2021 December Eagle Eye

HAWAII BAPTIST ACADEMY

12 Days Christmas of

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On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Endurance sitting by a tree 2% extra credit 3 cups of boba 4-day weekends 5 on an AP test 6 pairs of Vans 7 A+s 8 hours of sleep 98.6 degrees 10 Besties 11 iPads 12 p.m. dismissal

VOL 36, NO 2 DEC 2021

Recommending Letters → By Connor Malinger (‘22)

EDITORIAL

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The simple joy at finding an envelope addressed to you from someone you know is universal. However, the popularity of written correspondence has dropped considerably in the past few decades with the advent of the internet and services like social media, email and texting. Nowadays, the majority of mail that people receive is made up of packages, bills, and advertisements, making the written letters all the more special.

Of course, writing a letter, addressing and mailing is more work than typing out a short message on a mobile device or computer and having it delivered nearly instantaneously; yet the added effort of sending someone a hand-written message only compounds the value of the letter.

When I and one of my closest friends wrote letters to each other over the summer a few years ago, with each letter I got in the mail, I knew that she took the time to think of me, express herself, and send me something she valued. The best letters were those that clearly displayed this care, whether that was through her addressing all of the topics I had included in my last letter and expanding on them, or her sharing random thoughts that could go anywhere from a favorite band to the benefits of a cat.

Letters provide a much better opportunity to understand someone than a text message because the potential for sincerity is greater. Hand-written letters add a personal touch and carry a piece of the writer’s personality, not to mention that they often much longer than a text message.Thankfully, Christmas remains one of the few times in a year when people still send out snail-mail letters or at least a picture card with holiday greetings. Many families use the opportunity to update their friends about what happened over the last year. Around the start of every December, my family receives at least one Christmas card in the mail every day. Most of these are just pictures in a Sam’s Club or Costco template, but they all mean something. The address is always handwritten and my family knows that we are remembered and cared for even if we don’t know the sender well.

My favorite Christmas cards are those that share something about the sender’s family and what their year was like. I always enjoy reading them and feel like I have gotten to know them even if we’ve never met. For that reason, I think that’s why people look forward to getting our family’s Christmas card, where we share our family’s spirit every year with a series of recreated movie posters for the four seasons of the year.

Each Malinger movie poster illustrates what our family did during the year, often showcasing our trips to various museums and monuments. For the fall poster, we always use our Halloween costumes, and for winter, we always do a Christmas movie. Some posters feature big developments in our lives: The year my little sister Summer was born, the spring poster was a remake of The Year We Make Contact with an ultrasound of her next to the Earth.

I am certain that when I leave for college we’ll do one related to my departure this fall.

In my opinion, the best part of the Malinger Christmas movie poster card is the playbill that goes along with it. My dad is the designated writer who fills in our friends and family on what we have been doing. While the same card and letter goes out to the nearly a hundred people, we make sure to write each address by hand to add a personal touch.

As the Christmas season ramps up and the new year approaches, I hope you take some time to remind someone that you care. For seniors in particular, this could be a good opportunity to solidify friendships and begin a tradition that could sustain those friendships over long distances. If someone is not always present in our lives, we should do our best to bring them closer to us if not physically, then emotionally. And a letter is one of the best ways to do that.

Cover Photos

By Justin Mayeshiro (‘22)

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Connor Malinger (‘22)

STAFF Noah Hu (‘23) Dylan Okamura (‘24) Justin Mayeshiro (‘22) Samantha Sebastian (‘22) Jeremiah Seng (‘23) Gabrielle Steffany (‘24) Skylar Takeuchi (‘23) Anne Tasaka (‘22) Joni Ruan (‘22)

ADVISOR Eunice Sim

Follow us @hbaeagleeye on Instagram www.hbaeagleeye.com

HBA to Broadcast Christmas Special → Annie Tasaka (‘22) NEWS

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On December 18, 2021 at 6 p.m. Hawaii Baptist Academy’s first Christmas TV Special, A Thrill of Hope, will air on Hawaii News Now. Due to Covid restrictions, the middle and high schools’ annual in-person end-of-the-year student performances will be broadcast on video. HBA’s High School Wind Ensemble, the Soldiers of Light choir, Drama Department, and Halau Hula ‘O Ka Lama ‘Ula will be showcased in this hour-long special.

