UH Mānoa’s Department of English selected “resurgence” as the 2023 Word of the Year. The inspiration came from a return to post-pandemic normalcy at Mānoa and also from Maui’s resiliency following the August 8th wildfires. Here at UH Maui College, our word of the year is Laukanaka – many people. Because 2023 confirmed for us that it takes a community coming together to persevere. And now we move forward with strength – imua – for there is much still to do. We are committed to being an integral part of the recovery of Lāhainā and Kula – and the advancement of the rest of our island – in 2024 and beyond.

Workforce training that keeps up with the changing needs of our economy continues to be part of the UH Maui College kuleana. By constantly expanding our certificate and degree programs and now partnering with the Department of Education, Good Jobs Hawai’i, as well as receiving other grants, we are committed to offering residents the training they need to pursue well-paying careers. Beginning in January, free trainings include Substitute Teacher training, Teacher preparation courses, an eight-week, intensive, hands-on Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship program, Cybersecurity training, Automotive Technology training, a 16-week Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training, a one-year Practical Nurse training, tuition-free CNA to PN Bridge pre-requisite courses, and a seven-week Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) training. All provide direct pathways to jobs which address critical needs in our community. Details are here https://elwd.maui.hawaii.edu/trainings/. There will be many more.

We are determined to be at the forefront of propagating Native and non-invasive seedlings for replanting in Lāhainā and Kula. Thanks to the expertise and tireless efforts of Dustin Palos, we are on our way. A non-traditional student on an advanced degree path in Natural Resources and Environmental Management, he has transformed our campus’s Kauluwehi into a biocultural garden filled with Native plants, trees, and canoe crops that can be propagated. In fact, Kauluwehi is the research project for his thesis.

“Dustin has transformed Kauluwehi into a model biocultural refuge he hopes will be the first of an ‘archipelago’ of others throughout Maui County,” says Nicolette van der Lee, Program Manager University of Hawai’i Community Colleges. “He has already donated thousands of plants and trees to Lāhaināluna and other West Side hui.” The propagation for re-planting will continue and expand during 2024 and beyond.

Water is our most important resource. And our UHMC Water Quality Lab, the only one on Maui, plays a critical role in supporting the many agencies and organizations addressing water quality issues related to the Lāhainā fires. This includes providing space and expertise, field support and testing services to address stream, groundwater, drinking water and coastal water quality.

In the coming year, our lab will expand to provide testing services to more research organizations, industries, and community members. That was the goal of founder Dr. Andrea Kealoha, now a Professor of Oceanography at UH Mānoa. She is still based on Maui and deeply connected to the lab. Crystal Henkel has taken over the directorship and is working with associates Greg Masessa and Laura Martinez-Robles in the lab to further Andrea’s vision. Complete details https://maui.hawaii.edu/waterlab/

The Hulihia Center for Sustainable Systems on our campus is playing a vital role in developing resilient strategies for the long-term recovery of Lāhainā. Its new three-year project combines place-based indigenous wisdom, community input, and sustainability expertise to find innovative solutions that reflect the values of our community. (Overview here – Hulihia Project Overview Lahaina.pdf – Google Drive)

“We are honored and humbled to be partners in this endeavor,” says Sustainability Manager Amber Thompson. “We’ve been listening closely to the needs of our community and working diligently to address them by improving efficiencies of recovery efforts through our stakeholder mapping. Over the next few years, we will conduct a deep systems analysis of the rebuilding process to ensure community values and resilience are at the forefront of development.”

“Yesterday we felt so much pain, but today, through this pain, we can see our path moving forward,” adds Indigenous Knowledge Specialist Keahau Kimokeo. “We recognize the gifts our kupuna put along the way to bring together the past, the present, and the future to revitalize and prioritize the needs and aspirations of our Lāhainā community.”

We are ready to face the future. We wish you, your families, friends, and loved ones a happy, healthy New Year.

Please consider a year-end donation to continue to help our fire-affected students, faculty and staff, by visiting the UH Foundation’s Help Maui page https://www.uhfoundation.org/give/giving-opportunity/help-maui For complete UHMC information, http://maui.hawaii.edu/

* Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Kaʻana Manaʻo, which means “sharing thoughts,” is scheduled to appear on the fourth Sunday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from UH Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.