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Stockholm event alumni organizers from left to right, Louise Forslind '26, Ella Berge '25, Andreas Solheim '02.
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Alumni enjoying the HPU 60th anniversary celebration.
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From left to right, alumni who shared their HPU memories, Gabriel Ghavami '01, Pia Westerberg-Serlin '96, Simen Allum '04 .
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Alumni reuniting with each other.
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Alumni with Vice President Maureen Silva, far right.
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From left to right, alumni Louise Forslind '26, Nils Eriksson '22, Ella Berge '25.
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Alumni enjoying the HPU 60th anniversary celebration.
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HPU admissions team member Europe region Mihaela Panayotova, left, with alumna .
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Alumni taking part in the festivities.
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Alumni enjoying the HPU 60th anniversary celebration.
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Alumni showing their HPU pride with the university flag.
Hawai‘i Pacific University alumni, friends, and future students gathered in Stockholm to celebrate the university’s 60th anniversary, reflecting HPU’s global reach and enduring community.
HPU President John Gotanda and Vice President of Advancement Maureen Silva traveled from Honolulu to join attendees at the celebration, held at Café Opera and organized by alumni leaders Ella Berge ‘25, Louise Forslind ‘26, and Andreas Solheim ‘02.
The evening brought together graduates from across Europe and attendees from the U.S., highlighting the breadth of HPU’s global ʻohana.
In remarks to guests, the president underscored the significance of the university’s global presence.
“Although HPU is rooted in Hawai‘i, its reach has always been global,” he said. “Our graduates live and lead all over the world, and gatherings like this reflect the incredible international spirit that has defined HPU from the very beginning.”
President John Gotanda addresses the guests at the HPU 60th anniversary celebration in Stockholm.
He also reflected on HPU’s origins in 1965, when four community leaders envisioned a college grounded in opportunity, hands-on learning, and community engagement. Today, HPU has grown into a dynamic university serving approximately 7,500 students, with a rapidly expanding graduate population and a global alumni network of more than 55,000.
Throughout the evening, alumni across decades reconnected and strengthened ties across industries and countries, reflecting the enduring bonds of the HPU community and the shared values that continue to shape its future.
“There was so much aloha in the room, with old friends reunited and stories shared about Hawai‘i and the journeys that followed,” said Berge. She added that early in her career, it was especially inspiring to connect with HPU alumni who had followed similar paths decades earlier and were now leading successful, innovative careers.
Looking ahead, Gotanda emphasized the important role alumni play in advancing the university’s mission.
“Our alumni and friends are not simply part of our history,” he said. “You are helping shape what comes next.”
The Stockholm gathering served as the culminating celebration of HPU’s 60th anniversary, bringing together the university’s global community to honor its past and look toward its future.
