W HERE IN T HE WOR LD A RE M ĀNOA A LUMNI?
Here at Mānoa, your achievements extend beyond your degree of completion. The connections you make, the communities you develop, the professors you encounter that nurture your growth provide the foundational stepping stones to propel you to great things on and beyond our campus. The success of a graduate stands at the core of our mission.
We connected with our recent alumni to learn more about their experiences. With a variety of backgrounds, selection of career choice and path to success, one thing is certain - our alumni are proud to have been Made at Mānoa.
1. Hawaii State Dept. of Education
2. University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
3. State of Hawai‘i
4. Self-employed
5. John A.
LADD AH CHOY
Owner, Ho’ulu Punalu’u Farms
Punalu’u, Hawaiʻi
BS, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, UH Mānoa, 2019
“My time at UH Mānoa exposed me to the problems we have here in Hawai’i regarding food and natural resources. UH provided many opportunities for me to be involved in and learn about our resources in Hawai’i, which ultimately led me to start my own farm with the goal of growing food for the community with the community.”
"...GROWING FOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH THE COMMUNITY."
~LADD
J USTIN E M A R
Media Production Assistant, Kinetic Productions
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BA Creative Media, College of Arts, Language, and Letters, 2023
“Being involved in my program and working on campus gave me the experiences I needed to get my foot in the door in the film industry. Students who are aspiring film makers should take part in different film projects and even look into specific on-campus jobs that involve filming, editing and production.”
HONOLULU, HI
CLIFTON YASUTOMI
CWS, AIF
Managing Partner/ Financial Advisor, Mission Financial Group
Aiea, Hawaiʻi
BS Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Business, UH Mānoa, 2005
“What I like about working in the finance industry, is that its not just about finances and money, I look at it as a way to help people build their ideal life and to use money and their resources as a tool to support that dream.”
N ICHOLAS
ABBOTT
AIF, AAMS
Managing Partner/ Financial Advisor, Mission Financial Group
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BBA in Finance, UH Mānoa, 2007
“The richness of the Hawaii culture and community provides a lot of experiences. Students should make the most of their time at UH Manoa by getting plugged in. Be involved in extracurricular clubs, within different fields of interest and also take some courses off the beaten path not within your major. Some of my fondest memories were found in various internship opportunities and the connections I made in the business program,”
HONOLULU, HI
MISSION FINANCIAL GROUP
PAOLA RODRIGUEZ BELTRAN
Owner, Mudd Studio Ceramics
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BFA, College of Arts, Language, and Letters, UH Mānoa, 2022
“My time in Mānoa was part of the bigger plan of opening a studio someday. I had only started doing ceramics two years before I transferring to UHM, but getting my BFA at Mānoa gave me confidence in my skill, as well as new found knowledge that allowed me keep pushing toward my goal of owning a studio. Little did I know that it would all happen in Hawaii!”
HONOLULU, HI
MUDD STUDIO CERAMICS
ERIN MINAYA
Owner, Ports and Paws
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BS College of Engineering, UH Mānoa, 2014
“Im proud to be a UH alum because I like all the connections I made, when I went to school and also after, it really helped me a lot by meeting other local entrepreneurs. It is really nice connecting with them and relating to them, seeing their success makes me really happy.”
HONOLULU, HI PORTS AND PAWS
CYBER BUNNY
Youtube, Performing Artist
Tokyo, Japan
BFA, College of Arts, Language, and Letters, UH Mānoa, 2016
“Shortly after graduation in 2016, my alter ego "Cyber Bunny" was born. I owe it to my experimental phase during those late nights in the art department. The art professors mentored me how to think like an artist and to take constructive criticisms gracefully, which is something I experience everyday being in social media. Today, I run a tour business in Tokyo and produce content for classrooms and homes worldwide to teach Japanese language and culture in my own quirky, fun way. It's been a very rewarding journey!"
TOKYO, JP
DAVID ISHII
Enterprise UX/UI designer, AREA 35, Inc.
Tokyo, Japan
BA Studio Art, College of Arts, Language, and Letters, UH Mānoa, 2015
“As a UX/UI designer, I create tools that help engineers visualize building designs and leverage 3D software and data management platforms to improve the design process. I find the most satisfaction in seeing the progress made from the conceptual phase, into an actual product but also find value in learning from the mistakes I make along the way.”
TOKYO, JP AREA 35, INC.
AMY SINDORF
Founder, Hazel Park Seattle, WA
BBA, Shidler College of Business, BA, College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature, UH Mānoa, 2014
SEATTLE, WA HAZEL
“I didn’t realize at the time the impact UH would have on my business style. Hawaiʻi is a very casual and fun environment where the aloha spirit is present throughout. There is a mentality where life is more important than business, where you can work hard, have fun while caring about your community are aspects that I have carried throughout my business.”
CHRISTIANN E YOU NG
Systems Engineer, Northrop Grumman
Gardena, CA
BS Computer Engineering, UH Mānoa, 2023
"While I was a student at UH Mānoa I joined the Ke Ao VIP team, a project with the Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory that focused on developing and building a 1U Cubesat. Because of this exposure to the space industry and working closely with mentors who were passionate about space, it inspired me to pursue a career in aerospace. Additionally, working as a project manager for the VIP team helped me learn that I wanted to have a position as a systems engineer."
COLE PELAYO
Electromechanical Engineer, Northrop Grumman
Torrance, CA
BS Mechanical Engineering, UH Mānoa, 2023
“As an engineer, I get to collaborate with some of the brightest minds of the industry. I enjoy solving problems that I know will have an impact in our world and getting exposure to cutting edge technologies has really expanded my concept of what's possible. I would not be where I am today without my time at UH Mānoa. UH facilitated many incredible opportunities to meet industry professionals and network and get hands-on engineering experience to make your transition into the workforce smoother. ”
"TO MA KE THE MOST OUT OF THE MĀ NOA EXPERIENCE, STEP OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE A ND TA KE A DVA NTAGE OF A LL THE OPPORTUNITES THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS TO OFFER ."
~CHRISTIANNE
T IM LEE
Owner, Broken Mouth
Los Angeles, CA
BS Travel Industry Management,
UH Mānoa, 2007
“The greatest thing I got out of the University of Hawai’i is the friendships and bonds and the memories I created with friends, friends that I am still friends with to this day, possible business partners in the future, and just great all around people from Hawai’i.”
RATED
IN THE NATION
-YELP, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA BROKEN MOUTH
VALERIE KAN
Manager, Global Digital Marketing
Walt Disney Studios
Burbank, CA
BS Travel Industry Management, UH Mānoa, 2016
“I love being in the entertainment industry because it feels like its never work. I get to work on titles and content that I really enjoy and there is always something new and exciting especially with a household, wordwide known found in Disney.”
BURBANK, CA WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
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