The University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu hosted more than 50 academic advisors and counselors from all seven UH Community Colleges at the UH West O‘ahu Transfer Counselor Workshop, which was held on Sept. 30 on campus.
“The intention of the workshop was to gather from all UH Community Colleges the counselors, advisors, and administrative staff who support students in the transfer process to come learn about UH West O‘ahu, our processes, and what opportunities or support offerings we have for transfer students,” said lead event coordinator Shawna-Leigh Camara, Ke Ala ‘Anu‘u Program Manager.
Participants came from Hawai‘i CC, Honolulu CC, Kapi‘olani CC, Kaua‘i CC, Leeward CC, UH Maui College, and Windward CC. In Fall 2025, UH West O‘ahu saw an increase of 7.4% in transfer students (not limited to UH CCs).
“When it comes to meaningful support for transfer students, it all starts with nurturing our community college partnerships,” said event committee member Amy Bumatai, Program Director for Ho‘okele Huaka‘i Na‘auao Title III.
Bumatai continued, “This was an opportunity for us to share information about our student services, academic programs, online learning, and future transfer vision. The counselors and advisors who attended the event hold key knowledge about how UH West O‘ahu can ensure student support is relevant and accessible to transfer students, and an event like this allows us to have these important conversations.”
The UH West O‘ahu Transfer Counselor Workshop featured the following breakout sessions:
- Articulations (Summer DeBruyne and Ke‘alohi Perry): Articulation process from CCs to UH West O‘ahu, what articulations currently exist, what articulations are in the workings, gathering feedback of what articulations might be needed, and UH West O‘ahu Advising structure information
- Distance Education (Amy Bumatai and Anuhea Piliere): Distance education programs at UH West O‘ahu, difference between DE programs and in-person degree offerings
- Admissions (Martin Motooka): Transfer admissions steps, admissions data, gathering feedback on how to improve processes
- Transfer Futurities (Aloha Espinosa): Opportunity for counselors to reflect on the current work they do for transfers, provide feedback about improvements, and build pilina with intention and purpose in the current work they are all doing
“We wanted to offer a space and time where we can learn from CC counselors what they struggle with when they assist students in transferring to UH West O‘ahu, and what we can improve on to make our intake/handoff process more accessible, inclusive, intentional and effective,” Camara said.
The event also featured a welcome from UH West O‘ahu Chancellor Maenette Benham, mini tours of the campus, a Transfer Student Resources Fair (including No‘eau Center, Papahana Wailau Ola, Mental Health Services, and Disability Services), and an Academic Divisions and Advising Team Meet and Greet.
“The transfer counselor workshop was well organized and full of valuable information,” said Kaua‘i CC’s Rhonda Liu, Student Services Specialist at the University & Transfer Center. “I enjoyed connecting with faculty at the resource fair and attending the breakout sessions. It was a great opportunity to collaborate and build pilina to better support our students on Kaua‘i. A big mahalo to the awesome planning team for putting together this event!”
The planning team was made up of UH West O‘ahu’s “Transfer Student Hui,” including Camara, Bumatai, Espinosa, Daniel Cordial, Motooka, Curtis Nishioka, and Megan Ebel.
“The program team and I are deeply committed to transfer students,” Camara said, “and we knew from the beginning stages of planning that we wanted to learn from participants, gather their input, build pilina, and really work towards a future together so that all of our students will benefit.”