Yesterday, my niece, Kealohaku'ualohaku'upoki'i Balaz received her bachelor's degree in nursing. How proud we are of her personal accomplishment, fortitude, tenacity and leadership. This caused me to think of my years at the same campus.During my time, there were few Kanaka Maoli that graduated from UH; most opted to attend colleges and universities on the U.S. continent and other places in the world. At that time, the University was concerned about Kanaka Maoli attending their institution as the statistics were dismal of our people attending and advancing their careers through their education system.Back then, I was in the College of Fine Arts and my Dean formulated a three year program for me to get my degree because of the credits I achieved at my high school. My third year I had to forgo college and join the workforce and never went back to finish to get my degree. This was a disappointment and regret; but my life wasn't ruined for it. I depended on my other skills. Hawaiians are survivors and make the best of everything. LOL...There I was, sitting in the Stan Sheriff Center anticipating my niece's commencement in receiving her well-earned diploma. The keynote speaker was tolerantly listened to but we wanted to get to the graduates in honoring them. For me the impatience to see my niece up on stage receiving her diploma was all that I was there for. What else would one expect from a very proud uncle!The names recited by the announcer as they went up to receive their honors were called out one by one followed by cheers, applause instilled with great pride by the audience and fellow graduates. Excitement filled the air as the whole place electrified with anticipation. As the names were called out, I began to notice many of them had Hawaiian names. Was I imagining this or was there actually a good many Hawaiians graduating from this revered institution of ours. Did the UH fulfill its goal of incorporating as many kanaka maoli to its roster of students?With some doubt, I thought there were those who were not kanaka maoli who had Hawaiian names or names that sounded Hawaiian. The more I heard the names; the more it was revealed that they were more Hawaiians graduating than I had suspected. I magined that it was the Hawaiian Studies program that was responsible for the increase; but names were called out in other colleges within the university' various schools within its institution.A wave of sense of pride overwhelmed me as the names were mentioned. I found out that I knew some of them or their families. An honorarium of lifetime achievement pothumously given and received by her son was awarded to Winona Beamer. There was a spontaneous standing ovation to a great Hawaiian Lady, a personal friend and a woman of accomplishment we all loved her for being.Dr. Keanu Sai, at last achieved his political science goal through arduous work and research. The same goes to Ikaika Hussey, the creator of Maoliworld for his well-earned degree in the field of his study. There were other familiar graduates of whom I knew, were related to or were aware of, that I heard their names announced in the exercise that was taking place. What a great feeling it is to witness and what a day of reckoning; an awareness that the Kanaka Maoli has had its day at the University of Hawai'i and continues to have it. E ho'omaita'i ia 'outou me te aroha a pau! Holomua i loko o ta wa mahope.Tane
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