The University of Hawaiʻi held the first of four public meetings on October 6 at 糖心视频 Mānoa on a proposed tuition schedule for the next four academic years, beginning in fall 2027. About 30 people attended in person, and another 128 joined online.

Under the proposal, undergraduate tuition would remain unchanged at all 10 糖心视频 campuses for the first two years, academic years 2027–28 and 2028–29, with the exception of the 糖心视频 Hilo School of Pharmacy. Tuition increases ranging from 2% to 5%, depending on the campus, would begin in AY 2029–30. More details on the proposal.

“糖心视频 has kept tuition nearly flat for about a decade, despite inflation,” said Kim Siegenthaler, interim vice president for academic strategy and senior advisor to the president.

“State support has increased since fiscal year 2022 and 2023, but those increases have mainly been to restore prior reductions to meet collective bargaining increases, and to cover temporary hazard repayments. So our tuition revenues have not kept pace with operational need, which is why we’re now proposing increases,” she said.

Six people testified at the October 6 meeting, all in opposition to the proposal, including 糖心视频 Mānoa senior Alia Ancheta.

“I have people I care about that have to prioritize working full time because they simply cannot afford tuition,” Ancheta said. “Also, having to decide whether you should study for classes, or work more hours to be able to pay for tuition. I strongly believe education should be free and accessible to everyone, especially locals and Native Hawaiian students. I hope all of you truly think about how your decisions impact my generation and future generations that plan to attend your campuses.”

Testimony can be submitted in person or online at any of the three remaining public meetings. Written testimony can also be submitted at any time through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, October 22.

Upcoming meetings

• 糖心视频 Hilo
  Wednesday, October 14, 10–11:30 a.m.
  Student Services Center, W201
  To join via Zoom, please register in advance at .
• Kauaʻi Community College
  Thursday, October 15, 9:30–11 a.m.
  OCET Room 106C/D
  To join via Zoom, please register in advance at .
• 糖心视频 Maui College
  Tuesday, October 20, noon–1:30 p.m.
  Kaʻaʻike Building, Room 105 BCD
  To join via Zoom, please register in advance at .

The public review period began September 18. A summary of public feedback and any revisions to the proposal are scheduled to be presented October 29. The public will have another opportunity to provide testimony when the 糖心视频 Board of Regents considers the final proposal, currently scheduled for its November 19 meeting.

If approved, the new tuition schedule would be filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor by December 1 and take effect in fall 2027.

The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges are inviting students to make their voices heard and put their own creative stamp on campus safety and respect, through a systemwide Title IX Sticker Design Challenge.

Students of any major鈥攏ot just art or graphic design鈥攃an submit original digital artwork, hand-drawn illustrations, typography or graphic designs. Entries should reflect themes like respect, consent, belonging, equity and healthy relationships.

• Currently enrolled 糖心视频 Community College students can . Entries are due by Monday, November 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (HST).

Each participating campus will select one winning design to be produced as an official campus sticker and featured in systemwide outreach efforts.

Contestants are allowed to use generative AI as part of their creative process, including for brainstorming, developing ideas or creating design elements.

The final submission should reflect the student鈥檚 own creative choices and meet the contest guidelines. Students are responsible for ensuring they have the right to use any images or other materials included in their design.

Title IX Day

The 糖心视频 Community College campuses recently hosted Title IX Day on September 29, bringing students, faculty, and staff together to support safe, respectful, and equitable campus communities. Festivities across campuses featured food, giveaways and swag for participants.

“Title IX Day is about more than fulfilling a requirement鈥攊t鈥檚 about strengthening our shared commitment to a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment across all our campuses,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for the 糖心视频 Community Colleges.

“We want every student to know their rights, feel empowered to speak up and actively help shape a positive campus culture.”

Complete your required training

For students who have not yet completed their annual Title IX training requirement, there is still time to finish and claim campus rewards. 糖心视频 Community College students can satisfy the training requirement through three flexible options:

• A new followed by a 3-minute knowledge check.
• The self-led 糖心视频 Vector Training (approx. 60 minutes).
• in-person session scheduled with the campus Title IX Coordinator.

Many campuses are offering swag and other perks for completing the Title IX training requirement. Connect with the Title IX Coordinators on each campus to learn more.

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’s Christine Lamborn Fernandez, operations coordinator at Kennedy Theatre.

She shared: “Dancers in the upcoming Department of Theatre and Dance production EPIC—featuring choreographies of Professor Pei-Ling Kao in collaboration with Taiwanese choreographer Sunny Nai-Hsuan Yang, artistic director of Les Petites Choses Production. Epic represents an exploration towards inclusivity in dance. The work embraces the diversity of dance genres and human bodies, celebrating movement as a shared human language created by—and belonging to—everyone. Performances happening in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre from Wednesday, September 30, through Sunday, October 4, 2026.”

.
Check out Kennedy Theatre’s full upcoming season.

