Hawai‘i has long held a unique image in mainstream society as being a welcoming beacon of hospitality and proponent for ethnic and cultural inclusivity. We are members of the only public, land, sea, space grant, and indigenous serving institution of higher education in the State, and continue to not only strive for academic and research excellence but also to service with aloha the local, national, and international communities around us.

However, given the current political, social and economic climate of our nation, our state, our local and global communities, how will we as advisors/educators bolster our roles as we address the increasingly complex issues encompassing student success and development? Basic assumptions regarding the worth of public, affordable education, and providing an accessible and welcoming learning environment for diverse perspectives and people, are now being adversely challenged, Perhaps more than ever, the Native Hawaiian values of aloha, lokahi, kuleana, ‘ohana, and ahupua‘a, serve to remind us of our responsibilities to family, community, and the environment.

In this conference, we will be exploring questions such as: How can we better demonstrate and advocate for such values in our practice as advisors during these formidable times? What new innovations and strategies have you considered in your respective programs/departments?