January Issue of the Cougar Connection by jolieching

Cougar Connection January 2018 Vol. 47 Issue 4

ON OUR COVER:

Blood drive

Kaiser’s National Honors Society partnered with the Blood Bank of Hawaii once again to organize the annual blood drive.

MENYA REVIEW

Tucked away in a small space in Kaka`ako, Menya Musashi Bukotsu sits a casual eatery serving ramen that is seriously delicious.

MISSILE SCARE

Last month’s false alarm exposed the flaws of Hawaii’s alert system and shed light on the disorganized procedures of the state agency.

Magnus frohamm

At age 15, visiting Kaiser student Magnus Frohamm is already an international sports star.

A flower from Kaiser’s Wipe Out Crew’s garden, The Peace and Sustainability Garden, in back of C building.

Editor’s Note & Staff Credit There is so much to celebrate as we ring in the new year. The holidays are truly special for more than just family. They are some of the last few moments in society where life slows down. We’re not caught up in the insanity that surrounds many of our everyday lives and the information overload that is bound to come with it. In turn, we can finally put down the projects, the homework, and the distractions and really connect with those around us. This slowdown gave us an opportunity to reflect on the last several months since the start of the school year. For the Cougar Connection, 2017 was really about finding our footing and defining our role within Kaiser’s vast community. This has gotten much clearer with each month that’s gone by, and we’re excited for what 2018 holds. Until this semester, we have always stuck with what we’ve known to be familiar. Newspapers. Print media. But that’s all changed now. With the establishment of our own online website, the cougartimes.org, we’re growing into a much bigger platform than the last couple of years. More than ever before, we’re linking digital media and print together. To this end, we celebrate the coming year with a renewed vigor. Thank you for grabbing a copy of your student-run newspaper, The Cougar Connection. Good luck on the upcoming semester and we look forward to reading your letters to the editor throughout the year. Signing off for the month, The Cougar Connection

Editor-in-Chief: Jolie Ching Copy Editor: Tristan Yousuf-Leo Associate Editor Editor: Eui Jin Song Layouts Editor: Jade Ching News Editor: Tara Morisato Features Co-Editor: Claudia Tang Features Co-Editor: Deborah Yuan Editorials Editor: Nicholas Okazaki Sports Editor: Casey Nguyen Online Editor: Jaron Schreiber Chief Illustrator: Holly Iwanaga Advertising Manager: Jaida Burgon Circulation Manager: Aimee Schriber Advisor: Pam Ellis Principal: Justin Mew 01

The Cougar Connection is the official school newspaper of Henry J. Kaiser High School at 511 Lunalilo Home Road, Honolulu, HI 96825. The Publications Office is located in Room A202. Phone: (808) 394-1200 Ext. 2261.

Member of Hawaii Schools Publication Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill and Scroll

Staff Writers: Alyssa Zamora Chelsea Chang Courtney Staples Daniel Reichert Dylan Yamamoto Jake Imanaka Kyle Lee Landon Murai Leigh Farah Quinn Clay Reina Yamashita Ricky Ma Samantha Yonan Taylor Dunaway Yuuki Morishige

Special Contributors: Ethan Mamiya Erica Ma Sakura Liu Shannon Takahashi

What are your New Years Resolutions? By: Reina Yamashita / Staff Writer

Mana Nozawa ‘19

Jesse Tadekawa ‘18 “I want to be more considerate.”

Justin Hong ‘18 “Say good morning to three people.”

“To not get sick the whole year.”

Natalie Nishiguchi ‘19 “To eat ice cream once a week because it is good & needs to be appreciated more.”

Patricia Yim ‘20 “I’m going to learn baton twirling and perform it in the talent show.”

James Hutcherson “To be a better person by having a positive and cheerful attitude.”

Ask Jaida and Ricky:

By: Jaida Burgon

By: Ricky Ma

Dear Jaida and Ricky, I want to break up with my girlfriend of six months, but Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Should I break up with her before Valentine’s Day, or should I wait until after? Signed, Torn and Indecisive

Dear Torn & Indecisive, Valentine’s Day is all about love and affection for a special someone. If you don’t feel this way towards this girl anymore, then the quote “fake it til’ you make it” isn’t the right way to go. As a girl, I would want to know that the feelings are real. Imagine if you were in her shoes.

Do her a favor and let her spend Valentine’s with people who truly love her. Every person deserves to be with someone who wants to put their whole heart into the relationship just a much as they do. By ending the relationship before, it can give both of you the chance to not waste time on finding that new person for you.

Dear Torn & Indecisive, Breaking up with your girlfriend before Valentine’s is just plain rude. For the girls, Valentine’s Day is a double-edged sword: it can be the best holiday if they have a partner to spend it with but on the other hand, it can be a day where their status as “single” is shoved into their faces and they feel bad about themselves. Keep in mind that breaking up with your girlfriend after Valentine’s day requires precursor actions and planning. You need to make

Valentine’s Day boring. If you make it amazing and romantic, your decision to breakup becomes mean and insensitive as well. You are giving your girlfriend false hope. She will become more attached to you as a result and the breakup after Valentine’s will be like a truck hitting her in the face. Plan something nice but not grand or very romantic. This way, your girlfriend will be in the best position to heal. Good luck!

Students gathered in front of the school and held anti-bullying signs.

CONNECT & RESPECT When it comes to tackling bullying in school, waving signs may not seem like much. But, as the Connect and Respect Week at Kaiser High School has shown, it really can make a difference in schools. Every morning during the week of December 11-15, leadership students lined up and waved signs and banners with positive messages against bullying. The purpose? To advocate for awareness about bullying and its effects, and to promote a positive school environment. According to the National PTA, research shows that “one of the most effective ways to prevent bullying behavior is to create a positive school climate.” The more welcoming a school environment is, the more likely students will report incidents to counselors and stop bullying behavior. Thus, Connect and Respect Week is not only dedicated to raising awareness about bullying, but to show students who feel alone that they are safe and accepted at Kaiser. Connect and Respect Week was first proposed five years ago and soon became a complex-wide anti-bullying initiative. According to head counselor Branden Kawazoe, the counselors are the driving force behind each school’s anti-bullying campaign. “It’s evolved over the years, but it’s something that real-

creating a positive school environment

ly ties Kaiser together,” Kawazoe said. This week is especially important, he said, because “bullying has become a national epidemic: it’s a problem nationwide, and the more awareness we can bring to the situation, the greater the impact in stopping it.” Leadership classes lined the front of the campus to sign wave and show their support. The signs students held displayed catch phrases such as “Don’t be a bully, be a buddy” and “Stop and think.” “ “I think that Connect and Respect week makes us more aware of the bullying that could happen. Because any bullying that does happen is behind the scenes, or under the wraps, we don’t see it a lot,” sophomore leadership student Holly Sinclair said. According to the Stop Bullying organization, about 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month, while 30.8% reported bullying others during that time. Bullying is something that almost all schools address, and that first starts by creating a positive school climate. When Connect and Respect Week rolls around next year, know that Kaiser High School is tackling bullying, one sign at a time. By Eui Jin Song / Associate Editor Courtesy of Cougar Connection

By Samantha Yonan / Staff Writer Courtesy of Cougar Connection

Drama stage gets a new look When students walked into G103 this semester, a room more commonly known as the Black Box Theater, they were greeted by something almost entirely new. A redesigned stage was constructed by people who shared a common vision to refurbish the theatre and aid Kaiser’s long-standing drama program. Drama teacher Ann Ogilvie was presented with the idea of building a new stage by senior Sydney Maher, freshman Spencer Maher, and their father Dennis Maher. Sydney Maher has been involved with the drama program for all of her four years at Kaiser, and her family was part of the project from start to completion. Dennis Maher, a member of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association’s Engineers Advisory Council, donated materials totalling $25,000 and labor to create the new stage. Ogilvie’s response to the idea was positive; however, she was unsure of how the project was going to be executed. Luckily, sophomore students Ruby and Teia O’Malley were able to connect Ogilvie to the University of Hawaii’s scenic design and painting professor, Michelle Bisbee. “She drew up the floor plan, produced the floor plan totally for free, just as a volunteer, [even though] she doesn’t have any kids [at Kaiser],” Ogilvie said. Once the design was finalized and set, Lighting Designer and Assistant Professor Brian Shevelenko came to Ogilvie and told her that with the new stage, she would need a new light plot, a blueprint outlining the location of each light above the stage. Shevelenko “created a whole new light plot that goes with [the stage.] He and some of his graduate students came in and hung and focused and… everything has been wired to the lighting board,” Ogilvie said. The last time the stage had been refurbished was for the production A Midsummer Night’s Dream which was performed in the spring of 2014. “It had been renovated multiple times in order to fit the scene of different plays but… I don’t think it’s ever been gutted out and rebuilt like we did,” Maher said. The process of building the new stage went smoothly: “The only difficulties we had were mis-measurements which were easy fixes.” For a month, the construction team - consisting of Maher’s family and other members around the community - worked on weekdays from noon and continued late into the night until the project was completed.

The drama room is in its final stages and will be open next quarter.

All of the effort that went into the renovation paid off. Drama classes have been benefiting from the new stage. “It’s been really nice being able to use it, and it has given new life to the acting room for sure,” Maher said. The design of the stage provides opportunities for more variety in sets and props to create new landscapes for the actors. With students interested in directing, Ogilvie plans on producing a play this next April on the new stage. The stage will be completely finished in November, with a final coat being put on by drama club advisors. “We’ve been here since 2000, so it was time,” Ogilvie said.

KOREAN EXCHANGE DURING

a seven-day cultural exchange to Hawaii, a party of 15 Korean students, accompanied by their principal and two teachers, spent Thursday at Kaiser High School. After Hokkaido’s recent visit to Kaiser, the school once again rose to host a new set of international students. This time, Kaiser’s Korean Club hosted Hyehwa Girl’s High School, a stem-oriented school in Daegu, Korea. The event took about a year to organize, starting with an exchange of emails between DOE Coordinator Judy Nagasako and Hyehwa’s Principal, Ms. Ryu. Nagasako, who has hosted these exchange for thirteen years, decided to match Kaiser with Hyehwa due to the school’s previous experiences with hosting and the students’ similar age range to those at Hyehwa. “Often times for many students, the most exciting people to talk with are their peers,” she said. With this observation in mind, each Hyehwa student was assigned to a club member around their age who took them around campus. The visiting pupils were integrated into school classes where they were involved in the lessons. During break times, partners were quick to warm up to each other. “I enjoyed going to classes with my partner and seeing what life is like for students in Hawaii,” said Hyehwa senior Jeon Ju Eun. Likewise, her Kaiser partner, senior Jae Seo Ha, said “Because I can speak Korean, it was very easy to communicate with my partner and show her what we have to offer at Kaiser. This is my third and final time hosting Korean students and I was pretty sad for [Eun] to leave.” Rather than Hawaii’s unique climate and scenery, what many exchange students found interesting was Kaiser’s laid-back atmosphere. “[In Korea,] students study all day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at night. It surprised me how free the students are [here],” said Hyehwa junior Clara Park. When asked about her dream career, she said that “she had none.” Another Hyehwa student of the same grade level, Seon Yeon added, “I am not sure what I want to be yet. Because we spend so much time studying for exams, I never found [out] what my passions are.” At the end of the day, the club members and their accompanying Korean partners participated in a science competition, in which many of the Hyehwa students excelled. They also stayed for a pizza party provided by Parent-Community Network Coordinator, Ann Olson. Gift bags were exchanged, consisting of three pottered mugs from ceramics teacher Doug Lung, chocolate chip cookies from culinary teacher Justine Perkin’s cooking classes, and assorted Hawaiian snacks from the Korean club. Before the Hyehwa students departed Kaiser, many partners exchange phone numbers and promised to stay in contact with each other. “These [foreign] exchanges are very powerful, and we know that it doesn’t take long for young students to connect. We’ve seen it. And the adults who witness it are shocked, amazed at what is possible, and what could never be before,” said Judy Nagasako.

“People are so free h e r e i n h awa i i . I t ’s n o t l i k e ko r e a w h e r e w e s t u dy a n d g o t o school until 11pm.” By Jolie Ching / Editor-in-Chief Courtesy of Cougar Connection

F o r i n f o r m at i o n a b o u t k a i s e r , d a i ly u p d at e s, s c h o l a r s h i p s, a n d at h l e t i c e v e n t s, g o t o : k a i s e r h i g h s c h o o l h awa i i .o r g

“Kaiser’s website is my go-to site. I look there if I ever want to know about the current news and upcoming events. I really like the new design. I couldn’t access the old website. I don’t know what I would do without it!” - Erica Ma ‘18 As of November 2017, Kaiser has implemented a new school website created by the Parent-Community Network Coordinator Ann Olson and former PCNC Celise Nakakura. Located at the address, www.kaiserhighschoolhawaii. org, the site has a fresh new look, featuring a modernized design displaying everything from scholarship opportunities and student life to athletic events and the lunch schedule. The front page of the website greets you with Kaiser’s signature blue and gold theme and the motto, “One team. One family. Cougar Country”. Scroll down to discover small snippets of news. Anything from DOE letters to school events will make an appearance in the news section. Simply click on the link to learn more. Look no further to find upcoming events. Users are able to see whether it’s an A or B day and

any events occurring on a particular day. Missed a game you wanted to go to? Don’t worry, the last section of the opening page features Twitter posts from @kaiserhigh that list game scores, highlights, and other school related events. But that’s just the first page of the website. Observe the top of the page where tabs like Academics, Counseling, and Athletics will guide you through heaps of information. These tabs allow for exploration of the ins and outs of Kaiser. From campus life to college and career counseling, the website has it all. The new Cougar website would not have been possible without the hard work of Parent-Community Network Coordinator Ann Olson, who was hired in Nov. 2017 after the previous coordinator, Celise Nakakura, transferred to

Kaimuki Middle School. Olson created the new website for Kaiser with the students in mind. “I’m very excited and thrilled that students are using the site. It’s for you guys,” Olson said. Her job is to input all of the information into the website and is almost finished with each of the site’s components. “Student government is starting to work on their area and college career is pretty much [done], so just a little more filling here and there,” Olson said. The site may seem big now, but it will continue growing as more sections are needed. “There’s more to come, but if there’s anything students want on the website, please tell me,” she said. The updated Cougar website is the newest addition to Kaiser’s ever expanding network of communication. Vast amounts of information can be accessed by anyone who wishes to learn more about our school at just a click of a button. BY Daniel Reichert / staff writer Courtesy of Cougar Connection

NEW KAISER

EB SITE

BLOOD DRIVE On Feb. 6, Kaiser’s National Honors Society partnered with the Blood Bank of Hawaii once again to organize the annual blood drive held at the library. The drive lasted the entirety of the school day, surpassing the success of previous years. In fact, Kaiser has surpassed its blood quota of 67 pints with an overwhelming 70 pints with the capacity to save 210 lives. Unlike in past years, each member of Kaiser’s NHS were encouraged to recruit three students to donate blood, which largely contributed to the success of this year’s blood drive. While at first the quota was set at 60 pints, it was raised to 67 in response to an abundance of students, faculty, and staff willing to donate. “I want to save lives anyways as I’ve always wanted to become a doctor someday, so why not start now?” said senior Aina Hori who convinced her peer, Kevin Chong, to donate as well. Although the blood drive exceeded its quota, NHS advisor Rinda Fernandez admitted that a lot of work was involved in coordinating a school-wide event, which is the primary reason why only one blood drive is hosted per year. She praised the time and effort put in by NHS members who oversaw the donations. “If I were to be honest [the officers] are the ones who really know how to organize things and get it done. I was merely the backup singer.” With success also came complications. This year, there were about 21 deferrals and 10 reactions caused by the donors’ blood donation. Some donors suffered minor health complications such as fatigue, nausea, and dizziness due to not eating an adequate breakfast. “We’ve had more reactions than we ever had this year, as we usually have about three,” Fernandez said. Donating blood requires that the donor be in good health, at least 16 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds. Drawing blood may cause serious complications for those who are not at a healthy weight for their height. Even if the donor does meet these requirements, Fernandez still recommends they eat a healthy breakfast in the morning to avoid any further possibility of side effects. The 70 pints that Kaiser donated will go to local hospitals where, in most serious emergencies, doctors are required to perform blood transfusions. “[The blood bank] can’t duplicate blood, cancer patients need it, newborns need it. In fact, 60% of people living in Hawaii need blood at least sometime in their life,” Fernandez said. Just a pint of blood can save up to three people’s lives and the process is relatively painless. With the efforts of NHS and the generosity of Kaiser’s students and staff, many lives will be saved. As the only school event that directly impacts lives, Principal Justin Mew weighs in on the implications it creates for Kaiser. “In a larger sense, students and faculty are willing to give of themselves. Some of them are afraid, whether it be by the blood or the needle, but even more so, they wanted to see how they can help others and make a difference. Now that is the mission of Kaiser,” he said. By Alyssa Zamora / Business Manager Courtesy of Cougar Connection

Phlebotomists from the Blood Bank of Hawaii came to Kaiser to draw blood from student and factuly donors.

Kaiser’s DECA club Four members from Kaiser’s DECA club, seniors Kelli Chinen, Jacob Heberle, Justin Hong, and Micah Miyashiro, recently won first place in the American Savings Bank Keiki Co. Contest, earning $25,000 for the school. DECA, or Delta Epsilon Chi and Distributive Education Clubs of America, is a club for emerging business leaders. Students entering the contest were expected to create a fictional business, write out a business plan, and film a video pitch for their business. The four seniors created a business idea called Classmate, a late night tutoring service where students could have face-to-face conversations and lessons with teachers. Ms. Elizabeth Ben, DECA’s advisor, invited guest speakers from the American Savings Bank to guide the students on developing a business ideas. The business plan took the team a week to plan and film the video pitch. “A challenging thing about creating the business plan was that there was a limit of only five pages. There was a lot of information we wanted to add,” Hong said. Despite having to work around the page maximum, the students believe that the project was worth it. “The fact that our business plan, which we put into a lot of effort and time, was able to win against over ninety competitors is definitely something I am most proud of,” Chinen said. When the Kaiser DECA club were notified that they had won first place, they were ecstatic. “I think none of us expected that we could win a popular business contest we had never entered before,” said Heberle. “After we were announced winners, the first thing I did was look for my teammates. I couldn’t do this without them.” The $25,000 will go towards the school, and the DECA team has advised Principal Mew to invest it into air conditioning and modernizing the school. For students who might consider joining DECA, Miyashiro has this to say: “You should always try to get as much learning material from other people. You can learn a lot from others.” DECA helps students think in different and creative ways to approach problems. “[DECA shows you that] an idea is is never bad as long as you can back it up with a thorough business plan, and it can come into fruition one day,” said Hong. The club also prepares them for the business field that they plan to go into in the future. “In college, I plan to major in Global Business and Management and pursue a career as an executive officer in an international cooperation,” said Chinen. “With DECA, you really get to dip your toes in the business field. It has opened up a world of opportunities for high school students like me,” Chinen said. If you’re interested in business, or just approaching problems in new and creative ways, pop in for a DECA club meeting during Thursday lunch at E202. By Eui Jin Song / Associate Editor Courtesy of Cougar Connection

CAPTION: Seniors Kelli Chinen (left) and (right) Jacob Heberle, key members from Kaiser ‘s DECA club, hold the check for $25,000 from the American Savings Bank.

By Eui Jin Song and Leigh Farah Associate Editor and Staff Writer

TANYA ASHIMINE “I just got off the bus during a class field trip,” Kaiser science teacher Tanya Ashimine said. “My phone rang. I thought it was just my mother checking up on me, but when I looked at the screen, it was my doctor calling.” The week before, Ashimine had scheduled an appointment for a mammogram and biopsy. She had asked him to tell her the results of her biopsy as soon as he found out. “When my doctor told me I had breast cancer over the phone, I was not surprised. I kind of expected it because of the talk I had met with the radiologist immediately after the mammogram, which was a different talk from the ones I had in the past,” she said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be good news.” Ashimine proceeded with the field trip as if everything was normal. “Although I had expected breast cancer ever since the biopsy, being told you actually have cancer is such an unreal experience. At that moment, I wasn’t scared or freaking out. I was utterly numb,” she said. Soon after her diagnosis, Ashimine underwent a partial mastectomy, a procedure in which the tumor and the surrounding tissue are surgically removed, and later a second sentinel (lymph node removal) surgery. The extracted tumor was larger than her doctors had thought, which complicated the procedure. They had originally estimated it to be around 2-3 mm, but it turned out to be 5 mm, forcing them to make a larger incision. “It took a long time to recover from that surgery. I can

still feel the pain sometimes,” she said. Even after the removal of the tumor, Ashimine wasn’t out of the woods. She still had to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. However, her greatest fear was having to receive chemotherapy. “I didn’t want to lose my hair. Also, the side effects of the chemotherapy scared me. And so did the thought of feeling nauseous all of the time. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had been so nauseous I couldn’t get out of bed. I didn’t want a repeat of that,” she said. Fortunately, the doctors suggested radiation treatment instead and Ashimine agreed to undergo the procedure. “I cried immediately; I was so relieved and happy. It felt like a large burden was lifted off my shoulders,” she said. After scheduling her treatment, Ashimine took medical leave from her job at Kaiser. Then, for six weeks, she went to the Cancer Center of Hawaii to undergo radiation therapy, a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells . “I had done some research beforehand, but nothing could have prepared me for actually receiving the

treatment,” she said. “The people there made it easier. I loved them. They treated me very well for the duration of my visit and and made sure I was comfortable and knew what to expect.” When all thirty rounds of radiation treatment were completed, the doctors deemed Ashimine clear of cancer. The last day of the radiation treatment, however didn’t mark the end the end of her journey. She had to embark on another trip -- one that included regular check ups, blood tests, x-rays, and appointments with her radiologist for the next five years. Soon after the radiation therapy, Ashimine was able to return to Kaiser and teach. “Despite what I had gone through, being at Kaiser again felt like none of it ever happened. I felt like my old self,” she said. “I enjoyed being back in the classroom, working with my students and colleagues. Falling back into familiar routine made me feel normal again.” Ashimine credits her successful recovery to the unwavering support from her family, friends, fellow teachers, and students. Family members spent time with her while she stayed in the hospital and assisted

her in transportation to and from the hospital. Her close friends texted her consistently and made her cards to show their support. “They weren’t sappy, or sad, they were just like ‘we’re thinking about you,’” Ashimine said. Fellow teacher and friend, Janelle Ling, bought her the breast-care book, Dr Susan Love’s Breast Book. Ling’s aunt, who also had breast cancer, made Ashimine a pillow to ease the pain after the removal of her tumor. As a science teacher, Ashimine considers research extremely valuable. She learned as much as she could from books like Love’s Breast Book, as well as from her doctors, and peers who previously had breast cancer. Ashimine believes listening to one’s doctor and getting regular screenings to avoid lasting health issues is vital.“ I started to get my mammograms when I was supposed to, and I went in for my six month check when I was supposed to,” she said. If not for regular check-ups, Ashimine’s tumor could have grown even larger and would have most likely required chemotherapy. “Do what you are supposed to do, when you are supposed to do it,” she said.

13 Ashimine holding hands with her beloved (authentic!) skeleton, Charlie. Courtesy of Cougar Connection

ALL ABOUT BREAST CANCER Approximately one in eight U.S. women develop breast cancer throughout their lifetime. In 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in U.S. women and about 2,470 new cases for men. Foundations such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation supports the numerous women who are affected by breast cancer every year. In order to help the victims of breast cancer, the first step is to understand what the disease is and how it can be cured.

Doctors are still unsure of the exact cause of breast cancer, but what they do know is that breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast tissue or milk ducts begin growing abnormally. These cells divide quickly and collect into a mass known as a tumor, which can spread to lymph nodes and various parts of the body, causing grievous harm if allowed to spread unchecked. Of course, certain factors, such as genetics, gender, race and weight can increase the risk of contracting breast cancer. For example, breast cancer most commonly affects females and Caucasians. However, there are cases where cancer patients have exhibited none of these risks. Sixty to seventy percent of breast cancer patients show no symptoms that explain why they developed breast cancer. Medical research organizations such as the Mayo Clinic recommend that women over the age of 40 have mammograms every year. Women are encouraged to routinely check their breasts for any lumps, unusual discharge, or changes in shape. There are various treatments for breast cancer, depending on the severity and scope of the tumor. One such treatment is a lumpectomy, which is the removal of the breast tumor and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it. The surgeon inserts a thin wire as a guide to the exact area that needs to be removed. However, if the lump is easily felt through the skin, the wire may not be necessary, since the surgeon can simply make an incision and extract the tumor. Other methods of treatment include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The main purpose of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells, which helps to prevent breast cancer tumors from reforming. It is also utilized to shrink tumors before surgery to make their removal easier and safer. Radiation therapy is usually prescribed after the initial surgery of the breast cancer tumor to kill off any undetected cancer cells that may have spread from the tumor, using either an external beam or a radioactive liquid thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s injected into the breast. However, there are downsides to each of the two treatments. Chemotherapy comes with a slew of side effects, ranging from hair loss to a reduction in red blood cells to nerve and brain issues. Radiation therapy, on the other hand, entails less severe side effects such as general fatigue, itchy and tender skin, and sunburn-type skin irritation of the affected area. On rare occasions, these treatments can even strengthen the tumor or cause it to grow at a faster rate. But the benefits of these treatments, more often than not, outweigh the risks associated with them. To this end, the National Breast Cancer Foundation hosts early detection, education, and support services all across America. Donations to the non-profit organization pays for health resources and programs that educate more men and women about the risks and prevention of breast cancer.

COUGAR MCLC WINS BIG IN NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL By Casey Nguyen / Sports Editor Courtesy Aaron Yoshino

More than 4,000 films from 48 states and 40 countries were screened over four days at the fourth annual All-American High School Film Festival, which wrapped up on a Sunday night at the AMC theatre in New York Times Square. One of the recipients of the national awards was a group of Cougar filmmakers, who won the title of “Best Film Invitational 3-Day Shoot and Edit”. The film was shot under the contest’s theme of “The Last ___”. The Last Check, the movie that took home the trophy, was, in the words of screenwriter Julia Bresnan, “...a drama about a girl going to New York City to complete her late brother’s bucket list.” The competition wasn’t an exhibition match: the team had to formally apply and be accepted based on past merits. “After the student’s performance at 2017 Student Television Network Convention in Anaheim, two of the three founders approached me about applying for the AAHSFF Film Invitational,” Learning Center Advisor, Aaron Yoshino said. “That night, I filled out the application. We found out in April, we were selected!” The film was created over a 10-week pre-production period and a three-day filming and editing portion in New York. The seventy days before the flight were used for planning out the plot, location scouting, and casting of the film while the three in the Empire State were for gathering footage and putting it together. Kaiser’s media team was the new kid on the block, and they faced a brand new level of competition. “It was

really nerve racking when we found out we were competing against schools from all over the nation,” Gearld Canaday IV, a member of the production team, said. “We’d be the first school from Hawaii to compete and for most of our crew, the first time they’d been to New York.” Though the crew was experienced in production of a film, establishing a plan for production of a film on the other side of the country made the situation more challenging for the team. “Most of the group had never been to New York before, so it was really challenging to try and envision where we would be filming and what the locations would be like,” said Bresnan. “Also, being from Hawaii we were 6 hours behind so contacting our actors and locations in the city was hard.” The demanding time constriction as well as national scene against talented competition established a sense of urgency for the team. “It was really intense and the pressure level was nothing like most of these students have been through before,” said Yoshino. “But throughout it all, the spirit was always so positive and doing things together as a team, was always at the forefront.” With so much to persevere through to create the film, emotions were bound to surface when they were announced the winners. “When announced for finals we were so happy: just seeing our name on the screen was enough for us,” said Bresnan. “[But] when we won, it was as if all of the hard work finally paid off. I was at a loss for words and just cried; our advisors, Mrs. Misi and Takahara-Dias, and our friend Rosario were

screaming so loud for us.” Beside a blue ribbon, Kaiser earned equipment for the Learning Center for future projects. “[The grand prize] was a package consisting of film software, equipment, and some cool marketing materials from various films that screened in IMAX,” said Yoshino. Though finishing first was a Cinderella ending for the crew, it was bitter-sweet for Yoshino. This was one of the last projects he will supervise at Kaiser High. On October 31st, Yoshino will leave for Portland, Oregon. “The good work of the MCLC will never be done,” said Yoshino. “I am so proud [of] where we are today, and I am so grateful to all those who supported us and the students who have worked hard before to get us to where we are today.” Yoshino’s departure is a sad one for MCLC and Kaiser High School. “Mr. Aaron built an amazing program along with Ms. Misi and made all [of] this possible,” said Canaday IV. “His hard work and dedication has constantly gotten us opportunities that has built the program into what it is today.” The young teacher, however, is proud of the gains the Learning Center has made during his time here. “Doors really did open for us after this win. Now it comes down to how we keep moving forward,” Yoshino said, “They say shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.Together as one MCLC, we’ll continue to shoot for the moon: we always will. But man, have we landed amongst some pretty awesome stars.”

