Video: State Representaive-Elect Sue Lee Loy gives public talk on UH Hilo’s role in the community

The talk, “UH Hilo’s Role in the Community,” is part of the Kuleana and Community Weekly Talk Story gatherings. This is the final talk of the semester.

Profile photo of Sue Lee Loy in head lei. UH Hilo KULEANA & COMMUNITY Weekly Talk Story: Building Community Through Conversation presents a talk by Sue Lee Loy, Hawaiʻi County Council Member, State House Representative-Elect. “UH Hilo’s Role in the Community.” Videotaped Nov. 15, 2024.


Sue Lee Loy, current Hawaiʻi County Council Member and State House Representative-Elect (District 2), gave a public talk Nov. 15 at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo about the university’s role in the community.

The talk, “UH Hilo’s Role in the Community,” is part of a series of weekly gatherings held this semester at UH Hilo where students, faculty, staff, university retirees, and members of the local community get together in a safe and welcoming environment to share their thoughts around a common topic.

The goal of the series, named Kuleana and Community Weekly Talk Story: Building Community Through Conversation, is to strengthen the university’s connections to the local community through conversation. Topics cover Maunakea stewardship, mental health, better communication, houselessness in Hawaiʻi, entrepreneurship, and more. Following a short talk by a featured guest, attendees break out into discussion groups and then share their manaʻo (thoughts) with everyone.

Loy has deep roots in the community. She was raised in the district by her parents David and Patricia Keohokapu and is a graduate of Waiākea High School. For the last eight years she worked on behalf of Hawaiʻi Island residents as a member of the Hawaiʻi County Council representing Council District 3, a portion of South Hilo and a portion of Keaʻau. She has 25 years of experience in land use development, environmental permits, and long-range community planning.

The talk, the last of this semester’s Kuleana and Community series, was held on campus at the Kilohana Student Success Center located in Edwin Mookini Library.

The Kuleana and Community series is sponsored by the UH Hilo Office of the Chancellor, Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center, Kilohana Academic Success Center, Center for Global Education and Exchange, and Assistant Professor of Communication Colby Miyose and Associate Professor of Sociology Alton Okinaka.

Don’t miss the complete Kuleana and Community series

UPDATED with links to video recordings of each talk:

Aug. 30: Colby Miyose, “Communicating with Empathy” (this presentation was not recorded)
Sept. 6: Gerald DeMello, Historic Preservation Advocate, “Preserving Hawaiʻi’s History”
Sept. 13: Charmaine Higa, UH Hilo Professor of Psychology, “Small Shoulders, Big Worries: Understanding Childhood Anxiety in a Post-Pandemic World”
Sept. 20: Randy Kurohara, Executive Director, Community First, “Kuleana Health: Our Responsibility for Health”
Sept. 27: Clifton Sankofa, Educator, “Reclaiming Health Through Food”
Oct. 4: Kaleo Pilago, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Center for Maunakea Stewardship, “Maunakea Stewardship”
Oct. 11: Beverly Tese, Community Activist, Prizma Hawaiʻi LGBTQ Center, “Representation”
Oct. 18: Carla Kuo, Executive Officer, Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce, “Supporting Local”
Oct. 25: Brandee Menino, Chief Executive Office, HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, “Empowering Our Community: Exploring Services That Strengthen Us”
Nov. 1: Mike Miyahira, UH Regent and Business Owner, “Best Practices for Family Business Owners”
Nov. 8: Julie Mitchell, Executive Director, Kuʻikahi Mediation Center, “Conflict Prevention and Resolution”
Nov. 15: Sue Lee Loy, Hawaiʻi County Council Member and State Representative-Elect, “UH Hilo’s Role in the Community”

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