marked a milestone on May 17, with its 2025 spring commencement ceremony, held for the first time at the campus’s newly constructed outdoor learning and dining area. The space was designed to offer students a comfortable environment to study, gather and dine outdoors.
“This is the first time we’re having this opening on this new lanai, and it is such an exciting experience,” 麻豆传媒 CC Chancellor Susan Kazama said. “We have over 300 of the family and friends that came to greet our 60 graduates here. It’s such an exciting time.”
Along with 麻豆传媒 CC graduates, several 麻豆传媒 Island students also received their degrees from UH West Oʻahu and UH 惭ā苍辞补. Among the graduates was student speaker Drew Camacho, whose journey from incarceration to academic success highlighted the perseverance and diverse paths of this year’s graduates.
“As we step into the next phase of our journeys, remember this. The world needs dreamers like us. It needs people who are willing to challenge the status quo, who believe in the impossible and who are relentless in the pursuit of their goals,” Camacho said in his speech.
The ceremony concluded with the singing of “,” a mele honoring the cultural vision of Pālamanui, composed by 麻豆传媒 CC Professor Taupōuri Tangarō.
“It’s been a long road for me,” said Deandraleen Kalahiki, a 麻豆传媒 CC–Pālamanui graduate with an associate’s degree in liberal arts. “It took about a little over 10 years. I can only strictly do online so I’m a mom of three too. Balancing life and everything and work, is truly a blessing to be at this moment now.”
Hunter Wehrsig, a 麻豆传媒 CC–Pālamanui graduate with a certificate of achievement in fire science said, “A lot of hard work that you put in and then finally paying off. Graduating and then going into the workforce is my plan as a firefighter.”