At University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, resilience isn’t just a concept, it is faculty, staff, students and community showing up for one another and refusing to let a hurricane dampen the spirit of a new beginning. While Hurricane Lala left its mark on the landscape just days before the semester began, it was the unwavering aloha of the Vulcan ʻohana that truly defined the start of fall 2026.
Addressing the incoming class during Kīpaepae, a traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony, Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin highlighted this collective strength.
“This campus is resilient,” Irwin shared. “We rise. We work together. We get the job done.”
Staff worked around the clock to clear grounds and restore facilities before students arrived. Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lei Kapono also rode out the storm in the dorms with the residential team.
In the days that followed, UH Hilo’s support expanded across Hawaiʻi Island, including hard-hit communities in Kaʻū, Volcano, Puna and Hāmākua.
Student leaders also reflected on resilience.
“The winds may come, and we bend a little, but we hold steadfast, and we continue to grow,” said Mindy Yagin, treasurer for the UH Hilo Student Association.
Visit Kūkala Nūhou to learn how UH Hilo supported students and employees after Hurricane Lala.
