Beginning in February 2018, the Kapiʻolani Community College Office of Community Relations will offer lectures that are free and open to the public. “Kaiālu,” which means community, or neighborhood, will feature topics that provide insight into Hawaiʻi’s culture and are contemporary and relevant to the college offerings and initiatives. The intent of the series is to bring the community to the college.

All lectures will be presented in the newly renovated ʻŌhiʻa Auditorium at Kapiʻolani CC , and each lecture is scheduled for 3–4:30 p.m.

February 12, “Sustainability and Climate Action at Kapiʻolani Community College: We Are Still In,” presented by Robert Franco

Franco will provide a lively and engaging discussion of the college’s leadership within the University of Hawaiʻi System, the western region of the U.S. and nationally in:

addressing statewide environmental and social sustainability issues

developing sustainability curriculum and instruction in the liberal arts and STEM

engaging with government, schools and local organizations to meet urgent needs for community resilience

envisioning a green workforce and the “resilience professional” needs for our island communities

Participants are encouraged to review the campus Sustainability and Climate Action Plan ( PDF ).

Franco is an ecological and demographic anthropologist whose research focuses on contemporary Hawaiian, Samoan, and Pacific Islander sociocultural issues. He oversees quantitative studies of student engagement, learning and achievement, specifically degree completion and transfer. He is also a champion of several national initiatives in science education and civic responsibility.

March 12, “Hawaiʻi’s Community is Engaging Cybersecurity,” with Reynold Hioki, cybersecurity coordinator, State of Hawaiʻi

Cybersecurity is a topic for everyone. When money is stolen, intellectual property is taken and identities are hijacked, individual lives are impacted. This informational presentation will cover what Hawaiʻi is collectively doing to address the cybersecurity challenges of today and to prepare for the future. It will also provide cyber safety awareness in order to thrive as a digitally connected community.

Hioki’s certifications and professional affiliations allow him to integrate and promote Hawaiʻi’s cyber safety awareness efforts. Prior to his current position, he served concurrently as the State Department of Defense Chief information Officer, Hawaiʻi National Guard Director of C4 (J6), and Hawaiʻi Air National Guard Director of Communications and Information Systems (A6).

April 16, “Kaʻahele Ma Waikīkī (“Tour of Waikīkī”), with John Clark, author, lifelong surfer, former lifeguard and retired Honolulu Fire Department, deputy fire chief

Tour of Waikīkī, is a 50-minute video that was produced for the Department of Education by award-winning videographer Ann Marie Kirk. The film is based on Clark’s book Hawaiian Surfing: Traditions from the Past.

As narrator of the film, Clark identifies six surf sports that were practiced by native Hawaiians, including action shots of each. He also identifies the Hawaiian names of the famous surf spots in Waikīkī that today are only recognized by their English names.

—By Louise Good