{"id":223584,"date":"2025-10-13T17:39:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T03:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=223584"},"modified":"2025-10-13T20:03:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T06:03:31","slug":"uh-alumnas-okinawa-experience-nushida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/13\/uh-alumnas-okinawa-experience-nushida\/","title":{"rendered":"Passport to growth: How UH<\/abbr> alumna\u2019s Okinawa experience shaped her path"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Nushida
Grace Nushida<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Grace Nushida, a leap across the Pacific became the experience that inspired her future. While studying at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa, she earned a scholarship to study abroad in Okinawa—the only Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> student selected to attend the newly opened Okinawan Prefecture Arts University in Shuri.<\/p>\n

She describes her year abroad as a life-changing immersion into music, culture, cuisine and her Okinawan heritage.<\/p>\n

Transformative experience abroad<\/h2>\n
\"Three
Nushida and family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Studying in Okinawa was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I had the opportunity to live in a foreign country where I didn\u2019t speak the language fluently, which pushed me far outside my comfort zone,” Nushida said. “Okinawa gave me the courage to fail, reflect and grow.”<\/p>\n

Back home, Nushida completed a bachelor of arts in communications in 1996. She credits UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa for giving her the foundation to succeed both personally and professionally.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> isn\u2019t just where I earned my degree, it\u2019s where I learned how to lead, listen and grow.
—Grace Nushida<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Formative years at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/h2>\n

“My time at UH<\/abbr> was incredibly formative. I had excellent professors in the College of Communications and one of my elective courses with Glen Grant left a lasting impression. He was legendary among students for his captivating storytelling, while dressing up and sharing Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> ghost stories that made learning unforgettable,” she said.<\/p>\n

Leadership, connection and community<\/h2>\n

Today, Nushida is sales manager at UHA<\/abbr> Health Insurance, where she works to make health coverage easier to understand and access. She stays closely connected to UH<\/abbr> and its alumni ʻohana, carrying forward the lessons and values she learned on campus.<\/p>\n

“As someone who works closely with businesses across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, I\u2019m constantly presenting to, collaborating with or servicing UH<\/abbr> alumni. That shared connection opens doors, builds trust and reminds me we\u2019re all part of something bigger,” she said. “UH<\/abbr> isn\u2019t just where I earned my degree, it\u2019s where I learned how to lead, listen and grow.”<\/p>\n

Read Nushida\u2019s full Q<\/abbr>&A<\/abbr>.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lessons from UH<\/abbr> and Okinawa forged Grace Nushida\u2019s leadership and career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":223622,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[90,661,271,9],"class_list":["post-223584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-alumni","tag-communications","tag-uh-alumni-association","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t