Spring 2017

KA MANA‘O SPRING 2017

UBER/LYFT

p. 5

Hailing rides in Hawai‘i

STUDY TIPS

p. 9

4 tips to help you ace your next exam

OFF THE EATEN PATH p.23 In love with coffee and succulents 2

KA MANA’O

LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

contents 5

features

editors’ note 11

entertainment

Mixed Plate | 3 Uber/Lyft | 5 Study Tips | 9 Campus Voices | 10 Mixed Reviews | 11 Hype Train | 13 Voice Actor Strike | 15 Waikiki Street Fashion | 17 Campus Fashion | 23 Off the Eaten Path | 25 Comics | 29 Student Showcase | 30

online

www2.leeward.hawaii.edu/kamanao

17 fashion

25 food

email

kamanaoleeward@gmail.com

facebook

/kamanao.leewardcc

twitter/instagram @ka_manao

by Nate Jaramillo & Melany McAngus illustration by Lily Chan

Mel: Throughout the course of Ka Mana‘o’s lifespan, we’ve worked under different editors with different styles, guidelines and directions. Every time the editor changes, we’ve had newer and higher standards. Previously, we wrote to themes and that was great, but sometimes you have to set boundaries to write to a theme.

As a student publication, our main goal is to be a voice for the students — that’s our theme.

Nate: Upon deciding to forgo

a theme this time around, we’ve found that we got a lot more ideas during the brainstorming process. The reason for this move was in large part the size of our staff—it’s the smallest it has ever been during my time here, our head count standing at around 10 people.

Mel: As a student publication, one of the challenges we face is staff retention due to our members graduating, transferring, moving, etc. However small or large our numbers are, our team has always pulled together to produce an issue, and the caliber of work has kept increasing issue to issue.

This issue is no exception and we’ve had a lot of great work put into it.

Nate: The closest thing we had

to a theme was spring, so thinking up topics wasn’t as difficult.

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After all of the drafts were in, we realized that a lot of our articles this issue had something in common: student life. We have a piece on study tips to improve performance, a piece on Uber and Lyft as a flexible source of income for students, and a piece on coffee shop culture featuring Arvo, since coffee shops are great study spots.

The decision to have coeditors rather than just one editor-in-chief was a huge help as, even though we’re not new to being editors, Mel and I knew that we could count on each other to keep the operation on track. Mel has charisma and the natural aptitude for leadership and that really helped me out because I’m more of a behind-the-scenes person. I’m going to miss working with everyone after this issue goes through to the printer, but I know that whoever leads Ka Mana‘o after us will do a great job.

Mel: Nate and I have a very symbiotic relationship. I have ambitious ideas that I like to run with, but it is Nate’s discernment and finesse that helps to drive that creative process and shape ideas into an amazing product.

Having a co-editor to lean on and work alongside has really made working on this issue a positive experience.

Nate: With all of that being said, this is my last issue. Looking back 2

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at how far Ka Mana‘o has come, I’m proud of our improvements and can’t wait to see where the next editor in charge will take it. In any case, we, on behalf of everyone at Ka Mana‘o, hope you enjoy the issue and ask for your continued support!

Mel: Ka Mana’o, for me, has been one of the highlights of my time at college. It has allowed me to share my opinions, stretch my comfort zone, and has really given me the freedom to hone my craft as both a photographer and a writer. With this being my final issue, my hope for Ka Mana’o is that it continues to be a place where students can have a place to think outside of the box and truly shine.

A COMPILATION OF RANDOM FACTS & OPINIONS

D E X MI E T A PL

WEDDING DEMON FIGHTERS

BY MASON LAIKUPU ILLUSTRATION BY LILY CHAN

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01 2 G N I SPR

BIGGEST BABY

BY MEGAN RIDINGS ILLUSTRATION BY LILY CHAN

FRUIT FACTS

Babies are usually associated with being small. The average weight of a newborn is 7.5 pounds, the normal range between 5.5 and 10 pounds.

In Italy, the country of pizza and the Renaissance, was the delivery of the biggest baby of all time. During 1955, Sig. Carmelina Fedele gave birth to a 22.8 pound boy.

However, this was not the first 22 pound baby born.

The first recorded 22 pound baby was in 1879, birthed

by Anna Bates in Seville, Ohio. Regretfully, the child passed away after 11 hours.

BY MELANY MCANGUS ILLUSTRATION BY LILY CHAN

Source: guinnessworldrecords.com

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Fruit salad trees are trees that are grafted with different varieties of the same type of fruit. An artist named Sam Van Aken took it to a whole new level by creating a fruit salad tree that is projected to produce 40 different varieties of stone fruit.

2

Bananas are radioactive… slightly. Bananas actually emit enough gamma rays to register on a commercial radiation sensor. Although it’s impossible to eat enough bananas to cause radiation sickness, this fact may help a parent tempt their child into eating more fruit.

