For Janie-Maria Kikila, graduating from Leeward Community College this May is more than earning a degree—it’s a deeply personal milestone shaped by resilience, growth and determination. As a nontraditional student, mother and the first in her family to graduate from college, Kikila sees this moment as proof of perseverance.

“This shows me that if you keep going, you can finish what you started,” she said.

Raised in Whitmore Village, Kikila attended Leilehua High School before transferring to Waiʻanae High School. Her journey hasn’t been easy, but she’s remained focused on a bigger goal.

“I’ve gone through a lot—from not always feeling safe as a child to postpartum depression as an adult—but I made a decision not to let those things define me,” she said. “I want to break generational cycles, and I want to be someone my keiki can look up to.”

Finding support at Leeward CC

Kikila first enrolled at Leeward CC in 2013 but stepped away to build a career in management. That was disrupted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

“It was hard going from being financially independent to needing help,” she said. “I knew if I was going to start over, I needed a clear direction.”

She returned to Leeward CC in 2023 to pursue a degree in business management. Back on campus, Kikila found support that helped her stay on track—not just academically, but personally. Through Leeward’s counseling services, she began working with mental health therapist Lori Lum.

“I’ve been seeing Lori for a little over a year, and she’s been amazing,” Kikila said.

Turning challenges into motivation

She also credits flexible student employment and mentors, such as business division faculty Tina Lee and Dag Faustino.

“Janie leads with intention and heart,” Lee said. “She’s someone who turns challenges into motivation.”

Kikila founded , Leeward’s first marketing club, open to students of all majors across the UH System. It brings students together to connect, collaborate and gain real-world experience.

“She saw a need and built something that brings students together in a meaningful way,” Faustino added. “That kind of initiative is what sets her apart.”

Kikila plans to transfer to UH West Oʻahu to continue her studies in business and marketing, with the goal of one day serving in a leadership role within the State of �鶹��ý.

By Tad Saiki

The University of �鶹��ý Board of Regents approved awarding an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Walter A. Dods Jr., recognizing his decades of leadership in �鶹��ý’s business community, his extensive philanthropic impact and his longstanding commitment to the university.

The regents voted at the board’s March 19 monthly meeting, held at Leeward Community College. The honorary degree will be formally conferred during the UH ����ԴDz�’s spring 2026 commencement ceremony, where Dods will also serve as commencement speaker.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to the University of �鶹��ý and the regents for this recognition,” said Dods after the vote. “UH has played an important role in my life, and it has been a privilege to support the university and its students over the years. I share this honor with the many people who have inspired me and worked alongside me to strengthen our community.”

Alumnus, business leader, philanthropist

A 1967 graduate of UH ����ԴDz�’s Shidler College of Business, Dods is widely regarded as one of �鶹��ý’s most influential business leaders. Over a 36-year career at First Hawaiian Bank, he rose from an entry-level role to chairman and CEO.

“Walter Dods represents the very best of what the University of �鶹��ý hopes to inspire in its graduates: leadership, service and an unwavering commitment to community,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “His impact on �鶹��ý’s economic development is profound, but equally important is his lifelong dedication to giving back and creating opportunities for others. He has opened doors for generations of students and strengthened this university in lasting ways.”

Deep UH support

His ties to UH span nearly five decades. Dods has been a donor since 1975 and previously served as president of the UH Foundation Board of Trustees. He chaired the university’s 1998 Campaign for �鶹��ý, which raised $116 million, and currently serves as campaign chair for the ongoing $1-billion “For UH, For �鶹��ý” fundraising effort.

His personal philanthropy includes a $5-million gift to support student innovation and entrepreneurship at UH ����ԴDz�, resulting in the naming of the Walter Dods Jr. RISE Center, as well as a $1-million endowed scholarship supporting immigrant students and their children.

Dods has previously been recognized with the UH Distinguished Alumni Award and the Shidler College of Business Hall of Honor Award.

The honorary doctorate recognizes individuals of national or international distinction whose contributions have had a significant impact in areas such as business, public service or scholarship. Regents cited Dods’ extraordinary career and enduring commitment to the university and the state as meeting and exceeding those standards.

Editor’s note: Cabuyadao was commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer on December 19 and earned her bachelor’s degree from UH ����ԴDz� on December 20..

For Navy officer candidate Gellie Cabuyadao, the path to her December 2025 graduation from the reflects a deep commitment to service under extraordinary circumstances.

