Native Hawaiian Student Services (NHSS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� hosted a May 1 campus event, held on a day widely recognized as “Lei Day” across Hawaiʻi, inviting students to look beyond the beauty of lei and reflect on its deeper cultural significance. The free event featured hands-on workshops and a first-ever lei panel, all centered on one message: lei is more than decoration.

“We want students to understand that lei is not surface level,” said Jordan Kalawaiʻa Nunies, NHSS Program and research assistant, and event organizer. “Lei is not purple orchids that could be bought at the grocery store. It’s a medium that connects people to ʻāina, akua, moʻomeheu.”

Hands-on learning

Throughout the day, students took part in a range of lei-making workshops designed for all experience levels.

Participants created lei from fresh plants, explored crochet techniques and tried their hand at the growing trend of “forever lei” which can be made from materials such as clay, paper and other creative mediums.

Living tradition

A highlight of the event was the inaugural lei panel, featuring three ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students recognized as loea in their respective practices, specializing in lei made from lāʻau (plants), hulu (feathers) and pūpū (shells).

Among them was Kekai Paracuelles, a graduate student in Hawaiian studies, whose journey with lei pūpū began on the shores of Waialua.

Raised on ��ʻ�����’s North Shore, Paracuelles grew up doing many activities at the beach with his ʻohana, which included gathering shells. His deeper interest took hold in high school after noticing what he thought was a flower lei on a Nā Palapalai album cover, only to realize it was intricately crafted from shells.

That moment led him to research Niʻihau-style lei pūpū and eventually connect with master practitioners, including ʻAwapuhi Kahale. Over time, those connections deepened. He would then meet members of the Kanahele ʻohana, including the grandchildren of the late lei master and Niʻihau matriarch Mama Ane, who shared their lei knowledge. He now refers to them as his hānai ʻohana Niʻihau (Niʻihau family).

For Paracuelles, learning lei pūpū became less about the craft and more about the relationships it created.

“It’s really that strong pilina now that I have with the ʻohana… it’s not even most of the time about pūpū, it’s just spending time together,” Paracuelles said. “There’s so much aloha I have for them, I would do anything for them.”

Student impact

Hope Matsumoto, a ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� graduate student in English, said the lei panel featuring Paracuelles, Uluwehi Ah Choy and Tehina Kahikina left a lasting impression. Hearing directly from the student practitioners gave her a deeper appreciation for the connection between people and environment.

“I appreciated their ability to really kilo their environments and to build these relationships with their ʻāina,” Matsumoto said. “It showed me how much intention it takes to rebuild that pilina with our environments.”

For students, the event offered more than new lei making skills, it deepened their understanding of place and practice.

A legacy of leadership in student affairs continues at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�, as interim associate vice provost Erin Kahunawaikaʻala Wright joins a distinguished line of ����Vlog�ٷ� leaders recognized nationally as by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

Past ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� recipients include Amy Agbayani, Doris Ching, Jan Javinar, Lori Ideta and Christine Quemuel, trailblazers whose work helped pave the way for generations of educators and student advocates.

Wright, who serves as interim associate VP for and Dean of Students, was honored this year for her sustained contributions to service, teaching, leadership and mentoring. She says the recognition is not just her own, but a reflection of the collective work of the ����Vlog�ٷ� community toward student success, especially those leaders also recognized as Pillars of the Profession.

“It’s a kind recognition of the work I’ve invested in student affairs and higher education…I’m proud, and honestly, very surprised to get it. It’s humbling to be recognized,” Wright expressed.

A journey of discovery

A fourth-generation �첹����ʻ�徱�Բ� (native) of Kalihi, and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Wright admits she was not a strong student growing up. She says her academic journey changed course when she discovered (Hawaiian language) and courses at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

“Once I got into nā mea Hawaiʻi (all things Hawaiian), I felt like, ‘Oh, I could really do well,’ because it was something that I was interested in and I felt motivated by,” she said.

That experience reshaped how she viewed the power of education, and later inspired her to make higher education more accessible for Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented students (haumāna).

Dedicated to student success

Wright began her career at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� in 2008 as the founding director of and later served as an associate professor of in the . There, she taught courses and published on research design, research methodologies and Indigeneity in higher education. For her, the work she does at the university is deeply personal.

“The reward is knowing higher education can change lives,” she explained. “Not just for the individual, but for that student’s entire family and community.”

A group of University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa haumānastudents and faculty travelled through Japan this spring, following the paths of King David Laʻamea Kalākaua’s historic 1881 visit as well as other travels by Hawaiian aliʻiroyalty and haumānastudents in the 19th century. Their nine-day journey in March 2025, part of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa (NHSS) Hawaiian Youths Abroad (HYA) program, connected them to a pivotal moment in Hawaiian history—one that is being brought back to life.

King Kalākaua traveled the world to build diplomatic relationships and reaffirm those his predecessors and other Hawaiian officials established before him. During his visit to Japan in March of 1881, Kalākaua met with Japan’s emperor to discuss revising established treaty relations between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan. That treaty, stored away for 154 years, was retrieved during the HYA Japan visit, providing a rare glimpse into �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s international past.

“As a Kanaka ʻŌiwiNative Hawaiian history student, seeing the original treaty between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan was a surreal moment. We were the first, if not some of the very few, to have seen the Japanese version of the treaty in over 150 years,” said Kale Kanaeholo, who is pursuing a PhD at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa. “I felt a sense of both humility and gratitude: haʻahaʻahumility for being in the same room as this living document and piece of our history, and aloha for Mōʻī KalākauaKing Kalākaua.”

Vision of a monarch

The NHSS program is a reincarnation of a 19th century program by the same name created by the Hawaiian Kingdom legislature in 1880 that provided funds to support 18 students who studied in six different countries between 1880 and 1892. These students trained in fields such as engineering, medicine, art, music, military science and foreign languages, with the goal of returning home to serve their nation. Funded entirely by the Hawaiian Kingdom, it was one of the world’s first government-sponsored study abroad programs.

NHSS restarted the program in 2018, and have since designed and implemented 4 Hawaiian Youths Abroad program cohorts, led by Nalani Balutski (research specialist) and Willy Kauai (director) of NHSS within the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa .

This year’s cohort of 13 students and six faculty and staff explored Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

On the journey were two ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa haumānastudents with a remarkable connection to the past—Kuʻu Lunn, a graduate student, and Joy Nuʻuhiwa, an incoming graduate student—both direct descendants of one of Kalākaua’s original Hawaiian Youths Abroad students.

Piʻianāiʻa

“The Hawaiian Youths Abroad program has been a tremendous opportunity for me to learn and build upon a legacy of Hawaiian geography. One of the original HYA students was my great-great-grandfather Abraham St. Chad Piʻianāiʻa, who attended St. Chad’s College in Denstone, England. Years later, he returned to use his education in service to his kingdom. As we explore the world, like our kūpunaancestors did, I hope to share the knowledge and connections we gain with my family and community,” said Lunn.

Harbottle Hakuʻole

����ʻ�ܳ󾱷ɲ�’s great-great-grandfather, James Harbottle Hakuʻole, was only 10 years old when he and his brother Isaac were chosen to participate in King Kalākaua’s visionary program to educate Hawaiian youth overseas. In 1882, the brothers from Kīpahulu, Maui, embarked on their journey, among the youngest students selected to study abroad under the king’s initiative.

“It’s pretty heavy,” Nuʻuhiwa reflected. “I didn’t start exploring this history until I heard about this program so it was incredibly meaningful to be able to do this for my family more than anything.”

She found a deep personal connection in walking in her ancestor’s steps.

“To know that we had similar experiences even if it was just trying to navigate Japan…being Hawaiian in Japan and knowing both languages, knowing he also spoke Japanese. To think that maybe if we ever met, we would’ve been able to speak and understand each other in that way.”

Aliʻi footsteps

The NHSS group retraced Kalākaua’s steps from 144 years ago, visiting some of the same train stations, palaces, temples, and even the former site of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s consulate in Shiba.

NHSS hopes to continue to engage future students in international educational experiences and training around the world in service to the �����ܾ�nation.

“The Hawaiian Youths Abroad program is emblematic of NHSS programming design and philosophy, which engages students in research, history, and the educational excellence of kūpunaancestors who came before,” said Kauai.

Bridging past and present

The inaugural HYA cohort traveled to France and England in 2018, followed by a journey to England and Italy in 2019. In 2024, ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa students and faculty followed the path of 19th-century Hawaiians in Tahiti, exploring the legacy they left behind. A fifth iteration of the program is slated for summer 2026 to focus on the Hawaiian footprint in the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver to San Francisco. For each program, a tailored curriculum is developed that explores the themes of Hawaiian education, diplomacy and travel to those particular countries from the 19th century. To date, 48 Hawaiian undergraduate and graduate students from ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa participated in the NHSS HYA program.

Empowering haumāna

This year’s program is sponsored by the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa Provost Office Innovative Initiatives program and Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai Alakaʻina project. Supplemental support was also provided for students by various departments: political science, history, geography, educational administration, communication & information science and the Hawaiʻinuiākea Keaweawe a Kalākaua fund.

NHSS is housed in ����Vlog�ٷ� ��ā�ԴDz�’s . For more on their journey, .

For students at the , starting a new year and a new semester can bring on a mix of excitement and nerves. With the challenges of balancing school, work, family, social life and extracurricular activities, many may find themselves wondering where to turn for support with their mental health and well-being.

An array of programs are dedicated to serving the needs of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students. Mental health services are available through the (CSDC). Services tailored specifically for , and (students) are also available. The university also offers access to , as well as programs for students looking to .

“Taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing while pursuing an education is so important,” said CSDC Psychologist Alexander Khaddouma. “Fortunately, ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� has a variety of resources dedicated to helping you stay well, cope with challenges, and succeed in your academic journey.”

CSDC provides free, confidential individual, couples, group and career counseling through scheduled appointments with a mental health professional. Interested students should call (808) 956-7927 to complete a brief initial telephone appointment with a CSDC counselor who can connect them with the most appropriate service.

is available, with groups focused on building healthy relationships, developing greater awareness and insight, and exploring personal identity.

The CSDC has crisis counselors available during business hours (Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) to assist students needing immediate mental health support. Students can call or walk-in to attend a crisis appointment.

