![University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa](/its/template/system_2019/images/uh-nameplate.png")
VNR: 2,800 graduates at ﾌﾇﾐﾄVlogｹﾙｷｽ Mﾄ］oa Spring commencement
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
(Link to video and sound):
Contact: news@hawaii.edu, (808) 490-3268
WHAT:
The University of Hawaiﾊｻi at Mﾄ］oa––the state public higher education system’s flagship campus––celebrated about 2,800 students at its two .
WHEN:
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9 a.m.–--12:30 p.m. and 3:30–6:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, ﾌﾇﾐﾄVlogｹﾙｷｽ窶ｯMﾄ］oa
WHO:
Speakers include keynote speaker Walter Dods, Jr., who will also receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters, student speaker Diego Haﾊｻaheo Ortiz for the morning ceremony and student speaker Erica-Skyler Holokai for the afternoon ceremony, ﾌﾇﾐﾄVlogｹﾙｷｽ President Wendy Hensel, Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos, faculty, staff and administrators.
MORE INFORMATION:
- Graduates completed undergraduate and advanced degrees and are moving on to professional careers and graduate study.
- ﾌﾇﾐﾄVlogｹﾙｷｽ Mﾄ］oa is Hawaiﾊｻi’s only Carnegie R1 research university, ranked among the nation’s leading public universities and in the top 2% worldwide.
- The campus is nationally recognized for strengths in science, health, engineering and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander studies.
- ﾌﾇﾐﾄVlogｹﾙｷｽ Mﾄ］oa secured approximately $570 million in research awards this year.
- The university serves a record enrollment of 20,400 students, including 3,294 first-time, degree-seeking freshmen.
Link to video and sound:
VIDEO (1 minute, 50 seconds):
0:00-1:50 - Assorted shots of the commencement ceremony)
SOUNDBITES:
Josslyn Rose - ﾌﾇﾐﾄVlogｹﾙｷｽ Mﾄ］oa graduate (10 seconds)
”I think some of the biggest advice that has been helpful to me and other graduates that I've heard is to network to make advantage of the connections, all the friendships that you've built in college and the wonderful people along the way.
Grant Nakasone - ﾌﾇﾐﾄVlogｹﾙｷｽ Mﾄ］oa graduate (14 seconds)
“One thing that I found true is that there's a place for you here at the University of Hawai‘i at Mﾄ］oa.
I found my place here through the opportunities presented to me, the internships, the classes, extracurriculars, everything from freshman year to this day has prepared me for the future.”