April 1, 2019

ROTC GOES TO NATIONALS FEATURES P. 06

TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON FREE SPEECH

UH Ranger Challenge team takes their success to a new level

OPINIONS P. 07

How should universities comply?

KA LEO

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ISSUE.19 VOLUME.113 MON, APRIL 01 - SUN, APRIL 14, 2019 WEBSITE / MANOANOW.ORG/KALEO TWITTER + INSTAGRAM / KALEOOHAWAII FACEBOOK.COM / KALEOOHAWAII

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KA LEO O HAWAI‘I: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I

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 MEET THE STAFF

University of Hawai‘ i faculty react to Senate budget scare Calls made for change and unity

KA LEO INTERIM EDITOR IN CHIEF Chavonnie Ramos DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Algeo Rosario CHIEF COPY EDITOR Gradon Wong DESIGN DIRECTOR Amy Lowe ASSOCIATE DESIGN DIRECTOR Ana Bitter FEATURES EDITOR Ralph Arista ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Meldrick Ravida OPINIONS EDITOR Kailanianna Ablog ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Xavier Torres COMICS EDITOR Eileen Roco PHOTOS EDITOR Alexander Wong EXECUTIVE VIDEO PRODUCER Lindsay Rees ASSOCIATE VIDEO PRODUCER Agatha Danglapin

ALEXANDER WONG / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

University of Hawai‘ i System President and Mānoa Chancellor David Lassner addressed recently proposed and reversed cuts to UH at the Board of Regents meeting at Kapi‘olani Community College on March 28.

CHAVONNIE RAMOS INTERIM EDITOR IN CHIEF

Some University of Hawai‘i faculty union members criticized UH leadership during the Board of Regents meeting on March 28.

This was in light of the BOR voting 12-3 to approve Phase I of the Mānoa reorganization proposal, which recombines the positions of the system president and UH Mānoa chancellor and establishes a new UH Mānoa provost position.

Some faculty criticized UH leaders and President David Lassner on how they responded to the state Senate’s budget proposal to cut $30 million over the next two years at the university, which would include terminating 121 faculty positions at Mānoa.

Lassner has served as both UH president and interim UH Mānoa chancellor with no additional pay since September 2016. Some of his critics say that he needs to be held accountable for his handling of the situation.

“Our desire is that the Regents hold the President accountable for managing a crisis,” UH Professional Assembly Executive Director Kristeen Hanselman said. “And ensuring that faculty members are assured that the President is in fact defending their work, defending their profession, and recognizes that faculty voices are a powerful deterrence to having damage done to the university.”

UHPA is the union that represents faculty on all 10 UH campuses.

The proposal was reversed on March 22 after Sen. Donna Mercado

Kim received additional information from the university. Initially, the review focused on positions that had “neither teaching responsibilities nor grant support.” Kim received a list of 121 names of faculty from Lassner that were set for the chopping block.

Kim later learned that those positions included retirements, terminations, leaves without pay and sabbaticals. Fifty percent of those positions were temporary and were federal or grant funded.

Legislature at multiple levels to reverse those cuts before they made it into the conference budget.”

Lassner also said they differed with UHPA on communication strategies. UH leadership did not inform the 121 individuals that Lassner had submitted names to Kim for potential termination.

Lassner said he did not want to “cause personal stress and alarm” to the individuals.

Hanselman said UHPA notified

It was the voice of the faculty that turned the tide here. It is not just an insider’s game.

– KRISTEEN HANSELMAN UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I PROFESSIONAL ASSEMBLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kim also gave the opportunity for UH faculty to testify to the Legislature.

“It was the voice of the faculty that turned the tide here,” Hanselman said. “It is not just an insider’s game.

This is a legislature that responds to the voices of those faculty members that can tell their story, and they tell them well, and they talk about what they bring to students in our communities. That cannot be done by a university administration.”

At the BOR meeting on March 28, Lassner said that they made it a priority to reverse the cuts as quickly as possible.

“And we succeeded,” Lassner said at the meeting. “We obviously differed with UHPA on legislative strategy in a number of ways. We did engage fully and directly with the

its members if they were on the list because they needed to know.

According to UH spokesman Brent Suyama, as soon as they became aware of the Senate proposal, they sent out emails to all faculty and staff across the 10-system campus to notify them. He said that as more developments occurred, UH leadership continued to update the community.

The UH Mānoa Faculty Senate Executive Committee took no position on UH’s leadership in regards to the legislative budget scare.

“Our effort as a university community would be better focused on ensuring that this sort of assault cannot happen again, by changing how some elements feel empowered to treat the university as a

punching bag or scapegoat,” the SEC said in a written testimony during the March 28 BOR meeting.  ADMINISTRATION The SEC also noted that everyone needs to work together and that Ka Leo O Hawai‘i is the campus newspaper “UH is valuable and needs to be of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. It is pubsupported, not attacked, and that, if lished by the Student Media Board biweekly it is attacked, it must be defended except on holidays and during exam periods. by all of us.”

Circulation is 10,000 during the academic year The SEC said this incident should and 5,000 during summer sessions. Ka Leo is be a “catalyst for unity as the UH funded by student fees and advertising. community; if not, we are weaker Its editorial content reflects only the views and ripe for further challenges in of its writers, reporters, columnists and edithe future.” tors, who are solely responsible for its content.

House Bill 2 is the “base operat- No material that appears in Ka Leo may be ing budget” for most departments in reprinted or republished in any medium withthe State for fiscal years 2019-2020 out permission. The first newsstand copy is and 2020-2021. As of March 27, the free; for additional copies, please visit Ka Leo. bill has been transmitted to Gov. The Student Media Board, a student David Ige’s office. organization chartered by the University of The House position of the budget Hawai‘i Board of Regents, publishes Ka Leo O does not include UH. UH’s budget is Hawai‘i. Issues or concerns can be reported in HB1521 and HB1522. The Senate to the board via uhsmb@hawaii.edu.

Ways and Means Committee passed ©2019 Student Media Board HB2 with amendments to include UH’s base budget.

HB116 SD1 includes additional  LET’S HAVE A CHAT funding for UH above the base budget of HB 2.

There are also additional appropri- KA LEO O HAWAI‘I ate bills introduced by the Legislature UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MĀNOA that add funding for certain programs 2445 CAMPUS RD., that were not originally included in HEMENWAY HALL 107 the BOR request.

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96822 Hanselman noted that there can still be harm done during the legislative session because the budget NEWSROOM (808) 956-7043 is still a live document.

ADVERTISING (808) 956-7043 “This has been a war of attrition, FACSIMILE (808) 956-9962 during this legislative session, and UH is not out of the woods yet,” she said.

“Due diligence is called for here, both KALEO@KALEO.ORG WWW.MANOANOW.ORG/KALEO for UHPA as well as the university.” @KALEOOHAWAII

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KA LEO O HAWAI‘I: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I

FEATURES

features@kaleo.org @kaleofeatures  Executive director of the Nature Conservancy

of Hawai‘i Ulalia Woodside addresses women in public administration and her work at a nonprofit organization.

 Honolulu Police Chief

Susan Ballard and former Hawai‘ i Superintendent of Education Kathryn Matayoshi talk about their experience working in public administration.

 University of Hawai‘ i

at Mānoa hosts a panel discussion with four Hawai‘ i women on March 29, addressing what it is like working in public administration that is currently a male-dominated field.

FOUR WOMEN IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION INSPIRE HIGHER ROLES [ ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY CASSIE ORDONIO | KA LEO O HAWAI‘I ]

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard  speaks about her experience as a woman in public administration.

To pay homage to women’s history month, four women in public administration shared their stories at the University of Hawai‘ i at Mānoa about their struggles in a male dominated field.

Their message was forward: stop apologizing.

The panelists were Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard, former Hawai‘i Superintendent of Education Kathryn Matayoshi, foreign policy advisor of U.S. Indo-PACOM Candy Green and executive director of the Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘ i Ulalia Woodside.

“Since the passage of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, women have made great strides in the labor force. However, women are still underrepresented in management positions, especially executive-level management positions,” assistant professor of the public administration program Helen Yu said.

“To illustrate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women represent 47 percent

of all working Americans but they account for just 39.2 percent of all management jobs and less than 28 percent of all executive-level positions across both public and private employment sectors. Although gains have been made, we need to do more to ensure our public workforce represents the diversity of the communities they serve,” Yu said.

Approximately 50 people, men and women, attended the event.

UH Mānoa’s public administration program has been working on the event for two semesters.

UH Mānoa graduate student Alohilani Maiava, who works for nonprofit Hui Mālama O Ke Kai, said she appreciated the advice as a student being able to interact in the field.

“I do feel the big question ‘what are you doing next, and what’s your career path?’”

Maiava said. “It was satisfying that to hear that careers can be very flexible and you should know, be dead set on a position because it’s going to get you somewhere.”

 University of Hawai‘ i at Mānoa student Ni-

cole Kahielani Peltzer asks the four female panelists what it is like working in public administration.

 Foreign Policy Advisor of U.S. Indo-PACOM

Candy Green speaks about women in public administration.

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KA LEO O HAWAI‘I: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I

FEATURES

features@kaleo.org @kaleofeatures

UH Ranger Challenge team takes it to nationals “Take souls”  COURTESY OF WENG ONG

The Ranger Challenge team finish land navigation training at the Jungle Operations Training Center at East Range, Wahiawā, HI. ALGEO ROSARIO DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR

Passion, mental toughness and grit took the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Army ROTC Warrior Battalion Ranger Challenge team to new heights.

The team will head to Collegiate Nationals for a two-day challenge starting April 12 for the Sandhurst Competition on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York.

This is the first time in 10 years that UH Mānoa’s ROTC crew took first place at a regional competition, beating out 11 other teams.

The crew won the regional competition at Camp Rilea in Oregon back in October.

Just months later, they placed second in the 8th Brigade Ranger Challenge Competition in January to qualify for nationals.

However, for them, it was not about the accomplishments but the teamwork that brought them together.

BUILDING THE TEAM

In previous years, the ranger challenge was not a year-long program at UH Mānoa. Over the past year, the team set out on creating a better culture for the group.

Team Captain Weng Ong, Brandon Hiehle, Kevin Wilhelm and Kai Chau, who were dubbed “the four horsemen,” are the seniors in the ranger challenge program.

Ong, who is majoring in kinesiology, says the philosophy to keep the team going “all comes from the heart.”

On top of their regular ROTC hours, the team spends extra time committed to training for these competitions. Practices are held four days out of the week from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m.

Hiehle, a graduate student studying diplomacy and military studies at Hawai‘i Pacific University, says the biggest challenge with this regimen is waking up at early hours.

For some cadets from the North Shore, they have to wake up at two

mental challenge.

“Rucking five miles between event to event as fast as you can with this gear, and throw it all on the floor to do some other extraneous activity, it’s exhausting,” Hiehle said. “But, when you get to see

 COURTESY OF WENG ONG

The ranger challenge team having fun after finishing an obstacle course at East Range, Wahiawā, HI.

or three in the morning.

“We wake up an hour earlier than the rest of the ROTC program to go do a workout that’s twice as long, if not 10 times harder than what everyone else is doing,” Hiehle said.

For Ong, the challenges of being captain involve planning different training events, exercises and keeping the team self-sustainable.

“We have such a tight-knit group that it’s easy and very versatile to make changes on the fly for the better of the group,” Ong said.

FIRST-PLACE MINDSET

There are three levels of competition: regional, brigade and nationals.

The challenge takes place over a 13to 26-mile course featuring different events that teams have to complete.

Events include land navigation, going through obstacle courses, first aid, pistol marksmanship and other physical, mental and skillbased activities.

Traversing through rough conditions with over 40 pounds of gear makes it a highly physical but also

your score and realize we laid it all on the line, it’s a feeling that you can’t really describe until you get to experience it.”

Although they achieved first place in the regional competition, they experienced some setbacks during the brigade competition.

“We really struggled to get momentum and a strong foothold at the beginning of the competition,” Ong said. “We finished the first day of the competition saying ‘Wow, we’re gonna get third.’”

The team had to obtain one of the top three spots in order to move on.

After scraping to get to second place, the mindset for the team heading to nationals is focusing on their process and not looking back on their mistakes in what they like to call “next play focus.”

“Take souls” is the motto Ong and the team live by, which was coined

by David Goggins, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and motivational speaker.

“His whole mindset is what we try to emulate,” Ong said. “Regardless

of the pain, regardless of adversity, mentality will trump that.”

The team is set to compete in nationals against 48 teams from other universities, military service academies and international teams.

MORE THAN A SPORT

The competitions are considered a “varsity sport” for the UH Army ROTC, but the horsemen say the group is very different from any other UH Athletics team.

Hiehle says the team does not compete to become professional sports players or earn scholarships, but voluntarily takes part to connect with teammates.

“I have a chance to just wake up and workout with a bunch of people who want to do the same thing I do,” Hiehle said. “The camaraderie that we build is a tighter, stronger bond than any other athletics team.”

Unlike other sports teams, the ranger challenge team makes decisions entirely themselves, rather than relying on their coach.

Maj. Dale Balsis, their coach, helps organize outside resources,

but Ong says all the decisions for the team are based on him and what the team wants.

THE FUTURE

After the horsemen graduate, they plan on becoming active duty infantry officers for the Army.

They hope to leave the team knowing that they created a better culture so that their juniors can carry on their tradition.

“It’s culture we rely on and we worked extremely hard this semester to breed that mindset,” Ong said.

The horsemen also cherish the skills they have learned in the program and plan to take it beyond the military.

“Because of the culture and the family that has been developed through this, that’s what keeps me going,” Hiehle said.

What do you think?

Let us know @KaLeoOHawaii

 COURTESY OF WENG ONG

The ranger challenge team doing zodiac training, rowing up and down a river at the Jungle Operations Training Center at East Range, Wahiawā, HI.

KA LEO O HAWAI‘I: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I

COLUMN

editor@kaleo.org @kaleoohawaii

CONSERVATION THE BITE CONVERSATION

MONDAY, APRIL 01, 2019

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FEATURES

features@kaleo.org @kaleofeatures

AROU UND T HE WO RLD AT THE E

C E L E B R AT I NG A DAY O F CU ULT TU RE

 SOURCE: CREATIVE COMMONS

The #trashtag challenge inspires people to post before and after pictures of areas cleared of trash.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED #TrashTag inspires mass environmental cleanups worldwide LIAM THROPP PHOTOGRAPHER

Social media transformed the way information is shared. It can spread much more rapidly than ever before and inspire action and thought in ways never before possible, and sometimes, this has negative consequences.

With the advent of “fake news” and rampant misinformation on social media, we have seen the spread of dangerous movements like anti-vaccination and climate change denial.

But can social networks be used to inspire good?

There have been multiple instances of social media challenges inspiring acts of charity, the ice bucket challenge alone raised over $115 million for Lou Gehrig’s disease research.

Recently, a new hashtag has gained popularity and is inspiring people to engage in environmental restoration by sending them on a hunt for garbage.

Across the world, users are adding the hashtag #trashtag to their posts, encouraging others to pick up trash from their local park, beach or other public spaces.

To participate, all you do is post a before and after shot of your location, highlighting all the trash you have picked up. This campaign has not only empowered individuals to take ownership of their public spaces, but has also spread the desire to clean up the planet. This earnest social media trend has

been out since 2015 but is now becoming popular worldwide.

The #trashtag challenge presents an opportunity for Hawai‘ i residents to do something about the overwhelming trash build up.

For instance, the U.S. Coast Guard reported a two-mile-long debris mass in January 2018, which drifted between Moloka‘i and O‘ahu.

“Though it didn’t make landfall, the debris field of nets, ropes, drums and floats provided a reminder that such massive bundles are not only a threat to navigation, but to marine creatures,” Mike Pala‘i, a fisherman who regularly sails there, said.

Fish in the North Pacific consume 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic annually, causing intestinal damage and death, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

This plastic doesn’t just go away when the fish die; it makes its way through the entire food chain, eventually winding up in our seabirds, cephalopods (whales and dolphins) and supermarkets.

“In some areas of the Pacific, microplastics can outnumber zooplankton four to one. This should be a warning for the future of Hawai‘i, but more importantly the rest of the world,” June Ayita, a student advocate at UH Mānoa, said.

With this in mind, the #trashtag challenge can help open doors for Hawai‘i’s self-preservation. There is already a considerable amount

of work being done by local nonprofit organizations to clean Hawaiian coastlines and to limit plastic usage by residents.

There have been efforts to ban single-use plastics in the Hawai‘i Legislature, but no bills have passed.

The worldwide production of single-use plastic continues, especially in the Pacific. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are dumping more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined, according to Forbes. Most of the waste, which drifts out to sea, can be found in the centers of ocean gyres in the Pacific, or more locally on the coastlines of Hawai‘ i.

This social movement encourages people to clean up the planet and act constructively. A quick Instagram or Twitter search for #trashtag shows how much this social media challenge is influencing others to go out and clean up the world around them.

Join the movement and include #trashtag and @HI_SCB in your before and after pictures of the cleanup so we can see the difference we can make together!

Conservation Conversation is contributed by the Society for Conservation Biology Hawai‘ i Chapter.

To join the chapter and see more opportunities to get involved in conservation efforts in Hawai‘i visit https://www.hiscb.org.

LIAM THROPP IS A SOPHOMORE AT UH MĀNOA STUDYING JOURNALISM. WEBSITE: HTTPS://WWW.HISCB.ORG | TWITTER: @ HI_SCB

 COURTESY OF THE EAST-WEST CENTER

The East-West Fest is a student-led initiative supported by the East-West Center Education Program and a gift from Richard H. Cox. LINDSAY REES EXECUTIVE VIDEO PRODUCER

The East-West Fest is an annual event led by students and supported by the East-West Center Education Program in celebration of the many diverse communities that make up the East-West Center ‘ohana.

Festival offerings will include cultural booths from twenty countries and cultures of the Asia-Pacific region. These booths will include cultural artifacts, traditional dresses, an opportunity to speak with people from around the globe and Asia-Pacific dance and music.

Headlining acts include Kenny Endo’s Taiko Center of the Pacific, halau hula Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima, dancers from Gamelan Segara Madu and various musical performances from the East-West Center community.

Additional performances include young breakdancers of Keiki Breaks, Bollywood troupe Aaja Nachle and a performance from 808 Martial Arts.

Interested families will receive a “keiki passport” upon entrance to the festival, which children can get stamped for visiting booths and performing activities to receive a souvenir.

Food and drinks will be provided by Chamorro Grindz, serv-

ing hearty plates of food imported from Guam, along with other food trucks such as Govinda serving vegetarian Indian food, and Da Spot, known for its healthy food options and delicious smoothies.

Other events include the EastWest Center Gallery’s Wood Puppets of Asia exhibition from noon to 4 p.m. at Burns Hall as well as an illustrated talk on Chinese glove puppet theatre in Indonesia, a market selling cultural items and festival t-shirts, a caricaturist and other family-friendly activities providing a fun and relaxed way to spend an afternoon and learn more about the diversity of Asia-Pacific cultures in the Honolulu community.

MORE INFO

THE EAST-WEST FEST TIME SUNDAY, APRIL 7 2 - 6 p.m.

LOCATION Imin International Conference Center (Jefferson Hall)

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MONDAY, APRIL 01, 2019

KA LEO O HAWAI‘I: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I

OPINIONS

opinions@kaleo.org @kaleoopinions

 MARCEL SARAGENA / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I

The University of Hawai‘ i at Mānoa’s Campus Climate Committee held a panel about free speech.

Muddy waters of free speech What Trump’s executive order should make us consider KAILANIANNA ABLOG OPINIONS EDITOR

An executive order that demands that colleges and universities “promote free and open debate” on campus or risk losing federal research funding was implemented

by President Trump on March 21.

Although free speech is paramount, Executive Order 13864 fails to present a clear foundation for institutions to enforce it. A lack of guidance from the White House and various interpretations of the First Amendment are reminders that free speech is still not fully understood and more dialogue must be held to better define the concept.

GIVING THE PEOPLE A VOICE

About 73 percent of voters support the executive order, according to The Washington Post, citing a poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates. Participants agreed with the edict regardless of political party, education level or sex.

These results may seem surprising, especially in today’s political climate. However, one must not forget that free speech is not and should never be a partisan issue.

ENTERING MUDDY WATERS

noted that grant-making officials will work with the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that free speech laws are being implemented,” SPLC officials went on to say. “How that will happen, under what criteria, by whom and when, are all unclear.”

Although many agree with this measure, Amrita Mallik, the director of the Campus Climate Committee at the University of Hawai‘ i at Mānoa, believes there needs to be fundamental guidance as to how institutions can better enforce it.

“There is a lack of clarity from the executive order about what protecting free speech looks like,” Mallik said. “Is there something different than what we’ve been doing that needs to be expected? That still needs to be clarified.”

On March 22, the Student Press Law Center issued a statement regarding the executive order saying that while they accept that “free inquiry is an essential feature of our Nation’s democracy,” there is concern over how free speech will be evaluated in order to continue receiving federal research or education grants.

“Administration officials have

For an executive order that aims to promote “free inquiry, transparency, and accountability,” the absence of guidelines makes it fall short of its goal.

Institutions must be made aware of how they will be evaluated in their efforts to promote and protect free speech in order to successfully comply with the order and continue receiving federal funding for research.

One could argue that a lack of governmental guidance allows colleges and universities to form their own method of fulfilling the order; however, not knowing how the government expects institutions to enforce it is frustrating.

As it stands, the edict only acknowledges that free speech is indispensable.

“It doesn’t really change the concept of free speech, but it also

The First Amendment grants Americans the right to free speech and is an essential aspect of democracy. It is our job as American citizens to uphold this concept for ourselves and those around us.

GOING BEYOND THE NAME

doesn’t help define it or clarify it,” Mallik said. “I kinda think it’s a bit of a wash. The thing to remember is we’re already well aware of our obligations under the First Amendment. We’re already doing everything we can to ensure that we are honoring the Constitution and that we are doing what we need to do to balance those interests.”

WHAT IT MEANS TO SPEAK FREELY

Trump’s executive order and its reactions make it clear that there is a lack of dialogue regarding what “free speech” means and how to protect it.

Free speech entails people having the opportunity to express their thoughts and feeling respected while doing so. It is also important that people remain open-minded and not let emotions and violent actions guide their reaction toward different views.

People have the freedom to express their thoughts, but this can lead to a cacophony of opposing discourses. Someone’s “they’re being too sensitive” can be another person’s “they are justified in what they think.”

An example of what should be discussed regarding free speech is

hate speech.

“Hate speech is one of the grayest gray areas in this area of work,” Mallik said. “Hate speech, technically, is protected speech. The Supreme Court has held that. However, the balancing act comes in as to when hate speech crosses the line, when it makes people feel individually threatened, when it violates existing equal employment opportunity laws or other civil rights laws. This is a constant balance that we all have to engage in.”

The first step to achieving synergy is by having conversations and effectively communicating. Simply understanding each other may not offer a solid definition of what free speech is, but it is a start in addressing what it means in a political, social and personal context.

What do you think?

Let us know @KaLeoOpinions

KA LEO O HAWAI‘I: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I

09

MONDAY, APRIL 01, 2019

SPORTS

sports@kaleo.org @kaleosports

 ALEXANDER WONG / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I

As a junior at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Pontes posted a 0.95 ERA with a 6-1 record and 29 strikeouts.

Locally grown Li‘i Pontes rises to the challenge XAVIER TORRES ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

Things are just getting started for University of Hawai‘i baseball freshman Blaze “Li‘i” Pontes.

Pontes, a Mililani native, has had moments of greatness throughout the 2019 Rainbow Warrior season.

On March 2, he pitched three scoreless innings in a 5-4 win against the Longwood Lancers at the Les Murakami Stadium.

To get to this point of early success there had to be a lot of hard work and focus for the young talent. The bright lights of the Les Murakami Stadium can be a lot for a young student athlete to handle, but Pontes is embracing this opportunity.

“It’s been a grind but it’s been fun getting the experience,” Pontes said. “Being able to come out and get on this field and help the team has been amazing.”

Some fans have already embraced the local. Whenever his walk up song “Welcome to Jam Rock” by Damian Marley plays, some fans start to cheer.

“Looking into the audience and seeing people go with the flow it’s pretty hype and it’s pretty cool,” Pontes said.

Pontes is keeping his options open, pursuing a degree in business to have as backup in case baseball does not work out. As of now, he is all in for baseball and has been playing a long time.

Most people from the mainland are not typically expecting top baseball talent to come out of Hawai‘i, but Pontes put the state on the map when he had the opportunity to play for one of America’s top baseball programs.

Team California Baseball, currently the No. 8 ranked baseball team in the nation, has been around since 2010. It was created with the goal of helping America’s brightest young baseball stars reach their full athletic potential.

Pontes is the embodiment of what the team wanted to accomplish.

“All I wanted to do is compete,” Pontes said.

The team emphasized that teammates are your brothers and that one of the best ways to strengthen that bond is by spending time with them off the field. This lesson is something he carried to UH. “I love to go out with the team, beach days especially, Waimānalo with the boys, anything really to bond with my teammates,” Pontes said.

Nobody really ever expects a kid from here to be able to play for Team California.

– LI‘I PONTES UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I BASEBALL, FRESHMAN PITCHER

“Nobody really ever expects a kid from here to be able to play for Team California, it was a really cool experience getting to meet new people,” Pontes said.

He was unfazed by the pressure of the bright lights and by being around some of the top baseball talent in the nation on a daily basis. He went to the team with a business-like mentality and it shows in the way he carries himself: mature and driven.

The team had a respect-all-but fear-none type of mindset and would play anyone, anytime, at any location.

Pontes knew that baseball would be the best way to bigger and better things in life, so he put all his time and effort into the sport years ago.

“Once I got to high school I knew that baseball was going to be the one ticket for me,” Pontes said.

His high school resumé speaks for itself; he was a three-time All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I selection, a member of the Second Team as a sophomore (2016), First Team as a junior (2017) and an Honorable Mention as a senior (2018).

He was as much of a star in the classroom as he was on the field.

Pontes has always taken his academics as seriously as his athletics, graduating from Kamehameha Schools Kapalama with a 3.5 grade point average in 2018.

With the Rainbow Warriors, Pontes currently has a 3.86 ERA and a 1-2 record in 30.2 innings pitched.

Despite being a young local celebrity in the island community, he remains grounded and positive thanks to his biggest supporters: his family.

“They supported my decisions, whatever I do I know that I can count on them and that they have my back,” Pontes said.

Even though his career at UH just started, he is already certain about what he wants to be remembered for once he hangs his cleats up.

“I want to leave a name on this field, I’m going all out for this team and for the hometown,” Pontes said. “I just want to be that kid that did everything he could.”

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Let us know @KaLeoSports

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UH ATHLETICS 

LI‘I PONTES HEIGHT: 5’11” CLASS: FRESHMAN HOMETOWN: MILILANI, O‘AHU HIGH SCHOOL: KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS-KAPALAMA 2019 STATS (AS OF MARCH 31) ● ERA: 3.82 ● RECORD: 1-2 ● APPEARANCES: 7

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Phase two is underway University of Hawai‘i football team opens 2019 spring practice CHAVONNIE RAMOS INTERIM EDITOR IN CHIEF PHOTOS BY MARCEL SARAGENA PHOTOGRAPHER

The University of Hawai‘i football team opened its Spring 2019 practices with motives set for next season.

After reinstalling the run-andshoot offense, the Rainbow Warriors finished the 2018 season with an 8-6 overall record, their first winning season since 2010. UH also finished third in the Mountain West Conference west division.

Redshirt junior quarterback Cole McDonald returns after finishing the season with 3,875 yards and 36 touchdowns. McDonald was also an honorable mention all-Mountain West selection.

“I have the same mindset as last year,” McDonald said. “I’m working with the guys, and we’re building chemistry. The goal is to have a cohesive offensive.”

Also returning is redshirt freshman quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who was McDonald’s backup and made one start and threw for 384 yards and six touchdowns. Cordeiro said everyone feels comfortable with the system.

“We need to practice more and works towards being on the same

 Junior wide receiver Jared Smart catch-

es a ball during the Rainbow Warriors’ first spring practice on March 29 at Cooke Field.

page with the receivers,” Cordeiro said. “I’m excited to be out on the field with the team and practicing against the defense again.”

Also leading the offense is running back Fred Holly III (468 yards, 4 TDs), wide receivers Cedric Byrd (970 yards, 9 TDs) and JoJo Ward (865 yards, 9 TDs), and the entire offensive line: tackles Ilm Manning and Kohl Levao, guards J.R. Hensley and Solo Vaipulu and center Taaga Tuulima.

The defense returns nine starters, including the team’s top tacklers: linebacker Solomon Matautia (92 tackles, 4.5 TFL), safety Ikem Okeke (87 tackles) and linebacker Penei Pavihi (87 tackles, 6.5 TFL).

The secondary returns Kalen Hicks (76 tackles), Rojesterman Farris II (12 PBU, 1 INT) and Eugene Ford (4 PBU, 1 INT).

Head coach Nick Rolovich will enter his fourth season. In 2018, UH made its second Hawai‘ i Bowl appearance in the last three years.

Rolovich also returns his entire coaching staff, which includes offensive coordinator Brian Smith, defensive coordinator Corey Batoon and special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial.

Ryan Meskell (placekicker) and Stan Gaudion (punter) return among the specialists.

(Below) Junior wide receiver Melquise Stovall runs with the ball as redshirt freshman defensive back James Green III attempts to defend him.

 Redshirt senior defensive back Rojes-

terman Farris II attempts to intercept the ball.

SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE

 Redshirt freshman linebacker Andrew Choi practices his defensive stance

 Redshirt junior quarterback Cole McDonald, redshirt freshman quarterback Chevan Cordeiro and redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Uahinui are the only quarterbacks on the 2019 spring roster.

Tuesday, April 2 // 7 a.m.

Thursday, April 4 // 7 a.m.

Saturday, April 6 // 8 a.m.

Tuesday, April 9 // 7 a.m.

Thursday, April 11 // 7 a.m.

Saturday, April 13 // 8 a.m.

Tuesday, April 16 // 7 a.m.

Thursday, April 18 // 7 a.m.

Saturday, April 20 // 8 a.m.

Tuesday, April 23 // 7 a.m.

Thursday, April 25 // 7 a.m.

Friday, April 26 // 7 a.m.

Saturday, April 27 (Spring Game) // 4 p.m.

All practices are open to the public.