Weekly Newsletter for Faculty and Staff, Nov. 9, 2021

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Featured in this week’s issue of Ha‘ilono o UH Hilo (News of UH Hilo): U‘i Barongan, Bonnie Irwin, Ka‘iu Kimura, Larry Kimura, the late Kalepa Baybayan, Ozan Atalağ, Carolyn Lam, Alton Okinaka, and Kamalei Purdy.

Student with band-aid on arm representative of booster shot. College of Pharmacy is in background.
The COVID-19 booster is available for employees and student employees every Friday, noon to 4:00 p.m., University Classroom Building, room 127, on a first-come, first-served basis. Details below. UH Hilo student pharmacists are on hand to help at the clinics. (In photo is student Kateleen Caye, pharmacy class of 2023. Courtesy photo from the College of Pharmacy.)

Academics

Study Abroad: On prestigious scholarship, UH Hilo biology major is studying science and the arts in Scotland. UH Hilo sophomore Taylor “U‘i” Barongan is recording her studies at the University of Stirling, Scotland, through painting with watercolors. An artist, the budding scientist is studying ecology, cellular biology, and film analysis.

Administration

Chancellor Bonnie Irwin’s November column: Transforming students, campus, and local community through service.

The Annual Hawai‘i Island United Way Campaign ends Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. Consider donating or pledging your support through payroll deductions to help support Hawai‘i Island residents in need. Payroll deductions begin January 2022. Email Lei Kapono with any questions.

Covid Updates

COVID-19 Booster – UH Hilo On-Campus Clinic

  • The COVID-19 booster is available for employees and student employees every Friday, noon to 4:00 p.m., University Classroom Building, room 127, on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is recommended to ensure sufficient supply. Email Kalei Rapoza with your request. Be sure to bring your valid State ID, medical insurance card, and vaccination card to verify previous doses. Employees seeking their first series of vaccinations may also come to this clinic. This clinic is also for student testing so please plan accordingly. Everyone’s patience is appreciated.

Two options for free testing

  1. Students only: Friday, Nov. 12, Noon – 4 p.m., University Classroom Building, room 127. PCR testing and vaccinations. Sign-up not necessary; valid picture ID required. Any changes will be sent via UH Announce.
  2. Employees and students: Clinical Labs statewide. PCR testing. Registration required. Testing by online appointment only; walk-ins not accepted.

Continue to stay informed through the UH Hilo COVID-19 webpage and the UH System COVID-19 webpage for information and advisories, including the updated interim UH COVID-19 Guidelines and updated interim UH Hilo COVID-19 Guidelines.

Deadlines

“I” Removal and Change of Grade Deadline: Instructor to Registrar’s Office, Monday, Nov. 15.

Last Day to Submit Credit-by-Exam Results to Registrar’s Office, Monday, Nov. 15.

Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Defense Deadline, Monday, Nov. 15.

Events

Creating a balance between rapid innovation and Indigenous knowledge is the focus of free virtual conference, “Blending of Culture and Science: A UH Innovation Virtual Conference,” Nov. 15-17. Ka‘iu Kimura, executive director of ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center at UH Hilo, will lead the conference’s first session. Larry Kimura, associate professor at UH Hilo’s College of Hawaiian Language, will discuss similarities between ancestral knowledge and modern astronomy.

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center present its 14th Annual Wayfinding event Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13-14. This year’s celebration is on the voyaging traditions of the late Kalepa Baybayan, ‘Imiloa’s navigator in residence and pwo navigator. General admission fees apply to non-members. Due to space limitations, advance reservation is strongly encouraged for members and non-members.

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

Faculty

Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences Ozan Atalağ receives tenure. In addition to teaching, Associate Professor Atalağ serves as the chair of the kinesiology and exercise sciences department while conducting his research into physiological markers in athletes. This story is part of a series on recently tenured faculty.

Holiday

Holiday: Veteran’s Day, Thursday, November 11.

Research

Annual survey on Maunakea shows a wēkiu bug population boom. This year, survey teams find a more than seven-fold increase in wēkiu bugs on Maunakea compared to recent surveys. The increased abundance could be a function of increased precipitation on the mountain this past year.

Services

See Sodexo’s Family Dinner menu for this week, including how to order.

Supporting Student Success

Kāwili Kine Culture is a new program where international and resident students travel the island each week to learn about diverse cultures. During the fist few months of the pandemic, Carolina Lam, director of Global Education at UH Hilo, and Professor of Sociology Alton Okinaka designed the program to share island culture with students who were feeling isolated and cut off from social interaction.

Word of the Week

Join Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language student Kamalei Purdy for a lesson on the Hawaiian word of the week. “Wehewehe” means to provide more information on something. Hua Maka is a weekly video series produced by the college and edited by the UH Hilo Office of University Relations.

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

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