PUHI —Eight Kaua‘i Community College students from Ni‘ihau made history Friday night.
The students, seven men and one woman, celebrated receiving their Certifiate of Completion in Facilities Engineering Technology.
“These are the first men from Ni‘ihau to graduate from college,” said Ilei Beniamina, KCC assistant professor in counseling and facilitator for the Ni‘ihau students. “There have been men who went off to Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama, and high schools, but no one has ever graduated college until tonight. This is historic!”
Beniamina said there have been women from Ni‘ihau who have returned with college degrees. Three teachers on Ni‘ihau recently received their teaching certification along with other KCC graduates during the May commencement ceremonies.
In the setting of the solemn ‘Aha Ho‘moloa ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of the graduates, the pahu sent the messages to Akua, the kumu said prior to starting the ceremony. Silence was required for the duration of the pahu voice, which ranged from subtle growls to stucco slaps through a 15-minute interval. The presentation was punctuated by the kahu bestowing congratulations and blessings on the graduates in the Hawaiian language.
Each graduate was garbed in ceremonial robes by members of their ‘ohana and draped with a Ni‘ihau shell lei in preparation for accepting their Certificates from KCC Chancellor Helen Cox.
“Tonight, we celebrate you and your accomplishments,” Cox said. “This is an important step, not only for yourself, but for the community and KCC.”
Cox said the students helped KCC understand the abilities of the Ni‘ihau people and also taught the KCC staff, enriching their lives.
“This is your moment, your family’s moment, KCC’s moment and the island’s moment,” Cox said.
Beniamina said the path to the Certificate of Completion was a long one, taking seven years from the time the students were enticed onto the path after taking a welding class.
Robert Conti, the program coordinator, said the students were involved in a variety of disciplines from putting together a building to learning how to take care of the building.
“This is how we do it,” Conti said. “We don’t just learn out of the book. We do by doing.”
The program coordinator, who also is the instructor in electrical fundamentals and wiring, materials, methods and NEC codes, said the students were a joy to work with and eager to learn, a facet shared by other instructors in the KCC arena.
Conti said the students ended up giving the staff more than they got out of what the staff had to offer.
“They have shown us the sense of family, they are eager to learn, and have given us more than what we could’ve given,” Conti said.
Beniamina said there was one person who stood with KCC and the students from the start — Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Oswald Stender.
His commitment to the students was acknowledged through the presentation of a hand-carved wood spear from one of the graduates’ families.
“He was behind the students from the start,” Beniamina said. “When he found out about what the students were doing, he took out his checkbook and wrote a check, then and there.”
Graduates include Billy Niau, Chelsea Niau, Jay Niau, Jeffery Shintani, John Kahokuloa, Kenneth Shintani, Stanley Kanahele and Wilson Kanahele.
The program was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Akimeka Technologies, the Associated Students of the University of Hawai‘i – KCC, Hawaiian Advisory Council, The Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate (Kaulele Project), the KCC Financial Aids Office, Ke Kula Ni‘ihau O Kekaha, the University of Hawai‘i at Mano- Kamakakuokalani, and OHA.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