The concert’s theme is drawn from the lyrics of the carol “O Holy Night”. The school’s administration hopes to share “the thrill of [Jesus’] long-awaited coming” and the news that he is “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, the everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”

President Ron Shiira said, “We want our students to know that it is the music of our hearts that truly demonstrates and helps share God’s love and hope.”

The Soldiers of Light choir has been preparing for this concert all semester. A year-long course for high schoolers, the choir is singing a handful of songs. Freshman Randie Lueder said, “We have prepared by going over the songs over and over again to perfect them. Mr. Yo

[choir director] splits us up into sections based on our vocal part, so we can tighten sound and harmonies. We also practice taking off our masks and singing in groups while the rest of the choir critiques our stage deportment. We also watch other virtual performances and take note of what they do well and what didn’t feel or look right.

[This process] helps us learn what we should and shouldn’t do. It’s been really exciting putting everything together and I hope that all of our hard work pays off.”

For the students, performing for a video recording is a different experience than live performances. Senior Kira Hasuike said, “Unlike in a live performance, we don’t have the same adrenaline rush recording in a studio with a mic as we would on stage. Instead of just singing in front of a crowd in one go, now we have to record our voices separately and then film ourselves lipsyncing to a track while trying to make it look as real as it would in a live performance.

In addition, we have to film ourselves while trying to make it look ten times more interesting since people tend to lose focus faster watching pre-recorded television rather than a live concert.”

The atmosphere of a live concert does not translate into the viewer’s home well, transferring the burden of captivating the audience onto the performers. “That’s why we really have to push ourselves to sing even more expressively than we do in live concerts and really try to embed the emotion into the song we’re singing,” Hasuike added.

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Despite the challenges, these students say they are enjoying choir.

Lueder said, “My favorite part of the performance is our ending song ‘Believe For It.’ Mr.Yo is really challenging us to sing from our hearts and relate to the song, so I always get chills when we practice together.”

In November, the Wind Ensemble headed to New Hope Sand Island’s auditorium for their recording session. They are playing two pieces this year, “Sleigh Ride” and “O Holy Night”.

Shea Erler, senior clarinet section leader, said, “I’ve been in ensembles since freshman year. I’ve played [O Holy Night and Sleigh Ride] for probably about four years, but it’s still fun and we make it unique.

O Holy Night, it’s like a Christmas classic.”

Despite the challenges of a virtual performance, Band Director Dwaine Woo is proud of what the students have done. He wrote, “The students spent two months preparing for the video. Shooting a video performance takes more concentration because there are so many distractions—from the cameras and lights to the process of doing takes and pick-up shots. Although it was very different from a normal public performance, the students did well. I hope the students enjoyed their experience.” Through this year’s recorded performance, Woo hopes to “create new experiences for the music students besides just public concerts—from doing studio and video recording to musicals, and hopefully jazz and rock bands. There is a lot to learn from doing this type of performance.”

Erler can attest to his hopes. “It was a lot of fun because we all got to play together. It was also really fancy. They set up Christmas trees and decorations. That was a lot of fun. But it was very long and hot.

But it was fun,” she said. “Mr. Woo put a lot of work into the band’s performance. Everyone’s gonna come together, and there’s gonna be all these different clubs. I think the [show] will be pretty cool.”

Halau Hula O Kalama Ula is HBA’s three-member hula group that performs with the Soldiers of Light. Freshman Mari Cesar is performing for the first time with HBA. She said, “My favorite part definitely needs to be the preparation and practices leading up to the ‘big day’. Since I haven’t danced hula for a couple years, I had a bit of a challenge at first because it felt all new to me” Like Hasuike and many other performers, Cesar has experienced similar challenges when it comes to performing for a camera instead of a live audience. However, Cesar said, “A video performance relieves a lot of stress and that ‘nervous’ feeling before going onstage.”

Cesar has also found community through joining the halau. “I love getting to learn new styles of dancing from other hula dancers and ultimately creating new friendships. Luckily, I had Brandi and Riley to help me out when I had questions, and they are so supportive!” she said.

The Drama Department will be represented by senior Kiani Vidaurri, who will perform a monologue by Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Describing her preparations, Vidaurri said, “I had three rehearsals and meetings with Mr. Chang and Mrs. Yasutomi to discuss my acting for the monologue and how we would film it. I filmed the oneminute monologue for about 80 minutes in the film room because the cameraman had to get different angles and shots.” Even though the process took longer than a live performace, Vidaurri noted that some things were easier. “Filming differed quite a bit from stage acting because I filmed the monologue in chunks and repeated lines instead of performing it in one take. I didn’t feel that nervous because it wasn’t in front of an audience. I was able to film certain lines again if I didn’t like how I acted, whereas performing for a live audience is all in one go,” she said.

(Top) The Soldiers of Light performs during their video taping session. Performing outdoors allows the choir to sing safely without their masks.

(Above) The Halau Hula O Kalama Ula recorded their performance on the grounds of the Wyllie House.

Despite a different format this year, Drama teacher Peter Chang said that things did not feel stressful. “The process was relatively light on the stress—at least from my perspective—since the piece itself is really short and everyone involved is experienced in their field, from the Kiani to the producer, filmographer, and director,” he said.

He added, “In the case of this piece, the monologue was so short and done in only one location, it didn’t take too long to get the final shots we wanted. In stage performances, you are able to gauge to some degree how well your performance and the show as a whole is connecting to the audience in real-time, based upon audience reactions (i.e. gasps, applause, laughter, etc.), since the performance is live.

Film performances don’t have the opportunity to be that interactive.”

HBA’s middle and high school students will be watching the Special on December 14 for the last chapel of the quarter. For the public, the concert will air on December 18 at 6 p.m. on K5, December 19 at 9:30 a.m. on Telemundo, December 20 at 6:30 p.m. on KHNL, and December 25 at 6:00 p.m. on KGMB. The concert will also be streaming online on December 18, 6 p.m. on Hawaiinewsnow.com and K5’s Facebook page.

Tackling New Year’s Resolutions → By Dylan Okamura (‘24)

FEATURE

Talk of making New Year’s resolutions resurface every year at this time. While some people succeed in following through with their resolutions, others struggle to even make it through January of the new year. The Eagle Eye checked in with some folks to see how their 2021 resolutions went and what they think about making them.

Sophomore Ashley Arakawa resolved to get better at volleyball. “My resolution did eventually wear down a little bit, but I was consistent with practices.”

Senior Madison Duren’s says her resolution was “for the year [2021] to end as quickly as possible. 2020 was terrible; I burned layers of my eyes off as I attended online lectures only to continue staring into the blue monitor of my laptop for the rest of the day.” Her resolution changed as the year progressed. “I expected 2021 to be worse, but as the months rolled around, we were getting back to ‘normal’ and some of my blue monitors were replaced with blue sky. I’m not saying everything is perfect at the moment, but things are looking up as we trudge through time,” Duren says.

High school guidance counselor Sean Ohira is a fan of making resolutions.

“For me, resolutions are important, as they provide ultimate goals on which I can be focused and disciplined. Left to my own devices

and without a goal, I would more than likely binge-watch television and eat ice cream all day. As such, resolutions are vital to provide me with purpose.”

Art teacher Juri Yamashita concurs. “Having goals is important because it focuses your energy and efforts; but I think it’s helpful to take time to think about what is realistic, healthy, and will truly bring joy to your life that year,” she says.

Science teacher Claire Mitchell believes resolutions are a way to make sure she tries new things every year. For 2022, she says, “I think I’d like to try and take on a hobby or class for myself. Maybe a dance class or horseback riding or yoga. After two years of on and off quarantine I’m looking forward to getting back out and socializing with other people again!”

English teacher David McElrath has a simple goal: “I think that looking ahead to the new year, I might resolve to clean up my desk. It’s a small thing - no, not my desk. That bit’s actually pretty roomy. But I feel that even a small effort in the discipline of orderliness will go a long way across a whole year.”

Finally, for Science teacher Caleb Peich, 2022 will be a continuation of past goals. “I have a resolution to stay consistent in studying my German and French, and I hope to get back at it with Japanese. I’ve had an off-and-on relationship with Japanese over the years,” he said.

