This week’s ����Vlog�ٷ� News Image of the Week is from ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

Aloha Bash is on Friday! Students from all ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses are welcome, so featuring Grant Nakasone for more info! (No students were harmed in the making of this video.)

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A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the ����Vlog�ٷ� ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next ����Vlog�ٷ� News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other ����Vlog�ٷ� connection. By submitting your image, you are giving ����Vlog�ٷ� News permission to publish your photo on the ����Vlog�ٷ� News website and ����Vlog�ٷ� social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s Department of and will debut from April 17–26, a large-scale Balinese shadow puppetry performance that blends tradition with innovation. The show features towering shadow figures, live actors and dancers, and a full gamelan orchestra, an Indonesian ensemble known for its layered, rhythmic sound.

At the center is a love story that has traveled across centuries. The Panji tales, rooted in 13th-century Java and later embraced in Bali, follow a prince and princess separated again and again by misfortune and disguise. Their journey unfolds through “electric shadows,” a modern Balinese style that uses giant screens, dramatic lighting and performers moving both in front of and behind the stage.

“Everything you see on the screen is created live, in the moment,” said co-director Kirstin Pauka, a professor in theatre and dance. “This type of theatre is as complex as shooting a movie, and we do it all in one take.”

The production is co-directed by Balinese master artist I Madé Moja, who returns to Kennedy Theatre after staging two earlier works. The team leans fully into handmade design. No digital projections. No computer effects. Instead, simple materials are transformed into moving shadows, music and motion.

“The level of teamwork required goes far beyond most theatre productions,” Pauka said.

That collaboration stretches across campus and community. The cast includes ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students, local performers, and keiki learning the art form. The live music is led by master musician I Madé Widana.

Ticket information

. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, with a Sunday matinee on April 26. Pre-show talks will be held before select performances.

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The Koʻolau Career Expo connected more than 200 Windward Community College students, alumni and community members with more than 50 Hawaiʻi employers, offering career-track positions starting at $40,000. The gathering on March 31 featured government, healthcare and private industry.

“The event gave me a chance to see the different career options available and think about what might be a good fit for me,” said alumna Cara Souza. “Having many employers in one place makes it easier to explore possibilities and ask questions.”

Dani Springle, a 2019 alumna, added, “The event was very well organized, and it was encouraging to see so many career options available in one place. Seeing multiple state agencies represented helped me better understand additional opportunities for professional growth.”

Multigenerational turnout

The strong multigenerational turnout reflected broad interest in higher paying opportunities, with attendees able to network, participate in on-the-spot interviews, and receive resume support.

“We know the cost of living continues to be a challenge for many families on the windward side, and events like the Koʻolau Career Expo are one way we can help connect people with career opportunities,” said Haʻa Pagan, career and transfer counselor and organizer. “Sometimes one conversation at an event like this can open the door to a future someone never thought possible.”

Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg added, “It expands opportunities for the Koʻolau within the Koʻolau, helping to grow the waiwai (wealth) of our region by connecting people with career pathways that support long-term success.”

Employers appreciated the direct contact with job seekers.

“Connecting with local candidates is especially important to us, as many of our positions serve communities on the windward side,” said Stephanie Shiroma, a talent acquisition consultant with Kamehameha Schools. “Events like the Koʻolau Career Expo help us meet individuals who are interested in building careers close to home while contributing to the communities they live in.”

Pete Castalay of Northwestern Mutual Hawaiʻi added, “Events like this provide a space for meaningful conversations about professional growth.”

More information about career resources is available at the .

Kauaʻi Community College hosted its first career fair in more than a decade on April 2, with more than 160 students attending. The event highlighted a strong interest in career development and community connection, featuring a curated group of employers from diverse Kauaʻi industries. Faculty connected students directly with industry professionals, and on-the-spot interviews were conducted, offering attendees a variety of full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities.

First-year culinary student Lilianna Afro-Lopez, who hopes to pursue a back-of-house role in the hospitality industry after graduation, appreciated the supportive, on-campus setting.

“There are a couple of hotels needing help here, and it’s good to get this experience,” Afro-Lopez said. “Having a career fair on campus is especially helpful for those who are looking for jobs. There are a lot of options.”

‘����’s about who you know’

Malia Hoʻokano, a distance education student studying business through the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu while working at Kauaʻi CC as a financial aid student employee, said the event offered valuable networking.

“This is a great opportunity for those who don’t have much experience in the workforce, and it’s good to make connections with people in your community,” Hoʻokano said. “When the time comes to enter the workforce, students will have already met some people—and that’s kind of how it is on Kauaʻi. ����’s about who you know.”

Career Counselor Melissa Henry noted that the strong turnout underscored the importance of creating more opportunities for students, graduates and the community to build connections with local employers.

“While our primary focus was on student success, it was wonderful to open our doors to the public,” Henry said. “We look forward to inviting even more of our community to join us, extending the [priority access hour for students] and growing this into a successful annual tradition.”

Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and community members are invited to the free workshop “How Clinical Trials Save Lives,” hosted by the ’s Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community. The event will be held on Saturday, April 18, 9–11 a.m. at the Sullivan Conference Center.

Attendees will learn how trials work, hear from experts and patient panelists, and explore how participation shapes future care. The event will follow with light refreshments and a preview of the new ���ʻō���� Early Phase Clinical Research Center, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Participants can attend in-person and via Zoom. .

‘Where research turns into real hope’

“Clinical trials are where research turns into real hope,” said Naoto T. Ueno, director of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center and a two-time cancer survivor. “They give patients access to promising therapies and new possibilities.”

Clinical trials allow patients to receive new treatments or new combinations of existing therapies, often before they are widely available, while being closely monitored by research teams.

Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: ����Vlog�ٷ� cancer support network champions patient advocacy

The ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center administers nearly 90% of cancer clinical trials in Hawaiʻi. Its new ���ʻō���� facility will expand access to early-phase trials locally.

The workshop also marks the one-year anniversary of the Cancer CARE Community and honors founder Susan Hirano, whose vision continues to support and empower those affected by cancer. Since launching, the Cancer CARE Community has connected hundreds statewide, continuing Hirano’s legacy of hope and support.

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—Flying fish.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“Ka iʻa lele me he manu (The fish that flies like a bird).”
ʻŌlelo Noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) 1364

—Sean Mills, he haumāna ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu (Honolulu Community College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo .

The one-year anniversary of the official designation of Papahānaumokuākea as a National Marine Sanctuary was celebrated on March 3, a historic milestone in the ongoing protection of one of the most sacred and ecologically significant places on Earth. In recognition of this anniversary, the (PMDP), (SAC) and the (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) are starting the new, community-centered initiative, Papahānaumokuākea: Bringing the Place to the People.

Papahānaumokuākea is a place of profound cultural, ecological and ancestral significance. Yet for many, it remains distant and abstract. The project seeks to bridge that distance by fostering meaningful, community-led engagement that deepens public awareness, stewardship, trust and cultural connection to the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Beginning in summer and fall 2026, PMDP, SAC and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will host community talk story sessions on Hawaiʻi Island (Hilo and Kona), Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

This initiative centers Native Hawaiian voices, values and leadership, elevating cultural resource conservation and protection as foundational to the sanctuary’s past, present and future. Their vision is a living, island-to-island exchange where communities do not simply learn about Papahānaumokuākea, but actively shape how its story, stewardship and future are carried forward.

Rooted in listening

These gatherings are not presentations delivered to communities, they are conversations rooted in listening. This initiative allows SAC, whose kuleana is to represent the communities, to learn directly from each island community and amplify their voices. The sessions will explore how Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems can be meaningfully integrated, community perspectives on stewardship and management, cultural resource protection priorities, opportunities for youth engagement and leadership, and how communities wish to remain connected to Papahānaumokuākea.

Community organizations, cultural practitioners, educators and schools, conservation groups, youth leaders, kupuna and ʻike holders, and interested individuals are invited to express their interest in hosting, partnering or participating in a talk story session on their island. The initiative is an invitation to listen, learn and steward together.

The initiative was funded by the . Find more information on .

����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation is calling on the ����Vlog�ٷ� ʻohana—including alumni, friends and community members—to participate in ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day on April 8, a 24-hour effort to support students and research across the 10-campus system.

Gifts of any size will directly remove financial barriers for students, expand hands-on learning and advance research addressing �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s most pressing needs, from healthcare and education to environmental stewardship.

“Philanthropy offers critical support for our students, faculty and staff, and assists ����Vlog�ٷ� in serving communities across our state,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President Wendy Hensel. “Giving Day highlights the vital role our supporters play in expanding opportunity and sustaining the university’s mission.”

To further increase that impact, Hensel has personally created a special systemwide challenge: when 1,500 donors make a contribution to any project across the 10 campuses, her $15,000 challenge gift will be unlocked to directly benefit the fund. Donors can also take advantage of other matching gifts applied to a wide range of specific campus initiatives.

• To learn more or to make a gift, .

Critical timing

This year, ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day arrives at a critical time. As flooding affects communities across Hawaiʻi, urgent student relief is a top priority. Your involvement now helps ensure support reaches students quickly, when it can make the greatest difference.

Throughout the event, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation will share real-time progress, campus updates and student stories across its social media platforms with the hashtag #4����Vlog�ٷ�Giving Day.

“Giving Day is about coming together as a ����Vlog�ٷ� ʻohana to invest in the people and programs that matter most,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and VP of Advancement for ����Vlog�ٷ�. “When our community unites around a shared purpose, the collective impact of every gift—no matter the size—is amplified.”

This week’s ����Vlog�ٷ� News Image of the Week is from ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo.

“We are proud to announce that this year’s Merrie Monarch Mōʻī Wahine (Queen) is Rachel Hualani Loo [pictured here with Mōʻī Kāne (King) Ikaika Marzo]. Born and raised in Hilo, Hualani is a force for our community. As the Director of the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center at ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, she has spent the last decade supporting generations of Hawaiian students on their educational journeys. Hualani is no stranger to the Festival stage, for nearly 20 years she has danced on opening night with Hālau o Kekuhi. The ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo alumna and current ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� PhD student is a shining example of the University of Hawaiʻi‘s mission in motion. Educator. Hula practitioner. Lifelong learner. Rachel Hualani Loo draws on the grace and resilience of her Hilo ancestors to serve the next generation.”

—Mileka Lincoln, Marketing & Communications, University Relations, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo

Previous Images
Cleaning up
Through the water
Breeze block
Shark tag
‘Patrick Star’ tree
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the ����Vlog�ٷ� ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next ����Vlog�ٷ� News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other ����Vlog�ٷ� connection. By submitting your image, you are giving ����Vlog�ٷ� News permission to publish your photo on the ����Vlog�ٷ� News website and ����Vlog�ٷ� social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.