2017 February Eagle Eye Valentine's Edition

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DAYS VOL 31, NO 3 FEB 2017

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Contents 2

ADVICE FOR JUNIORS

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JUST DO IT. TOMORROW.

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SNAPSHOT: WORKFLOW

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SNAPSHOT: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF TWO SCHOOLS

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THAT WEIGHT ON YOUR SHOULDER

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VALENTINE’S DAY MESSAGES

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SNEAKERHEADS

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MEAT FREE AND HAPPY

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HOW GREEN IS HBA?

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THE SMALL LUXURIES OF INDEPENDENCE

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THE GOOD OL’ DAYS

Editor’s Note → By Kayci Kumashiro (‘17)

Greetings, readers and Happy Valentine’s Day!

PAIGE OSHIRO (‘17)

‘Tis the season for love and lots of chocolate. It’s the time of year when we spend a few extra minutes sending lollipops and cheesy cards with a coffee cup on the front saying, “I love you a latte!” It’s the time when we are reminded of how much loved ones mean to us.

In the flurry of heart shaped candies and red roses, we should remember that, while Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to love, it isn’t the only time we show it. Through acts of kindness, affirming words, or reconciling with old friends, the spirit of Valentine’s Day can be kept alive throughout the year. Today and every day that follows, find little ways to show friends, family, and even strangers that you care.

Advice from Seniors

Senior year is the daunting finale of a student’s high school career. As many set their sights on college, seniors will have to balance their studies, sleep, recreational time, and college planning. Below are some insightful tips to juniors about what to consider as they approach their final year.

→ Ryan Su (‘17) FEATURE

Don’t be sneaky. Be accountable for your actions. Enjoy what you do because you should have fun. Don’t let others hold you back.

-NUI SABAS

Don’t let laziness consume you.

Do your work. -EVAN EBESU

Work on your applications. Start writing your essay. You need to work hard first semester. Have fun.

Get a license or have a friend who does in order to make the most of your off campus privileges. It’s okay to take classes you’re interested in, even if it doesn’t help with your planned major. Consider taking at least one class that could help with your major. -DAVID TODA

1. Be yourself 2. Plan procrastination 3. In everything you do, don’t overwork yourself.

-KARLY TOM

If you have a significant other, talk to him or her and decide if you’ll stay together because it may affect your college decision. Don’t forget about your friends, spend time with them as well. Think about what you do because it will affect the future.

-JARRED HEE

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You do you. Don't worry about what people want you to do. Spend time with your friends. Appreciate your family. -PAIGE OSHIRO

Power through and persevere because it fuels your curiosity which also helps to develop who you are as a person. -AIMEE CLARKE

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Just Do It.....

It embezzles our sleep, our time, and our peace of mind. For a small fee, just a few hours or just a few days, it promises us rest and relaxation but rarely delivers anything besides hysteria and regret. Procrastination is a smooth-talking salesman, and we fall for the same empty sales pitch again and again. Why do we keep taking the bait?

According to researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, there may be a biological explanation behind your repeated decisions to binge-watch your favorite shows on Netflix instead of writing your English paper. After conducting a study on the correlation between impulsive tendencies and procrastination, the researchers suggested that the two “are linked primarily through genetic influences on the ability to use high-priority goals to effectively regulate actions.” In other words, some people are more likely to procrastinate than others. Your tendency to procrastinate depends in part on your genetic makeup and your ability to discipline yourself to achieve your priorities.

While this study may tempt us to blame our reluctance to work on our DNA, we are capable of conquering procrastination. According to Eric Jaffe of the Association for Psychological Science, “An inability to manage emotions seems to be at [procrastination’s] very foundation.”

Based on Jaffe’s claim, procrastination often results from our own lack of discipline; we act irresponsibly when we give our feelings too much influence over our choices. If we are ruled by our emotions when we face unpleasant or difficult tasks, we will likely choose to indulge in immediate, short-lived pleasures instead of completing our work in advance. Psychology professor Timothy A. Pychyl sums it up: “The moment you’re not consciously engaged in a task, your limbic system takes over. You give in to what feels good—you procrastinate.” Because

CAN WE ESCAPE THE ALLURE OF PROCR ASTINATION? → By Paige Oshiro (‘17) FEATURE

of the instant gratification and easy escape procrastination provides us, it’s often a difficult habit to break.

While it may be a leading cause of inadequate sleep, stressful breakdowns, and 7 A.M. cramming, procrastination is a universal experience for students. It unites us. It doesn’t matter what subject you love or whether or not you even like school; at one point or another, we have all rushed to meet a midnight essay deadline, all scrambled to finish homework during a five-minute passing period. If we’re being honest, we’ve all been there.

Junior Preston Iha, beloved by his classmates for his quirky sense of humor, was candid about his procrastination career. “I started

“Because of the instant gratification and easy escape procrastination provides us, it’s often a difficult habit to break.”

Psychology Professor Timothy A. Pichy

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.......................Tomorrow

Sophomores Bryson Gonzalez and Kacie Moku tackle homework together after school. Working alongside others is a strategy to avoid procrastination. PHOTOGRAPH BY PAIGE OSHIRO (‘17) procrastinating as soon as I started getting work,” reflected Iha. “That give a word of advice to his fellow students, Su joked, “In the words was probably around kindergarten.” of Bob Marley, ‘don’t worry bout a thing because every little thing is Unlike Iha, senior David Toda was initially a diligent student during gonna be alright.’” He chuckled, then added on a more serious note, his elementary years. However, upon entering high school, Toda “I live with this philosophy that you should just take things as they discovered he could earn high marks in his classes with minimal come...if it involves taking a break and not doing homework for one studying. Since then, Toda has struggled to maintain his study habits; night, do it because it keeps you from going crazy.” when he could be tackling homework, he trains his team in Pokemon Similar to Su, high school counselor Tara Gruspe is open-minded about Sun and Moon or devours a new book instead. Though his 4.0 GPA procrastination. She observed, “Some students do better when they is no longer intact, Toda is striving to conquer his procrastination: are pressured,” and remarked, “I would advise [those students] to “What I’m working on is a lot of self-control. That’s basically what you start early, at least thinking about what the assignment is and trying need not to be a procrastinator.” to formulate some ideas...so when they do sit down at the last hour Veteran library assistant and bowling coach Lynne Hayashi offers to get the assignment done, it’s not like starting fresh.” advice similar to Toda’s: “[Dealing with procrastination] is a matter Senior Lauren Lee, a seasoned procrastinator, described her daily of setting a good habit. ‘You have to do this. You don’t want to do this, routine: “I’m so physically tired that I fall asleep when I get home, but you have to do this.’ It’s a matter of will.” and then I get up at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning, and then I have one Although procrastination is commonly labeled a bad habit, there or two hours to do everything.” When asked to offer procrastination are some who regard it as a useful tool. Often seen with a camera bag advice to other students, Lee simply said this: “Don’t do it.” slung over his shoulder and a Nikon in hand, senior class historian Ryan Su is a self- confessed procrastinator. However, when asked to

SNAPSHOT: Workflow PERSPECTIVES ON PART-TIME JOBS → By Nui Sabas (‘17) FEATURE

For some students at HBA, part-time jobs feel like chores that no one wants to do. For others, work is a welcome break from school and a chance to connect with people outside of school while gaining valuable work experience and getting paid. For seniors Johannah Wilford (Haleiwa Joe’s hostess), Tiffany Nagasawa (Pac Sun retail assistant), and Duke Denham (Regal Dole Cannery movie theater assistant), parttime work has become a regular and rewarding part of their lives.

Since high schoolers mostly enter the job market with little to no prior job experience, they often work in entry level jobs in the service industry. Most students at HBA make between $9.25 to $15 an hour at their part-time jobs. It may not seem like a lot, but with no or few bills to pay, it is just extra money in the bank. Whether it’s clothes for Nagasawa, gas for Wilford, or just straight up “going out” money for Denham, the extra income takes care of wants and needs instead of basic necessities.

Nagasawa says that the reason why she likes her job is because “the employees are super fun.” Denham shares the same opinion about his coworkers and managers and added, “They’re not really that bossy.”

Juggling part-time jobs and school can be daunting but planning ahead can alleviate stress. Nagasawa, who works four to eight hours a week and is enrolled in AP courses, said that her schedule is hard but that she finds someone to cover for her at work if she needs time for school work. Denham makes sure his employer knows that he can only work on weekends. Senior Jarred Hee, a former L&L employee, said, “Learning how to balance school and work will help you develop time management skills for the future.”

Work experience is another valuable benefit of working while in school. Senior Tucker Miller, who works part-time at an accounting firm, said, “If I was ever going to go into accounting, then this would really help prepare me for the future.” Nagasawa suggested that the school should encourage students to work outside of school because it helps prepare them for life after high school.

Wilford agreed, saying, “I think this job has taught me more than I ever learned in school.” She explained, “A job teaches you things that a textbook can’t teach you, like working with different age groups and learning how to communicate and understand people that come from different backgrounds as you do.”

Senior Duke Denham takes quick Snapchat of an empty movie theater lobby, three minutes before the start of a Saturday shift at the Regal Dole Cannery theaters.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DUKE DENHAM (‘17)

SNAPSHOT: A Day in Two Schools

At HBA, the average grade size is around 100-120 students. Class sizes are between 15-30 students. The low teacher-to-student ratio makes it easier for students to get one-on-one time with their teachers when they need it. At Castle, grade sizes range from 150-500 students, and classes have 25-50 students. Castle junior Jabe Kahawaii, who calls himself an average student with decent grades, said, “Most Castle teachers don’t try to go out of their way to help students grow because of how big their classes are. However, there are some teachers who actually care about the well-being and education of students.”

Most HBA students would agree that their homework load can sometimes get huge and takes up a good number of after-school hours. HBA senior Jared Miyasato, who is currently taking two AP courses, said, “Homework can sometimes take me two hours because I usually need to study for one or more tests or quizzes, especially in my AP courses.” Castle junior Blake Hadama, who

has attended public schools his whole life, made this observation about his school’s homework load: “For most students, homework is fairly easy, and very little is given out per week. It takes 30 minutes at the most if you pay attention in class. As a matter of fact, most students just do homework at break or lunch before class because it doesn’t take long.”

At HBA, while students may have their gripes about cafeteria food, there is a variety of food available for purchase, including healthy alternatives such as salads and snack wraps. At Castle, students who purchase lunch at school have only one main meal to choose from.

HBA and Castle both offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities. HBA’s relatively smaller size, however, means that some sports teams—like soccer, wresting, paddling and football—are made up players from Pac-Five schools rather than just HBA students.

Both schools also have class socials, sporting events, sock hops/dances, and banquets to benefit students socially.

Students in both schools also find similar types of cliques or friend groups around campus. HBA senior Nui Sabas said, “At HBA there are nerd cliques, theater cliques, sport cliques like cross country and bowling, gamer cliques, Kaneohe cliques, and some mixed cliques.” Since Castle is a bigger school, cliques appear more numerous. But the groups are very similar to HBA’s. Kahawaii said, “There are nerd cliques, gamer cliques, stoner cliques, surfer cliques, theater kid cliques, football kid cliques, baseball kid cliques... there’s Continued on page 18 even like a Hot Topic

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By definition a private school is a school supported by a private organization or private individuals rather than by the government. A public school is a school supported by public funds so families pay little to no money for the education. At the Eagle Eye, we wanted to explore the difference between the average experience of high schoolers at HBA and those at Castle High School, a public school in Kaneohe.

PERSPECTIVES FROM HBA AND CASTLE HIGH → By DJ Sur (‘17) FEATURE

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It can span from giving an impromptu presentation to escaping a burning building; encountering anything that puts pressure on one’s emotions or abilities often causes stress.

Teenagers and adults are no strangers to stress. For many, the anticipation that comes from the start of a new year is coupled with the stress of having a long to-do list. In a competitive school or work environment, the potential for stress building over one’s shoulders can accumulate by the day.

While stress is usually considered a negative experience, psychologists make a distinction between good and bad stress. Eustress, or good stress, happens in manageable situations. The fight-or-flight response is an example of eustress. The minor but sudden dose of stress one receives in a scenario like this can serve as motivation to improve or

not be in a situation like this next time. For junior class Corresponding Secretary Joshua Fujita, the heavy workload he has had this year helps him value free time. “The workload is huge and right now it’s especially difficult because the third quarter includes Spirit Week, Junior Camp, and Prom. There’s always something to do and free time is more of a luxury than a routine.”

However, long-term or intense stress can become more than a psychological or emotional issue; gradual and pent-up stress can lead to gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, or a multitude of other healthrelated problems. English teacher Lauren Takao recently experienced this first-hand. Despite a healthy diet, adequate rest and exercise, Takao began to have a difficulty in breathing the week before this past Thanksgiving.

A visit to the doctor the following week revealed that she was having heart spasms. She was immediately sent to the Emergency Room.

After several tests, results showed that Takao’s spasms were caused

English teacher Lauren Takao finds release from stress through weightlifting.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTIN MONIZ (‘18)

→ By Jessie Lin (‘18)

FEATURE by stress. “After that incident, I learned that I have to abandon issues that are not in my control, otherwise I will make myself sick. Eventually God had to intervene and say ‘stop.’ It took me lying in the hospital unable to do anything before I realized that I was stressing myself out way too much,” Takao explained.

With many things to juggle, such as work, family, and other commitments, Takao often finds herself multi-tasking; however, she works hard to balance her time between work and family. “The workload can be a lot for teaching, but that is where time management and organization come into play. Unless absolutely necessary, I try to not take any work home with me. Once I leave campus I’m no longer ‘Mrs. Takao,’ but I’m ‘Mommy.’ Being a mother can be very physically and mentally exhausting, so the workload when I get home is quite heavy. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of Shogun and Misha...it’s quite a job! One way I cope with stress is to lift weights. I also pray when anxious and talk to my friends or husband. I also like to take deep

breaths when I feel really overwhelmed and try to find a quiet place of solitude to relax my mind and meditate.”

With many events and things happening in everyone’s lives, it can be difficult to find time to channel one’s inner zen. Thankfully, stress relief can found just clicks or taps away on the Internet. An assortment of websites offer support and advice hotlines for those who find stress unmanageable. According to the American Psychological Association, stress should not be completely managed by the sufferer. Though taking time to self-evaluate one’s stress levels can be mind-opening, it doesn’t hurt to have the help of someone else.

“Also, knowing that God will be there to help me is comforting. I used to think He wouldn’t give me more than I could handle, when in fact, He will give me hard things throughout life, but He’s waiting for me to call on Him to get through it all.” Takao stated.

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That Weight on Your Shoulder

For those without a Valentine:

To Nicholas Miwa,

Roses are red, What is reality? When I see you, I question my life choices.

Never gonna give you up / Never gonna let you down / Never gonna run around and desert you / Never gonna make you cry / Never gonna say goodbye/ Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you. <3

Love, Bill Harvy

Dear Mr. Weismantel, Thanks for your amazing teaching style. AP World has been a blast! Can’t wait for AP Euro. No more Communist Manifestos though.

Dear Skye, I love you and hope you have a nice day! You’re an amazing younger sister and I’m so proud of everything you accomplished this year. Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, your

Dear Class Council, Than

of 2018. You do so much for us, p Hunger Games, and preparing fo appreciate you. Thank you so mu

favorite sister

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Dear Ally Wada, I think so... But I don’t know. Love, You know who.

Dear JOJO WILLIE,

VA L E N T I N E ’ S D

I love you. You mean so much to me.

Love, JOJO

WILLIE

To Miwa, So hot. So cute. I just want to get you too. Love,

Roy Dragon

Roses are red Nick’s the master. https://youtu.be/E6iN6VTL7v8

To Mr. Danford Chang Counseling team, Thank

helping me with my college & scho You’re a blessing! Love, Paige

Love, Barry Benson

Dear Kayla, Y

jokes... and you a n

Roses are red / You make cringey memes / But there’s no denying Nick / You’re the boy of my dreams. / Love, C9 Sneaky

Dear Kylee, Just thought yo

the best and I’m really lucky to ha

Jo the little sophomore with a steering blade, yup, it’s me again. Sincerely, She who will always be taller.

To Table Mates,

Best friend, I love you very much. You

are everything—I appreciate you more than you know. Thank you for being there.

Love, Jordyn Hartley

I <3 U! Thanks for the awesome and memorable times. Let’s sit together during lunch. Love, Kyara & Friends

Keiko, I promise I will take care of Tam when you are gone. Love, Makenzie

To Nick Miwa, I love ya-suooo much. You hasaki to my

heart. You take my Last Breath away. Will you be like the wind and never leave my side? Love, a Boosted

Animal

Dear YDL, I love you. YKG

nks so much from all of us in the class planning Spirit Week, making the or Prom. We can’t repay you, but we can uch & lots of love, Class of 2018

Dear Counseling Team, It is a pleasure

D AY M E S S A G E S

g and the

k you for olarship apps.

Tara Gruspe.

Dear G-Mama, Stand your ground!

Dear Human Master, It’s my turn to send you a Valentine. You are more than a hand that feeds me; you

You are pretty lame with your sorta funny nail. But you my nail. Love, Jarred

ou should know you’re ave you. Dylan

see me when I’m sleeping, you know when I’m awake, you take me to the park, and buy me little cakes. I love you.

Snoopy the Beagle

Senior Class Council, Thank you for all you do.

Love, Anonymous.

Dear Kaycee, I think that you take good pictures.

And I’ll see you at prom.

You-Know-Su

Aimer, c’est ce qu’ya d’plus beau / Aimer, c’est monter si haut / Et toucher les ailes des oiseaux / Aimer, c’est ce qu’ya d’plus beau / Love, Lauren

Uchimura

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to work with all of you!!

You all are amazing. Love,

Sneakerheads → By Aimee Clark (‘17) FEATURE

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Self-professed sneakerheads Nui Sabas and Ty Minatoya show off their favorite pairs of sneakers. Popular sneakers can cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000 in the resale market.

Hundreds of old and young sneakerheads have camped out in front of a store to wait for the release of a new shoe. They’ve come prepared with hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to buy as many shoes as they can in whatever size is available to resell or trade.

According to Forbes, in 2015, the athletic footwear industry in the United States generated $17.2 billion in sales, and the industry continues to grow. One group of consumers driving this industry is sneakerheads, people who collect, trade, or appreciate sneakers as a hobby. To sneakerheads, shoes are not just another accessory for their outfit; it is a statement piece and sometimes holds sentimental value.

It is commonly believed that the sneakerhead culture in the United States started in the 1980s because of the popularity of hip hop music and the release of Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan line of shoes in 1985.

As hip hop artists started flaunting name brand sneakers, fans tried to duplicate their style. In 1986, Run–D.M.C. released a song called “My Adidas.” This iconic song led to the first endorsement deal in hip hop with Adidas.

As interest in sneaker collecting grew, the resale values of popular or rare sneakers rose above their original prices. The resale and trading of sneakers soon became a lucrative business for many collectors.

Senior Nui Sabas started collecting sneakers in his freshman year because he thought it was cool. Over the next few years, he spent more than $1,500 on sneakers and collected around 30 pairs of shoes.

Sabas funded his sneaker purchases by saving his holiday money. He has since given up the hobby of collecting shoes because he now sees

PHOTOGRAPH BY AIMEE CLARK (‘17)

it as “kind of a waste of money.” His most expensive shoe—the Nike SB Dunk Diamond—cost him $275. But the shoe that holds the most sentimental value is his Air Jordan 4 “Military Blue”. He said, “They kind of remind me of my family or one of my family members. I’d rock my Military 4s.”

Senior Ty Minatoya joined the sneakerhead club when he was in fifth grade. His love for basketball influenced his choice of sneakers, as well as the new colors and styles emerging. Minatoya’s most expensive shoe is the Nike LeBron 9 Elite “South Beach”, which go for around $500 to $600 on the resale market. But the pair that got him into sneaker collecting was his Kobe 5. When asked why the Kobe 5 were his favorite, he said, “It was a comfortable shoe to play [basketball] in, and the style was clean and crisp.”

Although many sneakerheads enjoy collecting sneakers for themselves, most of them purchase sneakers for the resale value. Because of high demand for sneakers, even 12 year olds can make hundreds of dollars by reselling their shoes. Shoes that are deadstock—ones that have never been worn and are still in their original boxes—are worth the most in the resale market. Many sneakerheads never wear the shoes they buy with hopes maintaining the value of the shoe. Minatoya disagrees with this practice. He said, ”I always make sure to wear all my shoes because that’s what they’re meant for. They’re not meant to be just kept in a box or [as] a collectable. I think shoes are meant to be worn, and I think that’s what people should do.” Sabas agreed,

TOP 5 Shoe Brands worn at HBA’s High School 103 HBA high school students were surveyed. The data on the right shows the distribution of brands for 80% of survey respondents. The remaining 20% percent wear New Balance, Asics, Reebok or other brands.

INFOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHS BY NUI SABAS (‘17) PHOTO EDITING BY AIMEE CLARK (‘17)

Nike

25% Converse

24% Vans

23% Adidas

saying, “[Reselling isn’t] worth it, that’s why I’m not into the sneakers for that. It’s not meant to make money; it’s a culture.”

Although the sneakerhead community brings people with similar interests together, the allure of quick profits in the resale market can get ugly. In 2012, Foot Locker suspended the release of Nike’s debut NBA All-Star sneaker in a number of Florida stores after a riot broke out among sneaker fans at an Orlando mall. In the rap “Hate It or Love It,” American rapper The Game says, “I’ll kill you if you try me for my Air Max 95’s,” referring to a popular Nike sneaker. For Sabas, this level of fanaticism isn’t worth it. “It’s overrated and people should be patient because it’s only a pair of shoes and sometimes people take it way too far,” he said.

5% Toms

3%

Meat Free & Happy → By Jordyn Hartley (‘17) FEATURE

PHOTOGRAPH BY DJ SUR (‘17)

Though they are often confused for one another, vegetarians are people who do not eat meat or fish, whereas vegans do not eat any animal products (this includes milk, cheese, cream, eggs, and anything that contains them or is derived from them).

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But besides these technical definitions, what does being vegetarian or vegan actually look like on a daily basis? Does it simply mean wearing that popular “KALE” t-shirt that keeps showing up in YouTube videos? Is it enough to have a kale and carrot smoothie for breakfast, only to have steak at lunch?

A growing trend has been to give up meat or dairy products for a few weeks, maybe even for a couple months, and call yourself a vegetarian or vegan. Social media has helped popularized vegetarianism and veganism, but vegetarians and vegans will tell you that few of these short-term lifestyle changes truly resemble the lifestyle of a vegetarian or vegan.

According to The Guardian, the number of vegetarians and vegans in England ages 15-34 has been steadily increasing since 2014, and close to half of all vegans surveyed in a recent study were younger than 35. Senior Nicolas Caballes was vegan for over five months after being pescatarian before that, in an effort to eat a healthier diet. (Pescatarians do not eat meat but consume seafood.) Caballes says, “I think Instagram and other social media outlets really affect the way people see veganism. [The popularity] makes [veganism] appear like a fascinating lifestyle, instead of just showing it for what it is.” Pictures of colorful acai fruit bowls or healthy green smoothies flood user timelines and feeds, glamorizing vegan diet choices.

What we don’t often hear as much about is the impact of consuming animal products on one’s health and on the environment. “I think because eating meat is so normalized that making the connection between meat and live animals is hard for those who have never [viewed meat as a living animal.] And because of this, people just don’t understand why there are people who decide not to eat meat because of the connection,” says senior Dana Li, who has been vegan for eight months due to the health risks associated with eating meat and other animal products, as well as her views on animal rights.

After being a pescatarian for one year, senior Alyssa Futa says, “It originally started as a way

to get my family to eat healthier. My dad has lunch and actually prefer them. I think it high cholesterol and high blood pressure so would be kind of difficult to find alternatives I thought that by being a pescatarian, I’d be from school just because options are limited. able to make sure that there were alternatives I think the school doesn’t make vegan lunches for him to eat that would help with his health a priority.” Vegans and vegetarians have to problems.” make sure they are getting nutrients like iron, Many vegetarians and vegans will tell you vitamin B12, iodine, calcium, and Omega-3 that sticking to their diets requires a great fats, which are more commonly found in meat deal of effort and commitment. Futa says, products. Green vegetables, nuts and seeds, “I think the hardest part was having to be so and legumes help fill in this gap but school conscious of what I was eating. For example, lunches do not often feature these ingredients during class parties or club parties I would in sufficient amounts. eat only the dishes that didn’t have meat in The production of meat and meat-related them and having to ask made it a bit difficult, products has a higher impact on our and it kind of felt like I was being annoying.” environment than growing fruit and vegetables.

Senior Davis Tsuha, who has been vegan According to the 2012 NPR report mentioned since the start of this year, states that he faces earlier, the production of one hamburger— many everyday challenges when it comes to which includes raising and feeding cows— his meal options. “Buying food seems to be a requires 6.7 pounds of grains and grass, 52.8 problem because I have to buy my own groceries gallons of drinkable water, 74.5 square feet separately from the rest of my family. Also of farmland, and 1093 kilojoules of fossil fuel eating out with them can get tricky because energy (enough to power a microwave for some places don’t have vegan options, [or roughly 20 minutes.) And typically, a single cow these options] can be really expensive,” he raised for meat releases anywhere between 155 says. and 265 lbs of methane gas every year. Methane Being either a is a greenhouse gas vegetarian or vegan that has a high global Many vegetarians and in the U.S. can be warming potential, challenging because 21 times higher vegans will tell you that of its food culture than that of carbon sticking to their diets relies so heavily d i ox i d e . W h i le requires a great deal of on consuming reports on the actual effort and commitment. meat and animal carbon footprint of products. In the meat production United States, the vary from study to average person consumes 270.7 pounds of study, it would behoove both meat eaters meat per year, a consumption rate higher than and non-meaters to become more aware of any single country on the planet, excluding how our food choices have an impact on the Luxembourg according to an NPR report in environment that ultimately provides us with 2012. And despite the increasing popularity these choices. of veganism among younger people, the percentage of vegetarians and vegans in America is just 3.2 percent, or 7.3 million out of the 318.9 million people in the United States.

Most vegans and vegetarians will tell you that although their lifestyle is a challenge, the rewards are far greater. Even though Caballes was only vegan for half a year, he reports feeling healthier during that time.

“After I started eating healthier,” he says, “I started feeling better, and overall was just doing good. I don’t regret going vegan, even if it was for a short time.” Like Caballes, many vegetarian and vegan students at HBA have trouble maintaining their diets because of a lack of alternatives when it comes to school lunches. Tsuha says, “Personally, I bring home

How Green is Our School? → By Karly Tom (‘17) FEATURE

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The Hawaiian archipelago is the most geographically isolated group of islands on Earth, 2,390 miles from California, its closest continental land mass.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Hawaii is 48th in total energy consumed per capita of all US states and one reason for its low per capita energy consumption is the state’s mild tropical climate, which substantially lowers the amount of energy used for heating. Half of Hawaii’s energy consumption comes from transportation, followed by commercial and military aviation fuel use.

However, because of the state’s distant location from the mainland, Hawaii has the fourteenth highest total energy expenditures per capita in the United States. Hawaii also has the highest electricity prices in the country.

Because of this, the State of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Energy have partnered to create the Clean Energy Initiative, bringing together “business leaders, policy makers, and concerned citizens committed to leading Hawaii to energy independence.” Essentially, the goal is to reduce Hawaii’s dependence on fossil fuels. One area that the initiative focuses on is renewable energy, and the group has pushed for legislative bills to facilitate and encourage the production and use of solar energy in Hawaii.

At HBA, in an effort to lower the school’s energy consumption, 465 solar panels were installed on the roofs of the high school gym and the middle school buildings in 2013. These are now part of a photovoltaic system that produces 8.42 megawatt hours of power per month for the school, equivalent to the energy produced by about 80 automobile engines. Altogether, this system supplies about 30% of the total energy consumed by the middle and high school.

Students and faculty at HBA are also taking part in the movement toward a greener school. In 2015, the high school’s Environmental Club began vermicasting, using worms to produce compost from food waste, specifically discarded fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates.

This compost is nutrient rich soil which is then used in the club’s new herb and vegetable garden. “The garden is small,” says HBA President Ron Shiira, “but we hope to grow and eventually add a farm-to-table aspect to our program.” There are also plans for hot composting at the

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARLY TOM (‘17)

school, which will more types of food waste to be composted, according to Environmental Club advisor Claire Mitchell.

On the middle school campus, the National Junior Honor Society recently began working with the high school Environmental Club to collect food waste for the vermicasting project. NJHS members manage collection stations on campus and and direct their fellow students on where to dump their food waste. The campus also has several recycling bins for plastic bottles and metal cans, reducing the amout of trash headed to the dumpters.

HBA has also made energy efficiency a priority in its campus renovations and expansions. Both the middle school campus and the high school Arts and Science building are LEED Gold certified structures. The LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design— certification is awarded to buildings that are resource efficient when it comes to energy use and consumption. At the middle school, lockers are made out of recycled materials; bathrooms are equipped with low-flow faucets and toilets; sky lighting helps to light the classrooms, reducing the use of electricity; and motion detectors help to regulate the use of lighting.

Like the middle school campus, the Art and Science building at the high school has many eco-friendly features. The building uses a “smart system” that includes a combination of direct digital controls, light sensors and occupancy sensors to regulate the building’s central air conditioning and lighting. The building is also equipped with lowflow toilet flushes and faucets, zero water urinals and water-saving showerheads in the locker rooms.

For Shiira, HBA’s green efforts have to do with the larger vision of what the school is about. He said, “As a Christian school, caring for God’s creation has always been very important to us.

Vermicasting at HBA: Worms at work, turning food waste into nutrient rich soil.

The Small Luxuries of Independence HOW SENIORS SPEND THEIR FREE PERIODS → By Jarred Hee (‘17) FEATURE

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(Above) Senior Jarred Hee considers his lunch choices at Itchy Butt, a popular Korean take-out place on Keeaumoku Street.

(Right) Itchy Butt’s fried chicken bowl ($6) is smothered in teriyaki sauce and spicy mayo. PHOTOGRAPHS BY NUI SABAS (‘17)

Being a senior comes with many responsibilities and a mountain of stress from college applications.

But it does have its perks. At HBA, one of the most popular senior privileges is being able to leave campus during the school day.

While juniors and underclassmen are required to stay at school during their free periods, it isn’t uncommon to see seniors walking off campus during that time. Seniors often use the independent period to make a store run or pick up a quick bite. Aloha Sushi and Foodland are two favorite poké stops. The McDonalds on Liliha Street is another popular place to get a quick bite because of its convenient location and low prices. Taco Bell, Itchy Butt, Shaka Shaka Tea Express, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, and Serg’s Mexican Kitchen are some other places seniors often venture off to. Some seniors also make use of their independent periods by either coming to school later and getting an extra hour of rest, or leaving early at the end of the day.

The free period is also a welcome break from regular classes. Senior Camille Chamness says, “I enjoy it because it gives me a break and most importantly I can nap in the middle of the day. I think they are really good and we deserve them for working all [through high school].”

Another senior, Eliesse Hihara, said, “Since I have two independent periods, on extended days, I get a full four hours to relax or do homework.”

Juniors and seniors alike can appreciate the much-needed break an independent period (or two) provides.

While a mid-day break is universally welcomed, there are still things students want fixed about the independent period. One of the most common involves the off-campus privileges. Hihara said, “Since I have two independent periods, I don’t get why I can only be off-campus for one of them.” However, this is not necessarily a huge cause concern for most seniors since they are mostly glad to have off-campus privileges in the first place.

Addressing Hihara’s comment, vice principal Ryan Frontiera said, “Our school values our students being present, involved, and physically on campus.” He emphasized that it is important for students to be around school so that they can connect more with their class and the school community. As to why seniors are gifted with off-campus privileges, he said, “For seniors, the off campus privileges are just a Continued on next page way to recognize that they are older and we give them time to leave and

EAGLE EYE Hawaii Baptist Academy 2429 Pali Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 HBAEAGLEEYE.COM Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Eagle Eye is a student-run and studentcentered publication.

Cover Illustration

By Paige Oshiro (‘17)

Cover Coloring

By Kayci Kumashiro (‘17)

Submissions The Eagle Eye encourages students, teachers, and staff to submit letters, essays, opinion columns, and artwork on current school and social issues. They must be signed by the author.

Letters may be edited, but care will be taken to maintain the writer’s point. Please submit material to room 300B.

Opinions expressed in letters and columns are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hawaii Baptist Academy or the Eagle Eye staff.

Advertising Businesses may place ads in the Eagle Eye on a space available basis and for a reasonable fee.

Please call the school for more information at 595-6301.

Distribution The Eagle Eye is distributed at no charge to the Hawaii Baptist Academy middle and high school students, faculty, and staff. Mail subscriptions are available for a fee.

Follow the Eagle Eye on Instagram @hbaeagleeye

CO-EDITORS Kayci Kumashiro (‘17) Joel Lau (‘18) STAFF Jarin Ashimine (‘20) Makenzie Cammack (‘17) Aimee Clark (‘17) Jordyn Hartley (‘17) Ryan Higashi (‘17) Jarred Hee (‘17) Jessie Lin (‘18) Noelle Nakamura (‘17) Kaycee Nakashima (‘20) Paige Oshiro (‘17) Nui Sabas (‘17) Ryan Su (‘17) DJ Sur (‘17) Karly Tom (‘17) Johannah Wilford (‘17) Joyy Young (‘17) Adviser Eunice Sim

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go off campus to get lunch or hang out with their friends, especially since they can drive and transport themselves better. [It’s a privilege to] gradually add more freedom and responsibilities as [the students] get older.”

A lesser known perk the seniors have is the ability to suggest new privileges for their own class or the entire high school. At the beginning The Small Luxuries of Independence From page 17

Snapshot: A Day in Two Schools From page 6 kid clique.”

When it comes to school rules and culture, HBA is a more conservative school compared to Castle. Kahawaii said, “There is usually a fight between students at least once a week. These fights have become a form of their entertainment in and out of school.”

Hadama added, “Students use profanity and don’t always show respect to teachers and faculty.” But like at HBA, Castle students can be suspended, expelled or even arrested for

of each school year, the senior class council is given the chance to meet with Frontiera and propose new ideas. The most recent senior classes have helped change school rules concerning the use of cellphones, earbuds, and other electronics during non-class hours. The current senior class council tried to advocate for free dress Fridays but has been unsuccessful so far.

the posession of drugs or alcohol at school.

According to Hadama, Castle students are exposed to negative influences on a daily basis.

He said, “You can literally search anyone’s bag and find either a drug or a mod (a type of e-cigarette). If your point of view is different than someone else’s, things might actually escalate into a physical argument depending on who you talk to. It’s impossible for you not to know someone who doesn’t do or sell drugs.” When asked how he stays out of trouble, Hadama said, “Surrounding yourself with good friends and spending time with them helps you to stay away from the negativity.”

While prohibited substances or items are not commonly seen at HBA, Sabas believes HBA students could still be subject to negative influences at school. And like Hadama, Sabas said, “Having friends that you can have fun with without things like drugs or alcohol is important to avoid a negative lifestyle.”

When asked about one thing he would change about Castle, Kahawaii answered, “The bathrooms. Think of a public restroom.

Now remove the doors. That’s public school bathrooms.” Sabas, on the other hand, said, “HBA should use plates for breakfast and lunch to increase serving sizes.”

The Good Ol’ Days A PEEK INTO TE ACHERS’ LIVES BEFORE HBA → By Kaycee Nakashima (‘20) FEATURE

(Left to right) Math teacher Aaron Kondo, Math teacher Terence Li, Science teacher Sean Shiroma, and Science teacher Claire Mitchell (last two pictures).

Math teacher Terence Li is a 2002 HBA graduate.

For his first job, Li worked at Domino’s Pizza the summer after his senior year in high school.

In 2006, Li headed across the Pacific Ocean to the University of Oregon for college, where he worked for a local Dominos throughout his freshman year. Li’s parents own a meat, poultry and seafood business in Hawaii and helping his parents with their work was a routine part of Li’s childhood days. “The line between chores and working for your parents kind of blurs,” Li said. While many of his peers’ household chores would consist of taking out the garbage or doing the dishes, Li was responsible for balancing a checkbook or checking invoices for his parents.

Thinking back on his days as a middle schooler at HBA, Li remembers hanging out by the stream behind the school. “I’ve fallen in the stream. We used to dare each other to do stuff. One time I was walking across this slippery piece of rebar and I fell in. Thankfully my head didn’t go under. But, I was basically sitting neck deep in the stream water and for a while, they called me river boy,” reminisced Li.

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When students see teachers at work, it is easy to forget that they were once high schoolers and college students.

Math teacher Aaron Kondo is another HBA graduate (Class of 2005). Kondo transferred to Hawaii Baptist Academy from Waolani Judd for middle and high school. As a high schooler, Kondo dreamt of becoming a professional basketball, baseball, and football player. For his first job, Kondo was an assistant coach for HBA’s cross country team. Like Li, Kondo’s favorite childhood memories involved hanging out with other boys. Kondo said, “Wrestling with my brother, pretending to be Shawn Michaels and super kicking him was pretty fun.”

When talking about her childhood, Science teacher Claire Mitchell isn’t afraid to laugh at herself. Mitchell described herself as someone who was great at embarrassing herself. “I was cast as Maid Marian in Robin Hood and my crush was Robin Hood. So, we had a kissing scene which I was all nervous about. So on the very first day that we were rehearsing, I farted in front of him and I was mortified,” she explained. Mitchell grew up in New York state and worked part-time as a busser and waitress in a local restaurant when she was in high school. For college, Mitchell went to the

University of New York and majored in zoology.

She then got her Masters in Education at Union Graduate College, also in New York. Mitchell moved to Hawaii to work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before she got her teaching job HBA. This year marks Science teacher Sean Shiroma’s third year at HBA. He graduated from Mililani High School in 2010 and attended The Master’s University, where he got his Bachelors in Biology. Shiroma played soccer as a child and his first job was being a referee for the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association. As a child, Shiroma wanted to be an astronaut because he was fascinated about weightlessness in space.

Looking back at his high school and college years, Li offered this piece of advice: “If you can find people who can tell you the truth, who can spend time with you, who add to your life and you add to their life, stick with them.”