Students from Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing recently spent two weeks on Kaua‘i learning about the island’s culture and health care system. They spent time with the elderly at Mahelona Hospital, had a fun beach day and toured Kaua‘i Veteran’s
Students from Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing recently spent two weeks on Kaua‘i learning about the island’s culture and health care system. They spent time with the elderly at Mahelona Hospital, had a fun beach day and toured Kaua‘i Veteran’s Memorial Hospital and the Regency at Puakea. The group found out more about Kaua‘i through hula, a tour of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and home stays with local families. KCC Nursing students had an opportunity to experience the Okinawan culture and health care system during their week-long visit to Okinawa during Spring Break 2012. They will be visiting Nagasaki during Spring Break 2013.
Club Math, a group of 30-plus students, meets every two weeks in the Natural Science Building at noon. The meetings always include delicious food and presentations from members on math-related topics. Throughout the year, the club sponsors many activities, including the Kaumakani Star Watch, mini golf outings and beach cleanups. For more information, contact Jameyia Shamia at jameyia@hawaii.edu or Dr. Loni Delaplane at ldel@hawaii.edu.
As part of the college’s commitment to sustainability, the carpentry students of instructor Robert Steurich have poured the foundation for the demonstration house they are building on campus and are now in the shop for lessons in cutting roofs and stairs. Steurich says that working with shop tools to make wooden joints used in cabinetry and furniture is the most fun for both him and his students.
The KCC Vocal Ensemble will present its Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 2, at St. Michael and All Angels’ Church in Lihu‘e at 4 p.m. It will also perform on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 12:30 p.m. in the KCC One-Stop Center in conjunction with the opening of the Art Department’s student and faculty exhibition. For more information contact Greg Shepherd at 245-8269 or shep@hawaii.edu.
Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, senior scientist at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and national environmental leader, will conduct two sessions on “Overcoming Barriers to sustainability,” to be held on the KCC campus today from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Dr. Hershkowitz leads NRDC’s research, policy and planning on sustainable development, recycling, forestry, mountaintop coal mining, waste incineration and medical waste. He has been instrumental in the greening of American entertainment and sports icons, as well. The sessions are open to the public. For more information contact Cammie Matsumoto at 245-8280.
Kaua‘i Community College’s oceanography class partnered with Kaua‘i Surfrider Foundation to remove old fishing nets that had washed ashore at Wailua Beach. The nets were removed less than a week after a sea turtle was found entangled in fishing nets at nearby Kealia Beach. Students and volunteers were able to fill a large pickup truck and bring the nets to Reuse Hawai‘i.
“If felt great to get this done on Make-A-Difference day” said KCC instructor Willow Jorgenson.
Willow Jorgenson is a new marine biology instructor and Marine Option Program co-coordinator at Kaua‘i Community College. She studied marine ecology, conservation and ocean policy at UH Manoa and oceanography at University of Washington. Her graduate research focused on hermit crab community ecology in French Polynesia. She already loves teaching at KCC and is looking forward to mentoring student research projects in the new wet lab.
Dennis Chun was born in Honolulu, raised on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i, and has been involved with Hawaiian studies since the “Hawaiian Resurgence” era. He has had the honor of being involved with Polynesian voyaging and has made a number of long-distance voyages aboard the voyaging canoes Hokule‘a and Hawai‘i Loa. He brings these experiences and learning to the courses he teaches in the college’s Hawaiian Studies program.
Chazton Sasil, a KCC student and member of the Ori Uvira Tahitian dance troupe, recently traveled to Japan to promote the cultures of Hawai‘i and Tahiti. During his time in Tokyo he enjoyed sightseeing and had the opportunity to perform Tahitian dance in front of hundreds of enthusiastic Tokyo residents. He also got to try raw horse meat for the first time and describes it as “kind of better than sashimi.”
• Greg Shepherd, is an Associate Professor of Music at Kaua‘i Community College. ‘News from KCC’ appears the first Friday of every month.
