The ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Leadership Forum announced 16 local leaders who are joining the ninth cohort of its Omidyar Fellows program, and seven are alumni from the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi. The program seeks to cultivate the conditions in which ߣsirÊÓƵʻi thrives by equipping leaders with the skill and cross-sector relationships necessary to affect societal change.

These individuals were chosen through a rigorous application process, selected based on their accomplishments, innovative skills, ability to collaborate with other leaders, and motivation to make a positive change.

“We are excited to bring back this unique opportunity for emerging leaders to engage in impactful discussions, learn from one another, and help make ߣsirÊÓƵ‘i even better,” said AJ Halagao, president of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Leadership Forum and Shidler College of Business alumnus. “We strive to develop, engage, and inspire leaders to drive impact and catalyze positive change.”

The seven ߣsirÊÓƵ alumni who were selected as the ninth cohort of Omidayar Fellows:

• Katie Bennett (ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa ), Founder and Lead Mediator, Family Mediation ߣsirÊÓƵʻi
• Amanda Corby Noguchi (ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa, ), President and Creative Director, Under My Umbrella, Inc.
• Stacy Ferreira (ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa), CEO, Office of ߣsirÊÓƵian Affairs
• Vicky Hanes (ߣsirÊÓƵ Hilo – ), COO, Legal Aid Society of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi
• Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni (ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa – ), President and CEO, Partners in Development Foundation
• David Kopper (ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa), Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi
• Kaulana Mossman (ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa), Community Planning Liaison Officer, Department of Defense Pacific Missile Range Facility
• Laura Reichhardt (ߣsirÊÓƵ Mānoa – ) Director, ߣsirÊÓƵʻi State Center for Nursing

For the full list of the ninth cohort, see the website. The program has a history of selecting ߣsirÊÓƵ alumni and employees.

To get a unique look at how climate change is impacting marine mammals, ߣsirÊÓƵ News interviewed whale expert Lars Bejder, director of the at the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa , on how innovative technologies are helping experts monitor the health of marine mammals.

Bejder is a conservation biologist who focuses on marine mammals such as whales and dolphins in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and internationally. He utilizes drones and specially designed sensors to gather data on cetaceans.

What species of marine mammals do you monitor?

ߣsirÊÓƵʻi has more than 20 species of whales and dolphins. We study between 8–10, and each one of those have different conservation issues and pressures.

The most iconic species we have in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi is the humpback whale that spends about three months a year here on their breeding grounds. We study the ߣsirÊÓƵian monk seals, which are only found here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and spinner dolphins, which is a coastal species. We also study pilot whales and false killer whales. Some generic threats for all of them are entanglements, ship strikes, noise pollution and climate change, and depending on the species, some are more or less affected by each of these.

What kind of tech are you using?

Using innovative technology such as drones and tags, we’re starting to get a good understanding of how humpback whales change from year to year based on climatic events. For example, a few years ago, when there was a large heat wave across the North Pacific, we saw significant declines in humpback whale health or body condition, which shows us how closely these animals’ health are linked to climate.

The two main new technologies that we use are calibrated drones and suction cup tags, the suction cup tags we use across species—so humpback whales, pilot whales, false killer whales and monk seals. We apply these onto those animals and acquire an incredible wealth of data. We use drones to estimate body condition and health of individuals and populations, and we use those across all of the different species that are here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi.

How are you using tech to monitor humpback whales?

We have collected the world’s largest database on humpback whale health. And when I say health, it’s body condition which we measure through drones using calibrated lenses and custom fit altimeters. We’re able to fly these instruments repetitively over the same animals across ocean basins. So on the breeding grounds here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and also on the foraging grounds up in Alaska, we can really see how the body condition of these animals changes every season and every year. We have now measured 10,000 humpback whales. And when you think about it, the population estimate here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi is between 12,000 and 14,000. So a significant amount of the animals are visiting ߣsirÊÓƵʻi. The fact that we also measure them up in Alaska allows us to see how much energy and condition they lose here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and vice versa.

How is climate change impacting humpback whales?

If you have a very good year, for example, the conditions are right, you’re going to have a lot of prey, and things are good for the whales up in Alaska. And a year later, you see that the animals are healthy, they’re large, and you’re getting calves. But what we’re also finding is when we have a bad year, for example, climatic events that are not good for prey items up in Alaska, the year later, we have significantly skinnier animals and less calves being born. And that’s really telling us something about the health of the oceans is portrayed through these animals. By simply flying a drone over animals, we can say something about the health of the ecosystem, and that’s really, really promising and exciting.

Dr. Thomas Samuel “Sam” Shomaker will be the next dean of the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM) after his nomination was approved today (May 16) by the ߣsirÊÓƵ Board of Regents (BOR). Shomaker is scheduled to begin on July 1 and was nominated by ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno after a comprehensive nationwide search.

Related ߣsirÊÓƵ News story: Former leader recommended as ߣsirÊÓƵ medical school dean

“Dr. Shomaker has extensive leadership experience and served in senior leadership positions within higher education and medical schools, including his time at JABSOM,” said Bruno. “He has an understanding of the needs of JABSOM, our community and health partners, ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and beyond.”

Shomaker is a 1986 JABSOM ߣsirÊÓƵuate and previously served as vice dean of the medical school from 2000-2005 and interim dean from 2005 to 2006. He returns to JABSOM after serving as dean of the Austin campus for the University of Texas Medical Branch and the dean and vice president at Texas A&M Health Science Center.

“Mahalo to the search advisory committee and Provost Bruno for affording me this opportunity,” said Shomaker. “It is the highest professional honor of my career to be named the dean of my alma mater. My senior quote upon ߣsirÊÓƵuation was, ‘thank you for the opportunity to serve the people of the state of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi.’ Now I get to realize that dream.”

At the public presentation Shomaker delivered at JABSOM as one of the finalists for the position, he outlined his goals for JABSOM: become the leading medical school in the Asia-Pacific region and the leading Indigenous-serving medical school in the world and leverage JABSOM’s unique location to develop research, business and health care connections with Asia and the Continental U.S.

“I am excited by the great potential of JABSOM, both in training the next generation of physicians for ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and in contributing to the diversification of our economy through our research program,” said Shomaker. “I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and ߣsirÊÓƵ of our school and our important clinical partners to make JABSOM all it can be for our state and its people.”

Shomaker has 20 years of experience in health care, an MD degree, a law degree, and a master’s degree in management to improve health care. His educational journey includes earning his MD from ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, a JD from Georgetown University School of Law, a master’s degree in management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University.

Professor Deborah Taira is a health economist at the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Hilo’s and has extensive experience studying health equity issues for Asian American, Native ߣsirÊÓƵian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. The professor conducts in-depth research on health disparities that impact AANHPI populations and wants to improve access to clinical trials.

As the country commemorates AANHPI Heritage Month, the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity spotlighted Taira’s expertise in a . She revealed that even though national statistics identify ߣsirÊÓƵʻi has the highest life expectancy of any state in the U.S., there are still huge health disparities.

“Unfortunately, Native ߣsirÊÓƵians live about 11 years less than Chinese in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi,” Taira said. “That’s a huge disparity, and I just feel like that should not exist now, not in our state of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi. And so, I’m passionate about trying to do what I can to correct that.”

A legacy of research

Taira has published more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts related to health disparities, cost and health outcomes Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders face. Her interest in studying health disparity started long ago with her mother, a professor of nursing who made house calls in elderly housing projects.

“I remember she brought me along with her. And she said, ‘You can learn more in 5 minutes when you go into these people’s homes. And you see in their fridge they don’t have any food or the place is filthy or whatever. You learn more about what can help the patient by actually getting to know their life circumstances,’” Taira explained.

Along with health disparities, Taira’s research also focuses on medication adherence and cost-effectiveness of cardiovascular interventions. She has worked at the Health Institute at the New England Medical Center examining outcomes from the patient perspective and spent 10 years working at ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Medical Service Association analyzing large administrative datasets, including cost and lab data.

Five months after the (NROTC) at the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ commissioned their first sailor, they celebrated another milestone on May 13, as three naval officers earned a commission from its program.

Donning their caps and gowns and proudly displaying their diplomas, Zachary Barto, Chase Roche and Jacob Simmons achieved the rank of ensign in the U.S. Navy during a ceremony held aboard the Battleship Missouri. Their commissioning ceremony served as a culmination of rigorous training and preparation as well as a testament to their commitment to serve their country.

“Another spectacular moment for the ߣsirÊÓƵ NROTC as we commission our three newest ensigns in the United States Navy. We are excited for your journey that awaits!” said Commanding Officer Paul “Veg” Bandini.

On May 11, prior to their commissioning, Barto, Roche and Simmons ߣsirÊÓƵuated with their respective bachelor’s degrees. Their achievements are not only sources of pride for themselves, but also for their families and the Koa O Ke Kai Battalion.

Reflecting on their journey, each newly commissioned officer expressed honor at being among the first to ߣsirÊÓƵuate from the university’s pioneering NROTC program. Barto will serve as a naval submarine officer upon completing nuclear power school in Charleston, South Carolina. Roche will serve as a naval pilot and Simmons will serve as a naval flight officer after both completing their naval aviation training in Florida.

The commissioning of Barto, Roche and Simmons underscores the success and commitment of the NROTC program at the ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ in preparing future leaders for service in the U.S. Navy.

“Their exemplary dedication and leadership serve as inspirations to their peers and reflect the program’s unwavering dedication to excellence in training and education,” added Bandini.

A research professor in the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa , has been selected as a 2024–2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar by the U.S. Department of State and the .

Bruce Howe will be stationed in Portugal to continue his efforts to advance the installation of a Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) seafloor cable system between Portugal and the Madeira and Azores archipelagoes from March to June 2025.

“It is a great honor and provides recognition of hard work over the years developing SMART Cables,” said Howe. “The Fulbright will give me the opportunity to sit back, look at the big picture, and develop strategic directions.”

This opportunity will enable Howe to address in-depth issues related to the Portuguese Atlantic CAM SMART Cable system, the French funded New-Caledonia-Vanuatu Tamtam SMART cable system, and to work with sponsoring United Nations agencies in Europe. He will also be working with other countries and organizations to advance prospective systems around Europe and globally.

SMART cable systems integrate environmental sensors, such as temperature, pressure and seismic motion to monitor climate change including ocean heat content, circulation and sea-level rise, provide early warning for earthquakes and tsunamis, and to monitor seismic activity for earth structure and related hazards.

“All of this relates to disaster risk reduction and the informed sustainable development of coastal and offshore infrastructure, including the cables themselves and their mission of global connectivity,” said Howe. “The goal is to save lives.”

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–By Marcie Grabowski

Maveric Abella is a spring 2024 ߣsirÊÓƵuate of the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM) who entered medical school during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Abella’s path to becoming a physician has been marked by a series of transformative experiences and a deep-rooted commitment to serving her community.

Her passion for medicine was ignited during her high school years at Kamehameha Schools, where she interned at the . Initially drawn to clinical research, she found her interests shifted toward engineering during her underߣsirÊÓƵuate studies at Columbia University in New York City. However, it was a research expedition to the Marshall Islands, assessing the aftermath of nuclear tests, that pushed her toward a career in medicine. Witnessing the lack of healthcare access in rural communities left an impression on Abella, inspiring her to pursue a path focused on patient care.

“I wanted to know what patient care was like, getting to know patients on a one on one level, treating people. I think that was lost in engineering for me. It was very much a lot of research and development and you never really got to see the end result of that,” said Abella.

Entering JABSOM in 2020 during the pandemic, Abella’s resilience and dedication were further demonstrated as she embraced the challenges of virtual learning and adapted to the evolving healthcare landscape. Despite the obstacles, she found fulfillment in her clinical rotations, particularly during an OB-GYN rotation where she assisted in delivering a baby.

Check out more stories of our ߣsirÊÓƵ spring ߣsirÊÓƵuates

“Just establishing that rapport pretty early on and then actually being able to help deliver that baby, it just felt like it all came full circle,” she said.

Inspiring parents, upbringing

As Abella prepares to embark on the next phase of her career with a residency at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles specializing in orthopedic surgery, she reflects on the influence of her upbringing and family in West Oʻahu. From her father’s unwitting influence during their home renovation projects to her mother’s support, Abella credits her family for nurturing her passion and determination.

She plans to return to ߣsirÊÓƵʻi to practice medicine to give back to the community that shaped her and is grateful for the educational opportunity at JABSOM, embodying the values of compassion, resilience and community engagement that define her journey.

“I think it’s something so special to be able to talk and learn medicine and treat people from your community,” said Abella. “Really, the kind of doctors that I shadowed at Queen’s West and the surgeons—that’s exactly who I wanted to be. And I knew I could do that if I went to medical school [at JABSOM].”

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Louise Pagotto’s story is one of following her heart, even when the path takes unexpected turns. Originally dreaming of becoming a veterinarian, Pagotto’s’s love for her home in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi led her to change her plans when she discovered there was no veterinary school in the islands.

Arriving in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi from Montreal, Canada in 1980, Pagotto pursued studies in linguistics at University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa, eventually earning her doctorate in 1987.

Her career took her on a fulfilling journey through the ߣsirÊÓƵ System, from teaching English at Leeward Community College to serving in various roles as an administrator at Kapiʻolani Community College, where she retired as chancellor in 2022.

But retirement didn’t mean slowing down for Pagotto. Inspired by her cat’s health struggles and her desire to be a volunteer at the Honolulu Zoo, she found a new calling: enrolling in the veterinary technology program at Windward Community College.

Describing the program as “rigorous and humbling,” Pagotto embraced the challenge with determination. Her goal? To excel and earn her certificate of achievement, which she received in May.

Check out more stories of our ߣsirÊÓƵ spring ߣsirÊÓƵuates

Drawing on her experience as an educator, Pagotto found herself on a different side of the classroom, learning from dedicated faculty who instilled in her values of integrity and professionalism within a medical context. “The depth of knowledge of technical skills taught is at a high level,” she said.

Yet, it was the support of her fellow classmates that truly made a difference. Despite initial challenges, Pagotto’s perseverance and newfound skills left her feeling empowered and accomplished.

Reflecting on her journey, Pagotto said, “I can do it!!” Her appreciation for the complexities of physiology and medical science has deepened, reminding her that there’s always more to learn.

“It’s not just about kittens and puppies; it’s about embracing the medical aspect with discipline and dedication,” said Pagotto.

As she prepares to embark on this new chapter, Pagotto encourages others to explore the veterinary technology program at Windward CC, emphasizing its selectivity and the supportive community it offers.

Pagotto’s story is a testament to the power of passion and resilience, reminding us that sometimes the most fulfilling journeys are the ones we never expected to take.

or email vettech@hawaii.edu.

—By Bonnie Beatson

In response to the interconnectedness of climate change and nature loss, a University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR) assistant professor joined a new federal initiative to carry out the first National Nature Assessment (NNA1) in April.

Ashley Lowe-Mackenzie of the will co-write a chapter in this historic attempt to take stock of U.S. lands, waters, wildlife, and the benefits provided to our economy, health, climate, environmental justice and national security.

“I am honored to be a part of the first ever National Nature Assessment!” Lowe-Mackenzie said. “It is a unique opportunity to be involved in the public discussion around our deep dependency on our natural environment. I encourage those interested in this work to please reach out to me.”

³¢´Ç·É±ð-²Ñ²¹³¦°ì±ð²Ô³ú¾±±ð’s Nature and the Economy chapter will focus on economic activities, infrastructure and employment that are directly or indirectly related to nature, and explore how changes in nature affect economic benefits, risks and opportunities.

The report presents a significant opportunity for communities in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi to have their voices heard and their perspectives valued in shaping the NNA1. Lowe-Mackenzie hopes her participation will reflect the needs and aspirations of Native ߣsirÊÓƵian communities and contribute to their well-being and resilience in the face of climate change.

If you are interested in having your voice heard, contact Lowe-Mackenzie at (808) 956-0908 or email alowemac@hawaii.edu.

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An analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on food supply chains in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and Fiji has earned a faculty member in the (DURP) at the a national award.

Subhashni Raj, a DURP assistant professor, is one of 11 recipients of the ’s (FFAR’s) 2023 New Innovator Awards. Raj’s projects focus on understanding the role of Indigenous and ancestral food pathways in maintaining food security during a crisis.

“Establishing food security post-disaster is critically important, yet marginalized or vulnerable communities—especially island communities—are less likely to be prioritized in these scenarios,” said Raj. “My hope is that, through this comparative research we will undertake In Fiji and ߣsirÊÓƵʻi, we can demonstrate that creating space for traditional, cultural, ancestral, and Indigenous foodways in our communities is central to building resilience.”

Raj, who has a PhD in urban and regional planning from the State University of New York at Buffalo, was a Fulbright scholar and Kaufman doctoral fellow in food systems planning.

The New Innovator Award is bestowed on early-career scientists supporting research in one of FFAR’s research priority areas. Cumulatively, the recipients share a total of $4.8 million over three years.