Editorials / Opinions 17

EVADING MY SECOND SHADOW By Courtney Staples / Staff Writer Courtesy of Courtney Staples

Most people nowadays know what the social term for stalking is. Digging deep and scrolling all the way down on someone’s social media profile is somehow considered stalking in 2018. But what about the other, scarier definition? The one nobody really wants to talk about? Imagine that you’re being stalked by someone at the same school as you. Every gritty detail of your surroundings pass like a kidney stone. You get tired of feeling every minute ticking by, anxious for the school day to be over. You find yourself unable to sleep at night because the branches casting shadows outside your windows look like arms climbing up to the second story of your house, and you are kept awake by thoughts of your own helplessness. Walking around school in a haze, you become unable to discern what hurts you from what makes you laugh, just trying to keep yourself alert enough to avoid walking into him. Friends begin whispering about you behind your back, trying to come up with some way to help you go back to your normal, carefree self. Your father purchases motion-activated security cameras off the internet and installs them around the outside of the house, and every time they ring, your heart races until you look at the video feed and see it’s just a bird. Your mother becomes more protective, refusing to let you leave the house alone. You develop paranoid habits yourself, like glancing at every face around you in public just to make sure their features don’t match his. Your phone becomes an asset and an enemy; you can call 911 in mere seconds, but you also impulsively check your notifications every couple of minutes for sinister messages. When you eventually see one, it doesn’t matter whether they’re from a random social media account or a number you don’t have in your contacts, you already know it’s from him. Grades dropping like feathers from a flightless bird, tears falling just as fast, you find that you’re clinging to the little bits of the normal life you used to have. Things look so hopeless that you tell your therapist, “No amount of medication can fix this.” You’re on so many it won’t matter anyway. Waking up in the morning with an ache that settled into your bones, you question how much the pills are really helping. With the rise of edgy, mildly offensive memes in 2016, the word “trigger” became one of them, and you know you shouldn’t joke about

it either, but you can’t help yourself from saying it to your friends with a little nervous laugh before you break down. Your parents tell you that you should try to forget. Your school counselor tells you to try harder in school. Your therapist tells you that you have PTSD. But all of that takes a backseat to what is now habit: the scanning of faces and the pounding in the back of your head every time you step outside your classroom. You’re trapped inside your own head, knowing you need to try harder to put yourself back to norm, but unable to break out of the shell you sealed yourself in, the impenetrable wall of paranoia and restlessness. Even locked inside your own bedroom, the windows blocked off and the lights turned off, you are not safe enough. Every creak of the house makes you stir, every boy who says your name makes your head whip around and your body tense up as your adrenaline tells you to run. You start to disconnect yourself from everybody you care about and love because of one person whose vendetta against you is so strong it’s turning you against your own happiness. All the chains and locks and barricades in the whole world can’t make you feel secure; there is only paranoia and the voices around you. Days inevitably turn into months; you lose track of what the date is and your own personal responsibilities are forgotten. Today, I feel as though I have come farther than I thought I ever could. I managed to wean myself off of every one of the five medications I relied on for so long. I don’t need to see my therapist or psychiatrist anymore, despite needing both of them for over six months. While some days are still unbearable and I still can’t see his face and remain calm, I feel stronger than I ever have been. It’s been a year of recovery. Ironically, a lot of people knew about what was happening despite my efforts to keep things hidden. However, talking about what happened and putting my emotions out there where anyone can see them gives me a strange kind of closure. Stalking is a serious issue that should be made more of a public threat. If not for the support from my friends and family, my amazing medical confidants, and a rather scary amount of medication, I may not have gotten through this experience. Serious issues can come from unexpected places, but as long as you get the proper help and know who you can rely on, you can get through anything.

ENGINEER, LAWYER, TEACHER

Courtesy of Cougar Connection

NEW FACE: DANIEL LAWRENCE By Aimee Schriber / Circulation Manager

Daniel Lawrence is Kaiser High School’s newest science teacher, replacing the previous teacher, Daniel Landgrebe, whose stay here was cut short due to family health concerns. Although Lawrence didn’t start teaching until this semester, he is no stranger to Kaiser. Lawrence is an alumnus from Kaiser’s class of 1986 and has been coaching Kaiser’s girl’s volleyball for six years now. Lawrence wasn’t always set on becoming a teacher; his job history is a long one. Right out of high school, he attended Santa Clara University where he majored in electrical engineering and then went on to Northwestern University to earn a law degree. “I [practiced law] at a big firm in Los Angeles and then I went to work at an internet company,” Lawrence said. He moved back to Hawaii in 2008 and worked for the Honolulu Department of Corporation Counsel, then worked for the office of the Honolulu police commission as a lawyer and as the executive director. During this time, Lawrence began coaching the girl’s volleyball junior varsity team. Lawrence played volleyball in college and after moving

back to Hawaii, he wanted to find a way to get involved with the school and community. “I got a lot of support when I was a student here, so when I started coaching I liked being here, mentoring the teens right at the age where they are just starting to make adult decisions,” he said. Because Lawrence used to play on Kaiser’s basketball team, he knows first-hand the importance of team sports for students. “I think they’re very important. They help student athletes learn how to compete, how to compromise, how to understand authority...I think there’s a lot of good life lessons. It helps you in athletics, it helps you in school work, it helps you in your career,” Lawrence said. While coaching volleyball, he realized he wanted to work with students full time, which led him to become a teacher when the opportunity arose. “I found I like working with and mentoring teenagers at about this age. I just thought I could be a positive part of that, helping them understand themselves, their community, where they fit in and what they should be looking forward to,” Lawrence said.

By Eui Jin Song & Tara Morisato / Staff Writers Courtesy of Cougar Connection

M e n y a M u s a s h i f o o d r e v i e w

T u c k e d away i n a s m a l l s pac e i n Ka ka a ko, M e n ya M u s as h i B u kots u s i ts a cas ua l e at e ry s e rv i n g ram e n t h at i s s e r i o u s ly d e l i c i o u s . T h e sto r e i s part o f a r e stau ra n t c h a i n t h at i s p o p u l ar i n Ja pa n f o r s e rv i n g ts u k e m e n , a var i at i o n o f ra m e n t h at co n s i sts o f d i p p i n g n o o d l e s i n to so u p. Ts u k e m e n n o o d l e s ar e t h i c k e r-so m e w h at b e t w e e n t h e t h i c k n e ss o f ra m e n a n d u d o n a n d t h e so u p i s m o r e co n c e n trat e d t h a n ra m e n b r ot h . W h i l e n ot m a n y lo ca ls h av e h e ar d o f ts u k e m e n , t h e d i s h i s r e l at i v e ly co m m o n i n Ja pa n .

mbience and Location: 4/5 Like most ramen restaurants, Menya Musashi Bukotsu is quite small, similar in size to a cafe. Though the restaurant is clean and not overly crowded, its location is rather inconvenient. Menya Musashi Bukotsu is wedged between two other small stores, and the lack of a big sign makes it a little difficult to find. However, the interior of the restaurant makes up for the inconvenience. The restaurant decor is inspired by the talented samurai Miyamoto Musashi (whom the restaurant is also named after), with Japanese style calligraphy brush paintings on the walls. Garlic, tempura, and pickles are stored in small Japanese ceramic pots on every table. Natural lighting creates an open, casual ambience and the kitchen at the back of the restaurant is elevated, which allows customers a small view of their meals being made and adds to the clean atmosphere of the restaurant. Food: 5/5 To order, we first chose between tsukemen and ramen. We were then able to customize the serving size, soup base, spiciness level, and toppings. Toppings could be ordered from the recommend-

ed sets like Musashi Style Ramen and Kakuni Ramen, or they could be ordered individually from a list of toppings like seaweed, cabbage, pork, egg, spinach, and bamboo shoots. We ordered shoyu ramen, Musashi style with no spice, and shoyu tsukemen, kakuni style with a spice level of 2 out of 5. We also ordered a side of gyoza. The shoyu ramen broth, with a distinct bonito taste, was delicious. The ramen noodles were chewy and just the right thickness for the thin, clear broth. The musashi style toppings set included one ajitama (marinated soft-boiled egg), two pieces of kakuni (braised pork belly), nori, bamboo shoots, and green onions. The flavors of the ajitama and kakuni were a perfect complement to the savory broth, maintaining their own distinct tastes, while the vegetables added texture and more nuanced flavors. The tsukemen, with its strong, in-

tense flavor complemented the noodles perfectly. The pieces of kakuni soaked up the broth, adding a burst of flavor. While the spiciness of the broth seemed mild at first, it does build up after a while. For novices, we recommend trying a milder flavor if you’re not used to handling spicy food. Perhaps the best part about the dish was dipping the noodles into the broth, which makes it easier to control how much flavor to consume. The separation of the noodles and the broth prevents the common problem of the noodles swelling up and becoming soggy, and also makes for a quicker, lighter meal. It doesn’t feel like you’re eating too much even when you are consuming around the same amount as the ramen. The side of gyoza we ordered was tasty but had somewhat of a bitter aftertaste, perhaps because of ginger in the stuffing. Cost: 4.5/5 The prices of regular sized ramen at Menya Musashi Bukotsu are higher than the average bowl of ramen, ranging from $10 for a basic ramen/tsukemen without toppings to $16.50 for the Super Musashi Style ramen/tsukemen, which includes all available toppings. However, the servings for ramen are large, so the cost is not unreasonable. Ultimately the meal is well worth the cost. Service: 5/5 The waiters were accommodating and polite, and the orders arrived quickly. They checked up on us intermittently, but ultimately gave us privacy, which allowed us to enjoy the meal in comfort. The only thing we would note is that they didn’t fill up our water as often as we would have liked, as ramen in general is high in sodium. In the end, though, the service was excellent and left us with a great experience at the restaurant. When we asked Chef Eric Fleming about his experiences in the kitchen, he attributed his love of cooking to helping his mother cook meals, and the eight years he spent living in Japan with his family. “I remember hanging around the kitchen when my mom cooked, watching and helping her with dinner. I slowly started to pick up things, even her habit of just throwing things in instead of a conventional recipe,” Fleming said. Menya Musashi is located at 560 Pensacola St, Honolulu, HI 96814. For more information, go to their website at http:// musashiramen.weebly.com/.

