The Pinion Vol. 90 No. 3

The Pini

n

President William McKinley High School

Vol. 90, No. 3

McKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

December 14, 2011

John Leong, founder of Hawaii youth Conservation Corps (HYCC), motivates students through inspirational advice. Check online for what he says about living Pono at myhsj.org/pinion.

Seniors Shannah Young (left) and Abha Sharma (right) coordinate The Pono Project.

The Pono Project plans to motivate

by Brannagan Mukaisu This year opportunities have been created for McKinley High School students to get motivated through a program called The Pono Project. Shannah Young (12), founder of The Pono Project, and Abha Sharma (12), co-founder of the project, created the program for “unmotivated” McKinley students while getting them involved in the Hawaiian culture.

Sharma said, “The Pono Project is unique because it doesn’t only focus on building the group as a whole but centers around building each and every individual student’s character. Our program is focused on building the characteristic of being righteous, excellent, successful-being Pono.” Sharma said the project will give students an opportunity to “gain new perspectives, experience countless

opportunities that they would normally never have the chance to, learn more about the culture of our islands while working with one another, and just develop a better understanding of the person they are within.”

Young said that creating the project, while difficult, was possible with the help of Sharma and April Nakamura, student activities coordinator. To get the program started they needed to set goals, make a purpose, and have objectives. In the process, they planned activities for the school year, and figured out how to draw unmotivated students to the project.

The next step for them was to get other school staff and teachers on board with the project, which included Shane Cummings and Larry Oshiro, school counselors at MHS. To attract students they put together a power point and presented their project in the classrooms.

Young said, “Abha and I knew we couldn’t do (the project) alone so we got the Alaka’i (student advisers of the project).” The Alaka’i “were asked to lead the program and to help the students that are not really interested in school,” said Jai Kim (12), one of the Alaka’i. Kim, who was asked to join the project by Young and Sharma, wants to help students and learn more about the Hawaiian culture.

“I’m very excited to do something new like this with everyone in Pono,” said Kim. The reasons why Young created the project is because she wants “to help (our) generation see that there is so much they can do out in the world and they have the potential to do anything they want.” For Young, The Pono Project means “the world” to her. Young said, continued on page 2.

RS 12-0660

2 THE PINION December 14, 2011

Teacher journeys to South Africa

Moore attends World Congress on worker and student rights

by Jocel Siapno

“It takes a village to teach a child,” as an African saying goes, said Laverne Moore, a special education teacher at McKinley High School. This saying relates to the theme of the Education International 6th World Congress which is “Building the Future through Quality Education,” involving not only the educator but also the student and family.

Moore’s philosophy is that in order to support the students, teachers need the parents and the community to help them.

“If we have the comprehensive services available for students and their families, we would see a bigger improvement in the academic outcome,” said Moore.

Moore attended the World Congress last July 22-26, in Cape Town, South Africa. Moore was the only delegate from Hawaii and one of the 125 delegates from the U.S. This congress was attended by 2000 educators from 138 countries.

This is the first time that Moore attended this congress. The congress, which happens every 4 years, consisted of seminars involving union rights. It also talked about different curriculum of each country. In some countries, the curriculum that a teacher teaches are from the government, while in America, some teachers can choose their own curriculum.The congress is also a time for the delegates to know more from each other. “(The congress) was a good social time in the sense of discovering different cul-

Moore said she wants to go back to Cape Town, but she needs more money to go again.

tures and how fortunate that we have rights in America, that other countries don’t have,” said Moore.

During her stay in South Africa, Moore went on a Safari trip, where she saw different safari animals such as lions, elephants and zebras up close.

She said she was scared because she thought that the animals would attack her, but it was an enjoyable experience.

She also went to Cape of Good Hope, which is located at the tip of South Africa. This is the place where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet. Going to the Cape of Good Hope feels like you are on the tip of the world, explained Moore.

Moore was an active member of the NEA (National Education Association) since 1975. Through NEA, Moore applied to be one of the delegates for the World Congress. Moore encourages other teachers to be active about this

McKinley starts new motivational project continued from page 1.

