Sharon Ishida
Journalism Department
University of Hawaii
Photo courtesy of Ka Leo
Photo by Eric Alcantara
She has been mother to generations of aspiring young journalists.
Many – probably too many to recount here – credit Sharon Ishida with getting them through University of Hawaii journalism school and into the working press.
Mark Matsunaga, KHON managing editor, Ken Ige, assistant photo chief for the Star-Bulletin are just a few.
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"Ken, you did register for next semester?" Sharon asked.
"Huh?"
Sharon shook her head.
Without Sharon Ishida, I would not have graduated as quickly as I did (five
and a half years). Sharon pulled my butt out of that particular fire by
calling secretaries in other departments to get me into classes I needed. In
hindsight, maybe she was trying to get rid of me by helping me graduate
faster.
Sharon was my mom away from home. She encouraged me to apply for photo
equipment, er, scholarship money when I thought I didn't have a chance. She
told me about summer internships. She told me about the mistakes, failures
and successes of former students who became working journalists.
Her help and advice were priceless.
And so is Sharon.
Ken Ige
Fall '88 Graduate (barely)
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Ishida has been journalism department secretary for 27 years, since it became independent of the English Department in 1974.
She also has helped the student chapter of SPJ on many of the chores that make for a successful chapter.
The University of Hawai'i Journalism Alumni Association has set up a Sharon Ishida Scholarship Fund for a student in the print broadcast or public relations.
If you are interested in contributing to this fund, please call Jan Kagehiro at 423-4983 or Kevin Imanaka at 432-4987, or visit the Web site at www.sharonishida.com
Sharon, born and raised in Kaimuki, won’t venture very far: She retired for a new mothering career -- grandmother.