Consider coming to UHM next year and discover Hawaii with your own camera!

First Place, by Brittany

1. Crash – I’ve selected this as the winner due to the movement captured through her lens. It is as if you can hear the waves breaking on the shore line, and the water crawling through the crevices of the rocks, and the white wash slowly retreating back for another gasp along the shoreline. Lovely approach.

Second Place, by Alexis

Hauanama Bay – Great panoramic shot of Hauanama Bay. It’s rather unfortunate that the trees were absent of
their leaves, but that gradient of blue in the ocean and the sky are working in unison to show what a nearly perfect day looks like.

Third Place, by Brittany

Sunset – Love the color palette presented by this photo, the yellow and the orange compliment the shade of blue well. In addition, the water acts as a blanket covering the sand, and with the comfort of the night sky, one could almost get lost in it.

Alexis at the beach.

Meet Alexis Ouellette, a sophomore from Cheshire, Connecticut, spending spring semester in Hawai‘i.

Major: Communication Disorders (Speech Therapy)

Home School: Southern Connecticut State University

Favorite UHM Class: My favorite class, hands down, is Hawaiian Studies. I use what I learn in class to appreciate my surroundings while living here in Hawai‘i.

Favorite Form of Social Media: My current obsession is Instagram. I can share all my Hawai‘i photos with friends and family back home.

What’s on your iPod? Oh, everything and anything. I’ve got a lot of 80s hair bands that my dad would listen to (Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Black Sabbath, and more), rap for working out, and my favorite group, the Dave Matthews Band.

What one word would you use to describe yourself? I think the one word would be “grounded” or “focused”.

What one word would your friends use to describe you? Same thing!

Top Accomplishment? I have two things. First, when I was a senior in high school I wanted to get into the University of Connecticut. My grades were good, but I knew I had to do more to get accepted. So to make it happen, I studied hard, got straight As, and took the SAT 3 times. Second, I also wanted somehow to go to the University of Hawai‘i. When I went to the Study Abroad office at UCONN I heard about National Student Exchange, but that program didn’t work out for me. I kept searching and eventually found the ASH program, and now I’m here – just where I want to be!

Dream Job: My dream job when I was younger was to be a dolphin trainer! Now I look forward to becoming a speech therapist and helping people.

Fun Fact: I used to do motocross, but I sold my dirt bike to buy a car.

Greatest Vice: I have the biggest sweet tooth!

Favorite TV Show: Sons of Anarchy, Nashville and Modern Family.

The Reality Show I’d Go On: Survivor! I almost sent in a video to try out for the show. Maybe when I get back from Hawai‘i I’ll do it!

If a movie were made about me, I’d want this actress to play me: Kate Hudson because she’s quirky and down to earth.

Favorite thing to do in Hawai‘i: I’m a beach bum, but my favorite thing to do here is hiking.

Near the Halona Blow Hole.

Favorite Local Food: Mochi Ice Cream from Bubbies. My friend and I go there every Friday to try some. Red velvet and chocolate peanut butter are my favorite flavors.

Favorite Hawai‘i Place: I think my favorite spot in Honolulu is Hanauma Bay. It’s so serene and different. But I’m taking a trip to the Big Island, so my favorite Hawai‘i place may change soon!

Maria at Waikiki Beach

From Indonesia to Ohio to Hawai‘i to Shanghai, Maria Tan finds habitation around the world as she pursues her education and looks for adventure!

Home School: Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Home Town: Pemalang, Indonesia
Major: Communications

Favorite UHM Class: My Hawaiian Studies class with professor Kane is my favorite course. I’m also taking 2 history classes and a tourism management class.

Favorite Form of Social Media: Facebook. I can keep up with my Ohio State friends through Facebook while I’m here in Hawai‘i.
What’s on your iPod? Anything on the Top 40 list! I grew up listening to American pop music while I was in Indonesia.

What one word would you use to describe yourself? Hmm – just one word? I would say, positive thinking.
What one word would your friends use to describe you? Cheerful.

What is your greatest adventure? Coming to Hawai‘i! I can’t believe I’m here. My friends from Ohio come to Hawai‘i for a vacation, but I’m LIVING here for entire semester!

Dream Job: My dream job is Fashion Public Relations in New York City.
What’s next? This summer I will go to Shanghai for an internship in Public Relations. I plan to study Mandarin when I get there. The company I’ll be working for is multi-national, so a lot of communication will be done in English.

Fun Fact: My favorite sport is wall climbing, which I learned to do in Ohio. I haven’t been climbing yet in Hawai‘i. I’ve been too busy visiting the beach parks. Today after class I’m going to the Pali Lookout and then to Waimanalo Bay to enjoy the beach.
Best Talent: Probably oil painting. When I go home to Indonesia I paint a lot. Supplies are much cheaper there than in the US! (Editor’s note: See samples of Maria’s painting below.)

“What Ladies Learn Growing Up”

“J’ai pour la beaute et la beaute pour la beaute.”

Greatest Vice: I have so many! Let’s see…too many nights I stay up until 5 am when I have a 9 am class the next day.
Favorite Movie: The Great Gatsby
Favorite Book: The Great Gatsby!
Favorite TV Show: Gossip Girl. I’m so sad it has ended.
The Reality Show I’d Go On: I don’t watch reality tv!
The Most Famous Person I’ve Met: Katarzyna Dolinska, a finalist from America’s Next Top Model. She’s quite intelligent.
Favorite Band or Singer: Taylor Swift

Favorite Spot on Campus: The Sustainability Courtyard is one of my favorite spots. Govinda’s is there! (Editor’s Note: Govinda’s is a vegetarian restaurant.)
If I’m cooking we’re having: Rendang, an Indonesian dish similar to beef curry.
Favorite Local Food: Kalua Pork and Spam Musubi.
Favorite Hawai‘i Tradition: I’m not sure if this is a Hawai‘i tradition, but I really was amazed with the Punahou Carnival. It is such a spectacular event, put on by a high school! I heard so much about the prestige of the school, so I was curious about the carnival they produce every year and decided to go. It was a lot of fun!
Favorite Hawai‘i Place: Do I have to choose just one? I will say the Kaneohe Sandbar and Aulani, the new Disney beach front resort.

At Aulani Disney Resort

Brittany and Cara

Meet Brittany and Cara, two students from opposite ends of the continent who join forces as ASH roommates and friends in Hawai‘i. Both have aspirations in the medical field and speak about experiences volunteering in hospitals. Oh, and they both have interests in the fine arts. Read on!

Home School
Brittany: Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Washington
Cara: Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania

Home Town
Brittany: Renton, Washington
Cara: Erie, Pennsylvania
Favorite Form of Social Media
Both: Facebook

What’s on your iPod?
Brittany: Everything! Irish music, rap, pop, hip hop …
Cara: Mainly alternative (Mariamas Trench is one of my favorites) and oldies from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.

What one word would you use to describe yourself? 
Brittany: Perceptive
Cara: Easy-going

What one word would your friends use to describe you?
Brittany: Kind-hearted
Cara: Sarcastic

Describe a turning point in your life.
Brittany: A turning point for me was the 1^st time I helped deliver a baby at the hospital. Up until that point I was uncertain about what to do, and I was having some trouble with school and finances. But after my experience in the hospital, I knew that being a labor and delivery nurse was what I wanted to do. Then things began to happen with school.
Cara: My turning point also came while volunteering in a hospital. I watched facial reconstructions and plastic surgeries. After seeing the surgeons work I knew I wanted to become a plastic surgeon or anesthesiologist.

What was your first job?
Brittany: When I was 14 years old I was a clerk at “The Christmas Factory”, a store that sells Christmas things all year long.
Cara: I worked in our family’s deli business, making and delivering sandwiches.

Interesting Fact
Brittany: I was adopted in Hawai‘i. My family moved here for work when I was very young, and that’s when my stepfather adopted me. I still remember sitting in the judge’s office during the adoption process. We only lived here for a year, but I have so many wonderful memories from that time.
Cara: I’ve had 7 concussions – mostly from playing basketball and softball.

Best Talent
Brittany: I guess photography. (Editor’s note: check out some of Brittany’s photos on the ASH Facebook page.)
Cara: Probably drawing – I’m a Fine Arts major.

Greatest Vice
Brittany: Anything sweet to eat!
Cara: Smoothies!

Favorite Movie
Brittany: Lilo & Stitch!
Cara: Any horror movie

Favorite TV Show
Brittany: I have two favorites – Chicago Fire and Revenge
Cara: Supernatural

The Reality Show I’d Go On
Brittany: I don’t think there’s one out there that I would go on!
Cara: Survivor.

Favorite Local Food
Both: Li Hing Mui on pineapple!

Favorite Hawai‘i Place:
Both: The beach!

Favorite Hawai‘i Tradition
Brittany: The open and inviting nature of the people here.
Cara: The flower leis – I like colorful things!

Julia in action

The Sky’s The Limit!

Get to know ASH participant Julia Hanlon, a bright, cheerful, well-traveled student from the east coast who teaches yoga while studying for double degrees in ethnomusicology and religion.

Home School: Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

Hometown: Cambridge, Massachusetts

UH Classes: I’m taking 5 courses: Understanding Indian Religions; an ethnomusicology seminar on the voice; an upper level religion seminar called Jesus the Class; Hula and Chant Ensemble; and Jazz Band. I really like my professors. They are charismatic lecturers!

What Instrument Do You Play? Actually I’m a singer.

Favorite form of social media: I prefer face-to-face interactions with real talk.

What’s on your iPod? Lots of things! I have some podcasts from NPR: On Being with Krista Tippett and This American Life. As for music, I like World Music and Jazz. In the last 24 hours I’ve listened to Kirtan, westernized Indian chants; India Arie, an R & B singer; Bon Iver; Juana Molina, an Argentinean singer; Krishna Das; and Ella Fitzgerald, an American Jazz singer.

What one word would you use to describe yourself? Alive

What one word would your friends use to describe you? Curious

Describe a turning point in your life: I’d say a turning point came 11 years ago when I went to Croatia for the first time to meet family from my Mom’s side. My Mom’s family lives in Dubrovnik, a beautiful walled city on the Mediterranean Sea. This ancient city is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. I’ve been back several times now.

Where else have you travelled? I’ve travelled to South America (Ecuador, Nicaragua, Columbia, Costa Rica), Mexico, Japan, and all over Europe. You can’t get to Croatia without stopping somewhere in Europe first!

Something that few people know about you: I love to people watch. When I’m on the bus, I don’t read or listen to music, but rather watch people and listen to their conversations! I’m also fascinated by the human body and how people walk.

What do you do in addition to your college study? I teach yoga and run. Since moving to Hawai‘i I’ve been substitute teaching in yoga studios in town. My freshman year at Bates I began a free yoga class for students, faculty and staff, and about 50 – 100 people would participate in each session. Now we have other teachers helping with classes. Over the past few years I’ve earned 500 hours of teacher training in Boston. Teaching yoga is my way of giving back to the world. In the yoga tradition we call it seva, or selfless service. (See Julia’s yoga blog here.)

What’s next?  Some colleagues and I are creating a national organization called Uniyogi, which connects college students in a community dedicated to yoga. It’s an organization for students by college students. We are compiling a database of teachers in colleges across the country and plan to host a summit in the spring 2014.

What are your long-term goals? To become a therapist and begin a holistic practice working with people struggling with addiction.

Favorite Hawai‘i tradition: I’ve been enjoying listening to people talk about the meaning of aloha spirit, which is partly about sharing.

Favorite local food: Okinawan sweet potatoes.

Favorite Hawai‘i place: To be discovered!

Our students come from Maine, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio and Utah. They will certainly miss lots of snow over the next few months but enjoy lots of sunshine.

Here is the crew:

Back row: Tim, AJ, Alyssa C., Cara, Alyssa B., Alexis, Claire, Maria. Front row: Brittany, Julia, Lauren.

5th Place - Photo by Paige 

Biking – Great shot that has an editorial feel. I love the events that Paige shot with her camera, but this one in particular stood out to me for the color — I really liked the lighting behind the night/early morning bike shot, it gives motion to the picture even when they are standing still.

4th Place - Photo by Josh

Aerial shot – Great shot of the makapuu lighthouse. Definitely something that someone would use while creating a brochure about oahu.

3rd Place - Photo by Paige

Kokohead – Great photo of this StairMaster of a hike. Loved the depth of field that paige provided with the centered staircase, and really just the way she positioned herself to capture the shot, to not only show how far up she is, how many steps you have to dread, but that the view is worth it once you hit the top.

2nd Place - Photo by Rachel

Landscape – Loved the texture she has with the rocks, there’s something about the contrast between the dark rocks and the bright sky that makes the photo for me.

1st Place – Photo by Caitlin

Driving – This happened to be my favorite amongst the bunch. I liked it because it just shows how blessed we are to live in hawaii. The fact that we don’t have to long drive to get a view like this, and with world-renowned beaches and breathtaking views just minutes away. It surely is great to reside in such a place as this.

Home School: The University of Iowa in Iowa City

Major: Pre-Business

Favorite UH class: Business Law

What’s on your iPod? A little bit of everything – some reggae, some local music, Soja – lots of things.

Favorite form of social media: Facebook and Twitter

What one word would you use to describe yourself? Shy.

What one word would your friends use to describe you? Smart-a**.

Decisive moment or turning point in the last few years: My decision to come to Hawai‘i for the semester. I’ve always been interested in coming to school here, and through some research we found the ASH program.

What do you like about Hawai‘i? The lifestyle! There are endless things to do. You can go outside at anytime, and that’s not the case in Iowa. The people here are friendly and treat you like family, even if they don’t know you well.

What’s your favorite Hawai‘i tradition? The way you greet people here: a kiss on the cheek or a handshake.

Craziest ambition: To learn to play the ukulele!

Best talent: Sports. I can play anything.

First job: Lifeguard at a local swimming pool. I was a sophomore in high school.

Favorite movie: All the Home Alone movies.

Something that few people know about me: I’m left-handed.

Greatest vice: CANDY! I love it all, including li hing mui gummy bears.

If a movie were made about me, I’d want this actor play me: Keifer Sutherland. I’m thinking of the TV series, 24.

Favorite spot on campus: Hamilton Library, 3^rd floor. It’s pretty much always empty and a great place to study.

Favorite place in Hawai‘i: Waimea Bay at the North Shore. The beach, body surfing, rock jumping, the view – it’s all great!

Your dream job: Something nice-paying so I can live in a tropical paradise.

ASH student Josh Rosenbloom traded the cold winter of Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University for a semester of warm, breezy days in Hawai‘i. Sure, there is lots to do here and lots of cultural diversity to experience, but let’s face it; the main reason Josh made the trip was to golf. An avid scratch golfer with shockingly few years of golf experience behind him, Josh is touring the island with clubs in hand, shooting and putting on courses fronting the ocean, nestled in the lush jungles, or housed on Disney’s newest resort. Take a look at our interview and see what else motivates Josh.

Josh Rosenbloom on Diamond Head

Hometown: Queens in New York City

Favorite form of social media: Texting: it’s a formulated response in your own personal character.

What’s on your iPod: I like hip hop and rap, but mainly I listen to the podcasts The B.S. Report with Bill Simmons and the Adam Carolla Show.

What one word would you use to describe yourself: How about a phrase. I have my own personal style.

What one word would your friends use to describe you: Hmmmm. Clever?

Top accomplishment: The first time I shot under par – in July of 2012.

Travel experience: I took a gap year after high school and lived in Israel, studying Jewish Law and traveling across the country. I really enjoyed the Jewish environment and learned a lot.

Fun Fact about you: I’m sure there is one.

Greatest Vice: Procrastination. It takes me forever to do something. Another vice is waking up late.

Favorite TV show: Suits and Bachelor Pad

Favorite thing about Hawai‘i: Hawai‘i has such a friendly atmosphere, and no one is in a rush.

Favorite place in Hawai‘i: The Ko‘olau golf course. Parts of the course are in the jungle.

Favorite Local food: Ahi sashimi. (Editor’s note: this is Japanese style raw tuna.)

Favorite restaurant in Hawai‘i: Da Falafel King and most sushi places. (Ed. note: the owner of Da Falafel King is a former UH 
student.)

The most famous person I’ve met: Mark Zuckerburg

If a movie were made about me, I’d want this actor to play me: (Ed. note: 1.5 minutes later Josh answers.) Justin Timberlake?

The reality show I’d go on: Bachelor Pad

If I’m cooking, we’re having: Grilled cheese

Dream Job: Professional Golfer

Paige at the beach

Meet Paige Tibbits, a senior from the University of Michigan, who has undertaken her longest trip ever away from home to spend a semester at the University of Hawai‘i. Paige answers some of our questions about school, herself, and life here in Hawai‘i.

Hometown: Onaway, Michigan — a small, rural city with a population of about 1,000.

Favorite UH class: Immunology – this class has the most interesting material.

Favorite spot on campus: Sinclair Library because it’s open 24/7. It’s my favorite place to study.

Dream Job: Neurosurgeon or neurologist.

Proudest accomplishment: Last year I had a 4.0 for the entire year while working 35 hours a week.

What’s on your iPod? I like everything but don’t have much time these days to investigate new music. I got into country music in college, and I’ve always liked classic rock and was into Screamo for a while.

What one word would you use to describe yourself: Genuine

What one word would your friends use to describe you: Dedicated. Everyone knows I’m devoted to school, my job, and everything that I undertake.

What’s your greatest vice? I want to be adventurous, but my fear gets in the way. For instance, I want to go skydiving or cliff jumping, but my fear stops me from doing it!

Favorite book: Hmmm, well, I read 50 Shades of Grey on the way to the airport. I had the time, so I thought I would go ahead and read it.

Favorite TV show: Sons of Anarchy, the motorcycle gang show.

The reality show I’d go on: I’m not sure, but maybe some dancing reality show where they teach people with no coordination how to dance!

If a movie were made about me, I’d want this actress to play me: Zoe Deschanal

Favorite place in Hawai‘i: I haven’t been here too long, but so far I’d say Kailua and Lanikai. They are pretty places with a relaxed, fun atmosphere and beautiful beaches and mountains. They both radiate the Hawaiian feel you see on tv.

Favorite local food: Spicy ahi maki and manapua.

Favorite thing to do in Hawai‘i: Explore! I don’t like to sit still. I like to get out and go!