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

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“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!