Incoming and current student residents at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� have a that simplifies and centralizes their on-campus housing experience.

(SHS) soft-launched the upgraded system from StarRez in November for spring 2026 applicants, and it consolidates most housing-related services into one site. This means student residents and aspiring student residents can get complete applications, room/roommate details and access pricing, meal plan changes and support for room transfers all on one site.

“This new platform gives students one clear place to manage their housing needs,” said David Akana, interim director of Student Housing Services. “It streamlines the process, provides personalized information and makes it easier for students to find the right housing for them at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.&�����ܴ�;

Beginning in March 2026, the new housing portal will be used for all students applying for the fall 2026 semester. ����Vlog�ٷ� estimates about 4,000 housing applicants at the start of each academic year, with approximately 3,100 beds available, underscoring the need for a streamlined site with improved functionality.

Another feature the new portal aims to improve is a more personalized roommate-matching experience, using questions about sleep habits, interests and lifestyle preferences to help students find compatible roommates.

“This new platform reflects our commitment to making the student housing experience smoother and more accessible,” said Jan Gouveia, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for administration. “By bringing everything into one place, we’re giving students direct access to the tools they need to navigate their housing journey.”

SHS plans to expand on the platform in the future by integrating the service request and room condition system, further improving support for students living on campus.

Popular and loved University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� 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 ����ԴDz�, 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…”

Students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have a unique opportunity to provide feedback on new student housing furniture layouts, as seeks to gauge interest in rooms designed to accommodate up to three student residents.

“We want students to try out the new furniture system to see if it suits their needs, including desks, chairs and storage,” said Brian Strawn, director of office planning and spatial experience. “We’re also interested in whether students would be comfortable living in a triple room, which could help reduce housing costs.”

In partnership with Loll Designs, Student Housing Services has developed sustainable and durable furniture, a recyclable plastic commonly used in the U.S.

The mock-up housing layouts include:

• Three elevated beds
• Desks
• Closets
• Cubbies that can fit 12 cube storage bins
• Mini 3D models of the layouts, which students are encouraged to explore to see what might fit best for their living situation

Students got their first look at the potential layouts at the Mānoa Bookstore on March 12 and March 14. Additional showcase sessions are scheduled for April 9 and 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hale Aloha Café.

Those unable to attend can still provide feedback by .

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 an effort to reduce waste from single-use containers, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s dining halls—Gateway Café and Hale Aloha Café—are introducing a sustainable Reusable Take-Out Container Program, with Sodexo Hawaiʻi. For an annual fee of $5, students can purchase a durable, microwavable three-compartment container at one of the dining halls.

Students can buy these reusable containers using meal points, dining dollars, cash or card at the dining halls. Currently, more than 1,400 boxes have already been purchased. Given that single-use containers cost 50 cents each time, the reusable option is a more cost-effective solution for students who frequently opt for take-out.

“Anyone who plans on doing any kind of take out more than once should go for the green one [reusable container]”, said Amelie Kitakis, an exploratory student living in student housing.

Once purchased, students are able to fill their reusable containers with as much food as they want, as long as the attached lid can be securely closed. The program operates on a swap system so they do not have to always wash the container themselves. When a student returns for another take-out meal, they will return their used container and receive a clean container in exchange. If students opt to dine-in, they can exchange their used container for a clean one for future take-out, or receive a token that can be redeemed for a cleaner container on their next take-out visit.

“These containers are so much more practical than the disposable ones. The students love that there’s three compartments so their food doesn’t touch, said Sodexo �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Marketing Specialist Marcie Moribe, “Students can pop it in the microwave and our dining halls will clean it for them.”

“Overall our students have really understood the rationale behind it, looking at sustainability, being environmentally conscious,” said Kenny Lopez, associate director of residence life. “I think our students have really appreciated this model and have embraced it and have been taking advantage of it.”

If students lose a container, they will have to pay another $5 to replace it. Cutlery and cups are available upon request.

—By McKenzie Kurosu

More than 3,500 student residents are moving into residence halls at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa during the week of August 19 for the fall 2024 semester.

