Category Archives: Employee/Learner Profiles

Name:  Trina Nahm-Mijo          Title/Department: Professor of Psychology, Women’s Studies, Dance/ Dept. Chair, Social Science & Public Service Dept. My Hometown:  Ola’a My favorite things about HawCC…How we make something out of nothing, devotion to students, dancing … Continue reading →

Name: Joeanne K. Losalio-Watson                                                                   Title/Department: Secretary/ UH Center, West Hawaii – Administration Office My Hometown: Kona, Hawaii My favorite things about Hawaii CC… are the people who I work with on a daily basis in EH and WH and the … Continue reading →

Name: Sherri Fujita                                                  Title/Department: Intensive English Program Coordinator (Instructor), OCET My Hometown: I was born in New York. I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. I spent my 20s in London and went to a university there. I later moved … Continue reading →

Name:  Bob Duley                                                                                    Title/Department:  Associate Professor and Counselor My Hometown:  Willard, Kansas (Named after the boxer Jess Willard) My favorite things about Hawaii CC… are the changes I see in students over the years and the good people I work … Continue reading →

Name: Mary Goya                                                                           … Continue reading →

Name: Estee Nathanson                                                Title/Department: Program Coordinator at OCET My Hometown: Iowa City, IA My favorite thing about Hawaii CC…is the amazing people that surround me every day; all committed to improving the community one student at a time. My hobbies … Continue reading →

Name: Sandra Dubczak                                Title/Department: Kitchen Manager, Culinary Arts Department My Hometown: Pahoa, HI My favorite things about Hawaii CC…is the community feeling, being a small campus you get to know almost everybody. My hobbies and interests are…baking, swimming, and gardening. … Continue reading →

Name: Helen C. Tupa`i                 Title/Department: Information Specialist, Information Center My Hometown: Monterey/Seaside, California My favorite things about Hawaii CC… People Care Hawai`i CC is a community that really cares about each other, the students and reaching out to the community … Continue reading →

Name: Ashley Kennedy Department: HawCC Financial Aid Office My Hometown: Papa’ikou, HI My favorite things about Hawaii CC…is how open and friendly most teachers and staff are. As students, we are supported by many resources, which is helpful for our … Continue reading →

Name: Violet Murakami                                                                        Title/Department: Assistant Professor/Art/Humanities My Hometown: I’d like to put it this way: born in Tokyo, raised in Honolulu, moved to Big Island in 2004.  Presently living in Mt. View My favorite things about Hawaii CC…  the friendly … Continue reading →

Degrees: B.A. 1998, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo My hometown:  Captain Cook, Hawaii but grew up in Nebraska My favorite thing about University of Hawaiʻi Center at West Hawaiʻi…  our diverse student population My hobbies and interest are …  reading, … Continue reading →

Degrees:  Currently in the process of getting my BA in Psychology at UH-Hilo My hometown:  I was born and raised in Hilo My favorite thing about HawCC… the amazing people.  We are all one big ohana here at HawCC My … Continue reading →

My hometown:  Hilo My favorite thing about HawCC… friendly and helpful people My hobbies and interest are… reading, camping, hiking, hula and tahitian If you came to visit my office you would see… either a clean and neat desk or … Continue reading →

Degrees:  Currently pursuing Liberal Arts AA degree at HawCC My hometown:  Hilo My favorite thing about HawCC…  is the people, they are all great to work with. My hobbies and interest are … If you came to visit my office … Continue reading →

My hometown… Hilo, Hawai’i  My favorite thing about Hawai’i Community College…I like the atmosphere and the classes available here. My hobbies and interest are… playing music (guitar), fishing, and diving. I like the Big Island because… it has plenty of … Continue reading →

Degrees… Certificate of Completion in Digital Media Arts Title/Department… Promotional Materials Media Assistant/Alu Like Digital Media Arts Intern for the Information Center My hometown… Hilo, Hawai’i My favorite thing about HawCC… all the students and staff are friendly and I … Continue reading →

Degrees:  Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from UH-Hilo Hometown:  Born in Honokaa and raised in Hilo, Hawai’i My favorite thing about HawCC… Faculty and Staff are very friendly.  I am able to help people finance their education to achieve their … Continue reading →

Degrees:  AA Interior Design My hometown… born in California, but Kea’au is my home. My favorite thing about HawCC… the close knit community and comfortable feeling OVERALL. My hobbies and interest are… gardening, cooking, Lei Hulu, and photography. If you … Continue reading →

Degrees:  Associate in Liberal Arts (A.A.) – HawCC, Associate in Administration of Justice (A.S.) – HawCC, Bachelor’s Degree in Administration of Justice (B.S.) – University of Hawaii at Hilo. My hometown – Hilo, Hawaii My favorite thing about HawCC… definitely … Continue reading →

Kenneth Pensula Joins the University of Hawaiʻi Center at West Hawaiʻi’s ohana as a media specialist technician.  He and Stan “the man” and Chuck “the wonderkid” work together to keep all of our technology working superbly so that education can … Continue reading →

Degrees:  AAS – Hawaiʻi Community College Title/Department: Chef Instructor, Culinary Department My hometown: Kaneohe, Hawaiʻi My favorite thing about UH Center at West Hawaiʻi is… that I live four miles from campus, and I drive against the traffic to and … Continue reading →

Degrees:  A.S. Degree in Secretarial Science - Hawaii Community College 2002 Recipient of the Outstanding Staff Member Award Past President of the HawCC-UHH Na Laulima Clerical Association Hometown:  Born and raised in Hilo My favorite thing about HawCC…  is the spirit … Continue reading →

Degrees:  BS with honors Marine Engineering, US Coast Guard Academy MBA with honors, Shidler School of Business, UH Manoa Title/Department:  Hospitality Division Chair My hometown… Marion, Ohio My favorite thing about UH Center at West Hawaiʻi… seeing my students progress … Continue reading →

Degrees:  B.B.A. – UH Manoa Hometown:  Wahiawa, Hawaiʻi My favorite thing about HawCC… the people I work with and the small campus community. My hobbies and interest are… traveling, doing home projects and spending time with family and friends. If … Continue reading →

My hometown:  Lahaina, Maui My favorite thing about HawCC… is the smaller classes allowing for more personal and individualized learning. The instructors also work really hard to create a comfortable learning environment. My hobbies and interest are… put aside for … Continue reading →

My hometown: Hilo My favorite thing about HawCC…  the opportunity to help others and the great friendships I made. My hobbies and interest are… cleaning and organizing. If you came to visit my office you would be see… my smiling … Continue reading →

Culinary Journey: A Recipe for Success Nothing can entice my senses more than food. From the look, smell, taste, and even sound of food cooking, my imagination runs wild with the anticipation of culinary possibilities. The alchemy of food has … Continue reading →

My hometown:  Sand Hook, Connecticut My favorite thing about UH Center at West Hawaiʻi is… the small campus atmosphere.  I feel at home and know everybody here. My hobbies and interests are… cooking and spending time with my kids at … Continue reading →

Degrees: BSN, University of Maryland, MSN University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX Title/Department: Nursing Learning Resource Center Coordinator My hometown: I was born in Washington DC, and grew up in southern Maryland, in a town called Lexington Park. … Continue reading →

Accounting major pursuing an Associates in Applied Science degree. My hometown:  Makawao, Maui and moved here with my children a little over two years ago. My favorite thing about HawCC… is that the instructors are very helpful and go out … Continue reading →