Ka Lā October 2015

A Student Publication of the University of Hawai`i • Honolulu Community College • October 2015

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A NEW GARDEN ON CAMPUS -- Page 5

2 KA LĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

October 2015

Ka Lā, 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

Devon-Jack Rosete Ka L� Editor

Hillary Brown Faculty Advisers Emily Kukulies

Mike Leidemann Staff members Jared Paul Bonilla Brian de Jesus Morales Marla Jenne Monica Lerma Jackie Liu Jason Mar Paul Perry Christian Pestilli James Sedillo Sean Takehara Nakemiah Williams Contact Information hcckala@gmail.com

Student Media Board

Ka LĀ photo by Alyssa Baligad

The school year really got started in September with the Get IT! ) event in the school cafeteria. It was a chance to find out about all kinds of student groups and activities, like Phi Theta Kappa, on the campus.

Student government to rebuild

By Ka L� staff

Last month students voted to remove all current student government rules and regulations. The results of this vote will allow HonCC students to start rebuilding the organization in a format and structure they desire.

Student Life and Development has said that all HCC students will

be invited to a series of planning meetings to work through ideas on what the new organization should entail. Once they have a prototype, there will be another vote to adopt the new organization. So students will get a chance to give feedback and review the new concepts.

HonCC arrived at this vote because in past years the structure and format of student

Student Media Board The Student Media Board (SMB) is now seeking applications for student board member positions. This HonCC Chartered Student Organization oversees KA LĀ, the campus newspaper, and our campus Digital Signage team. This is a rare opportunity to shape student media and make a difference for the student community.

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government had not been functional. Interested and excited students got frustrated with the layers of bureaucracy and felt student governance was not functioning as it should.

More than half of the students quit the organization each of the last three years. There was so little interest in the last student government election that we had no

election. This means that right now, there is no student government.

With this vote, Student Life & Development believes students can now create a better organization that serves as the voice of the students without burdening student leaders into apathy. We will see if this start fresh with the clean slate does create more functional organization.

3 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

October 2015

Apprentice found his place through HonCC

By Taeler Javier Ka La staff writer

Joshua Javier, 24, is a man who commands the room, not with his 5-foot-11 stature but with his personality. As a member of both the Filipino dance group Tekniqlingz and the Filipino Junior Chamber of Commerce, Javier is active within the community when he's not working at the Pearl Harbor shipyard.

After graduating Kamehameha Schools in 2009, Javier went to UH-Manoa to pursue electrical engineering. However, after two years, he quickly realized that he was not on his desired path.

"I switched majors twice and I had felt like college wasn't the right thing for me at the time. I just wanted to get started on my career," he said.

Stephanie Javier, Joshua's mother, suggested that he apply for the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program because "he was a very smart boy and he could pick up on things relatively easily." Thus began the process of application.

Javier tells of a seven- to eightmonth-long application process which consisted of a test, an

For more information on apprentice program:: http://www.honolulu. hawaii.edu/node/770

Joshua Javier,, a HonCC graduate, found his place in the Pearl Harbor Naval

Shipyard Apprenticeship Program.

interview, and a physical exam.

The process for him began in April 2012 when he, alongside the 3,000 other applicants, took the initial exam. After waiting about four to eight weeks, those who passed were notified about the interview process in September, and, if successful, had a physical exam four to eight weeks later.

Over the length of the process, the 3,000 applicants in April dwindled down to 150 men and women accepted into the program the following January.

The number of applicants is high for good reasons, Javier explained.

"They offered a set schedule, it's a federal job, and they pay for your schooling. In addition to these benefits, there's room for upward mobility, good pay with step increases, and access to certain military facilities like Bellows and Hale Koa," he said.

Once accepted into the program, apprentices take courses at Honolulu Community College that are transferable to UH-Manoa should they decide to further their

From demolition man to company owner

By BRIAN De Jesus Morales

Why 15 to Finish?

12 15

CREDITS PER SEMESTER CREDITS PER SEMESTER

3 2

YEARS IN SCHOOL YEARS IN SCHOOL

Just because you’re full-time doesn’t mean you’ll finish on time.

In Hawai‘i, on average, full-time students take

4.1

YEARS for a 2-year degree

Those who graduate on time with a degree will save time and money.

Winners of the First UH Bookstore 15 to finish promotion who were randomly selected from all eligible 2013-14 freshman who took 30 or more credits in their first year.

IMPORTANT LINKS 15tofinish.com | www.star.hawaii.edu

education there. Javier reminisced about taking courses in drafting, physics, and even American Studies, all of which were paid for by the federal government.

However, Javier said the real training didn't occur until he was on the job.

When asked what a typical day is like for an apprentice, Javier said the day begins with an interactive briefing at 6:30 a.m. followed by working on assigned jobs until 11 a.m. After their halfhour lunch break, workers go back to their jobs and ensure that the area is secured and ready for the second shift by 2 p.m. However, these workers occasionally have training days, separate from on the job training, that gives them the needed qualifications to move up in ranks and pay grade.

As for advice for those who want to apply, Javier joyfully responded, "Even if you don't make it the first time, keep trying because it's a great place to work."

Ka L� staff writer

Steven Montijo is a construction worker who has been working hard to reach his goals.

He also fell once from 16 feet when his boot got caught in the ladder. He fell backwards hitting the ground, breaking his clavicle, smashing three disc in his back, and the cartilage of both knees.

Montijo was born in New York in 1969 and grew in Brooklyn and in Puerto Rico. At 14, he dropped out of school and found a job as a mechanic dropping down transmissions and disassembling them.

After a few months, he quit -- "I hate grease" -- and found a job in construction. That's when the fun started.

"I took a job doing demolition and I loved it. It was more than a job; it was an adventure," he said.

"I like to break things. It's a good stress relief," Montijo said.

"Smashing down walls with a sledge hammer was fun, and I got

paid well for it," Montijo said. The hard part from that type of job was cleaning up and lifting lots of weights over 100 pounds. Montijo had a great experience working in demolition However, demolition is considered high-risk construction work and is characterized by hazardous working environments.

"I have friends that have physical problem like lower back problems, and knee problems," Montijo said.

Montijo also has been injured on the job. After he fell from the ladder, he couldn't work for over 3 monthz or use the left arm. "But I am a survivor. Three years I was out of work, but now I'm back," he said.

These days, Montijo says he has learned a lot from construction work, and he can do plumbing, electrical, welding, rebar, and concrete work.

Today, Montijo is 46 years old, and he owns his own company called TFC Inc.

4 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i O ctober 2015

Fashion program continues to attract creative students Students engulfed with a passion for fashion and aspirations of becoming a designer have the opportunity to join the Fashion Technology program offered at Honolulu Community College.

“Fashion is the chameleon of art, it can morph into whatever the wearer wants,” says Joseph Aguon, who is enrolled in the program, which gives students a handson approach to working with different materials and textiles, industrial sewing, illustration, and much more. With the techniques learned in this program, students can successfully transfer what they learned to the fashion industry after graduation.

The final project for students enrolled in the program entails designing a collection to be showcased at the school’s annual fashion show at the end of the Spring semester.

“The fashion show is a very big event with news teams coming to cover the show,” says Billie Lueder, executive assistant to the chancellor and director of communications & external affairs at HonCC. Three former alumni of the

program have gone on to compete on the Lifetime television series “Project Runway,” where participants vie each week for a grand prize of having their collection showcased at the next New York Fashion Week.

Before joining the fashion program, students should do a lot of research and thinking about whether “sitting behind a sewing machine for hours is really your thing,” Aquon said. “If you mess up, you've spent $30 just on practice materials.”

Aguon, a second-year student in the program, said that after graduating he hopes to take his talents to New York.

“I’m planning on attending Fashion Institute of Technology to further develop my craft,” he said.

Fashion Technology is an approximately two-year program in which students receive an associate degree, and certificates of achievement and competence after they complete the program.

If students decide fashion is something of interest and that want to pursue a career in the fashion industry, they should talk to their counselors and register for the necessary classes, Aquon said.

wake up.

Now that you know when to study, let’s move on to how to study. There are three main types of learners. They’re visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Visual learners learn by seeing, auditory learners learn by hearing, and kinesthetic learners learn by doing it.

According to researchers at Purdue University visual

learners uses visual objects such as graphs, charts, pictures, and seeing information, can read body language well and have a good perception of aesthetics. They are able to memorize and recall various information and learn better in lectures by watching them.

Auditory learners retain information through hearing and speaking, prefer to be told how to do things and then summarize the main points out loud to help with memorization.

Kinesthetic learners would rather demonstrate how to do something rather than have it verbally explained and likes to use the hands-on approach to learn new material.

“I study better by hands on, I prefer to see it,” said HCC student Jenisha Aguon.

By Jared Bonilla Ka L� staff writer

Ka LĀ photos by Alyssa Baligad

HonCC students cap their time in the Fashion Technology program with a fashion show each spring. These are student works from last semester's show.

Learn to study smarter, not longer

By Jason Mar Ka L� staff writer

Upcoming exam and no idea how to prepare for it? Well keep on reading, because you can learn how to study smart.

As assignments pile up, everyone tends to procrastinate because we all think that we can spend two to three days of cramming to catch up. But while last-minute cramming may allow you to pass a test, you won't remember the material for long, as proven through many scientific studies.

“Decades of research have demonstrated that spacing out study sessions over a longer period of time improves longterm memory. In other words, if you have 12 hours to spend on a subject, it's better to study it for three hours each week for

four weeks than to cram all 12 hours into week four, ”according to the American Psychological Association.

Instead of doing all-nighters thinking that you’re being productive, it’s better to get a couple hours of sleep instead of squeezing in a few more chapters.

We all know that feeling where we feel dead tired at 6 a.m., wondering if this all-nighter is going to pay off. Then you also know that during the exam you probably aren’t thinking straight .So it’s better to remember a few chapters well thanks to sleep instead of “learning” every chapter in the book thanks to your all-nighter.

An alternative, if you honestly feel like you didn’t learn enough material, is to sleep a little bit and wake up early so you have time to study a bit more and actually

5 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

A new garden grows on campus For the last year, longtime cosmetology instructor Phil Hervas has been developing a secret garden at HonCC. . Under his watchful eye and nurturing hand, the garden surrounding Building 27 has exploded into a peaceful paradise that includes a variety of orchids, ground coverings, palms, succulents, and gorgeous water lilies

with playful fish.

“I love our school: the faculty, staff, students and all those we serve," Hervas said. "And I have gained greatly and grown from working here. It is because of this appreciation for all that our school is and does that I wanted to give back in some small way. The garden is for me a gift that will always go on giving.”

October 2015

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

6

UH news briefs

Halloween & Talent Showcase

KCC starts work on culinary school Ground-breaking ceremonies were held this month for Kapiolani Community College’s Culinary Institute of the Pacific, which will be located on the slopes of Diamond Head at former site of the Cannon Club.

The $25 million first phase of the culinary facility includes two single story laboratory buildings, outdoor cooking area, landscaping, the first of two parking lots and all the offsite utility infrastructure for the project. Future phases of the project will include an administration/faculty building, auditorium, classrooms, advanced patisserie and confisserie laboratories and a teaching restaurant.

“The Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head will be the epicenter for culinary innovation and education in Hawaii,” said UH President David Lassner..

October 29, 2015 Bldg. 4, Cafeteria 10:30am-12:30pm

Hawaii CC's ranked 14th best

Come celebrate Halloween with some spooky festivities with your fellow students. Feel free to come in with your costumes and join our costume contest and talent showcase

Hawaii has been reported to have one of the best community college systems in the country.

That's according to the personal finance website WalletHub, which conducted an in-depth analysis of 2015’s Best & Worst Community Colleges, then drew upon its results to identify the states with the best and worst community college systems.

After comparing 670 community colleges across 17 key metrics, ranging from the fees to student-faculty ratio to the cost of instate tuition and fees, Hawaii was considered to have the 14th best system in the U.S. HonCC was rated 464th on the list. KCC

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@honolulucc

HUNGRY? 10AM-2PM

NOVEMBER 25

Regents nominations being sought The Candidate Advisory Council has initiated the recruitment process for four seats on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and will be accepting applications and nominations for two Honolulu seats, one Hawai‘i County seat, and one student seat.

Application materials, procedures and descriptions of regent’s responsibilities are available online at http://www.hawaii.edu/ rcac.

Members of the UH Board of Regents serve voluntarily and are not paid.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD IS BRINGing you local kine

grinds to EASE YOUR HUNGER. join us @ the campus mall

Students take part in Cyber Camp Approximately 60 Hawai‘i high school students took part in participate in a week long GenCyber Hawai‘i camp at HonCC this summer. . These camps were designed to educate and excite high school students about career pathways in cybersecurity and to strengthen the cybersecurity knowledge base of high school teachers in the State of Hawai‘i.

HEALTHY

JessDaBess Acai Bowls DENT

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More students are choosing to come to Honolulu Community College because of its convenient location in metro Honolulu.

Some students interviewed on campus said they picked HonCC because it is near where they work or live.

“It’s close to my Grandma’s house,” said Jade Rogers, 19, a first-year student at HonCC. “It’s by my house. I like the campus and the people there,” said Marisa Wong, 20, another first-year student at HonCC. School officials said that enrollment was up 6.7 percent over the previous fall, with a total of 4,129 students registered at the start of the semester.

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For the latest school news, go to www.thekala.net

STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE 874 DILLINGHAM BLVD BLDG 2-114 808-845-9498

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Enrollment up 6.7 compared to last year

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led local schools at No. 147.

October 2015

STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE 874 DILLINGHAM BLVD BLDG 2-114 808-845-9498

LOCAL

All Kine GrInDs @honolulucc #honccsab

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

7

October 2015

Spring 2015 Dean's List A

Jacquelyn Abad Jackie Abalos Donielle Abasial Ryan Abe Arnel Abendanio Madison Abordo Shanelle Acain Patrick Acierto Brayton Acoba Chad Adviento Rodney Agbayani Jonathan Agno Jett Aguirre Shailanne Ah Loo Hi'ilani Ahina Belinda Akaka Aleczander Akana Mark Andrew Alamon Patrick James Alcaraz Vance Alconcel Lorenza Aldan Justiny Alimoot Yvonne Almeida Kara Almonte David Alvarado Carol Amaral Aaron Anami Erika Ancheta Jazelyn Ancheta Cathey Anderson Tyler Aoki Bryson Aquiat Lawrence Aragon Lance Arakaki Esther Arakawa John Araujo Anthony Arcano Aaron Arii Jana Arre Robbie Asamoto Bridgette Ash Terence Aveiro

B

Kasee Bailey Kyle Balbirona Steven Baldauf Greg Barayuga Atsuko Barth Ronalyn Barut Keiko Batara Jerryl Bayang Barbara Becraft David Behrens Ashley Bell Cherrie Lyn Beltran Gabriela Beltran Cody Benanua Charmaine Benigno Shelby Benson Alexander Benton William Patrick Bernaldez Sierra Blotter Emily Boirum Mark Jonel Bolibol Zachary Bonaudi Jaypee Bonilla Victoria Bordignon Brooke Bosque Kogen Boyer Michael Brannum Jared Braun Hillary Brown Edwin Bruno Stephen Buck Bradley Bugad

C

Ji Ren Cao Justin Caballes Lance Cabanilla-Ku Jorge Cadenas Jonah Cadiz Kristen Calacal Adam Caldwell Delzie Calucag Bryan Caluya Christopher Campbell

Brent Canida Gary Canite Phanee Caramonte John Harley Caridad Gretchen Carnate Kimi Carty Thomas Carvalho Cheryl Casanova Ronald Castillo Christophtr Caswell Gerome Catbagan T. Cayetano-Tamashiro Jarrin Celoza Lynnette Chang Jeremy Chang Joshua Chapa Yeanni Annie Chen Fuhua Chen Shasha Chen Sabrina Chew Casey Ching Audrie Chisum Nathan Chiu Tony Choi Hannah Choi Aaron Choi Janna Choy Ying Kit Chui Nicole Chun-Park Jennifer Ciesiolka Erik Clemson Chelsey Colon James Cornwell Zachary Coronas Lee Corotan Bryan Cortez Clarence Cottrell Irene Cramer Candace Cregan Cody Daniel Andy Dao Mayra Davis Kenneth Christopher

D

Dedicatoria Dela Pena Kawika Delima Russell Delos Santos Rick Demoe Brad Dempster Katelynn Dillon Victor Divina Loraine Doliente Benjamin Dumaran Brian Joel Dumaslan James Duropan Nikki Dutro

E

Tyler Edrada Bryant Elegino Sara Ellenbolt Don Espaniola Vic-Albert Estoesta

F

Trevor Fanguy Peter Faualo Joanne Brandy Felipe Matthew Felix Victor Fermin Donald Fialkowski Shanice Finch Keanu Foltz Daniel Fong Isaiah Foo-Mitsunaga Anna-Michelle Freed Nicole Fu Cody Fukuhara

G

Luis Gaerlan Nena Galicha Gary Gan JayDean Ganitano Jenny Gao

Mark Jesfer Gaoiran Eduardo Garcia Brendalis Garcia Justin Garo Rodney Gaston Sharayah Gentry Brittany Giffard Stalker Kamo'i Gilman Nicole Ginoza Troy Goda Nainoa Gonsalves Fred Goya Christopher Goya David Goya Nicole Patria Granciosa Eamon Gray David Grupen Benigno Guerrero Timothy Gunderson Feifei Guo

H

Hien Ha Keanu Haina Brandon Hamasaki Joanna Han Ting He Guan Hui He Li Qin He Emily Rose Head Maile Hewitt Troy Higa Kai Higa Robert Hinokuma Matthew Ho Jessica Ho Gavan Honda Chance Hookala Natasha HopkinsMoniz Brandon Horiuchi Kallen Hosaka David Hsu Kaiwen Hu Jimmy Huang Angela Hurd Charles Hwang

I

Benjamin Ige Charles Ignacio Kevin Inthirath Ethylene Rose Ipalari Kenneth Ito StaciaLee Jaeger Marla Jenne Sydney Johnson Heather Johnson John Kagehiro H. Kaiura Michael Kam Jonathan Kamada Nicole Kamalu Gayle Kaneshiro Ross Kang Keoki Kanohokula John Kaohelaulii Michelle Kapule Cheryl Ann Kashiwamura Akemi Kato Nathan Kawanishi Rena Kayano Kale Kealoha Scheherazade Kelii Dallas Kia Shane Kido Marisa Kiethanom Brian Kim Brian Kim Jacob Kimsel Sean King Lance Koenig Kasey Koomoa Noah Koon Eric Kotake William Kruger Christopher MasenKuaiwa Cathleen Kuang

Anthony Kubeja Kamaile Kunipo Brandon \Kushima Ashley Kuwahara Miye Kuwata

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Tanya Labajo Zachary Lagrimas Christian Lai Rio Laigo Rayton Lamay Dave Lamug Katrina Lancaster Jarett Lapitan Scott Lau Aaron Lau Darek Laviolette Duong Le Brittany Leandro O'Neal Lebehn Alyson Lee Jonathan Lee Matthew Lee Brenden Lee Stuart Leong Seth Lewis Jason Ligon Chad Lindsey Keanu Lindsey Jessica Link Marjorie Linzy Kristen Litherland Robbi-Anne Liu Jaslyn Loftin Maleko Lorenzo Lezli Lou Kazumi Love Kaliko Loveland John-Paul Luckfield Bronson Luis Frank-Dwayne Lujan Loc Luu

M

David Macato Matthew Maetani Austin-Lee Mahi'ai Weihang Mai Barry Maitland Jack Mandaquit Holden Mandrial-Santos Donna Leilani Manuel Joejacob Manutai Michelle Maranan Lucia Maravalli Rapeeporn Marshall Kikolani Martinez James Marzan Thomas Mascioli Kristie Masuoka Wayne Mathes Jeanette Matsuda Gavin Matsumoto Brandon Matsumura Alika Mattson Jasmine McClain John McDonough James McGowan John Paul McManus Nicholas Megargel Randy Mendiola Elida Meza Torres Melia Mizuguchi Lalana Moe Kaitlyn Moeller Justin Ryan Molina Christopher Montalban Pineda Brittany Montilliano Jordan Morales Rylan Morihara Brad Morikawa Claira Morrison Stephanie Morton Tone Munevongsa Garrett Murata Jared Nagai

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Kristin Nagamine Carly Naganuma Kyle Nakahara Jeremy Namahoe Anthony Sylvester Nambio Leilani Napuunoa Alamea Napuunoa Patrick Ng Khu Nguyen Mina Nguyen Anna Nguyen Lan Nguyen Long Nguyen Martha Nishimura Miya Nishio Stacy Ann Nitta

O

Nathan Ogata Neil Ogawa Nathan Oki Cory Okuda Ryan Olaguera Joshua Olaguera Briana Olarti Juan Carlos Olegario Jared Omiya James Omori Taylor Omuro Lance Ontai Julye Opiopio Donovan Orial Kellen Oroku Rock Orozco Michelle Orpilla George Orpilla Daniel Ortiz David Oshita Tiana Otsuka Duclayan

P

Kent Joe Pacanuayan Beny Pacubas Almie Paja Charita Palicte Bradley Ryan Pammit Zachary Pang Kaiponohea Patoc Jeremy Patricio Bradley Paul Gabriel Peacott-Ricardos Richard Pelton Bang Doan Pham J.N. Pieper Remigio Daniel Poepoe Bradley Ponce John H. Poomaihealani Kirk Powles Aurelio Preza Carl Price Sydney Price

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Shiloh Qalo Janice Quesada Jonnah Rae Quiacusan

R

C. Quibol-Rodriguez Victoria Rabago Savanna Rains-Cole Christopher Rallustian Chelsey Ramirez Emely Ramos Devin Rasco Mark Razonski Frank Reilly Kehaulani Remiticado Kingston Repercio Cooper Resture Sean Michael Revilla Melvin Reyes Daniel Reyes Eileen Ricardo Ryan Rigor

Aaron Rigor Alphonse Matthew Rigor Kimverly Rios Ramos Bradley Ray Rivera Jordan Roberts Kate Robinson Joshlyn Rodrigues William Rollman Nathan Routt Randy Ruiz Kevin Ryan

Bryan Vesce Charmaine C. Viernes JoshuaVierra Edmar Villa B. Villa-Hashimoto Gabriel Viloria Benjamin Vincent

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Lyle Wachi Lokahi Wade Dodge Watson Kelsie Wauke Antonio Wells Gregory Wessel Jamie West Yequn Whitaker Dustin Williams Kristin Wilson Keevin Winchester Jennifer Wong Kurt Wong Justin Wong Reyan Wong Marisa Wong Robert Wong Jaymie Wu Lianghang Wu

Jaena Mae Sabugo Suilda Sadural Shawn Saito Christian Sakaida Micah Saula Rowel Sayon Mark Scalzone Joy Schoonover Jonathan Serapion Jasrael Sheehan Andrew Shimabuku Scott Shimizu Brandon Shimomura Julian Silveria Cayne Simmons-Sabey Sterling Simon Ganti Wessten Smith Ludmilla Smith Steffanie Sobitz Sunsearay Solatorio Justin Soon Steven Soto Solomon Souki Ryan Souza Kalama Souza Brian Standiford Shawny Stone Stephanie Stoner Roshan Suehiro Matthew Sugihara Ashley Suzuki Dinah Swords Blaze Sylva

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Stephen Taheny Anthony Tajas Daniel Taliloa Brendon Tanabe Mar Tanigawa Brandon Taniyama Rovi Mae Terrado Bryan Teshima Gregory Teter Susan Thompson Jason Timm Aprille Tolentino Tennyson Tom John Toner Genesis Toralba Carlos Torres Aaron Toyama Mong Thu Tran John Tran Thuy Tran Vladimir Trecker Aaron Trinidad Kevin Tsutsui Leo Tuazon Heidi Twiggs-Akau

U

Christopher J. Ulep Melody Ulep Stephen Umeno Rowel Urban

V

Layla Valentine Cody Valeros Romnick Jude Valmoja Brandon Vazquez Sharey Vendiola

W

XYZ Royce Yamaki Ian Yamamoto Dennis Yamashiro Brandon Yamashita Ian Yanagihara Alan Yang Kevin Yang Dawei Yang Neil Yasuhara Matthew Yee Ryan Yip Ryan Yonamine Branch Young Aaron Yri Royce Yuen Micah Yuen Qing Qing Zhu

8 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i O ctober 2015

Blast off

By Ka LĀ staff

Several Honolulu College Students had the thrill of a lifetime this summer, when they got to see a project they worked on launched into space from Virginia on a rocket.

The students were part of a team from HonCC and three other community colleges in Hawaii who worked together on Project Imua, a joint faculty-student enterprise for designing, fabricating and testing payloads.

The UH team was the only community college team in the country whose payload was selected for this launch.

Payloads developed by students from seven higher education programs were aboard the rocket.

“We can do anything just like anywhere else in the world. We have facilities and we have come so far. Project Imua means to move forward and we have definitely moved forward,” HonCC student Suraj Mehta said.

Added Debora Pei, a recent graduate of HonCC, “The excellent progress we have made with Project Imua demonstrates how, with adequate funding and solid opportunities, Hawaii students can compete side-by-side with other great minds all across the country.”

Pei, who just completed an Associate Arts degree in the spring and is

majoring in mechanical engineering, was one of five females on the project. She says it took “a lot of email” to coordinate between team members, who hail from four different UH campuses on different islands.

The main component of Project Imua’s payload consists of a UV spectrometer that will analyze the intensity of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation before it enters Earth’s atmosphere.

The data could have implications regarding climate.

Honolulu CC students designed the payload’s electronic circuitry for power and data collection and transmission.

After achieving an altitude of 94 miles, the payload with the students’ experiments was recovered in the Atlantic Ocean off the Virginia coast. The experiments and any stored data would then be provided to the teams to analyze.

"It’s been a long trip. It’s taken nine months to get here, so it's really exciting that we are finally getting a launch that’s the culmination of what we’ve been working for,” added Windward CC student Cale Mechler.

Students see class work fired into space