The University of Hawaii-Manoa said this morning it will forego the traditional handshake and instead “introduce another sign of congratulations” during spring commencement ceremonies Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“We want everyone to feel comfortable in attending this important event, so, as an educational institution, we will demonstrate the practices that we have been advising our community to follow in protecting against the possible spread of any virus, including the H1N1 influenza virus currently present in Hawaii,” Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said in a statement.
Hinshaw said the school will provide hand wipes and make hand-wash stations available.
Without handshakes, Hinshaw said UH would “introduce another sign of congratulations for this ceremony.”
The school also urged anyone who is ill with flu-like symptoms (always including fever, often accompanied by sore throat, cough, fatigue, aches/pains) to stay home and not attend this ceremony or any other gathering.
The ceremonies can be watched on a live webcast: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/commencement/
Some 2,300 students will earn degrees and certificates for the Spring semester and Summer session. More than 1,500 bachelor candidates are eligible to attend the undergraduate ceremony at 9 a.m., while nearly 800 graduate degree candidates (master’s and doctor’s degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates in secondary education) are eligible to participate in the afternoon ceremony at 3 p.m.