It is graduation time for more than 8,100 University of Hawaiʻi students as the spring 2020 semester comes to a close at UH’s 10 campuses. More than 8,600 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and certificates will be awarded this spring, in a year that will be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis led to the sudden shift to online courses impacting more than 46,000 UH students and the cancellations of spring commencement ceremonies at the 10 campuses.
“It cannot be overstated that, even in the midst of this present crisis, every student who graduates this semester should be very proud of everything that they have accomplished,” said UH President David Lassner. “Nothing should eclipse the feelings of well-earned pride for our graduates and everyone who has worked hard to help them achieve this important goal.”
The University of Hawaiʻi asks the community to remember to congratulate your college graduates and celebrate this milestone in their lives. UH graduates, their families and friends are encouraged to use #UHOhana when they post their graduate images and videos on social media.
The spring 2020 UH graduates are invited to participate in the next scheduled commencement ceremony for their respective campus in December or May 2021. Some campuses are tentatively planning to hold special commencement ceremonies in December for spring semester graduates, if conditions allow. The campuses and many individual units have come up with different ways to mark the milestone for their students this month.
The information provided below for each campus will be updated after the semester officially comes to an end on Friday, May 15. Please check back the week of May 18 for updated information.
UH Mānoa
Undergraduate students: 1,715
Graduate students: 783
Law school graduates: 93
Medical school graduates: 64
Total degrees: 2,826
UH Mānoa spring 2020 graduates are invited to participate in a future in-person commencement in December 2020. Mahalo video messages from students and video messages from Provost Michael Bruno and UH alumni will be posted on the UH Mānoa commencement site where there is also a list of the various celebrations planned by the colleges and schools.
UH Hilo
Undergraduate students:453
Graduate students: 82
Pharmacy student: 73
Total degrees: 852
UH Hilo will host a Virtual Commencement Ceremony on May 20, 2020 and students have been asked to post photos and videos.
UH West Oʻahu
Students graduating: 376
UH West Oʻahu has posted a video honoring graduates on its commencement website and also posted a TikTok Video made by faculty and staff to celebrate the graduates.
Leeward Community College
Student graduating: 1,326
Degrees and certificates: 1,848
Leeward CC is planning to hold a live ceremony in December. Celebration packets are being mailed to graduates, with a printed program, tassel and Class of 2020 stickers. More information can be found on the campus commencement website.
Honolulu Community College
Student graduating: 819
Total degrees and certificates: 967
Honolulu CC will post a Celebration of Graduates 2020 video on Friday, May 15 on its commencement website. The website is also hosting a message board where students, family and friends can post congratulatory messages, videos and photos.
Kapiʻolani Community College
Students graduating: 716
Total degrees and certificates: 836
Kapiʻolani CC is planning to hold a ceremony in December. The campus is also providing a number of ways to celebrate its graduates on its commencement website including a virtual Graduate Celebration, a gathering place where graduates, instructors, classmates and ʻohana can leave messages and virtual lei and hugs.
UH Maui College
Students graduating: 608
Degrees and certificates: 903
UH Maui is holding a virtual ceremony on June 3 with a ʻukulele processional, graduate photos and an official conferring of degrees and speeches. The graduation will be streamed live and broadcast on the school’s cable channel. More information can be found on the UH Maui College commencement website.
Hawaiʻi Community College
Students graduating: 584
Total degrees and certificates: 770
Hawaiʻi CC is holding a virtual celebration featuring messages and photos that will be posted on the Hawaiʻi CC commencement website on Friday, May 15.
Kauaʻi Community College
Students graduating: 178
Kauaʻi CC is planning to hold a live ceremony in December and has a commencement website where a video message from Chancellor Joseph Daisy is posted.
Windward Community College
Students graduating: 166
Total degrees and certificates: 175
Windward CC is holding a commencement caravan on campus on Friday, May 22 and will also host a graduate message board on its commencement website.
