Students, faculty, staff, and administrators from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo — from Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language; College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management; College of Pharmacy; School of Nursing; departments of anthropology and environmental studies; Center for Global Exchange; and others — walked in the 2025 Annual Merrie Monarch Festival Royal Parade on Saturday, April 26, in Hilo.
Leading the group was Chancellor Bonnie Irwin; vice chancellors Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa (Academics) and Kalei Rapoza (Administration); college director Norman Arancon (Agriculture) and deans Michael Bitter (Arts and Sciences), Simon Kattenhorn (Natural and Health Sciences), and Rae Matsumoto (Pharmacy); and global education director Carolina Lam.
“Participating in the Merrie Monarch parade is a wonderful way to connect broadly with our community,” says Chancellor Irwin. “It was so gratifying to see alumni along the parade route and to hear people cheering for our hometown university! It certainly helped to walk the route behind the Waiakea HS band, whose cadences kept us all in step.”
Chancellor also attended the festival with Hawaiʻi Community College Chancellor Susan Kazama on April 24 at Hilo’s Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium.
“For the last two years, Chancellor Kazama has joined me for one of the evenings of Merrie Monarch,” says Chancellor Irwin. “This year we attended the Miss Aloha Hula competition together. It is so fun to share our appreciation for the dedication and hard work that each young wahine brought to the competition and to marvel at the grace and beauty of all the contestants. Truly a memorable night!”
