A Student Publication of the University of Hawai`i • Honolulu Community College • February 2016
Fire man on campus By Kiki Williams Ka La staff writer When John Lim is not taking classes at HonCC, he is lighting up the night with fire. During his senior year in high school, Lim noticed fire filling the sky in Kakaako Waterfront Park. Curiosity got the better of Lim, and he went to investigate. “It looked like dancing without the glow sticks, but with fire,” said Lim, a student in the carpentry program at HonCC. “And it looked fun!” After noticing that Lim, who is 20, had been faithfully coming to watch every Thursday night, one of the fire dancers befriended and even gave Lim rst fire staff to learn the art. However, the fire dancing in the park had to stop because of building developments that were supposed to take place, but never did. Lim and a fellow performer from the older generation started seeking out new groups and were lucky enough to find one that wel-
comed them with open arms. Soon after, a friend of Lim’s reached out to him through s ocial media and offered him an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. He was offered a position to teach children fire and knife dancing at Palama Settlement. “My friend thought it would be awesome to teach the children the different moves from the fire staff verses the fire knife,” he said. With that drive to help children, he is currently teaching a child who is blind how to fire dance using his strong sense of feeling. With this being Lim’s last semester at HonCC, he is looking forward to using his new carpentry skills to build a career for himself. “We are the light in the darkness, because I light up when it’s dark outside,” he said.
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Ka Lā, the campus newspaper of Honolulu Community College. Ka La publishes 1,000 copies every month during the Spring and Fall Semesters. Ka Lā and all campus publications are funded by student publication fees and advertising. All materials published in Ka Lā may not be reproduced or reused without permission of the HonCC Student Media Board. Ka Lā is published under the supervision of the HonCC Student Media Board: Chairperson
Angelina Peralta Board members Alyssa Baligad Vania Graves
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Tiera Spencer
Nakemiah Williams Contributing Writers John Bargerhuff Shannell Bell
Dante Lomboy Allen Poole
Steffanie Sobitz
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February 2016
"100 Club" runs for fitness By Larry Medina Ka LĀ staff writer
Over 100 HonCC students and faculty will be participating in this year's Kaiser Permanente Great Aloha Run. Scheduled for MondayFeb. 15, the run will cover 8 miles from Downtown Honolulu to Aloha Stadium. The students and others will be running as part of the Presidents' 100 Club," composed of companies and organizations committed to registering a minimum of 100 participants. "We just want to get students active and moving," said Lorri Taniguchi, HonCC's Health Office nurse and one of the coordinators of the school's President's 100 chapter, which began 10 years ago. "What we try to engage (the students and faculty) with and promote from the Health Office perspective is the healthy, communityminded side of living," she said. GAR is a charity foot race that takes place annually on Presidents' Day on O'ahu. Since its start in 1985 by Carol Kai Charities, it has given over $10.9 million to over 150 nonprofit organizations. The event gets its name from the 8-mile route it takes. Starting on Nimitz Highway across from the Aloha Tower in downtown Honolulu, the course runs west along Honolulu Harbor. At the 2.5-mile marker, it goes under the H-1 viaduct across from Honolulu International Airport for another 3 miles (going under the viaduct is beneficial as the overpass provides shade from the morning sun). Once out from the under the viaduct, the route proceeds along Kamehameha Highway and ends inside Aloha Stadium. "Health and wellness is something we try to integrate,and get out information on hydrating, eating right, preparing (for the race) beforehand,” Taniguchi said. “That's
Great Aloha Run Photo
Participants in the annual Great Aloha Run have raised more than $10 million for charity since it began in 1985. This year more than 100 students, faculty, staff and friends of Honolulu CC are expected to participate. kind of the thrust to get people who would not have taken that first step to try." HonCC's Club chapter participants will receive a goodie bag at the Kaiser Permanente Great Aloha Run Sports, Health & Fitness Expo, held the day before the race at the Neal Blaisdell Center. They will also have access to the Ho’omaika’i post-race party at the Aloha Stadium. HonCC also holds a post-race GAR picnic on campus for chapter participants. Guy Shibayama, apprenticehip coordinator at HonCC and co-coordinator of the club chapter, has participated in the race each year since 2006. His typical time (walking, not running) is 2 1/2 hours. Taniguchi ran it in 2006, but hasn't run since. "Someone has to be here to help with the (post-race GAR) picnic, so that's my
excuse!" she said. Shibayama also helps with the picnic, securing food and supplies. "We just try to finish," Shibayama said. "Just do the walk," he said. "And not get hurt," added Taniguchi. In the past, faculty and others who didn't want to participate often sponsored students, paying the $38 registration fee for them. "We know that there are some students that have (financial) challenges with their education, and are willing to participate but don't have the funding for it," Taniguchi said. "Some staff say they don't want to do the walk, but they'll sponsor somebody," Shibayama said. However, there was no sponsorship this year. "We didn't market it," Taniguchi said. "(Last year), many (sponsored students) did not show up on the day of the race," she
said. Club chapter participation has varied the past 10 years, with a high of 172 in 2012, and a low of 78 in 2009. There are 113 registered Club participants this year. The Club is open to both current and alumni students and faculty (including adminstrators, instructors, staff) along with friends and family. Participants of the Presidents' 100 Club get an exclusively-designed HonCC shirt to wear during the race, and an invitation to a post-race Club GAR picnic back at the HonCC campus. Registration to participate in the club can be done online, or by obtaining an application packet from HonCC's Health Office. Promotion of the GAR and the Club has been going on since November 2015, through student email, bulletin board postings, and application tables.
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February 2016
Be happy? Try a philosophy class By Tiera Spencer Ka LĀ staff writer
“So does anybody have a joke?” asks the youthful, happy instructor at HonCC . With the whole class laughing and relaxed, she’s already got the students in a rough circle, ready to think about the one of the biggest questions in life: How to find happiness. So begins another philosophy class with instructor Judy Sokei. Sokei started out in college majoring in premed. However, things in her life soon weren’t going her way. She removed herself from classes she wasn’t too fond of, and when her father passed away, she found herself in a very dark space. That is when she decided to go another route. “I knew I always wanted to learn more about the self,” Sokei said. In her last semester before getting her B.A. degree in English, she came upon a class called Social and Political Philosophy. In this class she heard a quote from philosopher Thomas Hobbs that seemed to sum up how she was feeling at the time: who said “Life is nasty, brutish, and short.” Because that was how she was feeling about life at that time, the quote really grabbed her attention and left her intrigued with philosophy. And that is when she decided to get her master’s degree in philosophy and go on to teach others about it. . “The ultimate questions in life
benefits from an instructor that has an intense amount of knowledge with the subject matter. This class... forces you to look inside,” Philosophy 101 student Shawn Davenport said. Sokei reassures students that it is natural to question things in life, because, ultimately, no one knows the answers to life’s questions. “The teacher (Sokei)... She’s amazing,” a student named Laurie Brown said of Sokei. “She makes you feel like you really have to think about stuff, rather than her just telling you... she makes you question your own beliefs on life.” Brown added: “This class is one of the reasons why I come to school. It doesn’t feel like class, it feels like everybody is just coming together to talk about life.” Sokei makes class enjoyable by giving engaging class lectures and showing inspiring Powerpoint presentations. Sokei’s power points captivates students with quotes and music to back the points she want to make, grabbing their attention which allows them Ka LĀ photo by Kiki Williams to be present and in the moment Sokei says, “Be present!” Students say Judy Sokei's philosophy classes forces them to think about the After taking the class, students big questions in life, like where to find true happiness. take with them, Sokei explains, “A passed around the classroom, each better sense of self and happiness, really fascinated me,” Sokei said. student has a chance to express Now, Sokei encourages her stua better understanding of life, a his or her their own thoughts or dents to become more open about better sense of self worth, and expressing themselves about those opinions, which, in turn helps with that, more compassion for classmates to better understand big ideas. others and making their lives beteach other. With the help of the famous ter as well as everyone else’s and talking yarn ball which gets “Our philosophy class really to see the goodness in everyone.”
