Four Stole Society officers and the advisor traveled to Tokyo and Atami. The five-day winter trip included a visit to Bunka Fashion College. They explored the Nippori textile district for fabric search and shopping. The group enjoyed a cultural experience with an onsen (hot spring) in Atami. Join the Stole Society to help plan exciting trips for upcoming years. Visit @Stolesociety

By Dr Minako McCarthy

On Feb 18th, the Fashion Design Merchandising program (FDM) welcomed seven students and three teachers from Maui's Baldwin High School (established in 1938) to our campus. The high school students and teachers had the opportunity to learn about the FDM program, various career pathways, and fashion computer-aided design. Dr. Reilly organized this event. Dr. Kang introduced the FDM program and led an engaging workshop in the AgSci computer lab, where participants gained hands-on experience with Optitex, an industry-standard 3D fashion design software. The Poʻo Academy at Baldwin High School in Maui houses several career pathways, including Fashion & Artisan Design, Digital Design, and Marketing Management. Thus, Baldwin High School is one of the key high schools that FDM faculty prioritize for building long-term academic relationships. Our FDM faculty actively works with many high schools across Oʻahu and Maui as part of FDM’s student recruitment and outreach strategy. From Maui to Manoa, it was a joy to have this group on campus!!

By Dr Ju-Young Kang

The Hawai‘i Chinese Civic Association (HCCA) celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 15, 2025, with a Centennial Mandarin Ball and fundraising gala at the Ala Moana Hotel. The event honored the organization’s century of service to Hawai‘i and its ongoing mission to support the Honolulu community while fostering goodwill between individuals of Chinese ancestry and other ethnic groups. HCCA also continues its long-standing tradition of providing annual scholarships to local students.

As part of the celebration, the Mandarin Jacket Contest featured three categories: Women’s Mandarin Jacket, Women’s Mandarin Gown, and Men’s Mandarin Jacket. Each category had space for ten participants, and a total of approximately 20–30 contestants showcased traditional and contemporary interpretations of Mandarin-style attire.

Dr. ShuHwa Lin was invited to serve as one of the three judges for the Mandarin Ball, marking her sixth time in this role. Dr. Bobbie Yee also participated in the event, joining Dr. Lin for her third year of involvement with HCCA activities. Dr. Yee was originally invited by former HCCA president Leo Young in 2015 and 2016.

By Shu Hwa Lin