PEARL CITY - Leeward Community College recently kicked off a celebration to commemorate four decades of service, which includes an ambitious set of 40 scheduled events to mark the special milestone.
Events include a job fair on Oct. 8, a family fair on Nov. 15, and a hoolaulea on Nov. 19. The packed schedule continues until next May.
"Presenting 40 different events that are open to the community was an ideal way to celebrate our anniversary," said Chancellor Manuel Cabral.
During the recent gala held at LCC's The Pearl restaurant to commemorate the anniversary, Cabral said he was "privileged" to be in the LCC ohana. He applauded "the dedication of our faculty and staff."
The observance also included a prayer from the Rev. Darrow Aiona, an original faculty member. Cabral mentioned that having Aiona in attendance brought the observance "full circle" with the past, as the former religion teacher offered the prayer when the college first opened in 1968.
At the time, LCC was located at the old Pearl City Kai Elementary School. In December of that year, the college moved to its longtime campus at Ala Ike, located between Pearl City and Waipahu.
"We started with an old shack," said Aiona about the campus' humble beginnings.
But he and and his colleagues persevered, watching the educational facility develop into the bustling institution it is today.
"From the beginning, Leeward Community College has been a great hit with the community it serves," said University of Hawaii President David McClain. "The first year's enrollment of over 1,600 was double our expectations, and now, four decades later, Leeward helps nearly 7,000 students achieve their dreams."
The campus now offers not only liberal arts, but also has added programs like an Associate in Arts in Teaching, courses in Process Technology and an acclaimed Culinary Arts program - whose cuisine and desserts were relished by gala attendees.
LCC also touts programs such as Upward Bound, which reaches out to at-risk youth to help them prepare for college, a Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program, and a satellite campus in Waianae. The college also offers continuing education and workforce development to the community.
For more information, visit www.lcc.hawaii.edu and click on "Events."