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
In a world on the move, Hawaiʻi is an extremely important case for understanding the great global migrations in the 21st century. How Hawaiʻi manages the transition of the children of immigrants in schools will be a defining new chapter in the unfolding Hawaiian saga.
On January 10, 2016, UH celebrated the news that UH Mānoa junior Tyler Ramos had won the Southwest Division in the MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition and would advance to the National Finals of the competition.
Project Olonā sparks Native Hawaiian students’ interest in STEM careers through the study of Hawaiian medicinal plants. Kimberly Kahaleua shares how the program helped her become the 1st undergraduate student from a UH community college to win a SACNAS award.
As a first generation college graduate from a financially disadvantaged background, Dr. Calvin S. Y. Chun understands the difficulties facing students from low income families. Read about his life and how he is giving back.
Dr. Kuwada received an award to support a key pilot study. For Kuwada the study is personal. “Being awarded the Masami Horio grant to study gastric cancer is special for me since I too share a personal family connection to gastric cancer here in Hawai‘i. Both of my grandfathers were second generation Japanese, and, one died from gastric cancer and the other from colon cancer.” More about the pilot study and award.
Non-college-bound students like Thomas are graduating from college, pursuing dreams, and on track to live longer thanks to an innovative program.
Kama and Kamato Akamine immigrated to Hawai‘i from Oroku, Okinawa, in the early 1900s. Their hard work and personal history inspired their daughters to endow a fund in their honor.
Watching her divorced parents both struggle while working two jobs ignited Char’s determination to do her best. Today, she is an inspiration to others. Read her story.
A remarkable journey that involved historical leaders from China and Hawai‘i forms the colorful backdrop to UH alumni Chee Kwon and Sau Chun Wong’s philanthropy.
