Gov. Josh Green appointed Makai Freitas to the (BOR), subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate. Freitas represents Hawaiʻi County and will replace Regent Wayne Higaki whose term ends in June 2026.

Freitas is a distinguished labor leader with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, with more than 20 years of expertise in organizational leadership and workforce advocacy. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded complex negotiations and strategic workforce development initiatives that have strengthened economic opportunities for thousands of families across Hawaiʻi.

Freitas has a proven track record of cross-sector collaboration, working with educators, public agencies and community organizations to build pipelines from the classroom to the workforce.

“I am honored to be appointed to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents and grateful for the opportunity to serve our students, faculty, staff and communities,” Freitas said. “Higher education plays a vital role in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future. I look forward to strengthening the university鈥檚 mission of teaching, learning and community service.”

Freitas also serves as the West Hawaiʻi representative on the Hawaiian Homes Commission within the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Freitas brings his statewide advocacy and local community insight to the board. He resides in Waimea with his wife, Aulani, and their two daughters, Wailea and Mahina.

The BOR is responsible for overseeing the 10-campus 东精影业 system, including policy direction, financial oversight and long-term strategic planning. The BOR is the governing body of 东精影业 and consists of 11 non-compensated volunteer members. Representation includes five from the City and County of Honolulu; two from Hawaiʻi County; two from Maui County; one from Kauaʻi County and one 东精影业 student.

Freitas will serve a term as prescribed by law, pending Senate confirmation.

For Liliana Okimoto, a year away for college in Washington State provided a realization that no school in the continental U.S. can offer what the can: a deep sense of community and purpose. That was the focus of her winning #TakeMeToMānoa social media contest video hosted by .

In her minute-long entry, Okimoto said, “Hawaiʻi is where my heart is and under the guidance of the amazing faculty and staff at 东精影业 Mānoa, I know I can grow into the person I want to become—someone who devotes themselves to learning in order to better serve their community, so take me home. Take me to Mānoa.”

As the winner out of nearly 60 entries, Okimoto won a free year of tuition at 东精影业 Mānoa, courtesy of (东精影业FCU). The online contest, which was open to incoming fall 2026 Hawaiʻi freshmen and transfer students, asked entrants to explain why 东精影业 Mānoa is the right place for them or how a year of free tuition would impact their future.

Billy V from Hawaiʻi News Now made the surprise announcement to Okimoto live on Sunrise on May 22, in front of cheering 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 employees and students at the 东精影业 Mānoa Bookstore.

“I was just in shock and I was so happy,” Okimoto said. “I didn’t realize what it was and then I saw the check. I was like, ‘oh my goodness.’”

Okimoto grew up in Waiʻanae and attended Island Pacific Academy before graduating from ʻIolani School in 2025. At 东精影业 Mānoa, Okimoto will pursue a degree in in the , and is also considering a pre-health track. She is also passionate about art and is considering medical school to become a psychiatrist, with a possible goal of one day leading a medical practice that offers psychological care and creative therapies such as art therapy.

“I had gone to school on the mainland and I could tell that I don’t know if this is what’s right for me and I always just kept thinking about coming home, being back here,” Okimoto said. “And so I was really looking at 东精影业 and what programs are here and what they have to offer. I really think that being back at home and being at 东精影业 specifically is what’s best for me.”

This will be a full circle moment for Okimoto, who will attend 东精影业 Mānoa at the same time as her mother, Michelle, who is in the graduate program for library and information science. Michelle is a librarian at ʻIolani.

“It’s really exciting,” Michelle said. “I wish that I had completed all of the education I wanted to do when I was younger, so I’m definitely gonna encourage her to do that, but I think it’s really cool that we’re gonna go to the same school, go to the same events and maybe even carpool sometimes. I鈥檓 just so glad to have her home. It鈥檚 icing on the cake that we get to be students together. I鈥檓 looking forward to studying together and cheering each other on!”

The contest ran from April 6 to May 3. Now in its eighth year, the contest continues to spotlight the dreams, creativity and determination of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 students.

“I am delighted to congratulate Liliana, the winner of this year’s #TakeMetoMānoa contest,” said Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “As our first transfer student to receive this honor, she is a shining example of a student returning home from the continent for whom finding the right fit is of utmost importance, and we are glad to be that destination of choice for her. We are proud to welcome her to our 东精影业 Mānoa ʻohana and look forward to the impact she will have on our community.”

