A new University of Hawaiʻi report released August 17 finds that the 糖心视频 System has significant strengths in water-related education, research and workforce development, but greater coordination across programs could help Hawaiʻi build stronger pathways into careers focused on wai (water) stewardship.

The report co-authored by a multidisciplinary team of 糖心视频 researchers is based on interviews with 38 糖心视频 faculty members, alumni, program directors and coordinators. It identifies opportunities to better connect students with water-related courses, hands-on learning, mentors and employment opportunities across the state.

Key insights from interviews:

• Interviewee career pathways were often shaped by connections to family and place (especially for ʻōiwi and kamaʻāina interviewees), mentors (inside and outside of academia) and funding availability.
• There are many water-related courses already offered by 糖心视频 Mānoa and many faculty with water relevant expertise. These tend to be scattered across different departments because of the broad multi-disciplinary nature of water stewardship.
• Overall, interviewees felt that despite strong wai course offerings across the 糖心视频 Mānoa campus, there was a lack of coordination or visibility of water courses and a need for clearer connections between curriculum and employment opportunities.
• Despite the absence of a singular wai degree pathway, several existing programs offer freshwater credentialing options. Faculty and program coordinators help students navigate their academic journeys and find relevant wai courses and mentors using informal referral networks built on pre-existing relationships.
• Interviewees discussed a variety of ideas for credit and non-credit wai education options including certificates, a water focused master鈥檚 degree, non-credit training and a Wai 100 course.
• The 糖心视频 System has strong research infrastructure and existing mechanisms for student research. However, faculty and alumni expressed support for more experiential learning opportunities and curriculum incorporating place- and culture-based learning.
• Faculty and staff understanding of and connection to water sector employers plays a key role in student access to career pathways.
• Personnel from long-standing education and career pathway programs emphasized a few key aspects of their programming approaches, including that 1) programs are adaptive, allowing space and time for growth of the program, 2) programs emphasize nurturing the “gifts” of participants rather than attempting to identify and fill gaps in skills or knowledge and 3) relationships are central and developing trust across staff and program participants is important.
• These programs consider the long-term trajectory of their participants as their primary indicator of success. They want to see program participants secure employment or pursue a degree in a particular field.
• Silos in curricula and conceptualizations of wai may be limiting Hawaiʻi鈥檚 progress in developing effective water management. Leadership to support coordination and systems alignments is needed.

This research is a multi-department collaboration including the 糖心视频 Mānoa , , , and . Funding for this work comes from the Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

Twelve students have joined the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 ‘s (JABSOM) ʻImi 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 Program, a 53-year initiative to prepare future physicians and strengthen Hawaiʻi‘s healthcare workforce.

The year-long post-baccalaureate program provides academic preparation and support for students pursuing medical careers, with an emphasis on serving Hawaiʻi communities.

The new class includes Swasthita Sadagopan, Dannia Andrade, Camarin Camacho, Johnathan Cornell, Lawrence Gerald Guittap, Kody Kobayashi, Tiffany-Ryan Kusano, Alexia Maki, Nathan Paz, Alessandra Clariss Ramirez, Gabriela Siaosi and Moeko Teter.

Sadagopan, a Mililani native and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 biology graduate, said mentors helped her overcome doubts about pursuing medicine. She conducted research with JABSOM’s Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and was encouraged to apply to ʻImi 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 by physician and program graduate January May Andaya, and professor Ben Fogelgren.

“I’m very thankful for them,” said Sadagopan. “For them to tell me that I’m capable of doing it was really reassuring.”

‘Many hands willing to hold you up’

The class recently met ʻImi 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 alumni and current medical students during the program’s annual Open House, which gave students an opportunity to learn about the demands of medical school and the support network that comes with the program.

Kobayashi, who hopes to return to Kauaʻi as a physician, said that support is an important part of the ʻImi experience.

“There are many hands here that are willing to hold you up when you need some help,” he said. “We’re always going to have someone who’s there for us.”

Ramirez, who grew up in Waipahu and attended Chapman University in California, said ʻImi 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 is also helping her achieve her goal of returning home to practice medicine.

“It’s always been my goal and my dream to come back to Hawaiʻi after completing my higher education in California or in the mainland,” Ramirez said. “So I’m really happy that ʻImi 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 was my opportunity to come home.”

Since 1973, 327 ʻImi 贬辞ʻ艒濒补 participants have graduated from JABSOM, with many going on to become physicians and leaders in Hawaiʻi.

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 faculty and staff worked with students at Enchanted Lake Elementary School to turn a blank wall into a colorful mural that celebrates the natural beauty, history and sense of place of Kailua.

The project was a collaboration among 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 team members: Sheanae Tam and Niki Fisiiahi-Thomayer, students participating in the elementary school鈥檚 2026 Summer Enrichment Program, and Beau Uehara from ALU LIKE

“This was such an awesome experience,” said Enchanted Lake Elementary Principal Noel Richardson. “For a while, it appeared that we would not be able to get the mural started, but the right people have a way of making things happen. We shifted the plan over to our summer enrichment program and it all came together! I truly appreciate the support provided to see this through.”

‘What do you envision?’

The process began with a classroom visit to incoming fifth- and sixth-grade students. Through icebreakers, a guided meditation and 尘辞ʻ艒濒别濒辞 (stories) of Kailua, students reflected on the places and elements that make their community special. They were then asked to sketch their ideas in response to the question: “When you think of Kailua or Enchanted Lake Elementary, what do you envision?”

Students鈥� drawings featured rainbows, native plants, birds, beaches and ocean life. Using these ideas as inspiration, Tam, the lead artist, created a mural design rooted in the natural and cultural features of Kailua.

Over several weeks, students in grades one through six painted the mural in small groups, ensuring every child had the opportunity to contribute.

During 丑艒ʻ颈办别, or celebration of the completed artwork, students shared that participating in the project made them feel proud, happy and connected to their school community.

The 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Ulu Aʻe Transitions team and school opened the final day with a pilina circle, creating a space for connection and reflection before the 丑艒ʻ颈办别 celebration.

While completed over a short summer session, the mural leaves a lasting impact—reflecting the creativity of Enchanted Lake students and their deep connection to the place they call home.

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.”

Darsh Davé, Darren Lerner and the Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office have been selected as the University of Hawaiʻi‘s nominees for the Governor’s Awards for Distinguished State Service. The award honors the state’s executive branch employees and managers who exemplify the highest caliber of public service and dedication to serving the people of Hawaiʻi. 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel made the announcement during the (BOR) meeting on July 16 at 糖心视频 Mānoa.

“We never give enough appreciation for the hardworking faculty and staff around the university, and so it really is a pleasure for me to identify a few employees and a few groups whose dedication and achievements have earned well deserved recognition,” Hensel said at the BOR meeting.

Employee of the Year: Darsh Davé

Darsh Davé, human resources manager at , was named 糖心视频‘s 2026 Employee of the Year. He was recognized as a trusted resource who helps the campus navigate complex personnel matters while supporting effective operations. Davé has improved service delivery by addressing long-standing process challenges, streamlining faculty payment workflows and strengthening coordination across departments.

He was also recognized for his leadership during a high-risk campus incident, helping de-escalate the situation so a major campus event could continue safely. Through mentoring colleagues, supporting workforce initiatives and promoting professional development, Davé has made lasting contributions to the college community.

Manager of the Year: Darren Lerner

Darren Lerner, director of , consortium director of the and interim associate dean for research in 糖心视频 Mānoa‘s , was named the university’s 2026 Manager of the Year. He was recognized for transformational leadership that has strengthened Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and expanded its impact across the university and the state.

Lerner has overseen more than $100 million in extramurally funded projects focused on improving the resilience of Hawaiʻi‘s and the Pacific’s coastal ecosystems and communities. His leadership through periods of uncertainty has allowed the program to continue growing while supporting research, education and community partnerships that address critical environmental challenges.

Team of the Year: Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office

The Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office Team was recognized as 糖心视频‘s 2026 Team of the Year. The team was honored for advancing the university’s goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning through strategic planning and the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation framework. By building strong relationships across campuses and breaking down institutional silos, the team has helped strengthen Indigenous-centered practices throughout the university.

Its efforts have contributed to major accomplishments, including securing a $68.5-million National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration award and advancing the “Aloha Begins with Us” movement, helping foster a more connected, resilient and culturally grounded university community.

(Editor’s note: This story was updated on June 4, 2026)

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel recommended Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua be appointed as the interim director of the Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office for the 糖心视频 System and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. Goodyear-Kaʻōpua was approved by the 糖心视频 Board of Regents on Thursday, June 4, and her official start date is June 22. She succeeds Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Punihei Lipe, who stepped down at the end of May to become the poʻo kula (head of school) at Kamehameha Schools 碍补辫腻濒补尘补.

A 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 professor since 2007, Goodyear-Kaʻōpua brings more than two decades of academic, governance and community-based education experience to the position. In her new role, she will help guide the 10-campus system’s efforts to advance as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning that champions the principles of aloha and caring for people and place, as it integrates Hawaiian language, culture, history and values across the institution.

“Noelani鈥檚 exceptional leadership and deep commitment to uplifting Hawaiian knowledge make her the perfect person to carry this vital work forward,” said Hensel. “As we bid a fond aloha to Punihei and thank her for the lasting impact she made centering 驶ike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) across our campuses, we are thrilled to welcome Noelani to guide our university system in its ongoing commitment to becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning.”

Award winning educator, author

An internationally recognized scholar and the 2022 Native Hawaiian Education Association鈥檚 Educator of the Year, Goodyear-Kaʻōpua has been instrumental in building the university’s Indigenous politics program, co-founded the Nā Koʻokoʻo Native Hawaiian Undergraduate Leadership Program and previously served as chair of the Department of Political Science and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 interim assistant vice provost for faculty excellence.

“As we mark 40 years since the Kaʻū Task Force report called on this university to become truly of Hawaiʻi, I am honored to walk a path cleared by kūpuna whose vision was bold,” Goodyear-Kaʻōpua said. “I carry that genealogy forward with gratitude for all Punihei and her team have cultivated, and I look forward to supporting the work that educators across the 10 campuses are doing to expand the university’s capacity to uphold its kuleana to this ʻāina.”

Goodyear-Kaʻōpua earned her bachelor’s degree from 糖心视频 Mānoa and her PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz, She is a Kamehameha Schools alumna and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. She also co-founded Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School and was awarded the 糖心视频 Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 2019. She is also an award-winning author, having co-won the 2019 Ka Palapala Poʻokela award for editing Nā Wāhine Koa: Hawaiian Women for Sovereignty and Demilitarization.

Related 糖心视频 News stories

• 糖心视频 professor, administrator selected as Kamehameha Schools trustee, March 23, 2022
• 2 糖心视频 political science professors win book awards, January 6, 2020

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) recently hosted its two-day “Aloha Begins with Us” symposium and open house, bringing together faculty, staff, students and community members to explore how Native Hawaiian values, wellbeing and resilience can be integrated into everyday work and learning.

The event highlighted several JABSOM initiatives focused on belonging, professionalism and wellness, while creating opportunities for collaboration across the 糖心视频 System.

“Positive relationships and meaningful work are core to preventing burnout and improving learning and working environments so that everyone can thrive,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “While JABSOM and the other health science units at 糖心视频 have been collaborating through research and education, we will all serve our students and communities better by pursuing some strategic collaborative initiatives.”

“For me, ‘Aloha Begins with Us’ was an invitation to be inspired by the many ways that JABSOM is integrating Native Hawaiian Place of Learning across its curriculum and in collaboration with other parts of our campus, work that can be about providing space to recount the academic, professional and familial genealogies that shape us individually, or about how Hawaiian concepts can ground us as we create learning and work environments that promote rather than undermine the health of everything that lives on this ʻāina said Laura Lyons, interim vice provost for academic excellence.

The symposium also emphasized JABSOM‘s ongoing work to support the 糖心视频’s goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning.

Kaiwipunikauikaw膿kiu Punihei Lipe, director of 糖心视频 Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao, noted that the symposium demonstrated how JABSOM has successfully integrated Native Hawaiian principles into their own action plans and mission.

Organizers said the event aimed to increase awareness of available wellbeing resources while encouraging participants to bring their “whole selves” into their work, teaching and learning.

The second day’s open house expanded those conversations to a broader audience, offering faculty, staff, students, residents and community members opportunities to learn more about programs and ways to get involved.

Read more at .

Native Hawaiian Student Services (NHSS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 hosted a May 1 campus event, held on a day widely recognized as “Lei Day” across Hawaiʻi, inviting students to look beyond the beauty of lei and reflect on its deeper cultural significance. The free event featured hands-on workshops and a first-ever lei panel, all centered on one message: lei is more than decoration.

“We want students to understand that lei is not surface level,” said Jordan Kalawaiʻa Nunies, NHSS Program and research assistant, and event organizer. “Lei is not purple orchids that could be bought at the grocery store. It鈥檚 a medium that connects people to ʻāina, akua, moʻomeheu.”

Hands-on learning

Throughout the day, students took part in a range of lei-making workshops designed for all experience levels.

Participants created lei from fresh plants, explored crochet techniques and tried their hand at the growing trend of “forever lei” which can be made from materials such as clay, paper and other creative mediums.

Living tradition

A highlight of the event was the inaugural lei panel, featuring three 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 students recognized as loea in their respective practices, specializing in lei made from lāʻau (plants), hulu (feathers) and pūpū (shells).

Among them was Kekai Paracuelles, a graduate student in Hawaiian studies, whose journey with lei p奴p奴 began on the shores of Waialua.

Raised on 翱ʻ补丑耻鈥檚 North Shore, Paracuelles grew up doing many activities at the beach with his ʻohana, which included gathering shells. His deeper interest took hold in high school after noticing what he thought was a flower lei on a Nā Palapalai album cover, only to realize it was intricately crafted from shells.

That moment led him to research Niʻihau-style lei pūpū and eventually connect with master practitioners, including ʻAwapuhi Kahale. Over time, those connections deepened. He would then meet members of the Kanahele ʻohana, including the grandchildren of the late lei master and Niʻihau matriarch Mama Ane, who shared their lei knowledge. He now refers to them as his h膩nai ʻohana Niʻihau (Niʻihau family).

For Paracuelles, learning lei p奴p奴 became less about the craft and more about the relationships it created.

“It鈥檚 really that strong pilina now that I have with the ʻohana鈥� it鈥檚 not even most of the time about p奴p奴, it鈥檚 just spending time together,” Paracuelles said. “There鈥檚 so much aloha I have for them, I would do anything for them.”

Student impact

Hope Matsumoto, a 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 graduate student in English, said the lei panel featuring Paracuelles, Uluwehi Ah Choy and Tehina Kahikina left a lasting impression. Hearing directly from the student practitioners gave her a deeper appreciation for the connection between people and environment.

“I appreciated their ability to really kilo their environments and to build these relationships with their ʻāina,” Matsumoto said. “It showed me how much intention it takes to rebuild that pilina with our environments.”

For students, the event offered more than new lei making skills, it deepened their understanding of place and practice.

An innovative mass-timber public space designed for the Kakaʻako Ma kai shoreline was presented by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students at the 2026 International Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon. “The Hale” integrates Indigenous architectural principles with modern sustainable materials to propose a new model for public gathering spaces in Honolulu.

The project was originally developed in a first-semester graduate design studio by architecture students Edwin Sun, Jayden Uowolo and Dylan Martos. Reimagining the traditional Hawaiian “place of shelter” as a contemporary civic space, the design adapted cross-laminated timber and glue-laminated timber systems for long-term performance in tropical marine environments.

“I鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the opportunity to present my team’s work at the International Mass Timber Conference and represent the School of Architecture,” said Uowolo. “This experience pushed me to think more deeply about how traditional Pacific Island ideas can shape contemporary design, while also connecting me with a global community of designers, builders and thinkers. I left with a stronger understanding of how culture, material systems and industry all connect in the making of architecture.”

Addressing coastal challenges

The project addressed coastal challenges by elevating the structure to mitigate projected sea-level rise, storm surges and salt exposure. It also incorporated climate-specific durability strategies such as marine-grade coatings, protected steel connections and rainscreen façades integrated with cross ventilation.

Supported by School of Architecture Dean Mo Zell and guided by professors Ben Parker and Ho Kyung Lee, the students’ research also explored using locally harvested softwoods to strengthen regional supply chains and reduce transportation-related carbon emissions.

“Opportunities like this are so valuable to students,” said Parker. “They give them early exposure to the critical topics professional architects are discussing, and provide chances to network and connect with firms as they plan their own future careers. These events also enrich the school and the profession, as the exchange helps everyone to integrate education and research with real-world concerns.”

Kaiwipunikauikaw膿kiu Punihei Lipe, who directs the University of Hawaiʻi , is stepping into a new role. A prominent leader in advancing Hawaiʻi-grounded initiatives across the 10-campus system for more than two decades, Lipe has been selected as the new poʻo kula (head of school) at Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha ma Kapālama (Kamehameha Schools Kapālama), where she will support and serve students and educators across the K鈥�12 campus.

Her 糖心视频 service spans key leadership roles having also served as director of the , and director of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

“糖心视频 has always held a special place in my life,” said Lipe, a graduate of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and Kamehameha Schools. “This community raised me, and it has been the greatest honor of my professional life to work alongside all of you. 糖心视频 nurtured my growth and strengthened my commitment to ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), to ʻāina (land), and to the relationships that guide our work. In many ways, Kamehameha Schools also shaped my early journey, and at this moment, it is deeply meaningful to return and step into this leadership kuleana (responsibility).”

Related 糖心视频 News stories:

• Punihei Lipe selected to lead systemwide Native Hawaiian initiative, July 23, 2024
• Oli, mele, kuleana guide 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 annual summit, January 22, 2026
• Rebuilding pilina: 2nd annual summit advocates racial healing, January 23, 2024

Rooted path

At 糖心视频, Lipe earned a PhD in and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Hawaiian studies. She also earned a master鈥檚 in counseling psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Lipe鈥檚 work at 糖心视频 has spanned campuses, helping integrate ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) across strategic plans, campus culture, programs and initiatives. Her leadership is grounded in building authentic relationships and connections.

“Punihei has made a lasting impact across our 糖心视频 campuses, helping to center ʻike Hawaiʻi in meaningful ways that will continue to shape our university for years to come,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “Her leadership is characterized by humility, deep aloha, and genuine care for our students and communities. In my time working alongside her, she helped deepen my understanding of ʻike kūpuna, our responsibilities to ʻāina, and the importance of connection in all that we do.”

Work continues

The office that Lipe has built will continue the work of advancing 糖心视频鈥檚 active commitment to becoming grounded and reflective of Hawaiʻi. The team she has trained and mentored is well-prepared to support and continue this endeavor as a permanent leader for the office is identified in the coming months.

Lipe will remain in her current role through the end of May to ensure a smooth transition, before stepping into her new role at Kamehameha Schools on June 15.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Professor has been selected as dean of with his appointment set to take effect on July 1, 2026, following notice at the next Board of Regents鈥� meeting in April. Hawaiʻinuiākea is the only Indigenous-serving college at a Research I鈥揹esignated university in the U.S.

“Kamana brings a combination of intellectual rigor, cultural grounding and visionary leadership,” said 糖心视频 Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “His work shows how ancestral wisdom can guide innovative solutions to today鈥檚 most pressing challenges. As a scholar, teacher and convener, he inspires our students while helping position the University of Hawaiʻi as a place where Hawaiian knowledge not only thrives, but leads the way in shaping a more sustainable future for our islands and beyond.”

Beamer, the inaugural Dana Naone Hall Endowed Chair in Hawaiian Studies, Literature, & the Environment, is director of within Hawaiʻinuiākea. He also holds a faculty appointment at the William S. Richardson School of Law through the . His research focuses on governance, land tenure and Native Hawaiian resource management.

Beyond scholarship, Beamer has helped shape some of the university鈥檚 most visible public conversations around land stewardship and justice. He founded and leads the annual Piʻo Summit, hosted by 糖心视频 Mānoa, which brings together community leaders, scholars, policymakers and students to explore solutions for ʻāina restoration, stewardship and the return of lands to community care. The summit has become a signature gathering at the university, highlighting how traditional Hawaiian knowledge, policy and contemporary science can work together to address Hawaiʻi鈥檚 environmental and social challenges.

“Hawaiʻinuiākea has provided me with such an incredible foundation and the tools to advance ancestral knowledge and regenerative values at home and across our world,” Beamer said. “I am profoundly honored to build upon the successes of our school and community to navigate a course toward aloha and abundance for our students and ʻāina, even in these challenging times. I can鈥檛 wait to get to work!”

Scholarship, service

Beamer is also a prolific author whose work explores Hawaiian sustainability and governance. His books include Waiwai: Water and the Future of Hawaiʻi (2025), Islands & Cultures: How Pacific Islands Provide Paths toward Sustainability (2022), and No Mākou Ka Mana: Liberating the Nation (2014).

From 2022 to 2024, Beamer served as a founding member of the Mauna Kea Stewardship Oversight Authority. He also served two terms on the Hawaiʻi State Commission on Water Resource Management, where he helped restore water flow to 45 streams across Hawaiʻi and pressed the U.S. Navy to address fuel contamination of the aquifer at Red Hill.

More on Beamer

Beamer has served as director of ʻāina-based education at Kamehameha Schools, which helped prepare him for an ongoing role as director of Stanford University鈥檚 First Nations Futures Institute, a development program for Indigenous leaders. He comes from a long line of highly acclaimed educators, composers and musicians in Hawaiʻi, including his great-great-grandmother, legendary Hawaiian composer Helen Desha Beamer, and is the only grandchild of Winnona Kapuailohiamanonokalani Desha Beamer. “Aunty Nona” was a revered kumu hula, author, educator and activist. In 2008, the 糖心视频 Board of Regents awarded her a posthumous Regents鈥� Medal of Distinction.

Graduate students in the (DPHS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 enrolled in are helping tackle some of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 most pressing health challenges, including issues related to maternal health, cultural responsiveness in data collection and fall prevention. Their community-engaged research was recently highlighted at the department鈥檚 annual Hōʻike (exhibit) in December.

Modeled after a professional academic conference, the Hōʻike, now in its 10th year, highlights student projects developed through partnerships with community organizations. Students work in teams to translate health promotion theory into practice鈥攂uilding relationships, conducting interviews, analyzing qualitative data and sharing findings grounded in community perspectives.

Guided by faculty Jane Chung-Do and David Stupplebeen, students collaborate directly with local partners to address pressing public health priorities.

“Student projects like these help connect students with the community, provide meaningful contributions to the work of community-based organizations, and help perpetuate the vision and mission of the Department of Public Health Sciences,” said Stupplebeen.

Partnerships that make an impact

The community partners of the Fall 2025 semester included ,, , and . Student projects examined a wide range of topics from factors related to delayed prenatal care among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women to coalition engagement in fall prevention efforts and expanding training pathways for Native Hawaiian healthcare practitioners.

For many students, the Hōʻike marked their first formal research presentation, strengthening skills in collaboration, analysis and professional dissemination.

“Having the opportunity to work so closely with a community of practice allowed me to uplift their values during this project, all while reflecting on my own position as a researcher,” said Shanda Shamela Delos Reyes, a graduate student in the course. “The hōʻike itself was a practice of reciprocation, allowing us to share the community’s data back to them.”

“This invaluable learning opportunity is made possible by the dedication of our community partners. We are deeply grateful for their tireless service to Hawaiʻi and for welcoming our students into their vital work,” said Chung-Do.

“The students approached the project with diligence and professionalism, and delivered valuable data that will guide us in designing and implementing effective interventions for our members and the broader community,” said Lucie Tam, clinical coordinator, Quality & Performance Improvement, Quality Management at HMSA. “We look forward to partnering again on future initiatives!”

The Hōʻike reflects DPHS鈥� continued commitment to experiential learning, community engagement and advancing health equity statewide.

This article by Assistant Specialist in the College of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Kahea Faria was first published in .

The growth of the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program from its inception to now is a sign that more of our people in Hawaiʻi are turning to the language, culture, and history of our land and the education that is meant to embody it and facilitate the transmission of this knowledge to our children. For most families, this is the primary means of accessing this knowledge, and as such, it represents a public necessity, not a discretionary option.

While this growth has been encouraging, it has also revealed gaps in the structural foundation of the program. Most Hawaiian language immersion programs remain housed within predominantly English-medium schools, with a few stand-alone K–12 programs statewide and even fewer P–12 programs.

These environments are essential, as they create at least one sustained domain in which Hawaiian can function as the sole language of instruction. This model is not intended to produce monolingual speakers, but rather to strengthen pathways toward genuine bilingualism. Consequently, parents within Hawaiian Language Immersion Programs are increasingly advocating for the establishment of P–12 programs in each school district.

Recent efforts to expand access to advanced Hawaiian language instruction—such as online coursework offered through 糖心视频 Maui College 鈥� along with financial support for teacher candidates from sources such as Kamehameha Schools鈥� Hookawowo Scholarship, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and the State of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Grow Our Own (GOO) Teachers, have helped to address these challenges.

Despite these efforts, the sustained growth of the program depends on continued investment in teacher preparation. For those who are interested, as well as those who are seeking a meaningful way to support our community through Hawaiian language, history, and culture, please contact either of the Hawaiian Language Immersion teacher preparation programs at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo or at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa.

Finally, the rapid growth of the Hawaiian language immersion program should be addressed in the same manner as those of any thriving public school setting—by being adequately resourced and supported in its expansion, rather than constrained by regulatory frameworks that inhibit development.

The state should take a proactive role in planning for a future that includes P–12 Hawaiian Language Immersion Program schools in every district statewide. Anything less constitutes a disservice to the community and stands in opposition to the program鈥檚 purpose and intent to revitalize Hawaiian language, culture and history in Hawaiʻi.

Ke ao ia nei ka naauao, auhea mai nei la hoi ke kahua o ka pono?

Challenging the traditional approach to pregnancy care which focuses solely on mothers’ behaviors, new research from the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and international partners highlights the significant and often underrecognized role of fathers’ health and well-being in shaping pregnancy and child outcomes. The study was recently published in .

“The more we look, the more we find important contributions from fathers, including many factors traditionally believed to be solely the responsibility of the pregnant person, such as weight status, substance use or being an older parent,” said Jonathan Huang, lead author of the study and assistant professor at the in the . “In some cases, paternal contributions are even larger than their maternal counterparts and several are related intergenerationally to the fathers’ own upbringing.”

A framework for preconception health

This transdisciplinary review uses evidence from biological, behavioral and social sciences to create a framework for men’s role in preconception health. The findings show that a man’s early life experiences—including stress, physical and mental health, environment and education—influence his health during reproductive years. These factors can, in turn, affect his partner’s health and health behaviors (such as prenatal care) before and during pregnancy, as well as having direct biological effects on the developing infant.

The research addresses ethical concerns, noting that placing all responsibility for a child’s future health on the birthing parent reinforces gender biases. Furthermore, the researchers emphasize that racism and colonialism have disrupted family and community roles for many Black and brown men, creating barriers to addressing their health needs. This disruption underscores the need for culturally grounded approaches, which are particularly effective for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander men.

“Policies and programs are needed to strengthen family and community bonds while centering the health and well-being of 办腻苍别 [men] within their cultural roles. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander men are less likely to engage in Western-based health interventions than their female counterparts, but are more responsive to culturally grounded approaches,” said Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula, co-author and chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health in the .

Improving the health of Hawaiian 办腻苍别

Kaholokula stated that the traditional concept of Hale Mua—a cultural space for men—offers a blueprint for improving the health of Hawaiian 办腻苍别 by creating safe spaces for mentorship, life instruction, emotional regulation and the transmission of cultural values, which reinforces their kuleana (responsibility) to family and community.

The researchers emphasize that policymakers, public health agencies, clinicians, researchers and men themselves all have a role in improving preconception health. Investing in the wellbeing of boys and young men is key to reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for future generations.

Huang added, “Raising awareness about the importance of men’s health does not diminish the critical importance of women and pregnant persons’ well-being. Rather it serves as a collective call-in to ensure that men and partners are equipped to be supportive partners, allies and caretakers before, during, and long after pregnancy.”

The research team includes collaborators from the continental U.S., the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Singapore. A companion study highlights the work of the international Core Indicators for Preconception Health and Equity (iCIPHE) Alliance in improving how preconception health is measured and monitored.

Following a competitive proposal process initiated in October 2025, the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) announced five organizations to establish the first–of–its–kind Community Funding Hubs for Resilience and ʻĀina Stewardship. The five regional hubs are across the moku/hui moku (districts) of West Kauaʻi, Waiʻanae (Oʻahu), Molokaʻi, Central Maui and Kohala (Hawaiʻi Island).

Each hub will receive up to $300,000 over three years to strengthen its administrative, financial and relationship–building capacities needed to support future community–led projects. Aligned with the cooperative vision of the project, these hubs will serve as central resources for managing and distributing funding on behalf of community–based organizations, effectively lowering the barriers to local stewardship.

“In Hawaiʻi, we know the health of our families and our communities is inextricably tied to the health of our lands and our waters, and we benefit from ʻIke Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Knowledge) that teaches us how humans and nature can thrive together in our island systems,” said Kawika Winter, associate professor at and director of the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve. “The Moku System provides us a framework to not only address the problems we face today, but to do so while honoring our ancestors and ensuring that our descendants will be better off than we are today.”

The 5 organizations and their projects

• Kauaʻi Economic Development Board—Strengthening West Kauaʻi: A Funding Hub for Community–Led ʻĀina Restoration & Climate Resilience
• 鈥楨lepaio Social Services—The Waiʻanae Kaiāulu Funding Hub
• Molokai Heritage Trust—Ka Lāhui Hoʻolako
• Living Pono Project—Central Maui Resilience Funding Hub: Expanding Access, Equity, and Administrative Support
• Vibrant Hawaiʻi—Kākoʻo Kohala

Empowering community-led stewardship

The hubs act as trusted intermediaries, forging direct partnerships between funders and local communities. By providing guidance with proposal development and budget management, these hubs help local organizations overcome technical barriers that often prevent small, grassroots groups from accessing vital funding for ʻāina (land) stewardship.

“These hubs are critical for a number of reasons,” said Eric Co, chief executive officer of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. “During COVID, we learned how difficult it was to get support to where trust was greatest and activities were most meaningful—at the grassroots level. These hubs build the equitable capacity needed to do so efficiently across the islands.”

Later this year, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will launch a separate round of adaptation and resilience project funding. These future opportunities will allow smaller community–based organizations to collaborate with their local Community Funding Hub to develop and manage projects.

This effort was made possible through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management awarded in 2024.

As Hawaiʻi faces rising sea levels, housing pressures and growing calls for the return of to community stewardship, the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 will host a day of bold conversations focused on solutions. On March 4, the annual at 8 a.m. at East West Center will gather leaders, scholars and community advocates to examine how land, law and justice intersect and what that means for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future.

Now in its fifth year, the summit carries the theme ʻĀinahoʻi: Land, Law and Justice. ʻĀinahoʻi means “indeed that which feeds us.” The phrase is both reminder and call to action that the future of Hawaiʻi is tied to how we care for the ʻ腻颈苍补 that sustains us.

“We established the Piʻo Summits to advance ancestral knowledge and courageous leadership to address the cascading challenges of our times,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, professor at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and the . “Hawaiʻi deserves the best and the Piʻo Summits bring critical issues to the head of our table and we sit with the community to find ways to carve out a better future.”

Voices for ʻ腻颈苍补

This year鈥檚 summit begins with music from two-time Grammy nominee Raiatea Helm and a keynote from Justice Joe Williams of Aotearoa, a respected M膩ori jurist known for advancing Indigenous rights within modern legal systems.

Throughout the day, panels will feature leaders from Hawaiʻi鈥檚 largest landholders serving Native Hawaiian communities, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Kanaka ʻ艑颈飞颈 (Native Hawaiian) advocates will join scholars and professors from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and departments, as well as the William S. Richardson School of Law, to explore the future of ʻ腻颈苍补 stewardship and justice in Hawaiʻi.

“This year鈥檚 summit will highlight the collective effort for ʻĀinahoʻi across the ,” Beamer said. “We will be exploring how communities are navigating and challenging existing systems through legal methods, land trusts, and grassroots action to restore , strengthen relationships to ʻ腻颈苍补, and advance self-determined governance grounded in ancestral innovation and courageousness.”

Ancestral innovation

The summit is organized by Pōʻai Ke Aloha ʻ膧ina, a 糖心视频-based lab that works to solve modern challenges using ʻike Hawaiʻi (ancestral Hawaiian knowledge). The lab is helping build a new center focused on an ancestral circular economy, a model rooted in regeneration and long-term stewardship.

After touring three University of Hawaiʻi community colleges last fall, —interactive exhibits exploring sovereignty and life force—are expanding across 糖心视频 libraries statewide this spring. Developed by , a network of Hawaiian language, culture and ʻ腻颈苍补-based education organizations, the exhibits will rotate through , , , and from January through early April.

The exhibits center on Hawaiian history, while inviting communities to actively engage with ea (life, air, breath, sovereignty, rural, independence). This semester marks the first time the activations will rotate simultaneously across multiple islands, amplifying messages of ea and aloha ʻ腻颈苍补 (love of the land) while uplifting Hawaiian history, culture and language.

The initiative began during a K奴kalahale E Hoʻi N膩 Wai culture-based professional development training, where Windward CC librarians explored ways to indigenize library spaces. The idea quickly spread across the 糖心视频 system, evolving into a coordinated, multi-campus effort.

“I was so inspired by the campus libraries tour last semester that I wanted to make sure that every 糖心视频 library had an opportunity to showcase the beautiful activations and educate our communities that the ea of this ʻ腻颈苍补 still exists through our history, culture and language,” said Kawena Komeiji, Hawaiian initiatives librarian at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Hamilton Library.

The exhibit, which toured , and in the fall, is made possible through partnerships with and Kanaeokana.

Exhibit dates and locations

Ka L膩 Kealaiwikuamoʻo Ea and Ka L膩 碍奴ʻ辞办辞ʻ补 – A journey centered on Kamehameha III and his vision of an independent l膩hui (group):

• January 12 – February 6: 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Hamilton Library, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Campbell Library
• February 9 – March 6: Kauaʻi CC Library, 糖心视频 Maui College, 糖心视频 Hilo Moʻokini Library

Ka Malu ʻUlu o Lele – Explores Lahaina鈥檚 sacred history and cultural resilience:

• February 9 – March 6: 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Hamilton Library, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Campbell Library
• March 9 – April 3: Kauaʻi CC Library, 糖心视频 Maui College

Ruth 碍别ʻ别濒颈办艒濒补苍颈 – Honors Princess Ruth Keanolani Kan膩hoahoa 碍别ʻ别濒颈办艒濒补苍颈 and her commitment to ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language), tradition and her people:

• January 12 – February 6: Kauaʻi CC Library, 糖心视频 Maui College
• February 6 – March 6: 糖心视频 Hilo Moʻokini Library
• March 9 – April 3: 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Hamilton Library, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu Campbell Library

Students, faculty, staff and community members gathered at University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 on ʻIanuali (January) 20–22 for the fourth annual (HKHA) Summit, a gathering centered on culture, place and shared kuleana (responsibility) to Hawaiʻi and its future.

Hosted by the , the summit opened with circles that drew participation from classes across campus. Participants shared stories, listened deeply and built meaningful connections, creating spaces many described as grounding and affirming.

“This summit is designed to deepen our connections鈥攑ilina鈥攖o oneself, others, and , or our relationships with the natural environments around us,” said Kaiwipunikauikaw膿kiu Punihei Lipe, director of Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao. “We鈥檙e just really always grateful for the folks who show up because when you come, that’s when we can really interact and feel the magic that happens in these spaces and then you can take that with you wherever you go.”

Lipe also led a visioning workshop that invited participants to express themselves through writing or drawing as they imagined a future they hope to create for their children and grandchildren. The session encouraged reflection, creativity and forward-looking dialogue grounded in care and responsibility.

Honor and healing

A deeply moving ceremony honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani and Martin Luther King Jr. marked the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the National Day of Racial Healing. Moments of reflection, oli (chant) and lei offerings filled the space with emotion, remembrance and collective healing.

Participants also joined a Hawaiʻi 笔辞苍辞ʻ墨 workshop guided by Pele Harman, Native Hawaiian engagement director at 糖心视频 Hilo. Harman helped attendees explore all three verses of the state鈥檚 national anthem composed by King David Kal膩kaua, offering deeper context beyond the commonly sung first verse.

惭腻濒补尘补 ʻ腻颈苍补 workshops provided hands-on opportunities to care for campus mea kanu (plants), reinforcing kuleana through action.

major Rene Lucero said the message and symbolism of the event left a lasting impression on him.

“It truly drives me to be more interested in the land and the culture and just respect it more. And to not only appreciate nature but also the people,” Lucero said.

Raised in Ecuador, Lucero shared that the experience helped deepen his appreciation for Hawaiʻi and strengthened his connection to the university.

Each ʻIanuali (January), University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 pauses to reflect on Hawaiʻi鈥檚 history while creating space for learning, dialogue and community gathering. This year, students, faculty and staff are once again invited to come together on campus for three days of events centered on culture, place and shared responsibility to Hawaiʻi and its future.

Now in its fourth year, the annual (HKHA) summit will take place January 20鈥�22, featuring a series of free events designed to center Hawaiʻi, our beloved home.

“This summit is designed to deepen our connections鈥斺�攖o oneself, others, and , or our relationships with the natural environments around us,” said Kaiwipunikauikaw膿kiu Punihei Lipe, director of Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao. “We hope that participants will have a clearer vision of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 past, present and future through bringing people together and cultivating such connections.”

Honor and healing

Hosted by the , the summit is intentionally timed to mark the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the National Day of Racial Healing, which coincides with the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. This year鈥檚 programming includes pilina circles and a range of hands-on and reflective workshops centered on culture, care and place. Sessions invite participants to learn the deeper meaning of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 national anthem Hawaiʻi 笔辞苍辞ʻ墨, take part in ceremonies honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani and Martin Luther King Jr., care for campus mea kanu (plants), and engage in care-centered practices grounded in well-being and healing.

The summit will conclude with a closing plenary, Mele, Moʻolelo, & Momentum: Gifts from Moananui膩kea, moderated by Bruce Kaʻimi Watson and celebrating songs and stories from across Moananui膩kea (Pacific Ocean).

Additional offerings include self-guided audio tours that explore the layered histories of the 惭腻苍辞补 campus. Workshops and sessions will be led by Pele Harman (Native Hawaiian engagement director, 糖心视频 Hilo), N艒weo Kai (campus arboretum curator, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补) and Tia Hartsock (State of Hawaiʻi Office of Wellness and Resilience).

The free summit emphasizes learning and sharing as pathways to understanding Hawaiʻi鈥檚 past and present while shaping a more just and thriving future. 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 is a designated , and the summit reflects the campus鈥檚 ongoing commitment to healing, belonging and collective responsibility.

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Challenging a 50-year-old narrative about Hawaiʻi鈥檚 native birds, a new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 found no scientific evidence that Indigenous People hunted waterbird species to extinction. , the research debunks this long-held myth and offers a new, integrated theory to explain the disappearances.

Researchers found no evidence that Indigenous People over-hunted birds to extinction. Instead, the authors suggest a new theory: the birds died out because of a combination of climate change, invasive species and changes in how the land was used—most of which happened either prior to Polynesian arrival, or after the suppression of Indigenous stewardship. The study also noted that now-endangered waterbirds were probably most abundant just before Europeans arrived, when wetland management was a core aspect of K膩naka ʻ艑颈飞颈 (Native Hawaiian) society.

Refuting conservation theories

“So much of science is biased by the notion that humans are inevitable agents of ecocide, and we destroy nature wherever we go. This idea has shaped the dominant narrative in conservation, which automatically places the blame for extinctions on the first people—the Indigenous People—of a place. Even where there is zero scientific evidence to support it, the myth of Hawaiians hunting birds to extinctions took root in Hawaiʻi and for decades has been taught as if it was a scientific fact,” said Kawika Winter, associate professor at (HIMB) and co-author of the paper. “Our study not only dispels this myth, but also contributes to a growing body of evidence that Indigenous stewardship represents the best ways for native birds to thrive in a world where humans are not going away.”

This study re-examines existing evidence without the bias that the discipline has increasingly been criticized for—the idea that people are separate from and inherently bad for nature. The research provides a more nuanced understanding of history, paving the way for an increasingly robust approach to conservation research.

“Science has matured to a point where graduate students are being trained to challenge its own long-standing world view,” said Kristen Harmon, lead author on the paper who recently earned a PhD from the (CTAHR) Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. “Our interpretation of historical ecology, how ecological systems change over time, influences our approaches to solving global-scale ecological problems. Bringing together information from different disciplines and knowledge systems can yield a more accurate picture of reality, which is ultimately the goal of every scientist.”

Empowering Indigenous stewardship

The study鈥檚 conclusions are expected to help transform conservation actions in Hawaiʻi, particularly for the recovery of endangered waterbird populations, such as ʻalae ʻula (Gallinula chloropus) and ʻaeʻo (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni).

“Recent studies support what Hawaiians have always known—that restoration of loʻi (wetland agro-ecosystems) is critically important to bring these waterbirds into abundance again,” said Melissa Price, an associate professor who runs the Wildlife Ecology Lab at CTAHR. “If we wish to transform our islands from the ‘Extinction Capital of the World’ into the ‘Recovery Capital of the World’ we need to restore relationships between nature and communities.”

This new understanding could help change how we protect these birds and mend long-standing disagreements in the community.

Ulalia Woodside Lee, who was not a part of this research project, offered some reflections as the Hawaiʻi and Palmyra Executive Director for The Nature Conservancy, “For generations, Native Hawaiians have been criticized for causing the extinctions of our precious native birds. This has contributed to a breakdown in trust between the Hawaiian community and conservationists, and the exclusion of Native Hawaiians from important conservation decisions. This study will help us to move past those untruths, so that we can all move together into a brighter future where our native species are thriving again.”