More than 100 University of Hawaiʻi alumni came together for Chicago Alumni Weekend, March 28—29. The weekend-long celebration featured an Alumni & Friends Pau Hana and a Field Museum Alumni Day, which included an exclusive tour of the Chicago Legacy Hula exhibit.
“It was truly inspiring to connect with so many of our alumni in Chicago,” UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno said. “Their enthusiasm and support for the UH community were undeniable throughout the weekend. Hearing their stories reaffirmed the profound and lasting impact of a UH Mānoa education.”
The creator of the Chicago Legacy Hula exhibit, Carole Lanialoha Lee, led the tour, which was made possible through a partnership with the Bishop Museum and the Abigail Kawānanakoa Foundation.
“We are grateful to the alumni staff for traveling to Chicago for this unique educational experience,” Liane Smith, regional outreach coordinator for Bishop Museum, said. “During the research process of Chicago’s Legacy Hula Exhibit, Bishop Museum’s archives were used to discover the untold story of hula in Chicago.”
Although the UH Alumni Office last visited Chicago in 2018, the alumni community was highly engaged and connected.
“Living on the mainland, especially in a city like Chicago, it’s not often you get to connect with people from Hawaiʻi, and that’s why this UH alumni event was so special,” said Koa Webster, a graduate of Kapiolani Community College and UH Mānoa. “It was amazing to see how many of us are out here, and it really shows how important it is to stay connected.”
See more photos from the UH Alumni Chicago Alumni Weekend.
