For the Racoma family, the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu’s December commencement holds special significance because of who will be sharing the stage–Tanya Hōkūlani Racoma and her firstborn, son Brendan Isaiah ʻOnipaʻa Racoma.
Hōkū, as she is known, is a mother of three—ages 23, 16 and 13. She took a nearly two decades-long break from college to focus on raising her family.
“My biggest reason for coming back to school and completing my bachelor’s degree was to teach my kids when you start something, to always finish it,” said Hōkū, 43, a professional songwriter. “It was always a dream of mine.”
Hōkū and Brendan, of Waipahu, are among nearly 190 students participating in UH West Oʻahu’s 2025 Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony. Hōkū will graduate with honors, earning a bachelor of arts in humanities with a concentration in English and a certificate in music. Brendan will receive a bachelor of arts in public administration with a concentration in disaster preparedness and emergency management.
Hōkū and Brendan’s shared success resulted from similar paths (although different timelines)—both transferred to UH West Oʻahu after each attended two UH Community Colleges, and each earned two associate degrees and various certificates.
“We didn’t plan it,” Hōkū said and smiled. “It just happened like that.”
Brendan, like his mother, feels a strong sense of achievement as graduation nears. For him, navigating college life with work, as well as other obligations and responsibilities, came with inevitable challenges.
“Truthfully, in my point of view, it wasn’t easy,” Brendan said. “But it was really all worthwhile. And having mom with me is like an added bonus.”
For more visit Ka Puna O Kaloʻi.
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman
