Chancellor’s Farewell Address
Campus Center Plaza
June 30, 2010

Thank you for that warm introduction! Aloha! Thank you for this reception, it means a lot to me. Thank you for organizing, the food, presents, lei… You have made me very happy today.

When I first came to Hilo, I didn’t think I would be chancellor as long as twelve years. That’s a long time for this work, but I was energized by our common dream to have the best university possible. Today, as I reach the end of my appointment as chancellor, I feel very grateful for your support.

It’s been an exciting journey for all of us—a team effort. Your dedication and enthusiasm has kept me going. All the people I’ve met and worked with have kept me going. I really do feel like you are my extended family, my ‘ohana: students, faculty, staff, community and legislators. We proved that when we all work together, great things happen! Let me share with you some of my favorite “great things” that we accomplished together:

• Together, we increased enrollment, built new facilities, started degree programs, increased grants and research, and increased global recognition of UH Hilo.
• Together, we celebrate UH Hilo’s six colleges, 36 bachelor’s and six master’s degrees, and two doctorates.
• Together, we added three new colleges – Hawaiian language, business and economics, and pharmacy – and built excellent liberal arts and professional programs.
• Together, we launched innovative programs integrating culture, science and hands-on learning, which are now models for other universities.
• Together, we grew our infrastructure with the University Classroom Building, Marine Science Building and Student Life Center.
• The new Science and Technology Building will be completed soon, a Student Services Building is on the way, and the Hawai‘i State Legislature recently approved $28 million for a new College of Hawaiian Language Building. A College of Pharmacy complex is in planning. We all look forward to their completion!

You should all feel very proud of these accomplishments, I know I do.

I have truly enjoyed working with each and every one of you to reach our dreams. I know this university is on its way to becoming a true residential campus and Hilo a true college town. With the foundation we built these past 12 years, this campus will soon serve our state as a true second university. That will be exciting to see!

It has been an honor and a privilege to be UH Hilo’s Chancellor. I have tried to provide leadership and support, with the help of many good and talented people. I leave my post knowing UH Hilo is in a good hands to keep the momentum going!

Mahalo to each and every one of you for your hard work, dedication, and unfailing support. You have shown that when we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha and mahalo!

Rose Tseng

At prestigious banquet held this week in the Great Hall of the People, China’s capitol building, Governor Linda Lingle specifically acknowledged Chancellor Rose Tseng, in attendance at the banquet, who played a pivotal role in Mauna Kea being chosen as the site for the Thirty Meter Telescope, a $1.2 billion project.

Press release from the Office of the Governor:

Governor Lingle was the honored guest of the China Diplomatic Friendship Association and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce banquet held in the Great Hall of the People, China’s capitol building. The special guest at this event was Lu Yong Xiang, vice chairman of the Chinese People’s National Congress and head of the Chinese National Academy of Sciences. Vice Chairman Lu recently returned from visiting Mauna Kea on the Big Island, the site of the forthcoming Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). China intends to be a collaborative partner in the TMT project.

Mr. Lu believes China and Hawai‘i have a great opportunity to work together in scientific explorations. As he stated, “Hawai‘i can see the cosmos and the vast oceans—so its horizons are unlimited.” Mr. Lu praised Governor Lingle for her foresight in establishing strong relationships with China, demonstrated by her four trips to the country during her administration.

Governor Lingle provided a history of the telescope project, including the competition between Mauna Kea and the Cerro Armazones in Chile for the final build site. The Governor specifically acknowledged University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng, in attendance at the banquet, who played a pivotal role in Hawai‘i being chosen as the site for this $1.2 billion project.

Governor Lingle thanked everyone for the opportunity to end her trip in such a prestigious location as the Great Hall of the People’s Congress, a mark of the strength of the friendship between Hawai‘i and China.

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

June 2010

We celebrated UH Hilo’s Spring Commencement on May 15. I always enjoy commencement because it’s a time when friends, families and the community gather together to show support for our graduates. The commencement keynote speaker was Mayor Billy Kenoi, who gave an inspirational speech about the value of kindness, compassion and aloha in all pursuits. The student speaker was La‘akea Yoshida, a history major focusing on European history, with a minor in anthropology. La‘akea, from Ka‘u, earned numerous academic honors at UH Hilo and will be attending Oxford University this fall as a Master of Philosophy candidate in Roman and Greek history. He is believed to be the first history major from UH Hilo ever admitted to Oxford, and we are very proud of his accomplishments!

Many of you in the Chamber supported our efforts during the 2010 Legislative Session by giving testimony and meeting with legislators to talk story about ways to strengthen UH Hilo. Thank you for your hard work! I’m happy to report that our CIP budget includes $28 million for a new building for UH Hilo’s College of Hawaiian Language. Every one of you who helped on this initiative can be proud to have contributed to strengthening the study of Hawaiian language, culture and history.

Many thanks also to our state legislators, who thoroughly understand that an investment in UH facilities is a sound investment in our overall economic future. Our new Science and Technology Building, nearing completion now, is a great example. We are truly grateful to our legislators for supporting such tremendous assets for the future of education and innovation on our island.

In addition, I want to express my appreciation to my fellow Chamber members who have supported UH Hilo as we strive to enhance the management of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. Our management process includes many opportunities for public participation in decision making, and we are gratified to see the thoughtfulness and vibrancy of the public response. Many thanks to the Chamber membership for unfailingly supporting the process and for actively contributing input through letters and testimony at public meetings.

In other news, a consortium led by UH Hilo’s College of Pharmacy has been awarded a $16 million grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Hawai‘i County is one of only 15 communities across the nation chosen to develop pilot programs for wide-scale use of electronic medical records. By working together, this consortium of our island’s dedicated medical leaders and health professionals will use information technology to lower the cost and enhance the quality of health care for our island.

I am stepping down as chancellor at UH Hilo so this column in the Chamber Connection is the last for me. Before I close, I’d like to express a special note of gratitude. I will forever feel privileged to have served as chancellor, and honored to have worked with Chamber members for the past 12 years, sharing the goals of making our communities and our economy stronger. My years as chancellor at UH Hilo have been some of the most challenging and the most rewarding of my life. I thank you for your steadfast support and graciousness; I truly enjoyed every minute working with you.

While this may be my last aloha to you as chancellor, it is not goodbye. Looking ahead, I will stay active in continuing the integration of culture, science and technology; health professions; and global education. I will also be promoting leadership development both nationally and internationally, especially of women and minorities in higher education. I look forward to working with you into the future.

I always end this column with “When we all work together, great things happen!” I think that for this, my last column as chancellor, I can say, “We all worked together and great things certainly DID happen!” I am deeply grateful.

Aloha,

Rose Tseng

Chancellor Rose Tseng, UH Hilo faculty, and members of the local community welcomed UH Hilo’s incoming chancellor, Donald O. Straney, at a reception held on campus May 21.

Dr. Straney is dean of science and a professor of biology at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. He was unanimously approved by the UH Board of Regents and replaces Chancellor Tseng on July 1.

Chancellor Tseng makes her last Commencement Address at UH Hilo, May 15.

Chancellor’s Address:

E nä malihini hanohano,
nä kamaÿäïna,
nä kumu,
nä limahana
a me nä haumana,
aloha pumehana käkou.

Aloha and Good Morning!

As Chancellor of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, and, on behalf of the entire University of Hawai‘i system, I am very pleased to welcome you to the 2010 Spring Commencement.

I’d like to extend a warm aloha to UH Vice President Linda Johnsrud; Regent Michael Dahilig; Mayor Billy Kenoi; our graduating students and their families; UH Hilo faculty and staff, and distinguished guests: It’s wonderful to see you all here to celebrate this special occasion.

Commencement is always the pinnacle of every year filled with excitement, energy and anticipation about the future. This year, especially, as my last year as Chancellor of UH Hilo, I, too, am graduating in a sense, and filled with enthusiasm about possibilities and future endeavors.

Today is yuor story, your mo‘olelo and your celebration. The memories and experiences you have had at UH Hilo will remain with you for a life time. For many of you, and for me, we pushed the envelope of discovery and accomplishment and reached down deep to the potential of excellence that is within all of us.

We have all made lifelong friends, had extraordinary mentors, and discovered untapped capabilities. Your rigorous education challenged you to use your critical thinking skills preparing you for your future.

You also learned about the importance of community and how the Aloha Spirit contributed to your success as a student and your own personal evolution.

In my 12 years at UH Hilo, community has been very important to me. It is because of community– our UH Hilo ‘Ohana, our friends and supporters– that we have achieved such remarkable growth.

It’s about community! It’s always about community, no matter how you define that: Local, national or global, we are all one community!

• Together, we have watched UH Hilo grow from a little-known campus to one of international recognition.
• Together, we increased enrollment, built new facilities, started degree programs, increased grants and research, and increased global recognition of UH Hilo.
• We added three new colleges– Hawaiian Language, Business & Economics and Pharmacy– and built some wonderful liberal arts and professional programs.
• Together, we built and designed one of UH Hilo’s jewels, the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i.
• And look at our beautiful University Classroom Building, Marine Science Building, the new Student Life Center; the nearly completed Science and Tech building and the Pharmacy Modular buildings that will double in size over the next year.
• Stay tuned for the new Student Services building, the new Book Store, a permanent building for the College of Pharmacy and the long anticipated building for the College of Hawaiian Language.
• UH Hilo now has six colleges, 36 bachelor’s degrees, six master’s degrees, and two doctorates.

These are all programs that help build strong communities and a better economy. How very proud we are as a community, because we have developed innovative programs that integrate culture and science and now stand as a global model for other institutions of higher learning.

There are so many champions who have contributed to your success, and to mine, and have influenced your positive experience at UH Hilo.

Together, with you, I want to express my profound gratitude to the UH Administration, the Board of Regents, members of our Big Island community, our elected officials, our esteemed UH Hilo faculty and staff and to the broader global community for the friendships and partnerships that have connected UH Hilo throughout the world. Everyone I mentioned is an integral part of the success you have achieved here at UH Hilo.

So today, at your Commencement, you celebrate a rite of passage among your family and friends. Your professors are here celebrating, too, filled with pride at all you have accomplished.

This Commencement marks a rite of passage for me, too! This is my 24th Commencement address and it is my last as Chancellor at UH Hilo. I will forever feel privileged to have served in this capacity and honored to address you as the class of 2010. I look out at you and feel pride! You are UH Hilo’s ambassadors to the world! We all share with you the excitement of a future full of possibilities.

Before I close, I’d like to say another sincere mahalo to the faculty and my administration.

I think the most important words that I have used today are “together” and “we” because together we can, and together we certainly did!

My years as Chancellor at UH Hilo have been some of the most challenging and the most rewarding of my life. I thank you for your steadfast support and your graciousness in allowing me a moment to offer this farewell message.

This is your day and I want you to know that I feel great pride at seeing you graduate today.

Thank you and aloha!

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

May 2010

BLNR approves sub plans for management of Mauna Kea

I’m happy to announce the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the four sub plans of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan at a public hearing in Hilo on March 25. Mahalo for your support! A special thanks to Chamber Members for sign waving prior to the meeting and for supportive testimony not just at this meeting, but at prior BLNR meetings as well. Your support throughout the years to get to this point was invaluable and I sincerely thank each and every one of you.

I’m proud the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo took the lead in implementing the Comprehensive Management Plan. We recognize that stewardship of Mauna Kea needs to be from the Big Island. In the year 2000, UH changed the organizational structure for the management of Mauna Kea, and UH Hilo assumed responsibility.

We’ve been the lead campus for the past ten years, working through our Office of Mauna Kea Management. OMKM’s mission is to find harmony, balance and trust in the sustainable management and stewardship of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. We involve the public in preserving and enhancing the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of Mauna Kea. We also aim to provide a world-class center for education, research, and astronomy.

With this phase of the management plan, four sub plans were approved by the BLNR:

The Natural Resources Management Plan protects the natural resources within the UH Management Area on the mountain. This sub plan is unique because it is the first plan to focus on protection and preservation of this extraordinary resource. These fragile ecosystems are of immense value to the citizens of Hawai‘i and the global community, and I’m pleased to see strong protection measures spelled out in the plan.

The Cultural Resources Management Plan promotes a greater understanding of the rich cultural heritage of Mauna Kea; preserves the cultural resources for future generations; allows for Native Hawaiians to engage in cultural and religious practices; and preserves the cultural landscape for cultural practitioners, researchers, recreation and other uses.

The Public Access Plan sets policy on management that will serve to protect the natural and cultural resources while at the same time facilitating public and Native Hawaiian activities and enjoyment of the mountain.

The Decommissioning Plan describes the process for decommissioning observatories on Mauna Kea when leases expire or an observatory decides to stop operations. In this sub plan, UH addresses its goal of maintaining a world class observatory complex, using the decommission process as a way to limit growth and protect natural and cultural resources.

A key approach to developing these four sub plans was community input from scientific experts, educators, natural resource managers, rangers, community leaders, hunters, astronomers, snow players, tour operators, and other concerned members of the public.

In fact, the Office of Mauna Kea Management has made sure that no change is made on Mauna Kea without considerable community oversight and involvement. The Mauna Kea Management Board advises OMKM and me on stewardship issues. It’s a hard-working, community-based board that actively helps to manage the mountain. All its meetings are open to the public. Mahalo to Barry Taniguchi for his leadership as board chair.

The Kahu Ku Mauna Council and Environment Committee also volunteer many hours to study stewardship issues and provide thoughtful input to OMKM and the board. Kahu Ku Mauna means “guardians of the mountain,” and they provide guidance on cultural matters.

It has taken years of hard work by many people to get to this point, but there is much more to be done to protect the mountain and maintain the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. On the near horizon is rulemaking, which will begin in the coming year.

Again, mahalo to the Chamber for all your support in our efforts. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor Rose Tseng, Grand Marshal of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival Parade, passes UH Hilo's Innovation Center in downtown Hilo. April 15, 2010. Photo by John Oshima.

From the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival parade program notes:

Rose Tseng, Ph.D.
Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Rose Tseng is chancellor at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. She’s a tireless advocate for Native Hawaiian culture and language revitalization and takes seriously the responsibility of the university to serve Native Hawaiian children and families and to learn from the host culture. She has a keen interest in balancing scientific exploration with cultural concerns, and has championed some of the most innovative programs in the country that integrate culture, science and technology. Under her leadership, UH Hilo is now one of the world’s foremost indigenous-serving universities by supporting the access and success of Native Hawaiian students; twenty-two percent of UH Hilo’s students are Native Hawaiian. Her support for Hawaiian language immersion education and Hawaiian language teacher training helped pave the way for UH Hilo’s Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language to become internationally recognized in the education of indigenous peoples, with the distinction of offering a doctoral program in Hawaiian and indigenous language and cultural revitalization. The college recently was awarded full accreditation by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium and is the first college in the country to earn this merit.

Chancellor Tseng waves to the crowd as Grand Marshal of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival parade on April 15. Photo by John Oshima.

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection
March 2010

Building a knowledge-based economy

To create a better quality of life for all Hawai‘i citizens, we need to work hard to foster a knowledge-based economy and help the whole state with economic stimulus and workforce development for the new century. This month, I’d like to share with you recent events at UH Hilo that focused on science and workforce development.

We celebrated the grand opening of the Hawai‘i Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility, housed at UH Hilo’s Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center in Keaukaha. The facility will rehabilitate and release whales and dolphins in Hawai‘i and elsewhere in the Pacific. It’s a volunteer-based system with over 100 community volunteers and is the only rehab facility of its kind in the state. The program is a collaboration between UH Hilo, the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources.

We held a meeting with stakeholders interested in developing a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering Technology at UH Hilo. The State Legislature is interested in us pursuing this if there is sufficient support and progress on it. The program will emphasize robotics, artificial intelligence, data manipulation, sustainable energy, and food security and will address state needs for a trained workforce in science and technology. This has the potential to drive economic development in the whole state. The program will have linkages to observatories on Mauna Kea, as well as UH Hilo’s Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES).

PISCES, which held its annual meeting on our campus in February, is a good example of a perfect fit here on The Big Island because it involves our abundant natural resources and will help advance and sustain higher education. With PISCES activity based on our island, tremendous opportunities are created for K-12, and UH Hilo students and faculty. Students can work with geologists, technicians, doctors, astronauts, and other professionals in developing robotic and manned voyages beyond earth orbit. Our faculty can collaborate with NASA and international scientists and engineers in designing “next generation” technology for future space missions.

The Hawai‘i District Science and Engineering Fair was held. Intermediate and high school students from East Hawai‘i exhibited their projects in science and engineering, while competing for a chance to advance to the State Science Fair in Honolulu. The annual event is a community affair, jointly sponsored by UH Hilo, the State and Hawai‘i District Department of Education, the Hawai‘i Academy of Science, the Robert and Alice Fujimoto Foundation, Hapai Enterprises, UH Hilo Sigma XI Chapter, UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Education Center of Hawai‘i, and many other valuable sponsors who make the fair happen each year. I would like to extend my appreciation to the Steering Committee and all the people and groups who support the fair each year. A special mahalo to Professor and UH Regent Emeritus Marlene Hapai, director of the fair.

It was with great pleasure that I attended the ceremony to bless UH Hilo’s new research and education vessel the Makani ‘Aha. The ceremony took place at the mouth of the Wailoa Estuary. The Makani ‘Aha gives undergraduate students in Marine Science the opportunity to participate in hands-on education and research alongside their professors. The marine science program supports the marine education needs of the island of Hawai‘i, as well the state and Pacific basin, preparing students from the entire region to make a positive impact on the marine environment.

Thank you for all your support for these and other UH Hilo workforce development initiatives. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection

February 2010

UH Hilo is on the leading edge of workforce development both globally and locally

Last month, I told you about my travels to China, Korea, and Taiwan, hosting receptions for our alumni and giving talks at universities. As a result of recent meetings in Korea, I’m excited to tell you that delegations from two Korean universities will visit UH Hilo this month to discuss student and faculty exchange programs, expanded academic programs, and collaborative research.

My outreach to the international higher education community is of the upmost importance for our university, our island and our state. For students to be competitive in an increasingly global workforce, they must have learning opportunities that give them a broad world view. At UH Hilo, we expose as many students as possible to the outside world, so they are ready to understand and meet its challenges.

Here at home, I’ve met with Mauna Kea observatory directors about developing programs to help local residents qualify for high-paying jobs at the observatories. The observatory directors are very receptive to the idea and I’m excited about these collaborative efforts.

I’m also working on promoting sustainability initiatives and academic programs in bioenergy, agriculture, and applied engineering of benefit to the state. For example, with the full support of the State Legislature, UH Hilo is establishing an undergraduate bachelor in science in applied engineering, which will emphasize robotics, artificial intelligence, data manipulation, sustainable energy, and food security. The program will have linkages to current and next generation observatories on Mauna Kea, as well as ongoing collaboration with UH Hilo’s Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES).

I’m very excited about these workforce development initiatives and I thank the members of the Chamber for all your support.

Before I close, I’d like to tell you about some UH Hilo events.

Our Fall Commencement was held in December. Commencement is one of my favorite events because it’s always a joy to see friends, families and the community gather to share the special day. We were joined by many state and county elected officials to honor our graduates. Our keynote speaker was Wayne Hamano from Hilo and vice chair of Bank of Hawai‘i. We also were honored that University of Hawai‘i Regent and Chair Howard Karr and UH President MRC Greenwood also participated in the commencement ceremony.

UH Hilo hosted the 10th Annual Ellison Onizuka Science last month. It was the 25th anniversary of the Challenger tragedy and UH Hilo was proud to sponsor the event at our Performing Arts Center.

Upcoming events include the UH Hilo Distinguished Alumni reception and dinner to be held February 26 at the UH Hilo Campus Center Dining Room. We hope you can join us!

The 6th Annual Girl’s Day Diva Festival will be held on March 2, with live entertainment, silent auction and door prizes. This is always an exciting event and one of my favorites. The festival starts at 5 p.m. featuring food sampling from Hilo businesses owned or run by women. I do hope you can attend! Mahalo to the community, the UH Hilo Performing Arts Center Advisory Committee, and the Diva Committee for their continuing support and contributions to this annual program.

Thank you again for all your support. When we all work together, great things happen!

Aloha,
Rose Tseng

Chancellor’s Remarks
UH Hilo 2010 Spring Highlights
January 27, 2010
Ho‘oulu Terrace

Aloha and welcome to our annual Spring Highlights!

I want to wish you a very Happy New Year! As we start the new spring semester, I want to say thank you for all your hard work during orientation, helping our students plan their schedules and get settled in. It is this Spirit of Aloha, and sense of ‘ohana, that makes UH Hilo a very strong community — a safe and comfortable home-away-from-home for our students.

This is a special Spring Highlights for me, as it will be my last. I’m stepping down in the summer. My years at UH Hilo have been some of the best in my life — very challenging and rewarding. With everyone working together and all of your efforts, a lot has been accomplished during the 12 years I’ve been chancellor. We have increased enrollment, built new facilities, started degree programs, increased grants and research, and increased global recognition of UH Hilo.

With all of our duties and responsibilities from day-to-day, it’s easy to lose track of how far we’ve come. To document some milestones in UH Hilo’s development, we’ve prepared a booklet in-house called the Timeline of Progress. If you’d like to have a copy, they are at the entrance desk.

Here is some of the progress we’ve made together.

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