ISSUE 6 // CULTURE + YOU [SUMMER 2015]

“CULTURE AND YOU” ISSUE 6 SUMMER 2015

2

HNLFLOW STAFF JOIN THE FLOW FAM TODAY, GO TO HNLFLOW.COM FOR MORE DETAILS.

VINA CRISTOBAL Founding Editor-in-Chief IG: @VEEXC_

JENNY ANNE PALERACIO Photographer

IG: @CHELLANY

PETER CHENG Co-founder IG: @CHENGMAN808

GIRLIEH MAE BARIT Marketing IG: @GBARIT

IG: @RAELYNRB

RACHEL KAMITA Videographer IG: @WITHOUTYOUITSJUSTME

ELLISE KAKAZU Writer IG: @ELLIEKNOWSBEST

TASHA MERO Writer IG: @ITSMEETASHAAA

RAELYN BATACAN Marketing Writer

H NLFLOW.CO M

CHELAN CRANE Writer

JONAH PASION Photographer IG: @JONAHPUSH

IG: @LIVINTHE808

ASHLEY ONZUKA Videographer Writer IG: @ASHKIMIE

BRITTANY REIS Photographer IG: @BRITTANY.REIS

SAGE BATTAD Intern

REINALYN MACARAEG Intern IG: @REI.THEBESTNANAINTHEWORLD

KAHEALANI UHEHARA Videographer IG: @SHAKAHEA

MARK GALACGAC Graphic Designer IG: @M.GHEE

SHAWN SAITO Photographer IG: @SHAWNSAITO

ROSELLE JULIAN Graphic Designer IG: @R.ZZL

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS 6-11

18-21

42-43

CREATING A SPARK

TACOCATS

#VISUALVISIONS

FEATURING: SANNA MYERS

FEATURING: TACOCAT

FEATURING: BRITTANY REIS

12-17

22-27

GETTING TEKNICAL

REAL LIFE IN ART

FEATURING: TEKNIQLINGZ

FEATURING: JOHN KANESHIRO

32-35

44-45

HOME IS...

FEATURING: KRISTIN RIVERA

THE BLOG FEATURING: ERIN SMITH AND MORE!

CULTURE AND YOU WINNER 28-31

46

ANVI CLOTHING

COMING SOON!

FEATURING: ANVI CLOTHING

FEATURING: #STARTISTS

H NLF LOW.COM

4

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR So. I graduated college.

The word “unreal” would be the only term to describe my feelings and all the occurrences that has happened in the past couple of months. Because, well, it IS unreal. It’s unreal when you can still clearly remember your 8th grade graduation and your high school graduation. It's unreal when your -academic experience flew by in a second even though it only took 16-plus years to do so.

PHOTO: CATHERINE SERIOSA PHOTOGRAPHY

Perhaps I’m just in denial that I am now a fullfledged grown-up.

If you read our “Flow Seniors” section last issue, Peter and I went to China and just returned.

An unforgettable experience, I must admit, but I am glad to be back on the island!

H NLFLOW.CO M

My initial inspiration for Issue 6 - which was not mentioned in the video - came from a class for my entrepreneurship program at Chaminade. A cultural consultant came to speak to us about the importance of culture and how it plays a key role in our lives.

Then it hit me.

Everyone is bound to a culture. Artists are no exception to the rule.

Whether it's the traditions they grew up with or the lifestyle(s) they embrace, artists are, in one way or another, influenced by culture.

Our featured creatives showcase their own definition of 'culture' and what it truly means to be influenced by such a concept.

We have to reflect on what we define as culture in order to figure out who we really are. Even if it may take a long time to do so...the journey is worth it in the end.

Best, Vina Cristobal Founding editor-in-chief, HNL Flow

5

VIDEO FROM THE EDITOR

H NLF LOW.COM

CREATIN

6

WORDS: ELLISE KAKAZU PHOTOS: BRITTANY REIS

Spark can be described in three words: beautiful, cool, and effortless.

SPARK

Sanna Myers,

H NLFLOW.CO M

the designer of Spark, creates clothes that are easy to wear, yet flattering. She draws inspiration from her roots back in Sweden as well as the island life here in Hawaii.

EK: You moved to Hawaii from Sweden about five years ago; how did that inspire you to design?

SM: Well, I moved here to work with the non-profit in Wahiawa, Surfing The Nations. So I did that for two years and I just kind of sewed on the side.

I studied fashion design back in Sweden, so I had that background. I always pushed it out of my mind ‘cause I thought it would be too hard to do. I’m not very brave like that, to do stuff on my own. So I was like, “Oh, maybe I’ll just find another job that I will be happy with. I don’t have to design.”

I did that and then I met my husband. We moved to North Shore after two

years and it is actually after I married him, he really pushed me to do something. I kept talking about it. It’s all I thought about. So he was like, “You have to do it.”

And I was like, “No. I’m scared.” So he gave me a Squarespace subscription for my birthday last year and he was like, “Okay, you have a website, now put stuff on it.” I don’t think I would have done it without him, honestly.

EK: What is the story behind the name Spark?

SM: The story behind the name is actually when we made our final collection in fashion school. My name back then was Sanna Parker and so I was going to do, S. Parker, S.Park.,

7

and then I was just like Spark! So, now my last name is Myers. “Smyers” doesn’t really sound good, so I was like I’ll keep Spark. It’s short and sweet.

EK: Did you always love fashion or was it a passion that developed over time?

SM: I think I always loved it. When I was little, I would go shopping with my mom. I would always be like, “ I like this, but I don’t like it because I would change this and I would change that.” So I always wanted to change things and make things my own.

EK: You studied fashion design. Did you have a

definite style that you wanted to create or were you still figuring it out while in school?

SM: I was still pretty much figuring it out.

Well, I always liked clean lines and kind of minimal design, but my first collection in Sweden was completely black. It’s very different from now.

Now, it’s mostly white.

EK: What was the most valuable/favorite lesson you learned when you studied fashion design?

SM: The pattern making class was my favorite. It is very mathematical and it’s almost architectural.

You have to think in 3D and I just think it’s su-

per exciting because you get to make the solution and see it come to terms.

I don’t consider myself a

math nerd, I don’t love math at all, but I love that aspect - thinking 3D. So I think that was

my favorite.

H NLF LOW.COM

8

H NLFLOW.CO M

9

EK: When do you work on your designs, do you have a set time of day or is it when you feel inspired?

SM: I am so unorganized right now. I just try to make a schedule for myself, like in the morning I’ll do emails and stuff. I am a night owl, so I am most creative at 7:00 p.m. I get my ideas, I’ll sketch it, then keep working on it the next day when I am awake.

EK: How often do you come up with new designs and styles?

SM: It’s just always popping in my head. I feel like I don’t even think about it sometimes. I’ll constantly have designs coming to me, but then I have to categorize it.

Like, “Oh, I can’t add this now cause I’m in this collection.” So always coming, but then I have to organize.

[We also asked a few questions about Sanna’s personal style.]

EK: Who is your style icon?

SM: Well, my wrap dress is inspired by Diane Von Furstenberg, she started the wrap dresses and I think in general they are so flattering. It is flattering for any woman no matter what your body type is, so I like those wrap dresses.

@WEARSPARK: Favorite part of the design process: pattern making!

EK: What is your go-to outfit?

SM: The beach gown is my go-to. I wanted to make clothes to stray from jeans and a t-shirt, which is my go-to and everybody’s go-to. And I was like, “What if I make something equally simple, but more flattering.” So that was my thought and now it is my go-to!

H NLF LOW.COM

10

EK: What is your favorite fashion piece in your closet?

SM: It has to be something passed down from my grandma. I have so many amazing, vintage dresses from my grandma. It might be a vintage piece that she bought for me when she was visiting me in Hawaii. It’s like a fully sequined blouse in all these amazing colors!

It is a few sizes too big and I can’t take it in cause it is all sequins, but when I look at it, it just makes me so happy.

I want to hang it on the wall, it’s so pretty.

EK: What kind of girl would be wearing Spark?

Describe the Spark Girl.

SM: I think it’s me.

I design things that I think I would like and

H NLFLOW.CO M

my friends would like, so maybe 20-35 years of age.

I don’t like when things are classified like, “Oh, this is your formal stuff and this is your beach stuff.” The stuff I wear, I wear to the beach and then wear it the next day to a wedding. I don’t care if the stuff is wrinkly. I don’t like to spend twenty minutes in the morning coordinating my outfit. I like a onestop shop. Put something on and you’re done. I like those outfits that you don’t really have to think.

[She then gushes about her prized creation – a simple beach gown.]

SM: I wear my beach gown dress everyday ‘cause it’s like a robe. I either throw my morning robe on or my beach gown.

It’s long, it has high slits, and it’s a wrap dress. I might as well put on that instead of my dressing robe, then I’m done.

S

EK: Can we get an exclusive, sneak preview of some designs that will be coming up in the future?

SM: My next collection is very inspired by water. I am going to try to print my own fabric and have a graphic designer work on the print. The next collection is really going to be the more cohesive collection, like this is Spark. The first one, I was still trying to figure out, like “Oh! This is good, this is good.” Kind of scattered, but the next one is really going to be thought through.

R +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++

11

P K

+++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++

A

PHOTO COURTESY @WEARSPARK’S INSTAGRAM

WEARSPARK.COM

@WEARSPARK

H NLF LOW.COM

12

H NLFLOW.CO M

13

TEKNIQS IN PERSERVING THE .PHILIPPINE .CULTURE. “Our dancing speaks volume in continuing the culture.”

WORDS: RAELYN BATACAN PHOTOS: BRITTANY REIS VIDEO: ASHLEY ONZUKA

H NLF LOW.COM

14

It’s moments where you can watch the pride grow on a grandmother’s face on her 90th birthday as she watches her grandchildren participate in the traditional Filipino folk dance of the tinikling, that hit the Tekniqlingz to heart and motivate them to continue to preserve the Philippine culture through dance.

Local-born Filipinos grow up and fail to learn their family’s language; therefore, we aspire to find other creative ways that fit our personality to express our culture.

Gabe Torno, founder of the Tekniqlingz, started dancing at a young age.

He’d attend dance classes and dancing with groups in high school.

But it wasn’t until college that Gabe, as President of the Katipunan H NLFLOW.CO M

Club at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, wanted to come up with different activities to get members involved and created a dance group dedicated to Philippine dance.

“Being in the Tekniqlingz is about being able to have an opportunity to have a vehicle and preserve and promote the Filipino culture through dance.”

The tinikling originates in the Visayas region in the Philippines. Farmers who wanted get rid of the tikling birds used bamboo sticks to try to catch them. Like many things during the colonization of the Philippines, the use of the bamboo sticks as well as the music became Spanish influenced and turned into a dance that is now recognized as the tradi-

tional folk dance of the Philippines.

In Hawai‘i, there aren’t many Filipino dance groups that incorporate traditional dance. As students and members of the Philippine Jr. Chamber, Katipunan and Timpuyog the Tekniqlingz enjoy getting involved in the community, contribute to and connect their relationship to culture. Modernizing their dances, they aim to spark inspiration among the youth that has become respected by their elders.

On February 9, 2008, they held their first tinikling workshop teaching the dance to members and prepared themselves for their first performance at the Honolulu Festival in March and at a Philippine conference later in the semester.

15

H NLF LOW.COM

16

Another thing that makes me proud is ...

H NLFLOW.CO M

17

At the Katipunan Club’s Spring Dramafest, they made their first debut appearance as they performed the traditional folk dance and incorporating modern and hip hop dance moves and techniques. Since then they performed for countless many parties, weddings, anniversaries, festivals and conferences in the outer islands and on the West Coast.

“Another thing that makes me proud is being able to connect with those different Filipino communities,” says Gabe. “Sometimes we get families or clients who want to learn the dance.”

The Tekniqlingz are continuing their goal of sharing their culture with others and expanding their performances to more Filipino festivals around the nation.

To learn more about the Tekniqlingz or how you can get involved, visit their website or contact Gabe at tekniqlingz@ gmail.com.

TEKNIQLINGZ.COM

@TEKNIQLINGZ

TINYURL.COM/ND2EHBH

H NLF LOW.COM

18

TACO FUN FACT: Tacocat is a palindrome; it’s the same when read forward and backward.

Tacocat focuses on four aspects: “food, flavor, fun and meow.”

WORDS: REINALYN MACARAEG PHOTOS: JONAH PASION VIDEO: ASHLEY GUZMAN

H NLFLOW.CO M

The local pop-up supports Hawaii’s local farmers by buying their locally grown vegetables and using them in their tacos.

I happened to meet the Tacocat team at its pop up in KCC right after my final exams and the ride to KCC was worth it.

Tacocat Hawaii shared how culture affects its perspective on business.

19

CAT After a successful Indiegogo campaign and a launch party to celebrate, everything has been working out within the past couple of months. They’ve been invited to large events such as Eat the Street and Art + Flea and have extended their pop-up to both the Kapiolani Community College Farmers Market and the Blaisdell Center Farmers Market.

Kat Araujo, founder of Tacocat, cherishes the value of teamwork. “Dominican Americans are very loving people,” she says. That ideal makes her feel like she

H NLF LOW.COM

20

is supported and encouraged to succeed.

Joseph “Joe” Lee, on the other hand, brings his Korean culture to the popup by reflecting back on recipes from his mother’s kitchen.

They both believe that they have different strengths and weaknesses, and yet they feel appreciative towards these differences. This also reflects in the ingredients that they chose for their exceptionally made tacos.

So what makes their food the way it is?

Their sauce, which Joe made himself, is uniquely spicy and sweet and they marinate their meat and tofu. Now, a lot of people who aren’t used to having tofu in their

H NLFLOW.CO M

21

household might try to avoid that path, but it does not taste like any ordinary tofu. Joe said that he would like to see more people try the tofu because it’s what he grew up eating and it’s healthy.

Although the pop-up is gaining quick popularity, this is only the beginning. It is manageable, and Kat and Joe enjoy the “buzz around the neighborhood” that Tacocat creates. They also believe that by starting

small, they leave more room for improvements and new ideas.

TACOCATHI.COM

@TACOCAT

So as they say, “Catch us!”

FACEBOOK.COM/TACOCATHI

Note: On July 25, Tacocat announced that they will no longer be doing their pop up, but you can still continue to follow them on social media!

H NLF LOW.COM

22

At 26 years old,

John Kaneshiro is a local artist whose talent is undeniable and has been recognized by many. His work has been showcased in art shows held at the Tagami and Powell Fine Art Gallery in Kaneohe.

H NLFLOW.CO M

23

WORDS: ELLISE KAKAZU PHOTOS: SHAWN SAITO VIDEO: VINA CRISTOBAL WITH SPECIAL PARTICIPATION

BY RACHEL KAMITA

H NLF LOW.COM

24

Drawing is something that John does to fill up his time, but the artwork (one word) that he creates is something special. Some may look at his work and instantly think it is a photograph, but if one looks close enough, the details and pencil strokes will reveal its true magnificence.

John began drawing as a young child. His father was an art teacher, so that artistic gene resulted into one explanation as to why John is so good at what he does.

H NLFLOW.CO M

25

Although John was always in an artistic atmosphere, he did not take it seriously until his freshman and sophomore year in high school. He began participating in art contests and received awards for his art. Since then, he’s never stopped drawing inspirational and breathtaking portraits.

The artist that inspires John the most, however, is Rembrandt. John explained, “The reason why I love Rembrandt so much is because of his contrast.

Everything leaves mystery because of the amount of depth that he has in his paintings.”

On the topic of “leaving mystery,” John does not allow others to watch him. “Every artist has this complex. It is almost like pressure. Whenever

I would ask my dad, ‘Dad, I want you to draw me a picture,’ he would actually go off to the side and he wouldn’t allow me to watch him draw. It’s almost like there is this artist complex of ‘you’re watching people watch you draw and there is so much pressure to do the right thing,’” he explained.

Another reason why he does not draw in front of others is because he feels the viewer knowingly or not knowingly wants it to be a mystery. The viewer wants to be wowed, as well as the artist.

Drawing is a way to escape the world, so sometimes John will temporarily shut the world out to work on his art. It usually takes six to eight hours for a smaller drawing, but for the larger pieces it can take about 30 to 40 hours to complete. Unfortunately,

The reason why I love Rembrandt so much is because of his contrast.

because of the amount of depth that he has in his paintings.

H NLF LOW.COM

26

H NLFLOW.CO M

27

he does not think drawing will be a part of his life forever. He does have other activities that he enjoys doing.

John said, “I love ultimate Frisbee, running, surfing, playing instruments, and love working with our church.”

Although he has a lot on his plate, he’s continually “drawing” out his next move.

@FATJOHN808

PHOTO COURTESY @FATJOHN808’S INSTAGRAM

H NLF LOW.COM

H NLFLOW.CO M

CLOTHING

ANV

28

Trends come and go fairly quickly in the fashion industry, but ANVI Clothing is changing the game by providing stylish staple pieces that will look good all season long.

Aimee Imai, founder of ANVI Clothing, offers outfits that easily transform from day to night.

She strives to accommodate women who crave comfort and those interested in “forever pieces,” or timeless designs.

She began planning ANVI two years ago, in hopes of bringing relaxed, effortless chic into women’s wardrobes. This clothing line is a very personal project, in that ANVI, pronounced “onWORDS : TASHA MERO PHOTOS: ANVI CLOTHING

vee,” is derived from the initials of her full name: Aimee Nichole Vogelgesang Imai.

Aimee says that she’s always wanted to launch her own clothing line and is excited to premier ANVI Clothing within the next couple of months. She sees herself holding a fashion show in the near future as well as hosting some giveaways.

“The road has been long and windy, with a few dead ends, but I’ve learned a lot and I’m so thankful for the journey that has led me to today,” Aimee says.

“ANVI has been a labor of love.”

29

Some of the items in the ANVI collection include tank tops, tunics, pants, kimonos, dresses and much more. Aimee says that her favorite dress

in the collection is a multi-functional one, which can be worn backwards as well.

With everything being un-

der $100, Aimee is happy to offer an affordable clothing line. However, Aimee is even more proud of the fact that all of her items are made here

in Hawaiʻi.

“I am so happy that I have been able to ‘support local’ in terms of production,” Aimee says.

“I am so proud and excited to be a part of the growing fashion community here in Hawaiʻi. We have so much local talent here; it’s incredible!”

Being that she loves to travel the world, she tries to mirror that

H NLF LOW.COM

30

very lifestyle into her clothing line. Her designs are inspired by coastal life and her traveling adventures, so she aims to create a sense of luxury and wanderlust into each item.

Her clothing collection is set to be released online on her website sometime before the end of the year. Although Aimee would love to open a storefront one day, she likes the idea of having her business online and mobile.

Due to her adventurous spirit, even she is unsure of where she will end up next.

H NLFLOW.CO M

When one wears

ANVI, I want them to feel like they are on vacation,” explains Aimee.

“Or that it makes them picture

their next big adventure.”

31

ANVICLOTHING.COM

@ANVICLOTHING

H NLF LOW.COM

32

CULTURE & YOU CONTEST WINNER

“

HOME

IS… WORDS + PHOTOS: KRISTIN RIVERA

H NLFLOW.CO M

33

BLACKOUT. I HAVE ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN SECONDS TO MAKE IT. FIND YOUR SPOT. HURRY, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. READY? THE MUSIC STARTS PLAYING, AND THE LIGHTS GO ON...

IT’S SHOWTIME.

H NLF LOW.COM

34

Over the years, since my move here in 1999, the experiences that have come to pass changed my perspective on this idea of what “home” is. As a kid, when the word “home” came to mind, I thought of a structure in which a family resides in on a daily basis. A single place to, at the end of each day, be welcomed by loving family, bathe, eat, and sleep. You know, the usual.

But what else is home now?

Time has taught me that home acquires different meanings within various contexts, especially living here on O’ahu. People have shown me the importance of space and the boundaries that keep those spaces intact. The culture that encompasses the person I am, has given me

H NLFLOW.CO M

a conscious sense of respect for others, myself included.

Not here to talk aimlessly about my life story, but rather, share with you, my home.

Dance became my home. As

did the stage. As well as the studio I dance for and the people that grew to be friends, and eventually, family.

When I came back to the island from my first year of college in the summer

of 2010, I began dancing at a studio that offered hip hop classes. Needless to say, I didn’t know anyone. More often than not, I kept my distance from people. Not because I necessarily wanted to, but I was pretty shy.

What I did focus on was the actual dancing, picking up choreography, and trying to execute my moves as clean as possible.

That’s the thing about dance, there’s constantly room for improvement.

The more time spent within that studio space, the more willing I became to talk to others that danced too. I participated in the studio’s annual dance concerts and even auditioned a number of times to be a part of their senior competing crew. Three times to be exact. The fourth time, I finally made the cut.

September makes two years from when I initially got accepted in to the crew.

My confidence has taken a lot of turns, gone through its ups and down, but

35

leave negativity, doubt, and fear outside the door.

ultimately has reached a good place.

Dance is my home because it has become my lifestyle. A lifestyle that put an emphasis on valuing the relationships I’ve built with people and growing within the spaces that contain lasting memories, stern

discipline, and a mutual drive to fight together as a team. The stage is also home to me due to the simple fact that it’s the platform from which I can express myself with my crew members. Whether members have come and gone, taken a break and come back, or left completely, every sin-

gle one of them, in some aspect, has helped me to be better, as a dancer and a person. And the studio, the epitome of sweat, tears, and late night rehearsals, is home base. Where, despite winning or losing, whether relevant to dance or not, I can come home to. The one place I’m welcome to

As with every home, for whatever reason, one leaves. I’m not entirely sure how much longer I’ll be dancing at my studio, but I know it won’t be permanent. The significance of the space and the relationships I’ve maintained because of it will stay by my side no matter where I go. Bigger aspirations await, and the desire to see beyond my current view compels me to move forward in hopes to reach them. But this home will remain as my foundation, the roots that have tested my strengths and weaknesses over and over again. And like every home, should I choose to come back, I know will be there.

The music gradually fades, as the applause from the crowd gets louder. The curtains close, and everyone gathers, cheering in excitement.

“BRING IT IN!” shouts our director. “Hype on 3.

1-2-3-HYPE!” Whatever is meant for me in the long run, I will always remember this moment and how at home it made me feel.

@KRISTINHS4L

H NLF LOW.COM

36

#VISUALVISIONS I remember when I was asked the question

“Why?” Why am I still going after my dreams and goals after I was told by many people that I was not passionate? Why am I still going after it when I had gotten kicked out of my photography class because my professor had said, “Brittany, you are not passionate and will get absolutely nowhere”? Why am I still going?

H NLFLOW.CO M

Why am I still going, after working over time at my job to save up enough money for camera gear instead of having it handed to me? I dropped out of college so, Why am I still going after watching things fall apart around me? Why am I still going, If I don’t shoot for a day, I get anxiety. It’s like this massive hand just squeezing your heart and not letting go. I beat my self up a lot. No one really sees it because it’s “just instagram”, but I look at my photographs

and always feel like “Yo, I could have done better.”

Which fuels the fire that eventually makes me want to go out and shoot again.

Go in my room and plan everything out for my next shoot. It’s more intense then just sitting on a bed with my laptop but I won’t get into detail. So why am I passionate? Why am I still going?

Look, I’m 20 years old with a ton of ambitions.

I could be raving everyday and taking a ton of drugs to fuel my creative

process but I have enough passion in me to keep me alive and going, as well as the many smiles, hugs and friendships that I have made through out this journey. Seeing the release of pain through the falling tears from the eyes of others and through the eyes of myself - it’s a beautiful process. With that, I have nothing to prove to anyone.

Why am I still going?

WORDS + PHOTOS: BRITTANY REIS

37

H NLF LOW.COM

38

H NLFLOW.CO M

39

H NLF LOW.COM

40

H NLFLOW.CO M

41

@BRITTANY.REIS

It slowly consumed her. Turning her into something that many had become afraid of. No one understood what is was but she. I mean, she was the only person that could also save her soul from being turned cold.

She began to see her skin glisten with hope, glisten with love. She was transforming into something, many had become afraid of. Herself.

@BRITTANY.REIS

BRITTANYREIS.WORK

H NLF LOW.COM

42

THE BLOG HNLFLOW.WORDPRESS.COM

WRITTEN BY: REINALYN MACARAEG PHOTO: JENNY PALERACIO

Eat The Street has given us another Friday night full of delicious food and the theme was Philippines! Both locals

H NLFLOW.CO M

and tourists gathered in Kaka’ako and I went ahead and asked what they thought of their food and like how Eat the Street

wanted it, it was “sarap sarap” (delicious)!

Read more

43

ERINSMITH

Kailua artist Erin Smith released her first album, “American Boy,” on June 11 at the Republik.

It had a wide range of audiences, from children to adults. Everyone was having fun and cheering for Erin. Her songs were amazing and she had a very interesting session.

They sang, not only songs from her album, but also a cover of Paramore’s “Ain’t it Fun” with her students. It isn’t hard

to see that she is very loved, even by her students. She hopes that the lessons that she learned in life will be conveyed properly through her lyrics. Her songs are available on ITunes and are played regularly on 101.9 (so make sure to request them!).

WORDS: REINA MACARAEG VIDEO: ASHLEY GUZMAN

Read more

CULTURE + YOU

HONORARY MENTION

PHOTOS + WORDS: ATHENA ABADILLA

Upon boarding Philippine Airlines flight 107 to Manila, I could not even imagine what I was about to encounter. I’d had envisioned a trip to my parents’ birthplace as being full of awkward family get-togethers, underde-

veloped living areas, and constant usage of the Ilokano language – which I had not yet come to understand. I thought I’d be lost in an unfamiliar world, longing to return home.

Read more

H NLF LOW.COM

44

Flow Fam

Hogan Entrepreneurs Program Chaminade University of Honolulu University of Hawaii Hawaii Pacific University Moanalua High School Family and friends of HNL Flow Athena Abadilla Visions Hawaii Honolulu Peekaboo Street Grindz

THANK YOU, Kristin Rivera

Spark Tekniqlingz John Kaneshiro Tacocat ANVI Clothing Art + Flea

OUR READERS!

H NLFLOW.CO M

45

Saturday Aug 8 4pm - 8 pm 801 South Street

Summer Edition

H NLF LOW.COM

46

#STARTISTS Next Issue ISSUE 7

H NLFLOW.CO M

47

H NLF LOW.COM