Micah Tutuvanu came to college searching for direction but found something more enduring, a belief in himself. Graduating from Kapiʻolani Community College with a liberal arts degree with a concentration in psychology and a certificate in sustainability, Tutuvanu reflects on a journey shaped by self-discovery and perseverance.

Growing up in Salt Lake and attending Moanalua High School, Tutuvanu described himself as a below-average student who was not involved in extracurricular activities and unsure if college was within reach.

“I had a fixed mindset that I wasn’t a good student, that I wouldn’t succeed,” he said. “Kapiʻolani CC changed that.”

Navigating challenges and finding direction

As a first-generation college student, the youngest of three brothers and a Lunalilo Scholar, Tutuvanu’s transition to college was not easy. In his first year, he commuted daily from Mililani, spending about two hours each day on the bus, using that time to rest between classes and work.

Tutuvanu began without a clear path, initially pursuing biology while trying to find where he fit. Along the way, he stepped away from college to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a dental assistant, returning with a renewed sense of purpose and direction in clinical psychology.

“Kapiʻolani CC taught me how to navigate institutions as a Native Hawaiian, Samoan, first-generation college student,” he said. “My journey has been figuring things out.”

Leadership and campus involvement

Tutuvanu immersed himself in campus life, while also working at Oeno Winery and Milk Market Hawaiʻi. He became involved with the Center for Research, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, rejoined Student Congress, and co-founded both the Sustainability Club and the Rooted Christian Club. He also mentored Pacific Islander students and was recognized with the campus’s distinguished Neʻepapa Award.

Through mentorship, campus involvement and peer support, He became active in Student Congress, contributing to efforts that helped lower summer tuition across the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges.

“Kapiʻolani CC provided me with life skills, time management, leadership, to move into my next step,” he said.

Building a support system and looking ahead

Tutuvanu navigated personal hardships and built a strong network of support through mentors and peers. He credits his parents, mentor Shannon Sakaue and friend Jenny Brown for providing a foundation throughout his time at Kapiʻolani CC.

Meet more amazing ������Ƶ graduates

“Micah is a determined individual, who knows how to survive through any circumstance,” said Sakaue, Kapiʻolani CC Student Congress faculty advisor and counselor. “He has grit, focus and intentionality behind his work. He is a role model to his peers, and I look forward to watching where his life journey will take him.”

Looking ahead, Tutuvanu has been accepted to several universities and while he decides where he will transfer to, he plans to continue in psychology, aspiring to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology or education.

“The hardships I experienced influenced my decision,” he said. “I want to give back in the way that I was supported.”

This week’s ������Ƶ News Image of the Week is from ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�’s Patrick Williams, of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR).

Williams shared: “A team of researchers and students harvested rice at CTAHR‘s Waimānalo station as part of exploring if Hawaiʻi can grow rice again. Rice is a local tradition, but instead of growing it in the islands, we import more than 100 million pounds of it a year.”

Previous Images
Everybody chill
J-Pop Demon Killaz
Bash splash
Mōʻī Wahine
Cleaning up
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the ������Ƶ ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next ������Ƶ News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other ������Ƶ connection. By submitting your image, you are giving ������Ƶ News permission to publish your photo on the ������Ƶ News website and ������Ƶ social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

Graduates from across the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� 10-campus system will be celebrated this spring, starting May 9 and ending May 16.<.p>
Meet more amazing ������Ƶ graduates

Thousands of graduates will celebrate at the ceremonies with family and friends. We ask that attendees and residents near the events plan ahead for traffic before and after the ceremonies.

