The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business celebrated the generosity of its scholarship donors and the achievements of its student scholars at its annual Scholarship Luncheon, held November 2 at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.

Undergraduate enrollment at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School) continues to climb, with the school reporting an increase of more than 13% for fall 2026. The latest growth follows a 4.5% enrollment increase the previous year, marking two consecutive years of gains for the school, which prepares students for careers in Hawaiʻi’s tourism and hospitality industries and beyond.

Meet Colby Takeda, MBA ’16, CEO and cofounder of Pear Suite, an AI-enabled healthcare company supporting community health workers, doulas and community-based organizations. He oversees operations, marketing, sales, health plan partnerships and national expansion efforts.

Prior to his current position, Takeda worked at Blue Zones Project and The Plaza Assisted Living. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from Shidler College, as well as a master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley, and his bachelor’s degree from Willamette University. Takeda resides in Honolulu.

Kaya Ishimine, BBA ’24, has been on a career fast track since she was a student at Shidler College. She began working at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii while completing her undergraduate studies in marketing and management. After graduating, she was promoted to manager of marketing and of the Young Professionals (YP) Program, later rising to associate executive director. In July, just two years after graduation, Ishimine stepped into the role of executive director of the program she was first drawn to for the opportunity to learn from high-achieving young adults.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business hosted its 34th Hall of Honor Awards on Oct. 8 at the Sheraton Waikiki. The event celebrated distinguished business professionals who exemplify excellence in their fields while raising funds to support the college. This year’s celebration brought together more than 400 guests to recognize the 2026 cohort and raised more than $400,000 thanks to the generosity of local businesses and the community.

Isaiah Nichols-Floyd, MBA ’25, dreamed of Japan long before arriving in Honolulu to pursue his Global MBA at Shidler College. He was first exposed to Japanese culture as a child through video games, anime and film. As his interest grew, he decided to study Japanese in high school. Years later, he earned his undergraduate degree in applied economics from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and began a career as an analyst for a software company with an office in Japan. Around the same time, he began seriously researching ways he could live and work in Japan, turning his longtime interest into a professional goal. After exploring graduate school options, he landed on Shidler College’s Global MBA because of its Japan Track.

For Brandy Shimabukuro, BBA ’07, even the best-planned day can change in a minute. She may begin her morning focused on social media strategy, media relations or executive communications, only to shift gears when a cruelty case, emergency response or sudden influx of animals takes precedence. In those moments, her work becomes more than messaging. It becomes a way to build trust, inspire action and help animals across Oʻahu find care, safety and, ideally, a loving home.

As a fourth-generation farmer, Kylie Matsuda-Lum, BS ’01, sees her role at Kahuku Farms as more than carrying on a family business. Located on Oʻahu’s North Shore, the farm represents more than 100 years of hard work, resilience and connection to ʻāina. Today, it has grown into a vibrant gathering place with a farm café, retail products and agritourism experiences rooted in food, community and local agriculture.

The University of Hawaiʻi’s three 4-year universities earned national recognition in the U.S. News and World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings released September 22, with UH West Oʻahu earning two second-place regional rankings and two additional top-10 rankings.

Shidler College of Business alumni Ross Murakami, BBA ’87, and Dayle Murakami, BBA ’89, have established a Direct Admit Program (DAP) Scholarship to support students from ʻAiea, Waiākea and Konawaena high schools.

The first clue that Xiaodan Mao-Clark does not fit the stereotypical image of an assistant professor at a business school is the oversized off-road eBike parked inside her office.

On May 16, Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley experienced one of his favorite parts of the job for the last time as dean. As thousands filled the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa for commencement, Roley stood near the main stage in his regalia and scanned the crowd for the faces from the college he has led for the past 21 years.

A new study co-authored by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa expert is shedding light on growing public concern about deepfakes—artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos, images or audio that realistically depict individuals saying or doing things they never actually said or did. This comes as the State of Hawaiʻimoved to strengthen protections against the harmful use of AI.

Longtime Hawai‘i insurance leader Jim Cavanah has established the James Cavanah, CPCU, Endowed Insurance Scholarship at the Shidler College of Business to support students interested in pursuing careers in the insurance industry. Through this scholarship, Cavanah hopes to encourage more students to explore a profession that offers meaningful opportunities for growth, service and long-term success. 

Shidler College of Business Information Technology Management professor Bo Sophia Xiao has been recognized with the 2025 Best Paper Award from the Journal of the Association for Information Systems (JAIS), one of the premier peer-reviewed journals in the information systems field. The paper, coauthored with Shidler College of Business alumna Andrea Rivera, PhD ’26, and University of Hawai‘i alumnus Kaveh Abhari, PhD ’14, is titled "Responsible AI Design: The Authenticity, Control, Transparency Theory."

Hundreds of alumni representing every Vietnam Executive MBA (VEMBA) cohort, from the inaugural Class 1 to the current Class 33, joined faculty, university leaders and distinguished guests at the Meliá Hanoi Hotel on July 8; and The Reverie Saigon on July 11 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business’ VEMBA program. Since its founding in 2001, VEMBA has graduated more than 1,000 business leaders who now serve in executive roles across Vietnam and beyond.

A new $500,000 endowed professorship at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Shidler College of Businesswill strengthen the university’s role as a global leader in Asia-Pacific finance research. The transformational gift comes from distinguished finance scholars and Shidler faculty members S. Ghon Rhee and Rosita P. Chang.

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.