To help solve a national shortage of certified secondary STEM teachers, the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu has been awarded $302,487 from the National Science Foundation. The three-year project, “Shaping Pathways, Hands-on Engagement, and Reflective Experiences (SPHERE) to Enhance Mathematics Teacher Preparation,” runs through 2029.

SPHERE creates a streamlined five-year dual-degree pathway combining applied mathematics and pedagogy, while using agreements with 糖心视频 community colleges to smooth transfer routes and lower barriers for prospective educators.

“I’m excited about what this award means for our students and future students,” said Veny Liu, SPHERE principal investigator and associate professor of mathematics. “SPHERE will create a more streamlined pathway for students interested in becoming secondary mathematics teachers and expand access through scholarship opportunities.”

Building the mathematics educator pipeline

“SPHERE will help build a stronger pipeline of mathematics educators who can inspire students, support STEM learning and contribute to the long-term educational and economic well-being of Hawaiʻi,” said Professor Laurie James, co-principal investigator.

This award marks more than $2 million in NSF funding secured by Liu and James for multiple related projects, including a $1.2-million grant in 2024 to support secondary mathematics teachers serving Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

”I see SPHERE as an opportunity to connect coursework across the 糖心视频 System and create a smoother, more sustainable pathway for students pursuing teaching, while supporting broader efforts to strengthen Hawaiʻi鈥檚 educator workforce,” Liu said.

James added, “For future 糖心视频 West Oʻahu teachers, this award represents more than an academic opportunity. It is an investment in their potential to become educators who shape the next generation of learners across Hawaiʻi.“

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The University of 贬补飞补颈驶颈鈥揥别蝉迟 翱驶补丑耻 has achieved a major milestone, for the National Cyber League (NCL) spring 2026 competition. This performance, involving more than 7,500 students from 670 institutions, marks the university鈥檚 highest placement to date, rising from 9th in the previous fall competition.

“NCL teaches you the skills you can’t always pick up in the classroom,” said student Sean Belisle. “You need to use your academic knowledge and combine it with logic and problem solving skills to find answers, and it’s this combination that has been preparing us well for our careers after school.”

The NCL event, powered by Cyber Skyline, tests students against real-world workforce challenges, including forensic data analysis, pentesting (a simulated cyberattack) and ransomware recovery.

Student Joel Kawamae added, “In a field like cybersecurity, where technology is constantly evolving, the solutions that work today are not always the same solutions we will rely on tomorrow. Competitions like the National Cyber League and other CTFs (Capture The Flag, a common format for cybersecurity competitions) challenge us to adapt to unfamiliar problems and to learn under pressure, and that ability to keep learning is one of the most valuable traits a cybersecurity professional can have.”

Skill, determination, teamwork

“Participation in the National Cyber League provides students with an opportunity to apply their cybersecurity knowledge in a realistic, hands-on environment while competing against some of the best student talent in the nation,” said Anthony Eich, team coach and a cybersecurity lecturer.

In May, a 糖心视频 West 翱驶补丑耻 team, which included students from Honolulu Community College, secured 4th place nationally in the NCL Team Standard Bracket.

Eich said, “Earning a top-four team finish and helping 糖心视频 West 翱驶补丑耻 achieve a third-place national Cyber Power Ranking demonstrates the skill, determination and teamwork of our students. I am incredibly proud of what they accomplished and excited to see the continued growth of our cybersecurity program.”

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The newly crowned Miss Hawaiʻi 2026, Carly Yoshida, is a University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu alumna, who earned a bachelor of arts in social sciences with a concentration in psychology in 2023. Yoshida succeeds Miss Hawaiʻi 2025 Emalia Dalire, a 2024 糖心视频 West Oʻahu graduate.

“The moment I was named Miss Hawaiʻi 2026 felt surreal—I honestly just remember being so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude when they called my name,” said Yoshida, 26, of Honolulu. “I鈥檝e been working at this dream for so long, so there are so many different layers of purpose and emotion in this win.”

It was a full-circle moment for Yoshida, who works at KITV4 as the weekday weather anchor for both Good Morning Hawaiʻi and Island News Midday. She is celebrating 10 years since being crowned Miss Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Teen in 2016.

The Miss Hawaiʻi competition took place on June 19 at Hawaiʻi Theatre. Yoshida competed as Miss Kakaʻako and topped nine other delegates for the title. She was crowned by Dalire.

