Ma Ke Kula - Winter 2021

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 1

EMPOWERING YOUTH HPA CAPSTONE PROGRAM BLOSSOMS DURING PANDEMIC

M A K E K U L A FA L L /W I N T E R 2 0 2 1

FEATURES

Young Voices, Full of Purpose

16

HPA's capstone program empowers students even in the midst of uncertainty.

The Joy of Spirits Alvin Wakayama ’65’s Kamuela Liquor celebrates 75 years of small business, big rewards.

24

DEPARTMENTS 3

The Mix Mahalo Laurie Ainslie Three Questions with Interim Head of School Fred Wawner Ka‘ai Spencer and Dora Kwong are new school principals What’s enthnomathematics? n

n

n

Ka Makani Pride 24 Coach Jeremy Lustik keeps Ka Makani baseball trending upward Malia Brost ’21 scores big in Rome n

28

HPA Connections Class notes In Memoriam Giving back and more.

• Board Chair Robert Budway ’76 • Delaney Yuko Ross ’12 n

n

n

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.

The lives we nurture FRED WAW NER / IN T ERIM HE A D OF S CHOOL

This is a year of bringing many threads together at HPA. We are completing a comprehensive self-study for HPA’s next accreditation by HAIS-WASC. We’re enriching and clarifying our curriculum to advance the HPA Sustainability Plan, as well as our landmark capstone program. (Visit page 16 for more on that!) Trustees Dr. Michael Chun and Warren Doi are helping us reflect on HPA’s identity and culture in preparation for leading the search for our next permanent head of school. Last but not least, we’re focusing on the HPA Strategic Plan to determine where refinements may be needed since it was launched in 2016.

It’s an exciting time, with lots of positive energy coming from both campuses. Having been closely involved with all the strategic planning and vision work of the past 10 years, I deeply believe in the direction we’re going. HPA’s unique mission and culture deserve to be more fully realized and more widely known. That’s just one of many reasons I accepted the position of interim head; I’m honored to be working with so many talented people in our HPA ’ohana to keep moving forward with aloha and high aspirations.

We need you with us more than ever. I am so grateful to all the alumni, families, community members, and friends of HPA who’ve helped our school through these pandemic times, and continue to do so. The support we give to young people in this special place will come back to Hawai‘i and our world a thousand-fold. Please continue to spread the word about our programs, support the HPA Fund, volunteer, and—above all—strengthen the bonds we share, near and far.

As we center and align the school, I think most about our human potential. HPA is a complex, busy organization, but our worth is measured in the lives we nurture.

Students who leave HPA will touch many neighbors, coworkers, and communities—and we are part of that adventure, that continuum. Wherever you may be today, I hope you carry a part of HPA with you. Wherever you are today, HPA will always be one of your homes. My family and I wish you every good thing for 2022.

HPA Board of Trustees Laurie T. Ainslie P’12, ’15,

Allison Holt Gendreau P’08

William D. Pratt ’86

Robert R. Budway ’76, chair

Nona Hasegawa ’78

Michael S. Spalding ’66

Michael J. Chun

Ana Yarawamai Hiyane ’00

Bonnie Bogue Wedemeyer ’86

Warren Doi P’22

Rob O’Donohue ’95

Taffi Wise P’12, ’15, ’17

Taylor Easley ’91

Samuel Pratt ’84

2 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

This fall, students across campus helped prepare for HPA's annual Alu Mai festivities in support of financial aid. Keao NeSmith’s Hawaiian language classes dyed cloth napkins using ‘ōlena and other plants; Robyn Scarth’s ELL class fabricated seed paper cards using plants and scrap paper from HPA shredders and waste bins. Here, students in Willie Quayle’s capstone class cut ‘ōlena into pieces to prepare a plant-based dye.

3

A year of gratitude and looking forward

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge communities and schools around the world, HPA remains deeply grateful for our island and our place nestled within Waimea’s rolling green hills; our storied past; our community of educators, students, and extended ‘ohana; and a future full of light and life. We recognize that gratitude creates a cycle of reciprocity; grateful hearts feed a sense of abundance, a spirit of generosity, and an ethic of conservation. We seek to foster that cycle here on campus and in our community—throughout the coming year, and always. Many sincere thanks to all those who make it possible for HPA to mālama kaiāulu, to “care for our community of spirit, land and people.” •

4 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

The HPA board of trustees has announced the school’s commitment to becoming carbon net zero by 2030. Inspired by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Hawai‘i state government sustainability goals, the school is committing to achieve carbon net zero within nine years—a significant step forward for HPA’s unique, Hawaiian culture-based vision for sustainability.

Anonymous bequest will benefit HPA campus HPA is excited to announce the establishment of a new facilities endowment, made possible through the generosity of an anonymous bequest worth more than $1 million. The new endowment will generate approximately $50,000 annually for

ʻŌlelo Noeʻau E mahalo kākou i ka mea loaʻa.

use across HPA’s two campuses. These funds will

(Let us be thankful for what we have.)

constructed in the 1960s. HPA is deeply grateful

enable the ongoing work of maintaining more than 200 acres of grounds and 35 buildings, many to its benefactor for this generous gift. Others who wish to include HPA in estate planning can become members of HPA’s Lō‘ihi Society. Formally established in 1998, this society is named for the 400,000 year old seamount growing steadily off the coast of southern Hawai‘i. Like our Lō‘ihi Society members, it is a vibrant ocean oasis that sustains a vast ecosystem. To learn more, contact the alumni office at alumni@hpa.edu or 808-881-4077.

5

3 Questions with Interim Head of School Fred Wawner Fred Wawner came to HPA in 2009 and has served in numerous leadership roles including, for the past three years, assistant head of school for student life. He began his independent school career at The Miller School in Virginia, and he holds a master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University.

As a member of HPA’s strategic planning team, he helped initiate and develop the school’s core values, capstone vision, and strategic plan. On Colson Court in Castle Gym, he’s built a state championship basketball program, along with a free skills clinic open to the local community. He and his wife, Dina, are raising their four children within the HPA ’ohana—Bear ’22, Ali ’23, Fischer ’25, and Rosey ’27. Now, in his new role as interim head, Wawner continues to help HPA care for its community in challenging times while striving toward ambitious educational goals.

6 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

From a personal perspective, how are you thinking about this period of transition?

In August, at our first big employee meeting, I was telling folks that the word “interim” doesn’t mean we’re standing still. HPA has a great strategic plan, ambitious sustainability initiatives, we’re continuing to build the capstone program—and much more. We have talented people in place, probably the most talented of all my years at HPA. So we’ve got momentum, and we are focused on being the best HPA we can be.

News Notebook You’re known for your down-to-earth leadership on the basketball court. Will that come into play in your new role?

(Sorry, pun intended!)

Well, for me, the joy of coaching lies in motivating and inspiring people to come together. In many ways, that’s how I’ve approached my work in school administration, and what I’ll continue to do. As a coach, you’ve also got to define what success looks like for the group—what is our end goal and what is each person’s role in getting there. Whether I’m working with a basketball team or an academic team, my job is to keep us focused on our collective and individual performance, what’s working and what requires change.

If you get people understanding and believing in the mission, and everybody's working together, and everyone’s being honest about results and when to adjust strategy—that’s the optimum environment for success, and when the journey becomes pure fun. Hard work, but fun.

Schools are busy, complex places, what’s the key to navigating all the demands successfully?

This is my 27th year working in private boarding schools, and the bottom line is that to do this work well, you’ve got to immerse yourself in the community and absolutely love being with students—watching them grow, being part of their daily lives. At the same time, I strive to be a husband first, a father first, a teammate first. And I want every member of our HPA ’ohana to have that as well. You’ve got to take care of yourself and your people. We’ve got to take care of each other. At the most basic level, that’s what the HPA Sustainability Plan is about. That’s what makes a healthy, working organization. And that aloha we have for each other—well, it’s the essence of HPA. •

Board arrivals and departures HPA is delighted to welcome Robert Budway ’76 into the role of board chair. Budway joined the HPA board of trustees in 2017. He lives in suburban Washington, D.C., where he currently serves as president of the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI). Budway also served as Board liaison for the sustainability planning effort, helping a core team of faculty, students, staff, trustees, parents, and alumni. See page 36 for a message from Robert Budway.

Rob O’Donohue ’95 is the newest member of the board of trustees, joining this fall. O’Donohue, who lives in Boston, MA with his family, is the Anaplan master builder and head of business analytics at MassMutual. Prior to O’Donohue’s appointment as trustee, he served on the board’s finance and investment committee as a non-trustee member. HPA also says a hui hou and mahalo nui to Cindy McMackin P’16, ’17, ’21, ’23, ’26 who is leaving the board after five years of service.

Math as culture: Kristine Dahlquist explores ethnomathematics Longtime Upper School math teacher Kristine Dahlquist is completing her master’s degree in curriculum studies with a focus on ethnomathematics at UH Mānoa. UH Mānoa’s ethnomathematics program was the first of its kind in the world, and is dedicated to helping teachers become leaders who can bridge indigenous wisdom and 21st century skills in their classrooms and communities. As Dahlquist explains, “ethnomathematics looks within societal and cultural contexts in order to understand not only what mathematics is but what it means to its practitioners.” While mathematics is often considered an objective or universal discipline, as Dahlquist has discovered through her studies, unique cultures have their own ways of understanding mathematics.