“We’re very proud of being able to support the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and also the students here and bringing her back home,” said 东精影业FCU AVP of Member Experience Sean Parsa. “We’re proud of her and we’re proud of being part of the University of Hawaiʻi.”

Meet the previous #TakeMeToMānoa winners.

Honolulu Community College鈥檚 Ganesan Srinivasan was recognized with the 2026 Outstanding Alumnus Award at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR) annual awards banquet held in May.

Srinivasan, who serves as dean of communication and services programs, holds a PhD in agronomy and soil science from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补. He was honored for his 40 years of leadership in agriculture, education and international research.

Over the course of his career, Srinivasan has contributed to global agricultural research and training, working with maize production systems across Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. He has mentored more than 1,000 researchers from more than 40 countries and authored more than 180 publications. He is a fellow of both the Crop Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy.

“This recognition means a great deal to me because CTAHR is where my journey in Hawaiʻi truly began鈥攁s an East-West Center grantee and 东精影业 graduate student, as a researcher, and as someone learning what it means to serve this community with humility and purpose,” Srinivasan said.

Foundation built at CTAHR

He currently oversees Honolulu CC鈥檚 career technical education programs. Srinivasan has also held senior academic leadership roles at institutions in California and served as principal scientist and associate director at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico.

Srinivasan credited his experience at CTAHR as the foundation for his knowledge of agriculture beyond the classroom.

“CTAHR shaped my understanding of agriculture not just as a discipline, but as a responsibility鈥攖o our ʻāina (land), to our local industries, and to the students and families who depend on strong educational pathways,” he said.

He also shared advice with current CTAHR students.

“You are receiving a world-class education in tropical agriculture from some of the best faculty in this field. Apply this knowledge to real-world conditions to develop diversified, resilient and sustainable agriculture systems for Hawaiʻi and beyond,” Srinivasan said.The post CTAHR honors Honolulu CC dean with Outstanding Alumnus Award first appeared on University of Hawai驶i System News.]]> 234871 /news/2026/05/22/voyaging-experience-to-classroom/ Fri, 22 May 2026 19:55:54 +0000 /news/?p=234862 Connecting ancestral sailing to community inspires Leeward CC and 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 graduate.

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instructor Ian Kekaimalu Isami Lee has sailed far and wide aboard the vessel Hōkūleʻa. Now, the and alumnus uses the experiences gained on open waters in his class on the basic principles and theories of modern non-instrument navigation, the same navigation used on the Hōkūleʻa.

“It brings a lot of context for my students because when we talk about things or when I try to explain things to them,” Lee said. “I tell them stories of things that I have personally experienced. That brings it to life for them, and it makes it easier for them to understand the concepts.”

After graduating from Leeward CC with an associate鈥檚 degree in liberal arts in 2011, Lee enrolled at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补. In 2014 Lee sailed from Samoa to Aotearoa and in 2017 from Tahiti to Hawaiʻi aboard Hōkūleʻa.

His master鈥檚 thesis revolved around voyaging and canoe culture. The journeys were instrumental in his growth as a person and navigator, allowing him to share experiences with his ancestors who crossed the sea thousands of years prior. Lee earned bachelor鈥檚 (2014) and master驶s (2017) degrees in Hawaiian studies.

Community on campus

It was not always smooth sailing. After spending his first semester skipping classes, Lee says he found community at Leeward CC. This inspired him to engage more in his studies and take advantage of free tutoring and other support.

“I just found myself having a blast and learning along the way,” said Lee. “It was the community that I surrounded myself with. We had the program Hālau ʻIke O Puʻuloa, which is now known as Kīpuka, Native Hawaiian Student Services. There were so many people who created a very comfortable environment. That made me not want to leave.”

Lee remembers being greeted with a smile and treated with aloha on campus, which felt like a home away from home. Now, he tries to encourage his students to build community.

“My students do their course in groups, they do everything as a group,” Lee said. “I try to shift their thinking to a broader, global thinking that all of our actions are interconnected and affect each other. If we all thought that way, I think this world would be a much better place.”

The post 东精影业 alumnus brings voyaging experience to the classroom first appeared on University of Hawai驶i System News.]]>

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) physician-scientist Dominic Chow has been selected for the 2026 Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Forum at the National Academy of Medicine.

The invitation-only program brings together emerging leaders in health care, research and policy from across the country.

“It鈥檚 a real honor,” Chow said. “To be able to interact with members of the National Academy of Medicine and contribute to discussions that help guide health policy is something I don鈥檛 take lightly.”

Chow鈥檚 career spans global public health, including training at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and work in Guyana, where he helped lead a yellow fever outbreak investigation.

At JABSOM, he has advanced HIV research through the Hawaiʻi Center for AIDS and serves as program director of Ola HAWAII, an NIH-funded initiative expanding clinical research access in underserved communities and supporting studies including Long COVID.

“I think bringing clinical trials to various populations across Hawaiʻi helps create more equity,” Chow said.

The forum connects participants to address major health challenges and inform national policy. Chow said he hopes to ensure Hawaiʻi鈥檚 health needs are represented.

“We have a responsibility to address health disparities here in Hawaiʻi and beyond,” he said.

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After claiming a third straight Big West title and NCAA tournament appearance, four members of the were named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division I All-America teams for the 2026 season, the organization announced May 21.

Sophomore attacker Agatha Weston earned ACWPC All-America Second-Team honors, while junior goalkeeper Daisy Logtens, sophomore attacker Ema Vernoux, and freshman utility Ariadna Temprano Xambó received All-America honorable mention recognition.

With this season鈥檚 selections, 东精影业 Mānoa has featured at least one All-American in all 29 seasons since the program鈥檚 inception in 1998. The Rainbow Wahine have produced at least four All-Americans in each of the last three seasons.

东精影业 Mānoa finished 16-6 in head coach James Robinson鈥檚 second year at the helm, sweeping the Big West regular-season and tournament crowns for a third year in a row. The 鈥楤ows went undefeated in conference play and extended their winning streak against Big West competition to 29 consecutive victories dating back to 2024. 东精影业 Mānoa concluded its season at the National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championship in La Jolla, California, securing three consecutive NCAA bids for the first time in program history.

For more on the awardees, .

University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center researcher Michele Carbone has been named the recipient of the 2026 Szent-Gy枚rgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research by the (NFCR). The prestigious award recognizes his discovery that inherited mutations in the BAP1 gene can dramatically increase susceptibility to mesothelioma and several other cancers.

The foundation said Carbone鈥檚 work changed how mesothelioma—a rare cancer of the membranes that cover the lungs and abdomen—is understood, diagnosed, treated and prevented worldwide, while also driving major public health actions in the U.S. and Turkey that have saved lives.

“There is nothing as rewarding as saving lives, telling someone, actually you, your daughter, your son, do not have to die of cancer, you probably will live till old age, and then to see them again, year after year, happy,” Carbone said. “I am incredibly fortunate that my research allowed me to do exactly that. Our research even inspired government action to protect public health in the U.S. and in Turkey. I had the fortune to work with a truly fantastic team of students, technicians, post-doctoral fellows and collaborators: Drs. Harvey Pass and Haining Yang, with whom I shared all failures and successes for almost 30 years.”

Naoto T. Ueno said the recognition reflects the global impact of Carbone鈥檚 decades of work.

“Dr. Michele Carbone鈥檚 recognition with the Szent-Gy枚rgyi Prize is a proud and historic moment for the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center,” said Ueno. “His work represents the highest standard of cancer research: rigorous science that leads to landmark discovery and ultimately saves lives. By identifying inherited BAP1 mutations as a driver of mesothelioma risk, Dr. Carbone changed how we understand cancer susceptibility, prevention, and early intervention. His discoveries have protected families and communities in Hawaiʻi, the U.S., Turkey, and around the world, and they reflect the kind of global impact we strive to advance from Hawaiʻi.”

Carbone will receive the award at the NFCR Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship on October 9 in Washington, D.C.

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An important pilot program is helping Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future public health professionals overcome financial barriers to completing required fieldwork. Based at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 , the program provides paid field experiences that are traditionally unpaid despite significant time and workload demands.

Through the , and supported by the (DOH), the project coordinates funding so students can be compensated for required fieldwork that was completed at DOH. The pilot aligns with broader efforts to close this gap and expand equitable access to education and training.

