at the University of �鶹��ý–W����� Oʻahu was selected to be a featured contributor to “,” an exhibit curated by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The national online repository tells the story of our country in documents, according to the SAA website. Sourced from institutions across the U.S. and internationally, the collection aims to highlight the full range of America’s documentary heritage and the role archives have played in preserving and understanding our history.

ʻUluʻulu staff nominated , a film from its collection. Produced in 1987, the film features Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) discussing the contemporary meanings of mana (spiritual power) and kuleana (responsibility), and remains a valuable resource, offering profound insights into the Hawaiian Renaissance, its unresolved issues, and its enduring legacy.

“When the call for submissions came for this exhibit, I knew that it was important for ʻUluʻulu to participate so that we could share a perspective of U.S history from the viewpoint of �鶹��ý and our communities,” said Janel Quirante, head archivist at ʻUluʻulu.

The challenge was choosing just one film to represent their collection.

Native Hawaiian voices live on

“ʻUluʻulu staff voted and we enthusiastically selected Hawaiian Soul from the Victoria Keith Productions Collection to represent us and to highlight the exhibit theme of Unfinished Revolutions,” Quirante said. “Hawaiian Soul was produced in 1987, but its message of what it means to be Native Hawaiian in contemporary America still resonates today.”

Filmmaker Victoria Keith produced, directed and edited Hawaiian Soul, which was co-produced by Naomi Sodetani.“I consider the selection of Hawaiian Soul for this special ‘250 for the 250th’ exhibit to be the honor of a lifetime!” Keith said. “To think this documentary, produced nearly 40 years ago, is going to be made visible again for new generations is an amazing experience.”

Keith added, “Mahalo to the ʻUluʻulu staff for such wonderful support, and of course to the amazing people who shared their manaʻo (ideas) in the video. May their voices live on and be shared through this significant historic exhibit! I am thrilled and excited to be a part of it!”

For more visit .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The television series, produced by the (�鶹��ý Sea Grant), took home 10 Telly Awards, the world’s largest honor for video and television across all screens, including a gold Telly for (PMDP). This year, the Telly Awards received more than 13,000 entries from across the globe.

The 47th annual Telly Awards Judging Council, who select the winning entries, features more than 250 expert judges from Google, Home Box Office (HBO), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Netflix and more.

“Papahānaumokuākea is more than a protected area, it is a living ancestral and ecological system, connecting people, species, and place across the paeʻāina,” said James Morioka, executive director of PMDP. “Partnering with the Voice of the Sea team on this special episode, sharing our work with the viewers, and being recognized with a Gold Telly helps us continue supporting vulnerable wildlife, restoring sensitive habitats, and perpetuating Hawaiian culture.”

“The level of competition is so high, I’m incredibly excited to win a Gold Telly Awards with our partners and show off the amazing footage PMDP collected,” said Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, Voice of the Sea host and co-producer. “Winning nine more awards is just spectacular!”

Gold and silver winner

shares what it is like to remove massive amounts of plastic pollution from Papahānaumokuākea, the 582,570 square miles of coral reefs, atolls, and aquatic habitat of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The episode was awarded a gold Telly in the not-for-profit category, and a silver Telly in nature & wildlife.

“Working as a storyteller in Papahānaumokuākea means being trusted to share places and stories that most people will never experience firsthand,” said Andrew Sullivan-Haskins, Emmy-award winning conservation expedition photographer with PMDP. “It’s not just about doing the work, it’s about helping people understand why these environments matter.”

Silver and bronze winner

musically celebrates �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s seas that combines science, art, culture and the �鶹��ý Symphony Orchestra. It was awarded a Silver Telly in the Culture & Lifestyle category, and a bronze Telly in music, dance & performance.

Multiple bronze winner

visits the north shore of Oʻahu, where oral histories inform the revitalization of this rich community resource; the episode also visits the Center for Oral History at UH Mānoa to learn about cataloging �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s past. The episode took home bronze Tellys in the educational institution and history categories.

Silver winners

shares information about ciguatera poisoning, the seafood illness that comes from toxins produced by microscopic algae in warm, nearshore waters, and the research that aims to help people eat safe seafood. It was awarded a silver Telly in public interest & awareness.

looks at the future of aquaculture at the �鶹��ý Ocean Science and Technology Park at Keāhole Point, on �鶹��ý Island—where unique seawater facilities support more than 50 cutting-edge tenants, including Blue Ocean Mariculture, Symbrosia and Cyanotech. The episode was awarded a silver Telly in sustainability.

Bronze winners

reviews aquaculture jobs and internships, from innovative fish mariculture and traditional fishponds in �鶹��ý, to village-level aquaponics in American Samoa. The episode was awarded a bronze Telly in education & training.

shares information on the different types of estuary systems in �鶹��ý, how the Division of Aquatic Resources Estuary Team monitors estuaries, the importance of estuaries for protecting critical fisheries habitat, and why Waimea River on the west side of Kauaʻi is such a special place. The episode was awarded a bronze Telly in sustainability.

–By Cindy Knapman

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from Kauaʻi CC marketing staff member Caitlin Fowlkes.

Fowlkes shared: “Kauaʻi Community College culinary students learn how to carve ice sculptures.”

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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.

• .

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.

—Humpback whale, forcing up the water like waves hitting a reef, reef flats.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“E ola i ke kai ma ka leo o nā koholā (The sea is alive with the voices of the humpback whales).”

—Hunter Landt, he haumāna ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo .

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa students and faculty traveled to Kohala High School on �鶹��ý Island, where they learned from and taught one another alongside high school students.

“We often tell our candidates to be teacher leaders, and this collaborative field trip gave them the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership,” said Associate Professor Vail Matsumoto. “They shared their expertise in AI with the Kohala students and faculty and then learned from the school in return. It was a win-win situation, and any time work is fun, it’s yet another win.”

Kohala students taught the College of Education secondary and elementary teacher candidates in (MEdT) about welding, construction, farming, and a variety of other Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The cohort, as part of the trip in April, worked with the Kohala yearbook class on AI tools and conducted two afterschool professional development sessions for faculty on AI tools.

Future focus

“Hearing student and teacher testimonies help me to picture what I can do in the future to support my students,” said Kaylie Hayashida who is earning her MEdT with a focus on secondary Japanese. “For high school students, I think this field trip gave them the opportunity to not only showcase the work they’re doing, but practice important life skills such as presentational speaking and interpersonal skills.”

Matsumoto was accompanied by Assistant Professor Stacy George, who helped organize the trip, as well as Assistant Professor Waynele Yu and MEdT Program Chair Stephanie Furuta. Two MEdT graduates, Dean Snelling and Jackie Meggs, partnered with the College of Education to make the joint venture possible. The collaboration was also supported by the UH Women’s Campus Club.

“As a future science teacher, I appreciate how Kohala High School integrates useful life skills with an education that encourages students to thrive in the directions that their choices take them,” said MEdT student Anna Karsin who attended high school on �鶹��ý Island. “Seeing the place-based learning and practical employment of community resources while hearing from the students as they shared their capstone senior projects was incredible.”

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The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (CTAHR) connected with hundreds of community members at the 17th annual Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair on May 30, sharing resources focused on agriculture, food security, youth development and community resilience.

Held at the War Memorial Special Events Field, the event brought together farmers, families and agricultural organizations from across Maui County. CTAHR faculty and extension agents showcased programs that support local food production, health and education throughout �鶹��ý.

Hands-on resources promote resilience

At the CTAHR Community Resilience booth, Extension Agent Heather Greenwood shared resources to the Sage Heart program, an initiative funded by the Maui County Department of Agriculture that promotes wellness through growing kitchen herbs and encourages healthier eating habits for keiki.

Junior Extension Agent Gwen Morinaga-Kama shared a collection of limu (seaweed) gathered from Maui shorelines and discussed efforts to restore a traditional limu fishery in partnership with the Kēōkea Farm Lots Association.

Edible Crops Extension Agent Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite provided information on local turmeric production and distributed planting materials for four turmeric varieties, along with virus-free banana seedlings to help combat banana bunchy top virus.

Maui County Youth Development Extension Agent Nancy Ooki highlighted opportunities through the �鶹��ý 4-H program, including sustainable gardening activities, cultural food education and the upcoming teen disaster preparedness training.

Maui AgFest 2026 was co-presented by the Maui County Farm Bureau and the County of Maui Department of Agriculture.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researcher Claire Kendal-Wright from the (JABSOM) is leading an effort to transform maternal-fetal care in American Samoa, a region where physicians face severe resource limitations at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.

“There was one OB and a resident covering labor and delivery,” Kendal-Wright recalled. “I started asking questions about preterm birth and outcomes, and you realize very quickly how dedicated the health providers are despite how limited the resources are.”

Backed by a U.S. Department of Interior grant to the medical center, Kendal-Wright is working with local clinicians to strengthen care through sonography training, telehealth and improved access to specialists.

The effort targets high-risk pregnancies. According to a study in , American Samoa faces challenging maternal health conditions, including high rates of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, alongside limited diagnostic technology.

