Welcome new Vulcans! Kīpaepae, convocation, huakaʻi wahi pana, campus tours during Fall Orientation this week at UH Hilo

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The newest Vulcans at UH Hilo are exploring their campus and island home this week, preparing for the start of 2025 fall semester on Monday.

Overhead view: Large group of students stands with Chancellor on the plaza.
The newest Vulcans arrive on campus for Fall Orientation activities, August 20. Here, Chancellor Bonnie Irwin (center right front), vice chancellors and faculty gather with the new students for a photo at the Campus Center Plaza before Kīpaepae and Convocation at the Performing Arts Center. (Photo: UR/UH Hilo)

By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.

The newest Vulcans at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo are exploring their campus and island home this week, preparing for the start of 2025 fall semester on Monday.

Orientation events for incoming students started yesterday with students welcomed with lei lāʻī followed by a Kīpaepae and Convocation. Today is huakaʻi wahi pana or journey to explore the cultural traditions and storied places of Hawaiʻi Island, and tomorrow are campus tours. See the full schedule of orientation events.

Kīpaepae and Convocation: “We want you to thrive.”

A kīpaepae, organized by the university’s Kīpaepae Executive Committee, was held as part of the Convocation event. Kīpaepae translates to “stepping stones” and are traditional Native Hawaiian ceremonies of welcome.

Man on pahu (drum). More of the group on drums and with conch shells in the background.
A kīpaepae was held to welcome new students to UH Hilo on Aug. 20, 2025, at the Performing Arts Center. (Photo: UR/UH Hilo)

Following the kīpaepae ceremony, Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin — along with the vice chancellors and others — delivered welcome remarks to the new students.

As is her tradition, before her remarks Chancellor Irwin took a moment to snap a selfie with the student cohort in the background.

Chancellor Irwin takes selfie with the seats filled with students in the background.
Chancellor Irwin snaps a selfie with the newest Vulcans on Aug. 20, 2025, at Fall Convocation, Performing Arts Center, UH Hilo.

“The welcome that you just participated in is not just a ceremony for the sake of a ceremony. It is very meaningful,” says Chancellor Irwin in her remarks referring to the kīpaepae. “We want you, when you’re here, to really become of this place, and respect not only our people but our land and everything it stands for. So, there will be many things to learn, both in and out of the classroom.”

Chancellor Irwin talked about those experiences that UH Hilo students can have out of class and off campus: National Student Exchange, field research, service projects, internships.

“It’s those activities out of class that really help you ground what you are learning in class in real life activities. I encourage you to find places to do that,” she says.

Irwin concluded her convocation remarks by giving some advice about how to succeed in college: manage your time, pay attention to your budget, ask questions, and the number one most important thing to succeed in college, go to class.

“We want you to be successful here,” she says. “We want you to thrive. We want you to have the life you want to build, and this is the place you start.”

Hear all Chancellor’s and others’ remarks and see the entire kīpaepae and convocation ceremonies in the video:

Story by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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