The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ballroom dance team won its third consecutive national title at the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27–29.

Competing against 37 colleges, 东精影业 Mānoa once again took first place for “highest point average,” as well as a close second place for the overall team championship, asserting its place among the nation鈥檚 top ballroom dance college teams. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires most team members to perform exceptionally well in all events.

The dancers of the Ballroom Dance Club @东精影业M—a registered independent organization at 东精影业 Mānoa—are trained and coached by Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti. Narayan and Sumukti also represented Hawaiʻi in the senior age division placing 1st in several events.

“We are no longer the underdogs, so all the other colleges are looking at us as the team to beat,” said Narayan, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the 东精影业 Mānoa . “The bar is getting raised higher and higher each year, but we prevailed once again. We are incredibly proud of the dedication of our dancers who put in many hours to prepare for this competition. We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from the entire ballroom community in the state of Hawaiʻi.”

The Ballroom Dance Club @东精影业M was formed in September 2022, and the team took first place for “highest team average” in 2024 and 2025.

“Nationals was an amazing and eye-opening experience for me,” said Caleb Zerbe, who competed in the nationals for the first time. “Getting to see so many people dance and enjoy themselves on the floor made me realize how fun dancing can be, even at the highest stages. It was a moment that helped me build a lot of confidence, and one that I will never forget.”

Christopher Ramirez, who competed on all three victorious 东精影业 Mānoa teams, added, “Given the opportunity to compete at my third nationals, there is always something new to learn. Winning for the third year in a row has reminded me just how incredible it is to be a part of this team.”

Tough competition

NCDC is a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. It consisted of multiple events based on proficiency (bronze, silver, gold, etc.). Each student danced in up to 32 different events at the bronze and silver skill levels. They competed in all four styles of ballroom dance including International Standard (waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz), American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing, bolero and mambo) and International Latin (samba, chacha, rumba, paso doble and jive).

Several students took individual first place awards in their respective divisions defeating up to 70 other competitors in some events. This trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition, as Hawaiʻi has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all 东精影业 Mānoa students, faculty and staff in studio 2 in the athletics department from 6—7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, 东精影业 Mānoa Department of Athletics, Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi, USA Dance Honolulu and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for facility and financial support.

东精影业 Mānoa 2026 nationals collegiate and adult team roster:

• Ravi Narayan, faculty (computer science), coach and alumnus
• Synthia Sumukti, coach and alumna
• ʻAulani Wagner, library science and American studies
• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Amanda Kanthack, psychology and Japanese
• Caleb Zerbe, computer science
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Christopher Wright, electrical engineering
• Courtney Hisamoto, computer science
• D’Elle Martin, architecture
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Hannah Madiam, kinesiology
• Iris Calauan, pre-nursing
• Jonathan Bona, civil engineering
• Julietta Lopez, architecture
• Kanaru Ebi, psychology
• Karl Merritt, mechanical engineering
• Luis Hernandez, electrical and computer engineering
• Lyndsey Moku, political science
• Maya Ito, psychology
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Noah Asano, computer science
• Samantha Reed, computer science
• Shaelyn Loo, computer science
• Tessa Heidkamp, journalism and political science
• Andrew Lin, computer science alumnus
• Sydney Kim, computer science alumna
• Jason Aguda, computer engineering alumnus
• Matthew Rummel, political science and business alumnus
• Ariel Ramos, cinematic arts animation alumna
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science alumnus
• Wilson Tran, computer science alumnus
• Florence Liu, faculty, mathematics

Luis Hernandez and Maya Ito dancing the American Cha-cha in the Collegiate Team Match where 东精影业 Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Elijah Saloma and Michaella Villanueva dancing the International Quickstep in the Collegiate Team Match where 东精影业 Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti dancing the Mambo in the Senior IV American Rhythm Championship final. (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Students cheering for their coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has recognized 20 degree programs for exemplary commitment to improving curriculum and student learning through a new faculty-led honor launched this academic year.

The Excellence in Assessment for Improvement: H艒poe Assessment Award celebrates programs that demonstrate outstanding, collaborative assessment practices. “H艒poe” describes the 驶艒hi驶a lehua in its fullest, most vibrant bloom—a symbol of programs that have matured and flourished. The award was established in 2025 by the 惭腻苍辞补 Faculty Senate’s Committee on Educational Effectiveness (CEE).

“This award represents the maturity and beauty of programs that have truly blossomed through meaningful assessment,” said Justin Walguarnery, CEE committee chair. “It is a ‘for faculty, by faculty’ initiative that celebrates the hard work of using assessment to make an appreciable difference in the academic experience.”

The inaugural recipients include programs in:

• Anthropology (MA and PhD)
• Asian International Affairs (MA)
• Cinematic Arts (BA)
• Early Childhood Education (MEd)
• Education (PhD)
• Education: Teaching (MEdT)
• Educational Admin (MEd)
• Educational Psychology (MEd and PhD)
• Elementary Education (BEd)
• Library & Information Sciences (MLISC)
• Professional Educational Practice (EdD)
• Secondary Education (BEd)
• Social Work (BSW)
• Sociology (MA)
• Special Education (BEd and MEd)
• Theatre and Dance (BA and BFA)

Faculty-driven review process

Recipients were selected through a rigorous peer-review process led by the Assessment Report Review Committee (ARRC), a group of about 40 faculty members trained jointly by CEE and the 东精影业 Assessment and Curriculum Support Center (ACSC). Organizers describe the award as a fully faculty-owned effort that highlights collaboration and shared accountability.

This award represents the maturity and beauty of programs that have truly blossomed through meaningful assessment.
—Justin Walguarney

All 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 degree programs submit biennial assessment reports outlining student learning outcomes, curriculum development and benchmarks for achievement. These reports are required for accreditation and are publicly available on the ACSC website. From more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, 20 were recognized in the award’s inaugural year.

Beginning in fall 2026, every degree program will have the opportunity to self-evaluate using the award criteria, including student learning outcomes, curriculum mapping, evidence of learning, fair and reliable evaluation, use of results and culturally responsive assessment practices. Programs indicating “full bloom” will be automatically nominated for review.

By expanding both self- and peer-nomination pathways, organizers hope to spotlight the collaborative, reflective work strengthening education across campus.

CEE committee members that developed the award are Justin Walguarnery, Nicole Schlaack, Jamie Simpson Steele, Joseph Foukona, Alice Tse, Joanna Philippoff, Emile Loza de Siles, Dan Port, Maya Saffery, Jessica Gasiorek, Aimee Chung, Arby Barone, Ann Sakaguchi, Alohilani Okamura, Monica Esquivel and Yao Hill.

University of Hawaiʻi alumna Rebecca Knuth is set to release London Sojourn: Rewriting Life After Retirement, a memoir exploring her transition from academia to a new chapter of life.

Knuth earned her master鈥檚 degree in library and information science (LIS) from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 in 1990 and later taught in the LIS program for 18 years before retiring in 2014. Her career led her to work overseas, complete a dissertation on library history that involved Jamaica, and write case studies on library destruction in Cambodia, China, Kuwait and other nations. She credits 东精影业 for shaping her perspective.

“At 东精影业, I developed global perspectives and an appreciation for culture and diversity that has greatly impacted my work and life,” said Knuth. “I was entranced with three 东精影业 LIS courses…东精影业 allowed me the freedom to pursue these interests through research and writing books and in my teaching.”

After retiring, Knuth shifted from scholarly writing to storytelling for broader audiences, including her earlier work Emily Dickinson Had to Have Curls, which examines how women writers navigated societal expectations.

“The thread that connects all my writing is the notion of silencing. That is what book destruction and intellectual freedom is about. As I researched how writers were and are silenced, patterns emerged and I narrowed my scope to women writers and soon came to see how femininity has affected their ability to write and publish,” she said.

London Sojourn reflects reinvention, resilience and self–discovery. Knuth encourages fellow 东精影业 alumni to embrace new directions in their creative lives.

“I wrote London Sojourn to make sense of my life and to relive that period,” she said. “My advice would be to see life as a series of adventures. People evolve throughout their lives and retirement can be another beginning. If one takes risks and pursues one鈥檚 instincts and interests, life becomes infinitely richer.”

London Sojourn: Rewriting Life After Retirement is set to be published on January 27, 2026.

Read more at .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library and Information Science (LIS) Program is marking 60 years of educating and shaping Hawaiʻi鈥檚 librarians, archivists and information specialists, celebrating its legacy and continued impact across the state and beyond. In recognition of this milestone, Gov. Josh Green proclaimed November 16–22 as 东精影业 Mānoa Library and Information Science Program Week.

“Reaching our 60th anniversary is a testament to the strength and dedication of our entire LIS ʻohana,” LIS Professor and Program Director Rich Gazan said. “Our graduates serve communities across Hawaiʻi and around the world, and their work reflects the values that guide our program. As we look to the future, we remain committed to preparing compassionate, skilled information professionals who uplift and support the people and places they serve.”

