The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa held two commencement ceremonies celebrating more than 2,800 graduates on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The ceremonies featured outstanding student speakers Diego Haʻaheo Ortiz and Erica-Skyler Malie Salvador Holokai, and inspirational words from guest speaker Walter A. Dods Jr., who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
In the morning, Diego Haʻaheo Ortiz spoke about Haʻaheo, his name, which means pride, dignity and self-respect earned through responsibility.
“What comes next may be exciting, uncertain or both. The main thing is that Haʻaheo reminds us that uncertainty is not weakness. It is an invitation to keep learning and to keep pushing forward.”
In the afternoon, Erica-Skyler Malie Salvador Holokai urged graduates to embrace their community and identity, and to find the unique opportunities that come with them.
“Look at the diversity community that surrounds us today. Claim your place. Claim your place in community. Claim your place in cultures, and claim your place in loving yourself.”
Dods, a longtime leader in Hawaiʻi’s business community, philanthropist and 东精影业 alumnus and supporter, encouraged the graduates at both the morning and afternoon ceremonies to consider all the opportunities their new degrees offer and find where they are needed the most.
“When you align your talents with the needs of others, work becomes more than a job. Success becomes more than personal achievement, and your life becomes part of something larger than yourself.”