‘Dear Santa’ Campaign Doubles Total Letters

Submitted by Circle K International at HPU Executive Board  

With the holiday season in full swing, Circle K International at Hawai‘i Pacific University (Circle K HPU), a Registered Student Organization (RSO), hosted its signature annual letter writing campaign during November and December. An initial goal of 6,000 letters was set, and Circle K HPU has collected 13,141 letters with more on the way. This annual campaign aims to help raise money for Make-A-Wish Hawaii, and for every letter, Macy’s will donate $1.

The 4^th Annual Campaign was led by event chairs Nohealani Benicarlo ’18 and Geraldine Ilan ’21, with the support of the Executive Board including Josh Koh ’18, Nicole Masulit ’21, and Christopher Bartolome ’21. Many of the letters were written by the HPU ‘ohana and friends in the community.

On December 8, Circle K HPU joined Make-A-Wish Hawaii at the Ala Moana Shopping Center Macy’s to present 13,141 letters written by the ‘ohana at HPU. It was also National Believe Day, which meant Macy’s doubled the donation to $2 per letter written. A total of $26,282 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Hawaii and will stay here in Hawaii.

Started in 2014 by HPU alumnus and former Circle K HPU President, Avery Fukeda ’15, the annual campaign at HPU has collected over 23,691 letters, raising approximately $47,382 for Make-A-Wish Hawaii.  Over the past 14 years, Circle K at HPU — one of the longest running special interest RSOs — has recorded a total of more than 11,000 hours of service in 600 projects with help from over 300 members. This campaign is by far Circle K HPU’s largest and longest running service project in the club’s 14-year history.  

For the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, Circle K HPU will celebrate its 15th year at Hawai‘i Pacific University. In conjunction with this anniversary, it will host the 5th Annual Believe Letter campaign, which will be chaired by Geraldine Ilan ’21, soon-to- be alumna Nohealani Benicarlo ’18, and alumnus Avery Fukeda ’15, as Honorary Chair. The goal has yet to be set, but it will definitely help power many more wishes.

For the past 35 years, Make-A-Wish Hawaii has granted over 1,200 wishes for the keiki in Hawaii and has welcomed over 10,000 wish kids who wished to come to Hawaii. The mission of the organization is to grant the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience through hope, strength and joy. At HPU, contact circlek.hpu@my.hpu.edu for more information on how to get involved in making a difference in our community one project at a time.

Alumni Perspective: College to Career Transition

Jose Dominguez (MBA ’17) is a General Building Manger, overseeing 423 residential units in a Kakaako complex. His management responsibility is for maintenance, security, and financial matters. Dominguez works directly with the owners’ association on a variety of issues affecting residents, maintaining open communication with all parties involved.    

In this Q&A with HPU Senior Career Development Advisor, Ryan Tin Loy, M.A., CWDP, Dominguez shares his experiences.  

How did your HPU education prepare you for the workforce?

I graduated with a MBA in Management. The education I received from HPU prepared me by exposing me to coursework in statistics, finance, and accounting. I also took advantage of a well-rounded education through the sciences and writing.

How did the Career Development Center prepare you for this transition?

The Career Development Center assisted me through effective resume building techniques and I took advantage of all the workshops and seminars they offered. Ryan Tin Loy in the Career Development Center maintained consistent contact with me throughout my time at HPU to ensure my educational needs and goals were being met.

What advice would you give other students as they prepare for the college to career transition?

My advice is to expect the unexpected. Prepare for the many bumps on road. There will be times you may feel like quitting but keep moving forward in life.

HPU students and alumni, check out what the university’s Career Development Center has to offer: Career Advising, Using internships and co-ops for class credit, Resume and cover letter assistance, Mock interviews, Job search assistance, Interest assessments (MBTI and Strong), Professional development events and workshops, Career Fairs, Employer information sessions and tables, HPU Connect online job board.  

Social Work ‘Ohana Participates in Overdose Awareness Event

From left to right: David Shaku, MSW student; 
Heather Lusk, Executive Director of CHOW, MSW alumna;
Raquel Curtis, MSW student;
Leilani Maxera, Program Manager at CHOW, MSW student;
Nicole Beineman, Outreach Worker, BSW alumna;
Sean Quigley, Hepatitis C Care Coordinator at CHOW, MSW student

HPU Social Work faculty, students, and alumni participated with the Community Health Outreach Work to Prevent AIDS (CHOW) Project for their Overdose Awareness Day Teach-In and Memorial, which was held on August 31 at Harris United Methodist Church.

In honor of international Overdose Awareness Day, over 70 people came together at the CHOW-hosted event to learn how to prevent an opioid overdose and how to reverse an overdose with Naloxone. Thirty-five individuals were trained by CHOW staff on how to use Naloxone and were given overdose prevention kits to take home with them.

Attendees also heard personal stories from those affected by opioid addiction and overdose and were given a space to honor lives lost to it. September 12 marked the one-year anniversary of CHOW providing Naloxone to the community. In that time, 46 overdose reversals have been reported — that's 46 lives saved by their Naloxone program.

