Aloha Leeward Faculty and Staff,

The Fall 08 semester began with a rush of new and returning students and near record enrollment, and that pace has certainly continued.  So many events, activities and gatherings have occurred in the past few weeks, and I'd like to share just a few of them.

* Thirty-three Japanese students from GIFU City Women's College participated in our ESL program for two weeks. Mahalo to Becky George and her staff for their continuing great efforts with our international program. I enjoyed being part of their initial greeting and aloha/completion ceremony. 

* I was pleased to be able to represent Leeward CC at the official Retirement Celebration and Scholarship Fundraiser for Kauai Community Chancellor, Peggy Cha, in Lihue followed the next day by the UHCC Chancellors' Retreat.  As Peggy transitions to her new retired life in Colorado, we wish her well and also extend our aloha and welcome to Kauai's new Chancellor, Helen Cox.

* Several of us from campus attended the UH System Convocation/Luncheon  honoring our own O&M's Aki Hirota, lecturer Kristi Ayers, and math professor, Karen Fujishima-Lee (posthumous).

* Leeward Engineering Professor, Ron Flegal, and I participated in the STEM Summit organized by Dr. Peter Crouch, Dean of the College of Education, in which we met to explore and identify actions needed to further develop the workforce pipeline for engineering and engineering technology, and technology in STEM fields.

* It was a pleasure to accept on behalf of the Leeward CC Culinary Arts Program a $25,000 check from the Hawaii Food and Wine Paradise at Ko Olina. Our culinary faculty and their students gave generously of their time and energy in participating in this 3-day event.

* Disney will be coming to our Leeward coast backyard soon, and the admin team and I met with four representatives of the Disney Resort Group to explore future opportunities for our students in the Disney 'ohana at the expected new Disney Resort at Ko Olina in 2011.

* The AAT (Associate of Arts in Teaching) Program and the college hosted nearly 30 principals and their representatives at a luncheon at The Pearl.  The feedback from our guests about the success of the AAT program and viable future partnerships/internships was extremely positive, and the opportunity to once again raise our community visibility with the DOE was evident.  Thanks to  coordinator, Bobbie Martel and the incredible AAT team.

*  Close to 150 guests attended the College's 40th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration including many of our current and former faculty, staff and students, UH System heads, legislators, community partners, family and friends. A special mahalo to President McClain, Vice President CC John Morton, and former Chancellor Joyce Tsunoda for their kind words in celebration of the college and the Chancellorship.   The college was presented with a special signed 40th Anniversary Commemorative Plaque from our area state legislators, which hangs in public display in our Foyer Art Gallery in the administration building.

* Our community partner, Ma'o Farms, held their annual fundraiser at the Honolulu downtown art museum.  The number of Leeward students participating in the program in the fall is the largest it's been at nearly thirty students. 

*The Lakota Sioux Native American dance group performed beautifully at our Leeward Theatre  and was then graciously hosted at a Monday pa'ina by our Halau and the Ho'oulu students and staff.  

*Our Leeward 'ohana demonstrated their athleticism and community spirit in participating in the Aloha United Way Softball Tournament as part of our overall AUW campaign which surpassed its $14,000 goal. 

*One of our major Leeward Strategic Plan initiatives and that of the UHCC System, Achieving the Dream (ATD), had an all-day focused workshop at HCC, bringing in community college participants from every campus, including Leeward. Just to remind everyone, ATD is a national initiative to increase the success of community college students, particularly those in groups that have been underserved in higher education. In our case, that would be the native Hawaiian population. Some of the goals are to increase the number of students who successfully: a) complete remedial/developmental courses, b) complete "gatekeeper" courses, c) complete all enrolled courses with C or higher, d) persist from one semester to the next, and e) earn certificates and/or degrees.

* The Leeward CC Slipper Tour debuted, featuring the biotechnology lab with biology professor, Dr. Kabi Neupane, the Shadehouse with Frani Okamoto, and the native Hawaiian medicinal and stream gardens with our own students from instruction and the Halau and Ho'oulu. This was an invitation-only event coordinated by the college, Wendie McClain and the UH Foundation to bring potential donors on to our campus, further raising the college's community visibility. Of course, the timing was perfect with the Tour culminating with the buffet luncheon at The Pearl.

*Leeward CC hosted the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Leadership Conference, encouraging leadership, scholarship, service and fellowship.

*Our first Open Forum on Sustainability was held and the commitment by the attendees is palpable.  We can all look forward to great ideas and actions moving the college ever "greener" for the long term.

*Last Friday, the first of the UH System/DOE Math Summits was held at Windward CC. The opportunity to realize significant P-20 articulation is energizing. Mahalo to math faculty, Jennie Thompson, Wanda Miyamoto and Eric Matsuoka for their participation and perspective.

Mahalo,
Manny

Manuel J. Cabral
Chancellor