The 10th annual Onizuka Day of Exploration (ODE) ignited curiosity and celebrated STEM for an estimated 4,500 attendees at the University of �鶹��ý—West Oʻahu on April 11. The free, family-friendly event, honors the legacy of �鶹��ý-born astronaut Ellison Onizuka. It featured more than 100 interactive activities, demonstrations and exhibits, and was presented by Scouting America, Aloha Council.

“The energy throughout the day was outstanding,” said ODE Co-Chair Will Hartzell. “The campus was filled with students, families, educators and community partners engaging in hands-on learning, discovery, and exploration. The event continues to reflect the spirit of Ellison Onizuka—bringing curiosity, innovation and opportunity together in a way that inspires the next generation.”

NASA astronaut, inflatable whale

Crowd favorites included a presentation by NASA astronaut Mike Fincke and the massive 45-foot inflatable whale exhibit. Participants explored the Bishop Museum Planetarium, used flight simulators, learned about AI in the Cyber Learning Pavilion, and watched the VEX IQ Robotics Scrimmage.

In the days leading up to the event, unstable weather conditions required organizers to quickly relocate more than 100 booths to covered areas for safety and accessibility.

This marked the fourth consecutive year ODE was held at UH West Oʻahu. Hartzell acknowledged the support of university staff, including Vice Chancellor for Administration David McDonald, and Lynn Reyes and John Murakami from Auxiliary Services.

“Despite weather challenges, the collaboration between UH West Oʻahu; Scouting America, Aloha Council; community organizations; and volunteers made it possible to deliver an inspiring and meaningful experience for thousands of attendees,” he said. “Onizuka Day not only honors Ellison Onizuka’s legacy, but also creates real moments of inspiration that shape future interests, education paths and careers.”

For more visit .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from Windward Community College’s Nicole Tessier.

Tessier shares: J-Pop Demon Killaz and The Hangry Games are two world premieres presented by the students of �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts at Windward Community College.

Satirizing the popular films K-Pop Demon Hunters and The Hunger Games, these shows will feature singing, dancing and combat! At Palikū Theatre April 24–May 3, more information at .

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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.

—Fun; to have a good time.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“E leʻaleʻa kēlā lā me kēia lā. (Everyday should be fun.)”

—Maluhia Nahuina, he haumāna ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language student), Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the UH Hilo .

Aloha UH ʻohana,

As the 2026 legislative session enters its final month, the �鶹��ý State Legislature is preparing to begin conference committee meetings to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of key bills. Given the challenges the state is facing in light of diminishing tax revenues and economic pressures resulting from both national and international events, there will be many competing positions for a finite amount of state resources. One of the most important aspects of this process is the state budget bill, HB1800 HD1 SD1, which will determine funding levels for state departments, including the University of �鶹��ý.

Conference committee negotiations between the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means committees will shape the final outcome for both operating and capital improvement appropriations across state government. Like other departments, UH will be closely monitoring these discussions as agreements are reached.

Supplemental operating budget

Since it was approved by the UH Board of Regents in November, the university’s supplemental operating budget request has advanced through several stages of the legislative process. The regents approved a request totaling $18.8 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2027.

The House of Representatives completed its draft budget (HD1) in March and allocated $11.5 million toward UH priorities. Most recently, the Senate passed its version of the budget (SD1), which reduced general fund support for the university by $1.7 million compared with the House version. The Senate also added $5.7 million of special fund appropriations—adding programs to UH’s budget through appropriations from the Tuition and Fees Special Fund.

With conference committee negotiations about to begin, the following table compares the Board of Regents request with the governor’s proposal and the House and Senate versions of the operating budget:

Operating Comparison

Items in purple are Special Funded, not General Funded.

*SD1 moves $20.2 million in General Funds out of UOH100 (UH ����ԴDz�) into a new Program ID UOH120 (CTAHR)
**In total for UH: 124 General Fund Permanent FTEs, 13.15 General Fund Temporary FTEs, 24 Special Fund Permanent FTEs, 2 Federal Fund Permanent FTEs, and 22 Revolving Fund Permanent FTEs

GM2 and GM5 were two budget Governor’s Messages sent by the Governor to the Legislature that added these items to his official budget request.

Capital improvement program (CIP) budget update

For the supplemental capital improvement projects (CIP) budget, UH requested $283.1 million in additional General Obligation (GO) bond funding for FY27 to support capital renewal, deferred maintenance and modernization projects across the 10-campus system. Debt service for GO bonds are paid by the state’s general fund.

The governor’s budget included $137.3 million of this request. The House draft budget (HD1) increased GO bond support to $219.3 million. The Senate draft (SD1) reduced GO bond funding by $9.5 million and proposed appropriating $161.5 million from the UH special funds, including the Tuition and Fees Special Fund to support capital projects. UH President Hensel discussed the issue broadly at the April 16 UH Board of Regents meeting, .

The following table summarizes the CIP comparison between the Board of Regents request and the governor, House and Senate versions of the budget:

CIP Comparison

Items in purple are Special Funded, not General Funded.

What happens next

As conference committees begin their work, members will be negotiating across a wide range of priorities beyond the UH budget. Because many conference committee decisions occur late in the session, final outcomes typically become clear closer to adjournment.

The �鶹��ý State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 8, 2026. I will provide an update after the session concludes to share the final outcomes for the university.

Mahalo for your continued support of our students, campuses and the mission of the University of �鶹��ý.

Luis P. Salaveria
Vice President for Budget and Finance / Chief Financial Officer
University of �鶹��ý

The University of �鶹��ý community is invited to a virtual keynote exploring the intersection of technology and human potential, featuring Microsoft’s AI Innovation Officer Michael J. Jabbour. The session will dive into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and its transformative implications for the future of education and healthcare.

.

Event details:

• Speaker: Michael J. Jabbour (AI Innovation Officer, Microsoft, Office of the CTO)
• Date: Monday, April 27
• Time: 12–1:30 p.m.

About the keynote:

Jabbour leads research in human-AI collaboration, biologically inspired AI, and the future of work. A recognized leader in large-scale organizational transformation, he previously served as CIO/CTO for several New York City agencies, including the Department of Education. He is a regular guest lecturer at top universities.

What you will discover:

• AI fundamentals: Explore the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence, including its uncharted propensity to “hallucinate.”
• Revolutionizing education: Learn how AI can revolutionize education by enhancing teaching and learning experiences with cutting-edge tools and personalized methodologies.
• Practical integration: Dive into the potential of AI to automate routine tasks, stimulate collaborative learning, and foster bespoke educational journeys.
• Actionable insights: Equip yourself with practical use cases and insights on seamlessly integrating AI into your classroom or institution, paving the way for a future where education is intuitively tailored, engaging, and impactful.

The UH community is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to hear from a national leader in AI innovation and explore how these emerging technologies are shaping the future of education and healthcare.

For Janie-Maria Kikila, graduating from Leeward Community College this May is more than earning a degree—it’s a deeply personal milestone shaped by resilience, growth and determination. As a nontraditional student, mother and the first in her family to graduate from college, Kikila sees this moment as proof of perseverance.

“This shows me that if you keep going, you can finish what you started,” she said.

Raised in Whitmore Village, Kikila attended Leilehua High School before transferring to Waiʻanae High School. Her journey hasn’t been easy, but she’s remained focused on a bigger goal.

“I’ve gone through a lot—from not always feeling safe as a child to postpartum depression as an adult—but I made a decision not to let those things define me,” she said. “I want to break generational cycles, and I want to be someone my keiki can look up to.”

Finding support at Leeward CC

Kikila first enrolled at Leeward CC in 2013 but stepped away to build a career in management. That was disrupted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

“It was hard going from being financially independent to needing help,” she said. “I knew if I was going to start over, I needed a clear direction.”

She returned to Leeward CC in 2023 to pursue a degree in business management. Back on campus, Kikila found support that helped her stay on track—not just academically, but personally. Through Leeward’s counseling services, she began working with mental health therapist Lori Lum.

“I’ve been seeing Lori for a little over a year, and she’s been amazing,” Kikila said.

Turning challenges into motivation

She also credits flexible student employment and mentors, such as business division faculty Tina Lee and Dag Faustino.

“Janie leads with intention and heart,” Lee said. “She’s someone who turns challenges into motivation.”

Kikila founded , Leeward’s first marketing club, open to students of all majors across the UH System. It brings students together to connect, collaborate and gain real-world experience.

“She saw a need and built something that brings students together in a meaningful way,” Faustino added. “That kind of initiative is what sets her apart.”

Kikila plans to transfer to UH West Oʻahu to continue her studies in business and marketing, with the goal of one day serving in a leadership role within the State of �鶹��ý.

By Tad Saiki

University of �鶹��ý President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the UH Board of Regents on state legislative measures on tuition and fee reserves during her monthly report at the board’s April 16 meeting at Kapiʻolani Community College.

Hensel noted that the Legislature continues to consider proposals related to tuition and fee reserve balances and that the university is developing reinvestment plans to strengthen advising and student support services and expand statewide online learning opportunities. She added that the university is having productive conversations with legislators and recognizes the challenges they face in balancing many urgent needs for �鶹��ý’s people this year.

Her report also highlighted record breaking systemwide participation in UH Giving Day, which generated more than $1.3 million from more than 1,580 gifts across the 10 campuses.

Hensel concluded by congratulating the No. 6 ranked UH ����ԴDz� women’s water polo team on advancing to its third consecutive NCAA national championship tournament appearance after .

• Legislative update: tuition and fee reserves ()
• UH Giving Day breaks record ()
• Rainbow Wahine water polo ()

This week’s UH News Image of the Week is from UH ����ԴDz�.

Aloha Bash is on Friday! Students from all UH campuses are welcome, so featuring Grant Nakasone for more info! (No students were harmed in the making of this video.)

Previous Images
Mōʻī Wahine
Cleaning up
Through the water
Breeze block
Shark tag
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

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.

Gov. Josh Green appointed Keith Amemiya and Marie Laderta to the University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents (BOR), subject to confirmation by the �鶹��ý State Senate.

“Keith and Marie are exactly the kinds of leaders we need guiding the future of our UH system,” said Green. “Keith brings a deep understanding of the university from the inside, along with strong ties to our business and education communities. Marie has dedicated her career to public service and brings a wealth of experience in government operations and accountability. Together, they will help ensure UH continues to serve our students, strengthen our workforce and drive innovation across our state.”

Amemiya and Laderta replace regents Diane Paloma and William F. Haning III whose terms end in 2026.

Amemiya brings decades of leadership experience across �鶹��ý’s legal, financial and education sectors. He currently serves as Senior Vice President at Central Pacific Bank and previously held leadership roles with Tradewind Group and the �鶹��ý High School Athletic Association. Amemiya also has direct experience with the UH system, having served as executive administrator and secretary to the BOR.

“As a proud University of �鶹��ý graduate, I’m honored to be nominated by Governor Green to the Board of Regents,” said Amemiya. “UH is integral to the success of our state, especially our younger generations and I’m thus committed to best ensuring a strong higher educational system with opportunities for all if confirmed by the legislature.”

Laderta brings nearly three decades of public service experience in �鶹��ý state government and the judiciary. She has served as deputy attorney general, deputy director of the Department of Taxation and Director of the Department of Human Resources Development. She currently serves on the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, adjudicating workers’ compensation appeals.

“I am humbled and grateful to Governor Green for my appointment as regent to the UH system,” said Laderta. “I look forward to being given the opportunity to help steward higher education for the benefit of the institution, its students, faculty, employees and stakeholders.”

The BOR is responsible for overseeing the 10-campus UH system, including policy direction, financial oversight and long-term strategic planning. The BOR is the governing body of UH and consists of 11 non-compensated volunteer members. Representation includes five from the City and County of Honolulu; two from �鶹��ý County; two from Maui County; one from Kauaʻi County and one UH student.

Amemiya and Laderta will serve terms as prescribed by law, pending Senate confirmation.