A legacy of leadership in student affairs continues at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, as interim associate vice provost Erin Kahunawaikaʻala Wright joins a distinguished line of UH leaders recognized nationally as by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

Past UH ����ԴDz� recipients include Amy Agbayani, Doris Ching, Jan Javinar, Lori Ideta and Christine Quemuel, trailblazers whose work helped pave the way for generations of educators and student advocates.

Wright, who serves as interim associate VP for and Dean of Students, was honored this year for her sustained contributions to service, teaching, leadership and mentoring. She says the recognition is not just her own, but a reflection of the collective work of the UH community toward student success, especially those leaders also recognized as Pillars of the Profession.

“It’s a kind recognition of the work I’ve invested in student affairs and higher education…I’m proud, and honestly, very surprised to get it. It’s humbling to be recognized,” Wright expressed.

A journey of discovery

A fourth-generation �첹����ʻ�徱�Բ� (native) of Kalihi, and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Wright admits she was not a strong student growing up. She says her academic journey changed course when she discovered (Hawaiian language) and courses at UH ����ԴDz�.

“Once I got into nā mea �鶹��ý (all things Hawaiian), I felt like, ‘Oh, I could really do well,’ because it was something that I was interested in and I felt motivated by,” she said.

That experience reshaped how she viewed the power of education, and later inspired her to make higher education more accessible for Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented students (haumāna).

Dedicated to student success

Wright began her career at UH ����ԴDz� in 2008 as the founding director of and later served as an associate professor of in the . There, she taught courses and published on research design, research methodologies and Indigeneity in higher education. For her, the work she does at the university is deeply personal.

“The reward is knowing higher education can change lives,” she explained. “Not just for the individual, but for that student’s entire family and community.”

A group of University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa haumānastudents and faculty travelled through Japan this spring, following the paths of King David Laʻamea Kalākaua’s historic 1881 visit as well as other travels by Hawaiian aliʻiroyalty and haumānastudents in the 19th century. Their nine-day journey in March 2025, part of the UH Mānoa (NHSS) Hawaiian Youths Abroad (HYA) program, connected them to a pivotal moment in Hawaiian history—one that is being brought back to life.

King Kalākaua traveled the world to build diplomatic relationships and reaffirm those his predecessors and other Hawaiian officials established before him. During his visit to Japan in March of 1881, Kalākaua met with Japan’s emperor to discuss revising established treaty relations between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan. That treaty, stored away for 154 years, was retrieved during the HYA Japan visit, providing a rare glimpse into �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s international past.

“As a Kanaka ʻŌiwiNative Hawaiian history student, seeing the original treaty between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan was a surreal moment. We were the first, if not some of the very few, to have seen the Japanese version of the treaty in over 150 years,” said Kale Kanaeholo, who is pursuing a PhD at UH Mānoa. “I felt a sense of both humility and gratitude: haʻahaʻahumility for being in the same room as this living document and piece of our history, and aloha for Mōʻī KalākauaKing Kalākaua.”

Vision of a monarch

The NHSS program is a reincarnation of a 19th century program by the same name created by the Hawaiian Kingdom legislature in 1880 that provided funds to support 18 students who studied in six different countries between 1880 and 1892. These students trained in fields such as engineering, medicine, art, music, military science and foreign languages, with the goal of returning home to serve their nation. Funded entirely by the Hawaiian Kingdom, it was one of the world’s first government-sponsored study abroad programs.

NHSS restarted the program in 2018, and have since designed and implemented 4 Hawaiian Youths Abroad program cohorts, led by Nalani Balutski (research specialist) and Willy Kauai (director) of NHSS within the UH Mānoa .

This year’s cohort of 13 students and six faculty and staff explored Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

On the journey were two UH Mānoa haumānastudents with a remarkable connection to the past—Kuʻu Lunn, a graduate student, and Joy Nuʻuhiwa, an incoming graduate student—both direct descendants of one of Kalākaua’s original Hawaiian Youths Abroad students.

