Ka Pe‘ahi Lono: Monthly Message for November 2024
Date/Time sent: 11/04/2024 12:00 pmUH 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.
Hoʻokāhi ka ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)
Aloha mai kākou e UH West Oʻahu ʻOhana!
In a blink of an eye – it is NOVEMBER!!! Where did 2024 go?
In this month’s Peʻahi Lono, thereʻs a lot of information, so please do take the time to scroll through! Toward the end please see the UPDATE for our Mid-Year Commencement (held on campus, Dec. 14), and also, the date, time, and place for the Campus Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Presentation (Friday, Nov. 15). You can also review the final Cybersecurity Message sent out the last week of October (in case you missed it). Because this is the month we take time to give thanks, my theme for this month’s Peʻahi Lono is about celebrating the abundance and joy that you bring.
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
– Eckhart Tolle
Read on as there are messages of affirmations and reminders to pause and give yourself grace throughout this month’s Peʻahi Lono. Mahalo again for all you do!
Please see the University of Hawai‘i’s Vision for Equity:
The University of Hawai‘i upholds its commitment to provide higher education opportunities for all, especially at the intersections of historically marginalized groups, including, but not limited to, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, economically disadvantaged, first generation, LGBTQ+, differently abled students, and students from rural areas. In order to support the success of our diverse student body, the University continues to encourage diversity in its faculty, staff, and leadership.
It will do so through:
The elimination of educational attainment gaps; creating an environment where the systems, practices, and resource commitments support the rights and equitable opportunity for all individuals and groups; and developing institutional, individual, and community accountability that is leveraged to dismantle systemic inequities.
E ʻeleu mai ʻoukou! Step lively, let’s move together!
E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor
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!
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.
Important Highlights
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
– A.A. Milne
Here are our October highlights you might have missed:
- He Lei Mahalo luncheon honors donors and scholarship recipients
- Chancellor Benham honored as Distinguished Bowen Lecturer
- High school freshmen attend career expo at UH West Oʻahu
UPDATE: UH West Oʻahu Mid-Year Commencement
Date: Saturday, Dec. 14,
Time: Ceremony begins at 9 a.m.
Location: UH West Oʻahu Lower Courtyard
We need everyone’s kōkua to ensure a wonderful celebration. A call for volunteers will come your way in the coming weeks. Our Mid-Year Commencement Stage Manager, Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt, will need all hands on deck on Friday to setup, early Saturday morning to prepare for graduates and family arrivals, and after the ceremony to break down
Faculty Marshals have been selected: Dr. Steven Taketa and Dr. Rebecca Romine.
Student Speakers have been selected:
– Travis J. Antonacci, BA, HUM – History
– Jared K. McCan, BS, BUSA Cybersecurity – Cyber Operations
Note: Please watch your email as more information is forthcoming.
Annual Fiscal Year 2025 Campus Budget Presentation
Flyer and reservation (due to limited seating capacity) will be sent soon.
Chancellor Benham, Kyle Sergent, Budget Director, and John Stanley, IRO Director will present.
Date/Time: Friday, Nov. 15, 1 to 2 p.m.
Location: ACM Theatre
Statement of Gratitude
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”
– Katie Reed
I am mindful that this has been a busy Fall 2024. For many of us it has been a season of transitions! New leadership, new program opportunities, the end of a project and the start of a new set of challenges, and so on. Almost everyone whom I have engaged with this semester is operating at 100% – PLUS. While there is excitement and joy, I am reminded that it is important to pause, to breathe, to take care of yourself. The short quote by Katie Reed is a gentle reminder that self-care enables us to bring and to give our best self to our family, friends, and the good work we do. The work you are doing, contributing to our beloved UH West O’ahu community, is very important. Please give yourself, this Thanksgiving season, permission to breathe and to reflect on the abundance of grace and goodness that you’ve shared.
About this time last year I downloaded the “Calm” app, which was a gift from a friend who quoted Ralph H. Blum, “There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” I know that centering myself in a place of “Aloha” (in gratitude and joy) is important no matter if I am celebrating a faculty and/or student achievement, managing a difficult decision, or facilitating a tough change. Many of my days are long and demanding, so I have learned that taking moments throughout the day (a couple minutes here and there) to breathe, meditate, or listen to an inspirational message – those moments of “daily calm” on the app are rejuvenating! There’s also a curated playlist of Hawaiian Slack Key that inspires!
Our work Is essential! We have the honor and responsibility to help others to shine a light on their brilliance. As educators and staff who work hard to ensure the vibrancy of the learning and teaching environment, we impact a person’s hopes and dreams, ambitions, insights, and a sense of self and worth! That stewardship and service is your gift, your superpower. Keep your internal lantern glowing and shining brightly so that you can light the way forward for yourself and others!
Hoʻomanaʻo Mai
“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.”
– Alphonse Karr
In case you missed the last week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which focused on Device Security here’s their important message to you.
It is essential to keep your software and hardware updated to protect sensitive personal and professional information. When updating software, it patches vulnerabilities, improves performance, and safeguards against malware.
Enabling automatic updates is a good way to keep your device secure, but it also requires you to restart your applications or machine to apply the patches. Delaying reboots can make browsing the web a dangerous activity, so it is in your best interest to restart as soon as possible when prompted.
Key Tips:
- Update Regularly: Your first defense against vulnerabilities.
- Caution with Installations: Be conscious when clicking through the install and read through all the steps as the software may bundle extra third-party software.
- Download from Official Sites: Avoid third-party sites that may harbor malware.
- Limit Browser Extensions: Use trusted extensions to protect your sensitive data.
- Use Standard Accounts: Create a separate user account to use daily. Reserve admin accounts for necessary tasks.
- Never Leave Unlocked Devices Unattended: Always supervise your device.
- Encrypt Your Hard Drive: Ensures that your data is protected if your device is lost or stolen.
- Avoid Connecting Unpatched Devices to Public Networks: Untrusted networks like airport, or hotel WiFi’s are a risk to vulnerable systems as malware can propagate from other compromised devices to your system.
- Avoid Pop-up Instructions: Don’t download software from suspicious or unexpected pop-ups.
- Backup Regularly: Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule. Three copies, two of them saved on different storage media, and one of them is stored off site or in the cloud.
For more detailed information regarding device security, and software updates please visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/infosec/ncsam-2024/#week4