Advertise on podcast: Kuilei Courageous Conversations

Send us a text 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 "All you have to do is try" opened up so many pathways, and there is so much waiting for her. It is worth mentioning with all of her hard work that she graduated debt free and started graduate school fully covered. She is passionate about getting more involved with her community while breaking down barriers to make education accessible to all.   Please enjoy our Conversation with Ms. Jenny Brown and share widely!

Send us a text 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 journey.  Please take care of yourselves and each other. Happy New Year! Alfie and Sheldon Original music by Joe Yoshida

Send us a text 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 have any questions, feel free to contact the Kuilei Outreach Program at [email protected].   Thanks!

Send us a text 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 it work with the resources provided. He made some huge sacrifices at a young age that includes working full-time, fulling his duties with the Hawai'i Army National Guard, and taking courses at Kapi'olani CC that helped create the best version of himself. He adds how "everyone has their own clock" and how learning is a lifelong process no matter where you go.  Please enjoy our season closer and share widely!  

Send us a text 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. He demonstrated his grit and determination through many of his accomplishments such as the 2024 Leader of the Year Award with Embassy Suites to his 2025 Na Poʻe Paʻahana Engineering and Maintenance Person of the Year. We were so fortunate to learn from this wonderful individual. Enjoy and share widely! Original music by Joe Yoshida

Send us a text 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. Her words of advice include to always be curious and to take risks and one of her many gems was "I donʻt know what I want to be but I know how I want to feel" when talking about her future self.  She also has a podcast called "The Wāhine Collective".  Please enjoy and share widely. Thank you so much for tuning in! Original music by Jon Hashimoto

Send us a text 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 had many twists and turns.  Please listen and learn about how his academic pathway was filled with peaks, valleys, failures, reflection, and of course, success. His story is actually quite common therefore his insights and words of advice are amazing. Please enjoy and share widely!

Send us a text 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 course, love. By the way, she is also a Milken Educator Award recipient, a HUGE recognition in the education arena.   Thank you for listening and share widely!

Send us a text 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, helped discover her passion in music.  She her strength and resiliency got her through some very challenging times and in the end, graduated in May of 2024 with her Associate in Science in Music and Entertainment Learning Experience (MELE) degree with a concentration in Music Business and Production. She is currently working in the music industry and when you listen to her story, you can feel the joy coming out of her words. We are so extremely proud of her.  Please enjoy and share widely! BTW, check out a piece from the NAMM Foundation.

Send us a text 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 a text 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 Department as well as a co-host for INSPIRED BY ALOHA podcast - FOLLOW THEM!  We had so much fun just chatting about random stuff but this time IN PERSON. We hope you enjoy our Conversations! Please share widely. Take care!

Send us a text “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 professionals committed to assisting students to strive for their best, as written in HACAC's mission statement. “Dedicated to helping students transition to post-secondary education through education, collaboration, and community building.” On August 15, 2024, I had the honor to talk story with three of the originating members - Judy Hiramoto, Myron Arakawa, and Dan Feldhaus - who shared their insights and wisdom on what motivated them to start, what is now called the Hawai’i Association for College Admission Counseling. They even provided guidance on how best to stay true to the profession. Their commitment to the college counseling profession demonstrated what it means to lead with integrity, compassion, and staying true to your core beliefs around student support services. One of the many highlights of this talk story session was a stroll down memory lane when Myron shared a group photo taken in 1987 of those who had a vision to design and execute this wonderful Association.  Thank you Judy, Myron, and Dan for taking this from a hallway in 1987 to changing hundreds of lives from students to professionals. We all appreciate you!

Send us a text 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 interesting interviews, getting involved, and most importantly, personal growth. This interview was bittersweet because all three of them are transferring after Spring 2024. However, they wanted to let everyone to know that Kapiʻo News IS HIRING and students will get PAID. Please check them out at https://kapionews.com/.  We are so excited to see what they do after Kapiʻolani Community College. Best of luck to all of them and again, Kapiʻo News IS HIRING! Enjoy and share widely.

Send us a text 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 accomplished in 2023. They are truly the voice of our students and will go above and beyond to make sure students have a great college experience at Kapi'olani CC. Click HERE to check out one of their legacy projects that involves all the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges. If you are interested in getting involved or have questions, please contact Student Congress at [email protected] as well as through Instagram at @kapccsc.  Thank you!

Send us a text 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 ends one chapter in her life while preparing for a new one. We also have a guest co-host Mr. Shawn Yacavone, Academic Support Specialist at the College's Honda International Center (and Kapiʻolani Community College alumni) joining us on the conversation. Enjoy and share widely! Original music by Jon Hashimoto