President David Lassner provided updates on ߣsirÊÓƵ support for Lahainaluna High School ߣsirÊÓƵ, 2024 fall enrollment and philanthropic fundraising—noting that the ߣsirÊÓƵ Foundation surpassed $100 million in fundraising—in his monthly report to the Board of Regents (BOR) at their May 16 meeting at ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹.

Lassner also highlighted the successful commencement activities of the 10 campuses, including the ߣsirÊÓƵuation ceremony held every four years on Molokaʻi and informed the regents about how recently passed federal appropriations require in-state tuition for the citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau.

• Successful spring 2024 ߣsirÊÓƵuation season ()
• Molokaʻi ߣsirÊÓƵuation ()
• Federal tuition requirement for Compact of Free Association nations ()
• Ongoing support for Lahainaluna ߣsirÊÓƵ ()
• Enrollment trending upwards for fall 2024 ()
• Record extramural funding ()
• ߣsirÊÓƵ Foundation surpasses $100 million ()

See previous president’s reports to the Board of Regents.

—To ߣsirÊÓƵuate, pass through, emerge.

Previous ʻÅ�lelo
Hoʻomaʻemaʻe
Mei
Kupulau
ʻApelila
Lanakila
All ʻÅŒlelo of the Week

“Hoʻomaikaʻi ʻana (Congratulations) to our ߣsirÊÓƵuates from all 10 campuses! May you carry the spirit of resilience and the warmth of aloha on your journey ahead. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering dedication!”

—Moanikeʻala Nabarro, Office of Communications, Ke Kulanui o ߣsirÊÓƵʻi ma Mānoa (University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa)

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

For the first time since 2016, the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi hosted a ߣsirÊÓƵuation ceremony to honor the ߣsirÊÓƵuates from the Friendly Isle.

This cherished tradition, usually observed every four years, had been delayed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ߣsirÊÓƵuates are ߣsirÊÓƵ Maui College ߣsirÊÓƵ who attend classes at the ߣsirÊÓƵ Molokaʻi Education Center and/or online.

Between 2021 and 2024, the center awarded 47 associate degrees and 52 certificates. Forty-two of the ߣsirÊÓƵuates participated in the 2024 commencement ceremony on May 10, which honors Molokaʻi residents who earned degrees at the Center or online at a ߣsirÊÓƵ campus.

Check out more stories of our ߣsirÊÓƵ spring ߣsirÊÓƵuates

Never stop learning

After a 23-year journey, 41-year-old Harriet Uʻilani Mokiao proudly earned her associate degree in liberal arts. Cheers and applause roared for Mokiao as she delivered one of the student addresses, emphasizing the significance of her path to achievement.

“We really need to live in the present having learned from the past. There’s an ʻōlelo noʻeau that reads ma ka hana ka ʻike, ma ka ʻike ka mana. Through work, through doing, comes knowledge and through knowledge comes power,” Mokiao said.

More than 50% of the ߣsirÊÓƵuates are Native ߣsirÊÓƵian and received degrees and certificates ranging from associate degrees in dental hygiene and early education to certificates in ߣsirÊÓƵian studies and construction technology.

The number of nurse aide ߣsirÊÓƵuates nearly doubled since the island’s last commencement with 23 ߣsirÊÓƵ earning their certification, which will help to address a critical need on Molokaʻi.

Sonni Han, 17, is one of the ߣsirÊÓƵuates who earned nurse aide certification while attending Molokaʻi High School.

“A lot of kids think that they can’t do it because they come from Molokaʻi and they don’t have a lot of opportunities but this year I found that a lot of people want to help you, especially here at the college,” Han said. “If you just reach out to them theyÊ»ll get you places where you didn’t think you could go.”

Historic milestone on Molokaʻi

PÅ«lama Lima is the first ever doctoral ߣsirÊÓƵuate on Molokaʻi to be hooded at the ceremony. Lima earned a PhD in anthropology from ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹.

“Molokaʻi is our biggest teacher and the best way to show appreciation for that is to come home and devote yourself to community work,” Lima said.

As part of ߣsirÊÓƵ Maui College, the center offers a wide range of credit and non-credit courses and certificate and associate degree programs. Like other ߣsirÊÓƵ outreach sites, it provides selected courses from other ߣsirÊÓƵ community colleges and receives selected bachelors and masters degree programs from ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, ߣsirÊÓƵ Hilo and ߣsirÊÓƵ West Oʻahu via ±«±á–I°Õ³Õ.

—To clean, disinfect, purify.

Previous ʻÅ�lelo
Mei
Kupulau
ʻApelila
Lanakila
Hoʻokūkū
All ʻÅŒlelo of the Week

“Whenever you leave a space that is not yours, be sure to hoʻomaʻemaʻe and make sure all the rubbish and belongings are taken care of.”

—Ikaika Mendez, ߣsirÊÓƵian language and music ߣsirÊÓƵuate, Ke Kulanui o ߣsirÊÓƵʻi ma Mānoa (University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa)

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

On a glorious, sunny April morning in Pepeʻekeo on the Hamakua Coast of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Island, about 15 ߣsirÊÓƵ harvested more than 50 lbs. of bananas to feed the community.

