This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from 糖心视频 Maui College.

: “Mahalo to everyone who joined us at the 糖心视频 Maui College Molokaʻi Farm for the Niu & Kalo Festival!

From crafting ʻapu and weaving p膩pale, to sharing in the kalo and niu cooking contest and jamming with the Kalaupapa Backyard Band, it was a beautiful day of hands-on learning and community connection.”

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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 糖心视频 ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 connection. By submitting your image, you are giving 糖心视频 News permission to publish your photo on the 糖心视频 News website and 糖心视频 social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

Hawaiʻi borrowers carry less student debt than those in nearly every other state, earning the state the nation’s second-lowest student debt ranking according to a September 2026 .

The personal finance company compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 12 measures. They included average student loan balances, the share of students with debt and the percentage of loans that are past due or in default.

Hawaiʻi ranked No. 50 overall. Only No. 51 Utah had a lower student debt burden. California, Washington and New Mexico rounded out the five states with the least student debt.

“Our 10 campuses give local students access to high-quality educational opportunities at an affordable cost,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “Through affordable resident tuition, need-based financial aid and pathways across our statewide system, we are working to help students earn a degree without being weighed down by debt.”

Graduating debt-free

At 糖心视频, 80% of first-time undergraduates across 10 campuses graduated debt-free during the 2024–25 academic year. That included 65% of graduates from 糖心视频’s four-year campuses and 90% from community colleges.

Mississippi had the nation’s highest student debt burden, followed by Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and West Virginia.

Outstanding student loan balances exceeded in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Department of Education. That amounts to more than $40,000 per borrower across 42.6 million Americans.

Faculty and lecturers across the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges can now register for the upcoming fall session of the Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning (AITL) course, starting October 26. Following record-breaking enrollment in recent cohorts, this free, five-week asynchronous professional development opportunity equips educators to integrate AI into their courses through clear guidelines, targeted assignments and collaborative reflection.

“This professional development helped me develop AI use and misuse policies, as well as classroom activities that I believe will work well,” shared one 糖心视频 participant. Another noted the shift from a “haphazard” approach to applying “AI strategically in my courses to teach students the critical thinking they need.”

100% helpful

Summer 2026 evaluations highlight the program’s strong impact:

• 100% of respondents learned job-helpful skills, received adequate support and would recommend AITL.
• Post-course ratings showing moderate to high confidence in AI tools surged to 88%, up from just 33.8% beforehand.

Lauren Lum Ho, an instructional designer from Leeward Community College who co-developed AITL, said, “AITL gives faculty scaffolded opportunities to explore what generative AI means for their teaching, students and disciplines. While there are no easy answers, this cross-campus effort has sparked critical conversations, informed decision-making and tangible work to better support students.”

Record participation

AITL has enrolled 173 participants since its summer 2025 launch. The spring and summer 2026 cohorts set a record with 117 participants, with educators taking away valuable insights on developing syllabus policies and teaching activities tailored to their courses with specific feedback from instructional designers.

“As AI reshapes higher education, we must equip faculty with the tools to adapt and thrive,” said Lui Hokoana, interim vice president for the 糖心视频 Community Colleges. “AITL鈥檚 record success is a testament to our educators’ commitment to innovation. By thoughtfully addressing AI in our courses, we ensure students learn to engage with these tools responsibly, ethically and critically.”

Email uhccids@hawaii.edu for more information.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel highlighted 糖心视频‘s response to recent severe weather events, efforts to simplify the application process for prospective students and an upcoming public forum on the university’s new budgeting process and $123-million strategic investment initiative during her September report to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR).

Hensel delivered the report at the September 17 BOR meeting at Leeward Community College’s Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center. She began by recognizing 糖心视频 teams who helped campuses respond to an unusually active year of severe weather, most recently Hurricane Lowell. The storm caused significant damage and prolonged power outages on Kauaʻi, forcing Kauaʻi Community College to close for a week before reopening to students on September 16.

Hensel also provided an update on fall enrollment, highlighted the October 1 launch of Apply Hawaiʻi, a single undergraduate application for all 10 campuses, and announced a September 28 public forum on 糖心视频‘s budget and $123 million strategic investment initiative.

• Severe weather response and emergency preparedness ()
• Fall 2026 enrollment ()
• Apply Hawaiʻi launch ()
• Direct2糖心视频 expansion to all 10 campuses ()
• Time, Place and Manner policy update ()
• September 28 budget and $123-million strategic investment forum ()
• 糖心视频 News highlights
  • Inaugural Waiʻanae EMT program ()
  • Hawaiʻi CC $920,000 NSF drone technology grant ()
  • Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef Project ()

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College鈥檚 award-winning Culinary Arts Program is offering a new series of five 鈥渏ust for fun鈥� cooking classes this fall. Beginning September 26, these interactive workshops give community members an opportunity to learn practical techniques directly from professional chefs.

All sessions run on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the P膩ʻina Building on the 糖心视频 Maui College Kahului Campus. Registration fees range from $100 to $120 per person.

Fall 2026 class schedule

Each workshop focuses on distinct foundational skills:

• September 26:
• October 17:
• November 7:
• November 21:
• December 5:

Participants learn fundamental concepts in a supportive environment, turning professional methods into approachable home habits.

“Our non-credit classes are all about demystifying techniques,” said Chef Craig Omori. “You don’t need years of culinary training to break down a fish, simmer a great broth, or turn out bakery-quality holiday pastries. Pastry Chef Hannah Stanchfield and I are excited to welcome home cooks into our labs this semester to build solid kitchen fundamentals and have a great time doing it.”

For registration questions or general assistance, email Omori at omoric@hawaii.edu.

This week鈥檚 糖心视频 News Image of the Week is from Kauaʻi Community College’s Dayne Gonsalves, an undergraduate in creative media.

Gonsalves shared: “An image of Kaumualiʻi Highway on the morning after Hurricane Lowell, taken from Kekaha.”

Previous Images
Ching Athletics Complex rainbow
First week fun
First day of class
Fungi
Many Manu-o-K奴
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 糖心视频 ʻohana!

Want to get in on the action? The next 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 connection. By submitting your image, you are giving 糖心视频 News permission to publish your photo on the 糖心视频 News website and 糖心视频 social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Lala, which brought damaging winds and severe flooding to Hawaiʻi Island, members of the Hawaiʻi Community College kauhale (village) rallied to support hard-hit families in 碍补ʻ奴.

On August 21, members of the Hawaiʻi CC-affiliated K奴k奴ʻena hula cohort, college faculty and staff joined forces with University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo colleagues to support community-led relief efforts. In 奥补颈ʻ艒丑颈苍耻, the group met with Hawaiʻi CC alumni Nohealani Kaʻawa, Kaila Kaʻawa and Lanihuli Kanahele, who were establishing a community relief hub.

Partnering with staff from The Nature Conservancy, the 糖心视频 team delivered food, water and critical supplies to households in the Green Sands area, where residents had been without power and water for a week.

‘Stark, visceral reminder’

Seeing the physical and emotional impact of the storm firsthand left a strong impression on the volunteers.

“What stayed with me most was the strength and resilience of the people in 碍补ʻ奴,” said Nohea Pua, a support specialist for career and technical education at Hawaiʻi CC. “Going house to house, we were met with so many smiles and so much positivity in the midst of such a difficult time.”

Hawaiʻi CC Sociology Instructor Michael Branch noted the power of reciprocal community support, especially with students living in the affected area.

“It was a stark, visceral reminder of the extent to which a storm can disrupt the basic things that people depend on every day, but also of just how quickly people can come together and care for one another,” Branch said.

Following the initial trip, Hawaiʻi CC and 糖心视频 Hilo organized a campus donation drive. On August 27, team members returned to 奥补颈ʻ艒丑颈苍耻 with a van packed with donated supplies.

To support ongoing recovery efforts, follow and message on Instagram for updates on current needs at the K艒kua 碍补ʻ奴 Hub.

— By Katie Young Yamanaka and Drew Kapp

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance and CFO Luis Salaveria will host a hybrid public forum on Monday, September 28, to discuss 糖心视频‘s budget, current financial status and $123 million in strategic investments planned over the next several years.

Hensel and Salaveria will provide an overview of the university’s new budgeting process, the strategic investments and 糖心视频‘s financial request to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature for Fiscal Year 2028. The presentation will be followed by an open question-and-answer session for in-person and virtual participants.

“It is important that our campus community understand both how we made these important financial decisions and the plan for investing $123 million in support of our strategic goals over the next several years,” Hensel said in an email to the 10 campuses announcing the forum. “This is an important step in moving from planning to execution—aligning our resources with our priorities and being transparent and accountable about how we make those decisions.”

糖心视频 Budget and Strategic Investment Public Forum

• Monday, September 28, 4:30 p.m.
• BOR Conference Room (Kiawe), Bachman Hall 106, 糖心视频 Mānoa
• In person and online
• Participants can using password 902892.

Higher education leaders from the Philippines visited Leeward Community College, Honolulu Community College and Kapiʻolani Community College in August to see how University of Hawaiʻi community colleges connect students to degrees, careers and lifelong learning.

The delegation included Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Michelle Aguilar Ong; Lora L. Yusi, director of CHED鈥檚 Office of Institutional Quality Assurance and Governance; and leaders from four Philippine colleges and universities. Patricia Espiritu Halagao, a professor in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 College of Education鈥檚 Department of Curriculum Studies and co-director of the , also joined the discussions.

Focus on student success

Across the campuses, conversations centered on common challenges: aligning education with workforce needs, helping students complete or transfer, and creating flexible pathways through continuing education and microcredentials.

“I deeply appreciate the vision and dedication CHED brings to expanding educational access in the Philippines,” Leeward CC Chancellor Carlos Pe帽aloza said. “By sharing our approaches to local workforce development and culturally centered education, we鈥檝e laid the groundwork for strong, ongoing partnerships that will benefit our students, our institutions and our shared communities for years to come.“

Reinald Adrian Pugoy, of the University of the Philippines Open University, added, “I left Leeward with new insights and ideas that I can bring back to the Philippines.”

Cross-Pacific collaboration

Other 糖心视频 campus leaders welcomed the starting point for continued dialogue and partnership.

“Our shared dedication to practical education opens exciting possibilities for cross-cultural collaboration, and we look forward to building connections that expand opportunities for students in both Hawaiʻi and the Philippines,” Honolulu CC Chancellor Karen Lee said.

Kapiʻolani CC Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi added, “The visit highlighted many opportunities for further collaboration, particularly in supporting students with dual citizenship and developing regionally specialized programs that respond to the needs of our communities.”

The dialogue underscored the role community colleges play in serving diverse students and expanding access to higher education.

Halagao said, “The visit also strengthened the connections between Hawaiʻi and the Philippines and provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and explore areas for future collaboration.”

—By Tad Saiki

Kauaʻi Community College will initiate a phased reopening beginning Monday, September 14, with all in-person and online classes resuming on Tuesday, September 15, following recovery efforts from Hurricane Lowell. Gov. Green has approved the modified reopening plan, which ensures campus facilities are safe, fully functional and clean before welcoming students back.

Phased reopening timeline

• Campus closed through Sunday, September 13: The campus remains closed to all non-essential personnel while facilities and IT staff work to restore power stability, service HVAC systems, repair a broken water line, clear downed trees and clean indoor facilities.
• Monday, September 14 (Faculty and Staff Only): The campus opens for employees to reconnect, assess physical spaces, troubleshoot moisture and air conditioning systems, and prepare.
• Tuesday, September 15 (Students Return): The campus opens fully for standard operations, and all in-person and digital instruction resumes.

Academic adjustments, support

Campus leadership emphasized that the health, safety, well-being and academic success of the campus community remain the top priorities during this transition:

• Academic flexibility: Chancellor Margaret Sanchez assured the campus community that leadership and faculty will work collaboratively to address missed instructional time, assignments and academic deadlines once conditions stabilize.
• Workplace accommodations: Employees navigating personal property damage, family commitments or community disaster recovery efforts that prevent returning on Monday are encouraged to reach out directly to their supervisors.
• Cross-campus support: Kauaʻi CC has coordinated across the University of Hawaiʻi System, to create flexibility for Kauaʻi CC students enrolled in online courses hosted by other 糖心视频 campuses who missed classes or assignments during the closure. The vice chancellor鈥檚 office is also prepared to advocate on behalf of affected students.

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 CTAHR

The 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience鈥檚 Lihue office has had power restored and will reopen on Monday. The Wailua facility is still without power. Updates will be provided to that team.

