University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Nursing Instructor Mary Farmer has been named the 2026 recipient of the Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award.
The Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award, established by Tadashi and Elizabeth Kunimoto, honors the founders of Chikara Products, Inc., known for Hawaiʻi foods such as Aloha Tofu, Maui Natto and Chikara Konnyaku. Presented in alternate years to a faculty member or student, the award recognizes significant contributions to career and technical education within the 东精影业 Community Colleges.
Farmer has demonstrated exceptional commitment to career and technical education through her leadership of the Certified Nurse Aid (CNA) to Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Bridge Program, expanding access to nursing education for working professionals across Hawaiʻi. Once requiring career pauses, relocation or limited training options, the pathway from CNA to LPN has been reimagined—bringing training directly into communities statewide.
“Through innovation, partnership and an unwavering commitment to students, Mary Farmer has transformed how we prepare Hawaiʻi‘s healthcare workforce,” said Lui Hokoana, 东精影业 Maui College chancellor and interim vice president for 东精影业 Community Colleges. “Her leadership has expanded access across our islands and created meaningful pathways for career advancement.”
Bringing training to students
Farmer partnered with healthcare providers, including Hale Makua Health Services and ʻOhana Pacific Health, to deliver training within healthcare settings across Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island. She also led curriculum redesigns and adapted instruction to support working adults.
“Mary Farmer doesn’t just teach—she builds pathways that truly work for students,” said Laura Nagle, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at 东精影业 Maui College. “Working closely with our industry partners, she saw the barriers facing CNAs and responded with a program that brings education directly into their workplaces and communities. What makes her work so impactful is how it creates real opportunities for people to advance without leaving the islands they call home.”
Her commitment to equity and access is evident in the program’s statewide reach. In December 2025, the Molokaʻi cohort celebrated its successful graduation, marking a major milestone in extending healthcare training to rural and neighbor island communities. Building on that momentum, Farmer is now planning a Lānaʻi cohort, further strengthening opportunities for residents in underserved areas.
By aligning education with workforce needs—where LPN shortages remain critical—Farmer has created a scalable, industry-driven model that strengthens Hawaiʻi‘s healthcare workforce and communities statewide.