A Student Publication of the University of Hawai`i • Honolulu Community College • January 2016
Moving on up -- and he's still just 16 years old engineering, but hopes to transfer to West Point. With an interest in military Andre Wang looks like a typical activities, Wang is enrolled in the Honolulu Community College Junior Reserve Officer Training student. If you see him walking Corps (JROTC), a high school down the halls or along the camprogram sponsored by the U.S. pus mall, you wouldn’t think twice Armed Forces, that allows stuabout him. dents to learn the values of citizenBut there’s one thing that makes ship, service to the country, perWang stand out: He’s 16 years sonal responsibility and a sense of old and just accomplishment. graduated from Wang has earned Wang's advice to the JROTC “The HonCC with AAS degree. Hunother students at President's This semester he dred” for rifle plans to attend shooting. HonCC: UH-Manoa to Wang said he study engineer“Never give up.” would like to work ing, then move someday in the on to the U.S. field of weapon enMilitary Acadgineering, designemy. ing weapons that will be make the Even seven semesters ago in world a safer place. 2012, when he started college Despite his obvious ability, at 13, nobody noticed anything Wang said his time at HonCC unusual about Wang, unless the wasn’t always easy academically, professors pointed it out in class like when he encountered chalLast month, Wang sat down to lenges in his math class. talk about his stay at HonCC and “I hit a wall,” he said. But, Wang his plans for the future, said, he told himself to persevere, Wang’s parents noticed early on remembering his favorite quote by his ability to learn fast and decided John Paul Jones: “Don’t give up the to jumped right into kindergarten ship”. at age 4. After he reached second “I don’t see myself as extremely grade, his parents decided to take special. I know I’m not perfect. I’m a different approach and homenot the greatest 16 year old that school him for the rest of his early ever lived," he said. education. His mother was his Wang’s tries keep a right balance main teacher throughout the first in life: He takes care of his school few years until Wang was able to work first and only then tries to teach himself. relax and have fun. He spends By the time he was 11, Wang some of his free time doing war decided to follow in the steps of his re-enactments, like this past Dec. 6 sister, Kaila, who started college at when he and his father portrayed the age of 15 and is now attending military soldiers from WWII era in the U.S Naval Academy. memory of those fallen in the Pearl Andre plans on following his Harbor attack. sister’s footsteps, and he is curWang has become our latest rently accepted to UH for precampus pride, graduating this By Vania Graves
Ka L� staff writer
Ka LĀ photo by Kiki Williams
Andre Wang started college at age 13 and graduated last semester. semester with his AAS before most others his age have finished high school. He is now an inspiration to all student here at HonCC and shows that nothing is impossible.
"Don’t be afraid to push yourself and don’t be afraid to take risks… but don’t take risks all the time because that’s when one becomes careless,” he said.
2 KA LĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
Ka L�, the campus newspaper of Honolulu Community College. Ka La publishes 800 copies monthly during the Spring and Fall Semesters. Ka L� and all campus publications are funded by student publication fees and advertising. No materials published may be reproduced or reused without permission of HonCC Student Media Board. Ka L� is published under the supervision of the HonCC Student Media Board: Chairperson Angelina Peralta Board members Alyssa Baligad Krisangela Johnson Nakemiah Williams Tiera Spencer Faculty Advisers Emily Kukulies Mike Leidemann
Bringing green back to house By Dante Lomboy Ka L� staff writer
As people walk by what use to be a greenhouse used for learning on the campus mall, they see what has now become a safe haven for stray cats and mosquitos. But upon closer inspection, it is evident that there is more to the greenhouse than meets the eye. And people are working to make it what it once was. “We are trying to revamp the greenhouse and have it running as soon as possible,” said Travis Skipworth, a newly hired student worker who has been tasked with bringing the greenhouse back to life. The greenhouse was developed by the late Dr. Kakkala Gopalakrishnan, better known as Dr. Gopal, an oceanograpy professor who saw it as a way for students to learn more about aquaponics, the science of growing things without soil. However, it fell into disrepair when Gopal died suddenly in 2014. Now Skipworth, a former Marine who knows a lot about aquaponic sys-
Ka LĀ photo by Kiki Williams
Travis Skipworth is bring the greenhouse back to life as a learning tool for HonCC students. tems and what is needed to have one up and running, plans to revive it. Eventually, he plans to take his knowledge and start an aquaponics farm himself in California. The greenhouse has intricate piping running above and below it. Unlike many greenhouses that are riddled with potted plants, Gopal’s creation introduced aquaponics, which is the symbiotic relationship between fish and plants. The concept of aquaponics is fish waste is collected and converted, via nitrogen cycle, becom-
Staff members Michaela Carroll Dante Lomboy Vania Graves Larry Medina Daniel Ruiz Tiera Spencer
Nakemiah Williams
Contact Information hcckala@gmail.com Student Media Board Building 2, Room 115 Phone: (808) 845-9213 Submissions Ka Lā invites letters to the editor, articles, events, advertising, and classifieds. Ka Lā reserves the right to refuse or edit submissions. Student editors and writers are responsible for content, which does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HonCC administration, faculty or staff.
