Issue 5 by Trojan Times

Distinguished Young Woman Senior Kayla-Nicole Tamayo: cheerleader, trumpet player, dancer, student council and National Honor Society member does it all. In her latest achievement, Tamayo wins a total of $2,250 in scholarship money from the Distinguished Young Women program competition.

MIlilani High school | ISSUE 5 | February 1, 2 018

EDITORIAL

| F e bruary 1, 20 1 8

False Alarm Wakes Up Hawaii by Camille Nevarez-Hernandez

2018nevarezhernandezc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

t 8:07 a.m. on Jan. 13, 2018 Hawaii was woken up to face a reality that we have been dreading: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Even though it was a false alarm, this was the day that we received our wake-up call—none of us are prepared. After the incident, there was an overwhelming outburst of anger: anger towards Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) administrator, Vern Miyagi, anger towards the 10-year veteran employee that clicked the button and anger towards the Ige administration for delayed response times and updates. Everyone, from the public to journalists and the legislature, sought someone they could direct their amassing anger towards. But while this anger is understandable, it is not acceptable. Grilling an apologetic, guilt-ridden Miyagi during a press conference and demanding to know who sent out the false alarm does not save lives. Threatening the life of an experienced

employee whose mistake was already being judged on a national scale does not change anything. With increasing tension between the U.S. and North Korea, we’ve had concerns about an attack for over a year now. Both the media and the state government have known the public’s fears and concerns. If there is any truly justified anger, it should be towards the state government. Why haven’t there been stronger policies and guidelines put in place prior to the false alert? Why haven’t our journalists voiced our concerns and pushed leadership to prepare us better before this so called failure of HI-EMA? This false alarm has raised countless questions that shouldn’t have been questions in the first place. What are we really supposed to do in an actual missile attack? Telling families to have a 14 day supply of food and water does not prepare us for when we’re at the beach, shopping, at a soccer game, driving on the freeway or practically anywhere outside. Are we supposed to pull out manhole covers and take shelter in the sewers? Are store employees justified to deny us shelter? Should we swim or paddle further out to sea if we are at the beach? And what

about tourists? What are they supposed to do? There is nothing put in place to answer any of this and we are certainly not on the same page concerning these real life scenarios. The DOE sent a memo concerning what teachers and students should do if it were a school day, after Jan. 13. The state needs to compile a comprehensive guide of safety precautions and procedures for the public and work with various private sectors. All of the voiced concerns need to be clearly addressed. Relying on common sense and the aloha spirit is not enough when people are in a panic. Government officials should frequently post on social media about safety precautions so all ages are informed. And our media needs to push for these changes. This is what calms fear, saves lives and makes a difference. We must look at the silver lining in this situation. We have been given a chance to see our shortcomings. We must take this opportunity to better prepare ourselves for the future. We have been told that a false alert will never happen again, that means the next time—if there is one—it won’t be a test, so let’s be ready.

Mililani Times’ mission is to inform the community of news, people, and issues of concern. Community. Responsibility. Dependability. Editor-in-Chief Camille Nevarez-Hernandez Community Editor Maiya Ezawa

Copy Editor Caitlin Barbour

Community Editor Marisa Hayase

Vlog Editor Elgin Reese

School Editor Taylor Ann Ono

Social Media Editor Erisa Castillo

Online Editor Connor Tribble

Director of Sales Jacie Higuchi

Design Editor Gavril Ibaan

Photo Stylist Kamaile Fitzgerald

Head Photographer Adviser Timothy Won Mr. Christopher Sato Staff Tyler Birchard Chanelle Camero Jasmine Casana Christina Casanova Sakura Emmer Chloe Fong Coby Foreman Alicia Getty Jaden Ige

Kylie Jones Chloe Kitsu Nick Malae Jenna Nakanishi Mia Nava Emily Padello Carlos Prado Megan Schendel Chaeley Winkler

Produced at 95-1200 Meheula Pkwy., Mililani HI 96789 To voice an opinion or concern, feel free to send a letter to L205 or to 2018nevarezhernandezc@ mililanihs.k12.hi.us.

Caryn Umetsu Poetry and Children’s Book Author

By Megan Schendel |

2019schendelm@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

ver the course of the last seven years, English teacher Caryn Umetsu has written and published three separate books, including two fully illustrated children’s books and a poetry book. Umetsu designed the books in an effort to share her love of reading with children and adults alike, by incorporating fun and easy-to-like characters and illustrations. “I think that writing books, my own books, gives me a feeling of ownership and satisfaction. I believe that every person has a story that dwells in them. I just like to share,” said Umetsu. Umetsu developed her passion for reading early on in her childhood. “I have always loved to read and my dad was my source of inspiration. He always took my sister and I to the library every Saturday, allowed us to borrow as many books as we wanted and then he would buy us shaved ice as a reward,” said Umetsu. In 2010, Umetsu published her first book with the support of her friends and father. “When I wrote my first book ‘Naughty Nathan,’ I was trying hard to pursue my dream. My friends encouraged me and said that it was a highly competitive market but worth a try,” said Umetsu. To write the book, Umetsu chose to look back on her own life for inspiration.“‘Naughty Nathan’ is actually based on a compilation of different incidents that happened to me at Kaahumanu Elementary School,” said Umetsu. Umetsu pulls details for her books from her memories and daily observations. “I can’t help but remember small things, sometimes big things. I love new places and traveling. Many writers carry small notepads with them to jot down images or ideas, words, that come to their mind,” said Umetsu. These details allow readers to become more immersed in the setting of the books. “It has a good message and a ‘local’ feel,” said colleague Sheila Yuasa. In writing her books, Umetsu uses her children’s lives and personalities as inspiration to draw upon. “My second book ‘Little Liar’ is about a little boy that makes big lies to get his mom and family’s attention because of his new baby brother. It is based partially on truth though because my oldest son had a very naughty streak in him and he would tell the tallest tales,” said Umetsu. Working part-time at her eldest son’s school gave her the opportunity to spend more time with her

children and involve them in the illustration of her second book. “That’s when my oldest son and I would make our own books, he would draw some and I would draw some, the middle son would scribble what he thought were pictures and I would write the words,” said Umetsu. Umetsu’s goal is to spread the joy that reading and writing brings her. “I hope that the audience can take away a love for reading. I didn’t really focus on a moral or anything, just a love for reading,” said Umetsu. She strives to bring joy and wonder into her books and the lives of those reading them. “Umetsu’s children’s books are fun and whimsical,” said colleague Lori Tsukamoto. During a rough time in her life, Umetsu decided to write a poetry book to better capture her feelings. “I have always loved and still love poems. It somehow speaks to my soul. Poetry is like words on a string, so lovely to look at and so fun to manipulate and piece together,” said Umetsu. “In writing poetry, it allowed me to get away from the real world and to interact with other poets on the web.” Umetsu hopes to continue creating books and experiment with other forms of writing and production. “I am setting up to take a sabbatical. During this time, I will enroll in some creative writing classes which might once again reignite the spark to write children’s books or poetry,” said Umetsu. “I have always wanted to design my own set of greeting cards with poems in it. In the future, maybe during my sabbatical, I will take a few online art classes so that I can eventually fulfill my dream of writing and illustrating my own children’s book.” Umetsu plans to further her writing career by selling her books in stores, hoping to attract a larger audience.

Erisa Castillo | Mililani Times

Sidney Liu: By Alicia Getty |

Camille Nevarez-Hernandez | Mililani Times

2019Gettya@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

unior Sidney Liu embarked on an entrepreneurial venture in August 2017, utilizing her skills in jewelry design to create her own business: Splendor Jewelry. Liu began to make jewelry a year ago, after being introduced to the craft by her mother. She made personal items for a while before deciding she was ready to start selling her creations. “I wanted to make my own jewelry because I kept on buying really expensive jewelry. Then I realized I could make it myself and it would be how I wanted it to be and stuff, so I just made it myself,” said Liu. Liu specializes in necklaces and chokers, but she also creates other forms of jewelry. All of her materials are made with 13 karat gold fill or sterling silver to ensure a high quality product. “Right now I’m only making chokers, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, earrings. Hopefully I’ll get to rings soon, ‘cause I love wearing rings,” said Liu. Splendor Jewelry’s style is characterized by a simple aesthetic. The pieces often include small stones and charms with gold or silver chaining. “I think my jewelry

embodies really dainty jewelry. I don’t like anything too heavy or bulky ‘cause I like it to be like you can’t feel that the jewelry is on, but you can see it and it looks nice,” said Liu. Popular brands serve as inspiration for Splendor Jewelry. “Most of my inspiration is from what’s trendy now, what type of jewelry is trendy now,” said Liu. “The Forever 21 jewelry is so bad quality. It turns green in like 2 days, so I just make it my own.” Liu experiences every step required to create jewelry from start-to-finish, as a lot of work goes into creating a piece that is both stylish and durable. “I like designing it a lot, but the end product, where I finally see everything coming together is really satisfying,” said Liu. Sidney Liu’s older sister Justine Liu is a student at UH Manoa and has witnessed her sister’s growth in her jewelry designs. “Sidney is very creative and is able to come up with all original designs. I really admire this about her because she constantly strives to create unique and pretty pieces. She is always keeping up with trends. I

ACCESSORIZING ENTERPRISING also admire her determination. When she puts her mind to something she gets it done. This is a great aspect for her business because she is constantly coming up with new designs,” said Justine Liu. Junior Rebecca Vides often purchases items from Splendor Jewelry, which was brought to her attention through Sidney Liu’s social media posts. “I bought from her a few times, and I keep on buying them because I love them so much,” said Vides. “I’m always going out to the beach with friends, and I love the fact that I know the necklaces aren’t going to get rusty if I go into the water with them.” Sidney Liu hopes to continue and grow her business throughout high school. With the launching of her new website, Sidney Liu is opening up her brand to more mediums for business promotion. “I definitely plan on growing my business. I want to go to a lot more craft fairs in the future, and get my jewelry more out there, like more social media and stuff like that,” said Sidney Liu. “I hope to continue the business, but I don’t know if I want to do it as an actual job, I just want to do it as a hobby.” As of late, Splendor Jewelry has had

relatively consistent business, with some regular customers. “I guess it’s a good pace for me right now, because I’m just starting off so I don’t want to have a lot of stuff to do, but it’s a good flow,” said Sidney Liu. Sidney Liu has been mostly selfreliant in the creation and expansion of her brand. “Sidney does pretty much everything on her own but I like to keep her company at craft fairs,” said Justine Liu. “I really enjoy seeing customers really excited when they purchase one of Sidney’s pieces.” Items are priced anywhere from $20 to $45, depending on the style and material. Sidney Liu also creates custom jewelry for customers. “I feel like it’s a very good price, many people think it’s kinda expensive, but I understand that since she made it specifically to that person, and it’s handmade, the price makes sense because she is trying to grow a business,” said Vides. Sidney Liu will continue promotion through Splendor Jewelry’s instagram page, @splendorjewelry, and recently created an online store to sell her stocked goods, www.splendorjewlery.shop.

Photo Courtesy: Sidney Liu

JNHS at Mochi Festival By Maiya Ezawa |

2018ezawam@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

On Jan. 13, MHS’ Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS) volunteered at the Mililani Honbushin’s annual Mochitsuki Festival. This is the second year the club has participated at the event, which features traditional mochi pounding for families, stations for the children and various food stands. The festival is the club’s biggest service project of the year. “The Mochitsuki Festival consisted of mochi pounding, making and serving traditional Japanese foods and Japanese children’s games. We helped out at all of those stations, and from the expressions of all of the older Japanese women and men, they were really grateful. We helped supervise children, make mochi and even serve guests,” said JNHS President Senior Tracie Okumura. The members of the club were split into different jobs, some of which were predetermined at a meeting the day before. “When we got there, one of the festival coordinators asked for volunteers to help at the concession stands, and we split up into the different stations. The boys had to do the mochi pounding though,” said Okumura. In addition to the JNHS volunteers, some students from MHS attended the festival for their own purposes. “The main reason (I went) was to buy an omamori. With Japanese culture, these can serve great purpose for things like self protection or good health,” said Senior Kasey Rivera. “The JNHS volunteers were helpful and undoubtedly hardworking. Seeing them work so efficiently with the temple employees showed they enjoyed volunteering.” While the members of JNHS had a lot to learn, they eventually were able to help the festival run more efficiently. “They were really kind and seemed so grateful to have us there. At first, they worked really hard to teach us the right way, but towards the end, they were really relieved

and happy, even leaving us to man the stations ourselves. We were even invited back for a daikon festival and the next Mochitsuki,” said Okumura. Those who visited the festival were able to participate in traditional Japanese events, an opportunity they may not get elsewhere. “The highlight of the festival is our Family Mochi Experience. We teach the families the whole process of pounding mochi while educating on the significance of the tradition. We have not really met a family who knew how to pound mochi, in there we let them pound mochi on their own. They always appreciate our staff helping them,” said Head Minister Akio Akiyama. Rivera added, “It was harmonious. Many families came to wait in line for mochi pounding and everyone had smiles. Seeing people having fun while pounding is probably the most vivid thing I remember because it’s such a touching moment to experience a culture with loved ones.” Volunteering at the Mochitsuki Festival helps to unite and strengthen the club’s purpose. “My goals for this year are basically to give back to the Japanese community as much as possible, as well as learning more about the general Japanese culture. Mochitsuki is an event that fulfills both of those goals in a fun and delicious way,” said Okumura. Akiyama added, “I really appreciate students who understand the importance of volunteering for the community. I hope that they understand that from their support, they create many smiles around them.” JNHS hopes to continue to volunteer at the Mochitsuki Festival, making it their main service project. They also hope to expand their reach to other events, such as the Honolulu Festival.

Illustrated by Chaeley Winkler

NEWS | F ebruary 1, 2 0 1 8

Annual Concert Sparks Music Interest by Chanelle Camero

2021C ameroc@mil ila n i h s.k12 .h i.us

HS celebrates its third annual concert showcase on Jan. 25. The Marching Arts and Select Choir gave the younger students a chance to see what MHS’ music program has to offer. “The goal is just to expose the students to music. Whether it’s music that we offer here at the high school or it’s just music in general—just to get the exposure of them and in a non-threatening way,” said Musical Director Kristi Higuchi. Higuchi founded the event, developing it into the concert that it is now. “Basically, I came up with the idea and then initially asked the other principals from the feeder schools if they’re interested—asked their teachers. So it’s a pretty collaborative effort where I give them the opportunity and if they would like to join us then they can,” said Higuchi. The high school students were able to share their passion for performing with those in attendance. “The performers feed off of what’s coming from the audience, and back and forth. So I think there becomes a very good relationship that starts to be formed,” said Higuchi. Different types of performances were showcased in order to appeal to a wide variety of interests. “The most exciting part was like the last one because I could feel the beat of the drums,” said Ike Elementary third grader Brayden Fabro. The students’ contribution plays a significant role in the event. “Students usually have one main priority in these types of events, which is having our music playable to the best of our ability. Some students may also help with planning and setting up the events, but most will just play music,” said Winterline Percussionist Junior Aiden Martin. With this showcase, students are able to see the opportunities that are available to them down the line. “I

just think it’s important because a lot of these kids don’t see our groups. You think that they’re in the community so they see it but they don’t so it’s all about exposure and exposing the younger students to what we have here available to them,” said Higuchi. The showcase exposed the participating students to possible paths they can take in high school. “Watching all the performances will allow the kids to see what they are interested in, you can tie this into choosing electives,” said Martin. Always hoping to improve, the music department asks the schools for feedback on the performance. “I send out evaluations after it and it’s been very positive,” said Higuchi. “They’re very thankful that they get to watch all the groups. They like to see all the different instruments.” Each year sees the audience grow; last year was the first time Waena participated. “We’re adding to it and just getting more and more kids exposed to it, but trying to make

Carlos Prado | Mililani Times Jadyn Yamakawa (12) and Elizabeth Yoon (10) perform in Wind Ensemble for the elementary schools during the third annual concert showcase. changes along the way for the better,” said Higuchi. The showcase has influenced some of the students, as some of them showed interest in joining one of the performing groups. “It’s a hard decision because all of them are great.

Maybe choir,” said Ike Elementary third grader Sadie Hamamoto. The annual Mililani Concert Showcase will continue to promote a passion for music in years to come, through the interaction between the participating schools.

2009 mhs alumnus

Photo Courtesy: Joel Libed

OEL

LIBED by megan schend el |

actor singer dancer

2 0 19 s c h en d e l m @m i l i l a n i h s.k 1 2 .h i.u s

ollowing his passion for acting and music, MHS ‘09 alumnus Joel Libed moved to New York City to pursue his dreams on Broadway. Now, five years after moving to New York, Libed travels the world, performing in off-Broadway musicals in offBroadway shows, cruise ship shows, theme parks and tribute acts. “Joel has a great quality about him that not a lot of people have, he loves to explore and try new things and it completely helps him in this industry. Joel actually started pretty late in the game to become a performer, he found something new that he loved though and fought hard for it. He moved to New York at a young age and made a name for himself. He is always working on his craft, going to auditions, trying new things when on contract, always trying to better himself for this business,” said one of Libed’s previous colleagues Steven Yerardi. Though Libed has always had a passion for music, he didn’t discover his passion for musical theater until late in his high school career. “I actually got my start at Mililani High. I was in band and one day decided to audition for the Tri-School (now CTAA) spring musical “Cinderella“ when I was a junior. I ended up loving it and did one more show at MHS,” said Libed. Though he still had a passion for music, Libed was more intrigued by theatre than he was band. “Theatre requires acting, singing, dancing and much more. I felt it used my talents more,” said Libed. After starting theatre in high school, Libed was hooked on the rush of performing. “Performing uses your entire body, mind, and spirit. There’s no explanation to say what it feels like to go into ‘performance mode.’ Whatever is going on in the world or my life, I’m able to escape and be somewhere else. It’s honestly magical,” said Libed. Libed does his best to put all of his love and joy for theater into his performances. “Every time I see Joel perform, I am fully entertained because I can feel all of his passion and emotion that he puts into each performance. The Joel you see on stage is the Joel you get

