At the University of Hawaiʻi, Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising event to support our ����Vlog�ٷ� students and embrace the rich diversity and expansive reach of our university system.

At the (JABSOM), where more than 90% of students are awarded some form of scholarship, donors make a great impact in their journeys in medicine. For first-year medical student Emma Pinnow, that journey started with the ʻImi Hoʻōla Post Baccalaureate Program.

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

Ahead of a Giving Day appearance on Hawaiʻi News Now, JABSOM sat down with Pinnow.

Q: How did ʻImi Hoʻōla put you on a path to medicine?

I come from a family deeply rooted in Hawaiʻi’s public school system, so while education was always the priority, medicine was a brand-new endeavor for me. My dream was always to stay home, to be near family and learn to provide care specifically tailored to our people here in Hawaiʻi. ʻImi Hoʻōla, which means “those who seek to heal” in ʻŌ������� Hawaiʻi, was the bridge to that dream. ����’s a rigorous 12-month journey, and completing it provided me with automatic admission to JABSOM. But more than just a seat in the class, it gave me the foundational competence and the unshakeable support system I needed.

I didn’t just gain knowledge, I gained a cohort, mentors and a community that believed in my potential when I was just starting out. What truly changed the trajectory for me was the generosity of our donors. I was fully prepared to take on a massive financial burden to pursue this path, but because of their support, my experience was tuition-free. This didn’t just save money, it gave me the gift of time and focus. Instead of juggling my studies with a job, I can dedicate 100% of my energy to the rigors of medical school. It only takes one group of people to believe in you to open a door. For me, that door was ʻImi Hoʻōla. It allowed me to show my potential and has put me on a path to serve the community that raised me.

Q: What are your goals in medicine?

I’m currently a little more than halfway through my first year, and honestly, it’s been very exciting. Every week I’m exposed to a new specialty or a different organ system, and I’m making it my goal to learn as much as I can and to lean into every opportunity to the fullest extent. While I haven’t settled on a specific specialty yet, I have settled on the where and the who. No matter what field I choose, I am committed to serving the people of Hawaiʻi. This is my home, and I truly can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Being Native Hawaiian, I am especially aware of the health disparities our community faces, particularly with cardiometabolic disease. One of my primary goals in medicine is to directly address these inequities. I want to take the education we receive here at JABSOM, which emphasizes culturally-competent care, and apply it in a way that resonates with our local population. Ultimately, my goal is to bridge the gap between high-level medical science and the unique cultural needs of our islands. Giving back to the community that raised me is my way of honoring where I come from.

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����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation is calling on the ����Vlog�ٷ� ʻohana—including alumni, friends and community members—to participate in ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day on April 8, a 24-hour effort to support students and research across the 10-campus system.

Gifts of any size will directly remove financial barriers for students, expand hands-on learning and advance research addressing �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s most pressing needs, from healthcare and education to environmental stewardship.

“Philanthropy offers critical support for our students, faculty and staff, and assists ����Vlog�ٷ� in serving communities across our state,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President Wendy Hensel. “Giving Day highlights the vital role our supporters play in expanding opportunity and sustaining the university’s mission.”

To further increase that impact, Hensel has personally created a special systemwide challenge: when 1,500 donors make a contribution to any project across the 10 campuses, her $15,000 challenge gift will be unlocked to directly benefit the fund. Donors can also take advantage of other matching gifts applied to a wide range of specific campus initiatives.

• To learn more or to make a gift, .

Critical timing

This year, ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day arrives at a critical time. As flooding affects communities across Hawaiʻi, urgent student relief is a top priority. Your involvement now helps ensure support reaches students quickly, when it can make the greatest difference.

Throughout the event, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation will share real-time progress, campus updates and student stories across its social media platforms with the hashtag #4����Vlog�ٷ�Giving Day.

“Giving Day is about coming together as a ����Vlog�ٷ� ʻohana to invest in the people and programs that matter most,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and VP of Advancement for ����Vlog�ٷ�. “When our community unites around a shared purpose, the collective impact of every gift—no matter the size—is amplified.”

For 48-year-old Kriss Yeow, receiving the Linka and Michael Mullikin Endowed Scholarship wasn’t just financial aid; it was the validation of a 25-year-old dream she thought might never come true.

For much of her life, Yeow put the needs of others first, spending decades caring for her family. Her journey was also marked by geographic instability, forcing her to cycle through different educational systems across Malaysia, Christmas Island and Australia.
But after settling in Hawaiʻi nine years ago, Yeow realized it was time to take her turn.

“It felt like I was making good on the promise my grandmother always saw in me,” Yeow said. “Grandmother never stopped believing that one day I would soldier on towards a higher education. Now I hear her telling me, ‘keep going, Kriss,’ until you get that degree.”

Drawn to by its deep connection to Hawaiian culture and its welcoming, aloha-spirited environment, Yeow is now an undergraduate studying Natural Resource and Environmental Management, with a minor in botany.

Resilient non-traditional students

None of this, she said, would be possible without the generosity of donors, such as the Mullikins. Yeow’s journey is a powerful reminder of the resilience of non-traditional students, a demographic that Kapiʻolani CC is deeply committed to supporting.

“Non-traditional students bring their wisdom and real-world experience to the classroom—perspectives that high schoolers coming to college for the first time simply wouldn’t have,” said Veronica Ogata, dean of Arts and Sciences. “It creates a beautiful dynamic where both generations learn from one another.”

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

Complex financial barriers are often the defining factor for non-traditional students to achieve a college degree.

“For students to continue schooling, finances have always been the number one issue,” said David Nāwaʻa Napoleon, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Scholarships absolutely level the playing field for students. Any way we can support our students through these scholarships is what we need to be doing.”

On , your gift to the ensures students like Yeow have resources to earn their degrees.

Read more about the and more Giving Day opportunities.

After raising a family and building a decades-long career in the restaurant industry, Jerilyn “Jerry” Kanakanui decided it was finally time to pursue a lifelong dream: go to college. Getting to the classroom, though, was a daunting process.

As a mother of six who had never attended college, she remembered previous attempts where she tried to navigate the complex web of registration and financial aid, only to back out thinking, “Oh, no, it’s not for me.”

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

She enrolled in Hawaiʻi Community College in 2024, and credits programs such as the and the for helping her find her footing. Today, she gives back to the campus community by serving as a TRIO peer mentor to help other students navigate their own educational journeys, while also occasionally working next door at Kahuaʻola.

Struggling with the basics

“Many kids tell me they are grateful to have a resource like Kahuaʻola,” Kanakanui said. “Some of these students struggle with the basics, so when they can pick up a free bag of rice or a journal they need for classes, it really helps them a lot.”

Chancellor Susan Kazama said that learning cannot thrive when a student is worried about food, housing or other essential needs.

“As a kauhale (community), we are committed to supporting the whole person so our students can focus on their education, their families and their futures,” Kazama said.

Restoring hope

Kahuaʻola Coordinator Randiann Tokeshi assists roughly 48 students daily with essentials. Some grab a quick meal, while others need help applying for SNAP benefits, or finding healthcare, childcare and housing.

“Basic needs are more than just providing resources to our students. It’s really about restoring hope, dignity and the opportunity for students who may be facing some of the hardest moments in their lives,” Tokeshi said. ”Every meal that is shared, every referral that is made, every conversation where a student feels seen and supported can really change the trajectory of someone’s life.”

This , gifts to the help ensure students have the backing they need to stay enrolled and continue building their futures. Your support goes even further this year: Kazama is matching up to $1,000 in total donations to Hawaiʻi CC.

Read more about the and more Giving Day opportunities.

For non-traditional students such as Shantel Nomura, navigating the path to a degree can require immense dedication. Nomura, a Nānākuli native, works full-time for the County of Maui as a secretary for the boards and commissions, while raising a family of five and pursuing a degree in business administration at the ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu.

Her journey began at ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College in 2001. She also took classes at Leeward and Windward CCs before life provided some detours. Then in 2024 she resumed her education at ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College. She has since transferred to ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu, and is on pace to earn her bachelor’s degree in the fall of 2027, with plans to pursue a master’s degree.

Removing financial hurdles

For students juggling work and family, unexpected costs—such as an empty gas tank or mandatory textbook—can easily be the breaking point that forces them to drop out. This is why the Leeward CC Enrichment Fund, and others like it, exist. The fund has helped more than 70 students, including Nomura, cover everyday necessities—such as bus passes, gas and books—keeping temporary financial hurdles from turning into permanent roadblocks.

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

“Raising a family while working a full-time job and going back to school is not easy,” Nomura said. “The scariest thing about going back to school was thinking that I would be too old to learn again. But once school started, it just felt right. Without scholarships and a good support system from the counselors and staff, I wouldn’t be able to see my dream come to fruition.”

Supporting student success

For Carlos Peñaloza, current chancellor of Leeward CC and interim chancellor of ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu, this financial support is an indispensable part of how the college serves its diverse student body.

“Donor support helps ensure our students have the resources they need to grow and thrive in a rapidly changing world,” Peñaloza said. “Gifts to the Leeward CC Enrichment Fund give campus officials the flexibility to respond quickly to students’ needs—supporting emergency assistance, experiential learning opportunities, campus activities, and the technology and materials that enhance learning. They help us create opportunities that support student success across our campus communities.”

Your Giving Day support is essential to keeping this lifeline strong for Leeward CC’s student body, which includes many first-generation and non-traditional learners. To make a gift, please visit the .

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The genesis of the Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community began not in Kakaʻako, but during a visit to a breast cancer specialist in Texas. There, Susan and Peter Hirano first heard about Naoto Ueno, who would soon become director of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center.

After Ueno relocated to Hawaiʻi, the Hiranos connected with him, and Susan shared her vision: a supportive space where cancer patients, families and caregivers could access information, education and emotional support.

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

Diagnosed with stage-four metastatic breast cancer in October 2021, Susan immersed herself in research, exploring clinical trials and consulting with specialists at leading institutions.

“She had an intense and fierce determination to live,” Peter said. “So, in addition to researching the science of the disease, she explored other ways to supplement her medical treatments, from reiki massages and naturopathic treatments to acupuncture, meditation and diet.”

Empowering patients, building community

Susan brought that same determination to her medical appointments, encouraging patients to actively participate in their care. That philosophy became the foundation of the Cancer CARE Community—CARE representing Community, Awareness, Research and Emotional Well-Being.

Her vision became reality on April 5, 2025, when the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center launched the program.

“I remember that she wasn’t feeling very well that morning,” Peter recalled. “But she told me, ‘Just get me there, and the people will lift me up.’”

During the inaugural workshop, Susan spoke for 25 minutes, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and asking questions. The event culminated in an emotional surprise: the program was officially named in her honor.

“She was blown away,” Peter said. “She had no idea that the team was going to name the program the ‘Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community.’ I am so proud of the legacy she has built.”

Less than two weeks later, on April 18, 2025, Susan passed away peacefully at home.

Sustaining the legacy on Giving Day

Today, the program continues her legacy, offering quarterly workshops that provide holistic support for patients, survivors and caregivers. More than 550 people have attended events so far, with many returning regularly.

“The event was ‘empowering’ to learn about the true value of empowerment––how to find peace with our situation, our thoughts and our choice,” commented one attendee in an evaluation survey.

More ����Vlog�ٷ� News stories about Susan C. Hirano and her legacy

Community support is vital to help the CARE Community reach more cancer patients, families and caregivers across Hawaiʻi.

As the community comes together for ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day, Peter wants potential donors to know that their contributions aren’t just abstract numbers.

Every gift, no matter the size, helps ensure the Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community can continue providing trusted resources, connection and support for those facing cancer across Hawaiʻi—just as Susan envisioned.

about the Cancer CARE Community, make a gift and explore other Giving Day opportunities.

Chelstine “Kauʻi” Tavares, a University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu sophomore, and Norinna-Lynne Ili, a part-time student and full-time secretary, used to go hungry. Ili was accustomed to surviving busy days on “nothing but cough drops and free coffee.”

Both initially hesitated to ask for support. However, today they rely on the campus’ , to stock up on necessities on food distribution days, or from the Pueo Pantry. The growing need in the campus community is evident. About halfway through the current academic year (August 2025 to February 2026), the campus had distributed 7,915 pounds of food to 900 students.

“Having access to the pantry and the clothing closet means everything to me and my family,” said Ili. “With our rent going up, our budget is already stretched thin. So, it really makes a difference and it helps relieve a lot of stress.”

More than food

Kumu Ola also provides essential hygiene/menstrual products, loaner laptops/Wi-Fi hotspots, and free attire through the Pueo Closet.

Tavares, who now works as a student assistant for Kumu Ola, has empathy for distressed students.

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

“Many students initially feel a sense of shame when admitting they need help,” Tavares said. “But over time, they realize this food is for them, and they open up about their struggles. Seeing their gratitude when they realize they can feed their families is amazing.”

Helping students succeed

Kumu Ola addresses rising student food insecurity and financial instability, while also supporting the development and sustainment of a campus-wide basic needs support system so no member of the ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu campus community has to choose between opportunity and stability.

“Drawing from my own experience as a student, there is tremendous satisfaction in helping our students remain on campus and achieve success,” said Kumu Ola Chair Loea Akiona. “We believe no student should have to choose between their education and their well-being.”

Donor support for the this ensures these resources remain available, allowing our community to thrive. .

When the Lahaina wildfires devastated West Maui, Michael Young, apprenticeship and trades coordinator at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, not only lost his home but also saw the urgent community need for basic rebuilding skills.

“I grew up in Lahaina and saw how many homes were lost or badly damaged,” Young said. “People wanted to know if there were programs that taught carpentry, framing, roofing, painting—anything that would help them start restoring their homes.”

From that need, the Hale ����貹ʻ�� program—meaning “small shelter”—emerged. The hands-on initiative, based at ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College, builds 8-by-10-foot portable sheds that are small enough to be delivered to landowners without construction permits.

Real relief

These sheds, which double as teaching tools for participants, provide essential storage and, for some, temporary shelter. To date, 58 sheds have been delivered, with 220 households still on a waiting list.

“This is a way for people to feel safe and regain a sense of stability,” said Moani Whittle-Wagner, an academic support specialist who named the project. “Drivers are often greeted with hugs and tears. They’re small structures, but the relief is real.”

An helps ensure Lahaina residents and displaced families have the skills and materials they need to regain a sense of stability. To make a gift, click .

Providing hope

The program offers more than just physical relief; it provides hope for long-term recovery. Lahaina resident Gene Castillo, whose family lost multiple homes, found both skills and a forward focus in the program, recalling the evacuation with his then-pregnant wife and young daughter.

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

“Without her,” he said gesturing toward his now two-year-old daughter Zanel, “I think we would have been lost. She gave us something to look forward to.”

Hale ����貹ʻ�� is also rebuilding lives by offering pathways into the trades, bringing together credit courses, union apprenticeships and free community classes. A pre-apprenticeship program with the Carpenters Union reports a 100% placement rate, providing displaced residents with career opportunities.

“These sheds are more than wood and nails,” said Whittle-Wagner. “They’re hope in a time of loss.”

Read more about and more Giving Day opportunities.

As the prepares for the 2026 season under head coach Reed Sunahara, the “Hilo faithful” have a critical role to play.

Coming off a strong 20-9 season where the team made the conference tournament but missed the NCAA tournament by a single game, the players are hungry for more. Sunahara’s goals for the upcoming season are clear: win the PacWest and secure a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Rally for the volleyball Vulcans

To take that next step, the program is turning to . Gifts will be immediately invested into the student-athlete experience, providing the essential tools necessary to advance player development.

Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day stories

on or before ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day and help the Vulcans dominate the court in 2026.

This year, the team’s primary goal is to raise funds to support:

• Essential upgrades: Purchasing new practice equipment, gear and uniforms to keep the squad competitive.
• Expanded travel: Funding critical travel opportunities, including upcoming matches on Maui and Oʻahu.
• International experience: Supporting a potential trip to compete with a Japanese team.

“Hilo is already known as a great volleyball community with the best fans in the PacWest,” Sunahara said. “There are so many friends and supporters who want to see this team succeed, and every donation helps grow this program.”

Support makes a difference

Player Kamaluhia “Malu” Garcia’s 2025 volleyball season was one for the books, earning PacWest Newcomer of the Year and AVCA All-America honors, alongside a first-team all-conference selection with teammate Isabella Freeman. But behind the accolades is a story of community support.

“You can feel the difference when an entire town is behind you,” Garcia said. “The support we receive allows us to focus purely on getting better every day in the gym. That environment was a huge reason why I was able to find my rhythm so quickly last season.”

Learn more about ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day 2026.

The University of Hawaiʻi ʻohana is invited to support students, research and communities across the state through on April 8, 2026.

While the 24-hour event is the focal point of the campaign, the work to make it successful begins well before the official launch. Early action sets the pace, sparks participation and ensures that when Giving Day officially begins, students and programs across the ����Vlog�ٷ� System feel the immediate impact.

“����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when our community comes together,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President Wendy Hensel. “Every gift, no matter the size, directly impacts our students’ ability to thrive and our faculty’s capacity to drive meaningful research for Hawaiʻi.”

����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day 2025 raised more than $800,000 from more than 1,800 donors, boosting students, research, performing arts and more across the 10-campus system. The hope is even more supporters will share in the fun and excitement this year.

• Previous years’ Giving Day stories

Get involved now

Share your ����Vlog�ٷ� story
Whether you are a graduate, student, faculty member or friend of the university, your experience matters. Sharing a short phone video (15 to 60 seconds) about how ����Vlog�ٷ� shaped your life is a simple but powerful way to inspire others to give or reconnect with the university. These personal stories highlight the many ways ����Vlog�ٷ� touches lives across Hawaiʻi, extending the spirit of Giving Day well beyond a single moment. .

Become a Giving Day advocate
Advocates help spread the word and build excitement leading up to the event. When you sign up, you will receive tools to easily share the Giving Day message with your personal and professional networks. Advocates also get access to a customized dashboard to watch their impact grow in real time, proving that every shared message helps reach someone new. .

Make an early gift or launch a challenge
Making a contribution early supports important work immediately and activates the Giving Day leaderboard. This early visibility encourages new donors to join in as soon as the event opens. .

“The energy leading up to Giving Day is truly inspiring,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president of advancement. “By stepping up early—whether as advocates or matching-gift donors—our supporters are building a foundation of excitement that multiplies the impact for programs across all 10 of our campuses.”

With a record $171.7 million raised in fiscal year 2025, more than 17,000 donors have cast a powerful vote of confidence in the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s ability to solve local challenges.

That impact is most visible in the lives of the 5,742 students who received $20.6 million in aid. For Hawaiʻi Community College’s Blake Pena‑Perez, that support was the difference between hunger and hope.

“There were days I didn’t know what I’d eat,” said Pena-Perez, a first-generation freshman and recipient of the (pronounced O-nay) scholarships. “That kind of stress takes over your whole life. The Ēlama scholarship reminded me that I’m not alone—that there are people out there who truly care about students like me.”

Combating food insecurity and barriers

At ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, a $1-million gift established the , addressing rising concerns about student housing, food and financial instability. The fund enables the campus to respond quickly and compassionately when students face emergencies.

“We’ve seen how quickly poverty and uncertainty—when you can’t count on where your next meal or rent will come from—can turn everyday challenges into overwhelming barriers,” the anonymous donors said. “����’s hard to focus on school or work under those conditions, so we wanted to make sure ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo students facing financial hardship wouldn’t have to give up their education just to take care of their basic needs or their families.”

Over at ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College, the , funded by the Gilbert and Aileen Chuck Charitable Trust, is transforming tragedy into purpose for future nurses. Student Reshmi Rao is a brain aneurysm survivor who is pursuing nursing to honor her late sister.

“Receiving this scholarship has lifted such a huge weight off my shoulders,” Rao said. “����’s given me hope. And it’s deepened my understanding of why compassionate, patient-centered care matters so much.”

A statewide community standing together

Community engagement remains a central part of that impact. On ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day, more than 1,800 gifts raised more than $800,000, uniting alumni and friends from across Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Donor generosity is also advancing research and innovation statewide. At ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, endowed professorships and program support are accelerating discoveries while strengthening training for future leaders across the islands.

“As federal funding becomes less predictable, philanthropy serves as the definitive anchor for our university’s future,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and ����Vlog�ٷ� Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan. “This support is the key variable that allows ����Vlog�ٷ� to maintain its high standards and deep community impact.”

As ����Vlog�ٷ� advances its historic FOR ����Vlog�ٷ� • FOR HAWAIʻI campaign, philanthropy continues to turn shared commitment into meaningful progress across the islands.

Read more on the and in the .

On April 9, the University of Hawaiʻi’s Giving Day once again demonstrated the power of collective generosity, with donors across the state and beyond rallying together to support students, faculty and programs across the 10-campus ����Vlog�ٷ� System. Many also weathered the rain to wave signs and loudly cheer on the lawn fronting ����Vlog�ٷ�’s Bachman Hall in ����ԴDz�.

The 24-hour fundraising event inspired an overwhelming response and raised more than $800,000 from more than 1,800 gifts, representing a 36% increase over last year’s gift amount of $593,000. These generous gifts reflect a deep appreciation for the rich diversity and expansive reach of ����Vlog�ٷ� System’s academic, research and extracurricular programs.

From competitive athletics and pioneering oceanography research to the dedicated Graduate Student Fund and the vibrant Windward Community College Performing Arts program, these contributions affirm the vital role that all disciplines and campuses play in advancing knowledge, fostering creativity and building stronger communities across our islands.

“This success highlights the vital role of philanthropy in helping us continue our mission of educational excellence,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President Wendy Hensel. “Our students and faculty are at the heart of everything we do, and their success is made possible through the unwavering support of our community.”

In addition to monetary contributions, Giving Day also saw increased participation from ����Vlog�ٷ� alumni, with many sharing stories of how their ����Vlog�ٷ� experiences shaped their careers and lives. The day was filled with a sense of community, pride and a shared commitment to the university’s future.

“I believe this tremendous outpouring of support reflects our community’s deep recognition of the essential role the University of Hawaiʻi plays in developing the programs and research that are most critical to our state’s future,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president of advancement. “Some of our partners are already asking about next year’s Giving Day.”

To give to ����Vlog�ٷ� at any time, go to .

The University of Hawaiʻi and the ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation are encouraging alumni, donors and the entire community to make an early gift ahead of on April 9. This giving event aims to raise critical funds to support students, research and programs across all 10 ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses.

Last year’s inaugural ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day was a resounding success, generating 1,808 gifts totaling $593,000 to benefit ����Vlog�ٷ� programs statewide. This year, as universities across the nation face unprecedented funding challenges, early contributions will help ����Vlog�ٷ� to continue to provide exceptional opportunities for students and maintain its commitment to innovative research and community service.

Donors can choose to support a wide range of programs, including the newly launched , which helps ����Vlog�ٷ�’s graduate students excel and contribute to Hawaiʻi’s workforce.

Your gift, big or small, makes a difference

“As we prepare to celebrate Giving Day, we are reminded of the power of community and the transformative impact that collective generosity can have on the lives of our students and the future of our university,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President Wendy Hensel. “While the current challenges have created additional pressure for our students, faculty and staff, they also offer a chance for us to come together and support those who will help shape the future of Hawaiʻi and beyond.”

����Vlog�ٷ� to:

• Make an early gift.
• Sign up as a Giving Day ambassador.
• Track donations in real-time.

“Whether it’s supporting student scholarships, advancing innovative research or enhancing essential academic programs, every contribution—big or small—helps strengthen the future of our university and our state,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO and ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president of advancement. “Our community’s generosity ensures that we continue to empower the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators who will define the future of Hawaiʻi and make a quality public higher education accessible for all.”

Follow #4����Vlog�ٷ�GivingDay on social media to stay connected.

The University of Hawaiʻi ʻohana came together for the first ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day, raising $593,538 for dozens of programs across the 10 ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses.

“����’s humbling to see how our community responded to this first Giving Day and we are extremely grateful for every donor who participated,” University of Hawaiʻi Vice President of Advancement and ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation CEO Tim Dolan said. “The vision for this came from the incredible momentum of our historic $1 billion comprehensive campaign and Giving Day was a way to highlight some of the amazing work being done across ����Vlog�ٷ�.”

Donors chose where they wanted their gifts to go, and funded scholarships to help students and families afford college, research that matters and everything from basic needs of students to world-class programs in astronomy, climate change and public health.

FOR ����Vlog�ٷ� • FOR HAWAIʻI, The Campaign for the University of Hawaiʻi, is focused on raising $1 billion to support ����Vlog�ٷ� priorities on all 10 campuses across the state, including student success; research that matters; kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi; sustainability, resilience and conservation; innovation and entrepreneurship; building �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s workforce; and engaging our community.

On Wednesday, April 10, the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation (����Vlog�ٷ�F) will hold the first Giving Day for the University of Hawaiʻi, an opportunity for the ����Vlog�ٷ� community, alumni and friends to come together and support all 10 campuses of the ����Vlog�ٷ� System.

����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day builds on the momentum of the launch last fall of the historic $1 billion comprehensive campaign FOR ����Vlog�ٷ� • FOR HAWAIʻI, and invites donors to make gifts of any size to the ����Vlog�ٷ� university or community college campus of their choice. Donors can also choose to direct their gifts specifically to dozens of programs across the islands, including student aid, culinary, health care, trades, computer science, cancer research, marine research, nursing, medical school and law school programs.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on April 10, ����Vlog�ٷ�F will open a special online platform at where donors may give to any fund during the 24-hour ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day period. In addition, anyone can sign up to be an ambassador for ����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day to track gifts in real time and follow the hashtag #4����Vlog�ٷ�GivingDay on social media.

“����Vlog�ٷ� Giving Day is an opportunity for all of us to come together to harness the power of philanthropy for the University of Hawaiʻi,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president of advancement and CEO of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation. “Every gift makes a difference for the future ofHawaiʻi by helping students get the best possible education and experience at our ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses.”

“I am incredibly happy to be able give back to this university, which has meant so much to me and countless others. From educating our teachers, doctors and engineers, to understanding and addressing the impacts of sea level rise and climate change on islands, and revitalizing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, ����Vlog�ٷ� is the institution most critical to the future of Hawaiʻi,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President and regular donor David Lassner. “These gifts transform lives every day with scholarship support that helps students and families afford college across our islands and by supporting research that addresses the challenges and opportunities facing Hawaiʻi and the planet.”