The anniversary week opened with a gathering in Hamilton Library, where current students connected with alumni spanning more than half a century. 东精影业ees shared stories and photo slideshows chronicling the program鈥檚 evolution since the 1960s.

Preparing leaders locally, internationally

Established in 1965 under founding dean Ralph R. Shaw, the LIS Program has maintained continuous accreditation from the American Library Association for six decades. Since its inception, the program has graduated 1,841 students who now work across public, school, academic and special libraries, as well as museums and archives in Hawaiʻi, on the continent and internationally. Alumni make up roughly two-thirds of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 professional workforce of librarians, archivists and other information specialists.

Its mission centers on preparing leaders for a wide range of information environments through research, teaching and service, with a strong focus on Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region. The program emphasizes values that guide the state and university, and continues to adapt its curriculum to prepare graduates to serve communities with compassion, effectiveness and cultural understanding.

In the proclamation, Green “encourage[s] all residents to join in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa鈥檚 Library and Information Science Program. Mahalo to the faculty, staff, students and graduates for all you have and continue to do to bring the guiding principles of aloha, ʻohana and kuleana to the people of Hawaiʻi.”

The LIS program is part of the within the 东精影业 Mānoa .

A new training program for subject librarians in Japanese and Asian studies has been established at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , made possible through a generous donation from the .

Through the new agreement, one library science master鈥檚 degree graduate will be hired each year for the next decade as a full-time, nine-month librarian faculty member. Mitsutaka Nakamura, Hamilton Library鈥檚 Japan Studies librarian, will supervise the program, with librarian emerita Tokiko Y. Bazzell advising.

“This is an amazing opportunity for Hamilton Library to make a lasting impact on the field of area studies librarianship, specifically Japanese studies,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro. “Bringing aspiring Japanese studies librarians here to Hamilton will be a game changer.”

While focused on Japanese studies, trainees will also gain experience from Hamilton鈥檚 area specialists in China, Okinawa, Korea, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Russian Far East.

“Hamilton Library plays a central role in the intellectual life of the University of Hawaiʻi, and the Uehiro Foundation highly values its Japan Collection for contemporary and historical research,” the foundation stated. “We look forward to seeing future leaders emerge from this program who will advance the library鈥檚 mission and continue the collection and digitization of Japanese historical materials.”

The Uehiro Foundation has partnered with 东精影业 for more than 20 years, supporting the East-West Philosophers鈥� Conference, the Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education, and the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography.

东精影业 vice president of advancement and CEO Tim Dolan added, “The Uehiro Foundation鈥檚 visionary investment ensures that future generations of librarians will receive the training and mentorship they need to thrive in the field. This program not only strengthens 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, but it also expands the pipeline of professionals advancing Japanese studies librarianship worldwide.”

A personal mission

For Nakamura, who came to librarianship after careers in finance and film/TV, the program is also personal. During his own career transition, he struggled to find relevant internship opportunities, which motivated him to create similar opportunities for others.

His mentor at Columbia University offered advice that still guides him. “First you land the position. Then from day one, you should start training the new generation who will replace you in the future. Otherwise, your position will vanish after you leave.”

The first appointment will begin in July 2026, with the job posting expected in early 2026. Applicants must hold an American Library Association-accredited master鈥檚 degree in library sciences or equivalent, demonstrate strong communication skills in Japanese and English, and show a career focus in Japanese or Asian studies librarianship. For more information, email Mitsu Nakamura at japancol@hawaii.edu.

This article by Windward CC specialist librarian Cindy Texeira and her daughters, Kainani and ʻAulani Wagner, students in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Library and Information Science program, was first published in .

Academic libraries have long reflected Western models of knowledge and order through their values, systems, and structures. They can be sterile and intimidating places, especially for those whose histories and voices have been marginalized.

At Hale Laʻakea library at Windward Community College in ahupuaʻa Kāneʻohe, our goal is to create a space where Native Hawaiian students feel a sense of belonging—a place rooted in aloha ʻāina, ʻike kūpuna, and ea (sovereignty).

Decolonizing the library means acknowledging and undoing the colonial structures embedded in how we organize information, provide services, and occupy space. It is an ongoing process that requires us to question what voices are prioritized, who feels welcome in our spaces, and what cultural values are reflected or erased.

This fall, Hale Laʻakea will host a series of powerful activations (interactive exhibits) from Kanaeokana that invite patrons to connect, reflect, and engage in spaces of ea.

The first, “Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea,” is a digital journey through primary texts, visuals and audio centered on Kamehameha III and his vision of an independent l膩hui. It highlights true historical accounts of his leadership and includes perspectives from both K膩naka and non-kanaka allies.

Next, “Ka Malu ʻUlu o Lele,” explores Lahaina鈥檚 sacred history and cultural resilience. Learners will journey through moʻolelo and mele rooted in the legacy of Kihawahine, the shade of the ʻulu groves, and the call to restore wai and ea to Lele.

The final activation, “Luka Keʻelikōlani,” invites visitors into the world of Princess Ruth Keanolani Kan膩hoahoa Keʻelikōlani, also known as Luka or Ruta, an aliʻi wahine who embodied unwavering commitment to ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, tradition, and her people.

Though she was trained in Western ways, she chose to speak only Hawaiian as an act of resistance and required those around her to do the same. This activation mirrors her firm stance. All content is presented in Hawaiian, with English translations available by QR code. The space invites us to ask, “He aha ka hana a Ruta? What would Ruth do?”

From August through November, these activations will rotate between the Windward CC, Honolulu Community College, and Kapiʻolani Community College libraries, allowing the broader community to engage in meaningful moments of learning and intention-setting. Contact each library for more information about dates/times.

Hale Laʻakea continues to evolve. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was added to print and digital signage, art pieces throughout the library reflect Native Hawaiian voices, service-learning opportunities are offered through archival translation work and cultural exhibit development, and we hosted a Keiki Reading Day, welcoming ʻohana from our community to listen to moʻolelo from k奴puna and other Native Hawaiian storytellers.

Windward CC students can borrow cultural resources, including ʻukulele, ʻohe kāpala (kapa-making stamps), and traditional games like k艒nane and h奴. We are also in the planning stages of a lumi 驶ohana, a space for parents and their keiki to read, study, and play together in a culturally grounded environment.

Twenty two academic subjects at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 earned high marks in the 2025 , released on March 12.

Leading the way was linguistics, which earned a No. 11 ranking in the U.S. and No. 40 ranking in the world. Library and information management (No. 17 U.S., No. 51–100 world) and Earth and marine sciences (No. 20 U.S., No. 51–100 world) also placed within the top 100 in the world.

Eleven additional subjects placed in the world鈥檚 top 1% (within top 250 in the world out of ):

• Geophysics: No. 30 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Geology: No. 31 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Anthropology: No. 35 U.S., No. 101–170 world
• Agriculture and forestry: No. 34 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• English language and literature: No. 40 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Philosophy: No. 42 U.S., No. 201–225 world
• Geography: No. 34 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• History: No. 42 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Politics: No. 43 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Physics and astronomy: No. 45 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Communication and media studies: No. 57 U.S., No. 201–250 world

“These rankings reflect the outstanding scholarship and dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno said. “They reaffirm our university鈥檚 reputation for excellence and innovation, not just in Hawaiʻi, but on a global scale. For the communities we serve and the students considering 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, these rankings are a powerful endorsement of the exceptional education and opportunities we provide.”

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 was ranked in four broad subject areas and 22 narrow subject areas. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are calculated using five criteria: academic reputation (survey responses from academics), employer reputation (survey responses from graduate employers worldwide), research citations per paper (citations data sourced from鈥疎lsevier Scopus), H-index (measures most cited papers and the number of citations) and international research network (reflects ability to diversify the geography of their international research network).

The 2025 edition of the rankings by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds analyzed the performance of more than 18,300 university programs, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world.

Other rankings

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 also received these notable rankings:

• 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 earns highest national research designation, February 20, 2025
• 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 23, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings, September 24, 2024

The is continuing to make strides toward becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning with the support of a $3.22 million grant from the , the largest supporter of the arts and humanities in the U.S., dedicated to advancing social justice and fostering cultural knowledge.

This funding will help the university integrate Native Hawaiian knowledge into its library collections by developing a Hawaiian Knowledge Organization System (HKOS) and a Hawaiian language newspaper index. 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 is among the first institutions in the country to incorporate Indigenous knowledge practices into its academic resources, creating new opportunities to preserve and share Hawaiian cultural knowledge within the academic community.

“It is my expectation that this work will be transformative not only for the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Library and the 东精影业 System libraries, but also for the Native Hawaiian community, who will see their traditional knowledge system reflected in how we describe and categorize library collections,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro.

The initiative, known as Kahoʻiwai: Reclaiming Hawaiian Knowledge Sovereignty, builds upon several successful pilot projects, including Ka Wai H膩pai: Co-Creating Controlled Vocabularies for Social Justice. The three-year project will be led by Native Hawaiian librarians Shavonn Matsuda (), Kapena Shim (东精影业 惭腻苍辞补), Annemarie Paikai (), and Keahiahi Long (Library and Information Science Program, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补). Housed within 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Library Services, it aims to develop a Hawaiian-language-controlled vocabulary system that will be used to organize and describe library collections using traditional Hawaiian practices.

Creating Hawaiian language catalog system

A key component of the project is the co-creation of a Hawaiian language newspaper index, or N奴pepa Index, designed to improve access to community-indexed information found in Hawaiian-language newspapers. The HKOS will also be applied to catalog the John Charlot Papers, an invaluable archive containing works by the influential scholar of Hawaiian religion and culture. This initiative will integrate traditional Hawaiian knowledge into the way these materials are described and made accessible to the public.

The project will also fund three new librarian faculty positions to support the development of the HKOS, further strengthening the university鈥檚 commitment to Native Hawaiian knowledge sovereignty.

“By incorporating traditional Hawaiian knowledge systems, we are not just cataloging materials鈥攚e are reclaiming and honoring our cultural heritage in a meaningful way,” said Matsuda, project director and head librarian at 东精影业 Maui College.

On the evening of October 30, 2004, the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 experienced a disaster triggered by 10 inches of torrential rain that caused the 惭腻苍辞补 Stream to overflow and flood the campus. and the Biomedical Sciences Building (BioMed) were the hardest hit, and 30 other buildings were also impacted, causing an estimated $80 million damage.

“The 2004 惭腻苍辞补 flood was one of the most challenging moments in our university鈥檚 history, but the resilience of our 东精影业 ʻohana was extraordinary,” said 东精影业 President David Lassner, who led 东精影业 Information Technology Services at the time. “Twenty years later, we stand stronger, united by the lessons learned and the community spirit that emerged from that devastating night.”

Hundreds of volunteers showed up the morning after the flood to save what they could and begin the monumental task of cleaning up the devastation left behind. Private citizens almost immediately started sending in donations, and elected officials, led by Hawaiʻi‘s congressional delegation, secured tens of millions of dollars in funding to repair and renovate.

Related: Biomed鈥檚 recovery, resilience after the 2004 惭腻苍辞补 flood, October 2024

“This is not something that was fixed in a week, or in three months, or in even two or three years,” said 东精影业 President Emeritus McClain at a 10th anniversary event. “This is something that took a long time to fix.”

Hamilton Library

Nearly half of the flood鈥檚 damage occurred at Hamilton Library, where the basement was the center of destruction. The basement housed a vast collection of government documents, maps, and rare historical materials valued at $34 million. Up to 8 feet of muddy water submerged the entire area, destroying irreplaceable collections.

We stood on a couch and escaped by breaking through a window, forming a human chain.
—Andrew Wertheimer

“We thought, ‘A few inches鈥攈ow bad can it be?’ But when we arrived, it was shocking. Cars were swept away, and bookshelves collapsed,” recalled Gwen Sinclair, head of Government Documents and Maps.

Andrew Wertheimer, Library & Information Sciences associate professor, was teaching a weekend class when floodwaters breached the basement. “We stood on a couch and escaped by breaking through a window, forming a human chain. It was kind of a miracle that we were all able to survive.”

Teams of volunteers worked around the clock to save what they could, drying documents and books on clotheslines set up throughout the library. While some materials were salvaged, many rare items were lost forever, including most of Prince Jonah K奴hi艒 Kalanianaʻole‘s Civil War books.

“It was like a war zone,” said Patricia Polansky, Russian bibliographer. “I still weep thinking about the treasures we lost. Among them was the New Testament in the Yakut language I brought back from the Soviet Union.”

Coordinating cleanup and restoration

Hawaiʻi CC Chancellor Susan Kazama was head librarian at Kapiʻolani CC at the time. She previously spent 12 years working at Hamilton Library and returned to assist then-University Librarian Diane Perushek, playing a key role in coordinating the cleanup and restoration efforts.

“My role included everything from pulling out computers and documents from the mud, securing frozen storage for documents, restoring air circulation, relocating staff, and helping recover personal items such as irreplaceable family photos and even prescription glasses in the first two weeks,“ Kazama said.

Over the next few years, around 60 to 80% of the lost maps and documents were replaced, thanks to donations and acquisitions from libraries worldwide. By 2010, after extensive repairs and renovations, Hamilton Library fully reopened. The basement, housing the Government Documents and Maps collections, as well as cataloging, serials, and acquisitions departments, was also restructured with new protective measures.

Upgrades and lessons learned

The 2004 flood prompted significant facilities upgrades at Hamilton Library to prevent future disasters.

“There was a moat around the building that allowed water to flood through broken windows and doors,” said Steve Pickering, the library鈥檚 building manager.

In the reconstruction, the moat was sealed, large drains were installed to divert water, and concrete walls replaced plasterboard in vulnerable areas. The chiller plant and electrical room were also relocated.

“If the same weather event occurred again, the library wouldn鈥檛 flood,” Pickering said. “Water now flows around the building, not through it.”

Kazuko Hioki, the library鈥檚 preservation librarian since 2017, highlighted disaster preparedness improvements since the 2004 flood, including a large freezer for water-damaged materials and a preservation specialist role for preventive measures.

The preservation department, now nationally recognized for flood recovery expertise, often consults on similar disasters. Hamilton Library continues to grow its collections through donations and digitizes materials with its state-of-the-art digital lab.

“It was an unforgettable experience, and not something I like to dwell on,” added Sinclair. “Yet, 20 years later, I will always remember the hundreds of volunteers who responded in those first few weeks of the flood, a testament to the enduring spirit of human resilience.”

Flood leads to new IT Center

The Information Technology Center that opened in February 2014 on the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 campus was in large part a response to the flood. Before the center was built, the IT systems were spread across different buildings on the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 campus, usually on the bottom floors or the basements. During the flood, water got within yards of the main data center and threatened all 东精影业 institutional information and communication services as well as Internet connectivity for 东精影业 and the State of Hawaiʻi.

“The flood of 2004 demonstrated the high level of enterprise risk faced by housing IT resources on the ground floor of a 50-year-old classroom building,” said Lassner when the IT Center was opened. The main data center is now located on the second floor of the IT Center.

Read more about BioMed Building鈥檚 flood damages and recovery.

University of Hawaiʻi faculty have integrated Indigenous knowledge and ethics with advanced archival practices. They were able to showcase how they have used those aspects along with others at the Society of American Archivists (SAA) Annual Conference in Chicago in August.

The SAA is North America鈥檚 oldest and largest professional association for archives and archivists. Manulani Aluli Meyer, associate specialist and Konohiki for K奴lana o Kapolei (A Hawaiian Place of Learning at , was the keynote speaker, invited by Helen Wong Smith, archivist for University Records at the and the first SAA president from Hawaiʻi. The conference emphasized collaboration and introspection, themes central to both Meyer鈥檚 keynote, “Collaboration and Introspection: (K)new Ethics in our Collective Work,” and Wong Smith鈥檚 presidential address.

Their messages resonated with many in the audience of more than 1,200 participants who gave both speakers a standing ovation.

During her keynote, Meyer explored the principles of hoʻoponopono (to correct), focusing on concepts like K奴kulkumuhana鈥攑ooling energy for a shared purpose鈥攁nd the many layers of truth, from ho驶opono to ʻOia iʻo (truth that heals). Her insights into Mihi (forgiveness), Hihia (understanding energy), and the difference between Hoʻolohe (listening) and Hoʻolono (hearing) were particularly impactful.

Wong Smith鈥檚 preceding presidential address complemented Meyer鈥檚 themes, extolling the Hawaiian proverbs “Aʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi” (all knowledge is not taught in the same school) and “Pūpūkāhi i holomua” (unite to progress). She credited 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Art Archivist Malia Van Heukelem for her contributions, particularly the images of the Meyer family in the Jean Charlot Collection shown during Meyer鈥檚 keynote introduction.

The 东精影业 delegation was well-represented at the conference. Dawn Sueoka from Hamilton Library participated in two panels on political narratives and community engagement in building digital archives. Leilani Dawson discussed 东精影业鈥檚 ArchivesSpace upgrade, and Library Information Science student Ani Kawada presented a poster titled “Inheriting a Legacy: The Moʻokūʻauhau and Moʻolelo of Nā Hawaiʻi ʻImi Loa.” They were joined by Sidney Louie from P膩lama Settlement.

“This is likely one of the strongest representations of 东精影业 at the SAA conference and by introducing Hawaiian knowledge principles especially through Manu驶s eloquent keynote, many who have cited it as the finest, reflects the influence we can have on relationships to broaden the historical record,” said Wong Smith.