What are Basic Needs?

Basic needs include food and housing, childcare, mental health, financial resources and transportation, among others. Student basic needs security is critical for ensuring strong academic performance, persistence and graduation and overall student wellbeing.

Basic needs insecurity is experienced by millions of college students every year. In 2019, the Hope Center found that of nearly 167,000 college students surveyed in the US, 39% were food insecure within the past 30 days, 46% were housing insecure, and 17% were homeless within the past year. The prevalence of basic needs insecurity in the US and in Hawai‘i encouraged the creation of the UH System Basic Needs Committee dedicated to supporting student success and educational goals.

UH System Basic Needs Committee

The University of Hawai‘i Basic Needs Committee (UHBNC) was formed in 2019 by UH President, David Lassner to better understand and address food and other forms of basic needs insecurities in the student population. The UHBNC is dedicated to supporting students’ basic needs so that personal and educational goals are achieved. With designated committee members from each UH campus, the committee is familiar with accessible resources available specific to their campus and the surrounding community. To contact the Basic Needs Committee, please email uhsbn@hawaii.edu.

Committee Members

UH Hilo – Sherri Akau , Interim Executive Director, Student Support and Wellbeing, akau714@hawaii.edu

UH Hilo -Kaleb Matthews, Residence Life Coordinator, kalebkm@hawaii.edu

UH Mānoa – Wiliama Sanchez, Director of Student Conduct & Concern, manoasbn@hawaii.edu

UH West Oʻahu – Loea Akiona, Coordinator for Career Services, loea@hawaii.edu

UH West Oʻahu -Michiko Joseph, Interim Library Director, msjoseph@hawaii.edu

Hawaii CC- Kayci Benevides Student Basic Needs Specialist kaycijh@hawaii.edu

Hawai’i CC – Kate De Soto, Mental Health Therapist, kdesoto@hawaii.edu

Hawai’i CC – Christine Quintana, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, cdamate@hawaii.edu

Honolulu CC – Ina Miller-Cabasug, Learning Resources Retention Specialist, inamc@hawaii.edu

Kapi‘olani CC – LaVache Scanlan, Coordinator First Year Experience, lavache@hawaii.edu

Kaua‘i CC – Maeve OʻDonnell Pax, Human Needs Coordinator- Hoʻai Food Pantry, maeveop@hawaii.edu

Leeward CC – Lexer Chou, Student Life Coordinator, achou@hawaii.edu

Leeward CC – Jo Ann Cagasan, HiNET Program Coordinator, jcagasan@hawaii.edu

Maui College – Kulamanu Ishihara, Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, vorhies@hawaii.edu

Maui College – Chelsea Kau, Basic Needs Coordinator, ckhk@hawaii.edu

Windward CC – Ka‘ahu Alo, Student Life Counselor, kaahualo@hawaii.edu

Windward CC – Ardis Eschenberg, Chancellor, ardise@hawaii.edu

Windward CC – Robert Yamashita Basic Needs/HINET Coordinator, robertty@hawaii.edu

UH Community Colleges System – Cathy Bio, Director of Student Success, cbio@hawaii.edu

UH System – Farrahmarie Gomes, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, fmgomes@hawaii.edu

UH System Coordinator – Tehani Keanini, Student Basic Needs Coordinator, tehanis@hawaii.edu

Resources for Administrators

• Implementing Federal Guidance for SNAP Expansion
• SNAP Eligibility
• Using FAFSA Data to Administer Federal Programs

UH Basic Needs Course Syllabi Statement

Faculty are encouraged to include the basic needs syllabi statement into their class syllabus:

“Basic needs include food and housing, childcare, mental health, financial resources and transportation, among others. Student basic needs security is critical for ensuring strong academic performance, persistence and graduation and overall student well being. If you or someone you know are experiencing basic needs insecurity, please see the following resources: UH System Basic Needs.“