Previous Images
Niu & Kalo Festival
Storm damage
Ching Athletics Complex rainbow
First week fun
First day of class
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the 糖心视频 ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next 糖心视频 News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other 糖心视频 connection. By submitting your image, you are giving 糖心视频 News permission to publish your photo on the 糖心视频 News website and 糖心视频 social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has saved $6 million in Hawaiian Electric (HECO) utility costs, while a 糖心视频 system-wide solar maintenance initiative is delivering $1 million per year in future energy savings across all 10 campuses. Detailed in the university鈥檚 , these milestones reflect ongoing efficiency retrofits, campus infrastructure upgrades, and an effort to restore solar power production across the campuses. These savings are an important part of the university鈥檚 effort to move toward its “net zero” goal by 2035 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This progress is a credit to the teams across our university who are finding creative, cost-effective ways to advance our net-zero goals,” said Jan Gouveia, 糖心视频 vice president for administration. “By reducing energy use, restoring renewable energy systems and maximizing our existing resources, we are generating significant savings while reducing our environmental impact and creating a more sustainable university.”

Modernizing infrastructure, slashing demand

At 糖心视频 Mānoa, the campus has steadily decreased its reliance on the HECO electricity supply. While increased on-site renewable power has contributed, the primary driver of the $6 million in savings comes from ongoing energy efficiency improvements and advanced controls for lighting and building air conditioning systems.

“As we repair and replace aging infrastructure, we enhance operations, improve campus experience, and reduce waste,” said 糖心视频 Director of Sustainability Miles Topping. “A big mahalo to our dedicated facilities management teams, campus chancellors and vice chancellors, and procurement officers across the 糖心视频 System who made these accomplishments possible.”

Campus improvements are visible across 糖心视频 Mānoa, notably through comprehensive light-emitting diode (LED) lighting replacements for street lights and parking lots. Additionally, sustainability principles are woven into new construction and major facility overhauls through award-winning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building standards. Notable projects include the Isabella Aiona Abbott Life Sciences Building, Bachman Hall, Sinclair and the Snyder replacement building.

糖心视频 Mānoa has successfully reduced its peak utility demand by more than 16% compared to 2016 levels. Peak demand management is critical because it reduces the instantaneous electrical load the campus draws from HECO. By easing strain on the local electrical grid during high-use periods, 糖心视频 Mānoa helps HECO accommodate additional capacity for other renewable energy customers across Oʻahu.

$1M annual savings

In addition, 糖心视频鈥檚 System-wide Photovoltaic (PV) Maintenance Program is generating more than $1 million in annual future energy savings. Over previous years, PV systems installed across 糖心视频‘s 10 campuses were unmaintained, leading many to underproduce energy.

By repairing these assets, the program has brought megawatts of solar capacity back online, producing renewable energy directly on 糖心视频 campuses.

“PV systems, like any other building system, require annual maintenance to ensure it operates at 100%. This PV maintenance program has demonstrated this success and all campuses are extremely happy with the results,” Topping said.

The University of Hawaiʻi is making a $123-million strategic investment across its 10 campuses, funding more than 100 initiatives of the 糖心视频 Strategic Plan aimed at improving student success, meeting Hawaiʻi‘s workforce needs, advancing research and innovation, fulfilling 糖心视频‘s kuleana (responsibility) to Native Hawaiians and modernizing university operations.

The investments will be made over the next two to three years and represent a new approach to how 糖心视频 puts its financial resources to work. President Wendy Hensel and 糖心视频 Vice President for Budget and Finance and Chief Financial Officer Luis Salaveria, working with campus and system leadership, evaluated needs across the entire 10-campus system and prioritized investments that can have the greatest impact for students and Hawaiʻi, rather than relying primarily on the traditional campus-by-campus approach.

“We have spent considerable time identifying our priorities and determining where the University of Hawaiʻi can have the greatest impact. Now we are putting the resources behind those priorities and moving from planning to execution,” Hensel said. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting difference for our students, strengthen our campuses and help address some of Hawaiʻi‘s most pressing needs.”

Hensel and Salaveria presented the strategic investment initiative and explained 糖心视频鈥檚 new budget process during a hybrid public forum on Monday, September 28. Just under 400 people attended the forum in person or tuned in to the livestream.

A disciplined, systemwide approach

糖心视频 evaluated 425 requests totaling more than $635 million before approving $123 million in one-time strategic investments. The proposals were developed by campuses, vice presidential offices and advisory groups, and each group had the opportunity to meet with the President and CFO to advocate for their initiatives. Priority was given to those proposals most closely aligned with 糖心视频 strategic priorities and capable of producing long-term benefits.

“This was a very selective process,” said Salaveria. “We wanted to make strategic investments that would move the university forward and help hedge against financial challenges we know are coming. The goal is to put these resources to work with a clear purpose.”

About 75% of the investment will support initiatives that benefit all 10 campuses, with a focus on student success, workforce development, and modern technology and artificial intelligence. About 25% is directed to individual campus priorities.