Cabuyadao will earn a bachelor of business administration in while completing training through UH ����ԴDz�’s (NROTC). Injured during the New Year’s fireworks disaster in Salt Lake just after midnight on January 1, 2025, she returned to the scene to ensure her girlfriend and brother were safe and helped provide immediate care.

Selected in 2022 for the Navy’s highly competitive Seaman to Admiral–21 (STA–21) commissioning program, Cabuyadao is the program’s first active–duty Sailor to graduate from UH ����ԴDz� through NROTC.

A defining moment of courage

Just after midnight on January 1, Cabuyadao was inside a garage when sparks struck her leg and a sudden flash of fire surged toward her. The blast knocked her forward. “I felt intense heat on my arms, face and hair, and then everything went quiet except for a ringing sound,” she recalled.

She ran to safety, extinguishing flames on her clothing as fireworks continued exploding. Moments later, thinking of her girlfriend and brother, she turned back. “I just needed to find them to make sure they were safe,” she said.

Despite her injuries and the chaos of the scene, Cabuyadao located her loved ones, escorted them away from danger and helped provide immediate care until additional assistance arrived. She was later awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for heroic achievement, recognizing her courage, rapid response and decisive action despite being injured.

“The recognition has not changed how I see myself or how I act,” she said. “I do not consider myself a hero. My instinct was to protect the people I love.”

Six people died in the accident, and more than 20 others were injured.

Family, roots and early Navy service

Raised in Salt Lake by parents who immigrated from the Philippines, Cabuyadao credits her family’s sacrifices for shaping her sense of duty. With parents working long shifts to support the family, she learned independence early, often caring for her siblings and walking home through nearby military housing.

A 2016 graduate of Moanalua High School, Cabuyadao enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduation. She began her career as an information systems technician at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific in Wahiawā, supporting satellite and telecommunications systems critical to Navy operations across the Pacific.

“That early experience showed me how essential my role is to mission success,” she said. “Leadership exists at every level. Commissioning felt like the right step because I wanted the responsibility of making final calls and leading others.”

Through the STA–21 program, Cabuyadao remained on active duty while completing her degree and training with UH ����ԴDz�’s NROTC unit, blending academics with leadership development.

Balancing service, studies and resilience

Balancing early–morning physical training and military obligations with a full academic load tested her limits. She met the challenge with discipline, careful planning and support from her chain of command, NROTC staff, professors and peers to stay on track.

“Managing both responsibilities strengthened my confidence and showed me I can perform under pressure,” she said.

Fear is allowed to be there, but it does not limit me…I know I can move forward and get through what’s in front of me.
—Gellie Cabuyadao

Surviving the fireworks incident also reshaped her perspective. With support from family, friends, healthcare professionals and the community, Cabuyadao gave herself time to process the trauma.

“Fear is allowed to be there, but it does not limit me,” she said. “I know I can move forward and get through what’s in front of me.”

Graduating from UH ����ԴDz� carries additional significance. Cabuyadao is the first Filipina American, first woman and first commissioned officer in her family to hold this milestone.

“I hope my journey shows that people from communities like mine belong in these spaces, and their stories and perseverance matter,” she said.

Looking ahead, Cabuyadao plans to take on every opportunity the Navy offers—traveling widely, holding herself to high standards and leading by example.

“As a leader, I want to challenge Sailors to be comfortable getting uncomfortable,” she said. “Long–term mission success depends on mental resilience as much as physical readiness.”

The University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu held its 2025 mid-year commencement on December 13, celebrating nearly 300 students who completed their degrees during the summer and fall semesters. Nearly 190 graduates participated in the ceremony.

UH West Oʻahu conferred baccalaureate degrees in applied sciences, business administration, creative media, cybersecurity, humanities, natural science, public administration and social sciences, along with a range of academic certificates.

Student speakers: making our own magic, finding our honest voice

Graduates heard remarks from student speakers Nicole Quibol, who earned her BA in humanities, and Tinousi Mulitauaopele, who earned her BA in business administration.

Quibol reflected on her decision to study philosophy, inspired in part by her love of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, while sharing her lived experience with blindness and the importance of accessibility.

“But before I found that magic, I had to face a different kind of reality, one that wasn’t written in the pages of fantasy books,” she said. “I might not look like it, but I am blind. And while blindness shapes how I move through the world, it has also shown me that accessibility is how we make the invisible visible, how we bring everyone into the circle.”

“Every one of us has our own ‘muggle struggle.’ One of mine just happens to be vision loss. But the lesson underneath it is the same: we all face barriers that try to convince us we don’t belong somewhere magical,” Quibol added. “The truth is, belonging is something we build together; through accessibility, through understanding, through community.”

