Hawai`i Community College

For more than three decades, Richard Stevens has been an educator, mentor and environmental steward, inspiring generations of students at Hawaiʻi Community College–Pālamanui.

Now, the beloved professor is sharing the deeply personal tales that shaped his life in his new book, “Storyland.”

The memoir traces his extraordinary journey from the battlefields of the Vietnam War to the ancient trails of Hawaiʻi Island—a path of healing and discovery heavily influenced by his transformative experiences within the University of Hawaiʻi.

Stevens, a former U.S. Marine, credits his time at UH with helping him pivot from the harsh realities of combat to a life dedicated to peace and cultural preservation. After returning from Vietnam and moving in with a Native Hawaiian family who embraced him as their “haole boy,” Stevens eventually pursued master’s and doctorate degrees in history at UH Mānoa. This educational journey offered him a new, profound purpose.

To read the full story, visit: https://hawaii.hawaii.edu/news/vietnam-war-peaceful-palamanui-hawaii-cc-professors-journey-storyland

This story originally appeared on the UH News website on June 26, 2026.

Ho’omaika’i to the Hawaii CC Manono Campus Class of 2026! 🎓✨
Sharing a few moments from an evening celebrating the hard work, determination, and achievements of this year’s graduates. Congratulations to the Class of 2026. 🌺

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