In a first, UH Mānoa doctoral student Pūlama Lima opted to receive her PhD degree at the commencement ceremony held at the Maui College’s Molokaʻi extension campus in Kaunakakai on May 10. Pūlama, who hails from Molokaʻi, was asked by the community if she would receive her degree at the Molokaʻi ceremony, the first to be held in person since before the global pandemic. Her advisor Prof. Patrick Kirch had the honor of hooding her with the doctoral insignia. Pūlama also gave the congratulatory address, on the theme of O ka pi‘i no ia a Kōkī o Wailua, “Ascended to the topmost part of Wailau,” a traditional expression of admiration for one who reaches the top in spite of difficulties.
