“It was surreal. It was amazing. It felt like all the hard work had finally paid off.”

For Chloe Garcia, who earned a master’s degree in developmental and reproductive biology, those words captured the emotion felt by nearly 1,000 graduates celebrated at the ’s 2025 Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony on December 20, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Graduates crossed the stage to mark the completion of undergraduate and advanced degrees and the beginning of new chapters—entering the workforce, continuing their education and giving back to their communities. Family members and friends filled the arena, cheering on graduates as they reached a milestone years in the making.

“There is no day that I enjoy more than graduation day,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “You can feel the joy in the room, people are excited, they’ve reached their goals and their accomplishments, and we get the privilege of celebrating with them. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful day.”

The ceremony’s student speaker was Cooper Salomon, a candidate for a bachelor of science in natural resources and environmental management. The keynote speaker was Amy Hill, a celebrated actress with strong ties to �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� and whose daughter graduated from UH ����ԴDz� in 2022.

She reminded the graduates that the most important word in life is a simple “yes,” saying “yes” to opportunity, to growth and to new beginnings. After the ceremony, students were lining up to thank and take pictures with her.

UH ����ԴDz� is the flagship campus of the stateʻs 10-campus public higher education system and is consistently ranked in the top 2% nationally and internationally. Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos was beaming with pride after his first commencement in the role.

“Oh, it was wonderful,” said Syrmos, who has been at UH ����ԴDz� for more than three decades. “The vibe, the excitement the students feel, it was unbelievable. Our graduates are the future of the state. They’re going to have good jobs, and we do a really good job educating the future youth of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��.”

Among the graduates was Kansei Matsuzawa, the record-breaking Rainbow Warrior football kicker, who became the program’s first consensus All-American after being named to three of the NCAA’s five official All-America teams, earning a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary science.

“It’s been amazing,” Matsuzawa said. “�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� and UH gave me everything, opportunity and joy. I really enjoyed my time in �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��. I want to appreciate my family for supporting me throughout my journey. I’m so proud of myself and my family.”

For Garcia, commencement was both a celebration and a moment of gratitude.

“It felt like a blessing to earn this master’s degree and feel all the support from my friends, family, mentors and everyone I met along the way,” she said. “It’s truly a blessing. Now I’m looking ahead—applying for jobs and starting my career.”

Three University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� ��������ܲ����—UH West ��ʻ�����, UH Hilo and UH ����ԴDz� celebrated their graduates at the mid-year commencement ceremonies.

Meet some of our amazing graduates.

See photos from:

• UH West ��ʻ�����
• UH Hilo
• UH ����ԴDz�

UH West ��ʻ�����

The University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��–W����� ��ʻ����� honored its graduates at the 2025 Mid-Year Ceremony on Dec. 13, 2025 in Kapolei.

UH Hilo

The University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� at Hilo celebrated fall commencement on December 20, 2025, at the Vulcan Gymnasium.

UH ����ԴDz�

University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� at ����ԴDz� graduates celebrated at the fall commencement ceremony on December 20, 2025 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� campuses across the state are celebrating its graduates this spring.

�²���ʻ���Բ��� Moku Education Center begins the commencement season on May 9 and the ceremonies conclude on May 17.

Keep checking back on the story as more images are added from the other UH campuses.

Meet some of our amazing graduates.

View photos from

• �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Community College
• �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Community College ������������Գܾ�
• Honolulu Community College
• �����辱ʻ�DZ����Ծ� Community College
• �����ܲ�ʻ�� Community College
• Leeward Community College
• Windward Community College
• UH ����ԴDz�
• UH Maui College
• UH Hilo
• UH West ��ʻ�����

All the photos can be viewed on the .

�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Community College

More than 200 graduates walked the line to receive their diplomas on Friday, May 16 at Edith �����Բ��첹ʻ�DZ��� Stadium in Hilo. Nearly 750 degrees and certificates were earned at �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� CC in spring 2025!

For more photos go to the .

 

�Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� CC ������������Գܾ�

ʻ���󲹲Բ� and friends came to celebrate campus’ inaugural gradation ceremony at the new ������������Գܾ� Lanai on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Nearly 750 degrees and certificates were earned at �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� CC in spring 2025!

For more photos go to the .

 

Honolulu Community College

Spring 2025 Commencement at the Waikīkī Shell on Friday, May 16, 2025.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

�����辱ʻ�DZ����Ծ� Community College

celebrated spring commencement at the Diamond Head Theatre on May 16, 2025.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

�����ܲ�ʻ�� Community College

celebrated with a spring commencement ceremony on May 15, 2025.

For more photos go to the .

 

Leeward CC

celebrated more than 300 Class of 2025 students with ceremonies at its �ʳ�ʻ�ܱ��Dz� and �²���ʻ���Բ��� Moku locations.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

Windward Community College

students celebrate their success and accomplishments at the 2025 commencement ceremony held at Windward CC on May 16, 2025.

For more photos go to the campus Facebook and albums, and the .

 

UH Hilo

celebrated Spring Commencement on May 17 at the Edith �����Բ��첹ʻ�DZ��� Multi-Purpose Stadium.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH ����ԴDz�

held two in-person ceremonies for spring 2025 candidates at the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday, May 17.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH Maui College

proudly celebrated its spring 2025 commencement on the Great Lawn at the Kahului campus on May 15, honoring the achievements of our graduates and their journey ahead.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH West ��ʻ�����

held it Annual Commencement Ceremony at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center at UH ����ԴDz� on May 10, 2025.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

University of �鶹��ý West Oʻahu, Kapiʻolani Community College, UH Hilo and UH Mānoa celebrated their graduates this fall at the mid-year commencement ceremonies.

See photos from:

• UH West Oʻahu
• Kapiʻolani CC
• UH Hilo
• UH Mānoa

Congratulations to University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu graduates! The campus hosted its commencement on December 14.

Meet commencement speakers—Jared Kāʻeo McCann and Travis Antonacci.

Kapiʻolani Community College held its fall commencement ceremony on December 20, 2024 at the Diamond Head Theatre.

UH Hilo celebrated its 2024 Fall Commencement on Saturday, December 21, 9 a.m., at the Vulcan Gymnasium.

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduates celebrated at the fall commencement ceremony on December 21, 2024 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Meet commencement speaker Ritu Krishna Raju and 91-year-old Thomas Mui who earned his master’s degree.

University of �鶹��ý campuses across the state are celebrating its graduates this spring. UH West Oʻahu begins the commencement season on May 4 and the ceremonies conclude on May 11.

The celebrations include the first commencement for UH Maui College since the devastating fires last year. And Molokaʻi hosts their live commencement ceremony, which is held only once every four years.

View photos from past commencement celebrations

View photos from

• �鶹��ý Community College
• Honolulu Community College
• Kapiʻolani Community College
• Kauaʻi Community College
• Leeward Community College
• Windward Community College
• UH Hilo
• UH Mānoa
• UH Maui College
• �鶹��ýMolokaʻi Education Center
• UH West Oʻahu

Keep checking back on the story as more images are added from the other UH campuses.

All the photos can be viewed on the .

�鶹��ý CC

�鶹��ý Community College celebrated its spring 2024 graduates at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium on May 10 and �鶹��ý CC ������������Գܾ� held a ceremony at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort on May 11, 2024.

For more photos go to the .

 

Honolulu CC

Honolulu Community College held their spring 2023 commencement on Friday, May 12 at the Waikiki Shell. (Photo courtesy of Honolulu CC)

For more photos go to the or the .

 

Kapiʻolani CC

Kapiʻolani Community College celebrated its summer and spring 2024 graduates at the Diamond Head Theatre on May 10, 2024.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

Kauaʻi CC

Kauaʻi Community College celebrated with a spring commencement ceremony on May 10, 2024.

For more photos go to the .

 

Leeward CC

Leeward CC 2023-2024 graduates were celebrated at ceremonies on the Puʻuloa and Waiʻanae Moku campuses, with Early College graduates from high schools (�鶹��ý Tech Academy, Leilehua, Mililani, Pearl City (for the first time), Waiʻanae and Waipahu) and one homeschooled student.

For more photos go to the album, album, album or the .

 

Windward CC

Windward Community College celebrated its spring 2024 graduates at the Hale Hale ʻĀkoakoa pavilion on May 10, 2024.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH Hilo

The University of �鶹��ý at Hilo celebrated its spring 2024 graduates on May 11, 2024, at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium.

For more photos go to , the or the .

 

UH ����ԴDz�

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� held two in-person ceremonies for spring 2024 candidates at the Stan Sheriff Center on May 11, 2024.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH Maui College

held its first commencement since the 2023 wildfires. About 220 students participated in the ceremony on the Great Lawn on May 9, 2024.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH Molokaʻi Education Center

For the first time since 2016, UH hosted a graduation ceremony to honor the graduates from the Friendly Isle. This cherished tradition, usually observed every four years, had been delayed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The graduates are UH Maui College students who attend classes at the UH Molokaʻi Education Center and/or online.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH West Oʻahu

held it Annual Commencement Ceremony at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center at UH Mānoa on May 4, 2024.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

Congratulations to all the University of �鶹��ý graduates who got their degrees at fall 2023 commencement ceremonies at UH West Oʻahu, UH Hilo, UH ����ԴDz� and Kapiʻolani Community College.

Keep checking back on the story as more images are added.

All the photos can be viewed on the .

View photos from past commencement celebrations

View photos from

• UH West Oʻahu
• UH Hilo
• UH Mānoa
• Kapiʻolani CC

UH West Oʻahu

Mid-Year Commencement celebrated graduates on December 9, 2023 in the campus courtyard.

For more photos go to the or .

 

UH Hilo

The Fall Commencement Ceremony was held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the Vulcan Gymnasium.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH ����ԴDz�

graduates celebrated at the fall commencement ceremony on December 16, 2023 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

For more photos go to the .

 

Kapiʻolani CC

Kapiʻolani Community College held its first fall commencement ceremony on December 19, 2023 at the Diamond Head Theatre.

For more photos go to the or .

 

University of �鶹��ý campuses across the state celebrated its graduates this spring. UH West Oʻahu begins the commencement season on May 6 and the ceremonies conclude on May 13.

View photos from

• �鶹��ý Community College
• Honolulu Community College
• Kapiʻolani Community College
• Kauaʻi Community College
• Leeward Community College
• Windward Community College
• UH Mānoa
• UH Hilo
• UH Maui College
• UH West Oʻahu

View photos from past commencement celebrations

Keep checking back on the story as more images are added from the other UH campuses.

All the photos can be viewed on the .

�鶹��ý CC

held commencement ceremonies at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo on May 12 and at the Hilton Waikoloa on May 13. Congratulations, graduates!

For more photos go to the Flickr album, Flickr album and the

 

Honolulu CC

held their spring 2023 commencement on Friday, May 12 at the Waikiki Shell.

For more Honolulu CC photos go to .

 

Kapiʻolani CC

Kapiʻolani Community College celebrated its summer 2022, fall 2022, and spring 2023 graduates at the Diamond Head Theatre on May 12, 2023.

For more photos go to the or the

 

Kauaʻi CC

celebrated with a spring commencement ceremony on May 12, 2023.

For more photos go to the .

 

Leeward CC

graduates were honored at the Waiʻanae Moku Education Center on May 5, 2023 and the Puʻuloa Campus on May 12, 2023.

For more Leeward CC photos go to the Flickr album, Flickr album, Flickr album and the .

 

Windward CC

celebrated its spring 2023 graduates at the Palikū Theatre on May 12, 2023.

For more photos go to the , and the .

 

UH Hilo

The Spring Commencement Ceremony celebrating the Class of 2023 was held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.

For more photos go to the full , or the .

 

UH ����ԴDz�

held two in-person ceremonies for spring 2023 candidates at the Stan Sheriff Center, May 13, 2023.

For more UH ����ԴDz� photos go to .

 

UH Maui College

honored its spring 2023 graduates on May 11, 2023 at the Great Lawn.

For more �鶹��ýMaui College photos go to or view the whole .

 

UH West Oʻahu

celebrated its spring 2023 graduates (and 2020, 2021 and 2022 grads as well) at the Stan Sheriff Center on May 6, 2023.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

Are you looking for a location for your graduation photos? UH News enlisted the help of student employee and What’s Up This Week host, Alisha Churma, to find some of the best places on the UH ����ԴDz� campus for pictures.

#ManoaGrad on social media

UH spring 2023 commencement schedule

Don’t forget to use our hashtag #ManoaGrad so that we can share your photos with our #UHohana!

to view a video of the photo locations.

�鶹��ý Hall

Looking for a grad photo that will never go out of style? Head to �鶹��ý Hall at the campus’ historic quad to capture a timeless, classic UH ����ԴDz� portrait. Stand under the �鶹��ý Hall sign or pose between one of the tall pillars on the building’s lanai.

UH ����ԴDz� campus sign

As one of the most iconic photo ops on campus, the UH ����ԴDz� campus sign is a popular spot for newly admitted freshmen and graduating seniors alike. The sign is located between Holmes Hall and the East-West Center, right off of Dole Street.

McCarthy Mall and Legacy Path

McCarthy Mall and Legacy Path are both familiar campus pathways that make for a quintessential ����ԴDz� graduation portrait. With rows of trees and ample natural light, both McCarthy Mall and Legacy Path provide beautiful, green backdrops that are perfect for grad photos.

�鶹��ý Imin International Conference Center at Jefferson Hall

The �鶹��ý Imin International Conference Center at Jefferson Hall is located across the street from Kennedy Theatre. The white walls and high arches at the front or back of the center make for a stunning portrait backdrop that perfectly frames the graduate.

Seien Japanese Garden

Tucked away behind the �鶹��ý Imin International Conference Center at Jefferson Hall is the beautiful Seien Japanese Garden. The garden is home to vibrant greenery, a koi pond and a small waterfall, which create a serene setting for your portraits.

Krauss Hall courtyard water garden

A lesser known spot on campus, the Krauss Hall courtyard water garden located along Legacy Path is another great nature backdrop. The courtyard features a duck pond surrounded by colorful plants and trees.

Balloon mural at zone 20 parking structure

Looking for a fun and whimsical shot? Head to the balloon mural located on the roof of the Zone 20 parking structure. Pretend to hold the balloons as you “take off” on the next chapter of your life!

Congratulations to all the University of �鶹��ý graduates who got their degrees at fall 2022 commencement ceremonies at UH West Oʻahu, UH Hilo, UH ����ԴDz� and Kapiʻolani Community College.

Keep checking back on the story as more images are added.

View photos from past commencement celebrations

All the photos can be viewed on the .

View photos from

• UH Hilo
• UH Mānoa
• UH West Oʻahu
• Kapiʻolani CC

UH West Oʻahu

UH West Oʻahu celebrated its fall 2022 graduates on December 10, 2022 in the Courtyard.

For more photos go to the or .

 

UH Hilo

�鶹��ýHilo held two commencement celebrations this fall. The Special Alumni Commencement Ceremony on Friday, December 16, 4 p.m. at Vulcan Gym for the campus’ spring, summer and fall Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduates. Followed by the commencement ceremony for fall 2022 graduates will be on Saturday, December 17, 9 a.m. at Vulcan Gym.

For more photos go to the or .

 

UH ����ԴDz�

UH ����ԴDz� held a combined undergraduate and advanced degree commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 17 at 9 a.m. in the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.

For more photos go to the .

 

Kapiʻolani CC

On December 15 new emergency medical technicians (EMT) graduated from Kapiʻolani CC with their Certificate of Competence in EMT.

For more photos go to the .

 

University of �鶹��ý campuses across the state celebrated its graduates in a variety of ways this spring. UH West Oʻahu launched the commencement season on May 7 and the ceremonies conclude with different types of celebrations on May 14.

View photos from past commencement celebrations

Keep checking back on the story as more images are added from the other UH campuses.

All the photos can be viewed on the .

View photos from

• �鶹��ý Community College
• Honolulu Community College
• Kapiʻolani Community College
• Kauaʻi Community College
• Leeward Community College
• Windward Community College
• UH Hilo
• UH Mānoa
• UH Maui College
• UH West Oʻahu

�鶹��ý CC

honored its graduates at two ceremonies—an in-person ceremony at the Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Stadium on May 13 and a drive-through ceremony at �鶹��ý CC–Pālamanui on May 14.

For more photos go to the campus commencement Flickr album for , and , or .

 

Honolulu CC

celebrated commencement with an in-person ceremony on May 13, 2022 at the Waikīkī Shell.

For more photos go to the .

 

Kapiʻolani CC

celebrated its graduates on May 13, 2022 with a walk-through ceremony held on campus.

For more photos go to the or the .

 

Kauaʻi CC

celebrated spring commencement ceremonies on campus, May 13, 2022.

For more photos go to the .

 

Leeward CC

held a drive-through ceremony on May 13. 2022 at the Puʻuloa campus for fall 2021 graduates and spring, summer and fall 2022 candidates.

For more photos go to the campus commencement or .

 

Windward CC

celebrates its graduates at an in-person ceremony at the Palikū Theatre on May 13, 2022

For more photos go to the .

 

UH Hilo

celebrated commencement with an in-person ceremony on May 14, 2022 at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multipurpose Stadium.

For more photos go to or the .

 

UH ����ԴDz�

held three in-person ceremonies for spring 2022 candidates, as well as 2021 and 2020 graduates, at the Stan Sheriff Center, May 13–14, 2022.

For more photos go to the .

 

UH Maui College

celebrated its graduates on May 14, 2022 with an in-person ceremony held on the campus.

For more photos go to the campus or .

 

UH West Oʻahu

celebrated its graduates with two spring 2022 ceremonies on May 7, 2022.

For more photos go to the campus commencement Flickr album for the , or .