Guest Information

2023 Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Stan Sheriff Center

Driving to Stan Sheriff Center

From the Airport

Travel east on the H-1 freeway. Take the University exit (Exit 24B). Stay in the far-right lane heading north on University Avenue. Take a right on Dole Street at the first light. Take another immediate right on to Lower Campus Road.

From Waikiki

Head north towards Ala Wai Boulevard. Travel west on Ala Wai Boulevard (one-way street) and make a right turn at McCully Street. Take a right at the first light on to Kapiolani Boulevard. Take a left at University Avenue. Stay in the far-right lane heading north on University Avenue. Take a right on Dole Street. Take another immediate right on to Lower Campus Road.

(Directions courtesy of the UH Athletics Department)

Parking

Campus parking for guests is free but limited on graduation day. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.

The road leading from the Waiale‘e gate entrance to the Stan Sheriff Center will be closed before and during the ceremony. The area near the ROTC buildings is reserved.

Parking is restricted in the areas behind the Stan Sheriff Center and around the Les Murakami Baseball Stadium. The parking lots in the Student Housing areas are restricted for permit holders only. Stalls marked with a Reserved Parking sign are enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The lower campus parking structure is expected to fill up quickly. When the parking structure is full, drivers will be directed to park in the lots on the main campus. As each lot fills, the attendants will direct drivers to the next available lot. They will continue to do this until all lots are full.

Graduates and participants should anticipate heavy traffic and plan accordingly for ample time to get to their designated staging area. Vehicle access around this staging area will be restricted and passenger drop off will not be allowed in this area, except for ADA passengers.

For concerns of safety, please do not drop off passengers in the middle of the road or along areas with heavy traffic.

Printed Programs

Programs containing a list of the graduates will be provided to graduates at their seats. For additional copies after the ceremony, email graduate@hawaii.edu. Guests will be given an abbreviated copy upon entering the arena.

Disability Accommodations

Disability Accommodation information is available separately.

Entering the Arena

The doors at Gates A & B will open to the public at 7:45 a.m. All seating is open to the public (no tickets or reservations required). We strongly recommend that guests arrive early, as the doors to the Stan Sheriff Center will be closed when the arena reaches maximum capacity.

Arena Regulations

Please be advised that large signs, placards, balloons and strollers will not be allowed inside the arena for safety and security reasons. Please be advised that only graduates will be allowed on the arena floor. All guests will be restricted to the general seating areas. The clear bag policy does not apply to UH Mānoa commencement exercises.

Pictures and Video

The audience may take photographs and videos from their seats. A photographer will take individual photographs of students as they are recognized on stage. After commencement, the graduate will receive an e-mail message from the photographer with a link to view their proof online. Additional photographs may be ordered at that time.

Meeting the Graduates After the Ceremony

Meet your graduate by the appropriate alphabetical sign on the athletic fields:

A–K will meet on the Clarence T. C. Ching field.
L–Z will meet on the Les Murakami Stadium field;

Maps will be available in the commencement program. Guests with special needs may want to consider meeting graduates at a location closer to the Stan Sheriff Center.

While giving lei is a Hawaiʻi tradition, we ask that you encourage family and friends attending the commencement to support our campus’ waste reduction efforts towards a zero-waste future by taking the following actions before you arrive on-campus:

Leave the plastic clamshell containers at home.
Carry your lei and makana (gifts) in reusable bags.
Make lei from plants growing in your garden instead of purchasing them from the store.

To preserve our newly renovated athletic fields, potentially damaging shoes (i.e., stiletto heels, metal cleats, etc.), streamers, and confetti are prohibited.

Guests will be asked to clear the fields at 12:30 p.m.

Lei Vendors

Several vendors selling flower lei will be on campus during the commencement ceremonies. The authorized lei vendors will be located on the Clarence T. C. Ching field.

Live Webcast of Ceremony

The webcast will air live during the ceremony, and will be available for viewing for several months thereafter. Please visit the following page for the webcast: http://www.hawaii.edu/itunesu/vlive/?s=manoagrad.sdp

Do I or My Family Need Tickets?

No tickets will be issued. All guests are welcome to the ceremonies on a first-come, first-seated basis. However, as a courtesy, graduates are asked to consider limiting their guests to five (5) individuals. Gates will open at 7:45 a.m. We strongly recommend that guests arrive early, as the doors to the Stan Sheriff Center will be closed when the arena reaches maximum capacity.

Questions? Email graduate@hawaii.edu or call (808) 956-GRAD.

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