UH Manoa

The coronavirus pandemic forced the University of Hawaii’s medical school to pause its Willed Body Program, which accepts human body donations for research and education. But with the return of in-person classes, the school has resumed its donation program.

This week, a Filipino woman in a high-rent midtown section of Manhattan was kicked to the ground and stomped while her attacker yelled, “You don’t belong here.” Asians in Hawai'i have felt relatively safe, but some people are questioning Hawai’i’s reputation as a melting pot. Some say discrimination may just look a little different here.

The federal relief bill signed into law this weekend includes what’s described as a lifeline for higher education. But how will the nearly 3 billion dollars set aside for Universities trickle down to us here in the islands?

Joining us to talk about that and other pressing pandemic issues are:

• University of Hawaii Provost Michael Bruno

Higher education is just one of the state functions about to be hit by budget shortfalls. The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents is raising alarms about a nearly $100 million expected loss in revenue, possibly starting this November.  One critical piece of information is still needed for detailed planning. 

You will not find any plates, mugs or vases at the ceramics show on view now at the UH Mānoa Art Gallery. Associate professor Brad Evan Taylor has shown his work primarily in Asia, where he is known for giant wedges of rock, like sections of a mountain ridge that appear to be thrusting upward. Taylor says the natural processes his pieces go through leave their mark.

Black and white photographs are offering a glimpse into Honolulu’s colorful past, at UH Mānoa’s John Young Museum. The A‘ala Park area on the west end of Honolulu was once bustling around its train station, but by the 1960’s decay had set in, and redevelopment was on the way. That’s when photographer Francis Haar decided to document the changes.

Joseph Stepec, Director of the University of Hawaii Symphony and conductor/artistic director of the Hawaii Youth Symphony, talks story with Evening Concert host, John Zak, about several upcoming concerts, including a fundraiser for UH Mānoa's summer European tour.

Continuing our look at Hawai‘i’s arts infrastructure, there are changes at UH Mānoa.  Three key exhibition spaces on campus are under new leadership, and after 13 years, the Art Department has a new chairperson as well.

Opiod Outreach; UH Parking Woes; Beach Project Could Harm Environment; Safe and Clean Labor Day Tips; Contemporary Landscapes: Li Huayi

UH Mānoa’s Director of Orchestras, Joseph Stepec,  talks with HPR host, John Zak, about the orchestra’s upcoming European tour.  Stepec invites students  and musicians  from the community  to audition.

A new show at the Commons Gallery in the Art Department at UH Mānoa makes a powerful case for abstract painting.  Established painter and educator Debra Drexler is showing works with a newly minted professional painter, Kalani Largusa.  Largusa offers thoughts about how to approach an abstract painting.

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Music Department and Department of Theatre and Dance are collaborating on a classical holiday celebration of live music, dance, and theatre.  Joseph Stepec, Assistant Professor of Music at UH Mānoa Joins Craig DeSilva to talk about the upcoming performance.

Artist Tommy Hite is perhaps best known for his realistic paintings of dumpsters around Honolulu.  The ubiquitous bins are often in scenic locations, and who can forget Hite’s dumpster at the end of the rainbow?  His new show features historic European portraits, localized, for example, someone’s regal hat becomes a Zippy’s chili container.  HPR's Noe Tanigawa reports, it’s all in the details.

This semester, six students will be graduating with Master of Fine Arts degrees from UH Manoa.  They’ve spent the last three years intently developing their skills and creativity with video, printmaking, glass, vinyl, photography and more to be ready to face a changing job market, MFA in hand.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

Today, a majority of Hawaiian fishponds have been lost to coastal development and urbanization. But a growing, community-based movement is working to restore these fishponds as a foundation for sustainable fish production.  Researchers at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa are now looking to Hawaiian language newspapers for help. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Many were surprised by results of the 2016 election, meaning, they were surprised by the number of people who support Trump and his views.  Over 100 thousand people voted for President Trump in Hawai‘i and a national group with a new chapter here is activating to advance right wing views.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

The UH Mānoa Art Department is hosting a live drawing installation every day except Saturday, through November 22nd.  Artist, Kosta Kulundzic combines religious and European iconography with everyday scenes from the 21st century.  Since moving to Hawai‘i two years ago, Kulundzic has been juxtaposing local and western art imagery with particular ferocity.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

The UH Mānoa Art Gallery is showing a heartening collection of new work by its Bachelor of Fine Arts graduates in graphic design and studio art.  Fun ideas in a range of materials make these shows a must, along with closing festivities for the Honolulu Biennial.

People around the nation and world are using development as a community organizing tool.  Change becomes a reason to work with others and improve their neighborhoods.  Now, the UH Mānoa Architecture School is convening designers, government leaders, and community members to inject fresh ideas into Honolulu’s development plans.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports on the Building Voices Symposium and Design Competition set for Earth Day, April 22nd .

In the mid-20th century, jazz, abstract expressionism, open form poetry, were some of the art forms that celebrated a kind of escape from regimentation and expectation.  An interest in process arose, and for some, the journey became more important than the destination.   HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports a revival of that spirit is underway, for example, in an exhibition at UH Mānoa.

This Wednesday around 2pm, skateboarders take on Peter Chamberlain’s interactive room.   Friday 2 to 4pm everyone’s invited to participate in the closing non-extravaganza.  

Outlook for Wahiawa General; Musical Tour of South America; Affordability of Public Universities; Hawaiian Land Trust

An international team of scientists led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa may have discovered an effective way to control insect pests which threaten agriculture and humans.  They identified a gene in vinegar flies which is responsible for the insect’s waterproof coating.

Hawaiian language students at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa are working with millions of historical documents that were previously lost in translation.

Preventing Food Waste at UH Manoa; Similarities Between Ancient Fabrics and Modern Athletic Wear; Business of Organic Farming; Okinawan Heritage Festival

Food Waste at UH: Heather Fucini, UH Food Recovery Network President

Rock formations can tell scientists a lot about changes in the earth. Fractures in bedrock affect where drinking water will flow and the path magma will take as it pushes toward the surface.

Now a team of researchers at the University of Hawai‘I, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Wyoming and elsewhere has created a model that measures horizontal pressure on rock layers.

There’s some good news coming out of the University of Hawai‘i.

According to a report released by the University - graduation rates at UH Mānoa continue to rise.  A campus wide initiative to utilize new technology, an updated student road map called the STAR system, and counseling within individual colleges are being credited with the rise.   From 2010 to 2015 the six-year rate has increased from 48.6% to 57.1%.  The four-year graduation rate has increased from 17.5% to 27.9%.