University of Hawaii West Oahu Seal

Bulletin No. 31

Date/Time sent: 12/14/2020 8:30 am

E ala! E alu! E kuilima!
Awaken! Come together! Join hands!

This is that time of year where the reverence of Hanukkah candles, the colors of Kwanzaa, the ringing of jingle bells and the clinking of coins in the red buckets, and the hub-bub of the holidays brings cheery humming of familiar songs! But, this year is very different. I find myself feeling sad, every once in a while wiping away tears. I noticed there’s not a lot of holiday music around us—perhaps I haven’t been listening. But just yesterday I heard the song, “My Grown-up Christmas List” sung by Kelly Clarkson or if you prefer Michael Buble. Do you know it? The lyrics are so very appropriate today. The full lyrics are attached but here are a few lines that are deeply impactful:

So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown up Christmas list
Not for myself but for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list.

Please take a listen — here are versions by Kelly Clarkson or Michael Buble.

I am deeply grateful to our UH West Oʻahu ʻohana! Everyone is doing their part to ensure the success of our students. Mahalo! Mahalo! Mahalo! Your commitment to excellence in the face of our financial challenges give us the energy to keep paddling toward our north star!

Aloha Kalikimaka! E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor

NOTE: Although the weekly bulletin will be going on a two week hiatus (December 21 and December 28 issues), we will keep campus informed of budget and planning issues through our faculty and staff listserves.

Update COVID-19

During this holiday season we ask that you and your ʻohana continue to be vigilant. COVID-19 is extremely contagious, so, health and safety precautions help to keep you and your loved ones healthy as well as slow the spread. To learn more please go to our campus COVID-19 page. To learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines will travel to distribution points see this The Conversation article.

Update from the UH West Oʻahu’s Pueo Stewardship Task Force: Reframing & Budgeting

The Task Force’s second Report of Recommendations has been completed and submitted to campus leadership. Currently, campus leadership is reviewing and will provide feedback and next steps prior to the end of the year. Please check the Pueo Planning Website for more up-to-date information.