Larry Price, a celebrated University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa scholar-athlete, coach and longtime supporter of the university, is remembered for a life that bridged athletics, education and service to the community. Price died March 27, at the age of 91.

Price distinguished himself as a leader on the football field at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa, becoming the only player in program history to be elected team captain three consecutive years from 1962 to 1964. He later earned recognition as one of the greatest players in school history, including selection to the program’s all-time team and designation as “Rainbow of the Decade” for the 1960s. He also played in three Hula Bowl games and signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Rams.

Price’s impact at ����Vlog�ٷ� extended well beyond his playing days. After earning his bachelor’s degree in recreation leadership in 1967 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 1971 from the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa College of Education, he returned to campus to mentor the next generation. He served as head men’s volleyball coach from 1969 to 1972, resident manager of the athletic dormitory and later head football coach from 1974 to 1976. During his tenure as head coach, ����Vlog�ٷ� became an NCAA Division I member, changed its nickname to the Rainbow Warriors, introduced the “Hula-T” formation, and on September 13, 1975, christened the newly-built 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium against Texas A&I.

“I’ve considered all of the people I went to school with my friends forever,” Price said in a . “The faculty took particularly good care of me,” he added, specifically pointing to his “favorite faculty member,” Harold St. John, from whom he took a botany course.

In the classroom and across campus, Price was equally dedicated. He went on to earn a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University, while also serving as an assistant professor at Chaminade University of Honolulu. At ����Vlog�ٷ�, he later led the Small Business Management Program, continuing his commitment to education and professional development.

His legacy includes a lasting connection to the broader Hawaiʻi community. Price built a distinguished career in media, joining KSSK Radio and becoming a familiar voice to generations of listeners. As a television journalist with KITV4, he earned national recognition for his documentary work. Price was also known for his sports commentary and his signature “katoosh!” call.

Throughout his life, Price remained closely tied to ����Vlog�ٷ�. He was a , and 1989 ����Vlog�ٷ� Distinguished Alumni Award honoree. Price was also a life member of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Alumni Association with the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa Letterwinners Club and College of Education Alumni Association.

—By Marc Arakaki

The University of Hawaiʻi community mourns the loss of distinguished alumna and trailblazing political leader Colleen Hanabusa, who passed away in March.

Born and raised on the Leeward Coast in Waiʻanae, Hanabusa was a proud three-time graduate of ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university before receiving her law degree from the in 1977, which launched her early career as a labor attorney.

Her dedication to the university and its students continued later in her career. In December 2015, the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa College of Social Sciences announced Hanabusa’s selection as Lecturer and Daniel K. Inouye ����Vlog�ٷ�ing Scholar. Taking on a joint appointment between the public policy center and the political science department, she taught a spring 2016 course focused on civil liberties in times of crisis.

Hanabusa’s statewide legacy in public service is historic. She served in the Hawaiʻi State Senate from 1999 to 2010, representing her home community on the Waiʻanae Coast. During this time, she made history as the first woman to serve as president of the Hawaiʻi State Senate, known for wielding her power collaboratively to support her community. She then represented �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, and again from 2016 to 2019.

Hanabusa is remembered for her effectiveness in strengthening national defense, preserving natural resources, advancing Native Hawaiians, and protecting civil rights. After her time in Congress, she continued her public service as chair of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board.

To honor her decades of dedicated service, Gov. Josh Green ordered U.S. and Hawaiʻi state flags to be flown at half-staff statewide.

Visionary architect Francis S. Oda, a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa distinguished alumnus who played a key role in shaping the ����Vlog�ٷ� School of Architecture, died on February 14, 2026.

Oda was instrumental in developing the Doctor of Architecture program at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. His contributions included his service as an adjunct associate professor of the ����Vlog�ٷ� School of Architecture and as a Mānoa Forum Fellow. He also helped with the ����Vlog�ٷ� Long Range Development Program.

“Francis was such a monument in the field. A one-time architect for the University, he oversaw the development of many of the institution’s now seminal buildings. With G70, he extended Hawaiʻi’s influence worldwide,” said Professor Bill Chapman, former dean of the School of Architecture. “He was a true gentleman, who embraced his responsibilities to the wider community.”

Oda was a co-founder of Hawaiʻi design firm G70, where he guided the company for more than 50 years. His work and mentoring of generations of professionals helped shape Hawaiʻi’s built environment, reflecting his deep respect for culture, community and place.

“Francis was more than one of our founders—he was a mentor, spiritual father and source of inspiration for everyone who had the privilege of working with him,” said Linda Miki, CEO of G70. “His legacy lives on in our G70 ʻOhana, our projects and our commitment to serving Hawaiʻi and beyond with integrity and care.”

A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Oda received numerous accolades, including the Gordon Bradley Humanitarian Award and induction into the Hawaii Business Hall of Fame. His award-winning projects include the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, Hanauma Bay Nature Center, and master plans for the City of Kapolei.

Internationally, he designed projects such as Bora Bora Resort, French Polynesia, Roches Noires Smart City, Mauritius and Place Jacques Chirac, Papeete, French Polynesia, and Heaven’s Gate, Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. Oda was also a senior pastor and board chair of New Life Church Honolulu.

He is survived by wife Caroline and children, Reid and Nalani. A celebration of life service will be held on April 25, 2026, at the First Assembly of God – Red Hill, Moanalua. as it becomes available.

Walton K.T. Shim, Hawaiʻi’s first pediatric surgeon and a longtime professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (JABSOM), died in November 2025 at his family home in Montana. He was 94.

Over the span of his long career, he trained residents, mentored future surgeons and helped raise the standard of pediatric care statewide.

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Shim attended Dartmouth College and Columbia University School of Medicine before completing surgical training in Chicago. Shim returned to Hawaiʻi in 1967 determined to build pediatric surgery as a specialty so children could receive complex care without leaving the islands. For many years, he was the only pediatric surgeon statewide.

In addition to his faculty role at JABSOM, Shim held multiple leadership positions at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children, including division chief of pediatric surgery and chief of staff. He was also a founding member of the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons.

A doctor who never delayed

“There’s all sorts of ways you can delay seeing patients,” said his wife, Vicki Shim. “He never did that. In other words, if somebody came into the ER or someone like Dr. Boychuk called him, he was there, right away.”

That dedication was felt at home as well. “I remember them calling him late at night on the phone,” said daughter Jennifer Shim. “He actually had his own telephone line installed just for emergencies…I realize it now as an adult.”

Shim is survived by his wife, four children, six grandchildren and generations of patients whose lives he helped save.

“Dr. Shim was a pioneer in pediatric surgery whose contributions to the field left a lasting impact,” said Russell Woo, professor of surgery at JABSOM and associate dean for clinical programs at Hawaiʻi Pacific Health. “His legacy of caring, skill and dedication to the children of Hawaiʻi is a high bar for all of us who follow in his footsteps.”

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The University of Hawaiʻi is mourning the death of Faith ��������Ծ� Kanakaʻole, a revered kumu hula, cultural leader and ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo alumna who also served as a former faculty member at Hawaiʻi Community College, and whose life’s work profoundly shaped Hawaiian cultural practice and Indigenous education across Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Born on March 19, 1946, and raised in Hilo, Kanakaʻole died peacefully at her home on January 3, surrounded by family. She leaves behind a legacy deeply rooted in ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), artistic excellence and an unwavering commitment to ensuring Hawaiian culture remains a living, evolving practice.

Kanakaʻole was part of an extraordinary lineage. The daughter of Luka and the legendary kumu hula and educator Edith Kanakaʻole, she stood in the fifth iteration of a direct line of kumu hula within a family whose traditions span eight generations. As the youngest of six siblings, she was part of an ʻohana whose influence on Hawaiian studies and cultural preservation is unparalleled.

She stepped into the kuleana (responsibility) as kumu of Hālau o Kekuhi alongside her sister, Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, and later with her niece, Huihui Kanahele-Mossman. A guardian of the ancient ʻai haʻa (hula danced with bended knees) style, Kanakaʻole helped elevate hula as a classical art form while grounding it firmly in , genealogy and ceremony.

Hilo roots

A graduate of ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, Kanakaʻole studied art history in the early 1970s during the same period her mother was pioneering Hawaiian studies courses on campus.

Together with her husband, Sig Zane, Kanakaʻole co-founded Sig Zane Designs in 1985, helping build a globally recognized brand rooted in Hawaiian values and cultural integrity.

After years devoted to family and co-founding one of Hawaiʻi’s most recognized fashion lines, she returned to ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo and earned her bachelor’s degree in art in 2001.

“��������Ծ� was an extraordinary cultural leader and ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo alumna whose dedication to perpetuating Hawaiian knowledge touched countless lives,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. “Her work elevating hula and Hawaiian cultural practices helped shape the broader movement toward indigenous education — a movement that has profoundly influenced our university’s mission.”

Merrie Monarch icon

Kanakaʻole’s leadership extended far beyond campus. In 1993, she and her sister were named National Heritage Fellows by the National Endowment for the Arts, the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. She was also deeply connected to the Merrie Monarch Festival, serving as a respected judge for more than two decades.

“It’s a sad day for hula,” said Luana Kawelu, Merrie Monarch Festival president and ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo alumna. “She was reviewing plans for this year’s presentation just three days before she passed. That’s how committed she was to hula and to Merrie Monarch.”

Kanakaʻole

The Kanakaʻole family legacy is visible throughout ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, from Edith Kanakaʻole Hall and its iconic mural to the Hale Kanakaʻole Fund, established with the ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation to support Native Hawaiian students across the ����Vlog�ٷ� System.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Hundreds celebrate Edith Kanakaʻole at ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, May 9, 2023

“Our ʻohana has lost a treasured kumu and cultural icon,” said ʻohana member and Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Lei Kapono. “Through generations of haumāna—many of them ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo students—Aunty ��������Ծ� ensured that traditional knowledge thrives as lived practice, not merely performance.”

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Note: Doug Dykstra’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Windward Community College, in Hale ʻAkoakoa 101–105.

Douglas Dykstra, former chancellor of Windward Community College, died on September 20, 2025. He was 77. Known for his warmth, humor and deep compassion, Dykstra led Windward CC from 2009 until his retirement in 2018, shaping the campus into a vibrant college serving the Windward region and beyond.

“Doug was an incredibly kind man; his kindness walked in front of him into every room,” current Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg shared in a message to the campus community. “His leadership style was gentle and compassionate, but still decisive. Doug worked hard to be transparent and understanding. … He really knew us. He took the time, cared and had insight into humanity.”

• More on Dykstra: New Childcare Center breaks ground at Windward CC, April 11, 2017

According to an article published when he retired, Dykstra was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and raised in New York. He was deeply influenced by his father, a Columbia University linguistics professor whose career brought the family to Kabul, Afghanistan, and eventually to Hawaiʻi. After earning a master’s degree in history from Kent State University and later a second master’s degree in education from ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa, Dykstra began teaching history at ����Vlog�ٷ� community colleges, most notably at Leeward CC, where he later became an administrator. In 2004, he was appointed vice chancellor for academic affairs at Hawaiʻi CC, a role that prepared him for the chancellorship at Windward.

A ‘gentleman giant’

At 6 feet 4 inches tall, with a trademark broad smile, Dykstra quickly became a familiar presence at Windward CC. Students, faculty and staff fondly remembered his mix of humor, humility and fierce advocacy for the college. According to the article, during the 2012 accreditation process, Dykstra personally authored a 20-plus page response that turned a sanction into a commendation.

• More on Dykstra: Windward chancellor shaves head for the hungry, April 29, 2013

Colleagues often described him as a “gentleman giant,” one who could be both a soft-hearted listener and a strong, decisive leader when needed. He was known to show up at countless campus events, always asking after students and colleagues, making sure they felt seen and supported.

Eschenberg, who succeeded him as chancellor, called Dykstra an inspiring mentor when he retired. “Doug is unafraid. He bases decisions on what best serves our college and promotes student success, never on what is easiest. … Doug is a leader. He has made each of us better by working together.”

Dykstra retired in 2018 to spend more time swimming, traveling and reading, and to be with his wife, Elitte. He is survived by Elitte and their son, Nathan.

“Doug made an outsized impact through his caring and love,” Eschenberg said. “As those who knew him and benefitted from his leadership, we carry on that legacy of caring and compassion.”

Kevin Michael Kelly, 66, passed away peacefully at home in Kailua, Oʻahu on July 30, 2025 after a long battle against cancer. Kelly was an integral part of the University of Hawaiʻi for more than three decades, contributing his vision, leadership and good humor to marine technology, maritime security and research administration.

Kelly attended SMU in Dallas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1982 with a bachelor of science in geology. He went on to study oceanography at San Diego State University. Then, in a move that would determine the course of Kelly’s life, one of his professors recommended him to a colleague at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa. Kelly accepted the offer in Hawaiʻi, earning a master of science in oceanography in 1988.

Over the next three decades Kelly transitioned into a highly successful career at ����Vlog�ٷ�, including as the managing director of the . Kelly’s wide-ranging work included business development for marine technology, maritime security, the administration and management of large scientific grants, and liaising with legislative bodies and government agencies.

“Many of us knew Kevin not only for his professional excellence but also for his warmth, curiosity, and kindness,” said (SOEST) Dean Chip Fletcher. “He inspired and connected people wherever he went—whether in the field, at a meeting, or over a shared laugh.”

After retiring from the university in 2020, Kelly devoted himself to the North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, continuing his lifelong commitment to innovation and community. He recognized the need to help area residents to become more significant in the state’s economy. The North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership is a non-profit dedicated to promoting economic growth from within the region using community-driven solutions. Today it is a thriving organization, leading the effort to document and improve the region’s entire food system to maintain agriculture as an economic pillar in the region’s economy.

His impact was as wide-ranging as it was lasting, and he will be deeply missed by many, including his wife, family and many friends.

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John Morton, whose innovative and strategic leadership and nearly five decades of service transformed the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges and left a profound impact on higher education across the islands, died on August 15, 2025. He was 78.

Morton’s career at ����Vlog�ٷ� began in 1970, when a chance visit to Leeward Community College led to an unexpected job offer. He started as a faculty member teaching chemistry and political science and quickly found his life’s calling in the mission of community colleges.

Over the next 49 years, Morton rose through the ranks—serving as provost of Kapiʻolani Community College for two decades, leading the planning and construction of the Diamond Head campus, and later becoming vice president for ����Vlog�ٷ�’s seven community colleges, serving up to 34,000 students annually. He oversaw major capital projects such as the Hawaiʻi CC Pālamanui campus and the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, while spearheading initiatives to expand financial aid, increase student success and strengthen workforce development.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Mahalo John Morton for almost 50 years of service, May 23, 2019

“John was a remarkable thinker, leader and human being,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President Emeritus David Lassner. “His positive impact on �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s community colleges, ����Vlog�ٷ� System and the entire state is immeasurable. I am incredibly fortunate that this truly wise man was my colleague and my friend.”

Morton championed educational access and equity, especially for underrepresented communities. He played a key role in supporting the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship program and the HINET workforce and education support initiative. Native Hawaiian enrollment and graduation rates doubled under his leadership.

“John was not only a brilliant mind, but also a visionary and inspiring leader,” said Michael Unebasami, emeritus ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges associate vice president for administrative affairs. “As the vice president for the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges, his forward-thinking ideas reshaped the way we teach and learn, leaving a legacy that will continue to guide our community colleges for years to come.”

Commencement ceremonies were highlights for Morton. When he retired in 2019, he recalled one Molokaʻi Education Center celebration where three generations of a single family graduated together.