“I feel excited, nervous, scared, but I’m excited to make new friends and meet new people,” said Lhizelle Banchiran, an incoming freshman from Maui. “The campus is huge so I’m kind of overwhelmed, but I know I’m gonna get through it.”

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Hale Aloha Towers renovation completed, August 20, 2024

Incoming student residents gathered at the Stan Sheriff Center to check in, receive their room key, student ID and room information, and explore campus resources including employment, leadership and financial aid opportunities. As part of the move-in process launched in 2023, students could utilize the two-way shuttle service or drive to the residence halls from Zone 20 to reduce traffic congestion.

“We want their first experience at ����Vlog�ٷ� to be as comfortable as possible,” said David Akana, interim director of student housing. We wanted to have something where they know there are gonna be lines, they know it’s gonna be a little stressful. But at the same time they can feel welcome to the university.”

Jessi Arreola, another incoming freshman, expressed her ease in moving into her new home for her first year of college.

“I was a little overwhelmed at first, but once like I got settled and everything, everyone was so helpful,” said Arreola. “Right when I got out of my car, they packed my bags and took me up to my floor, and everyone was really nice. It made it so much less stressful.”

New renovations, amenities

Students moving into the Hale Aloha Towers will enjoy newly renovated lobbies and common areas in addition to new microfridge (microwave/refrigerators), which are now included in all of the rooms and or suite areas residence halls except the Hale Wainani Apartments.

“They put it in the fridge and microwave in our dorm, that was super cool. “And just walking into the front lobby it just looks so clean and so nice”, said Arreola. “To call such a nice place home for these next couple of months, I am super excited.”

A renovation project at University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� student housing facilities that will improve conditions for a third of the student residents began in mid-May and will be completed in time for the fall 2024 semester. The common areas of the four, 13-story Hale Aloha Towers are being completely renovated with new finishes and amenities inspired by input from student residents. New common area furniture is anticipated to be in place by the start of the semester or shortly thereafter.

The Hale Aloha Towers are exclusively for freshmen and house 1,040 of the more than 3,000 students who live on campus. Renovating the lobbies, mid-floor common areas and top floor kitchens and common areas will enhance the overall living experience for students by creating more inviting and functional spaces for socializing, studying and relaxation. The upgraded common areas will help foster a sense of community among residents, encouraging interaction and collaboration.

“I am thrilled for the incoming freshmen who will be the first to experience the newly renovated spaces,” said Student Housing Services Director David Akana, who is responsible for the project. “We recognized the need for areas that could better support the student residents and help them thrive academically and socially, so we want these spaces to be practical, but we also want them to be somewhere students are excited to spend time in.”

Upgrades across the towers

The project includes polished concrete flooring, improved lighting, ceiling fans and acoustic wooden panels (to help reduce noise) in the lobbies, mid-floor common areas, and 13th floor recreation deck activity lounge of the four towers.

These renovations are one of the many short term and long term improvements for student housing facilities.

The renovated lobbies will be larger after the existing mailboxes are removed and will feature a new reception desk, new furniture—including two bar-height study tables with outlets and chairs—and a big screen TV. New window screens are also being installed in the lobbies to support the natural ventilation of the spaces.

The mid-floor common areas, located on the even-numbered floors of each building, are being renovated to better support group studying and gatherings with new wood benches, additional power outlets, lounge seating, work tables and whiteboards.

The common areas and kitchens on the 13th floor of each tower will have new lounge seating, lawn chairs, picnic and work tables, a big screen TV and a foosball table. The kitchens will be expanded with a built-in bar-top along the walls, a family-style stainless steel table in the center and new appliances and stainless steel countertops. New study cubicles, chairs and lounge seating will be installed in the study lounges.

“As we developed the renovation plans, we wanted to ensure that the common areas in these facilities were enhanced in as many aspects possible, from study spots and places for community building, to numerous aesthetic improvements,” said Joe Lynch, a project manager from the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Office of Project Delivery. “We designed with students in mind, so hearing from them what they would like to see or have in the towers was vital. They played a major role in the final layout that future freshmen will get to live in.”

The project also includes new plumbing lines to support a new water bottle filling station in the kitchen (following other stations that were previously upgraded in the towers); and the building elevators will receive new lighting and flooring finishes.

