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Hawaii Tokai International College proudly announces the establishment of the Beta Sigma Omicron Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. The society was established in 1918 to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming." The society was recognized in 1929 by the American Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for junior colleges.
With more than two million members and 1,200 chapters nationally and internationally, Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education.
Faculty advisors for the Beta Sigma Omicron Chapter are Dr. Toake Endoh and Ms. Seleena Harkness. HTIC student Sonomi Imagawa was the catalyst for HTICs establishment of the society and with Satsuki Akiyama, Douglas Haas, Ken Hamanaka, Junichi Hashimoto, Hui Li, Kazuto Miyajima, Yaeko Okano, Kazuma Okubo, Mao Satoh, and Narumi Sugimura, will be a founding member of the chapter.
A special chartering and induction ceremony was held on Friday, June 19 at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Regional Phi Theta Kappa headquarters representative, Mr. Lance Uyeda, attended the ceremony.
Spring terms Student Presentation Day gave us the opportunity to observe nine very different presentations. Jeffrey Meads Speech 151 students presented a series of news announcements about events that included the recent signing ceremony for a proclamation by Honolulus mayor declaring March 5, 2010, to be the official 150th Anniversary of the First Japanese Embassy arrival in Honolulu; the Moonlight Party for HTIC students, which featured dancing and games; information about the services available from Student Services, including introduction of our new staff members, Masami Konrai and Shannon Mark; an interview with Loraine Koenig about the new CP reading lab, which takes place in the library; and an introduction to Mongolia by Monsy, our new student from Mongolia.
The newscast was followed by the thirteen students enrolled in David Odhiambos Creative Writing course, who read original and highly evocative poems they had written for the class under his guidance. Toake Endohs thirteen Political Science students made presentations about hard power and soft power in international relations. Sonomi Imagawa told us about her experience as a volunteer at the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council while enrolled in the Service Learning course, IS 192, and Matthew Ogawa demonstrated his mastery of Japanese in a short presentation about his experience studying for one term in Japan as part of the Discover Japan Program.
Deanna Maddens World Literature I students gave presentations about some of the literature covered in their class from Ancient Greece, China, India, and Europe in the Middle Ages. Orlando Garcia-Santiagos Sociology students made two presentations, one on binge drinking among college students in the U.S. and another on Corporate Tourism and the Degradation of Hawaiian Culture. Robert Hollidays Psychology of Adjustment class presented a combination of PowerPoint and short skits to explain eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and substance abuse, and suicide. Freshman Experience students in Seleena Harknesss Humanities 100 concluded the event with presentations on two literary works read for their class, Amy Tans Joy Luck Club and the Mideastern story of two star-crossed lovers, Layla and Majnun.
The International Programs Department of HTIC will be hosting its second annual China study program this summer, July 19 August 16, 2010. This 4-week intensive study program is customized for Chinese college students interested in an American College experience.
In addition to receiving the opportunity to improve English reading, writing, and oral communication skills at an accredited American College, Chinese student participants will join language exchanges with local college students, experience the beauty and history of the Hawaiian host culture by going on organized field trips on Oahu and Maui, learn Hawaiian dance (hula) and other Polynesian dances and music, and finally, for those who so choose, be given the opportunity to live with a local family as a part of a short home stay experience (additional fees apply).
The deadline to apply for this program is May 31, 2010. The cost is $3000.00 per person, which includes tuition, airport and field trip transportations, meals, dorm room accommodation, and admission to organized field trips.
For more information, please contact Lydia Shepherd at lshepher@tokai.edu.
The Alumni Association (Hakuo-kai) of Tokai University Educational System (TES) invites all TES and HTIC alumni living on Oahu to an Alumni Reception to be held on the evening of May 27, 2010 at the Tokai University Pacific Center.
Date and Time: Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Venue: Hawaii Tokai International College (19th floor), 2241 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI.
Please RSVP by 6:00 PM on May 25th.
For more information and to RSVP for the event, please call Mr. Koji "Jet" Nakamura at 983-4155.
Koji "Jet" Nakamura, TES Liaison Officer, HTIC
E-mail: hiat.tokaiuniv@gmail.com
Tel. 808-983-4155
HTIC held the first meeting of its new Polynesian Club on April 19th from 4:30 5:30 p.m. Twenty-three male and female HTIC students participated. The club, under the direction of local hula instructor Tammy Silva, focuses on learning the dances, language and culture of Hawaii, but will also incorporate elements from many other Polynesian islands.
Members of the club will be encouraged to attend local hula performances to broaden their awareness of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture.
The club is free to all HTIC students, meets Monday nights from 4:30 5:30 p.m., and requires no experience or special attire to join.
