In �鶹��ý County, a new Extension Master Food Volunteers program is filling a void in community food education by training volunteers to deliver practical, research-based food education to keiki, adults, families and kūpuna. A team of Extension agents at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa finished training 15 community members in May.

“The reason we did it was that we could not meet the demand for cooking and nutrition education in the community, especially after federal funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) ended,” said Marielle Hampton, a UH Extension agent who leads the initiative along with Extension Agents Heather Greenwood and Hallie Cristobal. “There was so much interest in it and so much need for it, both for adults and for kids as a life skill.”

The program uses curriculum adapted from North Carolina State University and connects �鶹��ý with a growing national network of Master Food Volunteer programs. This pilot project was supported by an impact grant from the County of �鶹��ý Department of Research and Development.

Meeting communities where they are

The program provides culturally relevant, realistic guidance rather than rigid diets. Instead of asking families to eliminate traditional foods or adopt unfamiliar diets, volunteers teach manageable, nutritious changes.

“White rice is a great example,” she said. “We’re not going to come in and tell people they need to stop eating white rice. What we might suggest instead is, ‘Oh, could you add edamame to your white rice to add a little bit more fiber and protein?’”

Hampton added that in an era dominated by internet nutrition trends and misinformation, providing science- and evidence-based education helps community members wisely evaluate their food choices.

Reaching keiki, families, kūpuna

Greenwood brings expertise in working with kūpuna while Hampton and Cristobal focus on families and youth, with an emphasis on teens who can build lifelong cooking skills. Building on the early success of the �鶹��ý Island pilot, the team has submitted a federal grant application to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture with plans to expand the program to Maui and Kauaʻi.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa running back and return specialist Cam Barfield has been selected to the

Barfield, a senior from Las Vegas, enters his third season as a Rainbow Warrior. Last year he earned all-Mountain West second team honors as a kick returner. He was also a crucial piece in the �鶹��ýoffense, starting three games at running back.

Now in its 17th season, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in college football by the Louisville Sports Commission in memory of the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. Barfield is just one of two players from the Mountain West Conference selected to the watch list.

The winner of the Paul Hornung Award will be honored at the annual dinner in Louisville, Kentucky in March 2027.

Read more at

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (CTAHR) signed a memorandum of understanding with Nani Mau Gardens to expand agricultural education, research and community outreach on �鶹��ý Island. The 22-acre botanical site in Hilo will serve as an outdoor classroom and research facility for CTAHR students, faculty and the �鶹��ý Island community.

“This agreement connects our academic, research, and extension programs with a magnificent botanical resource on �鶹��ý Island,” said CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal. “Our students will be trained in real-world settings, while our faculty work alongside community partners to address urgent agricultural challenges facing tropical island ecosystems.”

“Nani Mau has been part of Hilo’s story for more than 50 years,” said Cindy Cui, CEO of Nani Mau Gardens. “Working with CTAHR lets us preserve this landmark while giving it a new purpose: teaching the next generation how to care for our water, our plants and our island.”

More than 2,000 species of tropical plants

Founded in 1970, Nani Mau Gardens houses more than 2,000 species of tropical plants, including flowering trees, palms, fruit crops and native Hawaiian flora. Under the agreement, CTAHR faculty and Cooperative Extension agents will use the botanical grounds for workshops and field research on pest management, soil health, biosecurity and plant propagation techniques suited to island microclimates.

In addition to student learning, the collaboration will support workforce development across the local agricultural sector. CTAHR and Nani Mau Gardens plan to host joint public events, workshops for local farmers and educational tours for school groups throughout the year.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researchers are working to determine whether �鶹��ý-grown eucalyptus could become a reliable source of lumber for construction, helping reduce the state’s reliance on imported building materials while supporting healthier forests.

The project, led by Jun Wang, an assistant professor in the , received a $300,000 USDA Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant to establish the engineering standards needed for eucalyptus to be used in structural applications.

Establishing construction possibilities

Although �鶹��ý has more than 34,000 acres of managed eucalyptus plantations, the wood is rarely used in construction because engineers and builders lack the design data needed to certify it for structural use. If successful, the research could create new opportunities for �鶹��ý’s forestry and wood products industries while reducing shipping costs, supply chain risks and carbon emissions associated with importing lumber. Researchers also say putting more eucalyptus to use could encourage better forest management by reducing excess wood that can contribute to wildfire fuel.

The research team will work with state agencies, forest landowners and industry partners to harvest trees, produce lumber and test its strength and durability. The findings will help establish engineering design values needed for commercial construction and could lay the groundwork for future engineered wood products made in �鶹��ý.

“Our goal is to determine whether a resource that’s already growing in �鶹��ý can safely be used to build the homes, schools and infrastructure our communities need,” Wang said. “If we can provide the engineering data the construction industry needs, we can help create a more resilient local building supply while giving our students the opportunity to solve real challenges facing �鶹��ý.”

Student involvement

The research also will benefit students. Wang’s team received an $8,000 American Society for Engineering Education grant to incorporate �鶹��ý-grown eucalyptus into civil engineering courses. The new curriculum will give students hands-on experience evaluating sustainable building materials by comparing locally grown eucalyptus with conventional construction materials.

Students will examine factors such as structural performance, carbon emissions and local sourcing while participating in research that addresses �鶹��ý’s unique environmental and construction challenges. Many members of the research team are UH students from �鶹��ý who are helping develop solutions that could benefit the state’s future infrastructure and economy.

Jennifer D. Small Griswold, professor in the at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, was honored with the by the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The department is in the (SOEST). The award is given annually to an individual in recognition of sustained outstanding teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate and/or graduate or post-doctoral levels and the impact this individual has had on students.

The AMS announcement noted that with this award “for visionary, inclusive, innovative teaching that bridges atmospheric science with culture, place, and community, and for sustained mentorship that empowers students across disciplines and backgrounds.”

Griswold teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on weather, climate, Pacific climates, programming for meteorologists and satellite remote sensing, as well as seminar courses. She also mentors students through engaging research projects as they pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Teaching through place

“I believe students learn best when they can connect what they’re learning to the world around them,” Griswold said. “Living in �鶹��ý provides an incredible opportunity to teach through place, so I also incorporate local and Pacific perspectives into my courses, helping students understand how weather and climate influence communities, cultures, and the environment.”

Griswold works to ensure her students feel seen and supported, whether in an introductory undergraduate course or a graduate seminar in meteorology.

“I enjoy teaching students with a wide range of backgrounds—from those taking their very first science course to graduate students preparing for research careers,” Griswold said. “I want all students to feel that they belong in science, so I’m constantly looking for new ways to engage different learning styles and help students build confidence alongside technical skills. My goal is to help every student develop the skills and confidence to understand the atmosphere and apply that knowledge to real-world challenges.”

.

The , in partnership with the , is launching the ’Bows Athletics Club, a new fundraising and membership program designed to strengthen support for UH student-athletes while giving fans more flexibility in how they invest in the future of �鶹��ý Athletics.

Beginning July 1, 2027, the ’Bows Athletics Club will replace the H-Club Athletic Fund and serve as the primary annual giving program for UH Athletics. While the new program officially launches in 2027–28, contributions and pledges made between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 will count toward ’Bows Athletics Club membership status and benefits, allowing supporters to begin earning membership status and benefits now.

Supporters can begin participating and earning membership status today

The new model allows supporters to direct their gifts to the teams, programs and student-athlete initiatives they care about most while earning benefits and recognition through a single, streamlined system.

The launch comes at a pivotal time for college athletics. As programs across the country navigate rapid changes in recruiting, student-athlete support and competition, private philanthropy is playing an increasingly important role in helping universities provide opportunities and resources for student-athletes to succeed.

At UH, support through the ’Bows Athletics Club will help fund resources that directly impact nearly 500 Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine student-athletes, including academic support services, nutrition programs, equipment, travel, training resources and other initiatives that contribute to success in competition, the classroom and the community.

For generations, Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine teams have united �鶹��ý. The ’Bows Athletics Club creates a new opportunity for fans, alumni and supporters statewide to invest in the success of UH student-athletes and help ensure a strong future for �鶹��ý Athletics.

“The ’Bows Athletics Club is about making it easier for people to support UH Athletics in the ways that matter most to them,” UH Mānoa Athletics Director Matt Elliott said. “Whether you’ve been a supporter for years or you’re making your very first gift, every contribution helps create opportunities for our student-athletes. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported UH Athletics over the years, and we hope even more people will join us as we continue building Our Team, �鶹��ý‘s Team.”

The program aligns UH Athletics with best practice fundraising models used by Division I athletics programs across the country while providing greater flexibility and transparency for donors.

’Bows Athletics Club membership benefits

Membership levels begin at $100 and are based on total annual giving. Supporters who contribute at least $100 to an individual sport also become members of that team’s booster club.

Depending on their giving level, members may receive benefits such as priority access to postseason tickets, invitations to exclusive events (including unique merchandise opportunities), hospitality experiences, eligibility to purchase reserved parking and other gameday opportunities. UH Athletics will be introducing additional member benefits over time, including exclusive merchandise opportunities available only to club members.

Annual Giving Membership levels include:

Booster $100

All-Conference: $500

All-American: $2,000

Champion: $5,000+

Donors who contribute $10,000 or more annually will receive additional recognition and status, with details to be announced in the days to come.

Loyalty points system rewards long-term support

A new loyalty points system that will complement the ’Bows Athletics Club recognizes both longtime supporters and new members. Points are earned through charitable giving, season ticket purchases and years of loyalty to UH Athletics.

The system will help determine priority access to postseason tickets, future ticket and seat relocation opportunities, and future seat selection opportunities at the new Aloha Stadium. While ’Bows Athletics Club annual membership levels are based on giving during the previous academic year, loyalty points recognize long-term support by incorporating eligible contributions and season ticket history dating back to 2001.

Early participation benefits

2026–27 H-Club members will automatically receive All-Conference status during the ’Bows Athletics Club inaugural 2027–28 academic year, ensuring a smooth transition as supporters become familiar with the new program.

Fans, alumni and supporters are encouraged to become part of the ’Bows Athletics Club and help support the next generation of Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine student-athletes.

Additional information about membership levels, benefits and giving opportunities is available through .

For more, .

This announcement comes as UH Athletics is celebrating a historic 2025–26 season heading into the 2026–27 season. Milestones from last year include:

• Men’s volleyball captured its third national championship in six years, cementing the Rainbow Warriors’ place among the nation’s elite programs.
• Men’s basketball won its first Big West Championship in a decade and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years.
• Football capped a 9-4 season with a �鶹��ý Bowl championship, giving the Rainbow Warriors their third consecutive bowl victory.
• UH teams combined for five Big West championships, including titles in men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s basketball and women’s water polo.
• Kansei Matsuzawa became the first consensus All-American in the 109-year history of UH football, adding another milestone to a season filled with historic accomplishments.
• UH Athletics enters a new era with continuity and new leadership, with contract extensions for football coach Timmy Chang, baseball coach Rich Hill and men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot, as well as the addition of Laura Beeman to the senior leadership team as associate athletics director for student-athlete success.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa leaders gathered for the annual , a three-day professional development event designed to support department chairs, deans, directors and other academic leaders while fostering collaboration across the flagship campus. The conference was organized by the .

The conference featured strategic sessions focused on leadership development, student success, institutional effectiveness and emerging challenges in higher education. The opening “Meet the Cabinet” panel featured UH President Wendy Hensel, UH Mānoa Chancellor Vassilis L. Syrmos, incoming Interim Provost Denise Konan and members of the university’s leadership team, including Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun, Chief Business Officer Sandy French, Interim Director of the System �鶹��ý Papa O Ke Ao and UH Mānoa Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office Noelani Goodyear-Kaopua, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Excellence Laura Lyons, Interim Vice Provost for Student Success Kapā Oliveira and Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship Robert Wright. The panel discussed the university’s future direction, priorities and opportunities.

‘New level of operational effectiveness’

Hensel reflected on her 18 months serving in the dual role of UH president and UH Mānoa chancellor, describing the transition to dedicated campus leadership as an opportunity for UH Mānoa to define its future while remaining closely connected to the 10-campus UH System.

“I think it’s the moment for Mānoa to chart its vision, which is a really exciting thing,” Hensel said. “This campus is extraordinary, and I learned a lot about the work that we do here and the excellence to come. The future for Mānoa as part of the 10-campus system is increased impact. We can work together effectively to create an entirely new level of operational effectiveness, impact and efficiency for our students.”

Syrmos, , shared his vision for the UH Mānoa campus as �鶹��ý‘s flagship university and announced plans to begin a refreshed strategic planning process this fall with broad campus participation.

“Mānoa should and will be a premier global flagship institution for our students, faculty and the state of �鶹��ý,” Syrmos said. “It is a great opportunity to create our own identity while working collaboratively with the other nine sister campuses to advance the future of our students and our state.”

Syrmos also highlighted the experience of the leadership team supporting the campus during a period of transition and expressed enthusiasm about working with Konan who officially starts as interim provost on August 7.

“I am very excited that we are returning back to having not just a chancellor, but also a provost,” Konan said. “That is a huge investment in Mānoa and one that we should embrace. I am the direct interface with the deans, with the chairs and with the academic campus. This is something I know very well because I’ve been a chair, and I’ve been a dean.”

Leadership team addresses key campus issues

During the question-and-answer session, attendees engaged the leadership team on a wide range of issues affecting the future of UH ����ԴDz�. Topics included:

• Leadership priorities
• UH‘s budget model and fiscal planning
• Academic quality and student success
• Native Hawaiian advancement
• Research competitiveness
• Administrative technology systems
• Global engagement

Discussions also explored enrollment trends, online education, international partnerships and efforts to strengthen UH Mānoa’s position as a leading research university in the Asia-Pacific region.

Syrmos also provided an update on efforts to develop a new budget model for UH ����ԴDz�. The proposed approach would combine historical funding allocations with performance-based measures and is expected to involve extensive engagement with campus stakeholders before implementation.

“That discussion has started, but it’s going to take a lot of work, and it’s going to take a lot of time,” Syrmos said. “As Denise is getting in as provost, she will be the leader on that project.”

The Leading with Excellence Conference was created to provide current and aspiring academic leaders with practical tools, leadership development opportunities and a forum to share ideas and best practices.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa swimming and diving head coach Steve Allnutt announced the hiring of QiongJie “Ajie” (Huang) Drew as the program’s new men’s and women’s diving coach. Drew’s addition to the coaching staff marks a return to her alma mater where she established herself as one of the most decorated Rainbow Wahine divers in program history.

“We are thrilled to bring Coach Ajie into our team,” Allnutt said. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the diving world ranging from the NCAA system, to international competition and elite American competition. Our swimming-and-diving team will greatly benefit from her attitude and passion for people and excellence. As an alumna and UH Circle of Honor member, Coach Ajie knows how to find success at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex, and we’re proud to have her as the leader for our divers.”

“I am truly humbled and honored to once again be a part of the University of �鶹��ý swimming and diving program,” Drew said.

Drew, a 2013 inductee into the UH Sports Circle of Honor, became �鶹��ý‘s first national champion in diving when she won the 1-meter springboard title at the 2005 NCAA Championships. Across three seasons with the Rainbow Wahine, she earned eight NCAA All-America honors, placing third in the 1-meter in 2006 and fourth in the 3-meter in 2005.

Read more at .

A physician wellness program founded by University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (JABSOM) emeritus professor of psychiatry William “Bill” Haning has earned national recognition for its work supporting �鶹��ý’s healthcare professionals.

Puʻulu Lapaʻau, �鶹��ý‘s physician health program, successfully completed the Federation of State Physician Health Programs’ (FSPHP) Performance Enhancement and Effectiveness Review (PEER™), becoming one of the first 10% of physician health programs nationwide—and only the fifth in the country—to achieve the distinction.

The recognition validates Puʻulu Lapaʻau‘s commitment to providing healthcare professionals, including UH faculty and students, with nationally recognized support for their health, wellness and resiliency. The PEER™ review evaluates physician health programs against national best practices for clinical care, policies and organizational effectiveness, helping ensure healthcare professionals receive high-quality, confidential support while protecting patient safety.

“This recognition reflects years of dedication to building a program that supports �鶹��ý’s healthcare professionals with compassion, confidentiality and accountability,” said Haning, who founded Puʻulu Lapaʻau in 2006. “There was no certainty whatsoever as to the potential for success—or for that matter, any longevity developing out of this. To see Puʻulu Lapaʻau recognized as one of the nation’s leading physician health programs is incredibly rewarding.”

Puʻulu Lapaʻau provides confidential support for physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals experiencing burnout, mental health challenges, substance use disorders and other concerns that may affect their well-being or ability to practice. The nonprofit also promotes wellness initiatives that help healthcare professionals remain healthy throughout their careers.

“If we have healthcare providers who are truly healthy themselves, that’s huge,” said Geri Young, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at JABSOM and executive director of Puʻulu Lapaʻau. “Healthcare professionals are just as vulnerable to stress and burnout as anyone else—perhaps even more so. The PEER™ review will strengthen our ability to support �鶹��ý’s healthcare professionals and, ultimately, the patients they serve.”

Haning brings decades of experience in medicine, education and military service. He recently served on the UH Board of Regents from 2021–2026.

Puʻulu Lapaʻau stands ready to come alongside our local healthcare professionals experiencing burnout or struggling with work – life balance. If you or someone you know could benefit from Puʻulu Lapaʻau’s confidential services, visit the , or call (808) 593-7444.

.

To support community-engaged design, outdoor recreation and conservation initiatives across �鶹��ý and the Pacific region, the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa was awarded a $439,576 grant by the National Park Service (NPS).

The grant spans the next three academic years. The funding will directly support Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) graduate students as they conduct collaborative design research focused on public parks, trail systems and conservation projects.

Up to two graduate assistants per year, mentored by faculty members, will provide technical assistance to state, municipal, non-profit and community groups requesting design support. This initiative addresses both past and future technical assistance requests to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program.

Real-world impact for students and communities

The project offers MLA students a unique hands-on opportunity to work directly with public and non-profit partners to develop natural, cultural and historical resource design projects outside the classroom, all while receiving financial support for their education.

Judith Stilgenbauer, professor of landscape architecture, serves as the principal investigator for the initiative. Stilgenbauer was instrumental in bringing the grant to the School of Architecture, leveraging UH‘s existing �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ����ﲹ�����ھ��� Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit master agreement.

“In my view, it goes to show how incredibly relevant landscape architecture is as an academic discipline and profession when it comes to providing design services that increase community and environmental resilience,” said Stilgenbauer.

She noted that during her 14 years at UH, small specialized degree programs in the School of Architecture have rarely secured federal funding of this magnitude dedicated primarily to graduate student support.

Work under the new grant will be carried out in close collaboration with NPS partners. Initial project selections and student hiring will begin in the coming months.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa women’s soccer team will open the 2026 season at the new on-campus field.

Phase I of the on-campus field was recently completed. Temporary bleachers and other necessary infrastructure to accommodate teams and spectators will be installed.

The team will move from Waipiʻo Peninsula Soccer Stadium and play its first seven matches on the Mānoa campus. A potential return to Waipiʻo Stadium will be considered when Mountain West competition begins in October.

UH’s season opener is August 13 vs. Texas Tech at 4 p.m. as part of the three-team, two–day OUTRIGGER Soccer Kickoff tournament.

Admission to matches at the on-campus field is free. Applicable parking fees apply.

Read more at .

Three University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa women’s soccer players have been selected to the Mountain West Preseason Player Watch List ahead of the Rainbow Wahine’s first year in the conference. Senior forward Anuhea Aluli, senior midfielder Izzy Ayala and junior goalkeeper Kennedy Justin were recognized on the league’s preseason list.

The Wahine also checked in at No. 6 in the preseason coaches’ poll.

The selections underscore a talented roster that boasts both extensive collegiate experience and local championship pedigree. Justin, a former first-team all-region selection, has already established herself as one of the region’s elite goalkeepers after a historic freshman campaign and a sophomore year in which she was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Ayala, the heart of the Rainbow Wahine midfield, enters her senior year after playing nearly every minute of the 2025 season. Aluli, an Oʻahu native, joins the Rainbow Wahine rotation as a senior transfer from Oakland, bringing a wealth of Division I experience and a pedigree as a goal-scoring threat.

The Rainbow Wahine open the 2026 regular season vs. Texas Tech on August 13 as part of the OUTRIGGER Soccer Kickoff.

Read more at .

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from Kapiʻolani Community College Liberal Arts undergraduate Maliny Soukkhasem.

Soukkhasem shared: “This past Spring on Kapiʻolani Community College campus. I won in the student division for lei contest. This is a photo of my Spanish professor who also won in her faculty division. It was a special moment to share in this winning experience on campus together since class was online.”

Send us your image!

Previous Images
Hammerhead Sharks
Lei making
35mm photoshoot
Noni lab
May Day, 1952
All Images of the Week

A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the UH ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next UH News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other UH connection. By submitting your image, you are giving UH News permission to publish your photo on the UH News website and UH social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

More than 100 students gathered at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa for the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Symposium, showcasing research and creative work projects that addressed some of today’s most pressing challenges, from preserving �鶹��ý‘s history to restoring fragile ecosystems.

Hosted by the (UROP), the annual symposium provides students with an opportunity to present mentored research and creative work while sharing their discoveries with the UH community. This year’s event featured 96 projects presented by undergraduate students from UH Mānoa, local high schools and universities across the country.

“The SURE Symposium gives students the opportunity to share months of dedicated work while building confidence as scholars and communicators,” said Creighton Litton, director of UROP. “It’s always exciting and rewarding to see their initial curiosity develop into mentored projects that can make a meaningful impact in �鶹��ý and beyond.”

Research begins with questions

During her keynote address, UH President Wendy Hensel encouraged students to embrace curiosity and see research as a way to serve their communities.

“One of the greatest misconceptions about research is that it begins with answers,” Hensel said. “In reality, research begins with questions. Questions like: What if? Why? How can we do better?”

She emphasized that the university’s role extends beyond creating new knowledge. Through undergraduate research and creative work, students learn to think critically, solve complex problems and contribute to �鶹��ý and beyond.

Preserving �鶹��ý‘s history

Among the presenters was Amy Li, a rising junior at Kalani High School, whose project explored mold identification in library environments.

Li’s research focuses on identifying specific mold contaminants that threaten historical collections, allowing preservation professionals to develop more targeted mitigation strategies. The work could help protect irreplaceable documents, including plantation-era records that tell �鶹��ý‘s story.

“In a sense, this is keeping �鶹��ý‘s historical narrative alive,” Li said.

She added that the research is especially relevant in �鶹��ý, where the humid climate creates ideal conditions for mold growth and increases the importance of preserving archival collections.

Restoring island ecosystems

UH Mānoa student Lina Claire Reyes, a rising junior majoring in natural resources and environmental management (NREM), studied the recovery of native cactus populations on an uninhabited island in the Galápagos after years of damage caused by invasive feral goats. Her research provides new insights into how native plants regenerate over time following disturbances, and highlights how those findings could help guide restoration efforts in �鶹��ý and on islands globally.

“I think it’s really important to be looking at invasive species… in hopes of restoring these amazing landscapes to what they once were,“ Reyes said. “That can be applied in the Galápagos and also in �鶹��ý.”

Discovery with impact

Throughout the symposium, students presented projects spanning environmental science, healthcare, artificial intelligence, Hawaiian history and cultural preservation. While the topics varied, they shared a common goal: using curiosity to better understand the world and improve their communities.

For more information on SURE Symposium and other undergraduate research and creative work opportunities at UH Mānoa, visit the or reach out to urop@hawaii.edu.

In an effort to help the estimated 93,000 people exposed to jet-fuel-contaminated drinking water, the , facilitated by the University of �鶹��ý, held a training event for healthcare professionals with guidance on caring for patients using findings from recent research.

In July 2026, and partnering with the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at University of California, Berkeley, the registry provided nearly 200 healthcare professionals with the most up-to-date guidance when caring for patients who were exposed to jet fuel in November 2021, including emerging recommendations for clinical evaluation, monitoring, treatment considerations and patient support. .

Drawing from a recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report, “Clinical Follow-up and Care for Those Impacted by the JP-5 Releases at Red Hill,” the registry’s webinar reached a national audience of participants.

“Broadly sharing the registry as the best method for collecting long-term health information is critical given the global dispersion of exposed military families that have relocated since the crisis occurred,” said Rosana “Sanie” Weldon, director of the Red Hill Registry.

Advancing care through provider education

The registry offers educational opportunities for both healthcare professionals and community members. In March, Seiji Yamada, a family medicine physician, director of medical student education, and faculty member at the , presented the registry’s first continuing education session for healthcare professionals during “Grand Rounds,” hosted virtually by Pali Momi Medical Center.

“Our website houses resources, such as fact sheets and reports, that Red Hill community members can utilize for their own health advocacy, including a letter to clinicians documenting the exposure,” said Weldon.

One of those resources is a examining the health effects of exposure to unburned kerosene-based jet fuels and other kerosene-based products in Environmental Health. Led by Veronica Carvajal, junior specialist at the and scientific coordinator for the Thompson School Registry Hub, the review is the first to focus on exposure to unburned jet fuel specifically and continues to inform the ongoing work of the registry.

“The Red Hill Registry offers an important opportunity for both community members and researchers to help close this gap, an increasingly urgent issue given the multitude of jet fuel contamination events that have occurred,” said Carvajal.

Since the 2021 fuel spill at Red Hill, additional spills have occurred across the country, underscoring the need to better understand the long-term health effects of pre-combustion jet fuel.

The registry’s next continuing education opportunity will be at the Western Occupational Health Conference hosted at the ʻAlohilani Resort in September, where registry staff will be keynote speakers.

University of �鶹��ý librarian Bronwen “Bron” Solyom spent more than 37 years preserving �鶹��ý’s cultural heritage, strengthening internationally recognized collections, and mentoring generations of librarians, students and scholars. She died in Honolulu on May 23, 2026, at the age of 81.

Related: Bronwen Solyom: Passionate curator of Jean Charlot collection

Solyom’s colleagues, friends, family and researchers gathered in Hamilton Library’s Hawaiian & Pacific Collection Reading Room on July 17 to celebrate a life defined by curiosity, generosity and scholarship. Guests included Solyom’s husband, Garrett Solyom, friend Maya Soetoro-Ng, and Jean Charlot Foundation President Allison Wong.

Many colleagues and friends also shared memories of Solyom’s impact at UH ����ԴDz�.

A lasting legacy at Hamilton Library

Solyom was best known for her work as curator of the , an internationally recognized archive documenting religious art, Mexican art, �鶹��ý artists and other unique cultural materials. From 2003 to 2016, she organized and preserved the collection, created finding aids, mentored interns and assisted researchers from around the world.

“Bron’s lasting and most excellent contribution not only to the university, but to the scholarly world, will be what she did as curator of the Charlot Collection,” said Russian Collection Librarian Patricia Polansky. “Scholars from around the world visit to use these materials. Bron has mentored countless numbers of interns from the library school and the museum studies program.”

Solyom also helped establish Hamilton Library’s , writing a white paper that encouraged former members of Congress to donate their papers and helped build a resource that now includes the papers of most of �鶹��ý’s former members of Congress since statehood.

Solyom’s Hamilton Library colleagues recognized her contributions with the Nina D.P. Horio Award for Excellence in Librarianship upon her retirement in 2016. Through the collections she preserved, the librarians she mentored and the scholars she inspired, her legacy will continue to shape Hamilton Library and UH for generations.

.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its (VEMBA), marking a quarter century of preparing business leaders and strengthening economic and educational ties between �鶹��ý and Vietnam.

To mark the milestone, hundreds of alumni representing all 33 VEMBA cohorts joined faculty, university leaders and distinguished guests at anniversary celebrations in Vietnam. Held in both Hanoi, where the program welcomed its first cohort, and Ho Chi Minh City, where it later expanded to meet growing demand, the events honored a quarter century of academic excellence, international partnership and leadership development.

Since its founding in 2001, VEMBA has graduated more than 1,000 business leaders who now serve in executive roles across Vietnam and beyond.

“The VEMBA program is the only program of its kind and has established itself as a leader in executive education in Vietnam,” said Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley. “As we celebrate this milestone, we also look toward the future by expanding our impact throughout Southeast Asia while continuing to strengthen the global network that has become one of VEMBA‘s greatest strengths.”

Bold vision to a nationwide network

VEMBA traces its roots to a 1997 United States Agency for International Development-funded initiative that brought Shidler faculty to Vietnam to help train business educators as the country transitioned to a market economy. That effort inspired the creation of Vietnam’s first Executive MBA program offered by an American university. The inaugural cohort welcomed 29 executives in Hanoi in 2001, followed by the program’s expansion to Ho Chi Minh City in 2007. In 2024, VEMBA evolved into one nationwide cohort, further strengthening connections among executives across the country.

Today, more than 1,000 graduates from 33 cohorts representing 21 countries comprise one of Vietnam’s most influential executive leadership networks. Alumni serve as CEOs, founders and senior executives across major industries.

Tung Bui, professor of information technology management, Matson Navigation Company Chair of Global Business and longtime faculty director of VEMBA, noted that the program has grown alongside Vietnam’s own economic transformation.

“Twenty-five years ago, the primary concern of VEMBA students was how to optimize operations, improve accounting systems and refine internal human resource management,” Bui said. “Today, our executives are thinking much bigger and looking outward. The most vibrant classroom discussions now revolve around artificial intelligence, global branding, exports and navigating international supply chains.”

For the entire story and information on how to support the Shidler College of Business, .

Recap video of the event in Ho Chi Minh City

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa atmospheric scientists found that the century-old yardstick used across many industries to estimate air-conditioning and refrigeration energy demand—called cooling degree days—is missing something fundamental.

Published in , the study reports a new, physics-based version of the metric—effective cooling degree days—that captures how temperature and humidity together impact the actual work a cooling system is required to do. Applying it across North America, they found that cooling efficiency has been declining by 2–4% per decade since 1971, and that the old temperature-only metric misjudges how much cooling is required in different regions. This has led to overstating demand in some places and understating it in others.

“Estimates of cooling degree days are used everywhere,” said Jake Casselman, postdoctoral researcher in the UH Mānoa (SOEST). “Utility companies, grid operators, energy planners, and engineers use them to anticipate electricity demand, and financial markets trade futures on them to hedge against unusually hot summers. If that yardstick is biased in ways that depend on a region’s climate, then the planning decisions built on it are biased too. That can mean building the wrong amount of power generation in the wrong place, or misjudging where the grid is most at risk during a heat wave.”

Challenging an old assumption

The previous approach to estimating cooling requirements assumes every degree of heat takes the same amount of energy to cool, no matter the conditions. But real cooling systems don’t work that way: they get less efficient as it gets hotter, and humidity makes it worse, because the system has to spend energy wringing moisture out of the air, not just lowering the temperature.

Casselman and Christina Karamperidou, an atmospheric sciences professor in SOEST, combined climate science with refrigeration engineering to develop a new cooling demand metric that explicitly accounts for how cooling system efficiency changes with temperature and humidity. Their approach incorporates a simplified model of the refrigeration cycle—the same physics governing every air conditioner and refrigerator—to estimate how efficiently a cooling system can remove heat under different atmospheric conditions. They applied this new cooling demand metric to 50 years of high-resolution weather data (1971–2020) across North America to quantify how climate-driven changes in cooling efficiency have already reshaped cooling demand across regions.

They repeated the analysis using projections from 19 climate models under a high-emissions scenario to assess future changes. Finally, they mapped the results onto the U.S. electricity grid, accounting for where people live, to identify the regions and power systems most likely to experience the largest shifts in cooling demand.

“Our results show that the regions facing the steepest future increases in cooling demand are the Northwest, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic, where some grid regions are projected to see cooling-related electricity demand more than double by mid-century in this high-emissions ‘worst-case scenario,’” Karamperidou said. “Getting cooling demand right isn’t an academic exercise; it directly affects how we plan, size, and operate future energy infrastructure as the climate changes.”

Pulling in opposite directions

The impact of humidity introduced a real twist on the findings. They reported that in some regions, like the desert Southwest, they expected efficiency to decline However, they found that as the air grows drier, the ease of cooling offsets the penalty of higher temperatures, keeping efficiency steady or even improving it in some spots. In humid regions, heat and moisture compound each other, so the energy burden is worse than temperature alone would suggest.

“Seeing these two effects pull in opposite directions across the continent, what we ended up calling a ‘tug-of-war,’ is something a temperature-only view would never reveal,” said Casselman.

To ensure their model was both applicable and accurate, the researchers incorporated a refrigeration framework that captures the specific physics of how temperature and humidity affect efficiency. This project was made possible through the researchers’ interactions with thermal-management engineers at the , of which UH is a key partner institution.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa’s (RoSE) is celebrating one of the most successful years in the student engineering organization’s history after earning international recognition, competing on the world stage and expanding its portfolio of aerospace projects.

Over the past spring and summer, the student-led team represented UH Mānoa at several 2026 events:

• University Rover Challenge World Finals (27th out of 116 teams) International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Foundation Excellence in Systems Engineering Award (finalist)
• Project PETAL at NASA’s Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts–Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Forum

“Our team has grown tremendously in size, number of projects and student ambition throughout the past year,” said Micah Tajiri, project manager for the University Rover Challenge team. “We’re proud to represent UH Mānoa and excited to keep building on this momentum.”

Competing among the world’s best

From May 27 to 30, Team RoSE competed at the University Rover Challenge World Finals at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah.

The team’s rover featured a robotic arm, autonomous navigation system, science payload and communications platform designed and built by students.

The rover team’s work also earned recognition beyond the competition. Team RoSE was named one of just 13 finalists from more than 100 teams worldwide for the inaugural INCOSE Foundation Excellence in Systems Engineering Award, recognizing its systems engineering approach and performance during the competition.

Building Beyond the Rover

Team RoSE‘s success extended beyond the rover program.

Project PETAL was selected as one of 14 finalists from more than 150 applicants nationwide for NASA‘s RASC-AL Forum, where students presented a scalable lunar power management and distribution system to NASA engineers and industry professionals.

Project PETAL became the first multi-campus student-led engineering project involving students from UH Mānoa and UH Hilo, while the organization established new business and marketing training opportunities for students.

Team RoSE also completed the latest iteration of the UH Advanced Balloon Satellite, which now features autonomous recovery capabilities, and launched CapM74, a new student project focused on developing a low-cost astrophotography telescope in partnership with the Institute for Astronomy.

Team RoSE is one of more than 20 (VIP) housed in the . VIPs connect undergraduate students with faculty-led research teams, giving students hands-on experience through long-term, project-based work alongside graduate researchers and faculty mentors.

The team’s work is supported by the College of Engineering and the , whose support helps provide students with opportunities to design, build and compete on national and international stages.

University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa quarterback Micah Alejado has been named to the watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.

The sophomore quarterback, who was also named the Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, is among a group of 81 players nationwide selected to the 2026 preseason watch list.

Semifinalists for the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced on November 10, with the three finalists unveiled on November 24. The winner will be announced live as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 10, 2026.

Alejado is the fifth UH quarterback all-time to earn a spot on the Maxwell Award watch list, joining Brayden Schager (2024), Cole McDonald (2019), Bryant Moniz (2011) and Colt Brennan (2007).