The Kapi'o News

10/28/2025

Word on the Street: What was the scariest thing that happened to you this semester?

Find out in our new article!

By Vasilisa Nesterenko | Staff Writer Word on the Street: What was the scariest thing that happened to you this semester? Christine C.Age: 18Hometown: ʻAiea ...

10/24/2025

Happy Aloha Friday KCC ʻOhana!

Our campus is getting ready for Halloween! 🎃
Check out the Trick-or-Treat baskets at the Honda International Center and Maida Kamber Center.

Have a spooky weekend!

10/24/2025

Halloween is just a week away, and new staff writer Jack Duffy offers some recommendations for easy, cost-friendly DIY costumes.

Halloween costumes don't have to cost a ton of money. (Photo by Jack Duffy) By Jack Duffy | Staff Writer Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Halloween was a ...

10/22/2025

Voices & Views:

Sophia Ka is a first-year student at KCC majoring in Liberal Arts. Ka was born and raised in a small town in Wailuku located on the island of Maui. Her entire life she was homeschooled until she moved to O‘ahu in May 2025. Although growing up in Wailuku was peaceful, Ka finds a sense of belonging in the city of Honolulu.

“Because it was more in the countryside, there were lots of trees,” Ka said. “The most exciting thing in Maui was this trampoline park. I prefer it here because it’s more of a city thing.”

Furthermore, Ka had a lot of free time in Maui where she found a passion for arts and crafts.

“I love making DIY kits, exploring how things work like pens,” Ka said. “I fixed multiple broken pens before. I make origami and I mostly enjoy gaming.”

In the future, she is considering to become an engineer because of her love for curiosity. But for now, she likes to explore around the city with her friends and play games on Roblox.

“Roblox is truly fascinating to me,” Ka said. “When I’m talking about Roblox, I’m talking about how it’s not just one game. It’s about the hundreds and hundreds of creators and games on that platform.”

10/22/2025

On Oct. 10, the ʻOhana Produce Plus Food Distribution took place at KCC, giving students the opportunity to receive fresh food supplies provided by the Hawaiʻi Foodbank. The event, held once each semester, is organized by the Pohukiana Food Pantry.

That Friday, nine pallets of food were distributed to 220 households who signed up for the pickup. Volunteers also played a crucial role in making the event possible.

KCC students can also access other Basic Needs Support opportunities, such as the Produce Walk-In, free textbooks, gas cards, internet assistance, and bus passes for SNAP recipients.

The ʻOhana Produce Plus Food Distribution provided food for 220 households. (Photo by Vasilisa Nesterenko) By Vasilisa Nesterenko | Staff Writer On Oct. 10, ...

10/16/2025

Are you interested in getting into the filmmaking industry but don’t know where to start? If you live in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival is for you. Established in 1981, HIFF has been a safe space to showcase your talent through the big screen, making HIFF the only local place for an awards ceremony for filmmakers in Hawai‘i.

Even if you aren’t a filmmaker, Hawai’i International Film Festival offers an incredible experience for anyone who loves cinema. HIFF welcomes all who love not only creating and showcasing their passion but also ones who enjoy other people’s hard work and dedication towards their craft.

Here's five reasons why you should participate in the Hawai'i International Film Festival

10/14/2025

Voices & Views:

Blaire Aina is a 20-year-old student at KCC majoring in Liberal Arts. Born and raised in Colorado, Aina moved to Oʻahu in August 2023 seeking a fresh start in the new chapter of her life: college.

“I wanted to move away from Colorado to seek new opportunities and meet new people away from home,” said Aina, who is in her second semester at KCC.

She hopes to spread kindness and have a positive impact on people’s lives to everyone she meets as an aspiring social worker.

“I want to help people, and I understand how difficult it is to not have any resources to reach out to,” she said. “It feels like not a lot of social workers really want to put in the effort, and I wanna be one of those people who does.”

Aina strongly believes that social work is needed around the world. Eventually, she wants to work internationally after retrieving her bachelor’s degree at UH Mānoa in Social Work.

(Photo by Brooke Beltran) By Brooke Beltran | Staff Writer Blaire Aina is a 20-year-old student at KCC majoring in Liberal Arts. Born and raised in Colorado ...

10/03/2025

A year ago, I moved to Hawai‘i. As it was my first time here, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was excited to learn as much as I could.

New staff writer Vasilisa Nersterenko is from Moscow, Russia. It’s about 7,000 miles from Honolulu, or roughly a 30-hour flight with 3 layovers. Essentially, her hometown is on the other side of the world. This journey challenged her in many ways.

Living in Hawai‘i as a foreigner is a unique experience, both charming and surprising. In this post, you’ll see island culture through the eyes of a newcomer and maybe discover something new for yourself.

By Vasilisa Nesterenko | Staff Writer A year ago, I moved to Hawai‘i. As it was my first time here, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was excited to learn ...

09/29/2025

Voices & Views:

Jose Orioste is a first-year student at Kapiʻolani Community College who lives in Pearl City. He is 20 years old and is currently completing prerequisites for the Radiologic Technology program.

Having growing up on the island, Orioste appreciates the lifestyle in Hawaiʻi. “Food, people, beach, community,” he said, are what make living here truly unique. He added that people in Hawaiʻi “help each other out,” which makes him cherish the island even more.

Looking ahead, Orioste hopes to work in the medical field and follow in the footsteps of his mother, a nurse at a local hospital, who inspired him to pursue a career in healthcare. Some classes, especially microbiology, are quite challenging. Even so, he enjoys his studies, and his passion for technology keeps him motivated.

As for his look, he bought the hoodie at H&M because it had ramen on it. He loves that dish.

(Photo by Vasilisa Nesterenko) By Vasilisa Nesterenko Staff Writer Jose Orioste is a first-year student at KCC who lives in Pearl City. He is 20 years old a ...

09/26/2025

Want a free water bottle? Join our giveaway! Details are at the end of this post ⬇️⠀

Aloha KCC students! 🌺⠀

Meet the Kapiʻo News team. We give a voice to students on campus by sharing news, stories, and everything that matters to our community.⠀

To thank you for your support, we’re giving away a Kapiʻo News water bottle! 💧✨⠀

**How to enter:**⠀
1️⃣ Follow ⠀
2️⃣ Repost this post to your story⠀
3️⃣ Tag us so we can see it⠀

We’ll randomly choose a winner on October 9. Good luck! 🍀

05/15/2025

I joined Bryan Mayer on a Friday afternoon last month to talk about meat. In 2004, Mayer co-developed the Fleisher’s Craft Butchery training program in New York, pushing the craft butchery movement of the early 2000s into the mainstream.

At 52, two decades after his career as a butcher took off, Mayer is ready to bring his expertise to the Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP). Half way through his current 89-day contract as an education specialist, Mayer has already proven to be an asset to the department. His expertise contributes to Roy Yamaguchi’s vision of making CIP a world class culinary institution, and he fosters a connection to Hawaiʻi’s agricultural industry that wasn’t there before.

At 52, two decades after his career as a butcher took off, Bryan Mayer is ready to bring his expertise to the Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP). Half ...