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

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

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

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

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

More on HICSS

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

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

A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa team won the Best Novelty and Impact Award at an international hackathon for a project designed to transform how community health workers (CHWs) support patients during and after remote check-ins.

The winning project, “,” acts as a “digital co-pilot,” utilizing speech analysis and artificial intelligence to flag possible signs of hidden distress. The system analyzes both what a patient says and how it is said—through the tone and pacing of a patient’s speech—to detect possible signs of emotional or mental distress and sends a discreet alert to the CHW along with a context aware suggestion to guide a more supportive response.

The goal of Aurion is to reduce missed emotional cues and workload of CHWs so that they can focus more on giving people the care they need. Beyond real-time support, the tool streamlines post-conversation administrative workflows. The tool is designed to reduce post-conversation paperwork for CHWs by about 70% by automatically filling out forms for them.

The UH Mānoa team included:

• Akib Sadmanee (PhD student in and a master’s graduate)
• Quang Loc Lam (PhD student in and a master’s graduate in economics)
• Fahim Yasir ( data systems analyst and a master’s graduate in )

“We wanted to create something that could make a real difference, especially here in �鶹��ý,” Sadmanee said. “Tools like this have the potential to improve care in communities where access and distance can be real challenges.”

The hackathon was held December 5–6, at the UH Mānoa Campus Center, and was part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Automatic Speech Recognition and Understanding (ASRU) Workshop held December 6 to December 10 at the Hyatt Regency, Waikīkī. The event brought together students, researchers and professionals to develop solutions to real-world challenges in speech and language technology.

The team presented its work during the main ASRU 2025 program verbally in front of judges and also as a poster to the general audience, and received a certificate of achievement.

Three University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa teams were among nine honored as winners of the 10th Annual (HACC), held on November 22 at UH West Oʻahu.

The event, organized by UH and the (ETS), brought together students, amateurs and professionals to develop solutions for real government and community needs.

College division winners:

1. OPEN TO WORK (UH Mānoa), led by Junle Yan, for the ETS Project Review App
2. Nintendo DS (UH Mānoa), led by Samantha Limon, for UH Pathfinder AI
3. 3 Lil Minions (UH Mānoa), led by Lionel Derrick Roxas, for Department of Human Resources Development’s AI Screener

Finalists presented projects addressing four challenges from UH and state partner agencies: an UH screening tool for job applicants, a standardized IT project review platform, UH’s HR Navigator and UH Pathfinder AI.

Nearly 120 attendees watched teams showcase applications focused on improving hiring processes, modernizing government tech systems and helping students navigate academic and career pathways. A total of $18,000 in prizes was awarded across high school, college and professional divisions.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke praised participants for applying creativity to issues that affect �鶹��ý residents daily, emphasizing the challenge’s role in inspiring the next generation of innovators.

“Over the past 10 years, the HACC has shown how creativity and technology can directly improve the lives of �鶹��ý’s people,” Luke said. “Seeing these students and young professionals tackle real government challenges gives me tremendous hope for the future. Their ideas, energy and dedication will help build a stronger, more innovative �鶹��ý.”

The University of �鶹��ý has launched an important workforce development initiative to highlight career-relevant credentials that students can earn alongside their UH degree—credentials that give graduates a competitive edge in the job market.

These Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs) are highly sought after by employers and are nationally portable, certified by third-party agencies. They cover fast-growing fields such as healthcare, skilled trades and IT. IRCs can boost career readiness, help workers stay current with industry changes, and open doors to a wide range of jobs.

UH already offers some IRCs. Honolulu Community College’s associate in science degree in the Computing, Security, and Networking Technology program (CSNT) prepares students for a variety of entry-level IT positions. Certain CSNT courses also prepare them to take specific industry certification exams such as the Cisco Certified Network Associate, COMPTIA A+ and Security+.

UH System Director of Workforce Development Christine Beaule said, “This exciting collaboration between UH, the �鶹��ý Department of Education, the State and industry partners will help signal which credentials are most in demand for students and lead to good jobs.”

In addition to IRCs, UH is also recognizing Industry-Valued Credentials (IVCs)—badges, certifications or licenses that may not have national recognition but are highly valued by local employers. UH is inviting faculty and program administrators to identify programs where students already earn IRCs or IVCs, or where new ones could be integrated.

Proposals can be submitted starting this fall through a , with guidance available from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Planning and Policy (avpapp@hawaii.edu).

provides guidance to �鶹��ý’s current and future workforce on the industry-recognized or industry-valued credentials most often requested by potential employers. Workforce development is also a core pillar of the UH System’s strategic plan.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms higher education, the University of �鶹��ý is launching a new systemwide office to meet the challenge and establish itself as a national leader. The UH Office of Academic Technology and Innovation (OATI) will guide the integration of emerging technologies and AI across all 10 campuses, serving as the hub for strategy, implementation and oversight in teaching, learning and operations.

Housed within the Office of the UH President, the office will be overseen by Ina Wanca, the UH Chief Academic Technology Innovation Officer. Wanca will work closely with campus leaders, ITS and the Institutional Research and Analysis Office and serve as the primary liaison between academic leadership and ITS.

OATI will support the consolidation and alignment of academic technology, advance AI adoption and transformative initiatives across the system and establish governance frameworks to ensure the responsible, ethical and equitable use of technology.

“The Office of Academic Technology and Innovation is a critical step forward in ensuring UH is not just adapting to emerging technologies but leading their thoughtful and strategic integration,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “This office will help us realize the full potential of AI and academic innovation to support student success, faculty excellence, and operational efficiency.”

With AI adoption moving at different paces across UH’s ten campuses, OATI will create a single framework ensuring all investments, tools, and innovations drive a common vision for teaching, learning, and research.

“This new office turns that shared vision into reality,” said Ina Wanca. “By ensuring equal access to modern tools, building AI literacy for students and faculty and linking innovation to workforce readiness, we will prepare �鶹��ý’s learners and educators to thrive in the AI era while honoring the values that define our university system.”

OATI will also support the AI Planning Group announced June 25 in developing a university-wide AI strategy aligned with institutional goals.

“With the AI Planning Group and OATI working together, we can align priorities across all campuses and move quickly from ideas to implementation,” said Kim Siegenthaler, Senior Advisor to the President.

The office will also help lead implementation of the $7.4 million, five-year subscription to EAB Navigate360 and EAB Edify, approved by the UH Board of Regents on June 16. The platforms use predictive analytics to alert faculty, advisors, and support staff at the earliest sign a student may be at risk. The systems have proven successful in closing student achievement gaps and improving retention and graduation rates.

The University of �鶹��ý is making it easier for students to build their futures right at home, thanks to a groundbreaking new partnership with Google Public Sector.

The new �鶹��ý Career Pathways platform under development uses Google Cloud’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools—like Vertex AI, BigQuery, and Gemini—to help students chart a path from classroom to career. By analyzing a student’s background, skills, interests and goals, the platform creates a personalized profile that matches their academic journey with in-demand jobs in �鶹��ý.

Students also get support from Gemini, Google’s advanced AI assistant, to explore options and make informed decisions. The goal? To help students stay in �鶹��ý, land fulfilling jobs, and strengthen the local workforce.

Embracing the AI-powered future

At UH, preparing students for today’s rapidly changing world includes giving them hands-on experience with emerging technologies. That’s why UH is expanding the use of AI tools in classrooms and campus operations.

“Our partnership with Google Public Sector is a game-changer for UH students,” said UH Chief Information Officer Garret Yoshimi. “By leveraging cutting-edge AI tools like Gemini, we’re not only preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow but also strengthening our local workforce and ensuring that our graduates can thrive here in the islands.”

Students and staff already have access to Google AI Essentials, a free online course that teaches the basics of AI, how to use AI tools responsibly, and how to get the most out of them in everyday work and study. Plus, the Vertex AI Model Garden, with over 200 AI models including Google’s Gemini, is opening new doors for innovation and creativity.

UH and Google have a long history of working together. UH was one of the first universities in the country to adopt Google Workspace for Education, which continues to support teaching, learning, and collaboration across all 10 UH campuses.

The University of �鶹��ý is playing a key role in preparing local students for careers in �鶹��ý’s growing technology sector. Through Good Jobs �鶹��ý, a statewide workforce development initiative supported by UH, students gained hands-on experience in user interface (UI), user experience (UX) and graphic design, thanks to a partnership with local creative agency Co. and Zippy’s.

With few tech firms based in the islands, many aspiring designers are forced to move to the continental U.S. to gain entry-level experience. Piʻikū Co. aims to reverse this trend by equipping kamaʻāina with practical skills tailored to the needs of local companies. Rather than outsourcing its design work, Zippy’s partnered with Piʻikū Co. to bring �鶹��ý students in-house to support its digital and signage projects, giving students real-world exposure while strengthening �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s tech pipeline.

Michelle Tran, a local graduate of Kailua High School, struggled to find tech work after returning to Oʻahu from Claremont, California. That changed when she completed an eight-week internship through Piʻikū Co. She now works as a full-time UI/UX designer on Oʻahu.

“The Piʻikū internship played a very important role in my UX journey,” said Tran. “It was my first time working directly with a client, and I learned so much about client management.”

Programs like these directly support the UH System �鶹��ý, which prioritizes workforce development and aims to reduce brain drain by keeping talent in the islands.

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research is awarded by the University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community.

Sloan Coats

Sloan Coats is an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences and an affiliate of the International Pacific Research Center at the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Coats joined UH Mānoa in November 2019, after holding postdoctoral and positions at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, as well as faculty roles at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

His research combines advanced statistical techniques, climate models and both observed and paleoclimatic data to investigate climate variability and change across timescales. A key aspect of Coats’s work is its interdisciplinary nature, reflected in his contributions to diverse fields such as glaciology and seismology.

In addition to his research, Coats is a passionate advocate for the broader research community at UH. He co-directs the NSF-funded Earth Sciences on Volcanic Islands Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, which provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experience in Earth sciences.

Matthieu Dubarry

Matthieu Dubarry is an associate researcher at the �鶹��ý Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. With more than 20 years of experience in renewable energy, he specializes in lithium-ion battery research.

He joined HNEI in 2005 as a postdoctoral fellow, analyzing the usage data from a fleet of electric vehicles. He was appointed to the faculty in 2010, where he has focused on battery testing, modeling and simulation.

Since 2014, Dubarry has led his own research group, supported by funding from federal agencies and industry partners. He is recognized for pioneering data-driven techniques to non-destructively assess lithium-ion battery degradation.

His work has produced a suite of software tools for predicting battery lifespan at both the cell and pack levels. His diagnostic model, ʻalawa—named for the Hawaiian word meaning “to diagnose with insight”—has earned global recognition and is used by universities and companies around the world.

Rick Kazman

Rick Kazman is the Danny and Elsa Lui Distinguished Professor of Information Technology Management at the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. His research focuses on software architecture, analysis tools and technical debt. He helped develop several influential methods and tools, including the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method, Titan and DV8, which are widely used to evaluate and improve the structure and maintainability of software systems.

Kazman has authored more than 250 publications, holds three patents and has written nine books, including Software Architecture in Practice, Technical Debt: How to Find It and Fix It and Designing Software Architectures: A Practical Approach. His work has been widely adopted by Fortune 1000 companies and cited more than 30,000 times, according to Google Scholar.

A leading figure in his field, Kazman currently serves on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society’s Board of Governors. His contributions continue to shape industry best practices and advance the discipline of software engineering.

A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa law student is gaining national recognition for using technology to expand access to justice. Benjamin Leider, a third-year student at the at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, has been named one of . The honor celebrates future legal leaders making a difference in their communities.

His standout achievement: developing a Chrome extension that helps people clear their criminal records. The tool automatically determines eligibility for expungement and fills out the required forms, saving time, cutting through red tape and offering hope to those who can’t afford legal help.

“Ben perfectly combined the technology and legal requirements to make the app work,” wrote The National Jurist in its April issue.

From coding class to courtroom impact

Leider began building the application after enrolling in Richardson’s “Coding for Lawyers” course. He later joined Innovator-in-Residence Matthew Stubenberg on a legal tech project aimed at improving the expungement process in �鶹��ý. From designing legal logic trees to coding and testing the software,

Leider played a lead role in bringing the tool to life. The application had its soft launch at a free legal clinic in September 2024, helping 72 people start the expungement process on the spot. Its success caught the attention of the �鶹��ý Office of the Public Defender, which asked for an added feature to assist with bench warrant recalls, a request Leider implemented earlier this year.

In the profile, Leider encouraged future lawyers to pursue purpose-driven careers. “Look at the job market and your skills; choose your path accordingly. If you want to make a difference in the world or in society, go with what moves you, and be determined,” he stated.

Leider is currently developing an AI-powered mock trial simulator that lets users upload case materials and participate in interactive trials—blending technology and experiential learning in a way that could transform legal education.

“We could not be happier for Ben,” said Law School Dean Camille Nelson. “His engagement has been as innovative as it has been transformative. He is an exemplary recipient of this national recognition.”

The University of �鶹��ý is offering free access to online AI and career skills training for students, faculty and staff across all 10 campuses through December 2027, thanks to its participation in the National Association of System Heads (NASH)-Google Community of Practice. The initiative is part of a growing movement to expand AI literacy and workforce readiness in higher education.

UH joins 75 campuses nationwide in offering self-paced, online learning through Coursera, featuring two and nine in areas such as data analytics, IT support, cybersecurity and project management.

These micro-credentials, developed with input from employers and faculty nationwide, are backed by the American Council on Education. Upon completion, participants earn digital badges that can be added to résumés and professional profiles—badges that are recognized by more than 1,500 employers seeking candidates with these specific, in-demand skills.

Interested UH community members can explore the offerings and sign up at hawaii.edu/its/coursera.

UH has secured 3,500 renewable course licenses, meaning 3,500 members can be enrolled in a course at any given time through 2027. As each participant completes a course, the license becomes available for someone else in the UH community.

“Our participation in this initiative reflects the university’s commitment to equip students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. UH graduates with demonstrated skills such as data analytics, regardless of their degree, are more competitive in the job market today. We hope our community takes full advantage of this opportunity,” said Christine Beaule, UH System director of workforce development.

Plans are to develop a faculty learning community by fall 2025 to encourage interested faculty members across the UH System to integrate career certificate programs into existing courses. Workforce development is one of the four imperatives of the UH System’s �鶹��ý for 2023–2029.