Leeward Community College’s is currently hosting a monumental and deeply resonant piece of artwork: ʻUmeke ����ʻ����: Culture Medicine. The installation, which had been on display earlier this year at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale, was unveiled at Waiʻanae Moku in November at a community welcome event.

Part of the Hawaiʻi Triennial 2025: Aloha Nō, ʻUmeke ����ʻ���� is a massive 22-foot-wide, eight-foot-tall installation created by artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer, in collaboration with ‘Team ʻUmeke’: Honolulu Community College carpentry students, ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa art faculty and students, and community kokua (help). The work reimagines the traditional ʻumeke—a wooden calabash bowl used for nourishment, water and sacred offerings—as a space for reflection, healing, repair and connection.

ʻUmeke ����ʻ���� will be on display at Waiʻanae Moku before moving on to Maui in January 2026. Hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. . Meleanna invites guests to “Come home to Hawaiian culture through the arts.”

Shared mission

“Hosting the ʻUmeke in Waiʻanae Moku is an honor,” said Danny Wyatt, Waiʻanae Moku coordinator. “It reflects our shared mission to perpetuate Hawaiian culture and to make art meaningful and accessible to our ʻohana (family) across the islands.”

The installation embodies the values of ����ʻ����, or plant medicine, and features the voices of more than 38,000 signers of the 1897 ��ūʻŧ Petitions, opposing Hawaiʻi‘s annexation by the U.S.

The Waiʻanae Kupuna Council, an influential community group, and Waiʻanae Moku invited the installation because of its deep ties to Native Hawaiian communities and its alignment with the campus’s commitment to expanding access to higher education and serving as a vital hub for cultural learning.

After experiencing houselessness and addiction, Gerry Crespo never imagined becoming a counselor. However, in May 2025, he earned his Certificate of Competence in Substance Use Disorders (COSUDS) Counseling at Leeward Community College’s Waiʻanae Moku education center—and now works full-time for Salvation Army Addiction Treatment Services.

“It’s one of the most rewarding professions,” said Crespo. “I feel extraordinarily fulfilled whenever I witness someone achieve recovery and transform their life.”

Crespo is one of 10 recent graduates of the COSUDS program, and among the eight who received an award and support from the Hawaiʻi Behavioral Health Training Institute (HBHTI), which was created to support individuals from across the state seeking careers as substance use disorders counselors. Crespo’s grant helped to cover his rent and bill payments.

“This program enables you to transform lives, including your own,” he said.

“This program fills a vital gap in our community,” said Gwen Williams, co-principal investigator of HBHTI and coordinator of Leeward CC’s COSUDS Counseling program. “We’ve seen how tuition coverage and stipends make education possible for individuals who might otherwise never have this opportunity. If our grant is renewed, we hope to continue supporting those ready to serve Hawaiʻi in one of its most urgent workforce needs.”

Leveling up

HBHTI has included the Level 1 COSUDS program at Leeward CC and a Level 2 apprenticeship coordinated by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, Department of Social Work. Apprentices work at state-registered treatment sites as they pursue certified substance abuse counselor (CSAC) credentials. A four-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration has helped to provide tuition assistance, stipends during fieldwork experiences, and stipends for apprenticeships. An award for tuition is expected to be available for one more year for qualified candidates.

Like Crespo, Edmond Pulu Jr. entered the program with a history of addiction—and a desire to change his life.

“HBHTI has been life-changing. Coming from addiction, incarceration and having to start over with nothing, the program gave me more than training—it gave me a second chance,” said Pulu Jr.

Now a CSAC at Kokua Support Services, he facilitates group sessions, mentors clients and supports Chuukese individuals in recovery. He earned degrees from Leeward CC and ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu and is completing his Master of Social Work at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

“What drives me is knowing every client I serve could’ve been me,” Pulu Jr. said.

For current ����Vlog�ٷ� students interested in enrolling in the COSUDS program, contact gwenw@hawaii.edu or HBHTI at .

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under 1 M01HP42453‐01‐00, Hawaiʻi Behavioral Health Training Institute, totaling $2,216,000, with 0 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

More than 125 community members came together at Leeward Community College’s on August 1, for a joyful keiki reading event that provided keiki with books, backpacks and school supplies—just in time for the new school year.

The free family event aimed to promote literacy and learning, while building community spirit. Keiki enjoyed storytelling, read-aloud sessions, crafts, and snacks, and each child received a new book and a backpack full of supplies.