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Gingerbread Man Donuts

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→ By Samantha Sebastian (22’) FEATURE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SAMANTHA SEBASTIAN (22’)

It’s that time of the year again where the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg fills the air. Tables are decked out with scrumptious treats ranging from sugar cookies to peppermint bark bites. Here’s a new but not entirely unfamiliar treat that you can add to the mix: gingerbread man donuts. This cookie-donut hybrid is certain to bring smiles to your family and friends.

Ingredients Recipe adapted from Cookist Donut 2 cups all purpose flour 3 tsp cinnamon powder 3 tsp nutmeg powder 3 tsp ginger powder ½ cup butter 2 tbsp molasses 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 egg ½ cup brown sugar ¼ granulated sugar ¼ cup warmed milk 1 packet yeast (8 g) Vegetable oil

Icing 1-2 cups confectioner’s sugar 1 cup butter ½ cup warm milk Equipment Bowls Measuring cups Gingerbread man cookie cutter Rolling pin Baking pans Cooling rack

Making the “Dough” In Donut STEP 1 In a large bowl, mix together flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt with a whisk.

STEP 2 Melt butter either in a microwave or saucepan.

STEP 3 In another bowl, add molasses, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk well. Then, add granulated sugar and brown sugar while the butter is warm.

STEP 4 Pour around ⅓ of the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, and using either a stand mixer with dough attachments or a whisk, thoroughly mix together.

STEP 5 When well combined, repeat the previous step until all ingredients are mixed together. The dough should have a sticky consistency but holds its shape. If it is too wet, add a bit more flour, and if it is too dry add a bit more melted butter.

STEP 6 Transfer dough into a well-oiled bowl. Then cover tightly and let it rise for 1 hour.

STEP 7 Once the dough has risen, sprinkle flour on a flat surface big enough to knead and roll out the dough.

STEP 8 Dusting your hands and a bit of the dough with flour, lay the dough on the floured surface. Also, dust a bit of flour on a baking pan and set aside.

STEP 13 While waiting for the oil to heat up, prepare another baking sheet with a drying rack on top and set it close to the pot. If you do not have a drying rack, a paper towel can suffice, just as long as the excess oil can be cleaned off. Set the pan close to the pot.

STEP 9 Using a flour-dusted rolling pin, roll the dough out evenly.

For a 3” x 5” stencil, the thickness should be around 3 cm.

However, the larger your cookie cutter is the thicker the dough should be and vice versa. If the dough starts to stick to the surface or rolling pin, sprinkle more flour.

STEP 10 Once the dough is flat, dust a bit of flour on the top and coat the cookie cutter with flour. Then cut out your gingerbread man! Place the cut out on the dusted baking pan. Keep punching silhouettes until you can’t fit anymore dough.

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STEP 14 Using a strainer or spatula, gently lower one gingerbread man into the pot. After 2 minutes or so, check the bottom, and if it is brown flip it over and wait another 2-3 minutes or so. Depending on the oil’s temperature and the thickness of the donut, cook time can vary. A good indicator is if both sides are puffed up and achieve a mid-to-dark brown color.

STEP 15 Once all your donuts have been cooked, leave them to cool while you prepare the glaze.

STEP 11 Gather remaining dough and knead it into a ball. Then repeat the previous steps until you can’t make anymore donuts.

For really small scraps, you can role them into donut balls as testers for the glaze or as a small snack.

STEP 12 Heat the oil up in a pot big enough to fit at least 2 donuts on the stove to 340F; if you don’t have a thermometer, the oil should starts to bubble a bit. Test with a small piece of flour or dough. Once hot, lower the heat to medium high after a minute.

Making the Glaze STEP 1 In a small bowl, melt around ½ to 1 cup of butter.

STEP 2 In another bowl, add around ¼ cup of the melted butter.

Then add around 1 cup of confectioner’s sugar and mix.

Once the sugar is fully dissolved keep adding ½ cups of it and mix until the glaze reaches a pale yellow to almost white color. It should be thin but not too watery.

STEP 3 If you want a sweeter and thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar. If you want more shine on the glaze, substitute butter with milk. If you like plain dough then ditch the glaze entirely.

The choice is yours!

STEP 4 Using a strainer or utensil with holes, dip the donut in the mixture. Then let it set on the drying rack.

STEP 5 Once the glaze dries, which should be around 5-10 minutes, your donuts are ready to be eaten or be dressed up in icing.

STEP 6 For decorations, use homemade or store bought icing that has a small tip. You can also use candy pearls, gummies, etc.

