UH Manoa College of Engineering

10/10/2026

Wrapping up Day 2 of our trip with another great round of alumni visits in Phoenix!

We started by reconnecting with Rick Luevanos and Dung “Dian” N., both of whom we first met during last year’s trip. This year, we had the opportunity to spend more time with them and learn about their journeys to Phoenix, their careers, and the families they’ve started in the area.

We also met with Julia McHerron, who shared her story of attending UH, one of her dream schools, and beginning her career in transportation engineering with Kimley-Horn. We look forward to following her professional growth as she embarks on this exciting new chapter.

It was wonderful to see such positive energy and enthusiasm from our engineering alumni in Phoenix. We’re already looking forward to returning next year as we continue building and strengthening our UH Engineering alumni community in the area!

10/09/2026

This week, we're in Phoenix, Arizona, where the UH Engineering spirit is alive and well!

First, we caught up with Dr. Ian Akamine, a UH Engineering graduate who went on to earn his PhD at Arizona State. We talked story about his UH days and life in Phoenix. He’s certainly someone we’d love to welcome home!

Next, we met Kenneth Rafftesaeth, whose journey took him from Hawaiʻi across the country to a career with Intel.

What makes these travels so rewarding is that every alumnus has a story, every journey takes a different path, and every reunion is an opportunity to reconnect.

For us, the real pleasure is hearing those stories while sharing the exciting things happening back at the College. Wherever our alumni have settled, we hope these encounters remind them that they’re still very much a part of the UH ʻohana, and that the College they once called home continues to give them reasons to be proud.

10/08/2026

We’re proud to be an industry partner of PBX Hawaii 2026!

Join us October 21 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center for Hawaiʻi’s premier trade show for the architecture, engineering, and construction industries.

10/08/2026

In the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, civil engineering tied for No. 23 in the nation, while environmental science and engineering tied for No. 56.

Altogether, 10 UH Mānoa academic subjects ranked among the nation’s top 27, highlighting the university’s excellence in research and education.

Read more: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/10/06/global-ranking-of-academic-subjects-2026

UH Mānoa was evaluated alongside approximately 2,000 universities from nearly 100 countries and regions, selected from a global pool of more than 25,000 institutions.

10/04/2026

We had a great time with friends of the College at last night’s UH football game!

It was a chance to catch up with a few of the many supporters who help us do more for our students and community.

Although our football team didn’t get the win on the field, Team CoE continues to rack up wins thanks to teammates like these who go above and beyond for Hawai‘i’s engineering team:

✦ Vicky Chiu-Irion
✦ Cheryl Walthall, CAE of General Contractors Association of Hawaii
✦ Ryan & Dale Yoneda + Gerard Sakamoto of S & M Sakamoto Inc
✦ Ron Ho & Ann Ho of Ronald N.S. Ho & Associates, Inc.
✦ Glen Kaneshige of NordicPCL Construction
✦ Tammy & Gavin Shiraki of Hawaiian Cement
✦ Heidi Kim & Edwin Sniffen of the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation

🌈🤙🏽

10/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who made this semester's VIP Poster Session a success! More than 200 people attended, including many students who are not currently part of a VIP* team.

Congratulations to our award-winning teams:

🥇 First Place: University of Hawai‘i Drone Technologies
Advisors: Evan Kawamura, Wayne Shiroma & Zac Trimble

🥈 Second Place: Overhaul and Improvement of Mars Rover Design
Advisor: Matthew Siegler

🥉 Third Place: Smart Campus Energy Lab Renewable Energy and Island Sustainability Program
Advisor: Tony Kuh

Mahalo to Professor Aaron Ohta and his team for organizing such a great event!

_____________________
*The Vertically Integrated Program (VIP) is a rare opportunity for undergraduate students to participate directly in faculty-led research more typically conducted by graduate students.

09/29/2026

CoE Students! Are you interested in joining the ESA Team? Come join us next week Monday, October 5th, 2026 for a ESA Info Session to learn more about the role, lunch will be provided so RSVP now!!!!

09/25/2026

The College of Engineering is once again among the nation’s ranked undergraduate engineering programs in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

The latest rankings also highlight UH Mānoa and other campuses across the University of Hawaiʻi System.

🔗 in the comments

09/24/2026

Happy Throwback Thursday! Holmes Hall back in 1973!

09/22/2026

Phoenix, we’re coming your way!

UH College of Engineering alumni and friends are invited to join us for a free pau hana at the Va Bene Italian Restaurant - Martini & W**e Bar on Friday, October 9, 5 PM - 8 PM.

Reconnect with fellow alumni, make new connections, and spend an evening with the UH Engineering ʻohana. 🤙

🔗 Registraion in the comments👇