This week’s UH 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’s 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.”

Check out the video from the event on Leeward CC‘s Instagram.

Previous Images
35mm photoshoot
Noni lab
May Day, 1952
Weekend weather
Monk seals
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 UH ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next UH 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.

• Send your image using a UH email address.

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

Hoe

—Paddle (As a canoe).

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“E kaupē aku nō i ka hoe a kō mai (Put forward the paddle and draw it back).”

—Lanakila Grosse, he haumāna ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo Wehewehe Wikiwiki.

The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu has achieved a major milestone, ranking 3rd nationally in the Cyber Power Rankings for the National Cyber League (NCL) spring 2026 competition. This performance, involving more than 7,500 students from 670 institutions, marks the university’s highest placement to date, rising from 9th in the previous fall competition.

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

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

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

Skill, determination, teamwork

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

In May, a UH West Oʻahu team, which included students from Honolulu Community College, secured 4th place nationally in the NCL Team Standard Bracket.

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

For more visit Ka Puna O Kaloʻi.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel presented a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) strategy to the Board of Regents (BOR) on July 16 at UH Mānoa, detailing a bold vision to accelerate AI training and adoption across the university system and serve the needs of Hawaiʻi.

Likening the technology to “the new electricity,” the presentation emphasized the urgency to prepare Hawaiʻi’s workforce for a rapidly shifting landscape. Hensel highlighted industry statistics, noting that one-third of entry-level jobs now require AI skills, and 80% of hiring managers consider AI competency a priority when evaluating candidates.

“Because this is here, it is going to radically transform what we do, and the failure to talk about it as an institution of higher education means that we will constantly be reacting rather than setting the course for our students, our faculty, staff and the state,” said Hensel during her presentation at the BOR meeting.

To meet this demand, the university has adopted a holistic approach to AI that spans governance, curriculum, workforce development, research and operations. A cornerstone of this approach is the newly adopted UH AI Policy, which establishes guidelines for the “responsible and ethical use of AI technologies,” promoting transparency, accountability and fairness across the university community. To implement this vision, UH has formed a dedicated AI Task Force focused on Hawaiian culture and values, ethics and governance, and curriculum and pedagogy.

More than 100 AI-infused courses

The university currently boasts more than 100 new or AI-infused courses and has launched new AI certificates, concentrations and programs at UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, UH Maui College, UH West Oʻahu and Honolulu Community College. Furthermore, nearly 100 instructors from across the system have been supported in developing and incorporating AI-related assignments into their classes.

The university is also prioritizing hands-on experiential learning. Initiatives such as EL3vate provide intense faculty professional development to weave AI and design thinking into course curricula, while AI Innovation@RISE offers students systemwide opportunities to work directly with industry partners on real-world tech needs in Hawaiʻi.

Beyond the 10 campus system, UH is providing resources to the public. The newly launched “AI for Hawaiʻi” is a free, open-access, 12-chapter foundational course offering training and applied learning for communities across the islands. UH is collaborating with tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, and is proposed as a regional anchor to adapt AI curriculum co-created with MIT. All of these tools, community practices and resources are centralized on the OneAI Hub website.

“It’s going to happen whether we embrace it or not, and the important thing is that we decide how we deploy it and use it through a position of information and knowledge, and not reacting to the winds of change,” said Hensel during her presentation.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided an update to the UH Board of Regents (BOR) on recent leadership transitions in her report at the July 16 monthly meeting.

The updates included changes at Hawaiʻi Community College, UH Mānoa and the VP of Academic Strategy. Hensel discussed next steps for the University Laboratory School partnership, the interim adoption of the Time, Place and Manner policy, and the modernization of student housing, and highlighted several bright spots across the UH campuses, including the demolition of Hale Noelani to make way for modern student housing, massive research milestones at the UH Cancer Center, and a $5-million investment in UH Athletics.

She also recognized UH recipients of the 2026 Governor’s Awards for Distinguished State Service, including the Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Team of the Year.

• Hawaiʻi CC chancellor transition (video)
• UH Mānoa leadership and VP of Academic Strategy updates (video)
• University Lab School agreement (video)
• Time, Place and Manner policy update (video)
• Hale Noelani demolition (video)
• Hoʻōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center and NIH funding (video)
• NIL funding commitments for UH Athletics (video)
• Governor’s Awards (video)

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from UH Mānoa’s Shea McNulty, an undergraduate studying psychology and art.

McNulty shared, “This is a film picture (35mm) taken during a photoshoot for a local small business. I study film photography at UH, and had an amazing opportunity to showcase my skills in a beautiful place.”

Previous Images
Noni lab
May Day, 1952
Weekend weather
Monk seals
Chainsaw ice
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 UH ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next UH 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.

• Send your image using a UH email address.

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

ʻAwapuhi

—Wild ginger.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“Nui nā ʻawapuhi i koʻu māla (There is plenty of ginger in my garden).”

—Haʻaheo, he haumāna ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo Wehewehe Wikiwiki.

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from Patrick Williams of UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

Williams shared, “Students Samantha Iha (left) and Yanli He (right) in Assistant Professor Nan Jiang’s lab working with noni extracts.”

Previous Images
May Day, 1952
Weekend weather
Monk seals
Chainsaw ice
Dundee under a Kīlauea sun
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 UH ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next UH 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.

• Send your image using a UH email address.

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

Nalo

—Out of sight, hidden.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“Aʻole au i ʻike ka puka komo i ke ala hekehi, ua nalo (I did not see the entrance to the hiking path, it disappeared).”

—Kiki, he haumāna ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo Wehewehe Wikiwiki.

This year’s University of Hawaiʻi foodbank drive raised $53,810 in monetary donations and 6,146 pounds of food for 2026. According to Hawaiʻi Foodbank, the university’s contribution equals more than 120,800 meals.

This year’s donations of 517,177 meals across the City, State and UH exceeded Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s goal of 510,000 meals, marking an outstanding accomplishment.

“The UH ʻohana showcased incredible compassion and generosity that will make a major impact on the community and those in need,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this happen.”

The issue of hunger continues to be a major challenge facing the community, affecting those most vulnerable. The contributions will provide vital support to those who need it most.

The UH Board of Regents (BOR) elected Lauren Akitake as chair for the 2026–27 academic year and welcomed five new members during a special meeting on July 2 at UH Mānoa. Akitake was elected by a vote of seven to four.

Akitake was appointed to the board in 2023 and represents Maui County. The BOR governs the UH 10-campus system and is responsible for policy direction, financial oversight and long-term strategic planning. As chair, she will preside over board meetings and work closely with UH President Wendy Hensel and fellow regents to help guide the university’s strategic priorities.

“This is more than an honor. It is a responsibility to serve the University of Hawaiʻi system—our students, faculty, staff and the communities we are entrusted to serve across Hawaiʻi and beyond,” said Akitake (the complete statement is included below). “At the center of our work must be our students—their experience and their success—while supporting their academic and life journey.”

The board also elected former Chair Gabriel Lee as first vice chair and newly appointed Regent Keith Amemiya as second vice chair. Both will serve one-year terms during the 2026–27 academic year.

Five new regents begin service

The new leadership takes office alongside five newly appointed regents, making this one of the board’s largest transitions in recent years.

Joining the 11-member governing board are Keith Amemiya, Marie Laderta, Makai Freitas, Keola Robert Whittaker and student Eric Pōmaikaʻi Gee. Together, the new regents bring expertise in higher education, business, finance, law, labor, public service and student leadership.

Amemiya, a UH Mānoa graduate and senior vice president at Central Pacific Bank, previously served as BOR executive administrator and secretary.

Laderta has nearly three decades of public service experience, including leadership roles with the state Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Taxation and the Department of the Attorney General.

Freitas is a Hawaiʻi Island labor leader with more than two decades of experience with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, where he has led workforce development initiatives and labor negotiations. He also serves as the West Hawaiʻi representative on the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

Whittaker is a Maui-based land use attorney with experience in environmental and regulatory law and a longtime community volunteer.

Gee, an honors student at UH Mānoa majoring in international business and finance, has served in state and county youth leadership roles and will represent students across the UH system.

The 11-member board is composed of volunteer regents representing every county in Hawaiʻi, including five members from the City and County of Honolulu, two each from Hawaiʻi and Maui counties, one from Kauaʻi County and one student regent.

Akitake’s statement after being elected BOR chair

“To say this is an honor is an understatement. I was born and raised in Waiehu, on Maui, and I was shaped by my community, my public school teachers, and the values I learned at home. I carry that foundation with me, and it is what brought me to this seat today.

This is more than an honor. It is a responsibility to serve the University of Hawaiʻi system—our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we are entrusted to serve across Hawaiʻi and beyond.

I often ask a simple question: Where are we going? My hope is that, as a board, we continue to answer that question together—clearly, consistently and with purpose—so that our decisions are connected, not piecemeal, and that we are moving in one direction. I am grateful to be doing this work with five new regents who bring experience and fresh perspectives, and I look forward to working with all of you.

At the center of our work must be our students—their experience and their success—while supporting their academic and life journey. I look forward to working with you to strengthen this university—not only as a place of learning, but as a destination for world-class research, academics, athletics, innovation and service to our communities. Thank you for this honor. I will not take it lightly, and I look forward to the work ahead.”

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

30 years

Akiu, Debora A U
Supervising Library Technician, Honolulu CC

Libarios, Laurie T
Associate Professor, Leeward CC

Ricci, Kori L
Educational Specialist, UH Mānoa

Tamanaha, Janice T
Administrative Officer, UH Mānoa

More anniversaries
June 2026
May 2026
April 2026
More anniversary lists

20 years

Barkhoff, Harald
Vice Chancellor, UH West Oʻahu

Ching, Kelly J
Academic Support Specialist, UH Mānoa

Dunn, Liloa
Research Associate, UH Mānoa

Huang, Vicky X
Fiscal Specialist, UH System

Luke, Amy M
Chief of Staff, UH System

Sears, Heejoon R
Research Associate, UH Mānoa

Serrano, Susan K
Professor, Law, UH Mānoa

Yrizarry, Lisa A
Associate Professor, Kapiʻolani CC

10 years

Andrade, Troy J H
Associate Dean, UH Mānoa

Cepeda, Julian A
Residence Life Specialist, UH Mānoa

Escobar, Louis Y
IT Specialist, UH Maui College

Gordon, Emmanuel M
IT Specialist, UH System

Lips, Sarah A
Student Services Specialist, UH Hilo

Muraoka, Kerri H
Office Assistant, Kauaʻi CC

Segeral, Nathalie
Associate Professor, UH Mānoa

Sutter, Shelley R
Dean, Kauaʻi CC

Young, Heather A
Administrative Officer, UH Mānoa

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is a May Day court at UH in 1952. The image is courtesy of Miyamoto Photo Collection, University of Hawaiʻi Archives. See more archive images in the 2026 issue of University of Hawaiʻi Magazine via this UH News story.

Previous Images
Weekend weather
Monk seals
Chainsaw ice
Dundee under a Kīlauea sun
Championship trophy tour
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 UH ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next UH 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.

• Send your image using a UH email address.

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

Keola Robert Whittaker was appointed to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) on June 26, 2026, by Gov. Josh Green, pending confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate. Whittaker will represent Maui County through June 30, 2030, filling the seat vacated by Kuiokalani Gapero following his resignation.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Whittaker has lived on Maui since 2020. A land use attorney, he represents clients on development projects, environmental review under the Hawaiʻi Environmental Policy Act and regulatory matters involving state and county land use agencies.

“I understand the unique challenges facing communities on Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, and the transformative role the University of Hawaiʻi can play in their future,” Whittaker said. “I will strive to bring a neighbor island perspective that is essential to the governance of a university system that serves the entire state.”

More about Whittaker

Whittaker also serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity Maui and Wave of Harmony, a foundation that supports performing arts education, cultural programs and youth development. He previously served as board president of the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles and on the board of Outright International, a global nonprofit that advances human rights for LGBTQ+ people.

Whittaker earned a BA from Whitman College, an MA from Reed College and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is completing a Master of Divinity degree at Starr King School for the Ministry, where he serves as student body president.

More about the BOR

The BOR governs the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system and is responsible for policy direction, financial oversight and long-term strategic planning. The board consists of 11 non-compensated volunteer members representing every county in the state, including five from the City and County of Honolulu, two each from Hawaiʻi and Maui counties, one from Kauaʻi County and one UH student.

Forty years ago, Tim Lee was just a self-described “surfer boy” taking classes at Kapiʻolani Community College and walking the length of Waikīkī begging for a foot in the hospitality door. Today, he is a world-renowned hotelier managing a legendary Michelin Three-Key resort. Yet, his deepest wish is simply to bring his global success back home to give back to the islands.

“I bring my aloha spirit wherever I go,” Lee said. “It’s always a part of the equation.”

Lee’s journey is one of the emotional heartbeats of the 2026 issue of University of Hawaiʻi Magazine.

Other stories in the issue show UH’s impact in Hawaiʻi and beyond:

• A bold new vision for the future: Get an exclusive look at President Wendy Hensel’s first year at the helm. From launching the Direct2UH admission initiative to driving increases in applications from first-time freshmen for fall 2026, UH is breaking down barriers to ensure academic excellence remains accessible and affordable.
• Keeping kamaʻāina home: The mission is clear: keep our kamaʻāina in the islands by building seamless, reliable pathways directly from the classroom to fulfilling careers. This issue highlights UH’s aggressive “generational workforce commitment.”
• Groundbreaking, world-class science: UH continues to lead the globe in environmental and earth sciences. Learn about a revolutionary UH study that discovered how Kīlauea Volcano signals magma shifts through the seismic energy of ocean waves—not just earthquakes—allowing for vastly improved eruption predictions.



• Culturally rooted AI: UH Hilo’s LOHE Lab (Listening Observatory for Hawaiian Ecosystems) has partnered with Google’s Perch AI to process massive amounts of acoustic data in near real-time, creating a life-saving early warning system for Hawaiʻi‘s endangered native birds.
• Celebrating alumni creativity and voice: Be inspired by the incredible achievements of our alumni who are dominating the literary world. Celebrate Lee Tonouchi, the acclaimed “Pidgin Guerrilla,” as he takes on the role of Hawaiʻi’s new poet laureate, dedicating his term to empowering marginalized communities to embrace their unique voices.
• Magical realism and history: Dive into the world of Hilo-born author Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes’ new novel, The Pōhaku, which weaves 300 years of Hawaiʻi-California history and climate themes into a beautiful story of generational healing.

Whether you are passionate about new technology, environmental conservation, local economics or the vibrant arts, this issue of University of Hawaiʻi Magazine proves that the legacy you are a part of is stronger—and more impactful—than ever.

University of Hawaiʻi Magazine is published by PacificBasin Communications in partnership with the UH Foundation, and annually highlights alumni accomplishments and news from UH’s 10 campuses.

The following guest column by University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel was published in the June 29, 2026, edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

A recent June 21 Honolulu Star-Advertiser article about the University of Hawaiʻi’s proposed updates to its Free Expression policy raised important questions—questions I welcome. As a former law professor who taught aspects of First Amendment law, I believe deeply that free speech and open intellectual debate are essential to our mission across all ten UH campuses. Protecting these freedoms is one of my most important responsibilities as president.

At the same time, applying First Amendment principles in a real campus environment is complex and highly charged. Like all public universities, UH must safeguard individuals’ constitutional rights while also ensuring that our campuses remain places where teaching, learning, and research can occur without disruption.

Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) policies are the standard way universities strike this balance. These policies are—and must be—strictly viewpoint-neutral. They do not regulate what people say. Instead, they set reasonable expectations for how, when, and where expression can occur so that campuses remain safe, accessible, and functional for everyone.

UH has had a TPM policy for decades, but the current version—last substantially updated more than ten years ago—contains ambiguities that have sometimes led to inconsistent interpretation and enforcement. Ambiguity is one of the greatest threats to free speech because it can allow decisions to be influenced, or appear to be influenced, by viewpoint. Our proposed revisions aim to eliminate that risk by clarifying rights and responsibilities for all members of our community.

These updates were not drafted in isolation. Over the past eight months, subject-matter experts have worked closely with faculty senates across all ten campuses, law school scholars, student leaders, employee unions, legal counsel, campus administrators, safety personnel, and civil liberties advocates. Their feedback has strengthened the policy, making it more precise, transparent, and workable. We plan to implement the revised policy in July as an interim measure, allowing for additional discussion and educational sessions in the fall.

The proposed policy reaffirms UH’s longstanding commitment to free expression, academic freedom, and the open exchange of ideas. Peaceful protests, demonstrations, rallies, speeches, petitions, and other forms of constitutionally protected expression remain fully protected. The policy also explicitly preserves the right of students, faculty, and staff to spontaneously assemble and engage in expressive activity in generally accessible outdoor areas without prior approval.

What the policy does require is that all activities follow reasonable, viewpoint-neutral TPM standards—such as managing noise levels near classrooms and offices, designating appropriate posting areas, and ensuring that building access remains unobstructed. These are common expectations at universities nationwide. They are designed not to restrict speech, but to ensure that free expression and the core functions of the university can coexist.

I encourage Star-Advertiser readers to visit the university’s resource webpage, where they can review the interim policy, a side-by-side comparison of the proposed changes, a consultation timeline and frequently asked questions.

We welcome continued debate, scrutiny, and engagement. These conversations embody the very academic freedom we are committed to protecting. By working together to establish clear, fair, and consistently applied standards, we can ensure that the University of Hawaiʻi remains a place where robust debate, free inquiry, and transformative learning thrive for generations to come.

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on June 25, 2026.

Aloha UH ʻohana,

Beginning July 1, 2026, the University of Hawaiʻi will implement an updated Free Expression policy—officially known as the Time, Place and Manner (TPM) policy and procedures—on an interim basis across our 10 campuses. This provisional implementation follows more than eight months of consultation, feedback and revision involving faculty senates across all 10 campuses, law school scholars, student leaders, employee unions, legal counsel, campus administrators, safety personnel and civil liberties advocates.

The interim implementation period will also provide an additional opportunity for outreach, education and community engagement throughout the fall semester before any final adoption is considered. To support those conversations, the university has launched a resource webpage that includes the interim policy and procedures, redline versions showing the proposed changes, a side-by-side comparison of the current and updated policy and procedures, a consultation timeline and an extensive frequently asked questions section.

The proposed policy and procedures reaffirm UHʻs longstanding commitment to free expression, academic freedom and the open exchange of ideas. Peaceful protests, demonstrations, rallies, speeches, petitions and other forms of constitutionally guaranteed expression remain fully protected. The policy also explicitly preserves the right of students, faculty and staff to spontaneously assemble and engage in expressive activity in generally accessible outdoor areas without prior approval, ensuring that the university remains responsive to emerging events and issues.

What the policy and procedures do require is that activities follow reasonable, viewpoint-neutral TPM standards—such as managing noise levels near classrooms and offices, designating appropriate posting areas and ensuring that building access remains unobstructed. These are common expectations at universities nationwide. They are not designed to restrict speech, but to ensure that free expression and the core functions of the university can coexist.

Why These Updates Matter

As a former law professor who taught aspects of First Amendment law, I believe deeply that free speech and open intellectual debate are essential to our mission across all 10 UH campuses. Protecting these freedoms is one of my most important responsibilities as president.

Applying First Amendment principles in a real campus environment is complex and highly charged. Like all public universities, UH must safeguard individuals’ constitutional rights while also ensuring that our campuses remain places where teaching, learning and research can occur without disruption.

TPM policies are the standard way public universities balance these responsibilities. They are—and must be—strictly viewpoint-neutral. They do not regulate what people say. Instead, they establish reasonable expectations for how, when and where expression can occur so that campuses remain safe, accessible and functional for everyone.

UH has had a TPM policy in place for decades, but the current version—last substantially updated more than 10 years ago—contains ambiguities that have at times led to inconsistent interpretation and enforcement. Ambiguity can undermine confidence that policies are being applied consistently and fairly, regardless of viewpoint. The proposed revisions are intended to address that risk by clarifying rights and responsibilities for all members of our community.

The input received from faculty, students, staff, unions, legal experts and other stakeholders throughout the consultation process helped strengthen the policy and procedures, making them more precise, transparent and workable.

I encourage everyone to review the materials available on the resource webpage and participate in the discussions that will take place throughout the fall semester. We welcome continued debate, scrutiny and engagement. These conversations embody the very academic freedom we are committed to protecting.

By working together to establish clear, fair and consistently applied standards, we can ensure that the University of Hawaiʻi remains a place where robust debate, free inquiry and transformative learning thrive for generations to come.

With aloha,
Wendy Hensel
UH President

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is recent UH Mānoa journalism graduate Josslyn Rose’s first KHON2 weekend weather report.

Previous Images
Monk seals
Chainsaw ice
Dundee under a Kīlauea sun
Championship trophy tour
Time flies
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 UH ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next UH 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.

• Send your image using a UH email address.

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

Nohea

—Handsome, pretty, lovely of fine appeareance; a handsome or fine looking person.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“He nohea ʻoe i kuʻu maka (You are lovely in my eyes).”

—Kealiʻi DeMello, he haumāna ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo Wehewehe Wikiwiki.

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

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

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

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

• Related story: UH West Oʻahu alumna crowned Miss Hawaiʻi, June 24, 2025

UH West Oʻahu a ‘formative time’

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

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

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

Weather safety platform

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

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

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

For more go to Ka Puna O Kaloʻi.

— By Zenaida Serrano Arvman