Aloha UH Mānoa ʻohana,
Welcome to the start of the 2026–27 academic year! After the relative quiet of summer, it is great to see the campus once again abuzz with the sights and sounds of students, faculty, and staff in motion.
While we were fortunate that Tropical Storm Lala and Moke did not severely impact our campus, I would like to take a moment to thank our dedicated staff at UH Mānoa for their efforts to ensure that our campus remained safe and open for business.
With new and exciting new facilities coming online soon, like the Kūlia i ka Nuʻu Student Success Center, as well as the expanded McCarthy Mall and Paradise Palms gathering spaces, we are looking forward to creating an even more vibrant campus experience for everyone.
As we get settled in for the new semester, I want you to know that we will begin work on a new and bold strategic plan that will help to solidify UH Mānoa as the premier flagship campus of Â鶹´«Ã½ and to make our campus an even better place to learn, work, live, and play. To do so, we are going to need your input, so please be on the lookout for opportunities to participate in this very important process. I eagerly anticipate your feedback as my listening tour across campus units and departments continues. Please also join us for an Open Forum on Thursday, October 1, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Campus Center Ballroom. I look forward to engaging with you there.
We all are fortunate to be able to live and work in a special place that is firmly rooted in place-based values that are unique to Â鶹´«Ã½. Let us keep that close to our hearts and minds as we all strive to make this another great year at UH Mānoa.
Mahalo,
Vassilis L. Syrmos
Chancellor, University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa