Imua Dec 2009: Volume 85, Issue 2

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‘ olani mua December 17, 2009 Honolulu, Hawaii Volume 85, Issue 2

2000

Above: Terrorists hijacked two planes that were flown into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Below: Apple released the first iPod in October 23, 2001.

2002 The first of two major playground rennovations began in 2002.

2003

The Weinberg Building and Kozuki Stadium were dedicated in 2003.

2004 Paris Hilton, heiress and socialite, was a prominent figure in the media.

Hurricane Katrina hit the Southern coast of the United States on August 28, 2005.

2005

Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, was executed after being found guilty of convicting crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Special Tribunal on December 30, 2006.

2007 32 students were killed by student SeungHui Cho at Virginia Tech on April 16,2007.

By Courtney Ochi As we approach the end of 2009, the last of the “oh-somethings”, the question becomes, how will this decade be defined? Will tragedies define our generation or will a lack of celebrity integrity portrayed in the media prevail? Either conjures up vivid memories, but are these memories enough to keep this decade out of oblivion?

“The Devastating Decade” As one of our nation’s largest tragedies, 9/11 defined our generation by instilling a fear of terrorism in our hearts and a respect for hometown heroes. It would have been easy to assume that 9/11 would define the decade, but Americans’ ability to cope with the sadness and turn it into a sense of pride for our country show that they will move on and see the day as something that has had the ability to bring our nation together.

However, 9/11 was not the only tragedy in the 2000s. Hurricane Katrina displaced many Americans in the South, as did the large tsunamis in Asia and Samoa. Destruction has devastated the past ten years and as Al Gore has said, “what changed in the United States with Hurricane Katrina was a feeling that we have entered a period of consequences.”

“The Digital Decade” Facebook. Twitter. Youtube.

The Internet has made its greatest boom in the 00s. Apple first released the iPod in 2001, and since then, the world of music and technology has never been the same.

Our decade has created innovative new products that enable us to carry thousands of songs in our back pockets while reading the latest tweet from a friend an ocean away.

Cell phones and texting have transformed personal communication into instant gratitude. Tech-

2006

The first iPhone was released on June 29, 2007.

Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The Castle Building entrance was given a makeover and a statue memoralizing Sun Yat-Sen was erected.

2008

Editorials--3-4 Sports--5,8-9 A&E--10 Lighter Side--11 Lower School--12 Features--2,6-7

The definition of a decade: How will we be remembered?

Y2K

2001

What’s Inside?

nological advances will only continue to expand as communication blitzes in front of us.

“The Dishonorable Decade” Hollywood starlets like Audrey Hepburn and Julia Roberts have been replaced by Flava Flav and the Obama Girl. This decade expanded the breadth of television by exposing people to the life of regular people in grand spectacles.

Viewers watched Bob and Jillian shape up America’s Biggest Losers while Bret Michaels and New York found true love. The

Bray complex were destroyed in order to make way for the Weinberg building and Kozuki Stadium which were both dedicated in 2003.

A statue of Sun Yat-Sen was also erected in front of the newly renovated entrance to Castle Building in 2008.

Lower School students had to give up the take-bars and hot metal slides on the playground in exchange for a safer jungle gym.

What will remain the largest change of the 2000s will, however, not relate to any reconstruction, but to a tradition that has been smoked out of existence.

This year marked a historic change in ‘Iolani’s Burning of the ‘I’ tradition. The sons and daughters exclusive presence in the ceremony have been doused.

When things are constantly changing, it’s hard to remember where everything began.

Kardashians shocked everyone by becoming famous for Khloe’s quick engagement and wedding to basketball star Lamar Odom, Kourtney’s pregnancy out of wedlock, and Kim’s sex tape scandal with rapper Ray J. But Kim wasn’t the only one. Paris Hilton exposed all the Internet creeps to “1 Night in Paris”.

This decade has been defined by trashy television that showcases “stars” during their less than 15 minutes of fame.

Every show has become more liberal. Rosie O’Donnell, Clay Aiken, and Tila Tequila came out in an extravagant manner that would only occur in the 00s.

“A Decade at ‘Iolani” Students at ‘Iolani have been affected by the technological advances and media influences, but the campus and student life have also undergone a major facelift.

The amphitheater and Father

Barack Obama became the first African-American President of the United States on January 20, 2009.

“The 2000s” So maybe this decade will not be defined by a single moment in history, a construction, or a small, smothered flame, but as the foreground of the century. Technological advances have paved the way for medical miracles, but they have also decreased communication, and television shows will only become more ridiculous and bold.

The 2000s will probably not be remembered. Besides being difficult to refer to as the “oh-ohs” or “double aughs”, the 2000s have paved the way for even more progression.

When things are constantly changing, it’s hard to remember where everything began. As the foundation, bricks are being laid above the surface that we have created and for that we will probably not be remembered.

However, those who have experienced the past ten years can hold claim to being the generation that started it all.

Photos by Bianca Bystrom Pino, Courtney Ochi. Also courtesy of flickr creativecommons photos: wallyg, Jetheriot, Byronface, Eneas, Amir Farshad Ebrahimi.

The format of the Burning of the ‘I’ ceremony was changed to include all seniors.

2009 Thousands of mourners gathered at the Staples Center to celebrate the life of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, who died on June 25, 2009.

Page 2

Features

What’s the sun good for?

By Jodie Yamashiroya The scorching sun in paradise shines its rays on tanning tourists, working construction men, and on photovoltaic and solar heating panels on the roof of Carl Schroers’ home.

Schroers, ‘Iolani School’s athletic director, in August, installed two solar heating panels—for hot water-- and eighteen photovoltaic panels—for electricity-- on the roof of his home Kaimuki.

Although it is noticeable when the water temperature decreases due to a couple of cloudy days, Schroers does recommend other people to get solar panels as well.

“Hawaii should be leading the solar panels because of the amount of sun we get,” said Schroers.

Not only do Mr. Schroers and his family use solar panels as their source of power, people and places across the island of Oahu do too.

Hawaiian Electric Company’s Director of Special Programs, Earl Ifuku said more customers are purchasing and installing solar panels for both heating water and for electricity. According to heco.com, there was an increase from an 11 percent achievement in the amount of consolidated renewable energy in 2005 to 16.1 percent in 2007.

A number of incentives have been provided by the federal government, the state government and HECO that have contributed to this increase in sales of renewable energy at Hawaiian Electric Company. Because of the high oil prices, according to Ifuku, the federal government provides a 35% tax credit to those purchasing solar panels.

However unlike Schroers,

Ifuku would not necessarily suggest other people should get solar panels.

“It depends on the family size and how much energy and electricity they use,” says Ifuku.

“If it is just one person, it really isn’t necessary.”

In addition to families and individual people installing solar panels, Ifuku mentions large commercial buildings and companies, such as Costco and Walmart, also use solar panels as their source of energy.

Many people Kelia Cowan | Imua Iolani around Oahu are The sun’s power will soon be harnessed to also looking to convert their power heat ‘Iolani’s pool.

“How does it save us money? and energy to a It costs about $45,000-$50,000 to more “green” source. It was like heat the pool for six months,” says this for ‘Iolani senior Garrett Glenn Ching, ‘Iolani School’s diChan and his family. About seven rector of finance. years ago, the Chans installed so“Within two to three years, we lar heating panels on the roof of will be able to pay off the $90,000 their home. lease we have with the Bank of “We basically got the panels Hawaii,” Ching said. just to cut down the costs of our The panels are awaiting the electricity bills,” said Chan. permit and will hopefully be inLike Schroers, Chan agrees stalled at the end of this month, and recommends other people to ready to heat the pool for the winget solar panels as well. ter season.

“What could go wrong with “We’ve been talking for about it?” said Chan. switching to photovoltaic panels ‘Iolani School will also be and doing a major project in a few converting some of its energy years,” said Ching. sources from gas to the sun. OneWhether it’s for cutting elechundred-and fifty solar panels tricity bills or going green, solar will be installed on the roof of panels is a must!

Like Chan said, the dance rooms and will heat the “What could go wrong with it?” pool water.

Street closed, but school stays open

By Angelina Yick Students arriving at school Dec. 9 found a big hole on Kamoku Street after a water main broke, affecting traffic but not the school’s water supply.

The unexpected break was discovered by Mr. John Waipa, a security guard, around 4 a.m.

He promptly called the Board of Water Supply.

“He was in the process of doing a perimeter check around campus when he noticed there was water on the road near the Weinberg parking structure, where the Kamoku plant operations are,” said Mrs. Lidia Beier, head of security at ‘Iolani School. “At first, we thought it was a broken water sprinkler, but later on we discovered it was a water main break.”

Security then reported to Lloyd Stern, superintendent of the physical plant, and Mr. Tate Brown, Dean of Students. The news eventually reached Head-

master Val Iwashita. If the school did not have water, it would be closed for the day, and Mr. Brown would send messages to students and their families, stating Bianca Bystrom | Imua Iolani that the stuThe Board of Water Supply and the police dents would worked around the clock. have the day off.

Water Supply to fix the break.

“Around 4:20, the Board of Because of this incident, traffic Water Supply trucks came and had to be diverted. checked to see if there was wa“We had to increase the numter on campus. The water main ber of HPD and security officers break didn’t affect water on camto smooth out the flow of traffic,” pus; that’s why school wasn’t said Mrs. Beier. “We had good cancelled,” said Mrs. Beier. communication, which explains Part of Kamoku Street was why things went smoothly.” closed in order for the Board of

Imua ‘Iolani

Bowling gets a gutterball

By Trent Nakamura “Good luck and good bowling,” announced Ted Chock, director of the Waialae Strike and Spare club. The junior bowlers began to roll their bowling balls down the 60-foot lanes.

It seemed like any other Saturday, but the mood was different. Waialae Bowl was closing in two days. Even though the alley was falling apart, with a leaking roof, broken seats, and smelly, rundown restrooms, many were still going to miss the bowling center.

The bowlers reminisced on their striking memories and enjoyed sparing every last moment together.

Across Oahu, many bowling alleys have closed because of leases ending, high costs of land, and increased competition for entertainment.

High school bowlers, senior citizens, and bowling leagues have all been affected by the closures.

On Oahu, 30 alleys have closed in the last 20 years according to Ed Sun, a representative of the Hawaii Bowling Stadium Steering Committee.

The most recent closures were Kam bowl in June 2007 and Waialae Bowl eight months later.

Pali Lanes is set to close at the end of the year, leaving only two public centers left.

There are still military bowling centers such as Fort Shafter, Schofield, Naval Station, and Kaneohe Marine Corps Base (K-Bay), but these alleys are not easily accessible to the public.

Many bowlers have been displaced because of the closed alleys. Some bowlers have decided to travel farther distances while others have quit the sport altogether.

“Because bowling is a community sport and not a “destination sport” like golf, most bowlers only bowl at their home alley,” said Sun, a senior bowler and youth bowling coach at Naval Station.

“When Waialae closed, we knew our Kalani team would suffer because our practices would be held at K-Bay. We’re not losing any practice time; we’re mainly losing people because they can’t make it all the way out to KBay,” said Janelle Takahata, a varsity bowler for Kalani

High School.

The popularity of bowling is still growing. According to an article from the Texas Bowling Centers Association, bowling has continued a 10year trend, in the 2007-2008 school year. It was the fastest growing high school sport in the nation.

However, with the alleys closing, less people have the opportunity to bowl.

“The bowling team keeps growing. This year we had a total of 27 bowlers,” said Chelsea Cagaoan, a University High School varsity bowler.

“Since we had a large team, it was a challenge for the coaches to get practice time to every one,” Cagaoan said.

Hawaii Baptist Academy (HBA), the winner of this year’s boys’ state championship, had a total of 35 bowlers. To fit everyone on the team, HBA had to create two boys’ junior varsity teams.

For many senior citizens, bowling is one of their few forms of physical activity.

Many of them would look forward to bowling every week, but because most are unable to drive, they are not able to bowl.

“You can’t just go to the alley and practice if you wanted to, see your friends if you wanted to,” Jeanne Akisada, a former senior bowler at Waialae who now bowls at Fort Shafter said.

“I’m not a regular bowler anymore because of the closures,” she said.

Negotiations are underway to renovate and reopen Waialae Bowl. According to a Honolulu Advertiser article from Oct. 26, the Anderson family, whose family owns five Colonial Lanes centers in Minnesota, said that they are still committed to reopening the lanes.

For now, bowlers continue to enjoy Pali, Leeward, and Aiea Bowl. Aiea Bowl was renovated in 2005 and has since become a popular hang out with wide screen TV’s, a pro shop, and full restaurant and bar.

If current and new alleys can follow this hip trend where bowlers bowl, watch TV, and eat good local food, the public bowling alley could survive and prosper.

Editorials

December 17, 2009

Furlough Fridays: Taking away from our future

By Raquelle Pendleton T h e Hawaii state government should give to the children of Hawaii, not take away from them.

The global economic crisis that took place this year has taken a toll on everyone, and the children are no exception.

Recently, the Hawaii state government cut public school funds and teachers’ pay in order to improve the economy. Because of these new policies, children are missing 17 Friday school days during the 2009-2010 school year.

Parents have been complaining about the policies created by the government that cause children to miss school educational days.

Mylene Reyes, a parent of two Aikahi Elementary School students, has written several letters to senators and congressmen, complaining about the furloughs at Hawaii public schools.

“The furloughs were illplanned,” Reyes said, “The Union decided they would

implement furloughs and Lingle sided with them, but at least now Lingle is trying to use the 15 million dollars from the Emergency Relief Fund to help public schools, but the Union still won’t budge. This is more like the Union versus Lingle.

It’s just very disappointing and upsetting.”

Reyes is aware that the education offered at Hawaii public schools is not considered one of the greatest educations offered, but the addition of furlough days downgrade the opportunities children would receive at public schools.

“The Hawaii Public schools are at the bottom of the totem pole and I am just shocked that the Union would take away instructional days from the kids,” Reyes said.

Although the addition of furloughs has negatively affected the public school system, Reyes has not thought about pulling her children out of public school and sending them to a private one.

“I believe in supporting the public school system,” Reyes said, “and I am lucky to live in Kailua because the elementary schools are good.”

Many parents, like Reyes, and some students, share those common opinions.

My sister Danielle Pendleton, a sixth grader at Ka’elepulu Elementary School, also does not like the addition of furloughs.

“They take out of our learning time because we haven’t done math for five days. It’s messing up everybody’s schedule,” Pendleton said, “We were supposed to have a Spring Concert, but it was cancelled and we don’t have any more fieldtrips, unless it’s educational. It’s just messing everybody up.”

Even though people often say, “the children are our future,” the Hawaii State government still continues to take funds from the schools first in order to help the economy.

I believe that we, as a state, need to join together to get rid of the furloughs so that the children of Hawaii can receive the best education possible.

The government needs to look for a better way to improve the national debt without hurting the children. The children are our future and without them our future ahead looks grim.

Page 3

A love note to the Symphony

By Akari Hatanaka

I have been going to Honolulu Symphony concerts since I was 3 or 4 years old. I was apparently quiet, never fidgeting or screaming.

Thirteen years later, I am still mesmerized by the Symphony’s musicianship. I enjoy listening to the HSO’s interpretation, whether I am familiar with the piece or not. When they perform, Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall fills with rich, classical goodness that I drink in as much as possible, and I leave with a fullness in my heart that almost overflows.

I may be coming off as a huge nerd, but sadly, my nerdly desires will no longer be fulfilled for the rest of the year -- or possibly until next summer, when I attend another music festival. The Honolulu Symphony has cancelled the remaining concerts of 2009 and has filed for bankruptcy. It is unknown whether it will continue to exist. Some musicians from the Honolulu Symphony have already moved to the mainland and have auditioned for other orchestras.

Although the Honolulu Symphony may not be revived, I want to express my gratitude towards everyone and anyone who has ever been a part of it.

From the moment of the first concert I attended to the ballet performances I danced in (which the Symphony accompanied,) each note I have heard from you all will continue to live inside of me.

Whether I am practicing alone in a practice room or performing in front of an audience, the music you gave to the world from your hearts is a part of the music I play, a part of me, something that can and will never be lost. I want you to know that you, an enormous influence in my life, have touched me in a way that cannot be altered. So thank you. Thank you to the musicians who I have watched play in the Symphony for so many years.

Unfortunately, I cannot express my appreciation enough with words.

Although I may not know each musician personally, I have memorized your names from the programs, and despite the fact that I cannot match your name with your face, I have heard you play for the majority of my life.

Please know that you have changed and affected many people’s hearts and music.

If I may ask a last favor, please, please do not walk away thinking you have not made a difference in the world with your art. If anything, please take away with you this thanks that cannot compare to the huge gift you have given me, a gift that will last a lifetime.

Thank you.

PSAT Prep selection defies ‘One Team’

By Matthew Lum As sophomores entered their homerooms last spring, they noticed short white slips sitting on certain desks in no particular pattern. Each paper recommended certain students to take the summer PSAT preparation course from 8 to 10 a.m.

Why were those students advised to take that particular session? The simple reason is that one of ‘Iolani’s objectives is to produce the most National Merit scholars possible.

“We look for students who need a push on the middle and late sections of the test. We look for those who seem like they can get National Merit,” said Mr. Christopher Strawn. Mr. Strawn wrote the short notes to about one-third of the sophomore class.

The selected students, those who received the slips, are allowed to take the PSAT prep classes taught by our most experienced teachers, Mr. Michael Park and Mr. Strawn.

I have nothing against these top-quality teachers, but rather a disagreement with the system in practice. We, like other parts of society, are willing to devote the best of our resources to those who show the greatest potential. This system widens the gap between those who find success in academics and those who struggle.

Our mission statement claims that our goal is “to foster academic excellence and personal growth in every individual” and to promote “unselfish cooperation and mutual support” as stated in our motto, “One Team.” If we live up to our mission statement and are

Mr. Strawn agreed. “We get National Merits from every teacher,” he said.

Indeed, we have excellent teachers who provide the best PSAT prep course around. Yet, only the selected high achieving students are chosen to take the classes taught by Mr. Strawn and Mr. Park, who have been teaching the PSAT course for 10 years.

“It’s irritating,” said junior Lauren Wong, “It’s like favoritism.

It’s something that shouldn’t be happening at ‘Iolani.”

Perhaps we could give all students access to these resources by allowing free enrollment in any class of the PSAT course. Expanding equal opportunity to all students would mean progress.

This segregation was meant to help teachers focus on the needs of their group of students.

However, we sometimes forget the needs of some groups.

The science track system demonstrates this problem. Currently, we leave some students without a year of science. Instead, we could offer supplementary courses. Sophomores who did not make it into Biology in ninth grade might benefit from an extra year of science.

The preparatory course should not take the place of other courses like Physics, Chemistry, or Biology, but rather help students in their weaker subject areas.

We should live up to our mission to teach students rather than to look good in the public eye. I think ‘Iolani is a terrific school, but there are ways that we can improve to serve the interests of our whole student body.

If we live up to our mission statement and are truly number one, then we should be able to accommodate all of our students equally and help them succeed. truly number one, then we should be able to accommodate all of our students equally and help them succeed.

After all, we pay the same tuition.

For years, we have been able to boast a high number of National Merit Semifinalists. It looks good, but what are we willing to compromise for the sake of prestige? We have resorted to a type of discrimination.

“You can still get a 240 without that class,” junior Kaela Shiigi said. “If you really do work hard, you can still succeed without being in the course.”

Editorials

Page 4

Imua ‘Iolani

Expanding the horizons of school and minds

By Trent Nakamura

With the recent $23 million purchase of land, the school has an excellent opportunity to expand and broaden itself for the future. `Iolani, one of the nation’s top college preparatory schools, has an exceptional list of accomplishments ranging from national titles to Presidential Scholars. However, as accomplished as `Iolani is, it falls short with the depth of its curriculum. Because `Iolani focuses so strongly on academics and preparing its students for college, many elective opportunities are lost. `Iolani should allow for greater elective opportunities for its students while maintaining its strong recipe for success.

Last year, I was in Mr. Kirk Uejio’s and Mr. Reid Sagawa’s elective leadership class for sophomores. It was a fairly new pass/fail course that allowed students to explore the many traits to strong leadership. We studied our personalities, integrity, phone etiquette, crisis management, organization, and so much more. We each sent letters to three leaders, one local, national, and international, hoping for advice on leadership. I was lucky to receive some expert advice from

Alan Wong. We also ate lunch with famous local leaders including CEO of Kamehameha School Dee Jay Miller; comedian Frank Delima; Cookie Corner owner Angus McKibbin, and others.

My peers and I enjoyed the course, and we unanimously wanted a senior leadership class in the future. Although it filled up a semester of our sophomore year, we felt it was worth our time even though it was only a pass/ fail course.

I believe that much of the faculty thinks that the hours students spend in a school day should be spent academically, studying core subjects. I do agree that these are vital courses to take, but it should not fill up a student’s school day.

Electives that students enjoy are vital to a student’s daily school life. Electives are where students can take a break from their core classes and pursue their own interests.

Bailey Fisher ‘10 always wanted to take dance at `Iolani School.

She currently takes Band. Although she has time to fit this one elective into her schedule her academic load prevents her from fitting in dance. With eight periods in a school day, students should be able to fit in electives for two of their periods.

Currently `Iolani does not fill all student interests when it comes to Elective courses. However, `Iolani can expand on the courses it offers. The recently implemented leadership class was just one way `Iolani proved it can

expand on elective options.

There are many electives the school can implement. Animation and robotics courses could be offered. How about glass blowing in the art department? Besides the English elective Fiction and Film (open to Juniors and Seniors as an English elective), `Iolani could start a film course open to all high school students. The possibilities are huge.

To fit students interests in core subjects like Science, `Iolani could offer Forensic Science or other types of specific science courses besides the main biology, chemistry, and physics courses.

Marine biology would be a great specific science, especially with `Iolani’s close location to the ocean.

As great as all these classes sound, it can’t be done overnight.

Deborah Hall, Director of Studies, says that `Iolani currently does not have the resources to offer all these extra courses.

“What is it that we can do right now without any money?” says Dr. Hall. “And what is it that we can do right now to think about what we do in the classroom in a slightly different way?”

Even though `Iolani doesn’t have the resources, it can begin expanding by teaching classes in a different way. There are many “Survival Skills” that students should know to help them in the real world, according to Harvard professor Dr. Tony Wagner, who spoke to the faculty earlier this year. These skills include, critical

thinking, problem solving, collaboration, leadership, agility in adaptability, initiative, entrepreneurialism, effective written and oral communication, accessing and analyzing information, and imagination.

“We do some of those things really, really well already,” says Dr. Hall. “I don’t think we should throw out the baby with the bath water as it were. But at the same time we could be better at what we do,”.

By thinking of new and innovative ways of teaching, it is possible for `Iolani to teach these real world skills.

Currently, teachers have the opportunity to get involved in this new system of learning.

All teachers should give this new system a try. It really is the first step in expanding how students think. It goes beyond memorizing dates and words. It causes us to think outside the box and about larger ideas that will truly help us in the future.

Dr. Hall goes on to say that Dr. Iwashita is talking about a possible Center for Critical Studies, where some of the elective courses could be offered. The technology necessary to do things like Animation would be available. `Iolani is neither the buildings nor the campus that surrounds us. `Iolani is the people and the curriculum. When `Iolani does expand onto its future property, the school should remember to not only expand the size of the school, but the opportunities it offers

Throw us a bone-shaped tangent

By Kelia Cowan

Simply put, physics requires trigonometry.

There is no possible way of fully understanding physics without first learning the math skills necessary for this course.

However, a small but significant number of students struggle through the first semester of physics without taking trigonometry (Trig). This is completely unfair to these students and the administration should amend the schedule to provide for such students.

Thenceforth, the students who have yet to take Trig but have completed Algebra 2B will be referred to as “trignorants.” As a trignorant, I have spent several hours nightly trying to complete physics worksheets that demand knowledge of a subject I have yet to learn.

There are enough students stuck in this predicament to constitute a Trig class. Mr. Heyler’s 2008-2009 physics classes had a total of 32 students. Of these 32, ten had yet to take Trig. Seven of these ten were in a math elective course the first semester and were waiting to take Trig in the second. If each of the three physics teachers has the same statistics, there are more than enough trignorants to make at least one Trig class in the first semester.

In addition, this year Mr. Heyler has 28 physics students, and nine of these students are trignorants. The number of trignorants could continue to rise over the next few years.

Is it really fair that such students are set up for failure?

The administration supposes that we will be fine failing countless homeworks and quizzes due to our lack of knowledge, struggling with concepts that we have yet to learn, and taking a semester exam that necessitates knowledge of Trig.

Students are not the only ones affected by this conflict of schedules. The physics teachers are forced to devote class time to teach math to a few unlucky students. Of course, these teachers know trigonometry, but they should be allowed to spend their time teaching physics instead of math.

For those unaware of the current predicament, trigonometry is only offered in the second semester. This puts the students who are in the accelerated science track (i.e. in physics in 11th grade) but in the slightly accelerated math track (i.e. they have completed Algebra 2B but still need to take trig) in a tough position.

Up until 2001, Trig was offered during both semesters. However, Mrs. Amy Yonashiro, the math department head at the time, changed the sequence to trigonometry only being offered in the second semester so that it was still fresh in students’ minds as they headed to Precalculus in the following school year.

