Honolulu Community College faculty member receives vocational award

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Mia Noguchi, (808) 956-9095
External Affairs & Univ. Relations
Posted: Jul 15, 2008


HONOLULU - James Niino, apprenticeship coordinator of Honolulu Community College, has been named recipient of the Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Career and Technical Education.

Established by Tadashi and Elizabeth Nakaeda Kunimoto in honor of their parents' role in developing the Hawai'i food industry, this award recognizes a community college faculty member or student from one of the UH community colleges for outstanding achievement and contribution to vocational and technical education.

Niino is responsible for the extraordinary growth of the construction industry through his expansion of the Apprenticeship division over the last eight years. As the coordinator, he has managed the largest Apprenticeship program in the state of Hawai'i with over 3,500 students. His influence has been widespread, as he has been the consummate diplomat and liaison with other apprenticeship coordinators and instructors and Union officials, bringing harmony between the two organizations.

Niino was also involved in planning HCC's Construction Initiative, which provided funds for the development of a Construction Academy taught to high school students by community college instructors. In addition, he has sat on a dozen hiring committees as the Construction Academy expanded its staff, never hesitating to volunteer to serve the college's needs. He is frequently praised by colleagues for his willing spirit and extraordinary leadership abilities.

Niino will be recognized for his achievements along with other UH award recipients at the annual Convocation ceremony to be held September 9, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Kennedy Theatre on the UH Manoa campus. The ceremony is open to the public at no charge and no reservations are needed.