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

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

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

Congratulations to all our winners!

2026 糖心视频 M膩noa Awards winners

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Merle R. Kataoka-Yahiro, professor, nursing

• Lauren Prepose-Forsen, director, M膩noa Transfer Coordination Center

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

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

• Kate Sapigao, lead student mentor, GEAR UP M膩noa

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, .

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

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

Full circle

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

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

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

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

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

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

—By Tad Saiki

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

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

‘On our own terms’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Department of Mathematics is housed in 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 .

Visualizing a future where to survive rising tides has earned a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research team the 2026 Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Best Journal Article Award.

The team leveraged scientific data, studies and community participation to create architectural renderings that visualize how 奥补颈办ī办ī鈥檚 built environment can be modified to accommodate future flooding.

“By merging climate science with architectural design and integrating direct community feedback, we are creating forward-looking, actionable visions that will help coastal communities like Waikīkī successfully adapt to the growing realities of sea-level rise,” said Wendy Meguro, principal investigator and associate professor.

Selected for its “exceptional quality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the field,” was honored in April at the 2026 ARCC–EAAE International Conference at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia.

Engaging stakeholders

The research engaged more than 1,000 individuals, including residents, urban planners, government employees and local business owners. Presentations of these strategies have drawn hundreds of participants from recreation, hotel and restaurant industries. The findings are already being utilized by the City and County of Honolulu, the State of Hawaiʻi and the Honolulu Climate Change Commission to guide adaptation policies.

“This recognition underscores the immense value of community-driven design in climate resilience,” said research associate Josephine Briones. “Our process shows that when you actively listen to stakeholders and combine their local insights with rigorous scientific evidence, the resulting adaptation strategies become much more practical, impactful and relevant.”

Authored by Meguro, Briones, German “Gerry” Failano and Charles “Chip” Fletcher, the project represents a partnership between the , and . It was funded by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, National Sea Grant and the Office of Naval Research.

University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa Associate Professor Denise Nelson-Hurwitz has been named the 2026 recipient of the . Nelson-Hurwitz was honored at the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon in March in Arlington, Virginia.

A faculty member in the at the , she was recognized for her outstanding contributions to undergraduate public health education, including innovation in teaching, leadership in program development and student engagement.

“It’s wonderful to see the work being done by 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’蝉 undergraduate program and students highlighted in this way and a tremendous honor to have been nominated by my students and peers,” Nelson-Hurwitz said.

Expanding access, supporting success

An 糖心视频 alumna and first-generation college graduate, Nelson-Hurwitz is deeply rooted in her community. She has focused her career on expanding access to higher education and supporting student success by building inclusive pathways into public health, and increasing diversity in the field. She co-developed and co-led the Community Health Scholars program, which engages diverse high school students in immersive research and practice experiences.

For more than a decade, she served as chair of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’蝉 , overseeing curriculum development, course sequencing and program assessment. She also helped create a public health minor, expanding access for students across disciplines.

Students praised Nelson-Hurwitz for her supportive teaching, mentorship and dedication to preparing future public health professionals. She is known for going above and beyond inside and outside the classroom.

“Winning this national award from the ASPPH highlights Denise Nelson-Hurwitz驶s extraordinary ability to inspire students and her tireless work in ensuring our curriculum remains both innovative and impactful,” said Jane Chung-Do, department chair. “We are honored to have such a dedicated leader on our faculty.”

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Professor Emeritus of and pioneering marine microbiologist , was as a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology. The recognition celebrates outstanding scientific achievement and leadership in microbiology.

DeLong is considered a trailblazer in the field of metagenomics—the study of all genetic material from all organisms in a particular environment—whose research has transformed understanding of the ocean’s microbial life. His work advanced innovative gene cloning and sequencing, allowing scientists to study complex marine microbial communities and their role in the environment without the use of traditional microbial cultures.

“I was thrilled to hear the news about Ed’s election to the European Academy of Microbiology, a well-earned honor,” said David Karl, 糖心视频 Mānoa oceanography professor,DeLong鈥檚 long-time colleague and co-director of both the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education and the . “Ed and other newly elected members represent the second golden age of microbiology, one centered on microbial oceanography and ecology.”

Scientific breakthroughs

Early in DeLong鈥檚 career, he used methodologies developed by his postdoctoral research advisor Norm Pace to identify microbes “in the wild.” Together they discovered two new lineages of a major microbial group called Archaea (previously not thought to live in seawater) were abundant everywhere—from in the Pacific Ocean to Antarctica, and from the sea surface to the seafloor.

Later, new methods that DeLong鈥檚 group adapted from the Human Genome project to study microbial ecology led to the discovery that most bacteria in the upper ocean can use sunlight to generate biochemical energy using proteins called opsins. This finding revealed a widespread, previously unknown solar energy-gathering mechanism in the ocean, with significant implications for the global carbon and energy cycles.

“To be recognized and honored by world-renowned microbiologists of the European Union was unexpected, and very humbling,” DeLong said. “I believe that scientific disciplines like microbiology should have no geographic or cultural boundaries—yet in today鈥檚 political landscape there are increasing challenges to free and open international collaborations. To me, this makes recognition by the European Academy of Microbiology all the more potent of an honor.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tough competition

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

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

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa is gaining national visibility for its work on clinician well-being. Assistant Professor Frankie B. Hale, has been selected as a Changemaker Accelerator in Cohort 2 of the , a yearlong program that brings together national leaders to develop and scale innovative strategies for improving clinician resilience and well-being.

The selection recognizes Hale鈥檚 research on reducing burnout and supporting well-being in nurses. Her work focuses on translating evidence-based strategies into practical tools for students and faculty, helping prepare the next generation of clinicians for sustainable careers in healthcare. Hale also contributes to the State of Well-Being Project through the Hawaiʻi Governor鈥檚 Office of Wellness and Resilience.

Expanding impact through national collaboration

Through the NAM program, Hale will work with national leaders鈥攊ncluding the American Nurses Association (ANA)鈥攖o expand evidence-based strategies developed with community partners. Using a simulation learning model, her project provides student nurses with practical tools to strengthen their well-being and resilience as they navigate the demands of clinical work.

“I鈥檓 excited to bring what we鈥檙e learning here in Hawaiʻi to a national stage, and then bring back strategies and resources that can make a real difference for our students and faculty,” Hale said. “This work is about more than measuring burnout鈥攊t鈥檚 about creating sustainable ways to support the well-being of the people who care for our communities every day.”

By the end of the program, Hale hopes to build lasting peer-to-peer partnerships with national leaders and translate those lessons into actionable programs at 糖心视频, advancing the school鈥檚 mission to train the next generation of clinicians who thrive in their professional and personal lives.