A Student Publication of the University of Hawai`i • Honolulu Community College • January 2014
School facing budget cuts By Mathew Ursua
Ka La editor
The college could be more than $2 million in the red next school year, but officials remain optimistic that the deficit won’t be that bad. Stressing that the figures are preliminary, administration officials say they hope they can balance the budget by mixing some cutbacks and raising more funds from new and existing sources. Even so, faculty and staff members have been told to start preparing for a worst-case scenario that could lead to budget freezes, class cuts and other actions. This semester numerous classes with low enrollment were cut in the week before school started in a cost-cutting move, several departments reported. A big part of the potential budget shortfall is faculty salary increases that were approved in 2010 and go into effect this year and next. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported UH needs $19.5 million across the system to repay previous salary cuts and promised new 3 percent salary increases each year for two years. Another reason for the budget
Ka La photo by Kaleo Gagne
University of Hawaii student leaders went to the state Legislature earlier this month, urging lawmakers to support a budget proposal that would help ease a pending shortfall at campuses across the state. shortfall is the ongoing renovations in Building 7. Officials said that the renovations, coupled with building modular structures in the gravel lot to hold displaced classes, went over budget by about $200,000. Other contribut-
ing causes include loss of strategic outcomes funding, increased support of technology infrastructure and staff, and reorganization costs, said Douglas Boettner, vice chancellor of administrative services. The administration is at work
analyzing the budget figures, he said. They’ve brought back retired administrator Ken Kato -- a familiar name to many-- to help work on the budget and other Continued on Page 2
Students find some classes canceled as school begins By Sean Brown
Ka La staff writer
Students are already feeling the effects of budget cuts. The school canceled classes with low enrollment and in other cases merged classes together. Jeff Kanemoto, an ASUH-HCC senator, said that departments are trying to balance their budgets and make the necessary cuts as the university waits to find out if the state will pay for instructors’ pay raises. If the Legislature approves the deal, the systemwide shortfall won’t be as bad, and students won’t be hit as hard next year.
ASUH-HCC Senator-at-large Brian Cheung said his financial aid was reduced because one of his classes was canceled. His enrollment status was changed from full time to half time. He was able to enroll in a class in time to reinstate his full time enrollment status, but he’s taking a class he doesn’t need. “I picked Japanese 24 just to fill my schedule,” he said. Cheung said that teachers have told him classes with less than 10 students were on the chopping block, or in some cases, consolidated into other classes if possible.
Students arriving on campus for the first day of class had lots of questions about canceled classes and other issues.
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i 2
January 2014
Ka Lā, the campus newspaper of Honolulu Community College. Ka La publishes 2,000 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 Derek Choi Publications Director Mathew Ursua Ka Lā Editor Mathew Ursua Faculty Advisers Emily Kukulies Mike Leidemann Staff members Sean Brown Kaleo Gagne Angelina Peralta Andreina Keller Ana Moynahan
January 2014 Contact Information editor@thekala.net Student Media Board Building 2, Room 115 Phone: (808) 845-9498 Submissions Ka Lā invites letters to the editor, articles, events, advertising, and classifieds. Ka Lā reserves the right to refuse or edit submissions. Submissions must be signed and include a telephone number and email. Editors and writers are responsible for content, which does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HonCC faculty or staff.
As students participated in Welcome Week activities, some were worried about budget issues.
Budget cuts threaten classes Continued from Page 1 problems, and administrators hint that Kato has already found some glimmers of hope in the numbers. Officials say that when a clearer picture emerges, the situation could be less severe. But in the meantime, they’re preparing for the worst. Among measures being considered in the short term are delaying hiring in non-essential areas and utilizing the college reserve fund and special funds, such as parking, facility rental, and summer session revenues to meet the budget shortfall. Administrators are also looking at reducing the number of “overload” classes lecturers and professors can teach. That would likely mean less classes available to students and more crowding in high demand courses. Concerned student leaders at UH-Manoa, which is facing many of the same budget problems along with all other campuses, rallied at the Capitol in the days leading up to the Legislature’s opening session. They were there to support Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s
Ka La photos by Mathew Ursua
Free shave ice and cotton cany were part of the draw of ASUH-Welcome Week on campus proposal for more state funds for the university, including money to pay for the faculty pay raises. ASUH President Richard Mizusawa praised the governor for his support of higher education in Hawaii. "As president of the ASUH Senate, my fellow
elected student leaders and I have a commitment to ensure that the student voice is heard not only by our university administration but also by our state legislators who have a tremendous impact on student life at the University of Hawaii,” Mizusawa said.
UH officials told lawmakers earlier this month that they needs $33.5 million to replenish tuition revenues that have been used to cover salary restorations and increases in a six-year faculty contract. The university would also use part of the money to help finance an estimated $487 million in needed repairs to buildings throughout the system, especially at UH-Manoa, said Interim President David Lassner. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, though, at least one senator suggested that the school should stop giving out so much scholarship money and use it instead elsewhere. "Part of my concern is that you've doubled the amount of tuition you guys are giving away, but you're also coming to us for more money," said Rep. Scott Nishimoto. "At what point do you cut that off or kind of taper that off?" Lassner replied that UH chose to dedicate more tuition revenue to financial aid during a tuition hike several years back to ensure needy students could still afford tuition.
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i 3
January 2014
Academic help is just steps away By Fredrene Balanay Ka La staff writer
Are you new to college? Do you need academic advising? Not sure where to turn? You’re in luck. Whether you are a new student or “grandfathered” into your program, the school’s Academic Success Center is available to help you on your journey. Academic Success Coordinator Ina Miller-Cabasug says, “Here we discuss, outline, plan and determine the best road or pathway for each individual. We are here to help.” According to Miller-Cabasug, the only thing they cannot advise students on is the issues regarding transcripts and what may or may not transfer to another institution. “We are a resource center for every student,” Miller-Cabasug says. “We share information and refer students to other services and organizations to assist them with their educational progress.” The center began in fall 2012 with an idea from Donald Frost, another academic coordinator. Frost, having an interest in the development process of “essentials” students, worked closely with English instructors to help
Ka La photo by Mathew Ursua
Ina Miller-Cabasug heads the Academic Success Center, which helped hundreds of students stay on course last semester. underprepared students meet their academic goals, Miller-Cabsug said. “Before mid-fall of 2012 there was nothing here. No academic resource center, no official efforts to encourage and move students through the academic process here,” Miller-Cabasug says. By spring semester of 2013
the academic center was formed and named the official campus resource for student academic success information and retention. But they couldn’t do it alone. Miller-Cabasug credits most of the recent activity to HCC’s faculty and staff. “Thanks to a collaborative effort between our center and faculty we have experienced
an increase in students interested in finding help, ” Miller-Cabasug said. Another function or service is the academic alert system, which allows instructors to reach out to students that may be having difficulty. “We received about 500 referrals from instructors regarding students they feel may be struggling with the coursework,” Miller-Cabasug shared. “We make two attempts to contact the student. Once they are contacted, we discuss their possible struggles, and as with our walk in students, discuss options, plan and determine where to go from there.” The Academic Success Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need to meet outside these hours Miller-Casabug suggests you make an appointment to do so. “I am more than willing to meet with any student at a time more convenient to help them,” MillerCabasug says. “When any student needs help, no matter what, we can provide resources to help meet nearly any challenge. Just give us a chance.”
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS Internship opportunities for college students
Kamehameha Schools’ Käpili ‘Oihana Internship Program enables college students to gain valuable work experience and strengthen professional skills in their chosen career field. Over 100 14-week summer internship opportunities are available statewide in various fields of study including Business, Education, Human Services, Hawaiian Studies and much more! Internship session: May 19, 2014 – August 22, 2014. Deadline to Apply: Feb. 28, 2014 Download an application or view a complete list of participating internship sites at apps.ksbe.edu/cphc
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i 4
January 2014
Robotics team finishes 6th in Japan meet Honolulu CC students experienced an opportunity of a lifetime competing in the 22nd annual Nagoya Micro Robot Maze Competition held at Nagoya University in Japan last semester. Competing as Team Hawai’i Robotics led by adviser and Assistant Professor Norman Takeya, students competed in various phases of the competition with students from different countries across Asia. The students were exposed to the Japanese culture, made new friends with international students, and experienced competing on a world-class level. Honolulu Community College was the only two-year college represented in the competition and second team from Hawai‘i. The other was from Waiakea High School. “Although we didn’t place in the top three, I feel very proud of myself and the team for placing 6th and competing in general. We were competing with and did better than some four-year colleges,” said Mabel Wong, a Construction Management student who built a robot that danced Psy’s Gangnum Style. Jasmine Hoapili, a Honolulu CC student and ‘IKE Scholar, found similarities with the Hawaiian and Japanese cultures. “When we visited Atsuta shrine it made me feel respectful, just like the spiritual sites on Oʻahu. It created a desire for me to embrace my culture and learn more about it. Similar to protocols that we do before and after entering a spiritual place, the Japanese do the same,” she said. Team Hawai‘i Robotics is comprised of students from various University of Hawai‘i campuses including Mānoa, Honolulu CC, Leeward CC, and Kapi‘olani CC. The team has qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championships to be held in Anaheim, California. They will be competing with 80 other collegiate teams from around the world in April 2014. Last year Team Hawai’i came in 15th placeranking U.S. team.
The image above shows the location of outdoor campus lights, which will be replaced in coming months.
Campus getting new lights More than 150 outdoor lights across campus will be replaced with newer, more efficient bulbs in coming weeks, school officials have announced. The change is designed to make the campus brighter and safer while reducing energy use, Douglas Boettner, vice chancellor
of administrative services, told faculty and staff members at a campuswide meeting at the beginning of the semester. The new LED lights will direct more brightness downward and reduce the amount of wasted light sent into space, he said. Meanwhile, the years-long reno-
vation of Building 7 has moved into its final phase, with repair work being done on floors five and six this semester The renovations, including elevators that stop at every floor, are expected to be complete by start of the next school year, officials say.
Four alumni to be honored Feb. 20
The school will honor four alumni and the Hawaii Carpenters Union for their professional achievements and contributions to the community at an awards dinner Feb. 20. The four alumni honorees are: • Femar Lee (’92 AA Liberal Arts), who grew up in Kalihi Valley and teaches math at Honolulu Community College. In 2007 she received the prestigious Excellence in Teaching Award. Lee has served on the Board of Directors for the Hawaiʻi Council of Teachers of Mathematics for 10 years, and serves as the division chair for Math and Science at HonCC. • Brock Little (’94 AA Liberal Arts, who completed his liberal arts edcation at Honolulu Community College, and went on to become a professional surfer and worker in the movie industry. At age 20, he pulled into the barrel on a legitimate 20-footer
Lee
Little
and later dropped into what is still considered one of the biggest waves ever paddled into at Waimea Bay. • Denis Mactagone (’70 Apprenticeship), a graduate of Farrington High School who, after serving in the Navy, spent 22 years in the carpentry industry and was elevated to senior field representative and director for the apprenticeship program in the year 2000. After 46 years of service, he retired from the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and is enjoying his retire-
Mactagone
Rhode
ment life with his wife Susan. • Richard “Scotty” Rhode (’82 AS Fire Science), a graduate of Radford High School. He received his associate's degree from HonCC and is currently an assistant professor for the school's Fire & Environmental Emergency Services Program. Rhode served 28 years in the Department of Defense Fire & Emergency Services for the Federal Fire Department Hawaiʻi, and was the Command Fire Chief for Sasebo, Japan.
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
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January 2014
SPRING 2014
SPONSORED BY STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD WITH STUDENT LIFE & DEVELOPMENT
DATES GET FIT, GET HEALTHY JANUARY 21 – MARCH 20 A great way to start the New Year, workouts, health weigh-ins, and nutrition workshops
VALENTINE’S DAY
HCC TRAVELS LATIN AMERICA FEBRUARY 12, 10 AM – 12 PM CAMPUS MALL A culture experience from Latin America.
FEBRUARY 13, 10 AM – 12 PM CAMPUS MALL & STUDENT LOUNGE A sweetheart of a day as we celebrate valentines day with crafts, trivia wheel and a chocolate fondue fountain.
I <3 MUSIC
GREAT ALOHA RUN FEBRUARY 17 ALOHA STADIUM Celebrating 30 years of the Great Aloha Run.
FEBRUARY 20, 11:30 AM – 1 PM STUDENT LOUNGE An afternoon in the Student Lounge of food, prizes and karaoke.
I B ART
MARCH 5, 11 AM – 1 PM CAMPUS MALL
PI-DAY MARCH 12, 9:30 AM – 12 PM CAMPUS MALL Participate in Pie related activities related to the never ending number of Pi. Get a chance to buy a pie from the food truck Sweet Revenge.
OPERA NIGHT MARCH 26
Showcase your creative side. Participate in an Art Battle for a chance to win a prize.
HCC TRAVELS GREECE MARCH 19, 10 AM – 12 PM CAMPUS MALL Sign up for the HONCC Olympics as we celebrate the Greek culture with music, dance, and food.
Take a break and enjoy a night at the Opera. Sign up is limited.
GAME WEEK KEIKI EGG HUNT APRIL 16/17 KEIKI HAUO'LI CENTER
APRIL 14 – 17 Bring your own games or play with ours! Have some fun, indoors and outdoors!
HONCC Easter Bunny left behind special treats outside of Keiki Hau'oli, as the children of Keiki Hau'oli hunt for those special eggs.
STAR AWARDS 2014 GRADUATION MAY 16, 5:30 PM WAIKIKI SHELL
APRIL 25, 6 PM – 9 PM HARBOR VIEW Students, Thanked, and Recognized for their contributions to our campus. Nominated by faculty and staff.
An annual ritual of our students’ academic programs, but also the new beginnings we face in the life-long odyssey for truth, meaning and success. CONTACT US Bldg 2, Rm 113 (808) 845-9498
hccsld@hawaii.edu honolulu.hawaii.edu/studentlife
@honolulucc
vs.
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
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January 2016
Fashion for a good cause
Students put on a show to help the Life Foundation By Jacqueline Miszuk Ka La staff writer
Fashion Technology student Olotania Tokelaukaehau Alalamua headed a fashion show fundraiser at Hula's Bar and Lei stand to help raise money for the Life Foundation last semester. Life Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers free HIV testing and counseling with confidentiality. The benefit helped to earn money while showcasing Fashion Technology alumni from the Honolulu Community College and UH Manoa fashion programs. The opening showcased geishainspired creations which included a kimono dress made by Alalamua himself. “I love butterflies,” admits Alalamua, which was evident in his choice of fabric. Designers ran the gamut of styles and creations from dresses made out of T-shirts to jewelry. One designer took the stage while her models walked around her as she cut into the jersey T-shirt worn by Ari South and made cutouts completely changing the aesthetic and creating a unique look of her own. Everything from accessories to garments were displayed with the professionalism and expertise of Alalamua's eye for fashion. Between model segments, a professional dance team performed a routine that got the crowd pumped up during the show. Drag performances also gave the audience an entertaining
Ka La photos by Jacqueline Miszuk
One designer took the stage while her models walked to cut into the jersey T-shirt worn by Ari South, completely changing the aesthetic and creating a unique look of her own. change of pace, while giving the models a break backstage. Anyone who made it to the event got plenty of entertainment for the small price of their ticket while donating to a good cause. This spring break the HonCC Fashion Society will be hosting another show at Hula's with a mix of performances to please the crowd. All ticket proceeds will go to
the senior fashion show held at the end of the academic year to spotlight designing students' talent. For more information on the upcoming fashion events and tickets please see the fashion technology department on the second floor of building 27. The Fashion Society is open as a club to members outside of the FT program as well.
The Fashion Technology and Cosmetology departments are being affected by budget cuts. Two introductory classes from the FT program for spring and Cosme's evening aesthetics have been dropped due to low enrollment. The FT department may also be losing its assistant teaching posi-
tion due to budget cuts .
Local eats
KaLÄ&#x20AC; â&#x20AC;˘ Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
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January 2014
Monarch Seafood: Good seafood at a great price
By Nicholas Chang Ka La writer
Sometimes it's good to break away from your typical lunch spots and seek out some hole-inthe-wall goodness. Monarch Seafood has some of the best seafood plates and poke on the island. Upon arrival, the first thing you will notice is the nearly nonexistent parking. There is only
The mixed plate of deep fried poke and mochiko chicken from Monarch Seafood in Kalihi.
street parking and it is usually very busy. The second thing you will notice is that Monarch's is extremely small. Although parking is scarce and there is no seating available, the food definitely makes up for it. The most popular dish they sell is the nori wrapped crab stuffed ahi. A premium seafood plate coming in at under $9 is a hell
of a deal. The plate comes with five ahi wraps, one scoop of rice, and some fresh Nalo greens. The wraps were very tasty and deep fried to perfection. Crispy nori and light batter encase the juicy ahi and crab. The woman working the counter also suggested to try the Ahi Katsu the next time.
This dish and the restaurant are
that will refill your water without you having to ask. They also have specials such as a $6 barbecue chicken plate for people on a budget. The place is very clean and sanitary with good lighting. The workers are also very nice and accommodating. It was no longer than 10 minutes before we got all our food; service was quick and on point. I must say, the food is pretty
good here with generous portions and the majority of plates being under $10, it can be one of those "regular" spots I will always hit up. But it seems like HCC students don't go there very often. Syndey, the owner, said "We get lots of customers, but I thought more HCC students would come since it's so close and in walking distance. We are thinking about having a discount program for HCC stu-
dents as an incentive for them to stop by." We as HonCC students should definitely show more love towards Mix Plate Cafe. Upon checkout, I received a stamp card. I was told that if I get 10 stamps (10 bowls of pho) I would get the 11th bowl for free. Overall, Mix Plate Cafe serves great food at decent prices.and generous portions. Make sure to check it out next time.
a must try! Quality local seafood with great prices!
Monarch Seafood is located on
515 Kalihi St. They are open MonFri 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Sat & Sun
9 AM to 2 PM. Contact them at 841-7877.
Mix Plate: Local-style foods with a Vietnamese twist
By Nicholas Chang Ka La writer
Located across the street from HonCC, Mix Plate Cafe is most well known for its pho, but it also offers a wide variety of local foods with a Vietnamese twist. Surprisingly for the food being so tasty, there is no MSG added in any of its dishes. This is good, so you don't spend the rest of the afternoon taking a nap. This is also one of the only pho places
STUDENT
MEDIA BOARD
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
Why bother? According to Wikipedia, a New Year's resolution is a secular tradition , in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement beginning from New Year's Day. At the end of the Great Depression, about a quarter of American adults formed New Year's resolutions. At the start of the 21st century, about 40 percent did. However, a 2007 study showed that 88 percent of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52 percent of the study's participants were confident of success. Men achieved their goal 22 percent more when setting small goals, like losing 1 pound per week, while women succeeded 10 percent more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.
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January 2014
Campus question and answer
by Kaleo Gagne
What is your New Year’s resolution for 2014, and how are you gonna make it happen?
Christopher Kim Fashion Tech
Javelle Kanekua Early Childhood Education
Chance Kawasaki CENT
“Get a job in the fashion industry after graduation in the spring.”
"To take my boys on a trip, by giving them a Christmas present to the Big Island."
“I will get good grades by quitting procrastination.”
Mezena Manivong Administrative Justice
Larry Kuapahi Jr. Liberal Arts
Kara Canite Library assistant
Sarah Myhre Libary instructor
" I’m gonna try and get my driver's license, and not run people over, fall in a ditch or hit a tree.”
“Manage my weight better by dieting and exercising regularly.”
" Carve an epic ring by sheer determination.”
Anthony Park CENT
Andrew Abadilla Sheet Metal
Melody Ulep Carpentry
“My New Year’s resolution is to study more for exams by organizing my time better.”
"Get good grades for next semester by working hard and studying hard.”
“ Be mure healthy by being more active and eating healthy.”
."
“Actually plan my wedding before it happens.”
Sara Williams Cosmetology “Finish my cosme program and figure out the next steps in my education.”