As a distance education student, Travis Antonacci felt lost and alone when he first transferred from Kauaʻi Community College to the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. So he took it upon himself to develop relationships—pilina—with his new peers and professors.
“Building pilina takes time and effort, but it is the most worthwhile endeavor,” said Antonacci, 25, of Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, who will be one of the two student speakers at UH West Oʻahu’s 2024 Mid-Year Commencement on December 14.
Antonacci, who will receive a bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration in history, has come a long way from those initial feelings of isolation in the first few months of fall 2022.
- Read more about Jared Kāʻeo McCann, who was also selected to be a student commencement speaker.
Inspiring ‘each and every person’
He helped launch Da Pueo Press, an undergraduate academic journal established by UH West Oʻahu students for UH West Oʻahu students. Antonacci contributed to the formulation of some of the journal’s policies and designed some of the content management and workflow systems.
“For me, as his mentor, I am incredibly honored to be a part of his journey,” said Yasmine Romero, associate professor of English and faculty editor of Da Pueo Press. “Travis inspires each and every person he encounters because he is compassionate, creative and socially responsible. I have seen him grow, and I am excited to see what he does after graduating!”
During his senior year, Antonacci led the creation of the Transfer Talk podcast as a student worker with Anuhea Piliere, who is a UH West Oʻahu distance education academic support specialist based at Kauaʻi CC. Transfer Talk was designed to assist community college students in navigating the transfer process to UH West Oʻahu, guiding them through every step of their journey—from their final community college semester to their graduation from UH West Oʻahu.
Giving back to Kauaʻi
Antonacci intends to pursue a master’s degree in education.
UH West Oʻahu has nurtured each of these elements in me while simultaneously providing me with the skills I need to be an effective life-long learner.
—Travis Antonacci
“I am committed to giving back to the island I call home and serving as a high school history and/or special education teacher on Kauaʻi is, in my opinion, the most impactful way I can do so,” he said.
“To be an effective educator in Hawaiʻi nei, I believe you have to have a profound love, appreciation and knowledge of the culture and the history—it is the ultimate, foundational prerequisite. UH West Oʻahu has nurtured each of these elements in me while simultaneously providing me with the skills I need to be an effective life-long learner.”
For more visit Ka Puna O Kaloʻi.
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman
