The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College held its first commencement since the 2023 wildfires. About 220 students participated in the ceremony on the Great Lawn on May 9.
“It means the family—we did it and we pushed through to get me to where I am today,” said Mary Martinez, who earned an associate’s degree in health and human services.
The theme of the ceremony was “resilience.”
“We wanted to celebrate the fact that our students have endured so much, not just only through the pandemic, but also through the wildfires, and they came out okay. They came out to a place where they tell us every day they want to serve out in Lahaina and try to help. So we wanted to celebrate that. We wanted to celebrate their resilient spirit.” said Chancellor Lui Hokoana.
Graduate Soloman Palad added, “There was a lot about our troubles going through some tough times these last few years, last few months, but our community has pulled through together stronger than ever I think.”
We wanted to celebrate their resilient spirit.
—Chancellor Lui Hokoana.
Student commencement speakers Mjee Abara and Jennifer Russo also shared their personal reflections on resilience. In the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, UH Maui College students, staff and community volunteers produced about 200,000 meals and the college served as a food hub for fire relief efforts.
The finale of the ceremony was a joyful celebration of resilience, as students danced and sang along to “This Is Me” sung by alumna and former Miss Hawaiʻi Sheron Lehuanani Bissen.
Check out more stories of our UH spring graduates
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me!
—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch
More stories of UH Maui College graduates:
- Full circle: From drug addict to drug counselor, January 26, 2024
- Two generations of Dagdag ʻohana earn degrees from UH Maui College, May 9, 2024
- From crisis to classroom: Maui culinary student plays a lead role, April 28, 2024
