West Hawai’i CC Students Celebrate at First-Ever Hō‘ike

Hawai’i Community College students in West Hawai’i celebrated the end of the semester on Thursday, Dec. 11 with their first-ever Hō‘ike.

Over 50 students celebrated and demonstrated their newfound knowledge through chants, hula, poetry reading and much more.

“Hō‘ike  is an opportunity for our students to demonstrate what they have learned over the semester to their support systems, inclusive of fellow peers, faculty and staff, family, and community members,” said Pualani Lincoln, an Associate Professor in Hawai’i CC’s Hawai’i Life Styles program. “The tradition of Hō‘ike is ‘to show’ and take ownership of one’s learning and its overall contribution to the larger community. This is definitely what we experienced that evening, as each student presentation was bursting with passion, experience, and commitment to higher education and community engagement. The event resonated with a true sense of ‘ohana.”

About 80 faculty, staff, family and community members were present at the event. While students presented, the crowd circulated the campus in Kealakekua to celebrate the accomplishments of the students.

Over 300 native plants were given away to participants and community members, and food was served at the event.

“The Hō‘ike is a wonderful was to conclude our semester,” said Marty Fletcher, the Director of Hawai’i Community College & the UH Center, West Hawai’i in Kealakekua. “It is about sharing and celebrating achievements. Educationally, it complements our assessments through exams and assignments in a way that resonates with the spirit of aloha.

Hawai’i CC students in West Hawai’i had never experienced an end of the semester Hō‘ike, but it is expected to continue as a tradition, especially as Hawai’i CC’s West Hawai’i facilities move to Hawai’i Community College Palamanui in North Kona.

The community college’s move to its new location is expected to take place in time for the Fall 2015 semester. The new campus will offer a variety of Hawai’i CC associate degree and certificate programs, as well as deliver bachelor’s and graduate-level degrees from University of Hawai’i campuses across the state.