Spring 2020 January Issue 1

Dearest Vulcan,

With respect to most of our staff traveling off-island for the winter break, we’ve kept it short this issue. From Maui to New Jersey, Idaho to Colorado, San Diego to Mexico City, the work that’s here between these pages has been electronically compiled together across oceans and continents. We’ve done our best, but in the resolute spirit of the new year, I will admit that there’s some room for improvement. Regardless of the stunted size, I hope you enjoy this month’s latest updates all the same.

We’ve featured the recent dedication of the newest building to be constructed on campus, Kihoʻihoʻi, to house UH Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy on the corner of Nowelo St. and Komohana St. And in the latest news concerning the impasse over the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea, an agreement has been made between the kiaʻi and Hawaiʻi County to postpone more work on the project until February in exchange for reopening Mauna Kea Access Road.

In the article titled “UH Hilo Student Walkout Protests UH Management of Maunakea” of our last issue, we inaccurately named Interim Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs Kaleihiʻiikapoli “Kalei” Rapoza as the Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. We apologize for this mistake and hope that, as our readers supporting our student-run learning laboratory, you will never hesitate to alert us when errors have been made.

The new year and decade opened for me atop a terrace overlooking a sliver of downtown Mexico City’s sprawling, seemingly endless, massively dense skyline. It’s impossible to sight the end of the city, and immense landscapes as such remind me of just how many opportunities, breakthroughs, beginnings, friendships, passions, and stories wait around the next bend. Being here in a foreign nation – especially one that’s facing challenges both unbeknownst to and exacerbated by our country – also urges me to remember that the work to be done is just as interminable. May your endeavors of the next era be abundant and bright, and whether you’re just joining our campus community for the first time this spring or returning for another term, everyone here at Ke Kalahea wishes you a successful semester and mahalo nui loa for reading.

Pōmaikaʻi,
Good luck,

Rosannah