Cool College Classes Come To The Country
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Del.icio.usHigher education has just stuck its foot in the door in Waimanalo, following a year of planning between Windward Community College and area residents.
The WCC’s Waimanalo Extension Project began June 8 with two non-credit evening classes at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.
“The classes are non-threatening and they’re free,” explained Lui Hokoana, WCC’s vice chancellor of student affairs (who also grew up on Hawaiian homestead land).
The classes - Introduction to Garage Band (a software program for creating music) with Renee Arakaki, and Introduction to College with Winston Kong - have about 15 students total, and in three weeks the next session will begin at Waimanalo Elementary School with all-new students. Fall semester will take the next step and offer credit courses with tuition in Hawaiian Studies 107 and Hawaiian Language 101.
Residents tell Hokoana the Kaneohe campus is “too far away for them,” which may be one reason why Waimanalo’s native Hawaiian population is very under-represented at WCC. In response to that, Hokoana said the new classes are a natural bridge from the school’s May 30 college expo at Waimanalo Quarry, which drew an estimated 300 interested residents.
The music class has a very broad spectrum of students, he said, from age 11 to age 70. “It’s a nice, intergenerational environment. For example, when they were asked to press the control key, a younger student stepped up and offered ‘Here, Gramma, this is the control key.’ “
Of his first class, Kong said he feels like he’s feeding a need. “We’re in the right place at the right time. They were very receptive, very open and willing to discuss. They are like sponges.” Kong is a WCC counselor and assistant professor who grew up in Waimanalo.
Meanwhile, Roy Brooks, who represented the Waimanalo Hawaiian Civic Club in the planning process, advises everyone to keep their “Waimanalo University” bumper stickers, as he’s witnessed some genuine interest from the community in college learning.“Maybe we can make the college expo an annual event, too,” he said.
“I’m so excited,” added civic club president Kuulei Laughlin. “We’re getting the kids so involved so they don’t have any excuse. The Kailua High seniors asked for this, and it’s just the first step.”
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