The 10 campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi will temporarily move many spring 2022 in-person courses to an online delivery for the first two weeks of the semester because of the record surge of COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. The first day of spring semester classes remains Monday, January 10 with a full return to scheduled course delivery on Monday, January 24.

东精影业 President David Lassner made the announcement in an email to students, faculty and staff of the 东精影业 System. 东精影业 joins dozens of other colleges and universities from across the country that are temporarily moving courses online to start the spring semester.

• Read campus messages:
  • 东精影业 Hilo
  • 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补
  • 东精影业 West Oʻahu
  • Kapiʻolani CC
  • Leeward CC
  • Windward CC
  • More campus messages will be added

The announcement stated that only courses that can be “effectively taught online” will be impacted. Many lab sections, clinical experiences, Career and Technical Education (CTE) shop courses and studios will continue to be taught safely in-person, which includes physical distancing, wearing masks indoors, daily health screenings and other measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Each campus will determine which courses will be moved online based on considerations including COVID-19 conditions in the area, density of student populations in classrooms, number of students who will be traveling back to campus and instructional needs to keep all students on track to graduate. Students and employees are encouraged to monitor announcements from their campus leaders for campus specific information.

“We are not changing course modalities but merely making this adjustment to maximize the safety of our campuses including those who may be returning from another island or farther,” said Lassner in the announcement. “We are disappointed to take this action but believe it is appropriate to protect the health and safety of our students and employees.”

东精影业 campuses will remain open during the two week period, including residence halls at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and UH Hilo, and on-campus services which will remain available during normally scheduled hours.

Lassner also urged everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot as soon as they are eligible, typically six months after the final dose. He said that planning is underway to make booster shots part of the 东精影业 vaccination requirement for students and employees.

As of January 3, all UH students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated OR have a university approved medical or religious exemption. Those with an approved exemption are required to regularly submit proof of a negative test to the LumiSight 东精影业 daily health check app. Students who are 100% online are the only exception to the vaccine requirements.

To be on a 东精影业 campus, you must receive an all-clear from the LumiSight 东精影业 app, which means you have verified vaccination information, or have an approved exemption and a verified negative test result when you complete the daily health screening. Everyone is also required to wear face masks when indoors and when outdoors near others.

Campus messages

Most classes to start online at 东精影业 Hilo

Aloha 东精影业 Hilo students, faculty, and staff,

I hope you have enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating break with family and friends and are excited to return to 东精影业 Hilo for the spring semester. As President Lassner shared in his recent message, we have been closely monitoring the pandemic conditions here in Hawaiʻi. At 东精影业 Hilo, we are paying particular attention to the increase in COVID-19 cases on Hawaiʻi Island. The 东精影业 System health and wellness team has been in contact with federal, state, and county officials, as well as our local hospitals. While it appears that the Omicron variant may produce lower levels of severe illness than other strains, we are still concerned about the capacity of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 healthcare systems, given many more active infections and the large numbers of unvaccinated individuals across the state and island.

We will begin the spring semester with two weeks of online instruction. We are making this change in part because of the continued uncertainty about the Omicron variant, but primarily because of our concern for our students as they return to campus. Those students who test positive over the holiday break will need to isolate and would miss the first week of in-person classes. Those who are returning to Hawaiʻi Island for the start of the semester and test positive upon arrival would miss the first several days of in-person classes. Thus, we are making the decision now to do online instruction for the first two weeks of the spring semester in order to minimize possible disruption to student learning, and to give our employees, students and their families as much advance notice as possible. Clinical courses which have multiple COVID protocols in place may continue with face-to-face instruction, but I ask faculty to be accommodating for students who may have to miss class due to a positive test result or isolation requirement (pharmacy, teacher education [in both the School of Education or Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani], and nursing students should expect more specific information from their programs shortly). While students may opt to change their plans for travel back to Hilo, we will be ready to welcome you back for the January 10 start of the term, and the residence halls and dining service will remain open.

While instruction will move online for a period of time, in-person services for students and employees will continue with all the necessary health and safety protocols in place. We have extended the COVID-19 telework policy through the end of January, and I ask supervisors to continue with whatever rotations that they have had in place during the fall term. For this two week period, if appropriate for the position and office, supervisors may allow student employees in the state of Hawaiʻi to telework as well.

In-person instruction for face-to-face and hybrid courses will resume on January 24, by which time we expect a downturn in Omicron COVID cases.

I encourage all who are eligible (6 months after second Pfizer or Moderna, 2 months after Johnson & Johnson) to get their vaccine boosters. We will continue to have testing and boosters available every Friday on campus. The 东精影业 System may very well mandate boosters before the end of the term because we want to keep our campuses as safe as possible, and vaccines remain the best way to minimize transmission and serious symptoms. Remember that we are requiring vaccines of everyone without an approved exemption.

If you have traveled over the break, please consider getting tested upon return to Hawaiʻi Island and maintain your distance from others while awaiting results. (In addition to Friday campus testing, which resumes on January 7, the County of Hawaiʻi also has many testing sites.)

As a campus, we have been vigilant about masking, testing, and distancing, and we will have to continue to do so in order to ensure that 东精影业 Hilo is a safe place for our ʻohana to learn and work. Please keep up the good work!

Bonnie D. Irwin
Chancellor

惭腻苍辞补 to be online for first two weeks of spring semester

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 on December 28, 2021.

Aloha 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students, faculty and staff,

I am writing to update you on our plans for the spring semester. As stated in President Lassner鈥檚 December 28 message, 东精影业鈥檚 10 campuses will be temporarily online for the first two weeks of the spring 2022 semester. We have been closely monitoring the pandemic conditions here in Hawaiʻi, with particular attention to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the uptick in hospitalizations. Our health and wellness professionals have been in constant contact with federal, state, and city and county officials, as well as our hospital systems. While evidence continues to emerge that the Omicron variant may produce lower levels of severe illness than prior variants, we remain concerned about the potential stress on Hawaiʻi鈥檚 healthcare systems, given many more active infections and the large numbers of unvaccinated individuals across the state. Our approach continues to place the health of our community as the highest priority.

Our decision to begin the spring semester with two weeks of online instruction is partially due to the continued uncertainty about the Omicron variant, but primarily motivated by our concern for our students and staff as they return to campus. Those who test positive during the holiday break will need to isolate and would miss the first week of in-person classes. Those who are returning to Oʻahu for the start of the semester and test positive upon arrival would also miss the first two weeks of in-person classes. Thus, we are making the decision now to move to online instruction for the first two weeks of the spring semester in order to minimize possible disruption to student learning and to give our employees, students and their families as much advance notice as possible.

While most instruction will shift online for a limited period of time, our campus will remain open. University operations will continue, including support services for students and employees. Students who choose to be on campus physically are welcomed. The residence halls are open, and our critical research and service activities continue, all with the necessary health and safety protocols in place. The COVID-19 telework policy has been extended through the end of January, and we expect that all high-risk employees will take advantage of this extension and remain safe as we navigate the coming month.

In summary:

1. All classes, with some exceptions, will begin in an online modality on January 10. In-person classroom instruction is scheduled to begin on January 24. Some essential in-person instruction (e.g., clinical skills, some laboratory and other hands-on instruction and training) will remain in-person. Those programs will be in contact with their students and will accommodate students who cannot join us in-person during this two-week period.
2. We strongly encourage all employees and students to get a COVID-19 booster shot if you have not already done so. Full vaccination plus a booster is your most effective defense against the Omicron variant, and it will significantly improve our chances of having a successful, healthy return to in-person instruction and campus activities.
3. While students may choose to change their travel plans, this is not required. You are welcome to return to Oʻahu and to our residence halls, if you are an on-campus resident, as long as you are healthy.
4. All other operations of the university are not affected. With the very high rate of vaccination among students and employees, coupled with our mask requirement, we consider the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 workplaces to be as safe an environment as any on Oʻahu. Supervisors should ensure that all essential face-to-face services are provided while also considering the need to accommodate requests for COVID-19 telework to the extent necessary to protect the health of our employees.
5. Please get tested 3鈥�5 days after returning from any travel. If possible, employees should work from home while awaiting test results. Students should limit exposure to others while awaiting test results.

We will continue to get through the pandemic united in our care for each other.

Mahalo,
Michael S. Bruno, Provost

东精影业WO to temporarily move many spring 2022 in-person courses to online delivery

Aloha mai 东精影业 West Oʻahu ʻOhana!

The 东精影业 System COVID-19 Policies & Practices group has been closely monitoring the pandemic conditions here in Hawaiʻi, with particular attention to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the uptick in hospitalizations. This group is informed by our health and wellness professionals who are in constant contact with federal, state, and city and county officials, as well as our hospital systems. While evidence continues to emerge that the Omicron variant may produce lower levels of severe illness than prior variants, we remain concerned about the potential stress on 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 healthcare systems, given many more active infections and the large numbers of unvaccinated individuals across the state. Our approach continues to place the health of our community as the highest priority.

That said, 东精影业 Officers met and on Tuesday, Dec. 28, President Lassner sent a message to all 东精影业 community members that stated:

After much discussion, we are announcing that in-person classes that can be effectively taught online will be temporarily shifted to electronic delivery for the first two weeks of the semester. We are not changing course modalities but merely making this adjustment to maximize the safety of our campuses during the expected peak… All 东精影业 campuses will remain open…

You can read that message at:
/news/2021/12/28/online-first-two-weeks-of-spring-2022-instruction/

We are making this change in part because of the continued uncertainty about the Omicron variant, but primarily because of our concern for our students as they return to campus. Those students who test positive over the holiday break will need to isolate and could miss the first week of in-person classes. Those who are returning to Oʻahu for the start of the semester and test positive upon arrival would miss the first two weeks of in-person classes. Thus, we are making the decision now to do online instruction for the first two weeks of the spring semester in order to minimize possible disruption to student learning, and to give our employees, students, and their families as much advance notice as possible.

There are courses that require in-person attendance. Fortunately we have learned how to safely offer our on-campus, in-person classes employing LumiSight verification, masking, and physical distancing. We will still be able to hold in-person courses, e.g., lab sections, clinical or hands-on learning experiences, studios, and so on, all with the necessary health and safety protocols in place. Determination of which course sections will be held on campus will be made by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

In summary:

1. All classes will begin in an online modality on Jan. 10. In-person classroom instruction is scheduled to begin on Jan. 24.
2. Students who are registered for course sections that will begin in person will be notified.
3. We strongly encourage all employees and students to get a COVID-19 booster shot if you have not already done so. That is your most effective defense against the Omicron variant, and it will significantly improve our chances of having a successful, healthy return to in-person instruction and campus activities.
4. All other operations of the university are not affected. With our very high rate of vaccination among students and employees, coupled with our mask requirement, we consider 东精影业 West Oʻahu workplaces to be as safe an environment as any on Oʻahu. Supervisors should ensure that all essential face-to-face services are provided while also considering the need to accommodate requests for COVID-19 telework to the extent necessary to protect the health of our employees.
5. Please get tested 3–5 days after returning from any travel. If possible, employees should work from home while awaiting test results. Students should limit exposure to others while awaiting test results.
6. If you are on campus and end up testing positive, please inform the 东精影业 West Oʻahu COVID-19 Response Team at covidwo@hawaii.edu or (808) 689-2525.

Within the next few days, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jeff Moniz will provide more information to all instructional faculty and staff regarding both online and in-person instruction during the first two weeks of the spring 2022 semester. During the week of Jan. 3, 2022, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jan Javinar will provide information regarding the start of the spring session to students and student support staff.

We look forward to seeing you very soon! Until then, we wish you and your ʻohana a safe and joy-filled New Year celebration!

E mālama pono!
Chancellor Maenette Benham

Some Leeward classes to move online for first two weeks of spring 2022

Aloha Students,

As you have probably read President Lassner鈥檚 recent message, some courses originally scheduled for in-person instruction, starting January 10, may transition to online for the first two weeks of the semester, as a result of the COVID surge we are experiencing. You will be notified by next week if your course will experience a modality shift, so please be sure to check your 东精影业 email for any updates.

Aloha,
Keala Chock
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Class modality for the first two weeks of school

Aloha mai kākou,

I hope you are all well and enjoying the winter break. To promote the health and safety of our University of Hawaiʻi community, President Lassner has encouraged classes scheduled for hybrid and face-to-face modes to be delivered fully online for the first two weeks of instruction, through January 23, 2022.

Instructors have been encouraged to reach out to you regarding class plans so that you may prepare for the start of the semester. Please frequently check your hawaii.edu email and Laulima notifications to see how your instructors plan to offer the first two weeks of classes.

I hope you were able to rest and rejuvenate over this break and are ready for a great spring semester!!

Best Regards,
Jennifer Brown

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on December 28, 2021.

Aloha to all during this holiday season during which COVID-19 continues to throw us wrinkles.

With the explosive emergence of the , Hawaiʻi is experiencing another major surge in COVID-19 cases, and we have had significant clusters associated with 东精影业 as well. Fortunately, neither 东精影业 nor our communities are experiencing the truly alarming levels of illness and hospitalizations associated with previous surges. However, the case counts are extremely worrisome and 东精影业 leadership has been in regular conversation with our internal experts and others as we have monitored the COVID-19 numbers and models.

After much discussion, we are announcing that in-person classes that can be effectively taught online will be temporarily shifted to electronic delivery for the first two weeks of the semester. We are not changing course modalities but merely making this adjustment to maximize the safety of our campuses during the expected peak, including with those who may be returning from another island or farther. All 东精影业 campuses will remain open, including residence halls at 东精影业 Mānoa and 东精影业 Hilo, and on-campus services will remain available during normally scheduled hours.

We know that many courses require in-person attendance. Fortunately, over the past year and a half we have learned much about physical distancing and how to offer our lab sections, clinical experiences, Career and Technical Education (CTE) shop courses and studios safely under COVID-19 conditions. Determinations of which sections will move online for these first two weeks of the spring semester will be made on our campuses based on local considerations including COVID-19 conditions in the area, density of student populations in classrooms, number of students who will be traveling back to campus and instructional needs to keep all students on track to graduate. Look for more specific announcements from each campus in the next day or so.

We are disappointed to take this action but believe it is appropriate to protect the health and safety of our students and employees. Based on the best information available, a full return to the published modalities of instruction for all courses on January 24, 2022 should be safe for all.

We also urge all our students and employees to get their booster shot as soon as they are eligible, typically 6 months after the 2nd dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. We are encouraged by the high vaccination rates among our students and employees across the 东精影业 System and we are now making plans to include booster shots upon eligibility as part of the definition of what it means to be “fully vaccinated.”

We hope this information helps you with your planning, and we look forward to welcoming you back to campus next month.

Best wishes for the New Year鈥攎ay it be safe and healthy for all!

E mālama pono,
David Lassner

Educational specialists from 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 prisons acquired refreshing new techniques and insights after a one-day training session with a instructor this summer. Like other industries, correctional facilities throughout the state experienced lockdowns and program cancellations due to COVID-19. This was especially challenging for educational staff who had to continue to deliver programs and services for the incarcerated population.

The State of Hawaiʻi Corrections Program Services-Education Branch, in partnership with the Leeward CC鈥檚 (OCEWD), provided a day-long training for education specialists, supervisors and select staff from statewide correctional facilities in June.

“Working at a correctional facility can at times be draining,” said Halawa Correctional Facility Education Supervisor Roseann Propato. “The ‘Train the Trainer’ session was helpful in getting to know more about my peers, realizing the value in the work we do, and renewed my sense of purpose.”

Drawing from 24 years of diverse experience, Leeward CC instructor Loretta Chen created an engaging, activity-filled day that included: “The Power of Perspective,” “Design Thinking and Active Empathy”, “From Broadway to Boardroom” (team building, singing and skits), and viewing of Chen鈥檚 short film The Secrets to Happiness (shot entirely in Bhutan, with a heartwarming message of the importance of gratitude and humility synonymous with the espousal of the aloha spirit).

“I enjoyed our all-day training session with Dr. Loretta. She taught me the absolute most important trait when communicating with anyone—empathy. Dr. Loretta鈥檚 emotional intelligence is impressively beyond reproach,” said Francis Taele, education supervisor at the Women’s Community Correctional Center.

Chen is now teaching entrepreneurship, customer service and financial literacy courses in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 correctional facilities. These programs can be designed to suit most organizational needs.

or call (808) 455-0477 to learn more about OCEWD鈥檚 customizable training (for a variety of industries).

Members of the National Champion and some of their most diehard and well-known fans star in a Hawaiʻi Department of Health public service announcement (PSA) encouraging everyone to get vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus.

In the PSA, thanks to their vaccinated status, Warriors Gage Worsley, Jackson Van Eekeren and Head Coach Charlie Wade make a “love connection” with 东精影业 volleyball aunties Lauretta Sewake, Lenora Yagi and Florence “Cookie” Kim.

“The national champs and their super fans were such good sports,” said DOH spokesman Brooks Baehr. “It is a lighthearted way to remind everyone to get vaccinated and do their part in helping and end the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The 2021 men鈥檚 volleyball team captured 东精影业鈥檚 fourth national team title following the sailing team鈥檚 national championships in 2004 and 2001 and the women鈥檚 volleyball team鈥檚 title run in 1987.

The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing stressors in the lives of many university students. Employment, housing and food insecurity have been compounded by new health concerns and the rapid shift to online learning.

During the 2020鈥�21 academic year, like other University of Hawaiʻi campuses, shifted to mostly remote learning. The college鈥檚 early adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and other no-cost resources helped reduce the financial burden presented by high-cost textbooks.

In spring 2021, Leeward CC, classes in 东精影业鈥檚 10-campus system, conducted more than half (52%) of all class sections with zero-cost textbooks.

“In spring 2019, Leeward CC had 35% of classes as TXT0, saving students over $3.4 million since we began tracking in 2015. I really thought the number of classes would start to plateau, but was amazed when two years later we are at 52% with $6.3 million in (cumulative) student savings,” said Leanne Riseley, interim dean of academic services.

Students save

For students working toward earning their degree during a pandemic without access to resources they would normally have, OERs are proving to be the difference in helping their pursuit of academic goals. Not having to pay for course materials gives them the opportunity to use their money in other ways to meet their personal needs.

Students are singing the praises of zero-cost textbooks. Brianna Dyson earned her liberal arts degree from Leeward CC in May 2020.

“With the $121.80 I didn鈥檛 have to spend on a textbook, I was able to pay for my son鈥檚 daycare!” Dyson said.

Genesis Larson used her textbook savings in a different way.

She said, “With the money I didn鈥檛 have to spend on a textbook, I saw the world I was learning about.”

The big picture

TXT0 is part of a larger initiative to make college more affordable by replacing high-cost commercial textbooks and other course materials with openly licensed versions that are available at no cost to students. The integral to OERs allow instructors to adopt the materials as is, or to adapt and modify them to align with their specific course learning outcomes.

At Leeward CC, this initiative inspired faculty and academic support personnel to collaborate and innovate鈥攍ibrarians helped instructors identify OERs for their classes and where OERs did not exist, the library supported their move to TXT0 by purchasing ebooks and subscribing to streaming video collections that were accessible (and free) to students. Instructional designers helped instructors to incorporate OERs into their online courses and guided them through the course redesign process when necessary.

“Leeward CC continues to strive to reach the 东精影业 Community College strategic goal of reducing the cost of education for students through adopting OER to replace textbooks.” said Chancellor Carlos Pe帽aloza.

Since 2015, Leeward CC has offered professional development and trained more than 150 faculty from all 东精影业 Community College campuses, 东精影业 Hilo and 东精影业 West Oʻahu. They credited this training with giving them the skills and confidence to use OER in their classes.

Faculty see benefits

This synergy directly impacted student learning, and many of Leeward CC鈥檚 faculty believe that the benefits of transitioning away from costly commercial textbooks and course materials were well worth the effort.

Ashley Biddle, a psychology instructor, said, “Before, I found that students were overwhelmed with the amount of reading from a textbook and either just didn鈥檛 do it or read but didn鈥檛 do a great job pulling out important information. So, when I created my own re-mixed OERs, I pulled out this information for them, wove in YouTube videos, recorded my own mini-lectures on important topics and included links pointing them to popular press articles on related topics. And students are actually doing the reading now! Grades have improved, retention has improved!”

• Related 东精影业 News story: More than $5M in 东精影业 student savings from online textbooks [VIDEO], December 15, 2019

—By Tad Saiki

Last May, the University of Hawaiʻi began a partnership with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) to train Community Health Workers (CHWs) as part of the DOH-东精影业 Contact Tracing Training Program and the in an effort to enhance health outreach in high-risk communities affected by COVID-19. A year later in May, nearly 150 students statewide will have earned their certification training through the 东精影业 online program, and have been or will be ready to play a vital role in the state鈥檚 response to the ongoing pandemic.

CHWs draw on our own resiliency building experiences to help other individuals navigate and heal
—Lia Thorne

As CHWs, these trainees have the skills to help connect disadvantaged populations with health care providers and community resources to improve the quality of their health and lives. These populations include the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities, as well as uninsured and homeless individuals. CHWs are trusted advocates for their patients who oftentimes do not know where to turn to for help.

“Hawaiʻi is blessed with a rich and diverse population and afflicted with stark health inequities,” said CJ Johnson, DOH COVID-19 Outreach and Public Health Education community liaison. “As the Department of Health and its community partners rise to the formidable challenge of a vaccination campaign without any precedent in its scale and urgency, the importance of community health workers has never been clearer. The professional and lived experience they bring to the table ensures that our plans include community voices and address community needs.”

Helping to end homelessness

Martha Boyd is a CHW with the Queen鈥檚 Care Coalition (QCC). Boyd has been with the coalition since it began operating in 2018 and was able to complete the 东精影业 program while she was employed. “What I learned at 东精影业 was priceless! I could take what I learned in school and immediately apply it to my patients I was seeing in the community,” she said.

At Queen鈥檚, Boyd works with patients who are usually homeless, uninsured or underinsured. She assists up to 12 patients at a time for about 90 days, depending on the cases. “They come to the Emergency Department for colds, food or clothing because they do not know about resources in the community that can help them,” she explained. “I offer shelter options, food bank options, clothing, connection to insurance services, connections to a primary care doctor, and often accompany them to doctors appointments.”

“When I do this, the patient is not viewed as a ‘homeless, non-compliant patient,’ but as a ‘human being’ that needs care,” she said. “This changes the way doctors and staff respond to the patient.”

Boyd said their work at QCC is important “to really help end homelessness in Hawaiʻi, by trying to get our patients in housing, shelters and help with their problems, whether it is mental health, no money or no family connections.”

According to Boyd, some patients are not aware of COVID-19 or are resistant to getting vaccinated. To address their questions and concerns, she provides them with information from the CDC or consults with her medical director to make sure they have the facts and answers to help them make an informed decision.

“I don鈥檛 try to change their minds. The patient is still capable of making their own medical decisions,” she said. “My care for the patient is driven by what the patient desires and wants, not me 鈥榤aking鈥� them do what I want.”

Due to COVID-19, Boyd and her colleagues have adapted in the way they deal with their patients. While face-to-face interactions have been minimized, creative solutions have helped them build and sustain the relationships with their patients, including buying them cell phones so they can keep their telephonic appointments with doctors. According to QCC, the average cost savings per patient served through the QCC program is about 40%.

Addressing vaccine mistrust

Another 东精影业 program graduate, Lia Thorne, serves as a CHW with HMSA and focuses on Quest HMSA members. Thorne provides members with services ranging from weekly touch-base phone calls to assisting them in navigating public programs, such as applying for federal , formerly known as Food Stamps, and/or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. Her caseload can be as high as 25 patients at a time.

Thorne has extensive experience working at various health care systems across the island. She notes that while the role of CHWs has been brought to the forefront even more during COVID-19, they have been involved in patient care for as long as medical and health existed.

“We do not possess all knowledge, but we do possess the bonds that tie us to our communities,” she said. “We are a key component in the continuity of patient care because we have close relationships with those cultures and communities that we personally identify with, live in and serve.”

With regard to COVID-19 vaccinations, Thorne said she hears a lot of mistrust issues from members, including how vaccines are made, difficulty with understanding the different vaccination tiers, and concerns about how policy decisions were made. “Many people feel disgruntled about having to wait for a vaccination. Relaying accurate information is vital to bringing about understanding and trust,” she said.

Thorne provides members with visual aids that can be found on trusted sites such as CDC and DOH, especially in other languages. This sometimes leads her to sharing and educating members about using the internet, and accessing apps on their smartphones. She knows it鈥檚 important work, and part of her role as a CHW.

“The reality is this鈥揫due to COVID-19] every human being on this planet now has a shared traumatic experience. CHWs draw on our own resiliency building experiences to help other individuals navigate and heal,” Thorne said.

More on CHW certificate program

The CHW program is a certificate program that can be completed in one or two semesters. The statewide program is accessible at . Additional programs are offered at and . Courses include: CHW fundamentals, counseling and interviewing, health promotion and disease prevention, case management, an in-person practicum component and COVID-19 health clinical training.

Interested students may visit the respective 东精影业 community college websites to .

—By Arlene Abiang

Imagine meeting your new cohort for the next four years and future lifelong friends from behind a large face mask and six feet apart if not through the glow of a computer screen. For medical students in the class of 2024, this was their reality as they began their journey at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) in July 2020.

“Due to COVID-19, our class missed out in getting to know each other. Not only did we have to overcome the struggles of a global pandemic and starting medical school, we had to do it practically isolated from our classmates,” said Amanda Tsuhako, MD 2024 candidate.

Wanting to bond with her classmates, MD 2024 candidate Vera Ong came up with the idea for them to create a music video—a fun project that would allow them to get to know each other outside of class while also showcasing their artistic talents.

“Through this video, we proved to ourselves that a little creativity and a lot of communication can go a long way,” said Ong. She added that her classmates were very receptive to the idea and willing to participate, with many volunteering to sing, act, dance, play musical instruments and edit the video.

Going the distance

The students came up with a number of song options, but ultimately “How Far I鈥檒l Go” from Disney鈥檚 Moana won by a landslide. The planning of the project commenced in July 2020 shortly after they began medical school.

The lyrics were finalized in August, students recorded their instruments and vocals in the Medical Education Building auditorium-turned JABSOM music studio in November, and the video was completed in January 2021.

The project turned out to be a full production complete with 30 individuals involved in the logistics, acting, dancing and creating the music. The music video involved special faculty cameos, including Dean Jerris Hedges, as well as support from faculty and staff throughout JABSOM.

The MD Class of 2024 hopes the video brings joy to all those who watch it and encourages the Hawaiʻi community to continue to stay strong during this pandemic.

This work is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education, how 东精影业鈥檚 10 campus system responded, and the expected lasting impact on colleges and universities nationwide. Lassner made his remarks while appearing on on January 22, 2021 in the episode .

One of the first issues addressed was how the cost of higher education has remained the same despite the move to online instruction in spring 2020 because of the pandemic.

“There鈥檚 a national discussion around our students and getting what they鈥檙e paying for,” Lassner said. “What I would say from pretty much every college’s perspective is that costs haven鈥檛 gone down, they鈥檝e gone up. We鈥檙e making incredible sets of arrangements to educate students effectively, and ensuring they stay on their pathways by providing additional assistance through this COVID-19 period.”

Lassner also highlighted the importance of embracing the positive impacts of the pandemic and what 东精影业 will continue implementing when campuses shift back to in-person instruction in fall 2021.

“I think our embrace of technology in every aspect of teaching, learning, working, and I think our investments in mental health, those are things that will stick with us,” said Lassner. “What I am proudest of is the grit and resilience of the community. This was not an easy year to get through by any means. Succeeding and taking our students through last spring, growing our class in the fall, keeping our class through the fall and into this spring, that took everybody. All of our faculty, all of our staff, all of our students really digging in and showing resilience and I couldn鈥檛 be prouder.”

Lassner was one of four panelists on the show that included Chaminade University President Lynn Babington, Konawaena High School counselor Travis Nakayama and Maui High School senior Jadynne Zane. The entire episode can be .

Update January 11, 2021: The performance is available on Intercollegiate Marching Band’s and pages.

Original story:

Ten students will take the national spotlight during the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 11. They will be among 1,500 students from 200 bands across the nation performing virtually in the halftime show. This is a silver lining for the students after the 东精影业 Marching Band was sidelined this season due to COVID-19.

“It’s extremely cool that I’m part of something as big and memorable as this,” said drum major Casandra Ancheta. “This isn鈥檛 something that would normally happen during the season and being able to rep 东精影业 during this is such a huge blessing. It鈥檚 a tough time right now for marching bands, and musicians in general, but knowing that there are still ways we can make music is really important for me and I鈥檓 sure for everyone else as well.”

The group will perform Beyoncé鈥檚 “End of Time.” The choreographed halftime show by the College Band Directors National Association, GPG Music and Our Virtual Ensemble, was created since many marching bands nationwide have been unable to rehearse and perform due to the pandemic. It will feature musicians, color guards, baton twirlers, majorettes and dancers. Fernando Pacheco, the “Voice of the Rainbow Warrior Marching Band,” was also selected as one of the halftime announcers.

“The pandemic impacted many marching band organizations and this project allowed us to make music with other college band members,” said trombone/euphonium section leader Joey Nakamoto. “Without the pandemic, this opportunity would not have been available.”

Participating students

• Haleysable Alicto—Color Guard
• Casandra Ancheta—Alto Saxophone
• Isaiah Avilla—Color Guard
• Zachary Chang—Snare Drum
• Michael Englar Jr.—Trumpet
• Callyn Marvell—Twirler (winner of Mountain West Conference Collegiate Fantastic twirling competition)
• Joey Nakamoto—Trombone
• Dane Pinell—Mellophone
• Candice Sarangay—Color Guard
• Katelyn Tokunaga—Color Guard

Season during COVID-19

The 东精影业 Marching Band modified its operations in fall 2020. COVID-19 restrictions limited large gatherings, which forced rehearsals to be held virtually. The band鈥檚 drumline also rehearsed safely in-person outdoors.

Despite not having full in-person rehearsals and performances, Ancheta, one of three drum majors, said she is proud of the band鈥檚 approximately 250 members.

“The band really stuck through this semester and still came to virtual rehearsals with a positive attitude every day,” Ancheta said. “For me, that鈥檚 what mattered the most because it showed that they really cared about the band and most importantly about each other.”

.

—By Marc Arakaki

The 鈥檚 has a longstanding tradition called Great Leaps, a biannual production that features dance students from both the university and . The show provides students with the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents as well as technical progress within various dance styles including ballet, jazz, modern and aerial.

This year, the production took on a new look with Virtual Leaps Fall 2020 being delivered to audience members in a virtual space the weekend of December 4–6. This online debut was the result of coronavirus restrictions that paused meeting in person both for regular classes and the end-of-semester performance. Dancers and choreographers were challenged in new ways, making the end result a revolutionary experience.

“Having a virtual Great Leaps performance was so important to me to keep our connection to the dance community within 东精影业 Hilo and to our greater community outside of the university,” said Kea Kapahua, head of the dance department and one of the leading contributors to the virtual showcase. “Dance, music and storytelling exist in every culture and we need to keep dancing, making melodies and telling our stories even if the platform of delivery changes.”

The beauty of the biannual dance performance taking place in a virtual format this year is that it actually expanded possibilities for human connection. Those who registered to watch the show were provided a link to an unlisted video on YouTube. This link could be used from anywhere on the island or in the country. Once there, viewers could watch the show as many times as they wanted during the weekend that the video was up. Supporters were able to view the show at their own pace, in the comfort of their own homes.

Student performances and reflection

Students performed beautiful ballets “” and “” at various outdoor Hawaiʻi locations.

东精影业 Hilo and Hawaiʻi CC dance instructor Annie Bunker included video projects of her classes from last spring and this past semester, giving students who didn鈥檛 get a chance to perform last spring the opportunity to have their hard work shown. Her spring students did an while her fall students showcased the as well as an .

Students danced to Andra Day鈥檚 “Rise Up” in a that resembled themes of home, hope and resilience.

The Virtual Leaps Fall 2020 show also featured a new section for students to speak on their experiences taking dance classes online. This is not usually included in ordinary performances as students are expected to express themselves purely through movement; however, this part of the show went a long way to prove how determined and hard-working these students have become. Jordan Ancheta, a 东精影业 Hilo dance student, described the process of practicing and filming for Virtual Leaps Fall 2020 during the COVID-19 era in his .

—By Kiaria Zoi Nakamura, a 东精影业 Hilo English student

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hands-on “classroom” activities that students can do from home are now more important than ever. This inspired University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 鈥� Extension educators to develop some fun times with fungi, virtually helping Oʻahu students cultivate their own oyster mushrooms at home.

More than 100 teachers and community members joined an online webinar, learning how to leverage mushroom cultivation using teacher-crafted lessons for 150 students grades K–12.

Each mushroom grow bag can yield around three flushes (crops) of mushrooms that students can engage with to learn STEM principles, before trying their hand at cooking with—and eating—their very own mushrooms. Younger students use mushrooms to learn about life-cycles, while the older students can practice collecting data and learn about complex nutrient cycles.

While the students have been making mushroom observations, their teachers have been making observations as well. The kids really get creative, the teachers noted, as they find various places to grow and cultivate their mushrooms. The children are excited to have something they can call their own, take care of, and discuss with each other.

More than 250 mushroom kits have been sent out statewide. Teachers are hopeful that after the pandemic, they鈥檒l be able to implement a mushroom program in their classrooms. One day, mushrooms could be cultivated at a larger scale at schools for students to practice laboratory, business or culinary skills with the fungi of their labor.

—By Mahina Smith

undergraduate research and creative works were on display at the 2020 on December 11. Nearly 40 students working on 25 projects presented their work virtually.

The showcase, hosted by the and the (UROP), is held every semester and is open to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students in all fields of study conducting a research project or creative work.

“The showcase demonstrates the high caliber of the work our undergraduates are capable of,” Honors Program Director Vernadette Gonzalez said. “It is always inspiring to see how students across the disciplines take ownership of their education, and work with dedicated faculty to produce original creative and research projects that are signature experiences of their time at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.”

This year鈥檚 projects ranged in topics such as arts and humanities, technology, marine, plants and medicine. The showcase was presented virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“The Fall 2020 Undergraduate Showcase event is yet another great example of how the undergraduate students on our campus are continuing to engage in faculty mentored research and creative work despite the immense difficulties imposed by the pandemic,” UROP Director Creighton Litton said. “The commitment and capacity of these students and their faculty mentors to confront significant challenges is truly remarkable.”

Drone technologies

The (东精影业DT) team presented one of the projects in this year鈥檚 showcase. The project aimed to increase the efficiency of search-and-rescue missions using autonomous waypoint navigation, target localization, image capture and classification, as well as to increase the success of package delivery for unmanned aerial systems. 东精影业DT utilizes three subsystems for the project: unmanned aerial vehicle, unmanned ground vehicle and image processing.

Team members Edmond Chong, Sydney Dempsey, Eliesse Hihara, Isabella Kotsol and Creselle Morales conducted flight tests to confirm the system鈥檚 ability to autonomously navigate through set GPS locations, deliver a payload and classify captured images using IP software. Hihara said individual tests were often successful, but faced challenges when components were combined together.

“Oftentimes we would test electronics individually and everything would work, but when we put them together we find a bunch of problems so we spend the time troubleshooting different things,” Hihara said.

东精影业DT began in 2014 under the mentorship of Professor Wayne Shiroma. Since then, 120 undergraduates in computer, electrical and mechanical engineering have participated. In its second year of international competition, 东精影业DT placed No. 6 of 54 international teams and No. 3 nationally.

Directing a film from a cultural perspective

(ACM) students Malia Adams and Mahina Smith created a short film about a young Hawaiian woman who learns about what her great-grandmother experienced in the early 1900s. I Will Be Your Breath is based on Adams鈥� family and came to life as she listened to her family鈥檚 cassette recordings. Adams recalled learning about the history that her grand-aunties shared about their mother, but all her history was shadowed by the history of Hawaiian colonization.

“The one thing that really stayed with me while listening to the tapes, was the fact that my great-grandmother learned Hawaiian on her own, and I took that as another way of resistance in a period of time where all that they wanted was to erase us,” Adams said. “With this short film I want to let everyone know that thanks to those who were before us, we are still here today, and that we will not be erased.”

Adams and Smith were mentored by ACM Associate Professor Lisette Marie Flanary.

Custom solar water heater

Electrical engineering student Christopher Aguilar created a custom solar water heater that he hopes will eventually improve the efficiency of solar water heaters in Hawaiʻi. The system includes a flat plate solar collector, heat exchanger and water tank. Aguilar鈥檚 design is different from other commercial solar water heaters because it can collect and process data to help him determine the changes needed to improve its efficiency.

Evaluations indicated that during periods of low solar irradiance, heat losses were appreciable when using a flat plate solar collector. In future experiments, Aguilar hopes to introduce nanoparticles into the system to raise thermal conductivity, and ultimately, its efficiency. He said this introduction shows promise given that Hawaiʻi鈥檚 air temperature generally stays consistent year-round.

Aguilar was mentored by Assistant Professor Woochul Lee.

—By Marc Arakaki

While distance education (DE) may seem daunting for college students, the 鈥檚 DE structure has helped students near and far pursue their degrees with ease over decades.

东精影业 West Oʻahu has been a DE leader among the 10-campus 东精影业 System since its beginnings. Through the recent shift to majority online learning following the COVID-19 pandemic, it leveraged its existing infrastructure to its advantage.

“DE programs originally began for the purpose of serving neighbor island students,” said 东精影业 West Oʻahu Director of and Coordinator of the Gloria Niles. However, consistent registration in online course sections demonstrates that distance modes of delivery are popular for many students located on Oʻahu as well.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated advancement in online learning, the faculty have worked diligently to continually improve the digital learning experience for students,” Niles said. “The Office of Distance Learning is looking forward to leveraging these efforts to ensure that in the post-pandemic era, 东精影业 West Oʻahu is well prepared to implement what 东精影业 President David Lassner referred to as, ‘a healthy mix of in-person, hybrid and online instruction.’”

Supporting students, faculty with online resources

At the start of the spring 2020 semester, 40% of all courses at 东精影业 West Oʻahu were already fully online and 50% of student registrations were in fully online courses. While many faculty members had experience teaching online, an estimated 30% of faculty did not.

The 东精影业 West Oʻahu Office of Distance Learning partnered with instructional design teams from campuses across the system to share much needed online resources, and many of the 东精影业 campuses and the opened training sessions systemwide.

Niles added that the pivot to remote instruction in spring 2020, followed by the continuation of offering classes primarily online through the summer and fall 2020, required upgrades to classroom technology, such as computers and video cameras. for faculty to deliver synchronous online instruction or to record lectures.

In addition to faculty assistance, DE students such as Marvin Jake De Peralta, who is completing his bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from the comfort of his home in K墨lauea, Kauaʻi, appreciate what 东精影业 West Oʻahu offers to support students鈥� educational endeavors as distance learners.

De Peralta recognized 东精影业 West Oʻahu鈥檚 Noʻeau Center for providing him with the resources to improve his writing skills in his writing-intensive classes and tutoring to help him understand difficult concepts, especially in his math class.

“Overall, 东精影业 West Oʻahu has made me feel supported through this distance learning journey,” said De Peralta.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The has not skipped a beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. UH Choirs, consisting of the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and University Chorus, premiered its fall 2020 virtual concert on November 28. Pono Kaulike: Justice for All spotlighted how music can be a catalyst for change on local, national and international levels, while also paying tribute to frontline workers helping Hawaiʻi overcome COVID-19. .

Performance themes:

• ʻOnipaʻa—Choral music created during the annexation of Hawaiʻi, composed by Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, seeks how indigeneity and decolonial practice take root in choral music.
• Black Lives Matter: Black Lives and Black Legacies in the Choral Arts—Examines the racial reckoning in America, and seeks how choral and communal music is linked to Black lives and Black legacies in America, and questions how choral craft can affirm that Black lives indeed matter.
• The Singing Revolution—Focus on Estonia and how choral music became a force to combat cultural genocide from the Soviet Union.

Learning outcomes

Despite not being able to meet in-person in fall 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, members from the three ensembles met virtually via Zoom, sang in their homes, shared their learning in breakout rooms and dove into musical narratives.

“I am incredibly proud of our students! They have shown an infinite reservoir of artistic resilience and a tenacious curiosity,” said Jace Saplan, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 director of choral activities and assistant professor. “It is a joy to serve them and to know that even in the midst of a pandemic, our student musicians are finding ways to thrive.”

An online teaching investment by the comes with heartfelt gratitude from students and teachers alike. Through 东精影业 West Oʻahu鈥檚 new Synchronous Online Studio (SOS), online classes feel as though they are being held in-person, providing a positive learning experience during the shift to online instruction because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accounting Professor Franklin T. Kudo and Assistant Accounting Professor Katie Landgraf came up with the idea for SOS during the summer, and created it with the help of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Information Technology (IT) Director Therese Nakadomari.

“We both not only enjoy in-person classes, but felt we needed to do more to engage and motivate our online students,” Kudo said.

Located in the Administration and Health Sciences building, SOS is designed for IT-assisted broadcasting. The studio has lighting and a camera manned by an IT technician, who can record faculty as they move around the room, and adjust sound levels as needed. In the studio, there is a side whiteboard with a Kaptivo, a whiteboard capture device that allows faculty to record and save what they write on the board, and a 75-inch monitor so faculty can see their students while they teach.

“I miss being in the classroom, so this studio really gives me and the students the in-person feel we all long for,” said Landgraf.

In addition to SOS, there is a second studio designed for instructor-driven broadcasting. The room has a Meeting Owl Pro (a 360-degree smart conferencing camera) so faculty can broadcast their class, as well as a whiteboard with a Kaptivo.

