For Lauro Delos-Santos Jr., graduating from Honolulu Community College in 2026 with an associate of arts degree in Hawaiian Studies is more than just an achievement—it’s a life-changing triumph he never imagined.

Before enrolling at Honolulu CC, Delos-Santos and his wife were living at the Keahou Emergency Homeless Shelter. In September of 2020, a team from Honolulu CC’s Hawaiian Center visited the shelter to teach Hawaiian studies. For 12 weeks, Delos-Santos engaged in Hawaiian history, mythology, navigation, biology, politics, hula and even taro growing. By the end of the program, he was invited to consider returning to school—with financial aid support.

‘You can do it’

Despite initial hesitation—Delos-Santos had been recently released from prison, was on probation, and had a history as a convicted felon—Niuhelewai Program Specialist Kapulani Tuifanu and Native Hawaiian Counselor Kahale Saito persisted. They kept telling him, “You can do it.” They guided him through financial aid applications, course selection and introduced him to computers—something Delos-Santos had never used before.

With financial aid and careful planning, Delos-Santos was able to save money, obtain a driver’s license, buy a car, secure an apartment, and obtain a GED. He got his identifications in order, registered to vote, and maintained sobriety—milestones he once thought impossible.

“Ever since I came to Honolulu CC, nothing but good things have happened,” he said. “Angelic forces definitely were involved here. I’m so grateful.”

Six months after Delos-Santos started at Honolulu CC, he was given early release from probation, and his felony convictions were exonerated due to good behavior.

Hawaiian Studies helped Delos-Santos find himself through learning about his Hawaiian culture—gaining confidence, engaging with the community, and exploring self-discovery and wellness. He continued to see his substance abuse counselor, whom he credits as one of the influential factors in his recovery.

Helping others

Delos-Santos’ commitment extends beyond academics. He serves as a peer mentor at the Hawaiian Center, seeking to aid other students. He also led the Honolulu CC Math Society as 2024 president, preparing fellow students for quizzes and exams.

“Now, I want to be the person who helps others, like how I’ve been helped,” he said.

Delos-Santos credits much of his success to the supportive culture at Honolulu CC.

“Anytime you need some help with anything, you can find it here. It’s just like home,” he said. “You can always come here, and you’ll be taken care of.”

Delos-Santos will attend the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� in fall 2026 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies with a focus on child and family services. His goal is to earn a master’s degree and become a licensed social worker, giving back to the community that supported him.

He has advice for current and prospective students, “If you have doubts, remember these four words: ‘You can do it!’ The support you need is here.”

—By Iris Greges

For Healani Klein, the pre-Valentine’s Day flower arranging event at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa Campus Center was a morning of magic and aloha.

“It’s full of beautiful energy, lovely people,” she said while using the Japanese style of ikebana to create two bouquets—one for her and another that was donated to , a nonprofit that shared her arrangement with a family that is struggling.

More than 100 students, staff and families joined Klein at a free event on February 8, sponsored by the (HGN) and (FECH) within the C, in collaboration with a local community organization partner, Student Parents at Mānoa. They chose from roses, chrysanthemums, daisies, pompons and other florals for their bouquets, carefully making an arrangement for Mental Health Kōkua’s clients and one to take home.

“I love seeing when the community comes together doing stuff like this, because not only are they able to enjoy themselves and get some stress relief with this activity, but also be able to help the other people,” said UH Mānoa student and event volunteer Jhanella Gerardo.

“I feel like it’s like a responsibility as a citizen here, especially, to be able to give back to the people, to give back to the land.”

Now in its fourth year, the event is a partnership between HGN, FECH, a community organization that provides parenting and community garden training programs on Oʻahu, and Mental Health Kōkua.

Les Guzman, the Honolulu lead at Mental Health Kōkua, said the flower arrangements were distributed that day to families. “It’ll go right on their living room, dining table or in their room, you know, and it’ll just be an aloha from, you know, the team here that has thought about them.”

Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science Sothy Eng, the founder of HGN added, “This event not only brought families together but also created a meaningful way for them to share their love and support with the community through fresh flower arrangements.”

Norman Tansey, executive director of FECH, emphasized the impact of the event, noting that simple acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and highlight the importance of compassion in our community.

Keiki (children), parents and community members attended the second annual Earth Day event hosted by University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa students and faculty at Hale Tuahine in Mānoa Valley on April 22. Participants engaged in various hands-on activities focused on the theme of reduce, reuse and recycle.

The event was sponsored by the Home Garden Network (HGN) of the UH Mānoa in partnership with the Family Education Training Center of �鶹��ý (FETCH).

“There are so many items that we regularly use in our kitchens that can be reused and recycled to grow our beautiful gardens starting, for instance, with egg cartons to germinate seeds,” said Sothy Eng, an assistant professor of (HDFS) and founder of HGN. “And this event served as not only a celebration but also a reminder to keep our Earth fresh and beautiful.”

The event included growing microgreens, worm composting, a scavenger hunt, germinating seeds using recycled materials such as egg cartons and other plastic bottles and containers, and a bake sale for fundraising.

“Using hands-on activities, we were able to bring to life our theme of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.’ We accomplished our goal to spark joy in the children and impress upon them what a privilege it is to care for our Earth,” said Laura Bartholomew, an HDFS student.

Keiki explored worm composting using the food scraps that their parents brought from home as a contribution to the event. They also learned how to grow microgreens, which they were able to bring home.

“It was an enjoyable Earth Day in Mānoa with the children and families in the community,” said Kylie Maemori-Yoshida, an HDFS student. “They loved the hands-on activities we had, one of which included learning about compost and seeing the worms.”

Keiki are the future leaders of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s community, and it is essential that they understand how to care for the planet by reducing unnecessary waste and utilizing recycled items to grow food. The event also served as an important reminder of the need to take care of our planet for future generations.

“The plants served as a nice way for children and their families to start their own garden at home,” said Rosalynn Rico, an HDFS student. “It was encouraging to see people in the community come together and learn more effective ways to reduce their carbon footprint.”

The event was supported by four student interns from the HDFS program who were placed with HGN and FETCH. Additionally, 11 students from Phi Upsilon Omicron, a student honor society in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, volunteered at the event through various activities.

“Living in �鶹��ý, I believe it’s important to focus on waste reduction, not only for the environment but for the culture and community,” said Diana Morales, an HDFS student. “I’m grateful to be able to spread knowledge and awareness, it makes me feel like I’m able to give back to the ʻāina (land) that takes care of us.”

Every year �鶹��ý’s houseless crisis continues to grow. To better understand its root causes, and how close some people might be to actually living on the street, Brooke Fisher, an undergraduate student in the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s ’ Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), produced Bridging the Gap. The documentary investigates how to help prevent the deeply rooted issue.

“This project helped me understand the importance of Human Development and Family Studies to support our families and children as a form of preventative work,” said Fisher, who also works in mental health and addiction services. “Society cannot function effectively and efficiently when such a large percentage of the population is either experiencing homelessness or facing multiple risk factors that lead to this status, such as inadequate wages and the high cost of living.”

Her hope is viewers will gain a better understanding of this problem to pave a path that will lead to more support for this population.

“The material I learned in the classroom, combined with the hands-on experience working alongside this population, allowed me to recognize the cause and effect that occurs due to a challenging upbringing,” Fisher added.

“I am so proud of Brooke, who worked tirelessly to create an informative and meaningful film to help us understand the potential root causes of �鶹��ý‘s houseless crisis,” added HDFS Assistant Professor Sothy Eng. “As she points out, if we don’t spend more time investing in our families and our children, we will never be able to overcome this crisis.”

Fisher’s project was funded via a UH ����ԴDz� award.

This is an example of UH ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Adapting to the pandemic is tough all around, especially for frustrated parents trying to homeschool their children through the crisis, but teaching at home comes a little easier with the assistance of the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (CTAHR).

The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) program has developed a series of online guided gardening lessons that both parents and keiki can enjoy. Dubbed a homeschool edition of the HDFS’ Home Garden Network (HGN), the videos use activities—conducted by parents—that teach and demonstrate to their keiki the basic concept and understanding of seeds.

Since most parents need simple guidance to teach their kids, HDFS interns Tiana Brennan and Jarett Shiu have incorporated helpful print and online tools aimed at adults.

“HDFS faculty Lynn Yamashita has worked tirelessly to locate intern placement, and our interns have been so helpful, competent and passionate in our home gardening activities,” said Assistant Professor Sothy Eng. “I am so fortunate to be able to work with and learn from the interns, their strengths and expertise in family and community development in �鶹��ý.”

HGN started in fall 2018 with four Oʻahu families and has since expanded. The network was developed to inspire and educate �鶹��ý families to start their own edible home gardens. Through gardening activities, the participating families are growing, learning and healing together. For more information, visit .

Families operate like societies, just in a smaller unit. When something happens that impacts one family member, everyone is affected and the whole system is shaken. As a consequence, the family will either adapt to the change and carry on with their rules and responsibilities, or fall into crisis.

Just like every society that has ever existed, families need support—financial, social and emotional—to help them get through problems.

Sothy Eng from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) (HDFS) asked CTAHR faculty members for their advice and insight to help provide support for �鶹��ý individuals and families undergoing stressful circumstances due to COVID-19.

Together, Eng and his colleagues created a one-page resource, “,” which includes advice on family economics, intergenerational caregiving tips and social and emotional support methods. HDFS is eager to help people learn and benefit from their provided coping strategies.

“Family Coping in Challenging Times” is .

—By Sothy Eng

Related UH News Stories

• Experts provide tips for parents during pandemic, May 5, 2020
• Maintaining healthy relationships during the pandemic, June 16, 2020