The earned high marks in nearly 20 academic subjects in the , with , and leading the way among the highest-ranked programs.

Oceanography ranked No. 5 in the U.S. and No. 7 in the world, atmospheric science placed No. 8 nationally and No. 11 worldwide, and hospitality and tourism management ranked No. 12 in the U.S. and No. 32 in the world.

The rankings were released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy and is considered one of the most comprehensive and objective assessments of university performance by discipline.

东精影业 Mānoa also posted strong global and national placements across science, engineering, social science and other fields. tied for No. 17 in the U.S. and ranked No. 51–75 worldwide, while ecology and each tied for No. 24 nationally and placed No. 76–100 globally.

Additional 东精影业 Mānoa subjects recognized in the 2025 rankings include communication, education, political science, water resources, biological sciences, civil engineering, food science and technology, environmental science and engineering, agricultural sciences, economics, management and physics.

“These rankings reflect the depth and consistency of excellence at 东精影业 Mānoa,” Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “Our faculty are advancing research that matters locally and globally, while preparing students to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our world.”

东精影业 Mānoa was evaluated alongside approximately 2,000 universities from more than 100 countries and regions, selected from a global pool of more than 25,000 institutions. The rankings are based on measures such as world-class faculty, world-class research output, high-quality research, research impact and international collaboration.

Other recent rankings:

• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, October 9, 2025
• Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, October 2, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, September 23, 2025

For more information, .

—By Marc Arakaki

The University of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Army Reserve鈥檚 9th Mission Support Command (9th MSC) have entered into a new Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) to advance environmental stewardship, conservation and regulatory compliance at Army Reserve facilities throughout the Pacific region.

“The University of Hawaiʻi is excited to further expand our environmental stewardship role through this agreement with the U.S. Army Reserve鈥檚 9th MSC,” said 东精影业 Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad Walton. “We are extremely proud to have been selected as a trusted partner in support of the Army Reserve鈥檚 mission in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific through our expertise in environmental sciences and stewardship.”

The agreement, signed at Fort Shafter on December 1, establishes a collaborative framework for 东精影业 experts to provide environmental compliance, conservation and pollution prevention support to the 9th MSC, ensuring alignment with Department of Defense (DOD), federal, state, territorial and local environmental requirements.

“This partnership underscores UH鈥檚 commitment to applying its expertise in service to our community and environment,” said Suzanne Case, director of the , which is overseeing the IGSA. “By working alongside the Army Reserve, we are helping to safeguard our environment in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, while supporting mission readiness.”

The new agreement reflects a growing model of military-academic partnerships, where institutions of higher education provide specialized expertise to strengthen DOD operations while creating new applied learning and workforce opportunities for students and researchers.

“Our partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi strengthens our shared mission to preserve Hawaiʻi鈥檚 environment and serve the community,” said Brig. Gen. Katherine A. Trombley, commanding general of the 9th Mission Support Command.

The 9th Mission Support Command is America鈥檚 Army Reserve of the Pacific. Under the operational control of U.S. Army Pacific Command, it provides trained and ready forces to overseas contingency operations. The command has 3,500 soldiers and 160 civilians located in three different countries, three states, three American territories and seven time zones throughout the Pacific.

A leading voice for Indigenous rights in Aotearoa (New Zealand) will visit the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 on Thursday, October 30, to discuss the future of Indigenous governance and solidarity across the Pacific.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of Te P膩ti M膩ori and a member of New Zealand鈥檚 Parliament, will appear in an onstage conversation with Noelani Goodyear-碍补ʻ艒辫耻补, a professor at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补. The free public event at the art auditorium is hosted by the 东精影业 Better Tomorrow Speaker Series and begins at 6:30 p.m. ()

“We are deeply honored to host the Honorable Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, whose leadership embodies the courage and clarity our times demand,” said Goodyear-碍补ʻ艒辫耻补. “Grounded in the tino rangatiratanga (absolute sovereignty) of her people and a visionary in her pursuit of thriving futures for Aotearoa and Oceania, she is not only a parliamentarian but a protector. This dialogue is a rare opportunity to learn from her experience and to strengthen the ties between our nations, connected by our great ocean.”

Standing for justice

Ngarewa-Packer has spent decades defending M膩ori lands and waters. Before entering Parliament, she led her iwi (people), Ng膩ti Ruanui, in successful campaigns to block seabed mining off the South Taranaki coast. Those battles continue to guide her work in national efforts for environmental protection, poverty reduction and equity for M膩ori communities.

The Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, which is organizing the event, is a joint venture of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, The Learning Coalition and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, with support from the 东精影业 Foundation.

This event is made possible through the sponsorship of Kai膩ulu by Kamehameha Schools, and with additional support from the College of Arts, Languages & Letters, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and William S. Richardson School of Law.

The University of Hawaiʻi is expanding its environmental support services to the (USAG-HI) through a new Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) signed September 16, at the Schofield Barracks Seed Lab. USAG-HI oversees key Army lands on Oʻahu, where 东精影业 expertise helps balance training needs with protecting island resources.

“This partnership underscores the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 role as a trusted partner in conservation and environmental stewardship,” said Chad Walton, 东精影业 interim vice president for research and innovation. “Through this agreement, we can apply 东精影业 expertise in environmental science and resource management to support the Army鈥檚 mission, while creating new, real-world career and workforce development opportunities in environmental stewardship for our faculty, staff and students.”

Building on partnerships

Since 1995, 东精影业 and USAG-HI have worked together through the (ANRPO), a partnership now overseen by the . Through ANRPO, 东精影业 researchers support environmental stewardship, conservation and natural resources management initiatives at military installations and training grounds on Oʻahu, which is vital for ensuring military readiness, while preserving Hawaiʻi鈥檚 natural resources.

For example, USAG-HI has supported dozens of 东精影业 researchers and technicians to help protect native habitats by conducting research, control and eradication of invasive plants, rodents, slugs and other pests, while also maintaining and restoring populations of endangered plants and animals through development of monitoring, cultivation and reintroduction techniques.

“The University of Hawaiʻi has the experience and expertise, and also the responsibility to our island home, to help ensure the very best education, talent and research in natural research management and environmental stewardship applied to military lands in Hawaiʻi,” said Suzanne Case, director of the 东精影业 Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures. “This expanded partnership is both an opportunity and a kuleana [responsibility] that we take seriously.”

This IGSA will allow 东精影业 and USAG-HI to grow and expand its collaborative opportunities in improving environmental resilience, while growing conservation workforce capacity and impact. The agreement represents a stronger partnership model between the U.S. Department of Defense and local institutions nationwide, allowing military installations to improve their operations while caring for island resources, supporting regional economies and leveraging academic expertise.

“By tapping into 东精影业鈥檚 world-class expertise in environmental science and resource management, we enhance our operational readiness while safeguarding Hawaiʻi鈥檚 unique ecosystems for future generations,” said Col. Rachel Sullivan, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaiʻi commander. “This collaboration not only bolsters the Army鈥檚 ability to train and deploy forces under sustainable practices, but it also creates opportunities for workforce development, inspiring students, and researchers to become stewards of these islands. Together, we鈥檙e demonstrating how we can unite to protect our environment, support our community, and build a stronger Army—right here in Hawaiʻi.”

As a kid, Maya Singh heard from her family stories about the ocean and land in Fiji that inspired her passion for the outdoors and, ultimately, for environmental science.

“I grew up in British Columbia, Canada, but my family is from Fiji,” said Singh, who will be graduating this month from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in (GES). “My grandpa would tell me stories of him and his brothers catching shrimp outside and playing in the ocean and rivers. It really inspired me to want to live closer to the ocean.”

With a passion for the environment and ocean, Singh moved to Hawaiʻi after graduating high school to pursue a degree at the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 . For her senior research, Singh worked with mentor and Assistant Prof. to support coastal management and preservation on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈. She developed a beach carrying capacity tool to determine the maximum number of visitors a beach can hold without surpassing the limits of acceptable environmental or social change at the beach.

As the culmination of this research effort, Singh wrote a senior thesis and presented her findings at the Spring 2025 GES Symposium, a showcase of the research conducted by graduating GES students.

“This tool was developed as a means to understand the changes at the beach and how we can best preserve the beach for future generations,” said Singh. “The thing I enjoy most about conducting this research is being able to work with the community and make a difference. Talking to the local community in the field and connecting with high school students to share the research we are conducting and why it’s important is very fulfilling.”

Meet more amazing 东精影业 spring graduates

Supported by funding from the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 , Singh also worked with Keiko Wilkins, a doctoral candidate in Bob Richmond鈥檚 research group at , to investigate how plastic pollution threatens marine ecosystems. Specifically, she tested the effects of microplastics on sea urchin fertilization. Singh also assisted with collecting and preparing coral samples for Wilkins鈥檚 dissertation research on microplastic effects on corals in the Pacific Ocean.

The academic and research experiences Singh has had through the GES program have solidified her commitment to pursuing a career in Hawaiʻi in environmental science after graduation. Eventually, she hopes to continue with her education by working toward a graduate degree in oceanography.

—By Marcie Grabowski

Approximately 2,000 pollution-fighting “genki balls” were launched into the Ala Wai Canal on November 9, as part of an innovative mathematics lesson combining environmental cleanup with real-world applications.

The genki balls, created by hundreds of University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Math 100 students in mid-October, contain nutrient and microbial-rich soil designed to release beneficial bacteria into the waterway. Each teaspoon of healthy soil can contain up to one billion bacteria, contributing more than a trillion beneficial microorganisms to the canal鈥檚 ecosystem. The balls underwent a three-week maturation period before their release into the canal.

“I think that it鈥檚 important for 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students to get involved in the community and this unit was about microbiomes, ocean acidification and climate change,” said Maʻalaea Collier, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 math learning assistant. “This group of students, or generation in general, is becoming more aware of the effects. I saw students very engaged and wanting to participate.”

The project, a collaboration between 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and the , incorporates lessons on scientific notation and environmental data analysis. The activity aligns with the course鈥檚 microbiome unit and is part of a new General Education pathway focused on sustainability and climate change solutions.

“It鈥檚 really valuable for the students to not only learn the math but also see it connected to sustainability and community engagement,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Department of Mathematics Associate Professor Sarah Post said. “We have a lot of freshmen so this is a way for them to get involved at 东精影业 and in the local communities as well.”

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Interim Vice Provost for Academic Excellence Laura Lyons also joined the students to toss the genki balls into the water.

“What a wonderful way to help them to learn, to be engaged in the community at the same time and to be working on a practical solution for a real problem,” Lyons said. “I have this other feeling which is incredible gratitude because I live along the Ala Wai and this is my walking path. To know that people are caring for it, to know that we can be good stewards of the Ala Wai, that鈥檚 really important to me.”

The Ala Wai Canal, constructed in 1928, is one of the state鈥檚 most polluted waterways, collecting runoff from the 惭腻苍辞补 and P膩lolo valleys. This initiative contributes to the Genki Ala Wai project鈥檚 larger goal of deploying 300,000 genki balls into the canal by 2026, with nearly 200,000 deployed to date. The Japanese word “genki” means healthy and full of vitality.

The Department of Mathematics is housed in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

—By Marc Arakaki

Learning mathematical concepts while helping to clean one of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 most polluted waterways was the focus of a creative University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 lesson.

Approximately 400 students enrolled in Math 100 created about 2,000 “genki balls” from October 16 to 18, at the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 campus. Genki balls, which get their name from the Japanese word for healthy and full of vitality, are made of nutrient and microbial-rich soil, and are designed to sink to the bottom of a waterway and slowly release beneficial microbes.

The activity was sponsored by 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , in collaboration with the . Students worked during their class times in groups of 30 to 50.

“It’s such a good experience relating math to the real world,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student Janessa Mondragon said.

“It’s just one thing to learn in a classroom with a worksheet in front of you, and it’s another thing to have an instructor like Professor Chyba bring us out here and learn with hands-on experience,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student Jacktino Logoai said.

The project aligns with the course鈥檚 unit on microbiomes, incorporating lessons on scientific notation and environmental data analysis. Students learned that a teaspoon of healthy soil can contain up to one billion bacteria, putting the scale of microbial life into perspective. The students鈥� work will result in more than a trillion bacteria going into the Ala Wai Canal.

The Math 100 course is part of a new General Education pathway focusing on sustainability and climate change solutions.

“Actually being out here in the open, putting their hands in the mud, they’re really opening up with each other making connections and making connections with the course material to sustainability, civic engagement and helping out the environment,” Associate Professor Sarah Post said.

Following a three-week maturation period, the genki balls will be released into the Ala Wai Canal. This waterway, created in 1928, has long been considered one of Hawaiʻi‘s most polluted, collecting runoff from 惭腻苍辞补 and P膩lolo valleys.

The students contributed toward the Genki Ala Wai project鈥檚 goal of deploying 300,000 genki balls into the Ala Wai Canal by 2026. The project is closing in on 200,000 so far.

“I am so impressed with these students that they’re interested in the environment and they are our future,” said Mary Ann Kobayashi, Genki Ala Wai project education coordinator. “So it’s so important for them to know the EM (effective microorganisms) technology and what it can do for Earth because they’re the ones that will pass the knowledge on for us.”

The Department of Mathematics is housed in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

Eight undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 experienced an all-expenses-paid research trip of a lifetime—spending eight weeks in summer 2024 immersed in the Galápagos Islands. They engaged in mentored research via a transformational journey that promoted deep connections to ʻ腻颈苍补 (land/sea), k膩naka (people) communities and m膩lama ʻ腻颈苍补 (stewardship of places and people).

Creighton Litton, professor, (UROP) director, and one of the eight 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty members who designed and implemented the program over the past two years, said, “Mentored research opportunities for undergraduate students is a high impact practice that provides myriad benefits to students, mentors, our campus and our islands as a whole. This is an innovative program—possible via a strong collaboration with the (CDF) in Galápagos, and engagement by multiple faculty from across the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 campus—that provides our students with transformative learning experiences in research science within a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning context.”

More than 80 students applied, and 12 were invited to enroll in a new spring course on island invasion biology to provide a base of knowledge for their mentored research projects. Eight traveled to the Gal谩pagos and four conducted research in Hawaiʻi.

Students developed research proposals in spring 2024 with mentors from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and CDF. The collaborative mentorship approach allowed students to develop their research skills while contributing to real-world scientific questions. During the summer, the traveling students were housed at the CDF research station in the Galápagos, where they conducted their research projects focused on island invasion biology.

During the summer experience, students wrote research papers on every aspect of the scientific process, including literature review, data collection and analysis, conclusions and the socioecological implications of their findings. Each student also crafted a personal, contemporary kaʻao (epic story, tale) to document their experiences, from their hua (initial inspiration) to their haʻalele (preparing for the journey) to the huakaʻi (journey) to the hoʻina (reintegration) back into their on- and off-campus communities.

Important invasive species research

Matthew Kahokuloa鈥檚 project involved assessing plant diversity after the reintroduction of giant tortoises on Santa Fé Island.

“Being my first time leaving Hawaiʻi, it was amazing to experience the biodiversity and ecology of another archipelago鈥檚 ecosystem,” Kahokuloa said. “This trip provided me with invaluable field experience, especially in terms of working in remote environments and applying research methods.”

Emily Josefina Velasquez studied the impacts of Caulerpa racemosa (species of edible green alga) on sand dwelling benthic invertebrates (small aquatic animals that live on the bottom of bodies of water) in the Gal谩pagos.

“You couldn鈥檛 walk for 10 minutes without running into a lounging iguana, sea bird, or sea lion, and we were always close to the ocean.” — Nicole Buyukacar

“The Galápagos was a place where my personal growth as an individual thrived and reaffirmed my passion and drive to work in academia,” Velasquez said. “It’s an unforgettable experience. You鈥檙e immersed in your project, living, breathing, and dreaming about it. I was surrounded by scientists from diverse backgrounds, and living and working in an environment where everyone shares a passion for understanding the world around them.”

Nicole Buyukacar鈥檚 project was about the developmental dynamics and temperature sensitivity of the avian vampire fly.

“The most remarkable thing about the town we worked in, Puerto Ayora, was the abundance of wildlife living right there on our doorstep all the time,” Buyukacar said. “You couldn鈥檛 walk for 10 minutes without running into a lounging iguana, sea bird, or sea lion, and we were always close to the ocean. The experience was an incredible blend of learning to integrate academically and socially into a completely different place while constantly being in awe of the natural beauty and learning to understand the reason why it all needs to be protected.”

The students presented their research and kaʻao products at the CDF research station and at the UROP SURE Symposium. Most students are continuing to work with their mentors to produce peer-reviewed journal publications.

This unique opportunity is the result of a collaboration between 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and CDF and is funded by the National Science Foundation–International Research Experiences for Students ($300,000 grant), the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost鈥檚 Office to align the overall program with the campus goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning ($100,000) and the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship ($80,000). The funds will make the program available to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students for at least the next two years.

For more information, .

—By Marc Arakaki

In celebration of Earth Day, is hosting its 17th free on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to promote the importance of keeping Hawai鈥榠—from the mountaintops to the sea—clean and pollution free.

Guests can enjoy live entertainment, a native plant giveaway and interactive activities including hands-on learning, arts and crafts and educational exhibits that showcase ways to protect and preserve Hawai驶i鈥檚 environment.

The expo is open to the public and free parking will be available in the back parking lot at Jefferson Elementary School beginning at 7:30 a.m., with free shuttle to and from the Waikīkī Aquarium courtesy of Waikīkī Trolley. Guests are also invited to bring refillable water bottles to stay hydrated with water stations.

Visit the for more information.

Pressing concerns surrounding the Red Hill water crisis and overall wai (water) access critical to loʻi kalo (taro patches) and loko iʻa (fishponds) across the state were at the center of a new series of forums held at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补.

To foster advancing the protection of ʻ腻颈苍补 (land) and wai through policy and law, the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 hosted the inaugural on December 15, at the East-West Center. Approximately 200 participants attended the conference that brought together academic researchers from 东精影业, esteemed community leaders and advocates to discuss ailing issues and the need to turn to ancestral innovation to help solve them.

“The university can really be a catalyst to uplift what鈥檚 happening in our community to try to link our research and our mentoring of students to actually solve real-world problems for our islands today,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, who is the Dana Naone Hall Endowed Chair in Hawaiian Studies, Literature and the Environment at Hawaiʻinuākea and a professor at and the .

Kaipulaumakaniolono Baker, a PhD student at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 opened the conference with an oli (chant), followed by remarks from Hawaiʻinuākea Dean Jon Osorio and Beamer who rallied attendees to passionately chant ʻOla i ka wai, which means water is life. He also dedicated the conference to Dana Naone Hall, a k膩naka maoli (Native Hawaiian) environmental activist. This was followed by the first panel focusing on the significant role wai has in feeding Hawaiʻi鈥檚 communities.

Wai sovereignty and justice

A major focus of the conference was on the current state of water management and access in Hawaiʻi and how state leaders can utilize research compiled at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and ʻike (knowledge) from aloha ʻ腻颈苍补 practitioners steeped in rich wisdom passed down from k奴puna to address problems impacting the islands.

“I think here in Hawaiʻi we can really look towards our ancestral systems that solved [issues] for our islands at different scales in different times but are still very viable and valuable for our future today,” Beamer said.

Wai, ʻAi and Iʻa

The first panel featured aloha ʻ腻颈苍补 leaders from loko iʻa, loʻi kalo and wai advocates who expressed the importance of restoring stream flow in critical areas across the pae ʻ腻颈苍补 (Hawaiian archipelago) which can help to support the production of food and customary rights. Panelist H艒k奴ao Pellegrino from Hui O N膩 Wai ʻEh膩 spoke of more than 100 streams on Maui that are currently diverted and the need to restore them.

Wai and Red Hill

The second session addressed strategies on decontaminating water impacted by the Red Hill fuel spill and revealed traditional maps listing freshwater resources on Oʻahu. The panel featured 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Professor Kapua Sproat (Ka Huli Ao), Ernie Lau (Board of Water Supply), Wayne Tanaka (Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi) and Camille Kalama (Kaʻohewai).

Lau lamented that there are still 400 million gallons of fuel sitting over the aquifer and advocated conference attendees to push for the Navy to defuel tanks. “If another spill happens, ‘Oh my gosh, our poor wai,’” Lau said.

Special keynote

Renowned philosopher, political activist, public intellectual and author Cornel West will headline a moderated keynote discussion following the summit at Kennedy Theatre 5–7 p.m. West will speak on imperialism and the occupation of Hawaiʻi, while placing the islands within the context of peoples鈥� movements for liberation and justice across the world.

“Dr. Cornel West has been one of the most influential thinkers of our time when it comes to race, social justice, economic justice, and the liberation of oppressed peoples and occupied nations,” Beamer said. “He is a globally recognized philosopher and progessive activist for human rights. He is one of the most impressive speakers and academics one can witness.”

Organizers plan to host the Piʻo Summit annually with themes highlighting aloha ʻ腻颈苍补 and sustainability, and how to advance local policy issues as well as increase collaboration. The summit is hosted by Pōʻai Ke Aloha ʻ膧ina, a project of the Dana Naone Hall chair, which aims to elevate aloha ʻ腻颈苍补 practices within our community.

Event sponsors include the , , Hawaiʻinuākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, , Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progessive Action, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, ʻ膧ina Aloha Economic Futures, Kanaeokana and Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi.