Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs have been shown to be effective mechanisms to recruit undergraduate students into the sciences and also to retain them, especially as related to underrepresented students. Academic-year REU programs have numerous benefits, including participation in longer-term research projects that allow more time to digest material, develop skills, and draw connections with coursework. This paper describes an academic-year REU program targeted at underrepresented students within the University of Hawaii system, shows how it is aligned with best practices for broadening participation, and presents evaluation results. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)