{"id":241981,"date":"2026-10-13T13:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T23:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=241981"},"modified":"2026-10-13T16:20:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T02:20:29","slug":"kapiolani-cc-ruby-jubilee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/13\/kapiolani-cc-ruby-jubilee\/","title":{"rendered":"Kapiʻolani CC<\/abbr> marks 80 years of changing lives in Hawaiʻi"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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President Hensel with 糖心视频<\/abbr> leaders, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> staff and students, donors and the Morton family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College celebrated eight decades of education, service and community impact at its 80th Anniversary Ruby Jubilee on October 10 at Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners to honor the college\u2019s history and look toward its future.<\/p>\n

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President Hensel with 糖心视频<\/abbr> leaders, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> staff and students, donors, and the Morton family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Held under the theme “E Mau Ana Ka Hoʻoilina<\/span> ʻo<\/span> Kapiʻolani<\/span>\u2014Perpetuated is the Legacy of Queen Kapiʻolani<\/span>,” the evening traced the college\u2019s story from Queen Kapiʻolani<\/span>\u2019s legacy of care, courage, service and kuleana to the generations of people who continue to carry that legacy forward.<\/p>\n

Emceed by Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> alumnus, Native Hawaiian storyteller and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Kamaka Pili, the program reflected on the college\u2019s beginnings, its growth through generations of leaders and educators, the impact of its students and alumni, and the responsibility to perpetuate that legacy for those who follow.<\/p>\n

View photos from the Ruby Jubilee<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

“For 80 years, our college has opened doors to opportunity and helped shape Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s future. Our graduates serve communities across Oʻahu<\/span> and the neighbor islands, from vital healthcare professions to our award-winning culinary and hospitality programs, and our alumni carry that impact far beyond campus,” said Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi.<\/p>\n

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Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Lunalilo scholars program director LaVache Scanlan presenting the John Morton Student Welcome Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“That legacy is also reflected in strong transfer pathways to four-year 糖心视频<\/abbr> campuses and national distinctions in cybersecurity, undergraduate research, and New Media Arts. As we look ahead, we are focused on helping every student find their direction, navigate their education, and succeed after graduation. The future John Morton Student Welcome Center, a one-stop student services hub and redesigned counseling services carry that commitment forward, while major projects such as M\u0101unulau represent an investment in the generations to come,” she said.<\/p>\n

The evening began with a H\u014dʻike<\/span> Showcase featuring projects from across the college, followed by dinner prepared by Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> culinary students under the guidance of chef instructors. The evening also included a silent auction and a performance by N\u0101 H\u014dk\u016b Hanohano awardee Raiatea Helm.<\/p>\n

“I want to express my gratitude to the visionary chancellors, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and so many friends who built this incredible college,” said University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> President Wendy Hensel. “Congratulations on 80 extraordinary years. We are so proud of what you have built, and we cannot wait to see how high our students will soar over the next 80 years.”<\/p>\n

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From left, Mariko Miho, Joyce Tsunoda, and Misaki Takabayashi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Provost and 糖心视频<\/abbr> Community Colleges Chancellor Emerita Joyce Tsunoda, whose leadership helped guide Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s move to its Diamond Head campus, reflected on the many people who helped turn a shared vision for the college into reality.<\/p>\n

“I am most proud that this campus has maintained what I first saw here in the early 1970s. I am equally proud of the many students who have walked through our doors over the years,” said Tsunoda. “Please ensure that the community around this campus continues to be involved in maintaining this learning environment for the people and by the people. This is our Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>, a vital part of the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> System.”<\/p>\n

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Three course dinner prepared by Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> culinary students and chef instructors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That spirit of community partnership continues today as organizations across Hawaiʻi<\/span> work alongside Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> to serve the state\u2019s workforce.<\/p>\n

“Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> listens to the community and responds. The college is deeply connected to Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s communities and works alongside healthcare partners to shape how we prepare the next generation of nurses and health professionals,” said Hawaiʻi<\/span> Pacific Health System Chief Nurse Executive Amy Thomas. “Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s nursing graduates are widely regarded across health systems as well-prepared nurses with clinically sound skill sets and a strong nursing foundation to meet the care needs of our patients and communities.”<\/p>\n

The Ruby Jubilee honored 80 years of service while reaffirming its commitment to student success, workforce development, community partnership, and educational excellence for generations to come.<\/p>\n

—By Lisa Yamamoto<\/em><\/p>\n

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Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s 80th anniversary celebration Ruby Jubilee was held on the campus’ great lawn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> opens doors to opportunity and helps shape Hawaiʻi\u2019s\/span> future.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":241963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[643,63,71],"class_list":["post-241981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-anniversary","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t