The university football team known as the "Tritons" from Tokai Universitys Shonan campus in Kanagawa, Japan, visited Hawaii Tokai from March 8-14, 2010. The camp was hosted by HTIC, the Pacific Island Athletic Alliance (PIAA), and UH Manoa.
The Tritons spent mornings practicing football rudiments and combined training at UH Manoa with local coaches. They then spent afternoons visiting local attractions and learning the haka.
The teams cheerleading squad also trained at UH Manoa and learned hula at HTIC. The group garnered attention from the local press and were featured in an article in the "Honolulu Advertiser."
A judo group from the All Japan University Judo Federation visited Hawaii Tokai International College from March 5th to March 8th. The group held practices at HTICs facilities, but the highlight of their trip was hosting a free clinic with local judo-ka on March 6th. The clinic was a big success with nearly 100 people attending. Former world and Japanese national champions Hiroshi Minatoya and Kazue Nanjo provided instruction to the attendees.
Student Presentation day for Winter term 2010 was held on March 17. Presentations began with a vodcast by Jeffrey Meads Speech 151(Personal and Public Speech) entitled "Hawaii Tokai News Special Report: Japanese Embassy Visits Hawaii in 1860." Following the vodcast, the class presented a certificate from State government officials to Chancellor Yoshikawa commemorating the historic visit by the first Japanese Embassy to Hawaii 150 years ago.
Other presentations included readings by British Literature students of famous speeches from Hamlet; Humanities 100 students presenting what they had learned about "Coming of Age," their theme for the term; IS 192 students reporting their experiences in Volunteer Service Learning; and Political Science 222 students presenting how Japan viewed the arrival of Western black ships in the 19th century and the shoguns decision to open Japan to more trade with the West. Students in HIST 209 (East Asian Civilizations I) told the audience about "Family Life in East Asian History, ca. 1000-1500 CE," and "Buddhism in East Asia, Pre-1800 CE," and Japanese 102 students showed a video they had made in Japanese with English subtitles that told a tale of their efforts to track down the culprit who had murdered their teacher.
The day culminated in a presentation by the Chorus class, including solo performances, songs sung in Hawaiian, and a medley of songs from the 60s. It made a resounding climax to the days presentations.
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.
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. Shokos activism has resulted in her becoming the first HTIC student to receive the Presidents 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!
Fall terms 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, Pavlovs 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!
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!
The HTIC Learning Community celebrated Halloween with two events. First, students participated in the annual costume contest sponsored by Karens 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.
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.
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, Chelc 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!
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.
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!
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 mindeffective oral communication and critical thinkingthe 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.
MUSIC 106 "Introduction to Music Literature" instructor, Dr. Sun Hee Koo, accompanied her class to the music department of UH Mānoa in September 2009 in support of HTIC's goal to promote cross-cultural awareness among its student body. The music literature students were introduced to the instruments of the Indonesian Javanese gamelan culture and learned to play a short musical piece of Javanese origin on three different types of gamelan instruments. At the end of this activity, HTIC students were able to create an ensemble sound while playing a short Javanese melody.
The second part of the field trip was devoted to an introduction to the UH Music Department's world music collection. Dr. Koo introduced her students to the collection of various world instruments stored in the UH music department. This experience offered students a chance to gain a relativistic view toward cross-cultural differences and awareness of diverse global music scenes.
Dr Robert Arakaki gave students of his Religion 150 "Introduction to the Worlds Major Religions" class a chance to experience some of the major religions of the world first-hand during the 2009 Summer Session.
The class embarked on a number of course-related fieldtrips, which included visits to the Temple Emmanu-El to learn about Jewish beliefs and worship by seeing a Jewish synagogue and its artifacts; 
the Greek Orthodox Church (Eastern Orthodox) and Central Union Church (Protestant) to experience the diversity of Christian churches by contrasting Eastern Orthodox Christianity with Protestant Christianity; the Hare Krishna Temple to experience Hinduism by visiting one of its temples, taking part in a music demonstration, and eating a vegetarian meal; Honpa Hongwanji (Mahayana) and the Lao Buddhists Society (Theravada) to experience diversity of Buddhist temples and compare Mahayana Buddhism with Theravada Buddhism; and finally, to the Ulupo Heiau, an ancient site for Hawaiian worship to experience the spirituality of the aina and learn about Kane and Kanaloa.
In September 2009, Dr. Rob Vaughan took the students of his HIST 284 "History of the Hawaiian Islands" class on a fieldtrip to four sites that are representative of the Hawaiian cultural history of the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s.
The trip began with a driving tour from HTIC through urban Honolulu and up through The Nu`uanu Valley. Along the way students were shown where significant events in Hawaiian history had taken place and place names were explained. At Kaniakapupu, King Kamehameha IIIs Summer House in the Nu`uanu Valley, the students explored the ruins of the home and the surrounding grounds, including the ruins of a heiau.
At the Pali Overlook, students visited the site of the climax of the Battle of Nu`uanu where the army of King Kamehameha the Great defeated the Oahu defenders, uniting the Islands under one ruler for the first time.
At Waikalua Loko in Kane`ohe students explored the partially restored Hawaiian fishpond. This gave students a good feel about what a Native Hawaiian ahupua`a looked like in the time before Western contact.
Before going back to the campus, the group made a final stop at Waiola Shave Ice in McCully for a cold treat. Here they encountered a delicious example of local culture, one that grew out of Hawai`is plantation experience and the influx of Japanese immigrants.
The fieldtrip provided students with an up-close experience of Hawaiian history by allowing them to explore the actual sites where some of the most important events and cultural activities took place.
On Wednesday August 19th, the Level 2/Core 2 class of HTICs College Preparatory program visited the traditional Hawaiian fishpond, Paepae O Heeia, which is located in Kaneohe on the windward side of Oahu. Paepae O Heeia is 600 to 800 years old and was utilized to feed the Hawaiian Alii (royalty) of old. It continues to be utilized as a food source today.
The Core 2 students were first given a tour of the pond where they learned about its history and function. They were then given the chance to put their hands and feet in the ancient pond as a part of a service learning project.
Finally, the students were tasked with a scavenger hunt as a part of their College Preparatory study. The College Prep Program is the Colleges academic English program that prepares international students for entry into HTICs Associate of Arts degree program.
All in all, the field trip was a very educational experience for the students; it provided a wonderful opportunity for them to gain a true appreciation for Hawaiian culture.
The Second Annual HTIC Talent Show was held on Friday, August 14. Although the number of intrepid student contestants was small, the talent demonstrated was huge. College Prep student Koki Murakami from Japan impressed everyone with his skillful rapping, nimbly done in perfectly pronounced English. Next, the HTIC community was enthralled by a graceful, exotic, and mesmerizing belly dance by Tessy (Zhang Kaipei), a Chinese student from Shenzhen University participating in a course of study organized by HTICs International Programs. Demonstrating an interest in his ancestral roots, Liberal Arts student Travis Harada offered his rendition of Shima Uta on the shamisen, a traditional Japanese/Okinawan instrument he began studying a short time ago. The final offering was a fierce but fun New Zealand Haka performed by Liberal Arts student Nicholas Medeiros, a student of Hawaiian martial arts, who got the cafeteria rocking.
Special thanks to the very excellent emcee, Natsuka Koizumi, and to faculty members Seleena Harkness, vocalist, and Danilo Marrone, guitarist, who closed the program by sharing their musical talents in a beautiful rendition of Gershwins Summertime, from the opera Porgy and Bess.
After completing his Associate in Arts degree at HTIC in Winter 2002, alumnus Eisaku Kondo returned to Japan to complete his studies at Tokai Universitys Shonan campus. A student of HTIC Chancellor Naoto Yoshikawa, Eisaku majored in International Relations, studying the subject at HTIC and then at Shonan when Dr. Yoshikawa left HTIC to join the faculty there in Spring 2002.
Since graduating from Tokai University, Eisaku has successfully worked as a sales representative for Bayer Health Care, selling pharmaceuticals to hospitals in Japan.
He credits his time at HTIC with helping him develop the interpersonal communication skills and confidence that have made him successful at his job as a salesperson. He hopes, in time, to run for political office. Eisaku is certain that the knowledge and skills gained here as an international student and from the political science classes on government taken from Chancellor Yoshikawa will serve him well as he pursues that dream.
To relax Eisaku likes to ride his motorbike and travel coming to Hawaii yearly and stopping by at HTIC to say hello.
On July 27, HTICs International Programs department welcomes student participants from China for the 1st Annual Shenzhen University Summer English Program. The program's Opening Ceremony is scheduled for July 28 in the Glen Grant Theater and a welcoming BBQ will be held on August 1st at the Ala Moana Beach Park to bring the entire HTIC international community together for food, fun, and friendship.
The Shenzhen University Summer English Program is an intensive 4-week study opportunity. The program participants, all from Shenzhen China, will study Advanced English Conversation, English Reading and Writing, American History & Culture, and Public Speaking. The focus of this study program is to increase English language skills while promoting cross-cultural awareness and critical thinking. The program allows participants to experience college life in America.
The Shenzhen University Summer English Program participants will tour local cultural and historical landmarks, such as the Hawaiis Plantation Village and Pearl Harbor, and receive special academic lectures regarding immigration to Hawaii and international relations. Participants will experience the unique multi-ethnic culture Hawaii has to offer.
The HTIC Learning Community extends a warm welcome to the Shenzhen University Program participants and looks forward to the forging of new cross-cultural friendships!