 MAHALO !
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I have recently been nominated as a candidate for the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. I began my application process with several intentions. As an advocate for lifelong learning, I am committed to equal access to higher education for all the people of Hawai`i. College must be not only accessible but expected of our youth and available to adults wanting to pursue their goals in life. Early childhood education is critical for lifelong learning. Pre-school must be available to all children, not only those whose families can afford it. Education is not an elitist privilege but an universal right.
The wonderful celebrations we hold for high school graduations must be carried over to college graduations! The P20goal of 55% of all adults in Hawai`i having a higher education degree is achievable if we as a community become actively engaged in making it a reality. The University of Hawaii, West Oahu, took many, many years to complete and is a tremendous resource for those living on the Leeward side of Oahu and elsewhere. We must provide curriculum and degrees in fields that will allow our people to stay in Hawai`i and achieve professional and personal self- sufficiency. Education is the path to a strong and healthy society. Health is interwoven with education. All children begin as learners and the capacity to learn never leaves us as we age, only the desire, opportunities the vision too often dies. We must continue to build and sustain a dynamic, responsive University system in Hawai`i that will include the community colleges, particularly on the Neighbor Islands, as critical components of the system and not "poor stepchildren." Community colleges allow for those pursue their educational goals in a setting that is more financially accessible and compatible with the needs of many young adults and even seniors. My brief but fulfilling time on the Hawai`i State Board of Education in 2010 allowed me to participate in the public education system on behalf of our children. There is much to be proud of and many further goals to be achieved. The people of Hawai`i deserve to have an accessible, diverse and quality educational system from pre-school to graduate school and beyond. When knowledge is honored, we can unite and live in health, wealth and balance to celebrate our cultural diversity and the beauty of Hawai`i. I know that no matter where I am chosen to serve, education will always be my passion and path. |
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Three First-Timers Join Last Elected Panel
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