Column by University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Chancellor Lui Hokoana was published by on August 27, 2026.

This past Monday, our quiet summer campus awakened to the sounds we love to hear—new and returning students buzzing from class to class, the former just starting their higher education journeys, the latter continuing on their certificate and degree paths already in progress. Many of us work during the summer, of course, preparing for the new Fall semester. That work culminates with Convocation.

The definition of “convocation” is “a ceremonial assembly of members of a college or university.” We鈥檙e not quite so formal around here. For us, it鈥檚 a time to reunite. It鈥檚 a joy to watch as faculty, staff, and administrators arrive at our Paʻina Building greeting colleagues they may not have seen in several months. Asking about families and vacations and this year, making sure all neighbors, friends, and loved ones are safe in the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lala.

We always begin gatherings with a chant called “Laukanaka.” It was composed by former Hawaiian Studies Professor Kiʻope Raymond to commemorate the completion of the rock wall you see at the entrance to our college. Basically, it means that by always standing tall and working together, we grow and help others to grow in many ways.

Then we celebrate colleagues. We acknowledge retirees—I like to say those are the folks with the biggest smiles on their faces in the photos we project on the screen!—and those with 10 and 20 years of service to our college.
We introduce new employees. It is a particular thrill to welcome back our own graduates in new roles. Recent Automotive Technology graduate Jaden Givensel is now a faculty member in that same department and Koa Johnson is now a part-time Fashion Technology Lecturer. Michelle Hutaff, a 2003 LPN (Nursing) Program graduate is now a Registered Nurse who has joined our Campus Health Center team.

We always take a look at enrollment numbers as we approach a new semester. They could be better but there are always bright spots. Last-minute registration is common. And we鈥檙e confident Early College 鈥� high school students taking 糖心视频MC courses—and Continuing Education enrollments will have increased.

Budget numbers can be numbing, especially to creative folks. But not to our new Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, Cheryl Reeser. She loves those numbers and was happy to report that our college is operating with a surplus.

Often, there鈥檚 real news to report at Convocation. And this Fall, it鈥檚 pretty big news. 糖心视频 is exploring a proposal to integrate the seven community colleges into the 10-campus system and, with that, institute a new leadership structure. The Vice President for Community Colleges position would be eliminated and community college chancellors would report directly to the 糖心视频 President.

The primary goal is to optimize program delivery and student mobility by enhancing curricular cohesion and seamless transfer, promoting collaborative program and course sharing, avoiding duplication of effort, offering a unified academic experience, and providing a common standard of care for our students. We are also looking to maximize strategic progress with unified priorities and decision-making, clearer priorities, and a broader focus on statewide workforce and research needs.

The community colleges would have increased voice and accountability, retain efficient shared functions, have integrated strategic leadership, communication and collaboration across all campuses, and provide for enhanced compliance and policies.

There will be challenges, of course—preserving the identity and strength of each campus, engaged decision making, costs associated with restructuring and implementation, and resistance from stakeholders. These and others that will surely surface are and will continue to be addressed by the Chancellors and the President as discussions continue over the next several months. The bottom line is that the solution lies squarely with what is determined to be the very best for our student outcomes.

Sometimes Convocation is when we present the germ of a great idea and that was the case last week. Kendal Living & Learning Community is a university-connected model that combines healthy aging, lifelong learning, and intergenerational engagement. We here in Hawaiʻi know better than most the value of our k奴puna and if we can, in the future, use our college assets to foster purpose, wellness, and connection, it is definitely something worth exploring. And we are.

With the business concluded, we always end Convocation in the most traditional island way 鈥� we all have lunch together.

For complete information about 糖心视频 Maui College, please visit

Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Kaʻana Manaʻo, which means “sharing thoughts,” is scheduled to appear on the fourth Thursday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from 糖心视频 Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County with information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.

A decade ago, Alyssa Silva first stepped into the as a Running Start student. Running Start is a program that allows eligible high school students to take a college course at a University of Hawaiʻi campus as part of their high school coursework.

Silva is preparing to cross Kauaʻi CC鈥檚 commencement stage for the third time to earn her master of library and information science degree from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. She was only 16 when she began her journey there, while attending Kauaʻi High School.

“I basically grew up in this library in terms of my career,” Silva said. “I came here when I was 16, and now I鈥檓 26.”

Silva earned her associate degree in accounting from Kauaʻi CC in 2019 before transferring to . She completed her bachelor鈥檚 degree in with an emphasis in in 2021, while residing on Kauaʻi. During her undergraduate years, she worked as a student assistant in the Kauaʻi CC library.

After graduating, Silva briefly worked in accounting before finding herself drawn back to the library. What began as a temporary position quickly turned into a permanent role. She credits University Center Education Specialist Rhonda Liu with encouraging her to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in library and information science.

Working in a small community college library has allowed her to develop skills across many areas while helping students feel welcomed and supported.

“We get students fresh out of high school, or students returning to school after a long time, and they can be nervous,” Silva said. “We鈥檙e here to help them become comfortable using the library and the school鈥檚 resources, and to give them a safe space to be.”

Indigenous librarianship

Throughout her graduate studies, Silva said courses focused on Indigenous librarianship had the greatest impact on her perspective and career goals.

“Libraries are based on Western ideas, and Indigenous knowledge doesn鈥檛 always fit neatly into those systems,” Silva said. “I feel like my way of contributing to our Indigenous-serving institution is by being a careful steward of what we have, continuing to learn from our community, and finding ways to make library spaces and collections more reflective of the people we serve.”

Meet more amazing 糖心视频 graduates

In recent years, Silva has supported a variety of initiatives at Kauaʻi CC, including managing circulation operations, learning cataloging, and collection management while helping plan for future library projects and supporting projects connected to the Kikuchi Center.

“As an Indigenous-serving institution, archiving helps make these materials accessible,” Silva said. “It creates greater access for the community, especially for Native Hawaiian students, to connect with and work with these materials.”

Silva also recognizes the important role libraries play for local students at a time when many public school libraries on Kauaʻi face ongoing challenges and reductions in services.

“Sometimes students come into the library feeling intimidated,” Silva said. “I feel like making sure Indigenous, Pacific and local authors are represented and available to our students is crucial. It鈥檚 important for students to walk into a library and see something of themselves reflected there.”

Looking ahead, Silva is considering pursuing a second master鈥檚 degree in Indigenous language and culture education, history, anthropology or humanities to become a specialty librarian. No matter where her career leads, the Kauaʻi CC library remains at the heart of her journey.

—By Caitlin B. Fowlkes

This column by Chancellor Lui Hokoana was published by on February 26, 2026.

In December, we took you to our farm on Molokaʻi. This month we take you to our Education Center on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 where big things are happening.

We鈥檝e had a robust dual enrollment program on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 for a while. High school students take 糖心视频 Maui College courses and get a jump start on a degree or on their chosen profession. P奴lama 尝腻苍补ʻ颈, which was created in 2012 to manage, preserve and protect the island鈥檚 land and natural resources, generously funds the students鈥� 糖心视频MC tuition. Recruiting more students and expanding the program will be the main focus of our new Satellite Manager. Long-time 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 resident Natalie Ropa previously worked in student support services so she is a familiar face and a supportive presence.

“We have about 70 students in the program every year. That鈥檚 from a total of about 200 high school students,” Ropa explains. “There are about 50 seniors in the Class of 2026 and 30 have come through the program.”

Since the program began in 2016, 14 students have been awarded Associate of Arts degrees along with their high school diplomas. Seven of them achieved this success just last year. “These seven committed to the program from 9th Grade and have inspired the grades below them to cohort together and commit to doing it, too,” says Ropa.

Let鈥檚 hear what some of those seven say about their experiences. For Myah Doolin, working toward an AA degree while still in high school felt like a powerful head start. “I鈥檓 already much closer to obtaining a baccalaureate degree,” she says. “The dual enrollment support helped me save money on tuition, adjust to college level work, and build relationships with 糖心视频 Maui College instructors who can support my future plans. Earning my AA means I can transfer more smoothly to a four-year university or apply for better jobs in Hawaiʻi with a degree already completed. Overall, this pathway allows me to have a connection to the resources on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈, stay connected to my school and community, and still move forward with my education and career goals.”

Others, like Hannah Mae Lee and Micah Kahihikolo, were drawn by the challenge. As soon as she found out she could achieve an AA degree by the time she graduated from high school, Hannah Mae jumped in. “I knew I wanted to challenge myself and branch out into new experiences and opportunities,” she says. Micah echoes that feeling. “I never want to back down from a challenge,” he says. He鈥檚 planning to attend Honolulu Community College to become an Automotive Technician.

Spencer Chew wanted to get a feel for college. “I think that having my AA degree has given me both the skills necessary and the courage to pursue further higher education,” he says.

Kelly Raqueno knows exactly where she鈥檚 going next. “Having my AA allowed me to complete some of the prerequisites I鈥檒l need as I move into healthcare and work toward my bachelor鈥檚 degree,” she says. “This achievement means a lot to me because it represents growth and persistence.”

Kimora Agliam advises those considering the dual enrollment program to think hard about their choice. Participation requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. But if they choose dual enrollment, they will have gotten a head start on their futures.

For Jake Ropa, the decision was not taken lightly. “I earned my AA to help uplift the image of what 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 truly is, challenging the stereotypes that reduce our island to pineapple fields or hotel work. I wanted to show the outside world, and especially the younger generation at home, that 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 is more than how it is often perceived. More importantly, I wanted to become a role model, proving that it is possible to balance sports, high school responsibilities, and college-level coursework, and that students from 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 are capable of achieving far beyond the limits others may place on us.”

Natalie Ropa—yes, she is Jake鈥檚 proud mom—has more big plans, too. “I really want to focus on adult education,” she says, “and see how we can take our dual enrollment model and tailor it to fit our adult community. Workforce training really interests me,” she says. And she鈥檚 the perfect role model. She is currently working on her Master鈥檚 Degree in Curriculum Studies from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

For complete information about 糖心视频 Maui College, please visit

Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Kaʻana Manaʻo, which means “sharing thoughts,” is scheduled to appear on the fourth Thursday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from 糖心视频-Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County with information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.

Hawaiʻi faces a significant public health workforce shortage that far exceeds the national average, leaving rural communities especially affected by limited public health resources and academic pathways into the field.

To help fill this gap, a three-course public health certificate offered by was developed and launched in fall 2020 in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 (DPHS) and the Department of Health鈥檚 Kauaʻi District Health Office (KDHO). Nearly six years later, 72 students—including high school early college participants—have completed the program, gaining foundational knowledge and credits transferable to a at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

Early college credits, pathway to a degree

The certificate introduces foundational concepts through PH201: Introduction to Public Health, PH202: Public Health in Hawaiʻi, and PH203: Introduction to Global Public Health. Kauaʻi CC students who complete the program get a head start on a four-year degree and strengthen a seamless 糖心视频 System pipeline.

The program is also offered to students at Waimea High School and Kapaāa High School through early college partnerships, allowing them to earn college credits that count toward both Kauaʻi CC and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“It鈥檚 so awesome to see high school students grapple with college material and make those important connections to public health,” said Yuka Polovina, a DPHS faculty member who currently teaches PH201. “This certificate and partnership with Kauaʻi CC is a fantastic model for other community colleges across our state and other campuses to follow.”

This program is a wonderful showcase of the collaborative academic pathway across the university system…
—Tetine Sentell

KDHO staff serve as guest lecturers, covering topics such as epidemiology, public health emergency preparedness, public health communications and outbreak control.

“We love the opportunity for our staff to share real-world local examples and make the work of public health come alive for Kauaʻi CC students,” said Janet Berreman, KDHO officer. “We get to see their excitement as they learn about the field.”

By introducing students to the field earlier, the program aims to increase local capacity and cultivate a future public health workforce drawn from the communities it serves. The initiative also supports 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel鈥檚 efforts to strengthen connections across the 糖心视频 System.

The certificate by DPHS faculty Denise Nelson-Hurwitz, Lisa Kehl and Michelle Tagorda-Kama, with Tammie Napoleon and others at Kauaʻi CC. Yvette Amshoff, a DPHS master’s of public health graduate, taught the first cohorts and helped develop the program.

“This program is a wonderful showcase of the collaborative academic pathway across the university system, including our KDHO partners and DOE as well,” said Tetine Sentell, public health professor and DPHS department chair. “We are working to build more pathways like this to support public health across our islands and beyond.”

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Windward Community College student Peter Scott, 18, has always been curious about the natural world. This propelled him into a nationally competitive summer research opportunity—the (REU) at the University of 糖心视频 at 惭腻苍辞补.

Out of more than 500 applicants across the country, only 10 were selected for the National Science Foundation funded program—and Scott was the one of only two students from Hawaiʻi.

“It was really a cool experience. I’m very glad I got to participate in it. It was a big confidence boost for me,” Scott said. “I got to work with a lot of really, really smart people. And it definitely helped me figure out this is something I want to do. I want to do research, I want to do science, I want to continue in this field.”

Sinking land

Scott鈥檚 project focused on why some areas of Hawaiʻi are sinking faster than others. By testing with an electrical current, he found that highly saturated soils and large amounts of fill may be driving subsidence in certain regions.

“It’s important to know why an area is subsiding, because that can affect how you want to plan for development,” he said. “It can affect whether or not you need to put in flood mitigation measures, or whether or not you need to change how you’re building infrastructure in an area, or whether you even want to build infrastructure in an area.”

Windward CC as a high schooler

Homeschooled since fourth grade, Scott enrolled in Windward CC鈥檚 early college program in 2023, while still in high school.

“I really enjoyed the smaller class sizes,” he said. “Going to a community college is a great place to start.”

One of Scott鈥檚 instructors, Arjun Aryal, told him about the REU program.

“Peter’s curiosity and drive for the natural sciences are impressive,” said Aryal. “As a student from Windward Community College, he met the objectives of the program: providing research experience to students from institutions with limited STEM opportunities.”

Aryal and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Assistant Researcher Amir Haroon served as Scott鈥檚 advisors for his research project.

Scott expects to earn an associate鈥檚 degree in the spring, then plans to continue at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in the fall with interests ranging from geology to botany and agriculture. One thing he is sure about his long-term goals: “I want to stay in Hawaiʻi, ideally, and work in the field where I can be outdoors.”

—by Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

Growing up in Waiʻanae surrounded by nurses in her family, Emma Tilitile was inspired by their deep compassion for patients and community, a spirit she carried with her through nursing school at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. In spring 2025, she earned her BS in nursing from the (SONDH), while also becoming a dedicated mentor to fellow students.

A proud graduate of Waiʻanae High School, Tilitile got a head start on college through Early College programs at and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu. Combined with her coursework at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, those credits helped her earn an Associate in Arts degree in fall 2024 through the university鈥檚 reverse transfer program.

Still, the path to becoming a nurse wasn鈥檛 without moments of doubt. “Once I entered nursing school, and things got tough, I questioned whether I had made the right choice,” she said.

In her final semester, while caring for a patient recovering from open-heart surgery in the Queen鈥檚 Medical Center鈥檚 cardiovascular ICU, she found clarity. “They thanked me and told me I鈥檇 be a great nurse,” she said. “Until then, I knew I wanted to be a nurse, but I wasn鈥檛 always sure I鈥檇 be a good one. Hearing that reaffirmed that this is my path.”

From mentee to mentor

Inspired by the guidance she received, Tilitile gave back as a mentor through 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Hawaiʻi Undergraduate Initiative, a partnership between the Academic Resource Center and the Student Nurses Association that supports students who, like her, were learning how to navigate the challenges of nursing school.

“My first semester was tough. We had to shift from a ‘normal’ way of thinking to a nurse鈥檚 way of thinking,” Tilitile said. “What鈥檚 considered common sense in nursing doesn鈥檛 feel like common sense at first. You have to retrain your brain. As a mentor, I tried to help students make that shift more smoothly. Practice helps, but having someone guide you makes a big difference.”

One moment she鈥檒l never forget came at her pinning ceremony, when a student she had tutored virtually, showed up in person to thank her. “That one session helped her pass her exam,” Tilitile said. “It reassured me that maybe my actions do make a difference.”

Mentoring also helped her grow. “I found joy in teaching and sharing what I鈥檇 learned,” she said. “It鈥檚 shaped my goals, and I hope to keep mentoring and maybe teach nursing students someday.”

She added, “Mentoring deepened my empathy. Patients are often vulnerable and unsure, relying on us for care and comfort. That鈥檚 something I carry with me.”

She is now preparing to take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) test which must be passed to become a licensed Registered Nurse. Tilitile plans to pursue a career in critical care nursing with a focus on cardiovascular health and eventually wants to return to school to become a family nurse practitioner.

— by Arlene Abiang

The pageant title of Miss Hawaiʻi 2025 was bestowed on University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu alumna Emalia Dalire, who graduated in fall 2024 with a bachelor of arts in with a concentration in .

The Kāneʻohe resident, 19, was crowned on May 31 at Hawaiʻi Theatre by the , which provides women with the opportunity to promote platforms of community service, share their talents, intelligence, and positive values while serving as role models in our island communities, according to the organization鈥檚 website.

“Being crowned Miss Hawaiʻi 2025 is an indescribable honor and a dream come true,” Dalire said in an interview with the morning after being crowned. “I feel overwhelmed with gratitude, knowing I get to represent the beauty, culture and mana (power) of our islands. This moment is not just mine. It belongs to every person who believed in me.”

Dalire competed as Miss Kāneʻohe and topped 12 other competitors, called “delegates,” and will move on to represent the state at the Miss America competition in September in Orlando, Fla.

Hula lineage

It may come as no surprise that the talent Dalire showcased at the Miss Hawaiʻi competition was hula. She just competed and placed third in the category at the held in April in Hilo. Dalire dances for Keolalaulani H膩lau ʻ艑lapa O Laka under N膩 Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire (her mother) and Regina Mākaʻikaʻi Igarashi Pascua.

Keep empowering yourself

The community service initiative that Dalire will focus on throughout her upcoming Miss Hawaiʻi reign is, “K.E.Y. to Life: Keep Empowering Yourself.” It鈥檚 a platform she holds close to her heart and the same one she promoted when she was crowned in December 2023.

“’The K.E.Y. to Life: Keep Empowering Yourself’ is my message of empowerment to all youth, especially Indigenous people, to be who they are,” Dalire had said in a previous article after winning her Miss Hawaiʻi Teen Volunteer title. “In the words of my mother, ‘The best person in life to be like is yourself,’ and learning about my Hawaiian culture and being proud of my Indigenous heritage, I gained the confidence and determination necessary to create my future, my story.”

Accelerated academic journey

As a freshman at Damien Memorial School, Dalire began attending Windward Community College, simultaneously taking high school and early college classes. The dual enrollment enabled her to graduate a year early from high school in 2022 at the age of 16, then in December of that year, receive two associate degrees from Windward CC in liberal arts and Hawaiian studies along with three certificates of completion.

When 19-year-old Talia Agliam walks across the stage to receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology and a certificate in law and society from the on May 17, she will carry with her not only the pride of achievement, but the strength and support of her Lānaʻi island community.

She was in middle school at Lānaʻi High & Elementary School when she discovered that a college education was within reach through the 糖心视频 Maui College —without having to leave home. She started as an Early College high school student in 2019 and earned her associate鈥檚 degree in 2022, before graduating from high school in 2023 as a valedictorian and senior class president.

“If it wasn’t for [the Lānaʻi Education Center], I don’t think I’d be even close to as successful as I am today,” Agliam said. “They definitely helped me set up my future, set up my life, and they gave me that stability to do so. I really applaud the advisors and the campus, the small, little building that we have.”

• Meet more amazing 糖心视频 spring graduates

A ‘go-getter’

Pamela Alconcel, the center鈥檚 director, said, “Talia believes in the power of community and giving back to her community. She is a go-getter.”

That go-getter has earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree while working full-time for Lānaʻi Air as a guest experience assistant and part-time for the Purple Maia Foundation as a social media content creator. During it all, she leaned on her support system back home.

“The pilina (connections) there and the relationships that you build in the Education Center really stick with you for a long time鈥攊t doesn’t end at graduating from high school or getting into a college,” Agliam said. “I still have deep conversations with the advisors at the center, and it’s relationships that you build for life. Those relationships will continue to feed you and continue to provide you with resources and opportunities even when you are away from home.”

Lānaʻi roots

Law school may be part of Agliam鈥檚 long-term post-graduation plans, however, Lānaʻi factors heavily into her immediate next steps. She has been working with a mentor at Hawaiʻi Public Radio with the help of an internship through the Stupski Foundation to start a podcast. Titled “From the Roots Up,” the podcast will function as an archive of 尝ā苍补ʻ颈鈥檚 history for upcoming generations, analyze the island鈥檚 transformation and look to its future.

“Because there is a lack of resources on the island, it is important to take advantage of the resources that we do have,” Agliam said. “The Education Center on Lānaʻi provides an unwavering amount of support for our students. 鈥 can’t imagine what my high school experience and what my life would look like now without it.”

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

High school graduates of the class of 2024 excelled in numerous academic areas of study and matched the class of 2023 with the highest on-time high school graduation rate on record at 86%, according to the latest , released March 31. Among these students, 34% graduated with honors, the highest level in the past five years.

The class of 2024 CCRI report details the outcomes of 11,613 students among 67 public schools including public charters. The CCRI is produced annually by (Hawaiʻi P–20), in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) and the University of Hawaiʻi.

Class of 2024 overall college enrollment increased from 51% to 52% and the proportion of class of 2024 graduates who attended a 糖心视频 campus increased 3 percentage points from the previous year, from 31% to 34%. Of particular note, the percentage of completers who enrolled in a 糖心视频 two-year campus increased from 17% to 19%, the highest percentage since 2020.

“The increase in college enrollment at the 糖心视频 Community Colleges highlights the growing impact of our strengthened career pathways between HIDOE high schools and our seven community college campuses,” said Della Teraoka, interim vice president for the . “With 糖心视频 two-year enrollment on the rise and four-year enrollment reaching record levels, these collaborative efforts are creating more opportunities for students to pursue higher education and succeed right here at home.”

The class of 2024 also had the highest number of completers in the last five years to earn a score of three or better on an Advanced Placement exam to 18%, and the most completers of Dual Credit classes, which increased 3 percentage points from last year (24% to 27%). Additionally, there was a 3% increase from 2023 of students who entered 糖心视频 after completing college-level credits through Dual Credit in high school for English and math.

Graduates who earned the Seal of Biliteracy (students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in both of the state鈥檚 two official languages, English and Hawaiian; or either of the two languages and at least one additional language, including American Sign Language, by high school graduation) increased to 557 to 598 from the class of 2023, and CTE (career and technical education) honors also increased from 21% to 22%. The top three CTE programs completed by concentrators for the class of 2024 were hospitality, tourism, and recreation (23%); cultural arts, media and entertainment (20%); and health services (17%), all of which are integral areas of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy.

“Although college-going data from the class of 2024 demonstrates a turnaround from previous years, there are reasons for concern with academic readiness, especially in math,” said Stephen Schatz, executive director of Hawaiʻi P–20. “Math readiness is key across various industries, whether students aspire to be doctors, welders, auto mechanics, nurses, or teachers.”

糖心视频 degrees significant return on investment

In a study that evaluated the workforce earnings of 糖心视频 graduates who earned two- and four-year degrees, the found that nine years after completing a college degree, students who received Pell grants earned wages similar to their non-economically disadvantaged peers, mitigating the effects of intergenerational poverty. Throughout their lifetimes, a college degree holder earns a 27% higher income, or $2.8 million more in wages for a bachelor鈥檚 degree and $2.7 million more, or a 22% higher income, for an associate of science and associate of applied science degree, when compared to students who stopped out and did not earn a degree.

Windward Community College was honored for its innovative efforts in higher education, earning the 2025 ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation. Presented by the (ACE), this award honors institutions that have successfully implemented transformative changes to meet the evolving needs of students and their communities.

Both Windward CC and Rio Salado College in Arizona are 2025 recipients of the national award, which was presented at ACE鈥檚 annual meeting on February 13, along with a $10,000 check for each institution.

Since implementing its strategic plan in 2020, Windward CC has seen success in boosting both access and completion. Enrollment is 20% higher than it was in 2020, and time-to-degree success rates are higher than they have been since 2005 for both full-time and part-time students.

“He p奴n膩wai kahe wale ke aloha. ’Aloha is an endlessly flowing spring.’ Through enacting this abundance of aloha, our faculty, staff and students have transformed our college to even more deeply support students and our entire community,” said Ardis Eschenberg, Windward CC chancellor.

Strategic changes, meeting students鈥� needs

Windward CC鈥檚 program strengthened ties with local high schools, facilitating a seamless transition to college with targeted scholarships such as the . College application workshops and Senior Bash, where local high school seniors gather on campus for information, networking, and a reggae concert, helped Windward CC enroll some of its largest freshman classes in years.

As the institution with the highest percentage of Native Hawaiian student enrollment in the University of Hawaiʻi System (44%), Windward CC redesigned its Hawaiian Studies degree into a fully asynchronous online program to expand access, which ultimately led to an 80% enrollment increase. Recognizing workforce needs, the college introduced a Veterinary Technology program with statewide access and created a Mental Health Tech certificate in collaboration with key employers.

A wide range of programs now support students鈥� basic needs and enhance access. Windward CC provides free lunches to all students, maintains a food pantry and clothing closet for students, and has an on-campus for infants and toddlers. Additionally, Windward CC, which has served the women鈥檚 and youth correctional facilities in Hawaiʻi since 2017, expanded its offerings to a correctional facility serving men and will broaden its offerings this year to a correctional facility in Arizona.

ACE President Ted Mitchell said. “Windward Community College鈥檚 broad and tailored actions to meet the needs of students has enabled it to bolster its campus and strengthen the wider community.”

• More Windward CC stories:
  Single parents find support to succeed at Windward CC program
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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa recently helped secure a $8.3 million grant for its Oʻahu program, a partnership aiming to boost college readiness.

This particular grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help about 1,600 seventh graders from four middle schools: Dole, Kalākaua, Wahiawā and Waipahu Intermediate.

“We visualize the support we provide to students in three key areas—Bridges, Backpacks and Beliefs,” said Edmond Lee, director at Gear UP Oʻahu. “Bridges: provide learning and advancement opportunities. Backpacks: supplies and essentials to help them on their journey. Beliefs: building mindsets and persistence to be successful in their chosen pathway.”

GEAR UP Oʻahu provides support to students for seven years from middle school through their first year of college. By offering a range of free resources, the program鈥檚 goal is to equip students with foundational skills and support to succeed academically.

Resources include:

• peer mentorship
• Early College credits
• career exploration
• college application assistance
• summer sessions
• college campus visits

GEAR UP alumni, cycle of support

GEAR UP graduates who are now in college return to mentor younger students. Many of the current mentors attended Waipahu, Leilehua, and Hilo High Schools, and bring with them first-hand experience that helps them relate to the program鈥檚 new generation of students.

The newly awarded grant is just one of 24, out of 118 national GEAR UP applicants. The Oʻahu-based program is a collaboration of 13 programs and offices at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, seven target schools and 10 educational and community partners.

Headcount enrollment at the 10 campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi surpassed 50,000 students for the first time since 2018. There are 50,418 students enrolled in the 糖心视频 System for the fall 2024 semester, a 3% increase compared to fall 2023. Enrollment is up at eight of the 10 campuses, including all seven community colleges, which has not happened since 2010.

While enrollment for freshmen who just graduated from high school has declined 5% nationally this fall, first-time freshmen at 糖心视频 from Hawaiʻi high schools increased by 10% across the system, including a 15% increase at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and a 9% increase at the community colleges.

“This is not just good news for 糖心视频, it’s good news for the entire state. The more people who go to college means a more skilled workforce, and that translates to higher wages, and fewer residents receiving government assistance. The ripple effect cannot be understated,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “I am most excited about the increases in our first-time freshmen from Hawaiʻi, and the fact that we are bucking the national trend. The people of Hawaiʻi are truly seeing the value of their public higher education system.”

Banner year for 糖心视频 Community Colleges

Leeward CC saw the biggest increase in enrollment among the 糖心视频 Community Colleges, which all welcomed more students in fall 2024 compared to the same time last year:

• Leeward CC—6,471 students (+7%)
• 糖心视频 Maui College—2,792 students (+6%)
• Honolulu CC—3,342 (+4%)
• Kauaʻi CC—1,335 (+3%)
• Kapiʻolani CC—5,914 (+2%)
• Hawaiʻi CC—2,289 (+1%)
• Windward CC—2,765 (+1%)

Enrollment for the Early College program, through which high school students take college courses for dual high school and college credit, reached an all time high at the 糖心视频 Community Colleges. Early College is up 10% compared to fall 2023 with 3,717 high school students enrolled. Students who take college courses in high school are more likely to attend college and earn a degree.

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island enrollment is up 6% at the 糖心视频 Community Colleges driving a 5% increase across the 10 campus system with growth in nearly all ethnic groups, including Native Hawaiian and Part-Hawaiian (4%), Filipino (5%) Micronesian and Marshallese (9%), Samoan (3%) and Tongan (10%).

“We are so excited to see increases across our seven community colleges in overall enrollment and in these key areas,” said Interim VP for Community Colleges Della Teraoka. “I commend our chancellors, their leadership and enrollment management teams for their great work along with our faculty and staff. We are going to keep looking for ways to improve so we can continue to meet the needs of the communities we serve.”

糖心视频 4-year campuses

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 surpassed 20,000 students for the first time since 2013 with 20,028 students enrolled, a 4% increase over 2023. The flagship campus of the 糖心视频 System also welcomed a record 3,123 first-time freshmen in fall 2024, the 3rd straight year 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 has reached 3,000 or more freshmen. More information on 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 fall enrollment numbers can be found on 糖心视频 News.

Although enrollment was down 2% at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, with 2,814 students attending in fall 2024, the number of degree-seeking students and student semester hours taught increased. The modest decrease of about 50 students mostly represents fewer Early College enrollments.

Despite an overall enrollment drop of 4% at 糖心视频 Hilo, Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin emphasized that she was “thrilled to see a 25% surge in returning students鈥攖hose who had paused their studies during the pandemic and are now back to finish what they started.” She also noted gains in key areas, including out-of-state Native Hawaiian, transfer, graduate and veteran students. 糖心视频 Hilo鈥檚 fall 2024 enrollment stands at 2,668.

As Miss Hawaiʻi Teen Volunteer 2024, University of Hawaiʻi鈥揥别蝉迟 Oʻahu student Emalia Pomaialoha Dalire encourages youth to be the best version of themselves鈥攖hat if they know who they are and where they come from, they will have the confidence to achieve anything.

The 18-year-old Kāneʻohe resident was crowned by the in December 2023. Dalire has been dancing hula since she was two in her family鈥檚 hālau, Keolalaulani Hālau ʻOlapa O Laka. She is the daughter of Miss Aloha Hula 1999, Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire, and granddaughter of the first and only Miss Hula, Aloha Dalire.

“I was inspired to run for Miss Hawaiʻi Teen Volunteer because of my haumana (students) at my hālau,” Dalire said. “Working with hundreds of kids in and out of Hawaiʻi, my greatest joy comes from witnessing these children grow into distinguished individuals through their culture. Having a front-row seat to their learning and growth showed me that I have the power to make a difference, not just in my classroom but also in my community.”

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Miss Hawaiʻi Volunteer 2024: Merging passion and purpose at 糖心视频, July 15, 2024

Perseverance paid off

As a freshman at Damien Memorial School, Dalire also began attending Windward Community College, simultaneously taking high school and early college classes. The dual enrollment enabled her to graduate a year early from high school in 2022 at the age of 16, and earn two associate degrees and three certificates of completion from Windward CC that same year.

Now a senior at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, Dalire is majoring in with a concentration in , and is on track to graduate with her bachelor鈥檚 degree this fall.

“The faculty and nā kumu (teachers) have been immensely understanding and helpful in my journey as Miss Hawaiʻi Teen Volunteer,” Dalire said. “I would like to take this opportunity to give a special shoutout and deepest thank you to one of my professors, who helped me shape my platform鈥檚 ‘why.’ The purpose of creating my initiative was to tell others what I wish I was told: ‘You are enough.’”

Both Dalire and her mother were students of Edward Keaunui, a 糖心视频 West Oʻahu business administration instructor and risk management and insurance coordinator, who also helped Dalire as an interview coach.

“Her perseverance, her stick-to-itiveness, and her hard work are what paid off in her securing the crown for this pageant,” Keaunui said.

Empowering her students

Dalire is currently a youth mentor at a nonprofit organization called Laulani, which seeks to inspire and teach children through cultural preservation to embrace their uniqueness and gain life lessons through Hawaiʻi鈥檚 culture and traditions.

“I have been building my platform from a young age by instilling vital and empowering life lessons into my students, hoping to set them on a path toward success,” she said. “As Miss Hawaiʻi Teen Volunteer, I continue to do that in my classroom and community.”

Read more at .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

offered Pearl City High School students the opportunity to take college classes in a pathway leading to a management certificate. Fifteen students were enrolled in Pearl City High School鈥檚 International Business and Design Academy (IBAD) and offered the cohort to graduate with a Career and Technical Education (CTE) honors certificate and a Certificate of Achievement in Management this spring.

Instead of traditional high school CTE courses, these students completed college-level business courses and established the HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Student-Operated Credit Union, handling deposits and opening accounts for Pearl City High School staff and students.

“This program has been life-changing for me. Joining this program has pushed me beyond my comfort zone, challenging me to explore new ideas and experiences鈥� giving me the confidence to seek out opportunities to grow,” said student Jordyn Shibata. “I鈥檝e not only gained valuable knowledge, but it has also made me feel more confident and capable as an individual, ready to tackle any challenge in the future.”

Daphne Okunaga, lead teacher for IBAD, said, “The focus was not just Early College (a program that allows high school students to take college classes for credit), but rather a strategic approach to earn CTE honors, the management certificate, and to prepare them to major in business at 糖心视频 Mānoa or 糖心视频 West Oʻahu.”

Check out more stories of our 糖心视频 spring graduates

“I am consistently inspired by the potential of our Early College program,” said Syreeta Washington, Leeward CC鈥檚 Early College counselor, “The program’s success is built upon our students’ dedication to their education, the strong collaborations we’ve cultivated, and our shared dedication to fostering student success.”

The program was supported by Hawaiʻi P–20 and a grant from the Stupski Foundation.

Despite the challenges that the class of 2023 faced related to the COVID-19 pandemic, recent data shows that Hawaiʻi high school students reached the highest marks in recent years while also earning more college credit, multiple language proficiency and Career and Technical Education (CTE) honors.

According to the newly-released , 33% of students from the class of 2023 graduated with honors, the highest in at least five years, and 86% graduated on time, tying the high mark over the past five years.

Additionally, participation in the dual credit program reached all-time highs, with 24% of graduates taking at least one dual credit University of Hawaiʻi college class, and 16% earning six or more college credits by graduation. Seventeen percent of graduates earned advanced placement scores of 3 or better, the highest level since the start of the pandemic.

Concerns about college access

The college going rate for the class of 2023 remains flat from the prior year with 51% of the graduates attending college the first fall after high school graduation. Of particular concern is the post-pandemic drop in college access among economically disadvantaged graduates: only 40% of these class of 2023 graduates went to college immediately after high school, down from 44% for the class of 2019.

“While the college going rate to four-year schools is slowly recovering from the pandemic, we are concerned that fewer graduates are going to community college, especially at 糖心视频鈥檚 seven campuses. 糖心视频 Community Colleges are affordable on-ramps to four-year universities, and offer two-year and certificate programs that enable graduates to find great jobs right here at home,” said (Hawaiʻi P–20) Executive Director Stephen Schatz. “While it鈥檚 popular in 2024 to say that college isn鈥檛 worth it, that鈥檚 just not true. Most jobs in Hawaiʻi that pay a life-sustaining wage require more education or training than a high school diploma.”

The class of 2023 had 557 graduates earning the Seal of Biliteracy (students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in both of the state’s two official languages, English and Hawaiian; or either of the two languages and at least one additional language, including American Sign Language, by high school graduation), up from 37 graduates in 2017, the first year it was offered.

Completion of CTE programs remained steady with 64% of Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) graduates taking at least two courses in a career pathway. The top three class of 2023 career pathways were hospitality, tourism, and recreation (23%); cultural arts, media, and entertainment (21%); and health services (19%).

Produced annually by Hawaiʻi P–20, in collaboration with HIDOE and 糖心视频, the class of 2023 report details the achievements of 11,538 students across 65 public schools including public charters.

糖心视频 degrees significant return on investment

In a study that evaluated the workforce earnings of 糖心视频 students who earned two- and four-year degrees, the 糖心视频 Economic Research Organization found that nine years after completing a college degree, students who received Pell grants earned wages similar to their non-economically disadvantaged peers, mitigating the effects of intergenerational poverty. Throughout their lifetimes, a college degree holder earns a 27% higher income, or $2.8 million more in wages for a bachelor鈥檚 degree and $2.7 million more, or a 22% higher income, for an Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degree, when compared to students who stopped out and did not earn a degree.

“The data is clear that there is significant value to earning a college degree,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “College graduates, even those who have been economically disadvantaged, enjoy increased earnings over their lifetimes and many other benefits. Higher education is the most effective pathway to break generational poverty and create opportunities for thriving families and communities.”

—Sudden remembrance, memory, especially of a loved one; fond recollection; premonition; to recall, recollect fondly.

Previous ʻ艒lelo
Hoʻopili
ʻImi
贬腻辫补颈
Waimakalehua
Alakaʻi
All ʻ艑lelo of the Week

“I chose this word because it is my middle name.”

—Samantha-Leigh Stone, Early College student, Hawaiian 101,

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the 糖心视频 Hilo .

Maverick Yasuda, a spring 2023 graduate, knows the value of a community college education. His essay on the topic won the prestigious (PTK) Founders Medal Award. Every year, college students across the country submit essays to be considered for the honor, and Yasuda鈥檚 was selected from more than 1,200 entries.

The award comes with a $1,000 scholarship, and Yasuda was presented with a special recognition medallion at Leeward CC鈥檚 commencement ceremony on May 12, 2023.

“I very much enjoyed reading his essay鈥攈e represents the absolute best of what community colleges have to offer,” said Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and chief executive officer of the PTK Honor Society.

High school student

Yasuda鈥檚 accomplishment is even more extraordinary considering he earned it as a student taking Leeward CC classes through Early College—a partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that allows students to take free college courses for both college and high school credit.

“I would not be in the position I am today without my Waipahu High School Early College Advisor Steven De Silva, Leeward Counselor Syreeta Washington and amazing Leeward CC professors who gave me the opportunity to learn at a higher level,” said Yasuda.

As a senior at Waipahu High School, Yasuda served as the student member on the Hawaiʻi State Board of Education, representing 170,000 public school students statewide. He maintained a 4.0 GPA and graduated with honors. He will be attending Harvard in the fall, and he hopes to become an individual who affects change on a local, national and global level as an environmental advocate, politician and businessperson.

“We are so proud of Maverick! Our early college students work hard to balance their kuleana (responsibility) as high school and college students,” said Washington, Leeward CC鈥檚 Early College counselor. “It鈥檚 a joy when they can utilize Leeward’s resources and our robust partnership with the high school to achieve their dreams.”

Key of opportunity

In his essay, Yasuda described his education at Leeward CC as a “key of opportunity” that began while taking summer college courses as an eighth grader, and led to his appreciation of the word “and”—a word that represents unlimited possibilities.

As the 糖心视频 System leader in Early College enrollment, Leeward partners with 14 neighboring high schools and is serving more than 1,300 students in 2023 (an increase from 1,200 in 2022). .

It was an emotional moment when Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg looked into her daughter鈥檚 eyes with tearful pride as she presented her diploma at the college鈥檚 commencement ceremony in May.

student Beatrice Winuna Eschenberg had spent four years working on her associate鈥檚 degree in liberal arts through the Early College program, which allows high school students to take free college classes and receive both high school and college credit (dual credit).

“What I love the most about this campus is the love you feel鈥攂etween the professors, all of the faculty, administration and my fellow students鈥攊t鈥檚 really easy to come here and feel loved,” said Beatrice Eschenberg. “And just like the motto of the college that says ‘he puniwai kahe wale ke aloha,’ this school is like an endless spring of love.”

She will be enrolling in University of California, Santa Cruz in the fall and majoring in environmental studies.

Both Eschenbergs are grateful for the support Beatrice received at Windward CC.

“Through the eyes of my daughter and as a makua (parent), I have been able to see how the aloha of our faculty and staff nurtures students to become their best selves,” said her mother, the chancellor. “Windward CC is an amazing college because of our people. My family is so thankful to each person who grew Winuna, my lei poina ʻole (child), on her educational journey.”

—By Bonnie J. Beatson