• Related story: 糖心视频 West Oʻahu alumna crowned Miss Hawaiʻi, June 24, 2025

糖心视频 West Oʻahu a ‘formative time’

“It鈥檚 really special that Emalia is also a 糖心视频 West Oʻahu grad!” Yoshida said. “It shows how much the school prepares its students for success, and I鈥檓 excited to follow in her footsteps. I鈥檝e watched her grow up, so it鈥檚 a very interesting dynamic of her being my big/little sister. We also share the same birthday!”

Yoshida is from Waikoloa Village on Hawaiʻi Island and graduated from Kealakehe High School. She earned her associate鈥檚 degree in liberal arts from Hawaiʻi Community College–Pālamanui, then transferred to 糖心视频 West Oʻahu.

“糖心视频 West Oʻahu was such a formative time for me,” Yoshida said. “It really helped me build the foundation for my career and understand the community better before I started working full time.”

Weather safety platform

During the Miss Hawaiʻi competition, Yoshida鈥檚 platform, or community service initiative, was “Weather the Future,” which encourages safety and emergency readiness for Hawaiʻi. Yoshida said she is looking forward to expanding this initiative during her upcoming reign.

“I believe that this is not just a statewide issue, but a national and global ambition, and I鈥榲e already planted the seeds by networking with scientists, STEM experts and globally known science content creators who are excited about this initiative,” she said. “So, I feel that Hawaiʻi has a really strong suit to bring to the table at Miss America this year.”

She will represent Hawaiʻi at the in September in West Palm Beach, Florida.

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— By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu has launched a bold new chapter in campus innovation, selecting 10 projects through the initiative to drive student and institutional success. This initiative provides start-up grants covering July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028, fueling groundbreaking, self-sustaining ideas that strengthen the campus.

“I am incredibly proud of the ingenuity displayed by our campus community,” said 糖心视频 West Oʻahu interim Chancellor Carlos Pe帽aloza. “When we challenge ourselves to remove traditional barriers and put students at the center of our design, the results are transformative.”

The call for proposals in February drew nearly 50 submissions. Following a peer review process, the 10 awardees were finalized on June 1. The grants range from $55,000 to $100,000.

Pe帽aloza said, “These 10 inaugural projects represent a powerful mix of modern technology, place-based learning and workforce collaboration. Invest in 糖心视频 West isn’t just a short-term funding mechanism; it is a catalyst for sustainable, long-term institutional growth that directly enriches the student experience.鈥�

Project Summaries

• ACM + MNHS Synergy Swarm
  Lead: Esther Widiasih
  This two-year pilot creates an AI marketing engine to automate workflows and scale recruitment for Academy for Creative Media and Mathematics and Natural Health Sciences concentrations.
• Classroom Revival and Multi-Use Space
  Lead: Therese Nakadomari
  Renovates a classroom into a versatile, multi-use space designed for hybrid collaborative learning and discussions.
• The HEMIC Academy and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Strategic Collaboration
  Lead: Edward Keaunui
  The “Learn and Earn” pipeline offers high schoolers paid insurance apprenticeships, creating a direct path to a 糖心视频 West Oʻahu business degree.
• Ke Ala Kiakahi
  Leads: H艒k奴 Kwan and Macie Remular
  Expands a culturally grounded pipeline to boost student access, persistence and workforce readiness through integrated programming.
• Ke K膩墨 Koi o ʻEwa Transfer Project
  Lead: Amy Bumatai
  Closes the “transfer gap” by transforming the transition from Leeward Community College to 糖心视频 West Oʻahu into a unified opt-out model, and dedicating physical space at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu for a co-learning center.
• Mobile Student Success Hub
  Lead: Carrie Larger
  This “Desk in a Box” station uses mobile equipment to support transfer students and boost retention across campus locations.
• N膩limakui 鈥� Ke Kula Mau Initiative
  Lead: Kalikolani Correa
  Centers Indigenous innovation and ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) to transform the campus into a more rigorous and culturally grounded place of learning.
• Restoring Campus Mana
  Lead: Jayson M. Chun
  Funds active learning classrooms and a professional speaker series to build campus presence and community for students.
• Virtual Campus Tour
  Leads: Brian Miyamoto and Martin Motooka
  Hires an external vendor to produce a modern, professional virtual tour to showcase the campus to prospective students.
• West Invests
  Lead: Kaʻiulani Akamine
  This re-enrollment program targets adult learners who have left college with past due-balances, providing them with debt forgiveness through Hana Hou grants to convert uncollectible debt into active tuition.

