During spring break, University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� nursing student Jolene Chun joined National Guard search and rescue efforts in high-risk flood zones in Waialua to help ensure the safety of residents and property during the state evacuation order in March. Chun, a state-activated �鶹��ý Air National Guard Staff Sergeant medic with the U.S. Air Force, is pursuing her advanced degree through the (GEPN) in the (SONDH).

“The most impactful moment during the search was witnessing the devastation of mass amounts of property and vehicles displaced due to the powerful impact of the flood,” Chun said.

Chun earned her bachelor of arts in with a concentration in disaster preparedness and management from UH West Oʻahu in 2021. Her decision to serve as a medic in the �鶹��ý Air National Guard was influenced in part by educational opportunities, including tuition assistance that supported her undergraduate degree.

Her training in the GEPN program built on her clinical experience as a medic, strengthening her ability to respond in high-pressure situations.

“The program helped me render aid with definitive treatments in mind, which made me more confident assisting in the field,” she said.

Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call.
—Jolene Chun

Balancing both roles, Chun said the skills complement each other and reinforce a shared focus on patient care, making her immediate decision to assist during spring break instinctive.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to assist in responding to people in the community. Even to make the smallest difference, I will answer the call,” she said.

A long-term commitment to service

Chun plans to graduate in 2028 and commission as a �鶹��ý Air National Guard nurse, eventually pursuing the to continue serving �鶹��ý communities. In addition to focusing on women’s wellness, she aims to help improve coordination across federal, state, city and private sectors to expand access to healthcare.

As the affected communities continue cleaning and rebuilding, Chun reflects on the ongoing efforts. “I am appreciative that the National Guard members are still out there working with the community to help the land and people pick up the pieces to hopefully normalize after the effects of the Kona Low system.”

SONDH Dean Clementina Ceria-Ulep added, “Jolene’s dedication as a nursing student and medic showcases the remarkable service and leadership our students bring to �鶹��ý communities.”

Fourteen dental hygiene students from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and UH Maui College received a combined $42,000 in scholarships from the �鶹��ý Dental Service (HDS) Foundation, supporting the next generation of oral health professionals across the state.

“The HDS Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that communities across the state have healthy smiles. For HDS, part of this commitment means funding scholarships and other programs to support our local workforce,” said Diane Paloma, HDS president and CEO and UH Board of Regents member. “We hope that after graduation, these students will work in �鶹��ý and serve the state that nurtured them.”

Seven UH Mānoa recipients were honored February 6 at the UH Mānoa Campus Center during a celebration attended by students and their ʻohana, university administrators, faculty and HDS executives. A separate event for the Maui scholarship recipients is also planned.

Each of the 14 students received $3,000 to support their education and clinical training.

The recipients are:

• UH ����ԴDz�—Caitlin Raquel Baclay, Ari Bang, Maria Cabasag, Carly Koki-Tupuola, Kimberly Magsipoc, Natalie Morimoto and Shareena Lei Pascual
• UH Maui College—Samantha Buechler, Emmie-Lynn Campos, Geila Guzman, Joanna Javier, Samantha Oliveira Gasmen Goodman, Sarah Singh and Kaitlyn Yamada

“These scholarships provide more than financial assistance — they provide encouragement,” said Kristine Osada, dental hygiene program administrator at UH Mānoa. “Our students balance rigorous coursework and clinical training, and this support allows them to stay focused on becoming skilled, compassionate oral health professionals for �鶹��ý.”

UH Mānoa’s , offered through its (SONDH), is the only bachelor’s-level dental hygiene degree in the state and prepares students for national and regional licensure examinations. offers an , a cohort-based program emphasizing prevention, education and clinical practice. Both programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Related UH News story: High-quality, low-cost dental cleaning with training hygienists

Hands-on dental care for the community

The public can book appointments for student-led dental services at either campus clinic. There, students gain hands-on clinical experience under licensed faculty supervision. Learn more about the or the .

A Native Hawaiian nurse leader at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (SONDH) has earned national recognition for her work advancing health equity. Donna-Marie Palakiko was named a 2025 Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and a Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (ADLN).

“I am honored to be inducted into the 2025 Class of New Fellows for the American Academy of Nursing,” said Palakiko, associate professor and SONDH director of cultural innovation and strategy. “This recognition is shared with those who volunteered to be a part of my program of research, supported my learning & growth, and most of all, my ʻOhana. I am excited to continue the work to improve health among Indigenous communities.”

Fellowship in AAN recognizes individuals whose work has had a lasting impact on health and healthcare through research, policy, practice – and education. Palakiko was inducted in October 2025 during the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, U.S.

As a Distinguished Fellow of ADLN, she joins a national network of leaders advancing justice, equity, diversity – and inclusion in nursing.

According to ADLN, “The 2025 Fellows represent a powerful collective dedicated to shaping the future of nursing and healthcare by ensuring all voices are heard and valued.”

Research and community impact

Related UH News story: Nursing innovator fellowship for UH ����ԴDz� assistant professor

Palakiko joined UH ����ԴDz� in 2019 as the first Native Hawaiian nurse to be hired and receive tenure with promotion at SONDH. Her research addresses asthma inequities among Native Hawaiians and focuses on building a culturally responsive health workforce. For more than 25 years, Palakiko has advanced health equity for Native Hawaiians and other underserved communities. Her work focuses on culturally safe health programs, strengthening the nursing workforce, and addressing social and cultural factors that influence health.

Earlier this year, Palakiko joined the American Public Health Association (APHA) leadership team and serves on the boards of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurses Association (NCEMNA) and the Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA).

She earned her doctorate from the UH ����ԴDz�, her master’s of science from the University of California, San Francisco, and her bachelor’s of science from the University of San Francisco. She is a 2022 Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellow, a 2023 Fellow of the LEADS program, and a recipient of the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders & Innovators.

The University of �鶹��ý’s three 4-year universities earned national recognition in the U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings released on September 23, including four top 10 regional rankings for UH West Oʻahu.

, and were ranked among the top 4-year institutions by U.S. News and World Report out of based on up to 17 measures (depending on ranking category) of academic quality, including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, financial resources and student excellence.

“These rankings reflect the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students across all three UH 4-year campuses,” UH President Wendy Hensel said. “They show that we are continuing to provide �鶹��ý students with a high-quality, affordable education while preparing them to lead in their communities and beyond.”

The flagship campus of the UH System ranked No. 92 as a top U.S. public university; No. 122 for best colleges for veterans; No. 169 overall in the country; and No. 189 in social mobility, which measures how well schools graduated students who were federal Pell Grant recipients.

The came in at No. 109 among the best undergraduate business programs out of 533 ranked undergraduate business programs.

The is the No. 118 best undergraduate nursing program among 686 ranked undergraduate nursing programs.

The in the ranked No. 139 for best undergraduate economics programs in the nation.

The placed No. 150 among the best undergraduate engineering programs that offer doctoral degrees in the country.

The in the ranked as the No. 177 best undergraduate computer science program out of 601 ranked programs.

The in the ranked No. 196 out of the top 682 best undergraduate psychology programs in the nation.

UH Hilo ranked No. 178 as a top U.S. public university, No. 204 for social mobility and No. 329 overall among the top 434 national universities—a classification based on offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, emphasizing research, as explained in the rankings categories below.

UH �ᾱ����’s is the No. 186 best undergraduate nursing program in the country, the placed No. 254 among the 533 best undergraduate business programs, and the ranked No. 297 out of the best 682 undergraduate psychology programs.

UH West Oʻahu ranked No. 3 for best public colleges in the West, No. 3 for best colleges for veterans among regional colleges in the West, No. 8 overall among regional colleges in the West (two spots higher than last year and five spots higher than the year prior) and No. 8 for social mobility for regional colleges in the West (five spots higher than last year and 13 spots higher than the year prior).

Ranking categories

UH Mānoa and UH Hilo were ranked in the national universities category, which featured institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates.

UH West Oʻahu is in the regional colleges in the West category, which includes schools that focus on undergraduate education and grant fewer than 50% of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.

Two longtime University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� faculty members, Kathryn Braun and Cullen Hayashida, played key roles in the 20th anniversary conference of the (ACAP) held in Fukuoka, Japan, in March 2025. They joined a 10-member �鶹��ý delegation, including representatives from the �鶹��ý State Department of Health and local kūpuna-serving organizations.

