Three graduations likely to bring excitement, more people to Hawaiʻi Island this weekend

Hawaiʻi Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students will be graduating from their programs this weekend.

Hawaiʻi Island will be full of graduates and their friends and families as they celebrate this milestone, so traffic may be heavier than normal around the time of the ceremonies.

Hawaiʻi Community College will have two commencement ceremonies on either side of the island this weekend.

• HCC Manono
  • Ceremony begins at 6 p.m. on Friday at Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium
    • Graduates arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. at Aunty Sally’s Lū‘au Hale Lanai
    • Rehearsal begins at 11 a.m. the same day
  • Doors will open for the public at 5 p.m.
  • Individuals with disabilities or those needing special accommodations, contact Mari Giel at (808) 934-2725, or marigiel@hawaii.edu.
• HCC Pālamanui
  • Ceremony begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday on campus in Kailua-Kona
  • Rehearsal begins at 2 p.m. before the ceremony
  • For disability accommodations, contact Student Services at 808-969-8816

Hawaiʻi Community College commencement ceremonies will be open to the public and will have open seating. A sign language interpreter will be provided during the ceremony.

There will be limited printed copies of the commencement program, but each graduate will receive a program booklet on their chair. Guests will have access to an electronic, online version of the program booklet with a QR code to be provided at the entrance.

No one will be allowed near the stage area and everyone will have the option to purchase a professional photo from the photographer hired for the ceremony.

There will not be any lei vendors at the stadium, so guests are advised to purchase lei in advance.

More information about commencement ceremonies at the Hawai’i Community College campuses is available online.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will also have its graduation ceremony on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.

This ceremony is not open to the public and only registered guests will be able to attend. However, it will be livestreamed on Youtube.

Students must check in prior to graduation at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Rehearsal is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. this Friday at the stadium.

Additional information on the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 2025 spring commencement ceremony is available online.