PUBA News

Learn more about our Program, Faculty, students, and activities.


Mock Hearing

PUBA Students Present Mock Testimony at the Capitol

Carrying on a long-standing PUBA tradition, on October 22, students in the Policy Analysis and Implementation (PUBA 609) class presented testimony at a mock legislative hearing at the State Capitol. Last year, PUBA …
Dr. Gowun Park, Jared Kawatani (PUBA alum), Dr. Jennifer Kagan, Pauline Yang, Alex Sosa, and Kylar Cade.

2024 Hawai’i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO) Conference

The first in-person (post-COVID) Hawai’i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations Conference (HANOCON) was a success! It is the State’s largest annual gathering of nonprofit professionals. PUBA sent a delegation of three MPA students and two …
Kelly Leroux

Dr. Kelly LeRoux Visits PUBA and Discusses Nonprofit Efforts to Increase Voter Participation

On September 25, 2024, Dr. Kelly LeRoux, Professor and Associate Dean in the College of Urban Planning & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago, visited PUBA and gave a guest lecture …
Daniel Koge

Alumni Spotlight – Daniel Koge

Our PUBA alumnus, Daniel Koge, is a Civil Engineer at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. The Board of Water Supply manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system, providing residents with safe …
Helen H. Yu, PUBA

Welcome to the Fall 2024 Semester from the Director, Dr. Helen Yu

Aloha kākou. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer break and is excited about the Fall 2024 semester. The PUBA program has changed a lot over the summer in both curriculum and new …
Roy Takumi

Alumni Spotlight – Roy Takumi Appointed as Chair of the Hawai‘i State Board of Education

Former state representative Roy Takumi, a distinguished MPA graduate of the Public Administration program, has been appointed (and confirmed by the State Senate) as the new Chair of the Hawai‘i State Board of Education by …
Seoyoun Cho and Mackenzie Plunkett

2024 American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) Conference 

The 2024 American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Conference took place from April 12 to 16 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Helen H. Yu, our Interim Director and Graduate Chair, along with two MPA …
David Lee

Former PUBA Faculty, Dr. David Lee, Speaks on the Role of Nonprofits in the Refugee Resettlement Process

On February 1, 2024, Dr. David Lee from Ewha Womans University returned to PUBA as part of our Speaker Series to provide students, faculty, and our community a presentation titled, “Let Refugees Learn: The Role …
Saunders Hall

Recent Highlights from PUBA Faculty, Winter 2024

Dr. Morgen Johansen Dr. Johansen most recently published an article on Advancing Social Equity in East Asia: Education and Health Care Policy in China, Korea, and Singapore in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Public …
Helen H. Yu, PUBA

Aloha, from the New Interim Program Director, Dr. Helen Yu

Hauʻoli makahiki hou. I hope everyone had a nice winter break and is excited about the Spring 2024 semester. I have been appointed as the Interim Director of PUBA effective January 1 through …
Morgen Johansen, PUBA

Aloha from the Outgoing Director, Dr. Morgen Johansen

This year marks 40 years of the PUBA program. Established as a certificate program in 1984, it grew to a Masters degree in 1990, which was made permanent by the Board of Regents …
Policing and Society - An International Journal of Research and Policy

New PUBA Faculty Publication

Publication TitleLGBTQ+ Officers in US Federal Service: An Examination of Workplace Inclusion and Experiencing Sex-Based Discrimination Author(s)Helen H. Yu and David Lee (current and former faculty respectively) Date of publicationOct 13, 2023 AbstractWorkplace …
Chetsada Changmai

Student Bio – Chetsada Changmai

Chet is a second year MPA student, and is PASO’s co-Vice President!! Why did you choose PUBA? I chose UHM’s PUBA program because I have heard that it has a strong connection with …
Speaker Series: Public Policy & Climate Change

PASO Event Reflection – Speaker Series: Public Policy & Climate Change

Gathering nearly 70 attendees, PASO’s panel was a success! Some highlights from our two panel members came from Matthew Gosner, Chief Resilience Officer & Executive Director at the City and County of Honolulu’s …
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)

PUBA in the Community – Helen Yu, NASPAA

Our Graduate Chair, Dr. Helen H. Yu, was recently selected to serve a 3-year term (Oct 2023-Sep 2026) as a member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) …
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