{"id":211410,"date":"2025-02-26T09:02:50","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T19:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=211410"},"modified":"2025-03-04T14:48:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T00:48:11","slug":"hensel-visits-hawaii-cc-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/26\/hensel-visits-hawaii-cc-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"President Hensel visits 3 Hawai\u02bbi CC<\/abbr> sites as part of systemwide tour"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"PeopleUniversity of Hawaiʻi<\/span> President Wendy Hensel visited the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community College Manono campus in Hilo, the Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> K\u014d Education Center in Honoka\u02bba and Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr>–P\u0101lamanui in Kona during a two-day trip to Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island on February 24 and 25. The trip was part of Hensel\u2019s tour of 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>\u2019s 10 campuses and five education centers in her first 90 days in office.<\/p>\n

\"HenselThe Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> visits included campus tours, open forums and meetings with students, faculty, staff and community members.<\/p>\n

“President Hensel is deeply committed to listening and becoming an active part of our community,” said Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Chancelor Susan Kazama. “I sense that she understands our mission, recognizes the strength of our kauhale (village), and embraces the collaborative culture that defines Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community College.”<\/p>\n

\"HawaiiHensel spent the first day at the Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Manono campus, starting with a traditional K\u012bpaepae (welcoming ceremony) in front of the campus sign at the entrance of the college. She then toured the campus facilities and met with representatives from the academic senate, student government, staff and the campus leadership team. The day ended with an open campus forum with about 40 people in attendance. Discussions at the meetings and forum included strengthening degree pathways between 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>\u2019s two- and four-year campuses, addressing aging infrastructure, and enhancing student support services.<\/p>\n

\"Hensel“I thought she was incredible. She’s very open and articulate, and I truly believe she cares,” said student Mary Nguyen. “That’s what matters most. Often, when you’re in a top position, people can feel intimidated and unapproachable, but she was very approachable.”<\/p>\n

After the visit, Hensel described the Hilo campus as a special place.<\/p>\n

“The students, faculty and staff have built a strong, supportive community that truly uplifts both students and the wider community,” said Hensel. “That sense of connection was tangible and it was exciting to be part of that environment.”<\/p>\n

She also enjoyed a meal prepared by Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> culinary students and took part in a workshop exploring the elements of a K\u012bpaepae ceremony. During the session, she learned to hoʻokani<\/span> the pahu (to drum) and p\u016b (blow the conch shell), discovering the meaning behind this tradition.<\/p>\n

“I really appreciated the hands-on learning opportunities, especially in understanding the cultural practices behind the K\u012bpaepae,” said Hensel. “That was particularly meaningful to me.”<\/p>\n

K\u014d Education Center and P\u0101lamanui<\/h2>\n

\"GroupHensel drove from Hilo to Honoka\u02bba the following day to visit the K\u014d Education Center, one of the seven centers across the state that serve rural communities.<\/p>\n

The visit started with a K\u012bpaepae, after which she toured the facility and saw the new butchery class in action. The tour ended with an open forum where she took questions from staff, students and community members.<\/p>\n

\"Hensel<\/p>\n

“I think it’s special when anyone from the system or administration comes out here because you can both hear about the K\u014d Education Center and our community, and see it with your own eyes,” said Pele Kaio, contact for the K\u014d Education Center. “We’re excited to have her here and to share our successes, as well as our challenges.”<\/p>\n

Hensel then traveled to the Kona side of the island in the afternoon to Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr>–P\u0101lamanui where she was welcomed with a K\u012bpaepae and made an offering at the campus ahu. She then toured the facilities, met with faculty and staff and took questions at an open campus forum, attended mainly by area residents.<\/p>\n

“I would describe both as small, but mighty,” said Hensel of the K\u014d Center and P\u0101lamanui.<\/p>\n

“Their ambition to uplift their communities and make higher education accessible to everyone is truly impressive. Both campuses have beautiful facilities with the capacity to grow alongside their communities, and they each have bold visions for the future that I look forward to supporting.”<\/p>\n

Model home visit<\/h2>\n

\"Hensel<\/p>\n

The trip was not Hensel’s first interaction with Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> programs, students and staff.<\/p>\n

She visited Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s 56th model home, currently under construction in Keaukaha, on Wednesday, February 19, during a tour with the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Board of Regents. Hensel met with students and faculty from Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology (EIMT<\/abbr>), Carpentry, Agriculture and I Ola H\u0101loa Center for Hawaiʻi<\/span> Life Styles.<\/p>\n

“President Hensel came up to our group and asked the students directly what improvements we wanted to see,” said EIMT<\/abbr> student KalaʻiI<\/span> Davis. “We were all speechless. We were able to share our concerns and felt like she understood our point of view. It really made us feel like we could actually have a say in addressing the obstacles we face.”<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid element_width=”2″ css=”” grid_id=”vc_gid:1741135551295-8ee8e070-0bfd-3″ include=”211396,211395,211394,211393,211392,211391,211390,211389,211388,211387,211386,211385,211384,211383,211382,211381,211380,211415,211416,211417,211419″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\nPresident Hensel\u2019s campus\/education centers remaining schedule:<\/p>\n

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