Keolakawai Keliʻikuewa Genko Shimabukuro Spencer - UH Hilo Spring 2021 Commencement Celebration Graduate

　私がこの4年間で、感謝の気持ちを伝えなければならない人は、沢山います。長谷川先生、先生がいつも励まして下さったおかげで頑張ることができました。本田先生、いつも教室以外の場所で日本語を使う機会を作って下さってありがとうございました。教室の中でもクラスメートとよく笑いながら日本語や日本の文化と歴史などにも詳しくなれて嬉しいです。
　銀太郎さん、広人さん、チェイスさん、パンチョさん、素晴らしいルームメイトになってくれてありがとうございました。梨香子ちゃん、私たちがやっと卒業できて嬉しいです！かんちゃん、私たちが待っていますよ～。

Mahalo nui to my wonderful Linguistics professors, Dr. Ohara, Dr. Saft and Dr. Perez, for their never-ending support throughout my years at UH. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge in the amazing field of linguistics, as well as your precious guidance, advice and support. Ippē nifē dēbiru to Dr. Ohara and my Loochoo braddah Koutaro for helping me reconnect with my Okinawan roots. LIBB!

To the kind faculty at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani. Mahalo no kou aʻo ʻana mai iaʻu, ʻaʻohe wā e pau ai ka hiki ke aʻo i ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

To Bela, the headstrong coordinator of the TESOL program. It was an honor to be under your wing during your last year of teaching. To everyone at The Learning Center. To Dr. Osh and all the brilliant students I had the pleasure of tutoring.

This photo was taken at the final day of teaching for the TESOL Teaching Practicum (ENG 422) course. Bela, the now-retired coordinator, is at the far left. 17 of the pictured students are those who have completed the required courses for the TESOL certificate.

Smiling big after the year-end Linguistics potluck with my three professors, Dr. Ohara, Dr. Saft and Dr. Perez. I will miss the heaps of love and joy that the lāhui would pour onto me every morning when I walked into Hale ʻŌlelo.

This photo was taken at Yagoto-zan Koshoji (八事山興正寺) Temple, which is about a 10-minute walk away from my host university, Nanzan University, in Nagoya, Japan. Of course I'm repping the 808 with my aloha shirt, despite the cold weather that day!

This special shoutout goes to everyone who supported me with my study abroad journey in Japan. To everyone at the Center for Global Education and Exchange. Carolina, for checking in on me every week and being a personal therapist. Angela, for inspiring me to go above and beyond. Jeri, for handling my credit transfers like the pro you are. To Dr. Honda and all the faculty who wrote countless letters of recommendation for me so that I could enter advanced programs while abroad. To Dr. Ohara and Saft for writing my letters of recommendation for graduate school. To all the brilliant people I've met at Seinan Gakuin, Hokkaido and Nanzan Universities. You all inspire me with your kindness and patience.

I will be moving onto graduate school at Nanzan University to study linguistics in September!