Over 2,000 University of Hawaii at Manoa students turn their tassels

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The University of Hawaii at Manoa introduced its new alumni during its 2024 spring commencement ceremony at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

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Families and friends spent their Saturday celebrating their graduate’s achievements in completing a major milestone.

Graduates from the following colleges walked in the 9 a.m. ceremony:

• College of Arts, Languages & Letters
• College of Natural Sciences
• College of Social Sciences
• College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources
• Hawaiinuikea School of Hawaiian Knowledge
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology

Shortly after, the following colleges crossed the stage during the 3:30 p.m. ceremony:

• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• John A. Burns School of Medicine
• Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing, including the Department of Dental Hygiene
• School of Architecture
• Shidler College of Business
• Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

Some graduates said this has been a long time coming.

“It’s been something that I think a lot of us have been waiting for for a really long time, especially since I think most of us graduated high school during the pandemic,” said graduate Maezel Baria. “So it’s really important and it’s really good to see everyone here.”

Others were excited to graduate from a “great community.”

“A little bittersweet, the bitter part is cause I’m no longer at Manoa, but the sweet part was to create a great community here at Manoa, especially at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources,” explained Cecili Rivera, graduating with Bachelor of Science in Dietetics.

After the ceremony, family and friends gave leis to their graduates in the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex and Les Murakami Stadium.

Graduates from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College, Palama-Nui on the Big Island also walked the stage during their commencement ceremonies.

UH Manoa will host several high school graduations beginning next week. Drivers should be prepared for traffic in the area.