Initiatives Archive - UH Matters

Archive for the ‘Initiatives’ Category

February 1, 2013

Maui visit

HI2-presentation on Maui

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood presents the Hawaii Innovation Initiative (HI2) to the Maui Governor's Advisory Council.

HI2-presentation on Maui

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood presents the Hawaii Innovation Initiative (HI2) to the Maui Governor's Advisory Council.

KAOI Radio Morning Show

M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawaii president, and JoAnn Inamasu, the governor's representative on Maui, were on the KAOI Radio Morning Show on January 30.

On January 30, I visited the island of Maui where I was on the KAOI Radio morning show with JoAnn Inamasu, the governor’s representative on Maui. We participated in a one hour show that included discussions and audience call-in questions on Maui, the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College and our Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative (HI2).

Later in the day, I made another HI2 presentation before the Maui Governor’s Advisory Council, a group of community leaders that keeps the state’s executive branch current on Maui issues and concerns. It was a nice and intimate group of about 10, and included representatives from local businesses, organized labor, non-profits and community groups.

January 31, 2013

Kauai Economic Development Board presentation

I visited Kauaʻi on January 29, where I had the opportunity to present our Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative (HI2) to the Kauaʻi Economic Development Board at the Kauaʻi Marriott in Līhuʻe. About 60 people attended the presentation.

It was an excellent chance to get to know the garden isle’s business and community leaders who have been through the recent recession and are looking beyond today. They had some really productive ideas for Hawaiʻi’s economic and employment future.

While there, I also squeezed in a campus visit to Kauaʻi Community College where I enjoyed catching up with administrators, faculty, staff and students.

January 22, 2013

President Obama’s inauguration and Washington meetings

President Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 21, 2013.

I had the honor of attending President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on Martin Luther King Jr. day, January 21, 2013. The crowds were impressive and the weather held up. People from all over the country filled the Capitol grounds and the National Mall as far as the eye could see. It was a sight to behold!

I have been in Washington, D.C. to attend some meetings as well as the Barack Obama President Center Inaugural Gala to raise money for a presidential center in Honolulu. The University of Hawaiʻi is spearheading the effort and we had a very successful fundraising event on Saturday. All four members of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation attended, as well as First Sister, UH faculty member and author Maya Soetoro-Ng; AOL founder Steve Case; neighbor island mayors and many others.

Hawaii Inaugural Gala

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood attended the Hawaii Inaugural Gala at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington DC on January 19, 2013. The gala was a fundraiser for a possible Obama Center is Hawaii.

Hawaii Inaugural Gala

Manoa Forum

Former University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, left, and Mitch D'Olier of Kaneohe Ranch, center, attended the Manoa Forum with University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood on January 14, 2013.

December 13, 2012

APDR3 keynote address

I’m in New York City, where I gave the keynote address at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation.

APDR3 began as a partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) to leverage our assets and work together in the Pacific region and has attracted supporters such as FEMA, The U.S. Japan Council and NOAA. The initiative was highlighted during last year’s APEC meetings, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, outlining the intent of our partnerships with Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, and unveiled in a major speech by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The project has grown exponentially since then, with a half a million dollar award from the Ford Foundation and another half a million dollars from the Rockefeller Foundation. Chevron USA presented us with a matching grant to support this growing initiative. We are thrilled. The grants will be used to design strategy and governance structure, and scope collaborative and cooperative projects.

The University of Hawaiʻi is extremely honored to house the beginnings of this institution, which will eventually include granting of executive degrees, training of workforces, research and other elements of a strong and ground-breaking academic program.

<p>At the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3), from left, Amir Dossal, the UN's chief liaison for partnerships and M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawaii president.</p>

APDR3 meeting in New York

At the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3), from left, Amir Dossal, the UN's chief liaison for partnerships and M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawaii president.

<p>University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and New York Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program Cecilia Martinez at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation in December 2012. The United Nations Human Settlements Program is committed to creating sustainable housing worldwide.</p>

APDR3 meeting in New York

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and New York Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program Cecilia Martinez at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation in December 2012. The United Nations Human Settlements Program is committed to creating sustainable housing worldwide.

<p>University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood gave the keynote address at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation in December 2012.</p>

APDR3 meeting in NY

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood gave the keynote address at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation in December 2012.

<p>At the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3), from left, Wahyu Wilopo, S.T.M. engineering geological department, Gadjah Mada University; Densie Konan, University of Hawaii at Manoa professor and department of economics chair; M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawaii president and Dwikorita Karnawati, professor in environmental and engineering geology and vice rector for cooperation and alumni, Universitas Gadjah Mada.</p>

APDR3 meeting in New York

At the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3), from left, Wahyu Wilopo, S.T.M. engineering geological department, Gadjah Mada University; Densie Konan, University of Hawaii at Manoa professor and department of economics chair; M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawaii president and Dwikorita Karnawati, professor in environmental and engineering geology and vice rector for cooperation and alumni, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

October 22, 2012

Complete College America

I am very pleased to report to you that results of one of our major initiatives—the Hawaiʻi Graduation Initiative—are garnering national attention for the University of Hawaiʻi.

Part of our progress can be seen in the 20 percent increase in UH graduates since 2008. More recently, in fall 2012, there was a 14.7 percent increase in the number of students taking 15 credits or more systemwide.

Because of these and other measures, Hawaiʻi was one of only three states chosen by Complete College America for an academy to develop next steps and specific strategies to improve college completion outcomes. Complete College America brought about 16 staff to the state capital and UH chancellors, vice chancellors and staff from across our 10 campus system—about 100 in all—participated in planning for specific completion goals.

In addition, the University of Hawaiʻi has been invited to present our 15-to-Finish campaign at Complete College America’s annual conference in December. The president of Complete College America says Hawaiʻi is among the top 5 to 10 states in making progress toward increasing graduation rates.

We have a video that was shot at the recent two-day Hawaiʻi Graduation Initiative Summit II at the State Capital and explains why all of us at the University of Hawaiʻi should be very proud of what we are accomplishing in this area.

September 28, 2012

Pacific Century Fellows

The Pacific Century Fellows

I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with this year’s Pacific Century Fellows on September 27. This group is our next generation of leaders and includes State Representative Ty Cullin, and one of our own, University of Hawaiʻi Regent Michael Dahilig.

The Pacific Century Fellows program, based on the White House Fellows Program, was founded by former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. It aims to develop leaders who will bring with them a greater awareness and sensitivity to the people of Hawaiʻi. Each year, the program brings together a diverse group of approximately 32 of Hawaiʻi’s most promising individuals. The fellows come from all professions and all walks of life.

Through the program, they are encouraged to develop long-term relationships with their senior community and community leaders. I had the privilege of meeting them and presenting my University of Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative (HI2), which strives to double our research funding over the next few years.

May 2, 2012

Hawaii Executive Conference

Jim Lally, Steve Case (AOL), M.R.C. Greenwood, David Karl and James Wei

We had a wonderful opportunity to present for the first time, details of our plan to build a billion dollar research industry. We made our presentations at the Hawaiʻi Executive Conference on the Big Island. AOL co-founder Steve Case moderated the panel discussion. I presented our research plan, along with distinguished scientist David Karl, UH Foundation board member Jim Lally and expert venture capitalist James Wei.

Mr. Case, who is from a long-standing island family, gave our team some very useful, national and international perspectives on what we are striving for and how to achieve this goal. We were scheduled to take a sail on the Hōkūleʻa, but alas, the seas did not cooperate. Although we were disappointed that we didn’t get to sail, it was a privilege to spend some time with Nainoa Thompson.

February 13, 2012

Palamanui check presentation

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, left, shares a laugh with University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood prior to presentation of $9.68 million to the University of Hawaii to begin construction of the Hawaii Community College Palamanui campus in West Hawaii at the Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua Kona January 31, 2012. Photo By Michael Darden / www.dardenphotos.com

It’s not often in a higher education career that one gets to conceive, design and build a college campus form scratch. But that’s what the University of Hawaiʻi took a big step forward in doing recently when we accepted a check in the amount of $9.68 million from Palamanui Partners in Kona toward the construction of our first permanent campus on the west side of Hawaiʻi!

Hunt Companies Hawaiʻi Division president Steve Colon, representing Palamanui Partners which is a joint effort of Charles Schwab and Hunt Companies, presented a large symbolic check in that amount to Board of Regents Vice Chair James Lee and me, along with Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, Vice President of Student Affairs and External Relations Rockne Freitas, and Hawaiʻi Community College Chancellor Noreen Yamane. What an occasion to celebrate!

Rockne Freitas, back, with M.R.C. Greenwood, James Lee, Noreen Yamane, Billy Kenoi and Steve Colon (photo By Michael Darden)

This project has been in the planning stages for 8 years, and it’s remarkable that despite economic challenges the group stuck together and held the collective vision. This campus, when completed, will bring the promise of a college degree and a better quality of life to one of our most underserved areas. We couldn’t have gotten to this day without the help and constant support of community leaders like our Regents from the island of Hawaiʻi Carl Carlson and Barry Mizuno, Chair Eric Martinson, UH Foundation Board member Jim Lally, and so many others. Groundbreaking will occur this coming summer!

More photos from the event on Flickr.

December 5, 2011

Research, innovation and the Chamber of Commerce

Jim Tollefson and MRC Greenwood

With Jim Tollefson, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii

I had the pleasure of serving as a guest speaker recently for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaiʻi’s Public Policy Series, a monthly event that features state leaders from government and business. I was asked to update their members on our research and innovation efforts. It was a great opportunity to share our vision for the University of Hawaiʻi to create a 21st-century capability for innovation and technology transfer and how we are enhancing our already robust research efforts to make our research enterprise a key to economic growth for the state of Hawaiʻi.

The University of Hawaiʻi is an important revenue center and economic driver for Hawaiʻi, and our research enterprise has the potential to be a $1 billion industry. It will require innovation, investment and collaboration to achieve this goal. Crucial to this effort are partnerships with our business community, many of whom are members of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. We’re grateful for their support as we all work together to strengthen and diversify our economy.

I was especially gratified to have a couple of business leaders express to me afterward their willingness to support us somehow. “What can we do to help you?” one asked. “If you think we’re doing a good job, tell everyone you know!” I said. “And help us remind the public how important a public higher education institution is to our state’s future.”

See more pictures from the event.

November 18, 2011

Legislative tour of cancer center site

Group of people in orange vests and hard hats in front of multi-story building under construction

Lawmakers visiting the UH Cancer Center project with, from left, Regent Dennis Hirota, Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and UH Cancer Center Director Michele Carbone

A number of lawmakers joined us this week for a tour of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center construction project. The new center will help us improve health care for Hawaiʻi cancer patients, advance understanding of cancers that are prevalent in our island population and explore potential new cures found in our unique environment.

View more photos from the tour.

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Archive for the ‘Initiatives’ Category

Maui visit

Kauai Economic Development Board presentation

President Obama’s inauguration and Washington meetings

APDR3 keynote address

Complete College America

Pacific Century Fellows

Hawaii Executive Conference

Palamanui check presentation

Research, innovation and the Chamber of Commerce

Legislative tour of cancer center site