Sydney Patanapaiboon

ʻOihana: Carpenter
Kulanui: Leeward Community College, University of Hawai‘i at West O‘ahu
I ke kula hea ʻoe i puka ai? James Campbell High ‘22
Wahi: ‘Ewa Beach, HI

Inspired by home improvement shows on HGTV, Sydney Patanapaiboon discovered her interest in carpentry during a woodshop class in her junior year at James Campbell High School. After graduation, she completed a six-week Hawaiʻi Carpenters Union summer internship and entered its apprenticeship program, which she is now close to completing.

Through Campbell’s Early College program, Patanapaiboon earned her associate degree in liberal arts from Leeward Community College in 2024, followed about a year later by a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu.

“Many local families, including mine, face challenges and I know how difficult it can be for young people to envision a future here. However, the (carpenters) apprenticeship program has shown me there are rewarding careers available that allow us to build meaningful lives without leaving the island communities we love,” she wrote in a July 2026 editorial for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Patanapaiboon attended Holomua Elementary, ʻIlima Intermediate and James Campbell High, where she helped lead the Sabers to its first Oʻahu Interscholastic Association Division I girls basketball championship in 2022.

Q: Pehea kou huakaʻi ma hope o ke kula kiʻekiʻe?
A: After high school, I did a summer internship with the Hawai‘i Carpenters Apprenticeship Training & Fund. After six weeks on a construction site, I decided to pursue this as a career and join the Carpenters Union. Nearly four years later, I am a couple months away from completing the program and becoming a journeyman. 

Q: He aha kāu hana i kēia mau lā?
A: These days, I’ve been working a lot and staying focused on building my career. I’ve also been putting more time into building my social media presence because I feel like more people need to hear about the great opportunities available in the trades, along with the importance of financial education.

Outside of my professional endeavors, I’ve continued coaching basketball at the club I formerly played for. I’ll also be starting a new season with Kamehameha Schools, where I’ll be assisting with the girls’ junior varsity team. Coaching has become something I really enjoy because it gives me an opportunity to give back, share what I’ve learned and hopefully have a positive impact on the next generation.

Q: No ke aha ʻoe i koho ai i kēia ala ʻoihana a he aha kāu e hauʻoli nui ai e pili ana i ia mea?
A: I chose this path because carpentry was interesting to me and aligned with my wants and needs. What I enjoy most is the constant challenge the job provides on a daily basis. If it’s not physical, then it’s mental, and I enjoy having to think on my feet and solve problems. I really love the fast-paced nature of the trade because every day brings something different and gives me another opportunity to learn and improve.

Q: Ke kumuhana punahele ma ke kula?
A: My favorite subject in school was math, and I think that’s one of the reasons construction has been such a good fit for me. We use a lot of math in the trades, whether it’s measuring, calculating angles, reading plans, or making sure everything comes together correctly. I’ve always enjoyed the problem-solving side of math, so being able to apply those skills in a hands-on environment makes construction even more enjoyable for me.

Q: He aha ke ʻano o nā hana extracurricular āu i komo ai?
A: I played basketball for Campbell High and also played for a club called Westside. 

Q: He aha kāu ʻaina awakea a ʻaina kakahiaka paha ma ke kula punahele?
A: I really liked the pizza pockets the school would make. 

Q: He aha ka mea e hoʻohanohano ai iā ʻoe?
A: I’m #publicschoolproud because the academic, athletic and personal growth opportunities public school gave me prepared me for life after graduation.

I think oftentimes when we’re young, we believe that life finally starts after we graduate. I didn’t see it that way. Once I got to high school, I was already thinking about what I wanted to do after graduation and what I needed to accomplish over the next four years to get there.

Public school gave me a head start toward earning my college degree by offering Early College courses and Advanced Placement. My teachers and counselors were more than educators to me; they were people who helped guide me. They encouraged my curiosity, challenged me to think differently, and helped me navigate the decisions I needed to make to reach my goals.

My woodshop teacher, Mr. David Perreira, opened the door to a career that has allowed me to build a great living for myself. My counselors helped prepare me for college by making sure I had the right classes and foundation to succeed. My high school coach, Coach Brian Ka‘a‘a, helped me develop mental toughness, discipline and the soft skills that have continued to serve me well into adulthood.

Looking back, I don’t think we always realize the impact teachers, coaches, counselors, and staff have on our lives while we’re still in school. Sometimes, it takes leaving those halls and looking back to understand how much they really gave us.

I’m proud of where I came from because I know I didn’t get here by myself. I put in the work, but I was also fortunate to have people who were willing to invest their time, knowledge, and energy into me. They saw potential in me, gave me opportunities, and helped point me in the right direction.

Those opportunities didn’t guarantee my success, but they gave me a foundation to build on. And I’m grateful for that.

That’s why I’m #publicschoolproud.

Q: Inoa o ke kumu a i ʻole ka mea aʻoaʻo āu e makemake ai e mahalo?
A: I want to thank my woodshop teacher, Mr. David Perreira. At the time, I don’t think I fully understood how much of an impact he would have on my life. He introduced me to a trade that eventually became a career and allowed me to build a great living for myself. More than teaching me skills in the shop, he gave me an opportunity to discover something I genuinely enjoyed and could build a future around. I’m incredibly grateful that he took the time to teach me and open that door. I wouldn’t be on the path I’m on today without that opportunity.

Q: He aha kāu ʻōlelo aʻoaʻo no nā haumāna?
A: My biggest piece of advice to high school students is simple: Don’t wait until the opportunity arrives to start preparing for it. Start preparing now.

Take advantage of every program, class, activity and opportunity your school has to offer. You never know which experience, skill, or connection will end up making a difference later in life. More importantly, surround yourself with the right people, people who encourage you, challenge you, and want to see you succeed.

You don’t have to have everything figured out while you’re in high school. But you should be putting yourself in a position where, when an opportunity does come your way, you’re ready to take it.