80th Anniversary

Aloha,

This year we celebrate our 80th anniversary. That’s 80 years of being a place where students can bring their hopes and dreams, work hard, and use the knowledge they gain to build a meaningful life and contribute to their community.

As I reflect on our 80th anniversary, I can’t help but be incredibly grateful for everyone who has come before and made Hawai‘i Community College what it is. After all, though we are an institution with buildings and organizational structures, we only exist because of the people in this community who value education, who value community, and who aspire to create better lives for themselves, their children and their neighbors. This includes faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, elected officials, business leaders, and members of the public. It includes you.

Like in 1941 when we were founded (the year of the Pearl Harbor bombing and the United States’ entry into World War II) we are again living in challenging times. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives in so many ways. At Hawai’i CC, classes have moved mostly online and we face budget shortfalls.

Still, Hawaii Community College will be part of the rebound. Our growth since 1941 has been intertwined with the growth of this community. As new demands, industries and technologies have arisen, we have adapted by working closely with the community. The determination, the talent and the aloha that’s present here gives us what we need to come together and bounce back.

We won’t be able to celebrate our anniversary like we normally would. But what follows are some opportunities to honor our Kauhale, celebrate what we do, and say mahalo to the community that has sustained us for the past 80 years.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas

Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence

To celebrate Hawai‘i Community College’s 80th Anniversary, we are creating opportunities for our Kauhale members to safely celebrate this milestone on their own, in teams, as families...however you prefer!

Introduction: How to Participate

Create an activity, preferable one that involves the number 80. Participate within a pre-planned category or be innovative and create your own type of activity.
Register as an individual or a team using the Google Form. The first eight (8) individuals who register win a free Hawai'i Community College 80th Anniversary shirt and the next 10 win a free 80th Anniversary face mask.
Who can participate? Everybody who is a fan of Hawai‘i Community College! Students, alumni, retirees, faculty, staff, administrators, community supporters.
Complete your activity between January 11 and April 16 (Kauhale Day).
Document your activity by sending photos/videos and a short description to tmoats@hawaii.edu and share on social media. When you submit your email documentation, members of your team will receive Hawai‘i CC “swag!”

See more details about registering and participating below. Thanks for helping to celebrate Hawai‘i CC!

Register

There are four main categories of celebratory activities. Pick a pre-planned activity type or innovate and create your own. Register as an individual or a team using the Google Form (form will be launched January 11, 2021).

Community Service Category

Say mahalo to the community for its support of Hawai‘i CC since 1941.

>>>IDEAS: Do a food drive and donate 80 food items to the Food Basket; volunteer in the community for 80 hours with an organization of your choice.

Wellness Category

Celebrate the longevity of Hawai‘i CC as you take care of your own health and have fun!

>>>IDEAS: Walk, run, bike, hike for 80 miles over the course of the spring semester. Or pick another healthy activity! How about 80 Acts of Fitness in which you exercise 80 times between January 4 and April 16?

Mālama ‘Āina Category

Care for the island that sustains us!

>>>IDEAS: Plant 80 native trees or plants; pick up 80 pieces of trash from a beach or roadside.

Innovation Category

Hawai‘i CC has been developing new ways to serve our island for 80 years. Tap into that spirit of innovation and design your own way of celebrating.

>>>IDEAS: Your ideas here! Alumni and 'Ohana plans to create 80th anniversary bumper stickers and ask 80 people to put it on their cars and take pictures.

Important!: Documenting Your Activities

Documenting your activities is very important for celebrating as a community. See guidelines below.

Email Submission:

Email photos and/or video that shows you or your team participating in your 80th Anniversary Activity. Also include a description of the activity and who participated. Submissions will be posted to official Hawaii CC social media accounts.

Once you submit by email, you and any team members will be given Hawai‘i CC swags. (While supplies last.)
You can submit multiple times between January 11 and April 16.

Email Thatcher Moats at tmoats@hawaii.edu.

Social Media:

Post photos and/or video to your personal social media accounts (or departmental account if applicable) that shows your team participating in the 80th Anniversary Activity. Also include a description of the activity and who participated.
Please tag Hawai‘i Community College’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts in your post so we are alerted to the post. Use @hawaiicc as the tag in both Facebook and Instagram.
In addition, please use the hashtags #HawaiiCC80 #80YearsofExcellence.

NOTE: By submitting media via email or social media, you grant Hawai‘i Community College the right to use the media for communications and marketing activities.

Share Your Memories on the 80th Anniversary Message Board

Do you have favorite Hawai‘i CC memories? Photos to share? Someone you want to mahalo? Post it to the 80th Anniversary Message Board!

The board is moderated so when you do post, there may be a delay before it appears.

Here’s the link to the Padlet Message Board.

1941

Founding

Hawai'i Community College founded as the Hawai'i Vocational School.

1956

Move to Manono

The college moves to a newly constructed campus at Manono Street and is named the Hawai'i Technical School.

1965

First Model Home

Carpentry students build the first "Model Home," which becomes an annual project and continues to this day.

1970

Joining UH

The school becomes part of the University of Hawai'i and is renamed Hawaiʻi Community College.

1982

Serving West Hawai'i

To meet the needs of West Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi CC begins delivering programs in West Hawaiʻi.

1999

I Ola Hāloa Established

The I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawai'i Life Styles created to improve access, retention and graduation of Native Hawaiʻi students.

2015

Pālamanui Opens

The new Hawai'i Community College - Pālamanui campus opens in North Kona.

2019

KōEC Joins the Kauhale

Hawai'i CC assumes administration of the Kō Education Center in Honoka'a.

Order Commemorative 80th Anniversary Masks and Shirts by January 18, 2021 at this link.

Let's Celebrate 80 Years of Serving Hawai'i Island