Month: April 2018

Eri Kitaji, 19, is originally from Osaka, Japan. Kitaji is having a difficult time deciding what she wants to study in school, so she has decided to get her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts. In the future, Kitaji wants to continue her education at UH Mānoa once she figures out an area of study that she is passionate about. Currently, she is taking a botany class, which has been her favorite class so far at KCC.

“Because I like natural science and I really like plants. So the class has been really interesting to me,” Kitaji said.

Since being in Hawaiʻi, Kitaji has loved the friendliness of the people she has met. She has hiked Diamond Head, tried snorkeling and really enjoys going to the beach.

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.

Takanori Yoshikawa, a 21-year old aspiring director, is in his fifth semester at KCC and is working towards a BA in Creative Media from UH Mānoa.

“Before [here], I lived in Cleveland, Ohio, but everything was new and confusing,” Takanori said. “I wanted to transfer to somewhere I know, and I had been to Hawai′i so many times for vacation, so I thought Hawai′i was the best for me.”

Takanori is from Tokyo, Japan and has lived in Honolulu for almost three years. He spends his free time studying, golfing with friends and watching movies; his favorite movies are “Disturbia” and “Shutter Island.”  Takanori also goes to the gym regularly, and he likes to play soccer but, he hasn’t found a place to play.

“My name, in a way, means leadership,” Takanori said. “I think that being a director is like being a leader.”