SCREEN TIME: Manage It Or It Manages You
→ By Natali Nomura (‘25) EDITORIAL
It hasn’t been long since the first iPhone was released in 2007. However, in just under two decades since then, it’s become almost impossible to find any place in the world where people aren’t looking at a mobile screen.
My average screen time is seven hours a day, which is admittedly a lot of time and yet fairly common for someone my age. While I don’t think that eliminating screen time entirely is realistic or necessary, I do think that phone addiction is an issue that must be addressed. I have observed other teenagers unable to put their phones down when asked, most notably in class. While HBA school rules may force us to get off our phones during class time, these rules are not enough to change students’ unhealthy habits on social media, at home, or when hanging out with friends. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle in a world where screens and social media are ubiquitous, we need to make a personal commitment to use screens only when they are actually needed.
Researchers have coined a term for phone addiction, nomophobia, which is a fear of “being detached from mobile phone connectivity.” When it comes to phone addiction in teens, there has been widespread concern about its effects on teenagers’ mental health and learning in school.
HBA policies have been the same for a while regarding cell phones at the high school—no phone use in class, unless allowed by a teacher. The HBA High School Student Handbook states, “Students are required to keep their phones on silent mode in their bags during school hours, with the exception
of lunch and passing periods. If a student has his/ her phone out or uses a smartwatch as a phone (e.g., checking texts), the phone or smartwatch will be bagged and returned to the student with demerits. After the third offense, it will be confiscated. Parents may pick it up at their convenience during school hours. Disciplinary actions may be taken, including suspension for repeated offenses. Phones may be used only with teacher authorization for educational purposes while in class.”
This year, I have noticed a renewed emphasis on these rules at the high school; students have had more reminders this school year about putting their phones and earbuds away, and some teachers have explicitly asked students to leave their phones behind when using the restroom during class.
I’ve noticed that some students have a hard time following these policies on phone use. It’s no surprise to me that a 2024 survey by Pew Research found that seventy-two percent of high school students admit to being distracted by their phones during class. A separate Pew Research survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 in 2024 found that “most teens use social media and have a smartphone, and nearly half say they’re online almost constantly.” Last June, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wrote in a New York Times op-ed that social media is an “important contributor” to the mental health crisis in adolescents and called for a surgeon general’s warning labell on social media platforms. Students who browse social media for three hours or more are twice as likely to develop symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Continued on Page 16
Cover Illustration
By Maya Wong (‘28)
EAGLE EYE
Hawaii Baptist Academy 2429 Pali Highway
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Eagle Eye is a student-run and studentcentered publication.
CO-EDITORS
Lydia Halcomb (‘25)
Natali Nomura (‘25)
STAFF
Sachiko Doi (‘28) Abbie Kato (‘25) Olivia Kim (‘27)
ADVISOR
Eunice Sim
Follow us @hbaeagleeye on Instagram www.hbaeagleeye.com
Listen to THE PERCH, our podcast on Spotify. Scan the QR code for our latest episode“What English Teachers Think About Brain Rot Slang.”
SENIORS WIN SPIRIT WEEK
→ By Lydia Halcomb (‘25) NEWS
This year’s Spirit Week will be one to remember for years to come: the competition was close and fierce, classes grew closer together, and both the girls and boys varsity basketball teams won their games at Homecoming.
The seniors—the class of 2025—will remember clinching the Mana Cup by a mere three points over the juniors, and the juniors will remember their second place finish as a three-point loss. The senior class was consistent with their dress-up participation throughout the week,
earning 100% participation nearly the whole week. They also scored on major competitions, earning first place for their Pepper Squad skit and the All-School Cheer competition. The sophomores placed third, the freshmen placed fourth, and the middle school (7th & 8th grade combined) placed fifth.
Senior class president and Spirit Week emcee Joshua Higa felt relief and pride as the results were announced during the Homecoming game at the end of the week. “I felt proud of my grade and of the school [because] everyone gave it their all that week. I was also happy because that was one of the best weeks in my entire high school career,” he said.
During half-time of the boys basketball homecoming game, the seniors celebrate their Spirit Week win with the Mana Cup trophy. PHOTOGRAPH BY ABBIE KATO (‘25)
The juniors began Spirit Week with a lead thanks to a pre-Spirit Week game that gave them some points. However, the seniors manage to win the first event of the week—Platform Jam—giving them enough points to keep up with the juniors.
The competition grew fierce on Day 2 during the Glowin-the-Dark Dodgeball game. In the junior versus senior girls match, the junior girls wore black shirts and jerseys as a strategy, which was deemed to be
an unfair advantage by Christina Yasutomi, Student Activities Director. As a result, the match had to be played with the lights turned on. The senior girls won the match, earning five points for their class. The game between the junior and senior boys was contentious as well due to some confusion over overtime rules.
The juniors felt that they lost the match because the rules were not clearly explained to them.
As a result, on the next day, it was announced that five points would be awarded to each grade, instead of giving the seniors the full 10 points. Student Council Spirit Week Chair Drew Lohr, a junior, said that he thought the compromise “was fair and made in the name of sportsmanship.” He also added that the decision “was a good deal” for his class.
Senior Jordan Hunter-Garcia, who was on the senior dodgeball team, said that the problem was due to the referees not being able to see well in the dark.
Day 3 of Spirit Week featured the traditional tugof-war competition. Each class participated in two rounds, one with the girls and the other with the boys.
The juniors won both rounds against the seniors but their wins became controversial when it was later discovered that the juniors had applied chalk on their hands to help with their grip. While the rules did not
specifically disallow the use of chalk, Yasutomi made the decision to revise the results, awarding half the juniors’ points to the seniors.
By Day 4 of Spirit Week, the juniors were not far behind from the seniors in total points, and the emcees reminded everyone during the assembly that there were still many points at stake as the classes prepared to perform their Pepper Squad skits according to the “Childhood Characters All Grown Up” theme. Despite getting points deducted for going overtime, the seniors managed to earn a first-place finish for their Pepper Squad. The sophomores placed second, the juniors placed third, followed by the freshmen and then the middle school.
On the last day of Spirit Week, each class performed one assigned “All-School Cheer” and another one of their own choosing. With no more score updates until the announcement of the final results during that evening’s homecoming game, the upperclassmen, especially, knew that all they could do at this point was do their best and hope for a winning score. That evening, both the girls and boys varsity basketball teams won their homecoming games. The girls beat Mid-Pacific 51-40. The boys team prevailed over Hanalani in overtime, winning 52-51. The seniors were declared the winners of Spirit Week during half-time of the boys game.
The final results surprised many middle school students and teachers as they did not think their Pepper Squad performance warranted a last place score. They were not aware that they were going to be given a default last-place score instead of being judged alongside the high school performances. This practice was put in place in recent years so as to lower the stakes for the middle schoolers in their first year as competitors. Yasutomi issued a statement after middle school faculty voiced their concern as they were not made aware of this beforehand. She wrote, “Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication on my part. I instructed the judges to not score the middle school…. I told the judges not to worry about scoring their skit because we didn’t want to add any extra pressure. That’s also why we allowed them to have an extra minute while other grades were required to stick with the seven-minute time limit. In fact, both the sophomores and seniors were docked 10 points each for going overtime in their skits. This is a case of misunderstanding and a lack of clarity, not a conspiracy or an effort to disrespect the middle school students, who are more than
(Left) Endurance the Eagle, HBA’s mascot, joins the seniors as they gather for a photo with the Mana Cup during halftime of the Homecoming boys basketball game. PHOTOGRAPH BY ABBIE KATO (‘25)
(Above, left) Students participate in the Platform Jam competition, trying to squeeze as many students as they can onto a 4 by 6 feet platform.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CRAIG CHANG.
capable of competing in all of our Spirit Week competitions. To honor the middle schoolers’ efforts, our judges voluntarily scored their skit and revised their rankings, which have been provided to the middle school. For the overall morale on both of our campuses, the scores that were announced at the Homecoming Game will not be changed.”
Looking back at Spirit Week, Samuel Lim, a senior who helped as a Spirit Week emcee, said that his favorite part of the week was seeing his grade come together to accomplish something. “The ability to come together one last time and have fun and share memories together [as seniors] was really cool,” he said. Senior Randie Lueder’s favorite part of the week was performing “Livin’ On A Prayer” for the senior entrance on Tuesday. Another senior, Abbie Kato, shared that her favorite moment from the week was Friday’s senior entrance, when the senior basketball players and cheerleaders did a choreographed dance, ending with a dunk by senior Matthew Shigetani. “I was taking pictures, and I had to sprint from the back to the front of the gym to get the perfect shot,” she said. Kato was excited to capture the best moments from the week for her class.
Despite the controversies over dodgeball and tug-of-war points, and the disappointment of the middle schoolers over not getting their Pepper Squad scored, Yasutomi hopes that students remember Spirit Week with pride.
She wrote, “The reason why HBA’s Spirit Weeks are so memorable is because the vast majority of our students’ fully participate —which is rare—and should not be taken for granted. So I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the entire middle and high school student body for putting in all of their time, effort, energy and voices, to make this year’s Spirit Week especially memorable. With so much enthusiasm, I look forward to next year’s Spirit Week. Go Eagles!”
(Clockwise from top left) The sophomore class performs the P-A-R-T-Y cheer; Senior Randie Lueder (holding microphone) performs “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Jon Bon Jovi for a senior entrance; The seniors cheer at the end of their Pepper Squad skit; freshmen girls in their Whiteout Day outfits. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ABBIE KATO (‘25) AND EUNICE SIM.
Third Grader Joins Cast of Moana 2
→ By Summer Malinger (‘27) , Lydia Halcomb (‘25) and Natali Nomura (‘25) NEWS
This past summer, HBA third grader Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda joined the cast of Disney’s Moana 2 in the recording studio to be the voice of Simea, Moana’s little sister. There was little fanfare at the time but with the film’s release at the end of November, Lambert-Tsuda has been in the spotlight for her delightful performance on the big screen.
Saysha Tsuda, Lambert-Tsuda’s mother, shared with the Eagle Eye that the Moana 2 opportunity came as a surprise. Lambert-Tsuda had auditioned for a Lilo and Stitch movie but was not selected for a role. Tsuda said, “Then the people from Moana talked to the people from Lilo and Stitch and asked them if they had any little girls in mind, and they gave her Khaleesi’s name.”
During the audition process for Moana 2, Tsuda explained that they were not told what movie the auditions were for. All they knew was that it was “a really big movie.” It was only when Lambert-Tsuda got the part that they were told that it was for Moana 2. Lambert-Tsuda recalled being “nervous, happy, excited, [and] blessed at the same time.” Tsuda shared her daughter’s excitement and was thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of such a big production. Tsuda said that she had noticed her daughter’s talent from when she was little. “She always had this bright personality…. She is always dramatic, like she gets one little cut and it’s the end of the world,” Tsuda recalls fondly. Throughout the recording process, Tsuda was struck by how accommodating Disney was
to having a young voice actor in the studio.
“When she was recording, they would show her the scene, but sometimes the scenes weren’t even done yet because they were still creating everything. So that was pretty cool to see, and she has to just put her voice into it,” she said.
When seeing the film for the first time, LambertTsuda noted, “It just felt weird hearing my voice.” Tsuda too remembers hearing her daughter’s voice in the theater and how “awesome” it was. Seeing her name in the credits was also memorable.
Lambert-Tsuda’s favorite moment thus far is meeting Auli’i Cravalho, the voice of Moana. “She’s really sweet and nice,” Lambert-Tsuda said. She also loved playing a little sister in the film as she is an only child.
When she’s not voicing characters or auditioning for roles, Lambert-Tsuda enjoys gymnastics, taekwondo and kick boxing. At school, she enjoys math class, her lunch period, making friends, and “praising God during Fellowship Fridays.” She also loves going to the beach and playing board games with her family.
Amidst all the attention that come from
Lambert-Tsuda’s role in Moana 2, Tsuda remains clear about what is most important for their family. She shared, “I just want Khaleesi to be a kid. I don’t want her to get caught up in all of this fame and whatever. This kind of just landed in our lap and we just took the opportunity. But I don’t know about the future; we’ll see what God has planned for her.” In the meantime, Lambert-Tsuda continues to go about life like her third grade classmates, learning all about the 50 states and making the most out of recess time with her friends.
Lambert-Tsuda in her third grade class. PHOTOGRAPH BY
HBA classmates and friends of Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda watched Moana 2 with her at the theaters. PHOTOGRAPHS BY CRAIG CHANG.
Third grader and voice of Simea in Moana 2 Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda.
Khaleesi
Homecoming Victories Close Out Spirit Week
→ By Abbie Kato (‘25) NEWS
On January 17, 2025, the HBA girls and boys varsity basketball teams closed out Spirit Week with a double win against their competitors in the annual Homecoming Games.
The girls kicked off Homecoming night, besting Mid-Pacific Institute with a score of 51-40. The boys game went into overtime as the Eagles battled for a win against Hanalani. To the delight of the home crowd, the HBA boys triumphed by one point, closing out the game at 52-51.
In the girls game, Eagles closed the third quarter at 32-28 and then finished strong in the fourth quarter by extending their lead to 11 points to win the game 51-40. Senior guard Sierra Ramos has been playing on the varsity team since freshman year. She said, “Being a freshman and getting to experience what it feels like to win a state title made me want to experience the same feeling as a senior.” The Homecoming night win helped the team to advance to the state championships. The win gave freshman guard Hallie Chock an even more memorable homecoming experience than she had expected. “It was such a fun opportunity for me, and I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience it,” she said. Girls varsity coach Robin Yamaguchi reflected on the growth he’s seen in both senior players Ally Low and Sierra Ramos since their rookie days. Yamaguchi wrote,
“I have seen them both grow from quiet freshmen to outgoing, dynamic seniors. Ally Ann has become a good defender. We always have her cover our opponent’s best or biggest player to defend. Sierra has become a great scorer and leads the team with 13.3 points per game. In previous years, Sierra did not want the ball, but has since developed her skills and confidence exponentially.”
Low, a guard, who was unable to play the homecoming game due to sickness, is grateful for a rewarding experience thus far in her varsity basketball career.
“My experience playing for four years has been really great. I’ve learned so much from my coaches and past teammates,” she said.
Following the girls’ win, the boys faced Hanalani for their second meeting in league play, having lost to them 40-51 earlier in the season. The Eagles held a strong lead in the first half with a score of 27-20. However, Hanalani made a comeback during the final quarter, tying the game at 48-48 and then taking the lead during overtime. In the final three minutes of overtime, senior guard Colton Wong made a two-pointer within the
Hallie Chock (‘28) completes a layup against MidPacific.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ABBIE KATO (‘25).
last five seconds on the clock. Hanalani responded with a three, taking the lead at 51-50. Senior guard Samuel Lim then made a game-winning layup, snatching the win from Hanalani with the final 52-51 score. “Making the game winning shot was definitely not something I expected to be doing on my Homecoming night,” he said. “However I do want to say that it wasn’t just me that won the game. It was the whole team’s effort.”
Four-year varsity player and senior point guard Matthew Shigetani was the Eagles’ top scorer that night. After the game, Shigetani explained his mindset. “It [was] important to take deep breaths… the large crowd at Homecoming was especially helping me to lock in,” he said. While boys head coach Kellen Kaneshiro was thrilled with the win, especially since they had lost to Hanalani at their previous meeting, his proudest moments come from seeing his boys rally for something
more than the game. He wrote, “I have to say my fondest memory of them occurred just last week for the girls varsity basketball Senior Night. We planned a team outing to go and support the girls team. What made this so special was the genuine enthusiasm the entire team showed in making so much noise in support of our girls team with their own chants and cheers. The cherry on top was Devin [Corpuz] coming in dressed in a blow-up eagle costume leading the cheers!” Kaneshiro also gave credit to the team’s chemistry stating, “As a group, they have been playing together for such a long time, for most of them, going back to elementary, I believe. You can tell that they have a friendship that extends beyond the basketball court, which helps greatly with their chemistry on the court. They truly are brothers, and sometimes brothers fight, but in the end, they love each other.”
(Above) Senior point guard Matthew Shigetani attempts a layup against Hanalani. Shigetani was HBA’s highest scorer for the Homecoming game. (Below, right) Senior Sierra Ramos tries to score against Mid-Pacific. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ABBIE KATO (‘25).
Students Petition For More Dress Code Changes
→ By Olivia Kim (‘26) NEWS
During the end of the second quarter, the Student Council proposed four petitions to the student body regarding the school dress code. The proposed changes call for different colored hoodies, Crocs and Birkenstocks, hair dye colors, and multiple ear piercings.
Junior Drew Lohr, student council member, told the Eagle Eye that over 100 student signatures were gathered for each petition. He explained that the council had heard many student complaints about getting demerits for dress code violations and therefore decided that a dress code change petition would gain popular support from the student body. With the signatures collect, the council will take the next step of submitting the petition to the campus administration for review. The review involves all three campus administrators, including the principals and vice principals. According to Ryan Frontiera, high school vice principal, if the petitions involve major changes, the senior leadership team of the school will also provide input before a decision is made.
One of the petitions asks for the expansion of sweater and hoodie colors beyond the school colors. Lauren Okuda, a junior who supports the change, said, “Adding color options for hoodies is a good compromise because it allows students to dress more freely without breaking any rules.” Okuda argues that since students have been receiving so many demerits, the school should find a compromise with students.
The council is also proposing that Crocs and Birkenstocks be added to the approved footwear list. Currently, students are only allowed to wear covered shoes, such as dress or tennis shoes. Because of their comfort and convenience, Crocs and Birkenstocks are often worn by students throughout the day at school despite not being allowed. Isaac Duncklee, Science teacher, doesn’t think that these shoes are always appropriate for school. He explained, “I think it’s important that students wear protective footwear in science classes and so that part of the dress code is important to me as the science teacher.” But, other than that, Duncklee indicated that he didn’t take issue with the other petitions.