“This has been a team effort with many partners at 东精影业 and DOH and for that we are grateful,” said Becky Rodericks, a faculty member of the Department of Public Health Sciences (DPHS) and a key collaborator on this project across all pilot years.

Efforts started in summer of 2022 and expanded in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, the pilot supported 10 students completing their (APLE) and .

Students said the funding made it possible to complete their practicums while balancing work and family responsibilities. One student said the support allowed her to finish her practicum without taking several weeks off work. “As a single mother, I don’t have the flexibility to complete my practicum on a full-time basis,” she said. “I appreciate the opportunity that this program provided. Truly, it made it possible to get my practicum completed.”

The program also helped offset transportation and parking costs, easing additional financial pressure for students commuting to field sites.

Expanding access to hands-on learning

APLE and master鈥檚-level practicums allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world public health and social work through interdisciplinary projects with community and government partners.

The paid placements allowed students to shift focus away from multiple jobs or other financial obligations and dedicate more time and energy to their practicum projects, strengthening hands-on learning experiences.

“We are honored and grateful to work with our partners at DOH and our fellow Department of Public Health Science and DSW faculty and staff on this important effort,” said Rodericks. “Our long-term and ongoing collaborations within UH and at DOH are vital to our program successes.”

McKenzie Kurosu is the first University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa / graduate to earn a . It is issued by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), which is operated by the Public Relations Society of American (PRSA). The certificate demonstrates a fundamental competency and knowledge for college graduates entering the public relations profession.

Kurosu is a May 2025 graduate who double majored in communication and journalism from the . She received the certificate in December 2025 after taking required courses and passing an exam.

“This certificate really helps bridge the gap between what you learn in a classroom and real-world applications,” said Kurosu. “Having this on a résumé helps you stand out to recruiters, and serves as a great first step to pursue an APR (Accreditation in Public Relations) designation later in your career.”

Public relations or related majors may apply for the certificate, but must be members of PRSA or student chapters of UAB participating organizations. At 东精影业 Mānoa, Kurosu completed the public relations coursework while serving as a vice president and director of communications of the David A. Ward chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). Kurosu said belonging to PRSSA was a career-defining experience.

“Beyond the leadership roles, I had the chance to travel to California for the ICON conference, and network with professionals and peers who share my passion for the industry,” she said.

For more information about the certificate and to check eligibility, or contact PRSSA faculty advisor Ji Young Kim at jkim22@hawaii.edu.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel highlighted a new scholarship for community college transfer students, reflected on the conclusion of the legislative session, provided an update on the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor search and celebrated recent athletic successes, including a national championship, during her monthly report to the 东精影业 Board of Regents (BOR). The update was provided at the May 21 BOR meeting at 东精影业 West Oʻahu.

Among the highlights, Hensel announced the new Next Step Scholarship, which will provide eligible 东精影业 Community College students up to $2,000 to continue their education at a 东精影业 four-year campus. She also discussed key legislative measures affecting 东精影业, including proposals involving tuition and fee reserves and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) funding for athletics.

Hensel shared that the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor search remains on track, with a finalist expected to be named in June. She also outlined a new strategic budgeting process designed to better align future investments with 东精影业 priorities and student success.

The report also included congratulations to more than 5,340 spring graduates across 东精影业鈥檚 10 campuses, recognition of the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 men鈥檚 volleyball team for winning the NCAA national championship and praise for 东精影业 employees who helped raise more than $51,800 and collect 3,300 pounds of food during the 2026 Hawaiʻi Foodbank Campaign.

• 东精影业 graduation ceremonies ()
• Next Step Scholarship ()
• Legislative session recap ()
• Name, Image and Likeness legislation ()
• Budget planning process ()
• 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor search update ()
• Athletics recap ()
• 东精影业 Kudos: Hawaiʻi Foodbank Campaign ()

The team knows its path for its inaugural season in the Mountain West as the conference released the 2026 league schedule May 20.

The Rainbow Wahine will open their first Mountain West campaign with a challenging two-game road trip in Colorado. 东精影业 Mānoa kicks off conference play on September 24, taking on Colorado College. The team will then travel to face Air Force on September 27, wrapping up the opening week of Mountain West action.

Following a bye during the second week of conference play, the Rainbow Wahine will treat fans to their first-ever Mountain West home matches in early October. The historic home opener is set for October 7 against Nevada. The inaugural homestand continues later that week as the Rainbow Wahine welcome UTEP to the islands on October 11.

Mid-October will see the team embark on another road trip, this time heading to California. 东精影业 Mānoa is scheduled to play at San José State on October 15, before visiting former Big West foe UC Davis on October 18. Returning home, the Rainbow Wahine will face off against Grand Canyon on October 24.

The regular season will conclude with a crucial stretch of matches, beginning with back-to-back home games. 东精影业 Mānoa will host UNLV on October 28, followed by its home finale against New Mexico on November 1. The Rainbow Wahine will travel for their final regular-season contest, taking on Wyoming on November 7.

The Mountain West Women鈥檚 Soccer Championship scheduled for the week of November 8. All of 东精影业 Mānoa鈥檚 women鈥檚 soccer conference matches will be available live on the new Mountain West subscription streaming platform.

东精影业 Mānoa鈥檚 non-conference matchups will be released at a later date.

Five University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa tennis student-athletes earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors for their achievements in competition, academics and community service.

For the , seniors Allaire Berl and Sophie Rachor, along with sophomore Makeilah Nepomuceno, received recognition. On the men鈥檚 side, sophomore Adriano Dzhenev and senior Timothy Li earned honors for the .

To qualify, student-athletes must compete in at least 75% of their team鈥檚 scheduled matches. All Academic All-District honorees are eligible for consideration for the CSC Academic All-America teams, which will be announced in June.

Berl, an interdisciplinary studies major and 东精影业 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president, earned Dean鈥檚 List honors throughout her 东精影业 Mānoa career and contributed extensively to community service initiatives. Rachor, pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in finance, also earned All-Big West doubles honors during her lone season at 东精影业 Mānoa. Nepomuceno, a travel industry management major, earned All-Big West honors in singles and doubles while posting one of the top GPAs on the women鈥檚 team.

For the Rainbow Warriors, Dzhenev earned All-Big West honorable mention recognition in doubles and was named Big West Player of the Week in April. Li, who is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in natural resource environmental management, also earned All-Big West honorable mention honors in singles and contributed to several community-based environmental and agricultural projects across Oʻahu.

Visit 东精影业 Mānoa Athletics website for more on the and awardees.

This week鈥檚 东精影业 News Images of the Week are 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 journalism graduates Grant Nakasone and Josslyn Rose, who many of the 东精影业 ʻohana have seen in “What’s up this week?” and “东精影业 News For You” social media reels. But before they proudly crossed the stage at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补’s spring morning commencement ceremony, before they were efficient, honest and incredible student workers of the Office of Communications, they were keiki with bright futures ahead of them. Hoʻomaikaʻi, Grant and Joss! Can’t wait to see where your paths take you!

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa held two commencement ceremonies celebrating more than 2,800 graduates on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The ceremonies featured outstanding student speakers Diego Haʻaheo Ortiz and Erica-Skyler Malie Salvador Holokai, and inspirational words from guest speaker Walter A. Dods Jr., who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

In the morning, Diego Haʻaheo Ortiz spoke about Haʻaheo, his name, which means pride, dignity and self-respect earned through responsibility.

“What comes next may be exciting, uncertain or both. The main thing is that Haʻaheo reminds us that uncertainty is not weakness. It is an invitation to keep learning and to keep pushing forward.”

In the afternoon, Erica-Skyler Malie Salvador Holokai urged graduates to embrace their community and identity, and to find the unique opportunities that come with them.

“Look at the diversity community that surrounds us today. Claim your place. Claim your place in community. Claim your place in cultures, and claim your place in loving yourself.”

Dods, a longtime leader in Hawaiʻi’s business community, philanthropist and 东精影业 alumnus and supporter, encouraged the graduates at both the morning and afternoon ceremonies to consider all the opportunities their new degrees offer and find where they are needed the most.

“When you align your talents with the needs of others, work becomes more than a job. Success becomes more than personal achievement, and your life becomes part of something larger than yourself.”

• Meet more amazing 东精影业 graduates

Five players earned All-Big West honors, the conference announced May 19. Starting pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno and relief pitcher Tsubasa Tomii earned First Team All-Big West selections, while starter Hekili Robello was named to the Second Team, and position players Tate Shimao and Ben Zeigler-Namoa secured Honorable Mention recognition.

东精影业 Mānoa鈥檚 representation reflects its elite pitching staff, which led the Big West and finished the regular season ranked third nationally with a 3.44 team ERA. Magdaleno, Tomii and Robello combined to account for 47.7% of the team鈥檚 innings pitched, while posting a 2.49 ERA over 206.0 innings of work.

Magdaleno firmly established himself as one of the best arms on the west coast, finishing the regular season ranked third nationally in hits allowed per nine innings and fourth in WHIP. A first-team All-Big West selection last year as a closer, he moved into the Friday night starter role and has thrived on the way to his dominant finishing stretch. Meanwhile, Tomii proved to be an invaluable weapon out of the bullpen, leading the team in appearances in his first year with the program.

Offensively, the Rainbow Warriors were paced by Shimao and Zeigler-Namoa, who provided clutch hitting and veteran leadership to earn Honorable Mention honors. 东精影业 Mānoa heated up significantly at the plate over the final month, batting .283 with runners in scoring position during conference games to consistently back up their elite pitching staff.

The Rainbow Warriors (27-22, 16-14 Big West) will open the Big West Championship on May 20 against Cal State Fullerton in a single-elimination game at 3 p.m. HST. With its late-season surge, 东精影业 Mānoa secured the No. 4 seed in the tournament, remaining the only program in the league to finish in the top five of the conference standings in each of the last five seasons.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) recently hosted its two-day “Aloha Begins with Us” symposium and open house, bringing together faculty, staff, students and community members to explore how Native Hawaiian values, wellbeing and resilience can be integrated into everyday work and learning.

The event highlighted several JABSOM initiatives focused on belonging, professionalism and wellness, while creating opportunities for collaboration across the 东精影业 System.

“Positive relationships and meaningful work are core to preventing burnout and improving learning and working environments so that everyone can thrive,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “While JABSOM and the other health science units at 东精影业 have been collaborating through research and education, we will all serve our students and communities better by pursuing some strategic collaborative initiatives.”

“For me, ‘Aloha Begins with Us’ was an invitation to be inspired by the many ways that JABSOM is integrating Native Hawaiian Place of Learning across its curriculum and in collaboration with other parts of our campus, work that can be about providing space to recount the academic, professional and familial genealogies that shape us individually, or about how Hawaiian concepts can ground us as we create learning and work environments that promote rather than undermine the health of everything that lives on this ʻāina said Laura Lyons, interim vice provost for academic excellence.

The symposium also emphasized JABSOM‘s ongoing work to support the 东精影业’s goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning.

Kaiwipunikauikaw膿kiu Punihei Lipe, director of 东精影业 Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao, noted that the symposium demonstrated how JABSOM has successfully integrated Native Hawaiian principles into their own action plans and mission.

Organizers said the event aimed to increase awareness of available wellbeing resources while encouraging participants to bring their “whole selves” into their work, teaching and learning.

The second day’s open house expanded those conversations to a broader audience, offering faculty, staff, students, residents and community members opportunities to learn more about programs and ways to get involved.

Read more at .

Dane Watanabe received honorable mention honors on the Big West鈥檚 All-Conference team.

The junior from Kāneʻohe led the team with a 72.97 scoring average and wrapped up the season with a career-low 5-under 211 at the Big West Championship, where he finished in sixth place. During the championship, Watanabe carded a career-low round of 7-under 65 in the second round. Throughout the season, Watanabe shot nine rounds of par or better and posted two top 10 finishes.

This year marked the fourth consecutive year a Rainbow Warrior was named to the all-conference team along with Josh Hayashida (honorable mention) last season, Blaze Akana (first team) in 2023–24 and (honorable mention) in 2022–23.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa introduced : a free, comprehensive call-for-papers (CFP) aggregator tailored for the legal academy. It offers real-time information on CFPs for conferences, symposia, workshops, law reviews and scholarly blogs. By leveraging a tiered system of artificial intelligence (AI) agents,

The Docket indexes more than 500 active sources—continuously discovering, classifying and triaging opportunities under expert human supervision. Legal scholars from around the world can now search the site, subscribe to filtered email digests, and export deadlines directly to their calendars.

“The Docket reflects the kind of work we strive to cultivate at Richardson,” 东精影业 law school Dean Camille Nelson said. “By expanding access to opportunities for legal scholars, this initiative strengthens the exchange of ideas that is essential to advancing justice.”

