Cianni Rae Kekahuna, Windward Community College鈥檚 Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi (AS东精影业) president, will earn associate degrees in liberal arts and Hawaiian studies鈥攁 milestone the 25-year-old never imagined possible a few years ago.

“I never saw myself going to college,” Kekahuna said. “I’ve always wanted to, you know, but I never saw myself actually being able to do it after I had a child—but it was one of the best decisions of my life.”

A single mother to now 4-year-old Obadiah Rai, Kekahuna was working multiple jobs when she applied for an apprenticeship with Hoʻokuaʻāina, a non-profit that cultivates taro in Kailua, which required enrollment in Windward CC.

“I love aloha ʻ膩ina work (taking care of the land), and when I came across the apprenticeship, I was like, ‘Wow, this is super cool. I really want to do this!’” she said.

She enrolled at Windward CC in 2023.

Meet more amazing 东精影业 spring graduates

“I can honestly go on and on about how much it really impacted the well being of my life overall,” Kekahuna said. “That campus鈥� atmosphere is beyond exceptional—it鈥檚 a small-knit community—and the support that it holds for the students, there’s so many different support systems that really help you move forward.”

Leadership role

She did more than move forward, and was elected to serve as the campus鈥� AS东精影业 president in her last academic year. In that role, Kekahuna traveled through the state and to the East Coast for the first time in her life—to Philadelphia—for an academic conference.

“This whole year, I was the president of Windward [AS东精影业], and that alone opened so many doors for me. I have personal connections with all these people now, and I鈥檓 really grateful for that.” Kekahuna said. “I鈥檝e met people from Boston, California, Texas—just those open doors that it offers—I鈥檓 super grateful.”

Windward CC Student Life Coordinator Kaahu Alo was the one who convinced Kekahuna to run for president.

“Her strength comes from her past. She grew up really fast and so she驶s able to connect with younger students and give her perspective on things,” Alo said. “She just has this spirit, she makes everybody welcome. She驶ll support you and listen to you and talk story—I think she has a very inviting personality.”

‘All you could ask for’

Next up: Kekahuna will transfer to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and is considering majoring in psychology and ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).

“I’m getting chicken skin, because it’s been really bittersweet for me,” she said. “I really don’t want to leave, but, you know, you have to in order to grow. And I get that. I just love the people, the ambiance, the atmosphere, the support—it’s all you could ask for in a school.”

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

The State of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 second highest ranking official credited her experience in student government at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 with inspiring her for a career in public service.

Hawaiʻi Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke served as president and as a senator of the (AS东精影业). Other AS东精影业 senators at the time include Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters, and the late U.S. Rep. K. Mark Takai, whom Luke beat in her bid for AS东精影业 president. Takai was elected AS东精影业 president after Luke completed her term. The trio later became colleagues again in the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives.

“It鈥檚 not like the statewide elections here where you see all of the negatives. It was very cordial,” Luke said of her AS东精影业 election against Takai. “Afterwards, because you could still remain a senator even if you ran for president, he ended up becoming one of my closest allies because he didn鈥檛 hold that against me and I didn鈥檛 hold that against him. Since then, until his passing, we have been close friends.”

One of the skills Luke mastered while at AS东精影业 was advocating for important issues, which included the building of the Special Events Arena, now known as the Stan Sheriff Center.

“At AS东精影业, we lobbied for the 10,000-seat arena. At that time the university said they thought they could only fit a 5,000 seat arena, but Mark Takai did his own rendition and talked to people. He was convinced that you could fit a 10,000 seat arena,” Luke said. “So we came to the governor鈥檚 office, met with Gov. (John) Waiheʻe and made a presentation. Then after the meeting he said ‘ok.’ Every year he would label his year with something, so that year he labeled it as ‘Year of the Students,’ and part of it was his commitment to helping build a 10,000-seat stadium.”

Luke also recalled lobbying regarding a proposal to move the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to 东精影业 Hilo, in an effort to provide opportunities for programs at all campuses. She also worked with AS东精影业 colleagues to create a teacher evaluation form, where students could see the evaluations and input before choosing their future courses. Luke compared it to her work in the state Legislature, but on a smaller scale.

“It was really trying to come together and solve issues that surrounded student support and student activities, and make student life better,” Luke said. “…That kind of skill set and the ability to work with others really helped me in what I did as a legislator and then now what I do as a lieutenant governor.”

AS东精影业 is also where Luke met her future husband, Michael Luke, who was also a senator. Luke eventually graduated from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in , before earning her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Supporter of Early College

While a junior and senior at Roosevelt High School, Luke recalls conducting independent research at 东精影业 on genetics in entomology, with a focus on drosophila flies (common fruit flies). She said it was this early exposure to 东精影业鈥檚 world-class research that led her to become a major proponent of Early College, a partnership between Hawaiʻi high schools and 东精影业 that allows high school students to take college classes and earn both high school and college credits.

“It is because I was able to do my independent studies at the university and helped me shape my interest in science, interest in STEM,” Luke said. “When we look now at how much we鈥檝e gained through Early College and having that opportunity given to kids—looking back at my own experience of just voluntarily going to the university taking on programs—I think it鈥檚 such a great program that the university has partnered with the Department of Education to provide those opportunities.”

Well-rounded education at 东精影业

“There is nothing that compares to a University of Hawaiʻi education.” — Sylvia Luke

Luke is grateful for her experiences in AS东精影业, the Department of English and entomology, and her meetings with her college counselors who encouraged her to pursue a career in law.

“There is nothing that compares to a University of Hawaiʻi education,” Luke said. “You make so many contacts and you make so many friends, and you just find out so much. Even now when I go back to the university, I still reminisce about going to Campus Center and having lunch there. I was work-study so I remember working at Bachman Hall and I remember working at different areas around the campus. You鈥檙e learning about life experience, you鈥檙e learning about time management, and at the same time it鈥檚 part of a great student experience.”

While she reminisced about her time at 东精影业, Luke is also excited about where the 东精影业 System stands today and looks forward to its evolution in the future.

“The university system provides such a great opportunity for kids, and from when I was a student, now it provides a complete model,” Luke said. “You have four-year colleges, not just at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, but at 东精影业 West Oʻahu and 东精影业 Hilo. Also, concentrated industry degrees and pathways through the community colleges. I think it provides so many more opportunities. And the fact that the university is cognizant in trying to get students to graduate on a timely basis.”

Priorities as LG

Luke was sworn in as the 15th lieutenant governor of the State of Hawaiʻi on December 5, 2022. Her priorities include expanding pre-K access to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 keiki and increasing access to broadband for Hawaiʻi residents.

“Pre-K cannot happen without the university鈥檚 support because no matter how many buildings we build out, if we don鈥檛 have enough preschool teachers to come out of the university system then it鈥檚 a failed network. We鈥檝e been working closely with the College of Education and we identified the next steps we need to take,” Luke said. “For broadband, it鈥檚 really the idea that broadband is the pathway for not just educational equity, but it provides access to health care, in work opportunities, it opens up to all different kinds of things.”

Luke concluded, “The university is not just an educational institution but it provides economic opportunities and visioning for the state, and the university has a lot of resources that it can offer the state.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Thousands of pounds of fresh produce and bread have been distributed to hungry students at the , because of the commitment of one very passionate student.

Raiyan Rafid, who will graduate from 东精影业 Mānoa in December 2022 with a master鈥檚 degree in finance, has given up almost all of his Saturdays since October 2021 to collect fresh produce and bread from farmer’s markets to supplement pantry in conjunction with Aloha Harvest.

“I know firsthand how students on a budget often don’t get to buy fresh produce and bread because of the high price,” said Rafid. “I was motivated to help because I knew that I could help create a bridge between those who want to donate and those in need.”

Check out photos from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补’s commencement ceremony

During the past year, Rafid’s efforts have provided more than 5,000 pounds of fresh produce and bread for 东精影业 Mānoa students.

“There are generous vendors at and Kakaʻako Farmer’s Market who are willing to donate leftover bread and produce for our students in need,” said Rafid. “It was easy for me to give up my Saturdays to pick up donations because it meant on Mondays that students would have fresh produce and bread.”

Rafid has been working with the since October 2021. He originally came to Hawaiʻi as an international student from Bangladesh in 2015. Since then, Rafid has earned an associate degree from Kapiʻolani CC (2018) and a bachelor of arts in psychology from 东精影业 Mānoa (2020).

Serving students, center of Rafid鈥檚 college life

Serving in student organizations has been the center of Rafid鈥檚 college life. This has included his role as president of the 东精影业 Mānoa Campus Center Board, treasurer of the 东精影业 Student Caucus, and vice president of the (AS东精影业), which included initiating the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Initiative, a free Hawaiian language curriculum open to the public at 东精影业 Mānoa in 2020.

