Ma Ke Kula - Fall/Winter 2020

Ma Ke Kula H AWA I ‘ I P R E PA R AT O R Y A C A D E M Y M A G A Z I N E : FA L L | W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

MORE URGENT THAN EVER: GENEROUS DONORS HELP HPA STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL AID

HAWAI‘I FOOD SECURITY: ALUMNI FARMERS MAKE ALOHA ‘ĀINA THEIR LIVELIHOOD

CAPSTONES TO COLLEGE: THE CLASS OF 2020 TAKES OFF

M A K E K U L A FA L L /W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

FEATURES

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Island Grown

Hawai‘i must nurture a new generation of local farmers and agricultural producers. Ka Makani are helping plant the seed.

Kaumaha Coping with loss and moving through grief in the time of COVID-19.

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DEPARTMENTS 3

The Mix George Donev ’17 and Morgan Dean ’20 launch edtech startup Lily Kassis ’22 on privilege Financial aid urgency and progress Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell ’71 n

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Ka Makani Pride 24 Champion Bodyboarder Jeff Hubbard ’93 Conor Hunt ’20 kicks into high gear with Georgetown Kimo Higgins ’86 comes full circle n

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HPA Connections Class notes Giving back HPA events and more.

• Greg Warner ’77 • Chapel renovation update • Pandemic perspectives: Lisa Hall-Anderson ’84, Thane Hancock ’93, Kenji Matsumoto ’98 • Emma Anders ’03 n

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Final Frame 48 Ma Ke Kula is produced twice per year by the HPA advancement office.

Principal photographer: Patrick O’Leary. Other credits as noted.

PAT R I C K J. P HIL L IP S / HE A D O F S CH O O L

Challenging times, powerful connections

A

s you read this message, all of us at HPA extend

Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. We want the world

our aloha to you and your loved ones. This

to know the great things that are happening at HPA.

year continues to test everything we once considered

Second, we are deeply grateful to all who already

“normal.” In the midst of uncertainty, I sincerely hope

support the HPA Fund. Mahalo! If you have not made

that you feel a sense of connection within the HPA

a gift yet and are able to support us, become an HPA

’ohana, near and far. Ka Makani around the world

Fund donor. Consider directing your gift to financial aid,

are experiencing similar challenges, and they are

or to another area that matters to you. We launched the

responding to help their communities in large and

Wai‘aka Initiative for Financial Aid last year and since

small ways. We can all take pride and comfort in

then, many more HPA families and potential students

this fact.

face even greater uncertainty. In this issue, you can

Here on campus, we continue to wrestle with the

read more about the HPA Fund and also meet a few Ka

logistical, educational, and emotional challenges of

Makani who are lending their philanthropic leadership

the pandemic. I am full of gratitude for all the people

to the Wai‘aka Initiative.

who help us move through uncharted territory on a

In this, my second year at HPA, I am especially

daily basis. From our teachers and students to our

grateful for your partnership and support. While travel

families and alumni, HPA is full of strong spirits and an

restrictions have kept me from spending time with

unquestioned willingness to go the extra mile for the

many of you, I want to thank you for your devotion to

children in our care. I am so proud of the ingenuity and

HPA and its future. HPA is stronger because of you.

aloha that fill our community.

Many of you have asked how to help—thank you for caring about HPA. First, I would say, connect with us and with each other. Update your contact information at www.hpa.edu. Join the conversations on Instagram and Facebook. Share the stories coming out of our

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Professional spearfisher Justin Lee ’02 placed ninth overall in the 2016 World Underwater Spearfishing Championship in Syros, Greece. A former HPA swim team member, Lee was a state and league champion with records in the 50m freestyle. He is also among those Ka Makani helping to lead Hawai‘i toward agricultural resilience. See page 16.

Photo by Perrin James.

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A Year of Challenge and Hope

In the history of HPA, there has never been an academic year like this one. The challenges are unique—the demands, enormous. Our students, families, faculty, staff, and community have demonstrated strength beyond measure. We mahalo everyone who has made it possible for HPA to keep serving our students during this unprecedented time.

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News Notebook Board of trustees news HPA welcomed Bonnie Bogue Wedemeyer ’86 to the board in June. Wedemeyer and her four sisters all attended the Academy, where their mother, Eva Bogue, taught for the bulk of her career. Wedemeyer earned a history degree from UC Berkeley, followed by teaching history at Punahou School in the 90s. With 20 years in development real estate, she is now head of sales and marketing for Ward Village, the 60-acre master-planned community in Kaka‘ako, with the Howard Hughes Corporation. She lives on O‘ahu with her husband, Aka, and daughter, Olivia, and the family keeps a home in Waimea.

Farewell and mahalo to Dr. Paul Nakayama and Dr. Peter Vitousek ’67, whose board terms ended in June. HPA is deeply grateful for their decades of service to the school.

Fifth grade traces human migration

As the year continues, the COVID-19 pandemic and all its complications will require great flexibility, determination, and above all: aloha. The school is poised to deliver its Continuous Learning Plan, in-person or online, as the situation requires. HPA has and will continue to shift course when necessary to keep our community as safe as possible.

With every adjustment, we are so proud of the resilience and creativity demonstrated by our students, our faculty, and our staff—both last spring and into this current year.

It is impossible to know exactly what lies ahead, but HPA’s future remains bright when we consider the extraordinary people who make HPA possible. Our ‘ohana overflows with aloha. We are undaunted, like ka makani. To each and every individual member of the HPA ’ohana: we mahalo you. HPA looks forward to the months ahead with the belief that the challenges we overcome now make the celebrations we achieve in the future that much sweeter.

Thank you for allowing HPA to be the school you love and trust, now and for future generations. •

For several years, fifth grade teacher Kristin Tarnas has led her students through learning journeys with other classes from around the world via the Out of Eden Learn curriculum. “One year,” Tarnas recalls, “our whole class came to school at 4 a.m. for a live video conference with National Geographic reporter Paul Salopek, who is retracing the earliest human migrations on foot.”

This past spring, the folks at Out of Eden (an initiative of Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero) asked Tarnas to beta-test a new version of their curriculum: Stories of Human Migration. It was originally designed for older students, but Tarnas’ class dove right in, providing feedback to researchers, documenting everyday borders, interacting with “walking partners” around the world, following migration stories in the media, and more.

Gift honors wrestling coaches HPA’s wrestling team was honored to receive a generous gift from an anonymous donor this year, in honor of coach Hamilton Ford ’05. Hamilton and his assistant coaches are helping to make their team better people, not just better wrestlers. Congratulations, Coach Ford! • 5

From Capstone to Corporation Edtech startup began at HPA THREE YEARS AGO, GEORGE DONEV ’17 WAS A TEACHING ASSISTANT AT THE ENERGY LAB WHEN HE BEGAN TO DEVELOP A NEW COMPUTER PLATFORM. THEN-SOPHOMORE MORGAN DEAN ’20 FOUND HIS WAY TO THE E-LAB AS WELL, USING FREE PERIODS TO ATTEND DONEV’S CLASS, WHERE THE TWO BEGAN TO COLLABORATE ON THE EMERGING PLATFORM THEY WOULD SOON CALL “STUDENT CORNER.” THE PAIR HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER EVER SINCE: DONEV ON THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SIDE, AND MORGAN AS THE SITE’S ENGINEER AND PROGRAMMER. THIS PAST SPRING, STUDENT CORNER WAS THE FOCUS OF DEAN’S OWN SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT.

Student Corner has now gone from capstone product to corporation—completing market research, receiving its first major investment from an accelerator, hiring staff, purchasing technology to build the site, and enjoying some high-profile victories.

The tool creates an intersection between project management, portfolio display, and teacher resource. “It’s different from anything else out there because it focuses on the students and the projects they’re making,” Donev says.

“Weblogs, networking websites, and learning management systems aren’t made for this; Student Corner is an ecosystem for students and their teachers. We built Student Corner because it was the tool we needed for our own capstone classes, and it didn’t exist.”

It makes sense that a tool created by high-school students immersed in project-based learning (PBL) could plant its flag in being a student-centered resource. “George and Morgan exemplify the power of ideation and entrepreneurship,” their mentor and HPA’s Capstone Coordinator Aaron Schorn says.

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“Like so many of us at HPA, they believe that education should empower youth, and they have created a digital platform that does just that.”

Both Donev and Dean are taking a gap year from college this year to focus on Student Corner. Donev’s computer science instructor at UH Hilo even quit his teaching job to join their ranks. “If real adult professionals are going to believe in this,” reflects Donev, “then we can put our studies on hold to give it our best.”

This past spring, Student Corner evidenced its power by taking the entire Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair virtual without a hitch, showcasing the work of 500 students for 150 judges. At press time, Student Corner had a team of ten paid employees, and as interest in the site continues to grow beyond Hawai‘i, so does its revenue and value.

“COVID really put an emphasis on the need for digital learning with PBL and a platform like Student Corner. There has been heightened interest with edtech in general,” Donev says, “and Student Corner has been able to grow into that demand.” •

Class of 2020 From capstones to college The capstone experience asks every HPA senior to reflect on their personal passions with the goal of solving a problem, creating a product, or giving community service. For some seniors, the capstone offers a chance to explore a completely new subject area for a short time. For others, the capstone becomes a springboard for future study—perhaps through college, an art practice, or community action they plan to pursue all their lives.

Senior Springboards As the class of 2020 heads off to college, here are some Ka Makani who intend to keep pursuing their capstone passions:

Kekaimālie Borce

Ivanni Jamin

Mark Schiller

Capstone project: Ke Ala o Nā Hōkū: Navigation Training Through Observation College plans: Borce will continue to focus on Hawaiian culture and voyaging at University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa.

Capstone project: Study of the feminization of sea turtle populations on Hawai’i Island.

College plans: As a budding ocean advocate, Jamin will pursue environmental engineering and politics at University of California, Berkeley.

Capstone project: Language learning techniques College plans: Schiller will continue to work in languages and linguistics at Georgetown University, with a growing interest in diplomacy.

Natalie Klett

Capstone project: Created an original album with music instructor Mario Flores College plans: Wentzel will study music performance at The New School in New York City.

Dillon Dupont Capstone project: From Software to Hardware: Game Development and Music Technology College plans: Dupont will carry these interests forward at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Capstone project: Nat’s Klothes: Embrace Your Nonsense (handpainted clothing) College plans: Klett will use the skills she developed in graphic design, project management, and visual art to further her entrepreneurial development at Willamette University in Oregon.

Shauri Wentzel

CONGRATULATIONS, 2020!

Members of the class of 2020 were accepted to colleges and universities from Hilo to Dublin, and myriad locations in between. HPA is proud to claim these graduates, and we welcome them into our alumni ‘ohana. For the complete college list, visit www.hpa.edu/college.

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On Privilege and Responsibility LILY KASSIS ’22

Two years ago, junior Lily Kassis ’22 (center, above) was part of a cohort of students who attended the national Student Diversity and Leadership Conference (SDLC), a sister conference to the People of Color Conference (POCC). Both conferences are sponsored annually by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) for students and teachers across the U.S. seeking to advance their equity, diversity, and inclusion work. This past spring, Lily and other classmates who participated in the SDLC ran a half-day long workshop on equity and diversity for their fellow students and also gave a presentation to teachers about diversity in the classroom. Lily presented on white privilege within the context of responsibility, outlining a plan of action that begins with educating oneself. With interest in anti-racism continuing to grow nationwide, we asked Lily a few questions about her experience.

Let’s start with some basics! How long have you been at HPA, and what are your main interests at school?

I have been attending HPA since I was in fourth grade. I am a varsity cross country runner and have been on the swim and track teams. I am also part of the turtle tagging club, and was a class representative last year.

How did you come to participate in the Student Diversity Leadership Conference?

I went to the conference because I was interested in learning more about diversity. Until that point, I had not had any experience with talking about diversity, equity, or inclusion. After attending the conference my perspective on the world around me was completely altered. We need to understand each other’s differences and respect them. We should realize, in doing so, that those differences do not pull us apart, but rather they make us all part of one diverse team. They make each of us unique within our community. We need to recognize that there is more to each other than we can see on the surface.

Structural racism is complex. How would you walk a white person through recognizing privilege?

I would encourage them to recognize that their experiences are not universal. It is important to keep an open mind when listening to the stories and messages of other communities and people; remember that just because you have not experienced racism (structural or otherwise), it does not mean it’s not real! I would also suggest that people use the plethora of resources available online to educate themselves about systemic racism.

In your presentation last year, you urged your fellow students to “recognize your privileges and use them to help stand up for others and advocate for equality and inclusion.” Is there anything else you would add to this now, a few months out?

I would add that it is important not to think of yourself (or of other white people) as heroes because of actions against racism.

Don’t fall into the “white savior” narrative. Stand up against racism for the right reasons; not because you want people to think you are against racism, but because you are against it. Don’t expect people to thank you, or express gratitude. Take a stand because you know that it’s the right thing to do. • 8 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 2 0

THE HPA FUND Why your gift matters (more than ever) The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressure on HPA families and called upon HPA to re-envision most of its academic, co-curricular, and residential programs. The HPA Fund—always critical—is now even more so! Our gifts help HPA to remain rooted in personal care and limitless learning during these uncertain days, and always.

EVERY STUDENT BENEFITS The HPA Fund supports every student in every avenue of the HPA experience—in person or online, from capstones to co-curriculars, through arts, athletics, and so much more.

STRENGTH TO PIVOT

HELPING EACH OTHER

Financial strength and flexibility are vital under any circumstances and especially in the changing landscape of COVID-19.

Many HPA families are facing unstable times, and the HPA Fund helps meet a growing need for financial aid.

ROLE MODELS CHANGE LIVES

ALOHA INTO ACTION

HPA can hire teachers and coaches who devote themselves deeply to each student, every year—thanks to the HPA Fund.

Every great school needs a groundswell of passionate financial supporters. More and more Ka Makani are showing their aloha through the HPA Fund.

POWER IN NUMBERS

IMMEDIATE IMPACT

When we band together with gifts of all sizes, the HPA Fund delivers a BIG impact.

HPA Fund gifts are put to work immediately, and each donor can direct the purpose or program area of their gift.

The power of philanthropy Gifts from alumni, parents, and friends allow HPA to offer more responsive or ambitious student programs than would normally be possible through tuition alone.

Two basic facts illustrate the power of giving, this year, and every year: • Tuition covers roughly 80 percent of the cost of the HPA experience.

• The remaining 20 percent is possible—in large part—because of generous support from those who believe in HPA. There are two ways to make your gift.

Online: www.hpa.edu/give Mail: Please send your check to our address listed on the back cover.

If you have already made your gift, please accept our sincere thanks!

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Wai‘aka Initiative Progress Thanks to generous donors, HPA helps students in need—now more than ever

HPA launched the Wai‘aka Initiative for Financial Aid a little over one year ago, and since that time, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic upheaval across the globe.

Financial aid has always played a critical role in keeping HPA a transformative school for students from all walks of life. Now, both new and returning families are needing assistance in even greater numbers. The Wai‘aka Initiative

has never been more important than it is today.

Several generous donors recently made gifts to help push the initiative forward. Rachel (Gleed) Skeen ’02 and her husband, Andrew, believe strongly in giving back, especially at this moment. “It feels like many solutions being offered in society during this pandemic won’t enhance equity, especially in education,” Rachel explains. “We could be taking steps backward. In offering these funds, we wanted to help bridge the gap and assist students who wouldn’t

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be able to pursue the education they desire. We hope our contribution enables them to find that journey, just as we did.”

The Skeens chose to direct their gift to the HPA Faculty Big Island Scholarship Fund, a need-based award that aids long-standing Hawai‘i Island families, and the Kūlia Fund, which supports students from Hawai‘i and beyond with the greatest demonstrated need. By focusing on these endowed funds, the Skeens’ gift will assist students not only in the near term, but also far into the future, as part of HPA’s permanent financial aid program.

Meanwhile, two HPA parents who wish to remain anonymous made a gift that was used immediately for HPA families in jeopardy of not being able to return to school in August. Their contribution helped students from Waimea and surrounding communities to remain at HPA where they continue to shine in many roles—scholars, athletes, artists, and community leaders.

For the Tsai family, based in Taiwan, strengthening HPA financial aid has become an intergenerational project. “This belief really started with my grandpa, who was the firstgeneration entrepreneur in our family,” explains Douglas Tsai ’10. “From the beginning, he has given back through different channels and different foundations. We strongly believe that when one has resources, it’s important to do this, especially to the places that have helped us before, so that they can help someone else. It’s a positive cycle.” The Tsai family’s recent gift also provided immediate relief to HPA families for this current school year.

Like many Ka Makani, all these supporters share a strong belief in the power of an HPA education and its continuing role in their lives. Tsai, for example, credits HPA with influencing his passion for venture capital. “HPA planted that seed very early on,” he says. “Venture capital is all about investing in new ideas. At HPA, you meet so many

How you can help Become a regular HPA Fund donor, and consider directing your gift to financial aid.

“ We strongly believe that when one has resources, it’s important to give back, especially to the places that have helped us before, so that they can help someone else.

It’s a positive cycle.”

—Douglas Tsai ’10

people from different cultures, different places—it’s a great environment to discover new ideas.” Which is exactly what the Wai‘aka Initiative aims to sustain: a school ’ohana filled with young people from many different backgrounds, from Hawai‘i and around the world.

For the Skeens, their gift comes hand-in-hand with a feeling of reconnection. “We kind of lost touch with HPA for a while,” says Rachel. “We were busy with kids and jobs and various moves—but when we did reach a financial position to offer support, HPA was on our list. I feel that many of the good things in my life are the result of what I received from HPA. I want to give other students, especially those from the Big Island, the opportunity to have a similar experience.” •

The HPA Fund is an immediate resource that helps students every year. All gifts of all sizes have impact.

When we band together, there is true strength in our numbers.

Consider joining the HPA Fund Leadership Circle.

Donors to the circle help achieve HPA’s highest priorities by making leadership gifts of $25,000 or more to the HPA Fund. You can direct your leadership gift to financial aid; it will be spent immediately to help HPA students and families who would otherwise lose the opportunity of an HPA education. This kind of immediate support is urgently needed while the Academy works to build endowment resources over the longer term.

Establish a permanently endowed fund for financial aid.

An endowed fund will generate resources every year as part of HPA’s permanent financial aid program.

If you choose, your fund can honor someone in your family, a teacher, or another individual who is meaningful to you. Endowed fund levels start at $25,000 and rise to $250,000 or more, depending on the impact you would like to make for HPA students.

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5 Questions

with Kirk Caldwell ’71, mayor of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell ’71 has served the city of Honolulu for two terms, spanning nearly eight years. In that time, he prioritized large-scale infrastructure projects, including investing in parks and public spaces, repaving roads, and working toward climate resiliency. We had the chance to ask him about his policy priorities, what makes local government effective, what he learned about leadership as a student at HPA, and more.

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Mayors everywhere are increasingly in the national spotlight.

What makes local leadership so compelling today in politics?

With gridlock in national and state government, cities simply get the jobs done. Transportation, sanitation, education... local government is where the rubber meets the road. There is an immediate impact from city governments on quality of life. Mayors around the world build major infrastructure that allow people to gather together: think of Paris in the Renaissance, or Athens in its golden age… great things come of people living together. And in terms of meeting challenges, like climate change, mayors are leading the charge.

With your term drawing to a close in 2021, what are your priorities for these final months in office?

My priorities are the same as they were when I initially ran for mayor, and when I ran for re-election: I’ve continued to fight for the rail project, as unpopular as it’s become. We’re also rebuilding our sewer system, expanding and greening public transportation, and repaving roads. I support dense, urban living, and living close together means we need great parks and gathering spaces. I’ll continue to plant trees, revitalize our shared spaces, and collaborate with the private sector to address homelessness with affordable housing and wrap-around care. And I’ll continue to prioritize climate resiliency. O‘ahu has taken a lead on this, and I’ll push this forward with the hope that whoever comes next will carry on.

Common Read In preparation for this academic year, every Upper School student read Aloha Rodeo, a new book from HarperCollins by David Wolman and Julian Smith about the legendary

You were student body president at HPA. What piqued your interest in civil service?

paniolo Archie Ka‘au‘a, Jack Low,

In my senior year, I asked the administration to authorize a student tree-planting project. They gave the entire student body a day off to plant a gigantic grove of ironwood trees just off Saddle Road, toward Waiki‘i. Parker Ranch plowed up the dirt for us, and we spent the day just planting trees—rows upon rows. Every time I drive past that grove, I think how empowering it was for me to see that government, even student government, can make a difference in a lasting way.

include a number of HPA alums as well

We always like to ask our Ka Makani which HPA experiences had the most lasting impact on their lives. What do you carry with you from HPA?

Islands, these three Waimea heroes

and Ikua Purdy—whose descendants as current students Gabriel Kalama ’21 and Hayden Kalama ’26 (Ikua Purdy’s great-great-grandchildren). In 1908, only ten years after the United States annexed the sovereign Hawaiian traveled to Cheyenne, Wyoming

In those days, when teachers came in the room, we all had to stand up at attention and address them as "sir." But one of my teachers, Mr. Douglas, taught us that we should never be afraid to ask questions. He gave me confidence, and I found that in asking questions, I might ask something that someone else was wondering, too, and we would all learn. Maybe that’s leadership: having the confidence to ask questions and seek answers. Most important, though, were the friendships. The friends I made remain my best friends to this day.

to compete in the world’s top

2020 has been a difficult year thus far. What makes you feel hopeful these days?

academic year, author David Wolman

The bottom line is the resilience of the people I represent. We are an incredible community; we do what we can to help each other. That gives me hope. There are many challenges ahead, but together, we will build a new normal for living together in the most incredibly diverse and beautiful place in the world. •

rodeo contest, where “they didn’t just astound the locals; they also overturned simplistic thinking about cattle country, the binary narrative of ‘cowboys versus Indians,’ and the very concept of the Wild West.” This is also serving as HPA’s very own writer-in-residence.

Photo courtesy of Mark Arbeit Photography and Honolulu Magazine.

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HPA’s Vredenburg Hawaiian artifact collection undergoes 3D scanning

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n 1992, Florence “Coco” Vredenburg Hind and her sister, Theone Vredenburg, were considering how to honor and preserve an extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts, all gathered by their father, Theodore Vredenburg. He was the foreman at Parker Ranch under A.W. Carter from the mid-1930s until after World War II, and he spent his days on ranch land throughout North and South Kohala. Vredenburg, who was Hawaiian, possessed a natural ability to simply notice artifacts in the ground where others would not. “He just had a knack for seeing them,” says his grandson, Robby Hind ’66, “and he felt that they shouldn’t be lost. He wanted other people to be able to see them, too, and to understand how Hawaiians lived. He collected with that in mind.”

As Vredenburg got older, he began to think about what would happen to the artifacts after he died. “He went to a museum and saw hundreds of poi pounders stored in boxes in the basement,” Hind recalls. “He said, ‘No way. Not what I want.’” After Vredenburg’s death, his daughters thought of a number of possible homes for the collection, and ultimately chose HPA so that the artifacts could be used to teach students from all over the world about Hawaiian culture.

