Approximately 250 participants gathered to explore Indigenous innovation and knowledge at the University of �鶹��ý Innovation Conference held November 8 at the �鶹��ý Convention Center.

The conference, “,” brought together experts and community members to identify solutions in key areas including Indigenous data visualization tools, traditional healing practices, knowledge systems integration and community partnership development.

“Indigenous action means continuity and it speaks to a time when human society had deep ties to their landscape and family units,” said Kamuela Enos, (OIKI) director and one of the conference’s keynote speakers. “The technologies, their education and all the different systems that they designed were optimized for how people live in place indefinitely.”

UH is a trailblazer in weaving ancestral and contemporary technologies through its groundbreaking Indigenous Data Hub at UH West Oʻahu. Students have the opportunity to enact change in their communities through place-based data visualization projects. Kari Noe, head of the UH Indigenous data hub, was one of the conference panelists. UH is also leading the conversation among Indigenous organizations, aiming to grow innovation partnerships and initiatives.

“Because there’s some really big challenges and opportunities in our state, whether that is energy, health equity, agriculture, these are areas where Indigenous knowledge actually drives success in the future,” said Vassilis Syrmos. “That’s why we think Indigeneity and how we do things within our communities will educate our future practices.”

��ū��ʻ�� Zane, board president of the Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation and creative director of Sig Zane Designs, opened the conference alongside Enos, setting the context for Indigenous-centered innovation. Presentations included insights from health practitioners integrating traditional healing methods and demonstrations of new Indigenous data tools.

Nikora Ngaropo, CEO of Nikora Ngaropo Motion Design/Young Animators New Zealand, delivered the lunch keynote on Indigenous innovation trajectory. The event concluded with panels featuring local organizations including Purple Maiʻa Foundation, MAʻO Organic Farms and other UH research initiatives.

The conference highlighted UH’s ongoing commitment to supporting community-driven research and initiatives that preserve and advance Indigenous practices while positioning community practitioners as innovators in their fields.

The University of �鶹��ý set another extramural funding record with $615.7 million in fiscal year 2024 (FY 2024). This marks the third consecutive year that UH has topped half a billion dollars in funding with a record-setting total that is a $99.8 million or a 19.3% increase over UH’s previous record of $515.9 million set in FY 2023.

Extramural funding is external investments from external agencies such as the federal government, industry and non-profit organizations that support research and training activities conducted by university faculty and staff. Extramural projects support research and innovation that helps to increase the knowledge base and provide solutions that impact the quality of life across �鶹��ý and beyond.

“Setting back-to-back-to-back records in extramural funding is truly an impressive achievement for the University of �鶹��ý and our state,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos. “Our faculty, staff and students have once again answered the call with their hard work and dedication to grow the UH research enterprise, and at the same time, helping us to serve as a major contributor to �鶹��ý’s economy.”

Syrmos noted that UH research expenditures contribute to �鶹��ý’s economy through business sales, employee earnings, state tax revenue and job creation; and serves as the main component in the diversification of the state’s economy.

Based on the findings of a 2021 economic impact report published by the UH Economic Research Organization, $615 million in extramural funding is estimated to generate $947 million in total business sales, $434 million in employee earnings and $53 million in state tax revenue, and is currently supporting over 10,000 jobs (UH and RCUH employees)

“This steadily increasing investment in UH by external organizations, now totaling well over $1.5 billion dollars in the past three years, demonstrates global recognition of the greatness of �鶹��ý’s public higher education system,” said UH President David Lassner. “Every one of these dollars is a testament to the intellectual capacity and capability of our entire UH community to address the challenges and opportunities facing �鶹��ý and our planet.”

, UH’s flagship university, led the extramural award amounts this year with $464.9 million. The UH System brought in $71.2 million, totaled $51.1 million, received $22.6 million and totaled $5.9 million.

“State appropriations provide a foundation for the strong research enterprise that allows us to bring in even more resources, enabling us to do so much more for �鶹��ý than we could do with General Funds and tuition alone,” said Lassner.

Examples of UH programs that attracted the attention of funders:

• UH Hilo was awarded $2.3 million of a first-of-its-kind, $6.6 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to lead a three-university consortium to establish a National Native American Language Resource Center that will advocate for and implement training and resource development for Indigenous language education pathways in the U.S. (More info in this UH News story)


• The at UH ����ԴDz� received a $10.6 million sub-award from the Lynker Corporation to establish the �鶹��ý Climate-Smart Partnership to assist �鶹��ý farmers, ranchers and foresters to implement climate-smart practices and to establish stronger markets for locally produced healthy food and products. (More info in this UH News story)
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $5.2 million cooperative agreement for natural resources and threatened and endangered species management by the , which is administratively run by the UH Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. ()



• The U.S. Department of Education awarded the $1 million to Cultivating 21st Century Leaders Through an Indigenous Data Hub in Kohala, �鶹��ý to expand this initiative to the �鶹��ý Island community.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health awarded a $2 million cooperative agreement to the to continue community-based efforts to address health disparities in Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. (More info in this UH News story)
• The received a $5.8 million grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to continue a wide area survey of Near Space Objects at its Pan-STARRS observatory on Haleakalā, Maui.
• The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine awarded $4.1 million of a $27.1 million sub-award to the to establish the Red Hill Independent Health Registry to provide direct support and resources to individuals impacted by the fuel spill and water crisis. (More info in this UH News story)
• UH ����ԴDz�’s received $4.2 million of a $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish an Integrative Center for Precision Nutrition and Human Health to foster more impactful and relevant research to communities most affected by nutrition-related health conditions.
• The National Science Foundation awarded a $824,999 grant to for its collaborative proposal with multiple tribal colleges to advance cybersecurity education. (More info in this UH News story)

Syrmos added that more than $80 million in awards received from the federal government, which have significant impacts to the state and the nation, were secured through the close coordination between UH and �鶹��ý’s congressional delegation, which includes U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and U.S. Representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda.

Governor Josh Green

“We have talked for decades about diversifying �鶹��ý‘s economy and it makes me so proud to see that the University of �鶹��ý is doing it. Three consecutive years of topping half a billion dollars in extramural funding and this year, setting a record of $615.7M, is incredible. Having the best and the brightest researchers at UH boosts our state’s economy and provides access to valuable insight and expertise in dealing with problems facing our community, like COVID-19, climate change, conservation and renewable energy. It also demonstrates to our young people, considering their futures, that coming to UH and staying in �鶹��ý to advance their careers is indeed an option.”

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz

“UH is a world-class institution for research and higher education that’s helping power �鶹��ý’s economy,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Our work to secure record federal funding for UH this year will help build a new Native language center in Hilo, support research on climate change and health disparities, improve educational programs across its ten campuses, and help strengthen the UH system for thousands of students and faculty.”

U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono

“This historic funding for the UH System has supported a broad range of projects on UH campuses throughout the state, enabling UH faculty and students to do more cutting-edge research on issues critical to our state, our country, and our planet. This funding is a testament to UH’s ambitious pursuit of competitive federal funding, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues in the Congressional delegation to support federal funding for institutions across �鶹��ý.”

U.S. Representative Ed Case (�鶹��ý—First District)

“This third straight year of record increase in federal and other extramural funding for the University of �鶹��ý is very good news on several levels. First, it is a testament to UH’s growing research and innovation talent and international recognition. Second, it reflects the advanced partnerships that UH has forged in successfully identifying and jointly pursuing funding opportunities including with our �鶹��ý Congressional delegation. Third, it increases UH’s contributions to our overall �鶹��ý economy in creating and expanding connected businesses and high-quality jobs. As good as this result is, there is plenty of room for continued growth on all levels as we all stay focused on further opportunities. But for now, great job UH!”

U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (�鶹��ý—Second District)

“UH has long been a research one (R1) university ranking among the country’s elite institutions, but this new record level of extramural funding sets it apart in its ability to both perform and innovate. While the infusion of well over half a billion dollars in research dollars is significant to our local economy, what excites me is the learning and career opportunities it provides our local youth and the ability for them to remain in �鶹��ý to work in fields they are passionate about.”

A new $2-million award will help the University of �鶹��ý address Indigenous health disparities and advance health equity in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities.

The award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) supports (CIIHE, pronounced: cheeee heee), which has the potential to receive an additional $8 million from OMH over the next four years.

The five-year initiative places an emphasis on implementing innovative and culturally derived frameworks to prevent and improve disparities in chronic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, in partnership with Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, a federally qualified health center based in Honolulu.

“We are excited by the opportunity that this project provides us to continue to directly support our regional cultural practitioners communities in growing the evidence base for understanding traditional cultural practices as effective contemporary health interventions,” said Principal Investigator and Director Kamuela Enos.

UH’s effort will focus on supporting community-based efforts that increase NHPI patients’ exposure to traditional cultural practices like ����ʻ���� lapaʻau (plant medicine), cultural birthing practices, mālama ʻ�徱�Բ� (caring for the land), lomilomi (massage) and ʻai pono (healthy eating). These practices can serve as a buffer against chronic diseases, specifically cardiometabolic diseases and mental health disorders, through collaborative service, education, research and policy initiatives.

CIIHE was launched by a $1-million grant in fiscal year 2021 from HHS OMH. The Center was created through a vision between Enos and Director and CIIHE Co-Principal Investigator Aimee Malia Grace.

In early 2023, CIIHE received an additional $4.6 million through an anonymous gift that will fund the Center’s first endowed chair and provide funding for programs and activities to advance their work.

“American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations experience a high burden of health disparities or differences in health outcomes compared to other populations,” said Rear Admiral Felicia Collins, MD, deputy assistant secretary for minority health and OMH director. “Thus, we are pleased that the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity will continue to develop, implement, and evaluate culturally appropriate approaches for reducing and eliminating these disparities through partnerships with academic institutions, Indigenous leaders, and community members.”

For the second consecutive year, the University of �鶹��ý has set a record in extramural funding at $515.9 million for fiscal year 2023 (FY2023), $10.9 million more over the previous record of $505 million set in FY2022.

, the flagship campus of UH’s 10 campus system, led the extramural award amounts this year with $342.7 million. The UH System brought in $117.7 million, totaled $33.7 million, received $17.8 million and totaled $4 million.

“We are extremely proud of our back-to-back record hauls in extramural funding, despite having to deal with a myriad of challenges due to the recent pandemic and its lingering after-effects on the world economy and our funders,” said UH Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos. “The accolades must be given to our faculty, staff and graduate students for their hard work and dedication to the UH research enterprise and to the state of �鶹��ý.”

Extramural funding is external investments from governmental agencies such as the federal government, industry and non-profit organizations that support research and training activities conducted by university faculty and staff. Extramural projects support research and innovation that help to increase knowledge and provide solutions to improve quality of life.

“Every dollar invested by one of our extramural sponsors is a vote of confidence that UH faculty, staff and students are creating a better future for �鶹��ý and the world,” said UH President David Lassner. “This includes everything from climate change, resilience, water quality and energy solutions to addressing health disparities, educational inequities, feeding our population, and training �鶹��ý‘s people for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Several examples of UH programs that attracted the attention of funders:

• The Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges was awarded $16.3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce for the “Resilient �鶹��ý: Good Jobs Challenge” initiative that provides employer-driven training in living-wage jobs to individuals whose employment was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more on UH News.
• The received $5.5 million from NASA to continue a wide area survey of Near Earth Objects at its Pan-STARRS observatory on Haleakalā, Maui. Read more on UH News.
• The was awarded $4.5 million, as part of a five-year $23 million grant from the National Institutes for Health (NIH) for Ola HAWAII, a multidisciplinary research center that addresses health disparities in underserved, multiethnic populations in �鶹��ý. Read more on UH News.



• UH’s received $4 million, as part of a five-year $20 million grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF), to integrate climate and data science research under its “Change HI” initiative. Read more on UH News.
• The received $3.6 million from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to continue its research and maintenance support of the U.S. Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site in Kāneʻohe Bay. Read more on UH News.



• ONR awarded UH a $2.4 million grant to partner with the University of Alaska and the University of Rhode Island to develop and advance energy, marine and other blue economy technologies and opportunities through the . Read more on UH News.
• NIH awarded $2.4 million to the to continue its important Multiethnic Cohort Study. Read more on UH News.



• was awarded $2 million of a $3.5 million grant by NSF’s Tribal Colleges and Universities Program to establish its Kiaʻi Loko Center for Limu Research. The center focuses on applying traditional Native Hawaiian knowledge alongside Western scientific methods to study limu (algae) and traditional Hawaiian fishponds. Read more on UH News.
• UH ����ԴDz�’s (SOEST) was awarded $3 million by ONR to map flood risks related to sea-level rise in �鶹��ý.
• The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded SOEST and the another $1.5 million increment of a five-year, $25 million project to develop an engineered coral reef system to protect coastlines from flooding, erosion and storm damage. Read more on UH News.
• The received $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to restore ancestral and cultural practices to improve health equity among Native Hawaiians and NHPI communities.
• UH Hilo received $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Education for its E Hoi I Ke Kumu program to address the Hawaiian language immersion teacher shortage in the state.
• UH was awarded a $1 million NSF Engines Development Award to establish its Climate-Resilient Food Innovation Network that will serve as a hub for �鶹��ý and U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands to develop collaborative, food innovation solutions driven by Indigenous knowledge systems and modern technology. UH could be eligible for another award of up to $160 million. Read more on UH News.
• UH West Oʻahu received a $944,307 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop its He Paepae Aloha curriculum to increase Native Hawaiian participation and completion of post-secondary education through the incorporation of Native Hawaiian traditions and culture.