“To have that kind of an impact on a family across multiple generations…really captures what community colleges are about and what they do to contribute to the state and its people,” he said.

Inspirational leader, generous mentor

Morton often described his career as grounded in social justice, committed to the principle that higher education should be available to all.

“The idea that the benefits of higher education should accrue to all Hawaiʻi citizens was a radical notion when we were created in 1964,” he wrote in his retirement message. “But we have demonstrated that given the opportunity and the right support our students, who historically had been largely excluded, both desired to attend college and could succeed when given the chance.”

Colleagues across the ����Vlog�ٷ� system remembered Morton with admiration and gratitude.

“John Morton was a visionary leader for the ����Vlog�ٷ� community colleges, relentlessly championing their vital role in providing a college education for all Hawaiʻi residents,” said Honolulu CC Chancellor Karen Lee. “But he was also a brilliant, kind and generous mentor, who will be dearly missed. His passing is not only a loss for ����Vlog�ٷ� but also a loss for Hawaiʻi.”

����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College Chancellor Lui Hokoana said, “John was a staunch advocate for the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges and their open admissions philosophy. I personally witnessed the power of this vision firsthand—when colleges exist in every community throughout Hawaiʻi, they open doors of opportunity for countless people. John also recognized the gap in financial aid access and challenged us to expand opportunities for students. Under his leadership, financial aid access grew exponentially, and barriers for underrepresented populations, including Native Hawaiians, were addressed and remedied. John was a true visionary, and Hawaiʻi is a better place because of his work, leadership and service.”

Hawaiʻi Community College Chancellor Susan Kazama, who was hired by Morton at Kapiʻolani CC in 2001, said “John was an exceptional leader for the community colleges, leaving a lasting legacy through his initiatives to enhance educational programs for all children in Hawaiʻi. He truly embodied the spirit of ‘Kūlia i ka nuʻu,’ striving for the highest for the betterment of everyone in our islands. His commitment to education has made a significant impact on our community and will continue to inspire future generations.”

Morton is survived by his wife Willow, daughter Kimi, and grandchildren Indiana and Sawyer.

Mahalo John Morton for almost 50 years of service

Popular and loved University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa head cashier Aunty Eloise Luzader died on February 15, at 96. Luzader is remembered for her warm and welcoming personality as she greeted students and customers at the ������é for nearly 30 years.

Luzader retired from Gateway House ������é at 95-years-old and stated that the students her favorite part of her job. She viewed them as her grandbabies, effortlessly remembering the names of thousands of them and making them feel her care and aloha. In addition to her cashiering duties, she also served as an unofficial matchmaker of Mānoa, bringing together three successful couples.

To return Luzader’s love, students would bring her gifts and lei, take and share photos with her, and most importantly, spend time with her even after they graduated from ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

“She always put a smile on my face, always said hello, always hugged me. She’s pretty much family to me now,” said alumna Taylor Hiraga at Luzader’s retirement celebration. “Here at Gateway Café, Aunty Eloise is a staple—she’s the face of Gateway Café and she’s always been for the last 30 years.”

An adventure-filled life

Luzader’s son, Gary, compiled photo galleries of her well-documented life in a . He shared major moments, from her growing up in Hilo, to journeying to New York, to her return to Hawaiʻi while she ultimately discovered the activities she loved most.

“She was funny, she was generous, and she was loving,” wrote Gary. “She drove me nuts like no other person could, and she also loved me like no other person could…that’s what ‘moms’ do I guess. When I look back at her life through the photos, Mom’s life was incredible.”

Luzader spent much of her life exploring the world and different job opportunities that allowed her to interact with others. She touched ground in countries in almost every continent and touched the hearts of those she met while doing sales work. Aside from family and friends, her main constant was dancing.

“Mom had a passion for dancing…any kind of dancing,” Gary wrote. “Mom danced well into her 90s. Even in her final days when she couldn’t even walk, Mom would talk about dancing one day again… She will…”