The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu held its 2025 mid-year commencement on December 13, celebrating nearly 300 students who completed their degrees during the summer and fall semesters. Nearly 190 graduates participated in the ceremony.
UH West Oʻahu conferred baccalaureate degrees in applied sciences, business administration, creative media, cybersecurity, humanities, natural science, public administration and social sciences, along with a range of academic certificates.
Student speakers: making our own magic, finding our honest voice
Graduates heard remarks from student speakers Nicole Quibol, who earned her BA in humanities, and Tinousi Mulitauaopele, who earned her BA in business administration.
Quibol reflected on her decision to study philosophy, inspired in part by her love of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, while sharing her lived experience with blindness and the importance of accessibility.
“But before I found that magic, I had to face a different kind of reality, one that wasn’t written in the pages of fantasy books,” she said. “I might not look like it, but I am blind. And while blindness shapes how I move through the world, it has also shown me that accessibility is how we make the invisible visible, how we bring everyone into the circle.”
“Every one of us has our own ‘muggle struggle.’ One of mine just happens to be vision loss. But the lesson underneath it is the same: we all face barriers that try to convince us we don’t belong somewhere magical,” Quibol added. “The truth is, belonging is something we build together; through accessibility, through understanding, through community.”
Mulitauaopele spoke about finding confidence and belonging through her educational journey at UH West Oʻahu.
“UH West Oʻahu did not just teach me business, or data or leadership—it taught me that my voice belongs in rooms I used to be afraid to enter,” she said.
“I believe that starts the moment you finally get honest with yourself and decide to own your story. Because your story does not become powerful when it looks impressive to others. It becomes powerful when you believe it matters. And UH West Oʻahu met me exactly where I was—online, juggling life, work and school. It didn’t just give me an education. It gave me a real chance to finish what I started.”
Heartfelt moment for Chancellor Benham
The ceremony also marked a significant milestone for Chancellor Maenette Benham, who presided over her final commencement before stepping down at the end of the year, marking nearly a decade of leadership.
In her remarks, Benham shared the ʻŌlelo Noʻeau, “ʻO ka piʻi nō ia a Kōkī O Wailau,” a saying used in admiration for someone who reaches the summit despite great difficulty.
“Indeed, ʻO ka piʻi nō ia a Kōkī O Wailau—we stand in admiration of you,” she said. “You have adapted and grown during these unprecedented times of change and adversity. You have had to be resourceful, resilient, and relentless—which has undoubtedly enriched you, adding to your tenacity, passion and humanity!”
