Beijing Opera stage combat, shoveling mulch, UH Mānoa welcomes new students

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

Hands-on experiences included learning traditional theatrical Beijing Opera Stage Combat.

Hands-on experiences included moving mulch and planting native trees.

UH Mānoa New Student Orientation provided bentos for thousands of participants.

UH Mānoa New Student Orientation started with a rally at the Stan Sheriff Center.

UH Mānoa New Student Orientation started with a rally at the Stan Sheriff Center.

**suggested VO/SOT script below

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/R8i

WHAT: The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa welcomed its newest class of students with the required, two-day in-person Fall 2026 New Student Orientation.

WHEN: August 19–20, 2026.

WHERE: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Stan Sheriff Center, Campus Center Complex, and various campus department locations).

WHO: 2,410 incoming students.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Choose Your Own Adventure: On Day 1, students selected from over 60 unique "Choose Your Own Adventure" hands-on activities to help them connect with the campus. Highly customized sessions included "Beijing Opera Stage Combat" “Play, Plant & Explore” and “Level Up eSports.”
• Heartfelt Hospitality: To keep students fueled, UH provided bento lunches for all participating students on both days.
• Academic Connection: Day 2 focused on academic readiness, bringing students directly into their specific colleges and schools to meet faculty, advisors and peers.

VIDEO B-ROLL (1:18)

• NAT SOUND UP of rally shots of the high-energy opening rally at the Stan Sheriff Center, campus leaders welcoming students.
• Students learning theatrical movement during the Beijing Opera stage combat training.
• Students shovel mulch and plant native trees at Sherman Laboratory Courtyard
• The bustling Campus Center, students interacting at information tables and exploring campus resources.
• Students laughing, eating complimentary bento lunches

SOUND

Maile Havas, new UH Mānoa student  (Island School graduate who is studying botany) (:11)
“So far it's pretty awesome here and I really like it. So I hope that the spirits are up all throughout the next 4 years and that my now new classmates are pretty awesome.”

Max Geyrozaga, new UH Mānoa student (Mililani High School graduate who is studying electrical engineering) (:07)

“It was very scary when I came. But it was very chill when I realized everybody wants to be here.”

VOSOT SCRIPT

INTRO:
Twenty-four hundred new University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students had highly personalized orientation experiences ranging from Beijing Opera stage combat to leveling up their eSports game.

VO:
Fall orientation began with a high-energy opening rally at the Stan Sheriff Center, followed by customized "Choose Your Own Adventure" sessions. More than 60 unique hands-on experiences included learning traditional theatrical Beijing Opera Stage Combat to moving mulch and planting native grasses.

SOT
Maile Havas, new UH Mānoa student  (Island School graduate who is studying botany) (:11)
“So far it's pretty awesome here and I really like it. So I hope that the spirits are up all throughout the next 4 years and that my now new classmates are pretty awesome.”

VO:
The welcoming atmosphere continued at the Campus Center, where students connected with student clubs and campus resources. Bento lunches were provided to fuel two busy days.

OUTRO:
Classes at all UH campuses start next week Monday.