Day 4 Manaʻo for Cohort Waikolu August 13, 2026

Today we were so fortunate to hear two phenomenal presentations from Dean Saranillio and Candace Fujikane—and then how lucky we were to be in conversation with the both of them! Whenever I listen to them speak (whether individually or together like our time today), I am reminded of the wealth and depth of perspectives that we have here at UH Mānoa and the forms of pilina that allow this work to unfold. I am also reminded of why I continue to choose UH Mānoa as the home and grounding for my journey throughout higher education (mainly because so many of our faculty and staff are rock stars in our communities!). 

As I am listening deeply to the stories and reflections that are being shared during our time together this week, I am perhaps most in awe of how hard you folks have been working at our pilina gym. During my Pilina Circle this morning, I really appreciated how multiple people were reflecting on their experience of weaving pilina in real time during story shares and deep listening. The interwoven web of pilina that was extended throughout and across our circle reminded me of the complexities that each and every one of us carry with us—and how beautiful it is that we are given this opportunity to bear witness to these stories of truths.