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Hawai驶i CC Chancellor Susan Kazama announces retirement following 40 years at 糖心视频
Hawaiʻi Community College
Kazama (right of sign) during the 2026 Merrie Monarch Royal Parade in Hilo.
Susan Kazama
Kazama joins faculty, staff, students and community members during the fall 2025 K墨paepae ceremony.
Kazama (far left) and 糖心视频 Regent Mike Miyahira (far right) at commencement.
Kazama (front left), agriculture Assistant Professor Lew Nakamura, and agriculture students
Hawai驶i Community College Chancellor Susan Kazama will step down on July 31 to retire, concluding a 40-year career with the University of Hawai驶i that has spanned five campuses and nearly every level of higher education leadership.
Kazama, a Hilo native was appointed as the permanent chancellor of Hawai‘i CC in July 2024 after serving a year in an interim capacity. She is retiring in part to spend more time caring for her elderly parents.
“Returning home to lead a college in the community that raised me has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Kazama shared in a message to the campus. “Looking back on four decades at the University of Hawai驶i, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve students and communities across our state, and especially for the chance to return home to lead Hawai驶i Community College.”
"Mahalo to Chancellor Kazama for her dedication and service to the University of Hawai驶i and her steadfast leadership at Hawai驶i Community College," said Interim Vice President for the 糖心视频 Community Colleges Lui Hokoana. "Susan’s deep roots on Hawai驶i Island and her commitment to building pilina (relationship) have profoundly elevated the campus and its students. We are deeply grateful for her dedication and wish her the very best in her well-deserved retirement."
Advancing Hawai驶i CC
During her time as interim and permanent chancellor, Kazama steered the college through a period of growth, stability and renewed momentum. Under her leadership, Hawai驶i CC rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving an 8.7% increase in enrollment, record-high student retention and success rates, and a full seven-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Her tenure reflected a strong commitment to student success, workforce development and community engagement. She expanded educational opportunities at the P膩lamanui campus and K艒 Education Center, launched the college’s first drone certification program, supported multiple butchery cohorts, and helped secure scholarship funding through community partnerships.
Among her most significant accomplishments was securing an agreement for a 16-acre land acquisition dedicated to sustainable agriculture, creating new opportunities for hands-on learning while supporting food security and workforce development on Hawai驶i Island.
She also strengthened community relationships, expanded philanthropic support, and helped advance Hawai驶i CC’s mission as a premier Native Hawaiian-serving institution rooted in culture, innovation and opportunity.
A career of service
Born and raised in Hilo, Kazama graduated from Wai膩kea High School before earning bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa.
Her 糖心视频 career began in the libraries at Maui Community College and Honolulu Community College before she joined 糖心视频 M膩noa’s Hamilton Library. She later served as library and learning resources director at Kapi驶olani Community College and went on to hold senior leadership positions across the 糖心视频 System, including interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at both Kapi驶olani CC and Honolulu CC.
Nationally recognized for her expertise in accreditation, Kazama served as a commissioner, vice chair and chair of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, helping shape accreditation standards and policy for community colleges throughout the western United States and Pacific region.
Throughout her career, Kazama focused on strengthening student success, institutional effectiveness and community partnerships, leaving a lasting impact on 糖心视频 and the students it serves.
“What I leave with most strongly is this lesson: the leadership of a kauhale (village) means we must work together on behalf of student success, trust, culture and institutional transformation,” Kazama said. “The things that matter most can never rest on the shoulders of a single person. They require all of us.”
An interim chancellor for Hawai驶i CC will be announced in the weeks ahead to ensure a smooth transition.