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Recent University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graphic design graduates Chloe Lavigne and Rachel Wong earned multiple honors at the 2026 Pele Awards, one of Hawaiʻi’s top advertising and design competitions.

Lavigne’s “Deconstruct Exhibition Campaign” received Best of Show–College and a Gold Pele in the integrated advertising campaign category. Her “Deconstruct App” also earned a Gold Pele. Lavigne and Wong additionally received a Bronze Pele for their “Synergy BFA Showcase Invitation.”

“My time in the BFA program taught me to think and produce like a designer through design history, concept development, and hands-on technical skills, pushing me to make research-driven, intentional decisions rather than choices based purely on aesthetics,” Lavigne said.

Visual storytelling

Lavigne grew up in Vermont, where she was surrounded by small local businesses and first became interested in visual storytelling through scrapbooking in middle school.

“I was instantly drawn to documenting lived experiences and experimenting with how different photos, materials, colors and compositions could shape a story,” Lavigne said.

Her award-winning “Deconstruct” project imagined a fictional exhibition for street artist Shepard Fairey at the Honolulu Museum of Art. The campaign included posters, invitations, exhibition materials, a mobile app and even a branded skateboard.

The project encouraged viewers to think critically about media, persuasion and power while creating a more interactive museum experience.

Industry success

Chae Ho Lee, a design professor in UH Mānoa’s Department of Art and Art History, said the students’ commitment and openness to feedback helped make the projects successful.

“Both students worked tirelessly on several design drafts and were very open to constructive feedback,” Lee said.

Lee said UH Mānoa students continue to perform strongly in the highly competitive Pele Awards.

“With an 86% career placement rate, the UH Mānoa graphic design program prepares students for the competitive design industry,” Lee said. “The curriculum merges historical and theoretical foundations with hands-on, industry-aligned training.”

The Department of Art and Art History is housed in the College of Arts, Languages & Letters.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel has announced her recommendation that Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua be appointed as the interim director of the Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office for the UH System and UH Mānoa, pending UH Board of Regents approval on Thursday, June 4. Goodyear-Kaʻōpua will succeed Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Punihei Lipe, who is stepping down at the end of May to become the poʻo kula (head of school) at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama.

A UH Mānoa professor since 2007, Goodyear-Kaʻōpua brings more than two decades of academic, governance and community-based education experience to the position. In her new role, she will help guide the 10-campus system’s efforts to advance as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning that champions the principles of aloha and caring for people and place, as it integrates Hawaiian language, culture, history and values across the institution.

“Noelani’s exceptional leadership and deep commitment to uplifting Hawaiian knowledge make her the perfect person to carry this vital work forward,” said Hensel. “As we bid a fond aloha to Punihei and thank her for the lasting impact she made centering ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) across our campuses, we are thrilled to welcome Noelani to guide our university system in its ongoing commitment to becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning.”

Award winning educator, author

An internationally recognized scholar and the 2022 Native Hawaiian Education Association’s Educator of the Year, Goodyear-Kaʻōpua has been instrumental in building the university’s Indigenous politics program, co-founded the Nā Koʻokoʻo Native Hawaiian Undergraduate Leadership Program and previously served as chair of the Department of Political Science and UH Mānoa interim assistant vice provost for faculty excellence.

“As we mark 40 years since the Kaʻū Task Force report called on this university to become truly of Hawaiʻi, I am honored to walk a path cleared by kūpuna whose vision was bold,” Goodyear-Kaʻōpua said. “I carry that genealogy forward with gratitude for all Punihei and her team have cultivated, and I look forward to supporting the work that educators across the 10 campuses are doing to expand the university’s capacity to uphold its kuleana to this ʻāina.”

Goodyear-Kaʻōpua earned her bachelor’s degree from UH Mānoa and her PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz, She is a Kamehameha Schools alumna and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. She also co-founded Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School and was awarded the UH Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 2019. She is also an award-winning author, having co-won the 2019 Ka Palapala Poʻokela award for editing Nā Wāhine Koa: Hawaiian Women for Sovereignty and Demilitarization.

Related UH News stories

• UH professor, administrator selected as Kamehameha Schools trustee, March 23, 2022
• 2 UH political science professors win book awards, January 6, 2020

First-year University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa medical student Eugene Santos II is sharing his experience with Tourette Syndrome, a neurological condition marked by involuntary movements called tics and affecting about 1.4 million people in the U.S.

Santos was diagnosed in elementary school after stress from his parents’ divorce and frequent travel between Guam and Hawaiʻi contributed to his symptoms. A neurologist later confirmed the diagnosis.

“My intent was to pursue some sort of writing career, whether that was music or poetry,” he said. “One way or another though, I found myself questioning if there was space for me in medicine. I’d always been interested in it. But because of my Tourette’s, I had an idea of what I could and could not do. And, what I could do, and what I could not do included helping others with their health.”

From diagnosis to medical school

A caregiver experience during college helped reshape his outlook after a patient encouraged him to pursue healthcare despite his tics.

“I remember I was getting her into bed, and she said, ‘You have such good bedside manner. Why don’t you go into healthcare?’ Despite the fact that my tics were really active that day, she saw something in me that was more than that.”

At the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Santos connected with Johnathan Kim, who graduated in May and also lives with Tourette Syndrome. The two bonded over shared experiences and career paths.

Kim is transitioning to an internal medicine residency at the University of California, Irvine, and expressed gratitude for the support of family, friends, classmates and mentors who helped him persevere with Tourette Syndrome.

“To me, that was so cool,” Kim said. “I felt like someone could actually understand what I felt.”

Santos said that connection has been meaningful as he continues medical training.

“We always say representation is important, in whatever field it is,” he said. “Being able to talk with someone about some of my insecurities and someone who has Tourette’s has been really helpful.”

Santos hopes his story encourages others not to be limited by their condition.

“You may have this thing, but you are not defined by it,” he said.

Read more at JABSOM.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s “Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team” trophy tour brought the NCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship trophy to UH campuses and community locations across Oʻahu following the Rainbow Warriors’ national title victory earlier this month.

The tour began at UH Mānoa on May 20 with stops at Bachman Hall and Hawaiʻi Hall, and on May 22 at the UH Mānoa Bookstore, giving students, faculty and staff opportunities to take photos with the trophy and celebrate the program’s third NCAA championship.

“It was really cool,” said Colleen Licudine, a UH Mānoa employee and Rainbow Warrior volleyball fan who saw the trophy at Bachman Hall. “A lot of UH pride. My dad went to school here too, and so basically my whole life I’ve been watching games from back when even Dave Shoji was coach. Seeing the men’s team rise up and be really successful in their program too, it’s been really, really nice.”

The trophy later visited Leeward Community College and UH West Oʻahu on May 27, and Windward CC, Kapiʻolani CC and Honolulu CC on May 28, as part of a systemwide effort to thank the UH community for its support throughout the volleyball season.

“It was so cool,” said Shanelle Bartlett, Kapiʻolani CC student and UH fan. “The trophy is a symbol of how much effort these boys have put in to bring a championship back to our community and to the Hawaiian Islands and I feel like people underestimate us because of where we’re from. But this is a symbol showing how we are really powerful even from a small community like this.”

“Hoʻomaikaʻi iā ʻoukou no ko kākou lanakila ʻana! (Congratulations on your win!),” said Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg. “We’re so proud of the ‘Bows and their win for the NCAA championship. Congratulations!”

One of the attendees who made a stop at Kapiʻolani CC was former UH men’s volleyball player from the 1970s Dalwyn Wong.

“This is great. It’s really good to see,” Wong said. “The program has come a long way. I saw the last championship trophy and the games a few years ago. To see it again this year, oh man, a pretty good feeling. I’m proud of the program and proud of all the players and coaches.”

Other stops throughout the week included Honolulu Hale, Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Hawaiian Airlines, Skyline, local businesses, corporate partners and community events across Oʻahu. Additional events across the state are being planned, including other UH campuses.

“It really is gratifying to see how much joy and pride people take into, not only men’s volleyball but all the accomplishments in the athletic department,” said Charlie Wade, UH Mānoa men’s volleyball head coach. “Getting a chance to share this beautiful piece of art that symbolizes something really significant accomplishment, it’s pretty cool.”

The Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball team captured the NCAA Men’s National Collegiate Volleyball Championship on May 11 after defeating UC Irvine in four sets. The title marked the program’s third national championship and its first since back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

The trophy tour was organized by the UH Mānoa Athletics Department as a way to share the championship celebration with fans, students, faculty, staff and community supporters throughout Hawaiʻi.

“Our team, Hawaiʻi‘s team, isn’t a slogan. It’s what we’ve really bought into and we want people to know that this championship is for them too,” said Eric Mathews, UH Mānoa athletics director of marketing and fan experience. “This isn’t just something at Mānoa. This isn’t just something for the team. This is the entire community. This is for the entire state. It’s for the entire UH System that we have.”

Astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) and engineers from Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) atop Haleakalā helped make a 14-year-old Idaho boy’s dream come true during a special visit to Maui’s majestic summit.

“Visiting the telescope was amazing—it was a once in a lifetime experience,” said Ethan, who traveled to Hawaiʻi through Make-A-Wish Idaho with support from Make-A-Wish Hawaii after overcoming a serious blood disorder. “It was so cool to see how bright the stars were at the top of the mountain and to see how big space really is.”

Ethan recently celebrated one year post-treatment after enduring a lengthy diagnosis period, a 49-day hospital stay, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. His wish was to visit observatories and see the telescopes atop Haleakalā up close.

Stargazing journey

His love for astronomy started while watching videos about black holes. During treatment, his grandparents gave him a telescope so he could stargaze from his hospital window. On the final day of treatment, Ethan celebrated by using the telescope from the hospital roof.

IfA astronomer J.D. Armstrong, who oversees UH’s outreach program mentoring Hawaiʻi students in astronomy, escorted Ethan and his family to the summit alongside Mark Elphick and Tyler Nakagawa from LCO on Haleakalā.

Haleakalā visit

The family first toured IfA Maui before heading up Haleakalā, where Ethan and his family visited the LCO facility. They used the eyepiece on the LCO 2-meter Faulkes Telescope North to look at distant astronomical objects and helped program observations using other telescopes in the LCO network. During the visit, the family also viewed a twin quasar located 8.7 billion light years away. A quasar is an extremely bright object powered by a giant black hole at the center of a galaxy.

“It was really great to do something like this,” Armstrong said. “I get to share the summit with a family that appreciates it as much as I do.”

Ethan’s mother, Autumn, said the trip meant everything.

“As a parent, watching your child go from sick and uninterested in a lot to thriving and learning and excited about life and new things is priceless.”

Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish Hawaii assisted Make-A-Wish Idaho in granting Ethan’s wish. All wishes to visit Hawaiʻi are funded by the child’s home chapter. All funds raised in Hawaiʻi support local wish keiki.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hamilton Library selected four graduate students as recipients of the 2026 Library Treasures Summer Scholarships, which support original research and creative projects using the library’s archival and special collections.

This year’s scholars represent the fields of linguistics, natural resources and environmental management and history. Their projects explore topics including Micronesian languages, trans-Pacific ethnobiological knowledge, public health in modern China and the early development of Japanese aviation.

The 2026 scholarship recipients are:

• Kelsey Bialo, a linguistics doctoral student, for the project “Exploring Minor Syllables and Sesquisyllabicity in Micronesian languages”
• Kelsie Kuniyoshi, a natural resources and environmental management doctoral student, for the project “Pilina Inoa: An Exploration of Trans-Pacific Ethnobiological Knowledge Through the Samuel Elbert Collection”
• SeungHyeon Pyo, a history doctoral student, for the project “Hijacking the Invisible Hand: The Language of Markets and Corporate Incubation of Early Japanese Aviation”
• Sijian Wang, a history doctoral student, for the project “Living with Toxicity: Chemical Disinfectants in China, 1910–1950”

Open to students from any discipline and level of study, the Library Treasures program encourages the use of archival materials, rare collections, maps, manuscripts, government documents, audiovisual resources and digital collections housed at Hamilton Library.

Past projects have examined topics connected to Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, Asia and global history and culture using collections such as the Hawaiʻi Sugar Plantation Archives, Tahitian newspapers and Okinawan magazines.

Scholarship recipients will present their work during a public event in the fall.

Read more at Hamilton Library.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa women’s soccer team has unveiled its 2026 schedule, highlighted by a robust early-season slate that will see every regular-season match prior to Mountain West Conference play contested at Waipiʻo Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

Before making their historic debut in the Mountain West, the Rainbow Wahine will treat fans to seven regular-season home matches on Oʻahu. This pre-conference stretch is anchored by three consecutive tournaments hosted by UH: the OUTRIGGER Soccer Kickoff, the OUTRIGGER Invitational and the OUTRIGGER No Ka Oi.

The challenging nonconference schedule will bring several major programs to the islands. The regular season officially opens on August 13 against Texas Tech, followed by a matchup with Kansas State on August 16 to close out the opening weekend. The homestand continues when the Rainbow Wahine host Western Michigan on August 20 and Idaho on August 22 as part of the OUTRIGGER Invitational. UH Mānoa will then face local opponent Hawaiʻi Pacific in a single match on August 29.

The nonconference tournament schedule wraps up in early September with the OUTRIGGER No Ka Oi, where UH Mānoa will take on New Mexico State on September 3 and Washington State on September 6. In addition to the regular-season slate, the Wahine will also play a pair of exhibition matches: an early-August tune-up against Seattle University in Pukalani, Maui, on August 9, and an alumni match on the campus grass field on September 19.

Following nonconference play, the Rainbow Wahine will hit the road to kick off their inaugural Mountain West campaign. UH Mānoa opens league play in Colorado, facing Colorado College on September 24 and Air Force on September 27. The team returns to Honolulu on October 7 to host Nevada for its first-ever Mountain West home match.

After hosting UTEP on October 11, the ‘Bows return to the road to take on San Jose State (October 15) and UC Davis (October 18) before a three-match homestand against Grand Canyon (October 24), UNLV (October 28) and New Mexico (November 1). UH then ends the regular season on the road at Wyoming on November 7.

See the entire schedule on the UH Mānoa Athletics website.

Maui residents can now pursue careers in respiratory therapy and radiologic technology without having to relocate to Oʻahu. Maui Health and the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges have partnered to launch two Maui-based degree programs.

The dedicated Maui cohort programs, offered through Kapiʻolani Community College, are designed to create accessible pathways to high-demand, living wage careers.

“Kapiʻolani Community College is proud to expand healthcare workforce opportunities by offering the respiratory care practitioner and radiologic technologist programs beginning fall of 2026,” said Karen Boyer, dean of health academic programs. “These programs will help address critical healthcare workforce shortages in Hawaiʻi while providing students with accessible pathways to high-demand, living wage healthcare careers.”

Students in both programs will complete a combination of online, in-person and hybrid coursework, including hands-on clinical training conducted at Maui Memorial Medical Center. To further remove financial obstacles, the Maui Health Foundation is offering scholarships that may cover 100% of direct education costs, including tuition, fees, books and supplies for the professional program.

Applications for the Maui cohort are available through the Kapiʻolani CC website, with a deadline of May 31. Scholarship applications are due June 20, 2026. Visit Maui Health’s website for more information, including links to program and scholarship applications.

‘Milestone moment’

“This is a milestone moment for Maui and an example of what can happen when community partners come together to invest in our people and our future,” said Wade Ebersole, interim CEO of Maui Health. “These programs open doors for local residents to pursue stable, well-paying healthcare careers, while also strengthening the pipeline of professionals who are committed to serving Maui’s community.”

Both pathways lead to a two-year associate in science degree. With minimal prerequisites often completed in one to two semesters, graduates can be prepared to enter the workforce in approximately 2.5 to 3 years. This rapid turnaround is essential to filling critical shortages in respiratory care and medical imaging roles across Maui. Graduates are positioned for strong earning potential, with starting wages for these roles exceeding $42 per hour.

The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to strengthening Maui’s healthcare workforce and ensuring high-quality care for its residents.

Along the Keaukaha coastline at Puhi Bay, keiki from Hawaiian language immersion program Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo are doing what most adults never get to: growing native coral in a nursery and planting it back into the reef their families have known for generations.

He Pūkoʻa Kani ʻĀina—a year-long collaboration between Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center (PACRC)—is where scientific restoration meets traditional ʻike (knowledge). Keiki learn that the health of the coral is inseparable from the health of the ʻāina (land).

PACRC is the UH Hilo research and community-engagement facility in Keaukaha behind the coral nursery. Marine science faculty lead programs that connect directly with the broader Hawaiʻi Island community.

For more go to Kūkala Nūhou.

Vassilis Syrmos has been recommended by University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel to serve as the next chancellor of UH Mānoa, the flagship campus of the state’s 10-campus public higher education system. His appointment will go before the UH Board of Regents (BOR) for final approval on Thursday, June 4. If approved, he will begin serving on July 1, 2026.

A faculty member in the UH Mānoa College of Engineering for 35 years, Syrmos brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience. He has served as interim provost of UH Mānoa since July 2025. Before that, he served for 12 years as UH vice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at UH Mānoa.

“Vassilis has done an exceptional job as interim provost, building on decades of leadership across the UH System and at UH Mānoa,” said Hensel. “He brings a deep understanding of UH Mānoa’s budget, operations and role within the broader UH System, as well as strong relationships at the state and congressional levels. I am confident he will be an effective partner as we strengthen leadership for our flagship campus.”

As interim provost, Syrmos helped secure legislative support to sustain the UH Cancer Center’s research and strengthen its National Cancer Institute designation through the doubling of Hawaiʻi’s cigarette tax. He also advanced efforts to improve UH Mānoa’s financial transparency, modernize budgeting, strengthen student success initiatives and better align campus operations with institutional priorities.

As vice president for research and innovation, Syrmos led long-range strategic planning efforts that contributed to record growth in extramural funding, including a high of $734 million in fiscal year 2025, the fourth consecutive year UH exceeded $500 million in research funding. He strengthened partnerships with Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to advance strategic university priorities and expand research opportunities. Syrmos also established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making UH the only R1 university in the nation to embed Indigenous knowledge and innovation within its research enterprise.

“I am deeply honored to be recommended as the next chancellor of UH Mānoa”, said Syrmos. “Having served the university for more than three decades, I consider Hawaiʻi and this campus my home. I look forward to working with President Hensel in strengthening student success, advancing research and innovation and working closely with our faculty, students, staff and community partners as we continue to move UH Mānoa forward as Hawaiʻi’s flagship university.”

Nationwide search

Syrmos was selected from a finalist pool that also included the provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Francisco State University and the president of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The search attracted 32 applicants and nine nominations or inquiries.

The BOR voted to re-establish the UH Mānoa chancellor position in December 2025, following a recommendation from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to separate the roles of UH president and UH Mānoa chancellor. The faculty senate unanimously endorsed an immediate launch to the search in spring semester to provide stability for the campus and dedicated Manoa leadership in discussions regarding the separation of hybrid positions and offices shared between Manoa and the system.

The search included a representative advisory committee, open nominations and applications, campus visits by finalists, public forums and stakeholder meetings. All three finalists participated in two-day campus visits that included more than 20 meetings with stakeholder groups and a public presentation and Q&A session, each of which was viewed by more than 500 people. Community feedback generated more than 650 comments across all finalists, in addition to input from shared governance groups.

Chancellor responsibilities

As chancellor, Syrmos will serve as the chief executive officer of UH Mānoa, reporting to the UH president and serving on the president’s senior leadership team. He will oversee a budget exceeding $800 million and more than 5,000 employees, providing leadership across academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in partnership with the provost and executive team.

Syrmos is expected to advance UH Mānoa’s mission as Hawaiʻi’s flagship research university while strengthening connections across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and Asia and upholding the university’s responsibility to the Native Hawaiian community, language and culture.

Related UH News stories:

• UH Mānoa chancellor search committee members announced, March 11, 2026
• UH launches search to re-establish UH Mānoa chancellor position, February 25, 2026

A Waiākea High School graduate is now a physician after completing his medical training in May at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), a journey shaped by his Hawaiʻi Island roots, early classroom curiosity, and a commitment to returning home to serve.

Duke Escobar has been described by teachers and peers as approachable, trustworthy and easy to connect with.

“You wish you had a full class of Dukes,” one educator said, noting his friendliness and ability to relate to both younger and older people.

Despite his accomplishments, Escobar often returns to a phrase that reflects his perspective growing up: “just a kid from Waiākea.” The sentiment speaks to his humility as a first-generation college student raised in a close-knit Hawaiʻi Island community.

Early inspiration

His interest in medicine began at Waiākea High School, where a health academy course introduced him to medical problem-solving through activities such as diagnosing cases from the television show House. A teacher recalled his curiosity and enthusiasm in class.

Escobar went on to study cell and molecular biology at UH Hilo before completing research gap years at Stanford University and the University of Washington. He was later accepted to JABSOM after years of preparation and persistence.

At medical school, he joined the School Health Education Program, helping bring medical learning into local classrooms. He said working with students came naturally.

“Maybe it’s like the same level of maturity, but we get along quite well,” he said.

Serving his community

Escobar also discovered his interest in pediatrics, drawn to working with children and building connections through humor and trust. He matched into a pediatrics residency and will continue training in Hawaiʻi.

“I always kind of felt like I needed more of a human connection, and I felt like being a physician is where I could find that,” he said.

Escobar plans to return to Hilo to serve the community that raised him and hopes to inspire Hawaiʻi Island students to pursue careers in medicine.

Read more at JABSOM.

Co-designed with the community, the Red Hill Registry, facilitated by the University of Hawaiʻi, aims to track health outcomes to inform future research and clinical guidance on fuel exposure and provide resources for those who experienced the fuel spill. To date, the registry has pre-enrolled more than 2,600 participants. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 93,000 U.S. Navy water system users were impacted by the contaminated drinking water.

Joining the registry is a two-step process. First, is the pre-enrollment questionnaire followed by either a baseline or expanded questionnaire, depending on how, when and where you used water. Of the more than 2,600 pre-enrolled participants, only 423 have completed their baseline or expanded questionnaires. Registry staff continue to follow up with participants who have not yet completed the process.

“The Red Hill Registry is seeking community input to gain insight on how to increase its completion rates,” said Sanie Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry. “The feedback received directly informs how the registry improves its tools, communications and support efforts.”

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report in March 2026 which emphasized the importance of continued data collection via the Red Hill Registry to understand links between jet fuel exposure and health effects as well as community-driven efforts related to the Red Hill water crisis.

Whether you are an enrolled participant or experienced the water crisis and have yet to enroll, the registry invites everyone to visit the website to learn more and participate in either the community survey or a virtual focus group.

Community Survey: 15-minute survey seeking feedback on your experience with the Red Hill Registry and its support tools.

Virtual Focus Groups: 2-hour sessions available between June 8 and June 19, 2026. Times will vary to accommodate participation from around the globe.

If you have any questions about these feedback opportunities, registry staff can be reached by email at info@redhillregistry.org or by calling 808-427-8260 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. HST.

U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent visited the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on May 27, meeting with UH President Wendy Hensel and UH leaders to learn more about the university’s student success initiatives, workforce development efforts and research enterprise.

The visit also included tours of two of UH Mānoa’s world-class research facilities: the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB).

Kent was joined by Deputy Under Secretary James Bergeron, Special Assistant Cristian Clementi, Press Secretary for Higher Education Ellen Keast and Special Advisor Ethan Good.

Hensel welcomed the delegation with Debora Halbert, UH vice president for academic strategy; Chad Walton, UH interim vice president for research and innovation; Vassilis Syrmos, UH Mānoa interim provost; and Rob Wright, UH Mānoa interim vice provost for research and scholarship.

“We are trying together to make it the best environment possible for student achievement, and wherever we can partner to make that happen, we are happy to do so,” said Hensel. “Higher education, K–12, it all works together as an ecosystem, and when we collaborate and strengthen those connections, we succeed for our students. When it becomes fragmented, we lose the ability to reach their full potential.”

Showcasing innovation and student success

During the visit, university leaders provided an overview of the UH system, including student success efforts, workforce development initiatives, affordability, financial aid, enrollment trends and the university’s role as Hawaiʻi’s sole public provider of higher education. The discussion also highlighted UH’s research enterprise, which secured a record $734 million in extramural awards in fiscal year 2025, including more than $60 million from the U.S. Department of Education across 115 projects.

“We’re very excited to be here talking with President Hensel and her leadership team about the opportunities for higher education in Hawaiʻi and how they are so distinct from those on the mainland,” said Kent. “We still see some of the same challenges here in Hawaiʻi with the affordability of higher education, but the president and her leadership team are focused on how to get costs down, how to ensure outcomes translate into earnings and workforce pathways, and how to work with local communities and employers to make sure students are getting good-paying jobs.”

The delegation toured the HSFL clean room at UH Mānoa, where university researchers design and build SmallSats for science and educational missions. The tour was led by Wright and Lance Yoneshige, integration and launch specialist engineer. The clean room is primarily used for the integration, assembly and testing of satellites.

Federal officials also traveled to the HIMB on Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in Kāneʻohe Bay for a tour led by HIMB Director Megan Donahue. An organized research unit of UH Mānoa, HIMB is internationally recognized for research on coral reefs, marine ecosystems, climate resilience and ocean health.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate student Emily Heintzelman is using lessons learned as a Division I beach volleyball student–athlete to shape her future in public health.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Heintzelman is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree in the Department of Public Health Sciences while completing her final collegiate athletic season. Her volleyball career has taken her around the world, including competitions in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand and Germany.

“Being an athlete has taught me discipline, resilience, and how to work within a team,” said Heintzelman. “These skills don’t apply just to sports, but are also just as important when tackling complex public health challenges.”

Heintzelman earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science in spring 2025, with minors in public health and health and wellness. She now specializes in Health Policy and Management, focusing on health equity, access to care.

From athletics to advocacy

“As an athlete, I’ve seen firsthand how access to care, communication within healthcare systems, and advocacy can impact outcomes,” she said. “Those experiences have reinforced my interest in pursuing policy work that improves access and ensures that individuals feel heard and supported within healthcare systems.”

In fall 2025, Heintzelman was one of only two student–athletes selected to represent UH at the American Volleyball Coaches Association Collegiate Beach Pairs National Championship.

“You’re not just playing for yourself—you’re representing your teammates, your coaches and the whole university,” she said.

Heintzelman hopes to use data and policy to expand healthcare access, particularly in womenʻs health.

“Being a student–athlete has taught me that success is rarely about individual performance, it’s about teamwork, communication, and showing up consistently, even when it’s hard,” she said. “In public health, those same principles apply. You’re working with diverse groups of people, often across disciplines, to solve complex problems. The ability to listen, adapt and stay committed to a shared goal is critical.”

Heintzelman said she is grateful for the support she has received along the way.

“My teammates have become like family, along with the coaches who have believed in me, my parents and sister who have supported me at each step along my journey, and for the opportunities sport has given me,” she said. “Volleyball has shaped who I am in so many ways, and I carry those lessons with me as I move forward into a career in public health.”

Seven University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa football games will air nationally this season, highlighted by six network broadcasts split evenly between The CW and FOX Networks as well as a season-opening matchup on the ACC Network (ACCN).

The Rainbow Warriors will kick off their national television slate on the road against Stanford on August 29, at 1 p.m. HST on ACCN. It will be the third season-opening matchup between the teams in the last four years.

UH will be featured on The CW three times during the 2026 season. The home national television slate kicks off against UNLV on September 5 at 4 p.m. HST. The Rainbow Warriors will also appear on The CW for their September 26 road game at Wyoming, 9 a.m. HST, and a November 14 home contest against North Dakota State, 6 p.m. HST.

Three games have been selected by FOX Networks. UH will host New Mexico on October 17 and the Rainbow Warriors will close out their national television road slate on FOX with trips to UTEP on November 7 and Nevada on November 21. Final network designations and kick times for the three FOX Networks games will be confirmed at a later date.

The Mountain West Football Championship Game on December 4 will also be nationally televised on FOX for the seventh consecutive season.

In addition to the national broadcast slate, four UH games have been selected for broadcast on MW+—the streaming platform for teams in the Mountain West Conference. Local broadcast information regarding those games as well as details for UH‘s road game at Arizona State on October 10 will be released at a future date.

2026 National broadcast schedule

• August 29 at Stanford—1 p.m. HST (ACCN)
• September 5 vs. UNLV—4 p.m. HST (The CW)
• September 26 at Wyoming—9 a.m. HST (The CW)
• October 17 vs. New Mexico—Time TBA (FOX Networks)
• November 7 at UTEP—Time TBA (FOX Networks)
• November 14 vs. North Dakota State—6 p.m. HST (The CW)
• November 21 at Nevada—Time TBA (FOX Networks)

2026 MW+ broadcast schedule

• September 12 vs. New Mexico State—TBA
• October 3 vs. San José State—TBA
• October 24 at NIU—TBA
• November 28 vs. Sacramento State—TBA

The Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas, a captivating experience that intertwines projected animation, evocative music, storytelling and hula, will kick off Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra’s (HSO) Blockbuster Summer Festival 2026 on June 30.

In a collaboration led by the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), this free, one-hour performance features HSO performing ocean-themed original compositions by celebrated local composers Michael-Thomas Foumai, Herb Mahelona, Logyn Okuda, Justin Park and Takuma Itoh, paired with animations by Kari Noe, Janae Taclas, Dillon Valenzuela, Jewel Racasa, Sam St. John, Edward Ayano, Napua Rice, Huy Nguyen and Kieren McKee with guidance from partners, a storytelling advisory, and students from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Art Department.

The program also features a beautiful mele and hula I Ola Kanaloa, I Ola Kākou created by Rosanna “Rosie” ʻAnolani Alegado and Aimee Sato under the guidance of Kumu Hula Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani that re-roots our deep pilina (connections) with Kanaloa and kai (the ocean). Audiences will be guided through time alongside native sea life and ʻaumākua (family or personal gods), exploring the vital role humans play in protecting our cherished waters.

“Hawaiʻi Sea Grant is humbled to support the Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas as this program embodies our mission to connect people to place and the science that sustains us,” Darren T. Lerner, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant director, said. “By uniting cultural practitioners, artists, educators and researchers, we are able to extend the life of moʻolelo (stories) and ocean wisdom through music, dance and animation that speaks directly to the hearts of Hawaiʻi’s families. It is a beautiful, collective effort to ensure these stories and understanding continue to thrive for generations.”

“The Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas celebrates our deep connection to the ocean, bringing together music, storytelling, hula and animation to inspire care for Hawaiʻi’s precious waters,” said HSO President and CEO Amy Iwano. “We are proud to share this immersive, locally created experience with our community through a free public performance.”

Audiences of all ages

HSO’s Blockbuster Summer Festival 2026 is made for audiences of all ages who love to experience something special together. For only the second time, the Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas will be available to the public to enjoy as a free ʻohana concert. RSVP is required through the HSO box office online.

One hour prior to the concert, nearly a dozen organizations that focus on Hawaiʻi’s marine and coastal environment will be available in the lobby to share educational information with the concert attendees. Immediately following the concert, there will be a 30-minute talk story session with key contributors Kalilinoe Detwiler, Itoh and Alegado facilitated by Foumai and Beth Lenz.

The Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas brings together the University of Hawaiʻi, local experts and organizations, as well as federal, state and county agencies to weave culture, science and the arts into an inspiring shared experience. By uniting diverse partners under a common vision, the performance highlights the importance of collective stewardship and showcases how music and storytelling can inspire communities to care for Hawaiʻi’s unique marine environments.

The program is a collaborative effort funded by the UH Mānoa Strategic Investment Initiative awarded to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, initiated by Lerner and led by Lenz with coordinators Itoh (UH Music Department), Detwiler (UH Mānoa English Department), Anne Rosa (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), Melissa Price (UH Mānoa Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management) and Kanesa Duncan Seraphin (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant).

Details:

• Date: Tuesday, June 30
• Doors open at 5 p.m., concert starts at 6 p.m.
• Location: Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall (777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96814)
• Admission: For more information and tickets online.

Conducted by Foumai and narrated by Kanaka singer, actor and voiceover artist Barrie Kealoha.

–By Cindy Knapman

Five members of the University of Hawaiʻi softball team earned recognition for excellence both on the field and in the classroom, earning 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.

Junior shortstop Milan Ah Yat, sophomore pitcher Taryn Irimata, junior infielder Jamie McGaughey, senior infielder Carys Murakami and senior pitcher Hannah Pitts were all recognized for combining strong academic achievement with standout athletic performances during the 2026 season. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average while also meeting competition requirements.

The group helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to a successful season that included multiple all-conference and regional honors. Irimata was named Big West Pitcher of the Year after posting one of the league’s top pitching performances, while McGaughey paced the team offensively and earned all-region recognition. Ah Yat, Murakami and Pitts also played key leadership roles throughout the season.

Beyond athletics and academics, the student-athletes were also active in community service efforts across Hawaiʻi and their hometowns. Their volunteer work included food distribution, environmental cleanups, youth sports coaching and support for local families and kūpuna.

McGaughey was also selected as a CSC Academic All-America finalist, advancing to the national ballot.

Read more at the UH Mānoa Athletics website.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo College of Business and Economics (CoBE) honored emeritus faculty member Benjamin Zenk at CoBE Business Night 2026 with the inaugural Marcia Sakai Excellence in Service Award. With more than three decades at UH Hilo, Sakai helped shape CoBE into a leading business school.

“We hold a distinction that places us in the top 6% of business schools globally,” said Todd Inouye, director at CoBE.

The standing comes through accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, considered the highest standard for business schools worldwide. Sakai led the effort to secure the accreditation in 2005, helping elevate CoBE onto the global stage. She served as the college’s first dean when CoBE was formally established in 2004 and later became interim chancellor of UH Hilo in 2017.

Future business leaders

What makes Business Night unique is that CoBE students don’t just attend—they lead. Seniors in the Strategy Capstone course spend the semester managing vendors, negotiating budgets and running the show.

Student organizer Hayate Moro, a finance major, saw the impact firsthand.

“Networking events like these help to slowly dissipate the invisible wall between classroom lectures and the real business world,” Moro said. “Sometimes a single conversation can open the door to a lifelong mentor or a career-changing internship.”

The event also highlights top-tier academic achievement through the Beta Gamma Sigma inductions, recognizing the top 10% of business students at UH Hilo.

For more go to Kūkala Nūhou.

The University of Hawaiʻi has launched the Next Step Scholarship to encourage UH Community College students who earned an associate degree during the 2025–26 academic year—or completed enough credits in an eligible pathway or major—to continue their education at one of the university’s four-year campuses. Eligible students from one of UH’s seven community colleges are already automatically accepted to a UH four-year school through a streamlined process that waives the application fee and eliminates the need to submit a new application.

Now, through the Next Step Scholarship, students enrolled full time (12 or more credits) during the fall 2026 semester at UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, UH Maui College or UH West Oʻahu will receive a $2,000 scholarship, while part-time students enrolled in 6 to 11 credits will receive $1,000.

“Transitioning to a four-year university is a significant milestone, and we are committed to making that next step as seamless and affordable as possible,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “These students have already demonstrated their commitment and academic readiness through their success at our community colleges. The Next Step Scholarship helps ensure finances do not stand in the way of completing their degrees and achieving their goals.”

Encouragement to continue education

All UH associate degree graduates who qualified for automatic admission were emailed information about the new scholarship on May 15. The scholarship has been automatically awarded to 438 students who had already begun the transfer process, while another 1,156 students are eligible.

“For students who were automatically admitted but have not yet committed to a UH four-year campus, we hope this scholarship provides an added incentive to continue their education,” said Hensel. “This scholarship is one example of the new strategies we are testing to expand access, increase enrollment, strengthen educational attainment and help build the workforce our state needs. It is good for our students and good for Hawaiʻi.”

All students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if they have not already done so. While FAFSA is not required to receive the Next Step Scholarship, it can unlock additional federal, state and institutional financial aid that may be combined with the scholarship.

Students with questions about their automatic admission or the enrollment process are encouraged to contact the admissions office at their chosen UH four-year campus.

• UH Hilo
• UH Mānoa
• UH Maui College
• UH West Oʻahu