This column by Chancellor Lui Hokoana was published by on February 26, 2026.

In December, we took you to our farm on Molokaʻi. This month we take you to our Education Center on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 where big things are happening.

We鈥檝e had a robust dual enrollment program on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 for a while. High school students take 东精影业 Maui College courses and get a jump start on a degree or on their chosen profession. P奴lama 尝腻苍补ʻ颈, which was created in 2012 to manage, preserve and protect the island鈥檚 land and natural resources, generously funds the students鈥� 东精影业MC tuition. Recruiting more students and expanding the program will be the main focus of our new Satellite Manager. Long-time 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 resident Natalie Ropa previously worked in student support services so she is a familiar face and a supportive presence.

“We have about 70 students in the program every year. That鈥檚 from a total of about 200 high school students,” Ropa explains. “There are about 50 seniors in the Class of 2026 and 30 have come through the program.”

Since the program began in 2016, 14 students have been awarded Associate of Arts degrees along with their high school diplomas. Seven of them achieved this success just last year. “These seven committed to the program from 9th Grade and have inspired the grades below them to cohort together and commit to doing it, too,” says Ropa.

Let鈥檚 hear what some of those seven say about their experiences. For Myah Doolin, working toward an AA degree while still in high school felt like a powerful head start. “I鈥檓 already much closer to obtaining a baccalaureate degree,” she says. “The dual enrollment support helped me save money on tuition, adjust to college level work, and build relationships with 东精影业 Maui College instructors who can support my future plans. Earning my AA means I can transfer more smoothly to a four-year university or apply for better jobs in Hawaiʻi with a degree already completed. Overall, this pathway allows me to have a connection to the resources on 尝腻苍补ʻ颈, stay connected to my school and community, and still move forward with my education and career goals.”

Others, like Hannah Mae Lee and Micah Kahihikolo, were drawn by the challenge. As soon as she found out she could achieve an AA degree by the time she graduated from high school, Hannah Mae jumped in. “I knew I wanted to challenge myself and branch out into new experiences and opportunities,” she says. Micah echoes that feeling. “I never want to back down from a challenge,” he says. He鈥檚 planning to attend Honolulu Community College to become an Automotive Technician.

Spencer Chew wanted to get a feel for college. “I think that having my AA degree has given me both the skills necessary and the courage to pursue further higher education,” he says.

Kelly Raqueno knows exactly where she鈥檚 going next. “Having my AA allowed me to complete some of the prerequisites I鈥檒l need as I move into healthcare and work toward my bachelor鈥檚 degree,” she says. “This achievement means a lot to me because it represents growth and persistence.”

Kimora Agliam advises those considering the dual enrollment program to think hard about their choice. Participation requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. But if they choose dual enrollment, they will have gotten a head start on their futures.

For Jake Ropa, the decision was not taken lightly. “I earned my AA to help uplift the image of what 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 truly is, challenging the stereotypes that reduce our island to pineapple fields or hotel work. I wanted to show the outside world, and especially the younger generation at home, that 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 is more than how it is often perceived. More importantly, I wanted to become a role model, proving that it is possible to balance sports, high school responsibilities, and college-level coursework, and that students from 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 are capable of achieving far beyond the limits others may place on us.”

Natalie Ropa—yes, she is Jake鈥檚 proud mom—has more big plans, too. “I really want to focus on adult education,” she says, “and see how we can take our dual enrollment model and tailor it to fit our adult community. Workforce training really interests me,” she says. And she鈥檚 the perfect role model. She is currently working on her Master鈥檚 Degree in Curriculum Studies from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

For complete information about 东精影业 Maui College, please visit

Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Kaʻana Manaʻo, which means “sharing thoughts,” is scheduled to appear on the fourth Thursday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from 东精影业-Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County with information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.

Lucena “Lucy” Gaceta has become the first University of Hawaiʻi student from the (LEC) to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 东精影业 Maui College. She completed her degree in this spring, marking a major milestone for both the small center and her personal academic journey.

“I’m the first in my family to ever get a bachelor’s, and the [LEC] admin staff have always been very, very supportive, especially when I had to apply for classes overseas,” Gaceta said. “They’ve had a huge impact on my success.”

LEC Director Pamela Alconcel said, “Lucy was tenacious and made a commitment to finish her bachelor鈥檚 degree. She would come to the center on her days off of work and study diligently—and she did it!”

In the beginning

After graduating from Lānaʻi High School in 2013, Gaceta began her studies at the 东精影业 center just across the street.

“It was the easiest option,” she said. “And it’s also very forgiving—I took really long breaks, and then I came back to it, and it was very easy to re-enter.”

She earned associate鈥檚 degrees in liberal arts and business management from 东精影业 Maui College in 2019. Her academic path was far from traditional. Gaceta paused her studies multiple times, lived abroad in Israel and New Zealand, and even got stuck overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was visiting [New Zealand] over Christmas break, and then in March [2020], they closed the borders,” she recalled. “I did on-and-off online, but I didn’t make real good headway.”

However, she persevered. “I think having this degree has made me realize that I am not always consistent, but I am very tenacious.”

Already in management

Gaceta did not participate in 东精影业 Maui College鈥檚 commencement on May 15, because she was working at her job as the site manager for NAPA on Lānaʻi.

“It’s helpful that I do have this degree,” she said. “It makes things a lot faster than if I didn’t have this degree and I didn’t know Excel.”

Looking ahead, she鈥檚 considering further studies in data analysis and exploring how AI will impact the business world. For Gaceta, the Lānaʻi Education Center made it all possible.

“The aunties there are very, very helpful, and they have no judgment,” she said. “They’ve had a huge impact on my success.”

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

When 19-year-old Talia Agliam walks across the stage to receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology and a certificate in law and society from the on May 17, she will carry with her not only the pride of achievement, but the strength and support of her Lānaʻi island community.

She was in middle school at Lānaʻi High & Elementary School when she discovered that a college education was within reach through the 东精影业 Maui College —without having to leave home. She started as an Early College high school student in 2019 and earned her associate鈥檚 degree in 2022, before graduating from high school in 2023 as a valedictorian and senior class president.

“If it wasn’t for [the Lānaʻi Education Center], I don’t think I’d be even close to as successful as I am today,” Agliam said. “They definitely helped me set up my future, set up my life, and they gave me that stability to do so. I really applaud the advisors and the campus, the small, little building that we have.”

• Meet more amazing 东精影业 spring graduates

A ‘go-getter’

Pamela Alconcel, the center鈥檚 director, said, “Talia believes in the power of community and giving back to her community. She is a go-getter.”

That go-getter has earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree while working full-time for Lānaʻi Air as a guest experience assistant and part-time for the Purple Maia Foundation as a social media content creator. During it all, she leaned on her support system back home.

“The pilina (connections) there and the relationships that you build in the Education Center really stick with you for a long time鈥攊t doesn’t end at graduating from high school or getting into a college,” Agliam said. “I still have deep conversations with the advisors at the center, and it’s relationships that you build for life. Those relationships will continue to feed you and continue to provide you with resources and opportunities even when you are away from home.”

Lānaʻi roots

Law school may be part of Agliam鈥檚 long-term post-graduation plans, however, Lānaʻi factors heavily into her immediate next steps. She has been working with a mentor at Hawaiʻi Public Radio with the help of an internship through the Stupski Foundation to start a podcast. Titled “From the Roots Up,” the podcast will function as an archive of 尝ā苍补ʻ颈鈥檚 history for upcoming generations, analyze the island鈥檚 transformation and look to its future.

“Because there is a lack of resources on the island, it is important to take advantage of the resources that we do have,” Agliam said. “The Education Center on Lānaʻi provides an unwavering amount of support for our students. 鈥 can’t imagine what my high school experience and what my life would look like now without it.”

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

New University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel will visit each of the 10 东精影业 campuses and six of the university system鈥檚 nine education centers during her first 90 days in office. Hensel began her role as the 16th president of the state鈥檚 public higher education system on January 1, 2025.

The schedule is below and specific details will be announced by individual campuses. Each visit will feature an open campus forum—welcoming participation from all campus community members—along with meetings with student, faculty and staff governance groups, as well as the administration鈥檚 leadership team. In a January 6 message to the 东精影业 community, Hensel expressed her commitment to building meaningful connections through pilina, a Native Hawaiian concept that has been shared with her.

“It is fitting that pilina encompasses not only relationships, but also more broadly interdependence, interwovenness, and deep connections that span place, time and generations,” said Hensel. “Although recognizing that my pilina with Hawaiʻi and many of you is just beginning, it seems clear that it will be the foundation for the work we can and must do together for the thriving future Hawaiʻi deserves.”

President Hensel campus/education centers visit schedule

• Tuesday, January 14 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Wednesday, January 22 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Thursday, January 23 – 东精影业 Mānoa
• Monday, January 27 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, February 3 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Wednesday, February 5 – Leeward CC —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, February 10 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Tuesday, February 11 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Tuesday, February 18 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, February 24 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Tuesday February 25 – and —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, March 3 – and —Read a recap of the visit.
• Wednesday, March 5 – and —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, March 24 –
• Tuesday, April 8 –

Hensel has emphasized her commitment to attending as many campus events as her schedule allows while acclimating to her new role and navigating her first legislative session, which runs from January 15 to May 2. She is also meeting with county, state and local business leaders. Her top priority is visiting the campuses and education centers.

“Understanding first-hand how each campus uniquely contributes to the beautiful mosaic that makes up our 东精影业 community will be invaluable,” said Hensel. “With this knowledge, we can build a strong system that is capable of achieving excellence together that is otherwise unreachable alone. I promise to take your lead, listen with an open heart and mind, and learn about who you are, and share who I am as a human being to set the foundation for all the other work that lies ahead.”

For more information about President Hensel, visit the Meet President Hensel webpage. She is also active on social media and encourages the 东精影业 community to connect with her on , (formerly Twitter) and .

and the 东精影业 Maui College education centers on Molokaʻi and 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 and in Lahaina and H膩na will reopen Thursday, September 13 following the closures due to Tropical Storm Olivia.

东精影业 officials closed the campus and education centers Tuesday night before the storm arrived.

While the campus and centers will resume classes and operations Thursday, safety should remain everyone’s top priority. Monitor conditions, including road closures, in your area.

Please follow the , other official agencies and local media for the latest weather news.

All members of the 东精影业 community are urged to sign up for to receive emergency text alerts. If you have already signed up, log in to ensure that your contact information is up-to-date:

Notifications affecting 东精影业 campuses will be posted on the Emergency Information webpage, as well as on social media:

• 东精影业 emergency information website

Please stay informed and updated:

The and all 东精影业 education centers in Maui County are closed as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11 and will be closed Wednesday, September 12 in anticipation of the arrival of Tropical Storm Olivia. This includes the education centers on Molokaʻi and 尝腻苍补ʻ颈 and in Lahaina and H膩na. To be clear, all Tuesday night classes scheduled after 4:30 p.m. are cancelled.

东精影业 Maui College officials will determine when the campus and centers will reopen. 东精影业 continues to monitor Olivia and will determine whether to close Oʻahu campuses as it progresses.

Staff of Maui and Oʻahu should prepare their offices and facilities for a prolonged power outage:

• Turn off and unplug all electrical equipment and appliances (except phones), including: refrigerators (remove all items, defrost and wipe down), microwave ovens, coffee makers, battery chargers, computers, printers, fax machines, network devices (routers, switches, hubs, etc.), clocks, radios and window air conditioning units
• Move valuable items off the floor
• Backup computer files
• Cover electronics/furniture with plastic if possible
• Close all windows and blinds
• Secure important/confidential documents and valuables
• Remove perishable food from buildings, trash cans and refrigerators
• Update telephone and e-mail messages for the closure period

Please follow the , other official agencies and local media for the latest weather news.

All members of the 东精影业 community are urged to sign up for to receive emergency text alerts. If you have already signed up, log in to ensure that your contact information is up-to-date:

Notifications affecting 东精影业 campuses will be posted on the Emergency Information webpage, as well as on social media:

• 东精影业 emergency information website

Please stay informed and updated: