January 13, 2020

THE KA LEO O HAWAI‘I HEALTH SPOTLIGHT [ PG. 06 - 07 ]

KA LEO

ISSUE.16 VOLUME.114 MON, JAN. 13 - MON, JAN. 26, 2020 WEBSITE / MANOANOW.ORG/KALEO TWITTER + INSTAGRAM / KALEOOHAWAII FACEBOOK.COM / KALEOOHAWAII

Preserving ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i UH TO OFFER FREE, NON-CREDIT HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE CLASS

[PG. 03] [COVER PHOTO] SHAFKAT ANOWAR / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I [COVER DESIGN] CHRISTIAN DELA CRUZ / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I

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MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

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

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

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 MEET THE STAFF

KA LEO EDITOR IN CHIEF Chavonnie Ramos MANAGING EDITOR Cassie Ordonio CO-MANAGING EDITOR Kailanianna Ablog CHIEF COPY EDITOR Gradon Wong DESIGN DIRECTOR Amy Lowe ASSOCIATE DESIGN DIRECTOR Ana Bitter WEB EDITOR Jolie Ching INTERIM NEWS EDITOR Geneva Diaz FEATURES EDITOR Doris Kung ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Meldrick Ravida OPINIONS EDITOR Kailanianna Ablog ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR Johanna Leo Samman ASSOCIATE PHOTOS EDITOR Shafkat Anowar

Free non-credit Hawaiian language class to be offered at the University of Hawai‘ i at Mānoa SHAFKAT ANOWAR / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

Paige Okamura is a graduate student who will be teaching the free Hawaiian language class at the University of Hawai‘ i at Mānoa.

CASSIE ORDONIO MANAGING EDITOR

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa will offer the public a free weekly Hawaiian language class at Campus Center Room 310 starting Jan. 22 after the student government approved the funding in December.

“We’re trying to bring awareness of the language and the importance of learning the language,” Raiyan Rafid, vice president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, said.

Rafid announced that the graduate students teaching the noncredit class are Paige Okamura and Akea Kahikina.

Okamura, who studies Hawaiian language at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language and works as a DJ at KTUH, said the recognition of the class is important.

“Language is everything,” Okamura said in an email interview. “ How we define ourselves, our culture and our worldview is embedded in our language.”

Rafid said that no registration or exam is required.

The goal for offering a free class

is to keep the option open for people who may not have the money to pay for a credit language course at UH Mānoa.

This is part of an effort to preserve the Hawaiian language.

According to the Endangered Languages Project, there are only about 300 native Hawaiian speakers, with about two to three thousand native English speakers who learned Hawaiian as an additional language. $3,500 will be allocated for the free class. $3,000 will be for compensation for the graduate students and $500 will be for supplies.

Before he graduates, Rafid plans to reach out to the university’s administration for additional funding if needed.

“For UH, this realization has always been too little, too late, but this is one step forward to making it a more universal mindset on campus,” Okamura said. “Hopefully it will also help to break down the very ‘black vs. white’ perspective barrier that a lot of us tend to have on current issues and create a foundation for us to better understand other perspectives.”

Ka Leo O Hawai‘i

‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Class | Spring Schedule Associated Students of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (ASUH) is proud to provide a non-credit free Hawaiian language class. The class will begin on Wednesday, January 22nd at 3:00PM and will continue once every week at the same time. No registration is required and the class is open to everyone. The following are the dates and locations for the Spring 2020 semester.

01.22 01.29 02.05 02.12 02.19 02.26 03.04 03.11 03.25 04.01 04.08 04.15 04.22 04.29 05.06

Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 203E Campus Center 310 Campus Center Executive Dining Room Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310 Campus Center 310

 ADMINISTRATION Ka Leo O Hawai‘i is the campus newspaper of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. It is published by the Student Media Board biweekly except on holidays and during exam periods.

Circulation is 10,000 during the academic year and 5,000 during summer sessions. Ka Leo is funded by student fees and advertising.

Its editorial content reflects only the views of its writers, reporters, columnists and editors, who are solely responsible for its content.

No material that appears in Ka Leo may be reprinted or republished in any medium without permission. The first newsstand copy is free; for additional copies, please visit Ka Leo. The Student Media Board, a student organization chartered by the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents, publishes Ka Leo O Hawai‘i. Issues or concerns can be reported to the board via uhsmb@hawaii.edu. ©2020 Student Media Board

 LET’S HAVE A CHAT

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MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

NEWS

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A commission to grapple bias and discrimination is underway

COLUMN

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MAKING SPACE Integrating minimalist practices in the new year

Provost Michael Bruno said the main issue is the aspiration to be a Hawaiian place of learning

KAILANIANNA ABLOG / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

Selling or donating unwanted clothing is a positive way to declutter your space.

CASSIE ORDONIO MANAGING EDITOR

Provost Michael Burno said the most prominent issue at the University of Hawai‘i is the aspiration to be a Hawaiian place of learning.

“Those are words that have been used on this campus for many years – decades,” Bruno said.

On Dec. 9, Bruno launched a campus-wide search for a commission of faculty, staff and students to tackle bias and discrimination at UH Mānoa. The deadline for nominations and volunteers is Jan. 16.

The goal for the commission is to assess and find solutions to controversial issues on campus.

The Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea sparked tension between some Native Hawaiians and the university, and the arrests of the kupuna (elders) last summer prompted the Bachman Hall occupiers to partake in the 117-day sit-in.

Some of the occupiers have made claims about UH being racist toward its Native Hawaiian students. After ending the sit-in last month, some of the occupiers were looking into joining the commission.

“I have spent a lot of time with people on both sides of the issue trying to understand,” Bruno said.

“That includes a number of hours speaking with the students who occupied Bachman, who I have the

deepest respect and admiration for.”

Other issues Bruno said are the lack of Hawaiian names on campus, including buildings and streets.

The commission also seeks to address discrimination targeting underrepresented groups such as the LGBTQ+ and Micronesian communities.

Last November, discriminatory flyers regarding the LGBTQ+ community were posted across the Mānoa campus, with UH President David Lassner sending an email addressing the issue.

The number of students, faculty and staff to be on the commission has not yet been determined.

Bruno said he wants the commission to represent the different communities on campus. However, he knows there might be conflicting disagreements on how to handle bias and discrimination.

“We need to be better at connecting with one another, understanding and respecting one another’s views,” Bruno said. “I think we need to understand the responsibilities and obligations we have to our students, to one another and to Hawai‘i.”

>> Submit nominations to provost@hawaii.edu

KAILANIANNA ABLOG CO-MANAGING EDITOR

When was the last time you cut someone off? For me, it was last week.

If the past decade taught me anything, it’s this: To lead a happier life, you need to separate yourself from the things that hold you down, including negative people and physical possessions. But that’s an article for a different day.

What I am more interested in now is figuring out what to do with the space that’s left over.

HANDLING SPACE WITH MINIMALISM

Having attended high school with people who support it, minimalism has always stayed in my peripherals.

According to Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, the writers behind “The Minimalists,” minimalism is “a tool that can assist you in finding freedom.”

Some people may call me a hipster because I have little interest in most trends and other “mainstream” things. My lack of passion toward popular videos, songs and the like, however, is not necessarily because I want to be “different from everyone else.”

I tend to be more interested in why certain things attract more attention than others (perks of having analytical family members), rather than joining them.

Within and around my circles at

the time, minimalism started off as the “newest trend,” testing the limits of how much you could get rid of, and how many things you could live off without excess.

Millburn and Nicodemus argue that while removing excess “stuff,” often the result of living in a consumer-based society, can contribute to minimalism, that is not what it is at its core.

“Today’s problem seems to be the meaning we assign to our stuff: we tend to give too much meaning to our things, often forsaking our health, our relationships, our passions, our personal growth, and our desire to contribute beyond ourselves,” they write. “Want to own a car or a house? Great, have at it!

Want to raise a family and have a career? If these things are important to you, then that’s wonderful.

Minimalism simply allows you to make these decisions more consciously, more deliberately.”

MINIMALISM AS SELF REFLECTION

After a decade of feeling held back by unread books, clothes and difficult relationships, I felt a need to detox, and minimalism seemed to be the way to go.

The last two days of 2019 were dedicated to emptying out my closet and drawers, ripping clothes off hangers and throwing plush toys into donation boxes. They no longer had importance in my life. As destructive

as I made this sound, the process was more therapeutic than I expected.

Ridding oneself of baggage prompts a thought: Why do I have these in the first place?

In response to my inability to deal with negativity in a healthy manner, I projected stability onto my physical possessions and convinced myself that hoarding objects and keeping toxic relationships meant I would never truly be alone.

There will be no more of that.

Life is too short to hide from your problems.

Minimalism allows one to make decisions in a more conscious way, teaching people how to maximize the use and sentimentality of what you have. Minimizing negativity opens space. Rather than filling space, use it to maximize the joys in life, not as a means to fill a void that will keep you trapped in a cycle.

Instead of relying on clothes to bury my angst, I will utilize space to reflect and heal. Rather than indulge with the company I become acquainted with, I will set boundaries and make time for the people that really matter.

I encourage you to do the same.

Before refilling that space with the same things you got rid of, think about why that hole is there, and tackle that by focusing on the priorities: positively dealing with your well-being and happiness.

KA LEO O HAWAI‘I: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I connect@manoanow.org @manoanow

MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

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MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

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

HEALTH

STEP OFF THE SCALE WHAT DO YOU GAIN WHEN YOU LOSE?

ILLUSTRATION BY AMY LOWE / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

ESTHER KIM STAFF WRITER

As I settle down after my workout and grab my items from the lockers in the gym, I see a girl in my peripheral view stepping on and off the scale until she lets out what seems to be a sigh of disappointment.

Shortly after, another girl approaches and does the same on-and-off dance with the scale and breathes a similar sigh, but this time of relief. I have witnessed this tortuous event repeatedly and have myself experienced the painstaking but magnetic attraction to this square piece of metal. I can recall the hundreds of times I could feel my heart sink upon seeing a number I disapproved of.

I remember my younger self, as young as 8 years old, being inspired by the influx of New Year’s weight loss advertisements on television like Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and gym memberships promising me that this year would be the “new me” - the happier me.

The mainstream imagery of beautiful, thin and lean women whose smiles tricked me into believing that if I followed the new fad diet, used a waist trainer, lost 40% of my body fat and diligently drank my “detox” juices, I would be just as fulfilled. Little did I know their skin was airbrushed, their waists photoshopped, and that this industry of weight loss and beauty capitalizes on the idea that keeps the glass ceiling in place: “I’m not good enough until I look like that.”

“That” in this past decade took many forms. For me, it ranged from having a thigh gap, a waist that accentuates an hour-glass figure, no double chin, no under-arm “chicken wings,” a flat stomach, minimal wrinkles and blemishes, and breasts that are not too large but not too small that I look like a prepubescent boy. The worst part is, these standards change every few years and a few years

ago, I reached a point of exhaustion where I could no longer subscribe to the never-ending litany of rules. Big butts, big breasts, being “thick” and having the longest eyelash extensions are all the rage but only for right now. Trust me, something new is on the way.

Have we ever stopped to think about who decides what is hot and what is not?

While some may find the trend of being a “thick” girl a new form of body positivity, I find myself perplexed that in the year 2020, I am still being told what my body should look like. I am tired of the hyper-focus on women’s bodies in general.

I can imagine many New Year’s resolution lists for both men and women look something like the following when it comes to health goals: • Go to the gym, stick to an exercise regimen and make sure to hold myself up to an unreasonable standard of fitness.

• Lose x pounds and x% of my body fat so that people will compliment my body transformation instead of my humor, knowledge, passion and so on.

• Cut out carbohydrates and meat because everybody is doing it.

• Start meticulously counting calories so that shame will set in and I will feel badly for that donut I ate.

• Practice self-control around food. Who said food is supposed to be enjoyed?

• Drink a ridiculous amount of water per day and in between each bite of food so that I trick myself into feeling full.

While I exaggerate these goals, this is fairly similar to what my resolutions looked like a few years ago and very likely similar to many others who have to survive in this world that praises superficiality.

I began asking myself: What did I think would happen when or if I achieved this? What did I really want to accomplish? What was I

really trying to lose?

I wanted to feel better about myself, to be admired, to be disciplined and to have an Instagram worthy lifestyle. I wanted friends and to be a part of a community, but furthermore I wanted to be accepted. But being accepted in a community was not achievable if I continued to not accept myself.

There is an entirely different world of body positivity that focuses on caring for your body nutritionally and physically, not to achieve a goal weight or size, but to practice gratitude for the things your body can do and not what it looks like.

control patients see her at the end of their ropes with dieting as they find themselves at an all-time high obsession with food including a difficult cycle of restriction and binge eating. Lindsey-Dudley says that this is a natural response to under-eating. She explains that binge eating, which is an episode of extreme hunger and large caloric intake in one sitting, is your body’s way of surviving. Our bodies are meant to be fed and depriving ourselves of the very thing that keeps us alive will result in this negative cycle of restriction, bingeing and shame. She explains that this is exactly why diets do not work.

It is a tough time for people for body acceptance. Think about trying to do things that are good for us.

– KRISTEN LINDSEY-DUDLEY REGISTERED DIETITIAN

One of these body positive activists is Kristen Lindsey-Dudley, a registered dietitian in Honolulu who has devoted her career to working with eating disordered patients.

Lindsey-Dudley runs Nutrition Therapy Consultants, and while she works primarily with eating disordered patients, she sees other patients for weight control and diabetes, kids and adults with picky eating habits, and those who want to become more knowledgeable about nutrition and exercise. Eating disorder or not, she has the same message to all: There is no magic diet or exercise to achieve the perfect body simply because the perfect body does not exist.

She takes a leveled approach to nutrition and exercise to enforce balance and self-acceptance. She is the “anti-dieting dietitian” and has treated many children, teens and adults who had been hospitalized for malnutrition due to an eating disorder. Many of her weight

Lindsey-Dudley says the best way to approach diet and exercise is to, “Get an exercise pattern that works for you, that is something you want to do. We know that people stick with exercise when they do it socially.”

Her response to this time of year when body dysmorphic resolutions are encouraged is that, “It is a tough time for people for body acceptance. Think about trying to do things that are good for us.

Most people need more fruits and vegetables and more movement and exercise. Many people need more sleep, but with the mindset of changing your body, these resolutions will not work.”

Not all people who diet or follow fad diets have eating disorders, but we all share the same theme of “I’m not good enough.” It is a part of our culture to use the scale or the tape measure to gauge our attractiveness and worth.

I still struggle and become frus-

trated when I find myself criticizing my body as the reason I do not feel good enough. I sympathize with women and men, especially those in my age range, who have been subject to the same lies we have been sold by the media. However, when I take an active stance to resist these lies, I find more acceptance for my whole self, less focus on my body, and more gratitude for the small and large blessings. I begin to have space in my brain for better things, better relationships and more self-awareness.

So, instead of diet fads, body-focused goals and different forms of exercise torture I used to use to motivate myself, I am trying to make my New Year’s resolutions list look a little more like this: • Go outside and get connected with a group of exercisers who appreciate living in Hawai‘ i for all it has.

• Lose shame. I do not need to lose weight. What is really weighing me down is the tiny voice in my head that shames me for not being good enough.

• Cut out toxic relationships and unsubscribe to social media that makes me feel as though I need to change to be better.

• Start meticulously counting what I am grateful for because practicing gratitude is an action and not an automatic attitude.

• Practice self-awareness and check in with myself throughout the day to realign my physical, mental and emotional selves.

• Drink up life for all it offers because a minute I spend being negative about my body or myself is a minute I do not get back.

As a junior, amateur writer, I bravely put out a call to action: Step off the scale. And ask yourself, “What do you really gain when you lose?”

What do you think?

Let us know @KaLeoOHawaii

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

MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

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HEALTH

National Blood Donor Month Start the year by saving lives

PHOTOGRAPHER / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

According to the American Red Cross, “The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.”

KAILANIANNA ABLOG CO-MANAGING EDITOR

You often give a part of yourself by supporting a cause. This month, this concept takes a literal turn.

January is National Blood Donor Month, and according to the American Red Cross, “Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.”

Here is what you need to know about blood donations and what you can do to save lives.

blood is the same. According to the American Red Cross, there are four types of blood: A, B, AB, and O. Differences between types are caused by the presence or absence of the antigens A and B on red blood cells.

Positive and negative blood types are determined by the presence (positive) or absence (negative) of the “Rh factor,” a protein.

Knowing one’s blood type is important with blood transfusions, as certain blood types are not compatible with others. When

of Hawai‘i at Mānoa on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also donate at our local blood donation center, located on 1907 Young St. The American Red Cross lists four types of blood donation: whole blood, power red, platelet and plasma.

Whole blood donations are the most flexible type of donation because you are giving blood in its original form. Whole blood donations can be transfused in this form, or be broken down to help those who need specific parts of blood,

A BIT ABOUT BLOOD

Detailed by medlineplus.gov, blood is a mixture of a liquid and solids. Plasma, the liquid, makes up over half of your blood and consists of water, salts and proteins.

Red and white blood cells, as well as platelets, contribute to the solid portion of blood.

According to Oneblood, a “notfor-profit 501(c)(3) community asset responsible for providing safe, available and affordable blood,” blood carries life-essential substances like nutrients and oxygen to our cells and takes away waste products from those cells. According to MedlinePlus, red blood cells carry oxygen to your organs and tissues, while white blood cells support the immune system. Platelets clot the blood to help seal wounds or cuts.

The Blood Bank of Hawai‘i states that blood cannot be manufactured outside of the body; therefore, blood donors play a vital role in ensuring the health of those needing blood transfusions or who suffer other ailments, which include but are not limited to “cancer, heart and blood vessel disease,” and “emergencies such as accidents.”

incompatible blood types mix, the presence or absence of certain antigens can trigger an immune system response, causing the body to attack transfused blood.

Those with blood type A can donate to others with the same blood type, or those with AB blood.

Those with blood type B can donate to others with blood type B, or AB. AB blood types can only donate to other ABs, but can receive from any blood type. Blood type O negative is the universal donor, which means those with that blood type can give to all other blood types.

When it comes to plasma, Rh-positive or negative blood can be given to Rh-positive blood. However, Rh-negative blood types can only receive Rh-negative blood.

AB blood types are the universal plasma donor.

KNOWING YOUR BLOOD TYPE

DONATING LIFE

While the need for blood is shared among all humans, not all

The Blood Bank of Hawai‘i hosts weekly blood drives at the University

The majority of people in Hawai‘ i need blood, but only a small fraction - 2% actually give it.

– BLOOD BANK OF HAWAI‘I WEBSITE

such as platelets or red blood cells.

To give this type of donation, the American Red Cross states that you must be at least 16 years old (in most states), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. That is, you feel well and can perform normal activities. This process takes about an hour to complete.

Power red donations take a concentrated dose of red blood cells, which are separated from the plasma and platelets through an automated process; your plasma and platelets are returned to you.

The ideal blood types for this donation include O-positive and -negative, A-negative and B-negative. Along with feeling well, male donors must be at least 5’1” tall and weigh 130 pounds. Most males 17 years and older can donate in most states. Females must be at least 19 years old (in most states), be at least 5’5” tall and weigh 150 pounds. This type of donation will take about 1.5 hours.

Platelet donations take the longest to complete; about 2.5 to 3 hours. An apheresis machine will take your platelets and some plasma from your body, but return most of the plasma and red blood cells. This type of donation can only be performed at Red Cross donation centers, with ideal blood types being A-positive and -negative, B-positive, O-positive, and AB-positive and -negative. One must be at least 17 years old (in most states) and weigh 110 pounds.

Lastly, plasma donations are conducted through an automated process that separates plasma from the rest of the blood. This process takes about one hour and 15 minutes, with the ideal blood types being AB-positive or -negative. Like the platelet donation, donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds.

Eligibility will vary on a case-bycase basis. The American Red Cross mentions that common reasons one cannot donate include taking certain medications, medical conditions, low iron levels and travel outside of the U.S. due to possible exposure to malaria, ebola or zika.

Be sure to know your eligibility by researching on your own, or inquiring at a blood drive or donation center. Online resources include the BBH’s “Blood Donor Educational Materials” PDF. If you do not meet all the eligibility requirements, you can volunteer, host a blood drive or ask an eligible donor to give on your behalf.

THE DONATION PROCESS

According to BBH, when you prepare to donate blood, be sure you bring a photo ID with birth date. You should also keep yourself hydrated and get enough rest. You should also know where you travelled out-

side of the U.S. and the duration, as well as what medical conditions you have and the amount of medications you are taking.

When you arrive, you will be given a questionnaire to fill out, followed by a mini physical. This includes checking your blood pressure, temperature and hemoglobin level. Prior to collecting your blood, you will be asked about your medical history. Then, a sterile, disposable needle will be used to take your blood. After waiting a few minutes, you may eat a snack before leaving. You will want to eat hearty meals with iron-rich foods and stay hydrated to help your body recover from the loss of blood.

Avoid smoking or drinking for at least 30 minutes after your donation, and do not partake in strenuous activities for 24 hours. If you feel strange or unwell after leaving, it is advised to call the Blood Bank’s nursing services at (808) 845-4745. Also, if you catch a cold or flu a few days after your donation, you must notify the Blood Bank so they can recall your donated blood if possible and not use it.

MORE INFO

BLOOD BANK OF HAWAI‘I CAMPUS BLOOD DRIVE LOCATION Campus Center Ballroom HOURS Every Tuesday 8 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

CONTACT (808) 848-4770

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

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MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

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FEATURES

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Angie McCallister UH Mānoa Army ROTC Warrior Battalion cadet takes to the skies KAILANIANNA ABLOG | CO-MANAGING EDITOR

When 4-foot-11 University of Hawai‘ i at Mānoa senior and Army ROTC Warrior Battalion cadet Angie McCallister found out she would be commissioning into the U.S. Army’s Aviation Branch, she and her fellow cadets got to hear a slightly altered version of her morning voice.

