The (BOR) unanimously approved the appointment of Vassilis Syrmos as the next chancellor of , the flagship campus of the state鈥檚 10-campus public higher education system, during a special meeting on June 4. Syrmos was recommended for the position by 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel following a nationwide search. His official start date will be July 1.

Syrmos joined 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa 35 years ago as a faculty member in the College of Engineering. As chancellor, he will serve as 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 chief executive officer, reporting to the 糖心Vlog官方 president and serving on the president鈥檚 senior leadership team. He will oversee an annual budget of more than $800 million and a workforce of more than 5,000 employees, leading academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in partnership with the provost and executive team.

“I am honored by the confidence placed in me and grateful for the opportunity to serve 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa at this important moment,” said Syrmos after the regents’ vote. “While I know the university well, I also know there is always more to learn. My first priority will be to visit every school, college and major unit across 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa to listen and learn directly from our students, faculty and staff. The strength of this university has always been its people, and I believe our best path forward begins by listening first.”

Syrmos has served as interim provost of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa since July 2025, 12 years as 糖心Vlog官方 vice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.

“Vassilis has done an exceptional job as interim provost, building on decades of leadership across the 糖心Vlog官方 System and at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa,” Hensel said when announcing her recommendation. “He brings a deep understanding of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 budget, operations and role within the broader 糖心Vlog官方 System, as well as strong relationships at the state and congressional levels. I am confident he will be an effective partner as we strengthen leadership for our flagship campus.”

Leadership experience

As interim provost, Syrmos helped secure legislative support to sustain the 糖心Vlog官方 Cancer Center鈥檚 research and strengthened its ability to maintain National Cancer Institute designation through legislation that doubled Hawaiʻi鈥檚 cigarette tax. He also advanced efforts to improve 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 financial transparency, modernize budgeting, strengthen student success initiatives and better align campus operations with institutional priorities.

As vice president for research and innovation, Syrmos led long-range strategic planning efforts that contributed to record growth in extramural funding, including a high of $734 million in fiscal year 2025, the fourth consecutive year 糖心Vlog官方 exceeded $500 million in research funding. He strengthened partnerships with Hawaiʻi鈥檚 congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to advance strategic university priorities and expand research opportunities. Syrmos also established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making 糖心Vlog官方 the only R1 university in the nation to embed Indigenous knowledge and innovation within its research enterprise.

Chancellor position re-established

The BOR voted to re-establish the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor position in December 2025 following a recommendation from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to separate the roles of 糖心Vlog官方 president and 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor. The 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Faculty Senate unanimously endorsed launching the search during the spring semester to provide stability for the campus and dedicated leadership as 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa and the 糖心Vlog官方 System work to separate long-shared hybrid positions and offices.

Syrmos was selected from a finalist pool that included the provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Francisco State University and the president of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The nationwide search attracted 32 applicants and generated nine additional nominations and inquiries.

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:

• Longtime 糖心Vlog官方 leader Vassilis Syrmos recommended as 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor, May, 28, 2026
• 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor search committee members announced, March 11, 2026
• 糖心Vlog官方 launches search to re-establish 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor position, February 25, 2026

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher has received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help advance quantum technology, a fast-growing field that could improve everything from medical imaging to environmental monitoring.

The three-year project, led by Assistant Professor Bo-Han Wu in 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 in the , will focus on building smarter quantum sensor networks. Quantum sensors are highly sensitive devices that can detect extremely small changes in signals, such as temperature, light or electromagnetic activity, with greater precision than many current technologies.

Tackling real-world situations

The research aims to combine quantum science with artificial intelligence and machine learning to help sensors work together more efficiently and adapt to changing conditions. The project begins June 1 and runs through May 2029.

“This project is about helping quantum technologies move from theory into tools that can solve real-world problems,” Wu said. “Hawaiʻi offers a unique real-world setting for quantum sensor research, where advanced sensors could help address island challenges in ocean monitoring, disaster preparedness and resilient communications.”

For Hawaiʻi residents, the technology could eventually support improvements in areas that directly affect daily life, including disaster monitoring, climate and ocean research, healthcare and communications systems. More advanced sensors could help scientists detect environmental changes earlier, improve the accuracy of medical scans and strengthen future wireless and satellite networks.

One major challenge in quantum technology is that quantum signals are extremely delicate and can easily be disrupted by noise or interference. Wu鈥檚 team will study ways to make these systems more stable, reliable and practical for real-world use.

The project will also help grow Hawaiʻi鈥檚 role in the emerging quantum technology field, which is expected to become an important part of future science and engineering industries. In addition to research, the grant will support education and workforce training through new courses, open-source software tools and outreach activities designed to introduce more students to quantum science and engineering.

The award was funded through the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Foundations of Emerging Technologies program, in collaboration with Professor Hyeongrak Choi from Stony Brook University, which supports research in cutting-edge technologies with potential long-term national impact.

Vassilis Syrmos has been recommended by University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel to serve as the next chancellor of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, the flagship campus of the state鈥檚 10-campus public higher education system. His appointment will go before the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents (BOR) for final approval on Thursday, June 4. If approved, he will begin serving on July 1, 2026. (Editor鈥檚 note: Syrmos鈥� appointment was approved by the BOR on June 4.)

A faculty member in the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa College of Engineering for 35 years, Syrmos brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience. He has served as interim provost of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa since July 2025. Before that, he served for 12 years as 糖心Vlog官方 vice president for research and innovation and eight years as associate vice chancellor for research at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.

“Vassilis has done an exceptional job as interim provost, building on decades of leadership across the 糖心Vlog官方 System and at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa,” said Hensel. “He brings a deep understanding of 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 budget, operations and role within the broader 糖心Vlog官方 System, as well as strong relationships at the state and congressional levels. I am confident he will be an effective partner as we strengthen leadership for our flagship campus.”

As interim provost, Syrmos helped secure legislative support to sustain the 糖心Vlog官方 Cancer Center鈥檚 research and strengthen its National Cancer Institute designation through the doubling of 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 cigarette tax. He also advanced efforts to improve 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 financial transparency, modernize budgeting, strengthen student success initiatives and better align campus operations with institutional priorities.

As vice president for research and innovation, Syrmos led long-range strategic planning efforts that contributed to record growth in extramural funding, including a high of $734 million in fiscal year 2025, the fourth consecutive year 糖心Vlog官方 exceeded $500 million in research funding. He strengthened partnerships with 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 congressional delegation, federal agencies and state leaders to advance strategic university priorities and expand research opportunities. Syrmos also established the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, making 糖心Vlog官方 the only R1 university in the nation to embed Indigenous knowledge and innovation within its research enterprise.

“I am deeply honored to be recommended as the next chancellor of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa”, said Syrmos. “Having served the university for more than three decades, I consider Hawaiʻi and this campus my home. I look forward to working with President Hensel in strengthening student success, advancing research and innovation and working closely with our faculty, students, staff and community partners as we continue to move 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa forward as 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 flagship university.”

Nationwide search

Syrmos was selected from a finalist pool that also included the provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Francisco State University and the president of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The search attracted 32 applicants and nine nominations or inquiries.

The BOR voted to re-establish the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor position in December 2025, following a recommendation from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to separate the roles of 糖心Vlog官方 president and 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor. The faculty senate unanimously endorsed an immediate launch to the search in spring semester to provide stability for the campus and dedicated Manoa leadership in discussions regarding the separation of hybrid positions and offices shared between Manoa and the system.

The search included a representative advisory committee, open nominations and applications, campus visits by finalists, public forums and stakeholder meetings. All three finalists participated in two-day campus visits that included more than 20 meetings with stakeholder groups and a public presentation and Q&A session, each of which was viewed by more than 500 people. Community feedback generated more than 650 comments across all finalists, in addition to input from shared governance groups.

Chancellor responsibilities

As chancellor, Syrmos will serve as the chief executive officer of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, reporting to the 糖心Vlog官方 president and serving on the president鈥檚 senior leadership team. He will oversee a budget exceeding $800 million and more than 5,000 employees, providing leadership across academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in partnership with the provost and executive team.

Syrmos is expected to advance 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 mission as 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 flagship research university while strengthening connections across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and Asia and upholding the university鈥檚 responsibility to the Native Hawaiian community, language and culture.

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:

• 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor search committee members announced, March 11, 2026
• 糖心Vlog官方 launches search to re-establish 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa chancellor position, February 25, 2026

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research is awarded by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community.

Nicolas Gaillard

Nicolas Gaillard is an associate researcher in the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He has more than 20 years of experience in materials and surface science, with expertise in photovoltaics, electrochemistry and device integration.

He joined HNEI as a postdoctoral fellow in 2007 and now leads the Thin Films Laboratory. His research focuses on understanding light-matter interactions at solid–solid and solid–liquid interfaces at the atomic scale, advancing the design of next-generation materials for renewable energy technologies.

In 2017, with support from the 糖心Vlog官方 Strategic Investment Initiative, he founded the Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education (MS-CoRE), bringing together 糖心Vlog官方 materials researchers to expand shared resources, strengthen interdisciplinary research and foster collaboration.

“He has established himself as a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the field,” said Richard Rocheleau, HNEI director. “More importantly, his collaborations with other departments and his mentorship of students, postdoctoral fellows and junior researchers, has made important contributions to the education and training of the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula

Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula is professor and chair of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). A nationally recognized translational behavioral scientist, he has led federally funded research for more than two decades to improve cardiometabolic health and advance health equity for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

He is lead co-principal investigator of the Pacific Innovations, Knowledge, and Opportunities (PIKO) Clinical and Translational Research Center, where he helps train the next generation of researchers to address Hawaiʻi‘s most pressing health challenges. He also developed programs supporting underrepresented students, fellows and early-career faculty in health research.

With more than 200 publications, his work has influenced healthcare delivery, clinical outcomes and public health policy for Indigenous communities. Kaholokula has held national leadership roles and continues to serve on local boards dedicated to improving community health. In 2024, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

“Through community-engaged research and culturally grounded approaches, he has built trust, advanced our understanding of health disparities, and helped develop solutions for our communities,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “His work continues to shape how we approach disease prevention and public health in Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and beyond.”

Victor M. Lubecke

Victor M. Lubecke is a professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He specializes in wireless sensing and integrated transducers.

Prior to joining 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa in 2003, he worked at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, where his research focused on remote sensing and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for biomedical and industrial applications. He has also held research positions at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Institute for Physical and Chemical Research, working on technologies for space-based sensing and communications.

Lubecke has authored nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications with more than 10,000 citations, holds seven U.S. patents and has co-founded two startup companies. He is an IEEE Fellow, a Fulbright Senior Scholar and an emeritus Distinguished Microwave Lecturer of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.

“Victor Lubecke is truly an internationally recognized researcher for his important contributions in the electrical engineering field,” said Aaron Ohta, professor of electrical and computer engineering. “During one of my research projects, I came across many examples of Victor’s groundbreaking work that provided me with the essential information I needed to successfully complete it. I am honored to be working with such an esteemed colleague.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has completed its inaugural Spring 2026 Professional Mentorship Program, connecting students with industry professionals in an effort to strengthen student success and career readiness.

The 14-week pilot program paired 20 engineering students with 20 mentors in individualized, one-on-one matches. Selected from more than 50 applicants, cohort students ranged from first-year undergraduates to graduate students.

Mentors brought diverse experience from across the engineering field, including leadership roles in renewable energy, aerospace and advanced technology. Participants included professionals affiliated with organizations such as NASA Ames Research Center, Lockheed Martin Space and Hawaiian Electric, as well as alumni who returned to support the next generation of engineers.

Student, alumni, professional, mentor

One of those professionals was Wendy McLain, a senior civil engineer and deputy manager at SSFM International, Inc. McLain mentored major Ashton Quichocho. She highlighted Quichocho鈥檚 willingness to step outside her comfort zone, explore different career paths and develop both technical and leadership skills along the way.

“It was really rewarding getting to give back,” McLain said. “There’s this sense of responsibility and kuleana to be able to do the same for others that have done for us, and especially now in our field and industry. We need more talent, so it’s really exciting to see all of the exciting new talent that’s up and coming.”

Quichocho, a graduating senior, called it a “full-circle moment” because she will soon be working full-time with McLain at SSFM International, Inc.

“I learned a lot about myself and the direction I want to go post-grad,” Quichocho said. “In the beginning, I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do or what I was going to apply for, and I’m glad that this program was able to give me Wendy because she had so much career advice for me, but also life advice for me, too.”

Throughout the semester, mentors and mentees met at least twice monthly, engaging in conversations focused on academic planning, internships, career pathways and professional development. Many pairs expanded those interactions through workplace visits, job shadowing and collaborative activities that offered students direct exposure to real-world engineering environments.

Created by students for students

Members of the helped to run the pilot program.

“As students ourselves, we wanted to create something that reflected what we believed would be most beneficial, which led us to build a mentorship program,” said Dayza Otsuka-Cabodol, an ESA who was part of the planning committee. “Working closely with our committee and continuously adjusting based on feedback, we watched the vision come together week by week.”

Organizers plan to expand the program in fall 2026, building on lessons from the pilot to reach more students and mentors. The next cohort aims to further strengthen connections between the college and industry while continuing to support student success across all stages of the engineering pathway. Apply online as or for the fall 2026 program.

At the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa, students are leading efforts to address period poverty—the inability to afford menstrual products and limited access to menstrual education and care—recognized as both a public health and equity issue in Hawaiʻi.

A found 43% of 糖心Vlog官方 students who menstruate have experienced period poverty, about three times the national average. Those affected are more likely to face food insecurity, severe depression and academic disruption.

Student-led drives expand campus support

Graduate student Jenny Brown and undergraduate student Lovely Molina, both from a College of Engineering , organized “Flow Forward” period product drives in October 2025 and February 2026, collecting 2,679 pads and tampons for the campus . They also hosted kit-making events to support distribution and awareness.

“These efforts aim to institutionalize this as a permanent budget priority, providing equitable and sustainable access to basic hygiene is a strategic investment in student success and retention—and what’s needed now is senior leadership to champion it to the finish line,” said Brown.

Overlapping needs

The Food Vault was chosen because period poverty often overlaps with food and housing insecurity, allowing one access point to meet multiple needs. Brown and Molina also coordinate with student groups, alumni, nonprofits and faculty advisors Yuka Polovina of the Department of Public Health Sciences and Teresa Bill of Womenʻs Center/SEED program.

“I’m so proud of our students who demonstrate this level of passion and initiative to address this critical public health issue,” said Polovina. “And at the same time, it concerns me that they shoulder this burden as students.”

In 2023, the State Senate passed Senate Resolution 23 urging the 糖心Vlog官方 System to provide free menstrual products across campuses. Implementation remains limited due to infrastructure and funding challenges.

“Implementing an ‘unfunded resolution’ is challenging on a campus with more than 300 Women’s and All Gender restrooms, controlled by three different entities,” said Bill. “Selecting new locations will take into account ‘high traffic’ areas as well as product ‘deserts,’ but this is a long-term project.”

While systemwide efforts continue, students remain the primary drivers of immediate support through donation drives, nonprofit partnerships like , and advocacy.

“Providing period products for students should not be another student’s responsibility,” said Molina. “We started this drive without high expectations of getting many donations and seeing my peers raise this much product blows my mind.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has received nearly $1 million in new federal funding—including a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award—for research led by Assistant Professor Tianlu Wang to develop tiny, flexible robots designed to work in hard-to-reach environments, from coral reefs to the human body.

The funding includes a five-year, $659,613 CAREER award and a two-year, $299,997 Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Fellows grant, both from NSF.

“By focusing on both performance and safety, we鈥檙e working to make miniature robots practical for real-world use in places that are difficult to reach,” said Wang from 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 . “This research brings us closer to technologies that can better support healthcare and protect sensitive environments.”

The CAREER project focuses on improving how small “soft” robots move and function in fluids such as the ocean or inside the body. These robots, about the size of a few millimeters to centimeters, can adapt to their surroundings. However, they currently lack the speed, agility and manipulation capabilities as seen in small marine organisms. The research aims to change that by developing new ways for the robots to interact with fluids, helping them move faster, turn more easily and handle objects. Potential uses include exploring coral reefs and mangroves, monitoring aquaculture systems and reaching difficult areas of the body for medical diagnosis or treatment. The project also supports student learning through new courses, research opportunities and public outreach.

The CAREER program is the NSF鈥檚 flagship award for early-career faculty in the U.S., supporting those who show strong potential to lead in both research and education. CAREER awardees are also eligible for nomination to the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, a White House honor recognizing innovative research and leadership.

Safety and environmentally friendly design

The EPSCoR fellowship focuses on safety and environmentally friendly design. In collaboration with the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the project will develop miniature soft robots made from materials that are safer for natural environments and medical use. It will also establish methods for designing and testing these robots to ensure they can operate effectively without causing harm. The work is expected to expand research opportunities at 糖心Vlog官方, while training students in robotics, materials science and biomedical engineering.

Wang also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at The Queen鈥檚 Medical Center and a cooperating faculty in 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 .

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:

• Heart tech, mini medical robot breakthrough: 糖心Vlog官方 researcher earns $230K award, April 8, 2026
• Bio-inspired breakthroughs: Engineering solutions from nature, August 26, 2025
• Team of microscopic soft robots could transform medical care, November 10, 2024
• Robot tech to clean oceans wows international summit, February 6, 2024

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa senior student has earned one of Stanford University鈥檚 most competitive graduate awards, underscoring the growing impact of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 engineering programs.

Andrea Murillo, who is graduating this spring, has been admitted to the PhD program in electrical engineering at Stanford and is believed to be the first 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa recipient of the Stanford Graduate Fellowship, an award given annually to about 100 incoming doctoral students across the university. The fellowship provides up to three years of funding, including tuition and stipend support, to top scholars in science and engineering fields.

Murillo鈥檚 path at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa reflects a multidisciplinary journey shaped by hands-on research and mentorship. She began her undergraduate journey as a mechanical engineering major before transitioning to computer engineering and ultimately electrical engineering in the electrophysics track, where she found her passion in mixed-signal circuit design.

Through work in several research labs, including projects on embedded systems, TinyML (Tiny Machine Learning), and integrated circuit design, Murillo discovered a passion for building more efficient hardware. She plans to continue that work at Stanford, focusing on circuit design and new technologies that can make electronics faster and use less energy.

Meet more amazing 糖心Vlog官方 graduates

“My experiences at 糖心Vlog官方 helped me discover not just what I enjoy studying, but how I want to contribute to the field,” said Murillo, who is an international student from Mexico. “The support from faculty, mentors and my peers gave me the confidence to pursue graduate school and aim for opportunities like this.”

Community leadership

Beyond the classroom, Murillo has been active in the community as a leader in the FabLab maker space, a member of engineering student organizations and a leader who won an award at the 2024 Honolulu Tech Week hackathon.

Her achievement highlights the role of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa in preparing students for advanced study and contributing to innovation in high-demand fields such as electrical engineering and artificial intelligence hardware.

“By leveraging the full breadth of opportunities at 糖心Vlog官方, Andrea developed a profound understanding of the grand challenges facing contemporary hardware design. Reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence, she has secured a place in one of the country鈥檚 most prestigious doctoral programs,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Professor Boris Murmann, who mentored Murillo and was on the faculty at Stanford for 20 years.

Murillo is expected to begin her doctoral studies this fall.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa hosted its 26th annual banquet, bringing together approximately 1,000 students, faculty, alumni, industry leaders and supporters to celebrate the innovation and impact the college has on the state of Hawaiʻi.

Held on April 17 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the event began with a student project expo, where dozens of teams presented hands-on work across aerospace, robotics, sustainability and artificial intelligence. Projects included bioinspired soft robotics systems, student-built satellites, autonomous drones and renewable energy solutions aligned with campus sustainability goals, offering attendees a firsthand look at applied learning with real-world relevance.

Following welcome remarks by Dean Brennon Morioka, 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel and Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, as well as dinner service, the formal program featured an awards ceremony recognizing contributions to the engineering community. Dayna Nemoto-Shima (Pacific Geotechnical Engineers, Inc.) and Brandon Shima (糖心Vlog官方) received the Outstanding Service Award, Greg Hiyakumoto (R.M. Towill Corporation) was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Bharath Kadaba (Lu Labs) earned the Dean鈥檚 Award of Excellence.

Connecting talent with opportunity

“The future of engineering in Hawaiʻi depends on how well we connect talent with opportunity, and those relationships happen because of the people who attended our annual banquet,” College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said. “Our industry partners and donors are the heart and soul of our local economy and help create pathways for students to lead, to solve and to stay and make a difference right here at home.”

The formal program also highlighted the featured student project, the unexploded ordnance (UXO) project. The multidisciplinary effort applies advanced sensing technologies and robotics to safely detect unexploded ordnance in Hawaiʻi, addressing long-standing environmental and public safety challenges.

“I got the opportunity to go to the 21 years of peace celebration at Mākua Valley and it really was an amazing opportunity to actually get to talk to the community and we got to talk to students too,” said UXO student project leader Kamalani Goo. “It was really instilled in me that we need to be having these conversations and building these relationships because no one truly understands the issues as well as the community that is experiencing them.”

The event concluded with a live auction and more networking, celebrating the shared commitment to advancing engineering in Hawaiʻi. The college extended its mahalo to donors and Hawaiʻi鈥檚 engineering industry for their continued support, including mentorship, internships and career development opportunities that help shape student success. All net proceeds from the annual banquet goes directly to supporting the many student projects showcased at the event.

Franklin Kuo, a pioneering engineer whose work helped lay the foundation for modern wireless communications, died April 14. He was 91.

Kuo, a professor emeritus in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, co-developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s with colleague Norman Abramson. The system, launched in 1971, was the world鈥檚 first wireless packet network and introduced protocols that underpin technologies such as ethernet and wi-fi.

Educated in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Kuo began his career at Bell Laboratories in the early 1960s, conducting research in computer communications. He joined 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa in 1966 as a full professor, where his work on ALOHAnet helped place the university on the global map in networking innovation.

“This is a profound loss for our college and the global engineering community,” College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said. “Frank鈥檚 vision and leadership helped establish a culture of bold, boundary-pushing research at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa that continues to inspire our faculty and students today. His legacy lives on in the spirit of innovation that defines who we are. Both Frank and his wife Dora have been valuable members of our Engineering ʻohana.”

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories on ALOHAnet:

• 50 years of ALOHAnet honored, new endowed scholarship announced, June 16, 2021
• Pioneering wireless technology ALOHAnet honored as engineering milestone, October 13, 2020

Kuo also authored some of the earliest books in the field, including one of the first texts on computer communication networks published in 1972. Beyond academia, Kuo served as director of information systems at the Pentagon in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in the late 1970s. He later led networking and information systems projects at SRI International, contributing to early architecture for the National Science Foundation鈥檚 network, a precursor to today鈥檚 internet infrastructure.

He was a member of national advisory efforts on high-performance computing and consulted for federal science and technology initiatives. In 1994, he co-founded a wireless communications company focused on mobile messaging technologies. Kuo was an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers fellow and a recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Award.

A celebration of life is expected in May.

.

, an assistant professor in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa , has received the Career Development Award from the to advance medical research and technology for vascular and heart health. The three-year, $230,727 award supports promising early-career investigators working on innovative solutions in cardiovascular and related biomedical research.

“I am very honored to receive this award,” Wang said. “This support allows us to explore bold ideas that could change how we approach medical treatment inside the human body, while building a strong network of collaborators who bring different expertise to the table. It鈥檚 a great opportunity to train the next generation of engineers and create technologies that could one day make procedures safer and less invasive.”

Wang鈥檚 project focuses on developing miniature soft robotics combined with artificial intelligence to create new medical devices that can navigate hard-to-reach areas of the body and enhance the function of cardiovascular and neurovascular systems. The work builds on Wang鈥檚 previous research on soft robotics inspired by diverse marine life. By studying how small aquatic animals move efficiently through complex environments, his team designs flexible robots that can safely operate in delicate spaces, such as inside the human body.

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:

• Bio-inspired breakthroughs: Engineering solutions from nature, August 26, 2025
• Team of microscopic soft robots could transform medical care, November 10, 2024
• Robot tech to clean oceans wows international summit, February 6, 2024

The award also supports collaboration and mentorship with scientists from 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 , The Queen鈥檚 Medical Center, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These partnerships aim to strengthen research and expand real-world applications of miniature soft robotics in healthcare.

Wang also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at The Queen鈥檚 Medical Center and a cooperating faculty in 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 .

The project highlights 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 growing role in robotics and biomedical engineering, with a focus on developing technologies that can improve patient care and address complex health challenges such as sudden cardiac arrest.

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

糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 (JABSOM) also placed in the nation鈥檚 top tier (tier 1) for best medical schools for primary care, and 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 ranked in a in the nation.

The highest ranked 糖心Vlog官方 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.

“糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 strong showing in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings underscores our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and student success,” said 糖心Vlog官方 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 糖心Vlog官方 News stories on previous years鈥� 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 糖心Vlog官方 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 best in at No. 90 (tied) and at No. 92 (tied).

College of Engineering

The ranked among the nation鈥檚 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鈥檚 best in at No. 97 (tied), and at No. 115 (tied), and at No. 125 (tied).

College of Arts, Languages & Letters

糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa placed No. 106 (tied) among the nation’s best for fine arts programs.

Other rankings

糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, March 25, 2026
• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ballroom dance team won its third consecutive national title at the (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27–29.

Competing against 37 colleges, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa once again took first place for “highest point average,” as well as a close second place for the overall team championship, asserting its place among the nation鈥檚 top ballroom dance college teams. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires most team members to perform exceptionally well in all events.

The dancers of the Ballroom Dance Club @糖心Vlog官方M—a registered independent organization at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa—are trained and coached by Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti. Narayan and Sumukti also represented Hawaiʻi in the senior age division placing 1st in several events.

“We are no longer the underdogs, so all the other colleges are looking at us as the team to beat,” said Narayan, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa . “The bar is getting raised higher and higher each year, but we prevailed once again. We are incredibly proud of the dedication of our dancers who put in many hours to prepare for this competition. We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from the entire ballroom community in the state of Hawaiʻi.”

The Ballroom Dance Club @糖心Vlog官方M was formed in September 2022, and the team took first place for “highest team average” in 2024 and 2025.

“Nationals was an amazing and eye-opening experience for me,” said Caleb Zerbe, who competed in the nationals for the first time. “Getting to see so many people dance and enjoy themselves on the floor made me realize how fun dancing can be, even at the highest stages. It was a moment that helped me build a lot of confidence, and one that I will never forget.”

Christopher Ramirez, who competed on all three victorious 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa teams, added, “Given the opportunity to compete at my third nationals, there is always something new to learn. Winning for the third year in a row has reminded me just how incredible it is to be a part of this team.”

