Alberta Pukahi, captain of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s (DPS), recently passed away. Pukahi was known and loved by many at Â鶹´«Ã½²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, where she was the first female captain at DPS.

Pukahi, a Native Hawaiian who was born and raised on Oʻahu, began working at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ in 1987 as a security officer. While working at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, Pukahi began actively pursuing her educational goals. In 2000, Pukahi earned her associate’s degree in Administration of Justice from Honolulu Community College, and in 2010, she earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from UH West Oʻahu. Throughout this time, she rose through the ranks at DPS, first being promoted to sergeant, and then to captain in 2012. In 2011, Pukahi was recognized by Top Cop Â鶹´«Ã½ for leading a special task force to prevent further burglaries at cash-handling locations on campus, and for working closely with the Women’s Center, judicial office and student affairs on sexual assault cases.

DPS Chief Andrew Black said, “Captain Alberta Pukahi loved the University of Â鶹´«Ã½, those who worked for the university, its students, and the women and men who served with UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Department of Public Safety. She served with distinction and aloha, and she will be greatly missed.”

Sgt. Bridget Evangelista-Gouveia said, “Pukahi was a person dedicated to helping others and had made a big impact to those that looked to her for help and guidance. She was someone that improved the lives of many in her department as well as the community in which she served. She uplifted women and encouraged them to push forward and bring about change. She was quoted as saying, ‘It’s all about making a positive change on Campus.’ And that she did.”

Pukahi was an active member of several community organizations, including the National Coalition Building Institute, the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, the UH Commission on the Status of Women and the UH Commission on the Status of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex) Equality. She retired in 2023 after 36 years of service to UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. Pukahi will be missed by her family, friends and colleagues.

Celebration of Alberta Pukahi’s Life will be held on Friday, July 12, at Mililani Mortuary–Makai Chapel. Visitation at 9 a.m. Services at 10 a.m. Urn burial at 11 a.m. (short walk from the chapel in Section E). Lunch will be served back at the chapel.

The 2023 Toys for Tots donation drive once again surpassed expectations as the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa community showed their holiday Aloha Spirit through donations and partnerships. The drive collected hundreds of toys for Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s keiki in need, and showed that school pride is strong at UH Mānoa.

UH Mānoa (DPS) has hosted the event annually since 2020. The collections occurred between November through early December. The success of the toy drive continues to grow each year, owing much of its success to many UH departments and organizations that assist by collecting toys at their events.

The 2023 drive garnered many partnerships both on and off campus. The UH Office of Alumni Relations partnered with DPS for their first ever young alumni mixer and toy drive event that collected more than 40 toys. UH Athletics hosted a toy drive at their December 10 men’s basketball game against Â鶹´«Ã½ Pacific University, resulting in a large donation from UH fans and community members.

Many UH departments took advantage of the DPS toy pickup service, which allowed departments to host smaller collection sites within their department, which provided a convenient way for donors to make their contribution.

Sgt. Bryne Nagata, who has led the toy pickup service since 2020, said “This year’s Toys for Tots drive received the highest number of toy donations since DPS began our participation in 2020. It warms my heart to know that there are many students, employees, and community members willing to brighten a child’s holiday season. As the coordinator for DPS‘s Toys for Tots drive, I want to extend my deepest and heartfelt appreciation to everyone who donated a toy or contributed their time.”

At the end of the toy drive, DPS sorted through hundreds of toys and prepared them for loading into the donation truck. Students from the Hui Poʻokela chapter of the , a UH Mānoa group that recognizes college students for their exemplary scholarship, leadership and service, donated their time to assist in sorting and packaging toys for final donation to Toys for Tots.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (DPS) recently achieved re-accreditation through the , Inc. (CALEA®) in July 2023. In 2019, DPS was the first college campus security agency to receive CALEA accreditation in the state, and just the second in the nation. Currently, DPS is also one of six nationwide agencies to receive the CALEA Campus Security Advanced Accreditation.

“Maintaining our CALEA accreditation is a testimonial to the professionalism that our officers and employees demonstrate at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ on a daily basis,” said DPS Chief Andrew Black. “I am very proud of the women and men of DPS and their dedication to making the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ a safe place to learn, work and visit.”

In order to achieve accredited status, DPS must comply with 293 standards and maintain continued compliance in order to keep their status. Accreditation lasts four years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports and participate in annual web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. At the end of the cycle, peer assessors conduct a site-based review which includes interviewing various students, faculty, staff and community members. Once the review is completed, DPS sends representatives to attend a public hearing before the commission and is awarded re-accreditation.

Community involvement

The CALEA accreditation process is an ongoing effort, and initially involved more than three years of policy development and training, to align the department with industry best practices. Over the past four years, DPS has focused on strengthening department operations and policies even more, in order to receive the Advanced Accreditation status. The program focuses on the safety and security of students and employees, and applies standards that require organizations to consider critical issues such as facility risks, regulatory reporting, technology-based security monitoring, preventative patrol and a host of other issues that provide comprehensive service delivery. These concepts center on the community-oriented policing model, which seeks to involve the community in crime prevention and education.

Community-oriented policing provides a framework in which public safety agencies and citizens can work in partnership to prevent and control challenges confronting our communities and provides clear direction about community expectations. Accreditation serves to give an agency a proven management system of written directives, sound training, clearly defined lines of authority, and routine reports that support decision-making and resource allocation.

“We appreciate the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ community’s continued support in our efforts to ensure a safe and secure campus for our students, employees, and visitors,” Black said.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (DPS) collected a record number of new toys donated by campus employees, students, and community members for the Toys for Tots drive this year.

Officers collected items throughout November and early December. This year’s drive marks DPS’ third year of collecting Toys for Tots at UH Mānoa. During this year’s donation period, DPS collected hundreds of toys, filling nine large crates and making this their most successful drive to date.

“We are always grateful for the support shown by the community in collecting gifts during our Toys for Tots drive, and we truly appreciate everyone who donated,” said DPS Chief Andrew Black.

Toys were collected in a variety of ways this year. Some departments set up smaller donation centers and later brought their contributions to DPS. DPS also picked up donations from on-campus locations.

The high volume of donations shows that charity is alive and well at UH Mānoa. DPS is grateful to all who contributed to this year’s toy drive.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s (DPS) once again hosted a Toys for Tots collection site this year, garnering even more donations than its inaugural drive in 2020. In a massive show of aloha, DPS filled more than eight large boxes with donations, including 297 toys, 62 stocking stuffers and 23 books. These donations will serve to benefit keiki in our local community.

The donation drive was held in November through early December. DPS offered its popular contactless pickup option, in which donors could schedule a time for DPS to pick up donations on campus. Many departments held their own office wide mini collection sites, and then made their collective donations to DPS. This proved to be very successful and easier to donate, as individuals didn’t have to schedule their own delivery or pickup.

“We are once again so thankful for the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ coming together with such an amazing display of charity for children in need. DPS and Toys for Tots would like to extend a huge mahalo to all who contributed,” said DPS Chief Andy Black.

“Mahalo to our ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ ʻohana for their generous spirit of aloha for our local keiki and families, and to our DPS staff for coordinating another successful toy drive,” added UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno. “TheyÊ»ve brightened the holidays for many during this season of giving.”

Toys for Tots is a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps, who coordinated all collection sites on Oʻahu.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (DPS) is kicking off the school year with a variety of free online safety workshops to help students and employees stay safe on campus. These training sessions include Active Shooter Awareness and Response, Hurricane Preparedness, and Conflict Resolution and De-escalation training.

Training sessions

• Active Shooter Awareness and Response (75 min): Provides information on various active shooter scenarios, what you can do to keep yourself safe, and what to expect when police and DPS respond. This training uses concepts from the Department of Homeland Security’s Run-Hide-Fight program.
• Hurricane Preparedness (75 min): Learn about how to prepare for a hurricane in Â鶹´«Ã½, including tips for preparing an emergency kit, what to do when a hurricane is approaching, and how to find a local shelter or shelter-in-place.
• Conflict Resolution and De-escalation (75 minutes): Learn about precipitating factors to conflict, signs of agitation, and discuss verbal and nonverbal de-escalation techniques. In addition, we discuss how to end the de-escalation process, and what to do when de-escalation isn’t possible. Recommended for faculty and staff.
• Safety and Wellness (1 hour): Learn about services offered by DPS, discuss safety tips for both on and off-campus, learn about common crime prevention measures that can be taken to increase safety on campus, and engage with DPS staff to have your safety questions answered.