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February 2016
Ka LĀ's opinion page Dear Cupid: If it's V-Day, it might not be true love By Allan Poole
It’s only been like a month since mospeople celebrated Christmas by spending copious amounts of money upon family and significant others. Yet, as soon as the decorations are taken down the department stores rush to push another holiday down our throats. Valentine’s Day is just an excuse for women to feel appreciated by men in an otherwise dull, unfulfilling, and meaningless relationship. That statement right there is going to have women up in arms and wanting blood, but when I look at new or old couples on this day, the more extravagant the less one really gives a damn throughout the year. Let’s face it: This isn’t your parents' generation from the fifties; we’re almost at 2020 and none of us has time to squander on sentiment. If you don’t treat each other right throughout the year what does it matter, except in a way to get back at him by being taken to an expensive restaurant, having an expensive gift bouYght for you on top of flowers, chocolate, and a stupid cheesy card. Yet, if the rest of you who attend college are like myself you not only are on a budget, but also don’t have the time to be in a serious relationship,which I’d bet is more fleeting than it is true love, as love is mistaken for lust more often than not. For those of you who truly do have someone that you care about, I hope that it isn’t so muddled by the rush of daily living that you forget to cherish what you have in that special person and show them the respect, consideration, and affection all the days that you are together, instead of rushing to be insincere on this corporate-sponsored holiday. Allan Poole is a student at HCC/LCC majoring in English.
Day shouldn't just be about couples By Shannell Bell
In this generation, many women and men feel the pressure of what Valentine’s Day is because it has turned the day into something that only celebrates couples. It is a day that is a beacon to those who don’t have a person to share it with. If you walk into any store this time of year, you will see a mass of red and pink streamers, rows of candy boxes, bundles of roses and little brown and white bears with heart shaped boxes. As a woman seeing these things, it is simply another reminder that I haven’t found someone to share this special day with. I’m OK with it and have accepted the fact there is a part of me that is a little broken hearted. Valentine’s Day creates an expectation of what we have for our lives: that we should have someone to love, and love us. Valentine’s Day isn’t supposed to painful; it isn’t meant to be about having someone or getting gifts. It’s a day to recognize the feelings you have for the people you care about, because love isn’t limited to a significant other. The love you have for someone should mean something. It transcends everything. It isn’t meant to be shown with things you can
buy. Gifts are nice to receive, but they don't show love. In movies and stories, everyone says money can’t buy happiness, and it’s not a lie. Nowadays the meaning of the day is so clouded that it's absurd. I’m sure it drives a lot of guys crazy because they probably spend a ridiculous amount of money. That's not to mention the few (or many) people who think making love (without actual "love") is what this day is for. The goal people should have for Valentine's Day is not to post a collage of Valentine pictures to everyone on Instagram, but to make sure that the people they care about truly know what they feel for them. The best way to do that is by taking the time to tell your person how much you care with something more meaningful, like a nice meal after their long day at work, or a handwritten letter. Sometimes, everyone just wants a simple thing: a call asking how their day is going; or a quick appreciation text shows that you aren’t afraid to give a little more effort, since there are easier options to please a person, like random store-bought chocolates, It shouldn’t be hard to do something sweet if it's for the person you care about. Anything you do for the person you care about should be
done because you want to show them how much you appreciate them. Over the years, I was able to witness the cute, the crazy, and the downright sleazy Valentine's. Since I seem to be a confidant of others for many stories in the romance department, I’d like to point out a major flaw that many broken hearts feel whenever events like Valentine's Day come around. There is no reason to dislike these days because even if these days never existed, days would continue to be days; something will happen one day that makes you the happiest person alive, and then impossibly sad the next. Whether or not you're with someone, or if the person you held close to your heart did something unspeakable, why let yourself down by letting them control how you feel? I hope this is somehow getting to you because if you truly think about it, something happens everyday whether you’re sitting still or not. So make the most out of every day and I’ll do my best to do the same. Try to live out a more wonder-filled life and smile even when you don’t feel like it, Happy Valentine’s Day!
Shannell Bell is a student at Honolulu CC.
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February 2016
Ka LĀ photos by Kiki Williams Students in the Sheet Metal & Plastics program are making hundreds of copper roses which will go on sale Feb. 13 and be sold out in a few hours.
Team effort keeps Forever Roses alive By: Karisa Kealiinohomoku
and Tiera Spencer KĀ La staff writers
Every year around Valentine’s Day, people from all over Oahu come to campus to buy roses for someone they love. And these roses last forever. Why do they call it a Forever Rose? Because these roses are made by students in HonCC’s Sheet Metal & Plastics technology trade out of 100 percent copper, and copper never dies! Danny Aiu, an instructor in the sheetmetal program started this tradition 10 years ago, and it keeps grow-
ing every year. While he was still teaching night classes at HonCC, a former student said, “I bet you couldn’t make a metal rose.” Intrigued by the thought, Aiu accepted the challenge. First he drew a layout on the blackboard, then he cut out the pieces and rolled them up into a flower. “There you had it: the first forever metal rose,” Aiu said. “I still have the original rose in my office." For the first couple of years SMP students were only making roses as projects for themselves, but about eight years ago they started selling them to the public for Valentine’s
Day, and every year since it has been one of HonCC’s hottest commodities, and something the school is known for all over the island. The students in SMP class started working on the roses the first week of this semester, and their goal for this semester is to make and sell about 400 roses. All their proceeds are going to pay for the material used for the roses and future projects for the SMP students. “It was a team effort,” says Robert Arakaki, one of four SMP students who participated in the making of the roses this year. They all had some advice for those
purchasing the roses: Kanani Smythe says, “It will be the best gift you can give, because it lasts forever.” Travis Miyashiro adds, “Come early because they sell out fast.” Brandon Baqui advises students to “Be careful, because the metal is really sharp.” The roses go on ale Saturday Feb. 13 at 9:30 a.m. People are usually lined up outside the door for several hours before the start of the sale, so come early because they sell out fast. Copper roses will be sold for $15 each or $50 for five roses.
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February 2016
UH news briefs Suspicious man seen near Keiki Center Campus security officials are looking for a suspicious man who tried to get into the Honolulu Community College children’s center. School officials say that around noon on Wednesday, Jan. 13, the man approached one of the teachers at the Keiki Hau‘oli Children’s Center, claiming that he was part of a Manoa research study. When pressed for more information, he claimed to be part of a “study on children who touch themselves.” A teacher, who felt that the man was attempting to get access to the children, demanded that he leave immediately. She had to tell him to leave a second time before he left.
From Manoa to the Supreme Court For the first time, a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH Manoa, Kamaile Turcan, has been chosen by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to be a law clerk beginning this summer. This is the first time a UH Law School graduate has been invited to clerk for a United States Supreme Court Justice – as well as the first time that a person of Native Hawaiian ancestry has served as a law clerk to any Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Research care clinic opens in Kakaako The University of Hawaii (UH) Clinics at Kakaako is the first multipurpose combined research and medical care clinic to open on a UH campus. The new facility includes a waiting room, office and charting areas, eight exam rooms, and two procedure rooms. There’s also an additional room that will accommodate a machine to study frailty in the elderly and bone density changes related to HIV and various therapies. “The most important goal of our health research is to fight the diseases which strike our citizens disproportionately, shortening their lives,” said Dr. Jerris Hedges, MD, JABSOM Dean.
Honolulu CC students present their work at the Las Vegas building show.
Students, professor win building industry honors By KĀ La staff
Asst. professor Norman Takeya has won the national outstanding educator award presented by the National Association of Home Builders Takeya was given the award in a special ceremony held at the 2016 NAHB International Builders show in Las Vegas in January. The award recognizes and enourages high quality standards in teaching construction education. Educators are recognized for their voluntary extracurricular activities, including those with
construction industry organizations, as well as their construction experience and professional initiatives. Two student teams from Honolulu Community College’s Construction Management and Architectural, Engineering and CAD Technology programs participated in the 2016 Residential Construction Management Competition. The HonCC teams finished in 5th and 7th places among teams in the 2-year college category. Construction management student Emily Borium won the Outstanding student award.
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February 2016
6 things for singles to do on Valentine's Day By Larry Medina Ka LĀstaff writer
Ugh, Valentine's Day is coming up. Yah, it's just another day, with red and pink greeting cards, lovey-dovey pics being posted on FaceBook and Instagram, couples holding hands and smooching in public, along with pink aluminum-wrapped Hershey's Kisses, and roses by the dozen. Along with this past Christmas, Valentine's Day gears up to be quite a depressing day for us singles who don't have a special somebody. Single folks can do stuff on Valentine's Day, too! We're just as awesome as those couples, and we can spend just as much money and time on crazy fun things. And maybe we singletons will end the day happier than those who are attached.
Try score
Yah, so you've been checking out that hot guy in Math class, and been dying to talk to him - and what better day than today! You'll never know until you do. Go up to him (or her) and say "hello" and give them a compliment. Nice eyes? I like your laugh? And by the way, I was wondering what are you doing this weekend? If you got the hots for someone, they deserve to know that you have a crush on
them - no harm done in making the first move. And if they don't reciprocate, that's all right; at least you know for sure if something could have come from it.
Show some family love
OK, if you're the altruistic type and want others to experience some love, how about looking at some of the guys and gals in your family circle. Why not? They DO mean something to you, right? Get your folks something - yah, your PARENTS. I mean, they raised YOU. When was the last time you told them you loved them? How about your brothers, your sisters? Catch up with a cousin you didn't have a chance to talk with last Thankgiving. Oh gosh, how about spending the day with your kids (if you're a single parent)?
Show some friends love
If couples will be hitting the town on Valentine's, then why not you and some friends? And ONLY friends - yah, keep couples out of this, because we singles will also be spending time with friends we love. Avoid all those fancy restaurants because places like these may trigger past memories of relationships long gone; we're trying have a good time, now, not
Ka LĀ's puzzle corner
go into depression. Or why not just throw a backyard party? Be grateful you can pa'ina on Valentine's with people you truly love.
Stay home.
Yah, stay home. Why not, yah? Order a large Supreme from Pizza Hut and a 2-liter of Coke, then show the delivery guy some love and tip generously. Grab a couple of movies from Redbox, or browse through NetFlix that evening. Pull out that textbook and study up on that Hawaiian language class you're taking. Take stock in the realization that you have an option to go out and mingle at some singles bar, but decided to stay put. Brah, treat yourself
Yep, no have to worry about spending kala on someone else, when you can just hit the malls (or Amazon.com) and spend on yourself. And why not? After blowing all your money on getting gifts for other people this past Christmas (and getting junky stuff in return), now's the day to hit Ala Moana Center and treat yourself to a Cinnabon and a latte from Coffee Bean. Get that iPhone 6 you've been jonesing for. Hit Zara (their clothes are pretty stylish and
cheap). Valentine's is day not just for couples, but for singles, too.
Hit that
bucket List While everyone else will be crying because they're single (or if they're taken and want to get out the relationship - yikes!) why not do something you've been putting off doing? Do something memorable and interesting for the day. Go trail biking; go hiking; grab some snorkel gear and hit Hanauma Bay; how about that surfboard that's been collecting dust in your garage since summer? The truck's dirty - go wash it. The dogs are dying to go running in the park go take them! If you’ve been waiting for a weekend to take on something special, this is the time to do it. it.
In conclusion
A good attitude on Valentine's Day is the way to go without feeling guilty or sad. Whatever you do to avoid the funk that comes on Valentine's, you can end the day knowing you did so happy and satisfied - and you didn't need to be in a relationship to do it. There's no reason why you can't celebrate this day of love. Embrace Valentine's and dedicate the day to yourself and/or those you choose to spend the day with.
Starting over
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February 2016
Cafeteria reopens with a 'Fresh' feel By Vania Graves Ka LĀ •aff writer
Honolulu Community College’s cafeteria has reopened this semester after being closed for almost a year and a half. New vendor “Cooking Fresh” is eager to bring fresh, healthy cooking to the students, says owner and founder Michi Holland. The company has been around for eight years, first as a catering business, then bringing freshly made lunches into O’ahu school systems. “We were cutting food every day; we never served premade chicken nuggets or pizza, always fresh food,” Holland said. Holland never went to culinary school; she is self-taught and has just followed her passion. “I was actually in advertising business prior to this,” she said. “We used to do catering events until one of my friends said I should open up a business." Since then, she has catered many high-end private events and has even cooked with famous Food Network chef Robert Irvine. “Chef Irvine was very nice,” Holland said. Cooking Fresh has another location at The Queen’s Medical
“Now is a fresh start, fresh semester,” Holland said. “Running a business is a big challenge,” she said. “If you are going to be passionate about something, just do it!” The students now have more variety and affordable food in their own cafeteria here at HonCC. Open from 7 a.m. Cooking Fresh is serving with love and dedication. Holland is the kind of owner who likes to be involved in every single detail of her business, trying to accommodate her vision. “Somebody told me once: 'Don’t sit in your ivory tower and look down.' I try to have a happy crew; a lot of people tell me, ‘I’ve never worked in such a happy restaurant.’ ” Her workers all seem imKa La photo by Vania Graves pressed to have such a nice boss. Yolanda Nassar, one of the Chef Michi Holland, right, brought along two of her longtime workers, Naoko Nagamine, left, Yolanda Nassar to the HonCC cafeteria. cooks, says, “She is good people, she’s got good vibes, always very positive.” Center and heard about the open- a local advertising booklet. She HonCC students and staff seem ing at HonCC through a Pepsi also has done a few YouTube to enjoy the new cafeteria, and vendor. Given the company’s videos. it seems to get more customers background in school cafeterias, Although they had some every day. it decided to open their second struggles getting ready and still “It’s awesome, I love it” said location here, Holland said. have to fix some issues with the Jenny Bacarro, a second year stuHolland is also a food develop- cafeteria, they were able to get er for KTA Kitchens, a program the cafeteria open in time for the dent. “So happy that is finally open!” added student Jessica developed by KTA Superstores start of the semester, Holland Lacanlale. in which she publishes recipes in said.
Student government gets 'clean slate'
By John Bargerhuff Ka LĀ staff writer
The Honolulu Community College student government, essentially out of existence since spring of 2015, is starting over with a “clean slate.” Leaders are being selected anew by school administrators with input from the Student Activities Board. During fall semester, student surveys indicated that a fresh start was the best course of action, according to Emily Ann Kukulies, director of Student Life & Development. Rather than have an elected government, the new plans call for the selection of two to six new Student Government members, who will have a chance to establish their
own roles and responsibilities. Kukulies says the “clean slate” approach and a consensus style of management will give the new leaders a chance to work together without being bound by the traditionally assigned positions. Previous student governments had been burdened by a wide range of rules and regulations, which led to overwhelmed leaders, she said. By the spring of last year, meetings could not adhere to quorum requirements and were rendered ineffective. Fewer and fewer members attended the meetings, and the student government just faded away. “No one did anything wrong; the system just wasn’t working,” Kukulies. She explained that
HonCC enrollment is down right now, and average course loads are up, leading to the inevitable outcome that students have less time and interest in participating in extracurricular activities. There have been previous instances of no student government during Kukulies’ 12 years as director, but fortunately, the school accreditation people were never here at those times. It is a requirement that all student groups be represented by a governing body, Kukulies said. In addition to Kukulies, HonCC librarian Sarah Meyer will also serve as a student government adviser as soon as the group is formed. Kukulies says that Chancellor Erika Lacro has endorsed the new plans for “governing by
consensus” and is willing to give the group time to develop under the new formula. The HonCC student government is responsible for a budget of approximately $30,000, which comes out of the student tuition fees. There is oversight at many levels on how this money is spent; everyone from school administrators to state legislators can be involved in the process. The Student Government has the freedom to spend up to $400 without any approvals, according to Kukulies. Kukulies encourages interested students to step up and work with the new Student Government. Anyone with special skills or a particular project in mind is welcome to work with the new leaders.