Kara Nishimura joined the University of Hawai‘i Athletics Department in 2004.
Originally hired as a graphic designer, Nishimura soon saw her role expand to become an assistant media relations director in 2005. She has served as the primary contact for several sports and currently covers women’s volleyball, men’s/women’s tennis, and softball.
During her time at UH, Nishimura has helped promote numerous All-America and all-conference student-athletes. She has been fortunate to cover 17 NCAA tournaments across four sports (8-women’s volleyball, 5-softball, 2-women’s tennis, 1-women’s tennis singles, and 1-women’s basketball)—highlighted by appearances in two NCAA softball Super Regionals, one Women’s College World Series and two women’s volleyball Regionals. She also assisted in covering UH football’s historic appearance in the 2007 Sugar Bowl and has also handled three WNIT appearances with women’s basketball.
Nishimura previously worked in Punahou School’s communications office and also served as an assistant and head coach at all three levels of the Buff 'n Blue's the softball program for 14 years. She worked for a brief stint in the Naval Station Pearl Harbor’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation department’s marketing office after working as a graphic artist at both Hawaii Winter Baseball and Tower Records.
Born in Boston, Mass., Nishimura grew up in Honolulu. She earned Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in both visual communication design (graphic design) and art history with a minor in English from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind..
Nishimura is a longtime member of College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA).
Away from athletics, Nishimura is a board member of the Honolulu Fukushima Bon Dance Club which she has played taiko drums and flute since 1994. She resides in Honolulu, O‘ahu.
