University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu placed 9th nationally after students participated in the National Cyber League (NCL) biannual cybersecurity skills competition, in individual and team-based events last fall. They competed in individual and team-based events, with more than 8,520 students from 490 colleges and universities.

The —for the fall 2025 competition season—were created by in partnership with .

Hands-on experience

“Participation in the National Cyber League gives UH West Oʻahu students the opportunity to validate their skills against peers across the country in a real-world, hands-on cybersecurity environment,” said the students’ coach Anthony Eich, a cyber competitions and cybersecurity instructor, and an alumnus. “Competitions like NCL require not only technical ability, but discipline, persistence and critical thinking under pressure.”

The UH West Oʻahu National Cyber League fall 2025 team members were Sean Belisle, Nyla Boneza, Jomer Calip, Steven Dinwiddie, Christopher Ebel, Blix Hazen, Joel Kawamae, Chloe Kurashima, Maria Isabel Mendez, Kiana Merez, Branden Ramos, Jamal Timbobolan, John Wright and Jiaye Zhou.

Growing professionally, personally

Dinwiddie, who is double majoring in cybersecurity with a concentration in cyber operations and applied science with a concentration in information security and assurance, reflected on his NCL experience.

“While NCL is undoubtedly challenging, the competition pushed me to apply classroom knowledge to problems that felt like the real thing, solidifying what I’d learned while exposing personal weaknesses, a critical component of growing both professionally and personally,” Dinwiddie said.

He added, “What I enjoyed most was being forced to think creatively, sometimes pursuing paths that seemed like dead ends only to find they led to a breakthrough. That moment of ‘there’s no way this is going to work’ turning into “wow, that actually did work!’ never gets old.”

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The University of �鶹��ý Maui College is hosting the second of three free online cybersecurity clinics for �鶹��ý‘s sole proprietors and small business owners. “Security using GenAI” is the topic for this session, taking place on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 12 to 1 p.m. HST, via Zoom.

Moderated by Debasis Bhattacharya (professor and program coordinator of the UH Maui College Applied Business and Information Technology Program), the clinic will help participants transform Generative AI from a buzzword into a powerful security ally.

This session will focus on the security and privacy issues associated with AI, providing a clear roadmap for integrating AI tools ethically and effectively to stay one step ahead of sophisticated cyber threats.

Participants will learn practical use cases, including

• How generative AI identifies anomalies and patterns that traditional rule-based systems miss.
• Basics of prompt engineering for small businesses.
• Navigating data privacy concerns and “shadow AI” while maximizing defensive capabilities.
• Automating threat detection and accelerating incident response times.

Presenters

Presenters include Jodi Ito, UH chief information security officer and David Stevens, assistant professor at Kapiʻolani Community College, a University of �鶹��ý campus.

“Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are popular because they have learned just about everything there is to know on the Internet, and they respond to chat prompts in a human-friendly way. The risks here are loss of data privacy, training bias and hallucinations from the AI tool itself. This webinar will help small businesses use GenAI tools reliably and effectively to secure their business,” said Bhattacharya.

These clinics are part of the , funded by a $1-million grant and wraparound support from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund.

The 59th annual (HICSS), hosted by the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa , convened global thought leaders at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa Maui, January 5–9. It brought together more than 1,300 scholars, industry experts and policymakers from more than 42 countries.

Widely recognized as one of the world’s premier forums on digital and socio-technical systems, HICSS once again served as a showcase for the future of information technology and systems science.

This year’s conference received 1,559 research paper submissions, of which 727 were accepted following a rigorous peer-review process. Authored by more than 2,150 researchers, the accepted papers spanned artificial intelligence and data analytics to digital government, cybersecurity, healthcare system, and the future of work.

“As conference chair, I am continually impressed by the depth, rigor and relevance of the work presented at HICSS,” said Tung Bui, professor of information technology management and the Matson Navigation Company Chair of Global Business. “Emerging technologies—especially generative [which can create new content] and agentic AI [which can take action or make decisions]—were at the center of many discussions. Equally important were conversations about how these technologies reshape work, education and their unintended consequences for marginalized and underserved communities.”

The conference also brought a boost to the local economy. Among the more than 1,300 attendees, at least 30% were accompanied by family members. Organizers estimate the event generated roughly $5 million in revenue for the state during the first 10 days of the year.

More on HICSS

Founded in 1968, HICSS is the longest-running working scientific conference in information technology management. Its distinctive working-conference format emphasizes interaction, debate and collaboration, fostering close engagement between academic researchers and industry practitioners. Over its 59-year history, HICSS proceedings have generated more than 21,000 published papers and exceeded six million downloads worldwide. Google Scholar consistently ranks HICSS among the most cited conference series in its field.

HICSS will celebrate its 60th anniversary in January 2027 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on �鶹��ý Island, marking six decades of global impact in advancing systems science and responsible digital innovation.

Sign up now to safeguard your small business. The is launching a new series of free virtual meetings to help sole proprietors and small business owners across �鶹��ý fortify their operations against online threats. The first session, focusing on essential “cyber hygiene,” is a crucial opportunity for local entrepreneurs to gain vital protection for their data and systems.

The inaugural “Introduction to Cybersecurity: Cyber Hygiene” clinic will be held on Wednesday, January 21, from noon to 1 p.m., HST, via Zoom.

Small businesses are frequent targets for cybercriminals, often due to limited resources. This clinic provides critically important, routine practices to protect networks and data. Debasis Bhattacharya, professor and program coordinator of the UH Maui College Applied Business and Information Technology Program, said cyber hygiene is “very much like maintaining personal health.” He will lead the workshops with David Stevens, assistant professor at Kapiʻolani Community College.

The introductory session will cover fundamental topics, including:

• Strong password policies and multi-factor authentication
• Regular software updates and patching
• Data backups and recovery
• Employee training and awareness
• Secure network and devices
• Access controls and incident response planning

No professional technical background is required, only fundamental knowledge of the internet. Additional information about this and subsequent events may be found here.

These sessions are offered at no cost, thanks to a collaboration between Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, which provided $1 million in grant funding to establish the University of �鶹��ý Cybersecurity Clinics. The UH Cybersecurity Clinic is one of 15 launching nationwide.

The (PCATT), a consortium of the University of �鶹��ý Community Colleges, has made a significant impact on local workforce development, with more than 16,524 students served through more than 1,816 classes since 2020. This demonstrates the center’s crucial role in providing advanced technology training across the region as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Core offerings, including certifications in networking, computer programming, software development, cloud computing, and cyber security, remain strong and continually updated. PCATT is also the sole �鶹��ý-based sponsor offering a state-verified registered apprenticeship in information technology, providing a vital “earn-while-you-learn” pathway for residents to upskill.

Technology education leader

More than two decades after starting up PCATT remains a leader in providing high-quality, industry-relevant technology education, equipping local professionals with skills for high-demand careers. PCATT also operates a Cisco Networking Academy Support Center and Instructor Training Center for the Central Pacific (including �鶹��ý, Guam, American Samoa, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Fiji).

PCATT continues to expand into cutting-edge fields, including a new AI for workforce pathway with training in generative AI and machine learning. This forward-looking approach will be highlighted at the PCATT Summit 2026: AI for Action and Impact in June 2026.

Director Dan Doerger said, “For 25 years, PCATT has helped shape �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s technology workforce—and with its continued innovation and partnerships, the next 25 promise to be even more transformative.”

Strengthening cybersecurity research and advancing more resilient software systems are the focus of two new projects in the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa that have secured National Science Foundation grants totaling $520,000. The awards will support efforts to address challenges in cybersecurity and to lay the groundwork for a future national center on resilient software systems.

Both efforts are led by Professor Mehdi Tarrit Mirakhorli and Assistant Professor Anthony Peruma.

“With the government planning a $1 billion investment in offensive cyber capabilities, our work is more vital than ever,” Mirakhorli said. “We are developing a foundational hacking framework to ensure the United States also leads in the responsible, offensive and defensive research needed to protect our critical infrastructure and national security.”

Peruma added, “UH Mānoa is earning grants and recruiting talent to help position �鶹��ý at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, driving interdisciplinary research and regional resilience.”

Navigating cybersecurity dilemmas

The first award, a , will fund UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s “Sandbox for Cybersecurity Research.” The project aims to help researchers, students and professionals better navigate responsibility dilemmas in cybersecurity.

Through case studies, interactive simulations and classroom modules, the initiative will create tools to guide real-world decision making and promote responsible practices in handling sensitive data and security threats. The sandbox will also serve as an educational platform, training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to balance technical expertise with responsibility.

Building resilient systems

The second grant, a , supports early work to design a multi-institution Center for Resilient by Design Software and Systems. This effort focuses on building computing systems that can withstand and recover from cyberattacks, rather than relying solely on defenses that react after a breach.

The planning period will include organizing the Cyber-Resilience Forum at MITRE Corporation in McLean, Virginia on November 14. This event, which is led by UH and hosted by MITRE, will serve as a trusted venue for government, industry and academic participants to explore the next frontiers of resilient-by-design systems. The goal is to unite universities, government and industry partners around a future national center dedicated to embedding resilience directly into the design of critical software and infrastructure.

Together, the grants highlight UH’s growing role in advancing cybersecurity research at the intersection of technology, resilience and more.

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s .

With cybersecurity skills in high demand, 20 local high school students got a head start this summer by completing a free college-level course at Leeward Community College. Over eight weeks, ICS 171: Introduction to Computer Security students learned about network security, cryptography and ethical hacking.

“This course made a field that once felt out of reach accessible,” said Antonio Gonzalez, a student at Leilehua High School. “Now that I have a better understanding of cybersecurity, I realize it’s something I can apply in my programming and even consider as a career path.”

Mentors and role models

Students engaged with professionals such as Brandon Lester, president of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association �鶹��ý, and Tess Schwalger, executive assistant to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who shared real-world insights into cybersecurity careers.

“We invest in mentors, guest speakers and role models so students can envision themselves in these roles,” said Jennifer Sabas, (P3I) co-lead. “It’s so important they know they have what it takes to be successful.”

Tedi Kam-Yahata, P3I’s K–12 lead, added, “To be successful, we knew we needed to start in the high schools, finding different ways to support career pathways.”

The class also took field trips to the Hitachi Rail operations center and the Naval Information Warfare Center in Pearl City, witnessing firsthand how cyber defense protects vital infrastructure.

“I highly recommend taking this course,” said Riley Allen, a Radford High School student. “Even if you don’t have that expertise, you can get beginner-level knowledge of it.”

Cybersecurity credentials

The three-credit course was a partnership between Leeward CC’s program and the P3I. It concluded on July 24, with a certificate presentation ceremony.

P3I also covered the cost of CompTIA Security+ exam vouchers, a widely recognized cybersecurity credential. One student passed the exam before the course ended.

Leeward CC plans to offer the course again next summer.

“Our goal is to give students a taste of college so that enrolling later feels less intimidating,” said William Albritton, Leeward CC professor and division chair.

—by Kaila Nishi and Devon Bedoya

Mehdi Tarrit Mirakhorli, a professor in the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa’s , moderated a national panel on cybersecurity innovation and federal defense strategy on June 12 in the nation’s capital.

Hosted by the Institute for Security and Technology, convened key players in policy, technology and infrastructure protection. Participants included members of Congress, executive branch of the government, leading think tanks and researchers, private-sector experts and civil society advocates. The panelists discussed hard questions on why America’s cyber innovation is broken.

“Real change will take uncomfortable conversations,” Mirakhorli said. “Despite decades of investment in cybersecurity—tools, talent and policy—threat campaigns like Volt Typhoon reveal that our nation’s critical infrastructure is still fundamentally vulnerable. Incremental R&D and putting band-aids on various solutions has failed. It is time to smash the temple and start over. Industry, academia and the public sector need to play their role, but that is different from how these entities are engaged today.”

Mirakhorli added, “The next breakthrough in cyber defense requires bold, mold-breaking joint ventures where academia, government incubators and private sector innovators work together. In �鶹��ý, where we’re geographically isolated and deeply connected through shared infrastructure, resilience isn’t just a technical goal—it’s a necessity for our communities’ safety and well-being.”

Mirakhorli’s panel, Rethinking Cybersecurity: From Volt Typhoon to Resilience by Design, examined why major vulnerabilities persist across national cyber infrastructure despite decades of investment, and explored opportunities to reimagine the federal cybersecurity ecosystem amid rapidly evolving AI-driven threats. Panel members included representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, BeyondTrust and Palo Alto Networks.

New ideas for essential systems

The panel also looked at how new ideas—from both government programs and private companies—could strengthen the systems we all rely on, such as electricity, emergency services, clean water and communication networks. The topics aligned closely with congressional appropriation requests under development to expand cybersecurity research and development in �鶹��ý.

Critical Effect DC 2025 emphasized actionable solutions and featured sessions on infrastructure protection, cyber-physical systems and workforce development—particularly for underrepresented populations.

Mirakhorli, a faculty member in UH Mānoa’s Department of Information and Computer Sciences in the , has led major research initiatives in secure-by-design systems and cyber resilience. He has supported key federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in advancing national cybersecurity policy and protecting critical infrastructure.

From campus meetups at 4 a.m. to the national stage in Florida, a first-time team of University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu cybersecurity students impressed the field—winning their regional division in March and finishing 12th out of more than 130 teams at a national competition in April.

“I’m incredibly proud of my team since we were UH West Oʻahu’s first-ever competitors in this competition,” said freshman and team captain Kiana Merez. “To not only take first place at regionals but also represent our school at the national invitational is a testament to our dedication and teamwork.”

Live defense

The UH West Oʻahu squad competed in the 2025 National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Cyber Games Invitational in Tampa, Florida. Representing the university at the national event were Merez, Nyla Boneza, Blix Hazen, Joel Kawamae, Chloe Kurashima, Branden Ramos and Shane Zuls. They were accompanied by Eli Tsukayama, associate professor of business administration.

“During the competition, we defended against a live red team for the first time. It was challenging, but we did our best to use our experience to defend our infrastructure,” Merez said. “This opportunity taught us very important lessons that will stay with us long after this competition, and we are looking forward to participating again next year!”

Senior Blix Hazen called the experience both fun and intense.

“Having to actively defend against a red team was totally new to me,” Hazen said. “Having to keep your services up and scoring really forces you to learn in the moment and teaches how to be proactive against attackers.”

‘Plan to be back’

The team earned its invitation to the national competition by winning the 2025 NCAE Cyber Games Southwest 2 Regional Division. That winning roster included Merez (captain), Boneza, Hazen, Kawamae, Kurashima, Zuls, Ryan Vagay and Kendall Wong.

Cybersecurity instructor and faculty sponsor Anthony Eich, a UH West Oʻahu graduate, thanked the families and faculty who came together to make travel to Tampa possible, and praised the team’s performance.

“Their hard work, dedication, and teamwork have paid off, and it highlights the strength of our cybersecurity program at UH West Oʻahu,” Eich said. “There is so much to be proud of, and we plan to be back next year.”

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—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

Matthew Schaefer knows precision. As a nationally competitive archer, the Mililani native is no stranger to focus and discipline. However, when he arrived at the University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu, he learned success doesn’t always follow a straight line.

Schaefer began as a business major but found his passion in cybersecurity–a switch that came with uncertainty and challenge.

Meet more amazing UH spring graduates

“Whether we took a traditional path or faced unexpected turns, we kept going, and that deserves to be celebrated,” Schaefer plans to share as one of two student speakers for on May 10 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Future leader

Schaefer made productive use of his time at UH West Oʻahu. A Chancellor Scholar and Admissions Ambassador, he led more than 150 campus tours and also supported students and staff through the IT Help Desk. But his defining experience came as an intern at the UH West Oʻahu Cybersecurity Coordination Center.

“Matthew has demonstrated initiative, determination and perseverance, which represent qualities that will enable him to be a future leader in the cybersecurity field,” said the director of the center.

Looking back, Schaefer credits UH West Oʻahu with building his technical foundation, and shaping how he thinks, communicates and solves problems.

“The hands-on experience and close-knit learning environment made a huge difference in my growth,” he said.

Interim Associate Vice Chancellor Michael Furuto, Schaefer’s former calculus instructor, said, “Matthew is a superb classroom leader, friendly team player and a model student. He has never ceased to amaze me with his unparalleled work ethic, dedication, grit and academic brilliance.”

‘Enjoy the journey’

Schaefer’s plans include continuing his work as an IT system analyst with the State of �鶹��ý Office of Elections, pursuing advanced cybersecurity certifications and mentoring others in the field.

“After graduation, I’m continuing to explore ways to grow in the cybersecurity field—whether through research opportunities or security consulting,” he said. “I’m especially interested in supporting organizations that protect public infrastructure and communities.”

On commencement day, Schaefer wants to leave his classmates, “feeling proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what lies ahead—and to remind them to enjoy the journey and not forget to smile along the way.”

For more visit .
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman