{"id":225077,"date":"2025-11-09T08:00:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T18:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=225077"},"modified":"2025-11-12T08:27:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:27:26","slug":"hawaii-cc-auto-body-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/09\/hawaii-cc-auto-body-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawai\u02bbi CC<\/abbr> Auto Body Program drives workforce with craftsmanship, tech"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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This program trains students in all aspects of collision repair and refinishing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Community College\u2019s Auto Body Repair and Painting Program<\/a> is the only auto body program in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Community College system, carrying on a legacy of craftsmanship, innovation and career readiness that began in 1966.<\/p>\n

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Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> CC<\/abbr> is home to the only Auto Body Repair and Painting program in the UH<\/abbr> Community College system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The program, which has graduated almost 1,000 technicians, is helping to sustain Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island\u2019s transportation trades community, and has experienced a notable rise in women\u2019s enrollment.<\/p>\n

“The shop feels like family. We all have fun, we work on cars \u2026 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\u2014preparing it for the customer, cleaning it up.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Graduates go on to work in areas including collision repair, paint supply, or insurance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Auto Body program has taught me to be on my feet and prepared for this fast-paced industry that\u2019s always evolving,” Hancock said. “I\u2019ve been in the shop since day one and it\u2019s been a great experience. I\u2019ve always loved working in auto body, I always took shop classes in high school. I\u2019m glad to be here.”<\/p>\n

Blending the best of old and new<\/h2>\n

The program, now led by Associate Professor Garrett Fujioka\u2014a Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> CC<\/abbr> alumnus\u2014blends the best of “old-school” precision and “new-school” technology. Fujioka and Assistant Professor Colby Koreyasu bring modern industry experience directly to the students.<\/p>\n

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Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Auto Body Repair and Painting program was founded in 1966.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“[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\u2014the foundation skills and the attitude\u2014that make a great body technician. Our students come out of here with basic skills that can take them anywhere in the industry\u2014collision repair, insurance estimating, paint supply, or even auto mechanics.”<\/p>\n

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

“We might be the only auto body program, but the other campuses\u2014Honolulu CC<\/abbr>, Leeward, Kauaʻi<\/span>, Maui\u2014they all support us. We have camaraderie,” Fujioka said. “We\u2019re lucky to be part of the transportation ʻohana<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

For more go to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> CC<\/abbr><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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This program blends the best of “old-school” precision and “new-school” technology.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> CC<\/abbr> auto body students rev up careers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":225071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[497,70,969,61,71,603],"class_list":["post-225077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-auto-body-repair-and-painting","tag-automotive-technology","tag-career-development","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-workforce-development","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