Over 1,000 students celebrated the end of their academic journey at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s 2025 Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony last Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH President Wendy Hensel shared her excitement, saying, "There is no day that I enjoy more than graduation day, and the joy in that room, you can feel it, and people are excited, and they've reached their goals and their accomplishments, and we get the privilege of celebrating with them," according to KITV.
Graduates like Cooper Salomon and Kansei Matsuzawa marked their transition from students to professionals, reflecting on their experiences at UH. Matsuzawa, a nationally-recognized Rainbow Warrior placekicker, said, "Hawaii and UH gives me everything, opportunity, joy and I really enjoyed my time in Hawaii."
Graduates like Kaia Eve Ordanara, a cinematic arts major, already have internships lined up to continue contributing to local culture, as per KHON2. As they prepare to enter professional life, spring commencements are scheduled for all 10 UH campuses in May 2026, with families and friends celebrating their achievements and supporting their next steps.