Assistant Professor of Social Work Michaela Rinkel, Ph.D., serves on the board of CHOW, and CHOW's Executive Director is Heather Lusk, an MSW graduate. CHOW also employs two MSW students, a BSW graduate, and three MSW students are interning with the organization.

 

Congratulations, Spring 2017 HPU Graduates!

Hawai‘i Pacific University held its Spring 2017 Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 11. The University proudly and warmly welcomes its newest graduates into its global network of alumni, comprising more than 45,000 individuals.

Mahalo to the valedictory speakers, Wesley Chai (BS Criminal Justice) and Louis C. Hare III (MA in Communication), for representing the graduating class with their thoughtful remarks. (Pictured left Hare and right Chai with HPU's mascot Sharky)

HPU Board of Trustee and alumnus Ray Vara (BSBA ’93), who delivered the Commencement keynote speech, was presented with an honorary doctorate degree in recognition of his professional accomplishments, commitment to community causes, and the advancement of higher education.

Alumna Naomi Hazelton (MA in Communication ’05), publisher of Pacific Edge magazine, Green magazine, and Las Vegas Bound magazine, lead the graduates in the recitation of the HPU Alumni Pledge. The pledge signifies the official welcome of the Spring 2017 graduates to the HPU alumni community.

Alumni Perspective: Professional Readiness through Internships

Q&A with Nathanael Howard (BSBA ’16); By Amanda Austin, Career Services Advisor 

Is there a particular service from the Career Services Center you’ve found most beneficial?

I would say the most beneficial service that I have found helpful from the Career Services Center has been the employees themselves. Ever since I have been out here in Hawai‘i, the employees at the Career Services Center have gone above and beyond to help me achieve my goals and employment in many different areas. Even after graduating, they have been helpful in guiding my career path and professional resume and cover letter.

What inspired you to choose a State Capitol internship?

I was inspired to choose this particular internship after serving HPU as the Student Body President from the year of 2015-2016. After serving, I wanted to get more experience in our state government. A few learning outcomes included maintaining relationships with governmental service providers, personal time management and professionalism in the workplace.

What advice do you have for other students considering an internship?

I would say do it! Do it as soon as possible! Do not wait, go to the Career Services Center today to see what is available! And if nothing is available there, do some research through your teachers and by visiting the companies you want to work at. This way you can show that you have that experience, dedication and skills to meet what your employers may need. And if you still can’t find anything, get more involved in school by joining a club, volunteering at events, or being a part of SGA. This way you can start building up a network with other students to learn of different internships for more than just your major. But nothing is going to happen if you don’t try. So make the first step today, by going to visit the Career Services Center.

HPU Students Place 2nd in Advertising Industry Admania Trivia Contest

By AnnMarie Manzulli

Seated front left to back: Josh Sheetz, Amanda Kowalski, 

Sky Nanoo, Jasques Noerbu; Seated front right to back: Juan Peralta, 

Dylan Needam, Tobias Pultz, Christian Cordius;

Standing: AnnMarie Manzulli, faculty, Department of Communication 

The American Advertising Federation’s Hawaii chapter provides an arena where all members of the advertising community can work together for the common goal of creating a stronger industry. ADMANIA is a trivia contest testing knowledge on all platforms of media advertising. It is an opportunity for advertising industry professionals to network in a fun packed evening with members of the American Advertising Federation- District 13 (AAF Hawaii). The event is a fundraising effort for AAF Hawaii sponsored events including student scholarship.

The American Advertising Federation – District 13, who also sponsor Hawaii’s Most Promising Multicultural Student (MPMS) and the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), has sponsored a table for HPU students and faculty to participate in the ADMANIA contest for the fifth consecutive year. This year the event was held at Dave & Buster’s on January 26, 2017.

Students were encouraged to assemble a team and test their skills against industry professionals. A compilation of undergraduate HPU students from the Communication, Multimedia and Marketing programs came together to compete under the name “Mad-Aders”. Students included Akamai Advertising club officers Josh Sheetz and Amanda Kolwalski, and 2017 MPMS recipient Sky Nanoo, who were joined by Juan Peralta, Christian Cordius, Tobias Pultz, Jasques Noerbu and Dylan Needham.

HPU’s Mad-Aders place 2^nd in 2017 AAF Hawaii’s ADMANIA 

advertising trivia contest, January 26, 2017.

Ten teams of industry professionals participated, but HPU was the only student team. Participating media and advertising firms included Adwalls, Alteres, Hagadone Hawaii, Hawaiian Host, HMSA, Intellectual Services, Lent Enterprises, Linda Chun Marketing, Nella Media Group, Pacific Music Productions, Oceanic Time Warner, Ric Noyle Photography, Wind On Water Communications and Wall to Wall. The first place winner of ADMANIA was a team comprised of JPG Hawaii and Ad2 Honolulu Alumni.

ADMANIA participants were grouped into teams and presented several category rounds of trivia questions related to advertising and promotion, including pop culture, media, brands, slogans, jingles and historical as well as current advertising knowledge. During the course of play, each team had opportunities to send rival contestants to jail and bail their own team members out of jail for a “fee” which was donated to the fundraising event.

