News@UH
Left to right: Alex De Roode, Chris Speere and Clyde Sakamoto.
Maui Wins Bellwether Award
Maui was awarded the Bellwether Workforce Development award for their presentation Sink of SLIM: A Model to Promote Sustainable Change through Education, Partnerships, and Workforce Development.The program highlighted the campus’ numerous initiatives and partnerships that both prepare students for living wage careers and promote sustainability on campus and in the community.
Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto, Sustainable Living Institute of Maui Director Alex De Roode and Maui Culinary Academy Director Chris Speere participated in the presentation, which highlighted numerous campus efforts including the creation of the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui, which has partnered with Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc. to provide funds for student internships, securing a 250 kw windmill so students will have access to the latest in energy technology, implementing campus recycling programs and creating strong public and private partnerships to manage the college’s infrastructure.
The presentation will be published in the Community College Journal of Research and Practice.
Racial Disparity in Hospital Deaths
A study by Jerris Hedges, dean of Manoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, finds that Asian and African-American patients have a higher risk of dying than Caucasians do after they are injured and admitted to hospitals.The majority of the patients suffered injuries to their head, legs, chest, spleen, or liver. Caucasian patients were likely to die in the hospital following a significant injury at a rate of 1.5 percent. Asians (including Pacific Islanders) and African-Americans died at the higher rates, of 2.0 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. The results were published in Medical Care.
"The poorer survival outcome for Asian and Pacific Island and African-American patients is concerning," says Hedges. "I hope that in Hawai'i, we can re-visit the status of trauma care and strengthen the efforts to save the lives of those with major injury through a systems approach to trauma care delivery."
Lisa J. Kewley and J. Patrick Henry
American Astronomical Society Awards
Manoa Associate Astronomer Lisa J. Kewley won the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy and Professor J. Patrick Henry is one of four scientists to receive the Rossi Prize.Kewley and Henry both make use of the fact that light from distant parts of the Universe can take billions of years to arrive at Earth. By pointing their telescopes at objects that are at different distances from Earth they can study how the average properties of galaxies and of clusters of galaxies have changed over the 14-billion-year life of the universe.
Kewley studies individual galaxies. Using telescopes on Mauna Kea and elsewhere, she discovered major differences between old and new galaxies in properties such as the rate at which new stars are formed, the concentration of oxygen and the presence of a quasar-like nucleus. As a by-product of her research, she calculated that most of the oxygen atoms we breathe were created between five and 12 billion years ago.
Henry focuses his attention on galaxy clusters because they contain the largest known concentrations of dark matter—the mysterious invisible substance that makes up most of the mass of the universe. By studying galaxy clusters with X-ray telescopes in space and optical telescopes on Mauna Kea, he was able to determine how fast clusters of galaxies were being formed at different times in the past. From this he could deduce how much dark matter there is in the universe and how lumpy it is.
Parliamentary Honor
West O'ahu Center for Labor Education and Research Director William J. Puette was elected president of the Aloha ‘Ohana Parliamentary Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians.Puette is a registered parliamentarian and teaches non-credit workshops and seminars on parliamentary procedure at West O'ahu as part of the CLEAR program. The Aloha 'Ohana Parliamentary Unit is the largest of three units in the state and meets monthly on O'ahu to study and assist those interested in learning parliamentary procedure.
Founded in 1930, NAP helps organizations conduct business efficiently through education and advocacy of effective meeting procedures and the accreditation of all meeting professionals.
Student Research at the Maui High Performance Computing Center
Five Manoa departments have been awarded grants for the current academic year totaling more than $127,000 to support students engaged in research using the Maui High Performance Computing Center, which operates the 25th most powerful supercomputer in the world.The awardees and their projects
- Ruey Hwu for Three-Dimensional Simulation of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells by Parallel Computing
- Seung-Sep Kim for Finding Seamounts in the Satellite-Derived Gravity Field
- Kin Wai Leung for Computational Modeling and Simulation of Wave-Impact on Coastal Structures
- Erik C. Franklin for Quantification and Comparison of Patch, Class and Seascape Scale Metrics for the Shallow Coral Reefs of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
- Jhonsen Djajamuliadi for Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Human Connective Tissue Protein Fragments in Water
- Paulo H.R. Calil for Generation of Submesoscale Vorticity Filaments in the Ocean and their Impact on Primary Productivity in an Island Wake
New Business Scholarship
Hawai'i Business magazine established a $50,000 endowed scholarship at Manoa Shidler College of Business. The scholarship is for undergraduate students majoring in business with exceptional promise and ability to make a significant contribution to Hawai'i’s business community.In addition to providing the scholarship, Hawai’i Business hopes that “the recipient of our scholarship will contact Hawai'i Business to pursue opportunities for networking and introductions to business leaders in Hawai'i,” says magazine publisher David Tumilowicz.
“We’re grateful to John and David and everyone at Hawai'i Business magazine for their support in establishing a scholarship endowment at the College,” says Dean V. Vance Roley. “Both of our organizations have similar endeavors: to sustain a healthy business community in Hawai'i, and to educate and inspire future generations of business leadership.”
Kudos
UH West O'ahu Professor Joyce Chinen participated in the International Conference on Interaction between Globalization and Regionalism, in Tokyo. Musashi University Research Institute Open Research Center Project asked Chinen to give a presentation on Okinawan diaspora and identity.Jonathan Dresner, Hilo assistant professor, presented “Diaspora Memory: Selective Histories of Japanese Emigration,” at the American Historical Association conference held in Washington, D.C.
Hilo Professor Regina Titunik presented a paper on “Are We all Torturers Now?: A Reconsideration of Women’s Violence at Abu Ghraib” at the annual conference of the British International Studies Association held at Cambridge University.
UH People in Print
Hilo Assistant Professor Julie Ann Luiz Adrian’s manuscript “Diagnostic Challenge, 6 Month Old Canine Hermaphrodite” was accepted for publication in Veterinary Practice News.Manoa Professor Haruko Cook authored “Language Socialization in Japanese” in the Encyclopedia of Language and Education: Language Socialization.
Hilo Professors Robert Fox and Nina Buchanan published “A Charter School Law in Transition” in the Journal of School Choice.
Manoa Entomologist J. Kenneth Grace co-authored “Agonistic Interactions of Four Ant Species Occurring in Hawai'i with Coptomeres formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidate)” in Sociobiology.
Ron Gordon, Hilo professor, authored “Hiding Our Bruised and Fearful Hearts” in The NEA Higher Education Advocate.
Shu Hwa Lin, Manoa assistant professor, published “Attitudes of Tourists to Purchasing Organic Cotton in Hawai'i” in the Journal of Organic Systems.
Kirsten Mollegaard, Hilo lecturer, had her review of Diana Crone Frank and Jeffrey Franks’ translation of “The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen” published in Marvels and Tales.
Manoa Jr. Science Researcher Adrian C. Pope co-authored “Measuring the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation Scale Usint eh Sloan Digital Sky Survey and 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey” in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Terence Wesley-Smith, Manoa associate professor, had “The Limits of Self-Determination in Oceania” published in Social and Economic Studies.
Healthy Living in Hawai'i
Kapi'olani’s Culinary Arts Department released A DASH of Aloha: Healthy Hawai'i Cuisine and Lifestyle.This unique guide introduces the easy-to-use Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension eating and activity plan, which teaches readers how to lead a healthy lifestyle combining good eating habits and regular physical activity.
“A DASH of Aloha is about taking the simplest steps to incorporate healthful rules of thumb into your daily routine, with the long-term goal of achieving a healthier lifestyle,” says department chair Ron Takahashi. “The recipes are based on local tastes, and emphasize eating Island-grown fresh ingredients, simply prepared to get the greatest benefits.”
There will be book signing and tasting demonstration events for A DASH of Aloha.
- Feb. 16, Ala Moana, Macy’s 4th floor demo kitchen, 12 p.m.
- Feb. 17, Windward Mall, Borders, 2 p.m.
- Feb. 23, Pearlridge, Borders, 12 p.m.
- Feb. 23, Kahala Mall, Barnes and Noble, 2 p.m.
- Feb. 24, Waikele, Borders, 12 p.m.
- March 8, Ward Centre, Borders, 12 p.m.
Sunghoon Alex Cho and Primose Valdez
Ready for Valentine’s Day
UH alumni Sunghoon Alex Cho and Primose Valdez won the Honolulu Advertiser wedding contest for a free wedding with 50 guests. The package arranged by Parasol Events is valued at more than $30,000.Selected from a group of 120 couples, Cho and Valdez’ online video describing why they believe their marriage will last, was the top vote getter. The couple met at Leeward and graduated from Manoa’s nursing program in December.
Read the Honolulu Advertiser article.
West O‘ahu student Rodney Boucher is a finalist in the Honolulu Advertiser’s Most Romantic Man Contest. Boucher was nominated by his wife Marlene. The top vote getters will be featured in a Back to Romance TV special, plus tickets to the Hawai'i Romance Festival and a romantic dinner package. The grand prize winner gets a weekend in New York City package.
Photo Highlight
Children’s Center student Haethi NannSan and her father Zaw Han enjoy the Chinese lion dance in front of Hawai‘i Hall on the Manoa campus.
International Performances
Hilo’s International Student Association presents International Nights 2008, Feb. 15 and 16, 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. This annual event features cultures from around the world with an array of performances by students and community members.Tickets are available at the PAC box office. (808) 974-7310
More Events
Feb. 11–29—Hilo and Hawai'i celebrate Diversity and Black History Month with Connections: Past, Present and Future, see full schedule, (808) 974-7389
Feb. 12—Manoa Doctoral Candidate Kuhio Vogeler speaks on Prolonged Occupations: Hawai'i and the Baltic States, Windward, Hale Akoakoa 105, 4 p.m., (808) 236-9224
Feb. 12—Manoa Professor Chip Fletcher lectures on The Impact of Rising Sea Level on Hawai'i, Manoa, Hawai‘i Institute for Geophysics 110, 3 p.m., (808) 956-5512
Feb. 14—Community Relations Specialist Lowell Angell and Brian Suzuki speak on Japanese Movies and Theaters in Hawai'I, 'Iolani Palace Grounds, Old Archive Building, 12 p.m., (808) 956-7433
Feb. 14—Japan’s Hakuoh University Handbell Choir performs a range of pieces from Japanese classics to Broadway hits, Windward, Paliku Theatre, 7 p.m., (808) 235-7374
Feb. 14—Marc Pachter speaks on Running a National Museum of Biography, Manoa, Henke 325, 12 p.m., (808) 956-3774
Feb. 15—Ilia Roussev gives a talk on Stormy Weather in Space, IfA Maikalani building in Pukalani, 6:30 p.m., (808) 573-9500
Feb. 16—The Huun Huur Tu Throat Singers perform the music of Tuva, Leeward Theatre, 7:30 p.m., tickets available online, (808) 483-7123
Feb. 17—Leeward hold a Mixed Plate brunch for culinary student scholarships, Ulewehi café and Lion Courtyard, 7:30 a.m., (808) 455-0298
Announcements
Video of February 2008 Flooding Requested
The University of Hawai' at Hilo Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes is seeking video footage of the February 2008 flooding on the Big Island. In cooperation with Hawai'i State Civil Defense, CSAV maintains an active, all-hazards public outreach program and will use donated footage to show the kinds of threats produced by Hawai'i’s intense rainfall events.
The tapes will be carefully archived and will be an invaluable resource in our teaching and public outreach programs.
Tapes of any format—VHS, Hi-8, MDV—are acceptable. Please contact Darcy Bevens at (808) 974-7631 or by email for more information.
To see video clips from the 2000 floods, visit the CSAV website.
Lau Water Research Endowed Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the L. Stephen Lau Water Research Endowed Scholarship, which will be awarded for fall 2008. Award amount will be up to $1500. Additional information and applications are available on the website.For more information, contact Barbara Guieb at (808) 956-7848
Kapi’olani Summer Study Abroad Program
Kapi'olani’s 2008 Summer Study Abroad Program to France will be held June 25-July 26. The deadline to apply is March 14, 2008.Students earn 6-8 credits studying beginning or intermediate French language while immersed in French culture in the charming medieval town of Aix-en-Provence in the South of France. Aix was voted by the French as the best place to live in France.
Lodging will be with a French family or in an apartment. There will also be diverse cultural activities and excursions.
Visit the program website for more information and to see slideshow of 2007 program. For more information, contact Renée Arnold by email or call 734-9704.