THE PINION Vol. 89, No. 4
McKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
December 16, 2010
Immersion school helps Hawaiian language, culture live on for student by Peiru Lu
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veryone knows McKinley High School has many bilingual students. Troy Hussey (11), however, is unique. He speaks English and Hawaiian. He’s a junior that transferred to MHS after six years at a Hawaiian immersion school. Hawaiian became the second official language of the state of Hawaii in addition to English in 1978. Hawaii is the only U.S. state with two official languages. After a 10-year-struggle, in 1987, Hawaiian leaders and parents convinced the Department of Education to establish a Hawaiian Language Immersion Program called Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawai’i. The Hawaiian immersion schools educate their students in speaking, writing, listening, and reading Hawaiian. There are about 20 Hawaiian Immersion sites and Hussey attended Ke Kula Kaiapuni `o Anuenue (Anuenue Immersion School). Hussey’s first language is English and he didn’t begin speaking Hawaiian until fifth grade. With his grandparents’ encouragement, he entered Anuenue Immersion School. He said, “They wanted the best for me and for me to learn the language of my ancestors.” He said that it would benefit him one day. “Maybe I could teach my children the language so that it would carry on instead of dying out.” Hussey said, “My grandpa, when he was young, he wasn’t able to learn the Hawaiian language because the missionaries wouldn’t let them. So he wanted for his generation and his kids and their kids to know the language.”
It took Troy Hussey a few weeks to adjust to an all-English environment after transferring here from Anuenue Hawaiian Immersion School. Go to myhsj.org/pinion to see a list of Hawaiian phrases and to hear Hussey speaking Hawaiian. Photo by Amber Nunn Khan (12)
Hussey, whose Hawaiian name is Alika (Alexander in English), compares Hawaii immersion school to family, like “... going home and seeing people you love.” He said at Anuenue you knew everybody around you, even their parents. “I [talked] to my peers [and teachers] in Hawaiian through all those years [in] Hawaiian immersion school. This way you could chat about anything you really wanted to in Hawaiian because that was the main purpose of the Hawaiian immersion school,” he said. “It’s very special to me that people keep the language alive for generations to come.” He transferred to MHS to strengthen his English. He said, “In the real world, you can’t just know Hawaiian. You need
to know English. Like to get a job, if you only know Hawaiian, you’re basically not going to get the job because everybody [else] knows English.” Although no longer attending the immersion school, he continues to practice Hawaiian by reading books and speaking to his younger brother and cousin who also studied in an immersion school. Originally, he wanted to become a lawyer to help Hawaiian people, but now he wants to be a musician. He said, “I want to sing in English and Hawaiian because you can’t work with just one. You would have to work with both because they’re supposed to be together as one. They’re not supposed to be segregated. We are all together as one.”
2 THE PINION December 16, 2010
1. Uni Alpha Gel “Shaky” Pencils
These pencils are from Japan and come in a variety of colors such as pink, blue, and green. A squishy grip, makes it softer to hold the pencil versus the usual hard wood #2 pencil. The lead comes out by either shaking or clicking the pencil, which is how the pencil earned its nickname. Stores such as Shirokiya, Hakubundo, and Fishers offer this popular item. Prices can range from about $7 to $9 for one, depending on which one you purchase and what style you get.
Ai Love Asia!
Photo by Melissa Huang (12)
by Amanda Muramoto
In Japanese, ai (aye) means love. And love is what many of us feel about all of the novelties Asia offers us. They are always coming up with adorable things for us to buy that make us go “How kawaii!” But why do we desire these types of things? The answer was simple to most students. “The products are pretty much cute, nice, and eye-catching” said Pauline Yang (10). Here are a few of the top Asian trends we have noticed at McKinley.
2. Purikura (Photo booths)
Fun Pix, a photo booth store, allows you to have a great time with friends taking photos and decorating them. When you do this, it is known to the Japanese as purikura. Located in Century Center at 1750 Kalakaua Avenue, the store has six booths, with prices ranging from $6-8 per machine for a quick photo session. In one session, you can get a 4x6 photo sheet for the number chosen of tiny purikura. On the machine, one half is the place you take photos and the other half is where you use a special Amanda Muramoto, pen on the touch screen to color, write, and Pauline Yang, andstick things onto your photos. You can print Maria Olsen (10) them and then cut the pictures out to share.
3. Cell Phone Mascots
These cell phone charms come in different characters, such as Hello Kitty or Domo. Phone mascots can be purchased at almost any novelty store at reasonable prices. The food charms are about $4, are squishy, and about the size of a ping pong ball.
Photos by Melissa Huang (12)
4. High Black Socks
The Japanese school girl wears high, black socks. It is a fad that has reached our campus. But some don’t wear it to look like a school girl. “Black makes you look skinnier,” said Asami Kobayashi (10). The color matches anything, making it ideal to go with whatever you wear. The socks can be bought as knee-high, or if you are going for something daring, thigh-high. Although they can only be purchased in Japan, you can still follow this trend by buying black soccer socks which can reach your knees.
3 THE PINION December 16, 2010
New note-taking method seeks to improve students’ performance by Juzhen Zhang Have any of your teachers asked you to make Cornell Notes? Cornell Notes are important because they can improve your ability to study and review. Cornell Notes have five parts: heading, main topic, notes, main ideas/questions, and summary. The heading is the most basic part of notes. It helps you to organize your notes. The main topic, tells what you are going to learn. This can help you find the main points to study faster. Notes are the details of the topic. Those notes should be clear, and you should write them in your own words. In the question porttion, write the main points or the title of the content. Writing the summary can help you better understand the notes and memorize or print them in your brain. Bryan Gusman, department chair of CSAP, is one of several McKinley High School teachers who has been trained in Cornell Notes. This August, these teachers gave a presentation at a faculty meeting. Gusman said MHS has started a “school-wide initiative” to use Cornell Notes in classes since the faculty presentation. Many Hawaii middle schools, such as Washington and Central, already ask students to take Cornell Notes. Cornell Notes is part of a program called AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determination. MHS has AVID classes, but even non-AVID teachers can use AVID strategies. My Japanese teacher, Sandra Oda, is a strong advocate of the Cornell Notes system and requires her students to do all five parts. She told us we have to take good notes in all our classes at MHS. Notes are one way to see how you study, and what kind of student you are. She thinks notes are important because they help the students focus on the material. Also, when students do the main ideas/ question section, they get to think like the teacher and create test questions. Using the back of the paper means we don’t waste paper.
In addition to the five standard sections, Oda requires pictures. She wants students to draw pictures about the content on the back of the prior page. Pictures allow the student to use the right side, or creative side, of their brain. Some students learn better with pictures and enjoy expressing the content creatively. I interviewed two students who use Cornell Notes often in their classes. One of them thinks Cornell Notes is good for her. Her notes are clear and have main ideas, so if the teacher allows them to use Cornell Notes during tests, she can find the information quickly and answer the questions accurately. Another student thinks Cornell Notes does not work for her very well because she doesn’t review them. Students should take notes in class not only because the teacher requires them. Your notes are for yourself, for your own learning, for your own good. Illustration by Chi-chan (10)
Pay Attention to Me Mark Corpuz (10) read a poem by Gary Soto titled “Big Eaters.” In the poem, a boy tells many lies trying to get the attention of people at a barbecue. He claimed to see a mermaid, for example. The people do not pay attention to the boy until he says that the food is ready to eat. Corpuz wrote his own poem in which the people are only interested in the view.
Pay Attention to Me
by Mark Anthony Corpuz, I was in the mountains. I screamed, “Check out this big monkey!” But the people only looked down the mountain. I called, “There’s a wild pig down here!” But they only looked around at the trees. I shouted, “Hey, a snake bit me!” No one seemed exited. I called.”Hey there’s a beautiful place here!’ Everyone came with their camera.
4 THE PINION December 16, 2010
New technology adds options for book-lovers
by Peiru Lu
Have you tried an eBook? It is one of the hot technological trends these days. “eBook” is short for electronic book. There are many advantages for using an eBook. It is great for people who like to read while they travel. To travel without carrying lots of paper books, all you need is just one eBook reader and you have access to as many books as you want. An eBook reader is a portable electronic device used to download books or magazines that are in digital form. You can regard an eBook reader as your own library filled with your favorite books. The MHS library doesn’t offer eBooks. Librarian Dianne Sugihara is unsure about the possibility of eBooks in the
books by Nicholas Sparks.” At www. barnesandnoble.com, At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks in paperback costs $10.07, and the eBook costs $9.99. Of course, that same digital copy of At First Sight is available for free from the state library. Even if you won’t save money by buying e-books, you’re helping the planet by using less paper. There are many devices readers can use for eBooks. You can download books onto your computer or you can buy an eBook reader. Cnet Review rates the best two eBook readers in the $150-200 range are the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook, both with 3G/Wi-Fi. Apple iPad is another popular device for eBooks. It costs more, about $500, but has 16GB. With an eBook reader, it is easy to zoom in on text. You are also able to change the word size if you want Enligsh teacher Gary Larsen,reads eBooks on his iPhone. He started reading digital books about five years ago. Right now, he is reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen that he downloaded from www. barnesandnoble.com. When asked what advice he would give to students interested in or curious about eBooks, he said, “I will recommend that (students) figure out how to get an eBook to your computer. ” The very first eBook was a digital copy of The Declaration of Independence, created by Michael Hart’s Project Gutenberg in 1971. Readers can still find free books to download from www. gutenberg.org. Maybe you need to read A Tale of Two Cities for your English class. This website has a copy for you.
library’s future “because of the money,” She said. “The cost is expensive.” However, she approves of students reading eBooks. She said, “I think that any types of books, the paper book, the eBook, even the audio book, it’s good and helps people enjoying reading.” Readers can find eBooks on websites and at public libraries. Baron Baroza at Hawaii State Library’s downtown branch, said, “We started providing eBooks and audio books in our Bestselling Teen eBooks website (www.hawaii.lib.overdrive.com) since 2004.” With at barnesandnoble.com a Hawaii State Library card, Book Title Author you can download eBooks for a The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins limited time from the website. Comparing the prices of a Night Star Alyson Noel regular book and an eBook, Fallen Lauren Kate you can’t see much difference. Awakened P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast Sugihara said the most popular Twilight Stephene Meyer books that the students check Crescendo Becca Fitzpatrick out of MHS library are “any
Time management key to school success by Shaira Mae Agcaoili Time management will help students to plan out their schedules in a way that they can easily work with. If you have a tendency to procrastinate, you should practice time management. You shouldn’t wait until the last minute to do the things you have to do. Planning is key to time management. Turn big jobs into smaller jobs. If you have a major project due in the next four weeks, break the project into smaller sections or parts that are easy for you to handle. Assign a certain section for you to do within each week before the due date and follow through with the plans. You should keep a weekly schedule, such as a planner, to help remind you what is coming up. This includes due dates for assignments, too. Planners help keep your plans organized. Keep your plans flexible, too, in case something new comes up and you have to change your plans. Keep a “Daily List” or a “To-do-list” so that you know what you have to do within the day or the next day. Number each item by importance and cross each off as soon as you complete it.
Book Reviews
Looking for a good read over the winter break? Check out these recommendations by Honors English students. Danielle Cabalis (10) recommends Go Ask Alice, worth 7 AR points. A read- for- enjoyment kind of book, you will experience all the ups and downs of Alice’s life on drugs. Interesting with a valuable message, all high schoolers should enjoy this book. Ethan Cardenas-Tseu (10) recommends Fever 1763 at 7 AR points, grade level 5. A real reading joy, the book is about an epidemic, which spread throughout Philadelphia in the year 1763, killing many people. Packed with drama, Fever 1763 will keep your attention until the very end. Go to myhsj.org/pinion to find more recommendations.
5 THE PINION December 16, 2010
Whatcha listening to? Students tell us what’s on their mp3 players Particular songs:
*Push comes to shove- Kawao Chelsea Green (10) *Hot- Avril Lavigne Asami Kobayashi (10) *Your Call- Secondhand Serenade Queenie Li (10) *Drowning Lessons- My Chemical Romance Margeline Motero (10) *Baby, I Am So Sorry- Taeyang *Teenage Dream- Kate Perry Jia Min Huang (11) *Gee- Girls Generation Young Chun Li (11)
Genres:
Ken Takemura (12): Rap, Hip-Hop, rnb Jordan Li (12): Rock and Roll 70’s until now Elaine Aquino (12): k-pop, rnb, and a little alternative. Jeff Fernandez (12): 90’s until now. Yingkit Chui (12): Rap, Hip-Hop, rnb
Mitsui shares filmmaking experience by Jasmine Cho and John Clayton Chuck Mitsui, director and screenwriter of “One Kine Day,” described his film and the film making process to more than 200 students and staff. Mitsui visited McKinley High School as part of the Hawaii International Film Festival’s Guest Filmmakers in the Schools’ Program sponsored by Ke Ola Hou. Shot in two weeks on the Windward side of Oahu on a low budget, the film employed both experienced and amateur actors. The main character is Ralsto, a skateboarder played by Ryan Greer. Greer is a Kamehameha Schools’ graduate studying Biology in Oregon. In the course of a single day, Ralsto has everything going wrong for him. He learns that his girlfriend is pregnant, he loses his job, and is forced to get his act together before the final credits roll. The actors speak in Pidgin throughout the movie. Article Continued at myhsj.org/ pinion
Students make a difference for those in need
by Stacia Mahi and Amanda Muramoto
“We are here to gather the school to make a difference in people’s lives and give them hope and happiness,” April Jingco(10) said. She was in charge of the Crane Making event that took place in McKinley’s high school cafeteria. Make A Difference Day is a day for people from all walks of life to get together and help those in need. Whether it be through food drives or many other small projects, Make A Difference Day provides people with the opportunity to better their community and the lives of those around them. Along with the crane-making event, MHS also had events to help those in need. There was the holiday canned food drive, Goodwill Clothing Drive, and Tigers ‘R’ Us, collecting items for Shriner’s Hospital. By donating, classes could earn points. Go to myhsj.org/pinion to see more photographs of students and staff making a difference.
Sophomores Emangielyn Paredes and April Jingco show their school spirit by attending the crane folding session for Make A Difference Day.
Verlyn Cabanting (9) shows that you don’t need to be a pro at folding crane to bring smiles to the faces of the less fortunate.
6 THE PINION December 16, 2010
Put your dancing shoes on!
by Stacia Mahi
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n activity that started this year and has gotten more than a 100 students’ attention is the new dance club. Club Adviser Edward Sariol came from Kona and taught choreography at Kealakehe High before moving to Oahu. Sariol dances hip-hop but has dabbled in break dancing, jazz, and ballet. He works in the Business Office at McKinley High School. In addition, he teaches beginning hip-hop classes at Honolulu Dance Studio.“I love teaching beginners," said Sariol. When Savannah Dias (12), club president, listed dance as her senior project, it was sggested that she start a club. From Student Activities Coordinator April Nakamura she found that Sariol had pre-
viously talked about a dance club. When asked by the students if he could advise the club, he accepted their proposition, thus creating MHS first dance club. The club is split between two levels. Junior Varsity and Varsity. “The Varsity students have a higher skill level, regardless of age, and act as leaders. They help to teach and choreograph the Junior Varsity members. The Varsity kids split up and take Junior Varsity kids. In their own groups, they come up with dances and present it to the club towards the end of the meeting. “ Since I joined the Dance Club, I learned how to not be shy,” said Darilyn Oberes (10). She was taught by her father how to dance. Not only does this after school club teach you how to dance to music, it teaches teamwork, pride, “give[s] them good memories, and boost[s] their self-esteem and confi-
dence,” Sariol said. The club could also help students who would want to pursue dance as a career. “Right now we are working to get a scholarship for the club so we can help the students out if they ever needed support,” Sariol spoke about how the dance club could benefit the kids in the future, “And if they wanted dance as a career, at least they’d have a foundation.” Edward plans to showcase the club through assemblies, foot ball games, and at pep rallies. Their first performance was at F-Building, where the kids danced to Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love Again. Aprilyn Pagaduan (10), current member of the dance club, said, “I want to do more performances because people in the school said they liked it.” Dance can also serve as a “sort of outlet, to let your frustration go” said Dias.
OPINION POLL
Are you expecting to spend less on Christmas shopping than you did last year?
Vote at myhsj.org/pinion
Previous Opinion Poll Results: Do you support President Obama’s belief that the U.S. should have a longer school year? Yes- 72% No- 28%
Pinion Staff
Adviser: Cynthia Reves, Editor: Oliver Lam Reporters: Peiru Lu, Stacia Mahi, Amanda Muramoto
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
Savannah Dias (12) decided to start a dance club after she listed dance as her Senior Project Photo by Josh Almario. Go to myhsj.org/pinion to see a video and more pictures of the group dancing.