{"id":209258,"date":"2025-01-14T16:54:32","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T02:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=209258"},"modified":"2025-02-12T16:46:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T02:46:53","slug":"uh-west-oahu-president-campus-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/14\/uh-west-oahu-president-campus-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu first visit of new president campus tour"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Hensel\"
UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel meets with students on the UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> campus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oli (chants) were offered outside the N\u0101ulu Center at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2013West Oʻahu<\/span> on January 14, marking the start of a traditional ceremony to welcome new UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel, who officially started on January 1. The Native Hawaiian protocol honored Hensel\u2019s arrival, and formally extended an invitation to the campus. The UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> visit is Hensel\u2019s first stop on a tour of the 10-campus UH<\/abbr> system and education centers throughout her first 90 days on the job.<\/p>\n

“There\u2019s so much heart here. There\u2019s so many people who are deeply invested in this university,” said Hensel. “For me to be a champion of this community I need to understand that. I\u2019m beyond excited to make the personal connections, to hear the stories, to really understand the place and the ʻāina<\/span> (land) and ʻohana<\/span> (family).” <\/p>\n

Honoring Honouliuli<\/h2>\n
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Faculty, staff and students offer oli to welcome President Hensel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A highlight of the ceremony was the chanting of Mele Honouliuli by UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> faculty, staff and students. The chant honors the Honouliuli ahupuaʻa<\/span>, the area where the nearly 300-acre campus sits.<\/p>\n

“It really is an opportunity for everyone, our visitors, newcomers like the president, as well as those people who are Indigenous to this place to always recognize the shoulders on which we stand,” said UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Chancellor Maenette Benham. “That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that we do a k\u012bpaepae (protocol tradition) of welcome.”<\/p>\n

Building connections<\/h2>\n
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UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> campus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Throughout the day, Hensel met with governance groups, faculty, staff and the campus leadership team, emphasizing her dedication to pilina, a Native Hawaiian concept of interconnectedness and enduring relationships.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> sociology major and student leader Aralen H\u0101\u02bbilima Haiola described UH<\/abbr>\u2019s new president as genuine and authentic.<\/p>\n

“One of my big takeaways was probably just knowing that she\u2019s here for our students,” said Haiola. “She\u2019s not here just to \u02bbdrop the ship\u2019 as she said. She\u2019s gonna stay here. She\u2019s gonna continue to see us. She\u2019s going to continue to be a big supporter of all the students. And we\u2019re her favorites, so I love that part!”<\/p>\n

The visit concluded with an open forum on the West Oʻahu<\/span> campus, providing approximately 80 students and employees in attendance with an opportunity to share their insights directly. Similar forums will take place at every campus on Hensel\u2019s tour.<\/p>\n

President Hensel campus\/education centers visit schedule<\/p>\n

President Hensel campus visit recaps<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n