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VIDEO: 糖心视频 President opens statewide tour at 糖心视频 Hilo
University of Hawaiʻi
Campus community members packed a town hall event hosted by 糖心视频 President Hensel.
Faculty greet 糖心视频 leadership with traditional oli.
糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel connects with faculty.
Link to video and sound (details below):
***Suggested VOSOT script below***
The welcomed 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel and members of her leadership team on September 22 with oli (chant) and freshly strung lei pua kalaunu (crown flower) and vibrant orange native kou blossoms plucked from trees on campus. The traditional greeting opened a day of wide-ranging conversations about the campus’s strengths, challenges and future.
Although Hensel has made several visits to 糖心视频 Hilo over the past year, this daylong visit offered a deeper look at the campus and served as the first stop in her latest round of focused visits to all 10 糖心视频 campuses.
Related 糖心视频 News story: Windward CC visit concludes President Hensel’s 糖心视频 campus tours, March 25, 2025
When Hensel first toured campuses and education centers across the 糖心视频 system after first taking office in January 2025, she expressed her intention to return regularly to stay connected with students and employees and better understand each campus’s needs.
“There’s no substitute for talk story and being able to really get into the stories of Hilo,” said Hensel. “The work that’s being done here is incredible, and the opportunities for where we can go next as a system are phenomenal. Together, we’re stronger than any individual campus.”
A day of listening
Hensel was joined by five 糖心视频 leaders: Jan Gouveia, vice president for administration; Chad Walton, vice president for research and innovation; Kim Siegenthaler, senior advisor and interim vice president for academic strategy; Luis Salaveria, vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer; and Noelani Goodyear-Ka驶艒pua, interim director of Hawai驶i Papa O Ke Ao.
Together, they met with students, campus leaders and employee groups, including the Hanakahi Council, 糖心视频 Hilo’s Native Hawaiian faculty and staff caucus. Hensel also answered questions during an open campus conversation and joined 糖心视频 Hilo’s fall welcome.
Investing in 糖心视频 Hilo
Hensel shared an overview of $123 million in funded work across the 糖心视频 System for the 2026–27 academic year.
At 糖心视频 Hilo, planned investments include a new coordinator to support second-year students, faster campus internet, building repairs and dedicated spaces for Native Hawaiian students. The campus will also receive funding for efforts to help more students remain in college and graduate.
“Having President Hensel here gives her a chance to see our campus up close and hear directly from the people who know it best,” 糖心视频 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin said. “These conversations help her understand both our strengths and our challenges, and how the system can support and uplift our campus.”
President Hensel campus visit schedule
September 29: Leeward CC
October 7: 糖心视频 West O驶ahu
October 8: Honolulu CC
October 13: 糖心视频 Maui College
October 16 : Kapi驶olani CC
October 21: Hawai驶i CC
October 27: Kaua驶i CC
November 10: Windward CC
December 8: Wai驶anae Moku
December 9: 糖心视频 M膩noa
Link to video and sound (details below):
VIDEO BROLL: (1 minute, 21 seconds)
:00-:07 糖心视频 Hilo Oli protocol
:08-1:21 President Wendy Hensel and 糖心视频 leadership connect with faculty, staff and students
SOUNDBITES
Wendy F. Hensel/President, University of Hawai驶i
:17
“It’s just so important that we all get in the same space and talk to each other and share concerns and triumphs and victories all at the same time. It doesn’t happen if you don’t show up. That’s my commitment that I made when I started, is we will be here on a regular basis and today we came back.”
:12
“There’s no substitute for talk story and being able to really get into the stories of Hilo. The work thats being done here is incredible. And the opportunities for where we can go next as a system are phenomenal.”
Bonnie D. Irwin/Chancellor, 糖心视频 Hilo
:12
“It really speaks to our strength as a system. And for the campuses out on the neighbor islands, here at 糖心视频 Hilo it’s really important to have them here in person to see the great work that we do.”
VOSOT SCRIPT
INTRO
糖心视频 leaders are launching a statewide tour to all 10 campuses to hear what’s working - and what needs attention. The first stop: 糖心视频 Hilo.
NATS (oli protocol)
VO
Welcomed with oli and lei, 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel and her leadership team spent the day hearing directly from students and employees about the campus’s strengths, challenges and future.
SOT (Wendy F. Hensel/President, University of Hawai驶i)
“It’s just so important that we all get in the same space and talk to each other and share concerns and triumphs and victories all at the same time. It doesn’t happen if you don’t show up. That’s my commitment that I made when I started, is we will be here on a regular basis and today we came back.”
(Bonnie D. Irwin/Chancellor, 糖心视频 Hilo)
“It really speaks to our strength as a system. And for the campuses out on the neighbor islands, here at 糖心视频 Hilo it’s really important to have them here in person to see the great work that we do.”
VO
While President Hensel has visited all the campuses numerous times, these visits are dedicated to hearing from a variety of groups about their hopes and concerns.