The University of Hawaiʻi’s plan to train more engineers close to home is taking shape. Students who began their engineering studies at UH Hilo are now preparing to transfer to UH Mānoa, where they can finish their degrees and build toward careers in the state.

The pre-engineering pathway, the first of its kind at UH Hilo, launched in fall 2024. It allows students to begin their engineering coursework on Hawaiʻi Island and apply those credits toward a degree at UH Mānoa.

Hands-on at Mānoa

On November 12, students preparing to transfer got a firsthand look at the labs and equipment they can access at UH Mānoa. At the College of Engineering (COE), students got hands-on with drones and explored 3D printing equipment. They learned how UH students and faculty are developing drones to help locate unexploded munitions in Hawaiʻi’s rugged volcanic terrain. The group also stepped inside the Institute for Astronomy (IfA)’s machine labs, where teams develop instruments for telescopes.

“There is a big industry out there and we want the students to understand what that is from an early age by getting their hands in the mud and possibly getting their degree and going back and working at home,” said Song K. Choi, assistant dean of COE.

For sophomore Kassandra Acidera, a Honokaʻa High School graduate, starting at UH Hilo helped put an engineering degree within reach. She plans to transfer in fall 2027 to study mechanical engineering.

“My biggest concern with college was money, so having that opportunity at UH Hilo to take all my pre-requisites and some of my engineering classes at UH Hilo and then transferring to Mānoa, it gave me the chance to be an engineer,” Acidera said.

Fellow sophomore Colton Gapol, a Waiākea High School graduate, is set to transfer in spring 2027 to study electrical engineering. He said the visit made him feel welcome at Mānoa.

“They’ve done a really great job at welcoming us into the college and being like, ‘Come. We want you to be here. We really want you to be here. We want you to succeed and we want you to go far,’” Gapol said.

Careers in Hawaiʻi

The pathway is part of UH’s Space Science and Engineering Initiative, which creates more ways for Hawaiʻi students to pursue engineering degrees and supports the development of technology for telescopes on Maunakea and Haleakalā and for space missions. With state support, UH is planning a center in Hilo to build and test instruments. The broader effort aims to grow Hawaiʻi’s technology sector and create more well-paying jobs on Hawaiʻi Island and across the state, particularly in astronomy and related fields.

“The students we’re training today can become the engineers behind Hawaiʻi’s next breakthroughs in astronomy,” said Doug Simons, director at IfA. “We want more Hawaiʻi students to see a future for themselves here, with jobs that pay enough to build a life at home.”

Higher education in Hawaiʻi is among the most affordable in the U.S., according to a national report released by personal-finance outlet WalletHub on November 12. Hawaiʻi ranked 47th out of 48 states analyzed—meaning it has the second-lowest higher education costs in the country when measured against household income.

According to the study, States Where College Education Costs the Most & Least, college expenses in Hawaiʻi account for just 35.87% of median household income. WalletHub evaluated in-state undergraduate tuition, room and board, and additional college costs to calculate total affordability relative to local earning power. Nationwide, college costs have climbed approximately 26% over the last two decades, with the average national student loan balance approaching $44,000.

“This independent report confirms what we at UH have long known: attending an in-state public institution offers incredible value and a clear path to debt-free graduation,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “We remain deeply committed to keeping high-quality education accessible and affordable for local students.”

Hawaiʻi borrowers carry less student debt than those in nearly every other state, earning the state the nation’s second-lowest student debt ranking according to a September 2026 WalletHub report. Across the UH System, among 2024–25 graduates who started as first-time freshmen:

• 94% of UH Community College graduates complete their credentials with zero student debt.
• 67% of UH four-year university graduates earn their degrees with zero student debt.

Hawaiʻi Promise

A cornerstone of this affordability track record is the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship, which removes financial barriers for qualified local UH Community College students by covering unmet direct costs—including tuition, fees and books—after other financial aid is applied. Combined with targeted institutional aid and campus work opportunities, Hawaiʻi students are able to bypass heavy loan burdens seen across much of the mainland.

For this study, WalletHub evaluated full-time, in-state undergraduate campus attendance costs across 48 states, excluding Alaska and Wyoming due to data constraints. Figures were adjusted based on each state’s median annual income to establish the final rankings.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa women’s volleyball team clinched the outright Mountain West Conference regular-season championship with a four-set win over Air Force on Thursday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The victory also secured the No. 1 seed for the Rainbow Wahine in the Mountain West tournament.

Sophomore outside hitter Chaʻlei Reid led UH Mānoa with 20 kills as the Rainbow Wahine improved to 22-4 overall and 14-1 in conference play.

The Rainbow Wahine close their home schedule November 13 with a rematch against Air Force. UH will honor seniors Tali Hakas, Leilani Lopez and Panna Ratkai after the match.

The Rainbow Wahine will head to Las Vegas as the top seed for the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Championship, November 24–25.

Read more about the Thursday night match at HawaiiAthletics.com.

Can a traditional Hawaiian staple inspire modern culinary innovation while honoring cultural roots? University of Hawaiʻi students answered with a resounding yes at the Fall Innovate 808 Challenge, hosted by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE). Sponsored by HPC Foods Ltd., this semester’s competition challenged 16 student teams to find creative ways to boost kalo (taro) consumption while preserving its cultural and historical significance.

Now in its third year, the UH Systemwide business competition awarded $6,000 in total prizes to four standout teams spanning multiple campuses and academic disciplines.

“This is a great event, and we are really proud of the great work our students are doing for local businesses,” said PACE Entrepreneur-in-Residence Jeff Hui. “The overwhelming demand underscores just how strongly Innovate 808 resonates with students and their desire for more hands-on professional development opportunities.”

Fresh takes on a cultural staple

Taking the $2,500 first-place prize was Sweet Poi Filling for Baked Goods & Drinks, created by biological engineering student Miyeong Berran (College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience or CTAHR), communicology major Shelby Dixon (College of Social Sciences), and physics student Pui Yee Lee (College of Natural Sciences).

Second place and $1,500 went to Poigurt (poi yogurt), developed by art studio student Kai Higuchi (College of Arts Languages & Letters) and food science major Socheatha Tork (CTAHR).

Third place and $1,000 was awarded to Poi Pellets, developed by Augustine Downes (William S. Richardson School of Law/Shidler College of Business), Ian Scarth (CTAHR), and Ethan Rocheville (College of Engineering).

The $1,000 Generational Impact Award recognized Poi & Me Keiki Kits, pitched by accounting student Justin Paul Alejo (Shidler College of Business), public administration student Jennifer Kawata (College of Social Sciences), and business administration major Ivy Vo (Shidler College of Business).

Cross-campus collaboration

The event brought together 42 students from four UH campuses—UH Mānoa, UH West Oʻahu, UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College—and seven UH Mānoa colleges and schools. With registration closing 10 days early and a waiting list of more than 20 local businesses eager to participate, Innovate 808 continues connecting student ingenuity directly with Hawaiʻi‘s business community. Past competitions have routinely sparked internship offers and executive presentations.

Kapiʻolani Community College Chef Instructor Jason Peel shares his grandmother’s cherished pork and winter squash soup, a holiday favorite filled with family memories and love.

For Peel, the holidays bring back memories of family gatherings, the comforting aroma of home-cooked meals, and a grandmother whose love you could taste in every spoonful.

Growing up in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi, with his two older sisters, Peel remembers Christmas and winter break as special times when everyone returned home and gathered around the dinner table.

One dish that remains close to his heart is his grandmother’s pork and winter squash soup, a simple yet flavorful family recipe that brings those cherished memories back to life.

“The rich smell of pork and squash wafting in the air, Grammie blowing on the hot soup to taste and make sure it’s just right,” Peel recalled. “Perfection without measure, cooking with her heart, she would bring the whole family together over a simple but delicious bowl of soup.”

Recreating his grandmother’s recipe is about more than following instructions. It’s about honoring the love and care she poured into every meal, often without measuring a single ingredient.

“It’s hard to replicate exactly since a pinch is a pinch, and a splash is a splash,” Peel said. “But the most important ingredient is love, love for the people you are serving and the sharing of time and company over a simple bowl of soup. Miss you, gram grams.”

From Kauaʻi roots to the culinary classroom

A proud Kapiʻolani CC culinary arts alumnus, Peel has spent 30 years in the culinary industry, building a career that has taken him from professional kitchens to teaching aspiring chefs at his alma mater.

Today, as a chef instructor in Kapiʻolani CC‘s Culinary Arts Program, he shares his professional knowledge and passion for cooking with the next generation of culinary professionals.

While decades of culinary experience have shaped his career, the simple family traditions of his childhood continue to inspire him.

His grandmother’s soup reminds him that some of the most memorable dishes aren’t defined by precise measurements or elaborate techniques, but by the people who prepare them and the loved ones gathered around the table.

Grammie’s pork and winter squash soup

Serves approximately 6–8 people

• 1 ½  lbs. Pork Shoulder, 1 Inch Dice
• 1 ½ lbs. Long Squash, 1-inch dice (Peel and remove most seeds with a knife if preferred, from a 2 ½ lbs. squash)
• 8 oz Onion, 1 inch Dice
• 1.2 oz garlic, minced
• 1 oz soy, Kikkoman shoyu
• 16 oz water
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp mushroom powder
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp sugar

Add all ingredients except squash to a 4 qt pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.

When the time elapses, release pressure and add squash.

Replace lid and cook for 2 minutes on high pressure.

When time elapses, release pressure and skim fat if necessary.  Enjoy!

Note: The pressure cooker might not close if it’s too hot, so take a quick break for friends and family, then finish the process.

Seven out of 10 University of Hawaiʻi campuses gathered for a three-day, in-person summit to discuss transfer and learner mobility challenges, develop action plans, and identify ways to improve pathways for students across the UH System. The event was hosted by Complete College America and was organized by UH Mānoa at Bachman Hall.

The Hawaiʻi Learner Mobility Summit brought together 40 faculty, staff, and leaders from four community colleges, three four-year campuses, and UH System offices to focus on partnership mapping, data and action planning. From October 13 to 15, faculty, staff and administrators gathered at UH Mānoa to discuss improving the transfer process for students who move between campuses. Participants also attended two virtual sessions prior to the summit, in order to gain context and data. The summit invited people who carry transfer day to day, from counselors and academic affairs staff, to deans, institutional researchers, and chancellors.

“Bringing our campuses together around transfer was important because transfer is not the responsibility of one department or one campus alone,” said Wayne Aguiran, a professor of counseling at UH Maui College. “It is a shared commitment that requires us to look beyond our individual roles, campuses, and processes to see the bigger picture: the student experience.”

Three days together gave campuses dedicated time to focus on how they can work better with one another, and to move from ideas to action.

Relationships built in the room

Associate Professor and UH System Transfer Specialist, Sarah Akina, explained the in-person format mattered most to people who were newer to the system or who knew colleagues only through a screen.

“We know that in order to build successful and sustainable practices, especially with cross-campus issues like transfer, we need to have strong partnerships that can withstand uncomfortable conversations and adapt to our ever-changing landscape. This cannot be done on zoom and email alone.”

When the campuses talk about transfer from experience alone, each one tells a different story. When they look at the same numbers together, from UH system dashboards to National Student Clearinghouse data, they can start from shared facts and ask better questions of one another.

Leeward Community College Interim Dean of Career and Technical Education Summer Barrett, described some of the difficult conversations held and the honesty it took. Participants wrote out the assumptions and perceptions they hear about transfer students and then looked at what UH’s data says instead.

“Seeing our own data challenge long standing assumptions about transfer students. I was struck by how well community college transfer students perform compared to students who begin at a four-year university, and by the opportunity to openly discuss how faculty at four-year institutions perceive our students.”

Participants then named what they need from their partners: consistent communication and regular contact, reciprocity and equal footing, a dedicated person and a clear point of contact, and the time to act on the plan. By the final day, teams were building partnership action plans with next steps for the first 30, 60, and 90 days, so the momentum can continue well after the summit.

“The summit brought up a key component for next steps, that is, to build partnership/relationship between campuses, functions, and people,” said Tao Feng, associate director at UH’s Institutional Research, Analysis & Planning Office.

“UH has developed a solid foundation over the years to promote learner mobility, including policy, initiatives, data, and technology infrastructure, and this summit is a timely reminder that we still have unfinished work, and that a new culture and mindset around learner mobility can only take hold if we continue this important work.”

For more information, visit Complete College America’s website.

A new comprehensive study by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Climate Resilience Collaborative reveals that traditional sea-level rise models, that account only for rising ocean waters, drastically underestimate the true threat to coastal infrastructure on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.

By incorporating shoreline erosion and high-surf events in addition to rising sea levels, researchers found that current current projections overlook up to two-thirds of threatened land area on and up to 85% to 100% of critical infrastructure, such as buildings, roadways and cesspools, that are likely to be impacted.

“This tells us that it is critical to use multiple hazard models, and that areas with little data, such as other Pacific Islands, that rely on simpler passive flood model estimates may be underestimating the risk to their coastal infrastructure,” said Anna Mikkelsen, lead author and graduate student in the Department of Earth Sciences in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).

The study updates previous sea-level rise vulnerability estimates for Oʻahu using high-resolution climate projections from a variety of agencies. Researchers overlaid three advanced physical models—accounting for flooding from rising water levels, shoreline erosion, and annual high-wave events—onto maps of buildings, parcels, roads, schools, hospitals, parks, wastewater infrastructure and resident population.

An impending tipping point, doubles impact

In addition to finding more widespread vulnerability than previously identified, the findings also emphasize that coastal impacts will not increase at a steady rate, but instead could double how many people are impacted. Following a steady rise in chronic nuisance flooding over the coming decades, Oʻahu faces a rapid tipping point between 2073 and 2102, depending on global emission trajectories.

“Sea-level rise will not come to Oʻahu as a slow, harmless rise in the water level,” said Chip Fletcher, senior author on the paper, director of CRC, and dean of SOEST. “Waves and erosion are already damaging homes, roads and wastewater systems, and our results show a threshold, somewhere between 0.9 and 1.2 meters of rise, where scattered local problems become widespread infrastructure failure. Communities and government agencies need to step up planning and preparation now, while there is still time to choose how we adapt instead of reacting to each crisis as it comes.”

At the tipping point, the number of buildings affected nearly doubles, from about 5,900 to 11,100; residents affected more than doubles, from about 27,800 to 58,100; roads affected goes from 92 km to 210 km; and sewer mains affected goes from 61 km to 151 km.

Impacts to local infrastructure

By considering multiple factors of flooding and multiple types of infrastructure, the research team can tease apart which hazards are most likely to affect different regions on Oʻahu. For example, Honolulu will be most affected by passive and wave-driven flooding impacting the heavily built environment, and the west side is far more affected by recurring annual high-wave events intermittent and sudden impacts. On the north shore, coastal erosion is the largest driver of impacts.

“While there are impacts to all types of infrastructure, we found that roadways and wastewater infrastructure is particularly at risk,” Mikkelsen shared. “For example, in Kaʻaʻawa, there is a 200 meter stretch of Kamehameha Highway, the only road on the east side, that will become impassable from erosion at just 0.3 meter (~1 foot) of sea-level rise, around mid-century; and on the west side, Farrington Highway, which accommodates up to ~40,000 vehicles a day with no alternate public route, starts seeing chronic impassable sections by 0.9 meter of sea-level rise.”

Around the island, there is already evidence that on-site wastewater systems such as cesspools and septic systems leach wastewater into the nearshore environment, degrading coral reefs and water quality and increasing risk of waterborne illness.

“These pathways would increase as sea levels rise because the groundwater also rises, and these systems may become flooded or unable to function properly,” Mikkelsen added. “Our study also revealed that the centralized sewer systems are at risk and will be increasingly flooded this century.”

Place-based adaptation strategies

By combining coastal science, geospatial analysis, and infrastructure data, the team is providing locally relevant information to support long-term planning and help Hawaiʻi prepare for a changing coastline. The findings of this study emphasize the urgent need for tailored, place-based adaptation strategies, ranging from coastal drainage retrofits in urban Honolulu to highway connectivity and decentralized wastewater solutions for rural communities.

The study provides community-level data that county and state agencies can use for planning, and it updates the 2017 Hawaiʻi SLR Vulnerability and Adaptation Report, which UH helped produce. All hazard modeling from this open-access study is publicly accessible via the SOEST Climate Viewer.

A new study led by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers reveals how extreme ocean warming disrupts whale metabolism, nutrition and reproductive success, and what the 2026–27 El Niño could mean next. As climate change drives increasingly intense marine heatwaves, scientists are uncovering how these extreme warming events disrupt the biology of humpback whales.

Earlier reports from NOAA, academic researchers, and regional monitoring programs documented troubling symptoms during the 2014–16 Pacific marine heatwave, known as the Blob: fewer humpback whale sightings in Hawaiʻi and Alaska, declines in calf numbers, and widespread signs of nutritional stress. To understand how whales responded physiologically, the UH researchers analyzed nearly eight years of biochemical records preserved in the baleen of stranded female humpbacks from Hawaiʻi. Prior to this study, the physiological mechanisms behind these population‑level changes remained unclear.

“These findings give us a window into how whales actually cope with extreme environmental stress,” said lead author Ching-Tsun Chang, a former graduate student in the Department of Oceanography at the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and now an assistant professor at National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan. “We’ve known from previous reports that humpback whales declined in number and body condition during the Blob. What we show here is the physiological story behind those patterns: how whales adjust their metabolism, how nutrient use shifts, and how reproduction may be compromised.”

How whales coped internally

To understand how whales responded physiologically, researchers analyzed nearly eight years of biochemical records preserved in the baleen of stranded female humpbacks from Hawaiʻi. Baleen grows continuously, creating a natural timeline of metabolic signals.

“Baleen is an extraordinary archive,” said co‑author Kristi West, director of the UH Health and Stranding Lab and associate researcher in Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences at the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. “It lets us reconstruct an animal’s nutritional and reproductive history with fine detail. By pairing these biochemical records with bioenergetic models, we can finally see how climate extremes ripple through a whale’s body.”

Using compound‑specific isotope analysis of amino acids paired with bioenergetic models, which are computer models that estimate how animals use and allocate energy, the team reconstructed how whales routed nutrients and mobilized energy reserves before, during and after the heatwave.

The results reveal the physiological mechanisms behind previously observed declines. During the heatwave, whales essentially “powered down,” slowing their metabolism to stretch limited food supplies. This lack of nutrition made early pregnancy harder to maintain, even if whales became pregnant. Additionally, one whale’s decades-long history shows the cumulative toll of environmental change, with its baleen preserving a five‑year record of how shifting ocean conditions affected its body late in life.

For more information, see SOEST’s website.

Six members of the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa women’s soccer team earned All-Mountain West honors following a vote by the league’s head coaches.

Junior defender Piper Bertani and senior forward Tatum Porter earned first-team All-Mountain West recognition, while senior forward Anuhea Aluli, senior midfielder Izzy Ayala, junior midfielder Nalani Damacion and junior goalkeeper Kennedy Justin were all selected to the second team.

The six all-conference selections are the most all-conference honorees UH has had since 2007. The recognitions highlight a standout inaugural campaign in the Mountain West for the Rainbow Wahine, who finished the regular season tied for second with a 6-3-1 league record (9-6-2 overall) to punch their ticket to the Mountain West Championship.

The team fell short of the championship match, losing in double overtime to Wyoming 2-1 in the semi-finals.

Read more at Hawaiiathletics.com.

Hawaiʻi veterans looking to start or grow a farm business will get training in farming and business skills, along with well-being support, through a $750,000 grant to GoFarm Hawaiʻi, a program of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR). GoFarm Hawaiʻi will partner with the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) of the Pacific, which moved from UH Hilo to CTAHR in August.

Over three years, the project will provide agricultural and farm business education and support to 600 aspiring veteran farmers. The program will also help start, maintain, or improve 25 veteran-operated farms through technical assistance, business consulting, and help accessing U.S. Department of Agriculture resources.

In-person activities will focus on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island.

Growing the partnership

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture supports a partnership between CTAHR’s GoFarm Hawaiʻi beginning farmer training program, VBOC, Seeds of Wellbeing and Cooperative Extension.

“The support and warm welcome from the Dean and the college’s faculty and staff made it easy to become part of the CTAHR ʻohana,” said Lori Hiramatsu, director of VBOC. “Our missions align, and we can create synergy for the community of veteran agricultural entrepreneurs.”

“Bringing VBOC into our college is part of our strategy to provide business skills to Hawaiʻi’s farmers and increase local food production,” said CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal. “Combining farm production science with essential business, financial, and entrepreneurial skills creates a pathway for our military veterans to succeed.”

Business support

Funded by the Small Business Administration, the outreach center provides free business training and counseling, including Boots to Business and Reboot workshops.

Based at the Mānoa Innovation Center, the team serves transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and widows across Hawaiʻi, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa.

Excerpt: Military veterans who want to farm have new opportunities from the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Pacific and CTAHR

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

Williams shared: An insect-eating sundew plant (Drosera aliciae) cultivated at CTAHR‘s Lyon Arboretum. Photo by Godwin Polendey.

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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.

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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 University of Hawaiʻi welcomed a new director for the Waikīkī Aquarium on October 23. Alistair Dove, who has built a career in academia and the public aquarium world, combines a love of marine life and biodiversity with a passion for sharing the thrill of discovery and cultivating curiosity.

“Following an international search, we are delighted to welcome our new director to the Waikīkī Aquarium at an especially important moment for both the University and our broader community,” said Chip Fletcher, dean of the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), home of the aquarium. “The a quarium has a unique opportunity to bring together the extraordinary science taking place across SOEST with our continuing journey as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning. I look forward to seeing that integration reflected throughout the Aquarium—in its exhibits, educational programs, community partnerships and public events—so that visitors gain not only a deeper understanding of Hawaiʻi’s marine environment, but also of the cultural values, knowledge and responsibilities that connect us to the ocean.”

Dove is a world-recognized expert in whale shark behavior with over 80 academic publications on marine biology.

Previous positions:

• CEO of the Museum of Science and History, Jacksonville, Florida
• Vice president of Science and Education, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
• Assistant professor, Cornell University

He is passionate about translating a lifetime of experience in science, conservation and education into greater public understanding, appreciation, and protection of marine biodiversity and natural systems.

“I am delighted to join both the Waikīkī Aquarium and UH Mānoa teams to help steer the aquarium into its next chapter,” Dove shared. “What an extraordinary legacy the aquarium has: over 120 years celebrating Pacific marine life, touching hearts, and inspiring generations of ocean fans and champions. I can’t wait to work with SOEST, our community partners, legislators and Friends of Waikīkī Aquarium to shape a new vision for the future of the aquarium.”

The search began for a new director in August 2025 and since that time, Judy Lemus served as interim director of the aquarium, completing critical projects and supporting new initiatives to enhance the animal care facilities and visitor experiences.

Read more about the appointment at SOEST’s website.

The Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi (RCUH) honored 15 employees for their exceptional contributions at the 2026 RCUH Awards Luncheon held on October 30, at East-West Center’s Imin Conference Center.

Whether it’s strengthening Hawaiʻi‘s agriculture, pushing the boundaries of cancer research, exploring the world’s oceans, or supporting astronomy, RCUH employees are essential to groundbreaking discoveries at the UH and beyond.

2026 award winners

Researcher/Project Manager

First place: Giovana Simao Slanzon, UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resilience

Slanzon immersed herself in biomedical research and soil microbiology, using her analytical expertise to help researchers identify which microbes contribute to healthier soils. She also led the research, planning and installation of a new agroforest for the Soil Microbial Ecology Lab.

Second place: Roshan Paudel, UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resilience

Paudel studies soil health and sustainable approaches to managing agricultural pests in CTAHR‘s Sustainable Pest Management Lab. To better understand nematodes—microscopic roundworms—he taught himself new molecular techniques and incorporated DNA-based analysis into the lab’s research.

Honorable mentions:

• Hank Kuehn—MSTARS, Maui High Performance Computing Center
• Angie Largen—Healthy Diet and Lifestyle Study II, SPORE P20, UH Cancer Center

Project Support Staff Category

First place (Tie): En Liu, UH Cancer Center

Since joining the Shepherd Research Lab in 2018, Liu has led the Body Composition Laboratory while supporting multiple research studies. Her expertise has also taken her around the world. Liu traveled to three African nations to train technologists and cross-calibrate equipment for an international pediatric HIV study. A similar effort conducted remotely took about 18 months; Liu completed the on-site work in just four weeks.

First place (Tie): Cami Mikami, UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine

Mikami supports nearly every part of the SimTiki Simulation Center—from processing faculty appointments and managing international scholar programs to preparing course materials and providing simulation support. She helps scholars navigate J-1 visa requirements, ensures required documentation is in place and coordinates each step of the process.

Team Category

First place: CIMAR PMEL Ocean Float Program (Elizabeth Steffen, Hristina Hristova, John Lyman)

At NOAA‘s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research employees Hristova, Lyman and Steffen help manage data from more than 1,500 Argo floats (equipped with multiple sensors), while also supporting approximately 75 to 100 float deployments each year. Each team member plays a critical role in maintaining high-quality observations that capture temperature and salinity profiles from the ocean surface to depths of 2,000 meters.

Second place: UH Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office (James Tom, Courtney Chun)

In a profession known for high turnover and workforce instability, Tom and Chun have provided years of continuity, expertise and leadership for the Clinical Trials Office. With more than 30 years at the UH Cancer Center, Tom is a trusted resource for addressing and communicating clinical and research questions. Chun works closely with patients and hospital partners while coordinating studies across multiple clinical sites.

Honorable mentions:

• East Asian Observatory (Shaoliang Li, Kuan-Yu Liu)
• Subaru Telescope (James Ferreira, Michael Kerns), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

“Every day, research teams throughout Hawaiʻi are working to advance knowledge, address important challenges and make a positive difference in our communities,” said RCUH Executive Director Leonard Gouveia. “This year’s awardees represent the extraordinary range of talent across a variety of research fields—from soil health and cancer studies to medical simulation and global ocean observing. We are proud to recognize their expertise, dedication, and the vital role they play in driving innovation forward.”

National Nurse Practitioner Week is November 8–14 celebrating more than 461,000 licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) in the U.S. This NP Week, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene sent a special mahalo to all of their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse practitioner alumni, as well as the many preceptors who supervised and trained the current NP students.

Across Hawaiʻi, from Honolulu clinics to rural communities on the neighbor islands, NPs care for families, kupuna, and keiki every day.

Hawaiʻi has been a leader in supporting the NP role. As a full practice authority state, Hawaiʻi allows NPs to evaluate and diagnose patients, order and interpret tests, and prescribe medications, including controlled substances, under the licensure of the Hawaiʻi Board of Nursing. Research consistently links full practice authority to more NPs practicing in primary care, rural, and high-poverty areas, along with improved access to care.

Appreciating the preceptors

UH nursing extended a heartfelt mahalo to the NPs and other healthcare professionals who serve as preceptors for DNP students. For many NP graduates, their preceptors are a memorable part of their nursing school experience. Nursing graduates fondly remember the preceptors who welcomed them into their clinics, answered their questions, and guided them along the path between student and professional.

Preceptors serve as mentors, educators and clinical role models, sharing their expertise while students develop the clinical judgement, confidence, and skills essential to becoming advanced practice nurses. Preceptors contribute to strengthening Hawaiʻi‘s nursing workforce by educating our future healthcare providers. Training students in neighbor island and rural clinics is one of the most direct ways to grow the rural workforce, which makes preceptors in these communities especially valuable.

Read more about UH nursing preceptors.

Hoʻohiki

—To vow, swear or promise.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week—Natasha Maʻafala, undergraduate, Ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa)

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

Check back for more ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiʻi’s history was front and center in October as the Center for Oral History (COH) celebrated its 50th anniversary. The gathering honored founders and launched new efforts to continue to record and preserve the stories of everyday working people for Hawaiʻi’s future generations.

Originally created by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature as the Ethnic Studies Oral History Project, COH, housed in UH Mānoa’s Department of Ethnic Studies within the College of Social Sciences, now preserves more than 1,200 oral histories, including those who lived in the territory of Hawaiʻi and, plantations, and everyday residents who lived through the islands’ major economic, political, socio-cultural and environmental shifts.

Honoring 50 years of Hawaiʻi’s voices

The evening opened with traditional Hawaiian protocol led by Ethnic Studies Professor Ty Kāwika Tengan, followed by welcome remarks from COH Director M. KunMi Yu Danico. Guests were also treated to “Snapshots of Oral Histories,” a visual retrospective compiled by filmmaker Edgy Lee featuring archival footage, photographs and audio excerpts from the center’s collection.

One of the main highlights of the evening was a panel discussion titled “Still Talking Hawaiʻi‘s Story.” COH founding Director Chad Taniguchi, longtime Director Warren Nishimoto and former associate researcher Michi Kodama-Nishimoto reflected on the center’s early years and the efforts to build what is one of the largest oral history archives in the Pacific today.

Taniguchi shared that oral history empowers working people to realize the value of their lives, acknowledges their life experiences as important contributions to society, transmits this acknowledgement of value to family members and friends, and engenders pride in people interviewed and their ʻohana.

During the program, Danico and Associate Director Micah Mizukami also presented COH’s Community Partner Award to Aiko Yamashiro, former executive director of the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities, for her years of support.

“We felt it was fitting to recognize and thank your community partners at this year’s celebration,” said Danico. “We have been fortunate to have worked with stellar partners, but the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities stood out for their steadfast commitment and partnership.”

Looking to the future

At the conclusion of the formal program, Danico and Taniguchi announced the creation of the Warren Nishimoto and Michi Kodama-Nishimoto Endowment Fund. Established in honor of the couple who dedicated decades to guiding the center, the fund aims to support the center’s ability to support graduate students, undergraduates and neighbor island travel to collect and preserve the stories of Hawaiʻi’s everyday people, “our stories, our way.”

“This endowment will allow us to continue the important work of humanizing history through storytelling and shared memory—and to make sure the voices of Hawaiʻi are never silenced by a lack of resources,” said Danico. “We are grateful for our narrators who have helped build this repository of living testimonies.”

Individuals are invited to make a gift in support of this fund and help COH preserve the past for the future.

Leeward Community College turned its Pearl City campus into a hands-on fun lab for its 36th annual Discovery Fair on November 7. Designed to spark curiosity in local keiki of all ages, the free, family-friendly event brought science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) to life through interactive play.

Throughout the day, families explored more than 30 interactive stations. Popular activities included “Bubblicious Geometry,” where kids stepped inside giant soap bubbles, and “Quicksand Goo,” where participants explored the unique physical properties of a cornstarch-and-water mixture.

For many returning keiki, heading straight for their favorite station was top priority.

“I want to make slime! Every year I make slime,” beamed 7-year-old Caden Maruoka, eagerly waiting his turn at the “Slime Time” table, where he got to make his own custom slime while learning about chemical bonding.

Gummy bear explosions

Another popular attraction was the “Exploding Gummy Bears” demonstration. The science experiment featured a gummy bear dropped into heated potassium chlorate, causing the candy’s sugar to combust in a dramatic flash of heat and light.

“Interactive demonstrations like this give kids an exciting front-row seat to real chemistry and show them how fun science can be,” said Daniel Brayton, a Leeward CC chemistry instructor.

Beyond the experiments, attendees enjoyed live music and prize giveaways hosted by 102.7 Da Bomb, wild balloon creations from Balloon Monsoon and delicious bites from local food trucks.

“Our goal with Discovery Fair is to inspire lifelong learning and introduce young minds to STEAM pathways early on,” said Natalie Kahn, the Discovery Fair planning committee’s educational activities co-chair. “Welcoming so many families to campus to explore these fields in such a joyful way helps plant the seeds for our future innovators, thinkers and leaders.”

—By Devon Bedoya

The Red Hill Registry, facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi, has been presenting early health and exposure findings from the 2021 Red Hill water crisis at major scientific conferences across the United States and Canada.

Representing about 500 currently enrolled participants exposed to jet-fuel-contaminated water, registry researchers shared insights at the American Public Health Association, International Society of Exposure Science and Military Health System Research Symposium.

“Every opportunity to share what we are learning helps build the foundation needed to better understand environmental exposures and their potential health impacts,” said Rosana “Sanie” Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry.

Behaviors and symptoms

Presentations highlighted self-reported behaviors alongside an eight-year analysis of total petroleum hydrocarbons, used as a marker of jet fuel, in groundwater.

“The exposure behaviors most frequently reported at this time include cooking, drinking, oral hygiene activities, hand washing, showering and laundry use,” said Weldon. “These findings help illustrate potential exposure pathways, including inhalation, dermal and ingestion pathways, among exposed participants.”

Researchers also presented a literature review comparing symptoms reported by adults exposed to JP-5 with diagnostic criteria of selected syndromes.

“Frequently reported symptoms include fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, memory problems, anxiety and ear-related concerns,” said Haley Oetterer, data management specialist for the Red Hill Registry.

These symptoms align with diagnostic criteria for the compared syndromes.

“A large portion of participants exposed during the Red Hill water crisis were military-connected and the Military Health Research Symposium allowed us to share early observations with healthcare professionals and researchers who frequently study military populations,” Oetterer added.

The registry continues enrolling community members and families who lived, worked, attended school or spent significant time in areas served by the Navy water system—including those without symptoms.

Learn more and enroll on the Red Hill Registry website.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers and graduate students played a major role in the ʻUlu Hoʻolauleʻa, a week-long celebration of ʻulu (breadfruit) held September 19–25 throughout Kona on Hawaiʻi Island, including the 8th Global Breadfruit Summit.

The event highlighted the cultural significance, scientific research and future of ʻulu, a traditional staple crop in Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific. Approximately 2,000 people attended the engaging events such as the ʻulu Festival, an ʻAha ʻUlu cultural gathering and a culinary showcase featuring 20 local chefs.

Global summit explores research, cultural heritage

The three-day Global Breadfruit Summit at the Keauhou Outrigger brought together international researchers to explore ʻulu agroforestry economics, propagation methods, cultural heritage and postharvest practices.

“It is amazing to see the cross-section of value from breadfruit,” said Noa Lincoln, an associate professor who specializes in Indigenous cropping systems in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) at UH Mānoa, who served as master of ceremonies. “From cutting-edge biofuels to acknowledging breadfruit’s role in Pacific peoples’ identities.”

The summer also featured a Farm to School network gathering, where more than 30 teachers discussed incorporating ʻulu into school meals and classroom lessons. An ʻulu Education Playground workshop introduced students to hands-on activities, including kuʻi ʻulu (mashing cooked breadfruit), lei making, and cooking demonstrations.

Uplifting student researchers

UH Mānoa students shared their research, displayed insightful posters, and volunteered throughout the week.

“Sharing with farmers, researchers, and community members all in one room was really special,” said Ryan Weiskopf, a UH Mānoa graduate student in the Department of Tropical Plants and Soil Science who presented research on the economics of breadfruit agroforestry. “The conversations that took place could only have happened face-to-face.”

A U.S. Department of Agriculture grant supported graduate student participation by paying for registration, travel, and lodging.

Summit proceedings are underway for publication by CTAHR, and organizers are planning the next global gathering in two years, tentatively scheduled for Tahiti.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Water Resources Research Center hosted “Wai & We,” a daylong public event on Maui, on October 24. Rather than gathering in a conventional conference venue, “Wai & We” brought an academic water conference directly into the watershed at Twin Falls, one of the most visited outdoor stops along the Road to Hāna. UH researchers, community members, and cultural practitioners spent the morning discussing Maui water issues before the event shifted into an afternoon community gathering with live music, streamside field trips, and hands-on engagement.

The event was co-organized by Friends of Twin Falls, the UH Mānoa Water Resources Research Center, and local community partners, and was funded by the KS Kaiāulu Event Sponsorships. Roughly 60–80 people participated throughout the day.

Water rights, research, and resources

D. Kapuaʻala Sproat, UH Mānoa professor of law and director of Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, opened the conference with a keynote focused on Native Hawaiian water rights, the public trust and the challenges of translating Hawaiʻi‘s water laws into practice.

Morning speakers included Tom Giambelluca, UH professor emeritus of geography, who shared Hawaiʻi climate trends and resources from the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal, and Andrea Kealoha, assistant professor of oceanography, who presented Maui coastal water-quality research. Liz Yannell, director of the Maui nonprofit Hui O Ka Wai Ola, discussed community-based water-quality monitoring.

“This is better than what I would imagine all of those music festivals on the mainland that people spend so much money to do,” Yannell told the crowd. “It’s just really wonderful to see you all here, showing up to talk about our waters.”

East Maui Water Authority Director Gina Young and board member Moses Bergau Jr. discussed how local knowledge and conditions can guide water decisions. A panel explored how science, cultural knowledge and community stewardship can inform water management on Maui. Participants continued the conversation in talk-story circles over lunch.

The afternoon featured live music, community booths and streamside field trips. Participants collected water samples, joined guided watershed walks, looked for stream critters and toured new weather and stream monitoring equipment in Hoʻolawa Valley.