“Board Games in Real Life” Spirit Week
New High School Classes
Flik Responds to Feedback
Flag Football & Surfing Kicks Off
Upcoming International Trips
Mock Trial Wins State Champs
Junior Camp
Girls Basketball Takes D2 Crown
Spike Nite Bios on Pages 25-26
→ By Olivia Kim (‘26) EDITORIAL
The popularity of apps such as Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram has ushered in the influence of content creators over many people. Sometimes, it feels like social media has done much more than influence us; more and more it is stripping away our individuality. Between fashion styles and viral sayings, it seems as though we are blending in with each other and becoming clones of whatever is trending. We are losing our own unique tastes by trying to become what we see as unique in someone else.
Consider the fashion trends you see among young people. With popular brands such as Essentials and Brandy Melville establishing themselves as must-have everyday fashion and Lululemon winning all sorts of people—athletic or not—over to “athleisure” wear, it’s rare nowadays to see teenagers dressed in unique signature styles. Even those who act like they have defined for themselves a fashion identity are often followers of micro-trends like thick bangles or arm cuffs, Priscilla pants (also known as fold-over pants), and Y2K fashion.
Frequently, I find myself scrolling through Pinterest or TikTok, saving images and videos of outfits that I find cute or stylish, so I can try to put together something similar for myself later. After an hour of this, I had saved 14 different outfits to my folder and added five clothing items to my online shopping cart. I’ve also
found myself repeating vocal stims—social media’s definition for repetitive phrases or words—without realizing that I’ve picked them up from TikTok.
I have fallen victim to these habits more times than I can count, and it appears inevitable that online trends will just keep getting passed around, even to people who aren’t even on social media. There is social pressure to conform and copy what “popular” people are doing, because that is how you fit in. And those who decide that they want to stand out from the crowd still end up replicating the style of someone they think is cool, making them no more unique. Growing up on YouTube videos, I have discovered that I sometimes unconsciously put on an “influencer accent,” constantly using the word “like” and adding vocal fry to my voice.
Another area where people are losing their individuality to social media trends is in their own life stories. Some people are so attached to the influencers they follow that they don’t have a life of their own. Instead, they live vicariously through the influencers. Social media critic Evie Grace Fowler said that Gen Z may be the first generation to die with more memories of someone else’s life than their own.
As concerning as this is to me, I realistically will not be giving up my phone any time soon. I depend on it for many practical reasons that are not related to social media. We have been told that the best solution is to just go cold turkey, but frankly, I won’t be deleting my social media accounts in the near future. (Though I should probably put some limits on it.)
I do believe that I can still take some steps to curate what I see on social media. And instead of just scrolling on my phone for outfits I can copy, I could make plans to go thrifting with my friends. Don’t let social media strip away your individuality, your uniqueness, and don’t let it dictate what you should do.
EAGLE EYE
Hawaii Baptist Academy 2429 Pali Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
HBA’s Eagle Eye is a student-run and studentcentered publication.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Olivia Kim (‘26)
SEMESTER 2 STAFF
Katherine Butay (‘27)
Joey Cabais (‘27)
Colton Gallano (‘26)
Jillian Hirayama (‘26)
Ryder Kadooka (‘27)
Allison Kusuda (‘27)
Kingston Lowe (‘27)
Sophia Nguyen (‘27)
David Sakoda (‘28)
ADVISOR
Eunice Sim
Follow us @hbaeagleeye on Instagram www.hbaeagleeye.com
→ By Colton Gallano (‘26) NEWS
“P-A-R-T-Y,” the party was on the seniors’ side this year as they took home the annual Mana Cup for being the most spirited class of Spirit Week 2026.
The seniors outscored the second-place sophomores by 15 points, buoyed by their winning Pepper Squad performance and an almost perfect participation score for dress-ups. For the rest of the categories, the seniors were neck and neck with the freshmen in a two-way tie for both the Mascot and Banner rankings. The final rankings went as follows: the middle school placed 5th with 193 points, the freshmen placed 4th with 213 points, the juniors placed 3rd with 251 points, the sophomores placed 2nd with 278 points, and the seniors finished 1st with 293 points.
Drew Lohr, Student Council president and a senior, felt gratified with the results. “After four years of Spirit Week, I would say that this one is probably the most rewarding. It’s our final year, and it’s great to see my class come together one last time to compete before we graduate. I’m just glad we ended it with a win and had fun as a class,” he said.
Spirit Week kicked off in the second week back from winter break, and the first competition of the week was Platform Jam. To the high schoolers’ surprise, the middle schoolers won the event, fitting 70 students onto the platform. The seniors secured second place with 69 students on the platform. After tallying up the dress-up scores for the first day, the seniors were in first place overall, with the juniors and sophomores trailing not far behind.
Competition the next day was arguably the most intense of the week. Tug-of-War was the main event, and the seniors, who had managed to keep an undefeated record in the past three years of competition, were eager to solidify their reign as Tug-of-War champs. However, in a turn of events, the senior girls lost their match to the junior girls. Katherine Butay, a junior, remembers feeling extremely “proud and accomplished” with the win. “We knew that the seniors had been undefeated, so I felt really excited for the girls who participated. They just wanted to put up a good fight, and surprisingly they came out with the win,” she said.
The senior boys managed to win their round against their junior counterparts, but it was clear to the seniors that a Spirit Week victory would not come easily. Tanner Hankey, a senior and Spirit Week emcee,
(Top) The senior class claim the Mana Cup during half-time of the Boys Basketball Homecoming game.
(Left) The junior girls Tug-of-War team is mobbed by the rest of their grade after beating the seniors.
(Above) Sophomore mascots Reese Lueder (front, left) and Ronin Viloria (front, right) earned first place in the Mascot category, helping their class to finish in second place.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY AVA QUINLAN (‘28)
said, “I was very surprised that the junior girls won. I didn’t think that we’d lose, especially when we’ve won pretty much every year. But the boys won, so I think at this point we’re 7–1 for Tug-of-War.” Kate Iida, who was on the senior girls’ team, remembers the loss as being a motivating factor for the rest of the week. “Yeah, after seeing the girls lose and also just how unenergetic our grade was, I think it really motivated us to try as hard as we did last year. Our grade as a whole is pretty competitive, so losing is never an option when it comes to events like this,” she said.
By the end of the second day, the seniors and juniors came out with five points apiece, and the sophomores were the only ones to earn all 10 points for Tug-of-War.
The third day of Spirit Week introduced a new game, Box Stacking. Students had to make the tallest stack of boxes in an allotted time. At this point in the week, the juniors were riding close to the senior class in terms of points. Leina Wong, a junior and Student Council Public Relations Officer, recalled her class’s mindset going into the competition, saying, “After seeing how close we were to the seniors, I think our class felt obligated to go hard on this day in order to get as many points as possible. That was probably the wrong move, though, since it didn’t really work out in our favor.” In an effort to gain more points, the junior class attempted to stack nine boxes, one more than any other grade. However, their boxes fell down within the last three seconds of the timed competition. As a result, the juniors received only six points for the event, the least of all the grades. This enabled the senior class to widen the point gap from the juniors.
The fourth and most important day of the week (in terms of points at stake) featured the Pepper Squad assembly. Each class was tasked with writing and performing an eight-minute-long skit that brought to life the characters of an assigned board game. After weeks of preparation, including scriptwriting, rehearsals, and prop-making, each grade was eager to share their board game story with the student body.
Tobi Tengan, a freshman, played the role of the Sorcerer in the board game Candy Land. She said, “It was truly an honor to perform this role because I love acting and anything related to acting or musicals. I love doing that, and whatever character I’m going to be, I’m going to
be super into it. So if I was like just the regular person, or the sorcerer, or just a random person on the side, I just go all out.” The senior skit, based on Clue, earned the most points from the judges, while the sophomores came in second.
The last day of Spirit Week was the All-School Cheer Day. Each grade had to perform two cheers, and like the first day of the week, the middle schoolers surprised the high school with another win.
Spirit Week came to a close during halftime of the boys’ varsity basketball Homecoming game that evening, when the results of the competition were announced. While the seniors were jubilant, the juniors were disappointed by their third-place finish, as they had trailed the seniors for most of the week. Butay, who is a junior class officer, summed up what many of her classmates were feeling, saying, “Absolutely, it was really surprising. Maybe I’m just biased, but I feel that the juniors put in a lot of work into having everything such as the banner, the Pepper Squad, and the mascots come full circle. In the end we got third place, which was very surprising, because we thought that it was our best year yet.”
On the other hand, this year’s sophomores felt that they exceeded their own expectations. Blair LaBarre, a sophomore Pepper Squad performer, stated that, “I think the Spirit Week results were fair. I think each grade put in a lot of hard work that the judges didn’t see, and every grade deserved to win. In the end, it’s up to the judges and how they thought each grade performed throughout the week.”
Dynah Ustare, a junior class advisor, hopes that her class will keep a positive perspective. “You know we can’t control everything, and [the loss] reminded us of the reality that we can’t control everything in life. We can only try our best. Regardless of how people assessed it, if we did the best we could, we have every right to be proud,” she said. Lohr, as the head of the Student Council, hopes that everyone can celebrate their hard work, even if they did not win. “If I had one thing to say to the underclassmen,” he said, “all I can really think of is to just enjoy it. The results may not go in your favor, but you’ll always have another chance to make it up next year.”
→ By Joey Cabais (‘27) NEWS
Todd Yokotake teaching students in the Hawaiian History and Culture Class to count in tens in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. “Kana” is “tens” and “lima” is “5.” PHOTOGRAPH BY
As soon as this class is in session, the students hold conversations, chant, and sometimes even sing. Yet, this isn’t chaos; in fact, the teachers encourage it. This is HBA’s Hawaiian History and Culture class, returning after a 24-year hiatus.
Zachary Markwith and Todd Yokotake co-teach this class, striving to help their students learn the rich history of their home state and how to practically use ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. According to Yokotake, HBA first offered a Hawaiian culture class in 2002. However, interest in the class dwindled over the years, resulting in it being cut. This year, there was enough interest from students that the class was able to make a return, albeit with a refreshed curriculum.
Markwith is motivated to teach a new course that has ties to his personal story. He said, “I’m part Hawaiian, and as a kid growing up in Hawai‘i, I’ve always been fascinated with wanting to learn more about my history and my family. And I think history has been something that I’ve always loved, and so having an opportunity to teach it is exciting.”
In the class, one of Yokotake’s goals is to
provide students with lots of opportunities to practice what they are learning. Yokotake said, “It’s not necessarily a paper-and-pencil class. In fact, in 75% of the class, you’re just talking, and then for the last 10 minutes you get a notecard and write it down.”
The same applies for the history units of the class, Markwith added, since most of Hawaiian history has been passed down via oral tradition. He hopes that students will learn the art of storytelling through the class. “Students are researching one significant person in Hawaiian history, and with their research, they’re not just going to do a typical presentation; instead, they’re going to give a mo‘ōlelo, or a story of their life, and we’re going to really weave in the art of storytelling, because storytelling was how events in history got passed down,” he explained.
Through this class, Markwith also hopes that students discover how stories of Christian faith are found in Hawaiian history. For example, Markwith explained that Queen Lili‘uokalani wrote prayers such as Ke Aloha o Ka Haku, asking God to forgive those who wronged her and choosing to act in a Christlike way even in the midst of injustice. Another person students will learn about is Henry ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia, who fled Hawai‘i for New England, where he
came under the influence of Christian leaders. Although ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia had the heart to return to Hawai‘i as a missionary, he unfortunately passed away before he could.
In just one quarter, students in the class have enjoyed a wide variety of learning activities, from vocabulary lessons and Hawaiian crafts to going on a field trip to Hānaiakamalama (Queen Emma’s Summer Palace), which is located just up the Pali Highway from the high school campus. The class also had the opportunity to share what they had learned with the school’s Mainland Advisory Council (MAC) in February, performing a hula noho (sitting hula) during the MAC’s visit to the high school campus.
(Facing page, left to right) The class went on a field trip to Hānaiakamalama, Queen Emma’s Summer Palace; Students practice a hula noho (sitting hula) while chanting the mele “Ke Ao Nei” (The Beautiful World).
→ Sophia Nguyen (‘27) NEWS
Christian Chee, Economics teacher, wants to turn students’ business ideas into reality. Starting next spring, he will be teaching a new senior course, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which will cover business design, development, and marketing.
The new course is being offered as a Social Studies elective, and Chee was excited to have been tasked to teach it, as this is something he wished he could have taken when he was in high school. (Chee is an HBA alumnus.) Chee set out to build a curriculum that gave room for students to lead and that was project-based, emphasizing creativity and real-world application.
While attending Arizona State University, Chee majored in technology entrepreneurship and worked on a creative project of his own, one that shaped his professional and academic path. Chee hopes that this new course will give that same opportunity to students at an earlier stage “so that they can be competitive in college applications and potential job interviews, and if they already have a foundation going into college, they’ll be in a really good spot to compete at the next level too.”
Seniors interested in this course must show in the first semester of Economics that they have a project in mind that they want to bring to the world. However, Chee emphasized that the class is not just for future business majors. “I think this course is open to anyone who has a really strong interest in any subject beyond the school subjects, like if you are really interested in a certain hobby or craft that you can turn into a business and reality.”
According to Chee, students will start with a creative project, and they will be able to establish a business or nonprofit to solve a problem they are passionate about. Once the project has been chosen, they will go through stages to bring their vision to life: learning software
tools, creating a brand, making a website, and engaging with professionals beyond the school community.
Currently, there are 18 students enrolled in the course, and some students are already imagining what their projects could become.
Junior Katie Matsumoto, a tennis player, is concerned that the rising popularity of pickleball on O‘ahu is affecting the availability of public courts for tennis players.
Christian Chee, Economics teacher, wants to challenge students to turn their entreprenueral ideas into reality. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN CHEE
“I practice tennis at Ala Moana Regional Park, and there have been recent discussions of converting two of the tennis courts into pickleball courts. I don’t think the already existing tennis courts should be converted into pickleball courts. So I want to start a nonprofit that will help build pickleball courts in a designated area so they don’t have to take over any tennis courts.”
It’s creative ideas like Matsumoto’s that Chee hopes he’ll get to see in the spring. “What excites me about teaching this is seeing what types of projects students come up with, and then also seeing them engage with real professionals and the real economy outside of the school setting,” he said.
Current juniors who didn’t enroll in the elective during the course registration window but are interested in taking the course can check in with their counselors about making the change.
→ By Jillian Hirayama (‘26) NEWS
For many HBA students, Flik food is a daily part of their lives. Whether they are buying lunch or getting a snack at break, students frequently pass through the Flik-run cafeteria. Once in a while, they have been pleasantly surprised by a table of food samples, free for the taking. These food samples are part of Flik’s tasting days, an effort to get to know students’ preferences while introducing them to potential menu items.
Complaints and jokes about school lunches tend to be shared more than compliments among students, and Flik has taken a proactive approach toward gathering more student feedback, not less. As a result, many students report that the overall quality of Flik lunches has improved this year.
Kaitlyn Legawa, a sophomore, said, “I would say there were more good lunches this year. Very rarely would I get a sandwich instead of the regular lunch offered.” She added that her main complaint about Flik lunches in the past concerned undercooked noodles or rice but added that it “didn’t happen too often.” Legawa also praised the food sampling effort and encouraged students to try out what Flik serves up to see if they like it. The most recent food tasting event in February featured meatless meatballs, and students were asked to rate the meatless meatballs against regular meatballs.
Similarly, Madisyn Rogers, a junior who doesn’t often buy school lunch, reports enjoying the occasional meals that she’s purchased. “The times I do get it, it’s pretty good,” she said. Rogers added that a barrier for many students is likely the cost of school lunches, not just whether or not the food tastes good. Kawena Wilson, a sophomore, noted that Flik has offered a wider variety of food compared to last
(Far left) Sienna Lamblack, a senior, samples a meatless meatball during a food tasting day hosted by Flik. (Far right) Students use smiley face stickers to indicate whether they liked mushroom or regular beef meatballs.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JILLIAN HIRAYAMA
year but feels that their food presentation could still be improved. Now that students have enjoyed Flik’s food tasting days, they are eager to see the samples show up as regular menu items. Josh Watanabe, a senior, is disappointed that it has yet to happen. He said, “I assumed the samples were to see if students liked it and if the majority did, then they would begin adding it to their school lunches.”
According to Jensen Manuel, Senior Chef Manager of Flik’s operations at HBA, student feedback plays a major role in his decision-making regarding school food options. “Feedback is good, both good and bad. If we didn’t know about it, we wouldn’t know what to keep, what to adjust, what to change, what to improve on,” he said.
Flik collects opinions through surveys offered throughout the year and posts a QR code near the register inviting students to share their feedback. There is also an end-of-the-year “Let Us Know Before You Go” survey and a beginning-of-the-year feedback survey shared through the school bulletin that goes out to students and their families.
Manuel said that Flik has made some changes based on students’ survey responses. For example, the snack-time pop-ups featuring fresh-baked cookies, mango danishes, nachos, or pork hash are a response to students asking for more snack options. However, Manuel noted that menu options are limited by factors such as kitchen size, staffing, equipment, and also accommodating food restrictions on nuts and MSG.
Addressing the most common student complaint—high price tags— Manuel explained that inflation has increased the cost of food. However, he said, Flik is committed to providing balanced meals that include a starch, protein, vegetable, salad, and milk whenever possible. Overall, Manuel emphasized that feedback, both positive and negative, is essential because it helps him determine what should be kept, adjusted, or improved.
→ By Olivia Kim (‘26) FEATURE
Prom season is here, and with the ever-increasing price creep of tickets, clothes, and accessories, many students and parents might be wondering, “Is it really worth all of that money?”
Recently, a high school assembly was held in the gym, where the theme, ticket pricing, and other information were announced. This year’s theme will be “A Dream in the Bayou,” a take on the classic Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog. “This year’s banquet will cost students $115 each to attend, assuming they buy their tickets in the early registration window that ends on March 13.
Christina Yasutomi, Student Activities Director, explained why the ticket costs more than last year’s, saying, “The price of the student ticket covers everything that goes into the event, including the food, photo booth, the DJ, and decorations. Being mindful of this, we do our best to make sure we are good stewards of our funds while also trying to keep tickets at a fairly reasonable price.”
Furthermore, Yasutomi added that the cost of food and service has risen significantly this year. “Thankfully, many of our vendors have only increased prices slightly, as they too recognize that increasing costs are a struggle for our students and their families,” she said. Ticket prices are not the only thing that has risen. Retail prices of dresses, suits, shoes, nails, and other accessories have also gone up. Many students say they spend an average of $200 to $300 for their outfits and other extra things, such as flowers. Many students are resigned to these costs, accepting that this is just the going rate for a special event.
Lauren Okuda, a senior, says prom is about “getting to hang out with my friends.” Similarly, classmate Sophie Chong stated that she is most looking forward to dressing up, hanging out, and having fun with all of her friends.
Senior Kira Tanaka, this year’s prom committee senior co-chair, is determined to make sure that her classmates have a worthwhile and memorable experience, especially on the dance floor. “Last year, prom was a little lackluster, not only because of lack of participation, but because the event itself felt boring. I believe the main issue was the music and the dance floor. The songs chosen were not very good for dancing, and they were mixed very strangely. I think being able to engage the crowd is very important to having a successful prom night.”
That is why for this year’s prom, Tanaka looks forward to “seeing everyone’s reactions to the prom venue and music.”
Ahead of the banquet itself, perhaps the most talked about and fun part for some people about prom is “promposals.” From posters, portable speakers, flowers, and chocolates, promposals are another costly expense. When asked what his take on promposals was, senior Brody Tran answered, “I think promposals don’t have to be grand at all… I think people see promposals online or in movies and it gives them this false impression that everyone does these grand flower bouquets or posters even though in reality it is probably like the top 1% of people with lots of money to spend.”
On the other hand, junior Madisyn Rogers, one of the prom committee’s junior co-chairs, finds that “grand promposals are really nice, but there is also something really cute about a sweet and simple approach.” She added, “Any promposal is necessary, and you can’t assume that they’ll go with you without asking them or giving a small gift!”
As students count down to April 18, despite the costs, Yasutomi hopes students can see that the banquet will be an invaluable experience. “Prom is a monumental event for high school students, which they will remember for the rest of their lives. Getting to be a part of the team who helps make those lifelong memories is truly an honor,” she said. Prom tickets are on sale from now through April 2, and the link to buy tickets was sent to parents. The early registration period ($113 per ticket) ends March 13. The regular registration ticket is $130.
→ Allison Kusuda (‘27) FEATURE
Chinese New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, has been China’s most important holiday for over four thousand years. It marks the start of the lunar year—based on the moon’s phases—with a fifteen-day festival. In 2026, according to the Chinese Zodiac, it is the Year of the Fire Horse, and the first day of the year fell on February 17.
Jonathan Kempe, English teacher, makes dumplings with son Caleb, in celebrating of Chinese New Year.
For many, Chinese New Year symbolizes renewal and family ties, and many festivities are focused on welcoming prosperity and good fortune to one’s home and business to kick off the new year. Each family celebrates with their own special traditions. Ava Ortega, a junior whose mother is a first-generation Chinese American, usually goes out with her grandparents downtown to have dinner at Legend Seafood Restaurant. After dinner, she walks around Chinatown with her family, enjoying line dancing, eating mooncake, and playing various games.
Since marrying his wife, Laura, who is Taiwanese American, Jonathan Kempe, an English teacher, also celebrates Chinese New Year. He wears the color red to ward off evil spirits and makes bao with his family. Andy Fang, a senior, has a nice Chinese-style dinner with his family to pray and talk about the new year. He also watches the lion dance performance at the Chinese Cultural Plaza down in Chinatown.
Kingston Lowe, a junior, celebrates Chinese New Year by receiving lai see. Lai see, also called hongbao, are red envelopes used to give money as a symbol of good luck, good fortune, and blessings during major celebrations. It is typically given to children or unmarried people by their elders.
Ortega states, “Chinese New Year is kind of like a second chance, and I feel like it makes more of an impact on me than celebrating the
New Year. Actually coming into 2026 doesn’t feel like a big change, but Chinese New Year, I feel like since it’s been a big part of my life, it has really impacted how I act in that new year.”
In preparation for Chinese New Year, Ortega cuts her hair for a fresh start and does not shower the night before to prevent good luck and energy from washing away. Christy Qin, a Chinese teacher, wrote, “Chinese New Year means a lot to me personally because it reminds me how blessed I am to live in Hawaiʻi and how great God’s love is in providing me with a good life.”
She tries her hardest to pass on the tradition of celebrating the new year to her children by buying New Year-related items, such as animalthemed keychains and posters. For her Chinese language students, Qin has students from each grade level work on different projects, like drawing the new year animal, practicing calligraphy, and doing water painting.
This year, Qin had her Chinese Club host a lion dance at school on February 18, the second day of the new year. Lead lion dancer Kaylin Wong, a freshman, took up lion dancing three years ago with a friend. In addition to performing at HBA, Wong performed in Chinatown with her lion dance troupe as part of this year’s celebrations.
Wong wrote, “During Chinese New Year, we usually have a lot of performances, and I enjoy the hustle and bustle of driving from one performance to another. The reason I like having a lot of performances in a day rather than just one is because I genuinely enjoy performing. I also get to ‘eat’ the money from people while making them laugh and seeing them have a good time.”
→ By David Sakoda (‘28) FEATURE
As the third quarter of school comes to a close, it has been about 10 weeks since the world welcomed the beginning of 2026. It has also been 10 weeks since many of us made New Year resolutions, just like millions of people around the world. According to NPR, the ancient Babylonians are one of the first recorded peoples credited with having a similar concept, yet it was the Romans who associated January 1st with the new year, providing the basis for the Western world’s adoption of the practice. Going forward through time, goal setting has remained present in culture to this very day. With such a long history, New Year’s resolutions are a part of mainstream culture. From a YouGov survey, about half, or 49%, of Americans make New Year’s resolutions or goals. These goals can range from exercising more, saving money, or just being nicer to others. However, only around 8% of Americans report actually accomplishing their New Year’s resolutions. Still, many people continue to make resolutions every new year.
Did You Make a New Year's Resolution For 2026?
In January 2026, the Eagle Eye surveyed 135 high school students and nearly 65% (87 students) said that they made a New Year’s resolution for 2026. Compared to the Yougov survey, this is much higher. The two most common reasons for not making a resolution were “It’s just not something I think about” and “I make goals at other times of the year that aren’t tied to the new year.”
The most common type of resolution fell under the personal skills development/hobbies category. The second most common type was exercise. Respondents were asked how successful they have been with keeping their New Year’s resolutions. The majority of people landed in the somewhat successful end of the spectrum.
BIBLE TEACHER
“Make a to-do list, both a physical and an electronic one.”
Mrs. Elena Yoo
JAPANESE TEACHER
“Don’t set anything extremely unachievable; make easy small baby steps consistently.”
SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
Mrs. Nakano shares that she doesn’t make new year’s resolutions as she thinks that they are “like a diet; people are going to break it.” Her first priority is to love God rather than focusing on achieving things. Her advice is based on James 1:5: “ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
COUNSELING SECRETARY
“Keep it simple, consistent”. For those who want to read the Bible more regularly, one chapter day is a very doable goal.
Mrs. Jennifer Garriss COUNSELOR
“It helps to reach a goal by attaching an emotional reason to it.” For example, “If I want to lose weight, an emotional attachment would be that it helps me be around longer for kids.”
→ By Kingston Lowe (‘27) TRAVEL NEWS
During the two week hiatus of Spring Break, a number of HBA students will be taken around the globe in various school-led trips. Three trips have been planned–two returning to Korea and China, and also a brand new trip headed to New Zealand.
After a hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese teacher Christy Qin is taking students back to China to deepen their understanding of their language studies. Qin says the China trip is a unique experience for Chinese students to learn more about Chinese culture and technology while also testing their language skills.
Twelve students from her Chinese classes will explore four major cities alongside iconic Chinese landmarks and historic sites, such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Giant Panda Breeding Base in Chengdu, and the Maglev train stations built into the city architecture of Chongqing. However, the trip also appeals to those looking for a change of pace from the Hawaiian Islands.
Junior Elise Yang says that she’s excited for the sights that she’s going to see and also the recreational time. “There’s a lot of things in China that you cannot buy in America. I’m also excited for the food.”
Heading to the opposite hemisphere are students going on HBA’s inaugural New Zealand trip, headed by the science department. Physics teacher Isaac Duncklee explains that this trip is meant “to allow students to study their interests in physics and ecology while exploring a new culture in New Zealand. I’m hoping that students will open their eyes even more to the majestic wonders of God’s creation, and I’m hoping that students will recognize some important things they can apply to their own lives—whether that’s through embracing a new culture or recognizing new ways… [and] they can explore how to apply their interests in the real world,” Duncklee said.
This trip will cover both the North and South Islands, visiting the city of Auckland and viewing geothermal activities and a Māori cultural site on the North Island. According to Duncklee, most of the trip will be spent on the South Island, traveling to well-known cities and landmarks like Christchurch, Queenstown, and Milford Sound. Students
will also be visiting the International Antarctic Centre, participating in astronomy activities, going on engineering tours, bungee jumping, and sightseeing.
Ava Ortega, one of 17 students going on the trip, stated that she’s excited to go and learn more about Māori culture. “I think I’m most excited about it because you typically hear people say, ‘Oh, I’m gonna go visit Japan. I’m gonna go visit China,’ but when do you actually get the chance to visit New Zealand and learn about how… they do their customs and cultures?” she said. “By going on this trip, I hope to learn more about why God made science the way that He made it, and how it works… [and] hopefully develop a love for science that will help me to succeed in future challenges that may arise.”
The trip to Korea is HBA’s second mission trip, following the success of the first. This trip, centered around the South Korean capital of Seoul, places students in service roles. Students assist three main organizations, including the Baby Box Foundation, the NAUH nonprofit organization, and the Suseo Senior Center. Chaperone Faye Takushi, who led the 2025 Korea trip, says that the students will “be outside [their] comfort zone and use [their] resources, talent, and time to give to others.”
Ryder Kadooka and Ian Longpre, both juniors, are signed up for this trip, and alongside the service work, they say that they’re looking forward to building deeper relationships with fellow student travelers. They’re also interested in learning more about the culture and way of life in a place so far from home. “I look forward to working with organizations that really align with my ideals,” Kadooka said. “I also want to eat good food.”
Brandon Ogimoto is a returning member of the mission group from last year. “I want to make new experiences with other people… and [to] continue… to spread the word of God and His love with others,” he said. “I think that this new group would do pretty well, and since we already have some experience, I think it’ll run a lot more smoothly.” Brandon remembers the Suseo Senior Center the most. “I really liked delivering food. That was like the most fun part of volunteering there.”
→ By Jillian Hirayama (‘26) NEWS
At Hawaii Baptist Academy, some students are turning their hobbies into small businesses that serve their peers while learning real life skills. From nail art to jewelry to baked goods, these student entrepreneurs balance school life with creativity and dedication.
Senior entrepreneur is Kira Tanaka runs a baking business called kiikibakes (@_kiikibakes). She started selling baked goods during her freshmen year and has continued developing her skills ever since. Running a baking business, she explained, can be challenging because customers sometimes do not realize how much time, effort, and cost goes into each and every item. Despite the long hours and hard work, Tanaka enjoys being able to share her baking with others. Through her business, she has learned to adapt to customer feedback, accept constructive criticism, and improve both her products and her business practices.
Sophia Nguyen, a junior, runs a press on nail business under the name @setsby_.sophia. It began as a personal solution but quickly turned into a growing side hustle. Nguyen first started doing her own nails at home because professional manicures were becoming expensive and acrylics were damaging her natural nails. During the summer of 2024, she began creating press-on nail sets for others and experimenting with new techniques and designs. Through this process, she discovered the artistic side of nail design while also learning organization, responsibility and the basics of running a business. For Nguyen, the most rewarding part is helping others express their creativity and confidence through their nails.
Senior Kate Iida (@kates_collectionz) and junior Kallie Torres (@ nailsbykalliee) also have their own nail art business.
Rhyan Cobb Dumlao, senior, is the creator behind Kamoana Creations (@kamoana.creations), a jewelry business she started during her junior year. Her interest in jewelry-making began as early as freshman year when she wanted to relax and explore her creative ideas. Over time as her skills improved, family members encouraged her to sell her work at craft fairs and even requested some custom pieces. Cobb says jewelry making is enjoyable because it allows her to design pieces that reflect her personal style without any stress. Many of her favorite pieces showcase her creativity and inspiration behind her brand.
→ By Ryder Kadooka (‘27) ARTS NEWS
HBA’s band program is the school’s largest performing arts group, comprising just over 100 students from middle school to high school. Under the guidance of Dwaine Woo and Johnny Wynes, both directors of the five bands at HBA, many students who pick up their instruments for the first time grow into seasoned musicians. Not only are the students’ instrumental skills nurtured, but their love for the band has also been cultivated.
Woo has been teaching band at HBA since 2018, while Mr. Wynes joined HBA’s faculty this past year during the 2025 band season. Throughout these years, both directors have always looked forward to instilling the Word of Christ in them. As Woo states, “[I] intend to plow the ground so that when the seed drops, when they hear the Gospel, it can fall on fertile ground.”
Throughout the years, there have been many performances and concerts featuring HBA’s bands, such as Wind Ensemble, Concert Bands 1 & 2, and the Middle School Bands. All of these bands perform publicly in front of an audience twice, once during their Winter Chorale Concerts and Spring Concerts. Additionally, the Wind Ensemble performs in extra concerts, including HBA’s annual Christmas Chapel, alongside the Soldiers of Light choir, directed by Todd Yokotake. Together, they also perform for the MAC, the Mainland Advisory Council, during their annual visit.
While all these concerts are meant for exposure in expressing music, Woo has some different thoughts on the goals for performances. His goal is not to impress the audience with technical skills but to impress them “with the fact that, ‘wow, you guys really are a community through this semester by how you love and care for each other.’”
This past month, Wynes invited parents of Beginning Band students down to the middle school for its first Beginning Band Showcase during G period. The 7th grade students put on a show for their families, hosted in the MPR at the middle school, showcasing all they have learned over the first semester. Wynes wanted “to give [his] students a chance to show how they can express themselves without having the pressure of a traditional concert.”
Tobi Tengan, a freshman Wind Ensemble flutist, joined HBA two years ago in 8th grade. She has a long history with music, picking up the flute four years ago, taking private lessons, and participating in band at her previous school. Tengan joined the HBA band program for her love of music, the flute, and her desire to improve her skills. She said that the program “helps [her] cultivate not only [her] love for music but also [her] love for others.” Tengan is also in the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra as third-chair flutist, the O‘ahu Band Directors Association Select Band as third-chair flutist, and recently joined the University of Hawai‘i Solo Ensemble. Her favorite moments in band are tied to the sense of community she’s gained through the Wind Ensemble. “I love when everybody comes to practice and comes together as one to prepare for our concerts,” Tengan said.
She describes the Wind Ensemble as a place that gives her a safe and comfortable environment where she can be challenged to get better as a musician. In addition, Tengan also loves how “the band room is a place where it is ok to make mistakes.”
Verily Coryell, a Wind Ensemble saxophonist, has been with HBA’s band program since 7th grade, when she picked up her saxophone for the first time. “I actually joined the band because my mom told me to; I was really upset,” Coryell recalled. “But then, in second semester, I was really digging it.” Coryell is now in four ensembles outside of school, including the Honolulu Wind Ensemble (HWE), HYS Jazz Band, and the Hawai‘i High School Saxophone Ensemble (HHSE). Coryell added that “she found a piece of herself” in band. It serves as a creative outlet that she can always rely on.
In February, the Wind Ensemble performed at HBA’s annual MAC Aloha Banquet at the Hilton Hawaiian Hotel, alongside the middle and high school choirs, the Soldiers of Light Select Choir and the elementary Eagle Choir.
Jonathan Wynes, band director, xonducting the Middle School Band. PHOTOGRAPH BY CRAIG CHANG
(Facing page) Wynes conducts HBA’s Wind Ensemble at the 75th aniversary, performing “Fanfare for the Common Man”
PHOTOGRAPH BY CRAIG CHANG
(Above) Woo readying the HBA Wind Ensemble to play. PHOTOGRAPH BY CRAIG CHANG
→ By Katherine- Sophia Butay (‘27) SPORTS NEWS
As spring approaches, HBA is gearing up for a brand-new stand-alone sports team—flag football. With flag football entering its second year as an ILH sport, Hawai‘i Baptist Academy will compete independently instead of joining Sacred Hearts’ co-op team. The season has kicked off with a strong start, as girls have been practicing and playing in scrimmages.
Emily Ching, a junior who also plays varsity basketball, has returned to the sport this year. With HBA being an independent team, Ching says, “I’m so happy because it gives the opportunity for HBA girls to stick out as their own team.” She continues, “I get to meet new people and have new coaches, which should be a great experience because it’ll be fun to play with more HBA friends.”
Junior Kaitlyn Cheah adds, “I’m glad that this year HBA can establish itself as its own team,” coming back to the sport as a quarterback and expressing her excitement. Lauren Okuda, a senior and returning football
player, says, “I’m excited that HBA will have its own team this year, but I will definitely miss our Sacred Hearts teammates and coaches.”
“I feel like the team last year was so HBA-dominant, though (in the sense that the majority of the team was made up of HBA students), so it makes sense that we branch off,” she elaborates. Deren Oshiro, HBA’s athletic director, explains that last year, “[HBA’s] students represented the majority of last year’s co-op team with Sacred Hearts, with many of them being underclassmen,” therefore prompting the idea of HBA having its own flag football team.
Along with thoughts about being a stand-alone team, the girls also have many hopes for what this upcoming season has to offer. Cheah hopes “to see improvement within players from last year and see the true potential of our team.” She adds, “I noticed a lot of new girls signed up this year, so I hope to make new friends.” Ching says, “I want to get close to my teammates and my coaches so that we mix well together.”
With practices filled with dedication, commitment, hard work, love, and laughter, these hopes already seem to be coming true, as the team is developing strong chemistry.
With HBA transitioning from a co-op team to a stand-alone team, there are new coaches leading HBA’s girls into the 2025–2026 season. Vince
Acohido will be the head coach for HBA’s first flag football team. Having thirty years of coaching experience, Acohido is a teacher at Kamehameha Schools. “I would like to say I am very grateful to Mr. Oshiro for giving me the opportunity to coach HBA’s inaugural independent girls’ flag football team,” he says. Heading into the season, he feels that “there is excitement, anticipation, and expectation for the possibilities the season can bring.” Furthermore, Acohido has a set goal for this year: “My goal for the team is to win! There is the ‘Competitor’s Creed’ that hangs proudly in the basketball gym. It will be that creed I will refer to as we pursue ‘winning’ this year,” he expresses. Those planning on playing are excited to get started this season, but as they head into uncharted territory in their inaugural year, the returning players know that it won’t necessarily be easy as they adjust to new coaches and new girls. For example, Okuda goes on to say, “I think one challenge we might face is finding a quarterback. It’s definitely the most difficult position, and since we are going to be an individual team, there are fewer players who could fill that role.”
Ching also adds, “Because there are new coaches and new girls, we’re going to have to get to know each other better,” and, “It’s going to be hard because we’re going to have to know new plays.” Lastly, Cheah notes that “a lot of people are new to the game, which makes things fun and confusing at the same time.”
However, Acohido finds the silver lining in the midst of potential obstacles. “I think any challenge is really an opportunity to grow individually, as a team, and most importantly to grow in loving the game and loving Jesus,” he says.
Even through these challenges that players and coaches foresee, there are still goals that they aim to achieve and exciting things to look forward to. With more than twenty girls participating this season, Acohido’s biggest hope is that “the team knows they are loved by God and that they will make history as the first girls’ flag football team at HBA.”
→ By Joey Cabais (‘27) NEWS
HBA’s Mock Trial team has won its second-ina-row state championship, beating Punahou in the Hawai‘i state supreme court.
David Sakoda, a sophomore on the winning team, said, “It felt incredible, especially because it was twice in a row. When we won, some of our team members jumped up in excitement.” HBA also has a junior varsity team and both varsity and junior varsity teams have been praciticing for their competitions under the supervision of social studies teacher Robert Weismantel, attorney-at-law Nathaniel Higa (a HBA parent,) Emlyn Higa (a retired state prosecutor,) and senior Andy Fang’s neighbor, Richard Philpott (a retired judge.) During practice, the students compete against each other in order to practice their roles and speaking skills.
Jordon Tam, a senior and Mock Trial leader, said “So the average practice kind of changes as more time passes. In the beginning, before the case is revealed, members or leaders kind of teach members the basics—how to dress in court, how to act in court, objections, things like that. Later on, when the case is revealed, then we extend the meeting times and kind of build up their skills by having long sessions where they can practice and work, and also times where we break down the entire case, starting with themes and then going into specific witnesses and an overall case summary.”
Weismantel, the club’s advisor, has held his role since 2010. He believes Mock Trial gives students important life skills. In fact, high school students may take Mock Trial in place of a communication skills class. “So [Mock Trial] definitely helps with speaking skills, but also thinking on your feet. That’s something that we definitely learn
in the courtroom. When people object to you or respond to you, how do you respond? [The goal is to] respond to them intelligently, but also very politely as well,” he said.
This year’s Mock Trial case tackles the issue of bed bugs in the hotel industry. Tam says, “[It] is a civil case. It focuses on a news reporter who was bitten by bed bugs at a hotel in Kailua-Kona. Then following that, they released a news story, and the hotel saw it and released their own story, stating that the news reporter lied and faked their news. So now the news reporter, who’s the plaintiff, is filing for negligence for their bug bites. They’re filing defamation for false statements about them fabricating their story, and also damages for losing their job and for physical harm.”
→ By Kingston Lowe (‘27) NEWS
In January, the Class of 2027 headed out to Camp Pu‘u Kahea for their annual grade-level camp. During their two-night stay, they connected with God through chapel and spent time learning valuable lessons about their purpose and identity beyond high school.
“[Junior Camp] opened my eyes to my identity at heart,” Katherine Butay said. “I learned that everyone is created differently. We shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to each other because everyone’s identity is different. The one thing we all have in common is being complete in Christ.”
Aubrey Chow said that “[Camp] was time to reconnect with my friends heading into senior year. I like to enjoy the time we have now before it’s too late.”
Christian Ministries Coordinator Charles Poore stated that “the theme of Junior Camp is the three big questions that the students ask. And the first question is: Who am I? That’s a question of identity. The second question is: Where do I fit? That’s a question of belonging. And then the third question is: How can I make a difference? And that’s a question of purpose.” He connects this back to the sophomore and freshman camps, mentioning how as freshmen, the camp was focused on connecting to God, and as sophomores, the camp focused on connecting with each other.
In Ava Ortega’s opinion, “I feel like it was a really good follow-up to sophomore camp, especially in our cabin. We got to reconnect with each other, and especially with the questions that Mrs. Gruspe threw out, like super deep questions. And we all bonded together as a cabin,
even when we had people in our cabin who we didn’t know and we weren’t friends with—we then became friends with them.”
According to Poore, “Junior Camp challenges students to to think about how they fit in the world around them from the perspective of their faith in God. It asks questions like ‘How can I make a difference in the world around me? And so, who I am in God’s eyes, and what does God have for me?’ We know that senior camp focuses on ending well [at HBA]… so junior camp is kind of the pivot between looking at my personal relationships—my personal relationship with the Lord, my personal relationship with each other—but then beginning to look up and out from high school and think about life after high school.”
→ By Allison Kusuda (‘27) SPORTS NEWS
On February 7, the girls varsity basketball team clinched the Division II state championship in Hilo, beating Pearl City 45–41. The Eagles finished their season undefeated in the ILH.
Heading into the championship, the girls team won their Homecoming Game against Hanalani 50–12. Head Coach Robin Yamaguchi helped the girls prepare mentally by ensuring that they practiced with a purpose. Last season, the girls fell short, placing second at the state tournament. “They all knew how it felt to come so close last season. They all pushed each other to get better in every practice,” wrote Yamaguchi.
He noted that this particular group of girls shared a nice bond. Starting from last summer, they played in the summer league and then went on to play in outside leagues together. Outside of basketball, they always hung out.
Taylor Shinagawa, a freshman, recalls feeling intimidated when she was added to the varsity roster. “I went into this season scared that I would mess up and be the dragging weight nobody wanted to deal
with, like in TV shows, stories, and movies. Eventually, I learned that these girls are the complete opposite and very encouraging and welcoming. After maybe a week, I was comfortable and knew I loved this team,” wrote Shinagawa.
The girls traveled to Hilo for the state championship tournament and advanced to the finals against the OIA champion Pearl City after winning against Kaiser 39–34 and Lanai 43–17. In the final game, Pearl City held the Eagles at bay, and the third quarter closed at 31–32, with the Eagles one point behind.
In the last quarter, with only a few minutes left, there was a power failure, leaving Pearl City in the lead. For Blair LaBarre, a sophomore, the power outage helped by giving the team time to refocus. “I told myself I need to stay calm and not get ahead of myself. We took the time to pray and to settle any nerves. I think it really helped, and overall we helped each other stay focused and determined,” wrote LaBarre.
Kayla Wainwright, a freshman, wrote, “I kept telling myself that no matter what happens, my family is here in this gym with me. My closest friends were playing this game with me, God is with me, and no one will love me any differently. I kept telling myself that we didn’t do all that conditioning five months ago, when we felt like throwing up every
(Facing page) The Eagles celebrate after receiving their championship trophy.
(Above, left to right) Sophomore Hallie Chock contributed 9 points to the final and made the the All-Tournament Team; Freshman Kayla Wainwright had the task of keeping Pearl City’s highest scorer at bay; Junior Emily Ching scored a three-pointer to keep the Eagles in the lead in the last quarter of the game; The Lady Eagles celebrate their win on the court.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF HARLEY SIMON, HHSAA.
day, for nothing, and it’s going to pay off if I just trust my abilities. I kept thinking that it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, but it is a whole lot more fun to win.”
When the power came back on, the Eagles were a rejuvenated team and managed to prevail over Pearl City. Lauren Okuda, a senior, wrote, “It was a surreal feeling, and I was just overwhelmed with emotion. I felt so much gratitude toward God because I was blessed beyond measure in that moment. To be able to accomplish what our team has been working toward this whole time was fulfilling in itself, but to do it with such an amazing basketball ohana made the win bigger than basketball.”
For a number of these players, the win was even more meaningful because they felt it was a good way to remember and honor a coach who had passed away late last year. Jimmy Mageo was a long-time coach at the Hoops 4 Christ basketball club. He coached many HBA girls throughout the years. In December 2025, he suffered a stroke and passed away.
“I was so happy that we could end our season dedicated to Coach Jimmy with a state title. I’m proud of our team for the work we put in to get there. As a senior, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my time playing at HBA,” wrote Okuda.
This year, there are three seniors leaving. As Okuda ends her last basketball season at HBA, she encourages her team to stay close and continue building relationships. “It was our team’s bond that brought us far this year over anything else. I feel like we all pushed each other and played for one another instead of ourselves. Continue the niche Kayla references, Shabuya runs, and have the bestest season eva next year!!!” wrote Okuda.
Sienna Lamblack, a senior, also gave advice to her team: “I would say to put lots of time into training during the offseason if you’re very serious about basketball. It makes a big difference depending on what you do and how much effort you put in. Also, stay close with your teammates and keep building those connections because they really do last a lifetime.”
→ By Colton Gallano (‘26) NEWS
Charging sets and ducking waves, the HBA surf team is off to a great start this year. For the last month or so, they’ve held three practices—one being held at Kewalo Basin and the other two taking place at Diamond Head Beach Park.
Senior bodyboarder Talon Ganiko spoke about how their practices have been so far: “It’s pretty chill for the most part. Coach Nick helps out as much as he can since we have so few practices scheduled.” Since the team is so limited in practices and meets, they’ve grown accustomed to taking advantage of every opportunity they get in the water. This year, the Eagles had 12 students come out to participate. Out of the 12 students, only two of them are juniors, with the rest being seniors. Prior to the start of the season, it was unclear who would coach the team. Students speculated that Noah Pourciau, an avid surfer and HBA Christian Ministries Assistant, would step up as the head coach for the surf team. That was until Nick Mita and Gray Spainhour, Spanish teacher, joined to help coach the Eagles this season, with Mita being named the head coach and Spainhour the assistant coach. “I think so far the best part of coaching these guys is just watching them fall in love with the water and surfing in general. For some, if not most, this will be the first time they’ve ever competed in surfing, so it’s just great to see them out there and enjoying it,” said Spainhour. So far the team has only met up for one meet at the renowned Sandy Beach Park on the south-central shore of O‘ahu. At this meet, Kylie Ancheta, a senior longboarder, qualified for her heat. Although she lost in the quarterfinals, she had an optimistic outlook on the overall experience, saying, “I didn’t even think I’d qualify for anything, but I’m glad I did. I was very surprised when they announced that I made
it. I’m just happy they thought I did well enough.” Ancheta was the only surfer from HBA to qualify that day.
The Eagles are set to compete in two more surf meets. However, at time of writing, it is still tentative whether the ILH will allow a rescheduling of both the March 11 and February 21 meets. Both were canceled due to severe weather and surf conditions. February 21 would have been their first official meet; however, due to stormy conditions, it was called off after the first 40 minutes. According to Noah Arioshi, a sophomore longboarder, the surf was “choppy and windy. The rain was pouring down that day, and it just made the conditions horrible.”
Despite inclement weather and limited practices together, the Eagles are still optimistic for the rest of the upcoming season. It seems that the main goal of both the coaches and the athletes is to have fun and surf to the best of their abilities. Sienna Lamblack, a senior longboarder, said, “It’s just been fun going out there with my friends. This is my last year with them, and it’s fun to spend it with them in the water. We’re all just excited to learn more about surfing and compete at the same time.”
From a coach’s perspective, Spainhour explained, “They’re all kind of just figuring it out now, but they’ve shown lots of improvement from day one. The goal, of course, is to win, but I think the more fulfilling aspect of it all is that I really want the kids to fall in love with surfing. Surfing is great—I mean they can continue this for the rest of their lives if they wanted to.”
The Eagles have a long break ahead of them due to their upcoming surf meet being canceled because of an approaching storm. Until then, they’ll continue to grow closer through surfing—ducking under sets and carving through the waves of O‘ahu.
“Our volleyball team shows community and teamwork because everyone has a role, and when each person does their part it helps the whole team succeed.”
“I am grateful for all my coaches pushing me to be the best player I can be and i’m grateful for my parents supporting me throughout my volleyball career.
“To the underclassmen: Have fun, and hustle for every ball.”
“I am grateful for my coaches for helping me become a better person and player on and off the court. And I want to thank my parents and family for always supporting me.
“This volleyball team exemplifies community by uplifting everyone after every point.
“I am grateful for Coach Teoni for giving me the opportunity to be on the varsity team, and to all the other coaches I have been under that made me the player I am.”
“This team demonstrates a community by pushing each other to be better, holding each other accountable, and cheering everyone on with energy.”
“I want to thank my parents, grandparents, and siblings for allowing me to play the sport that I love, taking me to practices, and all the support and advice they give me.”
“Our team is always there for each other through hardships. Everything we do is as a team and we all hold each other accountable.”
“I am grateful for my Kuikahi coaches, Coach Chad and Coach Zac, for always keeping me in check. They have shaped me to become a better person and better player. Thank you Reo for being a example I can follow.”
“Our volleyball team shows teamwork by always working for each other and never for themselves.”
“I’m grateful for my parents for always making time out of their busy day to come watch and support me.”
“Some advice I’d give to my sons is to make sure you all enjoy every moment of the season because you only get a few months to be on a team with each other.”
“I would like to thank God for bringing me to this team. I would also like to thank my parents and coaches for being there for me during every game and practice. Lastly I would like to thank Ruka for showing us how to be confident no matter what.”
“The volleyball team shows community and teamwork because everyone works together to help the team succeed.”
“I would like to thank my mom and dad for always supporting me in volleyball. I am grateful for everything they do to help me grow as a player and as a person and all the support they give me.”
“Our team this year demonstrates the most community to me because of how close we all are. Being friends outside of school and volleyball just makes our chemistry so much better on the court and makes it a blast to play on the same team.”
“I would like to thank my mom for always being my biggest fan at all my games and tournaments even with her busy schedule.”
“Being able to play the best teams and compete with my team and playing for the team and not for self goals because that is how we succeed.”
“I’d like to thank my gym bro Coach Austen for helping me do off season lifting and for helping me continue and grow my volleyball path. I’d like to thank Coach Teoni for allowing me the chance to play for the varsity team and grow my skills with his excellence coaching. And I’d like to thank Coach Chad and Coach Zac for growing my skills during club season. I’d also like to thank my parents and family for supporting me and the team at all times.”
“As a team we all work together and we do everything as a together making it so we stick together through everything.”
“I am grateful for Coach Teoni for always pushing me to be the best player I can be.”
“I think the volleyball team exemplifies community and teamwork because everyone puts the team first. Whether it be celebrating each others success or picking each other up, I think this team is where everyone can grow to be better volleyball players.”
“I’d like to thank my parents for investing their time and money into my club volleyball and for supporting me by coming to all my tournaments and games. I’d also like to thank Coach Len and Daven for making our first volleyball season fun, even though we went 0–10, and Coach Austen and all my club coaches for pushing me to be a better player.”
“Being part of this team has made me realize how important community and teamwork is. All of the drills and challenges we do during practices has showed me how much better we can be when we work as a team.”
“I want to thank my parents for always supporting me through my volleyball career and being patient with me.”
“To the underclassmen: Keep your grades up.”
“I want to thank Coach for pushing and challenging me both mentally and physically, and I want to thank my mom for supporting me and letting me play club to get better.”