Community events such as ADMANIA provide interactive learning opportunities for students and faculty to network with industry professionals. “It enables students and faculty to work and play together in an off-campus environment, while testing and sharing their core knowledge,” claims AnnMarie Manzulli, Department of Communication faculty member and Akamai Advertising club advisor. “It also encourages school pride and strengthens the HPU brand reputation in the business community.”

About AAF Hawaii- District 13
AAF-Hawaii is the unifying voice for advertising. Our mission is to promote the business of advertising and communications through professional education, recognition of excellence, government relations, self-regulation and public service. Most importantly, AAF-Hawaii provides an arena by which all members of the advertising community can work together for the common goal of creating a stronger industry.

Spring Career Expo: Tuesday, March 21

The Career Services Center is hosting the Spring Career Expo on Tuesday, March 21, from noon-3 p.m. This event connects students with over 25 employers who are actively hiring for full-time career opportunities. Whether you’re seeking employment or just want to learn how to make yourself marketable for your future career, the Spring Expo is a great experience for all HPU students. Come explore what employers have to offer, develop your networking skills and learn how to stand out from others when applying for that dream job.  

In addition to full-time work, many of the attending employers offer internships and part-time jobs. Below are sample questions to ask that can help you effectively network with participating employers:

1.      Besides the requirement for a college degree, what are some of the more important qualifications your organization values in an applicant?

2.      What makes a candidate stand out during a job interview?

3.      Professional development is important to me, but I’m not sure what steps I should take when starting out in a new career. What do you recommend someone focus on when seeking to develop professionally at the start of their career?

4.      What actions often lead to an employee advancing within your organization?

5.      What stands out for employee satisfaction at your organization?

The Spring Career Expo will be held at Aloha Tower Marketplace in Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) 3. Light refreshments will be available for students and alumni. In the weeks ahead, visit www.hpu.edu/csc for updates and a list of attending employers.

HPU-CIFLE English Teacher Education Program Welcomed Teachers from Korea

Submitted by Barbara Hannum, HPU Director of Intercultural Education Programs

Twenty Korean elementary school teachers completed the HPU-CIFLE English Teacher Education Program, an intensive four-week professional development and study program held from Nov. 28-Dec. 23, 2016. For one very full but fulfilling month, these teachers devoted six to seven hours daily to increasing theoretical knowledge in and practical application of Principles in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) while building fluency in their own English language skills for Teaching English in English (TEE).

In addition to these two classes taught by HPU TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and adjunct faculty, this customized content-based program also included afternoon discussion sessions, fluency-building workshops, guest speakers, cultural lessons, a panel presentation by successful TESOL professionals, and other special events. TESOL student assistants, Center for Academic Success tutors, and numerous HPU student volunteers provided support and encouragement in additional conversation sessions.

Several HPU faculty, staff, and even TESOL alumni shared presentations on topics such as Motivation and Immersion Experiences, Drama Techniques for EFL, Using Music in the Classroom, Language Review Games, Energizing English Lessons in the EFL Context, and Teaching Foreign Culture. Participants were provided numerous opportunities for practical application of task-based teaching and learning strategies and also effective ways to adapt activities and materials for their Korean students. They also observed an HPU Applied Linguistics course and attended a poster session where they had the opportunity to interact with HPU TESOL instructors and students. A highlight of their academic experience was the chance to share their ideas about favorite teaching techniques in a culminating poster session of their own, along with individual reflective discussions about their professional development outcomes as well as personal self-assessment of goals.

In addition to their classes and special educational events, they enjoyed experiential learning through a guided walking tour of historical downtown Honolulu and Aloha Tower, a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, a guided visit to Doris Duke’s Shangri-La estate, and visits to Pearl Harbor and Bishop Museum. They also enjoyed a hula lesson by Kumu Tracie Lopes as well as an ukulele lesson. Another memorable site visit took them to St. Andrew’s Priory where they spent a morning observing and interacting with elementary teachers and students. Three successful elementary teachers from Washington Middle School also shared their perspectives on teaching, including insightful comments by 2016 Hawaii State “Teacher of the Year” Sung Park.

This is the fifth HPU program for in-service teachers from Chungnam Institute of Foreign Language Education (CIFLE). The program is offered through the Department of English and Applied Linguistics in the College of Liberal Arts under the direction of Barbara Hannum, Director of Intercultural Education Programs, and TESOL Academic Coordinator Jean Kirschenmann.

Please contact Hannum at bhannum@hpu.edu for more details about this or other short-term group programs at HPU.

  

HPU-CIFLE English Teacher Education Program participants and center front row, L-R, wearing lei, Washington Middle School teachers Shirley Foster, Hawaii State “Teacher of the Year” Sung Park and Summer Cacanindin; CIFLE Director Dong-myung Kim, HPU Director of Intercultural Education Programs Barbara Hannum, and CIFLE Supervisor Mi-yeon Min; far left, second row HPU TESOL Academic Coordinator Jean Kirschenmann

Downtown INBRE Lab Construction Complete

HPU completed construction of its new IDeA Network of Biomedical Research (INBRE) Laboratories at the Model Progress building (1188 Fort Street).

INBRE, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i and Chaminade University, supports instructional lab courses, increases undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, expands facilities for federally-funded biology, microbiology and biochemistry research projects, and enhances outreach to local schools. 

The HPU INBRE team includes faculty Drs. David Horgen, Gideon Berger, Yongli Chen and Lei Wang; research facility manager Dr. Yunfeng Pan; and Melissa Boldridge.

Assistant Professor Lei Wang, Ph.D., will be the INBRE faculty member 

on site at the Model Progress building lab  

INBRE already boasts 40 undergraduate coauthors on scholarly presentations and manuscripts. Nearly 100 students have participated in research projects led by HPU’s four biomedical research faculty, with undergraduate research projects enriched by a global network of collaborators. The new lab complex will also create more faculty positions at HPU, with recruiting efforts in full force to identify a new biology faculty focused on biomedical research.

INBRE alumni success stories:

·         Kelly Galbraith (BS Biochemistry ’11) earned an MS in Biostudies from Kyoto University and is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program of the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University.

·         Tifanie Vansach (BS Marine Biology ’08) is in the Ph.D. program, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University.

·         Kristina Mojica, Ph.D., (BS Marine Biology ’04) holds an MS in Biological Oceanography from the University of Hawai‘i and a Ph.D. from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research. Mojica is presently a post-doctoral fellow at Oregon State University.      

·         Erik Henze (BS Biochemistry ’16), originally from Kailua, is in the biophysical chemistry Ph.D. program at Cornell University.

·         Aaron Thomas (BS Chemistry ’14), who is from Macon, Georgia, is studying astrochemistry in the Ph.D. program of University of Hawai‘i.     

·         Leo Phuc Nguyen (BS Biochemistry and Math ’13), born in Vietnam and raised in Hilo, is enrolled in the MS, Biomedical Engineering program, University of Pennsylvania.

Embracing Classroom Technology and Teaching Digital Natives

There aren’t many people who can offer the unique perspective that Dr. Han Nee Chong does. As HPU’s only Instructional Design and Technology Specialist, she’s responsible for introducing and supporting new technologies into both virtual and on-campus classrooms. She is also an adjunct faculty member, teaching communication courses to both undergraduate and graduate students. Because of her dual role as both faculty and staff, she offers a different view on teaching students and supporting faculty.

Chong, an HPU alumna who got her Master's in Communication in 2005, has been working at the university since 2010. A self-proclaimed “geek,” Chong has always been fascinated by technology. “My first passion is teaching. But when I was in school, my dissertation was on Educational Technology and people’s attitude and perception towards technology. Why do some people embrace technology easily, and why do some people have resistance towards it?” She brings this question to her work at HPU when developing new instructional advancements.

Teaching digital natives brings an ever-changing dynamic to Chong’s role at HPU. Because they adapt to technology so quickly, what works for a class one semester might not work for a class the next semester. She is constantly evolving her teaching methods to better communicate and engage with students. Rather than resisting how much technology has been engrained in students’ lives, she uses it to help engage her students’ learning.

One way Chong embraces the changing landscape of technology and student education is through individualized learning. One of the biggest platforms that HPU utilizes is its Blackboard Learning Management System.  Blackboard is a virtual classroom that is used in online and on-campus classrooms to house course curriculum, discussion boards, announcements, and an array of other support tools. One way Chong is supporting individualized learning is through the adaptive release of learning modules, which helps students learn at their own pace. She is also customizing a technical writing online class to be modeled after the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. Each week students receive quests (assignments), gain experience points by completing assignments and participating in discussion threads, and are put in Safe Havens (collaborative groups).

As both faculty and staff, Chong is able to understand the challenge of utilizing innovative technology. From a staff perspective, she is able to troubleshoot easily and understand the struggle that faculty might have with the technology as an instructor herself.  As a faculty member, course design comes easily with her background as an Instructional Design and Technology Specialist.

Faculty in need of support are always welcome to contact Chong for information and guidance to incorporate technology into their curriculum. “I work one-on-one and with small groups. It’s very much tailor-made for each group based on their need and it’s very user-driven.” The advantage of this is that faculty receive personalized attention and support that’s specific to their goals, rather than learning in a large workshop meant for faulty from different areas of study.

Chong believes that technology shouldn’t drive what you do, rather, faculty should “decide what the course learning outcomes are, and see what technology can do to help drive that.”

Amazing opportunity for HPU: IUCN World Conservation Congress

From September 1 to 10, the people of the state of Hawai‘i welcomed more than 10,000 people from around the world — delegates to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress  (WCC) — to Honolulu for what is commonly referred to as “the Olympics of conservation and environment.”

The Congress, entitled “Planet at the Crossroads,” was held for the first time in the United States, and making it even more special, the location was Hawai‘i. With the WCC being held in Hawai‘i, members of the HPU ‘ohana along with the larger community of the state, had the amazing opportunity to showcase the Hawaiian Islands and its leadership in conservation.

An opening ceremony to kick off the WCC highlighted Hawaiian culture and practices. The chanters and dancers represented hālau from Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Māui and Hawai‘i. Director of Tax and Financial Compliance Jory Cummins, Kumu Hula of hālau Na Pualei o Likolehua, was a chanter in the opening (31:30 to 50:50; then 2:54:19) and closing (at 1:52:40) ceremonies of the WCC; (see Star-Advertiser story and gallery of photos.) Cummins said “it was not only such an honor to participate with such great cultural practitioners, but to be a part of something with such global impact.”          

Jory Cummins, front row, third from left 

Representing Hawai‘i Pacific University, an affiliate member of IUCN, Associate Professor of Environmental Science Regina Ostergaard-Klem, Ph.D., worked with the WCC host committee to provide a range of opportunities for HPU students, faculty, staff, and alumni, representing colleges and departments from across the university, to participate in the Congress. In turn, student and faculty volunteers received passes to attend WCC sessions. Many students from Environmental Science and Studies programs took advantage of the opportunity to learn about environmental efforts at the national and international levels as well as network with local organizations.

High level sessions included world-renowned speakers such as Sylvia Earle, Jane Goodall and E.O. Wilson. WCC also included hundreds of workshops and panel and roundtable discussions. Associate Professor of Oceanography David Hyrenbach, Ph.D., took part in one of the panels, entitled “Seabirds at the Crossroads,” presenting his research on seabirds to track ocean pollution.    

    

The activities were non-stop in the Exhibition Hall of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, with a variety of themed pavillions that were free and open to the public.  In the Hawaii and Pacific Pavillion, HPU hosted a booth and over several days, more than 35 university faculty, staff and student volunteers provided delegates with information about HPU and its sustainability-related programs and initiatives. Thomas Kohler, Ph.D., Associate Professor Marketing and founder of the Hawai‘i nonprofit travel2change, shared the organization’s mission of “connecting travelers with the local community to create a positive impact.”    

Associate Professor of Marketing Thomas Kohler, Ph.D., 

and Biology major Polly Miller, manning the HPU booth 

HPU students also volunteered directly with IUCN, serving in various capacities to facilitate operation of the event. For Emily Macri, an MA/GLSD student who volunteered as a quote capturer, “it was empowering to sit in a crowd of individuals from all around the world who are really striving to make a difference for our planet.” She also described her experience as a quote capturer “like a big melting pot of knowledge in one room. The gathering of such a diverse group of environmental leaders enabled me to see that it is now 100% possible to tackle these problems on a larger scale.” 

Tim Fallis, Assistant Professor, Department of Communications, and MA/COM program chair, also participated. Fallis and his students worked in the press center and as quote capturers. Fallis said “all the students were delighted to be there, and soak in what was being discussed and what people are trying to do to protect the environment.” The most exciting thing for him was “to see that there are so many really smart people who are donating their time and money doing amazing things.” 

Two MA in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development students, Delphine Homerowski and Rachel Sherman, in their roles as interns for Susty Pacific, collected data at the Congress to certify it as a Green event. They worked with HPU alumnus Kristopher Wee (MA GLSD ’16), Sustainability Manager for Susty Pacific.

Through HPU’s affiliate membership, Ostergaard-Klem was able to sit in on the Members’ Assembly. The assembly included discussion focused on the establishment of IUCN mandates and the election of the IUCN Council and President. Klem said “to witness the negotiation process was an enlightening and exciting experience.” The motions that are passed at WCC provide guidance and direction to international negotiations for the next four years. “It was a chance to see history being made on environmental policies like marine protected areas, wildlife trafficking, and economic valuation of natural resources,” she added.

Additionally, HPU had the opportunity to invite WCC delegate Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Vice President for Conservation Policy at Conservational International, to campus. Rodriguez served as the guest speaker of HPU’s September 7 Presidential Lecture Series on Global Leadership and Sustainability, made possible through a grant from Hawaiian Electric Industries. Rodriguez, who was previously the Minister of Environment and Energy for the Republic of Costa Rica, told the inspirational story of Costa Rica — once a poor, underdeveloped nation — rising to become one of Central America’s strongest economies while maintaining its natural resources.             

Dr. Sylvia Earle and MA in Global Leadership 

and Sustainable Development student Gabby Lout

Overall, hosting the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawai‘i was a success. The shared knowledge and insights from international leaders made the event a learning experience for all. The presence of HPU was helpful in exposing the progressive work that is done at the University in terms of sustainability. Hosting the WCC in Hawai’i was the perfect place to spark awareness and spread knowledge of the delicate ecosystems that surround us. Truly, bringing the IUCN WCC to O‘ahu provided a solid framework for tackling environmental issues from an international level, which is ultimately what our future depends on.      

HPU ‘ohana at Hawaii Society of Business Professionals (HSBP) event

From left to right, front row: Susan Fox-Wolfgramm, Yuika Furukawa (MBA, MSIS), 

Jennifer Rachels (MBA, MAGLSD), John Gotanda, Ann Wilson (MAHRM), Lei Ana E. Green (MBA '12); 

back row: Grant Lukjan (MBA), Nicole Piskorski (MBA, MSIS)

HPU President John Gotanda spoke at the Thursday, Sept. 15, HSBP luncheon. He shared his strategic   vision for HPU, how HPU’s curriculum will help address the current talent shortage, and his expectations for the Aloha Tower and windward facilities.

Five HPU College of Business graduate students, Professor of Management Susan Fox-Wolfgramm, Ph.D., and MBA Coordinator Lei Ana Green (MBA ’12), attended the luncheon.

Fox-Wolfgramm serves as the new HSBP Vice President of University Relations. 

Exciting news at HPU Theatre

Submitted by Janine Myers, Theatre Manager

Hawai‘i Pacific University, the Department of Arts, Humanities, and Languages and the Theatre Program are excited to be able to share the following news with you.

We aren’t going anywhere — yet! I know many of you have been wondering about the fate of the HPU Theatre Program (and about the Paul and Vi Loo Theatre). With the sale of the Hawaii Loa Campus, we will be transitioning classes and eventually performances downtown, as part of the master plan. HPU is in the early stages of identifying a space that will serve both the student body and the community. Until that transition takes place, we will still be holding classes and performances on the windward side, at the Paul and Vi Loo Theatre. We hope to see you there!

Eden-Lee Murray

We have a new addition to our Theatre Program faculty. Eden-Lee Murray has joined us in the role of Adjunct Professor and Director! She will be teaching all upper division acting, directing and performance classes, as well as directing our Mainstage productions.

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Murray is a graduate of Harvard University and has an MFA in acting/directing. She is a professional actor/director/artist-educator, and since moving to O‘ahu in 1992, has had featured roles in Lost and Fantasy Island Additionally, she has directed or performed in every major venue on O‘ahu, earning 14 Po‘okela Awards.

For the past seven years, Murray has served as Education Director at the Hawaii Theatre Center. She founded three Ensembles at the Theatre: the Hawaii Theatre Young Actors Ensemble, the pre-professional training program in classical theatre; the Hawaii Theatre Junior Ensemble, an introductory acting class; and in 2013, the Hawaii Theatre Intermediate Ensemble. She will be bringing the Young Actors Ensemble — now to be know as the HPU Young Actors Ensemble — with her to our stage, and we’re looking forward to welcoming these students to campus.

Check out a video about Murray’s teaching, created by HPU alumnus Ethan Perry (BA ’13).

Our fall Mainstage production will be Deathtrap, a comedy-thriller by Ira Levin and directed by Eden-Lee Murray. One of the most successful whodunits of all time, it played for four years on Broadway, and it launched a West End run and a Hollywood movie. In Deathtrap, Levin has taken the basic components of thrillers and horror stories — murder, deceit, innocent dialogue with hidden sinister meanings, plot reversals, unexpected turns of events, etc. — and twisted and rearranged the pieces again and again. We hope this piques your interest!

Auditions will be held at the Paul and Vi Loo Theatre September 9-11, with performances November 11-20. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script; no prepared material is needed. Auditions are open to the wider theatre community, with priority given to current HPU students. Further audition information will be distributed separately.

Auditions:

Friday, Sept. 9 – 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 10 – 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 11 – 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Friday and Saturday are open auditions. Sunday is callbacks, but if you are only available on Sunday please come then!

Performances:

Friday, Nov. 11 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 12 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 13 – 4 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 18 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20 – 4 p.m.

Learning through discovery

Catherine Unabia, Ph.D., by Kukui tree, many parts of which were used by 

the ancient Hawaiians for food, light and medicinal remedies

Hawai‘i Pacific University Associate Professor of Biology Catherine Unabia, Ph.D., developed an interest in native Hawaiian plants as an undergraduate at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Unabia had been attending college in California and transferred to UH when her dad got a job in Hawai‘i. 

“Coming to Hawai‘i where there are so many endemic Hawaiian species, I got really interested in the plants but also the animals that interacted with the plants,” Unabia said, as she gave the example of birds feeding on the ohia tree. “I had a couple of mentors at the University of Hawai‘i who saw my interest and helped me to get out into the field sites and gave me books.”

Unabia now shares her knowledge and deep appreciation for plants with HPU students. She began teaching at the university in fall 2000 as an adjunct instructor of Plant Biology. 

“In the lab course, students learned to propagate Hawaiian plants by seeds and cuttings. Since about 2003, we have been planting these at the native plant restoration site by Kawainui Marsh, Na Pohaku o Hauwahine,” Unabia said. “Each year we measure survival, growth and reproduction of these plants as part of our lab work. We have an area that is almost all planted by HPU, and many of the small trees that were planted are now overhead.”  

Over time, Unabia grew more interested in the Hawaiian culture, dating back to the people voyaging from Tahiti. She said the ancient Hawaiians had all the food and materials they needed to subsist.

“They brought most of it with them including some collected from other places — such as the sweet potato from South America — and not many of their food plants were found in the forest here,” Unabia said. “It’s an interesting story of plant collectors and master gardeners.”

Realizing there was much to learn from the Hawaiian culture about respecting and managing resources, Unabia decided to start the General Education class, Ethnobotany: Plants and People.  

As it is a civic engagement course, Unabia and her Ethnobotany students help with planting at the Kawainui restoration site. There are also a myriad of hands-on learning opportunities including how to make a lei or an ipu (Hawaiian instrument made from a gourd).

“It kind of depends on the interests of the students,” she said. “This past semester there were several students interested in health, so we did a fair amount on medicinal plants.”

In addition to teaching undergraduate students, Unabia serves as a faculty advisor for the Master of Science in Marine Science program. One of her students is Cassie Turner (HPU BS ’13). 

Through a two-year U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture  grant awarded to OI of HPU, Turner works with Unabia and Shrimp Department Director Dustin Moss (HPU BS ’97), Ph.D. The team has been studying the aquaculture potential of Hawaiian polychaetes (worms) for feeding shrimp broodstock. There are farmers in Thailand and other places who have started raising local polychaetes to feed their shrimp, avoiding the high cost of importing. 

"What OI does is buy frozen polychaete worms from the U.S. East Coast, and they spend thousands of dollars importing those for feeding their broodstock,” Unabia said.

At the start of the research project, Turner had a list of about 40 potential marine polychaetes to study. Unabia said Turner collected more than a dozen different types, but most of the worms were eliminated from the study. The shrimp did not like to eat the worms or the worms did not grow well or large enough to serve as feed.

“Cassie found one living in sediments, Marphysa sanguinea, that was pretty easy to culture and the shrimp like to eat it, and she did the nutrient analysis showing it is comparable to if not better than the worms OI is importing,” Unabia said. “She is finishing her data and will defend her master’s thesis in the fall.”    

Whether she is teaching undergraduates or mentoring master’s candidates, Unabia empowers her students to learn in an interactive way.

“I always approach the classes with ‘what questions are we looking at’ and ask them to figure out questions,” she said. “That’s what scientists do; they ask questions. Then once they have questions, ‘how do you get the answers?’”    

The value of helping each other

Director of Tax and Financial Compliance Jory Cummins’ connection to the university dates back to the ’80s when she worked approximately nine years at the former Hawaii Loa College. Cummins held accounting positions including Accounting Assistant and Assistant Controller.

“I left Hawaii Loa College before it was acquired by HPU in 1992,” she said.

Prior to joining Hawai‘i Pacific University in 2011, Cummins, who is a certified public accountant, held tax management positions at the former Aloha Airlines and The Queen’s Health Systems.

“My favorite job was at Hawaii Loa (College), so when I had the chance to come (to HPU) I was really excited,” she said.

At HPU, Cummins is responsible for preparing tax filings, and she oversees other financial reporting and financial compliance. She also does financial analysis for special projects.     

Although she does not interact with students on a day-to-day basis, Cummins said she enjoys working with them.

“Students are fun to be around and bring such vitality and enthusiasm,” she said. “Since I’ve been at HPU, I’ve been trying to find ways to get more involved with them.”

One way Cummins is able to support HPU students directly is through her annual spring workshop, which focuses on tax filing and reporting obligations for international students. Before her presentation, she researches which entities near the university offer free or discounted tax advice. Cummins conducts the workshop and provides this list of resources, intending to make the process easier for students.

“Taxes are hard enough for residents let alone when you’re a new student from a foreign country,” she said. “Hopefully it’s not so anxiety ridden for some as it could be.”

Another connection Cummins has to HPU is she too was a student — a graduate student — dating back to when she was an employee of Hawaii Loa College. At that time, the College had a mainframe and she would often be asked questions to help troubleshoot issues. Cummins said this is what led her to pursue a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS), which she earned in 1990 from HPU. 

“From what I learned through the MSIS program, I can apply the flow of logic to other problems and issues and situations,” Cummins said.      

When Cummins is not working, she is a committed member of hālau hula Nā Pualei O Likolehua, which she joined in 1980. In 2009, Cummins went through ‘uniki (graduation exercises) with 12 other women, becoming a kumu (teacher) under the tutelage of the late Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Kalama Heine.

The late Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Kalama Heine
and Jory Cummins

Cummins said the function of a kumu is to train women to become teachers and leaders in their communities. The members of the hālau engage in classes, performances, cultural protocol, and service in the community. 

“By teaching and understanding our cultural practices through hula and the related oli (chant) and mele (song), we can have a dramatic impact in the communities we live in, the businesses that we work in, and the people that we interact with on a daily basis,” she said.     

  

Cummins demonstrates the teachings of the hālau in how she conducts herself in the workplace. These ways extend to her interpretation of the Hawaiian values — aloha, pono, and kuleana — HPU has chosen to embrace. To Cummins, the most important value is aloha.

“If you truly understand what that means to live aloha, then all the other Hawaiian values will automatically fall into place,” she said. “You will understand your kuleana (responsibility) if you live aloha and will understand your place in the total system. In the HPU community, if someone is having a difficult time, you reach out and help them.”         

Alumna pursuing Ph.D. earns NOAA scholarship

Andrea Kealoha (MS in Marine Science ’14) was one of two students selected for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funded by NOAA. Kealoha is at Texas A&M University pursuing her doctorate in oceanography with a focus on coral reef health in response to ocean acidification.

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries received more than 200 applications for this scholarship. A panel of NOAA scientists reviewed and scored the applications, which were based on the individuals’ rankings, financial need, academic excellence, recommendations, research, and career goals.    

Subject to appropriations, the scholarship includes an annual stipend of $30,000 and up to $12,000 annually as an education allowance. Additionally, a recipient could see up to $10,000 to support a four to six week research collaboration at a NOAA facility.

Kealoha will conduct her research at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico.

While a master’s in marine science student at HPU, she participated in two research expeditions to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. See this video of one of the research cruises. 

In February 2014, Kealoha and HPU natural science faculty Chris Winn, Ph.D., and Sam Kahng, Ph.D., presented their research entitled “Carbon Systems within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Honolulu. Kealoha also presented this research in December 2013 at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.         

The journey of the job search

For college graduates of the class of 2016, the prospects of finding full-time employment are bright, according to Michael Van Lear, Hawai‘i Pacific University Director of Career Services.

“We are at very low unemployment levels — at the state and national levels — when you look at the last 10 years, especially coming out of that recession,” he said. “This is the time college graduates should be aggressively pursuing work opportunities.”

To help HPU alumni and current students find employment, the Career Services Center (CSC) offers HPU Connect, an online job board. Once registered, employers may list positions and the university’s students and alumni may post resumes and search for jobs in the portal.

“Employers know that a good resource for their labor pool is colleges, and recent college grads are often the ones these entry-level positions open up for,” Van Lear said. “They’re eager. And they’re generally more flexible, willing to do what it takes to get their careers going.” 

If employers are successful recruiting for employees with certain universities, they will continue going there, and often, the only other place they will post positions is on their own company website, Van Lear added.  

A piece of advice Van Lear shares with job hunters is to remain open, exploring all avenues. He does not recommend getting fixated on working for a particular organization or in a specific position. While searching online for jobs, also keep this in mind.

“Instead of putting in a job title, put in the general field that you are looking for and that’s when you’ll see there are more opportunities than you thought,” Van Lear said. “And be meticulous and really read through job descriptions. You may realize you can do the job, but maybe the title just wasn’t aligned.”

Now with a list of job leads in hand, HPU alumni and students are invited to contact Van Lear and the CSC staff with next steps in the employment search. Among the complementary services offered to the university’s graduates and students are resume and cover letter reviews and mock interviews. 

The details documented in the resume and cover letter are important to landing the interview. If recent college graduates lack work-specific experience, skills and knowledge gained through extra-curricular activities demonstrate qualification, too. Whether it is through a part-time job, an internship or cooperative education opportunity, leadership in a student club, or volunteer service, Van Lear encourages students to think about developing skills beyond the classroom. These skills should be transferrable to the career they anticipate pursuing.

“If you were the treasurer on student government and you’re an accounting major, that’s a big plus,” he said. “You need to emphasize that and explain exactly what you did as treasurer, which will help you stand out from your competitors.”  

Once the interview appointment is secured, preparing for it is the next big hurdle. Van Lear urges job candidates to do investigative work, which includes looking at the employer’s website and getting familiar with the organization and thinking of meaningful questions to ask the interviewer.

“And be prepared to talk about your strengths, your weaknesses, your plan for your career three to five years from now,” Van Lear said. “The resume gets you the interview. The interview gets you the job.”   

The CSC staff welcomes HPU graduates and current students to participate in mock interview appointments. The staff will film appointments, play the recordings back, and spend time coaching and reviewing the experience with prospective job applicants. Van Lear will ask people to think about their answers and whether they like what they said. He will prompt them to assess whether they exhibited enthusiasm and a positive attitude.  

“If you think about how much homework you do to get through a class, why wouldn’t you make that same kind of commitment to getting ready for that opportunity which is actually going to give you a paycheck,” Van Lear said. 

Career Services Advisor Ryan Tin Loy (left)
and Director of Career Services Michael Van Lear; staff not pictured
Career Services Advisor Amanda Austin
and Customer Service Representative Renz Argen Lorenzo

HPU students and alumni, check out what the university’s Career Services Center has to offer: Career Advising, Using internships and co-ops for class credit, Resume and cover letter assistance, Mock interviews, Job search assistance, Interest assessments (MBTI and Strong), Professional development events and workshops, Career Fairs, Employer information sessions and tables, HPU Connect online job board.  

1164 Bishop Street (UB), Suite 122
Honolulu, HI  96813

Phone:  808-544-0230
E-mail:  csc@hpu.edu
Web:  www.hpu.edu/csc