Training opportunities, and clinical and program consultation regarding student mental health are available. Faculty and staff can contact CSDC about how to refer students to appropriate resources, or to for their departments.

The CSDC provides events to promote mental health, including several Spring semester resource fairs hosted by the CSDC . At the events, students can explore on-campus mental health resources and learn practical skills to enhance their well-being.

CSDC’s serves as an authorized testing site for various standardized tests and licensure/certification examinations, including the GRE (General and Subject), Praxis, TOEFL, CLEP, and Meazure Learning testing programs, and offers individual proctoring for non-����Vlog�ٷ� system distance learning courses. Inquiries regarding test availability, scheduling, fees, etc., may be directed to the Testing Office at (808) 956-3454 or uhmtest@hawaii.edu.

Culturally responsive behavioral health services to all students who identify as Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) or Pacific Islander. Individual therapy and workshops provided in collaboration with campus partners, such as and .

Register for . Clinicians are available for telehealth services and limited in-person services at Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services, third floor. Email inquiries to: kwaahila@hawaii.edu.

Dedicated mental health and wellness services for all ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� student athletes in the .

One-on-one, confidential counseling is available via in-person sessions in Nagatani Center, Room 0L25 or via telehealth sessions. No referral is required to access Rainbow Wellness services and all services are free of charge. Email ATHMH@hawaii.edu to book a session or ask questions.

(VITAL)

The VITAL program is a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help student veterans achieve academic and career goals. Student veterans enrolled at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� and are eligible for VA healthcare can meet with a mental health professional via VA Video Connect. Call (808) 940-9098 to schedule an appointment.

Student veterans in need of immediate mental health attention are recommended to call VA Mental Health Triage at 1-800-214-1306, option 2, option 4 (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.) or Veterans Crisis Line at 988, option 1 (available 24/7). For more information, go to the .

Alcohol and Other Drugs Education Program (ADEP)

ADEP is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed and responsible decisions regarding alcohol and substance use.

Students can access Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), a free program designed to address alcohol-related (and other substances including vaping) issues among students through personalized interventions. Email inquiries to adep@hawaii.edu.

Online self-help resources

����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students can access (TAO), a suite of online educational programs with engaging videos, animations, and interactive activities that use evidence-based content to address common mental health-related concerns. Students have throughout the semester using their ����Vlog�ٷ� email address.

����Vlog�ٷ� Employee Assistance Program

Faculty and staff members seeking mental health services can contact the ����Vlog�ٷ� Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offered by Employee Assistance of the Pacific. All regular, temporary and exempt employees are eligible for EAP services.

State legislators from �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s House of Representatives got an inside look at the exceptional resources available to students during the Talk Story: Student Success event on Friday, December 18. The event highlighted services that support students’ academic achievements and well-being, including a center dedicated to Native Hawaiian haumāna (students), high-quality mental health programs, and a sensory-friendly stress relief hub.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to share these premier services with our lawmakers,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno. “We’re privileged to provide comprehensive care that supports our students’ success, ensuring they have the tools and resources to thrive both academically and personally.”

The tour welcomed Reps. Andrew Garrett, Amy Perruso, Jackson Sayama and Cory Chun. The event began at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Success, where staff from the shared how the campus is working to reach the campus’ goal of becoming a Native Hawaiian place of learning through the incorporation of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and ʻike (knowledge) at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� and within each of its units.

Uplifting kānaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiians)

Legislators visited (NHSS), a unit of the . NHSS offers culturally rooted programs and support to foster Hawaiian scholarship and strengthen Hawaiian identities. Lawmakers learned about its impactful role in cultivating a sense of belonging and achievement among Native Hawaiian haumāna.

Student success showcase

Kapā Oliveira, interim vice provost for Student Success, led the campus tour. Oliveira oversees ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s , which provides a wide range of student support services, including co-curricular activities, housing, counseling, career guidance, employment, and health services for all students.

Mental health, well being

The (CSDC) offers counseling, psychiatric care, and tailored programs for specific student groups, including veterans, athletes, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander haumāna. Psychologist Alexander Khaddouma emphasized the importance of expanding services, noting that ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� students experience slightly higher rates of mental health challenges than the national average.

De-stress sanctuary

Another standout feature of the tour was a new sensory room in Kuykendall Hall, that promotes relaxation and stress management. Equipped with calming visuals, fiber optic displays, and other sensory tools, the room has been warmly received by students and faculty. Campus surveys indicate a rising demand for such spaces to provide a sanctuary for self-regulation and focus.

Representative Chun, who represents Pearl City, Waipahu, and Crestview, and is a father of two shared his impressions.

“I’m sure it’s reassuring to parents and family that if they’re sick or if theyʻre having mental health issues that there are services that are there. You donʻt have to worry about cost. They’re available 24/7,” said Chun.

Academic success

The tour wrapped up with an overview of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s academic success services, such as academic advising, learning assistant programming, and civic and community engagement. Students expressed how these programs have played a vital role in their educational journeys and support them in reaching their academic goals.

Hundreds gathered at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� for the , a free series of forums focused on leveraging ancestral knowledge to support long-term recovery efforts for communities affected by the Lahaina wildfires and the 2018 Kauaʻi floods.

