2015 summer

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TRANSITIONS

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[inside]

Volume XXXIV ■ No. 1 ■ Issue No. 90 ■ SUMMER 2015

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MA KE KULA

ON THE COVER: HPA’s 13-year seniors gather one last time after commencement ceremonies. Front row, l to r: Eliana Kaplan, Kaliko Smith, and Tehani Grasso. Center row, l to r: Olivia Kirkpatrick, Victoria Greco Hiranaka, Jessie Ainslie, and Noor Sarwar. Back row, l to r: Jacob McCafferty, Tanner Sakurai, Jacob Schulman, Connor Varney, Tucker Higgins, and Daniel Matsuda.

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Staff

[features]

28 From Our New Head of School

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An Enchanting Evening

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Kennedy Square Renovation Underway Cover Story: Transitions 2015

Editor Phyllis Kanekuni, APR

[departments]

Alumni News Sarah Thiesse ‘98 Schorn

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From the Headmaster

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HPA Advancement

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13 for 13: The 13-Year Seniors

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HPA Academics 22

Seven-Year Residents Share Their Memories

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Student Voices 22

Jaime Johnson Publishes Children’s Book

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Student Spotlight 25

An Interview with Headmaster Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr.

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Nonstop Adventures on O‘ahu, The Gathering Place

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Transcending the Restrictions of Time

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Faculty Profile: Lois Inman – Middle School Launches Na ‘Opio

After School Program in August

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Alumni Profile: Kenji Matsumoto ‘98

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The mission of the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy is to provide exceptional learning opportunities and a diverse community honoring the traditions of Hawai‘i.

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HPA Student Council

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On Stage at Gates Performing Arts Center

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HPA ‘Ohana Association

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HPA Admissions 32 Coaches Corner 33

Production Assistant Deanna Evans Contributing Photographer Patrick O’Leary Art Direction + Design Clifford Cheng > VOICE Design Public Relations Office Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy 65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road Kamuela, Hawai‘i 96743 P: 808.881.4099 • F: 808.881.4069 E-mail: mkk@hpa.edu • www.hpa.edu

Alumni News 39 From Aunty June’s Kitchen

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On Campus 43

[ BOARD OF TRUSTEES ] Gregory R. Mooers, Chair Laurie T. Ainslie Scott Bradley ‘80 Dr. Michael Chun Putman D. Clark ‘65

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Michael K. Fujimoto ‘70 Allison Holt Gendreau Will J. Hancock Nona F. Hasegawa ‘78 Charles G. King ‘64 Duncan MacNaughton ‘62

Rich H. Matsuda Dr. Paul Nakayama David W. Pratt Sam Pratt ‘84 Michael S. Spalding ‘66 Hannah Kihalani Springer

Dr. Peter Vitousek ‘67 Roy A. Vitousek III ‘68 Taffi Wise

Ma Ke Kula is published two times a year in December and July for students and their families, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of HPA. Ma Ke Kula reserves the right to select and edit all materials submitted for publication.

[ From the Headmaster ] Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr.

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LOHA! On this good earth, there aren’t many certainties, but here’s one: Father Time and Mother Nature stand still for no mere mortal. For me, this certainty began to come more sharply into focus about 18 months ago; and here I am now – 18 months later and struggling to find a way to say goodbye. I find that I cannot. I’ve concluded that, while a person may leave the physical Hawai‘i, there is no separation from the spiritual Hawaiʻi.

It remains in the heart – especially when one has been blessed to spend seven years in the bosom of a place as wonderful as HPA. Elsewhere in this issue of Ma Ke Kula, editor Phyllis Kanekuni will be including a questionand-answer exercise in which she and I recently engaged, a “looking back” piece. This being the case, I’m using this column to look ahead. When I do, I view a bright, bright future for HPA, one that matches the best of our beloved school’s past. In no particular order, I see the following included in the years to come: Exceptional leadership by Robert McKendry, who will become our 11th Head of School on July 1, 2015. Robert is as highly a principled and able a young man as it has ever been my pleasure to meet. He is ready for this job. In fact, he is more than ready. In the months and years to come, you who do not yet have the pleasure of knowing Robert will see exactly what I mean!

A school that moves ever closer to true energy self-sufficiency and independence. Before last year’s launch of our photovoltaic (PV) array above the Energy Lab and the recent and fortuitous drop in oil prices, we were accustomed to paying $40,000 per month to HELCO, the regulated electricity provider in the state. Thanks to the commitment of Jimmy Kennedy ’66, this amount is beginning to drop. We can expect even further savings as new PV arrays appear in the near term on the roofs of the tennis center and the technology building and as we explore with Kennedy Fund support additional conservation

projects, not to mention the all-important issue of how best to store for later use the energy we produce for ourselves via our PV arrays or other clean, green means.

In some reasonable way, shape, and form, an HPA without geographical barriers between our Upper and Middle School divisions. Programmatically, we simply must link the Middle and Upper Schools’ daily and weekly schedules more closely than can ever be the case with one division located so far away from the other. The more efficient use of finances also warrants this kind of change for HPA. Neither of these advances can occur if our Middle School program remains at the Village Campus. [Incidentally, if we can move our lower grades to our more expansive Kohala Mountain Road acreage, that would be great, too! If not, let’s improve those buildings!]

I am confident that HPA leaders will commit to and successfully undertake at least a first phase of consolidation in the next few years. If so, the ultimate beneficiaries will be our students – exactly as should be the case.

A school featuring one of the most innovative and highly preparatory curricula in the world. Place-based courses with capstone projects at critical points during a student’s maximum 13year tenure will be keys to this kind of progress.

Make no mistake, however, that the essentials of what we all recognize as the traditional elements of a sound education must continue to be taught and taught exceptionally well. Then and only then will students be prepared at particular grade levels to undertake innovative projects (some individualized, some of a team variety) that will both enhance and round out the HPA Experience.

Pilot projects like these are already underway in the sciences, and the results (particularly as measured by the effect of some Upper School projects on recent college admissions) have been impressive. Our challenge (which we will meet!) will be to grow place-based projects of this sort across all disciplines and school divisions with the result being the graduation of students who are exceptionally prepared for higher education and, later, for success in a world with nations and

I’m using this column to look ahead. When I do, I view a bright, bright future for HPA, one that matches the best of our beloved school’s past. cultures that are increasingly linked to, and even dependent upon, one another.

No goodbye, OK? Instead, let’s just agree that, with a full heart, I’m permitted to close by expressing my deepest thanks and best wishes to one and all. Enjoy this issue of Ma Ke Kula. It’s a fine one, indeed! ■ A hui hou!

Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr. Headmaster

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 3

From Our New Head of School

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T IS WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT tempered with humility that I prepare to serve as the next Head of School at HPA. And that concept—service—is not applied lightly. As Ralph Waldo Emerson expressed, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” While judgment as to success or failure along these lines will be left to the future and to others, my intent for as long as I occupy the headship is to identify the needs of our community and seek to satisfy them with energy and wholehearted commitment.

My thanks go out to Lindsay Barnes, who first encouraged me to “consider heading a school” over a year and a half ago, and to our Board of Trustees, who carefully and thoughtfully designed an internal selection process and provided nearly a year to transition from my previous post of Chief Financial Officer. During the past year, my perspectives have certainly broadened and deepened regarding HPA’s unique place in the universe of independent schools. I have had the opportunity to visit more than 30 schools, most of them boarding, taking time at each one to learn about initiatives, challenges, and best practices in meetings with heads and other educational leaders. Our board encouraged my participation in conferences for new heads and committed resources to put me on the road with our admissions team, where I gained invaluable experience viewing our school through the lens of current and potential parents and students in Seoul, Tokyo, and Moscow.

My thanks also to my wife Fiona, HPA alumna (née Ednie, class of ’89), who first invited this Oregon boy to experience the treasure trove of environment and culture that is Hawai‘i Island, and without whose support I could not imagine embarking on this new adventure. After an early career in accounting and finance, my exposure to the all-encompassing lifestyle of an independent school was a revelation, and to combine the beauty of Hawai‘i with the life-changing power of our school community—there are no words! HPA truly is a special place, with tremendous opportunities before us. I look forward to working with everyone in our immediate and extended HPA ‘ohana for the advancement of our school.

We will move forward with confidence. Current plans are aligned with the school’s mission and vision statements, expressed in the 2012 strategic plan and informed and sharpened through the 2014 accreditation process.

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In coming years, we will strengthen HPA’s academic program, develop additional resources for financial aid, enrich the boarding program, and invest in the renovation and reconstruction of facilities that support and inspire unparalleled teaching and learning. Ultimately, investing in our place is really investing in the people who live, work, and learn here, by providing safe, functional, and stimulating environments.

This year, many faculty members shared with me their appreciation for our flexible, yet accountable, environment that encourages growth and pursuit of individual passions, both for faculty and for students who want to achieve at the highest level. We will continue to invest in our faculty, ensuring that our compensation system supports our desire to not only attract the best and brightest, but also to allow teachers to thrive in our high-cost island economy.

You’ve heard me use the word “invest” several times, and I am hopeful that you share our enthusiasm for all that lies ahead for HPA. We invite you to join the many people who are seizing opportunities to participate in your school’s continued success, helping us realize a range of hopes and dreams.

Our school depends on your involvement, your goodwill, your financial investment, and your willingness to spread the word about the amazing, singular experience of an HPA education.

Thank you. I am sincerely yours with aloha,

Robert McKendry

Sam Pratt has been appointed to the Board of Trustees at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA). Gregory R. Mooers, chairman, announced the appointment after the board’s recent meeting in Waimea.

Pratt, who is based on Kaua‘i, is president of Niu Pia Land Company, Ltd., a family-owned commercial real estate holding and management company. He has served on the company’s board since 1990 and previously served as treasurer for 12 years. In addition, he is trustee and treasurer of his family’s E.H.W. Broadbent Foundation, which was established in 2005.

Prior to that, Pratt worked as a licensed financial advisor and OSJ manager affiliated with SagePoint Financial, Inc. He also was a business banking officer and branch manager for 10 years at First Hawaiian Bank on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.

He is active in the community and currently serves as chair of the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board’s Property Management Committee and board chair of the Waioli Corporation. He also serves on the boards of Island School, Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association, and Waikoko Land Corporation.

Pratt earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and administration from Lewis & Clark College. He and his wife, Robin, have two sons, James and Bradley.

Other members of the HPA board are Laurie T. Ainslie, Scott Bradley ’80, Dr. Michael Chun, Putman D. Clark, ’65, Michael K. Fujimoto ’70, Allison Holt Gendreau, Will J. Hancock, Nona F. Hasegawa ’78, Charles G. King ’64, Rich H. Matsuda, Dr. Paul Nakayama, David W. Pratt, Michael S. Spalding ’66, Hannah Kihalani Springer, Dr. Peter Vitousek ’67, Roy A. Vitousek III ’68, and Taffi Wise. ■

HPAadvancement Lucy Frost Lewis, Director of Advancement

What a year it has been! In this leadership transition year, we enjoyed the dynamic partnership of Lindsay and Robert and were able to connect more than ever with alumni, parents, and friends from around the world. Special thanks to the many folks who hosted us in Washington, D.C., Seoul, Tokyo, Seattle, and Honolulu for events and to the countless individuals who opened their homes, visited campus, and gave their time to share in HPA’s spirit of aloha! Our local events—Pumpkin Patch, the Biennial Scholarship Auction, reunions, and annual Headmaster’s Cup Golf Tournament—were all smashing successes, due in no small measure to the boundless energy and creativity of innumerable volunteers. We are indebted to each and every one of you for your incredible work!

Mahalo nui loa to those of you who made HPA a philanthropic priority this year! Your generosity provided $329,526 for school operations through the Annual Fund, and you gave $554,796 for a range of restricted purposes.

We look forward to sharing news of the impact of these gifts and of just how important your gifts are to the school.

We often are asked about alumni and parent giving to the school, particularly given the fierce loyalty our ‘ohana feels for HPA. To a person, the reaction to the answer is a bit surprising. On average, about 3 percent of alumni and 18 percent of parents contribute annually to the school. As we strive to be the very best HPA we can be, while at the same time relieving the pressure on tuition, we look forward to earning the community’s investment in our students and faculty in new and increased ways. We welcome your thoughts and ideas about the disparity between passion and support and how HPA can do more to inspire your gifts.

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to be charting a course to help realize Robert’s vision for HPA; increasing support of our faculty, deepening our resources for financial aid, enriching residential life, broadening our programs to benefit from our spectacular Hawai‘i resources, and investing in our campuses through construction and renovation. We are hopeful that you will want to participate in this next chapter of HPA’s magnificent history and look forward to staying in touch about ways folks will be coming together to help the school. ■

Kohanaiki Hosts 2015 Headmaster’s Cup It was a spectacular day for golf! Forty-four golfers gathered on June 5 at the Rees Jones Kohanaiki course in Kona for the 19th Annual Headmaster’s Cup. Event proceeds support the school’s financial aid and athletics programs.

The tournament was a two-player shamble, low net score format with mulligans available for purchase. A mid-afternoon reception with pupu and prizes followed. Closest to the hole winners were: 2nd Hole: Marc Heitz (A, Center)

5th Hole: Jon Savage (B, Right)

13th Hole: Geoy Purdy

16th Hole: Scott Nakahara

The team of Craig Kimura and Mike Pickard (C) took top honors with a net score of 63.1. The team of Peter Jefferson (right) and Clive Davies (D) won the Lucky #13 prize. Mahalo to all for your support! ■

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Photos by Bob Fewell Photography

Sam Pratt ‘84 Named to Board of Trustees

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 5

An Enchanting Evening: HPA Scholarship Auction Raises More Than $675,000

For three hours on a Saturday evening, more than 250 guests at the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academyʻs Twenty-First Biennial Scholarship Auction left their cares at the door and focused on the task at hand—raising money for student scholarships.

The result exceeded Scholarship Auction director Mollie Hustace’s estimate of what might be possible in this challenging economic environment. On April 25, at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Ballroom, during an evening that Hustace now describes as “enchanting,” more than $675,000 was raised for the school’s financial aid program.

“Once again, the combination of great art, unique travel experiences, and an enthusiastic and generous audience resulted in an evening of elegance and financial success,” said Hustace. “How fortunate we are at HPA to be blessed with such wonderful supporters and donors!”

This year’s auction was co-chaired by Laurie Ainslie, board of trustees member and former board chair, and Bernard Noguès, Director Emeritus of Isaacs Art Center.

Wendy McClain of McClain’s Ultimate Attic on O‘ahu presided over her first HPA Scholarship Auction and tirelessly moved 54 items in three hours.

Bids ranged from $1,000 to $42,000 with spirited bidding for “hot” items such as a 15-strand Niʻihau shell lei for $7,000, Joseph Henry Sharp’s Waianae Coast Oʻahu, an oil on board, for $10,500, use of a new BMW i3 electric car for $11,500, a private Jake Shimabukuro concert for 30 people for $16,500, Lloyd Sexton’s Old Makena Fishing Shack, an oil on canvas, for $20,000; Alfred R. Gurrey, Sr.’s Ala Moana Beach, an oil on canvas, for

Left: Nancy Barnes, wife of Headmaster Lindsay Barnes, bids on an item. Top left: Headmaster Lindsay R. Barnes Jr. prepares to sing a few lines from Heartbreak Hotel to Nicole McClain. Top right: Auctioneer Wendy McClain (left) with event co-chairs Bernard Noguès and Laurie Ainslie. Above: Student bearers gather before the auction. $26,500; David Howard Hitchcock’s View from Punaluʻu, an oil on canvas, for $41,000; and Jules Tavernier’s Kilauea Eruption By Moonlight, an oil on canvas, for $42,000.

Other popular items were a curly koa demi-lune sideboard by Joshua Johansen ’00 for $8,000, Forest Light, an oil on canvas board by Harry Wishard ’70, which sold for $4,000, and a one-person canoe designed and built for the auction by March “Tiger” Taylor ’85 for $3,800. There also were numerous trips, one-of-a-kind wooden bowls, jewelry, furniture, and a Seattle concert with Taylor Swift.

Headmaster Lindsay R. Barnes Jr., who retired in June, served as guest auctioneer for the school’s Kūlia Fund, which was established during Barnes’ tenure and was the eveningʻs featured “Fund-A-Need.” Barnes raised $227,875 for The Kūlia Fund, with gifts ranging from $100 to $25,000.

