University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students earned two first-place wins in a national sociology competition. The student team received a perfect score.

The team award went to Dylan Bibilone, Frances Rayla, Ghelie Lei Tamayo and Melinda “Mindy” Yagin, while Kassidie Hayashida earned the individual research paper award.

“They knocked it out of the park!” said Ellen Meiser, assistant professor of and the team鈥檚 coach.

The students participated remotely in the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology鈥檚 conference, October 16–17.

The team challenge asked students to solve a problem for a Texas nonprofit working for social justice and developing community leaders.

The students tackled misinformation surrounding voting and issues at the polls. Their plan included voter rights tools, community education and ideas to recruit young people as poll monitors.

“I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檝e ever seen a perfect score before!” said Lindy Hern, sociology professor and department chair.

Hayashida鈥檚 paper, “Autism and News Media,” examined how news coverage portrays autism. Her research explored how coverage can contribute to stigma, including whether stories include autistic voices.

alumnus Kaleo Pilago is engaging communities in learning about and caring for Maunakea through hands-on stewardship.

As education and outreach coordinator at the he finds community groups interested in learning and doing work on the mauna (mountain), then coordinates access for them.

“I was always involved in community work, and this was one killer opportunity to do stuff up Maunakea,” Pilago said.

Pilago hosts school programs, professional groups and university classes. 糖心视频s emphasize the mauna鈥檚 cultural and historical significance.

“Now the groups that we host have a specific purpose and one goal for coming up,” he said. “The goal is not to host one thousand people. We鈥檙e trying to make the accesses more focused, trying to make it a better experience for everybody. We still host a broad range of groups, but there is a focus and a function for the visits.”

Classes from 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 College of Hawaiian Language connect their coursework with stewardship.

“We try to align the mauna huakaʻi (excursion) projects and activities for the day with what they鈥檙e actually doing in class,” Pilago said.

In November, classes will explore restoration and management through hands-on activities.

Two seniors beat out hundreds of global competitors—including corporate research teams—to win a $50,000 national NASA award by proving ancient Hawaiian farming holds the key to feeding astronauts on Mars.

Out of more than 100 final competitors in , ʻOh膩 Kanu—created by Leilani Jensen and Raven Kromer—was selected as one of five winning designs nationwide. Their design adapts the ancient Hawaiian ahupuaʻa land management system into a modern, multi-zone space agricultural framework. By integrating hydroponics, aquaculture, field crops, and orchards, the zero-waste system creates a self-sustaining ecosystem that eliminates reliance on resupply from Earth.

“One of the jokes we made was, ‘Ancient Hawaiians were the first space explorers,’” said Kromer, an astronomy and English major who publishes research under the name Raven Daegmorgan.

Ancient wisdom meets deep space tech

The project name, ʻOh膩 Kanu, references the young taro offshoot (ʻoh膩) and the act of planting (kanu). Unlike standard agricultural models that maximize short-term yield, ʻOh膩 Kanu focuses on long-term resilience and complete nutrient cycling.

“We drew upon traditional and Indigenous perspectives for how to produce food,” explained Jensen, a tropical agroecology and environmental science double major. “It was not about designing for maximized productivity. It was designed so that there鈥檚 always food on the table, no matter what happens.”

Luzviminda Miguel is taking her push for safer hospital staffing to the world stage. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo associate professor of has been named a 2026 Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World by the .

“This award is a profound honor,” said Miguel. “I am incredibly proud to represent our island, our school, our community, the nursing profession, Filipinas, and all women on this platform.”

Miguel is being honored with the “Builder: Architect of Change” award from the Foundation for Filipina Women鈥檚 Network. As part of the award, she will develop a two-year project benefiting Filipina women and girls in her local community.

Her proposed “Pinay Policy Powerhouse” project would mobilize Filipina students in 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 to advocate for safer hospital staffing. Students would draft testimony and push for legislation establishing minimum nurse-to-patient staffing requirements.

Miguel will pitch the initiative and officially accept her award at the Filipina Leadership Global Summit in Monaco in November.

“By turning our clinical experience into policy action, we can ensure our nurses are no longer invisible in the decisions that shape our healthcare system.”

—Susan Enright

Rescue dogs are lending a paw to help University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo pharmacy students manage the stress of finals.

糖心视频 Hilo pharmacy student and student senator Anna Alfred launched “Pause for Paws,” where students can take a break from studying and spend time with rescue dogs. The first event drew 41 students during finals week last May, with another planned for this fall.

“As pharmacy students, finals week can be incredibly stressful and emotionally draining, so I wanted to create an opportunity for students to take a short break, decompress, and connect with something positive during such a demanding time,” Alfred said.

Three rescue dogs鈥擮reo, Phoebe and Cora鈥攙isited the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy through Action 4 Animals Hawaiʻi, a nonprofit co-founded by 糖心视频 Hilo anthropology professor Lynn Morrison.

Students spent time petting the dogs, taking photos and relaxing together outside the classroom.

“Many students shared that spending even a few minutes with the dogs helped ease stress and improve their mood during finals week,” Alfred said.

Alfred hopes to bring the dogs back for December finals and continue other efforts that support student wellbeing and build community.

From the rainforests of Hawaiʻi Island to a new artificial intelligence lab, nine student researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo spent the summer exploring how artificial intelligence can help scientists solve real-world problems, from tracking fish to improving the way AI assists with computer coding.

The eight-week, National Science Foundation-supported program marked the first student research experience at 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 newly renovated , or SCAIL.

Working with Travis Mandel, an associate professor of , students took on four projects examining how AI can become more useful, reliable and efficient for scientists.

“The name helps to let students know this is an important center of research on campus,” said Mandel of 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 AI lab. “The name reflects the fact that we鈥檙e very focused on not just AI, but AI that helps scientists do their job better.”

The research also moved beyond the lab for the first time. Students traveled to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to test computer vision software and learn more about the natural environment they were studying.

AI in action

Back on campus, the teams tackled questions at the heart of rapidly evolving AI technology.

One group worked on making AI-assisted coding more useful. Another explored better ways to measure whether AI systems are reliable. Other students focused on improving technology used to track fish and evaluating how efficiently AI systems learn from different types of human feedback.

The nine undergraduate and recently graduated students represented computer science, data science, astronomy and applied mathematics. They presented the results of their summer research at a July 31 gathering at 糖心视频 Hilo.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo graduate student studying a surprising connection between ʻ艒pelu (mackerel scad) and kohol膩 (humpback whales) earned top honors at the 2026 Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference. Her research could help scientists better understand how recovering humpback whale populations contribute nutrients to Hawaiʻi‘s marine food webs and fisheries.

Breeann Andrade received the Graduate Student Presentation Award for Best Outstanding Oral Presentation for research examining whether ʻ艒pelu change their feeding habits during humpback whale season, including whether they consume skin naturally shed by the whales.

Andrade, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in marine science from 糖心视频 Hilo, is now a graduate student in the university鈥檚 graduate program. During whale and non-whale seasons, she is studying ʻ艒pelu collected from Hilo, Kona and Maui Nui, the region encompassing Maui, Molokaʻi, 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 and Kahoʻolawe. In the lab, she analyzes what the fish eat and looks for chemical clues that can help reveal where their nutrients come from.

“I feel honored that this project allows me to uplift ʻike k奴puna/kuʻuna (ancestral knowledge/tradition) and the ancestors that were researchers long before me on a larger scale,” Andrade said. “I want the information to make its way back to the people who can use it, and not just stay in academia, because I do believe that caring and taking care of Hawaiʻi is a k膩kou (we) thing.”

More 糖心视频 standouts

Andrade was not the only 糖心视频 student recognized at the conference. students Charlotte Bender, James Lee, Keala Kaaloa and Xander Nakamura earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation Award for a decade of student-led research monitoring Manu o K奴 nesting on their campus. Their work has helped document nesting changes, guide tree trimming around active nests and contribute information to conservation databases.

To learn more about Andrade鈥檚 research and how she studies ʻ艒pelu in the field and lab, go to .

—By Susan Enright

Research at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has identified the first known blacktip shark nursery habitat in Hawaiian waters, offering new insight into how young sharks use Hilo Bay during their earliest years.

The recently published study found , with the highest activity from March through August. To track the sharks, researchers tagged juvenile blacktip sharks with acoustic transmitters and monitored their movements throughout Hilo Bay from July 2022 to January 2024.

The study’s results suggest that this population of blacktip sharks reside predominantly within Hilo Bay for the first few years of their life, and highlight the effect that environmental changes can have on this species’ habitat availability and movement patterns.

“Nursery habitats provide food and shelter while these young sharks are growing,” said Jason Turner, an associate professor of marine science at 糖心视频 Hilo and co-author of the study. “When we think about humans impacting sharks we typically think about overfishing, bycatch or even taking sharks for their fins. What we often forget is that impacting their habitat can also be devastating whether that means increased development, maritime traffic, pollution, or the effects of climate change on an area like Hilo Bay.”

The study focused on oceanic blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus), one of two blacktip shark species found in Hawaiʻi. These blacktip sharks are not considered aggressive toward humans and bites are uncommon.

The research grew out of the thesis of then-糖心视频 Hilo graduate student Lauren Moe, who earned a master’s degree in and is now a doctoral student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Moe co-authored the study with her thesis advisor, Turner, 糖心视频 Hilo Professor Steven Colbert, and Jay Rooker and RJ David Wells (Texas A&M University at Galveston).

Bridging knowledge

The project blended Western science with Native Hawaiian knowledge, reflecting Turner’s commitment to weaving Indigenous practices into marine research.

“In the Hawaiian worldview, setting intention, acknowledging the entities of space and time, asking permission, offering hoʻokupu (ceremonial gifts), and expressing gratitude are rituals required of kānaka (Native Hawaiians) as part of a reciprocal exchange with the elements,” Turner said.

The cultural practices were developed with guidance from 糖心视频 Hilo marine science alumna Roxane Keliʻikipikāneokolohaka, executive director of Kiaʻi Kanaloa, a network of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners who care for marine animals. 糖心视频 Hilo students received training in Native Hawaiian protocols before working with sharks in the field.

Researchers are now expanding their work to examine 15 years of shark and ray population trends in Hilo Bay.

Go behind the discovery, read more on .

Students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo have started a medicinal garden on campus as an integral part of several sustainable gardens used as hands-on labs. The goal is to explore the medicinal plants of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region through the involvement of agriculture students, the university community and several community groups.

Led by Norman Arancon, professor of horticulture and the college鈥檚 director, the builds on years of hands-on learning in which students in his sustainable agriculture course have managed campus garden plots using sustainable growing practices.

“Our students [are] learning how to propagate and identify if some of our plants have some medical constituent compositions,” said Arancon. “It鈥檚 exciting. The students are not just learning from us. We also get some planting materials from the community and insights on what we can grow that they think will be to them.”

Lavender, thyme and learning

Arancon鈥檚 sustainable agriculture class (AG 230) developed three plots in the garden with medicinal plants such as thyme, ginger, tobacco, turmeric and lavender. Students in a weed science course (HORT 481) were challenged to identify plants commonly considered weeds and research their potential medicinal value.

As a culminating project, students transformed common weeds into medicinal products, including a tea made from invasive honohono grass traditionally used to support respiratory health.

Community and collaboration

The medicinal garden is a collaborative effort involving the agriculture college, and .

Pharmacy students examine the plants鈥� medicinal compounds, while the Hawaiian language college brings in community healers to share traditional knowledge of local and native plants.

“We hope healers from the community can also provide seminars on how to use the plants properly and prepare them for use at home,” Arancon said. “I鈥檇 love for more classes to be involved with the project in the future, such as introductory courses on horticulture or animal science, to learn about health benefits for farm animals or pets.”

—by Samantha Dane

For more go to .

A data scientist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has launched a year-long project to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can help scientists, students, emergency managers, and the public better understand natural hazards such as volcanic activity, wildfires, tsunamis, and other disasters. The main idea of the project, named VULCAN-AI, is to use AI as a support tool for hazard intelligence and public communication.

“During a disaster, there is often a huge amount of information coming in at once: live camera feeds, satellite images, sensor readings, weather data, maps and scientific reports,” said Sukhwa Hong, 糖心视频 Hilo associate professor of and who specializes in AI for business analytics. “VULCAN-AI is designed to help organize that information and turn it into clear, plain-language summaries that people can understand.”

With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF)鈥檚 throughout the next year, Hong plans to build and test the AI-agent system using live Hawaiʻi Island volcano feeds, environmental data, and example volcanic and wildfire scenarios.

He emphasizes that the goal of the project is not to replace scientists or official emergency alerts. Instead, the goal is to show how AI can responsibly support human experts by helping detect changes, organize information, and explain what is happening more clearly to the public.

“What excites me most is that this project shows a positive use of AI,” said Hong. “AI is often discussed as a threat, but when used carefully and responsibly, it can help communities, support science, improve emergency communication, respect local knowledge, and give students hands-on experience with technology that serves the public good.”

He plans to hire 糖心视频 Hilo students through NSF鈥檚 undergraduate research program to work with him on AI testing, live-feed monitoring, data preparation, visualization and public communication.

—By Susan Enright, 糖心视频 Hilo Stories

As federal funding cuts put pressure on a beloved early childhood education program, students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo stepped in to help.

This spring, students in three introductory classes used their writing, research and analytical skills to organize a book drive for Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool, a nonprofit that provides free literacy-focused education and caregiver support to families with keiki across Hawaiʻi. The effort was led by longtime English Instructor Lauri Sagle.

“By doing a book donation drive we could also accomplish some useful outcomes,” Sagle said. “Students would read, assess, and choose children’s books to donate to a fabulous local organization, Tūtū and Me, and they would get a specific kind of writing experience, along with genuinely helpful participation in a community project.”

Working with a modest budget, students evaluated children’s books, wrote proposals advocating for their selections and explored literacy resources at 糖心视频 Hilo’s , including books in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). The project connected classroom learning with a real community need.

Postcards to Mayor Alameda

As students learned more about the financial challenges facing Tūtū and Me, their efforts expanded beyond book donations. They wrote postcards to Hawaiʻi Island Mayor Kimo Alameda urging support for the program. Four students in the classes shared that they had once attended Tūtū and Me themselves, adding a personal connection to the project.

Tūtū and Me Project Director Amanda Ishigo later visited campus to share the nonprofit’s mission and the importance of literacy in early childhood education.

“Literacy is more than just reading. It’s speech, it’s listening skills, it’s reading and writing,” Ishigo told students. “Our whole focus is how do we set up for success? How do we make something long-lasting?”

60 books delivered

By the end of the semester, students had donated 60 books, each accompanied by a handwritten note of encouragement. They also collected dozens of postcards advocating for the future of the program. The project demonstrated how skills developed in the humanities can create meaningful impact far beyond the classroom.

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At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, a once overgrown space has been transformed into something alive and welcoming. The Ululaumāhie Native Forest Restoration Project is more than a garden. It is a place where students learn by doing. They plant, care for, and connect with native plants. They share hula, oli (chant) and connections. What began in 2018 as a clearing project has grown into a vibrant learning space surrounding Haleʻōlelo, home of .

The work is led by Kumu Carmelito “Lito” Arkangel, a 糖心视频 Hilo lecturer in and , who brings students into the space not just to learn about plants, but to understand culture and place.

“Ulu is growth. The lau is the flora. And m膩hie is charming, it鈥檚 delightful. And it is. I try to meet that, you know, and it鈥檚 not easy,” said Arkangel about the meaning of the garden鈥檚 name. “There鈥檚 different perspectives of it, but for me, m膩hie is going to be that kolohe (rascal) boy hiding from the grandma, from the aunty, because she鈥檚 going to kiss his face and they鈥檙e gonna be like, cute, or they smile, you know.”

Arkangel鈥檚 vision is simple. Let the garden tell its own story. Throughout time, students and the community have shaped it into a place of learning, rest and connection.

For more go to .

At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Marcy Martinez is helping haum膩na (students) find their path long before graduation.

Martinez, director of , has been named the 2026 State Internship School-Based Coordinator of the Year by the Hawaiʻi State Workforce Development Council (WDC). She received the award at the inaugural Hawaiʻi Internship Summit on Oʻahu.

“Our mission is to help our students along their academic journey, connect that experience with their career goals and their career successes, but it has to be defined by them,” said Martinez. “We really want to take students through their journey, freshmen all the way to senior, and not just have it be a last-minute knee-jerk reaction in senior year.”

Martinez leads 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 , where the focus is simple, meet haum膩na where they are.

“Marcy is enthusiastic. She鈥檚 entirely student-based,” said Christine Beaule, director of 糖心视频 System Workforce Development, who nominated Martinez for the award. “She works incredibly hard, and every time I have asked her to partner with me on a variety of initiatives, she is the first one to say, ‘Yes!’”

Skills that last

Her team connects students with jobs, internships and hands-on learning. The goal is to build skills that last.

“Through practical experience and opportunities, students will gain knowledge and the ability to identify transferable skills,” Martinez said. “As career agility is becoming even more important in today鈥檚 world, it is required to have the ability to adapt quickly.”

That approach is making an impact statewide.

“What we鈥檙e really trying to achieve is to have our next generation live in Hawaiʻi that they can enjoy, they can learn, they can work, they can thrive, and they can belong to,” said Bennette Misalucha, executive director of WDC for Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Confidence, balance

Haum膩na at 糖心视频 Hilo see it firsthand.

Pohaku Roby, a senior majoring in , works at the center and expressed the experience has helped build both confidence and balance.

“I didn鈥檛 know that I was able to do public speaking and do class presentations with Marcy, but she helped me find that passion, and I enjoyed it,” said Roby.

For Martinez, the work continues one student, one step at a time.

For more go to .

A new 38-foot teaching and research vessel has arrived in Hilo, giving marine science students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo a powerful new ocean laboratory.

The aluminum workboat, named Kaiola, meaning “living sea,” arrived from Oregon in February. It is now in final outfitting and inspection before heading into the water.

“The new marine science vessel is a 38-foot North River Sounder, a class of aluminum workboat designed specifically for scientific, environmental monitoring, and coastal operations in high-energy conditions,” said John Burns, associate professor and chair of the .

Burns said the team chose the vessel for its stability and flexibility.

“We selected this platform because it provides a stable, shallow-draft, highly maneuverable work deck suitable for diving, instrument deployment, and nearshore research around Hawaiʻi Island,” Burns said.

The hull is made of welded marine-grade aluminum. Burns explains that aluminum boats are ideal for research. They resist corrosion in saltwater. They are lighter than fiberglass but just as strong. They can handle beach landings, heavy equipment and constant use.

“This durability is critical for a teaching and research vessel that will operate year-round in dynamic coastal conditions and remote locations,” he said.

The large open deck allows crews to deploy water and sediment samplers, underwater cameras, sensors and mapping tools. Inside, the cabin supports navigation, computing and real-time data processing.

Hands-on experience

For students, the impact is immediate. The vessel provides access to sites that were once difficult or unsafe to reach and offers more hands-on experience with real research equipment, data collection and marine operations which are core skills for careers in marine science and ocean stewardship.

—By Susan Enright

Lab instruction at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is not limited to rooms filled with beakers and microscopes. A genetics class, guided by their biology professor, geneticist Natalie Graham, took a field trip this February to Kaumaui, a loko iʻa (traditional fishpond) in Keaukaha at the southern side of Hilo Bay. The class worked with community stewards of the fishpond to collect water samples for DNA testing back at 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 . They also restored sections of the fishpond鈥檚 rock walls.

The water samples they collected hold tiny traces of genetic material shed by fish and limu. Back on campus, students will analyze that material to better understand what species are present in the pond and how abundant they are.

“Bringing Western science and Hawaiian culture together creates a powerful synergy that honors generations of kilo (careful observation) and the ancestral natural history preserved in ʻike k奴puna (ancestral knowledge),” said Graham who founded ʻElala Biodiversity Laboratory.

Kaumaui is cared for by Hui 贬辞ʻ辞濒别颈尘补濒耻艒, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring Hawaiian fishponds and teaching the community about their value. The brackish waters there nurture juvenile fish, endemic limu or seaweed, seabirds and native plants.

For more go to .

After more than two decades without a university band, the is ready to bring the music back. Leading that effort is new assistant professor of music Ocean Akaka, who arrives with a clear vision: rebuild the band program and help revitalize Hawaiian music through bold new arrangements and performances.

Akaka, who recently returned home to Hawaiʻi after teaching on the U.S. continent, arrived in Hilo on a one-way ticket late last year.

“I quickly got settled in, and flew to Oʻahu to spend the holidays with my family, something I haven鈥檛 done since 2020,” he said. “That was a great moment for sure.”

Building musical bridges

Akaka, who specializes in conducting wind ensembles and athletic bands, is now part of 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 . However he said his larger mission reaches beyond performance. His research revolves around the revitalization of Hawaiian music through arrangements for Western instrumental ensembles, such as orchestra and band.

Born and raised in Wahiaw膩, Akaka earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in from 糖心视频 M膩noa. He later completed both his master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in conducting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. There, he led marching and pep bands, directed ensembles and taught conducting. His arrangements have been performed across the U.S. and Europe.

Now he brings that experience home.

“I鈥檓 writing a few arrangements of music from Charles E. King鈥檚 songbook,” he said. “Many of the songs written in this book are for one or more vocalists, and an accompanying ukulele, guitar or steel guitar. I鈥檓 working to arrange these songs for a wind ensemble, and have them performed by the students here at 糖心视频 Hilo.”

For more go to .

—By Susan Enright

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is reshaping how students learn about artificial intelligence (AI)—starting this fall.

The will launch a new AI concentration within its . A new AI certificate will also open to students from all majors. New courses will follow, focused on using AI in business, science and public service.

The shift responds to a clear need in today’s workforce.

“AI is no longer a niche or emerging technology,” said Sukhwa Hong, associate professor of and business administration. “It’s already embedded in how work gets done across almost every field.”

Students will learn how to work with data, evaluate AI-generated results and apply these tools responsibly.

AI confidence

The new program is being led by Hong and Chenbo Shi, an assistant professor of quantitative business analysis, who are working closely with faculty in business, data science and computer science to support the new offerings.

“We want students to graduate knowing that AI will not replace them,” Hong said. “But people who know how to integrate AI into their work will have a clear advantage.”

The AI certificate is designed to be accessible. It welcomes students from education, the arts, social sciences and beyond.

New courses

A new introductory course will teach students how to guide AI tools, evaluate results and communicate findings. A community-based project will tie those skills to real-world issues.

Upper-division courses have also been updated. They now include AI-supported analysis, prediction and decision-making, with a strong focus on ethics.

“Employers aren’t looking for AI specialists in every role,” Hong said. “They’re looking for professionals who can use AI effectively in context.”

—by Susan Enright

For more go to .

Seven students are studying abroad this semester with the help of scholarships that are expanding their academic and career paths in Japan, South Korea, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. Each of them wrote to Carolina Lam, director of , to share how the experience is shaping their studies, goals and sense of possibility.

“It took the financial burden that I was worried about off my shoulders and in turn, allow[ed] me to focus on my studies,” said Linguistics major Mila Davis, studying in Japan. “I think studying abroad will be a beneficial experience to have for a lot of careers.”

Cassie Gault, majoring in tropical agroecology and studying in Australia, said the scholarship gives her room to focus on academics, extracurriculars and personal growth. When she returns, she hopes to mentor students who want to go abroad but feel overwhelmed by the process.

In Japan, Kensuke Panek is studying English and Japanese studies, building connections with students and faculty. He hopes to help strengthen ties between 糖心视频 Hilo and Meiji University.

Hawaiian studies and political science major Ku Quanan is studying abroad for the first time. She sees this step as a turning point for her confidence and hopes more local students will see global education as possible for them, too.

Business major Rachael Rush is immersed in life and coursework in Madrid, gaining skills she hopes to use in international business.

In Aotearoa (New Zealand), Kahiau Snyder is exploring the connections between ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and te reo M膩ori (M膩ori language).

“This scholarship helped me study in Aotearoa and learn m膩tauranga (M膩ori knowledge) that I will carry with me throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies in ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and linguistics.”

Royce Ken Yasutake, studying in Japan, plans to use his growing Japanese language skills in the tourism industry and share practical advice with future participants.

A big benefit of the study abroad program is that students pay 糖心视频 Hilo tuition when they are abroad and then come home with newfound knowledge and experience to finish their degree program.

For more go to .

—By Susan Enright

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from 糖心视频 Hilo’s Marisa Miyashiro, program specialist at the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management.

From the 糖心视频 Hilo Stories post: “Poinsettias cultivated by 糖心视频 Hilo agriculture students at the Panaʻewa Farm Laboratory were showcased at the annual Fall Ag Fest. For more go to .”

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Juvenile Iʻiwi
糖心视频 at the South Pole
The Green Lady
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PACMED in Yap
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Aislynn Mandaloniz just reached a milestone every pilot works toward: 1,500 flight hours. The achievement now qualifies the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo alumna to fly commercial jets and marks a major step forward in her aviation career.

For Mandaloniz, it marks another first. She was the first woman from 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 aeronautics program to complete flight training and earn her pilot鈥檚 license.

“I鈥檓 thankful for my time at 糖心视频 Hilo, providing me with the ground knowledge of aviation and preparing me for the rigorous schooling I had up ahead to later land my first job as a commercial pilot, and now being able to move on to fly jets!” she said.

Pushing higher

Mandaloniz was born and raised in Hilo and graduated from Wai膩kea High School in 2020. She interned at Hilo International Airport with the Air Traffic Control team before enrolling in the program. She finished her bachelor鈥檚 degree in just three years.

After graduation, she trained at Lift Academy on the U.S. continent. There, she spent long days in the air and long nights studying. That discipline pushed her to the 1,500-hour mark, a level that opens doors to larger aircraft and major airlines.

“If you are seeking a career, make sure this is something you truly want to do for the rest of your life,” she said. “Aviation is hard, but it is far worth it. It requires enormous amounts of self-discipline, but the end result is immeasurable.”

Mandaloniz hopes her path shows other students what鈥檚 possible. She knows the road is demanding. She also knows the payoff is worth it. And she鈥檚 just getting started.

For more on Mandaloniz鈥檚 journey go to .

—By Susan Enright