To view dates and times, or register for a session, please visit the . All training sessions listed above are provided to any group by request. You can request a session through the Workshops and Training Sessions page.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) hosted its first-ever Toys for Tots collection site throughout November and early December to a massive show of aloha.

The response was overwhelming, and DPS announced that several hundred toys were donated by faculty, staff and students. The collection far surpassed expectations, as DPS leaders had been concerned that donations might be limited due to the challenges presented by COVID-19.

During this year’s collection, DPS offered a contactless pickup option, in which donors could schedule a time for DPS to pick up toy donations from the person’s on-campus office or building. This proved to be a popular option for those who weren’t able to drop off items in person. Some donors opted to order toys online and have them mailed directly to DPS. The university was able to fill more than seven large boxes with a variety of toys for children of all ages.

“The giving spirit is truly alive at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa, and DPS and Toys for Tots would like to extend a huge mahalo to all who contributed this year in making this holiday season brighter for children in need,” said DPS Chief Andy Black.

Toys for Tots is a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps, who coordinated all collection sites on Oʻahu.

Patrick Movery, sergeant of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s (DPS), recently passed away. Movery was well known and loved by many on the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus during his decades of service. He will be missed for his smile, his friendship and his love for family and community.

Movery, who was originally from Jamaica, was a Marine Corps veteran with 29 years of service at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. In 2010, Movery was recognized by Top Cop Â鶹´«Ã½ for thwarting a series of bicycle and moped thefts throughout the campus, and for his leadership in first aid and CPR training on campus.

“Sgt. Movery left an indelible mark on this department, the university and individuals he came in contact with,” said DPS Chief Andrew Black. “He was a dedicated leader, mentor to young officers and served the university with aloha. He was beloved and will be sorely missed.”

When Movery was promoted to sergeant at DPS, he continued his leadership by mentoring new officers and managing the staff services section of the department.

Officer Bryne Nagata said, “When I joined the department in 2012, Patrick took me under his wing and trained me to be the best officer and man that I can be. He showed me how to do the job properly and professionally, and he also taught me how to be a better person. I’ll be forever grateful.”

With the unknown time frame of a memorial service due to COVID-19, DPS would like to offer an opportunity for the community to express condolences. All thoughts and memories of Movery can be sent to dpschief@hawaii.edu and will be shared with his family and friends.

To help students, faculty and staff prepare for the upcoming fall semester in the age of COVID-19, volunteers across several departments at the are assembling more than 25,000 COVID-CARE Kits with items to keep the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ community safe, healthy and help them monitor themselves for any symptoms.

Dozens of physically-distanced volunteers in shifts of 14 are helping to assemble the kits in the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ meeting and training room.

Each kit includes:

• A UH pouch
• Two face masks, one with the “H” logo and another with the UH logo
• One digital thermometer
• One bottle of hand sanitizer
• One package of hand wipes
• Information about signs and symptoms of COVID-19

More information to follow on how to get your COVID-CARE Kit.

has been recognized for its outstanding compliance with a law covering sexual assault, domestic violence and other crimes, earning the National Clery Compliance Program of the Year Award from the on July 24.

The Jeanne Clery Act is a complex and ever-evolving federal consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. This law requires institutions to maintain policies relating to the Violence Against Women Act, Drug Free Schools and Communities Act and Higher Education Opportunity Act.

To maintain current Clery Act compliance, UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ departments accurately report crime statistics and policy statements for inclusion in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, train certain students and employees as “campus security authorities,” and issue emergency and timely warning notifications. The UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus’ efforts have ensured the safety for all students, faculty, staff and visitors.

“This national recognition of our Department of Public Safety is a remarkable testament to the exemplary efforts and cooperative work of many to make UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ a safer place for learning,” said UH President David Lassner. “Special thanks to Clery Compliance Officer Sarah Rice and Chief (Andrew) Black for working with the entire DPS team and the campus to focus on continuous improvement toward safety for all.”

Contributing UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ departments and programs include:

• (DPS)
• University Health Services ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
• Office of Human Resources
• Academic departments