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Share the Present Moment → By Olivia Kim (‘26) EDITORIAL

Cover Photo By Olivia Kim (‘26)

EAGLE EYE Hawaii Baptist Academy 2429 Pali Highway

ILLUSTRATION BY MAYA WONG (‘28)

“Live in the present moment.” I was told this countless times from previous graduates and family members that I should live by this motto, especially throughout my senior year. But there is one thing that this motto doesn’t advise you on: how to navigate the chaos and emotional rollercoaster that is the first semester of senior year. All throughout high school, especially during junior year, I found myself looking forward to the day I could stride through the school doors as an official senior, with many fun and leisurely days ahead of me. However, as someone who is hoping to attend a competitive university, I felt as though in junior year, there was a sort of unspoken pressure to take full advantage of my last year in high school—meaning take as many APs, pursue as many leadership positions, and spend as much time as I could with everyone. This made my first few weeks as a senior probably the most overwhelming weeks I’ve ever lived through, and not at all like the easy and exciting year I was promised. As a junior, I decided that in order to make the most of my senior year, I was going to really challenge myself and take four AP classes, run for as many club leadership positions as I could, and work two part-time jobs. While I believe it is always a great thing to expand one’s comfort zone and try new things, the first semester of senior year is a time to work with what you’ve already been doing for most of high school, which I learned the hard way. Instead of realizing that I could take advantage of activities, big or small, that I had been involved in for most of my high school life, I assumed I had to start as many last-minute projects and clubs before my college application deadline. Because of that mindset, I planned out my schedule for senior year but never fully took into account the amount of time and effort needed not only for college applications alone, but for everything else that comes with senior year. Between planning club activities, writing five different drafts for my college essay, and folding clothes for a four-hour shift every weekend, there never seemed to be enough time to do it all. To be completely honest, I knew I was taking on a lot of responsibilities all at once, but I felt as though I would be able to adjust quickly enough to take all of them on. Even though some of my graduated friends shook their heads when I told them I was enrolling in four APs, I still believed that I could handle it. When I look back on the first day of my senior year, I was ecstatic to walk the halls with my neon senior backpack. I was ecstatic to listen to the teachers congratulate us on becoming official seniors, and to finally earn the privileged off-campus pass. I Continued on page 21 was ecstatic to finally live in those “present moments” that

Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Eagle Eye is a student-run and student-centered publication.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Kim (‘26)

STAFF Lauren Espiritu (‘26) Colton Gallano (‘26) Janel Lee (‘27) Hannah Garces (‘27) Sarah Byrer (‘28) Kaitlyn Legawa (‘28) Maya Wong (‘28)

ADVISOR Eunice Sim Follow us @hbaeagleeye on Instagram www.hbaeagleeye.com

HBA To Take Students To New Zealand For The First Time → By Kaitlyn Legawa (‘28) NEWS

In March 2026, 18 students will be traveling to New Zealand for the Physics and Ecology trip. While there, the students will also engage in local culture and visit a variety of science-related sites. This is the first time HBA is taking students to New Zealand.

HBA students will visit Milford Sound, a fjord in New Zealand’s South Island, famous for its beautiful scenery, waterfalls, and wildlife. PHOTOGRAPH BY BERNARD SPRAGG. CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE.

part of New Zealand culture that the students are excited and curious to explore.

Jordan Tam, a senior, commented, “I mainly decided to go on this trip because I felt that it was a unique and fun way to see how physics takes place in our everyday lives and also a great way to experience God’s creation and other cultures. I think I will learn how to truly appreciate physics at work and not only that, but experience it all firsthand as well.”

Another highlight for the students is stargazing. Kawaguchi said, “I can’t wait to see what the night sky looks like without light pollution. New Zealand has way less light pollution than America, allowing for a clearer view of the sky. I’ve always seen pictures of a fully lit sky, and I can’t wait to experience it in person.”

Next, they will travel to the South Island where they will focus on aerospace engineering and related science topics as they head to the vicinity of the Antarctic. They will learn about astronomy through The idea for a physics class trip began with senior Vanessa He last stargazing and visit Milford sound, a fjords famous for its beautiful school year, and she took her idea to science teacher Isaac Duncklee. scenery, waterfalls, and wildlife. “I have always wondered why there weren’t any science-related trips if The students will also get to see the iconic kiwi birds of New Zealand there is an art-related trip. Also with the Physics Boat Regatta getting and go bungee jumping, which is big highlight of the trip. Vanessa He removed, I thought that a trip somewhere would be a replacement for said, “I have been pushing for bungee jumping since the beginning of that in some ways. New Zealand was not at the top of my list when the trip’s planning stages, and I am really glad bungee jumping got Mr. Duncklee and I were brainstorming, but I am really glad that New approved. Also, bungee jumping is a well-used scenario for physics, Zealand became the final destination.” so being able to do it in real life is awesome sauce.”

The first stop on the itinerary is Auckland, New Zealand’s North Island. Duncklee is excited for students to have the opportunity to explore There, they will complete a service project, visit various ecologically new places and be inspired by the natural world. “I’m hoping this trip important sites, and learn about Māori culture. allows students a chance to learn about local culture and their role as Senior Callie Kawaguchi said, “I don’t know much about Māori culture, global citizens. I also hope that students have moments where they so I hope to learn more about their traditions, food, language, customs are inspired on the trip to recognize the spectacular beauty and order and more. Some people might remember learning about New Zealand, of creation around them and recognize the evidence this provides of Māori culture, and the island of Whangara from the book we had to a loving, creative God.” read in middle school, The Whale Rider.” The Māori are an imporant

Junior Ava Ortega said, “As a person who isn’t a big fan of science or math, I think that a visual aid such as this trip would help me get a better understanding of the subject and maybe even further my curiosity for the subject. I deeply believe that you succeed in things that you love doing.”

Senior Retreat: Finishing Well → By Lauren Espiritu (‘26) NEWS

Cruising on a boat along the Kona Coast, HBA seniors watched the clear blue waters of the Pacific go by. Suddenly, gasps of surprise filled the air as they spotted pods of grey bottlenose dolphins and flying fish that flew like fairies by the boat. Two days before this, the seniors had arrived on Hawai’i Island just in time to see the Kīlauea Volcano in action, spewing fountains of lava in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Volcanoes National Park. These and many other memorable moments marked this year’s Senior Retreat in early September, providing the Class of 2026 with a final chapter of shared experiences as they finish out high school. The seniors’ first stop on the retreat was the Kīlauea Military Camp (KMC) in Volcano. Jordan Tam had been monitoring the volcanic activity with his family, hoping that it would erupt while the seniors were in Volcano. Kīlauea has had numerous episodic eruptions since December 23, 2024, and most of the episodes have been short-lived. When Tam realized that he would actually get to see the lava flowing, he was ecstatic. Christina Yasutomi, Student Activities Director, said that she “felt like a kid on Christmas morning.” Drew Lohr, who returned to see the lava again that evening with a smaller group of students, recalls sitting down “to take in all of God’s creation.” He said, “[The scenery] was very special to me and something you can only experience once in your lifetime.” PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF AARON BROCK

After the seniors got settled into their accommodations at KMC, they gathered for a relay race organized by the class council. Lauren Okuda, class president, shared that her council was motivated to “go all out” since it was their last year together. Zoë Naso, who was a part of the team that won the relay, loved how her team did not care about getting messy. “We chugged [Sprite] and dumped it on our faces and we got really drenched in the soda…The mess was part of the fun,” she recalled. The seniors were also introduced to the theme of camp: R.A.F.T., which stands for Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewell, and Think Destination. Led by the Christian Ministries team and senior advisors, chapel sessions at the retreat focused on helping the seniors finish the year well. Many seniors felt challenged by

the topic of reconciliation. Charles Poore, high school Christian Ministries Coordinator, believes that reconciliation is a crucial step in finishing well. “I don’t think the other parts of the theme are possible without beginning with reconciliation,” he explained. Poore also reminded the seniors that reconciliation is also about becoming reconciled with Jesus Christ even as they work on reconciling any broken relationships.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF AARON BROCK.

The following day, the group woke up at 6 A.M. to make their way to Kona, with a stop at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach on the south side of the island. Tam said that this was one of his favorite days at the retreat because he was able to swim at the beach and also hang out with friends over a picnic. After arriving at their Kona hotel, the seniors had some free time to get ready for a special dinner at Kahua Ranch, an 8,500-acre property on the western slopes of the Kohala Mountains. The ranch welcomed the group with a range of activities, from lassoing and block printing to stargazing and line dancing. There was also time at the ranch to complete a camp theme activity, which focused on “Affirmation.” The seniors were asked to write affirming statements on a piece of paper taped to each other’s backs. In a short span of time, everyone’s blank paper was filled with encouraging notes from their classmates.

Above left: Zavior Ward (left) and Isaac Duncklee, senior advisor, lead the seniors in a worship song at Kahua Ranch. The seniors are writing notes of affirmation on each other’s backs. Above right: On September 2, the seniors arrived on Hawai’i Island just in time to see the Kīlauea Volcano in action, spewing fountains of lava in the Halema’uma’u crater in Volcanoes National Park.

Dinner at the ranch—featuring prime rib—was another highlight of the trip for many seniors. Miah Nakamura said that the meal was one of her favorite memories from the week because she was able to share a delicious dinner and a wonderful view of the sunset with her friends. The following day, the seniors embarked on a snorkeling boat tour. The boat itself provided lots of entertainment for the group, with its water slide and floaties. Vice Principal Ryan Frontiera was on a mission to teach everyone and anyone to do a backflip into the water. Okuda’s favorite moment that day was when classmate Jacey Kage finally did a backflip after many tries. Back on land that evening, the seniors ended the day with karaoke and bowling. Prescott Yamanaka was happy to beat two of HBA’s varsity bowling team members in their game. Lohr enjoyed being able to “sing and harmonize with [his] friends” and thought that the evening was a great way to end the trip. From “Baby” by Justin Bieber to “My Way” by Frank Sinatra, and from gutter balls to strikes, the seniors made the most of their last night on the retreat. The next morning, before their return home, the seniors went to Kona Baptist Church for a final chapel. English teacher Alexandra Taylor, one of the senior advisors, hopes that the R.A.F.T theme will motivate seniors to follow through on what they’ve learned. She said, Continued on page 21 “You want to take some actions

Alex Taylor, senior advisor, shares her experience about saying farewell with the seniors. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF AARON BROCK.

SENIOR RETREAT Facing page: Zavior Ward jumps into the ocean from the snorkel boat. This page: The senior retreat provided times for chapel reflections, fun games, a snorkeling cruise, a visit to a black sand beach, ranch activities, and a visit to Kona Baptist Church.

7th Grade Camp Returns to Pu’u Kahea → By Hannah Garces (‘27) NEWS

The Class of 2031 gathers for a class photo at camp. Photograph by Jaydi Dakujaku (‘26).

During the third week of school, the Class of 2031 headed to Camp Pu‘u Kahea for their first grade-wide overnight camp. These 7th graders were introduced to longstanding camp traditions, enjoying experiences like messy family group activities and worship through dance. This camp helped to form lasting memories and class-wide bonds, which can make all the difference in the way these students will look back upon their middle school years.

HBA camps in recent years had relocated to Camps Homelani or Erdman due to the closure of long-time HBA campsite Pu‘u Kahea. This 7th grade camp marks the beginning of the return to the Waianae conference center, which had been home to HBA camps for many years prior. Middle School Christian Ministries Coordinator Robert Lockridge expressed his joy in the return to Pu‘u Kahea, saying “It was wonderful to be back there because there’s so many memories out there, and it was wonderful to carry on that tradition.” The theme at 7th grade camp was “Good News, Bad News, Good News.” Lockridge explained, “The good news is that there is a God. The bad news is that we are separated by sin from him. And the other good news is that we have a savior through Jesus Christ, a rescuer, so to speak.” Before the chapel messages, the

students were able to participate in games such as “Break the Frozen T-Shirts,” during which each homeroom enthusiastically cheered on their team representatives. Followed by the games, the students worshipped together by singing, performing signlanguage, and dancing.After chapels, the students then participated in various fun activities with their family groups that connected to the camp’s theme. One memorable activity for the students involved chocolate pudding. Jonathan Morihara shared that his favorite activity was when “[he] got to pie Mr. Luke in the face [with pudding] during family groups.” Morihara was referring to freshman camp counselor Luke Maas. This activity consisted of a pie pan filled with chocolate pudding with raisins sprinkled inside, and the goal was for the students to pick the raisins out using a toothpick which they must hold in their mouth, without getting

“One thing that I learned about God’s love is that he has unconditional love for me and that he is giving us the greatest gift in the world, all we have to do is accept it. It’s the best news that anyone’s ever heard of.” KRISLYN CHANG (‘31) pudding on their faces. Lockridge hopes that the students will remember that there was more to the game than just the mess; there was an important metaphor behind it. The pudding represents people’s sins, which makes them dirty. No matter how hard they try, they all inevitably become unclean with sin, and only God can make people clean again through His Son, Jesus.

memory was probably having fun with my cabin roommates, like, the last night we were there, we got a chance to talk and get to know each other.”

Family group activities weren’t the only camp traditions that were carried on. Dancing to “Church Clap” by KB (feat. Lecrae) is another memorable part of middle school camp every year. TaMiah Bell recalled, “My favorite memory is when we did the Church Clap because it was upbeat and it was really fun.”

One student summed up his key takeaway as “God sacrificed his one and only son for us so we could be free of our sin. That is how I know he loves us, because he sacrificed himself for us.” After hearing this response and other similar ones, Lockridge said that he was overjoyed to know that the main message stuck with the students even after camp.

Above: Students worship together in during a chapel time. PHOTOGRAPH BY JAYDI DAKUJAKU (‘26)

Right, top to bottom: Miya Boyd tries to put on a frozen t-shirt; (Top to bottom) Krislyn Chang, Grace Koki, Riley Short, Evelyn Lui, and Emma Menks enjoy free time at the playground; Kahiau Putnam spreads pudding on counselor Kate Ragain’s face; Students dance to “Church Clap” by KB (feat. Lecrae) PHOTOGRAPHS BY HANNAH GARCES (‘27)

In addition to grade-wide activities, the campers were also able to spend quality time with their cabinmates. Evelyn Lui reflected, “My favorite

Along with all the memories of pudding-covered faces, roasted marshmallows, and late-night cabin talks, many 7th graders returned from camp with a better understanding of God’s love for them.

HBA Hosts First Math League of the Season → By Sarah Byrer (‘28) NEWS Math team students from 23 diferent schools complete in the HBA gym. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MATTHEW ARDO

HBA MEET 1 COMPETITORS VARSITY

Kole Hashimoto (‘29) Jack Okazaki (‘29) Sarah Byrer (‘28) Sasha Moritomo (‘28) Janel Lee (‘27) Max Okazaki (‘27) Aaron Brock (‘26) Andy Fang (‘26) Kyler Hasegawa (‘26) Trinity Vong (‘26) JUNIOR VARSITY Demi Chae (‘29) Keira Chang (‘28) Alex Fujimoto (‘28) Elias Kwak (‘28) Landon Lau (‘28) Ben Menk (‘28) Tim He (‘27) Ryder Kadooka (‘27) Lexi Kamikawa (‘27) Nina Magtoto (‘27) ALTERNATES: Devyn Ames (‘29) Jordon Tam (‘26)

Two weeks ago, HBA hosted the first meet of this year’s Oahu Mathematics League (OML). Twenty three schools participated in the meet, and HBA was represented by 22 high school students. Hawaii Baptist Academy placed first in the Newton Division during the meet, scoring 156 points and 24 points above the runner-up. This was the highest the HBA varsity team has ever scored in the 57 years the OML has been running, and the junior varsity team placed third overall in the JV Division, which is the highest an HBA JV team has ever placed. Kyler Hasegawa, a senior and a returning member, describes the win as a great start to the season. “This first meet puts us in a good spot for the rest of the year and I have hope that we can pull off another first place victory.” This year, HBA’s math team comprises 45 high school students with 21 of them being new additions to the team. Jack Okazaki, a new team member, scored a perfect 30/30 points. He remembers being ecstatic when he got his scores. “After finishing the last paper, I felt that I had a pretty good chance of getting a perfect score, but I still felt like I could’ve messed up somewhere. Because of this, when we came back to find what the answers were, I was overjoyed when I saw that all of the answers matched up with everything,” he said. Before the meet, HBA Math Team students had to compete against each other to earn a spot on the team for the meet. The top 22 students eventually formed the team. During the competition, students were assigned to three out of six different events where they must answer questions from topics including Geometry,

Algebra I & II, Trigonometry, and Calculus. For each event, participants were given ten minutes to answer three questions of varying difficulty levels, with the easiest being worth two points and the hardest worth five. Last year was only the second time HBA had ever won the OML Newton Division, with the first win in the 2023-2024 season. Matthew Ardo, one of HBA’s math team coaches, said, “I hope that the team continues to build on its success from the past two years. HBA has currently won nine consecutive meets, so I hope that we can continue that streak.” This year is only Ardo’s third time coaching the team, and from it he has found a lot of joy. He’s been able to witness so many students working hard both in and out of school in order to gain a better understanding of and master their mathematical and problem-solving skills. He says, “I see the improvements that individual students make throughout the year as they compete with the team, and I know firsthand that the skills our students develop are going to have long-lasting positive impacts.” Jaden Oki, recent HBA graduate and Class of 2025’s valedictorian, was part of last year’s winning team. He wrote, “I thoroughly enjoyed showing up to the meet once a month and seeing us wreck the other teams in our division! It really brought my morale up during the school year. I also loved seeing our team clutch up and rack up enough

strongly believe that this energy was the cause of our team’s great improvement.”

(Above) The winning Meet 1 team comprises students from 9th through 12th grade.

Fellow classmate and former teammate Brady Katano, who is currently attending Princeton University, shared that his experience with the math team was a blast. “It allowed me to challenge myself and to meet new people who had a shared interest in math,” he wrote. Katano also suggested to current math team participants to “make sure to have fun with your team! I’ve seen the team bond, laugh, and grow closer than ever, and I

The next OML competition will be held on October 25 at Mililani High School. Taking stock of how his team has fared thus far, Ardo emphasized that he is pleased with something more than their win. “Our school displayed great character and kindness in all of our interactions with members of the visiting schools. Overall, this event made me very proud to be a part of the HBA community.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY KAITLYN LEGAWA (‘28)

“I’d advise anyone interested in math team to just go to the meet and have fun with it. Looking back, half the value I got from math team was participating in the game events each meet and joking around with my teammates. Even if you’re not a ‘math person,’ the competitions are way less intimidating than they sound and the people on the team are friendly and fun to banter with!” Jaden Oki (‘25), former member

“To any new members of HBA’s math team and those who want to join, don’t bring yourself down if you don’t do well. As a team, we have to hype each other up and do the best we can.” Kyler Hasegawa (‘26), current member “I’m glad that everyone on the high school math team is so friendly and willing to help all of us freshmen out whenever we need anything.” Jack Okazaki (‘29), current member HBA’s Meet 1 team (seated in the foreground table) get ready for the competition.PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MATTHEW ARDO.

points to win even when our heavy-hitters were missing in some meets.”

Club Fair Showcases Variety of Student Interests → By Janel Lee (‘27) NEWS

On August 27, HBA hosted its annual high school club fair in the gym. This year, there were over 35 clubs, with eight new and 27 recurring featured at this lunchtime event

Among the many clubs at this year’s club fair were the Fishing Club and the Just Dance Club. The Fishing Club was founded by sophomores Cody Coulter, Trevor Chvosta, and Sekai Douk, and advised by English teacher Jonathan Kempe. The trio fish almost every weekend on Coulter’s boat with their other friends, hoping for great catches. They wanted to get more students interested in the hobby by bringing fishing to HBA. “We decided to make a club and help people get more into fishing, teach some people how to fish. Fishing is fun, and everyone should learn how to fish if they live in Hawaii,” says Coulter. He also hopes to teach others to care more about the ocean, to not leave their trash, and other basic fishing etiquette. For their first meeting, the boys are planning to teach students the basics, such as tying lines and hooks. Afterwards, they are hoping to go fishing around the island, starting near the Nu’uanu stream next to the high school. The Just Dance Club is another new offering this year, led by seniors Sydney Lau and Stephany Galicinao, with science teacher Isaac Duncklee as the club’s advisor. Lau and Galicinao got the idea to start the club during junior year. They would play Just Dance in Duncklee’s classroom to dance off the stresses of adjusting to the increased workload that junior year brings. “Every time we did that we completely forgot about everything we were stressing out; it was a really big stress reliever. From there, we would just go and have fun with our friends, and it really brought everybody together. We played Just Dance with people we never thought we would play

TableTop Games Club

The Well Club

Environmental Club

From left to right: Juniors Cody Coulter and Sekai Douk with advisor Jonathan Kempe are proud to launch the Fishing Club. PHOTOGRAPHS BY JANEL LEE (‘27)

Eagle Eyes Club

with,” says Galicinao. Club members have already started signing up for slots after school. Lau and Galicinao are encouraged to see many underclassmen on the sign-up list and hope that this club will help build community within the student body. They want people to know that “it’s important to have a healthy outlet” from stress at school.

Top, from left to right: Seniors Stephany Galicinao & Sydney Lau (with advisor Isaac Duncklee) show off their Just Dance Club banner. Middle: Junior Maile Castillejos signs up for the Brew and Steep Club, which is for those interested in making and enjoying tea. Above left: Seniors Olivia Kim (left) and Katie Fong (right) hope to foster a closer school community through their club, Community Link. Above, right: The Filipino Club, represented by senior Colton Gallano and junior Katherine Sophia Butay, gave out banana lumpia to anyone who signed up for the club. PHOTOGRAPHS BY JANEL LEE (‘27)

Vice Principal Ryan Frontiera, who oversees clubs at the high school, highlights the wide variety of clubs students have come up with. “I loved seeing all the different clubs out there and for me the biggest highlights are when there’s a new club organization starting that has a lot of enthusiasm. I also really liked when I saw the same group of students who have run a club for maybe a couple of years carrying through. And there were several where I just saw steady leadership of the same people who have been there in the past. It’s great seeing them go from freshmen and sophomores to juniors and seniors taking on leadership.” He thinks the club fair is a great opportunity for students to get a chance to explore their interests with their peers. His biggest advice for club leaders is: “Set a reasonable schedule. It’s better to meet once a month than plan on meeting every week and not get around to it. But with that said, I do think that they should try to meet pretty regularly, set manageable goals, and plan before the meeting.”

→ By Maya Wong (‘28) FEATURE

The HBA fall banquet is taking place on October 24, 2025, near the start of the second quarter of the school year. The banquet is themed is “Golden Gala” and will take place at the Japanese Cultural Center. Unlike the annual formal juniorsenior banquet, or prom, the fall banquet is a semi-formal event, providing students with an opportunity to dress up without having to get too “fancy” and to socialize with their friends in a banquet setting. Ticket sales began in August and continues through October 20. After October 3, tickets cost $110 per person. The link to purchase tickets was emailed to parents. HBA students may bring non-HBA guests provided they are enrolled in high school or are in their first year of college.

Dress Checks & Guidelines Girls may sign up for dress check appointments before the banquet. A signup link is posted in the high school weekly bulletin. According to the banquet guidelines and behavior expectations, “students whose attire is deemed unacceptable will not be allowed into the ballroom unless their parent/guardian brings a change of clothes, or they wear a t-shirt issued by a school administrator. No refund will be issued for inappropriate attire.”

Girls Dress Code Sneakers

Dresses

new, and nd should mostly m be either

the knee

black or white.

