Welcome Message

Welcome to our new academic year at UH Manoa! To our returning students, welcome home — we're glad to have you back with us. To freshmen and new transfer students, congratulations on choosing to join the UH Manoa 'ohana. To our faculty and staff, thank you for your continuing contributions in solving society's problems and preparing future leaders.

The beginning of the school year offers an exciting beginning for all of us — that definitely includes me, since I joined UH Manoa to serve as your chancellor on July 1 of this year. I'm truly delighted to begin this new adventure along with all of you and I'm confident that, by working together, we can accomplish new advances for our campus community.

My major activities certainly include listening and learning and, at the same time, absorbing the culture of UH Manoa. You will often see me out and about on the campus — I always wear a nametag, so I encourage you to introduce yourself and share your views. My efforts are focused on fulfilling the goals and maintaining the values of UH Manoa – and each one of you is part of that endeavor.

Our efforts to address the campus' highest priorities are key to moving ahead together. That also requires communicating our activities to our community and state, because, if they understand and appreciate our contributions to their lives, their commitment to support us both with their voices and their resources will be strong. Thankfully, there are many reasons for folks to be excited about the great value UH Manoa adds to Hawaii and beyond – our university creates great social good and clearly plays a pivotal role in the future of Hawaii, as well as in each of your lives.

Serving as the chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa makes my heart smile, because it's a privilege and joy to be part of this campus community. I do believe that our second century will be even more dynamic than our first — thanks to all of you for being here at UH Manoa!

Mahalo,

Virginia S. Hinshaw, PhD
Chancellor
University of Hawaii at Manoa