Another petition asks for the school to relax the rules on body piercings, specifically that boys can have their ears pierced, and that girls are permitted more than two piercings per ear. Katherine Butay, a sophomore, stated that this petition was the one she wanted the most because she thinks that “students should be allowed to express themselves in ways they most feel confident.” Trevor Chvosta, also a sophomore, signed the petition for his friend because his friend wanted to be able to wear his earrings to school. Patricia Chang, HBA’s Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions, agrees that “multiple piercings in your ear is not a terrible thing,” but she states that it is all about appropriateness and boundaries. Chang adds, “If it’s appropriate, it shouldn’t have to be a problem.”
provided by the school administration to help students understand the uniform changes during the 2023-2024 school year. Currently, outerwear must be a solid color with no large logo designs. The color can only be black, white, gray, and yellow/gold.
Image from hba.net
The final petition asks the school to not restrict hair dye to “natural colors.” Blair LaBarre, a freshman, feels that all of the petitions are for a good cause. She said, “Girls should be able to dye their hair any color and not have to worry about getting in trouble.” On the other hand, Chang points out that unnatural colors, such as green, can come off as unprofessional, and that dress codes are there to help students represent HBA in the best way possible.
Frontiera states that the administrators have to balance the goals of the school and what students want. He said, “Especially with dress code, sometimes it’s also about how we want our students to look to the outside community or long term values we’ve had, like whether we view ourselves as a conservative institution, or if it’s a time we can give more leniency for students.”
The petitions are currently being considered by school administrators.
“I signed the petition because most hoodies have a big logo, so I wouldn’t have to spend more money on a hoodie that fits the dress code.”
- Katie Fong (‘26)
“I think that even though Crocs are casual, they are covered for the most part, and it’s also easier for students to get ready. So, I don’t really see the problem in allowing it.”
- Sachiko Doi (‘28)
“As someone who has dyed their hair, I want other people to be able to dye their hair too.”
- Lydia Halcomb (‘25)
“I have a lot of hoodies with big logos, so it’s pretty inconvenient to find hoodies that fit the dress code, and I feel like having logos on our hoodies aren’t that big of a deal.”
- Janel Lee (‘27)
Students To Go On Korea Mission
→ By Sachiko Doi (‘28) NEWS
For the first time in school history, HBA is taking students on an international mission trip to South Korea.
Eleven HBA students will head to Korea during spring break for a mission trip. (Not all students in this photo will be going on the trip.)
(Back row) Noah Ching, Maya Kim, Hannah Garces, Mari Casamina, Brandon Ogimoto; (Middle row) Mina Kwon, Kylie Takamatsu, Olivia Choi, Ella Choi, Jonathan Seo; (Front row) Leina Wong, Anela Murata, Anika Chang. PHOTOGRAPH BY CRAIG CHANG.
This trip began to take shape when three HBA staff and faculty members traveled to South Korea during the 2024 fall break to explore the possibilities of an overseas service project. Faye Takushi, English teacher and department chair, Patricia Chang, Director of Admissions, and Terence Li, Math teacher, decided to see for themselves if there were places in need of help in Korea that would be served by an HBA mission trip. One of the places they visited was an organization called Baby Box, a non-profit organization that takes in abandoned babies and children. Takushi explained that Baby Box typically adopts children born out of wedlock or with disabilities. During this upcoming spring break trip, HBA students will be tasked with sharing the Gospel with the children at Baby Box as well as taking them out to explore the city. Chang hopes that this trip will challenge the students to grow in their capacity to serve others. “We want our students to be able to grow up as leaders who serve. And we want Christian students to learn how to love and provide for the poor and people who need the most. And I think it’s a great opportunity that our students get to travel to another country and volunteer to work with people, especially children,” she explained.
Eleven students were selected from a pool of applicants for the trip. Sophomore Mari Casamina is excited to be selected. “I think for me, I’ve never been on a mission trip before, and I think this is a super great opportunity for HBA students to go and experience sharing the Word of God, and sharing God’s Word in different place,” she said. Maya Kim, another sophomore, is excited for a chance to serve others. “I decided to go on the Korea trip because I’ve actually been on a
mission trip before and I really enjoyed the feeling of helping everyone and just being more spiritually fulfilled is something that I want to feel again. So, I’m very blessed with this opportunity,” Kim said.
Takushi believes the trip will be an impactful one for both the students going on the trip and for the people that they will get to serve. “This is a once in a year opportunity for HBA students, especially if you haven’t visited Korea before. It’s a good way to incorporate love and compassion if you love kids as well as sharing the love of God through our actions,” Takushi said.
The organizers of this trip have set aside some time for the students to enjoy Korea and its culture. Takushi said, “I know that one day we’re going to dress up in the traditional hanbok, the traditional dress of Korea, and walk around some of the historic sites. The Blue House is used to be where the President lived and worked out of so we will do some sightseeing.”
As spring break approaches, Kim said, “I’m just mentally preparing myself to be more social and more open to new things because I’m not really out there. I’m really excited to be able to form new relationships with the girls and some of the three guys that are going.”
The group of travelers have also been learning and practicing Korean at school during the weekly Z periods.
(Standing,starting second from left) In preparation for the mission trip, Math teacher Terence Li, Director of Admissions Patricia Chang and English Department Chair Faye Takushi went to Korea to meet with the staff of Baby Box, an organization that takes in abandoned children. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PATRICIA CHANG.
Behind the Game: Marisa Nakata
→ By Natali Nomura (‘25) FEATURE
On the court, Marisa Nakata is a force to be reckoned with. In her calm and focused demeanor, she has led the varsity volleyball team to win after win this season, culminating in HBA’s first Division 2 state title win since 2015 this past November. To cap off a definitive season, she was named the ILH Division 2 Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
Volleyball has been a part of Marisa Nakata’s life ever since she can remember. “[When] I was in kindergarten I would play with my sister at the Hongwanji. She would have clinics there. So, I would be on the side, playing with my parents and stuff,” Nakata recalled. Since then, whether it be on the sidelines or on the court, volleyball has continued to strengthen the relationships in the Nakata family. Rachel, Nakata’s older sister, is the current assistant coach for HBA’s intermediate girls volleyball team. She also played for HBA when she was a high schooler. Rachel Nakata said, “We both played volleyball for our entire childhood and understand the commitment and hard work it takes to compete… For many years, we would spend many weekends at tournaments, practices, and workouts. We even played on the same club team one season. We’re definitely closer because we love the game and always celebrated each other’s successes or understood the heartaches. I feel lucky to have had Marisa with me through my playing days and now I want to support her as she heads to college.”
Rachel and Marisa Nakata have shared very similar athletic journeys at HBA. Both sisters have been at HBA since kindergarten, started playing volleyball for HBA in fifth grade, and made varsity their freshman year. Marisa Nakata said that seeing her sister participate in HBA’s Spike Nites and Senior Night motivated her to keep working hard.
Myles Shioji, HBA’s girls varsity volleyball coach, has watched Marisa Nakata’s growth as a player since she first joined the varsity team in her freshman year. He said, “I admire Marisa’s ability to play through adversity, while also caring about how her teammates are performing physically and mentally.” Her teammates, too, share this admiration. Senior Katelynn Albano, Marisa Nakata’s setter on
the court, has been playing volleyball with her since sixth grade. Albano said, “I appreciate her work ethic and how we get along so well in anything we do. Since we’ve been playing together for so long, we’ve built that connection with each other.”
Freshman May Shiraishi, a first-year varsity player, said Marisa was a “key factor in [the team’s] success this season.” She added, “Marisa is not only someone I look up to but someone who can lead others. Throughout the season, she would encourage the team and constantly support us. Her leadership has helped us stay united and focused on our goals.”
While Marisa Nakata has dedicated a lot of time to her own physical and mental training as an athlete, she is keenly aware that success in volleyball is a team effort. She believes that the girls varsity team’s state title win this year
was only possible through their attention to detail during drills and their “never-give-up” mentality. “I tell them the game isn’t over until the score reaches 25. So let’s just say we’re down ten to five. It’s early on, and they start to feel down…their body language is down. I’m always saying it’s still early, that score does not say 25. We’re not done until it’s 25. Then you can feel however you want. But until then, it’s not done,” she said. Marisa Nakata also gave credit to her team’s optimistic and positive energy throughout the season. “I knew that our team would do good if everyone was super hype, super loud, and [did] a lot of cheering. So even people on the bench and on the court brought a lot of positivity,” she said. Marisa Nakata added that being positive does not just apply to when things are going well. She explained, “[Volleyball] taught me how to be hardworking. Just the sport itself, you have
(Above) Marisa Nakata attempts to score a point in a game against Maryknoll School. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MR. JAMES MIURA (Opposite) Marisa Nakata PHOTOGRAPH BY ABBIE KATO (‘25)
PHOTOGRAPH
to really grind it out… Things aren’t always gonna go your way, and that’s what I kind of learned through volleyball, especially during games and tournaments. When you lose, it is how you deal with it and how you move on, get better from it, and you learn.”
Senior Brooke Brennan, a middle blocker, echoed Marisa Nakata’s take on the team’s success. “I think the team worked so well together this year because we fell short the past two years and this was our last chance. There were seven seniors on the team this year and I know all of us wanted to win the championship. I felt that we all knew we could win from the beginning. It was just taking it one step at a time, trusting the coaches and our teammates. This year, everyone got to show what they could do and we all made positive contributions to the team and that ultimately led us to win the state championship,” said Brennan.
When Marisa Nakata is on the court, she becomes the cool-headed leader everyone sees on TV. In every interview, even after emotional wins for the team, she always gets straight to the point, never appearing nervous or stumbling over her words. In an OC16 interview immediately after winning the state title, reporter Jimmy Bender mentioned this particular aspect of her personality and asked how she’s always able to stay so calm. “Honestly, just staying calm, taking the stress off, not really thinking too much about it or making it a bigger deal than it needs to be,” she replied. In another OC16 interview for being named an Impact Player of the Game, immediately after a win against Le Jardin, Marisa Nakata explained her mindset, saying, “I try to be a leader as much as possible. You know, to show these girls next year what we can be. So even without us seniors, you know, they can carry on playing how we did today.”
Despite her calculated and strict approach as a leader, Marisa Nakata has a fairly relaxed personality off the court. “I think people don’t get that I’m not so strict in person. Some people think I’m mean or something, but you don’t know me as a person,” she said. “On the court, I don’t show any emotions because I feel like it’ll affect my team or even myself. I like to keep things to myself [and] try to seem very calm. But I think outside of volleyball, I have a personality and I don’t think people understand that.”
In her free time, Marisa Nakata enjoys cooking, baking, crafts, and hanging out with her friends and family. “I like to have fun, I like to do things with my friends… I do things and then there’s volleyball, you know what I mean? I’ll hang out, but oh, I just have practice later on. So, I don’t let volleyball take my whole entire life.”
Marisa Nakata hopes to continue her volleyball career in college, but hasn’t committed to playing at any school yet. She hopes to major in health sciences and wants to find a school that will help her succeed in that area along with playing volleyball.
Post-championship, Marisa Nakata is healing from surgery to fix a torn meniscus from the last set of the championship game. “The score was lten, twelve, or something like that. It was super early and I was hitting from the right
side and I landed and I just felt it. I think my coach saw I was in pain, so he called a time out. The trainers came to look at me. They knew it wasn’t my ACL. So as long as it wasn’t that, I told them I wanted to keep playing because I wasn’t gonna stop. Nothing was really gonna change my mind,” she said. She is doing physical therapy and is hoping for a full recovery in a couple of months.
Reflecting on an outstanding season for her team, Marisa Nakata is grateful for her teammates and the opportunity to play volleyball. “I’m just really, really proud of everyone. I know we’ve gone through a lot this season. We went through so many ups and downs, and it was so fun to have a great team, especially because it’s my senior year and everything. So, I’m just very grateful to have that,” she said.
For the next season, Marisa Nakata wants her younger teammates to “just stay present” as they work to defend their state title. She said, “During the season, you work hard to get where you wanna be. You worked your butt off. You earned it, so just enjoy it because you’re here.”
Marisa Nakata (left) celebrates a point with her teammate Katelynn Albano.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MARISA NAKATA
Marisa Nakata and her sister Rachel Nakata practice volleyball together.
COURTESY OF MARISA NAKATA
SPRING SPIKE NITE 2025
March 13, 2025 | Hawai’i Baptist Academy Dan Liu Gymnasium
HBA JV Black vs. Mid-Pacific - 5:00 p.m.
HBA Varsity vs. Mid-Pacific - 6:30 p.m.
Tonight’s food and drinks are sponsored by the Hawai’i Baptist Academy Athletic Booster Club.
ABOUT HBA ATHLETICS
HBA is widely regarded as having one of the top small school athletic programs in the ILH and state. Close to 75 percent of the middle-high school students annually compete in interscholastic sports, with approximately 40 percent of them participating in multiple sports.
The HBA Athletic Department strives to provide a quality sports program in a Christian environment. We seek to develop the young person physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We believe that our talents are a gift from God and that we are obligated to use them to the best of our abilities. We value athletics and view them as an integral part of a child’s overall development and education.
Follow HBA Athletics on Instagram @hba_athletics and X @hbaathletics for the latest on athletic events. 16
“Screen time”
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In response to these concerns, several states have passed legislation to ban phones in public schools. In May 2023, Florida became the first state to ban phones during class time in their public school district, according to a November 2023 New York Times article. Timber Creek High School, located in Orlando, Florida, took the ban one step further and decided to ban phones for the whole school day.
Social media apps have also responded to these concerns. Apps with public sharing platforms like Instagram and TikTok have restricted their apps to children 13 and older, and have begun to apply age restrictions for certain features on their apps. They have also created time limit reminders that notify you when you spend more than one hour on the app.
Although these efforts may help students stay off their phones, it is ultimately up to us to decide whether we heed these rules or recommendations. Even if you believe you’re not addicted because you can put your device away when you need to, we need to count the opportunity costs of screen time. Although you may feel productive, it doesn’t change the fact that you have spent valuable time on your phone, time that could have been spent doing something else or just being fully present with someone. What can you be doing instead to take care of your mental health? Let’s master our devices by setting time limits on our apps, eating our meals without screens, and using our free time to explore new hobbies and interests.
25 BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HAWAII BAPTIST ACADEMY BOYS VARSITY 1
“My most memorable moment was when I played in a AA volleyball game last year against Punahou with only 5 players.”
“I want to thank the coaches for pushing me to become a better person every day and my parents for their neverending support.”
“My most memorable moment was when Cole almost ended his season by slipping on Kamden’s sweat puddle.”
“I am grateful for trainers Sam and Karin for helping me through all of my injuries. This year especially they have helped me a lot with my back injury and I couldn’t be more thankful for what they have done for me.”
“One of my most memorable moments is when we were at the airport and the TSA worker asked for Zave’s age but he thought she was saying ‘H’ so he responded ‘BA.’”
“I would like to thank my mom for trying her best to come to all my tournaments and games even though her schedule is always packed.”
“My most memorable moment was when Tanner was dying on the gym floor, passed out, and pale after a hard practice.”
“I am very grateful for my parents and sister for always supporting me throughout my volleyball journey. I would also like to thank Coach Teoni, Austen, and Danford for coaching me for these past few years and teaching me how to be a better player and person.”
“My most memorable moment was the Ruka Montage.”
“I would like to thank my parents and family for always supporting me and I would like to thank my coaches for helping me improve and grow to be a better player and person.”
“My most memorable moment was when we won our first intermediate game during 8th grade season because our previous year we lost every game.”
“I want to thank my mom and dad for always coming out to my games despite their busy schedule. Their love and support has allowed me to grow on and off the court.”
“My most memorable moment was when Kam ran and dove into another team’s court during the middle of a game so the entire team had to run over and wipe his sweat up.”
“I want to thank my parents for showing up to all my games and coaches for always pushing me to play at the next level. I also want to thank Ruka for making practice way more funnier than normal.”
Jason Rivers 10th • OH • 6’ 1”
Henry Lee 9th • OH • 5’ 11”
Kenshin Casamina 12th • MB • 5’ 11”
Tanner Hankey 11th • DS/Lib • 5’ 10”
Jarin Leong 12th • Lib/DS • 5’ 4”
Samuel Mokan 11th • Opp • 6’
Cole Sakai 12th • Lib • 5’ 8”
VOLLEYBALL
“My most memorable moment was when we would always try new things in practice and play to have fun as well as getting better.”
“I would like to thank my teammates old and new for pushing me and helping me get better as well as always being there to pick me up when I’m in a slump.”
“My most memorable moment was when we played the second varsity team every practice as a scrimmage.”
“I am grateful for Coach Austen preparing me in volleyball from my intermediate years all the way until now. He helped me to grow my joy in volleyball with his coaching.”
“My most memorable moment was the last years trip to Hilo. We played against really competitive teams and came home with winning the whole thing. I was able to get closer with my teammates throughout the trip.”
“I am very grateful for Coach Teoni who believed in my potential and pushed me to become a volleyball player who can compete against D1 competition.”
“My most memorable moment was when we went to Big Island for a tourney and just hanging out in the hotel with the team.”
“I would like that thank Coach Austen and Mr Z for all the help this past year and for opening the weight room for me through this year to get stronger and better.”
“My most memorable moment was having fun playing with all my friends during my JV season.”
“I would like to thank all the coaches throughout all my years playing volleyball. They helped me become a better player and also a better person throughout the seasons.”
My most memorable moment was last year at the ‘Iolani Classic when Kai got a solo block.”
“I want to thank Coach Teoni. I’ve known him longer than I’ve gone to HBA and he’s helped me grow the most.”
Reo Furuta 12th • Middle • 5’ 10”
Ruka Furuta 10th • OH • 5’ 10”
Aaron Woolpert 10th • Middle • 6’ 2”
12th • Setter • 5’ 8”
Kamden Kaneshiro-Takeuchi 12th • OH/Opp/S/DS • 5’ 10”
10th • Setter • 5’ 8”
20242025 HBA BOYS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
BACK (L-R)
: Kenshin Casamina, Henry Lee, Samuel Mokan, Jason Rivers, Aaron Woolpert, Reo Furuta, Kamden
Kaneshiro-Takeuchi
FRONT (L-R): Jarin Leong, Cole Sakai, Tanner Hankey, Kai
Toyofuku, Ruka
Furuta, Cade
Toyofuku