Cougar Connection January 2018 Vol. 47 Issue 4
ON OUR COVER:
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Blood drive
Kaiser’s National Honors Society partnered with the Blood Bank of Hawaii once again to organize the annual blood drive.
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MENYA REVIEW
Tucked away in a small space in Kaka`ako, Menya Musashi Bukotsu sits a casual eatery serving ramen that is seriously delicious.
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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.
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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.
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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
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“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
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KOREAN EXCHANGE DURING
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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
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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 that’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.
ENGINEER, LAWYER, TEACHER
Courtesy of Cougar Connection
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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.
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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
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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 .
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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/.
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
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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
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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
M Fr
Frohamm in th Open Big Cham won first place with his brothe
28.
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
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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.
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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.”
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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 boys’ team prevailed with second.
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: 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
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