They made quick work of chopping down the banana trees and reducing them to mulch, before washing, drying and packing the fruit at the college’s 3-acre farm Mauliola (thriving or healthy) and then loading it into their van for delivery in Hilo.

“It’s been actually life changing to have a program in which you’re hands-on every single day,” said student Kristen Decoito.

Since 2023, ߣsirÊÓƵʻi CC has donated more than 1,000 lbs of fresh produce from Mauliola to the ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Food Basket.

“Our mission is to end hunger in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi County on ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Island,” said Enola Kaneta, director of operations for ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Food Basket. “ߣsirÊÓƵʻi Community College actually helps us to do that by providing fresh produce and vegetables to our community members.”

Feeding hungry families

In 2021, the college finalized a four-year agreement with landowner Honua Ola Bioenergy to farm and teach agriculture at Mauliola, as long as 90% of the food produced there goes to feed hungry families. The land the college has cleared—armed with weed wackers and lots of sweat equity—stands in stark contrast to the tall grasses and trees surrounding the farm.

“To have a project this big—three acres, 40 ʻulu (breadfruit) trees, maybe 60 banana trees in the ground—is kind of unprecedented for a small program like ours,” said Assistant Professor Lew Nakamura.

Kaneta said, “A lot of our emergency food customers actually come up daily for us and they love to have fresh produce that they can actually then go home and give their families and their keiki.”

Nakamura is excited to be able to train more ߣsirÊÓƵ who can grow food for the community and teach others to do it, too.

“Where there is hunger, we need farmers. We need people to feed the community, and it’s good because we know if it’s grown here that it’s healthy, that it’s sustainable, and we know exactly the source of which it came from,” said Decoito, who will ߣsirÊÓƵuate with her associate’s degree in May and plans to pursue a teaching degree.

Theft blunts impact

Nakamura said there will be even more impact next year when the ʻulu starts to ripen. However, recurring agricultural theft is already blunting Mauliola’s impact.

“We’ve had probably over 300 pounds, or at least 30 bunches of bananas, stolen from us from this parcel,” he said. “Big problem—people taking food away from people who actually need it.”

It’s a problem harming other farmers across the island. Nakamura said he is reaching out to the community to report any agricultural thefts they may witness.

In the meantime, ߣsirÊÓƵʻi CC will be doing its part to produce the farmers the state needs, such as first year student David Marquis, who proudly posed with a heavy stalk of bananas he had just chopped down with a machete.

Marquis said, “I hope to start a small farm and become food sufficient and help other people too to obtain self sufficiency in food.”

Decoito added, “I just want people to understand that food is a very critical topic here in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi, and without farmers, we’re going to have a lot more problems in the future.”

—by Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

—May.

Previous ʻÅ�lelo
Kupulau
ʻApelila
Lanakila
Hoʻokūkū
Lehulehu
Walaʻau
All ʻÅŒlelo of the Week

“When Mei arrives, it ushers in blossoming possibilities. Here at ߣsirÊÓƵ, our campuses are buzzing with excitement as we prepare for commencement ceremonies, which mark both the close of one chapter and the start of another.”

—Moanikeʻala Nabarro, Office of Communications, Ke Kulanui o ߣsirÊÓƵʻi ma Mānoa (University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa)

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

On an April morning, busy hands covered tables and set monogrammed china and silverware shined by hand along with spotless stemware at the fine dining Leis Family Class Act Restaurant on the campus of the . Meanwhile, other culinary ߣsirÊÓƵ prepared a world-class meal that included a salmon cake appetizer and a choice of ricotta agnolottii (stuffed pasta) or Kona kampachi (yellowtail) for an entree.

Student teaching assistant Ryan Chang was constantly in motion supervising, suggesting and supporting through the first half of his 12-hour day. Chang arrived at the restaurant before 7 a.m. to help teach the dining room service operations class, serve as an unofficial maître d’ through lunch service, and much more. At 1:30 p.m., Chang ran to his car and changed from his black dress shirt and slacks to his chef’s whites for his 2–7 p.m. pastry class.

ߣsirÊÓƵ Maui College has set up the hardworking student for success. Chang will earn two associate of applied arts degrees in May (one specializing in culinary arts and the other specializing in baking and pastry). He was also key to the college’s emergency production of thousands of meals in the aftermath of the August wildfires.

‘Pivotal” position

When the culinary ߣsirÊÓƵ officially joined the relief efforts at the start of the fall semester, Chang staffed the central operations desk as volunteers gathered in the campus’ kitchens, producing thousands of meals on some days for fire victims, emergency workers and other volunteers.

“It felt really good to help our community,” Chang said. “There’s so many people who needed assistance during that time, and not just people that were displaced by the fires.”

Check out more stories of our ߣsirÊÓƵ spring ߣsirÊÓƵuates

Chef Instructor Mark Malone said Chang’s position was “pivotal” to the relief operation’s success.

“It was almost as if we were answering to Ryan instead of him answering to us, but it was done in the most professional and best way to show his genuine care,” Malone said.

Mis en place

Malone shared a photo taken during that time of Chang pushing large coolers around. Part of his myriad duties included making sure the coolers got packed with the right number of meals to be sent to the right locations at the right time.

“So if I think of Ryan during the times of the fires, it was just simply being utterly exhausted, but yet coming in with a smile on his face and willingness to do whatever was needed at any point in time,&rquo; Malone said.

Chang credits a French culinary concept with helping him to be effective.

“Mis en place. It’s French for everything in its place,” he said. “So trying to stay organized, plan ahead, have a plan of attack. That and like a sense of urgency. It’s like rushing, but doing it right.”

Paying it forward

Chang conveys that concept to the culinary ߣsirÊÓƵ he is now helping to mentor.

First-year student Kaya Kaleikini remembered that Chang would often pop in to help her and other ߣsirÊÓƵ in the kitchen during the wildfire relief effort, on top of his organizational duties on the other side of the door. He still provides hands-on assistance now in his teaching assistant role at the restaurant.

“Ryan is a great TA,” Kaleikini said. “I think it really sets us up for not only this class but for the outside world, because not everyone is gonna be as strict as him.”

Chang said after ߣsirÊÓƵuation he wants to get some more industry experience under his belt before deciding between cooking and baking.

However, he said, “I think having those skills like in my pocket, I have the confidence to work anywhere.”

Malone agreed, “He’ll be a big asset in anything he wants to do.”

—by Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

—Spring.

Previous ʻÅ�lelo
ʻApelila
Lanakila
Hoʻokūkū
Lehulehu
Walaʻau
Uka
All ʻÅŒlelo of the Week

“We are currently in Kupulau season, where the weather becomes warmer, the days become longer and the celebrations become bigger!”

—Ikaika Mendez, ߣsirÊÓƵian language and music ߣsirÊÓƵuate, Ke Kulanui o ߣsirÊÓƵʻi ma Mānoa (University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at Mānoa)

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

Collegiate esports is trending toward more gaming experiences on mobile platforms. To keep universities in ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and the Pacific at the forefront of the industry, the University of ߣsirÊÓƵʻi at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ hosted ߣsirÊÓƵʻi’s first Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament.

Eight collegiate teams from ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, University of Guam, Northern Marianas College and Brigham Young University–ߣsirÊÓƵʻi battled it out for the Aloha Collegiate Cup over the past week. The finals, featuring two teams from ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ and one team from Brigham Young University–ߣsirÊÓƵʻi, were held at ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹â€™s iLab on April 21. ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹’s Varsity X team won over ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹’s Varsity Y team in a marathon 4-3 final match.

“It’s the first Pan South-Pacific tournament in esports for Mobile Legends and mobile esports,” said ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ esports Program Director Nyle Sky Kauweloa. “That also marks an important pivot point for us across the state. I hope to make this into a broader league with other universities.”

ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ esports ߣsirÊÓƵ also produced the live tournament broadcast on YouTube. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the most successful and widely played mobile esports games globally.

Traditionally thought of as games played on a personal computer, esports has shifted to be played on mobile phones, which has been critical to closing the gap around the accessibility and affordability of technologies for ߣsirÊÓƵ. According to Statista, .

The ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ esports program launched the first Mobile Legends: Bang Bang varsity team in North America in fall 2023, giving ߣsirÊÓƵ who have been brought up in a mobile-first environment more opportunities to join the team. This Aloha Collegiate Cup tournament was one of the ways Kauweloa is expanding participation across ߣsirÊÓƵʻi and the Pacific.

“We’ve been successful, not only with our game, but with the community as well,” said Jerome Carl Castillo, ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team captain and tournament organizer. “I think that’s what we’re trying to push because we’re not here to just play, we’re here to grow a community. We’re pretty proud of what we’ve achieved so far in these past few months.”

Alison Chuang, a ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Varsity X player, added, “We’ve had some offline meetups for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the turnout was pretty great. It was really nice just getting to know people within the community that also play. If you are attending ߣsirÊÓƵ ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ or any of the ߣsirÊÓƵ campuses please come by and see if you would be interested in joining us.”

In Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, players compete in teams of five to defeat the opposing team’s base while controlling their own hero character. Each hero has unique abilities and characteristics, and players can choose from a wide variety of heroes to suit their play style. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was the second and third most watched esports tournament in 2023 with a peak viewership count of more than five million.

“Collaborating with ߣsirÊÓƵ, Northern Marianas College and BYU in this esports tournament marks a significant stride in bridging campuses across the Pacific,” said Ken San Nicolas, University of Guam esports manager. “The greatest obstacle to a long-term goal is often showing commitment and putting components in action. We have now moved past that hurdle. I extend my gratitude to the leadership at ߣsirÊÓƵ and Sky Kauweloa for spearheading much of this endeavor. Beyond fostering connections within our esports programs, this initiative has prompted collaboration even among our IT departments, presenting avenues for future partnerships across various fronts.rdquo;

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ߣsirÊÓƵ Esports receives funding from the . Visit the ߣsirÊÓƵ Esports team’s and pages. More stories on ߣsirÊÓƵ’s esports program.

—By Marc Arakaki