{"id":17,"date":"2021-01-26T00:19:38","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T00:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/student-basic-needs\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-01-23T21:49:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T21:49:12","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/student-basic-needs\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201c<\/span> \u2018A\u2018ohe hana nui ke alu \u2018ia.<\/span> \u201d<\/span>
No task is too big when done together by all.<\/span><\/div>
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What are Basic Needs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Basic needs include food and housing, childcare, mental health, financial resources and transportation, among others. Student basic needs security is critical for ensuring strong academic performance, persistence and graduation and overall student wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic needs insecurity is experienced by millions of college students every year. In 2019, the Hope Center<\/a> found that of nearly 167,000 college students surveyed in the US, 39% were food insecure within the past 30 days, 46% were housing insecure, and 17% were homeless within the past year. The prevalence of basic needs insecurity in the US<\/abbr> and in Hawai\u2018i encouraged the creation of the UH<\/abbr> System Basic Needs Committee dedicated to supporting student success and educational goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Â鶹´«Ã½System Basic Needs Committee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The University of Hawai\u2018i Basic Needs Committee (UHBNC) was formed in 2019 by Â鶹´«Ã½President, David Lassner to better understand and address food and other forms of basic needs insecurities in the student population. The UHBNC<\/abbr> is dedicated to supporting students’ basic needs so that personal and educational goals are achieved. With designated committee members from each Â鶹´«Ã½campus, the committee is familiar with accessible resources available specific to their campus and the surrounding community. To contact the Basic Needs Committee, please email uhsbn@hawaii.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Committee Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

UH<\/abbr> Hilo – Sherri Akau , Interim Executive Director, Student Support and Wellbeing, akau714@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UH<\/abbr> Hilo -Kaleb Matthews, Residence Life Coordinator, kalebkm@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Â鶹´«Ã½M\u0101noa – Kahunawai Wright, Interim Associate Vice Provost for Student Success & Dean of Students, manoasbn@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu – Loea Akiona, Coordinator for Career Services, loea@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu -Michiko Joseph, Interim Library Director, msjoseph@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawai’i CC – Randiann Tokeshi, Basic Needs Counselor, rtokeshi@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawai’i CC – Christine Quintana, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, cdamate@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honolulu CC – Ina Miller-Cabasug, Learning Resource Engagement & Retention Specialist, inamc@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kapi\u2018olani CC<\/abbr> – LaVache Scanlan, Coordinator First Year Experience, lavache@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaua\u2018i CC<\/abbr> – Maeve O\u02bbDonnell Pax, Human Needs Coordinator- Ho\u02bbai Food Pantry, maeveop@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leeward CC<\/abbr> – Lexer Chou, Student Life Coordinator, achou@hawaii.edu<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leeward CC – Jo Ann Cagasan, Basic Needs Coordinator, jcagasan@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maui College – Kulamanu Ishihara, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, vorhies@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windward CC<\/abbr> – Ka\u2018ahu Alo, Student Life Counselor, kaahualo@hawaii.edu<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windward CC – Ardis Eschenberg, Chancellor, ardise@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windward CC – Robert Yamashita Basic Needs\/HINET Coordinator, robertty@hawaii.edu<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UH<\/abbr> System – Farrahmarie Gomes, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, fmgomes@hawaii.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UH<\/abbr> System Coordinator – Tehani Keanini, Student Basic Needs Coordinator, tehanis@hawaii.edu<\/a>
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Resources for Administrators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n