{"id":235349,"date":"2026-06-02T12:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T22:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=235349"},"modified":"2026-06-02T12:55:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T22:55:37","slug":"honolulu-city-council-honored-eschenberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/02\/honolulu-city-council-honored-eschenberg\/","title":{"rendered":"City Council hails Windward CC<\/abbr> chancellor\u2019s educational efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Windward CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg is honored by the Honolulu City Council.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Honolulu City Council honored Windward Community College Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg on May 14 for her leadership in expanding educational opportunities across Koʻolaupoko<\/span> (the area from Kualoa to Waimanalo) and all of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Eschenberg joins graduating high school seniors at Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s annual Senior Bash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the presentation at Honolulu Hale, Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina<\/span> praised Eschenberg for strengthening Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s community connections and advancing educational pathways. Since 2019, Eschenberg has expanded Early College, strengthened ties with Hawaiian immersion schools, and increased access for first-generation, Native Hawaiian and underserved students.<\/p>\n

“This is such an unexpected honor,” said Eschenberg. “I\u2019m thankful to Councilwoman Kiaʻāina<\/span> for this kind recognition and incredibly thankful for our entire community that makes this work possible. Each accomplishment noted was made possible by an entire community coming together\u2014our students, staff and faculty, our legislators, federal grantors, the Koʻolaupoko<\/span> Hawaiian Civic Club, high schools, business groups, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, so many individuals and organizations in our community make things happen.”<\/p>\n

Prison education, performing arts, more<\/h2>\n
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Eschenberg volunteers at a Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Foodbank distribution at Windward CC<\/abbr>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Key Windward CC<\/abbr> achievements included establishing H\u0101naiaulu, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> System\u2019s only Hawaiian immersion childcare center. Kiaʻāina<\/span> also recognized the college\u2019s efforts for incarcerated students through the Puʻuhonua<\/span> program, which launched the associate in Hawaiian studies degree at Halawa Correctional Facility. Windward CC<\/abbr> further serves the community through academic programs such as veterinary technology and the Conservatory of Performing Arts.<\/p>\n

Eschenberg is actively involved in the Windward community, participating in neighborhood board meetings and fostering partnerships with local schools and businesses. She has also been recognized as the Kāneʻohe<\/span> Neighborhood Board\u2019s 2025 Person of the Year.<\/p>\n

“Being able to serve the Koʻolau<\/span> community is itself an honor,” Eschenberg said.<\/p>\n

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Eschenberg with Puʻuhonua<\/span> graduates at Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Women\u2019s Community Correctional Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chancellor Eschenberg\u2019s visionary college work earned a distinguished honor from Honolulu City Hall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":235358,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[729,71,66],"class_list":["post-235349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-administration-recognition","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t