Law Professor Guy Rubinstein identified the need for a centralized legal CFP aggregator and initiated the project.

“There have never been more opportunities for law professors to present, share and publish their work,” said Rubinstein. “However, due to the abundance of listservs, blogs and social media platforms, it is becoming increasingly difficult for scholars to track every opportunity. I wanted to create a tool that would bridge that gap by bringing everything into one view.”

Institutional growth

After a successful trial period and feedback from 东精影业 law school faculty, the platform was officially launched to the community. Professor Brian Huffman, 东精影业 law school鈥檚 electronic services librarian and director of faculty development, sees the tool as a vital resource for institutional growth.

“The Docket uniquely supports faculty development and scholarship by spotlighting publishing and presentation opportunities, enabling faculty to engage quickly and strategically with the broader academic community,” said Huffman. “The library supports this project in its effort to help faculty research and promote their scholarship as well as improve professional development. Other peer institutions will also certainly benefit from The Docket as this site is free and open to all.”

Collaboration brings project to life

To bring the vision to life, Rubinstein collaborated with Benjamin Leider, the innovation fellow at the 东精影业 law school. A 东精影业 law school alumnus whose background bridges the gap between academic scholarship and technical development, Leider built the platform from the ground up.

“Surprisingly, getting AI to do real work was much more like management than dealing with technology,” Leider said. “AI agents need clearly defined jobs, and they need the right tools to do them. When they fail, it鈥檚 almost always because job expectations are unclear, or because the tools provide a bad user experience—a bad experience for the agents themselves—or because you鈥檙e expecting one agent to have the expertise of three specialists.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (NROTC) recognized excellence in leadership, academics and service during its 2026 Annual Awards Ceremony held April 28. The event honored outstanding midshipmen, civilian staff and active-duty personnel whose contributions supported the battalion鈥檚 success throughout the academic year.

Among the key honorees, Lt. Liam Gregory received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for exceptional instruction and mentorship as the unit鈥檚 Navy instructor.

Civilian staff Jaime Silva Velez and Alexander Mangiliman were recognized with Civilian Service Achievement Medals. Silva Velez was named Junior Civilian of the Year for his dedication to supporting a 100% commissioning rate, while Mangiliman earned Senior Civilian of the Year for overseeing supply and logistics operations supporting more than 100 midshipmen.

Midshipmen received a range of national and local awards recognizing leadership, academic excellence, military aptitude, community service and commitment to Navy and Marine Corps values. Top honors included the Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Midshipman Graduate Award, presented to Midshipman Ethan Dome, and the Navy League Honolulu Council Midshipman of the Year Award, presented to Midshipman Megan Foreman along with a $1,500 scholarship.

The ceremony concluded with remarks from Commanding Officer Capt. P. V. Bandini and the traditional playing of “Anchors Aweigh” and the Marines’ Hymn.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) celebrated 79 new locally trained physicians during its 2026 Convocation Ceremony at Kennedy Theatre on May 17. The event marked a major milestone for graduates preparing to serve communities across the state and beyond.

As Hawaiʻi continues to face a physician shortage, more than half of the graduates are entering critical primary care specialties including internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.

The ceremony included the recitation of the Oath of Hippocrates, formally welcoming the graduates into the medical profession.

‘I feel so grateful’

Among the graduates staying in Hawaiʻi are Joseph Li and Juyoung Chong, both eager to give back to the communities they now call home.

Meet more amazing 东精影业 graduates

“To just be able to serve the community that I grew up in, so many people pouring in to me and my family, helping to support me to get where I am today,” Li said. “Couldn’t have done it without any of them, so to be able to stay in Hawaiʻi, and support the people of Hawaiʻi, is just an incredible honor and I feel so grateful to have this opportunity.”

Chong, who was born and raised in Busan, South Korea, said Hawaiʻi became his second home after moving to the islands for high school.

“This is just the perfect environment for me because I was able to start my family, have a child, and with the ʻohana and aloha and all the love that I may not be able to have outside of Hawaiʻi,” Chong said. “I’m so happy to share my experience with the soon-to-be mothers who may be very nervous for upcoming life-changing events.”

Thirty-three percent of JABSOM’s Class of 2026 will continue their residency training in Hawaiʻi, helping strengthen the state’s future healthcare workforce.