Students stand during the University of Hawai‘i Maui College 2025 Commencement Ceremony. Photo courtesy UH Maui College

The theme of our 2025 Commencement Ceremony was “Pūpūkahi i holomua,” a Hawaiian ‘olelo no’eau (poetic saying) which translates to “unite in order to progress.” It emphasizes the importance of working together harmoniously in order to move forward and accomplish goals. Given the challenges of the last few years, we felt it was particularly appropriate.

Commencement ceremonies are serious occasions, to be sure. On our UH Maui College campus last Thursday, the significance of the occasion was surrounded by something else – joy. Joy was the spontaneous aura of the entire evening. From the lush melodies played by our own Hawaiian music trio Kūikawā to the spectacular voice of our own Leihuanani Bissen, from the oli offered by faculty and staff, to the beautiful native Hawaiian plants celebrating growth and resilience that adorned the stage.

Our Great Lawn was blanketed with graduates in caps and gowns and lei, proud faculty and staff and administrators, friends and family beaming with joy. We conferred more than 560 degrees and certificates with more than 250 graduates able to attend the commencement ceremony and experience the joy of hearing their names read aloud, being handed their certificates, and smiling for the cameras. The joy was palpable.

It was a joy to present the Excellence in Teaching Award to Professor Julie Powers, the Program Coordinator of our Early Childhood Education Department. Universally praised by her students, she and her faculty work tirelessly to train the preschool teachers who help to shape the growth our communities’ youngest keiki.

It was a joy to acknowledge Kahu Kenneth Ah Sam You Makuakāne with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. “Kahu Makuakāne is truly a living treasure of Hawai’i,” says Dr. Keola Donaghy, Associate Professor of Music and faculty coordinator of our Institute of Hawaiian Music. “Most probably know him as a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning musician, composer, and producer, and now as Kahu of Kawaiaha’i Church. He is also a life-long advocate for the arts, education, and our communities. I’ve called upon him to support our students on many occasions and he has always answered the call and done so much more than we asked.”

It was an honor — and, yes, a joy — to have our new UH President Wendy Hensel as our commencement speaker. She had good advice for our graduates and, by extension, for all of us. First, she said, “Be your authentic self.” Best to ignore the false narratives and barrage of information that floods social media urging you to conform. “Authenticity is your super-power,” she continued. “Bring your unique perspective and voice into every room you enter. You will cultivate connections that are real.” The need for authenticity, she said, has never been more important than it is now.

Second, embrace change and acknowledge that failure is always part of the journey, she advised. She told the story of sending out 100 resumes to law firms around the country when she graduated from law school. She received 99 rejection letters. The 100th response was a job offer. “Every great success story is woven with threads of failure. You only need one door to open for you to get your next opportunity.” And sometimes the very best opportunities come when you least expect them.

Her final and favorite piece of advice was, “Never delay joy. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Every day is a gift. Reject the notion that joy must wait. Joy is the fuel that will sustain you.”

As we look ahead to our Fall 2025 semester, we know there are rough waters ahead. And the currents can change by the day, sometimes by the hour. While we work to mitigate the uncertainty, one thing is abundantly clear. We will do whatever is necessary to provide a safe learning environment that is rooted in educational excellence for all our students. And we will do it with unmitigated joy.

If you’d like to watch all or any portion of the commencement ceremony, you can do so www.youtube.com/live/dimaOSuVWmcFor complete information about UH Maui College, please visit http://maui.hawaii.edu/

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

UHMC Commencement 2025 UH President Wendy Hensel. Courtesy photo

UHMC Commencement. Courtesy photo