University of Hawaʻi at Mānoa student-athletes achieved their highest cumulative grade point average on record during the 2025–26 academic year, according to a report presented October 1 to the UH Board of Regents (BOR) Academic and Student Success Committee.

UH Mānoa student-athletes finished the spring 2026 semester with a 3.33 cumulative GPA, the highest in the program’s recorded history.

“We want to make sure that we are focused on their academic performance, their health and safety, they have the right nutrition, they’re able to travel and get the resources they need to be successful,” UH Mānoa Athletics Director Matt Elliott told the BOR.

The student-athletes also posted a 3.31 semester GPA in spring 2026 and a 3.32 semester GPA (highest semester GPA) in fall 2025.

Record-breaking GPAs, degrees

During the 2025–26 academic year, 174 student-athletes earned degrees, including 29 in fall, 121 in spring and 24 during the summer. A total of 132 student-athletes recorded a perfect 4.0 semester GPA, while 25 finished spring with a 4.0 cumulative GPA.

All 21 UH Mānoa teams posted GPAs above 2.99 in spring 2026. Eighteen teams had GPAs above 3.20, and 11 posted GPAs above 3.50.

Student-athletes also earned 57 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors and 172 Academic All-Conference Team and Commissioner’s Honor Roll selections. Football placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa was named a CSC Academic All-American after posting a 3.68 GPA.

UH Mānoa also reported an NCAA Student-Athlete Graduation Success Rate of 87% for the latest four-class average, representing an increase for the third consecutive year. The federal graduation rate was 61% for the latest four-class average.

The 2024–25 single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) was 963, with five teams earning perfect scores of 1,000: men’s basketball, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball. The four-year APR was 977, with men’s tennis and women’s volleyball earning perfect multi-year scores.

UH Mānoa also provided Alston Academic Awards to 87 student-athletes during 2025–26, including 63 in fall and 24 in spring. The athletics department hosted academic recognition events and commencement celebrations throughout the year to recognize student-athletes for academic achievement, leadership and community service. Elliott commends Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services Garrett Clanin and his team for supporting the student-athletes and helping them achieve academic success.

“Our goal is to not just bring a student in to play here for one game or one season, but to make sure that they stay, and that we give them every possibility to earn a degree from this place, this wonderful institution, and to be alumni for the long term,” Elliott said.

For University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business alumna Brandy Shimabukuro, even the best-planned day can change in a minute. She may begin her morning focused on social media strategy, media relations or executive communications, only to shift gears when a cruelty case, emergency response or sudden influx of animals takes precedence. In those moments, her work becomes more than messaging. It becomes a way to build trust, inspire action and help animals across Oʻahu find care, safety and, ideally, a loving home.

As director of communications and marketing at the Hawaiian Humane Society, Shimabukuro leads work across social media, graphic design, website management, media relations, crisis response and strategic campaigns for pets who are harder to place. The role blends storytelling, strategy and care in service of animals and the community.

One of her most impactful campaigns was the opening of the Kosasa Family Campus at Hoʻopili, a five-acre property with a 27,000-square-foot shelter dedicated to the behavioral, medical and socialization needs of thousands of animals each year.

Bringing ‘work’ home

Shimabukuro says one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is the part she often takes home: fostering. Through the organization’s Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, she volunteers with neonatal kittens that require around-the-clock care. Her community engagement team has also fostered nearly 40 dogs and cats in the office, giving pets who struggle in the shelter environment a calmer place to decompress. For Shimabukuro, watching those animals grow, heal and come out of their shells is when she feels closest to the organization’s mission.

One of the most difficult aspects of her job is communicating the complexity of animal welfare with honesty and empathy. Shimabukuro’s approach is grounded in listening, transparency and trust, especially when issues are emotional or difficult to explain.

“The most meaningful measure of success, for me, is whether the work we do changes what’s possible for the animals in our care and the community we serve,” Shimabukuro said.

Looking back, Shimabukuro credits Shidler College not only for the business foundation that shaped her career, but also for the relationships and leadership experiences that stayed with her long after graduation. Her advice to students is simple: show up, get involved, take ownership and stay connected.

For the entire story and more stories like this, see the spring/summer 2026 edition of Shidler Business.

University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center researchers have launched a $3 million, five-year study to uncover why early-stage breast cancer becomes invasive in some patients—with a special focus on Hawaiʻi’s diverse communities.

Led by Lenora Loo, a researcher in the Cancer Biology Program, and Brenda Hernandez, a researcher in Cancer Epidemiology and Principal Investigator for the Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry, the project will examine ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Accounting for 20% of new U.S. breast cancer diagnoses, DCIS can progress to invasive cancer, but a subset of cases never does. This unpredictability makes it challenging for clinicians to determine who needs aggressive treatment versus less intensive care. To address this, the team will evaluate lifestyle, health, social factors, and tumor biology, comparing DCIS and invasive tumors from the same patients.

By identifying the biological mechanisms behind progression, researchers hope to improve risk identification and enable tailored treatment plans so patients receive care appropriate to their specific risk level.

Focus on diverse patient populations

In Hawaiʻi, breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women and the second leading cause of female cancer deaths, averaging 172 deaths and thousands of invasive diagnoses annually.

Prior research by Loo and Hernandez using data from the UH Cancer Center’s Multiethnic Cohort Study revealed that Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and Japanese DCIS patients face a higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the same breast compared to White patients.

Although most people will never visit the deep sea, humanity is deeply intertwined with its health and stability. To spark curiosity and appreciation for this ecosystem, the Waikīkī Aquarium hosted Deep-Sea Day in September. More than 700 people attended the event, learning more about the least-explored ecosystem on the planet and the researchers who study it.

Throughout the event, families and ocean enthusiasts engaged with interactive displays and activities shared by scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), educators and conservation organizations.

“We hope visitors to the Waikīkī Aquarium Deep-Sea Day learned why the deep ocean is relevant to them, and had an opportunity to experience deep-sea research and exploration through interactive programming and seeing real specimens and technology,” said Aaron Judah, graduate student in the SOEST Department of Oceanography who organized the event with the Aquarium staff.

Sacred place of wonder, discovery

From SOEST, the Deep-Sea Fish Ecology Lab shared deep-sea fish specimens; the Deep-Sea Animal Research Center displayed deep-sea exploration imagery from baited cameras, remotely operated vehicles, and submersibles; the Girard Lab showed videos of deep-sea seafloor and coral ecology; and researchers from the Hawaiʻi Ocean Time-series program showcased open ocean oceanography and microorganisms along with ocean monitoring technology. Partner organizations such as National Geographic Pristine Seas talked with visitors about their deep-sea exploration and conservation work across the Pacific and Surfrider shared deep-sea education.

The overarching goal of the event was to inspire the next generation of marine scientists and foster a sense of awe and stewardship for the ecosystem and marine life of the deep sea. The aquarium organizers and UH Mānoa participants are planning to bring the day back to the community next year.

“Additionally, efforts are underway to expand deep-sea public outreach,” said Judy Lemus, interim director of the Waikīkī Aquarium. “We are currently developing immersive experiences in the aquarium’s theater space to offer visitors a feel for exploring the ocean depths firsthand.”

For more, see SOEST’s website.

Two University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate students received the 2025–26 Ping Yip and Jong Hung Chan Award, recognizing their commitment to community, integrity and creating greater harmony through their work and actions.

The award, coordinated by the UH Mānoa Graduate Division, recognizes graduate students who exemplify moral character, strength and integrity through personal or public behavior. With a strong pool of applicants, two recipients were selected: Alondra Reyes and Ernest Bethe IV. Each received a $2,500 award.

Social contexts, racial disparities

Reyes, a psychology PhD student, was selected during her first semester at UH Mānoa. Her research examines how social contexts contribute to racial disparities, including the ways media portrayals can reinforce social inequalities. She also works with community leaders through Mālama I Nā Ahupuaʻa, learning about traditional land preservation and restoration.

“Receiving this award has strengthened my mission as a first-generation PhD student to bridge research with community action, providing the support I need to continue grounding my work in the pursuit of true harmony for the people of Hawaʻi and beyond,” Reyes said.

Urban environments, reconnecting people with nature

Bethe graduated from the master of urban and regional planning program in August. His work focused on creating urban environments that reconnect people with nature and each other, including through pollinator-friendly design, informal green spaces and food forests. His capstone explored how Honolulu could become a more multispecies city, where people have more opportunities to encounter and coexist with urban wildlife.

He also worked with the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice to help develop safe walking routes to school in Waipahu. Bethe said the award reminded him that people often discover their capacity to act when others need help.

“I think everyone has this in them. We beat ourselves up for the things we don’t do, but I’d bet most of us do the right thing in a crisis,” Bethe said.

Bethe will embark on a 10-month research initiative in Ecuador through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

The Ping Yip and Jong Hung Chan Award is open to any currently enrolled, full-time graduate student at UH Mānoa, regardless of field of study. Students may self-nominate through the STAR Scholarship portal. The deadline to apply for the 2026–27 award is October 15.

The Department of Psychology and Department of Urban and Regional Planning are housed in UH Mānoa’s College of Social Sciences.

The University of Hawaiʻi and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) have agreed to collaborate on research and education focused on strengthening energy systems, critical infrastructure and national security.

UH President Wendy F. Hensel and UMass President Marty Meehan signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on October 1, at Bachman Hall on the UH Mānoa campus, establishing a framework for the two university systems to pursue joint research, student and faculty exchanges, training programs and other initiatives.

The agreement includes potential collaboration in areas such as cyber-physical systems, microgrids (localized energy systems), advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, maritime technologies and sensing. It also calls for exploring research and workforce development opportunities aligned with U.S. Department of Defense priorities.

“The University of Hawaiʻi has a responsibility to use our expertise and our unique position in Hawaiʻi to help address challenges that matter both here at home and across the nation,” Hensel said. “As an island state with critical energy, maritime and infrastructure needs, Hawaiʻi is an important place to develop and test solutions that can strengthen resilience. This partnership with UMass creates new opportunities for our faculty and students to work together on research that can have a meaningful impact in Hawaiʻi and beyond.”

Meehan said the agreement creates opportunities for researchers, faculty and students from both institutions to work together on challenges that affect communities across the country.

“The University of Massachusetts and the University of Hawaiʻi share a commitment to research and education that addresses real-world challenges,” Meehan said. “By bringing our expertise together in areas such as resilient energy systems, advanced sensing and maritime infrastructure, we can create new opportunities for collaboration and prepare students for the workforce of the future.”

An initial focus of the partnership will be energy resilience and critical infrastructure protection. The agreement serves as a framework rather than a commitment to specific projects. Individual research initiatives would be developed through separate agreements. The partnership also recognizes the shared importance of resilient infrastructure in Hawaiʻi and Massachusetts, two states with extensive coastal and maritime environments.

“The University of Massachusetts is a great research institution. The University of Hawaiʻi is a great public university and research institution. Not everybody knows that,” said UH Regent Neil Abercrombie, who met Meehan when both were in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Not everybody realizes how important that is to the state of Hawaiʻi and to the state of Massachusetts. So we got together and said this would be perfect.”

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

30 years

Matsuda, Jon M
Assistant Specialist, UH Mānoa

Pagaduan, Lisa M
Child Care Center Teacher, Honolulu CC

Tagudin, Teresita C
Janitor, Kauaʻi CC

More anniversaries
September 2026
August 2026
July 2026
More anniversary lists

20 years

Gray, Kim Y T
Administrative Assistant, UH Maui College

Iwaki, Keri-Ann K
Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist, UH Mānoa

Koki, Alyson M K
Janitor Supervisor, Honolulu CC

Mallchok, Malia M
IT Specialist, UH Mānoa

Matsumoto, Michelle Y
Human Resources Specialist, Windward CC

Sawa, Stacey K
IT Specialist, UH West Oʻahu

Sumida, Comfort
Associate Specialist, UH Hilo

Tarleton, Veronica M
Administrative Assistant, UH Hilo

Tateishi, Kyle K
Athletics Equipment Manager, UH Mānoa

Young, Lauren M T
Project Manager, UH Mānoa

10 years

Ako Jr, Clarence
Auxiliary and Facilities Services Officer, UH Mānoa

Banquil, Donnielson E
Administrative Officer, UH Mānoa

Furutani, Troy M
Junior Specialist, UH Mānoa

Hill, Brian E
Project Manager, UH Hilo

Hintzen, Katy D
Associate Extension Agent, UH Mānoa

Ing, Amanda G M
Research Associate, UH Mānoa

Kasoga, Tiffany N
Administrative Assistant, Leeward CC

Lau, Melinda M
Instructor, UH Mānoa

Lee, Ellenaine J
Administrative Officer, UH Mānoa

Luis, Donovan K
Carpenter, UH Mānoa

Maeno, Kelli A
Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist, UH West Oʻahu

Moriarty, Sarah S P
University Academic Affairs Program Officer, UH Mānoa

Rufo, Gayle R
Legal Assistant, UH System

Stenstrom, Jessica M
Academic Advisor, UH Mānoa

Stibbard, Mitchell K
Plumber, UH Mānoa

Tomisa Jr, Richard R
Auxiliary and Facilities Services Officer, UH Mānoa

Zane, Kimberly R
Building Maintenance Helper, UH Mānoa

How do everyday plastics and ‘forever chemicals’ shape a child’s earliest months of life? A new University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study is set to find out by following 300 local families.

Funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, the Hawaiʻi-based study tracks families from the first trimester through the baby’s first year.

PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often called “forever chemicals,” are widely used in consumer products. Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. Both can enter the body through food, water, air and everyday products and have been detected in human tissues.

The five-year study is co-led by Shiwen “Sherlock” Li, assistant professor and Chin Sik and Hyun Sook Chung Endowed Chair in the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health’s Department of Public Health Sciences, and Cassandra L. Hendrix, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology.

“Pregnancy and infancy are critical windows of development, when the brain and other parts of the body are rapidly forming and may be especially vulnerable to environmental exposures,” said Li. “By studying PFAS and microplastics during this early period of life, we hope to understand whether these exposures can influence a child’s brain development and generate knowledge that can help give every child a healthier start in life.”

Hawaiʻi-focused study

Hawaiʻi provides an important setting for the research because ocean currents concentrate microplastics on island shores and in marine life, while previous research estimated Hawaiʻi’s per-capita seafood consumption at about 1.8 times the U.S. average.

Researchers will measure exposure through maternal blood, examine fetal brain development through ultrasound and collect cord blood and placenta samples. Infants will be assessed at 2, 6 and 12 months for neurological function, motor development, language skills and cognition.

“By doing assessments early and often, we can see when these chemicals first impact babies’ brain development,” said Hendrix. “Knowing when and how babies are affected can inform policies and interventions that will support families across the Hawaiian Islands.”

The multidisciplinary UH Mānoa team includes researchers from the Department of Public Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health and Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology and the UH Cancer Center.

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from UH Mānoa’s Christine Lamborn Fernandez, operations coordinator at Kennedy Theatre.

She shared: “Dancers in the upcoming Department of Theatre and Dance production EPIC—featuring choreographies of Professor Pei-Ling Kao in collaboration with Taiwanese choreographer Sunny Nai-Hsuan Yang, artistic director of Les Petites Choses Production. Epic represents an exploration towards inclusivity in dance. The work embraces the diversity of dance genres and human bodies, celebrating movement as a shared human language created by—and belonging to—everyone. Performances happening in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre from Wednesday, September 30, through Sunday, October 4, 2026.”

More information on EPIC, and tickets.
Check out Kennedy Theatre’s full upcoming season.

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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 at Mānoa men’s and women’s basketball teams have announced their 2026–27 schedules as both programs prepare for their first seasons in the Mountain West Conference. The men’s schedule includes eight nationally televised games, while the women’s schedule features 15 home dates and 10 opponents that competed in postseason tournaments last season.

Women’s basketball

The Rainbow Wahine will play 30 regular-season games, including 15 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, in head coach Khalilah Mitchell’s first season leading the program. UH Mānoa begins the regular season on the road November 2 at Oregon, while the home schedule opens November 13 against Saint Mary’s in the Bank of Hawaiʻi Classic.

The Rainbow Wahine will also host the American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown over Thanksgiving weekend, featuring San Diego State, Columbia and Stanford. Other notable nonconference opponents include Gonzaga and California.

UH Mānoa opens Mountain West play December 30 at home against Nevada. The Rainbow Wahine are coming off a 22-11 season and an appearance in the Big West Championship final.

Men’s basketball

The Rainbow Warriors will play an 11-game nonconference schedule, with nine games at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. UH Mānoa opens November 2 against Seattle and will host the 60th annual OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic November 6, 8 and 9. Other home opponents include former Big West Conference foe UC Irvine, Incarnate Word, Southeastern Louisiana and Alabama State.

In Mountain West play, UH Mānoa will have eight nationally televised games, with four on FS1 and four on The CW. The national broadcasts include road games at Nevada, Grand Canyon, UNLV, Wyoming and New Mexico, as well as home games against New Mexico, Nevada and Grand Canyon.

The Rainbow Warriors open conference play January 2 and are coming off a 24-win season and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Guards Tanner Cuff and Isaiah Kerr return, while the team has 13 newcomers.

The Mountain West Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 7–10 in Las Vegas.

See the entire women’s and men’s basketball schedules on the UH Mānoa Athletics website.

As a testament to its deep roots across the islands, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) has been honored with the Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Engagement from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). This national recognition spotlights JABSOM’s dedication to Hawaiʻi—from rapid disaster response and compassionate care for individuals experiencing homelessness to vital neighbor island outreach and empowering local student programs.

“We are so connected to this community,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “It starts with our medical students, 90% of whom come from this state, and they have a sense of service to this place that raised them and that flows through everything we do at JABSOM.”

JABSOM continues to actively recruit more students from public high schools and neighbor islands to build a diverse physician workforce capable of serving the entire state’s population.

Small school, national recognition

JABSOM Office of Medical Education Director Jill Omori noted the award recognizes the collective work across the medical school.

Since 1965, JABSOM has trained more than 3,000 physicians

“We’re all the way out here, we’re a very small school and sometimes it’s hard to compete with the big fish in the ocean,” she said. It’s nice to know that [we] can be recognized for something like this–it really does show our commitment to the community, and hopefully future students or even future faculty will want that kind of environment for themselves and think about coming to JABSOM,” she said.

Since 1965, JABSOM has trained more than 3,000 physicians, with about half of Hawaiʻi’s practicing physicians having graduated from JABSOM or serving on its faculty.

“We do important work at JABSOM,” said Shomaker. “Not only training the next generation of physicians, but the research, the community outreach that we do, we are woven into the fabric of this community that no other medical school that I’m aware of, is woven into the community it serves.”

Read more at JABSOM.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has saved $6 million in Hawaiian Electric (HECO) utility costs, while a UH system-wide solar maintenance initiative is delivering $1 million per year in future energy savings across all 10 campuses. Detailed in the university’s Fiscal Year 2025 Energy Report, these milestones reflect ongoing efficiency retrofits, campus infrastructure upgrades, and an effort to restore solar power production across the campuses. These savings are an important part of the university’s effort to move toward its “net zero” goal by 2035 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This progress is a credit to the teams across our university who are finding creative, cost-effective ways to advance our net-zero goals,” said Jan Gouveia, UH vice president for administration. “By reducing energy use, restoring renewable energy systems and maximizing our existing resources, we are generating significant savings while reducing our environmental impact and creating a more sustainable university.”

Modernizing infrastructure, slashing demand

At UH Mānoa, the campus has steadily decreased its reliance on the HECO electricity supply. While increased on-site renewable power has contributed, the primary driver of the $6 million in savings comes from ongoing energy efficiency improvements and advanced controls for lighting and building air conditioning systems.

“As we repair and replace aging infrastructure, we enhance operations, improve campus experience, and reduce waste,” said UH Director of Sustainability Miles Topping. “A big mahalo to our dedicated facilities management teams, campus chancellors and vice chancellors, and procurement officers across the UH System who made these accomplishments possible.”

Campus improvements are visible across UH Mānoa, notably through comprehensive light-emitting diode (LED) lighting replacements for street lights and parking lots. Additionally, sustainability principles are woven into new construction and major facility overhauls through award-winning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building standards. Notable projects include the Isabella Aiona Abbott Life Sciences Building, Bachman Hall, Sinclair and the Snyder replacement building.

UH Mānoa has successfully reduced its peak utility demand by more than 16% compared to 2016 levels. Peak demand management is critical because it reduces the instantaneous electrical load the campus draws from HECO. By easing strain on the local electrical grid during high-use periods, UH Mānoa helps HECO accommodate additional capacity for other renewable energy customers across Oʻahu.

$1M annual savings

In addition, UH’s System-wide Photovoltaic (PV) Maintenance Program is generating more than $1 million in annual future energy savings. Over previous years, PV systems installed across UH‘s 10 campuses were unmaintained, leading many to underproduce energy.

By repairing these assets, the program has brought megawatts of solar capacity back online, producing renewable energy directly on UH campuses.

“PV systems, like any other building system, require annual maintenance to ensure it operates at 100%. This PV maintenance program has demonstrated this success and all campuses are extremely happy with the results,” Topping said.

Genetic markers in the blood that can signal lung cancer risk up to 10 years before a person is diagnosed were discovered by University of Hawaiʻi researchers. The set of 31 tiny markers, called small non-coding RNAs, could eventually help identify people at higher risk while cancer remains clinically undetected.

The study, published in Advance Science, was led by Youping Deng, PhD candidate Zhuokun Feng, and Masaki Nasu from the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences at the UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine. Deng also co-directs genomics research at the UH Cancer Center. UH Cancer Center researcher Loïc Le Marchand, lead investigator for the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study, served as co-author.

“A central question in this study was whether a molecular signal (measurable biological change) of future lung cancer could already be present in blood many years before diagnosis,” Feng said.

Detecting risk years before diagnosis

Using stored blood samples collected before participants were diagnosed, researchers identified 31 specific RNA molecules associated with future lung cancer risk.

A computer model using these markers achieved 95% overall accuracy in testing.

A computer model using these markers achieved 95% overall accuracy in testing. The RNA-based risk score remained strongly associated with future lung cancer even after researchers accounted for age, sex, ethnicity and smoking history. Notably, the association was still detectable five to 10 years before clinical diagnosis.

