Windward Community College has solidified its reputation as a global launchpad for actors. Eight students from the spring 2025 and spring 2026 cohorts at the Windward CC’s auditioned for the in London, and the school offered spots to all eight.

This coincides with another major milestone. In fall 2025, East 15 Acting School—ranked fourth in the UK for drama in the Guardian University Guide 2024—officially elevated its relationship with Windward CC to Premium Partner status.

Ensuring access

The �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts at Windward CC is dedicated to ensuring this elite training is widely available to local students.

“We’re committed to leveling the playing field for anyone who has the tenacity to do this for a living,” said Professor Nicolas Logue. “No one should be excluded from the program because they can’t afford it.”

Every student who successfully auditions into Windward CC’s year-long program receives a Dr.. Dennis Carroll Scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition. The new Premium Partner status further expands this financial support. Windward CC students transferring to East 15 are guaranteed a dedicated scholarship of $5,000 per year of study.

Building bridges

The partnership is the result of more than a decade of bridge-building by Logue and Resident Director Taurie Kinoshita, both of whom arrived at Windward CC in 2012 directly from East 15. Pioneered by former Windward CC student Brandon DiPaola, every Windward CC student who has matriculated to East 15 has graduated with the UK equivalent of summa cum laude (with highest honor).

Chris Main, East 15 director of acting, said, “Through summer programmes, via the audition process for our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, to the numerous students who progressed from Windward CC to East 15, we have consistently witnessed the talent and craft of Windward CC students and graduates.”

First in �鶹��ý

The �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts is the first performing arts conservatory in the state. An articulation agreement signed in 2023 recognizes the Conservatory’s Foundation in Acting program as the academic equivalent of East 15’s own Foundation year, allowing Windward CC students to matriculate directly into the second year of East 15’s three-year bachelor’s degree programs.

With similar philosophies, the dedication to supporting students’ growth, and the recognition of the importance of story-telling, Windward CC’s partnership with East 15 is sure to grow.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in acting, at the �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts.

After more than two decades without a university band, the is ready to bring the music back. Leading that effort is new assistant professor of music Ocean Akaka, who arrives with a clear vision: rebuild the band program and help revitalize Hawaiian music through bold new arrangements and performances.

Akaka, who recently returned home to �鶹��ý after teaching on the U.S. continent, arrived in Hilo on a one-way ticket late last year.

“I quickly got settled in, and flew to Oʻahu to spend the holidays with my family, something I haven’t done since 2020,” he said. “That was a great moment for sure.”

Building musical bridges

Akaka, who specializes in conducting wind ensembles and athletic bands, is now part of UH �ᾱ����’s . However he said his larger mission reaches beyond performance. His research revolves around the revitalization of Hawaiian music through arrangements for Western instrumental ensembles, such as orchestra and band.

Born and raised in Wahiawā, Akaka earned his bachelor’s degree in from UH ����ԴDz�. He later completed both his master’s and doctoral degrees in conducting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. There, he led marching and pep bands, directed ensembles and taught conducting. His arrangements have been performed across the U.S. and Europe.

Now he brings that experience home.

“I’m writing a few arrangements of music from Charles E. King’s songbook,” he said. “Many of the songs written in this book are for one or more vocalists, and an accompanying ukulele, guitar or steel guitar. I’m working to arrange these songs for a wind ensemble, and have them performed by the students here at UH Hilo.”

For more go to .

—By Susan Enright

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s is taking its celebrated production of RENT to Kauaʻi. Following a sold-out run at Kennedy Theatre earlier this year, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical will be performed at , August 8–10.

Directed by Joshua “Baba” Tavares, an assistant professor of acting at UH ����ԴDz� and former cast member in the 20th Anniversary National Tour of RENT, the production was praised for its raw emotional power, dynamic staging and local resonance.

“We are so excited to take our show to Kauaʻi and connect with our Kauaʻi ʻohana in this way,” said Tavares.

The touring team includes more than 40 cast and crew members, including UH ����ԴDz� students, faculty, staff, musicians and technicians, representing a wide range of UH ����ԴDz� programs, including theatre and dance, psychology, music, law, cinematic arts, Hawaiian language and more.

As part of the visit, the team will offer a free acting workshop to share and engage Kauaʻi’s community of storytellers and artists. The workshop will take place on Saturday, August 9—more information to come.

Related �鶹��ýNews story: No day but today: UH ����ԴDz� theatre and dance brings award-winning RENT to life, February 11, 2025

The UH ����ԴDz� production earned critical acclaim in March, with BroadwayWorld calling it “a soaring and heartfelt production” blending “aloha, heartbreak, queer joy…and unbridled energy of young people united for justice and love.”

Tavares emphasized the show’s continued relevance. “Even though the show is set in a specific time, its challenges feel just as relevant today, especially here in �鶹��ý. Homelessness, gentrification, mental health struggles and finding a way forward after a devastating disease—are we talking about the ’80s and ’90s, or are we talking about today?”

He added, “RENT isn’t just about struggle—it’s about hope, tolerance, human rights and above all, aloha. It’s about love.”

The Kauaʻi performances mark the production’s first appearance outside of Oʻahu, offering new audiences a chance to experience one of the most impactful works in modern musical theatre, through a uniquely ʻohana lens.

Performances will take place at the newly reopened Kauaʻi CC Performing Arts Center, which reopened in April 2024 after closing due to the pandemic and has major upgrades to its lighting, sound and backstage systems. The venue is once again a key cultural hub under new manager Gregory von Hausch.

Loosely inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, RENT follows a group of struggling young artists in 1990s New York City navigating love, loss, identity, and survival during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Since its 1996 Broadway debut, Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking musical has become a global cultural phenomenon.

Performance and ticket information

Performance dates: August 8–10, 2025
Time: 7–9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 1:30–3:30 p.m. Sunday
Location: Kauaʻi CC Performing Arts Center
Tickets: Prices range from $15–$60. .

For general inquiries, email .edu or call (808) 245-8352.

Support and sponsorship opportunities

This partnership between UH ����ԴDz� and Kauaʻi CC aims to build a lasting bridge through the performing arts. Financial support is welcome to offset travel and production costs. To support the tour or inquire about sponsorships, contact Joshua Tavares at tavares8@hawaii.edu.

The Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Kauaʻi Community College is undergoing a transformation from an empty building to a thriving community hub, thanks to new Manager Gregory von Hausch.

“I want to establish this building as a resource for not only the college, but for the whole island to attract name talent; and to attract all kinds of performances, not just music, not just conferences, but something exciting—an explosion of arts, the whole nine yards,” von Hausch said. “We want to make this a real hub of activity here.”

Recent performances have included a concert by The Green and a showing of the movie At Her Feet, with a special guest appearance by Lilo & Stitch actress Sydney Agudong.

Upcoming highlights include:

• HAWAIIAN STORYTELLERS: Where I Live – Kauaʻi, June 27
• Kauaʻi Calls (“�鶹��ý Calls | Advancing �鶹��ý to the World”), July 20
• RENT, August 7–10
• Celebrating Queen tribute band, September
• Rocky Horror Picture Show (play), October 22–25
• Renowned ʻukulele player Jake Shimabukuro, December 14

There are also film festivals, musicals, movies, a free comedy show and more planned.

.

Partnering with the community

Von Hausch’s more than 50 years’ worth of experience in nonprofit work shows in the way he has transformed the PAC. When he started, the PAC had been vacant for four years after closing in 2020 due to COVID-19 and for renovations. The PAC reopened in April 2024.

Now, the sprung dance floor in the separate Dance Studio behind the stage is being utilized by the Kauaʻi Ballet Academy throughout the year. Also, Kauaʻi CC student clubs and organizations are able to sell concessions and tickets to movie showings and benefit from the proceeds, and these same movie showings are free to Kauaʻi CC staff and employees while only costing $10 for the general public.

Von Hausch is currently working with Kauaʻi CC Dean Kurt Takamine on the conversion of the production office into a music studio for community members and students to be able to record music and teach classes.

He’s got more big ideas including art showings in the lobby, farm-to-table film and food experiences, and has asked some celebrities to visit Kauaʻi to host Q&As alongside showings of their films.

“I think we’re just beginning to tap the potential,” von Hausch said.

If you have a community-focused idea, or if you have a nonprofit or group that could utilize the PAC, visit the , email kccpac@hawaii.edu, or call (808) 245-8352.

The 2025 (APDF) is set to return to the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa from May 19 to June 1, offering a rare opportunity to experience the rich dance traditions of Asia and the Pacific.

The immersive two-week experience offers workshop participants and performance attendees a deep dive into movement, music, history, language and cultural traditions.

Festival highlights

• Residents Artists:
1. Hālau Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima, under the direction of Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine
2. Arzoo Dance Theatre from India/Canada, directed by Deepti Gupta
3. Rako Pasefika from Rotuma, Fiji, led by Letila Mitchell
• Special Tribute: A Filipino dance performance honoring the legacy of the late H. Wayne Mendoza
• Hālau Kilipohe Nā Lei Lehua, featured in a full-length evening concert

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently awarded APDF a $25,000 grant, recognizing its role in preserving and sharing these dynamic traditions.

“We are honored to receive support from the NEA for the Asia Pacific Dance Festival,” said Tim Slaughter, interim dean of UH Mānoa . “This grant acknowledges the festival’s significant impact on the dance culture of Asia and the Pacific, as well as its role in fostering cultural exchange.”

The NEA grant will directly support the artists performing at the festival.

For more go to the .

Scott Robertson delves into the intricacies of human-computer interaction and sociotechnical systems as the chair and professor of the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s . Yet, when the academic curtain falls, Robertson seamlessly switches roles, swapping his educator hat for a cloak of creativity as he embarks on another passion: acting.

“I think it’s really important to pursue something that you love,” Robertson said. “I’m really glad that I brought this back into my life so that my career as a professor and my acting career run side by side. It’s a big commitment, but if it’s fulfilling, you’re excited and you’re happy.”

Child acting start

Robertson’s acting career began before the age of 3, and he continues to act in films and on stage to this day.

Robertson grew up in Los Angeles raised by his grandmother, and his debut in the limelight came in a local baby contest. A newspaper reporter there suggested that his grandmother get him an agent. Soon after at age 3, he landed a Wheaties commercial, followed by several other commercials and appearances in variety shows, such as the Jack Benny Program and the Dinah Shore Show, as well as television series such as Playhouse 90 and Steve Canyon, and the film Period of Adjustment. He may be most known for playing Marcia’s date in the “Brace Yourself” episode of the original Brady Bunch at age 15. He admitted that people still recognized him in college and several years after.

The Brady Bunch gig was the last for a while, though. His grandmother instilled in him the importance of going to college and used the money he made while acting to help pay for his higher education. Robertson earned a BA in social science from UC Irvine, an MA in cognitive psychology from Cal-State Fullerton and a PhD from Yale University in psychology with specialization in cognitive science.

Rediscovering acting while teaching

He worked both in academia and the private sector before landing a professor position at Drexel University in Philadelphia in the early 2000s. There he rekindled his interest in acting and auditioned for local plays. Robertson joined the UH ����ԴDz� faculty in 2007 and worked his way up from an assistant professor to a full professor and chair of the ICS department. While in �鶹��ý, he also auditioned for acting roles, landing a speaking role in the recent �鶹��ý Five–0 series.

To kickoff 2024, Robertson will hit the Kumu Kahua Theatre stage playing novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson in Aitu Fafine. The play tells the story of Stevenson and his family, who are captivated by two intriguing guests at their home in Vailima, Sāmoa, and amidst dreams, literary reflections and ghost tales, relationships undergo transformative and impactful confrontations.

“Stage acting is really very different from film acting,” Robertson said. “One thing is you tell an entire story from start to finish in a couple of hours. And it’s live in front of an audience so those things are very exciting and dramatic, versus camera acting where you just shoot little scenes completely out of order. It’s the locations that drive the shooting schedule of television and film.”

Aitu Fafine is directed by UH ����ԴDz� Professor Lurana Donnels O’Malley. Shows run through February 25 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons. For show dates and more information, .

Robertson is truly proving that in the theater of life, the script is never one-dimensional.

—By Marc Arakaki

Larry Paxton, University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� chair and professor, was recognized by the (NSAL)–�鶹��ý Chapter at its Roselani Gala, May 18, at the ʻAlohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. Paxton earned the Star of Excellence Award and was honored alongside �鶹��ý legend and multiple award-winning singer-songwriter Melveen Leed.

“I am extremely touched to be honored by such an important artistic group based here in �鶹��ý,” Paxton said. “NSAL‘s supportive work within a diverse group of artistic educational programs and performance ensembles is extraordinary. I hope that my artistic contributions to my community and state will honor NSAL‘s ʻohana and mission. I am truly honored!”

“Larry received the Star of Excellence Award from the National Society of Arts and Letters–�鶹��ý Chapter, not only for his many contributions on both musical theatre and opera stages here and around the world, but also for his efforts in transforming the UH Music Department into a rich resource for the greater community,” said Ann Renick from the NSAL–�鶹��ý Chapter.

NSAL assists promising young artists through competitions, financial assistance, master classes, mentoring and helps provide many different career opportunities.

More about Paxton

Paxton, who is a multi-talented musical theatre and opera performer, has been a professor at UH since 1985. He earned a master’s of music with honors from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He has performed more than 30 operatic roles in New Mexico, Memphis, Dallas, Fort Worth, St. Louis and �鶹��ý. His credits also include modern opera world premieres and telecasts and appearances with symphony orchestras, such as San Francisco, Dallas, Indianapolis and Honolulu, and has also performed at the Sydney Opera House. Paxton won the Metropolitan Opera regional auditions, was a finalist in the San Francisco Merola Competition and took first place in the Beethoven Vocal Competition.

In musical theatre, he has established himself as an award-winning director whose Diamond Head Theatre shows have included Sunday in the Park with George, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar. Critics have praised his performances with Grand Hotel at ����ԴDz� Valley Theatre, West Side Story at UH’s Kennedy Theatre, the title role in Sunday in the Park with George and the lead role of Guido in a specially mounted production of Nine at Diamond Head Theatre.

Paxton has received proclamations from the governor, Honolulu mayor and State Senate praising his academic achievements at UH ����ԴDz� over the years, his artistic contributions to the state and extensive performance résumé in �鶹��ý and around the world.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� hosted a free, multimedia flute concert to honor Ukraine. The performance on March 25, at Orvis Auditorium featured Oregon-based flutist and producer , who is of Ukrainian, Russian and Polish descent. Lukas’ program aimed to deepen emotional awareness around the meaning of home, in light of current events.

Lukas performed a variety of pieces showcasing the flute, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute and electronics, accompanied with dance, visual art, lighting, videography and poetry. Projections of artwork by Oregon-based Ukrainian painter and muralist Tatyana Ostapenko preceded the concert and were featured alongside Lukas’ performance of Gemma (by Ukrainian composer Ludmila Yurina).

Lukas’ program was initially created during COVID-19 lockdowns before the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and centered around home, shelter, safety and comfort. The homeless population, which Lukas said is an issue in Oregon, was also an influence on her program. When she began taking the program on tour, the Ukraine-Russia conflict began and she really felt its influence as some of the pieces were about the refugee crisis.

“Now that we are a year plus out from the initiation of conflict, I think it’s still in people’s minds, but in a different way,” Lukas said. “We’ve almost kind of become accustomed to the news and with what’s happening there. I want to continue to reveal why this is so critical and why every single day acknowledging the bravery, generosity and incredibly inspiring acts of the Ukrainian people is so important.”

“We’re thrilled to have this residency with Amelia, a supremely compelling musician, artist and performer,” said UH ����ԴDz� Director of Bands and Professor of Music Jeffrey Boeckman. “Our students greatly enjoyed playing for and learning from Amelia in her masterclass, and our concert audience was very moved by her performance. And partnering with the Pacific Gateway Center and the �鶹��ý Flute Society allowed for a rich exchange and conversation with several important communities.”

Flute masterclass

Earlier in the week, Lukas hosted a masterclass at the UH ����ԴDz� music department, where several students performed. Lukas has a versatile musical background, having studied for several years in London and holds a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music in contemporary performance. Although many of the pieces the students played were traditional, Lukas encouraged them to not be afraid to push the boundaries and create their own extremes in their playing.

“This masterclass was great because I got to learn from an amazing musician that has different knowledge than what I may hear from my own teacher,” said Amanda Matsukawa, who attended and performed. “I also really enjoy masterclasses because I tend to get nervous before playing in front of people, so masterclasses give me a chance to get more used to performing. I learned a lot from Ms. Lukas while observing the other performers as well as what she told me personally. She helped me understand something that I had been struggling with and was not able to fix yet myself.”

Rachel Hatanaka added, “The masterclass was both productive and enriching! It was great to receive personal feedback on the piece I am studying along with gaining insight on flute technique through others’ performances. Amelia Lukas has been a joy to work with, creating an environment conducive to growth and learning. I am very grateful I had the opportunity to work with her.”

The concert was presented by UH ����ԴDz�, in partnership with the �鶹��ý Flute Society and Pacific Gateway Center.

—By Marc Arakaki

Two key members of ’s theatre program accepted a Gold Medallion from Region 8 of the (KCACTF) in February. The Gold Medallion and a plaque were handed to Artistic Director Taurie Kinoshita and Associate Professor Nicolas Logue in a ceremony held in Las Vegas. Both were instrumental in founding the at Windward CC in 2022.

The KCACTF Gold Medallion honors individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the values of the Kennedy Center. It is considered one of the highest honors in theatre education.

“We chose to honor Windward Community College with the Gold Medallion Award because they create theatre, and a theatre program that combines Native Hawaiian art and tradition with classical theatre training,” said Shaunte Caraballo, KCACTF Region 8 chair. “Their program literally changes the lives of its students.”

Their program literally changes the lives of its students.
—Shaunte Caraballo

Audition now for scholarships

March 18 is the final day to for the �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Art’s Foundation in Acting pathway fall 2023 cohort. Any student successfully auditioning for the pathway will receive a full tuition scholarship for fall 2023 and spring 2024.

“The Kennedy Center Gold Medallion offers extraordinary national validation of Windward Community College’s efforts at developing emerging talent in our island home,” said University of �鶹��ý founder and director Chris Lee. “The Academy for Creative Media System is proud to help fund and support WCC’s new �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts and all of their gifted students and faculty. Developing the next generation of performers is an essential component of ACM System’s mission to provide a platform for our own stories to be told to the broadest possible audience as part of a fully diversified creative economy.”

For more information about the , contact founder and education coordinator Logue at logue@hawaii.edu.

Most invited college in the country

Windward CC was also recognized on a national level at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The festival features six productions annually at their regional festival, selected from hundreds of entries throughout California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, �鶹��ý and Guam.

Most colleges and universities dream of headlining the festival once, but Windward CC productions have been invited three times in the past four years (A Walking Shadow, 2019; Oriental Faddah and Son, 2020; and Demigods Anonymous, 2023), making them the most invited college nationwide.

Kinoshita directed all three productions, which was cited as chief evidence by the KCACTF Board of Directors for conferring the Gold Medallion. Kinoshita was also honored in 2018 with the Kennedy Center Excellence in Theatre Education Award.

“Taurie works with exciting new playwrights on original scripts that represent our diverse student body,” Logue said. “She masterfully stages these pieces and trains our student actors to originate roles with spirited performances. As a result, these productions always capture the adjudicators’ interest.”

He added, “If you or any organization you belong to want to invest in the future of �鶹��ý’s local and Indigenous performing artists, consider to our conservatory program.”

What does it mean to be Asian in 2022? Faced with the rise of Anti-Asian hate crimes and the continuing need for representation and voice, the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and Kennedy Theatre will highlight the Asian-American experience both in �鶹��ý and on the U.S. mainland. The theatre’s 2022–23 season opener, , is a devised theatre production led and directed by Reiko Ho.

The guest director leads an all-Asian, female-identifying student cast featuring original scenes based on collective personal experiences from the cast, headline news articles and events from the past. This production explores adult themes and includes strong language and references to racism and racial slurs.

“Like a good Asian dish, it is a little salty, a little sweet, a little sour, a little bitter, and very savory,” Ho said. “It is my fervent belief that we must include young people in these important conversations and empower them to grapple with our collective past and present as Asians in America. This show is inspired by that belief.”

Borrowed from a local playground rhyme, Chinee, Japanee, All Mix Up will also feature poems from noted local playwright Lee Tonouchi (also known as “Da Pidgin Guerilla”) in addition to original monologues, scenes, and other various performance pieces by the student performers.

for the in-person production at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre set to premiere September 21–24 at 7:30 p.m. and September 25 at 2 p.m. Some of the subjects raised in the multimedia production range from the Chinese Exclusion Act and the internment camps of World War II to memories from cast members great-grandparents working on �鶹��ý plantations. Cast members discovered common traditions regardless of being raised throughout Asia, �鶹��ý, or the continent. However some shared experiences weren’t always pleasant to uncover.

“We cried over how discrimination has found its way into all of our lives and what we have lost by living quietly as the ‘model minority,’” Ho said. “This show is a collage of pieces inspired by our discussions, shared memories and stories, pop-culture, and what the world might look like through an Asian lens. We hope you enjoy our musings.”

Ho is the artistic associate for Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) and part of the Emmy award-winning team creating HTY’s hit T.V. show, The HI Way.

For more information, .