University of Hawai‘i at Hilo honors employees during annual awards celebration

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo recently honored recipients of various Hilo campus and university system awards during the 2026 End of the Year Awards Celebration.

The event also honored retired employees, faculty and staff members for various years of service.

Award recipients

• Kekoa Harman, associate professor of Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language, University of Hawai‘i System Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Elisabeth Gallant, assistant professor of geology, University of Hawai‘i System Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.
• Kekoa Harman, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Pūlama ʻIke Award.
• Adriane Lewandowski, instructor of nursing, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
• Luzviminda Miguel, associate professor of nursing, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi Award for Excellence and Innovation.
• Hollind Paiva, janitor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance Award.
• Kathleen Hughes, information technology specialist, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Excellence in Service.

“Celebrating the people who make our campus community thrive,” says a post on the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Facebook page about the purpose of the awards event. “Mahalo to the faculty and staff recognized at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s 2026 End of the Year Awards Celebration for their excellence in teaching, service, innovation and care for our campus.”

The post adds that it is their work from classrooms to campus grounds that makes a lasting impact every day at the university.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients, retirees and service honorees!” the post says.

Visit the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo website for additional information about each award and this year’s recipient.