded effort to understand the health consequences of the Maui wildfires.

MauiWES has already translated its early community investment into measurable scientific and health impact. Across three annual community reports—2024, 2025 and 2026—the study has documented persistent respiratory and mental health challenges, housing instability and barriers to care as families recover. Findings published in and have further documented the lasting health effects of the fires and the critical roles of displacement, economic disruption and social support in recovery.

To date, MauiWES has connected hundreds of participants to healthcare and mental health services, and has now provided more than 4,000 appointments and screenings to more than 2,500 residents, returning health information and referrals directly to the community.

Following Maui survivors through recovery

The first award, R33MD019793, The Maui Wildfire Exposure Cohort Study on Community Health and Resilience, provides approximately $2.2 million over three years to continue following roughly 1,000 adults affected by the wildfires through 2029.

Participants receive comprehensive health assessments that include lung function testing, blood pressure, mental health screening and biological samples. Researchers also track housing, employment, displacement and other measures of recovery. By following the same people over time, MauiWES can move beyond a snapshot of the disaster to answer a bigger question: How does health change as families rebuild their lives?

Expanding MauiWES to children

The second award, R01MD021757, Evaluating the Health and Developmental Impacts of Wildfire Exposure on Children, provides approximately $3.7 million over five years and extends the MauiWES program through 2031.

The project will expand MauiWES to 800 children (400 children affected by the wildfires and 400 unexposed children for comparison) and follow them over several years. Researchers will examine lung and cardiovascular health, mental health, environmental exposures, stress, cognitive development, school attendance and academic performance. Early findings show why long-term follow-up is important. Among approximately 200 children evaluated after the fires, MauiWES researchers found high levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety, probable PTSD, and evidence of airway obstruction.

“Children are especially important to follow because their lungs, brains and bodies are still developing,” said Alika Maunakea, professor at the and co-principal investigator of MauiWES. “By looking at environmental exposures, health, stress, and education together, we can better understand how the wildfire may shape their development as well as identify ways families, schools, and health systems can support their recovery.”

From Maui to a national model

A major strength of MauiWES is that researchers began collecting detailed health information and biological samples shortly after the disaster, creating an early baseline that can now be connected with years of follow-up. MauiWES is among the earliest cohorts established after a wildfire disaster to collect both biomedical samples and health screening data, providing important baseline information that can be compared with participants’ health trajectories over time.

With the new awards, MauiWES will combine long-term data from the participants, creating a comprehensive picture of how disaster affects people and families across generations. The goal is not only to understand what happened in Maui, but to turn those lessons into better health screening, clinical care, school support, disaster-response, and prevention-oriented strategies for communities in Hawaiʻi and across the country.

The MauiWES team emphasized that the study would not be possible without the thousands of Maui residents who have participated and the community organizations, health care providers and local leaders who have supported the effort since the fires.

Research reported in this release is supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers R33MD019793 and R01MD021757. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Read more about MauiWES on ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ News.

About 12,000 low-income households across Hawaiʻi rely on Housing Choice Vouchers, commonly known as Section 8, to help pay rent. But a new (ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO) report finds the program is facing growing financial pressure as rising rents make it increasingly expensive to help families.

Federal spending on Hawaiʻi’s tenant-based vouchers more than tripled from about $55 million in 2003 to approximately $170 million in 2024, which represents a 70% increase even after accounting for inflation. Yet the number of families receiving assistance has grown only modestly.

The reason is simple: Hawaiʻi rents have climbed dramatically.

Voucher households generally pay about 30% of their adjusted income toward rent and utilities, with the government covering much of the remaining cost. But as rents rise while many participants’ incomes remain relatively flat, taxpayers must cover a growing share of the cost just to maintain assistance for roughly the same number of families.

The stakes extend beyond the families currently receiving help. Only about one in five income-eligible households in Hawaiʻi receives a voucher, leaving thousands of others waiting for assistance that may not become available for years.

“As rents rise, more federal funding is needed just to maintain the program, making it harder to expand assistance to the thousands of Hawaiʻi families still waiting for help,” said lead author JoonYup Park, an assistant professor at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO and , who holds the Hawaiʻi Community Reinvestment Corporation Professorship in Affordable Housing.

The program is also becoming an increasingly important pathway out of homelessness. About one in five households newly admitted to the program was experiencing homelessness, compared with roughly one in 20 in the mid-2000s.

In addition, receiving a voucher does not automatically mean a family has housing. Households generally have 60 to 120 days to find a rental that meets program requirements and has a landlord willing to accept the voucher. If they cannot, they can lose the voucher and return to the bottom of the waiting list.

Potential solutions

The report points to housing construction as one possible solution. More apartments and other housing can help slow rent increases and create more affordable options for voucher holders, reducing the amount of government assistance needed for each household. Helping families increase their incomes could also reduce reliance on subsidies and eventually free vouchers for others waiting for help.

“This research shows that Hawaiʻi’s housing affordability challenge cannot be solved by rental assistance alone,” Park said. “We need to think about how housing policy, economic opportunity and the structure of public benefits can work together to give more families a realistic path toward long-term housing stability.”

.

ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵERO and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning is housed in ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa’s .

Investigating a hidden environmental health threat across Hawaiʻi—pollutants left behind by decades of agricultural and industrial activity, and whether wildfires and other disasters can bring those contaminants back into the environment and into people’s bodies—is the focus of a new University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai-led research project that received a five-year, $3.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The new study builds directly on the (MauiWES), ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ’s longitudinal health study (a health study that follows participants over time) established after the 2023 Maui wildfires, and will expand that work to understand how Hawaiʻi’s historical environmental contamination may be affecting communities today.

The highly competitive NIH R01 grant, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), will establish the Health and Environment Assessment Longitudinal (HEAL) cohort, following 1,000 Hawaiʻi residents over five years. It will be the first systematic investigation in Hawaiʻi of heart and lung health risks associated with these legacy pollutants, including arsenic, lead, dioxins and others related to “forever” chemicals.

The project, Impact of Legacy Pollutants on Cardiopulmonary Health Following Natural Disasters, is led by principal investigators Alika Maunakea, professor at the (JABSOM), Ruben Juarez, –HMSA Distinguished Endowed Professor of Health Economics at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Mānoa, and Alison Lee, a physician-scientist with ties to Hawaiʻi at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Hawaiʻi’s past may still be affecting health today

For generations, sugarcane shaped Hawaiʻi’s economy, communities and landscape. But that history also left behind contaminants that can remain in the environment for decades. Former agricultural areas may contain arsenic, lead, dioxins and other mixtures. Arsenic was historically used in pesticides and in canec, a sugarcane-based construction material once widely used in Hawaiʻi homes and buildings. The concern is not only what remains in the ground, but what happens when these hazards are spread by flood or wildfires.

The 2023 Maui wildfires burned homes, buildings and infrastructure in communities with a long agricultural history. Researchers want to understand whether intense fires can disturb contaminants that have remained in soil or older structures for decades, creating new pathways of human exposure.

“Hawaiʻi has environmental exposures that are deeply connected to our history, but we still know remarkably little about what they mean for health today,” Maunakea said. “MauiWES gave us an unprecedented window into what happens to health after a major wildfire. Now we can build on that foundation to ask a bigger question: Are pollutants left in our environment decades ago still affecting people today, and can disasters bring those risks back to the surface?”

MauiWES to a statewide environmental health study

The new cohort will build on the infrastructure, community partnerships and scientific foundation developed through MauiWES while expanding the research beyond wildfire exposure alone.

Over five years, researchers plan to enroll 1,000 people across four groups: people with little-known exposure to wildfire or legacy pollutants; residents near former sugarcane lands; people exposed to wildfire but with lower expected exposure to legacy pollutants; and people exposed to both wildfire and legacy pollutants.

Researchers will combine soil and water testing, biological samples, heart and lung assessments, community-engaged citizen science, and geographic mapping to answer important questions: What is in the environment, is it getting into people, and is it affecting their health? They will examine outcomes including lung function, blood pressure and inflammation.

“Wildfires can burn homes and infrastructure and disturb contaminants that have been sitting in our environment for generations,” Juarez said. “By connecting environmental samples with what we find in people’s bodies and their health, we can begin to understand that full chain of exposure. This can help us design approaches to mitigate such exposures and improve the health of our community.”

Finding Hawaiʻi’s hidden contamination with national implications

One major goal is to identify potential contamination hotspots near former sugarcane areas and determine whether people living near those areas have higher levels of pollutants in their soil, water or biological samples. Researchers will then examine whether those exposures are associated with poorer heart and lung health and whether legacy pollutants help explain some of the health effects associated with wildfire exposure.

“Most environmental health studies look at one exposure at a time,” Lee said. “But communities experience many exposures together. Hawaiʻi gives us an important opportunity to understand what happens when a major disaster occurs on top of decades of existing environmental contamination.”

The implications extend far beyond the islands. Across the U.S., wildfires are increasingly reaching communities where homes, vehicles, industrial materials and historical contamination can all become part of the disaster environment. The researchers hope the study can ultimately help Hawaiʻi identify where contamination remains, who may be most exposed and what can be done before the next disaster occurs—while providing a model for other communities facing similar risks nationwide.

The NIH R01 grant, funded by NIEHS, is under award number 1R01ES038296.

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.”

.

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.”

.

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.

.

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.

.

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