PUHI — John Constantino and the leadership of the Associated Students of Kaua‘i Community College will host about 150 student leaders from all University of Hawai‘i member colleges and also private campuses Thursday through Saturday. Constantino, KCC student life coordinator
PUHI — John Constantino and the leadership of the Associated Students of Kaua‘i Community College will host about 150 student leaders from all University of Hawai‘i member colleges and also private campuses Thursday through Saturday.
Constantino, KCC student life coordinator and advisor, said Monday the Ho‘opili Hou Student Leadership Conference will be one of larger student leader conferences held in the state.
He said he is pleased KCC, a member of the University of Hawai‘i system, was selected to host this event.
“There is something special about Kaua‘i,” Constantino said during a committee planning meeting Monday.
“We last hosted the conference in 2008 and, according to the rotation, we’re supposed to do it every 10 years. But they asked if we could host it again this year. Something about Kaua‘i must be attracting them,” he said.
During the three-day conference, which opens Thursday night at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will deliver the conference keynote address. The conference theme is: “Think Global, Act Local.”
On Friday, the group will be at the Waipa Foundation in Hanalei, where leaders will be involved in group development and stewardship activities, Constantino said.
Saturday, the group will convene at the KCC campus where Constantino said the group will be involved in conference educational sessions with topics ranging from campus leadership to legislative issues.
Constantino said having the conference on Kaua‘i benefits students at KCC because many of the students are new and will have the opportunity to meet student leaders from several campuses.
“Student government plays a critical role in student life on college campuses,” KCC Chancellor Dr. Helen Cox states in the conference program guide. “It gives students a voice on their college campus.”
In the program guide, Earl Nishiguchi, the KCC vice chancellor of student affairs, added his welcome for visiting students .
“We should all play a part in the health of our entire planet and take action in our community and states. Last week, we featured several events, including the launching of Ho‘ouluwehi, the Sustainable Living Institute, bringing KCC to venture into community gardens, aquaponics, apiary, lo‘i, and affordable housing. You are the leaders of tomorrow and I challenge you to ‘Think Global, and Act Local,’” Nishiguchi states in the program.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
