Photos: UH Hilo 2017 Fall Commencement

Posted on December 19, 2017November 22, 2025 by Staff

Keynote speaker was Master Navigator Kālepa Baybayan and student speaker was communication major Anne Rivera.

Two graduates in regalia and leis. — Two graduates after commencement ceremonies.

Photos by Bob Douglas for UH Hilo Stories.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo held its 2017 Fall Commencement on Dec. 16. Candidates petitioned for degrees and/or certificates from the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (17); College of Arts and Sciences (255); College of Business and Economics (33); College of Pharmacy (1); Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language (9); and also various post-graduate credentials (14). Keynote speaker was Master Navigator Kālepa Baybayan and student speaker was communication major Anne Rivera.

Pre-Ceremonies and Procession

Click photos for full size.

Candidates wait outside venue.

Candidate smiling, waiting to enter venue.

Musical conductor.

Candidate in sunglasses.

Hālau waiting outside before entering venue.

Man at podium in hat.

Candidates enter venue.

Candidates enter venue with hoods over their arms.

Candidate enters venue, wears gold cord.

Candidate enters venue in red kīhei, no tassel.

Candidate glances up toward stands.

Candidate in purple and white sash.

Candidate waves to someone in the stands.

Smiling candidate stands at her seat.

Candidates file into the venue. At front is candidate in sunglasses.

Candidates stand at their seats, several with blue hoods over their arms.

Candidate in red kīhei holds a commencement program.

Keynote speaker in maile lei enters the venue.

Chancellor enters the venue.

Keynote on the dais.

Group on the dais singing/chanting.

Candidate with head lei but around the mortarboard.

Words on top of a mortarboard: "On to the next chapter."

Flower painting on the top of a mortarboard.

An older candidate with red and yellow feather lei.

Audience in the stands.

Admin on the dais.

Opening Ceremonies, Introductions, Awards and Speakers

Chancellor hands Kolin Kettleson his award. — Kolin Kettleson, director of Auxiliary Services, receives the Chancellor’s Special Recognition Award for his years of service to the UH Hilo community.

Chancellor places gold medal with red ribbon on Kālepa. — Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai gives medal to keynote speaker Kālepa Babayan.

Anne at the podium. — Student speaker Anne Rivera delivers her remarks.

Kumu at podium.

Drummer seated.

Drumming group.

Keiki dancer with arms outstretched.

Hālau dancing.

Child at front of hālau dancing.

Dancer gesturing from his mouth.

Young boy dancing.

Chancellor at podium in orchid lei.

Group of faculty on dais.

Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at podium.

Dean at podium.

Award honoree stands.

Chancellor congratulates award honoree.

VC of Student Affairs at podium.

Portrait of student speaker Anne Rivera.

Keynote Kālepa Babayan at the podium.

Keynote gestures during his remarks.

Conferring of Baccalaureate Degrees

Group of candidates stands.

Male candidate exists the dais showing his red diploma cover.

Candidate with gold cord leaves the dais with her red diploma cover.

Candidate looks to the stands as she leaves the dais.

Candidate in red blue and white sash .

Candidate in blue sash waves as she leaves the dais with her diploma cover.

Candidate gives the thumbs up.

Candidate holds her red diploma cover up high.

Candidate holds her diploma cover close.

Candidate in white sash with his red diploma cover.

Candidate turns to show the stands her red diploma cover.

Candidate wears maile lei and gives the shaka.

Older candidate leaves the dais after receiving her diploma.

Candidate in blue sash.

Candidate in white sash and gold cord.

Candidate in white sash with two red circles.

Candidate points to the stands.

Candidate in yellow sash with big smile as she leaves the dais with her diploma.

Candidate with pink rose head lei around her mortarboard.

Candidate lies down sideways on the floor with a big smile, holding his red diploma cover.

Candidate walks off dais with her red diploma cover in hand.

Candidate turns to show her red diploma cover.

Candidate with big smile and red diploma cover in hand.

Candidate waves.

Close up portrait of candidate with his red diploma cover.

Candidate smiles as he leaves the dais.

Candidate walks with her red diploma cover in hand.

Candidate in wheelchair gives the peace/victory sign.

Candidate in red kīhei and ti lei with her red diploma cover.

Candidate in red and yellow head lei turns and shows her red diploma cover to the stands.

Conferring of Graduate Degrees

Faculty place hood on candidate.

Candidate looks up to faculty as she receives hood.

Candidate in orchid head lei receives hood.

Candidate looks down at her hood as faculty adjust it.

Chancellor congratulates candidate.

Faculty place blue hood on candidate.

Candidate hugs faculty.

Faculty about to give candidate a lei.

Faculty places hood up and over candidate's head.

Faculty places hood up and over candidate's head while the other faculty member waits to adjust the fit.

Two faculty members help to place hood on candidate.

Candidate smiles as she receives her hood.

Candidate is about to receive a lei.

Faculty adjusts hood while another gives lei.

Candidate smiles while her hood is adjusted.

Candidate lowers herself while faculty place hood on her shoulders.

Candidate lowers herself while faculty places hood on her shoulders and another gives her a lei.

Faculty place blue hood on candidate's shoulders.

One candidate leaves the dais while another is being hooded.

Candidate lowers himself to make it easier for faculty to place the hood on his shoulders.

Faculty adjust blue hood on the candidate.

Conferring of Doctoral Degree

With Family and Friends

Graduate is on photo and her friend has a big smile.

Graduate with her parents.

Graduate with his parents.

Doctoral graduate with professor.

Graduate with family, dad wears a cowboy hat.

Two graduates in plenty lei.

Graduate with her family.

Graduate with her hand over her mouth in disbelief.

Graduate with large headdress, with family and friends.

Graduate with family, giving the double shaka.

Graduate with friend, both in lei.

Graduate with mom.

Graduate holds a sign.

Graduate with lei up to his nose. Big smile.

Graduate in maile lei, with family. holds his red diploma cover.

Photos by Bob Douglas, a local artist, photographer, and sometimes part-time student who volunteers his photography skills to the Office of the Chancellor and UH Hilo Stories.

Full Commencement Ceremony:

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