”Kapiʻolani Summer Camp is back and calling for proposals! The free peer-reviewed online conference, August 10–13, is inviting University of �鶹��ý faculty, staff and administrators to share their expertise in an array of formats.

Last year, total attendance across 45 sessions for this free, Zoom-based event was 776, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage in professional service and share your experience, insights and/or resources with colleagues in a friendly, supportive and engaging context.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit proposals for one or more session formats, with the flexibility to propose multiple topics.

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The deadline to apply is May 22, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. HST. Due to the extended submission window this year, organizers are unable to accommodate late submissions or extensions. Presenters will be notified of their acceptance in June.

If you have any questions, contact the event coordinators at sumrcamp@hawaii.edu.

Before launching her local clothing and accessory brand, , Hilo native Tania Takashiba made the decision to continue her education at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. She spent several years studying on the U.S. continent before attending the Shidler College of Business, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2002.

A member of the business fraternity Pi Sigma Epsilon, Takshiba said her time at Shidler played a pivotal role in shaping her professional network and lasting friendships.

“I think graduating from ”UH ����ԴDz� was the perfect transition into adulthood,” said Takashiba. “[I] did internships, I was able to get a job pretty easily, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the people I met.”

Those connections continue to play a role in her life today. Takashiba stays in touch with several friends from her Shidler years, including one who serves as her financial advisor.

Building a local business

Takashiba started MaruMaru Hawaii with her sister in 2015. She said it was hard to find local brands that offered clothes for kids, so they decided to create their own. The brand has taken off, and Takashiba has run into people at the airport and on vacation wearing her clothes.

“Our designs are super simple, but I think because they’re based on real things, it resonates with a lot of people,” said Takashiba.

Popular designs such as “Hilo Das Why” and “Hilo Love” reflect the brand’s commitment to represent Hilo and its people.

Rooted in Hilo

Despite the brand’s popularity, Takashiba has intentionally chosen to keep MaruMaru Hawaii rooted on the Big Island. She said she does not plan to expand through pop-ups on Oʻahu or other islands, even when opportunities arise.

“I think there’s something to be said about being able to give Hilo people something first,” said Takashiba. “There’s nothing like Hilo; it’s very special. The community here is amazing, you’re connected to everybody, and it’s just Hilo das why.”

—Fun; to have a good time.

More ʻŌ������� of the Week

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

—Maluhia Nahuina, he haumāna ʻŌ������� �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 .

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 ()

At the University of �鶹��ý, Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising event to support our UH students and embrace the rich diversity and expansive reach of our university system.

At the (JABSOM), where more than 90% of students are awarded some form of scholarship, donors make a great impact in their journeys in medicine. For first-year medical student Emma Pinnow, that journey started with the ʻImi Hoʻōla Post Baccalaureate Program.

Read more UH Giving Day stories

Ahead of a Giving Day appearance on �鶹��ý News Now, JABSOM sat down with Pinnow.

Q: How did ʻImi Hoʻōla put you on a path to medicine?

I come from a family deeply rooted in �鶹��ý’s public school system, so while education was always the priority, medicine was a brand-new endeavor for me. My dream was always to stay home, to be near family and learn to provide care specifically tailored to our people here in �鶹��ý. ʻImi Hoʻōla, which means “those who seek to heal” in ʻŌ������� �鶹��ý, was the bridge to that dream. It’s a rigorous 12-month journey, and completing it provided me with automatic admission to JABSOM. But more than just a seat in the class, it gave me the foundational competence and the unshakeable support system I needed.

I didn’t just gain knowledge, I gained a cohort, mentors and a community that believed in my potential when I was just starting out. What truly changed the trajectory for me was the generosity of our donors. I was fully prepared to take on a massive financial burden to pursue this path, but because of their support, my experience was tuition-free. This didn’t just save money, it gave me the gift of time and focus. Instead of juggling my studies with a job, I can dedicate 100% of my energy to the rigors of medical school. It only takes one group of people to believe in you to open a door. For me, that door was ʻImi Hoʻōla. It allowed me to show my potential and has put me on a path to serve the community that raised me.

Q: What are your goals in medicine?

I’m currently a little more than halfway through my first year, and honestly, it’s been very exciting. Every week I’m exposed to a new specialty or a different organ system, and I’m making it my goal to learn as much as I can and to lean into every opportunity to the fullest extent. While I haven’t settled on a specific specialty yet, I have settled on the where and the who. No matter what field I choose, I am committed to serving the people of �鶹��ý. This is my home, and I truly can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Being Native Hawaiian, I am especially aware of the health disparities our community faces, particularly with cardiometabolic disease. One of my primary goals in medicine is to directly address these inequities. I want to take the education we receive here at JABSOM, which emphasizes culturally-competent care, and apply it in a way that resonates with our local population. Ultimately, my goal is to bridge the gap between high-level medical science and the unique cultural needs of our islands. Giving back to the community that raised me is my way of honoring where I come from.

