Phillip Amona
Major: Computer Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2023
Hometown: Mililani, Hawaiʻi
High School: Kamehameha Kapālama High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I chose to become an engineering major in my senior year of high school. I wanted to work in a field where I could apply multiple areas of math and science to benefit others.
Why you selected UH: I originally wanted to study outside of the state for college, but I chose UH due to financial reasons. However, I’m glad that I did, since this gives me better opportunities for jobs and internships near my home.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: Arranging & playing music, mostly piano; archery; watching Arrowverse shows; leading RAPS Club.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the rigorous challenges found throughout the engineering program. I also like how each degree is extensive enough that there can be a wide variety of possible careers available to me after I graduate.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Make the most of your college years. Remember that each year costs money, and there are many opportunities across the UH campus for you to try out before you graduate. Don’t be afraid to expand your horizons!
Jared Antonio
Major: Electrical Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2024
Hometown: I was born in Sunnyvale, California and lived there up until 2015, when my family moved to Hilo, Hawaii. I consider both places home.
High School: Waiākea High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I decided to become an engineering major my senior year of high school. I have always been fascinated with how things work and how things in our world affect each other. Due to this curiosity I originally planned to pursue a degree in physics. Through research and guidance from teachers and family I realized engineering was a way to focus my curiosity about the world around us in a way that can positively impact others, and I made the decision to major in Electrical Engineering.
Why you selected UH: Initially, I wanted to return to California to further my education. But after some thought, I realized that UH Mānoa offered better opportunities for me to grow and learn, while staying in a place that I love.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I enjoy hiking, spending time at the beach, cooking, lifting, and playing guitar.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the people the most. Everyone, both staff and students, are friendly and always willing to help. The college of engineering really embodies the idea that together we can achieve more.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: As students a lot of the stress and pressure we experience is often put on us by ourselves. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities, and focus on what you can do now and not on what you can’t control. Relax!
Quinn Bianchi-Lawson
Major: Computer Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2022
Hometown: I spent most of my youth in Philadelphia, PA. I moved all around the east coast starting in my 10th grade year. I even spent part of my 8 th grade in Switzerland when my mom got a job opportunity with the World Health Organization.
High School: I went to four different high schools, each in a separate state and ended up graduating from Broad Run High School in Virginia.
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: Originally I thought I would follow in my mom’s footsteps and become a doctor, so I spent a year in a pre-med track. However, after some time I realized my interests were in an area that focused more on math and physics, and their applications in
computers.
Why you selected UH: My mom has lived in Kauaʻi now for a while, and she’s always been eager to have me closer to her. When I decided to tour the college, I realized how great the engineering department is, and the whole college in general. Out of all the colleges on my list, UH stood out as the best choice for me, so when I got the acceptance letter I decided to attend.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: When I’m in an active mood I like to go for a run, or hike one of our beautiful trails. If it’s a stay-at-home kind of day, and I’m not studying or doing homework, you can generally find me either reading a book or playing video games.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the rewarding feeling you get when you solve a complex math or coding problem. I always thought it seemed a bit off to enjoy something difficult like math, but the feeling I get when I’m able to easily understand something that seemed so incomprehensible is my favorite.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: The most important thing you can do for yourself in any new environment is get yourself out there. Get past your anxieties as best you can and meet people who share your interests, who can help you through the rough parts of your degree. Especially in engineering there will be rough parts, but if you have friends to help and you stay ahead of everything you can get through it.
Mia Casparian
Major: Electrical Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2024
Hometown: St. Clair, Michigan
High School: St. Clair High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: From a very young age, I have always had an interest in math, electronics, and medicine. In high school, I discovered that I could combine both of the disciplines in pursuing a degree in electrical engineering with a biomedical concentration.