Mulitauaopele spoke about finding confidence and belonging through her educational journey at UH West Oʻahu.

“UH West Oʻahu did not just teach me business, or data or leadership—it taught me that my voice belongs in rooms I used to be afraid to enter,” she said.

“I believe that starts the moment you finally get honest with yourself and decide to own your story. Because your story does not become powerful when it looks impressive to others. It becomes powerful when you believe it matters. And UH West Oʻahu met me exactly where I was—online, juggling life, work and school. It didn’t just give me an education. It gave me a real chance to finish what I started.”

Heartfelt moment for Chancellor Benham

The ceremony also marked a significant milestone for Chancellor Maenette Benham, who presided over her final commencement before stepping down at the end of the year, marking nearly a decade of leadership.

In her remarks, Benham shared the ʻŌ������� Noʻeau, “ʻO ka piʻi nō ia a Kōkī O Wailau,” a saying used in admiration for someone who reaches the summit despite great difficulty.

“Indeed, ʻO ka piʻi nō ia a Kōkī O Wailau—we stand in admiration of you,” she said. “You have adapted and grown during these unprecedented times of change and adversity. You have had to be resourceful, resilient, and relentless—which has undoubtedly enriched you, adding to your tenacity, passion and humanity!”

From China to �鶹��ý, Hongwen (Winnie) Wu has turned a career as a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) into groundbreaking reproductive biology research. This fall, she earned her PhD in the Developmental and Reproductive Biology graduate program at the at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, becoming the first Kosasa Graduate Student Assistantship recipient.

The prestigious assistantship, funded by Thomas Kosasa of Pacific IVF and a professor emeritus at JABSOM, was created to strengthen connections between the (YIBR), the OB-GYN Department, and Pacific IVF.

“Through a dynamic approach, I aspire to significantly contribute to improving individual patient health and advancing the broader landscape of women’s health research,” said Wu, who joined JABSOM’s Developmental and Reproductive Biology program from China in fall 2019.

Advancing fertility research and education

As a PhD student, Wu carried out her research in Steve Ward’s lab at YIBR, focusing on female fertility. She studied the protein EXOC5 in ovarian aging and discovered it is essential for normal egg development, with its absence leading to ovarian failure.

During her time at JABSOM, Wu co-authored five manuscripts and presented her work at seven local and four national conferences, including the Society for the Study of Reproduction and the Society for Reproductive Investigations. She received the 2024 ARCS Award in Medicine, served as a teaching assistant, volunteered at research events, and was a visiting scholar at Northwestern University.

Her long-term goal is to remain in �鶹��ý as a research physician/scientist, blending cutting-edge research with clinical expertise to advance women’s healthcare.

“Winnie’s performance as the first Kosasa Assistantship-supported DRB student has been exemplary,” said Monika Ward, interim director of YIBR. “She contributed research of relevance to all four parties: DRB, YIBR, OB-GYN and Pacific IVF.”

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Georges Frem, a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� graduate from Lebanon, traded a career in engineering for a future dedicated to science and service, inspired by the deep cultural values he encountered in �鶹��ý.

Frem will cross the stage in December 2025 to accept his bachelor of science in biology from the UH ����ԴDz� , marking the completion of an academic journey that started and ended on opposite sides of the globe. After finishing his first degree in mechanical engineering at the American University of Beirut, Frem made a life-changing decision to pursue his true passion for nature and animals at UH ����ԴDz�.

From classroom to independent research

Frem pointed to his experience with the UH ����ԴDz� (UROP) as the single most valuable part of his academic career. After taking a BIOL 305 course with Associate Professor Amber Wright in fall 2024, he reached out to her about a project.

“We brainstormed ideas and decided to apply for a UROP grant to conduct field collections to gain insights about trophic interactions among lizards on Oʻahu through stable isotope analysis,” Frem said. “I secured the money and managed to conduct my own personal research project from start to finish.”

Frem has remained a part of the Wright lab and is currently writing a manuscript based on his UROP work for potential publication. “This immersion in the scientific process has served as extremely valuable data for the deliberation of my future career choice,” Frem said. “Having had the privilege to execute science in this manner has definitely incited me to consider a career as a scientist a lot more seriously.”

Inspired by kuleana

Frem came to �鶹��ý partly looking for cultural exposure, but he wasn’t prepared for the commitment he found within the UH community. He was surprised by the university’s role as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, integrating place-based science into academics and the collective consciousness.

“The fierce passion expressed by members of the UH community when talking about Hawaiian culture and place-based science was surprising to me,” Frem said. “I was saddened by the realization that we Lebanese, seldom exhibit that same awareness, pride, and responsibility when it comes to our own culture and nation, especially as it relates to our unique ecosystems.”

This realization inspired him to act. He joined community work days and got a firsthand taste of the community’s sense of kuleana (responsibility). These efforts included:

• Helping out at UH’s Ka Papa Loʻi Kanewai and planting kalo (taro) at the Waimanālo Research Station.
• Volunteering at Loko Ea fishpond to remove invasive grasses.
• Assisting the ����ԴDz� Cliff Restoration Project to remove invasive ginger.

“I have been humbled by the deep sense of care fostered by UH and the Hawaiian community in general, and am deeply inspired to promote those same values in my own ʻ�徱�Բ�,” he said.

Returning home

As his undergraduate journey ends, Frem is focused on how he can be useful to his home country, Lebanon.

“I know I want to contribute to Lebanon and bring forth the best in it,” he stated. His future will involve science, although he is still weighing options—possibly as a researcher studying Lebanon’s native ecosystems, or starting science-based businesses to fund community initiatives.

One thing is certain: he is ready for the next step. “I am most likely going to be applying to grad school, and my time here has undoubtedly prepared me very well for that,” Frem said.

Terence “Terry” Chan is in his final semester of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, while his daughter, Cynthia Chan, has just started the same degree.

“As a parent, it’s great and you can be supportive. Having gone through the classes prior, you can put things into perspective,” said Terry. “For example, biostatistics was tough so mentally I want to prepare her for that.”

Both are enrolled in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the , but from different places: Terry is earning his degree 5,000 miles away in Michigan through the Distance Education (DE) program, and Cynthia attends classes on the UH ����ԴDz� campus.

Family commitment to keep community health

Terry, a pediatric dentist of 25 years, joined the inaugural DE cohort in 2022 to expand his understanding of health beyond clinical practice. Cynthia, who earned her BS in psychology at UH ����ԴDz� in 2024, pursued the MPH to pair clinical knowledge with a population–level perspective.

He originally hoped to graduate alongside Cynthia, but the pandemic, his dental practice and securing a practicum site extended his timeline. He ultimately completed his practicum with the Pacific Institute of �鶹��ý on the Big Island, examining oral health outcomes and the dental workforce.

Cynthia, still completing coursework, plans to focus her career on the intersections of clinical care and public health. Her year at the �鶹��ý State Department of Health helped shape that interest, but watching her father advance through the program also strengthened her decision.

“It was motivating to see him do that and that I could do that too,” said Cynthia.

Despite holding multiple advanced degrees, Terry says the MPH broadened his understanding of the systems that keep communities healthy.

“The public health program has been eye opening,” he said. “A big takeaway is the need to work with legislators and being a voice in the community and a champion for causes… It’s pretty intense.”

Having attended three other higher education institutions, Terry also credits UH for providing his most meaningful academic experience. “People can say �鶹��ý has the ʻohana spirit, but here at ����ԴDz� you can really feel it,” he said.

For the Racoma family, the ’s December commencement holds special significance because of who will be sharing the stage–Tanya Hōkūlani Racoma and her firstborn, son Brendan Isaiah ʻOnipaʻa Racoma.

Hōkū, as she is known, is a mother of three—ages 23, 16 and 13. She took a nearly two decades-long break from college to focus on raising her family.

“My biggest reason for coming back to school and completing my bachelor’s degree was to teach my kids when you start something, to always finish it,” said Hōkū, 43, a professional songwriter. “It was always a dream of mine.”

Hōkū and Brendan, of Waipahu, are among nearly 190 students participating in . Hōkū will graduate with honors, earning a bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration in English and a certificate in music. Brendan will receive a bachelor of arts in public administration with a concentration in disaster preparedness and emergency management.

Hōkū and Brendan’s shared success resulted from similar paths (although different timelines)—both transferred to UH West Oʻahu after each attended two UH Community Colleges, and each earned two associate degrees and various certificates.

“We didn’t plan it,” Hōkū said and smiled. “It just happened like that.”

Brendan, like his mother, feels a strong sense of achievement as graduation nears. For him, navigating college life with work, as well as other obligations and responsibilities, came with inevitable challenges.

“Truthfully, in my point of view, it wasn’t easy,” Brendan said. “But it was really all worthwhile. And having mom with me is like an added bonus.”

For more visit .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman