{"id":196560,"date":"2024-04-30T10:28:38","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T20:28:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=196560"},"modified":"2024-12-10T14:32:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T00:32:49","slug":"uh-west-oahu-commencement-speaker-kahele-madali","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/04\/30\/uh-west-oahu-commencement-speaker-kahele-madali\/","title":{"rendered":"Past and future generations on UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu student speaker\u2019s mind"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Kahele-Madali
Jahnna-Marie Kehaulani Kahele-Madali<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Jahnna-Marie Kehaulani Kahele-Madali, her upcoming graduation from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>–West Oʻahu<\/span><\/a> represents a way to honor both the past and the future. Kahele-Madali is one of two student speakers at the 2024 commencement ceremony on May 4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“After losing both my grandma and momma (grandma\u2019s sister) within two years, this is what makes graduation even more important—as our elders represent the reason we were able to even pursue a post-secondary education in the first place—to represent the people who never had the opportunity to go to college,” said Kahele-Madali.<\/p>\n

Kahele-Madali will receive a bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration in Hawaiian-Pacific studies.<\/p>\n

Check out more stories of our UH<\/abbr> spring graduates<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Born premature—weighing just 2 pounds and 2 ounces—and raised by two foster mothers, Kahele-Madali shares the importance of rising above struggles and striving for a better life.<\/p>\n

“Coming from a drug-infested and impoverished community, these stereotypes have a way of pre-determining the lives of the kids on the West Side,” she said. “So this graduation to me means I can be that beacon of hope for my people, that we are more than the mediocre lifestyle that surrounds us.”<\/p>\n

‘Keep on going’<\/h2>\n

\"Jahnna-Marie<\/p>\n

At UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span>, she flourished under the guidance of Manulani Aluli Meyer and Indrajit Gunasekara, co-founders of Niu Now and co-coordinators of the Uluniu Project. She works as a mahiʻai<\/span> (one who cultivates the land) at the uluniu, or coconut grove, on campus.<\/p>\n

Meyer commended Kahele-Madali for her “infectious and healing” light and honesty, and her strength and wisdom. “I have loved seeing Kehau grow in her love of land and her commitment to people,” Meyer said.<\/p>\n

After graduation Kahele-Madali\u2019s plans on giving back to the community, working on incorporating m\u0101lama ʻāina<\/span>-based practices into school curriculums to inspire children to pursue a better life through ʻāina<\/span> work.<\/p>\n

“I believe UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> has built that network where I can branch out to different resources and bring it back to my kai\u0101ulu (community),” said Kahele-Madali.<\/p>\n

For more on Kahele-Madali go to Ka Puna O Kaloʻi<\/span><\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n