recipes

courtesy of cougar connection

OZOUNI Kaiser’s Japanese teacher, Satoko Ragan, recently gave birth to a baby boy. In the spirit of the new year, here is the history behind Japan’s favorite New Year dish. By Yuuki Morishige and Landon Murai / Staff Writers Courtesy of pixtastock.com

Among the various Japanese delicacies eaten during the New Years, Ozouni, a traditional soup made with mochi, is one of them. This Japanese dish first showed up in the Muromachi period (1336-1573) where it was eaten by the Samurai in between battles as a way of replenishing their strength. The tradition of eating Ozouni at the beginning of New Years began in the mid-1440’s when Buddhist monks would offer mochi to the Buddha on New Year’s Eve. They would leave the gooey substance on a shrine until the next day to feed any hungry spirits. The next morning, when the ghosts were believed to be satiated, the monks would collect the mochi and add soup, which helped to soften it. This evolved to become the Ozouni we know today. Throughout Japan’s different eras, Ozouni was believed to bring success and a promising future to those who ate it. The ingredients have varied greatly over the centuries, but much of the dish remains the same. There are many ways to make Ozouni, but it is common for each household within a region to make the base Ozouni the same way. In the Kanto region, people bake square-shaped rice cakes mixed with a clear soup. In Kansai, on the other hand, people have a rounded rice cake

022

mixed with miso soup. The staple ingredient of Ozouni across areas of Japan is, of course, the mochi -- small cakes made from glutinous rice that have been pounded into a paste, molded into a shape, and then incorporated into a soup. Any added ingredients may represent a variety of meanings to prompt good fortune in the upcoming year. For example, herring eggs called ‘kazunoko’ suggest prosperity of descendants, as herrings lay a large number of eggs at a single time. Kurikinton, smashed sweet potatoes combined with sweetened chestnuts, represents a wealthy year as the dish looks like golden treasure. So, when you’re celebrating the new year, make sure to eat some Ozouni to prepare for a promising 2018.

Ozoni (Zouni) Recipe Yield: 4 servings Ingredients 3 cups Dashi (broth) 1/2 cup Daikon radish, thin and skinny slices 1/2 cup carrot, thin and skinny slices 8 slices Kamaboko 1 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp Sake 1/4-1/2 tsp salt 8 Mochi 4 Mitsuba, coarsely chopped Instructions 1) Heat Dashi in a pot at medium temperature and add Daikon radish, carrot and Kamaboko, and cook until vegetables become tender. 2) Meanwhile, bake Mochi in a toaster oven about 5 minutes until the Mochi has expanded and browned. 3) Season soup with soy sauce, Sake, and salt. 4) In a soup bowl, place baked Mochi and pour hot soup, then sprinkle with Mitsuba.

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Bread & Butter : Restaurant Rev iew

Cost 9/10

By Deborah

Although the cost for dinner may seem high for students, an occasional visit to Bread Yuan & Claudia and Butter is perfect if Tang Features Editor you are looking for a nice s place to eat with friends.

While on the hunt for unique restaurants in Honolulu, we stumbled across Bread & Butter. Located near Ala Moana, the restaurant serves a mix of Spanish-Japanese cuisine. The dishes are primarily European, yet hold a Japanese-style lightness and are not overwhelmingly filling or heavy.

Ambiance 10/10

Chicken Liver Pâté $5.00 Dates & Blue Cheese Mousse Dip $7.00 Mushroom Ajillo $7.00 Four Cheese & Honey Pizza $13.95 Paella (personal $24.95 / family $55.95) Double Braised Oxtail - $25.95

Overall, the restaurant is comfortable and clean. The restaurant’s decorations are modern and minimalistic. During the day, the restaurant is quiet, with the sounds of soft pop music playing in the background. Wine is a central theme in the decor. Standing from the front door of the restaurant, one can see two columns of white chairs and tables.

Service 8/10

In general, the staff are friendly and respectful, and highly attentive to the customers’ needs. They are well-informed about the dishes on the menu, and can recommend the house specials; it is evident they are passionate about the food. The food is served within 15-25 minutes of ordering.

Food 9.5/10

Courtesy of Cougar Connection

We ordered three appetizers: Chicken Liver Pâté, Dates & Blue Cheese Mousse Dip, and Mushroom Ajillo: The Chicken Liver Pâté, made with chicken liver pâté, truffle oil, and homemade focaccia bread has personality. The focaccia bread, an Italian oven-baked flatbread, is fluffy yet crisp. The chicken pâté, a mix of minced chicken liver and other seasonings is ground into paste. Because of its unique taste we would recommend pâté for only the adventurous eater. The Dates & Blue Cheese Mousse Dip, made with caramelizeddates, blue cheese mousse, candied walnuts, balsamic vinegar reduction, and parsley work harmoniously together. The blue cheese is a bold contrast to the sweet dates, with the balsamic vinegar providing a slight acidic taste. To top off the dish, candied walnuts and parsley add a crunchy texture. The parsley garnish helps cleanse the palette -- a practice discovered by the ancient Romans. The Mushroom Ajillo consists of shimeji, button, and oyster mushrooms, ajillo sauce (shrimp, garlic, and olive oil), prosciutto, and homemade focaccia bread. Each type of mushroom, coated with a thin, slightly spicy sauce provides a different texture.

Bread & Butter has various events going on every month. Every Tuesday is “Paella Tuesdays,” where one can get all-you-can-eat paella and a glass of wine for $20. There are also “Wine pairing Thursdays,” where you can opt in for a five-course meal paired with wine. The unique aspect of “Wine Pairing Thursdays” is that the menu changes monthly and is served for that month only.

We also ordered the Four Cheese & Honey Pizza, Paella and the Double Braised Oxtail: The Four Cheese & Honey Pizza is topped with mozzarella,goat, parmesan, blue cheese, and honey. To some, blue cheese may seem overly pungent; however, the honey softens the flavor of the cheese, creating a great balance between the cheese flavors. The goat cheese was not as pungent as we expected. Overall, the thin-crusted pizza dough creates a solid foundation for other flavors. The Paella, a Spanish dish of slow simmered white rice, chicken stock, white shrimp, clams, onion, mussel, and Portuguese sausage is cooked and served in a pan. The rice is fluffy and soft, and the seafood is cooked well. The servers recommended drizzling lemon juice on the seafood, and mixing the saffron aioli with the rice. The Portuguese sausage mixed with the rice kick up the spiciness of the overall flavor. Bread & Butter The Double Braised Oxtail is so tender the meat is located on 15 85 Kapiolani Blv For more inform d Ste 110, Hono falls right off the bone. The chunky mashed potaation, their websi lulu, H te is: <https://w ww.alohabreadbu I 96814. toes, fried onions, carrots, parsley and mustard tter.com/>. seeds, which accompany the oxtail provide varying textures and flavors to the dish.

Editors’ choice film of 2017:

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Movies to look out for in the first half of 2018: By Casey Nguyen / Sports Editor Courtesy of starwars.com

The Commuter / Jan. 26 Liam Neeson, well known for playing a lead role in the Taken movie series, reprises his role in the new action-packed thriller, The Commuter. Taking place on a train, Neeson plays an average Joe who gets caught up in a gripping criminal conspiracy operation and must locate a specific passenger before time runs out.

Black Panther / Feb. 16 Marvel has seen great success with their superhero movies with several holding box office records including Marvel’s The Avengers, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. The entertainment company is looking to build on this with its upcoming release, Black Panther. Chadwick Boseman, known for his portrayal of Jackie Robinson on 42, will play the character of the Black Panther. In recent Marvel movies, the character has been introduced to the mainstream in glimpses, leaving fans thirsting for more about this mysterious character. Black Panther promises to be a riveting experience for both hardcore Marvel fans and casual watchers. Ready Player One / March 30 Video game fanatics will be excited to hear that Ready Player One, a film based on the 2011 hit novel of the same name, will be released this year. Starring Tye Sheridan and a group of fresh new faces to the Hollywood industry, the story is based around a search for an Easter egg hidden deep inside a virtual world known as the OASIS. The one who finds the egg will, in the real world, inherit endless fortunes and the corporation behind OASIS. The film willl be packed with action and references to pop culture such as Halo, Back to the Future, and Friday the Thirteenth. Star Wars: The Last Jedi, one of the most anticipated movies of 2017, began showing at theatres on December 15, 2017. Directed by Rian Johnson, the plot follows Rey as she receives Jedi training from Luke Skywalker, in hopes of turning the tide for the Resistance in the fight against Kylo Ren and the First Order. Although it received critical acclaim from critics, who praised the film’s visuals, performances, and originality, reception from audiences were considerably mixed. However, the movie surpassed all of my expectations. Instead of seeking to pander to long-time fans, Star Wars: The Last Jedi had an original plot with more emphasis on its character and themes. While it had some faults, the film is a great addition to the Star Wars franchise and one that future directors of sequels should seek to emulate.... >>Read more on pages 26 & 27

Solo: A Star Wars Story / May 25 Those who need to get their Star Wars fix before Episode IX is released are in luck, as Solo: A Star Wars Story being released this May. The story will follow fan-favorite Han Solo in an origin story-esque film, which will be set in Solo’s younger days. Actor Alden Ehrenreich will be portraying Solo in the film, a change from Harrison Ford, who has expressed displeasure in being in another entry in the franchise. Though Star Wars junkies may be disappointed in Ford’s decision, Solo will be an interesting addition to the saga. The Incredibles II / June 15 When Disney announced Finding Dory, many were shocked by the decision to create a sequel for an aging classic. It seems that this is the direction Disney will be taking with their upcoming films as their next movie, The Incredibles II, will premiere over a decade after the original was released. The company has done well to conceal many of the details about the story, but it appears that Elastigirl will be the focus of this story. 25

THE LAST JEDI

Instead of seeking to pander to long-time fans, Star Wars: The Last Jedi had an original plot with more emphasis on its character and themes. The end result is a film that will stay with you long after you leave the movie theater.

