Before their first customer arrived on Thursday, Chaminade seniors Cade Fujii, Max Patterson, and Jace Tsutomi stood under the shade outside the Sullivan Family Library, checking clippers and talking through last-minute details about their bookings, their tools, their schedules. Beside them was Colt Fujii, Cade’s brother and the barber behind their new business. Together, they were ready to launch CUH Cuts, a mobile barbershop designed to provide students with convenient, professional haircuts on campus.
The idea for CUH Cuts began in Professor Masahisa Yamaguchi’s Business Strategy class (BU 469), where three seniors, majoring in Business, were tasked with creating and operating a real business. Cade Fujii, Patterson, and Tsutomi wanted to build something that could make an immediate impact on student life.
“We don’t really have accessible haircuts here on campus,” Cade Fujii said. “People are busy or don’t have cars to go off campus, so we figured we could bring the barbershop to them. We wanted to make it convenient for students to get a haircut right where they are. We just want to give students something simple, a good haircut, good vibes, and a good time.”
Colt Fujii, who isn’t a Chaminade student, brought the experience to make it work. He started cutting hair at Kapolei High School and quickly found a passion for it. His skill, paired with his brother’s idea, helped turn a class assignment into a real business.
“I started cutting my friends’ hair when I was a junior,” said Colt Fujii, who is a professional barber. “At first it was just for fun, but I kept going. Now I really enjoy it. Every haircut is different because every person is different. It is not just about the cut. It is about the conversation and the connection.”
By noon, the group’s small setup was ready for their first appointment at 1 p.m. A single chair sat under the shade next to a table, a mirror, and a QR code linking to cuhcuts.square.site or their Instagram page, CUH.Cuts, where students can book appointments or stop by for walk-ins every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.
The more they talked about CUH Cuts, the more their pride in what they had built showed.
“It is not just about haircuts,” Patterson said. “It is about creating a place where people can hang out, talk, and support something their classmates built. Even if you are not getting a cut, it feels like you are part of it.”
Each member of the group contributes in their own way. Colt Fujii handles the cuts, Cade Fujii manages promotion and communication, and Patterson and Tsutomi coordinate setup and scheduling. The project has already taught them lessons that extend beyond the classroom, especially for Colt, who sees every step as an opportunity to grow.
He said the experience has shown him the importance of patience and consistency. Even before their first client, Colt believes that staying steady and putting in the effort each day is what leads to improvement. For him, CUH Cuts is about learning, practicing, and improving in barbering, school, and in life.
When their first client arrived, the group took a moment to gather themselves and look over their setup. The clippers were ready, the chair was in place, and everything was set beneath the shade. CUH Cuts was officially open for business, transforming a classroom project into a meaningful impact for the campus community.
“We’re just getting started, and we hope it becomes something CUH students can count on,” Cade Fujii said.
CUH.Cuts will be cutting hair outside Sullivan Library (third floor) every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. until the end of the semester. Haircuts are $40.