Why you selected UH: Growing up my family and I visited Hawaiʻi Island a lot. We would always have a joke that one day I would go to school here and that they would retire in Hawaiʻi. When I was in 8th grade my family followed through and bought a house on Hawaiʻi Island and planned on moving in after I graduated. Once they bought the house attending UH was one of the easiest decisions, and then our family joke became a reality.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: For fun, I enjoy snorkeling, hiking, trying new foods/restaurants, biking, reading, figure skating, and hanging out at the beach.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I most enjoy that there is an actual sense of community within the program. The advisors are there to support you, other students motivate you, and teachers want to help you understand concepts. Anywhere I have been on campus people are always willing to help.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: My advice is to remember that college life is a balance. Academics are extremely important but taking care of your mental and physical health is equally as vital. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and stressed, but it’s important to remember to take breaks and reset.
Kyra Cohen
Major: Civil Engineering
Year in Program: This is my fourth year of college, technically I am a standing junior. I have two years left in the program. I went to a junior college in Santa Cruz, CA after high school. Then transferred here to UHM for two semesters. I went back home to Humboldt County, CA and attended Humboldt State University where I continued my engineering degree. I transferred back here to UHM for fall 2019 and plan on finishing my degree here in the Civil program.
Hometown: Humboldt County, California
High School: Arcata High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: My dad is a Civil Engineer for CalTrans in Humboldt CA. I grew up admiring him and really interested in the projects he travelled around for. I love math and problem solving so he pointed me in that direction once I started thinking about careers. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a good choice for me, but after applying myself and learning more about the opportunities I’d have in my future I started to really the grind that comes with this major.
Why you selected UH: Since I can remember I’ve loved Hawaiʻi and the people here. I always knew at some point I want to live here, and figured college is the best time. I’ve moved around a bit but am really glad that I have decided to graduate from the COE here at UHM. I think because I have experienced different schools and programs, I can bring a lot of different perspectives.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I was a competitive dancer for about ten years, until my junior year of high school. I love to swim and be outdoors in general. My mom is personal trainer and I love taking workout from her classes I used to take. Anything outside, hike or even yard work, I enjoy.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the grind that engineering comes with. It is very rewarding to me to understand the material in my classes after working hard to understand it and apply it in real life. I had to learn how to be a good student in college, such as how to study and take notes. I was not a very good student in high school so its something I am very proud of myself for.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: I believe that everyone can be an engineer, as long as they are willing to apply themselves to the work. You don’t have to be the smartest in the room or even the most experienced, everyone has something to offer.
Mallory Hataishi
Major: Civil Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2021
Hometown: Kapolei, Hawaiʻi
High School: Kamehameha Kapālama High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I decided the summer before starting college to do engineering. I was undeclared coming in, so I was getting anxious on what to study and decided to do engineering. I was good at math in high school, and I knew that I would be able to get a great career when I graduate.
Why you selected UH: I originally wanted to go away but due to financial reasons, I stayed home.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: Currently I am in a few clubs/programs, such as NHSEMP, Chi Epsilon, AISES, and ASCE. I recently took up jiu-jitsu, which has been a great way to release my stress.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the labs that we take as a part of our coursework. There is a wide variety of labs, which give us a little taste of parts of civil.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Adam Hu
Major: Electrical Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2023
Hometown: Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi
High School: Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I decided that I wanted to become an Engineering major about halfway through high school. I do well in math and science and enjoy problem-solving and making things, so engineering seemed like a good choice for me.
Why you selected UH: I chose UH after attending the College of Engineering’s Open House. I was impressed by their labs, and it seemed that I would receive a solid education at UH.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: In my free time, I like to play my guitar and write songs, go to the beach, play video games, and read.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the opportunity to participate in the VIP program and get involved in an engineering project.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Take advantage of all the advising opportunities provided to you by the college. It can be confusing at first to know what classes you need to fulfill your major, so having a guide can be quite helpful.
Khaldoon Ishmael
Major: Electrical Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2023
Hometown: Kirkuk, Iraq
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I am easily amused by science and technology, it’s one big puzzle. I learned to fix most things that broke in my house at a young age, from fixing the TV and Radio. Engineering captivated me because it is the foundation of all technology. As a student majoring in Electrical Engineering, all the processes considered for even the most straightforward assemblies have always fascinated me.
Why you selected UH: The professors at UH Mānoa all have a similar goal, and it is to make sure that students comprehend and succeed in school. UH, Mānoa is the definition of a melting pot. You will meet and see so many people with different ethnicities, and the best thing out of all of it is that most students are friendly and get along.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I like to go for a run, kayak fishing, and I am fascinated by muscle cars. For the extracurricular activities, I took a swimming class at UH Mānoa for two semesters.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy doing research that allows me to travel and attend conferences to meet other students from different colleges. In addition, I like mentoring freshmen students and sharing my knowledge about electrical engineering classes.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Engineering is teamwork, so it is essential to know other students, make study groups by joining clubs and research projects. Additionally, take advantage of the great opportunities that the College of Engineering provides to students like scholarship, internships, networking, and future job offers.
Kevin Liu
Major: Computer Engineering
Year Program: Senior
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
High School: Roosevelt High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major:
From a young age, I have been exposed to technology by playing computer games and fiddling with electronics. Thus, with my curiosity in computers, I decided to become a computer engineer to pursue a career in an intriguing specialty.
Why you selected UH:
UH Mānoa was my university of choice because of its affordability and close proximity to family and home. Because of its location, I was able to stay close to my family living in Hawai’i while still enjoying the benefits of college.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities:
In my free time, I like making videos, listening to music, and dancing.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college:
I really enjoy the sense of community alongside the unique opportunities that the college provides for its students. By joining various engineering student organizations on campus, I was able to venture outside my comfort zone and become more involved outside the typical academics, getting a deeper connection to the college and my classmates. I also took the opportunity to study abroad in South Korea for classes that count towards graduation, further expanding my perception of engineering internationally and immerse myself in the Korean culture.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students:
When entering college, push yourself outside your comfort zone. Take that new opportunity; join a new engineering student organization; Talk to your professors. As RM from K-pop group, BTS, said, “I hope you know your limits well, but don’t stay within those limits. Overcome the limits each day.”
Joshua Lorica
Major: Computer Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: December 2023
Hometown: Kailua, Hawai’i
High School: Hawai’i Baptist Academy
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I enjoyed Math and Science in high school so Engineering seemed like a great fit for me. I also enjoyed programming which is why I chose Computer Engineering specifically.
Why you selected UH:I chose UH because it was the best option for me financially.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I like to stay active whether that be working out or playing sports. I also enjoy going to the beach, going on hikes, and playing video games.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the opportunities to learn hands-on in labs and projects.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Step outside your comfort zone and push your limits. I believe this is the best way for personal growth. Also, take advantage of every opportunity that UH and the College of Engineering offers.
Brooklynn Miller
Major: Civil & Environmental Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: 2023
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
High School: Olentangy Orange High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I decided to become an engineer because my sister went to school for engineering and she is someone I have always followed in the footsteps of because she is my biggest inspiration.
Why you selected UH: I chose UH Mānoa because I knew that it would set me up for success on the island better than any other school would.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: For fun I really like to hike, stay active, and it sit on the beach with a good book. If the weather is down you will definitely catch me sleeping or watching Harry Potter.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: So far what I enjoy most about the college is how smart I feel after completing a problem that is really challenging; it really proves to myself that I am capable.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: If I had to give any advice it would be to not fall behind and find a way to organize what is due and do it A week before it’s due if you can, once you start to wait it’s A lot harder to come back after.
Creselle Morales
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2021
Hometown: Wailuku, Hawaiʻi
High School: HP Baldwin High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: In senior year of high school, I was interested in either Nursing or engineering so for my senior project I decided to do a project on 3D printing prosthetic arms. The engineering side interested me more so that is what pushed me to do mechanical engineering.
Why you selected UH: UH offered all the classes that I needed to get my degree while also offering a quality education. I also received a scholarship here so it made the most sense to come here.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I usually eat with friends or go out with friends. If not then I like to hang out alone; go to sleep, go on my computer, or play switch.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I like the different topics that are covered in the course, it lets me see different sides of mechanical engineering. I also like the projects that are offered to mechanical engineers and how we work with other majors.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Develop good time management skills, free time does not really exist in college because you can always fill in that time with studying and/or doing homework so you are not stressed and behind in classes.