Overcoming resource and diagnostic barriers

“When this grant ends, we aim to put in place a care pipeline that has not been available to these mothers,” Kendal-Wright said. “This will enable more mothers to gain the vital information required to make important care decisions about the health of their babies. For the mothers of American Samoa, this is not possible right now.”

It’s incredibly rewarding work.
—Claire Kendal-Wright

During recent visits with collaborators Curtis Lowery (medical researcher), Larenda Casey (lead sonographer) and La-Tisha Frazier (MD/JABSOM fellow), Kendal-Wright saw clinicians improvise by sharing ultrasound images via cell phone photos for outside opinions.

“You’re dealing with a population where many women have significant risk factors during pregnancy,” she said. “Having the ability to identify complications earlier and make informed decisions is incredibly important.”

The project, started by Men-Jean Lee, JABSOM‘s former associate chair of research and innovation, reflects the school’s mission of bolstering Pacific health equity.

Kendall-Wright added, “It’s incredibly rewarding work. These collaborations help ensure that mothers and babies have access to the best care possible, no matter where they live.”

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from UH Hilo’s Camryn Hilder, an undergraduate majoring in animal health and management in the College of Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resource Management.

Hilder shared: “Episode 43 of Kīlauea’s eruption showered Hilo in a light dusting of Pele’s hair. Despite the elements, life continues on the farm…This photo shows one of the horses, Dundee, standing beneath an eerie red sun, its color caused by the plume of volcanic ash.”

Previous Images
Championship trophy tour
Time flies
Shakas up!
Got rice?
Everybody chill
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

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.

• .

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.

As federal funding cuts put pressure on a beloved early childhood education program, students at the University of �鶹��ý at Hilo stepped in to help.

This spring, students in three introductory classes used their writing, research and analytical skills to organize a book drive for Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool, a nonprofit that provides free literacy-focused education and caregiver support to families with keiki across �鶹��ý. The effort was led by longtime English Instructor Lauri Sagle.

“By doing a book donation drive we could also accomplish some useful outcomes,” Sagle said. “Students would read, assess, and choose children’s books to donate to a fabulous local organization, Tūtū and Me, and they would get a specific kind of writing experience, along with genuinely helpful participation in a community project.”

Working with a modest budget, students evaluated children’s books, wrote proposals advocating for their selections and explored literacy resources at UH Hilo’s , including books in ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language). The project connected classroom learning with a real community need.

Postcards to Mayor Alameda

As students learned more about the financial challenges facing Tūtū and Me, their efforts expanded beyond book donations. They wrote postcards to �鶹��ý Island Mayor Kimo Alameda urging support for the program. Four students in the classes shared that they had once attended Tūtū and Me themselves, adding a personal connection to the project.

Tūtū and Me Project Director Amanda Ishigo later visited campus to share the nonprofit’s mission and the importance of literacy in early childhood education.

“Literacy is more than just reading. It’s speech, it’s listening skills, it’s reading and writing,” Ishigo told students. “Our whole focus is how do we set up for success? How do we make something long-lasting?”

60 books delivered

By the end of the semester, students had donated 60 books, each accompanied by a handwritten note of encouragement. They also collected dozens of postcards advocating for the future of the program. The project demonstrated how skills developed in the humanities can create meaningful impact far beyond the classroom.

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To mark the formal launch of a year-long effort to assess climate vulnerability and build resilience across the Waiʻanae Moku, the Waiʻanae Readiness Review held its first community meeting on April 29, at Kamehameha Schools’ Kaiāulu Community Learning Center in Māʻili. The project is led by the University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s (CRC), headed by Chip Fletcher, dean of the (SOEST), in partnership with the UH Mānoa Wildfire Research led by Clay Trauernicht, and the of the City and County of Honolulu.

“We are honored to stand with the people of Waiʻanae in this work,” said Fletcher. “Climate resilience is not something the University can define alone from the outside; it must be grown through pilina—with communities, government partners, agencies, and researchers working together in trust and shared kuleana (responsibility). The ʻike and lived experience of Waiʻanae families, farmers, practitioners, and leaders are essential to understanding the hazards facing the moku and identifying the actions that will protect people, place, and future generations. Guided by aloha ʻāina, this effort recognizes that caring for the land and ocean is inseparable from caring for one another.”

Identifying flood, wildfire hazards

CRC researcher Kayla Yamamoto presented on compound flooding and invited community members to share photographs and firsthand experiences with flooding events to help validate scientific models. Attendees also participated in open discussion, sharing the most pressing challenges and needs across the district.

The review is structured around two committees comprising community members, farmers, government officials, military installation representatives, technical experts, policymakers and non-profit organizations. The committees will meet six times over the course of the project, contributing their manaʻo (thought or idea) and expertise to guide the work.

CRC and the UH Wildfire team are developing climate projections scaled specifically to Waiʻanae, covering heat, precipitation/drought, compound flooding, coastal flooding and erosion, high wave run-up, groundwater inundation and wildfire. Given that wildfire risk is severe across the entire moku, the project’s focus is not on identifying where danger exists, but on determining what actions can be taken to address it.

More than 90 committee members, community members and project team representatives attended the meeting, which opened with a pule (blessing) led by Nohea Stevens. Presentations from Fletcher, Trauernicht, Captain White of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Susan Veazy of the Office of Local Defense and Community Cooperation outlined the origins of the project’s funding, the process it will follow, and the overarching goal of securing additional resources for priority projects in the moku (district).

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As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes the global job market, the University of �鶹��ý is taking a leading role in preparing the state’s workers for an evolving economy. UH has officially partnered with the State Workforce Development Council and Imua ʻOnipaʻa (a �鶹��ý-based non-profit) for a four-part symposium series titled, “The AI Transformation: Preparing �鶹��ý’s Workforce for the Future.”

The second event of the series, “The AI transformation: Preparing �鶹��ý’s workforce for the future ” is tentatively scheduled for June 25, 2026, at Honolulu Community College from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. “Building an AI ready workforce in �鶹��ý” will focus on the business case for responsible AI adoption, including industry-specific opportunities and risks, workforce impacts, and recommendations for �鶹��ý’s education and training providers. Attendance is capped at 100 and UH faculty, staff and administrators are encouraged to attend.

UH‘s participation alongside partners such as the �鶹��ý Department of Education, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and Department of Accounting and General Services underscores the university’s vital function as the engine of �鶹��ý‘s workforce development.

“The University of �鶹��ý is proud to partner with the State Workforce Development Council on this critical initiative,” UH President Wendy Hensel said. “Preparing our local workforce for the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence is essential for �鶹��ý’s economic resilience. As the state’s primary provider of higher education, UH plays a central role in ensuring our training programs equip residents with the skills and AI literacy needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy.”

Bennette E. Misalucha, executive director of the State Workforce Development Council within the �鶹��ý Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, highlighted the necessity of cross-agency collaboration.

“�鶹��ý has an opportunity not simply to react to the AI transformation, but to thoughtfully prepare our workforce, institutions, and communities to harness AI in ways that strengthen economic resilience and preserve our shared values,” Misalucha said. “The AI Symposium Series was created to bring together our relevant stakeholders to better understand this moment of change, and to ensure that �鶹��ý is prepared not only for the future of technology, but for the future of its people.”

The first session “Where is AI and where is it going” was held in April at the �鶹��ý State Capitol. Experts from the guided attendees through the complex landscape of AI data and policy challenges, privacy frameworks, and AI‘s projected impacts on daily life, work, and sociopolitical power dynamics.

UH System Director of Workforce Development Christine Beaule said, “The State Workforce Development Council’s AI Workforce Readiness series addresses some of the most pressing challenges and promising opportunities to our communities and state. AI will impact us all in ways we can only imagine at the moment; it is our kuleana to prepare our students for the future of work, lifelong learning and ethical, engaged citizenship.”

A new documentary showcasing the impact of the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa’s and its efforts to help students navigate the transition from high school to higher education will premiere statewide on June 7.

Project Hoʻokuʻi: Finding a Path for the Future is a 30-minute sequel to the 2023 documentary The Power of Hoʻokuʻi: Joining Together to Build Our Future. The film follows students, educators and community partners connected to Project Hoʻokuʻi, a UH Mānoa initiative, that supports students as they prepare for college, career training and future professions.

Now in its 18th year and sixth iteration, Project Hoʻokuʻi has served more than 2,000 students across �鶹��ý, primarily in rural communities, near Native Hawaiian homesteads and at schools with high percentages of students receiving free and reduced-price lunch. Approximately 50 participants have earned associate degrees before graduating from high school.

“Our hope is that viewers see what is possible when students are given the support, opportunities and encouragement to pursue their goals,” said Project Hoʻokuʻi Director and Principal Investigator Lisa Uyehara. “Through the stories shared in this documentary, we want students and families across �鶹��ý to know that higher education and career pathways are within reach, while also showing how culture, community and a strong sense of place can help guide that journey.”

The documentary explores how financial aid, tutoring, mentoring, internships and ʻāina-based learning help students access opportunities through programs such as Running Start, Jump Start, Early Admission and Mānoa Academy. It also highlights the project’s expanding efforts to address workforce needs by supporting pathways in fields including healthcare, education and the skilled trades.

Project Hoʻokuʻi partners with the �鶹��ý Department of Education and UH Mānoa’s to help students build academic skills, explore career options and strengthen connections to culture, community and place.

The documentary premieres Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m. on KHON. Encore broadcasts are scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, at 9:30 p.m. on KHON and Sunday, June 14, at 8 p.m. on KHII.

Astronomers from the University of �鶹��ý (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 �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý 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 �鶹��ý are funded by the child’s home chapter. All funds raised in �鶹��ý support local wish keiki.

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 and University of �鶹��ý at Hilo’s (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 �鶹��ý Island community.

For more go to .

Co-designed with the community, the , facilitated by the University of �鶹��ý, 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, .

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 to learn more and 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.

The Symphony of the �鶹��ý Seas, a captivating experience that intertwines projected animation, evocative music, storytelling and hula, will kick off �鶹��ý Symphony Orchestra’s (HSO) on June 30.

In a collaboration led by the (�鶹��ý 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 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.

“�鶹��ý Sea Grant is humbled to support the Symphony of the �鶹��ý Seas as this program embodies our mission to connect people to place and the science that sustains us,” Darren T. Lerner, �鶹��ý 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 �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s families. It is a beautiful, collective effort to ensure these stories and understanding continue to thrive for generations.”

“The Symphony of the �鶹��ý Seas celebrates our deep connection to the ocean, bringing together music, storytelling, hula and animation to inspire care for �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’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 �鶹��ý Seas will be available to the public to enjoy as a free ʻohana concert.

One hour prior to the concert, nearly a dozen organizations that focus on �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’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 �鶹��ý Seas brings together the University of �鶹��ý, 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 �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s unique marine environments.

The program is a collaborative effort funded by the UH Mānoa Strategic Investment Initiative awarded to �鶹��ý Sea Grant, initiated by Lerner and led by Lenz with coordinators Itoh (UH Music Department), Detwiler (UH Mānoa English Department), Anne Rosa (�鶹��ý Sea Grant), Melissa Price (UH Mānoa Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management) and Kanesa Duncan Seraphin (�鶹��ý 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, �鶹��ý 96814)
• Admission: .

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

–By Cindy Knapman

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from the Our Team, �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Team Trophy Tour, which began at UH Mānoa, following the Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball team’s NCAA national championship victory. The tour will make stops across Oʻahu at UH campuses and other community locations. Visits to �鶹��ý Island, Maui and Kauaʻi are also being planned.

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Time flies
Shakas up!
Got rice?
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All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

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.

—To embrace with arms, as in a hug, or holding an infant.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“��ū�����쾱 wau i kaʻu mau keiki i kēlā me kēia lā. (I embrace my children every day.)”

—LaurieAnn Takeno, he haumāna ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo .

The University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s (CTAHR) celebrated the faculty, staff and community leaders who advance the college’s vision of a more resilient �鶹��ý at its 2026 CTAHR Banquet in May. The high-energy night showcased collective work to strengthen the state’s food security, ecosystems and local communities.

Top honors for community, alumni leadership

The college presented its highest honor, the Ka Lei Hano Award, to State Senator Donovan Dela Cruz. A longtime champion for local agriculture, Dela Cruz was recognized for securing support for the reopening of the Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center and his leadership in developing the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center, among many accomplishments.

Professor Ganesan Srinivasan was named the 2026 CTAHR Outstanding Alumnus. Currently serving as the dean of communication and services programs at Honolulu Community College, Srinivasan was honored for his acclaimed career in maize breeding and marrying high-level scientific research with the practical needs of local farmers.

• Related UH News stories: CTAHR honors Honolulu CC dean with Outstanding Alumnus Award

Visit the CTAHR website for the complete list of the , including faculty, staff and student honorees.

A highlight of the evening were presentations by the student winners of the Showcase & Research Symposium. Attendees talked with the students about their award-winning posters, illustrating the cutting-edge research from the next generation of scientists within the college.

Honoring an icon

The evening also featured a special recognition of Surajit “S.K.” De Datta and his wife, Vijji, for establishing an endowed scholarship for CTAHR students. De Datta, a world-renowned scientist known for his pioneering work during the Green Revolution, was also honored as the college renamed its primary conference room in Gilmore Hall in honor of the couple’s legacy.

“Our students are the heart of this college,” CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal said at the banquet. “Tonight is as much about celebrating their future as it is our current achievements. Their energy and their passion for a more resilient �鶹��ý are what drive us forward every day.”