Gift Impact

No major university can grow and excel without a healthy mix of public and private funds. Private contributions leverage public funds and maximize taxpayer dollars. Through partnering with philanthropic investors, our university can sustain excellence and enhance the student experience, making our campuses learning destinations of choice.

Many of the donors who give major gifts to the University of Hawaiʻi do so to support a program, school, or area of study that they believe in. Without exception, their gift has a major impact on our students, faculty and campus community as a whole.

Recent Impact Stories

Marathon runner’s inspiring journey: A charitable donation for cancer research

Ed Buck, founder of E.A. Buck Financial Services and the Buck Charitable Foundation, conquered miles on the track and channeled his love for running into a force for good with a donation to the UH Cancer Center at last year’s Honolulu Marathon.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management assists with Maui workforce development

Financial Advisor Claire Miyasato and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management are donating funds for career development and technical education to UH Maui College’s Ka Holu initiative.

John Chin Young scholarships “capture the moment” for UH artists

Hawaiʻi-born painter John Chin Young expressed moments and motion in quick strokes, influenced by Chinese calligraphy he studied as a child.

UH Hilo is a learning experience for this student-athlete 5,000 miles from home

Chloe Culanding is a senior at UH Hilo, where she is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. She grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is in her fourth year as a student-athlete on the women’s volleyball team at UH Hilo.

UH Maui College culinary students pivot from food prep to packing produce

For two months after the fires, the culinary arts program’s Pāʻina Building was a food preparation hub where 200,000 meals were prepped, cooked and sent out for delivery for members of the community displaced by fires.

Scholarship helps me shoot for the stars

Dorian Yoshizumi grew up in Kāneʻohe and graduated from Castle High School, where he took classes and earned college credits through Hawaiʻi’s Early College program.

Blending Hawaiian culture with a STEM education

Abigail Macalintal grew up in Kailua and is a student at the UH Mānoa College of Engineering, majoring in mechanical engineering.

Engineering alum’s gift commemorates lasting memories of Hawaiʻi

"We quickly learned to appreciate and embrace the best of what Hawaiʻi has to offer."

O'Mealy Fellowship a first for UH Mānoa

The students I taught and the people I met in 35 years at UH Mānoa were high quality, and I wanted to support the college when I’m gone. Anderson reminded me that the university has been very good to me. To both of us.