Tiana Saito
Major: Construction Engineering
Year in Program: Senior
Hometown: Kailua, Hawaiʻi
High School: Hanalani Schools
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I decided to be an engineering major in my freshman year of high school because my grandpa would always talk about his job and I found it interesting. Also I always knew I wanted to work with buildings and I did best in math.
Why you selected UH: I selected UH because I wanted to stay close to home.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I enjoy going to the beach, tandem surfing, and watching crime shows/documentaries.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I like how we have mandatory advising every semester because it helps make sure I’m on track and my advisor lets me know which course is best for me to take based on my interests and course requirements.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Take advantage of office hours and get help immediately because once you don’t understand the material, it’s hard to catch up and faculty is always willing to help you succeed.
Dedrick Sakuma
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: Fall 2023
Hometown: Ewa Beach, HI
High School: Kamehameha Kapālama High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: In my senior year of high school I actually wanted to become a lawyer but, I thought, do I really want to do that? So, because I was exposed to robotics, cars, and basically anything that moves and involves building things at a young age I decided why not go with engineering. I took all types of math, science, and engineering classes in high school and really enjoyed the challenges that it gave me.
Why you selected UH: I was going to attend out of state but due to more important events happening here at home I decided to stay home.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: When I am not working or doing school work I really enjoy going to the beach. Whether it’s surfing, barbequing or just throwing a pole out, it’s always a good way to relieve stress. I also enjoy spending time with my family in my free time.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the many opportunities that the engineering program provides. It allows me to use the skills that I learn in school and really put it to use.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Enjoy your time in college because it doesn’t last forever. Have fun but at the same time do good in school because you do pay for it. Lastly, take advantage of the opportunities that the school provides and don’t be ashamed or shy to join different clubs or activities.
Kacie Shimabukuro
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year in Program: Senior
Hometown: Wahiawa, Hawaiʻi
High School: Hanalani Schools
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: I decided to become an Engineering major in the Fall 2017 semester. I switched from being a biology major because the math and physics courses that were required within the biology course curriculum interested me more than the life science courses. The projects that were offered within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum became of greater interest to me due to the ability to gain hands-on work of mechanical systems.
Why you selected UH: I selected UH due to the reasonable in-state tuition that is offered and I also wanted to stay closer to my family.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I enjoy going out with my friends/ family, listening to music and traveling.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: I enjoy the hands-on courses that are offered and the opportunity to work in laboratories and on projects that help me to gain both technical skills and the ability to collaborate with others as a team.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: I would recommend to join clubs and get to know some of your classmates since that allows for the opportunity to form study groups and gain help/ advice from your peers.
Lyndsey Tagawa
Major: Civil Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2021
Hometown: Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi
High School: Castle High School
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: Being a part of the UH High School Summer Internship Program in 2016 had helped me see what engineering has to offer, which helped me make the decision to become and Engineering major.
Why you selected UH: I chose UH because I knew that I wanted to live here and work here when graduated. From being a part of the UH internship program, I learned that a lot of companies like to hire out of UH, so the decision was a no brainer.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: Soccer, Surfing, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: Being a part of the college of engineering allows me to meet all types of new people and make friends
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Joining clubs and immersing yourself into the college can provide a lot of great opportunities.
Christianne Young
Major: Computer Engineering
Anticipated Graduation: May 2023
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
High School: Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy
When and how you decided to become an Engineering major: Math and science were my favorite courses in high school, so I knew that I wanted to pursue a STEM major. My interest in the constant innovation of technology helped me decide on studying engineering. I enjoyed programming and computer engineering allowed me to gain knowledge in both software and hardware development and design.
Why you selected UH: UH was the most cost effective option for me, and receiving a scholarship to the university gave me the ability to pay for my education independently.
What you do for fun, and any extracurricular activities: I like watercolor painting, baking, and spending time with friends and family in my free time.
What you enjoy most about your program/the college: The coursework challenges and encourages me to excel in my classes. I am able to relate the concepts I learn in class to real world situations, making me eager to learn and expand on topics from my courses. The faculty advisors are there to help me succeed and to work with me in figuring out the best paths to achieve my goals.
Any advice to incoming/prospective students: Push the limits of your comfort zone and take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Allowing yourself to grow in unfamiliar situations is rewarding.
