Equipped with cutting-edge marine robotics, hyperspectral imagers and aerial drones, five University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (MOP) alumni reunited aboard the R/V Searcher in June for a 22-day expedition into Papahānaumokuākea. Their mission was to deploy advanced autonomous systems to combat an invasive macroalgae called Chondria tumulosa.

The expedition highlights the impact of 糖心视频鈥檚 50-year-old undergraduate program, proving how MOP produces scientists, engineers and leaders who work fluently across disciplines, agencies and oceans.

“We have a unique opportunity to work with brilliant marine roboticists to develop tools to help combat one of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 most mysterious and potentially devastating marine macroalgae species, Chondria tumulosa,” said Chief Scientist Keolohilani H. Lopes Jr., a MOP alumnus and 糖心视频 Mānoa PhD candidate.

High-tech tools, interagency collaboration

The voyage brought together diverse expertise to monitor and protect fragile ecosystems. Three advanced marine robotic packages—equipped with computer vision cameras, a hyperspectral imager and an environmental DNA (eDNA) profiler—were provided by Matthew Dunbabin鈥檚 lab at Queensland University of Technology. Meanwhile, PhD student Anna Baker Mikkelsen of the Climate Resilience Collaborative (CRC) led aerial mapping of Sand Island at Kuaihelani (Midway) using a drone.

Shellie Habel, a coastal geologist with the CRC and , served as primary drone pilot for aerial mapping. At Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll), the team conducted aerial operations over shallow reef flats to supplement in-water surveys of macroalgae. The team also evaluated shoreline changes at Tern Island and East Island of Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) to support research led by Sara Kahanamoku and Haunani Kane at 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 (SOEST).

Decades of trust, leadership

Crucial permit compliance, field safety, and historical context were overseen by MOP alumnus Jason Leonard, Marine Operations Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Leonard, who has visited the sanctuary for more than 25 years, credited MOP and its Quantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques field program with preparing exceptional marine field personnel.

糖心视频 Mānoa MOP Coordinator Jeff Kuwabara also served as expedition photographer.

“What made this expedition possible wasn’t just funding or equipment,” Kuwabara said. “It was a network of trust built over decades, by people who trained together, dove together, and learned to work across disciplines before they ever had professional titles. That network is MOP‘s quiet legacy: not a single discovery or expedition, but a generation of professionals who know how to collaborate because they were taught to from the start.”

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from 糖心视频 M膩noa undergraduate and Office of Communications student worker Natasha Maafala during a visit to (HIMB) on v in 碍腻苍别ʻ辞丑别 Bay.

Maafala and fellow Office of Communications student workers Liliana Okimoto and Emili Phomsouvanh had the opportunity to experience some of HIMB research—including young hammerhead shark—and educational outreach.

From the “living laboratory” of Hawaiʻi, HIMB advances fundamental research and develops new technologies to address the challenges facing Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, and the world鈥檚 oceans.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa’s (JABSOM) marked a major milestone impacting medical care in the state with its White Coat Ceremony in July. The students in the Class of 2030 boosted the school’s Service Commitment Scholarship Program, surpassing 500 years of committed physician service to Hawaiʻi.

The ceremony welcomed 77 incoming medical students, who donned the symbolic white coat marking their entry into the medical profession.

“We are already doing what we’ve dreamed of,” said medical student Gabriela Cruz-Mattos. “Through having the opportunity to focus on academics, to focus on serving our community, I think it’s not just about being able to have that financial support, but being able to have that support just as a community member. I’m just eternally grateful.”

Supporting future physicians

Launched in 2019, the Service Commitment Scholarship Program provides financial support to students who commit to practicing medicine in Hawaiʻi after completing their residency training. Supported by JABSOM and private donors, the program helps address the state’s physician shortage while reducing the financial burden of medical school.

JABSOM awarded about 12 to 13 service commitment scholarships annually during the program’s first several years. This year, the school awarded 21 scholarships, pushing the cumulative service commitment from all recipients beyond 500 years. The long-term impact is expected to be even greater, because many recipients were born and raised in Hawaiʻi and already planned to build their careers here.

For many students, the scholarship allows them to focus on their education while preparing to serve their communities.

Student Tyler Chock hopes to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery to help address cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of illness among Native Hawaiians.

“I’ve always wanted to pursue cardiothoracic surgery,” he said. “My biggest reason is that there’s such a huge disparity, and cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the Native Hawaiian population, so I really wanted to help my community reduce that.”

Preparing physicians who remain in Hawaiʻi is central to the school’s mission.

JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker added, “To the extent our graduates stay and practice medicine here, we’re doing our job and it’s really gratifying to see how many of our graduates wind up deciding to practice here and take care of the communities that raised them.”

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The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa women鈥檚 soccer team is heading to Maui for an exhibition match against Seattle University on Sunday, August 9. The contest is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani.

Admission for the exhibition match is $5 per person. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Lahaina Memorial Project, which is dedicated to creating a memorial honoring the victims of the 2023 fire. The funds will also be directed to the Lahaina fire fund to continue helping with ongoing community recovery efforts.

Following the exhibition match, a free soccer keiki clinic will be held at 5:45 p.m. The clinic is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 14. Student-athletes from both the Rainbow Wahine and Seattle U will be on hand to work directly with the keiki. Waiver forms will need to be signed prior to anyone participating in the clinic activities.

Learn more about the event at .

An ancient glass shard. A mural painted thousands of miles from home. A ceremonial headband passed through generations.

These objects tell stories that stretch across generations and oceans in , a new digital exhibition created through the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa’s (CSEAS) and its (APME) program.

“The APME program was designed to introduce the cohort to museum experts based at cultural institutions in Hawaiʻi as well as museum educators affiliated with the National Park Service,” said APME program director Teri Skillman. “A regional need exists both to upgrade the Asia-Pacific region鈥檚 national and provincial museums and to build a network across the Pacific.”

Stories that span oceans

Among the featured stories is a fragment of Egyptian Roman glass discovered in a burial site in Palau. Researchers traced it to an Egyptian workshop, revealing trade connections that linked distant cultures centuries before modern navigation.

Other stories focus on living traditions. Dissa Aruna Makalingga, collections manager at Museum Affandi in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, tells the story behind The Wisdom of the East, the only mural completed during the lifetime of celebrated Indonesian artist Affandi. As Affandi’s great-grandson, Makalingga traveled to Hawaiʻi to see the mural for the first time at the ‘s Imin Center, joining only two other family members who have ever viewed it in person.

Building museum connections

Beyond creating the exhibition, participants exchanged ideas with museum experts in Hawaiʻi, shared preservation strategies and built a network that continues long after the program ends. The Asia-Pacific is home to about 1,800 cultures that often face similar challenges preserving their heritage, including limited resources and climate impacts. By sharing knowledge and best practices, APME helps museum professionals protect and tell the stories of their communities.

糖心视频ors can explore the exhibition through APME‘s new website, where each story reveals how history lives not only in museum collections, but also in the people and communities who continue to care for them.

APME provides professional development for early- and mid-career museum professionals from small and medium-sized museums and cultural centers across Island Southeast Asia and the western Pacific, helping them strengthen museum practices while building lasting partnerships across the region.

The APME Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Cultural Heritage Center in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and conducted through the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit CESU; TA# P24AC000688.

—by Julia Liu

When Vivian Legaloimoe Ho Ching was named first runner-up in the 2026 Miss American Samoa contest, she added another remarkable achievement to a journey already defined by service, leadership and dedication to her community.

A recent graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa’s , Ho Ching is the first student to complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) online program while residing in American Samoa. Her accomplishment highlights the importance of creating pathways that allow students to pursue advanced degrees while remaining in their home communities.

My journey has always been about giving back to the community that has shaped me.
—Vivian Ho Ching

“Vivian represents the very best of what is possible when educational opportunity, cultural identity and community service come together,” said Theresa Kreif, director of Pacific Partnerships and Workforce Development Initiatives. “Her success demonstrates that students can pursue advanced education while remaining connected to their families and cultural values.”

“Increasing access to our online social work programs allows students throughout the Pacific to pursue a high-quality education without having to leave the communities they plan to serve,” said Meripa Godinet, associate dean of the Thompson School. “Vivian鈥檚 achievement demonstrates how accessible educational pathways can prepare local professionals, strengthen the regional social service workforce, and create lasting benefits for families and communities. Her accomplishment also honors the social work alumni connected to American Samoa who came before her, whose service, leadership, and commitment helped establish a strong foundation for future generations of social workers.”

A commitment to service

For Ho Ching, both her education and her pageant role are grounded in a commitment to service. While completing her MSW field internship at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in American Samoa, she provided support to veterans and their families, developing skills grounded in Pacific values.

“My journey has always been about giving back to the community that has shaped me,” said Ho Ching. “Earning my MSW while remaining in American Samoa allowed me to stay connected to my culture and grow as a professional.”

As first runner-up in the Miss American Samoa contest, Ho Ching serves as a cultural ambassador, advocating for issues important to Pacific communities. Her social work background reinforces this role, emphasizing advocacy, social justice, and community wellbeing.

“I see both social work and the pageant experience as opportunities to uplift others,” she said. “Both are rooted in listening to people and working to create positive change.”

Ho Ching’s success reflects the Thompson School’s broader commitment to strengthening the social service workforce throughout the Pacific. Her achievement serves as a model for future students, proving that advanced education can be pursued without leaving home, while bridging the gap between professional expertise and cultural stewardship.

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

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

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

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

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

Research, training and community impact

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

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

Expert takes CDS helm

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

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

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

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

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

Since the first major bleaching event in 1996, Hawaiian corals have been subject to increasing heat stress and more prevalent bleaching events. New research from oceanographers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa used over the 21st century. Comparing this heat stress to previous estimates of the rate at which corals may adapt to changing conditions, the authors found that Hawaiian corals have the possibility of adapting to future heat stress, even under a high emissions scenario.

“Our research shows that Hawaiian corals may be exposed to unprecedented human-induced heat stress in the coming decades,” said Kate Feloy, lead author of the study, who conducted this work as part of her doctoral research in the in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST). “However, our results also provide some surprising hope that Hawaiian corals may be able to adapt to increasing temperatures.”

Feloy and co-authors used high-resolution ocean simulations, run under three different climate emissions scenarios. The modeling approach accounts for small-scale processes and can reveal important spatial patterns in local warming. This is the first time this type of high-resolution climate projection has been used to assess future heat stress around the main Hawaiian islands.

Differences across the island chain

Coral reefs have high cultural and economic value and are a critical source of food and coastal protection in Hawaiʻi. This study provides projected heat stress not just for the region as a whole but examines differences across and between individual islands. The team鈥檚 results show that not all coastal locations are projected to experience human-induced climate change at the same rate. They found that corals around Hawaiʻi Island are projected to experience higher heat stress than the other islands.

“The differences in warming are caused by complex ocean dynamics on small spatial scales in the waters around Hawaiʻi,” Feloy said. “These dynamics change the spatial patterns of human-induced coastal warming. Because of the spatial differences in projected heat stress, the rate at which corals will need to adapt in order to keep pace with increasing temperatures varies around the islands.”

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Two University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research projects have been selected for the inaugural , placing 糖心视频鈥檚 flagship research campus among a select group of universities and research institutions nationwide using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate scientific breakthroughs.

In the , the DOE said the projects were selected to develop and demonstrate AI-enabled tools and workflows designed to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, science and national security. Each project is eligible for Phase I awards of $500,000–$750,000 over nine months, providing investigators with the opportunity to develop innovative AI-driven research while positioning them to compete for future Phase II awards of up to $15 million.

“The selection of not one, but two 糖心视频 Mānoa projects for this highly competitive DOE mission reflects the strength of the 糖心视频 research community and the creativity of our faculty in pursuing solutions to some of the most complex challenges facing society,” said 糖心视频 Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad B. Walton. “At 糖心视频, we are committed to fostering an environment where bold ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration and emerging technologies can come together to create meaningful impact not only in Hawaiʻi, but across the nation, and around the world.”

The two 糖心视频 Mānoa projects selected are led by researchers in the and the .

AI security for critical infrastructure

One project, led by Assistant Professor Liuwan Zhu from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, focuses on improving the security and reliability of AI systems used in critical infrastructure. The project, called STRATOS (Security and Trust Runtime Architecture for Time-critical Operational Science), will develop an AI security platform designed to detect and respond to cyber threats targeting AI systems used in real-time operations, such as electrical grid management and forecasting.

The research team will test the technology using a dual-site platform that includes the 糖心视频 Mānoa campus microgrid and real-time computing systems at Argonne National Laboratory. The project includes collaborators from Old Dominion University and Argonne National Laboratory.

AI advances the search for extremely rare decay processes

The second project, led by Professor Zepeng Li from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, will develop an AI foundation model to support searches for neutrinoless double beta decay, one of the most important unanswered questions in nuclear and particle physics. Neutrinoless double beta decay is an extremely rare nuclear process that, if observed, could help scientists better understand the nature of neutrinos, the mysterious “ghost particles” that are abundant in the universe and are constantly passing through us without interacting. In particular, this rare decay process could tell us whether the neutrino is its own anti-particle.

Researchers around the world are searching for this phenomenon using different types of detectors, but each experiment typically relies on its own specialized software and analysis methods. Li鈥檚 project aims to create a shared AI framework that can learn from data across multiple detector technologies, helping researchers identify patterns, analyze results and improve collaboration among experiments studying this rare event. The project will develop a unified AI framework that streamlines data analysis across the diverse detector technologies used in neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments, accelerating the search for this rare process.

The Genesis Mission brings together DOE laboratories and universities to combine advanced AI, high-performance computing and scientific expertise. 糖心视频 Mānoa was among 168 universities selected for the first round of Genesis Mission projects, which included a total of 278 research efforts involving more than 340 institutions across the country. Through these projects, 糖心视频 researchers will contribute to emerging applications of AI in fundamental physics, energy systems and national security, while strengthening Hawaiʻi鈥檚 role in cutting-edge scientific research.

Three years after the 2023 Maui wildfires, residents are showing meaningful signs of recovery—but persistent food insecurity, housing instability, health concerns and weakening social support continue to place many families at risk. That is the central finding of a new community report released July 27 from the (MauiWES), led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi.

The report, “,” follows many of the same adults and children over time, allowing researchers to examine how their health and living conditions have changed since the disaster. The findings show that recovery is underway, but that progress remains uneven across Maui families.

MauiWES has conducted more than 4,000 appointments and screenings to more than 2,500 participants, providing residents with mental health assessments, blood pressure checks, lung function testing, blood testing, social needs screening, health information and referrals.

Key findings

• Employment among returning adults increased from 62.0% to 80.9%.
• Health insurance coverage increased from 85.1% to 90.5%.
• Participants living in temporary housing declined from 40.6% to 34.4%, while those who felt secure in their housing increased from 72.2% to 79.6%.
• Food insecurity remained widespread, affecting 44.9% of returning adults. The most severe level of food insecurity remained essentially unchanged at approximately 23%.
• High social support declined from 62.3% to 53.7%, suggesting growing recovery fatigue and strain on families and community networks.
• Nearly one in two adults continued to report depressive symptoms, approximately one in four screened with moderate-to-severe anxiety and nearly one in three reported post-traumatic stress symptoms.

“These findings show that Maui鈥檚 recovery is moving forward, with real progress in employment, insurance coverage and housing stability,” said Ruben Juarez, co-director of MauiWES and –HMSA Distinguished Professor of Health Economics. “The opportunity now is to build on that progress by connecting housing, food, healthcare and social support so that every family has the foundation needed to recover and thrive.”

The report identifies four closely connected foundations of long-term health recovery:

• Food and income security
• Stable and secure housing
• Access to healthcare and follow-up
• Strong family and community support

Researchers found that residents facing food insecurity, housing insecurity or limited social support consistently experienced greater emotional distress. For example, half of adults who felt insecure in their housing reported moderate-to-severe post-traumatic stress symptoms, compared with about one-quarter of those who felt secure.

“The progress is real, and it should be recognized,” said Alika K. Maunakea, MauiWES co-director and professor. “But the biological, emotional and social consequences of a disaster do not disappear on the same timeline as debris removal or reconstruction. Long-term recovery requires continued health monitoring, early intervention and trusted pathways to care.”

Children remain a priority

The report highlights mixed findings among children and adolescents. Overall anxiety and mild-to-moderate depression declined, but severe depressive symptoms increased from 11.8% to 15.1%, and severe post-traumatic stress symptoms increased.

Children鈥檚 lung function screening results improved but remained concerning, according to researchers. Stage 1-range blood-pressure readings and obesity also increased, reinforcing the importance of continued pediatric screening, school-based mental-health support and family-centered services.

“Children may appear resilient while still carrying significant emotional and physical effects beneath the surface,” said Christopher Knightsbridge, a MauiWES mental-health therapist based in Lahaina. “Supporting children means supporting the entire family鈥攊ncluding their housing, food security, daily routines and access to trusted care.”

From screening to sustained care

The report calls for Maui鈥檚 recovery to move from separate emergency programs toward a coordinated health-recovery system connecting healthcare, behavioral health, housing assistance, food programs, schools, insurance enrollment and trusted community organizations.

“Screening cannot end with a result on paper,” Juarez said. “Every concerning result should become a supported pathway to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Families should not be left to navigate a complicated recovery system on their own.”

MauiWES is a community-based partnership involving 糖心视频 researchers, local healthcare providers, grassroots organizations and recovery partners across Maui.

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See more 糖心视频 News stories on MauiWES. For more on MauiWES and information on resources, .

Last fall, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers asked the question: Can Hawaiʻi grow rice again? Now, a new study has given a data-driven answer: Yes, and the quality might be higher than expected.

The report is the work of scientists from the 糖心视频 Mānoa (CTAHR) and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. They found that high-quality Japanese rice types can thrive in fields with traditional irrigation systems, instead of traditional flooded paddies.

The collaboration evaluated two of Japan’s premier short-grain varieties, Koshihikari and Hitomebore, during the 2025 summer season.

The team tested upland cultivation in fields in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi, owned by farmer Jerry Ornellas, a former CTAHR field technician. Yields in Kapaʻa reached 3.79 to 4.01 tons per hectare, comparable to many fields in Tokyo. Surprisingly, while the crops in Japan required 134 days to mature, 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 crops were harvested in 97 days. Shorter tropical daylengths accelerated their growth.

“This was an excellent start to the collaborative research to explore the potential of bringing back rice farming to Hawaiʻi,” said Professor Tomoaki Miura of CTAHR鈥檚 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management.

贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 stable temperatures and abundant sunshine generated heavier grains, yielding an outstanding grain-filling rate of up to 93.9%. The island-grown rice also achieved a superior whole-grain ratio and a lower protein content, a trait highly prized for creating a softer, stickier eating texture.

Hawaiʻi imports 100% of its rice, totaling 140 million pounds a year. Because residents consume three times the national average, establishing local production can play a major role in the state鈥檚 food security.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its Team Academic Awards for the 2025–26 academic year with the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa men’s volleyball team, the Rainbow Wahine indoor team, and the Rainbow Wahine beach team each gaining recognition.

It marked a sweep for 糖心视频, which was one of just four schools whose women’s, men’s and beach teams all earned recognition from the AVCA.

The Rainbow Warriors returned to the honored list after boasting a 3.39 team GPA during the 2025–26 school year. The academic honor caps off a historic season in which the men’s team captured the 2026 NCAA National Championship in May. The Warriors previously earned AVCA academic honors in 2024, when they were the lone Big West representative on the men’s list and earned the Team Academic Honor Roll distinction.

The Rainbow Wahine Beach Volleyball team continued its sustained excellence by earning the distinction for the sixth straight season. The BeachBows posted a 3.60 team average during the 2025–26 school year, continuing their rich tradition of academic and athletic balance under new head coach Danny Alvarez.

The Rainbow Wahine indoor squad rounded out the sweep, posting a 3.45 GPA. The women’s indoor program has made the AVCA academic list six times in the last eight seasons, carrying strong classroom momentum into a new era under first-year head coach Joshua Walker.

Learn more about the honorees at .

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa physicist is part of an international team behind a new approach to studying some of the universe鈥檚 most mysterious particles&@8212;using mountains instead of ice.

A paper published July 15 in outlines the scientific potential of the (TAMBO), a proposed neutrino observatory that would use a deep valley in the Peruvian Andes to detect some of the highest-energy neutrinos ever observed.

Neutrinos are tiny, nearly massless particles created during some of the universe鈥檚 most powerful events, such as exploding stars and supermassive black holes. Because they rarely interact with matter, they can travel across the universe almost unchanged, carrying clues about where they came from. That same property, however, also makes them extremely difficult to detect.

Neutrinos, rocks, cascades of particles

Unlike the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, which detects neutrinos using sensors embedded deep in glacial ice, TAMBO would use the natural landscape of a mountain valley. When a rare, high-energy tau neutrino passes through Earth’s crust and interacts with rock, it can produce a particle that escapes into the valley and creates a cascade of particles in the air. Thousands of detectors placed on the opposite side of the valley would capture that signal.

By focusing on high-energy tau neutrinos (one of three types of neutrinos), researchers expect TAMBO to identify cosmic neutrinos with far less interference from particles produced in Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. That could help scientists pinpoint the powerful cosmic objects that generate them and provide new opportunities to test fundamental laws of physics.

糖心视频 Mānoa Assistant Professor Peter Lewis is a member of the international TAMBO collaboration, which includes researchers from 26 institutions across nine countries. TAMBO was originally proposed by 糖心视频 alumnus Andres Romero-Wolf, who until recently served as the project鈥檚 manager.

“Neutrinos are exceedingly weird and challenging to detect, but we need to study them to understand the universe,” Lewis said. “TAMBO will fill a critical gap in our understanding of neutrinos. It will also continue a very long and rich tradition of neutrino detection leadership at 糖心视频 Mānoa. TAMBO will give our students a unique opportunity to collaborate with an international collaboration on fast-paced, innovative work in advanced detector design and neutrino physics.”

Researchers are evaluating the Colca Valley in Peru as a potential site for the observatory. Construction of TAMBITO, a prototype for the project, is already underway, with the full TAMBO observatory expected to be completed in 2028. The collaboration is also working with local communities and social scientists to help ensure the project is developed responsibly while supporting education and research opportunities in the region.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is housed in 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 .

The has been recognized among the world鈥檚 top colleges and universities for global visibility in a new international ranking that measures public attention and online reach.

The 2026–27 , released July 22 by American Caldwell, ranked 糖心视频 Mānoa No. 208 worldwide and No. 103 in the United States. Only a little more than 1,200 institutions worldwide were included in the rankings from among the world’s , placing 糖心视频 Mānoa among the top 1% globally.

The rankings complement traditional academic rankings by measuring universities鈥� global visibility over a 12-month period. The study analyzed institutions across all 193 U.N.-recognized countries using indicators such as news mentions, public interest, website visitors, social media reach and YouTube engagement.

According to American Caldwell, the 2026–27 edition is the first visibility-based ranking to include institutions from every country recognized by the U.N. The study tracked tens of thousands of data points across six visibility indicators to evaluate universities鈥� global reach and public engagement.

The recognition adds to a series of recent national and international honors for 糖心视频 Mānoa. Earlier this year, 糖心视频鈥檚 flagship campus was ranked among the world鈥檚 top universities by multiple organizations, including U.S. News and World Report, Quacquarelli Symonds and Times Higher Education.

Recent rankings

• 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, June 17, 2026
• 2026–27 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, June 16, 2026
• 2026 U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 Best Graduate Schools rankings, April 8, 2026
• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

The Artemis missions will return human beings to the surface of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. This next generation of lunar exploration demands novel operational strategies and will see the integration of countless new technologies. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student-led MAHINA (Multi-phase Artemis Era Human Investigations in Natural Analogs) project successfully completed two notable field campaigns aimed at supporting and advancing future astronaut teams in their missions on the Moon.

“We鈥檙e conducting research using environments on Earth that are analogous to those encountered during planetary surface operations to simulate lunar mission activities—all with the goal of maintaining crew performance and preventing cognitive overload,” said Aláine Lee, 糖心视频 Mānoa undergraduate student majoring in physics with a minor in human spaceflight who developed the MAHINA project.

Sampling tech on a lava field

In fall 2025, in collaboration with Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Professors Peter Englert and Paul Lucey, MAHINA project students conducted a field campaign on a Hawaiian lava field site to test the use of thermal hyperspectral imagery in assisting astronauts in recovering geological samples. This type of imaging combines remotely sensed heat and light data to identify mineral composition and monitor land surface properties. The team used a lightweight hyperspectral imager that captures that data.

“We successfully demonstrated that processed thermal hyperspectral data could be used to direct the analog astronauts on which samples to recover,” Lee explained.

7,000-mile ocean voyage

In March 2026, Lee completed a 7,000-nautical-mile open-ocean field campaign from the Chilean Antarctic Territory to Mexico aboard an 86-foot research vessel that was supporting marine organism sampling activities. Lee received university approval to conduct research using a wearable functional near-infrared spectroscopy device. Previously deployed to monitor fighter pilots, the device was used to assess the cognitive and physical performance of a research vessel crew in the isolated conditions experienced during the passage.

“By simulating missions and gathering quantitative performance data in an analog environment, our project provides critical insights for understanding human performance,” Lee said.

The MAHINA project was developed in 2025 through the , which is administered by the in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST) and offers undergraduate minors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hawaiʻi 4-H youth showcased their hard work and growing self-confidence at the 2026 Hawaiʻi State 4-H Livestock Show on July 11. Held during the Hawaiʻi State Farm Fair, the event put a spotlight on the program’s role in training the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Hawaiʻi 4-H is offered through the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 鈥檚 (CTAHR) Cooperative Extension team, helping young people build life skills to meet modern challenges. During the show, youth competitors evaluated and presented market hogs, goats, cows and steers that they raised throughout the season.

One of this year鈥檚 standout competitors was Nydia Robleto, a senior at James Campbell High School in ʻEwa Beach. After losing her first goat to the severe Kona Low storms earlier this year, Robleto persevered with support from the 4-H community and raised a new goat that went on to win first place in the goat show.

Robleto鈥檚 commitment to agriculture also extends into the classroom as part of CTAHR鈥檚 Summer Research Institute, which prepares young leaders to address critical challenges in food systems and environmental sustainability. She credits Hawaiʻi 4-H and CTAHR for fostering her personal growth and confidence.

“Honestly, it’s been amazing,” Robleto said. “There are many people who will always support your decisions, and if you feel like you could do it, then they will help you out.”

National judge caps 50-state quest

Adding to the excitement of the event, national livestock judge Ryan Rash served as the official judge for the show, capping off a historic personal milestone. Rash completed his lifelong dream of judging livestock in all 50 states during his appearance at the Hawaiʻi State Farm Fair.

He took great care to offer the young 4-H competitors candid and supportive evaluations of their animals鈥� appearance and performance.

“It has been quite the event to get here, and a very monumental achievement for me,” Rash said. “And so, very, very blessed to be able to get to do what I love and what I’m passionate about.”

The Hawaiʻi 4-H summer livestock season comes to a close on August 22 with the 4-H Horse State Show at Kualoa Ranch on 翱ʻ补丑耻鈥檚 North Shore. To learn more about Hawaiʻi 4-H, contact Asia Broussard at asiab9@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-2255.

University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa athletics has announced the 41st class of the 糖心视频 Sports Circle of Honor, which includes Monika Eggens (water polo), Rich Miano (football), Barbara (Mitchell) Anderson (swimming), Costas Theocharidis (men鈥檚 volleyball) and Ben Yee (contributor).

Eggens becomes the first water polo player to be enshrined in the program鈥檚 29-year history. Miano is the 38th football player to be inducted, while Theocharidis is the sixth honoree from the men鈥檚 volleyball program. Yee, entering in the “Contributor” category, is the 11th supporter to be honored. Anderson, who swam for 糖心视频 in the 1970s, is recognized as this year鈥檚 “Legend” category honoree.

Established in 1982, the Circle of Honor recognizes individuals and teams that have contributed to the growth, history and tradition of 糖心视频 Athletics. Including this year鈥檚 honorees, the Circle of Honor now boasts 138 individual and 13 team inductees. Plaques honoring these legends are displayed on the inner walls surrounding the main concourse of Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

The official enshrinement of the Class of 2026 will take place during the Green & White Celebration on Friday, October 16, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. For more information and table sales, visit .

Learn more at .

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

“Leeward Community College staff and students participate in a lei-making workshop organized by the college鈥檚 Office of Workforce Development and led by Honolulu floral and botanical studio Palai Hawaiʻi. The hands-on team-building event encouraged creativity, cultural learning and connections. Photo by Maria Orona.”

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