The event was made possible through the support of several local partners, including:

• Asian Pacific American Librarians Association – Awarded the $500 Talk Story Grant that helped purchase school supplies.
• Women of Waiʻanae – Served as the grant’s fiscal sponsor and donated free children’s clothing, toys, books and plants.
• Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club – Donated Hawaiian-English books to support bilingual literacy.
• ����ʻ������ Elementary School – Donated 100 backpacks.
• ��īʻ����� – Helped secure additional funding for books, snacks and supplies.
• Cynthia Texeira (Windward CC) – Donated craft materials.
• Leeward CC Library – Applied for the initial grant and organized the event.
• Waiʻanae Moku peer mentors – Co-led the event alongside staff.
• Leeward Hui ʻOhana – Staffed a table.

“This event really reflects the spirit of community and education,” said Hauʻolihiwahiwa Moniz, Leeward CC Hawaiian and Pacific resource librarian. “We’re grateful to all our partners for making sure our keiki feel excited and ready to learn.”

It was 2020 when Brenda DeCambra enrolled at Leeward Community College’s —a year marked by significant personal and global challenges. While the world was shutting down amid the COVID-19 pandemic, DeCambra was undergoing drug treatment and filing for divorce after a 30-year abusive relationship. She also moved in with her sister and brother-in-law in Waiʻanae—both of whom were attending at the time.

DeCambra said that seeing her family’s commitment to their education served as powerful inspiration. That, plus her desire to make a better life for herself, her six children and her five grandchildren, fueled her desire to pursue higher education.

“I wanted to prove to my children that anything is possible, no matter your age or your past, as long as you are determined and motivated,” DeCambra said.

DeCambra said adjusting to college life was tough, especially with technology-heavy coursework, but she found strength in the support from tutors, mentors and professors.

“Waiʻanae Moku has made me feel at home, and the environment is safe for learning and growing,” said DeCambra. “I was able to be myself and not be judged by anyone, which means a lot when you come from a background of addiction and family struggles like mine.”

Waiʻanae Moku has made me feel at home.
—Brenda DeCambra

DeCambra will graduate on May 9 with an associate’s degree in liberal arts before transferring to in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Eventually, DeCambra plans to take her journey full circle by getting a master’s degree in social work and using her experience to help others facing similar struggles.

• Meet more amazing ����Vlog�ٷ� spring graduates

“The courses I took at Waiʻanae Moku helped me to better understand core values like service, social justice, dignity and the worth of an individual,” said DeCambra. “Now I have more insight into the problems we face in our communities and how we can try to solve them.”

—By Devon Bedoya

New University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel will visit each of the 10 ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses and six of the university system’s nine education centers during her first 90 days in office. Hensel began her role as the 16th president of the state’s public higher education system on January 1, 2025.

The schedule is below and specific details will be announced by individual campuses. Each visit will feature an open campus forum—welcoming participation from all campus community members—along with meetings with student, faculty and staff governance groups, as well as the administration’s leadership team. In a January 6 message to the ����Vlog�ٷ� community, Hensel expressed her commitment to building meaningful connections through pilina, a Native Hawaiian concept that has been shared with her.

“It is fitting that pilina encompasses not only relationships, but also more broadly interdependence, interwovenness, and deep connections that span place, time and generations,” said Hensel. “Although recognizing that my pilina with Hawaiʻi and many of you is just beginning, it seems clear that it will be the foundation for the work we can and must do together for the thriving future Hawaiʻi deserves.”

President Hensel campus/education centers visit schedule

• Tuesday, January 14 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Wednesday, January 22 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Thursday, January 23 – ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa
• Monday, January 27 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, February 3 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Wednesday, February 5 – Leeward CC —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, February 10 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Tuesday, February 11 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Tuesday, February 18 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, February 24 – —Read a recap of the visit.
• Tuesday February 25 – and —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, March 3 – and —Read a recap of the visit.
• Wednesday, March 5 – and —Read a recap of the visit.
• Monday, March 24 –
• Tuesday, April 8 –

Hensel has emphasized her commitment to attending as many campus events as her schedule allows while acclimating to her new role and navigating her first legislative session, which runs from January 15 to May 2. She is also meeting with county, state and local business leaders. Her top priority is visiting the campuses and education centers.

“Understanding first-hand how each campus uniquely contributes to the beautiful mosaic that makes up our ����Vlog�ٷ� community will be invaluable,” said Hensel. “With this knowledge, we can build a strong system that is capable of achieving excellence together that is otherwise unreachable alone. I promise to take your lead, listen with an open heart and mind, and learn about who you are, and share who I am as a human being to set the foundation for all the other work that lies ahead.”

For more information about President Hensel, visit the Meet President Hensel webpage. She is also active on social media and encourages the ����Vlog�ٷ� community to connect with her on , (formerly Twitter) and .

With a recent $540,000 invested in University of Hawaiʻi programs and students, to create partnerships with community groups and to promote sustainability, has raised its total philanthropic giving to ����Vlog�ٷ� to more than $2.3 million. The latest investments align with the Honolulu-based Native Hawaiian Organization’s mission to aloha ʻāina (love the homeland) by supporting the teaching and preservation of Hawaiʻi’s lands and oceans.

The new gifts from the Alakaʻina Foundation create opportunities for and with on the Leeward Coast and for and in Windward Oʻahu.

“We feel it’s important not only that the young men and women of Hawaiʻi have the skills they need to be effective leaders, but that they have the competencies our communities need for a sustainable future,” said Alakaʻina Foundation Executive Director Kimo Bacon. “We hope that many lives will be improved through our partnership, and we will keep our Hawaiʻi moving forward.”

The three recently funded programs are:

• ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu: Alakaʻina Foundation Sustainable Food Systems Scholarship
• Leeward CC: Waiʻanae Moku Summer Bridge
• Windward CC:

The Alakaʻina Foundation has supported other ����Vlog�ٷ� programs, such as the ’ Online Associate in Arts Degree Program, the Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, the Digital Bus Program and scholarships for Kauaʻi CC students transferring to the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa , as well as students enrolled in Kauaʻi CC’s Electronics Technology program.

“We are grateful for Alakaʻina Foundation’s innovative system-wide approach to giving,” said Tim Dolan, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president of advancement and CEO of . “This focus on sustainability, especially food security, will benefit generations of Hawaiʻi students.”

The Alakaʻina Foundation Family of Companies disburses profits from its seven government service firms to nonprofit activities that benefit the Native Hawaiian community, primarily the youth of Hawaiʻi.

—Reflection, meditation, thought.

Previous ʻōlelo
Akua
ʻĀ���Բ�
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Aʻo
Mākaʻikaʻi
All ʻŌlelo of the Week

“As we process new information everyday, finding a time and safe space to reflect this knowledge is vital in the skill of learning.”

—ʻO wau ʻo Pokipala, he kumu aʻoaʻo ma ke Kula Kaiāulu ʻo Leeward i ka moku o Waiʻanae
Christopher Pokipala, Counselor,

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo .

As she prepares to graduate from with her associate in arts in liberal arts this May, Sara Gaspar is grateful for the opportunities provided at Leeward CC’s and the support of her loved ones during the most difficult times of her life.

Gaspar battled substance abuse and alcoholism from a young age, and things became even more difficult when she got pregnant at 17 and had to drop out of high school. While raising her child, she had to work full time but managed to get her GED when she was 22 years old. Despite this positive step toward stability, she still couldn’t overcome her addiction and was dealt a heavy blow when both of her parents and her older brother passed away within a two-year span.

It wasn’t until she had a near death experience a few years ago that she said “enough is enough. I needed to make some kind of positive change in my life. I quit drugs and decided to seek support from Malama Recovery. I was in this program for six months and graduated on October 18, 2016.”

A few years later, with the support of her husband, she decided to give college a try. The first in her family to attend college, Gaspar excelled with a 4.0 GPA and will be graduating with honors.

“I want to thank my peer mentors, Alaysia Kyle and Tammy Aiwohi…also, (Associate Professor) Rick Kang and (Waiʻanae Moku Coordinator) Danny Wyatt, for making me feel loved and welcomed since the moment I stepped foot on that campus,” said Gaspar.

She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in public administration focused on healthcare administration at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. Gaspar grew up helping her mother care for an elderly woman, before she ended up taking care of her own parents, and she plans to serve the elderly community after earning her next degree.

����Vlog�ٷ� spring 2023 commencement schedule

“I want them to know that there are individuals like me who are passionate about caring for their needs. They were there for us—we should give back and be there for them,” said Gaspar.

Achieving her associate’s is surreal for her but it was never beyond Gaspar’s reach. She wants everyone to know that if she could do it, they can too, “keep learning, keep trying…keep venturing on through your journey. Discover who you really are. And, remember that every moment is an opportunity to learn from everyone around you.”

Leeward CC will celebrate its May 12, 5 p.m. at the Tuthill Courtyard, Puʻuloa Campus.

—To clearly understand, recognize, realize.

Previous ʻōlelo
Kāʻeʻaʻeʻa
��ī�Բ���
Lani
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Noiʻi
All ʻŌlelo of the Week

“Learning is not effortless. When we read a book or listen to a lecture, it is crucial that we clearly understand the ʻike being presented and realize how this new information applies to our everyday work.”

—Christopher Pokipala, Counselor,

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo .