Interview: Kaz Espina

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Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised on the island of Kauai, lived in Kapaa for most of my life and recently moved to Lihue

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What high school or college did you attend?

Graduated from Kapaa high school and KCC, Now attending UH West Oahu as a Creative Media major

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We LOVE hearing all about your studies abroad! Tell us - what was your favorite thing about going to school in Japan?

The best part of studying abroad in Japan was the amazing people that I met during my stay over there. Many of the Japanese students were some of the friendliest people I ever met and I also made a lot of international friends from all around the world.

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What made you interested in the medical field?

I’ve always been curious about the knowledge and talent it takes to become a doctor. I find it fascinating how they are able to recognize and diagnose any problems that a patient is having.

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Do you have any hidden talents?

I come from a musical family so I really enjoy singing. There were a couple of times where I even sang on stage which included singing along with my dad whenever he plays music at bars and I also even starred in a musical play once as well. My family and friends say that I possess a great singing voice so it became one of my favorite hobbies.

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Since gaming & design is something you love, please share with us how you got into gaming & what your favorite game is.

When I was a kid my Mom and Dad would play video games and I would watch them play all the time. When I eventually picked up gaming myself I fell in love with it which made it become my favorite pastime. One of my favorite video games has to be the Monster Hunter series since it is one of the coolest JRPGs (Japanese Role Playing Game) that I have ever played. As the title suggests you play as a hunter that hunts down unique and dangerous monsters and you’re able to sink hundreds of hours in this game especially if you play it with friends.

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What are 3 things on your bucket list?

1. After graduating and getting my degree in Creative Media I hope to either become a game designer or a teacher.
2. My parents and I are making plans to live somewhere in Japan in the future
3. Travel to different countries and visit the International friends I made during my study abroad.

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What's one fun fact that people may not know about you?

Cats are one of my favorite animals. I’ve owned cats all my life and currently have 10+ cats living at my house. My favorite cat that I own is a Maine Coon named Maximus. Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat species but they are also one of the most gentle and loving cats as well. Maximus has creamy orange colored fur and is currently around 20+ pounds. He is also the most cuddly cat that I own.

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If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

If I could go anywhere in the world my answer would always be Japan. Japan has basically become my second home after my study abroad trip and I would like to travel and visit all the prefectures. If I were to choose a specific place in Japan I would definitely like to visit Okinawa as I have never been there yet and it’s known to have a similar vibe as Hawaii.

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What is your favorite thing about working at Punzal Vision?

My favorite part about working at Punzal Vision is the team that we have over here. It’s like we’re one big family and everyone here is nice and friendly. Because of this we are able to work efficiently and help each other out whenever we can. We also like to go out and do fun activities and have holiday events so it’s fun wherever we all get to hangout.