Kaʻi i Ka Wēkiu: Success Kime and Actions

Kaʻi i ka Wēkiu: Marching Towards the Summit of Success
The Kaʻi I Ka Wēkiu Kime initiative evolved from and replaced the Student Success Leadership Team (SSLT), which was formed as part of the 2021-2031 Strategic Plan Implementation process. It revolves around four action teams—workplace culture, student engagement, student support & well-being, and enrolllment management—composed of experts from various disciplines, all dedicated to student success.

Workplace Culture:
A Flourishing Environment
Empowering our academic community with an environment of unity, respect, and inspiration is the mandate of the Workplace Culture Kime. Their efforts transcend professional development; they aim to create a space where every member of our community thrives and embodies the values, purpose, vision and priorities of UH Hilo.
Student Engagement:
Connection and Achievement
At the heart of student life, the Student Engagement Kime is dedicated to championing student engagement throughout their academic journey. They will delve into transformative, high-impact practices, including service learning, learning communities, peer-assisted learning, honors programs, and more.
Enrollment Management:
Roadmap to Success
The Enrollment Management Kime will be working alongside the SEM consultant to develop an Enrollment Managemen Plan by examining enrollment data, from the point of admission to graduation, to elevate our collective understanding of enrollment management across our campus.
Student Support & Well-being:
Holistic Care
The Student Support and Wellbeing Kime will serve as the guardians of our students’ basic needs. Beyond implementing our Campus Basic Needs plan, they will establish a comprehensive approach to student care, ensuring that UH Hilo becomes a haven for both well-being and personal growth.
2025-2026: From Vision to Action
Each of the kime have developed comprehensive implementation plans and priorities that align with UH Hilo’s Strategic Plan. These plans represent a collective promise to create meaningful, measurable change for every student who walks our campus.
We’re cultivating these priorities through strategic investment, allocating $170,000 to launch three transformative initiatives informed by Kime recommendations for FY26:
- $30,000 to expand College Fair presence to reach future Vulcans
- $110,000 to strengthen Kuleana & Community (IS 150), the program that connects students to place and purpose, and
- $30,000 to develop Student Employment & Wellbeing programming that supports holistic student success.
In alignment with our 2025-2035 Strategic Plan, 2025-2026 Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, and the Enrollment Management Kime’s priorities, we have also invested $1.262 million to elevate our enrollment and marketing efforts via a partnership with Echo Delta, sharpening our identity as a Native Hawaiian place of learning, reimagining our digital presence, conducting a comprehensive campus facilities audit, and executing strategic recruitment campaigns that will bring mission-aligned students to our community.

These investments support our efforts to continue to Kaʻi i ka Wēkiu: March Towards the Summit of Success with clear direction, committed resources, and the collective energy of our UH Hilo ʻohana, dedicated to student success.
Fall 2024
- Kime focus areas set to align with strat plan by 2031
- 2025 short-term plan developed
Spring 2025
- Short- and Long-term plans updated
- Short-Term FY 25-27 action items
- 3-5 in 1st 3 years
- Long-term FY 28-31 action items
- continuation of short- term or farther down the road
- Short-duration and recurring initiatives IDd
- Updates shared by VCs to units and how to operationalize determined
Summer 2025
- Short- and Long-term plans presented to VCs
- action items
- Drafts reveiwed with implementing units
- Feedback received from VCs and units on operationalizing
Fall 2025
- Short- and Long-term plans finalized for implementation FY25-31
- action items IDd and agreed on
- plans used for budgetting
Fall 2026
- Implementation of FY 25 action assessed
Spring 2027
- Overall process assessed



