UH Waives Handshake At Graduation

School Joins Others In Swine Flu Precautionary Measures

POSTED: 9:10 am HST May 13, 2009
UPDATED: 5:09 am HST May 14, 2009

HONOLULU -- The University of Hawaii announced on Wednesday that it will not have the traditional handshake at the Manoa campus graduation.

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The spring commencement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center at 9:30 a.m.

The school joins other colleges around the country eliminating the handshake when graduates receive their diplomas.

"Many other colleges and universities and schools are adopting similar practices and its because of the flu, not just H1N1, but any other illnesses can be transmitted so easily and give the level of concern we thought this is what we should encourage," UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said.

"Since we know that keeping our hands clean is one important way of reducing the possible spread of such viruses, there will be hand-wipes and hand-washing stations available and we will also forego the traditional handshake and introduce another sign of congratulations for this ceremony," Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw said in a written statement.

The school also advised people who have flu-like symptoms to stay home. The school will be providing a live video stream online of the ceremony at: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/commencement/.

About 2,300 students will earn degrees and certificates.

The campus recently had a student living in Hale Wainani apartment dormitory test positive for the H1N1 flu. Her roommates tested negative, health officals said.

Hawaii Pacific University holds its graduation on Wednesday night. School officials decided to have the traditional handshake.

"The opportunity to walk across the stage and to shake my hand and to shake President Wright's hand. We have had no cases at HPU and we feel that it's the right thing to continue to do," HPU Vice President John Kearns said. "President Wright and I will be using a lot of sanitizer before, during and after."

The Department of Education is still weighing the pros and cons of the handshake. School Superintendent Pat Hamamoto said she expects to send something out to public schools principals by the end of the week.