While the new trilogy should aim to appease long-time fans of the Star Wars universe, it must also appeal to the general audiences. Star Wars: The Force Awaken s, while a decidedly good movie,was almost exactly like the original trilogy’s A New Hope . Although it succeeded in evoking nostalgia for people who have grown up with the movies, the film sacrificed an original plot and new characters in the process. Star Wars: The Last Jedi , on the other hand, doesn’t feature a Death Star, instead centering its story around a battle between the Resistance and First Order, with subplots expanding the story’s focus. While one may argue that this reduces the great scale of space that the originals explored, it gives the story a more grounded plot. However, this movie did not come without its faults. Without divulging too much of the movie, the characterization of Luke has changed. Instead of the upbeat and hopeful Luke Skywalker we admired in the originals, this Luke is far more weary and downtrodden, to the point where he believes that the Jedi must end. It is interesting to note that Mark Hamill himself did not agree with Rian Johnson’s vision for the character. However, he still decided to play the iconic Jedi hero, and later called the movie “one of the all-time greats.” Additionally, Finn and Rose’s romance seems far too forced, as it developed over what is really around two days. This is disappointing, seeing how rare such an interracial couple is in movies. Instead of trying to force a romance onto such interesting characters, a friendship (for the time being) would have been more well-suited and 26 By Eui Jin Song / Associate Editor

Star Wars: The Last Jedi keeps parts of the Star Wars franchise that made fans fall in love with it in the first place: the interesting characters, amazing visual effects, and the classic tropes, but ultimately lets go of its past.

would seem less out-of-place. The side plot involving Finn and Rose seemed unnecessary and (spoiler alert) actually impeded the mission. Entire events could have been avoided if there was better communication between the generals and the members of the Resistance. If the characters had ever addressed their reckless actions, I would be less critical, but in this film they simply hand-wave the fact that some of their crew literally died due to the negligence of members who believed that their leaders were doing nothing (when they actually were, but chose not to divulge that information for whatever reason). This makes parts of the film feel hollow and lessens the impact of the movie as a whole. Yet, the film’s fixation on character development and the performances of the cast was what really cemented my love for it. The diversity of the cast cannot be understated: we have an Asian female, Kelly Marie Tran, the first woman of color to play one of the leads in a film franchise. Her character, Rose Tico, isn’t sidelined in favor of the other characters, but plays a major role in the story. Various women are shown to be in leadership roles, and actors of color also play major leading roles ( John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron). All of the characters are developed throughout this film, especially Rey, who receives training to be a Jedi Knight from Luke Skywalker. This film even dares to subvert the idea that there needs to be a great mystery surrounding the central character. Rey isn’t a hero because of some destiny she must fulfill or because of her bloodline. She’s a hero because that’s simply who she is. While this admittedly makes all of the build-up to her mystery parents unnecessary, it was a great twist that strengthened her character. Kylo Ren is a far more fleshed out “villain,” whose motives don’t revolve around the tired idea of “destroy the world just because.” Gone is the Kylo Ren who audiences laughed at when he took off his mask. Replacing him is a far more menacing yet sympathetic character that is much more engaging. At one point of the movie, one of the characters says, “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to.” Star Wars: The Last Jedi embodies this idea. It keeps parts of the Star Wars franchise that made fans fall in love with it in the first place: the interesting characters, amazing visual effects, and the classic tropes, but ultimately lets go of its past. The film seeks to stand on its own merit, and the end result is a film that will stay with you long after you leave the movie theater.

Courtesy of empireonline.com

2018

HOROSCOPES By Kyle Lee/ Staff Writer

ARIES

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid of the distant challenges. Take this time to rest and think about commiting to your future goals.

CANCER Life might become tense if you allow others to have their own way at your expense. Stay focused and keep moving forward,

LIBRA

Time is on your side. No matter how many errands you have to run, think things through before you make a decision.

TAURUS

These months may hold a series of overwhelming projects. Clear your mind and focus on what you need to do.

GEMINI

Be patient and face insecurities and ambiguities with a strong mind. Now is the right time to plan your future career goals.

LEO

VIRGO

Time is on your side. No matter how many errands you have to run, think things through before you make a decision.

Your opinions are strong. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to put them out there. Accept the challenge of trying to win people over to your side.

SCORPIO

Time is on your side. No matter how many errands you have to run, think things through before you make a decision.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

Time is on your side. No matter how many errands you have to run, think things through before you make a decision.

SAGGITARIUS

Time is on your side. No matter how many errands you have to run, think things through before you make a decision.

PISCES

Time is on your side. No matter how many errands you have to run, think things through before you make a decision.

Two recently discovered computer flaws dubbed “worst CPU bugs” ever The start of the new year is often associated with the ushering in of renewed positivity and the severing of ties to the past. The start of 2018 formed quite the dichotomy; two computer flaws that have existed for decades due to consumer culture’s imprudent fixation on faster performance were belatedly discovered this past month. Coined Meltdown and Spectre, these two flaws take advantage of a strategy used to speed up the rate at which CPUs (Central Processing Units, which are essentially the brains of computers) execute calculations known as speculative execution. Think of this strategy as a chef in a restaurant who prepares a certain customer’s order beforehand–a customer who always orders the same meal. However, one day the customer decides to try something different, which means the chef will have to throw away what he prepared. When computers run programs, they use the same thought process; they decide to complete certain calculations that they think will most likely be needed to run a program, and if it turns out the calculations aren’t needed, the results are thrown away in an unsecure storage space. The vulnerabilities are highly complex, but in a nutshell, hackers can use the information found in this cache memory to exploit computers. Affecting the majority of PCs (personal computers) and computer servers, Meltdown allows hackers to get past the hardware (physical) walls that normally separate applications and the core memory. Therefore, applications, and thus hackers, could obtain more information than they should be able to have access to. Spectre is similar but slightly different in that the boundaries being dissolved are program-to-program. This allows a hacker to use one program to steal the memory used by another. Perhaps the worst shared capability between the two is the capacity of both to hack the cloud. Companies like Google, Intel, and Microsoft all provide cloud services (e.g. Google drive), which serve as extra

hard drives for consumers. If a person’s computer breaks, they can still access what they’ve uploaded to the cloud through the internet. In instances where cloud servers are shared amongst many users, hackers can break down software (non-physical) barriers that usually protect each user, effectively allowing them to steal information from multiple people. The situation is much worse for businesses and even government agencies that run infrastructure on the cloud; passwords and sensitive data could end up in the hands of dubious users. The main problem with both of these vulnerabilities is that they are tough to fix: software updates called “patches” will have to be continuously improved upon to combat Meltdown, and for Spectre, the problems will only be truly fixed when new hardware is installed into computers. For the time being, what users can do currently to safeguard their devices is to update operating systems, browsers, and antivirus software; major platforms such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud have already released their updates. Although some headlines may exaggerate the negative consequences of the flaws, they shouldn’t be dangerous as long as you make sure updates are installed once they are released. The only problem with these software patches is that performance may be hindered due to the fact that these patches suppress speculative execution, the system that creates fast computers. For our contemporary consumer culture that craves faster devices, Meltdown and Spectre are wake up calls. Years of ignoring the security consequences of upgrades in performance have led to the birth of two of the worst computer flaws ever. As technology further advances, hopefully we will one day reap the benefits of higher performance without having security suffer, ending the performance-security trade-off that currently plagues billions of devices. By Nicholas Okazaki / Editorials Editor Courtesy of Cougar Connection Courtesy of Claudia Tang 29