• Related 东精影业 News story: AS东精影业 offers free ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi classes at 东精影业 Mānoa, January 10, 2020

Being in AS东精影业, Rafid knew about Food Vault Hawaiʻi and volunteered at a food drop in 2019. Food Vault Hawaiʻi is a free service available for students without reliable access to affordable food. All registered 东精影业 Mānoa students with a valid student ID can access the food vault. Aloha Harvest is a food recovery non-profit and Food Vault Hawaiʻi is one of their receiving agencies.

“When I started graduate school, I learned that Food Vault Hawaiʻi needed help,” Rafid said. “Knowing the impact Food Vault Hawaiʻi makes towards students in need, I immediately accepted the opportunity to help.”

For the first seven months, Rafid used his own car to collect fresh bread and produce around Honolulu. Eventually Food Vault Hawaiʻi moved to using a 东精影业 van to collect donations.

Multiple students have joined Rafid to help keep Food Vault Hawaiʻi operating. However, produce and bread are two of the most popular items in the pantry. Every Monday, 20–30 students wait for up to an hour before Food Vault Hawaiʻi opens to get access to the produce and bread.

“We celebrate Raiyan’s graduation but we will miss him,” said Bonnyjean Manini, director of Student Life and Development at 东精影业 Mānoa who also runs Food Vault Hawaiʻi. “His shoes will not be easy to fill.”

After graduation, Rafid plans to find a job that relates to his finance degree and possibly work as a financial analyst.

• Read more about other 东精影业 Mānoa graduates:
  PhD grad goes from directing commencement to walking in same ceremony, December 20, 2022
  Student speaker encourages graduates to embrace challenges, December 13, 2022
  Fall 2022 graduate personalized degree, discovered passion at 惭腻苍辞补, December 13, 2022
  Public health grads discover passions, strengthen local workforce, December 12, 2022

Three weekly online ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi classes have already received more than 31,000 combined views on Facebook.

The (AS东精影业) said it is encouraging news during this difficult time. The COVID-19 pandemic forced 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 undergraduate student government to relocate the packed Campus Center Ballroom and Courtyard in-person classes to online Facebook Live sessions. Organizers said they are trying to continue educating the community as all 东精影业 classes moved online for the remainder of the spring semester and first summer session.

“Even when we transitioned online, there’s been a lot of support from everyone. I was sad when we had to cancel all in-person classes. However, we didn鈥檛 want this pandemic to limit us. From the beginning of this class, we鈥檝e faced numerous challenges, but we鈥檝e always persevered,” said AS东精影业 Vice President Raiyan Rafid, who introduced the bill appropriating funds for the classes.

• Related 东精影业 News story: AS东精影业 offers free ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi classes at 东精影业 Mānoa

The free classes are every Wednesday, 3–4 p.m. on . If you are unable to tune in live, the classes are archived and available anytime. All of the classes and PowerPoint slides are also on the .

Paige Okamura and Akea Kahikina are graduate students, fluent ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi speakers and class instructors. The course is offered in partnership with .

—By Marc Arakaki

Increasing mental health services and financial aid for the University of Hawaiʻi are being discussed at the state Legislature. And 鈥檚 undergraduate student government is drumming up student support for the bills.

The (AS东精影业) hosted a testimony writing session at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Campus Center on Thursday, February 6. They provided more than 30 students in attendance with information and guidance on crafting messages for lawmakers in support of bills which back additional mental healthcare services on campus and lower tuition costs for qualified students. AS东精影业 President Landon Li said the student government group has held testimony writing sessions in the past, but this session provided a different focus.

“I believe they were on different issues, some were just general education testimony. But this time, we鈥檙e doing kind of a targeted approach where we want to not only educate about the testimony writing process, but also about what legislative priorities we would like students to testify on,” Li said.

Bills being discussed call for appropriating funds for additional psychiatrist, psychologist and counselor positions across the University of Hawaiʻi. The International Accreditation of Counseling Services recommends a ratio of one mental health professional for every 1,000–1,500 students. 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 needs at least five more positions to meet the criteria.

Other bills seek to expand the Hawaiʻi Promise program, which currently assists approximately 1,400 community college students, who qualify for resident tuition, annually by providing the “last dollar” needed to cover education costs. These bills look to expand the program to qualified students with financial need attending four-year campuses at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, 东精影业 Hilo and 东精影业 West Oʻahu.

“We have been meeting with key legislators, such as the chairpersons of the budget committees and education committees in both the House and the Senate to make sure that these bills move forward and get hearings,” Li said. “We鈥檙e going to be at every single budget hearing in both the Senate and the House to make sure that the Promise program and the mental health care line items do receive student testimony and physical presence from the students.”

—By Marc Arakaki

The turnout for a free Hawaiian language class on the campus was so large that organizers needed to change the venue from a Campus Center conference room to the Ballroom.

More than 200 people showed up Wednesday, January 22, for the first of 15 free weekly, non-credit ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi classes hosted by the (AS东精影业), the undergraduate student government at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

Paige Okamura and Akea Kahikina are graduate students, fluent ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi speakers and instructors for the classes.

“I really wanted to cry. That overwhelming physical presence of people almost shows more what they value here than what I could write down,” Okamura said.

The course is offered in partnership with 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈苍耻颈腻办别补 School of Hawaiian Knowledge. AS东精影业 Sen. Raiyan Rafid introduced the bill, which appropriated funds for the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi classes.

“I did think that people were going to show interest because there is a need,” Rafid said. “When I was talking to people, everyone was supportive of this vision that I had, and it wasn鈥檛 to this capacity. But, I鈥檓 glad people showed up.”

Instructors taught basic conversational phrases and had participants practice with one another. The class is free of charge to all 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. No registration is required.

Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 3–4 p.m. The Campus Center Ballroom is the location until further notice, according to AS东精影业. For more updates, .

“It changes the expectation for myself,” Okamura said. “I think it requires much more planning on a bigger scale because I was planning for a class of maybe 30 and much more interaction. And so, if we鈥檙e looking at 200 people every week then it requires me to plan differently.”

—By Marc Arakaki

March 13, 2020 editor鈥檚 note: AS东精影业 announced that its ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi classes will now be taught online until further notice. This is due to the recent developments regarding the COVID-19 threat, including the recent decision by 东精影业 administration to suspend all in-person classes in the coming weeks.

Beginning March 25, classes will be held live online, at its regularly scheduled time鈥攅very Wednesday at 3 p.m. All 东精影业 students, faculty, staff and community members will have online access to the course via the , which will post livestreams of the course every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Video recordings of all class sessions, including previous class sessions, can also be accessed via the under the “Be Involved” tab.

The remaining ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi course dates are: March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29 and May 6.

AS东精影业 will provide further updates to the 东精影业 community should it be necessary. Those interested should monitor AS东精影业 social media for announcements: and .

Members of the public should contact Raiyan Rafid, AS东精影业 vice president at raiyan@hawaii.edu with questions.

Original story continues below.

The (AS东精影业), the undergraduate student government at 东精影业 Mānoa, is hosting a free weekly, non-credit Hawaiian language class on the Mānoa campus in the spring 2020 semester. The course, offered in partnership with the , will be taught by fluent ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speakers.

The classes, which begin on January 22, will be offered free of charge to all 东精影业 Mānoa students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

“We are very excited to begin offering this Hawaiian language course for members of the 东精影业 Mānoa community,” said AS东精影业 Senator Raiyan Rafid, who introduced the bill which appropriated funds for the ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi course. “As an indiginous-serving institution, we feel that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and we hope that this initiative will help to further the university鈥檚 goal of becoming a true ‘Hawaiian place of learning.’”

• Amazing first class!: Turnout overwhelms organizers of free ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi class, January 23, 2020

ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi course details

The first class session will be held on January 22, and will continue every Wednesday at 3 p.m., for the spring 2020 semester. No registration required.

The sessions are designed to benefit both those who intend to attend all sessions and those who wish to attend only one session, allowing anyone to attend as many or as few sessions as they choose.

Dates and locations

January 23 UPDATE: .

• January 22, Campus Center Room 310
• January 29, Campus Center Room 310
• February 5, Campus Center Room 310
• February 12, Campus Center Room 203E
• February 19, Campus Center Room 310
• February 26, Campus Center Executive Dining Room
• March 4, Campus Center Room 310
• March 11, Campus Center Room 310
• March 25, Campus Center Room 310
• April 1, Campus Center Room 310
• April 8, Campus Center Room 310
• April 15, Campus Center Room 310
• April 22, Campus Center Room 310
• April 29, Campus Center Room 310
• May 6, Campus Center Room 310

A student was selected to share his journey with 2,300 attendees at the Achieving the Dream national conference, February 19–22 in Long Beach, California.

