The RCUH Outstanding Employees of the Year Awards encourage, recognize, and reward RCUH employees who have made demonstrable, significant, and exemplary contributions to their project. Congratulations to the 2021 nominees!

Researcher/Project Manager Category

Amber Imai-Hong
UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory
Nominated by Principal Investigator Frances Zhu

Amy Weintraub
Hawaii Academy of Science
Nominated by Principal Investigator Neal Atebara

Cassie Stelow
Pacific Disaster Center
Nominated by Principal Investigator Ray Shirkhodai

Howard Morrow
Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawai’i
Nominated by Principal Investigator Margo Edwards

Mark Huber
UH Institute for Astronomy, Pan-STARRS
Nominated by Principal Investigator Kenneth Chambers

Melanie Hutchinson
UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research
Nominated by Principal Investigator Douglas Luther, CIMAR Deputy Director Jeffrey Hare

Robin Hayes
UH Institute for Astronomy, Maunakea Observatories Support Services
Nominated by Principal Investigator Stewart Hunter

Serge Chastel
UH Institute for Astronomy, Pan-STARRS
Nominated by Principal Investigator Richard Wainscoat

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Project Support Staff Category

Alycia Fujii
UH Mānoa College of Education, Curriculum Research & Development Group
Nominated by Principal Investigator Dean Lodes

Andrea Alexander
UH Mānoa College of Education, Center on Disability Studies
Nominated by Principal Investigator Chuan Chinn

Claudine Chan-Naruse
UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawai’i and Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center
Nominated by Principal Investigator Kelley Withy

Dylan Davis
UH Mānoa College of Natural Sciences, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit – Ko’olau Mountains Watershed Partnership
Nominated by Principal Investigator Clifford Morden

Elizabeth Dingeldein
UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Center for Conservation Research & Training
Nominated by Principal Investigator Kenneth Kaneshiro

Eva Brill
UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Natural Resources & Environmental Management
Nominated by Principal Investigator J.B. Friday

Martin Holzgang
Kapi’olani Community College, Title III Lawelawe Po’okela Project
Nominated by Principal Investigator Louise Pagotto

Peter Oshiro
Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Nominated by Principal Investigator Ming-Tang Chen

Rosalind Kia
UH Mānoa College of Education, Center on Disability Studies
Nominated by Principal Investigator Jennifer Tarnay

Vannida Phommachanh
UH Mānoa College of Natural Sciences, High Energy Physics
Nominated by Principal Investigator Thomas Browder

Yoshiyuki Doi
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Subaru Telescope
Nominated by Principal Investigator Michitoshi Yoshida

Yumi Nagayoshi
UH Institute for Astronomy, Maunakea Observatories Support Services
Nominated by Principal Investigator David Lonborg

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Team Category

Hawai’i Health Data Warehouse
Katherine Benson, Jill Yamashita, Kristine Hironaka
UH Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies
Nominated by Principal Investigator Rebekah Rodericks

Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project
Hanna Mounce, Laura Berthold, Zachary Pezzillo
UH Mānoa College of Natural Sciences, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
Nominated by Principal Investigator Shaya Honarvar

National Disaster Preparedness Training Center
Lydia Morikawa, Melissa Peneyra, Amanda Bates
UH Mānoa Social Science Research Institute
Nominated by Principal Investigator Karl Kim

Sport Fish Restoration (Monitoring)
McKenna Allen, Mia Melamed
Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
Nominated by Principal Investigator Heather Ylitalo-Ward

UH Cancer Center Pathology Core
Hugh Luk, Keiko Garvin, Kyle Nishiyama, Xue Mei Zhu
UH Cancer Center
Nominated by Principal Investigators Brenda Hernandez and Owen Chan

RCUH is currently accepting pre-orders for its 2022 RCUH calendar! The 24″ x 19″ calendar is available on a first-come, first-served basis and quantity is limited so send in your pre-order today! If possible, please consolidate orders for your office and email [email protected] the following info:

• Coordinator’s name
• Coordinator’s email address
• Project name
• Quantity
• Mailing address (for neighbor island orders only)

We will notify coordinators in November/December when orders can be picked up from our Manoa Innovation Center location.

Should you have any questions, please contact RCUH Corporate Services by calling 808-988-8314 or emailing [email protected].

The Manoa Innovation Center (MIC) has experienced an unforeseen power outage, which is affecting RCUH’s Finance and Corporate Services Departments. Phones are out of service and email service may be limited. Electricians and HECO are looking into the cause of the outage, which may take several hours. An update will be provided once power is restored. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

1:45 p.m. Update – Power has been restored at MIC.

Update (12:02 p.m.): Power has been restored to the building.

There is currently a power outage at the Manoa Innovation Center, which is affecting the RCUH Finance and Corporate Services departments. Phones are out of service and email service is limited. An update will be provided once power is restored. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

In an effort to increase awareness of updates to RCUH’s policies and procedures, the following changes have been made on RCUH’s website since the previous announcement (released on May 10, 2021):

• Policy 2.002 Definitions
  • Updated definition of “Construction”

• Policy 2.105 Invitation for Bid (For the Procurement of Construction)
  • Updated terms for Procurement of construction services by UH projects
  • Section I.B.1-3
    • Clarified name of UH office
  • Section I.C.1.e.
    • Clarified that HRS Chapter 104 applies with the exception of certain Direct Projects
  • Section I.D.1
    • Updated language regarding bid security

• Policy 2.207 Subcontract Administration for RCUH Direct Projects
  • Section III.E
    • FAR 52.219-9(d)(11)(iii) limit increased from $150,000 to $250,000

• Policy 2.208 Small Business Subcontracting Plan
  • Section III.B.5
    • FAR 52.219-9(d)(11)(iii) limit increased from $150,000 to $250,000
    • Previously applied to Direct Projects, but now applies to all projects

• Policy 2.209 Construction Contracts
  • Updated definition of “Construction” and clarified UH office

• Agreement for Services Amendment Template
  • Added another option to first dropdown
  • Added fourth dropdown

• Attachment 8b Agreement for Services (Direct Projects)
  • Attachment 4
    • Standard of Conduct Declaration updated to apply to all direct projects, not just state entities

• Attachment 38 Subcontract/Purchase Order Expected to Exceed $250,000 Under a Federal Prime Contract Worksheet
  • Updated to correspond to the simplified acquisition threshold referenced in FAR 52.219-9(d)(11)(iii)

• Consent, Waiver, Release and Indemnity Agreement for Adults and Minors
  • Section 1
    • Updated to clarify that the form may also apply to employees who are not participating in connection with their employment.

Should you have any questions, please contact Erin Yoda at [email protected].

Update: Power has been restored at the Manoa Innovation Center.

There is currently a power outage at the Manoa Innovation Center, which is affecting the RCUH Finance and Corporate Services departments. Phones are out of service and email service is limited. An update will be provided once power is restored. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Mahalo to all who participated in RCUH’s virtual forum, “Foreign Intrusion into Academic Research & Training” on April 29, 2021. If you were unable to attend event, this report will provide a recap of the presentations and Q&A session.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. Stay tuned for RCUH’s next forum in 2022!

We are seeking visually captivating photos that exemplify your project’s mission and day-to-day operations for use in various RCUH publications, communications, videos, etc. If you’ve sent us photos in the past, feel free to share any new images you may have!

• Ideal photos should be clear
• Action or staged activities are preferred (no headshots)
• Minimum size: 600 x 600 pixels. Resolution: 300 dpi.

Please complete the photo information form and send your photos to [email protected] by Friday, September 3, 2021. Photos may be sent as attachments or via UH File Drop.

Should you have any questions, please contact RCUH Corporate Services at [email protected] or call (808) 988-8314.

Mahalo for sharing your work with us!