Thousands of travelers pass through Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport every day, but few may realize the vibrant mural in Lobby Four welcoming them was created by a recent University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduate balancing double majors, cheerleading and a dream project years in the making.

Just weeks after graduating with degrees in and , (CALL) graduate Rachel Radona is already leaving her mark on �鶹��ý through a large-scale mural installation celebrating aloha, community and island life.

“It was definitely an ‘oh my gosh’ moment,” Radona said. “This is crazy.”

The opportunity came after Radona completed one of her early mural projects at the UH Federal Credit Union branch in Kapolei. Soon after, she received a call about a possible airport mural project from people who had been following her work.

Although several artists were considered through a selective process, Radona’s vision stood out. Her mural centers around plumeria flowers, symbolizing �鶹��ý’s welcoming spirit and lei-giving tradition.

“The whole lobby theme was about flowers and aloha,” she said. “People associate plumeria with giving and receiving lei, and that’s what the airport is all about.”

Aloha through art

Known for her graffiti-style art, Radona adapted her style to fit the project’s vibrant Hawaiian aesthetic while still bringing her own creative vision to life.

“I really wanted to embrace the feeling of getting a fresh lei,” she said. “The flowers are just so bright, and you can vividly smell everything and feel all of the aloha and mālama (care) that was put into making it.”

While completing the mural, Radona balanced the project alongside two majors and UH ����ԴDz� cheerleading. Still, she said the experience never felt like work.

“It honestly wasn’t that challenging when you love what you’re doing,” she said.

Now, as thousands of travelers pass through the airport, Radona hopes the mural reminds people that �鶹��ý’s true beauty comes from its people.

— by Willow Hutchison

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Recent University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduates Chloe Lavigne and Rachel Wong earned multiple honors at the 2026 Pele Awards, one of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s top advertising and design competitions.

Lavigne’s “Deconstruct Exhibition Campaign” received Best of Show–College and a Gold Pele in the integrated advertising campaign category. Her “Deconstruct App” also earned a Gold Pele. Lavigne and Wong additionally received a Bronze Pele for their “Synergy BFA Showcase Invitation.”

“My time in the BFA program taught me to think and produce like a designer through design history, concept development, and hands-on technical skills, pushing me to make research-driven, intentional decisions rather than choices based purely on aesthetics,” Lavigne said.

Visual storytelling

Lavigne grew up in Vermont, where she was surrounded by small local businesses and first became interested in visual storytelling through scrapbooking in middle school.

“I was instantly drawn to documenting lived experiences and experimenting with how different photos, materials, colors and compositions could shape a story,” Lavigne said.

Her award-winning “Deconstruct” project imagined a fictional exhibition for street artist Shepard Fairey at the Honolulu Museum of Art. The campaign included posters, invitations, exhibition materials, a mobile app and even a branded skateboard.

The project encouraged viewers to think critically about media, persuasion and power while creating a more interactive museum experience.

Industry success

Chae Ho Lee, a design professor in UH ����ԴDz�’s , said the students’ commitment and openness to feedback helped make the projects successful.

“Both students worked tirelessly on several design drafts and were very open to constructive feedback,” Lee said.

Lee said UH ����ԴDz� students continue to perform strongly in the highly competitive Pele Awards.

“With an 86% career placement rate, the UH ����ԴDz� graphic design program prepares students for the competitive design industry,” Lee said. “The curriculum merges historical and theoretical foundations with hands-on, industry-aligned training.”

The Department of Art and Art History is housed in the .

Six students from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� dance program in the returned from an international dance tour across London, Paris and Poitiers, France this spring, performing and collaborating with artists from around the world.

The group, joined by two dance instructors, traveled in March and April for a tour that culminated at the innovative Festival à corps at the Université de Poitiers in France. The festival explores and questions the body and its aesthetic, physical and contemporary representations.

“Participating in an international tour showed me that movement transcends borders,” said Karissa Thuy Deen-Bugaj, a theatre and dance master of fine arts (MFA) candidate. “To feel an audience connected with the work across borders is one of the reasons I love my craft.”

Hina inspired

At the center of the tour was the original and dynamic production of Tides of the Moon, a 20-minute dance theater performance created by university educators and artists Sami L.A. Akuna and Kara Jhalak Miller.

Inspired by the Pacific Moon goddess Hina, the choreography explores the connection between water and sky, body and tide while reflecting on climate, change and transformation. The process based work was performed in Poitiers as part of an international festival. Tides of the Moon sold out and ended with a standing ovation.

“When the audience rose to their feet, cheering and applauding, I felt something happen that I’ve only read about in theory: the dancing body really can speak across cultures,” said Kun Zhou, a theatre and dance, and performance studies graduate student. “As a dance PhD student researching cross-cultural embodiment, that standing ovation turned theory into something I could feel in my own body.“

According to Akuna, Tides of the Moon drew from moʻolelo of Hina, the Hawaiian moon calendar and themes of climate change. While on tour, the dancers took part in performances, workshops and creative exchanges at the Intercultural Roots conference, dedicated to the cultivation of supportive environments in which artistic practices grow, contributing to positive transformation locally and globally.

“Our students interacted with performers from Portugal, Berlin, Korea and France through various workshops and performances and left with new friendships and a lasting experience they will never forget,” Akuna said.

Student artists

Students on the tour were Zhou, Thuy Deen-Bugaj, Ellie Fischenich, Santiago Isaac Rivera Rodas, Bayardo Rodriguez Jr. and Zhenhao Wen, who performed, taught and presented original choreography and dance films throughout the trip.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s Department of and will debut from April 17–26, a large-scale Balinese shadow puppetry performance that blends tradition with innovation. The show features towering shadow figures, live actors and dancers, and a full gamelan orchestra, an Indonesian ensemble known for its layered, rhythmic sound.

At the center is a love story that has traveled across centuries. The Panji tales, rooted in 13th-century Java and later embraced in Bali, follow a prince and princess separated again and again by misfortune and disguise. Their journey unfolds through “electric shadows,” a modern Balinese style that uses giant screens, dramatic lighting and performers moving both in front of and behind the stage.

“Everything you see on the screen is created live, in the moment,” said co-director Kirstin Pauka, a professor in theatre and dance. “This type of theatre is as complex as shooting a movie, and we do it all in one take.”

The production is co-directed by Balinese master artist I Madé Moja, who returns to Kennedy Theatre after staging two earlier works. The team leans fully into handmade design. No digital projections. No computer effects. Instead, simple materials are transformed into moving shadows, music and motion.

“The level of teamwork required goes far beyond most theatre productions,” Pauka said.

That collaboration stretches across campus and community. The cast includes UH ����ԴDz� students, local performers, and keiki learning the art form. The live music is led by master musician I Madé Widana.

Ticket information

. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, with a Sunday matinee on April 26. Pre-show talks will be held before select performances.

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A University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� professor emeritus is reshaping how scholars understand comic writing.

James E. Caron has published a new book, , examining how humor and satire developed within a specific aesthetic, comic belles lettres.

Caron’s research challenges a familiar narrative: American humor before the Civil War is often tied to frontier life and regional voices. But his book points to a broader, shared tradition between British and American writers.

“I want other scholars of American humor/culture to discover that a significant portion of antebellum comic writing in the U.S. shares a literary heritage with British writers,” said Caron, who taught at UH ����ԴDz� for 36 years. “The book stresses that transatlantic feature rather than the usual emphasis on comic writing with frontier settings and vernacular speech.”

Drawing on works by Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, as well as writers once popular but now largely forgotten, Caron traces a lineage of comic characters and styles that connect across two countries and multiple genres. The investigation looks beyond fiction, examining essays, reviews, and editorial writing to show how humor and satire operated in 18th- and 19th-century literary culture.

The project explores an important question: what kinds of comic writing were available in the United States before Mark Twain’s dominating influence on American satire?

“Turns out there is lots of popular comic writing before the Civil War that is very different from what Mark Twain has given us, a fact left out of standard literary histories,” Caron said.

His previous books include Satire as the Comic Public Sphere: Postmodern “Truthiness” and Civic Engagement (2021) and Mark Twain, Unsanctified Newspaper Reporter (2008), as well as his more recent study of 19th-century writer Fanny Fern.

His latest work can be found on the and on .

Ten graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50, and an additional 17 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2026 , released on April 7.

UH Mānoa’s (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and UH �ᾱ����’s ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked UH Mānoa programs were in the , ranking No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs.

The ranked No. 22 (tied) for best international programs, and the (SOEST) placed No. 40 (tied) for best Earth sciences programs. JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care.

“UH Mānoa’s strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “These results reflect the talent and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, and �鶹��ý can take pride in knowing their university is preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers for our community and the world.”

Rankings were based on multiple factors, including research activity (such as publications and citations), student and alumni outcomes (employment and earnings), quality assessments (from peers and recruiters), student selectivity (GPA and test scores), and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student-to-faculty ratios).

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these UH News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  Shidler College of Business  |  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Social Sciences  |  College of Engineering  |  College of Natural Sciences  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 16 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs, the �鶹��ýlaw school placed No. 91 (tied) among the top law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

• Tax law: No. 80 (tied)
• Criminal law: No. 88 (tied)
• Contracts/commercial law: No. 92 (tied)
• Health care law: No. 92 (tied)
• Constitutional law: No. 95 (tied)
• Business/corporate law: No. 101 (tied)
• Clinical training: No. 102 (tied)
• Intellectual property law: No. 127 (tied)
• Trial advocacy: No. 175 (tied)

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 3 for best medical schools for research.
In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 139 for speech language pathology and No. 171 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. .

Shidler College of Business

The Shidler College of Business placed in nine subject areas. Leading the way were international programs at No. 22 (tied), accounting programs at No. 68 (tied), information systems programs at No. 72 (tied) and marketing programs at No. 91 (tied). In addition, Shidler ranked at No. 104 (tied) for best management programs, No. 113 (tied) for best executive programs, No. 123 (tied) for best finance programs, No. 125 (tied) for best entrepreneurship programs and No. 142 (tied) for best part-time MBA programs.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

SOEST placed No. 40 (tied) among the nation’s best Earth sciences programs.

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene placed No. 55 (tied) for best nursing school–master’s and No. 62 (tied) for best nursing school–doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Both were the only programs in �鶹��ý to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

College of Education

The College of Education ranked No. 57 (tied) in the U.S., the 21st straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 89 (tied) among the nation’s top public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to an online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences placed among the nation’s best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation’s best in at No. 91 (tied), at No. 92 (tied), and at No. 128 (tied). The College of Engineering overall ranked No. 164 (tied) among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

College of Natural Sciences

The placed among the nation’s best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

UH Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (CSEAS) brought history into sharp focus with a visit from Devaki Murch, a Vietnam War adoptee whose life now shapes how that history is remembered.

As a baby, Murch was part of Operation Babylift, a U.S.-led effort to evacuate children from Vietnam at the end of the war. The first flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Saigon on April 4, 1975. Of the 314 people aboard, 150 survived. Murch was one of them.

At UH ����ԴDz�, students, alumni and community members gathered on March 3 in Moore Hall to hear her story. But the talk went beyond survival. It asked a deeper question, who gets to tell history, and how?

Tien Nguyen, a master’s student in , said the lecture connected personal memory with lived experience.

“The fact that Devaki Murch boarded the first babylift flight and survived the fateful plane crash makes her journey even more magical,” Nguyen said. “One thing prevails, as we are all humans who have survived thus far despite the odds, we should feel empowered to do the things we love, regardless of our backgrounds.”

Active participation in the historical record

Murch drew from her work building the . She urged students to see themselves as active participants in shaping the historical record. Today’s research and digital footprints, she said, will become tomorrow’s archives, often without context or consent.

“Traditional archives ask people to trust systems that have already failed them,” Murch said. “Sealed records, classified documentation, institutional protection over individual truth. We needed a different approach.”

Raised in �鶹��ý, Murch’s story resonated locally. Her lecture tied global conflict to familiar questions about memory, military presence and accountability.

Fourteen University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa academic subjects were ranked among the world’s best in the 2026 , released on March 25.

Four subjects placed in the top 22 in the nation and top 100 in the world. Leading the way was geology (No. 19 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world), geophysics (No. 19 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world), Earth and marine sciences (No. 21 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world) and linguistics (No. 22 in the U.S. and No. 61 in the world).

Ten additional subjects placed in the world’s top 2% (within top 500 in the world out of ):

• English language and literature: No. 28 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Agriculture and forestry: No. 30 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Anthropology: No. 31 U.S., No. 101–200 world
• Modern languages: No. 41 U.S., No. 251–300 world
• Environmental sciences: No. 66 U.S., No. 351–400 world
• Communication and media studies: No. 68 U.S., No. 251–275 world
• Physics and astronomy: No. 70 U.S., No. 401–450 world
• Education: No. 78 U.S., No. 351–400 world
• Medicine: No. 99 U.S., No. 451–500 world
• Biological sciences: No. 100 U.S., No. 451–500 world

“These rankings highlight the exceptional work and commitment of our faculty, students and staff,” UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “They showcase the university’s global standing and reinforce that UH Mānoa offers outstanding educational opportunities and experiences for both our local community and those joining us from around the world.”

UH Mānoa was ranked in three broad subject areas and 14 narrow subject areas. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are calculated using five criteria: academic reputation (measures the reputation of institutions and their programs by asking academic experts to nominate universities based on their subject area of expertise), employer reputation (measures the reputation of institutions and their programs among employers), research citations per paper (measures the impact and quality of the scientific work done by institutions, on average per publication), H-index (measures both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar) and international research network (measure of an institution’s success in creating and sustaining research partnerships with institutions in other locations).

The 2026 edition of the rankings by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds analyzed the performance of more than 18,300 university programs, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026
• 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, January 4, 2026

Internationally acclaimed poet and Marshall Islands climate envoy Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, who is serving as the Spring 2026 Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, will deliver a keynote lecture and poetry performance on April 1 at Orvis Auditorium. The free, public event invites the campus and broader community to hear directly from one of the Pacific’s leading voices on climate and justice.

As this year’s Inouye Chair, Jetñil-Kijiner is engaging the community on urgent issues shaping democratic life. Her lecture explores how the climate crisis in the Marshall Islands is inseparable from histories of colonialism, nuclear testing and displacement, offering a powerful, Pacific-centered perspective that connects lived experience to global climate conversations.

“As a writer, performer and diplomat, she moves across disciplines while creating art that brings people together,” said Peter Arnade, dean of the . “She offers a vital Pacific voice against the violence of the past and present. She reminds us what poetry can do, and why the humanities matter in a dehumanizing age.”

Jetñil-Kijiner currently serves as a climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, where she works on international climate diplomacy and national adaptation policy.

“Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner is a force in culture and climate diplomacy,” said Joyce Mariano, chair of the . “She has ignited audiences with poetry and performance from Majuro to Suva, Brisbane to Bonn. Her work will resonate deeply in �鶹��ý, and we are thrilled to have her in residence.”

Jetñil-Kijiner is co-teaching a class at UH ����ԴDz� and holding regular workshops with students. She will also headline a community arts event at Native Books �鶹��ý on April 17 at 6 p.m.

Inouye chair

The Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals, established by the late Senator Daniel Inouye and his wife, is jointly administered by UH ����ԴDz�’s and the .

This event is produced in collaboration with �鶹��ý Contemporary and in partnership with the UH Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, a joint venture of UH ����ԴDz�, �鶹��ý Community Foundation, Kamehameha Schools and UH Foundation. For more information or contact btss@hawaii.edu.

At University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� athletic events, a new group of volunteers is helping more fans feel part of the crowd.

(ASL) students, with the guidance of experts from the Deaf and Native Hawaiian communities, are partnering with to sign the national anthem, cheerleader chants, and the university’s fight song at games. The effort gives Deaf and hard of hearing spectators a way to experience moments many fans take for granted in a state where demand for ASL services far outpaces the number of interpreters.

ASL volunteer signer Pumehana Holmes, an major who grew up with two Deaf parents, says the goal is simple: making sure Deaf fans feel included.

“I hope that the Deaf community is able to see themselves and see them being supported and that they’re not invisible in the crowd but are wanted in the crowd,” Holmes said.

Holmes has been signing since she was very young. Her mother, Christine Holmes, is an ASL instructor at .

Today, she is among a group of students helping expand access at UH ����ԴDz� games. It’s the first known partnership of its kind between ASL students and the athletics department. Students volunteer their time to stand alongside cheerleaders and performers, translating the energy of sporting events into sign language.

State shortage

The effort also reflects a broader need across the state. �鶹��ý faces a critical shortage of ASL interpreters. According to the �鶹��ý State Department of Health, there are approximately 2,800 ASL users in �鶹��ý and an estimated 500 visitors each day who rely on interpreting services.

There are currently about 30 ASL interpreters across all the Hawaiian Islands. Only 23 are credentialed by the State of �鶹��ý, with a handful of others holding national credentials.

To help address this gap, UH ����ԴDz� has already expanded ASL coursework and is planning to expand interpreter training opportunities for students interested in the field.

Personal connection

For fellow student volunteer Sabrina Gill, the experience also helps build awareness among hearing fans.

“Having student interpreter volunteers and interpreters are really important for building more access into our UH community, our UH games, but it’s also important for hearing people who might not know sign language just to have more visibility and awareness of sign language,” Gill said.

Gill is working toward her master’s degree in . She first took ASL as an elective but quickly developed a deep interest, continuing her studies through the advanced 302 level. She says the experience has fueled her passion for making spaces more accessible for everyone.

That work now includes interpreting one of the university’s most meaningful songs. The students perform a sign language interpretation of �鶹��ý Ponoʻī, taught to them by UH ����ԴDz� alumna Amber Lehano and ʻĀnela Lehano. The interpretation is believed to be the first standardized signing of the mele performed at UH ����ԴDz� games.

Expanding access

Several additional student volunteers are enrolled in ASL instructor Gisella Tomita’s classes. Tomita, who is one of three Deaf instructors of ASL at UH ����ԴDz�, says moments like this can make a big difference for spectators who rely on sign language.

“It gives me access. It’s amazing,” Tomita said through an ASL interpreter. “You know events, sporting events, there’s a person who is speaking but where’s my ability to get that information? Where’s the ASL? I don’t really know what’s going on or being said. And these students are motivated. They wanna be up there and it just touches me.”

Growing demand

Interest in ASL at UH ����ԴDz� has surged in recent years. Enrollment has grown by 1,400% in six years, from 19 students in Spring 2019 to 265 in Fall 2025. Demand continues to exceed capacity, with long waitlists for courses.

A 2024 survey also found that 94% of ASL students are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ASL-English interpreting.

Beginning in Fall 2026, UH ����ԴDz� will launch a new path for students, a standalone .

At the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, music is more than performance. For Joe Williams, it is legacy.

Williams, a doctoral student in and graduate assistant in the , has been named the 2026 Vanguard Award recipient for Classical Innovation and Community Impact. The honor, presented by Javacya Arts Conservatory on February 13 in Florida, recognizes his work as a recording artist, educator and arts leader.

“In the African-American community, receiving public recognition from an elder is a significant milestone,” said Williams. “It is an invitation into legacy and comes with tremendous responsibility. There is no greater honor.”

Music with purpose

Williams was the final mentee of Frances Walker-Slocum, a pioneering pianist and music educator. Drawing from that lineage, Williams’ work spans composition, teaching and advocacy.

“The UH ����ԴDz� Department of Music is very proud to have Joe among our graduate students,” said department chair Donald Womack. “Beyond his excellent work as a composer, we’re happy to see him recognized as the versatile, multi-faceted musician, educator and advocate for social justice that he is.”

Williams has premiered and recorded works by composers of African descent. He has also produced films highlighting cultural leaders including William Chapman Nyaho, Maxine B. Mimms and Maya Angelou.

“UH has deepened my music studies by empowering me to research and perform music from the Asia and Pacific regions,” said Williams. “There is no other music department in the country that affords such opportunities.”

Williams also teaches private piano lessons to students ages 4 through high school, with particular expertise in teaching neurodivergent learners, including students with autism and ADHD.

Free public recital

He will perform in an upcoming recital on March 12 at 7 p.m. in Orvis Auditorium on campus, performing the complete piano works of African American composers Betty Jackson King and Richard Thompson. The event is free and open to the public.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� will debut , a new hana keaka (Hawaiian theatre work) that takes audiences on a journey of community rebuilding in the wake of the Lahaina wildfires. The production honors those who were lost, those who survived, and those who still carry the weight of rebuilding on Maui. Performances run March 4–8 in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre at Kennedy Theatre.

Created by UH ����ԴDz� master of fine arts (MFA) candidate Ikaika Mendez, Lele Wale does not seek to recreate the tragic wildfires. Instead, the work moves through memory, music and movement to create space to remember, grieve and reflect on what comes next for both people and place. For Mendez, a Maui native, Lahaina holds deep personal meaning.

“Although I am from Kanaio, Lahaina became the place where I learned what it meant to be a performer in service to people and place…working at the Feast at Lele Lūʻau at just 15 years old,” said Mendez. “I learned discipline, responsibility and the power of storytelling through music and movement. That experience deeply influenced my path, leading me to pursue education in music, ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language), and ultimately my MFA in hana keaka.”

Voices of place

Lele is the traditional place name for Lahaina. In ʻōlelo �鶹��ý, lele wale evokes prayer and speaks to motion, as well as the act of releasing. The hana keaka is performed in a combination of ʻōlelo �鶹��ý, �鶹��ý Creole English (Pidgin) and English intertwined with live music, hula and imagery.

“There are experiences, emotions and understandings that cannot be fully expressed in English, so we speak them, sing them and chant them in ʻōlelo �鶹��ý,” said Mendez. “At the same time, Pidgin and English reflect the lived reality of Lahaina today: the sounds of home, work, family and community.”

Ticket information

Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

A free post-show Q&A with the director and cast will follow the Friday, March 6th performance for ticket holders.

Content advisories: Covers themes connected to wildfire, loss of life, strong language, haze effects and flashing lights. Questions about tickets or accessibility can be directed to ktbox@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-7655.

Five subject areas were placed in the world’s top 1%, and an additional four earned top 2% honors in the 2026 , released on January 21.

Education led the way, ranked in the No. 101–125 tier, followed by physical sciences at No. 126–150, arts and humanities at No. 151–175, and law and life sciences each at No. 201–250. To qualify in the world’s top 1%, rankings must be within the top 250 in the world () UH Mānoa was ranked in all 11 of the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject lists.

“We are proud that UH Mānoa continues to be recognized globally, reflecting our commitment to academic excellence, research and the student experience,” UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “These rankings underscore the hard work and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, who make UH Mānoa a truly exceptional place.”

All UH Mānoa rankings:

• Education studies: No. 101–125
• Physical sciences: No. 126–150
• Arts and humanities: No. 151–175
• Law: No. 201–250
• Life sciences: No. 201–250
• Social sciences: No. 251–300
• Medical and health: No. 301–400
• Psychology: No. 301–400
• Business and economics: No. 401–500
• Computer science: No. 501–600
• Engineering: No. 501–600

Times Higher Education considers the following factors for its rankings: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income and international outlook. Regarded as one of the leading national and international university rankings focused on research and academic excellence, Times Higher Education considered between 425–1,555 of the top institutions for each of its subject rankings, out of more than 25,000 institutions worldwide, to be eligible for its World University Rankings by Subject.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, January 4, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, October 9, 2025
• Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, October 2, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, September 23, 2025

For more information, .

The University of �鶹��ý’s standing as a premier global research institution has been further solidified with the release of the , which features nearly 60 of the university’s top faculty and researchers at UH ����ԴDz� and UH Hilo. This elite designation honors scholars who rank in the top 0.05% of all researchers worldwide based on lifetime achievement and significant impact within their specialties.

From pioneering work in climate dynamics and volcanology to breakthrough discoveries in cancer research, these honorees represent the pinnacle of academic productivity and quality. ScholarGPS algorithms categorize a wide range of scholarly research into 14 fields, which are subdivided into 177 distinct disciplines. Research is further categorized into a dynamic list of many niche specialties.

“To have our researchers ranked among the top 0.05% in the world is a remarkable achievement that reflects our institution’s legacy of excellence,” said Chad Walton, UH interim vice president for research and innovation. “These scholars are not only leaders in their respective fields—from the depths of our oceans to the far reaches of space—but they are also the engine driving innovation that directly benefits the people of �鶹��ý and our global community.”

Highly ranked scholars:

• 1. Bin Wang, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), UH ����ԴDz�
• 2. David M. Karl, SOEST
• 3. Brian Bowen, SOEST
• 4. Julian McCreary, SOEST
• 5. Edward S. Fisher, UH ����ԴDz�
• 6. Richard E. Moore, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, UH ����ԴDz�
• 7. Bruce Houghton, SOEST
• 8. Robert E. Paull, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), UH ����ԴDz�
• 9. Helen H. Yu, Department of Public Administration, College of Social Sciences, UH ����ԴDz�
• 10. Takie Sugiyama Lebra, UH ����ԴDz�
• 11. Weilin Qu, College of Engineering, UH ����ԴDz�
• 12. Bo Qiu, SOEST
• 13. Ryuzo Yanagimachi, UH ����ԴDz�
• 14. Henri Casanova, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, College of Natural Sciences
• 15. Yuqing Wang, SOEST
• 16. Raymond B. Cattell, UH ����ԴDz�
• 17. Michele Carbone, UH Cancer Center, UH ����ԴDz�
• 18. Richard M. Manshardt, CTAHR
• 19. Rick Kazman, Shidler College of Business, UH ����ԴDz�
• 20. John M. J. Madey, UH ����ԴDz�
• 21. John A. Shepherd, UH Cancer Center
• 22. Manfred B. Steger, Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences
• 23. Klaus Wyrtki, UH ����ԴDz�
• 24. Stephen N. Haynes, Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences
• 25. Daniel D. Suthers, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, College of Natural Sciences
• 26. Margaret J. McFall-Ngai, SOEST
• 27. Barbara Watson Andaya, College of Arts, Languages and Letters (CALL), UH ����ԴDz�
• 28. Dru C. Gladney, UH ����ԴDz�
• 29. Murli H. Manghnani, SOEST
• 30. Elaine Hatfield, Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences
• 31. Theodore S. Rodgers, UH ����ԴDz�
• 32. Craig Smith, SOEST
• 33. Edward F. DeLong, UH ����ԴDz�
• 34. Karl Seff, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences
• 35. Roger Lukas, SOEST
• 36. Russell H. Messing, CTAHR
• 37. Efraim Turban, UH ����ԴDz�
• 38. Leonard Y. Andaya, Department of History, CALL
• 39. Masayoshi Yamaguchi, UH Cancer Center
• 40. Richard L Rapson, Department of History, CALL
• 41. Thomas A. Wills, UH Cancer Center
• 42. Andrew E. Christie, UH ����ԴDz�
• 43. Dieter Mueller-Dombois, CTAHR
• 44. Wai-Fah Chen, College of Engineering
• 45. Garry A Rechnitz, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences
• 46. Michael J. Antal, UH ����ԴDz�
• 47. Curtis C. Daehler, School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences
• 48. Paul J. Scheuer, UH ����ԴDz�
• 49. George S. Hammond, UH ����ԴDz�
• 50. Ronald H. Heck, College of Education, UH ����ԴDz�
• 51. Loic Le Marchand, UH Cancer Center
• 52. Victor M. Lubecke, College of Engineering
• 53. Robert S. Desowitz, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH ����ԴDz�
• 54. Adrian Dunn, SOEST
• 55. Alan H. Teramura, College of Natural Sciences
• 56. J. Patrick Henry, Institute for Astronomy, UH ����ԴDz�
• 57. Laurence N. Kolonel, UH Cancer Center
• 58. Naoto T. Ueno, UH Cancer Center
• 59. Anthony D. Wright, UH Hilo

There are some researchers on the list who have retired or passed away.

.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa selected “analogue” as its 2025 Word of the Year for �鶹��ý. Analogue refers to ways of thinking and creating that depend on human judgment, attention and physical engagement rather than automation. The department’s choice highlights the enduring value of human-centered thinking, creativity and interpretation in an age of artificial intelligence.

“Many of our students are contemplating careers in writing, teaching, the law and other fields involving communication, interpretation, critical thinking, and creativity, and they have concerns about the impact of GenAI on their future prospects,” said John David Zuern, UH Mānoa Department of English chair and professor. “They have welcomed opportunities to engage in what might be called ‘analogue intelligence,’ reading printed texts and annotating them by hand, drafting essays on paper, hand-crafting their own books, and taking part in oral presentations and performances in class.”

UH Mānoa Department of English faculty members, and students making up the leadership, came up with the word this year.

“Rather than a retreat into the past, we see this enthusiasm for the analogue as a ‘back to the future’ impulse, a commitment to the skills and values of a liberal education that will remain essential in a world transformed by AI technologies,” Zuern said.

Merriam-Webster announced its as “slop” on December 14. Slop is defined by Merriam-Webster as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence,” and Zuern said the department sees “analogue” as a counterpoint to “slop.”

The 2025 Hawaiian Word of the Year selected by the , is kāhuli—to change, to alter, to overturn. In the Kumulipo, kāhuli describes the transformation that warmed the earth and unfolded the heavens, catalyzing the formation of the universe itself. Read more at this UH News story.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa and Chess Club hosted a chess exhibition on December 11 in Keller Hall, bringing together students and faculty for an afternoon of competitive play and community engagement.

National Master Cornelius Rubsamen, a 13-time �鶹��ý state chess champion, played 20 UH Mānoa students and faculty members at the same time, rotating rapidly from board to board as about a dozen spectators watched. The exhibition, known as a “simul,” challenged participants across experience levels and tested Rubsamen’s stamina and intuition.

“If you play one person…you just sit there staring at the same position hour after hour, just thinking about one game,” Rubsamen said. “Whereas in a simul, you basically have a second to look at the board and as soon as the first move that pops in your head, you basically execute. …You just play by instinct, which is something chess players develop over time.”

Rubsamen said the UH Mānoa exhibition proved especially demanding as many participants remained competitive deep into the event.

“For the participants, it’s always easier if the other participants don’t fold or resign too early, and that was the case at this simul, so it was definitely challenging, and I was definitely tired afterwards,” he said.

The exhibition marked the first in a series of chess events on campus, with organizers—including Department of Mathematics Chair and Professor Malik Younsi, and Chess Club officers Noah Capili, Ryan-Jay Koshi, Bobby Lyon and Landon Nguyen—aiming to expand future programming to local high schools.

Lecturer and alumnus

Rubsamen’s appearance also highlighted his main role at UH Mānoa. In addition to his chess accomplishments, he is a lecturer in the , where he teaches composition and rhetoric. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from UH Mānoa and has taught English courses on campus since 2013.

Originally from Germany, Rubsamen said his chess development accelerated after he arrived in �鶹��ý in the 1990s, when international tournaments were held across the state. He credits those events, along with countless games played at Waikīkī Beach and the rise of computer-based programs, for his rapid improvement.

“I never really had a coach, but I was pretty competent using computers and software,” Rubsamen said. “I think I achieved a master level around the end of the 90s, early 2000s, and I’ve been involved in �鶹��ý chess ever since.”

This involvement has primarily consisted of coaching �鶹��ý’s scholastic players, including with Kamehameha Schools, where he worked with the middle school and high school teams beginning in the early 2000s and has directed the elementary chess club there since 2011.

The idea of a simul at UH Mānoa was born out of Rubsamen and Younsi’s chess friendship and the many games they played together before the pandemic.

“We wanted to create an event that brought people together around strategic thinking and friendly competition,” Younsi said. “Cornelius was the perfect person to headline it.”

The University of ����ԴDz� Campus Center Ballroom transformed into a colorful hub of games, workshops and music on November 7, as more than 800 people gathered for Nippon Culture Day. The annual event, hosted by the Department of (EALL), offered a full day of hands-on activities highlighting Japanese language, art and community traditions.

Attendees moved from table to table, trying everything from calligraphy and gift-wrapping to traditional Japanese card games such as hanafuda and karuta. Students practiced koto (Japanese string instrument) and sanshin (Okinawan string instrument), folded intricate origami and tested their skills at manga (comic book) character drawing and katakana (character) recognition game. Members of the Japanese Culture Club also supported a station, helping guests of all ages jump in.

“Our department has long been engaged in the study of Japan,” said Hiromi Uchida, a Japanese language instructor. “We see this event as a valuable opportunity for both learning and community building, and we hope to continue making Nippon Culture Day an exciting and enjoyable experience for all students and the community.”

Traditions up close

Nippon is the Japanese word for Japan. Culture-focused workshops ran throughout the morning and afternoon. Visitors sat for abacus lessons, learned the basics of ikebana (flower arrangement) in small-group sessions and experienced the quiet focus of a tea ceremony inside Jaku’an, the campus tea house.

Information tables connected students with academic and professional opportunities tied to Japan. Representatives from UH ����ԴDz�’s (COS), , Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program and spoke with attendees about travel and study opportunities. Japan Airlines also provided details about career tracks.

As the afternoon continued, the event shifted to live performances featuring koto and sanshin demonstrations. The day ended with a bon dance, inviting everyone to celebrate together.

Nippon Culture Day is co-sponsored by the UH ����ԴDz� and COS. Located within the , the EALL department has hosted the free event for more than 20 years.

A leading voice for Indigenous rights in Aotearoa (New Zealand) will visit the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� on Thursday, October 30, to discuss the future of Indigenous governance and solidarity across the Pacific.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori and a member of New Zealand’s Parliament, will appear in an onstage conversation with Noelani Goodyear-����ʻō��ܲ�, a professor at UH ����ԴDz�. The free public event at the art auditorium is hosted by the UH Better Tomorrow Speaker Series and begins at 6:30 p.m. ()

“We are deeply honored to host the Honorable Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, whose leadership embodies the courage and clarity our times demand,” said Goodyear-����ʻō��ܲ�. “Grounded in the tino rangatiratanga (absolute sovereignty) of her people and a visionary in her pursuit of thriving futures for Aotearoa and Oceania, she is not only a parliamentarian but a protector. This dialogue is a rare opportunity to learn from her experience and to strengthen the ties between our nations, connected by our great ocean.”

Standing for justice

Ngarewa-Packer has spent decades defending Māori lands and waters. Before entering Parliament, she led her iwi (people), Ngāti Ruanui, in successful campaigns to block seabed mining off the South Taranaki coast. Those battles continue to guide her work in national efforts for environmental protection, poverty reduction and equity for Māori communities.

The Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, which is organizing the event, is a joint venture of UH ����ԴDz�, The Learning Coalition and the �鶹��ý Community Foundation, with support from the UH Foundation.

This event is made possible through the sponsorship of Kaiāulu by Kamehameha Schools, and with additional support from the College of Arts, Languages & Letters, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and William S. Richardson School of Law.

The �鶹��ý Music Teacher Association (HMTA) has selected Thomas Yee a professor at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� as Teacher of the Year for his outstanding contributions to �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s music and piano community. The association applauded Yee, a skilled pianist, for his musicianship, leadership and mentorship as an educator on Oʻahu.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named as 2025 Teacher of the Year by the �鶹��ý Music Teachers Association,” said Yee. “To be recognized by my peers, colleagues, students and even their parents for my contribution to the musical community is incredibly humbling, and I am deeply grateful!”

Seasoned musician

Yee is familiar to the island’s classical music audience through his numerous performances with the �鶹��ý Symphony Orchestra and chamber ensembles. A Canadian native, Yee earned degrees from the University of Newfoundland and Eastman School of Music.

HMTA provides local teachers with membership benefits such as grants, exclusive publications and more. Students of HMTA teachers are eligible to perform in local competitions, recitals and workshops.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� hosted the 2025 Southeast Asian Language Council (SEALC) Symposium on September 26 and 27, welcoming more than 100 educators and researchers from across the globe, both in person and online. The two-day gathering showcased innovative research and teaching practices in Southeast Asian language education.

“Our university’s longstanding commitment to Southeast Asian language instruction and the expertise of our faculty and staff made our university an excellent venue for this workshop,” Miriam Stark, director of UH ����ԴDz�’s (CSEAS). “We were honored to host our SEALC colleagues at the event, and look forward to extending the collaborations that it launched.”

Shared expertise

More than 30 paper and panel presentations explored a wide range of topics, from proficiency-based reading and listening assessments to project-based learning and curriculum innovations. Participants represented leading institutions such as UCLA, Harvard, and universities from across Southeast Asia.

Since its founding, SEALC has been instrumental in strengthening Southeast Asian language teaching in the U.S. and abroad through professional development workshops, materials design, and assessment innovation.

This year’s symposium was supported by funds from a Henry Luce Foundation grant awarded to CSEAS. The event was organized by Jayson Parba and Precious Arao (UH ����ԴDz� ), in collaboration with Erlin Barnard of the SEALC Steering Committee and UW–Madison. Additional support was provided by Peter Arnade, dean of the , the SEALC Steering Committee and a dedicated team of volunteers.

—Jayson Parba and Precious Arao