The conference brought together experts from more than 40 countries to share knowledge on dementia-friendly communities, digital inclusion, migration and care work, and intergenerational relationships.

Braun, professor of public health at UH ����ԴDz� and current ACAP president, is the principal investigator of the federally-funded in the . She highlighted �鶹��ý’s rapidly aging population and the value of learning from other countries’ experiences.

“�鶹��ý is one of the most rapidly aging states in the nation, but not as fast as Japan and several other Asian countries,” said Braun. “These gatherings help us adapt successful models to meet �鶹��ý’s unique needs.”

Hayashida, graduate affiliate faculty in UH ����ԴDz�’s , and , is the founding director of the Kūpuna Education Center at Kapiʻolani Community College. He described ACAP as a vital network of researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, and advocates committed to active aging.

“Active retirees should pivot from just being youthful to becoming useful contributors,” he said.

ACAP welcomes members of all ages and backgrounds to participate in monthly webinars and international knowledge exchange. Membership is free. To join, email Kathryn Braun at kbraun@hawaii.edu.

The University of �鶹��ý’s three 4-year universities earned high marks in the rankings released on September 24, including three top 5 rankings for , a top 10 national ranking for and , and a top 20 national ranking for the UH ����ԴDz� Shidler College of Business’ international business program.

All of UH ����ԴDz�, UH Hilo and UH West Oʻahu ranked among the top 1,500 4-year institutions by U.S. News and World Report out of based on up to 17 measures (depending on ranking category) of academic quality, including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, financial resources and student excellence.

“These rankings underscore our success in continuing to elevate our program quality and outcomes as we improve financial sustainability while containing costs and improving value to our students,” said UH President David Lassner. “As the state’s sole provider of public higher education, we take great pride in our mission to serve communities across the islands as we prepare the next generation of �鶹��ý’s leaders through our commitment to continuous improvement in student access and success for all.”

UH ����ԴDz�

UH ����ԴDz� tied for No. 7 among , a ranking that identifies colleges where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from their own. UH ����ԴDz�’s diversity index score was 0.75. The ethnic categories used in the calculations are non-Hispanic African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Asian, non-Hispanic white and multiracial (two or more races).

The flagship campus of the UH System also ranked No. 92 as a top U.S. public university; No. 171 overall in the country; No. 187 as a best value school; No. 218 in social mobility, which measures how well schools graduated students who were federal Pell Grant recipients; and No. 120 for best colleges for veterans.

The came in at No. 20 for international business programs and No. 127 among the best undergraduate business programs out of 532 ranked undergraduate business programs.

The is the No. 96 best undergraduate nursing program among 686 ranked undergraduate nursing programs.

The placed No. 139 among the best undergraduate engineering programs that offer doctoral degrees in the U.S., and the ranked as the No. 145 best undergraduate computer science program out of 584 ranked programs.

The ranked No. 161 for best undergraduate economics programs in the nation, and the placed No. 229 out of the nation’s top 681 undergraduate psychology programs. Both departments are housed in the .

UH Hilo

UH Hilo stands out in several key areas. It ranks among the in the country, earning a diversity index score of 0.76, just behind top schools like Stanford and Johns Hopkins (0.77).

In addition, UH Hilo ranked No. 111 for social mobility out of the top 433 national universities, a classification based on offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, emphasizing research, as explained in the rankings categories below. UH Hilo also placed No. 188 as a top U.S. public university and No. 352 overall among national universities.

UH �ᾱ����’s is the No. 182 best undergraduate nursing program in the country, the placed No. 281 among the 532 best undergraduate business programs, and the ranked No. 293 of the best 681 undergraduate psychology programs.

UH West Oʻahu

UH West Oʻahu placed No. 2 among , ranked No. 3 for best public colleges in the West, No. 4 for best colleges for veterans among regional colleges in the West, No. 6 for , No. 10 overall among regional colleges in the West (five spots higher than last year) and No. 13 for social mobility for regional colleges in the West (13 spots higher than last year).

Ranking categories

UH ����ԴDz� and UH Hilo were included in the national universities category, which featured institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates. UH West Oʻahu is in the regional colleges in the West category, which includes schools that focus on undergraduate education and grant fewer than 50% of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.