(The Pono Project) is my last thought before I go to bed and my first thought when I wake up.”

Sharma chose to be apart of the program because “(the project) is not like any other program we have in school.”

She also said she “wouldn’t miss an opportunity to be a part of The Pono Project for the world--it’s truly a privilege.”

Some activities The Pono Project will be participating in are rope course activities at Kualoa ranch, visiting senior homes, working with the salvation army,

and working in Lo’is, or taro patches.

Throughout the year The Pono Project will bring in motivational speakers such as Kutmaster Spaz, Katie Chang who is an executive director of the Center for Tomorrows Leaders, and “many more,” said Sharma.

The Pono Project is a way to become motivated in school and life by experiencing the Hawaiian culture. They are accepting members all year long. If you are interested stop by the the Student Activities room on Thursday’s, during lunch to become a part of The Pono Project.

organization. Moore said, “If they don’t step up to the plate and get involved, they would lose the rights that I and my peers before me have fought for.”

There are other active members of the NEA in McKinley High School such as Social Studies teacher Lilian Yamasaki, and English teacher Barbara Abrew.

They also encourage teachers to be more active in this organization. Yamasaki said, “The NEA is about great public schools for every kid and that’s the same business we are in as teachers.” While Abrew said, “The NEA is the largest union and therefore, it can become the voice of every teacher.”

OPINION POLL RESULTS Have you ever been bullied at McKinley? yes-40% no-60%

NEW POLL How do you feel about New Year’s Eve without fireworks?

Share your opinion at myhsj.og/pinion

ELL student adjusts to life in Hawaii

December 14, 2011 THE PINION 3

Hawaii Five-O films episode on campus

by Meihui He (11) It’s hard for anyone to fit in a foreign country. When I first came here, I felt extremely upset, but also curious. When I went to the beach, there were a lot people there, and they were so outgoing. I felt embarrassed when I saw them swimming and surfing, but I admired the way they acted, and I hoped one day I could do the same thing. I felt puzzled when I went to school. I couldn’t understand the teachers’ words. I felt nervous when I heard there was a test. “Oh, I have to remember some unfamiliar words,” I thought. I’m sure the kids here would think I was ridiculous if they heard this. I felt I was dumb because I didn’t act like them.

They spent lots of time enjoying and goofing around with others. But I just stayed at home.

I was so homesick for a long time, but luckily my teachers and my friends helped me out. In Hawaii, when I see a bunch of Chinese people, in school or in the market, I feel excited. I like to go to Chinatown because it resembles my hometown. I like their businesses. I go to cultural festivals to feel my culture because here, my family doesn’t celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year. I made friends with other people, and I’m not feeling lonely anymore. However, I feel uncomfortable when others give me things. I feel a little guilty, and I feel I owe them something, even though people tell me that in America, it’s normal to give. They just want to give; they are not expecting you to give some presents in return.

Now, I enjoy my life here, even if I’m still not the same as the locals. When I feel homesick, I like to go out to feel the sunshine. I know everywhere will turn to heaven in my heart.

Read more ELL experiences from Xiao Ming Nian (10) and Mark Anthony Corpuz (11) myhsj.org/pinion

photo by Brianna Ribillia-Ramones (10)

Lights, camera, action! That’s what Tigers saw at McKinley on December 1 when the cast and crew of Hawaii Five-0 filmed on campus. The Pinion staff was able to go behind the scenes to shadow the Hawaii Five-0 team and learn a thing or two about the show’s production process. In this episode, the editor of the school newspaper, The Weekly Moana, is up to no good. McKinley student Nathaniel Teocson (11) poses on the set of the newsroom. The Pinion staff poses with cast members Scott Caan and Lauren German, whose characters are on the campus of Ala Moana Academy to investigate a murder. Go to http://mhsj.org/ pinion to read more, and be sure to watch Episode 213, Ka Ho’oponopono, of Hawaii Five-0 on CBS December 19!

HSA Round 1 Results

4 THE PINION December 14, 2011

HAPPY

HOLIDAYS

Gathering ‘round the hot pot Homemade nabe * you don’t specifically have to put in the following ingredients. Japanese ingredients can be found in markets such as Nijiya, Marukai or Don Quiote.

1. Dashi (broth): 3 furidashi (broth packets) 5 inch strip of Konbu (seaweed) Soak for 30 minutes in 8 cups cold water. In the meantime, prep ingredients. Turn up the heat, and before it boils remove the Konbu strip. Keep the furidashi in for 5 more minutes, then remove. Arrange the ingredients into the pot and add the salmon last. Put the cover on, leaving a crack so steam can come out. Once it steams, turn off the stove and serve.

2. Ingredients: salmon: salt, cut then parboil in separate pot. Drain water and put salmon on the side. shiratake noodles: Rinse with hot water then cut noodles in half.

Aburage (fried tofu pocket): slice and rinse in hot water Won bok or cabbage: seperate stems from leaves and cut Shiitake mushrooms: cut from stem and slice in half Carrots: rinse and cut (optional: can use small cookie cutters for originalty) Green onions: cut into about 2 inches Drain water from tofu and cut 3. Tare (dipping sauce): 3 Tbsp. Water 4 Tbsp. Seasoning soy sauce Mentsuyu Ninben Brand (it has an orange label) 1 Tbsp. Lemon jiru (juice from squeezing a lemon) 1 Tbsp. Japanese rice vinegar 1 Tbsp. Shoyu

Nabe creates togetherness

by Amanda Muramoto As cooler weather approaches, people in Hawaii can enjoy delicious warm foods without feeling hot afterwards. Hawaii is known to be a big melting pot of different cultures, and I recommend you try this hot pot from the Japanese people called nabemono (naw-bay-moh-no), or simply nabe.

Cooked in a large clay pot called donabe (dough-naw-bay), this hot meal is cooked on a portable burner on a table or transported from the stove to the center of the table and shared with others straight from the pot. In Japan, groups of friends or families get together to enjoy each others company over the hot pot on cold winter nights. The great thing about nabe is that you can put in a lot of different bite-sized ingredients. Anna Cheng (10) said she likes hot pots because “you can put anything you want in there.”

Vegetables like carrots, cabbage, or shiitake mushroom are added. Most people also include meats such as chicken, crab, meat, or salmon.

Big chopsticks are used to take the food from the pot to your own dish, but some just use their own to pick from the pot. “Sharing food from the same pot while dipping your dirty chopsticks in means that you’re close,” said Junior Naomi Hu.

There are a variety of nabe styles, with shabu-shabu being the most popular.

Shabu-shabu is the “swish-swish” sound of the thinly-sliced meat cooking in the pot. The meat is then dipped in a sauce, or tare (ta-ray) for more flavor. Yosenabe, or “putting together” is also popular. For this type of nabe, all the ingredients are cooked in the same pot and seasoned in a soup-like broth.

Making your own Japanese hot pot is simple, fast, and feeds a lot of people.

The sidebar is one way to make nabe.

First, you start by making the dashi, or broth. This is like the base of your nabe.

As you cook, the ingredients added in also contribute to the flavor of the dashi.

There is no specific way to make the broth, since many families have their own version. There are hot pot restaurants close by such as Hot Pot Heaven in McCully Shopping Center, Ichiriki on 510 Piikoi Street, and Sweet Home Café on 2334 South King Street. Besides eating out, you can make your own hot pot at home. Cooking in your own kitchen is “cheaper,” said Hu. Also, her “whole family goes to buy food.” As the Japanese say, nabe wo kakomu “to gather around the pot”, to share from the same pot while establishing closer relationships.

December 14, 2011 THE PINION 5

HAPPY

HOLIDAYS

Baking Cookies

by Annie Lien (10) Dough and frosting with rainbow and chocolate sprinkles, Oh how they just make us smile, and our eyes twinkle.

Like bakers, we shape our sugar sweet dough, With much laughter and excitement as we go.

My aunty helps us put our cookies in the oven to bake, While my sister, cousins, and I, with eager anticipation, sit down to wait.

Warm, sweet, chocolaty, delightful aromas fill the room.

They speak to us, oh so softly, whispering, “You’ll be munching on us soon.”

When the delicate cookies have finished baking, We let them cool, and continue waiting.

Our baking love affair is complete, once we add frosting and other treats, And clean up to make the kitchen counter exquisitely neat.

Holiday art by Clarisse Lee (12)

Letter to Santa

by Kayty Inthirath (10) On the night before Christmas I would dismiss Everyone to write my letter And hopefully it will get me something better.

This whole year I have been nice, even tonight.

I must make sure this letter is right.

For extra measure my mom inspects For anything she can correct.

She finds no problems and says to me, “Let’s bake those cookies that you fill with glee!”

I bake him cookies with my special batter and a glass of milk That reminds me of silk As the bell goes “DING” we know it’s time To get our cookies that taste so divine.

As we prepare everything and hope for him to come, We feel that everything is done.

When we can do no more and only wait, We realize it is getting late.

We tuck ourselves in and say goodnight, As we stare at our tree that is filled with bright colored lights.

And in the morning I hope to see, A new shiny present calling out to ME!

Winter-themed photo contest winner Jeremy-Ryan Tongpalan (9) Here a McKinley tiger tries to get off a palm tree after falling off Santa’s sleigh.

6 THE PINION December 14, 2011

HAPPY

HOLIDAYS

Students recommend good books to read over the break The Orange County Register/MCT

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things is a fantastic book. Reading it might change your whole life.

This book gives you reasons not to care about your appearance and what others think. In this book, an overweight girl named Virginia Shreves is living a terrible life, and just wanted others to like her. A popular girl in her school said if she were Virginia, she would rather kill herself. Virginia considered this, but then decided not to. She realized that she didn’t have to be like others or care about other’s opinions.

In this book, her mom also bossed her around. Her mom had also been fat as a teen. But she never had the nerve to stand up for herself like Virginia did. Her mom always took her to the doctor so that the doctor could help her lose weight. Virginia didn’t like this, but she had to because of her parents. But soon after, she started to do what she wanted to do.

Virginia always thought she wasn’t perfect; she always wanted to fit in with others. She wanted to be skinny.

She always thought her family would be better off without her. Being a girl like her wasn’t easy at all. Her life was not perfect. She did not have friends around, and she had a family that didn’t

pay attention to her just because she was overweight. However, she made her life worth it towards the end of the story.

Did Virginia die? Did she lose weight?

Did she make friends? Was her life so horrible after all? To find out, read this amazing book and you’ll find out! This book can change your whole perspective of your life or others’ lives. Go get it now and read it! Level 5.2, 8 points Phuong Nguyen (10)

Holiday Door Decorating Contest.

Check online for pictures of the winning doors.

Members of the Filipino Club, Junior Irene Manuel (left), Melecio Tagalicud (12) and Maria Bumanglag (11), prepare for the holiday door decorating contest

What book I would recommend to readers is a book called Thirteen Reasons Why. The book is one of the best books I’ve read and I don’t even like reading. First, I recommend this book because it is a mystery of a girl who commits suicide. Before she did it, she made tapes of reasons and people who contributed to it. After they watch the tape, they have to pass it on. If they don’t, it will go on to the next reason anyway because someone she told helps her out. The book is also good because it relates to bullying, and included different point of views. This makes you feel sorry and scared because of the reasons she said. Lastly the book is good because it is creepy. There are actual tapes you can find on the website http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/. Another good thing is they are making a movie about it, starring Selena Gomez, so readers should give this book a shot and learn the lesson of bullying. Level 3.9, 9 points Bill Khau (10) Go to myhsj.org/pinion for more reviews Perfect Chemistry reviewed by Shirley Cabico The Hunger Games reviewed by Heather Situ So Be It reviewed by Elliott Richardson

Looking for a rewarding elective?

Sign up for Newswriting and become a member of the Pinion staff!

See Ms. Reves in E207

December 14, 2011 THE PINION 7

The News Tribute/MCT

HAPPY

HOLIDAYS

Letters to the Editor

As a student of the Academy of Finance, I had a chance to volunteer in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in November for three days.

It was a wonderful and meaningful experience for me since I got a chance to meet the delegates and reporters from many different countries. Aside from promot-

ing business cooperation and economic development, APEC gave us a chance to interact and communicate with people of different cultures. During the conference, I also met the mayors of Kauai and the Big Island and was lucky enough to be in the same picture with them. While listening to the presenters explaining

their new inventions in the exhibition hall, I learned more about the development of technology in Hawaii. We also got introduced into their fields of career, and learned more detail and insights of their job. I think that APEC was not simply a volunteering experience to me, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in which I could meet important people that I never saw, learn the right attitude of working in the adult world, and prepare for my future career. I was really grateful for this opportunity and I will definitely remember it for the rest of my life.

U Hang Sio (11) I would like to say something about the article on HSA. Thank you for informing the school and myself about the new waiver and how we did in the past HSA tests. I think this article can really inspire the sophomores on our upcoming HSA testing, so that we can do better.

I’m sure everyone wants to do good for our school, and showing the percentages can push us.

Jane Yang (10)

Read more letters to the editor by sophomores at myhsj.org/pinion Bullying by Yinhei Lao and John Ryan Ilacos Homecoming by Andrew Nguyen Scary stories by Janie Wong Book review by Shirley Cabico APEC by Jantzen Hatakenaka Pinion Staff

Adviser: Cynthia Reves Editor: Amanda Muramoto Reporters: Kelsey David, Brannagan Mukaisu, Pauline Yang, Jocel Siapno

Publication Information

THE PINION is published by the Newswriting Staff and printed by the Reprographics Learning Center.

The Pinion McKinley High School 1039 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96814 Email comments or questions to mhspinion@gmail.com

Student experiences Vietnam 8 THE PINION December 14, 2011

Trip broadens Sakurai’s perspectives of the world

by Pauline Yang Manabu Sakurai (12) got an opportunity to travel to Vietnam with the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) 2011 Summer Study Tour. Originally they planned to go to Japan in March 2011, but because of the unfortunate events in Japan, it was changed. Sakurai wasn’t expecting this but she was open minded and was eagerly ready for what Vietnam had to offer her.

Before heading to Vietnam, students read an 82-page Student Reader, that informed them about Vietnam’s culture and history. “It had interesting tips like what a smile means to them,” said Sakurai. Students also had to attend an orientation from June 7-11 at Kualoa Ranch that helped them interact and build stronger relations with other members of PAAC’s 2011 study group.

They were required to pick a topic on Vietnam and share their findings during orientation week. Sakurai’s topic was The Chinese influence on Vietnam. “I choose this topic because I was interested in history. I wanted to see the Chinese influence on Vietnam.”

She talked about art, architecture, food, crafts, and religion. She has learned that when the Chinese occupied Vietnam, they left their cultural influences there, like how a lot of the buildings were pagodas. Religion and art ties within each other and Sakurai discovered a lot on how Vietmam’s sculptures were related to Buddhism. Lastly, Sakurai learned about the food Vietnam eats.

“Vietnamese food is really healthy. They have more vegetables in their dishes”.

Once the time came, June 15, Sakurai started off her journey in Vietnam. It was a new experience for Sakurai. “I’m really glad they changed into going to Vietnam.

I’ve never been there before. I’ve been to Japan before though. Everything was very new to me,” said Sakurai.

Sakurai ventured through different places in Vietnam. Those places were Hanoi and Sapa, Halon Bay, Hoi An, Melkong Delta, and Ho Chi Minh City.

She realized that people in Vietnam still live their lives happily without electron-

caption

One experience that Sakurai had was planting rice patties in Sapa, in northwest Vietnam. It was an uncomfortable state for her because she had to go bare feet, but overall enjoyed her time.

ics or internet and life has so much to offer. Sakurai had a lot of fun and did many activities including dress making and painting a mural at an elementary school. They helped the students learn English in Hoi An, fished at Halong Bay, and biked around Ho Chi Minh City.

Her stay at Vietnam has impacted Sakurai’s perspectives on different cultures and life. Going to Vietnam “made me have a bigger view about the world.

It made me want to travel more later in life to see what other countries are like.

There’s more to life than to Hawaii.

There are many opportunities, so take the chance.”

Sakurai is also in McKinley’s PAAC club. “Manabu was the one who wanted to have a PAAC Club at McKinley High.

She isn’t a student of mine, but she was the one that came to me and asked about starting a PAAC Club. The credit goes to Manabu,” said history teacher Janice Kobashigawa. (Adviser of PAAC Club).

PAAC Club in McKinley was made around September 2010.

PAAC Club gives students the chance to go to conferences to learn and interact with different special guess speakers

who talk about global issues. Conferences were held at the University of Manoa and Hawaii Convention Center. The most recent conference that the PAAC club members went to was the Fall Conference in Indonesia.

All in all, Sakurai says her experiences in Vietnam can help students broaden their horizon about the world. Just taking that first step and letting one’s self enter into one of the many doors life puts out, can change how one views what there is to life.

Eric Goodwin/MCT

Follow us on Twitter at mhspinion Enter the Free to Tweet Contest Beginning at midnight on Dec. 15, students ages 14 to 22 can tweet their support for the First Amendment with the hashtag #freetotweet, which will enter them in the “Free to Tweet” scholarship competition.

JROTC creates cyber team for online defense

December 14, 2011 THE PINION 9

SPORTS

by Allen Liang (11) McKinley High School has a Cyber Defense team, also known as Cyber Patriot. Cyber Patriot is managed by the Air Force Association, and is devoted to cyber-security. Just like the Armed Drill team, Cyber Patriot is a JROTC-based team. This is the first year for the Cyber Patriot team at MHS. This team isn’t limited to only JROTC cadets like other teams; in fact Civil Air Patrol Units and non-JROTC students are allowed to field a team of their own sponsored by the U.S. Army. The Cyber Patriot program should be valuable as cyber-security becomes increasingly important and it also gives MHS students a jump on careers in the tech field (some right out of high school without any college required).

During competitions, students either work on Windows or GNU/Linux O.S. and are given six hours to lock down, secure a network, and set up a Simple Network Management Protocol service.

All the while, controlled hackers try to slow them down and even attempt to stop them from reaching their goal. Each competition is online, so the teams compete not only against schools in our state but against others across the nation.

The school team is supervised by Alan Sekiguchi, a teacher of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and of digital media, while the JROTC team is supervised by Major Cory Marlowe, the senior army instructor. The MHS teams have two mentors from the University of Hawaii, Mark Munar and David Lin, who are both MHS alumni.

This year, the leaders are testing out how the teams will do, so team membership is by recommendation only. Sekiguchi hopes to host a sign-up for next year.

Juzhen Zhang 将为以下文章提供中文 总结。同学们可以到myhsj.org/pinion在 线阅读此版本。 Book reviews 书本复习 Hot Pot recipe 地方食谱 Motivational project 激发你我的计划 ELL experiences ELL 学生的那些故事 Bookmark Project 自制书签

Senior Kate Navarro shows off her air riflery skill. Navarro qualified for the state championship and won an OIA award for her good sportsmanship.

See full story at myhsj.org/pinion. Photos by Jomar de Vera (11).

Soccer season starts again

by Jocel Siapno Soccer season started in November.

The McKinley girls’ soccer team has been conditioning and practicing the last few months and are ready to play this season.

This season differs from last season because the team will be competing in both Red and White divisions or divisions 1 and 2. Playing in both divisions will be hard so the team has doubled

their preparation. Also, the team lost 9 seniors; only 10 players are returning and the rest are beginners.

To prepare the players this season, Shelby Costa, English teacher and team coach, encouraged her players to join the Honolulu American Youth Soccer Organization, an outside league, during the summer. Through the Honolulu AYSO, the players can improve the way they play and they will be able to interact with other students across Oahu.

Girl’s Soccer team Quotes “I have a young team that is in the process of developing necessary skills and experience...However, all players are full of enthusiasm and eager to learn. With time and effort, we are looking forward to improving the McKinley High School girl’s soccer program.”

-Shelby Costa (Coach)

“We have a good team... we are willing to try our best and we have passion for the game. We are just happy with the work we do on the field whether we win or lose.”

-Samantha Garcia (11)

“Our team is very hardworking and we have great captains who motivate us to do better.”

-Asami Kobayashi (11)

10 THE PINION December 14, 2011

Class bookmarks promote reading

by Brannagan Mukaisu

By day, Megan Serrao teaches 9th grade English. After school, she dances at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. She has been dancing there for five years. So, if you ever find yourself in Laie and you have time to watch a show, go and watch Serrao dance at PCC.

English teacher gets her dance on

by Brannagan Mukaisu McKinley High School is filled with many talented and gifted students, but teachers have amazing talents too. English teacher Megan Serrao dances at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.

Serrao, who lives in Laie, has to take a one hour drive to MHS everyday to teach. Coming from San Diego, California, but having lived here for the past 6 years, Serrao danced in high school. Not only does she have talent but her cultural background is diverse, consisting of Caucasian, Japanese, Filipino, and Hawaiian.

Serrao has been performing at PCC for the past 5 years. The dances are performed in colorful traditional Polynesian clothing, made from shells, feathers, and much more. Polynesian instruments such as drums create the rhythm for the dancers to perform. Serrao said she dances different styles of dance, which are in one combined category called HAMATA, made up of dance styles from Maori, Hawaiian, and Tahitian. Serrao dances at two events held at PCC which are the canoe pageant and the Luau Dinner show.

Serrao performs every weekday at the luau and on the weekends she dances in both shows. Serrao said, “Sure! students can come watch... but I can’t get them in

for free.”

Before Serrao was a teacher she attended college which is what prompted her to dance. Serrao said, “I started dancing as a way to pay my way through college at Bringham Young University Hawaii.” Serrao initially started dancing ten years ago when she joined her high school Polynesian Club, but she didn’t really learn to dance until she started college in 2006.

Serrao said, “I actually attribute becoming a teacher in part to my experiences dancing at PCC. Before I started dancing I would never have been able to stand up in front of a group of people. I was the student in the class who would do anything to avoid getting up and speaking in class. However, dancing in front of hundreds of people each night has made a class of 30 seem like nothing.”

Serrao advised students that “achieving your dream isn’t always easy, but it is very possible. I actually got my dancing job the second time I tried out, so I would tell them if they really want something they shouldn't give up on that dream if it doesn’t happen exactly when or how they expect it to happen.”

Serrao’s advice can truly inspire students to achieve their dreams.

Creative minds and creative readers come together to create student bookmarks. Lester Higa, graphic arts teacher, came up with an idea to “promote reading,” said Jennifer Asato, McKinley High School librarian. Higa gave his students an assignment to read a book that could be referred to other students.

Each student would then create their own bookmark based on a scene or theme of their book, said Higa. The title and author of the book are on one side of the bookmark, and on the back there will be a summary of this book and five other recommended books related to the initial book. The students who will be participating in this assignment are from Higa’s two graphics classes. Higa said he hopes that there will be 25 to 50 student bookmark participants.

Asato said, the students of MHS will get to vote from the top ten bookmarks displayed in the MHS Library. This quarter, the students created the bookmarks, and the voting event will take place “next quarter,” said Higa. The winning bookmark will be displayed and ready for people to use at the McCully and Liliha Public Libraries, as well as in McKinley’s library.

Wan Yin Guo (12) said, when deciding what book she would use to create her bookmark she “carefully looked through the genre on the requirement list.” That list suggested several themes such as science fiction and historical fiction. She said the first idea that popped up in her mind was historical fiction since she had read a “remarkable one in the past,” so she chose to create her bookmark on a historical fiction book.

Guo said, “This bookmark project definitely benefits every student because, first, it helps us to learn how to do research; second, we also get to learn how to use the Adobe InDesign software.

These skills are very valuable to students.” She also said, reading is one of her “best friends,” she feels every time she picks up a new book she gets an opportunity “to meet a new friend, and a chance to explore a new world.” Overall, Guo enjoyed the bookmark project.