Today, the collection is receiving some high-tech TLC. “It is a significant collection as many of the pieces are pre-contact,” says Kālewa Correa, curator of Hawai’i and the Pacific for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. Correa is using an Artec Leo 3D scanner to catalogue each item in the collection. “It

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essentially takes a physical object and is able to reproduce it for the virtual world,” he explains. Ultimately, HPA can feed data from the scanner to 3D printers to create replicas of the artifacts for students to handle and examine.

Through the scanning project, HPA hopes to mālama the objects and the culture they represent, as well as honor Theodore Vredenburg. “Once, when he was visiting a taro farmer in Waimanu Valley,” says Robby Hind, “my grandfather unearthed a kū‘ula stone that the farmer was using as a step. He told the farmer what it was, and the farmer told him to take it.” Concerned about respecting the mana‘o of the stone, Vredenburg asked his mother what to do. “She told him to go see Aunty Lio‘i Ka‘ana‘ana,” Hind continues. “She was a kahuna in Waimea at the time. She met with my grandfather and said, ‘Look.

You took it from the ground and raised it up. It has already given you permission to take it.’”

Hind reports that Aunty Theone, who is now 92, was happy to be able to give the collection to HPA. “As long as it gets used to educate people and expose them to the culture,” she says, “then that’s exactly what my father intended for it.” •

Clockwise from top: ‘Umeke: wooden bowl unique to Hawai‘i and the Pacific. Likely a calabash used for poi. ‘Ulu maika: large stone disc used in a game of skill similar to bowling called maika.

Nao wili: pump-drill model with metal point. Prior to contact, Hawaiian canoe builders used the pump drill with a shell to bore holes. Pōhaku ku’i ‘ai: large stone pounder, used to mash kalo into pa‘i ‘ai or poi. Pōhaku puka ku’i ai: stone ring pounder. The carvedout center, or puka, featured here is well known on Kaua’i. •

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COVID-19 has emphasized once again the fragility of Hawai‘i’s food system. With 90 percent of the state’s food currently imported, Hawai‘i must nurture a new generation of local farmers and agricultural producers. Across Hawai‘i Island and within the HPA community, Ka Makani are helping to plant the seed.

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hen the COVID-19 lockdown hit Hawai‘i in March 2020, Brandon Lee was just about to mark his six-year anniversary in the pig farming business. Lee, who attended HPA from 1996 to 1997 and graduated from Honoka‘a High School, was named a Mahi‘ai Match-Up recipient from Kamehameha Schools in 2014. With his start-up grant in hand, Lee launched Kaunamano Farm, in part to supply Nāpua Restaurant, which he co-owns with brother-in-law and lifelong friend chef Keoni Regidor. From the beginning, his goal has been to help rejuvenate local agriculture and establish a renowned brand of premiere Hawaiian pork.

“My interest began with the desire to bring super fresh food into Nāpua, and I soon realized we should be producing our own meat,” Lee explains. “In the 1970s, Hawai‘i was harvesting 80,000 farmraised pigs a year. By 2017, the state-wide harvest was roughly 1,800. Only .01% of the pork consumed commercially here in Hawai‘i is local. And our slaughter houses have become processing facilities for mainland products.”

Lee is out to change that fact, one gourmet hotdog at a time. Nāpua patrons enjoy ribs, sausage, prosciutto, and other pork dishes fresh from Kaunamano Farm, complemented by other meats and as much local bounty as Lee and Regidor can source into the menu.

Photo by @ericwehner.

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In his pursuit of perfection, Lee began with six Berkshire pigs from California and dove straight into a plan for sustainable, organic production.

In addition to pigs, the farm’s openpasture and rotational-grazing system involves chickens (to eat pests) and goats (to clean out the weeds). In addition to grass, Lee’s pigs enjoy a bountiful diet of local grain, ‘ulu, bananas, papayas, macadamia nuts, and more. “I chose Berkshire pigs for the quality of the meat and their overall health and sturdiness,” he explains.

“Now, we’re focused on changing and shaping the body composition by giving our pigs a great life here on the hills— plenty of time to roam from pasture to pasture. Their fat is incorporated throughout the muscle and the flavor is so clean.”

Through their work, Lee and Regidor are helping to build and sustain a mutually-beneficial network of local producers. Microgreens in the restaurant, for example, come from ‘Io Farms and pasture-raised chicken comes from Punachicks Farm; the Berkshire pigs eat local feed from Miranda’s Country Store and candy apple bananas from ‘Ohana Banana Farms. And to expand access to premier local pork, Kaunamano Farm now offers mail-order service to the entire state, including a special promotional box to help raise funds for ‘Iolani Palace. The service was prompted initially by COVID-19, but for Lee it’s a logical next step toward the ultimate goal. His mantra? Eat with impact.

“For those of us who live in Hawai‘i, I think we have a responsibility to eat what is grown here,” he says. “Eating

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local is giving back. It may not be realistic to eliminate all food from elsewhere, but raise your percentage of local. It takes planning; we’re competing with convenience. But if you make even one more meal a week from the Big Island, you’re making a tremendous difference.”

Take care of the land, and it takes care of you Brandon Lee may have started farming just six years ago, but the values that inspire his project go back to childhood and the Lee family’s ancestral legacy.

High on the slopes of Maunaloa, the Lees operate Hāloa ‘Āina, a reforestation company and educational organization dedicated to sustainability.

In 2010, the family purchased this site on land their ancestors have worked or stewarded since before Kamehameha unified the islands.

All three Lee brothers—Brandon, Justin ’02, and Ryan—bring different talents to Hāloa ‘Āina in support of the vision held by their father, Wade, and his generation. From the beginning, the goal of Hāloa ‘Āina has been to restore this dryland forest to how it flourished 150 years ago, and to let the forest dictate what can be recovered from it.

“Through the ahupua‘a system, a million people were once able to nourish themselves in Hawai‘i and live harmoniously off the land,” says Justin Lee. “With this pandemic as yet another reminder, the importance of being self-reliant has only grown. We’ve got to keep Hawai‘i strong and not so dependent on the barges coming in.”

As part of its forest management plan, Hāloa ‘Āina has restored close to a

Photo by Perrin James.

“Hopefully we can instill a changed mindset in the next generation of fishermen or foresters or farmers to actively manage our ‘aina and take only what we need. To ensure that tomorrow is not just an afterthought, but the first thought.”

- JUSTIN LEE ’02

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million native Hawaiian trees since its inception. The company also produces Royal Hawaiian sandalwood oil and hydrosol for Hawai‘i and worldwide markets.

Hāloa ‘Āina operates not as a traditional sandalwood plantation, where trees are grown in monoculture and are harvested whole, but as an ongoing ecosystem placed in conservation easement and dedicated to sustainable Hawaiian forest practices. The operation combines biology, forestry, conservation, and distilling, and retains 13 full-time employees.

“It’s really cool to think about the different families supported by this forest,” says Justin, “especially when you include entrepreneurs who buy our products. Hāloa ‘Āina is helping put food on the table for an exponential amount of people.” One of these business owners happens to be Leala Humbert ’03, who runs Ua Body, a Hawai‘i Island skincare company that uses Hāloa ‘Āina sandalwood oil in many of its additive-free, vegan formulas.

As a former firefighter, expert bowhunter, and world-class spearfisher, Justin knows self-reliance as a way of life. (See more, page 3.)

When he’s not engaged in spearfishing championships in places like Greece or Portugal, Justin can be found hunting sheep in the Hāloa ‘Āina forest or off the Hāmākua coast, where he fishes for family and friends.

“Occasionally I’ll buy a steak, but mostly everything from our stews to hamburgers to bacon in the morning has either been produced by Brandon or shot by me,” says Justin. “Hopefully we can instill a changed mindset in

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the next generation of fishermen or foresters or farmers to actively manage our ‘āina and take only what we need.

To ensure that tomorrow is not just an afterthought, but the first thought.”

Tradition and ingenuity By their very geography, islands teach us about resource limits—in land, water, energy, and more. Kawamata Farms in Waimea has adopted hydroponic growing as a way to maximize space and conserve water.

The Kawamata family continuously adapts their technology and process, but their connection to Hawai‘i Island remains firm and deep.

“My grandparents purchased 17 acres here in 1963 and raised seven children, including my dad, on this farm” says Leilyn Kawamata Koev ’91. “Our first speciality was roses, but in the ’90s my dad foresaw too much competition from South America. He had the vision to switch us to hydroponics and went to the Netherlands for training and to purchase equipment.”

Hydroponic systems grow plants in greenhouses with a precise mixture of water, nutrients, and an alternative substrate instead of soil. Benefits include higher yields in smaller spaces, improved pest control, and a yearround growing season. Kawamata Farms currently produces about 30,000 pounds of vine-ripened tomatoes per week, with distribution across Hawai‘i island, as well as on O‘ahu, Maui, and Kaua‘i.

“It feels like small farmers are in the best interest of Hawai‘i,” reflects Koev.

“Corporations may come and go, but we live here, we have a strong connection to the land, to the people. But it isn’t

always easy. Local farms need more options and access to distribution, food safety training, less expensive transportation, and technology innovation—all of that is so critical.”

Koev worries about attracting the next generation of farmers. “We need to start educating our young children that farming is a viable career choice and technology is providing us with many advantages,” she explains. “I really hope that Kawamata Farms is helping in some way to excite the next generation. We have a oneyear training program that serves international students, and I’d love to get some of our young people from Hawai‘i.”

Photo by @ericwehner.

“We need to start educating our young children that farming is a viable career choice and technology is providing us with many advantages.”

- LEILYN K AWAMATA KOE V ’91

21

“It takes just a small percentage of us to eat with impact. That really could change our whole agricultural game in Hawai‘i.”

- BR ANDON LEE

Above all, Koev is grateful for and proud of her family legacy. “My children never met my grandparents,” she says, “but I’m glad they can feel some of that through the farm. I just love having a product we can share and seeing people get excited for fresh, Hawai‘i-grown tomatoes. It feels like the old days, when farmers would just exchange. It makes me remember, ‘This is why I do it.’”

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Raising up new farmers and farm advocates Like Koev, Ashley Goo ’99 grew up on a family farm. His mother, Sheila, still runs Goo Farms in Waimea, which produces flowers and vegetables. After working the farm for several years post-college, Goo eventually turned his attention to the opposite end of the food cycle: landfill waste and putting resources back into the soil. In 2012,

he launched Bokashi Microbes with business partner Shanelle Pung ’98 to promote a specialized Japanese composting system using “effective microorganisms” also known as “EM.” “Here on Hawai‘i Island, we have a landfill capacity problem,” Goo explains. “Food waste and organic matter account for a huge portion of all landfill trash. Why not turn that trash into a renewable resource?”

Unlike traditional composting, a bokashi system takes place in an airtight container, which works faster and controls odor and pests. “You can break down different material as well—like meat or animal waste,” Goo says, “and it’s less complicated. There’s no need to turn the pile or worry about brown-to-green ratios. Plus, no greenhouse gasses are produced.”

The end product is a compost “tea” that replenishes the soil, along with a small amount of organic material that, when buried, adds further enrichment.

Bokashi can be used by private homeowners, businesses, farms, and municipalities. “The process has been applied around the world since the 1980s, but it hasn’t quite received the recognition it deserves,” says Goo. “We want to change that!”

Goo, Pung, Koev, and the Lees are among a small but inspirational group of Ka Makani who are choosing to farm or invest in other forms of agricultural resilience. These include Goo’s classmate, Isaac Gillette ’99, who owns Keopu Coffee, a farm dedicated to organic practices and 100% Kona coffee; Jared Chapman ’03 with The Hawai‘i Island Goat Dairy; Greg Johnson ’96, a member of the Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Collective and operator of Johnson Family Farms; David “Honu” Lafitaga ’09, who

Photo by Hans Klett ’91.

was certified in natural farming with the first cohort in the farm apprentice mentoring program run by the Hawai‘i Farmers Union United and who is a board member/caretaker of Mā‘ona Community Garden; and Amanda Rieux P’31, executive director at Māla‘ai, the culinary garden of Waimea Middle School.

On campus, HPA seeks to support local producers and help raise up a passionate, informed younger generation. The HPA Sustainability Plan calls for 40 percent of cafeteria food to come from local sources by 2030. The Upper Campus and Village Campus gardens (led by Willie Quayle P’27, ’30 and Kim Narol, respectively) are already playing a strong role in that effort. In addition to teaching farm-based classes, Quayle and Narol’s highly collaborative programs involve

teachers from other departments as well as extracurricular outreach.

Last year, 43 students from seven different capstone classes drew upon the HPA gardens for their research or final products. Beginning in March, when the HPA cafeterias closed, the school gardens also increased their regular contributions to the St. James Community meal.

“All of these steps have felt like paying a huge debt forward toward more local, sustainable agriculture and greater appreciation for the natural world,” says Narol. “Even with our youngest students, my kindergarteners—through the garden they quickly realize that we all need the same things. Water. Shelter. Love and care.”

At the Upper School, where garden land still shows traces of native

Hawaiian terraces, Quayle encourages his students to consider how the relationship between land and people has changed over time. “Maybe it’s too idealistic,” he says, “but I believe that many things would begin to fall into place if we could instill a deep sense of caring in each individual—so that we begin to see land not as an 'other' but as an extension of ourselves.” • Additional photography by Ryan Combs.

Are you involved in Hawai‘i’s agricultural resilience?

We recognize that many more Ka Makani may be involved in farming, producing, or advocating across the state. Please share your story with us at alumni@hpa.edu.

We are #KaMakaniSTRONG

23

Kaumaha Coping with loss and moving through grief in the time of COVID-19

For many of us, suffering and loss are not a part of a natural rhythm. The methods and muscles that our ancestors held for reckoning with death and heavy burdens have perhaps softened with the comforts and distractions of modern living. But 2020 has proven to be a year that calls on us to consider how we cope with loss: the loss of normalcy and routines as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of major milestones and celebrations, and the loss of loved ones. In the Hawaiian language, the word for “grief” or “sorrow” is kaumaha. It also means holding a physical weight that is followed with relief when it is set down. As communities everywhere, including HPA, navigate the waters of a new era and come to terms with loss, there are sources of strength to be found—from the wisdom of the past to the promise of the young.

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In many traditions, darkness itself is a source of fear, or an analogy for hard times and sadness. But in Hawai‘i, darkness, or pĹ?, is also the source of creation.

25

Go gently at your own pace

“All losses are significant,” Freitas says. “Grief

Earlier this year, when the coronavirus pandemic sent communities across the globe into shelter-in-place isolation, day-to-day life changed almost overnight for people everywhere. Some began to work from home while others were furloughed or laid off. Essential workers risked their own health and safety, teachers and school administrators re-invented the wheel as they pivoted to remote learning, elders were warned to be especially careful, and even very young children learned about social distancing and masking up. We shifted into new ways of being in our homes, schools, jobs, and communities—and though social media memes about pandemic lockdown veered toward either the sanguine or the cynical, real life was of course much more complex for most.

HPA’s Upper School counselors, Steve Furchner P’19, ’21 and Tiffany Freitas P’26, ’28, encourage folks to be

is universal, and there is no right or wrong way to experience it. The grief of losing a loved one will be different from losing your child’s graduation, but you can still have a lot of emotions around it. It’s important to acknowledge that you’re sad about that loss.

Everyone has to experience it in their own way and get support when and how they need it. For some people, this means exercise or meditation. For some people, it means connecting with other people who loved someone who was lost.”

Find a way toward meaning North Hawaii Hospice Nurse Case Manager Monica Newcomb P’21 can attest to the difficulty many of us have facing death, but in her work, “being with someone as they go through the process of transitioning to the other side is an honor,” she says. “There are parts that are hard, but it’s extremely rewarding to make someone’s passage more comfortable. It is often a

“

spiritual experience in the same way that birth is.” A

All losses are significant,” Freitas says.

“Grief is universal, and there is no

right or wrong way to experience it.

TIFFANY FREITAS, HPA UPPER SCHOOL COUNSELOR

”

Hospice veteran with more than 20 years of service in the field, Newcomb is quick to acknowledge that “it is a very different situation when someone has lived a full life than when someone is young.”

In the wake of deeply felt losses across the HPA community, last semester, Cydni Alvarez ’20, a senior from Kaua‘i, used her capstone project to work through her own questions about grief. The young photographer

gentle with themselves as they work through this time: “The loss of normalcy and routine can make us feel uncertain and can lead to anxiety,” Furchner says. “But so much of this is out of our control, so we can work on centering our thoughts.”

In a pandemic, anxiety and worst-case-scenario thinking can quickly lead to ruminations on death and dying, and fears (often realized) of being separated from those we love. Furchner, who also served as a senior class dean, recognized the stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) playing out for many students and parents coping with the loss of major milestones in the pandemic, like graduation and prom.

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and mixed media artist asked, “How do you deal with grief, and ultimately, how do you heal?” This was the essential question behind her project for Sally Lundburg’s Art, Culture, and Community capstone class: three photographic mosaics of three individuals tragically lost from the HPA community: English teacher Ethan Spencer ’91, football coach Daniel Te’o-Nesheim ’05, and Swim Academy coach Sylvia Ravaglia P’26.

“Death happens to everyone,” Alvarez said in her capstone presentation. Even though it happens so frequently, there are a lot of people who have a hard time talking or thinking about it. So with everything that has happened to us as a community, I wanted to open up people’s thoughts and offer an outlet to talk about

things that are ultimately very hard to talk about.

begins in darkness and a primordial slime from which

“In making photographic mosaics, you use tiny

spring coral polyps and invertebrates and increasingly

images to make up one. With that being said, you are

complex life forms. Predating both Darwin’s theory of

not you on your own. You are you because of the people

evolution and Einstein’s theory of relativity by many

who taught you many lessons along the way. … As an

centuries, the Kumulipo holds lines and ideas that bear

artist, putting out any piece is like putting out a piece

resemblance to both. It began as an oral chant that was

of yourself. I think with this project, I had to be more

passed down for generations, requiring great discipline

comfortable with being vulnerable. And as an artist you

and scholarship by those who learned to speak its long

should be more comfortable exploring different ideas,

succession of names for living beings. The Kumulipo

even ideas that feel uncomfortable.”

was first printed in the 1880s by King Kalākaua,

For those who are struggling with loss, Newcomb

translated into English by Queen Lili‘uokalani when

points to David Kessler, who co-authored On Grief

she was held captive in ‘Iolani Palace, and has been

and Grieving with Elizabeth Kubler Ross, and who

translated many times over since then.

recently added a sixth step to the grieving process:

The Kumulipo reflects a deep sense of balance and

finding meaning. “How we deal with grief and loss is

contrast, and celebrates the ability to hold complex and

so important,” Newcomb says. “It can bury us, or we

fragile truths together: hard and soft, land and sea, male

can try to do something positive. Finding meaning is

and female, flora and fauna, darkness and light—each

essential.”

needs the other.

From darkness, life

Inherent within the Hawaiian concept of grief is the idea that what is heavy will be made bearable, and relief

In many traditions, darkness itself is a source of fear, or

will follow. Kaumaha is the word for grief and tragedy,

an analogy for hard times and sadness. But in Hawai‘i,

and also for heaviness… a weight. Though the weight

darkness, or pō, is also the source of creation. The

of grief may bend us low, ultimately, our burden will be

Kumulipo, Hawai‘i’s most significant genealogical chant,

made light. •

PADDLE OUT Most traditional Hawaiian practices for bidding farewell to a loved one are based on land, but the paddle out ceremony has become a meaningful way for many to acknowledge the death of one who loved the ocean.

The tradition has its roots in the early 20th century, when surfers in Waikīkī paddled their boards out into the ocean to celebrate the life of a friend. Since then, surfers and paddlers from Australia to California have taken up the ritual.

In paddle out ceremonies, participants make their way into the waves, often carrying lei, and form a large circle in the ocean.

Chant, mele, prayer, and remembrances can be a part of the ceremony—anything that honors the life and spirit of the departed.

In June 2020, the Kohala community mourned the tragic loss of dear friend, son, and brother Malcolm Davis ’18. Paddle out ceremonies in his honor were held in both California and Kawaihae to bid him farewell and to wish him fair seas on his journey beyond this realm.

27

KA MAKANI

PRIDE

Rare Air

Jeff Hubbard ’93 builds a legendary resume in and out of the water

Jeff Hubbard ’93 doesn’t need the water to make a splash, although that’s where he prefers to be. Hubbard—a Kaua‘i native—is a three-time world champion bodyboarder and one of the most recognizable names in the sport. Not only does he have a resume as long as a perfect pipeline barrel, with more than 50 professional wins, but he also holds an MBA from Hawai‘i Pacific University and runs Hubboards, a bodyboarding equipment company founded with his brother, Dave. In 2018, he and fellow rider Chris Burkart launched Kaikeha, a nonprofit that fosters ocean reverence and shares the love of bodyboarding with future generations. We spoke with Hubbard about his journey in the sport and how HPA helped prepare him.

When did you fall in love with bodyboarding?

I was probably about 11 years old. Most of my friends in AYSO soccer or grade school were bodyboarding already, so luckily, I got caught up in the fun of it.

Who were some of your mentors and idols growing up?

Growing up on Kauaʻi, I was able to watch many young professionals—Chris Burkart, Harry Antipala, Kyle Maligro—from the same island make names for themselves in the bodyboarding world. Those young men helped encourage me, and I learned a lot from them.

At HPA I was lucky enough to bodyboard a lot with Ashley Colter ’93, one of my best friends. Keoki Lindsey ’90 was a senior when I was a freshman—an amazing studentathlete and he was super nice to me. He helped make it more fun and special for me to be a bodyboarder during my formative freshman year.

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With your long resume in the sport, what has been the key to your success?

It seems like your nonprofit shares that goal. What sparked the idea for Kaikeha?

I have been very, very lucky throughout my career. However, hard work was definitely the key. I was never the smartest or best athlete, but I understood how that mix of work ethic, dedication, and self-reliance can give you a real competitive advantage.

I learned this directly from my three years wrestling under Matt Hughes at HPA and my father, Mark Hubbard ’64.

Chris Burkart and I had the idea to start a community bodyboarding event on Kaua‘i focused on mentoring the keiki, but to really succeed, we realized that we needed to lay a solid foundation. By creating a 501c3 nonprofit, we could establish a mission-driven event and secure funding in order to properly impact the youth. Plus, there are so many like-minded people out there, willing to help in any capacity. As a nonprofit, that collective group effort can produce amazing results with the opportunity to really grow and improve each and every year.

When and how did Hubboards enter the mix?

My brother, Dave, and I started Hubboards in January 2013, but I had been envisioning it for many years prior—mostly for college projects and mock business plans for my classes. Hubboards focuses on high-end equipment, and we sell our products around the world. We also use Hubboards as a platform to showcase how fun bodyboarding is and to help promote this wonderful sport.

What do you hope Kaikeha will accomplish over the long term?

The happy faces of the kids and parents during these events are priceless and to see the direct results has been so validating.

I hope we can continue to grow in order to provide the keiki even more opportunities that, in the words of our mission, foster a lifelong connection with the ocean and nurture a competitive athletic spirit. •

KA MAKANI PRIDE

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KA MAKANI PRIDE

KA MAKANI SPOTLIGHT

JUST KICKIN’ IT Future Hoya Conor Hunt ’20 is staying in the moment During one of the most uncertain times of his life, Conor Hunt ’20 turned to something that’s always been reliable—his foot.

As a three-year HPA athlete, Hunt earned a reputation as one of the best football specialists in the state of Hawai‘i, as well as being one of the most exciting goal-scorers on the soccer field, collecting Player of the Year honors as Ka Makani reeled off a fourth state title in five years. Last spring, Hunt signed his letter of intent to attend and play football for Georgetown University, where he is now a first-year student.

He and teammate Kūkila Lincoln ’20—who signed to play for Montana—are HPA’s first Division I football players in nearly a decade.

Shortly after Hunt put pen to paper to join the Hoyas, however, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, shaking up his routine. While it would have been easy to dwell on an unconventional finish to his HPA career, Hunt instead took advantage of the time.

“I’ve been sticking to a workout routine and eating really well,” Hunt says. “It was hard coming out of HPA knowing that I wouldn’t be able to finish school in person, but I decided to dedicate a lot of it to getting into top shape.

“There’s no time to think about the negative in such a supportive and vibrant environment as HPA,” Hunt added. “It teaches you to try new things and say ‘yes’ to all opportunities that come your way. You never know where it could bring you.”

Hunt has long had a dream of playing college football, taking up kicking as a New Year’s resolution in 2016 back when he lived on Kaua‘i. He came to HPA his sophomore year and became an integral part of the program’s resurgence. After 30 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 2 0

winning just one game in his first two seasons combined, Ka Makani finished as the BIIF runner-up a season ago.

The Hoyas are a Division I FCS squad that play out of the Patriot League. They were one of many programs to pursue Hunt, but the school quickly separated itself as his choice.

“There’s a lot of pride and tradition at Georgetown, and it felt like a big ‘ohana over there,” Hunt says.

Hunt says his days playing competitive soccer are behind him, and he will only be booting the pigskin from now on. He’ll compete for both the starting punter and kicker jobs with the Hoyas, but will have to wait a little longer before he can officially don the blue and grey of Georgetown on the gridiron.

As he was making plans to join the team in Washington D.C., the Patriot League announced that teams would not engage in competition during the fall season.

“That’s no reason to stop working hard,” Hunt says.

“It’s unfortunate that there will be no Patriot League football, but the way I see it, is that I just got more time to work and get better.” •

KA MAKANI PRIDE

KIMO HIGGINS ’86

Full Circle of Aloha The course of life has had lots of twists and turns for Kimo Higgins ’86—eventually leading the former HPA cross country star back to the rolling green hills of Waimea.

It’s something that a teenage Higgins would have never predicted for himself back in his heyday as a Ka Makani student-athlete.

“I would have laughed at you if you told me back then that I’d end up being a teacher here,” Higgins says with a smile.

After time as a Navy officer and stockbroker, Higgins returned to HPA in 1998 after a life-changing car accident. As he was pondering his next step, his former HPA cross country and track coach, Stan Shutes, reached out with an opportunity. Higgins initially took on a coaching role, before eventually becoming an HPA faculty member.

“HPA helped me reset my life, which most people don’t get to do, welcoming me back with open arms,” Higgins says. “I’ll always be very thankful for that.”

Supporting each other with aloha is a strong Ka Makani tradition, and Higgins is quick to credit those who set the standard for him when he was a student and then a young educator, citing Shutes and George Watson—father of HPA’s first AV program—as major influences.

“I’ve learned from some good examples. I’d like to think that, like them, people can rely on me when

they have something they need done,” says Higgins.

Higgins has seen many faces come through the campus, including his daughter, Emi Higgins ’19— who is currently at Colorado Mines as a standout sophomore soccer player—and son, Koa Higgins ’21.

“That’s been a nice flip-flop, watching my own kids go through what I did on this campus,” Higgins says.

“Of course, it’s different now than it was when I went here, but the unique HPA experience is the same. The people at HPA care about your kids and their future. I wouldn’t want to send my kids anywhere else.”

Higgins teaches senior English and still coaches cross country and track, although he admits some sports have changed quite a bit since he donned the Ka Makani red. In fact, Higgins says the cross-country course is nearly backwards compared to what it used to be, one of the more noticeable differences being that runners go up “The Taj” instead of down. But don’t be telling Higgins that makes things any easier.

“Oh no! If you’re doing it right, it hurts,” Higgins laughed, “no matter which way you go.” •

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Alumni News, Class Notes, Events, Giving and More

Kumu Ka‘ai Spencer greets senior class president Fisher McKinney '20 as part of Operation Red Wave, recognizing the class of 2020.

33

A MESSAGE FROM GREG WARNER ’77

Giving back to something I truly love is an honor.

When HPA approached me about helping with the project to restore Davies Memorial Chapel, it felt like an ideal opportunity to become more involved with the school. As a student at HPA, I didn’t realize that the buildings I passed through every day were designed by a master, but on some level, I recognized their value and felt their power. Today, Vladimir Ossipoff, the mid-century modern architect who designed the Chapel and HPA’s upper campus, is a primary source of inspiration for my own work as an architect. Davies Chapel, in particular, has influenced my professional path from the beginning and continues to be a muse.

Working with HPA’s advancement team over the past year to ignite support for this project has been invigorating. The breadth of people who have come out of the woodwork to share their aloha for Davies Chapel has been overwhelming to feel and to see. I have always felt a responsibility to care for HPA, especially in regard to the physical campus and buildings that Ossipoff created here; that sense of responsibility has, in turn,

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Greg Warner ’77 is a principal designer at the award-winning Walker Warner Architects, a firm he co-founded in San Francisco in 1989. From Sonoma ranches to coastal Hawaiian homes, the firm’s work has garnered awards and accolades for its innovation, sensitivity, and clean design. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and a LEED Accredited Professional, and he is spearheading HPA’s Davis Memorial Chapel restoration.

provided great value in my life.

For me, this process has been the perfect manifestation of kuleana: the reciprocity between taking care of something and in receiving care in return. It’s a gift to be a part of it.

In the past year, we have raised more than $400,000 towards our $1 million goal for the chapel effort, with gifts coming from long-time supporters of the school, first-time HPA donors, friends, foundations, and ‘ohana far and wide. Helping

to fundraise for Davies Chapel is a pleasure simply because I sincerely believe in it and want to ensure that it will continue to serve and influence future generations of Ka Makani. To be able to give back to something I truly love is an honor.

We hear it often, but it bears repeating: HPA is a special place because of the people who have made it what it is and what it continues to be—from Vladimir Ossipoff to the students of today and beyond. •

Davies Chapel restoration gains momentum Thanks to generous donors from New York to Hawai‘i Island—who represent steadfast members of the HPA ‘ohana as well as philanthropists who are new to HPA—the school has raised nearly half of the $1 million needed to fully restore and endow Davies Memorial Chapel.

The chapel was constructed in 1967 by renowned mid-century architect Vladimir Ossipoff. Though it remains an integral and beloved community gathering space, decades of deferred maintenance have left it in

urgent need of attention. Planning for its complete restoration has begun, with construction bids in process.

“I’m honored to support the HPA community in this way,” said one anonymous chapel donor. “Every community needs common spaces, sacred spaces, and spaces that can be full of music or silence, light or shadow.”

For now, Davies Memorial Chapel awaits its full restoration until a greater share of the project budget is secured. •

In 2016, HPA was forced to remove Davies Chapel’s ‘ōhi‘a wood bell tower when it nearly collapsed. Plans are now in motion to replace the tower and the bell (dedicated to founding board member Marjorie Robertson), install a new roof, refinish the pews, and address outdated systems and other urgent maintenance requirements. HPA is partnering with alumnus and architect Greg Warner ’77 to ensure a sensitive and appropriate approach for the chapel’s restoration. Complete restoration of Davis Memorial Chapel will require gifts large and small, from alumni, friends, and from those who care about Vladimir Ossipoff’s legacy in Hawai‘i. If you have questions or would like to help, contact Director of Advancement Hannah Hind Candelario ’01: hcandelario@hpa.edu, or make a gift on HPA’s website.

RING THE BELL FOR DAVIES MEMORIAL CHAPEL:

Make a gift today

35

CLASS NOTES

Class Notes 50s:

Richard Frazier ’54, who enrolled at HPA (then HEA) in 1949 when school opened, also served as a math instructor and business manager for the school in the 50s and 60s.

“During my HPA faculty days,” he wrote, “I flew lots of students and faculty between the islands. Now, in my retirement in Arizona, I continue as a volunteer pilot for the state’s blood bank flying loads of blood around the state. Still avoiding COVID-19!”

60s:

John “Woody” Wood ’60 retired from Wood & Tait, a private intelligence agency, after 35 years.

Terry Hamada ’62 wrote in to say that after more than 50 years in telecom, he is enjoying retirement, his kids, and grandkids. (See photo, page 44). He shared news of his three granddaughters: “Erin is now a Senior in Civil Engineering at the University of Portland. Shawn graduated from Pacific University, got her Master’s from Chaminade, and is currently a Project Analyst at Hawaiian Electric. Their parents, my daughter and son-in-law, are both registered professional electrical engineers at Hawaiian Electric. My son got a late start with kids now in elementary school.”

Joe Harding ’63 is “happily retired for 20 years, and just enjoying Sandy Salisbury’s ’63 new calling as an artist, and Bill Jardine’s ’63 waxing ever eloquent in his varied posts! Boy, were we taught well or what?!!!”

Peter Cannon ’64 sent in a 50th reunion class photo (see page 41). “We have lost two more classmates since this picture was taken,” he writes. “We look forward to our 60th reunion and we challenge every other class on their percentage of giving to HPA. Big donors will say, if your alumni don’t care, why should we care? It does not matter how much you give. It’s the percentage of giving that counts the most. Stay safe.”

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Dean Covey ’64 is “staying close to home and covering up when out and about. Lightning storm last night was intense—no time between lightning bolts and booming thunder.

Whole house shook! Today no lightning, but in line gusts blew over most of my potted plumeria.” (See photo, page 41.) Michael Long ’64 wrote to his classmates that he is “retired and living in Haymarket, VA, which is about 40 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., the epicenter of our dysfunctional federal government. We scurry out from time to time for errands, but we mostly just stay in our burrow and look after our grandchildren two days a week. And your notes have reminded me of Hapuna Beach and that beautiful view of Mauna Kea from the HPA campus.

Everybody stay well and stay in touch.”

Last October, Charlie Payne ’64 moved to Tulsa, OK into a senior living community called Montereau. “I have roots here from college days. Lots of old joints still in business. My favorite, The Buckaneer Bar, just off the University campus. Made contact with some frat bros still here. Saw Hama [Eugene Hamamoto ’64] in Springfield on our last driving trip to Chicago July 2019. COVID issues here pretty minimal compared to other areas. Most places are open offering some level of service. Hope we can get together in 2024. Everybody stay healthy.” Rodney West ’64 sends his aloha from the beautiful Northwest. “Here on the homefront,” he writes, “the garden is in, my wife just finished turning 40 lbs. of strawberries into freezer jam for the family (took three days), I’m working on the wood pile (I buy firewood by the logging truck load, lasts 4-5 years), cutting and splitting wood for next winter, putting in the new motor and interior into the ‘69 AMX, upgrading the wood on the Thistle (sailboat) and finishing a bathroom remodel. Stay safe. Looking forward to 2024.”

“The class of 1965 was saddened by the news that Ward Brown ’65, our classmate and friend, died on June 25, 2020,” wrote

Bill Koch ’65. (See photo, page 44.) “The son of an old kama’aina family, Ward joined the class in our freshman year. He was well-liked and was known fondly as ‘Wardy Bruce’ or ‘Baby Gorilla.’ Ward joined First Hawaiian Bank in 1969 after graduating from the University of Hawai‘i with a business degree.

He rose through the ranks during his 42-year career and eventually became Senior Vice President, as well as the private banker for many of the prominent residents and families in Hawai‘i. He gave many of us our first credit card but then kept tabs on us to make sure we did not overextend ourselves.

Ward was always ready to go whether it was swimming, surfing, sailing, cliff jumping, running marathons, or hiking Mauna Kea or Haleakalā. Eventually, he slowed down a bit and took up golf. Even though Ward was generally ‘Mr. Responsible,’ he enjoyed kicking back with friends, particularly with adult beverages. As the years rolled by, his taste matured from Gallo Hearty Burgundy and Primo to scotch. Ward relished the company of his HPA friends and faithfully attended reunions and other class functions.

He knew all our stories and kept our secrets.

We will hold our kind, gentle friend in our memories. Our thoughts are also with Bonnie, his sister, and Brad, his brother.”

Monty Brown ’65 reports that he is “staying well and having quality time with kids and grandkids with the ‘stay at home’ guidelines we have followed here in Nani Waimea. My travel for work with AMAN has come to a standstill with all the restrictions in place. Enjoying the outdoors on Hawai‘i Island. Never thought I would experience a pandemic of this magnitude in our lifetime.

This will be a life changer for all with sanitation now coming to a top priority in our world.” Jim Klopp ’65 wrote: “Klippity Klopp is just fine. COVID screwed up travel plans— sorry Dolly. Staying at home and planted a garden. Not growing well, but oh well. Still in the stock options stuff now with my son which makes it waaay more fun! Karen and I

We want to hear from you! Please submit your notes and photos to www.hpa.edu/notes by January 4, 2021 for the next issue of Ma Ke Kula.

CLASS NOTES

still not married—she says I can’t divorce her if she doesn’t marry me! Sending a picture of old Klippity… young one long gone!” (See photo, page 44.)

Randy Brown ’66 swam the Maui channel relay race last year. (See photo, page 41.) Larry Mugg ’66 (see photo, page 44) writes that he is “working for DoD in Pearl Harbor. Training Administration. Currently moving things to virtual. In 2019 I traveled to Australia, Japan, and Samoa. In Samoa I was there with the outbreak and got sick.

Their priority is the young. I got back to Aiea and took my first ride in an ambulance. Ulcer operation and lost 50 lbs somewhere. Then came home and back for a gallbladder. I heard from Ed [Eddie Quaintance ‘66] and got a cool drone video from him. The things I like before the operations, I may not like now. I still like poi and poke and sashimi! I am in lockdown, not because I am sick, but, because I am vulnerable. The walls do not talk and the computer goes beep. When the fog lifts, I hope to see family on the Big Island. I am in the phonebook. Everybody stay safe please.”

Robby Mist ’66 writes that he was “up at the volcano fortunately when the lock down came, and had planted kalo a year earlier.

I am feeding the kalo and getting help from a bumper flock of chickens. My childhood

friend and ’66 classmate provided me with huli know how and the blessings of his crop.

Greg Herbst ’66 and my dad worked at C. Brewer together when Boyd McNaughton was the boss. Lucky us! Hope your garden is doing well and you planting plenty kalo, ulu, uala, and more. Aloha nō.”

Tom Aitken ’68 (see photo, page 44) is a homemaker, jigsaw puzzler, swimmer, and retired teacher advocate.

Kathy James Green ’69 retired from Credo Construction in March. “We enjoy our 18’ Shadow Cruiser camper, kayaking and bike riding, and look forward to visiting more family and friends once COVID settles down!”

Steve Muni ’69 writes that he’s “back at work after first a pacemaker and a hip replacement, (tungsten and ceramic), which left me with my left leg considerably shorter than my right, causing me to walk like a drunken sailor. I now set off every metal detector you can imagine! Mostly telecommuting now, and I’m going to start back as an Adjunct Professor of Law this fall at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Sadly the venues where I judge wine, the California State Fair and the regional county fairs, were canceled this year due to COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still drink the wine!”

In February, Dick O’Donnell ’69 took a trip

with his wife, Bebe, and her family members to Morocco. He was also just installed as President of the Rotary Club of Alamance County, NC. (See photo, page 41.) Tom Sofos ’69 wrote to his classmates: “Since half of us have hit age 70 this year, the good news is that since you all made it this far, the chances are very good that you’ll make it to 80 and beyond. Some have retired and some have continued to work. Those who are continuing to work probably do it because we like what we do. Also, in the era of the COVID-19, most of us have now learned to be great cooks, enjoy great wines, and are reading interesting books. And you have learned to use Apple’s FaceTime or Zoom or Skype or Android’s Google Duo to speak to your kids and grandkids. So stay safe.”

70s:

Noe Kalahiki Butler ‘72 has been an RN for 43 years. (See photo, page 44.) “I currently work in labor and delivery and have the privilege of helping to deliver new miracles every day that I work! Things look a little different now, but the miracle has never changed!” Jan McCormick ’72 reports: “Like many, I was furloughed in April when it became clear COVID-19 would have a (continued on page 40)

Jane Taylor ’68 has been teaching art at HPA since the 1988-89 school year. She moved back to Hawai‘i Island from Kaua‘i, beginning her HPA teaching career at what was then the HPA Kona campus. Most recently, Jane has served as the Middle School Art and Digital Media teacher. “This year I am retiring a year or two sooner than I expected in order to protect my 97-year-old mother, who lives with me, from the uncertainties around teaching during COVID-19. I will miss not only those great kids, but the exceptional HPA faculty and staff,” she writes.

“It has been a real pleasure to grow with the school all these years. I do, however, look forward to having some time to work on my own art. The transition promises a real challenge!” HPA is extremely grateful to Jane for her years of fostering creativity and beauty for generations of students! She will be sorely missed.

37

FIELD REPORTS

Ka Makani reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic

Lisa Hall-Anderson ’84 University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA

When Lisa Hall-Anderson ’84, P’21 thinks about viruses, it’s normally in the context of her gene therapy research. “Viruses are fantastic for getting DNA into cells,” she explains.

“Most gene therapy uses some kind of virus molecule to deliver the desired gene. Cut out the dangerous part, and it’s the perfect delivery mechanism.”

Like most people around the world, however, Hall-Anderson has found herself thinking about viruses from a much broader perspective since the emergence of COVID-19. She teaches human genetics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester where she is also coinvestigator at the Lawrence Lab founded by Jeanne Lawrence, a UMass colleague. Their research focuses on gene “silencing” that could eventually

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lead to gene therapies for Down syndrome, as well as other questions about genome regulation. “Thanks to regular testing, staggered work shifts, and virtual meetings, our work at the lab has kept moving forward,” she reports.

Meanwhile, at the medical school, Hall-Anderson took part in a massive mobilization that began last spring and continues in this current academic year. “I teach my students in their first class during their very first year of medical school,” she says. “I wanted this to remain a personal, foundational experience for them.” While she was initially resistant to the Zoom teaching style, she now reports it has “opened my mind to new modalities. As somebody with a learning disability, I fully understand people have different learning needs. I’ve been able to create pre-recorded modules to suit different comfort levels with the material, just as one example. And my Zoom office hours are utterly dynamic; I had 50 kids in the last one, and they weren’t just asking me questions, they were engaging with each other.”

Recalling the Massachusetts surge last spring, Hall-Anderson says she still finds inspiration in the response of the UMass community. “Five hundred people would show up to our online COVID forums,” she says. “We set up 200 hospital beds in the DCU Center downtown in case we maxed out our ICU beds at the medical center. Then

all the research folks began helping the clinical staff to crunch numbers and create triage protocols based on our actual cases, plus data coming from around the world. People just put down their normal work, no questions asked, and helped each other. It was amazing to watch.”

W. Thane Hancock ’93 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guam

Dr. Thane Hancock ’93 wears a U.S. service uniform, but his adversaries aren’t military. Hancock is the CDC’s senior medical epidemiologist for the U.S. Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The region includes American Samoa and Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and three independent countries: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

“The CDC created my position in 2015 because we recognize that the Pacific islands are unique and highly vulnerable,” explains Hancock, who has devoted his medical career to the Pacific. After earning his M.D. and M.P.H. at the University of Hawai‘i, Hancock spent nine years as a family practitioner on the island of Yap. In 2007, he was the first Yap doctor to identify symptoms of what the CDC eventually pegged as the world’s first reported Zika outbreak.

That encounter with the CDC inspired Hancock to apply for a coveted CDC fellowship with the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS).

“As EIS officers, we’re nicknamed the ‘disease detectives’ because the CDC sends us out to track and research outbreaks,” he says. Through the EIS, Hancock was highly prepared for his current post, and, ultimately, for the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the spring of 2020, with potential for transmission rising, Guam asked Hancock to “operationalize our containment system,” which meant contact tracing, case investigation work, and setting up isolation and quarantine capacity. “We pulled nurses from the department of education, and we had hundreds and hundreds of people in quarantine to manage every day,” he describes. “It was some of the toughest public health work I’ve ever conducted. Right at the breaking point, all that effort paid off, and the numbers began trending down.”

Hancock’s expertise represents a vital investment for the Pacific in both medical and moral terms. “Our islands are more vulnerable than many other locations due to complex factors,” he says. “We have limited human resources to run systems and services, we don’t have abundant ICU care, and many people live in multi-generational households with underlying health

conditions. I work with amazing colleagues who understand the stakes and who value what we do every day.

There may be ‘only’ 6,000 residents in Kosrae, for example, but they deserve the same care and interventions as larger communities anywhere else in the world.”

Kenji Matsumoto ’98 Henry M. Jackson Foundation Bethesda, MD

Kenji Matsumoto ’98 had just completed his second master’s degree—this one at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine— when he began hearing reports of an unfamiliar viral outbreak in China in late 2019. By March 2020, he was in Massachusetts, leading one of eight contact-tracing teams responsible for the state after Governor Charlie Baker initiated a groundbreaking collaboration with Partners In Health (PIH).

Known for its international service, PIH usually fights for health equity outside the U.S; Matsumoto spent 2015-16 in Rwanda with the organization. By involving PIH expertise, Massachusetts hoped to dramatically increase its capacity for contact tracing in advance of the coming surge. Thankfully, the effort proved successful, and in July, as case numbers dropped, the peripatetic

Matsumoto moved to his next career focus: infectious disease surveillance.

“If we see unusual symptoms emerge one month, and then we see them again next month, by that point, it’s really too late,” he explains.

“As a country, and around the world, we should invest more on active surveillance. Of course, public health in general is a very underfunded area— but I’m trying to change that, along with many others.”

At the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Matsumoto joined a team of analysts who monitor military health data for signs of reportable and emerging infectious diseases.

In accordance with the foundation’s mission, the goal is to help protect not only service members but also the public at large.

“Infectious disease does not respect borders,” Matsumoto emphasizes.

“If there is an outbreak in China, it should be South Africa’s problem, and also ours. It’s not a matter of who has resources and who does not—we need to be working together. With increased globalization and travel, we need to build robust global prevention strategies to prepare for the next pandemic.”

Over the past 15 years, Matsumoto has served in numerous countries, including Tanzania, Swaziland, and Uganda, often under difficult outbreak conditions. What gives him hope in the face of all he’s seen? “Innovation,” he says. “I’ve worked with many passionate researchers in the field. I’m excited to continue challenging the status quo through new approaches, such as apps for remote diagnoses. We may not be able to eradicate disease, but we can minimize its impact, and protect even the most underserved populations, if we harness the drive for innovation and collaboration.” •

39

CLASS NOTES

(continued from page 37) dramatic impact on the hospitality industry.

Fortunately for me I was just hired by a new company, Vision Hospitality, as one of their regional vice presidents and will be relocating back to Tennessee...Wish me luck!”

“Hello from turbulent Portland, OR,” writes Denice Mugg Sheffer ’72. “Life is quite interesting in this year of the 2020. I was hoping for ‘clear vision’ this year (2020 vision), but instead we’ve had quite a few hair-raising and astonishing events. All I can say is to take a breath and realize that people care for you. We are all in this canoe together. Me Ke Aloha.”

Gil Farias ’74 and his wife Yoko (see photo, page 41) continue to work for Bank of Hawaii at the Honolulu Corporate headquarters: Gil as a commercial real estate appraiser in the trust division, and Yoko as a financial adviser with Bank of Hawaii Investment Services, Inc. “Still enjoying life as best as we can in this COVID pandemic, with our masks on and with social distancing!”

Hans Solmssen ’75 writes: “When I left the Big Island 40 years ago and moved to Switzerland, it was the first time I was able to view Hawai‘i and the USA from another perspective. I was able to understand and observe how great an influence the USA has on Europe and the world. During the current pandemic, I see how different cultures around the world react to keep safe. I’m lucky to be living here, where our government is creating policy based on what the scientists are advising. Hawai‘i seems to be doing the same, unlike many other states.

I have fewer clients booking this summer, but am being paid compensation from the government. It feels like retirement already!

I have time to play in these mountains with family and friends, and more time to build my garage into my dream ‘man’s cave’!” Hans sent a photo (see page 41) of himself with his daughter, Anya, and son, Kevin. “Anya, 25, has just finished her third year teaching first grade in Fribourg, Switzerland. Kevin, 22, is in his second year at the Swiss Institute of Technology, where Albert Einstein was a teacher! So proud of them both!!!”

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Chris Thompson ’75 is a chiropractor with a home office in North Carolina. He writes, “I do lots of gardening: basic veggies plus strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Practicing social distancing and masks. My wife is a fifth grade special education teacher in her last year. I miss Waimea a lot and am looking to coming out in a few years. COVID is almost out of control here… not looking encouraging to a speedy end. I’ve been playing ultimate frisbee for 21 years in a competitive league. First time I’ve not played three days a week in forever.

I miss it and the league members bunches.

I’m also involved with the Asheville, NC chamber of commerce. Last year they were voted number one in the nation for their size, beating out 1200 other chambers. Please stay safe and well. COVID is no joke.”

Sheri Weinberg ’75 wrote in to let us know that her brother, Scott Weinberg ’76 passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 14, 2020. “If any classmates have photos of him, I would love to see them.” Classmates can send photos of Scott to Sheri via our alumni office: alumni@hpa.edu.

David Albachten ’76 is an English language teacher in Turkey. “It has been an interesting time since March 2020! We have gone entirely online with teaching and testing due to COVID-19. No easy task for 2600 students.”

Robbin Reid Trousdale Chock ’77 is working on small paintings and mixed media art, writing short stories, and a small children’s book. She’s also celebrating seven years of marriage to Harvey Chock ’74. “We all remember his family and their beloved store in Waimea, The Chock Store.

Sending warm Aloha to all HPA ‘ohana and friends during this pandemic. The tides will turn. Blessings always to beloved Big Island, Hawai‘i.”

Rick Habein ’78 wrote to say that his first born graduated from high school last spring.

Ann Donnelly ’79 is still working, and has two kids: Jack, 25, and Maggie, 23.”

80s:

Romana Hasnain ’81 and her husband, Matt, have been living in Denver for the last five years after almost 20 years in Chicago.

(See photo, page 41.) “I work as the chief research officer at Denver Health with a faculty appointment in the Department of Medicine at University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus,” she writes. “Matt and I are the proud parents of three grown sons. Our youngest just graduated from college, so we are done with college tuition! We love getting together with our family in the mountains for skiing or hiking or just hanging out.”

Michael Dietrick ‘82 lives in Palm Desert, CA and has seven grandchildren. Marielle Sander ’82 took up a new post as Country Representative for the United Nations Population Fund in Papua New Guinea this summer. She’s working to ensure women and girls’ reproductive health no matter where they are and under all circumstances (war, natural disasters, man-made disasters, and pandemics).

Lisa Hall-Anderson ’84 is working for UMass Medical School, doing research and teaching genetics to first-year med students (see page 38 for more). Her husband works for MIT, and has been giving talks virtually.

“It’s been interesting how much we’ve all just moved to a virtual work environment now. I should have bought stock in Zoom! My oldest got accepted to University of California, San Diego, and will be starting her freshman year virtually this year. My youngest is starting her senior year at HPA, and I sure hope she has as much fun as I did. HPA looks like they’ve done a really great job trying to figure out how to do this as safely as possible. We all got to come home to Hawai‘i (continued on page 43)

We want to hear from you! Please submit your notes and photos to www.hpa.edu/notes by January 4, 2021 for the next issue of Ma Ke Kula.

CLASS NOTES

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1. HPA’s class of 1964 reminisce about their 50th reunion in 2014.

2. The class of 1994 enjoying their 25th reunion last year.

3. In February 2020, Dick O’Donnell ’69 and his wife, Bebe, traveled to Morocco with 28 other family members.

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4. Alana Corpuz ’03 and daughter Eva. 5. Dean Covey ’64 says he’s staying safe in Richmond, VA. 6. Hans Solmssen ’75 with his daughter, Anya, and son, Kevin, on a rock climb in the Val de Bagnes valley in Switzerland.

7. Randy Brown ’66 after his first half-hour swim on the Maui channel relay race on Mike Spalding’s ’66 Kia Loa!

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8. Gil Farias ’74 and his wife Yoko. “We took off our COVID-19 masks for this pic!”

9. Mailani Neal ’15 is a graduate student studying physics and astronomy instrumentation. She has spent three summers working at the East Asian Observatory on Mauna Kea. 10. Mel Pobre ’64, father of Jacob '98, fishing with his grandson, Braden '31.

11. Randolph Tsien ’85 is looking to connect with Ka Makani who are cycling in the SF bay area.

12. Romana Hasnain ’81 and her husband, Matt.

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41

ALUMNI NEWS

Environmental solutions, big and small Emma Anders ’03 fosters environmental partnerships at the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance

A few years ago, Emma Anders ’03 and a good friend from O‘ahu went swimming in the familiar waters of Hawai‘i Island to examine the coral reef in South Kohala. The pair weren’t far from Waimea, where Anders spent her childhood enjoying the outdoors. “We were in the water for maybe 10 minutes, just kind of snorkeling around,” Anders recalls. “Then she popped her head up, pulled her mask off, and said, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe the difference in this coral reef!’”

Anders lives for moments like this: watching the powerful connections people have to a specific place develop in real time. “What gets me excited is seeing when people find that opportunity to take care of the place they love,” says Anders.

She counts hiking with her family (including her mother, Lower School Principal Cathy Grant) in Waimea and turtle tagging with Marc Rice at HPA, where she enrolled in third grade, as early catalysts for her love of the environment.

Now, Anders serves as executive director for the Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting a partnership that drives conservation efforts and develops leadership capacity across the state. The alliance provides a collaborative forum for work against ecosystem decline, invasive species, climate change, and many other issues critical to Hawai‘i’s future.

Over the decade that Anders has pursued conservation work, she has championed coral protection laws and administered community-based subsistence fishing programs as a planner for the State Department of Land and Aquatic Resources. Today, she supports the alliance and is an expert in natural resources management planning. “Hawai‘i is actually

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a global leader in this work,” says Anders. “Cutting-edge isn’t really the right word because Hawai‘i draws on very ancient knowledge and traditional approaches. In our contemporary world, however, it’s considered innovative conservation.”

Community partnerships fostered by the alliance not only bring together people with the right skills and intentions, but they also help make conservation work less daunting. This is especially crucial in the era of climate change, says Anders.

“Trying to fix everything all at once is overwhelming,” she explains, “but working together helps. You need people who can do the scientific research. You need people who have knowledge about the place passed down through generations.

And you need the people who get super excited about spending hours flipping through law books and understanding legal avenues and options.”

Members of the Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance, with Anders at the helm, are taking this exact approach.

“Sometimes there’s a fear that big problems require big solutions,” says Anders, “and in some ways that’s true. But change can also grow from a lot of little solutions too. In fact, it takes both.” •

CLASS NOTES

(continued from page 40) for Christmas this year to visit friends (Aloha to ’84 classmates Kristin Piltz, Bill Bergin, Carolyn Lay and Alan Winters) and family (the Hall, Hancock, and Yarawamai clans).

We spent time at Puako and did a bunch of touristy stuff that I’ve never done before, or hadn’t done in a long time. We did the flume ride in Kohala (see photo, page 44), stayed at Volcano, rode ATVs at Kahua Ranch, swam with manta rays in Kona, and watched my youngest paddle canoe for HPA in Kona. It was a wonderful trip and I was so glad I got my Hawai‘i fix before COVID-19 hit!” Kelley Miller ’84 is just going into her 26th year of practicing small animal veterinary medicine.

“Busier than ever! Dreaming of retiring in the next 5 years.”

Carolyn Birchill ’85 works for Cochlear.

“We provide Cochlear implants for people with no hearing. Mum of a strapping young lad, Callum, who is soon to be 13. Right now our focus is creating memories and travelling with my Mum ticking off her bucket list items.”

Randolph Tsien ’85 writes: “Hope everyone is well and safe. Been cycling a bit (see photo, page 41)... curious if any HPA alums are riding in the SF bay area. Try to look me up on Strava. I would love to have an HPA ride someday, of course with social distancing, masks, etc... Miss everyone. Looking for great recommendations on loco moco and mac salad for take out or delivery :-)” Bridget (Britt) Rody Nowlin ’86 recently became the director of library services at Cornish College of the Arts. “I was formerly the Visual Arts Librarian. I continue as the registrar/curator for the Monsen Collection of Art as well.”

Kevin Donnelly ’87 reports: “Currently I am weathering the pandemic like everyone is. Aside from teaching and coaching, I am continuing to grow my custom T-shirt business, Yu Nïk Ink.” Britta Bushnell ’88 wrote about how her life has changed since March. “I had to shift all of my classes to an online format and cancel the rest of my book tour. The bonus was unexpectedly having my college kid home for a few months. I’ve now become both used to and successful at teaching in

an online format and am launching more online courses for expectant parents, birth professionals, and folks interested in personal exploration through the ancient tools of myth and story. Sad to miss my annual visit back to Hawai‘i in 2020, but doing what I can to stem the tide of this virus feels more important. Hope everyone is staying healthy and well.”

90s:

For Kim Sweet Hines ’90, “the biggest disappointment for 2020 has been being unable to travel. There have been some milestones for our family that we would have liked to have celebrated together but, understandably, haven’t been able to do. I am grateful, though, that work and school have made it possible to move forward while staying safe. My hope is that all the HPA ‘ohana have been as fortunate as we are to be safe and healthy.”

Ashley Henry ’94 sent in a shot of the 1994 25th reunion last year (see page 41). Although she was unable to attend the reunion herself, she wrote: “It looks like they had a great turnout and a good time. I’m sending this with the hope that it will give other alumni who were not there a smile and a nostalgic moment.”

Deanna Brinch Mortensen ’94 writes:

“We’ve been in strict quarantine since February and are looking at another year or more at least (I’m high risk), so I’m even more grateful to have my family with me. (See photo, page 44.) I have been participating in a drug trial at Stanford for systemic mastocytosis/mast cell leukemia, and I am thankful that the medication is helping and I am able to continue the trial remotely since we started quarantine. We miss being able to travel to Hawai‘i and Denmark, but as we can’t travel, it seemed a good time to adopt a dog! She is a wonderful addition to our family and so good for the kids. My husband and I are, thankfully, both able to work from home and are looking at home-schooling options for the kids, though it’s hard to find time for it all. While I’m having to scale back my workload these days, it is still enormously gratifying to hear how happy my previous architectural clients are living in their new spaces. I approach architectural projects in a much more practical way, so it’s not the type of artsy stuff that gets featured in magazines.

I was surprised and delighted to have a client share that their project is being featured in a local magazine, showcasing an ADU addition for the grandparents. I’ll only be doing a few projects this year, but with so many people being home all day now, there’s a lot of interest in home improvement!” (continued on page 45)

Gentry “Tuy” Buckner ’90 is the owner and chief jewelry designer for 2E & Co. in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Buckner and his team use a wide range of techniques: from high-tech 3D printing and laser engraving to traditional jewelry-making methods, such as wax carving.

2E & Co. is committed to sound ethical and environmental practices, and source their materials from conflict-free regions. In the early 90s, Gentry reconnected with his biological parents, finding his birth mother in Vietnam and his father in the Philippines. The BBC aired his story, “Crossing Continents to Find my Parents.”

He is now married and lives in Saigon.

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CLASS NOTES

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13. Lisa Hall-Anderson ’84 and her family at the flume ride in Kohala.

14. Silas Rhyneer ’18 takes a dip.

15. Terry ’62 and Joyce Hamada with their three eldest granddaughters, all Mid-Pacific graduates: Kelly 2020, Erin 2017, Shawn 2013.

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16. Deanna Brinch Mortensen ’94 is juggling work, health, and homeschooling in quarantine with her family in Washington state.

17. Kelly Miller ’84 and her daughter, Maddie, in Cinque Terre, Italy in summer 2019.

18. Noe Kalahiki Butler ‘72 writes: “That was then. This is now. I’ve been an RN for 43 years.”

19. Ward Brown ’65 died in Honolulu on June 25, 2020. Classmate Bill Koch submitted a tribute to Ward in the class notes (see page 36).

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20. Tom Aitken ’68 and his kids.

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21. Larry Mugg ’66 is working for the Department of Defense in Pearl Harbor.

22. Jim Klopp ’65 sent a self-portrait of “old Klippity.”

23. Denice Mugg Sheffer ’72 and her husband in Portland, OR.

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(continued from page 43)

00s:

Kim Salmon McKay ’00 is living a fully offgrid life in a mini home in Hilo. In April, Micah Pueschel ’00 became a proud new father of daughter Hana.

A few years ago, Alana Corpuz ’03 started her own design and landscape company called Art.Garden.Design. “We build custom backyards in the Bay Area. Even during the pandemic we have continued to sculpt and create beautiful outdoor spaces.” (See photo, page 41.)

Danielle Blackburn Myrick ’05 reports that she is married to an active duty soldier and has one daughter, Kaylie, who is 3-yearsold. “Bought a home, and now have the luxury of working from home while enjoying my family. Life is good. I love my 30’s!!”

Chris Charles ’07 is happily married and working as a software engineer for Apple in Santa Clara.

Summer Borowski Mattice ’09 is working at Arianna Huffington’s well-being and behavior change technology company, Thrive Global, in New York. “This June in New Hampshire, after seven years together, I married my college sweetheart, Kevin. I walked down the aisle to our 2009 graduation hula song, Waika. Classmate Amelia Evans Brush ’09 was in the bridal party.

10s:

In October 2019, Justin Sandulli ‘12 and The Hon. James Spencer were married in New York City. The couple met in London, where Justin is undertaking graduate studies in art history and James is a councillor for the City of Westminster (currently Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment) and head of media for the U.K. Catholic Education Service. Despite this major development in Justin’s personal life, his love affair with the art of Hawai‘i—especially Madge Tennent— remains all-consuming.

Risako Ninomiya ’13 graduated from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan in 2018 with a major in international liberal studies.

She was admitted to the Stanford University Graduate School of Education to study international comparative education for this fall, but is deferring admission for one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Risako is currently working as an education consultant at a K-12 education startup in Tokyo, Japan, and also as an education program specialist at a global nonprofit organization for women empowerment. “My plan is to conduct qualitative research in order to find out what kind of external factors influence female college students’ career or life decisions. I wish to empower those female students to become confident in their decisions for their future plans!”

Mailani Neal ’15 received a B.S in Applied Physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

“I’m now a graduate student in physics and (continued on page 46)

Amanda Ross ’07 and Meilyn Quitiquit ’07 reunited in Kona for Christmas. After time spent on both coasts and abroad earning advanced degrees in architectural conservation, Amanda is back home in Hawai‘i, living and working in Honolulu for architecture/engineering firm Wiss Janney Elstner. After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 2011, Meilyn was commissioned as an officer into the US Coast Guard and has served several tours aboard Coast Guard cutters on both coasts. Meilyn is currently at a shore assignment in Washington, DC.

In Memoriam: In the past year, we were saddened to

• Ward Brown ’65

• Sylvia Ravaglia P’26

learn of the deaths of the following

• Malcolm Davis ’18

• Carole Renfrow

members of the HPA ‘ohana. If you would

• Alice Fujimoto P’70

• Kimberly Ann Tavares ’83

like more information, please contact

• Robert Fujimoto P’70

• Maryalice Warner ’75

us at alumni@hpa.edu. We may be able

• Brian Kitagawa ’74 P’03, ’06

• Scott Weinberg ’76

to put you in touch with the family or

• Alex Penovaroff ’53

• Woody Woods P’07

friends of the departed.

• Guy Piltz P’81, ’84, ’85 45

CLASS NOTES

During Reyn Kaneshiro’s ’18 freshman year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), he joined the ‘Ewalu Club (the Hawai’i club), and “it has been at the center of my college career so far,” Reyn writes. He now serves on the executive board as the creative media director, and has also established a small business: Kaizen Creative Studios. Last year, Reyn made a mini documentary following his good friend Chloe Ponimoi, a kumu hula and nurse, called 9th Island Stories: Hula. The film gained recognition and acclaim from Reyn’s peers and film professors—including one who helped him submit the film to the Nevada Women’s Film Festival, where it premiered in June. In addition to cinematography, Reyn is also passionate about astrophotography, which he discovered while at HPA. Reyn is on track to graduate from UNLV in 2022, with a major in film. Visit the HPA Today news section at www.hpa.edu for more on Reyn, and find his astrophotography prints at kaizencreativehi.com.

(continued from page 45) astronomy instrumentation at New Mexico Tech.” (See photo, page 41 .)

This summer, Alice Patig ’16 was an intern at the University of Oxford, where she conducted a techno-economic analysis of medium-run energy storage at the Battery Intelligence Lab (lead by David Howey) as part of the Faraday Undergraduate Summer Experience (FUSE) program.

And last summer, she interned at NASA’s Glenn research center. “I was in charge of all hardware associated with a High Altitude Experiment to test aspects of the Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) project’s Delay Tolerant Network (DTN). Meeting inspiring female scientists and engineers, astronauts and women in leadership positions changed my view of my own career possibilities. I am excited to help decarbonize the electricity grid through technological advances, such as advanced battery technology, smart grids, and other inventions I might come across in my time as an engineer!” Alice is studying electrical engineering at the University of Edinburgh, but also finding time to keep in touch with classmates! “I am so grateful for my HPA ‘ohana,” she writes. “Since I graduated, I met the Smigel family (Maya ‘16 and Aliya ‘18) for an adventurous vacation in the Philippines, hosted many of my international

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HPA friends and 2016 classmates (like Riccardo Falco, Clarence Chardeau, Ben Newton-McGrath, Yvette Yang...) in my home in Germany, visited the girls (Sienna Levine ’16, Olivia Crowl ’16 and Nana Ueno ’16) for a mountainous adventure in Colorado, explored San Francisco with the one and only Sydney Cooper ’16 and visited (partly) Hawai‘i-based 2016 friends on the island (Emma Ostrem, Leslie Sung, Juan Miche Rosales, Jackson Streiter, Noa Moniati...). I feel connected to this big family of warm-hearted people anywhere in the world. My door is always wide open for my HPA friends. Let me know if you’re ever in Europe!”

Rachel Bonn ’17 is the squad leader for the University of San Francisco’s EMTs. Taylor Doherty ’17 is majoring in behavioral neuroscience and minoring in biomedical ethics at the University of San Diego.

Ada Benson ’18 spent last semester completing her clinical rotation as a nursing student at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Silas Rhyneer ’18 is selling screen printed shirts. “With all my free time, I’ve drawn up and created some graphic shirt designs.

You can check them out on my instagram at rhyneer.silas.” A play that Aya Serikova ’18 has written was chosen to be directed at her university this fall. “I am very excited to be a part of the process, which includes

auditioning people for the roles and assisting the director during rehearsals. The play is about the events of January 13th, 2018, when the fake missile threat came to Hawai‘i.” Jordan Zarate ’18 just finished her Associates Degree at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, WA, where she played two years of college soccer. This fall, she enrolled at the New York Institute of Technology to get her B.S. in Health Science and finish her college soccer career. “I’ve had several different jobs throughout college, all of which have been on my off or free time.”

Leilani Barnes ’19 is in LA (UCLA) “and I love the city experience! I spend a lot of time going to new museums and crazy food places or performances. Although the city is fun and exciting, nothing beats the island life, so I have been surfing and hiking through student clubs when given the chance. I have also taken the valuable experiences of community service that I learned at HPA and am constantly trying to find new ways to help out and get involved here in LA. The possibilities to help are endless. Although being an undecided major may seem a little scary, I personally thrive at the many opportunities to take classes in all sorts of subjects and learn a variety of valuable and interesting things.

Two of my favorite classes so far were The Spirit of Medicine and Public Policy on Urban Homelessness.”

TOGETHER FOR HPA.

.

U O Y f o e s u a Resilient bec The COVID-19 pandemic has asked all of us—HPA included—to meet huge challenges and work together for our communities. We mahalo every HPA Fund donor, especially in this difficult time.

Because of you, HPA remains rooted in ambitious learning, heartfelt friendships, and aloha, no matter what lies ahead.

In a normal year, tuition covers about 80% of what it takes to deliver HPA programs. Generous gifts make our additional excellence possible. This year, with many HPA families furloughed or facing uncertainty, the need for your support has only grown. We humbly ask everyone to consider a generous gift to the HPA Fund if you are able.

From Opening Day to May Day, through science or the arts, in person or online—every student benefits from your gift. Thank you for lifting up our students and keeping HPA strong. Together for HPA! Make your gift today. Thank you.

Online: www.hpa.edu/give Mail: Please send your check to our address listed on the back cover.

If you have already made your gift, please accept our thanks.

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Nestled just underneath Dyer Memorial Library, this bench serves as a memorial to Dan Dorman ’69, who was killed in a hitchhiking accident in 1968. Vladimir Ossipoff designed the bench in Dan's memory after an outpouring of generosity from the HPA ‘ohana. In 1973, Dan’s parents established an endowed financial aid fund in his honor. The Dan Dorman Scholarship, one of HPA’s first financial aid funds, has grown to support two deserving students annually in his memory. Photo by Reyn Kaneshiro ’18.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road Kamuela, HawaiĘťi 96743 www.hpa.edu

Want more info on HPA? Application inquiries: admissions@hpa.edu All other questions: connect@hpa.edu

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