January 2016
The creative arts magazine of Honolulu Community College Send submissions to hccartandsoul@gmail.com
ing nutrients for plants to take up. This ingenious method of feeding plants had led Gopal to be a part of a University of Hawaii program, the Marine Option Program, which gives undergrad students the opportunity to conduct a research project of their own. Research is usually something only students pursuing a master’s degree or Ph.D. get to do. After Gopal's death, the greenhouse was left alone with no one responsible for its upkeep. The torch was handed off to many teach-
ers, but no one had the time or knowledge to keep the greenhouse functioning. William Smith, an oceanography professor at Honolulu Community College, says Skipworth has the backgrounded needed to get the system running again, once he has fully studied the ins and outs of Gopal’s design. Hopefully with this movement of improving the greenhouse students and staff can look forward to using the green house as another learning tool.
3 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
January 2016
HonCC students fit new store's style very nicely By Larry Medina Ka L� Staff Writer
The holidays arrived early for this full-time Liberal Arts student and full-time mom. Just a few weeks before Christmas, Yvonne “Lulu” Tatom landed a job with Zara, a haute couture, high-fashion international clothing boutique store in the new ‘Ewa wing of the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Anybody would be happy over this. Tatom was hired as a sales associate in Zara’s women’s department. She had previous work experience at another fashion clothing store. “It’s nice that they’re working with us, teaching us," she said. "They’re willing to pick us younger kids up to give us the experience we need.” The connections between HonCC students and Zara was done through a recent October job fair arranged by Carol Kagimoto, HCC Job Placement Coordinator. “Zara contacted us, along with several other schools,” Kagimoto said. “Zara said they had much success (with hiring) HonCC students.” So much so, that Zara requested to come back to the campus for a second hiring round. It was during this second visit when Tatom inquired to the booth
"It's nice that they're working with us, teaching us. They're willing to pick us younger kids up to give us the experience we need." -- Yvonne "Lulu" Tatom Ka L� photo By Tiera Spencer
and put in an application - as did several other students. “It’s nice to know there’s others (that were hired by Zara) that are going to the same school as you; (having) the same struggles, same dreams," said Tatom. “I’ve become really good friends who came from HCC even before knowing they were (from the school).” Nikki Jennings is one of those fellow students - a pre-business major at HonCC hired as a cashier/sales associate. “Zara called me just two days after the job fair,” said Jennings, who also had previous clothing re-
tail experience. “I applied to other fashion stores at the job fair, but I liked Zara’s styles better, so I went with them.” Jennings trained at night, which involved various sessions on the cash register, customer service, and merchandising the store with clothes and accessories in the preceding weeks of Zara's grand opening this past Dec. 9. “They were looking for parttime people, based on (students’) availability,” Kagimoto said, alluding to the company’s flexibility in accommodating students’ school schedules.
Zara has employed several HonCC students from various majors, but not necessarily from Fashion Technology, as would be expected . Good customer service qualities and an enthsiastic attitude seemed more what Zara was looking for, Kagimoto said. However, Tatom was asked if she would consider Fashion Technology as a new major instead, now that she is employed with a major fashion clothing store. “Yah!” she replied. “This is definitely an option that I’m thinking about.”
PANCAKE DAY FEB 17 | 10:00AM-12:00PM JOIN US ON THE CAMPUS MALL AND GET SOME
FREE PANCAKES!
lunar new year celebration
S TU D E N T M U S T P RE S EN T A V A L I D H O N C C S T U DE N T I D.
FEB 4th | 10:00AM-12:00PM
S TU D E N T S ARE W E L C O ME TO B R I N G A L O N G A F AC U L TY O R S TAFF M E M BE R AND T R E A T T H E M TO A B A T C H O F F R E E
HONCC’S CAFETERIA
P A N C A K E S A S W EL L . L E T U S S O C I A L I Z E A N D B U I L D A S TR O N G E R
SAB WISHES YOU GOOD FORTUNE THIS SPRING SEMESTER
H O N O L U L U C C C A MPU S C O MMU N I T Y .
J O I N U S F O R A O N E D AY C E L E B R AT I O N WITH TRADITIONAL LION DANCERS, GAMES, FOOD, AND MORE.
R
D
DENT
DENT
TU S
TU
S BOA
@honolulucc #honccsab
TIVIT
D
AC
IE
S BOA
STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE 874 DILLINGHAM BLVD BLDG 2-113 808-845-9498
R
IE
TIVIT AC
STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE 874 DILLINGHAM BLVD BLDG 2-113 808-845-9498
@honolulucc #honccsab
S
4 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
Update from the office of Student Life As we get this semester underway, here's what's happening with Student Life and Development. We would love to have you get more involved with our programs and services. More information is always available on our website (honolulu.hawaii. edu/studentlife)
Staffing
The office has only one fulltime staff member - that’s me, Director Emily Kukulies. The other employees are very valuable students assistants. Last semester we lost a couple longtime assistants who were key to effectiveness of the office. Please be patient as the remaining staff are learning their new roles so they can serve the campus better. We are always interviewing for new staff. You can apply online through hawaii.edu/sece, search for Student Life & Development.
RISOs
(Registered Independent Student Organizations) & Recycling These student organizations are always active fulfilling their organization's purpose and interests. This semester they also have the opportunity to oversee some recycling efforts on campus. Please looks for the teal recycle bins around campus and donate your bottles & cans. The funds from these recycling efforts will help support the participating student organizations.
Student Government
Last semester the student body voted to reexamine Student Government and how it operates at our campus. There has been a delay in the process. If you are interested in helping us restructure Student Government to be an effective voice of students, please contact me at hccsld@ hawaii, subject line: Interested in Student Government.
Leadership Development
This semester the Student Media Board and Student Activities Board will be getting leadership development training this January through the annual state student leadership conference called Ho’opili. We hope to come back and bring all students and student organizations great ideas they can use as well.
JANUARY 2016
New magazine will showcase the creative work of students By Tiera Spencer
Ka L� staff writer
On an overcast afternoon a few weeks ago in a lonely corner of the HonCC campus, two doors down from the Student Life office, several students congregated in a dark, unlit, anonymous room. Yet in spite of the dim atmosphere and cramming for Fall finals week, the students filled the place with energy and enthusiasm, throwing out crazy ideas and thoughts over the newly-reincarnated Art and Soul magazine. Art and Soul, an art and literature magazine showcasing the creative talents of students at Honolulu Community College, has been on hiatus the past few years, but is currently scheduled for an impressive rebirth, with its next publication due out in May 2016. Among this small, ragtag group of dedicated, passionate students who would be making up the staff of this magazine, anticipation was high. Nekamiah “Kiki” Williams, HonCC student and newly assigned as Art and Soul magazine editor, said of the magazine and the new student staff involved in the project, that it was “full of creative people with creative minds and creative souls - anything that your heart desires (to) just open up and be free to the world.” The staff of Art and Soul is seeking written, photographic and
Ka LĀ Photo by Tiera Spencer The new magazine will continue a decades old tradition at HonCC.
crafted submissions for the inaugural publication. The magazine presents an opportunity for published artistic expression from many genres “such as writers, musicians and songwriters, make-up artists, painters, photographers, etc. to get their work out there for people to see,” said Williams. “We want to be able to show people what your talent is. It’s about defining you and deep within yourself as an artist.“ “It’s a great way to get students’ creativity out in the public,” said Vania Graves, new student website director of Art and Soul. “The fact that we are opening submissions to classes that most
people wouldn’t publish in a literary magazine, but yet still show creativity such as MELE, ASPR, and FASH, will open the doors for students in their future careers and also will give them a chance to be proud of their hard work.” The magazine is looking to go beyond the spectrum of art and literature. It will be distributed on campus and for additional exposure, consideration is being taken to distribute the magazine to art venues around downtown Honolulu. The accompanying website will ensure worldwide online viewing. Students are encouraged to submit their work for review to hccartandsoul@gmail.com.
Ban all smoking on campus Kaitlyn Zarazua Ka L� staff writer
People who smoke on campus do not realize the effect it has on the rest of the students, teachers and staff members of Honolulu Community College. More importantly I feel that at school I shouldn’t have to worry about second-hand smoke. It amazes me that there are strict rules for smoking distances at public buildings, but not on the HonCC campus, which should be a place where smoking is not allowed throughout the school. Whenever I pass a student or teacher smoking on campus I can’t help but inhale the smoke and the thousands of chemicals in the cigarette. It truly disgusts me because I know I’m involuntarily putting harmful chemicals into my body that I know I would never put
Opinion
inside as my free choice. Even after the person smoking is done, the smell and smoke still linger through the air and travel with the wind, bringing them to people who aren’t necessarily by the place of smoke. Although the UH tobacco policy has well intentions of giving the campus a safe and healthy environment from smoking, it does not diminish the fact that there are still smokers all around. It states that smoking is not allowed within 20 feet of a building entrance and exit. With these rules, it still brings to question how is smoking allowed and why is it that other students including myself are caught in the smoky cloud every day. I am aware of smokers’ rights as they are normal people as well, but
I fail to understand how 100 or so smokers are justified to expose the health risks to the entire population of the school. I spoke with Vice Chancellor Derek Inafuku, who made it clear that virtually nothing will be able to change the allowance of smoking on campus. I believe I should be able to walk through my campus without walking through smoke. The thick heavy smell of smoke I breathe is instantly taken in my body. I think it’s ridiculous that people on campus are allowed to smoke on a learning environment surrounded by students, teachers and staff. I feel of all places, school should never cross my mind as a risk factor from second-hand smoke. Now I have to worry if I will develop any health complications such as lung cancer.
5 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
January 2016
It takes a team to keep campus safe
Break-in, graffiti and tire slashings
By Daniel Ruiz Ka L� Staff Writer
The experience that Honolulu CC’s new head of security Donald Dawson brings to the safety of the campus is extensive, to say the least. At the University of HawaiiManoa, Dawson held the position of “Captain of Campus security” for the last 20 years. And he entered the job at Manoa after serving our country for 30 years in the military police. Dawson is humble and open about his passion to provide a safe learning environment for students and professors. His job is to keep the campus safe in a neighborhood that is known to have a high crime rate. Dawson gives credit to all the employees of the college who help get the work done. And despite the reputation of the surrounding neighborhood, statistics show that the campus is a very safe place. In fact, a new report just released by the school shows that violent crime is almost non-existent on campus, according to the Cleary Report, which all colleges are required to file regarding campus criminal activity. Dawson said this is the first time in his career that he has seen so much multitasking by his peers. Everyone has more than just one single function, and that helps
Ka LĀ photo by Daniel Ruiz
Donald Dawson brings decades of experience to his job as head of security at Honolulu Community College keep the college safe, he said. Students respond well to all the interaction and that shows in the good behavior inside and outside of the classroom, he said. Dawson said there are some things students can do to feel safe in and around the campus, foremost being to use common sense when they see or fear a crime. It is always wise to contact security or call police right away with
Ka L�'s puzzle corner
the exact location . Dawson said students should take pictures and video, if possible, to help officials capture those who are compromising the safety of the campus. If a person does not have a cell phone, there are eight blue emergency call boxes on campus that can be used to request help. Just pick up the pnone and within a minute security will on the way, Dawson said.
Campus Security reported several crimes on campus in November and December . • A glass window was broken in the third floor of Building 7, and the storage cabinets had been forced open. HPD was called and initiated an investigation. • Two elevators (Building 8802 and 8814) were "tagged" with graffiti. • On at least five occasions, automobile tires were slashed or punctured intentionally on campus. All of these incidents occurred during hours of darkness, when victims had been on campus late at night, or left their vehicle overnight. Security says people should not leave vehicles in campus parking lots overnight, and when working on campus at night, should park as close to lighted areas as possible. Campus Security is asking for anyone who may have witnessed an suspicious activity around these areas to call HPD at 911, or Campus Security at 284-1270.
Answers online at www.thekala.net
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
The campus question
6
January 2016
Bringing school spirit to Kalihi
What is your New Year's resolution? Katarina Tatomirodi, Liberal Arts
“To work out more.”
BriAnna Bowerman Art major “To stop drinking so much coffee.”
Jennifer Cross
HonCC Security Guard "To continue being happy.”
Keanu Alop
MELE Audio Engineering “To commit and follow through with all resolutions that I set for myself.”
Jordan Maballo HVAC Refrig.
“To be awesome!”
Joshua Watanabe Undecided
“To drink a little less.”
HonCC named a top military school Honolulu, Kapiʻolani and Leeward Community Colleges, as well as UH-Maui, have been named a Military Friendly School for 2016 by Victory Media. The designation is awarded to colleges in the country that are doing the most to embrace the military student population.
This year, more than 2,900 military veterans and active duty military members and their dependents attend UH community colleges.
Ka La photos by Kiki WIlliams
Dozens of Honolulu Community College students, staff and faculty marched last month in the Kalihi Business Association Christmas Parade, continuing a long campus tradition.
KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
7
January 2016
Nightmare on Reef Street In the blink of an eye, I find myself struggling to reach the ocean's surface. With each breath hesitantly taken I intake a moutful of salt water. "How could something so beautiful. be so strong and deadly," I ask myself. The ocean always brought me peace and comfort. Never did I imagine taking my last breath here. The brightness from the sun begins to fade as I descend more' towards the ocean's reef. Just when I was about to give up, and take my last breath, the sound of my alarm clock woke me up out of my sleep. My clothes were drenched in sweat. As if I was really drowning in the ocean. So relieved, but still scared, I'm glad this was all in my head.
Best of HonCC Each semester, Ka L� publishes some of the best work from the school's art and literature classes. These photos were provided by students in Marty Nikou's Art 107-D Digital photography class . The photographers are, clockwise from the top, Yvonne Tatom, Danielle Martinez, Anna Jane Ham, and Neil Dumiao. The poems are from Eric Shaffer's English 201 Creative Writing class.
Jasmyne McGee
Ocean Virgin A family walks on the beach, sand flowing between toes. The wide-eyed boy stares at the unending blue water and rolling waves. People playing, smiling, and laughing in the water draw the boy closer. Encouraged by the father, the son takes his first salty walk among frothy remnants of once might waved. Every step back and two steps forward dances with crashing waves. Submerged waist deep, the son turns toward the beach, beaming as a wave rises. Knocked to the sand, the boy stifles underwater, seeks relief with flailing arms and tumbles like a grain of sand in the surf. Seen from the beach, the boy is gasping in excitement, splashing the water and playing in the waves. Returning to the surface once more, the son's eyes dart back and forth, seeking help as another wave rises only to glipse the father still smiling before going back under.
John Yap
8 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i
January 2016
S P O N S O R E D B Y S T U D E N T AC T I V I T I E S B OA R D W I T H S T U D E N T L I F E & D E V E L O P M E N T
DATES
Get T O D AY
INVOLVED
IT
Get IT! January 19-20, 2016 Cafeteria 10:30am-1:00pm Getting involved helps you, the campus and the community.
Lunar New Year February 4, 2016 Campus Mall 10:30am-12:30pm Kung Hei Fat Choi. SAB wishes you Good Fortune this spring semester. Join us for a one day celebration with traditional lion dancers, games, food, and more.
Honcc Sports: Basketball February 3-March 16, 2016(Wednesdays) Pearl City District Gym 5:30pm-9:00pm Shoot some hoops with Honcc and compete with other colleges, like LCC,KCC, UH West Oahu.
Valentine’s Day February 11, 2016 Student Lounge 10:30am-12:30pm Want to give something to your love ones? Come and join us with crafts, candy making and other activities.
Pancake Day February 17, 2016 Student Lounge 10:30am-12:30pm Bring a faculty or staff member and treat them and yourself to some pancakes!What a way to come together as a campus!
Honcc Sports: SoftBall February 22-March 7, 2016 (Mondays) Campus Mall 6:00pm-9:00pm Staff from opposing colleges come together and compete through various sports! Represent and support your campus team!
Truck Stop February 24, 2016 Campus Mall 10:30am-2:00pm The Student Activities Board is bringing you local kine grinds to ease your hunger.
Movie Day March 4, 2016 Consolidated Theatre 10:30am-12:30pm Join Student Activities Board in a free movie night at Consolidated Theatres.
@honolulucc #honccsab