Student-centric designs

The renovation project incorporated the input from student residents on how the tower spaces could be better utilized. Interactive workshops were held in December 2023 to gather feedback from student residents on what they would improve or add to Hale Aloha towers, with the assistance of the Campus Design Lab, an initiative of the Office of Planning & Spatial Experience, and student project assistants from the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Design Center.

“I spend so much time at Aloha Towers, and because we’re the ones living in these facilities, it’s really fun to see what the living space could be,” said Reese Harwood, a freshman who participated in the interactive workshops. “I’m glad I could be a part of this planning process, and I can’t wait to see what these spaces could possibly look like in the years to come.”

Unique color for each tower

A special feature of the project is that each tower will have its own splash of color, inspired by the island flower the tower is named after. Hale Aloha ʻIlima will bear shades of yellow and gold; Hale Aloha Lehua will feature bold reds; Hale Aloha Lokelani will showcase tones of mauve and purple; and Hale Aloha Mokihana will spotlight lime greens. The colors will be on the columns in the first floor lobbies, as well as on the 13th floor activity lounges and kitchens.

The is exploring the need for and interest in student residence halls, and is conducting a market study, including a survey of current students from April 29 to May 17.

The survey by will identify student interest in ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu-based housing, demand by bed or unit type, unit mix and sizes, desired amenities, and pricing.

“Campus residence halls provide many benefits to the university and the local community,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu Vice Chancellor for Administration David McDonald. “For students, residence halls increase student learning, enhance connections to the campus, improve interpersonal skill development, and provide immediate access to campus resources and activities. For the community, students living in a university village environment reduces the number of students who have to commute to campus, increases the number of participants in local community activities, and on-campus students support local businesses. For the university, students living on campus increase the vibrancy and energy of all university activities.”

����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu currently does not have residence halls. However, dormitory space for ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu students is available through a partnership with neighbor . ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu’s spring enrollment was 2,863.

The location being considered for housing is within the University Village at the Hoʻomohala Avenue gateway to campus, near the ’s Keoneʻae transit station. The Skyline connects ����Vlog�ٷ� students to goods and services along the rail line, and provides a connection to the campus. The planned next phase of the Skyline connecting ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu to the airport makes this location even more advantageous for students who would live in this new residence hall.

The study is based on a 300-bed minimum. Preliminary findings are anticipated this summer, and will be made part of a formal housing-demand study. ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu students are highly encouraged to .

An extreme makeover is in the works for outdoor areas around student housing at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�, and student residents are playing a key role in the design of the project, tentatively scheduled to be completed by fall 2026. The project design is incorporating recommendations made by student residents during an interactive workshop that included:

• Outdoor study spaces, such as study gardens, group study workspaces and individual study����Vlog�ٷ� pods to increase opportunities for outdoor studying.
• Food options, possibly including food trucks, farmers markets and coffee kiosks.
• Activity spaces, such as outdoor gyms and game and sports courts.
• Event gathering locations for student residents and Resident Assistants to host social events.

The students who attended say they really appreciated the interactive workshop.

“I enjoy the fact that the campus is beginning to involve students in their own living experience,” said student resident Katherine Sewell. “As a second-year student, I am excited to see the benefits of our suggestions and the future of our campus, yielded by student engagement.”

“It was a fun and interactive event that felt really welcoming to students’ opinions and is something I think the school could really benefit from,” said student resident Jayden Uowolo. “The campus is full of big colleges that can be hard to navigate, and putting in small things like study areas, gardens and so many other cool ideas would be great for students here at ����ԴDz�.&�����ܴ�;

The interactive workshop was organized by the Campus Design Lab, an initiative of the Office of Planning & Spatial Experience (OPSE) and staffed by student project assistants from the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Design Center (����Vlog�ٷ�CDC).

“There’s so much outdoor space on campus that could be more effectively utilized by students if designed in the right way, and this interactive process is the best way for students to tell and show us what they would like,” said OPSE Director Brian Strawn. “Now we have the information to make these outdoor spaces more practical for the students who are spending the most time on campus.”

Visualizing ideal outdoor spaces

The team set up information kiosks between Gateway House and Frear Hall with a 3D campus map of the area from Wainani Towers to Johnson Hall on Dole Street, along with cards that represented furniture, food venues and different activities, and blank cards so students could write in suggestions. The students then took turns placing the cards on the interactive map in a process that allowed them to visualize their ideal outdoor spaces, which was then documented by the Campus Design Lab team. The architecture students who staffed the workshop say it was a valuable experience.

“As a fourth-year architecture student, I am always trying to consider different ways someone may interact with a space, especially because everyone brings with them a variety of experiences,” said Hunter-Bailey Kaimikaua, a ����Vlog�ٷ�CDC student project assistant. “This outreach activity helped me to hear the wants and needs of students, such as the desire for study spaces closer to the dorms and other spaces to spend time with friends. ����Vlog�ٷ� is a diverse campus, and I hope to see that accommodated in future design considerations.”

The outdoor area makeover is just one of the many improvement projects at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� student housing since May 2023. The projects include an upcoming renovation of the public spaces at the Hale Aloha Towers, the installation of water filling stations and much more, including long range plans for the facilities.

Student housing facilities at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� now feature water filling stations in each of its 11 communities. The water stations that were installed replaced existing water fountains and feature refrigerated, filtered bottle fillers and drinking fountains with high and low spout options that are ADA compliant.

“I really enjoy seeing the new improvements that are being done and implemented in the student resident spaces, especially these new water fountains that allow students to easily fill their bottles,” said Angeline Roslin, Hale Aloha ʻIlima Tower resident assistant (RA). “As a current RA, I love seeing the joy in our residents’ faces and hearing the positive responses from them about how much of an improvement it is from the last water stations we had.”

The water stations were installed over the winter break and start of the spring 2024 semester. Student Housing Services (SHS) is able to track usage and says the 12 new water stations are already being used by student residents an average 106 times a day.

“Though this is a smaller improvement project it’s very gratifying as this has been a long standing request from our residents,” said David Akana, the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� SHS Interim Director. “This is the latest of a number of improvements made at ����ԴDz� student housing since the end of the spring 2023 semester and there is much more to come.”

An example of another upcoming improvement project is the renovation of the common spaces at the four Hale Aloha Towers scheduled for summer 2024. Hale Aloha residents recently provided input to the design team on what those spaces should include. Improvements made in 2023 include new mattresses; improved WiFi; repairs to hundreds of windows, bed frames and air conditioning units and much more.

SHS began planning and executing its plans to improve the facilities after being placed under the Office of the Vice President for Administration (VPA). Multiple VPA units are now coordinating with SHS including the Office of Project Management Delivery, the Office of Systems Integration, the Facilities Business Office and the Office of Campus Operation and Facilities, which is responsible for the recent repairs and upgrades.

The water station project cost around $270,000 and was funded by the student housing reserve fund. The stations were installed by Kiewit Building Group with the assistance of their subcontractors, Commercial Plumbing, Sansei Electric and PMJ Builders.

In an exciting development for coffee enthusiasts on the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� campus, a second Starbucks location opened its doors inside . The grand opening and Hawaiian blessing was held on January 31. This new addition follows the success of the first Starbucks on campus, which opened at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s Campus Center in July 2012.

Featuring the latest Starbucks interior design, equipment and technology upgrades, the new location was made possible through , a partnership between ����Vlog�ٷ� �Ѳ��ԴDz�’s and Sodexo.

Operating hours:
7 a.m–9 p.m. Mon. to Fri.;
9 a.m.–9 p.m. weekends

The Starbucks at Gateway Café is open seven days a week and offers the full Starbucks food and beverage menu including the newly installed Nitro Cold Brew machine.

“I’ve been waiting for the opening of Starbucks at Gateway and I’m so excited that day is finally here,” said Noah Sasaki, a sophomore student resident at Gateway House. “It’ll be super convenient for me to just come downstairs to get my coffee fix!”

“We’re excited to have a Starbucks location closer to residence halls that will cater to our student residents and wider campus community,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Dean of Students Theresa Crichfield. “Given Starbucks’ track record as a campus favorite, we firmly believe that by providing such a popular gathering spot for our campus community, this initiative will play a part in our ongoing efforts to reimage and enrich the overall experience in this area.”

Upgraded rewards system

Both Gateway Café and Campus Center Starbucks stores are now mobile ordering locations available on the Starbucks app. Additional recent upgrades to the point of sale systems also let customers on campus earn and redeem Starbucks Rewards for the first time.

In-store payment options include Meal Plan Points and Dining Dollars, cash, credit/debit cards and Starbucks Gift Cards. Customers on meal plans who would like to pay with Meal Swipe Equivalency must place a mobile order through the GRUBHUB App.

“We saw a need within the community for a second location, and we’re so excited to open up right in the heart of student housing!” said Donna Ojiri, general manager of Sodexo Campus Services. “This location has been long in the making, and we hope that Starbucks lovers on this side of campus will frequent our new ������é.”

For more information, visit or follow on Instagram.

The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� is planning to renovate the common areas in four student housing buildings, the Hale Aloha Towers, in summer 2024. Students who live in the towers—ʻIlima, Lehua, Lokelani and Mokihana—are helping design parts of the renovation project. Through two interactive workshops in December, students took the opportunity to reimagine the common areas and provide feedback on the design and furniture. Their input is being incorporated in the project’s final design.

Related: Repairs, improvements at student housing just beginning, December 2023

“I spend so much time at Aloha Towers, and because we’re the ones living in these facilities, it’s really fun to see what the living space could be,” said Reese Harwood, a freshman majoring in marketing who participated in the activity. “I’m glad I could be a part of this planning process, and I can’t wait to see what these spaces could possibly look like in the years to come.”

Student residents’ interactive workshops

The interactive workshops were held by the Campus Design Lab, an initiative of the Office of Planning & Spatial Experience (OPSE) and staffed by student project assistants from the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Design Center (����Vlog�ٷ�CDC). The team printed maps of the various spaces—lobby, lounge and rooftop—and miniature images of different furniture pieces, such as whiteboards, study pods and sports tables. The participants moved the furniture images to different locations on the maps to help them visualize their ideal design. The students shared their final design ideas along with how they typically used the spaces and their perceptions of the spaces.

“This interactive process is not only beneficial for the students, but for those working on the renovations as well,” said OPSE Director Brian Strawn. “We’re hearing the students’ honest opinions of the Aloha Towers while we’re still in the planning stages, so after gathering and implementing their feedback, we’re ensuring that the living spaces are practical and designed well with the students in mind.”

First-hand experience for architecture students

The interactive workshops also served as a learning experience for architecture students. While assisting OPSE staff, the architecture students gain valuable first-hand experience working with “customers” to develop a plan that addresses everyone’s input while also meeting project parameters.

“As an architecture student, you get trained to look at buildings and think about what could be better about the space you’re living in,” said Walker Mason, a senior architecture student and project assistant at the Campus Design Lab. “It’s important to look at these spaces, see what could be done, then work to improve them for the students. I’m graduating soon, so I won’t be able to see the changes that will be implemented in the summer, but it’s good to know that I was a part of making change happen for the future students that will be living here.”

The Hale Aloha towers are exclusively for freshmen and house 1,040 of the more than 3,000 students who live on the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� campus. The project is just one of the many short term and long term improvements for student housing facilities.

A significant amount of work has been completed since May 2023 to improve student housing facilities at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz�, and the work is just beginning, according to (SHS). The recent improvements spanning the 21 buildings and grounds that house about 3,100 students include:

• New mattresses delivered to every student room
• More than 300 Wireless Access Points installed to improve WiFi accessibility, reliability and speeds
• Repairs to 550 windows, 400 bed frames and 50 air conditioning units
• Replacement of 75% of the restroom plumbing fixtures in Hale Wainani and the restroom exhaust fans in Hale Kahawai and Hale Laulima
• Exterior windows of the Hale Aloha Towers professionally washed
• Six buildings containing trash chutes cleaned and serviced
• 12 tons of debris removed from storage rooms
• Four trees removed from the grounds, and 70 more trees pruned
• A new preventative maintenance program for major building systems and equipment
• A new repair program for plumbing fixtures, kitchen appliances and door access card keys

“This is only the beginning of repairs and improvements that we plan to make and complete to improve the quality of life for students, faculty and staff,” said SHS Interim Director David Akana. “We plan to make these improvements as quickly and efficiently as possible to maximize the benefit to current and future residents. We are also being strategic in the phasing of projects to minimize disruptions and inconveniences to our current residents.”