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

at the University of Hawaiʻi鈥揥别蝉迟 Oʻahu was selected to be a featured contributor to “,” an exhibit curated by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The national online repository tells the story of our country in documents, according to the SAA website. Sourced from institutions across the U.S. and internationally, the collection aims to highlight the full range of America’s documentary heritage and the role archives have played in preserving and understanding our history.

ʻUluʻulu staff nominated , a film from its collection. Produced in 1987, the film features K膩naka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) discussing the contemporary meanings of mana (spiritual power) and kuleana (responsibility), and remains a valuable resource, offering profound insights into the Hawaiian Renaissance, its unresolved issues, and its enduring legacy.

“When the call for submissions came for this exhibit, I knew that it was important for ʻUluʻulu to participate so that we could share a perspective of U.S history from the viewpoint of Hawaiʻi and our communities,” said Janel Quirante, head archivist at ʻUluʻulu.

The challenge was choosing just one film to represent their collection.

Native Hawaiian voices live on

“ʻUluʻulu staff voted and we enthusiastically selected Hawaiian Soul from the Victoria Keith Productions Collection to represent us and to highlight the exhibit theme of Unfinished Revolutions,” Quirante said. “Hawaiian Soul was produced in 1987, but its message of what it means to be Native Hawaiian in contemporary America still resonates today.”

Filmmaker Victoria Keith produced, directed and edited Hawaiian Soul, which was co-produced by Naomi Sodetani.“I consider the selection of Hawaiian Soul for this special ‘250 for the 250th’ exhibit to be the honor of a lifetime!” Keith said. “To think this documentary, produced nearly 40 years ago, is going to be made visible again for new generations is an amazing experience.”

Keith added, “Mahalo to the ʻUluʻulu staff for such wonderful support, and of course to the amazing people who shared their manaʻo (ideas) in the video. May their voices live on and be shared through this significant historic exhibit! I am thrilled and excited to be a part of it!”

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

Georcelle Lozano鈥檚 journey to where she is today and her upcoming graduation from the University of Hawaiʻi鈥揥别蝉迟 Oʻahu began eight years ago and about 5,370 miles away in her beloved hometown of Balaoan, La Union, Philippines. When she was 14, her family immigrated to Hawaiʻi in 2018 to reunite with relatives and build a new life in a new country.

Lozano is a first-generation college student and the only fluent English speaker among her immediate family members, who speak their native Ilokano. Over the years, both her academic and familial responsibilities involved trying to figure out unknown processes and systems not only for herself, but others in her family.

Meet more amazing 糖心视频 graduates

Lozano said the experience shaped her understanding of how access to information and support can significantly influence someone鈥檚 ability to succeed.

“Graduation represents years of sacrifice, both mine and my family鈥檚,” said Lozano. “It reflects the journey of leaving home, adapting to a new country, and learning how to navigate unfamiliar spaces.”

Lozano will share her story as one of two student speakers at on May 9.

Lozano earned, with distinction, a bachelor of education in secondary education with a focus on mathematics.

“For me, this moment is not just an ending, but a responsibility,” Lozano said. “It is a reminder that everything I have learned here is meant to be carried forward and used to support others who may be walking a similar path.”

Read more at .

More than 12,000 people attended The Wall That Heals traveling exhibit during its display at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu Great Lawn in January. The three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., along with a mobile education center, served as a powerful gathering space for the community to learn, remember and share.

The Wall That Heals, a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), honors the more than three million Americans who served in the Vietnam War and bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Ken Inouye, assistant to the vice chancellor for administration at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, was part of the team that helped bring the exhibit to campus and found the experience deeply moving. He noted that unlike the quiet, often solitary nature of the D.C. memorial, the atmosphere at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu fostered spontaneous connection and sharing.

Place of healing

“Seeing the effect it has had within our community has been humbling, and the way people just spontaneously shared their stories with me and others was clearly healing,” Inouye said. “People who came to visit The Wall That Heals immediately sensed that everyone there was of the same community.”

Inouye is the son of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who served in the U.S. Army鈥檚 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated military units in U.S. history.

“A woman and her husband approached me to ask for directions and then started talking to me about the Wall,” he said. “After about five minutes of us talking about family members who had served in the military, she realized that her uncle and my father had served together in World War II.”

Nearly 400 volunteers and more than 20 community partners contributed to the event. The display at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu was the first stop of the VVMF鈥檚 2026 The Wall That Heals . The exhibit will visit a total of 31 communities in 2026.

For more visit .
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The mobile exhibit, , which features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is coming to Oʻahu. It will be on display January 14–19 at the Great Lawn of the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu in Kapolei. The exhibit, which also includes a mobile Education Center, honors the more than 3 million Americans who served and bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War. The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day until it is dismantled on January 19.

“After 30 years displaying in communities throughout the United States, few communities have worked as hard as Kapolei to host The Wall That Heals,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), the nonprofit that founded The Wall. “Our events in Hilo and Maui were incredible, and we鈥檙e excited to bring the exhibit to Oʻahu.”

Community impact

Local efforts were championed by Vietnam veteran Eddie Freeman, co-chair of The Wall That Heals 鈥� Oʻahu. He noted that his past experience on other islands “deepened my resolve to bring this powerful memorial to Oʻahu. The selection of Kapolei, Hawaiʻi, by VVMF stands as one of the most significant events for the community in 2026.”

A related showing of “Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends” will be held 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on January 16, at the ʻUluʻulu film screening room in the James & Abigail Campbell Library. Presented by the Center for Labor Education and Research, the event will include comments from filmmakers Chris Conybeare and Joy Chong-Stannard on the film’s connection to the Vietnam War and today, along with a historical exhibit.

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu recently launched the inaugural issue of (DPP), an undergraduate journal featuring 糖心视频 West Oʻahu student writers and artists, showcasing their diverse and creative works.

DPP is by and for 糖心视频 West Oʻahu students, with the mentorship of humanities faculty and the support of the and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu administration.

“It is so important to have a journal established on our campus,” said DPP faculty mentor Yasmine Romero, associate professor of English and the chair of the Humanities Division at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu. “We are an Indigenous-serving university, which means we should strive to create spaces for our students to build their archives and create connections to their communities.”

Aloha ʻ膧ina

Published on December 5, Vol. 1 No. 1 “Aloha ʻ膧ina” centers on the theme of “love for the land” and includes the work of 11 writers and three artists. The issue includes a by Tanya H艒k奴lani Racoma, the fall 2025 DPP editor-in-chief.

“The issue moves from works grounded in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 memory and everyday life, to creative retellings of familiar stories through local and Indigenous lenses, and then to ethical and critical essays engaging film, media, and social justice,” Racoma said. “It concludes with reflections on writing, identity and ancestral knowledge. Together with cover art honoring land as family, the issue embodies Aloha ʻ膧ina as love, connection and care for ʻ膩ina and community.”

She believes Da Pueo Press has the potential to grow into a space where Indigenous students feel empowered to publish in their native languages

“Honoring language, after all, is a way of honoring the people and futures they carry,” Racoma said.

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

A new partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi鈥揥别蝉迟 Oʻahu and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) will provide students with valuable hands-on training while addressing a critical shortage in the state鈥檚 public health workforce.

The 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Public Administration (PUBA) division鈥檚 Health Care Administration (HCAD) certificate program equips students and health care practitioners with a broad range of administrative skills needed in the growing health care field. In consultation with DOH, PUBA has developed the HCAD DOH Pathway for practicum placements that prepare students for employment in the public health sector.

“We see it as a win-win for both DOH and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu,” said HCAD Instructor Linda Axtell-Thompson. “There is a critical and growing shortage in public health staffing鈥攂oth locally and nationally鈥攖hat our 糖心视频 West Oʻahu programs can help address.”

Students in the pathway must complete 120 field hours and 40 academic hours. Participants who meet requirements are eligible for tuition support, book stipends and a $2,000 practicum stipend.

Urgent need

Vacancy rates across DOH and many state agencies are about 30%, according to DOH Chief Policy Officer Lorrin Kim. Nationally, the reports that local and state health departments need an additional 80,000 full-time employees just to provide basic public health services.

“The pathway collaboration between 糖心视频 West Oʻahu and the Department of Health is a strategic investment in our public workforce designed to expose Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future health care leaders to essential public health concepts and functions,” Kim said.

“We are incredibly excited and grateful to the Department of Health for this amazing opportunity,” said PUBA Division Chair Kristina Lu, who is also the HCAD Program Director. “Through this pathway, students will complete their administrative practicum with the DOH, gain valuable, real-world experience and be well-positioned for future employment with the department after graduation.”

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The University of Hawaiʻi has received a $150,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation鈥檚 Public Knowledge program to plan for a social media archive that preserves 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 digital history and centers on Native Hawaiian voices.

