The University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu had a total number of 29 graduates based on Kaua‘i this academic year — the highest number in at least five years.
“It’s super exciting,” said Anuhea Piliere, UH West O‘ahu Distance Education Academic Support Specialist who is based at Kaua‘i Community College (KauCC). “There are so many factors that contributed to the high numbers.”
Piliere said even though Kaua‘i-based UH West O‘ahu students are geographically separated from it’s Kapolei campus, overall they have the same support available to them. Examples include diverse distance education (DE) program offerings; admissions support with credit transfer and application; virtual express advising for DE students; No‘eau Center online tutoring; established articulation agreements; and technology support, such as laptops specifically for Kaua‘i UH West O‘ahu students to borrow for as long as they are students.
Piliere is part of the Keleka‘a Ho‘ona‘auao Title III collaborative grant with Kaua‘i Community College and serves as the on-island support for UH West O‘ahu students, a role that aims to support transfer and retention, and offer holistic cultural support on the island.
Piliere said the grant has evolved through COVID-19 times, starting with offering group Zoom sessions and creating cultural videos, to now flying students to visit campus for a day and providing graduates with travel cash awards. Seven students received awards to attend the 2024 UH West Oʻahu Annual Commencement on May 4 at the SimpliFi Arena in the Stan Sheriff Center at UH Mānoa.
“Most of all, this opportunity has allowed me to build relationships with KauCC’s programs, counselors, staff, and students,” she said. “But I think the biggest impact on the (high graduate) numbers is the community knows an actual person is on island who knows their actual needs and can respond quickly.”
The number for the fall 2023 to spring 2024 academic year (AY 2023-2024) is up from 16 graduates for AY 2022-2023, 21 graduates for AY 2021-2022, 25 graduates for AY 2020-2021, and 16 graduates for AY 2019-2020, according to data from the University Center, Kaua‘i, which supports distance learning degrees offered by all UH campuses.
This spring semester, there were 14 UH West O‘ahu graduates from Kaua‘i; among those graduates was Athena Manipon-Hamada, 26, of Līhu‘e. Manipon-Hamada, who works as an office assistant for KauCC’s Department of Operations and Maintenance, received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Psychology.
“For somebody like me who was in special (education) for the majority of their life, a transgender woman, and was told at a young age that they would never amount to anything, on top of this being a first-generation student — to have this kind of chance and to make it through is something that I couldn’t have dreamed about in my wildest dreams,” Manipon-Hamada said.
She continued, “This degree is a huge milestone and a way to show others in my family and my community you can achieve what you want no matter the obstacle, and that even if you have to sacrifice, it will be all worth it in the end.”
Manipon-Hamada’s post-graduation goals are to continue working at KauCC, then possibly go back to school for a master’s degree. She also works as a drag queen and hopes to grow the scene on Kaua‘i, as well as help future generations of trans folks and future drag queens to create a loving and healthy environment for their community to thrive and not to have to struggle like those before them, she said.
She said UH West O‘ahu, and its community of faculty and student services, has prepared her for her future endeavors.
“Through my degree, I have learned to deal with people and understand people better, not just on the analysis level, but on personal levels and cognitive levels,” Manipon-Hamada said. “UH West O‘ahu has also given me all the tools I need in order (to pursue) my next degree, whatever that may be, because they have set me on a path to success.”
Piliere said she is grateful to be part of two amazing communities at both Kaua‘i Community College and UH West O‘ahu.
“I am just happy that Kaua‘i residents are taking advantage of the opportunity to earn a higher degree,” Piliere said. “Their higher educational attainment will positively impact our workforce and communities.”