The 东精影业 West Oʻahu IT Help Desk handles reservations for the two rooms on a first-come, first-served basis.

A support system for students

In difficult courses, students need to engage with other students to see that they are not the only ones struggling, and they also need to surround themselves with a support system, Landgraf emphasized. Through the SOS, students can engage with their peers and teachers easily to better grasp complex concepts.

“Each student has a different background and knowledge on the subject of accounting and they ask intelligent questions that the professor can expand on,” said Julie Treece, a student of Landgraf鈥檚 intermediate financial accounting course. “The interaction and questioning environment is important for students because it widens our scope of knowledge and is not subjected to just the text.”

Both Kudo and Landgraf recently surveyed their accounting students regarding their learning experience with the synchronous course lectures taught from SOS.

“From what I gathered from the data, the majority of students—meaning those who strongly agree and agree—‘learned more,’ are ‘more engaged,’ ‘more motivated,’ and ‘increased their desire to continue their education with 东精影业 West Oʻahu’ because of this synchronous environment,” said Landgraf.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The incorporated the iconic tango in its .

The piece means “by the head,” and refers to a horse that narrowly wins a race by just the length of its head. Carlos Gardel, a prominent singer-songwriter in the world of tango, wrote the piece to represent the attitude of a compulsive horse-racing gambler, who compares his gambling addiction to his love of women. The piece is representative of both the sensual and exotic nature of the tango.

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Symphony Orchestra Director and Assistant Professor Joseph Stepec said the performers worked with Lance Sabado, a 东精影业 dance lecturer, who taught them about the style of the tango and how to dance the tango through Zoom, as well as how to incorporate the knowledge of the dance into the music.

“Audiences can expect to see an orchestra that has been working hard to make virtual ensemble playing a reality,” Stepec said. “We really enjoyed putting this performance together and look forward to our future projects.”

The video was produced by Duane Padilla, a professional violinist and educator from Hawaiʻi.

Instruction at the University of Hawaiʻi 10-campus system will continue to be primarily online for the spring 2021 semester due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 东精影业 moved the 2020 fall semester almost entirely online in early August after a surge in COVID-19 cases in the State of Hawaiʻi. The spring 2020 semester went abruptly online in March at the outset of the pandemic. Students have already begun registering for the spring semester, which begins on January 11.

“I know we all yearn to return to pre-pandemic life, but at this point, we must prioritize the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and the communities in which we live and work,” said 东精影业 President David Lassner in a systemwide message. “We are committed to help every 东精影业 student stay on track, safely, for on-time graduation.”

In fall 2020, approximately 85% of courses taught in the 东精影业 System were online, 10% hybrid and 5% entirely in-person, although the percentages vary from campus to campus. The mode of course delivery is determined at the unit level with faculty input. On-campus instruction is used for those courses or course activities that cannot be taught effectively online, such as labs, clinical experiences, studios and shops. Appropriate physical distancing, facial coverings and sanitization protocols, per the UH COVID-19 guidelines, are strictly followed.

The guidelines also require the use of a daily health screen app before coming to campus and face coverings and safe physical distancing while on a campus. The university telework policy that was in effect for employees in the fall 2020 semester will continue in the spring semester, and 东精影业 campuses will remain closed to the public.

Lassner said he is optimistic about the fall 2021 semester, saying he hopes for a healthy mix of in-person, hybrid and online instruction.

“Based on what we know today, we hope for a significant return to our campuses for fall, but if there is one thing we have learned through this pandemic, it is that we must continue to be flexible and adapt to changes not under our control.”

President Lassner’s message

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on November 20, 2020.

Aloha 东精影业 ʻohana,

I want to thank everyone for all that you are doing to help others and yourselves through this incredibly challenging 2020. Especially with recent news of successes in COVID-19 vaccine development, I think we are all looking forward to better times ahead in 2021.

But we are not yet all vaccinated, and while Hawaiʻi has the best numbers in the country as of this writing, the pandemic is still raging across the U.S. And even in Hawaiʻi, we do not have COVID-19 under control.

Given current conditions and what we expect in the months to come, it is clear that we must plan for primarily online instruction across our ten campuses in the spring, as it has been this fall. On-campus instruction will take place for those courses and course activities that cannot be taught effectively online; most often, these in-person meetings will be for labs, clinical experiences, studios and shops. Those classes will take place with appropriate physical distancing, facial coverings and sanitization protocols. We are committed to helping every 东精影业 student stay on track, safely, for on-time graduation.

Also, the telework policy that was in effect this semester for employees will continue for the spring semester. And all 东精影业 campuses will also remain closed to the public.

I know we all yearn to return to pre-pandemic life. But at this point we must prioritize the health and well being of our students, faculty and staff, along with the communities in which we live and work. The entire 东精影业 community has done an amazing job in behaving safely, and as a result, we have not experienced the kinds of outbreaks that have occurred at colleges and universities around the country.

Based on what we know today, we hope for a significant return to our campuses for fall 2021. We will be looking to leverage the learning and hard work of our faculty and staff for a healthy mix of in-person, hybrid and online instruction next fall. If there is one thing we have learned through this pandemic, it is that we must continue to be flexible and adapt to changes that are not under our control.

Thank you once again for your hard work, your patience, your resilience and your compassion for one another.

E m膩lama pono,
David Lassner
东精影业 President

A virtual discussion with award-winning author, presidential advisor and professor on November 12, gave an audience of nearly 200 throughout the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 campus insight into the parallels between the 1918 influenza pandemic and the present COVID-19 crisis. Barry answered questions that covered everything from similarities and differences, his experience advising past presidents, thoughts on how COVID-19 will affect us in the future, and practical advice for college students.

The talk was inspired by his best-selling book, (2004), and is part of the First-Year Programs Common Read.

“My colleagues and I are grateful that we were able to have John Barry take part in the Common Read Lecture Series and bring even more context to The Great Influenza and COVID-19 for our students, as well as the campus community,” said Kyle Van Duser, director of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补驶s .

Revealing lessons

“People can handle the truth, but you need to tell it to them,” Barry said in sharing the importance of being candid in messaging from public leaders and the news media, noting it was the biggest mistake in both the 1918 flu and COVID-19. When the 1918 flu outbreak occurred, World War I was nearing its end. However, news media and government leaders suppressed the truth of the flu to avoid affecting public morale. Similarly, he said, the Trump administration downplayed COVID-19 when they learned of the virus in late January 2020.

“The result was people were exposed who otherwise would have survived. Many cities ended up doing many of the things we are doing now. If done sooner, it would have saved more lives,” he said. Barry mentioned cities that were hit hardest in 1918 were where people were lied to the most (i.e. Philadelphia). “Society is based on trust. When you break that trust, it鈥檚 everybody for himself/herself or their family.”

He added, “the major difference in 1918 and now, is from day one, people knew this was not a hoax. It was apparent the virus was very deadly. COVID is a big deal, but not as big as where we were in 1918.”

Barry revealed the 1918 flu killed people who were much younger (about 95%), and affected people neurologically (deep fog state) and attacked the lungs. “The immune system has a lot of very deadly weapons. In 1918, the battlefield was the lung. It was destroying the lung to beat the virus. People died of bacterial influenza,” he said.

He stressed the importance of mask wearing, saying “Just wearing masks alone by itself will not solve the problem, but is an important piece to solve the problem.” Interestingly, he said masks were not as effective in 1918 because the period of transmission of the virus was different.

Barry also compared the relentless pressure in COVID-19, which is adding more stress on society and the economy. He stated while there was more tragedy and deaths from the 1918 flu, it experienced a shorter incubation of 1 to 4 days, where COVID-19鈥檚 incubation is stretched out to several weeks, impacting mental health and resulting in issues such as domestic violence and suicide.

“I鈥檓 asking every day if there is a better way to handle this. It鈥檚 very difficult. We鈥檝e handled it so poorly. It’s very difficult to get control of it when the numbers are so large. Take care of the virus and the economy will take care of itself,” he said.

Advising public leaders, students

Barry described his experience working with the President George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations as “intellectually challenging and flattering.”

Bush, who read Barry鈥檚 book, made it a high priority for his administration to create a pandemic plan. Barry was involved in the process. He also served as a backchannel communicator to the Obama administration, providing the White House with data from censored scientists around the world.

His advice to President-elect Joe Biden? “Take the advice of public health advisors and get everyone on one page. It鈥檚 easier said than done, especially with governors reluctant to do anything. It鈥檚 a long grueling fight and you have to maintain discipline every day, or it will come back,” said Barry.

The Great Influenza took Barry seven years to write when he intended to complete it in two years. His advice to college students (and aspiring writers) was simple: “Love what you鈥檙e getting into. When things aren鈥檛 working, you have to figure out, is this something you want to walk away from or is it something you can solve if you persist?”

More on Common Read

and other presenters part of the Common Read Lecture Series. Free paperback copies of The Great Influenza are available on a first come first serve basis at Sinclair Library to anyone in the 东精影业 community interested in reading the book.

The First-Year Programs Common Read advisory reading group is currently accepting book nominations from all 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty, staff and students (graduate and undergraduate) for the fall 2021 Common Read. by January 5, 2021. If you would like to integrate future common reads into your course, contact reading@hawaii.edu to participate in the book selection process.

“The eagerness of my colleagues from across academic disciplines who participated in this project speaks volumes about the collaborative nature of faculty at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and enhances the exchange of ideas and knowledge, which is what the First Year Programs Common Read seeks to do,” said Van Duser.

—By Arlene Abiang

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 is now welcoming back in-person visitors to the and The Art Gallery with safety restrictions, after being shut down for several months due to COVID-19.

Enhanced cleaning protocols have been implemented, a maximum of five people are allowed in galleries at a time, face masks are mandatory, safe physical distancing of at least six feet must be followed and only 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students, faculty, staff and affiliated community members are allowed to visit since the campus remains closed to visitors. Pollack said reopening has perhaps been easier than other public museums and galleries because 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 galleries are located on campus and follow university COVID-19 policies.

“As gallery director here at UH, art is such an important part of our curriculum and what we offer as a university,” said Maika Pollack, director and chief curator, John Young Museum of Art and university galleries, and assistant professor of curatorial studies and art history. “Many people don鈥檛 realize that between the BFA and the BA, art is one of the largest majors at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补. We are thrilled to be able to safely continue our mission to provide examples of cutting-edge art practice and exhibition research in a diverse array of media, and to provide students with access to the artworks in our permanent collection, as is befitting of an R1 (Research 1) university.”

Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the annual student BFA group show, a popular event, which is scheduled for every spring. Pollack also noted that one surprising challenge has been to figure out how to host exhibitions featuring large groups of living artists—called “group shows”—versus individual artists.

“Even when exhibition viewing can be distanced, installation demands close proximity of installers to artworks and sometimes to one another,” Pollack said. “It can be challenging to figure out how to schedule distanced individual drop off of multiple artworks and to install everything remotely.”

Current galleries

“Networks, Collaboration and Resistance in/between Portugal and Brazil, 1962-1982” is on view in the John Young Museum of Art until December 10. This exhibition is the first in Hawaiʻi with works from the collections of two major archives of experimental poetry, the Arquivo Fernando Aguiar in Lisbon and the Coleção Moraes-Barbosa in São Paulo. Experimental poetry in Brazil and Portugal resisted police and military power, oppressive governments and in Portugal, protested colonialism. This exhibition represents nearly 400 poets and authors who took the form of some of the most radical experiments ever seen in magazine publishing. This exhibition was curated by Pollack and Rui Torres.

“Carissa Rodriguez: The Maid” is featured in The Art Gallery in the Art Building until December 10. Rodriguez鈥檚 solo exhibition follows a selection of American artist Sherrie Levine鈥檚 “Newborn” sculptures in various residences, private and institutional, from New York to Los Angeles. Levine made the works in crystal and black cast glass in the early 1990s. Through this exhibition, Rodriguez engages the conditions and settings in which art circulates, proposing that the futures of artworks are inherently speculative. This exhibition was curated by Ruba Katrib from MoMA PS1 in New York. “Carissa Rodriguez: The Maid” was previously on view at SculptureCenter, NY; MIT List Visual Art Center, Cambridge, MA; The Walker Art Center; and The Art Institute of Chicago.

“Chapter One: Lucas Blalock” is the first of a year-long series of solo exhibitions, Out of the Camera: Beyond Photography, in the Art Building Commons Gallery by artists who work primarily as photographers but whose practices extend well beyond traditional definitions of the medium. This showcase will be on display until November 5. Blalock, who lives and works in New York, works with visual editing tools to create compelling images that interrogate the status of contemporary photography. The exhibition was curated by Pollack. Exhibitions in the Commons Gallery will be on view through the windows of the gallery only, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

For more information and details on virtual events, visit the .

—By Marc Arakaki

Medical students aren鈥檛 the only ones having to adapt to changes in learning due to the current COVID-19 situation at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM). This fall, approximately 150 seniors have gone online to be a part of the .

The brainchild of Virginia Hinshaw, its recently retired director and 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor emerita, the Mini-Medical School started at JABSOM in 2014 in partnership with the . The school was designed to prepare participants for the second halves of their lives by delivering relevant scientific information on aging, similar to what medical students learn but tailored for a public audience. Originally held annually each spring, a repeat session is also held in the fall due to overwhelming demand.

As life spans increase, so does the interest in “healthy aging,” especially in Hawaiʻi, where life expectancy is the longest in the country. By the end of the decade, Hawaiʻi will lead the nation in percentage of seniors in the population, with one-third of its residents aged 65 years or older.

The Mini-Medical School is led by Kamal Masaki, professor and chair of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, with assistance from Chang Kim, the program鈥檚 director of operations. Masaki took over the program amid the ever-evolving pandemic, and with an eye toward safety for her students, faculty and staff, she has transitioned the normally in-person five-week course online via Zoom. Several practice sessions were held for the students prior to the start of the program, giving them an opportunity to learn how to use Zoom.

The current session has proven that JABSOM鈥檚 medical students aren鈥檛 the only ones in their families with a thirst for learning, as several of them picked up the course binder and materials for their parents and grandparents who are enrolled in the Mini-Medical School.

—By TC Chun