The next wave of improvements will include new furniture in common areas and outdoor spaces in select buildings; new refrigerators and stoves in select buildings; increased internet bandwidth for residents’ rooms; filtered water bottle filling stations in each community, and upgrades to 32 surveillance cameras that will be added to the Department of Public Safety’s system.

“We are in the process of implementing our short-term goals while simultaneously developing long-range plans to identify and address the many challenges associated with our aging facilities,” said Akana. “We want our current and future residents to know that we are committed to improving the quality of our facilities and amenities.”

Related: Student residents reimagine Hale Aloha Towers common areas, January 2024

To help ensure identified improvements align with the needs of students, a visioning exercise was conducted by the Office of Planning & Spatial Experience to solicit feedback from residents on proposed enhancements to facilities and amenities.

Addressing long-term objectives

Another component of the long term effort is the establishment of an objective set of criteria that can be used to evaluate previously identified improvements against new initiatives and emergency projects that arise over time. The criteria set includes anticipated impact on student satisfaction and quality of life, anticipated cost savings associated with an investment and the extent to which a project improves the condition of a building system/sub-system.

This approach to portfolio management is objective, supports increased transparency and is flexible to adapt to the evolving needs of SHS.

Restructuring and collaborating to make improvements

The university has also hired KMH LLC to conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop a financial model that will support future budget management and rate setting efforts. The analysis is expected to be completed by fall 2024.

SHS is now organizationally under the Office of the Vice President for Administration (VPA). Multiple VPA units are coordinating with SHS to improve student housing facilities including the Office of Project Management Delivery, the Office of Systems Integration, the Facilities Business Office and the Office of Campus Operation and Facilities, which is responsible for the recent repairs and upgrades.

The short- and long-term plans to improve student housing facilities were presented to the Board of Regents by VPA during a student housing update at the November 2 meeting of the Committee on Institutional Success.

Eloise Luzader, the cherished head cashier of the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� , retired on November 30, after nearly three decades of service at 95 years old.

“I have mixed emotions,” said Luzader. “I’m happy and I’m sad because I’m going to miss the students. Interacting with them was my thing to keep me young.”

Luzader is famous for greeting students and other Gateway Café patrons with a bright smile, and as the unofficial ����ԴDz� matchmaker, with three successful couplings. She has a tight-knit relationship with the students, and feels so much love for them that she considers them her “grandbabies.” Because of this love, Luzader has no trouble remembering the names of thousands of students, and making them feel seen and cared for.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Cherished 95-year-old Gateway Cafe head cashier to retire, October 27, 2023

The impact of Luzader’s love is everlasting. Alumna Taylor Hiraga, who attended ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� from 2013 to 2016, said that Eloise was the most memorable part of her time as a student. Now a pharmacist in Maui, she dedicated time each month to visit Luzader with a lei and appreciation for her compassion.

“She always put a smile on my face, always said hello, always hugged me. She’s pretty much family to me now,” said Hiraga. “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. I think we’re all really going to miss her.”

Take care [of] yourself. Be good, stay out of trouble. Keep smiling and study hard.
—Luzader to her “grandbabies”

Luzader was recognized for her hard work, dedication and warmth for Gateway Café patrons. Brett Lad, CEO of Sodexo Campus, North America, presented the “Spirit of THX :)” award over a Zoom call, honoring Luzader for sharing the spirit of Aloha with the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� community. Honolulu Councilmember Matt Weyer presented a certificate on behalf of the Honolulu City Council to thank her for her almost 30 years of service and wish her a happy retirement.

“We really just wanted to mahalo her for her nearly 30 years of service,” said Weyer. “I remember her when I was at ����Vlog�ٷ� 15 years ago, and just the warmth and aloha she always shared with all of us, with all of the students.”

