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Vol. 84, Issue 9
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May 29, 2009
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Imua‘ Iolani
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Honolulu, Hawaii
Tamai receives national honor
By Amelia Linsky
The economics team shows off their medals in Los Angeles.
Mr. Richie Kibota | Imua ‘Iolani
Econ team takes second in national competition
By Katherine Lum The economics teams did ‘Iolani proud at the National Economics Challenge. After state and regional victories earlier this spring, both teams competed in New York City from May 14-18. In the Adam Smith Division, (AP level), and the David Ricardo Division (non-AP level), the ‘Iolani teams took second place out of the 8,000 teams that competed from across the nation. Both ‘Iolani teams placed first nationally in 2008, and the school has won the regional title in all but one competition. This year, four teams from each division flew to New York for the big competition. In both divisions, the top two teams competed in a buzzer round. In the Adam Smith division, the team made it to the buzzer round, which went into overtime. ‘Iolani came in second to Philips Academy, a boarding school in Andover, Mass. In the David Ricardo division, it came down to the last question. ‘Iolani came second to a team from Little Falls High School from Little Falls, Minn. “The competition was keen, but
Iolani’s One Team was right there trying as hard as they could until the very end,” said Colonel Richard Rankin, the team coach of the Adam Smith division since 1998, on ‘Iolani’s website at www.iolani.org. “We coaches will do our best to make these students understand that we are all proud of them and they have excelled.” Rankin said that he and Mr. Richie Kibota, coach of the David Ricardo division, extended the weekend and tried to plan activities for the students. The teams from both divisions went to a Yankees baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wall Street to visit ‘Iolani alumni, and the Broadway musical South Pacific where they visited Loretta Ables Sayre, an actress from Hawaii who plays Bloody Mary in the musical. Seniors Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka, David Martorana, Uyanga Tsedev and Truong Vu were on the ‘Iolani team for the Adam Smith Division. Sophomores Mark GrozenSmith, Bobby Huang, Matthew Lum, and Andrew Wu represented ‘Iolani, Hawaii, and the Western region in the David Ricardo
Inside: Moving Up (right) - 5 Honors Day Awards - 8 - 9 College Bound - 10 - 11 ‘Iolani Writes Winners - 15 - 19
Division. Senior Uyanga Tsedev said that the most exciting part about going to the national competition was getting to meet other economics teams and actually going to New York. It was her first time visiting the city. Sophomore Mark GrozenSmith said that the best part was getting a free trip to New York and representing ‘Iolani in a national competition. Kibota added that “seeing the students having a good time and being rewarded for their hard work” is the most gratifying aspect of these competitions. Sophomore Matthew Lum said that his team is a group of “hardworking students with a desire to win.” Grozen-Smith said that the team “melds well because [his teammates] are all sort of the same.” Senior David Martorana said that his team was “dynamic, cohesive, and highly determined.” Colonel Rankin said that this year’s team in the Adam Smith Division “worked as hard as the two national teams did.”
Senior Robert Tamai has been named one of two Presidential Scholars from Hawaii. The other is Lucia Mocz of Mililani High School. The proconsul, cross country captain, and tennis player has maintained 4 AP courses and two electives throughout the past year with a 4.31 GPA. The eminently qualified Tamai professed surprise at first, but conceded, “Yeah, I’m really excited to meet all of those fascinating people [at the awards ceremony]. I get to shake the President’s hand so that’s pretty cool.” The ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C., in June. Tamai named Chemistry teacher and 2009 class adviser Mrs. Gail Tuthill as the teacher who most influenced him, and she will accompany him to the nation’s capital.
There are 176 Presidential Scholars throughout the USA and its territories. They have demonstrated “outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and community service” as determined by a 29-member Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by the President. Tamai will attend Harvard College in the fall.
Weinberg fixture gets a new look
Amelia Linsky | Imua ‘Iolani
The fountain donated by local artist Satoru Abe has undergone several chemical color changes since its installation in 2003, but the latest has stained the basin purple. Story on page 12.
Index
Courtney Ochi | Imua Iolani
Editorials--2-3 Sports--4-5, 20 A&E--6-7 Lighter Side--14 Lower School--13 Features--12
Editorials
Page 2
Imua ‘Iolani
Senior reflections: What we’ve learned from our time at ‘Iolani
By Ayesha Cooray for lives as workaholics. My best advice to combat After six years of English papers written at midnight, During times of stress, it’s difficult to achieve If I knew when I began school academic takeover is to get inhastily memorized vocabulary words and math equations, a calm acceptance of life and the universe. As a at ‘Iolani what I know now as a volved in non-scholastic activiand carefully recorded history notes, my tenure here at ‘Ioresult, most students do not attain enlightenment graduating senior, I would not ties at school. Being on-stage lani has come to a close. during their years at ‘Iolani School. and belting out songs from have worked so hard. I spent five of my six As an ‘Iolani senior, like a monk undergoing I know a lot of you are think- Pippin, laying out pages in the “I years attempting to vigil, I have prepared to leave the life I knew for ing that it’s just the “senioritis” Imua room after school with my be the “perfect” still strove to be a higher state of existence. talking, but seriously, I worked friends, and watching Disney student, the one Some claim ‘Iolani is Death and some call really hard during my three years movies in Dr. Webb’s room that student, a student who always did it Purgatory, but I believe that ‘Iolani, which I at ‘Iolani, sacrificed a lot for my during lunch are the parts that my parents and teach- her homework, often resented for completely subsuming my academics, and found that it’s of high school I’ll rememdid well on her world, is actually a microcosm of life. ber most fondly, not which just not worth it. ers could be proud to tests, and alI complained that I only saw my home durHigh school is more than good grade I got on the Pre-Calc ways maintained know.” ing the light of day on weekends due to extra- grades and getting into college. test I took last week or my GPA a positive attitude. curriculars and the long commute, but ‘Iolani People here are too focused on during the first semester of my My intentions were became a second home. The constant tests and their futures and do not concen- sophomore year. g o o d , my execution flawed. When it homework were merely preparation for the im- trate enough on the present. It’s Academics and grades won’t came to making the choice between going out on weekends portant actual work that I hope to do in the fu- good to do well in school—don’t have the final say in life, though or starting my projects, I chose to go out. When I had the ture, which, if shirked, would yield far worse get me wrong—but it’s better to people tend to forget that at ‘Iooption of either listening to my iPod or starting an English consequences than a docked grade. be a centered and grounded indi- lani. Keep things in perspective, paper, I chose to listen to music. ‘Iolani instilled a sense of responsibility, ob- vidual. ‘Iolani should not be pre- and you’ll be much happier. And yet, I still strove to be that student, a student that my sessively accurate time management, painfully- paring students parents and teachers could be proud to know. learned social skills, and the grudging accep‘Iolani, for me, ended up being the proverbial gemtance of sleep deprivation. Those will be even I cutter, smashing down on all my flaws and chipmore useful than my knowledge of Schwann ping away the imperfections of my writing, cells, completing the square, and the three time-management skills, fact recall, and partitions of Poland. Probably. critical thinking by virtue of force. ‘Iolani has prepared me well, By junior year, instead of and I look forward to what learning the subject matter, comes next. I learned how to exploit loopholes and manipulate By Brandon Kumabe deadlines. With the ferocity of a clown juggling Don’t lose yourself to raw eggs, knives, and the machine. An ‘Iolani weighted bowling pins, history teacher once I learned how to get by told me about a student in this Christian school who gave up his dream of learning and truth. of being an astronaut ‘Iolani taught me to appease his parents how to be goal-oriented, desire to turn him into concentrate my efforts him into a doctor. There and above all focus on is no doubt that the path to the task at hand. By giving becoming a students these skills, ‘Iolani puts them on the straight path to success. But in my effort to adapt, to surdocvive, and ultimately to succeed, my vision tor is a of what lay ahead narrowed. Because though respectable straight paths are the fastest routes, they aren’t aland difficult one, ways the most fulfilling. but for this boy, it was devoid of Success, that fickle, often materialistic state of being, is genuine personal passion and drive. Becoming a doctor guarImua `Iolani Senior Editors (left to right): Emily anteed this boy financial and domestic security but forced him to give up his Shimkus, Emily Saka, Brandon Kumabe, Ka- different from happiness. And that is what you won’t learn in class. trina Karl, Marissa Sakoda, Amelia Linsky. dreams and a part of himself. Too often at ‘Iolani, I have felt like this boy. I’ve felt like we have to give up our genuine talents and creativity to satisfy these rigorous academic de- By Emily Saka mands that may not be conducive to helping us function and make progress in 4. Friends are priceless but cliques are dumb. With sports practice, music lessons, and endless the real world. At the end of five years, I feel like an oak tree that’s been whittled down to hours of homework, no one should have time for high school drama. 3. Never think the words, “That’s so lame.” The pointless things usually turn out being the most a very pretty splinter. I haven’t really had the chance to develop any of what I feel are my real talents and I just feel mediocre at everything. Don’t lose memorable. 2. You will survive being a senior in fourth quarter PE – I know from experience. I just really yourself to the machine. would not recommend it. 1. The experience is really about what you put into it. Go out there, get involved, and make dence of intelligence and potential, is friends. It really does make a difference. By Annie Rian rewarded and exalted, while the lack I’ve often heard the end of high thereof often discourages those with way. I’d forget to experience the By Marissa Sakoda school described as bittersweet. For different learning patterns. Those Another cliché, to make the present. That makes time seem me, though, the future is nothing but who, like me, can’t memorize and spit Hard work pays off and most of every moment, has to pass by even faster. out facts and equations, come to think pure sugar. From everything to assignstressing over the little things also resonated throughout my At the end of six years, my greatest of themselves as unintelligent and in life is much less important time at ‘Iolani. Being a senior ments to other activities, the disappointment is that I will graduate inadequate, their potential virtually than having faith that every- forced me to reflect on what I more you give in terms of hard with most of my potential unrealized. ignored. Those unwilling to submit thing will work out in the end. remember as the best and worst work and effort, the more you An ideal education inspires passion themselves to be molded by ‘Iolani’s Although it sounds like a cli- times over the last thirteen tend to get out of it. My best for learning rather than for the highest guiding hand are crushed. The result: ché, I’ve learned that when years. It is often hard to dis- experiences have often come GPA and fosters genuine interest in a collective intellectual, individual, something goes wrong it’s tinguish many of the memories from trying out new things cultural and global issues rather than and cultural bankruptcy. never the end of the world; from one another. The time has and approaching them with an Thank you to the teachers who a robotic drive to achieve. things will resolve themselves raced by. At times I’ve gotten open mind, so my advice is to In my experience, ‘Iolani’s success have recognized my potential and in an unexpected way. It is im- into the habit of focusing on not be afraid to take risks and in fulfilling these criteria has been taken it more seriously than I have portant to be flexible and open the future and what is coming never allow fear of what others minimal. The achievement of high myself. You know who you are. to unforeseen twists along the up next, but in those moments, may think to hold you back. GPAs, not necessarily the only eviBy Amelia Linsky
Don’t lose yourself to the machine.”
By Emily Shimkus
Editorials
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gin with. My goal--a successfully completed portfolio--was just what it wasn’t supposed to be up until the end of the course: “external and distant.” Throughout the years, I’ve probably lacked ego for other subjects due to my own longstanding failure or disinterest in them. It felt as if there was no point for me to develop a desire to advance my learning in subjects that seemed more and more like lost causes as I progressed, especially as I took higher-level courses purely due to the influence of others’ motivations for my own learning. Maybe ego-climbing could have done me some good in those courses I struggled with. If I had just feigned some sort of passion for those subjects, perhaps some sort of interest would have developed and served as my main motivating factor to succeed in them instead of my grades in the courses. I’ll never know, but then again, I’ll never have to take a course in a subject I’m not truly passionate about again. It may not feel like it, but time passes quickly during each school day. We rush through eight periods, giving each area of study fleeting attention before quickly moving on to the next. Sometimes it seems like ego-climbing is encouraged or necessitated by our scheduling for the sake of prioritization and successfully getting through the days and weeks rather than for our own pride. It can be utterly detrimental to us, but it can possibly serve as a motivating force when we lose hope in other ways. At times ego-climbing becomes a necessity, but it can interfere with schoolwork serving its purpose: in the development of learning. We are here to learn, after all. I certainly have.
Prefect elections less than perfect
By Ashlyn Koga
Director of Student Activities. “When people run for proconsul and SBT they know they are going to work hard. The class president knows what’s going on with the class. The Imua editor knows what’s going on with the school. The yearbook editors have a different outlook of ‘Iolani.” I agree that these people are
Illustration by Jackie McMillan ‘09
Adviser: Mrs. Karin Swanson Imua ‘Iolani is distributed free of charge to students of ‘Iolani School. Mail subscriptions are $15 per year. Imua ‘Iolani is online at www.imuaonline.org or as pdfs at www.iolani. org under the “Student Activities” menu. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service. The opinions herein expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty, staff of ‘Iolani School or Imua ‘Iolani.
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qualified, but I think the “default” issue is problematic. Why aren’t the class VP, secretary and treasurer also guaranteed slots? This group collectively with the class president makes decisions for the class. I think there should be no defaults and everyone should be nominated. If the current defaults were true leaders, then the student body would recognize that and nominate them. Juniors, this particular year, I know that a lot of you may have
Copy Editor: Annie Rian Photo Editor: Courtney Ochi Features Editors: Amelia Linsky Emily Saka Opinion Editors: Emily Shimkus Tiana Bohner Sports Editors: Bianca Bystrom Kelia Cowan Arts & Entertainment Editors: Akari Hatanaka Kaela Shiigi Lighter Side Editor: Stephen Stack Lower School Editors: Kyle Kim
or ef
their true colors show when they are with their peers. Favoritism is always an issue, and should not be brought into the prefect elections. No matter what the selection process, people will be angry because there are only a few slots for many qualified people. Because there are so few slots, there is concern whether it is necessary that people be a prefect by default. “I think there should be defaults,” said Mr. Kirk Uejio,
voted for one person, and were surprised to find he or she wasn’t elected. Usually, the top person gets around 30 votes, but this year, everything was close. There needs to be trust within our community. You have to be able to trust Mr. U. He keeps the ballots for a year, so there is evidence that the elections are fair. This year seemed to be revolutionary, as many candidates used Facebook, AIM and texting to ask for nominations for senior prefect. I’m not going to lie; I set my Facebook status asking people to vote for me. I think its okay to get the word out that you’re interested in running, and Facebook is a great way. However, spamming people’s inboxes may have gotten a little annoying, which may have hurt some candidates. Senior prefects are supposed to make a difference at ‘Iolani. It’s up to the students to nominate the right people. To future classes: If everyone nominates their friends, you’ll get a close election, like we had this year. Try to break out of your clique and think about who will represent your class well. If you nominate wisely, then this way of voting will be the most effective way.
Design Editor: Marissa Sakoda
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As you probably know, the senior prefects for the Class of 2010 have been elected. In one of the closest elections in history, 24 students have been chosen to represent the senior class, but not everyone is thrilled. Are these individuals really the leaders of the class? How does the election process work? This article will hopefully clear things up and answer all your questions about the senior prefects. The election is purely a student election. There are eight default prefects (proconsuls, student body treasurer, class president, and yearbook and Imua editorsin-chief) who are listed on the ballot and are automatically guaranteed a position. From the rest of their class, students nominate five people, the votes are tallied and the 14 people who get the most votes are prefects (more if there are ties). Students are advised to nominate their peers based on two criteria: one is that they are the face of the student body, so the group needs to show diversity and maturity. Second, they have to take the initiative to make the school a better place.
But is that the best way? We probably all agree that the student voice is very important. So should teachers/counselors be involved in appointing/approving the prefects? Although it sounds like a good idea, don’t the students know their classmates best? A student can suck up in the classroom, but
Editor-in-Chief: Katrina Karl
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I’m about to graduate from ‘Iolani after thirteen years here. So naturally, I’m going to write about mountain climbing. Nothing I have ever read has shown me has ever changed me like an excerpt from Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values. In chapter 17, Pirsig makes the distinction between “ego-climbing” and “selfless climbing,” comparing a mountain climber on a pilgrimage using the experience and mountain itself for selfish purposes to one who realizes the true purpose of the endeavor: the ego climber “wants to be farther up the trail when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then it will be ‘here.’ What he’s looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn’t want that because it is all around him. Every step’s an effort, both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant.” Some might draw the comparison between ego-climbing and the ‘Iolani upper school experience. Some students rush through countless assignments and finals, wanting to escape all of the work at ‘Iolani. There’s no telling whether or not they will greet their experiences in college and in their careers the same way, perpetually dissatisfied, or learn to embrace these experiences for what they are rather than representations of endless busywork to be rushed through. The way I have ego-climbed applies much more to individual courses themselves rather than the entirety of my experience at ‘Iolani. I ego-climbed my way through AP Studio Art this year. After one particularly good work or two, I would burn out completely for the rest of the quarter and the quality of my works
reflected it, no matter how hard I kept working on them. As I did things this way, my personal attachment to my artwork disintegrated. I didn’t feel like I had even done several of the pieces that felt more like painful excercises to me after looking back at them, yet I kept turning such pieces out. I was frustrated by my countless Breadth pieces that felt like they were going nowhere and did more and more of them until I fell behind on my entire portfolio. At that point, the majority of my pieces meant very little to me. And for what? For my own pride as an artist and as a person, pride that fueled my desperate, futile, and detrimentally persistent efforts to complete my portfolio at an ideal rate. I wasn’t about to complete 24 art pieces as inspiration came to me, because I have always known that it might never come to me with that quota. I worked the way I did, doing one work per week, for my ego, and (I suppose) for the College Board. I would go through it again, though. Knowing what I do now about working for the purpose of my own learning and interests rather than that of my already-sizeable ego or some compulsion to compete with myself, I feel like whatever areas of study I take on from now on will have more meaning. I definitely grew and figured out who I am as an artist this year, but because of my own failure rather than success. I was ego-climbing through a subject that once allowed me to be “here,” that allowed me to control wherever “here” was with each assignment I had weeks to work on. But as the rate at which I had to complete assignments took a jump, “here” was never good enough. Having four pieces completed, eight pieces completed, all twenty-four pieces completed felt the same to me--they were always “here,” and I was never satisfied with “here” to be-
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By Katrina Karl
published by the students of ‘Iolani School, 563 Kamoku St., Honolulu, HI 96826. Established 1923, printed at Hawai’i Hochi. Imua ‘Iolani accepts advertising on a space available basis. Rates are $100 for 1/2 page, $60 for 1/4 page, and $35 for 1/8 page ads. Please e-mail iolaniimua@gmail.com for more information. Include “advertising” in the subject line.
t s si n ce
On the ups and downs of ego-climbing
Imua ‘Iolani is
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May 29, 2009
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Sports
Imua ‘Iolani
Iolani’s Finest ...
Ms. and Mr. PicturePerfect Pin Keiko Akamine Thanh Vu Mr. Raider Fanatical Robert Tamai
Mr. Grand Slam JR Bunda
Ms. and Mr. Gun Show Olivia Fatongia Chase Weber
Ms. and Mr. Power swing Nikki Castel Spencer Choy
Ms. and Mr. Sky High Emily Shiraki Taylor Donavan
all photos by Bianca Bystrom | Imua ‘Iolani
May 29, 2009
Sports
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(Continued from page 4)
Mr. and Ms. Speedster Geramiah Simoes Giulia Anderson
Mr. Golden Arm Kellen Imada
Boy’s golf wins first state title in 18 years By Robert Tamai
Photo Courtesy of Richard and Linda Chan
Perfecting his swing, Lorens Chan ‘12 watches his ball sail through the air during practice.
Eighteen. The number of holes on a golf course, and also the number of years that ‘Iolani has gone without a golf state title. In a sport that focuses on individual performances, teamwork was the key to success for the ‘Iolani boys’ golf team at the Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course on Maui on May 13. Relying on experience and consistency, Lorens Chan ‘12 shot a 2-over to win the individual golf state title; edging out teammate David Fink ’09 by two strokes in a back and forth battle. Led by the strong play of Chan and Fink, ‘Iolani won the 2009 HHSAA Boys’ Golf Championship with a team score of 601 strokes, 18 more than the runners-up Moanalua. At the end of the first day,
freshman Lorens Chan, who shot a 69, led by two strokes over the rest of the field. However, on the second and final day, senior David Fink surged ahead in the first 14 holes to become the leader, one stroke ahead of Chan. Entering the 15th hole, the afternoon trade winds along with the hot sun made course play more difficult and challenging as the day progressed. Running into some problems, Fink bogeyed the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes to drop two strokes behind his fellow Raider, Lorens Chan. The freshman was able to hold on to the lead with his steady hitting, securing ‘Iolani’s first individual golf title since 1994. The first and second place finishes by Chan and Fink along with excellent play from fellow Raiders Corey Kozuma ’10, Reo Saito ’11, Elliot Le ’11, and Kelly Masuda ’09 guided the Raiders to a team title. “It was a team goal (to win the state title) throughout the entire season, and I’m glad we were able to pull through,” explained team captain David Fink. “They’re a great bunch of guys who know all about teamwork.” Throughout the regular season, the boys’ golf team hardly played with all six players. Fink, a starter on the varsity volleyball team, often skipped golf because of volleyball games, while Chan was unable to make it to some tournaments because of other golf commitments. However, junior Corey Kozuma noted that “the team really molded together during the state tournament experience. It really helped us to work together, support each other, and achieve our team goal.”
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Arts and Entertainment
s s you i m l l ’ We
Imua ‘Iolani
M r . H o t o ke!
By Serena Li Mr. Richard Hotoke has dedicated 22 years of teaching band here at Iolani School. He had previously taught in New York for four years and at Maunalani High School for nine. In total, he has spent 35 years of his life teaching band. This year, at age 57, he has made the decision to retire. “It just feels like the right time,” says Mr. Hotoke. He laughs and says, “I have far outlived the national school band teacher’s life, which is four years every switch.” Hotoke feels confident in the ability of his successor, Mr. Manny Dayao, to continue the ‘Iolani band legacy. “Manny came here to substitute me a few years a g o , and the students
loved him,” Mr. Hotoke reflected. “He was also my student here at ‘Iolani. He was one of the best drum majors.” Mr. Hotoke’s most memorable moments working with Iolani were the 1997 Roosevelt Parade and the 2005 Concert Performance in Japan. He also wants to thank this year’s seniors for making his last year unforgettable. In the upcoming years, Mr. Hotoke plans to find another job. He is quite certain that he will stay in Hawaii, and even promised Mrs. Patricia Liu to help read admissions folders. Mr. Hotoke is also a passionate football fan, and proudly said that for 33 years, he never missed a single football game. Many of Mr. Hotoke’s students have been deeply attached to him, especially the juniors who feel greatly disappointed that he must leave before their senior year. Band student Michelle Ky ’10 said, “Everyone will miss Mr. Hotoke. He is a really great band teacher.”
Photos by Alyssa Muraoka and Courtney Ochi
Life lessons in song
By Kaitrin Tobin During the week of April 27, Iolani students were treated to the performance of Mr. Frank Briguglio and Mr. Chuck Nakoa during chapel. They sang several songs to students conveying the theme of “Everyone Makes Mistakes.” Mr. Briguglio tries to perform in Chapel every year. The tradition began with him and former teacher Mr. Harrison performing in Chapel usually before AP exams, and first performed in 1985. Not only do Mr. Briguglio and Mr. Nakoa enjoy performing, the students enjoy their performance.ll.
“I was told an important value while listening to some music that I found enjoyable.” sophomore Austin Strong said. Several other students echoed this idea. Andrew Zhou ‘10 said, “I thought that the performance somewhat related to our school lives, and that they had good intentions on steering us in the ‘right’ direction. It was good music.” Mr. Briguglio says that the most rewarding part of performing is the audience response. “The best part is when students I don’t even know come up to me and tell me that they enjoyed the performance.”
Imua ‘Iolani Arts and Entertainment Protecting the Pernambuco New York groove Page 7
By Bridget Tobin
In the past month, two bake sales have been organized to raise money for the endangered Pernambuco tree, which produces a wood used to make bows for stringed instruments. The tree is near extinction, causing problems for the bow-making industry and musicians. Mrs. Joan Wehrman distributed handouts to students concerning the issue. A group of students and Mrs. Wehrman organized bake sales at two orchestra concerts to support the cause. The first bake sale took
place at the Orchestra 4 and 5 concerts on April 25. Over $300 was raised and donated to the
International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative. The sec-
ond bake sale was held at the Orchestra’s 1-3 concert on May 16. “In essence, the wood of the Pernambuco adds to the very essence of musicianship. Without this incredibly valuable resource, music and all it stands for will be adversely affected,” sophomore Andrew Zhou explained. The Save the Music Tree project will continue next year, with more fundraisers at orchestra concerts and hopefully around campus. If anyone is interested in supporting the cause, please contact Mrs. Wehrman.
By Jana Dagdagan On May 24 at Hawaii Theatre, the ‘Iolani Stage Bands performed their final concert. The performance consisted of Stage Bands 1-3, the Tam Young Jazz Combo, and special guests Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. Tickets cost $10, pre-sale, and at the door. This event was sponsored in part by the Tam and Young Arts Chair at ‘Iolani School and the Resort Quest Waikiki Beach Hotel. Arturo O’Farill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra from New York City featured Arturo O’Farill on piano, Vince Cherico on drums, Tony Rosa on congas, Dean Taba on bass, Jim Seeley and Valery Ponomalev on trumpet, Ivan Renta on tenor sax, and Luis Bonilla on trombone. O’Farill, also the music director of the Jazz Orchestra was the winner of the Latin
Jazz Outstanding Achievement Award in 2003. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn College Conservatory, and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. O’Farill’s love for Latin music has influenced many musicians worldwide and has inspired musicians in both the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and in ‘Iolani’s very own Stage Bands. Each of ‘Iolani’s respected stage bands performed a few pieces of different genres, impressing the audience with diversity and skill featuring various soloists in each piece performed. Many tickets to the concert were sold weeks before the concert date, and with special guests Arturo O’Farill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the concert was a memorable event.
Dance Showcase: Picture perfect in paradise Bianca Bystrom | Imua Iolani
Students jazz with style By Jana Dagdagan and Kaela Shiigi
‘Iolani was well represented in the Hawaii High School Select Jazz Band, which performed on May 2 at the McKinley Auditorium. Five out of the 18 students chosen to be in the band were from ‘Iolani: juniors Daniel Barr on trumpet, Garrett Bodley on alto saxophone, Anders Lee on guitar, and Jason Preble on bass along with sophomore Tayler Mori on trombone. The full band rehearsed from April 27 through May 1.
Nathan Tanouye, a trombonist, composer, and director of the UNLV band, conducted the 2009 High School Select Jazz Band. Aside from directing bands and working with small ensembles, Tanouye has also performed with Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, and other well known musicians. . He wrote some of the songs that the band performed such as “Reid’s Blues” which was written for his younger brother. During some songs, Tanouye even performed along with the band. The jazz band also played with well-known local trumpet player DeShannon Higa, husband of
singer Rocky Brown, and member of the band gr00ve.imProV. arTiSts. Higa also performed during the Jazz Intersection concert held in February at Seto Hall. Both Tanouye and Higa added an interesting flare to the Select Jazz Band. Tayler Mori said, “It was a great experience to play with musicians who were all really into the music,” he said. Being a member of the High School Select Jazz Band is a great honor, and hopefully many ‘Iolani jazz musicians will be a part of it in years to come.
Alyssa Muraoka | Imua Iolani Top: Arturo O’Farill instructs the rythmn section of Stage Band 1 during an in class clinic. Bottom: Ivan Renta gives words of wisdom to the saxaphone players.
Oh, the places you’ll go!
Page 10 American University Washington, D.C. Ayesha Cooray
Class of 2009 heads for colleges near and far
Amherst College Amherst, Mass. Alexa Hettwer Amy Ko Celia Ou Arizona State University Tempe, Ariz. Nikki Castel Nicholas Christman Babson College Babson Park, Mass. Kendall Huang Mathew Shimoko Boston College Chestnut Hill, Mass. Stephanie Dote Boston University Boston, Mass. Hedee Kim Emily Saka Lani Walker Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Jordan Chang Craig Yugawa Brown University Providence, R.I. Sean Yancey Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, Penn. Grace McLane California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Calif. Chelsea Hardin California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Calif. Buen Hatanaka Christopher Otani Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Penn. Adeline Li Lea Masatsugu Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Kahti Hughes
Duke University Durham, N.C. David Martorana
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, Calif. Andrew Atkinson Justin Ho Vincent Lim Kevin Serai Marisa Takiguchi Steven Wall Roy Yamaguchi
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - AZ Prescott, Ariz. Kevin Chun
Macalester College St. Paul, Minn. Annie Rian
Emerson College Boston, Mass. Misha Han Emmanuel College Boston, Mass. Alton Choy
Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colo. Alana Calhoun Creighton University Omaha, Neb. Rance Fujiwara Brandon Kanetani Leslie Kinoshita Samuel Kor Dylan Lee Ryan Yamada
Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, Mary. Karli Wade
Emory University Atlanta, Geor. Katie Lee
Harvard University Cambridge, Mass. Robert Tamai Uyanga Tsedev Hofstra University Hempstead, N.Y. Maile Scarpino Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, Ill. Jonathan Taketa Indiana University at Bloomington Bloomington, Ind. Richard Yu Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Mary. Julia Zhang Kenyon College Kenyon, Ohio Laurel Ota
Kapiolani Community College Honolulu, Hawaii Lindsey McGinn Leeward Community College Kaneohe, Hawaii Kasai Naiwi Lehigh University Bethlehem, Penn. Keiko Akamine Yasmin Kheradpey Lewis & Clark College Portland, Ore. Elysia Gabe
Trinity College Hartford, Conn. Tarah Sullivan
Pitzer College Pomona, Calif. Travis Muraoka
Tufts University Medford, Mass. Lianne Ho
Princeton University Princeton, N.J. Melody Lindsay Jessi Saylors
University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colo. Peter Kagawa
Reed College Portland, Ore. Stephen Stack Saint Mary’s College of California Moraga, Calif. Kirsten Adams
Middlebury College Middlebury, Ver. Amelia Linsky
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, Calif. Ho Joon Cha Nicole Endo Alex Gao Erika Kim Reyn Kimura Tamlyn Maruyama Presley Pawn Elyse Shimomura Samantha Tasaki
Musicians Institute Hollywood, Calif. Christopher Llarenas
Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Wash. Brandi Hayashi
New York University New York, N.Y. Kai Chen Taylor Donovan Sachiko Pettit
Seattle University Seattle, Wash. Ashley Furuta Samantha Robyn Totoki Maxx Toyama
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Mass. Grant Iwamoto
Gonzaga University Spokane, Wash. Megan Jackson Megan Oshiro Taylor Yamashita
Chapman University Orange, Calif. Leyna Esaki Mathew Brady Angelica Raquel Chaz Silva Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colo. Kelly Masuda
Marist College Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Melissa Lee Matthew Murayama Bridget Schowalter Allison Turgeon
Pepperdine University Malibu, Calif. Kyle Shiroma
Northeastern University Boston, Mass. Sean Scott Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Ariz. Joshua Schretenthaler Occidental College Los Angeles, Calif. Lauren Baba Spencer Choy Kellen Imada Drew Limm Keri Nakama Laurie Nitta Reid Sakamoto Pablo Warner Brenton Yuen Oregon State University Corvallis, Ore. David Fink Marcus Joy Matthew Kagawa Jared Lum Hannah Smith
United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, Colo. Keith Lum Trenton Manson Mark Rulona United States Military Academy West Point, N.Y. Brandon Ball Joey Durso United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Mary. Tyler Mulloy Geramiah Simoes University of California at Berkeley Berkeley, Calif. Marissa Sakoda Kevin Tanaka University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, Calif. Julia Horie Alyssa Ochiai Eve Tang University of Chicago Chicago, Ill. Zoe Petticord
Southern Oregon University Ashland, Ore. Jordan Tacon
University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder, Colo. Matthew Martines Daniel Mitchell
St. Olaf College Northfield, Minn. Emily Shimkus
University of Denver Denver, Colo. Steven Van Lier Ribbink
Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas Joridan Sele
University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii Breland Almadova Jenna Arnold Zipporah Balete Emma Ching Alice Chow Andy Chung Alexis Fairly Royce Furukawa Matthew Hirokane Brandon Kumabe Jeffery Kwock Jackie McMillan Benjamin Menor Erika Nana Kaci Onouye Elizabeth Robinson Kelly Sakuda Travis Sato Sky Takemoto Todd Tashima Blaire Tolentino Blake Tolentino Chelsea Tomita Pamela Toshi John Tsuji Nicole Yakuma
The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Carolyn McGinnis The University of Arizona Tucson, Ariz. Kevin Duong The University of Montana, Western Dillon, Mont. Keenan Hoohuli The University of Texas, Austin Austin, Texas Jonathan Wong
Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, Wash. Matthew Koyama
Towson University Towson, Mary. I’ishah Keliikoa
Pacific University Forest Grove, Calif. Niklas Streng
Trinity University San Antonio, Texas Abigal Geary Emily Shiraki
University of British Columbia Vancouver, B.C., Canada Jon Carlile Erin Nakashima University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, Ill. Mark Teramoto University of Miami Coral Gables, Fla. Thanh Vu University of Nevada, Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nev. Brock Granger University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colo. Tyler Yamamoto University of Oregon Eugene, Ore. Samantha Sotomura
Page 11 University of San Francisco San Francisco, Calif. Asha Allen Stephanie Chun University of the Pacific Stockton, Calif. Gigi Chan Mitchell Nagata Shanna Tashiro Keli Umeda Gavin Yorimoto University of Washington Seattle, Wash. Giulia Anderson Maya Krek Elysse Tom Cara Tseng Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tenn. Samuel Weschsler Villanova University Villanova, Penn. Chad Kuwana Shantha McKinlay
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Penn. Emily Kuo Diana Lu University of Portland Portland, Ore. JR Bunda Nicholas Chun Brittney Guro Rebecca Kagami Kelli Ann Lum Rachelle Nilo Andrew Takahashi
Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, Mo. Kristelle Aisaka Anya Liao Kelly Pang Andrew Yu
University of Puget Sound Tacoma, Wash. Janice Biernacke Chase Hu Trent Miyashiro Paul Nakamoto Hiroki Tokuyama
Weber State University Ogden, Utah Kela Marciel
University of Redlands Redlands, Calif. Amber Chun
Westmont College Santa Barbara, Calif. Kelli Ching
University of Richmond Richmond, Va. Mitsuo Kinoshita
Wheaton College Wheaton, Ill. Hanna Pang
University of Southern California Los Angeles, Calif. Shantel Asada Marie Calvet Sarah Fang Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka Winston Huang Ju Eun Jang Katrina Karl Carolyn Li Sean Maekawa Erin Manago Kelsey NaPier Nina Park Jeffrey Sakamoto Jana Tokuhama Chase Weber Emily Yamamura Monika Young
Whitman College Walla Walla, Wash. Stephen Toyofuku Danielle Wilson
University of San Diego San Diego, Calif. Dana Adachi Reyn Nagamine
Wesleyan University Middletown, Conn. Lindsay Kosasa
Willamette University Salem, Ore. Carl Gibson Christopher Tokeshi Yale University New Haven, Conn. Zachary Simao UH-Manoa or BYU-Hawaii Oli Fatongia Chaminade or UH-Manoa Tami Konishi
Features
Page 12
Aesthetics, Academics, and Athletics:
Imua ‘Iolani
Scores and saves in athletic spending
Amelia Linsky | Imua Iolani One percent of the annual school budget goes to athletic expenses, but different sports receive different amounts. By Emily Saka This year, the ‘Iolani economics team took second place at the National Economics competition while the softball and baseball teams became ILH champions. These accomplishments are just some of the many diverse successes that ‘Iolani prides itself on and strives to continue achieving. However, various concerns have arisen around campus about the ways in which the school balances funding for its academic and athletic programs as well as the in-
dividual attention it gives to each sport. Headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita tried to tackle some of the more sensitive issues. “We’re trying to attract students with diverse interests and talents,” Dr. Iwashita said in regards to the school’s admission goals. Therefore, as ‘Iolani would do for promising scholars and artists, the school tries its best to provide for athletes in need of financial aid. Dr. Iwashita said that ILH rules dictate that participating athletes are disqualified from league ac-
tivities if they receive an athletic scholarship. The operational costs of ‘Iolani’s athletic programs take up approximately 1 percent of the school’s annual budget. Included in these costs is the money spent for things like uniforms and equipment. This does not include the salaries for the athletic directors and coaches. Dr. Iwashita says that no matter the success of ‘Iolani’s athletic teams in a given year, this total operational cost doesn’t tend to greatly fluctuate from year to year. He also said that every time ILH
teams utilize ‘Iolani facilities, the school receives monetary credit. This helps to lessen the operational cost. However, Dr. Iwashita admits, “There is a disparity in the total amount of money spent for each sport.” Football, for example, is an expensive sport that requires uniforms and equipment for a large number of athletes. In order to make things fairer amongst the sports teams, a team that requires less monetary expenditures, like the wrestling team, is given exclusive use of a large room. There is also an athletics-wide rule that no team is allowed to go on an out-of-state trip for two consecutive years. Because ‘Iolani doesn’t help students fund any of these trips, the policy helps to keep costs lower for parents. When asked why the school doesn’t cover the costs of these trips, Dr. Iwashita said that the total travel costs would raise the amount of money coming out of the pockets of every ‘Iolani family, most of whom wouldn’t benefit from a trip. Many student athletes, like those surveyed from track, baseball, and tennis teams, are generally satisfied with the amount of money given to their sport. However, Keiko Akamine ’09 and other wrestlers are less than pleased with what their team is given. “We’re basically using the same
uniforms our coaches used in high school,” Akamine said. “We don’t even have our own sweats. We have to use track sweats.” And some activities that demand athletic ability don’t fall under the definition of sports. Angelica Raquel ’09, who was sporting a large bruise at the time of the interview from an intense dance practice said, “Because we aren’t considered a sport, we don’t get funding.” Amber Chun ’09 added, “We have to pay for our own costumes, which can be about $70 each.” It seems as though conflicts with athletic spending will take a while to be resolved. There are obvious disparities and policies that need revising in order for all student athletes to receive the best experiences possible. While the program strives to be as fair as possible to all students, as ‘Iolani’s teams continue to reach new athletic heights, it is clear that there is room for improvements in the program. This article is the final piece in a three-part feature investigating the financial decisions made in our school‘s community. “Athletics” sheds light on the various uses of resources for athletic improvement from the perspectives of both the administration and ‘Iolani students.
What happened to Mrs. Au Hoy? By Kirsten Peterson Mrs. Maria Au Hoy, an energetic Chinese teacher, was walking with two students to the Religion Room in Lower School when she was struck with a soccer ball. “It had hit me hard enough to send me airborne and I landed on the hard cement that made me immobile,” she says. She fell on her right side, breaking her humeral head bone, her sacrum, and her pelvis in two places. Thankfully, Mrs. Au Hoy is recovering.
“I am optimistic and look forward to a full recovery.” ~ Mrs. Au Hoy “I am very grateful for the extremely quick response from our school nurse, Mrs. Shannon Yonamine, and many Lower School teachers and staff,” says Mrs. Au Hoy. “I have made good progress since the accident and am now walking with a walker but have not quite graduated to a cane. I
am thankful that I have always been very active and healthy. My regular exercise routines, yoga and marathon training, have ensured my good reflexes and strong muscles. I am optimistic and look forward to a full recovery.” Mrs. Au Hoy will definitely be back next year. She hopes to be able to pursue her regular activities. She’s thankful for the banner and cards that students and teachCordelia Xie | Imua Iolani ers have made for her, as well as the “One Team” spirit that sup- Students have been urged to take precautions to avoid catching H1N1 virus, called “swine flu.” ported her through recovery. “‘Don’t worry, be happy!’ might sound cheesy but that’s how I see myself in this inciwater’s edge in the basin of the change. “We were just interdent,” says Mrs. Au Hoy. “I want By Amelia Linsky fountain and the inner wall encas- ested,” said Mrs. Fujinaka. “We to give my most sincere thanks to harvested samples and ran solu“Autumn Leaves,” a sculpture ing the copper leaves. all of you for your prayers and get Several juniors who frequent bility tests. We were trying to dewell wishes. I miss school very donated by local artist Satoru the area had noticed the staining. termine if it was some complex much. I think this is the most dif- Abe, has undergone several color The purple, said Jackie Moion.” However, without knowing ficult part of my recovery period changes during its tenure as the steller ’10, is “pretty.” the composition of the sculpture, that I am not able to carry out my Weinberg fountain. When it was Amy Lee ‘10 agreed, but she said, “We didn’t find anything daily commitment as a classroom installed upon the building’s comsaid, “I’m not sure about the ring conclusive. It is some sort of copteacher. I miss each and every one pletion in 2003, the fountain aged, around the water.” per compound.” of you—my Chinese students, as intended, from bright copper to Jaimie Fong ’10 preferred the Mr. Glenn Ching, Director of my homeroom kids, and all the a mature green patina. According purple color of the leaves, but Finance, said the school had been faces that I greet each day. As this to the ‘Iolani web site, the leaves commented, “I heard someone unaware of the purple staining school year is coming to closure comprise more than 500 copper put purple dye in the fountain.” but said there may be maintesoon, I wish you all a very suc- pieces, and the fountain wall is Mrs. Pamela Fujinaka’s AP nance work in the future, at least cessful ending of the school year composed of Philippine coral. Chemistry class devoted a class for the non-copper portions of the The latest color change to a and very happy summer. You period to testing the fountain to fountain. distinctive purple has stained the earned it!” discover the reason for the color
Weinberg fountain goes purple
Lower and Middle School Mr. O’s retirement plans
Page 13
Imua ‘Iolani
Thoughts on an old campus mixup
By Kyle Kim After 39 years as the Dean of Lower School, Mr. Frederick Okumura is retiring after next year. Mr. Okumura is a son of ‘Iolani who has always been part of the Iolani community. When he first began to work as an Iolani counselor, there were only two counselors in the entire upper school. He was the Dean of Lower School for many years, and over the years he has earned the earnest respect of parents, faculty members, and students. Eigth grade counselor Mr. Peter Okumura is Mr. Frederick Okumura’s younger brother. He shared his thoughts on his brother and his upcoming retirement: How was Mr. Okumura as an older brother? “He was a nice brother…most of the time.” What is he going to after his retirement?
“Probably knit sweaters for me.” Really? “Nah.” Are you going to miss your brother? “I will miss him because we always talk. It’s nice working together with your brother.”
just nods and smiles when that happens.”
Dr. Inouye speaks about the mixup: Are you often mistaken for Mr. Okumura? “It happens a lot. Here not only students confuse us, but parents, alumni, and new faculty An old campus mixup [do]. It happens frequently, so we Mr. Peter Okumura speaks of don’t bother correcting. I guess his brother’s being mistaken for we have a common face. Similar Dr. Iwashita and ‘Iolani physics age. He is a year older than I am. teacher Dr. Carey Inouye: I have more gray hair.” Would you say your brother Any fun mixup stories? looks a lot like Dr. Iwashita? “I correct people and they “No, no, no. My brother looks don’t believe me; after a couple like Dr. Inouye. He was always times I stopped correcting.” confused for Dr. Inouye. When I What are your thoughts on Mr. went to school here, even I con- Okumura’s retirement? fused Dr. Inouye for my brother. “Well, I envy him. It’s well Dr. Inouye was at autoline, but deserved. He spent almost his I thought he was my brother so entire working career here at ‘IoI waved at him and said hi but I lani. He has earned the respect of later found out that he wasn’t my the children and the respect of the brother. People have actually parents and faculty. He is going sat down next to my brother and to be one of those faculty memPhoto courtesy of Mr. Peter Okumura started talking to him thinking he bers who is hard to replace, but I Mr. Okumura (right) pictured in a Christmas card taken with forwas Dr. Inouye. He told me he still envy him.” mer ‘Iolani chemistry teacher Mr. John Kim (left), and Dr. Carey Inouye (middle).
Kindergartners prepare for next year What do you think about entering the first grade? “It’s like different from kindergarten, so I think it might be fun.” Kyoishi Ariyoshi ‘21
How is first grade different from kindergarten? “Oh well…yeah…You could do more special things like art and swimming in PE. I will miss first grade. But I am really excited for second grade.” Mia Watanabe ‘20 Are you ready for first grade? “I don’t want to go to first grade because they have lots of homework. I am scared of homework. I want to play.” Jacob Seto ‘21 Are you sad because your class is moving on? “I am always sad, it always go too fast because just when you get to known them really well they move on. They will always be our kids. It’s been a great year.” Mrs. Gravelle
Mrs. Gravelle reads a story to her kindergarten class.
Kyle Kim | Imua Iolani
Rising seventh graders, middle school students recognized in chapel services
Photos by Courtney Ochi and Joey Fala Sixth graders take the seniors’ pews in chapel in the symbolic Moving Up Ceremony on May 21; seniors look on outside (top). Seventh and eighth graders gathered to recognize peers for their character and making ‘Iolani a better place earlier in April (above).
Imua ‘Iolani Lighter Side Advice from a hopeful and unfunny person
Page 14
By Stephen Stack I’ve learned a lot from my years at ‘Iolani, which is a wretchedly boring way to start, but it’s true and the opposite would just be disheartening. As a senior, it is my duty to pass on what I’ve learned to the underclassmen and to my fellow seniors. I must apologize, as the editor of lighter side, for not writing anything terribly funny, but I’m executing my prerogative as editor to do more or less whatever I please and shifting my tone to one of “very serious business.” Listen: I can offer little advice on what you should know for your remaining time at ‘Iolani and for the remainder of your life. I have too many thoughts, intertwined with emotions and doubts, than I can find words for. I have six free periods with my AP classes over, and the excessive free time makes me too apathetic to think straight. With that said, the only thing I can tell you that would be of any use is to avoid overgeneralizations. This is the part where I tell you to dismiss racial and cliquerelated stereotypes, as you have no doubt heard countless times from after school specials, school assemblies, and every media facet
that society has to offer. However, let me touch on another point. Do not ever generalize yourself. Do not deposit yourself into a slot you will not be able to climb out of, but rather embrace your individualism. Do not sacrifice the ability to mold yourself for the ease of handing off your personal formation to others, who can only carve you into a one-dimensional entity. Shield yourself from these attempts to conform you to a certain way of thinking. I don’t mean practice nonconformity as a general rule; recognize that whatever group you find yourself in—a school, a country, a small circle of friends—generalizations will be attempted on you, and you must recognize and debunk them. Question all labels; make sure all actions and rationales are valid for any statement made. Conforming to a standard because it is logical and uncompromising is not blind orthodoxy, but rational thinking, and in the same way you must trust only your own reason. Above all you are an individual. You are responsible for your actions and you are the one who determines your future. Others will lay out paths for you, and they will lay out paths for others. What you must keep in mind is not sim-
ply to choose the most commonly trod path or the one less traveled, but rather to choose the path the most appeals to your own personal convictions and rationale. I won’t pretend to know what your personal path should be; I won’t pretend that finding it and staying on it will be by any means easy; and I certainly won’t pretend that you are guaranteed happiness at
the end of it. All I can promise is that finding that path will lead you closest to fulfillment, and although you must follow it as an individual, you may find others to help you along, and in turn it is your duty to help them. I’ve barely touched on everything I want to get across to you, on all that I wish I could make you all understand. Even what
I’ve conveyed is not nearly specific enough to be terribly useful, but I’ve got to keep trying. What I keep coming back to is a quotation; it goes like this: Kurt Vonnegut once asked his son, Mark Vonnegut, what he thought the meaning of life was, to which he replied something like, “We’re here to help each other through this thing, whatever it is.”
Comic by Cordelia Xie
CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS!! SIX YEARS OF HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF ~ THE FIRST EVER ‘IOLANI LACROSSE CLUB! BEST WISHES: Brandon, Craig, Joey, Jonathan, Jordan, Kevin, Matthew, Nick, and Stephen.
Underclassmen ~ Keep the tradition alive and never give up! Guthrie, Kendall, Sean, John, Joey, Kyle and Drew, thanks for “taking a chance” and being the change!
Sports
Page 20
Imua ‘Iolani
Coach Dean’s legacy: An ILH title By Iris Kuo
This year’s varsity baseball ILH title puts an exclamation point on the tenure of coach Dean Yonamine, who has announced he will step down after this season. The last time ‘Iolani won the title was in 1997, the first year Mr. Yonamine was head coach of the varsity baseball team. Mr. Yonamine, a sixth grade teacher, comes from a baseball family. His father, cousins, and uncles were baseball coaches or players. His main influence came from his uncle Wally Yonamine, who is in Japan’s professional Baseball Hall of Fame and whose foundation is the title sponsor for the state tournament. Mr. Yonamine’s coaching career began in 1984 when he started coaching summer baseball at ‘Iolani while playing for UH. He decided to pursue the coaching route instead of continuing to play baseball. Mr. Yonamine first became a coach at ‘Iolani while attend-
ing UH. When he finished his degree in economics and marketing in 1988, he realized that he wouldn’t have enough time to coach if he continued in that direction. He said he told Mr. Eddie Hamada, “I want to come back to ‘Iolani to teach and coach.” Mr. Hamada told him he would have to go back to college to earn his teaching degree, which Mr. Yonamine said was the best advice he’s ever gotten. Mr. Yonamine had to plan his classes in the morning so that he’d be able to coach in the afternoon. When he received his degree in 1990, his first teaching job was at Radford High School, where he coached their junior varsity team. Radford’s administrators wanted Mr. Fred Okumura offered him the sixth grade social studies position in 1991, and Mr. Yonamine took over from Mr. Tate Brown, current Dean of Students. After all his years of coaching, Mr. Yonamine has decided
Tennis doubles takes states By Robert Tamai For senior Kyle Shiroma and junior Brent Hashiba, anything is possible with a tennis racket in hand. After a two and half hour match, Shiroma and Hashiba claimed the 2009 HHSAA Boys’ Doubles Tennis State Title, upsetting the ILH Champion and top seeded team from Punahou in three sets: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Shiroma and Hashiba began the varsity season as the 3rd doubles team for ‘Iolani. Despite a disappointing straight sets lost to Punahou in the regular season, the duo continued to work hard and improve their games; even taking private lessons on the weekend to supplement their weekday team practices. “Kyle kept me motivated throughout the season and forced me to work harder on my tennis,” explained Hashiba. However, everything seemed to click for Shiroma and Hashiba as the tennis post-season neared. Entering the ILH Post-Season as the eighth seed, the tandem first upset the top seeded and fellow teammates Devin Anderson ’10 and Spencer Choy ‘09 in the quarterfinals, and then steam rolled their way
onto the ILH finals until they were stopped by Punahou’s Erik Pang and Hiroshi Hikida in a close three set match. Two weeks later, Shiroma and Hashiba faced the same Punahou team in the state finals. This time, they looked to avenge their loss and finish the season on top. After stumbling early and losing the first set 4-6, the Raiders quickly stepped up their game and never looked back; winning the second and third sets in commanding fashion. Kyle Shiroma credited his teammates, especially his partner, for the win saying, “throughout the whole season, my teammates were very supportive, and we all worked hard up until the very end.” Shiroma and Hashiba won Iolani’s first boys’ doubles state tennis title in 39 years. Their win added eight team points to give ‘Iolani a total of 17 and a runner-up finish in the 2009 Tennis State team title. Meanwhile, Nikki Castel ’09 and Bobbi Oshiro ’12 finished as runners-up in the Girls’ Doubles bracket to lead the ‘Iolani Girls’ tennis team to a third place finish with six team points.
Bianca Bystrom | Imua ‘Iolani
Senior Reyn Nagamine slams one in a game against Punahou. This year’s baseball team was led to great success by retiring coach Mr. Dean Yonamine. “it’s a good year to go out.” He says he’s gotten to know about six of the players pretty well after coaching them for three or four years. Now that they’re all graduating, it’s time to move on. He’s not leaving ‘Iolani, though; Mr. Yonamine will still be a sixth grade Social Studies teacher here, but instead of
coaching, he’s looking forward to traveling to see some of the seniors play in college. Mr. Jason Arakaki (‘87) will be taking his place, and Mr. Yonamine is glad that he’s leaving his team in such good hands. “I always tell the players, ‘if baseball were that easy, everyone would make $250,000 like
the pros,” Mr. Yonamine said. “Baseball is 75 percent hard work, dedication, and mental toughness. You don’t necessarily have to be the greatest athlete.” He admires who the upperclassmen have become as people and looks forward to visiting them in college to watch them play.
Landmark lacrosse team finishes successfully
By Guthrie Angeles For the first time ever, members of the `Iolani Lacrosse Club were able to put together a team made up of entirely `Iolani students to represent the Raiders in the Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association (AYLA), Oahu’s top youth lacrosse club. The `Iolani Raiders Lacrosse Team, six years in the making, was able, in its first year, and with the least number of players, to come in second in the AYLA. The `Iolani Lacrosse Team plays for AYLA, a non-profit club lacrosse organization for girls and boys from 1st to 12th grade. Since its start in 2003, ALYA has grown from 60 players to 300. When AYLA first started out, only five boys from `Iolani played: Michael Murayama ’07 (who has since graduated and gone on to Notre Dame), Matthew Murayama ‘09, Craig Yugawa ‘09, Stephen Toyofuku ‘09, and Kevin Tanaka ‘09. “It was the dream of these boys in 2003 to see an all-Iolani lacrosse team by their senior year,” says Norma Murayama, Michael and Matthew’s mother. Her daughter Sarah also plays for the girls’ team. This season has definitely been a memorable one. As a member the team, I was able to experience firsthand the fast and exciting game of lacrosse. I can definitely say it is a tough one: we had several injuries during the
season, including a concussion, pulled muscles, and sprained ankles. Many of the players have walked around school with bruises the size of baseballs. “It is definitely not a sport for the faint of heart,” says Aunty Norma, who has witnessed the injuries her sons have accumulated over the years. The lacrosse team went 7-2 this season, finishing second in the AYLA. Of the sixteen players from grades 9-12 who are on the team, four had never played before, leaving the team the least experienced in the league. But even as the smallest, the team was still able to overcome all odds. “Even with so few players and a bunch of them being new to lacrosse, I still thought at the start of the season that we’d do well,” says senior goalie Stephen Toyofuku. The future of `Iolani lacrosse remains uncertain. Of the 16 players on the team, 9 are seniors. “The pressure is on the underclassmen to recruit new players for lacrosse and to continue on as an `Iolani Raiders team,” says head coach Tom Durso. The remaining members of the team also say that they feel it is their duty to continue the legacy of this 1st ever `Iolani team. Girls’ lacrosse is growing, too. Five `Iolani girls (from both Upper and Lower School) play for teams in their respective age
groups. “Girls’ lacrosse has grown so much and it’s great for meeting new people,” says freshman Sarah Murayama. “Lacrosse is just an all-around fun sport.” The chance for `Iolani lacrosse to become an actual ILH sport may come sooner than later. In order for a sport to qualify as ILH, three teams made up entirely of students from ILH schools must compete. Currently Punahou and ‘Iolani, combined with the Wolfpac team (made up mostly of players from Midpac, but also from other ILH and OIA schools) participate. With the popularity of lacrosse growing, all hope that it will become widespread as a high school sport. Congratulations to all the lacrosse players for all their hard work and especially to the seniors who, after six years have finally seen their dream of an `Iolani lacrosse team come true. The `Iolani Lacrosse Team would like to express their gratitude to their coaches, Tom Durso, Dean Child, and Mark Toguchi (aka “Guch”) for their guidance and mentoring. Also, a special thanks to Mrs. Norma Murayama, their very own “lacrosse mom,” for her hard work and her loving support of the team, and to the countless parents and volunteers without whom they would never have been able to have such an amazing season.