Kapiolani Community College
Encyclopedia
Kapiolani Community College, formerly Kapiolani Technical School, is a public, co-educational commuter college
in Honolulu, Hawaii
situated on the slopes of Diamond Head
in Waikīkī
. It is one of ten branches of the University of Hawaii system
anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
.
in the Makiki community, Kapiolani Community College was established in 1946 as Kapiolani Technical College. The school was administered by the Territory of Hawaii
as one of its chief vocational schools, specializing in food service. In 1965, its curricula was modified and became an open-door public college administered by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. As part of the realignment of programs, the school adopted its current name.
. Kapiolani Community College opened its second campus at Fort Ruger
, the only college in the University of Hawaii system to have two campuses of its own. The Board of Regents then agreed to move with a complete transfer of programs to the Fort Ruger campus and close the Makiki campus. Kapiolani Community College finally completed the transfer in the late 1980s.
technique. In 1986, Kapiolani Community College's respiratory care program won a national award as an outstanding vocational education program. Also in the late 1980s, Gallaudet University Regional Center
opened at the Fort Ruger campus.
, Sam Choy
, and Wayne Hirabayashi, cofounders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Other notable alumni are Alan Tsuchiyama of Sheraton Waikīkī.
The school is working on expanding the curriculum to include such classes as culinology
and perhaps a Bachelor's in Applied Sciences.
Also of interest:
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
situated on the slopes of Diamond Head
Diamond Head, Hawaii
Diamond Head is the name of a volcanic tuff cone on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and known to Hawaiians as Lēahi, most likely from lae 'browridge, promontory' plus ahi 'tuna' because the shape of the ridgeline resembles the shape of a tuna's dorsal fin...
in Waikīkī
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
. It is one of ten branches of the University of Hawaii system
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
.
Academics
Kapiolani Community College is primarily a vocational school with technical, occupational and professional programs in business education, food service and hospitality education, and nursing. Nationally, Kapiolani Community College has been recognized for its programs in health sciences and education for emergency medical services. Locally, KCC is well known for its culinary program. Other students attend Kapiolani Community College as a starting point before moving on to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa to complete a bachelor's degree. Of all the community colleges in the University of Hawaii System, KCC has the largest liberal arts student body with over 4,500 students enrolled annually. The campus also attracts students from Asia such as Japan, Hong Kong and Korea because of its proximity to the Mānoa campus as well as Waikiki. It is also a leading community college campus in Hawaii for business education programs such as information technology, accounting and marketing.Establishment
Originally located at Pensacola Street and Kapiolani Boulevard (from which the school gets its name), adjacent to President William McKinley High SchoolPresident William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School, more commonly referred to as McKinley High School, is a public, co-educational college preparatory high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education and serves grades nine through twelve...
in the Makiki community, Kapiolani Community College was established in 1946 as Kapiolani Technical College. The school was administered by the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
as one of its chief vocational schools, specializing in food service. In 1965, its curricula was modified and became an open-door public college administered by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. As part of the realignment of programs, the school adopted its current name.
Expansion
Kapiolani Community College experienced rapid growth in the 1970s and in need of new, larger facilities. In 1974, the Board of Regents acquired a 52 acre (210,000 m²) parcel of land on the slopes of Diamond Head in Waikīkī, formerly owned by the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Kapiolani Community College opened its second campus at Fort Ruger
Fort Ruger
Fort Ruger is a fort on the island of Oahu that served as the first military reservation in the Territory of Hawaii. Named after Civil War General Thomas H...
, the only college in the University of Hawaii system to have two campuses of its own. The Board of Regents then agreed to move with a complete transfer of programs to the Fort Ruger campus and close the Makiki campus. Kapiolani Community College finally completed the transfer in the late 1980s.
National acclaim
Kapiolani Community College gained national attention in 1976 when radiology instructors Roland Clements and Harry Nakayama developed a new hip x-rayX-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
technique. In 1986, Kapiolani Community College's respiratory care program won a national award as an outstanding vocational education program. Also in the late 1980s, Gallaudet University Regional Center
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
opened at the Fort Ruger campus.
Recent developments
Kapiolani Community College is currently in the process of establishing the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, already challenging other notable culinary schools in the world to provide quality talent. Among the alumni of this program are Alan WongAlan Wong
Alan Wong is a chef and restaurateur known as one of 12 cofounders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. They came together to form an organization to create a new American regional cuisine, highlighting Hawaii's locally grown ingredients and diverse ethnic styles...
, Sam Choy
Sam Choy
Sam Choy is a chef, restaurateur, and television personality known as a founding contributor of "Pacific rim cuisine". Choy is an alumnus of the Kapiolani Community College Culinary Arts program. One of his first jobs as a chef was at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City...
, and Wayne Hirabayashi, cofounders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Other notable alumni are Alan Tsuchiyama of Sheraton Waikīkī.
The school is working on expanding the curriculum to include such classes as culinology
Culinology
Culinology is an approach to food that blends the culinary arts, food science, and food technology. Through the blending of these disciplines, culinology seeks to make food taste better—whether purchased in a supermarket or eaten in a restaurant. Culinology also seeks to make food more consistent...
and perhaps a Bachelor's in Applied Sciences.
Points of interest
Campus art includes:- Spirit Way, bronze sculpture by Sean K. L. BrowneSean K. L. BrowneSean Kekamakupaa Lee Loy Browne is a contemporary sculptor who was born in Hilo, Hawaii. He attended the Kamehameha Schools and then earned a BA in studio art from the University of Redlands in 1975. In 1981, he studied marble carving under Paoli Silverio in Pietrasanta, Italy and was later...
, 1987 - Pohaku O Leahi, ceramic sculpture with water feature by Lucille B. Cooper, 1994
- Hawaii, Hawaii, faceted glass mural by Erica Karawina, 1988
- Mai Ka Mea Hana Ka Ike (From Tools, Comes Knowledge), basalt sculpture by Mark WatsonMark Watson (sculptor)Mark Watson is an American sculptor who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1949. His father Charles W. Watson is also a Hawaii-based sculptor. Mark Watson’s sculptures in public places include:...
, 1988 - Sol III, fiberglassFiberglassGlass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
and steel sculpture by Mamoru SatoMamoru SatoMamoru Sato is an American modernist sculptor. He was born in El Paso, Texas in 1937. He initially majored in aeronautical engineering but switched to art, receiving a BA in fine art in 1963 and an MFA in sculpture in 1965, both from the University of Colorado. He came to Hawaii in 1965 to teach...
, 1973
Also of interest:
- Kapiolani Community College Cactus GardenKapiolani Community College Cactus GardenThe Kapiolani Community College Cactus Garden is a small botanical garden specializing in cactus. It is located on the Kapiolani Community College campus, near Parking Lot C, at 4303 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, Hawaii...