“Piʻo summits were created to highlight ancestral innovation and the need for courageous leadership to solve the complex problems of our time,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, who is the Dana Naone Hall Endowed Chair in Hawaiian Studies, Literature and the Environment at Hawaiʻinuākea and a professor at and the . “Aloha ʻāina (love of the land) is advancing efforts all across Hawaiʻi, and this is about us galvanizing that movement here at the university.”

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: ����Vlog�ٷ� conference addresses water justice, Red Hill, ʻāina, December 15, 2022

Award-winning vocalist and ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� alumna Raiatea Helm opened the summit at Imin Conference Center with mele aloha ʻāina, grounding the event in songs of love for the land. Her performance connected the audience to cherished places like Oʻahu, Piʻihonua within Hilo’s uplands and Kalamaʻula on Molokaʻi, where her roots lie.

Beyond the fires

A panel on Lahaina’s recovery brought together experts to discuss the devastating August 2023 wildfires and paths forward. Community leader Kekai Keahi, ����Vlog�ٷ� law professor Kapua Sproat, and ecosystem fire specialist Clay Trauernicht explored how climate change heightens wildfire risks and how ancestral knowledge can inform Lahaina’s rebuilding.

“He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka—the land is the chief, we are the stewards,” Beamer emphasized. “A great example is restoration of streams,” Beamer said. “When we restore streams we restore the life and ecosystems of that stream system. But it also re-greens the ʻāina, so places in like Lahaina, when the streams were flowing, when Lahaina was the so-called ‘Venice of the Pacific,’ wildfires wouldn’t steep through.”

Healing in Hāʻena

Another panel highlighted resilience in �����ܲ�ʻ��’s north shore community of Hāʻena after catastrophic flooding in 2018. Leaders Chipper Wichman, Lei Wanna and Billy Kinney shared how ʻohana (family) bonds and cultural heritage sustained recovery efforts and preserved community identity.

Hosted by Pōʻai Ke Aloha ʻĀina, a project of the Dana Naone Hall chair, the summit spotlighted how ����Vlog�ٷ� fosters aloha ʻāina practices to address modern challenges.

Sponsors included ����Vlog�ٷ� Research, , , Ulupono Initiative, Ka Huli Ao and the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi.

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend on October 26, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The free event is for prospective students and their families along with the general public so they can see firsthand why ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa is considered one of the best universities in the country. Organizers say current students and employees are also welcome.

“We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for prospective students and the community to learn more about ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa and find why we are consistently ranked among the best universities in the world,” said Provost Michael Bruno. “It is also a chance to speak and interact with current students, faculty and staff, the people who make this university great.”

Booths, displays and hands-on workshops featuring more than 100 academic departments will line iconic McCarty Mall, Legacy Path and the Campus Center courtyard. There will also be campus tours, including special tours of the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene’s Translational Health Science Simulation Center, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resource’s Certified Kitchen and the Esports Lab.

����Vlog�ٷ�ors can also explore interactive exhibits and activities that cover a range of topics, from education to oceanography and medicine. The Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Success and Hamilton Library will also be open to visitors.

“����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa has so much to offer academically and there are so many services available to help our students on their journey,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun, who is responsible for Discover ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa. “We want everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about our campus, even if you are not a prospective student, because ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa is something everyone can take pride in.”

Each attendee will receive a ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa tote bag, event/program map, bookstore coupon and a coupon for $2 off retail dining options, including Starbucks, Ding Tea, Food Trucks and Sodexo Concessions. Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes throughout the day.

Two shuttle routes will be available for attendees interested in visiting student housing, and the Music Building Complex.

Free parking will be available in Zone 20 until 1:30p.m. For more information, visit .

Pāʻina on the Path and homecoming football

Following the open house, ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa will host Pāʻina on the Path, a free homecoming celebration from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This Homecoming Edition on Legacy Pathway will feature a ����Vlog�ٷ� Alumni Maker’s Market, Hawaiʻs Finest DJ & Kickoff Concert Series featuringPeniDean, food vendors, a beer garden, keiki zone with inflatables and football-themed games, and more.

The Rainbow Warrior football team will then take on Nevada in this seasonʻs homecoming game. Kick off at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex is at 6 p.m.

In a significant step to increase Native Hawaiian student enrollment and graduation rates at the University of Hawaiʻi, a new program tailored for Hawaiian immersion students is paving the way for future leaders. The year-round initiative, Nā ʻŌpio Kaʻapeha, opens the door for haumāna in grades 6–12 to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) pathways within higher education.

In early October, 17 haumāna from Kula Kaiapuni schools across Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, and Maui recently returned from an inspiring free five-day huakaʻi (field trip) to California. Hosted by and State of Hawaiʻi Department of Education Office of Hawaiian Education, haumāna engaged in hands-on STEAM experiences at Disney’s Imagination Campus and iconic museums, enhancing their research skills related to ʻāina (land).

“We want to inspire Hawaiian immersion students through exceptional opportunities that are rooted in the richness of Hawaiian language and culture,” said Kinohi Gomes, director at Nā Pua Noʻeau ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. “By bridging their middle and high school education with postsecondary and career pathways, it can open doors to a wealth of university and community resources.”

Creating Hawaiian leaders

Launched in fall 2023, the NPN program’s theme, ʻĀina Kau I Ka Wēkiu—Our Pristine Uplands, encouraged students to set goals and develop perspectives as future leaders and caretakers of Hawaiʻi’s natural resources. Monthly huakaʻi focused on the history and significance of various wahi pana (storied places) on their islands, allowing haumāna to connect ʻāina-based learning with real-world experiences at ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses.

“Makemake au e hoʻomau i ke aʻo ʻana no Hawaiʻi a no laila, e komo ana au i ka mekia o ʻike Hawaiʻi. (I see myself majoring in Hawaiian studies because I want to continue learning and better understand Hawaiʻi),” said Kaleonahe Paleka, a junior at Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Ānuenue.

This past June, nearly 100 Native Hawaiian students participated in NPN’s two-week Summer Institute at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, where they engaged in hands-on activities ranging from brain anatomy to lei making.

For 11th grader Kekaimalino Yanagi, the trip to California reshaped his approach to college applications.
“Noʻu ke kula nui, kamaʻilio lākou e pili ana i ka hoʻohana i nā mea i loaʻa ʻoe. E like me ka kumu, ke kumu kākoʻo, kou a…nā papa tuta, no ka mea, kōkua lākou iā ʻoe, kēlā kā lākou hana, kā lākou ʻoihana. (It helped me understand what resources I should use like my teachers or my counselor. And how I should go to them for help instead of trying to do it by myself),” Yanagi said.

NPN, which is part of the campus’ and , has run programs for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade since its inception in 1989.

This June, nearly 100 Native Hawaiian students from grades 6–12 across Hawaiʻi and the continental U.S. got a taste of college life through a free residential summer program at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�. Now in its 35th year, aims to increase the number of Native Hawaiian students attending and graduating from ����Vlog�ٷ�.

During the 13-day Summer Institute, students live near campus and participate in interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities that emphasize cultural identity. The students get a first-hand experience of what attending college can be like.

“What has always been profound and foundational for the students over the past 35 years is that they’ve been coming to our program with an open mind, with the potential, the capacity and the interest to participate in all of the different pathways that we offer through our Nā Pua Noʻeau programming,” said Kinohi Gomes, director of Nā Pua Noʻeau ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, who has been involved with the program for 30 years.

NPN, which is part of the campus’ and , has significantly expanded its program this summer. From June 17–28, 46 middle and high school students are engaging in a variety of hands-on activities such as brain anatomy, auto CAD (computer-aided design), haku mele (song composition), lei making and cooking.

Kavin Ing, a Kamehameha Schools Kapālama graduate and incoming engineering freshman at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, is learning to 3D print a Hawaiʻinuiākea waʻa (canoe). Graduate students from the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� are teaching the teens how to design and 3D print at Holmes Hall on campus.

“This is my third year of taking the engineering pathway,” said Ing. “I wanted to guide myself down that path because that’s what I plan to do in the future, and this program has really helped me prepare for that.”

Summer Institute activities include:

• Kahua Wilikī: Engineering Foundation
• ʻIkena Lolo Uila: Computer Science & Design
• Kālaimeaola: Learning Opportunities in Medicine
• Moʻolelo Paheona: Mixed Media Art Through Storytelling
• No ka ʻAi: Culinary Art in Food

The institute hosted 49 students during its first session from June 3–14 for grades 6–8. Since its inception in 1989, NPN has offered programs for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, providing a wide range of first-class learning opportunities. These programs, which include visual and culinary arts, literacy, and STEM, aim to build a bridge between the community and higher education. Centers are stationed at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College, Kauaʻi Community College and ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu.

The Nā Pua Noʻeau ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Summer Institute collaborates with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Education, Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Education Department, and ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Native Hawaiian Science and Engineering Mentorship Program.

For more information, visit the .

As spring is a time for renewal and change, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students may feel both excited and nervous about the new semester. Amidst the demands of school, work, family, social life and extracurriculars, students may wonder where to go if they need support for their mental health and wellbeing.

An array of programs are dedicated to serving the unique needs of ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa students. Mental health services are available through the . Services tailored specifically for , , and (students) are also available. The university also offers access to , as well as programs for students looking to decrease their .

(CSDC)

• CSDC provides free, confidential brief individual, couples, group and career counseling through scheduled appointments with a mental health professional. Interested students should call (808) 956-7927 to complete a brief initial telephone appointment with a CSDC counselor who can connect them with the most appropriate service.
• , with groups focused on building healthy relationships, developing greater awareness and insight, and exploring personal identity.
• The CSDC also has crisis counselors available during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30a.m.–3:30p.m.) to assist students needing immediate mental health support. Students can call or walk-in to attend a crisis appointment.
• Training opportunities, and clinical and program consultation regarding student mental health are available. Faculty and staff can contact CSDC about how to refer students to appropriate resources, or to .
• serves as an authorized testing site for various standardized tests and licensure/certification examinations, including the GRE (General and Subject), Praxis, TOEFL, CLEP, and Meazure Learning testing programs, and offers individual proctoring for non-����Vlog�ٷ� system distance learning courses. Any inquiries regarding test availability, scheduling, fees, etc., may be directed to the Testing Office at (808) 956-3454 or uhmtest@hawaii.edu.

