Top 10 UH Mānoa stories 2024 | University of Hawaiʻi System News

December 22, 2024
UH News

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UHNews.org posted nearly 1,500 stories in the very eventful 2024. Here are the top 10 UH Mānoa stories of the year:

UH Mānoa exceeds 20K students for the first time in over a decade
UH Mānoa also welcomed a record high 3,123 first-time freshmen in fall 2024. This is the 3rd straight year, the university has reached 3,000 or more freshmen.

Project to transform heart of UH Mānoa campus set to begin
The project on McCarthy Mall has two phases: 1) the construction of a modern, five-story building for interdisciplinary learning and 2) significant upgrades to the iconic tree-lined mall and the Paradise Palms Food Court.

Exterior render of the Snyder replacement building

technical equipment

UH launching space tech development center, student-training hub
The Space Sciences Initiative is expected to attract millions of dollars in funding, expand Hawaiʻi‘s technology sector and create more high-paying jobs on Hawaiʻi Island and across the state.

UH Mānoa college adds ‘resilience’ to its name to reflect vision, mission
The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has officially changed its name to the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, in a step that CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal said will better reflect the college’s mission and vision

Shomaker and exterior of JABSOM

Former leader recommended as UH medical school dean
Former vice dean Thomas Samuel “Sam” Shomaker was selected to lead the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

UH study first to measure outrigger canoe paddling intensity
Public health researchers are collecting data to determine canoe paddling’s metabolic equivalents, which show how many calories or energy expenditure a person burns when engaged in a physical activity.

canoe paddlers

UH-led Waikīkī sea-level rise adaptations to elevate infrastructure, utilities
Researchers created architectural renderings illustrating flood adaptation strategies in Waikīkī which can be adapted for low-lying coastal cities across the country.

Possible new ancient human species uncovered by UH scientist
Professor Christopher J. Bae may have found a new human species called Homo juluensis, which includes mysterious groups like the Denisovans.

UH Mānoa shines in latest world university rankings
The 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings places the institution in the top 2% worldwide for academic quality, research output and more.

Hale Aloha Towers renovation completed
The project includes polished concrete flooring, improved lighting, ceiling fans and new furniture in the lobbies, mid-floor common area and 13th floor recreation deck activity lounge of the four towers.