After nearly two decades of shaping programs, guiding faculty, and supporting students at Hawai‘i Community College, Carrie Mospens is stepping into a new role as dean of Career and Technical Education — a move that highlights both her long service and her commitment to preparing students for Hawai‘i Island’s future workforce.

For Dr. Jace Saplan, stepping into the role of dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Hawai‘i Community College feels less like a new beginning and more like a homecoming. Born and raised in Waiākea Uka, and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i Campus, Saplan returns to Hilo with both global experience and a deep kuleana (responsibility) to the communities of Hawai‘i Island.

HILO, HAWAI‘I – July 10, 2025 — Hawai‘i Community College is cruising into the new academic year with the addition of three brand-new vehicles, thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor and Servco Toyota Hilo. The gift includes two Toyota RAV4s and an energy-efficient Toyota Camry hybrid electric vehicle — offering both practicality and sustainability for campus needs.

The vehicles will support a range of college operations, including transportation for academic programs, community outreach, and student support services.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel visited the Hawaiʻi Community College Manono campus in Hilo, the Hawaiʻi CC Kō Education Center in Honokaʻa and Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui in Kona during a two-day trip to Hawaiʻi Island on February 24 and 25. The trip was part of Hensel’s tour of UH’s 10 campuses and five education centers in her first 90 days in office.

The Hawaiʻi CC visits included campus tours, open forums and meetings with students, faculty, staff and community members.

We welcomed University of Hawai'i President Wendy Hensel to Hawai'i Island this week with a very special Kīpaepae that brought both Hawai'i Community College and the University of Hawai'i at Hilo together at Hawai'i CC's Papa'a Hale.

After 35 years working in higher education in Hawaiʻi — across five campuses statewide — Susan Kazama is calling Hawai‘i Island home again. Kazama, born and raised in Hilo, returned in July 2023 to serve as Hawai‘i Community College’s interim chancellor. One year later, she takes the helm officially, effective July 19, 2024. Among Kazama’s top priorities for the college are workforce development, student success, indigenous values, sustainability, and campus safety.

Aloha,

Hawai‘i Community College is proud to educate the workforce of Hawai‘i Island, training the future nurses, teachers, auto mechanics, carpenters and many others who make our communities vibrant, healthy and strong.

NOTE: This column appeared in the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii (JCCIH) monthly newsletter.

Aloha,

Aloha,

The Spring 2022 semester at Hawai‘i Community College is well under way. We kicked off our semester in January with our “All-College Meeting,” which focused on sustainability and in particular climate change and carbon sequestration. 

Aloha, 

Happiest of holidays to the Hawai‘i Community College alumni ‘ohana. 

We are very close to the end of the fall 2021 semester, and I’m happy to report that our students and the College as a whole continue to learn, grow and succeed amid the challenges of the pandemic.