Saturday, May 9

University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��–W����� ��ʻ�����
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�, Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center

Livestream link (will become active during the ceremony)

Thursday, May 14

������Ƶ Maui College
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: ������Ƶ Maui College Great Lawn

Friday, May 15

�����辱ʻ�DZ����Ծ� Community College

Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Diamond Head Theatre

Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Diamond Head Theatre

Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Diamond Head Theatre

�����ܲ�ʻ�� Community College
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: �����ܲ�ʻ�� CC, lawn near Hawaiian Studies/Social Sciences Building

Leeward Community College
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: �ʳ�ʻ�ܱ��Dz� Campus, Tuthill Courtyard

Windward Community College
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Windward CC, Hale ʻĀ��Dz���Dz�

�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Community College
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Edith �����Բ��첹ʻ�DZ��� Tennis Stadium

Honolulu Community College
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Waikiki Shell

Saturday, May 16

University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� at Hilo
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Edith �����Բ��첹ʻ�DZ��� Multipurpose Stadium

University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� at ����ԴDz�

Time: 9 a.m.
Location: ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�, Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center

Livestream link (will become active during the ceremony)
College of Arts, Languages & Letters
College of Natural Sciences
College of Social Sciences
College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resilience
�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��nuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Studies
School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology

Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�, Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center

Livestream link (will become active during the ceremony)
College of Education
College of Engineering
John A. Burns School of Medicine
School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene
School of Architecture
Shidler College of Business
Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Community College–Pālamanui
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� CC Pālamanui Campus, Pānini Lanai

The (CIP) at Kapiʻolani Community College has opened applications for two new cohorts of its Workforce Development Program, advanced culinary training developed in partnership with the (CIA).

The five-day, hands-on training sessions provide both experienced chefs and aspiring culinary high school students with access to world-class instruction without leaving the state.

Full tuition scholarships, valued at $1,500 per student, are available for Cohort 21 and 22 through the Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance CIP x CIA Workforce Development Scholarship Fund with support from the State of Hawaiʻi (Cohort 21) and the TSK Charitable Foundation (Cohort 22). Scholarships for Native Hawaiian applicants are available and provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

“Here, it’s about refinement and having more formal training by people who are masters of their craft,” said Ronnie Nasuti, executive chef of Tikis Grill & Bar and a Cohort 13 participant. “To have it right here, in our backyard, is a really awesome thing.”

Upon successful completion, participants will earn a certificate of achievement and continuing education hours from both the Culinary Institute of America and the Culinary Institute of the Pacific.

Cohort 21: Global Explorations of Taste and Technique
June 15–19, 2026

Designed for experienced chefs, this immersive course explores the science of taste, global flavor development and innovative cooking techniques. Participants will refine their skills through hands-on work with specialty ingredients, wine pairings and health-conscious cooking, culminating in a dynamic market basket challenge.

Eligibility requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Minimum of three years of culinary experience in the kitchen of a hotel, resort, restaurant or a professional kitchen setting
• Hawaiʻi state resident or active military personnel stationed in Hawaiʻi
• Must be available to attend all five days of the training program (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.)

Cohort 22: Culinary Foundations: Skills, Flavor and Creativity
June 22–26, 2026

Designed for high school students, this hands-on course builds essential kitchen skills—from knife work to plating—while exploring flavor through interactive tastings and challenges. Students will prepare a variety of dishes under the guidance of expert instructors.

Eligibility requirements

• Must be a current junior or senior in high school at the time of application
• Must have a recommendation from a culinary instructor, teacher or mentor
• If under 18, must have a signed parental/guardian consent form to participate
• Must be available to attend all five days of the training program (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.)
• Demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the culinary or hospitality industry

Both cohorts will be led by , a Culinary Institute of America professor at Greystone. Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Wong brings more than 35 years of experience, including executive chef roles at United Airlines hubs in Washington D.C., New York and Portland; The Royal Hawaiian Hotel; Mauna Lani Bay Hotel; and Hotel Hāna. A certified executive chef and educator, he is known for championing local ingredients and mentoring the next generation of culinary professionals.

Since its launch in September 2024, the CIP x CIA Workforce Development Program has provided advanced training to more than 215 culinary professionals across �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s foodservice sector.

For more information on the CIP x CIA collaboration, Workforce Development Programs, scholarship opportunities, and campus updates, please visit .

To support this initiative through a charitable gift to the HACA CIP x CIA Workforce Development Scholarship Fund, contact HACA Vice President Aya Leslie at aya@hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com.

The University of Hawaiʻi celebrates May 2026 faculty and staff anniversaries.

40 years

Hu, Esther M
Researcher, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Inafuku, Derek T
Vice Chancellor, Honolulu CC

30 years

Kumagai, Chrisjames K
IT Specialist, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Lozanoff, Scott
Professor, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

More anniversaries
April 2026
March 2026
February 2026
More anniversary lists

20 years

Clayton, Cathryn H
Associate Professor, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Imanaka, Teri R
Educational Specialist, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Jenkins, Thomas Y F
Building and Grounds Custodian, ������Ƶ West Oʻahu

Koizumi, Lauren L
Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist, ������Ƶ System

Saeki, Lori Ann Y
Librarian, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Taketa, Charmaine Y
Budget Analyst, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Ye, Carrie K W
Fiscal Specialist, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

10 years

Andrade-Fujii, Colette
Student Services Specialist, Kapiʻolani CC

Moss, Evelyn M
Human Resources Specialist, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Saavedra, Rosary J R
Library Assistant, Honolulu CC

Saito, Jenna L A
Administrative Officer, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Seto, Justin K K
Building Maintenance Worker, Kauaʻi CC

Taniguchi, Kelton R
Lab Manager, Leeward CC

Tavares, Kylie L T
Assistant Extension Agent, ������Ƶ ����ԴDz�

Beginning in summer 2026, all University of Hawaiʻi online classes—including hybrid courses with an online component—will be delivered through (LMS).

The change, required by adopted on April 1, 2026, is designed to strengthen the student experience across ������Ƶ‘s 10 campuses while improving data security and systemwide support for teaching and learning.

Providing students with single point of reference

Using a single LMS provides students with a consistent point of access for course materials, communication and grades, regardless of campus or department. This reduces the number of different platforms students must navigate and supports stronger engagement and success in online learning environments.

“Moving to a single learning management system makes it easier for students to stay organized and engaged in their courses, while also giving faculty a secure, well-supported platform for teaching,” said Kim Siegenthaler, senior advisor to ������Ƶ President Wendy Hensel. “����������ū strengthens consistency across our campuses and helps ensure that both students and instructors have the tools they need for a successful learning experience.”

The move also enhances protection of student information. ����������ū meets ������Ƶ Information Security policies and applicable data privacy requirements, significantly reducing the risk of security breaches involving course materials, grades and other sensitive information.

Faculty may continue using third-party instructional tools when appropriate, but those tools must meet ������Ƶ policy requirements and be integrated through ����������ū.

����������ū: Lighting the path for learning

The Hawaiian word ����������ū means torch—the same torch represented in the ������Ƶ logo—and symbolizes education and enlightenment, ����������ū o ka naʻauao. The platform reflects ������Ƶ‘s ongoing commitment to advancing teaching and learning through modern, secure and student-centered technology across the system.

This week’s ������Ƶ News Image of the Week is from Honolulu Community College’s Shannon Fritz.

Fritz shares: Everybody chill. Students in the Honolulu CC Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Program get hands-on experience with a water-cooled chiller system after attending the Hawaii Buildings, Facilities, & Property Management Expo. Clockwise from far left: Jeremy Jennings, Professor Steven Chow, Joe Grummon, Pohaku Kaye, Awa Yerhot, D’Sean Watson, and Sage Le Akina.”

Previous Images
J-Pop Demon Killaz
Bash splash
Mōʻī Wahine
Cleaning up
Through the water
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

A big mahalo to everyone who has sent in their images! If selected, they will be posted throughout the semester, so check back to see the amazing work, research and experiences of the ������Ƶ ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next ������Ƶ News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other ������Ƶ connection. By submitting your image, you are giving ������Ƶ News permission to publish your photo on the ������Ƶ News website and ������Ƶ social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

—West; Western Maui.

More ʻŌlelo of the Week

“Kaulana nui loa ʻo Mokuʻula i Maui Komohana i kona kapu loa. (Mokuʻula Western Maui is very famous due to its sacredness.)”

—Melelani Seiki, he haumāna ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language student), Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Honolulu a me Ke Kulanui Kaiāulu o Maui (Honolulu Community College and ������Ƶ Maui College)

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the ������Ƶ Hilo .