Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

June 2010

We celebrated UH Hilo’s Spring Commencement on May 15. I always enjoy commencement because it’s a time when friends, families and the community gather together to show support for our graduates. The commencement keynote speaker was Mayor Billy Kenoi, who gave an inspirational speech about the value of kindness, compassion and aloha in all pursuits. The student speaker was La‘akea Yoshida, a history major focusing on European history, with a minor in anthropology. La‘akea, from Ka‘u, earned numerous academic honors at UH Hilo and will be attending Oxford University this fall as a Master of Philosophy candidate in Roman and Greek history. He is believed to be the first history major from UH Hilo ever admitted to Oxford, and we are very proud of his accomplishments!

Many of you in the Chamber supported our efforts during the 2010 Legislative Session by giving testimony and meeting with legislators to talk story about ways to strengthen UH Hilo. Thank you for your hard work! I’m happy to report that our CIP budget includes $28 million for a new building for UH Hilo’s College of Hawaiian Language. Every one of you who helped on this initiative can be proud to have contributed to strengthening the study of Hawaiian language, culture and history.

Many thanks also to our state legislators, who thoroughly understand that an investment in UH facilities is a sound investment in our overall economic future. Our new Science and Technology Building, nearing completion now, is a great example. We are truly grateful to our legislators for supporting such tremendous assets for the future of education and innovation on our island.

In addition, I want to express my appreciation to my fellow Chamber members who have supported UH Hilo as we strive to enhance the management of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. Our management process includes many opportunities for public participation in decision making, and we are gratified to see the thoughtfulness and vibrancy of the public response. Many thanks to the Chamber membership for unfailingly supporting the process and for actively contributing input through letters and testimony at public meetings.

In other news, a consortium led by UH Hilo’s College of Pharmacy has been awarded a $16 million grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Hawai‘i County is one of only 15 communities across the nation chosen to develop pilot programs for wide-scale use of electronic medical records. By working together, this consortium of our island’s dedicated medical leaders and health professionals will use information technology to lower the cost and enhance the quality of health care for our island.

I am stepping down as chancellor at UH Hilo so this column in the Chamber Connection is the last for me. Before I close, I’d like to express a special note of gratitude. I will forever feel privileged to have served as chancellor, and honored to have worked with Chamber members for the past 12 years, sharing the goals of making our communities and our economy stronger. My years as chancellor at UH Hilo have been some of the most challenging and the most rewarding of my life. I thank you for your steadfast support and graciousness; I truly enjoyed every minute working with you.

While this may be my last aloha to you as chancellor, it is not goodbye. Looking ahead, I will stay active in continuing the integration of culture, science and technology; health professions; and global education. I will also be promoting leadership development both nationally and internationally, especially of women and minorities in higher education. I look forward to working with you into the future.

I always end this column with “When we all work together, great things happen!” I think that for this, my last column as chancellor, I can say, “We all worked together and great things certainly DID happen!” I am deeply grateful.

Aloha,

Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

May 2010

BLNR approves sub plans for management of Mauna Kea

I’m happy to announce the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the four sub plans of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan at a public hearing in Hilo on March 25. Mahalo for your support! A special thanks to Chamber Members for sign waving prior to the meeting and for supportive testimony not just at this meeting, but at prior BLNR meetings as well. Your support throughout the years to get to this point was invaluable and I sincerely thank each and every one of you.

I’m proud the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo took the lead in implementing the Comprehensive Management Plan. We recognize that stewardship of Mauna Kea needs to be from the Big Island. In the year 2000, UH changed the organizational structure for the management of Mauna Kea, and UH Hilo assumed responsibility.

We’ve been the lead campus for the past ten years, working through our Office of Mauna Kea Management. OMKM’s mission is to find harmony, balance and trust in the sustainable management and stewardship of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. We involve the public in preserving and enhancing the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of Mauna Kea. We also aim to provide a world-class center for education, research, and astronomy.

With this phase of the management plan, four sub plans were approved by the BLNR:

The Natural Resources Management Plan protects the natural resources within the UH Management Area on the mountain. This sub plan is unique because it is the first plan to focus on protection and preservation of this extraordinary resource. These fragile ecosystems are of immense value to the citizens of Hawai‘i and the global community, and I’m pleased to see strong protection measures spelled out in the plan.

The Cultural Resources Management Plan promotes a greater understanding of the rich cultural heritage of Mauna Kea; preserves the cultural resources for future generations; allows for Native Hawaiians to engage in cultural and religious practices; and preserves the cultural landscape for cultural practitioners, researchers, recreation and other uses.

The Public Access Plan sets policy on management that will serve to protect the natural and cultural resources while at the same time facilitating public and Native Hawaiian activities and enjoyment of the mountain.

The Decommissioning Plan describes the process for decommissioning observatories on Mauna Kea when leases expire or an observatory decides to stop operations. In this sub plan, UH addresses its goal of maintaining a world class observatory complex, using the decommission process as a way to limit growth and protect natural and cultural resources.

A key approach to developing these four sub plans was community input from scientific experts, educators, natural resource managers, rangers, community leaders, hunters, astronomers, snow players, tour operators, and other concerned members of the public.

In fact, the Office of Mauna Kea Management has made sure that no change is made on Mauna Kea without considerable community oversight and involvement. The Mauna Kea Management Board advises OMKM and me on stewardship issues. It’s a hard-working, community-based board that actively helps to manage the mountain. All its meetings are open to the public. Mahalo to Barry Taniguchi for his leadership as board chair.

The Kahu Ku Mauna Council and Environment Committee also volunteer many hours to study stewardship issues and provide thoughtful input to OMKM and the board. Kahu Ku Mauna means “guardians of the mountain,” and they provide guidance on cultural matters.

It has taken years of hard work by many people to get to this point, but there is much more to be done to protect the mountain and maintain the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. On the near horizon is rulemaking, which will begin in the coming year.

Again, mahalo to the Chamber for all your support in our efforts. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection
March 2010

Building a knowledge-based economy

To create a better quality of life for all Hawai‘i citizens, we need to work hard to foster a knowledge-based economy and help the whole state with economic stimulus and workforce development for the new century. This month, I’d like to share with you recent events at UH Hilo that focused on science and workforce development.

We celebrated the grand opening of the Hawai‘i Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility, housed at UH Hilo’s Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center in Keaukaha. The facility will rehabilitate and release whales and dolphins in Hawai‘i and elsewhere in the Pacific. It’s a volunteer-based system with over 100 community volunteers and is the only rehab facility of its kind in the state. The program is a collaboration between UH Hilo, the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources.

We held a meeting with stakeholders interested in developing a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering Technology at UH Hilo. The State Legislature is interested in us pursuing this if there is sufficient support and progress on it. The program will emphasize robotics, artificial intelligence, data manipulation, sustainable energy, and food security and will address state needs for a trained workforce in science and technology. This has the potential to drive economic development in the whole state. The program will have linkages to observatories on Mauna Kea, as well as UH Hilo’s Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES).

PISCES, which held its annual meeting on our campus in February, is a good example of a perfect fit here on The Big Island because it involves our abundant natural resources and will help advance and sustain higher education. With PISCES activity based on our island, tremendous opportunities are created for K-12, and UH Hilo students and faculty. Students can work with geologists, technicians, doctors, astronauts, and other professionals in developing robotic and manned voyages beyond earth orbit. Our faculty can collaborate with NASA and international scientists and engineers in designing “next generation” technology for future space missions.

The Hawai‘i District Science and Engineering Fair was held. Intermediate and high school students from East Hawai‘i exhibited their projects in science and engineering, while competing for a chance to advance to the State Science Fair in Honolulu. The annual event is a community affair, jointly sponsored by UH Hilo, the State and Hawai‘i District Department of Education, the Hawai‘i Academy of Science, the Robert and Alice Fujimoto Foundation, Hapai Enterprises, UH Hilo Sigma XI Chapter, UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Education Center of Hawai‘i, and many other valuable sponsors who make the fair happen each year. I would like to extend my appreciation to the Steering Committee and all the people and groups who support the fair each year. A special mahalo to Professor and UH Regent Emeritus Marlene Hapai, director of the fair.

