MĀNOA MADE AT
W HERE IN T HE WOR LD A RE M ĀNOA A LUMNI?
Here at Mānoa, your achievements extend beyond the completion of your degree. The connections you make, the communities you develop, and the professors you encounter that nurture your growth provide the foundational stepping stones to propel you to great things on and beyond our campus. The success of a graduate stands at the core of our mission.
We connected with our recent alumni to learn more about their experiences. With a variety of backgrounds, selection of career choice and path to success, one thing is certain - our alumni are proud to have been Made at Mānoa.
1. Hawaiʻi State Dept. of Education
2. University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
3. State of Hawai‘i
4. City and County of Honolulu
5. John A. Burns School of Medicine
6. Self-employed
7. The Queen’s Medical Center
8. U. S. Federal Government
9. Bank of Hawaiʻi
10. Kamehameha Schools
HONOLULU, HI FARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
“What inspires my art is my local upbringing here on O‘ahu. I’ve come to realize how special it is to call this place home and I always try to incorporate or weave that into my work. I love to tell stories through my art and love to help other business and people share their stories as well.”
KELSIE DAYNA
Artist and Illustrator Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BBA Marketing '11
Kelsie Dayna is a Honolulu-based illustrator and artist, born and raised on the island of ‘Oahu. During the pandemic Kelsie left her corporate job and turned her love of art into a career where today, she has an impressive client list which includes Adobe Photoshop, Kamehameha Schools, State of Hawaiʻi DLNR and UNIQLO Hawaiʻi to name a few. Her work uses bold colors, dynamic compositions, and a playful sensibility that is rooted in storytelling and community. Kelsie hopes her journey as an artist inspires others to follow their passions in life, no matter their age or experience.
“Early in my career as a teamaker, my goal was to capture the flavors I grew up with in our products. I wanted our mango tea to taste like the mangoes we picked from Aunty’s tree. I wanted our Passionfruit Iced Tea to have the same tangy-sweet finish as the vine-ripened lilikoi we ate while playing in Manoa Valley. "
BYRON GOO
President & CEO, Tea Chest Hawaiʻi
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BBA Marketing & International Business '86
Byron Goo is President and Chief Tea Officer of Tea Chest Hawaiʻi, a Hawaiʻi-based specialty tea company he has led since 1995. With more than three decades of experience in entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and international trade, he has played a significant role in advancing Hawaiʻi’s food and beverage industry. He currently serves as Chair of the Hawaiʻi Pacific Export Council (HPEC) and previously served as President of the Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association. Appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Hawaiʻi Pacific Export Council, Byron has been a strong advocate for expanding export opportunities for Hawaiʻi businesses. His contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Small Business Advocate of the Year award from the City & County of Honolulu and the TASTE Award for Advocate of the Year. He remains dedicated to fostering economic growth, supporting local enterprise, and promoting Hawaiʻi-made products in global markets.
“I
hope to create safe community spaces, for people to gather and learn about lei making, different botanical crafts and also how to grow Native Hawaiian plants and take care of them.”
HONOLULU, HI
DILLYN LIETZKE
Small Business Owner, Palai LLC
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BS Natural Resource
Environmental Management '24
Dillyn Lietzke is a conservationist and cultural practitioner with a deep-rooted passion for Hawaiʻi’s natural and maritime heritage. She earned a BS in Natural Resource Environmental Management and is the owner of Palai LLC where she leads lei-making and botanical workshops that connect community members to cultural practices and environmental stewardship. In addition to running her small business, Dillyn has extensive experience in voyaging and currently serves as a voyaging program assistant at Punahou School, teaching students traditional navigation, seamanship, and Hawaiian culture. Her work reflects a strong commitment to conservation, education, and the perpetuation of ʻike Hawaiʻi through hands-on learning and community engagement.
EVAN FUJIMOTO
Executive Music Producer, Craft Brewz Music
UH Mānoa Band Music Arranger Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BS Biology '17
Born and raised in Honolulu, Evan Fujimoto spent his entire life in a creative medium. While pursuing a degree in biology, he was an active member of the UH Mānoa marching band and began arranging music for the program his senior year, a role he continues to take pride in today. Evan has established a multifaceted career in music production, media, and education. As Partner and Executive Music Producer at Craft Brewz Music, he has produced and developed recording artists, collaborated on songwriting and production projects, and pitched music to major record labels. In addition to arranging music for the UH Mānoa band program, he has collaborated with K-pop artists, including the group Crossing Rain and internationally acclaimed trumpeter Eric Miyashiro to name a few. In 2025, he was honored with a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Song of the Year for “Kickin’ Back” by Kala’e Parish
“Growing up in Hawai‘i, our culture is all about storytelling. From music to filmmaking, there is so much talent here that it has to influence me in some way. I think the biggest impact I want to make is to prove to people that good music does exist in Hawai‘i.”
HONOLULU, HI
“As the NOAA monk seal coordinator, I am dedicated to the long-term sustainability of the species. A lot of my work focuses to integrate what’s important to our culture, our community, and the people who utilize kai. I love that I am able interact with local communities and find a way to build back trust that was lost for many years. Being a local face within the federal government can sometimes be challenging but I find that it can be really rewarding and make a difference.”
FRANCESCA "FRANKIE" KOETHE
Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator – National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
MA Natural Resources Environmental Management '17, BA Zoology '14, Communicology Minor
Born and raised on Oʻahu, Frankie Koethe is dedicated to sustainable community development. She currently serves as the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator for NOAA, leading collaborative efforts to support the recovery of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Her previous work included public education and outreach for the Koʻolau Mountains Watershed Partnership and developing sustainable agriculture and agri-tourism initiatives across Hawaiʻi. While her focus has shifted to marine conservation, she continues to support sustainable agriculture through GoFarm Hawaiʻi.
HONOLULU, HI BOWERS + KUBOTA
“What I enjoy most about being in architecture is the impact I can make on the community. Seeing a project progress from an idea on paper to a built space that people use every day is very rewarding, especially knowing it contributes in a meaningful way to their experience”
TIMOTHY WON
Designer I & II, Bowers + Kubota Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
BEnvD Environmental Design '21
Timothy Won is an architectural designer at Bowers + Kubota, who specializes in creating functional, mission-driven spaces for the Hawaiʻi community. Timothy earned his Bachelor of Environmental Design, laying the foundation for a career focused on comprehensive interior and architectural design solutions with expertise in technical design project management and asset oversight. During his time at UH Mānoa, Timothy was an active member of Freedom By Design (FBD). He played a key role in designing and constructing outdoor classroom shade structures at Pearl City Highlands Elementary, demonstrating his commitment to improving local learning environments through collaborative design and cost-effective implementation.
CA
“Collaborating on student films in the UH Mānoa School for Cinematic Arts (SCA) shaped me into the filmmaker I am today. I took classes on screenwriting, editing, directing, cinematography, and learned about creative collaboration and problem solving that provided the foundation for my career. SCA is unique with a student body and faculty that comes from Asian, Pacific Island, and Indigenous backgrounds that you won’t find at other film schools on the mainland.”
LOS ANGELES,
KALI KASASHIMA
Freelance Film Editor
Los Angeles, California
BA Academy for Creative Media
Minor in Computer Sciences ʻ14
Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Kali Kasashima is a film editor based in Los Angeles. After graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, he built his career in feature film editorial, working on productions for Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Blumhouse, MGM, and Netflix. Alongside his studio work, he has edited award-winning independent features including Chaperone, Every Day in Kaimukī, and Molokaʻi Bound. His films have screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and festivals internationally.
CHRISTIANNE YOUNG
Systems Engineer, Northrop Grumman
Redondo Beach, California
BS Computer Engineering '23
Christianne Young is a systems engineer at Northrop Grumman, where she contributes to advanced engineering projects in the aerospace and defense sector. She earned her BS in computer engineering from UH Mānoa, graduating with honors as a Chancellor’s Scholar and consistent dean’s list recipient. While in college, Christianne gained hands-on experience through roles with the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory, where she supported satellite software development, and through internships with Northrop Grumman and the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific. She also served as an Engineering Student Ambassador, mentoring and inspiring future engineers. With strong programming expertise, Christianne is passionate about developing innovative technologies and contributing to complex systems that have real-world impact.
“I really enjoy how much I learn and experience in my engineering position at Northrop Grumman. I’m always gaining new experiences, expanding my knowledge on topics I know about, and learning about topics that I’d never encountered before. Being able to figure out solutions to problems I encounter is also very rewarding”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA PALACE OF FINE ARTS
“I found my passion for dance at UH Mānoa. I love being a dancer because I enjoy being creative and working in a very physical environment with my body and others. I find success in loving what I do and not settling for the expectations of others.”
KELLY DEL ROSARIO
Choreographer & Professional Contemporary Dancer
San Francisco, California
BFA Dance '05
An athlete and martial artist, Kelly Del Rosario discovered the potential of creativity in movement with dance and was able to combine his two passions by pursuing his BFA in Dance Performance at UH Mānoa. He has been with the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company in San Francisco since 2007 and has been a part of a number of award-winning contemporary dance companies through his tenure. In addition, Kelly is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) personal trainer and strength conditioning coach at MMA gym Rise Combat Sports.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA GOOGLE HEADQUARTERS
“Everyone defines success differently, but I think a big part of it is the relationships you keep, both with yourself and with others. I try to approach my relationships with empathy and care, to connect with the other person and communicate. That’s the kind of success that matters to me.”
JOSTEN FORSYTHE
Supply Chain Program Manager, Google San Francisco, California BBA Finance and International Business, BA Japanese '08
Josten Forsythe holds dual degrees in Finance and International Business, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese from UH Mānoa. Currently based in San Francisco as Program Manager at Google, he specializes in supply chain planning, data analytics, and cross-functional operations. With a diverse career spanning technology consulting, SaaS professional services, and government contracts, Josten excels at leveraging data-driven solutions to optimize business processes. His expertise in Agile methodologies and technical program management reflects his commitment to innovation and efficiency in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
WAVERLY HEURTELOU
Senior Emerging Talent Recruiter, Reddit, Inc.
New York, New York
BBA Human Resource Management '17
Originally from the Bay Area, Waverly chose UH Mānoa because of the reputable business program and opportunity to immerse herself in a new culture and environment.
As an Emerging Talent Recruiter, she focuses on recruiting for the Intern + New Grad + Fellowship programs, building out the recruitment strategy which includes universities and external partnerships. She is passionate about building connections with students from underrepresented groups while guiding them into career paths that break barriers into the tech industry.
“I’ve truly enjoyed aligning my personal mission with my corporate work — educating and helping bring underrepresented individuals into the corporate and tech spaces. It can be tricky transitioning from college to corporate and I strive to be the person I wish I had in that pivotal time.”
“My role within Suntory Group involves exploring the relationship between the spirit-making processes and sensory outcomes. With that being said, I have two main responsibilities: enhancing Jim Beam’s sensory quality by analyzing its uniqueness and historical changes and connecting blenders globally to share knowledge and enhance liquid quality across categories. I love connecting with people all over the world through spirits and discovering new stories! This role has shown me just how much history, nature’s impact, craftsmanship, and all the amazing stories are packed into every whiskey bottle.”
TOKYO, JP
MOANA ABE
Researcher, MBC Laboratory for Suntory Holdings Limited Tokyo, Japan
BS Atmospheric Sciences '18
Moana Abe works as a researcher in the MBC (MONOZUKURI-based Brand and Culture Construction) Laboratory at Suntory Holdings Limited in Tokyo where she aims to enhance the sensory experiences of Jim Beam and other spirits and connect blenders globally to share knowledge and enhance liquid quality across categories. She earned a bachelor of science in atmospheric sciences from the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) which provided unique opportunities to explore weather and climate phenomena in a tropical setting. Upon graduating from UH Mānoa, Moana returned back to Japan where she took on the role of production engineer at Sumitomo Heavy Industries, then decided to dive into the world of spirits with Suntory Group where she was able to utilize her experiences in the sciences in a different and innovative capacity.
“LEI DAY”
Cover Artist: Kelsie Dayna BBA Marketing '11 Honolulu, HI
“Lei Day” was inspired by Hawaii’s May Day tradition. It’s my vision of what heaven might look like, walls of draped, fragrant leis”
Follow Kelsie’s artwork on Instagram @kelsiedayna
