The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ hosted its inaugural AI Institute Day at the UH Mānoa Campus Center Ballroom. Co-sponsored by the Office of the President and the State of Â鶹´«Ã½ Workforce Development Council, the gathering drew 158 in-person and 388 virtual participants across the UH System on August 11. The event was structured to help the university transition from isolated, individual AI experimentation to coordinated, systemwide innovation.

AI Institute Day welcomed guest speaker Asim Ali, executive director of Auburn University’s Biggio Center and board president of UPCEA, an online and professional education association. Ali urged attendees to look past the technical hype of “prompt engineering” and instead approach AI as an ongoing, conversational dialogue. He highlighted the role of humans in training and refining generative AI, noting that “until we get to a system that’s able to teach itself… humans are still absolutely needed.”

Ali also introduced the concept of “unbundling” professional work into automated, augmented and human-only tasks. Citing data from tech consulting company Accenture and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ali predicted that by 2030, a third of workforce tasks will fall into each of these categories. He emphasized that technology is only beneficial if it frees up time for high-value human interaction rather than simply creating more work.

“There’s a lot of noise out there that is going to have almost no impact on your work, and you don’t have to know the daily update of everything that’s happening in the AI world,” said Ali. “But there are a few things that are grounded truths that aren’t going to change anytime soon that are fundamental parts of how the technology works that will endure and it is good and it is safe to invest your time in.”

$100 million investment

UH President Wendy Hensel described AI as “an infusion that touches all things” that will fundamentally reshape UH operations, teaching and thinking. She announced a planned investment of approximately $100 million across UH to boost student success, infrastructure and AI capabilities.

“We are either going to lean into this change and shape it and brand it and focus on who we are as a community and make it work or we’re going to constantly be waving in the wind as these things roll out and find ourselves in a defensive posture,” Hensel said.

To coordinate this scale, Hensel revealed UH is hiring its first Associate Vice President for Workforce Development. This joins strategic partnerships with Google, Microsoft and MIT, alongside current initiatives such as the free, 12 chapter courses, a centralized and faculty curriculum incentives.

As the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ continues to enhance its digital learning infrastructure, a new tool is rolling out this fall 2026 to support academic integrity and student flexibility. The new tool will allow educators to conduct online proctored exams and quizzes across the UH 10 campus system.

The new online proctoring tools by Honorlock will be integrated directly into Lamakū, the university’s learning management system. Because it integrates directly into Lamakū, UH students do not need to create a separate account, schedule appointments or commute to a physical testing center to take their assessments.

The platform’s 24/7 availability is designed to accommodate the varied lives of modern distance-learning students.

“This provides students in online courses the flexibility to complete their exam when it best fits their schedule, during the exam window established by the course instructor,” said UH Chief Academic Technology Innovation Officer Gloria Niles.

Exam proctoring options

Most exams will utilize Honorlock’s automated, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven online proctoring tool. In these AI-only sessions, the software records the test-taker’s webcam, microphone and screen without the presence of a real-time human monitor. The AI flags specific behaviors—such as talking, looking away from the screen, accessing search engines, or using unauthorized devices—and compiles a report for the instructor’s review and discretion.

For exams requiring higher security, an “AI + Live Pop-In” version is also available. This upgraded option includes a human proctor who monitors the AI session in real-time and may intervene with the student if a potential violation is detected. Instructors seeking to use the Live Pop-In version must get approval from their UH campus leadership due to a per-student charge to the campus, which cannot be passed on to the student. Regardless of the proctoring version used, the instructor retains full authority to make final decisions on any flagged behaviors.

Training and resources

To prepare for this rollout, the developed an Honorlock resource and practice exam, available for self-enrollment in the Lamakū Discover area. This allows both faculty and students to experience the AI-only tool in a low-pressure environment. For ongoing assistance, Honorlock technical support is available to test-takers 24/7/365 via email and live chat.

Two University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa research projects have been selected for the inaugural , placing UH’s flagship research campus among a select group of universities and research institutions nationwide using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate scientific breakthroughs.

In the , the DOE said the projects were selected to develop and demonstrate AI-enabled tools and workflows designed to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, science and national security. Each project is eligible for Phase I awards of $500,000–$750,000 over nine months, providing investigators with the opportunity to develop innovative AI-driven research while positioning them to compete for future Phase II awards of up to $15 million.

“The selection of not one, but two UH Mānoa projects for this highly competitive DOE mission reflects the strength of the UH research community and the creativity of our faculty in pursuing solutions to some of the most complex challenges facing society,” said UH Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad B. Walton. “At UH, we are committed to fostering an environment where bold ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration and emerging technologies can come together to create meaningful impact not only in Â鶹´«Ã½, but across the nation, and around the world.”

The two UH Mānoa projects selected are led by researchers in the and the .

AI security for critical infrastructure

One project, led by Assistant Professor Liuwan Zhu from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, focuses on improving the security and reliability of AI systems used in critical infrastructure. The project, called STRATOS (Security and Trust Runtime Architecture for Time-critical Operational Science), will develop an AI security platform designed to detect and respond to cyber threats targeting AI systems used in real-time operations, such as electrical grid management and forecasting.

The research team will test the technology using a dual-site platform that includes the UH Mānoa campus microgrid and real-time computing systems at Argonne National Laboratory. The project includes collaborators from Old Dominion University and Argonne National Laboratory.

AI advances the search for extremely rare decay processes

The second project, led by Professor Zepeng Li from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, will develop an AI foundation model to support searches for neutrinoless double beta decay, one of the most important unanswered questions in nuclear and particle physics. Neutrinoless double beta decay is an extremely rare nuclear process that, if observed, could help scientists better understand the nature of neutrinos, the mysterious “ghost particles” that are abundant in the universe and are constantly passing through us without interacting. In particular, this rare decay process could tell us whether the neutrino is its own anti-particle.

Researchers around the world are searching for this phenomenon using different types of detectors, but each experiment typically relies on its own specialized software and analysis methods. Li’s project aims to create a shared AI framework that can learn from data across multiple detector technologies, helping researchers identify patterns, analyze results and improve collaboration among experiments studying this rare event. The project will develop a unified AI framework that streamlines data analysis across the diverse detector technologies used in neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments, accelerating the search for this rare process.

The Genesis Mission brings together DOE laboratories and universities to combine advanced AI, high-performance computing and scientific expertise. UH Mānoa was among 168 universities selected for the first round of Genesis Mission projects, which included a total of 278 research efforts involving more than 340 institutions across the country. Through these projects, UH researchers will contribute to emerging applications of AI in fundamental physics, energy systems and national security, while strengthening Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s role in cutting-edge scientific research.

Jeff Hui serves as the entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹’s Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) in the Shidler College of Business. Drawing on his extensive background running growth teams at major tech companies, Hui now mentors UH students and guides them in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to bring their ideas to life. In addition to running accelerators (programs that fast-track the growth of early stage businesses) and office hours, Hui has been doing public presentations to demystify AI. In a recent interview, Hui expanded on his core philosophies for success in an AI-driven world.

Everyone is an entrepreneur

“Moving forward is the only option. Keep trying new things and stay proactive. It’s not as simple as it was five years ago, when the path was to study computer science, join a software company, and earn a salary. Today, you must be entrepreneurial. To me, an entrepreneur is simply someone who makes things happen. That is the true origin of the (French) word, entreprendre. It isn’t about raising venture capital or launching a major business; it’s about being a doer. You could be working on side projects to demonstrate your ability to build. Some of my students securing AI jobs are simply those who tinker on their own. With AI technologies, you must forge your own path and create your own opportunities.”

We’ve been here before

“People are anxious about the future. While I do expect some jobs to be displaced, we have navigated major technological revolutions before, and the economy has always rebounded. The Internet and Industrial Revolutions were challenging for employment, yet they created roles we previously could never have imagined—such as prompt engineering (giving specific instructions to AI to get the desired output). Let’s examine historical precedents before concluding that this is the end of the workforce. I don’t believe AI robots will replace all jobs; rather, they will displace certain roles, and we will adapt to find new ways of earning a living.”

What’s happening in the market

“I reached out to 15 to 20 friends working at various private companies, startups and late-stage firms, and asked them, ‘What are you doing?’ I discovered some remarkable things. First, no one is certain of the path forward; everyone is experimenting. This reinforces my point that we are all entrepreneurs now. These individuals are on the business side—not natural engineers—yet they are all building. They may not know if these projects will be worthwhile, and they might even discard them, but they have the freedom to try and build. This is a significant shift. Previously, launching a project required dedicated engineering resources, potentially costing $100,000 in internal capital, which necessitated rigorous evaluation. Now, someone in marketing can simply build a product for themselves.”

Just do it yourself

“I practice what I preach by constantly tinkering. In my presentation, I demonstrated how quickly one can build a website, as I frequently encourage students to use AI for this purpose. There is a growing sentiment in the tech industry that traditional presentations are becoming obsolete. If you need to provide an update or show a mockup, you can simply create a website immediately; HTML is becoming the new PowerPoint. I find this to be accurate—I created a website for the Lychee Man in just a few minutes.”

Back to fundamentals

“At the university, I teach the lean startup methodology: at its core, it’s about listening to your customer, understanding their needs, and iterating rapidly. If you have an idea, talk to your customers and build something. That is the extent of it—no extensive planning or research needed, as talking to customers is the research. We don’t need to conduct giant market studies or assess viability upfront. Talk to customers; if they have a problem, solve it. The beauty is that anyone can now solve these problems using AI. It all boils down to whether you understand what your user wants. That skill is more important than ever because, with technical barriers removed, everyone has the ability to build.”

Future PACE initiatives

“At PACE, we are expanding our efforts significantly. Our most significant project is our AI innovation initiative at RISE, called AIR. We are hiring a new team focused on connecting students with local businesses and organizations to help them solve real-life problems. We will be hosting workshops on ‘vibe coding’—a software development approach using natural language prompts to have AI generate and iterate code—and on using agents, which are autonomous software systems that make decisions and take actions to achieve specific goals. Our goal is to connect students with university departments or local businesses and say, ‘Tell us your problem, and let’s see if we can solve it for you with AI.’ Ultimately, we want to teach students AI skills and connect them with organizations to address real-world challenges.”