Quite honestly, after the summer, no one will remember the minute details of Trig. Senioritis will start to take over. It doesn’t matter if a student takes it in the first or second semester; it will be long-gone from the memories of students by the time they take Precalculus.

Around the same time that the math courses were changed, the science department downgraded the math requirement to take accelerated science courses. Mr. Frederick Heyler, a physics teacher and the science department head, said that this decision was made to offer accelerated science courses to students who were in the standard math track. He says that students in the standard math course are often frustrated when they encounter math they are unfamiliar with.

“We try to teach whatever is needed at that time,” Mr. Heyler said. But teaching whatever is needed is not always enough. Students can memorize the equations, but can still struggle since they do not know the actual concept behind each one. In addition, simply memorizing the equations does not qualify as actually learning them. Students should be taught with quality rather than being forced to cram strange equations into their heads.

Some people believe that there are not enough teachers for Trig to be offered in the first semester. However, if it was done once, it can be done again. Since some students must take a math elective in the first semester, these math elective classes could be condensed and a teacher who formerly taught a math elective class could teach a Trig class.

‘Iolani prides itself on the way it caters to the students. If the students want to learn Trig earlier to help them with physics, the administration should assist these students in their search of higher learning.

Throw these students stuck in the mud a rope. Or, in this case, a tangent.

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Editor-in-Chief: Courtney Ochi Copy Editors: Arushi Dutt Jen Samantha Rasay Photo Editor: Bianca Bystrom Features Editors: Tawni Murphy Kelia Cowan Opinion Editors: Victoria Kim Ashlyn Koga Sports Editors: Akari Hatanaka Kaela Shiigi Arts & Entertainment: Bridget Tobin - Editor Angelina Yick - Reporter Lighter Side Editors: Tyler Cundiff Kyle Kim Lower School Editors: Iris Kuo Katherine Lum

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Sports

December 17, 2009

Page 5

Football: a season to remember

By Tawni Murphy The varsity football team finished their season with an overall record of 12-2, capturing the Interscholastic League of Hawaii Division II Championship as well as the First Hawaiian Bank/ Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division II Football State Championship.

The team has been undergoing hard-core training, conditioning, and practices since the summer and has been able to come together and make this a season to remember.

“As an underclassman I got to experience the excellent guidance of the coaches and captains which led our entire team to an unbelievably exciting and memorable season,” said junior Cody PetroSakuma. “This year was the first year that when I was on the field I could look left, right, behind and in front of me, and know that the other ten brothers on the field and 50 plus on the sideline, has my back regardless of the situation.”

The team had many firsts this season starting with being the first team to manage being kicked off the field during their first week of practice.

“Initially, we worked hard over the summer, but during the first week of practice we got kicked off the field for certain events,” said senior Everett Vasoncellos.

“However, we took this event as a way to get better, and we worked our butts off.”

Also included on the team’s list of firsts was being the first ‘Iolani team to beat the Kamehameha Warriors in over five years.

“We caught them at just the right time,” said head coach of the Raiders, Wendell Look, refer-

ring to their win against the Warriors. “It was the first ILH game of the season, so they (Kamehameha) were still trying to find themselves. We all know how dominant Kamehameha is, and being able to beat them shows how strong our team is.”

This year’s team is also the first team to have beaten two Division I teams (Kamehameha and Punahou) in the same season.

“Beating Punahou on our home field was probably the best game that they have played all season,” said Look. “The guys had the focus and the desire to beat them and when they did, you could see

the satisfaction and confidence on their faces.”

Not only has the team been under the confident leadership and guidance of Coach Look, but the Raiders have also felt the same one team spirit from their team captains, seniors, Jarrett Arakawa, Seali’i Epenesa, and Andrew Skalman.

“We just really wanted to set a good example for the rest of out team,” said Skalman. “Our team is very young this year and we wanted to show them what it was like to be on a successful team and what it takes to do so.”

“Us captains were the ones that

coach Look came to when there was a problem and we would take care of it. When times were tough we would talk to the guys and encourage them to keep playing hard and finish strong,” said Epenesa. “They listened to us and this was probably the closest team I have ever been on.”

Besides the influence from coach Look and the team, everyone is also under the influence of the wonderful coaching staff.

“The coaching staff has been incredibly influential to me,” said senior Micah Baclig. “They are the hardest working staff in the state, and I appreciate them spend-

Photo courtesy of Mr. Charles Proctor The Raiders effectively tackle the Kauai’s Red Raiders in the Division II state championship game.

ing so much time away from their family and jobs to coach us.”

Not only was this season a season of firsts, but it was also a season of repeats. ‘Iolani captured the ILH Division II Title. The team then went on to capturing the State Division II State Championship for the third year in a row on Friday, Dec. 4 with a win against Kaua’i.

Although the first half was full of a bunch of uncharacteristic turnovers in the first half, the team was still able to take charge after the half, and come out victorious.

“The coaching staff and I went in during the half said a few things to the team, and then walked out. The guys were able to talk amongst themselves, and take care of what they knew needed to be done,” said Look.

“As a team,” said senior Sean Nada, “we had to gather ourselves and focus on what we had to do and simply execute.”

The season had many firsts for first time team member, senior, Larson Leu. “Every experience of this season was a first for me because everything was new, I’m glad I came out to experience everything,” said Leu. “I was influenced by the bond of the team because we all went through the same adversities and conditioning.”

Seniors, Kaena Moose, Sean Nada, and Micah Baclig played in the Aloha Prep Bowl’s Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl between the East and the West.

Additionally, Senior Andrew Skalman played Aloha Prep Bowl’s Hawaii/PolynesiaMainland Bowl between Hawaii players and players from the Mainland.

Reflecting on the season

By Andrew Skalman The season may have ended on a high note with a state championship, but that was not apparent in the first week of the season. The team was kicked off the field in the fourth day of practice, the earliest a team has ever been kicked off under Coach Wendell Look. After a preseason loss to Castle and an overall tumultuous start, the Raiders gathered themselves and came together as a team to go on and have a successful season. It has been the first time since the Raiders moved to Division II that they had defeated two Division 1 ILH teams in the same year.

Above, from left: Dave Miyamoto blocks while Ammon Baldomero carries the ball. Center: Matt Talavera leaps for the ball. Right: Kaena Moose springs upon a Red Raider. At left, the team holds up the three-peat trophy in triumph. Photos by Mr. Charles Proctor.

Teacher Profiles

Page 6

Imua ‘Iolani

Journey into the heart of Jungle

By Trent Nakamura

Peering out of a gas mask filled with the residue of fumes from past training, Sgt. David C. Robert’s eyes burned. Standing in a line with his fellow National Guardsmen, he found himself in a standoff against rioters at UC-Berkeley.

The rioters began flinging bricks, golf balls with nails driven through them, and plastic bags filled with urine and feces. The Guardsmen moved forward in a march-step cadence towards the group. The group moved back, and the Guardsmen set up their perimeter.

Mr. Roberts has experienced both ends of the spectrum, in his work as a National Guardsman and as an art teacher at ’Iolani. In the National Guard, his day was planned for him. He wasn’t allowed to be an individual and his opinions had no value.

However, as an art teacher, he opens up creativity for students.

He allows students to express themselves, and he is able to plan his own projects when he wants.

Mr. Roberts served in the National Guard in Northern California for six years during the Vietnam War. He worked for the 579th Engineering Battalion, a company of engineers who maintained rivers, streams, and forests and also protected the area from any type of threat.

At the time, he was also an art student at Humboldt State University. He soon graduated and was interviewed in 1975 by former ‘Iolani Headmaster David Koon for an art teacher position.

“When I first started, I was enamored with the idea that kids actually had talent,” Mr. Roberts

Jungle Bob takes time out of his busy day to show how he welds pieces of metal together. said. “I found out pretty quickly that creativity is universal.”

Mr. Roberts has been teaching at ‘Iolani for 34 years. His students know him as “Jungle Bob” (Jungle for short), a nickname given to him in a summer class because of his wild beard. Jungle teaches more then just art in his classes; also shares his life stories with students, as well as plants the seeds of morals within them.

“It wouldn’t be fair to tell kids what they’re supposed to be point blank,” Jungle said. “What you want to do is put as many ideas out there in the garden as possible and let them figure out what part of that garden they want to cultivate.”

“I think that more teachers should try to incorporate morals and values into their teaching like Jungle does. It’s especially important that they do it in a way that

doesn’t target or demean students, but rather in a way that shows that they simply care,” said Courtney Ochi ‘10, a former student of Jungle Bob. A handful of the Roberts family has followed Jungle to ‘Iolani.

His eldest son, Mr. Ryan Roberts, teaches ceramics next door while his second son, Evan, works as a foreman with Jungle’s brother, Steven.

Bianca Bystrom | Imua Iolani The Roberts family can always be seen around campus, flashing big grins and friendly greetings.

“Boogaloo,” a word Jungle once heard and now loves, is his own trademark aloha.

Jungle smiles when he thinks about his future.

“I’m going to do this until it isn’t any fun, and that just says, I’ll be here forever because it’s always fun.”

Inspired musician shares his passion

By Kaela Shiigi As a high school sophomore, Mr. Curtis Abe was inspired when he saw the Count Basie Orchestra, a very popular big band group, play live at the Blaisdell Arena. So inspired, in fact, that he and his friends decided to sneak backstage and talk to the band members.

“Nobody questioned us,” he said with a smile.

That concert helped direct his decision to pursue a career in music, one that would eventually lead him to his role as director of the ‘Iolani Stage Bands.

Besides teaching, Mr. Abe still plays music professionally. He gets called whenever famous singers and bands come to Hawai’i and need someone to play the trombone.

Mr. Abe’s musical career started in fifth-grade when he received two gifts from his uncle:

a trombone and a trumpet.

He tried to play both instruments, but he couldn’t make a noise on the trumpet, so he chose to play the trombone.

It was around that time when he first heard a big band jazz recording, and a “light bulb” went on in his head. “I felt a connection,” he said.

Mr. Abe became a professional musician after graduating from college with a major in Education and a minor in Jazz Studies.

He has been hired to play with famous singers and groups such as Johnny Mathis, the Carpenters, Burt Bacharach and, most recently, Katchafire, a Jawaiian group from New Bianca Bystrom | Imua ‘Iolani Zealand. He even played in the orchestra that backed up Mr. Abe instructs his class with a satisfied smile. the group of Frank Sinatra,

Liza Minnelli, and Sammy Davis Jr. when their tour brought them to Hawai’i in the 1980s.

Now, Mr. Abe spends most of his time teaching. He enjoys it because of the students, especially those who show a genuine interest in music.

“Mr. Abe is like a chilled orange creamsicle,” said student Jana Dagdagan ’11, “because he is creative, relaxed, and gives us sweet musical tidbits everyday in class.” He tells stories, plays music, and shows Youtube videos to inspire his students.

Outside of school, Mr. Abe plays in his own group called the Ornery Horns. He and his friends write and perform original pieces that range in styles from funk to jazz.

Sophomore Sarah Carlile also appreciates Mr. Abe’s passion.

“He’s passionate about music and in sharing what he knows and loves with other people.”

Teacher Profiles

December 17, 2009

Page 7

Mr. Hackler’s journey through life

By Rintaro Sato

Jeffrey Hackler, 28, stepped off of an empty platform. No one else got off. During the train ride there, the college boy was petrified.

“Oh my God. What happens if I get lost, I don’t know Japanese, I...I....”

Just when his homesickness was becoming unbearable, his walking stick started to shake and a gust ran through his straw hat.

He staggered a bit, and there it was.

“It drives away my homesick feeling,” Mr. Hackler said. “Upon further reflection, I don’t remember the day being breezy. All I can think of is that Kobo Daishi was blowing those ideas out. I realized that Kobo Daishi is with me.”

Mr. Hackler’s major turning point in his life occurred when he spent four days in Shikoku Japan during a pilgrimage in 1981.

The pilgrimage was dedicated to a priest named Kobo Daishi, and involved going to the temples that Kobo Daishi was associated with.

One day, Mr. Hackler was a day ahead of schedule and called his friend Mr. Morikawa, expecting a, “Oh Jeff, well done! That’s great!” However, Mr. Morikawa’s reply was, “It’s not getting to

the temples that counts; it’s the walk.”

This simple statement turned out to be one of the most significant events in Mr. Hackler’s life. Like many of us today, he was, “living life from temple to temple.”

We are constantly looking ahead: to the next game, homecoming, or Christmas break.

Sometimes it is even encouraged, especially with ‘Iolani and the college frenzy. However, we often get carried away.

“I had blown ten years of my life searching for temples when what I should have been doing was paying attention to every minute,” Mr. Hackler said.

Mr. Hackler teaches these principles to his students who, like all ‘Iolani students, are more concerned about the grades and not about learning.

He uses several tactics, like putting the grades backwards, upside down, or just simply not putting the score on the test.

He said, “I’m not interested in grades, I’m interested in your learning something.”

When Mr. Hackler graduated from ‘Iolani, he knew he did not want to come back as a teacher.

He thought he would work for the foreign services. However, after working a few years and boring

‘It’s not getting to the temple that counts; it’s the walk.’

himself, he decided to come back to Hawai’i “and make name for [him]self.”

Mr. Hackler’s first goal was to work in the hotel business. He then tried carpentry after the hotel business’ lack of excitement, but realized “it was body beating work.”

Later, he decided to take the Foreign Service exam, but failed by one point, ending his next potential career.

Still unclear about his dreams, Hackler decided to go back to school and work for his Masters’ degree at the University of Hawai’i. Although he had a job at UH that paid his tuition, he did not have a car and he lived in a small house in Kaimuki. Mr. Hackler biked to school, worked, returned home, and ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner. He could not afford lunch.

One summer, he “broke down” and called Mr. Charles Proctor, ‘Iolani Dean of Faculty then, who gave him a job teaching ‘Iolani summer school. The next fall, Mr. Proctor offered Mr. Hackler a job to teach United States History, Hawaiian History, and American Literature.

“After three or four days, I knew this was the job,” he said.

“Explaining it and helping them understand it opens people’s eyes. That was fun. That was energizing.”

John McLane ‘10, a former student of Mr. Hackler’s, said, “I liked his lectures. They were full

of passion, spirit. I also liked his what I do,” says Mrs. Pfingsten, drawings (on the board). They who also teaches AP US History. were abstract; they made me think She also said that the best advice a lot, outside the box.” that Hackler gave her was “not to Mr. Hackler also carries on take on too much in my job here, his philosophy when conducting to learn how to say no.” interviews for ‘Iolani and Brown Even though Mr. Hackler origiUniversity. He usually knows nally did not intend to make it within twenty seconds “just how big here, he has definitely made they carry themselves.” a name for himself at ‘Iolani.

One student that he interviewed What makes his name appear on last year was given $2,500 by his all those thank you post-it notes parents and had the choice of on the SAO is that he teaches stustudying in London for summer dents to see connections, instead school or traveling Europe. He de- of just regurgitating answers, but cided to go to Europe. “Now, that’s also to enjoy life. gutsy. That’s good Brown spirit.”

Mr. Hackler also takes on the role as a mentor to other teachers. When Mrs. Melanie Pfingsten, formerly Ms. Soares, was a new teacher at ‘Iolani, Mr. Hackler welcomed her by showing her around, sharing classroom materials, listening to her struggles and giving advice on how to be a better teacher.

“He cares a lot about not just that I was a good teacher but that Bianca Bystrom | Imua ‘Iolani I was happy at Mr. Hackler enjoys the now.

Focusing on Forsberg (no negatives here!)

By Anique Singer

With eyes wide open behind the thin frames of her glasses, Ms. Forsberg excitedly explains her summer trip to India, where she visited for six weeks to teach 20 young Indian women photography. Teaching photography is not a task Ms. Forsberg takes lightly.

You may have seen her floating around campus, almost walking on air, clothes flowing to the rhythm of the wind. Ms. Forsberg

is the photography teacher substituting for Mrs. Alison Uyehara, Photography teacher Ms. Dana who is on maternity leave. Often Forsberg pats her hair and grins going off on tangents about creslyly. ativity and uniqueness, talking “Do you think fathers will with her hands and forgetting marry their daughters off as soon about the time, Ms. Forsberg emas possible when they see how phasizes the use of ideas and origmuch money they can bring the inality in her four ‘Iolani classes. family?” she asks. “They will Yet she is more than a high school want their daughters to get an art teacher; she breathes art and education.” has gone distances (figuratively and literally) to live art.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Ms. Forsberg was adopted as an infant.

She grew up in various European countries, including Belgium, Germany, and Holland, always attending American schools. She graduated from the University of Colorado, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography. Originally majoring in English, she Bianca Bystrom | Imua ‘Iolani switched to phoMs. Forsberg illustrates the intricacies of iWeb to her photo students. tography upon re-

alizing that English studies didn’t awaken the type of passion she felt she needed to be happy.

“I love reading, but visual communications, for me, was a stronger medium for conveying my ideas,” she said. “I use photography to explore things I don’t know about or am interested in getting to know better.”

Ms. Forsberg’s visit to India was a monumental part of her career and development as an artist.

After learning about the difficulties Indian women face in finding careers, Ms. Forsberg made it her mission to help some of these women with her talent.

“I’ve always wanted to go to India, but not as a tourist,” Ms. Forsberg said. “I knew that if I did go, I needed to have some sort of purpose.”

Indian women are usually married off at the age of fourteen and have little opportunity for education, especially in poverty-stricken areas. Because there are no photographers in the town where Ms. Forsberg taught, setting up a photography business would be extremely lucrative. A woman would be able to make three times the earnings of a male by photographing weddings.

Ms. Forsberg taught in In-

dia for three weeks in May and worked completely through a translator, since none of the girls spoke English. Frustrating as it was to be unable to directly communicate with her students, Ms. Forsberg kept her calm exterior, something all of her photography students, from India to Hawaii, have become familiar with.

“When Ms. Forsberg gets frustrated, she will immediately apologize,” says senior Andie Enomoto. “She seems to feel bad for even letting a little bit of her frustration show, even if it is completely deserved.”

Ms. Forsberg will be returning to India this spring to help her students set of photography businesses. Outside of teaching, she has a successful career highlighted by her 2007 exhibition at the Honolulu Contemporary Art Museum, “Drawn to Remember.” So why does Ms. Forsberg teach in an exotic country, at a Hawaii high school, and at noncredit classes at the University of Hawaii?

“I want to help people use photography as a means of dialogue,” said Ms. Forsberg. “No matter your interest, you can point a camera at something and explore your ideas.”

Sports

Page 8

Imua ‘Iolani

Fall Sports Recap

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life -- and that is why I succeed.”

-- Michael Jordan.

Kayaking

cross country Boys: ILH- second place States- third place Girls: ILH- third place States- fifth place

Bianca Bystrom | Imua Iolani Chadwick Medeiros swiftly strokes through the Ala Wai.

Girls volleyball ILH- third place

Photo courtesy of Grant Muroda Joseph Harpstrite takes powerful strides to pass opponents.

boys waterpolo ILH- (Division I and Division II)Third Place Photo courtesy of Kaylene Matsuzaki Erin Nakatsuka prepares to slam the ball across the court.

bowling Boys: ILH- sixth place

Girls: ILH- seventh place

Kacy Johnson eggbeaters above his defender.

Photo courtesy of ginnerobot

Bianca Bystrom | Imua Iolani

Sports

December 17, 2009

By Kelia Cowan

Sports injury count grows

Colin Tseng, 16, has learned to live with the ordeals of a constantly injured body. In the past six months, Tseng, a junior, has had two ankle injuries during volleyball practice.

Tseng’s first injury occurred the week before high school volleyball state championships. He rolled his right ankle after landing on a teammate’s foot.

“It was so sore, I couldn’t even walk,” Tseng said. “Taylor Donovan just picked me up and carried me to the trainer.” However, after the injury, he failed to see a doctor for treatment.

He finally visited one a few weeks later, only to learn that he had torn all three ligaments in his lower ankle. For two months, he was forced to use crutches and wear an air-cast for sprained joints. Tseng got off crutches the day before the Freeman Trip to China, which is a trip sponsored by the Freeman Foundation for students to tour Asian countries and build friendly American relations. Unfortunately, his left ankle was sprained a few months later due to a similar fall.

Sports related injuries such as Tseng’s are more frequent amongst high school athletes than in previous years since every athlete must push himself or herself harder.

While this may be good for faster records or closer games, medical experts say that young athletes’ bodies are suffering from the pressure.

Mr. Charley Gima, a trainer at ‘Iolani for 26 years, said that over the past ten years athletic injuries have steadily increased.

Since more athletes are participating in multiple sports and outside leagues, the chance of injury has increased greatly.

“We see about five to ten injured athletes a day for treatment and therapy,” Mr. Gima said. He estimates that twenty to thirty athletes currently come in for icing and taping daily. The numbers grow

during the winter athletic season because this season has the most sports. Additionally, the injured group has grown to include younger athletes.

“I’ve noticed an increase in kids anywhere from five to twelve years old,” Mr. Gima said. The increase is due to young athletes participating in athletics at a younger age and at a higher level.

“It boils down to a lack of muscular strength and overuse,” he said.

Muscular strength and conditioning are vital for injury prevention. Coach Dominic Ahuna’s training programs with athletes of all sports have greatly reduced the number of injuries that the trainers see.

In addition, Mrs. Shannon Yonamine, the school nurse, monitors many of the athletes after they have suffered a concussion for at least a week. She believes that more education about the long-term implications of sports-related injuries is necessary.

“A lot of kids don’t want to admit they’re injured so they don’t have to stop playing,” Mrs. Yonamine said. “They aren’t aware of the consequences.”

If injuries are not treated soon, their effects may be felt for much longer than they should, as junior Akari Hatanaka discovered.

Hatanaka has had pain in her shoulders from her swimming and water polo seasons since February, but she ignored the pain and pushed herself until the accumulated pain became more than she could handle.

“After summer water polo, my coach started me on a workout program since I wasn’t doing club swimming,” Hatanaka said. This program intensified her already aggravated pain so she asked the trainers for a diagnosis. Both of her shoulders due to overuse have tendonitis, which is the inflammation of tendons. The pain she frequently experiences restricts Hatanaka from swimming and playing the violin.

“If my arms hurt, I’m not supposed to play,” Hatanaka said. However, her pain

is almost daily, and it worsens when she doesn’t have the time to go to therapy. Her practicing time suffers from this injury.

Senior Bailey Fischer’s injuries have ended her athletic career.

She was born with multidirectional instability, which means that she has weak joints, but this did not stop her from competing. She joined cheerleading three years ago and had been in gymnastics for ten years.

“I knew I wasn’t as strong with the cheers and dances as the other girls, so I wanted to be really strong in the tumbling section since my background is in gymnastics,” Fischer said. “I wanted to excel in it and push myself to be better than the varsity girls.” This competitive nature added to the weakness in her joints.

“It got to the point where I would be lifting my laundry basket and my shoulder would hurt,” she said. She had surgery on her right shoulder last November to stabilize it.

Although the surgery helps steady her shoulder, it took her six months before she could hold her arms up straight.

Some days I feel like because of the surgery I’m limited in what I can do,” Fischer said. “But some days I’m thankful because what if in the future I drop my kid because my shoulder popped out?” Her point is true: athletic injuries affect athletes long after their career is over.

Tseng’s injuries follow him off the court as well.

After his two ankle injuries, he must wear ankle braces every time he plays

Page 9

volleyball for the rest of his life.

In addition, he suffered a reoccurring back injury in 8th grade during volleyball practice. He is supposed to ice his back after he plays.

“That’s the only one that’s always there.

I can’t get rid of it,” Tseng said of his back injury. He has tried multiple treatments for this injury, including a trip to a Chinese herb doctor and acupuncture. However, the best remedy for his pain is to not push himself too far.

“I’ve learned to stop when I start to hurt,” said Tseng.

Amidst all of his pain, he still found the bright side of things.

“I don’t need to do chores when I’m on crutches,” Tseng said with a bright smile.

Bianca Bystrom | Imua Iolani

What’s S.U.P.?

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons/surfercosmovision A Stand Up Paddler glides across the water.

By Stasha Eliu Imagine gliding along mirrored flat water on a long surfboard that you’re standing on paddling with a long canoe paddle. The next moment, you’re catching waves at ease and balance from the paddle while going through a tube, getting a fun and productive work out. The diversity of this surfing/paddling sport also known as Stand up Paddling seems to be a perfect fit for Hawaii’s many options of leisure.

Darin Kohara, a physics teacher at `Iolani School, has been stand up paddling for a year.

“I wanted to do something when the surf was junk but still could go in the water; when there was no waves” he says.

Kohara owns two stand up boards amongst eight or nine surfboards. Having difficulty with balancing and underestimating what looked to be an easy sport, Kohara stumbled off his board into the water several times in the process of learning.

“You have an amazing new perspective when standing: you can see the fish, turtles, the waves

sooner,” he explains. “I was hooked after the first time.”

Although Stand up Paddling is similar to surfing, Kohara explains how surfers despise stand up paddlers because they can cause danger to others.

“Stand up paddlers are usually beginners and don’t know how to control themselves on a board,” he says.

Many friends of Kohara own surf shops. There has been an increase in purchases of stand up paddle boards.

“They sell boards everyday,” he says.

Stand Up paddling is not only seen in Hawaii. With its roots in the origins of surfing, SUP has become the world’s fastest growing water sport.

In California, Battle of the Paddle is the world’s largest stand up paddle contest. This competition played host to the top water athletes from around the world.

Here in Hawaii, there are numerous surf shops that sell paddle boards.

“We sell about five boards a day. Many of the tourists here are interested in various sports that

we do here in Hawaii. Stand up paddling is one of them,” said Brian Keaulana, one of the founders of C4 Waterman Company, a surf company.

“It’s not surprising to see a great number of people standing on boards at the beach just cruising it. It’s just incredible,” Keaulana explained.

Louie Kuni,a 28-year old local, has been involved in this sport for two years.

“My friends influenced me to do it. Since they were doing it, I thought, why not?” he said. “It was embarrassing to see girls just paddle past me while I’m actually trying to balance on my board, stumbling everywhere.”

Kuni has three cousins on the mainland who have tried Stand Up Paddling and were entranced by its amusement. They are three of many who have been enjoying the unique sport. The number of participants continues to increase in places such as Munich, and Stand up Paddling has drawn many surf-paddlers from countries such as Australia.

“It truly is an amazing sport,” Kuni said.

Arts & Entertainment

Page 10

Imua ‘Iolani

Team We Don’t Care: Bridget and Akari

Commentary By Bridget Tobin and Akari Hatanaka B: To make sure that I wasn’t the only one who disliked Twilight, I asked fellow classmate, Andrew Zhou, three simple questions.

1. What did you think of the movie?

2. What do you think of all the hype surrounding the movies and actors?

3. Is it out of control?

Andrew answered honestly, 1. Thumbs down. Bad cinematography + bad CGI + bad acting overall = not too great a movie.

2. The hype mainly has to do with the visual appeal of the actors themselves, but I’m not sure

about my stance on the “hot” guys of Twilight and New Moon.

Robert Pattinson’s hair is a mess.

He is a huge wreck. Kristen Stewart is not too shabby, but still kinda…shabby.

3. It is definitely out of control.

Kyle Kim said, “I’d rather have stared at dog poo for two hours.”

B: I did see the first movie, but didn’t bother to waste my money going to see the second one. I agree with Andrew and Kyle 100 percent, but the hype didn’t just start when the movies premieredit started with the Twilight books.

I’ll admit, I did read them. And for a brief period, I even liked

Bianca Bystrom | Imua Iolani The Twilight saga has unfortunately become extremely popular amongst hordes of teenagers.

them. But I soon realized (after I started reading books more often), that Twilight isn’t exactly a work of literary genius. Page-long descriptions of Edward’s “topaz eyes,” “smooth, marble skin,” and (disturbingly enough) his “delicious scent” didn’t leave me with any more knowledge than I had before I read the book. I probably just knew more adjectives.

A: I, too, foolishly read all four books my freshman year after a classmate did an English 9 speech on the first book and briefly enjoyed the fluffy frivolity of a small town in Washington with some hot vampires. Then I realized: 1. It’s about vampires. 2. It’s poorly written. And 3. I wasted my time reading all four books.

But guess what? Now I can legitimately bash the books because I’VE READ THEM SO I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. News flash: the plot itself is a tragedy, not the supposed heartwrenching love triangle between a vegetarian vampire, some werewolf with anger management issues, and a pale, wimpy girl who falls in love with guys after the extensive time period of-- wait for it-- FIVE DAYS? REALLY? And also. It’s about vampires. And werewolves. Just-- no. Leave it to JK Rowling. PLEASE. B: Unfortunately, Twilight (both the books and the movies) has inspired terrifyingly passionate feelings from girls (and guys) towards a fictional character. In fact, it has inspired passionate feelings towards multiple fictional characters (“Team Edward”, “Team Jacob”); neither of which is actually human. Therefore, crazed Twilight fans have been misled. First, men don’t sparkle in sunlight. Second, they don’t have super speed or super strength (A: Unless you’re Michael Phelps!).

Third, they’re not going to transform into a wolf because of “Quileute legends.”.And lastly, teen girls should not be pining

after a 107-year-old man trapped in the body of a 17-year-old boy who sneaks into their house to watch them sleep at night. So, to be blunt, girls should probably give up the idea that a physically perfect man is going to show up in their local high school and sweep them off their feet into a world of mythical creatures. It’s not going to happen.

A: Seriously. The guys in the movie are not even attractive. My friend who went to go see New Moon said that every time “Bella” was bleeding, either Taylor Lautner (DEFINITELY NOT Taylor HOTner as some people say, he looks like he’s 12 or something) or Robert Pattinson would rip their shirts off, flex, and say something like “Let me help you,” *flexes in five more poses* Can I say ew? Plus, in the fourth book, the protagonist (Bella) has a HALF VAMPIRE HALF HUMAN BABY. WITH THE 107YEAR-OLD MAN TRAPPED IN A 17-YEAR-OLD’S BODY. And what does the baby do? She sucks her mother’s blood while in the womb! So Bella DRINKS BLOOD. AND FINDS IT SATISFYING. And then she names it RENESMEE by combining the names of the grandmothers, Renee and Esme. WHY??

B: Devotion has reached a new level with Twilight. On twifans. com/group/cullenism, Twilight is being compared to Christianity. According to the writer of this page, Christianity spread to many people, becoming a widespread religion with many devoted followers, many who have even devoted their life to it, and apparently, “Twilight has reached a point like this.” This is just flat out weird.

A: And Hawaii, I’m so disappointed in you! At Barnes and Noble, three out of four of the fiction bestsellers were- you guessed it!-of the Twilight saga, with “Eclipse” beating out “The Lost

Symbol” by Dan Brown for the number one spot. Now, I know Brown isn’t Ralph Waldo Emerson or anything, but Meyers beating Brown out is like Dr. Lagory not catching a Keables error: it just shouldn’t happen. Maybe her writing is adequate enough for those who barely read, but as ‘Iolani students who read many, many, many, many, MANY times a day, I would think that our standards would be higher than that.

B: All the other levels of devotion (from just seeing the midnight premier to buying “Team Edward”/”Team Jacob” t-shirts to showing up to the set of the movie, hoping to catch a glimpse of the actors) seem to be nothing compared to something ridiculous like this. “Cullenism” is a growing fad. Beware.

A: What about “Team Edward? Team Jacob? How About Team Shut Up Because No One CARES”?! In case I need to reiterate my point, fictional means THEY DON’T EXIST. So girls, stop wasting your time by reading and watching trashy love stories and pick up something actually good, like The Notebook. By the way, in case you didn’t get it, to summarize, our point is that: B: Twilight bites. (Hah hah… not funny.)

Activities the B and A Team prefer to do: 1. Play Bach Double.

2. Read both SAT I and SAT II prep books.

3. Make Keables corrections on a 20-page paper.

4. Watch Saturday Night Live (NOT HOSTED BY TAYLOR LAUTNER!).

5. Design “Team Bridget and Akari” t-shirts.

6. Wash our hair (UNLIKE ROBERT PATTINSON).

7. Interact with humans.

8. Read substantial literature.

9. Watch C-Span.

10. Bash Twilight.

Artists go green at home and on stage

By Kaela Shiigi Amy Hanaiali’i’s home on the island of Moloka’i serves as what she considers an “extreme” example of sustainable living. Her 80-acre farm produces food for her and her family without the use of chemicals.

During the Green Aloha Concert, she connected her green values with her music. Accompanied by other musicians like Henry Kapono, she performed a free show put on by the City and County of Honolulu to share a message of sustainability.

Attendee Joana Yasui thought that the booths at the concert were very informa-

tive and enjoyed the free gifts that were handed out to promote awareness.

For many musicians, concerts are no longer a festival of loud music but venues to promote sustainability. Many are taking steps to become environmentally responsible and to promote awareness.

Green concerts range from small festivals to worldwide events. In 2007, former vice-president Al Gore put on a global concert called Live Earth. Many musicians and celebrities shared their talents to promote climate change awareness. Performances were broadcasted on TV and via Internet from every continent, including a group of scientists who played for an audience of penguins in Antarctica.

A company called Reverb has partnered up with many artists who want to “green” their tours. They set up educational booths, purchase carbon credits to offset travel, and fuel tour busses with biodiesel.

One of the most notable green musicians is Jack Johnson. He not only records in a solar powered studio and sings children’s songs about recycling, but runs a foundation as well.

For five consecutive years, Johnson put on a concert called “Kokua Fest” as a fundraiser for Kokua Foundation, a foundation that sponsors environmental programs.

He and his other environmentally minded musician friends sold out the

Waikiki Shell for the past few years.

However, not all concertgoers see the concert as a way to learn about sustainability.

“The message to people got murky,” said attendee Cristin Lim ‘11. She was disappointed that people used the concert to make money for themselves by selling the tickets at inflated rates.

Many of the songs Hanaiali’i sang during the Green Aloha Concert focused around her love of the islands and their natural beauty. She believes that Hawai’i can be the forerunner to teach the world about being ecofriendly, a message she tried to convey to the audience.

“We have all the resources to do it,” she said.

Lighter Side

December 17, 2009

(‘Iolani) Texts From Last Night by

Bianca Bystrom and Akari Hatanaka

THE TEXT MESSAGES: 11012:12:55 AM: So what did Lincoln get involved in in 1958?

It’s part of Document G 11013: 12:57 AM What? Oh yeah we have a DBQ sorry man forgot it at school 11014: 1:05 AM: You are the epitome of the APUSH student

11015: 9:00 PM: Just now in the shower I came to 2 DEFINITE realizations- 1. I REALLY want to go to winterball. 2. I REALLY need to put the Single Ladies music video on my iPod.

Page 11

Winterball Dramazz by

Kunwoo Kim

1. You are turned down because he is going on a “mysterious” family trip to Uzbekistan.

2. Your creepy ex asks your BFF. Your BFF says yes to your creepy ex. In response, you initiate Operation Blitzkrieg Shun My BFF. BUT, you later find out that you have never told your BFF anything about your yearlong relationship with your creepy ex.

Now your BFF is questioning your friendship.

3. You are desperate to the MAXIMUM LEVEL, and you have no choice but to ask a Key Clubber. However, he responds, “As a Proud Son of Key Club International, I am too busy protecting the Key Club’s way of life and combating all forces that opposes our Reich and our Supreme Premier.”

4. You finally ask your two-year crush, but he responds by saying, “Oh…Umm…What’s your name?”

5. You say yes to question number 4 girl.

6. You realize that except for teachers and your mother you have never ever talked to people of the opposite sex.

11025: 6:32 AM: So I realized I have no life because I stayed up until 11:54 last night refreshing the page on the College Board site to get my score when I could have slept at 11:30 for once 11026: 6:37 PM: I just found a keables error on the menu that I am reading. Thank you Dr. Lagory.

7. Your BFF of the same sex suggests going together, and you accept, thinking it’s as friends, only to find out later that your BFF was pretty serious about the “date”.

8. You eat a magic pill advertised on Facebook and you lose twenty pounds the day before Winterball 9. In desperation you ask your cousin, and she rejects you.

10. Ten people with ten different creative stories reject you.

Then, you realize that these people are better fiction novelists than Stephenie Meyer.

11027: 5:50 PM: Brah everytime I see a baby I think about the bio birthing vid we had to see and I cry inside 11028: 10:34 AM: I am pretty sure a kid just tried to cover his fart by screaming the quadratic formula really loud during math 11029: 8:49 AM: HAHA MY TEACHER DIDN’T MARK A KEABLES ERROR! Advantages to a HUGE backpack

By Cordelia Xie

Page 12

Answers from the first graders

Lower School

What is Santa like?

Malia Benn--“He wears a big hat and has one big bag that holds all his presents.”

“For my mommy, she’s going to give me and my brother money and we’re going to donate toys” Mairi Yoshioka--“His boots are really big and everything’s really big. His reindeers are magic because they’re flying.

Kalei Chong--“He’s fat.” He wants an air hog that goes off the Drawing by Emily Takamiya ground that “flies in the air” Andrew Dawson--“He has a big white beard and he gives people jingle bells...that’s true. He gave me 6 jingle bells. He has a main elf, but I don’t remember his name because I haven’t seen him in a while.”

Lily Teho--”He’s plump and brings presents to little children.”

Colby Ching--“He has a beard and a moustache...I don’t really know.”

Ryan Kai—“He wears red and white and he’s nice.”

How do you define Christmas?

Sunny Katagiri—Don’t leave anyone behind happy, joyful, Jesus’ birthday

What is love?

Drawing by Kala Chong

Sabrina Loui—care, love for each other, don’t leave anyone out Kelly Mukai—kindness, when Drawing by Carianne Takeuchi my family is happy.

‘Iolani’s Mad Scientists

By Katherine Lum Packed with a plethora of pulleys, ramps, and screws, the Lower School library presents the machine fair featuring a number of devices created by ‘Iolani’s third grade scientists.

Their task was to create a project that incorporates at least one simple machine and integrates an interest they have.

“Every year there is a machine a lot of students do,” said Mrs. Linda Reser, a lower school librarian. This year, a number of students made marble runs. Of course, there are a number of other inventions that include other interests. One is a mouse racecourse with tubes that lead to a container holding food.

For their projects, the third graders first created blueprints and then worked on their inventions for two weeks in the classroom.

Finally, they had the chance to take home their creations home to continue to either add or redo their projects.

“The purpose for the students is problem solving and showing resourcefulness and inventiveness,” said Mrs. Laura White, the Lower School science teacher.

She also said that these creations can show the students that “they Drawing by Rachel Shimokawa

Something to make you smile:

Who believes in Santa?* Kindergarten: 47/47= 100% First Grade:24/26 = 92.22% Second Grade: 31/33= 93.94% (the two that aren’t counted say “they’re not sure”) Third Grade: 32/32= 100% Fourth Grade: 45/48= 93.75% (two of the three “aren’t sure”) Fifth Grade: 20/21= 95.24% Sixth Grade: 19/39 = 48.72% *Only some classes, chosen at random, were included in the survey.

Imua ‘Iolani

As I left one of the rooms, a teacher joked with one of the students who said he doesn’t believe in Santa, saying “You know, you’re not going to get any presents,” to which he responded, “But that’s not what it’s about.”

T

Drawing by Lily Shimabuku

T

T

Alison Hinderleicher (‘21) doesn’t believe in Santa, but leaves milk and cookies out for him.

Compiled by Iris Kuo and Katherine Lum

Grateful grade schoolers explore and feast

By Iris Kuo

In lower school, students celebrated Thanksgiving while applying what they’d learned.

The first graders had a Pilgrim Celebration Day where they dressed as Pilgrims and rotated between various stations related to the Pilgrims. Since the first grade curriculum covered the topic, the teachers decided a couple of years ago that the Pilgrim Celebration Day was a good way to incorporate learning and fun.

The first station was a calligraphy writing one; the students dipped feathers in ink and drew intricate letters following sam-

ples. At the second station, students were given cornbread and a small sauce container filled with a milky liquid. After shaking the container for a while, it became butter which they then spread on their cornbread and ate. At yet another station, a parent who is a descendant of the Pilgrims told stories. There was a station for relay races where two students had to share a jacket, run down and back, and avoid obstacles all at the same time. Lastly, the students were treated to some popcorn after learning that corn was important to the Pilgrims. The popcorn was made by putting a cob of popping corn, which is different from the kind of corn in supermarkets, in a paper bag,

Fifth graders deliver their play, “Forces of Change”, with enthusiasm.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Dalton Sue

then microwaving it.

There were smiles everywhere, and at lunch, the first graders sat down to eat with their Wampanoag friends (the Kindergarteners).

Traditionally, the fifth grade play exhibits the journey of Lewis and Clark with a transition between the past and present and a folk story with a lesson.

This year’s play, “Forces of Change”, was Sunny Katagiri (‘21) and Reid Graham (‘22) enjoy their much the same. Selunch in traditional pilgrim and Wampanoag clothing. cret agent guinea pigs assisted the students Photo courtesy of Mr. Dalton Sue in a mission, taking ported the play’s themes. Lastly, the play them through the Lewis and Clark ex- showed that President Roosevelt was reploration, a Native American legend, sponsible for beginning the National Park and a part on Teddy Roosevelt, the system by signing a legislation establish26th president. ing five national parks, thus conserving naThroughout these three parts, the ture and wildlife. The students learned to themes of the play, being grateful respect the planet and to believe that they for blessings and to conserving natu- can become “agents of change”. ral resources, were upheld. Lewis Students in both grades were able to and Clark showed this by collecting learn more about the history and concepts samples and treating the land they behind Thanksgiving. The first graders enexplored and its inhabitants with re- joyed hands-on activities that took them spect. The legend told the story of a into the lives of the pilgrims. The fifth gradcommunity that was punished for tak- ers, through their acting, singing, musical ing advantage of their blessings from instrument playing, and dancing, were able the Corn Maidens by having a food to both absorb and convey the message: be fight. The moral of the story, don’t take thankful for your blessings. advantage of your blessings, also sup-