Noguès, who directed every auction since the first one in 1974, said, “The dedicated teamwork and creativity of many volunteers in our HPA community were evident in the highly successful Twenty-First Scholarship Auction. It was a celebration of Ka Makani generosity, from the singular auction items and support of our Kūlia Scholars to the vibrant floral arrangements in ceramic bowls made just for the event. Everyone involved deserves our heartfelt gratitude. From all our student families, mahalo nui loa! ■

In Memoriam: Shirley Mae Isaacs / April 16, 1930 – June 15, 2015 With great charm, elegance, and sincere warmth of personality, Shirley was a supportive partner to her beloved husband, George, in his dedication to the arts and to the establishment of the Isaacs Art Center 6 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy.

Shirley was a wonderful mother to George Jr., who attended HPA in the 1970s, and a loyal friend to individual HPA families and to the larger HPA community. She recognized the importance of culture and arts in our lives and shared her husband’s belief in the great potential of the gallery to become a center for quality art to benefit both student scholarships and education.

Since its opening in 2004, the Isaacs Arts Center has raised more than $10 million for financial aid at HPA and has attracted thousands of visitors from around the world, including many school groups and art classes.

We extend our heartfelt aloha and condolences to the Isaacs family. ■

Kennedy Square Renovation Underway

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HE COURTYARD AREA outside of the Upper School’s Taylor Commons is being transformed this summer to offer students more options in entertainment, relaxation, and recreation. Work will be completed in three phases, with Phase I scheduled to be completed by the end of July.

The newly renovated area, to be renamed Kennedy Square, honors Jimmy Kennedy ’66 for his unwavering support of the school’s energy conservation and sustainable living practices.

Kennedy funded “Go Green,” the school’s first environmental studies program, with a gift of $1 million in 2008 and recently provided a $1.5 million grant to continue HPA’s growing academic reputation in the field of sustainability and energy conservation studies.

Work on Phase I began June 1 with removal of two trees and the current slab. A new slab and sidewalk have been added and courtyard-facing windows and exterior siding of the Advancement Office, Digital Media Lab, and Registrar’s Office are being replaced and improved. The budget for this phase of work is about $75,000.

Before

June 26, 2015

The Kennedy Square renovation is a marvelous opportunity to honor a true friend of HPA who has made a transformative difference to our school.

Robert McKendry

Phase II will include adding covered trellises, a photovoltaic array, and new outdoor furniture, and Phase III will include the addition of a shade canopy.

“The Kennedy Square renovation is a marvelous opportunity to honor a true friend of HPA who has made a transformative difference to our school,” said Head of School Robert McKendry. “The square will be an open, airy space conducive to gatherings and outdoor meals, with a new platform for performances or public speaking. In the same way that Mr. Kennedy has allowed us to elevate our thinking with regard to sustainability topics, the inviting space will lift our thoughts and provide an environment suited to both individual reflection and community collaboration.” ■ MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 7

[ TRANSITIONS / 2015 ]

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Aloha, Class of 2015 Photos > Bob Fewell Photography “Above all their talent, it is their bubbling sense of joyous humor, their laughter, the easiness with which they respond to living with a big laugh…

Laughter is the key…Measure the marks of your successes through the wrinkles by your eyes—wrinkles earned not from staying up late slaving away at your computers, but from laughing, smiling, forgive-laughing, love-laughing, laughing-at-yourself laughing. Laugh and in doing so, live fully.”—Richard Braithwaite, 2015 Commencement Speaker “Somewhere along the way, we became so bonded, so severely attached.

We became a family…I want each of you to know that I and we will always, always be there for you. Forever. You have my number. Use it. Saying goodbye to you is going to be the hardest thing I have ever had to do, and I love you all more than you’ll ever know.”—Eliana Kaplan ’15, 2015 Commencement Speaker and Student Council President

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HE HAWAI‘I PREPARATORY ACADEMY awarded diplomas to 113 members of the largest graduating class in school history during the Sixty-Fourth Annual Commencement Exercises on May 22 at Castle Gymnasium.

Headmaster Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr. presided at his final commencement event before retiring in June. The Reverend David Stout offered the invocation followed by speakers Laurie Ainslie, trustee, Headmaster Barnes, and Eliana Kaplan, student council president. Richard Braithwaite, senior class leader and Upper School English teacher, gave the commencement address.

Kaplan received the Headmaster’s Award and Davy Ragland was named the Senior Scholar.

During a senior awards ceremony held on May 21, the following seniors also received awards: Founder’s Award, Tanner Sakurai; Walter Liu ’65 Memorial Leadership Award, Keisuke Anzai; Kevin Kitagawa ’77 Memorial Bootstrap Award, Kauanoe Shantel Petrill-Abrojina; Phyllis A. Richards Theatre Arts Award, Haley Hoofard; Spirit of 2012 Award, Michael Reid Austin and Tina Hwang; Stanford W. Shutes Athletic Award, Anna Juan and Colin Yates; Athletes of the Year, Gabrielle Ewing and Bryan Greg Kalanikoa Ellis, Jr. Upon awarding of diplomas, the Class of 2015 presented an Oli Mahalo and their gifts of song and dance, beginning with Hole Waimea, followed by Pāpālina Lahilahi, the coed hula, Ke Alaula, the girls hula, and Hole Waimea, the boys hula.

Kumu Malani DeAguiar offered the closing prayer, with benediction

by The Reverend Stout.

Congratulations, Class of 2015! ■ Editor’s Note: Commencement photos by Bob Fewell Photography are available for purchase at: www.pictage.com/1673777. For more information, call 808-936-4231.

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Favorite Memories and Words of Wisdom from the 13Year Seniors: The 13 seniors featured on the cover started at HPA in kindergarten. After 13 years, they share their favorite memories and offer tips to current students on how to make the most of their HPA Experience.

Jessie Ainslie ‘15 “Ah, this is so hard! I think my favorite HPA memory (or I guess memories) is preparing for Olympics with my whole class. I remember junior year when we were making like 100 or so helmets for opening ceremonies at like 11 p.m. By the end of the night, our fingers were burned by hot glue guns, we were hyped up on soda, and we were singing along to the Disney Pandora station. We were all so tired and slap happy that it ended up being really fun. I remember just looking at the people around me and thinking that HPA is great because of these kinds of moments.

Encourage any and all passions while you’re here, even the ones you don’t expect. You get the most out of HPA when you let it shape you, so if you see something you want to do, do it. There are hundreds of things I did as an HPA student that I didn’t expect to do, but you have to be open to letting HPA change you because I promise you’ll change for the better.

HPA is my home and probably always will be a little bit. Words cannot describe how much I love this place. Thank you to everyone in the HPA community who helped make this place what it is. If you ever doubt if all your hard work makes a difference, just talk to any current or former HPA student and I know what they’ll say.”

What’s Next: I’ll be attending Claremont McKenna College in the fall and trying to figure out how to drive on a California highway…wish me luck. ■ Tehani Grasso ‘15 “Although there were numerous activities that were very memorable such as, Capture the Flag, May Day, and Ms. Doi’s Volcano camp, my favorite memory is going on Theme Week. For an entire week we could do anything from horseback riding to scuba diving. This 10 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

was when I was able to hang out with all my friends, get a break from school, and do something that I was interested in.

My advice would be to get involved in some kind of sport, because it builds character, encourages growth and school spirit. I would also suggest if you are ever struggling in class, don’t be afraid to ask any teacher for help. Every teacher at HPA is more then willing to help his/her students succeed.

When I first came to HPA I never expected time to go by so quickly, but you blink and you are suddenly graduating. I had such a great experience and the journey at HPA provided a nurturing and caring environment to grow up in.”

What’s Next: Enjoy my summer with my family and friends before heading to Colorado State University. While at CSU I plan to major in Animal Science and minor in Business with aspirations to become a large animal veterinarian. ■ Victoria Greco Hiranaka ‘15 “That is such a difficult question because I have had many wonderful HPA memories. Although I can without a doubt say that one of the most memorable would be Dr. Seuss Day! We were in kindergarten and we sat down in our reading clump that surrounded Mrs. Forestier as she read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, among other Dr. Seuss books. We then proceeded to make our own hats that the Cat in the Hat wears and to top it off, for lunch, we had green eggs and ham!

There are so many experiences and opportunities that HPA provides.

To make the most of the HPA experience, I’d say take advantage of these opportunities because they can open many doors in the future and some of them are truly one of a kind.

The thing about HPA is that it didn’t just prepare me for college, but it really has prepared me for life. With the courses, athletics, experiences, and extracurricular activities that are offered here, you’ll find that HPA can make you a well-rounded person.”

What’s Next: Smith College is in my almost immediate future! ■

Tucker Higgins ‘15 “[My favorite HPA memory is] winning Olympics three years in a row! Letʻs go, 2015!

Watching the sunset with the boys in my class for senior cleansing is a close second.

Take a class that you wouldn’t normally see yourself taking. I took Essentials of Film my freshman year; now that’s what I want to do in college. I never would have seen myself wanting to do that; I was always a science guy.

I wouldn’t want to have gone to school anywhere else. HPA is my home. Thank you to the HPA ‘ohana for everything you’ve done for me.”

What’s Next: I’m heading to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles to pursue my passion and make a name for myself in the film industry. After that, I’m not sure. I’ll just go where life takes me. ■ Eliana Kaplan ‘15 “I suppose my favorite HPA memory would have to be each year’s Olympics ceremonies. I am certainly an outward advocate of Olympics because it unites students in an unparalleled, indescribable manner. My memories of Olympics are those that make tears well up in my eyes and chuckles bellow in my stomach. More than anything else, Olympics has showed me the novelty of this HPA community in which we reside and exemplified how truly passionate and remarkable a class and a school can be.

Dive in. Attend every sporting event, sign up for every weekend activity, stay awake in every class, get to know every teacher, attend every performance, and appreciate absolutely everything. The little experiences add up to a culmination of unforgettable, entirely spectacular memories.

This place, its structure, and its energy are so unique, and the best thing anyone can do within it is to become totally and completely immersed.”

Whatʻs Next: I will be heading off to Dartmouth College in the fall and am looking forward to taking a variety of classes in an attempt to find my academic niche. I am hoping to continue doing community service and student leadership work and hope to continue singing in some form.

I’m sure I will be spending much of my time attempting to stay warm and missing HPA. ■

Olivia Kirkpatrick ‘15 “My favorite HPA memory is of the May Day performances we did every year as children. Starting off so young with a group of people and every year being able to perform together is really special. Practicing hula as seniors together with the same people I started with as a five-year-old is a unique experience.

HPA is everything I know. For majority of my life, it’s been a place I’ve always returned to. Not coming back next year will feel odd to me, but I believe I am prepared to go on my own because of my HPA experience. It feels like a home to me. Iʻve met some of the best people, and have a lot of memories. HPA will always stay in my heart.

Make the most of each year, stay true to who you are and what you believe in. Create friendships with people who love you for who you are; those are the friendships that will last the longest. Also, always listen to your parents when they tell you to do your homework; it pays off when you are applying to college.”

What’s Next: I’m attending Point Loma Nazarene Univ., San Diego. ■ Daniel Matsuda ‘15 “This year, our class won Olympics for the third consecutive year. It was a great feeling, because it really confirmed that we can come together. If I’m not mistaken, Class of 2015 is the second class in HPA history to win Olympics three times. This time, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors were very competitive and we’ve all elevated competitions like class number, class cheer, and talent show to another level. It was especially great that I could celebrate our victory along with so many of the people that I’ve known since Lower School.

Be yourself. HPA is a supportive community, and you shouldn’t be afraid to pursue your interests; e.g., I wish I had played more basketball in my freshman and sophomore years, even though I was bad at it. Also, make good memories. My best HPA memories came from times when I said ‘yes’ to things. Thank you to all my teachers and peers, who have taught me a lot.

You’ve done so much for me, and I deeply appreciate it.”

What’s Next: I’m attending Carleton College in Minnesota this fall. ■ MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 11

Jacob McCafferty ‘15 “My favorite HPA memory is winning cross country BIIFs in the 2013-2014 season.

It was my first year on varsity and the team was a very tight-knit group of boys. It had been our goal since track had ended the previous school year and we worked all summer long for it. At BIIFs we thought we had lost, so when they called our names for first place it was an amazing moment. We were so thrilled we even gave our coaches an icewater bath with the Gatorade coolers!

Academics are very important. Getting good grades will set you up for college and your future. At HPA, they love to help us be well-rounded with sports and unique types of classes, but one thing that we don’t focus on is the social aspect. Like I said, don’t disregard your academics or your sports commitments, but definitely make time for your friends and for making new friends. That’s one thing I wish I had done more of.”

What’s Next: I will be attending the University of California, Davis in the fall and studying Animal Science. I want to be a vet and that is what I am studying for. ■ Tanner Sakurai ‘15 “[My favorite HPA memory is] sophomore year Olympics.

Take all the opportunities you can to find out what you are passionate about, or if there is something you love, work to get time to do that and take advantage of all the freedom and programs offered at HPA.” What’s Next: I’ll be attending Humboldt State University. ■ Noor Sarwar ‘15 “One of my favorite HPA memories is when our third grade class took a camping trip to Kilohana. We had a big Easter egg hunt during the day in the forest, took a late night trip to the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, where we stargazed and ate delicious cold pizza, and then returned to the camp site at midnight where we ended the night by roasting marshmallows. Being a third grader, it was a pretty big deal staying up that late, but it was also such an unforgettable memory because it was two days of pure joy and new experiences with amazing individuals.

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My advice to students to make the most of their HPA experience is to fully immerse yourself in the HPA community and beyond. Don’t stress too much about tests and homework, and take time to enjoy the beautiful nature HPA and Hawai‘i have to offer because it is unlike anywhere else in the world. Have the courage and desire to try unfamiliar things, go on simple or wild adventures because they can be life changing, study your hardest and never give up when things get tough, cherish time with your friends and family because time goes by faster than you’d expect, and lastly, be yourself because there is honestly no one better to be.”

What’s Next: I have been selected to receive a 2015-2016 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. NSLI-Y is part of a U.S. government initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. The United States government, through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, sponsors the NSLI-Y Scholarship. The scholarship is for the Academic Year Arabic language program and will take place in Rabat, Morocco. I look forward to spending my time learning intensive Arabic, doing community service such as volunteering at a local orphanage, teaching English to children, and much more! ■ Jacob Schulman ‘15 “My favorite HPA memory is running through the forests of the Lower School, building forts, and collecting mac nuts. When we were smaller, those forests seemed endless and so dense that no light could ever shine through, but upon returning to the Lower School recently, I had a laugh with a couple of my friends about how small it actually is. I think my experience at HPA has been as full of memories as possible. I’m very, very happy with the 13 years I’ve spent at HPA and I’m proud to call myself an alumnus.

My advice is to get as immersed as you can in HPA and all of the opportunities offered, such as clubs and activities. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to teachers and get to know them because they all want you to do well.”

What’s Next: I’m going Santa Barbara City College. I look forward to living somewhere new and meeting lots of new people, but I will definitely miss my family, and my HPA family. ■ Kaliko Smith ‘15 “[My favorite HPA memory is] watching the lip sync and talent show at every Olympics.

Have fun and don’t stress yourself out over the small things. High school goes by really quickly.”

What’s Next: Going to University of Denver, where I’m planning to study animation and game development. ■ Connor Varney ‘15 “ [My favorite HPA memory is] our group getting lost on our eighth grade Theme Week, and trying to cram our whole group into three tents in the middle of nowhere, hoping we would be able to get back on the trail once the sun rose the next day.

Go to every home game you can, sit in the student section, and go crazy.”

What’s Next: College in California (Cal Poly SLO), after that who knows… ■

Photo by Patrick O‘Leary.

Hide

Victor Seven-Year Student Residents Share Their Favorite Memories and Words of Wisdom Hideyoshi (Hide) Akai ’15 and Ka Ming (Victor) Lee ‘15 have been together in the school’s residential program since sixth grade. After seven years at HPA, they share their reflections about life at HPA.

Hideyoshi (Hide) Akai ‘15: “It is im-

possible to choose one favorite memory… There are countless moments in my seven-year HPA experience that stick out and make me feel grateful that I was a part of this special community. One of my favorite memories, if I had to pick, is my senior basketball game. Regardless of the heavy rain that day, the gym was packed with people I knew – my dorm mates, Upper and Middle School teachers, day-student friends and their parents, my parents and siblings, HPA graduates, townspeople whose names I don’t even know, but always say ‘hi,’ and Headmaster Lindsay Barnes. The joy, excitement, energy, happiness, gratitude, and love that I felt when I entered the gym are unforgettable.

“I’ve never been to a place where everyone is so hospitable. Even if you are too shy to reach out, people at HPA offer their hands so they can take you to places. Go ahead and grab them. Let them show you around first, and eventually you will know what stimulates your intellectual mind, where you can find yourself at peace, who you can constantly be inspired by, when to explore in nature and also in your heart, and how to become your ideal self.

“This fall, I will attend Bowdoin College in Maine. I feel the most polished as a person when I put effort into work. I feel alive when I know that I’ve become a more complete person than I was yesterday. I want to live today fully with much joy and excitement that comes from learning and experiencing the world. I will work on whatever I believe is important to me today, so I am ready for the ‘unpredictable next’ thing I am going to face tomorrow.

“I consider myself the luckiest person alive.

‘Perfection’ is how I would describe my HPA experience. I feel this urge to visit everyone I have ever met at HPA, and to thank each and every one of them. HPA and its people certainly have become my motivation to work hard and live fully. Thank you is not enough, but it’s a start, so, once again, thank you. You all have left a positive mark in me.”

Ka Ming (Victor) Lee ’15: “My favor-

ite HPA memory is my class winning Olympics three years in a row; I do not think any other class has done that, which means we made history. We are very united and close. There is no isolation, everyone loves each other; we are like a big family. I’m sure every class is like that, but we are just special. “[My advice is] don’t be afraid to talk to other students or teachers, especially teachers, because they are always there for you. Students are really kind and polite, so do not be afraid to make conversations with them. You should start working hard from freshman year because it counts in your GPA, this is very important. For boarders, please join the weekend activities; they are super fun and this is the best way to hang out with people you don’t know yet. Enjoy the moment, it passes by quickly.

“Attending HPA costs a lot, therefore you should be thankful to your parents for giving you such an amazing opportunity to study in such an amazing place.

“This fall, I am off to the University of California, Santa Cruz. I guess I will be making that my second home!” ■ MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 13

Graziano Named Semifinalist in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Baudat Wins 2015 Aspirations in Computing Hawai’i Affiliate Award

Harmony Graziano ’15 was named one of 565 semifinalists in the 2015 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from more than 4,300 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character, and involvement in the community and school activities.

Graziano, the daughter of Paul Graziano and Sharon Snuggs of Kapa‘a, Kauai, was an active member of the HPA community. She was very involved in theater and the performing arts and her recent productions include Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, Flowers for Algernon, and the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She also was a member of the HPA varsity swimming and water polo teams and president of the Zephyr Literary Club, which produces the school’s annual literary magazine.

Graziano will continue her studies this fall at Columbia University.

Semifinalists were chosen by a panel of distinguished educators after a review of students’ essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations, and school transcripts.

HPA’s most recent U.S. Presidential Scholars are Zoe Sims ’13, who is studying at Princeton University, and Kyle Matsuda ’12, who is studying at Harvard University. ■

Senior Erina Baudat received the 2015 Aspirations in Computing Hawai‘i Affiliate Award on March 18 at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa on O‘ahu. Baudat was one of six award winners selected from high schools across Hawai‘i for their “computing-related aspirations and demonstrated, outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology/ computing; solid leadership ability; good academic history; and plans for post-secondary education.”

Baudat’s independent science research has focused on studying the therapeutic effects of music on dementia patients. She used the NeuroSky EEG headset to observe the improvement of the cognitive reactivity of patients in Kamuela, Hawai‘i and Fukuoka, Japan.

After concluding a positive effect and assistance of melodies on brain activities, Baudat is beginning to work on an EKG sensor to add another factor in brainwave research. She also started a project to see the correlation of the study environment with cognitive development using the NeuroSky brainwave recorder.

In March 2014, Baudat presented her projects at the iWorld/ MacWorld conference in San Francisco. She will attend the University of California, Los Angeles this fall, where she plans to continue her study in the neurobiology field.

The National Center for Women & Information Technology is a nonprofit community of more than 600 universities, companies, non-profits, and government organizations nationwide working to increase women’s participation in computing and technology. Find out more at ncwit.org. ■

A Joyful Afternoon at Atherton House

Seniors Create Class of 2015 Endowment

The Class of 2015 recently enjoyed lunch at Atherton House with Headmaster Lindsay Barnes. The special senior menu featured cheese, veggie, and pepperoni pizza, super food salad, watermelon slices, root beer float and sundae bars, and brownies. There were door prizes and a grandprize money lei, made from 113 dollar bills representing each member of the class. Won Jeong (Claire) Chey won the grand prize, presented at commencement.

The class also presented gifts to Headmaster Barnes—a photo taken by class member ʻAlohi Chambless and a portrait of the class taken by faculty member Patrick O’Leary. ■ 14 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

In keeping with the senior class tradition of presenting a gift to the school community, the Class of 2015 created an endowment “that will continue to impact the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy community for years to come, as we venture to grant other students the same, remarkable opportunities we have been privileged enough to have received during our time at HPA.” The Class of 2015 Endowment Fund will be invested with the school’s endowment and each year, five percent of the income will be awarded to students in need. As the fund grows through investment and contributions, so too will the award.

In a letter to their families, the class said, “Many of us have been lucky enough to attend HPA with the help of financial assistance, and it is our goal to ensure that the opportunities and experiences of HPA are available to all, regardless of financial standing. It is our diverse community made up of people of all different cultures, religions, ethnicities, backgrounds, and socioeconomic classes that makes HPA and our class so incomparably unique and special, and it is our mission to make certain that this quality will carry on far into the future.”

For more information, please contact the Advancement Office at 808881-4058 or advancement@hpa.edu. ■

Class of 2015 College Placement As of June 3, 2015 Boston University

Cornish College of the Arts

New York University

Smith College

University of Northern Colorado

Bowdoin College

Dartmouth College (3)

Oregon State University (2)

Sonoma State University

University of Oregon

Brown University (2)

Duke University

Pacific University

Southern Oregon University (6)

University of Pennsylvania

California Baptist University

Eastern Washington University

Peninsula College

St. Edward’s University

University of Portland (2)

California Polytechnic State University,

George Fox University

Pitzer College

Stanford University

University of San Diego

Hawaii Pacific University

Point Loma Nazarene University (2)

The George Washington University (2)

University of San Francisco (2)

Carleton College

Humboldt State University

Purchase College State University

United States Naval Academy

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Chaminade University of Honolulu

International Christian University

University of California, Berkeley (2)

University of the Pacific

Chapman University

Jacobs University

Reed College

University of California, Davis (2)

University of Washington, Tacoma

Claremont McKenna College

Lees-McRae College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University of California, Los Angeles (4)

Wagner College (2)

Colgate University

Lewis & Clark College

Rhode Island School of Design

University of California, Santa Cruz (2)

Walla Walla University

Colorado College

Linfield College (3)

Santa Barbara City College (2)

University of Colorado at Boulder (2)

Whittier College (2)

Colorado State University (3)

Loyola Marymount University (3)

Santa Clara University

University of Denver

Willamette University

Columbia University

Maryland Institute College of Art

Sarah Lawrence College

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Concordia University - Portland

Menlo College

Seattle University

University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (5)

San Luis Obispo (3)

of New York

Ready for High School!

Looking Forward to Middle School

Photos: Bob Fewell Photography

Kristin Tarnas’ fifth graders are excited about making the transition to Middle School this fall. Four class members shared their favorite Lower School memory and talked about what they’re looking forward to most in Middle School:

Fifty-two eighth graders participated in the transition ceremony held Wednesday evening, May 20, at Gates Performing Arts Center.

Patty Walker, K-8 assistant principal, offered the invocation. Emalia Higgins was the class speaker.

The following students were recognized with the Character Virtue Awards: Hope: Gabe Furchner Courage: Kāmau Pasadaba Loyalty: Haley Emmons Love: Ruthy Gerstenberger

Justice: Jason Lee Honesty: Chris Chock Respect: Skyler Roque-Sunahara Overall: Sihkea Jim

The class presented a hula, Kauhale, and recognized departing faculty members Robin Scarth and Lisa Van Kirk. The class also recognized Headmaster Lindsay Barnes, who is retiring in June.

The ceremony concluded with the class song, Good Riddance. After the ceremony, students, families, and friends gathered for a potluck dinner outside Gates Performing Arts Center.

Congratulations, Class of 2019! ■

Briana Harmon ’22: “My favorite Lower School memory is making gingerbread houses in first grade during Christmas. I’m excited about seeing all the new students who will join us, making new friends, having different classes and teachers.

Maile Puckett ’22: “My favorite Lower School memory is our fourth grade Volcano field trip. We went bowling in our pajamas! I’m excited about how it’s all going to be new in Middle School, our class size will double, and we’ll have new opportunities.”

Jackson Roberts ’22: “My favorite Lower School memory is seeing some of my old friends from preschool when I first came to HPA in second grade.

I’m looking forward to all the new things in Middle School—there will be a lot more variety in all areas.”

Braeden Samura ’22: “My favorite Lower School memory is when we went to our classmate’s house in Kohala for our fifth grade campout and did a lot of different activities. I’m looking forward to having new teachers, new friends, and new classes; I’m looking forward to math!” ■

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 15

FINE ARTS

HPA Student Achievers Honored Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA) honored the following Upper School students on May 11 for special achievement in academic studies, the arts, athletics, and community service.

Alumni Association Award: Nathan Ladwig and Kaili Yuen; John L. Pricher Award: Hanako Haitsuka and Will White; Holi Bergin Memorial Scholarship Award: Zen Simone; Cy Keala Spencer “Spirit of Aloha” Award: Lokelani Ching; Ulrike Katharina “Bieni” Kohler-Johnson Scholarship Award: Elizabeth Jim and Jordan Zarate; U.S. Army Reserve Scholar Athlete Award: Hideyoshi Akai and Ella Kotner; Athletic Booster Club Career Athlete Awards: Keisuke Anzai and Gabrielle Ewing; Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Champion Awards: Boys Cross Country Team (Division II) and Girls Soccer Team (Division II).

L to r: Jessica Ainslie, Photojournalism Award; Tanner Sakurai, George Watson Audio-Visual Award; Miller White, Ka Makani Musical Theatre Award; Colby Camero, Ka Makani Theatre Award; Jackson Streiter, Phyllis A. Richards Theatre Arts Scholarship; Miina Shimizu, Career Performance Award; Caylin Kojima, Instrumental Music Award; Michael Ho, Andy Ackerman Art Award; Won Jeong “Claire” Chey, Academy Art Award; Tanner Riley, Vocal Music Award; and Will White, Art History Award.

MATHEMATICS

L to r: Will White, A.P. Statistics Award; Seungyou “Bruce” Kim, Calculus Honors Award; Kieu-Giang Nguyen, AP Calculus Award; Sidney Vermeulen, Algebra II Trigonometry Award; Sanghyup “Johnny” Yoon, Geometry Award; and Kento Komatsu, Algebra I Award.

Alumni Association Award

John L. Pricher Award

U.S. Army Reserve Scholar-Athlete Award

Cy Keala Spencer “Spirit of Aloha” Award

Athletic Booster Club Career Athlete Award

Holi Bergin Memorial Scholarship Award

NEW MEMBERS OF CUM LAUDE, THE SCHOOL’S HONOR SOCIETY: Erina Baudat, Abraham Binder, Brittani Boora, Kathryn Byrnes, Megan Canniff, Savannah Cochran, Harmony Graziano, Hanako Haitsuka, Nicole Johnston, Alexander Jones, Adam Kennon, Tristan Kilkenny, Kirara Kiki Kozuma, Weixing Nie, Justin Perry, Lana Poljak, Zen Simone, Lauren Sullivan, Jordan Virtue, and Will White.

ENGLISH

L to r: Jordan Virtue, Mount Holyoke College Award; Ariana Datta, Paul Knauff Award; and Harmony Graziano, Excellence in English Award.

SOCIAL STUDIES

L to r: Noor Sarwar, Cathy Schmidel Award; Kathryn Byrnes, Ben Dillingham U.S. History Award; and Sidney Vermeulen, Jay Wilder Award for Excellence in History.

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MODERN LANGUAGE

L to r: Daniel Matsuda, Japanese Language Award; Leilani Bostock, Hawaiian Language Award; Yuxin “Rain” Du, Institute of English Studies Outstanding Progress Award; Alice Patig, Chinese Language Award; Jackson Solomon, Spanish Language Award; and Yerden Suraganov, Institute of English Studies Achievement Award.

SCIENCE

L to r: Jessica Ainslie, Environmental Science Scholar Award; Davy Ragland, Thomas Webb Mar Physics Award & The Science Award; Seungyou “Bruce” Kim, Alan Fujimoto Chemistry Award; Jackson Solomon, Engineering Award; and Ella Kotner, Joseph Martire Biology Award.

Cheng, Grant Receive B.F. Dillingham Award for Inspirational Teaching

Phillip Cheng, Upper School Mandarin and math teacher, and Cathy Grant, third grade teacher, received this year’s B.F. Dillingham Awards for Inspirational Teaching. Martin Ferrell, dean of academics, and Midge Jambor, K-8 principal, presented the awards at the school’s year-end celebration on May 29 at the Energy Lab. “Phillip embodies the concept of master teacher,” said Ferrell. “He is a master architect of lessons, a master questioner, and, a master of patience and calm. He is a master of assessment – crafting each assessment tool to best target the learning outcome. Perhaps even greater than his patience, is his willingness to rigorously reflect on his craft, constantly working to make each aspect of his instruction better.”

In her presentation, Jambor described Grant as someone who “has worn, and continues to wear, many hats. Cathy has an outcome-driven leadership style that enhances her role as an Instructional Leader, inspiring and coaching teachers to hone their practices and celebrate their growth. As a classroom teacher, she motivates students not only to learn, but to learn to love learning. She is a compassionate friend to many and unselfishly works to share her ideas, make our work exciting, and hold us accountable for greatness.”

The B.F. Dillingham Award for Inspirational Teaching was established

by Gaylord Dillingham ’66 in memory of his father. The award, which includes a $1,500 grant for each recipient, recognizes a K-8 teacher and a 9-12 teacher, nominated by their peers, who share their love of learning, motivate students, and bring a positive view of the world through their words and actions. ■

Lupe Diaz Honored with Ellbogen Meritorious Teaching Award Thirty-four year HPA veteran Lupe Diaz, who teaches Upper School math, was presented with this year’s Ellbogen Meritorious Teaching Award

by Headmaster Lindsay Barnes on May 11 at the Upper School Awards assembly. Diaz, a three-time recipient of this award, received a check for $3,000.

The Ellbogen Meritorious Teaching Award was established in 1998 by Mary Ellbogen Garland ’77, Patrick Ellbogen ’78, and Theresa Ellbogen ’82 to recognize excellence in the classroom and in every other aspect of HPA life. The award is one of the greatest honors an HPA Upper School teacher can receive because awardees are determined by a vote of all members of the Upper School student body.

Jaime Johnson Publishes Children’s Book Jaime Johnson, Upper School English teacher, recently published her first book, The Ghost of Donley Farm, and shared her story as a featured author at the Lynn Taylor Library.

“After college, I worked at two large nature preserves in Ohio,” said Johnson. “I took school groups around the preserve and the best part was working with animals you’d find in Ohio, such as bald eagles, hawks, bobcats, and foxes.”

Many of the animals were brought to the preserves because they were injured. After rehabilitation, the animals were released back into the wild.

“We were a hospital for wild animals,” she said.

Johnson’s experience at the preserves inspired her to learn more about nature and to write a book that teaches children about animals.

Author Jaime Johnson with kindergarteners and first graders at the Lynn Taylor Library.

The Ghost of Donley Farm is about a red-tailed hawk, Rebecca, and a barn owl, Bernard, who meet and are surprised to discover that although they are different, they have much in common. The story is based in Ohio and Johnson included animals and plants found there in her story.

“I wanted to write a book that was truthful,” she said.

Johnson admits writing a book “was harder than I thought.” She spent a year writing and revising her story; illustrations by Laurie Allen Klein took more than a year.

Despite the long process, Johnson has “a slew of stories in work” and recently submitted another book to a publisher.

For more information about The Ghost of Donley Farm, visit www. arbordalepublishing.com. ■ Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Jaime Johnson, her husband, Richard Braithwaite, and son, Eli, who recently welcomed daughter (and sister) Summit to the family!

During his presentation, Barnes shared some of the student comments about Diaz submitted during the voting: “[He] is the one teacher you can tell anything to and he will do everything in his power to help you no matter what the cost.”

“Simply put, he is the most positive individual I have ever met.”

“He makes me feel good about myself and pushes me to do great, or try my best in everything, in and out of school.” ■ MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 17

An Interview with Headmaster

18 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

Headmaster Lindsay Barnes recently sat down with Ma Ke Kula to reflect on his seven-year tenure as the headmaster at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. He spoke openly on a wide range of subjects, including what he sees as the “next steps” for the school.

How would you describe the headmaster’s role at HPA?

There is no single “role.” The position is full of “roles.” Back in the day, a headmaster was just that – the “head master” or the most accomplished teacher who also wished to administer a school. Now, a head of school has to spend much of her or his day engaged in a number of activities, among these the following: finance, fundraising, friend-raising, ensuring an effective delegation of authority, internal oversight of people and departments, ensuring that principles of good governance are known and respected, suggesting mission-related policy initiatives for consideration by trustees, external relations, through herself/himself of other administrators – serving as liaison between the Board and the school community, staying abreast of legalities and risk management developments, coordinating with others in times of crisis or celebration, appreciating the past, living in the now, and planning for the future. And weaved into all of this is working with others to help set the “tone” or “persona” of a school.

What has been your biggest challenge as headmaster?

Budgeting and finance. Believe it or not, HPA is not awash in disposable income. Never has been.

Might never be. We have to watch our dollars very, very carefully, while still trying to move

the school ever forward with top-notch faculty, attuned administrators, and programs that are appealing to, and truly preparatory of, our young people and deemed meritorious by their parents or caregivers.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Nearly every accomplishment here at HPA has been, and will continue to be, a team effort. It’s all about this “academy” of learning, isn’t it?

It’s not about one person. What has made me “happiest” about my work here are at least four items in no particular order: (1) the intentionality and thoughtfulness now underpinning our residential life program, (2) our students and the joy they have brought to my life and the life of our school – both in the classroom and in extracurriculars like sports and the performing arts, (3) working with others to help establish The Kūlia Scholarship Fund and to admit to HPA with Kūlia Fund assistance some of the finest young people I have ever met, and (4) playing a small part in building a team that has, I believe, succeeded in strengthening our academic program and lifting up – with real justification – the reputation of HPA in the eyes of college and university admissions officers and potential students and their parents.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Yes. I would have (a) better prepared myself for the finance-related demands of the job, (b) initiated certain internal changes sooner than was the case, and (c) somehow found a way to leave my office work more frequently to spend more time with the wonderful students and adults at the Village Campus, while still maintaining the relationships I’ve enjoyed with our Upper School students and faculty.

What are some common misconceptions about HPA?

The misconceptions are several, and, partly, they stem from the calculated manner in which some who do not know the “real” HPA wish to portray us. The particular misconception that has always stuck in my craw the most is the one to the effect that HPA is “a bunch of rich haoles.” Nothing could be further from the truth. I challenge anyone anywhere to find a more diverse student population (in terms of ethnicity, economic means, country of origin, religion, race, culture, etc.) in the world of independent schools. What we have here is the most amazing blend of all of the demographic factors listed above, and many others. Also, more than half of our students – especially those from the island of Hawai‘i – are able to attend HPA because of the financial aid their families receive from our school. We are a MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 19

generous and loving community of really, really, really good people from all walks of life, and we care for one another deeply.

You’ve completed major planning initiatives for the school, including a new strategic plan, vision statement...what do you see as the next steps for the school?

Our current strategic plan is extraordinarily ambitious, one of the most ambitious I’ve ever seen. And with ambition (especially as ambition relates to the matter of facilities improvements), huge amounts of money can be involved. For the immediate future, I see the next major steps relating to long-term HPA planning to be four in number: (1) under Robert’s leadership and probably in the fall and winter seasons of 20152016, conducting an in-depth feasibility study to help solidify long-term planning priorities and, especially, to give the school an idea of what can be reasonably raised in funding the priorities via a capital campaign; (2) again with Robert leading the way and with the significant involvement of 15-20 strong supporters of HPA, revisiting the current strategic plan to determine any modifications or adjustments that may be necessary over the next three to five years or, in the alternative, developing via this group and others a new plan with a predicted life of six to 10 years, (3) principally through our Board of Trustees, developing the discipline to

20 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

view the use of certain funds as vital, essential long-term investments in the health of our school, investments that may not pay dividends in a particular fiscal year but which will richly benefit the school over the longer haul; and (4) to accompany our mission statement and our new vision statement, developing a set of core values which will have the effect of putting all who love and serve HPA “on the same page” when describing the strengths of our school and the principles for which we stand – both now and into the future.

What is HPA’s best kept secret?

At the moment and speaking with some specificity, one of our best-kept secrets may well be the extraordinary work—a good amount of it still behind the scenes—to establish across all disciplines the context for capstone projects and the best timeline and substantive steps to be taken in fully implementing this new element of the HPA Experience. I feel strongly that the fruits of this labor will augment our current curriculum in the most exciting, intellectually stimulating, and, for our students, preparedly valuable of ways. We have other great and inspiring secrets, too, but I’ll leave these to Robert to reveal at later dates. Stay tuned!

Where would you like to see HPA five years from now? 10 years?

With respect to physical features, my hope is that, within five to 10 years, the HPA Middle School program (perhaps with an impressively designed, funded, staffed and re-introduced boarding component for grades 7 or 8, or both) will be located on the Kohala Mountain Road acreage. If our K-5 program remains at the Village Campus (a debatable point, for sure), then, over the next five years, my hope would be that the Village Campus facilities would be significantly improved. The visitor lodge kindly donated to HPA by Woody Woods has served our K-8 program well, but major renovations are now in order if any part of our academic program is to remain there. Other than the distinctive placebased academic programming referenced earlier, a third matter about which I would like for HPA to be able to say “mission accomplished” within five to 10 years is (a) the complete flowering of all the academic integrity-related matters referenced in our strategic plan, the same concepts that form the heart of our present Instructional Leader system and (b) a consequent elevation of our faculty compensation packages to the highest independent school level in Hawai‘i and on par with all West Coast and East Coast schools with which we are in yearly competition when it comes to recruiting and retaining the best teachers possible.

Board of Trustees Establishes The _ Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr. Kulia Scholarship Fund At its June 11, 2015 meeting on O‘ahu, the HPA Board of Trustees paid tribute to retiring Headmaster Lindsay Barnes for his contributions to the school. Board chairman Gregory R. Mooers presented Barnes with a Certificate of Commendation, which establishes The Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr. Kūlia Scholarship Fund to “honor his vision and to connect in perpetuity the students with the award that bears his name.”

Barnes was instrumental in establishing The Kūlia Fund in 2009 “to bring to life his dream of a more diverse and vibrant student body.”

Nearly every accomplishment here at HPA has been, and will continue to be, a team effort.

What has been the best part about being headmaster at HPA?

The answer to this question is not difficult at all.

It’s simple: living and working on the wonderful island of Hawai‘i and, day-in and day-out, having the opportunity to be with colleagues and students who have inspired me beyond all measure and made me a better person than ever before in my life.

Do you have a favorite HPA memory you’d like to share?

I’d get into a lot of trouble if I selected a “favorite” memory from these past seven years. I will say, however, that I have shed tears of joy here (for instance, the many kindnesses extended to me and Nancy – especially during this, our final year at HPA), and, on occasion, tears of sadness, too.

A person never forgets moments like these. For as long as my mind is sound, I’ll cherish them all.

As you look back over your tenure, is there someone who inspired you, or someone you look to as your role model?

Many students have inspired me. I shouldn’t name them here, but they know who they are.

The same goes for a number of administrators, faculty members, staff members, the “heavy lifters” in our ‘Ohana Association, and trustees.

They, too, know who they are. More historically, the more I came to learn about Headmaster James Taylor, the greatest of all HPA headmasters, the more inspirational his story became to me.

How would you like to be remembered and how would you like your tenure as headmaster to be remembered?

As someone who gave all he had to give, who labored long and hard and lovingly, and who, with an effective mix of good humor, selfeffacement, and serious reflection, succeeded with some degree of permanence in improving the lives of his students, his colleagues, and his school. ■

At this year’s Scholarship Auction, held April 25 [see story on page 6], Barnes served as guest auctioneer for the featured “Fund-A-Need” portion of the program, which raised more than $225,000 to benefit The Kūlia Fund. During his tenure, this endowed fund has grown to nearly $3.5 million, and 88 students have distinguished themselves as Kūlia Scholars.

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 21

HPAacademics Martin Ferrell, Dean of Academics

Over the last year, we have continued our important work in building an academic program that aligns with the 2012 Strategic Plan goal of better training our students to be global citizens prepared to thrive in our world today and our world of the future. To this end, we launched two major programmatic components: the OneWorld cultural immersion experiences and pilot capstone projects in the fifth, eighth, and twelfth grades.

OneWorld Program For the first time, we offered a range of schoolsponsored student trips in partnership with the World Leadership School (WLS) and the Pacific Asian Affairs Council (PAAC). In March, 40 students from the Middle and Upper Schools and 10 teachers traveled to China, India, Japan, O‘ahu, and Peru for about two weeks (see our students’ stories, opposite). Based on these successful experiences, we will offer these trips again, while adding Middle School trips to Costa Rica and Washington, D.C. and an Upper School trip to New Zealand. Language and cultural immersion and community service work will continue to be dual foci of the experiences. The HPA ‘Ohana Association generously provided critical financial aid funding to help defray costs for students in need. Our ultimate goal is to fully fund these trips for all Middle and Upper School students, so these experiences become an integral part of the greater HPA Experience.

Capstone Projects Many of our teachers have long included project work as an essential component of their course work. Transforming these projects into the culminating capstone experiences is programmatically essential for two reasons. By definition, a capstone experience will reliably assess a student’s proficiency in the core 21st century skills of communication (oral and written), collaboration, creativity and creative problem solving, and critical analysis of information. Building these culminating experiences into the transition grades at HPA will facilitate alignment of the overall curriculum providing key indicators of a child’s readiness for the next stage in her education.

As important as skill assessment is the way these capstone experiences provide a forum for students to explore in depth a content area of passion, engaging in project work at the highest level. This year, all fifth and eighth graders will have capstone experiences as part of their required course work. Fifth graders will participate in an extensive study of bees, complete with an in-class observation hive. Eighth graders can choose from capstone electives such as Health and Habits, Robotics and Agriculture, Coral Reef Ecology, and One Planet Living. Teachers have collaborated to build courses that offer comparable exceptional experiences, each with its own version of truly experiential education. Although not required at this stage, seniors also will have access to a number of capstone elective courses, including: Advanced Science Research, Advanced Computer Technology, Agroecology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Current World Issues, Environmental Literature, Humor in Literature, Oceanography, Robotics, and Science of Surf.

Great things are happening at HPA. With our OneWorld cultural immersion programs and our transformative capstone course experiences, we are fulfilling the core of the school’s mission to provide truly exceptional learning opportunities for all of our students. ■ 22 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

[student] voices Nonstop Adventures on O‘ahu, The Gathering Place By > Noah Wise ‘17 / Photos > Corey Humphrey After eight years of school at Kanu o ka ‘Aina, where there was Hawaiian language and culture integrated into my education every day, where even the games I played were Hawaiian-based majority of the time, I decided to try something new.

I came to Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy in the seventh grade, and I decided to take my first year of Spanish language in eighth grade. The following year, as a freshman, I continued on this path, taking Spanish again, but things changed that year. I began to miss the language and culture I grew up with. So this year, as a sophomore, I decided to take Hawaiian language instead of Spanish. Since the beginning of the year I was pleased with my choice to re-enter Hawaiian language, but little did I know that I would be going on a trip that would make me ecstatic about my decision.

On March 15, 2015, one of the greatest trips of my life began. Eight Hawaiian language students, our Hawaiian language teacher, Kumu Malani DeAguiar, Upper School English teacher Corey Humphrey, and I flew to the island of O‘ahu. Even at that time I had a feeling this was going to be a good trip because of the people traveling with me—four of my good friends and four other students and a teacher I didn’t really know. But over the

Transcending the Restrictions of Time By > Will White ‘16 / Photos > Rika Inaba You know you’ve had an outstanding vacation when it involves transcending the restrictions of time to enjoy the world through omnipotent eyes, but from the body of a mere human. I can personally verify this statement; I was a part of HPA’s 2015 Japan trip, and did have a great time.

Now let me slow down and translate that dramatic introduction, focusing on some of the tangible bits of the dominantly spiritual experience my friends and I had.

Our grand journey began in dullness; the dull hum of jet turbines from behind glass, the dull flavors of airplane meals, and the dull pain of knees starved of their need to stand and stretch. When we landed in Osaka, we were yet a few more train rides from the floor mats and futons reserved for us in Kyoto, of which we had fantasized since the second round of peanuts wasn’t enough to stifle our sighs. We retired for the night with heads in a haze of travel fatigue.

But when the mist cleared and the sun rose the next morning, so many strange and wonderful things showed their shining faces. Among the shiniest were: Thousands gathered in a stadium, texting their friends about the excitement and dreading the traffic on the way home, preparing to watch a sumo match that would not be so different from the first of its kind millennia ago. A window directly to events far in the past opened up right then and there for me to enjoy. Such opportunities are rare in America, and do not extend back so far in the past when they do arise.

Left: The O’ahu Travel Group—Front row: Anela DeAguiar and Corey Humphrey; Middle Row: Malani DeAguiar, Allie Freitas, Taimane Kamaka, and Kilinahe Grace. Back Row: Noah Wise, Lyons Wong, and Lome Tufaga. Not pictured: Leilani Bostock.

Center Top: Kayaking and stand up paddle boarding at the Secret Beach. Center Bottom: Allie Fretias makes a new friend at Kualoa Ranch. Above: Students play Pukana, a Maori game as they travel to the secret beach.

course of this trip, I grew very close with every single one of these people.

When we arrived at Leilani Bostock’s home I was simply blown away by the size and beauty of it. I call that place a home because of the family living there, their amazing generosity and kindness made it so much more than just a beautiful house. I have amazing memories that will stay with me forever from that home—from Lua instructors teaching us self-defense and how to do an eight braid, which was very complicated, to the relaxing evenings we spent cooking, playing cards, and performing hula and music for the Bostock family as a mahalo from all of us.

Every day on O‘ahu was filled with nonstop adventures. We traveled to many beaches, we went up mauka (to the mountains) and a lot more inbetween. Some of my favorite moments of the trip were when we went to Waimea Bay, relaxed in the water, caught some waves, and jumped off the rocks right after our hike up Waimea Valley, where we helped clean and get rid of invasive plants, and played makahiki games. Another highlight of this trip was when we hiked up Mauna Kapu, learned about the area, and enjoyed a beautiful view of almost the entire island. Overall it was a great trip and if I were given the opportunity I would do it again in a heartbeat! ■

Left top: Ricardo Falco, Clarence Chardeau, and Will White enjoy ramen (noodle soup) and gyoza (dumplings) in Hiroshima. Left bottom: Deer greet students at the entrance of Miyajima Island in Hiroshima. Center: Rika Inaba, Upper School Japanese teacher, Will White, Clarence Chardeau, Riccardo Falco, and Jin Wei at Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto, a Buddhist temple built by Ashikaga Shogun. Above: Jin Wei shows students how to “shaka” at Shinjo High School, a boarding school in Hiroshima.

Later in the trip I stepped off a ferry ready to unload the cars it had carried over, and was greeted by an inquisitive deer, looking up from its lounging in the sunset. Just as people centuries ago looked into the eyes of the animal deemed the messenger of God and imported to Itsukushima Shrine for that reason, I smiled at the deer in pleasant surprise. The eyes of a generation of humans connect with those of a generation of cute and furry religious symbols. And it was not only America that was represented in this exchange, but also Germany, France, and China. I looked around to see my friends from HPA’s dorms, each squirming to contain his boyhood fascinations with wildlife long forgotten.

Time melted away even more when we visited the site of a former

nuclear wasteland, charred with the evil of an entire nation, now healed into a busy city glowing with unfathomable forgiveness not a century later. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial was indeed full of horrible images as difficult to bear as the ability of the Japanese consciousness to move on from the atrocities of World War II toward a peaceful future is admirable.

Visiting a culture with such a long history is something magical. It is as if each human experience that has occurred in each location remains swirling around in the air to be overheard and inhaled by society to come.

Feeling this has inspired me to place high priority on world travel as I enter the next phase of my life and education. And I now take this time to offer my thanks to HPA for expanding my life in this way. ■ MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 23

[faculty] profile Lois Inman

By > Lisa M. Dahm

Upper School Library Media Specialist, John Edward Dyer Memorial Library

T

O LOIS INMAN, building a great school library takes more than the right lighting and well-stocked shelves—her goal at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy is to create a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable, inspired, and supported.

According to her colleagues and students, the Upper School librarian’s humble, steady, yet enthusiastic spirit fills the library with authenticity and acceptance that naturally attracts them.

“I try to make sure I know each student,” Inman said. “One of the biggest goals was for this to be a friendly place where the students can gather. It is not a quiet library.”

Born and raised on O‘ahu in Palolo, Inman graduated from Kaimuki High School, attended the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, and transferred to the University of Northern Colorado. There, she met her future husband, Jeff, who attended the Air Force Academy and went on to serve as a pilot in the Air Force.

Inman began her career as a teacher at Kualapu‘u School on Molokaʻi, but her classroom opened up as the pair married and traveled throughout the United States. Inman taught in South Dakota, lived in Mississippi and Michigan, subbed in Oklahoma, and earned two master’s degrees, one in education (from Mississippi State) and one in library and information studies (from the University of Oklahoma), blending her teaching career with her other favorite love—the library.

“I have always had an interest in that,” she said of library science. “In middle school and high school, I was always a library aide. It didn’t dawn on me it was something that appealed to me as a career.”

During their time on the mainland, the family grew to include son, Wilson ’09, and eventually a move back to Hawai‘i, where daughter Madison ’14 was born.

After returning to Hawai‘i in 1995 and working at Pa‘auilo for four years, then four more from 2001 to 2005, Inman began at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy at the Village Campus’ Lynn Taylor Library. Two years later, she moved to the Upper School’s John Edward Dyer Memorial Library, home to 17,000 books and periodicals with access to millions of other digital resources.

With a quick smile and persistent fortitude, Inman teaches all her students basic and invaluable research skills—how to navigate a library, how to use databases, how to create citations and other mandatory skills students need for researching and writing papers in high school, college, and beyond.

For the past two years, Inman has co-taught the Freshman Foundations class with teachers Patrick O’Leary and Daena Craven. Through the class

24 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

She enjoys watching the students grow vertically and in their depth of character.

Stephanie McDowell series, the team introduces students to current issues in Hawai‘i and to Hawaiian history, where they learn to examine different perspectives with collaboration and respect, which teaches them to understand others.

“The number of students Lois works with one-on-one is amazing— she is always a source of steadiness,” O’Leary said. “She doesn’t want any attention, but she is always there. She has a peacefulness that is pretty remarkable.”

Inman not only serves as librarian and educator, she also is an advisor to 10 students and was the co-dean of the Class of 2015 with science teacher Stephanie McDowell. The two have been in the same cohort of advisors since 2007, and will serve as co-deans for the Class of 2019.

“Lois has true aloha for her students,” McDowell said. “She enjoys watching the students grow vertically and in their depth of character. She is eternally proud of the students and what they can do and accomplish.”

McDowell said Inman’s patience with the students is unparalleled, which empowers them to take on more responsibility and “allows them to begin to run class functions themselves.”

“Lois leads from behind; she gives so many opportunities for the students and student leaders to be part of the discussion and planning,” McDowell said. “She takes every chance to allow students to generate the plan or decision and then takes the steps (no matter how much work is involved) to help deliver or facilitate their request.”

Inman said she enjoys serving as a class dean and getting to know and mold a class of students, helping them develop their character through perseverance and courage by nurturing their strengths and building up their areas of challenge.

CONTINUED ON P.42

[student] spotlight Middle School Students Donate $6,500+ to 25 African NGOs Twenty-four sixth graders raised more than $2,500 and donated a total of $6,609.24 to 25 non-governmental organizations in 22 African countries as part of their social studies unit on the great continent of Africa.

Middle School teacher Matt Piercy introduced The Will to Give about three years ago, giving students an unprecedented opportunity to learn not only about the geography, environment, and culture of their respective African countries, but to delve even deeper by researching their country’s largest social justice issues and supporting those issues with a donation from the class.

Piercy noted how impressed he was with his students’ initiative and their passion for helping others.

Some of the student fundraising activities included mowing lawns, babysitting, calling relatives to share their projects and ask for support, presenting to employees at Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope Corporation (CFHT), speaking at church, and putting a jar out at the local Farmers Market.

In reflecting on what they learned from the process, student responses included: “Teamwork.” “I learned what an NGO is and what they do.” I learned how to be more humble and thankful for what I have.” “Helping people in need feels good.”

“Anything can help, no matter how small.” ■ Sixth graders Melia Honda (left) and Kayla Tadaki count the money classmates donated to their selected NGO.

Walking the Halls of Congress Six Upper School students—Casimir Dahrouch, George Donev, Jordan Grainger, Catharine Gussman, Noa Walker, and Jinzhi Wei— participated in the 2015 Global Student Sustainability Congress May 30June 13, in partnership with The Madeira School in Virginia. Arati Clarry, HPAʻs director of student programs, and faculty member Patricia Kassis led the group. The 2014 Congress was held last summer at HPA. This year, students were immersed in the natural, historical, and cultural wonders of Washington, D.C., where they learned about the sustainability challenges of this unique location and designed solutions to their chosen challenges.

Highlights included visiting the offices of Hawaii’s U.S Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (pictured) and U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, where the students discussed environmental issues in Hawai‘i, including access

to sustainable food sources, wastewater management, water conservation, and advocacy through education. Other highlights included touring the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant and meeting with nature conservation lobbyist Zach Amittay at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Read more about the 2015 Global Student Sustainability Congress at https://madhpatakedc.wordpress.com/ ■

Happiness Is…Summer at HPA! It’s a beautiful summer at HPA! Students are enjoying all of the summer programs on and off campus, including lively and inspiring summer session classes, Ka Makani Kids Camp, swimming, tennis, and the brand new Summer Outdoor Program! Here are highlights. ■ Top left: Ka Makani Kids campers display their mural, “Be the Solution to Ocean Pollution,” during their Ocean Wonders week. Top right: Fine-tuning ‘ukulele skills at the School of Rock.

Bottom l to r: Learning to swim at the Summer Swim Academy. Center: Building and programing a robot at the Energy Lab. Right: Preparing taro in Waipio Valley during the Summer Outdoor Program. Photo courtesy Jaime Johnson.

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 25

HPAstudentcouncil Eliana Kaplan ‘15, President

On May 22, 113 graduates crossed the stage in the gymnasium, received their diplomas, and became the newest alumni group at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. As they did so, eighth grade students became freshmen, freshmen became sophomores, sophomores became juniors, and the junior class advanced to the top of the food chain as the class of 2016. Though the goodbyes were difficult and the tears were many, students left for summer break with nothing but fond memories of the second semester of the 2014-2015 academic year.

This semester featured International Day, Olympics, music-filled evenings, around-theisland outdoor activities, and solemn goodbyes to the senior class and our beloved headmaster, Mr. Barnes.

During International Day in February, students enjoyed cultural workshops and an extravagant lunch feast consisting of studentprepared foods from hometowns across the globe.

The lunch lines were long, but the food was to die for, and the excitement carried on as students filed into Gates Performing Arts Center to watch a series of spectacular cultural performances from dozens of regions represented at HPA. The day concluded with the uncontrollable laughter as the student body viewed a video created by some students from Japan, which culminated in a live vocal performance that left the audience standing and cheering for more.

New Student Council Officers The 2015-2016 Student Council Officers are Emma Ostrem, secretary; Hana Haitsuka, vice president; Will White, president; and Jordan Grainger, treasurer.

In March, the 37th Annual Upper School Olympic Games commenced and classes competed in a series of events for three days, with each class striving to be crowned Olympic champions. This yearʻs theme was “Greek Gods and Goddesses,” and the freshmen competed as Zeus and Hera, the sophomores as Artemis and Apollo, the juniors as Hades and Aphrodite, and the seniors as Ares and Athena. Many of the events centered around the Be-you-tiful project, and each class created a video involving a majority of the student body that encouraged self confidence and furthered appreciation of life and of the environment.

Classes additionally raised money for their individual charities through a Penny War competition and collected non-perishable goods for the Food Bank. Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of this year’s Olympic was the faculty lip sync. Dozens of faculty members took the stage in wild costumes to perform a medley of songs to thunderous applause and laughter. After students competed in hundreds of events, including Tugof-War, Circle Sit, Hula, Indoor Soccer, Sidewalk Art, Poker, Talent Show, and Lip Sync, the Class of 2015 was awarded the first place title for its third, and final, year.

Other events on campus this semester included a Student Council sponsored Charity

Ball, the Student Art Show, and Lava Lounge series. This year’s Charity Ball at Huala-lai featured a masquerade theme, and students enjoyed a great experience while supporting the American Red Cross with a donation that crept well into the thousands.

The spectacular Student Art Show, otherwise known as the “social event of the season,” showcased students’ art and the student-created literary magazine, Zephyr, made its debut. Further, much of the student populace attended the final Lava Lounge festivities at Headmaster Barnes’ residence, where students and faculty members showed off their talents, ate delicious food, and enjoyed the final display of musical styling by Headmaster Barnes before his retirement.

This year was full of joy and opportunities, and it is expected that next year will hold only more improvement as more student-focused events are planned and an upcoming revision of the Student Council Constitution promises to provide more opportunity for students to get involved in student life. Though bittersweet goodbyes were said with the graduation of the class of 2015 and the start of summer vacation, the 2015-2016 school year will hold only the continued focus on HPA traditions and the expansion of opportunities for HPA students. ■

Upper School Student Art Show: The Social Event of the Season!

The Upper School’s Student Art Show was held in May at the Gerry Clark Art Center. Along with the featured student work this yearʻs edition of Zephyr, the student-created literary magazine, also made its debut.

Photos by Patrick O’Leary. ■

26 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

Celebrating Our International Community

Let the Games Begin!

The 2015 Olympics Week officially opened Monday evening, March 9, with ceremonies in Castle Gymnasium. Upper School classes took this yearʻs theme, “Greek Gods and Goddesses,” to heart with the freshmen as Hera and Zeus, the sophomores as Artemis and Apollo, the juniors as Aphrodite and Hades, and the seniors as Athena and Ares.

Classes engaged in friendly and spirited competition throughout the week, leading to the much-anticipated Class Lip Sync and Talent Show on March 11.

Top: Japanese Tea Ceremony workshop leaders pictured l to r: Maria Yamada, Kosuke Shimamura, Kako Ito, Rika Inaba, Upper School Japanese teacher; community volunteer Mrs. Akiko Yamakawa, and Yuki Furusho.

Left: Yerden Suraganov, Alina Sabyr, and Alua Jumabayeva of Kazakhstan serve olivie, a traditional New Year’s dish.

Mailani Neal (left) and Taimane Kamaka practice throwing sticks (rakau) at the Maori Culture workshop. The students then learned a Maori dance, Tititorea, using the implements.

In January, Upper School students learned more about the many countries and cultures represented at the school during International Day. Students attended a wide variety of morning workshops, including Calligraphy, Chinese Sugar Drawing, Fan Painting, Jamaican Dance Hall, Japanese Tea Ceremony, Kazakhstan Games, Korean Games, Makahiki Games, Maori Culture, Origami, Papaoutai, Pentaleuque, and more.

The highly-anticipated international luncheon featured mouthwatering dishes prepared by students. The menu included bulgogi (Korea), arroz con leche, fish ceviche, cauliflower ceviche, and horchata (Spanish Club), bubble tea (Taiwan), bun cha (Vietnam), chocolate covered everything (Switzerland), jerk chicken (Jamaica), olivie (Kazakhstan), poutine (Canada), ratatouille and green lentil salad (France), saltibarsciai (a cold beet soup from Lithuania), schnitzel and kaiserschmarrn (Germany), spicy chicken and edible sugar art (China), sweet potato and kalua pig (Hawai‘i), and udon (Japan).

The day ended with another very popular event—a talent show featuring performances from around the world. ■

The final evening of the 2015 Olympics opened with a Hawaiian ʻOli

by Kumu Malani DeAguiar’s Hawaiian language students. The employee Lip Sync set the tone for the evening with spirited performances that included Headmaster Lindsay Barnes in the employee finale, Eye of the Tiger.

Head of School-Elect Robert McKendry offered a heartwarming rendition of Bruno Mars’ Count On Me on saxaphone, accompanied on piano by his daughter, Malia. McKendryʻs son, Caleb, provided the lyrics on a large screen, while the audience enthusiastically sang along.

Class Lip Sync and Talent Show competitions were outstanding and ranged from impressive dance routines to a Grease medley to Human, Stand By Me, and Sound of Silence.

As the results were being tallied, Headmaster Barnes and his band rocked the house. All too soon, it was time to announce the results. Arati Clarry, director of student programs, and Headmaster Barnes presented the following awards and announced the overall results: Spirit Award: Seniors and Sophomores (tie), ʻOhana Award: Seniors, Overall: Seniors. ■ MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 27

On Stage at Gates Performing Arts Center

Classic Rock: The Twenty-Second Annual ‘Ukulele Festival

“Classic Rock” was the theme of this year’s Twenty-Second Annual ‘Ukulele Festival held on March 7. More than 120 students from Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, Kealakehe Intermediate School, and Waikoloa Schools performed under the direction of Dagan Bernstein, Barbara Kopra, and Georgia Poláková (HPA); Gloria Juan (Kealakehe), and Lani ʻOpunui (Waikoloa).

The festival featured arrangements of “classic rock” songs and dances from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, with a special appearance by Headmaster Lindsay Barnes. In celebrating the timeless quality of this music, students performed arrangements of some classic favorites from Led Zeppelin, Queen, Santana, Aerosmith, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Eagles, Steppenwolf, Journey, Cream, Van Halen, Joan Jett, and Black Sabbath. ■

Ka Makani Players Present Lost in Yonkers

Kindergarteners and First Graders Shine in Hansel and Gretel Eat Right!

The Upper School’s Ka Makani Players presented Neil Simonʻs award-winning Lost in Yonkers February 26-28. The cast featured Wolfgang Brennan as Jay, Colby Camero as Arty, Ian Laude as Eddie, Christine Ocheltree as Bella, Jackson Streiter as Grandma Kurnitz, Miller White as Louie, and Sarah Emmons as Gert. Theatre instructor Marina Tichotsky was the director and costume designer, with set and lighting design by Jared Terpak. ■ Kindergarteners and first graders presented their musical performance, Hansel and Gretel Eat Right!, on February 6. The Brothers Grimm fairy tale took on a new twist, as described in the opening song lyrics, “it’s a new edition, all about nutrition.” Hansel and Gretel Eat Right! was presented in conjunction with the students’ health curriculum and zero waste initiative, reinforcing the importance of eating well and taking care of your body and the Earth. Lower School music teacher Georgia Poláková directed. ■

Our Middle School’s Got Talent!

‘Ukulele players, rappers, vocalists, pianists, a rock band, and Tahitian dancers performed at the Middle School Talent Show on May 5. ■ 28 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

Malama Honua: To Take Care of Our Foundations

The Lower School held its annual May Day celebration on May 1 at the school’s Gates Performing Arts Center. This yearʻs program, Malama Honua: To Take Care of Our Foundations, honored the worldwide voyage of Hokuleʻa and recognized “our reverence for the world we live in.”

The school also recognized Headmaster Lindsay Barnes, who retired in June. Members of the fifth grade class represented Na Aliʻi o Hawaiʻi, and special guests included students from Kumu Malani DeAguiar’s Upper School Hawaiian Language Honors IV class, who performed with the second graders. ■

Reflections: An Evening Of Song, Dance, Music, And Poetry Upper School performing arts students presented their spring production, Reflections: An Evening of Song, Dance, Music, and Poetry on April 23 and 24. About 30 students presented selections from Into the Woods, a large group dance number, several songs in other languages, and more. ■ MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 29

Celebrating Art!

Paying It Forward Eleven Lower School students, selected randomly for their Random Acts of Kindness, recently were recognized at a special luncheon with Headmaster Lindsay Barnes and Upper School student leaders. The event, held at the Taylor Commons dining hall, was organized by Mariah Dodd, Lower School Student Council advisor and guidance counselor. ■

The Lower and Middle Schools’ annual art show, held on April 17 at the Village Campus, showcased the year’s work. The event featured student demonstrations, and a student-designed Earth Day mural for all to paint.

Art teachers Janice Gail and Jane Taylor ’68 organized the show.

In other art, news, sixth grader Camille Helmuth (pictured) and seventh grader Asuka Frysinger captured first place awards with their wax batiks in the Waimea Arts Council’s recent show for North Hawai‘i students. Sixth grader Kayla Tadaki placed second for her watercolor, Hills.

The following students also received honorable mention for their work: sixth graders Grace Bostock and Raquel McMackin; eighth graders Megan Abe and Tyrie Tanaka. ■

Middle School Students Participate in State Science Fair

State Science Fair participants at the Hawai‘i Convention Center: l to r: Ry Bleckel, Noah Henderson, Hayden Virtue, Zachary Vermeulen, Annika Berezney, Kealia Haitsuka, and Hayley Emmons.

Seven Middle School students spent part of their spring break, March 22-24, participate in the state science fair at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center on Oʻahu.

Annika Berezney, Which Day Works for You?; Ry Bleckel, Drying Out; Hayley Emmons, The Trouble with Trebuchets; Kealia Haitsuka, Do Different Colors Affect the Temperature Inside a Building?; Noah Henderson, Rocket Fin Stabilization; Zachary Vermeulen, Calorie Attack; and Hayden Virtue, The Tension is Rising…Give Yourself the Advantage presented their projects to judges and the public, attended a NOAA presentation and smaller group information session, and enjoyed making new friends. The students also visited the Waikiki Aquarium.

Haitsuka received a $75 award and a plaque from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Virtue earned second place in his subject category, Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering.

Congratulations to all! ■ 30 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

L to r: Front row - Faith Mataele, Rosey Wawner, Sally Macy, Dylan Vincent, Arabella Asuncion, and John Paul Dahm. Center row - Ken Nordin, Robbie Shaver, Logan Walter, Izzy Hodges, and Braeden Samura. Back row – Headmaster Lindsay Barnes; Kiki Kozuma senior class representative; Brittani Boora, executive treasurer; Ella Kotner, senior class representative; Erina Baudat, Robertson Hall representative; Jessica Ainslie, executive secretary; Makena Hardwick, Carter Hall representative, and Mariah Dodd.

HPA Top Speller Places Second at State Competition Eighth grader Kealia Haitsuka placed second at the 2015 Kama‘aina Kids Hawaiʻi State Spelling Bee, held March 20 on Oʻahu. Congratulations, Kealia! ■

National Geographic Arctic Explorer and Author Visits Village Campus Gretel Ehrlich, a National Geographic Arctic explorer and the author of 13 books, visited Matt Piercy’s sixth grade social studies class to share her experiences and discuss climate change.

Ehrlich, who is based in Wyoming, has spent much of the last 16 years traveling in Greenland and the Arctic. She spoke about spending time with subsistence Inuit hunters, connecting students to the concept of their interconnectedness on the planet.

“What is happening on our glaciated poles affects all of us, even here in Hawai‘i,” said Ehrlich.

The author and explorer also spoke about living more sustainably and understanding social justice issues that are likely to arise as the climate changes.

“Even if you never leave this island, you’ll be an explorer like me.

There will be a need to live more sustainably,” she said. ■

HPAohanaassociation Pamela Heitz, President pamelaheitz@sbcglobal.net

“The road of life twist and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey not the destination!”—Unknown What an amazing journey this school year has been! On May 22, HPA graduated its largest class in history with 113 young men and women. Yes, this class was the largest in size, but students also had enormous hearts. As a farewell gesture, the class of 2015 let it be known that they didn’t want all of the money raised for Grad Night to be solely spent on that one night. What they wanted was to start a Class of 2015 Scholarship Endowment [see story on page 14]. The Grad Night committee was able to present them with a check for $10,000 from all of the donations that came in from students, parents, and the savings of their budget-friendly evening!

As the graduating class transitions into adulthood and the rest of our HPA families transition into summertime, let’s not forget some of the moments of the past year while looking forward to the future!

This year, we split our E Komo Mai (which means “welcome” in Hawaiian) Upper Campus and Village Campus events. The turnout for both exceeded all of our expectations! With new families meeting current families and new keiki finding new friends, this is a tradition that will continue on for many years to come. Please mark your calendars for our upcoming E Komo Mai welcome celebrations—5 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, August 14 (Upper School) and 3 to 5 p.m., Friday, August 21 (grades K-8).

Pumpkin Patch—WOW! That pretty much sums up this year’s Pumpkin Patch. To say that this amazing HPA tradition exceeded all of our expectations is an understatement! With more than 10,000 people from ALL over the island and our hugely successful Zero Waste Project, led by Noah Dodd, Pumpkin Patch gave the community insight into HPA’s BIG hearts! The money raised helped student clubs and groups, athletics, teacher appreciation, and provided scholarship monies for our new World Leadership School (WLS) travel abroad program! Please save the date for this year’s Pumpkin Patch—10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, October 18. This year we will continue our traditions and hope to add a few new ones! If you are interested in volunteering your time we would love to hear from you!

Finally, please join me in welcoming our newest board members: Karen Anderson, Lisa Dahm, Lisa Salazar, and Jan Savage.

The purpose of the HPA ‘Ohana Association is to support HPA in its mission to provide exceptional learning opportunities for its students. We invite every parent, student, faculty and administration member to lend your voice in helping us determine how to maximize our impact in the HPA community in the 2015-2016 school year.

Looking forward to an amazing 2015-2016 school year! ■

HPA Launches Hui ‘Opio Middle School After School Program in August Classes and Sports Open to All Waimea Students Beginning in August 2015, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy will offer Hui ‘Opio, an after school program open to all Middle School students in the Waimea community. Classes and sports led by qualified teachers and coaches will run from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Village Campus. Students can register for either one quarter (eight weeks) or one semester (16 weeks).

“The goal of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to participate in Middle School sports, and other academic or art classes,” said Ali Ann Buscher ’03, program coordinator. Buscher most recently taught physical education at HPA Middle School.

According to Buscher, the program also will provide students with a safe, productive, and supervised place after school. The program is designed to be self-sufficient and program fees will go directly to hiring qualified coaches and teachers, purchasing equipment/supplies, and other operational costs.

All classes and sports require a minimum of 10 students, with the exception of soccer, which will require a minimum of 15 students. Here is a summary of offerings: MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

8/24-10/9

• Cross Country • Fall Soccer • Cross Country • Fall Soccer • Cross Country • Study Hall • School of Rock • Study Hall • School of Rock • Study Hall • Yoga • Study Hall • Yoga • Study Hall • Yoga

10/12-12/11

• 6/7 Basketball • Study Hall • Volleyball

1/11-3/4

• 8 Basketball • Study Hall • Track • ‘Ukulele

3/28-5/20

• Life Skills • Study Hall

• 6/7 Basketball • Study Hall • Volleyball • Photography • Spring Soccer • Study Hall

• 8 Basketball • Study Hall • Track • ‘Ukulele • Life Skills • Study Hall

• 6/7 Basketball • Study Hall • Volleyball • Photography • Spring Soccer • Study Hall

• 8 Basketball • Study Hall • Track • ‘Ukulele • Life Skills • Study Hall

Program fees are $300 for an eight-week session meeting three times per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and $400 for a 16-week session meeting two times per week on Tuesday and Thursday.

For more information, or to register, please contact Buscher (abuscher@hpa.edu), or visit www.hpa.edu/huiopioafterschool. ■

Eighth Graders Participate in Visitor Industry Charity Walk

Forty-six HPA eighth graders participated in this year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk, along with teachers Laura Jim, Chris Nilsen, Cathy Grant, Julie Camarillo, Rita Wen, and Lisa Van Kirk. The event was held on May 9 at the Mauna Lani Resort.

Congratulations to Emalia Higgins, who was the overall female champion. Sihkea Jim took first and Chris Chock took second in the Male 10-19 age division, while Joey Cootey took first and Zoe Ganley took second in the Female 10-19 age division. The eighth grade class also contributed more than $2,000 to help Hawai‘i charities this year. Mahalo to all! Photo courtesy Julie Camarillo.

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 31

HPAadmissions Joshua Clark, Director of Admission

Necessity is the Mother of Invention The last decade has certainly been an interesting one, and educational institutions have experienced their fair share of challenges – the Great Recession, a lower U.S. birthrate many years ago that created a declining number of school age children now looking to attend high schools and universities, a huge influx of charter, home school, and online school options; “education” being vilified and praised simultaneously in national political discourse, and culture shifts in the American family changing how involved parents are in the lives of their children, significantly restricting the number of American families who would be considered a “boarding school” profile family. These challenges have caused some secondary schools and universities to close their doors; other schools have had to change their mission or student profile to increase the number of students who are able/willing to attend their school, and many schools have relied on the massive demand for a U.S. education from families in China to keep their doors open.

HPA has not escaped these challenges, but we have been successful in facing these challenging times by making decisions with forethought and intention. For example, the challenges the Admission Office faced necessitated working closely with the HPA board and administration to ensure that we not only continue, but improve, the HPA experience while at the same time increasing the number and diversity of students attending HPA. There have been several school initiatives over the past few years that had a valuable positive impact on the HPA experience, such as the completion of the HPA Energy Lab in 2010 and the initiatives developed out of the 2012 We Are One – HPA Strategic Plan. Every year, the Admission Office has more positive stories and exciting programs to talk about with interested families than the previous year because of the great work of our HPA faculty. The commitment of the HPA board to our families and faculty meant that while other schools began tightening their belts at the beginning of the Great Recession – through decreasing their student size or laying off teachers – HPA not only maintained the numbers of students and faculty at HPA, but we’ve actually experienced an increase over the years.

While we have a strong commitment to Hawai‘i with 83 percent of all HPA students from the state and 90 percent of all HPA financial aid awarded to Hawai‘i students, HPA is focused on increasing our national and global reach.

Over the past three years, we have had students from 28 countries, including the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Nigeria, and 23 U.S. states and territories, with all bringing a wonderful dimension to our student body. No country (outside the U.S.) counts for more than 10 percent of our boarding population to ensure a healthy diversity in the residence halls, while still ensuring an American experience because the majority of the boarding students are from the U.S. We are grateful for our wonderful students and supportive parents who have helped us through word-of-mouth introductions to their friends and neighbors of the benefits and opportunities available at HPA. Very few schools can say that they are stronger now than they were in 2005, but HPA can. In the next few years you will continue to see HPA change according to our outside environment, while constantly preserving the core of what makes us a unique and arguably one of the best boarding schools in the world. ■ 32 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

Award-Winning Author Shares Her Recipe for Success: Writing, Children, and Food Award-winning author Ying Chang Compestine recently visited the Village Campus to speak with Lower and Middle School students about her work as a writer.

“I love children and I love to eat, so I write childrenʻs books and cookbooks,” she said.

Compestine published her first story when she was 8, and has since published 20 books, including five cookbooks. Her highly acclaimed novel about her life growing up in China during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party, has received more than 33 national awards and has been chosen as required reading by schools around the world. Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier, a historical novel that Compestine wrote with her son, Vinson, inspired a 3D movie and a video game, currently in development.

Compestine also is a leading national authority on Asian culture and cuisine and former food editor for Martha Stewartʻs Whole Living magazine.

She hosts the popular TV cooking show, New Ideas for Delicious Meals on Phoenix TV and is the spokesperson for Nestle Maggi.

The author compared the writing process to building a house.

“You need to set up a good foundation and have a frame or outline” she said. “Then you rewrite and rewrite, which is like organizing the furniture. Finally, you look at all the details; do the colors of the wall match the couch and pillows?”

Compestine completed her first book, The Runaway Rice Cake, in two and a half years, after 40 rewrites. Her favorite book, Crouching Tiger, took 10 years to write.

“Writing is very hard work, but it is very rewarding,” she said Compestineʻs next book, The Real Story of the Emperorʻs New Clothes, is scheduled to be published next year. For more information, visit www.yingc.com. ■

Welcome to Grandparents Day 2015!

Kindergartener Owen Allison enjoys time with his grandfather, Gordon Grant of O‘ahu, during the Lower School’s recent Grandparents Day. Kupuna from near and far visited their grandchildren’s classrooms and later enjoyed refreshments with their grandchildren before attending a performance by Kid Pan Alley and the students at the school’s Gates Performing Arts Center.

Coachescorner

Girls Track Takes BIIF Title

Stephen L. Perry Athletic Director

The Class of 2015 wraps up a successful school year with three more BIIF titles… and some impressive personal achievements.

The boys volleyball team claimed the BIIF Division II Championship this spring with wins over Honoka‘a, Kohala, and Ka‘u in the BIIF playoffs. Seniors Tucker Higgins, Colin Yates, and Abe Binder led the way for the boys to the title and qualifying for the HHSAA championship on O‘ahu. ■ Photos courtesy Patrick O’Leary.

The girls track and field team wrapped up an impressive season with a convincing victory at the BIIF championships. Multi-talented Emma Taylor, Kaui Taylor, Ula Brostek, and Gabbie Ewing, who advanced to the HHSAA championship on Maui, led the team to the BIIF title and a second place finish at the HHSAA championship. ■ Photo by Tony McCafferty.

Emma Taylor Wins…x2!

Junior Emma Taylor won two state titles at the 2015 HHSAA Track Championship on Maui. Taylor won the 100m Hurdles 300m Hurdles, her fourth and fifth HHSAA track titles.

Junior Kaui Taylor won the High Jump state title at the 2015 HHSAA Track Championship on Maui, clearing 5’ 4” in the finals.

Photos by Tony McCafferty.

Boys Tennis Claims BIIF Team Title The boys tennis team claimed the BIIF team title with wins over Waiakea and Konawaena during the BIIF championships held at Holua.

Led by JJ Minikata, Oscar Winsa-Henderson, Alec Jones, Bryce Zeffert, Wayne Tan, and Jake Frogley, the boys wrapped up their third BIIF team title in a row.

Minakata won the BIIF singles championship for the second year in a row and finished fourth at the HHSAA championship. ■

Photo courtesy Jeff Lewis.

Boys Volleyball Takes BIIF Championship

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 33

Ellis and Ewing are HPA Athletes of the Year

Gabbie Ewing Honored

Ka Makani coaches selected seniors Koa Ellis and Gabbie Ewing as the 2015 Athletes of the Year.

Ellis was a four-year starter in football and baseball and served as captain of both teams this year. He was named All-League in both sports.

Coaches described Ellis as a “leader on the field who was always ready for the big game. He always displays true sportsmansip. His skill set, competitive spirit, unselfish attitude, and mature leadership will be missed next year.

Ellis will attend Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon this fall, where he will play football.

Ewing, who recently was named to the Hawai‘i High School Hall of Honor, elevated the Ka Makani volleyball and soccer programs as a four-year starter and two-year co-captain for both teams. Ewing contributed to six BIIF Division II titles and back-to-back state soccer championships. She was a two-time Star-Advertiser firstteam All-State selection in soccer and was named the Division II state tournament’s Most Outstanding Player without scoring a goal while leading Ka Makani to their first title as a junior. She was named Most Outstanding Player again at this year’s state tournament.

Ewing also made two appearances at the state volleyball tournament her junior and senior years.

Ewing will continue her soccer career at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. ■

Gabbie Ewing ’15 was selected to the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Hall of Honor in May. Twelve seniors from the state are selected each spring and each receives a $2,000 scholarship. Ewing is this yearʻs sole Neighbor Island recipient and the seventh HPA student to be selected to the Hall of Honor, joining past recipients Dustin Peterson ’93, Heather Onuma ’95, Sarah Clark ’96, Michael Kopra ’05, Ku‘uipo Nakoa ’10, and Shane Brostek ’12.

Ewing also was selected for the Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarship Award—$1,500 presented to four BIIF seniors selected based on their athletics, academics, and community service—and the Hawai‘i Athletic Trainers Association (HATA) High School Student Scholarship—a first for HPA and Hawai‘i Island. Ewing received the $1,000 HATA award on O‘ahu at the association’s state meeting on June 6. ■ Photo by Patrick O’Leary.

Stanford Shutes Athletic Awards A new annual senior award, named after long-time HPA coach/teacher Stan Shutes, was presented in May. The award is for perseverance, sportsmanship, inspiration, and generous spirit on the playing field.

Seniors Anna Juan and Colin Yates were the first recipients. ■

Ready for College…and College Athletics Seniors Gabbie Ewing, Nicky Palleschi, and Bri Jackson Vallente signed their letters of intent on February 4, in the schoolʻs Castle Gym, with their coaches, families, and friends in attendance. Ewing will continue her soccer career at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, Palleschi will continue his football career at the University of California—Berkeley, and Jackson Vallente will continue her soccer career at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington.

Seniors Mackenzie Langmade and Mailani Neal signed their letters of intent on Wednesday, April 15, in the schoolʻs Rutgers Tennis Center, with their coaches and families in attendance. Langmade will continue her tennis career at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina, while teammate Neal will play at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. ■ 34 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

Betsy Tranquilli Receives Coaching Excellence Award Softball coach Betsy Tranquilli was recognized “for her passion, determination, energy, and love of sport over the past 10 years…first starting up and then leading the softball program.” HPA Athletic Director Stephen L. Perry presented Tranquilli with this year’s Ka Makani Booster Club Coaching Excellence Award during the Upper School Awards Ceremony on May 11.

“Coach T has always displayed true sportsmanship throughout competition and she truly represents her teams, school, and herself with class and a positive attitude,” said Perry. ■

Bieni Kohler-Johnson ‘83 Scholarship Recipients Announced Elizabeth Jim ’16 (center, left) and Jordan Zarate ’18 are this year’s recipients of the Ulrike Katharina Bieni Kohler-Johnson ’83 Scholarship.

Jim and Zarate each received a $1,000 cash award. Johnson’s son, Ryan (right) and her parents, Cha Cha and Adi Kohler, were on hand for the announcement during the Upper School Awards Ceremony held May 11 in Castle Gym. Kohler-Johnson passed away in June 2009 after battling breast cancer.

The next Bieni 5K Fun Run and Dog Walk will be held on Sunday, September 20, at HPA’s Upper Campus. All proceeds from the event fund the annual high school scholarship established to recognize and support HPA scholar-athletes who inspire others, demonstrate sincere commitment, and go the extra mile. To register, visit https://flpregister.com/154. For more information, contact the race coordinators at hparace@hpa.edu ■

HPA Winter Sports Awards Recipients Announced HPA coaches recently honored this school year’s outstanding student athletes. Student receiving awards were: GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Gabbie Ewing, Most Valuable; Alaina Bradley, Coach’s Award; McKenzie Stake, Most Improved.

BOYS WRESTLING: Tristan Kilkenny, Most Valuable; Sander Elliott, Coach’s Award; Isaiah Kramer, Most Improved.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: Nate Ladwig, Keliʻi Van Kirk, and Jake McCafferty, Most Valuable; Mason DuPont, Brandon Melton, and Chris Whitfield, Coach’s Award; Jonah Hurney, Daniel Cohen, and Mateo Batol, Most Improved.

GIRLS WRESTLING: Lokelani Ching, Most Valuable; Alohi Chambless, Coach’s Award; Rae Cardosa, Most Improved.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Sabrina Disney and Ada Benson, Most Valuable; Savannah Cochran, Coach’s Award; Sienna Levine, Most Improved.

FOOTBALL: Nicky Palleschi, Offensive Back Award; Isaiah Kamaka, Offensive Lineman Award; Caleb Kagawa, Defensive Back Award; Anthony Palleschi, Defensive Lineman Award; Colin Yates, Most Improved; Koa Ellis, Holi Bergin Award.

CHEERLEADING: Claire Evans and Jessica Oh, Most Valuable; Catherine Gussman and Adam Dunham, Coach’s Award; Elyse Fujioka and Demetria Scoufos, Most Improved.

BOYS PADDLING: Reid Austin, Most Valuable; Tanner Sakurai, Coach’s Award; Ethan Stake, Most Improved.

GIRLS PADDLING: Melia Chobany, Most Valuable; Teelin Healey, Coach’s Award; McKenzie Stake, Most Improved.

BOYS SWIMMING: Jake Anderson, Most Valuable; Matthew Ostrem, Coach’s Award; Yerden Suraganov, Most Improved.

GIRLS SWIMMING: Hadley Beach and Malia Brown, Most Valuable; Taylor Doherty, Coach’s Award; Savannah Cochran, Most Improved.

BOYS SOCCER: Justin Perry, Most Valuable; Keisuke Anzai, Coach’s Award; Noah Wise, Most Improved.

GIRLS SOCCER: Gabbie Ewing, Teia Knoll, and Bri Vallente, Most Valuable; Ella Kotner and Mailani Neal, Coach’s Award; Taimane Kamaka, Most Improved.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Justas Gecas Most Valuable; Hide Akai, Coach’s Award; Nicky Palleschi, Most Improved.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Anna Juan, Most Valuable; Erina Baudat, Coach’s Award; Emma Saito, Most Improved; Chyna Hanano, Honoring the Game Award, Coco Shafer, Captains Award.

BOYS TRACK: Nate Ladwig, Most Valuable; Josh Patterson, Coach’s Award; Hide Akai, Most Improved.

GIRLS TRACK: Ula Brostek and Emma Taylor, Most Valuable; Megan Canniff and Gabbie Ewing, Coach’s Award; Vera Mahoney, Most Improved.

BOYS TENNIS: JJ Minakata, Most Valuable; Alec Jones and Wayne Tan, Coach’s Award; Pau Alvarez, Most Improved.

GIRLS TENNIS: Mackenzie Langmade, Most Valuable; Maddie Wolfenberger, Coach’s Award; Alina Sabyr, Most Improved.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Tucker Higgins, Most Valuable; Abe Binder, Coach’s Award; Ethan Stake, Most Improved.

WATER POLO: Louisa Duggan, Most Valuable; Janelle Laros, Coach’s Award; Elizabeth Jim, Most Improved.

GOLF: Katie Jefferson, Most Valuable; Miller White, Coach’s Award; Kyle Hollister, Most Improved.

BASEBALL: Koa Ellis, Cyrus Inglis, and DJ Sekiya, Most Valuable; Jonah Hurney, Coach’s Award; Kana‘i Gaughen, Most Improved.

SOFTBALL: Tehani Grasso, Most Valuable; Courtney Barro-Kilmede, Coach’s Award; Emily Fong, Most Improved.

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 35

Paragliding off Lion’s Mountain, Capetown, South Africa 2009.

BORN TO REBEL, BORN TO LEAD. 36 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

By > Andrew Perala ‘72 Photos courtesy > Kenji Matsumoto ‘98

[alumni] Profile Kenji Matsumoto ‘98

Kenji Matsumoto, born in the U.S., raised to the teenage cusp in Japan, knew he could not accept the only future his junior high principal laid out for him.

M

ATSUMOTO HAD JUST RETURNED HOME from summer school at the Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy. And now he was back home, in the strict, extremely demanding Japanese school system. As most Japanese parents hope, he studied diligently simply to make the parents proud and he was accepted to one of the private junior high schools.

Despite his success, he knew one thing: He did not want to become the corporate salary-man his junior high principal had outlined for his career— even though he did not yet know that his future lay in an emerging frontier of medicine, marrying statistics and medicine, improving the HIV and TB care and treatment programs and healthcare systems of poor African countries.

“Why throw away a guaranteed life?” the principal asked him. “That made up my mind,” Matsumoto told Ma Ke Kula.“A guaranteed life of success. That’s one perspective. So I said, ʻI don’t want my life to be guaranteed at 13. Thank you very much,ʻ and I left.”

While Matsumoto attended HPA, no particular classes sparked his interest. Instead, he found new life doing what he had never done before, “mostly hanging out with friends and playing tennis and volleyball,” he said. And laughing. It was fun to laugh just for fun. Before, he laughed as a method of dealing with “gray” areas when he felt uncomfortable, constrained, unable to act.

Matsumoto might have greatly expanded his horizons while at HPA. After graduation, he headed for Occidental College in California. But he still did not know what he wanted to study for a career. He just knew he wanted something he could really dive into.

At the end of his college junior year, he connected with a family friend who was providing free medical services in a slum of Kenya. Matsumoto decided to volunteer at the medical camp for three weeks thinking this vacation would be no different from trips he’d taken to other countries.

There was a major hurdle to this plan.

“My father said “You’re not going,” and I said, ʻIt’s not your decision.

I’m going.ʻ” He went to Kenya for the summer. What he encountered rocked his world.

“It was 20 times worse than I could have imagined,” he said. “People were recycling through piles of garbage and eating what they found.

“And I shamed myself for thinking I knew what was going on.

“And out of this grew the desire to do everything I could to help.”

Matsumoto’s passion comes from a 15-year-old girl he met while working in the slum. One of his duties there was to record HIV test results, including this girl’s positive test result.

“When she found out about her test result, she walked straight to me and said, ʻWhat should I do?’ All I could do was to hold her. We both cried.

And I said, ʻI promise you that I will dedicate my life to do something about it.’ This was my paradigm shift.

“I finished my studies at Occidental in mathematics and pre-med, and decided to pursue a master’s in public health -- instead of treating just one person at a time, I thought, ʻHow about improving the health policy toward the disease instead?’”

In Matsumoto’s view, politics got in the way of the most efficient, most effective research and treatment.

“You need facts, information. Too many people operate without it.”

In graduate school, Matsumoto focused on epidemiology, with deep concentrations in HIV and other infectious diseases. He had found his path, and the way opened for him.

“I was fortunate to get hired at Harvard School of Public Health after graduation to conduct research on HIV and TB in Tanzania for two years,” he said. There, Matsumoto honed his specialized studies.

Matsumoto notes the egalitarian nature of disease. “The U.S. and Mexico have a border,” he said. “But disease knows no borders.”

He fell ill in Tanzania, and at first the symptoms presented as a persistent case of minor headaches.

“I thought it was nothing more than the flu,” he said.

But he didn’t get better. After two weeks, the symptoms “got much worse.” Matsumoto shared his concern with a colleague, who recognized the aberrant nature of the symptoms and suggested an MRI scan of his brain instead.

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 37

That suggestion didn’t sit well with Matsumoto. His colleague, he said, tended to be alarmist and “kind of freaked out about everything.”

But in Matsumoto’s case, the alarm was valid, and perhaps just in time.

He got an appointment within two hours at the only hospital in the entire country equipped with an MRI machine.

“The hospital opened for me,” said Matsumoto.

A senior Tanzanian physician took one look at the scan and said, “you’re going home tomorrow. And I said, ʻBut my contract isn’t over for a few months,’ and he said, ʻYou’re going home tomorrow. You have a tumor in your brain.’”

Medically evacuated to the States, Matsumoto was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Surgery was done one day after his arrival. A biopsy was needed, as no one at Massachusetts General knew exactly what kind of tumor Matsumoto had.

The tumor, located at the right front of Matsumotoʻs brain, initially proved to be a form of blisteringly aggressive pediatric cancer known as a primitive neural ectodermal tumor (PNET), which had never been found in this location in an adult at Massachusetts General. This was bad news, as PNET is not receptive to chemotherapy.

“I saw the radiation oncologist and when a situation is gray I try to make jokes and make fun of that,” said Matsumoto. The oncologist looked at the 27-year-old Matsumoto straight and said, “You need to start thinking about what you want to do with life because you have two to three months to live.”

Few things clarify the mind like a malignant brain tumor.

The surgical removal of the tumor was successful, and a strong regimen of proton radiation and chemotherapy followed.

While undergoing radiation, Matsumoto decided to seek a second opinion of his diagnosis.

PNET, a rare pediatric cancer, just did not seem right.

“The second and third pathology results from hospitals in New York indicated my initial diagnosis was incorrect,” said Matsumoto.

His new diagnosis: a rare presentation of Ewing’ s sarcoma.

“Some oncologists claimed no literature to date documented a case like mine,” explained Matsumoto. “Hearing the news that it was Ewing’s gave me a sense of relief because I knew 38 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

At the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Do not be afraid to go elsewhere, to try something completely new. Don’t be complacent. Stop dreaming. It is time for you to achieve your dream.

Kenji Matsumoto celebrates his fifth year as a cancer survivor with his team at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Ewing’s sarcoma was much more receptive to chemotherapy, but I felt alone.”

Three months after the completion of the treatment, despite his oncologist’s strong disagreement, Matsumoto joined Doctors Without Borders (Medicins Sans Frontieres) in Africa to help curb the dual-epidemic of HIV and TB in Swaziland. Brief stints back in the States, working for a private company, then heading back to Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

“I wanted to prove to myself that I can still do things that normal people can,” he said. “It was not so much a bucket list, but things I needed to do to properly close my chapter in Tanzania.”

Matsumoto is now back in Africa, in two

remote, poverty-stricken regions of Rwanda, where he is part of a multi-national team seeking to improve the nation’s health information system from top to bottom, from individual rural providers to aiding the country’s Ministry of Health using data to drive the decision to improve health systems.

He is extremely happy to be back working in the field, and his cancer is in remission.

“I still get days of vertigo,” he said. “But no matter what, I need to achieve my dream.”

If there is one piece of advice he would offer to HPA alumni it would be this: “Do not be afraid to go elsewhere, to try something completely new. Don’t be complacent. Stop dreaming. It is time for you to achieve your dream.”

It’s an odd thing, he said as he mentioned his hair.

“During chemo, I remember thinking, “If I’m a cancer patient, I can’t do this, you’re a slave to the disease. Do the opposite.”

Matsumoto cut his hair, all of it. Cancer wasn’t going to make that decision for him. ■ Editorʻs Note: Freelance writer and editor Andrew Perala ’72 lives in Waimea with his family. He is a co-winner of the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

[alumni news] 1960s In September 2014 GRAHAM (SANDY) SALISBURY ’63, released his 19th novel, Hunt for the Bamboo Rat, the fourth in his WWII series focusing on Hawai‘i’s JapaneseAmericans of that era. Also in September, his movie, Under the Blood-Red Sun, premiered in huge gala events in Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.

See the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=msedW5OfgD8. But his “greatest honor of all” came when in May 2015 he was inducted as an honorary member of the 100th Battalion veteran’s club, of which he says, “To even be thought of in the same breath as these great heroes leaves me utterly speechless.” Sandy now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Congratulations to the Class of 1965, who recently celebrated their 50th at the 2015 Alumni Reunion! The class held their party at Pukalani Stables and met with old and new friends.

local food self-reliance. On his travels, Jeff has had a chance to spend time with MIKE FAYE ’69, BOB FRENCH ’69, HUNT CONRAD ’69 and other members of the class. Jeff and wife Julie Hugo still live in Hilo and have a new granddaughter on O‘ahu turning one year old shortly.

News also comes from STEVE MUNI ’69, our classmate extraordinaire who was the center of the gay parade in Sacramento.

Lindsay Barnes again and meeting Head of School-Elect Robert McKendry at the 2015 Alumni Reunion!”

DENICE MUGG SHEFFER ’72 shares news for class of 1972: “Happy Summer of 2015 to all of you! Our class has been very busy making the cutest grandbabies EVER and have the cutest kids! And life seems to be looking up for us! BOB MORGAN ’72 is amazed at us at 60+ (except for Greg who is much older than that)… with the vibrant, active and diverse lives we all have lead.

How lucky it was that we were able to share time together in a beautiful place (HPA) with talented, dedicated people. Did we know it? He says that he didn’t, and has come to appreciate it more and more and understand how special it was. He and his wife Valerie have two adorable sons in Santa Cruz. They are Cameron 13, and Owen 10. He says that they are the most important kids in his life.

I saw MIKE NELSON ’65 at the class of 1965 50th year reunion party. I first met them in eighth grade and then hooked up with them after I graduated and we stayed friends ever since.”

1970s IN MEMORIAM GEORGE “PETE” MCKIBBIN ’70 passed away on February 1, 2015 in Knoxville, TN. The family requests that any gifts made in his memory be directed to the Athletics Department at HPA.

CHRISTI MORGAN ’72 says that she has a new granddaughter! Her son Micah and his wife Autumn had their first, and her first grandbaby, on April 23 which just happens to be her son Ben’s birthday too. Her name is Eva Alice Miriam Barclay. She is so beautiful and Christi is having so much fun watching her grow, which is amazingly fast.

Members of the Class of 1970 came together to celebrate their 45th reunion at the 2015 Alumni Reunion!

TOM SOFOS ’69 shared news from the Class of 1969: “JEFF MELROSE ’69 reports that he is working on a project with the Department of Agriculture to digitally map the current footprint of agriculture statewide. The last time this was done was 1980 when there were still 14 sugar plantations. The end product will be used to inform ongoing planning discussions on public land use policy and approaches to increasing

TODD DACEY ’71 shares: “Aloha Alumni!

I just published my 2nd book, The Longevity Source on Amazon! The book contains delicious and healthy recipes, as well as timely information on super healthy foods, detoxification and sustainability. I really enjoyed seeing Headmaster

TEANNA SHANAHAN ’72 says that her most enjoyable time is spent these days with her granddaughter Lorelei Ku‘uleinani. She is still living in Bellingham in semi-retirement. If on your way to Canada or in the great NW, a call or visit would be most welcome.

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 39

JAN ’72 AND ANGEL MCCORMICK have the most outstanding looking 12 year old daughter.

He says: ‘I know… I’m in trouble… thank God she gets her looks from her mom. Anyway, all is well in East Tennessee with the McCormick family. We’re about 45 days from opening Dolly Parton’s DreamMore Resort… www. dreammoresort.com… busy as can be, but what else is new. If you’ve ever thought of planning a Smokey Mountain vacation now’s the time… not only do you have a great place stay and play, but you have a “connection” for a resort and park tickets! Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous 2015!’

winemaker, Bill Knuttel. We continue to spend about 7 months a year at our development in Cafayate, Argentina (www.LaEst.com) where I try to get my head around the heartless game of golf and pursue my new passion, long distance horseback riding. So I don’t get too rusty, I still write a Facebook blog, Live, from Cafayate as well as a new blog, Sendero.ghost.io. Recently, Big ALAN SIEMER ’72 and I have reconnected

by Facebook and e-mail, which is great. We have a great class, full of great people, so it’s nice to be in touch...’

DALE LAWRENCE ’73 shares “Last year, I left my job as a medical coding educator to enter ministry school in Redding, CA. I just graduated from 1st year and have been accepted to 2nd year for leadership training. My goal is to set up healing home(s) for the homeless youth and/or women in crisis (working on my 501c3 this summer). I’m just trusting God to show me where all of this is leading... taking one small step at a time. Last year in ministry school was undoubtedly the best year of my entire life! I feel like my purpose in life is being fulfilled!”

EDIE KAWAI ’72 says that she has started dancing hula again after many years. She says, ‘The last time I danced with a halau was in law school… which saved my sanity. The really cool part is that I get to dance with my sister, MARYALICE KAWAI NOGUÈS ’74. She’s a beautiful dancer and it’s a true pleasure to practice and hula with her. We’re preparing for a huaka‘i in July and are learning early Pele and Hi‘iaka pieces—my favorite! What a blast!!’

Members of the Class of 1975 came together to celebrate their 35th reunion at the Lava Lava Beach Club and at the Luau during the 2015 Alumni Reunion!

MURRAY ’72 and Yvelise HIXSON share that their children Blake and Shayla graduated from UH in May 2014 and are living and working in Honolulu. Murray and his wife say that they are beginning to enjoy the next chapter of our lives.

‘I’m still working at my P & C insurance business and Yvelise is a substitute teacher at Punahou School and coaches tennis. All is good. I wish everyone good health, happiness and success and look forward to the 45th reunion in 2017.’

NEVILLE BAYLY ’72 has just celebrated her second year in Kohala. She is thrilled to be living in Hawi with its slow and easy pace. She is still practicing therapeutic body work on a volunteer basis to give back to our loving community. Her 22 year old son, Peter, graduated from Evergreen State College in May 2014. His company is holding his position for two months, while he and his best college friend houseboat down the Mississippi River. Says Pete, “Ma, I want to tell my grandchildren.” Alas, there’s still hope for me to be Tutu Nevy!

LAURIE SMITH ’72 says ‘Hello from Haena, Kauai!’ She’s excited about life, the Triple Crown winner and dancing on the beach at sunset. She sends her aloha to all.

DAVID GALLAND ’72 says that he just sold his interest in Casey Research, a publishing company he co-founded about ten years ago. He shares: ‘While I am starting to dial things back, I am still a partner in Mauldin Economics and have just entered a partnership making wine with a friend and well-known Napa Valley 40 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

GREG RAND ’72 rounds out the news by saying that he’s still working hard, swimming, running and having fun. His 30 yr old daughter Alicianne heads a marketing company in NYC, and his 29-year old son is the CFO to Tech start up in California. He shares, ‘If I had a 12 year old like the McCormick’s at this stage in my life, I’d go totally bald & bonkers. More power to him.’

Thank you Greg! We will all keep you in our prayers as you are our most exquisitely verbose senior member of our class. Always remember… seventy is wormwood, seventy is gall… but it is better to be seventy, than not alive at all. Aloha, my friends.”

DAVID ALBACHTEN ’76 has retired from the global healthcare and pharmaceutical space, and has settled with his wife of nearly 10 years in Istanbul, Turkey. Entering a second (maybe even one could say third career) as an academic writing specialist for non-native English students, David is a university lecturer and international speaker on teaching academic writing to second language learners. David is busy planning his attendance at the 40th anniversary of the class of 1976 and is hoping all the class will make it to school next year!! If he can make it from as far away as Istanbul, surely those closer can come!!

TIM RICHARDS ’77 shares, “I’m still living on the Big Island, practicing veterinary medicine and married TERRI IMPSON ’89. We just celebrated our twins first birthday baby luau!”

1980s BILL MCIVOR ’81 was promoted to Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine this January. Congrats Bill!

CAROLYN BIRCHILL ’85 shares “I have been back in Sydney for 7 years. I’m enjoying being close to family and friends and juggling work, school runs and day-to-day life. Grateful for Facebook to keep in touch with fellow alumni and sharing life’s special moments.”

1990s MIA SOLMSSEN PERKINS ’93 and husband Dan welcomed their daughter, Emalia Kathrine, almost one year ago on July 28, 2014.

MATT HASEGAWA ’81 recently celebrated his daughter Emi’s high school graduation in Colorado Springs. Emi will be attending University of Denver in the fall.

DEB LIUM ’82 shared some news from the Class of 1982: “On May 14 THERESA ELLBOGEN ’82 and I flew into Portland Oregon and were whisked off to some great sightseeing with the ultimate tour-guide, JEFFERSON HUNGERFORD ’82. We were joined by Jeff’s wife Suzie and then met NANCY MCFADDEN ’83 and SHARI GREEN ’82 for a great dinner and reminiscing. The next day we headed to Bend, via the beautiful scenic route (again with our outstanding tour-guide) where we met Shari and Cheryl at the home of LISA HASEROT SCANNELL ’81 and her husband Bill for dinner and carb loading for the big race the next day. Jeff, Shari and I headed up Mt. Bachelor to prepare for the Nordic ski, trail run and cycle. After the bike portion Shari handed off to Theresa for the run and then we all met Lisa to put her canoe in the water. We finished third in our age-group and had a ton of fun. We enjoyed one final night of great food, great company and a ridiculously fun game. Another great outing with a great group of people. Looking forward to the next one!”

CHRIS REYNOLDS ’88 shares, “Life is good in Anchorage, especially now that it’s summer.

I see MARTY KANIHO ’86 from time to time at a store where we can buy li hing mui, S&S saimin, frozen laulau and other reminders of home. I practice psychology here and there’s another psychologist in Anchorage who went to HPA: MICHAEL AANAVI ’83. My wife and I are empty nesters in a year when the youngest goes off to school, so we’ll have plenty of room for visitors!”

JADA RUFO ’88 will have a new book out this summer entitled Banana Girl. She also has a blog at www.xinghuajiangsu.wordpress.com.

TERRI IMPSON ’89 shares, “In 2013 I married my best friend, TIM RICHARDS ’77 and moved back to the Big Island to live at Kahua Ranch.

A year and a half later we were blessed with the birth of our twins AR and Ruby Richards!

So many of the Class of ’89 have moved back to Hawai‘i, it’s great to see them and catch up.

Hoping to see everyone at our 30th!”

FLEUR DE VIE WEINSTOCK ’93 shares, “I’m living in Ojai California now, and I go by ‘de Vie.’ Apparently Ojai is attractive to other alums also, as I’ve connected rather randomly with THEANA HANCOCK SNYDER ’95, VANDA LUCE EPSTEIN ’96 and CJ CINTAS ’06 here.

Somehow I suspect there are HPA alums in our midst as yet unbeknownst. Way back when after HPA I went off to Harvard University where I studied Music. That’s a very simplified version of a story that had some significant twists and turns in it. I will always be a musician but as of now that is not my professional calling (though feel free to be in touch if you have a record deal for me). In recent years what I’ve found to be my passion in the work of the world is what I’ve named “Dare to Be Present®.” The lofty goal of the service is “conscious inner peace for all of humanity.” The current offerings include sessions for individuals & groups, available worldwide. I support people in being fully conscious and finding peace with their inner being. How to navigate the Inner Being (thoughts, emotions, feelings, body, consciousness) is a sorely neglected aspect of our modern education and I’m filling in part of that gap. If you’d like to find out more, please visit www.DareToBePresent.com , and you can also contact me at that site as well. And I’m also on Facebook at facebook.com/yourdeVie .

DEANNA BRINCH MORTENSEN ’94 shares, “I launched my new residential design business, Dansk Design, and we are now living in a house I designed. Joern, Nikolai (6), and I moved in just in time to welcome home our twins, Ella and Matias. We’ll all be coming to the Big Island in February 2016 for my 40th birthday!”

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 41

Members of the Class of 1995 came together to celebrate their 20th reunion at the 2015 Alumni Reunion!

ERICA DAVIS ’99 shares, “I’m still working as a criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis. In April I welcomed my first child, Scarlett Grace.

She was born 5 days after my first big solo trial that lasted 2 weeks. I’m very glad she was patient and didn’t come any earlier!”

2000s LUCIA POLAK PANE ’05 shares, “I can’t remember the last time I wrote in so here is a short summary of what I’m up to now: I live in the Chicago area and I work in web development.

I got married to my wonderful husband Jeremy in January of 2013. In my free time I like to bike, knit, and play board games.”

JASMINE SCHUSTER ’05 shares “We definitely still live up to our name ‘Class of 2005 - We may not win anything but we know how to have a good time!’ We all had an amazing time together at our recent reunion and were all super stoked to have seen each other and are all super bummed that there was a bunch who were not able to make it. A lot of us were shocked to know that about 10 of us live on island and haven’t seen each other in a number of years. We are all already looking forward to our 15-year reunion and want it to be even better than our 10th! The class of 2005 would like to send a huge MAHALO out to IPPY AIONA ’06 and his dad “Uncle Max” for hosting us at their restaurant “Three Fat Pigs.”

The upstairs bar area was the perfect spot for all of us to catch up with each other and remember our High School years with our senior slideshow DVD. To the class of 2005: Until we all see each other again… please be safe and enjoy life.”

DANIELLE BLACKBURN ’05 is going to nursing school to become an RN and plans on joining the Air Force as commissioned officer upon graduation. She also just moved into her first house.

42 SUMMER 2015 MA KE KULA

MAIA CAMPBELL ’08 just finished her master’s in clinical social work, and is off to do a year of antipoverty work in Louisiana.

BHILLIE LUCIANI ’13 just completed her second year at the University of Michigan while also competing for the university’s Women’s Crew. At Big Tens, her boat got silver.

JUSTIN SANDULLI ’12 shares, “DELANEY ROSS ’12 and I recently took in an opera in the president’s box of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, where we heard the season premiere of Verdi’s immortal Aida. I’m still at a loss of words to accurately describe that experience, but it certainly falls somewhere between ‘religious’ and ‘transcendent’!”

Please Save The Dates June 2 - June 5, 2016

2016 HPA Alumni Reunion ALUMNI EVENT CALENDAR Bieni 5K Fun Run and Dog Walk Sunday, September 20 HPA Ohana Association’s Annual Pumpkin Patch Sunday, October 18

Special Reunion Years ending in ‘1 and ‘6 Celebrating the 50th Reunion HPA Class of 1966 If you haven’t received our alumni e-newsletter Ka Makani, please e-mail us at alumni@hpa.edu

INMAN FROM P.24

“We see the class grow as a whole,” she said. “You see them meet the struggles they had as they came in as freshman, and how confident they are leaving as seniors after conquering a difficult subject area. That is huge.”

Inman said she especially saw the fruit of her work in the Class of 2015.

“They are really an exceptional class,” Inman said. “They have won Olympics three years in a row since they were sophomores.

They won the ‘Ohana sportsmanship award four years in a row. They work hard. They are willing to give up their own personal time for a greater good and they are supportive of the others. They are sweet and kind.”

Registrar Dana Petteys was the co-dean with Inman for the Class of 2011, and serves as her Instructional Leader.

“She is incredibly calm and level-headed,” Petteys said. “The sky could be falling and she could still organize a group of 100-plus students.

She is incredibly funny, and those two traits work together. She can remain calm and pragmatic because there is a very humorous side to her personality. She seems to weather everything in

stride, and in terms of leading a group of students from 14 to 18 years old, that combination is magical.”

Petteys said that Inman has taught her that no matter how much work needs to be completed or what message must be conveyed to students, you first need to connect with them and show them you care.

“We all get busy and need to get things done, but she provides a good example for all of us that making that connection first makes all the difference,” Petteys said. ■ Editor’s Note: Lisa M. Dahm is former editor of North Hawai‘i News. She currently is HPA’s Admission Office manager and mother of John Paul ’25 and Ethan ’27.

LIANE BARRO-KILMEDE celebrated her tenth anniversary with Sodexo at HPA in May, the same month her daughter, Courtney, graduated from the school.

As Sodexo’s administrative assistant, BarroKilmede is responsible for worker scheduling, payroll, inventory, ordering menu ingredients, inputting orders, and supervising the utility crew.

“We run a five-week cycle, where we donʻt repeat a menu item during that time,” said BarroKilmede. “We offer a lot of food choices, which include a salad bar, a hot line, sandwich bar, pizza, and specialty sandwiches.

“It’s really a balancing act to offer healthy and popular teenage foods,” said Barro-Kilmede.

“Our soups, including chicken papaya and Red Thai Curry, are very popular, but kids also love grilled hamburger, fried chicken, mac and cheese and our fries bar.”

At home, Barro-Kilmede prepares a variety of dishes with chicken and Filipino vegetables.

Her family also enjoys her chicken and pork adobo. She kindly shares the recipe for another family favorite below.

Barro-Kelmede will miss seeing her daughter on campus when the new school year begins, but she will continue to make everyone feel at home in the dining hall.

“Interacting with kids makes my day.” ■

[on campus] Lower School

2 lbs. ground beef, ground pork, or ground turkey 2 tsp. minced garlic (2 cloves) 3 pkgs. chop sui vegetables 2 pkgs. bean sprouts 1 small head cabbage, thinly sliced

3 T. soy sauce Dash black pepper 1 T. patis (fish sauce) 1 tsp. oil 1 box Lumpia wrappers, 30 sheets Additional oil for frying

Cook ground meat with garlic until browned.

Drain excess oil and add shoyu, patis, and black pepper. Mix well and set aside. Heat a teaspoon of oil in fry pan and stir fry vegetables for about two minutes. Do not overcook. Add cooked ground meat and cook for another minute. Pour into colander to drain excess liquid and cool completely, about 15 minutes. Wrap about one tablespoon of mixture in each Lumpia wrapper.

Fry in hot oil until golden brown.

Suggested Dipping Sauce: Sweet chili sauce or vinegar with smashed garlic.

Upper School New boarder registration, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

New family orientation, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Senior Parents Meeting, 4-4:45 p.m.

January 7

US E Komo Mai, 5-6:30 p.m.

Boarding Orientation, 7-10 p.m.

February 3 February August 17 6

Intake conferences with teachers

MS Parent/Student Orientation 8:30-10:30 a.m.

August 18 February 13

Intake conferences with teachers, 8 a.m.-noon

Classes begin, 7:55 a.m.

Required class retreats Assembly, 8 a.m.

Classes begin, 8:40 a.m.

August 1926-28 Classes begin, 7:55 a.m.

February March 321 August

K-8 E Komo Mai, 3-5 p.m.

March 7 7 September September 8 March 10 September 18

Labor Day holiday – no classes ‘Ohana Association Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Enrichment Day (classes in session)

March 11 October 13

Faculty Work Day (student holiday) ‘Ohana Association Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

October 15-18

Parents Weekend

March 29 October 15 March 30 October 16 April 7 October 17 April 10

Class visits

Class visits

Parent Conferences, 8 a.m.3 p.m. (classes in session)

Parent Conferences (no classes), 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Parent Conferences (no classes), 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Parent Conferences, 8 a.m.-noon

Parent Conferences, 8 a.m.-noon

Parent Conferences, 8 a.m.-noon

April 17 April 23-24 October 18 May 1 19 October

‘Ohana Association’s Pumpkin Patch, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Upper Campus Parents Weekend holiday

November 10

Liane’s Lumpia

Middle School

August 14 January 6

November 13 May 5 November 24 May 9

‘Ohana Association Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

K-12 Faculty Work Day (student holiday) Thanksgiving break begins, 3 p.m.

November 25 May 10

Thanksgiving break begins, 3:10 p.m.

K-12 Faculty work day

44th Annual Soccer Classic

November 27-29

May 20 November 29

Boarders return

November 30

Classes resume

December 3-5 May 22 December 8 May 28-31 December 11

HPA Girls Basketball Tournament ‘Ohana Association Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Last day of school June 23-July 18 Winter break begins, 3 p.m.

January 4-5

Last day of school Winter break begins, 3:10 p.m.

Last day of school Winter break begins, mid-day

K-12 Professional Development Day

January 5 January 6

Thanksgiving break begins, 5:30 p.m.

Boarders return Classes resume Copy deadline for the December 2015 issue of Ma Ke Kula is Friday, October 30, 2015.

All dates are subject to change without notice.

For the most current calendar, please visit our website (www.hpa.edu).

MA KE KULA SUMMER 2015 43

65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road Kamuela, Hawai‘i 96743-8476 Change Service Requested

Members of the Class of 2015 gather with first grade teacher, Teri Chong, at the Village Campus playground.

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