civil environmental construction engineering | University of HawaiÊ»i System News /news News from the University of Hawaii Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:51:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /news/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½News512-1-32x32.jpg civil environmental construction engineering | University of HawaiÊ»i System News /news 32 32 28449828 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ grad programs earn national recognition in U.S. News and World Report rankings /news/2026/04/08/us-news-best-grad-program-rankings-2026/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:08:19 +0000 /news/?p=231895 The 2026 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings were released on April 6.

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U H Manoa students walking together

Ten graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50, and an additional 17 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2026 , released on April 7.

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa’s (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ±á¾±±ô´Ç’s ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa programs were in the , ranking No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs.

The ranked No. 22 (tied) for best international programs, and the (SOEST) placed No. 40 (tied) for best Earth sciences programs. JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care.

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa’s strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos. “These results reflect the talent and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, and Hawaiʻi can take pride in knowing their university is preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers for our community and the world.”

Rankings were based on multiple factors, including research activity (such as publications and citations), student and alumni outcomes (employment and earnings), quality assessments (from peers and recruiters), student selectivity (GPA and test scores), and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student-to-faculty ratios).

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  Shidler College of Business  |  School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Social Sciences  |  College of Engineering  |  College of Natural Sciences  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 16 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 18 (tied) for best environmental law programs and law schools with most grads in federal clerkships, No. 24 for best part-time law programs, No. 41 (tied) for best international law programs, No. 47 (tied) for best dispute resolution programs and No. 48 (tied) for best legal writing programs, the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ law school placed No. 91 (tied) among the top law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

  • Tax law: No. 80 (tied)
  • Criminal law: No. 88 (tied)
  • Contracts/commercial law: No. 92 (tied)
  • Health care law: No. 92 (tied)
  • Constitutional law: No. 95 (tied)
  • Business/corporate law: No. 101 (tied)
  • Clinical training: No. 102 (tied)
  • Intellectual property law: No. 127 (tied)
  • Trial advocacy: No. 175 (tied)

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 3 for best medical schools for research.
In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 42 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, No. 45 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 139 for speech language pathology and No. 171 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. .

Shidler College of Business

The Shidler College of Business placed in nine subject areas. Leading the way were international programs at No. 22 (tied), accounting programs at No. 68 (tied), information systems programs at No. 72 (tied) and marketing programs at No. 91 (tied). In addition, Shidler ranked at No. 104 (tied) for best management programs, No. 113 (tied) for best executive programs, No. 123 (tied) for best finance programs, No. 125 (tied) for best entrepreneurship programs and No. 142 (tied) for best part-time MBA programs.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

SOEST placed No. 40 (tied) among the nation’s best Earth sciences programs.

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene placed No. 55 (tied) for best nursing school–master’s and No. 62 (tied) for best nursing school–doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Both were the only programs in Hawaiʻi to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

College of Education

The College of Education ranked No. 57 (tied) in the U.S., the 21st straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 89 (tied) among the nation’s top public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to an online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences placed among the nation’s best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation’s best in at No. 91 (tied), at No. 92 (tied), and at No. 128 (tied). The College of Engineering overall ranked No. 164 (tied) among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

College of Natural Sciences

The placed among the nation’s best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

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ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ environmental research, high-tech ‘nose,’ student opportunities earn $30K boost /news/2026/02/19/hwea-gift-environmental-research/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:59:46 +0000 /news/?p=229720 The gift will help upgrade the college’s environmental engineering lab through the acquisition of advanced instruments.

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people working in a lab

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is expanding its environmental monitoring and research capabilities thanks to a $30,000 donation from the Hawaiʻi Water Environment Association (HWEA).

The HWEA gift will help upgrade the college’s environmental engineering lab through the acquisition of advanced instruments—most notably a state-of-the-art gas chromatograph system that acts like a high-tech “nose” that can sniff out and measure different gases in the air—expanding ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½â€™s ability to analyze environmental samples with higher precision. The measurement of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, as well as compounds tied to odor and corrosion concerns, are key issues for wastewater facilities, community health and regulatory compliance.

“This gift is a vital investment in the research and education capacity of our Environmental Biotechnology Research Group at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹,” said Zhiyue Wang, assistant professor in the and the . “By supporting everything from the acquisition of advanced analytical equipment and software to student travel and professional seminars, these resources allow us to maintain the high-level technology and scholarly records necessary to solve Hawaiʻi’s most pressing environmental challenges.”

The upgraded instruments will also provide new learning opportunities for students through lab instruction, capstone projects and research experiences involving advanced analytical techniques used across commercial and municipal laboratories. It also opens the door for deeper collaboration and knowledge exchange between ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ and water environment professionals statewide, including potential lab tours, seminars and shared learning opportunities.

The lab’s enhanced capabilities align with HWEA’s mission to protect and enhance Hawaiʻi’s water environment by supporting research at the intersection of air and water quality and by helping train the future workforce in modern analytical methods.

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$4.6M to restore coral reef in American Samoa /news/2026/02/19/4-6-million-american-samoa/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:04:10 +0000 /news/?p=229664 The project will leverage more than two decades of coral heat tolerance studies to inform a restoration with resilience approach.

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mountains and reef
Photo credit: Valentine Vaeoso

A new $4.6–million multi-institute collaborative project to help grow coral restoration capacity in American Samoa will begin in early 2026, leveraging more than two decades of coral heat tolerance studies to inform a restoration with resilience approach.

The project will bring together partners from American Samoa Community College, , American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa and Old Dominion University with local agencies and village leaders to focus on restoring healthy coral reefs and training the next generation of natural resource managers.

mountains and reef
Photo credit: Valentine Vaeoso

American Samoa has some of the healthiest coral reefs within inhabited U.S. waters that are exceptionally heat tolerant, as well as the world’s oldest continuously monitored coral reef transect, making it an excellent coral reef study site. American Samoa also has the highest rate of relative sea-level rise recorded within the NOAA global tide gauge network. Since the fringing reef crests (the shallow part of the reef where the waves break) remove up to 97% of wave energy before reaching the shore, maintaining healthy reefs is key to protecting the land. Coral restoration, where corals are grown and outplanted onto the reef, is one method of helping reefs recover from impacts such as storms and ship groundings.

Understanding heat tolerant corals

Researchers have made progress in understanding the environmental and genetic drivers of heat tolerant corals.

“Heat tolerance is key for coral survival due to the increase in marine heatwaves causing mass coral bleaching and coral die-offs,” said Kelley Anderson Tagarino, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Sea Grant College Program extension agent in American Samoa and co-lead on the project. “By ensuring some of the corals in our restoration nurseries are heat tolerant, we can help our reefs have a better chance to withstand marine heatwaves. American Samoa has long been known to have highly resilient corals, and now we will be able to weave together local knowledge with Western science to help our reefs continue to protect our islands and feed our people.”

Funding student positions

The project includes funding for three graduate student positions for residents of American Samoa to study coral restoration at either ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa or Old Dominion University, and will provide support for local positions focused on coral restoration in partnership with the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

Oceana Francis, professor in the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa and coastal sustainability faculty with the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Sea Grant College Program, will provide critical project support by conducting hydrodynamic modeling (understanding how our ocean water moves) to help identify suitable places for the restoration nurseries as well as which shorelines are at most risk to flooding. These areas will be prioritized for coral restoration outplanting.

The project was funded by the NOAA Coastal Zone Management program.

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ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa, Hawaiʻi contractors team up to build future engineers /news/2026/02/11/gca-engineering-partnership/ Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:20:40 +0000 /news/?p=229370 GCA has supported the College of Engineering since the 1970s.

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person doing construction work

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is continuing a long-standing partnership with the General Contractors Association of Hawaii (GCA) to strengthen construction engineering education. Through funding from the GCA Education Foundation, the college supports a dedicated faculty position that brings construction industry professionals into the classroom.

“This partnership not only enriches our students’ learning with practical, real-world experience but also strengthens connections with employers, helping launch their careers and support Hawaiʻi’s construction engineering industry,” College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said.

person headshot
Joshua Au

Joshua Ka Tung Au was recently appointed to the GCA-funded position in the . He replaces longtime instructor Randy Akiona, who taught construction engineering courses at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa for more than two decades as part of the same industry-supported effort.

Au brings more than 20 years of experience in construction engineering, project management and education. A ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa alumnus, he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and later completed a master’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in construction engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. His professional experience includes work on major projects in Hawaiʻi and internationally, most recently as a project engineer with Allied Builders System.

“I am honored to join the University of Hawaiʻi and contribute to shaping future construction leaders,” Au said. “This position allows me to bridge my industry experience with academic teaching, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and innovation.”

GCA has supported the College of Engineering since the 1970s, funding instructors from the industry to align academic programs with workforce needs and support student projects and experiential learning.

Hawaiʻi’s construction industry needs professionals who understand both engineering fundamentals and the realities of working in the field,” GCA Executive Director Cheryl Walthall said. “With Joshua joining the faculty, GCA is investing in a stronger, more prepared local workforce for the long term.”

Read more about Au on the .

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$5M NSF award to address outdated wastewater infrastructure /news/2026/01/25/outdated-wastewater-infrastructure/ Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0000 /news/?p=228606 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa researchers are leading the design and real-world pilot demonstration of nutrient capture systems.

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wastewater facility

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are part of a team that was recently awarded a (NSF) to address the environmental and public health impacts of outdated wastewater infrastructure in island communities. The project is led by the University of South Florida, with ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa playing a key role in research and pilot testing.

Focus on Hawaiʻi’s water health

person walking and talking
Zhiyue Wang

In Hawaiʻi alone, an estimated 83,000 cesspools discharge approximately 52 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the ground each day, contaminating coastal waters and damaging coral reefs. Replacing cesspools with approved wastewater systems could cost households $30,000 to $50,000.

The Honu Hub project seeks to ease that burden by developing a solar-powered, compact and certifiable alternative that protects both human health and the environment. These systems are energy-independent and equipped with remote monitoring and automation, making them suitable for cesspool replacement in low-density and isolated areas. The “Honu Hub” represents a new class of small, adaptive and decentralized wastewater infrastructure.

By centering the work in Hawaiʻi, the research team ensures the technology is designed to overcome local challenges, including poor soils, high water tables and saltwater intrusion. The goal is to create a solution that can be adopted throughout the U.S. Pacific region and the continental U.S.

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa researchers are leading the design and real-world pilot demonstration of nutrient capture systems within the Honu Hub. Pilot testing is taking place at the Wahiawā Wastewater Treatment Plant, in collaboration with the City and County of Honolulu.

The award supports the Honu project within NSF’s Convergence Accelerator program, which aims to develop adaptive, decentralized wastewater infrastructure solutions for island and rural communities facing severe sanitation challenges.

Zhiyue Wang, the project’s co-principal investigator and assistant professor at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s and in the , will assist with the pilot testing of Honu Hub in Hawaiʻi and developing novel technologies for nutrient recovery in the system.

“Collaborating with the University of South Florida, our goal is to empower communities with solutions that protect public health, preserve our nearshore ecosystems and ensure clean water for future generations,” Wang said.

Tao Yan, director of the Water Resources Research Center, is also part of the Honu research team. Wang is working alongside principal investigator Daniel Yeh (University of South Florida), co-principal investigator Stuart Coleman (Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations) and co-principal investigator Allan Smith (Swiftwater Solutions).

Video on the wastewater infrastructure project and Honu Team members.

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ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa ranks top 12 in U.S. for oceanography, atmospheric science, tourism /news/2026/01/04/gras-ranking-2025/ Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:00:35 +0000 /news/?p=227779 The rankings are based on measures such as world-class faculty, world-class research output, high-quality research, research impact and international collaboration.

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three students sitting on a bench

The earned high marks in nearly 20 academic subjects in the , with , and leading the way among the highest-ranked programs.

Oceanography ranked No. 5 in the U.S. and No. 7 in the world, atmospheric science placed No. 8 nationally and No. 11 worldwide, and hospitality and tourism management ranked No. 12 in the U.S. and No. 32 in the world.

The rankings were released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy and is considered one of the most comprehensive and objective assessments of university performance by discipline.

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa also posted strong global and national placements across science, engineering, social science and other fields. tied for No. 17 in the U.S. and ranked No. 51–75 worldwide, while ecology and each tied for No. 24 nationally and placed No. 76–100 globally.

Additional ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa subjects recognized in the 2025 rankings include communication, education, political science, water resources, biological sciences, civil engineering, food science and technology, environmental science and engineering, agricultural sciences, economics, management and physics.

“These rankings reflect the depth and consistency of excellence at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa,” Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “Our faculty are advancing research that matters locally and globally, while preparing students to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our world.”

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa was evaluated alongside approximately 2,000 universities from more than 100 countries and regions, selected from a global pool of more than 25,000 institutions. The rankings are based on measures such as world-class faculty, world-class research output, high-quality research, research impact and international collaboration.

Other recent rankings:

For more information, .

—By Marc Arakaki

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Improving safety for small construction businesses focus of new ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ grant /news/2025/09/04/improving-safety-small-construction-businesses/ Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:18:46 +0000 /news/?p=221374 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ researchers will work directly on job sites to develop practical safety solutions for small construction businesses.

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person climbing out of a construction job site
(Photo credit: John Kakuk/Unsplash)

Small home building contractors (those with 20 or fewer employees) face significantly higher injury and fatality rates than larger firms as they operate under constraints that can potentially influence their ability to implement safety measures effectively.

To explore best safety practices for small construction businesses, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has been awarded a grant by the Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI), a nonprofit research and educational organization.

“Most U.S. studies of safety in small construction businesses have relied on surveys, which provide breadth but not always depth,” said Vineeth Dharmapalan, principal investigator and assistant professor in the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa . “Our work embeds researchers directly within real job sites to conduct direct observations and interviews and utilize stressor checklists. Our aim is to capture the daily pressures behind safety decisions. Triangulating these perspectives will allow us to create best practices that are both solidly evidence-based and grounded in the lived experiences of small contractors.”

The grant will enable researchers to investigate the practices of small construction firms via ethnographic case studies. The study will document work operations, workplace culture, decision-making influences, and stressors that influence safety outcomes within residential construction projects, including new home construction and renovations.

“This grant is exciting for JSI because this research brings us to the front line of construction sites, where safety isn’t just a manual or checklist but a real-world experience,” said Rob Matuga, JSI executive director. “The project will allow researchers to be immersed in the daily realities of the jobsite, where they can listen to the voices on the ground and observe the hidden risks, habits, unspoken rules and human factors that truly shape safety on site.”

Based on insights garnered from the study, the grant will allow for the development of practical safety guidance for small construction businesses to improve safety in their workplaces, which includes best practices, safety training programs and behavioral interventions tailored for small businesses. ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Mānoa is partnering with Oregon State University on this project.

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ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ students tackle city projects through PoÊ»okela Fellows internship /news/2025/06/17/uh-students-tackle-city-projects/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 23:25:13 +0000 /news/?p=217558 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ students applied their classroom knowledge to real-world city projects through a competitive public service internship.

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people standing on the stage and smiling
2025 Poʻokela program interns

Twenty students from the University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ and ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ West Oʻahu participated in the 2025 , gaining hands-on experience in public service with the City and County of Honolulu. The paid internship ran from January through May/June, placing college students in city departments to apply their academic skills to real-world projects.

people standing on a stage and smiling
Mira Olivas with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and other city leaders

Mira Olivas, a senior major at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, helped make Honolulu’s roadways safer through work with the Transportation Engineering Division in the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services. Olivas helped address public concerns related to speeding, parking and pedestrian safety by drafting updated signage and striping plans. Her projects included enhancing crosswalk visibility and replacing missing signs on streets such as University Avenue, Seaview Avenue and Keahole Street.

“This experience was valuable because it gave me a chance to get my feet in the real world. I was able to see how engineering is applied outside of the classroom and gain insight on the duties and responsibilities of traffic engineers,” Olivas said. “This internship will give you exposure to a wide range of work and connect you with all experienced mentors and departments. It’s okay to not know everything, but be willing to learn and ask questions.”

people standing and smiling on stage
Briana Lee with her mentor and leaders in the Honolulu Fire Department

Briana Lee recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree in in ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s and will be pursuing her master’s degree this fall. One of the key projects she worked on was creating a Data Analysis Incident Trend Dashboard designed for public use at the Honolulu Fire Department’s Planning and Development Division. This visualizes patterns, making it easier for the public and the department to understand trends over time.

“This internship has provided me with real-world experience in data visualization, analytics and cross-departmental collaboration,” Lee said. “The Poʻokela Program is pretty competitive, and the coordinators do their best to match you with the different departments around the island. My advice would be to have an open mind and a willingness to learn.”

The program focuses on leadership development, mentorship and civic engagement. Applications for the 2026 session will open in September 2025, with the deadline set for October. Participants must be upper-division undergraduates or graduate students in good standing.

2025 interns with ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ties

  • Phat Ca, information and computer science, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Cameron Cooper, mechanical engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Haley Cummings, business administration–marketing, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ West Oʻahu
  • Julia DePinto, human resource management, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Cassandra Dumaslan, public administration: justice administration, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ West Oʻahu
  • Andrew Gresham, civil engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Jazmin Horio, management information systems and international business, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Tyler Kahmann, management information systems, finance and international business, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Yuto Kudo, finance and marketing, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Ivan Lee, accounting, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Briana Lee, information and computer science, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Liberty Lum, accounting, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Clyds Bautista Manzano, public health–government and public policy, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Sara McGhee, biochemistry, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Nanami Mehring, molecular biosciences and biotechnology, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Mira Olivas, civil engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Allen Palma, civil engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Matisse Sremac, sustainability and climate change, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • William Tam, finance, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
  • Lauryn Takanishi, business management and marketing, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
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New textbook by ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ professor highlights quality control in construction /news/2025/05/01/quality-control-in-construction-textbook/ Thu, 01 May 2025 23:44:23 +0000 /news/?p=214906 Singh’s latest work addresses the importance of quality in ensuring the safety, longevity and functionality of built infrastructure.

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book cover on construction quality and management

A new textbook authored by University of Hawaiʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Professor Amarjit Singh aims to advance the global construction industry by emphasizing quality management and control.

Construction Quality Management and Control, published by Pearson (India), is now available for purchase on . The book is intended for both industry professionals and university students studying construction quality control.

Singh’s latest work addresses the importance of quality in ensuring the safety, longevity and functionality of built infrastructure—from homes and highways to major construction projects. Poor construction can lead to accidents, costly repairs and regulatory violations, while high-quality work enhances safety, sustainability and long-term performance.

The textbook covers topics including quality planning, assurance and control processes, as well as modern tools such as data-driven decision-making. It provides guidance on conducting inspections and managing risk related to field operations.

“Quality construction is essential—not just for compliance, but for protecting lives, avoiding legal consequences and creating a built environment we can be proud of,” Singh said. “This book empowers professionals and students to approach construction with a mindset of excellence.”

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7 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ grad programs in nation’s top 50, 14 more in top 100 /news/2025/04/08/us-news-best-grad-programs-2025/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 18:22:17 +0000 /news/?p=213479 Rankings were based on different criteria, including research activity, placement success, quality assessment, student selectivity and faculty resources.

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U H Manoa students waving Shaka

Seven graduate programs at the are in the nation’s top 50 and an additional 14 programs are in the top 100, according to the 2025 , released on April 8. The (JABSOM) also placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care.

The highest ranked programs were in the , ranking No. 16 for best part-time law programs, No. 36 for best environmental law programs and No. 45 for best international law programs. The Library and Information Science Program in the ranked No. 36. JABSOM ranked No. 41 for most graduates practicing in primary care and No. 47 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, and the ranked No. 43 for best nursing schools, doctor of nursing practice.

Rankings were based on different criteria, including research activity (publications and citations), placement success (employment and earnings), quality assessment (peer and recruiter assessments), student selectivity (GPA and test scores) and faculty resources (doctoral degrees awarded and student to faculty ratio).

“These latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report reflect ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s unwavering dedication to academic excellence and impactful research,” said ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno. “They speak to the strength of our graduate programs and the hard work of our faculty, students and staff. Hawaiʻi residents can take pride in knowing that their flagship university continues to shape the next generation of leaders, educators and innovators for our state and beyond.”

Note: not all programs are ranked every year. See these ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ News stories on previous years’ rankings: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Jump to program rankings:
William S. Richardson School of Law  |  John A. Burns School of Medicine  |  School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene  |  College of Education  |  College of Engineering  |  Shidler College of Business  |  College of Social Sciences  |  Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health  |  College of Arts, Languages & Letters  |  College of Natural Sciences

William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law was ranked in 15 categories by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its ranking of No. 16 for best part-time law programs, No. 36 for best environmental law programs and No. 45 for best international law programs, the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ law school placed No. 99 out of nearly 200 of the best law schools in the nation.

Other law school rankings include:

  • Legal writing: No. 51
  • Dispute resolution: No. 72
  • Criminal law: No. 82
  • Tax law: No. 95
  • Constitutional law: No. 98
  • Contracts/commercial law: No. 98
  • Business/corporate law: No. 108
  • Intellectual property law: No. 123
  • Clinical training: No. 125
  • Health care law: No. 128
  • Trial advocacy: No. 178

John A. Burns School of Medicine

JABSOM was one of 16 schools that placed in the nation’s top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care. JABSOM also placed in tier 2 for best medical schools for research.

In addition, JABSOM ranked No. 41 for most graduates practicing in primary care, No. 47 for most graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 166 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. JABSOM also placed No. 155 for speech language pathology. .

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program was ranked No. 43 among 158 of the top schools in U.S. News and World Report’s best nursing schools ranking. ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s nursing school is the only Hawaiʻi DNP program ranked by U.S. News and World Report since 2018.

College of Education

The ranked No. 65 of 258 schools ranked, the 20th straight year the college has been listed as one of the nation’s top 100 education programs. Nationally accredited since 2000, the College of Education continues to be recognized for its award-winning programs and people.

College of Engineering

Four graduate programs were ranked among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News. placed No. 90; ranked No. 91; and placed No. 124. The College of Engineering ranked No. 163 among the top engineering schools in the U.S. that grant doctoral degrees.

Shidler College of Business

The rose 29 spots to No. 137 out of 241 ranked schools for its part-time master of business administration (MBA) program. Shidler’s MBA programs are the only MBA programs in Hawaiʻi accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and among the few MBA programs in the U.S. with a true Asia-Pacific focus.

College of Social Sciences

In addition to the Library and Information Science Program ranking No. 36, the College of Social Sciences had the following programs placed in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings: at No. 78, at No. 82, at No. 104, at No. 107, at No. 113 and at No. 124.

Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

The ranked No. 99 out of 219 public health schools and programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The Department of Public Health Sciences offers a ; a , with specializations in , , and , and a , as well as PhD program in , specializing in community-based and translational research and a PhD in . The Department of Public Health Sciences is also home to a recently launched online master of public health program to meet workforce demands.

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

In the , the placed No. 97 and the ranked No. 104.

College of Natural Sciences

In the , the ranked No. 110.

Other rankings

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ also received these notable rankings:

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