The findings point to the potential for a future blood-based approach to long-term lung cancer risk assessment. The research team is pursuing patent protection for the biomarker panel and its potential clinical application.

The National Institutes of Health supported the research through several grants, including funding connected to the UH Pacific Center for Genome Research. Established with a $10.9 million NIH grant in 2023, the center advances genomics research in diverse populations.

Read more at JABSOM.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ranked No. 65 among the best universities in the nation and No. 299 in the world, according to the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, an independent global assessment of universities, released on September 30 BST (September 29 HST). The recognition highlights UH Mānoa’s strength in teaching reputation, research quality and other key measures of excellence.

This recognition places UH’s flagship campus in the top 2.5% in the U.S. out of approximately 2,630 4-year institutions nationwide and in the top 1.2% in the world out of more than 25,000 higher education institutions around the globe.

“UH Mānoa’s continued recognition as being one of the world’s leading universities reflects upon the extraordinary work happening across campus by our students, faculty, and staff to address the challenges that matter to Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, and beyond,” UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “This latest ranking by Times Higher Education is a true testament to the strength of our research and academic programs, and of our renewed commitment to making UH Mānoa a place where access meets excellence.”

Times Higher Education, which produces these rankings annually, is one of the leading international university rankings organizations. To qualify for these rankings, Times Higher Education first determined the top 168 U.S. universities and top 2,297 universities worldwide.

Rankings criteria

Times Higher Education evaluated 18 indicators in its rankings:

• Research quality: 30% (citation impact: 15%, research strength: 5%, research excellence: 5% and research influence: 5%)
• Teaching (the learning environment): 29.5% (teaching reputation: 15%, doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 5.5%, staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%, institutional income: 2.5% and doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2%)
• Research environment: 29% (research reputation: 18%, research income: 5.5% and research productivity: 5.5%)
• International outlook: 7.5% (proportion of international students: 2.5%, proportion of international staff: 2.5% and international collaboration: 2.5%)
• Industry: 4% (industry income: 2% and patents: 2%)

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities, August 21, 2026
• 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

Rescue dogs are lending a paw to help University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo pharmacy students manage the stress of finals.

UH Hilo pharmacy student and student senator Anna Alfred launched “Pause for Paws,” where students can take a break from studying and spend time with rescue dogs. The first event drew 41 students during finals week last May, with another planned for this fall.

“As pharmacy students, finals week can be incredibly stressful and emotionally draining, so I wanted to create an opportunity for students to take a short break, decompress, and connect with something positive during such a demanding time,” Alfred said.

Three rescue dogs—Oreo, Phoebe and Cora—visited the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy through Action 4 Animals Hawaiʻi, a nonprofit co-founded by UH Hilo anthropology professor Lynn Morrison.

Students spent time petting the dogs, taking photos and relaxing together outside the classroom.

“Many students shared that spending even a few minutes with the dogs helped ease stress and improve their mood during finals week,” Alfred said.

Alfred hopes to bring the dogs back for December finals and continue other efforts that support student wellbeing and build community.

Read more on UH Hilo Stories about the pups helping pharmacy students de-stress.

Hundreds gathered on the Great Lawn at Windward Community College for the second annual Paniolo BBQ on September 19, bringing together students, employees, families and community members for horseback rides, hula, Hawaiian music, local vendors and paniolo-inspired activities—all while raising more than $13,000 to support Windward CC students.

“Today Windward CC welcomed our Koʻolau community onto campus, having fun and celebrating our people, families and history,” Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg said.

Activities filled the Great Lawn, while the Country Market featured handmade goods from the campus māla (garden). Local vendors and community organizations offered palaka products, native plants, lei making and custom cowboy hats.

‘Magic in the air’

The horseback rides were a highlight for Lee-Anne Decosta, who grew up in Kahaluʻu.

“I loved seeing all the kids on the horse rides and the smiles on their faces,” Decosta said. “It brought back a lot of memories for me. Seeing the kids getting to have that experience was really special.”

Amy Luke, chief of staff to University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel, joined the celebration.

“It was awesome to spend time with our Windward community ʻohana,” Luke said. “Events like these let you feel the magic in the air.”

Music and more

Live music featured Hālau Nā Pualei o Likolehua, Hālau Hula o Kukunaokalā, Hawaiʻi Loa with Greg Sardinha, the Blue Grass Shack Band, and Windward CC Professor Kamuela Kimokeo with his family.

“Hawaiian music has given me so much throughout my life, so being able to share that music with my children and watch them grow as musicians and performers means a lot to me,” Kimokeo said.

Windward CC economics Professor Deacon Hanson also performed with the Blue Grass Shack Band.

“The Paniolo BBQ is a wonderful community event that shares the history of Hawaiʻi,” state Rep. Scot Matayoshi said. “Windward Community College continues to play a central role in keeping the memories of our community alive.”

Proceeds benefit the Windward Community College Advancement Fund.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance announced its 63rd production season at Kennedy Theatre. This season celebrates creativity, culture and community by featuring world premieres, classics reimagined through local perspectives, international collaborations and original choreography.

Mainstage Series

• The Wizard of Oz (October 23–31)
  A colorful reimagining of the beloved classic in a world built from creativity, transformation and upcycled imagination.
• Little Shop of Horrors (March 4–14, 2027)
  The cult-classic musical takes root in early 1960s Honolulu in this fresh local reimagining.

Primetime Series (in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre)

• Epic (September 30–October 4)
  An international collaboration explores inclusivity, embodiment and dance as a universal language.
• The Storyteller (November 18–22)
  A moving new work by Sheila Miles (Master of Fine Arts or MFA Candidate) exploring family, grief, resilience and the enduring power of moʻōlelo (stories).
• MFA | BFA Dance Concert (February 3–77, 2027)
  Original choreography by the next generation of dance artists from UH Mānoa
• Hey, Black Child! (April 14–18, 2027)
  A joyful story of friendship, belonging, self-discovery and finding one’s voice on Oʻahu.

Late Night Theatre Company (in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre)

• el momento en que me desperté (December 3, 5 & 6, 2026)
  A devised Butoh Dance drama piece facilitated and choreographed by Santiago Rivera Rodas.
• Late Night Raqs (April 23–25, 2027)
  A belly dance showcase facilitated by Samantha Giridhar.

To learn more about the upcoming season, visit Kennedy Theatre.

The University of Hawaiʻi is making a $123-million strategic investment across its 10 campuses, funding more than 100 initiatives of the UH Strategic Plan aimed at improving student success, meeting Hawaiʻi‘s workforce needs, advancing research and innovation, fulfilling UH‘s kuleana (responsibility) to Native Hawaiians and modernizing university operations.

The investments will be made over the next two to three years and represent a new approach to how UH puts its financial resources to work. President Wendy Hensel and UH Vice President for Budget and Finance and Chief Financial Officer Luis Salaveria, working with campus and system leadership, evaluated needs across the entire 10-campus system and prioritized investments that can have the greatest impact for students and Hawaiʻi, rather than relying primarily on the traditional campus-by-campus approach.

“We have spent considerable time identifying our priorities and determining where the University of Hawaiʻi can have the greatest impact. Now we are putting the resources behind those priorities and moving from planning to execution,” Hensel said. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting difference for our students, strengthen our campuses and help address some of Hawaiʻi‘s most pressing needs.”

Hensel and Salaveria presented the strategic investment initiative and explained UH’s new budget process during a hybrid public forum on Monday, September 28. Just under 400 people attended the forum in person or tuned in to the livestream.

A disciplined, systemwide approach

UH evaluated 425 requests totaling more than $635 million before approving $123 million in one-time strategic investments. The proposals were developed by campuses, vice presidential offices and advisory groups, and each group had the opportunity to meet with the President and CFO to advocate for their initiatives. Priority was given to those proposals most closely aligned with UH strategic priorities and capable of producing long-term benefits.

“This was a very selective process,” said Salaveria. “We wanted to make strategic investments that would move the university forward and help hedge against financial challenges we know are coming. The goal is to put these resources to work with a clear purpose.”

About 75% of the investment will support initiatives that benefit all 10 campuses, with a focus on student success, workforce development, and modern technology and artificial intelligence. About 25% is directed to individual campus priorities.

Five areas of strategic impact

The $123 million investment advances five university strategic priorities:

• Develop successful students—approximately $79 million
• Enhance and modernize university operations—approximately $60 million
• Meet Hawaiʻi‘s workforce needs—approximately $21 million
• Innovation and research—approximately $15 million
• Fulfill UH‘s kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi—approximately $10 million

Because many projects advance more than one strategic priority, the five investment categories overlap and represent approximately $185 million in combined impact from the $123 million investment.

Investing in student success

The largest area of strategic impact is approximately $79 million connected to student success, with a focus on recruiting and retaining students, improving transfer among UH campuses, removing barriers to completing degrees and addressing basic needs.

The investments support UH‘s Common Standard of Care, an effort to establish a consistent baseline of proactive student support across all 10 campuses so that where a student attends does not determine the level of support they receive.

Among the investments are $2.9 million to expand the Hawaiʻi College and Career Navigator Program, $1 million for a systemwide transcript evaluation platform to streamline the transfer of credits, $230,000 to advance academic advising and $300,000 for Mālama Kauhale, which allows students to earn food vouchers through campus service.

“Every student is our student,” Hensel said. “Whether someone attends one of our community colleges or a four-year campus, they should have access to the fundamental support, technology and opportunities they need to succeed. By working as one system, we can remove barriers that no campus should have to solve alone.”

The investments are also part of a coordinated enrollment strategy as UH prepares for a projected decline in the number of Hawaiʻi high school graduates in the coming years.

Meeting Hawaiʻi‘s workforce needs

Approximately $21 million in strategic impact is aligned with Hawaiʻi‘s current and future workforce needs, particularly in fields where the state faces critical shortages, and UH has opportunities to expand successful programs.

The goal is a more coordinated systemwide approach to workforce development, including a single “front door” for employers and industry partners and greater use of real-time labor market information to align academic programs with workforce needs.

Investments include $500,000 for the SteppingBlocks AI Platform (connecting higher education and workforce outcomes), $150,000 for a unified employer intake system, $1.37 million to expand diagnostic medical sonography (sound wave imagery) at Kapiʻolani Community College and $500,000 to expand teacher education pathways across the 10-campus system.

“Our intent is to fuel responsive workforce development across the 10-campus system,” Hensel said.

Modernizing the university

Approximately $60 million in strategic impact is connected to improving and modernizing UH operations, including major investments in technology, cybersecurity and administrative systems.

Projects include approximately $4.9 million in systemwide wireless upgrades, more than $6.7 million for firewalls and cybersecurity audits, $6 million to modernize UH‘s human resources data system, $5 million for a new systemwide budget management platform and $2 million to establish a systemwide Office of Compliance.

The systemwide approach is intended to reduce duplication, establish common standards and leverage UH‘s purchasing power.

“Instead of 10 individual campuses looking at wireless upgrades, why not do that from a system level?” Salaveria said. “Economies of scale, purchasing power, standardization of protocols—all of these different things just make sense.”

Investing in research and Hawaiʻi‘s economy

Approximately $15.5 million in strategic impact is aligned with research, innovation and economic diversification.

Projects include $3 million for intellectual property protection, $3 million for an AI Institute Hub, investments in secure research environments and $5 million for an Advanced Manufacturing Hub, including laboratory renovations intended to position UH to compete for tens of millions of dollars in potential federal grants.

The AI investment is part of a broader effort to responsibly and ethically integrate artificial intelligence throughout UH‘s curriculum, research and operations while expanding AI education and training for Hawaiʻi.

The investments are also intended to build UH‘s capacity to attract outside funding and support emerging industries in Hawaiʻi, including advanced manufacturing, technology and climate resilience.

Fulfilling UH‘s kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi

Approximately $10.4 million in strategic impact will advance UH‘s commitment to becoming a Native Hawaiian place of learning.

The investments include dedicated spaces across campuses for student success and cultural programming; $600,000 to develop a framework for embedding Native Hawaiian priorities into university governance and budgeting; and professional development to strengthen culturally responsive teaching.

The plan includes funding for dedicated Native Hawaiian Places of Learning and specialized student-support spaces on each UH campus, along with expanded Native Hawaiian student services and systemwide kuleana initiatives.

Where the money comes from

The one-time investments are being funded primarily through university cash balances that grew during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, when federal relief funding helped support operations while UH implemented significant cost-saving measures, including restrictions on hiring and travel and the postponement of major purchases.

UH will continue to maintain appropriate reserves for financial stability and unexpected needs.

The investment is part of a broader change in how UH manages its financial resources. Instead of viewing needs primarily through individual campus budgets, UH is taking a systemwide approach when doing so can reduce duplication, increase purchasing power and provide infrastructure and services more efficiently.

The investments are also structured to avoid creating significant new recurring costs.

From planning to execution

Hensel directed campus and system leaders earlier this year to identify high-impact investments capable of producing lasting benefits without creating new recurring financial obligations. Routine repairs, replacement of lost grant funding and normal operating expenses were not the focus.

With the priorities established and funding identified, the focus now shifts to execution and accountability, including measuring whether the investments deliver the intended results for students, the university and Hawaiʻi.

“This is not about spending money because it is available,” Hensel said. “It is about making disciplined choices and putting our resources to work where they can have the greatest impact. We are investing in our students, in Hawaiʻi‘s workforce and economy, and in a stronger and more resilient University of Hawaiʻi.”