March 2016 | Volume 91, Issue VI | Honolulu, Hawai‘i A Voice for Students Since 1923
Breaking Boundaries Curiousity meets creativity outside of the classroom
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Scientific Investigation In Motion ByKyla Smith ’16
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ashimi, robots, and bacteria (oh my!) are just a few of this year’s ‘Iolani independent research topics. Excited to pursue their interests, eight seniors strive through interactive learning that takes place in and out of the classroom. As the
Cecily Choy ’16
What are you really eating? Genetic identification of tuna species uncovers fish mislabeling rates in Hawai‘i
third quarter concludes, these seniors are busy finalizing their projects for presentation to the student body and possible publication to the scientific community. Check out in-depth student profiles at www.imuaonline.org.
Photo courtesy Dr. Yvonne Chan
Photo courtesy Cecily Choy
Sarah Domai ’16 Determining the abundance of Vibrio vulnificus at varied depths in the Ala Wai Canal
Photo courtesy Sarah Domai
Anna Freitas ’16
What mosquitoes are on O‘ahu and where are they found? Determining the population density and distribution of vector Aedes albopictus
Photo Courtesy Natalia Hayakawa
Taylor Maruno ’16
Photo courtesy Dr. Yvonne Chan
Photo courtesy Anna Freitas
Photo courtesy Dr. Yvonne Chan
Photo courtesy Anna Freitas
Natalia Hayakawa ’16
Investigating the environmental parameters that support the abundance of Vibrio abundance in the Ala Wai Canal
Biodiversity Assessments of the Ala Wai Canal and Mānoa Stream Photo courtesy Dr. Yvonne Chan
Photo courtesy Taylor Maruno
Keoni O’Reilly ’16 Waterphone: Music meets its maker
Kyla Smith ’16
Affirming ‘imaka methods of adaptive optics through PythonTM simulation
Aidan Swope ’16
“Swerve Drive”— pivoting-wheel robot wheel base NEWS2 Mar_p2_v3.indd 1
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A Faire Way to Spend the Day
ByLiam Monahan ’20 and Isabelle Chow ’20
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repare thine sword, shield, and bow, and join the Lower School Medieval Faire tomorrow, March 8! For more than 20 years, the Lower School sixth graders have continued the popular tradition of bringing the knowledge they have gained from their third quarter social studies class to life in a fun-filled festival celebrating the Middle Ages. The outdoor festival will transport visitors back to the time of knights, fair ladies, kings, and castles. Archers, musicians, craftsmen, and peasants will provide Faire-goers with insightful glimpses into medieval life. Activities such as duels, concerts, and feasts are sure to delight and educate people of all ages. “I think this will be a great experience for everybody,” said archer Kieran Monahan ’22, “especially for the students who worked so hard to complete this.” The Lower School Medieval Faire
is an annual event that involves many people and uses in-depth research done by the sixth grade class to produce a spectacular educational experience for its visitors. Several weeks prior to the Faire, sixth graders are placed in differ-
ent groups, such as archers, cooks, and actors. These groups research and work together to create an activity, skit, or display for the Faire visitors. For example, Faire-goers can expect to meet the
cooks who will prepare a noble feast with scrumptious medieval dishes. The team of chefs will make and weave the dough, grind the spices, and even cook a whole pig in preparation for a medieval meal. In addition to work that is done by the collective groups, some individuals, such as archers, have even more demanding tasks. They spend hours researching their crafts and building their own five-foot bows and arrows, designing costumes, and printing laser cut targets, all of which must reflect the time period. While this may seem like a lot of work for one student, the combined efforts of the sixth graders results in a memorable Faire for all. “I’m really excited to present all that I’ve learned so far,” said Jaron Kawamura ’22. “Medieval life was so different from modern life. Preparation is lots of hard work, but in the end, it’s worth it.”
Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials ByStephanie Wang ’20 and Mia Kuromaru ’20
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magine being wounded while serving your country in the military. Veterans sacrifice their lives for America and deserve our respect. On February 24th and 26th, the Raiders for Wounded Warriors and the Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor honored veterans on our campus by hosting a track and field and swimming competition. This competition was a part of the 2016 Wounded Warriors Pacific Trials, which focuses on various adaptive sports including wheelchair basketball, shooting, archery, swimming, track and field, sitting volleyball, and cycling. Fifty ill and injured sailors and Coast Guardsmen, who came from across the United States, participated in the event. Hundreds of people joined to support and encourage them, including
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students from several ‘Iolani classes. In the midst of the crowd, the Raiders for Wounded Warriors, who helped publicize the event, held up posters and shouted words of encouragement. Raiders for Wounded Warriors is a club which plans events to honor veterans. It is comprised of 90 students who take time to listen to the service member’s stories and help to lighten their spirits. The club creates cards for special occasions and invites guest speakers who address topics that may interest their members. Raiders for Wounded Warriors organizes four major events each year, including picnics and beach excursions that help the veterans relax and build friendships with students. “For Reece Tanaka ’16 and me, it’s not
really ‘service’ because we create these relationships, and we feel like we’re helping out family and friends,” explains Cobi Lee ’16. “I’ve done other community service, and it was good work, but I didn’t have that personal connection.” Every month, Lee and Tanaka, along with the rest of the members eagerly await a veteran’s visit initiated by former ‘Iolani economics teacher Colonel Richard Rankin, the club’s founder. In traditional fashion, Raiders for Wounded Warriors continues to give back and serve the selfless soldiers who fought for our country.
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PROCONSUL CANDIDATES 2016 Each year, the Upper School elects three proconsuls to represent the student body, plan events, and meet with various committees and faculty members on campus. This year, eleven juniors are hoping for a chance to become a proconsul for the 2016-2017 school year. Imua asked each candidate: What do you want to accomplish as proconsul? // What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever recieved? // If you could be any ficitional character, who would you be and why? // Aside from event planning, how would you make this school a better place? Here’s what each of them had to say.
KOA AMONG AMONG KOA // Make school more bearable. // Intelligence is knowing stuff. Wisdom is knowing when to say it. // Han Solo, since he is one of the most important heroes and nothing ever fazes him. // Leading by example and rewarding good deeds. I would say there isn’t enough recognition for people who do small things to clean up the campus and other acts of kindness, and I would remedy that. I also hope to set an example for the student body of how to have fun without having a negative effect on others or the campus. //
ALISA BOLAND
// I hope to create a stronger relationship between the SAO and all grades and involve lower and upper school more with each other. Two things that I really want to make happen is another “Big Event” and an all school movie night in the center courtyard. People could bring couches and chairs and watch a film under the stars. // “Be your own advocate.” It’s true. If you are not on your side, who else will be?// Make me a wizard or Jedi. I would have to be in some sci-fi or fantasy novel. // Sometimes I think it is a bit hard to see beyond day-to-day academic commitments. As a proconsul, I would like to address that by adding some lightness outside of the classroom experience and a sense of a supportive, not a competitive or exclusive community.//
JOSHUA JOSHUA CHUN CHUN
// As proconsul, I will work closely with the faculty, students, and fellow proconsuls to help plan fun and rewarding school activities. Along with my own ideas, I encourage you to come forward with ideas of your own, and I will listen. With a plethora of tests, projects, and papers, I know school can be tough. If I can help bring some fun and excitement into your day, then my goal is accomplished. // My little green friend Yoda once told me, “Do or do not. There is no try.” It’s something I always keep to heart in anything I pursue. //The name is Chun, Josh Chun. So yeah, I’d definitely be James Bond. He gets the prettiest women, the fastest cars, the coolest gadgets, and the finest suits. It’s like every guy’s dream. // I would like to propose a student-adult partnership program in this school. This would entail a group of students who are willing to talk openly with teachers and administrators about how they think schools should change, and hold dialogue opportunities for students and adults to talk together. This way, the concerns of the students will be directly heard, and improvements can be made. //
HALIA HOGAN
// As a proconsul I want to get all of the student body involved in every activity that is held and to make them enjoy school. Make it a memorable year for them and make them enjoy coming to school! // If you want something, go get it! // Hannah Montana: the best of both worlds :-) // I feel that I am very outgoing and enthusiastic and will make every one feel welcome. I also love interact with others so I think our school will be become more friendly! //
// I want to be able to create a fun and positive environment for everyday school life, especially when students are stressed out by work. I also want to create memorable events for the underclassman such as winter ball or other, new events that can bring all the grades closer together. I want to make students excited to be Iolani Raiders and participate in all this school has to offer.// The best advice I’ve ever been given is that everything happens for a reason. Even when things are difficult, it reminds me that life is meant to be this way in order to shape me into the person that I am supposed to be some day. // If I could be any fictional character, I would be Alex Russo from Wizards of Waverly Place. I always thought that it would be cool to be a wizard and have the power to do anything in the world that I wanted to. // As a Proconsul, of course I am going to try to plan amazing events and activities that students and faculty can enjoy. However, I want to go beyond this standard and really get involved in what’s happening in day-to-day life at school. I will be a problem solver for things ranging from choosing decorations for winter ball to simply helping someone with chemistry homework. Overall, my goal to make this school a better place is to bring the whole student body together as one close community. //
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CARYSSA KIM
// I hope to create a stronger relationship between the administration and the students at ‘Iolani. As a proconsul, I hope to vocalize the needs and desires of the student body, acting as a bridge between the two groups. I also wish to make student life more memorable and enjoyable for everyone. // “Don’t Panic”—Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy //Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She’s a wicked cool female Jedi. Who wouldn’t want to be Rey? // I hope to use my position as a proconsul to address some of the concerns about life at ‘Iolani that the student body has, such as sleep deprivation, dress code, and homework-induced stress. I plan to work closely with the senior prefects and other students to find long term solutions to the of culture of unhappiness among students at this institution. //
KYUNG MI LEE
// A stress-free academic environment. I get it. It’s exhausting staying up all night to finish that history paper or memorize all those trig values. Whether it be advocating for less (or more meaningful) homework or refreshing boba on a Friday afternoon, I’m here to alleviate your stress and to brighten your day. // “Time is money, money is power, power is pizza, and pizza is knowledge.” // Agent Carter. Because she doesn’t have any powers but she still kicks butt. Have you seen her do a flip in those heels? // The role of student government is to elevate the voices of the student body. It is imperative for us as ‘Iolani students to take on an identity of service that gives back to the broader community. Whether that’s expanding the overall student involvement in projects with Ala Wai School or exploring creative ways for us to participate in humanitarian relief efforts abroad, as proconsul, I will make sure that my leadership reflects who you are and the things that you care about. And we’re still going to have a blast with all the exciting “party planning” aspects of Student Activities.
JACK LEE LEE JACK
// I want to bring joy to students the moment they step on campus. // An inch of time isn’t worth an inch of gold // Aquaman, because he’s fast and he’s wet all the time. // I will give out positive attitude and happiness to everyone I know and meet. // // I want to make a change for the better, I want to make our school better, I want to make a difference. I think that being a proconsul is the way that I can achieve this. //I want to make every day a mochiko chicken day. Mochiko chicken is something only ‘Iolani students know to be special, that we love and look forward too. I want to make every day of next year something only ‘Iolani students know to be special, that we love and look forward too.// // Don’t be afraid to be different, strange or weird, because being normal is boring. It’s the mistakes and mishaps that keep life interesting. // Stitch. He is basically Disney’s version of a Pokemon. Can you imagine a mega-evolved Stitch… duuuude. He is cute, fluffy, strong, and is literally from out of this world, just like me :P, what more can you ask for? // I want to make the school a better place by just making people smile more. Whether it be small surprises being sent to the student body to remind people to take a break and enjoy life sometimes,
DANE NAKAMA
or even random teacher student flash mobs. Now that would be cool!// // I want to make the 2016-17 school year memorable. Students deserve to have more of a say in school, and to feel like their lives are being run by the faculty. I don’t have any specific events planned because the best ideas come from a spontaneous moments with people you work with. // There are so many that I remember from my parents, Mr. Uejio, and mentors and leaders in my life. I don’t have one that beats any other, but here are a couple of my favorites: (from Mr. U) Little things make big things happen, so even a tiny little detail can impact something 10 times greater. It’s the thought, time, and compassion that brings an amazing outcome. We are greater together. NOTHING can be accomplished alone. // EASY. KIM POSSIBLE, of course. // I think what this school needs is a way for the students and faculty/staff/ to be more connected. In the past, I struggled with a few teachers because of the lack of communication and/or connection with them. I think there should be a way us to be more comfortable with them. We should have a way for students to tell teachers something they aren’t comfortable with something. ‘Iolani School is known to be the best not only in academics, and also known because of the people and the relationships that are created here. A good relationship between a
CARLY TAN
student and teacher makes waking up early for school not as bad and the learning environment more comfortable. //
LAUREN TERUYA
//I want to add a bit more spontaneity to everyone’s day, while also promoting fun events on a national level. I swear, almost every time I go on the explore page on Instagram, I see fun hashtags regarding a national celebratory event like “national coffee day.” They may not be celebrated by everyone, but I want to change that. I think by incorporating more of these holidays into our curriculum, anyone’s day will surely be brightened. //“You never know unless you try.” My mom has said this to me a million times, and it’s certainly stuck. The simplicity behind it makes the message clear as day, and I don’t think I would have ever thought to run for proconsul had it not been for these words. // If I could be any fictional character, I’d want to be Amelia Bedelia. I love how she takes instruction so literally, even if things don’t quite work out well. She always maintains a positive attitude and can fix any situation with her remarkable pies :) // To me, this school has always been home, and I treat it like a home too. I have favorite napping, studying, and socializing places on campus. The point I’m trying to make is, I’ve always felt 100% safe here. If I had the power to try and better this school, it would be to create an environment that embodies the perfect balance of work and play. One of the things I think I could do to achieve this would be to extend the library hours. I go to Starbucks every night because I study until at least 10 pm. Not to say the library would need to stay open that late, but if a quiet productive environment could be accessible through later hours of the day, students could knock a lot of their homework out before heading home. Another thing I’d like to start would be a daily recognition of students on campus. This school is filled with brilliant, talented, athletic, kind-hearted, and amazing students, and everyone deserves to be recognized as the wonderful people they are. //
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ByAlec Tam ’20
Musical theatre fans delighted in the Upper School spring production of Sweet Charity, which premiered at the Hawaii Theater on Feburary 25. Witty dialogue and captivating melodies performed by an all-star cast highlighted the landmark comedic musical about a dance hall hostess who finally finds love while stuck in an elevator jam. Lauren Teruya ’17 lit up the stage in her lead role as Charity Hope Valentine. “Sweet Charity,” who works at the Fandango Ballroom, doesn’t have the best luck with love. After an endless string of bad dates, she crosses paths with Oscar Lindquist (Todd Polk ’16). Believing she’s found “the one,” she goes on a few dates with Oscar and plans to get married. However, Charity’s fellow dancers, Helene (Lizzy Stacy ’17) and Nickie (Stephanie Zaharis ’17), continue to tell her that women, in their line of work, don’t find love. When Oscar’s jealousy over Charity’s clients gets to him, he leaves her in the dust, brokenhearted. However, Charity, still looking for love, lives hopefully ever after. “Someone once said talent is a combination of imagination, creativity, and dedication,” said Director Rob Duval. “I am astounded by the amount of talent at ‘Iolani School. They surprise me everyday with their use of imagination. I am incredibly proud of the students.” A big round of applause to Mr. Duval; Musical Director and Conductor Mary Chesnut Hicks; Choreographer Christine Yasunaga ’16; choreographer assistant Samantha Langcaon ’15; Stage Manager Kylie Schatz ’16; Assistant Directors Alisa Boland ’17 and Sydnee Kokubun ’18; Technical Director Christopher Patrinos; Costumer Stephanie Jones; Set Designer Willie Sabel; Lighting Designer Janine Myers; Projection Designer Dacia Samila; sound technicians Daniel Gilad and Daniel Yoo; accompanist John Alexander; and poster and program designer Kimiye Maeshiro ’19. A very low bow to the `Iolani Dramatic Players and the `Iolani band and orchestra students, whose behind-the-scene and on-stage magic helped to realize the fantastic production.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Q&A with Lauren Teruya ’17 How do you get into character for Sweet Charity? I try to relate a lot of her situations to my personal life. She’s really quirky and fun to play. I think it has also been one of my favorite parts, making the weird things about her about her even bigger on stage. Thank you to Mr. Pease for helping me bring her to life. What was is the hardest part about playing Charity? Keeping track of that purse. Oh my God! I had such a hard time remembering what scene I had to bring my purse in and what side of the stage the purse was on. It was important because the purse had the money and the card in it. Character wise, it was hard playing somebody a lot older than me because I haven’t experienced what she’s had. What is the hardest part of acting in this musical and acting in general? Making it real for your audience. When I’m onstage I want the audience to feel what I feel . . . that’s the hardest thing about acting. Is there something people don’t know about preparing for a role? I have a regimen that I do. When I get a part, I do a little research. I look up anything like a film or something I can watch. Once I start to memorize my lines and develop my character, I write down how a normal day for my character might look. It’s the way I become who I need to be.
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PHOTO BY ALEC TAM ’20
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Reaching New Heights: Raising the Banner ByKea Gier ’16
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he Girls Division I-AA Varsity Basketball team made history after clinching the ILH Championship crown against Kamehameha, with a score of 61-31. The win earned `Iolani its first I-AA championship. “Winning in my last year feels super rewarding because I’ve been playing with my other seniors since JV so it feels like we’ve come so far and made it together,” said Taylor Maruno ’16. “Even if we aren’t DI, I think getting a banner raised in the gym is a big thing. I’m really proud of the team and I wouldn’t want to end my season any other way.” Senior Jodie Iha, a member of last year’s basketball team said “the outcome couldn’t have been better for the returning seniors.” “I felt a sense of relief that we beat them in the championship this year,” she said. The girls capped the season with an overall record of 11-4. The juniors
also celebrated the big accomplishment. “We faced adversity during the mid season and came back at the end,”
Photo courtesy DJ Stephens
said Cambrie Ho‘omanawanui ’17. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
Just Keep Swimming to Champs ByEve Huddleston ’19
Amos Jun ’18 starts the 200-medley backstroke relay. // Photo courtesy Kyla Yamashita ’18
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he crowd cried out as the swimmers flipped and sprinted into their last lap of the 200-yard Medley relay which consists of four different strokes of fifty yards in the order of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. Racing toward the wall, ‘Iolani senior Chase Nakamura was head-to-head against Punahou and Pac-5 competitors for first place. A few seconds later, the ‘Iolani fans screamed and cheered as Chase touched the wall, setting the new ILH record, and breaking the previous ILH record for the 200 Medley relay, also set by ‘Iolani in 2000. Amos Jun ’18, Albert Lee ’16, Jack
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Lee ’17, and Chase Nakamura ’16 the relay. The team’s strong spirit and took the record with a time of 1:36.59, commitment to achieve their goals was beating Punahou’s team by .21 seconds. what brought them to setting the record. “We weren’t really trying for the record “Make short stepping stone goals, not and actually had no idea we got the long term dreams,” said Albert, “We record until five or so minutes after our found it easier taking apart each swim, swim,” said Chase. It definitely was working on the turns one race, then the great to touch the wall and look up to dive the next, and when ILH champs see ‘1’ next to ‘Iolani. We were just so rolled around, everything came together happy we got our hand on the wall first; to create a phenomenal swim.” the record was just a bonus!” Each member contributed to the final race within the relay. “We came into the race knowing that we had to go our best times in our respective strokes in order to get the job done. When I saw the time edging closer towards the record we were all hyped as I saw Chase going stroke-for-stroke into the final lap,” said Albert Lee Swimming the last leg of the 200-medley relay, Chase Nakamura ’16, ’16, who swam speeds through the finish line to capture ‘Iolani’s record-breaking win. // Photo courtesy Kyla Yamashita ’18 breaststroke in
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Basketball Boys Raise Black Banner ByDylan Shiu ’18
The boys celebrate with the Koa head after their victory. // Photo courtesy John Tamanaha
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fter a disappointing loss in the ILH championship against Punahou last year, the Raiders made a sweet comeback in February to clinch the ILH crown and the state title against Kalaheo. Heading into the championships, Cole Hogland ’18 said, “We were excited to win because it’s Punahou.” The final score against the
Buffablu team was 56-48. Robbie Mann ’16 scored 22 points this game and Hugh Hogland ’17 gained16 for `Iolani. But they were not finished yet; the boys’ ultimate goal was, of course, the state championship. The Raiders first played against Baldwin and won 43-27. Junior Helam Baldomero scored 14 points and Junior Bailer Alabanza captured 7 points in the game. A 61-42 victory against Kaiser followed the next day. Senior Zach Gelacio scored 12 points and Junior Hugh Hogland made 28 points when the game was capped off by a buzzer, beating a 3-pointer by sophomore Ryan Van Cantfort. The Raiders again faced Punahou in the state finals in an exciting game that came down to a two-point game with one minute left. The other team shot a three-pointer but missed, and senior
Nick Kennedy grabbed the rebound and passed it to Mann, who was fouled. Mann sank the last two free throws to put away the game and seal the championship. An ecstatic crowd chanted, “I believe that we just won!” as the final buzzer sounded, followed by the Raiders rushing half court and celebrating wildly. “After we won, I felt so proud about this team because we were a family,” said Mann. “We’d been through it all, we faced adversity, and turned around our season. It was completely different from last year.” With this game, the Raiders now lead the Buffanblu 11-10 in total basketball state championships.
Boys Wrestlers Come Out on Top ByAmy Nakamura ’17 and Sean Callahan ’18
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rom February 19th to the 20th, the ‘Iolani boys wrestling team fought against stiff competition and captured their 13th state title, and first since 2003. The team was led by Jake Nakasone ’16 and Dane Yamashiro ’17, who won individual state titles in their respective weight classes. Sai Fautanu ’17 and KJ Pascua ’17 took second in their respective weight classes and contributed to their team’s win. The
Raiders accumulated 166.0 points over the two days, and easily surpassed second place Campbell who finished with 137.5 points. All of their months of cutting weight and training paid off in the end. After the tournament, they relaxed, and of course, ate. After months of cutting weight, each Fautanu “paraded around with the trophy for a couple hours and ate ho hos” to celebrate the team’s victory.
KJ Pascua ’17 lifts his opponent, taking him down. // Photo courtesy John Tamanaha
ILH, the win was never handed to us” said Katie Yuu ’16. “The tremendous effort the team and coaches put in led to rewarding results.” It was a special moment for freshman Taylor Venenciano. She said, “I’ve won previous years in the intermediate level, but it’s nothing like being able to play to prove that your team is the best in the ILH or state.” The undefeated champions, who hold a record of 10-0-2 in league play this season, came in fourth in the state tournament.
The girls hug Shantel Torres-Benito ’17 after she scores the winning goal against Kamehameha-Maui. // Photo courtesy Reid Watanabe
Girls Soccer Ties for a Win ByRachel Bowler ’16
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ometimes a tie is as good as a win. In order to secure a first place spot in the ILH, the girls varsity soccer team had to win or tie against Kamehameha. That is exactly what they did. After 80 minutes, the final whistle brought the 0-0 match to a close and the celebration began. Parents were roaring while the girls sprinted onto the field with their last bit of energy to embrace one another. The girls victory clinched the coveted ILH title for the third time in the last four years. “Each time the team won
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‘Iolani Actors: Bound For Broadway ByKanalu Monaco ’20
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olani actors Brandon Yim ’19, Sydney Weaver ’21, and Lauren Shaw ’22 have earned a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend Destination Broadway, a prestigious one-week acting camp to be held this July in Manhattan, New York. Destination Broadway is comprised of about 90 students, of which only 50 new students are accepted annually. The highly selective program connects enthusiastic theatre students with the Broadway community. Applicants
(left to right) Lauren Shaw ’22, Sydney Weaver ’21, and Brandon Yim ’19
must audition in person or via video to ensure that they are serious actors. “When my theater studio made the announcement to our class, I thought about how incredible it would be if I got in,” said Lauren. “I also thought, I’m probably not good enough, but I’ll try my best because just getting to audition is a great experience.’” The program gives students a rare opportunity to learn from Emmy Award-winning music director Michael Rafter, recognized for his numerous Broadway hits such as The Sound of Music and Sweet Charity. Other professional Broadway actors and agents such as Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster and New York casting agents will also share their expertise with the classes. Students will benefit from a variety of workshops including vocal training, audition preparation, and choreography. In addition to the classes, students will attend Broadway productions and
enjoy a chance to meet with the cast members, and get a behind-the-scenes look at a high-quality production. “I am most excited for the Broadway audition and to work with Mr. Rafter, who will choose some special kids from the camp to audition for an actual Broadway musical!” said Sydney. “Also, I’m very excited to learn some tips from Mr. Rafter on how to succeed in the business.” Brandon also sees Destination Broadway as a stepping stone to his budding acting career. “I first got into acting when I tried taking the Lower School Musical Theatre class in sixth grade, and I immediately fell in love with theatre,” says Brandon. “I would like to make a career on Broadway if I go into the theatre business.” The future looks bright for these three passionate, aspiring artists. Congratulations to all!
Seniors Sign Intent Letters For Sports ByNagem Uiagalelei ’19
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eniors Keoni Kordell-Makekau ’16 (United States Naval Academy, football), Rachel Bowler ’16 (Seattle University, soccer), and Josh Hauanio ’16 (University of Hawaii, football) signed the National Letter of Intent on February 2, 2016, securing their spots as student-athletes in college. Why did you feel this school was the best fit for you? Keoni: My dream was always to play Division 1 football, and the Navy offered me the opportunity to make it come true. Rachel: Because it’s so close to my grandparents and my brother. It’s also in the Pacific Northwest, and the environment there was incredible. Josh: UH is close to home! There’s a new coaching staff, and they’re rebuilding their program. What skills have you acquired while attending ‘Iolani School, and how do think they will help you in college? K: My teachers and coaches throughout the years have encouraged me to be the best that I can be. Important values such as, work ethic, selflessness, and doing the right thing are lessons that I
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will use to help me in college. R: ‘Iolani taught me good study habits and time management, especially during soccer season. Seattle U reminds me of ‘Iolani because of the size of the campus and its classrooms. It’s perfect because now I feel more prepared. J: Hard work goes a long way. Definitely being able to balance being an athlete and schoolwork. ‘Iolani just taught me how to keep going. What do you think will be the biggest challenge while transitioning from high school to college? K: Leaving my family would be hard for me since I’ve always needed them in my life. R: The speed of play. The girls up there will be bigger and tougher, so hopefully I will adjust quickly. J: Trying to adjust to Division 1 football. We got a little taste of what D1 is like in high school, but college is going to be entirely different. Why was signing day special to you? K: Signing my letter of intent was special for me because before you grab that pen and start signing, you finally realize that all the blood, sweat, and tears was worth all of it. The saying, “It
(left to right) Keoni Kordell-Makekau ’16, Rachel Bowler ’16, and Josh Hauanio ’16
takes a village to raise a child” really is true because if it weren’t for my family and the support around me, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today. R: Signing day was a very special moment in my life. My grandparents and my aunty flew in from Oregon to watch me sign. The amount of love and support I had was unreal and I am deeply grateful for that. It feels great to represent my school and to sign with my friends and classmates. J: Signing day was awesome. Being from Hawaii and having your name mentioned is a big thing. Signing next to all the other guys who put in the hard work, and seeing other ‘Iolani students succeed was pretty great.
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Fighting for Female Rights in N.Y.C. ByKyung Mi Lee ’17
E
very September, the streets of New York City brim with excitement for the annual gathering of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). As a teen advisor to Girl Up, I represented the UN Foundation and its campaign at the UNGA. Girl Up is an international humanitarian movement that believes that “when girls are educated, healthy, safe, and counted, they transform communities and the world.” With fellow youth advocates from around the world, I attended receptions, workshops, and major social events. I met UN officials, celebrities, former heads of states (Norwegian Prime Minister Dr. Gro Brundtland being a personal favorite), activists and journalists who were all fighting for the same cause: the advancement of women and girls’ rights. Interviewing actress and philanthropist Nikki Reed at the Social Good Summit, an event hosted by the UN Foundation, Mashable, and the United Nations Developmental Programme highlighted my trip. The Social Good Summit brings together a dynamic community of global leaders and grass roots activists to “examine the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world.” Notable members of the international community, including Victoria Beckham, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Mohammed the Kid Inventor opened the conference. The most amazing individual I met during UN Week was Jimena Asturias from Guatemala. She was only 12 years old, but proudly championed women’s sexual and reproductive rights as a youth ambassador for Let Girls Lead. Similarly to Girl Up, Let Girls Lead is a global initiative dedicated to adolescent girls’s rights. At one point, she declared that “girls’
rights are human rights,” and that it is “time for our voices be heard.” Advocating for adolescent girls’ rights is speaking up for those without a voice. It is recognizing the injustices that face the most vulnerable in our society and holding firm to the belief that my voice, no matter how big or small, has the power to change the world. Malala Yousafzai, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Pakistani activist for female education once said, “I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” It’s time for us to raise up our voices and take a stand. To learn more about our movement and how you can be involved in becoming a champion of human rights, join us in Seto Hall for a very special showing of He Named Me Malala on Thursday, March 17, during meeting period!
Kyung Mi with Jimena Asturias from Guatemala // Photo courtesy Kyung Mi Lee
Club of the Month
Animal Welfare Alliance
T
he Animal Welfare Alliance is dedicated to helping domestic animals through education and community service. So far, the organization has met with the Hawaii Humane Society at Petco to help dogs find loving homes. “If you like spending time with animals, and you want to make a difference in the community, then this club with be a great experience,” said Nick Chang ’17. The Animal Welfare Alliance participated in an event on March 6 at the Beretania Petco. If you are interested in joining this club, please contact Nick Chang nac1701@ iolani.org or Dr. Lee at lalee@iolani.org. Club meetings are held on Tuesdays in Dr. Lee’s room, with the next meeting coming up on March 8.
Kyung Mi with fellow Girl Up teen advisor Sarah Hesterman // Photo courtesy Kyung Mi Lee
MARCH2016 Mar_p11_v5.indd 1
NEWS11 3/1/16 5:31 PM
Sibling Sidekicks Take on the Same Sport ByNagem Uiagalelei ’19 and Rachel Bowler ’16
Lexie
’19
and Sam
Masca ’17
Trey ’16 and Avery Curet ’18
Soccer
Malia ’16 and Jessie Desmarais ’18
Soccer
Track and Field
Proconsul Corner: Advice for the Future With class elections right around the corner, we would like to take some time to reflect on what we have each learned about leadership this past year.
Cole: You will never be able to make
everyone happy. Anytime you are in a position of leadership, you will have to make tough decisions. When I first began my role as a Proconsul in the beginning of the school year, I attempted to please everyone. However, I quickly burned out trying to exceed everyone's expectations. When I finally realized that, no matter what, some people are bound to never be content, I became a more confident leader. I came to the conclusion that if I have good, honest intentions and remind myself
of who and what I am working so hard for, people will appreciate my work.
Mike: I have learned that there is a
difference between being a boss and being a leader. A boss will simply get the job done. A leader can inspire everyone around him to do things they thought were impossible. I have learned to do the latter. I have always tried to get the people I work with to strive to do even more than expected. And in that sense, I feel that I have succeeded.
Drey: The role of a leader is not limited to the hours between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm. Each morning, the Proconsuls have a meeting with committee members,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AMY NAKAMURA
ONLINE EDITOR WINSTON WEI
MANAGING EDITOR SARA HUI
SPORTS EDITOR RACHEL BOWLER
SENIOR EDITOR KYLA SMITH
COPY EDITOR SEAN CALLAHAN
PHOTO EDITOR REID UEKI
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our morning classes, a second meeting at lunch, followed by the second half of classes. You may have seen us cooped up in the SAO with a nice "Please Do Not Disturb" sign. However, what many people don't see are the hours of planning and communicating that occur late into the night. I've learned that part of being an effective leader is constantly thinking about what is to be done, and viewing the role as a way of living rather than a job. We hope that this has given you guys some insight on our experiences this year. We wish the best of luck to everyone running for office in this upcoming season.
STAFF ISABELLE CHOW EVE HUDDLESTON MIA KUROMARU KANALU MONACO LIAM MONAHAN ALEC TAM NAGEM UIAGALELEI STEPHANIE WANG
ADVISORS MRS. LAURIE CHANG MR. TAYLOR WONG
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