For Liliana Okimoto, a year away for college in Washington State provided a realization that no school in the continental U.S. can offer what the can: a deep sense of community and purpose. That was the focus of her winning #TakeMeToMānoa social media contest video hosted by .
In her minute-long entry, Okimoto said, “Hawaiʻi is where my heart is and under the guidance of the amazing faculty and staff at 东精影业 Mānoa, I know I can grow into the person I want to become—someone who devotes themselves to learning in order to better serve their community, so take me home. Take me to Mānoa.”
As the winner out of nearly 60 entries, Okimoto won a free year of tuition at 东精影业 Mānoa, courtesy of (东精影业FCU). The online contest, which was open to incoming fall 2026 Hawaiʻi freshmen and transfer students, asked entrants to explain why 东精影业 Mānoa is the right place for them or how a year of free tuition would impact their future.
Billy V from Hawaiʻi News Now made the surprise announcement to Okimoto live on Sunrise on May 22, in front of cheering 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 employees and students at the 东精影业 Mānoa Bookstore.
“I was just in shock and I was so happy,” Okimoto said. “I didn’t realize what it was and then I saw the check. I was like, ‘oh my goodness.’”
Okimoto grew up in Waiʻanae and attended Island Pacific Academy before graduating from ʻIolani School in 2025. At 东精影业 Mānoa, Okimoto will pursue a degree in in the , and is also considering a pre-health track. She is also passionate about art and is considering medical school to become a psychiatrist, with a possible goal of one day leading a medical practice that offers psychological care and creative therapies such as art therapy.
“I had gone to school on the mainland and I could tell that I don’t know if this is what’s right for me and I always just kept thinking about coming home, being back here,” Okimoto said. “And so I was really looking at 东精影业 and what programs are here and what they have to offer. I really think that being back at home and being at 东精影业 specifically is what’s best for me.”
This will be a full circle moment for Okimoto, who will attend 东精影业 Mānoa at the same time as her mother, Michelle, who is in the graduate program for library and information science. Michelle is a librarian at ʻIolani.
“It’s really exciting,” Michelle said. “I wish that I had completed all of the education I wanted to do when I was younger, so I’m definitely gonna encourage her to do that, but I think it’s really cool that we’re gonna go to the same school, go to the same events and maybe even carpool sometimes. I’m just so glad to have her home. It’s icing on the cake that we get to be students together. I’m looking forward to studying together and cheering each other on!”
The contest ran from April 6 to May 3. Now in its eighth year, the contest continues to spotlight the dreams, creativity and determination of Hawaiʻi’s students.
“I am delighted to congratulate Liliana, the winner of this year’s #TakeMetoMānoa contest,” said Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “As our first transfer student to receive this honor, she is a shining example of a student returning home from the continent for whom finding the right fit is of utmost importance, and we are glad to be that destination of choice for her. We are proud to welcome her to our 东精影业 Mānoa ʻohana and look forward to the impact she will have on our community.”
“We’re very proud of being able to support the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and also the students here and bringing her back home,” said 东精影业FCU AVP of Member Experience Sean Parsa. “We’re proud of her and we’re proud of being part of the University of Hawaiʻi.”
Meet the previous #TakeMeToMānoa winners.