University of Hawaii West Oahu Seal

Ka Pe‘ahi Lono: Monthly Message for April 2025

Date/Time sent: 04/01/2025 2:00 pm

UH West Oʻahu Value Proposition

We prepare 21st Century leaders, career creators through integrated, transdisciplinary programs where learners and teachers, together, discover and innovate and engage diverse communities to create a vibrant and socially just world.

Aloha mai kākou e UH West Oʻahu ʻOhana!

Our statement of commitment to our Vision, Mission, and Pahuhopu.
He maka au, he upena kākou (I am an eye, we are a net).

As a regional public university (RPU) and an anchor institution located on the Westside of Oʻahu, we serve the largest population of Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, and many underserved families — all whom bring the brilliance of their rich ancestral stories and skills to our little corner of Honouliuli. Collectively we work daily to live into our pahuhopu (values/principles) that embraces equity and upward mobility, access to resources that strengthens resilience, and as both a civic and economic anchor we advance community prosperity. Indeed, we know that our actions today will have long-lasting effects on our students, their families, and communities. So as we reflect on our contributions as members of our Pueo learning community, let’s ask ourselves:

How can we, individually and collectively, engage the abundance of life’s wonders that comes from the diversities of our knowledge wells, programs and services, and our cultural uniqueness to uplift and inspire?

Our kāhea/our clarion call for 2025 is to be that beacon in West Oʻahu that gives hope and opportunity. Mahalo hou for all you do to ensure that we pūpūkahi i holomua!

Hoʻokāhi ka ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)

Together we wield our paddles as we move our flotilla toward social justice and excellence for all our family members. Current executive orders and federal letters are expansive, and yes, confusing in their application and interpretation of diversity, equity, and inclusion programming and policies. To keep yourself informed please access the information and resources provided on the University of Hawai’i Federal Policies Update webpage. This site serves as a centralized hub for the latest news, guidance, and FAQs to support faculty, staff, and students.

Know that the University of Hawaiʻi’s stance is unequivocal! We will uphold our values through our efforts to build inclusive and diverse campus communities that are neither discriminatory nor illegal. Take a moment to read, again, President Hensel’s message to the UH System Community on March 28.

I have promised you that your campus leadership will keep you informed. To that point, Bev Baligad, our Director of Compliance & Title IX Coordinator, recently attended the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) 2025 Discrimination Conference, March 25 through March 28. It was a conference that attempted to address and discuss many unknowns of the current administration. Some of the topics included (but were not limited to) discussions of the following:

  • Washington Updates
  • Title VI
  • Title IX
  • Updates on DEI
  • Academic Freedom/First Amendment
  • Free Speech/Nondiscrimination Laws

With such dynamic changes occurring almost on a day-to-day basis, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and updated when it comes to these topics, and the effects it may have on our campus. If you would like access to some of these PowerPoints/materials, or to discuss some questions you may have, please feel free to reach out to Bev via email at bbaligad@hawaii.edu. Bev will present an overview of key points from the conference to campus leadership and will offer to present for divisions and departments. Mahalo Bev!

E ʻeleu mai ʻoukou! Step lively, let’s move together!

E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor

Section divider made up of two canoe paddles.

Health and Well-Being Reminder

“An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.”
– Unknown

Keep in mind, kūkūlu kaiāulu! Please strengthen our community with your passions, respect for one another, and patience! Please respect an individual’s personal choice to wear a face mask. Mahalo to everyone, for your patience and empathy, your good work and commitment to care for one another!

Student Services
If you need to seek help during this uncertain time please reach out to UH West Oʻahu Mental Health Services. You are not alone! If you are interested in free mental health services, available for all UH West Oʻahu students, please email uhwotalk@hawaii.edu today. Individual treatment begins with an intake that helps us formulate a wellness plan tailored to your needs.

Faculty Services
Should you need support during this confusing and unpredictable time of change please reach out to UH West Oʻahu Human Resources.

Availability of Naloxone Kits
Just as some of us carry an EpiPen to address severe allergic reactions, you can now carry a naloxone (also known as Narcan) kit that can temporarily reverse the harmful effects of an opioid overdose and save a person’s life. Please know that the effects of naloxone wears off within 30-45 minutes so calling 911 is imperative. See this Steps of Naloxone Administration. Should you have any questions about Naloxone, please contact our school nurse, RN Stacey Kelly skelly3@hawaii.edu. Also go to our website.

COVID – Please continue to be vigilant
Although we are no longer in a public health emergency in regard to the COVID-19 virus please stay vigilant. Health officials are keeping watch on the latest variants and any rise in cases and their potential for causing serious illness.

If you test positive for COVID-19:

  • Isolate for 5 days.
  • After 5 days, you may return to work or classes if you have been fever-free for 24 hours.
  • Wear a mask for an additional 5 days around others.

You can notify your instructor or supervisor that you tested positive for COVID-19 or that you have been exposed but it is not required. You should let them know if you will be out sick as you would for any other illness that would cause you to miss class or work time. Masking is optional on campus and in offices, except where required, for example, in certain healthcare-related clinical situations. Again, please respect an individual’s personal choice to wear a face mask.

Section divider made up of two canoe paddles.