• Culturally responsive behavioral health services to all students who identify as Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) or Pacific Islander. Individual therapy and workshops provided in collaboration with campus partners, such as and .
• . Clinicians are available for telehealth services and limited in-person services at Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services, third floor. Email inquiries to: kwaahila@hawaii.edu.

• Dedicated mental health and wellness services for all ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa student athletes in the .
• One-on-one, confidential counseling is available via in-person sessions in Nagatani Center, Room 0L25 or via telehealth sessions. No referral is required to access Rainbow Wellness services and all services are free of charge. Email ATHMH@hawaii.edu to book a session or ask questions.

(VITAL)

• The VITAL program is a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help student veterans achieve academic and career goals. Student veterans enrolled at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa and are eligible for VA healthcare and can meet with a mental health professional via VA Video Connect. Call (808) 940-9098 to schedule an appointment.
• Student veterans in need of immediate mental health attention are recommended to call VA Mental Health Triage at 1-800-214-1306, option 2, option 4 (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.) or Veterans Crisis Line at 988, option 1 (available 24/7). .

Alcohol and Other Drugs Education Program (ADEP)

• ADEP is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed and responsible decisions regarding alcohol and substance use.
• Students can access Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), a free program designed to address alcohol-related (and other substances including vaping) issues among students through personalized interventions. Email inquiries to adep@hawaii.edu.

Online Self-Help Resources

• ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa students can access (TAO), a suite of online educational programs with engaging videos, animations, and interactive activities that use evidence-based content to address common mental health-related concerns. Students have throughout the semester using their ����Vlog�ٷ� email address.

����Vlog�ٷ� Employee Assistance Program

• Faculty and staff members seeking mental health services can contact the ����Vlog�ٷ� Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offered by Employee Assistance of the Pacific. All regular, temporary and exempt employees are eligible for EAP services.

leaders explore how traditional Hawaiian knowledge, education and a stronger future are hoʻokuʻi (brought together) in a pilot documentary, The Power of Hoʻokuʻi: Joining Together to Build our Future. A product of , a support program for high school students developed by the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� ’s (CDS), the film will premiere on Thursday, September 21, at 7 p.m. on KHON2.

The Power of Hoʻokuʻi: Joining Together to Build our Future premieres Thursday, September 21, at 7 p.m. on KHON2

Project Hoʻokuʻi is a U.S. Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education Program, grant funded project that is inclusive and supports underserved students with priority given to Native Hawaiian, Native Hawaiian gifted and talented, students with disabilities and at-risk students transitioning from high school to postsecondary education and certification programs. Currently on its fifth iteration, the program has helped nearly 2,500 high school students since it first launched in 2009. Project Hoʻokuʻi provides support services including financial aid, mentoring, tutoring and internship programs.

“The documentary gives the Hawaiʻi community and students awareness and hope for the future and encourages them to pursue their goals and dreams through education,” said Project Hoʻokuʻi Principal Investigator Lisa Uyehara, an associate specialist faculty with CDS. “We can support students, but at the end of the day, it is their hard work that leads to their success and confidence building.”

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Record number of Farrington HS students walk in Honolulu CC graduation, May 18, 2023

Kea Clebsch, a student who participated in Project Hoʻokuʻi, was featured in the film, and is hopeful for viewers to see the value of place-based education and how much one opportunity can change a student’s trajectory.

“For me, all it took was one Hawaiian Studies class to finally see myself in education and feel that my identity had a place in my learning content,” said Clebsch. “It took one kumu (teacher) that created space for me to find a sense of agency in my education and realize what I have to contribute to my community.”

Featured ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� representatives include Jon Osorio, dean of ; Provost Michael Bruno; . The leaders discussed the impact Project Hoʻokuʻi has had on the Native Hawaiian student population attending and completing college. The importance of Native Hawaiian culture and ʻāina-based learning and its global impact will also be highlighted in the broadcast.

“I believe Hawaiʻi can be the beacon for the world in mālama honua (taking care of the planet),” added Uyehara.

Higher education opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s youth

The support and opportunities Clebsch received through Project Hoʻokuʻi allowed her to forge a new path during high school and now her higher education.

“Hoʻokuʻi created the space for me to learn about myself, experience makawalu (looking at situations in different perspectives) and develop a deepened sense of kuleana (responsibility) for the people and place I care about,” said Clebsch. “It was in these educational settings where I realized I could embrace a cross-pollination of art and research to solve problems that matter to me. Hoʻokuʻi allowed me to see a role in my community, and envision a future for myself grounded in a sense of place, belonging and kuleana.”

When it comes to expressing ourselves in contexts of our cultural worlds and working together to make a more welcoming and inclusive community for all gender identities and expressions, it may be difficult to find where to begin or how to address and understand these complex concepts.

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�’s , , Women’s Center and offers a stepping stone to address these topics. A free screening of the award-winning film KUMU HINA: a place in the middle, will be followed by an open discussion with Kumu (teacher) Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu and directors/producers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson on topics of gender and cultural identity on campus and within the Native Hawaiian community.

This livestream event will be held on Monday, April 17, 4:30–6:30 p.m. The presentation is open to the public. ()

About KUMU HINA

KUMU HINA is a powerful film about the struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture and values within the Westernized society of modern day Hawaiʻi. During a momentous year in her life in Honolulu, Kumu Hina uses traditional culture to inspire a student to claim her place as leader of the school’s all-male hula troupe.

An incredible docu-drama that unfolds like a narrative film, KUMU HINA reveals a side of Hawaiʻi rarely seen on-screen. It is told through the lens of an extraordinary Native Hawaiian who is both a proud and confident māhūwahine, or transgender woman, and an honored and respected kumu, cultural practitioner and community leader. KUMU HINA brings an empowering cultural perspective to the quest for respect and inclusion for all.

The webinar is partially funded by the awarded to three CSDC doctoral interns in health service psychology.

For more information, call CSDC at (808) 956-7927.

The University of Hawaiʻi continues to commemorate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi or Hawaiian Language Month every February which was first established in 2013 after Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Act 28 in an effort to uplift and strengthen �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s native language.

A wide array of workshops, classes and events ranging from yoga to mele (songs) and swing dancing will be hosted by various ����Vlog�ٷ� faculty, staff and students throughout the month to highly encourage the use of Hawaiian language.

“Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is a time for our community to pause, reflect and assess where we are and where we are going,” said Malia Nobrega, director of strategic partnerships at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. “We celebrate our successes and progress and we fortify ourselves to normalize and strengthen Hawaiian language for all the generations to come.”

Free events

• , February 1 at 6 p.m. on Zoom
• , February 2, 4:30–5:30 p.m. at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa QLCSS 113
• , February 2 at 7 p.m. on Zoom
• , February 3 at noon on Clubhouse
• , February 4, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
• , February 13, 3–4 p.m. at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa QLCSS 113
• , February 14, 3–4 p.m. at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa QLCSS 113

Pressing concerns connected to wai (water) access and sustainability in Hawaiʻi will take the spotlight in the launch of a new series of forums at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�. The on Thursday, December 15, spearheaded by ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Professor Kamanamaikalani Beamer from the in the and the , will bring together esteemed community leaders and advocates to discuss advancing the protection of ʻāina (land) and wai through policy and law.

“We created these Piʻo Summits to highlight the pressing issues of our time. Hawaiʻi is in a crisis where we need courageous leadership and ancestral innovation to solve the problems of our times,” said Beamer, who is the Dana Naone Hall Endowed Chair in Hawaiian Studies, Literature and the Environment at Hawaiʻinuiākea. “Our Piʻo Summit will highlight incredible community leaders who are advancing aloha ʻāina and caring for our precious wai, and host for the first time in Hawaiʻi Dr. Cornel West, one of the greatest philosophers and truth speakers of our times.”

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Beamer selected as inaugural endowed chair at Hawaiʻinuiākea, May 11, 2021

Wai sovereignty and justice

On December 15, the first summit will be held at at the East-West Center from noon–4:30 p.m. and feature two panels. The first will include aloha ʻāina leaders and practitioners from loko iʻa (fishponds), loʻi kalo (taro patches) and wai advocates focusing on the significant role wai has in feeding Hawaiʻi’s communities. The second panel will feature individuals who are at the forefront of the Shut Down Red Hill movement and discuss pressing issues water sources and communities currently face.

• Wai, ʻAi and Iʻa, 12:30–2 p.m. Keliʻi Kotubetey (Paepae o Heʻeia), Hōkūao Pellegrino (Hui O Nā Wai ʻEhā), Tiare Lawrence (Ka Malu o Kahālāwai), Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz (Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi), Stacy Sproat-Beck (Waipā Foundation) and Hanohano Naehu (Hui o Kuapā)
• Wai and Red Hill, 2:15–3:15 p.m. ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Professor Kapua Sproat (Ka Huli Ao), Ernie Lau (Board of Water Supply), Wayne Tanaka (Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi) and Camille Kalama (Kaʻohewai)

Special keynote

Renowned philosopher, political activist, public intellectual and author Cornel West will headline a moderated keynote discussion following the summit at Kennedy Theatre 5–7 p.m. West will speak on imperialism and the occupation of Hawaiʻi, while placing the islands within the context of peoples’ movements for liberation and justice across the world.

“Dr. Cornel West has been one of the most influential thinkers of our time when it comes to race, social justice, economic justice, and the liberation of oppressed peoples and occupied nations,” Beamer said. “He is a globally recognized philosopher and progessive activist for human rights. He is one of the most impressive speakers and academics one can witness.”

The Piʻo Summit will be held annually and embody themes highlighting aloha ʻāina and sustainability, and how to advance local policy issues as well as increase collaboration. The summit is hosted by Pōʻai Ke Aloha ʻĀina, a project of the Dana Naone Hall chair, which aims to elevate aloha ʻāina practices within our community.

Event sponsors include the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� , , , , Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progessive Action (HAPA), Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, ʻĀina Aloha Economic Futures, Kanaeokana and Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi.

Hues of purple drape the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services (QLCSS) building at University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� in honor of her majesty’s 184th lā hānau (birthday) this Friday, September 2.

Born at her family home in Pūowaina, Oʻahu, Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha would go on to become the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Her perseverance through some of Hawaiʻi’s most challenging chapters are as legendary as her mele (song) compositions such as Aloha ʻOe and Queen’s Jubilee.

����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� (NHSS) and Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity (SEED) invite the campus community to celebrate her legacy at QLCSS, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Traditional protocol and open house experiences for haumāna (students) are planned. Organizers want students to get familiar with support services offered at QLCSS to help support and enhance their college experiences. Students who visit participating offices will be entered to win Apple earbuds, ����Vlog�ٷ� Bookstore gift cards and more.

The four-story building is named in honor of the Queen who is widely respected for being a strong motivating factor in the widespread emergence of Hawaiian culture and values.

Festivities will also feature a lei presentation at ʻahu o Kamakaʻeha, an altar fronting the QLCSS building. NHSS will host free lei workshops at its QLCSS 113 location on Thursday, September 1, 12–2:30 p.m. and Friday, September 2, 2–4:30 p.m. Participants will learn different lei making styles and techniques. All materials will be provided, first come first served.

Free T-shirt screen printing will also be available on Friday 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Screen printing will feature an illustration of Queen Liliʻuokalani. NHSS asks participants to bring no more than two shirts per person. Items can be dropped off starting at 10 a.m. Email questions to Allyson Nuesca Franco, .

18 haumāna (students) from high schools across Hawaiʻi and the continental U.S. are wrapping up a free residential summer program at the , part of a continued push to increase the number of Native Hawaiian students who attend and graduate from ����Vlog�ٷ�.

Hosted by , the 12-day Summer Institute engages students in interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math)-based learning rooted in cultural identity.

“The reason why we do intensive programs like the Summer Institute is to give them a taste of what the higher education experience is like, to be in particular departments and places and spaces at the university so that if and when they make that decision to pursue higher education they’re like, ‘Ok! I’ve been here before. I feel comfortable,’” said Kinohi Gomes, director at NPN ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

NPN immerses haumāna in daily cultural protocol such as hula, oli (chant) and activities grounded in mālama ʻāina (caring for the land). Students are also teamed up with STEM majors at ����Vlog�ٷ� who mentor them in educational hands-on activities, such as robotics, computer building and coding.

“It’s all about bridging the past with the present, and what we want to be able to do is, along with providing students with a nice cultural foundation, to let them know that they can proceed and interweave technology as a proud Hawaiian in whatever educational and career pathways that they want to pursue,” Gomes explained.

Kūpaʻa ma hope o ka ʻāina: Ever loyal to the land and Native Hawaiian resiliency

18-year-old Deion Peʻa-Whitney is one of the eager student participants this summer. The Hawaiʻi Island native recently graduated from Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, a Hawaiian language immersion charter school, and would like to pursue electrical engineering at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

“He kanaka hana ʻāina wau, no laila, no koʻu mau lima he ʻano ikaika. No kēia papa, ua aʻo wau e pili ana i ka palekana, ka hoʻomanawa nui me ka ʻenehana. (I usually work with the ʻāina, and it requires a lot of strength in my hands. Today, I learned how I have to be fragile since this is technology. It could easily break. I had to learn to be patient with technology and be comfortable with it),” Whitney explained.

Year-round programming

NPN, which is part of the campus’ and , has run programs for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade since 1989. Centers are stationed at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College, Kauaʻi Community College and ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu. NPN provides haumāna of all ages along with their ʻohana a plethora of first-class learning opportunities ranging from visual and culinary arts, literacy and STEM aimed at providing direct access and a bridge between the community and higher education.

“Part of our equation is to include mentors, teachers, resources from both our university and the community that can allow and provide the bigger picture of how technology and STEM can be such an easy streamlined opportunity for students that are looking at that as a possible career and educational pathway,” Gomes said.

​​The Nā Pua Noʻeau ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Summer Institute collaborated with the U.S. Department of Education-Native Hawaiian education program, State of Hawaiʻi Department of Education (DOE) Office of Hawaiian Education Department, DOE Community Engagement Branch, ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Native Hawaiian Science and Engineering Mentorship Program, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Kamehameha Schools and Project Kuleana.

For more information go to the website.

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� (CSDC) and (NHSS) hosted a webinar on April 4 to share ʻike (knowledge) about how the traditional art of hula can help enhance mental health and well being. Award-winning Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu Sonny Ching discussed both spiritual and physical aspects and how they interconnect. Throughout the webinar, Ching, who founded Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, featured some of his dancers who demonstrated hula movements and shared personal experiences of how hula has contributed to their wellness and connection to culture.

Kyle Help, who is a student service specialist at NHSS’ , was one of the dancers featured at the livestream event. He describes its healing benefits and how mele (songs) whisk him through time.

“I don’t know what you call it, bliss, enlightenment, transcending moment,” said Help. “You are bringing time back to present to other people and when you connect spiritually like that you connect to your kūpuna, you connect to your ancestors. You connect to everything Hawaiian.”

NHSS and CSDC have partnered to provide resources in connecting holistic practices to Native Hawaiian culture to help address COVID-19-induced stress and anxiety. This month’s webinar was partially funded by the grant awarded to three CSDC doctoral interns in health service psychology.

This event is an example of ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.