VNR: 2,800 graduates at UH Mānoa Spring commencement

Contact:

(Link to video and sound): https://go.hawaii.edu/W4i

Contact: [email protected], (808) 490-3268

WHAT:

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa--the state public higher education system's flagship campus--celebrated about 2,800 students at its two 2026 Spring Commencement Ceremonies.

WHEN:
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9 a.m.---12:30 p.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, UH Mānoa

WHO:

Speakers include keynote speaker Walter Dods, Jr., who will also receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters, student speaker Diego Haʻaheo Ortiz for the morning ceremony and student speaker Erica-Skyler Holokai for the afternoon ceremony, UH President Wendy Hensel, Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos, faculty, staff and administrators.

MORE INFORMATION:

• Graduates completed undergraduate and advanced degrees and are moving on to professional careers and graduate study.
• UH Mānoa is Hawaiʻi's only Carnegie R1 research university, ranked among the nation's leading public universities and in the top 2% worldwide.
• The campus is nationally recognized for strengths in science, health, engineering and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander studies.
• UH Mānoa secured approximately $570 million in research awards this year.
• The university serves a record enrollment of 20,400 students, including 3,294 first-time, degree-seeking freshmen.

Link to video and sound: https://go.hawaii.edu/W4i

VIDEO (1 minute, 50 seconds):

0:00-1:50 - Assorted shots of the commencement ceremony)

SOUNDBITES:

Josslyn Rose - UH Mānoa graduate (10 seconds)

"I think some of the biggest advice that has been helpful to me and other graduates that I've heard is to network to make advantage of the connections, all the friendships that you've built in college and the wonderful people along the way.

Grant Nakasone - UH Mānoa graduate (14 seconds)

"One thing that I found true is that there's a place for you here at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.

I found my place here through the opportunities presented to me, the internships, the classes, extracurriculars, everything from freshman year to this day has prepared me for the future."