Tough competition

NCDC is a grueling competition with events starting at 7 a.m. every morning. It consisted of multiple events based on proficiency (bronze, silver, gold, etc.). Each student danced in up to 32 different events at the bronze and silver skill levels. They competed in all four styles of ballroom dance including International Standard (waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep), American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz), American Rhythm (chacha, rumba, swing, bolero and mambo) and International Latin (samba, chacha, rumba, paso doble and jive).

Several students took individual first place awards in their respective divisions defeating up to 70 other competitors in some events. This trip was designed to give the team exposure to a collegiate competition, as Hawaiʻi has no statewide collegiate ballroom competitions.

More about the Ballroom Dance Club

The Ballroom Dance Club offers beginner classes to all 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa students, faculty and staff in studio 2 in the athletics department from 6—7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No dance experience is required. For more information, or visit their Instagram page @bdcuhm.

The team would like to thank the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Department of Athletics, Student Activity and Program Fee Board, Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi, USA Dance Honolulu and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for facility and financial support.

糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa 2026 nationals collegiate and adult team roster:

• Ravi Narayan, faculty (computer science), coach and alumnus
• Synthia Sumukti, coach and alumna
• ʻAulani Wagner, library science and American studies
• Alexander Picken, Earth science
• Amanda Kanthack, psychology and Japanese
• Caleb Zerbe, computer science
• Christopher Ramirez, linguistics
• Christopher Wright, electrical engineering
• Courtney Hisamoto, computer science
• D’Elle Martin, architecture
• Elijah Saloma, computer science
• Gregory Snyder, mechanical engineering
• Hannah Madiam, kinesiology
• Iris Calauan, pre-nursing
• Jonathan Bona, civil engineering
• Julietta Lopez, architecture
• Kanaru Ebi, psychology
• Karl Merritt, mechanical engineering
• Luis Hernandez, electrical and computer engineering
• Lyndsey Moku, political science
• Maya Ito, psychology
• Michaella Villanueva, computer science
• Noah Asano, computer science
• Samantha Reed, computer science
• Shaelyn Loo, computer science
• Tessa Heidkamp, journalism and political science
• Andrew Lin, computer science alumnus
• Sydney Kim, computer science alumna
• Jason Aguda, computer engineering alumnus
• Matthew Rummel, political science and business alumnus
• Ariel Ramos, cinematic arts animation alumna
• Yong-Sung Masuda, computer science alumnus
• Wilson Tran, computer science alumnus
• Florence Liu, faculty, mathematics

Luis Hernandez and Maya Ito dancing the American Cha-cha in the Collegiate Team Match where 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Elijah Saloma and Michaella Villanueva dancing the International Quickstep in the Collegiate Team Match where 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa placed 3rd. (Video courtesy: Calvin Ota)

Coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti dancing the Mambo in the Senior IV American Rhythm Championship final. (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Students cheering for their coaches Ravi Narayan and Synthia Sumukti (Video courtesy: Ravi Sundaram)

Among the finalists in a national NASA competition focused on advancing technologies for future space exploration is a student-led engineering team from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

(Robotic Space Exploration) is one of 14 university teams selected for the 2026 . The challenge invites students to develop innovative concepts supporting sustained human activity on the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Powering lunar operations

The team鈥檚 proposal, (Power Energy Transfer Architecture for the Lunar), centers on building a scalable power management and distribution system for lunar operations. The concept integrates multiple energy sources and storage methods, including nuclear power and energy stored using lunar soil, to support long-term missions and lays the groundwork for future applications on Mars.

As a finalist, Project PETAL received a $7,000 award to support participation in the RASC-AL Forum, scheduled for June 1–4, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. During the forum, students will present their work to NASA engineers and industry professionals while refining their concepts through technical feedback. The top-performing teams will be recognized for technical merit, innovation and presentation excellence.

“Being part of this project has shown us what it takes to develop a concept that could be considered for future lunar and Mars missions,” said Nathan Chong, project manager of Project PETAL and 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa computer engineering freshman. “It鈥檚 been incredibly rewarding to collaborate across campuses and push ourselves to think at a much higher level.”

The project also aligns with broader 糖心Vlog官方 efforts supporting NASA鈥檚 Artemis missions, including a lunar rover instrument being developed at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa that is slated to fly as part of the Artemis 5 mission. The work creates opportunities to connect student-led projects such as PETAL with real-world systems headed to the Moon.

Space science and engineering initiative

Project PETAL members are primarily from engineering and related STEM disciplines at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo. The interdisciplinary effort emphasizes hands-on design, systems integration and real-world problem-solving. Faculty advisors supporting the project include Matthew Siegler and Marvin Young from 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, and Branden Allen from 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

Project PETAL is part of , which aims to expand space technology development and hands-on student training. Launched in 2024, the initiative provides students with opportunities to work on advanced space systems while building Hawaiʻi鈥檚 capacity in aerospace engineering and instrumentation. It is a collaboration among 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 College of Engineering, the Institute for Astronomy and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

Team RoSE is one of more than 20 at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, which seek to foster long-term, in-depth, project-based learning to engage students and better prepare them for future careers.

More about Project PETAL

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鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 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 M膩noa,” 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鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog官方 and water environment professionals statewide, including potential lab tours, seminars and shared learning opportunities.

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

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, 糖心Vlog官方 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.

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, 糖心Vlog官方 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 糖心Vlog官方 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 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa and coastal sustainability faculty with the 糖心Vlog官方 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.

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鈥� learning with practical, real-world experience but also strengthens connections with employers, helping launch their careers and support Hawaiʻi鈥檚 construction engineering industry,” College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said.

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 糖心Vlog官方 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 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa alumnus, he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in civil engineering and later completed a master鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 .

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 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa playing a key role in research and pilot testing.

Focus on Hawaiʻi鈥檚 water health

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.

糖心Vlog官方 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 co-principal investigator and assistant professor at 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 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.

Five subject areas were placed in the world鈥檚 top 1%, and an additional four earned top 2% honors in the 2026 , released on January 21.

Education led the way, ranked in the No. 101–125 tier, followed by physical sciences at No. 126–150, arts and humanities at No. 151–175, and law and life sciences each at No. 201–250. To qualify in the world鈥檚 top 1%, rankings must be within the top 250 in the world () 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa was ranked in all 11 of the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject lists.

“We are proud that 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa continues to be recognized globally, reflecting our commitment to academic excellence, research and the student experience,” 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “These rankings underscore the hard work and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, who make 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa a truly exceptional place.”

All 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa rankings:

• Education studies: No. 101–125
• Physical sciences: No. 126–150
• Arts and humanities: No. 151–175
• Law: No. 201–250
• Life sciences: No. 201–250
• Social sciences: No. 251–300
• Medical and health: No. 301–400
• Psychology: No. 301–400
• Business and economics: No. 401–500
• Computer science: No. 501–600
• Engineering: No. 501–600

Times Higher Education considers the following factors for its rankings: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income and international outlook. Regarded as one of the leading national and international university rankings focused on research and academic excellence, Times Higher Education considered between 425–1,555 of the top institutions for each of its subject rankings, out of more than 25,000 institutions worldwide, to be eligible for its World University Rankings by Subject.

Other rankings

糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, January 4, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, October 9, 2025
• Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, October 2, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, September 23, 2025

For more information, .

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research project focused on agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) has been selected for support through the NVIDIA Academic Grant Program, bringing additional advanced computing hardware to the university.

The project, “AinaFarm: Building the Foundation for Scalable Agricultural Physical AI,” led by 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa (ICS) Assistant Professor , in collaboration with Professor , and , a recent (ECE) PhD graduate, competed in the Robotics and Edge AI track. The work explores how robotics and AI can support agriculture, particularly with vision-language-action (VLA) models that allow robots to see their surroundings, understand spoken or written instructions, and carry out tasks in real farming environments.

As part of the award, NVIDIA is donating hardware to 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa to support the research. The in-kind grant includes two RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs, high-powered computer processors designed to train and run advanced AI models, and four Jetson AGX Orin compact supercomputers, which will serve as the “brains” of farm field robots, enabling them to run AI applications and make decisions directly in real-world agricultural environments.

“This project is about building practical AI tools that can actually work on farms,” Chen said. “With NVIDIA鈥檚 support, we can combine robotics and advanced computing to support local agriculture, reduce labor challenges, and develop technologies that are especially relevant for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 farming environments.”

In addition to hardware, the program offers access to NVIDIA development tools, models and training resources, as well as opportunities for broader visibility through presentations and promotional channels.

The NVIDIA Academic Grant Program supports researchers worldwide by providing access to high-performance computing resources, hardware and software. The program is designed to accelerate academic research and help move ideas from concept to real-world application.

The AinaFarm project is part of a broader, interdisciplinary collaboration at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa that brings together researchers from the , , and (CTAHR) to advance AI-enabled solutions for agriculture. This growing effort builds on recent successes in agricultural robotics, including 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 $10,000 grand prize win in the 2025 Farm Robotics Challenge, and reflects a shared goal of developing practical, field-ready technologies to support farming in Hawaiʻi and beyond.

ICS is housed in the College of Natural Sciences, the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences is housed in CTAHR and ECE is housed in the College of Engineering.