This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on August 25, 2025.
Aloha UH Mānoa ʻohana,
The first week of a new academic year is always a powerful reminder of what makes our flagship campus so special. Students are arriving with fresh hopes and ambitions, faculty are bringing new ideas into classrooms and labs, and staff are ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Together, you create the unique experience that makes UH Mānoa a true destination of choice, not just in Hawaiʻi, but among great universities everywhere.
UH Mānoa has been my home for the past 34 years, and it is my honor to be your interim provost, a position I was just appointed to on July 1st. I take tremendous pride in this university.
- July 1: Message from new UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos
- July 1: Vassilis Syrmos appointed interim provost of UH Mānoa
This is a remarkable institution with a mission unlike any other that does not receive the proper acclaim that it should. What happens here matters: to our students, to our community and to the future of our state. Even as federal actions create challenges for higher education, we remain guided by our principles of academic freedom, scholarship and service. Our compass must always be what is right for our students and our community.
Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about. This year we will explore new opportunities in artificial intelligence to strengthen teaching, research and operations. We will continue investing in student success and enrollment initiatives.
Students, if you need help or have questions, turn to ʻBow—your chatbot buddy. He is available 24 hours a day and should have already connected with you via text.
And across campus, long-awaited improvements are coming to life—Hale Haukani student housing facility has opened to welcome students, renovations to McCarthy Mall and Paradise Palms will be completed by January, and the new Student Success Center will open in 2026.
Thank you for your dedication, resilience and belief in this university. I look forward to working with you as we build on UH Mānoa’s legacy of excellence together.
With aloha,
Vassilis L. Syrmos
Interim Provost, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
