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ʻThanks dawg’: How UH’s AI chatbots are transforming student support

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

University of Hawai'i chatbots

�鶹��ýWest O'ahu student Ava Marie Peters texts with Pueo.

Link to video and sound (details below):

The University of Hawaiʻi has reached a major milestone in its student success strategy with the impactful introduction of proactive AI chatbots across all 10 campuses. Designed to be one the many components that constitute a “common standard of care” for �鶹��ýstudents systemwide, the chatbots, with names like ‘Bow and Moa, are demonstrating high participation with a 94% opt-in rate, and are earning gratitude from the people who matter most: the students.

�鶹��ýstudents are embracing their digital "buddies" with enthusiasm, according to the EdSights fall 2025 report. They shared heartfelt messages such as, “thank you so much for your support throughout the semester,” and “I appreciate your help!” More informal student texts included, “Thanks dawg” and “thanks king.”

Strong student engagement

Between August 1 and December 10, 2025, students across the state sent a total of 72,089 texts to their respective campus chatbots, such as �鶹��ýHilo’s Lehua and Kauaʻi CC’s Koa. Engagement was particularly strong at Honolulu CC (Niu) and �鶹��ýWest Oʻahu (Pueo), where student engagement rates reached 62% and 61%, respectively.

"Our AI chatbots have become more than just digital tools for academic success; they are a 24/7 support system that ensures no student at the University of Hawaiʻi feels alone,” said �鶹��ýPresident Wendy Hensel. “By providing immediate answers and identifying those who need a human touch, we are meeting students exactly where they are—on their phones—and ensuring their path to graduation is clearer than ever before."

Saving time, scaling support 

The chatbots have proven to be an efficient resource for both students and staff. The AI tool answered 4,294 student questions without any human intervention, saving staff approximately 357 hours. When students require deeper support, the system acts as a bridge; the bots facilitated 5,554 automatic connections to �鶹��ýresources and flagged 2,533 students for direct staff follow-up.

The bots also initiate conversations at key points to gauge well-being. This fall, they identified 1,905 students feeling nervous or overwhelmed, flagged 251 learners struggling with a sense of belonging, and assisted 389 students who reported they were not enjoying their classes.

The success of the rollout follows �鶹��ýMānoa’s receipt of a Community Connector Award at the 2025 EdSights PERSIST Summit, recognizing the university’s leadership in using student voice data to foster innovation. �鶹��ýMānoa students accounted for almost 30% of the student texts sent systemwide, with 21,388 texts sent to ‘Bow in the fall.

VIDEO: TRT: 1:28

BROLL: :53

Chatbots for 10 �鶹��ýcampuses

�鶹��ýWest Oʻahu student texts with chatbot

SOUND:

Wendy Hensel, �鶹��ýPresident (:16)

“Well, there's nothing more important to us than communicating with our students and making sure that they have information in real time, and chatbots let us find out how they're doing, give them information, answer questions, and whatever time they want to ask it, we're gonna get them an answer, so we're excited.”

Ava Marie Peters, �鶹��ýWest O’ahu student (:15)

“I feel like it helps students feel connected to the school, just because it’s a little hard when you’re a freshman and you are just coming to class—you donʻt really make those connections.  So having that connection outside of the classroom is really nice.”