UH Manoa College of Engineering

Lester Fukuda was known for helping people, whether that meant sharing his engineering experience, supporting a good cause, or quietly helping someone in need.

The Lester Fukuda Engineering Scholarship was created in his memory to help a Hawaiʻi high school graduate studying engineering in the University of Hawaiʻi System.

The ASCE Hawaii Section is now accepting contributions to the scholarship fund. Donations will go directly toward supporting a future engineering student, with preference given to those with financial need.

Learn more or donate:

Lester Fukuda Engineering Scholarship Honor Lester Fukuda's legacy by supporting the next generation of Hawaiʻi engineers. The Lester Fukuda Engineering Scholarship will provide financial…

Mahalo nui to HDR for supporting our new HDR Traffic Lab! Thanks to their generosity, our students and faculty will be using industry-standard tools to study traffic, improve roadway safety, and conduct research that will help to prepare Hawaiʻi’s transportation system for the introduction of autonomous vehicles.

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New HDR Traffic Lab gives UH engineering students real-world training The University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering has opened the new HDR Traffic Lab, supported by HDR, a global engineering, architecture, and consulting firm that has served Hawaiʻi for nearly 20 years. The enhanced lab will support coursework, student projects, training, and research tied to the...

A new NSF award is supporting research by UH Mechanical Engineering Professor Yi Zuo to better understand how oxygen-carrying liquids interact with lung surfactants. The findings could help advance next-generation respiratory therapies and open new possibilities in biomedical engineering.

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Could liquids help people breathe? New UH research seeks answers | University of Hawaiʻi System News A UH Mānoa researcher has earned a National Science Foundation grant to study how oxygen-carrying liquids interact with the lungs.

Congratulations to Emily Marron, cooperating graduate faculty and instructor in our Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, on receiving a $660,000 National Science Foundation CAREER Award.

Her five-year project will examine how chlorine reacts with fuel contaminants during drinking water treatment, producing research that could strengthen responses to future contamination events and provide new insight into the 2021 Red Hill crisis. The project will also create hands-on learning opportunities for UH students and expand community access to low-cost drinking water testing.

NSF award supports UH research on safer drinking water after fuel contamination | University of Hawaiʻi System News The CAREER program is among the National Science Foundation's most notable awards for early-career faculty.

A big mahalo to NIWC Pacific for sharing their time, expertise, and experiences with our JESSE Interns at today’s site visit!

Throughout the day, interns toured four labs and learned about the innovative projects underway across NIWC Pacific. They gained valuable insight into the purpose, scope, and real-world applications of each project, while learning about the engineering, research, and technology that support NIWC Pacific's mission. The visit gave students a firsthand look at the wide range of career opportunities available in engineering and exposed them to the impact of research, development, and innovation.

Mahalo to Burns & McDonnell for hosting our JESSE interns! During the visit, interns received an overview of the company, toured the office, and participated in a hands-on LEGO engineering challenge that encouraged them to think like engineers. Through asking clarifying questions, managing project timelines, and working collaboratively, interns gained insight into the problem-solving and communication skills that drive successful engineering projects.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the visit was hearing from Burns & McDonnell employees who were once JESSE interns or staff members themselves. Their experiences provided a valuable perspective on the many pathways into the industry and made the day feel like a true full-circle moment. Thank you for investing in the next generation of engineers and sharing your knowledge, experiences, and inspiration with our interns!

We’re delighted to share that UH engineering students now have an even stronger pathway into semiconductor careers!

Mahalo to ECE professors Boris Murmann, Jeff Weldon, and Jennifer Ott for bringing this win home! 👏

UH students gain pathway into semiconductor boom | University of Hawaiʻi System News The new initiative aims to better connect students with educational opportunities, hands-on training, internships and industry partnerships.

Mahalo to SSFM for hosting our JESSE interns! They were challenged to identify disciplines involved in real projects, answer engineering trivia, and learn industry terminology through an interactive board game. The interns had fun and the activity was memorable way to explore the world of engineering while connecting with professionals in the field!

0% loans are available for UH Engineering students in their final two years through the Hawaiʻi Renewable Learning Fund by Social Finance.

✅ Repayment doesn't begin until three months after graduation or exiting school

✅ Graduates earning under $50,000 annually may qualify to defer payments

✅ If hired by a participating Hawai‘i-based employer, they will help to pay off the loan

✅ Payments go back into the Hawai‘i Renewable Learning Fund to support future UH students

The program is designed to help more UH students finish strong and move into high-demand careers right here in Hawai‘i.

Apply here: socialfinance.org/for-current-and-interested-hawaii-renewable-learning-fund-students

Great research can increase its impact when people can understand it, so we joined UH Mānoa’s inaugural Graduate Research Outreach Workshop, where 10 graduate students learned to turn complex research into clear, hands-on exhibits, then brought that work to about 60 Waipahu Intermediate students, giving younger learners a direct look at UH research, higher education pathways, and the possibility that they could one day be part of both.

Grad students sharpen research communication skills through community outreach | University of Hawaiʻi System News The three-week program brought together a cohort of 10 students to strengthen their ability to communicate research in clear, engaging ways for non-specialist audiences.