This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the UH West Oʻahu on August 4, 2025.
Aloha UH West Oʻahu ʻohana,
Earlier today, Chancellor Maenette Benham announced that she is stepping down in December 2025, after nearly nine years of leading UH West Oʻahu.
Related story: Chancellor Benham to step down from UH West Oʻahu
Since January 2017, Maenette has been a tireless advocate for the campus, with a deep commitment to Native Hawaiian values, academic excellence and student success. She expanded academic programs aligned with Hawaiʻi’s workforce needs (e.g., creative media, cyber operations, natural and health sciences, pre-nursing pathway with UH Mānoa) and has had great success growing extramural funding and philanthropic support.
Maenette’s leadership, rooted in aloha, haʻahaʻa (humility) and community, has fostered strong relationships across the 10-campus UH System, state and Pacific region. As the first Native Hawaiian woman to lead a UH campus, I particularly admire her work as a role model and mentor to young women and Native Hawaiians.
While Maenette’s presence will be deeply missed, we are fortunate to have her leadership until the end of the year. Details on the search for her successor will be announced when they are finalized. Please join me in expressing our heartfelt mahalo to Chancellor Benham for her exceptional service and dedication.
With gratitude and aloha,
Wendy Hensel
President, University of Hawaiʻi
