University of Hawaiʻi faculty, staff and students helped bring astronomy to life for hundreds of visitors at AstroDay West on November 7. The ninth annual Maunakea Observatories event at Kona Commons gave keiki and their ʻohana a chance to meet scientists and educators, try hands-on activities and explore new technology, all for free.

“Over the years, AstroDay has evolved into a celebration of science and technology across Hawaiʻi Island,” said Doug Simons, director of IfA. “This year, keiki and their ʻohana explored everything from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of the universe. I hope the experience inspires them to become the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers.”

A highlight of this year鈥檚 event was Hale H艒k奴, Gemini Observatory鈥檚 portable planetarium, which gave visitors an immersive look at the night sky. Attendees also had the opportunity to safely observe the sun through solar telescopes.

“My son absolutely loves science and learning anything,” said Raimie Hawk, an AstroDay West attendee. “The activity that we really enjoyed today was making my son鈥檚 very own constellation.”

Keiki could also enter the annual Maunakea Coin Contest, a statewide graphic design competition that invites Hawaiʻi Island students in grades K鈥�12 to compete for prizes and the chance to have their artwork featured on official AstroDay collector coins.

University of Hawaiʻi Hilo women’s volleyball secured the final spot in the Pacific West Conference Championships after sweeping its season-ending road trip to Oʻahu. The Vulcans earned a four-set victory over Chaminade on Friday before defeating Hawaiʻi Pacific in straight sets Saturday.

The win over Chaminade secured the Vulcans a place in the four-team tournament field alongside Point Loma, Concordia and Biola. The PacWest Championships will be hosted by Vanguard University November 13鈥�14, at the Freed Center in Costa Mesa, California.

The Vulcans bounced back after dropping the opening set against Chaminade, winning the next three sets, 26-24, 25-16 and 25-18.

Alohi Garcia recorded her 16th double-double of the season with 13 kills and 12 digs, while ʻAnolani Santos posted her eighth double-double with 47 assists and 12 digs. Chase Koepke and Sajal Glunz also contributed 14 kills each.

The Vulcans carried that momentum into Saturday’s matchup against Hawaiʻi Pacific, earning a 25-12, 25-21, 25-23 sweep to close out the regular season hitting .448 in each of the first two sets to take control of the match.

With the postseason berth secured, 糖心视频 Hilo will enter the PacWest Championships as the No. 4 seed. The Vulcans will face top-seeded Point Loma in the semifinals on November 13, at 2:30 p.m.

Read more at .

Justin Yeh once imagined spending life after high school catching ulua. Today, he helps protect the natural resources of Maunakea.

Born and raised in Hilo to a ranching family, Yeh found his path through his mother鈥檚 native plant nursery and a forestry internship she signed him up for.

That experience sparked a conservation career that led him to the University of Hawaiʻi at 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 . He became its resource manager in 2022.

“I鈥檓 doing my best to represent my community and make sure Maunakea is the best it can be for future generations.”

Yeh and his team restore habitat, pull weeds and plant native species grown from seed in their greenhouse. They also inspect equipment and materials coming up the mountain to prevent invasive species from arriving.

Their work includes monitoring the native w膿kiu bug and cultural sites.

Related 糖心视频 News story: Silversword recovery effort sprouting on Maunakea, February 21, 2023

Yeh, who participated in the 2015 Maunakea protests, sees his role as an opportunity to make a difference. Building relationships with local communities, schools and students is part of that work.

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from Windward Community College’s Taurie Kinoshita.

The Hawaiʻi Conservatory of Performing Arts presents Everyday Heroes of Hawaiʻi, running November 6–15 at Palik奴 Theatre. Directed by Kinoshita, the production features emerging student performers in seven original scenes inspired by real-life heroes. Written by local playwrights, the works range from humor and action to deep drama while continuing the conservatory鈥榮 focus on Hawaiʻi-based perspectives, inclusivity and diversity.

Read more about the production.

Previous Images
Trick or Treat
Food distribution
Homecoming
Paniolo
EPIC dance
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

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

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

• .

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

Fifty years after a protest helped launch the movement to protect the island of Kahoʻolawe, University of Hawaiʻi faculty are helping to carry forward its message of aloha ʻāina, or love and care for the land.

A new album, , and a November 13 concert at Bishop Museum are the culmination of a year-long celebration of the . The concert features Hawaiʻi musicians such as Ikaakamai, Kimi茅 Miner and Kaʻikena Scanlan.

“Gathering and singing songs together creates alignment and collective spirit. Contributing our voices and mana fosters aloha l膩hui (love for our people),” said Isaac ʻIkaʻaka N膩huewai, known musically as Ikaakamai, a at 糖心视频 Hilo.

N膩huewai helped develop the anniversary album, which features 12 original mele (songs) and is available on all music platforms. The recording artist, who is also a PhD candidate in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , helped recruit collaborators, wrote songs, directed the Protect Kahoʻolawe Band, and produced and mixed five tracks together with other featured artists.

He sees music as a way to help people remember history and pass knowledge between generations.

Across 糖心视频, faculty, staff and students also carry that work into classrooms, onto the ʻāina (land) and across the ʻAlalākeiki Channel to Kahoʻolawe.

Beyond stopping bombs

Today鈥檚 efforts grew from a movement sparked in 1976, when nine people landed on Kahoʻolawe to bring awareness to the United State鈥檚 illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. When the activists reached Kahoʻolawe, they were devastated by the destruction caused by nearly 50 years of military bombing. Deeply moved by what they saw, they felt called to protect and heal the island. Their historic landing inspired the formation of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana. The bombing ended in 1990 after nearly 15 years of advocacy. The work to restore the island and its cultural practices, however, continues, as one of their slogans emphasize, the ʻOhana is “Not Pau Yet!”

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Kahoʻolawe 50 years later: The island that once shook, January 4, 2026

Kaipu Keala, an assistant professor at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , said the movement started by the ʻOhana also affirmed Hawaiian beliefs as a foundation for aloha ʻāina.

He describes it as a sacred relationship that guides daily responsibilities.

“The value of aloha ʻāina takes on this religious dimension and that allows it to become more than just a slogan. It becomes a way of life,” Keala said.

Learning through care

For Kumu Kaliko Baker, that relationship is central to teaching.

The associate professor at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 helps lead the I Ola Kanaloa program. On Kahoʻolawe, students practice ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), care for historical sites, remove invasive plants, and engage in traditional practices such as haku mele (song composition).

“糖心视频 students today are fortunate that they don’t have to be at risk as much as before when engaging in civil action. Aloha ʻāina pathways are available through Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge and other Hawaiian knowledge spaces on our campuses,” Baker said.

Generations at sea

Those learning opportunities also depend on families who help people reach the island.

Kaulu Luʻuwai, an attorney with 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , belongs to one of them.

Her grandfather began transporting visitors and supplies to Kahoʻolawe in 1983 after her uncle, a student in Professor Emerita Davianna Pōmaikaʻi 惭肠骋谤别驳辞谤鈥檚 糖心视频 ethnic studies class, helped arrange transportation. Today, her father and brothers help transport volunteers to and from Kahoʻolawe aboard the family鈥檚 boat, Pualele.

“It鈥檚 a generational commitment. It鈥檚 not something we can just stop doing. It鈥檚 an obligation for us, a really heavy kuleana: getting people there safely to support the work the ʻOhana does on the island,” Lu驶uwai said.

The November 13 concert runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Bishop Museum鈥檚 Great Lawn. Proceeds support the Protect Kahoʻolawe 驶翱丑补苍补.

There are now resources in place to provide more teachers, more books and more opportunities to learn ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed October 29 between the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) aims to support the people and materials behind Hawaiian language education.

Signed at Haleʻ艒濒别濒辞, home to 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 , the agreement builds on nearly 30 years of collaboration to revitalize ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi.

OHA has allocated $620,000 for the college over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funding will support teacher preparation through its and classroom resources created by its

“ʻ艑濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi is the foundation of who we are as a l膩hui (nation),” said Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chair Kaialiʻi Kahele.

Preparing more teachers

The agreement supports an education pathway that allows students to learn Hawaiian from preschool through the doctoral level.

Kahuawaiola prepares educators to teach in Hawaiian or English, with a strong foundation in Hawaiian language and culture.

Kahuawaiola prepares educators for Hawaiian-medium and Hawaiian-focused schools, while equipping them to teach in both ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi and English classrooms. The MOU expands support for teacher training and credentials through mentor teacher stipends, undergraduate scholarships, wraparound support, travel for professional development and instructional materials. , candidates practiced teaching with students in grades 1鈥�8 from Ke Kula ʻO 狈腻飞补丑墨辞办补濒补苍颈ʻ艒辫耻ʻ耻, the college鈥檚 laboratory school.

