September 24, 2012 by Imua ʻIolani

IMUA ‘IOLANI

September 24, 2012 News Briefs

On Friday, August 24, Mr. David Masunaga was walking to the Faculty Lounge at about 8 a.m. when he noticed this “Stonehenge effect”, where the shadows of both poles and the sidewalk crack line up perfectly because of the sun’s position is in the sky. Said Mr. Mas. “Since this effect occurs on both sides of the Solstice, it actually occurs twice a year. It would be interesting for people to predict when the next occurrence will be (I’m not telling!).” - Claire Furukawa

Honolulu, Hawaii

Volume 88, Issue 1

From horses to Hawaii

By Matthew Beattie-Callahan

Sidewalk-henge

A Voice for Students since 1923

A rural horse trainer’s son from upstate New York, Dr. Timothy Cottrell, has come a long way. With a starched and ironed blue aloha shirt, neatly combed brown hair, rectangular glasses, and a small grin always threatening to break into a full-fledged smile, Dr. Cottrell welcomed the Imua ‘Iolani staff into his office to talk about his childhood, his education, and his experience at ‘Iolani since succeeding Dr. Val Iwashita as Head of School on July 1. Dr. Cottrell grew up on a farm in agrarian Geneseo, New York, south of Rochester. His father was a horse trainer and Dr. Cottrell often traveled with his him to races and events across the state. But following his father’s career wasn’t an option. “He wouldn’t let me do that,” Dr. Cottrell said, “He had an expression that there was already one poor man in the family, we don’t need another.” Raising and training horses, there’s always plenty to do, and Dr. Cottrell admitted he didn’t spend as much time as he should have on homework. “I would come and then go to the races at night and take care of the horses and then come home at midnight,” he recalled. “I was fortunate to be smart. I didn’t do my homework, but I always scored great on standardized tests. I kind of floated through just by paying attention

in class and it would work.” With a small chuckle Dr. Cottrell confessed that there was one class where his approach didn’t work. “I graduated in French 1. Took it for four years. Never passed once. But again for someone who didn’t do any work outside of class that is one where you need to do work outside of class to learn a language. That’s the lesson there.” In addition to growing up in a very different environment than most ‘Iolani students, Dr. Cottrell attended a high school that contrasts greatly with ‘Iolani. His school had no advanced-placement classes, and his graduating class had only 70 students. “Half the kids went to college, half the kids didn’t go to college,” he said. “It was a small public school. I wouldn’t say that the teachers were as dedicated as the teachers you guys have.” “When I think about the kind of school you guys go to, it’s really relationship-based education. There’s always an opportunity to find this person you really connect with and can be your mentor. You know, that’s not the way it was at the school I went to. It was 3 o’clock and everyone went home.” However, despite the lack of opportunities available to him, Dr. Cottrell was in the 50 percent of his class who went on to college. He enrolled in Syracuse University, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. During college, Dr. Cottrell’s approach to learning underwent a

complete transformation. “I didn’t become a good student until I went to college. When I went to college the interesting thing was it kind of got flipped over. Most of the other kids who went to college had been studying really hard and then there is all this freedom and they stopped working as hard. “ “And college just completely made sense to me as a place where I’m here to study and work really hard. And I worked really hard in college. I became a really dedicated student there, that’s pretty much all I did. I think episodically for me, I didn’t become the kind of students you guys are already until I went to college.” Dr. Cottrell’s work ethic paid off. After receiving his degree from Syracuse, he was accepted into Princeton University to pursue a master’s degree. He eventually earned a doctorate in chemical engineering from Princeton. Throughout his career in education, Dr. Cottrell still has not lost his penchant for hard work. He continues to devote great amounts of time and effort to his new job at ‘Iolani. “Since school has started I get up about 3 in the morning.” said Dr. Cottrell, who is married to Lisa Cottrell and father of Connor ‘20 and Sean ‘22. “I work as hard as you guys probably do in terms, I have to prep in the morning and

get ready for the day.” For all of the differences between Dr. Cottrell’s high school experience and those of most ‘Iolani students, both are rooted in an understanding that only hard work will lead to success. “My life experience also speaks to the fact that hard work is a large part of achieving anything.” he said. “Growing a work ethic and knowing that is a big part of the game.” Referring to his sons, who are now part of the ‘Iolani student body, Dr. Cottrell observed, “I’m happy that they are going to have to learn that here.”

Still a teacher at heart

By Matthew Beattie-Callahan

Sesquicentennial Campus appearance has changed in a multitude of ways as the school celebrates its 150th anniversary, including these vivid banners that adorn the Upper School autoline.

Index

A&E-- 5 Editorials-- 2 Features-- 1 & 3 Honors Day-- 8-11 Lower-- 12 New Teachers-- 6 & 7 Sports-- 4

It was at Princeton University, while working towards his doctorate in chemical engineering, that Dr. Timothy Cottrell discovered that his true passion was teaching. “I liked teaching more than I liked engineering. . . . While in grad school, I started a tutoring business and I used to go and tutor high school students every day of the week, usually five hours a night. So, I was out all the time tutoring high school students in math and sciences. At the same time, I was teaching at Princeton and won a bunch of teaching awards.” After graduating in 1993, Dr. Cottrell created two technology startup companies, but still knew that teaching was what he really wanted to do. After launching his ventures in the world of

technology, Dr. Cottrell assumed teaching and administrative duties at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. He served four years at The Lawrenceville School, then became the Head of School at The Harley School outside Rochester, N.Y. Dr. Cottrell led Harley School for six years before accepting the position of Head of School at ‘Iolani. Although Dr. Cottrell has been extensively involved in school administration throughout his career, he has not left his passion for teaching behind. “I think I’ll probably teach some classes in the Sullivan Center . . . that have to do with science and technology. That would be nice,” he said. He would also like to teach in his office. “I just had the architects in yesterday and they’re going to paint nearly that entire wall with whiteboard paint so I can have an entire whiteboard on that side of my office, and part of the intention there is so I can have classes in here.” He already has an idea of the two classes he’d like to teach. The first would look closely at how binary systems work in science, technology and life. “There are natural systems that follow a kind of binary system. In chemistry it is energy and

entropy, really the way you describe how nature works. In Asian philosophy, there is yin and yang, another binary system. “I once did a software project on this book, the I Ching. It’s a really interesting way of describing all the situations in life, using combinations of Yin and Yang. There is binary that we use in computers. There are a lot of things there that would hold a course together.” The second class would examine the cliche of “thinking outside of the box” and what it would take to literally change the way we think. “Our basic neurology focuses us on analogous thinking. We pretty much are machines that think and create by analogy of what we know and what our experiences are. That’s why it is so hard for us to think outside of that and come up with a new idea.” Acknowledging the difficulty of teaching and running a campus of nearly 1,900 students, Dr. Cottrell said he could imagine teaching the courses with one or two other faculty members who would rotate in presenting lectures. “It’d be a lot of fun, but as Head of School, it would hard because you’re running around all the time.” he said.

Editorials

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Imua ‘Iolani

Survey: do students want rail? By Lindsey Combs The rail transit controversy has been one of the most heavily disputed issues on O‘ahu, particularly in the mayoral debates. We have one of the worst traffic problems in the nation. Residents of the west side of O‘ahu are affected by this problem the most, experiencing bumper-tobumper traffic coming to and from school or work almost every day. Although rail construction has been postponed (the required assessments were not completed to assure that historical Hawaiian burial sites will not be disturbed), the topic is still in heated debate. The essential question is how to enable people to arrive at their destinations more quickly and to reduce the number of cars on the road. In an online survey of a hundred ‘Iolani high school students, 21 percent were “pro-rail.” The present plan for rail is an elevated, “heavy rail” steel-on-steel system that will run from east Kapolei to Ala Moana with a total of 21 stops, including the airport and

downtown. Rail’s main attraction is that the passengers will arrive at their destination on time, every time, regardless of traffic or the number of occupants. People living on the west side will be able to come to town more quickly and efficiently. In the anonymous survey, one student said, “When the streets are crowded with traffic . . . there needs to be an easier route for transportation. I personally catch the bus to school and back home, and if rail was in use today, my life would be much easier, and I would have a safer and faster way to go to school and home.” Despite these favorable points supporting rail, an overwhelming 70 percent of surveyed students are against the present plan for rail transit, with 9 percent having no opinion in the rail issue. Students’ main points of dislike include the rail plan’s cost, its route, and its effect on the O‘ahu skyline. In the same anonymous survey, one student pointed out, “Hawaii is increasing (its) debt by pouring billions of dollars into the rail project . . . on a system that half the people in the state don’t like and probably aren’t going to use.” The estimated cost for the project is $7 billion. In the survey,

another student said, “One of the biggest reasons for traffic jams are the UH students, so there should be a stop by the university.” Another student asserted the need to “keep the country, country.” The anti-rail view also includes the thought that building an elevated rail would make O‘ahu look ugly and ruin the view. There are a few alternatives to the present plan. Instead of a heavy rail system, the state could build a light rail system, which would have the same benefits as heavy rail, except that it would be on the ground. This would make it blend with the landscape better, and it would also cost much less than heavy rail, especially to extend to UH. Another alternative would be to have no rail whatsoever. Of the survey respondents, 38 percent are against any rail; instead, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) could be implemented. This plan would improve Oahu’s bus system by increasing the amount of buses, especially direct and express buses, on the road, creating separate bus lanes, and adding more seats. Hawaii already has one of the best and most used bus systems in the country, so we might as well improve on our strengths instead of

adding a system that may not even work or reach enough people. BRT would cost over $1 billion, still 86 percent less than the cost of heavy rail. This system would improve traffic island-wide, instead of just from the west side to Ala Moana. Plus, the bus routes are flexible enough to meet future needs, whereas rail would literally be “set in steel.” Even though a lane would be taken up at a few points along a route, if BRT were executed well enough, more people would take the bus, and the lane would not be necessary. The main question in the rail dispute is whether or not it will work. This depends on which solution will be more widely supported: heavy rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, or no rail. Which one will make more people want to use it on their daily commutes? Which one will give residents the most for their money? The best and safest solution is Bus Rapid Transit, as it is affordable, flexible, and already has high ridership. Our state cannot afford the additional burden of constructing a rail transit system. People already know and love our bus system; it’s better to enhance what we already works than to depend on a plan with too many drawbacks.

Seniors: Make this year ‘in tents’ By Lauren Goto

To the Graduating Class of 2013: We, the underclassmen, apologize. When work started on the new Sullivan Center in June, the Upper School Library Building was demolished along with the lanai space that used to house what are affectionately and simply known as the Senior Benches. While the construction will bring a new facility to provide much needed class, office, and library space in the center of the Ìolani campus, it also means, at least for the time being, that the senior class will be living in a tent. Ìolani has its fair share of traditions centered around one’s senior year - Homecoming, Senior Prom, and white dresses and red neckties at graduation - but the year officially starts with the annual early morning rush to claim a spot at Benches. As tradition goes, on the first day of school, excited Seniors line up as early as 4:30 a.m. to claim a spot in line for this annual land grab. At 6:15 a.m., like the bulls at Pamplona, they’re off, running to secure a piece of coveted real estate that they can call their own at least for the rest of the year. And, once they have it, it’s theirs: the one place on the Ìolani campus where they’re guaranteed a reserved spot. For many, the Benches are a

Imua ‘Iolani is

published by the students of ‘Iolani School, 563 Kamoku St., Honolulu, HI 96826. Established 1923, printed at Hawai’i Hochi. Editors-in-Chief: Maile Greenhill Maya Stevens

News Editors: Matthew Callahan Claire Furukawa Features Editors: Alanna Simao Jaylene-Rose Lee Arts & Entertainment Editors: Chanelle Huang Cassie Busekrus Opinion Editors: Lauren Goto 150th Anniversary Editor: Max Wei Middle School Editors: Emily Nomura Amy Nakamura Lower School Editors: Lindsey Combs David Pang Sports Editors: Brittany Amano Carrie Ann Randolph Video/Hiki No: Ashley Mizuo Sarah Zhang Korry Luke Photo Editors: Anna Brandes Lia Ho Kekoa Morris Staff Writers: Sarah Oyadomari Daniella Kim Kyla Smith Pascha Hokama Kady Matsuzaki Advisers: Ms. Lee Cataluna Mr. John Tamanaha

The Senior Benches can be found on the lawn in front of the Art Building. Lauren Goto | Imua Iolani dedicated place other than the College Counseling Office where the senior class can hang out, eat lunch, study, and, perhaps most importantly, bond. Senior status represents the culmination of years of hard work and studying; as a hard-working junior I know that by this time, the seniors have earned their status as “top dogs,” “big men/women on campus,” and “The Graduating Class.” Granting the seniors their Bench-

es is the school’s way of setting them apart and giving them a space to enjoy what’s left of their high school experience. However, there’s no opportune time for construction, and this year’s graduating class was given the short end of the stick. As a member of next year’s graduating class, I know that I stand to benefit from their discomfort. All I can do is apologize for the inconvenience, hope for a year of

good weather with no rain, seeing as there are holes in the tent, and offer this reminder to the rest of the `Iolani community: remember what Benches must mean to this year’s seniors. Respect the space and their earned right to be in it. To the graduating class: we apologize. You have the distinction of being one of only two senior classes to be housed in a tent. Meanwhile, enjoy your time under the big top as best you can.

Imua ‘Iolani accepts advertising submissions on a spaceavailable basis. The deadline for the next issue is Oct. 15. The opinions herein expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty, staff of ‘Iolani School or the Imua ‘Iolani.

Features

Walking around

September 24, 2012

Page 3

a nd working around

By David Pang Now that the construction of the Sullivan Center is fully underway, some students may wonder how far it is between their classes. Imua ‘Iolani has the answers! Some fun facts: - We calculated the steps by using the average adult pace of two feet seven inches. -The average 120-pound person burns 65 calories per mile. If a mile is 5280 feet, then you should burn 1 calorie every 81 feet. Thus, if you walked from Nangaku to the Art Building, you would have burned around 10 calories.

From

Nangaku Weinberg Castle (front door)

Senior Benches/Art Senior Benches/Art Weinberg (library entrance) Weinberg Nangaku Stairs I-building, nearest Nangaku I-building stairs nearest Lower Gym

Nangaku Castle Castle Nangaku

Distance (ft.)

743’10’’ 650’7” 621’8”, up the stairs 441’7” 425’9” 270’2” 116’8”

Avg. Steps 287.9 251.8 240.6 170.9 164.9 104.6 45.2

Comic by Claire Furukawa | Imua Iolani “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!” -- Harry Potter

Proconsul Profiles

Tai Tomozawa What sports do you play? I play water polo (but mostly drown), soccer, and sailing (also mostly drown). What’s your favorite subject? Photography Favorite quote? “I didn’t choose the thug life; the thug life chose me.” -Tupac What’s a hobby/activity you enjoy? Cricket. What’s a pet peeve of yours? I don’t like loud chewing or crunching. Unfortunately, this conflicts directly with my love for tacos. Don’t chew obnoxiously. What has been your biggest accomplishment? I once stubbed my toe and did not shed a single tear. What goal do you have for the end of the year? My goal is to make school as fun, memorable, and engaging as possible. Getting in to college would be pretty nice too. If you were headmaster for one day what would you do? I would skip school like/as a boss. What is an activity you want ALL ‘Iolani students to participate in? Dress days. They’re so easy; EVERYONE should be able to get involved. It’s a great and fun way to show school spirit.

Favorite quote? “You better decide early on if you’re a Tigger or an Eeyore. Tiggers have fun, and you should never underestimate the importance of having fun.” Do you have a nickname? Trey-Trey, Colorblind Boy, Kid Who Got Arrested in China, Murphy’s Law What’s your pet peeve? Crooked papers posted up on walls, crooked writing on white boards, fingerprints on smart phones, different foods touching on the same plate. If you could recommend one thing for students to do this year what would it be? Take full advantage of all of the opportunities and awesomeness that will only come around this 150th anniversary year! We’ll have a lot of special things in store so stay tuned! If you were headmaster for one day what would you do? Take a day off- go beach or cook rice in the Headmaster’s House. Give me your best joke! The iPhone’s Siri stole them all! The rest are too nori... What advice would you give ‘Iolani students? Even though it seems like a hard and grueling time, enjoy everythingyour friends, teachers, and ‘ohana.... You’re Only Young Once: #YOYO?

Trey Takara

Ben Chao What sports do you play? Badminton. Do you have a nickname? Chairman Chao, Bennifer What’s a hobby/activity you enjoy? “Discussing global politics and international issues.” Give me your best joke! “How was the Roman Empire split in half? With a pair of Caesars.” Haha! What’s your pet peeve? “A lack of a sense of humor.” What activity should ALL ‘Iolani students participate in? “Model UN/Global Issues. It teaches you the skills and the knowledge necessary to be a responsible global citizen.” Is the NASA dance coming back? “Think of the NASA dance as an Icee. Too much at once and brainfreeze! We don’t like brainfreeze. It hurts. So this year, we try some chow fun instead. Haha. Chao Fun.” Favorite quote? “I am the master of my fate: / I am the captain of my soul,” or “Character is Destiny.” If you could recommend one thing for students to do this year what would it be? “Get involved. Do something you would never have done before.”

Library and A/V: becoming a family in Seto Hall By Ashley Mizuo “It’s like moving from a four bedroom house to a studio,” says Tennye Cabrera, head librarian at ‘Iolani. During final exams last year, the Ranzman Library had five days to completely move 46 years of literature and supplies to Seto Hall. Then, right after graduation, the Audio and Visual (A/V) Office made Seto Hall their new home as well. Moving into Seto Hall created similar problems for both sides, but also brought the two together to become a family. In the A/V Office, not much has changed. There has not been a significant drop in people coming to the A/V Office, but there are fewer students coming. The

reason, Cyrus Won, Director of Media Services, says is “you have to make an effort” to walk to the A/V Office. The office is located in a small corner in Seto Hall; the entrance is the door closest to the physics rooms. The new location is more out of the way than the original spot in the middle of the Upper School Campus. Not only is the A/V Office tougher to find and access, but also their space has been cut in half. The office is still in the process of organizing day-to-day necessities. All the supplies that were not able to fit in the Seto Hall were transported to the back lanai of Seto Hall and behind the press box. As for the library, the problems are similar; their space to keep books and magazines great-

ly diminished from their original location on the second floor of Ibuilding. Although there was not much space to fit all the furniture, the library only lost 50 carrels. As for space, there are no longer separate rooms for instruction. The lack of rooms make teaching classes in the library difficult, but the library staff is doing its best to keep classes as normal as possible. On top of losing several rooms, there can be no permanent installations in Seto Hall. Data cables hang from the roof and the only clocks in the Library are the original clocks from Seto Hall before the move. The most important item the library could not bring with them was the overhead projector. Fortunately, since the installation of the overhead

projector was not possible, the library received a 70-inch smart monitor instead. The biggest problem for both is the noise. Seto Hall is a performance hall, therefore the sound bounces off the wall. Walls that project sound through the room are “not good for a library,” says Cabrera. Meanwhile, the A/V Office is making a conscious effort to be quieter, but teachers often forget that on the other side of the divider is a library where students are reading and studying. Teachers and faculty are not used to having to be quiet in the A/V Office. In the past, many teachers saw the office as a place to socialize. For teachers, the combination of the A/V Office and the library is requires a change of habit.

Other than the noise, the library and the A/V Office have learned to compromise. Won insists that there is no feuding between the two groups, although there are some awkward situations. For example, the light switches for the Audio Visual Office are located on the library’s side. Sometimes, the librarians will leave for the day and turn off the lights leaving the A/V Office in darkness, not realizing that people are still working. Situations like that make the two roommates seem like siblings. Cabrera speaks of the A/V Office like family saying, “they look out for us and we look out for them.” Both have learned to compromise. “It’s actually been a lot of fun,” says Cabrera.

Sports

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Imua ‘Iolani

New coach serves up fresh game plan By CarrieAnn Randolph

The ‘Iolani Girls Volleyball program entered a new era this year. Last year, girls’ varsity head coach Jenic Tumanang decided to step down. There was buzz for months as to who the new coach would be, with the names of various club and high school coaches being tossed about. Our team is enthusiastic about having Kainoa Obrey ‘99 named head coach this year. Obrey attended ‘Iolani and graduated in 1999. While at ‘Iolani he played volleyball and baseball. His wife, Kelli Obrey, who coaches along side him, is a ’98 graduate. Before the team started to warm up for the highly anticipated game against the Punahou Buffanblu, Coach Obrey answered a few questions. Imua ‘Iolani: I know you coach for the Ku’ikahi wahine club team but have you coached high school girls before?” Coach Obrey: Yes, Coach Kelli [Obrey] and I have helped out with the HBA girl’s teams before. We’ve had the experience of coaching different age groups for the O’ahu Volleyball Club, since my wife’s mom is the head of the club. Along with coaching my sister, Taylor Dayton’s (Punahou ’13) club team, we’ve worked with girls before. Obrey has been the Assistant Director and Head Coach of Technical Development for the Ku’ikahi Volleyball Club since 2005 and the boys volleyball coach at Mid-Pacific Institute from 2007 to 2010. In 2008, he was named the ILH Volleyball co-Coach of the Year. Obrey said, “I really enjoy coaching here, being back here at ‘Iolani. It’s nice to see coaches, teachers that I had, and peers who are teachers.” Some of his classmates who are teaching at ‘Iolani are Mr. Erik Yamamoto, Mr. Kirk Uejio, and Ms. Kristin

Photo courtesy of CarrieAnn Randolph ‘Iolani Girls Varsity Volleyball team with new head coach, Kainoa Obrey ‘99, far left. Masunaga. I‘I: I heard that you plan on coaching baseball this year as well. Is that true? CO: Yes, I do and I’m looking forward to it. There may be a Division II team in the works. People usually associate me more with baseball actually than volleyball.” As a Raider baseball player, Obrey was coached by sixth grade teacher Dean Yonamine in high school and then played for Brigham Young University from 20002003. He went on to play professionally for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003. With Obrey’s arrival, there are many

new faces in the volleyball program. “We wanted to bring in people who were familiar with the background with our program or style of coaching. Alumni, especially those who were coached by Ann Kang, and anyone else who wanted to be a part of what we are trying to do,” he said. “Our motto is, ‘keep it simple.’ Simple movements are easily repeatable. “I’ll be honest, I’m very competitive,” Obrey said. “I want us to do well. But what I really want is for the kids to know how special relationships are. If you look at us [the coaches], it’s been 14 years out and

we still talk about high school. The relationships you make with people are very important.” Obrey’s words echo our alma mater: “Here friendships weave their mystic strands forever. A fellowship that time shall not defy.” The girls are quickly learning that they are not just volleyball players, but ultimately competitors. Each has something to offer to the team that will make it successful. Obrey brings an aggressive, higher level of play to the varsity team and the entire program, and the team looks forward to a great season.

U.S. women flex Olympic muscles

By CarrieAnn Randolph

the woman, and they were absolutely right. Many notable Olympic moments featured women. For the first time in Olympic history, women represented the

United States more than men making up 51 percent of the U.S. athletes (269 women to 261 men). Just 16 years ago at the Atlanta Olympics, 24 percent of the ath-

letes were women. The Olympic Charter states that “sports should Before the 2012 Summer be practiced without discriminaOlympics began, many fans were tion”, yet it wasn’t until the 30th saying that this was the year of Olympiad in London that each country would send a women a representative and each sport would have both male and female competitors. Women from Brunei, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have become trailblazers, along with competitors in boxing, which was previously a males-only sport. This remarkable achievement coincides with the 40th anniversary of Title IX, a law created by Senator Patsy Mink of Hawaii, that guarantees equal opportunity for women’s education and sports. The head of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, also mentioned with pride in his opening ceremony speech that Title IX was “a major boost for gender equality.” Female athletes did exceptionally well, most notably for Team USA. If the United States women were a country, they would have finished fifth in the total medal count and third in the gold medal count. They won 56 percent of Photo by Kirby Lee of Flickr used by permission under a Creative Commons license Team USA’s total medals and 66 The U.S. women’s 4x400 relay team struck gold this summer with a record-setting performance percent of its gold medals. by DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory, and Sanya Richards-Ross.

On the men’s side, only men’s basketball made it to the finals to win gold. Every single U.S. women’s team reached their gold medal matches. Canada’s and the USA’s women’s soccer teams battled tooth and nail to reach the finals, with the U.S. winning in the final seconds. The U.S. then faced off against Japan with a shot at redemption after its World Cup loss in 2011 and took gold. Women’s basketball and women’s water polo each earned gold, women’s volleyball the silver, and the beach volleyball gold medal match was USA vs. USA. Other sports such as gymnastics, swimming, and track and field also captured gold this year. Although medal results are often the focus of the Olympics, winning gold is not the point. The greatest thing about the Olympics is seeing the heart of the athletes, whether they are men or women. The Olympics are an event that brings the world together to enjoy friendly competition. It is a special time where we celebrate the best we can be as human beings and the possibilities for what we can be as a world.

September 24, 2012

Arts and Entertainment

Page 5

Writing ‘a tightrope walk’ By Cassie Busekrus Aaron and Jordan Kandell’s creative talents developed at ‘Iolani and continued through colleg into the film industry. The twins were co-valedictorians from the Class of ‘01, sons of ‘Iolani, and are now writing partners. Aaron and Jordan Kendall visited Ms. Lee Cataluna’s Creative Writing class on Sept. 12 to talk about their passion for writing. The brothers entered through the door with identical shoes, similar shirts, and matching smiles. When asked their names, they replied, “We would tell you, but you won’t remember!” The Kandell brothers are both graduates of the USC Film School. The sons of ‘Iolani recently sold their screenplay for the film Stranded to Paramount. Jordan described the story as “Castaway with a dog. Take out Tom Hanks and the volleyball, and you’re there.” The Kandell’s script is based on a true story of a dog that survived a sailing accident near the Australian coast

and was found on an island by its owners years later. The Kandells then gave the class a glimpse into the life of a screenwriter. “The thing about screenwriting is you have to take a picture and turn it into words. You have to take a visual image in your head and convey it to your reader. Being a screenwriter basically means you write pictures,” said Aaron. The brothers continued to emphasize the necessity of the “Show, Don’t Tell” concept in screenwriting. Jordan commented, “You have to paint a picture using words. At ‘Iolani, when my English teachers would tell me, ‘Show, don’t tell!’ I never understood what they meant. As a screenwriter, you have to use it every day.” While students at `Iolani, the twins founded the Slam Poetry Club. In college, they were originally interested in poetry, but soon came to realize that “it is a dying art” and that not many people read contemporary poetry anymore. So they took up

film because it was more modern and more appealing. The twins described themselves as “entrepreneurial” and “like the people trying to sell their products in the show Shark Tank.” Aaron explained that in the media world, “you have to come up with an idea that is so appealing that agents want you.” The screenwriting world is extremely competitive, and a large part of it depends on your connections. “Whenever you go into a meeting, on every single producer’s desk, there is a pile, a huge pile, stacked with scripts. You have to be the one to get above the pile. You have to create something so good that someone takes notice,” Jordan said. The Kandells write together, dividing a project between them and serving as each other’s editor. “We share a brain, you see,” Jordan joked. “We think the same way. Everything is collaborative, and we have the same voice.” When Ms. Cataluna asked if they fought frequently, they exchanged a glance and stated, “We

Screenwriters Jordan and Aaron Kandell work as partners on writing projects. “We share a brain, you see,” Jordan says. prefer to call it egoless arguing.” “Being a screenwriter is constantly a tightrope walk. You really have no control. The beautiful thing about being a writer, though, is that you become God of your world. You create your own world,” said Jordan. “In order to make it in the media industry, you have to love it. Only do it if you are really passionate about it.” The brothers said their time at `Iolani School gave them the foundation for their creative work. “We were here for thir-

teen years, and it taught us time management and how to work together as ‘One Team’ and was ultimately the core of our success” Aaron said. Having the class participate in a few creative writing exercises, Jordan dramatically threw his shoe on to the tile floor and directed the students to “describe the object.” As everyone’s creative description of the shoe was entirely different, Aaron observed, “You see, you can really go anywhere with a shoe.”

One Team evolves from a motto to modern media By Chanelle Huang and Danielle Huang The eyes of Ben Almadova, an ‘Iolani alumnus and former student-athlete, shine with pride as he watches the One Team documentary created by the Ìolani Raiders Boosters Club. While One Team is ever present at Ìolani School, few understand its true meaning. One Team usually conjures up ideals, such as teamwork and good sportsmanship, but rarely does it bring to mind accomplishing the impossible. When Father Bray first joined Ìolani School, the athletic program was fairly new and had not even entered into the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Father Bray, however, motivated the underdog teams to win. Father Bray’s “One Team” concept has evolved from a simple spoken phrase to a novel and now to modern media. On June 10, 2012, the film was shown at the Honolulu Museum of Arts’ Doris Duke Theater. After each of the two capacity showings, with a total of over 500 viewers, ice cream was served in Father Bray’s tradition of rewarding his student-athletes after wellplayed games. In honor of Eddie Hamada, Haagen Dazs, his favorite ice cream, was served. The making of the movie, which took 7 years to complete, was supported and funded by alumni, teachers, students, parents, friends of Ìolani, and even politicians. Future uses of the documentary, which was directed by award-winning filmmaker Tom Coffman, are being consid-

ered, but it has already been submitted to the Hawaii International Film Festival. If selected, the film will be shown in October to a statewide audience. Further use of the documentary, in the celebratory activities for ‘Iolani’s 150th anniversary, will be discussed in an upcoming meeting between the Ìolani Raiders Boosters Club and Ìolani’s Head of School, Dr. Timothy Cottrell. The Ìolani Raiders Boosters Club, whose mission is to perpetuate the One Team culture, was formed in 1962 and has sponsored many school-related activities, including the Eddie Hamada One Team Awards (“The Eddies”), which are given to student-athletes who exemplify the One Team culture. The club’s motivation for making this documentary was to preserve, promote, protect, and perpetuate the One Team culture at Ìolani and to the community. The driving force was that the old-timers, the actual student-athletes of Father Bray, are entering their late 70s and early 80s. Thus, the opportunity to preserve their testimonies to help the Ìolani community understand the true One Team culture was presented. Deciding to capture these interviews through a film and preserving it to serve as a teaching tool for the future, the club members were fortunate to be able to interview Eddie Hamada, one of the icons of Ìolani School and One Team. Lester Leu, the president and treasurer of the Ìolani Raiders Boosters Club, said, “I personally thank all the members of the Ìolani Raiders Boosters Club for persevering the seven

Photo Courtesy of ‘Iolani Raiders Boosters Club years it took to complete the documentary and also the hundreds of supporters for staying the course as well.” As a “One Team” effort, this film is credited to not just one club but rather to hundreds of supporters. In essence, the documentary shows the foundation of `Iolani and One Team. Dr. Cottrell said, “[One Team], that is something I believe in. When I interviewed for the Head of School position, I had to supply a personal statement. One of the things I wrote about was the interdependence of effort. In most cases, individual achievement is a myth. There are many people, from the past and present, who help us achieve what we achieve. One Team is a response to the myth of individual achievement. I thought One Team was a beauti-

ful, cultural manifestation of the interdependence of effort.” Calling the documentary to be “very well-made,” Dr. Cottrell said he was happy to see it. “It taught me a lot about Father Bray. I think it showed the growth of our athletic department.” Edwin Li ‘13 agrees that the film was a “comprehensive documentary,” and he feels that it gave life to Father Bray and gave him “a better idea of what he was like.” Dr. Cottrell also noted that Father Bray “was loved but also a cranky guy” and realizes that the team players “respected him so much.” Dr. Cottrell said, “We are One Team everywhere. Beyond athletics, there are places where we can find One Team. Teamwork, be-

ing a good collaborator and team leader, is going to be big in the workplace; being a teammate has more value than being a corporate climber.” Dr. Cottrell sees Father Bray’s lesson carried on through `Iolani’s future, manifesting in the new building rising up in the center of campus. “The Sullivan Center will be an example of global team leadership. The Sullivan Center will teach people about working together in the world. It will provide a collaborative environment and the evolution of the One Team spirit. Here, we will have students from `Iolani with students from Asia and other parts of the world working together.” As Dr. Cottrell said, “One Team is what distinguishes us from other schools.” For the history of the making of the documentary, go to http:// www.iolani-boosters.org.

Welcome

Page 6

Imua ‘Iolani

Mr. Robert ‘Rebus’ Bonning

New Faculty, New Faces

I grew up in Carpinteria, which is in Southern California near Santa Barbara. I have been on Oahu for 10 years. This is my eighth year teaching. In the three weeks that I have been at ‘Iolani I have been really impressed by the students and faculty. Everyone has been very welcoming and it is very heartwarming to see so many people so devoted to their school. My two favorite hobbies are reading and surfing. What animal would you be? A dog on a farm: chasing birds, sleeping in the sun, and swimming in the pond. My favorite movie is Jaws. “We’re going to need a bigger boat!”

Most recently, I taught at the Friends School of Baltimore, where I also served as the English Department Chair. Prior to Baltimore, I taught at Wilmington Friends School in Delaware and the Groton School in Massachusetts. (Moving to the island has) been great. I’ve enjoyed exploring Oahu with my family. I have three kids and they all love the beaches, the mountains, and the shaved ice. I have performed with various improv comedy troupes, including Philadelphia Comedysportz and the Baltimore Improv Group. It’s exciting to work with such thoughtful, engaged, and fun stu-

Mr. Kazumi Takemasa: Choir I am from upstate New York. Surprisingly, Mr. [John] Alexander, whom I’m filling in for, is also from upstate New York. I am from Corning and he is from Homer. This is my ninth year working in the field of education. I taught for five years in New Jersey and three years in Hawaii. I think ‘Iolani is an amazing school with great opportunities for all it’s students. The community here is overwhelmingly warm and generous. It really is a special place! I like all kinds of games. Whether it’s playing card games like Euchre, board games like Ticket to Ride, tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons or video games on my PC and consoles. I love anything that has to do with gaming. What animal would you be? I would like to be any kind of bird so I would be able to fly. Flying appeals to me because it’s one of the few things humans can’t do without the assistance of machines.

Mr. Eric Perkins: Grade 5 (Picture Unavailable before Print Deadline)

What is your favorite movie? Clerks (1994). I spent many years working at a video rental store, so I can relate to this movie a lot. Even watching it today, it’s still very funny.

I’m from Honolulu, and graduated from ‘Iolani. I have been teaching for eight years. ‘Iolani is a wonderful teaching environment! The students are so curious and enthusiastic and faculty are expert and giving of time. I’ve got two dogs to play with, and I love quilting. What animal would you be? If I were an animal, I would be a shih tzu because they are spoiled rotten (at least mine is!). What is your favorite movie? The hardest question of all! My favorite movie is Forrest Gump.

Ms. Brenda Yun English and Religion

Mr. Benjamin Lah: Associate Director of College Counseling I grew up in Upland, CA, pretty much your stereotypical California suburb with lots of skateboarders and a Walmart. My dad still lives there. Before moving to Honolulu, I was living in LA for the past eight years. I’ve worked on both sides of the college admissions process and I much prefer the college counseling side over admissions. While the art of constructing a freshman class is interesting, college counseling has been much more rewarding. I’m able to play the role of counselor, mentor, teacher, advocate, matchmaker, amateur psychologist, and confidant. Plus, I just find college admissions inherently intriguing. Each college has its own personality and the admissions process is full of subjective elements, so there’s never a dull moment. I used to visit ‘Iolani when I was recruiting for USC so I’ve known the school

I teach 5th grade language arts (for the first semester for Ms. Scheinert) I also coach intermediate football at Iolani. I graduated from Iolani in the 1990’s (I won’t say when!) and was a former police officer in California as well as in Honolulu. I enjoy spending time with my wife, 2-year-old son, and our dog. We enjoy activities like hiking and going to the beach.

from an outsider’s perspective, but working at a school is all about the people. The administrators, teachers, staff, and students I’ve met so far have made this transition much easier for me. It’s been great to teach a class, read essays, and even wake up ridiculously early to play ultimate frisbee. It’s been a nice balance. If I had to write a college essay now, I would write about my experience and impressions watching a 4th division soccer match that took place in Berlin, next door to a correctional facility. On a related note, I write a college essay every year so I suppose I should start on this... I try to stay active as possible so I play tennis, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and I recently started trying to surf. I’m also an avid music listener. I will travel just to see my favorite artists or attend music festivals. What animal would you be? The last time I took an online animal personality test (which was surprisingly recently), I ended up being an otter. But I think I’d rather be a giraffe. I’ve always wanted to be taller.

Ms. Laine Remignanti English

Photos and interviews by

I’m from here --- let’s just say you can call me a “Buff n’ Blue Raider.” I’ve been teaching for 10 years: in Boston, Palo Alto, as well as locally at Punahou, Heald College, and the University of Phoenix I really like getting to know my students. I also have some really great colleagues who’ve helped me tremendously in my first month here at ‘Iolani. I’m an avid surfer and traveler of the world. I’ve surfed all over the world and written about a lot of those experiences as a travel writer. I’m also a dog lover. I’ve fostered 10 dogs from the Humane Society. What animal would you be? If I could be any animal, I would be a bird. I’d like to see the world from above and get to places quickly. I’d never have to ride in an airplane again! My favorite movie is Forrest Gump.

Mr. Dane Camp

Math

Ashley Mizuo, Claire Furukawa, Cassie Busekrus, and Alanna Simao

Mr. Alan Yeh M

ath I grew up in Hawaii. Prior to coming to ‘Iolani, I taught for 10 years at Hawaii Baptist Academy. I think ‘Iolani is a great place for both students and teachers to learn and grow as individuals. Particularly impressive and inspiring is ‘Iolani’s spirit of excellence, humility, and community. Most of all, I am really enjoying the students I have this year. I find them to be very respectful, excited about learning, fun, and hard working. I don’t really have a hobby, but I do enjoy hanging out with my friends and supporting my students in their athletic events and performances outside of class. What animal would you be? I would be a dog because I love dogs, and because they have the funniest expressions ever. Also, the way they can dry themselves off so well with their furious shaking is both mind-blowing and awesome. Who wouldn’t want to be able to do that?! What is your favorite movie? Mr. Holland’s Opus -- It’s a movie about how we each have a calling in life that may or may not fit nicely in our initial, well-intentioned plans. It’s also about the difference a teacher can make in the lives of his students.

Page 7

History

I was born and raised on Maui (Baldwin High School) This is my first year teaching, though I have taught writing workshops and classes over the last several years. I was Keables Chair here at Iolani in 2004. I have taught creative writing to little kids, teachers and inmates. (Teachers are tougher students than inmates!) I just got my MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing from UC Riverside (Like, I just got my thesis approved last week). My undergraduate degree is from the University of the Pacific in lovely Stockton, CA I love ‘Iolani. I fell in love with the school when I was part of the Keables program, and I made it my goal to come back and teach. I love that the expectation we have for ourselves and for each other is of excellence. I love that we help each other to do our best. I don’t have a hobby per se, but as a writer, I use my free time to work on writing projects. I’ve had two books published and 10 (I think) plays produced. I enjoy writing. What animal would you be? I don’t think I’d be an animal. That’s evolving backward. What is your favorite movie? Favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz. That should be on everyone’s list.

Mrs. Micheline McManus:

dents. ‘Iolani is a very welcoming place.

Mrs. Heather Muraoka

Ms. Lee Cataluna: English

History

English

New Teachers

September 24, 2012

I am from Durham, NH. Although this is my first full-time teaching job in a K-12 school, I have a range of teaching experiences including, tutoring, teaching ESL, substitute teaching, and teaching summer school. I absolutely love teaching at Iolani!

I’m very impressed with all that the students, faculty, and staff accomplish here and I greatly enjoy the strong sense of community on campus. First and foremost, I love to read. I also enjoy running, hiking, and swimming, and I’m having a lot of fun

learning to surf. If I could be any animal, I would be some kind of bird so that I could fly. Also, I think it would be great if people actually enjoyed my singing. What is your favorite movie? It’s so tough to choose one! My all time favorite movie is probably Forrest Gump because it’s such a heartwarming classic. I also recently saw a film called Samsara, which is very unique, hard to describe, but it’s mesmerizing!

I have lived in the western suburbs of Chicago most of my life, though I spent my early years in Iowa and Wisconsin. So I am from the heartland. I retired after teaching mathematics in Illinois for 33 years. In my two weeks at ‘Iolani I have found it to be a magical place. As funny as it sounds, my hobby is strumming my ukulele. What animal would you be? I would love to be a frog, actually Kermit the Frog. He is my alter ego. What is your favorite movie? I don’t really have a favorite movie. I guess that I don’t get out much.

Lower School

Page 12

Compiled by David Pang

Imua ‘Iolani

Fresh faces in first grade Ms. Kori Briones, 1st Grade

Ms. Bonnie C hikamori , 1st Grade

teaching for seven years in Kindergarten, 5th grade and 6th grade at three different schools: Salt Lake Elementary, Hokulani Elementary and Jarrett Middle School.

experience includes teaching at a charter school since 2001; coordinating several oral history and service-learning documentaries for an enrichment program; and managing a gifted and talented projectbased program.

Experience: I have been

Hobbies:I have two young chil-

dren, so hanging out at the beach, park, or zoo is one of my favorite hobbies. I also enjoying surfing when I can, making jewelry, and painting.

Flying Favorites:

I actually have two favorite places: Japan and Southern California. I love going to Japan to eat all the oishii food. I love traveling to California with my family to go to Disneyland and to visit my favorite haunts from my time at Loyola Marymount University.

First Day Experience: My first day was absolutely wonderful. I

couldn’t have asked for a better first day. The students were eager to learn and were all happy. We only had half of our class attend, but that helped to allow us to get the know the students much better. We also had a parent orientation at the end of the day and it was really nice getting to know our students’ parents right away.

Fun Fact: I love big trucks and drive a Tundra even though I'm barely 5'2".

(Note: Ms. Briones is the daughter of Mrs. Akamine, who teaches Japanese in the Upper School.)

Experience: My

Hobbies: Most of my

hobbies involve fellowshipping with family and friends outdoors. Since my husband and son are members of teams, I also spend a lot of my time at sporting events. Nevertheless, I enjoy jogging because it affords me time to reflect and be introspective.

Flying Favorites:

I really enjoyed my vacation to Florida. It was amazing to visit NASA; the different theme parks provided a myriad of activities that were both educational and fun; best of all, the lines were short and did not require me to constantly repeat, “We’re almost there.”

Fun Fact:

I have a twin sister who is also an educator. Thus, if you see someone that looks like me, but appears to be baffled when you approach her, she may be my twin sister.

How was your first day?

Scary teachers, new backpacks, clean cubbyholes. Do you remember what it was like on your very first day of school? We asked the youngest Raiders - the class of 2025 - who let us in on this once-in-alifetime experience. “Good, because there was different kids. I made a lot of friends.” - Catie

“Good, we did projects like making our hats.” - Mimi

“Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Derby are nice. I liked playing Pokemon” - Austin

“It was short. We found ice on the ground and threw it at the shark.” - Jones

“I met new friends” - Tre “Exciting ‘cause of recess. Just playing on the playground and running around.” - Logan

“It was exciting because of naptime.” - Ryder

“Good because I get to sit by Caroline, my friend.” - Nicole

“Good ‘cause we do fun stuff.” - Trev