{"id":234274,"date":"2026-05-14T14:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T00:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=234274"},"modified":"2026-05-14T16:27:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T02:27:27","slug":"kenny-tsuru-early-college-into-sweet-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/14\/kenny-tsuru-early-college-into-sweet-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen ice cream maker turns early college opportunity into sweet success"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Teen entrepreneur Kenny Tsuru is graduating with a high school diploma and Leeward CC<\/abbr> certificate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At 6 a.m., while many high school seniors are still getting ready for the day, Kenny Tsuru is already checking business emails, coordinating meetings and planning his next batch of ice cream.<\/p>\n

“My day-to-day life can be hectic, but it\u2019s something I\u2019ve learned to manage,” Tsuru said.<\/p>\n

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Leeward CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Carlos Pe\u00f1aloza with Kenny Tsuru at the ʻĀina<\/span> to Mākeke<\/span> Cohort 7 Showcase.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 18-year-old Pearl City High School senior is balancing classes, early college coursework through Leeward Community College, and his ice cream business, Kenny Boy Ice Cream<\/a>. His hard work is paying off, as he\u2019s graduating with both his high school diploma and a certificate of achievement in management from Leeward CC<\/abbr> in May.<\/p>\n

He also became the youngest entrepreneur to complete ʻĀina<\/span> to Mākeke<\/span>, a food business program offered through Leeward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Office of Workforce Development in partnership with Hawaiʻi<\/span> Ag & Culinary Alliance and the college\u2019s Wahiawā<\/span> Value-Added Product Development Center<\/a> (WVAPDC<\/abbr>), where Tsuru produces his ice cream.<\/p>\n

“This moment means so much to me,” Tsuru said. “It represents all the hard work, dedication and commitment I\u2019ve put into my education over the years.”<\/p>\n