Here are some design examples for gingerbread people you can bring to life:

Icing Ideas ROSS THE BOSS

MR. BOW TIE

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Don’t worry about wonky designs; every gingerbread man is different and even the not so perfectly decorated has character.

He’s the classic dapper man that everyone adores.

He works very hard.

Let’s not forget the aliens of this world.

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HAPPY ACCIDENT

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SANTA TALES → By Connor Malinger (‘22) FEATURE

Many of us have stories on how we found out that Santa Claus is in fact not real. In recounting my own story, I found it hilarious in hindsight, so I decided to search out some of the best How-I-Found-Out-About-Santa stories from students and teachers.

Here are some of my favorite ones.

“On Christmas day, five years ago, my parents taped up the hallway to the living room so I couldn’t peek through. After what felt like an hour I broke through the covering and saw a brand spanking new bike. I jumped around with a scrapbook-loving mom getting it all on camera, but the adrenaline soon wore off. Can a bike fit in a chimney? Nah we don’t even have one.

Wait, what if he has the key to the house?! What if he came inside to make out with mom, just like that song?’”

PRESTON GONZALES (‘24)

“When I was about 9, I wrote a letter to Santa. I asked him to sign the paper to prove that he was actually real. On Christmas Eve, I left the paper by his milk and cookies and woke up the next day to find that it was signed with an “SC”. But when I looked at his signature, I realized it was in my dad’s handwriting. I looked at my parents with their proud faces and big smiles shining down on me. I could not bring myself to break their hearts filled with so much love.

And I figured a couple more years with extra presents from Santa wouldn’t be so bad either.”

TRISLYN MAEDA (‘23)

“I had pestered my older sister so much and was chasing her through the house that she was at wits end. So she turned to me and

SEAN MALINGER, Film and Photography Teacher

“I was at tennis practice with my younger teammates. For some reason, Christmas came up, and then one of them said to me, “When did you figure out Santa wasn’t real?” In that moment, [I realized for the first time that] that Santa was fake. Widening my eyes as my racket slowly started to slip out of my hands, I responded, ‘Oh yeah, when I was 12.” That was a lie because I was fourteen at the time. Every single Santa movie was so believable, but I guess my parents were that secretive, considering the fact that I have two younger sisters.

What’s funny is the fact that my twelve year old sister figured it out when she was nine years old.”

ANONYMOUS

“Every year, I received exactly what I’d been asking for in my secret letters to Santa. Miraculously, the present I wanted would show up outside my house and I had to believe that Santa was real. In 6th grade, when Christmas was around the corner, my mother was pushing me to wish for some dolls that I didn’t want to have. While visiting my grandparents in Seoul, my mother and I participated in caroling, and when we came to my house, my mom was lagging behind. I ran back up the stairs to see where my mother was and that’s when I saw her putting the dolls she was pushing me to get into the mailbox of my grandparents’ house.“ PATRICIA CHANG, Admissions Director (7-12)

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stopped me in my tracks by saying, ‘There is no such thing as Santa Claus!’ I was devastated. All my life I had believed a lie, and now the truth was violently shouted to my obnoxious little heart.

It was several minutes before I could be calmed down from the sobbing. But after a while, a new hope rose within my chest, and from the bed on which I had collapsed, I remembered that Santa wasn’t the only magical being to visit my house. So I asked, “What about the Tooth Fairy?” “No Sean, there is no such thing as the tooth fairy,” she gently replied. Again more sobs from me.”

GIFT IDEAS

Not sure what to get that special someone?

Or haven’t had the time to think of gift ideas? Here are a few lists that we hope you’ll find helpful! → By Joni Ruan (‘22) FEATURE

FOR THE

HOMEBODY $ Comfortable pair of pajamas or sweats $$ Netflix/ streaming service subscription $$$ Beanbag lounger

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FOR THE

$ A nice box of cookies $$ Waffle iron $$$ Kitchenaid Stand Mixer

OUTDOORSY/ NATURE LOVER/ BEACH BUM FOR THE

$ Sunscreen or bug repellant $$ Inflatable Lounger $$$ Waterproof bluetooth speakers

PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING FOR THE

$ A heartfelt letter or card $$$ Money or gift card

FOODIE

FOR THE

HEALTH NUT $ Matcha Kit $$ Muscle Massager $$$ Nutribullet

FOR THE

PERFECTIONIST

$ Label maker or high performance planner $$ Jewelry Stand/Organizer $$$ Skincare products

CASH & GIFT CARDS ARE ALWAYS ALRIGHT → By Skylar Takeuchi (‘23)

COMMENTARY

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If you’re stumped by what to get for your family or friends this Christmas, let me present to you the all-suitable gift option— cash or gift cards.

Presents or gifts make people self-conscious because the human mind is constantly asking itself whether or not you think the present you are giving away will satisfy the receiver. On top of that, if you’re a last-minute shopper, finding a gift just puts the human mind into a spiral.

Then when you finally find a gift that you think is perfect for that certain someone, you find out that they don’t really like it.

But what if you didn’t need to go through all of that trouble? Cash or gift cards are the solution. Instead of constantly worrying about whether or not your gift was well-received, gift someone with the means to buy what they want. Some people would say that cash and

gift cards are a lazy solution. While I agree that that may sometimes be the case, there are many reasons why cash and gift cards can still make excellent gifts.

Whether or not buying a gift card is lazy or impersonal depends on the intent of the gift giver. I think it’s unfair to assume that all of these gift-givers are lazy. What if someone sincerely feels that cash or gift cards are what the receiver really wants?

Money is as simple as it gets. The amount of money that you’re going to give is totally up to you. You are giving them not only a gift but a choice. Also, this gift shows that you really do not want them to be disappointed by your gift.

Last Christmas, my uncle gave me an Amazon gift card. Although I haven’t used it yet, I felt that it was a very thoughtful gesture because the pandemic prevented us from seeing each other more frequently during the year.

Having the option to give someone cash or a gift card actually makes giving a lot easier. There is no shopping to be done and no shipping to deal with or pay for.

Gift cards pose small challenge, however.

Whether it’s for an online shopping website like Amazon or a restaurant, choosing the perfect gift card requires some knowledge of the gift receiver’s preferences. Other than that, the gift card will always remain a universally welcomed gift. Just know that when the person receives the gift, they feel empowered to choose what they want and when they want it.

The bottom line is that you are giving a person a great gift. No matter how commonplace it may seem, you can never go wrong with money or gift cards. So this holiday, grab some money, buy some gift cards, and give that person the gift of choice.

Reliving Memories through Christmas Music → By Noah Hu (‘23) FEATURE

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As 2021 comes to a close, Christmas offers many of us a respite from year-end anxieties. Christmas music is an essential part of the festive season and provides more universal comfort and joy than any other genre of music.

Christian Ministries Assistant Raelene Hinkel believes that Christmas music bring hope, exemplified through her favorite song, “O Holy Night”. On the lyrics of the song, Hinkel writes, “I think about a time when the entire world was dark, eerie, filled with loneliness and despair. Then, how a little baby changed all of it. How every human was then able to feel worth in their soul.” In addition to the message of the song, Hinkel also has sentimental ties to it. While in college, she studied abroad in Italy during a fall semester, living with 13 people in the same housing unit. After spending three straight months with the same people, she often found it difficult to find her own space. However, she found solace in listening to “O Holy Night”.

“Some nights I would put on headphones, stay up later, and reflect on the experiences I was having… From then on, I looked at that song totally differently.” she said.

Music from the animated TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas plays a notable part in sophomore Taylor Malinger’s Christmas music experience. For her, the song “Christmas Time is Here” reminds her of memorable moments she experienced during the winter season. “I used to watch Charlie Brown around the holidays and listen to songs from it while decorating the house. These memories are at the forefront of my mind whenever I hear these songs,” she said.

English teacher Alexandra Taylor has strong opinions on Christmas music, specifically when it should be played. “[My husband] is an ‘all Christmas music all the time’ kind of guy, and I’m more ‘quality Christmas music instead of quantity Christmas music.’” Taylor also shared a pet peeve about the song “Mary Did You Know”. She wrote, “YES SHE KNEW! AN ANGEL LITERALLY TOLD HER!!!”

Like Malinger, junior Ryan Fukui finds that Christmas music evokes a sense of nostalgia. His favorite song, “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson, is a constant reminder of the joy he felt during Christmas parties at his aunty’s house. Fukui wrote, “We listened to ‘Underneath the Tree’ for hours as we did fun activities like Secret Santa. There used to be around 50 relatives at the party, but unfortunately, after the death of my aunty a few years ago we haven’t had a party for many years.” Over the years, the meaning of the song has changed for him too. Before he just thought of it as any old Christmas song; however, after having the song linked to so many nostalgic moments he said, “I realised the importance of loving someone as I grew up.”

ISLAND STYLE CHRISTMAS → By Fai Steffany (‘24) FEATURE

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Wrapping gifts, baking gingerbread cookies, wearing soft sweaters, and playing in the snow are all traditions and things that many people do during the holidays. For locals in Hawaii, it’s also about going to the beach with friends, seeing Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele at the Honolulu Hale, or enjoying poke from Safeway.

Christmas is also time for many to travel to see family on the mainland. Others stay in Hawaii and go to other towns for a big family gathering. Sophomore Jadynn Wong said, “My family typically orders from a Chinese restaurant, and my entire mom’s side comes over, and my sister and my mom always bake something different every year.”

Along with the classic turkey, stuffing, pies that most people eat during the Christmas season, Hawaiian locals include more variety when it comes to their holiday dishes. Depending on their family’s roots, Hawaii residents celebrate Christmas with foods from Japan, Hawaii, Korea, China, Korea, Tonga, etc. Sophomore Taylor Gonsalvez said, “Every year my family eats dakjuk before and after Christmas because

it’s supposed to be a sign of good luck, and if you don’t eat it then you’ll have bad luck.”

Dakjuk is a Korean dish made of chicken, rice, porridge, and some veggies.

Much like homes across the world, the Hawaiian-style Christmas table is not complete without family and friends. Sophomore Sienna Fujiwara said, “Christmas is special because it’s a way that my family can come together so that we can talk story and catch up.”

Even thought many activities have been cancelled due to Covid, a visit to Honolulu Hale this month will likely help you get into the Christmas spirit as you enjoy Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele. The site is open from now through January 2, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Why We Wait → By Jeremiah Seng (‘23) COMMENTARY

Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

The Christmas season, for many of us, is the most joyful, whimsical time of the year. But what makes us enjoy the weeks leading up to Christmas so much? Is it simply the anticipation of the holiday itself, or is it the songs and decorations prevalent in in neighborhoods and department stores? Maybe it’s the traditions each of our families practice. Or perhaps it is the waiting itself that makes Christmas unique.

I’ve met a lot of people who say they enjoy the Christmas season more than the holiday itself, and I think that while that stems from the lights, colors, and songs, it also comes from the shared experience of waiting for something you know is going to be good. It’s the sense of community that causes the “Christmas spirit” to grow as Christmas day approaches. On the flip side, people without the sense of family or comradery that most people experience often see the Chrstmas season as a reminder of what they lack. Someone like this might dread the winter festivities. If you feel this way, my heart goes out to you and I hope that will change this season.

The connection between Christmas and the birth of Jesus (even though Jesus was not actually born in December) is known by almost everyone, whether they are Christian or not. Christians refer to the time leading

up to Jesus’ birth as Advent, which is incorporated into many people’s Christmas celebrations. Advent is the practice of celebrating both the Nativity of Christ and the Second Coming of Christ. For the Jews of Jesus’ time, the coming of the Messiah was the “big thing” they were waiting for. It was a promise of a new era and a new way of life.

If you’re feeling lonely this holiday season alone, take time to “make room for Jesus.” In taking a break from the mundane routines of everyday life to await Jesus’ birth, people are able to more easily appreciate the significance of Christmas. Waiting shapes us by making us focus on what is important, that thing being Jesus. It benefits us by causing us to be hyper focused on Him, which helps us to grow closer to Him. But Advent is not just the act of waiting for the arrival of the birth of Jesus; it is also how we wait for Jesus’ Second Coming, which is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that He will return and bring redemption to this world. In this sense, Christmas doesn’t “end” when the clock strikes midnight on December 26.

So, as we move into this season of Advent, make sure to keep your family and friends near, as well as open yourself up to the anticipation of Christmas day and the joy and gratitude of the birth of the Jesus.

The Messiah is coming! Stay safe and have a merry Christmas!