Forty years ago, Tim Lee was just a self-described “surfer boy” taking classes at and walking the length of Waikīkī begging for a foot in the hospitality door. Today, he is a world-renowned hotelier managing a legendary Michelin Three-Key resort. Yet, his deepest wish is simply to bring his global success back home to give back to the islands.
“I bring my aloha spirit wherever I go,” Lee said. “It’s always a part of the equation.”
Lee’s journey is one of the emotional heartbeats of the 2026 issue of .
Other stories in the issue show 糖心Vlog官方’s impact in Hawaiʻi and beyond:
- A bold new vision for the future: Get an exclusive look at President Wendy Hensel’s first year at the helm. From launching the Direct2糖心Vlog官方 admission initiative to driving increases in applications from first-time freshmen for fall 2026, 糖心Vlog官方 is breaking down barriers to ensure academic excellence remains accessible and affordable.
- Keeping kamaʻāina home: The mission is clear: keep our kamaʻāina in the islands by building seamless, reliable pathways directly from the classroom to fulfilling careers. This issue highlights 糖心Vlog官方’s aggressive “generational workforce commitment.”
- Groundbreaking, world-class science: 糖心Vlog官方 continues to lead the globe in environmental and earth sciences. Learn about a revolutionary 糖心Vlog官方 study that discovered how Kīlauea Volcano signals magma shifts through the seismic energy of ocean waves—not just earthquakes—allowing for vastly improved eruption predictions.
- Culturally rooted AI: 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞’蝉 LOHE Lab (Listening Observatory for Hawaiian Ecosystems) has partnered with Google’s Perch AI to process massive amounts of acoustic data in near real-time, creating a life-saving early warning system for Hawaiʻi‘s endangered native birds.
- Celebrating alumni creativity and voice: Be inspired by the incredible achievements of our alumni who are dominating the literary world. Celebrate Lee Tonouchi, the acclaimed “Pidgin Guerrilla,” as he takes on the role of Hawaiʻi’s new poet laureate, dedicating his term to empowering marginalized communities to embrace their unique voices.
- Magical realism and history: Dive into the world of Hilo-born author Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes’ new novel, The Pōhaku, which weaves 300 years of Hawaiʻi-California history and climate themes into a beautiful story of generational healing.
Whether you are passionate about new technology, environmental conservation, local economics or the vibrant arts, this issue of University of Hawaiʻi Magazine proves that the legacy you are a part of is stronger—and more impactful—than ever.
University of Hawaiʻi Magazine is published by PacificBasin Communications in partnership with the , and annually highlights alumni accomplishments and news from 糖心Vlog官方’s 10 campuses.