Issue 2 by Trojan Times

Star athlete Athlete of the quarter, quarterback Junior Dillon Gabriel leads the football team with determination and humility.

Tommy Lee

Class of ‘91 alumnus Tom Lee carries on the centuries old legacy of “kurama ningyo,” cart puppetry.

Waena’s Little garden Started in 2015 by MHS alumni, Waena Elementary’s garden project has taken root. Growing vegetables like lettuce, beets, tomatoes and cucumbers, the students learn and gain hands on experiences tending to a garden and harvesting its rewards.

TAZ STEVENSON Seven years later, all star athlete alumnus Taz Stevenson returns to Mililani High School. Heading his own training program, Gifted N Fitted, Stevenson lends his experience and knowledge to the varsity and junior varsity baseball teams, getting them physically and mentally fit for the season.

MIlilani High school | ISSUE 2 | o cto ber 5 , 2 017

Trojans Triumph in Hawaiimoji Contest BY Chloe fong

2019fongc@milianihs.k12.hi.us

unded by the Bank of Hawaii, the Hawaiimoji app was released, allowing emojis to spread the aloha. High schools were given the challenge to compete against another schools to send the most stickers of their local logo and win $2,000 for their school’s athletics program. From Sept. 1 to Sept. 6, the Trojan family was able to triumph during the first round, defeating Farrington High School, the Home of the Governors. As a result, MHS won the $2,000 and advanced to the Hawaiimoji Blitz Championship Playoffs to compete against other schools who won round one. The playoffs, from Oct. 15 to Oct. 27, are for a chance to win an additional $10,000. “Bank of Hawaii reached out to the OIA and our league office approved it and sent it to all school’s Athletic Directors,” said Athletic Director Glenn Nitta, “I knew we have a strong support group in school and in the community. That’s why we won.” Each High School was instructed that, ‘the team with the most usage of their high school logo sent via text message will win,’ leaving the results completely in the hands of the school and community. “My initial goal was to I think spread the word to encourage participation, so we could win. It’s always fun to have competitive (but) positive competition, and so a local group, Bank of Hawaii, getting

the approval to do something like this—getting the approval to have local emojis is kind of fun and exciting. To see your logo as an icon that can be used in texting, I think the whole concept is really cool and clever,” said Student Activities Coordinator Janet Ward-Riehle. The Trojans had a rough beginning, with the Governors leading by over double MHS’s amount. “Initially, because it was over a holiday weekend I don’t think we had a good start— which probably put Farrington in a comfortable zone, thinking that like they have this under their control. But as soon as we jumped on the train, we kinda went full speed ahead,” said Ward-Riehle. The unexpected turnaround was a shock to many. “The day before, I saw that we were behind and then I was trying my hardest to get everybody to start texting, I was texting like 2,000 a day and then I was just going and everybody else, my friends were texting. I wanted, I saw that it reloaded and we were at like 42,000 and they were only at 22,000. I was so excited,” added Spirit and Athletics Manager Senior Destiny Perreira. Halfway through the week, MHS starting slowly gaining on the Governors to take the lead. “I know that Farrington is a really spirited school, and they’re one of the schools that I look up to for their spirit, and so I was like

Erisa Castillo | Mililani Times The Bank of Hawaii creates the Hawaiimoij app so locally inspired emoji will be used to celebrate the multi-cultural heritage and what makes Hawaii so special.

this isn’t gonna be easy. I felt like it was gonna be tough and that we were gonna have a hard time coming through, but we pulled through,” said Perreira. The final results were Mililani Trojans: 93,418 and Farrington Governors: 60,936, allowing the Trojans to move on to the playoffs. “I felt so prideful for being a Trojan. I was like, ‘We are the Trojans!’” said Perreira. “I was just really proud of the students because they didn’t have to, there wasn’t like, we were forcing them to or anything. But they did it out of their own pride. They wanted to get the reward for our school, so they decided to participate and I was just really proud of them.”

This donation for the sports programs will not go unnoticed. “We will use it where needed; equipment, supplies or transportation for all teams,” said Nitta. “Everyone will benefit, no specific team.” Although MHS took home the win this time, there is still the playoff round to come. “I hope it’s just lighting a fire because now that we won that first round we will go onto playoffs. That’s honestly when the real challenge comes on,” said Ward-Riehle. In the next month, students and community members can expect to receive and send thousands of Trojan stickers for the Hawaiimoji Blitz Championship Playoffs.

FEATURE

| October 5, 2017

ITS Takes ACTION! To Mililani YMCA

Timothy Won | Mililani Times Participants partake in ice breaker activities by acting out stories they created together and practicing saying phrases with emotion. The program ACTION! will happen monthly at the YMCA. BY CHANELLE CAMERO

2021cameroc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

his year, the International Thespian Society (ITS) expanded their horizons, starting two new service projects to reach out into the community. “We’ve always been kind of just the theatre club but we wanted to extend our hands to kids who maybe don’t feel comfortable as actors or kids who don’t really like performing but still want to be apart of community service. So this year our whole goal is to just up our service hours and kind of put ourselves into the community more and make sure that everybody kind of knows what the International Thespian Society is and what we’re doing for the community,” said ITS President Senior Raena Guzman. Launched at the Mililani YMCA on Sept. 17, ACTION! targets children interested in acting in theatre. The name ACTION! represents giving kids

the chance to ‘start their own scene.’ It also symbolizes movement and their transition into the community. The students are the ones teaching, allowing them to take on leadership roles. “But I think the goal is to just reach more students in our community and to just give them the opportunity to learn acting basics and to start at a young age. You know, to get them involved and interested in performing arts,” said ITS advisor Carolyn Taira. Not only are the students taking on the role of teaching, they’re also the ones who plan out the events. Allowing them to develop leadership skills. “So we are having students basically do all the organization for it. They contact the venue and people, the directors there, and through that we get volunteers to help us,” said Taira. The launch of ACTION! was coordinated by Guzman, an actress

herself in Central Theatre Arts Academy (CTAA), with the aim to bring something new to the community. The program is in collaboration with Select Choir and will be held once a month, open to children ages eight and up. “So when I came to (the YMCA), I’ve always been kind of like asking them about the idea of musical theater because I started theater as a freshman and looking around, there wasn’t (theater programs) in Mililani. There’s not really that many opportunities for theater except like CTAA,” said Guzman. Guzman organized the event with the YMCA who welcomed the idea with open arms. “So they were really excited about having the students become participants in the community service as well as kind of opening their hands to just kind of the YMCA specifically. They were very open to starting up this kind of project that they don’t offer at there,” said Guzman. With these service projects, they hope to achieve goals that also go beyond themselves. “I really just hope that people know who we are cause it’s kind of been a while since we’ve existed but we’ve always kinda been under the radar so we really just want to get our name out there and make sure people learn a little bit about theater,” said Guzman. The members of ITS introduced the basics of acting through games to make it more appealing to the children. “It is a good idea because, like I said earlier, it helps people get to know each other. And then we also had fun ‘cause we found a way to help each other through acting and learned about emotions and stuff, and then we did that through games so it made it fun for everybody,” said participant Chloe Zentkovich. ACTION! is interactive with children of various age groups. It gave them the chance to create fun memories. “The first part when we went in a circle and then we each had to say one word and then we turned

