Firm aims to attract
collegians from Japan

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CORRECTION Friday, April 25, 2003 » The Hawaii Exchange Center in Osaka, Japan, assists students who want to study at a number of institutions in Hawaii, including Hawaii Pacific University. An article on Page A3 Monday incorrectly reported that the institutions included the University of Phoenix. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> A Japanese business firm has announced a plan to bring college students from Japan to study on the Valley Isle.

Dormtech Hawaii Inc. initially plans to have 20 Japanese college students studying at Maui Community College starting next April, spokesman Toshiyuki Sano said.

Sano said the students will be living in a townhouse that is being built in Kihei.

He said Dormtech, part of the AN Group of Japan, also plans to occupy two separate spaces at the Azeka Place II Shopping Center that would serve as a cultural center, offering residents classes in Japanese culture and language, including sumi brush painting.

The plan is a part of a larger move to attract Japanese college students to attend the University of Hawaii.

Sano said AN Group Chairman Shigemitsu Inohana, a Wailea resident in semiretirement, enrolled in an English course at Maui Community College and noticed the difficulties Japanese nationals had in adjusting to daily life on the Valley Isle.

Sano said the goal is to provide a wide range of services to Japanese college students interested in studying on Maui and other islands.

Sano said Inohana also initiated the idea of establishing the Hawaii Exchange Center in Osaka, Japan, offering services to Japanese students interested in studying in Hawaii, including counseling, visa processing and housing assistance.

The center assists students who want to study at the University of Hawaii, Chaminade University and the University of Phoenix.

City Bank has been working with Dormtech to provide specialized banking services to Japanese students.

Sano said more than 10,000 Japanese nationals study in Hawaii annually, and most of them have done it as individuals.

Joyce Tsunoda, UH's senior vice president for international education, said the college is still developing the curriculum and the cost of the courses.

"We're pleased with the opportunity to work with them," Tsunoda said.

Tsunoda said the Japanese students would be paying a price comparable to out-of-state tuition.