“I screamed,” McCallister said. “It was a shock. I couldn’t believe it.”

After she graduates this spring, McCallister will be spending about two years at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the “Home of Army Aviation,” to attend flight school. There, she will become part of the 10% of female pilots that make up the Army aviation community.

This achievement is the start of a long awaited lift-off, one that threw McCallister for a turbulent, but rewarding ride.

According to McCallister, her husband reminded her of her desire to enlist.

“He was like, ‘Weren’t you supposed to join the army?’” McCallister said. “So the same day, I went and I signed and I joined the Army.”

McCallister had no idea that she wanted to become a pilot until she went to Fort Riley, Kansas for her first duty. There, she was placed in an aviation unit where she worked around pilots, especially female ones, who told McCallister that there were not enough female pilots.

Since she was well-acquainted with them, McCallister was able to get an indirect feel for the field and found an interest forming.

It was the rarity and the challenge that helped kick-start the engines.

“There’s more requirements for a female pilot. Not just anybody can do it. I wanted to be that small portion,” McCallister said.

PREPARING FOR TAKE-OFF

SHAFKAT ANOWAR / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

Angie McCallister is an active member of the UH Mānoa Army ROTC Warrior Battalion.

LACING UP HER BOOTS

At first, McCallister did not know she wanted to become a pilot.

Before making Mānoa hers, she was a Staff Sergeant in the army and began attending the university in Fall 2018 via the “Green to Gold: Enlisted to Officer Program.”

This program allows enlisted soldiers to pursue a baccalaureate or graduate degree and earn a commision as an Army officer, according to goarmy.com.

“I’m on active duty still for the Army; I’m just full time at school,” McCallister said.

McCallister’s military journey first started when she was a JROTC cadet at her high school in California. She knew then that she wanted to join the Army, but the key question was when.

“My mom had gotten sick so I decided to stay home with her, go to college first,” she said.

“I got her settled in and she was doing more fine on her own. Then, I got married.”

While pursuing her degree, McCallister was also working toward her dream of becoming a female pilot by setting up an appointment with a flight surgeon who, according to goarmy.com, provides “aviation and general medical services for Army aviation personnel.”

But what is a ruck march without dips in the road?

“The first flight surgeon I met with told me, ‘You should just quit.

Why are you going to waste your time?’ I felt it was disrespectful,” McCallister said. “But I went with it and was like, ‘Whatever. I’m going to move on from this. Just give me the paperwork and let me leave.’”

The next attempt was more successful. As McCallister got closer to seeing her dream take flight, she also gained a supporter.

“I made a new appointment with a different surgeon. She was a new flight surgeon that had gotten to Schofield Barracks,” McCallister said.

“Everything I had to do to get where I was, I wouldn’t have done it without her. She would tell me, ‘There’s a lot of short female pilots. You can be one of them.’ Thank God for her.”

To commision into aviation, cadets must pass the Selection Instrument for Flight Training Exam (SIFT) and a flight physical. Balancing academics, fulfilling requirements to gain commision and preparation for these tests proved to be stressful.

“After the spring of 2018, we went to Advanced Camp, which is one of

the last fulfillment requirements to commission. I was still at the point for the SIFT test. Before you can do any physical evaluation, you have to show you passed this test,” McCallister said. “Studying for the SIFT is very, very hard. It’s a lot of physics, a lot of stuff that has to do with the aircraft.”

After passing the SIFT and the first part of her physical, McCallister moved to the second part of the physical, which she failed; she did not reach the minimum required wingspan of 159 centimeters.

McCallister found the challenge: the In-Cockpit Anthropometric Evaluation, or ICE, in order to continue.

ICE requires participants to be measured in four aircrafts, all with different airframes. These crafts are the UH-60L/M (Blackhawk), the AH-64 D/E (Apache), the CH-47 (Chinook) and the UH-72A (Lakota).

“They couldn’t schedule my appointment until after I finished camp, which wasn’t until August and I had two months left to submit my packet,” McCallister said.

“Within two months, I had to get evaluated in four different aircrafts from four different units, which is almost impossible to coordinate.

There’s four different aircrafts.

That means four different pilots.

You can’t use the same pilot to measure you in the same airframe because they’re not specialists in that airframe.”

With some help from the female flight surgeon, McCallister was able to schedule appointments and successfully completed the Blackhawk, the Apache and the Chinook.