Important Highlights

Every project, big or small, leads to new experiences and teaching moments that enable us to continue to do what we love – and for that we are so grateful. (Gratitude Statement)

Here are our March highlights you might have missed:

Here are some dates to put on your calendar:

This Saturday, April 5, is the Onizuka Day of Exploration at UH West Oʻahu. An all-day family event hosted on our campus from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. You and your keiki can participate in a dynamic list of fun and exciting culture-based STEAM activities, prepare for college (UH West Oʻahu), sit in a Blackhawk helicopter, and so much more. Many of our faculty will participate by creating engaging hands-on experiences for keiki (young and seasoned)! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to this free event!

Because April is the start of the spring season, it is also a reminder that we will soon be celebrating the accomplishments of our 2025 graduates. Mark the date – Saturday, May 10, at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center, UH Mānoa. You will be receiving more detailed information as well as sign-ups to volunteer/support the event as an ambassador. If you are unable to attend send me a note letting me know (uhwochan@hawaii.edu).

Section divider made up of two canoe paddles.

Hana Lawelawe

In this first month of spring I would like to take a moment to celebrate and mahalo each of you for your continued good work that ensure that every learner in our community, we call UH West Oʻahu, has an opportunity to “Kūlia i ka nuʻu” – Reach for the Summit! Evidence of this extraodinary effort is our continuing achievment of our 150% graduation rate – this year it is 49.5%! See IRAPO – they track longitudinal graduation rate data here.

This is also a time to celebrate and mahalo the work of so many of you – faculty, staff, and students – for your commitment to lifelong learning, to substantive and meaningful community engagement and scholarship, and willingness to step out of your comfort zone and experience new life lessons. Mahalo to Kūlana of Kapolei, Dr. Manu Meyer, for being our biggest cheerleader. Read her Spring 2025 (January to March) newsletter. She reminds us that we are invited to participate in ʻAha Hoʻoponopono, June 5-6, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the UH West Oʻahu campus.

The remnants of the old internment camp located at Honouliuli.

Mahalo! Mahalo! Mahalo! To all the UH West Oʻahu scholars (before, now, and in the future) who have/will contribute to the 10th Anniversary of the Honouliuli National Historic Site. Our faculty were integral to providing information regarding the internment camp – see the book and view the video – contact our library and ʻUluUlu for access to more information. Our faculty will also be joining events and panels held throughout the year and our library will host an exhibit of the historic site. Keep your eyes open for announcements of events and how you can participate.

Section divider made up of two canoe paddles.

Hoʻomanaʻo Mai

Hawaiʻi Foodbank Food Drive

The Hawaiʻi Foodbank has kicked off its Annual State Employees Food Drive, which runs through May 9, 2025. The issue of hunger continues to be a major challenge facing our community, affecting those most vulnerable among us, and the University of Hawai‘i (UH) ʻohana is not immune from this issue.

According to The State of Food Insecurity in Hawai‘i 2023 study conducted by the Hawai‘i Foodbank, the issue of food insecurity certainly hits home for many of our students. The study found that 49% of young adults ages 18-29 were most affected by food insecurity, and concurrently, 44% of those currently enrolled in higher education were food insecure. Throughout the years, the Hawai‘i Foodbank has distributed food to the various campus food pantries across the University of Hawai‘i (UH) System, with 819,082 pounds of food distributed, so a donation to the Hawai‘i Foodbank is a donation to help those in our student population and others needing assistance and support.

Hawai‘i Foodbank’s state employees food drive’s goal this year is to raise $167,000 and 50,000 pounds of food (which would provide food for 500,000 meals).

The top 5 most wanted items:

  • Financial contributions
  • Canned healthy proteins
  • Canned meals
  • Canned vegetables or fruits
  • Rice (5-10 lb. bags)

Please note that monetary donations are also being accepted via the Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s Online Donation page.

In 2024, UH employees accounted for over $53,000 and over 11,900 pounds of food for the Hawaiʻi Foodbank (which provided food for more than 125,666 meals), making UH one of the largest contributors among all State offices.

We look forward to continuing the UH’s long tradition of support for the Hawaiʻi Foodbank.
Please take a moment to consider contributing to assist those who are most in need.
Information about this year’s Food Drive can be found at http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/president/foodbank.

Mahalo!
University of Hawaiʻi

UH Google AND AI

We are excited to announce the availability of the Google AI Essentials course to all University of Hawaiʻi students and employees. This self-paced online course is designed to help you harness the power of generative AI tools to boost productivity, enhance decision-making, and foster creativity in your daily tasks.

Course Highlights:

  • Duration: Complete the course in under 10 hours at your own pace.
  • Content: Learn from AI experts at Google through engaging videos, hands-on activities, and practical applications.
  • Curriculum Includes:
    • Introduction to AI
    • Maximizing Productivity with AI Tools
    • The Art of Prompt Engineering
    • Using AI Responsibly
    • Staying Ahead of the AI Curve

Upon successful completion, you will earn a digital badge issued by Credly, which you can showcase on your professional profiles and resumes.

– Limited Licenses: The University has secured a limited number of licenses for this course, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
– Course Access: Once registered, you will have 30 days to complete the training.
– Renewal Option: Three days before your access expires, you will receive a reminder email with the option to renew the license for an additional 30 days.

Access the UH – Google AI Essentials Registration Page and follow the enrollment instructions. This is a valuable opportunity to develop in-demand AI skills and stay ahead in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. For assistance with technical questions, please contact the ITS Web Group at webhead@hawaii.edu