The University of Hawaiʻi is proposing a new four-year tuition schedule that would keep undergraduate tuition unchanged at all 10 campuses for the first two years, followed by increases beginning in academic year (AY) 2029–30. The current schedule expires at the end of AY 2026–27. The proposal is on the agenda for the September 17 Board of Regents meeting for informational purposes only; no action will be taken.

The proposed schedule would cover AY 2027–28 through AY 2030–31, replacing the current schedule that expires at the end of AY 2026–27. The exception to the two-year freeze is tuition at the professional pharmacy program at 糖心视频 Hilo鈥檚 Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, where tuition would increase 5% annually beginning in AY 2027–28 to address operational needs and accreditation requirements.

Proposed tuition rates

At 糖心视频鈥檚 four-year campuses, undergraduate students pay a flat full-time tuition rate once they enroll in 12 credits per semester and can take additional credits at no additional tuition cost.

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase
• AY 2029–30: 5% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases from $11,760 to $12,360 annually
• AY 2030–31: 5% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases to $12,984 annually
• The increases apply to undergraduate, graduate and professional tuition rates.

糖心视频 Hilo

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase for undergraduate and graduate tuition
• AY 2029–30: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases from $7,632 to $7,872 annually
• AY 2030–31: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases to $8,112 annually
• Nonresident undergraduate tuition would increase by the same percentage.
• Graduate and graduate nursing tuition would remain unchanged for all four years.
• 糖心视频 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy
  • 5% annual tuition increase in each of the four years
  • The additional revenue would support accreditation requirements, faculty and staff, research resources, technology, facilities and other operational needs.

糖心视频 West Oʻahu

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase
• AY 2029–30: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases from $7,632 to $7,872 annually
• AY 2030–31: 3% increase; resident undergraduate tuition increases to $8,112 annually
• Nonresident undergraduate tuition would increase by the same percentage.

糖心视频 community colleges

• AY 2027–28 and 2028–29: No increase in lower-division tuition
• AY 2029–30: Resident lower-division tuition increases from $131 to $135 per credit
• AY 2030–31: Resident lower-division tuition increases to $139 per credit
• For a student taking 24 credits annually, tuition would increase from $3,144 today to $3,336 by AY 2030–31鈥攁n increase of $192.
• Upper-division tuition would increase at the same levels as 糖心视频 Hilo and 糖心视频 West O驶ahu.
• Summer school tuition for Hawaiʻi residents, reduced in 2025 to match the regular resident tuition rate, would continue at the same rate as resident lower-division tuition, including the proposed increases.

A decade of relatively flat tuition

糖心视频 tuition has remained relatively flat for a decade while operating costs have continued to rise. Recent increases in state funding have largely supported budget restorations, construction and facility improvements and negotiated salary increases, while tuition revenue has not kept pace with inflation and rising operational costs.

The proposal is intended to address those rising costs while maintaining affordability for Hawaiʻi students. About 90% of 糖心视频 community college graduates and 65% of graduates from the four-year campuses complete their degrees without student loan debt.

Public review and approval process

Chancellors across the 糖心视频 System notified their campus communities about the proposal and the start of the review process on September 11. The formal public review period begins September 18, followed by open public meetings on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu from October 5–16. Feedback may be provided at the public meetings or submitted online, with details to be announced when available. A summary of public feedback and any revisions to the proposal are scheduled to be presented October 29, with the 糖心视频 Board of Regents considering the final proposal on November 19.

If approved, the new schedule would be filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor by December 1 and take effect in fall 2027.

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College secured $178,424 in federal funding for the 2026–27 academic year to modernize classroom technology and expand hands-on training.

Under the direction of Interim Dean of Career and Technical Education Lorelle Peros, the grant will support six campus initiatives aimed at strengthening high-wage workforce pipelines for local students.

“This funding allows us to create meaningful opportunities and connections for our students through hands-on training, modern technology and industry-relevant skills that prepare them for success in the workforce,” Peros said.

High-tech and health upgrades

The funding brings artificial intelligence (AI) into classroom settings and expands equipment across medical programs.

• Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and high-tech curriculum: Led by Professor Debasis Bhattacharya, the project funds NVIDIA DGX Spark equipment (a compact desktop AI supercomputer designed for developers, researchers and data scientists to build, test and fine-tune large AI models) and faculty AI certification, impacting up to 1,250 STEM and business students.
• Dental hygiene training: Led by Dental Program Coordinator Leanne Higa, the initiative supports accreditation by Commission on Dental Accreditation, an autonomous body associated with the American Dental Association, and faculty laser therapy certification.
• Nursing lab upgrades: Led by Anne Scharnhorst, funds will purchase multiuse task-trainer manikins for realistic clinical simulations.

Skilled trades and career pathways

The remaining projects focus on automotive tech, trade partnerships and broad workforce development.

• Molokaʻi Skilled Trades Pathway: Led by the Molokaʻi Education Center鈥檚 ʻOlelo Schonely and Kelley Dudoit, the initiative creates an agricultural construction and carpentry pathway with Molokaʻi High School, including Early College courses and internships.
• Automotive technology enhancement: Led by Instructor Lawrence Martinson, funds provide modern steering and suspension lab equipment alongside Automotive Service Excellence certification exams for 50 students.
• Multi-sector workforce project: Led by Peros, the effort broadens access to industry credentials and professional development across healthcare, technology and trades.

The federal investment through the Perkins V funding (supporting career and technical education) ensures 糖心视频 Maui College students gain industry-validated skills to meet evolving local workforce demands.

Building on the success of its drone certification program, has secured a new $920,238 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to expand education using tools such as drone-mounted sensors to collect data across the state. The three-year project aims to meet workforce demand or stackable credentials for use in utilities, civil engineering, agriculture and environmental hazard mitigation.

“Expanding the Impact of Geospatial Remote Sensing in Hawaii,” leverages Hawaiʻi CC鈥檚 existing drone education credentials. By introducing advanced two- and three-dimensional surveying, lidar technology (a remote sensing technology that measures distances using laser pulses) and powerful computational tools, the program will train students not only to fly unmanned aerial vehicles but also to process and analyze complex data.

Students will conduct local projects in several courses in engineering technology, forestry management and surveying, which will lead to a certificate in geospatial remote sensing.

Expanding tech career pathways

Related story: Hawaiʻi CC launches first community college drone certification program

“This new award represents a massive leap forward for our local students,” said Principal Investigator Orlo Steele, an associate professor of agroforestry. “We are integrating cutting-edge technologies directly into our forestry, engineering and surveying courses. Furthermore, by introducing mapping training at our P膩lamanui campus in West Hawaiʻi, we are opening doors for students across the island and partnering with other Pacific Islands to build a truly regional tech workforce.”

The project also aims to expand access to high-tech career pathways for all students and increase their qualifications to be competitive in the rapidly growing drone economy. Strengthening pathways from high school to community college to four-year institutions, while also providing upskilling opportunities for incumbent workers in utilities, agriculture, public safety and natural resource management is also a goal of the project.

“We are focusing deeply on student outcomes and workforce readiness,” explained Co-Principal Investigator Donna Pacheco, an associate professor of engineering technology. “We want to ensure our graduates understand how to apply their skills in the field, making them highly competitive for high-paying positions within private, state and federal engineering and environmental agencies.”

Kauaʻi Community College will remain closed through Friday, September 11, due to damage and other impacts from Hurricane Lowell. In-person and online classes were canceled for the remainder of the week, and employees were told not to report to campus unless specifically directed to do so.

Campus officials are assessing damage and determining what work is needed before the campus can safely reopen. Students and employees are asked to stay away from campus while damage assessments and recovery work continue.

In a message to the campus sent on September 8, Chancellor Margaret Sanchez said, “We understand that students and faculty will have questions about missed class time, assignments, deadlines and other academic matters. We will work together to determine how those issues will be addressed once conditions stabilize and will provide additional guidance as soon as possible.”

糖心视频 campuses and facilities on Oʻahu reopened September 9, following precautionary closures on September 8.

糖心视频 leadership and emergency management teams continue to coordinate with state and county officials. Students and employees should monitor their email, 糖心视频 RAVE emergency alerts and official campus communication channels for the latest updates.

At least 150 students are expected to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and data science concepts to real-world challenges through a new Kapiʻolani Community College and University of Hawaiʻi Maui College project, which received $657,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Transforming Two-Year College Information Technology, Applied AI, and Data Science Programs, is a collaboration with the Institute for Future Intelligence and will combine new and revised credit-bearing courses with industry-informed projects, hands-on learning and AI-supported learning tools鈥攊ntegrating into the colleges鈥� associate degree information technology programs. An industry advisory structure and industry-supported learning experiences will help connect classroom instruction with workforce needs.

“This initiative will equip students with practical AI and data science skills for today鈥檚 evolving workforce while strengthening their abilities in problem-solving, data analysis, collaboration and technology application,” said Principal Investigator Dale Nakasone, a Kapiʻolani CC assistant professor of IT.

Cross-campus opportunities

Students from both campuses will also participate in annual cross-campus project showcases and collaborative applied learning opportunities.

“By embedding AI, data literacy, and hands-on experiential learning into existing IT associate degree programs, we are strengthening workforce-relevant technical skills in applied AI, industry-informed learning experiences, stronger transfer and career pathways,” said Co-principal Investigator Thomas Blamey, an assistant professor of math at 糖心视频 Maui College.

The project will also provide professional development opportunities for working professionals and educators, and foster faculty collaboration across campuses. It will also examine effective approaches for teaching applied AI and data science in hybrid and online learning environments.

Curricular resources, findings and implementation models developed through the project will be shared with other two-year colleges seeking to expand AI education. The goal is to contribute scalable approaches for preparing technicians for increasingly data-driven and AI-enabled workplaces.

“The One-Person Security Department: Building Your Own Tools for Hawaiʻi IT on No Budget” is the topic for the first in a series of three free Zoom meetings presented by the for sole proprietors and registered businesses in Hawaiʻi.

Thursday, September 16, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom

“Vulnerability scanners, SIEM (security, information and event management) platforms and asset management suites are all priced for organizations with 10 times a small business鈥檚 headcount. This session is about what a small business owner can build instead,” said David Stevens, associate professor of IT/Cybersecurity at and session lead for the 糖心视频 Cybersecurity Clinic.

Help for small businesses

The course will cover practical automation for small and resource-constrained IT shops: inventorying what is actually on your network; parsing logs without a SIEM; auditing configurations at scale; and building simple home-brew testing tools to probe your systems before someone else does.

“AI assistants have collapsed the barrier to entry here, so you no longer need to be a developer to get useful tooling running,” said Stevens. “Attendees will also get an honest account of where the AI gets it wrong, and the verification habits that keep a generated script from becoming your next incident.”

The three-session series is funded by $1 million in grant funding and wraparound support from Google鈥檚 Cybersecurity Clinics Fund to establish the . The clinic is one of 15 new ones launching at higher education institutions nationwide, made possible through a collaboration between Google and the .

The fall convocation at Leeward Community College signaled more than just the start of a new academic year. It also marked a celebration of cultural legacy.

In a heartfelt tribute, the campus community officially presented an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Kumu Robert Uluwehion膩puaikaw膿kiuokalani Cazimero, a master of hula and Hawaiian music whose influence has deepened the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 connection to ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge).

The honorary degree was first approved by the 糖心视频 Board of Regents in April, following a request from Leeward CC Chancellor Carlos Pe帽aloza.

“I鈥檓 humbled with insurmountable gratitude,” said Cazimero. “I was taught, from small kid time, that it鈥檚 better to give than to receive; to always put others first and to just be grateful for what you have in life. So this is a wonderment.”

Full circle

Cazimero has shared his time and expertise with generations of students through guest lectures, workshops, performances and mentorship across all 10 糖心视频 campuses.

The convocation ceremony on August 19 brought this legacy full circle as he received the honor surrounded by Regent Laurie Tochiki, Pe帽aloza, and former haum膩na (students) including Keala Chock, Leeward CC vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“It was a meaningful way to begin the year by honoring someone who represents excellence, service, and a deep commitment to Hawaiʻi and its people. Robert鈥檚 life and work reflect many of the values we hope to instill in our students,” Chock reflected.

“I am grateful to the many people who have supported me and my life鈥檚 work. For the kind words shared with me and the letters of support from family and friends, mahalo a nui me ke aloha e (many thanks, with aloha),” Cazimero added.

—By Devon Bedoya

This week’s image is from the Hawaiʻi CC.

From the Hawaiʻi CC Instagram: A great start to Fall 2026! It鈥檚 been wonderful first week welcoming our students back for a new semester.

.

Send us your image!

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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 糖心视频 驶辞丑补苍补!

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40 years

Pak, Andrew
Professor, Kapiʻolani CC

30 years

Aquino, Encarnita N
Procurement/Property Management Specialist, 糖心视频 Maui College

Lee, Edmond W L
Program Manager, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Lewis, Wayne S
Professor, Honolulu CC

Solis, Ron D
Associate Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

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20 years

Barnett, Jennifer P
Assistant Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Ching, Sheri G G
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Dawrs, Stuart V
Librarian, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Gal, Roy R
Associate Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Harbin, Donna M
Professor, 糖心视频 Maui College

Kawabata, Kevin Y
IT Manager, Leeward CC

Langford, Richard A
Professor, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu

Miller-Cabasug, Ina
Associate Professor, Honolulu CC

Newhouse, Kimberley K
Instructor, 糖心视频 Maui College

Pagano, Ian S
Assistant Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Sagapolutele, Marlene E
Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist, Honolulu CC

Snyder, Derek S
Dean, 糖心视频 Maui College

Su, Shan
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Takamure, Christy L
Professor, Leeward CC

10 years

Ae, Kimberly K A
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu

Barko, Valerie A
County Administrator, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Blamey, Thomas L
Assistant Professor, 糖心视频 Maui College

Bolosan, Rowell
Janitor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Costa, Crystal A
Program Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Davis, Katherine F
Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Deng, Youping
Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Higa, Chloe N S
Fiscal Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Kennedy, Kelly L M
Associate Professor, Leeward CC

Kephart, Tennille A
Administrative Officer, 糖心视频 Hilo

McGuire, John H
Building Maintenance Worker, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Mehan, Robin M
Janitor, 糖心视频 Hilo

Messinger, Thane J
Instructor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Niblock, Gerald M
Electrician, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Okamoto, Scott K
Researcher, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Sanchez Guerrero, Eileen R L
Educational Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Shima, Brandon H L
Project Manager, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Soma Turek, Kelsey T
Fiscal Specialist, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Strong-Ruiz, Kenisha M
Instructor, Leeward CC

Taira, Derek S
Associate Professor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Uehara, Darren K
Janitor, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

West, Kristi L
Associate Researcher, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补

Yoshikawa, Kristy K M
Associate Professor, Kapiʻolani CC

In a milestone for Leeward Coast healthcare, 14 local students celebrated their graduation from the inaugural Summer 2026 Waiʻanae Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program on Friday, August 28, 2026. The ceremony at the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center marked the first time this critical training has been offered directly in the community.

The groundbreaking program is a collaborative partnership among , Education Center and the (WCCHC). Supported by the 糖心视频 Community Colleges’ initiative, the program brings EMT training closer to home, removing significant transit barriers for West Oʻahu residents.

‘Elevate our community’

“People who grew up on the West Side, it makes me feel special, and it makes us feel like—growing up in such a small city—we do matter, and we’re not just from the West Side,” said EMT graduate Lauren Debutiaco Odviar, a Waiʻanae High School alumna. “We’re smart, intelligent people who can give back to our community and elevate our community too.”

Good Jobs Hawaiʻi covered tuition, uniforms, books and testing fees. The rigorous summer curriculum prepared students through intensive classroom instruction, skills training, clinical experiences and field education. Graduates are now eligible for national certification and immediate local employment.

“What this means to me is to grow my future, not only for me, but also for my son, give back to the community, and just make my family proud,” said EMT graduate Jalen Rene Molina.

Following the official pinning ceremony, the cohort celebrated their achievements with family, instructors and community partners at a special lunch reception.

Decades in the making

Leeward CC Associate Professor Lucy Gay spent decades advocating for expanded healthcare training access for West Oʻahu students, ultimately opening dedicated classroom study and practice spaces for this inaugural cohort at Leeward CC‘s Waiʻanae Moku Education Center.

The program gained momentum last year when WCCHC‘s Chrissy Kuahine approached Leeward CC and Kapiʻolani CC about launching localized training to address the acute paramedic and EMT shortage on the coast.

EMT graduate David Di Martino, who lives in ʻEwa Beach and served as president of the group, said, “To be the first cohort, it was a risk, and I would say it paid off majorly, and I just hope it reflects that way out on the streets with the people of Hawaiʻi.”