Honolulu Magazine October 2024

P L U S → M Y S T E R I E S O F M E N O P A U S E P. 3 4

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W H Y E A T I N G O U T C O S T S M O R E P. 6 5

T H E K O R E A N W A V E

WE’VE

GOT

SEOUL 서울에 대한 모든것 FROM K-POP AND K-DRAMAS TO FOOD, BEAUTY AND MORE, ALL THINGS KOREAN HAVE EXPLODED IN POPULARITY.

H A L L Y U I S H E R E

For inquiries, contact our circulation department: Phone: (808) 534-7520 Email: circulation@pacificbasin.net

publisher

HONOLULU Magazine emerged from Paradise of the Pacific, a publication commissioned by King Kalākaua that began in 1888, making it the oldest continuously published magazine west of the Mississippi.

Donna Kodama-Yee (808) 534-7501 | donnaky@honolulumagazine.com

editorial design Editorial Director Creative Director

Diane Seo | (808) 534-7105 James Nakamura | (808) 534-7151

dianes@honolulumagazine.com jnakamura@honolulumagazine.com Executive Editor Senior Art Director

Katrina Valcourt Christine Labrador Dining Editor

Mari Taketa

Managing Style Editor

Brie Thalmann

Associate Editor

photography Staff Photographer

Aaron K. Yoshino

marketing

Thomas Obungen Marketing Director Digital Editor Christy Davis | (808) 534-7503 Andrea Lee christyd@honolulumagazine.com Contributing Editor Branded Content Creation Manager

Don Wallace Marisa Heung | (808) 534-7152 Copy Editor marisah@honolulumagazine.com

Elroy Garcia

contributors advertising FEEDBACK

Hailey Akau Maddy Chow Leah Friel Noelle Fujii-Oride Olivier Koning Lynne Tsutsuki Mary Vorsino

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

C o n g ra t u l a t io n s to HANAP A‘A MAR KET Poke Fe s Fan Fav t East orite 20 24

MAHALO

Mahalo to the thousands of hungry poke fans who joined us for Frolic Hawai‘i’s Poke Fest East!

On Saturday, Aug. 3, we gathered some of the best restaurants at Kāhala Mall for a celebration of poke. Guests enjoyed live entertainment, freebies from Poke Fest sponsors and ‘ono food.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTICIPATING VENDORS: Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar, Ali‘i Fish Market, Da Bald Guy, Da hub truck, HanaPa‘a Market, Ilea’s Kitchen, Kahiau Poke, Kapa Hale, Kickin’ Sweets, Local Poke Bowl, Mama Kims, Nico’s Pier38 Fish Market, Ruby’s 2.0 LLC, Sato Seafood, This Lil Piggy, Babes Bakery, Bakin Me Krazee, Chibi Confectionery, Khao and Papas, Milky Way Shave Ice, MOCHEEKS, Pop Culture Artisan Pops, Princess Liz Creations, Sama Sama, Str’Eats Of Aloha, The Corner Rolls, Tropicold Wai LLC, Waialua BBQ, American Savings Bank, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate, Hawaiian Telcom

A BIG MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORS

CONNECTIVITY SPONSOR:

CO-SPONSOR:

C E L E B R A T I N G H AWA I‘I’S S O U L OCTOBER 2024 | VOL. LIX NO. 3

FEATURES 22 We’ve Got Seoul From K-pop and K-dramas to food, beauty and more, all things Korean have exploded in popularity in Hawai‘i and beyond.

BY D I A N E S E O

34 Let’s Talk About Menopause Misinformation about this natural life stage is rampant and many women experiencing symptoms are brushed off and left to suffer in silence.

BY MARY VORSINO

45 College Guide Our annual College Guide helps parents and students navigate the road to and through college while asking the question, is college still worth it?

DEPARTMENTS 7 Editor’s Page KOREAN CRAZE

Before diving into the story, I didn’t understand all the hype.

BY DIANE SEO

9 Currents What’s new and happening around town this fall, from Pride Month to the Hawai‘i International Film Festival.

Plus: photogenic pups, pau hana deals and more.

19 Style A fresh way to wear blossoms, quirky lamps, leather workshops, block prints and a new local design book.

BY B R I E T H A L M A N N

65 ‘Ono

WHY YOUR PLATE LUNCH IS BECOMING A LUXURY

Restaurateurs break down the rising cost of dining out.

72 Afterthoughts

TRACKING MY BLESSINGS

My gratitude app steers me to focus on the positive, even when things fall apart.

AARON K. YOSHINO

BY THOMAS OBUNGEN

Find out how Andres Monasterios and Natalie Sanchez train doggos on page 13.

BY K ATRINA VALCOURT

ON THE COVER Photo by Aaron K. Yoshino

SAVE THE DATE NOVEMBER 9–17

A weeklong culinary adventure, crafted for food lovers to discover new restaurants and explore fresh flavors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

HNLRESTAURANTWEEK.COM

E D I TO R’ S PAG E

Korean Craze Before diving into the story, I didn’t understand all the hype.

one who’s 100% Korean (according to 23andMe) to write a story about hallyu, or the Korean wave, in Hawai‘i. The thing is I’m not into K-pop, K-dramas, Korean beauty or anything trendy coming out of South Korea. My parents are Korean immigrants, and although being Korean has always been an important part of my identity, we spoke English at home, and my parents raised my sister and me to be more Americanized than traditionally Korean. So, while I approached this story with inquisitiveness and an open mind, I didn’t initially understand the K-culture hype, and how seemingly sensible middle-aged people, for instance, could let their teenage selves loose over K-pop stars.

What I learned is that hallyu is real, not just in Hawai‘i, but around the world. And while it’s not new, it’s not fading. Millions of people of all ages and ethnicities are passionate about all things Korean, and more are coming aboard. Still, when UH professor Cheehyung Harrison Kim told me Korean is the university’s most popular foreign language program, I was shocked.

Growing up in Honolulu in the 1970s and ’80s, I was a minority among Asians. Most locals knew very little about anything Korean except for stereotypical things like kim chee, kalbi and a phrase or two (“kamsamida” and “annyeonghaseyo,” most notably).

But that was then. Now, Korean culture, or maybe more accurately, the new K-culture, is clicking with the masses. Several years ago, I went to a group dinner and sat next to the late Nadine Kam, a well-known dining writer for the Honolulu Star-

AARON K. YOSHINO

I

T MAY SEEM FITTING for some-

Carl and Anita Racuya fell hard for K-dramas, and now, their lifestyle incorporates Korean traditions, like eating on the floor at a low table.

Advertiser. She had been posting Instagram videos of herself dancing to K-pop. In these clips, she wore girly minidresses and sometimes danced alongside the actual K-pop bands on a split screen or with herself superimposed on their music videos. She wasn’t self-conscious at all. That night at dinner, I asked her how and why she got hooked. She later sent me a scrolling text explaining that her love for K-pop originated with Jonghyun, a member of the group Shinee, who committed suicide in 2017. “The depression that had been slowly eating me up finally devoured me and I couldn’t defeat it,” Jonghyun wrote in his final note. Nadine told me she deeply empathized with the young star and became drawn to the music he left behind.

From there, she started following other K-pop artists, embracing their songs and performances. It brought her joy and meaning, she said.

At the time, my analytic mind still didn’t understand how a seasoned fellow journalist could seemingly go off the deep end of K-popdom. Years later, during Nadine’s last weeks before she died of cancer, she talked

about K-pop with the same confidence and pep in her voice. I was glad she held on to it.

That’s my main takeaway. We all need outlets and passions, things to make us happy. The people I interviewed for this story leaned into K-culture during COVID lockdowns or other bleak times in their lives.

They’ve met new friends because of it. They’ve traveled to South Korea multiple times. My longtime friend Maile Lum, who’s featured in the story with her family, now speaks Korean, and interrupted her recent staycation so she could attend her weekly online Korean class.

Whether you follow K-culture or not, I hope you find the piece a worthy foray into a sliver of life in our diverse city. I personally love learning about people’s passions, why unexpected things suddenly click, what sparks joy.

DIANE SEO EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DIANES@HONOLULUMAGAZINE.COM

OCTOBER 2024

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136 Years of Covers PARADISE OF THE PACIFIC was born in January 1888, with the blessing of King Kalākaua.

Though our name changed in 1966 to HONOLULU Magazine, the magazine has been in continuous publication for more than 130 years.

HONOLULU is one of the oldest magazines in the United States and has featured some of Hawai‘i’s most iconic figures on the covers, from Duke Kahanamoku to Eddie Aikau.

Order some of the most compelling covers in a variety of poster sizes online at shop. honolulumagazine.com

LIFE

IN

HONOLULU

FA LL F U N

Tricks and Treats THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO get in the

Halloween spirit in Honolulu. How about hunting for ghosts in the dark of Downtown, running from ghouls at a haunted house, or showing off your Oct. 31 best at a costume contest? If you’re in the mood for a spooky concoction, try the namesake rum cocktail that serves two at Skull & Crown in Chinatown. It’ll arrive ablaze in a skull cup as you take in the bar’s gothic tiki vibes. Once the sparkling spectacle dies down, you’ll enjoy flavors of lime, grapefruit and cinnamon. Visit honolulumagazine.com/ halloween-events to see our complete roundup of Halloween happenings.

—Andrea Lee, photo by Leah Friel

OCTOBER 2024

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CURRENTS

HAPPENINGS

COURTESY: JOY OF SAKE

Fall Events Top events this October and November.

BY K AT R I N A VA LC O U RT

OPERA Stuck Elevator Oct. 18 and 20 / Blaisdell Arena

Based on the true story of a Chinese food deliveryman who was trapped in an elevator for 81 hours, this opera takes on the bigger topic of undocumented immigrants in America through music and spoken word. hawaiiopera.org, @hawaiioperatheatre

VOLUNTEER Sustainable Ghostlines Festival Oct. 19 / 3–8 p.m.

Ali‘iōlani Elementary School / Free

Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i’s largest cleanup festival takes place in Kaimukī, with both stream and shore cleanups and native plant restoration. It’s not all work, though: The festival features a costume contest, food, music, keiki activities and a “trashion” show. sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org, @sustainablecoastlineshawaii

NEW IN TOWN A few places that have opened recently.

COURTESY: THE THINGS WE DO, THOMAS OBUNGEN, WARD VILLAGE, ALOHA COLLECTION

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

FOOD & DRINK The Joy of Sake Oct. 25 / 6:30–9 p.m.

Hawai‘i Convention Center / $130

CONCERT Let’s Sing Taylor: A Live Band Experience Nov. 1 and 2 / 8 p.m.

Hawai‘i Theatre / $29 and up

This tasting event is the largest sake festival outside of Japan, with almost 600 types of premium sake, more than a thousand attendees and even more labels than Joy of Sake NYC. Tickets include pūpū from 18 local restaurants.

First it was the cinema sing-alongs to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert movie.

Now you can take it a step further with a live band covering some of the pop star’s biggest hits. Don’t forget to wear your beaded bracelets.

joyofsake.com, @joyofsake

hawaiitheatre.com, @hawaiitheatre

TRADE SHOW Honolulu Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Jewelry Show Oct. 30–Nov. 3 Hawai‘i Convention Center / $5–$10

CONVENTION Amazing Comic Con Aloha Nov. 8–10 / $25 and up Hawai‘i Convention Center

Whether you’re a maker looking for supplies or just someone interested in meteorites, dinosaur bones, crystals and gemstones, this trade show connects attendees with like-minded folks and their treasures. honolulu.show

This annual convention goes beyond anime to celebrate comic books and pop culture, too. Come by to meet artists and voice actors from Pokémon, One Piece, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more, plus the legendary Chuck Norris. Threeday passes and VIP packages are available, with kids 10 and under free. amazingcomicconaloha.com, @amazingcomiccon

THE THINGS WE DO This beauty concept bar at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako offers services such as facials, microneedling and peels, along with high-end skin care products. thethingswedo.co, @thethingswedo.co

EN HAKKORE

SWEAT + SOUL

Giant bowls of bing su are back! The food court at Pālama Supermarket on Makaloa Street is now home to this Korean shaved ice shop formerly at 88 Pal Pal Supermarket.

In Ward Centre, find this local fitness studio’s new 742-square-foot spot, where you can take cardio, HIIT and barre classes.

palamamarket.com, @palamasupermarket

sweatandsoulstudio.com, @sweatandsoulstudio

ALOHA COLLECTION Parking just got much easier for fans of these Hawai‘i bags with the opening of Aloha Collection’s second O‘ahu location, near Bloomingdale’s at Ala Moana Center. aloha-collection.com, @alohacollection

CURRENTS

VOICES

Unapologetically Authentic As the first openly gay Miss Hawai‘i, Hayley Cheyney Kāne wants people to show aloha to themselves.

T

HIS SUMMER AT THE 2024 MISS HAWAI‘I COMPETITION, Hayley Cheyney Kāne danced

COURTESY: MISS HAWAI‘I/HIT IMAGING

BY DIANE SEO

hula while simultaneously singing “Aloha Wau Iā ‘Oe.” In a deeply moving performance, the 27-year-old Native Hawaiian, representing Waimānalo, channeled her love for the Islands, where she grew up. “The song I danced to is a story about missing Hawai‘i,” says Kāne, who moved away for college. “I lived in Seattle for eight years and moved home last year. The song really described the longing I felt to reconnect not only to home and with family, but to who I am. It was a love song to my homeland and myself.”

Not only did Kāne win the crown—she was first runner-up the year before—she also captured photogenic, social media and talent awards. And as the first openly gay Miss Hawai‘i, she’ll assume an active role at the Honolulu Pride Parade on Kalākaua Avenue on Oct. 19. “When I didn’t win last year, people said to me, ‘It’s because you’re openly gay.’” Kāne recalls. “I didn’t think so and was disappointed that people were thinking that. Turns out I was right—Hawai‘i is as progressive as I thought it was, and being queer here is safe. Being authentic is the characteristic I bring to the table because I’m willing to be who I am unapologetically.”

She now works as a prevention care coordinator, teaching diabetes prevention, at Waimānalo Health Center. “I’m passionate about sharing lifestyle changes that people can implement to prevent diabetes and hypertension,” says Kāne, who is applying to attend medical school. “My partner’s mom passed away earlier this year from complications of diabetes, and she was only 45. We see this a lot here in Hawai‘i, and Native Hawaiians are especially plagued. So, I’m here to advocate for showing aloha to yourself.” @hayleycheyneykane

S AV E T H E D AT E

Restaurant Week is Back!

Mark your calendars for Nov. 9–17.

HONOLULU MAGA ZINE IS PARTNERING WITH FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK AND MASTERCARD to resurrect HONOLULU Restaurant Week, during

which dozens of local eateries will offer special menu deals. No tickets are necessary, but reservations are highly recommended—just ask for the Restaurant Week menu when dining at participating venues. A portion of proceeds will be donated to nonprofit partners Hawai‘i Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and Aloha Harvest. Find the list of restaurants and their menus at hnlrestaurantweek.com and follow us on social media (@honolulumag and @frolichawaii) for updates. —Katrina Valcourt

OCTOBER 2024

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CURRENTS

FILM

COURTESY: SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS

Highlight Reel The 44th annual Hawai‘i International Film Festival spotlights local filmmakers.

BY K AT R I N A VA LC O U RT

The centerpiece film, Moloka‘i Bound, screens at Hawai‘i Theatre Oct. 9.

I

NSTEAD OF CATCHING THE LATEST

HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER, head to Consolidated Theatres Kāhala, where hundreds of original films will screen Oct. 3–13 as part of the 44th annual Hawai‘i International Film Festival. This fall’s lineup of 92 features and 114 shorts includes a record 40 world premieres, along with filmmaker Q&A’s, workshops and more.

Don’t miss this year’s centerpiece film, Alika Tengan’s highly anticipated full-length feature Moloka‘i Bound, an expansion of the Native Hawaiian director’s award-winning 2019 short of the same name. It premiered this year at the Seattle International Film Festival, and took home the award for Best Indigenous Feature at Oklahoma’s deadCenter Film Festival in June.

HIFF is one of 172 Oscar-qualifying festivals worldwide, and winners of two of its juried awards, Best Short Film and Best Made in Hawai‘i Short Film, will be in contention for Oscar consideration. The festival also doles out a total of $5,000 to winners of the Deep Blue Shorts Award, focused on emerging technologies in water power.

Special HIFF honorees this year include Roger Deakins, Oscar-winning cinematographer of Blade Runner 2049 and 1917; Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, the husband-and-wife showrunners of Shōgun (Kondo was born and raised on Maui); and renowned Māori actor Temuera Morrison, who plays

KŌKUA

Pawsitively Inclined

FOR 27 YEARS, DIAMOND HEAD BARK PARK has served as a destination for dogs, a haven on the mauka slope of Lē‘ahi where pooches meet, run and play without being tethered to a leash. Dog-loving philanthropist Clark Hatch established the park in 1997 as a gift to the community and has funded the nonprofit that supports the park’s upkeep ever since. This year, for the first time, a fundraiser is in the works to support the privately managed park.

Volunteers are creating a 2025 calendar featuring 13 pups, all park regulars, who were snapped by professional photographer Caleb Heikes. To purchase or donate, visit barkparkhonolulu.com.

—Thomas Obungen, photo by Caleb Heikes

@barkparkhonolulu 12

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

Boba Fett in multiple Disney+ series. You might catch them at screenings, along with plenty of other filmmakers and special guests.

It’s been a busy year for HIFF. In the spring its team members launched the inaugural ‘Ōpio Fest, showcasing student filmmakers, and relocated from Dole Cannery to a new office on Wai‘alae Avenue in Kaimukī, where they hold events and panel discussions. Over the summer, the festival partnered with the Prince Waikīkī for free film screenings on the hotel’s deck. The full HIFF44 schedule—updated daily during the festival—is available at hiff.org and @hiffhawaii. After its initial run the festival continues on the West Side and Neighbor Islands, Oct. 15–Nov. 10.

CURRENTS

TA I L S O F T H E C I T Y

Pack Mentality

T

WENTY-PLUS CANINES CALMLY TROTTING IN UNISON along a mountain trail is quite the sight. But it’s just another afternoon

for Barkhaus dog trainers Andres Monasterios and Natalie Sanchez, who help pups develop obedience and social skills. “Most dogs are underexercised and most issues stem from understimulation,” Monasterios says. The couple first started Barkhaus in Miami in 2012, before moving to O‘ahu in 2018. Monasterios previously trained animals at Florida’s Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, while Sanchez worked as a tech at animal hospitals. Barkhaus training takes place at homes, at sites where a dog is having issues, and during group walks. “It’s not physical strength as much as mental,” Sanchez says of leading packs. “You end up in this flow state where the dogs are respecting you, you’ve set the right pace … ” Monasterios finishes his partner’s sentence: “You’re so in sync, you become one unit.”

—Brie Thalmann, photo by Aaron K. Yoshino thebarkhaus.com, @barkhaus OCTOBER 2024

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A RRIVA L S

AR

DV

ILL

AGE

New Eateries TE

SY

:W

A craft beer hall, a new seafood spot and DIY barbecuing.

BY FROLIC H AWAI‘I TE AM

CO

UR

Bamboo Tiger Shop by Beer Lab

Mana + Pua

Onkee

It’s as if retro-trendy Asia barreled into a craft beer hangout, with attitude: Beer Lab’s latest opening, Bamboo Tiger Shop, debuted at Puck’s Alley with a focus beyond the local brewpub chain’s own beers. In line with a menu of Thai curry, Chinese Salt Pep Wings and daikon pickles, soju and cocktails are offered, with plans to start brewing kombucha. The vibe is summed up by the motto at the center of a graphic tiger-daruma mural by local artist Kaelyn Okuhata: “Drink beer, my friend.”

Salt at Our Kaka‘ako’s newest eatery debuted on the second level near Butcher & Bird in late June. Mana + Pua, familiar to many as a winery-café when it was in Hale‘iwa, serves a mostly seafood menu, including a daily crudo, fresh catch of the day, poisson cru and clam chowder in a coconut clam stock. There’s also bone marrow on focaccia and a venison-pork belly burger. Dining here is alfresco, with views of the emerging Kaka‘ako skyline.

Opened Aug. 28 on the second floor of Kō‘ula in Ward Village is Onkee. Among the seafood pancakes, spicy squid, hearty stews and chilled naengmyeon are seafood, vegetables and meats for DIY grilling—because Onkee is, at its core, a modern Korean steakhouse. Unmarinated meats dominate, the likes of hanger steak, rib eye and tenderloin dipped only in sea salts to bring out the flavors of the meat. Onkee is on the Victoria Ward Park side of the building, at the top of a sweeping staircase.

2600 S. King St., beerlabhi.com, @beerlabhi

324 Coral St., (808) 462-1368, @manapua.wine, @manapuasalt

1000 Auahi St., onkeehi.com, @onkeehawaii

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D E S I G N E D FO R G E TAWAYS

Experience the best of both worlds including all the comforts of home and luxury hotel amenities for a perfect getaway.

Daily Dining Credit

Complimentary Valet Parking for 1 Vehicle

Early Check-In

Waived Pet Fee Late Check-Out

K A M A’A I N A I N C LU S I O N S

K A M A’A I N A I N C LU S I O N S

Early Check-In

Late Check-Out

Complimentary Valet Parking for 1 Vehicle

Waived Pet Fee

Experience the best of both worlds including all the comforts of home and luxury hotel amenities for a perfect getaway.

Daily Dining Credit

D E S I G N E D FO R G E TAWAYS

2 2 3 S A R ATO G A R O A D, H O N O LU LU, H I 9 6 8 1 5 1 . 8 7 7. 6 8 3 . 74 0 1 | K A L A I WA I K I K I .C O M

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

CURRENTS

FROLIC FINDS

$40 Pau Hana for Two Grab a friend at happy hour and eat for two Jacksons and change.

C

HEE-HOO! HONOLULU, GOOD HAPPY HOUR DEALS ARE STILL OUT THERE— and we’re

not talking about mere edamame or fries.

Frolic Hawai‘i found four places where two can eat comfortably for $40 and still feel a little indulged.

COURTESY: THE SIGNATURE PRIME STEAK & SEAFOOD

B Y LY N N E T S U T S U K I A N D M A D D Y C H O W

The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood

Merriman’s Honolulu Hearty choices like catch-ofthe-day fish and chips ($9), kālua pork quesadillas with kim chee ($10), organic kalo hummus ($9) and spicy Pukalani green beans ($9) make this corner bistro in Ward Village an easy and filling pick. Locally sourced ingredients are the standard here, a legacy of Peter Merriman, one of the founders of Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine.

1108 Auahi St., #170, merrimanshawaii.com, @merrimanshonolulu

MELISSA CHANG

Happy hour daily 3 to 5 p.m.

Kapa Hale

Happy hour Monday to Friday 5 to 6 p.m.

The Hale ‘Aina Best New Restaurant of 2021 has one of the city’s newest happy hour menus. Dishes showcase some of Keaka Lee’s classics, including roasted garlic noodles with butter and pickled peppers ($13), Keaka’s Fried Chicken ($13), and the “V Is for Vegetable” ($12), an always-loving treatment of the locally sourced vegetable of the week.

A steakhouse pau hana? Happy hour atop the Ala Moana Hotel comes with a 360-degree view—and 10 menu items discounted by half. Try the prime steak tips with mushrooms and onions ($9), prime truffle meatballs (hey, we’re at a steakhouse, $10) and New Zealand smoked salmon spread crostini ($9). If you’re still hungry, there’s ‘ahi tartare and prime steak tacos with fresh avocado.

410 Atkinson Drive, (808) 949-3636, signatureprimesteak.com, @thesignatureprimesteak

Scan here for the full stories

MELISSA CHANG

STEVE CZERNIAK

Happy hour daily 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Tangö Contemporary Café

Happy hour Monday to Friday 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Breakfast and brunch—featuring house-cured salmon gravlax, Swedish pancakes and duck confit hash—are the mainstays at this upscale Kaka‘ako eatery, so a late-afternoon happy hour was deemed in order. Here, you can order crabcakes ($12), ‘ahi poke (market price), a charcuterie board ($14), and a $10 smash burger with fries, which you can turn into a double for $16.

1288 Ala Moana Blvd., #120, (808) 593-7288, tangocafehawaii.com, @tangocafehonolulu

4614 Kīlauea Ave., #102, (808) 888-2060, kapahale.com, @4614kapahale

OCTOBER 2024

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CURRENTS

REFRESH

Rainbow Connection The new Waiānuenue project near UH Mānoa brings change to the neighborhood.

BY K AT R I N A VA LC O U RT

T

HE VARSITY CENTER COMPLEX FORMERLY OCCUPIED

the works of local artists. KS students also created the artwork for the construction barricades up now.

Waiānuenue is the latest change along University Avenue in recent years, following the opening of Hale Mahana in 2018 and the Walter Dods Jr. RISE Center in 2023. A block away on Isenberg Street, plans call for the old Stadium Bowl-O-Drome to become a 23-story highrise with apartments for rent, plus townhouses and retail space, as part of the Hawaiian Home Lands program. shopwaianuenue.com

RENDERINGS: KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS ‘ĀINA PAUAHI

BY Blazin’ Steaks, Kit n Kitchen and Smokey’s Pipe and Coffee is being transformed as part of Kamehameha Schools’ latest redevelopment project, Waiānuenue ma Kapa‘akea.

Envisioned for the space across the street from Puck’s Alley is a vibrant commercial, cultural and residential area that’s more connected to the UH community. The first phase includes renovations to Varsity Center, the East-West Building around the corner, 2535 Coyne St. (where Rock Bottom Sports Bar & Grill was) and surrounding parking areas.

A few former tenants—Rock Bottom, Beer Lab Hawai‘i and Hair Croppers—have relocated to Puck’s Alley, while others have moved elsewhere, including Frost City, now located at 1517 S. King St. While it’s too early to say, landowner KS anticipates several previous tenants returning to Waiānuenue when the project is slated to open in 2026.

Similar to Kamehameha Schools’ Our Kaka‘ako, the culture and history of the larger district of Kapa‘akea—which also includes Puck’s Alley, Jiffy Lube and Burger King—will be honored through

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

PURSUITS

The Light and Dark The ceramic creations that artist Joey Chiarello posts on his Instagram, @demonsinmytea, may look intimidating, but in a way, they’re only human. At age 5, Chiarello’s older sister told him he was adopted, and Chinese—both untrue, but he believed it for a year. Growing up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, he was far removed from Eastern culture, but after stumbling on a Japanese woodblock print book at a local library he felt an immediate connection. He delved deep into Japanese culture, Buddhism and Shintoism, even declaring himself Japanese. Though he no longer identifies that way, his childhood

explorations ignited a lifelong passion for Japanese folklore and its creatures that are now reflected in his ceramic creations. “This one is based on my brother; he’s not with us anymore,” he says of the tiger featured above. Much of his art depicts an acceptance of struggle and gratitude for life. “We all have our humanness, and yes, we are emotion factories. But we’re all OK, that’s just the way it is.” —James Nakamura, photo by Aaron K. Yoshino etsy.com/shop/demonsinmytea J U LY/A U G U S T 2 0 2 4

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PRESENTED BY

CO-SPONSOR

Give

Where Your Heart Lives Giving Tuesday is December 3rd Give Big Hawai‘i is HONOLULU Magazine’s online local fundraising initiative designed to spark Hawai‘i’s charitable spirit. Support the movement with an online donation on Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

givebighawaii.com | #givebighawaii

C U R AT E D P U R S U I T S

Style

BY BRIE THALMANN

SPOTTED

Drop, Baby, Drop Designed to hold fresh flowers, Pua Pepeiao’s reusable earrings let you create mini lei to wear every day.

THE PETITE PĪKAKE BUSH in Harmony Abelaye’s Kāne‘ohe garden never seemed to produce

enough flowers for an entire lei. A shame, she thought, especially when special occasions rolled around. The situation, however, planted a seed. What if she strung the blooms as earrings? “When I have flowers, I want to showcase them,” she says. “Lei are festive, but earrings are more for every day.” Thus in 2021, Pua Pepeiao blossomed, offering fresh flower earrings and posts. The business became a creative outlet for Abelaye, who is a nurse. She sells earring posts on Instagram, with gold-plated and sterling silver finishes, so you can string them yourself, and fully dressed pairs at pop-ups. Along with whole flowers, Abelaye also layers in other garden elements, such as red ginger and Song of India leaves, dried grasses and even small fruits. The jewelry sparks joy for both the wearer and those around. “People always ask if they’re real,” she says. “You’re going through your day with a smile because you smell like puakenikeni or pīkake.”

AARON K. YOSHINO

@puapepeiao

OCTOBER 2024

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STYLE

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Core Memories Unlocked

LEARN

Meet illustrator Matías Solario, whose nostalgia-fueled style pays homage to the Hawai‘i of the 1940s through ’90s.

Fair Leather Friends Open Sea Leather Co. introduces accessory workshops.

CHINATOWN BOUTIQUE OPEN SEA

Sacramento

travel brochures, print advertisements, old commercials. I was raised on TV, comic books, and print pop media, so there’s a certain lens these types of items provide through which I can view and understand my own past and the recent historical pasts of others.”

CURRENTLY RESIDES: Waikīkī

VINTAGE VANTAGE: “There are

HOMETOWNS: San Francisco and

MEDIUM: Block printing, digital and

hand illustration

AESTHETIC: 20th century nostal-

gia—retro color palettes paired with intentionally crude illustrations to mimic the look of midcentury printing processes INSPIRATIONS: “Old, forgotten

ephemera: nightclub matchbooks,

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

so many gorgeous old buildings that have fallen into disrepair and are passed by without a second thought. I like to take these gems and polish them up a bit, showcasing them in a way I’d imagine more closely represents what the architects and designers had in mind. Maybe it’s just my way of documenting and preserving.”

solario.studio, @solario.art.waikiki

for beautifully crafted leather accessories and home goods. Now, owner-leatherworker Michael Bluth is opening up the store’s production space for beginner-level classes taught by local makers. Sam Hook, designer of the Tidal Theory handbag line, will lead a mini tote workshop. Staffer Luka Naeole’s class attendees will learn how to make a tool bag that doubles as a purse. And Bluth will teach folks how to make his popular Hannah cross-body clutch (below). Students can choose their leather color from 30-plus options and will learn a variety of skills, from tracing, cutting and stitching to finishing work and more.

15 N. Pauahi St., (808) 859-2204, osleather.com, @opensealeather

COURTESY: OPEN SEA LEATHER CO.

COURTESY: SOLARIO STUDIO

LEATHER CO. has become one of our go-tos

SPOTTED

PAG E S

Bright Ideas

Concrete Jungle

IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT OK BET DESIGNER KRISTIN BAUCOM turned

to locally foraged wood and leather when creating her first lighting collection.

Baucom’s fashions, after all, are known for organic fabrics dyed using raw plant materials and food waste.

Beyond that, each of her 17 unique lamps is infused with a sense of playful juxtaposition.

Angular silhouettes, formed with Nu‘uanu bamboo, are softened by shades wrapped in sheer avocado-dyed chiffon. Utilitarian cords are elevated with freshwater pearls and silk covers dyed with hibiscus flowers. And exposed bulbs are offset by salmon skin corsets, laced and finished with trailing bows.

Architecture geeks take note: Docomomo Hawai‘i celebrates the screen block with a breezy new book.

SEEN ONE SCREEN BLOCK, SEEN ’EM ALL? The concrete building material is

AARON K. YOSHINO

STYLE

so ubiquitous in the Islands that it would be easy to think so, until you flip through Screen Blocks in Hawai‘i: Letting Trade Winds Flow. The newly released book from Docomomo Hawai‘i, the nonprofit dedicated to conserving modern architecture, documents a whopping 45-plus different styles of screen blocks in Hawai‘i. The book also considers screen blocks’ origins here, their rise in popularity as part of the post-World War II development boom and chronicles its use by leading architects and in iconic buildings.

$15, docomomo-hi.com, @docomomohi

AARON K. YOSHINO

Prices upon request, okbet.supply, @okbet.supply

OCTOBER 2024

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“When I was dancing ballet, I didn’t feel free because it’s so strict and you have to be so precise. K-pop is light and fun.

It’s a big part of my life.”

— GIGI LEE, K-POP DANCER AND INSTRUCTOR

F RO M K- P O P A ND K- D R A MAS TO FO O D, B E AUT Y A ND MORE , A LL T H I NG S KO R E A N H AVE E X P LO D E D I N P O P ULA R I T Y IN H AWA I ‘ I A ND B E YO ND. P.

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BY DIANE SEO

P H O T O S B Y A A R O N K . YO S H I N O

“I really enjoy the showmanship of K-pop. It has everything—dancing, singing, rapping and costumes. And the K-pop community is a really cool community to be a part of.”

— JOSIE SCHOENSTEIN, K-POP DANCE INSTRUCTOR, HAWAI‘I DANCE BOMB

“It’s catchy. The words are about love.

There aren’t swear words or jokes you wouldn’t say with kids in the room.”

— MIRANDA RUDEGEAIR, OWNER, HAWAI‘I DANCE BOMB

H A L L Y U I S H E R E

WE’VE GOT SEOUL

I N ⤵

A SMALL K AIMUKĪ STUDIO, Gigi

Lee, an 18-year-old with billowing crimson hair, leads a K-pop dance class. “You got to work it,” she tells five women, who range in age from their 20s through middle age.

They’re doing their best to imitate Lee’s pop star swagger as Nayeon’s “ABCD” pulses over the sound system. “Do anything that looks swag, like jazz fingers or a swag face.”

She pouts her lips to demonstrate.

In their living room a few blocks away, Anita and Carl Racuya are glued to an episode of Battle for Happiness, a suspenseful Korean drama they’re streaming on Netflix.

The Racuyas got hooked on K-dramas during the pandemic and have watched more than 200 series (not episodes) including romantic comedies, war tales and murder mysteries. Now they eat their meals sitting at a low table on the floor, picking at banchan with stainless steel chopsticks and sipping water from small metal cups, just like the characters in their favorite shows.

Around Honolulu, K-culture has caught fire, ushering in hallyu, a Korean wave that shows no sign of abating. And like Lee (who’s primarily Chinese and only 5% Korean) and the Racuyas (Anita is Japanese, Carl is Filipino), most

fueling the craze aren’t Korean. They’re largely women, but span demographics.

By no means is hallyu new or exclusive to Hawai‘i. It’s global. But here, it’s embedded deeper, says Cheehyung Harrison Kim, a Korean history professor at UH Mānoa. “Korean culture has a long history in Hawai‘i, more than 100 years, and there’s always been appreciation of Korean culture.” He points to artwork at museums, Korean films at Hawai‘i International Film Festival and our annual Korean Festival as examples. But now, he says, “K-culture has spread to the masses. We have a radio station playing mostly K-pop. Our Korean restaurant scene is expanding and becoming trendier, and there are all kinds of new businesses. This happened in the past five to 10 years, and it’s permeated the local culture with a base already established.”

To historians like Kim, South Korean culture is far more profound than K-pop, K-dramas, kalbi or kim chee.

The country’s tumultuous history and long-standing beliefs are what shaped the Korean soul, not trends. It’s also a given that K-culture is a moneymaking machine, with South Korea’s government and corporate executives promoting and cashing in on all things Hanguk.

“K-pop artists and producers have figured out how to monetize better than anyone else from East Asia,” Kim says. “It’s not pure Korean culture that’s being exported, it’s a hybrid of Korean and Western culture that’s been reinvented, repackaged and exported.”

“KOREAN CULTURE HAS A LONG HISTORY IN HAWAI‘I, MORE THAN 100 YEARS, AND THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN APPRECIATION OF KOREAN CULTURE.”

"하와이의 한국문화는 100년이 넘는 긴 역사를 가지고 있고, 하와이의 사람들은 한국문화를 꾸준히 사랑하고 있다."

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

작 은 카 이 무 키 스 튜 디 오 에 서,

작 은 카 이 무 키 스 튜 디 오 에 서,

A N I T A + C A R L

C R A Z Y

R A C U Y A

F O R

ILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCK /GETT Y IMAGES PLUS, THERD OVAL

K D R A M A

Carl and Anita Racuya eat their meals at a Korean-style table.

OCTOBER 2024

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COURTESY: BECK Y MITS

WE’VE GOT SEOUL

WHATEVER IT IS, IT’S WORKING 복잡하지만 계속 발전하고 있다 BETWEEN 2019 AND 2023, the combined revenue of South Korea’s four largest

music agencies tripled to nearly $3 billion, according to a 2024 Morgan Stanley report. And with demand rising from global streaming platforms, some $561 million of Korean television content was sold abroad, the government says— nearly a 30% increase from the previous year. The World Travel & Tourism Council expects tourism in South Korea to draw record sums in 2024, while the country’s beauty and personal care market is projected to generate $14.8 billion in revenue.

There’s no data that breaks down what’s happening in Hawai‘i, but it’s clear hallyu is thriving here:

⤵

❁

Hawai‘i’s first K-pop-focused FM radio station, PoP 101.9, launched in 2023 and already has 200,000 listeners. Most are locals, but others tune in from elsewhere via the iHeartRadio app, says Becky Mits, a popular DJ there. “K-pop is definitely not dying off—it’s growing. When the station throws K-pop events, they’re packed with people of all different ethnicities and ages.”

✿

At UH, home to the largest Korean study center in the world outside the Korean Peninsula, the most popular language to study is Korean, Kim says. The school now offers six levels of Korean instruction, along with a roster of Korean history classes, which all fill up quickly.

❀

Travel to South Korea from Hawai‘i is booming. Non-Stop Travel, one of the

❁

Hawai‘i’s first Paris Baguette, a South Korean bakery chain, drew lines that snaked down the block when it opened on Bishop Street in February. Also opened in recent years: two O‘ahu H Marts, Korean beauty businesses, K-pop shops like KPop Friends at Ala Moana Center, and more Korean fried chicken spots and other eateries than can be accurately tallied.

❖

An estimated 20,000 people attended this year’s newly expanded twoday Korean Festival in August, with excited fans packing Consolidated Theatres Ward for a sold-out movie night with South Korean actor Shin Hyun Joon.

OLIVIER KONING

❀

city’s leading travel agencies, offers five different tours to South Korea and plans to add two more to meet rising demand.

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

PoP 101.9 DJ Becky Mits at a Blackpink concert in Las Vegas

“Many people are still looking for Korean business opportunities here,” says Gina Kim, president of the Korean Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i. “People just love everything about Korea. They’re traveling to Korea, and they love the food, music, shows—everything.”

HOW K-POP CAUGHT FIRE K-팝의 불씨는 무엇인가 UNTIL TAYLOR SWIFT TOOK OVER as the

world’s top-selling recording artist in 2022, the honor went to K-pop’s BTS in 2020 and 2021, according to recording industry tracker IFPI. Swift continued to reign in 2023, but two other South Korean groups, Stray Kids and Seventeen, held the No. 2 and 3 spots respectively, topping Drake and The Weeknd. BTS, meanwhile, is expected back in the pop music scene in 2025, after being on hiatus since 2022.

How exactly did K-pop get to this level?

Many credit Psy, who blasted to worldwide fame in 2012 with “Gangnam Style.”

The official music video, with the South Korean rapper showcasing his unforgettable equestrian moves, now has a staggering 5.2 billion YouTube views. What’s stunning about the song’s success is that except for a few lyrics like “style,” “baby” and “hey, sexy lady,” it’s sung in Korean.

“People saw the music video and thought it was so funny and catchy,” says Jin Hong, an owner of Kaka‘ako’s Café Duck Butt, a pau hana and karaoke spot that opened in 2010. “Almost all our customers used to be Korean, but then Psy sparked people’s interest, and locals started coming in wanting to watch Korean videos.”

Psy’s success paved the way for megastar groups like Blackpink and BTS. Neither has performed in Hawai‘i, but if BTS did, it would be “insane,” says May Hoshida, an O‘ahu mom and hard-core fan.

The 50-year-old accountant became an ARMY—the acronym for BTS devotees that stands for Adorable Representative

Hoshida pretends to pose with BTS member Jimin in a photo booth in Seoul.

M A Y H O S H I D A

B T S A R M Y

Hoshida’s 11th anniversary BTS cards, given to ARMY

OCTOBER 2024

27

WE’VE GOT SEOUL

I P S U M D O

S T R A Y K I D S S T A Y

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

L I B E R T Y P E R A L T A

S T R A Y K I D S S T A Y

COURTESY: LIBERT Y PERALTA

L O R E M

M.C. for Youth—during the pandemic. “My family had challenges, stressful situations,” she says. “With BTS, people say they find you—you don’t find them. And they came up at a time where I needed comforting. It filled a bit of that darkness that many of us were feeling at that time.”

Moved by lyrics that made her smile, cry and laugh—BTS members write many of their own songs—Hoshida felt connected to them. Watching their reality show and countless interviews strengthened her connection. “They came from nothing,” she says. “They signed with a small company and grew with it. They could have left, but they stuck it out together. It made me want to support them even more.”

She’s since traveled to Korea four times, twice by herself, meeting fellow ARMY members and going on a pilgrimage that featured her eating the band members’ favorite foods, which she wrote about for Frolic Hawai‘i.

K-pop also started as a COVID-19 diversion for Liberty Peralta, a Stray Kids fan who is senior marketing and communications director at Hawai‘i Public Radio.

“A year ago, I got sucked into a video wormhole,” she wrote on Instagram in early June, the anniversary of her discovery of Stray Kids. “They had just come out with a new album, 5-Star, and after watching several captivating interviews and music videos, I was hooked. While a part of me is embarrassed that the algorithm got me, a bigger part of me is thankful that it did.

Stray Kids has helped buoy me through some exceptionally tough moments, and as 2024 continues to deal blow after blow, they continue to be there, whether I’m in need of distraction … or validation. Through Stray Kids, I’ve reconnected with old friends and formed new friendships. Circumstances have also made it possible for me to travel to South Korea twice now, the first time by myself. I’m forever grateful to be a STAY” (the group’s official fandom name).

Peralta, who went through the painful process of shutting down her Kaimukī cat café in June, says being part of the massive K-pop fandom is not a pastime, it’s a lifestyle. “It’s a safe place for a lot of people, because there’s still a lot of heaviness going on in the world. It brings joy.”

Liberty Peralta has visited South Korea twice since becoming a Stray Kids fan. Above, posed with a cutout of the band while in Seoul.

M A I L E

K-DRAMAS GO GLOBAL 세계로 간 K-드라마

L U M

have been watching them for decades. My own Korean parents became addicted to them in the 1990s, renting stacks of DVDs from an umma and appa video shop on Ke‘eaumoku (and sometimes sending me to pick up their latest haul).

Hallyu Hawai‘i, a local K-drama fan club, has been active since it started in the early 2000s under another name. Over the years, its members, mostly local Asian women, organized meetups with visiting Korean celebrities. The 80 or so members, several now in their 70s and 80s, are still hooked on K-dramas and gather twice a year to “enjoy Korean culture together,” club president Grace Ogawa says.

Meanwhile, K-drama has hit the mainstream everywhere. Netflix streams it; so does Hulu. Netflix premiered its first original K-drama series, Kingdom, in 2019. Viki, a streaming service for Asian entertainment, is also hugely popular. Passengers can even watch K-dramas as part of the in-flight entertainment on major U.S. airlines. “Koreans now have global distribution of their exports,” says Toby Tamaye, who organizes Honolulu’s annual Korean Festival. “Netflix carrying them was the biggest change in terms of the accessibility of Korean dramas.”

Like her parents, Anita and Carl Racuya, Maile Lum is a K-drama super fan. It started with Parasite, the South Korean film that won Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards. After seeing it, Lum started watching K-dramas, quickly becoming hooked during COVID lockdowns. She’s since watched more than 150 series, which typically include more than a dozen episodes each. “There’s always a surprise, and they don’t drag on,” she says.

“They move fast and are way more interesting than American shows.”

COURTESY: MAILE LUM

K-DRAMAS AREN’T NEW —people in Hawai‘i

A L L I N F O R K O R E A

Maile Lum (top photo, bottom right) and her family (husband Tim Lum, son Conner and daughter Halle) during their summer trip to Seoul

OCTOBER 2024

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WE’VE GOT SEOUL

Lum is fascinated by Korean history and its culture, like the country’s rigid education system. She’s learning Korean from instructors she discovered on Instagram and her conversational Korean and ability to read Hangul has come in handy during four trips to Korea since 2023.

Seoul is the new top destination for the Lum and Racuya family, which used to fly to New York City every year for shopping, eating and fun. Conner Lum, Maile’s son, visited Seoul for the first time in June, and after a few days there, the 18-year-old UH freshman announced that he had found his place. Now he’s also learning Korean and plans to spend his sophomore year studying in the country.

TRAVEL, FOOD, BEAUTY 여행, 음식, 뷰티 GENE MIYAKE, OWNER OF NON-STOP TRAVEL ,

says South Korea used to be a “one-and-done destination. You visit once, check it off your bucket list, then you’re done.”

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Locals now can’t get enough of Korea, so the travel agency, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025, is expanding its tour roster. Next year it expects to take 40 groups to Korea on seven different tours, including its K-drama excursion and a new K-beauty tour.

Miyake traces the nation’s popularity as a travel destination to the pandemic, when people stuck at home discovered K-dramas and K-pop. When travel restrictions eased, they were primed and ready—and with new attractions cropping up in South Korea, visitors aren’t going home disappointed. “The experience keeps getting better and better,” Miyake says. “In five years, our business to Korea has quadrupled. And I think we’re still in a deep growth phase.”

The same goes for chains from South Korea. Café Duck Butt’s Hong suspected locals would welcome Paris Baguette.

The roster of franchised Korean eateries on O‘ahu already included Vons Chicken, Bb.q Chicken and Sura. So Hong’s DB Restaurant Group partnered with Robert Kurisu of WKF Inc., which owns the Downtown building where the bakery opened. (Kurisu’s father, Duane, owns HONOLULU Magazine.) The opening crowds floored Hong.

“We knew it was going to be busy, but we didn’t realize how much exposure and brand recognition it has,” he says. “Ten years ago, nobody would have recognized concepts from Korea. But because of the music, dramas, movies, these businesses all have traction.”

Hong and his partners plan to roll out at least three more Paris Baguettes on O‘ahu. The second will open at the Pagoda Hotel in a spacious indoor-outdoor setting. With the Korean dining scene expanding and evolving, Hong believes Hawai‘i is ripe for more. He cites Atomix, a New York Korean restaurant named

GETT Y IMAGES, TWENT Y47 STUDIO, WILL & DENI MCINT YRE; ILLUSTRATIONS: STOCK /GETT Y IMAGES PLUS, GIWON LEE

“TEN YEARS AGO, NOBODY WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED CONCEPTS FROM KOREA. BUT BECAUSE OF THE MUSIC, DRAMAS, MOVIES, THESE BUSINESSES ALL HAVE TRACTION.”

J I N H O N G + M I N A Y O O N

S E O U L

Siblings Jin Hong and Mina Yoon, partners and owners of Paris Baguette in Hawai‘i

F O O D

OCTOBER 2024

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T O M K I M

K B E A U T Y

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HONOLULU MAGAZINE

Tom Kim, owner of The Face Shop in Hawai‘i, says Korean beauty keeps growing in popularity.

one of the world’s 50 best restaurants of 2024, as a marker of Korean cuisine heading for heights never previously imagined.

Finally, no discussion of K-culture is complete without delving into Korean beauty and skin care.

Gorgeous, flawless “glass skin” is one of the most admired traits of Korean screen and pop stars—a fact that draws women from Hawai‘i and beyond to Seoul for beauty treatments and products. A recent text from Frolic Hawai‘i writer Melissa Chang mentioned a visit with Peralta to Olive Young in Seoul. “What’s Olive Young?” I asked.

“Oh my gosh! It’s like the Korean version of Sephora! Everyone who is into Korean beauty products knows about it. Liberty and I went to one of its biggest stores. It was multi-storied!”

Those who can’t get to South Korea seek out K-beauty goods online or at stores. Tom Kim got in on the trend early, in 2011, by buying the Hawai‘i distribution rights for The Face Shop. The Korea-based enterprise retails K-beauty products, and Kim has three stores on O‘ahu. “We were right on the cusp of this big K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty trend, and it hasn’t stopped,” he says. “It’s wild because I thought we were very close to the pinnacle, but it’s just kept growing.”

S C E N E S F R O M T H E 2024 K O R E A N F E S T IVA L I N HONOLULU

IS THERE A DOWNSIDE? 안 좋은 면이 있다면? not just for South Korea, but also for local business owners like Jin Hong, Tom Kim and Gene Miyake.

Yet, there’s a darker side. For starters, there’s been a slew of suicides among South Korean actors and singers, some at the peak of their careers.

Many attribute this disturbing trend to oppressive public scrutiny and constant demands of industry executives. And the massive amount of content available to K-pop and K-drama fans, which keeps them sucked in, is compared to an addictive drug.

K-culture is also sometimes viewed as superficial fluff, focused more on appearances and image than anything substantive or authentically Korean.

But isn’t American pop culture equally fake and fluffy, if not more so? And as fans point out, K-pop and K-dramas are far less profane and raunchy.

The bottom line: People love it, and want more and more. So hallyu lives on.

“People don’t buy with their brains,” Peralta says. “They buy with their hearts.”

ALYSSAKIHEI PHOTOGRAPHY

CLEARLY, K-CULTURE has been an economic success

This year’s event drew 20,000 people to Kaka‘ako Mauka Gateway Park.

OCTOBER 2024

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Let’s Talk About

34

P.

GETTY IMAGES; FCSCAFEINE

Misinformation about this natural life stage is rampant and many women experiencing symptoms are brushed off and left to suffer in silence.

BY MARY VORSINO

MARCH 2024

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L E T 'S TA L K A BOUT M EN OPAUSE

. . . I S A H E A LT H Y 5 8 -Y E A R- O L D C RO S S F I T COAC H ,

nutrition consultant and athlete who’s also on hormone replacement therapy to regulate the brain fog, hot flashes and crushing fatigue that began in her late 40s with the onset of menopause.

Vasquez didn’t struggle to talk about her symptoms with a doctor; she struggled to find a doctor who would listen. While in a good place now, the Hilo resident didn’t get the answers she was searching for easily. One OB-GYN she went to suggested she was a hysterectomy candidate and tried to convince her to stop hormone replacement therapy. “She got very combative,” Vasquez says. “I thought that was crap.”

Dr. Stacy Ammerman, a board-certified OB-GYN with professional certifications in menopause care, keeps a journal in her Kahului office where she jots down the frustrating medical advice her patients received from previous doctors after seeking help for symptoms of menopause or perimenopause.

One entry: “When a middle-aged patient went to her doctor complaining of worsening anxiety, she was asked if she’d ever considered drinking a glass of wine at night to wind down.”

Another: “A woman with other symptoms of perimenopause noticed she was gaining weight without changes to her diet. The generally active woman was told she simply needed to work out more and eat less.”

“I have patients who have spilled their hearts out and been told it’s all in their heads,” says Ammerman, the founder of Pacific Menopause, a specialty online clinic that she operates separately from her full-time gynecological practice.

Ammerman, who readily volunteers that she’s experiencing perimenopause symptoms herself, says even doctors highly trained in the changes that women can undergo as they near or enter menopause are left stumped by some cases. She is a strong proponent of letting patients

COURTESY: AMBER VASQUEZ

Amber Vasquez ...

know when answers might take a while to find—and she stresses that symptoms can vary widely, change over time and require different approaches.

One thing Ammerman is certain about: When it comes to menopause, doctors need to start listening more—and stop brushing off complaints. “Women put up with more suffering than they need to,” she says.

“Mood and sleep problems. Hot flashes. Brain fog.

Vaginal dryness. Libido issues. A lot of women don’t even feel comfortable talking to their doctors about these things.”

* A Normal Stage of Life FOR ALL THE MYSTERY, fear, ignorance and myth

surrounding it, menopause is a natural biological stage for women in midlife. A woman officially enters menopause after not having a period for 12 months. In the U.S., the average age for when that happens is 51. Perimenopause, meanwhile, can last for up to a decade before menopause and be characterized by a host of symptoms, both physical and emotional. During the transition into menopause, in addition to ovulation becoming irregular, a woman’s production of estroCONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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L E T 'S TA L K A BOUT M EN OPAUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of The Menopause Society, an Ohio-based nonprofit that offers training to health care professionals and educational resources for women across the country. “The medical field, as a whole, has lagged in recognizing the enormity of this challenge, providing only limited training for health care professionals. Because most women will spend a third or more of their lives in menopause, we need to do a better job for them.”

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%

* Menopause: A New Priority

OF WOMEN EXPERIENCE MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS (HOT FLASHES ARE, BY FAR, THE MOST COMMON).

SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

gen and progesterone decreases. It’s that drop in estrogen levels that’s responsible for many of the symptoms that perimenopausal and menopausal women experience.

While women make up more than half of the U.S. population, and the country is graying at a faster rate than it has in more than a century, research on perimenopause and menopause is woefully inadequate and underfunded, experts say. This persists even though about 85% of women experience menopause symptoms (hot flashes are, by far, the most common), according to the National Institutes of Health. And roughly a quarter of women describe their symptoms as severe—so disruptive that they impact their relationships, careers, ability to parent and day-to-day functioning, surveys have found. Worse, many primary care doctors, specialists and even gynecologists are poorly equipped to treat the symptoms, falling back on outdated assumptions and spotty training.

“Today there are more women entering the menopause transition than at any other point in history, so researching new therapeutic options and educating women on menopause and ways to address bothersome symptoms needs to be a priority,”

THAT “BETTER JOB” COULD BE ON THE HORIZON,

thanks in part to a public outcry over the state of menopause care in the U.S. Amid a growing acknowledgment in medical circles that women’s health research has been neglected, menopause is getting new attention, including at medical schools, laboratories, hospitals, in the national media and even inside the halls of Congress. Over the summer, five prominent U.S. senators, including Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced bipartisan legislation that would funnel new federal dollars into menopause research.

Murray noted there are few federally funded clinical trials on menopause and menopausal hormone therapy and little menopause education for doctors—with less than 33% of U.S. residency programs offering menopause curriculums, according to one survey.

ESTROGEN

THE MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION MOST OFTEN BEGINS BETWEEN AGES

45 AND 55.

PROGESTERONE

7 YEARS BUT 14 YEARS.

IT USUALLY LASTS ABOUT CAN BE AS LONG AS

SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

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ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS, FCSCAFEINE

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

We provide QUALITY CARE that women DESERVE. From health screenings and well-woman exams to pregnancy, bone and joint care, heart health, cancer care and senior needs, our teams of experts at Hawai‘i Pacific Health’s medical centers and clinics provide personalized care for women of all ages.

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L E T 'S TA L K A BOUT M EN OPAUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

“We do need more studies. We do need more training. And patients need to advocate for themselves,” says Ammerman, who started her menopause clinic to offer women a place to ask frank questions and better understand treatment options.

Dr. Melissa Lawrence, an OB-GYN at Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i with special training in menopause care, says that when women don’t receive substantive information and care from their doctors, they sometimes turn to social media for advice, support and even treatments.

In worst-case scenarios, women are trying products that are not FDA-approved or doctor-recommended. One of those so-called treatments, she says, involves a pellet being injected into the skin to slowly release hormones, including estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone.

“It’s dangerous because you can’t control the levels,” Lawrence says.

*

COURTESY: MELISSA LAWRENCE

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy the Answer?

F U RT H E R CO M P L I C AT I N G T H E CO N V E R S AT I O N are misconceptions about the risks and potential benefits of hormone replacement therapy, a course of action that women experiencing menopause symptoms are now urged to consider. Public misunderstandings about hormone replacement therapy largely stem from a major long-term E Dr. Melissa Lawrence study, known as the Women’s Health Initiative. In 2002, one part of the study that included clinical trials of women over 60 undergoing hormone replacement therapy was stopped WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE? early after subjects started experiencing adverse conditions, including blood clots, coronary heart disease Hormone changes during menopause can cause a range of symptoms. These and breast cancer. symptoms vary by intensity and frequency, which makes it difficult to know After that, the number of women whether the transition has begun. Common symptoms include: on hormone replacement therapy in the U.S. plummeted, from roughly 20% to about 4%, Lawrence says. In the • Hot flashes and night sweats • Vaginal pain or dryness years since, researchers have learned (if they occur late in the • Pain during, or loss of that hormone replacement therapy is evening) interest in, sex safe to help balance estrogen levels • Trouble sleeping • Headaches and treat some symptoms, but should • Mood swings, depression • Body aches and pains be prescribed within 10 years of those or anxiety • Heart palpitations symptoms starting, and before age 60.

• Difficulty concentrating or • Incontinence Despite the new guidance, some docmemory issues • Weight gain or muscle loss tors still won’t prescribe the therapy • Abnormal uterine bleeding CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

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L E T 'S TA L K A BOUT M EN OPAUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

and actively discourage their patients from seeking it, Lawrence says.

While it’s not right for everyone, and does carry some potential side effects, it can also lower other risks and dramatically improve quality of life for some women.

“It’s important for people to come in and talk about it,” she says. She says in addition to hormone replacement, lifestyle changes—like eating right, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and exercising regularly— are critical, too.

Menopause Is Personal

Ask 10 women ... probably get 10 different answers. While some experience relatively mild symptoms, others have none, and still others struggle with everything from panic attacks to insomnia.

Danielle Perrault says perimenopause didn’t hit her like a ton of bricks, until it did. The 43-year-old started experiencing symptoms earlier than most, when she was 38. One of the first things she noticed: night sweats. “I was sweating out the bed every night, constantly changing the sheets, wasn’t sleeping well. I thought it was cancer,” says the Makawao business owner and mother of two girls. As months and years passed, more severe symptoms kicked in, including heart palpitations and hot flashes. Then came the anxiety, so severe at times that she couldn’t drive her kids to school or go to work. The anxiety got worse and worse—then the panic attacks started.

Perrault told her OB-GYN, who referred her to a cardiologist for the heart palpitations. She was instructed to try

COURTESY: DANIELLE PERRAULT

. . . I N P E R I M E N O PAU S E A N D M E N O PAUSE what their symptoms are, and you’ll

E Danielle Perrault

breathing exercises for her anxiety and was prescribed medication for the panic attacks. “It was a lot of different Band-Aids from a lot of different doctors,” Perrault says. And all the while, the symptoms persisted.

Then one day, an older friend at the gym asked Perrault if she’d ever had her hormones tested. “It had never crossed my mind,” Perrault says. “I thought I was just losing my mind.” A short time later, on another friend’s recommendation, Perrault found Ammerman’s practice. After testing, she learned she was a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy. Her hot flashes disappeared within a week of starting the therapy, and while other symptoms remained, they were less frequent. Fewer panic attacks. Fewer night sweats.

A more normal daily life.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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L E T 'S TA L K A BOUT M EN OPAUSE

In retrospect, Perrault says it’s clear she was experiencing perimenopause symptoms, but at the time she didn’t connect the dots— and neither did her doctors. “It often felt very scary. It was a major strain on my marriage; I was having two to three panic attacks a week,” she says.

Sarina Erstad of Hale‘iwa started experiencing hot flashes four years ago at 44, and the symptoms stacked up year after year: Brain fog, dry skin, itchy ears, joint pain, changes to her vision. “Last year my hot flashes and night sweats got so bad that I had not slept through the night for over six months,” she says. “I had to change clothes several times a day because I was drenched.”

Hormone replacement therapy wasn’t an immediate option for Erstad because of a breast cancer diagnosis, but she was able to start it last year. Since then, she’s watched her symptoms abate. “Compared to my younger self, I now feel so much more relaxed and grounded. I guess you could say I’ve matured,” she says.

Even with all the public discourse on menopause, physicians say many women still struggle to discuss what they’re experiencing with their doctors. Instead, they say, they wind up delaying care, like Perrault did, until the symptoms disrupt their lives.

Dr. Richard McCartin, chief OB-GYN at Pali Momi Medical Center, says doctors should help their patients overcome that stigma by asking the right questions. “People don’t like to say, ‘Oh, I’m in menopause,’” he says. So instead, he might ask women if they’re experiencing pain during intercourse, a symptom of vaginal dryness, or urinary incontinence, a common symptom of menopause. “I try to normalize the conversation. … Incontinence is a big deal and there is an embarrassment that goes along with that,” he says. “But you try to explain it. This is a natural thing, just from aging and childbirth.”

Arlene Joy Baldillo, a doctor of osteopathic medicine at The Queen’s Medical Center, stresses the importance of giving patients time and space to discuss their symptoms. “I like to discuss menopause when appropriate at annual exams,” she says. “It’s essential to set expectations, discuss various symptoms many of us can experience and recognize when further evaluation is warranted. … Navigating through menopause can be an empowering experience, one that may leave patients stronger, healthier and more fit than prior to the transition.”

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COURTESY: THE QUEEN’S HEALTH SYSTEMS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

E Dr. Arlene Joy Baldillo

“It is so important to assess each patient as an individual; one size does not fit all as it pertains to treating specific menopausal symptoms. Making decisions on whether to start treatment, what type, formulation, dosing and duration should be a shared decision between patient and provider.” ­—Arlene Joy Baldillo, a doctor of osteopathic medicine at The Queen’s Medical Center

Moving Forward VASQUE Z, THE HILO RESIDENT AND CROSSFIT COACH , is now

receiving care from both a doctor and naturopath and is tackling her menopause symptoms from multiple fronts. “I feel almost like my old self again after years of going through the motions. … Sometimes it felt there was no answer in sight,” she says.

Her advice to women: Be your own advocate, question everything and trust your gut and your body.

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P. 48

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ON THE C OV E R ILLUSTR ATIO N S : H A ILEY A K AU

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ILLUSTRATION: HAILEY AKAU; PHOTOS: JOSE MAGNO, UH MĀNOA, COURTESY OF HAWAI‘I PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, HAWAI‘I TOKAI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

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Is College Still Worth It?

Costs are sky-high, but administrators at schools popular among many Hawai‘i high school graduates say higher education gives students a valuable edge.

BY NOELLE FUJII-ORIDE

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I L L U S T R AT I O N S BY H A I L E Y A K A U

S C O L L E G E S T I L L W O R T H I T ? Increas-

ing tuitions and rising student debt continue to fuel national debate about the value of postsecondary degrees.

Average U.S. college costs, including full-time tuition, fees, and room and board, have increased by 14% over the past 20 years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Only 47% of American adults say those higher costs are worth it, provided students or their families don’t have to take out loans to pay for it. That rate decreases to 22% if a loan is needed, according to the Pew Research Center.

We spoke with administrators and admissions counselors at colleges that are popular among many Hawai‘i high school graduates, as well as with a college and career counselor at Campbell High School, the largest public

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high school in the state. Their unanimous verdict: College is still a worthwhile investment.

Research has long touted the college wage premium, in which the average four-year college graduate earns 65% more than the average nongraduate. Rigorous instruction gives college students the technical expertise and discipline they’ll need for their careers. But the administrators and counselors we spoke with say the soft skills that students develop are also noteworthy. College, they say, provides a unique environment where students can connect with others from around the world, engage with diverse perspectives, practice democracy and challenge themselves.

“Going to college is not just about receiving the academic knowledge; it’s about growing in all the ways a human can, and being a better version of themselves tomorrow than they were today or yesterday,” says Armen Sarkisian, director of first year admission at Chapman University.

STICKER PRICE VS. ACTUAL COST

It can be a shock to learn that the average annual cost of attending a public college full-time is $20,000 (and that’s for students who are residents of the state); for private colleges, it’s $49,000. But there’s a difference between a college’s sticker price and what students will actually pay. Nationally, more than 85% of full-time undergraduate students receive some type of financial aid, lowering actual costs.

IS COLLEGE STILL WORTH IT?

It’s important for students and their families to look beyond that sticker price and consider whether merit scholarships, need-based gifts or financial aid could help, Sarkisian says.

In the early 2000s, Chapman University’s presidential scholarships reduced the cost of yearly tuition there by $20,000. These scholarships are now worth $40,000 to account for higher tuition.

For context, the total cost of attendance at Chapman, including tuition, fees, room and board, travel expenses to and from home, and spending money, is about $87,000 per year, Sarkisian says. Back when he attended the California campus in the early 2000s, the total cost was about $30,000.

“There’s obviously all these big concerns and tuition continues to go up, and is it the next bubble, is education the next bubble, and for how long can these tuition increases continue to be sustained?” Sarkisian says. “But there are major efforts across the board at most institutions in the U.S., especially in the private sector, where we are trying to offset those increases to provide access to students by fundraising and having operations driven from endowment resources.”

UH’s board of regents froze undergraduate tuition at UH Mānoa for academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25. UH also waived its application fees for Hawai‘i residents applying to any of its campuses. For the current school year, the annual full-time tuition at UH for residents is $11,304; with additional expenses such as books, room and board, and transportation, the estimated total cost is $32,316.

“We’ve been taking a really close look at things that can often be barriers to higher education, the application fee being one of them,” says Nikki Chun, vice provost for enrollment management at UH Mānoa. “And I think that’s what also opened the doors for a lot of our Hawai‘i residents to be like, ‘Oh, well, I mean, you know, if it’s free,’ and that’s what we needed. Honestly, we just needed them to apply. And once they applied, we just found that there were so many more qualified students to admit.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

The Right Fit

G

RACE LENORE ROGERS, A KALĀHEO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, was set on double-majoring in

musical theater and education with the goal of becoming a performing arts educator at a public school. She was drawn to Emerson College because it had a specific major that combined her two career interests: theater education and performance. Although she initially was interested in other schools, Emerson proved the perfect fit for her because of its robust student-run arts community, where students initiate and pursue projects such as original plays and musicals, script readings and student-directed films.

“Everyone [at Emerson] is so passionate about what they are doing,” she says. “There’s something really special about the art that we make together.”

The 20-year-old senior says Emerson gave her the opportunity to grow as a person, in ways she couldn’t while living at home. Growing up as a military kid, she had moved around a lot and found it difficult to connect with her high school

classmates. But her heart is now in Boston, and she says the friends and memories she’s made there are invaluable.

She advises high schoolers just starting the college application process to focus on schools that fit them and their passions rather than getting caught up in prestigious names and acceptance rates. “The lists of ‘top best schools’ don’t mean anything,” she says. “You can go to the best school in your industry, but if it doesn’t work for you, it’s not right. I think it’s really important to tour schools (if you can) and talk to current students and alumni to really feel the vibe.

It’s so much more important to find a school that fits your wants and needs and your goals in life.”

—Hailey Akau COURTESY: CAMPBELL PARISH

GRACE LENORE ROGERS Senior, Emerson College

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IS COLLEGE STILL WORTH IT?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49

The campus also offers accepted in-state students merit scholarships of up to $4,000 a year if they have GPAs of 3.0 or higher.

WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT

Sarkisian says he tells students that, “I wouldn’t do the work I do and talk about Chapman the way I do if I generally didn’t think we were worth what our sticker price is. I feel wholeheartedly that we deliver to that value of providing an experience, not just in education and academic knowledge, but a full experience that lives up to that total cost of attendance.”

Part of what makes college degrees valuable is that they retain their worth over time. Eleyne Fia, a college and career

counselor at Campbell High School, says degrees demonstrate to employers that young adults have the required technical knowledge and can interact with others, communicate well and finish what they start.

Certifications, by comparison, generally need to be renewed every so often, such as when new technology or methods become available.

To help justify the cost of tuition and fees, she encourages her students and their families to remember that college is about more than just the classes. Students have access to tutors, career centers, job fairs and internships where they can learn about their interests, talk with hiring managers before applying for open jobs and get real-world experience. Campuses commonly provide low-cost health services, host visiting scholars and musicians, and more.

Among the “more,” Fia points to study-abroad programs, “where you’re able to stay in another country and live and learn.”

“Where else,” she asks, can young adults have that opportunity, at that price? “It’s all included in what you pay for, all those services on that campus.”

COURTESY: UNIVERSITY OF OREGON ALPHA KAPPA PSI

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Taking the Leap ISSIAH ANGEL SCARBOROUGH Senior, University of Oregon

I

SSIAH ANGEL SCARBOROUGH WAS BORN IN TEXAS BUT RAISED IN HAWAI‘I, growing

up at Schofield Barracks while his father was deployed overseas. Although he always thought he would follow his father’s military path, he realized while attending Saint Louis School that he could forge his own way.

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The 22-year-old senior is now poised to be the first person in his family to graduate from college, something he is proud of and believes will lead to expanded career opportunities.

He says being independent as a child gave him the confidence to even apply. The University of Oregon landed on Scarborough’s radar after he received personalized recruiting mail from the school with the correct spelling of his first name.

He says it made him feel like he was more than just a number or someone who could meet a quota. “They made me feel like I belonged there,” he says. “I felt almost like I had an attachment to [the University of Oregon] even though I’d never been there before.”

He graduated from high school in 2020 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, making his senior year far from normal.

But the university, Scarborough says, did everything it could to make his decision easier, through letters, Zoom calls and even sending cardboard VR glasses so he could virtually tour the campus.

Scarborough, now in his fifth year at the university, started out as an architecture major but switched to a double-major in finance and marketing and cinema studies. Film was always a big interest, but he wanted to explore both of his passions to determine which might ultimately lead to a career.

“My biggest advice to high school students would be to find that balance of being comfortable and uncomfortable,” he says.

If he hadn’t taken the risk of leaving his family and going to Oregon, he says he would have missed out on valuable work and learning opportunities that he believes have set him up for a solid career and future. —Hailey Akau

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2025 COLLEGE GUIDE

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IS COLLEGE STILL WORTH IT?

Crunching the Numbers at UH Mānoa (2024–2025 School Year)

$11,304

$33,336

$16,956

$16,956

In-state tuition (includes Native Hawaiian nonresidents, active duty military and other exemptions)

Nonresident tuition

Western Undergraduate Exchange rate

Pacific Island Exemption rate

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50

CHANGING STUDENT E X P E C TAT I O N S

Given the state of the economy, school officials say students want to know how a college degree will help them enter the workforce and be competitive once they’re there. And they’re asking questions about how they can develop practical skills and whether campuses offer hands-on opportunities for them to apply their knowledge in supportive, real-world settings.

“There’s a lot more pressure and a lot more anxiety around not only getting into college, but getting into the major and getting into a field that will benefit them economically,” says Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of undergraduate academic affairs at the University of Washington.

Educational leaders for years have encouraged youths to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers. That’s led to an unintended consequence of placing higher value on those types of programs. Taylor says he’s seen many students pursue STEM majors for that reason, rather than following their hearts. He adds that UW now goes further to articulate to students the value of its various degrees and how they can translate into career opportunities.

TIARA LEE-GUSTILO

CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Networking Locally KELSEY YOSHIOKA Junior, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

B

ORN AND RAISED ON O‘AHU, KELSEY YOSHIOKA SAYS she always intended to

stay on-island after graduating from ‘Iolani School, and she credits her parents for motivating her to go to college. “I know [my parents] made a lot of sacrifices to send me to ‘Iolani,” she says.

“I really wanted to make sure I could get a good

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degree to set me up for a job with a solid income.”

Knowing the high expense of higher education, the 20-year-old nursing student considered her family’s finances when deciding on which college to attend.

Although she considered some West Coast schools, she ultimately enrolled at UH Mānoa. She says she had always been interested in health care and knew that UH’s program could offer her a fulfilling learning experience and local networking opportunities.

Her rigorous course load was overwhelming at first, but she says it forced her to mature and kept her on track. “It’s definitely been helpful for networking, and there are so many young nurses who have taught me a lot and helped me sort of toughen my skin in the industry,” she says.

This past summer, she was selected for an internship with Hawai‘i Pacific Health, giving her firsthand health care experience. She was able to rotate among different departments to see different parts of the industry. “I really feel like I’m on the right track to a steady income and good future,” she says, “which is definitely why I think college is worth it. Even if you have to take things at your own pace or take a break from school, I still think that an educational foundation for your career is important.” —Hailey Akau

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IS COLLEGE STILL WORTH IT?

ed more than $1 billion in its facilities over the past 20 years, Sarkisian says. The college has also added several high-ranking faculty members to its staff and invested in student services.

“You can see it’s palpable. You walk our campus community and you can feel that the university has been very thoughtful about the investment in these spaces to deliver the opportunity for students to have our mission meet their experience,” he says.

UH Mānoa has several renovation projects underway, including a $57 million state-of-the-art Student Success Center. The center will house 30 conference rooms, a computer lab, a student store for food and beverages, the campus’ esports team, and digital studios for the College of Social Sciences. UH Mānoa is also creating more outdoor studying and gathering spaces as a result of student feedback.

The campus has also changed up some of its academic offerings, including adding new programs to its School of Cinematic Arts and a new undergraduate degree in sustainability, Bruno says.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

Also, several of the administrators we spoke with say their colleges have increased opportunities for hands-on learning, such as through student research. About 6,700 undergraduate students at UW, for example, participated in nearly 1.3 million hours of research with faculty mentors during the 2022-23 academic year.

“We have found that students that engage in research with their faculty, they are … least likely to get lost in university, that they actually deepen their commitment, they deepen their knowledge,” Taylor says.

Michael Bruno, provost of UH Mānoa, says the campus now engages hundreds of students annually in its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, which provides funding and faculty mentors. Projects have included investigations into the issues faced by Micronesian migrants living in O‘ahu public housing projects and more.

Prospective college students also look for whether campus equipment, labs, facilities, academic programs and resources are up to date. Chapman University has invest-

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best ways students can maximize their college experiences, according to college administrators.

And it paves the way for students to make friends and meet people from all over the world. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas has more than 420 student clubs and organizations, with students from all 50 states and more than 85 countries, says Woody Hoshibata, a senior regional recruiter there. He says students shouldn’t be afraid to be vocal about what they want. If they want to work with a specific faculty member, they can show up at that faculty member’s office and say, “I’m interested in what you do. How can I learn about that, or how can I get involved?” They can also speak with their campus’ academic advisers for guidance, he says.

And it’s best to get involved as early as possible.

Sarkisian recalls running into a Chapman freshman from Hawai‘i a few years ago. While it was only the second or third month of school, she was already engaged in research with a faculty member. He says getting involved early is akin to earning power.

“By the time they graduate, you look at their résumé and you hear them talk about what they did during their college time, and you’re like, ‘How did you do that in four years?’” he says. “And really what it amounts to is they’re entering the real world with a very impressive skill set and experience set that is usually going to outpace most of their peers.”

Upcoming Dates December FAFSA forms become available. The online FAFSA application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central time on June 30, 2025. However, many colleges will require this earlier. Complete the CSS Profile to find more scholarship options. Hawai‘i Community Foundation also opens its scholarship application process. Check hawaiicommunityfoundation.org for updated deadlines.

February/March The deadline for financial aid applications at most colleges.

March/April Many colleges send out acceptance letters during this month.

May 1 Many colleges require that you reply with your intent to enroll by this date.

E KŪLIA I KA NU‘U KĀKOU! Realize your dreams and reach for the sky with the support of Kamehameha Schools and Pauahi Foundation college scholarships. With a commitment to helping Hawaiian learners strive for excellence at every stage of their educational journey, our college scholarships create opportunities that empower haumāna to grow as ‘ōiwi leaders and reach their full potential.

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Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

STUDENT TO STUDENT

Launching a Journalism Jo Career courtesy: hailey akau

Working for my college’s student newspaper set me up for the future.

S T O RY A N D I L L U S T R AT I O N S

BY HAILEY AKAU

I

WA N T E D T O T R A N S F E R S C H O O L S D U R I N G M U C H O F MY T I M E AT

C O L L E G E . The social and academic environment at Emerson College, a liberal arts school in Boston, felt too different from my high school, ‘Iolani. I initially majored in theater, and despite being an artsy type in high school, I felt out of place in the program. The academics weren’t as rigorous and structured as they were at ‘Iolani, and I wasn’t as interested as my gung-ho classmates in creative pursuits like self-produced films, art projects and comedy troupes.

Despite switching majors to writing, literature and publishing during the second semester of my freshman year, I still felt isolated and disconnected from the Emerson community. I had a close-knit group of friends and joined a few performing arts clubs, but I wasn’t inspired or motivated by my courses.

At the time, two of my friends worked on the school newspaper, spending every Wednesday evening writing and reporting stories for the Berkeley Beacon. Knowing I was a writer and illustrator, they encouraged me to pitch stories and graphics. So, in the fall of my sophomore year, I joined the staff, which transformed my whole college experience.

Now, my evenings were spent reviewing “suggested edits” on Google Docs and creating digital illustrations, and there were weekly meetings to attend. The Beacon staff was committed to producing quality journalism, and the newsroom, entirely run by

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students, operated like a professional workplace. I was finally applying academic lessons to tangible work, and this hands-on experience furthered my understanding of journalism and publishing.

Every Wednesday, I looked forward to the weekly production night, when we’d finalize stories and lay out the print edition. I wrote my first bylined print piece at the Beacon and added both stories and artwork to my portfolio. The friends I made there also became the reason I stayed at Emerson. That’s not to say my time at the Beacon was stress-free. We had our share of controversies and errors, and we were even canceled by the student body over a few stories. But from all this, I learned about the nuances and reality of the media world.

Now, after graduating this past spring, I can say my biggest regret was not joining the Beacon sooner.

Confronted by a turbulent job market and a scarcity of journalism jobs, I can’t say the classes I took at Emerson set me up well for a career of my choosing. If it wasn’t for my time at the Beacon, I would have little to show from my undergrad years, and I wouldn’t be in a position to land a journalism job. It’s the articles I wrote and the illustrations I created that best showcase my abilities, giving me a better shot at internships and jobs. The skills I honed, for instance, apply to pretty much everything I do during my internship with HONOLULU, and without my time at the Beacon, I likely wouldn’t be here.

There’s still so much uncertainty in my future, but I’m forging forward with a take-what-I-can-get mindset. I’m sure many other recent graduates can relate.

Some of my friends and former colleagues now work for major news outlets, and hearing of their successes gives me a lot of hope.

TIMELINE TO SUCCESS

Timeline to Success ccess Finding and getting accepted to the right college or university is actually a four-year process. That may sound daunting, but take each step one at a time and stay organized, and you’ll be fine.

Here’s how to manage the road to college admission.

I L L U S T R AT I O N S BY H A I L E Y A K A U

9th

GRA DE

Enroll in challenging classes.

Keep grades up.

Get involved in extracurricular activities.

Explore potential career paths.

Set up a college savings plan.

Develop good timemanagement skills.

10th G RA D E

Try some AP classes.

Take a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Juniors qualify to compete for the National Merit Scholarship Program, but younger students can take it for practice. collegeboard.org/ psat-nmsqt Consider volunteering or working part-time during the summer.

11th

G RA D E

G RA D E

Sign up to take the ACT or SAT. Colleges usually accept either one, but check with where you’re interested. Many students will take the test once as a junior and again as a senior.

Is it worth taking it twice?

According to ACT, 57% of 2015 graduates increased their Composite score on the retest. Test scores can also impact academic scholarships, so consider taking them even if your schools don’t require them.

Once the Common Application opens around August, create an account and start filling out your personal information.

Visit campuses if possible.

Visit campuses while traveling, just to get a sense of what type of college appeals to you.

Small? Big? Public? Private?

In October, take the PSAT/ NMSQT (this year, testing may occur on any school day Oct. 1–31, as well as Oct. 14).

12th

Attend college fairs and network with the college representatives.

Draft your essay during the summer before 12th grade so there is enough time for at least two people to read it and comment.

In the fall, repeat the ACT/ SAT tests. Send in scores.

Gather teacher and other personal recommendations. Send thank yous afterward!

Narrow down the list, but have at least four to eight schools to apply to.

Check all due dates at the colleges you want to attend; they vary by institution and you don’t want to miss anything.

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TIMELINE TO SUCCESS

Standardized Tests The nationally administered SAT tests reading, writing and math and is used to test how ready a student is for college. SAT Subject Tests and the optional SAT Essay are no longer offered by College Board. For more, go to sat. collegeboard.org/home.

If you have been tested for dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or believe you may qualify for accommodations such as extra time, visit accommodations. collegeboard.org to learn more.

The ACT is a national college admissions exam that includes English, math, reading and science questions. The ACT Writing Test includes a 40-minute essay, which is required by some colleges and not others. In Hawai‘i, the state picks up the cost of taking the ACT for all public school juniors. To register, visit act.org.

For all standardized tests, bring a current photo ID issued by a city/state/federal government agency or your high school, as well as printed test ticket and approved calculator. Don’t bring a cell phone, smart watch or even a fitness tracker to an SAT test; they are prohibited, and you will be asked to turn in these devices after check-in. ACT test sites allow phones if they are turned off and placed out of reach.

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TIMELINE TO SUCCESS

SAT Test Dates

ACT Test Dates Oct. 26

Since spring 2024, all students participate in SAT School Day digitally. Be sure to contact your counselor or principal to confirm when your school offers SAT School Day. Students must bring their fully charged laptop (Windows or MacOS), iPad or Windows tablet, or school-issued Chromebook device with the Bluebook app installed and exam setup complete before test day if testing on a personal device. If approved to borrow a device from College Board, you will need to arrive 30 minutes early for sign-in and setup. See bluebook.collegeboard.org/ students/approved-devices for more details.

Nov. 2

Register by Oct. 18; late registration until Oct. 22

Dec. 7

Register by Nov. 22

Register by Sept. 20; late registration until Oct. 7

Dec. 14

Register by Nov. 8

Feb. 8

Register by Jan. 3

April 5

Register by Feb. 28

June 14 Register by May 9

July 12

Register by June 6

March 8

Register by Feb. 21

May 3

Register by April 18

Use a site like myscholly.com to sniff out scholarship opportunities. Scholly requires a subscription, ranging from $4.99/month to $34.99/year.

June 7

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A Local Kid’s Guide to Surviving g College

Tips to stay on top of academics, money and more.

B Y C A S S I DY K E O L A , S H I N A E L E E , E V E H U D D L E S T O N , E M I LY S M I T H , ALICIA LOU AND HAILEY AKAU

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I L L U S T R AT I O N S BY H A I L E Y A K A U

• Research public transportation. Bus or metro passes are

SCHEDULING CLASSES Meet with your adviser every semester. Before choosing your 1

classes, make sure that you meet with your adviser so they can help you build a schedule that will allow you to graduate within four years. Find your academic adviser with the school’s advising guide.

2 Before signing up for classes,

check ratemyprofessors.com. Professors can often make or break a class and your GPA, so it is helpful to see what previous students have had to say. However, take it with a grain of salt, as reviews are often biased. Also, if you like a professor, consider enrolling in another course they’re teaching in the future.

Building rapport with your professors is vital if you’re considering going to graduate school, but it can also make your college life a lot more enjoyable.

3 Don’t be afraid to change your major. You will be experiencing a lot of

change and growth during your college years, and you might not like or want the same things you did in high school.

Once you’ve thought it through and taken everything into consideration, it’s better to change your pathway sooner than further down the road. Consider taking your general education courses first to give you time to think.

4 Remember to check not just the times, but also locations of your classes. If you have back-to-back

classes across campus from each other, will you make it? Try to take classes at the optimal times for you. If you know

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Getting Around

you’re not an early bird, avoid those 7:30 a.m. seminars—or, if you know you get sleepy after lunch, don’t schedule a class right after you eat.

5 Interested in studying abroad?

It might be difficult to find classes that meet your major requirements abroad, so save some of your core requirements to take abroad instead. It might be best to study abroad in your sophomore year so that you get acquainted with college life before switching to another new campus, but it’s important to work with your academic adviser to choose the right courses for your degree pathway. Make sure you keep track of application deadlines for different programs so you don’t miss any opportunities.

6 If you earned any college credits early (AP/IB/Running Start/Early

College/transfer credits) make sure to submit your official scores and/or transcripts to your school’s admissions office at least a month before course registration, so those courses can be evaluated and you can receive official credit for them.

7 Look into CLEP testing for credits. College Board’s College Level

Examination Program exams cost less than $100 per test and offer an alternative way to earn your general education credits. With more than 30 exam subjects, CLEP can help you save money, free up your schedule or graduate early, so be sure to review your school’s CLEP policy and consider registering for an exam at clep.collegeboard.org.

often included in a university’s student fees, and your student ID will double as a bus pass, so don’t wait until classes start to pick it up. Even if you have a car, you might find public transportation to be more convenient.

• Check out the school shuttles. Many schools, like New York

University and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, have an app for free school shuttles that provides estimated shuttle times.

• Split rides with friends.

Riding by yourself in an Uber or Lyft can be expensive and sometimes sketchy, so travel in groups. Students have access to Lyft’s Ride Smart Program, which offers college communities free or discounted transportation.

• Search areas near your school for free parking.

Parking on campus might be convenient, but it can be costly, so if you’re commuting from far away, drive to areas like mall parking lots or safe neighborhoods nearby. Just be sure to give yourself enough time to go the rest of the way.

• Depending on the size of your school, you may want to invest in a bike, electric scooter or skateboard to shave off

minutes when getting from one class to the next.

SURVIVING COLLEGE

W O R K I N G PA R T-T I M E • Search the school’s job database. Campus jobs usually

hire for the next year or semester, so more crop up near the end of term. Many schools also hold student job fairs, so keep an eye out for those notices.

• Check your emails regularly. Your school and the

department you choose your major in will both send you emails regarding exclusive internship and job opportunities, so make sure to check them and apply to all your desired positions. Some schools split jobs into work-study, which are usually a school-sponsored position and a form of financial aid, and nonwork-study jobs, which are typically only available to students who do not need financial assistance.

• Look for “help wanted” signs on and off campus.

Go on a walk downtown and keep your eye out around campus. Some jobs might not be posted online. Restaurant jobs are usually a good way to get your foot in the door if you don’t have any prior experience, and they usually offer employee discounts for food.

• Walk into places where you want to work and ask if they’re hiring. Bring your résumé and leave it with them

in case of an opening.

• If all else fails, the dining hall and the campus bookstore

are usually easy places to get hired as a student.

GEARING UP 1 If you’re heading someplace cold, it’s best to buy winter jackets there to save money and space in your suitcase. You also might want to see how much room you have in your closet first. Consider investing in a few storage bins that can fit under your bed, or store your winter clothes in your suitcase.

2 In many places, it will get dark around 5 p.m. during the winter. So consider buying a sun lamp or some fairy lights to hang in your dorm to fight those dark afternoons and seasonal depression.

3 Be the cool kid from Ha-

wai‘i with all the ‘ono Hawai‘i snacks—Spam, furikake popcorn, li

hing mui sour belts—and a rice cooker.

Spread da aloha, and stock up on your favorites for when you get home sick.

4 If you’re lucky you’ll get a twin XL in your dorm, but most likely you’ll be stuck with a twin bed. Either way,

college dorm beds are not comfortable. A mattress pad, however, is an easy fix.

5 Don’t forget about the little things, like office supplies, extension cords, nail clippers, bandages, etc. You won’t realize the necessity of small household items until you don’t have them. Consider putting together a first aid kit. You should also have supplies like staplers, tape, paper clips and more. You know your habits best, so take a look around your home and make note of everything you use.

6 Depending on your dorm regulations, consider purchasing a microwave and air fryer. This way you can save money by making your own food and ditch the unhealthy options of eating out. But be sure to check if your residential hall has a communal kitchen first—there might be a stove, oven and microwave already provided.

BUYING BOOKS • Don’t go to the campus bookstore first! While it’ll be

your No. 1 resource for school swag, the books are almost always pricier there.

• To clarify what books will be used in your class, contact your professors. Email them before the class starts so you have enough time for your books to come in. Some professors may even provide the text for free or change their syllabus, so don’t order anything until you’ve confirmed you need it.

• BookFinder.com and Chegg.com are incredible online

resources—BookFinder compares prices of new and used books from more than 100,000 sellers, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal, and Chegg shows you options for both renting and purchasing books, so you can see which one is better for you.

• Buying used textbooks is cheaper; plus you may find useful

Money Tips Download an app such as Paypal, Venmo or Cash App. Every time you go out to eat with friends, come across a campus fundraiser or just need to pay your roommate for toilet paper, various apps and some banks let you do it instantly, so you can request and send money from a bank account. If you live with someone and often have split expenses, Splitwise is a free app that keeps track of everything and does the math for you so you’re not constantly sending money back and forth. Also, Unidays is a website that allows college students to get exclusive discounts on subscriptions, clothes, technology and more. Be sure to sign up with your college email to save some coin. myunidays.com

notes to help you ace the test.

(Think of it as a free personal tutor.)

• Check Amazon for textbook rentals, or as another option for finding used books that are in good condition. Anyone with a school email address can start an Amazon Prime Student account for half the usual membership price, which comes with free two-day shipping and access to free movies and music.

(Amazon also offers a six-month free trial.)

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Preparing for College in High School A student’s involvement sets the foundation for college acceptance— and beyond. Here’s how to build that foundation with strength and purpose.

B Y K A T H R Y N D R U R Y W A G N E R A N D E M I LY S M I T H I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y H A I L E Y A K A U

CONNECT THE DOTS

C

HESS CLUB. MOCK TRIAL . THE SCHOOL N E W S PA P E R . C H I N E S E C L U B . VO L L E Y-

B A L L . Sign up for it all! Not so fast. It’s not the number of activities students do in high school that counts, experts say. Think quality over quantity.

“And whatever you choose, do it consistently,” says Amy Prince, a school counselor at Southampton High School in Southampton, New York. “It’s what you’re engaged with actively. Somebody might do 40 hours of community service, but was it 40 hours over one week during a church mission, and the other 51 weeks of the year they did nothing?” Compare that to a student who volunteers with, say, Best Buddies, helping people with developmental disabilities, once a week, all year.

“When students can demonstrate they have had consistent involvement and that they are leaders within the organizations, we get excited about their potential to contribute positively on our campus,” says Mark Cortez, executive director of admissions at Stony Brook University. “This doesn’t have to just be school activities; we want students to think broadly about experiences like community opportunities and/or work experiences. They each add something a little different and that is what we consider.”

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Students should seek out areas where they can take on leadership roles. “That doesn’t always mean being the president of a club or its founder,” says Prince.

“What events did you organize? If you’re just listing on your application that you were a member—what does that mean to an admissions officer? Define your role. Now, in ninth or 10th grade, there aren’t a lot of leadership roles but, if you stick with it, if you rise up to captain or co-captain in an athletic setting, or treasurer or president in a group; this shows the qualities colleges are seeking within their own school’s population.”

Schools can tell from a mile away when an applicant is trying to build a résumé out of nothing, grabbing onto 15 random activities. If, on the other hand, a student is involved with Model UN and student government and Girls Learn International, the school can see a pattern and a purpose.

According to Prince, students should use ninth and 10th grade for experimentation, to find out what they are most interested in, and then home in. Re-

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

change major.” Think about classes that are genuine passions, things that can extend into interests in college.

Otherwise, Prince warns, “students become machines of cranking out grades and don’t find what resonates with them.”

COURTESY: CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY/TOMMY SHIH

S T R O N G E S S AY S

member that “colleges and universities have seniors graduating and need to fill leadership roles or spark something new,” Prince points out. For an athletic program, they may need a new quarterback; for an orchestra, a new cellist. “It’s not like they put an ad out: ‘Hey, we need a cellist,’ but it’s part of the thought process,” she says. “I think one of the reasons I got into the college I did, York College of Pennsylvania, was that I had been a DJ for a high school radio station and they had a radio station that needed a manager.”

CHOOSING COURSEWORK

Even though AP coursework is a great opportunity, again, think quality over quantity. Consider your strengths and your goals. For example, someone interested in engineering might not want to take AP literature, but, instead, explore an engineering program, even without an AP label attached to it. “Schools are trying to figure out: What drives the student?” says Prince. “If you want to be pre-med, and haven’t done well in science or math, maybe that’s not a realistic goal. That’s a student who is going to

Most schools require students to submit supplemental essays with their application, which can be a way for college admission officers to decipher whether you will be a good fit at their university. This is especially important now, as many schools are loosening their SAT requirements and taking a more holistic approach when reviewing applications. Recent graduates recommend focusing on telling the admissions officer about yourself, especially outside of academics.

FINISHING STRONG SENIOR YEAR

Students should avoid giving in to senioritis, or playing what Prince calls “a game of academic chicken.” That’s when seniors try to find the line of how little effort they can put in. “It’s not a good game to play,” she says. “If you were a 90 student, you should stay a 90 student, even in senior year. Schools are still watching.” There is some wiggle room, of course. For example, if a student is challenging himself or herself with AP physics, he or she might not get a 90, and schools will understand that.

Your senior year will also be the time when colleges see if your grades have shown consistent growth. This upward trend gives grace to those who might not have gotten the highest grades but have improved over time.

“We encourage students to stay in a foreign language, and recommend electives. It’s free in high school!” says Prince. “Electives cost a lot of money in college. Take advantage. A lot of the AP and honorslevel kids haven’t gotten to take a lot of electives.”

Last, remember that being engaged doesn’t stop after college acceptance. “Once they get on campus we expect that students will be actively involved, as doing so contributes to their social and academic success,” says Cortez. “As students work to discover their passions in college, they are doing this with [other] students who are diverse in majors, experiences and backgrounds. This discovery stage leads to rich experiences where students can learn from those around them and, in most cases, benefit.”

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FROLICHAWAII.COM FOLLOW US @FROLICHAWAII 64

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BY THOMAS OBUNGEN PHOTOS BY OLIVIER KONING

Why Your Plate Lunch is Becoming a Luxury

Restaurateurs break down the rising cost of dining out.

OCTOBER 2024

65

‘ONO

From burgers to fine dining, we’re eating out more than ever. But conversations at restaurants these days are often more about the price of our plates than what’s on them. We asked the owners of Rainbow Drive-In, EARL sandwich shops, Tangö Contemporary Café and the head of the Hawai‘i Restaurant Association to explain what’s behind this.

L

5.8

ET’S GET TO THE POINT: The cost of eating out in Honolulu rose 5.8% in the year through July 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, dining out here costs 31.6% more than it did three years ago. The impact is even more of a blow when it hits our most beloved sanctums for comfort food.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue’s BBQ Mix Plate was roughly $12 in early 2020; today it’s $16.95. A Zip Pac at Zippy’s is $15.50, up from $10.90 pre-pandemic. And Rainbow Drive-In’s Mix Plate broke through the $10 ceiling in 2020 and is now $13.75.

%

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX F O R F O O D AWAY F R O M H O M E I N C R E A S E D 5 . 8 % B E T W E E N J U LY 2 0 2 3 A N D J U LY 2 0 2 4

driving up costs. Hawai‘i’s not alone—minimum wage is going up across much of the country not just to help workers struggling with high costs of living, but to bolster local economies.

After years of incremental increases, the state’s minimum wage went from $10.10 an hour in 2018 to $14 an hour this year. In 2028, it will rise to $18 an hour. “If you were paying $10.10 to your dishwashers four years ago, today they’re expecting $16 or $18. That’s your starting point,” says Ryan Tanaka, president of the Hawai‘i Restaurant Association. “As you move forward from prep cook to line

WHAT’S GOING ON?

No restaurant owner wants to raise prices.

But across the board, ingredient costs are up because of pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine, a major exporter of grains, cooking oil and other food products. Locally, increases in the minimum wage on top of an already acute labor shortage among restaurant workers are also

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10

C O S T O F F O O D AWAY F R O M H O M E I N U R B A N H AWA I ‘ I 12-month percent change

7.5

5

2.5

%

2014

2015

2016

s o u r c e : u . s . b u r e a u o f l a b o r s tat i s t i c s

66

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

‘ONO

“As a Nepali, it is very important to showcase my country and its cuisine. It’s a beautiful country.”

— Kuber Gurung

Chris Iwamura, CEO of Rainbow Drive-In

J U LY/A U G U S T 2 0 2 4

67

Justin Parvizimotlagh, chef and owner of EARL 68

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

THE ITALIAN

“We could get a good quality mayonnaise like Best Foods and pay $12 a gallon before. Now we spend about $21.”

— Justin Parvizimotlagh UP

1%

($0.24)

T

G IN

N RA SU

/

2%

AI

RS

0.5% ($0.11)

5%

($0.28)

1%

G

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IN

1.7%

E

CL

CE

IT IL UT

7%

($0.98)

IN

AN

($0.22)

S

PE

3%

($0.65)

PA

2021 FOOD AND LABOR COSTS 65% ( $ 1 0.7 3 )

RG

6%

($1.29)

2%

($0.43)

IE

OO

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RENT

&S

2024

FOOD AND LABOR COSTS 60% ($12.90)

PL

/F A C IL

IES

IT IE S

The combination of food and labor costs at EARL rose 21% between 2021 and 2024. Here’s how these and other costs break down for one menu item, the popular Italian sandwich, which went from $16.50 in 2021 to $21.50 in 2024.

R MA

0.5% ($0.07)

($0.14)

KE

5%

($0.70)

3.2% ($0.45)

2%

($1.08)

/ I CE OFF ESS N S 3.2% I ($0.69) S BU TION IP POS R C S AND EM SUB T S YS 2% R D ($0.43) IT C A CRED G FEES IN S S E PROC

($0.28)

12.6%

PRO

FIT M

($1.76)

ARG

IN

17.3% ($3.72)

ITALIAN SANDWICH COST OF GOODS

2021

2024

1 HALF ITALIAN BAGUETTE

$0.90

$1.19

2 OUNCES BLACK FOREST HAM

$0.60

$0.71

1.5 OUNCES HOT CAPICOLA HAM

$0.57

$0.67

1.5 OUNCES SOPRESSATTA

$0.75

$0.84

1.5 OUNCES GENOA SALAMI

$0.50

$0.63

0.5 FLUID OUNCES DELI DRESSING

$0.06

$0.06

2 FLUID OUNCES HERB MAYO

$0.15

$0.38

3 OUNCES LETTUCE

$0.18

$0.28

2 OUNCES FRESH TOMATO

$0.12

$0.21

1 OUNCE MOZZARELLA

$0.18

$0.25

1 FLUID OUNCE SWEET PEPPERS

$0.36

$0.36

1 TABLESPOON GRATED PARMESAN

$0.05

$0.09

INGREDIENTS COST

$4 .42

$5.67

The average net profit margin for quick serve restaurants as of June 2024 was 16.99% compared to 11.44% in June 2021.

MAY 2021

NO. OF LOCATIONS: 2 NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 22 CHECK AVERAGE: $28.77 PRIME COST PERCENTAGE: 65–70%

MAY 2024

NO. OF LOCATIONS: 3 NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 45 CHECK AVERAGE: $33.52 PRIME COST PERCENTAGE: 60%

SOURCE: EARL

OCTOBER 2024

69

‘ONO

Lawrence Nakamoto, chef and co-owner of Tangö Contemporary Café 70

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

CO N T I N U ED O N PAG E 11 9

‘ONO

“We’ll cut staff on slower days to keep our expenses down, and suddenly, we get a bunch of walk-ins.”

—Lawrence Nakamoto C O S T O F F O O D AWAY F R O M H O M E I N U R B A N H AWA I ‘ I Percent compared to a baseline of 100% in 1982–84 360 340 320 300 2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

s o u r c e : u . s . b u r e a u o f l a b o r s tat i s t i c s

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 66

AND THERE’S NOT MUCH WIGGLE ROOM.

At Rainbow Drive-In, labor costs have gone up 36% since 2021. “We’re starting at $17 but our average is like $18 to $19. I think it’s just really difficult these days to attract anybody to come into food service, especially the kitchen side,” says CEO Chris Iwamura. “We operate our business based on the prime cost. That’s your food costs plus labor costs. For our restaurant, in the fast-food industry, we want it around 60%. Since 2020, we’ve been around 65% and that’s high.”

Restaurants use any remaining money they make to pay for rent, utilities, marketing, insurance and other expenses. If food and labor add up to more than 60%, that leaves less money for everything else, including profits.

There’s only so long even Rainbow Drive-In can hold out at 65%.

It’s a similar story at EARL. “Mayonnaise has almost doubled in price,” owner Justin Parvizimotlagh says. “We could get a good quality mayonnaise like Best Foods and pay $12 a gallon before. Now we spend about $21 a gallon. We use so much mayonnaise that it went from me spending like $1,000 a month to almost $2,000 a month. That’s just on one product.”

Ingredients are one thing; labor is an entirely different story. At Kapa Hale during the pandemic, 10 people answered a job open-

HAWAI‘I’S MINIMUM WAGE PER HOUR 1980–2028

1980 $3.10 per hour 1990 $3.85 per hour 2000 $5.25 per hour 2010 $7.25 per hour 2018 $10.10 per hour 2022 $12 per hour 2024 $14 per hour 2026* $16 per hour 2028** $18 per hour *EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 2026 **EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 2028

s o u r c e : h awa i ‘ i d e pa r t m e n t o f l a b o r & i n d u s t r i a l r e l at i o n s

cook to sous chef to executive chef, everything is going up. That’s why your cost per plate is increasing substantially.”

The head of Giovanni Pastrami Restaurant Group, whose four restaurants have a combined 175 employees, also points to rising costs of insurance, including health insurance for workers. “Restaurants really have no choice. Costs have skyrocketed,” Tanaka says.

ing for a cook, one came to the interview, was hired—and never showed up for work. It still happens today, to the chagrin of restaurateurs.

Iwamura estimates that turnover costs Rainbow Drive-In $750 to $1,000 per hire. That money goes into posting job openings, interviewing, onboarding, training and uniforms.

“We invest a lot of labor time for people that will show up for the interview, complete the paperwork and then not show up on day one,” he says.

Add the ongoing effects of COVID-19— workers who test positive have to selfisolate—and trying to manage staffing levels gets even trickier, especially for sit-down restaurants that employ servers. That’s why many of our restaurant conversations aren’t just about prices, they’re about increasing wait times, too.

“It’s a struggle to keep somebody on the line,” says Lawrence Nakamoto, co-owner and chef of Tangö Contemporary Café. “It affects service and why we may take longer in the kitchen. We’ll cut staff on slower days to keep our expenses down, and suddenly, we get a bunch of walk-ins.”

One solution at Rainbow Drive-In on Kapahulu has been to close on Mondays, at least for the time being. “We can’t push our employees past their limit,” Iwamura says. “We don’t have enough staff to operate. For that day, we don’t have income but we’re still paying rent and electricity to run everything. Those days take a toll.”

What’s the bottom line for diners also dealing with rising prices for groceries, housing and life in general? The answer may be intention. Next time you dine out, now that you understand why your plate lunch, Italian sub and mushroom risotto cost more, try shifting your focus to the qualities that keep you coming back to your favorite eateries. And keep supporting them.

OCTOBER 2024

71

AFTERTHOUGHTS

BY KATRINA VALCOURT

executive editor

Tracking My Blessings My gratitude app steers me to focus on the positive, even when things fall apart.

I

HAD AN EXCITING DAY AHEAD. It was March 9 and I was

looking forward to an adventure in Kaimukī to pick up pastries, have coffee and celebrate da Shop’s birthday.

I had also downloaded a gratitude app in hopes of increasing my happiness.

But then something happened: I caught a cold that initially seemed mild but eventually led to a lingering illness that took months to fully recover from.

An immediate test. Could I still find things to be grateful for while feeling miserable?

came, I scrounged up the most remotely positive things that I could.

APRIL 2: Ibuprofen.

It felt like such a cruel twist of irony to struggle with my health right as I was trying my hardest to make things better. Then more problems piled on in almost every area of my life, leading me into crisis mode. And just as I was finally starting to recover, I got sick, again.

MARCH 12 ENTRY: The ability to

APRIL 19: Being able to breathe.

take a sick day.

MARCH 24: The waitress forget-

ting the bacon I didn’t need anyway.

When my sore throat returned, I gave up morning yoga. I injured my heel and stopped running, but my nose didn’t, and soon, I came down with the flu. How could any of my happy hacks work if I wasn’t doing them? When my 9 p.m. reminder

72

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

Yet I kept going.

I wasn’t exactly happy, but by focusing on the positive, I did feel better. One of my favorite quotes is from comedian Hannah Gadsby: “You learn from the part of the story you focus on.” Even on my worst days, I always came up with at least one thing to be grateful for, even if it didn’t seem like much or was a repeat from an earlier day.

MARCH 24 AND 31: Sunshine.

APRIL 1: One-minute lentils.

APRIL 4 AND 30: Hot baths.

JAMES NAKAMURA

Lots of people now share their gratitude lists on social media—to inspire others, for accountability, or maybe just for likes. Whatever the reason, studies have shown that grateful thinking improves your mood. I had already been trying a bunch of dopamine boosters—daily morning yoga, jogging, even meditation (except songs always pop into my head when I sit quietly). I liked how all these felt, but none got me to a transcendent state of euphoria.

So I got the app, a free one called Presently, and set a nightly reminder to update it. But as the days went on, and more and more things went wrong, it became challenging to think of anything worth noting.

I’m still not able to run as much as I used to, and I only manage to do yoga a few times a week instead of every day, but I’ve stuck with the app now for more than 175 days, and I have to say, it’s working. Maybe after time passes and I look back at my entries, I’ll forget how difficult things were and only see the times when I laughed without being able to stop, when friends texted me out of the blue because they were thinking of me, or how excited I felt buying concert tickets to see my favorite band.

JUNE 11: Constantly moving forward.

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