{"id":135509,"date":"2021-02-16T13:53:13","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T23:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=135509"},"modified":"2021-02-16T14:46:06","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T00:46:06","slug":"kapiolani-cc-kicks-off-75th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/02\/16\/kapiolani-cc-kicks-off-75th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Kapi\u02bbolani CC<\/abbr> kicks off 75th anniversary celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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(Photo credit: Karl Naito)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College<\/a> marked the start of its 75th anniversary celebration with a sunrise ceremony on the campus\u2019 great lawn.<\/p>\n

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David Lassner (Photo credit: Karl Naito)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
\"Louise
Louise Pagotto (Photo credit: Karl Naito)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
\"Nawaa
Nāwaʻa<\/span> Napoleon (Photo credit: Karl Naito)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n

On February 12, 2021 at precisely 5:48 a.m., which was nautical twilight, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Dean Nāwaʻa<\/span> Napoleon lit a torch at the center of the lawn to begin the solemn ceremony. Kīhei-clad participants in the physically distanced event included University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> President David Lassner<\/strong>, Vice President for Community Colleges Erika Lacro<\/strong>, former Vice President for Community Colleges and Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Chancellor John Morton<\/strong> and Chancellor Louise Pagotto<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“We look forward to celebrating this milestone year and thank all of the students, faculty and staff who have contributed to developing Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> into an educational and community leader,” said Pagotto. “We continue to build upon our shared vision of a model indigenous serving institution whose graduates strengthen the social, economic and sustainable advancement of Hawaiʻi<\/span> and the world.”<\/p>\n

Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> opened in 1946 as the Kapiʻolani<\/span> Technical School at a time when Hawaiʻi<\/span> was still a territory of the United States. The innovative school was administered by the Territorial Department of Instruction with a strong academic focus on food service. In 1959, as Hawaiʻi<\/span> was entering statehood, three additional programs were added: practical nursing, business education and dental assisting. In 1965, the college realigned its academic mission and joined the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½<\/abbr> System. <\/p>\n

From its original home at the corner of Pensacola Street and Kapiʻolani<\/span> Boulevard, the college moved to its current location on the slopes of scenic Diamond Head in the mid-1980s. The campus\u2019 technical, professional and occupational programs have garnered national attention with a cross-cultural emphasis on innovation and diversity. ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½<\/abbr>\u2019s Culinary Institute of the Pacific on the slopes of Diamond Head, which is completing Phase 2 construction<\/a>, is administratively attached to Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

Next up in a string of 75th birthday events, Pagotto will speak on the history of Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> as part of the Kaiāulu Webinar Series<\/a> on February 25.<\/p>\n