The University of �鶹��ý at Hilo women’s soccer team has been named the winner of the 2025–26 Pacific West Conference Women’s Team Community Engagement Award after completing 637.5 hours of community service during the year.

The Vulcans volunteered across campus, at local schools and throughout the Hilo community. Their service included Mālama ʻĀina Day, where they picked up trash and planted kalo, along with the Merrie Monarch Festival, Boo at the Zoo and Special Olympics. The team also read to elementary students on Dr. Seuss Day and supported Team IMPACT and Unity Prom.

On campus, student-athletes helped with Move-in Day and health fairs. They also gave back to the local soccer community by assisting with tournaments at Waiākea High School, the Nā Hoa Cup and Mini Big Tournament.

“Excellence at UH Hilo extends far beyond the pitch, and this recognition highlights our student-athletes’ dedication to giving back and making a meaningful impact throughout the community,” UH Hilo Athletics Director Patrick Guillen said.

The honor follows UH Hilo’s PacWest Team Engagement Award for 2024–25.

“What was most rewarding was to observe the growth of our student-athletes over the course of the year,” Head Coach Gene Okamura said. “They took initiative, demonstrated accountability and built meaningful relationships across all of these experiences.”

For more information, visit the .

When Vivian Legaloimoe Ho Ching was named first runner-up in the 2026 Miss American Samoa contest, she added another remarkable achievement to a journey already defined by service, leadership and dedication to her community.

A recent graduate of the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s , Ho Ching is the first student to complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) online program while residing in American Samoa. Her accomplishment highlights the importance of creating pathways that allow students to pursue advanced degrees while remaining in their home communities.

My journey has always been about giving back to the community that has shaped me.
—Vivian Ho Ching

“Vivian represents the very best of what is possible when educational opportunity, cultural identity and community service come together,” said Theresa Kreif, director of Pacific Partnerships and Workforce Development Initiatives. “Her success demonstrates that students can pursue advanced education while remaining connected to their families and cultural values.”

“Increasing access to our online social work programs allows students throughout the Pacific to pursue a high-quality education without having to leave the communities they plan to serve,” said Meripa Godinet, associate dean of the Thompson School. “Vivian’s achievement demonstrates how accessible educational pathways can prepare local professionals, strengthen the regional social service workforce, and create lasting benefits for families and communities. Her accomplishment also honors the social work alumni connected to American Samoa who came before her, whose service, leadership, and commitment helped establish a strong foundation for future generations of social workers.”

A commitment to service

For Ho Ching, both her education and her pageant role are grounded in a commitment to service. While completing her MSW field internship at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in American Samoa, she provided support to veterans and their families, developing skills grounded in Pacific values.

“My journey has always been about giving back to the community that has shaped me,” said Ho Ching. “Earning my MSW while remaining in American Samoa allowed me to stay connected to my culture and grow as a professional.”

As first runner-up in the Miss American Samoa contest, Ho Ching serves as a cultural ambassador, advocating for issues important to Pacific communities. Her social work background reinforces this role, emphasizing advocacy, social justice, and community wellbeing.

“I see both social work and the pageant experience as opportunities to uplift others,” she said. “Both are rooted in listening to people and working to create positive change.”

Ho Ching’s success reflects the Thompson School’s broader commitment to strengthening the social service workforce throughout the Pacific. Her achievement serves as a model for future students, proving that advanced education can be pursued without leaving home, while bridging the gap between professional expertise and cultural stewardship.

The University of �鶹��ý at Hilo ranked No. 23 for team GPA across all NCAA Division II women’s golf programs for the 2025–26 school year, with a 3.681 GPA.

The achievement for the 2025–26 school year was announced by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.

The 2025–26 Pacific West Conference Champions were the only PacWest Conference team to land inside this year’s top 25, and also placed No. 23 in last year’s rankings.

2025–26 UH Hilo women’s golf honorees

• Kieran Florino
• Kiara Kimata
• Trinity Ledgerwood
• Kailee McKee
• Elle Otani
• Kiersten Saludares
• Jaylen Wan
• Erica Yokomoto

Read more at .

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its Team Academic Awards for the 2025–26 academic year with the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� men’s volleyball team, the Rainbow Wahine indoor team, and the Rainbow Wahine beach team each gaining recognition.

It marked a sweep for UH, which was one of just four schools whose women’s, men’s and beach teams all earned recognition from the AVCA.

The Rainbow Warriors returned to the honored list after boasting a 3.39 team GPA during the 2025–26 school year. The academic honor caps off a historic season in which the men’s team captured the 2026 NCAA National Championship in May. The Warriors previously earned AVCA academic honors in 2024, when they were the lone Big West representative on the men’s list and earned the Team Academic Honor Roll distinction.

The Rainbow Wahine Beach Volleyball team continued its sustained excellence by earning the distinction for the sixth straight season. The BeachBows posted a 3.60 team average during the 2025–26 school year, continuing their rich tradition of academic and athletic balance under new head coach Danny Alvarez.

The Rainbow Wahine indoor squad rounded out the sweep, posting a 3.45 GPA. The women’s indoor program has made the AVCA academic list six times in the last eight seasons, carrying strong classroom momentum into a new era under first-year head coach Joshua Walker.

Learn more about the honorees at .

The Artemis missions will return human beings to the surface of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. This next generation of lunar exploration demands novel operational strategies and will see the integration of countless new technologies. The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa student-led MAHINA (Multi-phase Artemis Era Human Investigations in Natural Analogs) project successfully completed two notable field campaigns aimed at supporting and advancing future astronaut teams in their missions on the Moon.

“We’re conducting research using environments on Earth that are analogous to those encountered during planetary surface operations to simulate lunar mission activities—all with the goal of maintaining crew performance and preventing cognitive overload,” said Aláine Lee, UH Mānoa undergraduate student majoring in physics with a minor in human spaceflight who developed the MAHINA project.

Sampling tech on a lava field

In fall 2025, in collaboration with �鶹��ý Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Professors Peter Englert and Paul Lucey, MAHINA project students conducted a field campaign on a Hawaiian lava field site to test the use of thermal hyperspectral imagery in assisting astronauts in recovering geological samples. This type of imaging combines remotely sensed heat and light data to identify mineral composition and monitor land surface properties. The team used a lightweight hyperspectral imager that captures that data.

“We successfully demonstrated that processed thermal hyperspectral data could be used to direct the analog astronauts on which samples to recover,” Lee explained.

7,000-mile ocean voyage

In March 2026, Lee completed a 7,000-nautical-mile open-ocean field campaign from the Chilean Antarctic Territory to Mexico aboard an 86-foot research vessel that was supporting marine organism sampling activities. Lee received university approval to conduct research using a wearable functional near-infrared spectroscopy device. Previously deployed to monitor fighter pilots, the device was used to assess the cognitive and physical performance of a research vessel crew in the isolated conditions experienced during the passage.

“By simulating missions and gathering quantitative performance data in an analog environment, our project provides critical insights for understanding human performance,” Lee said.

The MAHINA project was developed in 2025 through the , which is administered by the in the UH Mānoa (SOEST) and offers undergraduate minors.

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The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� men’s basketball team has earned the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award for the third consecutive year, recognizing the program’s success in the classroom.

The Rainbow Warriors posted a combined 3.20 team GPA during the 2025–26 academic year, surpassing the 3.0 GPA required to receive the annual honor.

A school-record seven student-athletes also earned NABC Honors Court recognition: Dre Bullock, Tanner Cuff, Isaac Finlinson, Isaac Johnson, Isaiah Kerr, Gytis Nemeikša and Harry Rouhliadeff. Kerr led the group with a 3.90 GPA, while Nemeikša and Rouhliadeff received the honor for the second straight year.

The program also earned a perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 1,000 for the fourth time under head coach Eran Ganot. UH recorded a multi-year APR of 988, exceeding the NCAA postseason benchmark and improving by 16 points from the previous year.

For more information, visit the .

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� women’s tennis team was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team for the 11th consecutive season. In addition, four Rainbow Wahine earned ITA Scholar-Athlete honors: Allaire Berl, Emma Forgac, Makeilah Nepomuceno and Sophie Rachor.

The men’s tennis team also earned ITA All-Academic honors. Five Rainbow Warriors earned ITA All-Academic awards: Adriano Dzhenev, Timothy Li, Toa Maeda, Kent Mueller and Hikaru Takahashi.

To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete one must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year, and be listed on the institutional eligibility form.

To be named an ITA All-Academic Team, programs must meet the following requirements: have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above, all student-athletes included should be listed on the institutional eligibility form, and all varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year.

Read more about women’s tennis at , and men’s tennis at .

A team of seven students from the University of �鶹��ý Maui College recently proved their mettle in aerospace engineering. Competing under the name “Team Hoʻomau,” the students traveled to Virginia in June to participate in the 2026 International CanSat Competition, organized by the American Astronautical Society.

The event challenged participants to design, build and operate a small-sized satellite capable of surviving a rocket launch to a peak altitude of approximately 735 meters. Out of 81 university teams and 700 students worldwide, UH Maui College was one of only 36 teams invited to the final competition. Team Hoʻomau was also the only squad composed entirely of two-year college students, competing alongside four-year universities and graduate-level programs.

A high-stakes free fall

The 2026 mission was complex: the CanSat was designed to separate mid-air, navigate via a paraglider guidance system, and safely deliver an intact, egg-shaped instrument to the ground, all while recording video and transmitting live data.

Team Hoʻomau faced major hurdles during the launch process. Communication with the ground station was lost on the launch pad, and a parachute deployment failure sent the satellite container into a 2,400-foot free fall. The drop resulted in the total destruction of the payload, and added a moment of intense stress as the falling satellite narrowly missed a parking area during its descent.

Educational payoff

Despite the dramatic finish, the educational payoff of the mission was a success.

“Although the final launch results were not favorable, this project provided invaluable, real-world learning opportunities in mechatronics, mission operations and aerospace system design,” said Jung Park, professor of electronic and computer engineering technology. “Our team faced immense technical constraints, yet their advancement to the finals proves unequivocally that community college students can compete successfully on an international engineering stage.”

Led by team captain Forrest Stolmeier, who sacrificed sleep to support his peers until the very end, the students walked away with valuable systems engineering experience and a newly expanded global professional network.

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s Chelsea Miller has received national recognition for expanding access to hands-on genomics education.

Miller, a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering in the (CTAHR), earned the Outstanding Poster Award at the (NISBRE), held June 17 in North Bethesda, Maryland.

Breaking barriers in science education

Her award-winning poster, “Genome on the Go: Decentralizing Molecular Biology Education through Portable Genomics Tools and Near-Peer Mentorship,” highlights a training model designed to reduce barriers to advanced laboratory instruction for students in �鶹��ý and other geographically isolated regions.

Developed through the (�鶹��ý INBRE) program with support from U.S. Department of Agriculture workforce development initiatives, the project brings portable DNA sequencing tools and graduate student mentors directly to learners, enabling a full “sample-to-sequence” workflow in classroom and field settings.

Over the past year, Miller and her team conducted 11 workshops across �鶹��ý, the Pacific and the continental U.S., training 72 participants using Bento Lab and Oxford Nanopore technologies.

Strengthening biomedical workforce development

The approach helps prepare the next generation of biomedical workforce while giving students access to modern molecular biology techniques typically limited to well-equipped research laboratories.

“This award reflects the incredible efforts of our graduate student instructors and the vision of making genomics accessible to every student, regardless of location,” said Jon-Paul Bingham, �鶹��ý INBRE PATHways director and co-author of the project.

Miller was one of three �鶹��ý INBRE-affiliated researchers recognized at the biennial NISBRE meeting, which highlights national research and training supported through the IDeA program. Also honored were Li Tao, professor at the , who received the Outstanding Mentorship and Teaching Award, and Natalie Graham, assistant professor at UH Hilo, who earned the Scientific Merit Award.

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University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� student-athletes Lilian Turban and Ofeck Hazan have been named the Big West Conference’s Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year for UH ����ԴDz�, recognizing their excellence in academics and athletics.

The annual award honors one male and one female student-athlete from each Big West institution.

Turban concludes one of the most accomplished careers in Rainbow Wahine track and field history. A two-time All-American, she captured eight conference titles and was twice named the Big West Championship Field Athlete of the Meet. She also earned four College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections, became just the second Academic All-American in program history and received the 2026 Jack Bonham Award and the Big West Service and Leadership Award.

Hazan, a finance major from Israel, carries a perfect 4.0 GPA and became just the second Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball player to earn the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award. He helped lead UH to a 28-5 season and the program’s 2026 NCAA men’s volleyball national championship.

For more information, visit the .

The newly crowned Miss �鶹��ý 2026, Carly Yoshida, is a University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu alumna, who earned a bachelor of arts in social sciences with a concentration in psychology in 2023. Yoshida succeeds Miss �鶹��ý 2025 Emalia Dalire, a 2024 UH West Oʻahu graduate.

“The moment I was named Miss �鶹��ý 2026 felt surreal—I honestly just remember being so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude when they called my name,” said Yoshida, 26, of Honolulu. “I’ve been working at this dream for so long, so there are so many different layers of purpose and emotion in this win.”

It was a full-circle moment for Yoshida, who works at KITV4 as the weekday weather anchor for both Good Morning �鶹��ý and Island News Midday. She is celebrating 10 years since being crowned Miss �鶹��ý’s Teen in 2016.

The Miss �鶹��ý competition took place on June 19 at �鶹��ý Theatre. Yoshida competed as Miss Kakaʻako and topped nine other delegates for the title. She was crowned by Dalire.

• Related story: �鶹��ýWest Oʻahu alumna crowned Miss �鶹��ý, June 24, 2025

UH West Oʻahu a ‘formative time’

“It’s really special that Emalia is also a UH West Oʻahu grad!” Yoshida said. “It shows how much the school prepares its students for success, and I’m excited to follow in her footsteps. I’ve watched her grow up, so it’s a very interesting dynamic of her being my big/little sister. We also share the same birthday!”

Yoshida is from Waikoloa Village on �鶹��ý Island and graduated from Kealakehe High School. She earned her associate’s degree in liberal arts from �鶹��ý Community College–Pālamanui, then transferred to UH West Oʻahu.

“UH West Oʻahu was such a formative time for me,” Yoshida said. “It really helped me build the foundation for my career and understand the community better before I started working full time.”

Weather safety platform

During the Miss �鶹��ý competition, Yoshida’s platform, or community service initiative, was “Weather the Future,” which encourages safety and emergency readiness for �鶹��ý. Yoshida said she is looking forward to expanding this initiative during her upcoming reign.

“I believe that this is not just a statewide issue, but a national and global ambition, and I‘ve already planted the seeds by networking with scientists, STEM experts and globally known science content creators who are excited about this initiative,” she said. “So, I feel that �鶹��ý has a really strong suit to bring to the table at Miss America this year.”

She will represent �鶹��ý at the in September in West Palm Beach, Florida.

For more go to .

— By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (CSEAS) celebrated a milestone this spring by recognizing the first recipients of its Southeast Asian Studies Medallion, an honor awarded to graduate students whose thesis or dissertation research advances understanding of Southeast Asia.

Presented for the first time during the 2026 UH ����ԴDz� Commencement Ceremony, the medallion recognizes outstanding scholarship and encourages continued research on one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse regions. This year, 14 graduating master’s and doctoral students representing 11 disciplines across UH ����ԴDz� earned the distinction for their contributions to Southeast Asian studies.

“These students have dedicated years of study and research to deepening knowledge of Southeast Asia,” said Miriam Stark, CSEAS director. “The medallion is our way of honoring their achievements and recognizing the important contributions they have made to the field and to UH ����ԴDz�.”

Medallion awardees

Charles Ham, Small Island Planning for Equity and Resilience: Lessons from Creating the North Maluku Province and Sofifi Capital City in Indonesia, Urban and regional planning, PhD

Ahkmed Ahksan Harris, Sawah Gilirang Tenure In South Sulawesi, fIndonesia: Livelihood, Kinship, and Belonging, Anthropology, MA

Reza Maulana Hikam, The Jihad Archipelago: Towards a More Inclusive Reimagining of Religious Pluralism and Islamic “Terrorism” in Island Southeast Asia, History, MA

Kaelyn Howard, The Prevalence of the Kundiman: Expressions of Filipino Identity in Western Classical Music, Ethnomusicology, MA

Saung Yanant Pyae Kyaw, Digital Scam Syndicates in Southeast Asia, Especially in Myanmar, Asian international affairs, MA

Pindarica Malyrojsiri, From Liberation to Governance: Inclusive Political Participation in Post-Independence Contexts: The Cases of Timor-Leste and South Sudan, Political science, MA

Olivia Meyer, Plastic Panacea: Circular Economies and the Political Ecology of Plastic Waste in Thailand, Geography, PhD

Ben Moseley, Conversion and Power at the “Ends of the Earth”: Islam, Christianity, and Localization in Southeast Asia’s Eastern Archipelago, 1450–1650, History, PhD

Xiaoyun Neo, Revaluing Elephant Labor at Elephant Tourism Venues in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Geography, PhD

Tien Nguyen, Living Elsewhere: Expatriate lives and performances in Honolulu and Ho Chi Minh City, Theatre and dance, MA

Retno Kusuma Ningrum, Nesting Ecology of Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) on Buru Island, Maluku, Indonesia, Marine biology, MS

Angel Sanchez, Documentary film on the Philippines. Communications, BA

Edgardo Diaz Vega, The Growth of Thailand’s Boys Love Industry in Southeast Asia and the Role of the Thai Government, Asian international affairs, MA

Haruka Waseda, Evolving Views towards Japan through the Lens of Philippine Nikkeijin from Baguio City, Asian international affairs, MA

—By Duong Troung

A University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� social work graduate student is being celebrated for her tireless advocacy and dedication to empowering youth. Tori Ikeda, a master of social work (MSW) candidate at the , has been honored with the Outstanding Youth Mental Health Advocate of the Year award by .

This award recognizes an individual age 24 and younger who demonstrates exceptional leadership in increasing awareness of mental health, improving mental health treatment and services, and reducing stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness.

“Receiving this award represents the many young people and community partners I’ve worked and advocated alongside to create meaningful and lasting changes within the systems that impact our lives,” said Ikeda.

Advocating for youth mental health

Ikeda’s work centers on transitional-age youth, particularly individuals between the ages of 14 and 26, and explores how communities and practitioners can better support youth as they move into adulthood. Through her advocacy, Ikeda aims to create stronger systems of support that help young people navigate mental health challenges, housing instability, and other barriers during critical stages of development.

Entering her second year in the MSW program, Ikeda is specializing in health practice, works full-time as a youth peer support specialist and has firsthand experience supporting youth and young adults navigating mental health challenges and systems of care.

Ikeda advocates for youth wellbeing through several organizations, including the National Youth Advisory Council and the �鶹��ý Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council Youth Committee, where she helps shape policies prioritizing prevention, diversion, and healing. Additionally, as a fellow with the Collegiate Recovery Leadership Academy through Safe Project, she advances addiction, mental health, and recovery advocacy by implementing an impact project on her campus.

“I have had the opportunity to advise Tori during her time at the Thompson School and have been honored to work with her as a student,” said Francie Julien-Chinn, Department of Social Work MSW chair. “Her recognition highlights the impact young leaders can have in creating positive changes in their communities.”

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� junior pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno has been named a Perfect Game Third-Team All-American, becoming the first Rainbow Warrior to earn All-America honors since 2020 and the first following a full season since 2011.

Magdaleno is just the second UH player to receive Perfect Game All-America recognition and the 18th Rainbow Warrior all-time to earn All-America honors from a major college baseball organization.

The Los Angeles native finished his junior season among the nation’s leaders in several categories, ranking fifth in WHIP (0.92), sixth in hits allowed per nine innings (5.38) and 13th in ERA (2.36). He recorded a 7-5 record with 116 strikeouts over 95.1 innings in 15 starts.

Magdaleno was dominant down the stretch, posting a 0.83 ERA over the final month of the season and throwing two complete-game, one-hit shutouts. He also earned First-Team All-Big West and ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) Second-Team All-West Region honors after recording a 1.47 ERA in conference play.

His performance helped lead a UH pitching staff that finished the regular season ranked third nationally and first in the Big West with a 3.44 team ERA.

Two University of �鶹��ý at Hilo baseball student-athletes have been named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their combined success in academics and athletics.

Junior communication majors Noah Darnell of Phoenix, Arizona, and Hunter Gatti of Riverton, Utah, earned the honor for the 2026 season.

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher while making significant contributions to their team’s success during the season.

Academic All-District honorees advance to the national CSC Academic All-America ballot, where student-athletes are considered for additional recognition based on their academic and athletic achievements.

For more information, visit the .

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� junior pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno has been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Second-Team All-West Region team following a standout 2026 season.

Magdaleno is the first Rainbow Warrior pitcher to earn all-region honors since 2018 and the first UH player recognized since 2024.

The right-hander finished the season with a 2.36 ERA, 116 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP across 95.1 innings, ranking among the nation’s leaders in multiple pitching categories. He was especially dominant late in the season, posting a 0.83 ERA in May and throwing two complete-game, one-hit shutouts.

A First-Team All-Big West selection, Magdaleno recorded a 1.47 ERA in conference play and became the first player since 2018 to earn three consecutive Big West Pitcher of the Week honors.

After moving from closer to Friday-night starter, Magdaleno helped lead UH ����ԴDz� pitching staff that finished the regular season ranked third nationally with a 3.44 team ERA.

Thousands of travelers pass through Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport every day, but few may realize the vibrant mural in Lobby Four welcoming them was created by a recent University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduate balancing double majors, cheerleading and a dream project years in the making.

Just weeks after graduating with degrees in and , (CALL) graduate Rachel Radona is already leaving her mark on �鶹��ý through a large-scale mural installation celebrating aloha, community and island life.

“It was definitely an ‘oh my gosh’ moment,” Radona said. “This is crazy.”

The opportunity came after Radona completed one of her early mural projects at the UH Federal Credit Union branch in Kapolei. Soon after, she received a call about a possible airport mural project from people who had been following her work.

Although several artists were considered through a selective process, Radona’s vision stood out. Her mural centers around plumeria flowers, symbolizing �鶹��ý’s welcoming spirit and lei-giving tradition.

“The whole lobby theme was about flowers and aloha,” she said. “People associate plumeria with giving and receiving lei, and that’s what the airport is all about.”

Aloha through art

Known for her graffiti-style art, Radona adapted her style to fit the project’s vibrant Hawaiian aesthetic while still bringing her own creative vision to life.

“I really wanted to embrace the feeling of getting a fresh lei,” she said. “The flowers are just so bright, and you can vividly smell everything and feel all of the aloha and mālama (care) that was put into making it.”

While completing the mural, Radona balanced the project alongside two majors and UH ����ԴDz� cheerleading. Still, she said the experience never felt like work.

“It honestly wasn’t that challenging when you love what you’re doing,” she said.

Now, as thousands of travelers pass through the airport, Radona hopes the mural reminds people that �鶹��ý’s true beauty comes from its people.

— by Willow Hutchison

Taren Bouwman and Landon Wong, researchers in the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (CTAHR), have been named 2026 ARCS Scholars by the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation’s Honolulu chapter. This award honors outstanding U.S. citizens pursuing higher education in STEM fields.

Green energy, climate solutions

Bouwman is exploring ways to create a microscopic net that traps algae in the sea and harvests them for energy. His work earned him the H. Keith and Sue Ernst ARCS Award.

In CTAHR’s Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, Bouwman looks into the relationships between marine algae and earth-bound fungi to overcome a roadblock in the green energy sector: the steep cost of harvesting biofuels, a promising energy source.

“More than half of the cost of biofuel from algae comes from trying to filter the algae out of the water,” Bouwman said. “Fungi can act as a cheap bio-filter to capture the algae so we can extract them together as an energy-rich fuel source.”

Protecting �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s coffee industry

In CTAHR’s Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, Wong was awarded the Helen Jones Farrar ARCS award in Tropical Plant Pathology and the Dr. Jacqueline Maly ARCS Scholar of the Year award for his research on the taxonomy of coffee root-knot nematodes. This tiny, destructive pest is devastating coffee production across �鶹��ý Island, Central and South America.

Wong’s project clarified the true identity of the Kona coffee root-knot nematode (tiny pest) (Meloidogyne konaensis) by incorporating genetic, physical and protein-based testing. Wong’s work determined Meloidogyne konaensis is widely distributed across the coffee-growing regions of Central and South America.

“Traditional diagnostic procedures could take over two months,” Wong said. “This research has facilitated a faster identification method to protect local coffee growers from this pest and allow regulators to accurately screen and identify the nematode pest at ports of entry and in field samples in under a day using a simple genetic test.”

He also discovered a new species of root-knot nematode in Brazil, Meloidogyne pseudokonaensis, named for its similarity and previously mistaken identity as Meloidogyne konaensis.

Spring 2026 graduates of the (GES) undergraduate program at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa took with them a bachelor’s degree and real-world, hands-on experiences with research that benefits communities and ecosystems in �鶹��ý and far beyond.

Through the GES program in the at the UH Mānoa (SOEST), students including Makana Andrade and Micah Soriano, engaged in original research, wrote a senior thesis and presented their findings at a research symposium.

“I congratulate all our spring graduates on successfully completing their required faculty-mentored thesis experience,” said Michael Guidry, chair of the GES Program. “As with all our GES graduates and their thesis work, Makana’s and Micah’s findings demonstrate how the research efforts of UH Mānoa undergraduates provide new insights and solutions to important issues and train the next generation of problem solvers.”

Makana Andrade

Andrade was born and raised on Oʻahu, �鶹��ý. During his second year of transfer to UH Mānoa, he started working on his thesis with his mentor, Travis Idol, associate professor in the in the UH Mānoa . His thesis focused on the response of Acacia koaia, a tree endemic to �鶹��ý, to nursery practices done on similar species, specifically Acacia koa. Andrade’s study examined koaiʻa’s growth patterns from seed to seedling to determine its preferred soil type, nutrient uptake, and watering requirements, in an effort to ensure they are readily available for population revitalization.

After graduation, Andrade hopes to continue pursuing his passion for the conservation of Hawaiian endemic species and working in the wilderness.

Micah Soriano

As a GES student with a passion for chemistry, Soriano reached out to SOEST oceanography professor Nick Hawco and joined the Hawco Lab the summer after his sophomore year. Since then, Soriano has helped with various projects, gaining valuable experience. For his senior research thesis, Soriano explored how vitamin B12 availability in the Southern Ocean limits how effectively diatoms, a type of phytoplankton, can process and use essential metals for growth.

After graduation, he plans to work for a year or two before continuing his academic studies.

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Growing up on Rapa Nui, Noah Paoa spent his summers camping by the shore, bodyboarding, and exploring the island’s landscape with his family. A pivotal moment occurred in 2010 when, at 15 years old, a massive earthquake in Chile triggered a tsunami warning for the island. Paoa watched the shoreline recede so far it seemed as if the ocean had never been there. This experience highlighted how closely life on an island is tied to the forces of the sea, eventually guiding him toward a historic academic milestone.

Graduating with the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa in May, Paoa earned a landmark achievement as the first Rapa Nui person to go through the Rapa Nui school system and earn a doctoral degree. While he is careful to honor those who paved the way, Paoa’s degree in from the UH Mānoa (SOEST) is significant personally and for his community.

“Earning this degree is an honor for me, but it is also the reflection of all the work that Rapa Nui people have done so that Rapa Nui students would have the tools to pursue advanced studies,” Paoa said. “I see myself as a testament and example for future Rapa Nui students and perhaps for students of other small island communities.”

Assessing sea level rise threats

Chip Fletcher, professor and dean of SOEST, served as Paoa’s advisor for both his master’s and doctoral degrees. Fletcher said Paoa brought an extraordinary combination of determination, discipline and insight to his graduate work.

“Noah has an incredible work ethic and a rare intuition for coastal science,” Fletcher said. “He has the ability to see both the physical processes shaping island shorelines and the deeper cultural meaning of what is at stake. His research reflects years of hard work, careful thinking, and a deep commitment to serving Rapa Nui and other island communities.”

His doctoral research addresses the , such as ceremonial sites, ancestral landscapes and sacred places.

“Most climate research focuses on impacts to infrastructure and ecosystems, but I wanted to show that coastal cultural heritage is just as vulnerable, and that losing these sites would be more than an archaeological loss, it could result in disruption to cultural identity and continuity,” Paoa said.

Cultural pride and responsibility

Growing up with a Rapa Nui father and a German mother who dedicated part of her life to preserving the Rapa Nui language, Paoa grew up surrounded by both cultural pride and a recognition of the responsibility that comes with preserving language, knowledge and identity. He felt a frustration with the island’s extractive academic past, where outside researchers often benefited their own careers without providing tangible benefits to the local people.

“My research provides new modeling tools and regional datasets to support heritage preservation and climate adaptation planning, but I’ve tried to be clear that what I have produced is to inform management and planning, and that decisions must ultimately be guided by descendant communities and grounded in their own cultural protocols,” Paoa shared.

By pursuing earth sciences, beginning as an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon, Paoa found a way to link geological processes to issues that affect his home island.

“I hope this work inspires future generations of Rapa Nui to pursue scientific paths of their own, helping ensure that research on our island increasingly reflects our own voices, perspectives, and priorities,” said Paoa. “This degree isn’t only mine, it belongs to everyone who made the path possible, and my responsibility now is to carry what I’ve learned back home and put it to use for Rapa Nui.”

–By Marcie Grabowski