Five areas of strategic impact

The $123 million investment advances five university strategic priorities:

• Develop successful students—approximately $79 million
• Enhance and modernize university operations—approximately $60 million
• Meet Hawaiʻi‘s workforce needs—approximately $21 million
• Innovation and research—approximately $15 million
• Fulfill 糖心视频‘s kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi—approximately $10 million

Because many projects advance more than one strategic priority, the five investment categories overlap and represent approximately $185 million in combined impact from the $123 million investment.

Investing in student success

The largest area of strategic impact is approximately $79 million connected to student success, with a focus on recruiting and retaining students, improving transfer among 糖心视频 campuses, removing barriers to completing degrees and addressing basic needs.

The investments support 糖心视频‘s Common Standard of Care, an effort to establish a consistent baseline of proactive student support across all 10 campuses so that where a student attends does not determine the level of support they receive.

Among the investments are $2.9 million to expand the Hawaiʻi College and Career Navigator Program, $1 million for a systemwide transcript evaluation platform to streamline the transfer of credits, $230,000 to advance academic advising and $300,000 for Mālama Kauhale, which allows students to earn food vouchers through campus service.

“Every student is our student,” Hensel said. “Whether someone attends one of our community colleges or a four-year campus, they should have access to the fundamental support, technology and opportunities they need to succeed. By working as one system, we can remove barriers that no campus should have to solve alone.”

The investments are also part of a coordinated enrollment strategy as 糖心视频 prepares for a projected decline in the number of Hawaiʻi high school graduates in the coming years.

Meeting Hawaiʻi‘s workforce needs

Approximately $21 million in strategic impact is aligned with Hawaiʻi‘s current and future workforce needs, particularly in fields where the state faces critical shortages, and 糖心视频 has opportunities to expand successful programs.

The goal is a more coordinated systemwide approach to workforce development, including a single “front door” for employers and industry partners and greater use of real-time labor market information to align academic programs with workforce needs.

Investments include $500,000 for the SteppingBlocks AI Platform (connecting higher education and workforce outcomes), $150,000 for a unified employer intake system, $1.37 million to expand diagnostic medical sonography (sound wave imagery) at Kapiʻolani Community College and $500,000 to expand teacher education pathways across the 10-campus system.

“Our intent is to fuel responsive workforce development across the 10-campus system,” Hensel said.

Modernizing the university

Approximately $60 million in strategic impact is connected to improving and modernizing 糖心视频 operations, including major investments in technology, cybersecurity and administrative systems.

Projects include approximately $4.9 million in systemwide wireless upgrades, more than $6.7 million for firewalls and cybersecurity audits, $6 million to modernize 糖心视频‘s human resources data system, $5 million for a new systemwide budget management platform and $2 million to establish a systemwide Office of Compliance.

The systemwide approach is intended to reduce duplication, establish common standards and leverage 糖心视频‘s purchasing power.

“Instead of 10 individual campuses looking at wireless upgrades, why not do that from a system level?” Salaveria said. “Economies of scale, purchasing power, standardization of protocols鈥攁ll of these different things just make sense.”

Investing in research and Hawaiʻi‘s economy

Approximately $15.5 million in strategic impact is aligned with research, innovation and economic diversification.

Projects include $3 million for intellectual property protection, $3 million for an AI Institute Hub, investments in secure research environments and $5 million for an Advanced Manufacturing Hub, including laboratory renovations intended to position 糖心视频 to compete for tens of millions of dollars in potential federal grants.

The AI investment is part of a broader effort to responsibly and ethically integrate artificial intelligence throughout 糖心视频‘s curriculum, research and operations while expanding AI education and training for Hawaiʻi.

The investments are also intended to build 糖心视频‘s capacity to attract outside funding and support emerging industries in Hawaiʻi, including advanced manufacturing, technology and climate resilience.

Fulfilling 糖心视频‘s kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi

Approximately $10.4 million in strategic impact will advance 糖心视频‘s commitment to becoming a Native Hawaiian place of learning.

The investments include dedicated spaces across campuses for student success and cultural programming; $600,000 to develop a framework for embedding Native Hawaiian priorities into university governance and budgeting; and professional development to strengthen culturally responsive teaching.

The plan includes funding for dedicated Native Hawaiian Places of Learning and specialized student-support spaces on each 糖心视频 campus, along with expanded Native Hawaiian student services and systemwide kuleana initiatives.

Where the money comes from

The one-time investments are being funded primarily through university cash balances that grew during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, when federal relief funding helped support operations while 糖心视频 implemented significant cost-saving measures, including restrictions on hiring and travel and the postponement of major purchases.

糖心视频 will continue to maintain appropriate reserves for financial stability and unexpected needs.

The investment is part of a broader change in how 糖心视频 manages its financial resources. Instead of viewing needs primarily through individual campus budgets, 糖心视频 is taking a systemwide approach when doing so can reduce duplication, increase purchasing power and provide infrastructure and services more efficiently.

The investments are also structured to avoid creating significant new recurring costs.

From planning to execution

Hensel directed campus and system leaders earlier this year to identify high-impact investments capable of producing lasting benefits without creating new recurring financial obligations. Routine repairs, replacement of lost grant funding and normal operating expenses were not the focus.

With the priorities established and funding identified, the focus now shifts to execution and accountability, including measuring whether the investments deliver the intended results for students, the university and Hawaiʻi.

“This is not about spending money because it is available,” Hensel said. “It is about making disciplined choices and putting our resources to work where they can have the greatest impact. We are investing in our students, in Hawaiʻi‘s workforce and economy, and in a stronger and more resilient University of Hawaiʻi.”

The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges鈥� campaign “Start Here, Go Beyond,” highlighting authentic student transfer journeys across the 10-campus 糖心视频 System, has been selected as a finalist in two categories for the Medallion Awards, presented by District 6 of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR):

• Television/Video Paid Advertisement (series): “Start Here, Go Beyond”
• Video Shorts (series): “Start Here, Go Beyond”

The video series highlights how starting at a community college provides an affordable, flexible pathway toward earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree, advancing careers and serving local communities. The students鈥� stories showcase diverse fields—from engineering and law to teaching—demonstrating the ability to achieve career goals while staying rooted in Hawaiʻi.

Watch the videos

The is available on 糖心视频 Community Colleges鈥� website.

‘Vital gateway’

“Our community colleges serve as a vital gateway to higher education, and these videos showcase the true power of that journey through the voices of our students,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for community colleges and 糖心视频 Maui College chancellor. “Being recognized nationally by NCMPR is a testament to the hard work of our team and the incredible achievements of our alumni who inspire the next generation to start here and go beyond.”

The NCMPR Medallion Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication among two-year community and technical colleges. Final placement levels—gold, silver and bronze—will be announced during the District 6 conference in October in Scottsdale, Arizona.

• Related 糖心视频 News: New video series highlights 糖心视频 transfer success, April 20, 2026

Campuses closed

• 糖心视频 Hilo and Hawaiʻi CC, Thursday and Friday
• 糖心视频 Maui College, Friday
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 CTAHR offices on those islands

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Hawaiʻi Community College and other 糖心视频 units on Hawaiʻi Island will be closed Thursday and Friday, September 23—24, as Tropical Storm Nolo approaches the state and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane.

糖心视频 Maui College and other 糖心视频 units in Maui County will be closed Friday.

The closures include 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience extension offices on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui.

Gov. Josh Green ordered state offices and public schools on Hawaiʻi Island and in Maui County to close on those days.

According to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s latest update, Nolo has strengthened south of Hawaiʻi Island and is moving in a west-northwest direction. The storm is expected to make a sharp turn to the north late Wednesday and rapidly intensify into a hurricane within the next 24 hours and could become a major hurricane by this weekend.

The current forecast has Nolo bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Hawaiʻi Island as early as Thursday. However, the storm’s exact path and strength remain uncertain.

Hurricane watch issued

A hurricane watch is in effect for Hawaiʻi County, meaning hurricane conditions are possible.

Heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding, mudslides, high surf and dangerous rip currents could affect parts of the state. Hawaiʻi Island and Maui County face the greatest risk of life-threatening flooding.

A storm surge of 1–3 feet could cause coastal flooding in Hawaiʻi County. Large and dangerous waves could worsen flooding along the coast. Power outages are also possible.

糖心视频 leaders continue to closely monitor the storm.

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from 糖心视频 Maui College.

: “Mahalo to everyone who joined us at the 糖心视频 Maui College Molokaʻi Farm for the Niu & Kalo Festival!

From crafting ʻapu and weaving p膩pale, to sharing in the kalo and niu cooking contest and jamming with the Kalaupapa Backyard Band, it was a beautiful day of hands-on learning and community connection.”

Previous Images
Storm damage
Ching Athletics Complex rainbow
First week fun
First day of class
Fungi
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the 糖心视频 ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next 糖心视频 News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other 糖心视频 connection. By submitting your image, you are giving 糖心视频 News permission to publish your photo on the 糖心视频 News website and 糖心视频 social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

Hawaiʻi borrowers carry less student debt than those in nearly every other state, earning the state the nation’s second-lowest student debt ranking according to a September 2026 .

The personal finance company compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 12 measures. They included average student loan balances, the share of students with debt and the percentage of loans that are past due or in default.

Hawaiʻi ranked No. 50 overall. Only No. 51 Utah had a lower student debt burden. California, Washington and New Mexico rounded out the five states with the least student debt.

“Our 10 campuses give local students access to high-quality educational opportunities at an affordable cost,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “Through affordable resident tuition, need-based financial aid and pathways across our statewide system, we are working to help students earn a degree without being weighed down by debt.”

Graduating debt-free

At 糖心视频, 80% of first-time undergraduates across 10 campuses graduated debt-free during the 2024–25 academic year. That included 65% of graduates from 糖心视频’s four-year campuses and 90% from community colleges.

Mississippi had the nation’s highest student debt burden, followed by Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and West Virginia.

Outstanding student loan balances exceeded in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Department of Education. That amounts to more than $40,000 per borrower across 42.6 million Americans.

Faculty and lecturers across the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges can now register for the upcoming fall session of the Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning (AITL) course, starting October 26. Following record-breaking enrollment in recent cohorts, this free, five-week asynchronous professional development opportunity equips educators to integrate AI into their courses through clear guidelines, targeted assignments and collaborative reflection.

“This professional development helped me develop AI use and misuse policies, as well as classroom activities that I believe will work well,” shared one 糖心视频 participant. Another noted the shift from a “haphazard” approach to applying “AI strategically in my courses to teach students the critical thinking they need.”

100% helpful

Summer 2026 evaluations highlight the program’s strong impact:

• 100% of respondents learned job-helpful skills, received adequate support and would recommend AITL.
• Post-course ratings showing moderate to high confidence in AI tools surged to 88%, up from just 33.8% beforehand.

Lauren Lum Ho, an instructional designer from Leeward Community College who co-developed AITL, said, “AITL gives faculty scaffolded opportunities to explore what generative AI means for their teaching, students and disciplines. While there are no easy answers, this cross-campus effort has sparked critical conversations, informed decision-making and tangible work to better support students.”

Record participation

AITL has enrolled 173 participants since its summer 2025 launch. The spring and summer 2026 cohorts set a record with 117 participants, with educators taking away valuable insights on developing syllabus policies and teaching activities tailored to their courses with specific feedback from instructional designers.

“As AI reshapes higher education, we must equip faculty with the tools to adapt and thrive,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for the 糖心视频 Community Colleges. “AITL鈥檚 record success is a testament to our educators’ commitment to innovation. By thoughtfully addressing AI in our courses, we ensure students learn to engage with these tools responsibly, ethically and critically.”

Email uhccids@hawaii.edu for more information.

In a historic milestone for the University of Hawaiʻi System, 100% of available performance funding—totaling $6,208,198—has been awarded across all 10 糖心视频 campuses for Academic Year 2025–26 under a revised transitional framework.

This marks the first time in the history of 糖心视频 performance funding that 100% of potential funds were awarded to campuses. In comparison, under the previous historical framework, only 49% of available performance funds would have been distributed for Academic Year 2025鈥�26. Designed to bridge the gap between historical practices and the finalized fiscal year (FY)27 vision, the transitional model used for this year is based on a new two-part funding structure that rewards both sustained progress on core student success metrics and proactive institutional innovation.

These resources will empower campus leadership to invest in initiatives that maintain and expand upon these positive outcomes.

Understanding the funding model

The FY26 performance allocation combines two integrated methodologies:

1. Segmented Lifecycle Model (Performance Pool: $3,795,621 awarded)

Recognizing that student success occurs along a continuum, a campus’s potential performance pool allocation ($4,966,558 total systemwide) is divided into two equal 50% allocations:

The Early Progression Pool (50%): Evaluates onboarding, credit momentum across full-time, part-time, and transfer cohorts, first-year retention rates, and gateway English and Mathematics completion rates.

The Long-Term Attainment Pool (50%): Evaluates how many students graduate within 6 years for a 4-year university and 3 years for a community college graduation rates, articulation and transfer rates, and median alumni earnings five years post-graduation.

Evaluations are grounded in three sequential three-year rolling averages (2021–23, 2022–24 and 2023–25) to reward sustained performance trajectories rather than single-semester variances.

2. Pillar-Activation Model (Innovation & Scaling Pool: $2,412,577 awarded)

Unawarded balance from the performance pool was combined with innovation funds to form a $2.41-million Innovation & Scaling Award pool. This pool rewards high-impact engagements aligned with the university’s Common Standard of Care pillars—including structured first-year support, academic design, career-oriented learning, proactive advising, financial wellness and outreach.

Campus allocations and strategic highlights

糖心视频 Mānoa ($2,564,257 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $1,971,127
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $593,130

Leeward Community College ($825,794 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $524,927
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $300,867

Honolulu Community College ($594,824 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $219,052
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $375,772

糖心视频 West Oʻahu ($448,293 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $279,865
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $168,428

Kapiʻolani Community College ($431,441 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $206,638
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $224,803

糖心视频 Maui College ($397,098 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $144,762
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $252,336

糖心视频 Hilo ($350,990 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $127,954
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $223,036

Hawaiʻi Community College ($222,634 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $150,281
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $72,353

Kauaʻi Community College ($207,405 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $95,929
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $111,476

Windward Community College ($165,462 total)

• Segmented Lifecycle Award: $75,086
• Innovation & Scaling Award: $90,376

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel highlighted 糖心视频‘s response to recent severe weather events, efforts to simplify the application process for prospective students and an upcoming public forum on the university’s new budgeting process and $123-million strategic investment initiative during her September report to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR).

Hensel delivered the report at the September 17 BOR meeting at Leeward Community College’s Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center. She began by recognizing 糖心视频 teams who helped campuses respond to an unusually active year of severe weather, most recently Hurricane Lowell. The storm caused significant damage and prolonged power outages on Kauaʻi, forcing Kauaʻi Community College to close for a week before reopening to students on September 16.

Hensel also provided an update on fall enrollment, highlighted the October 1 launch of Apply Hawaiʻi, a single undergraduate application for all 10 campuses, and announced a September 28 public forum on 糖心视频‘s budget and $123 million strategic investment initiative.

• Severe weather response and emergency preparedness ()
• Fall 2026 enrollment ()
• Apply Hawaiʻi launch ()
• Direct2糖心视频 expansion to all 10 campuses ()
• Time, Place and Manner policy update ()
• September 28 budget and $123-million strategic investment forum ()
• 糖心视频 News highlights
  • Inaugural Waiʻanae EMT program ()
  • Hawaiʻi CC $920,000 NSF drone technology grant ()
  • Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef Project ()

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from Kauaʻi Community College’s Dayne Gonsalves, an undergraduate in creative media.

Gonsalves shared: “An image of Kaumualiʻi Highway on the morning after Hurricane Lowell, taken from Kekaha.”

Previous Images
Ching Athletics Complex rainbow
First week fun
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A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the 糖心视频 ʻohana!

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Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other 糖心视频 connection. By submitting your image, you are giving 糖心视频 News permission to publish your photo on the 糖心视频 News website and 糖心视频 social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Lala, which brought damaging winds and severe flooding to Hawaiʻi Island, members of the Hawaiʻi Community College kauhale (village) rallied to support hard-hit families in 碍补ʻ奴.

On August 21, members of the Hawaiʻi CC-affiliated K奴k奴ʻena hula cohort, college faculty and staff joined forces with University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo colleagues to support community-led relief efforts. In 奥补颈ʻ艒丑颈苍耻, the group met with Hawaiʻi CC alumni Nohealani Kaʻawa, Kaila Kaʻawa and Lanihuli Kanahele, who were establishing a community relief hub.

Partnering with staff from The Nature Conservancy, the 糖心视频 team delivered food, water and critical supplies to households in the Green Sands area, where residents had been without power and water for a week.

‘Stark, visceral reminder’

Seeing the physical and emotional impact of the storm firsthand left a strong impression on the volunteers.

“What stayed with me most was the strength and resilience of the people in 碍补ʻ奴,” said Nohea Pua, a support specialist for career and technical education at Hawaiʻi CC. “Going house to house, we were met with so many smiles and so much positivity in the midst of such a difficult time.”

Hawaiʻi CC Sociology Instructor Michael Branch noted the power of reciprocal community support, especially with students living in the affected area.

“It was a stark, visceral reminder of the extent to which a storm can disrupt the basic things that people depend on every day, but also of just how quickly people can come together and care for one another,” Branch said.

Following the initial trip, Hawaiʻi CC and 糖心视频 Hilo organized a campus donation drive. On August 27, team members returned to 奥补颈ʻ艒丑颈苍耻 with a van packed with donated supplies.

To support ongoing recovery efforts, follow and message on Instagram for updates on current needs at the K艒kua 碍补ʻ奴 Hub.

— By Katie Young Yamanaka and Drew Kapp

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance and CFO Luis Salaveria will host a hybrid public forum on Monday, September 28, to discuss 糖心视频‘s budget, current financial status and $123 million in strategic investments planned over the next several years.

Hensel and Salaveria will provide an overview of the university’s new budgeting process, the strategic investments and 糖心视频‘s financial request to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature for Fiscal Year 2028. The presentation will be followed by an open question-and-answer session for in-person and virtual participants.

“It is important that our campus community understand both how we made these important financial decisions and the plan for investing $123 million in support of our strategic goals over the next several years,” Hensel said in an email to the 10 campuses announcing the forum. “This is an important step in moving from planning to execution—aligning our resources with our priorities and being transparent and accountable about how we make those decisions.”

糖心视频 Budget and Strategic Investment Public Forum

• Monday, September 28, 4:30 p.m.
• BOR Conference Room (Kiawe), Bachman Hall 106, 糖心视频 Mānoa
• In person and online
• Participants can using password 902892.

The University of Hawaiʻi is proposing a new four-year tuition schedule that would keep undergraduate tuition unchanged at all 10 campuses for the first two years, followed by increases beginning in academic year (AY) 2029–30. The current schedule expires at the end of AY 2026–27. The proposal is on the agenda for the September 17 Board of Regents meeting for informational purposes only; no action will be taken.

糖心视频 will hold public meetings starting October 6 on the proposed tuition schedule. Details at the end of the story.

The proposed schedule would cover AY 2027–28 through AY 2030–31, replacing the current schedule that expires at the end of AY 2026–27. The exception to the two-year freeze is tuition at the professional pharmacy program at 糖心视频 Hilo鈥檚 Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, where tuition would increase 5% annually beginning in AY 2027–28 to address operational needs and accreditation requirements.

Proposed tuition rates

At 糖心视频鈥檚 four-year campuses, undergraduate students pay a flat full-time tuition rate once they enroll in 12 credits per semester and can take additional credits at no additional tuition cost.

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase
• AY 2029–30: 5% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases from $11,760 to $12,360 annually
• AY 2030–31: 5% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases to $12,984 annually
• The increases apply to undergraduate, graduate and professional tuition rates.

糖心视频 Hilo

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase for undergraduate and graduate tuition
• AY 2029–30: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases from $7,632 to $7,872 annually
• AY 2030–31: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases to $8,112 annually
• Nonresident undergraduate tuition would increase by the same percentage.
• Graduate and graduate nursing tuition would remain unchanged for all four years.
• 糖心视频 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy
  • 5% annual tuition increase in each of the four years
  • The additional revenue would support accreditation requirements, faculty and staff, research resources, technology, facilities and other operational needs.

糖心视频 West Oʻahu

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase
• AY 2029–30: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases from $7,632 to $7,872 annually
• AY 2030–31: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases to $8,112 annually
• Nonresident undergraduate tuition would increase by the same percentage.

糖心视频 community colleges

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase in lower-division tuition
• AY 2029–30: Resident lower-division tuition increases from $131 to $135 per credit
• AY 2030–31: Resident lower-division tuition increases to $139 per credit
• For a student taking 24 credits annually, tuition would increase from $3,144 today to $3,336 by AY 2030–31鈥攁n increase of $192.
• Upper-division tuition would increase at the same levels as 糖心视频 Hilo and 糖心视频 West O驶ahu.
• Summer school tuition for Hawaiʻi residents, reduced in 2025 to match the regular resident tuition rate, would continue at the same rate as resident lower-division tuition, including the proposed increases.

Tuition meeting schedule

Individuals wishing to testify virtually must register no later than six (6) hours prior to the meeting start time in order to be accommodated. in addition to registering to provide oral testimony. Oral testimony will be limited to three (3) minutes per testifier. All oral and written testimony are public information. Please do not include information in your testimony that you do not want disclosed to the public.

• 糖心视频 Mānoa
  • Tuesday, October 6, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • Bachman Hall, Kiawe Room 106
  • To join via Zoom, please register in advance at:
• 糖心视频 Hilo
  • Wednesday, October 14, 10–11:30 a.m.
  • Student Services Center, W201
  • To join via Zoom, please register in advance at:
• Kauaʻi Community College
  • Thursday, October 15, 9:30–11 a.m.
  • OCET Room 106C/D
  • To join via Zoom, please register in advance at:
• 糖心视频 Maui College
  • Tuesday, October 20, noon–1:30 p.m.
  • Kaʻaʻike Bldg., Room 105 BCD
  • To join via Zoom, please register in advance at:

A decade of relatively flat tuition

糖心视频 tuition has remained relatively flat for a decade while operating costs have continued to rise. Recent increases in state funding have largely supported budget restorations, construction and facility improvements and negotiated salary increases, while tuition revenue has not kept pace with inflation and rising operational costs.

The proposal is intended to address those rising costs while maintaining affordability for Hawaiʻi students. About 90% of 糖心视频 community college graduates and 65% of graduates from the four-year campuses complete their degrees without student loan debt.

Public review and approval process

Chancellors across the 糖心视频 System notified their campus communities about the proposal and the start of the review process on September 11. The formal public review period begins September 18, followed by open public meetings on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu from October 5–16. Feedback may be provided at the public meetings or submitted online, with details to be announced when available. A summary of public feedback and any revisions to the proposal are scheduled to be presented October 29, with the 糖心视频 Board of Regents considering the final proposal on November 19.

If approved, the new schedule would be filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor by December 1 and take effect in fall 2027.

Building on the success of its drone certification program, has secured a new $920,238 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to expand education using tools such as drone-mounted sensors to collect data across the state. The three-year project aims to meet workforce demand or stackable credentials for use in utilities, civil engineering, agriculture and environmental hazard mitigation.

“Expanding the Impact of Geospatial Remote Sensing in Hawaii,” leverages Hawaiʻi CC鈥檚 existing drone education credentials. By introducing advanced two- and three-dimensional surveying, lidar technology (a remote sensing technology that measures distances using laser pulses) and powerful computational tools, the program will train students not only to fly unmanned aerial vehicles but also to process and analyze complex data.

Students will conduct local projects in several courses in engineering technology, forestry management and surveying, which will lead to a certificate in geospatial remote sensing.

Expanding tech career pathways

Related story: Hawaiʻi CC launches first community college drone certification program

“This new award represents a massive leap forward for our local students,” said Principal Investigator Orlo Steele, an associate professor of agroforestry. “We are integrating cutting-edge technologies directly into our forestry, engineering and surveying courses. Furthermore, by introducing mapping training at our P膩lamanui campus in West Hawaiʻi, we are opening doors for students across the island and partnering with other Pacific Islands to build a truly regional tech workforce.”

The project also aims to expand access to high-tech career pathways for all students and increase their qualifications to be competitive in the rapidly growing drone economy. Strengthening pathways from high school to community college to four-year institutions, while also providing upskilling opportunities for incumbent workers in utilities, agriculture, public safety and natural resource management is also a goal of the project.

“We are focusing deeply on student outcomes and workforce readiness,” explained Co-Principal Investigator Donna Pacheco, an associate professor of engineering technology. “We want to ensure our graduates understand how to apply their skills in the field, making them highly competitive for high-paying positions within private, state and federal engineering and environmental agencies.”

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms the workforce and daily life, the University of Hawaiʻi is making AI education available to everyone with a new, free online course designed for the people of Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Artificial Intelligence for Hawaiʻi is an open-access, self-paced course that provides foundational AI knowledge and practical skills while addressing responsible and ethical use through a Hawaiʻi lens. Free and available to anyone (no 糖心视频 affiliation or login required), the course is part of 糖心视频鈥檚 broader effort to serve as a statewide leader and trusted resource as AI reshapes education, business, government and the workforce.

Demand for AI skills is surging globally, making broad access to AI education increasingly important. Eighty percent of hiring managers consider AI skills a priority when evaluating candidates, according to CNBC, and 60% of employers are already assigning interns projects involving AI tools, according to the National Association of Colleges + Employers. 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel says 糖心视频 has both an opportunity and a responsibility to help Hawaiʻi navigate this transformation.

“AI is transforming the way we work, learn and live, and Hawaiʻi cannot afford to sit on the sidelines,” Hensel said. “糖心视频 has both an opportunity and a responsibility to help our state lead through this change. That means making AI education accessible to everyone and giving people the practical skills to use these tools effectively, responsibly and in ways that reflect 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 values.”

Demystifying AI

Hosted on the , the self-paced course uses instructional videos, Hawaiʻi-based examples and hands-on activities to make AI understandable and useful for people at all levels of experience. It is designed not only for 糖心视频 students and employees, but for anyone who wants to better understand and use AI, from educators and government employees to small business owners, nonprofit organizations and individual community members.

The course was also informed by 糖心视频 experts in Hawaiian values, culture, language and ʻike Hawaiʻi. A 糖心视频 Task Force on Hawaiian Values and Culture examined issues unique to the development and use of AI in Hawaiʻi, including appropriate protocols for how ʻike and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi resources should be used and what kinds of information should, and should not, be contributed to AI systems.

The 12 chapters take participants from basic AI literacy to practical applications:

• Chapters 1–3: AI fundamentals — How AI and machine learning work, along with key issues including bias, fairness and transparency.
• Chapters 4–6: Responsible AI and stewardship — Ethical AI use for individuals and organizations, AI鈥檚 environmental impact and opportunities to support conservation and climate resilience.
• Chapters 7–9: Education and strategy — How AI is changing teaching, learning, academic integrity and organizational operations.
• Chapters 10–12: Workplace and industry — Practical AI skills, including advanced prompting, and applications in Hawaiʻi industries such as tourism and agriculture.

“This course empowers our 糖心视频 campuses and local communities to actively shape how we use AI to make our island home better,” said Gloria Niles, 糖心视频 chief academic technology innovation officer. “By focusing our exploration on transparency and responsible deployment within a Hawaiʻi context, we can thoughtfully integrate these technologies while honoring our core values.”

Building 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 AI capacity

AI for Hawaiʻi is part of a broader 糖心视频 strategy to help prepare the state for an AI-augmented future and serve as a trusted resource for individuals, educators, businesses, government agencies and communities navigating the rapidly evolving technology.

Through the OneAI Hub, 糖心视频 is bringing together AI education, training and resources, including AI Communities of Practice and the AI 2 Xcelerate program. The university鈥檚 broader AI strategy encompasses governance, curriculum, workforce development, research and operations.

糖心视频 is also expanding the use and understanding of AI across its 10 campuses, including AI-powered student advising and 24/7 chatbots, faculty development through EL3vate and AI Innovation@RISE, which connects students across the 糖心视频 System with local industries to address real-world needs.

The free AI for Hawaiʻi course is available now through the . No 糖心视频 affiliation or login is required.

This week’s image is from the Hawaiʻi CC.

From the Hawaiʻi CC Instagram: A great start to Fall 2026! It鈥檚 been wonderful first week welcoming our students back for a new semester.

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Send us your image!

Previous Images
First day of class
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All Images of the Week

A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the 糖心视频 驶辞丑补苍补!

Want to get in on the action? The next 糖心视频 News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other 糖心视频 connection. By submitting your image, you are giving 糖心视频 News permission to publish your photo on the 糖心视频 News website and 糖心视频 social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.