It was with great pleasure that I attended the ceremony to bless UH Hilo’s new research and education vessel the Makani ‘Aha. The ceremony took place at the mouth of the Wailoa Estuary. The Makani ‘Aha gives undergraduate students in Marine Science the opportunity to participate in hands-on education and research alongside their professors. The marine science program supports the marine education needs of the island of Hawai‘i, as well the state and Pacific basin, preparing students from the entire region to make a positive impact on the marine environment.

Thank you for all your support for these and other UH Hilo workforce development initiatives. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

February 2010

UH Hilo is on the leading edge of workforce development both globally and locally

Last month, I told you about my travels to China, Korea, and Taiwan, hosting receptions for our alumni and giving talks at universities. As a result of recent meetings in Korea, I’m excited to tell you that delegations from two Korean universities will visit UH Hilo this month to discuss student and faculty exchange programs, expanded academic programs, and collaborative research.

My outreach to the international higher education community is of the upmost importance for our university, our island and our state. For students to be competitive in an increasingly global workforce, they must have learning opportunities that give them a broad world view. At UH Hilo, we expose as many students as possible to the outside world, so they are ready to understand and meet its challenges.

Here at home, I’ve met with Mauna Kea observatory directors about developing programs to help local residents qualify for high-paying jobs at the observatories. The observatory directors are very receptive to the idea and I’m excited about these collaborative efforts.

I’m also working on promoting sustainability initiatives and academic programs in bioenergy, agriculture, and applied engineering of benefit to the state. For example, with the full support of the State Legislature, UH Hilo is establishing an undergraduate bachelor in science in applied engineering, which will emphasize robotics, artificial intelligence, data manipulation, sustainable energy, and food security. The program will have linkages to current and next generation observatories on Mauna Kea, as well as ongoing collaboration with UH Hilo’s Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES).

I’m very excited about these workforce development initiatives and I thank the members of the Chamber for all your support.

Before I close, I’d like to tell you about some UH Hilo events.

Our Fall Commencement was held in December. Commencement is one of my favorite events because it’s always a joy to see friends, families and the community gather to share the special day. We were joined by many state and county elected officials to honor our graduates. Our keynote speaker was Wayne Hamano from Hilo and vice chair of Bank of Hawai‘i. We also were honored that University of Hawai‘i Regent and Chair Howard Karr and UH President MRC Greenwood also participated in the commencement ceremony.

UH Hilo hosted the 10th Annual Ellison Onizuka Science last month. It was the 25th anniversary of the Challenger tragedy and UH Hilo was proud to sponsor the event at our Performing Arts Center.

Upcoming events include the UH Hilo Distinguished Alumni reception and dinner to be held February 26 at the UH Hilo Campus Center Dining Room. We hope you can join us!

The 6th Annual Girl’s Day Diva Festival will be held on March 2, with live entertainment, silent auction and door prizes. This is always an exciting event and one of my favorites. The festival starts at 5 p.m. featuring food sampling from Hilo businesses owned or run by women. I do hope you can attend! Mahalo to the community, the UH Hilo Performing Arts Center Advisory Committee, and the Diva Committee for their continuing support and contributions to this annual program.

Thank you again for all your support. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

UH Hilo 2009 Highlights

Happy New Year!

Let me share some highlights on our progress at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo in 2009.

Enrollment growth is an important reflection of how well we are doing to increase higher education participation. In Fall 2009, we enrolled nearly 4,000, an all-time high for UH Hilo.

Students on the UH Hilo computer programming team advanced to the finals of the 6th Annual Cyber Security Awareness Week digital war games held at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University Brooklyn campus. The UH Hilo team earned the right to compete for top honors in the world wide competition by finishing in the top ten during the opening round of the Application Security Challenge.

We welcomed 90 students to our College of Pharmacy. The class of 2013 is the college’s third class of students. We also marked a milestone at a Blessing Ceremony in honor of three modular buildings that represent Phase I of the College’s temporary home. The State Legislature approved and Gov. Linda Lingle has released $5.5 million for planning and design of a permanent building for the college.

Our College of Hawaiian Language was awarded full accreditation by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium. A permanent building for the college was approved by the UH Board of Regents.

A business student was awarded a $500 statewide entrepreneurship grant from the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship at UH’s Shidler College of Business. Kiersten Akahoshi was part of a select group of students from UH Hilo and UH Manoa to receive the awards this school year through the Imagine, Discovery, Realize grants program, which assists students in business development.

The Thirty Meter Telescope selected Mauna Kea as their preferred site. UH Hilo and our Office of Mauna Kea Management are working tirelessly to create the conditions under which both science and culture can thrive on Mauna Kea. If we are successful, future astronomy development in the state has the potential to bring tremendous benefits to the citizens of Hawai‘i.

We recently conducted a conference at UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i with top scientists working on 3-D scientific visualization, the future of visual data manipulation. This is a perfect example of UH Hilo and our island being an ideal place for scientific discussion, inquiry and exploration.

I traveled to China, Korea, and Taiwan, hosting receptions for our alumni and giving talks at universities. I gave keynotes at the World Woman University President Forum and at the Communication University of China, both in Beijing. I also spoke to students at CUC. I look forward to a delegation from CUC visiting UH Hilo this year.

My reaching out to the international higher education community is of the upmost importance for our university, our island and our state. For students to be competitive in an increasingly global workforce, they have to have learning opportunities that will give them a broad world view. At UH Hilo, we expose as many students as possible to the outside world, so they are ready to understand and meet its challenges.

UH Hilo currently has over 300 international students representing 37 countries – our campus is a global village! We also have exchange and study abroad programs. UH Hilo’s Center for Global Education and Exchange has active exchange agreements with 65 international universities. We’ve worked hard to obtain scholarship opportunities for UH Hilo students to go on exchange. For example, we received a two-year grant from the Institute for Study Abroad Foundation for scholarships, and the Institute for Shipboard Education has agreed to provide 10 scholarships per year for the next five years in their Semester at Sea program.

These are but a few examples of another exciting year and I thank you for your support. I look forward to collaborating with you in 2010 as we continue our momentum into the future. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,

Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

November 2009

We dream big at UH Hilo

Thank you to Chamber staff and members for your generous support of the New Faculty Reception last month. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College new faculty felt welcomed to our community with your spirit of aloha! The event was co-hosted by HICC, the Japanese Chamber, Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association, and Hui Ka Ua. The food and entertainment were top notch, including a taped demonstration by Derek Kurisu. Thanks also for your kind offers to give our newcomers tours of Hilo. Mahalo!

Last month, I gave a presentation to the UH Board of Regents on UH Hilo’s accomplishments and about our plans for our future. I’d like to share some key points.

UH Hilo is achieving access and excellence for our students, and providing higher education opportunities to residents of Hawai‘i. We also have a special relationship with the community. When we are successful, our community thrives. We improve the quality of life for the citizens of Hawai‘i, with a special responsibility to serve Native Hawaiian children and families.

We are always thinking ahead to what our community needs from us, then planning how to invest our resources to meet these needs. State economic studies have shown that Hawai‘i Island’s natural resource endowment is critical to the state’s growth and success. With this in mind, UH Hilo has thoughtfully developed academic programs that help the next generation understand and utilize our natural resources sustainably.

UH Hilo’s programs help create economic diversification for Hawai‘i, including a science industry. This is an important benefit for a state that relies heavily on tourism for its jobs and income. UH Hilo utilizes these resources to develop a sustainable knowledge-based economy. Our programs help ensure that the environment and culture are protected.

Our enrollment is growing. This fall, we enrolled nearly 4,000, an all-time high for UH Hilo. Hawai‘i residents are a growing share of our freshmen class, increasing from 52 percent in Fall 2003 to 78 percent this fall.

We must continue to grow in order to serve the state’s needs for a skilled workforce and educated citizens. We are graduating future professionals in critical workforce shortage areas for the state of Hawai‘i: Computer Science, Nursing, and Education.

One of UH Hilo’s strongest economic contributions is in the area of grants to support instruction and research. When I arrived in 1998, we had $3 million in grant activity. By 2009, we experienced a six-fold increase to $20 million a year. The teaching and research benefit our island, state and region, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education and other granting agencies.

Our economic impact on the local community has grown from $100 million in fiscal year 2003-04 to $240.4 million in 2007-08. UH Hilo creates jobs for our local families. In 2008, we were the second largest employer in East Hawai‘i with 610 people directly and another 3,907 jobs indirectly.

Clearly, UH Hilo is an economic engine for our island. UH Hilo’s University Park for Science and Technology is an international community of astronomy and other high-tech enterprises that generate about 400 jobs. Investment in park enterprises totals $900 million.

We have a commitment to help the whole state with economic stimulus and workforce development for the new century. As the vision of a “university town” comes to fruition in Hilo, our island will be buffered against economic recessions.

Looking to the future, an important way we contribute to the economy is by bringing in extramural funding. We badly need to expand our research infrastructure if we are to continue growing in this area. For example, after a lot of hard work, the Thirty Meter Telescope has selected Mauna Kea as their preferred site. UH Hilo and our Office of Mauna Kea Management work tirelessly to create the conditions under which both science and culture can thrive on Mauna Kea. If we are successful, future astronomy development in the state has the potential to bring tremendous benefits to the citizens of Hawai‘i.

We do dream big at UH Hilo, and we want only for our students, our university, our community and our state to be the best they can be. I want to thank the Chamber for all your support. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

October 2009

New Athletic Director Dexter Irvin joins UH Hilo

I’m pleased to tell you that Dexter Irvin is the new Director of Athletics at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. He arrived in August and officially started the job Sept. 1. As UH Hilo athletic director, he oversees our 13 NCAA Division II athletic programs.

Dexter brings a wealth of experience with him. He spent the past decade as Director of Athletics of fellow Pacific West Conference member Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. During his tenure, he increased fundraising and contributions to over $500,000 per year, and guided the program from junior college status to the NCAA Division II level.

Dexter’s experience also includes coaching women’s basketball at Dixie State College (2001-05), Western New Mexico University (1988-93), Clarendon College (1985-88) and Utah Valley Community College (1978-79). He also was athletic director for the Utah County Boys Club (1980) and Kirtland Central High School in New Mexico (1995-99).

Dexter says his move to Hilo is very significant in his life and the lives of his family. He says coming to UH Hilo is one of the smartest, best moves he’s made in his career, and that he feels like the Indiana Jones of athletics in a great adventure!

We were delighted to see Dexter arrive and jump in early to get a good head start on his new duties as director. I admire his enthusiasm and passion for his new position, and I know he will bring stability to our Department of Athletics.

Dexter’s commitment to excellence in academics and athletics, his ability to connect with people and his sound fiscal sense make him a perfect fit for UH Hilo. His student-athletes at Dixie State earned the Pacific West Conference Community Engagement Award this year, a reflection of Dexter’s own community engagement. We expect he will feel right at home with the island and community’s spirit of aloha.

So please help us welcome Dexter to UH Hilo. He is exactly what we need in Vulcan Athletics, what we need for UH Hilo, and what we need for the Big Island. I’m thrilled Dexter has agreed to join the UH Hilo ‘ohana as our AD!

I’d like to thank the community and the Chamber for your involvement in the search process. Special thanks to Chamber President Mary Begier, who was on the search committee. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

September 2009

UH Hilo’s diverse and international community helps students develop a world view and critical thinking skills that are essential to becoming global citizens.

This month I’d like to share with you some information about University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s international programs.

As I write this, international students are still registering and we anticipate students representing about 35 countries. We see the most international students joining us from Japan, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Korea, but also welcome many from throughout Asia, Pacific islands, Europe and the Americas. About 22 percent of our international students are majoring in General Studies and 20 percent in Business Administration and Economics.

International programs and outreach are very important components of a comprehensive university. Our international students, combined with our ethnically and culturally diverse local students, create a global village in which our students can thrive. We have a campus community where we produce future world leaders who value diversity and are deeply committed to democracy and a peaceful, productive global society.

We offer a lot of support for our international students. UH Hilo’s Office of International Student Services coordinates all services for international students including cross-cultural counseling, advising, visa regulations, and social and personal growth activities.

Another component of our internationalized campus is UH Hilo’s Center for Global Education and Exchange. The center’s mission is to promote international education and internationalize UH Hilo as a world-class global university. The center serves UH Hilo’s Study Abroad students, which include students based at UH Hilo who are interested in attending a foreign university, and students from abroad choosing UH Hilo for one or two semesters.

UH Hilo has exchange agreements with countries such as Japan, China, Korea, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Australia, New Zealand and Belize. These agreements have helped diversify the international student population at UH Hilo as well as created new opportunities for UH Hilo students seeking to study abroad.

This semester we enrolled 56 exchange students from eight different countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. Some are here for one semester but the majority are here for one year.

Four students from China are the first enrolled in our new 1+2+1 program. They’ve come to UH Hilo after completing one year at university in China. They spend two to three years in the U.S. before going back to China to complete their degree. They graduate with two degrees: one from UH Hilo and one from their university in China.

I am just preparing for a trip to China and Korea in September, where I will be focusing on recruiting. Among my many activities will be a presentation to the students at Communication University of China in Beijing. I look forward to sharing information about UH Hilo and the Big Island, and inspiring young scholars to come and study with us.

UH Hilo’s international programs are of great benefit at many levels. Our global village helps all our students develop a world view and critical thinking skills that are essential to becoming global citizens.

Before I close, I’d like to extend a warm thank you to Chamber Board and members for your support of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Thanks to the overwhelming community support, TMT has decided Mauna Kea is the preferred site for the $1.2 billion observatory. This project will benefit our island communities and the university in many ways. I’m very grateful for all your time and help on the collaborative process of bringing TMT to our island.

Thank you for all your support. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,

Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

August 2009

UH Hilo heads program to increase science and technology graduates throughout Pacific region

This month, I’d like to tell you about an exciting academic program headed by the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo that benefits the entire Pacific region. The Islands of Opportunity Alliance is a multi-nation program to increase minority students with baccalaureate and master degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM fields, the most needed professionals in the global marketplace.

UH Hilo is the lead institution of the Alliance; we administer this $1.7 million five-year grant. The Alliance is made up of 18 postsecondary institutions throughout Hawai‘i and the Pacific and is funded by the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation or LSAMP program of the National Science Foundation. The program began in 2006, and I serve as principal investigator.

We set the bar high for our goals: To increase the number of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines, to focus on recruitment of qualified students, to create internships and research opportunities, to promote retention, and to improve STEM courses.

I’m happy to report the Alliance is meeting all its goals! Here are some shining examples:

At UH Hilo, students interested in conducting scientific research are doing internships in our Keaholoa LSAMP Scholars Program. Students are mentored in topics related to our island environment, combining field and laboratory work.

At UH Manoa, skilled upper classmen mentor freshmen and sophomores. This mentoring program helps underclassmen interact socially but also helps with course preparation and communication skills.

At Hawai‘i Community College, students intern at the Kohala Watershed, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and the U.S. Forest Service’s Laupahoehoe Permanent Plot Project.

At Kapiolani Community College, a student coordinated the Health Service-Learning Pathway Program for over 80 students.

At Guam Community College, students with high ability skills in math and science tutor those with lower ability skills.

At Palau Community College, a student participated in a summer research and cultural exchange program at Biological Station in Las Cruces, Costa Rica. Another student participated in the Okinawa-Pacific Education Network Initiative Project forum in Okinawa.

In June, I attended the NSF Joint Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. We made plans for the International LSAMP program, where students will be allowed to travel to foreign countries to further their research.

Here at home, the second annual LSAMP Student Research Conference will be held at UH Hilo August 3-5. Forty students will present their research projects, Hokule‘a navigator Chadd Babayan will lecture, and there will be a field trip to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The LSAMP program is just one example of UH Hilo’s success in reaching out to Native Hawaiian and Pacific island nation students interested in STEM disciplines. And because of the program, there is more local and international awareness of UH Hilo’s role and abilities to secure federal grant programs.

Since the start of our LSAMP program, STEM activities and participation have doubled at Alliance institutions. More importantly, underrepresented minority students increased their graduate rate in STEM fields from 26.6 percent in the first year to 35.1 percent in the second year of the grant.

I’m proud UH Hilo is taking the lead on this program, which benefits both Hawai‘i and Pacific island nations. As we increase student graduates in STEM fields, we enrich the pool of talented scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians for the Pacific region and the world, exactly what’s needed for workforce development in a global economy.

Thank you for all your support. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

July 2009

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center helps prepare Hawai‘i’s youth for the global economy

Thank you for supporting ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i, which has become since its opening in 2006, a very important part of Hilo and the Big Island. Through hard work and collaboration with our community, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo designed, built and now manages this extraordinary educational center.

‘Imiloa is a shining example of the university’s engagement with the island community, the state and the world. The center inspires the public, especially youngsters, to explore culture, science and technology. Each of you here has helped make it happen. Your aloha and support for ‘Imiloa has been overwhelming!

‘Imiloa has a special mission to engage youth in Hawaii with hands-on exploration of astronomy, together with Hawaiian language, navigational skills and indigenous culture. The resulting sense of pride and interest in science and engineering that ‘Imiloa instills are critical tools for preparing local young people to participate in the 21st century global economy.

As this column goes to press, Camp ‘Imiloa is underway. The After School Program focuses on science, math, culture and fun. Students explore such topics as the Geometry of Nature, Space Science and Astronomy, Chemistry, Electronics and Art, Inventions and use the latest in science kits and equipment.

‘Imiloa is touching the lives of many people:
• Thousands of K-12 students, and many school groups from around the state, have visited ‘Imiloa.
• A generous grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has assisted the center with its goal of reaching 100% of the island’s school-aged children by bringing them to ‘Imiloa to experience its exhibits, planetarium and educational programs.
• ‘Imiloa has become an important part of the Merrie Monarch Festival, with daily activities to support this important annual Hilo event.
• At ‘Ohana Discovery Days, sponsored by Earl and Doris Bakken, families learn together about Optics, Astronomy, and Wayfinding.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation credits the pilot project Adopt-a-Class, established in Hilo by Chamber member Richard Ha, as the primary motivation for the Moore Foundation to make the grant to ‘Imiloa. In the Adopt-a-Class initiative, community groups collaborated and adopted classes at Keaukaha Elementary School, where admission to ‘Imiloa allowed school children to visit free of charge.

The Moore Foundation grant helped generate even more community support for ‘Imiloa and science education on the Big Island. A good example of this support is a $9,500 donation from Subaru Telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory in Japan. The donation helped with matching funds for the Moore grant and supports a two-year program for all public and private K-12 school children on the Big Island to visit ‘Imiloa.

It’s been very exciting to watch ‘Imiloa grow! In the words of my good friend, Dr. Norio Kaifu of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Hilo is experiencing what he calls the “‘Imiloa Effect.”

‘Imiloa has truly become what Sen. Dan Inouye calls “a place of gathering, inspiration, and learning.” There is no greater champion for ‘Imiloa than Sen. Inouye. Through his vision and support, we now can all take pride in the fact that UH Hilo is home to this world-class center for cultural, educational and scientific exploration.

Mahalo to Chamber members for your generous support of ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng