Cianni Rae Kekahuna, Windward Community College’s Associated Students of the University of �鶹��ý (ASUH) president, will earn associate degrees in liberal arts and Hawaiian studies—a milestone the 25-year-old never imagined possible a few years ago.

“I never saw myself going to college,” Kekahuna said. “I’ve always wanted to, you know, but I never saw myself actually being able to do it after I had a child—but it was one of the best decisions of my life.”

A single mother to now 4-year-old Obadiah Rai, Kekahuna was working multiple jobs when she applied for an apprenticeship with Hoʻokuaʻāina, a non-profit that cultivates taro in Kailua, which required enrollment in Windward CC.

“I love aloha ʻāina work (taking care of the land), and when I came across the apprenticeship, I was like, ‘Wow, this is super cool. I really want to do this!’” she said.

She enrolled at Windward CC in 2023.

Meet more amazing UH spring graduates

“I can honestly go on and on about how much it really impacted the well being of my life overall,” Kekahuna said. “That campus’ atmosphere is beyond exceptional—it’s a small-knit community—and the support that it holds for the students, there’s so many different support systems that really help you move forward.”

Leadership role

She did more than move forward, and was elected to serve as the campus’ ASUH president in her last academic year. In that role, Kekahuna traveled through the state and to the East Coast for the first time in her life—to Philadelphia—for an academic conference.

“This whole year, I was the president of Windward [ASUH], and that alone opened so many doors for me. I have personal connections with all these people now, and I’m really grateful for that.” Kekahuna said. “I’ve met people from Boston, California, Texas—just those open doors that it offers—I’m super grateful.”

Windward CC Student Life Coordinator Kaahu Alo was the one who convinced Kekahuna to run for president.

“Her strength comes from her past. She grew up really fast and so sheʻs able to connect with younger students and give her perspective on things,” Alo said. “She just has this spirit, she makes everybody welcome. Sheʻll support you and listen to you and talk story—I think she has a very inviting personality.”

‘All you could ask for’

Next up: Kekahuna will transfer to UH ����ԴDz� and is considering majoring in psychology and ʻōlelo �鶹��ý (Hawaiian language).

“I’m getting chicken skin, because it’s been really bittersweet for me,” she said. “I really don’t want to leave, but, you know, you have to in order to grow. And I get that. I just love the people, the ambiance, the atmosphere, the support—it’s all you could ask for in a school.”

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

The State of �鶹��ý’s second highest ranking official credited her experience in student government at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� with inspiring her for a career in public service.

�鶹��ý Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke served as president and as a senator of the (ASUH). Other ASUH senators at the time include Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters, and the late U.S. Rep. K. Mark Takai, whom Luke beat in her bid for ASUH president. Takai was elected ASUH president after Luke completed her term. The trio later became colleagues again in the �鶹��ý State House of Representatives.

“It’s not like the statewide elections here where you see all of the negatives. It was very cordial,” Luke said of her ASUH election against Takai. “Afterwards, because you could still remain a senator even if you ran for president, he ended up becoming one of my closest allies because he didn’t hold that against me and I didn’t hold that against him. Since then, until his passing, we have been close friends.”

One of the skills Luke mastered while at ASUH was advocating for important issues, which included the building of the Special Events Arena, now known as the Stan Sheriff Center.

“At ASUH, we lobbied for the 10,000-seat arena. At that time the university said they thought they could only fit a 5,000 seat arena, but Mark Takai did his own rendition and talked to people. He was convinced that you could fit a 10,000 seat arena,” Luke said. “So we came to the governor’s office, met with Gov. (John) Waiheʻe and made a presentation. Then after the meeting he said ‘ok.’ Every year he would label his year with something, so that year he labeled it as ‘Year of the Students,’ and part of it was his commitment to helping build a 10,000-seat stadium.”

Luke also recalled lobbying regarding a proposal to move the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to UH Hilo, in an effort to provide opportunities for programs at all campuses. She also worked with ASUH colleagues to create a teacher evaluation form, where students could see the evaluations and input before choosing their future courses. Luke compared it to her work in the state Legislature, but on a smaller scale.

“It was really trying to come together and solve issues that surrounded student support and student activities, and make student life better,” Luke said. “…That kind of skill set and the ability to work with others really helped me in what I did as a legislator and then now what I do as a lieutenant governor.”

ASUH is also where Luke met her future husband, Michael Luke, who was also a senator. Luke eventually graduated from UH ����ԴDz� with her bachelor’s degree in , before earning her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Supporter of Early College

While a junior and senior at Roosevelt High School, Luke recalls conducting independent research at UH on genetics in entomology, with a focus on drosophila flies (common fruit flies). She said it was this early exposure to UH’s world-class research that led her to become a major proponent of Early College, a partnership between �鶹��ý high schools and UH that allows high school students to take college classes and earn both high school and college credits.

“It is because I was able to do my independent studies at the university and helped me shape my interest in science, interest in STEM,” Luke said. “When we look now at how much we’ve gained through Early College and having that opportunity given to kids—looking back at my own experience of just voluntarily going to the university taking on programs—I think it’s such a great program that the university has partnered with the Department of Education to provide those opportunities.”

Well-rounded education at UH

“There is nothing that compares to a University of �鶹��ý education.” — Sylvia Luke

Luke is grateful for her experiences in ASUH, the Department of English and entomology, and her meetings with her college counselors who encouraged her to pursue a career in law.

“There is nothing that compares to a University of �鶹��ý education,” Luke said. “You make so many contacts and you make so many friends, and you just find out so much. Even now when I go back to the university, I still reminisce about going to Campus Center and having lunch there. I was work-study so I remember working at Bachman Hall and I remember working at different areas around the campus. You’re learning about life experience, you’re learning about time management, and at the same time it’s part of a great student experience.”

While she reminisced about her time at UH, Luke is also excited about where the UH System stands today and looks forward to its evolution in the future.

“The university system provides such a great opportunity for kids, and from when I was a student, now it provides a complete model,” Luke said. “You have four-year colleges, not just at UH ����ԴDz�, but at UH West Oʻahu and UH Hilo. Also, concentrated industry degrees and pathways through the community colleges. I think it provides so many more opportunities. And the fact that the university is cognizant in trying to get students to graduate on a timely basis.”

Priorities as LG

Luke was sworn in as the 15th lieutenant governor of the State of �鶹��ý on December 5, 2022. Her priorities include expanding pre-K access to �鶹��ý’s keiki and increasing access to broadband for �鶹��ý residents.

“Pre-K cannot happen without the university’s support because no matter how many buildings we build out, if we don’t have enough preschool teachers to come out of the university system then it’s a failed network. We’ve been working closely with the College of Education and we identified the next steps we need to take,” Luke said. “For broadband, it’s really the idea that broadband is the pathway for not just educational equity, but it provides access to health care, in work opportunities, it opens up to all different kinds of things.”

Luke concluded, “The university is not just an educational institution but it provides economic opportunities and visioning for the state, and the university has a lot of resources that it can offer the state.”

—By Marc Arakaki

Thousands of pounds of fresh produce and bread have been distributed to hungry students at the , because of the commitment of one very passionate student.

Raiyan Rafid, who will graduate from UH Mānoa in December 2022 with a master’s degree in finance, has given up almost all of his Saturdays since October 2021 to collect fresh produce and bread from farmer’s markets to supplement pantry in conjunction with Aloha Harvest.

“I know firsthand how students on a budget often don’t get to buy fresh produce and bread because of the high price,” said Rafid. “I was motivated to help because I knew that I could help create a bridge between those who want to donate and those in need.”

Check out photos from UH ����ԴDz�’s commencement ceremony

During the past year, Rafid’s efforts have provided more than 5,000 pounds of fresh produce and bread for UH Mānoa students.

“There are generous vendors at and Kakaʻako Farmer’s Market who are willing to donate leftover bread and produce for our students in need,” said Rafid. “It was easy for me to give up my Saturdays to pick up donations because it meant on Mondays that students would have fresh produce and bread.”

Rafid has been working with the since October 2021. He originally came to �鶹��ý as an international student from Bangladesh in 2015. Since then, Rafid has earned an associate degree from Kapiʻolani CC (2018) and a bachelor of arts in psychology from UH Mānoa (2020).

Serving students, center of Rafid’s college life

Serving in student organizations has been the center of Rafid’s college life. This has included his role as president of the UH Mānoa Campus Center Board, treasurer of the UH Student Caucus, and vice president of the (ASUH), which included initiating the ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý Initiative, a free Hawaiian language curriculum open to the public at UH Mānoa in 2020.

• Related UH News story: ASUH offers free ʻōlelo �鶹��ý classes at UH Mānoa, January 10, 2020

Being in ASUH, Rafid knew about Food Vault �鶹��ý and volunteered at a food drop in 2019. Food Vault �鶹��ý is a free service available for students without reliable access to affordable food. All registered UH Mānoa students with a valid student ID can access the food vault. Aloha Harvest is a food recovery non-profit and Food Vault �鶹��ý is one of their receiving agencies.

“When I started graduate school, I learned that Food Vault �鶹��ý needed help,” Rafid said. “Knowing the impact Food Vault �鶹��ý makes towards students in need, I immediately accepted the opportunity to help.”

For the first seven months, Rafid used his own car to collect fresh bread and produce around Honolulu. Eventually Food Vault �鶹��ý moved to using a UH van to collect donations.

Multiple students have joined Rafid to help keep Food Vault �鶹��ý operating. However, produce and bread are two of the most popular items in the pantry. Every Monday, 20–30 students wait for up to an hour before Food Vault �鶹��ý opens to get access to the produce and bread.

“We celebrate Raiyan’s graduation but we will miss him,” said Bonnyjean Manini, director of Student Life and Development at UH Mānoa who also runs Food Vault �鶹��ý. “His shoes will not be easy to fill.”

After graduation, Rafid plans to find a job that relates to his finance degree and possibly work as a financial analyst.

• Read more about other UH Mānoa graduates:
  PhD grad goes from directing commencement to walking in same ceremony, December 20, 2022
  Student speaker encourages graduates to embrace challenges, December 13, 2022
  Fall 2022 graduate personalized degree, discovered passion at ����ԴDz�, December 13, 2022
  Public health grads discover passions, strengthen local workforce, December 12, 2022

Three weekly online ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý classes have already received more than 31,000 combined views on Facebook.

The (ASUH) said it is encouraging news during this difficult time. The COVID-19 pandemic forced UH ����ԴDz�’s undergraduate student government to relocate the packed Campus Center Ballroom and Courtyard in-person classes to online Facebook Live sessions. Organizers said they are trying to continue educating the community as all UH classes moved online for the remainder of the spring semester and first summer session.

“Even when we transitioned online, there’s been a lot of support from everyone. I was sad when we had to cancel all in-person classes. However, we didn’t want this pandemic to limit us. From the beginning of this class, we’ve faced numerous challenges, but we’ve always persevered,” said ASUH Vice President Raiyan Rafid, who introduced the bill appropriating funds for the classes.

• Related UH News story: ASUH offers free ʻōlelo �鶹��ý classes at UH Mānoa

The free classes are every Wednesday, 3–4 p.m. on . If you are unable to tune in live, the classes are archived and available anytime. All of the classes and PowerPoint slides are also on the .

Paige Okamura and Akea Kahikina are graduate students, fluent ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý speakers and class instructors. The course is offered in partnership with .

—By Marc Arakaki

Increasing mental health services and financial aid for the University of �鶹��ý are being discussed at the state Legislature. And ’s undergraduate student government is drumming up student support for the bills.

The (ASUH) hosted a testimony writing session at UH ����ԴDz� Campus Center on Thursday, February 6. They provided more than 30 students in attendance with information and guidance on crafting messages for lawmakers in support of bills which back additional mental healthcare services on campus and lower tuition costs for qualified students. ASUH President Landon Li said the student government group has held testimony writing sessions in the past, but this session provided a different focus.

“I believe they were on different issues, some were just general education testimony. But this time, we’re doing kind of a targeted approach where we want to not only educate about the testimony writing process, but also about what legislative priorities we would like students to testify on,” Li said.

Bills being discussed call for appropriating funds for additional psychiatrist, psychologist and counselor positions across the University of �鶹��ý. The International Accreditation of Counseling Services recommends a ratio of one mental health professional for every 1,000–1,500 students. UH ����ԴDz� needs at least five more positions to meet the criteria.

Other bills seek to expand the �鶹��ý Promise program, which currently assists approximately 1,400 community college students, who qualify for resident tuition, annually by providing the “last dollar” needed to cover education costs. These bills look to expand the program to qualified students with financial need attending four-year campuses at UH ����ԴDz�, UH Hilo and UH West Oʻahu.

“We have been meeting with key legislators, such as the chairpersons of the budget committees and education committees in both the House and the Senate to make sure that these bills move forward and get hearings,” Li said. “We’re going to be at every single budget hearing in both the Senate and the House to make sure that the Promise program and the mental health care line items do receive student testimony and physical presence from the students.”

—By Marc Arakaki

The turnout for a free Hawaiian language class on the campus was so large that organizers needed to change the venue from a Campus Center conference room to the Ballroom.

More than 200 people showed up Wednesday, January 22, for the first of 15 free weekly, non-credit ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý classes hosted by the (ASUH), the undergraduate student government at UH ����ԴDz�.

Paige Okamura and Akea Kahikina are graduate students, fluent ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý speakers and instructors for the classes.

“I really wanted to cry. That overwhelming physical presence of people almost shows more what they value here than what I could write down,” Okamura said.

The course is offered in partnership with �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ���Գܾ����� School of Hawaiian Knowledge. ASUH Sen. Raiyan Rafid introduced the bill, which appropriated funds for the ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý classes.

“I did think that people were going to show interest because there is a need,” Rafid said. “When I was talking to people, everyone was supportive of this vision that I had, and it wasn’t to this capacity. But, I’m glad people showed up.”

Instructors taught basic conversational phrases and had participants practice with one another. The class is free of charge to all UH ����ԴDz� students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. No registration is required.

Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 3–4 p.m. The Campus Center Ballroom is the location until further notice, according to ASUH. For more updates, .

“It changes the expectation for myself,” Okamura said. “I think it requires much more planning on a bigger scale because I was planning for a class of maybe 30 and much more interaction. And so, if we’re looking at 200 people every week then it requires me to plan differently.”

—By Marc Arakaki

March 13, 2020 editor’s note: ASUH announced that its ʻōlelo �鶹��ý classes will now be taught online until further notice. This is due to the recent developments regarding the COVID-19 threat, including the recent decision by UH administration to suspend all in-person classes in the coming weeks.

Beginning March 25, classes will be held live online, at its regularly scheduled time—every Wednesday at 3 p.m. All UH students, faculty, staff and community members will have online access to the course via the , which will post livestreams of the course every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Video recordings of all class sessions, including previous class sessions, can also be accessed via the under the “Be Involved” tab.

The remaining ʻōlelo �鶹��ý course dates are: March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29 and May 6.

ASUH will provide further updates to the UH community should it be necessary. Those interested should monitor ASUH social media for announcements: and .

Members of the public should contact Raiyan Rafid, ASUH vice president at raiyan@hawaii.edu with questions.

Original story continues below.

The (ASUH), the undergraduate student government at UH Mānoa, is hosting a free weekly, non-credit Hawaiian language class on the Mānoa campus in the spring 2020 semester. The course, offered in partnership with the , will be taught by fluent ʻōlelo �鶹��ý speakers.

The classes, which begin on January 22, will be offered free of charge to all UH Mānoa students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

“We are very excited to begin offering this Hawaiian language course for members of the UH Mānoa community,” said ASUH Senator Raiyan Rafid, who introduced the bill which appropriated funds for the ʻōlelo �鶹��ý course. “As an indiginous-serving institution, we feel that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn ʻōlelo �鶹��ý and we hope that this initiative will help to further the university’s goal of becoming a true ‘Hawaiian place of learning.’”

• Amazing first class!: Turnout overwhelms organizers of free ʻōlelo �鶹��ý class, January 23, 2020

ʻōlelo �鶹��ý course details

The first class session will be held on January 22, and will continue every Wednesday at 3 p.m., for the spring 2020 semester. No registration required.

The sessions are designed to benefit both those who intend to attend all sessions and those who wish to attend only one session, allowing anyone to attend as many or as few sessions as they choose.

Dates and locations

January 23 UPDATE: .

• January 22, Campus Center Room 310
• January 29, Campus Center Room 310
• February 5, Campus Center Room 310
• February 12, Campus Center Room 203E
• February 19, Campus Center Room 310
• February 26, Campus Center Executive Dining Room
• March 4, Campus Center Room 310
• March 11, Campus Center Room 310
• March 25, Campus Center Room 310
• April 1, Campus Center Room 310
• April 8, Campus Center Room 310
• April 15, Campus Center Room 310
• April 22, Campus Center Room 310
• April 29, Campus Center Room 310
• May 6, Campus Center Room 310

A student was selected to share his journey with 2,300 attendees at the Achieving the Dream national conference, February 19–22 in Long Beach, California.

Marc Douglas Kahala-Earley was one of eight community college students chosen for the 2019 DREAM Scholars program. Participants attended conference sessions, participated in a plenary panel presentation and toured the city. The program culminated with a presentation by the DREAM Scholars.

Kahala-Earley, the current president of the Associated Students of the University of �鶹��ý at Leeward CC, wants to help others who are unable to help themselves. As an openly gay man, the 2016 elections sparked a light inside of him to be a voice for the voiceless.

“If I can inspire others to stand up for themselves and if I can do that by standing up for them, then I’m going to do it,” said Kahala-Earley. “It was shortly after the election, I decided that I would go into politics one day and fight for those who can’t fight.”

Kahala-Earley was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Leeward CC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to help cover his educational expenses. Achieving the Dream covered his hotel costs and Leeward CC covered his travel expenses.

—By Kathleen Cabral

College students constitute a vulnerable population that endures the effects of �鶹��ý’s high cost of living. The is aiming to reduce food insecurity, a situation where consistent and reliable access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources, through a new food pantry on campus.

Food Vault �鶹��ý, a new food pantry at UH Mānoa, is a free service available for students without reliable access to affordable food. All registered UH Mānoa students with a valid student ID can access the food vault.

The (ASUH), , and collaborated to create the three-year pilot program to address food insecurity at UH Mānoa.

A survey by , assistant specialist in the , raised the issue about student food insecurity on the UH Mānoa campus with ASUH. The survey indicated “that about 50 percent of UH Mānoa undergraduate students who completed the survey have experienced food insecurity and about 37 percent of UH Mānoa undergraduate students who completed the survey are experiencing moderate to severe hunger.”

ASUH representatives Maggie Hinshaw, Jessica Chen, Clinton Ng, Jungha Kim and Nicole Hortizuela began working on Food Vault �鶹��ý with faculty advisor Bonnyjean Manini to address food insecurity on their campus.

“I envisioned the food pantry to be a readily available resource open to all UH Mānoa students through the efforts of the campus community,” said Hinshaw. “I hope that Food Vault �鶹��ý will be able to help students in need while illustrating the importance of community-based giving.”

Accessing the food vault

The pantry is stocked with non-perishable items and equipped with a student ID scanner. Students need to swipe to enter, but the food vault will not collect their personal information. Food Vault �鶹��ý will receive regular reports from the ID office that include student status (undergraduate or graduate) and number of visits to help with the development of the service over the next three years.

“We are committed to protecting anonymity and will not receive student names or full ID numbers from the ID office,” said Kim. “To those who are experiencing food insecurity, please come to use our service.”

The Food Vault �鶹��ý pantry is open three days a week in Hemenway 111.

• Monday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Thursday: Noon–4 p.m.
• Friday: 2 p.m.–6 p.m.

Donations welcomed

The food vault accepts donations such as canned goods, boxed cereals and dry pasta at the Office of Student Life and Development in Campus Center 208, Monday to Friday, during regular business hours.

In addition, .

—By Sarah Hendrix

Two days before the opening of the 2014 �鶹��ý State Legislature, the president of the , ASUH senators, students and State Representative Takashi Ohno gathered in the State Capitol Rotunda in a show of support for executive budget.

ASUH President Richard Mizusawa praised the governor for supporting public education in �鶹��ý. “Not only am I elated to see his support of the Board of Regents’ request to restore UH faculty salaries, I am also excited to have the backlog of deferred maintenance be addressed in the upcoming legislative session. As many students have noted, the atmosphere of the campus is an important issue, not only for aesthetics but also for educational support, our health and safety,” Mizusawa said.

Mizusawa and more than a dozen student supporters took time off from the first day of the 2014 spring semester to urge state lawmakers to support UH students.

“As president of the ASUH senate, my fellow elected student leaders and I have a commitment to ensure that the student voice is heard not only by our university administration but also by our state legislators who have a tremendous impact on student life at the University of �鶹��ý,” Mizusawa said.