Ma Ke Kula - Fall/Winter 2022

Ma Ke Kula

HAWAI‘I PREPARATORY ACADEMY MAGAZINE : FALL | WINTER 2022

FRED WAWNER APPOINTED HPA’S 13TH HEAD OF SCHOOL

PONOHOLO RANCH: A FAMILY LEGACY OF REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

A TRIBUTE TO FRANZ T. (DICK) SOLMSSEN

WAWNER / HEAD OF SCHOOL

Our shared adventure

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s this issue of Ma Ke Kula goes to press, here on campus we are looking forward to 2023 with gratitude for HPA’s ‘ohana around the world. Wherever you are, we send aloha and best wishes for all your endeavors.

As HPA’s 13th head of school, I am especially grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to serve our amazing, irreplaceable community. I’m honored by the trust placed in me by the board of trustees and by my colleagues, who have inspired and supported me, Dina, and our children since the day we arrived at HPA in 2009.

In our family, HPA continues to cultivate a sense of adventure—as it has for generations of Ka Makani. Dina and I have watched our children blossom not only in the classroom but also in the Ulumau garden; in conversations with friends from around the world; on the GPAC stage, Castle Gym floor, or Waimea’s pu‘u. This year we see our oldest, Bear, embracing the adventure of college, equipped with ingenuity and confidence from HPA. Knowing HPA’s effect on our family, I can’t help but imagine the hundreds and thousands of HPA alumni who are out in the world right now, stepping into new roles, new communities, new possibilities with a bold spirit discovered at HPA.

HPA’s future itself is an adventure we all share. This is a critical time for independent schools like HPA, as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis to greet fresh opportunities and challenges. Our near-term priorities include greater curricular alignment across K-12 classrooms (see page 10), an updated campus master plan, and increasing financial aid endowment so that more deserving students can pursue their own HPA adventures.

As always, I am sincerely grateful for the myriad ways alumni, parents, and friends support HPA. Whether you connect with classmates, host a local event, send an applicant our way, or contribute to the HPA Fund, your belief in HPA makes the difference. We are there for each other and for today’s students. This is how great schools thrive.

Laurie T. Ainslie P’12, ’15

Robert R. Budway ’76, chair

Michael J. Chun

Warren Doi P’22

Allison Holt Gendreau P’08

Nona Hasegawa ’78

Ana Yarawamai Hiyane ’00

Hans P. L'Orange III '73

Rob O’Donohue ’95

Samuel Pratt ’84

William D. Pratt ’86

Michael S. Spalding ’66

Maxwell Unger '04

Bonnie Bogue Wedemeyer ’86

FRED

HPA Board of Trustees

Hālau WaikāUnu of Waimea performs at the appointment ceremony of Fred Wawner on September 23, 2022 (see next page). Hālau WaikāUnu is led by Kumu Kūwalu Anakalea, HPA’s K-8 Hawaiian studies instructor, and the driving force behind all the mele (song) and hula (dance) that are performed at Lower School May Day, 8th-grade transition ceremonies, and commencement exercises each year.

Fred Wawner, leader and friend, is HPA’s new Head of School

The 2022-23 school year began with two uplifting events: the announcement of Fred Wawner as HPA’s 13th Head of School on August 5, and a special ʻaha hoʻonoho (appointment ceremony) that brought the school community together on September 23. These moments expressed the strong aloha that HPA holds for its new leader, as well as the sense of excitement and gratitude Wawner shares for his new role and the school’s future. As Wawner said during his speech on announcement day, “We’ve got an amazing group, so this work is about us.”

Wawner, who spent last year as interim head, was appointed after a nine-month process led by trustees Dr. Michael Chun and Warren Doi. These months included a comprehensive assessment of HPA culture to define future challenges and the qualities needed in a new leader. At the same time, the school completed its regular seven-year accreditation review governed by the Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Both endeavors affirmed the conclusion of HPA’s board and employees: Fred Wawner was unquestionably the right person at the right time to become HPA’s new head of school.

Kumu Kūwalu Anakalea and Kumu Pualani Lincoln Maielua ʻ01 conducted the September ʻaha hoʻonoho, held around HPA’s star compass above the Energy Lab. “With faith and a strong support system, we acknowledge Fred Wawner as our leader and comrade who, with grace, humility, and aloha, we trust to take us to the next level of our potential,” Anakalea said in her remarks.

Wawner arrived at HPA in 2009, as the director of

student life, with his wife, Dina, and four children, who have been raised Ka Makani—William (Bear) ’22, Ali ‘23, Fischer ‘25, and Rosey ‘27. As a family, they are deeply connected to HPA, Waimea, and Hawai‘i.

Now, with HPA’s leadership team, Wawner is focused on priorities identified during the accreditation process, and on helping HPA deliver on the vision set forth by its strategic and sustainability plans. “I’m so honored and so humbled, and we are going to do great things,” he says. “We’ve already made impressive progress toward being the best HPA we can be, and I know we can achieve even more together, rooted in aloha, inspired by this incredible place, and grounded in our mission to serve Hawai‘i and the larger world.

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A heart for students and community

At HPA and elsewhere, Fred Wawner has devoted his 28-year career to helping students grow in the unique setting of independent boarding schools. "What a privilege," he says, "to be part of their transformations, whether through academics, sports, the arts, student government, or any other aspect of our school life."

A. The Wawner family celebrates Bear Wawner on senior day with the boys basketball team. Left to right: Rosey ‘27, Ali ‘23, Bear ‘22, Dina, Fred, and Fischer ‘25

B. Wawner on the court. "For me, the joy of coaching lies in motivating and inspiring people to come together," he says.

C. Dorm Wars, fall 2018. For more than a decade, Wawner led HPA's residential life program with humor, sincerity, and hard work alongside his dorm teams. (For more about the Dorm Wars trophy, see page 12.)

News Notebook

Board arrivals and departures

HPA welcomed Hans P. L’Orange III ’73 and Maxwell M. Unger ’04 to the board in June. L’Orange was born and raised in Waimea and attended HPA along with his brothers, Jon ’75 and Eric ’81. Their father, “Pete,” was the head HPA football coach in the 1960s. L’Orange earned his B.A. in English language and literature from Colorado State University and his M.S. in management information systems from the University of Colorado. He retired as vice president for data and information resources with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association and currently makes his home on Hawai‘i Island.

Maxwell M. Unger ’04 has strong alumni ties to HPA. His parents, Cynda and Keith Unger, graduated in 1975. His sister, Laysan, is a 2002 graduate. Unger attended the University of Oregon where he had a stellar football career on the offensive line. He graduated in 2009, earning a B.S. in fine arts. He was then drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he won a Super Bowl title. He retired from the New Orleans Saints in 2019 after 10 seasons with the NFL. [For related story, see page 28.]

Farewell and mahalo to Taylor Easley ’91 and Taffi Wise P’12, ’15, ’17 for their leadership at HPA and in our community. We are deeply grateful for their service.

Capstone work leads to co-author credits

Kudos to Jenna Perry ’20 and Kahelelani Walsh ’20 who are recent co-authors on a paper published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. As HPA seniors in Johanna Anton's biotechnology capstone course, the pair supported the efforts of visiting scientist Dr. Craig Downs, assisting with the collection of sand at various shoreline locations. The paper concludes that beach showers are a significant source of sunscreen pollution and a threat to both terrestrial and aquatic life.

Class of 1964 honors its exceptional legacy of Vietnam service

After Captain John Robert Peacock II ’64, USMC (known to his classmates as Robbie), was lost on a Vietnam combat mission in 1972, HPA honored him with a statue given by his mother, former HPA board member, Patricia Cooke Peacock. Bird In Flight, by Leonardo Nierman, stands between Wishard Administration Building and Dyer Memorial Library as a permanent memorial to Captain Peacock, who remains missing in action.

Led by Mel Pobre and Curtis Tyler, his classmates are honoring another extraordinary fact: over 50 percent of the class of 1964 served in Vietnam. A brass plaque listing the names of all those who served will be installed near Bird In Flight, with Peacock's name at the head of the list. Pobre and Tyler have carefully cataloged all names, branch of service, and rank (see photo above). At the bottom, these words will appear: “All Gave Some. One Gave All.” •

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Mountain Wakes

Mauna Loa began erupting in Moku‘āweoweo Caldera on November 27, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m. Lava activity creates spectacular light, seen here from the HPA campus. The eruption offers a powerful reminder of Hawai‘i’s unique ecology, as well as HPA’s commitment to mālama kaiāulu: care for our community of spirit, land, and people.

5 Questions with Vaipuarii Tapiero-Kight ’05

Seventeen years after graduation, Vaipuarii TapieroKight ’05 returned to HPA this fall as an Upper School English teacher. In the interim, she taught English literature as well as English for second-language learners at the University of Hawai‘i, Kapi‘olani Community College, and University of Tahiti. We spoke to her about moving from Kauaʻi to HPA’s Village Campus, what she’s teaching, and why she’s looking forward to having her seven- and nine-year-old sons become part of the HPA ‘ohana.

What’s it like being back on campus after so long, and in a different role?

Like I just left yesterday–something in the air. It feels good to be back at a place where there’s so much support and to be part of a group that enjoys working together. There are quite a few familiar faces, so I’m still getting used to calling the teachers by their first names. I tend to just use their last names when I’m with the students: “Oh look–here’s Mr. White!”

What drew you back to teach?

The school really influenced me as a person growing up and as a teacher, especially some of the mentors that I had. Kids at HPA have room to be themselves and to explore. They can be where they’re comfortable, but also have room to be adventurous. I really wanted to give my boys the opportunity to be exposed to that, too.

What are you teaching this year?

I have one section of seniors and three sections of freshmen. I'm introducing Polynesian literature as a senior elective. I’m excited to share authors and cultures of the Pacific, including New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawai‘i. They’ve been learning the classics all their lives, and I want to tie literature back to home and localize it a little. That’s what’s missing. I’m also excited to start “fresh” with the freshman class and take them all the way to graduation.

Beyond the texts you read, what else is important to you as a teacher?

Creating that safe space where it’s okay to ask questions, and it’s okay to share your opinions. I love to watch the growth process over the whole year. When we start, everything’s new and the kids feel like they don’t know anything. I tell them, “By the end of the year, you’ll have confidence from acquired knowledge and be comfortable expressing those ideas as well.”

You’re also part of the senior class advisory. What’s your alumni perspective on that?

"What's next?" is always the big question when you're a senior. When I was training to be a teacher, I really took the HPA open-mindedness with me. I think it's going to be helpful to share those insights, and I’m looking forward to working together on their transition from school to life and making this year as significant as possible.

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Kuku Kapa E

Last fall, Isaacs Art Center featured the work of acclaimed kapa artist Roen Hufford and Kapa Hui. The show also included two demonstrations by kapa artists at work. Among those exhibiting was sixth-grader Kili Correa ’29, who sold her first-ever kapa pieces. HPA art classes visited the show and used it as a spark for their own creative projects. Congratulations to all!

Building on Strength for Greater Cohesion

Dr. Amy Cole, assistant head of school for academics, reflects on the future of HPA's curriculum

Last July, the Hawai’i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) completed its rigorous accreditation process at HPA, which happens every seven years. HPA received commendations in numerous areas, including clarity and commitment regarding school mission; comprehensive institutional planning; and a strong educational program that is designed to meet the unique developmental needs of each grade level. Here, Dr. Amy Cole reflects not only on the accreditation but also what’s next for HPA’s curriculum.

Looking back, how would you characterize the accreditation process now that it's complete?

Collaborative … and monumental! It’s really something to watch when a whole community engages in an effort like this. We had 13 committees with 52 faculty, staff, and administrators working on the self-study, which required us to evaluate HPA against 16 different criteria. We ended the process with strong commendations from HAIS-WASC, plus we identified specific areas of focus to strengthen for the future. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone for coming together to make this process a success.

Where will you focus your efforts

going forward?

We’ll be working to bring greater cohesion to our curriculum and operations. In each division, HPA provides outstanding academic and extracurricular programming. We are putting new energy into aligning our programs across divisions to ensure a cohesive K-12 experience. And with the advent of HPA's Sustainability Plan, and the growth of our capstone program, we now have even more curricular opportunities to create those grade-level connections.

Are you looking beyond the classroom in these initiatives?

Absolutely. For example, we recognize that to achieve our sustainability goals, we need to restart and reinvigorate our campus master planning efforts. We want to create a living laboratory for students, which means this is simultaneously about operations and curriculum. We need to ensure that every HPA building and open space supports academic and social-emotional growth while also advancing HPA’s sustainability goals.

Where do your plans stand now; what are the next steps?

We will take the recommendations from our self-study and HAIS-WASC and build out a plan to address those. There will be a mid-cycle progress report to HAIS-WASC in year four, 2026. Meanwhile, we’re already moving to support these recommendations. For example, we have been hosting more meetings that bring together all three school divisions. Teachers across grade levels are working on K-12 curriculum in their content areas while also examining how their particular area contributes to the capstone program and sustainability learning. We absolutely want sustainability to be a shared vision and relevant to every classroom.

Is there anything else that you'd like readers to know?

Some of this work was interrupted by COVID, so I'm just excited to bring teachers together in person and to see what creative ideas emerge to make our programs even stronger. In addition, our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) programs emerged as a high priority from the self-study. Two faculty members, Mario Flores and Molly Lai, attended the NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute last summer. Middle School Principal Glenn Chickering has joined Molly and Mario to serve as the school’s new DEIB leadership team. Our goal is that by June, we will have strong DEIB commitment statements and a larger plan for moving forward this important work.

Last but not least, I'm excited to be working with the division principals—Ka‘ai Spencer, Glenn Chickering, and Dora Kwong. They are such a talented group of instructional leaders. And we're all thrilled to have Fred Wawner at the helm, leading and supporting us. Add our amazing leadership team, faculty, and staff, and HPA’s direction has never been stronger! •

7 priority areas from HPA's self-study Cohesion among school divisions through the Mālama Kaiāulu model (HPA Sustainability Plan)

K-12 alignment of academic and character education

Attracting and retaining high-quality faculty, staff, and administration

Finalizing HPA student profile

Enrollment management and family onboarding

Campus master planning

Sustainable financial planning

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With the advent of HPA's Sustainability Plan, and the growth of our capstone program,

DR. AMY COLE

we now have even more curricular opportunities to create those grade-level connections.”

Object Lesson

HPA’s venerable Dorm Wars trophy symbolizes class spirit, but its history might surprise you. The object is an ornate teapot, originally given to faculty member Patrick O’Leary by David McMahon ’11. About eight years ago, O’Leary donated it to the residential life program, and it now appears annually in the opening ceremony of Dorm Wars. Ultimately, the winning dorm has the honor of the teapot-trophy residing in their common area for the school year. “The act of drinking tea is significant in so many world cultures as it brings people together for friendship and conversation,” explains O’Leary. “Those are also foundational aspects within HPA’s residential program.” •

Matt and Adriana Piercy come back home to HPA

Veteran teachers Matt and Adriana Piercy have returned to HPA, excited for their second Ka Makani chapter. The couple first arrived at HPA in 2007, where they served on the Village and Upper Campuses. After 10 wonderful years, they moved to Tunisia and Thailand, an experience they say allowed them to deepen a shared sense of humanity. “Once you shed the layers away from countries and cultures, it is not difficult to see how similar we are as one people,” they say. Yet coming back to Hawai‘i is coming home. “Aloha is real,” professes Matt. “Having such a supportive community at HPA is certainly very special.” Matt taught in the capstone program during its initial years, and he is thrilled to be a part of a team of teachers dedicated to project- and placed-based learning. Adriana is excited to build upon her experiences in her English Language Learning classes. The Piercys are returning as resident dorm faculty at the Upper School, a role they both embrace. •

Welcome to the herd!

Thanks to previous and on-going donations, Ms. Whiskey, Tali, Nala, and Scooby (left to right) recently joined HPA's horse program. They are busy sharing their talents with riders of all ages (along with the occasional treat) and looking forward to many happy hours on the hills of Waimea. •

A Calm Voice in Troubling Times

At Hilo Medical Center, Elena Cabatu ’96 serves her community during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Photo by Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu

Attending HPA “made the universe open up for me,” she says.

“It

As a middle schooler, Elena Cabatu ’96 played a junior varsity basketball game at HPA that changed her life. She recalls: “After the game, I noticed that some HPA JV players had their books with them in the gym. I felt all the insecurities of a middle schooler, trying to act cool, but I thought, ‘Wow, having books with you is normal here.’ It was a little thing that gave me permission to be myself.”

After that introduction to HPA, she and her twin sister, Alana, played on a traveling volleyball team with other Ka Makani. The experience compelled Elena to ask her parents, “Can we find a way to go to HPA?” In 1994, Elena and Alana became boarders, multi-sport athletes, and Ka Makani themselves.

After three years of playing soccer under Steve Perry, Elena earned a soccer scholarship to Georgetown and majored in English and linguistics. Attending HPA “made the universe open up for me,” she says. “It gave me the confidence to believe in myself – that a local girl from Hilo could go anywhere.”

She arrived at HPA speaking “pretty thick Pidgin,” but after a teacher corrected her essay, “the light bulb went on,” she says. “I had a steep learning curve in English grammar, but here I am today, writing and talking for a living.”

The path she took to her current job as director of marketing, legislative, and public affairs at Hilo Medical Center is a testimony to the power of her Hawai‘i roots. Before graduating from Georgetown, Cabatu was in line at a copy shop, xeroxing her collection of short stories written in Pidgin. It turned out the woman behind her was not only a fellow local Hawaiian and Georgetown alum, but also the Washington bureau chief for the United Nations Population Fund. She helped Cabatu get an interview at a nonprofit communications firm

that worked on international women’s rights and health. Cabatu stayed with them for six years in Washington, D.C., pitching stories to major news outlets and doing “advocacy work through media relations.” When she returned to Hilo in 2005, she worked remotely for one more year before responding to a community relations job listing at the hospital. “The lady who interviewed me was my twin sister’s preschool teacher,” she says. “And that’s how I knew that returning to this special place called Hilo was a powerful choice.”

Sixteen years later, Cabatu has worked her way up to her dream job, a role that has “allowed me to make a huge impact in my community that I love so much.” The hospital, the largest on Hawai‘i Island, was put to the test at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As doctors and nurses worked around the clock, it was Cabatu’s responsibility to keep everyone informed. “It was my job to be that voice of calm and reason for our community,” she says. “I think people could sense that in me, and I was able to establish a good level of confidence that the hospital had things under control.” She did so many interviews with the media one day that “at one point, I was completely spent and almost lost my voice, but I knew it was important to share all that I could when COVID reached us, even being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.”

After coming through the pandemic, her hospital is looking towards growth and expansion. Cabatu says that the ordeal cemented her commitment: “I was at 100% of job satisfaction before the pandemic hit, and now it’s a million percent,” she says. “When you’re in the place where you’re supposed to be, it feels like service and it just feels right. It’s the same feeling I got at HPA when I knew I needed to be there with the girls who had their books with them in the gym.” •

gave me the confidence to believe in myself – that a local girl from Hilo could go anywhere.”

One For the Ages

Celebrating the life and legacy of Dick Solmssen

IN ANY PLACE DEDICATED TO THE CARE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND LEARNING IN COMMUNITY, THERE ARE THOSE WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE SO GREAT THAT THEY FAR OUTLAST THEIR OWN TIME. AT HPA, FRANZ T. (DICK) SOLMSSEN WAS AND IS JUST SUCH A MAN.

OF LOVE, DEVOTION, AND HORSES

In 1957, Solmssen accepted a teaching position at what was then Hawai‘i Episcopal Academy. He came to Hawai‘i from the east coast, where he learned to sail, to conjugate Latin verbs, and to love horses. “His favorite time growing up in Summit, NJ was not being in Summit, but on Martha's Vineyard, where he worked at a riding stable,” says Solmssen’s oldest son, Hans ’75. “I imagine he loved the freedom of riding his bike 45 minutes each way to go to work those summer months. And horses became his life.”

In the early years at HPA, Solmssen taught Latin and English. Headmaster James Taylor hired him to join a faculty of only eight men. He had completed his B.A. in classics at Trinity College and his M.A. at UMass, Amherst—and he brought with him to Waimea his great love for the world. Here, he sent roots deep into the rich volcanic soil, even as he cantered and galloped high over the windswept pastures.

“ My all-time favorite teacher. He taught me how to write like I spoke; he gave me c onfidence at just the right time. I still t alk about how he impacted my life and w hat a blessing he is to so many. ”

– ASA CASCAVILLA ’94

“ One of the finest adults I knew as a young p erson, and I am sorry to see him go. …

For a long, long time, Mr. Solmssen, we will c elebrate your good life. Thank you for t rying your best to teach me how to play B ach's ‘Bourrée in E minor’ on the guitar. I never quite got it, but thanks to you and t he Kingston Trio, my guitar has been a k ind-hearted, life-long companion. Farewell, great mentor, farewell. ”

– GRAHAM SALISBURY ’63

“Dad was an accomplished equestrian when he arrived in the 1950s, so he became instantly fascinated and involved with Waimea’s paniolo culture,” says son Max Solmssen ’97. “He would ride along with Parker Ranch cowboys during multiple-day cattle runs up Maunakea and loved to talk about those adventures and how tough and skilled the paniolo were. …His work with horse breeding helped to perpetuate the Maunakea breed, whose hooves were strong enough to ride over lava day after day without the need for horseshoes.”

In short order, Solmssen established himself as someone who cared deeply for this place and its people. “It became rapidly evident that the big tent of our boys school in the wild country had two great tent poles: James M. Taylor and Franz T. Solmssen,” Bill Jardine ’63 reflects. “Both great men were devoted to us, and nobody would ever question that.”

Jon Hayashi ’67 says that Solmssen “taught me how to ride and more importantly, how to care for horses and how to understand them by observing them. Yet, for me and others, it never seemed like he was teaching us

anything. Somehow we just came to understand what he understood, and we were able to then apply that knowledge whenever a situation arose that required that skill. He didn’t tell you how to open a gate while on horseback, you just picked it up by watching him do it and, if you did it right, his approval was conveyed by his silence and a smile. … The stunningly brilliant thing about Solmssen was that you learned a lot, and not just Latin or horse stuff—but never once did we feel that we were being lectured to: enlightenment just seemed to arrive, naturally.”

“The [people] were what made Dick fall in love with Waimea,” says Sharon Solmssen, Dick’s wife of nearly 50 years. “He may have been born in Berlin, raised on the East coast, but he became Hawaiian, by nurture. He thought he was the luckiest person in the world. When he sang ‘‘Ekolu Mea Nui,‘ he meant it.”

A RARE BREED

Solmssen was born in Berlin in 1935 to Max and Marie Solmssen. His grandmother was a Mendelssohn. (Felix Mendelssohn was a musical prodigy and famed composer of the early Romantic era.) “Dick played the cello,” Sharon says, “but he hated it. Guitar was a little rebellion for him because his family wanted him to be classically trained.” His guitar playing, however, was superb—and is a common theme among the tributes that poured in following his death.

“Dick always played that down, though,” Sharon says, referring not only to Solmssen’s classical music training, but to his many accomplishments—his reputation for being a Renaissance man. “He was very humble. He would say that he just had many interests.”

His son Max also points to his father’s abiding interest in the world around him as one of his defining characteristics: not just the classics and horses and sailing—but science and mechanics and economics. “He loved to tell the story about witnessing the early days of carbon dioxide measurements on the summit

“ Dad didn’t care where his kids and grandkids went to college or what s tatus we achieved in our professions, but rather that we were humane and were contributing members of our c ommunity. Those were the values t hat he held dear at home, in his classroom, and in his community— and that was the gift that he gave to all of us. ”

— MIA SOLMSSEN ’93

of Mauna Loa,” Max says. In the 1960s, Solmssen led HPA students on a hiking trip there, and they were able to witness Charles Keeling’s research on greenhouse gasses, which became one of the most important and the longest running measurements of greenhouse gasses in the world.

“He knew about car engines, too,” Max says, “and liked to talk about how sensitive mass spectrometers are in measuring chemicals, and to always look at the units being reported; ‘do you know how small parts per billion is?’ he would ask.”

Solmssen’s daughter, Mia ’93, says that having her father as her AP Literature teacher at HPA “allowed us to start and continue a conversation and exchange that was so meaningful to me.” He was fluent in both the world of ideas and the world of action—perhaps a rare combination. “He learned by doing,” she says, “and

that was the example he wanted to set for his family and students: less talk, more action.”

“It’s kind of embarrassing to be telling you all of this,” Sharon says. “He just lit up every room in our house. He had a very generous heart … but he didn’t suffer fools.” And, she says, Solmssen passed on opportunities to be part of the school’s administration. This, too, is perhaps a rare combination: someone who can see the limits, faults, and raw edges of a person or a place—and yet embrace what is good and worthy of affection.

