Black history and culture are being celebrated at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� with a series of events and collaborations throughout February. Hosted by the Black Student Association (BSA) and Sister Circle at UH ����ԴDz�, on-campus activities such as film screenings, athletic recognition nights and a loʻi workday help recognize and support Black History Month.

“February is an opportunity for us to highlight Black culture, history and achievements, but also a chance to have deeper discussions,” said LaJoya Shelly, founding BSA member and current alumni advisor. “We hope these events inspire our UH ����ԴDz� ʻohana to learn more about Black diaspora communities, culture and experiences that shape the society we live in today.”

Among the events is an annual remembrance walk and celebration for Alice Augusta Ball, a 1915 UH ����ԴDz� graduate who was the first woman and African American in UH history to earn a master’s degree in chemistry. A bust recently unveiled at Hamilton Library honors her contributions to science, namely the discovery of her effective treatment of Hansen’s disease.

“Alice Ball is a prime example of the academic excellence that is achieved by Black women at UH ����ԴDz�, and holding the remembrance walk is just one of the many ways we keep her legacy alive,” said Niya Denise McAdoo, a UH ����ԴDz� graduate research assistant in educational administration and co-founder of Sister Circle.

UH ����ԴDz� events

• All February: Black History Month Collection collaboration with the UH ����ԴDz� Bookstore, BSA and Sister Circle ����ԴDz�
  Limited edition Black History Month Bowhana T-shirts and Heritage H logo hats are available for purchase at the UH ����ԴDz� Bookstore, online and in-person. From each purchase, 10% of proceeds will go toward the UH Foundation Promotion of Black Studies fund.
• Every Friday in February: Black Friday Movie Nights
  Open to students and non-students at (NHSS), QLC 113. Includes free popcorn. Featuring films: The Space Race, Princess and the Frog (Keiki Night), Us and Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised).
• February 8 and 15: Black History Month Recognition Nights, Rainbow Wahine and Warrior Basketball
  Support women’s and men’s basketball while recognizing important Black organizations in �鶹��ý, such as the Pōpolo Project, Afro Aloha and more.
• February 12: Black History Month Workday, 9 a.m.,
  A workday hosted by Sister Circle and BSA at Ka Papa Loʻi o Kanewai, a piko to Hawaiian knowledge at UH ����ԴDz�. Open to students and non-students.
• February 25: Black History Month Dinner with ����ԴDz� Dining Services, 5 p.m., Hale Aloha Café
  Celebrate Black History Month and enjoy a Soul Food Experience with ����ԴDz� Dining Services and BSA. Menu includes fried chicken, baked mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and cornbread. Vegan menu includes jambalaya with plant-based sausage, Hoppin John (black-eyed peas with plant-based bacon) and cornbread. Menu subject to change.
• February 26: BSA x Sister Circle x NHSS Game Night, 6 p.m., NHSS, QLC 113
  A fun night of assorted games to learn more about Black History Month and Mahina ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian Language Month). Snacks and pizza provided. Open to students and non-students.
• February 28: Alice A. Ball Remembrance Walk and The Ball Method screening with Graduate Professional Access and NHSS, 9:30 a.m., NHSS, QLC 113
  The 3rd annual Alice A. Ball Remembrance Walk to honor Ball, the university’s first Black graduate, and her contributions to science. Following the walk will be a screening of The Ball Method, a film that recounts Ball’s story as she fought against racial and gender barriers.
• February 28: Alice Augusta Ball Day Celebration, 10 a.m., Chaulmoogra tree at Bachman Hall
  The campus community is invited to celebrate Alice Augusta Ball Day, honoring Ball’s achievements. The program will include UH and community speakers. Individuals are welcome to bring a flower or lei to place at the bronze plaque created in memory of Alice Ball. Read the UH News story from the 2024 event.

For more information, follow and on Instagram, or email them at bsauhmanoa@gmail.com or thesistercirclemanoa@gmail.com.

is back at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�! On Friday, April 26, the iconic duo, , will headline the musical event at Andrews Amphitheatre. The event will offer concessions as well as a raffle for a chance to win 15,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles for three lucky winners.

Tickets can be purchased through . This event is open to the public, and exclusive discounted rates are offered for UH ����ԴDz� students.

Event details

Aloha Bash 2024 will be held on Friday, April 26, at Andrews Amphitheater. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the show to start at 6 p.m.

UH ����ԴDz� students must present a valid UH ����ԴDz� I.D. for entry. Rates for UH ����ԴDz� students are as follows:

• $5 for early bird, through April 16
• $10, April 17—26

General public can also purchase tickets:

• $20 for early bird, through April 16
• $30, April 17—26

Aloha Bash is sponsored by UH ����ԴDz�’s Campus Center Board Activities Council (CCBAC), and co-sponsored by Coke �鶹��ý, Raising Cane’s, The District and Hawaiian Airlines.

For any questions contact CCBAC at (808) 956-4491, or visit for additional information.

About the artist

Surfaces is an American duo group consisting of Forrest Frank and Colin Padalecki, with a sound that’s a blend of surf music, jazz, pop rock and more. They are well-known for their Billboard Top 100 hit, “Sunday Best” and their collaboration with Elton John on song, “Learn to Fly.”

Music, videos and other information on Surfaces can be found , or on their .

A team of undergraduate students from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� is one step closer to a potential deployment of its robotic rover to explore Mars.

“Team Robotic Space Exploration” (Team RoSE) is headed to Utah in late May to compete in the —the world’s premier robotics competition for college students.

“The team was in awe of the results, but is greatly motivated to improve upon our designs to be prepared for competition in Utah,” said lead systems integrator and student Jack Saito. “With less than 60 days left, the team is hoping to guarantee the success of our systems and eliminate any risks with thorough and persistent testing.”

After submitting a preliminary design and system acceptance review, the group was one of 38 teams selected to participate in the final round. More than 100 teams entered the competition.

“The entire team was ecstatic with the results knowing all the hard work and dedication had paid off; including all members from the past three years,” said project manager and mechanical engineering student Micah Chang. “It’s a great privilege for Team RoSE to participate in this magnificent event, and the team is excited for this opportunity to interact with peers and professionals from around the globe.”

Mission to Mars

The University Rover Challenge challenges teams to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers that may one day work alongside astronauts exploring the Red Planet.

Rovers will compete in four missions:

• Science mission to investigate a site for the presence of life
• Delivery mission to deliver a variety of objects to astronauts in the field across rugged terrain
• Equipment servicing mission to perform dexterous operations on a mock lander using a robotic arm
• Autonomous navigation mission to autonomously travel to a series of locations

“I’m so incredibly proud and impressed by the achievements of this highly motivated group of students,” said Frances Zhu, assistant researcher and the team’s advisor. “This undergraduate team formed just three years ago during the pandemic and now they are competing on the international stage.”

“This is the third time our UH ����ԴDz� team has entered this very prestigious competition and the first time they were selected,” said Trevor Sorensen, specialist/project manager and the team’s advisor. “Their teamwork and engineering skills are very impressive and I believed that this team would succeed. Go ‘Bows!”

VIP project

is one of approximately 20 (VIP) at UH ����ԴDz�, which seek to foster long-term, in-depth, project-based learning to engage students and better prepare them for future careers. It consists of a faculty mentor, graduate student researchers and undergraduates.

“Robotic Space Exploration is an ideal example of a VIP team,” said Aaron Ohta, professor and VIP program director. “They are a multidisciplinary group of extremely talented and motivated students. This impressive accomplishment is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”

“This is why we encourage all our students to participate in VIP,” said College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka. “It exposes them to all the skill sets they will need in their careers and life—from the technical know-how to working with others to public speaking and leadership qualities.”

—By Marc Arakaki

The esports scene at the University of �鶹��ý took a major leap forward as students from seven UH campuses engaged in friendly competition at the 2024 Kawaii Kon.

Held at the �鶹��ý Convention Center, March 29–31, students from UH ����ԴDz�, UH West Oʻahu, UH Hilo, Leeward Community College, Kapiʻolani CC, Windward CC and Kauaʻi CC participated in a Super Smash Bros. tournament.

“The overall purpose of the Smash tournament is to not only offer students a highly competitive venue for esports, but to also have them experience the larger (and extremely popular) digital games, anime, and cosplay events locally,” said Nyle Sky Kauweloa, UH ����ԴDz� esports program director. “This is not just a tournament, but an entire cultural experience for the students.”

“This was my second time attending the UH collegiate tournament, and it was just as awesome to see all the campuses come together in spirited and friendly competition,” said UH Hilo student Logan Nobriga. “I really appreciated how supportive players were, not just of their own teams, but of the other teams as well. Hilo came and gave it our all, and I’m really grateful our new players had the chance to experience some competition and got to show their skill to the other campuses.”

With more than 20,000 attendees over the three-day event, the success of the UH esports programs were on full display for the Kawaii Kon fans.

“Kapiʻolani‘s debut at the Kawaii Kon tournament was a significant step for our club, having been established just two months prior,” said Adam Moura, Kapiʻolani CC instructor and esports advisor. “It was a great opportunity for growth and learning, and we came away from it inspired to continue developing our skill for future competitions.”

Keala Chock, Leeward CC vice chancellor for academic affairs, added, “For Leeward Community College’s students to be part of systemwide esports events is not just about competition; it’s about fostering a sense of community, collaboration, and innovation among our students, shaping them into well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of the future.”

Continuing collaboration

While the tournament at Kawaii Kon is the one event each year where UH brings together students from several campuses together to compete, organizers hope to increase the collaboration throughout the year. The esports programs would like to acknowledge Southwest Airlines for flying in students from �鶹��ý Island and Kauaʻi, Bank of Hawaii for 3D-printing trophies, Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union for providing scholarships and the Academy for Creative Media System (ACM System) for funding the program.

“Just as ACM System started at UH ����ԴDz� and now supports programs on all 10 UH campuses, my discussions about funding esports with President Lassner six years ago always had the goal of rolling this out to every UH campus that wants to participate,” said Chris Lee, founder and director of ACM System. “I am very grateful to President Lassner who brought on Sky Kauweloa and his team to grow UH Esports to the global powerhouse it is today and even more proud to see so many of our campuses and students engaging through esports.”

More stories on UH’s esports program.

With waltzes, foxtrots and chachas, the 10-student Ballroom Dance Club at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� captured a national championship, just 18 months after the organization’s inception. In March, they won the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Out of 39 colleges with more than 330 students, the UH ����ԴDz� team won first place for “highest team average” and fourth place overall.

This was the first year the club competed at the national competition. According to the team’s co-instructor Ravi Narayan, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the UH ����ԴDz� , most members of the team had around 6–12 months of experience with the club and many had no prior ballroom dance experience.

“It was amazing, really worth it for my last year of college,” said UH ����ԴDz� student Yuewen Ding.

On the final day, when it was time to announce the results, the UH ����ԴDz� team was optimistic that they would place in the top eight, according to Narayan. When the team wasn’t called for eighth through second place, the team members didn’t think they won.

“And then came the announcement. ‘The top team for this year, 2024, with the highest average placement is the University of �鶹��ý.’ We thought, ‘What?! Was this really happening?!’ We were the champions!” Narayan said. “The team screamed and even several members of the audience jumped up for joy. Over the three days of competition, the UH ����ԴDz� dancers had become the crowd favorite not just with their dancing but with their exemplary behavior, discipline and friendliness—traits of true champions. Our students were the perfect ambassadors for the University of �鶹��ý and the state of �鶹��ý, displaying our Aloha spirit!”

Persevering through tough competition

Narayan said it was a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. The national competitions consist of multiple events based on skill level (bronze, silver, gold, etc.) and age level (collegiate, adult, senior 1, senior 2, etc.). Each student competed in approximately 15 to 20 different events in both the collegiate and adult levels at the bronze skill level in the International Standard (waltz and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango and foxtrot) and American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing and bolero).

Most events had about 20 to 50 couples competing against each other in the first round. Each event had multiple rounds with half the number of couples advancing to the next round, culminating in a final round with only about six to eight couples. In multiple events, all five couples from the �鶹��ý team made it into the final round.

The NCDC trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition since �鶹��ý has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

The dancers are trained and coached by Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (choreographer and instructor). Narayan and Sumukti also represented �鶹��ý in the amateur USA Dance National DanceSport Championships in the senior age division.

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all UH ����ԴDz� students, faculty and staff in studio 2 of the athletics department from 6–7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, visit this website or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to Mahalo the Department of Information and Computer Sciences for giving them a home, the UH ����ԴDz� athletics department for the use of its facilities, and to the Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of �鶹��ý and USA Dance, Inc. for their funding.

UH ����ԴDz� team members:

• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Andrea Siochi, psychology
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Michelle Leano, computer science
• Sydney Kim, computer science
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science
• Yuewen Ding, biology

—By Marc Arakaki

UH ����ԴDz� formation team

The history of organized student representation for Black students goes back about 50 years at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. The first Black Student Union was organized in the 1970s under the leadership of , a poet, researcher, and one of the earlier Black woman professors on campus. Later, Power 96 was established, named after the number of African American students attending UH ����ԴDz� at the time.

Related: UH celebrates Black History Month

Today, the (BSA) and the , like their predecessors, are continuing to foster unity, resilience and empowerment for the voices and experiences of the Black community at UH ����ԴDz�. There are currently 343 students or 1.8% of the student body who .

Black Student Association

Established in 2016, BSA boasts a membership of 50, and takes pride in a successful record of advocacy and achievement.

“BSA‘s dedication to academic and social success is encapsulated in our multifaceted goals,” said founding member and current graduate advisor LaJoya Shelly, who earned a master’s of education in educational administration-higher education in 2017.

These goals include supporting the enrollment, retention and graduation of African diaspora students; increasing awareness of Black-centric issues, history and culture; promoting unity among African diaspora students; protecting the intersectional civil rights of this community; and advocating for the preservation of Black studies.

Among the organization’s impactful highlights include:

• Establishment of the Alice Augusta Ball Black Graduation Ceremony in 2017, which pays homage to the first African American women to graduate from UH ����ԴDz�. This annual event honors the achievements of graduating undergraduate, graduate and professional African diaspora students.
• Reinstatement of the African American specialist position in the Department of Ethnic Studies in 2016.
• Hosting a virtual talk with Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza in 2022.
• Representing Black students at the Honoring Alice Ball Day event.

Sister Circle at ����ԴDz�

Sister Circle at ����ԴDz� has a mission of providing a nurturing space specifically for Black and Indigenous women on campus. Co-founded by graduate student Niya Denise McAdoo and Shelly in 2022, this registered independent organization currently includes 25 members.

The Sister Circle envisions itself as a hub for meaningful connections and a platform for sharing experiences related to racialized and gendered microaggressions. Their virtual monthly hui meetings and bi-weekly Sisters United Who Write meetups serve as crucial community building and academic spaces for Black, Indigenous and other women of color.

Since 2023, the organization has hosted the annual Alice Ball Remembrance Walk, which recognizes the importance of remembering and honoring Black history. Additionally, they have established the Philis Wheatley Free Black Women’s Library in Wist Hall, creating a tangible space to celebrate the literary works of African diaspora women and femmes.

For those who would like to support the promotion of Black studies at UH, they can donate to the .

Ari Eisenstat has presented at the United Nations, judged a NASA aerospace competition and much more, all to make our planet a better place for future generations.

Eisenstat is a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� PhD student and instructor in the College of Social Sciences’ . He also co-founded the (UNA), an organization that is committed to global engagement and advancing the United Nations’ mission and achieving its 17 .

Currently, the chapter has taken a futures studies approach in collaboration with local and national UNA-USA members, focused on the future of outer space policy for sustainable development, which is part of Eisenstat’s dissertation. In June 2023, he presented about the chapter’s work at the United Nations Association’s USA Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.

“We wanted to showcase the amazing speakers that we’ve had in our UNA-USA Outer Space Innovation and Advocacy Series,” Eisenstat said. “We’ve had the UN director of outer space affairs, members of congress and NASA, as well as astronauts like Nicole Stott, and Moonwalker author Charlie Duke.”

He added, “Not only do we have the opportunity to share the work of these leaders and their vision for humanity in space, but we learn from the students who participate in these consultative sessions and express their hopes for the future.”

This past academic year, Eisenstat presented at the United Nations headquarters on emerging technologies that will help achieve its Sustainable Development Goals, judged the Conrad Challenge aerospace competition at NASA’s center in Houston, lectured at the New Worlds Conference at the University of Texas, and spoke at the Galactic Diversity and Inclusion Conference in Philadelphia.

Looking to the future

Futures studies looks at scenarios of possible futures to choose a preferred option.

“My preferred one is this transformational vision of the 2030 sustainable development agenda. I hope that we can achieve the Global Goals and then look toward the next 15-year agenda in becoming a multi-planetary civilization that honors human rights,” Eisenstat said. “My research is focused on democratizing, demilitarizing and decolonizing outer space.”

Eisenstat, who earned his bachelor’s degree in personal finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has guest lectured at universities around the world, including Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and University of California at Berkeley. He chose to earn his PhD at UH ����ԴDz� because it is one of the world’s most renowned institutions for futures research, consulting and education.

“It’s been really inspiring to have such a multidisciplinary approach to futures through my dissertation committee, and it’s been a privilege to take and teach classes across all types of departments within the university,” Eisenstat said.

Multidisciplinary approach

In addition to his academic work, Eisenstat is teaching POLS 342: Political Design and Futuristics, and PACE 420: Introduction to Human Rights: International and Comparative Perspectives at the Matsunaga Institute for Peace, which is housed in the College of Social Sciences’ . He has also lectured with the UH NASA astrobiology classes through the Institute for Astronomy, space exploration in Earth and planetary exploration technology and mechanical engineering, as well as the J-Term program at the William S. Richardson School of Law.

“It’s a testament to the political science department in allowing for this intersectional approach to exploring futures studies,” Eisenstat said. “It’s really given me the opportunity to explore all the different methodologies in creating sustainable futures. I try to take the social sciences and apply them to the space sciences, and also vice versa, take the space sciences and teach my human rights class what the future of human rights looks like in space.”

Eisenstat is a former leader in UH ����ԴDz�’s Graduate Student Organization (GSO), serving as its sustainability chair, political science member and GSO representative to the UH Student Caucus. He is also the futures and digital media director at KTUH, UH ����ԴDz�’s student-run radio station, and hosts “The Future Accords Podcast.”

“It’s been a great way of using social media beyond just FM radio to really engage and share the fantastic work that UH is doing,” Eisenstat said.

The energy and volume were pumped up to the max at the annual music event, Aloha Bash, held April 21, at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. Hosted by the (CCBAC), hundreds gathered at the Andrews Amphitheatre to hear an exclusive live performance by pop singer, MAX.

“The turnout for Aloha Bash was awesome!” said CCBAC chairwoman Sophia Lopez. “We had a national pop artist join us this year, a first in CCBAC history, as well as amazing openers that people were looking forward to, so we were really excited to see so many people come together to enjoy such great music. I’m so glad people came out.”

The show opened with the artist JOBY! and his four-piece band The Currents, as well as the band Ragamuffs, whose lead singer Hailey Fines is a graduate from UH ����ԴDz�’s .

Supporting act Ryan Siegel of Party Pupils, a duo which consists of producer Siegel and MAX, played future funk remixes of popular hits and original music, getting the crowd excited for headliner, MAX. The pop star sang a selection of his viral hits, such as “Blueberry Eyes featuring SUGA of BTS” and “Lights Down Low,” and gave attendees a chance to hear one of his unreleased songs, “Strings.” MAX will release his next full studio album in fall 2023.

Although the opportunity to see MAX live was huge for many UH ����ԴDz� students, student media organizations Ka Leo O �鶹��ý and ����ԴDz� Now got up close and personal with the pop singer in a personal interview and chance to capture close-up footage of his performance.

“I really enjoyed interviewing MAX,” said Lili Hurd, a student in Ka Leo. “He was really down to earth and cared a lot about his craft and his fans. He was passionate about supporting the students at UH ����ԴDz� and just wanted to create a magical performance.”

Lopez extends her thanks to BAMP Project; KTUH; 102.7 Da Bomb; Micah Banks from Power; Sodexo; student media organizations Ka Leo and ����ԴDz� Now; the numerous volunteers; and everyone at Campus Center and Student Life & Development for the successful event.

Additional supporters include the Campus Center Board and CCBAC advisors Joshua Ramos, Ashley Nguyen and Sarah Yap. The event was sponsored by Coca-Cola �鶹��ý and Raising Cane’s.

“I’m so grateful to everyone who helped put this together because it was such a team effort,” said Lopez. “This wouldn’t have been possible without them, and I hope we can have more events like these and invite more artists like MAX in the future.”

The State of �鶹��ý’s second highest ranking official credited her experience in student government at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� with inspiring her for a career in public service.

�鶹��ý Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke served as president and as a senator of the (ASUH). Other ASUH senators at the time include Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters, and the late U.S. Rep. K. Mark Takai, whom Luke beat in her bid for ASUH president. Takai was elected ASUH president after Luke completed her term. The trio later became colleagues again in the �鶹��ý State House of Representatives.

“It’s not like the statewide elections here where you see all of the negatives. It was very cordial,” Luke said of her ASUH election against Takai. “Afterwards, because you could still remain a senator even if you ran for president, he ended up becoming one of my closest allies because he didn’t hold that against me and I didn’t hold that against him. Since then, until his passing, we have been close friends.”

One of the skills Luke mastered while at ASUH was advocating for important issues, which included the building of the Special Events Arena, now known as the Stan Sheriff Center.

“At ASUH, we lobbied for the 10,000-seat arena. At that time the university said they thought they could only fit a 5,000 seat arena, but Mark Takai did his own rendition and talked to people. He was convinced that you could fit a 10,000 seat arena,” Luke said. “So we came to the governor’s office, met with Gov. (John) Waiheʻe and made a presentation. Then after the meeting he said ‘ok.’ Every year he would label his year with something, so that year he labeled it as ‘Year of the Students,’ and part of it was his commitment to helping build a 10,000-seat stadium.”

Luke also recalled lobbying regarding a proposal to move the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to UH Hilo, in an effort to provide opportunities for programs at all campuses. She also worked with ASUH colleagues to create a teacher evaluation form, where students could see the evaluations and input before choosing their future courses. Luke compared it to her work in the state Legislature, but on a smaller scale.

“It was really trying to come together and solve issues that surrounded student support and student activities, and make student life better,” Luke said. “…That kind of skill set and the ability to work with others really helped me in what I did as a legislator and then now what I do as a lieutenant governor.”

ASUH is also where Luke met her future husband, Michael Luke, who was also a senator. Luke eventually graduated from UH ����ԴDz� with her bachelor’s degree in , before earning her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Supporter of Early College

While a junior and senior at Roosevelt High School, Luke recalls conducting independent research at UH on genetics in entomology, with a focus on drosophila flies (common fruit flies). She said it was this early exposure to UH’s world-class research that led her to become a major proponent of Early College, a partnership between �鶹��ý high schools and UH that allows high school students to take college classes and earn both high school and college credits.

“It is because I was able to do my independent studies at the university and helped me shape my interest in science, interest in STEM,” Luke said. “When we look now at how much we’ve gained through Early College and having that opportunity given to kids—looking back at my own experience of just voluntarily going to the university taking on programs—I think it’s such a great program that the university has partnered with the Department of Education to provide those opportunities.”

Well-rounded education at UH

“There is nothing that compares to a University of �鶹��ý education.” — Sylvia Luke

Luke is grateful for her experiences in ASUH, the Department of English and entomology, and her meetings with her college counselors who encouraged her to pursue a career in law.

“There is nothing that compares to a University of �鶹��ý education,” Luke said. “You make so many contacts and you make so many friends, and you just find out so much. Even now when I go back to the university, I still reminisce about going to Campus Center and having lunch there. I was work-study so I remember working at Bachman Hall and I remember working at different areas around the campus. You’re learning about life experience, you’re learning about time management, and at the same time it’s part of a great student experience.”

While she reminisced about her time at UH, Luke is also excited about where the UH System stands today and looks forward to its evolution in the future.

“The university system provides such a great opportunity for kids, and from when I was a student, now it provides a complete model,” Luke said. “You have four-year colleges, not just at UH ����ԴDz�, but at UH West Oʻahu and UH Hilo. Also, concentrated industry degrees and pathways through the community colleges. I think it provides so many more opportunities. And the fact that the university is cognizant in trying to get students to graduate on a timely basis.”

Priorities as LG

Luke was sworn in as the 15th lieutenant governor of the State of �鶹��ý on December 5, 2022. Her priorities include expanding pre-K access to �鶹��ý’s keiki and increasing access to broadband for �鶹��ý residents.

“Pre-K cannot happen without the university’s support because no matter how many buildings we build out, if we don’t have enough preschool teachers to come out of the university system then it’s a failed network. We’ve been working closely with the College of Education and we identified the next steps we need to take,” Luke said. “For broadband, it’s really the idea that broadband is the pathway for not just educational equity, but it provides access to health care, in work opportunities, it opens up to all different kinds of things.”

Luke concluded, “The university is not just an educational institution but it provides economic opportunities and visioning for the state, and the university has a lot of resources that it can offer the state.”

—By Marc Arakaki

A new video from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (SLD) showcases UH ����ԴDz�’s and highlights its history, facilities, services and student development opportunities. The video will support student orientations, trainings, presentations and more. It debuted at the spring 2023 New Student Orientation on January 5.

“The Campus Center Complex video does a really good job at showcasing what the complex has to offer,” said UH ����ԴDz� freshman Kahana Pascal, who is a member of the Campus Center Board and an SLD programming assistant. “I think that it is really cool that it honors some historical aspects behind the complex while promoting student involvement.”

The Campus Center Complex includes Campus Center, Hemenway Hall and the Warrior Recreation Center, and is UH ����ԴDz�’s student union and hub of student life on campus. The union is governed by the Campus Center Board and is managed by SLD. As highlighted in the video, students can access an array of services and opportunities through the complex.

Events and services

The complex is home to many of UH ����ԴDz�’s events. Aloha Bash, Taste of Manoa and the semesterly Cram Jam are some of the most popular events produced by the each school year.

Outside of special events, the Campus Center Complex offers a range of day-to-day services for students, such as the bookstore, Food Vault �鶹��ý, graphics services, meeting and event services, ATMs and more.

Student involvement opportunities

Each year, hundreds of UH ����ԴDz� students serve in leadership positions through the Campus Center Complex. Opportunities are available with UH ����ԴDz�’s five and 200-plus . The complex offers —another great way for students to engage with the campus community while building practical skills and strengthening their resume.

“There are so many opportunities that the Campus Center Complex has to offer students, so I strongly recommend taking advantage of every single thing possible to have an amazing college experience,” said Pascal.

Modernized spaces

The Campus Center opened in 1973 as an extension of Hemenway Hall, which was the original student union. Since then, renovations have modernized areas within the Campus Center space.

• Related UH News story: Campus Center Ballroom gets major upgrade, new look, February 15, 2022

Updates to the Campus Center Ballroom were completed in 2022. The 6,240-square foot space has a brighter look and feel, along with new flooring, paint, lighting, fixtures and AV equipment.

The improvements were part of the $10.1 million phase of the Campus Center Complex Renovation and Expansion Project, which has also included repairs to the Campus Center third floor gallery, repairing and repainting the courtyard stairs, rebuilding the west stairs leading to Hemenway Hall and modernizing freight and passenger elevators. The next phase of the project will focus on revitalizing Hemenway Hall.

—By Alisha Churma