Author: Sarah Hendrix

Christopher Sales

Christopher Sales, 19, is currently a Liberal Arts major at KCC in his second year. Sales is hoping to get into the nursing program at KCC but still needs to finish up a course in zoology this summer to complete all of the necessary prerequisites.

Sales ultimately wants to finish his degree at UH Mānoa because he believes that a 4-year degree will look more appealing to hospitals. He has wanted to be a nurse since his freshman year in high school and would love to be employed by Kuakini Medical Center or Lē‘ahi Hospital in the future.

When Sales has spare time he enjoys playing games on his phone and drawing.

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Alexis Tolentino

Alexis Tolentino, 19, was born and raised in Kapahulu. She is currently enrolled in Liberal Arts at KCC but has plans to go into nursing. After this semester finishes, Tolentino plans to go to Las Vegas and attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). After graduating high school Tolentino’s first choice was to attend UNLV, but she decided to come to KCC for her first year to ease her transition into college.

When Tolentino is not in school she is a musician by trade. She enjoys freelancing with a group of musicians in local places around Oʻahu and throughout the other islands.

“I actually play more traditional instruments, like ukulele, base, stick guitar, stuff like that,” Tolentino said. “… I’ve played pretty much all of Waikīkī and the outer islands at different festivals.”

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Eri Kitaji

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.

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Voices & Views

  • Voices & Views: Alyssa LaiVoices & Views: Alyssa Lai
    Alyssa Lai is a 32-year-old who graduated with an associates degree in Hospitality & Tourism from Kapiʻolani Community College last Friday at Commencement. Lai attended Hawai‘i Pacific University in 2010 then dropped out due to difficulties in balancing work with school. She had been working full time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lai decided to return to her education. "I needed something I was accomplishing for myself," said Lai. "During COVID, I didn't have anything, and that kind of scared me." She enjoyed her experience at the college, finding that the support of faculty, staff, and classmates helped her to succeed at college while working full time at Hilton Grand Vacations. "It was a long journey, but ... I got back on track," said Lai. Lai is of Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Portugese, and Korean heritage. She brought to Commencement a decorated cap highlighting her status as an indigenous woman with a degree, as her heritage was important to her, and she felt pride in being the first graduate of her family. "Joining KCC, I was able to connect more with my Native Hawaiian culture," said Lai. "I connected with the Hoʻopika Program just to understand more of my indigenous culture."

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