We also welcomed our new Regents Eugene Bal and Randy Moore at small reception at Bachman Hall.

UH Regents Reception

Governor Abercrombie addresses the crowd at a reception for outgoing regents Mike Dahilig, left, and Judge Artemio Baxa, right, and incoming regents at Bachman Hall Thursday night.

UH Regents Reception

Governor Abercrombie and I prepare to thank outgoing Regents Mike Dahilig and Judge Artemio Baxa at a reception at Bachman Hall Thursday evening.

UH Regents Reception

Regent Carl Carlson, Associate V.P. for Student Affairs Lui Hokoana and Regent Barry Mizuno outside Bachman Hall.

UH Regents Reception

Welcoming new Regent Randy Moore.

We presented a congratulatory plaque to outgoing Vice President for Student Affairs and University and Community Relations and incoming UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Rockne Freitas on May 1, his first official day in his new position.

I nominated Freitas and the Board of Regents approved the nomination this spring. He is the first Native Hawaiian to serve as chancellor of a four-year university in the state of Hawaiʻi and the nation.

Congratulations Chancellor Freitas!

David Karl receives Agassiz Medal

David Karl, third row, first from left, joins other National Academy of Sciences award recipients, including Bill and Melinda Gates, front row, who received the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal.

David Karl receives Agassiz Medal

From left, University of Hawaii at Manoa Professor David Karl, University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Ed DeLong at a National Academy of Sciences awards ceremony reception.

David Karl receives Agassiz Medal

From left, University of Hawaii at Manoa Professor David Karl and University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood at a National Academy of Sciences awards ceremony reception.

David Karl receives Agassiz Medal

David Karl, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is presented with the National Academy of Sciences Alexander Agassiz Medal.

I just returned from Washington, D.C. where I met with some congressional delegates and colleagues from the National Academy of Sciences.

While there, I also had the opportunity to see our very own Dave Karl receive the prestigious Alexander Agassiz medal from the NAS on Sunday, April 28. David Karl is a professor of oceanography at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He also directs the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE) at UH Mānoa.

Dave was recognized for his leadership in establishing multi-disciplinary ocean-observing systems for detecting significant changes in the ocean ecosystem.

The Agassiz medal is presented every three years for original contributions in oceanography. Others were recognized for their work as well, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, who both received the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal for their philanthropic work.

Congratulations Dave Karl for your excellent work and your many years of exceptional service to the University of Hawaiʻi.

Kauaʻi Community College Chancellor Helen Cox

Congratulations are in order for Kauaʻi Community College Chancellor Helen Cox, who has been named one of the five recipients of the 2013 Hoʻokanaka Leadership Awards. The awards celebrate and honor exceptional adult and youth leaders from Kauaʻi. The award celebration takes place on Saturday, May 4, 6 p.m. at the Kauaʻi Beach Resort.

Helen Cox became chancellor of Kauaʻi CC in August of 2008. Since then, Kauaʻi CC has become a promoter of sustainable living, where students are learning how to grow their own food and develop unique businesses out of their gardens. Congratulations Chancellor Cox!

Mahalo to the UH System team that joined us for the March for Babies at Kapi‘olani Park.

With my March for Babies campaign co-chair Karen Chang and Governor Neil Abercrombie

Warming up for the walk with a Panda!

Mahalo to the UH System team that joined us for the March for Babies at Kapi‘olani Park.

I had a wonderful experience speaking to the Coast Guard Diversity and Women’s Leadership group on April 9. They invited me to speak at a luncheon celebrating Women’s History Month.

The theme was near and dear to my heart: “Women inspiring Innovation through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.” It was an honor to share my personal journey and perspective on being a woman in a leadership position in the scientific community.

I also really enjoyed the videos of the Kalani High School and Sacred Hearts robotics teams competing in the national championships. It was great to meet the students and I invited them to take a tour of our new Cancer Center so they can see, first hand, state-of-the-art, scientific and research laboratories.

UH ʻohana enjoyed this weekend’s Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. Here I am with UH Hilo Chancellor Don Straney and Miss Aloha Hula Manalani Hokoana-English.

Manalani just happens to be the niece of Lui Hokoana, a graduate of UH Hilo and the university’s associate vice president for student affairs. She is an alumnus of Maui Community College and Kapiʻolani Community College.

UH Day 2013

Governor Neil Abercrombie, his dog Kanoa and representatives of the Windward Community College veterinary technician program.

UH Day 2013

Test of balance administered by students of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Kapi'olani Community College.

UH Day 2013

A curious youngster studying an anatomical model alongside President M.R.C. Greenwood and staff of the Native Hawaiian Health Program at the John. A. Burns School of Medicine.

UH Day 2013

President M.R.C. Greenwood with students and faculty from the UH Hilo College of Pharmacy.

UH Day 2013

President M.R.C. Greenwood at the display hosted by representatives of the Windward Community College veterinary technician program.

UH Day 2013

State Representative Mark Takai and young friends play a game hosted by the UH Cancer Center.

UH Day 2013

Sen. Jill Tokuda getting her blood pressure checked by a student of the UH Hilo College of Pharmacy.

UH Day 2013

A baton twirler, cheerleaders and musicians from the UH Band kicked off UH Day with a mini pep rally.

We had a wonderful time at UH Day at the State Capitol, where various University of Hawaiʻi programs were on hand to promote this year’s theme Healthy People, Healthy Pets.

Quite a few legislators participated in UH Day, including Senate Education Chairwoman Jill Tokuda, Senator Mike Gabbard and Representative Mark Takai. Governor Abercrombie brought his dog Kanoa to get checked out by Windward Community College’s veterinary technician students. He also visited with two newborn lambs that were part of the Windward exhibit.

UH Hilo offered blood pressure checks and information on it’s excellent program, Kapiʻolani Community College offered a variety of services, including balance tests with the physical therapy assistant program and flossing, brushing and other demonstrations by its health sciences, nursing and emergency medical programs. UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources offered advice on nutrition, wellness, diet, exercise and childhood obesity. The John A. Burns School of Medicine featured members of the family medicine and community health program and the Center for Native Hawaiian Excellence, who were on hand to provide blood pressure tests and information on illness prevention. The UH Cancer Center featured a Jeopardy Game consisting of health questions with prizes to boot!

UH Day was part of Education Week at the State Legislature, organized by Senator Tokuda. It was a good and educational time for all!

The undersecretary observed a field demonstration project of some of CIMES’ technologies that are being used in the community. We also had an excellent discussion.

This is an example of the kinds of roles UH research plays in our communities. Not only is this nationally important, but we are engaging students in STEM education and the community, in risk awareness and public safety. This is a perfect example of research investment dollars going back to and benefiting the community.

CIMES visit to Iolani School

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood, Department of Homeland Security Deputy Undersecretary of Science and Technology Daniel Gerstein and UH's Center for Island, Maritime and Extreme Environment Security at a visit to Iolani School in March 2013. (Photo courtesy of Iolani School)

CIMES visit to Iolani School

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Undersecretary of Science and Technology Daniel Gerstein at UH's Center for Island, Maritime and Extreme Environment Security visit to Iolani School in March 2013. (Photo courtesy of Iolani School)

CIMES visit to Iolani School

University of Hawaii's Center for Island, Maritime and Extreme Environment Security visit to Iolani School in March 2013. (Photo courtesy of Iolani School)