Notable Alumni of University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hilda Heine 1951–

President of the Marshall Islands

Also attended: University of Southern California, University of Oregon

Child: Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner (Northeastern University Oakland, University of Hawaii at Manoa)

Tammy Duckworth 1968–

US senator from Illinois

Also attended: George Washington University, Northern Illinois University, Capella University

Daniel Inouye 1924–2012

United States Senator from Hawaii

Also attended: George Washington University

Spouse: Irene Hirano (University of Southern California)

Mazie Hirono 1947–

U.S. senator from Hawaii

Bachelor of Arts · Psychology · Class of 1970

Also attended: Georgetown University

Peter M. Christian 1947–

8th President of the Federated States of Micronesia

Also attended: University of Guam

Neil Abercrombie 1938–

7th Governor of Hawaii

Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1974

Also attended: Union College

David Ige 1957–

Eighth governor of Hawaii

Daniel Akaka 1924–2018

U.S. Senator from Hawaii

Tosiwo Nakayama 1931–2007

First President of the Federated States of Micronesia

Attended until 1969

Mike Parson 1955–

57th Governor of Missouri

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park

Patsy Mink 1927–2002

Hawaii congresswoman, first Asian-American woman in Congress

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1948

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Wilson College

Sandra Pierantozzi 1953–

Former Vice-President of Palau

Bachelor's degree · Class of 1978

Also attended: San Diego State University, Union Adventist University

Colleen Hanabusa 1951–2026

Lawyer and former U.S. Representative for Hawaii

Juris Doctor, Master of Arts · Class of 1977

John D. Waihee III 1946–

Fourth Governor of Hawaii

Also attended: Andrews University

Kao Kim Hourn 1966–

ASEAN Secretary-General; founder of University of Cambodia

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Ohio University-Main Campus, Baylor University

Lemanu Peleti Mauga 1960–

Eighth governor of American Samoa

Also attended: San Diego State University, American Samoa Community College

Yosiwo George 1941–2022

Former Vice President of Micronesia

Also attended: University of New Mexico-Main Campus, University of Guam

Leland Yee 1948–

Former California State Senator

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, San Francisco State University

Robert Ballard 1942–

Oceanographer who discovered the Titanic wreck

Master of Science · Geophysics · Class of 1966

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Southern California, University of Rhode Island

Stanley Ann Dunham 1942–1995

Anthropologist and mother of Barack Obama

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Spouse: Lolo Soetoro (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

Spouse: Barack Obama Sr. (Harvard University)

Rudolph Rummel 1932–2014

Political scientist studying collective violence and war

Also attended: Northwestern University

Jun Chen 2000–

Chinese-American astronomer and minor planet discoverer

Abbas Milani 1949–

Stanford Iranian Studies director and historian

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Sibling: Farzaneh Milani (California State University--East Bay, University of California-Los Angeles)

Maya Soetoro-Ng 1970–

Academic and half-sister of Barack Obama

Also attended: Barnard College, New York University

Father: Lolo Soetoro (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

Mother: Stanley Ann Dunham (University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Paul Kalas 1967–

American astronomer who imaged Fomalhaut's exoplanet

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Jason Momoa 1979–

Actor who played Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins, Des Moines Area Community College

Georgia Engel 1948–2019

Actress in The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Theatre

Janet Mock 1983–

Writer, television producer and transgender rights activist

Fashion merchandising

Also attended: New York University

Michael Savage 1942–

Conservative radio host and author

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, CUNY Queens College

Child: Russell Weiner (San Diego State University)

Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner 1989–

Marshall Islands poet and climate activist

Master of Arts

Also attended: Northeastern University Oakland

Mother: Hilda Heine (University of Southern California, University of Hawaii at Manoa)

John Fujioka 1925–2018

Actor of Japanese descent

Also attended: Elmhurst University

Linda Nagata 1960–

Speculative fiction author and Nebula Award winner

Rob Nelson 1979–

Biologist, documentary filmmaker and YouTuber

Also attended: University of Miami, Montana State University

Sherwood Hu 1961–

Chinese American theatre and film director

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: New York University, University at Buffalo

Michael Reeves 1997–

YouTuber and Twitch streamer

Bachelor of Science · Computer science · Class of 2020

Also attended: Northern Arizona University

Kent M. Keith 1949–

Writer and higher education leader

Also attended: University of Southern California, Harvard University

Tim Wong 1981–

Hong Kong musician, lead vocalist and guitarist

Tseng Yu-ho 1924–2017

Chinese-born American artist and art historian

Master's degree · Asian studies · Class of 1966

Also attended: New York University

Clayton Stanley 1978–

Volleyball player, 2008 Olympic champion

Irene González 1996–

Spanish water polo player, Olympic silver medalist

Matt Lojeski 1985–

American-Belgian former professional basketball player

Also attended: Eastern Wyoming College

Tom Henderson 1952–

Former NBA player

Carl English 1981–

Canadian basketball player

Anthony Carter 1975–

Former basketball player and assistant coach

Also attended: Saddleback College

Child: Devin Carter (Providence College, University of South Carolina-Columbia)

Taylor Averill 1992–

American professional volleyball middle blocker

Kim Willoughby 1980–

Former American indoor volleyball outside hitter

Camille Wright 1955–

Swimmer and Olympic medalist

Dominic Waters 1986–

Former professional basketball point guard

Stacey Porter 1982–

Australian softball player

Emily Maglio 1996–

Canadian women's volleyball player

Robyn Ah Mow-Santos 1975–

Volleyball player, 2008 Olympic silver medalist

Joe Worsley 1997–

Volleyball player, 2019 NORCECA Championship silver medalist

Carlos Briceno 1967–

Volleyball player, 1992 Olympic bronze medalist

Isaac Fotu 1993–

New Zealand professional basketball player

Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff 1968–

German basketball player and author

Nicole McClure 1989–

Goalkeeper for Jamaica women's national team

Also attended: University of South Florida-Main Campus

Jared Dillinger 1984–

Former Philippine Basketball Association player

Also attended: United States Air Force Academy

Garrett Nevels 1992–

Professional basketball player for Scafati Basket

Thomas Beatie 1974–

Transgender rights advocate and public speaker

Health sciences · Attended until 1996

Jacqueline Evans 1970–

Cook Islander marine conservationist

Arifa Sayeda Zehra 1937–2025

Pakistani educator and human rights activist

Lolo Soetoro 1935–1987

Indonesian geographer and stepfather of Barack Obama

Spouse: Stanley Ann Dunham (University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Child: Maya Soetoro-Ng (University of Hawaii at Manoa, Barnard College)