“This tells me that I, as a teacher, definitely need to take the time to understand the mathematical, social, and cultural backgrounds of my students,” she reflects. “Not so much to consider what I can do for them, but more so I can understand their ways of thinking and doing.”

7

Mahalo piha for exceptional leadership After three years of service as board chair, HPA says mahalo piha to Laurie Ainslie P’12, ’15, who is stepping down from her leadership position.

A courageous and unwavering advocate for the school, Ainslie helped to usher HPA through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as transitions in school leadership. Her relationship with HPA spans decades; she has consistently and generously given her all to a place she loves for its impact on her children and her community.

As a board member since 2003, Ainslie served twice as board chair (from 2007 to 2011 and most recently from 2018 to 2021), and has chaired numerous committees, including her current role as assets committee chair. She also serves as one of HPA’s representatives to the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.

Ainslie has wide professional experience in finance and accounting, plant management, and contract administration—including serving as HPA’s chief financial officer from 1999 to 2002.

She, her husband Sam, and their children Hunter ’12 and Jessie ’15, have made their home in Waimea since October 1992.

8 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

•

New leader of the Upper School: Ka‘ai Spencer

Dora Kwong joins HPA as Lower School principal

This fall, Ka‘ai Spencer assumed the role of po‘o kumu, or principal, of HPA’s Upper School. Spencer holds a B.A. in Hawaiian language, a B.S. in health and exercise science, and an M.A. in education—all from UH Mānoa.

He has spent nearly a decade at HPA, where he built the Hawaiian language program into a flagship offering at the school, as well as elevating HPA's strength and conditioning program as coach and trainer. In his new capacity as po‘o kumu, he helped to recruit and hire HPA’s new kumu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language teacher), Dr. Keao NeSmith. NeSmith is Spencer’s former teacher and mentor, and a giant in the field. “It was really hard for me to step away from that position because of how much aloha I have for it,” Spencer admits. But handing the reins to NeSmith made it much easier. “I felt like I could let myself move into the new role as po‘o kumu,” Spencer says. “And also... now I have a Hawaiian language speaker who I can talk to every day. It’s so nice!” For more on Dr. Keao NeSmith, see page 10. For a full introduction to Ka‘ai Spencer, visit HPA Today at www.hpa.edu.

Dora Kwong joined HPA this fall from New York, NY. Prior to her arrival, she was the Lower School assistant director at Trevor Day School, where she previously served as a third grade teacher, faculty liaison representative, and Lower School DEI coordinator. Kwong holds a B.A. from the American University School of International Service, and an M.A. in elementary science from the City University of New York. She spent part of her career teaching at the Green School in Bali, along with Middle School Principal Glenn Chickering. This experience helped to shape her thinking on restorative practices and sustainability—ideas that Kwong is eager to bring to life at the Village Campus.

“HPA embodies all that I hope for in the education of my own children,” she says. “I am overjoyed to have found such a wonderful and welcoming community at HPA to put my experiences to use and to lead a talented group of educators with a wide range of expertise. I look forward to all of us learning, collaborating, and growing together to support our community of young learners.” For a full introduction to Dora Kwong, visit HPA Today at www.hpa.edu.

9

E ola mau ka ʻōlelo!

The language shall live

Dr. Keao NeSmith has joined the Upper School faculty as Hawaiian language teacher. NeSmith holds a PhD in applied linguistics in language teaching theory and practice from the University of Waikato in New Zealand. His PhD work focused on how Hawaiian language is currently being taught in high schools, community colleges, and universities—and how that compares with teaching approaches over time around the world. Among his many published works is Harry Potter a Me Ka Pōhaku Akeakamai, a Hawaiian language translation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

NeSmith is trained in Communicative Language Teaching theory and practice, and most recently taught Tahitian language at UH Mānoa. At UH Mānoa, one of NeSmith’s former students was Upper School principal Ka‘ai Spencer, who built HPA’s Hawaiian language program over the past several years, handing the reins formally to NeSmith this fall.

10 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

What was your own experience learning to speak Hawaiian?

I grew up in Kekaha, Kaua‘i, where there were lots of Hawaiian speakers around me growing up, although my own family did not speak Hawaiian. As a teenager I lived with my grandmother—my mom’s mom, originally from Ka‘ū, who lived in a grass house in Puna when she was young, and later moved to O‘ahu. She only spoke Hawaiian with me, and that’s how I really picked up speaking.

I picked up speaking Tahitian, which is very similar to Hawaiian, at about the same time. I lived with my grandmother in Hau‘ula, O‘ahu, and there were several Tahitian families there that I also hung out with, and I picked up on the language that way. I learned Marquesan language at university in Tahiti while I was in an MA program. Marquesan is another Polynesian language in French Polynesia, and it is very much in between Hawaiian and Tahitian. I think it’s really cool that we have these similar languages like that.

What does Communicative Language Teaching theory look like in the classroom?

Lots of imagery. Lots of color. Lots of practice between students. Traditional native speakers are the role models.

Lessons are designed to engage the four language skills: speaking, listening with comprehension, reading, and writing. Lessons are also focused around contextualized communicative events, like how to interact when meeting someone for the first time; how to talk about typical things we do around the home; how to talk about the weather to make small talk, while learning about weather at the same time, etc.

Grammar is how we say whatever we say, but lessons are NOT designed around grammar structures. Instead, grammar structures serve the needs of communicative events (social interactions), so communicative function comes first. After lots of actual practice between learners engaging the four skills, grammar is then focused on to help clarify why we say what we say when we say it. But just as important is the cultural context. We engage with each other following cultural norms here in Hawai‘i, and our students need to learn to interact within those cultural norms and be aware of them.

Because you are so accomplished in your field, it's easy to imagine that your life is largely dedicated to the study and preservation of the Hawaiian language.

Are there other things that you enjoy?

Lots. I want to write books. I work with various community groups on Kaua‘i who get involved in preserving heiau and maintain lo‘i kalo and fishponds. I love being in the dirt and water like that. It’s very rewarding and gratifying. I enjoy archaeology work, too. My family was involved in that kind of thing from when I was a little kid: doing digs and diving into research on cultural sites. So I have lots of interest in that sort of thing. I also love to travel the world. Love it.

Do you feel hopeful about the future of the Hawaiian language?

With university Hawaiian already having spread far and wide across Hawai‘i through classrooms—mainstream schools and immersion schools—that is what carries on, and that natural, raw, and lively chatter of native speakers, with their naturally Polynesian accent, has for the most part fallen silent. So, Hawaiian continues, but I have bittersweet feelings, since I miss that older version of the language. I understand that this is a result of history, of being acted upon to give up the language, so I give credit to advancements in the promotion of Hawaiian language. It’s something to celebrate. The future is ours.

For a longer Q & A with Dr. Keao NeSmith, visit HPA Today at www.hpa.edu. •

11

ALUMS HELP SECURE PROTECTION FOR HAWAI‘I’S SHARKS

HPA class of 2011 alums Kaikea and ‘Alohi Nakachi and their family have advocated for protecting Hawai‘i’s sharks for decades. Thanks in large part to their efforts, new legislation signed by Governor Ige on World Oceans Day will protect sharks throughout the islands from intentional harm. The bill, HB553, goes into effect on January 1, 2022 as Act 51. “Manō are foundational to who we are and to my family,” ‘Alohi says, “but our advocacy is not just limited to sharks; we also advocate for greater acceptance of Hawaiian beliefs.”

12 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

‘Alohi Nakachi now works as a social scientist and is a PhD candidate at UH Mānoa. Her focus is on securing a better understanding and representation of the multiple ways of knowing among diverse peoples, with a particular interest in the diverse values that people may hold for the nearshore environment and how those values can inform and improve management agencies.

“My family's advocacy and beliefs have been fundamental to my decision to pursue this career path and continue to advocate for manō, the Hawaiian people, and Hawaiian beliefs and practices.” Read more from Kaikea in Class Notes, p. 41. • Photo courtesy of Kaikea Nakachi ’11

McKenna and Bernstein named Upper School and Village Campus capstone coordinators With a full-fledged K-12 capstone program now in place, HPA has established two program leaders, one for each campus. Dagan Bernstein ’97, veteran math teacher and ‘ukulele aficionado, will support fifth and eighth grade teachers and students as they embark on ambitious, year-long capstone journeys. Bernstein is also on the leadership team of the National Capstone Consortium, a group that supports peer-to-peer collaboration between capstone teachers across the U.S. At the Upper School campus, Greg McKenna P’33 will play a corresponding role for senior capstone students and faculty. McKenna, who holds a master’s degree in civil engineering, also serves as HPA’s sustainability resource director. For more on Bernstein, McKenna, and HPA’s amazing capstone students, see the feature story on page 16.

McKenna awarded sustainability fellowship McKenna was recently selected as one of five fellows to participate in the Center for Green Schools’ 2021-22 Leaders in Sustainability Fellowship program, which runs until October 2022. The fellowship will support both McKenna and HPA in making progress on sustainability goals by providing coaching and mentorship from the U.S. Green Building Council and the Center for Green Schools, access to conferences and trainings, and targeted professional development.

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council defines sustainability in schools through three pillars: environmental impact, health impact, and environmental literacy. “Each year we select a cohort of leaders who represent a diverse student body and geographic perspective,” writes Pheobe Beierle of the Center for Green Schools. “We are especially excited to work with such a progressive school as Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy.” •

13

Decarbonize the world with food Dan Pathomvanich ’93 is fighting climate change at “ground zero” “We need to make decisions now for the future,” says Dan Pathomvanich ‘93. “If we don't, we're going to face even harder ones six or ten years from now.”

This sense of urgency about climate change led Pathomvanich to make a major professional shift in 2016, when he began redirecting Hatton Capital, his family investment office, away from traditional food production towards plant-based and alternative proteins.

At the time, Hatton owned a poultry company with plants in Europe and Thailand that was culling eighty to a hundred thousand ducks per day. “When you leave a slaughter-house, the thing that you take home with you is a smell of death,” he recalls of his visits to those plants. “We sold out of that company, and then I promised myself that, while we’re not trying to stop people from eating animals, we would never involve ourselves in another business that involved killing them.” That same year, he came across a company called NR Instant Produce, a specialty food importer based in Thailand, where he lives. After acquiring the company, Pathomvanich became CEO and came up with a shorter name, “NRF.” He noticed that NRF made food items for a rapidly expanding startup out of Chicago that sold plant-based products. “I did a deep dive into why it was growing so fast, and when you look at the data, everything points towards alternative proteins being a solution to climate change.” It was also, he adds, “in line with the values we have. We wanted to go all-in.”

What began as a company that manufactures ethnic foods and a variety of specialty foods is now on track to be a leading manufacturer of alternative proteins (his own personal favorite at the moment

14 // FA L L /| W WIN INTTEERR 220019 21

is their plant-based burger). “Our company is very focused on how we can decarbonize the world with food,” he explains. “Food represents one-third of emissions, and it’s ground zero.” NRF has four factories and is building more in Thailand, with facilities in the UK and Europe as well. The company is also securing space in the U.S. To complement this work, in 2018 Pathomvanich and a partner launched Big Idea Ventures, a $50 million alternative protein accelerator fund with offices in New York and Singapore. So far, it’s invested in about fifty startups making plant and cellbased foods as well as the necessary technology and ingredients. NRF also recently became a strategic investor in Unovis, a large early-stage venture fund for alternative proteins. It was also a founding donor to a New York non-profit called Food Shot, which provides grants and investment opportunities to, as Pathomvanich puts it, “entrepreneurs with the riskiest ideas that have the largest opportunity to come up with solutions to fight climate change.”

He dates his concern for the environment to, among other things, his time growing up in Hawai‘i, where he attended middle school and the first half of high school at HPA. “Spending that large part of my life in such a natural and beautiful setting, and then transitioning again [to an urban setting in Thailand], was important because it made me understand and appreciate nature and have that affinity towards wanting to protect it. Sometimes, when I think about my time in Hawai‘i, I miss the sunsets I never appreciated when I was a kid. You're a 14-year-old kid—it's a sunset, right? It's so different now. I would love to have that same sunset every day.” •

“

When you look at the data, everything points towards alternative proteins being a solution to climate change.”

Photo courtesy of NRF/Thai Tatler

15

“

Beauty standards do not focus only on skin color. They attack size, body, shape, and so many other features. ...

Through my art I want to join the ongoing fight against colorism and toxic beauty standards.

––– ESE OVBAGBEDIA ’2 1

YOUNG VOICES,

FULL OF PURPOSE On some level, HPA’s capstone program has always been about the unknown. Launched in 2015-16, the first capstone courses were designed to help students prepare for a complicated future full of demands and possibilities we can’t imagine today. To reach this goal, the HPA Strategic Plan called for a comprehensive K-12 capstone program, complete with independent projects for all fifth, eighth, and twelfth graders, to be implemented by 2019-20.

16 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 2 0

>

“

I saw an opportunity to awaken my ancestral and spiritual connection to surfing and hopefully help other surfers do the same.

––– NAI‘A AYAU ’2 1

17

Enter the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, HPA’s capstone program has proven itself to be a place of celebration and self-discovery for HPA students at a time when the larger world felt full of loss and uncertainty. Now in its third year of fullfledged operation, the program continues to empower students to find their gifts — and to use them for the greater good of neighbors, community, and the planet.

SEEDS OF DISCOVERY At HPA, independent-minded students have found academic freedom and faculty support to pursue passion projects for several decades now.

Whether studying coqui frog DNA with Stephanie McDowell, set design with Jared Terpak, or independent science research with Bill Wiecking, students throughout the early 2000s found ample opportunities to propose independent projects and deepen their personal interests.

In 2014, under the aegis of HPA’s emerging strategic plan, the school began to formulate a more cohesive vision to ensure innovative academic preparation for all HPA students. Martin Ferrell, then dean of academics, and other faculty leaders established a project-based learning approach alongside HPA’s classic college-preparatory program. Nearly 10 years later, this hybrid model remains central to HPA’s mission.

Interim Head of School Fred

“

HPA teaches kindness and responsibility, and that’s what my pasture project was all about.

––– KEK AHA CHONG ’25

Wawner, who was part of the strategic plan leadership team, describes it this way: “We wanted to combine the best of traditional study with a student-

18 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

Photo: Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu ’14

driven, inquiry-based approach that asks students to put their knowledge into action. Squarely in the driver’s seat, students learn to define a problem, frame questions, adapt to challenges, and eventually present their own unique solutions or creative projects. It’s absolutely amazing to

“

watch our students grow as they

I was interviewing capstone teachers, and they couldn’t stop talking about how much they love capstones … because of how they’re able to inspire students. That’s when I knew I’d found my video subject.

move through the process.”

Ultimately, the capstone program helps meet HPA’s highest aim: to prepare young people to deal wisely with the challenges facing our world. Skills mastered during these capstone journeys travel outward with Ka Makani across Hawai‘i and into communities around the globe.

–––

CONFIDENCE AND SKILL FOR EACH NEW CHALLENGE

JOSHUA MIL ANDES FERNANDE Z ’2 1

At its core, the HPA capstone experience is designed to foster real-world problem solving before students are out of high school. Along the way, students demonstrate key skills they’ve learned in each division.

Some skills are academic, such as critical thinking or quantitative analysis; others are practical, such as public speaking or recruiting project partners. Ultimately, each student’s final project is an expression of

“

I wanted to create a space for LGBTQIA students and allies that was light, happy, and safe.

––– SOPHIA JORDAN ’25

their learning at the Lower, Middle, or Upper School. They move to the next division—or on to college—with proficiency, self-knowledge, and, in many instances, a strong sense of purpose.

At Dartmouth College, for example, Parker Rabinowitz ’21 continues to focus on Arctic policy, building on her capstone from last spring. “I’m ’14

part of the Great Issues Scholars

Photo: Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu ’14

19

“

I really wanted to push music into the forefront of the community because I think music is something that really brings people together in so many different ways.

––– KHALED ATALL A ’2 1

program here, which evaluates global

Jordan says. “But the process did

with similar experiences. Paloma

policy issues,” she reports. “I am also

require trial and error, and the first

Field ’20 is pursuing photography in

working with a professor on Arctic

group meeting flopped. I learned a

New York City; George Donev ’17 and

issues through the Arctic Council.

lot about publicity and defining my

Morgan Dean ’20 continue to grow

This summer, I was an Arctic policy

goals.” Jordan wrote a management

Student Corner, their edtech startup;

and communications intern; I got to

guide for their successor, Olivia

Ry Bleckel ’20 remains devoted to mu-

visit mines across the Arctic. Overall,

Friedman ’26, who will pilot the

sic at Amherst College; Nissi Ragland

I learned how to work independently

Rainbow Squad in its second year.

’21 is now building on her neurosci-

and plan my time in capstone, which

Meanwhile, Jordan jumped in with

ence research at Cornell; Lily Hodges

is helpful in college. Of course, I miss

both feet at the Upper School and

’25 recently shared her eighth-grade

the warmth of Hawai‘i right now!”

is involved with speech and debate

project at the Schools of the Futures

and the national Student Diversity

conference; Ese Ovabagbedia ’21 is

of persistence and communication

Leadership Conference, among

honing her craft as a painter at Loyola

are already proving useful at the

other activities. “Perhaps the biggest

Marymount University; and the list

Upper School. For their eighth-grade

skill I gained through capstone was

goes on and on.

capstone last year, Jordan launched

communication,” they reflect, “which

the Rainbow Squad, an affinity group

certainly helped me reach out to

another milestone: they are the first

for LGBTQIA students and allies at the

students I’d never met and adjust to

to complete all three capstone levels

Middle School. “I learned last year

new faces in high school.”

in fifth, eighth, and twelfth grades.

For Sophia Jordan ’25, the skills

that I’m a person who likes to take

Rabinowitz and Jordan represent

action and move people forward,”

just two out of hundreds of Ka Makani

20 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

Meanwhile, the class of 2022 hits

Through each grade level, they matured as self-driven learners and

creative thinkers. Now their senior capstones display a wide range of personal interests, including waste management on Hawai‘i Island; ranked-choice voting in county elections; naturopathic first aid; sustainable farming; youth basketball camps; and much more.

“Capstone has taught me

FIFTH GRADERS PROTOTYPE LIKE PROS! In the past, Lower School capstone projects have been tied to pollination and bees.

Last year, HPA’s capstone pioneer and fifth grade teacher Kristin Tarnas widened the capstone framework, and projects ranged over many topics. We listened in as Tarnas’ class of 2028 talked about prototyping with a Zoom audience, in preparation for their final presentations.

a lot about time management, responsibility, and creativity,” reflects Jordan Perry ’22. “Having a long period to complete a project can be daunting, but after doing it three times, I've learned how to break up the workload. In eighth grade, I chose coral reef advocacy and got to conduct my own experiment with the help of Mrs. Jim. This year, I’m excited to be doing research that combines my two passions: biology and athletics. I’m focusing on how stem cell therapy can be used to heal ACL tears. For me, the eighthgrade capstone was instrumental in expanding my curiosity beyond the

LIANA DOPPMANN

MICAH MCDOWELL

JULIET NOELDNER

Bee Jobs “My main goal today is to have you walk away knowing that bees don’t just make our honey and sting us, they are a team, and they work together to make their home alive and possible. Bees can be workers, cleaners, queen attendants, guards, and even undertakers.”

Making Homemade Medicine Out of Hawaiian Endemic Plants “I thought it would be interesting to see what plants native Hawaiians would have used to treat COVID symptoms. Koa can treat a fever. ‘Awa treats chills, muscle aches, and headache. At some point in your life, you might need these skills.”

Staying Positive During Tough Times “I feel like making others happy and being happy myself is a big thing for me. I don’t like it when I’m stressed, and I want to know how that originates. The feedback I want most is ‘Do you think my capstone will help you personally?’”

topics taught in my required classes.”

A CURRICULUM ON THE MOVE The capstone program has triggered a wave of creativity among HPA faculty as well. At the Upper School, teachers propose capstone classes each year based on junior class interest surveys.

Courses created recently include Novel Writing, Biotechnology, Datadriven Entrepreneurship, Activism Through Music, Global Politics and Policy Implementation, and Migrations of Moananuiākea (Oceania): Traditional Navigation and Modern-Day Voyaging.

In each class, roughly 10 students collaborate with classmates and their

RENZI HORI

NAUE WENGLER-IOANE

DREW SURDAM

Teaching People How to Draw On Videos “When I started to prototype, I found it challenging to explain the steps, so I interviewed my dad about how he taught me to draw.

Now I’m working on drawing and filming all 10 drawings that I’m going to teach.”

How to Have Fun With a Horse “Horses can be therapy animals, and they make a lot of people happy. You don’t have to ride a horse to have fun, you can also feed, pet, and groom them. My final product is bringing a horse and saddle to campus with activities so that people can learn how fun it is.”

How Do Dogs Help Kids’ Mental Health?

“My goal is for kids to know that a dog can be a resource and not just a pet. When you cuddle up with your dog, your body releases oxytocin that relieves stress. If you feel like you don’t have a place in this world, around a dog, you do, because a dog loves you no matter what.”

capstone teacher (who serves as

21

coach and mentor) between August and mid-April, moving their projects

“

Since Hawai‘i has a very small cubing community compared to the mainland and the rest of the world, I wanted to change that.

––– MAT T Y INABA ’25

through five well-defined learning targets: ideation, research, project management, product development, and presentation.

To manage and support all this activity, HPA has appointed veteran teachers Dagan Bernstein ’97 and Greg McKenna to serve as Village Campus and Upper School capstone coordinators, respectively. Bernstein and McKenna are taking the reins this year from Aaron Schorn, HPA’s inaugural K-12 capstone coordinator, who with great energy guided HPA’s growing program over the past two years.

Bernstein, who is also a leadership team member with the National Capstone Consortium, and McKenna, who is also HPA’s sustainability resource director, fulfill leadership and support roles within the cap-

“

I’ve always been a huge advocate for equality and inclusion in schools as well as out in the community. I knew I wanted to channel that into our first DEI Day at the Middle School.

––– LILY HODGES ’25

stone system. Overall, they guide the program from a K-12 perspective, bringing in outside speakers and resources; planning with the division principals and Dr. Amy Cole, assistant head of school for academics; and helping all 17 capstone teachers stay on track throughout the year. At the same time, they’re visiting classrooms on an almost daily basis, immersed in the excitement and challenges of the capstone journey.

“On any given day, I might be giving feedback on student pitch presentations in Sally Lundburg’s art capstone, or helping Jeff Mix with a creative writing prompt,” says McKenna. “I’m tremendously excited to be working with the folks who have

Photos: Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu ’14

22 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

offered themselves as capstone

teachers. They are some of the most

and traditions of Hawai‘i Island.

Ke Ala Kahawai O Waimea trail to clear

dynamic educators you will come

“Capstones are a gateway for

out invasive species along the stream

across. They are constant learners,

students to care for their community,”

beds, and many other Ka Makani have

modeling what it means to be a cap-

says Dagan Bernstein. “You begin

forged similar partnerships.

stone student because they live it.”

with your personal passion, but the task is to connect your passion to the

A JOURNEY WORTH CELEBRATING

HPA capstones is to build an even

larger world, to help address a need

Each year when April rolls around,

stronger connection with lower

or benefit the community, which

HPA capstone students can be found

grades leading up to the capstone

could take many forms ... a dance

polishing their presentation skills

year in each division. Cole is work-

performance, scientific research,

and preparing for a school-wide

ing closely with Bernstein, McKenna,

a public mural, or an iPhone app.

exhibition of epic proportions. One

Looking ahead, the next step for

fifth-grade capstone teacher Kristin

silver lining of the pandemic has been

Tarnas, the school principals, de-

that families, friends, and others could

partment chairs, and other faculty to establish cross-discipline, multi-grade coordination. “It’s a good year for this work, because HPA is also completing its 10-year accreditation self-study,” Cole says. “So much curricular design has already been written for different grades or subject areas. Now it’s time to tie it all together, with capstone as a thread. That way, every grade or subject area is helping prepare students

“

I love teaching capstone because it opens my eyes to the world in a different way and gives me a lot of hope for what these incredible young people will accomplish after HPA.

––– JOHANNA ANTON, CAPSTONE TEACHER, BUSINESS INNOVATIONS

for self-driven, inquiry-based work.”

participate from many locations via Zoom. This year, HPA will produce a hybrid showcase with options for both in-person and remote attendance.

On the big day, regardless of venue, students delve into their projects’ scope, share surprises and pitfalls, then host a lively Q & A with the audience. Perhaps more than any other feature of the program, these conversations testify to how influential a capstone journey can be. In class after class, HPA students shine with

GATEWAY TO COMMUNITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND PLACE

We want HPA alumni to be active,

poise, vulnerability, intelligence, and a

participatory members of whatever

sincere desire to improve the world.

Cole and others are also working

local or global community they join.

to connect the capstone program

Capstones help coach that mindset.”

more deeply to HPA’s sustainability

Further enrichment often comes

Before graduation last year, Sarah Newcomb ’21 was one of many voices reflecting on this theme. Newcomb’s

vision: mālama kaiāulu (care for

via experts in the local community,

project, which tackled food insecuri-

our community of spirit, land, and

who have mentored HPA students on

ty among local families, won a 2021

people). Scores of student projects

such diverse projects as filmmaking,

grant from the Hawai‘i Youth Sustain-

have explored species preservation,

surfboard design, black-tipped shark

ability Challenge. “The most valuable

ocean warming, water conservation,

research, website construction, and

thing I learned was that I have the

solar power, regenerative agriculture,

more. In addition, capstones create

power to create change” she says. “I

and more. “Capstones help empower

avenues for HPA students to partner

hit so many bumps in the road that

youth who want to be environmental

with, learn from, and serve Hawai‘i

it felt very unrealistic at times that I

change agents, which is a major driver

Island organizations. Last year,

would actually achieve my goals. But

for HPA,” explains Greg McKenna.

Tayson Hirayama ’21 ran a bi-weekly

now I know I have the capability to not

food program in collaboration with

only meet my objectives but drasti-

serve the larger community, and

the Honoka‘a Hongwanji Buddhist

cally exceed them, and that is such an

to help HPA honor the landscape

Temple. Helene Baril ’25 worked with

awesome feeling.” •

At HPA, capstones also exist to

23

Alvin Wakayama’s Kamuela Liquor celebrates 75 years of small business, big rewards.

Alvin Wakayama ’65 is the third-generation owner and operator of his family business: Kamuela Liquor. Housed neatly in a 1930s building on Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela Liquor is a rare gem— not only for the fine goods and spirits found within, but also for its exceptional heart and history.

24 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

25

Learning to cultivate a legacy If anyone could keep a low key, tactile, brick-andmortar family business alive and well in the era of swift and fierce e-commerce, it is Alvin Wakayama ’65.

Though he may seem to be a careful and unassuming steward of a business begun by his father’s father in 1946, he is also very much an eager student—both of business and of life. He has shepherded his store through generational succession; big-box competition; a global pandemic; and seismic shifts in culture, economics, and the literal ground beneath him.

Wakayama and mother, Yukie, in 2016, the store’s 70th anniversary year. Photo by Kirk Lee Aeder

(Weathering regular earthquakes in a store stacked high with wine and spirits is no small feat!)

After he graduated from HPA in 1965, Wakayama

familiar and completely foreign. Not one to dwell

studied history at Stanford and completed a semester

on challenges, he describes his path forward: “I just

of law school in Oregon before he was drafted into

delved into it and got some working knowledge and

Vietnam. He was sent to Germany to train, but the

found a niche in the market that I can fill for the

war ended before he saw combat. When he returned

community on the Big Island. It hasn’t been easy

to Hawai‘i, he chose to pursue a degree in business

as bigger box stores moved in, but I’ve always been

rather than law, and in 1972 he graduated from UH

able to find my place. Maybe that’s the secret ... find

Mānoa with an MBA. After an uninspiring job search

something you’re good at.”

on O‘ahu, Wakayama decided he would come back to Waimea and take up the family business. “It’s worked

Vine connoisseur

out,” he says. “I like being my own boss. I go according

Wakayama is a man of many talents, and it’s clear that

to my own schedule and my own energy.”

one of them is understanding wine. “Wine has become

He found, though, that there was little in his formal MBA training to prepare him for the realities of family business. “My parents were my bosses then, so it

my passion,” he says. “There’s always something new to learn.”

Lately, he has been particularly interested in trying

wasn’t all that easy,” he laughs. “In the MBA program,

to find wines that are crafted without many additives.

we learned everything about large corporations—not

“I’ve been reading and doing a lot of research into

family businesses.” And so, rather than navigating the

this matter. Wines—unlike other food and beverage

culture and structures of a publicly-traded company,

products,” Wakayama explains, “don’t have to list

Wakayama faced a work life that was both intimately

additives.” In fact, more than 70 different chemical

26 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

27

“ Owning your own business gives you freedom... Freedom to do AS you choose ”

additives are legally allowed into wine—all without

deep appreciation for the culture and winemaking

any need for disclosure. Winemakers can add color,

traditions there. “It is where pinot noir and

sweetness, dryness, acidifiers, and the list goes on.

chardonnay vines were first planted and cultivated by

“Consumers should know what they’re consuming,”

monks in the 13th century,” he explains. Wakayama

Wakayama says plainly. “I think many people don’t

is drawn not just to the grapes or to the wine, but also

realize how many additives are in most wines.”

to their history and expression—their terroir. The

If he were a winemaker? “I would let the grape

literal translation of terroir from French is “soil,” but

express itself.”

to winemakers and wine enthusiasts, terroir is the

When asked to describe his favorite wine, he says

whole context in which a wine is produced: climate,

that individual taste preferences change and evolve

topography, soil, and even tradition. Wakayama

over time. “In my old age, I like softer, lighter grapes,”

compares these wines and their terroir to a staple of

he says, “and for me, all roads lead to pinot noir and

Hawai‘i: poi. “There is almost a sacred meaning for poi

French Burgundy.”

because it is so entwined with the history and culture

Wakayama has been to Burgundy, France many times throughout the years, and he has developed a

28 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

of this place,” he says. “It’s important.”

Survival and succession When reflecting on the history of something that has evolved to fit its context, and perhaps survived thanks to careful, artful tending, it is natural to wonder about the future. Can these medieval wines, which spring from a complex blend of environmental factors, survive in a changing climate? Can a lovingly curated 75-yearold family business continue on into the next era?

As for the wines themselves, Wakayama doesn’t seem overly worried. “The wines will change with the climate,” he says. “They already have. I’ve tasted French wines back to the 1920s, and they’re very different. The vines adapt in their own ways.”

For most successful businesses, adaptation is second nature—but there are significant stressors testing the

generation, and only 3% survive to a fourth generation

mettle of small businesses everywhere. Wakayama

or beyond. “I have no successors,” Wakayama says, “so

says that places like Kamuela Liquor are “a dying

this will probably end with me.” But he holds hope that

breed.” Particularly on Hawai‘i Island, land costs and

more young people will find ways to become their own

rental costs are simply too high—and fallout from

bosses and own their own businesses. “That used to be

the pandemic has been especially hard. Wakayama

a dream for Americans,” he says.

is just grateful that his store was able to remain open

The promise of independence is one that seems

throughout the pandemic. “I don’t know how you

particularly meaningful to Wakayama. “Owning your

would recover if you’re a small business that had to

own business gives you freedom... freedom to do as you

close,” he sympathizes.

choose.” He continues: “Freedom in everyday life is

There are other factors that have worked in

really important.” Any small business owner can attest

Wakayama’s favor as well: “We own the property, so

to the importance of budgeting and keeping an eye on

we have no landlord... and we have no large debts, so

cash flow, but for Wakayama, it is equally important

I didn’t have to answer to the bank. I was able to keep

to budget your time and to maintain the rhythm and

paying myself and keep paying my employees. I was

flow of life apart from work. When you own your own

very fortunate.”

business, he says, “you are able to make time to read

But succession remains a challenge. About 40%

good books and tend to personal growth and to family.

of U.S. family-owned businesses transition into the

I really like that about what I chose to do.” •

second generation, roughly 13% make it to the third

Photos by Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu ’14

29

KA MAKANI

PRIDE

30 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

KA MAKANI PRIDE

CRUSHING A CURVEBALL COACH JEREMY LUSTIK KEEPS KA MAKANI BASEBALL TRENDING UPWARD Hall of Fame Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams famously said, "Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer." A game that involves this degree of adversity requires a coach who can guide players and help them find lessons in every moment of the game—whether that be a towering home run blast or a gamesealing strikeout.

Enter HPA head coach Jeremy Lustik, who over the past two years has become a master of seeing the bright side of every situation.

“In baseball, it’s you against only one other person. Pitcher vs. hitter,” Lustik says. “When one wins, one loses, and everybody sees it. There’s going to be so much failure involved, but you have to be resilient, grow from it, and keep grinding. You can carry those skills through life. I hit on that a lot.”

Finding his way back to HPA was a journey three decades in the making for Lustik, who visited the campus as a teen during a summer marine biology trip, even staying in the dorms, where he is now a dorm parent. In between, he built up an extensive resume over two decades as a coach, educator, and athletic director in Colorado.

“Coaching was great, but teaching-wise, I wanted something different,” says Lustik, who is a math teacher at the Upper Campus.

Since arriving, Lustik has been faced with the unique challenge of building a program in the midst of a pandemic. When he took over in 2020, the team played four games before the season was called off.

Ka Makani played a modified schedule in the spring of 2021 but there hasn’t been an official league game since. However, instead of dwelling on the lost time, Lustik went looking for unique ways to keep

building HPA’s baseball culture. One of the most successful initiatives was making baseball part of last year’s co-curricular program, giving studentathletes a chance to refine their skill sets.

“We probably played more baseball, despite the pandemic, just not as a team,” Lustik says. “As people saw us practicing, the interest in playing the sport grew, as did our numbers. I think we gained ground—more than we could have in a typical year.”

HPA also renovated the on-campus diamond, adding a much-needed dirt infield. Keeping it well maintained has become a point of pride for Ka Makani players.

“That was a big win for us,” Lustik says.

Lustik is hoping all the momentum gained can help lead to more big wins in the box score, with HPA seeking its first Big Island Interscholastic Federation title in more than a decade when the spring season rolls around.

“HPA has had some good teams and produced some outstanding players over the years. We hope to keep that going,” says Lustik, who points out Ikaika Apilado ’21 (now playing for Sacramento City College) and Nate Heymann ’21 (playing for Yakima Valley College) as two recent examples. “The goal for this year is to continue to grow on the great baseball culture that has been established here.”

While Lustik doesn’t expect every player to have dreams of playing in the big leagues, it all goes back to those life lessons that can be learned through the sport.

“There’s so much about sports that translate to life,” Lustik says. “What I want to do is build a passion for the sport and give our kids the best chance to realize their goals, both on and off the field.” •

31

KA MAKANI PRIDE

MALIA BROST ’21 TAKES SOCCER CAREER TO NEW HEIGHTS IN ITALY

THE RIGHT PLAY 32 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

Photo courtesy of SMI

KA MAKANI PRIDE

MALIA BROST ’21 EARNED A REPUTATION FOR CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITIES WHILE ON THE SOCCER FIELD DURING HER TIME IN KA MAKANI RED. SO WHEN THE SOCCER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (SMI) IN ITALY CAME KNOCKING, SHE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO PLAY ABROAD.

“I am very passionate about soccer and enjoy competing at the highest level possible,” Brost says.

“Although I had some nice offers to play collegiately in the U.S., there were no opportunities as great as Soccer Management Institute.”

SMI combines a top-quality education through Link University with the opportunity to play soccer at a high level. For Brost, taking the leap has already paid dividends. She signed a contract with the Italian football club Trastevere Calcio, making her debut in September while continuing her studies.

“It’s been an amazing experience.

Living in the root of what we know

today as civilization is hard to describe,” Brost says. “It is fascinating to walk in the footsteps of gladiators at the Colosseum underground, who literally fought for their lives while playing a ‘sport’ for public entertainment.”

Brost built quite a soccer resume in Hawai‘i, with high school competition and also at the club level with Kona Crush. At HPA, she helped Ka Makani to a trio of state titles and was named the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year in 2020. The pandemic, however, affected the college recruiting cycle for many seniors last year, and Brost decided to take a more unconventional route.

“I realized my best way to grow as a student, athlete, and human was living in a country I had never been to, learning a new culture, language, style of soccer, and studying,” Brost says. While the move meant traveling 8,000 miles from home, she had her family and HPA ‘ohana to reassure her that she was making the right decision.

“HPA coaches Steve Perry and James Berry were completely in support of my decision,” Brost says. “A lot of my teachers were also very supportive of my decision, telling me about the amazing experiences they've had in Italy and how they wished they took up an offer like mine when they were younger. Their support made me even more confident in my decision and excited to study and play in Italy.”

While Brost is now sporting a new jersey, the people and memories she made at HPA are not far from her heart.

“HPA is a special place. I’ll always remember yelling ‘wreck shop’ before every game with my teammates and representing my class during the HPA Olympics in the hula competition,” she says. “I had an unbelievable opportunity to build lifetime relationships at HPA with great people from around the world.” •

33

Alumni News, Class Notes, Events, Giving and More

34 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

Celebrating "Twin Day" during this year's Spirit Week in classic style.

35

A ME S S AGE F ROM ROBER T BUD WAY ’76

The wind that sets your course Like most military kids, I was fortunate to live in many places growing up, including Massachusetts, Maine, Montana, Hawai‘i, Singapore, and Thailand. When I came to HPA in the early 1970s, I found friends who would last throughout my life, and teachers and mentors who taught me about honoring the traditions of HPA while keeping the covenants to mālama our island home.

I’m honored to follow in the tradition of Ka Makani who serve the school. And as chair of HPA’s board of trustees, I am ready and eager to help lead us closer still toward our worthy goals—to make good on our promise as a school unlike any other, and as a collection of diverse people who are committed to honoring our kuleana to Hawai‘i and each other.

HPA is working toward becoming an unparalleled model for environmental sustainability as outlined in HPA’s Sustainability Plan. In addition to embracing regenerative practices, we are also instilling values that will turn our students into mindful environmental practitioners and leaders. HPA students today are steeped in both the wisdom and traditions of the past as well as new skills and ideas that they will need in the years ahead.

I invite you to join this journey, with fellow alumni and with those at school. We have made important progress in recent years: expanding our outreach as part of the sustainability vision, advancing HPA’s capstone program, and working hard to bring Ka Makani together even during pandemic times. Rooted in gratitude, we move forward together with conviction and strength. •

36 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

Robert Budway ’76 is HPA’s newest board chair. He served in Congress on the staff of the House Committee on Ways and Means and is now President of the Can Manufacturers Institute in Washington D.C., where he leads efforts to increase industry recycling and sustainability efforts. He participated in HPA's intensive sustainability planning effort in 2018-19, and most recently served as Board vice chair and chair of the governance committee. Together with the full HPA board, he is helping move the school toward its strategic vision: HPA is the wind that sets your course and propels you on your voyage. Embracing the unique environment and culture of Hawai’i Island to design educational experiences of unparalleled depth and scope, we empower responsible global citizens to create, lead, and thrive in tomorrow’s world.

“ Raise the Bell” Reaches Fundraising Goal for Chapel Restoration Thanks to outstanding participation in the May Day Challenge this year, plus generous gifts from other individuals, HPA has reached its $600,000 fundraising goal to cover renovation and restoration of Davies Chapel.

Congratulations and mahalo to all members of our ’ohana who joined the effort!

Greg Warner ’77 has been partnering with HPA to create a sensitive renovation approach to this architectural gem designed by Vladimir Ossipoff. The crowning touch of the project will be replacement of the ‘ōhi‘a wood bell tower and re-installation of the bell itself, which is dedicated to founding board member Marjorie Robertson.

Meanwhile, HPA continues to seek donors to help build a $400,000 endowment dedicated to Davies Chapel upkeep. Endowment donors will help ensure that the chapel receives regular care from this point forward. With construction costs rising upwards of 40 percent during the pandemic, the endowment effort is more critical than ever. Thanks to the power of philanthropy, our HPA ’ohana will again enjoy this special place of light and shadow, contemplation and celebration.

37

CLASS NOTES

Class Notes 60s:

you gotta say something. Henry was in the

kind. He knew terrible tragedy as well, the

class of ’63 and well known as an unstop-

kind you may not recover from. He recov-

pable running back. If you ever got knocked

ered, took life in hand, and made everything

flat by Henry Pelfrey, you might call him a

better. He was one hell of a man.”

truck with legs! He won a scholarship to

The class of 1965 shared remembrances

Oregon State with his athleticism, but he

of their friend and classmate, Gary Doi '65.

Bill Jardine ’63 sent in his memories of the

had a fine engineering mind and a passion

"I first met Gary in the fall of 1960 when we

Pelfreys, a long-time HPA family: “There

for deal-making as well. Henry made it big,

were both entering 8th grade at HPA," wrote

were no more important families in the birth

and he didn’t make it with a law firm, trading

Alvin Wakayama '65. "He and I were cut

of HPA than the Taylors, Solmssens, and

company, or bank. He made it big with his

from the same cloth, so to speak. We were

the Pelfreys. We hear about the Taylors and

own two hands and super-creative brain.

both American Japanese who were born

Solmssens, but the Pelfreys often go over-

Even in high school he was already doing

and raised in very small rural communities:

looked. Woodrow Pelfrey made everything

"business" on the side, arranging trades

Kawaihae and Waimea. Both of our parents

go and fixed things that were broken, found

and supplies wherever he could. By the

owned and operated small independent

things the school needed, and fabricated

time he got to Oregon State, he was quite

businesses. They worked so very hard and

the things that could not be bought. He was

capable of taking care of himself. Henry

persevered in order to give their children

a mechanical genius working tirelessly and

became a legendary football player for OSU

the one opportunity that was not available to

quietly behind the scenes. Mary Pelfrey,

and graduated with a degree in structural

them: a college education. Serendipitously,

a magnificent Hawaiian woman, took the

engineering. He inherited his father’s genius

HPA was available for this purpose in our

place of our mothers when we were sick

for practical problem solving, and he added

community, and this institution was going to

and hurt and needed comfort. She was the

an engineering degree to that special talent.

be the vehicle that would take us on the first

school nurse with four sons: Dickie ’61,

He took his skills and education into road

leg of our Quest.​​Forged and honed by the

Henry ’63, Rex ’66, and Woody ’67. This is

building and had an amazing career doing

Doi Family School of Hard Knocks and by the

not an obit by a long shot, but when you lose

things the others would not or could not do.

excellent formal​​education from HPA, Gary

a guy like Henry, as we did July 5th this year,

He was clever and tough and generous and

(continued on page 40)

Pictured here are members of the classes of ’70 and ’71 celebrating their joint 50th reunion outdoor at Pukalani Stables in Waimea. Over the weekend, Ka Makani found ways to reconnect with one another - safely - and reminisce about days spent at HPA. John Bingham ’71 who took on the mighty task of planning a reunion during the midst of a pandemic writes “You are our brothers and sisters from 50+ years past, and those significant bonds need to be nurtured every so often.

Judging from the many re-connections, the laughter, the stories, and the love expressed for each other after so many years, this was mission accomplished!”

38 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

CLASS NOTES

1

2

3

4

5

6

1. Ka Makani from the class of 1970 in Kāne‘ohe with (l to r) Knut Peacock, Doug Behrens, Jim Anderson, Ed Case, Peter Young, Gary Moniz.

2. Larry Mugg ’66 and Denice Sheffer ’72.

3. Kaikea Nakachi ’11 witnessing state bill HB553 being signed into law over Zoom.

4. Anders (Tali) Patolo ’14 and his fiancé Ayse.

5. Gary Doi '65, a “Gentle Man.” 6. Chelsea ’05 and Cody Croy ’06 with their twin babies, Jon Michael Keola Croy (named after Michael Morriss ’04) and Coral Kaimana Croy.

39

CLASS NOTES

(continued from page 38) went on to achieve not only a college ​degree, but he also had a very​​successful and stellar

Mari Tibbetts ’97 reports, “I now reside

business career.​

in Boston, MA and I’ve been here for the last

​I very fondly remember the summer of

four years. I’ve relocated here from California

1963 when Gary together with classmate

with my current job with ASICS. I am a design

Edgar Spencer​ ​masterminded a ​t wo-day

director for the brand and enjoy the creative

Surf Safari via boat down the Kohala Coast.

work that I get to do. I also do youth justice

I can still picture Gary as we departed​​on

work by advocating for youth previously

that beautiful Saturday morning. He was

incarcerated on the side. I previously taught

dressed in ​f​ormal Kawaihae attire: Palaka

expressive art to kids in juvenile detention

shorts, no shirt,​​r ubbah slippahs, and a very

centers and hosted a fashion show inside of

dark tan. We traveled the coast going in and

the system. Through that work, I have kids

out of the beautiful little bays which were

that I support and mentor. I am lucky to have two healthy kids in middle school, and my

not even being​c​ onsidered for development

husband and I try to do our best to enjoy the

at that time. Gary a ​ nd Edgar surfed their​​

four seasons and beautiful nature of New

young hearts out while I tried to recover

England but definitely miss Hawai‘i!

from severe seasickness on the beach. ​We​​ returned to the​t​erra ​f​irma of Kawaihae with our minds full of good memories. These were the​​wonderfully beautiful and fleeting

a care home, waved a sad farewell to my

and ski-out!” Kehau Wall ’76 sadly reports

days of our y​ outh when we had hair on our

four children, their spouses, and eight

that her sister Maile Wall ’77 passed away

heads and adventure in​​our hearts.​​In my

grandchildren, and returned to our home

in the fall of 2020. “We were only a year

mind and in my heart, Gary will always be

in Kamuela. I am now mom’s one and only

apart and so much of my 12-year HPA

the b ​ oy from Kawaihae​: humble, friendly,​​

caregiver and am so grateful to be back

experience was inextricably tied to her.

and kind with that contagiously spontaneous

home with her. She is so happy to be back

So I can’t think about HPA without also

burst of laughter.​​Aloha no, my dear friend,

home after being in Oregon for ten years.

remembering my sister.”

and Banzai!​"

We just celebrated her 87th birthday and

CayCay Lawrence ’78 writes, “In a weird

Lawrence Mugg ’66 says, “Aloha to the

she’s looking forward to another 15! As

twist of HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? I had

three OLD guys. I moved to DC and I am on

for me, besides the caregiving, I’ve been

a spontaneous visit in Portland with my

doing some counseling (via phone) which

bruddah Bryn ’74, and my football hero,

I absolutely love, and some volunteering

Max Unger ’04, who was paying a short

at the Food Pantry in town. Life couldn’t

visit with his wife and two daughters, to his

be better! David Thielen ’74 writes that he

sister Laysan Unger ’02. Bryn had been

just sold his enterprise software company,

doing construction for Laysan, and I was

Windward Studios, to PDFTron. David

visiting my niece, and all the stars aligned.”

base. I help with ADA compliance for courses. I retired in 2020. When Europe opens up, I want to go to Morocco. Do you want to come (you buy your part)? Might also go to the French Riviera.” Jane Taylor ’68 retired from HPA in June 2020, and is pursuing art and photography, raising chickens, and enjoying time with her grandson!

created and grew the company with no investment capital, building it off of profits

70s:

from the start.

Dale Lawrence ’73 reports, “Last year

across the valley from Verbier in 2020. After

Hans Solmssen ’75 happily shares, “Fiona and I bought a house in Bruson just

in June, amid the chaos, I packed up my

living in Verbier for 40 years, this place is

belongings from Redding, CA, drove up to

heaven on earth. It’s so quiet, one hears

Oregon to rescue my mother (Bets) from

only the birds chatting. And it’s still ski-in

40 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

80s:

Kelley Miller ’84 shares, “We’re surviving the pandemic in Idaho. I’m getting married this summer and my daughter, Madisen, is graduating from Bowdoin College in Maine next year. Hoping to retire next year after 26 years as a veterinarian. Looking forward to our next reunion to see all my HPA ’ohana.”

CLASS NOTES

Sam Pratt ’84 had the great pleasure of

with friends and family, my girlfriend

spending a weekend “in the company of the

Angela ’03, and my two cats, Brutus and

Knight family while they were on Kaua‘i.

Opu. Brutus gave me a bit of a scare so we

Atlanta for the past four years where she

Purea ’80, former faculty/administrator/

took an emergency trip to the vet—turns

works in the film industry as a costume

coach/dorm parent Zeke, Kavika ’85,

out he’s a bit overweight and suffers from

coordinator. Most recently she has worked

Marau ’86, and husband Hobey Beck ’86. All

diabetes. Nothing a little TLC and insulin

on Loki—a Disney+/Marvel series—and

such great people, a lot of memories were

can’t cure! I island-hopped and met up with

HBO’s The Watchmen, among other projects

shared about all of our times at HPA.”

Kira Mcmanus, a fellow ’03 classmate,

for Netflix, Amazon, and Sony. In her free

Tiare Police ’89 said a hui hou to

reconnect with our friends there.”

Kassia Dombroski ’08 has been living in

and her new baby Elara. After that, I spent

time, Kassia enjoys spending time with her

Bella ’21, the youngest of her Ka Makani

the remainder of the summer relaxing and

husband, Forest, and cowboy corgi, Wren.

kids as she departed to Dartmouth College.

easing back into the start of a new school

She writes, “From our island home, it takes

year and the residential life program at

“After living in Busan, South Korea for 20

two long flights and a long bus ride to get

HPA. All in all, doing well in beautiful

months, my family and I are returning to

to the middle of New Hampshire. Not an

Waimea! Shoots!”

the US as a family of four. We welcomed our

Jennifer Dahlgren Lodge ’08 updates,

Dr. Mikal Barchenger ’04 opened a

second child, Kairo, while living overseas.

the Dartmouth College road was paved by

second clinic in the greater Los Angeles

My husband worked as the Protocol Officer

her big brother Kepa ’13. A couple years

area. Genai Robinson ’04 welcomed her

at US Naval Forces Korea, and now we will

after by big sister, Maia ’15, and today, it’s

daughter Amari-Genai Holmes on June

be living in the San Clemente area. Although

Isabella Police’s turn to fly to Hanover, NH

17th. “I graduated esthetician school the

we were in South Korea during Covid, we

and begin her journey in the Class of 2025.

week after her birth and will be teaching at

made the best of our time getting to know

She is ready and we are excited for her new

the esthetician school starting at the end of

the people, food, and culture. Our 3-year-

beginnings! Wrapping my head around the

the year to get my instructors license. So

old daughter, Taya, now says she is from

empty nest thing… it’s tripping me up a bit,

any alumni or future graduates interested

South Korea. Moving with a toddler and

but I will give it time and embrace it.”

in getting an esthetician license, hit me up!”

newborn has been difficult, to say the least.

Chelsea Croy ’05 shares happy news,

We can’t wait to get settled into our house

“Cody Croy ’06 and I got married in August

and finally unpack the 12 suitcases we’ve

of last year and welcomed our twin babies

been living out of for the last 2 months.”

easy journey. Eight years ago to the day,

90s:

Alana Cabatu ’96 sends her greetings.

“Aloha! I’m in my 20th year of teaching English. Currently, I’m teaching at Kamehameha Schools’ Hawai’i campus. In my free time, I paddle canoe.”

00s:

on June 21, 2021. Cody is now working

Russ Aguilar ’09 graduated from

as a home inspector on-island and I am

NYU’s Steinhardt School with a Masters

caring for our babies and running Waimea

in Secondary Science Education in 2021

Yoga, which will make four years in our

and will continue his career in education

community this November.” (See photo,

at a high-needs public school in San

page 39.)

Francisco this year. In his free time, he’s a

Steven Philp ’06 writes that he is the

Ryan Garcia ’00 reports he’s a “happy

new Associate Rabbi at Mishkan Chicago.

husband, proud father of two, and busy

“I helped start Mishkan while a graduate

with Friendly Shoes, an adaptive footwear

student in 2011. It is now a thriving spiritual

company he co-founded (fingers crossed

community that has changed the landscape

for Shark Tank in 2022). I published a kids

of contemporary Judaism. My husband and

book, The Second Verse to the ABCs, and a

I are excited to return to the Midwest and

photographer, dancer, and activist.

10s:

Kaikea Nakachi ’11 shared wonderful news after years of ocean advocacy. “Our family (continued on page 44)

pamphlet titled No Strollers. Check them out!” Erica Roby ’02 is the Master Of Cue for Food Network. Kelly Davis ’03 sent in an update and greetings to all Ka Makani:

We want to hear from you! Please submit your notes and photos to www.hpa.edu/notes by January 7, 2022 for the next issue of Ma Ke Kula.

“I had an eventful summer spent cruising

41

Giving it Her All Delaney Yuko Ross ’12 returns to GPAC

42 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

ALUMNI NEWS

Delaney Yuko Ross ’12 last appeared on the Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) stage in her senior year production of Anything Goes. This year she returns to HPA in a new role: Upper School performing arts teacher. In between, she studied classical voice at the Manhattan School of Music, earned a B.A. in ethnomusicology from Barnard College at Columbia University, and an M.S. in education from the University of Edinburgh. She was on her way toward a doctorate in ethnomusicology from UCLA when the opportunity arose to join HPA’s faculty. Now, she’s center stage at rehearsals, she’s teaching a host of performing arts classes, and she’s ready to bring the magic of theater back to full force in a community she knows well.

You grew up in Kona… What was it like to move from Hawai‘i Island to New York City for college?

Yes—it was a lot! I really wanted to go to the east coast because I just loved Broadway. I grew up in a family of musical theater nerds, and I fell in love with it. Although being one of eight million people was a little intimidating, I was already familiar with international living from being in the HPA dorms, and I loved being around so many different people…

I loved buying my first winter coat… it was all really wonderful.

What is ethnomusicology?

It’s the study of music through an anthropological or cultural lens. I took my first anthropology course as a whim during my freshman year in college. Something happened, and I knew that studying people and culture was what I wanted to do. I had never even heard of ethnomusicology before, but it was a magically perfect combination of all my interests. Columbia is one of the few universities that even offers it as a major. I was lucky!

Tell us about your hopes and plans for the theater program at HPA. I have been given an awesome opportunity to revive the drama program here, and I’m so excited. I remember coming to GPAC as a kid in 2005 to see Little Shop of Horrors, and it was just amazing! We’re blessed with an extremely beautiful facility. I want to take full advantage of it, and get more people involved. I’d like to get to a point where every single student has stepped on the GPAC stage before an audience at least once. I want the program to be thriving, and I’m committed to being here to help make it happen.

What do you think performing arts can do for teenagers, in a broad sense?

I am of the opinion that anyone can benefit from taking an acting class. Everyone should do it. I stand by that statement. Theater teaches you so much beyond just being on stage: confidence, collaboration, selfawareness… there’s so much to learn! If more people had taken high school theater, maybe the world would be a better place.

What has it been like coming back to your high school to teach?

It is very strange calling Mrs. Kamrow “Babs.” That’s a huge adjustment. Many of my colleagues knew me as a 14-year-old when I was out there on the stage giving it my all. But really, it’s been an absolute joy. I thought it would be weird, but it mostly just felt like coming home. I find it so rewarding to watch my students make memories just like the ones I made as a student. • 43

CLASS NOTES

Jordan Grainger ’16 shared exciting news about her new chapter in life: “I graduated from USC with a bachelor in communication and a minor in entrepreneurship in spring 2020 (lol covid grad) and then I started at Microsoft working in corporate communications for the tech and research team. After a year there, I moved into my current role, which is being a marketing manager for the Xbox Social Impact team. Basically I will manage the marketing campaigns for our sustainability initiatives and cultural campaigns (including Black History month, International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples, Pride, Earth Day, etc.)

(continued from page 41)

who provided testimony throughout the

Health Benefits Analyst for Willis Towers

has been advocating for shark protection

years and who helped in the last push of

Watson. Ada Benson ’18 is entering her

for decades, even while we were still in

urging Governor Ige to sign the bill into law.

senior year of nursing school at Endicott

high school at HPA. Simple protections for

Mālama Manō! We hope to continue the

College! She writes, “I am ending the

sharks were finally passed for West Hawai’i

momentum of important conservation work

summer and beginning this school year with

in 2013, a couple years after my sister and I

to protect the unique biocultural resources

overwhelming gratitude for everything in

graduated. Since then we’ve been working

of Hawai’i nei.”

my life. I feel too lucky to have made such

with many people and organizations to

Kanaikai Gaughen ’16 shares that he

lasting friendships at HPA, that still fuel my

extend and strengthen those protections

“graduated in May of 2020 with my BS in

fire four years later. I recently completed

across the pae ’āina. Despite overwhelming

Engineering from Mississippi Valley State

my clinical rotation on a maternity floor,

support in favor of protecting sacred manō/

University, and now I am a graduate transfer

and have found my passion in Labor and

sharks of Hawai’i, we came up short for

at Oklahoma Christian University working

Delivery nursing, and plan on pursuing that

many years. In 2019 we came incredibly

on a Masters in Computer Science and

as my career after graduation in the spring.

close, but in the final hearing, without public

playing some baseball.”

Always grateful to HPA for allowing me

input, legislators removed sharks from the

Nicole Lorenzo ’17 graduated in June

to reach for the stars from the moment I

bill and only passed protections for rays.

from the University of Washington with a

stepped onto campus. Feeling the love right

But years of effort paid off and we were

Bachelor of Arts in Geography Data Science

now.”

finally able to push this year’s bill, HB553,

and a minor in Informatics, graduating on

all the way. For World Oceans Day on June

the Dean’s List. Nicole was selected as

time DP (director of photography) of the

8th, Governor David Ige signed the bill

the 2021 recipient of the Department of

feature film, Life Almost Gone, written

into law to protect sharks statewide from

Geography Community Service & Public

and directed by Axel Knight. “To say it was

intentional harassment, entanglement or

Engagement Award. She is a small

difficult is an understatement,” he writes.

killing. The law will go into effect January

business owner for Tita Bun Collective—an

“But day by day as we kept shooting, seeing

1st, 2022 as Act 51. We are grateful for all

online clothing store. She is also a

this film being created was just the most

Reyn Kaneshiro ’18 worked as the full-

satisfying feeling.”

We want to hear from you! Please submit your notes and photos to www.hpa.edu/notes by January 7, 2022 for the next issue of Ma Ke Kula.

44 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

Chris Chock ’19 updates that he’s “currently in Spokane, WA and doing LOTS (continued on page 46)

CLASS NOTES

8

7

9

10

7. Ryan Salmon ’03 and son, Maverick ’33, diving for tako during the summer.

8. Sam Pratt ’84 spent a weekend on Kaua‘i with the Knight family.

9. Genai Robinson’s ’04 future Ka Makani.

10. Morgan Davis ’21 enjoying a day at the beach before heading off to college.

11. Jennifer Dahlgren ’08 and her ‘ohana with newborn baby, Kairo

11

45

CLASS NOTES

(continued from page 44)

for two weeks. I have yet to play, as we just

am to call Hawai‘i home.” Penelope Diaz ’21

of studying! :) More interesting details

had orientation and will start practice soon.

is enjoying life in Scotland at the University

will hopefully be shared with the HPA

Overall, I have had an amazing experience

of St Andrews. She reports, “I am currently

community by the end of my semester.”

meeting new people from around the world

studying Computer Science, along with Math

Hans Limstrom ’19 transferred colleges

and exploring my new home. I can’t wait to

and Physics. The school year has been so

and is now playing football for Willamette

get started with playing the sport I love in

much fun. I have been on many hikes, joined

University along with Kai Bram ’20 and

Roma.” (See page 32 for more on Malia.)

societies, and even saved a kitten. I hope

Seth Beach ’19.

20s:

Kahalley Anton ’21 is currently attending Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and majoring in Psychology. She reported, “This summer I stayed busy with running my business, Mauka Mementos, with my dad. We sell all handmade wood products at the local farmers market in Waimea. I also worked at Kanaka Kava, a local kava bar in downtown Kona.” Malia Brost ’21, who signed on with the Soccer Management Institute in Rome, Italy, sent greetings from overseas. “So far I have been in Rome, Italy

Morgan Davis ’21 shares, “The majority of

everyone is enjoying their year!”

my summer has just been finding a sense of

Louise Goldenberg ’21 reports she’s

home, whether that’s on our beautiful island

“missing the warm weather and weekly

or with people before I leave for college.

beach trips, but loving Barnard so far

The beginning of the summer started off

and am so excited to continue exploring

by celebrating with my class and being

what Barnard and Columbia have to offer

together before I headed off to Washington

alongside New York City!”

Gabriel Kalama ’21 sends greetings from

to visit family. Before I left and while in Washington I fell in love with photography

Forest Grove. “Aloha mai kākou! I’ve been

and I am bringing that passion home as I am

enjoying practicing with the football team

now taking photos for some of the seniors

at Pacific University these past few weeks

at HPA as well as some on the island! Now

and am looking forward to starting school

as the summer comes to an end I am sad

here soon on the 30th of August! I hope

to leave but so excited for the new chapter,

you have all been well, best of luck to

and I am reminded every day of how lucky I

everyone this year!”

In Memoriam: In the past year, we were saddened to learn of the deaths of the following members of the HPA ‘ohana. If you would like more information, please contact us at alumni@hpa.edu. We may be able to put you in touch with the family or friends of the departed.

• Michael Bates ’58

• Christine Kern

• Henry Pelfrey ’63

• Clayton Bramel ’94

• Craig “Gig” Kimura

• Peyton Rapier ’14

• Marguerite Cargill ’87

• Adi Kohler

• Nancy Rutgers

• Alvin “Chongie” Chong

• Brent LeTellier ’82

• Victoria Sublette ’16

• Patricia R. Clifford

• Keoki Lindsey ’90

• John Strickland

• Ben Cox ’06

• Lorraine Lindsey

• Evelyn “Lynn” Taylor

• Gary Doi ’65

• Fujio Matsuda

• William Twigg-Smith ’67

• Christine “Tepa” Farias ’95

• Ilan Naibryf ’18

• J. Maile Wall ’77

• Scott Grinsteinner ’83

• Roy Ohata

• Stephen Young ’77

46 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

TOGETHER FOR HPA.

We grow strong in the circle of each other.

When you give to the HPA Fund, your generosity contributes to a web of interconnection that inspires and benefits us all. Young people become the leaders and citizens who serve Hawai‘i and our world. Teachers and coaches create extraordinary programs that feed the next generation.

Parents and alumni extend HPA values and Ka Makani spirit into the community.

Right now, today, your gift will directly benefit every HPA student. Tomorrow, it will come back to you, our island, and the planet — fostering intelligence, ingenuity, service, hard work, and ever-stronger bonds.

Please join in support of our amazing ‘ohana, near and far. Together for HPA! Thank you.

To give online, visit www.hpa.edu/give To mail your gift, use our address on the back cover. Thank you!

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

47

From the time when the Pleiades constellation (or Makali‘i) first rises over Hawai‘i's horizon in late November through February/March, the Makahiki season is celebrated in Hawai‘i.

Makahiki is a new year and a new season. Historically, it was also a time of peace; battles and war ceased in favor of celebratory games and sports. It is a time to rest, to gather strength, and to give thanks. Photo by Bo Bleckel '14

48 // FA L L / W IN T E R 2 0 21

65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road Kamuela, Hawaiʻi 96743 www.hpa.edu

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

INSIDE: DR. KEAO NESMITH TAKES THE HELM OF HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM DANAI PATHOMVANICH ’93 FIGHTS CARBON WITH FOOD KA MAKANI BASEBALL PREPS FOR STELLAR SPRING SEASON