Marc Douglas Kahala-Earley was one of eight community college students chosen for the 2019 DREAM Scholars program. Participants attended conference sessions, participated in a plenary panel presentation and toured the city. The program culminated with a presentation by the DREAM Scholars.

Kahala-Earley, the current president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi at Leeward CC, wants to help others who are unable to help themselves. As an openly gay man, the 2016 elections sparked a light inside of him to be a voice for the voiceless.

“If I can inspire others to stand up for themselves and if I can do that by standing up for them, then I’m going to do it,” said Kahala-Earley. “It was shortly after the election, I decided that I would go into politics one day and fight for those who can’t fight.”

Kahala-Earley was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Leeward CC鈥檚 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to help cover his educational expenses. Achieving the Dream covered his hotel costs and Leeward CC covered his travel expenses.

—By Kathleen Cabral

College students constitute a vulnerable population that endures the effects of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 high cost of living. The is aiming to reduce food insecurity, a situation where consistent and reliable access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources, through a new food pantry on campus.

Food Vault Hawaiʻi, a new food pantry at 东精影业 Mānoa, is a free service available for students without reliable access to affordable food. All registered 东精影业 Mānoa students with a valid student ID can access the food vault.

The (AS东精影业), , and collaborated to create the three-year pilot program to address food insecurity at 东精影业 Mānoa.

A survey by , assistant specialist in the , raised the issue about student food insecurity on the 东精影业 Mānoa campus with AS东精影业. The survey indicated “that about 50 percent of 东精影业 Mānoa undergraduate students who completed the survey have experienced food insecurity and about 37 percent of 东精影业 Mānoa undergraduate students who completed the survey are experiencing moderate to severe hunger.”

AS东精影业 representatives Maggie Hinshaw, Jessica Chen, Clinton Ng, Jungha Kim and Nicole Hortizuela began working on Food Vault Hawaiʻi with faculty advisor Bonnyjean Manini to address food insecurity on their campus.

“I envisioned the food pantry to be a readily available resource open to all 东精影业 Mānoa students through the efforts of the campus community,” said Hinshaw. “I hope that Food Vault Hawaiʻi will be able to help students in need while illustrating the importance of community-based giving.”

Accessing the food vault

The pantry is stocked with non-perishable items and equipped with a student ID scanner. Students need to swipe to enter, but the food vault will not collect their personal information. Food Vault Hawaiʻi will receive regular reports from the ID office that include student status (undergraduate or graduate) and number of visits to help with the development of the service over the next three years.

“We are committed to protecting anonymity and will not receive student names or full ID numbers from the ID office,” said Kim. “To those who are experiencing food insecurity, please come to use our service.”

The Food Vault Hawaiʻi pantry is open three days a week in Hemenway 111.

• Monday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Thursday: Noon–4 p.m.
• Friday: 2 p.m.–6 p.m.

Donations welcomed

The food vault accepts donations such as canned goods, boxed cereals and dry pasta at the Office of Student Life and Development in Campus Center 208, Monday to Friday, during regular business hours.

In addition, .

—By Sarah Hendrix

Two days before the opening of the 2014 Hawaiʻi State Legislature, the president of the , AS东精影业 senators, students and State Representative Takashi Ohno gathered in the State Capitol Rotunda in a show of support for executive budget.

AS东精影业 President Richard Mizusawa praised the governor for supporting public education in Hawaiʻi. “Not only am I elated to see his support of the Board of Regents’ request to restore 东精影业 faculty salaries, I am also excited to have the backlog of deferred maintenance be addressed in the upcoming legislative session. As many students have noted, the atmosphere of the campus is an important issue, not only for aesthetics but also for educational support, our health and safety,” Mizusawa said.

Mizusawa and more than a dozen student supporters took time off from the first day of the 2014 spring semester to urge state lawmakers to support 东精影业 students.

“As president of the AS东精影业 senate, my fellow elected student leaders and I have a commitment to ensure that the student voice is heard not only by our university administration but also by our state legislators who have a tremendous impact on student life at the University of Hawaiʻi,” Mizusawa said.