The last hurdle was the Lakota.

The only Lakota in Hawai‘ i is on the Big Island.

“I had three days left before the end of my packet to be submitted. I called up someone with the National Guard, asked, ‘Is there any way?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll get you in on Monday.”’

At this time, McCallister was preparing for midterms, and to take her test with the Lakota, she would miss a midterm preparation day. Thankfully, her professor, Dr. James Bayman of the Anthropology Department, sent her off with support. “He was like, ‘Go for it, Angie.

I know what you’re trying to do,’” McCallister said.

The National Guard flew her out to the Big Island for the Lakota, which she also passed. Her application submission soon followed.

“It was very stressful. I think I was

SHAFKAT ANOWAR / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

Angie McCallister participated in the “Bellator and United Service Organizations: Salute the Troops!” event on Dec. 20, 2019 as a member of the Color Guard.

crying a bunch of times,” McCallister said. I was like, ‘Did I make it?’ I would’ve hated not trying.”

GOING WITH THE WIND

McCallister received her branch reveal at a Combined Arms Rehearsal alongside her fellow Warrior Battalion cadets. According to McCallister, branch reveals usually happen at Koko Head, where the seniors hike and receive “Christmas boxes” from the professor of military science.

When McCallister opened her envelope (a makeshift Christmas box due to their location change) and saw the Army Aviation Branch insignia, her fellow cadets seemed more emotional than she was initially.

According to McCallister, who served as the Executive Officer during the Fall 2019 semester and will be a trainer for Spring 2020, she is seen as the “Mama Bear” figure.

“If I hadn’t gotten Aviation, it was like I let down my class. They look up to me a lot, so I had to get it; it was for them as well,” McCallister said.

McCallister will receive her orders before Spring Commencement. She and her husband have been making plans to prepare for her time away at flight school. While McCallister’s husband continues his work as an archaeologist for the state, she and her mother will be at Fort Rucker.

While McCallister is excited for this opportunity, sacrifices must be

made to uphold it. “[My husband and I have] always been together. This is the first time, other than a deployment, where we get separated,” McCallister said.

“I want to go to flight school, but my hubby doesn’t get to come. We wanted to get pregnant too, so we can’t do that anymore. I’ve put a lot of things on hold just for this moment. It sucks but just like any other thing that comes in my life, it’s going to be worth it in the end.”

After flight school, McCallister hopes to be placed in the islands again. However, if that does not happen, she and her husband will be moving and ready to start their journey somewhere new.

When asked if she had advice for aspiring pilots, she gave a few words: “Don’t give up on your dreams. It only takes one person to motivate you, and one person to give you a slight little push - and you roll with it. You can’t expect somebody to do the work for you.”

She also mentioned that the ROTC program at UHM offers a great opportunity for those interested in joining the army.

“Even if you want to try it, I think the ROTC program here at UHM is a perfect example. It’s either for you, or it’s not. If it’s not, you learn something,” McCallister said. “If it wasn’t for ROTC, that family that we are over there… You won’t find other people like that.”

10

MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

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

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

MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

11

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Student Assistant (Estate & Gift Planning)

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PART-TIME UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION $11.65/hour Close Date: 2/29/20 or when filled

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MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2020

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

SPORTS

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Men’s tennis sees 2020 vision with new head coach The Kusnierz Era begins CHAVONNIE RAMOS EDITOR IN CHIEF

Joël Kusnierz has big shoes to fill after 16-year Rainbow Warrior head coach John Nelson retired in Fall 2019, but as a new season begins he already sees the 2020 vision for the program.

“The goal is to put the program on the map,” Kusnierz said. “We’ve worked really hard, especially the last couple years to bring the right people with the right mindset on the team and this is what I want to remember for this year — for them to really believe in themselves and to achieve the best possible level.”

Kusnierz took over the Rainbow Warrior tennis program after serving the past three seasons as the assistant coach to Nelson.

He brings a range of experience from being a developmental coach at the California Tennis Club in San Francisco, California from 2013-2017 and as an intern for the USTA in Northern California.

Kusnierz graduated from St. Mary’s College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a

master’s degree in business and sports management in 2012.

Last year, Kusnierz helped coach eight players who earned multiple Big West Conference honors, including BWC Freshman of the Year Andre Ilagan.

Ilagan, who is now a sophomore, did not notice any changes as Kusnierz transitioned to head coach.

“I feel like both of them (Nelson and Kusnierz) are almost the exact same, which is great,” he said.

“Both of them never gave pressure to us about winning, losing, but just always learning which improves our game to a whole other level and just also about life as well.”

Ilagan finished last season with a team-best 12-8 overall record. The 2018 Farrington High School graduate went 10-7 on the No. 1 court and 2-0 playing No. 2.

The Rainbow Warriors also return juniors Lucas Labrunie, Blaz Seric and sophomore Simao Telo Alves to help guide the team. This season’s schedule features five teams who finished ranked in 2019.

“Our philosophy is: To become the best, you need to learn from

the best,” Kusnierz said. “And we choose to bring out here some of the best teams in the country so that we can see where we’re at and learn from them, and carry us through the season.”

Kusnierz said that he is excited for the team and that they have many options in regards to lineups and pairings.

“The rest of the team is very strong,” he said. “They’re very close to each other’s levels which is definitely exciting because they’re able to push each other during training, which is how great teams do it. That competitive spirit, everyday and among each other, is very crucial.”

MORE INFO

UPCOMING HOME MATCHES vs. SAINT MARY’S February 6 *Time TBA vs. WASHINGTON February 18 *Time TBA

UH heads into new season with new faces Rainbow Wahine are locked and loaded for the year FILE PHOTO / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

Petra Melounova heads into 2020 as a three-time Big West Player of the Year and 2019 All-American. She has been to the NCAA singles tournament for the past three years.

CHAVONNIE RAMOS EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Rainbow Wahine tennis team heads into this season with high expectations. After finishing 2019 in a bittersweet moment losing to Long Beach State for the Big West Conference title, the ladies head into 2020 with goals of taking the program to the next level.

“My seniors really do a great job as far as making sure that fresh-

men or incoming students really understand the culture we’re always trying to build and making sure the most important thing is playing for each other and the university and for the state of Hawai‘i,” head coach Jun Hernandez said.

The Rainbow Wahine are looking to build off a 101 overall record and 5-2 conference record season.

Returning for the ‘Bows is threetime Big West Player of the Year and 2019 All-American Petra Meloun-

ova. She finished last season with a 15-5 overall record and a 13-2 record on the No. 1 court. Melounova became the first tennis player from the University of Hawai‘i to garner All-American honors after advancing to the sweet 16 in the NCAA Championships last season.

“She’s (Petra) very feisty on the court,” Hernandez said of his senior leader. “She competes really well and she’s a very smart player. Even with the injuries and stuff, she will find a

FILE PHOTO / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I 

Sophomore Andre Ilagan is the only player on the men’s tennis roster from Hawai‘ i.

way to win. Especially during the season, she really loved playing for the team so no matter how hurt she is, she’ll find a way to make it work.”

Melounova is not the only standout on the roster this season, as the Rainbow Wahine have a pair of junior transfers that came in the fall to add depth. Junior transfers Bojana Markovic and Satsuki Takamura both enter the season ranked in the ITA poll.

Markovic, who came in Fall 2019 as a transfer from the University of Texas, is ranked No. 91. The Serbia native recorded a 20-14 career singles record and an 18-20 career record in doubles.

Takamura, who hails from Saitama, Japan, comes to UH after playing one season at Pepperdine and is ranked No. 103 in singles. She is tied with Washington State’s Melissa Ates.

During her time at Pepperdine, she helped the Waves win the 2019 West Coast Conference Championship and recorded a 10-7 mark in singles and 3-2 record in doubles.

Also leading the ‘Bows are seniors Michelle Pits and Nikola Dolakova. Pits finished last season with a 10-9 overall record while Dolakova finished 8-13.

As one of the seniors on the team, Pits said that she did not expect to be a leader, but college tennis taught her to help her teammates.

“I think we’re striving for a lot more than just a conference win, especially with the depth we’ve got,”

Pits said. “But at the same time, it’s just focusing on our team and building everyone together especially because we have new people.”

Having more people on the roster helps with the depth, according to Hernandez.

“They’re going to get pushed,” he said. “They’ll be earning their spots.

But they understand their role that they’re going to be pushing each other to be better, and what’s the best for the team, that’s the lineup for the day. And really, as you can see, the best teams in the nation have that.”

Hernandez commented that not only is the team talented on the court, they are also, “Great people, nice people to be around. So they really understand what they’re here for as far as being an athlete, as far as being a student and then also of course, the most special thing is being able to really bond closer with the people that you’re going to be working with.”

MORE INFO

UPCOMING HOME MATCHES vs. WASHINGTON January 15 3 p.m. vs. FLORIDA STATE January 18 10 a.m.