Kauaʻi Community College is growing its international exchange program through a new agreement with Jeju National University in Korea. Starting in fall 2025, students will have the chance to study abroad while staying connected to their home institution.
“Our focus is developing pilina (relationships), and that’s what makes us special—our focus on nurturing relationships with our partner schools,” said International Programs Coordinator Kyoko Ikeda.
Kauaʻi CC had already built strong ties with three Japanese universities, with more than 50 students participating in exchanges over the past decade. The decision to expand into Korea was driven by both personal connections and a desire to broaden cultural learning opportunities. Kauaʻi CC English Instructor Ashley Brady, who previously lived and taught in Jeju, helped establish the new partnership.
Through the exchange, students pay tuition at Kauaʻi CC but can study at Jeju National University, making it an affordable way to gain global experience. However, travel costs such as airfare remain a hurdle.
“Many of our students could use financial support, and I really want our students to see the world and gain perspectives that you can only gain from leaving your home,” Ikeda said. “We want them to come back home with a renewed sense of the world. I want our students to have that understanding of interconnectedness.”
Community members can help support student travel by donating to the Vinny Itoga fund at the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation.
“We have so much to offer as an island community, and we have so much to learn from other island communities,” Ikeda said.
