Aloha UH ʻohana,

As the 2026 legislative session enters its final month, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature is preparing to begin conference committee meetings to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of key bills. Given the challenges the state is facing in light of diminishing tax revenues and economic pressures resulting from both national and international events, there will be many competing positions for a finite amount of state resources. One of the most important aspects of this process is the state budget bill, HB1800 HD1 SD1, which will determine funding levels for state departments, including the University of Hawaiʻi.

Conference committee negotiations between the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means committees will shape the final outcome for both operating and capital improvement appropriations across state government. Like other departments, UH will be closely monitoring these discussions as agreements are reached.

Supplemental operating budget

Since it was approved by the UH Board of Regents in November, the university’s supplemental operating budget request has advanced through several stages of the legislative process. The regents approved a request totaling $18.8 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2027.

The House of Representatives completed its draft budget (HD1) in March and allocated $11.5 million toward UH priorities. Most recently, the Senate passed its version of the budget (SD1), which reduced general fund support for the university by $1.7 million compared with the House version. The Senate also added $5.7 million of special fund appropriations—adding programs to UH’s budget through appropriations from the Tuition and Fees Special Fund.

With conference committee negotiations about to begin, the following table compares the Board of Regents request with the governor’s proposal and the House and Senate versions of the operating budget:

Operating Comparison

Items in purple are Special Funded, not General Funded.

*SD1 moves $20.2 million in General Funds out of UOH100 (UH Mānoa) into a new Program ID UOH120 (CTAHR)
**In total for UH: 124 General Fund Permanent FTEs, 13.15 General Fund Temporary FTEs, 24 Special Fund Permanent FTEs, 2 Federal Fund Permanent FTEs, and 22 Revolving Fund Permanent FTEs

GM2 and GM5 were two budget Governor’s Messages sent by the Governor to the Legislature that added these items to his official budget request.

Capital improvement program (CIP) budget update

For the supplemental capital improvement projects (CIP) budget, UH requested $283.1 million in additional General Obligation (GO) bond funding for FY27 to support capital renewal, deferred maintenance and modernization projects across the 10-campus system. Debt service for GO bonds are paid by the state’s general fund.

The governor’s budget included $137.3 million of this request. The House draft budget (HD1) increased GO bond support to $219.3 million. The Senate draft (SD1) reduced GO bond funding by $9.5 million and proposed appropriating $161.5 million from the UH special funds, including the Tuition and Fees Special Fund to support capital projects. UH President Hensel discussed the issue broadly at the April 16 UH Board of Regents meeting, which can be viewed here.

The following table summarizes the CIP comparison between the Board of Regents request and the governor, House and Senate versions of the budget:

CIP Comparison

Items in purple are Special Funded, not General Funded.

What happens next

As conference committees begin their work, members will be negotiating across a wide range of priorities beyond the UH budget. Because many conference committee decisions occur late in the session, final outcomes typically become clear closer to adjournment.

The Hawaiʻi State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 8, 2026. I will provide an update after the session concludes to share the final outcomes for the university.

Mahalo for your continued support of our students, campuses and the mission of the University of Hawaiʻi.

Luis P. Salaveria
Vice President for Budget and Finance / Chief Financial Officer
University of Hawaiʻi

The University of Hawaiʻi community is invited to a virtual keynote exploring the intersection of technology and human potential, featuring Microsoft’s AI Innovation Officer Michael J. Jabbour. The session will dive into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and its transformative implications for the future of education and healthcare.

Teams Webinar link to register for the session.

Event details:

• Speaker: Michael J. Jabbour (AI Innovation Officer, Microsoft, Office of the CTO)
• Date: Monday, April 27
• Time: 12–1:30 p.m.

About the keynote:

Jabbour leads research in human-AI collaboration, biologically inspired AI, and the future of work. A recognized leader in large-scale organizational transformation, he previously served as CIO/CTO for several New York City agencies, including the Department of Education. He is a regular guest lecturer at top universities.

What you will discover:

• AI fundamentals: Explore the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence, including its uncharted propensity to “hallucinate.”
• Revolutionizing education: Learn how AI can revolutionize education by enhancing teaching and learning experiences with cutting-edge tools and personalized methodologies.
• Practical integration: Dive into the potential of AI to automate routine tasks, stimulate collaborative learning, and foster bespoke educational journeys.
• Actionable insights: Equip yourself with practical use cases and insights on seamlessly integrating AI into your classroom or institution, paving the way for a future where education is intuitively tailored, engaging, and impactful.

The UH community is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to hear from a national leader in AI innovation and explore how these emerging technologies are shaping the future of education and healthcare.

The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges has launched a new video series highlighting real student transfer journeys across the UH System—demonstrating how starting at a community college can lead to careers in law, technology, education and beyond.

Featuring alumni from all seven campuses, the series shares stories of students who built their foundation at a UH Community College before transferring to a four-year UH campus. Profiles include:

• a first-generation student who began at Hawaiʻi CC and is now pursuing a PhD in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) at UH Hilo
• a Honolulu CC student who went on to UH Mānoaʻs Richardson Law School
• a Kapiʻolani CC graduate who transferred to UH Mānoa’s School of Engineering, carrying over all credits, and graduating with no debt.

Flexible online programs

The series also highlights the convenience of UH System online programs, allowing students to stay connected to their communities, and complete UH West Oʻahu degrees from Maui and Kauaʻi without relocating.

“Our community colleges are where many students begin—offering affordable, flexible access to higher education,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for UH Community Colleges. “With clear transfer pathways to our four-year universities and personalized support, students can move forward with confidence and achieve their goals.”

Whether pursuing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, education, law or technology, the message across every story is the same: you don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. At the UH Community Colleges, students can start where they are—and go beyond.

The full video series is available on UH Community Colleges’ website.

• Bruce Torres-Fischer finds his calling from Hawaiʻi CC to UH Hilo
• David Grupen finds his path from Honolulu CC to UH Mānoa
• Mele Rita finds her voice from Kauaʻi CC to UH West Oʻahu
• Jenny Brown builds her future from Kapiʻolani CC to UH Mānoa
• Leilani Wendt finds her path from Leeward CC to UH Mānoa
• Dexter Corpuz finds his purpose from UH Maui College to UH West Oʻahu
• Ciera Adversalo-Clarke finds her purpose from Windward CC to UH West Oʻahu

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the UH Board of Regents on state legislative measures on tuition and fee reserves during her monthly report at the board’s April 16 meeting at Kapiʻolani Community College.

Hensel noted that the Legislature continues to consider proposals related to tuition and fee reserve balances and that the university is developing reinvestment plans to strengthen advising and student support services and expand statewide online learning opportunities. She added that the university is having productive conversations with legislators and recognizes the challenges they face in balancing many urgent needs for Hawaiʻi’s people this year.

Her report also highlighted record breaking systemwide participation in UH Giving Day, which generated more than $1.3 million from more than 1,580 gifts across the 10 campuses.

Hensel concluded by congratulating the No. 6 ranked UH Mānoa women’s water polo team on advancing to its third consecutive NCAA national championship tournament appearance after winning the Big West Championship.

• Legislative update: tuition and fee reserves (video)
• UH Giving Day breaks record (video)
• Rainbow Wahine water polo (video)

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from UH Mānoa.

Aloha Bash is on Friday! Students from all UH campuses are welcome, so check out the video featuring Grant Nakasone for more info! (No students were harmed in the making of this video.)

Previous Images
Mōʻī Wahine
Cleaning up
Through the water
Breeze block
Shark tag
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.

The Koʻolau Career Expo connected more than 200 Windward Community College students, alumni and community members with more than 50 Hawaiʻi employers, offering career-track positions starting at $40,000. The gathering on March 31 featured government, healthcare and private industry.

“The event gave me a chance to see the different career options available and think about what might be a good fit for me,” said alumna Cara Souza. “Having many employers in one place makes it easier to explore possibilities and ask questions.”

Dani Springle, a 2019 alumna, added, “The event was very well organized, and it was encouraging to see so many career options available in one place. Seeing multiple state agencies represented helped me better understand additional opportunities for professional growth.”

Multigenerational turnout

The strong multigenerational turnout reflected broad interest in higher paying opportunities, with attendees able to network, participate in on-the-spot interviews, and receive resume support.

“We know the cost of living continues to be a challenge for many families on the windward side, and events like the Koʻolau Career Expo are one way we can help connect people with career opportunities,” said Haʻa Pagan, career and transfer counselor and organizer. “Sometimes one conversation at an event like this can open the door to a future someone never thought possible.”

Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg added, “It expands opportunities for the Koʻolau within the Koʻolau, helping to grow the waiwai (wealth) of our region by connecting people with career pathways that support long-term success.”

Employers appreciated the direct contact with job seekers.

“Connecting with local candidates is especially important to us, as many of our positions serve communities on the windward side,” said Stephanie Shiroma, a talent acquisition consultant with Kamehameha Schools. “Events like the Koʻolau Career Expo help us meet individuals who are interested in building careers close to home while contributing to the communities they live in.”

Pete Castalay of Northwestern Mutual Hawaiʻi added, “Events like this provide a space for meaningful conversations about professional growth.”

More information about career resources is available at the Windward CC Career Center.

Gov. Josh Green appointed Keith Amemiya and Marie Laderta to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR), subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate.

“Keith and Marie are exactly the kinds of leaders we need guiding the future of our UH system,” said Green. “Keith brings a deep understanding of the university from the inside, along with strong ties to our business and education communities. Marie has dedicated her career to public service and brings a wealth of experience in government operations and accountability. Together, they will help ensure UH continues to serve our students, strengthen our workforce and drive innovation across our state.”

Amemiya and Laderta replace regents Diane Paloma and William F. Haning III whose terms end in 2026.

Amemiya brings decades of leadership experience across Hawaiʻi’s legal, financial and education sectors. He currently serves as Senior Vice President at Central Pacific Bank and previously held leadership roles with Tradewind Group and the Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association. Amemiya also has direct experience with the UH system, having served as executive administrator and secretary to the BOR.

“As a proud University of Hawaiʻi graduate, I’m honored to be nominated by Governor Green to the Board of Regents,” said Amemiya. “UH is integral to the success of our state, especially our younger generations and I’m thus committed to best ensuring a strong higher educational system with opportunities for all if confirmed by the legislature.”

Laderta brings nearly three decades of public service experience in Hawaiʻi state government and the judiciary. She has served as deputy attorney general, deputy director of the Department of Taxation and Director of the Department of Human Resources Development. She currently serves on the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, adjudicating workers’ compensation appeals.

“I am humbled and grateful to Governor Green for my appointment as regent to the UH system,” said Laderta. “I look forward to being given the opportunity to help steward higher education for the benefit of the institution, its students, faculty, employees and stakeholders.”

The BOR is responsible for overseeing the 10-campus UH system, including policy direction, financial oversight and long-term strategic planning. The BOR is the governing body of UH and consists of 11 non-compensated volunteer members. Representation includes five from the City and County of Honolulu; two from Hawaiʻi County; two from Maui County; one from Kauaʻi County and one UH student.

Amemiya and Laderta will serve terms as prescribed by law, pending Senate confirmation.

Mālolo

—Flying fish.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“Ka iʻa lele me he manu (The fish that flies like a bird).”
ʻŌlelo Noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) 1364

—Sean Mills, he haumāna ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), 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 Candidate Advisory Council (CAC) for the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents has presented a list of three candidates to Gov. Josh Green to fill one Hawaiʻi Island seat for a five-year appointment beginning July 1, 2026, subject to confirmation by the state Senate. The finalists are:

• Chad Cabral
• Makai Freitas
• Wendy Laros

Finalist biographies are available at the Candidate Advisory Council website (PDF).

“The Candidate Advisory Council members extend their sincere appreciation to all the individuals who took the time to apply to serve as a University of Hawaiʻi Regent,” said CAC Chair Brigitte Yoshino. “While the selection was difficult due to the quality of the candidates, we are pleased to submit these names for consideration to the governor and the state senate.”

Candidate lists are compiled after a comprehensive review and selection process, which is solely and exclusively merit-based and according to procedures set forth in state statutes and the council’s administrative rules.

The Board of Regents is the governing body of UH and consists of eleven (11) volunteer members. Representation includes five (5) from the City and County of Honolulu; two (2) from Hawaiʻi County; two (2) from Maui County; one (1) from Kauaʻi County; and one (1) UH student.

Members of the CAC serve voluntarily and are not paid.