Ka Pe‘ahi Lono: Monthly Message for February 2024

Date/Time sent: 02/05/2024 12:00 pm

Hoʻokāhi ka ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)

Aloha mai kākou e UH West Oʻahu ʻOhana!

新年快乐 – Happy Chinese New Year
Xīnnián hǎo (新年好) New Years goodness

Get your little red pockets (envelopes) ready! On Saturday, Feb. 10, we will be celebrating the start of the Lunar New Year! So all you parents, grandparents, and aunties and uncles, start filling those pockets or 红包 (hóng bāo) with lucky money for the kids. It is the year of the Dragon! So, even though the weather has been chilly and stormy there’s been a lot of “heat” around the world! We are told that this will be the year of the wood dragon, which symbolizes adventure, optimism, and creativity. Hence, there’s great potential for more innovation and creativity! Some say that the wood dragon opens opportunity for us to think out of the box and problem solve in new ways, thereby creating new paths and new projects. So, let’s buckle up! It should be an exciting ride!

February is also the month we celebrate Valentine’s Day. It is a day that we express our love and appreciation for family, friends, children, siblings, our pets, and so on – a celebration filled with hugs, chocolate, and roses. However you celebrate this “Hallmark” moment, I wish you all a day filled with the warmth and embrace of the magic of aloha. So, back by popular demand:

Speak Your Aloha
Share these affirmations. It is a great way to manifest aloha. Try these in ʻōlelo Hawai‘i!
I love you – Aloha wau iā ʻoe
I am proud of you – Haʻaheo au iā ʻoe
I am thankful for you – Mahalo au iā ʻoe
You’re my cherished friend – ʻO ʻoe kuʻu hoapili
You look great today – Nani loa ʻoe i kēia lā
You are strong – Ikaika ʻoe
You are important – Koʻikoʻi ʻoe
I am here for you – Aia au me ʻoe
You are kind – ʻOluʻolu ʻoe
I believe in you – Hilinaʻi au iā ʻoe

Before I close this section, I want to mahalo everyone for a successful start to the spring 2024 semester! With more classes and activities on campus – the vitality of our community is coming back to life. Again, I sincerely appreciate all that each of you do to provide a world-class education, conduct high-caliber scholarship, and offer impactful outreach and engagement locally and globally.

E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor

Section divider made up of two canoe paddles.

Important Highlights and Staying Informed

Here are several highlights you might have missed:

Here are some helpful links to help you stay informed:

Makahaiwaʻa – Weekly newsletter (emailed to students, faculty, staff on the first business day of each week). Includes weekly highlights, health, and safety reminders, UH System messages, etc.
Ka Puna O Kaloʻi – Online campus news site
Quarterly Impact Report – Campus highlights covering topics such as summer bridge programs, workforce development data, etc.
Communications Request Form (for faculty/staff submissions only) – Submit here to publicize events, honors, announcements campuswide.
Current Students page – Information for students about registration, financial aid, and support services, among other topics relevant to UH West Oʻahu students.
Faculty/Staff page – Information about campus departments, faculty/staff directory, and faculty resources, among other topics relevant to UH West Oʻahu employees.

Here are some dates to put on your calendar:

March – Installation of circle sculpture begins
March 18-22 – Spring Break
April 6 – Onizuka Day hosted at UH West Oʻahu
April 9 – AES (Solar Panels on Mauka lands) Ribbon Cutting Event
April 26 – Last Day of Instruction
May 4 – Commencement

Hana Lawelawe: On Leadership

This month we highlight our Winter Quarterly Report that features the work of our Kōmike Kumu Ola/Basic Needs Committee. Check out the report and learn more about how our campus is addressing student needs and how you can support.

In addition, for those who were unable to attend the January UH Board of Regents meeting hosted at UH West Oʻahu on Thursday, Jan. 18, you can access the Joint UH West Oʻahu and Leeward Community College powerpoint presentation here (starting on page 21) and a summary from the BOR minutes that overviews our (Chancellor Benham and Chancellor Penaloza) presentation here.

Quick Updates

Spring 2024 OPDAS Activities

The Office of Professional Development and Academic Support (OPDAS) Spring 2024 activities include:

1) OPDAS & ODEL Professional Development Series- includes topics such as: Designing Assessment for an Age of AI, Creating Course Learning Outcomes Rubrics, and Closing the Feedback loop (various dates March – April 2024)
2) Assessment Workshop Series (2nd Fridays)
3) NEW!! Professional Development Registration Fund Awardee Presentations (May 2024)
4) OPDAS Professional Development Institute Week (May 2024)

Ongoing OPDAS opportunities include:

1) Excellence in Teaching Awards (e.g. Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching, Frances Davis, Laulima Innovation, Lecturer Excellence in Teaching) (each Spring)
2) Staff awards (e.g. Kumupaʻa) (each Spring)
3) New Faculty & Staff Orientation (each Semester)
4) Piliʻāina (each Fall semester)
5) Teaching Triangles (offered each year)
6) Teaching Academy (offered each year)
7) Contract Renewal / Tenure & Promotion Support (offered each year)

Please visit the OPDAS Events Page for more information.

Kūlia i ka nuʻu. Strive for the summit.