Kawakahi Amina '09
Student photographer Kawakahi Amina '09 shot all the images for this year's Dartmouth Calendar. As each photo attests, he approaches his art with a sense of wonder and discovery. "Every time I pick up my camera I have the opportunity to see something new or see something familiar in a fresh perspective," he says. "I love taking photographs, and I love being at Dartmouth." To those who contribute annually to Dartmouth, he says, "Thank you. You make opportunities—for me, for every student—come to life."
Name: Kawakahi Kaeo Amina
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawai'i
Major: Biology
Dartmouth Highlight: Snowboarding for the first time at the Dartmouth Skiway and learning the hard way that it's very different from surfing—water makes for a much softer landing than snow. That said, I'm now addicted to it.
Favorite Professor and Why: That's a tough question considering the caliber of the faculty here. It's a close tie between Michael Chaney (English) and Mara Rendi (Biology-DMS). Both are the type of professors from whom you want to learn. They're engaging, brilliant, and (most of all) caring. They embody the type of high-quality education you come to expect and respect from Dartmouth.
Extracurricular Activities: Dartmouth Men's Club Tennis, Aikibudoin (Aikido/Judo), The Dartmouth (newspaper), Aegis (yearbook), Children's Hospital at Dartmouth volunteer, freelance photographer (Vox of Dartmouth, Dartmouth Life, Hopkins Center, Rockefeller Center)
Post-graduate Plans: I plan on going to medical school. To me, learning about others' experiences and stories when they are healthy are just as important as finding out what ailments someone has when they are sick. I enjoy working with people because every person I meet helps me grow a little as well.
On Attending College So Far From Home: It was somewhat difficult for my parents—I'm their only child—but they knew they were sending me someplace very special. A place that would provide me with an amazing education and where I could grow and develop on my own.
On Homesickness: At first it was a problem for me. But the more I got involved on campus, the more Dartmouth became my second home—to the point that when I call my parents I sometimes accidentally refer to Hanover as “home.” My friends and colleagues here have made Dartmouth truly my home away from home. Which is good, because I was only home this past summer for about eight days between sophomore summer and junior fall. Before that, the last time was for six days during spring break.
Why I'll Give Annually To Dartmouth After I Graduate: pledge my annual support because Dartmouth and its parents, alumni, and friends have given me the chance to experience an education like no other on the planet. 5,006 miles from home, I've found that Dartmouth is a special environment for personal growth. Through annual giving, I hope I can help at least one other young student on the other side of the globe find his or her way to Hanover, New Hampshire, to the exceptional place known as Dartmouth College.