UH Hilo Spring 2021 Commencement Celebration Personal Messages

ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 932

He pūkoʻa kani ʻāina.
A coral reef that grows into an island.
A person beginning in a small way gains steadily until he becomes firmly established.
— Tiffany T Kami

Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
— Gregory Alphonse Walter II

Whoever has the most fun wins!
— Jorge Xavier De Leōn Tye

"The future rewards those who press on. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I'm going to press on."
- Obama
— Jamieson Thomas Kawika Hideo Hirayama

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
— Maruko Tiffany Sigrah

“Learning another language is like becoming another person.” – Haruki Murakami
— Sienna Lynn Wareham

She believed she could so she did
-R.S. Grey
— Kaleinani Iwiliʻiamekeʻalaokapuamaeʻole Rapoza

You're not late, you're not early, you are right on time. Enjoy life!
— Mohala Kehaunani Gonsalves

“ʻAʻole pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi.”
All knowledge is not taught in the same school.
(Pukui 1983:25:203)

E hoʻomau ana nō au i ka ʻimi naʻauao me ka ʻike i aʻo ʻia ma ke kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo.
I will continue learning with the knowledge that was taught at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
— Sakai Rikako

"I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse" - Florence Nightingale
— Lexie Ilihia Taylor

"For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11
— Vevesi Ariana Hope Liilii

“Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll fall upon the stars.”

- Les Brown
— Victoria Akemi Xinh Rapoza

Kūliʻa I Ka Nuʻu - Strive to reach the Summit
— Nicole Lea Puakaʻilima Garza

"Save one life and you're a hero. Save a hundred lives, well, then you're a nurse."

- Mildred Ratched
— Charlene Mae Quezon Galvez

Honestly, just follow your passion.
— Thien Chi Huynh

The Dash by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
— Melinda "Mindy" M. Alles

The Dash cont...

So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

I hope this poem helps someone who needed it. It doesn't matter how often you fall or fail long as you get back up. Don't worry about what you have or don't have. Foster and build those relationships & spend your dash well.
— Melinda "Mindy" M. Alles

To all the single mothers out there, you can do it! GET THAT COLLEGE DEGREE!
— Nicole Anela Konanui

"See it, Believe it, Achieve it"

- unknown
— Maria J Jetton

Mahalo e ke Akua no ka makana o ke Ola
— Simianne Aiu Taber

May we never lose our sense of wonder and always find the courage to pursue our passions!
— Jade Makamae Farmer

"...I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."

By William Ernest Henley
— Tari A. Carvalho

"E kūlia i ka nu’u" -
Strive to reach the highest
— Shantel Kālola Tamiko Rita

My personal quote is "My dream isn't to be the best, but to be who I'm not ashamed to be."
— Candace Emiko Karvas

“I Trust the Next Chapter Because I Know the Author.”
— Walter Robert Schellhase

"I'm one with the Degree. The Degree is with me."
- Chirrut Îmdone
— Jordan Robert Drewer

“The best way to prove your value is to work. To learn. To absorb. To be a sponge” (Kobe Bryant, 2018)
— Tyler Kekoa Matsukawa

Always remember that tomorrow will be a better day
— Ariana Miya Dolan

“Always believe in yourself. Do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear.”
― Hayao Miyazaki
— Tristine Rene Honea

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23
— Stephanie E'laura Lewis

“I am not what has happened to me. I am what I chose to become”.

- Carl Jung
— Brianna Nohealani Yoshiko Ellegard

Kūlia i ka nuʻu - strive for the summit.
— Sienna Rae Kanoelani Davis

For the current and future students: your grades are important, and so is a good work-life balance. Remember to take some time off once in a while to go do something fun like binge watch that show in sweatpants, or travel somewhere new. Enjoy college not just classes.
— Ariel Kaʻionaniokekai Mei Lann Tuvera Rocha Young-Ziegler

Difficult moments in my life have taught me that the greatest growth of character occurs when under pressure. Though I’ve struggled, I did not give up and managed to attain my goals. Trust in God, work hard, and take care of yourself.
— Haley Keala-Faith Rasse

My wisest words of wisdom would be: of all the things you choose to be in life, choose to be happy.
— Calvin Riley Ostler

Words of Wisdom - be aware that learning how to fail is something most students don’t know how to do. Although it is a weird concept to understand, some students may not know how to cope with their first bad grade because they’re so used to succeeding all the time and it may feel like the end of their college career. Well not me.

Even though it can be embarrassing, failing is a crucial part of the process that leads to growth and I definitely grew a lot throughout my time as a student.

As I close this chapter in my life, I thank all of my friends who grew with me.
— Dario Kekoa Martin

The only thing standing between you and your goal, is the story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.
— Anthony Rey Soliva Daligcon

"But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me..."
- 2 Timothy 4:17
— Kikue Keʻalapuaokalani Bernabe

“Do What You Can With All You Have, Wherever You Are.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
— Charisma Felipe

What kept me going through the madness of balancing life and school?

1. "Grow through what you go through", take every loss as a lesson and keep moving forward.

2. Life can be a downer sometimes! Flip it the bird, smile and say "Das it?"
— Kilia Marie Keliilani Chillingworth

ʻAʻohe puʻu kiʻekiʻe ke hoʻāʻo ʻia e piʻi.
No cliff is so tall that it cannot be scaled.
There is no challenge too great to overcome.
— Jessica Kaʻiminaʻauao Downey Valladares

It always seems impossible until it is done.
Ephesians 3:16
— Iliana Lin Maile Jose

Always remember to...
"Be a fruitloop in a world full of cheerios"

- Patty Kogutek
— Tessa Kimiko Kishigawa

“The most important thing in business is honesty, integrity, hard-work, family, never forgetting where we came from...see, you are what you are in this world. That's one of two things. Either you're somebody...or you're nobody"
-Frank Lucas (American Gangster)
— Steven Kawa'a Hubbell

ʻO ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kūkulu
First the foundation, then the building
Learn all you can, then apply it
— Kody Kahiau Bermoy

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3
— Christine Joy Halabas Galdones

After four years, it is hard to believe that I was able to complete my degree. With the ups and downs of school and personal life, many might believe that they can't do it. With hard work and dedication, you can reach places that you never thought you could achieve. Never give up on the one person who will always be with you, YOURSELF.
— Garnett Gani Stone Jr.

A lesson from sediment entrainment and transport:
For sediment of all sizes, from clay sized up to boulder sized, the energy required to initially lift and entrain the sediment is greater than the energy required to keep the sediment in transport. It takes more energy to start the process than it does to keep it going. This is true for a lot of things in life, not just for rocks.
— Alice Mary Martin

"Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us."
-Isaiah 26:12
— Kiasa Asinna Kanto