The (ACM) at the awarded two students the inaugural Roy and Hilda Takeyama Foundation Scholarship.

Mavric Agustin-Carino and Mikaela Briones are recipients of this first-ever full scholarship in the ACM program. They will receive multi-year assistance and an additional $1,000 annually to support their studies and enhance their experiences at UH West Oʻahu.

The scholarship is part of a made in 2015 by the Roy and Hilda Takeyama Foundation to support and advance the mission and priorities of the ACM program through tuition, books, internships and state-of-the-art equipment for the , which is set to hold classes starting this fall.

Roy and Hilda Takeyama’s children, son and foundation trustee David Takeyama, and daughter and UH Regent Jan Sullivan, said their late father would have been overjoyed with the news of the two scholarship recipients.

“Our father, Roy Takeyama, who started the foundation, was an early donor of the ACM program and its vision to broaden and diversify �鶹��ý’s economy,” David Takeyama said. “As we work through this pandemic, the importance of those early insights are highlighted today and if he were still alive today, he would be overwhelmed with joy to see that these promising two students have the opportunity to make a real change in �鶹��ý’s future.”

Agustin-Carino’s motivation

Agustin-Carino, resident of ʻEwa Beach, is a second-career student who went from working in the construction trade to pursuing media and design in ACM.

“This is the first scholarship I have ever received and I consider this to be one of my greatest personal achievements,” said Agustin-Carino, who transferred from Leeward Community College where he received an AS in digital media.

Agustin-Carino said earning a bachelor’s degree in the creative media program will give him more opportunities in the video game industry. He ultimately wants to create art in an effort to design a wonderful gaming experience for all ages.

“I am motivated, now more than ever, to excel in my work and make my family and loved ones proud,” Agustin-Carino said.

Endless possibilities for Briones

Briones said that the significance this scholarship has for her is “huge.”

“It’s honestly everything to me because I’m not in such a fortunate position that I’d be able to pay for college out of pocket without any financial assistance,” she said. “But this scholarship really opens up more doors for me as I know that my hard work pays off.”

Briones, who is a 2020 graduate of Waiʻanae High School where she was part of the school’s Searider Productions, added that she gained a love of graphic design and creative media as a whole from her high school experience.

“Once I get my degree, I hope to maybe return to my alma mater and teach or even start my own design firm,” Briones said. “The possibilities from here are endless as long as I stay on this track.”

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The is installing a new 96-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system for the Administration and Health Science building, taking a step toward UH System’s goal to be “net-zero”—produce as much renewable energy as it consumes—across its 10 campuses by 2035.

The new PV system also supports the goal of achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold (or higher) certification for the building.

Installation of UH West Oʻahu’s new PV system began on May 26 and is expected to be complete on July 7, with HECO validation from July 21 to September 3 to install the new meter and get the system energized, monitored and commissioned.

While power usage upon the reopening of the campus for the fall 2020 semester is uncertain at this time, it is expected to be less than prior to the COVID-19 impact due to anticipated reduction of building users in compliance with social distancing guidelines, such as fewer students per classroom and increased online classes.

The system cost is $437,909, which includes onsite project team coordination and supervision, revisions to the existing structure for electrical pathways and coordination with HECO for system validation. The PV system is funded by a combination of general obligation bonds and EB-5 immigrant investor funds.

Those on campus during the installation are advised to use caution and be cognizant of work and loading areas, machinery, equipment, signs and crew involved in the project.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The at the is one of 60 providers from 29 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to receive new accreditation for their educator preparation programs, the (CAEP) recently announced. CAEP is the sole accrediting body for educator preparation nationally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

The spring 2020 review by the CAEP resulted in a total of 341 education preparation providers approved under the CAEP —nationally recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.

“Basically, external reviewers agreed that the evidence and outcomes show that we meet rigorous standards,” Jeffrey A.S. Moniz, UH West Oʻahu vice chancellor for academic affairs, said. “This is a testament to the excellence of our faculty, students and school partners.”

Moniz added, “National accreditation presents this powerful assurance [that] UH West Oʻahu provides the high-quality education needed to prepare effective teachers for the learners in our communities.”

Mary F. Heller, UH West Oʻahu education division chair, said she is extremely appreciative to the division’s faculty for their commitment to preparing excellent teachers for �鶹��ý’s K–12 students.

“We are grateful for our partnership with the �鶹��ý Department of Education, as faculty work closely with mentor teachers and principals to provide field-based experiences that bring to life the real-world challenges and joys of teaching,” Heller said.

“The CAEP accreditation team found ‘no areas for improvement’ across all programs,” Heller added. “We nevertheless will stand by our Continuous Improvement Model, using qualitative and quantitative data to inform practice as we move forward together over the next seven year accreditation cycle.”

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The has proven to be one of the most significant stepping stones for two graduating seniors.

LeianaMarie Alejado and Anthony Amos were among more than 370 students who received their college degrees from UH West Oʻahu this spring semester. While Alejado and Amos traveled different paths to graduation, both were similarly led to life-changing self-discovery they say they owe to the university.

“This campus, and �鶹��ý itself, is filled with a rich culture and many opportunities to push yourself to not just success, but enlightenment,” Amos said. “I discovered who I am and who I want to be during my years here.”

“I believe it is my purpose in life to inspire and educate those around me,” Alejado said. “I would have never come to this conclusion if I went to another institution.”

Alejado’s gratitude

Alejado, who graduated with a bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration of , was accepted into UH ����ԴDz�’s program.

Her greatest post-college goal is to dive further into her senior project which aimed to provide a space for indigenous students on campus to ensure their success and complete their educational journeys through the power of intentional community building.

Rouel Velasco, director of student life at UH West Oʻahu, described Alejado as “a driven student leader” who is passionate about social justice work, specifically focusing on Hawaiian affairs while uplifting others.

“She is studious, committed to a vibrant student experience, and exudes so much aloha in all her interactions with peers, staff and faculty,” Velasco said.

Alejado noted that she owes everything that she is to UH West Oʻahu’s faculty and staff, who not only educated her, but helped raise her.

“Graduating is so important to me because it is as if I am being inducted into a legacy of intelligent, culturally aware, and inspiring people who took me under their wings and showed me the power of being part of a beloved community,” Alejado said.

Amos says ‘Mahalo!’

Amos, who came from Germany, is a self-described “military brat” who embraced the Hawaiian culture and all that UH West Oʻahu has to offer. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in , with concentrations in sociology and political science.

He plans to move to Washington D.C., where he hopes to get an internship at the U.S. Capitol and become more involved in political processes.

“Once I have more experience, I will strive to expand upon my political career,” said Amos, “and, as bold as this is, push to become president one day—or at least change how that process works.”

Christy Mello, assistant professor of anthropology, said she is grateful to have had Amos as a student, mentee and research assistant.

“He is a serious scholar, brilliant, a leader, exudes positive energy and will make a difference in this world with his drive and passion for social justice,” Mello said.

What Amos gained was something that he could find only at UH West Oʻahu.

“Mahalo to all those who contributed to my growth and for everyone’s hard work during such trying times,” Amos said. “You all made �鶹��ý feel like home and provided me with my understanding of my kuleana.”

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

Leadership from the visited the University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu (CSCC) in February bolstering the partnership between the university and intelligence organization.

NSA �鶹��ý officials were invited to CSCC to attend a weekly update, featuring presentations by the center’s five student interns: Global Cyber Analyst Jarren Buendia, Cyber Vulnerabilities Analyst Warren Domingo, Cybersecurity Best Practices Analyst Guy Nguyen-Phuoc, Digital Forensics Analyst Brandon Chun and Cybersecurity of Industrial Control Systems Analyst Edgar Namoca.

“The cybersecurity program within the business division at the University of �鶹��ý—West Oʻahu has built a strong relationship with NSA �鶹��ý since the program earned designation by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in 2016,” said Matthew A. Chapman, UH West Oʻahu professor of computer science and cybersecurity and head of the campusʻ cybersecurity program. UH West Oʻahu was the first four-year university in the state to achieve this.

Both NSA �鶹��ý and have a shared goal to grow the cyber workforce in �鶹��ý to protect our state and national interests, specifically the protection of our critical infrastructure, Chapman said.

“This partnership benefits our students with summer internships, our graduates with jobs, and our state with a local, highly technical, cybersecurity workforce that best understands our unique culture and the unique cybersecurity challenges in �鶹��ý,” said Chapman, adding that these students twice won the National Championship (2016 and 2018) in the National Cyber League against both undergraduate and graduate students across the United States.

“Our partnership also benefits both military and civilian employees of NSA �鶹��ý who enroll in our cybersecurity programs to complete their bachelor’s degree or complete individual courses to increase their technical and cyber skills,” he said.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

Students and faculty at the and the UH ����ԴDz� (JABSOM) met the U.S. Surgeon General during his recent visit to the state. Dr. Jerome Adams was in �鶹��ý to address the National Medical Association conference.

The surgeon general is known as the “nation’s doctor” and oversees the commissioned corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, which is made up of more than 6,000 uniformed public health officers. Adams was appointed surgeon general in 2017 and his motto is “better health through better partnerships.”

UH West Oʻahu

Adams was welcomed to UH West Oʻahu with a Native Hawaiian protocol and the singing of Mele Honouliuli by summer bridge students. He thanked them for their greeting and took a selfie with the students from schools on �鶹��ý Island and along the Waiʻanae Coast.

“You guys are the right-now,” Adams said, explaining that he had attended a summer bridge program once and that they have the power to change the trajectory of healthcare.

During Adams’ visit, the campus highlighted its health science programs, which address community and workforce needs. UH West Oʻahu will inaugurate new concentrations focusing on health careers in fall 2019, including Hawaiian and indigenous health and healing, health information management, long-term care and health professions. The campus has concentrations in respiratory care, healthcare administration and community health.

“We are not trying to get a seat at the table,” said Ric Custodio, a long-time pediatrician and health science program chairman. “We are building the table. We believe that if we create new, innovative, health science bachelor-level degrees of the future, we can transition our first generation, low-income students into marketable and sustainable healthcare careers.”

Kauʻi Baumhofer, UH West Oʻahu assistant professor of indigenous health science, also gave a presentation.

For more go to .

John A. Burns School of Medicine

At JABSOM Adams spoke to �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s future doctors as though he was addressing his colleagues, instead of medical students. “Use your voice,” he urged them, emphasizing that doctors are among the most trusted people in America.

He zeroed in on a rising local trend—the dangerous spike in the use of e-cigarettes by high schoolers. “�鶹��ý is the second-highest state in the country for youth using e-cigarettes. One pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. We have a new generation of youth becoming slaves to nicotine,” said Adams.

He voiced concern about the normalization of marijuana: “CBD oil is not regulated. You might think you’re getting this, but maybe you’re getting a little of the oil and the rest is, I don’t know what.”

Adams addressed national issues as well. “Our poor health isn’t just a matter of diabetes, cancer and heart disease. We’re literally a less safe country now because we’re not healthy. Oral health is one of the reasons soldiers get sent home from deployment.”

He asked those in the JABSOM auditorium to look at themselves, saying, “People don’t prioritize health. How many times have you skipped a workout or skipped a meal for work? Then we turn around and look at patients and say, ‘What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you prioritizing your health?’”

Adams is a strong advocate for preventive care. He also knows the vicious toll substance abuse takes on individual health and families, citing his own brother’s struggle with addiction. He said that, just by walking around Waikīkī during his brief �鶹��ý stay, he could see signs of opioid addiction, and he urged everyone in healthcare to have the overdose antidote Naloxone handy.

After his talk, Adams listened to community health advocates in a round table discussion involving JABSOM and other UH faculty who are active in health locally and throughout the Pacific region, including members of the Pacific Islands Primary Care Association, Pacific Island Health Officers Association, Kokua Kalihi Valley Community Health Center and We Are Oceania.

For more go to .

During any given semester upward of 300 students, representing about 10 percent of the enrollment, list their permanent home addresses as being on Maui, �鶹��ý Island, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi. The students take courses through online classes or via Interactive Television, where classes are live streamed, allowing them to to in Kapolei.

UH West Oʻahu has the highest percentage of distance and online courses and programs among UH campuses, according to a . It is an area of focus as the campus seeks to increase its enrollment. In 2018, the percentage of UH West Oʻahu students enrolled in at least one distance education class was 79.1 percent. The percentage of UH West Oʻahu students enrolled in all distance education classes was 37.7 percent.

At the end of the spring 2019 semester, 55 graduates earned degrees from UH West Oʻahu, but took their classes while residing on the neighbor islands. This included 31 graduates on Maui, 12 on Kauaʻi, 7 on �鶹��ý Island, 3 on Molokaʻi and 2 on Lānaʻi.

On Kauaʻi

Rheif Callahan, a Kauaʻi resident who earned a bachelor of business administration with a concentration in accounting, was among four UH West Oʻahu students accepting their degrees during May 10 commencement ceremony. Under an agreement, distance learning students can participate in the college’s ceremonies and receive their degree from a UH West Oʻahu representative.

“All in all, it was a great experience,” Callahan wrote in an email. “I had a lot of great instructors, even though I never met them, and despite being on another island they were quick to respond to my questions, and I even felt I got to know them a little bit. Thank you Katie Landgraf, Leslie Rush and Edward Keaunui for helping me get my BA and making a positive impact on my life.”

For neighbor island students, UH West ��ʻ�����’s distance learning program (and those from other UH campuses) are a way to pursue a four-year degree without having to leave home or uproot families to move to Oʻahu. Callahan, a 2008 graduate of Waimea High School, was able to study accounting without having to give up a career he’d established on Kauaʻi.

“I play music for income and through it, I was able to pay for my education while still having ample free time to study,” wrote Callahan, a bass and guitar player in several groups on the Garden Island. He was able to keep the regular gigs that would have been lost if he had moved.

University Centers

Callahan took mostly online courses and when required, visited for advising. According to Gloria Niles, UH West Oʻahu director of distance education, university centers serve as “brokers” with UH campuses that offer baccalaureate or higher degrees. That allows neighbor island residents to , including and .

Besides Kauaʻi, UH West Oʻahu partners with university centers at and the for local support services such as proctoring of exams and facilitating communication among campuses. Callahan, who earned an associate degree in liberal arts from Kauaʻi CC, said he liked the freedom, convenience and cost of getting a UH West Oʻahu degree through distance learning.

He was also happy to complete his college career in front of family and friends at Vidinha Stadium in Līhuʻe.

Callahan wrote, “The best part about the commencement ceremonies was that I got to congratulate all of my friends that were graduating from KCC and to meet new friends who were also graduating distance students.”

The University of �鶹��ý–West ��ʻ�����’s is ranked 30 among 1,290 colleges, according to the testing of students’ cyber aptitude by a leading organization focused on internet security.

The performance of students in Cyber FastTrack challenges ranked the school in the top tier of colleges with students participating in the program. UH West Oʻahu also was the best program in �鶹��ý in the ranking by SANS Institute, a research and education organization focused on information security training and certification.

Five other UH campuses were also highly ranked. They included (48), (132) and (167). and were tied at 268.

“Something is going very right for cybersecurity in �鶹��ý,” said Alan Paller, SANS Institute director of research, commenting on the 118 students from the state that participated in the CyberStart Assess phase of the Cyber FastTrack program. The online program is free for students, who compete for a chance to win scholarships for advanced cybersecurity training.

“What is most impressive is that 30 students demonstrated sufficient aptitude to be selected as quarterfinalists and to move on to the next round toward national recognition and the $2.5 million in scholarships.”

UH West Oʻahu accounted for 14 of the 30 students from �鶹��ý who are moving on to the next round of the competition. The other five UH campuses with students in that round are UH Mānoa with 9 students, Leeward CC 3, UH Hilo 2, and Kapiʻolani CC and UH Maui College with one each. Paller said 10 percent of students from �鶹��ý solved the most difficult challenges, putting them in the “Highly Adept” category of participants. The CyberStart Game began on May 20 and features more than 200 challenges. Students taking part in this phase learn how to identify security flaws, in-depth code cracking and dissecting a digital trail. This phase ends June 28.

“Our cyber students never cease to amaze me,” said Matthew Chapman, UH West Oʻahu associate professor of information technology and cyber security and head of the campus’ cybersecurity program. “Their technical abilities, professionalism and motivation to be the best are inspiring. Also, they are just a really fun group of people to be around.”

SANS Institute has partnered with state governors on the Cyber FastTrack program, which is an effort to encourage students to pursue cybersecurity careers and reduce the United States’ digital skills gap with other countries. The program consists of three levels of challenges; students who complete the Assess phase are invited to compete in the CyberStart Game.

For more information, go to .

—By Greg Wiles

Sheila Estanique’s path to a college degree wasn’t smooth by any stretch of the imagination. Many experience potholes and bumps along the way, and Estanique’s rough years as a teen and young adult almost shut the door on her journey before it could even start.

She dropped out of high school in what would have been her sophomore year. She battled an affinity for drugs that began at age 15. She had the first of her six children at age 19. She ran away from home. She experienced domestic abuse with past boyfriends. The list goes on.

“It was a very horrifying and dark time for me,” notes Estanique, who is about to celebrate her 44th birthday. She doesn’t sugarcoat her past history, and her agonizing tale doesn’t obscure her story of redemption in the classroom.

On Saturday, May 4, Estanique will walk with other graduates, having earned a bachelor of arts in social sciences with a concentration in psychology. She plans to pursue a master’s degree and sees herself working in an educational setting in the future.

“There were times when I wanted to give up (on pursuing a degree) when life, marriage, parenting and college became overwhelming,” said Estanique, who has children ages 9, 12 and 16 at home. “I would remind myself that my kids are watching me, that I am setting an example of what hard work, determination, and perseverance looks like.”

Getting her start at Windward CC

At age 38, unsure of whether she could do the work, Estanique enrolled in two classes at .

“School is not easy for me,” said Estanique, explaining writing papers might take her a week, where other people might finish in a day. “I struggle to get my work done.”

Even so, it appears Estanique has found her groove in higher education, and there’s little in her demeanor to suggest her past. Despite self-doubts about her ability as a scholar, Estanique graduated magna cum laude from Windward CC as a member of , the largest and most prestigious honor society for two-year college students. “I really, really progressed there,” said Estanique, who also is the recipient of numerous scholarships.

Continuing her journey at UH West Oʻahu

At UH West Oʻahu she continued to do well. Konstantinos Zougris, a UH West Oʻahu assistant professor of sociology, said Estanique was an exemplary student, delivering challenging assignments in a timely manner, working well and adapting to others in groups, while demonstrating leadership skills.

“I was really impressed by her diligence and academic work,” Zougris said. “She was one of my top students.”

Estanique chose to attend UH West Oʻahu for a variety of reasons and speaks highly of the faculty. She is thankful for her husband, who she says was a partner in her education by helping out with their three children. She has three older children ages 21, 22 and 24 as well as two granddaughters.

Estanique’s already setting her sights on her next educational goal and plans to apply to the College of Education at UH Mānoa to enter the in the fall 2020 semester.

To read the full article, go to .

The world’s first and only handcrafted oboe made of Hawaiian kauila wood makes its debut next month in an oboe concerto composed by nationally known composer and University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu Associate Professor Jon Magnussen. The set of performances features UH ����ԴDz� music lecturer and oboist J. Scott Janusch.

“I feel privileged and honored to finally be able to share the culmination of two years’ effort to bring this project to life,” said Janusch.

Magnussen was commissioned to compose Nā Kau ʻElua | The Two Seasons for Janusch and the (HOLP), which involved the crafting of an oboe out of kauila wood thought to be 200- to 300-years old. Kauila wood is rare and culturally significant.

Magnussen also helped in researching the historic importance of the wood, which is one of �鶹��ý’s hardest native woods and was used for the making of everyday objects including farming tools, kapa beaters and weapons.

HOLP was envisioned by Janusch as a gift to the islands where he has spent the majority of his professional life as a celebrated oboist, teacher and supporter of local arts. The kauila wood used is from Kauaʻi and was harvested more than 25 years ago by Konohiki Ed Kaiwi in a rural area near Waimea Canyon. Kaiwi’s longtime friend, noted luthier Michael Sussman, was given a portion of this wood. Once he learned of Janusch’s idea, he agreed to gift the remaining wood to HOLP and milled two billets from the tree trunk. These billets were taken to the Worthing factory of Howarth of London—a world-renowned oboe maker—where the Hawaiian oboe was completed in about two years.

Nā Kau ʻElua reflects the lunar moons of the Hawaiian year

The concerto is a 12-movement work for string quartet, piano, Hawaiian and western percussion instruments and a solo oboe. Magnussen paid heed to the kauila wood’s age by composing Nā Kau ʻElua | The Two Seasons using harmonies and melodies from Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (1721), a concerto written roughly around the same time as when the oboe’s wood began to grow.

The 12-movement design also reflects the 12 lunar moons of the Hawaiian year, which is divided into two seasons: wet (kau hoʻoilo) and dry (kau wela). Each of the movements features a concept or object traditionally made of kauila wood. Plans for the instrument call for , the fiscal sponsor of HOLP, to care for the oboe and make it available for generations to come.

The premiere performance of Nā Kau ʻElua | The Two Seasons and the debut of HOLP will be part of during a pair of performances in May. Janusch, who is the principal oboist for the �鶹��ý Symphony Orchestra, will perform with the , UH ����ԴDz� Professor of Music and , UH ����ԴDz� lecturer and �鶹��ý Symphony Orchestra percussionist.

The performances are scheduled for:

• : Magnussen’s composition and the Mozart Oboe Quartet will be performed at 7:30 p.m. at the Palikū Theatre at Windward Community College.
• : The program repeats. 7:30 p.m., Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art.

General admission tickets are $35, but students can attend free with valid ID. For ticket information, see .

To read the full story, go to UH West Oʻahu’s .

To see a promotional video about the Hawaiian Oboe Legacy Project, click .The post Unique instrument of rare Hawaiʻi wood debuts at concert first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News.]]> 94799 /news/2019/03/13/gary-helfand-scholarship/ Thu, 14 Mar 2019 01:20:08 +0000 /news/?p=92583 A scholarship in memory of Gary Helfand, who created the justice administration program, has been established.

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A scholarship in memory of Gary Helfand, the professor who created the justice administration program, has been established. Helfand passed away in February.

He spent more than 33 years with UH West Oʻahu, and served as director of the . Helfand taught courses ranging from administrative law to principles of public administration to media, violence and crime.

The scholarship, which will support UH West Oʻahu students enrolled in the public administration program, was set up by Ross Prizzia, a public administration professor. He worked closely with Helfand, authoring or co-authoring journal articles and chapters in books. Prizzia said Helfand made numerous contributions to faculty, students, the UH West Oʻahu campus and community.

The scholarship webpage states that Helfand “was an extraordinary scholar, colleague, caring friend and an outstanding mentor. He touched the lives of many and had a positive impact on everyone who knew him, those in the community, at UH, and especially students and graduates who went on to successful careers because of his teachings.”

Helfand’s wife, Diana, and son, Jody, are both UH West Oʻahu lecturers.

Donations can be made through the .

For more on Helfand and the scholarship, .

—By Greg Wiles

The post Scholarship honors creator of UH West Oʻahu’s justice administration program first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News.]]>

The bookstore declared Rachel Lugo, an Academy for Creative Media student, as the winner of the “West is Best” T-shirt contest. Her kapa-like design curling around the campus logo and the words “West is Best” received the most votes in the bookstore’s online competition.

Lugo won a $100 gift card and a T-shirt with her design.

“I really enjoyed creating this design,” Lugo said. “I really wanted to incorporate culture after taking inspiration from it. I settled on the idea of creating an original piece of Polynesian tribal art that would best represent UH West Oʻahu.”

T-shirts with Lugo’s design are on sale at the at a discounted price of $10 (first shirt only) for students with valid student ID. The shirts normally sell for $14.95.

For more on this story, go to to .

Faculty from and played a vital role in establishing Hawaiian Airline’ new ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language) certification program for employees.

Hawaiian Airlines launched the program in celebration of ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý Month and announced 13 of its flight services department staff were certified. In 2013, the �鶹��ý State Legislature passed a law designating February as ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý Month to celebrate and encourage the use of Hawaiian language.

Leilani Basham, UH West Oʻahu associate professor of Hawaiian-Pacific studies, and UH Hilo associate professor of Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies Larry Kimura, were enlisted along with other consultants to develop the program.

“Through programs like this, Hawaiian Airlines demonstrates true respect for �鶹��ý’s native people and practices beyond the mere public relations opportunity—by truly listening to, creating space for, and empowering the voices of the people,” said Basham.

The program is free for Hawaiian Airlines’ more than 7,200 employees. To qualify, workers who speak ʻōlelo �鶹��ý must demonstrate advanced proficiency through an oral and reading exam.

“This is an incredible moment for our ʻohana and an opportunity for employees to share �鶹��ý’s mother tongue wide and far,” said Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, Hawaiian Airlines director of community relations.

Kimura is often referred to as the grandfather of Hawaiian language revitalization, working for decades to help with the rebirth of the language. Basham has long taught ʻōlelo �鶹��ý courses on the UH West Oʻahu and UH Mānoa campuses, and researched mele lāhui (nationalist poetry), moʻolelo wahi pana (Hawaiian historical and literary texts) and language curriculum development.

“This is a unique opportunity for the Hawaiian language on multiple levels and an important step to create spaces in our community where Hawaiian language is heard and spoken as a normal part of lives,” said Basham.

.

—By Greg Wiles

Assistant Professor of Creative Media/Transmedia Laurie Sumiye has been selected as a 2018–2020 fellow of the , a mentoring program that attracts award-winning filmmakers from culturally diverse backgrounds.

As a fellow, Sumiye will receive one-on-one mentorship and help with funding, professional development and networking opportunities. She will be working to complete her feature-length documentary, , mentored by , award-winning filmmaker and associate professor of art and history at Colgate University.

“I’m honored and thrilled to become part of the Firelight Media family,” Sumiye said.

As a filmmaker Sumiye has won numerous awards for her documentary and has shown her work at film festivals in New York City. She has also exhibited her artwork in New York, Los Angeles, South Africa, São Paulo and Belfast.

Sumiye is one of a dozen filmmakers who were selected for the 18-month fellowship. The Firelight Documentary Lab was launched by the founders of , which was established in 2000 to address the deficit of films made by and about diverse communities, particularly people of color.

Sumiye hopes to finish A Paradise Lost, her first feature-length documentary, during the fellowship. The film tells the story about the endangered Palila, a Hawaiian honeycreeper that in 1979 sued (with the help of the Sierra Club of �鶹��ý) the state Department of Land and Natural Resources about threats to its Maunakea habitat. The , though its survival is still in question. The documentary will chronicle the bird’s plight by following a Native Hawaiian conservationist striving to save the Palila through restoration of its habitat lost to climate change and human impact.

“The fellowship will give the the film a boost of momentum through fundraising, production, post production and distribution,” Sumiye said.

Read more about Sumiye and her documentary at .

—By Greg Wiles

junior Leanne Aira Villanueva remembers feeling forlorn as a fifth-grader, having gone from being one of the top five performing students at her school in the Philippines to being a troubled student at August Ahrens Elementary School in Waipahu.

“It was a shock for me,” said Villanueva of her move to a new country. Determined to succeed, she approached teachers for tutoring and put in time after school learning to overcome her difficulties.

Flash forward to earlier this year, when her story caught the eye of �鶹��ý Governor David Ige, who posted to Facebook. “Despite being a young immigrant, Villanueva worked hard to get to where she is today because she is determined to realize a successful future someday,” he wrote.

Villanueva is recognized as an Academic Olympian—she earned an associate of arts degree from through the Early College program, graduated as a Waipahu High School valedictorian with a 4.1 GPA and is now studying business administration at UH West Oʻahu.

Early College program

In high school, Villanueva committed to an Early College program after hearing Mark Silliman, Waipahu’s Early College director, speak about the opportunity to earn a college degree at no cost while in high school.

“It really appealed to me,” she said. It was still an arduous path to take–Villanueva found herself at school from 8 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. working on her high school class homework prior to college classes beginning later in the day.

• More about Early college in UH News

“I had great teachers, great professors, who were always there to help.” She also credits Silliman, Waipahu Principal Keith Hayashi, Gov. David Ige for his support of Early College programs and the McInerny Foundation as contributing to her success. ”Without them, I would not have been in the position I am today and achieve what I was able to achieve. My success is also their success.“

She recommends the program to others because of the opportunity to gain college credits at no cost and for the experiences it offers.

“If you’re really driven, there’s nothing that will stop you from making the journey,” said Villanueva, who was awarded a Chancellor’s Scholarship at UH West Oʻahu. The scholarship is given to high-achieving high school graduates acknowledging academic achievement, leadership and community service.

Read more about Villanueva including her experience speaking at the governor’s inaugural celebration on behalf of the Early College program, a surprise for her parents at her high school graduation and why she chose to attend UH West Oʻahu at .

—By Greg Wiles

students Chelsea and Mylia Briggs were born two years apart, yet are almost mirror images of each other when it comes to motivation and desire to achieve.

Both plan to obtain double majors and both have their career paths set (FBI agent and entrepreneur, respectively). Both have enjoyed success at an early age, and feel obligated through their volunteer work to help others not so fortunate.

“Chelsea and I always work very hard towards our education and anything we set our minds to,” wrote Mylia in an email. That mindset is backed by an understanding that the sisters are there for one another and for their family and they will be there to support and help through any hardship.

To doubt the Briggs sisters’ intense focus is to ignore their long list of achievements. Earlier this year, Chelsea became a pageant contestant for the first time. She entered the 66th Cherry Blossom Festival competition and became a Cherry Blossom Princess—the first princesses from Kapolei. In typical fashion, Chelsea recounts how she has benefitted, reeling off personal growth, increased knowledge of Japanese culture and mannerisms, and becoming a better public speaker as being among the dividends.

Mylia, who was Kapolei High School’s 2017–18 Outstanding Student of the Year, was one of 161 high school seniors recognized nationally as a U.S. Presidential Scholar. She was the only �鶹��ý public school student selected this year. Mylia traveled to Washington, D.C. with other talented Presidential Scholars, toured the White House and met the president.

“I would not say that there is a competition between us,” wrote Chelsea. “We are very close and we help each other because there is no better bond that we could have with anyone else.”

Read more about Chelsea and Mylia including how they overcame a personal tragedy and why they chose to attend UH West Oʻahu at .

—By Greg Wiles

The University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu is showcasing the campus’ musical talent and its . The UH West Oʻahu University Strings ensemble, Hawaiian ensemble, University Band and University Chorus are holding auditions for the fall semester.

Auditions for each class are open to students, faculty, staff and community members who are experienced in singing or playing an instrument.

University Strings

The University Strings ensemble will perform under the direction of Jon Magnussen. Auditions are open to people experienced in violin, viola, cello or double bass performance. High school students who are participating in the Early Admission program and �鶹��ý Department of Education teachers taking reclassification credit are welcome to audition. For more information, contact Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu.

Hawaiian Ensemble

Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner Bobby Moderow Jr. will direct the Hawaiian Ensemble. The ensemble is scheduled to play with the University Band during the annual Winter Concert and during Hoʻokani Kulani events scheduled throughout the year. For more information, contact Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu.

University Band

The University Band will be co-directed by Chadwick Kamei and Michael Nakasone. Oʻahu junior and senior high school band students participating in the Early Admission program and �鶹��ý Department of Education teachers taking reclassification credit are welcome to audition. The University Band will play at the annual Winter Concert, community concerts in area shopping malls and UH West Oʻahu commencement ceremonies. Contact Kamei at ckamei@hawaii.edu to schedule an audition.

University Chorus

The University Chorus is under the direction of Justin Kaʻupu. The chorus will perform at the annual Winter Concert with the University Band and Hawaiian Ensemble, fall and spring commencement ceremonies, the E Hīmeni Kākou spring choral festival and the annual Kapolei Choral Festival of Hawaiian choral music in April. For more information, contact Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu.

For more information on each of the music programs, read the .

—By Greg Wiles

A Mokauea fishpond research project received a $116,381 grant. Associate Professor Esther Widiasih will research the workings of the Mokauea fishponds to gain insights into traditional Native Hawaiian sustainable aquaculture practices, viewed through contemporary scientific and mathematical lenses.

The research will utilize tools from statistics and applied mathematics while integrating ancient knowledge from Native Hawaiian cultural and fishpond practitioners.

Widiasih will be collecting water quality data and flow pattern of the fishpond to develop a mathematical model that captures the dynamics of key physical parameters and the fishpond circulation patterns. The investigation will include the development of a website to host and manage data collected along with other available data and studies on the Mokauea fishpond and its surrounding areas.

was set up to preserve Mokauea Island and the surrounding fishery as a traditional Hawaiian fishing village. UH West Oʻahu’s involvement with Mokauea Island dates back several years and includes field studies during Ethnomathematics Summer Institutes.

For more on the grant, read the full story at .

—By Greg Wiles

The will expand its academic offerings for the fall 2018 semester with the addition of two new degree concentrations and a new certificate program to meet student and community needs.

The university, ranked as the fastest-growing public baccalaureate college by the Chronicle of Higher Education, will add a and a bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration in mathematics. It will also debut a .

New community health option

The new community health concentration is geared to the educational needs of community health workers, health education specialists, working healthcare professionals and distance learners interested in health education-related careers. The concentration will also address a need for healthcare workers who can help improve health in communities by getting people to adopt healthy behaviors and implementing community programs for health organizations.

The community health concentration may be suitable for those interested in future careers in nursing, medicine, research and biomedical related fields.

Mathematics concentration includes liberal arts foundation

The bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration in mathematics is designed for students interested in careers requiring a strong foundation in mathematics, or someone needing a mathematics background for graduate school studies. It includes a foundation in the liberal arts to produce well-rounded graduates capable of bridging technical ability with communications and other skills.

Music certificate focuses on “doing” music

The certificate in Music will give Leeward and Central Oʻahu students another choice for college-level music education while amplifying campus offerings, contributing to the region’s cultural heritage and enhancing students’ music-making skills.

The new certificate aims to encourage students’ musical creativity and expose them to standard technological tools used in the music industry while helping students better understand music’s role in the world. UH West Oʻahu’s classes have been created with many of the region’s self-taught music students in mind, where the program focuses on the “doing of music” in the early stages of study to make the teaching of theory more impactful.

UH West Oʻahu will have and with the additions.

Read more about the new degrees at .

—By Greg Wiles

Associate Professor of Science Education and Earth Sciences Richard Jones is the new president-elect of the ��(NESTA), an organization that strives to provide leadership and support to teachers so that K–12 students receive a quality earth and space science education.

On May 1, 2018 NESTA welcomed Jones as president-elect with plans for Jones to become president of the organization in 2020, and past-president in 2022. Jones has been a member of NESTA for several decades and has served on its board of directors since 2006. Most recently he was an appointed director of the group and served as awards co-chair.

“We look forward to having as part of our executive board where he his long advocacy for the earth sciences, teachers of the earth sciences and their students will help to strengthen our organization,” commented Carla McAuliffe, NESTA executive director.

Jones brings more than 30 years of classroom experience as an earth science teacher and as a teacher of educators who teach earth science to his new role. He will continue to teach courses in earth sciences, including geology, meteorology, and oceanography as well as teach future science educators at UH West Oʻahu in addition to his responsibilities as NESTA president-elect.

NESTA represents K–12 earth and space science teachers and often collaborates with federal agencies and organizations to facilitate and advance excellence in earth and space science education. These include the American Geophysical Union, the American Meteorological Society, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the American Geosciences Institute and TERC.

NESTA leaders also are called upon as a nationally-recognized voice about earth science education.

—From .

—By Greg Wiles