During her retirement, Luzader plans to volunteer wherever her help is needed and return to her favorite activities, Zumba and hula. She also guarantees that students are still in her plans.

“I’ll come back to visit if I get bored, just to have the interaction with them. I love everybody—I love you all,” said Luzader. “Take care [of] yourself. Be good, stay out of trouble. Keep smiling and study hard.”

The first phase of the $170-million Residences for Graduate Students student housing facility at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� has been completed just weeks after the October 4 groundbreaking ceremony.

The demolition of a two-story office building, warehouse and other structures clears the way for the construction of the two buildings (18 and 12 stories) to house over 550 graduate students and their families, along with junior faculty members. The project will include a childcare facility, café retail space, study rooms and more.

Located on the ma uka (mountain) side of Dole Street between the East-West Center and ����ԴDz� stream, the student housing facility is scheduled to open in fall 2025.

Loʻi mural

The fence around the construction site now features a massive mural inspired by , the taro patch across the street at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ���Գܾ����� School of Hawaiian Knowledge.

“I wanted to extend that loʻi right on up to this wall over here so we can have a conversation, a connection between these two places because all of these areas would have very likely been in taro cultivation,” said Native Hawaiian artist Solomon Enos, who painted the mural on October 21.

Enos also painted murals on construction fencing on the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� campus for the Bachman Hall renovation project and the recently opened (RISE).

����Vlog�ٷ� builds on P3 success

The modern housing facility is ����Vlog�ٷ�’s second major public-private partnership (P3) capital improvement project on the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� campus, built by private partners with minimal or zero taxpayer or tuition monies. RISE, which opened in August 2023, was the first.

The Residences for Graduate Students project is being developed and will be managed by , which contracted Swinerton Builders for the construction.

Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News stories:

• New graduate student housing facility at Mānoa breaks ground, October 5, 2023
• New graduate student resident facility at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa to begin construction, September 21, 2023
• Student housing project on ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa campus cleared for construction, April 20, 2023

ʻŌʻō (digging sticks) loosening dirt in unison, a long strand of maile lei held by dignitaries blessed with wai (water), and Hawaiian salt lightly sprinkled on the ground marked the start of construction of a $170-million student housing facility on the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus. The October 4 groundbreaking for the Residences for Graduate Students began with ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa spokeswoman Moanikeʻala Nabarro grounding the ceremony in ʻāina (land) based ʻike (knowledge) where the two buildings that will make up the facility will be built.

“As ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa strives to become a , we understand how vital it is to carry ʻike about the ʻāina on which we stand, sit, live and work,” said Nabarro. “We are privileged to have the opportunity to be here in the ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī, a place teeming with deeply-rooted legends and rich moʻolelo (stories) that can still be felt on our very skin in the form of nourishing rains and winds.”

The Residences for Graduate Students will be located on the ma uka (mountain) side of Dole Street between the East-West Center and the Mānoa stream. There will be 316 units total in the facility for more than 550 graduate students and their families, along with junior faculty members. The complex is scheduled to be completed in fall 2025 and will include a childcare facility, retail spaces, study rooms and a ������é.

“Our graduate students here at Mānoa, like every other major research university, perform a lot of the actual work behind the discoveries that we make and push out to good use in the community,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno at the groundbreaking. “This project, for the first time, will give them a residence on campus so that they can become more integrated into our campus community and feel like they are a really valued member of our community.”

The modern housing facility is ����Vlog�ٷ�’s second major public-private partnership (P3) capital improvement project on the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa campus, built by private partners with minimal or zero taxpayer or tuition monies. The first, the (RISE) opened in August 2023.

“In Hawaiʻi we hear a lot of rhetoric about P3s,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� Vice President for Budget and Finance/CFO Kalbert Young at the groundbreaking ceremony. “I have heard a lot of politicians, government officials, business leaders, talk about the need for P3s in Hawaiʻi literally for decades and yet I am challenged to think of any other project that is a true bonafide P3. And us here today, I think we can take a sense of pride in recognizing, we are talking about ground breaking on the second public-private partnership at the University of Hawaiʻi in less than three years.”

The private partners in the project include the Collegiate Housing Foundation (CHF), a non-profit tax exempt organization that secured the financing in September through tax-exempt bonds that will be repaid with the rental income of residing students at the facility. It will be developed and managed by , and Swinerton Builders has been contracted by Greystar to construct the facility.

Swinterton hosted the groundbreaking and representatives of the CHF and Greystar attended along with Hawaiʻi Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. The State of Hawaiʻi School Facilities Authority provided $10 million to support the construction of the childcare facility. Providing universal access to preschool in Hawaiʻi is a top initiative of Luke’s.

“What the University of Hawaiʻi is doing is phenomenal,” said Luke at the groundbreaking. “It’s just so mind blowing because what we have always envisioned when we created the School Facilities Authority was co-locating services and co-locating important initial items, and what’s happening here—we are co-located the need for essential housing for our people at the same time, providing the needed childcare preschool expenses.”

����Vlog�ٷ� has agreed to provide $8 million for pre-development and pre-construction work, $2 million a year for rent abatement towards keeping rents more affordable, and a 45-year property lease.

• New graduate student resident facility at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa to begin construction, September 21, 2023
• Student housing project on ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa campus cleared for construction, April 20, 2023

The funding for a $170-million housing facility for graduate students at the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� has been secured from investors paving the way for construction to begin in October. The project is ����Vlog�ٷ�’s second public-private partnership (P3) to build modern student housing facilities on the ����ԴDz� campus using minimal public funds. The Residences for Graduate Students at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� is scheduled to be completed in fall 2025.

The facility will consist of two buildings (18 stories and 12 stories) with 316 units (studios, two-, three- and four-bedroom units), 558 beds, a childcare facility, retail space, bike storage, study rooms, laundry facility, mail and package room, outdoor amenity decks and on-site management. It will be located on Dole Street between the East-West Center and the ����ԴDz� stream, across the street from Frear Hall. As a P3 project, the facility is being constructed by private partners with external financing and will be privately operated for ����Vlog�ٷ� students.

����Vlog�ٷ� participated in its first P3 student housing project, the (RISE) at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, which opened in August 2023. For this second P3 project, Collegiate Housing Foundation (CHF), a non-profit tax exempt organization that owns student housing on campuses throughout the country, will be the owner and operator of the Residences for Graduate Students at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

“The ability to execute a second P3 on the heels of RISE is proof of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s commitment to finding alternative ways to modernize facilities with minimal cost to the taxpayer and our students and their families,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President David Lassner. “This project is also enhancing the student experience for our graduate students who play an important role in making ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� one of the best universities in the country.”

CHF secured the financing through tax-exempt bonds that will be repaid with the rental income of residing students at the facility. CHF has arranged for to develop and manage the facility. Greystar has contracted Swinerton Builders to construct the facility, completed the project design, and obtained discretionary approvals to begin construction.

����Vlog�ٷ� is providing $8 million for pre-development and pre-construction work, $2 million a year towards rent abatement towards keeping rents more affordable, and a 45-year property lease. The State of Hawaiʻi School Facilities Authority (SFA) has contributed $10 million of public funds towards the construction of the childcare center to be located in the facility.

“The University of Hawaiʻi is very proud to demonstrate its capability to develop partnerships and projects that improve services and opportunities for our students, campuses, and our broader community,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� Vice President for Budget and Finance and CFO Kalbert Young. “This project helps provide quality living spaces and opportunities for students and is a tremendous example of how partnering with other state agencies can address multiple statewide missions. To that end, I am very happy that we were also able to partner with the Hawaiʻi State School Facilities Authority and expand access to preschool for families with young children.”

SFA’s mission is to fund and construct facilities that expand access to pre-kindergarten in Hawaiʻi. The childcare center in the facility will be operated by ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Children’s Center, which will relocate from its current home at Castle Memorial Hall. After the move, it will be able to serve more students—from its present 90 children to about 130 children.

The Residences for Graduate Students at ����Vlog�ٷ� Manoa is being designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification to help the 10-campus system reach its goal of net-zero energy by 2035.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Student housing project on ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� campus cleared for construction, April 20, 2023