The University of Hawaiʻi has been selected as one of 10 recipients of a national grant from Lumina Foundation’s to expand its Direct2����Vlog�ٷ� program. The $400,000 grant is part of the foundation’s $3.5 million investment to simplify the college admissions process and expand student access across the country.

Building on the success of Direct2����Vlog�ٷ�—the direct admissions initiative launched in October 2025, offering free entry to public high school seniors based on their GPA—the grant will fund a unified admissions system with enhanced outreach and guidance. This creates a more equitable pathway for Hawaiʻi students to apply, access financial aid and enroll across nine campuses, with ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� expected to join the program later this year.

“This investment allows us to build a simpler, more connected pathway to college for Hawaiʻi‘s students—one that ensures every learner, regardless of background or geography, has clear and supported opportunities, making it easier for more students to move from aspiration to enrollment and ultimately to success,” said Farrah-Marie Gomes, ����Vlog�ٷ� associate vice president for student affairs. “This work matters locally because it directly addresses the barriers our students face and strengthens our responsibility as a statewide system to serve every community.”

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative supports states, systems and institutions in integrating admissions, financial aid, advising and enrollment systems. The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers and help more students successfully enroll in and complete college.

“Across the country, we’re seeing real momentum to rethink how students access college,” said Melanie Heath, Lumina strategy director. “This cohort reflects a clear shift from fragmented fixes to coordinated, student-centered systems.”

Commitment to college access

At full scale, Direct2����Vlog�ٷ� will reach students at all public and charter high schools across the state, with implementation in partnership with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education and Hawaiʻi P–20. By aligning systems and expanding support, it will increase college access and enrollment statewide, particularly for rural and underserved communities.

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative is part of a broader national effort to increase post-high school attainment and advance Lumina’s Goal 2040, which aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

Prospective international students can now learn about the world-class education and unique opportunities at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� in their own language. New ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� microsites in Japanese, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese as well as an English site tailored for Indian audiences give interested students and their families clear, accessible information about the application process and highlight campus experiences and community.

The ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� developed the sites due to the additional complexity international students face when deciding to pursue their degree abroad including English proficiency expectations, visa processes and scholarship options. The new microsites provide clear communication, language access, and cultural context essential in helping them make informed decisions with confidence, from their first interaction with ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� through graduation. ����Vlog�ٷ�ors to the sites can also submit questions in their own language for more information.

“We want to emphasize that ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� offers more than a degree,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Interim Provost Vassils Syrmos. “Students gain a world-class education, hands-on research opportunities, and a supportive campus community in one of the safest, most diverse and welcoming places in the world. Hawaiʻi is not only a destination but an environment where students can thrive academically and personally.”

Emily Liu, director of international admissions in the Office of Global Engagement, expressed that while ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� can be a transformational experience for international students, they in turn enhance the campus experience for everyone at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

“International students make ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� a stronger and more vibrant campus by bringing global perspectives, diverse academic backgrounds, and rich cultural traditions into our classrooms and community,” said Liu. “They enrich class discussions, contribute to research and student life, and broaden perspectives beyond Hawaiʻi while helping prepare students for success in today’s increasingly interconnected world. Their presence strengthens cross-cultural understanding and reflects ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s role as a global university in the heart of the Pacific.”

Encouraging success, future possibilities

Depending on recruitment priorities, student demand and available resources, the Office of Global Engagement may consider microsites in more languages.

“We are already seeing encouraging early engagement and positive feedback from international prospective students, their families and partners,” said Liu. “We look forward to tracking continued interest, inquiries and overall impact as outreach and promotion continue.”

The future of Hawaiʻi’s students was the focus as the state’s top education officials—Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) Superintendent Keith Hayashi, along with his deputy and assistant superintendents—Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) Superintendent Keith Hayashi, along with hvisited Kapiʻolani Community College recently. This high-level gathering was a strategic effort to strengthen the collaboration between public schools and higher education, aiming to forge clearer, stronger pathways from high school graduation into meaningful careers.

The HIDOE delegation was given a tour of key campus facilities, including health sciences labs, student support centers and collaborative instructional spaces. They met with faculty and staff to learn how Kapiʻolani CC embeds place-based and experiential learning into its curriculum. College administrators detailed programmatic changes on the horizon designed to sharpen alignment with HIDOE workforce priorities and enhance coordination between Hawaiʻi’s K–12 and higher education systems.

Empowering students, commitment to collaboration

“As we move forward with the Direct2����Vlog�ٷ� initiative (a fast pass to nine ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses), it is essential that students and families understand which programs offer the best pathways to achieve their life and career goals,” said Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi. “At Kapiʻolani Community College, we want to make those pathways visible and accessible. We will continue to invite HIDOE leaders, principals, students and parents to our campus so they can experience firsthand the learning environment that empowers our students to thrive and prepares them for Hawaiʻi’s evolving workforce.”

The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to dialogue and collaboration between Kapiʻolani CC and the HIDOE—to strengthen workforce readiness, foster innovation and create lasting educational pathways for Hawaiʻi learners.

“Strengthening partnerships between our public schools and higher education institutions like Kapiʻolani Community College is key to preparing our students to be globally competitive and locally committed,” said Hayashi. “By aligning our efforts, we can create seamless pathways that empower students to pursue their passions, contribute to Hawaiʻi’s workforce, and make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.”

Hundreds of prospective students, their ʻohana, alumni and community members filled the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus on November 15, for Discover ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa, the university’s largest annual open house.

The three-hour event offered guests a rare, all-access experience across campus, featuring more than 100 academic programs and student services, hands-on demonstrations, workshops, research activities, live entertainment and guided tours.

“I hope they walk away feeling that this is their ʻohana. We can’t wait to welcome them in, support them, and help them reach every goal they’re chasing,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President Wendy Hensel. “We’re truly excited for this next generation, come on in, we’re ready for you.”

Event highlights

����Vlog�ٷ�ors got a lively snapshot of campus life through hands-on workshops, research demos and student projects from a wide range of units at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa everything from STEM, the arts, humanities and Hawaiian studies. The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience drew crowds with its cooking demonstrations, serving up green onion Korean pancakes and ʻuala desserts, made from locally grown ingredients. The ����Vlog�ٷ� Marching Band and ����Vlog�ٷ� athletes kept the crowd energized with performances and meet-and-greet opportunities.

Farrington High School senior Mikaela Paet explored the event with her classmates and said she was excited to learn more about the program she hopes to pursue.

“Just walking around the campus makes me very welcomed. A lot of the programs interest me, specifically nursing,” Paet said.

The day also featured an Alumni Makers’ Market, food trucks, free shave ice, prizes, giveaways, ����Vlog�ٷ� Bookstore merchandise and guided housing tours, giving visitors a well-rounded look at life on campus.

“����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa offers something rare—world-class research opportunities, strong academic programs, Division I athletics, and a campus experience you won’t find just anywhere. It’s truly an exceptional place to learn and grow,” said Vassilis Syrmos, interim provost at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa.

����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa’s rising momentum

The annual open house comes as ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa continues to earn national recognition. The university recently climbed 62 spots in the 2026 Wall Street Journal Best Colleges rankings and set new records in research funding and philanthropy.

Enrollment has also reached its highest level in five years, signaling strong demand from Hawaiʻi families and students from around the world.

(Hawaiʻi P–20) is offering free workshops to assist Hawaiʻi students and their families with the planning process to further their education after high school. Upcoming workshop topics focus on how to earn scholarships to attend a two- or four-year college, as well as trade and vocational schools, and help with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the 2026–27 school year.

Statewide Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha Series

Starting October 14, Hawaiʻi P–20, Native Hawaiian Education Association and Pacific Financial Aid Association will host the first of the Statewide Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha Series events. In-person events will be held on Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, ����Բ�ʻ��, Maui, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu, and two dates will be held online. Events are open for everyone to explore scholarship opportunities from various organizations across the state.

Dinner will be provided during each in-person event and a $500 scholarship will be awarded. FAFSA and financial aid representatives will also be available to ask questions and help students and families. For a complete listing of all Statewide Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha Series events or to register for a specific date near you, visit .

Virtual Scholarship Workshops

At Hawaiʻi P–20’s Virtual Scholarship Workshops, attendees will hear from representatives from Sallie Mae, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and the University of Hawaiʻi System about how Hawaiʻi students can access more than $70 million to help pay for college, regardless of their family income, as well as how to use scholarship search engines to apply for scholarships. Virtual Scholarship Workshops are scheduled for Thursday evenings on November 6 and November 20, from 6–7:30 p.m., and registration is available now at .

Virtual FAFSA Completion Workshops

The FAFSA for the 2026–27 award year is now open for all students to complete to become eligible for scholarships, grants and work-study funds, in addition to loans from the federal government. Attend a Virtual FAFSA Completion Workshop to see a line-by-line overview of the online application, learn about the allowable college expenses that financial aid can help to pay for including transportation, meals, books, tuition and various fees and speak directly with local financial aid specialists. Virtual FAFSA Completion Workshops begin on November 5, and are held on Wednesday evenings from 6–7:30 p.m. until March 11. Registration is available now at .

With questions regarding any of these events or for college planning assistance, families may contact FAFSA@hawaii.edu year round.

Three University of Hawaiʻi campuses were selected to participate in a year-long program designed to improve outcomes for students transferring from community colleges to four-year universities.

The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, Honolulu Community College and Kauaʻi Community College were selected for Cohort 4 of the Transfer Student Success Intensive. The program has seen strong outcomes with dozens of schools. It is led by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), and supported by the Ascendium Education Group.

“Transfer student success is a priority at and we are very excited to advance our support of transfer students in collaboration with Kauaʻi Community College and Honolulu Community College,” said Amy Bumatai, project director of the Hoʻokele Huakaʻi Naʻauao grant program at ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu.

“ is honored to participate in the Aspen Transfer Student Success Intensive, as it aligns with our commitment to creating clear, equitable pathways for our students to achieve their academic and career goals. By collaborating with national leaders and partner institutions, we can strengthen transfer opportunities and ensure our students thrive beyond their time at Honolulu CC,” said Susan Nishida, interim vice chancellor of academic affairs.

“ is excited to be part of the team supporting transfer students as they transition from the community college to a four-year college or university,” Kauaʻi CC Transfer Center Student Services Specialist Rhonda Liu said. “We are committed to ensuring success by supporting students throughout their journey to complete their bachelor’s degree online and in-person. We strive to improve their overall student experience before, during, and after transfer, and beyond.”

Cohort four includes 10 teams of 10 four-year institutions and 13 community colleges, representing 10 states. These partnerships will work collaboratively over the next year to create new strategies tailored to each institution and student needs.

Since 2021, the program has supported 91 colleges, including 41 AASCU members, impacting 16,000 transfer students across 23 states. “The Transfer Intensive is a hands-on program that gives institutions research and proven practices that help them reimagine and improve their transfer pathways,” said Tania LaViolet, director of research and innovation at the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Through this initiative, we are helping institutions address systemic barriers and develop actionable plans that if implemented, should improve transfer rates and bachelor’s degree attainment for students who begin at community colleges.”

The Transfer Intensive offers institutions access to a research-based curriculum, individualized consultations, and workshops to accelerate institutional progress toward transfer reform. Participating institutions will focus on data collection, goal setting, and peer learning to enhance outcomes for transfer students in the communities that they serve.

For more information about the Transfer Student Success Intensive, visit .

In Kauaʻi High School senior Via Javinar’s video entry for the 2024 #TakeMeTo����ԴDz� scholarship contest, she expressed her love for the Hawaiʻi community and her determination to show that there are no limitations to the place that you live. While her dreams can be achieved anywhere, she believes the perfect place to further her education is at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�.

Javinar’s #TakeMeTo����ԴDz� scholarship contest win was unveiled live on television during her graduation rehearsal. ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Associate Director of Admissions Shauna Pimentel-Motooka and (HNN) Anchor Dillon Ancheta surprised her with the news that she would be receiving a free year of tuition for ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, funded by (����Vlog�ٷ�FCU).

“This is very surreal. I’m just really, really excited and happy,” said Javinar. “Hawaiʻi is my home. Leaving this place, I knew it would be hard for me, and that’s why I decided on (attending) ����ԴDz�.”

Javinar received a large check, lei and gifts as her mother, Hilda, brothers Vincent and Vernon, and grandmother surrounded her during the announcement. Her classmates, teachers and administrators filled the Kauaʻi High School gym with cheers as they celebrated her scholarship win.

At ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, Javinar plans to pursue .

Meet previous #TakeMeTo����ԴDz� winners

“It is so exciting for us to provide a scholarship that will support Via at the start of her college journey,” said ����Vlog�ٷ�FCU President and CEO Travis Bow. “We proudly invest in students and their education as they become the future leaders and innovators of our community. We wish Via nothing but the best on her academic journey!”

“We were very impressed with Via’s ability to convey such a powerful message in a 60-second video,” said Pimentel-Motooka. “I was honored to present Via with her scholarship yesterday. The surprise, happiness and gratitude that Via and her family expressed were very touching. She exhibits both academic and creative strengths and we are very excited for the bright future that she has ahead of her at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�.”

����Vlog�ٷ�FCU has sponsored the #TakeMeTo����ԴDz� contest for six years, surprising recipients with HNN since 2018. Read more about previous winners.

A new, modern welcome center will greet prospective students to the , thanks to the generosity of a spring 2024 graduate and her family.

Haley Taylor, a major in the , worked as a tour guide in the for three years. It was because of her “����Vlog�ٷ�Mazing” experience being part of the office and showing off what the university has to offer that persuaded her family to make a generous contribution to renovate the center.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Student leader: Haley Taylor’s journey inspiring future ‘Bows, May 6, 2024

Taylor, her family and other campus leaders gathered for a grand reopening ceremony on May 10. The welcome center is located in the Office of Admissions in the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services room 001. Among the changes included: removing existing counters and countertops to significantly increase available space, renovating and replacing existing fluorescent lighting for warmer LED lighting, replacing ceiling tiles with a floating wood ceiling, and adding more furniture and wall decorations to match and expand the open concept design of the space.

“All I can think of is opportunity, opportunity that we haven’t even imagined yet,” ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun said. “That’s why I’m excited to bring other people into this and ask them, ‘what do you imagine?’ And ultimately, I hope that when future students come here, they feel like the space is a reflection of the experience that they have at ����ԴDz�.”

Hawaiʻi ties keep ʻohana close

Taylor was born in Tennessee and went to high school in Las Vegas, but in between spent four years residing in Hawaiʻi Kai. Although she is headed to the continental U.S. to pursue a graduate degree, she said she’ll be back to visit, and already looks forward to visiting the center and reconnecting with colleagues turned friends.

“Coming back in the future, I think it’s just going to bring back a lot of memories,” Taylor said. “Being able to showcase that with anyone I bring back, seeing the plaque on the wall and knowing that my small part here is lasting and gonna make an impact on so many people, I think I’m just looking forward to that, letting them understand how important this is.”

Haley’s father, Jason, is a trustee with . He is the chief sales officer at Gannett and president of USAToday Network Ventures. The Taylor family lived on Oʻahu when Jason served as senior vice president of sales and marketing at the Honolulu Advertiser from 2003 to 2007. Jason initiated the conversation about making a generous contribution with ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and ����Vlog�ٷ� Vice President for Advancement Tim Dolan, who then reached out to Chun.

“When we lived here years ago, the island was so welcoming to our family that we wanted to do something to extend that to future families,” Jason said. “We knew that the Office of Admissions was so important to Haley and her development during her four years here so it just seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

“The Taylor family has made a lasting impact in supporting our current and future students at ����Vlog�ٷ�,” Dolan said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have Haley’s father, Jason Taylor, on our Board of Trustees, and we are sincerely grateful for their gift to permanently enhance ����Vlog�ٷ�’s Welcome Center.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Haley Taylor is a shining example of a student who found her passion at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�. And for the past few years, the spring 2024 graduate and student has been paying it forward to the community through her service in Alohathon, a ����Vlog�ٷ� Manoa-based non-profit organization, and to future Rainbow Warriors as a tour guide with the .

Discovering academic interests

Taylor began her academic journey at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� in the midst of the pandemic, unsure of what the university would have to offer and what major to pursue. After enrolling in a few courses in the ’ , she found that these classes resonated with her interests.

“I’ve met some really amazing faculty who really wanted me to thrive,” Taylor said. “They taught me things about new emerging social media and media connections and how vital communications is in the world we live in now.”

Inspiring future ‘Bows

Taylor was born in Tennessee and went to high school in Las Vegas, but in between spent four years residing in Hawaiʻi Kai, so she wasn’t new to living on Oʻahu. While Taylor lived on campus during her freshman year, most of her classes were online due to the pandemic. She recalled that when her parents visited, she couldn’t tell them what most of the buildings were. This is what inspired her to apply to be a campus tour guide during her sophomore year.

“By luck they hired me and I’ve loved it ever since I started—just being able to talk to prospective students and tell them what I’ve learned, what I’ve gained from it and hopefully allow them to see what kind of amazing opportunities they might not be thinking about, and how it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get your education in a place like this,” Taylor said. “It really is unlike any other.”

She continued working as a tour guide through her senior year and also became a leader to welcome and connect new students and their families with the campus.

“At orientation, they’d come up to me like, ‘Hey, you’re my tour guide. I heard you talk about this. I knew I wanted to be a part of it when I came to the school.’ And that’s just a feeling you can’t really describe,” Taylor said. “It’s just like, ‘Wow, I made an impact on someone’s major life decision.’ It’s not solely because of me. It’s because of how amazing the university is.”

Giving back

Becoming a part of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Manoa ʻohana inspired Taylor to look for ways to give back to her campus community. In her sophomore year, she called it her “proudest moment” when she led an organization called Alohathon at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. They helped raise more than $27,000 for Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Stepping toward the future

Taylor is headed to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, to pursue a master’s degree in communications, with a focus on artificial intelligence. While she’ll be leaving the islands, at least for now, a piece of her legacy will remain at the place it all started—the admissions office. Inspired by the impact ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� had on their daughter’s academic career, Taylor’s parents made a generous contribution to revamp the welcome center in the Office of Admissions—the place many prospective students see when they first step foot on campus and where Taylor spent many memorable hours.

“To revamp this and to get this to be a fresh new happening place for prospective students to come in and see, it’s a good first look for the university,” Taylor said. “In however many years when I have a family, I can come back and show them not only the place that I love, the island that I love, but the place I spent so much of my undergraduate time in.”

Check out more stories of our ����Vlog�ٷ� spring graduates

When asked about what ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� has meant to her, Taylor concluded, “����Vlog�ٷ� has meant everything. This has been the best four years that I could have ever imagined. I can’t imagine going to a different undergraduate program.”

—By Marc Arakaki