A University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 study of high school football injuries nationwide found that a rule designed to reduce dangerous hits to the head did not lead to an increase in leg injuries, a potential consequence student researchers set out to examine.

The targeting rule, adopted in 2014, prohibits players from initiating forceful contact above an opponent鈥檚 shoulders. (JABSOM) students Nolan Tanji, Cameron Nishida, Philip Lee and Sasha Rovinsky wanted to know whether efforts to avoid the head and neck were causing players to tackle lower and shifting injuries to the legs.

“We were just thinking as people are avoiding the head and neck, they’re going to be tackling lower in the body, so maybe the injury burden might be getting shifted lower in the body,” Tanji said.

Thousands of injuries analyzed

The researchers analyzed high school football injuries among athletes ages 14–18 using a national database containing emergency department data from more than 100 hospitals across the country. They compared injuries from the five years before the targeting rule with the five years after it took effect.

The team reviewed more than 14,000 entries to determine how the injuries occurred.

Researchers identified 7,315 lower-extremity injury cases before the rule and 5,611 afterward. When used to estimate national totals, the numbers declined from about 242,000 injuries to 193,000.

“It was really surprising,” Tanji said. “It was something that was the complete 180 from what we were expecting before analyzing the data.”

The researchers cautioned that the targeting rule cannot be credited with causing the decline. Changes in training, injury prevention and equipment technology may have contributed.

The study also found that knee injuries represented a slightly larger share of lower-extremity injuries after the rule took effect, while the proportion involving collisions between players increased. The researchers said those findings warrant further study.

The database included only injuries treated in emergency departments and did not identify which positions the injured athletes played.

“It’s not completely safe but, you know, it’s looking promising for the future in terms of injuries in football,” Tanji said.

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鈥檚 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), 糖心视频鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 糖心视频 Mānoa, and Alison Lee, a physician-scientist with ties to Hawaiʻi at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Hawaiʻi鈥檚 past may still be affecting health today

For generations, sugarcane shaped Hawaiʻi鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College secured $178,424 in federal funding for the 2026–27 academic year to modernize classroom technology and expand hands-on training.

Under the direction of Interim Dean of Career and Technical Education Lorelle Peros, the grant will support six campus initiatives aimed at strengthening high-wage workforce pipelines for local students.

“This funding allows us to create meaningful opportunities and connections for our students through hands-on training, modern technology and industry-relevant skills that prepare them for success in the workforce,” Peros said.

High-tech and health upgrades

The funding brings artificial intelligence (AI) into classroom settings and expands equipment across medical programs.

• Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech curriculum: Led by Professor Debasis Bhattacharya, the project funds NVIDIA DGX Spark equipment (a compact desktop AI supercomputer designed for developers, researchers and data scientists to build, test and fine-tune large AI models) and faculty AI certification, impacting up to 1,250 STEM and business students.
• Dental hygiene training: Led by Dental Program Coordinator Leanne Higa, the initiative supports accreditation by Commission on Dental Accreditation, an autonomous body associated with the American Dental Association, and faculty laser therapy certification.
• Nursing lab upgrades: Led by Anne Scharnhorst, funds will purchase multiuse task-trainer manikins for realistic clinical simulations.

Skilled trades and career pathways

The remaining projects focus on automotive tech, trade partnerships and broad workforce development.

• Molokaʻi Skilled Trades Pathway: Led by the Molokaʻi Education Center鈥檚 ʻOlelo Schonely and Kelley Dudoit, the initiative creates an agricultural construction and carpentry pathway with Molokaʻi High School, including Early College courses and internships.
• Automotive technology enhancement: Led by Instructor Lawrence Martinson, funds provide modern steering and suspension lab equipment alongside Automotive Service Excellence certification exams for 50 students.
• Multi-sector workforce project: Led by Peros, the effort broadens access to industry credentials and professional development across healthcare, technology and trades.

The federal investment through the Perkins V funding (supporting career and technical education) ensures 糖心视频 Maui College students gain industry-validated skills to meet evolving local workforce demands.

A University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 nursing professor is helping shape how the next generation of health care providers learns about reproductive health.

Molly Altman, associate professor and PhD Program director at the (SONDH), is the lead editor of the fifth edition of Gynecologic Health Care: With an Introduction to Prenatal and Postpartum Care, a widely used textbook for nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals.

The new edition adds expanded coverage of abortion, early pregnancy loss, trauma-informed care (prioritizes patient safety and support) and reproductive justice (the right to control one’s own reproductive health decisions). It also examines the history of nursing and midwifery and how inequities in health care have shaped patient experiences.

Altman brings more than 20 years of experience as a certified nurse-midwife and more than a decade of teaching experience. Her research focuses on reducing inequities in reproductive health care, including racism and bias in clinical settings.

She joined 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in 2024 and has continued her work to strengthen nursing education and research. She recently helped relaunch SONDH‘s PhD program, which prepares nurse scientists to address health challenges in Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Altman edited the new edition with Ellen Solis, associate professor and Nurse Midwifery DNP Program director at the University of Washington. The textbook is published by Jones & Bartlett Learning.

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In a major boost for global health, the ‘s Body Composition Laboratory has earned an international designation from the (IAEA).

As one of only eight Collaborating Centres worldwide—and the only one dedicated to nutrition—the lab is set to pioneer cutting-edge research and training in body composition assessment, addressing critical factors like obesity in the global fight against cancer.

Led by laboratory Director and 糖心视频 Cancer Center Chief Scientific Officer John Shepherd, the laboratory will work with the IAEA through 2030 to standardize body composition assessment techniques, including methods to measure body fat, lean mass and total body water; host technical workshops; conduct collaborative research; and provide specialized clinical and technical training and resources to IAEA member countries. The need for such training is urgent because obesity is associated with approximately 20% of all cancers.

“The designation of Dr. Shepherd’s lab as an IAEA Collaborating Centre places it within a small but elite international network and reaffirms the quality of research conducted at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center,” said Chad B. Walton, 糖心视频 interim vice president for research and innovation. “It also helps to strengthen the distinct advantages that 糖心视频 has in serving the needs of the Pacific region while expanding opportunities to contribute to—and benefit from—global collaboration, knowledge sharing, and advances in cancer research through the IAEA network.”

International partnership expands Pacific reach

The IAEA is the world’s central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field. It designates Collaborating Centres to conduct research, development and training.

The IAEA presented the laboratory’s official plaque during an August 26 ceremony at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center.

“This designation represents a partnership, recognizing expertise that already exists here, while reflecting a shared commitment to extending this expertise to not only the Pacific but the wider global community,” Alford said.

The designation aligns with the 糖心视频 Cancer Center’s responsibility for its catchment area, which includes Hawaiʻi and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. As one of only 74 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, the 糖心视频 Cancer Center’s catchment area spans approximately 7 million square miles and includes more than 2 million people.

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Hawaiʻi faces a severe shortage of mental health specialists qualified to diagnose and support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, often resulting in long wait times for evaluations and delays in accessing critical services. To help address this growing need, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has appointed internationally recognized clinical psychologist and autism researcher Meghan Miller to lead its (CDS).

A leading expert in the early identification of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Miller will strengthen the center’s efforts to train more specialists, expand access to services and support, and advance research that improves outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families.

“Hawaiʻi has incredible strengths in its communities and its commitment to supporting people with disabilities. At the same time, there is also a growing need for more trained professionals and greater access to services,” said Miller, who was appointed this year. “The Center on Disability Studies is uniquely positioned to bring together research, education and community partnerships to help build that workforce and ensure individuals with disabilities and their families have the support they need throughout their lives.”

The need for that work continues to grow. Autism diagnoses have risen dramatically nationwide—. Miller said expanding Hawaiʻi‘s workforce of trained specialists and increasing access to evidence-based services are critical to advancing CDS‘s mission of improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families across the state.

July also marks and is celebrated worldwide to honor the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

Research, training and community impact

CDS was established in 1987 as Hawaiʻi‘s federally funded University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The center is part of a national network that conducts research, provides professional training and partners with communities to improve opportunities for people with disabilities across the lifespan.

Each year, CDS, which is part of the 糖心视频 Mānoa , collaborates with state agencies, schools, health care providers and community organizations to provide technical assistance, workforce training and community-based programs. Its initiatives focus on education, early intervention, and employment and community living, serving thousands of individuals and families throughout Hawaiʻi, including Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other historically underserved communities.

Expert takes CDS helm

Under Miller’s leadership, the center is working to strengthen interdisciplinary research, expand training opportunities for future educators and service providers, and pursue additional external funding to increase Hawaiʻi‘s capacity to meet the growing demand for disability services.

Miller brings nearly two decades of experience in neurodevelopmental disabilities research and practice. Her work has advanced understanding of the earliest signs of autism, developmental trajectories and early intervention, with findings published in leading scientific journals. She has also received national recognition for her research, including honors from the International Society for Autism Research and the Association for Psychological Science.

“Dr. Miller is an exceptional scholar whose research has helped shape our understanding of autism and early childhood development,” said College of Education Dean Nathan Murata. “Just as important, she shares the College of Education’s commitment to turning research into meaningful outcomes for Hawaiʻi families and communities while strengthening efforts to prepare future educators and service providers.”

糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel, who has spoken about the importance of disability inclusion in higher education, brings a personal perspective shaped in part by her experience as a parent and disability rights attorney.

“I know firsthand how critical early diagnosis and access to services can be for children and their families,” Hensel said. “Too many families in Hawaiʻi face long waits because we simply do not have enough specialists to meet the need. Dr. Miller’s leadership will help 糖心视频 expand that workforce and improve access to life-changing support. This is exactly what a public university should do, apply its expertise to address Hawaiʻi‘s greatest challenges and improve the lives of the people we serve.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 19th annual Medical Diagnosis and Treatment (MDT) program gave high school students the opportunity to experience life as a medical student.

Throughout the week-long program from July 6 to 10, 84 students worked through medical scenarios they might encounter as physicians.

This year, students experienced a new addition to the program.

Bryan Brown, assistant professor of medicine, introduced a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired learning activity that transformed cardiovascular disease into an interactive adventure. Students worked together to battle characters representing diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol and heart disease. Brown鈥檚 goal was to make complex medical concepts memorable by combining storytelling with active learning.

Donor support made it possible for 12 neighbor island students from Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, 尝腻苍补ʻ颈, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island to participate this year.

Charlotte Jo, a student at Wai膩kea High School, hopes to take what she’s learning back to Hawaiʻi Island.

“I’m hoping to learn more so I can come back, serve my community, and really help out our healthcare system,” she said. “We really need it, especially here on the Big Island.”

Nineteen years after the MDT program began, many of its participants have gone on to become medical students. The hope for the program is to leave high-school students inspired to volunteer in hospitals, seek out shadowing opportunities, and continue exploring healthcare.

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Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have found that certain gut bacteria are linked to how quickly the body ages, providing new insight into the connection between the gut, health and longevity.

The findings, , found that differences in gut bacteria explained about 15% of the differences in how quickly participants鈥� bodies were biologically aging. The work provides evidence that gut microbiome carries meaningful biological information related to how quickly the body ages at the molecular level.

“This study advances our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and biological aging,” said senior author Alika K. Maunakea of the 糖心视频 Mānoa . “We found that microbial patterns in the gut were significantly associated with molecular measures of aging, even independent of chronological age. These findings open important new directions for understanding how modifiable biological systems influence long-term health trajectories and longevity.”

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Gut bacteria linked to how our genes switch on and off, September 22, 2025

Tracking the gut-body connection

The research analyzed stool and blood samples from 123 participants representing a broad adult age range. The team compared the types of bacteria found in participants鈥� guts with biological markers in their blood that estimate how quickly their bodies are aging. Unlike chronological age, which measures the number of years a person has lived, biological aging biomarkers attempt to capture how rapidly the body is aging physiologically.

The investigators observed that gut microbial composition was specifically associated with DunedinPACE, a next-generation biomarker that estimates the pace of biological aging. Several types of bacteria demonstrated particularly strong associations with aging trajectories. Among the findings, Bifidobacterium adolescentis emerged as one of the strongest microbial signatures associated with slower biological aging, while Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens showed one of the strongest associations with accelerated aging.

Lead author Braden P. Kunihiro said the findings highlight the growing scientific importance of the gut microbiome in precision health research.

“The gut microbiome is highly responsive to lifestyle, diet, environment and other everyday exposures,” Kunihiro said. “Our findings suggest that the microbiome may reflect important aspects of biological resilience and aging in ways that could eventually help inform future wellness and healthy aging strategies.”

The study also included a group of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants, populations historically underrepresented in aging and microbiome research. Co-author Ruben Juarez noted that the work may help researchers better understand how environmental and social factors become biologically embedded over time.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Native Hawaiians face higher rates of accelerated biological aging, 糖心视频 study finds, July 29, 2024

“The microbiome exists at the intersection of behavior, environment and human biology,” Juarez said. “Studies like this help illuminate potential pathways through which lived experiences and social factors influence long-term health outcomes.”

The researchers emphasize that the study found a connection between gut bacteria and biological aging, but it does not prove that one causes the other. More research is needed to determine whether changing the gut microbiome can affect how the body ages.

“This is an important early step toward understanding the gut microbiome鈥檚 relationship with healthy aging,” Maunakea said. “Future research will help clarify the mechanisms involved and whether these microbial signatures may eventually contribute to precision approaches for promoting long-term health and wellness.”

For decades, scientists have studied whether oxygen-carrying liquids could help people breathe when their lungs are too damaged or underdeveloped to function normally. They have assumed those liquids could replace the lung’s natural surfactant—an ultrathin film that coats the tiny air sacs inside the lungs and prevents them from collapsing during breathing. Research from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 suggests that assumption may be incorrect.

A new three-year, $491,121 National Science Foundation (NSF) award will enable Professor Yi Zuo and his team to investigate one of the most fundamental unanswered questions in lung biophysics while developing a new generation of experimental tools that could advance biomedical engineering, materials science and future liquid breathing technologies.

“The oxygen-carrying liquid does not simply replace the lung’s natural surfactant,” said Zuo from the and the . “Instead, the two appear to work together at the interface between two liquids. Understanding how that interface behaves is essential if we want to improve future liquid ventilation technologies.”

A century-old problem with new implications

Scientists have studied the pulmonary surfactant for more than 70 years to understand how it works when we breathe air. Much less is known about how it behaves when the lungs are filled with oxygen-rich liquids.

Liquid ventilation, in which oxygen-carrying perfluorocarbon liquids (synthetic liquids that carry large amounts of oxygen) partially or completely replace air in the lungs, has long been investigated as a potential treatment for premature infants and patients suffering from severe respiratory failure. Researchers have also envisioned future applications in emergency medicine, deep-sea diving and human space exploration. However, much remains unknown about the basic mechanics of how these liquids interact inside the lungs.

Inventing a new scientific tool

A major objective of the project is developing a new experimental platform capable of studying molecular behavior at liquid-liquid interfaces. Current techniques were originally designed nearly a century ago to investigate films on water exposed to air. Those methods work well for traditional surface science but cannot adequately study the interface between two liquids.

Building upon technology invented in Zuo’s laboratory, the team is developing a small device that lets scientists watch how molecules gather and interact where two different liquids meet.

“This project is really about developing a new way of studying one of nature’s most important interfaces,” Zuo said. “Once we have the technology, it can be applied far beyond lung biology.”

Impact beyond medicine

Liquid-liquid interfaces play essential roles in biological systems, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, drug delivery, energy technologies, food science and environmental engineering. The new instrumentation developed through this NSF project is expected to provide researchers with a versatile platform for investigating molecular self-assembly in many different applications.

A special ceremony was held for two Kauaʻi-based graduates who were unable to attend Kapiʻolani Community College鈥檚 5 p.m. commencement ceremony (the final of three) on May 15 because stormy weather delayed their flight to Oʻahu.

The celebration later that evening reflected leadership鈥檚 commitment to put students first, and honored Krystle Pascua and Kailee Lapitan. They were among eight Kauaʻi students who completed Kapiʻolani CC鈥檚 Medical Assisting (MEDA) program this spring after innovation and inter-campus collaboration helped save their educational pathway.

“When the future of our program became uncertain, I felt overwhelmed and worried that my opportunity and pathway for a better future might be put on hold indefinitely,” said Pascua. “What helped me stay committed was our instructors who swiftly welcomed us into their program on short notice and worked tirelessly to accommodate us.”

Keeping on track

Last fall, Kauaʻi CC鈥檚 medical assisting program lost its director just one week before the semester started, leaving students uncertain about how they would complete their training.

Kapiʻolani CC stepped in to ensure the Kauaʻi-based students could continue their education and stay on track for healthcare careers. The campuses worked together closely to transition the students into Kapiʻolani CC鈥檚 accredited MEDA program. Faculty adjusted teaching schedules, delivered online instruction and traveled weekly to Kauaʻi to provide hands-on laboratory and clinical skills training.

“We felt it was important to ensure students could complete their education without interruption and graduate on time,” said Kapiʻolani CC MEDA Program Director Jennifer Au Hoy. “These students had already invested so much into their education.”

Securing a critical pathway

The collaboration preserved a vital healthcare workforce pathway for Kauaʻi and enabled the cohort to graduate with a Certificate of Achievement in Medical Assisting through Kapiʻolani CC.

“The success of these students demonstrates the power of University of Hawaiʻi campuses working together as one system,” said Kapiʻolani CC
Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi. “Kapiʻolani Community College is committed to serving as a hub-and-spoke partner in healthcare education. By collaborating in this way, we can expand educational access, strengthen workforce pathways, and help ensure that every community has the healthcare professionals it needs.”

—By Lisa Yamamoto

Maui residents can now pursue careers in respiratory therapy and radiologic technology without having to relocate to Oʻahu. Maui Health and the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges have partnered to launch two Maui-based degree programs.

The dedicated Maui cohort programs, offered through Kapiʻolani Community College, are designed to create accessible pathways to high-demand, living wage careers.

“Kapiʻolani Community College is proud to expand healthcare workforce opportunities by offering the respiratory care practitioner and radiologic technologist programs beginning fall of 2026,” said Karen Boyer, dean of health academic programs. “These programs will help address critical healthcare workforce shortages in Hawaiʻi while providing students with accessible pathways to high-demand, living wage healthcare careers.”

Students in both programs will complete a combination of online, in-person and hybrid coursework, including hands-on clinical training conducted at Maui Memorial Medical Center. To further remove financial obstacles, the Maui Health Foundation is offering scholarships that may cover 100% of direct education costs, including tuition, fees, books and supplies for the professional program.

Applications for the Maui cohort are available through the website, with a deadline of May 31. Scholarship applications are due June 20, 2026. 糖心视频 , including links to program and scholarship applications.

‘Milestone moment’

“This is a milestone moment for Maui and an example of what can happen when community partners come together to invest in our people and our future,” said Wade Ebersole, interim CEO of Maui Health. “These programs open doors for local residents to pursue stable, well-paying healthcare careers, while also strengthening the pipeline of professionals who are committed to serving Maui鈥檚 community.”

Both pathways lead to a two-year associate in science degree. With minimal prerequisites often completed in one to two semesters, graduates can be prepared to enter the workforce in approximately 2.5 to 3 years. This rapid turnaround is essential to filling critical shortages in respiratory care and medical imaging roles across Maui. Graduates are positioned for strong earning potential, with starting wages for these roles exceeding $42 per hour.

The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to strengthening Maui鈥檚 healthcare workforce and ensuring high-quality care for its residents.

Co-designed with the community, the , facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi, aims to track health outcomes to inform future research and clinical guidance on fuel exposure and provide resources for those who experienced the fuel spill. To date, the registry has pre-enrolled more than 2,600 participants. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, .

Joining the registry is a two-step process. First, is the pre-enrollment questionnaire followed by either a baseline or expanded questionnaire, depending on how, when and where you used water. Of the more than 2,600 pre-enrolled participants, only 423 have completed their baseline or expanded questionnaires. Registry staff continue to follow up with participants who have not yet completed the process.

“The Red Hill Registry is seeking community input to gain insight on how to increase its completion rates,” said Sanie Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry. “The feedback received directly informs how the registry improves its tools, communications and support efforts.”

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report in March 2026 which emphasized the importance of continued data collection via the Red Hill Registry to understand links between jet fuel exposure and health effects as well as community-driven efforts related to the Red Hill water crisis.

Whether you are an enrolled participant or experienced the water crisis and have yet to enroll, the registry invites everyone to visit the to learn more and in either the community survey or a virtual focus group.

Community Survey: 15-minute survey seeking feedback on your experience with the Red Hill Registry and its support tools.

Virtual Focus Groups: 2-hour sessions available between June 8 and June 19, 2026. Times will vary to accommodate participation from around the globe.

If you have any questions about these feedback opportunities, registry staff can be reached by email at info@redhillregistry.org or by calling 808-427-8260 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. HST.

This spring, a Waiʻanae mother and daughter are celebrating more than just graduation—they are marking a shared journey of perseverance, sacrifice and a deep commitment to serving their community through healthcare.

Haylie-Marie Domingo-Kealoha, born and raised in Waiʻanae, will earn her associates arts degree from Leeward Community College, completing coursework across multiple University of Hawaiʻi campuses (Kapiʻolani CC, Honolulu CC, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, and Leeward CC) while working to support herself.

Graduating alongside her is her mother, Danielle Kealoha, who is also earning her associate arts degree in liberal arts after returning to school years after stepping away to raise her family.

Two paths, one commitment to healthcare

For Haylie-Marie, the path to college was not always clear. After high school, she entered the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) medical assistant program through the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC), an experience that helped her discover her passion for healthcare.

Meet more amazing 糖心视频 graduates

Determined not to burden her parents financially, she balanced work and school, carefully arranging her schedule to pay her own way. A personal medical emergency further solidified her goal: becoming a registered nurse.

Danielle鈥檚 journey began years earlier at WCCHC鈥檚 Waiʻanae Health Academy but was paused due to the challenges of raising children while working full-time.

Returning to school at Leeward CC proved to be the right decision, offering flexible asynchronous courses that allowed her to balance work, family and education. Now working as a dialysis technician at US Renal Care in Waiʻanae, she has found purpose in patient care and hopes to advance in nephrology nursing.

Built-in support system

Experiencing college together has been one of the most meaningful aspects of their journey.

“My mom has been there for me since the very beginning,” Haylie-Marie said. “Knowing she鈥檚 going through the same classes makes it easier when I get stuck—she鈥檚 always there to help.”

Danielle echoed that sentiment, adding that watching her daughter grow into the healthcare field has been deeply rewarding. “She has exceeded every expectation,” she said. “I always believed she would make an amazing nurse.”

Support from Leeward CC

Both credit Leeward CC for playing a critical role in their success, where advisors and staff helped guide them through course selection and degree planning, ensuring they stayed on track despite busy schedules. Danielle specifically highlighted the support of advisor Leilani Yanagi, whose encouragement and guidance helped both mother and daughter navigate their academic paths with confidence.

“He ʻ奴濒别颈 kolo”—an expression for a tough person—is how Yanagi describes Danielle and Haylie-Marie. “They each took different paths to earn their AA, and it will be a joyful moment to watch them cross the stage on May 15.”

Both now work in dialysis care, strengthening their passion for helping others and reinforcing their commitment to healthcare in their community.

Looking ahead

After graduation, Haylie-Marie will begin the 糖心视频 Hilo nursing program through the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center cohort this August. Danielle plans to continue her education toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing, with the long-term goal of specializing in nephrology.

Together, their story is one of resilience, family, and community—a testament to the power of support systems both at home and at Leeward Community College.

The University of Hawaiʻi accounted for more than $61.2 million—92% of all federal biomedical research funding awarded in the state from the (NIH)—in fiscal year 2025.

Hawaiʻi received $66.7 million overall in NIH funding, according to a new report from . The investment supported 902 jobs and generated $188.7 million in economic activity statewide.

NIH funding supports a wide range of research across 糖心视频, from improving disease detection and treatment to addressing health disparities and strengthening public health systems that serve island communities, reinforcing the university鈥檚 role in advancing health research and innovation in Hawaiʻi.

had the largest share, with 72 awards totaling $60.7 million, while the received two awards totaling $468,391. While overall funding remained strong, NIH鈥檚 shift to multi-year funding—which obligates the full grant value upfront—resulted in 5,564 fewer grants being funded in FY2025 compared to FY2024.

“Even in a highly competitive and uncertain federal funding environment, University of Hawaiʻi researchers continue to deliver work that improves lives here at home and beyond,” said Chad Walton, 糖心视频 interim vice president for research and innovation. “These investments fuel discoveries, support high-quality jobs and strengthen our local economy. Every dollar makes a difference for our communities.”

Research highlights

Recent awards reflect the diversity of NIH-funded research at 糖心视频:

• $322,891 from the National Cancer Institute supports Shugeng Zhao Cao, professor at the at 糖心视频 Hilo. The project, Discovery of novel natural TEAD inhibitors for the chemoprevention of liver tumors, explores natural compounds from Hawaiian microorganisms to develop the first preventive therapy for liver cancer.



• $2,039,744 from the National Human Genome Research Institute supports Lang Wu, associate professor at the at the 糖心视频 Cancer Center. The research advances genomic tools and approaches to better understand complex diseases and support precision health applications. (Related 糖心视频 News story)
• $459,287 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases supports Youping Deng, professor at the . The project, Hawaii Advanced Training in Artificial Intelligence for Precision Nutrition Science Research, strengthens training in the use of artificial intelligence for nutrition and metabolic health research. (Related 糖心视频 News story)

Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and community members are invited to the free workshop “How Clinical Trials Save Lives,” hosted by the 鈥檚 Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community. The event will be held on Saturday, April 18, 9鈥�11 a.m. at the Sullivan Conference Center.

Attendees will learn how trials work, hear from experts and patient panelists, and explore how participation shapes future care. The event will follow with light refreshments and a preview of the new 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 Early Phase Clinical Research Center, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Participants can attend in-person and via Zoom. .

‘Where research turns into real hope’

“Clinical trials are where research turns into real hope,” said Naoto T. Ueno, director of the 糖心视频 Cancer Center and a two-time cancer survivor. “They give patients access to promising therapies and new possibilities.”

Clinical trials allow patients to receive new treatments or new combinations of existing therapies, often before they are widely available, while being closely monitored by research teams.

Related 糖心视频 News story: 糖心视频 cancer support network champions patient advocacy

The 糖心视频 Cancer Center administers nearly 90% of cancer clinical trials in Hawaiʻi. Its new 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 facility will expand access to early-phase trials locally.

The workshop also marks the one-year anniversary of the Cancer CARE Community and honors founder Susan Hirano, whose vision continues to support and empower those affected by cancer. Since launching, the Cancer CARE Community has connected hundreds statewide, continuing Hirano鈥檚 legacy of hope and support.

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During spring break, University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 nursing student Jolene Chun joined National Guard search and rescue efforts in high-risk flood zones in Waialua to help ensure the safety of residents and property during the state evacuation order in March. Chun, a state-activated Hawaiʻi Air National Guard Staff Sergeant medic with the U.S. Air Force, is pursuing her advanced degree through the (GEPN) in the (SONDH).

“The most impactful moment during the search was witnessing the devastation of mass amounts of property and vehicles displaced due to the powerful impact of the flood,” Chun said.

Chun earned her bachelor of arts in with a concentration in disaster preparedness and management from 糖心视频 West Oʻahu in 2021. Her decision to serve as a medic in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard was influenced in part by educational opportunities, including tuition assistance that supported her undergraduate degree.

Her training in the GEPN program built on her clinical experience as a medic, strengthening her ability to respond in high-pressure situations.

“The program helped me render aid with definitive treatments in mind, which made me more confident assisting in the field,” she said.

Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call.
—Jolene Chun

Balancing both roles, Chun said the skills complement each other and reinforce a shared focus on patient care, making her immediate decision to assist during spring break instinctive.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to assist in responding to people in the community. Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call,” she said.

A long-term commitment to service

Chun plans to graduate in 2028 and commission as a Hawaiʻi Air National Guard nurse, eventually pursuing the to continue serving Hawaiʻi communities. In addition to focusing on women鈥檚 wellness, she aims to help improve coordination across federal, state, city and private sectors to expand access to healthcare.

As the affected communities continue cleaning and rebuilding, Chun reflects on the ongoing efforts. “I am appreciative that the National Guard members are still out there working with the community to help the land and people pick up the pieces to hopefully normalize after the effects of the Kona Low system.”

SONDH Dean Clementina Ceria-Ulep added, “Jolene鈥檚 dedication as a nursing student and medic showcases the remarkable service and leadership our students bring to Hawaiʻi communities.”

What began as a weeklong summer experience at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM) turned into something much bigger for Hawaii Baptist Academy student Callie Kawaguchi.

After attending JABSOM鈥檚 last summer, an immersive introduction to medical school, Kawaguchi helped organize the Convention for Future Medical Leaders, held February 28, at Hawaii Baptist Academy. The event brought nearly 100 high school students from across Hawaiʻi together to .

First medical school experience

“They really catered to making sure that we learned about med school,” Kawaguchi said of her MDT experience. “No one had ever told me what it really was about. I found learning about medical school valuable.”

The weeklong MDT program introduces high school students to problem-based learning, anatomy demonstrations, clinical skills labs, simulated patient encounters and computerized manikin simulations. Participants learn to recognize symptoms of illnesses common in Hawaiʻi and practice basic clinical skills such as taking vital signs, listening to heart and lung sounds and interviewing patients.

“I was really curious,” Kawaguchi said. “And I think I really got what they were talking about.”

Inspiring future healthcare leaders

Inspired by the experience, Kawaguchi created the Convention for Future Medical Leaders to help other students learn about the medical field.

The goal of the MDT program is to inspire an interest in learning about healthcare.
—Damon Sakai

“There have been career days just for your own high school,” she said. “But I wanted a convention just for medical stuff and for high schoolers around the island.”

JABSOM faculty, staff and students participated in the event, including MDT Director Damon Sakai, who spoke about the importance of early exposure to health careers.

“The goal of the MDT program is to inspire an interest in learning about healthcare,” Sakai said. “Hawaiʻi continues to face a significant healthcare workforce shortage, so early exposure programs like MDT are increasingly important.”

Registration for summer program

Registration for the opens on March 23. The program runs July 6–10, at JABSOM in Kakaʻako and is open to high school students in grades 10–12 who are at least 16 years old.

“There鈥檚 currently a medical worker shortage in Hawaiʻi,” Kawaguchi said. “And I wanted other people to get a little closer to what they want to do in the future.”

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A new report from the (糖心视频ERO) emphasizes the crucial role of the 糖心视频 Community Colleges鈥� Good Jobs Hawaiʻi (GJH) program in successfully placing residents into high-demand, higher-paying careers. The preliminary analysis by Rachel Inafuku provides more evidence that these targeted training programs are helping families combat Hawaiʻi’s persistent, high cost of living.

“Consistent with the , average real quarterly wages for [Good Jobs Hawaiʻi] completers were more than $2,000 higher two quarters after program completion than two quarters prior,” the report said. This increase demonstrates how these short-term programs are creating essential earning power.

Higher healthcare earnings

The most dramatic gains were found among those who transitioned into a new field after training. In healthcare, the largest GJH pathway, participants who switched from non-healthcare industries—such as retail or food services—saw their average quarterly earnings rise by more than $5,500 two quarters after completion. This amounts to an annualized earnings increase of $22,000 for workers entering a sector with sustained high demand due to Hawaiʻi’s aging population.

Significant gains for skilled trades

Similarly, skilled trades completers realized significant wage gains, earning roughly $2,600 more per quarter post-program. Employment patterns for this group also shifted away from lower-wage sectors and toward construction, manufacturing and public administration, aligning with the state’s thriving construction industry and its well-above-average wages.

Smaller increases for tech

Outcomes varied by sector. Technology students—many of whom were mid-career workers with pre-program earnings higher than the average GJH student—experienced smaller wage increases and more modest changes in industry placement.

Read more 糖心视频 News Good Jobs Hawaiʻi stories

Overall, these findings highlight how post-training earnings trajectories reflect both the specific skills acquired and the broader structure of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 labor market.

Inafuku said, “As Hawaiʻi continues to face a high demand for workers in critical sectors alongside persistent cost-of-living pressures, workforce programs that align training with industry needs can address both challenges—placing workers in more stable, higher-paying jobs while helping employers meet demand.”

糖心视频ERO is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

Kauilaon膩lani Tengan is inspired to encourage greater participation from Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino communities in diabetes clinical trials to ensure research better reflects the populations most affected by the disease.

Leave your assumptions and biases at the door and engage these communities with aloha.
—Kauilaon膩lani Tengan

He is translating that goal into practice through applied research. A master of science student in epidemiology at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 , Tengan was part of a study team at The Queen鈥檚 Health Systems (QHS) whose findings were published in in the study Exploring Diabetes Clinical Trial Participation: A Diverse Group Interview Study.

“I have a family history of cardiometabolic diseases and I remember visiting extended family who had to fly from Moloka驶i just to receive quality care here on Oʻahu,” he said. “This [experience] instilled in me a desire to learn more about health issues so prevalent in our islands and contribute to innovative solutions.”

Research findings and lessons learned

While at QHS, Tengan split his time between health equity research and clinical data management, utilizing electronic medical records to address research questions. He helped conduct interviews with 56 hospitalized patients to explore what motivates—or prevents—patients from joining diabetes clinical trials.

Although 84% expressed willingness to participate, most had never been asked. Barriers included mistrust, concerns about medication risks, and lack of understanding, while many Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants cited family and community benefit as key motivators.

“Engaging face-to-face with people in a clinical setting humanized health data for me,” Tengan said. “It reminded me that these are people, not statistics. I realized that my work has a lasting impact, so it is my responsibility to do things in a pono manner.”

Tengan hopes to carry these lessons forward. “Leave your assumptions and biases at the door and engage these communities with aloha,” he said. “It is vital that we do work in an ethically and culturally nuanced way because there are real world impacts in the data that we publish.”

The study was part of an Food and Drug Administration-funded project at The Queen驶s Medical Center, in collaboration with the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 , and clinical partners. also found that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants are consistently underrepresented in U.S. clinical trials.

“Kauilaon膩lani鈥檚 perspectives and real-life application from quantitative analyses are so important to building collective public health,” said Tetine Sentell, public health professor and study co-author.

Hawaiʻi is facing a critical shortage of neurosurgeons, leaving many patients with long waits or forced to travel off-island for care. The (JABSOM) is working to address the shortage through a mentorship program that trains the next generation of specialists while encouraging them to practice locally.

JABSOM alumnus Thomas Noh returned home to join the faculty and quickly saw how the problem would worsen as current neurosurgeons retire.

“There was an opportunity, and a need, for JABSOM to build interest in the field and get more people excited about going into neurosurgery,” he said.

The program offers hands-on surgical rotations, opportunities to contribute to research projects in Noh驶s lab and access to professional networks, with an emphasis on empowering women and students from underrepresented communities.

“One of Hawaiʻi's super powers is that we have incredibly bright, very motivated students who want to make Hawaiʻi their home,” Noh said. “If we can connect this pool of extremely qualified candidates with opportunities across neurosurgery, there’s hope that some of these students will get excited about it and want to build a career in Hawaiʻi.”

Invaluable mentorship experience

Third-year medical student Janette Bow-Keola said the mentorship has been invaluable.

“When I started med school, I had the idea that I wanted to pursue neurosurgery, but I didn’t think it was really achievable, coming from my background as an underrepresented person in medicine,” she said. “I struggled with imposter syndrome and doubting whether I was right for medicine or worthy of going into neurosurgery.”

Through the experience I鈥檓 getting at JABSOM, I鈥檝e built confidence in myself and my training and what I can offer patients.
—Janette Bow-Keola

When Bow-Keola met Noh, he affirmed that neurosurgery was within reach and that JABSOM could help her get there. “Through the experience I’m getting at JABSOM, I’ve built confidence in myself and my training and what I can offer patients,” she said.

Bow-Keola plans to return to Hawaiʻi to address disparities in care and the declining neurosurgeon workforce.

Another success story is alumna Andie Conching—the first known Native Hawaiian woman accepted into a neurosurgery residency—who also credits mentorship at JABSOM and plans to return home to practice.

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