3

The world’s largest fruit is a lodoicea, a type of coconut, that is only native to the Seychelles Islands and can weigh up to 92 pounds.

4

The banana flavoring used in Laffy Taffy, the banana shaped Runts Candy, and other banana flavored things is based on the flavor of a banana that is extinct. A widespread fungal outbreak killed off a species of banana called the Gros Michel.

This banana was said to have been more flavorful than its modern counterpart and is the inspiration behind the banana flavoring still used today.

Bridesmaids should add ‘Demon Fighters’ to their resumes, as that was their original duty while attending weddings. They were dressed up similarly to the bride, with the idea that if anything were to try and crash the wedding, be it criminal or actual demon, the bridesmaids would function as a shield, confusing the would-be attacker long enough for them to be subdued and sent away.

This practice stretched back a very long time, well through the feudal era of China. Though the reasons for the practice varied according to the time, socioeconomic and religious settings, the overarching the idea was for the bridesmaids to protect the bride no matter what happened.

As time progressed, the actual duties of the bridesmaids became more symbolic, rather than practical, particularly as the practice grew out of the religions it originated from. Now, the position of bridesmaid is seen as a courtesy and high honor for friends and family of the bride; a far cry from the original role of demon fighters they were once selected for in centuries past. Though, the duties of a bridesmaid, while involving less fighting than before (maybe, and hopefully), are even more intense than before, often being involved in wedding planning to a high degree.

So, the next time someone gets asked to be a bridesmaid, and wants to mess with the bride, they could ask what kind of gear they should bring along to fight demons.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

BY RAWLEY RICCIO ILLUSTRATION BY LILY CHAN

Daylight saving time is in use in over 70 countries worldwide and affects over a billion people every year, as of 2017. Not everyone in the world follows this practice, and even those that follow suit have variations amongst themselves. For instance, the beginning and end dates of DST vary from one country to another.

The theory behind daylight saving time is to conserve energy. Setting clocks back an hour earlier during the winter allows the use of more natural light; more natural light leads lights being turned on later.

According to the U.S Department of Energy, the extra four weeks of Daylight Saving Time saved about 0.5 percent in total electricity per day. Added all together, this led to a total energy savings of 1.3 billion kilowatthours or the amount of electricity used by more than 100,000 households for an entire year. However, the majority of electricity used in a home is no longer only for lights but other devices as well.

Two states don’t use daylight savings time: Arizona and Hawai’i. The reasoning for this is the closer places are to the equator the less those places need daylight savings time. So Hawaii really doesn’t need DST. Arizona’s temperature highs are in the triple digits. So Arizona having more daylight would actually lead to more energy consumption, because of the extended use of air conditioning. It’s questionable if the benefits outway the cons.

CNN reported, losing an hour of sleep overnight can have adverse effects such as: increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and car crashes, during the first couple days of DST. States have the right to opt-in or opt-out of DST, but to change DST on a national level would require an act of the U.S. Congress.

Sources: treeof40fruit.com, io9.gizmodo.com, newscientist.com, luckypeach.com 3

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DRIVING FOR AN INCOME

by Melany McAngus illustrations by Matthew McAngus photo courtesy of Pexels.com

Ride-hailing applications, such as Uber and Lyft, have found success in Hawai‘i through their convenience for riders as well as drivers. These applications not only offer rides for people without transportation, but are also good ways to make income, either part-time or full-time, while still maintaining control of one’s schedule.

There are many benefits to working as a ride-hailing associate, as well as some considerations. Kalani Tolentino, a current Leeward Community College student, and Ray Lamay, a working actor and Master of Ceremony, have both driven for ride-hailing companies.

Tolentino drove part-time for Lyft as a source of excess discretionary income. Lamay has been driving with Uber fulltime for the past year and a half. Both share their insights and experiences as drivers, in order to shed some light for anyone considering this profession.

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CON: Tax Talk

R: “(With) a regular job, you have to be there at a certain time. With Uber, you can kind of convince yourself like ‘Oh, I’ll work, you know, a little later on; Oh, I’ll work the night shift then; Oh, I’ll work the graveyard shift,’ so you’re not forced to be there. Being your own boss, you kind of have to set those (standards) in line for yourself to where you have to set a goal and mean it, or else you just will fall short every week of what you want to make.”

Taxes are a consideration when deciding whether or not to use ride-hailing as one’s main source of income. According to both the Uber and Lyft websites, both pay out their drivers as private contractors/sole proprietors. This means that the company issues out a 1099-MISC that shows what the driver has earned through the year. Unlike with a W-2, the company does not take out withholding to cover the tax liability owed at the end of the year. It is up to the driver to set aside money to cover taxes at the end of the year. There are expenses that can be deducted such as mileage, gas, and repairs, but it’s important to keep a record of these expenses throughout the year.

Everyone’s commitment level differs based on how much money they want to make. Those trying to make a little extra money on the side have a little more leeway than those who want to drive and make a full time income.

TIP #2 Make it Fun

R: “I’m new to being a business owner because, aside from this, I emcee weddings, and I do other business stuff, so it’s really made me realize that I have to learn how all of this works you know, paying taxes instead, really, hand it off to somebody you know, it helps to learn it first before I can do that, at least I understand what’s going on… It kind of forced me to grow up as (an) adult almost, instead of just handing it to mom and ‘Oh, here take care of my taxes for me.’”

Finding ways to make individual drivers stand out amongst the others will help boost ratings and keep people wanting to ride with them. It’s also important to make things fun while on the road, because driving for a paycheck can become tedious work. The key is to make it enjoyable for both the driver and passenger. Lamay shares about how he makes driving and interacting with his clients fun by turning his car into a karaoke machine on wheels.

PRO: Make your own schedule

Ride-hailing apps offer one the ability to generate income on the side of whatever they are already doing.

K: “When I was doing (Lyft), it gave me definitely more of an income to have more fun with my life and it (was) not just being about me making money just to pay bills. I had extra money to do fun things.”

One of the main perks of driving for Ride-hailing apps is the ability to have full control over one’s schedule. The driver turns the application on to begin accepting rides and can elect to turn it off at their convenience.

K: “I did have two part-time jobs at the time that required me to be there at certain times and there were times that I needed money, but I couldn’t pick hours, so at night when I had nothing going on, I could just go to town and wait for rides. It fit really well because I could literally just do it at any time or any day that I wanted.”

Dependent on the times one drives, the income can be significant.

K: “Depending on what time of day it was, I would usually make $100 to $150 but there were times that I would go out at night on weekends and I think the best I ever made was $350 to $300 in two hours.”

R: “I really needed to have complete control over my schedule in order to work in entertainment, so in order for me to go on all these auditions and stuff I need to have a clear schedule. I worked at restaurants before and they can only meet you halfway so many times. They can’t accommodate you all the time, (and) it’s hard to rely on coworkers to switch with you. This way I can really take control of my own time.”

TIP #1

DRIVE DURING PEAK HOURS In order to meet the need for drivers in a populated area during certain peak hours, ride-hailing apps will sharply increase their prices in order to persuade passengers to wait if the reason for their hailing isn’t urgent, allowing those with more pressing matters to get a ride faster. During surge pricing times, drivers are in high demand, so income per ride is multiplied by a certain percentage. It is beneficial for drivers to advantage of this whenever possible.

PRO: Extra Money Between tuition and bills, there usually isn’t enough income to go around and that can cause a lot mental health issues such as stress, especially when one is juggling school and/or multiple jobs.

CON: Self Motivation

K: “All the income from (my job) was kind of just going to my car payment and my bills, and that was working for me, but I didn’t really have any extra money to have a life and go out and do things or just go out and eat without feeling stressed, or without feeling like I had to watch every penny,”

TIP #3 Log Expenses

R: “I just play really good music for people to listen to and I just noticed them singing and I was like ‘I should put a microphone in here,’ so I did… I feel like I do a great job if I can get them to sing.”

When it comes to any sort of business, whether selfemployed or otherwise, keeping track of one’s expense records is essential. It not only allows one to get the best possible return come tax time, but also helps to ensure that they don’t get into trouble with the IRS. Consult a professional tax associate on what qualifies as an expense.

CON: Wear and Tear on Vehicle One of the pitfalls of driving for a ride-hailing app is the damage and wear and tear one does to his or her vehicle such as an increase in mileage, repairs due to overuse of brakes and tires, oil changes, and needing to pump gas every other day.

Safety A major concern as a ride-hailing app associate is safety. As a driver, one is constantly coming into contact with strangers.

However, both Tolentino and Lamay speak positively about their experiences and squash the myth that ride-hailing is “unsafe”.

R: “Your normal wear and tear --your tires, your breaks-that all has to be done, but then again you can write those off. I think if you’re going to do Uber you would get a car exactly for that and not a beautiful car that you’ve always wanted, and then use that.”

K: “I was kind of skeptical about (Driving) before I started just because one: I’m a female. I’m really tiny, so I don’t really have any defense skills or anything like that, so I was like, ‘Okay, letting

TIP: Rent-A-Car According to their websites, both Uber and Lyft offer rental options for those without cars or those without cars that meet the standards for ride-hailing, so anyone can have the opportunity to use ride-hailing as a way to earn money. One of the greatest benefits of using a rental car for business is that one will not incur wear and tear on one’s own vehicle. Rental cars also come with built in insurance coverage, so drivers are covered on the road.

Ride-hailing Apps are great options for anyone who is looking for a way to make extra money on a flexible schedule.

For those who may want to try making ride-hailing their main source of income, this means being self-motivated to go out and get business.

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by Nate Jaramillo illustration by Lily Chan

Study Tips 1.

SPRING 2017

Studying Effectively According to an article in The New York Times by Benedict Carey, sitting down in one place to study for hours isn’t the best way to study. “Instead of sticking to one study location, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention,” Carey wrote. The article also explained that studying a group of related concepts has been shown to help students process information on a deeper level.

In an interview with Buzzfeed Australia, Macquarie University cognitive science professor Amanda Barnier said that mapping out content to see how topics are related aids retention. In addition to drawing out maps, Barnier suggests studying with a partner and explaining the content to check how well the content is being understood.

2.

Desirable Difficulty Carey’s article discusses the concept of “desirable difficulty” or the phenomenon of difficult topics being easier to recall. “The harder it is to remember something, the harder it is to later forget,” Carey wrote. “This effect, which researchers call ‘desirable difficulty,’ is evident in daily life. The more mental sweat it takes to dig it out, the more securely it will be subsequently anchored.”

3.

Schedules Both articles recommend creating and sticking to a study schedule. Rehearsal of information throughout the day and right before going to sleep has been shown to aid memorization. Study schedules should include frequent self-assessment. “Study, then take a practice exam, study some more, then test yourself again,” Barnier told Buzzfeed. “This way, you’ll be able to identify the gaps in your memory and spend your next study session trying to fill them.”

CAMPUS VOICES

by Christian Reyes \\ photos by Marcel Saragena

“

I don’t think it’s necessary.

I’ve seen arguments about it, the good and the bad side but we have to look at it at a realistic standpoint, also.

Hawaii thrives off of tourism, we need to keep that going unless there’s a system where we don’t need tourism.

- Vien Laureta

“

I’m going to agree with the majority. I’m fine with it because, I mean, American tourism isn’t really a big thing in Hawaii’s economy, at least, it’s mainly Japanese or other Asian countries. I don’t think it’ll affect us.

- Christian Madayag

4.

“

Music Barnier advises students to pause the music when studying. However, a BBC video featuring music psychologist Victoria Williamson explained that studying to music has been shown to be better for extraverts

but distracting for introverts. Williamson said that one’s focus runs

along a bell curve where one end is stress and overstimulation,

the other is boredom and distraction, and the crest is where optimal focus is.

Sources: nytimes.com, buzzfeed.com, bbc.com

I feel like it’s very sad that people are going against us and starting this whole boycott Hawai’i, when so much people are against Trump, and this one individual decides to make a stand for all of those people but they end up going against him.

- Zyralyn Ontayog

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT #BOYCOTTHAWAII?

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NG SPRI 17 20

mixed

REVIEWS Compiled by Staff

Illustration by Nicholas Jones

Mixed Reviews contains some staff opinions about art, music, and entertainment. This time around, Mixed Reviews covers ...

Image courtesy of 4AD

“Rennen” is available now for purchase on iTunes and streaming on Spotify.

PHOTOGRAPHY

MUSIC

RENNEN P r o duc e r-s on g w r it e r SOHN released his 10-track sophomore album, “Rennen,” on January 13 to a generally positive reception.

SOHN’s appeal lies in the spacious quality of his tracks. His layered vocals are punctuated by crisp beats, creating songs that undulate and feel longer than they are. Featuring his iconic instrumentals and poetic lyrics, SOHN returns with an even more minimal sound than “Tremors.” The album stays at around the same, slow tempo for the most part, but it carries a feeling of urgency and suspense.

Some listeners think that some of the songs in “Rennen” are political in implication. In “Conrad,” SOHN uses metaphors of extinction, global warming and war to allude to an ultimate end. “Primary” is a short, two-

MY GEAR VAULT

PODCASTS

SHMANNERS For professionals that have been creating spreadsheets to keep track of all their photography gear, Jared Polin has created an app for iOS, which will also be coming soon to Android.

Polin is a well known professional photographer from the East Coast.

Polin created this app for amateur photographers, as well as working professionals, to help them keep track of all of their camera gear.

How this app works is really simple, go to search gear, type in the item, and a list of related equipment shows up. The best feature of this app is the details that go into entering photography items into a file. For insurance purposes, this app will let the photographer store the serial numbers of each piece of equipment. The next best feature is the ability to take a picture of the receipt and store it in the vault. Some of the other features that should be looked into is the insurance portion on the bottom of the screen. The other great feature on this app is how the user is

verse reference to the U.S. elections, which SOHN had the opportunity to witness firsthand as he moved from Vienna to L.A. for the production of “Rennen.” SOHN starts the verses in “Proof” with intimate lyrics, but continues with a metaphor where relationships are systems of power exploiting many for the few.

The themes of these tracks fall in line with the overarching feeling of lonely desperation. Other songs, like opening track “Hard Liquor” and “Signal,” carry a distinct bleakness.

The album uses water as its key motif, especially as a symbol of separation and being lost at sea, in about half of the songs, including title track “Rennen,” reinforcing that theme even further.

able to obtain free insurance quotes straight from the app. If this all sounds confusing, Polin included step-bystep tutorials on how to add or replace gear in the vault.

The insurance feature on My Gear Vault is great for insurance purposes.

If someone steals your gear and tries to sell the gear to someone else, it will automatically be uploaded into the police database. One good example is when items are stolen, serial numbers provided on the app will give out an alert to companies who buy back used products to be aware of that serial number. Another one of the features that makes My Gear Vault really handy is to be able to find an insurance company that will suit your budget.

Having this feature will help provide information that will help insurance companies not only cover the equipment that is stored on the app, but will also include liability insurance for the clients as well as cover the cost of damaged gear.

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MyGearVault available on the iTunes App Store

Hosted on maximumfun.org by husband-and-wife duo Travis and Teresa McElroy, “Shmanners” is a podcast on “extraordinary etiquette for ordinary occasions.”

Their Maximum Fun bio reads: “Perplexed by thank you notes? Baffled by black tie? Dismayed by dinner parties? Worry no more, Shmanners has your answers!” The podcast has covered a breadth of topics, running the gamut from large events to everyday interactions.

Everything, down to the host couple’s banter, is conducive to setting the tone of the podcast. The episodes usually open with some researched background information, and Teresa McElroy may sometimes reference American etiquette author Emily Post. A good example for the typical flow of the episode is the “Retail Etiquette” episode. Teresa explains

how stores and retail have evolved through the times from general stores to department stores, and Travis pulls from this experience working in loss prevention at Best Buy. “A lot of these things are no longer really taught,” Teresa explains in the second episode. “It’s about consideration and thinking about what you’re doing.”

The McElroys also run a Facebook group for their fans, where they make announcements regarding the podcast.

In addition to the McElroys’ posts, fans use the page as a forum to have conversations regarding etiquette for specific situations as well as episodes.

While it is a closed group, the McElroys respond to requests promptly.

New episodes are uploaded every Friday to MaximumFun.org/shows/ shmanners.

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Image courtesy of maximumfun.org

In the words of Teresa McElroy:

“Manners, shmanners.

Get it?”

WHEN THE HYPE TRAIN CRASHES

by Mason Laikupu

‘unique’ planets startlingly similar to one another, often making them feel as though the planets simply had their color palettes swapped. Creatures were affected in a similar manner, often being no larger than the small one-person ship the player used

media coverage equal to—and possibly greater than—typical AAA games, which are classified as having exceptionally large production and advertisement budgets. However, their strategy, while undoubtedly effective at building up a dedicated following, also resulted in their own undoing.

Within days of the release, players were taking to various gaming websites to talk about their experiences with “No Man’s Sky”, and the general tone was disappointment and incredulity. The game now in the hands of the players seemed almost nothing like what was shown during the press presentations in the months before release.

The worlds, which were previously showcased in interviews as being full of beautiful vistas, were instead nothing more than barren, rocky planets with uneven terrain and sparsely populated with vegetation.

This rendered many

to travel, though they were showcased as ranging from adorably tiny animals to titanic beasts.

Player interaction with the environment was also severely cut down. Most space ‘battles’ consisting of perhaps three or four pirate ships attacking only the player, while dynamic interactions with aliens amounted to nothing more than choosing one of three different interactions in a menu while listening to incoherent mumbling. Alien reactions to the player were also shown to be a simple, visible scale that barely had any impact on the game as a whole.

Those points, among others, resulted in a backdraft against the Hello Games developers. The players, many of whom were drawn in by the hype and promises, began to grow upset or saddened, feeling they were misled, and reached out to the developers for answers.

The developers remained absolutely silent, never responding to questions

Screenshots courtesty of Blake Koetsier

H

ello Games’ “No Man’s Sky” was released on Aug. 9, 2016 for the PlayStation 4, and Aug. 12, 2016 for Microsoft Windows, garnering a lot of praise from gamers and critics alike, but it was not to last.

Hype; a feeling many are familiar with.

It’s that electrifying sense of anticipation that often comes with seeing something new and exciting, heightening our emotions, raising our expectations and often building up our desire to take part in whatever it is we’re witnessing.

During its development, “No Man’s Sky” was touted by the developers as housing an immense universe, filled with unique worlds and creatures, that could be explored by players alone or with friends. They used enticing details, like the game’s universe being capable of housing over a quadrillion worlds – all unique – without taxing a system in any way, and an unprecedented quality of playerenvironment interactions to awe their audience, kindling the imaginations of many who enjoy open-world exploration in games.

One of their main selling points for the game was how they used a newly developed method to dynamically generate more than one quadrillion unique worlds without slowing computers down at all.

Such a system has, at least until that point, been nearly (if not entirely) impossible to implement without bringing even the

This strategy of fanning the flames of passion for the game worked to the advantage of the developers, who went from being a small start-up game company working on their first game to being in the eyes of every major game publication, with

strongest computers to their knees. To the developers’ audience, that detail alone was enough to catch their attention. Yet, the developers at Hello Games were still unveiling more details about the game.

Another point the developers nurtured within the minds of those whose hearts they captured was that of amazing playerenvironment interaction. The universe, including disposition of alien species the player might meet, would shift and change as players participated in (or ignored) various events. An example that was pushed by the developers was of warp jumping to a planet and finding civilian cargo ships coming under attack by pirates.

The player could help to defend the cargo, join in on the attack, or just sail right by the battle without intervening, and the various aliens affected by that event would react accordingly. The pirates would then possibly be more willing to ignore your ship while they’re looking for things to attack, and the merchants might push the prices of goods up because of successful pirate raids. Alternately, merchants could be willing to offer payment for protection, while the pirates would become more aggressive, should you defend the fleet 13

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instead.

Through hyping up a product, creators can increase initial sales by directly influencing the viewer’s perceptions.

There are times, however, when this tactic can backfire, hurting sales and possibly causing potential buyers to avoid their games altogether.

It was through pushing these grand ideas, and denying all naysayers while projecting an ineffable air of confidence, that the developers stoked the hype that had begun to build within the nowsizable fanbase growing around the game.

Previews and presentations of the game in the months leading up to the game’s release showed that the development team was more than capable of meeting the promises they set for themselves. The recordings shown to the public were filled with wondrous sights: beautiful worlds populated by unique plants and animals, with the space around the worlds hosting astoundingly large fleets of ships and space stations, all of which were interactive.

All of these promises, and the fact that the development team seemed exceptionally capable, as evidenced by their presentations, served to further increase the excitement as the release date drew ever closer. The hype was enough that even a delay in the release date—which happened not once, but twice—couldn’t dampen spirits.

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about the game, nor trying to quell the growing dissent amongst the player base.

The amount of players willing to give the developers the benefit of the doubt, believing the silence was for a reason, slowly dwindled as the days of silence stretched into weeks, then months. Rumors began to fly around that the developers simply took the money and ran for it, or else were so caught up in their artistic vision that they could not see the reality of the situation.

These rumors proliferated in light of the developers’ continuing silence, growing unchecked by any sort of intervention and, before long, the majority of the player base was convinced that the developers simply swindled the players out of their money.

The developers allowed the hype to grow uncontrollably, snaring potential players in the heightened emotions generated by seeing the preview clips for the game. Without an outlet in the game itself, the players began to release these emotions in another direction: towards the developers, in the form of anger and resentment.

An excessive amount of hype also opens the game up to backlash from the player base, who will latch onto promises made during development and expect the developers to meet them, using empty promises to simply build up excitement only to renege on them as time goes on. It not only damages opinions on the game itself, but also reflects poorly on the developers.

By allowing the player base to keep piling on their own ideas for the game in the wake of the hype being generated without trying to make any effort at controlling it, Hello Games essentially dug their own grave using their own tools. So, while “No Man’s Sky” is a decent game on its own, it will always be remembered as a case of when the “hype train” crashed.

V O I C E A C TO R STRIKE

by Gerick Banga

V

oice actors in the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAGAFTRA), a labor union for all types of performers, are making their voices heard in a different way by striking against several game companies. Due to strenuous work conditions, the union has been pushing for more benefits since late 2014.

Background Info The cause of this strike stems from the expiration of a labor contract called the Interactive Media Agreement in late 2014. SAG-AFTRA tried negotiate with various game companies for more safety accommodations and benefits for voice actors. After 19 months of negotiation, no progress was made. In late October of 2016, SAG-AFTRA declared a strike on a total of 11 game companies. These include big name companies such as Electronic Arts (EA) and Activision.

For Negotiations Several voice actors have been very vocal about their stance. One being Jennifer Hale who is known for her role as Commander Shepard in the “Mass Effect” series. Hale has been a staunch supporter of the strike because she believes the voice acting profession has changed over the years. She demands that there should be more scheduled breaks for intense sessions and workers’ compensation in the event that a voice actor loses his or her voice. She noted the longer and more

strenuous recording sessions as well as how one session could be dedicated to shouts or wails. Hale emphasized that voice actors’ voices are their livelihood, and they need proper breaks to maintain them. Most voice actors take on multiple jobs at a time to make a living. Losing their voices due to a major project would prove devastating to their finances.

Another issue that Hale noted was proper stunt coordination. With the advent of facial- and motion-capture technology, it’s quickly becoming the standard for creating animations in games.

Game companies usually ask the voice actor of the character to do the stunts.

This ensures that the lines of the character match correctly and no one else has to memorise the actor’s lines. While this helps the quality of games immensely, it also holds safety concerns as well. Hale wants to ensure the safety of all voice actors when it comes to motion capture.

She asks that game companies provide stunt professionals to look over the stunts performed and workers’ compensation since there’s always a chance of injury when performing stunts.

Against Negotiations Not all voice actors share the same resolve as Jennifer Hale. In fact, some voice actors are against the strike and side with the game companies. Most notably would be Nolan North who is known for his role as Nathan Drake in the “Uncharted” series. At The Game Awards, he directed his speech to the voice actors going on 15

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strike. North does strongly believe that while voice actors do play major part in creating games, they are only a part of a bigger picture. He argues that through the hard work of the programmers, writers, and general staff in game companies, he is able to have opportunities to be in big voice acting roles.

Speaking of game companies, they all have similar stances on the negotiations.

Their stances align with North’s but from a financial perspective. One of the demands that SAG-AFTRA wants met is bonuses for voice actors. How these bonuses work is that once a game reaches a certain amount sold, the voice actors involved would a get a share of that. This demand was made to attempt to make a voice actor’s income more stable. The main reason why the game companies will not adhere to this is because of all the staff they have to pay.

Like North talked about, voice actors are only a small fraction of what makes up a game’s production. While voice actors should be properly compensated, the same goes for designers, programmers, writers, and crew that are critical to the games’ developments.

From the looks of it, the movement is still trying to make headway. Both voice actors and companies are still looking for common ground to go forward with negotiations. For now, while many gamers’ favorite characters are remaining silent, the voices behind them are remaining loud and clear.

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WAIKIKI STREET FASHION

by Melany McAngus photos by Melany McAngus

One of the best things about walking down the strip in Waikiki is the street fashion. People visit from all over the world and bring the their hometown trends with them, all with an island twist to accommodate for

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the tropical weather. When one is on vacation, the rules of fashion no longer apply, leaving them free to make daring, quirky, and individualized fashion style choices not found anywhere else on the island.

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Where do you like to shop?

CAMPUS FASHION

I shop online. I shop a lot at Kohls. I shop a lot at Aeropostale. I like Hot Topic.

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

I have this Star Wars shirt. It’s grey and very minimalistic and you can’t tell it’s Star Wars unless you’re a huge Star Wars fan. It’s my favorite.

It’s in the shape in the symbol of the Resistance and there’s like pictures of Tatooine on it. But it’s black and white, so unless you really know the movies, you couldn’t tell.

by Marcel Saragena and Jasmine Bautista photos by Marcel Saragena

How do you normally dress for school?

Very casual.

Where do you like to shop?

Describe your style.

Normally, I don’t like the American brands here, so when I travel back to my home country which is Korea. I like shopping there. If anything, if I really have to find clothes here, I just for like Ross.

I like to call it “punk mashed with vintage.”

Kasey Armendariz

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

I would say slacks.

How do you normally dress for school?

Either jeans or slacks, and then will be a shirt like this. It depends on the weather, it depends if I’ll wear a jacket or not. I always tend to try and wear a watch like this one because I got gifted.

Describe your style.

Where do you like to shop?

HI Demand clothing, a local owned business in Pearl City.

Business casual.

Junhee Lee

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

I favor tanks and sleeveless shirts.

Next would be a comfortable pair of jeans or shorts.

How do you normally dress for school?

Comfortable. Usually jeans, slippers, t-shirt or sleeveless shirt. Board shorts if hot enough.

Describe your style.

Sporty, yet comfortable.

Roy A. Cooper Jr.

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off the eaten path C

offee shop culture centers around a shop’s atmosphere and how it affects one’s mood and, in turn, productivity. Arvo, located at the new SALT@KAKAAKO, is one such coffee shop that exceeds atmospherically, serving simple, quality food and coffee in new and innovative ways with a lush backdrop.

creme de la creamer

by Melany McAngus photos by Melany McAngus

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“Arvo” is Australian slang for “good afternoon” and that’s what owners Casey Wiggins, Dixie Rose and Mason Rose wanted to provide their clients with through this Aussie-style espresso bar. It’s a usual occurrence to spot co-owner, Casey Wiggins, working the crowd and serving the customers. At the end of a mid-day rush, she was available for a few questions on the success of Arvo.

While this place is overly teeming over with nonstop Pinterest-level cuteness that would make any girl immediately want to stop in for a selfie, the real culprit behind Arvo’s success is their innovation.“We are constantly evolving and that’s one of the things that’s exciting”, Wiggins said. “It’s always something else and that’s what we want to do. We always kind of want to be doing our research and putting out something new and exciting.”

Arvo’s innovation starts with the most important part of any coffee shop: their espresso menu. Aside from the usual “flat white” and “long black”, this shop puts a spin on things by serving lavender and charcoal lattes that are easy on the palate and cleansing to the body. One of the most intriguing coffee options is an offmenu beverage only served on “Nitro Fridays.” Every Friday, the cruiser bike with attached cart parked outside the cafe transforms into a self-serve tap station. ”We take our cold brew, which is a 24-hour cold brew, and we hit it with nitrogen, so you get a very creamy, almost like a caramel—it’s like a Guinness,” Wiggins said.

675 Auahi Street Honolulu, HI 96825 Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Weekends: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Botanical boutique Paiko attracts patrons to the space—which is shared by Paiko, Arvo and surf shop Milo—with a bounty of greenery. “Paiko is the product of a love of nature, design, and Hawai‘i,” Paiko’s website reads.

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While the food menu is limited, it features an Australian cafe staple: toast.

As simple as this sounds, all of these toast options are served beautifully plated, flavorful, and are a unique alternative to the typical American cafe menu of pastries and sandwiches.

“My favorite is definitely the loaded avocado (toast)”, she said. “The cherry tomatoes and the feta cheese and the bitterness of the arugula go really well together.” Other options include salmon toast, Nutella toast, and—in true Aussie fashion—Vegemite toast. If toast isn’t your thing, try the matcha chia seed pudding topped with fresh fruits and matcha whip.

The cornerstone of any establishment is a good staff to help keep things running, give off positive energy, and just be the face of the place. “We got the take-away coffee window, and we’re a quick service, but everybody comes inside to order still and I think it’s the connection”, Wiggins said. “We became like family.

Everyone knows everyone (and) I think the staff does make it.”

Arvo shares their space with botanical boutique Paiko and surf shop Milo, and the three stores together create a dynamic trio that have a very symbiotic relationship.

“We complement each other very well, and it just works”, she said.

“You’ll come in here next week, next month and the layout might be different. We’re constantly trying to figure out what would work best in the tiny space we have.

The three companies have used their space and one-of-a-kind services to cultivate a neighborhood of regular patrons. “We do workshops, too, with Paiko”, Wiggins said. “We rent out the space, so they can do bridal showers, birthday parties, and we cater that so, you know, we just want to make it fun.”

“It’s just somewhere that everybody wants to come and hang out,” Wiggins said.

Good vibes, constantly evolving, and cute as all get out. That’s Arvo in a nutshell, and they’re open every day.

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featured comics “Why Not?” by Tanner Isaac @cheesygoatgirl

instagram showcase

@the_human_photography_machine

#kamanaoleeward to get featured.

Follow @Ka_Manao on Instagram for news and updates.

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Cultivate Thought Cultivate Compassion

Cultivate Yourself theatre ad

Ka Mana‘o staff

is the student publication of Leeward Community College. It is published quarterly, funded by student fees and advertising, and administered by the Board of Student Communications.

Editorial content reflects views only of staff.

Ka Mana’o welcomes students interested in being staff members, as well as submissions of creative works. Ka Mana’o reserves the right

to edit for length and content, and publication is not guaranteed. All content published in Ka Mana’o and its website may not be reprinted or republished in any form without permission.

Copies of Ka Mana’o are available at newsstands throughout campus. Copyright 2016 Board of Student Communications

Stanley Lee adviser

Nick Jones Mason Laikupu copy editors

Melany McAngus Nate Jaramillo co-editors

Lily Chan Tanner Issacs Matthew McAngus illustrators

Marcel Saragena associate editor

Gerick Banga Christian Reyes Rawley Riccio Mason Laikupu writers

Jasmine Bautista layout editor Melany McAngus Marcel Saragena photo editors

Nick Jones Megan Ridings designers 31

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Learn how the choices you make about the way to play a scene affect the interpretation.

‘Staging’ doesn’t just mean the set or stage itself; it’s everything you do onstage to bring the drama to life. Come see how alternate staging, cutting, and acting affect the meaning in a piece.

Music - Theatre - Dance Experience YOUR Leeward Theatre For More information or to buy Tickets visit: http://LCCTheatre.hawaii.edu or call 455-0380 32

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Commencement Ad

A FAMILY OF FOUR SPENDS $1500 A YEAR ON FOOD THEY DON’T EAT

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Your teaching Phoenix Adcareer path happens to go right through town.

Your next big move could be right here in Hawaii. At University of Phoenix, we shape our curriculum around the skills employers are actively seeking, so your studies can prepare you for a brighter future. Get started at our local campus and see how far you can go.

Visit phoenix.edu/hawaii or call us at 808.536.2686

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (http://hlcommission.org). For more information about University of Phoenix accreditations and licensures, please visit http://www.phoenix.edu/about_us/accreditation.html. The University’s Central Administration is located at 1625 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Tempe, AZ 85282. Online Campus: 3157 E. Elwood St., Phoenix, AZ 85034. College credit granted by University of Phoenix. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. © 2015 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved. | COE-4689

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