Kokori Harayama and Rikuto Matsuo, graduate students from the Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, have arrived in Hawaiʻi to participate in “Coral Reef Structure & Function (MBIO 640)”, an exchange program offered by the University of Hawaiʻi (UH).

On their first day, they visited the UH Mānoa Campus, where they had the opportunity to interact with faculty members from the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography (UC·AO) over lunch. They also took part in an orientation and a campus tour before heading to Coconut Island, home to the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). On the second day, they enjoyed a tour of HIMB led by its director, Megan, and the course officially began on the third day.

For both students, this is their first experience abroad. Over the next five weeks, they will be immersed in an environment full of new experiences, not only in what they study, but also in the language, culture, and everyday life in Hawaiʻi. From here on, Kokori and Rikuto will be sharing updates on this blog themselves. We hope you will enjoy following their journey and seeing what they learn and discover during their time in Hawaiʻi!

Masami Tamechika

Group photo of exchange students (center), accompanying faculty member, Masami (fourth from left), and UC·AO faculty members