“This agreement directly supports the people carrying out this work 鈥� from mentor teachers to incoming students,” said Kaʻiu Kimura, director of Ka Haka ʻUla o 碍别ʻ别濒颈办艒濒补苍颈.

Words into classrooms

At Hale Kuamoʻo, the partnership will help create and distribute teaching materials, employ student assistants and reconvene a committee that develops Hawaiian vocabulary for modern uses.

“A child can鈥檛 learn in Hawaiian without books in Hawaiian, and a teacher can鈥檛 teach science or math without the words to do it. Hale Kuamoʻo makes sure those resources exist,鈥� said Kimura.

The signing followed trustees鈥� visits to Hawaiian language programs serving infants, preschoolers and K鈥�12 students at the N膩wah墨 campus in Keaʻau, offering them a firsthand look at the educational pathway their support helps sustain.

鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for OHA鈥檚 trust, and we take seriously our responsibility to deliver on it,” said 糖心视频 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin.

The University of Hawaiʻi Bookstores are transitioning to a new name and brand鈥擴niversity of Hawaiʻi Campus Stores鈥攔eflecting the evolution of the stores and their expanded offerings for the 糖心视频 community.

Historically focused on textbooks and course materials, the bookstores have grown to offer a wider variety of products and services, including 糖心视频 apparel and merchandise, supplies, technology, print services and grab-and-go items.

“We’re excited to unveil the 糖心视频 Campus Stores brand to the community,” said Tricia Ejima, campus stores director. “Our new name reflects how we’ve evolved, with a broader selection of products and services and a commitment to providing a convenient, all-in-one retail experience for the 糖心视频 community.”

The rebrand includes new logos, updated signage, new social media handles and an enhanced shopping experience. Campus Stores will continue expanding their product selection and partnerships with national and local brands, bringing new merchandise, products and events to campuses throughout the 糖心视频 system.

To celebrate the new name and identity, 糖心视频 Campus Stores will host Rebrand Launch Events on Thursday, November 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all store locations throughout the 糖心视频 system.

The event will feature a special ALOHA Collection x University of Hawaiʻi system product drop, along with activities, giveaways and special offers for the 糖心视频 community and the general public.

The rebrand marks a new chapter for the stores while maintaining the familiar products and services customers rely on. Campus Stores will continue enhancing the in-store and online shopping experience while tailoring their offerings to meet the needs of individual campuses.

糖心视频 Campus Stores serve students, faculty, staff and the campus community across the University of Hawaiʻi system. The stores offer course materials, 糖心视频 apparel and merchandise, supplies, technology, print services and other products to support campus life.

The University of Hawaiʻi celebrates November 2026 faculty and staff anniversaries.

40 years

Costa, Jan K
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Kuh, Anthony
Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

30 years

Shiroma, Wayne A
Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

More anniversaries
October 2026
September 2026
August 2026
More anniversary lists

20 years

Bays, Brian D
Librarian, 糖心视频 Hilo

Carter, Michelle P H Y W
Instructional and Student Support Specialist, Kapiʻolani CC

Chun, Christine S Y
Institutional/Policy Analyst, 糖心视频 Community Colleges

Emerson, Lisa M
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Gora, Lawrence K
Educational Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Harris, Chessa C D
Junior Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Hino, Shawn K
Building Maintenance Worker, Leeward CC

Hirata, Keith H
IT Specialist, 糖心视频 System

Hoomanawanui, Sherilyn K
Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Kudo, Franklin T
Professor, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu

Miyashiro, Lauren K
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Nishiki, Megan S
Library Technician, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Nishimura, Kim K
Janitor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Shirota, Lisa M
Public Information Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

10 years

Carlson, Darren V
Assistant Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Emerson, Sherrie A
Administrative Assistant, Kapiʻolani CC

Fry, David N
Media Specialist, Windward CC

Kim, Tiara-Lei H
Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Lentz, Rachel C F
Associate Extension Agent, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Matsumoto, Kori L M A
Safety/Security Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Mishra, Birendra
Associate Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Miyamura, Kelli R
Human Resources Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Pacheco, Cassieann A
Administrative Assistant, 糖心视频 Maui College

Paikai, Annemarie A
Librarian, 糖心视频 Hilo

Rivera, Cameron R
Academic Advisor, Leeward CC

Texeira Jr, John R
General Laborer, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu

Walker, Warren W
Assistant Professor, Hawaiʻi CC

Wuscher, Mary J Y
Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Yoshida, Virginia L J
Assistant Professor, Kapiʻolani CC

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 took top honors on the international stage at the HOSA-Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Indianapolis, Indiana this summer. Winners also included a student from Hawaiʻi Community College.

More than 15,000 HOSA members, advisors, alumni and partners attended the conference, including nearly 200 members of Hawaiʻi HOSA.

Here are the winners:

糖心视频 Hilo

Public Service Announcement: Behind the Silence | 1st Place<br />
(Second consecutive international championship team)

• Vivien Corpuz, Liberal Arts (Hawaiʻi CC)
• Kayden Kobayashi, Biology
• Christian Lee, Biology

Hilarity for Charity | Silver Recognition

• Veda Galima, Biology
• Kayden Kobayashi, Biology
• Christian Lee, Biology
• Jodee Miguel, Chemistry
• Sage Nosaka, Biology

HOSA Happenings | General Recognition

• Vivien Corpuz, Liberal Arts (Hawaiʻi CC)

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 earns two top awards

糖心视频 Hilo’s HOSA Faculty Advisor, Lark J. Morin Canico, served as acting advisor for the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 HOSA Chapter during the ILC. 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 celebrated an outstanding showing, earning two first place finishes:

Researched Persuasive Writing and Speaking | 1st Place

• Elisha Young

Community Awareness | 1st Place

• RJ (Jay) Arconado
• Ashley Begonia
• Vinnerie Conner
• Joshua Bryn Ramo
• Kaleʻa Sakai

The 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 HOSA Chapter is advised by Agnes Malate, director of the Health Careers Opportunity Program.

Alumni Achievement

Travis Taylor | Class of 2022
BA in art, minor in business

• Distinguished HOSA Alumni-50 (Honorable Mention)
• 80% Recognition, HOSA History Exam
• 5th Place, HOSA Story

Lark J. Morin Canico | Class of 2017
BA in communication, certificate in Filipino studies

• Distinguished HOSA Alumni-50 Champion
• Elected inaugural president of the HOSA International Alumni Association, providing leadership to HOSA‘s network of 2.5 million alumni.

The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges took top honors at the District 6 National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) Medallion Awards ceremony in Scottsdale, Arizona in October, taking home both a gold and a silver medallion for the inspiring “Start Here, Go Beyond” campaign.

The campaign, which spotlights authentic student transfer pathways across the 10-campus 糖心视频 System, earned:

• Gold Medallion—Video Shorts (series)
• Silver Medallion—Television/Video Paid Advertisement (series)

Empowering student journeys

The award-winning video series, produced in partnership with Olomana Loomis, illustrates how starting at a community college provides an affordable, flexible pathway toward earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree, advancing careers and uplifting local communities. The featured student stories span diverse fields鈥攆rom engineering and law to education鈥攑roving that students can achieve their biggest ambitions while remaining rooted in Hawaiʻi.

“Taking home gold and silver honors among such talented peer institutions across the Pacific Western region is an incredible validation of our mission,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for community colleges and 糖心视频 Maui College chancellor. “These awards belong to our creative marketing teams and, above all, to the resilient students whose voices and successes are the true heart of ‘Start Here, Go Beyond.’ Their journeys prove that no matter where you begin within our community colleges, the possibilities for your future are limitless.”

Watch the winning series

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

The NCMPR Medallion Awards honor excellence in design, communications and public relations exclusively among two-year community and technical colleges across District 6, which encompasses Arizona, California, Hawaiʻi, Nevada, Utah, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

Related stories:

• 糖心视频 Community Colleges named finalists for national marketing awards
• New video series highlights 糖心视频 transfer success

The University of Hawaiʻi is inviting students, faculty and staff across its 10-campus system to participate in the 2026 糖心视频 System AI Survey to better understand how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used and what support the university community needs.

The 15–20-minute research survey is open to current 糖心视频 students, faculty and staff age 18 and older, regardless of their experience with AI.

“Whether you use AI regularly, have stopped, or have never used it, your perspective is welcome,” the research team said in an email invitation to the 糖心视频 community.

Survey findings will help inform future 糖心视频 training, policies and access to AI technology, while supporting research on AI adoption and continued use.

Participation is voluntary, with no compensation, and participants may stop without penalty. Responses will be reported in aggregate. The survey requires a 糖心视频 account sign-in but is configured not to store participants’ names, 糖心视频 email addresses or usernames with their answers. Signing in is not consent; participants review the consent information before deciding whether to participate.

The research team includes principal investigator Sukhwa Hong of 糖心视频 Hilo, and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’s Mahdi Belcaid and Jason Leigh.

The survey will remain open through December 31, 2026.

For questions about the study, contact Sukhwa Hong at sukhwa@hawaii.edu.

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

“A little Halloween magic for our keiki!

Keiki and ʻohana gathered this past Friday for Kiliki o Lapu (Trick or Treat), a Halloween celebration hosted by our H膩naiaulu program at Windward CC!

The evening was filled with trick-or-treating, games and activities for keiki, creative costumes, festive table displays, contests, refreshments, and plenty of smiles!”

.

Previous Images
Food distribution
Homecoming
Paniolo
EPIC dance
Niu & Kalo Festival
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

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

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

• .

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

—To be true, fact, genuine, authentic, faithfulness.

More ʻ艑濒别濒辞 of the Week—Natasha Maʻfala, undergraduate, Ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the 糖心视频 Hilo .

Check back for more ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi.

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.

The is giving local high school graduates a clearer path to careers while helping address the state鈥檚 critical nursing shortage.

A new reserves nursing program seats for qualified Hawaiʻi high school graduates who complete prerequisites and maintain required grades. They won鈥檛 have to reapply during their sophomore year.

Five new faculty positions funded by the Legislature helped grow the incoming class from 30 to 40 students this year. The program plans to admit 50 next year.

“The more rural, the more need there is,” said Jeanette Ayers-Kawakami, director of 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 School of Nursing.

The shortage hits neighbor islands hardest. Pandemic burnout and retirements have added pressure to the nursing workforce.

For Hilo High School graduate Dylan Yanazaki, nursing is personal. Her mother鈥檚 severe eye injury required frequent trips to Oʻahu for care, inspiring her career choice.

Now part of the first direct-entry cohort, she hopes to stay on Hawaiʻi Island and serve local families.

“It would be great to be a part of that solution here,” Yanazaki said.

Last year鈥檚 submissions set a mouthwatering bar, featuring incredible community hits alongside favorite seasonal classics from faculty, staff and students across our campuses. These included Dani Bartz鈥檚 Holiday Baked Brie Bread Bowl, The Gomes ʻOhana‘s Vinda D鈥檃lhos Recipe and Chibi Confectionery Gingerbread Cookies.

Check out holiday recipes from previous years

As we gear up for the 2026 holiday season, we鈥檙e ready to showcase a brand-new lineup of spectacular home-cooked creations!

糖心视频 News invites every member of our University of Hawaiʻi ʻohana to submit a favorite recipe along with a short story behind the dish. Whether it鈥檚 a treasured Thanksgiving staple, a festive Hanukkah or Christmas centerpiece, a vibrant Kwanzaa plate, a New Year鈥檚 good-luck tradition, or a beloved family secret passed down through generations鈥攚e want to celebrate it!

Selected recipes and stories will be spotlighted in 糖心视频 News throughout November and December 2026.

Each submission should include:

1. Recipe
2. A short explanation of why it is special or significant to you, or why your family serves the dish during which holiday (one or two paragraphs)
3. Photos of the prepared dish and the 糖心视频 person who is submitting the recipe
4. Contact information, name, title, campus, email and phone number for the person who is submitting the recipe

For questions or to submit your 糖心视频-mazing holiday recipe, contact your campus communicator or . We can’t wait to taste the flavor, hear the stories and celebrate our 糖心视频 ʻohana this holiday season!

Enrollment across the University of Hawaiʻi‘s 10-campus system stands at 50,617 students in fall 2026, marking the third consecutive year above 50,000. Enrollment decreased 2% from fall 2025, a decline of 795 students.

Fall 2026 糖心视频 enrollment by campus

• 糖心视频 10-campus system: 50,617 (-2% from fall 2025)
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补: 20,061 (-2%)
• 糖心视频 Hilo: 2,619 (-1%)
• 糖心视频 West Oʻahu: 2,892 (essentially unchanged)
• 糖心视频 Community Colleges: 25,045 (-2%)
• Hawaiʻi CC: 2,426 (-3%)
• Honolulu CC: 3,642 (essentially unchanged)
• Kapiʻolani CC: 5,447 (-5%)
• Kauaʻi CC: 1,338 (+1%)
• Leeward CC: 6,231 (essentially unchanged)
• 糖心视频 Maui College: 2,890 (-4%)
• Windward CC: 3,071 (-1%)

“Our focus is on expanding access to higher education while strengthening support for current students to help them succeed and complete their degrees and certificates on time,” 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel said. “We are taking a more coordinated approach across our 10 campuses to create more opportunities and clearer pathways to higher education for Hawaiʻi‘s high school graduates, transfer students, working adults and others who can benefit from a 糖心视频 education.”

Enrollment trends

Continuing enrollment increased 1% to 28,191 students systemwide, while enrollment among students ages 18–24 remained essentially unchanged. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of 糖心视频 students are taking at least one online course, cross-campus enrollment has increased 22% over five years to 6,282 students, and early admits—high school students taking college courses—have increased 18% to 4,289.

First-time freshman enrollment totaled 7,279 students, down 3%; however, first-time freshman enrollment at the seven community colleges remained essentially unchanged. While entering transfer enrollment declined 9% overall, 糖心视频 Hilo and 糖心视频 Maui College recorded graduate and undergraduate transfer enrollment increases of 19% and 22%, respectively. 糖心视频 is strengthening transfer pathways across its campuses, supported by initiatives such as the NEXT STEP Scholarship program, which awarded $586,000 to 331 students as of September 14.

Enrollment across the 糖心视频 system has grown 5% since fall 2022, when 48,373 students were enrolled. Leading that growth were Windward Community College (+29%), Honolulu CC (+19%), 糖心视频 Maui College (+17%) and Hawaiʻi CC (+14%).

Community colleges serve thousands beyond credit enrollment

The official enrollment count does not capture the full reach of the 糖心视频 Community Colleges, which served 11,417 non-credit students in fiscal year 2026, a 4% increase from fiscal year 2022. Career and technical education enrollment totaled 6,038 students this fall.

From July through October, nearly 5,000 unique students enrolled in non-credit courses, accounting for 7,708 course registrations. Approximately 63% participated in workforce training programs that help residents develop skills and prepare for employment and career advancement. Non-credit students are not included in the official fall enrollment count.

Expanding access and student success

糖心视频 is taking a more coordinated approach to enrollment across its 10 campuses, including plans to hire a senior advisor to oversee systemwide enrollment management and expanded use of Salesforce technology to strengthen recruitment and marketing.

Direct2糖心视频, which provides proactive admission to eligible Hawaiʻi public high school seniors, generated approximately 2,100 enrolled students during the 2026 recruitment cycle, according to preliminary estimates. The program has expanded to include 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and 13 public charter schools, bringing all 10 campuses into the initiative. 糖心视频 also launched ApplyHawaiʻi in October, providing a single undergraduate application for all 10 campuses.

Other priorities include expanding online degree programs and shorter, stackable credentials, improving transfer pathways, and strengthening advising and student support through EAB Navigate360 and a Common Standard of Care. These efforts are supported by $123 million in one-time strategic investments across all 10 campuses.

The fall enrollment figures are based on 糖心视频‘s official enrollment count 35 days after the first day of instruction. Detailed fall 2026 enrollment reports are available at .

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel highlighted her annual campus visits, the proposed tuition schedule, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Homecoming and recent university achievements during her October 22 report to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR) at Honolulu Community College.

Hensel shared that she has completed seven of her 10 annual campus visits, meeting directly with students, faculty, staff and Native Hawaiian representatives alongside members of her leadership team. She also provided an update on the proposed tuition schedule, which is expected to return to the Board for consideration on November 19.

Hensel celebrated the return of a full week of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Homecoming festivities, highlighted recent national recognition for 糖心视频 campuses and praised Kapiʻolani CC for preparing and delivering meals to Kauaʻi CC students recovering from Hurricane Lowell.

• Campus visits update ()
• Proposed tuition schedule ()
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Homecoming and Athletics Giving Week ()
• 糖心视频 News highlights
  • JABSOM national recognition ()
  • University rankings ()
  • 糖心视频 ʻohana supports Kauaʻi CC following Hurricane Lowell ()

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

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

“Today鈥檚 food distribution was a wonderful reminder of the care and connection that make our Kapiʻolani CC community so special.

We鈥檙e grateful to our students, faculty, and staff, who worked together to help provide food, support, and aloha to our students and community.”

Previous Images
Homecoming
Paniolo
EPIC dance
Niu & Kalo Festival
Storm damage
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

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

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

• .

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