Weekly Newsletter for Faculty and Staff, March 2, 2021

Posted on March 2, 2021December 16, 2025 by Staff

Featured in this week’s issue of Haʻilono o UH Hilo (News of UH Hilo): Sheldon Rosa, Bonnie Irwin, Misty Pacheco, Frank Kuo, Heather Hirata, and more!

In fall and spring, this newsletter is a weekly e-blast of news and information for faculty and staff, produced by University Relations, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

Above, join Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language, student Sheldon Rosa, for a lesson on the Hawaiian word of the week “nalu” or “wave,” the action of the sea when it rises.

Administration

COLUMN: Chancellor Bonnie Irwin honors three strong Native Hawaiian women during Women’s History Month

A big Mahalo to everyone who participated in the UH Hilo Institutional Report to WSCUC, which was submitted March 1, 2021. Here is the updated Documents for 2021-2022 Institutional Review for Reaffirmation of Accreditation.

The next UH Board of Regents committee meetings will be held virtually Wednesday and Thursday , March 3 and 4. Meetings may be monitored remotely via the livestream pilot project.

- Wednesday, March 3:
  - 8:30 a.m.: Academic and Student Affairs
  - 9:45 a.m.: Intercollegiate Athletics
- Thursday, March 4:
  - 8:30 a.m.: Independent Audit
  - 10:00 a.m.: Budget and Finance
  - 11:00 a.m.: Research and Innovation

UH launched the UH Student Basic Needs site intended for UH students at the 10 campuses to access basic needs, both on and off campus, including food and housing, childcare, mental health services, financial resources and transportation, among others.

The nominations deadline for the 2021 UH Hilo Faculty and Staff Awards is Friday, March 5, 4 p.m.. Use this nomination form for the following awards:

Information about UH Hilo Communication Outlets (PDF) was released to inform faculty and staff of the various mass email communication options available on campus.

Maunakea 2021 and beyond. This message from the Center for Maunakea Stewardship was shared with the UH community on February 24, 2021.

Covid Updates

Vaccination update for UH employees.

UH Hilo community is reminded to wear masks when on campus.

Continue to stay informed through our UH Hilo COVID-19 webpage, UH Hilo Quarantine FAQ page, and Employee FAQ for up-to-date information and advisories. Information can also be found on the UH System COVID-19 page.

Events

Travel to the Moku of Puna with Ka Leo o ka Uluau. Ryan McCormack joins hosts Drew Kapp and Leilani DeMello in the latest podcast episode as they journey to Puna. Hop onto the podcast blog and use the StoryMap to help guide your huakaʻi. You may also subscribe to Ka Leo o ka Uluau through Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

- The supplemental audiogram series Inoa Matters supports the Ka Leo o ka Uluau project: Series of short audiograms launched on correct pronunciation of Hawaiian place names.

Watch the first episode of the Wailau storytelling project. Applications are open through March 5 for April’s storyteller event on the theme “A Just World.” Applications welcome from faculty and staff (current and former), students, alumni, and community members.

I Ala Mauliola Health & Wellness Virtual Student Symposium, Friday, March 5, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., via Zoom. Passcode: MAULIOLA. Also open to faculty and staff. Presenters include:

- Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula: “Paepae ke Kahua: The Social and Cultural Determinants of Native Hawaiian Health”
- Misty Pacheco: “Navigating the Covid-19 Pandemic with a Public Health Lens”
- Ku Kahakalau: “Native Roots: Indigenous Paths to Wellness and Food Sovereignty”
- Lynette Paglinawan and Manulani Meyer: “Hoʻoponopono”

For more info on events, see UH Hilo Calendar of Events.

People

Frank Kuo, director of Counseling Services, will present “How to Utilize Remote Telemental Health and Creative Virtual Outreach Activities to Promote Mental Health on Campus During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Reduce Stigma of Counseling, and Serve Those Indigenous and Marginalized Student Populations” at the 2021 University of Michigan Depression on College Campuses Conference poster session, to be held virtually March 9-10, 2021. He is also co-author of “Rural Public Health for Migrant Workers,” a book chapter in Foundations of Rural Public Health in America by Joseph N. Inungu and Mark J. Minelli.

Heather Hirata, director of Student Medical Services, received a grant of $151,722 (07/01/2021 – 06/30/2023 for an annual amount of $75,861) for the Statewide Reproductive Health Care and Support Services and Related Preventive Health Services from the State Department of Health to ensure access to high-quality family planning services to UH Hilo students. These funds will support the services of access to a wide variety of birth controls options, STI testing and treatments as well as necessary exams and screenings.