Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui celebrates commencement in new space

Link to video and sound (details below):  https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/5stoQzy1PX

WHAT: Hawaiʻi Community College–Pālamanui 2025 spring commencement

WHEN: May 17, 2025, 4 p.m.

WHO: Approximately 60 graduates received their degrees and certificates.

• Including student commencement speaker Drew Camacho, who journeyed from addiction and incarceration to academic success.

WHERE: The commencement ceremony was held at the newly constructed outdoor learning and dining area at Hawaiʻi Community College–Pālamanui. The project was designed to create a comfortable covered outdoor space for students to study, gather, collaborate and dine al fresco.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

• The ceremony ended with the singing of "Nāʻū Pālama Nui," a mele composed in 2011 by Taupōuri Tangarō, a Hawaiʻi CC professor, to honor the vision and cultural significance of Pālamanui.
• Hawai‘i CC–Pālamanui is the Kona campus of Hawai‘i CC, a fully accredited, two-year college serving Hawai‘i Island. As part of the UH System, Pālamanui offers workforce-ready and transfer-focused degree and certificate programs in a supportive, culturally grounded environment.
• This is the final spring 2025 commencement ceremony for UH System campuses. Also happening on May 17 were the UH Hilo and UH Mānoa commencement ceremonies.

VIDEO:

BROLL: (1:54)

Video of the 2025 spring commencement ceremony at Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui

SOUNDBITES:

Drew Camacho, Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui graduate (0:15)

“As we step into the next phase of our journeys, remember this. The world needs dreamers like us. It needs people who are willing to challenge the status quo, who believe in the impossible and who are relentless in the pursuit of their goals.”

Susan Kazama, Hawaiʻi CC Chancellor (0:17)

“This is the first time we’re having this opening on this new lanai and it is such an exciting experience. We have over 300—and you can hear the excitement of the crowd—over 300 of the family and friends that came to greet our 60 graduates here today. It’s such an exciting time.”

Deandraleen Kalahiki, Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui graduate with associate of arts in liberal arts (0:14)

“It’s been a long road for me. It took about a little over 10 years. I can only strictly do online so I’m a mom of three too. Balancing life and everything and work, is truly a blessing to be at this moment now.”

Hunter Wehrsig, Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui graduate with certificate of achievement in fire science (0:07)

“A lot of hard work that you put in and then finally paying off. Graduating and then going into the workforce is my plan as a firefighter.”