Waiākea grad to take over helm at Hawaiʻi Community College

One of Hilo’s own will take over the helm at Hawaiʻi Community College.

Susan Kazama will become the college’s next chancellor as of July 19. She has been the school’s interim chancellor since July 1, 2023.

Kazama was born and raised in Hilo. She is a graduate of Waiākea High School and has a master’s degree in library science and bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

“I am so grateful to have this opportunity to return home and serve the kauhale and the community that I grew up in,” said Kazama, using the word “kauhale,” which means a group of houses comprising a Hawaiian home.

She was recommended for the chancellorship by University of Hawaiʻi Vice President for Community Colleges Erika Lacro.

“Susan Kazama is a home-grown chancellor who is dedicated to serving the diverse communities of the Hawaiʻi Island,” said Lacro. “She brings her broad experience and commitment to the University of Hawaiʻi to the position, and she will continue the work of this past year of reaching out to the local employers to ensure Hawaiʻi Community College is training students for the local workforce needs.”

Kazama has worked in the UH system since 1987, starting as a librarian at UH-Maui College and Honolulu Community College.

She spent 12 years at UH-Mānoa’s Hamilton Library before accepting the library director position at Kapiʻolani Community College in 2001.

Kazama served as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at Kapiʻolani CC and Honolulu CC until 2021, when she became a program coordinator for continuing education at Kapiʻolani CC.

She also served on the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges for 7 years, including 3 years as the chairperson, past chairperson and vice chairperson.

“Hawaiʻi Community College offers not only access to higher education, but also workforce training for our community members who want to reskill and upskill for a higher paying job,” Kazama said. “I look forward to working with the dedicated faculty, staff, administrators and our community to continue supporting our students and ensuring everyone who wants to pursue higher education has the opportunity to do so.”