PUHI — Kaua‘i’s high-technology future received a $110,000 boost when representatives of The Boeing Company hand-delivered equipment to establish a photonics laboratory at Kaua‘i Community College here. Immediately after the blessing and dedication of the equipment and laboratory, KCC officials
PUHI — Kaua‘i’s high-technology future received a $110,000 boost when representatives of The Boeing Company hand-delivered equipment to establish a photonics laboratory at Kaua‘i Community College here.
Immediately after the blessing and dedication of the equipment and laboratory, KCC officials announced the first-ever photonics class, ETRON 199V, Introduction to Photonics, to begin next Monday, Aug. 23.
According to Kaua‘i natives and Envisioneering Inc. interns Shaun Arakaki, Brandon Allard and Bryson Semana, photonics is the technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon.
In practical purposes, work done using laser technology allows for precise measuring of re-entries of satellites and other craft, as well as measuring minute changes in the earth’s topography that may assist scientists in predicting earthquakes.
The interns helped set up the KCC laboratory, and conducted a special laser demonstration for U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai‘i, and other dignitaries following the blessing,
Officials explained that this is all part of encouraging students to become interested in math, engineering, physics, and other high-technology fields, and is closely linked to Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste’s Team Tech concept.
Also on hand for the dedication and presentation was University of Hawai‘i Acting President David McClain, who recognized KCC Chancellor Peggy Cha’s efforts at creating the community link between Kaua‘i and the technological giants.
The Boeing Company, represented by James Albaugh, president and chief executive officer of Integrated Defense Systems of Boeing, donated over $110,000 worth of equipment, consisting of lasers and optical equipment.
The first photonics course at KCC will meet Monday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and interested students are encouraged to have strong math backgrounds with some knowledge of electronics.
For more information on the course, interested people may contact instructor Francis Takahashi at 245-8219.
Envisioneering, Inc. was represented by President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Kuga, who worked with KCC staff and the interns to get the photonics lab operational prior to the Tuesday-morning blessing that was officiated by Rev. Nani Hill.
Inouye ended a whirlwind two-day tour on Kaua‘i Tuesday afternoon with a visit to the new Anahola Family Center, Ka Hale Pono, accompanied by Cha and state Rep. Mina Morita, D-North Kaua‘i.
Kanani Kagawa and Kapua Medeiros, after-school program coordinators at Ka Hale Pono, were fully engrossed with their charges’ homework while making sure the afternoon snack would be fresh for Inouye’s arrival.
Following a brief inspection of the kukui nut tree he planted on a previous visit, Inouye was given a tour of the new facility by Cha, the senator being impressed with the Anahola board’s ingenuity in utilizing sponsorships of chairs in the educational facility’s computer lab as a fund-raising scheme.
Inouye also offered to have “da cockroach” on his staff see what kind of government surplus equipment they could come up with to help complete furnishing the new center.
Brandon and Sky Flores, two of the students who utilize the center for their after-school activities, presented the senator with a certificate of appreciation and a scrapbook containing photos and notes about the development of Ka Hale Pono, the senator taking the time to chat with Sky, a sixth grader at Kapa‘a Middle School.
Inouye also delivered the opening address Tuesday morning at the 2004 National Fire Control Symposium at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club on Kalapaki Beach.
On Monday, Inouye met with elected officials before attending a fund-raiser at the Kauai Veterans Center, where he was met by an overflow crowd of supporters.
Up for re-election this year, he faces nine challengers including Kapa‘a resident Lloyd Jeffrey Mallon, a Libertarian candidate. There are two nonpartisan candidates, four Republican candidates, and two Democrats who will give Inouye a primary-election test on Saturday, Sept. 18: Brian K. Evans of Kihei, Maui, and Eddie Yoon of Honolulu.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
