Incoming and current student residents at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa have a that simplifies and centralizes their on-campus housing experience.

(SHS) soft-launched the upgraded system from StarRez in November for spring 2026 applicants, and it consolidates most housing-related services into one site. This means student residents and aspiring student residents can get complete applications, room/roommate details and access pricing, meal plan changes and support for room transfers all on one site.

“This new platform gives students one clear place to manage their housing needs,” said David Akana, interim director of Student Housing Services. “It streamlines the process, provides personalized information and makes it easier for students to find the right housing for them at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.&谤诲辩耻辞;

Beginning in March 2026, the new housing portal will be used for all students applying for the fall 2026 semester. 东精影业 estimates about 4,000 housing applicants at the start of each academic year, with approximately 3,100 beds available, underscoring the need for a streamlined site with improved functionality.

Another feature the new portal aims to improve is a more personalized roommate-matching experience, using questions about sleep habits, interests and lifestyle preferences to help students find compatible roommates.

“This new platform reflects our commitment to making the student housing experience smoother and more accessible,” said Jan Gouveia, 东精影业 vice president for administration. “By bringing everything into one place, we鈥檙e giving students direct access to the tools they need to navigate their housing journey.”

SHS plans to expand on the platform in the future by integrating the service request and room condition system, further improving support for students living on campus.

Popular and loved University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa head cashier Aunty Eloise Luzader died on February 15, at 96. Luzader is remembered for her warm and welcoming personality as she greeted students and customers at the 肠补蹿茅 for nearly 30 years.

Luzader retired from Gateway House 肠补蹿茅 at 95-years-old and stated that the students her favorite part of her job. She viewed them as her grandbabies, effortlessly remembering the names of thousands of them and making them feel her care and aloha. In addition to her cashiering duties, she also served as an unofficial matchmaker of M膩noa, bringing together three successful couples.

To return Luzader鈥檚 love, students would bring her gifts and lei, take and share photos with her, and most importantly, spend time with her even after they graduated from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

“She always put a smile on my face, always said hello, always hugged me. She鈥檚 pretty much family to me now,” said alumna Taylor Hiraga at Luzader鈥檚 retirement celebration. “Here at Gateway Caf茅, Aunty Eloise is a staple—she鈥檚 the face of Gateway Caf茅 and she鈥檚 always been for the last 30 years.”

An adventure-filled life

Luzader鈥檚 son, Gary, compiled photo galleries of her well-documented life in a . He shared major moments, from her growing up in Hilo, to journeying to New York, to her return to Hawaiʻi while she ultimately discovered the activities she loved most.

“She was funny, she was generous, and she was loving,” wrote Gary. “She drove me nuts like no other person could, and she also loved me like no other person could鈥hat鈥檚 what ‘moms’ do I guess. When I look back at her life through the photos, Mom鈥檚 life was incredible.”

Luzader spent much of her life exploring the world and different job opportunities that allowed her to interact with others. She touched ground in countries in almost every continent and touched the hearts of those she met while doing sales work. Aside from family and friends, her main constant was dancing.

“Mom had a passion for dancing鈥ny kind of dancing,” Gary wrote. “Mom danced well into her 90s. Even in her final days when she couldn鈥檛 even walk, Mom would talk about dancing one day again鈥� She will鈥�”

Students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have a unique opportunity to provide feedback on new student housing furniture layouts, as seeks to gauge interest in rooms designed to accommodate up to three student residents.

“We want students to try out the new furniture system to see if it suits their needs, including desks, chairs and storage,” said Brian Strawn, director of office planning and spatial experience. “We鈥檙e also interested in whether students would be comfortable living in a triple room, which could help reduce housing costs.”

In partnership with Loll Designs, Student Housing Services has developed sustainable and durable furniture, a recyclable plastic commonly used in the U.S.

The mock-up housing layouts include:

• Three elevated beds
• Desks
• Closets
• Cubbies that can fit 12 cube storage bins
• Mini 3D models of the layouts, which students are encouraged to explore to see what might fit best for their living situation

Students got their first look at the potential layouts at the Mānoa Bookstore on March 12 and March 14. Additional showcase sessions are scheduled for April 9 and 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hale Aloha Caf茅.

Those unable to attend can still provide feedback by .

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend on October 26, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The free event is for prospective students and their families along with the general public so they can see firsthand why 东精影业 Mānoa is considered one of the best universities in the country. Organizers say current students and employees are also welcome.

“We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for prospective students and the community to learn more about 东精影业 Mānoa and find why we are consistently ranked among the best universities in the world,” said Provost Michael Bruno. “It is also a chance to speak and interact with current students, faculty and staff, the people who make this university great.”

Booths, displays and hands-on workshops featuring more than 100 academic departments will line iconic McCarty Mall, Legacy Path and the Campus Center courtyard. There will also be campus tours, including special tours of the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene鈥檚 Translational Health Science Simulation Center, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resource鈥檚 Certified Kitchen and the Esports Lab.

Visitors can also explore interactive exhibits and activities that cover a range of topics, from education to oceanography and medicine. The Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Success and Hamilton Library will also be open to visitors.