—By Marc Arakaki

The �鶹��ý Leadership Forum announced 16 local leaders who are joining the ninth cohort of its Omidyar Fellows program, and eight are alumni from the University of �鶹��ý. The program seeks to cultivate the conditions in which �鶹��ý thrives by equipping leaders with the skill and cross-sector relationships necessary to affect societal change.

These individuals were chosen through a rigorous application process, selected based on their accomplishments, innovative skills, ability to collaborate with other leaders, and motivation to make a positive change.

“We are excited to bring back this unique opportunity for emerging leaders to engage in impactful discussions, learn from one another, and help make Hawai‘i even better,” said AJ Halagao, president of �鶹��ý Leadership Forum and Shidler College of Business alumnus. “We strive to develop, engage, and inspire leaders to drive impact and catalyze positive change.”

The eight UH alumni who were selected as the ninth cohort of Omidayar Fellows:

• Katie Bennett (UH Mānoa ), Founder and Lead Mediator, Family Mediation �鶹��ý
• Amanda Corby Noguchi (UH Mānoa, ), President and Creative Director, Under My Umbrella, Inc.
• Stacy Ferreira (UH Mānoa), CEO, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
• Vicky Hanes (UH Hilo – ), COO, Legal Aid Society of �鶹��ý
• Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni (UH Mānoa – ), President and CEO, Partners in Development Foundation
• David Kopper (UH Mānoa), Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of �鶹��ý
• Kaulana Mossman (UH Mānoa), Community Planning Liaison Officer, Department of Defense Pacific Missile Range Facility
• Laura Reichhardt (UH Mānoa – ) Director, �鶹��ý State Center for Nursing

For the full list of the ninth cohort, see the website. The program has a history of selecting UH alumni and employees.

The University of �鶹��ý’s three 4-year universities were highly ranked in the U.S. News and World Report 2024 Best Colleges rankings released on September 18, including a pair of top 5 regional rankings for and a top 20 national ranking for the Shidler College of Business’ international business program.

UH ����ԴDz�, and UH West Oʻahu ranked among the top 1,500 four-year institutions by U.S. News out of nationwide and were graded on 13–19 measures (depending on ranking category) of academic quality, including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, financial resources and student excellence.

“These rankings are one more affirmation of the stature of our three UH universities as public higher education institutions that all of �鶹��ý can proudly support,” UH President David Lassner said. “This recognition is a reflection of our outstanding faculty, staff and administrators and the remarkable student bodies we attract from �鶹��ý and beyond.”

UH ����ԴDz�

UH ����ԴDz�, the flagship campus of the UH System, ranked No. 91 as a top U.S. public university; No. 170 overall in the country; No. 114 in social mobility, which measures how well schools graduated students who were federal Pell Grant recipients; and No. 118 for best colleges for veterans.

The came in at No. 20 for international business programs and No. 118 among the best undergraduate business programs out of 523 ranked undergraduate business programs. The is the No. 86 best undergraduate nursing program among 656 ranked undergraduate nursing programs.

The placed No. 150 among the best undergraduate engineering programs in the U.S. The ranked as the No. 167 best undergraduate computer science program out of 554 ranked programs.

The ranked No. 181 for best undergraduate economics programs in the country and the placed No. 203 out of 542 of the top undergraduate psychology programs. Both are housed in the .

UH Hilo

UH Hilo ranked No. 93 for social mobility out of the top 434 universities, No. 188 as a top U.S. public university and No. 352 overall in the nation.

In addition, UH �ᾱ����’s is the No. 154 best undergraduate nursing program in the country. The placed No. 276 among the 523 best undergraduate business programs, and the ranked No. 316 of the best 542 undergraduate psychology programs.

UH West Oʻahu

UH West Oʻahu ranked No. 3 for best public colleges in the West, No. 4 for best colleges for veterans among regional colleges in the West, No. 15 overall among regional colleges in the West and No. 26 for social mobility for regional colleges in the West.

Ranking categories

UH ����ԴDz� and UH Hilo were included in the national universities category, which featured institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates. UH West Oʻahu is in the regional colleges in the West category, which includes schools that focus on undergraduate education and grant fewer than 50% of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.

The University of �鶹��ý is requesting proposals from qualified developers to redevelop 2.49 acres of UH-owned land next to . The goal of the project is to provide students with experiential learning opportunities through the development of an alternative revenue stream for UH other than through tuition and state funding.

The proposed project objectives includes a use that partners or collaborates with one or more UH programs listed in the “”:

The project must also fit in the context of the surrounding community, and the developer must have an on-property physical presence and manage the project after it is built.

The deadline for submissions is December 7, 2022, and the selection is scheduled to be announced January 31, 2023. The selected developer will be required to enter into a development agreement and long-term ground lease with UH. Ownership would revert back to UH when the ground lease expires. The agreement and lease must receive final approval from the UH Board of Regents before the project can begin.

The property is located at 550 Makapuʻu Avenue across from Kapiʻolani CC and Lēʻahi Hospital, on the same block as the recently redeveloped Diamond Head Theatre. There are no structures on the property, and a portion of it is currently being used as a temporary parking lot by the hospital.

The has selected University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and UH Hilo alumna Kealohakuʻualohakuʻupokiʻi Balaz for its prestigious scholars program. Balaz is the first person from �鶹��ý to be selected for the program since its inception in 2018.

Balaz earned her doctor of nursing practice from UH �ᾱ����’s , executive master’s of business administration from UH ����ԴDz�’s and bachelor’s in nursing from UH ����ԴDz�’s . She also holds a master’s in nursing education from the University of Oklahoma.

The Wahiawā native and Leilehua High School graduate is currently the chief policy and compliance officer for Lunalilo Home, a facility that provides a variety of services for kūpuna, and a clinician (nurse practitioner) in the memory care clinic within geriatrics at Kōkua Kalihi Valley Health Center. Balaz previously served as the interim executive director of Lunalilo Home.

“UH has played an important role in my professional and individual growth. That’s really where it started,” Balaz said. “Being at UH, you really get to learn about yourself as an undergrad, as a grad student. I think going to UH really helped me enhance my passion or identify spaces where I want to connect.”

I think going to UH really helped me enhance my passion or identify spaces where I want to connect.
—Kealohakuʻualohakuʻupokiʻi Balaz

Balaz added, “What I love the most is that there was never a glass ceiling. All of these experiences, with UH being at the foundation, have helped me to create a career that I never saw coming or that I never thought would lead me to become a scholar in this program.”

Balaz also recalled taking courses at the UH ����ԴDz� on ����ʻ���� lapaʻau (using herbs to heal).

“That really helped me as a clinician and culturally as a Native Hawaiian to really bridge the gap between cultural practices in health care and Western medicine, and look at a lot of the similarities,” Balaz said.

Passion for �鶹��ý’s kūpuna

About a decade ago, Balaz returned home to care for her father who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This is what shifted her passion in healthcare to focus specifically on addressing issues involving �鶹��ý’s kūpuna, with a focus on Alzheimer’s and dementia. Balaz sought assistance from the �鶹��ý chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, became active in advocating for these issues and most recently served as the board chair.

Caring for her father and reflecting on the support she has received from her family growing up were some of the driving forces that inspired her to apply for the Obama Scholars program and continue the work she is doing for the community.

“When I found out, I started thinking about my parents and everything they have gone through to give me what I have, and my grandmother who was pivotal in my childhood. It all came together. When I was informed that I am the first scholar from �鶹��ý, that made me feel so honored to represent �鶹��ý,” Balaz said. “The fact that I am a woman and Native Hawaiian, it just really felt surreal. …It changed my life.”

Balaz is a member of the Native Hawaiian Health Advisory Board and the Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs, holds numerous other board appointments and volunteers for various organizations, including Special Olympics �鶹��ý. She is a recipient of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Aloha Chapter Advocate of the Year Award, the Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 award and �鶹��ý Business Magazine 20 for the next 20 award.

Building new leadership skills

As part of the Obama Scholars program, Balaz will participate in a year-long robust curriculum for leadership by the Obama Foundation in conjunction with Columbia World Projects at Columbia University. Balaz said the program will help her to reflect on her work, refine her leadership approach and build her personal resilience as she creates action plans to bring home to her current roles in �鶹��ý. She will also receive mentorship, an executive coach and networking opportunities.

“I hope to take everything that I learn and hopefully be able to create something that can better our communities and our future,” Balaz said.

—By Marc Arakaki