University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel visited UH Maui College on Monday, March 3, as part of her statewide tour of the 10-campus UH system and five education centers during her first 90 days in office.
The visit provided an opportunity for Hensel to engage with students, faculty, staff, leadership, alumni and community members to discuss key challenges and opportunities for higher education in Maui County.
“We’re excited to have the president here—to see things firsthand at Maui College, to meet with our students, faculty, and staff and to understand the needs of our campus,” said UH Maui Chancellor Lui Hokoana. “We took her out to Lānaʻi and we’ll also be taking her to Molokaʻi. It’s a great opportunity for our community to share our priorities with her.”
Campus tour and conversations
The visit began with a traditional Hawaiian protocol ceremony, formally welcoming Hensel to the campus. She then met with the Lauʻulu Council, which represents Native Hawaiian faculty and staff, before touring parts of the campus, including the dental hygiene facilities. She visited marketing, dental hygiene, art, ceramics and nursing classes and took questions from students to gain firsthand insight into their experiences. She had a lunch meeting with student and faculty leaders at the campus restaurant, Leis Family Class Act, and a meal prepared by culinary students.
“She shared a lot of her personal story with us, and I found that really relatable,” said UH Maui Student Body President Jenelyn Santos, one of the student leaders in attendance. “I wanted her to understand that we need more opportunities at UH Maui. I think she really listened, and hopefully, she’ll be able to implement some positive changes.”
Addressing key issues
Hensel participated in an open campus forum attended by approximately 80 people, where she addressed a range of pressing topics. Discussions included her vision for UH Maui College, concerns about federal funding cuts, the challenges of hiring faculty due to pay limitations and expanding academic programs.
“They want students to stay home for their education and so building these programs to meet the needs of the island is really important,” said Hensel. “It is a beautiful campus and everyone seems really excited about their studies here.”
Community reception and local support
The visit concluded with a reception at the campus’ Paʻina Food Court, where more than 90 attendees—including County Council Chair Alice Lee and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen—gathered to welcome Hensel. The event featured food prepared by UH Maui College culinary students.
“This college impacts so many people, and the university as a whole plays such a vital role in our community,” said Bissen. “I’m just really grateful she took the time to come here and meet with us. We all want the same thing, right? We want success. We want our students to thrive. We want more students to enroll, to stay home, to build their futures here.”
UH Maui College’s impact
UH Maui College is the only UH community college that serves students across multiple islands, including Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi. Hensel previously visited the UH Maui College Lānaʻi Education Center on February 10 and is scheduled to visit the Molokaʻi Education Center on April 8.
Enrollment at UH Maui College has grown significantly, with 2,992 students enrolled for the 2024–25 academic year—an increase of 12% over the past two years. The college offers associate and bachelor’s degrees, as well as certificates, in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, culinary arts, automotive technology, and healthcare.
President Hensel’s campus/education centers remaining schedule:
President Hensel campus visit recaps
- Wednesday, March 5 – Kauaʻi CC and Kauaʻi University Center
- Monday, March 24 – Windward CC
- Tuesday, April 8 – Molokaʻi Education Center
For more information about President Hensel, visit the Meet President Hensel webpage. She is also active on social media and encourages the UH community to connect with her on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.