“东精影业 Mānoa has so much to offer academically and there are so many services available to help our students on their journey,” said 东精影业 Mānoa Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun, who is responsible for Discover 东精影业 Mānoa. “We want everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about our campus, even if you are not a prospective student, because 东精影业 Mānoa is something everyone can take pride in.”

Each attendee will receive a 东精影业 Mānoa tote bag, event/program map, bookstore coupon and a coupon for $2 off retail dining options, including Starbucks, Ding Tea, Food Trucks and Sodexo Concessions. 东精影业ees will also have the chance to win prizes throughout the day.

Two shuttle routes will be available for attendees interested in visiting student housing, and the Music Building Complex.

Free parking will be available in Zone 20 until 1:30p.m. For more information, visit .

Pāʻina on the Path and homecoming football

Following the open house, 东精影业 Mānoa will host Pāʻina on the Path, a free homecoming celebration from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This Homecoming Edition on Legacy Pathway will feature a 东精影业 Alumni Maker鈥檚 Market, Hawaiʻs Finest DJ & Kickoff Concert Series featuringPeniDean, food vendors, a beer garden, keiki zone with inflatables and football-themed games, and more.

The Rainbow Warrior football team will then take on Nevada in this seasonʻs homecoming game. Kick off at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex is at 6 p.m.

In an effort to reduce waste from single-use containers, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 dining halls—Gateway Caf茅 and Hale Aloha Caf茅—are introducing a sustainable Reusable Take-Out Container Program, with Sodexo Hawaiʻi. For an annual fee of $5, students can purchase a durable, microwavable three-compartment container at one of the dining halls.

Students can buy these reusable containers using meal points, dining dollars, cash or card at the dining halls. Currently, more than 1,400 boxes have already been purchased. Given that single-use containers cost 50 cents each time, the reusable option is a more cost-effective solution for students who frequently opt for take-out.

“Anyone who plans on doing any kind of take out more than once should go for the green one [reusable container]”, said Amelie Kitakis, an exploratory student living in student housing.

Once purchased, students are able to fill their reusable containers with as much food as they want, as long as the attached lid can be securely closed. The program operates on a swap system so they do not have to always wash the container themselves. When a student returns for another take-out meal, they will return their used container and receive a clean container in exchange. If students opt to dine-in, they can exchange their used container for a clean one for future take-out, or receive a token that can be redeemed for a cleaner container on their next take-out visit.

“These containers are so much more practical than the disposable ones. The students love that there’s three compartments so their food doesn’t touch, said Sodexo 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 Marketing Specialist Marcie Moribe, “Students can pop it in the microwave and our dining halls will clean it for them.”

“Overall our students have really understood the rationale behind it, looking at sustainability, being environmentally conscious,” said Kenny Lopez, associate director of residence life. “I think our students have really appreciated this model and have embraced it and have been taking advantage of it.”

If students lose a container, they will have to pay another $5 to replace it. Cutlery and cups are available upon request.

—By McKenzie Kurosu

More than 3,500 student residents are moving into residence halls at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa during the week of August 19 for the fall 2024 semester.

“I feel excited, nervous, scared, but I鈥檓 excited to make new friends and meet new people,” said Lhizelle Banchiran, an incoming freshman from Maui. “The campus is huge so I鈥檓 kind of overwhelmed, but I know I鈥檓 gonna get through it.”

• Related 东精影业 News story: Hale Aloha Towers renovation completed, August 20, 2024

Incoming student residents gathered at the Stan Sheriff Center to check in, receive their room key, student ID and room information, and explore campus resources including employment, leadership and financial aid opportunities. As part of the move-in process launched in 2023, students could utilize the two-way shuttle service or drive to the residence halls from Zone 20 to reduce traffic congestion.

“We want their first experience at 东精影业 to be as comfortable as possible,” said David Akana, interim director of student housing. We wanted to have something where they know there are gonna be lines, they know it’s gonna be a little stressful. But at the same time they can feel welcome to the university.”

Jessi Arreola, another incoming freshman, expressed her ease in moving into her new home for her first year of college.

“I was a little overwhelmed at first, but once like I got settled and everything, everyone was so helpful,” said Arreola. “Right when I got out of my car, they packed my bags and took me up to my floor, and everyone was really nice. It made it so much less stressful.”

New renovations, amenities

Students moving into the Hale Aloha Towers will enjoy newly renovated lobbies and common areas in addition to new microfridge (microwave/refrigerators), which are now included in all of the rooms and or suite areas residence halls except the Hale Wainani Apartments.

“They put it in the fridge and microwave in our dorm, that was super cool. “And just walking into the front lobby it just looks so clean and so nice”, said Arreola. “To call such a nice place home for these next couple of months, I am super excited.”

A renovation project at University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa student housing facilities that will improve conditions for a third of the student residents began in mid-May and will be completed in time for the fall 2024 semester. The common areas of the four, 13-story Hale Aloha Towers are being completely renovated with new finishes and amenities inspired by input from student residents. New common area furniture is anticipated to be in place by the start of the semester or shortly thereafter.

The Hale Aloha Towers are exclusively for freshmen and house 1,040 of the more than 3,000 students who live on campus. Renovating the lobbies, mid-floor common areas and top floor kitchens and common areas will enhance the overall living experience for students by creating more inviting and functional spaces for socializing, studying and relaxation. The upgraded common areas will help foster a sense of community among residents, encouraging interaction and collaboration.

“I am thrilled for the incoming freshmen who will be the first to experience the newly renovated spaces,” said Student Housing Services Director David Akana, who is responsible for the project. “We recognized the need for areas that could better support the student residents and help them thrive academically and socially, so we want these spaces to be practical, but we also want them to be somewhere students are excited to spend time in.”

Upgrades across the towers

The project includes polished concrete flooring, improved lighting, ceiling fans and acoustic wooden panels (to help reduce noise) in the lobbies, mid-floor common areas, and 13th floor recreation deck activity lounge of the four towers.

These renovations are one of the many short term and long term improvements for student housing facilities.

The renovated lobbies will be larger after the existing mailboxes are removed and will feature a new reception desk, new furniture—including two bar-height study tables with outlets and chairs—and a big screen TV. New window screens are also being installed in the lobbies to support the natural ventilation of the spaces.

The mid-floor common areas, located on the even-numbered floors of each building, are being renovated to better support group studying and gatherings with new wood benches, additional power outlets, lounge seating, work tables and whiteboards.

The common areas and kitchens on the 13th floor of each tower will have new lounge seating, lawn chairs, picnic and work tables, a big screen TV and a foosball table. The kitchens will be expanded with a built-in bar-top along the walls, a family-style stainless steel table in the center and new appliances and stainless steel countertops. New study cubicles, chairs and lounge seating will be installed in the study lounges.

“As we developed the renovation plans, we wanted to ensure that the common areas in these facilities were enhanced in as many aspects possible, from study spots and places for community building, to numerous aesthetic improvements,” said Joe Lynch, a project manager from the 东精影业 M膩noa Office of Project Delivery. “We designed with students in mind, so hearing from them what they would like to see or have in the towers was vital. They played a major role in the final layout that future freshmen will get to live in.”

The project also includes new plumbing lines to support a new water bottle filling station in the kitchen (following other stations that were previously upgraded in the towers); and the building elevators will receive new lighting and flooring finishes.

Student-centric designs

The renovation project incorporated the input from student residents on how the tower spaces could be better utilized. Interactive workshops were held in December 2023 to gather feedback from student residents on what they would improve or add to Hale Aloha towers, with the assistance of the Campus Design Lab, an initiative of the Office of Planning & Spatial Experience, and student project assistants from the 东精影业 Community Design Center.

“I spend so much time at Aloha Towers, and because we鈥檙e the ones living in these facilities, it鈥檚 really fun to see what the living space could be,” said Reese Harwood, a freshman who participated in the interactive workshops. “I鈥檓 glad I could be a part of this planning process, and I can鈥檛 wait to see what these spaces could possibly look like in the years to come.”

Unique color for each tower

A special feature of the project is that each tower will have its own splash of color, inspired by the island flower the tower is named after. Hale Aloha ʻIlima will bear shades of yellow and gold; Hale Aloha Lehua will feature bold reds; Hale Aloha Lokelani will showcase tones of mauve and purple; and Hale Aloha Mokihana will spotlight lime greens. The colors will be on the columns in the first floor lobbies, as well as on the 13th floor activity lounges and kitchens.

The is exploring the need for and interest in student residence halls, and is conducting a market study, including a survey of current students from April 29 to May 17.

The survey by will identify student interest in 东精影业 West Oʻahu-based housing, demand by bed or unit type, unit mix and sizes, desired amenities, and pricing.

“Campus residence halls provide many benefits to the university and the local community,” said 东精影业 West Oʻahu Vice Chancellor for Administration David McDonald. “For students, residence halls increase student learning, enhance connections to the campus, improve interpersonal skill development, and provide immediate access to campus resources and activities. For the community, students living in a university village environment reduces the number of students who have to commute to campus, increases the number of participants in local community activities, and on-campus students support local businesses. For the university, students living on campus increase the vibrancy and energy of all university activities.”

东精影业 West Oʻahu currently does not have residence halls. However, dormitory space for 东精影业 West Oʻahu students is available through a partnership with neighbor . 东精影业 West Oʻahu鈥檚 spring enrollment was 2,863.

The location being considered for housing is within the University Village at the Hoʻomohala Avenue gateway to campus, near the 鈥檚 Keoneʻae transit station. The Skyline connects 东精影业 students to goods and services along the rail line, and provides a connection to the campus. The planned next phase of the Skyline connecting 东精影业 West Oʻahu to the airport makes this location even more advantageous for students who would live in this new residence hall.

The study is based on a 300-bed minimum. Preliminary findings are anticipated this summer, and will be made part of a formal housing-demand study. 东精影业 West Oʻahu students are highly encouraged to .