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The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s Department of and will debut from April 17–26, a large-scale Balinese shadow puppetry performance that blends tradition with innovation. The show features towering shadow figures, live actors and dancers, and a full gamelan orchestra, an Indonesian ensemble known for its layered, rhythmic sound.

At the center is a love story that has traveled across centuries. The Panji tales, rooted in 13th-century Java and later embraced in Bali, follow a prince and princess separated again and again by misfortune and disguise. Their journey unfolds through “electric shadows,” a modern Balinese style that uses giant screens, dramatic lighting and performers moving both in front of and behind the stage.

“Everything you see on the screen is created live, in the moment,” said co-director Kirstin Pauka, a professor in theatre and dance. “This type of theatre is as complex as shooting a movie, and we do it all in one take.”

The production is co-directed by Balinese master artist I Madé Moja, who returns to Kennedy Theatre after staging two earlier works. The team leans fully into handmade design. No digital projections. No computer effects. Instead, simple materials are transformed into moving shadows, music and motion.

“The level of teamwork required goes far beyond most theatre productions,” Pauka said.

That collaboration stretches across campus and community. The cast includes UH ����ԴDz� students, local performers, and keiki learning the art form. The live music is led by master musician I Madé Widana.

Ticket information

. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, with a Sunday matinee on April 26. Pre-show talks will be held before select performances.

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—Flying fish.

More ʻŌ������� of the Week

“Ka iʻa lele me he manu (The fish that flies like a bird).”
ʻŌ������� Noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) 1364

—Sean Mills, he haumāna ʻŌ������� �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 .

The University of �鶹��ý has been selected as one of 10 recipients of a national grant from Lumina Foundation’s to expand its Direct2UH program. The $400,000 grant is part of the foundation’s $3.5 million investment to simplify the college admissions process and expand student access across the country.

Building on the success of Direct2UH—the direct admissions initiative launched in October 2025, offering free entry to public high school seniors based on their GPA—the grant will fund a unified admissions system with enhanced outreach and guidance. This creates a more equitable pathway for �鶹��ý students to apply, access financial aid and enroll across nine campuses, with UH ����ԴDz� expected to join the program later this year.

“This investment allows us to build a simpler, more connected pathway to college for �鶹��ý‘s students—one that ensures every learner, regardless of background or geography, has clear and supported opportunities, making it easier for more students to move from aspiration to enrollment and ultimately to success,” said Farrah-Marie Gomes, UH associate vice president for student affairs. “This work matters locally because it directly addresses the barriers our students face and strengthens our responsibility as a statewide system to serve every community.”

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative supports states, systems and institutions in integrating admissions, financial aid, advising and enrollment systems. The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers and help more students successfully enroll in and complete college.

“Across the country, we’re seeing real momentum to rethink how students access college,” said Melanie Heath, Lumina strategy director. “This cohort reflects a clear shift from fragmented fixes to coordinated, student-centered systems.”

Commitment to college access

At full scale, Direct2UH will reach students at all public and charter high schools across the state, with implementation in partnership with the �鶹��ý State Department of Education and �鶹��ý P–20. By aligning systems and expanding support, it will increase college access and enrollment statewide, particularly for rural and underserved communities.

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative is part of a broader national effort to increase post-high school attainment and advance Lumina’s Goal 2040, which aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

Now in its sixth decade, the Merrie Monarch Festival draws visitors from across the state and beyond, celebrating Hawaiian culture through hula, music, and artistry. The influx of visitors also supports independent marketplaces throughout Hilo, where local businesses can showcase their work.

Two University of �鶹��ý alumni—Summer Shiigi of Ten Tomorrow and Lana Gronwald of Jules and Gem Hawaii—are vendors at the Mākeke Naniloa marketplace at the Grand Naniloa Hotel, returning to �鶹��ý Island after participating together last year.

Shiigi, a former UH Mānoa psychology student, runs and designs the resort women’s clothing brand Ten Tomorrow.

“My family is from Hilo, so being able to go and visit for work is really special to me,” said Shiigi. “It’s an exciting time. It feels very meaningful and deep and cultural.”

Gronwald, the owner and founder of Jules and Gem Hawaii, a luxury fragrance brand, graduated from UH Mānoa in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“Merrie Monarch is a special time. It’s beautiful to see all the different artists that come out and all those small businesses that are truly local who come from here and have roots in �鶹��ý,” said Gronwald.

Supporting local businesses

Both businesses make their products in �鶹��ý. With customers and businesses converging in Hilo, both women are appreciative of the opportunities it presents.

“The dollars being spent all with local companies is something really beautiful,” said Shiigi. “Being able to have that hard earned dollar spent in a local community and turning it back into someone who’s based here, who has local employees, who might even make things here, I think that’s really important.”