Community Colleges: A Pathway for Native Hawaiian Achievement and Growth

For many Native Hawaiian students, the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges serve as a transformative space where education, culture, and personal growth intersect. Cathryn Krueger, a student at Hawaiʻi Community College, discovered her passion for agriculture through her coursework, describing the experience as life-changing. Similarly, Hiʻilani Cremer, a liberal arts student at Kauaʻi CC, shared how her academic journey gave her a renewed sense of hope for the future. Their stories are featured in a UH Community Colleges video series that highlights the achievements and experiences of Native Hawaiian students across seven campuses.

The series underscores how UH Community Colleges foster an environment where students can excel academically while embracing Native Hawaiian values, traditions, and knowledge. These institutions prioritize scholarship, service, and cultural identity as key pillars of student success. Interim Vice President for UH Community Colleges, Della Teraoka, emphasized that Native Hawaiian student success is central to the university’s strategic plan, and these videos reflect a deep commitment to ensuring that students feel supported and empowered throughout their educational journeys.

As an Indigenous-serving and Indigenous-centered institution, UH Community Colleges aim to provide Native Hawaiian students with the tools and support needed to thrive. Respiratory care student Melanie Camat from Kapiʻolani CC highlighted the strong sense of community and encouragement she has received, calling it a "game changer" in her education. Likewise, ʻAleʻa Kimokeo, a sustainable science management student at UH Maui College, shared that the colleges not only help students find their purpose but also inspire them to contribute to the well-being of Hawaiʻi as a whole.