New UH Hilo chancellor honored with traditional Hawaiian ceremony

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Contact:
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch, (808) 228-8108
Chief Communications Officer, UH Communications
Posted: Jul 2, 2019

New UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin was recognized in a Hawaiian appointment ceremony.
New UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin was recognized in a Hawaiian appointment ceremony.
New UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin with former Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai.
New UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin with former Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai.

LINK TO VIDEO AND SOUND (details below): https://bit.ly/2RNSjxz

WHAT:  Kipaepae Ho‘onoho, a traditional Native Hawaiian appointment ceremony 

WHO:  In honor of new University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin, whose first day on the job was July 1, 2019.

WHEN:  Tuesday, July 2, 2019

WHERE:  UH Hilo’s Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace

OTHER FACTS:

  • A Kipaepae Hoʻokuʻu (releasing ceremony) was also performed for Marcia Sakai, who served as interim chancellor from 2017.

  • Irwin has more than 30 years of experience in higher education and last served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University Monterey Bay.

  • UH Hilo is part of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system, along with UH Mānoa, UH West Oʻahu, and seven community colleges.

  • While the UH Hilo’s primary focus is undergraduate education, it also offers several graduate degree programs in focused areas at both the master’s and doctoral levels. 

VIDEO:

BROLL: (2:16)

:00-:28 hula SOT

3 shots ceremony

At :54 shot of new Chancellor Bonnie Irwin and Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai

5 shots ceremony

3 shots of Chancellor Bonnie Irwin being given lei

SOUND: 

Bonnie D. Irwin, UH Hilo Chancellor (:12)

“I’m very honored to be here and I’m humbled that I was chosen for this position.  I see great things in the future for Hilo and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

David Lassner, University of Hawai‘i President (:16)

“The kind of education that students can get here is amazing. And I don’t know that any other campus has as much impact on its island, its people, its community, its families as UH Hilo.  So this was a wonderful day.”