Elle Vincioni, Staff Writer
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The Long Life of a Short Film
A conversation with award-winning student filmmaker Tiffany Liu. Making a short film is not as simple as grabbing a camera and pressing “record.” At least, not for student filmmakers. Even less simple is creating an award-winning short film. But that’s exactly what Tiffany Liu accomplished. Liu’s short film, “Winner,” won the BMW Hawaiʻi Driven Student Filmmaker Award and Scholarship at the 45th annual Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF).
Devin Hung, Staff Writer
Renowned Māhū Activist & Queer Filmmakers Share 15-year Creative Partnership
Kumu Hina, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson emphasize the necessity and urgency of their culturally-embedded work in Hawai‘i. About 15 years ago, a creative partnership formed between Native Hawaiian and māhū (gender-nonconforming) activist, Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, and queer activist filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer. Since releasing their first documentary film together Kumu Hina (2014), they have since worked together on a multitude of films and local projects in support
Elle Vincioni, Staff Writer
Emerging Local Bands to Catch This Semester
Oʻahu’s underground music scene has a little something for everyone, from soft island vibes to alternative rock. For those new to the islands or interested in getting in touch with the local music community, here are some up-and-coming bands to check out. Over the past year, a wave of new energy has been building across the local music scene. With more venues such as Harbors Vintage and The Arts at Mark’s Garage supporting underground shows and a post-pandemic resurgence of i
Andrew Smith, Staff Writer
Revolution Within: Finding Strength through Buddhism
On a humid Friday morning at Hamilton Library, Oct. 3, 2025 a small circle of chairs filled slowly as members of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) community gathered to talk about one idea: Human Revolution. The phrase, central to Nichiren Buddhism, describes the quiet act of transforming one’s life from within, a revolution that starts not in politics or power, but in the heart. SGI is a global Buddhist network rooted in the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, a 13th-century
Dwight Byrum, Managing Editor
The Latest
Construction on McCarthy Mall Inconveniences Students and Faculty
Fences and heavy machinery forcing students and faculty away and inside Editor's Note: After posting, more information about the McCarthy Mall construction was added for further context. The campus at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has turned into a place of constant commotion as the persistent rumble of heavy machinery, and maze of orange cones leave students with a sense of unease. For UH Mānoa students, the ambitious construction projects, designed to modernize and transfo
Tati Taylor, Staff Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Life in the Deep Ocean
UH scientists reveal the shifting world beneath the waves Four kilometers beneath the Pacific, there is no sunlight, no sound, and no sign of stillness. In that pitch-black world, tiny creatures glow with bioluminescence, flickering like stars against the dark. It is a place most people will never see, but new research from the University of Hawai‘i shows that even the planet’s deepest waters are full of movement and change. A recent study led by UH Mānoa doctoral candidate G
Dwight Byrum, Managing Editor
Dec 18, 2025
UH Hilo Receives $1 Million Endowment to Fight Insecurity
The Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity looks to support struggling UH Hilo students The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo received a $1 million endowment to establish the Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity (KERI). The fund will focus on students who face financial or personal challenges that are detrimental to their education. Married couple Gary and John are the benefactors of the $1 million gift. They aim to provide relief to students who struggle with access to basic
Jesse Mashburn, Staff Writer
Dec 18, 2025
UH Mānoa duck tests preliminarily positive for Avian Influenza
On October 14, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health announced that a duck found on the UH Mānoa campus had preliminarily tested positive for H5N1 — a variant of Avian Influenza. The sick duck was quickly removed from the campus to prevent other animals and the public from possible exposure. Sadly, the bird did not survive; the remains are being kept for further testing according to the Department of Health. H5N1 Avian Influenza is very contagious among wild birds and poultry, how
Jesse Mashburn, Staff Writer
Dec 18, 2025
The Long Life of a Short Film
A conversation with award-winning student filmmaker Tiffany Liu. Making a short film is not as simple as grabbing a camera and pressing “record.” At least, not for student filmmakers. Even less simple is creating an award-winning short film. But that’s exactly what Tiffany Liu accomplished. Liu’s short film, “Winner,” won the BMW Hawaiʻi Driven Student Filmmaker Award and Scholarship at the 45th annual Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF).
