The (RCUH) recognized 18 employees in November for exemplary contributions to their research projects.

“RCUH is extremely proud of all of these outstanding employees who support cutting-edge and innovative research being done at the UH and throughout our state,” said RCUH Executive Director Leonard Gouveia. “The success of academic research depends on dedicated and hardworking professionals like these RCUH employees who elevate and impact the projects they support.”

Researcher/Project Manager category

1st place: Ceci Rodriguez Cruz—ORE SMART Cable Project, UH Mānoa (SOEST)

2nd place: Christian Tai Udovicic—Planetary Science, SOEST

Honorable mentions:

• Robert Kekaianiani Irwin—Laupaʻi Aʻe ka ʻIke Kuamoʻo,
• Johannes Achim Stoessl—General AntiParticle Spectrometer Project, UH Mānoa

Project Support Staff category

1st place: Casey TeBeest, UH , WRRC American Samoa Hydrology Network

2nd place: Dylan Boeman–Sabine Lab, SOEST

Team category

1st place: Hua Zhong and Shuai Liu, Cancer Epidemiology Program,

2nd place: Peter Oshiro, Ryan Chilson, Sally Lau and Derek Kubo—Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Honorable mentions:

• Helene Meehl, Andrew Kramer, Sydney Lewandowski and Nicolo Cohen—�鶹��ý Coral Restoration Nursery,
• Yumi Nagayoshi, Marybeth Young and Jan Stoos—Maunakea Shared Services, UH

The university service orders extramural contracts and grants to RCUH, which assists with hiring personnel and procuring goods/services to support research, development, and training throughout the state. These awards highlight the vital work RCUH employees perform daily to advance the university’s goal of diversifying �鶹��ý’s economy through innovation and research.

The (RCUH) recognized 21 employees for their contributions to research at UH in a ceremony held in November.

Researcher/Project Manager Category

• First Place: , �鶹��ý Wildlife Ecology Lab, UH ����ԴDz� College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR)
• Second Place: , Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee, UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
• Honorable Mentions:
  , grants office, Kapiʻolani Community College
  , Soil Health, Environment, and Ecosystem Resilience Lab, UH ����ԴDz� CTAHR

Project Support Staff Category

• First Place: , Center for Resilient Neighborhoods, Kapiʻolani CC
• Second Place: , GEAR UP and Kūlia ma Kapiʻolani, Kapiʻolani CC
• Honorable Mentions:
  , Curriculum Research and Development Group, UH ����ԴDz� College of Education
  , Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Technology, Kapiʻolani CC

Teams Category

• First Place: (Jon Avery, Jerard “Ziggy” Jardin, Jason Klem, Nikolai Turetsky), UH ����ԴDz� School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST)
• Second Place: (Marco Castro, Dylan Moniz), UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
• Honorable Mentions:
  (Emily Contreras, Nan Himmelsbach, Andrea Lee Schmidt), SOEST
  (Douglas Astrande, Tracy Miyashiro, Travis Perez, Aaron Zimmer), UH Institute for Astronomy

Nominees were evaluated on:

• Initiative taken to develop the achievement or to advance the project.
• Leadership and resourcefulness in implementing the achievement or to advance the project.
• Impact of achievement on the project, professional field, and/or larger community.
• Other information on the importance, significance, and/or quality of the achievement.

The University of �鶹��ý (UH) and (ONI) announced a $120 million, public-private partnership to construct a submarine optical fiber cable system that will connect the Hawaiian Islands and improve and expand high-speed broadband internet throughout the state. The project, the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL), is a key component of , the state’s broadband initiative, a top priority of the Gov. Josh Green administration. Under the direction of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Connect Kākou will ensure that people from all walks of life have reliable and affordable access to high-speed internet.

“This inter-island cable system will leverage the once-in-a-generation federal investment for technological infrastructure and position our state for long-term economic growth,” said Green. “The resulting network will be open to all carriers and sufficiently robust to support all manner of telecommunications carrier and enterprise traffic, including anticipated future high-capacity demands supporting healthcare, education, research, public service, commerce, and government uses.”

ONI is responsible for the supply, construction, operations and maintenance of the inter-island cable system. Partial funding will be provided through a federal grant, and the remaining funds will be secured by ONI through private equity and secured debt. When it goes online, HIFL will be able to process a high volume of data with minimal delay and will be the inter-island backbone of Connect Kākou.

“This is just one part of our plan to guarantee the state’s long-term internet connectivity,” said Luke. “Connect Kākou has over $500 million in federal grants, state funds, and private matching funds available as we work towards connecting the unconnected and make sure everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet.”

HIFL will be a carrier-neutral, open-access system with landing sites on Oʻahu, �鶹��ý, Maui, Kauaʻi, ����Բ�ʻ�� and Molokaʻi that will improve �鶹��ý inter-island and regional connectivity. The system will have 24 fiber pairs with a design life of 25 years and is expected to be ready for service in late 2026. The project is being overseen by the UH System Office for Information Technology with support from the Research Corporation of the University of �鶹��ý.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with Ocean Networks, Inc.,” said Garret Yoshimi, UH Vice President for Information Technology and & CIO. “The Ocean Networks team has significant industry experience, specifically working here in �鶹��ý. It’s an honor for UH to play an important role in connecting �鶹��ý to the future.”

“We are delighted to collaborate with the UH and proud that ONI has been selected to build and operate the new HIFL submarine cable system,” said Cliff Miyake, Vice President of Business Development of Ocean Networks, Inc. “The HIFL system will provide critical improvement to the broadband infrastructure for the State of �鶹��ý.”

A team of researchers from the and are leading the charge to explore the relationship between hooved animals and the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). Maps of hard hit districts on �鶹��ý Island were recently released online from a collaborative study involving community, county, state and federal experts and in infecting ʻōhiʻa trees with the fatal fungus, Ceratocystis lukuohia, that cause ROD and how fencing can help prevent the spread of the disease.

According to UH researchers, the animals damage healthy trees by digging up roots and stripping off bark. The damage makes the tree more susceptible to infection by the fungal spores carried in soil or the wind.

Fence-off �鶹��ý’s forests

Spatial data, collected using remote-sensing technology, high-resolution satellite and helicopter imagery obtained from January 2019 through January 2023, show a greater spread of ʻōhiʻa die off in unfenced areas hooved animals can access and significantly lower ʻōhiʻa mortality in forest areas where hooved animals are blocked out by fencing. The UH researchers teamed with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Hawaiian Homelands, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to assess data from forested areas within Hāmākua to Kaʻū on �鶹��ý Island. The project is funded by the DLNR and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

“The surveying and monitoring of ʻōhiʻa forests remains one of our team’s top priorities,” said Brian Tucker, a ROD data specialist at UH ����ԴDz� through the university’s Research Corporation. “These observations help guide our research projects, forest management practices and public outreach. We noticed a trend where the forests have less mortality due to ROD when protected from feral animals, especially cattle and pigs. We love our forests and it gives us hope because there are tools available for meaningful action to minimize the most devastating effects of ROD.”

Closer-look at ROD impacts

In October 2022, high-resolution satellite imagery analysis of two equally sized areas across the fenced boundary of �鶹��ý Volcanoes National Park showed 99% of the 3,398 suspected trees impacted by ROD were in the unfenced area.

Analysis of remote-sensing and high-resolution satellite imagery occurred collaboratively with Tucker and researchers at the UH Hilo (SDAV) laboratory, with UH Hilo student geospatial analyst Naiʻa Odachi performing much of the work. The lab specializes in geospatial technology, which is integral in obtaining aerial imagery to detect ʻōhiʻa mortality at an individual tree level.

“Remote sensing using aerial and high-resolution satellite imagery has allowed researchers to expand monitoring capabilities on �鶹��ý Island,” said Odachi, who is pursuing a master’s in at UH Hilo. “This imagery is used to identify individual dying ʻōhiʻa trees and can be used to direct field crews for sampling and ultimately lab analysis to confirm ROD infection.”

At the 2023 �鶹��ý Conservation Conference this summer, Odachi presented ROD investigations she conducted at UH �ᾱ����’s SDAV and won the Outstanding Graduate Student Oral Presentation Award.

This newly published study stems from led by UH Hilo Geographer Ryan Perroy, a professor of and director of the SDAV research lab. Perroy’s team revealed significant differences in areas on �鶹��ý Island with and without ungulates, suggesting that ungulate exclusion is an effective management tool to lessen the impacts of ROD in forested areas in �鶹��ý.

• Related UH News story: Rapid ʻōhiʻa death linked to hoofed animals in UH Hilo research, August 17, 2021

“With ʻōhiʻa making up 80% of our remaining native forests, preventing or reducing damage from ROD and hooved animals is critical for protecting our watersheds and only source of fresh water in �鶹��ý,” said Rob Hauff, state protection forester at �鶹��ý DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

ROD spread outlook

ʻŌhiʻa mortality has been observed in every district on �鶹��ý Island, with some areas showing very high rates of mortality. Outbreaks with significant ROD mortality were also reported on Kauaʻi. This collaborative study is geared toward building upon effective management strategies already in place to help protect �鶹��ý’s remaining ʻōhiʻa, and increase native forest regeneration and restoration.

The (RCUH) has recognized 20 exemplary employees for their contributions and impact to research at UH conducted on Oʻahu, Maui and �鶹��ý Island.

The awards were based on the following categories:

• Initiative, leadership and resourcefulness in carrying out their achievements
• Impact of their achievements on the project, professional field and/or larger community
• Other variables such as the significance or quality of their achievements
• Each individual received a certificate and cash award. First-place awardees received $1,000 (shared equally by team members), while second-place awardees received $500 (shared equally by team members).

Team Category

• First place (tie): , UH Hilo (Mark Ellis, Robert Madrigal, Oscar Poua, Tommy Waltjen)
  , UH ����ԴDz� School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) (Corinne Amir, Jonny Charendoff, Mia Lamirand, Frances Lichowski
• Second Place: , UH ����ԴDz� (Grace Matsuura, Kimberley Spencer-Tolentino, JoAnn Tsark)
• Honorable Mention: , UH Maui (Yvette Gurule, Gerry Smith, Kelly Suzuki Payba, Lynette Yamamoto)

Project Support Staff category

• First place: , UH Maui College (Jennifer Benitez)

Researcher/Project Manager category

• First place: , UH ����ԴDz� (Derek Risch)
• Second place: , UH ����ԴDz� SOEST (Matthew Widlansky)
• Honorable Mention: , (Russell Kackley)
  , UH ����ԴDz� SOEST (Natalie Wallsgrove)

The awards were presented at a luncheon event on October 24. A selection committee comprised of Peter Adler, Sarah Guay and Taryn Salmon selected the awardees. For more information, .

The (RCUH) has awarded 16 of its employees for their contributions and impact to research at UH.

The awards were based on the following categories:

• Initiative, leadership and resourcefulness in carrying out their achievements
• Impact of their achievements on the project, professional field and/or larger community
• Other variables such as the significance or quality of their achievements

Each individual received a certificate and cash award. Additionally, first-place awardees received $1,000 (shared equally by team members), while second-place awardees received $500 (shared equally by team members).

Team category

• First place: , (Ginger Porter, Umerang Imetengel and Alyssa Shimizu)
• Second place: , UH Information Technology Services (Michelle Choe, Sean Cleveland, Maria Dumanlang, Jennifer Geis and Jared McLean)
• Honorable Mention: , (Nisa Kelly and En Liu)

Project support staff category

• First Place: , Department of Oceanography, (SOEST)
• Second Place: , Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
• Honorable Mention: , Cassava Improvement Project,

Researcher/project manager category

• First Place: , �鶹��ý Center for AIDS,
• Second Place: , Plant Extinction and Prevention Program, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit,
• Honorable Mention: , Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, SOEST

The awards were presented at an event on October 27, at UH ����ԴDz�’s Campus Center Ballroom. A selection committee comprised of Ken Hayashida, Marie Kumabe and Clyde Shiigi selected the awardees.

For more information, visit .

University of �鶹��ý President David Lassner provided an update on the university’s continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring 2022 plans for more in-person instruction, fall enrollment, legislative inquiries and task force on tenure and more in his monthly report to the Board of Regents on October 21.

Lassner also covered fall enrollment, agreements with Queen’s Health Systems and �鶹��ý Pacific Health as well as extramural funding.

• Fall 2021 enrollment highlights ()
• Go to UHNews.org ()
• Congratulations Center for Korean Studies ()

See previous president’s reports to the Board of Regents.

University of �鶹��ý President David Lassner provided an update on the university’s continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, fall enrollment, the latest Maunakea stewardship efforts and the Ching Athletic Complex retrofit to accommodate football games in his monthly report to the Board of Regents on September 16.

Lassner also covered the numerous legislative inquiries UH has received on a variety of topics including procurement, the Ching Athletic Complex project and the Research Corporation of the University of �鶹��ý.

• COVID-19 update ()
• Fall enrollment ()
• Ching Athletics Complex retrofit ()
• No-fan policy ()
• Maunakea stewardship ()
• New master plan ()
• Telescope decommissioning: Caltech Submillimeter Observatory and ���̄���̄ Keʻa teaching telescope ()
• ʻImiloa educational programs ()
• Maunakea stewardship ()
• Legislative informational briefings ()
• Federal support for Hawaiian educational programs ()

See previous president’s reports to the Board of Regents.

The (RCUH) announced its 2020 RCUH Outstanding Employees of the Year Awards on November 2. RCUH recognized 17 outstanding employees who made significant and exemplary contributions to their projects during the past fiscal year or years.

“Congratulations to our 2020 RCUH outstanding employee award winners. Your commitment and dedication to research, training and development in the State of �鶹��ý is greatly appreciated,” said Leonard Gouveia, RCUH executive director.

Outstanding Researcher/Project Manager/Professional Staff

• First-place: David Cohen, aquatic invasive species biocontrol specialist, UH ����ԴDz�, College of Natural Sciences
• Second-place: Michael von Platen, TCR systems programmer, UH ����ԴDz�, John A. Burns School of Medicine
• Honorable mentions: Fritzie Celino-Brady, UH ����ԴDz�, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Serge Chastel, UH Institute for Astronomy; Stan Fichtman, Kapiʻolani CC; Mark Huber, UH Institute for Astronomy; Dawn Namahoe Sidman, UH Hilo Research Office

Outstanding Project Support Staff

• First-place: Yoshitake Nabeshima, Subaru Telescope
• Second-place: Hope Ronco, UH ����ԴDz�, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
• Honorable mentions: Mary Jo Riehm, UH Hilo Research Office; Sean Tanimoto, Applied Research Laboratory at the University of �鶹��ý

Outstanding Team

• First-place: Maunakea Weather Center
• Second-place: Applied Research Laboratory at the University of �鶹��ý

Fujio Matsuda, president of the University of �鶹��ý from 1974 to 1984, passed away in the early hours of August 23, surrounded by his wife of 71 years and six children. He was 95.

“He taught that we must walk with humility in others’ shoes, because all are valued equally. We all strive universally to fulfill the same needs: being a part of a family, cherished, and with the opportunity to do good in the world. This was the groundwork of every decision he made throughout the many challenges and joys of his long life,” Matsuda’s family said in a statement.

“Dr. Matsuda is the reason I am in �鶹��ý,” said UH President David Lassner. “Even in the 1970s, before the Internet or the PC, he intuitively understood that computers would change the way we teach and learn. I came to UH to help in the startup of his statewide Computer Based Education Pilot Project in 1977, and I never left. Fuj led UH and then RCUH () balancing vision and pragmatism, and always with integrity. I am proud to have known him.”

Matsuda was born in Honolulu and grew up in Kakaʻako. A graduate of McKinley High School in 1942, he volunteered to become a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s 232nd Combat Engineer Company in World War II. After his military service, he studied at UH, then transferred to and graduated from Rose Polytechnic Institute in Indiana in 1949. He earned a doctorate from MIT in 1952, and remained there as a researcher for two years. He moved to the University of Illinois for a year as a researcher.

In 1955, Matsuda came home to �鶹��ý, where he taught in the UH engineering department until 1962. In that year, he was picked by Gov. John Burns to lead the state Department of Transportation. He served in that role until 1973, when then UH President Harlan Cleveland asked Matsuda to return to UH as vice president of business affairs.

Cleveland resigned as UH president in December 1973, effective the summer of 1974. In July 1974, the Board of Regents appointed Matsuda the ninth president of UH. He was the first and only UH president of Asian descent. He was also the first Asian-American president of a major university in the country. Under his leadership, the first systemwide strategic plan was developed, and the East-West Center was separated from the university. Built under his presidency were the UH law school and its library, Korean Studies Center, Marine Sciences building, athletic complex and swimming pool, Institute for Astronomy, Gilmore Hall and art building.

Fondly nicknamed “Fudge,” Matsuda served as president until May 1984. He served as executive director of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i (RCUH) from 1984 to 1994. He remained active in the community, helping to form the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research and served as its chairman. He was a member of other boards, including RCUH and the Japan-American Institute of Management Science. In 2003, he led a fundraising drive to raise $9 million to save the Japanese Cultural Center from having to sell its building and possibly disband. In 2004, he was honored as a “Living Treasure” by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of �鶹��ý.

’s is named after the late president.

His family is planning to hold a public memorial service in the future when the risks of COVID-19 have subsided.

The family plans to establish the Fujio and Amy Matsuda Scholarship in his honor. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests consideration of support for this fund.