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VOL 35, NO. 1 FEB 2021

What’s Your Mission? → By Johanna Seng (‘21) EDITORIAL

I turned in the last of my 17 college applications a couple weeks ago. The moment I clicked that final ‘submit’ button, the weight of the world toppled off my shoulders. Although I still await acceptance (and rejection) letters come March, I can’t help but celebrate the completion of each grade listed on the transcript admissions officers will see. Nearly every adult I’ve spoken to since submitting my applications has congratulated me with something along the lines of, “It’s all downhill from here!” or “Now you can sit back and relax.”

For the most part, these encouragements are appropriate — any academic accomplishments from now until June won’t dramatically affect my impending college career. I just have to pass my classes and walk out of HBA for the last time, diploma in hand. It’s freeing. A little too freeing, to be honest. The view from the summit of senior year is endless and uncharted. Standing at the edge of the mountaintop is an entirely different experience than the ascent itself. My goal for the past four years has been to apply to, receive acceptance into, and later attend college. I’ve checked off one of those three bullets, and the remaining two advance with alarming speed, as does the necessity of setting new goals. But in order to set new goals, in order to identify the what of my future, I’m going to need to identify the why first. The what of high school has been to earn As, to complete community service, to compete in sports, and the why has been college. Now that I’m nearing the end of this road, the question stands: Where do I go from here? Or perhaps, to translate it all into more serious terms, what is the purpose of my adult life? Of course, no one expects a college freshman to know exactly what the rest of her life will look like. But at the same time, it won’t do to just waltz into adulthood without any ideas for the long term at all. Scary as it is, I’m now responsible for developing myself into a contributing member of society. As a certified pastor’s kid, I’ve been instructed on this almost all my life. Something my dad often preaches about is how there’s a difference between a mission and a method. A mission is a purpose, and a method is a means to an end. So for example, if your mission is “to help people care for their physical wellbeing,” you could choose from many methods, like becoming a doctor, a physical therapist, a personal trainer, etc. No one’s mission is strictly to become a doctor (despite what your tiger parents may assert.) Mission is the why, method is the what, to reference my earlier musings. Personally, I think my why is to teach, and that could take the form of any number of things. I want to be a professor at a research institution, but if that plan falls through, I won’t have failed in achieving my purpose. I’ll just have to choose another what: I could be a high school teacher, a tour guide, a museum curator. It depends on how God guides me as I progress — I trust He’ll open doors leading where I’m meant to be. Of course, that’s not to say there won’t be smaller failures, doubts, and disappointments along the way. We live in an uncertain world. What’s key is remembering that failing something in life doesn’t mean your life is a failure. I believe that we can fall off track, but God will guide us back around, despite any trials or tribulations. Just think about how hard Jonah tried to get out of traveling to Nineveh (as per God’s will) only to end up washed ashore from the stomach of a whale. Continued on Page 6

Cover Illustration By Daniel Jurek (‘21)

EAGLE EYE Hawaii Baptist Academy 2429 Pali Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Eagle Eye is a student-run and studentcentered publication. Submissions The Eagle Eye encourages students, teachers, and staff to submit letters, essays, opinion columns, and artwork on current school and social issues. Submissions should be sent to esim@hba.net. Opinions expressed in letters and columns are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hawaii Baptist Academy or the Eagle Eye staff.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Johanna Seng (‘21)

STAFF Dilan Chock-Makiya (‘23) Noah Camacho (‘23) Noah Hu (‘23) Daniel Jurek (‘21) Megan Lee (‘23) Connor Malinger (‘22) Daniel Shiraishi (‘21) Jeremiah Seng (‘23)

ADVISOR Eunice Sim

School Plans Take Shape with Vaccinations and Contact Tracing → By Dilan Chock-Makiya (‘23) NEWS

This past year has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but as COVID-19 vaccinations roll out across the world, many feel like there is finally relief in the near future.

didn’t have any side effects other than pain at the injection site,” he said. “I was somewhat relieved getting the first shot, however the work to vaccinate more frontline workers and the general public has been continuing every day.”

When the first COVID-19 vaccines were approved by the FDA, the most common questions that arose concerned distribution plans and vaccine safety. Currently, Hawaii is prioritizing vaccinating kupuna—people 75 and older—in Hawaii and teachers are next in line. According to HBA President Ron Shiira, the school “will not require students or faculty/staff to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to continue enrollment or employment. This follows both the national and state guidelines.”

Since the vaccine has not been approved for people 16 and younger, sophomore Kyle Kumasaka, who is 15, has mixed feelings about it. “When the vaccine is available to our age group, I still don’t know if I will get the shot. I feel like it’s still too early and more research needs to be done to fully understand this new vaccine,” he said. Senior Logan Kaneshiro, age 17, felt less worried about the vaccine’s safety. “Many people think that the vaccine is going to be unreliable because of how quickly it was produced. But I don’t think they’d give it to all the health care workers if they weren’t certain of its effectiveness and dependability. Regarding the effects of it, I am pretty worried because I heard that many people had a bad reaction to it. However, I also know people who have not,” he said.

As in most states, first responders and healthcare workers in Hawaii were the first in line to get the vaccine. Jenny Lee, parent of HBA sophomore Megan Lee, is a pharmacist at a local drug store and she was among the first group of people in Hawaii who received the vaccine. Recounting her experience, Lee said, “I was worried about the side effects - that it might cause weakness, fever. After I got it, I just had a little hot flash, and a fever, and a sore arm.” Another HBA parent, Korey Chock, father of this reporter, was part of the City and County of Honolulu team that coordinated the vaccination of healthcare workers and first responders. He also was among the first group of people in Hawaii who received the vaccine. “The shot was really painless and I

Looking ahead to when the vaccine becomes available to students, HBA President Shiira indicated that he is open to hosting vaccination clinics at HBA. “If we are able to host a vaccine clinic for our students, we will certainly do so. We are already speaking with our vendors who have helped us with our flu clinics in the past, and we are all hopeful that we Continued on page 6

(Left) Journalism teacher Eunice Sim and Athletic Director Deren Oshiro coincidentally got their Covid-19 vaccination on the same day. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DEREN OSHIRO. (Right) Teacher assistant Shawn Saito reminds students to wear and turn on their contact tracing discs as they arrive in school. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DERREK MIYAHARA.

Adapting to Pandemic School → By Noah Camacho (‘23) FEATURE

With social distancing and the concurrent schedule (where only half of the student body are in school at one time), homeroom periods now look and feel very different. (Above) Senior adviser and English teacher Jennifer Duncklee leads homeroom with her in-person students while the rest of the class attend it virtually via Google Meet on her laptop.

With almost a year of teaching in a pandemic behind them, many teachers have finally settled into new class routines. However, there are some aspects of regular school that cannot be replicated with the concurrent schedule. Some challenges teachers face involve the lack of in-person with connection between teachers and students. “I would normally walk around the classroom and come alongside students to help them, and I miss being able to do that,” said English teacher Jennifer Duncklee. Chemistry teacher Michael Hu shared Duncklee’s frustrations. “I don’t get a sense of the students’ learning or not learning. I’m old school and I like to look into a person’s eyes to determine if there is comprehension of the material I’m presenting,” he said. Teachers have also had to make adjustments when it comes to assessments. “Textbooks have been updated to an electronic format which is a few versions from the old one so all the notes and tests and quizzes have to be rewritten,” Algebra teacher Fred Fong said. He also noted that cheating has become a bigger issue with

online classes. To address this, the school is now holding mid-term assessments in which students are required to come on campus to take their tests in person. Bible teacher Erin Schlittenhart said that she has modified her assessments to combat cheating. “Part of the test is oral, instead of having it all written,” she explained.

wrong.” Like Otaka, Fukui is working on doing better in the second semester. “I have a hard time memorizing concepts and need to find a way to remember better,” he said.

Many faculty members suggested that students make the effort to get tutoring from teachers outside of class time. They seem determined to aid students with both offers of academic Students have had to adapt to hybrid learning help and emotional support. History teacher alongside their instructors. Sophomore Kyle Zachary Markwith offered this encouragement: Kumasaka said, “In online class I feel that it’s “Don’t wait until the last minute. Never hesitate harder to focus because of distractions around to meet or email a teacher. We want to help us. I also feel like I’m not learning as much you, we are here for you. Let us help you out.” by just being online.” Classmate Ryan Fukui Markwith believes that during these moments shared Kumasaka’s struggles, saying, “Due spending time in prayer will also help students to online school, some challenges I dealt with find a good perspective when under stress. were focusing on class and studying on my “Most importantly, go to God in prayer and bring own. I usually talk to my friends and teachers others around you to support you,” he said. about what to study, but I had to learn how to be independent.” Fong, still sees students struggling this semester, offered this frank advice: “Get gritty. Students’ struggles in online learning seem We all struggle in something somewhere and to also impact their ability to complete sometimes. There are no excuses if you don’t assignments given to them. “I for one am try. Cheating maybe a way out temporarily but not the only one that said this but I think the not for the long term. You don’t learn something hardest challenge when I’m in online school without failing. Those who pick up themselves is procrastination,” sophomore Landen Otaka after failing over and over again will learn from said. While Otaka has adjusted to the concurrent their mistakes and move forward.” schedule, he feels that he’s still playing catch up in some ways. “I’m trying to retrace my steps through quarter one and two so that I can get a better understanding of what I did

Band Program Plays On → By Noah Hu (‘23) NEWS

The year 2020 has brought massive changes to all aspects of school life and HBA’s band program is one of those areas that has been dramatically impacted. The program, HBA’s largest performing arts group with around 300 students in five bands last year, faced a variety of challenges, not limited to those brought about by campus restrictions.

band through online school, but it’s been fun and we got through it together.” More recently, the band has tried to play together virtually, but there was a catch: All the students had to mute their mics to avoid an overload of sound while playing in unison by watching Woo conduct. In other words, they were playing together without being able to hear each other. Junior Kisa Tamai noted, “Although Mr. Woo cannot listen to our playing, he gives advice on how he wants certain parts to play a section.”

Not being on campus at the same time, dealing with constant lag during online meets, wearing masks and other protective gear while playing their instruments, and the loss of many band members are just a few of the challenges that the band has encountered this school year. In addition, with the departure of long-time band director Brad Shimizu at the end of last school year, band members felt uncertain about what their band experience would look like in the new year with the new director, Dwaine Woo.

In the second quarter, when students were able to return to campus part-time, they faced a new set of challenges due to social distancing rules. Band classes had to take place outdoors where air circulation is better. Tents were set up right outside the band room on a lawn. Without the acoustics of an enclosed space, band members found that listening to each other became more challenging. Sophomore Caylie Takahashi said, “Playing outside makes it harder to hear other people’s rhythm and sound, so we really have to focus on our counting or else we’ll be lost for the rest of the piece. It’s also very difficult to hear Mr. Woo talking sometimes.”

In the first quarter, when classes were fully online, band classes became theory and musicianship lessons. There was little opportunity for students to play their instruments together as an ensemble. When they did have a chance to play, students still had to practice independently. Sophomore Ryan Fukui said, “It’s been hard to be in

Sophomore Timothy Shimizu, a brass player, found playing outside difficult for another reason. “The bell covers muffle down my sound and dampen my tone a good amount, and being outside in general definitely affects my intonation because of the heat.” Being outside was not their only challenge, >> Next page

Juniors Tristan Isidro (left) and Mark Fujimoto play percussion in Concert Band 2. There are five percussionists in the band but the two now play separately in the Alpha group while the others are online. Photograph by Noah Hu (‘23)

Band classes now meet outdoors in order to play safely together. Photograph by Derrek Miyahara/Island Digital Imaging.

>> From previous page “Band Program Plays On”

however. The musicians also had to wear special masks with a velcro strap in the middle while playing.

With the concurrent schedule where about half the students attend class online, each band period was split into two separate bands with one group of students attending class online. Woo would direct in-person students for half the class, while online students would practice independently. During the second half of class, Assistant Band Director Maribelle Fernandez would take over the in-person band while Woo focused on helping the online students. With this format, the band became practically two separate bands. Wind Ensemble Alpha students had no percussion and very few brass in their half of the band, making it harder for them to stay together and have a fuller sound. The Omega students were a bit luckier, as they had a bigger set of low brass, but still struggled without the full band being there. However, the separate groups worked with what they had and were able to record video performances (as two separate bands) for the middle and high school’s annual Christmas Chapel, which was held virtually. Band students and Woo also faced the new experience of never having met each other. The adjustment was significant, as previous director Brad Shimizu had been teaching the band classes since 2009. However, students seemed to have adjusted well, and many have grown fond of Woo. Senior Peter Cheung said, “I think [Woo] is a great teacher, and he’s very friendly.” Woo met the students with

equal praise, saying, “The students are awesome. It’s so different telling them to do something then they just do it, and I don’t have to tell them how to.” Woo is especially impressed with the senior class and their commitment to the band. “I think one of the blessings of having [the seniors] is that they said they came back because they wanted to, and they wanted to make sure that the band program stays alive. They’re really giving back this year.” Looking forward, Woo is optimistic and has some new ideas in mind for the band program. “I just want to create more activities, more ways for students to get involved with music that’s outside the traditional band type thing. I think about growing it to become a total music program, where we can incorporate people who enjoy any music,” he said. Woo has mentioned adding a pep band to play at sports games, a jazz band, and even a rock and roll band. Learning from the experience of his own high school band friends pursuing diverse music majors, Woo feels like expanding student’s musical abilities will allow them to take their talents with them beyond high school. Overall, Woo sees band as an opportunity for students to find out what they really enjoy in life. “I think it’s a way to explore. It’s about discovering how God designed you and what your strengths are. That’s all. And if you’re never explored all those gifts, or you close the door to one you’ll never know,” he said.

>> From page 1 “What’s Your Mission?” Like I previously said, no one expects the class of ‘21 to know exactly how our lives will unfold right this very moment. If you’re the type to have a 12-year plan plotting out every minute detail of how you want your 20s to go, I’m reluctant to rain on your parade, but there will likely be more than a few potholes and roadblocks to derail you. That’s what makes the need to identify a mission all the more important. Method may change, but mission remains the same. (Although, certainly, you may have not identified it correctly in the first place. According to Dr. Jordan Seng, the pastor who is my father, life purpose shouldn’t change once properly identified.) Decide on the why of your life, but hold on loosely to the what. I used to believe I was made to be a runner and only a runner. As a result, whenever I had a training setback or injury, it felt as though my purpose was crumbling. Truly, I don’t think God wanted that for me. It was unhelpful to make a method the central focus of my life.

in a daze of beach weekends and movie marathons (although, to be sure, indulge in those from time to time.) Take on the task of selfexamination. Analyze the story of your life as it’s thus unfolded, and look into its possible future. Pinpoint how or where you’d be healthiest as an individual and most meaningful as a cog in the swiftly turning clockwork of civilization. It’s worth asking the big questions. Life is too short and too unpredictable not to. 6

To my classmates, as second semester seniors, we have the unique privilege of redefining and refining our self-directed purposes. We’re about to have far more freedom to pursue those purposes, too — no one is going to decide for us. There will be a plethora of different influences bouncing off our backs and blurring our vision as we dive into this new world, but ultimately we’re the ones who have to identify which of those offered paths we’re actually going to take — or maybe we have to forge those paths ourselves. It’s frightening. It’s daunting. Most of all, though, it’s exciting, and I urge all of us to focus more on the latter. Don’t let these last months before graduation slip away

Editorial cartoon by Daniel Jurek (‘21)

>> From page 2 “School Plans Take Shape with Vaccinations and Contact Tracing” can provide something for our students once the vaccines become available for children,” he said. This month, HBA is implementing a contact tracing system where students, faculty and staff wear small proximity tracking devices while at school. In a newsletter that was emailed to parents in midJanuary, Shiira announced that the school would be issuing contact tracing devices—Kogniz discs—to staff, faculty and students on all HBA campuses. In the newsletter, Shiira stated, “The purpose of these discs is to help us improve our contact tracing should a student and/or faculty/staff member test positive for COVID-19.” The Eagle Eye reached out to Shiira for clarification on how the discs work and asked him to address concerns about privacy. “The discs are tracked via Bluetooth technology, which could allow us to track students offcampus. However, we are committed to the privacy of our families, so we will only track the discs on our campuses. Only the president’s

office and principals will have access to the information collected by the discs,” he explained. Shiira also emphasized that “[o]nly the president’s office and principals will have access to the information collected by the discs” and that “[o]nly identification numbers for the discs may be viewed on the contact tracing portal.” As to plans for the fourth quarter and next school year, Shiira said, “We are very excited that the COVID-19 vaccine is being administered across our islands. Should the state’s rollout go as planned, we are very hopeful that we will be able to fully return to campus in the fall. However, we will only do so if it is safe.”

Senior Journals → By Asja Deai (‘21) FEATURE

This past year has upended more things than we can count and challenged people in unexpected ways. We invited seniors to write journal entries reflecting on their school year since the pandemic began. Here’s what they wrote.

>>ry d en su mi

>>LIZ ZIE D EN NIS

>>loga n w o n g

>>jaco b n o r im oto

>>Asja De a i

>>J ESSICA YA M A M OTO

>>ca den w e av e r

>>Ta ni yoshio k a

(Top left to right) Spanish teacher Gray Spainhour arrives at the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. To get here, Spainhour hiked the Appalachian Trail, which traverses 14 states from Georgia to Maine, covering more than 2000 miles; Spainhour surfs regularly in his free time. Photographs courtesy of Spainhour. (Above left to right) Junior Justin Mayeshiro takes a selfie after a fourhour hike up the Moanalua Ridge to the top of the Stairway to Heaven; Mayeshiro enjoys the views while sitting on a cliff edge. Photographs courtesy of Mayeshiro.

(Above) Guidance Counselor Tara Gruspe when she was a police officer. Photograph courtesy of Gruspe.

FINDING THE SWEET SPOT BETWEEN

RISK AND REWARD → By Connor Malinger (‘22)

FEATURE

Along with four other hikers, Justin Mayeshiro stood at the summit of the Stairway to Heaven, fully resigned to a wretched night, as they stared into the cloud-obscured landscape below them, a view often regarded as one of Hawaii’s best — though not visible at the moment. land helped him to immerse himself in the Spanish culture. He also said that living as a part of the minority caused him to look toward God. “I feel like I was able to develop my relationship with God during that time because I was removed from everything that was normal and placed in a new country with a new language, a new people, and a new culture,” he explained.

To many, 2020 was a year of trying new things, and although not everyone decided to spend the night on top of a mountain, they have been challenged to find new ways to entertain themselves and grow. For Mayeshiro, a junior at HBA, this meant trying new things that some may view as unnecessarily risky. Online school gave him more free time, and tired of staying inside, he decided to start hiking. As someone who’s loved the outdoors since childhood, Mayeshiro decided to seek out advanced hikes on Oahu. Many of these were precarious, taking him on dirt paths on mountain ridges, with steep cliffs on either side, and sometimes he found himself free climbing up the mountain. However, his exploration has not been limited to physical challenges; with money saved up from part-time work, Mayeshiro purchased hundreds of dollars worth of photography equipment to take photos on his hikes. To him, while these physical and financial investments don’t produce tangible rewards, they are worth it because “every day is a new adventure and it’s like a story.” He believes his adventures bring more meaning into his life.

Recently, Spainhour took a risk that many would consider to be one of the biggest commitments of his life. “I did get married, so that’s my new life adventure. I reconnected with an old college friend over Christmas of 2019.” He said that he suggested she come out to Hawaii during spring break, but that was around the time Governor Ige started the lockdown. As a result, she stayed for a few months. “We hit it off and tied the knot pretty quick,” Spainhour shared. Joelle, his wife, returned home for around a month to prepare to move here, and they were married in their front yard in June. Although 2020 was full of difficulty for many, for Spainhour, it’s been a blessing, something he’s been reminded of as he surfs with his wife a number of times each week.

Like Mayeshiro, students and faculty at HBA have taken a similar path this year, taking up baking, working out, gardening, or spending more time with family. Although it may not seem like it at first glance, these all contain risk, whether physical, mental or emotional. For senior Ethan Aimoto, a varsity runner, the pandemic turned his regular trips to the gym into a risky venture. On Oahu, there have been at least two recent Covid-19 clusters linked to gym groups. However, Aimoto feels strongly that this was a measured risk and that the threat of the pandemic did not outweigh his fitness and mental wellbeing. As a result, he has been able to gain a lot of strength, achieving his goal of doing five reps of 225lb squats, and finding passion in weightlifting. According to Spanish teacher Gray Spainhour, who considers himself an avid outdoorsman and spends many of his weekends surfing, risk-taking is unavoidable. “You cannot go through life without taking risks,” he stated. Prior to moving to Hawaii, Spainhour has traveled extensively through Latin America, hiked the Appalachian trail—an adventure he considers one of his best, competed across the mainland in BMX biking, and, of course, gone on numerous surfing trips. He greatly values these adventures and believes that they have contributed to the formation of his character. His travels to South America were especially eye-opening as his experience as a stranger in a foreign

Surfing is also on freshman Hannah Cheng’s list of risky ventures, even though she hasn’t yet taken the plunge. However, she doesn’t want to shy away from it because she feels it could be something that she could be passionate about. Her aversion to “missing out on enjoying life” drives her to continue to get out of her comfort zone and try new things, because she values the chance of gaining something from those experiences more than the possibility of failure. Senior Johanna Seng provides insight into this idea: “It’s your basic conundrum of costs versus benefits… when the costs outweigh the benefits or potential benefits, you shouldn’t take that risk but, of course, different people count up and measure [these things] differently.” In 2019 Seng made a hard decision about running with the cross country team for the ILH and State championships despite her ongoing hip injury and the knowledge that professional opinion was not in her favor. She risked worsening this injury with the possibility of having to completely halt training for months, but chose to compete nevertheless. The team ended up winning both championships, but unfortunately, Seng was forced to stop running for three months as a consequence, leaving her “quite crestfallen with [her] physical condition.” Still, Seng maintains, “It was worth it. I don’t think I would have forgiven myself if I hadn’t run and then my team had lost, which would fall under the cost column.” Sophomore Elisha Lum takes a more cautious approach, especially when it comes to physical challenges. “You only get one body, and if you mess your body up or mess your mind up then you can’t go back.” Aimoto points out that if a risk can negatively affect others without their consent, the right decision is always >> Next page not to take the chance.

After four hours of perilous hiking, they were seemingly robbed of their reward, as well as their tent, which had been blown off the mountain by a gust of wind, leaving them with just some canned food and a blanket. While it may have been a failed expedition in a number of ways, Mayeshiro still felt that the trek was well-worth the effort and risk.

>> From previous page “Finding the Sweet Spot Between Risk and Reward”

For students, parents’ opinions remain a big factor in their decision-making. Junior Kisa Tamai said her parents advised her not to be too ambitious with AP courses this year so as not to overwhelm herself. Others, such as Lum, are taught to think through their decisions well and largely trusted to make their own choices. Counselor Tara Gruspe, who has two young adult children, made sure to encourage her children to pursue their passions. They both took up activities like skateboarding and surfing, both of which are risky sports. In addition, her son decided he wanted to pursue a full-time career as a visual artist, a path that is often financially unstable and challenging. However, she and her husband supported his decision as they saw that it was something he was very passionate about.

Spanish teacher Gray Spainhour along the Appalachian Trail. Photograph courtesy of Spainhour.

Yet, with age comes a more cautious outlook on life and physical limitations. In a study of risk taking behavior over time conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, researchers found that one’s inclination to take risks changes the most during the early and late stages of life, encouraged by landmarks like starting a family or retiring. Similarly Gruspe observed that she used to take bigger risks before she had children, as she was a police officer for a short time before she was married, a decision that her mother was against, especially considering Gruspe’s small physical stature. Gruspe discovered that she was not meant for the job, but continued to take other physical risks like surfing. Nonetheless, when her children were young, Gruspe explained that she became much more circumspect about the risks she took. For example, she found roller coasters or skydiving a little too risky. “I don’t need to have those thrills or take those risks because I have these kids to take care of,” she said. However, as her children got older, she allowed herself to become a little less cautious. While she is still not likely to go skydiving, she said, “I think I’m adventurous in what I’m doing now and exploring new things in this season of my life.” Spainhour and Gruspe both point out that their Christian faith challenges them to live with an adventurous mindset. Spainhour explained, “God wants to take you on a life of adventure. As a Christian we don’t necessarily get to plan our own lives out. We take orders from an invisible, loving, gracious God, and his Word says that he has good plans for us. But he doesn’t reveal his full plan to us at once, so I feel like that’s the adventure

part. He leads us along and reveals a little bit more and a little bit more.” To Mayeshiro, the adventures he’s experienced through hikes helps him discover purpose and meaning in his life, not to mention provide a certain thrill that spices up his life. That belief is what drives Mayeshiro in his excursions and on his adventure on the Stairway to Heaven (via Moanalua Ridge, since the stairway route is officially off-limits.) To him, that adventure was no disaster. He had an experience that few have had , spending the night in the abandoned radio station at the summit, eating tuna straight out of the can. “It tasted absolutely disgusting but since I ate it at the top of a mountain above the clouds, it’ll always be my sky tuna.” Mayeshiro shared that the secret to turning a bad or unexpected circumstance around is to do it with your friends, and the same goes for any adventure. The memories that come from adventures shared with good company are always more valuable and meaningful than one without. Even though risks are unavoidable, one always has a choice. Providing one last piece of advice for others, Aimoto confides that, in his experience, risking one’s contentment should be off limits. “Don’t call for more. I find that every time I get greedy and go for more, it always ends up backfiring and I lose more than I originally had. So in that sense, don’t take risks if you’re satisfied with your situation.”

Best of 2020 → By Megan Lee (‘23) COMMENTARY

HBA’S BEST PICKS OF

2020

Results from a January 2021 poll of 102 HBA high school students.

In January 2020, as we looked forward to a fresh start with the beginning of a new decade, many of us had high hopes. We didn’t expect that the year would be full of surprises, many of them involving cancellations, disruptions, and challenging circumstances. Amidst the global coronavirus pandemic, a divided political scene, and civil unrest in the United States, we tend to remember the negative aspects of 2020. However, I believe that there is still much to celebrate about 2020. Below is a list of my top four things that happened last year.

With lots of time at home, many of us took up new hobbies to distract ourselves. On many weekends in 2020, I found myself in the kitchen with my new hobby: baking. The more I baked, the more sugary confections I could enjoy. So, I was in my kitchen whipping up desserts left and right, including crepes filled with sliced strawberries and whipped cream, fluffy Hokkaido milk bread (which is even tastier fresh from the oven), and carrot cake topped with homemade cream cheese frosting. Even though my mom wasn’t pleased with the mess I made, I managed to make up for my disorganization by serving up a >> Next page

1. The Mandalorian 2. Criminal Minds 3. Outer Banks 4. The Queen’s Gambit

MOVIES

BEST

1. Wonder Woman 1984 2. Soul 3. Hamilton 4. Mulan (2020)

At the end of the third quarter, many of us expected that we would return to school after Spring break. Instead, the whole country went on lockdown due to the coronavirus, and we were forced to quarantine, which banned any social gatherings. Despite these difficulties, we found a way to socialize by using video communication services, such as Zoom or FaceTime. While stuck at home, many of us had the chance to reconnect with distant relatives or stay connected with close friends and family. A new sense of community was built as we all struggled through the pandemic together. During holidays or birthdays, my family organized Zoom “parties,” where we enjoyed good conversation and played virtual games like Among Us, Pictionary, or Never Have I Ever. Laughter and smiles filled our homes as we spent time as an extended family. Although we were all at our separate houses, these online gatherings helped us feel like we were still together.

TVSHOWS

BEST

SONGS

BEST

1. POV by Ariana Grande 2. Without You by The Kid Laroi 3. Dynamite by BTS 4. Wonder by Shawn Mendes

BOOKS

BEST

1. Every Last Word 2. Harry Potter 3. Of Mice and Men 4. Shadow and Bone >> Next page

BOOKS

BEST >> From previous page weekly lineup of sweet treats. The few extras I had were given to my grandparents, who were big fans of my desserts. Although my consumption of sweets increased tenfold, I am proud of the accomplished baker I’ve become. Making desserts and giving them away definitely made quarantine a lot sweeter. When home started to feel too small--with parents and siblings all working and attending school from home--many of us ventured outdoors to find our inner peace. Since the pandemic, I have noticed an increase of people outside. While I found myself enjoying a bit of fresh air, lots of my neighbors were also walking their dogs or strolling with their family members. I started to bike again with my dad and my brother, and my mom brought me to Kaimana Beach to go swimming weekly during breaks at 7 a.m. (when the freezing water would definitely wake me up.) Since most sport seasons were cancelled, I practiced volleyball on my driveway or at the outdoor courts at Ala Moana Beach Park. Instead of traveling off island, my family went on early morning hikes at places like Makapu’u to escape the walls of our house and to enjoy the beautiful views of Oahu. We also took family road trips to the North Shore to get shave ice, and we drove to farther beaches like Yokohama Bay, a great spot to watch sunsets. While spending more time in nature, I learned to be thankful for the paradise that I live in, greatly increasing my appreciation for Hawaii’s outdoors.

1. Every Last Word 2. Harry Potter HBA’S 3. OfBEST Mice andPICKS Men 4. Shadow and Bone

2020

Results from a January 2021 poll of 102 HBA high school students.

SNACKS TVSHOWS

BEST BEST

1. Chips 1. The Mandalorian 2. Chocolate 2. Criminal Minds 3. Cookies 3. Outer Banks 4. Fruit 4. The Queen’s Gambit

HOBBIES MOVIES

FAV BEST

1. Games 1. Video Wonder Woman 1984 2. Netflix 2. Soul 3. 3. Tiktok Hamilton 4. 4. Reading Mulan (2020)

With the U.S. Presidential election taking place in 2020, politics was a notable aspect of our lives. Even though people my age aren’t eligible to vote, we found ways to participate in our democracy. I saw many young people participating in protests in support of Black Lives Matter, for example. As I heard about the distinct and opposing political views in this country, I became more curious to learn about the U.S. government. I started to pay more attention to the news in order to seek the truth behind what people were arguing about, so that I can form my own opinion about what is going on. Other teenagers were also seeing and evaluating how democracy works and doesn’t work. For the first time, many of us were learning the importance of voting and how it allows us to actively participate in our democracy. Our generation will be the future leaders of our country, and I am glad that many of us learned the impact we can have on our government. As I recall my silver linings of 2020, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. The pandemic gave me time to reflect, to become self-aware, to grow, and to be thankful. The year was by no means easy, but I persisted and came out stronger than before. As I look ahead into 2021, I am more hopeful and gladly welcome the adventures to come. I hope you do the same: take time to think about 2020, reflect on the many good things that happened, find closure to the year, and be ready to start1. this new chapter of life. Every Last Word

BOOKS

BEST

2. Harry Potter 3. Of Mice and Men 4. Shadow and Bone

SONGS

Results from a January 2021 poll of 2021 students. Infographic by Megan Lee (‘23).

BEST

1. POV by Ariana Grande 2. Without You by The Kid Laroi 3. Dynamite by BTS 4. Wonder by Shawn Mendes