JCCH 2026 Intern Reflection - Porter Itano
by Porter Itano, JCCH Intern
Editor's Note: Porter Itano, a senior at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Shidler College of Business, joined the JCCH as a marketing and international business intern in 2026. A fourth-generation Japanese American (Yonsei) originally from Idaho, Porter brought a professional philosophy rooted in farm-raised self-reliance and a commitment to mission-driven work.
The Farm to Office Logic Improvisation as a Professional Tool
In a business classroom, success is often framed as the result of perfect planning and a flawless final product. However, growing up on a small family farm in Idaho taught me a different reality. Nothing is ever perfect and challenges are constant. On a farm with only a handful of workers, you quickly learn that fixing things yourself isn't just a habit but a requirement for survival. During my time at the JCCH, I found that this agricultural mindset was my greatest asset. When faced with misprinted signage or tight production deadlines, I didn't see a crisis. I saw a task that required the same resourcefulness I used back home.
Adapting this farm raised logic to an office environment eventually redefined how I view my role as being a generalist. To me, it means having the humility to value every task equally. Whether I was strategizing a digital marketing campaign or deduplicating Excel lists and inventorying supplies, my focus remained the same. I learned to prioritize tasks not by how exciting they felt but by how much the organization depended on their completion.
The Business of Community Marketing Beyond the Office
One of the most unique aspects of this internship was taking my marketing training out into the community. I spent time visiting local restaurants and stores to produce social media content, an experience that bridged the gap between digital strategy and real world connection. Capturing the essence of these local businesses for JCCH platforms taught me that marketing a cultural mission is about more than just aesthetics. It is about highlighting the people and stories that sustain our community.
Beyond the Job Title: A Shared Philosophy
What I found most admirable at the JCCH was how the staff mirrored this “all hands on deck” mentality. In many corporate environments, people stick strictly to the boundaries of their titles. At the Center, I saw staff at every level including board members stepping in to handle menial tasks whenever an event or task required it. This versatility earned my deepest respect. It served as a reminder that the most effective teams, whether in a field in Idaho or a high rise in Honolulu, are composed of people who are dedicated to the bigger picture rather than just a paycheck.
Connecting with the Community and the Craft
This bigger picture became especially clear during the Irasshai fundraising event. One of the highlights during this event was helping the artist Naoki during his gyotaku fish printing demonstration. While my initial role was logistical, helping set up the stage and framing his work, it quickly became a lesson in cultural preservation. Talking with Naoki and asking questions about his process allowed me to understand that the history behind the art was just as important as the logistical setup. Being able to communicate directly with the artist, board members, and community leaders showed me that a community is not just a group of people but a shared commitment to a story.
Connecting with the Yonsei Experience
Being a Yonsei, my connection to Japanese culture has always been a source of strength, but working at the JCCH gave that identity a new sense of place. Growing up in a small town in Idaho, I was often the only Japanese American in the room. Moving to Hawai‘i and working at the Center offered a unique sense of belonging. For the first time, I wasn't a minority.
While I am currently studying the Japanese language, this internship taught me that heritage is carried through more than just language. It is carried through a shared standard of conduct. Seeing values like omiyage practiced at the JCCH felt like a natural extension of my father's side of the family. At the Center, I realized that my Japanese American identity is not just a background detail but a source of cultural intelligence. It provides me with a specific work ethic and a sense of integrity that I saw mirrored in the staff every day. I now feel a personal responsibility to uphold these standards in my professional life, ensuring that the values passed down from my family are reflected in the quality of my work.
Reflections and Future Paths: The Internal Measure of Success
As I prepare to graduate from the Shidler College of Business, my definition of success has shifted from external milestones to internal standards. It is about carrying a mindset built on a specific blend of farm raised grit and cultural pride into the next chapter of my life.
I plan to apply for the JET Program as an Assistant Language Teacher next year, following in the footsteps of my brother and cousins. I see teaching as a continuation of the work I did at the JCCH, prioritizing the mission of education and cultural exchange over a corporate bottom line.
I've learned that while you can be born into a community, you only truly belong to it when you actively contribute to it. Though my time at the JCCH was short, the impressions left on me by the staff and the history we preserved have given me a piece of Hawaiian Japanese history that I will carry into my professional life and my everyday character. I move forward knowing that whether I am in a field, a classroom, or a boardroom, dedication to the goal is the only true measure of success.