HPU instructor John Windrow, l., at SPJ conference.

Photo by Eddie London

HPU choir performs fifth annual spring concert

On April 21, HPU’s International Chorale and Vocal Ensemble (IVE) performed their fifth annual spring concert Homeward Bound, at Central Union Church. The concert featured international ballads from Cuba, Germany, Hawai‘i, Ireland, Korea, and Zambia. [More]

Uemura appointed new vice president

HPU President Chatt G. Wright recently announced the appointment effective April 1 of Kenneth T. Uemura as the University’s vice president and chief financial officer. [More]

Kenneth Uemura

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Advising Dean Nakashima to national position

HPU Associate Dean for Graduate Advising Deborah L. Nakashima has been elected to region chair for Pacific Region 9 of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Nakashima will assume the leadership role at the end of the NACADA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Md., in October, and will serve until October 2009. [More]

Deborah Nakashima

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Prof. Madison addresses national conference

HPU Associate Professor of English Dr. Elaine Leilani Madison addressed the 2007 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) annual convention in New York City on March 22. [More]

COM club raises $3K

HPU’s MA COM Club participated in the MS Walk on April 14 at Ala Moana Beach Park. The students raised more than $3,000 for the fight against multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease of the central nervous system. The money will go towards funding various programs, services, and research of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. [More]

The MA COM club completes the MS Walk at Ala Moana Beach Park on April 14.

Courtesy Natasha Piper

HPU dean in Czech Republic

Dr. Carlos Juárez, dean of HPU’s College of International Studies, recently returned from delivering a lecture series on “The Role of NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) in World Politics” at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. [More]

Fulbright Scholar and Dean of International Studies Dr. Carlos Juárez takes a break at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic.

Courtesy Carlos Juárez

Kalamalama wins top awards for ‘06

Kalamalama recently won top national and state honors for its 2006 publications. The HPU newspaper won a National First Place, for the 11th consecutive year, as well as the Best Service to the Community Award from the American Scholastic Press Association. It also won first-place honors for the fourth consecutive year in the school newspaper category at the Hawai‘i Publisher’s Association Pa‘i Awards ceremony held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom on March 27. [More]

(L toR) Kalamalama Associate Editor Ku‘ulei Funn, Editor Brittany Yap, and former Editor Kyle Galdeira.

Photo by Larry LeDoux

HPU hosts cultural nursing conference

The Transcultural Nursing Center at HPU and Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) hosted a conference—Transcultural Nursing: Caring and Healing in Hawai‘i—April 19 at the Hale Koa Hotel. [More]

Renel Davis

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Prof. named Social Worker of the Year

by Jessica S. McDunn, University Relations

HPU Adjunct Professor of Human Services Dr. Maeona Mendelson has been named Social Worker of the Year in Gerontology by the Hawai‘i Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She received her award March 23 at the NASW Hawai‘i Chapter 2007 Social Worker of the Year Awards Luncheon.

Mendelson, most recently served as the executive director for the Hawai‘i Intergenerational Network (HIN), is a Hawai‘i state past president for the AARP, and is currently a member of the AARP National Board.

Mendelson serves as a member of the Advisory Committee for the World Congress of Youth, Honolulu Committee on Aging, and Macklin Intergenerational Institute. She is a United Nations Association of Hawai‘i board member, Honolulu Academy of Arts docent, and a Generations United program committee member.

In 2004, Mendelson received a commendation from the state of Hawai‘i House of Representatives for her contribution to international affairs, culture, education, and trade. The City & County of Honolulu Department of Economic Development commended Mendelson for her direction of the Millennium Young People’s Congress in 1999.

The National Association of Social Workers is the largest organization of professional social workers in the world, serving nearly 155,000 social workers in 56 chapters throughout the United States and abroad.

Mendelson earned her B.A. from the School of International Service at American University, a Master’s of Social Work with a focus on community organization and social policy, and a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of social welfare from the University of Hawai‘i.

I am happy to report good news about the University’s preliminary planning for expansion of the Hawai‘i Loa campus, an important part of our history and our long-term dream for an HPU with new horizons for campus life, academic programs, and connections between downtown and windward campuses. [More]

We stood together and lit two candles, one for Virginia Tech, one for our community here at HPU. We heard comforting words from the Psalms. The International Vocal Ensemble blessed us with an uplifting chorus. We prayed for the families who lost loved ones in Virginia. Lolan shared a song of hope, and we joined hands in solidarity with all who mourn and grieve. [More]