For the Racoma family, the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu’s upcoming commencement holds special significance because of who will be sharing the stage — Tanya Hōkūlani Racoma and her firstborn, son Brendan Isaiah ‘Onipa‘a Racoma.
Hōkū, as she is known, is a mother of three — ages 22, 16, and 13. She took a nearly two decades-long break from college to focus on raising her family.
“My biggest reason for coming back to school and completing my bachelor’s degree was to teach my kids when you start something, to always finish it,” said Hōkū, 43, a professional songwriter. “It was always a dream of mine.”
Hōkū and Brendan Racoma, of Waipahu, are among the students participating in UH West O‘ahu’s 2025 Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony, taking place 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the UH West O‘ahu Courtyard. Summer and fall graduates are invited to the Mid-Year Ceremony. Ticketed guests are welcome to the ceremony on a first-come, first-seated basis, and non-ticketed guests are invited to give lei to graduates following the ceremony at the Great Lawn.
About 300 students are summer graduates and fall candidates for graduation, and of these students, nearly 190 will be participating in the commencement ceremony, which will celebrate Applied Science, Business Administration, Creative Media, Cybersecurity, Humanities, Natural Science, Public Administration, and Social Sciences candidates.
Hōkū will graduate with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with a concentration in English and a certificate in Music. Brendan will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with a concentration in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (DPEM).
Hōkū and Brendan’s shared success resulted from similar paths (although different timelines) — both transferred to UH West O‘ahu after each attended two UH System community colleges, and each earned two associate degrees, as well as various certificates.
“We didn’t plan it,” Hōkū quipped. “It just happened like that.”
Brendan, like his mother, feels a strong sense of achievement as graduation nears. For him, navigating college life with work, as well as other obligations and responsibilities, came with inevitable challenges.
“Truthfully, in my point of view, it wasn’t easy,” Brendan said. “But it was really all worthwhile. And having mom with me is like an added bonus.”
Hōkū: ‘strong work ethic, discipline, perseverance’
Hōkū’s college journey began after graduating from Kailua High School and enrolling at Windward Community College. As a Windward CC student, she became pregnant with Brendan and decided to take a break from school to focus instead on raising her family while working various jobs.
Hōkū and her husband, Alika, would go on to have two more children — daughter Anyssa, now a high school junior, and daughter Dejah, now in the seventh grade.
As her son neared his high school graduation, Hōkū decided to finally return to college, wanting to serve as a role model for her children.
“Through my example (returning to school), my son sees that and my kids see that, so they want to pursue higher education, too,” she said.
Hōkū enrolled in fall 2019 at Leeward CC, graduating in spring 2022 with honors with an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts and a certificate in Global Studies. In fall 2022 she continued on to Windward CC and graduated in the same semester with an Associate in Arts in Hawaiian Studies.
When Hōkū enrolled in spring 2023 at UH West O‘ahu, she was already a working songwriter. She found continuing her education would help compliment her musical profession.
As far back as she can remember, music has always been a big part of Hōkū’s family and her life — singing at church as a toddler, singing opera at 6 years old, writing songs at 7 years old for her little sister, playing the piano and ukulele also from an early age, and dancing hula.
Over the past several years — through fervent dedication, sheer talent, and fruitful connections and networking — Hōkū poured into songwriting and eventually signed with Weldon Music Publishing, based in Missouri.
A self-described lyricist (“I am like a walking journal of just words and lyrics”) whose music genres include worship, gospel, and pop, Hōkū collaborates with other songwriters nationally and internationally.
This past spring, Hōkū released her latest song, “Oh I Want to See Him,” which was co-written by Seth Worthen, Brandon Graham, Reinah Kidani, and Matthew Poe, and recorded in April 2024 in London. She also just released her first Christmas single, “The Christmas Carol,” co-written by Jonathan Stephens and Dimas Cortez. They will also be releasing a single in January to ring in the new year called, “Without You.”
Additionally, “Under My Feet,” co-written by Hōkū with Elenee Young and Jonathan Stephens, was featured in Young’s album, which was nominated for a JUNO Award (Canada’s equivalent of the Grammys) for the 2025 Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.
As a UH West O‘ahu student, Hōkū has been able to continue to strengthen her songwriting skills, in turn benefitting her prospering career.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to my professors at UH West O‘ahu, whose mentorship and guidance have not only shaped my writing but allowed it to truly take flight and come into its own,” she said. “Working alongside classmates offered both inspiration and insight, challenging me to see different perspectives and strengthen my own writing.”
Among her respected mentors is Dr. Jon Magnussen, Professor of Music, who praised Hōkū for being an exceptional student.
“Before college, Hōkū had trained in music under Auntie Nola Nahulu at Hawai‘i Youth Opera Chorus, and I see in Hōkū many of those traits that musicians develop: a strong work ethic, discipline, perseverance, patience, and especially empathy,” Magnussen said.
He continued, “Being a parent and earning her college degree, Hōkū has had to be highly scheduled, often juggling many commitments — to her family (she would often bring her mom to Hawaiian Ensemble class, or need to schedule meetings around her kids’ activities), to her songwriting collaborators off-island (sometimes traveling, sometimes working remotely), and to her fellow classmates in collaborative projects, and I’m sure there’s more. She does this all in her graceful, ha‘aha‘a way.”
Brendan: ‘a gifted scholar’
Brendan has a heart for serving others and aspires to “achieve one of my dreams of helping the community of Hawai‘i” he said, which is reflected in his academic path over the years.
Brendan graduated from Pearl City High school in 2020 then enrolled in summer 2020 at Honolulu CC. He graduated in spring 2022 with an Associate in Applied Science in Fire and Environmental Emergency Response with certifications in Hazardous Materials, as well as Emergency Medical Services. Then he enrolled in fall 2022 at Leeward CC, where he graduated in spring 2023 with honors with an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts.
Through various recommendations and personal reflection, Brendan decided to continue his education in fall 2023 at UH West O‘ahu — joining his mother, who enrolled a semester earlier — and to major in DPEM.
Currently Brendan works full time as a front office supervisor at Wayland Baptist University, and in his spare time enjoys working out with friends and playing drums for his church. But school has been a top priority and Brendan is intent on finishing strong.
Dr. Jason Levy, Director of DPEM Programs and Professor of Public Administration and Disaster Preparedness, described Brendan as an exemplary student and commended his recent work.
“Brendan is a gifted scholar who is involved with our group’s disaster risk AI research, including the recently completed AI-in-the-classroom grant at UH Mānoa and contributed ideas to the ‘Ōmilo Mākauhou UH West O‘ahu AI Initiative,” Levy said. “Specifically, Brendan is researching the ways in which geospatial monitoring systems and autonomous drones leverage innovations in artificial intelligence and data analytics, technology to transform our knowledge about natural hazards and how human activities are reshaping socio-environmental systems.”
Both Brendan and Hōkū are grateful for UH West O‘ahu’s academic rigor (it’s “top-notch, awesome,” Brendan said) and are confident that it will help in their future professional endeavors.
But they also appreciate the warmth and aloha on campus — the encouragement, guidance, and support from faculty, staff, and classmates.
“At UH West O‘ahu, I’ve learned to value both community and place,” Hōkū said. “The connections I’ve made and the environment I’ve grown in have shaped not only my learning but my perspective, leaving me with a continual appreciation for the people and spaces that facilitate growth.”
Brendan added, “I‘m really thankful for this whole experience. UH West O‘ahu has done a lot for me and my family.”
Love and appreciation
Hōkū and Brendan are especially grateful for their family for supporting them throughout their journeys — their struggles and successes over the years.
“I married a good one,” Hōkū said and smiled, praising her husband. “With his 100% full support, I’m able to get all of these things done.”
“He’s always told me to keep going,” Brendan added about his father.
Brendan shared similar sentiments toward both his parents.
“I like to talk with my mom and my dad about everything in my life,” he said. “The best moments with them are the personal conversations as they always provide me with the greatest advice in the world. They’re wonderful parents.”
There’s also a deep, mutual appreciation between Hōkū and Brendan.
“I feel like it’s full circle because I stopped because of him and now I’m finishing because of him,” Hōkū said. … “I’m so glad that we can end this part of our journey together because it started together, in a way.”
Brendan acknowledged how his mother temporarily set aside her dreams and aspirations for him, which inspired him to chase after his.
“I’m trying not to cry,” Brendan said, his voice breaking, “but she sacrifices a lot. And, you know, I take it for granted sometimes, but I really do appreciate it and love her for everything she has done for our family.”
He added, “Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that my mom chose ‘ ‘Onipa‘a’ (steadfast) to be my Hawaiian middle name.”
Graduation and beyond
After graduation, the Racomas plan to take a short break before pursuing their next steps.
Hōkū is contemplating a master’s degree and is still deciding on it. But she does plan to go “all in” next year with her songwriting, she said.
Specifically, she looks forward to working on possible songs for a live recording project scheduled to take place in 2027 in the Philippines, and collaborating with other songwriters who speak Tagalog and Ilokano.
“Hopefully, one, maybe more of our songs will be chosen just for that project,” she said. “I’m excited for that.”
Brendan intends to enroll in Urshan University in Missouri, where he plans to pursue a master’s degree in Christian Ministry, concentrating in intercultural studies. Eventually he plans to return home to Hawai‘i, to apply his education and experiences to serving the local community in some way.
Whatever their future holds, for now, the mother-son duo are focused on their upcoming graduation (the Dec. 13 ceremony closely follows a birthday celebration for Brendan, who turns 23 on Dec. 8), and they’re cherishing the joy and meaning of it all.
“It’s never too late to follow your dreams,” Hōkū emphasized. “Dreams don’t come with an expiration date. With determination and heart, every stage of life can be a beginning, a reinvention, and a step toward what you hope to achieve. I hope my perseverance inspires not just my children, but all the generations that surround me.”
