By Gavin Arucan | Staff Writer

Tuesday marked the release date of the Spring 2017 editions of the Lēʻahi Creative Arts Journal and the Ka Hue Anahā Journal of Academic & Research Writing. Both journals feature writing and art created by students in a wide range of classes at KCC.

While the Lēʻahi Journal focuses on creative literature and works such as narrative essays and paintings, Ka Hue Anahā shares mainly research and academic papers.

Jordan Umeno, the chairperson of KCC’s Board of Student Publications, which is responsible for publishing the journals, said that BOSP wanted the journals to be a “cross-curriculum kind of thing. We didn’t want it to be just photography or just painting or just straight scientific research, but something that encompasses everything that has been produced at KCC academically.”

KCC student Elizabeth Conlon shares an excerpt from her English 100 Research Paper, “The ‘Pono Choices’ Sex Education Curriculum Does Not Cover Enough.” (Photo by Gavin Arucan)

“[The journals] help students grow accustomed to being published and the whole process of submitting your work and having to edit it when needed,” Umeno said.

Students with works published in the journals gathered in the ʻIliahi building to celebrate the release of the journals and to share their now published works with each other. Several students authors read their works aloud and shared valuable insight as to what inspired their writing or art. Their voices also brought the written words to life for a richer experience.

KCC student Zach Money had his artwork from Art 113 Introduction to Drawing published in the Lēʻahi Journal.

“I feel pretty good about [getting published],” he said. “I didn’t even know I would be. My teacher just kept [my drawing] and she said it might be in the art show, and I got an email that it was getting published in [the Lēʻahi Journal]. I actually found out on my birthday; I thought that was pretty cool.”

Money’s drawing, dubbed “Awaken,” is a still life drawing of various objects that were set up for the drawing assignment.

“It’s an accumulation of everything I learned that semester,” Money said. “I tried to really capture the shadows in it.”

Both the Lēʻahi Journal and Ka Hue Anahā Journal are now available to the public and can be found in the lobby of the Kalia building, Lama Library, and the Koa Art Gallery.