Levka"Proposed protest limits at UH trigger concerns
University of Hawaii President Wendy Hensel in the fall plans to release proposed changes that would impose new limits on speech and protests across all 10 UH campuses.
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Hensel’s announcement of her intentions in November 2025 to update UH’s 'time, place and manner' rules received immediate blowback from some students and faculty on the flagship Manoa campus, which has served as ground zero for student and faculty unrest going back at least seven decades to the 1960s.
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UH had celebrated DEI before Trump returned to power in 2025 and began slashing millions in federal research money. The university responded by canceling dozens of programs. Hensel’s efforts to prohibit demonstrations inside Bachman Hall represents a continuation of the fallout.
Other proposals under consideration by Hensel would:
>> Limit public demonstrations to noise levels of 60 decibels, which critics say is equivalent to a conversation.
>> Ban overnight camping and tents on campus — such as the global 'occupy' movements.
>> Distancing limits regulating how close demonstrators could get to UH buildings.
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The UH-Manoa Faculty Senate in February responded by voting overwhelmingly — 52 to 3 — to oppose Hensel’s proposal. UH law school faculty voted to submit written comments, including feedback on language in the draft they said could be interpreted as violating rights guaranteed in both the U.S. and Hawaii constitutions."