Kuilei Courageous Conversations

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of the season, we chat with someone who is not a stranger to our Podcast, Ms. Jenny Brown, and someone new, Mr. Micah Tutuvanu. They are two wonderful students who shared insights of what they went through as students and tips for students who are at the beginning stages of their college careers. Please take a moment to listen to their Courageous Conversation...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode are two Kapi'olani Community College students, Aura Coffman and Matthew Sun, who are currently in their 2nd (AND FINAL) year in the Rad Tech Program. Listen to the level of commitment and sacrifices they made prior to getting in as well as their level of dedication while in the Program. Phrases like you must "love the work" and finding satisfaction w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode are two Kapiʻolani Community College students, Naomi Ellison and Grace Morita, who are currently enrolled in the Collegeʻs most competitive and sought after Nursing Program. Learn how they made all kinds of sacrifices to achieve their personal and academic goals. Please enjoy this honest and unfiltered Courageous Conversation. It is also worth noting that Naomi is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we learn about Ms. Jenny Brown's journey from Kapi'olani CC to earning her Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. Oh, and BTW, she just started her Master's Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She highlights many "side quests", that include avocados to black holes, as learning opportunities and growth. Her mindset of...

Send us Fan Mail On behalf of the Kuilei Outreach Program at Kapiʻolani Community College, we would like to thank all of our guests for carving out time in their extremely busy days to share their stories. We continue to feel fortunate to chat with talented individuals who are making a difference. We also want to thank all of our listeners. It truly means a lot that you are with us on this amazing...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, I'll be talking about Kapi‘olani Community College's Early Admit Program (formerly known as Dual Credit).  Our podcast back in 2020 continues to get some download therefore we wanted to offer something more recent.  There is growing interest around Early Admit thus wanted to take this opportunity to share the process along with insights and tips.  If you...

Send us Fan Mail This was the best way to close out this season! In this episode we would like to introduce Kapi'olani CC graduate, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ken Takemura, recruiter for the Hawai'i Army National Guard. His journey may not fall under the "typical" pathway but it is more common than you think. As one of three with a single mom, he had to figure out how to make i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we are excited to introduce Mr. Tyler Castro, Engineering Coordinator with Embassy Suites AND a graduate of Kapiʻolani CC's Hospitality and Tourism Program . This Farrington High School graduate has been doing amazing things in the hospitality industry. Learn about how seizing opportunities has taken him to new heights and continuous learning opportunities. H...

Send us Fan Mail We are so excited to share with you all another amazing interview with a former Kapiʻolani CC student, Ms. Sofia Matias. She talks about coming from humble beginnings to traveling the globe. She credits her mom who provided the space and support to truly be her genuine self. Even after completing her Bachelorʻs degree in Political Science in 2021, she is still a life long learner....

Send us Fan Mail Thank you for tuning in for another exciting episode! Up next we have a graduate of Kapiʻolani Community Collegeʻs Medical Lab Technician degree, Mr. Garth Weitzel. He is also a LONG TIME childhood friend (of Sheldonʻs). =). He holds a position at the Diagnostic Laboratory Services (DLS) as a Laboratory Information Systems guy but his journey to this stage in his professional life...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we learn about the "evolution" of Mrs. Jade Pham Wall. Learn how this courageous leader started her college journey while enrolled in at Kaimukī HS and is currently pursuing a PhD. She also provides some heartfelt insights as a public school classroom teacher, coordinator, and now vice principal how youth today need to feel a sense of belonging and of cou...

Send us Fan Mail Yes yes yes, I know. "Why are you interviewing a Honolulu CC grad on a Kapi'olani CC podcast?" Well, Honolulu has some AMAZING programs but they graduated one of our former students! In this episode is a former Kapi'olani CC and Early Admit student, Ms. La'akea Garcia. She talks about how one of her Early Admit courses called IS 109 taught by Kumu Losch, h...

Send us Fan Mail We are excited to share some interviews of former students are coming your way! In the next few weeks, we will be learning and sharing what our former students are doing in the community. It will be super cool. Some of our podcasts have made to Olelo TV as well so that is exciting too! Anyway, we appreciate you all tuning in and subscribing. Take care!

Send us Fan Mail Yes yes, it has been a LONG LONG TIME! Thank you so much for your patience. This was an exciting episode because we were testing the College's BRAND NEW podcasting station in our Library! Huge shout out to the folks in the Library and IT for putting this together. With us was Amy Shiroma, one of the AMAZING faculty in Kapi'olani CC's Hospitality and Tourism Departme...

Send us Fan Mail “I have great respect for the past. If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going. I have respect for the past, but I’m a person of the moment. I’m here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I’m at, then I go forward to the next place.” - Maya Angelou The Hawai’i Association for College Admission Counseling (HACAC) is a group of pro...

Send us Fan Mail Kapiʻolani Community College provides opportunities for students to test their leadership opportunities. There are no complicated requirements, just the willingness to explore beyond one's comfort zone and try new things. In this episode we talk story with the Kapiʻo News Staff Writers, Cameron Enomoto, Juri Dagio, and Shawna Takaki. In this episode they talk about interestin...

Send us Fan Mail We close out 2023 with Kapi‘olani Community College's Student Congress who are the official channel between the students and the College's Administration. In this episode we learn from  Kimberly Song - President,  Zachary Gibson - Vice President,   Ratana Kim - Secretary,  Maria Schmitz - Communications Officer and  Martino Koo - Treasurer, the AMAZING things they have a...

Send us Fan Mail One of the many traits of a successful student is the willingness to push beyond their comfort zone. This couldn't be more true for International students. They have to learn a new language, new culture, new educational system, and a new way of life. In this episode we have soon-to-be-graduate, Fall 2023 to be exact, Kiri Yoshida sharing her successes and challenges as she en...

Send us Fan Mail Thank you for tuning into another Kuilei Courageous Conversations podcast. In this wonderful episode, we talk story with Ohana Waikiki East by Outrigger General Manager, Mrs. Kiana Beimes. This honors graduate from Kapiʻolani Community College's Hospitality and Tourism Program (she also won an Outstanding Student award...just sayin') provides FABULOUS insight on what it...

Send us Fan Mail The Kuilei Outreach Program Team is Alfie and Sheldon (me). When we are out in the community, it is quite common to hear folks say "I am not college ready" or "I don't think college is for me." What they don't realize is EVERYONE has what it takes to be successful. In this episode we have Jim Gabriel Vergara, Lunalilo Scholar and Farrington HS graduat...

Send us Fan Mail We always encourage students to dream big with the understanding that they need to put in 100% effort. This means setting priorities and embracing possibly a long list of sacrifices required to achieve these goals.  In this episode, we learn from Kapiʻolani CC graduate, Vanessa Joy Ubante, RN at Queenʻs Medical Center in Honolulu, about her journey to become a Nurse. She provides...

Send us Fan Mail Our last podcast was back in December 2022 therefore we are REALLY excited to be back on-line. There were movements and changes but are ready to provide you all with more stories and insights from those making positive impacts in our communities. If you have topics you would like us to highlight, please reach out to us at kuilei@hawaii.edu , 808-734-9399, or 808-734-9842. You can...

Send us Fan Mail Kapi‘olani Community College's Student Congress is the official channel between the students and the College's Administration.  In this episode we learn from Shawna Takai - President, Jenny Brown - Vice President, Julius Laurentius - Secretary, Micah Tutuvanu - Public Relations and Tim Lum - Treasurer, how they felt about 2022 and hopes for 2023. They are truly the voice...

Send us Fan Mail Kapi‘olani Community College's Student Congress is the official channel between the students and the College's Administration. In this episode we learn from Shawna Takai - President, Julius Laurentius - Secretary, and Micah Tutuvanu - Public Relations, the wonderful initiatives that are coming up.  They even offer some amazing insights around perseverance and success.  ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we are talking story with a Kapiʻolani Community College Hospitality and Tourism student, Marika Suzuki, who shared her amazing journey between Japan and Hawaiʻi.  She also provided heartfelt words of advice for prospective International Students.   "Donʻt feel pressured to be perfect."   Please take a moment to hear Ms. Suzukiʻs story and share widely!  ...