University of Hawaii West Oahu Seal

Ka Pe‘ahi Lono: Monthly Message for November

Date/Time sent: 11/02/2020 10:40 am

Aloha mai kākou!

It has been my tradition to share a gratitude poem with you in the November issue so this year will be no different regardless of the churning turmoil that surrounds us. Now, more than ever, we must take these moments to express, authentically, genuinely our mahalo nūnui to co-workers, friends, and ʻohana. I chose a poem written by long-time Haiku-Pawela, Maui resident and Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin, Thanks, a powerful message for our times.

Listen

with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
standing by the windows looking out
in our directions

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks we are saying thank you
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
taking our feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
thank you we are saying and waving
dark though it is

W.S. Merwin, “Thanks” from Migration: New and Selected Poems. Copyright © 2005 by W.S. Merwin.  Reprinted by permission of The Wylie Agency, Inc.

Hana Lawelawe: On Leadership

As we move through the remaining months of 2020 and our fall semester, we are doing the important work of budgeting and planning for the last half of FY 21 and looking at how we will address Fiscal Years 22-24+. It is essential that as members of the UH West Oʻahu ʻohana, you stay informed and engaged!

As forecasted at our Fall Convocation (August 19, 2020), we have gathered a team of faculty, staff, and students to collectively work on our recommendations to assist our campus reframing and budgeting plan. The task will be to present a cogent, forward-looking set of recommendations that responds to two balanced questions:

  • Part I: What is UH West Oʻahu willing to do to meet our projected deficits in FY 21, 22, 23, and 24?

  • Part II: What must UH West Oʻahu do to increase our enrollment, to grow programs that will significantly impact a healthy post-pandemic Hawaiʻi, and to invest in entrepreneurial initiatives that nurture our distinctiveness?

The process is co-facilitated by Dr. Walter Kahumoku (who facilitated our strategic planning process in 2017-2018) with note-taking/management support from Chris Neves. A support team has been assembled to include: Budget & Finance, Human Resources, Facilities & Grounds, Institutional Research, Communications, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, UH System offices/if needed, and support teams from each unit. Members of the task force include:

  • ASUHWO: Jenna Marie Marcos and Caton Liang

  • Faculty: Kaʻiulani Akamine, Loea Akiona, Ross Cordy, Alphie Garcia, Mary Heller, Ed Keaunui, Frank Kudo, Monique Mironesco, Reed Young (an 8th member replacement TBD)

  • Staff: Michelle Cohen, Lori Foo, John Murakami,Therese Nakadomari, Princess Soares, Marnelli Ulep

  • A representative from UHPA and a representative from HGEA

Task force zoom meetings began Wednesday, October 28, with a second meeting on Friday October 30. Meeting minutes are being drafted and will be shared via our Budget Planning website. Everything that the task force does (minutes, data used, reports, presentations, etc.) will be archived on this website. An update of the task force activities will be presented at the November 6 Faculty Senate meeting.

How to Stay informed:

UH West Oʻahu Pueo Planning Process site. Here you will find six informative folders:

  • Process – the planning process is described

  • Task Force – all information and actions will be archived here

  • Resources – all useful information is archived here

  • Communications:

    • All “Budget Bulletins” that have been disseminated to the campus community beginning June 22, 2020, so far 19 budget related messages are archived and we will continue to archive the weekly budget bulletin here.

    • All “Chancellor’s Monthly Newsletters” the Ka Peʻahi Lono that provided budget related information to the campus community is archived here. Find: August, September, and October.

  • Calendar – All budget (and COVID) related meetings and actions have been archived here. The calendar begins April 2020 and will be updated weekly.

  • Questions – Here is where you can send feedback and questions that will be checked daily and the query will be sent to the appropriate respondent.

Access the Board of Regents Meeting Minutes. Much of what all UH campuses are engaged in can be reviewed through the Board of Regents.

Read UH System Announcements and Campus Announcements.

 

A Celebration of Good Works: Kūlia i ka nuʻu (Reach for the Summit!)

News Events that highlights the work of our students and faculty!

Virtual Student Career Expo for High School Freshman

On Friday October 27, UH West Oʻahu faculty participated in an online Career Expo with Freshman students from our regional high schools! Mahalo to our participating faculty! Jon Magnussen, Yasmine Romero, Mary Heller, Laurie James, Wela Young, Lynette Williamson, Katie Landgraf, James Burrell, Katherine Aumer, Kanoa Meriwether, Michael Hallstone, Lisa Spencer, Sharla Hanaoka, Amy Fairhart, Kainoa Nahulu, and Loea Akiona.

They made two 25-minute presentations with 20 minutes of Q&A on the Bizzabo platform. The event focused on preparing students for career paths, adressing the following questions: “What types of career paths will a degree in [X] open up to you?” “How does our program in [X] at UH West O‘ahu particularly prepare you to succeed in your postgraduate career?” “What types of job skills will you learn as a student in the [X] degree?” “How would a degree in [X] prepare you well for the rapidly-evolving 21st-century economy?”

HULŌ to the Ke Ala ʻAnuʻu team

UH West Oʻahu’s AVCAA Alan Rosenfeld and liaison Pearlena Stone, in partnership with Leeward Community College, are strengthening our STEM pathway through our Title III Grant Ke Ala ʻAnuʻu.

 

How Does That Work?

Here’s our Toolbox Message for Bonnie Arakawa, Building & Facilities

Campus-wide Air Conditioning Adjustment: Planning and Facilities is excited to announce the implementation of an energy savings strategy by adjusting air temperatures throughout campus. In July 2019, we announced a guideline for indoor temperature cooling to be maintained between 72-74° F.  With a heightened focus on reducing energy consumption and its resultant cost savings for UH West Oʻahu, we are now using a thermostat setpoint of 74 degrees. Exceptions to this new cooling rule include specialty spaces that require strict temperature control, including some labs and library collections.

We anticipate that the change will be largely unnoticed by most, however, we understand it may take a while for some to adjust to the new norm. As much as possible, please refrain from using personal fans, and instead, lower perimeter window shades and adjust your attire appropriately. In the coming months, we will be implementing phase 2 of the strategy by reducing electricity use at off-hours. For example, classrooms not in use do not need to be cooled throughout the day if no one is occupying the space.  Keep in mind that the guidelines aren’t just good for the university’s bottom line, but also good for the environment. Together we can reduce waste and save energy.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Should you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Bonnie Arakawa at bonniea@hawaii.edu.

News from Kūlana o Kapolei

Kūlana o Kapolei remains active, steady and dedicated to its mission: Affirming the wisdom of Hawaiian knowledge through love of land and service to our beloved community.

With this in mind, the following is a summation of some of the highlights of this office and the practices that express this understanding within the past two months.

  • Support for Aunty Lynetteʻs active Nohona Hawaiʻi: Living a Hawaiian Way. Open class with 150+ students from around Hawaiʻi and the world!

  • Multiple classroom presentations for UHWO Faculty on cultural resilience during this Pandemic;

  • Creating culturally classrooms; Hawaiian values; Cultural Agroforestry; Hoʻopono

  • Chapter for Robin Wall Kimmererʻs new book focusing on interspecies kinship, Kuʻu ʻĀina Aloha: My Beloved Land – Interspecies Kinship in Hawaiʻi

  • Work with Mālama Learning Center on Arbor Day Tree Give-away for November 7th

  • Work with UHWO student on Hawaiian Issues in Homelessness  resulted in a video and panel

  • Work with UHWO staff and alumni on Monthly NiU NOW! Webinar Series with 30-40 monthly participants all interested in this “Tree of Life” – the Coconut!

  • Keynotes and Presentations for various Conferences, Panels, and Webinars focusing on Hawaiian Values,Sustainability, Cultural Agroforestry, Food Security, and Resilience

  • Helped launch Nānā i ke Kumu, Volume III with Aaron Salā and Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao ʻohana

  • Work with Pūlama Collier on new Hawaiian board game: AKAMAI

  • Research, design and built 4 Wicking Beds for growing food in hot climates

  • Helped Indrajit Gunasekara to produce Niu Nurseries at Palehua, UHWO, and MAʻO Farms

  • Work with UH Hilo Philosophy Department Intern on book: Hoʻopono

 

Announcements

Please refer to our weekly bulletins or our news site Ka Puna O Kaloʻi for more information, updates, news, and announcements.

Hawaiʻi Papa O Ke Ao He Ukana Aloha Ka

Kilauea November Webinars presented by UH Mānoa. Mark your calendars – December UH West Oʻahu is highlighted: Wednesday, December 9, at noon, Dr. Manu Meyer and Kupuna Aunty Lynette Paglinawan & Wednesday, December 23, a Holiday Makana/Gift with Dr. Jon Magnussen and Specialist Aaron Salā.

Message from UH System: Student participation verification in Coursework:

To help UH campuses comply with Federal Student Aid Title IV financial aid regulations regarding verification of students’ participation, EP 7.209 Student Participation Verification in Coursework was established to ensure institutional administrative capability and compliance of these regulations: http://go.hawaii.edu/QU3.

As part of this process, any student who fails to establish attendance and participation by the end of the late registration period is to be dropped from the class and tuition and fee charges (except for late registration fees) deleted from their account.

As we approach the start of spring semester, you will receive more information about participation verification from your campus.  You can also check out the new Participation Verification website for information and process tutorials:
https://www.hawaii.edu/myuhinfo/participation-verification/

Please contact your campus’ Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs office if you have questions.

Message from The Hawaii State Ethics Commission:

The commission is offering a General Ethics Training class on Monday, November 23, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. online via Zoom.

The ethics training class will provide an overview of the state ethics laws that apply to all state employees. Topics will include conflicts of interests; gifts and the reporting of gifts; confidential information; misuse of official position; and post-employment restrictions.

You can register for the course online at: https://ethics.hawaii.gov/2020-11-23training/ or call the Commission’s office at (808) 587-0460. Agencies wishing to register groups of more than 10 employees are asked to contact our office for additional registration instructions.  Space is limited, so we encourage early registration.

Additionally, the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission recently launched its on-line training system, available at https://ethics.hawaii.gov/ethicsonlinetraining/. This 30-minute, interactive training provides basic information for state employees subject to the Ethics Code, including all executive and legislative branch employees, judiciary employees (other than judges and justices), and volunteer board/commission members. Individuals who complete the training can obtain a certificate of completion. The Commission will soon be launching on-line training specifically for volunteer board/commission members.