The History of the Hawaiʻi Association for College Admission Counseling (HACAC) Artwork

Kuilei Courageous Conversations

Kapi‘olani Community College is an extremely special place because we are named after Queen Julia Na-pela-kapu-o-Kakaʻe Kapi‘olani. The Queenʻs motto is Kūlia i ka Nu’u, Strive for your Highest, which can be felt through the words in our podcast. Kuilei Courageous Conversations hosted by Kapi‘olani Community College’s Kuilei Outreach Program is a series of talks and interviews around students success through the lens of our students, staff, and faculty. We will cover topics around our outstanding community of students and employees, the application process, how to finance college, and other exciting highlights that make Kapi‘olani Community College the place to Kūlia i ka nuʻu, strive for your highest. We truly appreciate the opportunity to share what we have to offer. Check us out at www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu. Mahalo.

All Episodes

Kuilei Courageous Conversations

The History of the Hawaiʻi Association for College Admission Counseling (HACAC)

August 19, 2024 • Kapi‘olani Community College | Kuilei Outreach Program • Season 11 • Episode 1

“I have great respect for the past. If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going. I have respect for the past, but I’m a person of the moment. I’m here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I’m at, then I go forward to the next place.” - Maya Angelou

The Hawai’i Association for College Admission Counseling (HACAC) is a group of professionals committed to assisting students to strive for their best, as written in HACAC's mission statement.

“Dedicated to helping students transition to post-secondary education through education, collaboration, and community building.”

On August 15, 2024, I had the honor to talk story with three of the originating members - Judy Hiramoto, Myron Arakawa, and Dan Feldhaus - who shared their insights and wisdom on what motivated them to start, what is now called the Hawai’i Association for College Admission Counseling. They even provided guidance on how best to stay true to the profession.

Their commitment to the college counseling profession demonstrated what it means to lead with integrity, compassion, and staying true to your core beliefs around student support services. One of the many highlights of this talk story session was a stroll down memory lane when Myron shared a group photo taken in 1987 of those who had a vision to design and execute this wonderful Association.

Thank you Judy, Myron, and Dan for taking this from a hallway in 1987 to changing hundreds of lives from students to professionals. We all appreciate you!