The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has earned a spot among the world’s leading research universities, ranking in the No. 95–111 tier in the U.S. and No. 401–500 tier worldwide in the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) released August 15 by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.

ARWU evaluates universities based on six research and academic performance indicators. The 2026 ranking considers factors including alumni and faculty who have won Nobel Prizes or Fields Medals, highly cited researchers, research published in Nature and Science, papers indexed in major citation databases, and an institution’s academic performance. Each indicator is weighted to produce an overall score, with research output and faculty quality among the most heavily weighted measures.

Top 2% worldwide

ShanghaiRanking considers more than 2,500 universities for the ranking and publishes the top 1,000, out of more than 25,000 worldwide colleges and universities. UH Mānoa’s placement among the top 2% in the world is consistent with the university’s showing among other higher education rankings entities.

“UH Mānoa’s recognition in the Academic Ranking of World Universities reflects the strength and impact of the research taking place across our campus,” said UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos. “This ranking places significant weight on research excellence and world expertise of our faculty. It is gratifying to see their work recognized. Their contributions advance knowledge, address challenges facing Hawaiʻi and the world, and create valuable opportunities for our students.”

Recent rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

2027 The Princeton Review “The Best 392 Colleges” guide, August 19, 2026

2026–27 Global University Visibility Rankings, July 23, 2026

2027 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, June 17, 2026

2026–27 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, June 16, 2026

2026 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings, April 8, 2026

2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026

2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026

2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

For more information, visit the Mānoa Institutional Research Office website.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa football team placed five members on the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.

Warriors on this year’s watch list are sophomore quarterback Micah Alejado, senior wide receiver Pofele Ashlock, junior safety Kona Moore, senior safety Matagi Thompson and sophomore wide receiver Tama Uiliata.

The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who epitomizes exceptional ability and integrity. This year’s watch list features 69 players from 36 different NCAA Division I programs.

This year’s selection marks the third consecutive watch list appearance for Ashlock. Alejado, Moore, Thompson and Uiliata are making their debuts on the national list.

Five finalists for the award will be announced on December 8, with the winner announced on December 15. The winner will be formally recognized during the Polynesian Bowl on January 15, and presented with the trophy at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on January 16.

Read more at Hawaiiathletics.com.

Almost two million Olympic-size pools of water (1.3 trillion gallons) inundated Hawaiʻi August 14–16, as Hurricane Lala tracked just south of the islands. Delivering one of the state’s most significant tropical cyclone impacts in decades, the storm triggered severe flash flooding and damaging winds. Through the University of Hawaiʻi’s Hawaiʻi Mesonet and the Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP), researchers captured the massive scale of this storm.

While Lala never made an official landfall, its close pass as a Category 1 hurricane brought average statewide rainfall of 11.4 inches. Hawaiʻi County received 66% of the total rainfall volume—equivalent to 1.2 million pools (833 million gallons).

Naʻalehu flash flooding and station records

Communities such as Naʻalehu on Hawaiʻi Island experienced devastating inundation from flash flooding. Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations highlighted the extreme localized intensity of the storm: the Laupahoehoe station in Hamakua recorded a daily maximum rainfall of 32.1 inches on August 15. Almost simultaneously, the Kaiholena station, located upslope of the Naʻalehu area, recorded 24.4 inches, including a remarkable 4.4 inches of rain in a single hour, 7:30–8:30 p.m. This was the highest observed hourly rainfall rate in the state during the entire three-day event. Combined with steep mountain slopes, this intense rainfall resulted in flash flooding that severely impacted the community in Naʻalehu.

As the storm progressed, the rest of the counties experienced their peak rainfall a day later, on August 16. While their totals were lower than Hawaiʻi Island’s, they still saw substantial averages: Maui County recorded a cumulative 6.6 inches of rain, equivalent to 203,595 pools (134 million gallons). Honolulu County (Oʻahu) recorded 5.5 inches of rain, equivalent to 86,357 pools (57 million gallons), and Kauaʻi County recorded 3.1 inches, equivalent to 45,055 pools (29 million gallons).

“Storms like Lala remind us why sustained, high-quality rainfall measurement matters so much in Hawaiʻi,” said Tom Giambelluca, director of the Hawaiʻi Mesonet. “Our terrain can turn the same storm into a 2-inch event in one valley and a 40-inch event a few miles away—without a dense network like the Mesonet, we’d have no way to capture that difference or understand what actually happened on the ground.”

Strong winds and dangerous gusts

The storm also unleashed high winds, with station-derived hourly wind speeds peaking at 60 mph on Hawaiʻi Island. Strong winds were also measured on Maui (56 mph), Oʻahu (39 mph) and Kauaʻi which led to downed power lines and fallen trees across the islands. Wind gusts of 80 mph were recorded at Puʻuloa in Kohala, and up to 79 mph on Haleakalā. Researchers expect that wind gusts were even more intense in some areas that do not have a climate station.

“One of the biggest challenges with wind is that we simply don’t have stations everywhere, especially at higher elevations and in remote terrain,” said Matt Lucas, HCDP product development lead. “Newly developed high-resolution wind speed maps let us estimate conditions in the gaps between stations, especially in extreme terrain where winds can be accelerated 2–4 times by landscape effects. This means disaster responders, property owners, and land managers aren’t left guessing about what happened in places where we didn’t have a station.”

The Hawaiʻi Mesonet, a statewide network of state-of-the-art weather stations, provides critical weather information across the islands giving a birds eye view into the data behind extreme weather events. Using observations from the Hawaiʻi Mesonet and digital maps produced on the HCDP maps, the team has released a new interactive website documenting the weather impacts of Hurricane Lala. Visit the HCDP Extreme Event Page to explore new interactive rainfall and wind speed maps as well as station data from the event. End users can sort information by county and for each day of the storm.

The energy was electric as the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa welcomed its newest class of students during the Fall 2026 New Student Orientation, August 19–20. The required two-day in-person program brought together 2,410 incoming students, offering a high-spirited introduction to campus life.

The event kicked off with a vibrant opening rally at the Stan Sheriff Center. From there, students chose their own adventures from more than 60 sessions, selecting from a diverse menu of hands-on activities. Highlighting the university’s creative and interactive spirit, some students learned traditional theatrical movement in the “Beijing Opera Stage Combat” session. Others shoveled mulch and planted native trees, or learned about leveling up their eSports game at iLab.

Max Geyrozaga was getting his hands dirty at “Play, Plant & Explore” session. The Mililani High School graduate plans to study electrical engineering.

“It was very scary when I came. But it was very chill when I realized everybody wants to be here,” Geyrozaga said.

‘It’s pretty awesome’

To keep the new Warriors fueled, UH provided complimentary bento lunches. Meanwhile, the Campus Center buzzed with activity, where Student Life & Development hosted engagement opportunities with student clubs and tours of the Warrior Recreation Center.

“So far it’s pretty awesome here, and I really like it,” said new student Maile Havas, who graduated from Island School on Kauaʻi. “I hope that the spirits are up all throughout the next four years and that my new classmates are pretty awesome.”

On Day 2, the orientation transitioned to academic preparation, with students connecting directly with their respective colleges and schools. They met faculty, staff and advisors to learn about academic expectations, student support resources and opportunities for involvement.

A $645,000 National Science Foundation grant is helping to fuel the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science into the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges.

The three-year project, scheduled to run from October 2026 through September 2029, aims to strengthen the state’s skilled technical workforce by equipping educators at Windward Community College and Kapiʻolani Community College to confidently teach and research with modern AI frameworks. The goal is to build a robust pipeline of AI-literate graduates.

Online coursework, professional mentorship

Faculty cohorts will participate in self-directed study and online coursework, and receive individualized mentorship from AI and data science professionals. This collaboration is supported by the Institute for Future Intelligence and a network of local AI experts.

“Community colleges play a critical role in training Hawaiʻi‘s skilled technical workforce, yet our STEM faculty may not have the specialized training or bandwidth to keep pace with rapid developments in AI,” said Principal Investigator Arjun Aryal, an instructor at Windward CC. “We are bridging this gap by pairing community college educators with industry AI experts, giving them the dedicated time and mentoring needed to embed data science and applied AI directly into their classrooms and research.”

The project will integrate AI concepts into STEM curricula, promote mentor-guided hands-on applications and host an annual symposium for faculty, students and local employers. Dissemination efforts will also include K–12 teacher workshops led by project faculty and the creation of open educational resources.

Co-Principal Investigator Aaron Hanai, a professor at Kapiʻolani CC, said. “Our sustained partnerships and annual symposiums will connect students directly with employers, and ensure our graduates enter the workforce with ethically grounded, highly valuable technical skills.”

This initiative complements the UH’s system-wide commitment to expanding AI literacy and preparing local talent to thrive in an AI -driven economy.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa quarterback Micah Alejado has been named to the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation, celebrating its 50th anniversary season, unveiled its list featuring 30 of the nation’s top returning collegiate quarterbacks. Alejado is one of only six sophomores in the country to receive the honor. The selection committee compiled this year’s watch list based on previous Division I career player performance and high expectations heading into the 2026 college football campaign.

Over the course of the last month, Alejado has been placed on the the watch lists for some of the nation’s most prestigious awards including: the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch and finally the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

Semifinalists will be named on November 17, and the three finalists will be revealed on November 24. The winner of the 2026 Davey O’Brien Award will be announced live on ESPN on December 11. The formal presentation will take place during the 50th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner on March 8, 2027 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Read more at HawaiiAthletics.com.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel highlighted the start of the 2026–27 academic year, UH’s second-highest extramural funding total in history and the leadership transition at Hawaiʻi Community College during her August report to the UH Board of Regents (BOR). The report was delivered at the August 20 BOR meeting at Kauaʻi Community College.

Hensel reported that UH secured $647.3 million in extramural funding in fiscal year 2026, the second-highest total in university history and the fifth consecutive year above $500 million. She also provided an update on the leadership transition at Hawaiʻi CC, where Interim Vice President for Community Colleges and UH Maui College Chancellor Lui Hokoana is serving as interim chancellor while UH prepares an interim chancellor for the campus and the launch of a national search for a permanent leader.

Hensel also highlighted UH’s inaugural AI Institute Day, which brought together 546 participants from across the UH System on August 11, and the launch of the ’Bows Athletics Club and Shoji Society, two new initiatives designed to strengthen annual and transformational giving to UH Mānoa Athletics.

Finally, Kauaʻi CC’s Justin Seto was recognized with the UH President’s Award for Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance for his dedication, technical expertise and “campus-first” approach.

• Enrollment and start of fall semester (video)
• Leadership retreat and strategic investments (video)
• Hawaiʻi CC leadership transition (video)
• FY26 extramural funding (video)
• ’Bows Athletics Club and Shoji Society (video)
• AI Institute Day and strategic AI investments (video)
• UH News highlights
  • UH Community Colleges ranked 11th best (video)
  • Kauaʻi CC, Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center partnership (video)
  • Kauaʻi CC Summer Institute Pāpala Lele Internship (video)
• President’s Award for Excellence (video)

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

The University of Hawaiʻi named Justin Seto as the 2026 recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance. He was recognized at the Board of Regents’ (BOR) meeting at Kauaʻi Community College on August 20.

Seto was honored for his vital work at Kauaʻi CC. He has played a critical role in keeping campus operations running smoothly during periods of transition and operational challenge, and continues to ensure the safety and comfort of students, faculty and staff.

“It’s just for everybody, you know,” Seto said. “I enjoy doing my work and doing the job. I enjoy working together with my crew. We’ve got a good crew out here, and we have a lot of support. We just take pride in the work that we do here at the community college. I really appreciate it.”

Beyond his daily duties, Seto is known for his “campus first” philosophy and proactive mindset. He is appreciated for his willingness to go above and beyond, continually contributing to the long term sustainability and improvement of the Kauaʻi CC campus.

Through his dedication to his job at Kauaʻi CC, Seto helps to create a learning and working environment that supports excellence and embodies the values of UH.

Established in 1986, the President’s Award for Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance recognizes an employee throughout the UH System who exemplifies dedication and excellence in supporting campus facilities.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa outside hitter Cha’lei Reid was named to the 2026 Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Team as the Rainbow Wahine prepare for their first season in the conference.

Reid was one of seven players selected by Mountain West coaches. The sophomore led UH with 335 kills and 3.35 kills per set last season, becoming the fourth freshman in program history and first since 2019 to lead the team in kills.

She also recorded 44 service aces, UH’s highest single-season total since 2019, and earned Big West All-Freshman Team and All-Big West honorable mention recognition.

The Rainbow Wahine were picked fifth in the Mountain West preseason poll. UH opens its first season under Head Coach Joshua Walker on August 28 against Georgia Southern in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

For more information visit the Hawaiʻi Athletics website.

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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s men’s tennis alumnus Andre Ilagan was one of nine players to receive a wild-card entry to the qualifying tournament for the 2026 U.S. Open. Ilagan is the first former UH men’s tennis player to compete at the major tournament at the USTABillie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Ilagan finished his Rainbow Warrior career as the most decorated player in UH history. He competed in back-to-back NCAA Championships, and became UH‘s first-ever Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American in 2023. Ilagan was named Big West Player of the Year, earned UH‘s top honor (the Jack Bonham Award), and was a four-time All-Big West selection in both singles and doubles.

After concluding his collegiate career in 2023, Ilagan turned pro, starting on the ITF Futures tour and later moving up to the ATP Challenger tour. Ilagan jumped up 33 spots to enter this week ranked at No. 210—the highest ranking of his career—and will soon rise into the Top 200 after advancing to the championship matches of his last two tournaments.

As a U.S. Open wild-card entry, Ilagan will need to win three matches to enter the main draw. Qualifying matches begin on August 23, with the main draw starting on August 30.

Read more at Hawaiiathletics.com.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa quarterback Micah Alejado has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The award recognizes the nation’s top quarterback who demonstrates excellence both on and off the field by promoting strong character, citizenship, and academic commitment.

The Rainbow Warrior signal-caller is one of 27 collegiate quarterbacks selected to this year’s highly selective watch list. He is also just one of six quarterbacks outside of the Power Four to be recognized and the lone Mountain West representative on the list.

In his starting debut as a Rainbow Warrior in the 2024 regular season, Alejado threw for a record 469 yards and five touchdowns versus New Mexico. He carried over the success in the 2025 campaign when he threw for 3,106 yards and 24 touchdowns while earning all-conference honors.

For the 2026 season, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. refined its eligibility criteria to better reflect the changing landscape of college football. To be eligible, quarterbacks must play at the FBS level, meet NCAA eligibility requirements, have at least three years of college football experience, have no more than five years of college enrollment, and have played for no more than two college programs. The refined standards aim to spotlight quarterbacks who have demonstrated sustained commitment and experience at the collegiate level.

The watch list will be narrowed to semifinalists and finalists as the 2026 season unfolds. The winner of the 2026 Golden Arm Award will be announced in December and celebrated at the annual ceremony in Baltimore on December 9.

Read more at HawaiiAthletics.com.

When Kona Low storms flooded Konawaena High School on Hawaiʻi Island in March 2026, campus repairs forced every student and teacher into distance learning less than 12 weeks before graduation. For Konawaena alumna Sophia Burgess, watching her school navigate this major disruption became the force behind her research journey.

She enrolled in the immersive eight-week Summer Research Institute (SRI), offered by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) to take a deep dive into the resilience of the high school’s seniors, their parents and their teachers. Burgess earned her first place overall for her poster and research presentation at the SRI competition.

Learning to conduct research

Introducing students to research is the mission of the CTAHR’s summer institute. The program challenged 53 high school students and college undergraduates to use the scientific method to investigate the barriers their communities face in food systems, environmental sustainability and resilience.

Each student was assigned a faculty mentor and spent at least 25 hours a week in research and study. Weekly lunch-and-learn sessions taught students how to define a research question, gather and analyze data, evaluate the ethics of research and the scientific method, and communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.

Participating students also took field visits to several of CTAHR’s Centers for Applied Research and Extension Services (CARES), including stations in Pearl City and in Windward Oʻahu for activities such as tending native plant gardens, agroforestry and community gardening. Working alongside UH researchers, students could earn valuable college credits.

The eight-week investment culminated in a poster symposium on July 24, where more than 200 family members and friends showed up to celebrate the young leaders.

“Being able to go through the research process and having those challenges and those highs made it feel a little bit more real and made me feel more prepared for the symposium, rather than just studying or reading about research,” Burgess said.

Symposium winners

• Best Overall
  • 1st place: Sophia Burgess (mentor: Marielle Hampton, assistant extension agent, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences)
  • 2nd place: Sophia Elise Morales (mentor: Zhiqiang Cheng, specialist, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences)
  • 3rd place: Danica Ibanez (mentors: Assistant Specialist Jean Butel and Assistant Professor Lara Hackney, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences)
• Honorable Mention
  • 1st place: Minhee Kim (mentor: Zhi Yang, assistant professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences)
  • 2nd place: Noah Birn (mentor: Jane Marian Luis, assistant specialist, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences)
  • 3rd place: Kaipo Akioka, Nainoa Johnson, and Arthur Ortiz (mentors: Assistant Specialist ‘Ilima Ho-Lastimosa and Professor Theodore Radovich, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences)
• Director’s Award
  • Recipient: Amy Li (mentor: Jane Marian Luis, assistant specialist, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences)

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is one of the nation’s best colleges and universities, according to The Princeton Review’s 2027 edition of “The Best 392 Colleges” guide, released on August 18.

The rankings are based solely on its surveys of college students about their schools. The schools included in the “The Best 392 Colleges” of 2027 are not ranked from No. 1–No. 392, and feature the top 14% of approximately 2,800 four-year colleges in the U.S.

In addition, The Princeton Review placed UH Mānoa as one of the top 79 colleges in the west.

“This recognition is a reflection of what our students experience every day at UH Mānoa,” said UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos. “From the classroom to campus life, their feedback shows the value they see in their education, their professors and the opportunities available to them. We’re proud that their voices are helping tell the story of what makes UH Mānoa a special place to learn and grow.”

In October 2025, The Princeton Review also named UH Mānoa one of the nation’s top “green” colleges, which recognizes the most environmentally responsible schools.

More about ‘The Best 392 Colleges’

The Princeton Review surveyed 172,000 students at the schools included in “The Best 392 Colleges.” The 98-question survey asked students about their professors, administrators, financial aid, campus amenities, school services and other aspects of their college experience. Students responded using five answer choices, with scales ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” and “excellent” to “poor.”

“The colleges we profile in ‘The Best 392 Colleges’ vary by type, size, locale and campus culture. In our opinion, each one offers an academically outstanding undergraduate education,” said Rob Franek, lead author of the book and editor-in-chief at The Princeton Review. “They are truly a select group: they comprise only about 14% of America’s nearly 2,800 four-year colleges. For 35 years, our goal for this project has been to create multiple ranking lists and resources to help college applicants answer what is likely the toughest but also the most important question in their journey to college: ‘Which college is best for me?’”

‘The Best Colleges in America’

UH Mānoa and UH West Oʻahu were also recognized in Money’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings, which evaluated more than 700 four-year colleges nationwide. The rankings are designed to help students and families compare colleges based on the value they provide, with an emphasis on affordability and post-graduation outcomes. Money evaluated schools using 25 factors across three categories: quality of education, affordability and outcomes. Measures included graduation rates, net price, student debt, earnings, employment and economic mobility.

Recent rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026–27 Global University Visibility Rankings, July 23, 2026
• 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, June 17, 2026
• 2026–27 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, June 16, 2026
• 2026 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings, April 8, 2026
• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

This week’s image is from the UH Mānoa Lyon Arboretum.

From the Lyon Arboretum Instagram: Fungi: is it a fun guy? Neither plant nor animal, fungi help recycle nutrients, support healthy ecosystems, and form remarkable partnerships with trees and other plants. From delicate mushrooms emerging after rain to vast underground networks, these fascinating organisms play a vital role in the life of the forest.

Check out more fascinating fungi at the Lyon Arboretum IG post.

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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.

• 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.

Maluhia

—Peace, quiet, security, tranquility, serenity.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

Check back for more ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

—Moanikeʻala Nabarro, Office of Communications, 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.

How is cultural knowledge received, carried and ultimately passed on?

A new exhibition at Gallery ʻIolani at Windward Community College explores that question through the lifework and lived experiences of master cultural practitioners ʻŌlohe G. ʻUmi Kai and Suluʻape Keone Nunes.

Through photographs, storytelling, selected works and cultural materials, the exhibition explores how ʻike (knowledge) is carried, embodied, practiced and shared across generations.

“ʻAI MAMA: The Transmission of Knowledge Through the Lifework of ʻŌlohe G. ʻUmi Kai and Suluʻape Keone Nunes” runs August 25–December 11, 2026. An opening reception will be held Friday, September 11, from 4–7 p.m. Admission is free.

The title ʻAI MAMA refers to the process of chewing food and sharing it with, or giving it to, another. Within the exhibition, the act becomes a metaphor for the transmission of knowledge–what is received is worked through, understood, embodied and passed on.

Kai and Nunes come from distinct cultural lineages, but their respective practices share a commitment to the continuation of ʻike. Their work reflects years of learning, observation, discipline and relationships, as well as responsibility to those who came before them and those who will follow.

Sharing knowledge

“Knowledge is not something we simply possess,” said Kapulani Landgraf, curator and director of Gallery ʻIolani. “It comes to us through others, and with that comes a responsibility to carry it forward. ʻAI MAMA is about that process of receiving, learning, practicing and ultimately sharing what has been entrusted to us.”

Co-curated by Landgraf and Noelle M.K.Y. Kahanu, ʻAI MAMA is the second in a four-part Gallery ʻIolani exhibition series centered on Hawaiian mentorship and the transmission of ʻike. The series explores the role of mentorship, relationship and kuleana (responsibility) in sustaining Hawaiian knowledge and cultural practice.

Public programs, artist conversations, workshops and community gatherings will accompany the exhibition from September through December.

Gallery ʻIolani is open Tuesday–Saturday, 12:30–4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Learn more at gallery.windward.hawaii.edu/ai-mama/.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is humming with energy as approximately 3,000 student residents move into their on-campus homes for the fall 2026 semester. The transition, taking place from August 17–18 and 21, marks the beginning of a new academic journey for thousands of incoming and returning students.

Welcoming the students is new UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos, who joins student housing staff and volunteers in greeting families during this milestone week.

“We’re all excited to see our students coming back on campus, moving into our dorms,” said Syrmos. “They are welcome on our campus, and if they have any issues, any problems, just let us know and we’ll take care of it. So come with us and have a journey of four years that is going to be unforgettable.”

Move-in experience

To ensure a smooth arrival, UH Mānoa is utilizing the successful revamped move-in process first launched in 2023. The process begins at the Stan Sheriff Center, which serves as a central check-in hub. Students receive their room keys and student IDs while exploring campus services, student employment, leadership opportunities and financial aid.

By spreading out move-in times and optimizing parking and lower campus roadway infrastructure, UH Mānoa has significantly reduced traffic congestion on Dole Street. Key elements of the streamlined operations include:

• Shuttle service: An expanded, two-way shuttle service transporting students and their ʻohana directly from the parking structure to the residence halls.
• Wayfinding support: Improved directional signage and a revised vehicle hang-tag system.
• Extra resources: Additional operational support to manage the high volume of packaging and move-in materials.

Voices from residence halls

This year’s residents are moving into several facilities, including the Hale Aloha Towers, Johnson Halls, Gateway House, Hale Laulima, Hale Kahawai, Frear Hall and more. For many incoming freshmen, move-in day brings a mix of emotions as they settle into college life.

“I love meeting new people and having new experiences, and I’ve never done this before, and I’m really excited,” said Madelyn Haley, an incoming freshman who is planning to major in psychology. She said she plans to “meet a bunch of new people and get as involved in it as I can on the campus.”

“I’m excited! I can’t wait to meet new people and stuff,” said Claire Sarnl, an incoming freshman who plans to study human nutrition. “Just to explore things here in Hawaiʻi.”

As one of the most influential scientists in tropical climate dynamics worldwide, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Atmospheric Sciences Professor Tim Li was elected a Fellow by the American Meteorological Society. Fellows are elected based on “outstanding contributions to the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences or their applications during a substantial period of years.”

“It is meaningful to be recognized by the scientific community for hard work and research accomplishments,” said Li, who is also with the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC) in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

Li’s research focuses on various aspects of tropical meteorology and climate dynamics, including the dynamics of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Madden-Julian Oscillation, tropical cyclones, Asian-Australian monsoon, climate change and more.

His recent studies focus on understanding the onset diversity of El Niño and La Niña, super El Niño and multi-year La Niña formation, and extreme weather events. In his research he utilizes observational data analyses alongside theory, numerical model experiments and climate model simulations.

Li has published 470 professionally referred research papers and a book, with 28,000 citations and a h-index of 91. In recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community, he received UH Board of Regents Excellence in Research Award in 2019. He was elected as a Fellow of the Asia-Oceania Geoscience Society in 2025.

“Tim Li has made many significant contributions in tropical meteorology and climate dynamics, and he exemplifies excellence in research and education at UH,” said Malte Stuecker, director of IPRC.

A new University of Hawaiʻi report released August 17 finds that the UH System has significant strengths in water-related education, research and workforce development, but greater coordination across programs could help Hawaiʻi build stronger pathways into careers focused on wai (water) stewardship.

The report co-authored by a multidisciplinary team of UH researchers is based on interviews with 38 UH faculty members, alumni, program directors and coordinators. It identifies opportunities to better connect students with water-related courses, hands-on learning, mentors and employment opportunities across the state.

• See the entire report

Key insights from interviews:

• Interviewee career pathways were often shaped by connections to family and place (especially for ʻōiwi and kamaʻāina interviewees), mentors (inside and outside of academia) and funding availability.
• There are many water-related courses already offered by UH Mānoa and many faculty with water relevant expertise. These tend to be scattered across different departments because of the broad multi-disciplinary nature of water stewardship.
• Overall, interviewees felt that despite strong wai course offerings across the UH Mānoa campus, there was a lack of coordination or visibility of water courses and a need for clearer connections between curriculum and employment opportunities.
• Despite the absence of a singular wai degree pathway, several existing programs offer freshwater credentialing options. Faculty and program coordinators help students navigate their academic journeys and find relevant wai courses and mentors using informal referral networks built on pre-existing relationships.
• Interviewees discussed a variety of ideas for credit and non-credit wai education options including certificates, a water focused master’s degree, non-credit training and a Wai 100 course.
• The UH System has strong research infrastructure and existing mechanisms for student research. However, faculty and alumni expressed support for more experiential learning opportunities and curriculum incorporating place- and culture-based learning.
• Faculty and staff understanding of and connection to water sector employers plays a key role in student access to career pathways.
• Personnel from long-standing education and career pathway programs emphasized a few key aspects of their programming approaches, including that 1) programs are adaptive, allowing space and time for growth of the program, 2) programs emphasize nurturing the “gifts” of participants rather than attempting to identify and fill gaps in skills or knowledge and 3) relationships are central and developing trust across staff and program participants is important.
• These programs consider the long-term trajectory of their participants as their primary indicator of success. They want to see program participants secure employment or pursue a degree in a particular field.
• Silos in curricula and conceptualizations of wai may be limiting Hawaiʻi’s progress in developing effective water management. Leadership to support coordination and systems alignments is needed.

This research is a multi-department collaboration including the UH Mānoa Department of Geography and Environment, UHERO, Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, UH Sea Grant College Program and Water Resources Research Center. Funding for this work comes from the Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hamilton Library welcomed participants in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Leadership Fellows Program for a four-day site visit July 28–31, giving emerging research library leaders an opportunity to engage with UH leaders and explore the role of libraries in advancing higher education.

The fellows met with UH President Wendy Hensel and UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis Syrmos, along with other university leaders, library faculty and staff. Discussions focused on institutional priorities, academic affairs, research, student success and leadership in higher education.

“We were honored to host the Leadership Fellows and to showcase the outstanding work happening at UH Mānoa in general, and at Hamilton Library in particular,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro.

Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, internationally significant collections

Hamilton Library’s programming highlighted the university’s work to become a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning and its internationally significant Hawaiian, Pacific and Asian collections. The fellows participated in a session on the Native Hawaiian Place of Learning initiative, visited ʻIolani Palace and toured Hamilton’s Hawaiian, Pacific, Asia and maps and geospatial collections.

“We are so pleased that the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was able to host the Leadership Fellows Program,” said Audrey Grace, ARL director of learning and program instructor. “The fellows gained invaluable insights from the library’s unique special collections and authentic leaders, while seeing firsthand the institution’s clear vision and mission of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning.”

The visit also included sessions on academic policy, working in a union environment, futures thinking in libraries and leadership. Guthro concluded the Hamilton programming by sharing his own leadership journey.

The 13-month ARL Leadership Fellows Program prepares emerging leaders for senior and executive roles in research libraries and archives through mentoring, executive coaching, self-assessment and site visits.

The visit was coordinated by Grace and Associate University Librarian Vickery Lebbin. It was the second time Hamilton Library has hosted an ARL leadership program.

Read more at Hamilton Library.