Chancellor's Corner

A Very Large Mahalo
On this bright and beautiful Friday morning in March, I want to take this opportunity to say a tremendous thank you to several of our campus community members that shepherded our campus through last night’s tsunami warning. My sincere and deep mahalo goes out to Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services Gary Nitta who came to campus about 10 pm and stayed until about 8 am today to make sure evacuees who came
here were safe and secure. Assisting him were Pat Watase and campus security. Pat came in to assist Gary and stayed until morning. I apologize for not knowing who from security was on duty but that makes my thanks no less sincere! Also, Vice Chancellor for Student Services Earl Nishiguchi sent an email to all of our students and posted signs on campus informing them of the campus closure today. Faculty members Brian Yamamoto and Dennis Chun made sure that all of our exchange students from Toyama, Japan were evacuated quickly and effectively. Dennis hosted them in his home until they could return to their hotel rooms this morning.

We were fortunate that this event did not have any dire consequences for us here on Kaua‘i, but it could have, and the way in which our team worked together was outstanding. Interestingly enough, just yesterday we had a tabletalk exercise to practice how we would handle a campus emergency. It was gratifying both then and in the situation last night to see how KCC employees are willing to pull together, remain calm and do what needs to be done. Our response, coupled with the work done at the county and state level was effective.

I look forward to having the campus open again tomorrow, and I encourage us all to keep in our thoughts and prayers all those in Japan whose lives have been impacted.

Students from Toyama Lend a Helping Hand

The inaugural group of students from Toyama National College of Marine Technology visited Hawaii last March. As students who study modern navigation techniques they were stumped when asked the question, "So what is navigation?" by KCC professor Dennis Chun. With all the computers and precise instrumentation on modern ships, it wasn't a concept they had ever separated from those tools. The students spent time learning Polynesian Navigation, Hawaiian culture, and English. Among their many activities was helping with KCC's outrigger canoe project, interacting with various KCC students and organizations, and learning alongside others on the Big Island.

This March, we'll greet the next group of students from Toyama NCMT.　 お楽しみに。

Students from Toyama National College of Marine Technology, March 2010

Helping with the lashings

Taking a well deserved break

Outdoor lecture

Outing on Hawaii island

For more information about the agreement that made this possible, see the October post of the Chancellor's Corner.

Posted by:
Esther Miller
Photos by Dennis Chun

Chancellor's Corner

It's been another exciting week for KCC.  Some highlights:

1. We've been joined by our new Electronics instructor, Shirong Du.  Shirong comes to us from China via Mississippi.  Please help welcome him, his wife and young child to our ohana.
2. We had a visit from Masahiro Sugimoto, Teacher and First Engineer of the training ship Oshima-maru from Oshima National College of Maritime Technology, who is working with us to set up a partnership. We already have two student group visits from other Japanese institutions planned--one in February from Okinawan Christian University and the other in March from Toyama Maritime Institute.
3. Glenn Hontz's Community Garden Program received a donation of $900 from the Rotary Club.

And these are just a few of the great things going on around here this week!

Chancellor's Corner

This week the College has been involved in two exciting events that speak directly to two areas on which we've chosen to focus.

Internationalization

On October 12, 2009, Toyama National College of Maritime Technology and Kaua'i Community College signed an educational agreement to work together in ways that will be beneficial to both institutions. As the first project in this agreement, Toyama maritime students will come to Kaua'i CC to study Polynesian Navigation, Hawaiian culture, and English. A part of Toyama College's curriculum is studying modern navigation techniques. Intrigued by how Polynesians were able to navigate vast distances throughout the Pacific without the aide of modern navigation equipment, Toyama College students are eager to learn the treasured art of Polynesian navigation and voyaging. Dennis Chun (Instructor, Kaua'i CC) and Tomoki Oku (Associate Professor of Maritime Technology, Toyama College) are developing a program of study.

Sustainability

In partnership with the Kaua'i County Farm Bureau, KCC launched a new Community Market that includes Garden Island-grown fruits and vegetables, plus prepared foods and products made from local ingredients. Beginning this past Saturday, the 10th, the market will run weekly on the campus from 10-1. The market will also feature demonstrations and information about KCC programs. The market is envisioned as a central gathering place where neighbors can shop for food from the garden, enjoy delicious local foods, "talk story," learn more ways to cook and grow local ingredients, and connect directly with farmers from around the island on a regular basis.

Although the market launch was soggy, the turnout was good, and the Culinary students, along with Steve Nakata and Mark Oyama, did a terrific demonstration of cooking with local ingredients! Glenn Hontz and Kelly Ball were also on hand to give KCC garden tours and sell starts and garden produce. Other vendors included Hanalei Taro & Juice Co., fried green tomatoes and foods from the garden from Kaua'i Fruit & Flower Co., and a selection of fresh produce, cut flowers, plant starts, and value-added farm based products such as Moloa'a Bay Coffee and Kunana goat cheese.

We hope this weekend will be drier, but regardless, the market will go on!