in real life. You can tell when someone feels uncomfortable or nervous on stage, but that’s never Joel. He exudes confidence and joy every time he performs,” said best friend and fellow ‘09 alumna Ashley Akamine. After graduating from MHS, Libed attended Leeward Community College for two semesters but felt unsatisfied with the direction he was going in life. “I wanted to redirect my life, and I did,” said Libed. “My parents were supportive, but also very confused. They loved seeing me in community theater, but when I announced that I was moving to NYC the whole ‘back up plan talk’ ensued. My dad told me I needed to save $10,000. They didn’t know the business very well, but that didn’t stop them from being concerned parents. So, I bought the ticket to

“Theatre requires acting, singing, dancing and much more. I felt it used my talents more.” NY and told them I would be leaving in nine months.” Though he had initially been worried about moving, Libed began to pick up on all the job options he could find. “When I moved to New York, my goal was Broadway. But when I got there I realized there was so much I can do: national tours, cruise ships, off Broadway, theme parks,TV, film—the opportunities are endless,” said Libed. Libed had to learn how to adapt quickly as he transitioned from performing in amateur shows to professional shows. “Professional shows move quickly. Typically, I would learn a show in one to two weeks and had to be fully memorized before rehearsals started. My first job would dock pay for any time I missed a line, was late to a call and if I ever forgot a

lyric. It was scary,” said Libed. Despite the many risks that Libed faced when he moved to New York, Libed continued to pursue his love for the theatre. “It was 1,000 percent worth every risk. The amount I have grown over the past five years as a person speaks for itself. I moved away from home 5,000 miles to NYC, with no degree, no job and no clear understanding of where my life is going to go. Reflecting on the last five years, I’ve fully supported myself, learned to make decisions, and learned how to adapt in rough situations, lived on my own, and I feel unstoppable,” said Libed. Living in New York, Libed had to learn how to fend for himself — how to be completely independent and how to find work. “Finding work is probably the hardest part of my industry. I cannot tell you how many auditions I got rejected from, how many times I had to wake up at 5 a.m. to be the first on the audition sign up, how many times I messed up singing an audition song at 9 a.m., how many times I got cut because I couldn’t dance as well as the other dancers. I am my only coach. No one is gonna make me get up day after day and put myself out there,” said Libed. Most of the shows that Libed performs in are revue shows aboard cruise ships where they combine music with dance and sketches. “I performed a variety shows on a cruise ship. Mainstage theatre shows were 45 minute revue shows that we performed twice a night. The shows I did on Royal Caribbean was a Broadway revue show and a ‘50s to ‘70s revue show. We also had a Broadway cabaret we performed at the end of the cruise in the lounge with a piano,” said Libed. Doing contracts with cruise ships gives Libed the chance to perform in front of people from across the world and travel for free. “When I’m not performing on the ship, I’m usually enjoying the different ports we are in. I’ve traveled to 48 countries in the last two years and it’s been incredible,” said Libed. Libed hopes to make it on Broadway and overcome the challenges of finding work in his industry as he continues to travel for shows for as long as it makes him happy.

Kamaile Fitzgerald | Mililani Times

DYW TAMAYO

WORKING TOWARDS HER FUTURE BY Jenna Nakanishi |

2 0 1 9 N akan i s h i J@ mi l i l a n i h s.k 1 2 .h i.u s

enior Kayla-Nicole Tamayo recently participated in the annual Distinguished Young Women’s (DYW) scholarship program, with applicants competing in five different areas: scholarship achievement, interview, talent, physical fitness and self expression. Tamayo won the scholarship awards in fitness and talent, along with the Spirit Award, which is awarded to the participant who best embodies the spirit of the program as voted by the other participants. “My mom’s friend introduced this scholarship program to me, and thought it would be a great experience. I wanted to try something new and challenging, as well as meet other ambitious girls from different schools,” said Tamayo. Both ambition and drive are expected of the program’s participants, as the evaluation process they go through is extensive. “We had these dress rehearsals, or training sessions, with alumni Distinguished Young Women’s motivational speakers. And then we had to perform a talent— mine was self-choreographed. Other girls, they did a monologue, or they sang, or played another instrument,” said Tamayo. “We had to learn a fitness routine, and then we had to do a question in front of everybody—a self expression—to show our personality.” Tamayo’s talent included aspects of both dance and playing the trumpet. “I had been dancing for four years before joining the marching band. Once I joined the marching band, I really enjoyed it, and because my parents believe in giving back to your school, I took a break from dance to focus on being involved in school

related activities,” said Tamayo. “Dance was always a big part of my life, so although I was taking a break, it was still very much a part of me. Because I was given solos in marching band with both dance and trumpet, so that’s why I wanted to incorporate both.” Throughout the course of the program, Tamayo has had many

like critiquing her on how she could improve since we are both in band.” The strong support Tamayo received from those close to her helped her succeed in the program, despite facing obstacles. “During this whole process I had my band trip, which conflicted with practices. But, I had some of the girls help me along

how much effort she has put into the skills she showcased throughout the competition. “In the summertime, it was very hectic, like our practice times would conflict, but I had to just keep in contact with both Coach Renesha and Mr. (Derek) Kaapana, and tell them where I’m at and what’s going to happen for the day,” said Tamayo.

people help her along the way, both in and out of DYW. “They supported me, they came to the event,” said Tamayo. “They helped me with talking exercises and they gave feedback.” Her friends played a big part in supporting Tamayo as she worked hard on the various areas of evaluation. “Since I spend so much time with her, she usually brought up the topic of the scholarship program. So when she did, I sometimes would just encourage her, or tell her that she could do it and stuff like that,” said Tamayo’s friend Senior Adrian Pulido. “For her talent portion of the program, she had to play a short piece of music for trumpet, so she actually asked me for help a little bit,

the way,” said Tamayo. “Also, time management was hectic, like I was rushing on to finish my talent, and with my busy schedule, it was very hard for me to focus on my talent.” The support she received from her friends and family helped her to overcome the challenges she faced and do well in the competition. “She did very well in talent,” said friend and fellow DYW program participant Waipahu High School Senior Casey Metrose. “She was very unique in talent because she played her instrument and danced.” As both a cheerleader and a member of the marching band at MHS, Tamayo’s busy schedule reflects

Tamayo plans on attending the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) next year, where she will continue to work towards her dreams. “I plan on going to UNLV, joining the medical program, possibly becoming a pediatrician because I love kids. And then I also want to get a dance career,” said Tamayo. “I’m planning to audition for the Poms team, or the Rebel girls.” Tamayo won $1,000 from the talent portion, $500 from the fitness portion and $750 from winning the Spirit Award. Earning an overall total of $2,250 from the DYW program, she will put the money towards her future in paying for college.

Tamayo, a longtime dancer and trumpet-player, combined both of her hobbies to deliver a unique performance that helped her win in the talent portion of the DYW program.

Jeffrey Lum by Caitlin Barbour |

Lifelong Educator Retires

2019barbourc@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

fter spending over four decades as a part of the Department of Education, head registrar Jeffrey Lum chose to retire in December 2017. Starting in 1974 as a social studies teacher and JV basketball coach at Waianae High School, Lum proved to be a lifelong educator. In 1989 he decided to go back to school to become a counselor, getting hired at MHS in 1990. He eventually became a registrar in 2003, staying until his retirement, 43 years after he began. “I’m blessed to have been able to do something; to be able to wake up every morning looking forward to being at work, closing my eyes every night being at peace with what I did. I think that work for me became, as the years went by, more and more enjoyable. So that’s why it was really hard to finally say, ‘You know what though, it’s time. It’s time to move on,’” said Lum. Lum’s joy for teaching was realized in college; an enthusiasm he continued to carry with him across the years and throughout his various positions. “Anything he does, any decision he makes, he’s very passionate about it. He thoroughly thinks things through from all angles and sometimes it’s not a black or white thought or decision. But he does really think things through because he’s so passionate about making things right for the students,” said close colleague and current head registrar Jennifer Yoshizawa. By exploring different fields within education, Lum maintained interest in his job and used the knowledge he gained to better handle problems. “Of all the roles I’ve had: being a teacher, a coach, a counselor and a registrar, I think all of them have given me so much in terms of my life experiences and my professional development. I think each successive role helped to enhance my abilities and my understanding to, I think, hopefully be a little better educator each year that I moved on and in different roles,” said Lum. Since he was first attracted to the idea of helping people, Lum demonstrated care and commitment towards his students and colleagues alike. “When he was given the opportunity to have a second registrar he had thought of me to be his partner,” said Yoshizawa. “For that I’m going to be forever grateful because I do feel like he saw something in me that I didn’t even realize at the time. He saw that I would be a good fit for this job and he’s right. I mean at the time I didn’t even realize what a registrar’s job really entailed,

but after I was selected to become the second registrar and I got into this job, he was absolutely correct. This job fits me perfectly and I enjoy it.” Over the years, Lum stuck to his values, using them as a guideline for the effort he has put into his job. “(This job has) given me so much more than I could ever give back to the system and you try to go about doing what you’re doing, trying to give more than you take. I think that’s a really important thing because it should be what can I do to make this school, make this job, make this place better; as opposed to thinking, ‘Okay, what can I get from this job,’” said Lum. Lum’s wish to give back is evident in the lasting impression he leaves behind. “He’s really impacted this school I think much more than people even realize. A lot of the policies and procedures that we follow, just as the culture of our school, he actually thought of and implemented. For example, our credit time frames. I mean the students probably don’t even realize, a lot of teachers don’t even realize, that we do have guidelines that a student needs to be in a class for so long in order to be eligible to earn or receive a grade or credit. If they transfer in and it’s too late in the year then we don’t stick them in and expect the teacher to grade and give credit and we have guidelines for that. So that’s just to help keep our school accountable and our diploma worthy of something. But that’s just one example of how he’s impacted this school that we just live day to day with that in our mind, not knowing where it came from, and it came from him,” said Yoshizawa. The time Lum has spent as an educator can also be seen in his personality, as it has been a large part of his life. “I think I’ve learned from so many people along the way; so many colleagues, so many students, so many experiences of what it is to be, I think, a more caring person, a more understanding person, and hopefully a more patient person. I think my job has given me—and the experiences in education has given me—so much more than I gave. Simply because I think who I am, or who I identify myself as being, as an educator, certainly all those experiences helped to enrich me where I feel very comfortable with who I am,” said Lum. In turn, Lum influenced the people around him, pushing them to be better at their jobs and

as people. “He really empowered me to learn and take on every challenge that came. Of course I always ran things by him because he has years of knowledge more than I do, but he really did allow me to step up and make decisions, especially in the last year or two, to make the tough decisions and to help move the school in the direction that the principal wants,” said Yoshizawa. With Yoshizawa taking over the position as head registrar, Lum, now in retirement, plans to spend time with his wife and enjoy his free time; including going to the beach, taking walks, hiking and traveling.

Mia Nava | Mililani Times

FEATURE

| F e bruary 1, 2 0 1 8

Kondo’s KonMari Method Sparks Joy by TAYLOR ANN O NO |

2 0 18O N OT@ mi li lan i h s.k 1 2 .h i.u s

n 2015, Marie Kondo was ranked as one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People.” She is an organizing consultant and author, most known for her KonMari method. Kondo’s method has spread around the world, and has inspired a group of teachers at MHS to start what was first called the Big Sweep Challenge. However, this challenge of organizing things has now turned into a support group among these teachers that focus and practice the KonMari method. “In essence, it’s learning to live with less. Her whole concept I think is, ‘Does it spark joy in your life?’ I think essentially it’s learning to live with the least amount only because those are the things that you love. I think it’s living your ideal life,” said Librarian Rieko Goo. This method of organizing helps

the teachers let go of things that they no longer need, while sharing the experience with one another. “As teachers, and especially like mothers and women, we tend to hold on to things. I feel like we’re more emotional people and because each item has memories, we hold on to these things, and lug it from place to place,” said English teacher Gina Antonio. “I want to enjoy my house, I want to enjoy my space. Why am I paying a mortgage for clutter that’s just occupied my house? I want each place to have a purpose, I want to come home and breathe. I want to have a household that will inspire me to do stuff.” English teacher Stephanie GrandeMisaki added, “I think that each one of us has something that we hold dear to us that we have a hard time letting go. Ms. Antonio is really good about

reminding us that it’s not meant for you to get rid of everything. It’s what you can handle at that moment in time and then when you’re ready, then you’ll be able to let it go.” The KonMari method can be used to organize things from clothes to books to old Christmas decorations, and changes lives. “It brings happiness because you’re accomplishing something that has an impact in different ways in your own personal life. You can in some ways talk about it to your students to inspire them. I think anytime you can take something from your personal life and kind of have it lend to your students so that they can learn from it is always something good,” said Goo. Antonio added, “I used to be a shop-a-holic. But it kind of made me pause. When I try on something, shoes, clothes, does it really make me that much happier? Am I only buying it because it’s on

sale, or does it actually complete what I’m looking for? Does it fit my lifestyle now? And if the answer is no, then I’m not going to buy it and I save so much money.” This group of teachers started to share their experiences with each other on Facebook two years ago, and still continue to today. “We can empathize with each other especially because, most recently when Ms. Goo was thinking, ‘Oh I can’t get rid of this one item,’ we’re supporting her, not telling her to just get rid of it,” said Grande-Misaki. Goo added, “I think we just give each other inspiration and the pep talk to keep going. I think any time you attack something that’s overwhelming, just having somebody there, give you comments about how you can do it is helpful.” The teachers plan on continuing to organize their lives, “spark joy,” and share their projects and experiences.

POLYNESIAN BOWL By Taylor Ann Ono |

2018onot@mililanihs.k12.hi.us

n order to teach people about Polynesian culture, the Polynesian Bowl was introduced in 2017, a football game where the nation’s top high school football players compete against each other. The second Polynesian Bowl was held on Jan. 20 at the Aloha Stadium and featured three seniors from MHS’s Varsity football team: Offensive Lineman Scottie Agasiva, Offensive Lineman Noah Williams and Running Back Jalen Tuivaiave-Olomua. Hawaii is a state known for its diversity and camaraderie, making it home to people of various cultures, which is what the Polynesian Bowl focuses on. “My race, Hawaiian, means a lot to me. My first language was Hawaiian and I was raised through the Hawaiian way, living off the land and stuff like that. I attended many Hawaiian programs that Kamehameha schools provided, and having the Polynesian Bowl, not only just having it made, but having it here on the island is truly a blessing. People that are not Polynesian, they’ll be able to come down here and see what Hawaii is, learn more about the culture,” said Williams. Although it is called the Polynesian Bowl, participating athletes are not required to be of Polynesian descent; the program is open to players of any race or culture. “We open the door to a lot of other ethnicities, and main thing is that we want to spread our culture to a lot of the kids who’ve never been introduced to the Polynesian culture, and just be able to network with kids that they might be playing with sometime after high school. It’s like a reward for their hard work that they put in through pretty much

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their four years of high school,” said Polynesian Bowl Co-Founder and MHS Assistant Varsity Football Coach Ma a Tanuvasa. Williams added, “That’s one of the things I was very happy to hear, like not only is it just Polynesians but other races. I feel it’s good because they’ll learn more about not just the Polynesian race but vice versa, we’ll also learn more about their race.” The Polynesian Bowl program gathers a total of 100 student athletes from around the nation, consisting of at least 30 from Hawaii, and 70 from other states. “Being able to play in the Polynesian Bowl is really an honor, because not everybody gets to be in it. It just really

(L-R) Senior Noah Williams, Senior Jalen Tuivaiave-Olomua, and Senior Scottie Agasiva (missing) participated in the second annual Polynesian Bowl on team Makai.

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is overwhelming, it’s truly a blessing and you just gotta make the most of all of it,” said Williams. “My first reaction was like, ‘Whoa.’ I was showing my dad, it was blowing up on social media and I was like ‘Dad, Momma, we made it.’” Tanuvasa added, “I was just full of joy knowing that three of our kids from Mililani were able to get in, and now they get to compete and see how well they do against the rest of the other student athletes from across the country. Hopefully it opens up a lot of doors as far as scholarship offers from colleges after this game.” The athletes have put a lot of work into their training, making

Timothy Won | Mililani Times

the invitation all the more special. “You gotta be mentally strong. I feel it’s good to still be able to go to school, have your brain ready for the plays and everything. I’ve been training after school and stuff like that, keep your body healthy, eating right, make sure your body has enough energy to sustain you throughout the game,” said Williams. “I just want to stay humble. I really put the work in and the outcome will show and I’m very grateful.” Agasiva added, “This means the most to me because I get the chance to showcase my talents and represent my family name.” For a week before the game, players spend time with one another to create bonds and make friendships. “They’re all going to be in the same hotel. We got a week-long event that they’re going to be doing just to be able to network, know each other, create friendships. I think that’s the best thing, it’s able for us to pass the word on through these kids as far as the great time they’ve had and hopefully the kids will want to experience that bowl game next year,” said Tanuvasa. “We want these kids to compete during the game but before that is enjoy themselves. Some of these kids go back to the states, and they’ll be able to say, ‘I had a great time in Hawaii, I really want to come back.’” Williams added, “I’m just going to live it in the moment and enjoy every second of it. I just gotta ball out, make memories, make friends, just make connections with other people that you’ve never met.” After the Polynesian Bowl game, the students plan on finishing their final semester of high school, and possibly continuing football in college.

Rich With

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