Author: Katlin Cilliers

Sally Watanabe is originally from Yamaguchi, Japan. Her intended major is Hospitality and Tourism, but she has recently changed her plans of working in the field and instead, wants to go back to Japan and teach English. “I wanna improve my English skill first,” said Watanabe.

Currently, her favorite hospitality class is HOSP 168, as she likes the professor. In that class, students sometimes go out to Waikiki or Downtown and simulate guided tours.

She is passionate about volunteering: last week she went to Los Angeles to participate in a conference that aimed to strengthen the relationship between Japan and the United States.

Richard Balancio moved to Hawai’i from Los Angeles, California when he was a teenager. Shortly after, he started paddling and that has been his passion ever since. He is currently a member of the Lōkahi Canoe club. He is transferring to UH Mānoa soon and intends to pursue a degree in either Art History or Fine Art.

“Let’s see. I’m still not sure. I’m still going to school,“ said Balancio.

24-year-old Anaseini Kauvaka is originally from Hilo, Hawai’i. She received her associate’s degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant last summer, but still comes over to campus to study for her license exam, which is coming up next month. She says that, although some parts of the test are hard, “as long as you know the rationales of the test, you are good.”

She is focused on getting lots of test practice at the moment, and hopes to pass the 200-question exam so she can do fieldwork as an Occupational Therapist. Her aim is to work with rehab within the elderly population.