Devin Hung, Staff Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Renowned Māhū Activist & Queer Filmmakers Share 15-year Creative Partnership
Kumu Hina, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson emphasize the necessity and urgency of their culturally-embedded work in Hawai‘i. About 15 years ago, a creative partnership formed between Native Hawaiian and māhū (gender-nonconforming) activist, Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, and queer activist filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer. Since releasing their first documentary film together Kumu Hina (2014), they have since worked together on a multitude of films and local projects in support
Elle Vincioni, Staff Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Emerging Local Bands to Catch This Semester
Oʻahu’s underground music scene has a little something for everyone, from soft island vibes to alternative rock. For those new to the islands or interested in getting in touch with the local music community, here are some up-and-coming bands to check out. Over the past year, a wave of new energy has been building across the local music scene. With more venues such as Harbors Vintage and The Arts at Mark’s Garage supporting underground shows and a post-pandemic resurgence of i
Andrew Smith, Staff Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Revolution Within: Finding Strength through Buddhism
On a humid Friday morning at Hamilton Library, Oct. 3, 2025 a small circle of chairs filled slowly as members of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) community gathered to talk about one idea: Human Revolution. The phrase, central to Nichiren Buddhism, describes the quiet act of transforming one’s life from within, a revolution that starts not in politics or power, but in the heart. SGI is a global Buddhist network rooted in the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, a 13th-century
Dwight Byrum, Managing Editor
Dec 18, 2025
From ‘The Les’ to Tokyo: Fall Ball ‘25 Gives Early Look at ‘Bows
With the ‘Ohana World Series and a special Japan Tour, Hawai'i Baseball begins to lay the foundation Yuzu Martin, Sports Writer Nov 11, 2025 Updated Nov 12, 2025 “I can’t remember a fall where the intersquad games have been so lively.” As UH baseball head coach Rich Hill spoke to a group of reporters ahead of a team scrimmage, you couldn’t help but realize the thrumming potency of the old saying, ‘there’s nothing like October baseball,’ even in a place like Hawaiʻi, where dis
Yuzu Martin, Sports Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Wahine Force A Crash Landing For the Pilots
The Rainbow Wāhine edged out a 55-51 victory last week against LMU, continuing the hope Coach Beeman could get her team comfortable at home. They faced Portland’s Pilots at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center this Sunday, winning with a dominant fourth quarter display to start the season 4-0 for the first time since 2000-01. Center Ritorya Tamilo had an impressive season debut and was named the Bank of Hawaiʻi Classic’s MVP in her first game back. She finished the game wi
Kerim Besic, Sports Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Rainbow Warrior Rodeo: Cowboys Take A Hard Fall In Hawaiʻi’s Senior Night Matchup
University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors Football saddled up for a wild ride as they closed out their regular season schedule against the University of Wyoming Cowboys in a sold-out stadium at T.C. Ching Complex the evening of Nov. 29. The senior night faceoff earned them a 27-7 victory as they roped in season records for a home field finale. The successful Thanksgiving weekend game for the ‘Bows included a dominant performance from Hawai’i Freshman Quarterback Micah Alejado wh
Mariah Chatriand, Sports Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Getting Rocked - Hawaiʻi Out-Shoots UC Davis: A Photo Essay
On Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, the UHM basketball team battled UC Davis and came out on top with the final score of 75-69.
Lauren Retsky / Ka Leo o Hawaiʻi
Dec 18, 2025
Men's Basketball Four Game Win Streak: A Photo Essay
On Sat, Dec. 6, 2025, the UHM basketball team played the Cal State Titans and ended the night with a 10-point lead of 69-59.
Lauren Retsky / Ka Leo o Hawaiʻi
Dec 18, 2025
Kale Kanaeholo / Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi
Dec 18, 2025
Hawai’i Falls In Four: Wāhine Volleyball Ends Season With Long Beach Loss
The University of Hawai’i Rainbow Wāhine Volleyball handled a tough loss in their senior night match against Long Beach State University the evening of Nov. 22 in Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Despite a steady battle, the ‘Bows were defeated in four sets to mark a premature end to the 2025 season. Long Beach took early control of the match, opening the first set with a kill from Logan King, opposite hitter and Big West Freshman of the Week for the past seven weeks. The
Mariah Chatriand, Sports Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Wahine Volleyball Tops UC San Diego Tritons: A Photo Essay
Wahine volleyball brings home a 3-1 set victory against UC San Diego in their second to last game of the season.
Kahlia Bailey / Ka Leo O Hawai’i
Dec 18, 2025
Finding the Perfect Sound for The Best Study Session
This is a feature that Apple music has that can tile a tab for music anywhere on the screen. It allows the listener to see what they are listening to while giving them easier access to both skip and replay buttons and to the music in the queue. Paige Lum / Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi I think most people agree that sometimes when yo
Paige Lum, Social Media Editor
Dec 18, 2025
UH Is Burning Books
In a digital age, we just don’t see the flames and smell the smoke. David Simone, PhD Candidate in Philosophy, UH Mānoa David Simone is an active member of the UH community, last seen in Ka Leo protesting the federal funding freeze that caused confusion for students nationwide at the beginning of February. Alec Johnson / Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi On May 6, 1933, the Institute of Sexology in Berlin, Germany was raided of the contents of its transgender research library.
David Simone, PH.D Candidate in Philosophy
Dec 18, 2025
Student Opinion: UH Administration is Failing an Open Book Exam
Disclaimer: This piece is representative of the opinion of the author, not the editorial staff of Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi. The University of Hawaiʻi’s (UH) Administration consists of some of the most highly educated people, and yet, they are actively and gravely failing an open-book exam. When looking back at history’s horrors and tragedies, we often shrill at how obvious the leading mistakes were. Notably, Neville Chamberlain allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland, and shortly the
Adrie Nossaman, Staff Writer Nikhil Stewart, Undergraduate in Religious Traditions and Political Science, Contributing Writer
Dec 18, 2025
Student opinion: Oppose SpaceX Dumping In Hawaiʻi
In green and yellow, the proposed landing ground, alarmingly close to the Hawaiian Islands and the newest largest marine sanctuary, Papahānaumokuākea. Courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration Space X, Elon Musk's space tech company, is proposing to federal authorities a new landing ground for ships that don't make it back to earth intact: by having them instead land in the Pacific Ocean. Musk wants to dump his trash in the Pacific for his billion dollar spacesh
Avery Cameron, Features Editor
Dec 18, 2025
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