The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa hosted its 65th annual Business Night on May 7, at the Sheraton Waikiki. The signature event brought together more than 500 students and business professionals for an evening of mentorship, recognition and networking.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business’ School of Travel Industry Management (TIMSchool) hosted its 24th annual Celebrate a Legacy in Tourism gala on March 31 at the ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach. As the largest fundraiser in support of TIM School student scholarships, the event raised more than $361,000 through the generous support of Hawaiʻi’s hospitality and business community.

Dean Vance Roley is one of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s longest standing deans and as a finance guy, it would only be natural that he is fond of nice, even numbers. Which is a big reason his original plan was to transition from his two-decade deanship and return to the classroom at the Shidler College of Business on Jan. 1, 2025. But that timing wasn’t good for the university because former President David Lassner had planned his own transition. After talks with former Provost Michael Bruno and Jay H. Shidler, BBA ’68, it was decided that he’d stay on the extra year to ensure a smooth and successful search for the next dean. If a successor is not yet secured, Roley says he is prepared to continue serving as dean until the transition can be completed. 

Founded in 1966, the School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School) marks its 60th anniversary in 2026. The milestone offers both a celebration and an opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact the school, its students and its alumni have on Hawai‘i’s largest industry. Its earliest history dates to 1960 when Governor William Quinn, who was also the president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), lobbied to have Hawai‘i selected as the site of the first hotel management degree program in the Asia-Pacific region. More recently, the TIM School rejoined Shidler College in 2019 after being separate since 1992, and in fall of 2025 there were 264 students enrolled. 

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business Alumni Association, a 501(c)(3)organization, hosted its 26th Annual Executive Vineyards fundraiser on March 5, 2026, at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. The signature event raised more than $70,000 in support of the association’s mission to strengthen alumni engagement, advance student programming, provide scholarships and elevate the Shidler College of Business locally and globally.

When Lyra Pascual, BBA ’17, a senior accountant at Nakupuna Companies, volunteered at the Ironman World Championship in 2024, an idea took root. Watching athletes cross the finish line, she wondered if she could do the same. There was a small problem –– she didn’t know how to swim. “Maybe some day,” she told herself.

For Shidler College of Business finance and risk management professor Hua Chen, Hawai‘i’s position between Asia and the continental United States creates an ideal environment for bridging rigorous research with global, practice-focused education.

While they were freshmen in Shidler College’s Direct Admit Program, alumnae Amber Abara, BBA ’12, MS ’21, and Morgan “Birdy” Cobb, BBA ’12, MS ’21, crossed paths and quickly became best friends. What they didn’t know then was that their friendship would later spark a business — one inspired by a vivid dream Abara had during their Master of Science in Marketing Management program. In the dream, she saw a soap bar shaped like a gua sha. When she shared it with Cobb, expecting a laugh, Cobb immediately responded, “Let’s do it.”

Shidler College of Business alumnus Alexis Buchholz, BBA ’04, has released a new book, title “Why You’re Still Poor: And What to Do About It.” The book offers a practical framework to help readers build financial stability and long-term wealth through disciplined decision-making and ownership thinking.

Christian de Quevedo, JD/MBA ’21, founded Lē‘ahi Landscaping after identifying a disconnect between the importance of Hawai‘i’s built environments and the standards of the industry serving them. Landscapes shape some of the state’s most visible and valuable spaces, yet the work behind them is often noisy, emissions-heavy and unreliable.

Fion Lau, a 2005 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School) graduate, is turning her experiences as a mother into a children’s book series that explores sibling relationships, growth and family life. The series, The Courageous Forrest Brothers, was inspired by a quiet period in Lau’s life after transitioning from a corporate job.

The 59th annual Hawaiʻi International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business, convened global thought leaders at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa Maui, January 5–9. It brought together more than 1,300 scholars, industry experts and policymakers from more than 42 countries.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School) will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026, marking six decades since its founding in 1966. What began as a pioneering program in Hawaiʻi has grown into an internationally respected leader in hospitality, tourism and transportation education.

More than 300 participants from around the world convened at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa for the 9th annual Hawaiʻi Accounting Research Conference (HARC) from January 3 to 5 at the Shidler College of Business.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa earned high marks in nearly 20 academic subjects in the 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, with oceanography, atmospheric science and hospitality and tourism management leading the way among the highest-ranked programs.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa sophomore has returned from Antarctica after serving as the only participant from Hawaiʻi and the United States on a global expedition focused on protecting the continent beyond 2041.

The Shidler College of Business hosted a Master of Science in Finance (MSF) mixer on November 4 at the Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center. The event was attended by approximately 40 students and supported in part by the CFA Society Hawaiʻi, with participation from numerous finance faculty members. The audience enjoyed an engaging evening of discussion and networking centered on the theme “Where Are We Headed? Navigating the Future of Finance in Hawaiʻi.”

Meet David Morimoto, BBA ’91, vice chairman and chief operating officer for Central Pacific Bank (CPB). His responsibilities include leading customer growth and success, and building new customer relationships. Prior to his current position, he served as the chief financial officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Central Pacific Bank for a decade. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the Shidler College of Business and his master’s in business administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Morimoto resides in Honolulu with his family.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business celebrated the power of giving and education at its annual Scholarship Luncheon, held at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, November 3. More than 300 donors and students gathered for an afternoon of connection and sharing stories about how scholarship support is transforming lives and shaping Hawaiʻi’s future business leaders.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School) in the Shidler College of Business hosted its annual Ambassador L.W. “Bill” Lane Jr. and Mrs. Jean Lane Lecture on Sustainability on October 29 at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. The free event drew more than 100 attendees for an engaging conversation on regenerative tourism and sustainable business practices.

A packed room of 80 recent Shidler College graduates standing amongst Aloha Beer Company’s owner and Shidler alumnus Steve Sombrero, MBA ’94, while chanting “Aloha Beer!” isn’t exactly what most picture as alumni engagement. But it’s events like the recent alumni mixer, held in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Young Professional (YP) Program in April, that are gaining momentum amongst the newest generation of alumni. These gatherings are building community, creating mentorship opportunities and strengthening the alumni network in innovative ways that are engaging and a whole lot of fun.

A health tech startup improving how community health workers (CHW) document client visits took the $2,000 first place prize in the second annual Innovate 808 competition, hosted by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business. The startup was one of 12 interdisciplinary teams made up of UH Mānoa students that competed in the two-week challenge.

The School of Accountancy (SOA) is gaining international recognition for its growing influence in accounting research, highlighted by a steady rise in the Brigham Young University Accounting Research Rankings. The school now stands among respected peers such as Boston College, the London School of Economics, Purdue University, UC Berkeley and UC Irvine—a reflection of the school’s alignment with Shidler College’s mission to advance thought leadership on a global scale.

While he was a student at the School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School), Jared Matsuki, BS ’19, executive director of Hele Mua, had a defining moment that would shape his future — he attended his first beach cleanup at Makapu‘u Beach Park in 2018. He was a frequent beachgoer, but this time was different because it opened his eyes to a problem hidden under the sand.