Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College’s is the only auto body program in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College system, carrying on a legacy of craftsmanship, innovation and career readiness that began in 1966.

The program, which has graduated almost 1,000 technicians, is helping to sustain Â鶹´«Ã½ Island’s transportation trades community, and has experienced a notable rise in women’s enrollment.

“The shop feels like family. We all have fun, we work on cars … but we do work,” said first-year student Aysia Lee. “My favorite part of this class is pretty much the finish-up work. I like to paint and buff the entire car—preparing it for the customer, cleaning it up.”

The comprehensive training covers all aspects of collision repair and refinishing, including welding, air conditioning systems, steering and suspension, brakes, interior work, glass installation and automotive detailing. Another first-year student, Beauden Hancock, said the experience has been invaluable.

“Â鶹´«Ã½ CC’s Auto Body program has taught me to be on my feet and prepared for this fast-paced industry that’s always evolving,” Hancock said. “I’ve been in the shop since day one and it’s been a great experience. I’ve always loved working in auto body, I always took shop classes in high school. I’m glad to be here.”

Blending the best of old and new

The program, now led by Associate Professor Garrett Fujioka—a Â鶹´«Ã½ CC alumnus—blends the best of “old-school” precision and “new-school” technology. Fujioka and Assistant Professor Colby Koreyasu bring modern industry experience directly to the students.

“[We] both came from the industry, so we bring all the modern technology and methods we use in our own shops directly into the classroom,” Fujioka said. “But we still hold on to the old-school principles—the foundation skills and the attitude—that make a great body technician. Our students come out of here with basic skills that can take them anywhere in the industry—collision repair, insurance estimating, paint supply, or even auto mechanics.”

He noted that most students find local work due to high demand. The instructors also collaborate closely with other transportation programs across the UH Community College System.

“We might be the only auto body program, but the other campuses—Honolulu CC, Leeward, Kauaʻi, Maui—they all support us. We have camaraderie,” Fujioka said. “We’re lucky to be part of the transportation ʻohana.”

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annual celebration, Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College Day welcomed more than 300 attendees on April 20. The event spurred engagement with both local businesses and Â鶹´«Ã½ CC resources, showcasing the institution’s diversity and talents.

A career fair featured more than 40 local businesses that provided attendees and students a chance to explore potential careers and establish industry connections.

“One of the most gratifying aspects of Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College Day is seeing the excitement and engagement of our students and community members,” said Interim Chancellor Susan Kazama. “The Â鶹´«Ã½ CC Day and career fair was an incredible opportunity for students to explore diverse career paths and connect with faculty, who are also industry professionals.”

The event also highlighted some of the college’s academic programs. Â鶹´«Ã½ CC’s cooked and sold meals. The organized a car show.

A 17-year-old Â鶹´«Ã½ Island resident who suffers from kidney disease and complications from treatment had his wish granted recently by and a team that included about a dozen Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College (ABRP) students.

Kaikua, the Make-A-Wish recipient, wished to have his family’s 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck restored. With support from Par Hawaii, Make-A-Wish orchestrated an overhaul of the truck that included major upgrades to the suspension from Top Notch Automotive, a new sound and alarm system from Car Stereo Specialists, and body work and a paint job from the .

outside the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. After Kaikua and his family arrived to a cheering, sign-waving crowd, the truck was driven into view from its hiding place and the keys were presented to Kaikua.

“I’m so grateful that they did it,” said Kaikua. “It came out really, really good. And to all those that did ‘em, they’re all legends.”

Emotional project

The reveal was the culmination of long hours in the ABRP shop where students stayed as late as 3 a.m. to make sure the project was done on time and done well.

We wanted to do everything to the best of our ability. That’s why we took so much pride and enjoyed every ounce of it. It just meant something very special to us.
—Kyren Martins

Kyren Martins, a Â鶹´«Ã½ CC student who worked on the truck, said the project felt important because Kaikua is about the same age and is going through such a big challenge.

“It was kind of emotional,” Martins said. “Honestly, it was stressful at times but in the end…we wanted to do everything to the best of our ability. That’s why we took so much pride and enjoyed every ounce of it. It just meant something very special to us.”

The students did everything from the initial evaluation to repairing the body panels, the bed and the tailgate and replacing fasteners. They also painted the truck in Toyota’s cement grey and gave it a twist by adding a sunbeam gold pearl midcoat followed by a clear coat and a ceramic coating for protection.

Eye opening experience

The ABRP program offers associate degrees that train students to work in collision repair and other related fields. The two professors in the program, Garrett Fujioka and Colby Koreyasu, are both alumni and worked in the industry before returning to teach.

Fujioka said the project was a valuable experience for the students that tested their knowledge.

“It’s a big experience for them, because they can work together in teams, they see the goal they want to reach, and there is a deadline,” said Fujioka.

The collaboration with Top Notch and Car Stereo Specialists also opened students’ eyes to all the career possibilities.

“I’ve heard a lot more talk from the students about avenues of entrepreneurship, employment and apprenticeship,” said Koreyasu. “I think it just adds to their passion for the automotive industry.”

—By Thatcher J. P. Moats

Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College will host its 2nd Annual Â鶹´«Ã½ CC Auto Body Repair and Painting Auto Show on Saturday, July 7. The event begins at 10 a.m. with live entertainment on the Â鶹´«Ã½ CC Manono campus back parking lot in Hilo.

The event will showcase a variety of vehicles, including race cars, classics, imports, cruisers and trucks. Car enthusiasts from VW Pickers, Â鶹´«Ã½ Classic Cruizers and more will also be there. The car show is free and open to the public.

The fun-filled family day will also feature a lineup of local live bands, door prizes, refreshments and ʻonolicious bentos from Cousins Seafood and Bento. Any proceeds will benefit Â鶹´«Ã½ CC’s Auto Body Repair and Painting Program.

The Â鶹´«Ã½ CC Auto Body Repair and Painting Car Show event will end at 2 p.m. with an impressive vehicle startup and roll-out parade.

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The 2017 auto show

—By Thatcher Moats

, one of the most talented and well-known automotive painters and fabricators in the world, will be the featured guest at the Auto Body Repair and Painting Car Show on July 15. The show will be held at the Manono campus in Hilo, 10 a.m.—6 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Prior to the car show, Hutton will teach special workshops for Â鶹´«Ã½ CC students in the  (ABRP) and local industry professionals.

“We are honored Charley will visit us,” said ABRP instructor and alumnus of the program Garrett Fujioka. “This is an exciting opportunity for our students to learn from one of the best in the business. We are also thrilled to be hosting this car show, which will hopefully become an annual Â鶹´«Ã½ CC tradition that helps inspire the next generation of local auto body repair and painting experts.”

The car show will feature a variety of vehicles, including show cars, race cars, classics, imports, cruisers and trucks. The event will also feature door prizes every hour, refreshments, entertainment and opportunities to meet Hutton.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the ABRP program.

—By Thatcher Moats

Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College’s debuted its new virtual painter equipment, which students will use as they develop their auto body painting skills.

The new equipment was dedicated to the late Michael Saito, who passed away in 2012. Saito initiated the effort to procure the advanced technology. The virtual painter features a plaque bearing his name.

“Professor Saito left a rich and positive imprint on the ABRP program at Â鶹´«Ã½ CC,” said Joel Tanabe, an associate professor,and chair of the college’s . “Not only was he knowledgeable in his discipline, but also very ‘akamai’ on being an unselfish, compassionate human being. These desirable traits were demonstrated personally, but more importantly taught to his students as well as colleagues."

To use the equipment, students wear a head display that shows a simulated painting booth and use a hand-held “spray gun” to paint a virtual vehicle, a process that can be viewed on a screen by instructors and other students.

The technology allows students to learn the techniques of auto painting without using any material, which saves money. The virtual painter is environmentally friendly and toxic-free setting said Tanabe.

The virtual painter, made by VRSiM, Inc., also does an excellent job assessing students’ skills, ABRP instructor Garrett Fujioka said.

“It’s amazing,” said Fujioka. “It will tell you the thickness of the paint, if there’s too much texture, if there are runs, if it’s at the wrong angle. It just has a whole variety of assessment.”

The computer simulation won’t replace real, live auto body painting entirely. It will be used mostly to introduce students to the process of auto painting and to assess students.

“We’re still going to go through the real stuff,” Fujioka said. “This just gives you another tool to use.”

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