both of the stories into scenes that each group had to act out. I was in the part where we had to make it where the dog ran away and the cow waved goodbye,” said Zentkovich. The participants opened up to each other after the warm ups that encouraged them to engage with one another. It helped them become more comfortable when doing acting warm ups with people they had just met. “And then it helps other people to get to know each other. Like several of us, we didn’t know each other and then we got to know each other when we were first starting off,” said Zentkovich. The second service project started this year is called Storybook Theater, where participants read children’s books and bring them to life by acting out the characters and putting on a performance for kids. “Because everyone grows up here in Mililani, centralized around the library—I remember going to the library when I was in kindergarten and listening to storytimes there—so it’s really important just to get back to your roots and make sure that you’re always spreading love. Even if it’s not love for theater, just spreading love in general,” said Guzman. ACTION! gets ITS members involved while also allowing them to pursue their passion. “I think the International Thespian Society is really unique because we try to give back to the community by spreading theater so it’s kind of like killing two birds with one stone in a way because you’re getting that community service out there while also doing something you love,” said Guzman. The next ACTION! event takes place at the Mililani YMCA on Oct. 15. The acting portion runs from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by the chorus from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Storybook Theatre will be on Oct. 18 at the Mililani Public Library from 1:30 p.m.to 2:30 p.m.

Music Festival Unites Mililani Complex By Megan Schen d el |

2019schendelm@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

preading their shared love of music, over 450 students from around the Mililani district performed in the second annual Mililani Complex Band and Orchestra Festival on Sept. 13 in the MHS gymnasium. Led by band and orchestra instructors Bryan Hirata, Curtis Hiyane, Derek Kaapana, Grayson Mento, Lorrie Ujimori and Lauren Fagaragan, the MHS, Mililani Middle School (MMS) and Mililani Ike Elementary School music programs teamed up to put on the concert. The directors led the band and orchestra in separate pieces before having them join together to perform one collective piece. “I was amazed by how everyone came together,” said audience member and parent Ashley Yoshida, “Seeing all the different students and instruments come together in the end was just amazing to hear.” The band, comprised of MHS and MMS students, opened the concert with a set of three songs including Michael Sweeney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Following their performance, the orchestra, comprised of students from all three schools, came forward and played three songs including “Dragonhunter” by Richard Meyer. To close off the concert, the band and orchestra merged together to play one last song—“Crash and Roar” by Larry Clark. The concert gave the students a unique opportunity to play together as one large group. “At other concerts we have different smaller groups playing and they all have their own little sets and we might have one mass piece. Everything we played at the concert was one mass piece all together, from different ensembles in our own school to different ensembles in the entire community,” said Senior Giscelle Rosario. “It was a really neat experience because we had a really powerful sound having so many students playing.”

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times The music festival gave MHS students a chance to meet and bond with the younger generation of musicians from Mililani Waena Elementary School and Mililani Middle School. Their love for music brought One of the focuses of this year’s together students from across the concert was not just on the music itself Mililani community as they shared but also on speaking to and getting to their passion together. “This concert know each other. “The goal is to get all presents a deeper sense of unity,” said the instrumental students together in Rosario. “It showed our love of music one place and to share music. One of as a community the other things and as a whole.” is to get them The concert “It was a really neat engaged with allowed for a each other,” experience because said Higuchiwide range of students, with Delos Santos. we had a really different ages “This year we powerful sound and skill levels tried to focus a to play together little more on having so many and learn from socialization and students playing.” one another. our leadership.” “(I enjoy) just Prior to the seeing all the ages of all the kids that concert, members of the MHS are playing in band and orchestra Marching Band helped to lead playing here together and creating energizers and quick games that something together for the families allowed the students to interact. and for themselves,” said the event The concert also gave the older coordinator Kristi Higuchi-Delos students a time for reflection and the Santos. opportunity to encourage the younger

generation to continue in the music program. “For our students it gives them the chance to share where they are right now in their musical journey with the younger students. It also gives the younger students a chance to look up to where they can be in the future,” said Higuchi-Delos Santos. The objective is for the younger students to look up to the older students and realize that they were once beginners too. “I just hope that they carry on that love of music when they get to high school because I have, and I would love to see our music program flourish,” said Rosario. As many students’ journeys through the music program come to an end, the plan is to get the younger students involved early on through the Mililani Band and Orchestra Complex Festival so that more students will continue to follow in their footsteps and encourage the next generation.

Mililani’s on taketherail

do you support the construction of the rail?

53% Yes

Even though the Hawaii rail system is currently still being built, with a projected goal of finishing its first phase in 2020, Mililani residents still have concerns admist new taxes being implemented and the extension of the increased general excise tax to 2030.

47% No

Why don’t you support the rail?

*Based on survey of 130 Mililani residents and students.

26%

20%

Why do you support the rail? Alleviating Traffic Convenience Adding to Variety of Public Transportation Faster Commute Creation of Jobs

10%

27%

For those who responded “No”...

54%

current mode of transportation: 4%

86%

For those who responded “Yes”...

how much are you willing to pay for the rail? 88%

10% 12%

current mode of transportation:

$1.00 - $5.00

Increased Taxes Inconvenient/Disruptive Construction Project Timeline Overextended Disrupts Natural Landscape Not Enough Stops

33%

$6.00 - $10.00

93%

how much are you willing to pay for the rail? $1.00 - $5.00

$6.00 - $10.00

98%

12% *Percentages were rounded nearest whole number

NEWS

| Octo be r 5, 2 0 1 7

New, Improved Park at Mililani Waena

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times Vandalism on the tunnel surrounding the public walkway has also been a big concern, with partipants climbing the light posts to graffiti the top—posing potential safety concerns. BY maiya ezawa | 2018ezawam@MILIANIHS.K12.HI.US

ithin the Mililani community, the Mililani Waena Park has been a growing safety concern for students of the elementary school and residents in the neighborhood. With the park becoming a hotspot for drug use, drug dealing, prostitution, fights, vandalism and homelessness, MHS Principal Fred Murphy and Mililani Town Association (MTA) General Manager David O’Neal created a task force in June 2017 to address these problems. As such, the Vice Principal of Mililani Waena Elementary School Sean Takashima, in addition to members of the neighborhood board, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), the MTA and Hawaii State Senators Michelle Kidani and Beth Fukumoto. “Now the good news is that I think the task force is really effective. It was started by (Murphy) at the high school. We have the right people on there, the state legislature, we got the Vice President of the Senate Michelle Kidani, we got former politicians

something. And they’ll get there really over there, we have the principal and high, and then they’ll do damage,” said the vice principal of Waena school, Poirier. they’re involved in this thing,” said As a solution to these problems, the Neighborhood Board President task force has decided to implement Richard Poirier. motion sensors and cameras to The biggest problem that the task discourage illicit behavior. “There’s force is currently tackling is the lack going to be lights, motion sensors, of protocol for trespassers. “That park and cameras. Cameras are the most is open and closes from 10 p.m. and 5 important thing because you have a.m., and during that time the park is to catch the closed, no one kid graffiting is supposed to “We want to make sure and these be there. So the problem Mililani Waena Park is new cameras now, from a is the kind of a clean, safe park for hundred yards enforcement away they can we got there,” the community.” said Poirier. “It zoom in,” said doesn’t make a Poirier. difference what they’re doing. They’re In addition to internal security not supposed to be there.” options, there is also an increased Drug users often take advantage amount of external security in the of this lack of enforcement, and form of police presence, where contribute to subsequent vandalism Murphy has allocated up to $16,000 for special duty presence. “The most and reckless behavior. “Just to give immediate need is to increase police an example, the tennis courts, (drug presence in the park. That will produce addicts) like to rip up the nets or

the quickest results. But, we also need to do things like try to increase community use of the park,” said Fukumoto. “We want to make sure Mililani Waena Park is a clean, safe park for the community.” In terms of logistics, the task force operates through community brainstorming and collaboration between multiple platforms to acquire funding and manpower for the park. “My role was to share the perspective of Mililani Waena regarding the safety of its school community from illegal park activities. I also participated in the brainstorming of major issues related to the park,” said Takashima. In the coming months, the task force will continue to meet with local politicians, community members, and concerned residents to create a safer, more welcoming environment at the Waena Park. In the future, they will also work together with nearby homeowners to develop a type of digital neighborhood watch.

Past, Future Join In “Shank’s Mare” BY Caitlin Barbour

2019barbourc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

Timothy Won | Mililani Times

ing around on carts with swords and eveloped over hundreds of everything and (Nishikawa) was immeyears, Japanese puppetry diately like, ‘Yeah, try it. Go ahead.’” has influenced culture for Nishikawa became a mentor to generations. Behind each move, each Tom Lee, forming a close working reperformance, are years of practice lationship that has lasted over a decade and tradition that has been diligently later. “It’s so hard what (Nishikawa) refined into the captivating and precise does. But I think that’s what’s amazing performances seen today. Kuruma about him—he’s also ningyo, meaning willing to share it. The cart puppetry, is “what’s next in last thing he said was, a distinct style this modern day. ‘I have my tradition characterized by and that tradition is one puppeteer Where can we take like a square I cannot controlling the it next?” go out of because I arms, legs, and have to preserve this head of the tradition.’ But he said to me, ‘But you puppet while rolling around on a have the chance as a western artist to small cart. This form traces back 160 do something different, to take what years ago to Hachioji, Japan and has I give you and to create your own been passed down to fifth generation path,’” said Tom Lee. “That was super Master Puppeteer Koryu Nishikawa generous for him to say that. Not like, V. MHS alumnus and puppet artist ‘You got to do it this way, this way Tom Lee, in collaborative project with only,’ but really, ‘You want to learn, I Nishikawa, created “Shank’s Mare,” will give you what I can and you can a story that combines the traditional take it the next step.’” Japanese puppetry style practiced by After wishing to collaborate with Nishikawa with the more western style Nishikawa for a long time, Tom Lee of Tom Lee. After shows in Japan and conceived “Shank’s Mare,” a dual story the continental U.S., “Shank’s Mare” following a medieval astronomer and a toured throughout Hawaii, premiering swordsman turned bandit as they both on Oahu on Oct. 1. near the end of their lives. “I wanted “My goal with (“Shank’s Mare”) to find a way that we could make a was to show the power and beauty of show together but also knowing that the kuruma ningyo tradition, and also we lived in two different countries. So to show the possibilities for the future we had to figure out a way to make of that tradition. It was to both honor the show together through email and the tradition and ask what’s next in sending each other ideas, and then this modern day. Where can we take when we got together we would have it next? So it’s really those two things, to rehearse it together. We had to the past and future together,” said Tom kinda make the building blocks before Lee. that and that’s how we came up with In 2005, the National Endowthis idea of two separate stories that we ment for the Arts awarded Tom Lee would try to link together,” said Tom a grant to travel to Japan and study Lee. traditional puppetry and theatre. The western style, that can be seen While researching the well known in “Shank’s Mare” and that is used by and influential bunraku theatre, in Tom Lee, is a modern twist on the which 3 people control one puppet, old traditions. “I would just say that Tom Lee first heard of Nishikawa and we use (the puppets) in the kuruma the work he was doing. “I just went ningyo style with the cart. But someto Hachioji to meet (Nishikawa) and times other puppeteers will add on that’s when I described today, coming and all of a sudden we’re using it in the into Koryu-san’s theatre and he was three person style and we’ll leave the doing a workshop with a room full of cart and the puppet will begin to fly or kids,” said Tom Lee, “Everybody was move around the space in a different like 6, 7 years old. Everybody just roll-

Timothy Won | Mililani Times Originally a stage actor, Tom Lee learned to shift his focus, now putting all the emotion he is trying to convey into the actions of a puppet. way. Also (the puppets) are just built one being at the Mililani Hongwanji differently, they are mostly wood but on Sept. 17. For many who attended they’re built with a little bit more modthese workshops it was the first time ern techniques. And the other thing they had ever experienced this type I would say is that in my puppetry of performance and had the opporshows I also use a lot of video technoltunity to learn the mechanics that go ogy, so that’s another element of the into each movement and some of the show which is really important to help history behind the style. “When I saw tell the story,” said Tom Lee. the master, how he had to make every By continuing move, the head—he to develop this “It was like you was tied to the head style, Tom Lee has of the woman—and were in another the hands and the mostarted to carry on the knowledge tion, it was very zen. world.” imparted on him It was like you were by Nishikawa in an innovative way for in another world because you’re just the modern age. “Koryu Nishikawa feeling how perfect he was doing it and V may be the last of the people that how serious. Even the audience was know this art and so Tom is actually hypnotized,” said Mililani Hongwanji carrying on something that is not even President Rene Mansho. “I think it’s part of his own culture but because because Nishikawa-sensei, this art, this he became really interested it’s really a kuruma ningyo, just draws you in. You special thing,” said Tom Lee’s mother just become a part of it.” Marilyn Lee. Tom Lee and Nishikawa continue In preparation for the Hawaii tour to further their craft, passing on their of “Shank’s Mare,” Tom Lee and Nitraditions to the next generation while shikawa visited public libraries around simultaneously reinventing them for the state, offering free workshops to the modern age and beyond. To learn expose people to Japanese puppetry— more, go to www.tomleeprojects.com.

NEWS

| Octo be r 5, 2 0 1 7

MHS Tardy System Undergoes Changes

Starting second quarter a new tardy system will be put in place. Currently, tardies are monitered through Infinite Campus. by Kylie Jones |

2 0 19 Jo n es k@ mi li lan i h s.k12 .h i.u s

he tardy system that Mililani High School has used for the past 3 years is gone. Staff is now faced with having to find a new program while still managing to keep track of chronically tardy students. “It’s way bigger than just giving tickets out, it’s what it means for those kids that can’t get here on a regular basis and what it could mean for their future,” said Vice Principal Komarey Moss. The current tardy system replacement should not affect students, but this does mean that teachers are responsible for keeping track of tardiness records. “The tracking is only as good as the input. So if the teacher’s not putting in the tardies, then we cannot track it because it doesn’t exist,” said Moss. The old routine was straightforward, and that will not be changing with the new system. “Electronic scanners scanned student I.D’s prior to attending class if students were tardy. The system would

track the data and assign students to sales system is the same program that is after school detention (or) Saturday used to manage fees during Jumpstart, detention,” said Vice Principal Kevin and by using the pre-existing database, Matsuba. What will be changing is the it can be linked to a related program company behind the operation. that the school is looking into. This The program that previously ran system is the same sort of rewards the system was hosted by a third party, program used in restaurants and Gebco. For the past few years, the businesses. “The more points you get, school has had issues contacting service you get a reward, but in this case, it’s representatives not a reward it’s a and getting consequence” said “The more points you yearly updates. Moss. get, you get a reward, “The issue is Right now, still the issue none of the but in this case, it’s at hand, that electronic not a reward it’s a it’s like you pay monitoring for a service, systems are consequence.” you don’t get running. the service, so you gotta decide, do we However this does not mean that the keep you because you’re a nice person, staff has given up of keeping track of or do we just move on with another attendance. “Even though we don’t product?” said Moss. have a scanner to do the job, we As a replacement, staff are turning can still do the job, it just has to be to the resources that they already have. manual,” said Moss. Nothing about “I think we are able to do the same how attendance is treated has changed. things (as before) using our point of Six tardies still mean a detention, and sales system,” said Moss. The point of six more still mean Saturday detention.

To make sure they are still monitored, staff has been giving students paper slips or talking to them. “Programs and interventions are in place to support students that have attendance concerns,” said Matsuba. Some people, though, seem to prefer the temporary system over the electronic one. “It used to take away more class time,” said attendance clerk Kris Tanuvasa. “Sometimes (students) would go to class, and the teachers would send them back here, they would have to get the tardy pass, and then go back to class again,” said Tanuvasa. Managing tardies is important for making sure that students get a good education. “If they can’t make it to school on time, then the rest of the day is shot. So we use that first period as an indicator of getting them to school,” said Moss. The importance of attendance was emphasized when the data was put into numbers. Total attendance for the year was 95.82%, and 95.81% the year before. Those percentages average out to about 107 absent students. “It’s all tied into being present in school, you’re not present, how are you going to gain anything from what we have?” said Moss. Keeping kids in school is also highly stressed as missing classes other than period one can also affect student’s education. “Because it’s still important, you can’t just miss those (other) classes,” said Moss. Principals or counselors are also involved when students are frequently tardy or absent and their attendance for other classes are monitored. “There (are) still kind of a lot of tardies for other periods and we go ahead and still assign (detentions) for the other periods,” said Moss. There is no set date for when the revised system will go into place, as the project is still early in development. “We’re gonna take out time to get something established so we’re ready to go for quarter two,” said Moss.

SPREAD IDEAS

NOT GERMS

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times

FEATURE | October 5, 2017

Gifted N Fitted Training with Taz Stevenson By Taylor Ann O no

2 0 1 8o n ot@ mi li lan i h s.k 1 2 .h i.u s

“I want to change the culture of this program. To do that, I have to set a foundation and raising our standards to a high level of discipline, of paying attention to detail, hard work, pushing these kids past their limit.”

ost high school athletes hope to continue their sports career after graduating, and for some like MHS alumnus Taz Stevenson, those hopes come true. Stevenson graduated in 2010, playing wide receiver, running back and safety for the football team. He participated in the 2010 Polynesian Bowl, and was listed as the No. 47 safety recruit in the nation. He also earned first-team all-state honors as an all-purpose player from The Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Honolulu Advertiser. “It got me to where I needed to go, which was to get through college. It set up opportunities for me moving forward, so high school athletics was a big thing for me, also academically, and me just growing and maturing as an individual,” said Stevenson. As of June this year, Stevenson has started his own training program known as Gifted N Fitted, which focuses on physically and mentally training the body in order to help people become strong leaders and athletes. He is a personal coach and trains nonathletes as well. Along with his business, Stevenson is training the MHS JV and Varsity Boys Baseball team. His goal is to expose the community to his strategies of working out and overcoming challenges. “I want to change the culture of this program. But in order to do

that, I have to set a foundation and raising our standards to a high level of discipline, of paying attention to detail, hard work, pushing these kids past their limit. I want everybody to have the opportunity to experience being pushed past their potential. I’m big on injury prevention, so I always want guys to get the right type of training so they can last long. I’m all about longevity, being able to play as hard as you can, for a long period of time,” said Stevenson. This different way of training with Stevenson has been a new experience for the baseball team. “He’s all about having focus, being there for everyone and he has this high energy. He wants us to win and he pushes us to do our best every practice,” said second base Sophomore John Richard “JR” Suehisa. “I feel blessed and lucky because not too many people get (this) experience.” Assistant coach and alumnus Kacey Miyasato added, “When Taz started coaching, they started to realize, ‘We’re going to have to put in this work because everyone has to put in this work.’ The first two practices they were all, ‘Why are we doing this?’ Now, they’re coming with the attitude of, ‘This is what we really need,’ and they’re willing to do anything we ask of them now.” After high school, Stevenson played football at the University of Washing-

ton, then transferred to the University of Hawaii. Playing at multiple colleges has given Stevenson insight on things that other athletes don’t get to see. “There’s a lot of good athletes that come out of your sport in 10 years, and for him to make the all-decade team was pretty crazy. He didn’t even need to physically work with the kids, he could just talk to them about his journey and what it took, the sacrifice, being accountable for himself and

all that stuff, that would help them hundreds and hundreds of times,” Miyasato said. This insight that Stevenson passed down to the baseball team has changed them entirely. “I see a lot, each day they’re progressing, that’s the biggest thing. When I first came, it was a little slow, they were trying to get adjusted to me and my philosophy. But each time I come out here, I can feel the energy getting better and better

Camille Nevarez-Hernandez | Mililani Times I feel these kids have a bright future ahead of them. I couldn’t be more proud that they’re making the decision to get better,” said Stevenson. Suehisa added, “I will never give up, like the work is hard at our practices but he encourages us to push, so when we’re down in the last inning and we go extra innings, we got to push through our fatigue and finish.” Along with exercising techniques, everyone has learned something new

about themselves. “He taught us words like ‘accountability,’ and it’s important for us to be there for our brothers, like our teammates, so when one is down, we got to push them,” said Suehisa. “I’ll remember his energy. The baseball team, they’re mostly shy, and then just him coming, it opens us up more.” Miyasato added, “This has helped me get retouched with being a Trojan and that’s something that you take for granted when you’re in high school.

I’m proud to be a Trojan and you can’t just be proud by being proud, there’s got to be a reason. Putting in the work, sacrificing something greater than yourself is something to be proud of.” Stevenson’s Trojan pride and wanting to give back to the community was a driving force to return to MHS. “I was eager to train, eager to work with a group of kids and this is one of the first groups besides my individual class that I have. This is one of the first

teams that had an interest in me training, so I was all over it,” said Stevenson. “It almost feels like I never left. I have this sense of pride and passion for our school, so it feels good to come back and be able to share my experiences moving on through college and training. Being able to share that with our young student athletes here, that’s a big thing. I’m blessed for the opportunity to be able to do so.”

ATHLETE OF THE QUARTER

DILLON GABRIEL V

arsity quarterback Junior Dillon Gabriel, has proven himself time and time again on and off the field. Guiding the varsity team to a Division One Championship last year and maintaining a streak of wins this season, it is no secret to his teammates and coaches that Gabriel is a star athlete. However, it is his humility, drive, and the camaraderie he has with his team that sets him apart from the rest, earning him the title of Athlete of the Quarter. “I think he’s great because he’s a great teammate. He’s a great leader by example. He’s learning to become more vocal. He plays the most high profile position, which is the quarterback position, and he is arguably one of the hardest workers on the team,” said head coach Rod York. Gabriel attributes his successes to his team and the support they provide him. “Football is a team sport; I just want to be the best teammate I can be. If I can make people smile everyday, then I did my job. As well as stick to the reads. But without my team I’m nothing,” said Gabriel, “They push me everyday. They are the ones I see everyday. Probably even more than my blood brothers. They truly are my second brothers. I can’t thank them enough for the fun times and even the bad times.” While Gabriel credits the team with his success, the work he puts in and the difficulty of his position is not lost on his teammates. “I remember driving past his house after practice to drop off one of my friends at home and I noticed his garage was

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times

open, I looked closely and I see him lifting weights in his garage right after we had a long day of running at practice,” said varsity center Senior Noah Williams. “Dillon has to perfectly read the defense in order to make the right passes and the right runs because one wrong read from him can cause a fumble or an interception.” Gabriel’s teammates appreciate the person he is off the field as well. “He cares about people and makes sure they’re good. He’s a student athlete that makes sure his grades are good. He always cares about his O-linemen, he buys us socks and gloves and takes us out for dinner sometimes just to show his appreciation towards us,” said Williams. York, having worked with Gabriel for the past four years, since Since coming into the Mill Vill Trojans program as an eigth grader -- he has seen Gabriel grow as a player and a person. “Dillon was always mature but it’s like he’s more mature. He’s always been a great kid, very coachable. He works very hard so he’s only improved,” he said. York has also observed Gabriel’s humility in the face of his high school success. “Football in Hawaii gets a lot of publicity and a lot of media, especially with social media and for him, he’s still humble. He’s a down to earth guy. It’s been easy for me as a coach to coach him because he’s just great kid,” said York. “Even though he has it, he’s doing well, he’s leading his team, he’s still humble, he still works hard. He’s still the average Joe out there. He’s a great example for other people and how to be humble even though he’s star status now.”

SPORTS DOESNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T JUST BUILD CHARACTER

IT REVEALS IT Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times

SPORTS

| O cto be r 5, 2 0 1 7

Sophomores Win Powder Puff Game

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times During the juniors and freshman game, Junior Elizabeth Sesepasara-Jennings helped the team win over the freshman with a score of 6-0. In the final game, sophomores won, 22-6. by Jenna Nakanishi

2019nakanishij@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

n an unexpected turn of events, this year’s annual Powder Puff game, held on Sept. 23, ended with the Class of 2020 emerging as champions. “It was just amazing, and it was so full of excitement, everyone was so hyped. It’s great, because (we) won championships, which has never happened in a long time, or maybe at all,” said Sophomore Amber Gilbert. Gilbert scored a total of three touchdowns, out of a total of five touchdowns made by the sophomore team that night. Powder Puff consists of three games: Freshmen vs Juniors, Sophomores vs Seniors, and a match between the winners from these two games that determines the overall champion. Kickoff for the first game was at 5:15 p.m., and ended with the victory of the juniors with a final score of 6-0. The next game between the sophomores and seniors ultimately ended with a score of seniors 0 to sophomores 14. The championship game between the juniors and the

sophomores was a hard fought battle for both sides, with both teams putting in their best efforts and pushing their limits. “Everybody (worked) hard, and everybody had a lot of passion when they were playing,” said Gilbert. The game ended with a final score of juniors 6 to sophomores 22. Involving themselves with Powder Puff allowed the girls to not only strengthen bonds with peers, but also form new ones. “At first we don’t know each other very well, and then we learned that we have similarities in positions, and then we have similarities in our personal lives as well. And we just all have fun on the field, and we talk to each other and motivate each other to do good,” said Powder Puff Chairperson Senior Kailey Shook-Rogers. The friendships being made even extend past just the people you play with. Coach Senior Noah Williams said, “I felt we got closer as not just a team but as a family. I noticed girls taking other girls home after practices because I know they bonded more during practicing. I felt the girl’s got to know me more better not as a coach but as a friend.” These bonds helped the girls work

together as a team while playing. “Just playing with everybody and winning after just playing two years with them—we won with teamwork and we wouldn’t be able to do this without the whole team,” said Gilbert. The girls aren’t the only people who find the experience of Powder Puff one that they can benefit from. Williams found the switch from player to coach challenging at first, however, it became an opportunity that he learned a lot from. “This experience helped me on the field by helping our coach. By listening to him—knowing the reason why he yells at us because we don’t pay attention—just like Powder Puff, we learned to focus and understand better so that our practices are good,” said Williams, “I would say the girls taught me more than I taught them.” It becomes apparent that switching from player to coach invokes a variety of reactions from the football players involved. “I would definitely recommend other football players to coach because it will teach them just like it taught me,” said Williams. The feelings of coaching are ones that Williams will take into account as he continues to play football.

Powder Puff has proven to be a success in more ways than one this year, ranging from the experience the students involved have garnered to the audience turnout at the game. This success can be attributed to the extensive preparation that goes into it beforehand. Advisor Jamie Ludwig and Shook-Rogers start meeting and planning at the end of the last school year. “You have to make your shirts, the tickets, all the posters, everything to promote powderpuff. And then you have to (order) the steak, you have to order the t-shirts, you have to do signups,” said Shook-Rogers. However, the funds raised by the game make it all worthwhile. The money raised helps pay for graduation and offsets some of the costs of senior activities to help them be a bit more affordable for students. The lessons learned from this year alone is enough to encourage people to continue to participate in Powder Puff activities in the years to come. Gilbert fully intends to play again next year, as will many other sophomores, ensuring that next year’s game, in which the Class of 2020 plays to defend their title, will also be one to watch.

s s e c c u S is where opportunity &

SOPHOMORE Falanika Danielson

preparation meet

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times

NEWS

| Octo be r 5, 2 0 1 7

Photo courtesry: Denise Kochi

Clothing Boutique Pulls Up With Style By JAsmine Casana |

2021casanaj@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

n 2014, Special Education teacher Denise Kochi took a break from her teaching career to expand upon her business, and opened her own boutique inside a refurbished surf bus. “I started an online boutique in 2011 and I was teaching at the time so I kind of just did it on the side. It did well, it did alright,” said Kochi. “About maybe a few years after, I saw a special on Good Morning America and they were doing a special on fashion trucks so I thought ‘hm, I wonder if I could do something like that here.’” Kochi’s boutique Uptown Closet has offered a wide variety of clothing in all sizes. “I carry clothes that range from little kids, I have a small selection of little girls clothes, but I also carry up to size 3x,” said Kochi. Because of her two young daughters, Kochi strived to use her boutique as a way to show the importance of self love to her children and her customers. “Our motto, my motto, Uptown Closet’s motto is beauty knows no boundaries,” said Kochi. “The reason I started was because of my two young daughters. I don’t want them growing

up feeling like because they’re not a size zero or whatever, that they’re not pretty or they’re not beautiful and also to get away from thinking that it’s only outside beauty that matters.” With her two daughters, Kochi has worked hard to fight the prejudice of today’s expectations in the media. “People need to get away from the stereotypical models that they see in the magazines and TVs and they need to realize that people will never look like that. They don’t realize that when they see that on a magazine and everything, they have hundreds of thousands of dollars to make them look like that and a lot of the time that’s not reality and what happens is that that message is passed on to the girls,” said Kochi. Along with spreading body positivity, Kochi often sponsored pageants that promote a good message. “I sponsored the Miss Hawaii Pageant for maybe three or four years. I still sponsor Miss Hawaii’s Outstanding Team and I also still sponsor—it’s called the Junior High/High School Collegiate America Pageant. They focus on bullying so I got involved with them

because they’re positive role models,” said Kochi, “It’s not necessarily only about the outside beauty, it is focusing on being a good person.” As Kochi’s boutique truck began to grow and became more well know within the community, she was featured on multiple occasions and received positive feedback from the viewers. “I’ve been on the news several times and then I was on the ‘Living Hawaii Special,’” said Kochi. “I’ve had people call me or send me emails and just say thank you. So they’ll call me and they’ll just say, ‘I saw you on TV and I heard your message. Thank you for that.’” After a four year break, Kochi has taken up teaching again and has placed her boutique truck in park for awhile as the school year progresses. “Now since I’ve started teaching again it hasn’t been out for a few months— before I went back to teaching it was about once or twice a week,” said Kochi. “I’m actually thinking of scaling way back and actually maybe going back to just online; not sure if I’m just going to do it online or continue with the mobile store.” When working with an online shop and her truck boutique, Kochi learned that there are noticeable advantages and disadvantages to both. “With the website, it doesn’t take up as much time because it’s a matter of keeping the inventory updated, loading up pictures for new merchandise, shipping

out orders,” said Kochi. “So actually being in the mobile, it’s kind of like you have the freedom because it’s like a food truck concept but with fashion. So you have the freedom of going whereever you want, you’re not stuck in a regular store setting.” After going through the process of starting a business on her own, Kochi found that it wasn’t as great as everyone had made it out to seem. “Owning your own business takes way more time than if you’re working for somebody else,” said Kochi. “It was constantly on my mind consisting the stresses of running the business but it started out to be a fun job and so really the only time it became not fun was when I was doing it full time.” When she first began, Kochi faced many struggles before being able to open the boutique. “In the beginning because it was the first of its kind here so getting the required permits and everything when I would call and the insurance when I would call nobody quite knew how to package. So it was kind of like calling around, trial and error,” said Kochi. “It was hard work but it was fun work. I would encourage anybody that wanted to do it to go for it. Be different.” Any updates on Denise Kochi’s boutique truck or online shop can be found on her Instagram and Facebook @uptowncloset or on her website, uptowncloset.com.

Hispanic Heritage Month important figures

food

Sonia Sotomayor

Flan Recipe

First Latina Supreme Court Justice in the United States Youngest District Court Judge when she was appointed in 1992 Attended both Princeton University and Yale Law School

Jaime Escalante

Flan is a Latin-American spongy pastry, typically served as a dessert, and generally topped with a caramel glaze. ingredients

Taught “unteachable” students at a Los Angeles high school in the 80s and 90s Many of his students passed the AP Calculus exam, leading to the testing company’s beliefs that the students had cheated. Escalante protested this claim— students retook the test months later and passed again

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk Cook 1h

Prep 20 m steps

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Rigoberta Menchú Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 An Advocate of Guatemalan and Indian rights Helped organize a resistance in Guatemala and organized The United Representation of the Guatemalan Opposition

Photo courtesy: www.oyez.org, www.remezcla.com, www.democracynow.org

Music and Dance Flamenco Originating in Southern Spain, the Flamenco is an emotional style, comprised of guitar, song, and dance “Casanets” are used in dance, which are handheld percussion instruments, along with kicking and clapping

Bomba A traditional Puerto Rican dance, the Bomba originated from sugar plantation workers in the 1800s Dancers perform to the rhythm of a drum, and sing along with comedic lyrics

Merengue Referred to as “the national dance of the Dominican Republic,” the Merengue first became popular in the mid 1800s With folklore influences and African roots, this dance gained popularity with the approval of Rafael Trujillo, the Dominican Dictator.

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt sugar until liquefied and golden in color. Carefully pour hot syrup into a 9 inch round glass baking dish, turning the dish to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Beat in condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla until smooth. Pour egg mixture into baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven 60 minutes. Let cool completely. To serve, carefully invert on serving plate with edges when completely cool. Recipe from allrecipes.com

The Hawaii Hispanic Heritage Festival

is the largest annual Hispanic celebration in Hawaii. The event will be on Oct. 15 at Ala Moana Beach Park from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Read more about the festival @ mililanitimes.com

NEWS | Octo be r 5, 2 0 1 7

Waena Elementary Grows New Way to Teach By Sakura Emmer | 2021emmers@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

Photo Courtesy: Bridget Hannu

Waena Elementary fifth grade teacher Bridget Hannu conducted a summer gardening class and continues to work with the students in the gardens.

ince the spring of 2015, Waena Elementary School has been promoting the idea of green thumbs and hands-on learning with vegetable gardens for select classes. This garden project was initiated, at the time, by MHS Juniors Caroline Kelley, Risa Askerooth and Vanessa Roybal. They partnered with the elementary school for their Y.E.S. Futures project and started with help from the Kokua Foundation’s Aina in Schools Program. “A lot of our kids do not have experiences where they get to map out a different type of plant or seed they want to grow, plant it in the ground, water it, measure it, take data on it and see it basically to its potential. It’s basically to give our kids that kind of experience,” said Waena Elementary Vice Principal Sean Takashima. Takashima had been interested in finding a way to introduce the importance of sustainability and

nutrition, resulting in his interest in the project. “We were looking for a way for real life applications of learning and we try to connect the curriculum to things you can actually experience outside of the four walls of the building. We call it sticky learning and it makes it a lot more memorable for students and relevant.” said Takashima. He helped to start the project, including building the garden beds and recruiting classes to participate. The gardens introduce various vegetables to the students, getting their interest in growing and eating everything from lettuce and tomatoes to taro and beets. “The favorite thing I planted was radishes. We had a teacher and she told us we could make decorations like a shape—I did a star and a heart so then when it sprouted up it looked like a star and a heart,” said fifth grader Mia Moss. Fifth grade teacher Bridget Hannu

and her class are involved with the class gardens as well, adding an interactive element to her lessons. “I started it last year with fourth grade. As we were studying Hawaiian history we thought it would be neat to grow some native plants, so we grew taro,” said Hannu. This occurrence sparked Hannu’s interest in the gardens and has led her to continue for her second year. Hannu has also expressed interest in continuing this project for the remainder of the year and expanding the project in the future. “I am hoping that one day the whole school can participate but we just don’t have the space, that’s the only thing. We would probably have to share garden beds, unless each grade level took one garden bed,” said Hannu. Preschool teacher Lola Ito, who also incorporated the gardens into her lessons, focuses on the basic needs of plants rather than scientific or mathematical skills like Hannu. “In preschool, the only thing you need to know is that they need sun and water, that’s it—that is all they learn,” said

Ito. She places more emphasis on the fun that comes with working in the soil and getting dirty. After participating in the project, Ito found that there are bigger implications to be taught to her students. Ito said, “I think that it is so important—especially on an island that (has) resources often coming from outside of the island—and that there are a lot of things we can do here in Hawaii. I think that it is important to look at our options and how we can grow things on our own, support local.” Moss has gained valuable lessons through the garden lessons that she can share with those around her. “We can teach other people—like our siblings—and we can teach them how they can do this, and what they need and how they grow,” said Moss. The involved classes at Waena Elementary School are hopeful that this project will continue into the future, eventually expanding to serve the whole school.

Kidani Initiative Aims to Help New Teachers by chloe kitsu

2020kitsuc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

n January 2018, a new pilot initiative called “Grow Our Own,” that gives substitute, emergency hire and part-time teachers opportunities to get their teaching certification, will be launched. “‘Grow Our Own’ basically means use our own talent of teachers or people who are in the teaching arena already and help them to get certified so they can be full fledged teachers. Hopefully, that will make a big difference for not just the teacher shortage, but for the students who I think need more role models,” said Senator and Hawaii State Senate Education Chairperson Michelle Kidani. The “Grow Our Own” initiative has already received a substantial amount of funding. “We have $400,000 dollars in the state’s budget that we were able to put in this last session and I believe the DOE is looking to put in another $200,000 dollars so we’re hoping that we can do maybe, three or four classes,” said Kidani. Data has shown that the shortage of teachers in Hawaii has been very significant. “I looked at the data over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed that in some areas, there has been a 40 to 45 percent turnover of teachers and these are in areas that are hard to fill. And yet in the same group we have a lot of returning substitute teachers and educational assistants,” said Kidani. Due to the drop in teachers, Kidani began to look into why eligible substitute, emergency hire and part time teachers were not getting certified to become regular classroom teachers. “Part of the reason why these substitute teachers with their BA degrees haven’t finished (is) because they needed to work, but the programs were just not available. And for those on the Central Oahu and Leeward Coast couldn’t, after school, drive out to Manoa with the traffic and there were no classes at that time,” said

Kidani. “Things are looking up and we’re hoping that the pilot program draws more attention to our needs for our teachers.” Although the DOE has tried different ways to recruit teachers, Kidani feels that this initiative will be a new fresh start. “And I think, to me, actually this should be just the start of how we look at recruiting teachers,” said Kidani. Kidani also feels that recruiting teachers locally will benefit the students in the long run. “For many years the DOE recruits on the mainland, particularly from the east coast, but for the most part they don’t stay. And because they don’t stay, and because the DOE continues to put new teachers in the hard to fill areas, those students, particularly the Waianae coast, they Carlos Prado | Mililani Times don’t really have new teachers, younger teachers, that they’re going to bond Senator Michelle Kidani’ “Grow Our Own” initiative will start off with two classes of to,” said Kidani. thirty teachers; however, if there is more of a demand, more classes will be added. This initiative has garnered positive filling positions locally,” said MHS As‘real’ classroom teacher.”¨ feedback. “Hiring locally is (a) great sistant Principal Andrea Moore. A long term goal for the initiative concept. It saves time and money Although the initiative may provide is to eventually get teachers a raise in which could be used for other areas. a fill for the teacher shortage, some their pay. ¨The long term goals really Working with our universities and preteachers feel that they may not be are to get the teachers a decent starting education program providers allow for ready to handle the job. “Substitute wage, what they truly deserve,¨ said various types of ways to get a degree or part-time teachers with no prior Kidani, “Even though they recently (online, asynchronous, synchronous, classroom had a four percent increase, I also hybrid). teaching exknow their cost of their health benefits Many of our “Hiring locally is a great perience can increased, so what they’re going to see families still concept. It saves time and face huge in take home paycheck may not be as have to work obstacles in much as we would have thought.” and go to money which could be used a classroom Another goal of the initiative is school at the for other areas.” setting that to get more local substitute teachers same time is theirs and part-time teachers certified. “But so various alone. In addition to this, substitutes mainly it’s for hopefully to have our options in the program will assist the with no teaching background don’t local teachers, our local students, who participants in obtaining a degree,” know what it’s like to plan appropriate are already here or want to come back said Nanakuli Elementary Principal lessons and map the curriculum for the and get a teaching degree, to be interLisa Higa. whole year,” said MHS Social Studies ested in the program and find a little Some also feel that the initiative teacher David Francisco, “I think it’s niche for themselves and be part of our will draw more attention to the art a start, however, if we don’t provide education system,” said Kidani. of teaching. “If it successfully attracts a solid foundation for these current As next year comes around, the more people into a focused pursuit of individuals, then they may not want expectations for the “Grow Our Own” teaching credentials, then it will be to continue on the path to becoming a initiative remain hopeful for many. successful. We hope to see these people

FEATURE | October 5, 2017

icking off their time in high school, Freshmen Dominik Griffin and Lana Patlingrao were named this year’s Freshman Prince and Princess. “I decided to run for homecoming court because it’s something new that really interested me and with this being my first year of highschool I thought it would be good to try new things out of my comfort zone,” said Patlingrao.

he variety of homecoming events offer a wide range of options to get involved. Juniors Noah Fujita and Kaitlyn Hagihara looked forward to this year’s festivities acting as the Junior Prince and Princess. “I’m most looking forward to the halftime show because I get to wear my dress and walk down the field with one of my good friends,” said Hagihara. Having previously marched in the

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times

Griffin also took advantage of the opportunity to begin high school on a high note. “Mostly I thought I’d be a cool addition to actually be participating in homecoming. I’d get to be behind the scenes and see what it’s like in the new school for me,” said Griffin. Choosing to get involved in all MHS has to offer, Griffin and Patlingrao proudly represent their newly formed class in the homecoming festivities.

parade as a member of marching band, Fujita was excited to experience this event from a different perspective this year. Fujita said, “I guess (I’m looking forward to) being in the limelight for a little bit.” From the half time show and pep rally, to marching in the parade, both Fujita and Hagihara carried themselves with the pride of their class as they participated in the week long celebration for the school and community.

eizing the chance to represent their class and school, Senior’s Jorge Aponte Alvarez Jr. and Giscelle Rosario were named this year’s homecoming King and Queen. Since they began at MHS, Alvarez and Rosario have grown and matured into confident people, able to open themselves up to their peers and community. This year they took a chance and went outside of their normal comfort zone, choosing to run for the homecoming court and ultimately being chosen to carry on the titles of King and Queen. “Throughout my high school experience I have learned that people appreciate ingenuity and authenticity and I have learned to be comfortable in my own skin. Life is all about a process of learning and growing. Once I understood that, I found that running for homecoming court would just be another opportunity to learn about myself, and that if the outcome was not in my favor, that would not change who I was and it would not change the fact that

there were people who cared about me,” said Rosario. Looking back, both Alvarez and Rosario would have hardly believed that as seniors, they would choose to run for such well known positions and win. “If you had told me sophomore year to run for court I would’ve been like, ‘No,’ because I didn’t know many people. So now being able to meet so many people and being able to

m o c e Hom by c aitlin barb our |

201 9 ba rb ourc@ m i li la ni hs.k 1 2.hi.us

23 be so open and being so connected with so many people, I think it’s really helped me to become more confident in myself—to be open and be more happy,” said Alvarez. Taking on such a big role in

homecoming offered a new kind of experience to Alvarez and Rosario. “In the past, (homecoming) was always something that I didn’t pay much attention to and I felt that running for court would help me make the most out of my senior year. I had no idea I would actually be chosen for Queen so I’m very grateful,” said Rosario. Alvarez, who also didn’t expect himself to run, decided to try it out after seeing its benefits. “I thought it was a nice opportunity for me to be able to represent my class and I saw that I might have a chance of winning so why not try it out,” said Alvarez. Alvarez and Rosario looked forward to experiencing their last homecoming week from a new perspective, taking center stage in the events and representing their class and school. They hope that with their titles of homecoming King and Queen, they will continue to open up and find the courage to participate in more events throughout the coming year.

ming Court Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times

fter running for homecoming court, Sophomores Nolan Acosta and Reagan Gayle Rees were able to connect with their peers, resulting in Acosta and Rees being chosen to represent their class as this year’s Sophomore Prince and Princess. “The reason for running for homecoming court is because I wanted to continue to show my school spirit, especially for my class. I also wanted to make new friends and have the

aking the opportunity to try something new for their last homecoming week, Seniors Ryan Abbott and Alyssa Chow took a chance at running for homecoming court, coming out victorious as Senior Prince and Princess. “I decided to run for court because my friend wanted me to and I thought I’d try something new because I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Abbott.

opportunity to experience something new,” said Acosta. New to MHS, homecoming gave Rees the opportunity to open herself up to those around her. “I was kinda surprised because I’m pretty new here and I haven’t really met a lot of people but I was really happy that I got it,” said Rees. Acosta and Rees continue to show their class pride as they participate in various MHS events like homecoming.

This experience, also unfamiliar to Chow, proved to be a good opportunity to challenge herself. “It was a way to put me out there in a way because I usually don’t put myself out there,” said Chow. From being presented at the halftime show to walking in the parade—both Abbott and Chow looked forward to homecoming and all its festivities as they carried out their various court duties.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2017 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM UHM Campus Center

Mililani High School seniors, juniors, & ʻohana are invited to this FREE event! • • • • • • •

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT, PARKING, & REGISTRATION VISIT: manoa.hawaii.edu/admissions/explore

Office of Admissions | 2600 Campus Rd. Rm. 001 Honolulu, HI 96822 | (808) 956-8975 | manoa.admissions@hawaii.edu