UH to present
honorary degreesCommencement at Hilo and
Manoa will honor three people
Earl E. Bakken, David Cole and Charles K. Nishioka will receive honorary University of Hawaii degrees at commencement exercises next month.
Bakken, a Big Island resident, will be presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters at the UH-Hilo's Spring 2004 commencement ceremony.
Bakken is recognized for his contributions to medical technology, including the development of the first cardiac pacemaker.
Settling in South Kohala in 1992, Bakken was also instrumental in the development of the North Hawaii Community Hospital.
David Cole, a recipient of the 1997 UH Distinguished Alumni Award, is the newly named president and chief executive officer of Maui Land and Pineapple Inc. He will be presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters during the UH-Manoa 2004 Spring commencement ceremony where he is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
Cole served as president of America Online's Internet Services Corporation and later as president of the company's New Enterprise Group. He has been involved in a wide range of industries, including organic farming, nature conservancy, and software and Internet services.
Charles K. Nishioka came from humble beginnings to become a successful small-business person. Nishioka will be presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters at Spring 2004 commencement exercises at Leeward Community College.
From 1951 until his retirement in 1989, Nishioka was the owner-operator of a service station in Waipahu, which later evolved into an auto parts, tire, and auto repair business. Nishioka was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as National Small Business Person of the Year for 1986.