⚫ Sleeveless, backless dresses

Dress Sandals Heels

must not dip below the waistline

⚫ Must appear to be almost like

⚫ No higher than 3 inches above

⚫ Tops must cover chest and sides of torso

Formal Jumpsuits & Pantsuits

Boys Dress Code Sneakers

⚫ Must appear to be almost like new, and nd should mostly be either black or white.

Dress Shoes Tucked Dress Shirt & Pants

⚫ No T-shirts, tank tops, jeans, shorts, sneakers ⚫ Extreme necklines ⚫ Any exposed parts of the chest or torso area ⚫ Bare midriffs ⚫ Coats, ties, and vests are optional

No ear piercings

Eagles Test Skills in Annual Hilo Classic → By Colton Gallano (‘26) SPORTS NEWS

From August 28 through the 30, the HBA girls varsity volleyball team traveled to Hilo to compete in the annual Hawai’i Island Labor Day Classic. This trip marks the fourth time that the Eagles have been invited to compete in this three day tournament. This tournament gave the Lady Eagles plenty of experience and preparation for this season.

Heading into this mid-season tournament, the Eagles started strong with a 1-0 record for the ILH regular season over Maryknoll, giving them momentum to build on for this upcoming tournament. Just last year, the Eagles clinched the 2024 ILH D2 State Championship against Le Jardin. Prior to this, the Eagles have had a strong presence in the ILH. For the last two years, they have placed in the top three for ILH rankings, and have made state appearances in the last three years. Senior Rhyan Cobb Dumlao, who has played in the Hilo tournament for the past three years, recognized the importance of the tournament and the development that comes with this experience: “Well we’ve gone to this tournament about 3 times in the past, and it was a good experience for us since it’s early in the season. Also, being together outside of school really made our team closer. The competition is also very strong since a lot of mainland and outer island teams come to compete against us too.” The presence of the outer island and mainland

teams benefited the Eagles, as they provided new experiences to the players, especially the underclassmen. For freshman Allie Tom, her first year on the varsity team has had a huge impact not just on her volleyball career, but also on how she has been shaped as a person. “Coming in, I knew it would be a challenge,” she said, “but I’m grateful to my coaches for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to prove myself at this level. Their trust has pushed me to work harder and to carry myself with confidence, knowing that they saw potential in me even when I doubted myself.” The Eagles put on a strong showing in their bracket, as there were a total of 56 teams participating in this tournament, with a majority being from the mainland. The first two days of the tournament were bracket play. The Eagles ended their time in bracket play with a 4-2 record, which was ultimately good enough for them to place in the gold bracket for the elimination round. After four hard-fought sets,

The HBA girls varsity volleyball team gather for team photo at the Hilo Oceanfront Hotel. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DEREN OSHIRO.

(Above) Junior Jackie Miyazawa serves the ball against Maryknoll; (Right) Kylie Ancheta, senior outside hitter, lead her team in aces last year during their States run. PHOTOGRAPHS BY AVA QUINLAN (‘28)

the Eagles were defeated by the Foothills Falcons from Santa Ana and finished the tournament with a final 4-3 record. When asked to reflect on their overall performance, Myles Shioji, head coach of the Eagles, said, “The team did a great job of bonding with each other, which is an ingredient for successful teams. The girls played high caliber competition and performed well in communicating and playing well with each other.” Senior Kate Iida, the team’s starting middle blocker, also added, “I think we definitely got it together after our first two losses. But they were against good teams, so I think it was a really good learning experience for us and we only got better from there and really started to work as a team”. This tournament revealed a lot about the team’s quality of play, and showed both the coaching staff, as well as the players, areas they needed to improve on. Cobb Dumlao explained that this included working on communication both on and off the court. “There were some times where we forgot to tell each other where to cover or who should get the ball. It cost us points that shouldn’t have happened.

I think we should probably work on that the most, leading into the season,” she said. Aside from their performance on the court, the Eagles also gained many memories and experiences that brought them closer as one team. In fact, many of their favorite memories took place off the court, where the girls were able to bond with each other outside of the competition. Senior Kylie Ancheta reflected upon her experience in Hilo, stating, “The most memorable part of the trip was just hanging out with my teammates in the hotel rooms, and bonding with them when we had downtime. I got closer with a lot of the underclassmen, and it was fun to get to know them off the court. I really feel that we got close as a team in such a short amount of time.” As of Monday, September 29, the Eagles have a 6-2 ILH record, including their most recent victory against Damien, winning three out of the four sets. On October 3, the Eagles will face Le Jardin at HBA’s annual Fall Spike Nite game.

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GIRLS VOLLE H AWA I ’ I B A P T I S T A C A D E M Y G I R L S VA R S I T Y

Jackie

Callie

Kaylee

Junior • Libero • 5’ 2”

Junior • OH/DS • 5’ 3”

Junior • DS • 5’ 1”

“My most memorable moments were when we won the state championship last year and hanging out in Coach Taryn’s hotel room this year in Hilo. I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to play the sport I love, to my parents for their unconditional support, and to my coaches for continually challenging me to reach my fullest potential.”

“My most memorable moment was when we won States last year and we went to the beach house for a sleepover after. I’m thankful for the varsity coaches for always pushing me at practice to be the best version of myself. I also want to thank my parents for supporting me in all I do. Lastly, I’m thankful Sam and Karin for keeping me healthy.”

“My most memorable moment was my first time serving in a game and acing the opposing team. I vividly remember the smiles on my coaches’ faces and how my teammates roared with joy. I am forever grateful to my coaches for pushing me to my limits and helping me reach my full potential. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to my parents for always supporting me and being my number one cheerleaders.”

MIYAZAWA

Rhyan

COBB-DUMLAO Senior• DS • 4’11”

KAM

“My most memorable moment was during the Hilo trip at the hotel when Maya and Kate were at my door and Maya surprised me and sprayed me with her water gun. I am thankful for my parents for always taking me to my games and practices and for always encouraging and pushing me to do my very best.”

KATO

Kylie

ANCHETA Senior• OH • 5’ 6”

“My most memorable moment was when our team played hide and seek at our Airbnb in Hilo. I want to thank my coaches and teammates for always challenging me and pushing me to be the best version of myself, both on and off the court. I am also extremely grateful for my parents who have been supporting me from the very beginning, and who have made it possible for me to have these opportunities and make memories.”

EYBALL

Emerson

Allie

London

Senior • OH • 5’ 4”

Freshman • Setter • 5’9”

Sophomore • Middle • 5’3”

“My most memorable moment was during our Hilo trip. I enjoyed spending time with my teammates and getting to know my roommates better. Love to my parents for always being my biggest fans. Thank you to all my teammates for the their friendship and endless support. Thank you to the coaches for always challenging me, and shout-out to Sam and Karin for keeping me healthy.”

“My most memorable moment was traveling to Hilo. The trip brought us closer together, strengthening our bond and creating friendships I’ll always carry with me. I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Myles, Taryn, and Jared for believing and trusting in me this season. As a freshman, having the chance to set means a lot. I’m thankful to God for placing me here with the right people at the right time.”

“My most memorable moment was when I felt truly connected with my teammates this year during when we went to Hilo. I want to thank my dad for always encouraging me to work outside of practice so I can be my best.”

SISCO

CHOW

Junior • MB/OPP • 5’4”

“My most memorable moment was when we were in the hotel room up in Hilo playing mafia and Maya was the storyteller. I also enjoyed when we worked on senior posters together. I would like to thank my parents for always making time to take me to practice, always coming to my games despite their busy schedules, and always being there to support me.”

BENTO

“My most memorable moment was when we went on the Hilo trip and got to know the other girls a lot better. I want to thank my dad for pushing me to do school volleyball this year and who always supports me.”

Cassidy MARK

Junior • OH • 5’ 7”

Aubrey

TOM

25 26

GIRLS VOLLE H AWA I ’ I B A P T I S T A C A D E M Y G I R L S VA R S I T Y

MAY

MAYA KIM

LABARRE

Sophomore • OH • 5’ 6”

Junior • Outside • 5’ 5”

Sophomore • Middle • 5’ 7”

“My most memorable moment was when we won D2 state champs last year. Celebrating with my teammates made it really special and is a core memory for me. I thank God for giving me strength, my coaches for teaching me on and off the court, my parents for their constant support, and my teammates for their encouragement and the memories we’ve made together.”

“My most memorable moment was during the Hilo trip this year. I guess this isn’t really a moment but the time spent in our rooms was fun. I’m pretty sure my roomies and I had the funnest room. I am grateful for Coach Myles, Coach Jared and Coach Taryn for always holding me accountable and pushing me to be the best volleyball player I can be.”

“My most memorable moment was when we won the state championship and then went to a beach house and had an amazing team bonding. I am thankful for all of my coaches who have pushed me to be the best. Also my athletic trainers who keep me safe. My parents for taking me to my games and practices and being my biggest fans. And I also want to give praise to God!”

SHIRAISHI

Keira LIEW

Sophomore • DS • 5’ 3”

“My most memorable moment was definitely winning States last year. It was a very surreal and special experience and learning from the seniors that paved the way for us. I would first like to thank God for all He has given me. I would also like to thank Coach Myles, Taryn, and Jared for pushing me to do my best every day. Finally, I would like to thank my parents, teammates, and friends for supporting me.”

Blaire

Jalen

ROMERO Sophomore • OH • 5’ 4”

“My most memorable moment was when we were in Hilo and Allie ate four Chobani Flips in the span of five hours. I want to thank my family for pushing me to do better and all of my coaches that exposed me to different coaching styles. And lastly thanks to all of my teammates who helped me through my tough times and making great memories while doing it.”

EYBALL

Alana

Kate IIDA

KAAPANA

Sophomore • MB • 5’ 8”

Senior • Middle • 5’ 6”

Sophomore • Setter • 5’ 6”

“My favorite memory was sharing the hotel room with May, Maya, and Jackie. We were trying to scare Jackie, but May started choking from trying to one-bite her ice cream cone. Jackie didn’t get scared. I’d like give all the glory to God for every blessing and opportunity, along with the people He’s placed in my life. I’d like to thank my parents for their endless support and sacrifice and giving me every opportunity to succeed.”

“My most memorable moment was going to Hilo this season and growing closer with the team on and off the court. I had so much fun being able to play with these girls and it was such a great experience to be able to play good teams. I am grateful for my parents and for all of my coaches throughout the years who have helped push me and are continuing to push me to become the best that I can be on and off the court.”

TRESKON

“My most memorable moment was when I had the opportunity to travel to Hilo with my team. I am grateful to Coach Jared for helping me to improve my footwork and for always providing positive encouragement.”

Eden

FIENHOLD Sophomore • Opposite • 5’ 9”

“My most memorable moment was when we went to Hilo. It was really fun to play good teams and to get closer with everyone. I want to thank my mom for driving me to games and always supporting me.”

Kaydi

FALL SPIKE NITE 2025

October 3, 2025 | Hawai’i Baptist Academy Dan Liu Gymnasium JV HBA vs. Punahou Gold - 5:00 p.m. Varsity HBA vs. Le Jardin - 6:15 p.m.

Tonight’s food and drinks are sponsored by the Hawai’i Baptist Academy Athletic Booster Club.

“Share the Present Moment” Editorial, continued from Page 1

“Senior Retreat” News, continued from Page 4

everyone was always telling me about. Then I catch a glimpse at my current planner, decked out with color-coded assignments and checkboxes, and I feel the wave of deep stress and anxiety wash over me instead. The amount of duties and responsibilities I have taken upon myself has left no time to sit back and truly “live in the moment” of my last year of high school.

now to make it a little easier and know that when you look back, you’ll be proud of what you did.” Senior Jacey Kage summed up what she learned, saying, “We’re all this one boat together, drifting throughout high school.” Kage shared that she did not realize how hard and important it was to say a final farewell. “As a Lifer,” Kage added, “HBA is really like a home to me.” Kage was reminded that it would be good for her to say goodbye to all her elementary, middle, and high school teachers, as they are people who have helped her grow and mature.

So my advice to you, whether you’re a junior, sophomore, or freshman, is to not feel the need to do everything by yourself. It’s okay to share a bit of your load with your friends, parents, or even a teacher. Growing up as the oldest child, it’s easy to feel like the only person I can trust and depend on to do everything the way I want it done is myself, but this also places unnecessary burdens on me. After that epiphany, I now share my responsibilities as a co-president with a friend who I asked for help, instead of taking on all those duties on my own. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a teacher or counselor with your college applications and essays (they don’t bite.) Have a co-worker cover a shift for you if you feel overwhelmed and need a moment to breathe. It was in those small moments of turning to others for help that I realized the solution to the chaos of senior year: Have the people around you assist in creating more space for the “present moment.” Seniors, this year might be overwhelming at first, with mixed emotions and a packed schedule of incoming events. So rely on your friends, your teachers, and your family, and let them guide you, support you and lend a helping hand. Allow others to help you make space for the present moment, so you can live in it during your final year of high school.

Poore hopes that the retreat will have equipped the seniors for their next chapter after high school. He also shared that he has a special affinity for the Class of 2026 as they were freshmen when he began his first year at HBA. Addressing the class, he said, “Well, you’ve grown in all the -lys, right? Spiritually, intellectually, academically. But most importantly, it’s good to see how the Lord is working in your class.” Yasutomi, too, hopes that the retreat will have a long-lasting impact. “It’s giving you guys the skills and the tools to be able to say [goodbye] well. It really sets you up for life.”

2025 - 2026 HBA GIRLS JUNIOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

Arya Kagawa, Kiseki Higa, Rylee Okada, Jovie Kawaguchi, Kaila Farmer, Alicia Yoon, Vivianne Watanabe, Ava Wu, Sasha Moritomo

BACK (L-R) : Jaida Nakatsu, Darina Bublik, Demi Chae, Taylor Shinagawa, Olivia Custer, Allison Bublik, Ella Lee, Hala’i’ale’a Fujimoto, Azalea Wasson, Abi Hasha FRONT (L-R):

2025 - 2026 HBA GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

Kaylee Kato, Emerson Sisco, London Bento, Keira Liew, Aubrey Chow, Jalen Romero, Callie Kam, Jackie Miyazawa, Rhyan Cobb Dumlao

BACK (L-R) : Kaydi Kaapana, Cassidy Mark, Eden Fienhold, Alana Treskon, Allie Tom, Blair LaBarre, Kylie Ancheta, Kate Iida, Maya Kim, May Shiraishi FRONT (L-R):