• Related UH News:
  1st Entrepreneur-in-Residence to elevate student startup opportunities, April 4, 2024
  Strengthening workforce readiness through ‘The Human Connection’, November 13, 2025
  POG to pop-ups: UH students pitch fresh ideas to Meadow Gold, April 13, 2026

University of Â鶹´«Ã½ President Wendy Hensel presented a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) strategy to the (BOR) on July 16 at UH Mānoa, detailing a bold vision to accelerate AI training and adoption across the university system and serve the needs of Â鶹´«Ã½.

Likening the technology to “the new electricity,” the presentation emphasized the urgency to prepare Â鶹´«Ã½’s workforce for a rapidly shifting landscape. Hensel highlighted industry statistics, noting that one-third of entry-level jobs now require AI skills, and 80% of hiring managers consider AI competency a priority when evaluating candidates.

“Because this is here, it is going to radically transform what we do, and the failure to talk about it as an institution of higher education means that we will constantly be reacting rather than setting the course for our students, our faculty, staff and the state,” said Hensel during her presentation at the BOR meeting.

To meet this demand, the university has adopted a holistic approach to AI that spans governance, curriculum, workforce development, research and operations. A cornerstone of this approach is the newly adopted UH AI Policy, which establishes guidelines for the “responsible and ethical use of AI technologies,” promoting transparency, accountability and fairness across the university community. To implement this vision, UH has formed a dedicated AI Task Force focused on Hawaiian culture and values, ethics and governance, and curriculum and pedagogy.

More than 100 AI-infused courses

The university currently boasts more than 100 new or AI-infused courses and has launched new AI certificates, concentrations and programs at UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, UH Maui College, UH West Oʻahu and Honolulu Community College. Furthermore, nearly 100 instructors from across the system have been supported in developing and incorporating AI-related assignments into their classes.

The university is also prioritizing hands-on experiential learning. Initiatives such as EL3vate provide intense faculty professional development to weave AI and design thinking into course curricula, while AI Innovation@RISE offers students systemwide opportunities to work directly with industry partners on real-world tech needs in Â鶹´«Ã½.

Beyond the 10 campus system, UH is providing resources to the public. The is a free, open-access, 12-chapter foundational course offering training and applied learning for communities across the islands. UH is collaborating with tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, and is proposed as a regional anchor to adapt AI curriculum co-created with MIT. All of these tools, community practices and resources are centralized on the .

“It’s going to happen whether we embrace it or not, and the important thing is that we decide how we deploy it and use it through a position of information and knowledge, and not reacting to the winds of change,” said Hensel during her presentation.

Reliable operation of data centers has become essential to nearly all sectors of modern society, including healthcare, education, government services, power grid operation, banking, defense and disaster relief. New research published in and led by University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa revealed that future climate conditions may reduce the availability of one of the cheapest and most energy-efficient approaches to cooling data centers.

The research team, led by Christina Karamperidou, atmospheric sciences professor in the UH Mānoa , assessed historical and projected temperatures and humidity levels around the world and compared them to the conditions required for “direct air free cooling,” wherein naturally cold outside air is brought in to cool a building or equipment.

A confluence of factors presents a substantial societal challenge: with the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, the demand for data centers is increasing, just as climate conditions are limiting an efficient approach to cooling these facilities.

“We found that periods of time when temperature and humidity exceed recommended operating thresholds for direct air free cooling are becoming more frequent and lasting longer in many regions,” said Karamperidou. “This will reduce the availability of air free cooling for a growing number of data centers globally.”

Looking to the past and future

Karamperidou and co-authors combined high-resolution hourly weather observations with climate model simulations and a global database of data center locations. This allowed them to evaluate how often environmental conditions exceeded recommended operating limits for direct air free cooling, both historically and in future climate scenarios. By analyzing global datasets, they were able to identify large-scale patterns and trends that would not be visible from studies focused on individual facilities.

The researchers found over the past 45 years, the number of hours characterized by high temperature and humidity conditions that limit direct air cooling has increased significantly, particularly across the tropics and the southeastern U.S. A site- and market-level analysis further showed that the share of data centers exposed to conditions that limit air free cooling availability for at least one quarter of the year is rising. Projections through mid-century indicate continued expansion of these constraints with sustained warming and increasing humidity.

Worst-day conditions

One of their key findings is that the largest changes are not always seen in average conditions. In several regions, worst-day conditions are intensifying more rapidly than average conditions, indicating that environmental stress is becoming increasingly concentrated in rare but consequential events.

“From an operational perspective, those worst-day conditions often drive contingency planning, system overrides, redundancy requirements, and reliability decisions,” Karamperidou shared. “This suggests that infrastructure planning may need to account not only for average environmental conditions but also for how the most stressful days are changing over time.”

This work was developed in collaboration with researchers working on cyberinfrastructure and next-generation cooling technologies, including partners through the , where UH is a key partner institution.

Three Â鶹´«Ã½ educators, including University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (COE) alumni Kawika Gonzales and Leah Aiwohi, were named finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge for their work advancing responsible artificial intelligence (AI) education. As national finalists and winners of the regional competition, they received a monetary prize and access to web-based resources.

Empowering students through responsible AI

Along with colleague Chloe Sato, the educators were recognized in Washington, D.C., for Global Innovation Race Â鶹´«Ã½, a statewide program that teaches high school students how to use AI responsibly while addressing real-world community challenges.

Gonzales, who earned a master of education in learning design and technology and a certificate in online learning and teaching from UH Mānoa, said the program encourages students to think beyond simply using AI tools.

“Teaching our students how to use AI is no longer enough,” Gonzales said. “We also need to teach them when to use it, why to use it, and whether it should be used at all.”

Aiwohi, who earned a bachelor of education and professional diploma in elementary education from the College of Education, said her preparation at UH continues to shape her teaching decades later.

“Although I graduated from the College of Education more than 36 years ago, the lessons that have stayed with me are not tied to specific textbooks or technologies; they are the enduring principles of effective teaching,” Aiwohi said.

The program connects students across Â鶹´«Ã½ to collaborate on community-based projects using design thinking and responsible AI, helping prepare the next generation of ethical technology leaders.

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For more on how Gonzales is inspiring his haumāna (students) on Molokaʻi, see this UH News story.

Students from across the country gathered to explore how generative artificial intelligence (AI) could make language learning more interactive during a national hackathon hosted by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s (Tech Center).

The 2026 Hack the Language Flagship Hackathon, held at the University of Georgia April 10–11, brought together 45 students from 13 colleges and universities representing 15 Language Flagship programs. Participants worked in six languages: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese and Russian.

Led by UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ faculty members Molly Godwin-Jones and Richard Medina, students worked in multilingual teams to create AI-powered tools that build on InContext, a free educational app developed with support from the Tech Center to help language learners navigate cultural misunderstandings.

“This event gives students an opportunity to creatively and critically apply generative AI technology to authentic language learning challenges,” said Julio Rodriguez, director of the Tech Center and principal investigator of the national project. “By focusing on generative AI and intercultural communication, participants were able to imagine new ways of helping learners engage.”

Nine teams spent two days designing and testing ideas. Each team included at least one computer science student, while many participants also brought study abroad experience to the challenge.

Winning project: same language, different locations

The winning project, GeoNorm AI, transforms InContext language-learning scenarios into interactive AI conversations while helping learners understand how the same language is used differently across countries and regions.

Two additional teams earned honorable mention. A Day Abroad developed a game that challenges users to navigate real-world cultural situations. Study Abroad with a Cephalopod featured “Cece the Cephalopod,” a customizable octopus guide that helps students practice language and cultural skills through interactive study abroad simulations.

“We are always impressed with how far students go,” said project lead Godwin-Jones. “There’s really no predicting what they will come up with in response to challenges that they themselves have identified in their language learning journeys.”

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ has secured additional licenses to keep up with employee demand for free courses on artificial intelligence (AI). Faculty, staff and students across the UH system are building AI literacy and in-demand workforce skills through the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH)-Google Community of Practice. The initiative connects 75 campuses nationwide, offering free, self-paced online courses via Coursera.

The available curriculum includes two AI Essentials courses and nine Grow with Google Career Certificate courses, such as UX Design, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, and Cybersecurity. Participants earn digital badges upon completion, which can be displayed on résumés and professional profiles. These micro-credentials are backed by the American Council on Education and demonstrate proficiency in skills identified as in-demand by more than 1,500 employers.

Previously, UH secured renewable licenses for 3,500 simultaneous enrollments. Since the announcement in April, more than 4,800 UH community members have enrolled in courses. So far, more than 1,300 have completed one of these courses. To meet this ongoing interest, UH has expanded capacity, making 5,000 licenses available for AI Essentials and 7,500 for Google Career Certificate courses through December 2027.

“AI is reshaping every industry, and our goal is to ensure the UH community is ahead of the curve,” said Gloria Niles, chief academic technology innovation officer. “Expanding our partnership with NASH and Google allows us to remove barriers to professional development, giving our students, staff and faculty the tools they need to innovate in their current roles and thrive in the future.”

This initiative is part of UH’s broader commitment to workforce development as outlined in the UH System’s Â鶹´«Ã½.

Researchers at the and UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM) were awarded more than $12 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID)—a new research center dedicated to accelerating biomedical discoveries through artificial intelligence and data science to benefit people in Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific region, and worldwide.

Funded through the NIH‘s (COBRE) program, the five-year award will provide approximately $12 million through February 2031. The award was administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, with a federal award date of June 4, 2026.

The center will be led by Principal Investigators John Shepherd and Youping Deng. Shepherd is chief scientific officer at the UH Cancer Center, and B.H. and Alice C. Beams Endowed Professor in Cancer Research at JABSOM. Deng is co-director, Genomics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, at the UH Cancer Center; and professor and director, Bioinformatics Core Facility, at JABSOM.

PAC-AID will serve as a central hub integrating AI into biomedical research to improve health outcomes in Â鶹´«Ã½. Over five years, the project will renovate the UH Cancer Center Data Center to establish a new Medical AI Core (MedAI Core), providing advanced, high-performance computing resources and AI expertise. Physically located within both the UH Cancer Center and JABSOM on the shared Kakaʻako campus, PAC-AID will directly fund four major inaugural research projects and establish a Pilot Projects Program to support more than eight new, locally relevant pilot studies.

“At the heart of our mission as a flagship research university is the drive to translate innovation into meaningful impact,” said Vassilis Syrmos, incoming chancellor of UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. “PAC-AID is a vital expansion of that mission, enabling our faculty to harness the power of artificial intelligence to pioneer new avenues of biomedical inquiry that were previously unreachable, solidifying the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹’s role as a global leader in health innovation.”

“AI has the potential to unlock major medical breakthroughs and help people live healthier lives, and we need to take advantage of it,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who played a pivotal role in securing the grant. “This new funding will help Â鶹´«Ã½ continue to attract top-tier talent and develop treatments and cures that will benefit people across the state.”

“The $12 million over five years will substantially strengthen AI and data science capabilities and support the development of the next generation of investigators,” said UH Cancer Center Director Naoto T. Ueno. “The research advances made possible by PAC-AID will further the UH Cancer Center’s work toward new understandings and treatments for cancer, to save lives in Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific, and across the globe.” In addition, high paying jobs generated by this project will have a strong economic benefit for our local communities.

“At JABSOM, our mission is to improve the health of Â鶹´«Ã½ through education and research,” said Sam Shomaker, JABSOM dean. “This investment will help accelerate discoveries that address the real health challenges facing our communities and ensure that advances in AI translate into better outcomes for patients.”

Enabling workforce development

Shepherd and Deng will oversee efforts to build research capacity, as well as foster the next generation of independent investigators using artificial intelligence and advanced data science approaches to address critical medical and public health challenges. Beyond funding research, this award establishes a workforce development mechanism to support the next generation of faculty investigators.

“This COBRE award provides the critical infrastructure to bridge advanced AI computational methods with our specific clinical and community health challenges,” Shepherd said. “By fostering a collaborative environment for our investigators, we are equipping them with the technical capabilities to tackle the most persistent health disparities in our islands and turn complex data into actionable health solutions.”

“By the end of this project, we expect to have a nationally competitive Medical AI Core, four independently funded research leaders, and more than 10 pilot projects,” said Deng. “Through these efforts, alongside workshops and collaborative research opportunities, we will significantly strengthen Â鶹´«Ã½‘s capacity for AI-enabled biomedical research and innovation to address important health challenges in our region and beyond.”

Transforming medical research with AI

Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming healthcare and biomedical research by helping scientists analyze large and complex datasets, identify patterns that may otherwise go undetected, and accelerate the development of new approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

AI has the potential to unlock major medical breakthroughs and help people live healthier lives, and we need to take advantage of it.
—U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

Shepherd, who leads the , is using a massive breast imaging database to develop AI biomarkers that predict cancer risk specifically for Asian and Pacific Islander populations.

The new PAC-AID will support similar faculty-led research projects, provide funding for pilot studies, and establish shared research resources that can be used by investigators across disciplines.

Initial funded projects include AI-driven research by UH Cancer Center researchers Kevin Cassel (using full-body imaging to triage skin lesions) and Elizabeth Nakasone (studying pancreatic cancer in Native Hawaiian and Japanese populations); UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ public health researcher Jonathan Huang (modeling environmental toxicant effects on fetal development); and JABSOM researcher Yiqiang Zhang (identifying genetic traits in congenital heart disease).

COBRE Phase 1 grants focus on the development of independent biomedical researchers and research centers, and are designed to have a 15-year cycle.

“PAC-AID is specifically designed to develop six to eight early-stage faculty members at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ and across Pacific Island institutions who will use artificial intelligence and data science to address cancer and chronic disease outcomes in one of the nation’s most medically underserved and understudied regions,” Shepherd said.

He added that the expected impact to Â鶹´«Ã½ is substantial. “Our benchmark for success is that the funded faculty projects, four initially and two to four more when those graduate in year 3, and will later achieve independent NIH R01 (Research 01 level university) funding at an estimated $3.25 million per award. That represents a projected $19.5 million in additional federal research funding returned to the State of Â鶹´«Ã½ (six funded R01s) on top of the initial $12 million COBRE award itself — a combined potential economic and research impact of more than $31 million for Â鶹´«Ã½‘s research and healthcare workforce. These estimates are for the first 5-year period.”

PAC-AID joins a growing portfolio of NIH-funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, including the , and the .

As the economy rapidly evolves through artificial intelligence (AI), the Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training (PCATT) is bolstering local workforce readiness. The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College consortium hosted the PCATT AI Summit 2026: AI for Action and Impact at the Ala Moana Hotel June 4–5, bringing together industry leaders, educators and UH professionals to tackle the evolving technological landscape.

Celebrating PCATT‘s 25th anniversary, the summit focused on four core pillars: Trust in AI, AI & The Future of Work, Public/Social Interest in AI, and The Mechanics of AI. The event emphasized the necessity of collaboration between local businesses and schools to advance AI literacy and create stable economic pathways in the islands.

UH System Senior Advisor to the President Kim Siegenthaler opened the gathering, emphasizing how artificial intelligence is actively reshaping Â鶹´«Ã½‘s economy and workforce alignment.

Keynote speakers included Chris Barton, creator of Shazam (a breakthrough music recognition mobile application), and Dave Free of the Cisco Networking Academy, who offered strategies for innovation and adapting education training to rapid technological change.

Building a resilient workforce

“I was inspired by the discussions on finding the balance between leveraging AI‘s power while maintaining ethical standards and human connection,” said attendee Alexi Drouin. “As AI continues to change how we learn and work, it’s clear that our adaptability and human insights are more valuable than ever.”

For industry experts, the summit highlighted the necessity of bridging the gap between classroom training and real-world application.

“Attending the PCATT AI Summit was an incredible opportunity to engage with Â鶹´«Ã½‘s tech educators and industry leaders,” noted Branden Baker of Intech Â鶹´«Ã½. “Discussing how we can safely leverage AI to build a resilient workforce and diversify Â鶹´«Ã½‘s economy is vital to our collective future.”

Lakshanya Krishnarajan, a healthcare IT professional, added, “The sessions provided deep insights into how AI is transforming education, cybersecurity and workforce development. From learning about trust in AI models to seeing real-world demos of how we can build practical digital prototypes, this summit provided actionable steps to bring back to our community.”

University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (ICS) students showcased innovative solutions to real-world challenges during their Spring 2026 Capstone Project Day in May 2026.

The event featured poster presentations and demonstrations from undergraduate and graduate students who spent the semester collaborating with government agencies, private industry, nonprofit organizations and UH departments on projects designed to address practical needs across Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond.

Projects ranged from integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools for legislative operations and developing cybersecurity training platforms for critical infrastructure systems to creating immersive educational experiences, analyzing environmental and fisheries data, tracking coffee provenance through blockchain technology and applying AI to agricultural research.

Capstone teams partnered with organizations including the Â鶹´«Ã½ State House of Representatives, Department of Defense, MITRE, Business Solution Technologies, Pacific Economics, Kahuku Apps, Blockchain in Paradise and the Waikīkī Aquarium. Additional collaborations involved UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Shidler College of Business, College of Engineering and College of Natural Sciences.

“Technology evolves quickly, but curiosity, creativity and collaboration remain essential skills,” said ICS Department Chair Guylaine Poisson. “These projects give students an opportunity to explore emerging technologies while developing the judgment and leadership abilities that will help them make meaningful contributions throughout their careers.”

Classroom knowledge, professional workplaces

The gives students opportunities to work directly with clients, define project requirements, develop software solutions and present their results to stakeholders. The experience mirrors professional workplace environments while allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to meaningful community, industry and government challenges.

Project Day also featured presentations from the Naval Information Warfare Center internship program at Kapiʻolani Community College and video games developed by students in the department’s Video Game Design courses.

The capstone program continues to serve as a bridge between the university and industry partners, providing organizations with innovative solutions while helping students build technical, communication and project management skills through hands-on experience.

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is housed in UH Mānoa .

A University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa research team has received advanced computing hardware through the to support work on artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation wireless communication technologies.

Led by Assistant Professor in collaboration with Associate Professor , the team was selected to receive four NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell graphics processing units. The high-performance computer processors will support research on AI, next-generation wireless networks, cybersecurity and other emerging communication technologies. The computing resources will strengthen UH Mānoa’s research capabilities while expanding opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in AI and wireless networking technologies.

“Our goal is to build wireless systems that are not only faster but also smarter and more adaptable to real-world environments,” Xue said. “These new computing resources will accelerate our research while giving students valuable experience with the tools that are shaping the future of communications and AI.”

Practical solutions, wireless networks

The project is part of UH Mānoa’s growing efforts in communications, cyber-physical systems and networked infrastructure. Through collaborations with academic and industry partners, the research team aims to develop practical solutions for future wireless networks while addressing challenges relevant to Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s transportation, logistics and critical infrastructure sectors.

Part of the team’s research focuses on creating digital models of smart ports that combine wireless sensing, AI-powered radio access networks and real-time infrastructure monitoring. The technology could help improve operations at ports and other large transportation hubs, where moving vehicles, shipping containers and changing conditions can interfere with wireless signals.

The research also supports broader efforts to improve connected infrastructure with potential applications in transportation systems, logistics and other environments that rely on dependable communication networks.

Beyond advancing research, the NVIDIA award will provide new opportunities for workforce development by allowing students to work directly with cutting-edge computing technology used in industry and academia.

A data scientist at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo has launched a year-long project to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can help scientists, students, emergency managers, and the public better understand natural hazards such as volcanic activity, wildfires, tsunamis, and other disasters. The main idea of the project, named VULCAN-AI, is to use AI as a support tool for hazard intelligence and public communication.

“During a disaster, there is often a huge amount of information coming in at once: live camera feeds, satellite images, sensor readings, weather data, maps and scientific reports,” said Sukhwa Hong, UH Hilo associate professor of and who specializes in AI for business analytics. “VULCAN-AI is designed to help organize that information and turn it into clear, plain-language summaries that people can understand.”

With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s throughout the next year, Hong plans to build and test the AI-agent system using live Â鶹´«Ã½ Island volcano feeds, environmental data, and example volcanic and wildfire scenarios.

He emphasizes that the goal of the project is not to replace scientists or official emergency alerts. Instead, the goal is to show how AI can responsibly support human experts by helping detect changes, organize information, and explain what is happening more clearly to the public.

“What excites me most is that this project shows a positive use of AI,” said Hong. “AI is often discussed as a threat, but when used carefully and responsibly, it can help communities, support science, improve emergency communication, respect local knowledge, and give students hands-on experience with technology that serves the public good.”

He plans to hire UH Hilo students through NSF’s undergraduate research program to work with him on AI testing, live-feed monitoring, data preparation, visualization and public communication.

—By Susan Enright, UH Hilo Stories

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes the global job market, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½-based non-profit) for a four-part symposium series titled, “The AI Transformation: Preparing Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Workforce for the Future.”

The second event of the series, “The AI transformation: Preparing Â鶹´«Ã½â€™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 Â鶹´«Ã½” will focus on the business case for responsible AI adoption, including industry-specific opportunities and risks, workforce impacts, and recommendations for Â鶹´«Ã½â€™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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½‘s workforce development.

“The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½â€™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 Â鶹´«Ã½ Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, highlighted the necessity of cross-agency collaboration.

“Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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.”

An innovative University of Â鶹´«Ã½ research team is using trail cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) to better understand how much fog contributes water to native ecosystems and groundwater recharge. Led in part by Honolulu Community College Professor John DeLay, the project focuses on Mount Kaʻala, °¿ʻ²¹³ó³Ü’s highest peak and an essential watershed.

“If we can keep the project going long enough, we might be able to detect a change in the lifting condensation level—affecting the extent of cloud and fog at the canopy level,” DeLay said.

Recharging the aquifer

Supported by the UH Office of Innovation and Commercialization, the system has achieved up to 93% accuracy in identifying fog conditions across different sites in both day and night conditions. This allows researchers to build long-term records of fog frequency and examine how moisture patterns vary.

“Not only is it really important for these ecosystems, which have fragile native species that need a lot of moisture and water, it’s also recharging out water budgets and our aquifer,” said Joel Nicolow, a UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ graduate research assistant in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

Turning to AI

Historically, measuring this critical moisture required highly specialized personnel and expensive, complex equipment. The team turned to technology for a solution.

“We wanted to look at using cameras as a much more scalable, cost-effective approach,” explained researcher Dylan Giardana of the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Water Resources Research Center. “We use a machine learning model to classify all the images that we’re getting from these trail cameras.”

Their analysis shows that fog frequency jumps dramatically from about 10% at an elevation of 600 meters to 70% at the 1,200-meter summit. Understanding these patterns is essential as climate change and invasive species threaten natural watersheds. Long-term data may also help land managers in adapting conservation strategies.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa introduced : a free, comprehensive call-for-papers (CFP) aggregator tailored for the legal academy. It offers real-time information on CFPs for conferences, symposia, workshops, law reviews and scholarly blogs. By leveraging a tiered system of artificial intelligence (AI) agents,

The Docket indexes more than 500 active sources—continuously discovering, classifying and triaging opportunities under expert human supervision. Legal scholars from around the world can now search the site, subscribe to filtered email digests, and export deadlines directly to their calendars.

“The Docket reflects the kind of work we strive to cultivate at Richardson,” UH law school Dean Camille Nelson said. “By expanding access to opportunities for legal scholars, this initiative strengthens the exchange of ideas that is essential to advancing justice.”

Law Professor Guy Rubinstein identified the need for a centralized legal CFP aggregator and initiated the project.

“There have never been more opportunities for law professors to present, share and publish their work,” said Rubinstein. “However, due to the abundance of listservs, blogs and social media platforms, it is becoming increasingly difficult for scholars to track every opportunity. I wanted to create a tool that would bridge that gap by bringing everything into one view.”

Institutional growth

After a successful trial period and feedback from UH law school faculty, the platform was officially launched to the community. Professor Brian Huffman, UH law school’s electronic services librarian and director of faculty development, sees the tool as a vital resource for institutional growth.

“The Docket uniquely supports faculty development and scholarship by spotlighting publishing and presentation opportunities, enabling faculty to engage quickly and strategically with the broader academic community,” said Huffman. “The library supports this project in its effort to help faculty research and promote their scholarship as well as improve professional development. Other peer institutions will also certainly benefit from The Docket as this site is free and open to all.”

Collaboration brings project to life

To bring the vision to life, Rubinstein collaborated with Benjamin Leider, the innovation fellow at the UH law school. A UH law school alumnus whose background bridges the gap between academic scholarship and technical development, Leider built the platform from the ground up.

“Surprisingly, getting AI to do real work was much more like management than dealing with technology,” Leider said. “AI agents need clearly defined jobs, and they need the right tools to do them. When they fail, it’s almost always because job expectations are unclear, or because the tools provide a bad user experience—a bad experience for the agents themselves—or because you’re expecting one agent to have the expertise of three specialists.”

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ community gathered for a virtual keynote exploring the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) on April 27. The event drew interest across the system, hosting nearly 500 attendees online.

Microsoft’s AI Innovation Officer Michael J. Jabbour led the session, focusing on human-centered organizational transformation and the intersection of human and AI in education and healthcare.

Â鶹´«Ã½President Wendy Hensel opened the webinar stating: “At the University of Â鶹´«Ã½, we recognize the question is not whether we will embrace AI, but how we will do so. As you know, we’ve been setting up a systemwide AI initiative and conversation that we launched last year that we will scale significantly in the year ahead to educate our community on AI. As an example of this you may know we recently launched artificial intelligence for Â鶹´«Ã½ course which is a free 12-chapter interactive course accessible through the .”

A central theme of Jabbour’s presentation was the importance of maintaining human direction as AI capabilities rapidly expand. He warned that while AI can generate an infinite amount of output, humans must stay driven by actual outcomes. To foster critical thinking, especially among students, Jabbour shared how he encourages his own children to interact with AI models by instructing them to “teach me, don’t tell me,” ensuring that users maintain active agency.

“The only thing I ask you to consider, whether it’s with an AI or it’s with a human, is to think before you ask,” Jabbour said. “Because if you’re throwing ideas out there and asking the AI before you’ve thought, the AI‘s thinking now becomes your thinking and you don’t get a choice.”

Looking ahead, Jabbour noted that up to 70% of every hour worked could soon be automated, and that models are quickly matching human intelligence in specific tasks. With more than 60% of employers indicating they will not hire individuals lacking AI skills, he stated that educational institutions must adapt to avoid a big skills gap in training the up and coming workforce.

When asked how students can prepare for a workforce heavily impacted by AI, Jabbour highlighted adaptability, curiosity and human connection. He advised that the future of work will rely less on manual tasks and more on the human ability to clearly express goals and direct outcomes alongside AI.

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Garret Yoshimi, vice president for information technology and chief information officer at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ System, will retire effective June 1, 2026, following more than a decade in the role and a long career in information technology serving Â鶹´«Ã½. His final day in the office will be May 22.

Yoshimi returned to UH in January 2015 and has played a central role in guiding the university’s information technology strategy across its 10 campuses. He previously served as telecommunications manager and director of technology infrastructure for the university system.

“Garret is not only exceptionally knowledgeable and widely respected in his field, but also one of the kindest and most thoughtful colleagues you could ever hope to work with, and he will be greatly missed across the University of Â鶹´«Ã½,” said UH President Wendy Hensel in a message to university leadership. “Please join me in thanking Garret for his many contributions to UH and in wishing him all the best in his retirement.”

“It has been my privilege to work with such a dedicated team, including going beyond the call for multiple high-profile efforts,” Yoshimi said in a message to UH ITS employees. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished together, that made a material difference for our UH community, and our global community of institutional peers and partners.”

Leading systemwide innovation and connectivity

During his leadership, Yoshimi oversaw systemwide efforts to modernize information technology services, strengthen cybersecurity protections and expand digital tools supporting teaching, learning and operations across the university.

Among his recent initiatives, Yoshimi helped lead efforts to position Â鶹´«Ã½ as a global connectivity hub. In 2025, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ System advanced a partnership with Google on a proposed trans-Pacific subsea fiber optic system, including a cable landing station at UH West Oʻahu aimed at expanding international connectivity and improving network resilience across Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific region.

He also supported a collaboration with Google Public Sector to develop artificial intelligence tools to support student career pathways, connecting academic programs with workforce opportunities in Â鶹´«Ã½.

Yoshimi and colleagues have been recognized for their longstanding contributions to global research and education networking. In 2026, he was part of a UH team honored with the CENIC Innovations in Networking Award for Network Partner, recognizing more than 35 years of work connecting Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Pacific to global research networks.

He received the ACUTA Bill D. Morris Award for individual leadership from the Association for College and University Technology Advancement and remains active in national higher education IT organizations, including EDUCAUSE and Internet2.

A Honolulu native, Yoshimi has nearly five decades of experience in information technology leadership across higher education, government and the private sector. He was appointed vice president for information technology and chief information officer in 2015, succeeding David Lassner, who went on to serve as UH president. In addition to his time at the UH, Yoshimi’s career includes leadership roles with the Â鶹´«Ã½ State Judiciary—where he served as its first chief information officer—the East-West Center and DTRIC Insurance.

Yoshimi earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a graduate certificate in telecommunications and information resource management from the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹.

During the transition, Brad Christ, associate vice president and deputy chief information officer, will serve as interim vice president for information technology and chief information officer.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ community is invited to a virtual keynote exploring the intersection of technology and human potential, featuring Microsoft’s AI Innovation Officer Michael J. Jabbour. The session will dive into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and its transformative implications for the future of education and healthcare.

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Event details:

• Speaker: Michael J. Jabbour (AI Innovation Officer, Microsoft, Office of the CTO)
• Date: Monday, April 27
• Time: 12–1:30 p.m.

About the keynote:

Jabbour leads research in human-AI collaboration, biologically inspired AI, and the future of work. A recognized leader in large-scale organizational transformation, he previously served as CIO/CTO for several New York City agencies, including the Department of Education. He is a regular guest lecturer at top universities.

What you will discover:

• AI fundamentals: Explore the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence, including its uncharted propensity to “hallucinate.”
• Revolutionizing education: Learn how AI can revolutionize education by enhancing teaching and learning experiences with cutting-edge tools and personalized methodologies.
• Practical integration: Dive into the potential of AI to automate routine tasks, stimulate collaborative learning, and foster bespoke educational journeys.
• Actionable insights: Equip yourself with practical use cases and insights on seamlessly integrating AI into your classroom or institution, paving the way for a future where education is intuitively tailored, engaging, and impactful.

The UH community is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to hear from a national leader in AI innovation and explore how these emerging technologies are shaping the future of education and healthcare.