Editorials / Opinions

NK-SK OLYMPICS A RED HERRING Upon hearing the announcement of North Korea’s intent to participate in the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, South Korea capitalized on the opportunity to strengthen their diplomatic relations with the North and promote peace through the Olympics. The North and South have been collaborating since then, even forming a joint Korean women’s hockey team and agreeing to walk under a flag depicting a unified Korean peninsula at the opening ceremony. While the Olympics may seem like a progressive step towards thawing the tension between the two countries and securing a peace treaty, this measure is merely a temporary one and will ultimately fail to have a lasting impact on the tensions between the two sides of the peninsula due to the North’s insistence on nuclear weapons, their track record of sabotage, and increasing efforts of undermining the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Despite agreeing to a unified partnership with the South, North Korea is intent on keeping their nuclear armaments. During the meeting between the two sides on Jan. 9, North Korea’s chief negotiator, Ri Son Gwon, stated that “all state-of-the-art strategic weapons, including atomic and hydrogen bombs, ICBMs, rockets, are entirely targeting the US.” While this statement may be interpreted as one indicative of an easing of tensions between the North and South due to the North’s supposed exclusive targeting of the U.S., tensions are bound to arise in the peninsula, since we are allied with the South. South Korea will be torn between the US, their long-standing ally, and North Korea, their Northern kin. Adding to this tension, South Korean opinion on the North isn’t uniform; different demographics express different sentiments. The younger generation is more resistant towards aligning with the North while the older generation is more inclined towards establishing better relations because of their kinfolk in the North, which can cause a split in South Korea that will further agitate the already flammable tensions. Another point to consider is that we can’t predict or trust that North Korea will desist from acts of sabotage aimed at weakening the economic sanctions placed upon them by the United Nations. In 1988, North Korea attempted to sabotage the Seoul Summer Olympics by detonating a bomb in an airliner bound for Seoul, killing 112 people. The person responsible for the bombing was caught after she attempted to commit suicide. Though heightened security has been put in place since then, considering the North’s proclivity for feats of sabotage, who’s to say that North Korea won’t attempt the same thing or something worse for this year’s Games? If we can’t trust the North to be on their best behavior during a highly-publicized international sporting event, how can we expect the Olympics to be successful in de-escalating the tensions in the peninsula? A more grievous effect of the North’s participation in the Olympics is the resulting cracks that have formed in the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the goal of which being the denuclearization of the peninsula. North Korea has played the victim card many times in their propaganda war with the U.S. and the Olympics has provided the North ample ammunition to further degrade the alliance, and it’s already starting to show with the contradicting statements released by the U.S. and South Korea after the opening ceremony about whether the Games are the beginning or the end of engagement with North Korea. Add to that the North’s completion and showcasing of their new ICBMs at a military parade that was held a day before the opening ceremony and the South Korea-US alliance doesn’t seem so steady now. These tensions will only serve to drive a wedge between the two long-time allies. With that being said, the easing of tensions in the peninsula with the upcoming Olympics, though temporary, could serve as a reprieve for many who have been fearing that rising conflict between North Korea and South Korea would worsen to the point of conventional warfare or even nuclear war. It certainly would be a welcome sight to see North Korea refraining from waving their nukes around during the Olympics. However, this is only temporary. Once the Games end, there’s nothing stopping North Korea from returning their full attention to their nukes, revitalizing the tensions that were eased by the Olympics.

As the Olympics draw nearer, I can only pray that things will go smoothly and no major incidents happen to dampen the high spirits and camaraderie traditionally associated with the Olympics. Here’s hoping that this will be a good, promising step forward in peaceful negotiations with North Korea… but I doubt that the peaceful coexistence of the Olympics will last for any substantial effect to occur. With that being said, the easing of tensions in the peninsula through the Olympics, though temporary, could serve as a reprieve for many who have been fearing that rising tensions between North Korea and South Korea would worsen to the point of conventional warfare or even nuclear war.. It certainly would be a welcome sight to see North Korea not waving their nukes around so much during the Olympics. However, this is only temporary. Once the games end, there’s nothing stopping North Korea from returning attention to their nukes, bringing back the tensions that were eased by the Olympics. By Tristan Yousuf-Leo / Copy Editor Courtesy of Holly Iwanaga

Editorials / Opinions

False Missile Alarm Exposes State Agency Flaws On Jan. 13 at 8 a.m., the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) began its ritual testing of the state emergency and wireless-emergency alert systems—testing that is completed three times daily. Five minutes later, a HEMA employee who was supposed to have initiated the drill version of the missile alert chose instead the actual version. The employee then confirmed the selection and two minutes later, citizens across Hawaii were informed of an incoming ballistic missile via mobile phones and televisions.

Over a span of thirty-eight minutes, an uninformed public (with the exception of Kaiser’s math teacher Mark Gardner, who nonchalantly continued his golfing game) went into chaotic disarray as people sought shelter in hotel basements and even storm drains. Text messages and phone calls expressing what some thought were their last goodbyes were frantically sent, and those with their family nearby prayed while hiding in bathtubs and garages. The false alarm did not only elicit great fear

among Hawaii’s residents -- at least four medical emergencies resulted, the worst of which was a Hawaii Kai resident who suffered a heart attack. Needless to say, this incident exposed the flaws of HEMA’s alert system as well as shed light on the disorganized procedures of the state agency. Contrary to statements made by Governor Ige as well as several news articles, the HEMA employee intentionally “pressed the wrong button.” The accident initially began with the actions carried out by an incompetent midnight supervisor: an unplanned drill was initiated during a swapping of night to day-shift personnel. During this drill, the supervisor simulated a United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) phone call in which HEMA employees were told “Exercise, exercise, exercise.” However, the supervisor also strayed from the protocol script and stated, “This is not

tent the agency is, a password written on a Post-it note was mistakenly shown in a public photo released by the HEMA headquarters. Twitter users who zoomed in on the image were even able to read the password. Fortunately, the agency’s spokesman, Richard Rapoza, stated that the password wasn’t used for any major software. However, that doesn’t excuse the fact it was still used for an internal application. Additionally, the design of the missile alert system was prone to human error eventually. This is because both the test and actual ballistic missile alert links were on the same page, and the label for each had only a one word difference. In other words, it would be extremely easy to confuse the drill and the actual alert. HEMA should have designated separate computers for tests and real alerts as well as multiple-user activation and verification to prevent this kind of careless error. Although the false alarm caused widespread panic and stress among Hawaii’s residents, this erroneous alert could not have actually initiated a war between North Korea and the US. This is because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency that informs HEMA of any missile threat, does not receive its intel from Hawaii but rather from the US Northern & Pacific Commands and the US Strategic Command. Nonetheless, the false alarm still inflicted significant damage by eroding the public’s trust in the state. It is critical that HEMA improve upon its protocols and systems since Hawaii’s lives are in its hands.

a drill!” causing one employee to believe there was an incoming missile attack. His actions led to HEMA’s second fault: the agency allowed an employee with a history of unsatisfactory performance to continue working. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigation had found that the employee had been a “source of concern” for a decade. On two occasions, he had erroneously thought a real event was occuring during a drill. The worst part about the incident was that there was no cancellation command already in place that could have immediately informed the public that the alarm was false. So for thirty-eight minutes, panic ensued until the agency finally added a new link to their system, which conveyed that the message was a mistake to the public. If cancellation commands had been previously written, the thirty-eight minutes could have been reduced to just seconds. Although the false missile alarm was by far the most disastrous HEMA incident, it was not the agency’s only incident. When HEMA tested all 386 of its sirens, 7% of those sirens failed to work properly; instead, an ambulance siren was emitted. Furthermore, in highly-populated Waikiki, the sirens could barely be heard. If that wasn’t By Nicholas Okazaki / Editorials Editor enough indication of how incompe- Courtesy of Cougar Connection

DRESS CODES

Although some students argue that the dress code infringes on self-expression and personal identity, the rules are simply there to prepare students for real life. The mission of the dress code is to teach students what attire is appropriate for professional environments.

Picking out clothes for the day can be a stressful experience. What top should I wear with my Levi jeans? A long sleeve flannel? A t-shirt? A tank top? Sneakers? Flip flops? We are so focused on mixing and matching colors and styles that the dress code policy is, more often than not, an afterthought in the back of people’s minds. Many students feel that the freedom to dress however they desire expresses their individuality. Wearing inappropriate attire, however, is not conducive to real world application. Most companies implement policies for appropriate attire, and students should know that poor decisions in dress can tarnish a person’s credibility in the workplace. Employers often scrutinize how potential employees dress as a means of forming assumptions about the person in question. Even if one’s future workplace lacks a dress code, the reality is that people will judge an individual’s abilities and competence based on one’s appearance. Therefore, it is important to wear clothing that complies with the dress code in order to prepare ourselves for our future workplace. To the relief of many students, Kaiser’s dress code is not as restrictive compared with other schools around the island. For example, Niu Valley Middle School requires students to wear shorts with a minimum length requirement of two inches above the kneecap, in addition to requiring that they wear T-shirt uniforms. Kaiser ab-

stained from implementing a uniform in the dress code. Students have already been granted ample freedom in terms of what to wear. The requirements are reasonable: covering private parts and avoiding negative and offensive clothing (i.e. clothing that depicts violence, drug use, destructive lifestyles, etc.). Some argue that enforcing the school dress code takes students’ time away from class. When a student receives a citation reports to the office, they may have to miss class time. However, students must understand that their violation of the dress code detracts from the learning environment and diverts students’ attention away from learning. While instructional time is important for the student who violates the dress code, their offense takes away quality instructional time from countless others. At the end of the day, each student is responsible for dressing properly. Although abiding by the dress code may not be considered fashionable amongst youth, students must realize that such a code exists, not to make a school’s administration feel omnipotent, but to solely benefit the students. Employers will often scrutinize how potential employees dress and form assumptions of the person in question, so it’s up to the person who wants the job they’re applying for to dress appropriately. Though we aren’t just the clothes we wear, most don’t look past that before judging a person for themselves. By Alyssa Zamora / Business Manager Courtesy of Claudia Tang

OCEAN DEBRIS 808CLEANUPS CONTACT INFORMATION

Email 808cleanups@gmail.com Address 808 Cleanups PO Box 240341 Honolulu, HI 96824-0341 Phone 808.892.3464 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 808cleanups/

COURTESY OF COUGAR CONNECTION

HOW DOES MARINE DEBRIS GET INTO THE OCEAN IN THE FIRST PLACE? BY EUI JIN SONG / ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Many have heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of all of the trash we throw into the streets, which break down into smaller and smaller pieces that never goes away. However, it doesn’t seem to quite register in our minds that there is a literal collection of trash floating in our ocean. It’s roughly the size of Texas, and it is not going away any time soon. According to NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it would cost between $122 million and $489 million annually to clean up the debris, and that’s not even counting the fact that not all debris items can be scooped up with a net. Animal species mistake plastic waste for an edible food source, which sometimes causes blockages in their digestive system. They also get entangled in discarded fishing nets, lines, lures, and the plastic bags that fly away everyday. While these problems may seem far away from us because our island is a so-called paradise, endangered wildlife like Hawaiian monk seals and the honu (green sea turtle) are among nearly 300 species that eat and get caught in plastic litter. If we truly want our island to be a paradise, we must take action so that we can treat our ocean as a home for thousands of species -- and not as the world’s trash can. While cleaning up existing ocean debris is certainly important, a lot of our efforts should be focused on preventing the problem in the first place. The question that must be asked, however, is how does marine debris get into the ocean in the first place? Land-based items make up 49% of all marine debris. One of the most common ways that trash travels from land to water is through storm drains. Small pieces of trash that we casually toss onto the streets are often washed into storm drains during rain storms and are then deposited into the sea. Industrial and urban areas are all too often sites that produce marine debris and poorly managed factories often dump waste into waters. Beachgoers and picnikers are also part of the problem. While one bottle cap or a cup may not seem so bad, these items accumulate quickly and ultimately clog up our ocean. So really, the simplest and most effective way to tackle marine debris is to throw away your trash into the receptacle can, or don’t leave it behind. I was able to talk to Michael Loftin of 808 cleanups, an environmental nonprofit organization committed to restoring Hawaii’s natural environment by empowering volunteers to conduct decentralized cleanups, which take place weekly. The organization seeks to raise awareness about ocean pollution by showing volunteers the extent to which it affects the environment and where the debris comes from. For example, the reason why we have so many nets and rope as debris in our oceans and beaches

is because of the commercial fishing industry. Students are encouraged to volunteer at events that 808 Cleanups and their various partners coordinate. If a student cannot make it to these events, the organization asks for them to instead support the organization by adopting a site (choosing one area and cleaning it regularly). However, while cleaning up ocean debris is extremely important, we need to remember that preventative methods are equally as important. The most effective way to prevent ocean debris is by passing legislation. One viable method is to reduce our use of single-use plastics, which are things like plastic bags that are used once and then discarded. On July 17, 2017, the Honolulu City Council unanimously voted to pass Oahu’s new plastic bag ban last week. The ban, which will go into effect by July 2018, will charge 15 cents for all plastic checkout bags. By 2020, all plastic bags will be banned, with the exception of those used for produce and restaurant food. However, the new ban still has “loopholes.” The majority of the plastic bags found on beaches and in parks are actually produce bags, which are not included in the ban. According to Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign, a survey of Ala Moana Beach has found that 63% of plastic bags left behind are take-out food bags. Thus, our ban on plastic bags should be extended to pro-

duce and take out food bags at least by 2020. Furthermore, in 2016, the US Senate unanimously passed a bill to ban the use of microbeads in cosmetics. Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter that are often used in exfoliating body and face scrubs. They go through sewage treatment plants undetected, causing 8 trillion microbeads are released into the ocean every day from the United States. The Microbead-Free Waters Act bans manufacturers from using synthetic plastic microbeads effective July 1, 2017. While a federal ban is far more effective than state bans, an outright ban on microbeads will have an even greater effect, as toothpastes and cleaning products use them as well. There are also various loopholes in regulations: some use the term “biodegradable” to specify what products are allowed, but some microbeads can biodegrade just slightly. For the sake of our planet, we must focus on prevention as much as we do in cleaning up the resulting debris in our oceans. We need to stop the problem from continuing to occur, and that can start by simply learning more about debris and participating at cleanups in your local community. As Michael Loftin from 808 Cleanups said, “Within your own ohana you’re going to be the greatest influence.”

A Blood Drive Poem by Claudia Tang

Taste of Your Own Medicine by Holly Iwanaga

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Frohamm in th Open Big Cham won first place with his brothe

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By Jolie Ching / Editor-in-Chief

A sailing sensation at the age of 15, visiting Kaiser student Magnus Frohamm is already an international sports star with first place titles in the youth division of two World Cups. Frohamm grew up in a small town in Germany. He entered the world of competitive sailing

at 10, crediting his family who encouraged him to take up the sport. “Everyone in my family is a sailor, so when I was 10, they would take me out sailing every week,” Frohamm said. From there, he traveled all over the world for sailing regattas (competitions). Frohamm made his mark on the world of competitive sailing in 2015 with his first place win at the European World Open Bic Championship. He cites this competition as his proudest accomplishment. “My [13-yearold] brother and I sailed together. We currently are the

youngest team in Europe and in the whole world, in fact. Most people who win regattas are 18 or 19, but we managed to keep up with the others, so it’s kind of nice seeing that you can win even when you’re younger,” Frohamm said. Two years later, the brothers went on to win 2017’s Vice World Champion Open Bic. In order to keep up with his older competition, Frohamm trains every weekend. “We travel two hours to the Netherlands to train: one session in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each is about three hours on the water,” he said. In his free time,

Magnus roh amm

he 2015 European World mpionships, in which he e in the youth division er.

Courtesy of Robert Hajduk

Frohamm trains for triathlons and practices karate. “Sailing is very demanding. You have to be mentally and physically strong. You always have to think about where the wind is coming from and its intensity. Then, you have to push back against the wind with your sail to make sure you stay on course,” he said. Although Frohamm’s training is rigorous, he still dedicates a large part of his day to his studies. His favorite subject to study is physics. However, Frohamm aspires to become an international diplomat. Through his sailing regattas, he has met people from almost every country. “That’s the main reason why I do these competitions. I love the sport too, but I like experiencing all of the different cultures just as much,” Frohamm said. Because of his travels, he is able to speak four different languages, including Dutch, English, German, and French. With two international titles to his name, Frohamm sets his sights on be-

coming an Olympic sailor. “I feel at home on the water, so it would be amazing to represent my country and show everyone that this is what I was meant to do,” he said. As an aspiring Olympian, Frohamm is always looking for places to train. When a fellow sailor invited him to stay in Hawaii, he eagerly accepted. “Here is actually one of the best places I’ve visited. The climate is nice. The wind is really good and you can sail whenever you want to,” Frohamm said. Although his two-and-a-half month stay at Kaiser is nearing its end, the young sailor is always looking towards the future. He spends most of his time on the water, preparing for this year’s World Cup in Italy. “It’s pretty cool,” he said.

SWIM OIA championshipS By Leigh Farah / Tara Morisato STAFF WRITER / FEATURES EDITOR

The Lady Cougar swimmers and divers finished their season on January 29 with their ninth consecutive OIA Championship win. The boys’ team prevailed with second place. After a strong preliminary session, the Kaiser swimmers came back to compete at finals. Not only did the girls win, they also smashed several records; juniors Erin Patterson, Mari Yasumi, Sophie Harrison, and freshman Sofia Carlson in the 200 medley and 200 free relays as well as Harrison in the 100 butterfly. Harrison also finished first in the 200 freestyle event. “I’ve always loved racing and winning is always a plus. The races were super fun and I really just went all into it, trying to win for my team. Breaking the record really brought it over the top, I couldn’t stop smiling,” she said. Other top finishers included sophomore Micah Ginoza in the 200 freestyle, senior Noah Carlson in the 100 freestyle, Yasumi in the 500 freestyle, Patterson in the 100 backstroke, and sophomore Jill Chaffee in the 1 meter diving event. Additionally, a number of Kaiser swimmers finished in the top 12 positions during the finals session. “I gave it my all this year and tried my best in every race,” said Ginoza, commenting on his 200 freestyle triumph this season. “It made the practice I did everyday feel worth it.” Ginoza was recognized by his coaches as one of the most hard-working athletes on the team. Throughout their season, several Kaiser swimmers qualified for the state championship competition and will be competing in Maui on Feb. 9 and 10. “I’m super excited to go to states because I never thought I would make it,” said junior Sarah Lorenzo, who placed tenth in the 50 freestyle. “I’m going to give it my all.” After a fierce nine years, Coach Asa is optimistic for the team’s future and eagerly anticipates another championship victory in 2019. “We’re ready to come back and win it for a tenth season in a row,” he said. Overall, this season’s triumph has left the swimmers with valuable experiences and enthusiasm for the 2019 season. “Swimming is the first sport I’ve ever joined and it allowed me to grow as a person in ways like commitment and teamwork,” said junior Mana Nozawa, who aims to make states in her senior year. “This win was a great way to end my swim season. I felt that my effort from all four years would pay off.”

39 Courtesy of Cougar Connection

The Lady Cougar swimmers and divers finished off their season on Januar y 29 with an OIA Championship win, taking the title f o r t h e n i n t h c o n s e c u t i v e y e a r. The boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; team prevailed with second.

The best place for all your formal attire needs such as bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, tuxedo, & formal dresses in Oahu and Honolulu.

Finding the perfect prom dress is never easy. This prom season, Vows is a great option to find a unique dress perfect for the occasion. The store, who provided Kaiser’s homecoming court tuxes and dresses, offers a full salon experience, with consultations, alterations, accessories, and more in store. Although the store is open 7 days a week, the best times to visit are during weekdays. “Saturday to Sunday is a madhouse,” said Vickie, an employee. For prom, the best way to find a dress is through a walk in, as reservations are limited to wedding related attire. “In January, Vows brought in a hundred new dresses, with a hundred more coming along the way,” said Vickie. Dress prices range from around $100 to $500, and suit prices range from $135 to $225, giving options for everyone. To ensure that customers have a unique experience, Vows promises they won’t sell the dress in the same style or different color to multiple students going to the same prom. With nineteen years of experience, Vows know just how to help you.

By Samantha Yonan / Staff Writer

BRIDAL FORMAL

Courtesy of Cougar Connection