Welcome Guest

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Happy New Year! The Year of the Tiger is upon us!

We welcome all new students, faculty and staff to Hawaii Tokai International College and extend best wishes to the entire faculty, staff, and student body for a most exciting winter term as we move into the second decade of the 21st century.

This term we are joined by 30 students in the SHIP program who are diligently studying English and learning more about Hawaiian and American Culture. Nine of these students will return to become official HTIC students in the spring term.

New staff members this term are Ms. Morna Choi Dexter, the new Director of the Office of Student Services, Mr. Jeffrey Bernhardt, the new IP coordinator; and Mr. Koji “Jet” Nakamura, TES Liaison Officer. New adjunct faculty are Ms. Elizabeth Tuthill in the College Preparatory Program and Ms. Rayoung Kang, who will teach Korean in the Liberal Arts Program.

Here for the winter term to study in the College Preparatory Program are Mr. Shimpei Oooka, a staff member here from TES and Mr. Takumi Inoue, who will be joining TES as a staff member in April.

We welcome new L.A. student Daniel Mercier to HTIC and congratulate the following students who have successfully completed the College Preparatory Program and are beginning their liberal arts studies this term: Yuuichi Ishioka, Haruka Ishiwata, Mariko Minami, Mayumi Mori, Koki Murakami, Ayana Oshima, Yuria Takahashi, Kento Takebayashi, Aine Takeuchi, and Shingo Uematsu.

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Graduating student Shoko Nakamura performed over 100 hours of community service during the Fall 2009 term, participating in over 35 volunteer projects with 13 different organizations including the Institute of Human Services, Bishop Museum, KAUPA, and the Special Olympics. Shoko’s activism has resulted in her becoming the first HTIC student to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award Bronze Medal.

The Presidential Service Award was established in 2003 by then President George W. Bush to encourage individuals and groups to work together in the community. As an award recipient, Shoko received a bronze lapel pin, certificate, and a congratulatory letter signed by President Barack Obama.

Shoko has donated her time and effort to improve the community and serves as an inspirational role model for all of us.

Congratulations Shoko, on your achievement!

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Fall term’s Student Presentation day kicked off with a presentation by SP 151 students in the form of a TV news broadcast covering Halloween, sports, and other items of interest. American literature students read and explained poems they had encountered in the course of the term. PSY 100 students were divided into four groups, each presenting a different Learning Theory. Among the topics covered were Classical Conditioning, Pavlov’s experiments, fear of public speaking, John B. Watson and his influence on modern advertising, B. F. Skinner and the idea of reinforcement, and Albert Bandura and his classic Bobo doll experiment. They were followed by Humanities 100 students who presented four important leaders in the struggle for Peace and Freedom: Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela.

Next, the ten students who took the Service Learning class (IS 192) this term spoke about their experiences volunteering. Whether they worked at the Humane Society cleaning cat cages and playing with the cats, assisted at the Contemporary Museum, participated in environmental clean ups, helped serve meals to the homeless, helped with after school programs, or worked as teacher's assistants, they testified to how they had broadened their experience and learned things they would not have learned in a classroom.

The final presentation, “You Cannot Not Communicate,” was offered by the students of COM 201. They shared with the audience what they had learned about the importance of tone of voice and facial expressions in communication. They explained the difference between High and Low Context communication, compared the courtship styles of humans and animals, and explained Interpersonal communication. There was also an entertaining introduction to communication in the subculture of gaming. Last was a look at the power of advertising to influence consumers, with a look specifically at cigarette advertisements.

Nice job, everybody!

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On Sunday November 8, 2009, members of the HTIC Running Club ran the Saucony Val Nolasco 1/2 Marathon. HTIC Running Club members Masato Ariga (President) and Kento Takebayashi, as well as HTIC Running Club advisors, Seleena Harkness and Rosalie Paradise, ran 13.1 miles from Kapiolani Park to Hawaii Kai and back.

Masato Ariga won a gold medal and prize for his 1st place finish in the men's category (ages 20 - 25) with a finishing time of 1:33:07. Kento Takebayashi placed 4th in the men's category (ages 15 - 19) with a finishing time of 1:55:23, and HTIC instructor Seleena Harkness won a bronze medal for her finish in the women's category (ages 25 - 29) with a finishing time of 1:41:46. Congratulations to all!

The top finishers' times were published in the sports sections of the Honolulu Advertiser and the Star-Bulletin on Monday, Nov. 9th.

Masato, Kento, and a small group of HTIC Running Club members will next run the Honolulu Marathon on December 13th. We invite the entire HTIC Learning Community to go out and cheer them on!

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The HTIC Learning Community celebrated Halloween with two events. First, students participated in the annual costume contest sponsored by Karen’s Katering. Chancellor Naoto Yoshikawa served as the judge for the top three prizes. The grand prize winner with the “most creative” costume was Starlee Datu-on, second place winner was Masato Ariga for the “scariest” costume, and the most “humorous” costume category was won by Ginga Yamamoto.

Eleven students were selected by Karen Yamaoka as “runners-up” and three staff members, Kumiko Yabe-Domingo, Mario Ness, and Mark Greene, were recognized for demonstrating their school spirit by dressing in costumes.

Special highlights of the costume contest were the musical performances by students Haruki Ishiwata, who graciously provided musical background music through the lunch period, Kazuto Okubo, and Kenshi Ichinomori. Pianists Haruki and Kazuto each played a duet with violinist Kenshi. A short impromptu piano interlude was also shared by TJ Guzzik.

The second event of the day was a fun evening activity organized by student government that included a talent show and games.

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On October 18, 2009, members of the HTIC Learning Community participated in the 15th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a fundraising 5K (3.1 mile) race organized to raise money for breast cancer research and education. The event was held in Kapiolani Park.

The HTIC race team was organized and led by Liberal Arts Associate Professor Seleena Harkness, who encouraged students, faculty, and staff to participate in the run and/or contribute monetary donations to the cause. HTIC commends Ms Harkness for organizing this HTIC team, as well as others in the Learning Community who participated by running in the race or by making contributions.

Special acknowledgement goes out to the two youngest members of the HTIC team, Core 1 College Prep student Yuta Nohara (a member of the HTIC Running Club) and Core 2 College Prep student Mai Furumasu. This was the first organized race and fundraising event for both students.

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Welcome everyone – students, faculty, and staff – to the FALL 2009 term! We hope everyone had an enjoyable summer whether it was spent here on campus or away on vacation.

A special ALOHA to students who are joining us for the first time this Fall. New Liberal Arts (A.A. degree) students are Whitney Amar, Thaddeus Joven Guznik, Douglas Haas, Brandon Oshiro, Chel’c Suenaga, and Sonomi Imagawa. Congratulations also go out to those students who are moving on from College Prep to the Liberal Arts program: Atsuto Matsumoto, Ryohei Tayama, and Yurie Yoshikawa. New students in the College Preparatory Program are "FEST" student Naofumi Takahashi, and from Tokai University in Hokkaido, Mikako Furukawa, Mikoto Takahashi, Manami Nakazaki, Shunseke Sasaki, and Megumi Yoshida.

We extend a warm welcome to new adjunct faculty members Bijun Huang and Ryan Koo, who are joining us for the first time this fall. We also welcome back returning adjunct instructors Jeanie Bouthillier, Lori Domingo, Nicole Ernst, Julianna Kay, Alan Lunt, Jeffrey Mead, Ryland Moore, Minori Murata, Teuta Rizaj, Greg Romano, James Salvail, Wayne Takazono, Robert Vaughan, and Supreeda Villareal.

Best wishes to everyone for a productive and enjoyable fall term full of exciting adventures in learning!

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On September 17, in the last week of the Summer Session II, HPER 151 instructor, Ms. Jamie Nakama (who also teaches ANTH 200), had her HTIC "Introduction to Capoeira" class give an end-of-term, on-campus demonstration of what they had learned in the class. Ms. Nakama's students amazed the audience with a highly energetic and exciting performance.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian blend of martial art, game, and dance created by enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 16th Century. In addition to cultivating agility and strength, capoeira can be described as a culturally rich, expressive art form. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, extensive use of groundwork, sweeps and kicks.

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In September, HTIC graduate Mr. Morgan Koyama, a native of Oregon, USA, completed his baccalaureate degree in International Studies at Tokai University.

It has been challenging for HTIC students who are not native speakers of Japanese to pursue baccalaureate degrees at Tokai University because the program in Japan is taught entirely in Japanese. Morgan, however, was able to master Japanese and become the first American student to earn degrees from both HTIC and Tokai University.

In 2008, HTIC began offering "Discover Japan," a chance to study Japanese at Tokai University while still enrolled at HTIC. Discover Japan was the first of the College's three "Discover East Asia" programs; the other two are "Discover China" and "Discover Korea." Students are now afforded the chance to study intensive Japanese, Chinese, or Korean in the country of their choice before graduating from HTIC.

As more and more HTIC students choose to go to Japan to partake in the Discover Japan program, we hope to see others follow in Morgan's footsteps.

Congratulations Morgan!

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On September 15, Professor Jeffrey Mead accompanied the Liberal Arts' students of his SPEECH 151 "Personal and Public Speech" class to the Hawaii Judiciary History Center at the Hawaii State Supreme Court.

Students visited Aliiolani Hale, home of the judicial branch of the Hawaii state government, which houses the Hawaii State Supreme Court, the Law Library and the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center. The students learned about traditional Hawaiian concepts of law and the development of a Western judicial system from Education Specialist, Mr. Keahe Davis.

As part of an "active learning" activity, students were divided into two groups and asked to participate in two short scripted mock-trials, entitled "Furious Riding" and "Oni vs. Meek." They also participated in a follow-up discussion. Each mock trial was based on authentic 19th century court cases.

With two of HTIC's learning outcomes in mind—effective oral communication and critical thinking—the Speech 151 students learned about the importance of rhetoric and public speech in the debate and discussion of law, policies, and the justice system. They also learned about the important role each individual serves in a courtroom situation.