Volunteers make it possible for (FVH) to hold its monthly Food Drop at Campus Center, distributing about 8,000 pounds of food each second Wednesday of the academic year.Housed within the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (SILD) unit, FVH continues to play a key role in assisting UH Mānoa students experiencing food insecurity.

Bonnyjean Manini, SILD director, said volunteers are critical to help receive, sort, and distribute food at monthly Food Drop events. The items are provided through partnerships with the �鶹��ý Foodbank and the �鶹��ý Health & Harm Reduction Center.

“They exemplify the qualities of empathy, responsiveness, commitment and are fearless of the physical labor involved with the work of helping provide food to those in need but often go unacknowledged,” she said. “Their unconditional assistance makes these events possible.”

Finding joy in helping others

Richard Bradshaw, one of FVH’s longest-serving volunteers and a former religion instructor, said he returns each month for a simple reason: helping others brings joy.

“I think helping others with an open heart and non-judgmentally enables me to doubly enjoy giving,” he said. “Making people happy is the best way to make yourself happy.”

His own experiences as a college student gives him perspective on the challenges many students face today. He recalled comforting a student he knew who felt embarrassed to see him at the Food Drop, an interaction that underscored how food insecurity can affect a student’s sense of dignity.

“I deeply understood how she felt and did everything I could to ease her feelings,” he said.

Connecting through food and knowledge

Lara Hackney is an instructor in the Food Science and Human Nutrition program in the .

She began volunteering with FVH in 2019 through her involvement with The Coalition to Stop Campus Hunger. After the pandemic, she returned and has volunteered consistently since.

“I hope they [students/UH community] feel that FVH is a safe place where they can find something that helps when times are challenging,” she said.

A new volunteer inspired to give back

For third-year physics major Stephen Wagner, volunteering began as part of his Mortar Board service project but quickly took on deeper meaning. With past experience at food banks on �鶹��ý Island, he recognized how essential FVH is—especially after learning that 84% of the 268 participants at a recent Food Drop identified as UH Mānoa students.

“Seeing the pallets of food empty as people came through made the impact very tangible,” he said. “I hope students feel secure and welcome when they come to the Food Drop.”

He encourages others to volunteer as well. “Community is especially important in these uncertain times, and lifting each other up makes for a strong community.”

How to support FVH

FVH will hold its next Food Drop on December 10, at the Campus Center Courtyard, beginning at noon while supplies last. Its Holiday Drive to help stock its pantry in Hemenway Hall runs through January 2, and the UH community is encouraged to donate non-perishable food items and toiletries at the SLD office in Campus Center Room 208, Monday—Friday, 9 a.m.—4 p.m. (except holidays and weekends).

Monetary donations to support Food Vault �鶹��ý can be made through the . For updates, pantry information and volunteer opportunities, follow FVH on or email fvh@hawaii.edu.

UH Basic Needs Fund

If you’re a UH Mānoa student facing an unexpected hardship, the UH Mānoa Student Basic Needs fund offers one-time emergency grants to help you stay on track. Apply or give your support here.

Jean Takamura dedicated 42 years to the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, serving with professionalism, grace and a deep commitment to helping others succeed. Starting as a stenographer in 1960, she worked her way through increasingly trusted business support roles—serving deans, vice presidents and chancellors—before retiring in 2002 as secretary to the interim Chancellor Deane Neubauer.

On April 28, Takamura returned to campus to celebrate a new chapter in her legacy. She and her sons—Blake, Guy and Clete, all UH Mānoa alumni, son-in-law Joe Whittinghill and daughter-in-law Teri Takamura—attended the annual UH Mānoa Awards Ceremony, where the first recipients of the were honored. The endowment, established by her family in tribute to Jean and their father, Yukio, is the university’s first to recognize excellence among business support staff.

“The university holds a special place in my heart from my 42 years working there and that all three of my sons are alumni,” said Takamura. “I am thankful to my sons and family for establishing this important award that recognizes staff as key parts of the university. I met both award recipients. They are wonderful people and I am so happy for them to be recognized.”

Celebrating the inaugural honorees

The Jean Takamura Staff Excellence Award highlights the vital role of business support staff in the success of the University. Takamura was known not only for her attention to detail, but for her diplomacy, empathy and ability to build trusted relationships across campus.

The inaugural recipients are Michele Inouchi and Roy Tom, who both reflect the values that guided Takamura’s own career.

Inouchi, administrative officer in the , began her career at UH Mānoa in 2001. Known for her “quiet but effective” approach, she plays a key role in fiscal operations, campus coordination and accessibility advocacy.

Tom, machinist in the , has served the university since 1967. His expert craftsmanship supports groundbreaking research, and his mentorship of student robotics teams has inspired generations.

• Related UH News story: From Moon dust to Antarctica: UH machinist approaches 60 years of service, July 30, 2024

“It’s unexpected,” said Tom. “Honestly, I don’t even have the words but it’s an honor.”

“It’s shocking—but I feel really appreciated,” said Inouchi. “I’ve been here for a couple of decades now, and this really touches me.”

Each honoree received a $1,000 staff grant in recognition of their contributions. Nominated by department leaders, the recipients were selected by Mānoa Staff Senate Chair Andrew Sensano and the UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno.

Through this endowment, Takamura’s legacy continues, recognizing and uplifting those whose work often happens behind the scenes, and is essential to UH ����ԴDz�’s mission.

State legislators from �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s House of Representatives got an inside look at the exceptional resources available to students during the Talk Story: Student Success event on Friday, December 18. The event highlighted services that support students’ academic achievements and well-being, including a center dedicated to Native Hawaiian haumāna (students), high-quality mental health programs, and a sensory-friendly stress relief hub.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to share these premier services with our lawmakers,” said UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. “We’re privileged to provide comprehensive care that supports our students’ success, ensuring they have the tools and resources to thrive both academically and personally.”

The tour welcomed Reps. Andrew Garrett, Amy Perruso, Jackson Sayama and Cory Chun. The event began at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Success, where staff from the shared how the campus is working to reach the campus’ goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian place of learning through the incorporation of ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language) and ʻike (knowledge) at UH Mānoa and within each of its units.

Uplifting kānaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiians)

Legislators visited (NHSS), a unit of the . NHSS offers culturally rooted programs and support to foster Hawaiian scholarship and strengthen Hawaiian identities. Lawmakers learned about its impactful role in cultivating a sense of belonging and achievement among Native Hawaiian haumāna.

Student success showcase

Kapā Oliveira, interim vice provost for Student Success, led the campus tour. Oliveira oversees UH ����ԴDz�’s , which provides a wide range of student support services, including co-curricular activities, housing, counseling, career guidance, employment, and health services for all students.

Mental health, well being

The (CSDC) offers counseling, psychiatric care, and tailored programs for specific student groups, including veterans, athletes, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander haumāna. Psychologist Alexander Khaddouma emphasized the importance of expanding services, noting that UH Mānoa students experience slightly higher rates of mental health challenges than the national average.

De-stress sanctuary

Another standout feature of the tour was a new sensory room in Kuykendall Hall, that promotes relaxation and stress management. Equipped with calming visuals, fiber optic displays, and other sensory tools, the room has been warmly received by students and faculty. Campus surveys indicate a rising demand for such spaces to provide a sanctuary for self-regulation and focus.

Representative Chun, who represents Pearl City, Waipahu, and Crestview, and is a father of two shared his impressions.

“I’m sure it’s reassuring to parents and family that if they’re sick or if theyʻre having mental health issues that there are services that are there. You donʻt have to worry about cost. They’re available 24/7,” said Chun.

Academic success

The tour wrapped up with an overview of UH ����ԴDz�’s academic success services, such as academic advising, learning assistant programming, and civic and community engagement. Students expressed how these programs have played a vital role in their educational journeys and support them in reaching their academic goals.

A team from the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa is tackling an important cause of human-made climate change—common refrigerants used for everything from cooling homes and businesses to freezing and preserving food and medicine. The (NSF) (ERC) to create sustainable refrigerant technology.

The majority of refrigerants, called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems. HVACR systems account for almost 10% of global greenhouse-gas emissions because of leaks that release HFCs into the atmosphere and the significant amount of energy it takes to operate them.

The new (EARTH) aims to create a transformative “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” by lowering HFC emissions; creating safe, property-balanced replacement refrigerants; and increasing the energy efficiency of HVACR systems.

“Understanding the underlying chemistry of new refrigerants in the atmosphere is central to defining the impact onto our climate and ultimately the rise of sea levels,” said UH Mānoa Professor Ralf I. Kaiser (, ), the UH project lead. “We will be developing a tightly integrated collaborative network to predict for the first time the atmospheric impact of potential new refrigerants before they are incorporated into HVACR systems. This is just one aspect of UHʻs role in this important project.”

Gen-4 NSF Engineering Research Center

Along with UH, ERC EARTH includes teams from University of Notre Dame, Lehigh University, University of South Dakota, University of Maryland and project lead University of Kansas. The group was selected from among hundreds of other proposed centers following a highly competitive two-year review process. NSF currently supports just 15 ERCs in advanced manufacturing, energy and environment, health and infrastructure.

“For UH to be part of a team selected for a NSF Engineering Research Center just speaks volumes to the quality of our researchers and personnel,” said UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. “I cannot overstate its significance, and this groundbreaking project positions UH at the forefront of climate change mitigation while addressing a critical challenge to �鶹��ý and the world.”

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said ERCs ask big questions in order to catalyze solutions with far reaching impacts.

“NSF Engineering Research Centers are powerhouses of discovery and innovation, bringing America’s great engineering minds to bear on our toughest challenges,” said Panchanathan. “By collaborating with industry and training the workforce of the future, ERCs create an innovation ecosystem that can accelerate engineering innovations, producing tremendous economic and societal benefits for the nation.”

UHʻs many project responsibilities

The UH Mānoa team includes Professors Kaiser, Rui Sun (, ), Christina Karamperidou (, ), Kieko Matteson (, ) and Jennifer Pagala Barnett (). Kaiser says it is fitting that UH is playing such an important role in the project.

“�鶹��ý is increasingly vulnerable to global warming and its impacts, including more frequent and severe weather extremes and sea level rise,” Kaiser said. “Sea level rise, which exacerbates flooding, coastal inundation and erosion, poses a serious threat not only to �鶹��ý, but also to major population centers along the Pacific Rim, such as Japan and Australia.”

Kaiser and Sun’s groups will study the atmospheric chemistry of gas phase refrigerants and their interaction with atmospheric ice particles. Kaiser’s group will employ crossed molecular beams and acoustic levitators to study the fate of refrigerants in the atmosphere. The efforts are complimented by Sun’s computer simulations with artificial intelligence to understand the reaction at the atomistic detail.

“By following this approach, we will avoid the mistakes done in the 1970s, when chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), an otherwise excellent refrigerant, resulted in catastrophic ozone depletion,” Sun said.

Karamperidou, a co-leader of the ERC’s research thrust on novel and safe refrigerants, will integrate the experimental and computational data into climate models to study the impacts of HFCs, their replacement compounds, and novel cooling technologies and practices on climate and atmospheric circulation.

“As temperatures continue to rise and with them the frequency and intensity of heat waves, so does the need for refrigeration and air conditioning,” said Karamperidou. “This leads to increased refrigerant use and related greenhouse gas emissions, and a vicious cycle between HVACR and global warming that needs to be better understood and ultimately broken.”

Matteson will place the modern demand for cooling and its social, environmental, and economic impacts into historical context. She notes that air conditioning technology was first developed in the early twentieth century and didn’t become widespread in U.S. homes until the 1970s.

“Now, extreme heat is affecting our health, learning and productivity, and exacerbating disparities between the haves and have-nots,” said Matteson. “Mitigating HFCs’ harmful effects while ensuring that everyone can function at a livable temperature is a vital social justice issue that needs to be driven by historical understanding as much as science.”

As part of the center, UH Mānoa will also establish a new interdisciplinary graduate program in atmospheric chemistry (College of Natural Sciences and SOEST) to train future leaders in chemistry, atmospheric science and environmental science.

Diversity and Culture of Inclusion

Barnett will manage the Diversity and Culture of Inclusion (DCI) for the ERC, spearheading initiatives to support and advance EARTH’s diversity goals for students, faculty and staff. A major focus is to recruit and increase participation of Indigenous and tribal communities.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity to bring our commitment to diversity to our partner universities and to this important effort,” said Barnett. “This is a global issue that we are trying to address and one of the keys to success is to ensure that all voices are being considered and heard and offered an equitable opportunity to affect change.”

“For our team to be leading the DCI initiatives for the entire ERC shows how UH, and �鶹��ý in general, lead the nation in these types of efforts,” said Bruno. “We are committed to being a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning and fully embracing our multicultural and multi-ethnic communities. This is an opportunity to extend that forward thinking to the continent.”

Allen Vincent, a 4th year Chemistry PhD student in Sun’s lab, is the President of the Student Leadership Council (SLC) for ERC EARTH. He leads an active council of 26 students from the partner institutions who are all involved in research and academic activities for the ERC. The SLC will work closely with DCI efforts to address the ERC culture, diversity and recruitment of students.

Workforce training

ERC EARTH will work with industry to develop workforce goals that will involve community colleges to address workforce gaps. The UH team will work with the UH community colleges through coordinated outreach and training to prepare the next generation of HVACR workers.

“This project demonstrates the amazing synergies we can achieve when our campuses work together,” said UH President David Lassner. “Our world-class researchers will be developing solutions to a major challenge facing the planet with the commitment to train not just the next generation of researchers but also helping our community colleges train local residents for the high-quality jobs that will need to be filled to install and maintain newer systems that are more climate-friendly to our planet.”

More about ERC EARTH

The initial $26-million award is eligible for renewal for five additional years until 2034. NSF’s ERC program brings technology-based industry and universities together to strengthen the competitive position of American industry in the global marketplace. This ERC has interacting foundational components that go beyond the research project, including engineering workforce development and value creation within an innovation ecosystem that will outlast the lifetime of the ERC.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa buzzed with energy on April 26, as 14 students from and arrived on campus. The , which provides support to students identifying as Filipino or Pacific Islander, hosted its first “Turning the Tides” transfer event. The program’s goal is to help ease the transition from community college to a four-year institution for Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) students.

For Davis Rofino Martin, a UH Mānoa junior and TIDES Fellow who helped organize the event, the importance of the inaugural gathering was personal. He once made the same journey from Honolulu CC to Mānoa.

“As someone who has gone through the transfer experience myself, I know what it’s like to endure the culture shock while trying to adapt to a larger campus environment,” Martin said. “This event was a way to offer these students an opportunity to get their feet wet and get them connected with resources and a community even before their arrival as official UH Mānoa students.”

Cultural weaving, tailored tours

The day’s agenda was rich with activities tailored to the students’ interests and needs. From a weaving workshop to a presentation of the Hamilton Library’s Pacific Collection, the event aimed to provide insight into campus life. Specialized tours focused on the students’ specific academic interests. A panel discussion featured current UH Mānoa students who had transferred from community colleges, sharing their personal experiences and advice.

Participants who attended are primarily from student organizations at Honolulu CC and Kapiʻolani CC; , and other programs such as Phi Theta Kappa, TRIO and .

“Seeing students from Honolulu CC and Kapiʻolani CC engaging with each other and asking about our experiences in transferring to Mānoa was rewarding,” said senior Jeddie May Cabasag, a TIDES student assistant who helped organize the event.

The attendees come from diverse cultural backgrounds and identified as Chuukese, Chamorro, Marshallese, Yapese, Palauan, Kosraean, Samoan, Tongan, Native Hawaiian, Tahitian and Filipino.The event also hosted a resource fair which showcased an array of support services available on campus, from first generation and Filipino/Pacific Islander-serving clubs to information about the for transfer students.

More on TIDES

TIDES, housed under the UH ����ԴDz�ʻ�� , was established in 2021 through an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) grant. The AANAPISI program, initiated by Congress in 2007, designates UH Mānoa as one of eight federally recognized Minority-Serving Institutions.

To learn more about TIDES contact: tides@hawaii.edu.

A team from the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa tasked with groundbreaking efforts to help advance the campus as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning launched an immersive initiative with an inaugural cohort of executives, faculty, staff and students this spring. On March 18, the UH Mānoa (NHPoL AO) started a weeklong professional development series guiding more than 50 participants in activities focused around Native Hawaiian values and traditions such as mapping various moʻokūʻauhau (genealogies that shape us) mālama ʻāina (care for the land), oli (chants), and pilina (connection) circles.

“If we want our students, the next generation, to be more connected to each other and to this place we have to model that and sometimes that means we have to go learn that and so we are growing the next generation by also growing the sources that nourish them,” said Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Punihei Lipe, director NHPoL AO.

• Related UH News story: Leading UH Mānoa to become a Native Hawaiian place of learning, March 6, 2024

Cohort lessons to inform long-term goals

This launch marks the start of a two-year journey for the first cohort of UH Mānoa units, called Cohort Kumukahi. These efforts are part of a multi-step process to achieve goals articulated in the , which outlines UH Mānoa’s main priorities and strategies for achieving them.

The NHPoL AO team will help units, schools/colleges and departments across campus work toward creating five-year strategic plans focused on how each can take steps toward becoming a Native Hawaiian place of learning in four specific focus areas; Native Hawaiian student success, staff and faculty development, Native Hawaiian environments and Native Hawaiian community engagement.

While on this Indigenous-based path, participants will delve deeply into exercises based on Native Hawaiian ideals and perspectives.

ʻIke �鶹��ý (Ways of knowing)

• Moʻokūʻauhau (the many genealogies that shape us)
• Kaikuaʻana and Kaikaina (Intergenerational interdependent relationships)
• Kuleana (our responsibilities and privileges)
• Hānai and Hoʻomalu (nourishing and protecting each other)
• Mālama (tending to and caring for one another)

History Professor Karen Jolly expressed her enthusiasm for incorporating Indigenous perspectives into classroom curriculum.

“I want to be able to do that…to integrate Native Hawaiian ways of thinking and being and doing into my classroom and research,” Jolly said.

With this initiative, UH Mānoa is taking significant steps towards fostering an inclusive and culturally rooted educational environment that pays homage to �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Indigenous people.

A total of 13 units comprise Cohort Kumukahi:

• UH Cancer Center
• College of Arts, Languages and Letters
• College of Engineering
• College of Social Sciences
• Division of Student Success
• �鶹��ý Institute of Marine Biology
• Institute for Astronomy
• John A. Burns School of Medicine
• Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing
• Office of Communications
• Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
• �鶹��ý Sea Grant
• School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

This May, more than 90 participants will join this work and begin training.

John Bernard Flores was one semester away from earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa when an unimaginable tragedy struck. Less than two weeks before the first day of his last semester, Flores and his family narrowly escaped the August 8 wildfire that destroyed his hometown of Lahaina. Flores says the fire started just blocks from his home and burnt his house to the ground.

“We were only able to grab ourselves and evacuate,” said Flores. “There were a lot of electricity posts down and the majority of the main roads were blocked. That’s why a lot of people didn’t make it and jumped into the water, because all people were rushing to evacuate, and [it was just] a single road down to Lahainaluna road. I am just happy that all of my family members are safe.”

Flores had been working hard to earn his college degree after emigrating from the Philippines to Maui during his senior year of high school. After the fire, the future was uncertain and his last semester was the last thing on his mind.

“I was worried, having thoughts like, ‘Where are we going to stay?’ ‘How are we going to get up from this?’ ‘Should we just go back to the Philippines?,’” said Flores. “I wasn’t thinking of school at all, but at the same time, I wanted to finish what I started with my education.”

Reaching out with support

Within days of the worst natural disaster in state history, the UH Mānoa Division of Student Success (DSS) began reaching out to more than 550 students from Maui to offer immediate assistance. Nearly 80 of those students were from Lahaina.

“It was a week before move-in and classes started, so we knew we had to reach out quickly,” explained Student Success Operations Manager Wiliama Sanchez. “Students were emailed, called and texted by ‘Bow, the Rainbow Warrior AI Chatbot, to help check in on students.”

That’s how Flores found out about the UH Student Basic Needs program and was able to quickly receive financial assistance and other necessities including a laptop donated from , after losing his in the fire. He graduated with a bachelor of science in kinesiology health and exercise science in fall 2023.

“I am very lucky that this program is here to help students in need who have been affected by a tragedy,” Flores added. “I hope this program is going to continue for a long run, because it can help and change people’s lives in small or big ways. I really appreciate them all.”

As of spring 2024, UH Mānoa is still assisting 128 Maui students impacted by the wildfires. When students face basic need insecurity, their academic performance and overall well-being can be negatively impacted, according to Theresa Crichfield, associate vice provost for student success and UH Mānoa dean of students.

• UH Foundation has and help even more students like Flores.

“Knowing this, it motivates us to provide resources that the students need to encourage their success, and we want them to know that these forms of aid and assistance are available to them, whenever they need it,” said Crichfield. “We strive to give them an environment they can thrive in.”

• Related UH News story: Virtual cafe expands to aid students with enhanced basic needs access, April 26, 2023

In an effort to better prepare University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa students to make responsible alcohol usage choices, the has introduced the campus to , a national online program designed to educate college students about alcohol use, misuse and potential consequences.

AlcoholEdu features interactive modules featuring videos, quizzes and scenarios that cover topics related to alcohol and other drug consumption. The content is personalized for students at UH Mānoa.

“These initiatives promote the health and safety of students by equipping them with knowledge about the potential physical and mental health consequences of substance misuse, as well as strategies for responsible decision-making,” said Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Kuʻulei Salzer, from the University Health Services Mānoa, Health Promotion. “Moreover, education and ongoing support programs help students maintain their academic performance by mitigating the negative impact of substance misuse on concentration, memory and overall well-being.”

UH Mānoa students are strongly encouraged .

Fostering alcohol-healthy student relationships

In addition to AlcoholEdu, students are also encouraged to attend BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students), a program that provides them with personalized feedback on their alcohol use patterns and associated risks.

Through BASICS, students are educated on responsible drinking practices, coping mechanisms for managing stress and peer pressure, and goal-setting techniques, empowering students to develop healthier relationships with alcohol and navigate social situations more safely.

Students who feel they need additional support for their alcohol or other drug use can complete the to schedule a session with Salzer. More information can be found at the University Health Services website.

Perceptions of alcohol consumption

To determine student perceptions of alcohol usage, Health Promotion conducted a Mānoa Alcohol Project Survey, finding that 15% of students believe that their peers drink every day—in reality, the amount total is less than 1% of students drinking daily.

“This misperception could lead other students to believe that heavy drinking is a normal part of the college experience, when in reality, the majority of students are making low-risk choices when it comes to alcohol,” said Salzer. “By educating young adults about alcohol and drug use, we can bring more clarity and reinforce the actual substance use norms at UH Mānoa.”

Safe space to seek help

At UH Mānoa, a is implemented with the primary goal of encouraging students to seek help in alcohol-related emergencies.

“We aim to create a safe space for students to ask for help, and under this policy, if they seek medical assistance for themselves or others, they are granted certain protections from disciplinary action related to underage drinking,” explained Theresa Crichfield, associate vice provost for student success and UH Mānoa dean of students. “This is something we applied informally in the past, and when the Good Samaritan Policy was passed in 2015, we officially formalized this practice at UH Mānoa.”

By addressing substance abuse proactively, students are supported in their personal development, and empowered to navigate social pressures effectively, boosting their overall success and well-being.

For any questions or concerns, students can email alcohol@hawaii.edu, or visit the University Health Services website for more information.