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UH Hilo Chancellor's Blog Posts

Legislative Testimony by the Chancellor on HCR 279/HR 246 to study feasibility of incorporating Native Hawaiian plant species in CIP

Published March 29, 2011 by admin

Testimony Presented Before the
House Committee on Higher Education
March 24, 2011 at 2:00pm
by
Donald O. Straney
Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

HCR 279/HR 246 – REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO TO SEEK GRANT MONEYS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY OF INCORPORATING NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANT SPECIES IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

Chair Nishimoto, Vice Chair Nakashima and Members of the Committee:

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is fortunate to have a campus whose landscaping has been planned and well-tended. With a degree program in Agriculture, we maintain a broad range of plantings on campus to support student learning in this field. Likewise, our programs in Hawaiian Culture have established plantings representing the plants brought to the islands and used by the original Hawaiian settlers. ‘Imiloa, our learning center, is dedicated to exploring the interface between science and culture, also has an extensive garden of labeled plants used traditionally in Hawaiian culture.

We are, therefore pleased to see a resolution that would have us increase the native natural plants on our campus. This is consistent with our current campus initiatives. It will enhance the utility of our campus to students and community alike, while also maintaining the beauty of the campus setting.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

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Legislative Testimony by the Chancellor on HCR 197/HR 170 supporting workforce pipeline program of Thirty Meter Telescope

Published March 29, 2011 by admin

Testimony Presented Before the
House Committee on Higher Education
March 24, 2011 at 2:00pm
by
Donald O. Straney
Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

HCR 197/HR 170 – SUPPORTING THE WORKFORCE PIPELINE PROGRAM OF THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE PROJECT.

Chair Nishimoto, Vice Chair Nakashima and Members of the Committee:

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College are major developers of the trained workforce needed in Hawai‘i County. We place a priority on meeting workforce needs of our community and state. We welcome, therefore, efforts such as those described in this resolution, to stimulate and sustain a broad range of activities to prepare our citizens for rewarding careers in the County.

We are pleased to support the resolution and thank you for the opportunity to testify.

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Legislative Testimony by the Chancellor on HRC 180 urging reauthorization of the Native Hawaiian Education Act

Published March 29, 2011 by admin

Testimony Presented Before the
House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs
March 23, 2011 at 8:30am
by
Donald Straney
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

HCR 180 – URGING HAWAII’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT THE
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN EDUCATION ACT

Chair Hanohano, Vice Chair Lee and Members of the Committee:

The University of Hawai‘i System, and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo in particular, have benefited from the Native Hawaiian Education Act. Under this program, our faculty have developed programs that benefit Native Hawaiian students throughout the state. Programs such as Na Pua No‘eau and the indigenous teacher preparation programs have been very effective.

There remains, however, considerable work to do to ensure that Native Hawaiian children have access to an effective and responsive educational system. Continuation of the native Hawaiian Education Act will ensure that we are able to develop and provide the education that our citizens require.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this measure.

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All UH Hilo students studying in Japan are safe after tsunami

Published March 18, 2011 by admin

MEDIA RELEASE- The University of Hawaiʻi has been in constant contact with its nearly three dozen college students currently in Japan, either through study abroad and exchange programs or graduate studies. Eight are from UH Hilo and 27 are from UH Mānoa. None of them is in the vicinity of the most seriously damaged areas; they are all in other parts of the country and, based on our most current information, indicate they are safe and not in any immediate danger.

In light of the updated advisory from the U.S. State Department “strongly urging” all Americans to “consider departing” Japan, the University of Hawaiʻi System is in the process of helping our students follow this recommendation from the State Department. We are in communication with them, and are actively assisting them in abiding by this Travel Warning from the U. S. State Department.

See the State Department’s website for more information on the Travel Warning.

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Statement by the Chancellor on supporting Japan disaster recovery efforts

Published March 18, 2011 by admin

Red UH Hilo log with the words UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor disaster. Our concerns deepen each day as we learn more about the breadth of the triple disaster and the ensuing humanitarian crisis. This crisis is close to home for us because many members of our university ‘ohana have family, friends and colleagues in Japan, and many of us know the UH Hilo students currently studying in Japan. We also have students from Japan studying here with us in Hilo this semester.

Given the close and historic connection between Hawaii and Japan, many people and organizations in our state are already working together collaboratively to support the Japanese people in their time of need. On behalf of the university community, I encourage you to please support Japan disaster recovery efforts.

Here are some ways you can help:

Event

To convey our aloha and in keeping with Japanese tradition, you can help fold and personalize origami cranes at the UH Hilo Center for Global Exchange, PB9 Rm6, March 18, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All donations made at the event will go to the Japan Red Cross.

Donations

Aloha for Japan, a local organization convened by Hawaii business leaders, members of the Japanese American community, Lt. Governor Brian Schatz and Japan Consul General Yoshihiko Kamo to coordinate statewide efforts to collect donations for victims. Aloha for Japan T-shirts can be purchased from several retail outlets. Contact for t-shirts: grphomehi@gmail.com. Donation checks can be mailed to: Aloha for Japan, 2454 South Beretania Street, Suite 201, Honolulu, HI 96826.

American Red Cross

Red Cross Hawaii Chapter

Donald Straney
Chancellor

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