A THOUSAND STORIES

Dick Solmssen—Mr. Solmssen, Rawhide, The Schnozz … he went by many names—passed on from this world on March 9, 2022. One of his closest colleagues, Gordon Bryson, was among the many who joined his memorial at his beloved Davies Memorial Chapel from afar. “I was moved by the various tributes from his family to this gentle man who taught at HPA for fifty years,” he later wrote. Bryson recalled the calm but irreverent ways of his friend, whose classroom was, for a time, sandwiched between Bryson’s English class and Howard Hall’s math class. “Given that Dick seldom raised his voice during that time, the kids in his class listened to math being shouted in the next room and English being shouted in

“ The stunningly brilliant thing about Solmssen was that you learned a lot, and not just Latin or horse stuff—but never once did we feel that we were being lectured to: enlightenment just s eemed to arrive, naturally. ”

– JON HAYASHI ’67

the other. As a joke, Dick passed out math books to one side of the classroom and my English literature on the other side. …I could tell a thousand stories about Dick and his time at HPA.”

Indeed, it isn’t possible to preserve such a life in words or anecdotes alone. Solmssen’s legacy continues in the spirit and marrow of all he loved: the ideas, the horses, Waimea, his community, and his family.

For the HPA community, Dick Solmssen was a giant, and he left indelible steps where he trod: the classrooms, the chapel, The Taj, and beyond. “I think my Dad’s eclectic and insatiable appetite for learning about our world,” Max reflects, “is a great legacy for HPA as a place that teaches kids to have a real interest and look deeper at the amazing world around us.”

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New horizons for the Taj

Following the adventurous spirit that Dick Solmssen modeled, a fresh vision is taking shape for HPA’s equestrian program. We want to ensure that future Ka Makani and many others in our community can grow from the communion of horse and rider.

The heart of HPA’s program remains our beloved Taj— aptly named by Dick with his seasoned sense of irony. This well-worn landmark, deeply in need of refurbishment, will retain its essential spirit and simplicity while also providing

better support and expanded programming. Improvements under consideration include increased corral space, equipment storage, tack rooms and covered walkways, along with a bathroom, electricity, and potable water.

Ultimately, we envision a place where new generations of equestrians, polo players, paniolo, and Ka Makani can hone their riding skills and find their minds, bodies, and spirits refreshed in the hills of Waimea. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming months—stay tuned!

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On Ponoholo Ranch, Sabrina English and Chris English ’93 follow in the footsteps of Pono von Holt and continue a 40-year family commitment to regenerative agriculture

From rainforest at 4,000’ elevation to the Pacific Ocean, Ponoholo Ranch straddles three climate zones and holds nearly a century of North Kohala history.

Community leader and ranching maverick Harry M. “Pono” von Holt was born here in 1948, when these 11,000 acres were part of Kahua Ranch, established by his father, Ronald von Holt and Atherton Richards in 1928. After Ronald’s death in 1953, the family moved to Honolulu but continued spending summers at Kahua. Stewardship of this location — as well as innovation within the paniolo ranching tradition — would become the focus and passion of Pono von Holt’s adult life. Today, the family legacy moves forward with his daughter, Sabrina English and her husband, Chris English ’93, at the Ponoholo helm. The family upholds its commitment to holistic management and low-stress handling techniques, introduced by Pono in the 1980s, as they share best practices with the ranching community and care for this land that is home.

Back to the future

Ponoholo Ranch was established in 1980 when the Richards and von Holt families decided amicably to divide the Kahua Ranch property. Sabrina English grew up here, attending HPA from kindergarten through eighth grade, before following in her father’s footsteps to the Thacher School and going on to Colorado State. She was ultimately drawn back about twenty years ago – “a third-generation rancher on this ranch, and a sixth-generation rancher in the state of Hawai‘i.”

When she arrived home, Chris had already been part of the ranch crew for a few years. It was not his first stint working at Ponoholo. Chris matriculated at

Oregon State after graduating from HPA (which many family members on both sides attended, including Chris’ brother, Oliver ’90, and Sabrina’s sisters, Sinclair ’93 and Laura ’98, and her brother, Kam ’93), then spent the summer between his junior and senior years doing an internship at Ponoholo. Like Sabrina, his interest in the work was deeply ingrained. “I grew up on the south and east side of the island, but my family’s ranching and farming roots go back to the late 1850s or early 1860s on the southeast end,” he explains. “So that connection is many, many generations deep. My brother and I have kind of gone ‘back to the future’ and become family members who are actively operating on the land.”

The Englishes worked side-by-side as close friends for about fifteen years before they figured out their relationship was something more than just collegial. In fact, their joint stewardship of the ranch predated their romance by a few years. “Everybody told us we were slow learners,” chuckles Sabrina.

Regenerative in philosophy and practice

For even longer than it took Chris and Sabrina to fall in love, the sustainable ranching and grazing practices that are cornerstones of holistic management have been a hallmark of Ponoholo Ranch. In the early 1980s, Pono von Holt attended a local seminar given by Allan Savory of the Savory Institute about his approach to regenerative agriculture. Seeing immediately how well the method dovetailed with Hawai‘i’s climate, Pono began implementing rotational grazing at Ponoholo. “It worked so well, we’ve kept that management going for over 40 years,” says Chris.

The simple, powerful idea behind the practice is that cattle are moved from pasture to pasture before they have a chance to overgraze. “It optimizes the nutrition of the pastures,” Sabrina explains. “It’s the philosophy of take half, leave half for each pasture. The cattle have to graze it evenly and not pick and choose, which inhibits weeds and encourages the good grasses and clovers and other legumes to come up.” Ground cover is also preserved this way, which allows water to percolate back into the soil after heavy rain events,

particularly after a drought. “It’s a win-win both from a financial and an ecological standpoint,” says Chris. “You’re working hand-in-hand with nature.”

The improved ground cover also means that the area wildlife, including gamebirds, have seen a population rebound — another win. “Stewardship of land and animals is what we do, day in and day out. That’s who we are. It’s not just the job, it’s a whole lifestyle,” Chris adds.

Because rotational grazing works by simply opening the gates between pastures and allowing the cattle to choose whether or not to walk through them, it’s a low-stress method of animal handling that ties in with Ponoholo Ranch’s overall management practices. “They’re very smart, and they’re so trained to it that they hear you coming and they’ll be standing by the gate,” Sabrina explains. “You just have to get out of the way. We have a real attachment to our animals and to the land all wrapped up into one.”

Even while the ranch fencing evolves, it still provides an emblem of Ponoholo’s history. As the ranch has updated and replaced gates and fences over the years, the crew has salvaged the original enormous kiawe wood posts, handcrafted and marked by generations of paniolo. They’re used to hang gates and as corner posts for the current electric fencing whenever possible–a durable reminder, even after decades in the elements, of all the effort and care that has gone into these pastures.

Mālama i ko Hawai‘i

The ranch crew’s concern for land and community extends beyond the borders within which they do their daily work. Across four decades, Pono von Holt has helped lead many worthy organizations, including (locally) the North Hawai‘i Community Hospital and the Paniolo Preservation Society and (nationally) Ranchers Renaissance and the National Cattlemen Beef Association. For sixteen years he served as an HPA trustee “to support education in our community,” he says, “as well as give back for the wonderful education of our children.” In 2011, the Hawai‘i Cattlemen’s Council inducted him into the Paniolo Hall of Fame.

In 2003, Ponoholo Ranch played an instrumental role in forming the Kohala Watershed Partnership to help conserve Ponoholo’s uppermost land in the higher rainfall elevations — some of the most pristine native forest left on the island. The partnership, which includes Kahua Ranch, Parker Ranch, the Bishop Estate Natural Area Reserve System, and others “gets everybody together and gets everybody’s canoes going in the same direction,” Chris explains. “It’s a way for us not only to manage our watershed, but to help maintain it for the people who are down slope from us as well. It’s for the whole north Kohala community.” As Pono said in his Paniolo Hall of Fame oral history interview, “There’s only one Kohala mountain and that mountain grows water … but without that forest we won’t have the water.”

The von Holt-English clan is also thinking about the future of their industry. All of Ponoholo’s employees are trained in holistic resource management, which is “huge for the knowledge base,” and they dispense information freely to anyone who asks. “We’ve had people call us for advice,” recalls Sabrina, “and then we hear about the operations that they’ve been able to start up. We really enjoy learning that something that we do has also helped them get going, because we’ve seen the result.”

Planning for Ponoholo’s future

“The fences at Ponoholo all went up when I was about three or four years old, so through my lifetime I know how well it’s worked.” Sabrina says. She credits her father with ensuring that the virtuous cycle will continue for generations to come. “There are a lot of dads in ranching that hang on so tight, and then they die and the kids have no idea what they’ve been doing and they have to figure it out,” she says. “About ten years ago, we all made a plan for succession, and he’s been right here to help counsel us and guide us. He’s been a great cheerleader for us to continue the ranch on.”

Meanwhile, there’s no doubt things are in good hands up on the mountain for decades to come. “We take it very seriously,” Sabrina says. “It’s a huge sense of responsibility to both of us to keep this ranch going in the right direction. Just being able to maintain this land that we feel a huge connection to means everything, so every day we work to perpetuate this culture.” And, as Chris adds, “it cultivates the future stewards as well” — one of whom might just be the couple’s four year-old daughter. “She has really taken to this lifestyle,” Sabrina says. “She’s in preschool right now, but it’s definitely in her blood.” •

Photos by Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu ’14

IMPACT PLAYER

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION MAX UNGER '04 RETURNS TO SERVE AS HPA BOARD MEMBER

Fall has taken on new meaning for Max Unger. Weeks that were once filled with the sound of clashing helmets during training camp have been traded in for back-toschool routines with his two girls.

Unger is adding HPA board meetings to his schedule, as well, thanks to his recent appointment as a trustee. He brings a unique perspective and a deep personal connection to all things Ka Makani. “When the opportunity to be on the board at HPA came around, I was really excited,” he says. “I’m looking forward to once again putting time and effort into something I believe in.”

Unger hung up his cleats in 2019 after a highlydecorated decade in the NFL. Slimmed down from his once hulking form as a center with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, Unger has embraced the slower pace of being back home.

“The NFL schedule was really grueling,” Unger reflects. “Getting back into a routine on the Big Island and spending time with my friends and family has been really good.”

When it comes to his new duties on the board, Unger makes it no secret that he has things to learn, joking that he’s never had a “real job” in his life. But just like a rookie in the NFL, Unger has been an eager study.

“You go from being a student here to diving right into the nuts and bolts of how the school works behind the scenes,” Unger says. “It’s been a very rewarding and interesting experience. I’m learning a lot. My goal is for the school to have the same impact on students today as it did on me.”

After leaving HPA, Unger played college football at the University of Oregon, earning All-American honors and multiple first-team All-Conference selections. He

was selected in the second round of the 2009 draft by the Seahawks — quickly earning a reputation as a hard and reliable worker who was beloved by coaches and teammates alike during his NFL tenure. His life since graduation has given him a new appreciation for how truly special HPA was.

“When I would explain my high school experience, no one could truly understand it,” Unger says. “When it comes to the whole-school approach — education, sports, and what you do outside of the classroom — HPA stands out, head and shoulders in a crowd of some elite schools. I always have had a lot of pride in going to school at HPA.”

Unger’s parents, Cynda and Keith Unger, were members of the class of 1975, and his sister, Laysan Cartwright Unger '02, also attended the school, as well as many other family members. “HPA has been a huge part of our lives,” he says. “It’s an experience a lot of people don’t get in high school. I’ve always felt a connection to this school and have been invested in its success.”

Unger has been to the pinnacle of the football world, playing in front of millions of fans during a pair of Super Bowls, and ultimately winning a championship ring in 2014 with the Seahawks. But on a classic Waimea day, clad in palaka overlooking the Stan Shutes Track, he can still vividly recall the memories he made sporting Ka Makani red.

“I will say this, truthfully, the training camps I had at HPA were some of the hardest I’ve been a part of,” Unger says with a laugh. “I have tons of love for HPA, and it’s big for me to be able to serve this board and our school community. The fact that they chose me means a lot. I’m stoked.”

•

“MY GOAL IS FOR THE SCHOOL TO HAVE THE SAME IMPACT ON STUDENTS TODAY AS IT DID ON ME.”

Bears in Mind

Nawa Mitchell ’01 tells the story of UC Berkeley athletics through graphic design

Photo by Dalton Boehm

Dating back to his days in Ka Makani red, Nawa Mitchell ’01 always had a passion for sports. He may have hung up his cleats, but Mitchell is still in the game, serving as the senior graphic designer for Cal Athletics.

In his role, Mitchell is responsible for the design-end of promotional advertising campaigns and public relations materials. Berkeley is home to 30 teams and 850+ student-athletes, so the job is both rewarding and demanding. He’s also part of the social media team that manages the Cal Athletics Instagram account, where he rallies the Bears fan base and brings attention to key accomplishments and initiatives.

The past two years have been busy for Mitchell, who got married, bought a home, and had a daughter — all during a pandemic. Amid the whirlwind, Mitchell took time to discuss his job and his advice for younger Ka Makani.

What do you enjoy about your job?

That I’m working in sports! It’s gratifying to be the support staff of something like a national championship. It’s always amazing to see student-athletes celebrated and to provide content to fans so they can celebrate with the team.

Do any special projects stand out in your mind?

I like partnering with student-athletes on things they are passionate about. Two projects, in particular, would be a youth summer reading program started by one of our former football players, as well as a voter registration challenge. It’s rewarding to see their ideas come to life and the positive response it brings out from our fans

Was graphic design something you aways wanted to pursue?

I wouldn’t say always, but it was something that my grandma mentioned at a young age. She noticed that I was very detailed in the things I drew and thought that I could do it as a career.

The HPA elementary grades helped me to find enjoyment in art class. When I took Independent Art in the Upper School with Mrs. Yarawamai, I got into the technical side of art with color theory, lighting, and anatomical proportions. Getting that early exposure to art was a great foundation for when I decided to have a career in the creative field.

What was your time like at HPA?

I started as an eager kindergartener in Mrs. Soo’s class. I met some kids that year who have become lifelong friends. In high school, I was fortunate enough to play football. The football program has a lot of great traditions unique to HPA that make it special and more than just the ‘sport’ itself. In my senior year, [coach and English teacher] Bill Davis introduced me to rugby, and that has also led to great experiences, friendships, and travels.

What advice

would you give soon-to-be or recent graduates when it comes to finding and pursuing their passion?

First, I would say take advantage of opportunities. HPA has such a wide array of programs that you can’t find in most schools. Be ready to capitalize on the opportunities presented.

Second, understand the importance of relationships. I mentioned that I met some of my best friends at HPA. I also made my connection to Cal through Dan Perkins, husband of Mia Solmssen Perkins [class of 1993], at a dinner with Lexie Lam [class of 1998]. A network is important, and HPA is a strong one.

Anything else to add?

One last piece of advice would be to prioritize experiences. Get out and travel. Try different foods. See new places. I say this mostly because priorities change when you become a new parent, like myself. So, take in as much as you can.

And as always, Go Kani! •

Alumni News, Class Notes, Events, Giving and More

Members of the class of 2020 returned in June for an in-person convocation and celebration previously delayed by the pandemic.

Energy Lab named in honor of Michael and Jeannette Saalfeld P’14, ’17

On October 7, 2022, HPA gathered to honor Michael and Jeannette Saalfeld P’14, ’17 and the Saalfeld ‘ohana for their outstanding gift of the HPA Energy Lab. Their vision and investment created not only an award-winning building, but also a transformative learning environment that supports student-driven exploration and prepares HPA graduates to succeed independently in college research and beyond. The E-lab, as it is fondly known, helped spark the development of HPA’s signature capstone program and continues to elevate academics at HPA to this day. Mahalo nui, Saalfeld ‘ohana, for your tremendous generosity toward HPA students—those on campus today and those who will make discoveries here in the future, thanks to your leadership.

Chapel restoration nearly complete

The jewel that is Davies Chapel shines brightly once again! Thanks to the generosity of HPA's ’ohana, repairs on the building are finished. Comprehensive and meticulous work included the removal and restoration of every decorative ʻōhiʻa post, plus new roof, new gutters, window repairs, electrical re-wiring, interior LEDs, exterior paint, and much more! The bell tower installation awaits final permit approval (as of this writing). We look forward to raising the bells in early 2023.

Class Notes

60s:

James Klopp ’65 writes: “Karen, my Lady, has fought everything but cancer for the last 2-3 years...and is finally fairly healthy. We went RVing (first time in almost 3 years!) for a week with another planned in 2 weeks. Nice to get away and enjoy some time together with friends. Stock market still doing pretty well with a robot being built by a hired programmer, so maybe more crazy bucks coming along... remember my horseracing program? YES! That was EZ money, stock options a bit harder! But doable. Hope everyone is still doing well.

Cheers, Klippity Klopp”

All is well with Bill Koch ’65 and his family in Nashville. Debby has retired for the third and final time, and Bill keeps on keeping on at the Nashville School of Law.

“Lars and Margie Nelson recently paid a visit on their way to the West Coast,” Bill writes. “They had a chance to sample the food at the Loveless Motel and to experience the downtown honkytonks where one of Margie’s friends plays the pedal steel guitar. Lars also provided technical advice for a video studio the law school is building. This fall, I will be producing a program at the Library of Congress on the effects of COVID on the legal system, and then Debby and I will travel to London for the opening of England's legal year. We hope to be headed toward Hawai‘i next summer. Y'all come to Nashville. We'll keep the light on.”

Patrick Childs ’66 got to catch up with Philip Morgan ’66 at Kenji Burgers in Lihue. “Philip and I paddled outrigger canoe together for Kaiola Canoe Club, Kauaʻi, for a couple years before my arthritis finally brought me down after years being on the water,” Patrick writes. “As at Kamuela, Phillip is a great athlete and still in good, if painful, health like many of us. He still

does youth counseling albeit on a reduced schedule, as I do law. I am in regular contact with Robin Rice ’63. Robin has been putting his doctorate in entomology to good use for the last decade or more. He is likely Hawai‘i's, if not the world's expert, on certain insects in the middle to south Pacific/Indian Ocean. He has more field trips under his belt than I can count. A great conversationalist and a good friend. I swear I cannot tell the difference between one insect species and another even under magnification, while Robin discourses eloquently about DNA.”

Harold Hughes ‘68 just returned from a hunting trip in Colorado with HPA classmate Randy Vitousek ‘68, and they had a great time!

70s:

Ted Blockley ’70 writes: “Cheryl and I retired last year to the Central Coast of California. We're grateful for our health and (continued on page 41)

After graduating from HPA in 2015, Bri Vallente ’15 attended Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington to continue her collegiate soccer career. Her team won both the Division and NWAC titles in 2016-17. “I was fortunate enough to score the golden goal in double overtime to bring the championship title home!...truly a feeling I will never forget,” she says. Bri then transferred to California State University, East Bay where she finished up her college soccer career and discovered her passion for kinesiology, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal anatomy. Her hard work in and outside of the classroom paid off when she was admitted to the University of Washington’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in rehabilitation medicine. This August, Bri completed her second year of didactic work and was presented with her white coat. She will now complete three different clinical rotations in Seattle before graduating and taking the national exam to obtain her doctoral license. Her ultimate goal is to specialize in rehabilitating (and returning to their sports!) athletes who have sustained anterior cruciate ligament tears of the knee.

1. Noelani Kalahiki Butler ’72 and Laurie Smith-Wishard ’72 spent a week together on Kauaʻi after their HPA reunion this summer.

2. Kevin Donnelly ’87 is currently teaching and coaching in Kansas City. 3. The Class of 1977 gathered for their 45th reunion over the summer, and had a tremendous time together! 4. Rick Habein ’78 and his family.

5. Jessica Graybill ’05 is living in Joshua Tree, California and working for the Mojave Desert Land Trust.

6. Olivier Heuchenne ’86, his wife Anna, and their daughter, Linnea ’24, who just joined the ranks of Ka Makani!

7. Matthew Huddleston ’90 and Ava Huddleston ’22 at her HPA graduation.

8. Alexis Ounyoung ’22 wrote in to share a selfie.

9. Corrina Mahuna ’06, her husband Joshua, and their daughter CarliJean are raising cattle, horses, and sheep on their own ranch, JC Mahuna, in Waimea.

10. Jada Rufo ’88 recently visited Europe, and is working on her third book.

11. Leila Takahashi-Ruiz ’14 is in her 4th year in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at UT Health San Antonio.

Small Footprint, Big Love

Cassie Quaintance ’93 was several decades into a global career in sustainable electrical solutions and management when Hawai‘i called her home. In 2017, after an “aha moment,” she and her daughter, Ava, a current senior at HPA, returned to Pa‘auilo Mauka from Denver, CO.

At the beginning, this was a return not only to her beloved home state, but also to her childhood house, where they settled with Cassie’s parents temporarily while Cassie looked for a job. The family homestead, which helped foster her interest in sustainability as a middleschooler, remains a physical manifestation of the Quaintance family ethos, and a life-long labor of love for Edward Quaintance ’66.

Back in the late 1980s, Eddie – who worked for many years as HPA’s maintenance supervisor – fell in love with five acres of land high up in the mountains that, as he says, “rang all my chimes. It’s a magical feeling, nothing out there but the ocean and 2,500 miles of trade winds coming on.” With no power and no water, the former pastureland demanded creative solutions from the start. “This was before there was a lot of equipment or knowledge about off-grid living,” he explains. To get water for mixing concrete for the foundation they used “a 55-gallon drum with a piece of roof iron stuck on to hopefully catch some rain. Eventually, we put in a catchment tank with a little 12-volt pump that we powered with solar photovoltaic panels.” As Cassie recalls, “He built his own solar system, and I was by his side asking a lot of questions and trying to figure out what that was all about. It was very influential.”

This intrepid environment also rubbed off on Cassie’s sister Jill ’03, now a marine scientist, educator, and boat captain. “We learned a deep

Photos by Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu ’14

appreciation for what we had because our life was really simple,” she says. “We’d have to be mindful of how much energy we used. We saw that everything you use has a cost.”

This understanding carried over into both sisters’ activities at HPA. Camping and adventuring during Middle School Theme Week, plus turtle tagging at the Upper School, set Jill on her path to the natural sciences, as well as the travel that has been a constant in her life. “I went to Midway Atoll twice in high school to help the National Marine Fishery Service study the turtle population there,” she recalls. After past stints with organizations including the Nature Conservancy, her current post is Alaska with Expedition Voyage Consultants, where she’s educating people about marine life, including coral paleontology. She sees a direct connection between that early immersion in the natural world and her awareness of its delicate balance. “People aren't going to protect or understand anything if they don't know what it is. That's the first step.”

Meanwhile, in high school Cassie was the only girl on the HPA solar car team, run by now-retired chemistry teacher Matt Hughes. With a car built from the ground up, the team raced first in Hawai‘i, then in Europe. “It was very formative for me,” says Cassie. “I had some awareness that we live on an island in the middle of the ocean and we're importing all of our fossil fuels, yet we have access to all these different resources here that aren't being fully harnessed. We knew this was really important for our future. And being a young, altruistic person, at that age you feel a sense of frustration about why something isn’t being done about this. I still feel that way, but now I'm in a career that can actually impact the issue.”

Today Cassie is vice president of operations for Kevala, the company she joined upon returning to Hawai‘i. A provider of energy-use data and analytics, Kevala helps people and systems work towards a more sustainable grid. When Cassie was hired, it was a sevenperson startup with a contract to crowdsource data and map out renewable energy potential on O‘ahu, which entailed working with Elemental Excelerator (a Hawai‘i-based startup incubator), the state public utility commission, and the Hawai‘i Natural Energy

Institute (associated with the University of Hawai‘i), among others. After years of international corporate experience around the world, she says, “It was this sense of community that I had always yearned for. It was very fulfilling to get involved with projects that had a direct impact on Hawai‘i.” Five years later, Kevala has scaled to over 100 people; they now operate all over the US and internationally, and are working on a new contract in Hawai‘i as well.

Of his contribution to his daughters’ sustainability commitments, Eddie Quaintance says, “I’m proud of it, and I’m proud of the kids.” He also has a sense of peace from having lived his life according to the same principles, avoiding over-consumption in favor of living in and preserving a spot he truly loves. “It’s a small footprint kind of feeling,” he muses. Cassie and Jill have inherited that impulse, too. “The sense of community and interconnected complex systems is really important to me,” Cassie says of tackling what she calls “the broader energy solution”. “Coming home back to your roots, taking risks, feeling vulnerable, those are things that I've embraced throughout my life, and I learned that here.” Jill couldn’t agree more: “Our dad was a big part of that and our mom too. It’s something they instilled in us: if you can't find what you want, you can make it.” •

(continued from page 36)

being able to enjoy hiking, paddling, and biking year round. We hoped our location would lure the kids and grandkids. The strategy worked; we like their frequent visits very much! Aloha, Ted”

Noelani Kalahiki Butler ’72 shares: “Our 50th class reunion could not have been any better. It was so wonderful to be on campus again and reconnect with classmates and their families. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. Got to spend a wonderful week with Laurie Smith-Wishard on Kauaʻi after the reunion. Now back to newly retired life in Florida!” Greg Rand ’72 says: “Janiece and I so enjoyed connecting with fellow classmates at our 50th, and reexperiencing the magical Spirit of Kamuela. A BIG Mahalo for all that joined in making the event fun and heartwarming.” Marty and Denice Sheffer ’72 “had a WONDERFUL time at the 50th class reunion. So awesome to see so many beautiful faces. Mahalo and aloha to all.”

The Class of 1977 had a really great turnout for their 45th reunion, and enjoyed catching up at their class party on Friday night, and also in smaller gatherings and the HPA luau over that week. Attending were: Andy Ashe, Paul Eblen, Tom Unger, Trevor Cockle, Jerry Takata, Charles Serafini, TJ Woosley, JD Morgan, Tim Richards, Robbin Harvey Trousdale Chock , Mary Ellbogen Garland, June Johnson Cleghorn, Mike Coelho, David Goodman, Kap Tachera, John White, McGrew Rice, Greg Warner, Ben Giese, and Sheila Crosby Powell. “We missed those classmates unable to attend,” Sheila writes, “and we shared fond memories of those we have lost over the years. We had a few other alums join us from other classes as well: Doug Herkes ’79, Ann Cobb ’76, Woody Child ’78, and Patrick Ellbogen ’78.” Class Agent extraordinaire Sheila Crosby Powell ’77 collected and submitted a

David Knowles ‘94 competed in the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona on October 8, 2022, with a time of 12:22:59! After qualifying for his spot in IRONMAN 70.3 “Honu” David spent more than a year training for the 140.6 mile swim, bike, and run race. Born and raised on Hawai‘i Island, the race had a special significance for Knowles. “Growing up watching these world-class athletes compete in the crown jewel of Ironman events in my hometown made the race really special for me. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of it - great people, great vibes - it was truly a bucket list moment for me.” Congratulations David! Ka Makani represent!!

September. He continues to run, which he has been doing since his HPA days. He says, "Stan Shutes pops into my head almost every time I warm up pre-run. I can hear him call out ‘Ok, arm swingin’!” Paul's son, Chris, is now just a couple of years away from getting his PhD in Mathematics at Colorado, and his daughter Stephanie is doing quite well in the Seattle area with her husband and nine year old son. She works in sales at a mechanical contracting and design firm.

wealth of updates on her classmates: Andy Ashe ’77 lives in Virginia, and retired from the US Navy after 40 years in January. His wife is retiring soon and they look forward to a more relaxing and travel-filled future! Paul Eblen ’77 has been enjoying his latest TV gig as Marketing Director at KHON2 in Honolulu since

Tom Unger ’77 lives in Boise and is retired. His wife Patty has one more year as a speech therapist in the Boise School District. “Tom was able to visit his family on the Big Island during our reunion,” Sheila writes, “though ensuring covid didn't impact his Mom meant they couldn't participate in all our reunion activities—but we were so happy they were able to join our class party.” John White ’77 and his wife live in Hilo, and he still works up on Maunakea on one of the telescopes. After a relatively quiet time during the pandemic, he shared that work is really ramping up now, including a recent trip to Chile where he experienced a major snow storm. JD Morgan ’77 is retired and living in Kohala and keeping busy working on his house and yard. McGrew Rice ’77 is still running his charter fishing business in Kona. David Goodman ’77 lives in the Houston area and is still an airline pilot until mandatory retirement at 65. “Thanks for keeping the planes flying, David!” Kap Tachera ’77 is retired from Kona Community Hospital where she was the Head of Radiology, and is focused on her body-building and personal training business: Tuff Tita LLC. (continued on page 44)

In Their Wake

DOCUMENTARY FILM BY KENTO KOMATSU ’18 EXPLORES GRIEF, LOSS, AND FRIENDSHIP

Kento Komatsu ’18 attended HPA from 9th through 12th grade. He played soccer on HPA’s historic 2018 BIIF Division I State Championship team and pursued photography, videography, and ukulele while he was a student. He went on to study documentary production with a minor in entrepreneurship at Chapman University. For his senior thesis project, he wrote and produced In Their Wake, a short documentary inspired by the passing of Komatsu’s classmates, teammates, and close friends, Ilan Naibryf ’18 and Malcolm Davis ’18.

How and when did you decide to make this film?

It was summer, I was in California, and I had just heard the news about Malcolm and then Ilan. I had been searching for a film subject; it was always on my mind. Then it occurred to me that I should tell the story about myself and this loss. This story just felt obvious, like there was no other option at that time.

What did you learn along the way?

My conclusion by the end was that everyone has their own journey, their own way of dealing with death, and this was my way: this documentary. I'm just 22, and it reflects my first experience of the death of someone close to me. The filmmaking process was a way to explore the feelings. Now that it's finished, hopefully people can find their own understanding and conclusions. I want the viewer to take whatever they want from the film and leave with that.

Given the deeply personal subject matter, how does it feel to be living with the final product?

Once I got into the editing room, I could just disconnect and create a story as a filmmaker, rather than as a friend. I was like a filmmaker-robot putting the pieces together. When I finally saw the film in the theater, all this pent-up emotion was released. Something clicked and it was a good moment of grieving together with family and friends. I was free to let my emotions out. I’ve been submitting to festivals here and there, and friends have been asking me what my plans are for the film. At the end of the day, if the people I care for liked the film, that’s what is important to me. If I can place it into a few festivals where more people see the film, then that’s just the cherry on top.

Did you work with other Ka Makani in bringing the film to screen?

I interviewed Ilan’s mom, Ronit Felszer ’87, and also Daniel Groves ’18. And I showed cuts to some friends—people like Michael Hanano ’18 and Maiki Kawakami ’19—to get their thoughts on the film. I also talked to a lot of guys on our HPA soccer team. But before I even pitched the idea of the film, I actually called Coach Braithwaite [former HPA teacher and coach of the 2018 team]. I had this feeling that I wasn’t in the right place to tell the story, like, Who is this random kid making a film about his friends’ deaths? He gave me confidence. He said I should make it for them. That really helped in pushing me forward.

Photo courtesy of Adrian Delcan

How would you describe the impact of friendships made at HPA?

That’s a great question. When you’re in high school or college it’s easy to think of your friends as a “connection” in terms of helping get you a job or something, but at the end of the day, my HPA friends are the closest I’ll ever have. Especially now that I am trying to work in the film business, which is a very tough industry, it’s comforting to have friends who are outside the business and to know that my friends are there for me. Whether they are coaches or classmates, the connections from HPA sustain you 100%.

Do you plan to keep making movies?

It's a tough business, but yes, I definitely plan to keep going. I don’t know if it will be documentary or narrative films, but I will continue this process, no matter what the subject is. •

Laura Hughes Tamasese ’01 and Tommy Tamasese ’02 had a baby boy, Archer, last December! They love being parents of a busy, happy one year old. Laura has been working as a home health physical therapist for Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital since moving home to Hawai‘i Island in 2018. They are thrilled to spend lots of time with fellow Ka Makani on island, including Sami Tamasese ’99 (front row, far left, HPA cap), Peter Olsen ’97 (next to Sami), Jeff Hughes ’98 (back row, far left, holding Monti Hughes ’35), Noah Pobre ’35 (on mom Leslie’s lap, next to Jeff), Jacob Pobre ’98 (holding Braden Pobre ’31). [Laura is back row, middle, in black shirt, holding baby Archer; Tommy is back row, far right.]

(continued from page 41)

Jerry Takata ’77, despite best-laid plans before the pandemic to retire, is still very busy running Takata Store in Hawī, where he and his family provided muchneeded food to the Kohala area. “I have to personally thank Jerry and his wife Kim for letting me stay in their ‘ohana for a few days at the end of our trip for the reunion after I contracted covid,” Sheila writes. “My husband was able to fly home as planned, but I had to stay a bit longer. The Takatas are true friends with so much aloha spirit.”

Sheila also shared that “ Tim Richards ’77 is a local politician on the Big Island now, in addition to being a veterinarian and rancher. You really need to find a way to stay busy, Tim ;-)” Carole and T.J. Woosley ’77 are still in Bellevue, Washington. T.J. does commercial real estate investment and management with lots of community involvement (Rotary, hospital foundation board, etc.). Their twin sons are almost 25! They visit HI and WY often and travel as much as possible with more in the future!

“As for me,” class agent Sheila Crosby Powell ’77 writes, “I remarried in late 2019 on the Big Island, and my husband Matt and I live near Phoenix, Arizona. My daughters are 37 and 39 and live on opposite coasts (New York City and San Francisco Bay Area). I left my 40+ year career in the corporate world right before the reunion, and I am now doing HR Consulting as an independent consultant. So not yet retired, but I love having more flexibility!”

Douglas Herkes ’79 wrote in with sad news: “It is with heavy hearts that the class of ’79 shares that Paige Crudele Delima passed away recently. Wende Haserot Tostenson and I will be attending the memorial service for Paige and her husband Brian Delima in Hilo this Friday. Take care and enjoy every day!”

80s:

Olivier Heuchenne ’86 is “excited to share that our daughter Linnea has taken a year away from Mallorca to attend HPA for one

We want to hear from you! Please submit your notes and photos to www.hpa.edu/giving/update by February 1, 2023 for the next issue of Ma Ke Kula

year, and I am particularly proud that she has ventured so far from us for this lifetime experience!”

Kevin Donnelly ’87 is currently teaching and coaching in Kansas City.

You may see Jada Rufo ’88 at farmers markets in Waimea and Waikoloa selling her books Banana Girl: An Asian American Woman's Life in China, and The Zone. Jada spent fourteen years teaching in China. Banana Girl: An Asian American Woman's Life in China, is a memoir that takes place in a single school year in a small town in China. The Zone is a historical novel that takes place in 1937 Nanking, now Nanjing, during the period now known as the Rape of Nanking. Jada writes: “I have a third one in the works, an upcoming children's book soon to be released. This past summer I went to Europe for the first time on a Rick Steve's Europe tour. I visited Germany and Austria. I've always wanted to visit Salzburg, Mozart's hometown. Also went to Munich, Lake Hallstatt, and Vienna.”

90s:

Matthew Huddleston ’90 writes: “My oldest daughter just graduated from HPA. Hard to believe it's been 32 years since I graduated.

She is off to UCLA in the fall. It was very special for me to be part of that day—it brought back so many memories.”

Christopher Gregory ’96 says that “All is well. At the beginning of the year, I started my new job as Executive Director of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. With the pandemic finally settling down, we hope to get back to the Big Island and to see folks around the Denver/Boulder area. Let us know if you find yourself in Colorado.”

Jeff Hughes ’98 and his wife, Jen, moved to Hawai‘i Island last year with their daughter, Monti, who just started Kindergarten at HPA!

00s:

Jessica Graybill ’05 says: “I think this may be the first time I'm writing in to share an update! I'm currently living in Joshua Tree, California where I work for an environmental conservation non-profit (Mojave Desert Land Trust). Despite its inhospitable appearance, there is an abundance of native plants and wildlife that thrives here, and I am consistently inspired by their hardiness and the clever ways they've adapted to thrive in this environment. It's been a hot summer, and I am really looking forward to Fall so I can hit the trails again and explore the many interesting desert and mountain towns nearby with my husband and dog! I converted my garage into a pottery studio and am a ceramicist in my free time (MamaCoyote.com).”

Danielle Myrick ’05 is living in North Carolina and works in the health insurance field. “My husband is still in the Army. Our daughter, Kaylie, is 4 years old.”

Corrina Mahuna ’06 writes that she is “happily married to Joshua Mahuna and our daughter, Carli-Jean, will be turning 1 next month. Man, how has time flown by so fast? I have been working as a veterinary technician for Veterinary Associates for

the last 10 years and love every minute of it. Our clinic works with everything: cats, dogs, goats, horses and cattle. Everyday is different and definitely not boring. It is a self rewarding job, helping all the different animals island-wide and also learning information that we can use for our own selves regarding our livestock. My husband and I are running our own ranch, JC Mahuna Ranch, where we are raising 75+ head of cattle, some horses and sheep. You can say I am living the dream life that I always had as a little girl. We are living in our beautiful Waimea town and working with livestock perpetuating the Waimea lifestyle. Life at HPA definitely seems like a lifetime away from when we were all walking the hill

going to the pavilion and moving all the chairs down to the gym for finals. I pray that everyone not only in my class but all the students from previous years until now can appreciate the history and experiences that HPA offered to each individual. Much aloha and love.”

10s:

Teddy Quinn ’10 just started a new job as a political appointee for the Biden Administration working at the National Labor Relations Board. “My wife and I just closed on our first ever house in our dream neighborhood,” Teddy writes. “It's been a busy summer!” (continued on page 46)

Racey Biven ’00 (pictured here on his 40th birthday) is in charge of sales across Hawai‘i Island for Chambers and Chambers Wine Merchants, serving large hotel restaurant accounts and private clubs. He spends his free time in the ocean, fishing, or surfing, as well as working the family farm with his wife, Taylor, who manages her family’s commercial property in Waimea and can be found surfing on the regular. Their daughter, Emma, is living in Waimānalo on Oʻahu, loves to dance hula, and is applying to Kamehameha for high school next year. Puamana is in preschool in Waimea on Hawai‘i Island, and she loves the ocean and surfing and diving, as well as dancing.

(continued from page 45)

Julia Noe ’11 got married in June to her partner, Dirk. Julia finished her 6th year teaching in the Bay Area, left San Francisco, and is now living on the Big Island. She has returned to HPA, and is teaching 3rd grade. Leila Takahashi-Ruiz ’14 just started her 4th year in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at UT Health San Antonio. She became a Ph.D. candidate after passing her qualifying exam in spring 2021, and is under the mentorship of Dr. April Risinger. Her lab is focused on the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of women's cancers with particular expertise in drugs that target the cytoskeleton. “My dissertation project focuses on investigating the immunological effects of microtubule-targeting agents to improve the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. This work has led to a second author publication describing how he destabilizer eribulin activates the cGAS-

STING pathway leading to type I interferon signaling in Molecular Pharmacology, and a first author publication on the synergy between eribulin and immunotherapy that has been submitted and under review. In addition to my thesis work, I have also undertaken multiple projects to characterize natural products that have efficacy against triple-negative breast cancer, which has resulted in three additional publications including a firstauthor publication. My multidisciplinary training, high degree of research productivity, and translational project led to being awarded as a trainee in the Translational Science Training TL1 program for 2022-2023. Alongside my research efforts, I have also worked as a teaching assistant and as a mentor in the laboratory

and for new incoming students. This has all led to being selected as the Heather Menzie Junior Student of the Year and recognized by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the beginning of this school year. My future goals are to become an independent scientist with a desire to teach and mentor whilst conducting translational research.”

Silas Rhyneer ’18 shares that he is “Living in a new city! Was going to come back to Hawai‘i, but work had other plans.”

Christopher Chock ’19 is completing his fourth year at Gonzaga University, majoring in Electrical Engineering, and minoring in Physics. “I completed an internship on the Big Island with the Akamai Internship Program. It is a great project-based program that is geared toward engineers/ computer science/sciences majors.”

Class notes are edited for length and clarity, including adding diacritical markings and other minor adjustments, in accordance with HPA’s style guidelines.

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. Please let us know about others who have passed at alumni@hpa.edu.

• Arnold “A.D.” Ackerman ’69

• Arrison Aquino ’09

• John Arrillaga Sr.

• Deborah Baker ’72

• Patricia Clifford

• Anthony Craven

• Brian De Lima

• Paige Crudele De Lima ’79

• Leningrad Elarionoff

• Christine “Tepa” Farias ’95

• David Forbes ’59

• James Growney

• Philibert “Ski” Kwiatkowski

• Theodore Lindsey

• Jean Weinrich McDonough ’77

• Paul Nakayama

• Melvin Paio

• S. Andrew Perala ’72

• Courtney Rapier ’12

• Michael Saalfeld

• Mary Hugh Scott

• Franz “Dick” Solmssen

• Robert Tully ’68

• Hugo von Platen Luder, Jr.

• Gregory Wick ’66

Curiosity,

When you make a gift to the HPA Fund, every HPA student benefits—from kindergarten to 12th grade, from the Ulumau garden to the art studio to the Energy Lab and beyond. That’s because tuition covers less than 80 percent of what it takes to deliver HPA programs. Generous gifts make our additional excellence possible. Together, our gifts help create extraordinary programs and a school community that helps each child shine and grow.

Please join in support of our amazing students. 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!

growth, wonder, and joy. Brought to you by the HPA Fund. TOGETHER FOR HPA.

On October 12, 2022, the entire freshmen class of 2026 visited the Kohala coast, where the Hawaiian voyaging wa‘a (canoe), Makaliʻi, was in drydock at Māhukona, preparing for its next journey. This day-long experiential learning session and community service project was led by crew members from Nā Kālai Waʻa, as well as Upper School Hawaiian studies instructor, Pualani Lincoln Maielua ’01 (pictured here with students), who is a crew member of Makaliʻi herself. Among other hands-on activities, students sanded down the steering paddles and boom and tried out their rope-handling skills.

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

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INSIDE:

KENTO KOMATSU ’18 HONORS CLASSMATES ILAN NAIBRYF AND MALCOLM DAVIS IN DOCUMENTARY FILM

ELENA CABATU ’96 SHINES AND SERVES AT HILO MEDICAL CENTER

DO NOT PRINT: