The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s 106th Commencement Exercises will take place at the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday, May 13, 2017. An estimated 2,100 students are expected to participate.
Ceremonies split by colleges and schools not degrees
There will be two ceremonies, the first at 9 a.m. and the second at 4 p.m. However, instead of separating the students by undergraduate and advanced degrees as has been done in recent years, the two ceremonies will be split by colleges and schools in a similar fashion to the mid-year commencement exercise held every December.
This change, which is being piloted for the first time this spring, was a response to concerns from the campus community that the spring undergraduate ceremonies had grown far beyond the capacity of the campus creating significant safety concerns for ceremony participants. The pilot is expected to foster a more even distribution of graduates and guests at each ceremony.
- Related: Mānoa to pilot new approach to spring commencement, September 29, 2016
The 9 a.m. ceremony (9 a.m. to noon) will recognize undergraduate and advanced degree candidates from the arts and sciences. The 4 p.m. ceremony (4 to 7 p.m.) will recognize undergraduate and advanced degree candidates from the professional schools.
The keynote speaker for both ceremonies is Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th surgeon general of the United States. The student speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony is Catherine Gardiner from the College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature. Shiraz Dole from the Shidler College of Business will serve as the student speaker for the 4 p.m. ceremony.
Commencement information
Times
Doors to the Stan Sheriff Center will open at 7:45 a.m. for the 9 a.m. ceremony and at 2:45 p.m. for the 4 p.m. ceremony. Both events are free and open to the public. No tickets are issued and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Balloons, large signs and strollers are not allowed inside the arena.
Parking
On commencement day, free parking is available campus-wide. Graduates and guests are encouraged to carpool and arrive early as considerable traffic and pedestrian congestion surrounding the campus is expected. UH shuttles will be available from various locations throughout the campus. For more information, please visit the commencement transportation webpage.
Please note:
- The road leading from the Waiʻalae gate entrance to the Stan Sheriff Center will be closed before and during the ceremonies.
- The parking area near the ROTC buildings is reserved.
- The passenger drop-off area is located on the ground floor between the lower campus parking structure and the Athletic Complex.
- A secondary drop-off area is the Bachman Hall parking lot, with entrance/exit from University Avenue.
Greeting graduates
After each ceremony, family and friends may greet the graduates as follows:
- Last names A-K: Clarence T.C. Ching Field
- Last names L-Z: Les Murakami Baseball Stadium Field
Guests will be asked to clear the fields at 1 p.m. after the 9 a.m. ceremony and at 8 p.m. after the 4 p.m. ceremony.
Live webcast
There will be a live webcast of both ceremonies.
Questions
For more information about the commencement exercises, visit the commencement website. Or contact the commencement coordinator at graduate@hawaii.edu or by phone at (808) 956-GRAD.