Piʻianāiʻa

“The Hawaiian Youths Abroad program has been a tremendous opportunity for me to learn and build upon a legacy of Hawaiian geography. One of the original HYA students was my great-great-grandfather Abraham St. Chad Piʻianāiʻa, who attended St. Chad’s College in Denstone, England. Years later, he returned to use his education in service to his kingdom. As we explore the world, like our kūpunaancestors did, I hope to share the knowledge and connections we gain with my family and community,” said Lunn.

Harbottle Hakuʻole

����ʻ�ܳ󾱷ɲ�’s great-great-grandfather, James Harbottle Hakuʻole, was only 10 years old when he and his brother Isaac were chosen to participate in King Kalākaua’s visionary program to educate Hawaiian youth overseas. In 1882, the brothers from Kīpahulu, Maui, embarked on their journey, among the youngest students selected to study abroad under the king’s initiative.

“It’s pretty heavy,” Nuʻuhiwa reflected. “I didn’t start exploring this history until I heard about this program so it was incredibly meaningful to be able to do this for my family more than anything.”

She found a deep personal connection in walking in her ancestor’s steps.

“To know that we had similar experiences even if it was just trying to navigate Japan…being Hawaiian in Japan and knowing both languages, knowing he also spoke Japanese. To think that maybe if we ever met, we would’ve been able to speak and understand each other in that way.”

Aliʻi footsteps

The NHSS group retraced Kalākaua’s steps from 144 years ago, visiting some of the same train stations, palaces, temples, and even the former site of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s consulate in Shiba.

NHSS hopes to continue to engage future students in international educational experiences and training around the world in service to the �����ܾ�nation.

“The Hawaiian Youths Abroad program is emblematic of NHSS programming design and philosophy, which engages students in research, history, and the educational excellence of kūpunaancestors who came before,” said Kauai.

Bridging past and present

The inaugural HYA cohort traveled to France and England in 2018, followed by a journey to England and Italy in 2019. In 2024, UH Mānoa students and faculty followed the path of 19th-century Hawaiians in Tahiti, exploring the legacy they left behind. A fifth iteration of the program is slated for summer 2026 to focus on the Hawaiian footprint in the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver to San Francisco. For each program, a tailored curriculum is developed that explores the themes of Hawaiian education, diplomacy and travel to those particular countries from the 19th century. To date, 48 Hawaiian undergraduate and graduate students from UH Mānoa participated in the NHSS HYA program.

Empowering haumāna

This year’s program is sponsored by the UH Mānoa Provost Office Innovative Initiatives program and Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai Alakaʻina project. Supplemental support was also provided for students by various departments: political science, history, geography, educational administration, communication & information science and the �鶹��ýnuiākea Keaweawe a Kalākaua fund.

NHSS is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s . For more on their journey, .

For students at the , starting a new year and a new semester can bring on a mix of excitement and nerves. With the challenges of balancing school, work, family, social life and extracurricular activities, many may find themselves wondering where to turn for support with their mental health and well-being.

An array of programs are dedicated to serving the needs of UH ����ԴDz� students. Mental health services are available through the (CSDC). Services tailored specifically for , and (students) are also available. The university also offers access to , as well as programs for students looking to .

“Taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing while pursuing an education is so important,” said CSDC Psychologist Alexander Khaddouma. “Fortunately, UH ����ԴDz� has a variety of resources dedicated to helping you stay well, cope with challenges, and succeed in your academic journey.”

CSDC provides free, confidential individual, couples, group and career counseling through scheduled appointments with a mental health professional. Interested students should call (808) 956-7927 to complete a brief initial telephone appointment with a CSDC counselor who can connect them with the most appropriate service.

is available, with groups focused on building healthy relationships, developing greater awareness and insight, and exploring personal identity.

The CSDC has crisis counselors available during business hours (Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) to assist students needing immediate mental health support. Students can call or walk-in to attend a crisis appointment.

Training opportunities, and clinical and program consultation regarding student mental health are available. Faculty and staff can contact CSDC about how to refer students to appropriate resources, or to for their departments.

The CSDC provides events to promote mental health, including several Spring semester resource fairs hosted by the CSDC . At the events, students can explore on-campus mental health resources and learn practical skills to enhance their well-being.

CSDC’s serves as an authorized testing site for various standardized tests and licensure/certification examinations, including the GRE (General and Subject), Praxis, TOEFL, CLEP, and Meazure Learning testing programs, and offers individual proctoring for non-UH system distance learning courses. Inquiries regarding test availability, scheduling, fees, etc., may be directed to the Testing Office at (808) 956-3454 or uhmtest@hawaii.edu.

Culturally responsive behavioral health services to all students who identify as Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) or Pacific Islander. Individual therapy and workshops provided in collaboration with campus partners, such as and .

Register for . Clinicians are available for telehealth services and limited in-person services at Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services, third floor. Email inquiries to: kwaahila@hawaii.edu.

Dedicated mental health and wellness services for all UH ����ԴDz� student athletes in the .

One-on-one, confidential counseling is available via in-person sessions in Nagatani Center, Room 0L25 or via telehealth sessions. No referral is required to access Rainbow Wellness services and all services are free of charge. Email ATHMH@hawaii.edu to book a session or ask questions.

(VITAL)

The VITAL program is a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help student veterans achieve academic and career goals. Student veterans enrolled at UH ����ԴDz� and are eligible for VA healthcare can meet with a mental health professional via VA Video Connect. Call (808) 940-9098 to schedule an appointment.

Student veterans in need of immediate mental health attention are recommended to call VA Mental Health Triage at 1-800-214-1306, option 2, option 4 (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.) or Veterans Crisis Line at 988, option 1 (available 24/7). For more information, go to the .

Alcohol and Other Drugs Education Program (ADEP)

ADEP is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed and responsible decisions regarding alcohol and substance use.

Students can access Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), a free program designed to address alcohol-related (and other substances including vaping) issues among students through personalized interventions. Email inquiries to adep@hawaii.edu.

Online self-help resources

UH ����ԴDz� students can access (TAO), a suite of online educational programs with engaging videos, animations, and interactive activities that use evidence-based content to address common mental health-related concerns. Students have throughout the semester using their UH email address.

UH Employee Assistance Program

Faculty and staff members seeking mental health services can contact the UH Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offered by Employee Assistance of the Pacific. All regular, temporary and exempt employees are eligible for EAP services.

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 ����ԴDz� 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 ����ԴDz� 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 ����ԴDz� 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.

Hundreds gathered at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� for the , a free series of forums focused on leveraging ancestral knowledge to support long-term recovery efforts for communities affected by the Lahaina wildfires and the 2018 Kauaʻi floods.

“Piʻo summits were created to highlight ancestral innovation and the need for courageous leadership to solve the complex problems of our time,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, who is the Dana Naone Hall Endowed Chair in Hawaiian Studies, Literature and the Environment at �鶹��ýnuākea and a professor at and the . “Aloha ʻāina (love of the land) is advancing efforts all across �鶹��ý, and this is about us galvanizing that movement here at the university.”

• Related UH News story: UH conference addresses water justice, Red Hill, ʻāina, December 15, 2022

Award-winning vocalist and UH ����ԴDz� alumna Raiatea Helm opened the summit at Imin Conference Center with mele aloha ʻāina, grounding the event in songs of love for the land. Her performance connected the audience to cherished places like Oʻahu, Piʻihonua within Hilo’s uplands and Kalamaʻula on Molokaʻi, where her roots lie.

Beyond the fires

A panel on Lahaina’s recovery brought together experts to discuss the devastating August 2023 wildfires and paths forward. Community leader Kekai Keahi, UH law professor Kapua Sproat, and ecosystem fire specialist Clay Trauernicht explored how climate change heightens wildfire risks and how ancestral knowledge can inform Lahaina’s rebuilding.

“He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka—the land is the chief, we are the stewards,” Beamer emphasized. “A great example is restoration of streams,” Beamer said. “When we restore streams we restore the life and ecosystems of that stream system. But it also re-greens the ʻāina, so places in like Lahaina, when the streams were flowing, when Lahaina was the so-called ‘Venice of the Pacific,’ wildfires wouldn’t steep through.”

Healing in Hāʻena

Another panel highlighted resilience in �����ܲ�ʻ��’s north shore community of Hāʻena after catastrophic flooding in 2018. Leaders Chipper Wichman, Lei Wanna and Billy Kinney shared how ʻohana (family) bonds and cultural heritage sustained recovery efforts and preserved community identity.

Hosted by Pōʻai Ke Aloha ʻĀina, a project of the Dana Naone Hall chair, the summit spotlighted how UH fosters aloha ʻāina practices to address modern challenges.

Sponsors included UH Research, , , Ulupono Initiative, Ka Huli Ao and the Sierra Club of �鶹��ý.

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend on October 26, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa. The free event is for prospective students and their families along with the general public so they can see firsthand why UH Mānoa is considered one of the best universities in the country. Organizers say current students and employees are also welcome.

“We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for prospective students and the community to learn more about UH Mānoa and find why we are consistently ranked among the best universities in the world,” said Provost Michael Bruno. “It is also a chance to speak and interact with current students, faculty and staff, the people who make this university great.”

Booths, displays and hands-on workshops featuring more than 100 academic departments will line iconic McCarty Mall, Legacy Path and the Campus Center courtyard. There will also be campus tours, including special tours of the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene’s Translational Health Science Simulation Center, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resource’s Certified Kitchen and the Esports Lab.

Visitors can also explore interactive exhibits and activities that cover a range of topics, from education to oceanography and medicine. The Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Success and Hamilton Library will also be open to visitors.

“UH Mānoa has so much to offer academically and there are so many services available to help our students on their journey,” said UH Mānoa Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun, who is responsible for Discover UH Mānoa. “We want everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about our campus, even if you are not a prospective student, because UH Mānoa is something everyone can take pride in.”

Each attendee will receive a UH Mānoa tote bag, event/program map, bookstore coupon and a coupon for $2 off retail dining options, including Starbucks, Ding Tea, Food Trucks and Sodexo Concessions. Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes throughout the day.

Two shuttle routes will be available for attendees interested in visiting student housing, and the Music Building Complex.

Free parking will be available in Zone 20 until 1:30p.m. For more information, visit .

Pāʻina on the Path and homecoming football

Following the open house, UH Mānoa will host Pāʻina on the Path, a free homecoming celebration from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This Homecoming Edition on Legacy Pathway will feature a UH Alumni Maker’s Market, Hawaiʻs Finest DJ & Kickoff Concert Series featuringPeniDean, food vendors, a beer garden, keiki zone with inflatables and football-themed games, and more.

The Rainbow Warrior football team will then take on Nevada in this seasonʻs homecoming game. Kick off at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex is at 6 p.m.

In a significant step to increase Native Hawaiian student enrollment and graduation rates at the University of �鶹��ý, a new program tailored for Hawaiian immersion students is paving the way for future leaders. The year-round initiative, Nā ʻŌpio Kaʻapeha, opens the door for haumāna in grades 6–12 to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) pathways within higher education.

In early October, 17 haumāna from Kula Kaiapuni schools across Oʻahu, �鶹��ý Island, and Maui recently returned from an inspiring free five-day huakaʻi (field trip) to California. Hosted by and State of �鶹��ý Department of Education Office of Hawaiian Education, haumāna engaged in hands-on STEAM experiences at Disney’s Imagination Campus and iconic museums, enhancing their research skills related to ʻāina (land).

“We want to inspire Hawaiian immersion students through exceptional opportunities that are rooted in the richness of Hawaiian language and culture,” said Kinohi Gomes, director at Nā Pua Noʻeau UH ����ԴDz�. “By bridging their middle and high school education with postsecondary and career pathways, it can open doors to a wealth of university and community resources.”

Creating Hawaiian leaders

Launched in fall 2023, the NPN program’s theme, ʻĀina Kau I Ka Wēkiu—Our Pristine Uplands, encouraged students to set goals and develop perspectives as future leaders and caretakers of �鶹��ý’s natural resources. Monthly huakaʻi focused on the history and significance of various wahi pana (storied places) on their islands, allowing haumāna to connect ʻāina-based learning with real-world experiences at UH campuses.

“Makemake au e hoʻomau i ke aʻo ʻana no �鶹��ý a no laila, e komo ana au i ka mekia o ʻike �鶹��ý. (I see myself majoring in Hawaiian studies because I want to continue learning and better understand �鶹��ý),” said Kaleonahe Paleka, a junior at Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Ānuenue.

This past June, nearly 100 Native Hawaiian students participated in NPN’s two-week Summer Institute at UH ����ԴDz�, where they engaged in hands-on activities ranging from brain anatomy to lei making.

For 11th grader Kekaimalino Yanagi, the trip to California reshaped his approach to college applications.
“Noʻu ke kula nui, kamaʻilio lākou e pili ana i ka hoʻohana i nā mea i loaʻa ʻoe. E like me ka kumu, ke kumu kākoʻo, kou a…nā papa tuta, no ka mea, kōkua lākou iā ʻoe, kēlā kā lākou hana, kā lākou ʻoihana. (It helped me understand what resources I should use like my teachers or my counselor. And how I should go to them for help instead of trying to do it by myself),” Yanagi said.

NPN, which is part of the campus’ and , has run programs for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade since its inception in 1989.

This June, nearly 100 Native Hawaiian students from grades 6–12 across �鶹��ý and the continental U.S. got a taste of college life through a free residential summer program at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. Now in its 35th year, aims to increase the number of Native Hawaiian students attending and graduating from UH.

During the 13-day Summer Institute, students live near campus and participate in interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities that emphasize cultural identity. The students get a first-hand experience of what attending college can be like.

“What has always been profound and foundational for the students over the past 35 years is that they’ve been coming to our program with an open mind, with the potential, the capacity and the interest to participate in all of the different pathways that we offer through our Nā Pua Noʻeau programming,” said Kinohi Gomes, director of Nā Pua Noʻeau UH ����ԴDz�, who has been involved with the program for 30 years.

NPN, which is part of the campus’ and , has significantly expanded its program this summer. From June 17–28, 46 middle and high school students are engaging in a variety of hands-on activities such as brain anatomy, auto CAD (computer-aided design), haku mele (song composition), lei making and cooking.

Kavin Ing, a Kamehameha Schools Kapālama graduate and incoming engineering freshman at UH ����ԴDz�, is learning to 3D print a �鶹��ýnuiākea waʻa (canoe). Graduate students from the UH ����ԴDz� are teaching the teens how to design and 3D print at Holmes Hall on campus.

“This is my third year of taking the engineering pathway,” said Ing. “I wanted to guide myself down that path because that’s what I plan to do in the future, and this program has really helped me prepare for that.”

Summer Institute activities include:

• Kahua Wilikī: Engineering Foundation
• ʻIkena Lolo Uila: Computer Science & Design
• Kālaimeaola: Learning Opportunities in Medicine
• Moʻolelo Paheona: Mixed Media Art Through Storytelling
• No ka ʻAi: Culinary Art in Food

The institute hosted 49 students during its first session from June 3–14 for grades 6–8. Since its inception in 1989, NPN has offered programs for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, providing a wide range of first-class learning opportunities. These programs, which include visual and culinary arts, literacy, and STEM, aim to build a bridge between the community and higher education. Centers are stationed at UH ����ԴDz�, UH Hilo, UH Maui College, Kauaʻi Community College and UH West Oʻahu.

The Nā Pua Noʻeau UH ����ԴDz� Summer Institute collaborates with the State of �鶹��ý Department of Education, �鶹��ý Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Education Department, and UH ����ԴDz� Native Hawaiian Science and Engineering Mentorship Program.

For more information, visit the .