The project, Kaʻohipōhaku (gathering rocks or stones), is a collaboration between the 糖心视频 West Oʻahu James & Abigail Campbell Library, 糖心视频 Maui College library and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“Kaʻohipōhaku will bring together Native Hawaiian activists and web/social media archivists to start the discussion on what a social media archive, rooted in ʻāina (land) and guided by the l膩hui Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Nation), could look like,” said principal investigator Kawena Komeiji, Hawaiian Initiatives librarian at 糖心视频 M膩noa鈥檚 Hamilton Library and the former Hawaiian Pacific resources librarian at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu.

Komeiji said the effort rebalances how history is preserved, and is significant to 糖心视频 and the broader Hawaiʻi community.

“It aims to put mana (power, authority, privilege) and ea (sovereignty, independence) back into the hands of the Native Hawaiian community. In the past, collections in libraries and archives were created with our ʻike(knowledge) but without our consent or approval; and Kaʻohipōhaku aims to flip that narrative by including K膩naka (Native Hawaiian) voices in the design process,” she said.

With Mellon support, the team will consult with community leaders and web archiving experts, test preservation tools, and establish sustainable, culturally relevant practices for digital archiving.

Web pages, posts are vanishing

“Kaʻohipōhaku is about giving social media creators, audiences and communities agency, especially around these major events in Hawaiʻi,” said Alphie Garcia, information resources and collection management librarian at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu. “Hawaiians and people living in Hawai鈥榠 are having these conversations in social media spaces about the Lahaina wildfires and the Kū Kiaʻi Mauna movement, but these conversations are fragile.”

Garcia said research shows that nearly four in 10 web pages vanish within a decade, and one in five Twitter/X posts can disappear within months, similar to content on other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

“Without active preservation, that history is gone,” Garcia added. “My role is to test tools and identify infrastructure that can help safeguard this digital heritage while working with a team of advisors on ways to accomplish this goal that are sustainable, ethical, trustworthy and community driven.”

The Mellon Foundation also awarded 糖心视频 $3.22 million to 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, 糖心视频 Maui College, and 糖心视频 Hilo for Kahoʻiwai: Reclaiming Hawaiian Knowledge Sovereignty, a related project running from 2024 to 2027.

For more visit .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

From campus meetups at 4 a.m. to the national stage in Florida, a first-time team of University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu cybersecurity students impressed the field—winning their regional division in March and finishing 12th out of more than 130 teams at a national competition in April.

“I’m incredibly proud of my team since we were 糖心视频 West Oʻahu鈥檚 first-ever competitors in this competition,” said freshman and team captain Kiana Merez. “To not only take first place at regionals but also represent our school at the national invitational is a testament to our dedication and teamwork.”

Live defense

The 糖心视频 West Oʻahu squad competed in the 2025 National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Cyber Games Invitational in Tampa, Florida. Representing the university at the national event were Merez, Nyla Boneza, Blix Hazen, Joel Kawamae, Chloe Kurashima, Branden Ramos and Shane Zuls. They were accompanied by Eli Tsukayama, associate professor of business administration.

“During the competition, we defended against a live red team for the first time. It was challenging, but we did our best to use our experience to defend our infrastructure,” Merez said. “This opportunity taught us very important lessons that will stay with us long after this competition, and we are looking forward to participating again next year!”

Senior Blix Hazen called the experience both fun and intense.

“Having to actively defend against a red team was totally new to me,” Hazen said. “Having to keep your services up and scoring really forces you to learn in the moment and teaches how to be proactive against attackers.”

‘Plan to be back’

The team earned its invitation to the national competition by winning the 2025 NCAE Cyber Games Southwest 2 Regional Division. That winning roster included Merez (captain), Boneza, Hazen, Kawamae, Kurashima, Zuls, Ryan Vagay and Kendall Wong.

Cybersecurity instructor and faculty sponsor Anthony Eich, a 糖心视频 West Oʻahu graduate, thanked the families and faculty who came together to make travel to Tampa possible, and praised the team鈥檚 performance.

“Their hard work, dedication, and teamwork have paid off, and it highlights the strength of our cybersecurity program at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu,” Eich said. “There is so much to be proud of, and we plan to be back next year.”

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu $2 million over three years to increase the university鈥檚 threat assessment and violence prevention capabilities in K–12 private, charter, and public schools and their communities throughout Hawaiʻi.

“This award is significant, both in the amount and the scope since it not only continues to build knowledge and capacity of Behavior Threat Assessment and Management within K–12 schools and connected communities, but it helps the state with identifying options for violence prevention to assist with keeping our school communities safer during these challenging times,” said Principal Investigator Bev Baligad, who serves as 糖心视频 West Oʻahu鈥檚 director of compliance, Title IX coordinator and Behavior Intervention Team manager.

The project is titled, “Hawaiʻi State Targeted Violence Prevention鈥擲chool Community and Threat Assessment Team Training and Capacity Building.”

Goals and expected outcomes

• increased threat assessment and violence prevention capabilities on involved campuses
• sustainable violence prevention practices in K–12 schools and its communities
• successful application of bystander intervention techniques by members of school and campus communities
• school Behavior Threat Assessment teams operating under national best practice
• improved cultural perception of threat assessment and violence prevention practices in school and campus communities

Partnerships that will support the project include the Hawaiʻi Office of Homeland Security, the Hawaiʻi State Fusion Center (HSFC), K–12 private and charter schools, Threat Team Hawaiʻi, and other public and private organizations and businesses. Additionally, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu is a lead implementing partner in the , working closely with Homeland Security and HSFC to achieve state-wide violence prevention.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded targeted violence and terrorism prevention grants to Baligad in and , totaling more than $1.3 million, to help build Hawaiʻi state school threat assessment teams and to further state community awareness efforts.

“糖心视频 West Oʻahu intends to fulfill its commitment to the prevention of acts of targeted violence in Hawaiʻi by working closely with schools and fostering the establishment of sustainable threat assessment teams and practices,” Baligad said.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

An estimated 8,000 people attended the 9th annual —one of the largest STEM celebrations in the state鈥攐n April 5 at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu.

The free, family-friendly event, presented by the , featured more than 100 interactive activities and over 50 in-depth workshops designed to engage participants of all ages in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Booths and exhibits showcased cutting-edge robotics, environmental science experiments, coding, sustainability, Hawaiian culture, career pathways and more.

“Onizuka Day brought people together to build, explore, and imagine what鈥檚 possible,” said Blake Parsons, CEO and Scout Executive of Scouting America, Aloha Council. “Thousands of kids and families got hands-on with STEM and honored Ellison Onizuka, a Hawaiʻi-born Eagle Scout who showed the world how far courage and curiosity can take you.”

This is the third year that the Onizuka Day of Exploration took place at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu.

“Mahalo to 糖心视频 West Oʻahu for hosting us, and to our volunteers, sponsors, and partners who made it all happen,” Parsons added. “This is how we grow bold leaders鈥攂y giving them the tools, the inspiration and the space to dream big.”

The Onizuka Day of Exploration continues a legacy that began in 1911 as the Makahiki, making this the longest-running Scouting event in the U.S., according to organizers. The Onizuka Day of Exploration honors the legacy of astronaut Ellison Onizuka, inspiring Hawaiʻi鈥檚 youth to reach for the stars and explore the endless possibilities of STEM.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

A $25,000 gift from to the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu鈥檚 is a boost to addressing the nursing shortage in Hawaiʻi. The will help support students pursuing a career in nursing by covering tuition, books and other related expenses.

The 糖心视频 West Oʻahu bachelor of applied science, health professions, general health science concentration with a pre-nursing pathway was designed to address the nursing shortage and aims to develop and prepare scholarly leaders from west Oʻahu who are interested in improving the health and wellness of their community through a career in nursing.

“Healthcare and increasing the number of healthcare professionals—especially nurses—is paramount in Hawaiʻi,” said Rebecca Romine, faculty director of the .

“These scholarships will help reduce financial stress so our students can focus more on their studies and academic performance,” said Romine, an associate professor with the Division of Mathematics, Natural and Health Sciences. “The scholarship funds will help students from the west side of Oʻahu learn and practice the skills and knowledge within the pre-nursing curriculum so that they pursue their nursing career.”

Scholarship criteria and eligibility requirements

• 糖心视频 West Oʻahu student enrolled in the pre-nursing program
• Undergraduate, full-time
• Graduate of a Hawaiʻi high school, preferred
• Resident of Hawaiʻi, as determined by the university admissions office, preferred
• Demonstrates academic merit, as determined by the selection committee

糖心视频 the to learn more about the scholarship. Students may apply through the 糖心视频 System Common Scholarship Application.

Investment in the future of healthcare

Nicole Akana, co-lead of the Pre-Nursing Pathway Program, added that the scholarship is more than financial support for students.

“It鈥檚 an investment in the future of healthcare on the west side of our island,” Akana said. “By empowering aspiring nurses, we are addressing the critical nursing shortage and strengthening our local workforce, ensuring quality care for our community for generations to come.”

ʻOhana Health Plan initially created the scholarship in 2016 with a $10,000 gift that impacted 12 students.

“Hawaiʻi is experiencing a nursing shortage and ʻOhana Health Plan is committed to investing in our local workforce development,” said Scott Sivik, ʻOhana Health Plan president and chief executive officer. “We are pleased to offer another round of Pre-Nursing Pathway Scholarships at the University of Hawaiʻi鈥揥别蝉迟 Oʻahu to students interested in transforming the health of the community, one person at a time.”

For Jared Kāʻeo McCann, success is also about the journey of overcoming failure. As one of two student speakers at the University of Hawaiʻi–West 翱ʻ补丑耻鈥檚 on December 14, McCann hopes to inspire graduates by sharing his own story of perseverance.

McCann has earned his second degree from —a bachelor of science in cybersecurity with a concentration in cyber operations.

“I鈥檝e struggled with so many different things since I started school in 2019, and I鈥檝e wanted to quit and just give up more times than I could possibly count,” said McCann, who worked through imposter syndrome to rediscover his motivation. “To be able to look back at everything I鈥檝e been through and see how far I鈥檝e come, and to really have something to show for all of it, it truly feels special.

The 23-year-old Kapolei resident transferred to 糖心视频 West Oʻahu from 糖心视频 M膩noa in 2022. In spring 2024, McCann earned his first degree from 糖心视频 West Oʻahu—a bachelor of applied science with a concentration in information security and assurance. He got a job at Hawaiian Electric, where he works as an information assurance analyst.

“Most often, we are the only ones who ever get to see or know our own failures,” said McCann, 23, a Kapolei resident. “Everyone around us just sees our successes. Learn to embrace the praise and don鈥檛 dwell on how long it took to get here or how many mistakes you made. Be proud of your achievements.”

• Read more about Travis Antonacci, who was also selected to be a student commencement speaker.

Demonstrating ‘exceptional leadership’

Throughout his two years at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, McCann worked for the IT Help Desk and was a member of the Health, Transportation, and Technology Committee. He served as assistant director of the Cyber Security Coordination Center in spring 2024, and assistant director of the Cyber Security Research Lab in fall 2024—both on-campus internship programs.

“Jared consistently demonstrates the highest level of determination and achievement in his academic courses and research,” said J. Burrell, an associate professor of information and computer science. “He also demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities that inspire and empower other students, which are representative of a next-generation cybersecurity professional.”

McCann intends to go to graduate school while continuing to work in cybersecurity.

He said, “In the long term, I would like to come back to 糖心视频 West Oʻahu to teach as a lecturer to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with the next generation.”

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu launched a new and . ʻUluʻulu has more than 4,000 searchable titles with video clips available for viewing.

“The new online platforms are our first website and catalog refresh since 2012 and provide a powerful new way to search and view archival footage from our collections,” said Janel Quirante, head archivist at ʻUluʻulu, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 official state archive for moving images.

With September being Hawaiian History Month, ʻUluʻulu welcomes visitors and recommends these videotapes and motion picture film reels accessible via the new site:

New content management system

The website contains information about ʻUluʻulu‘s programs and services, and provides a searchable gateway to its new catalog and content management system Recollect, ʻUluʻulu‘s online access point to all of its collections and digital videos. ʻUluʻulu worked with 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Communications for graphics and user experience (UX) design, and with 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Information Technology to develop the site and integration with Recollect.

For more information about ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi, email uluulu@hawaii.edu or call (808) 689-2740.

For more visit .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The at the University of Hawaii–West Oʻahu (ACMWO) has created a plan to use creative media as a gateway to engage underrepresented students in STEM concepts鈥攁 significant step toward supporting the National Science Foundation鈥檚 initiative.

The plan was developed by Sharla Hanaoka, ACMWO director, and Brad Ashburn, associate professor of chemistry with the mathematics, natural and health sciences division at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu.

Next steps

糖心视频 West Oʻahu will offer a new Math 100 course, Generative Art and Science, dedicated to the merge of art and math that supports the BPC plan welcoming all students with basic programming proficiency in spring 2025.

“By merging art into STEM fields, we鈥檙e not only breaking down barriers that often prevent students from our communities from pursuing computer science, but we鈥檙e also fostering creativity and unconventional thinking, preparing a new generation of problem-solvers equipped with both technical know-how and artistic vision for a future where technology and creativity are increasingly intertwined,” Hanaoka said. “This could lead to a more diverse, inclusive and innovative creative technology industry overall.”

Making art with science

Students Dylan Blue and Aina Kodaira—both pursuing a degree in creative media with a concentration in video game design and development—worked with Ashburn as a mentor on a summer research project that Ashburn will talk about in his upcoming course.

Blue and Kodaira presented their project, “Exploring Emergence with Cellular Automata,” at the 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Student Research Experience Summer Symposium on August 9 at the Campus Center multi-purpose room. The project challenged them to combine software engineering, science, and design to build a highly interactive web application that generates complex patterns.

“We created an algorithm that creates different patterns; that鈥檚 how we blended technology with art,” Blue said. “This is significant because we don鈥檛 really see that happening too much, right? There鈥檚 always a distinct line between the field of science and creative media. 鈥eing in a place where we havenʻt been before is pretty exciting.”

Both students plan this fall semester to take Ashburn鈥檚 new Generative Art and Science class, in which students will level up their creativity through hands-on computer programming, design and engineering projects.

“Many approaches to integrating the arts in STEM involve making art about science, but our approach is to make art with science,” Ashburn said.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

Read more on .

Tony Montalto鈥檚 voice softened as he spoke about his forever 14-year-old daughter Gina Rose Montalto, a victim of the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history. On Feb. 14, 2018, a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School murdered 14 students and three staff members and wounded another 17 people at the school in Florida.

“That day changed my life and my family鈥檚 life forever,” Montalto said to a moved audience. “Now, no day will ever be a truly happy one as long as I live.”

Montalto shared a personal and powerful presentation as a guest speaker at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu鈥檚 third annual Hawaiʻi Threat Assessment Conference (HTAC) in July. Threat assessment is the identification, assessment, and management of threats to prevent incidents of targeted violence. HTAC focused on national best practices, data and trends.

Turning pain into purpose

Montalto is serving his third term as the elected president of .

“I understand the importance of training and the need to fight complacency,” Montalto said. “The founding families of Stand with Parkland have chosen a path of instrumental grieving, turning our unfathomable pain into great purpose.”

The advanced-level conference drew about 200 attendees, including representatives from nine campuses in the 糖心视频 System, public and private K–12 and higher education officials, local organizations, and state and federal agencies.

“I鈥檓 pleased to be able to present in front of this group,” Montalto said. “People who work on behavioral threat assessments are uniquely positioned to spot someone and get them off the pathway to violence before they resort to that.”

Asking local communities to step up

糖心视频 West Oʻahu Director of Compliance Bev Baligad, who also chairs the 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Behavior Intervention Team, said she hopes HTAC attendees realize there is much to do within this state to prevent targeted violence.

“It isn’t enough to say, ‘We support or engage in threat assessment and management efforts in the state,’” said Baligad, who is also the chair of Threat Team Hawaiʻi. “We need more community members to understand what threat assessment and management efforts are, how it works, and to whom they can report issues that are not considered a crime yet. In other words, we need our communities to be a part of this statewide effort.”

Montalto also emphasized the importance of coming together, connecting, embracing all potential partners and working as a team to find solutions and protect students and teachers.

“Please remember the one thing that all communities in which a school shooting has occurred had in common: that was a shared belief that it couldn’t happen to them,” Montalto said. “Please, learn from my experience. It happened to us, and it could happen in your community, too.”

Read more at .
—by Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The Pueo Gaming esports club now holds a collegiate title. In February, the club received a trophy for winning its first championship in League of Legends in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Emergents West Division in December.

“This championship helped recognize the school and the club at a national level,” said Garrett Lau, president of Pueo Gaming. “Most colleges don鈥檛 hold an esports title yet, so it鈥檚 nice to still be one of the first schools to do it.”

Pueo Gaming League of Legends team members Melanie Denda, Trey Lum, Ari Nicholson, Cyrus Olivas, Josh Sato, and Darryl Tsutsui represented 糖心视频 West Oʻahu on December 6, in the finals match against Mid-America Christian University (MACU) from Oklahoma.

Nationally competitive

The NECC Emergents West Division finals match for (LoL)—a team-based strategy game where two teams of five champions face off to destroy the other team鈥檚 base—was a best-of-five series that lasted about five hours.

“I have been part of this team for a few years, and each time we played it was so much fun!” said Olivas, Pueo Gaming LoL team captain. “ This time around it seemed like winning was an actual possibility so it became stressful quickly, but that never took away from the enjoyment of the experience.”

The esports club was founded in 2020 and didn鈥檛 begin national competition until 2021. Since then, Pueo Gaming has competed in both local and national tournaments in various game titles.

Lau added, “Thank you to everyone who supported us and we hope to keep making all of you proud in the future as we look to bring home more championships to 糖心视频 West 翱驶补丑耻!”

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman