2022 Eagle Eye March

HAWAII BAPTIST ACADEMY

VOL 36, NO 3 MAR 2022

Look Back & Learn → By Connor Malinger (‘22)

EDITORIAL

Nearly two years have passed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen periods of creeping

1

increases in infections, followed by months where the dwindling intensity of the virus’ spread gives us short-lived hope before peaking again. Now, as we seem to approach the end of the pandemic and a return to normalcy, the temptation to simply move on is inviting. However, we must remember to evaluate the responses that shaped our pandemic experience; only then can we be truly hopeful for a better future.

Although Hawaii remains the only state with an indoor mask mandate, the governor’s announcement of the end of the Safe Access program and the Safe Travels program, and that events under 1000 attendees can operate at full capacity, comes as a welcome relief. At HBA, the administration recently announced it would begin to roll back pandemic related safety protocol. This includes exemption from quarantine for travel and vaccinated close contacts, and optional outdoor masking. In light of these recent developments, I, like many others, feel excited to be released from the restrictions that have dictated our lives for so long.

Everyone has something that they learned or grew in as a result of the pandemic, and it only follows that our leaders should reflect on their own growth or lack of it. This pandemic has called on our governments to take on responsibility and maybe even test the limits of their powers, which intensifies the urgency for a critical look at their responses. Looking back at the last two years, I see an overwhelming theme of inconsistency and uncertainty. To be fair, the lack of concrete knowledge and data especially early on in the pandemic stifled completely informed decisions; however, I have also seen official responses that contradict scientific data or have no scientific basis.

According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review, an affiliate of Stanford University that covers solutions to global social issues, transparency and community engagement are key to effective leadership. In regards to the Covid-19 response, communities have had very little say for the majority of the regulations they’ve had to obey, which led to varied levels of resistance across the country. If officials would clearly communicate the reasons behind each measure in an accessible

manner and allow more community feedback, I believe more people would be apt to comply with or even support their actions. In the very least, those who might speak against them would be better educated in their dissent.

Many of the measures imposed in response to the pandemic seem to have been put into place more out of fear and a feeling that something or anything should be done. Some of these measures are now ridiculous in hindsight. (Remember not being able to sit on a beach alone?) In addition, the start of the pandemic was a whirlwind of confusion with regulations changing often and with little to no input from the community, which eventually led to protests and distrust. With these memories haunting my view of our governments, I have become more cynical and suspicious of our politicians. Leaders should recognize that their responses to what took place, whether related to COVID or not, have led to an increase in distrust for the government and, with this understanding, take decisive action to address concerns and improve upon their decision-making processes.

Cover Illustration

By Samantha Sebastian (‘22)

EAGLE EYE Hawaii Baptist Academy 2429 Pali Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Eagle Eye is a student-run and studentcentered publication.

COVID-19 presents an excellent opportunity for leaders in our community—in our schools, workplaces, cities, states and countries— to model good decision-making by consistently making clear the rationale behind each regulation. Decision makers should not balk at taking responsibility for mistakes and moving forward for the good of the community that they seek to protect.

Our governments stand to improve largely in this regard with its health announcements and legislation, especially considering the political divisions that dominate current politics.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

At HBA, the school administration has taken the right steps by relaxing the outdoor mask and quarantine rules. They considered facts, science and reason, making an effort to establish a change, despite the community acceptance of the status quo. Now that we are not putting out fires anymore, and as we (hopefully) leave our pandemic state of mind behind, we (our leaders in particular) should continue to look at our decision-making processes, learn from both the successes and mistakes, so as to prepare ourselves for the challenges we will face in the future.

Samantha Sebastian (‘22)

Connor Malinger (‘22)

STAFF Noah Camacho (‘23) Dilan Chock-Makiya (‘23) Noah Hu (‘23) Megan Lee (‘23) Trislyn Maeda (‘23) Justin Mayeshiro (‘22)

Skylar Takeuchi (‘23) Annie Tasaka (‘22) Lauren Toda (‘23) Joni Ruan (‘22) Marissa Watanabe (‘23)

ADVISOR Eunice Sim

Follow us @hbaeagleeye on Instagram www.hbaeagleeye.com

HBA Sees Increase in Applications → By Annie Tasaka (‘22)

NEWS

Hawaii Baptist Academy’s elementary, middle, and high schools are seeing an increase in student applications. According to middle school principal George Honzaki, who leads the school’s admissions department, applications are up by about 20% from last year.

While it is too early to say whether or not this increase will lead to HBA increasing its overall enrollment for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year, Honzaki believes the increased interest affirms the school’s successful Covid mitigation strategies over the past two years.

Distance learning has been a challenge for students and teachers alike. According to an April 2020 EdWeek Research Center survey, the majority of teachers and students across America felt like their morale was worse than before the pandemic. One of the chief causes for this loss of morale was the lack of in-person school. Like many private schools, HBA was able to provide in-person learning for its students during the height of the pandemic by operating on a hybrid schedule at the middle and high school, and by hiring more staff to accommodate smaller class sizes at the elementary school.

Honzaki believes these efforts have not gone unnoticed by prospective families. “The word is out,” he said, “HBA is a safe school and we’re

committed to keeping our doors open to ensure students have the best opportunities.” Patricia Chang, Director of Admissions for the middle and high school, also believes that the school’s handling of the pandemic has helped it stand out to applicants. “The way the faculty members have handled Covid and because we didn’t have so many cases on campus [are probably why] applications have increased,” she said.

Due to Covid restrictions on outside visitors to the school campus during school hours, the admissions department has had to find alternatives to help prospective families preview what HBA offers.

Because they have not been able to hold in-person open house events, Chang explained, “everything has to be individually done.”

Not being able to meet in-person has also made it more challenging for the admissions team to get to know prospective students. “You have to actually meet someone in person to see what kind of energy [he or she has] or their strengths and weaknesses. It is very difficult to determine things virtually,” Chang added.

First year eighth grade student Vanessa He was among those who came to HBA for more stability amidst the pandemic. “I applied during the pandemic. In my previous school, I did not learn much. A friend of mine goes to HBA, and his mother recommended that I apply. I really liked the amount of APs and sports continued on page 14 that are at HBA,” she said. Similarly, first

2

A screenshot of Hawaii Baptist Academy’s virtual open house for the prospective middle and high school students.

(Left to right, from top row) Admissions Director (7-12) Patricia Chang, junior Ian Kubo, English Teacher Dynah Ustare, sophomore Hannah Cheng, Middle School Principal Geroge Honzaki, former High School Principal Marsha Hirae, freshman Barbara Storm, Math Teacher Ross Mukai, sophomore Riley Lorenzo, Athletic Director Deren Oshiro, Film and Photography Teacher Sean Malinger. Photograph courtesy of Patricia Chang.

MARSHA

HIRAE A Life Lived in Service, Shaped by Service

3

→ By Noah Hu (‘23) FEATURE

Recently retired high school principal Marsha Hirae started her first job at HBA in 1975.

Since then, she has been part of the school’s journey of growth and change, from its move to the present day Nu’uanu campus in 1975, the founding of the Mainland Advisory Council (MAC), the completion of the high school gym in 1983, the addition of the Arts and Science building in 2013, and most recently, the trials of operating during a pandemic. Over the span of 47 years, Hirae has invested the majority of her life at HBA.

Photograph by Noah Hu (‘23)

Before becoming the high school principal in 1997, Hirae, a 1972 HBA graduate, held a variety of positions at the school.

This included being a 7th grade social studies teacher, 9th and 10th grade PE teacher, high school social studies teacher, counselor, and high school vice principal.

In the summer of 1997, HBA’s principal at the time left abruptly, which gave Hirae the opportunity to take on the principal role. She said, “I felt I was not that capable, but I told [the administrators] that I would be willing to do it with Ms. Pat Ota, so we agreed that we would split the work; she took care of a lot of the registration and the curriculum, and I took care of the operational end and dealing with parents.” Ota is currently still the Curriculum Director at the middle and high school.

Some of Hirae’s favorite moments as principal are her interactions with students and parents.

“HBA has the most wonderful students, and their parents are also just like that. Even when they’re upset, they’re reasonable and we can come to an agreement,” she said.

One of her most memorable moments at HBA happened before she became the principal, during her time as a counselor. As a counselor, Hirae would be invited to tour military bases as the military was looking for new recruits out of high school. “One year they invited us to fly out to the USS Kitty Hawk. That was the most memorable because they had to catch us as the runway was so short, and when we took off, they had to catapult us off the ship,” she recalled.

In her tenure as principal, Hirae has hired and supervised many faculty and staff members.

She credits much of the faculty for HBA’s success, saying, “[The faculty] has always been so supportive. I could not have done this job without them. It’s really the teachers and administrators who have put in so much effort to make HBA a good school.”

Bible teacher Tony Traughber, who came to HBA in 2003, appreciates the stability that Hirae has been able to establish at the high school campus. “I think Mrs. Hirae helped keep the ship steady during her time as principal,” he said. “She understood the ‘long game’ in ways that are important for an organization.

She gave her faculty and staff a good bit of freedom to try out new things, which is also important for a school.”

Former vice principal Ryan Frontiera’s best memories of Hirae come from the many overseas trips the two have chaperoned together. One of the most memorable moments for him was discovering Hirae’s love for shopping. Frontiera fondly remembers how Hirae would sometimes get so caught up in shopping that she would temporarily become separated from her chaperone group. He said, “I used to always love the fact that I’d always find this group of 6 students and ask them, ‘Where’s your chaperone?’, and they’d all say, ‘We don’t know she just left us!’” he said.

Throughout Hirae’s more than two decades at the helm, she’s dealt with many adversities, whether it be navigating difficult situations with families or her own staff. Despite these challenges, Hirae said nothing has been as difficult as running the school during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everything was pretty much the same thing every year: start of the school year, graduation, all the different events. But COVID-19 kind of threw everything off,” she said.

However, Hirae emphasized that the pandemic also brought about beneficial, long term changes. For example, HBA’s teachers had to learn how to use new technology for online classes. Even though classes are now inperson, many of the new apps are still being used as they help to enhance the learning experience in school.

Hirae hasn’t fully transitioned out of HBA.

4

Originally, Hirae thought that she would be an interim principal while the administration looked for a permanent hire. However, as Hirae settled into her new role, she was really settling into a position that she would remain in for the next 24 years. “I always thought it was special to be present on campus at the closing of one chapter of HBA’s history and again at the beginning of a new chapter,” she said.

English teacher Dynah Ustare has known Hirae for 33 years and says Hirae exemplifies love as a principal. “Mrs. Hirae reminds me that love is practical. She models this when she goes out of her way to meet the specific needs of students who may be having trouble academically or emotionally. Whenever any one of these students reaches out to her, she responds in such a way that directly addresses that particular student’s needs, even if the solution requires her to give up her own time and space. Her actions illustrate the biblical message that we should not just love with words but with actions,” Ustare said.

5

Tokyo, Japan; fall 2019 Japan Trip. Recently retired high school principal Marsha Hirae (far right) has chaperoned many overseas school trips with HBA students. Here, she is with trip chaperones Mike Hu (far left) and Elena Yoo (second from right), and Mayuki and Robert Weismantel, who were living in Japan at the time. This trip was also the last overseas trip since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Photograph courtesy of Elena Yoo).

While she is no longer the principal, she remains at the school till the end of this semester assisting new principal Elton Kinoshita with his transition into his new role. She is also helping the school with Covid-19 contact tracing tasks.

With retirement right around the corner, Hirae will finally have more time for herself and her family. “I want to watch more Korean dramas, take care of my husband who has been ‘Mr. Mom’ throughout my career, take care of my two Golden Retrievers, go to Zumba classes, and take up hobbies I have not had time for all these years like sewing and cooking and serving where God leads.”

In her decades of experience as an educator and administrator, Hirae has seen many students on their journey through high school and had this insight to share: “I think it’s been great that we’ve invested so much into academics, but I’d like to see some kids just relax more. I think our students are really self-motivated, and of course I don’t want to change that; but I hope they’ll realize there’s more to life than just academics.”

Reflecting on her time at HBA, Hirae believes her job as principal has shaped her both professional and spirtually. “[Working at HBA has] given me the opportunity to live out my faith and hopefully model the biblical values. And for me personally, because I want to be a good role model, I tend to be stronger in my faith, always watch what I do, watch what I say, and handle people with compassion,” she said.

Marsha Hirae was named Miss HBA for the graduating class of 1972. Then she was Marsha Ishida. Mark Hirae, who would later become her husband, was named Mr. HBA the same year.

Images from HBA’s 1972 yearbook.

Profile: Matthew Chow

→ By Trislyn Maeda (‘23) FEATURE

Many students have been surprised by the Flik cashier who remembers their names by heart.

Besides being the cashier, Chow makes the spam musubis, the sandwiches in the refrigerators , brownies, and, occasionally, the chocolate chip cookies. “This job for me is a lot of multitasking,” says Chow. “I have to try to get all these things done in a certain amount of time.” Whenever a student walks into the cafeteria, Chow takes a pause from his kitchen tasks and runs over to the checkout counter.

As much as he can, Chow says, “I try not to keep you guys waiting too long.” Fridays are especially difficult for the Flik associate as food deliveries come in on those days. He adds, “We always stock up [on] all the chips, cookies, snacks, and drinks you guys like.”

In his free time, Chow makes sure to relax and get off his feet. “Mostly I like to watch videos or movies or play video games when I get the chance,” he explains. Chow says that his favorite movies are Spiderman and Ghostbusters, although it was a difficult decision to pick just two, and Super Smash Brothers is easily his top video game.

For 2022, Chow is looking forward to what hopefully will be a year without Covid-19. With the uncertainties of the virus and Flik’s reduced staffing, Chow often feels overwhelmed. His hope for the year is to be able to serve students their lunches again and make them feel “comfortable and special.”

According to Chow, students on the high school campus “appear [to be] more relaxed and not as loud compared to the students at the middle

6

Mr. Matthew Chow, who has worked at Flik for three years, has become a familiar and friendly face in the cafeteria. For every student that comes to purchase food, Chow hustles over from the kitchen to the checkout terminal. After he scans their IDs, he reads their names off the tag and always thanks them by their first name. His sincere friendliness is not something most of us are used to and definitely not how we would usually interact with strangers. But for Chow, it is simple. “It’s just a common courtesy to thank people like that,” he says.

and elementary [schools].” In addition to their demeanor, Chow has noticed that our high school students are especially fond of their sweets and chips. “I try to make [sure that we] always have [those snacks] on hand as much as possible,” he says.

Chow encourages students to keep working hard, especially for the things they are passionate about. He wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavors. And to students who purchase food from the cafeteria, he adds with a chuckle, “Please bring your IDs.”

Hawaii Baptist Academy strove to put the “social” in social distancing in its 2021-22 Winter Banquet.

The event took place at the Ko’olau Ballrooms on Saturday, February 5, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and closing five hours later. Close to 200 students booked their seats, eager for the school’s first off-campus dance in almost two years.

Inspired by the animated Disney movie Tangled, banquet organizers decorated the ballroom with purple and gold tones to mimic “a night under a thousand lanterns,” hoping to create an atmosphere befitting of the Valentine’s Day season. Junior Jolie Wong, banquet committee chair said, “We [hoped] the theme [encouraged] light spirits and good vibes.”

Under a Thousand Lanterns and Surgical Masks HBA HOLDS WINTER BANQUET AT KO’OLAU BALLROOMS → By Samantha Sebastian (‘22) NEWS

Originally, the banquet was to take place mid-December during the winter break, but with the Covid Omicron surge, school administrators called for a postponement. Wong said, “Planning a large, safe event didn’t seem achievable within the small window of time left for us. Pushing the date back allowed us time to organize more safety protocols as well as give the committee members more time to finish the semester well.”

The details for the banquet were only announced two weeks before the event and many were surprised by the high ticket price of $82, the steepest of any HBA banquet. Along with many other students, junior Jordy Davenport felt that the price was too high or “unfair.” However, vice principal Jeroldine Tsuha explained that the venue charged $64 per person and the cost of other expenses—like decorations and hiring a photographer—bumped it up to the final ticket price. Unlike previous years, this banquet was not subsidized by school funds.

At the check-in table, with smiles and freshly made up faces hidden under masks, students dutifully showed their vaccination cards (though this was not required as everyone had to have a negative Covid test prior) to enter the ballroom.

As junior Brendan Aoki remembers, it was a “memorable” night that exceeded his expectations. For the first time since Covid-restrictions, students were able to mingle freely with those outside their grade level at a school event, something Aoki appreciated. “I enjoyed being in the presence of students—not only from my own grade but students from other grades as well— having fun together. It was especially special after not being able to have many large gatherings of students and served to remind me of many people I had not seen in a while,” he said.

Once the junior emcees Ella Lim and Marissa Watanabe stood in front of the podium, the program officially kicked off for the evening. Students stood in line for food with servers plating the food for safety. The buffet consisted of somen salad, roast beef, and teriyaki chicken. Self-service was an option for the dessert table though, albeit with food-safe gloves provided by counselor Sean Ohira. Outside of the buffet spread, senior Andy Siu liked the chocolate heart favors in particular for the messages in the wrappers.

8

(Above) A group of sophomores are seated at their banquet table. Students were grouped into tables of eight people.

(Far left) Masked and wearing their contact tracing discs, students made the most of the dance floor.

Photographs by Justin Mayeshiro (‘22)

While cutlery clinked on the porcelain in the ballroom, some students took turns to get formal photos taken by KH Portraits, a local photography company. While standing in line, sophomore Taylor Malinger enjoyed watching other groups in front of her. “We waited in the room for our turn to take photos and watched the other groups get photographed, which was really entertaining, especially because I haven’t seen people’s full faces in a long time,” she said. For those who opted out of the paid photography services, there was a gray backdrop filled with balloons just by the entrance for students to take their own photos.

Once servers cleared the tables of plates, students filled in the free time by playing board games, cards, Connect Four, and other tabletop games. There were also several rounds of Gimmie-Gimmie, where students had to race to gather random items—like school IDs and earrings—to snag prize bags, as well as bingo with school-related topics.

As for dancing, tables were grouped into three 20-minute time slots to keep the dance floor spacious enough for social distancing. However,

once the lights were turned down and the DJ blasted “Baby” for the first shift, things got “chaotic,” according to sophomore Lindsey Toda, as students crammed onto the dance floor. Awkward circles fused into one large crowd, as students threw their hands in the air to the music. Groups not scheduled to dance created their own dance floors by their tables, making the most of the music.

Teachers and staff responded by handing out disposable gloves to the dancers, determined to manage the lack of social distancing. Some senior boys formed a conga line that snaked around the dance floor.

Despite the no-physical contact rule, some students held hands while couples sneaked embraces during the slow-but-not-too-slow songs.

While banquet chaperones may have stressed out over Covid-19 protocols, many banquet attendees reported feeling safe that evening, trusting in their masks and negative tests. Malinger expressed a sentiment shared by many of the students that night: “I was just happy for the opportunity to get together with my friends and have at least some sense of normalcy.”

Hooked on S → By Joni Ruan (‘22)

ADDED SUGAR in POPULAR TREATS 9

Haribo Gold Bears, Mini Packs 1 serving - 3 packs 17g added sugar / 34% Daily Value

Monster Energy Drink

2 servings - 1 can (16 fl. oz.)

54g added sugar / 108% DV

Boba Milk Tea Drink

1 serving - 16 fl. oz.

36g added sugar / 72% DV

Poi Mochi Donut

1 serving - 1 donut 22g added sugar / 44% DV

Bark Thins Snacking Dark Chocolate

1 serving - 1.1 oz.

11g added sugar / 22% DV 4.5 servings per 4.7 oz. bag

Photographs by Justin Mayeshiro (‘22).

Styled by Joni Ruan (‘22).

FEATURE

Malasadas, shaved ice, boba, ice cream, chocolate haupia pie, and mochi desserts are just a handful of our go-to mood boosters in Hawaii.

At the same time, we also recognize that these treats are a splurge when it comes to our sugar intake. While in theory most people agree that the American diet contains more sugar than is good, as a whole, studies have shown that Americans continue to be addicted to sweets. With dessert trends, boba tea and even “healthy” drink alternatives like fruit smoothies, it is difficult to eat within the recommended daily added sugar intake of 24 grams as advised by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Senior Justin Mayeshiro relies on energy drinks to help him push through the school day and its accompanying pile of assignments. (One can of Monster Energy—which contains two servings—has 54 grams of sugar.)

He states, “Even though I know it’s not exactly the healthiest option, I find that the productivity I gain from drinking energy drinks is worth the cost to me…However recently, I do often find myself drinking energy drinks even if I don’t need to do any school work. So, I guess it’s become a bit of a habit that I plan to start avoiding.”

Mayeshiro’s attitude is no exception. Many students are aware of the long term effects of a poor diet but have decided to kick the ball further down the road when it comes to managing their sugar consumption because they are not experiencing any negative effects on their health now.

According to the University of California San Francisco’s SugarScience website, “nearly 57 pounds of added sugar per person, every year,” is consumed. This is like eating almost half a person’s weight in sugar. Even products that are labeled as fruit or vegetable foods are not as healthy as the advertisers want you to think. On the back of these product packages, in miniscule font, is often a line item showing added sugars. SugarScience points out that “31% of American adults and 13% of kids suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),” a condition related to the consumption of too much added sugars. The site warns that “one of the

Sweets 10

most common types of sugar, fructose, can be toxic to the liver, just like alcohol.” In the United States, the amount of sugar (in the form of refined cane and beet sugar—sugar commonly added to baked goods, chocolates, coffee or tea) consumed daily per U.S. person has increased steadily in the last two decades. In 2020, the amount was 50.4 grams per person per day. The recommended added sugars daily amount is 24 grams.

Middle school P.E and Health teacher Tiffany Aguiar points out that students don’t pay attention to the effects that sugar has on them. She explained, “Sugary snacks and candy usually provide quick energy rather than longer lasting energy. So once the energy wears off, it can make you feel tired. Since it’s quick energy, it won’t be as helpful with being focused and alert in classes [nor will it] provide the energy students need to do their daily activities, including sports.”

Although there are many benefits that come with cutting down on sugar in your diet, it can be challenging to do so if you rely on sugar to function throughout the day. A sugar detox, where one completely cuts out added sugars from their diet, can lead to “cravings for sweet or high calorie foods, headaches, lack of energy, muscle aches, nausea, bloating, stomach cramps, irritability or anxiety, feeling down or depressed,” according to the website Medical News Today.

Senior Melanie Young is cautious of her sugar consumption. She reports feeling “better physically and mentally” when she is able to cut down on added sugars in her diet. However, she admits that cutting out the sweets in life “isn’t fun.”

11

Athletes like senior Micah Shibuya, a wrestler, has his sport to thank for his low sugar intake as he has to keep a healthy diet. “I haven’t eaten candy or any sweets like that since winter,” he said.

Grams of sugar

Calendar year 12

The amount of sugar (in the form of refined cane and beet sugar—sugar commonly added to baked goods, chocolates, coffee or tea) consumed daily per U.S. person has risen mostly upwards in the last 15 years. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 24 grams of added sugars a day. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

Compare, Contrast, Repeat SOCIAL MEDIA IS MAKING YOU MISERABLE, BUT FACEBOOK ALREADY KNEW THAT → By Lauren Toda (‘23) FEATURE

With the increased popularity of social media platforms like Tiktok, and Instagram, teens are constantly checking their phones for updates or messages from friends.

The addiction to social media is widely understood as harmful, yet teens continue to use these apps. In recent years, studies and research have shown that the use of social media has caused teens, especially teen girls, to spiral into depression.

13

In November 2021, a group of state attorneys general from at least 11 states launched an investigation against Meta, the company previously known as Facebook, accusing the company of violating consumer protection laws by promoting its social media app, Instagram, while knowing about the adverse effects the app has on teenagers.

A New York Times article about the investigation described how data from Meta’s internal research (leaked by a whistleblower) shows that “roughly a third of teenage girls in a survey who already felt bad about their bodies said Instagram made them feel worse.” Instagram’s popularity has transformed it from just a platform that enhanced social interactions to a virtual showcase for idealized lifestyles and looks that users, especially teens, measure themselves against.

Ellie Sakai, a seventh grader, observed, “I think that social media apps appeal to teenagers because people enjoy posting about their lives to boost their own confidence even though their life may not be as pleasant as they appear to be online.”

She added, “I’ve noticed that my classmates may act a different way especially when they get attention from others online.

For example, they might brag or be condescending and make others feel they’re less than.” Noelle Nagaishi, a junior, is also keenly aware of how social media is not a reflection of reality.

“Nothing on social media is real; everyone posts their best self,” she said. “They’re not going to post the struggles and hardships they go through because they want to put out a perfect image of their life.” However, this awareness does not necessarily protect users from comparing themselves to what they see on social media.

In an article on The Atlantic titled “The Dangerous Experiment on Teen Girls,” a social psychologist wrote that Meta’s own research found that “social comparison is worse” on Instagram than on rival apps. Junior Cameron Pien made the decision to stop using Instagram because of how it was negatively affecting

her. She found that was taking up too much of her time, Photograph

by Lauren TodaInstagram (‘23)

and eventually deleted the app because of the emotional strain it had on her. “I felt that a certain group of people, even though they had good intentions, were being insensitive with the information they were choosing to share on Instagram, and it really hurt me. That made me decide to reevaluate whether social media was healthy for me, and I realized that at that time in my life, it was toxic for me to be on Instagram because I was tempted to compare my looks and relationships with others, and it was causing me to feel insecure and anxious,” she wrote. Since Pien stopped using Instagram, she’s had more time to take care of herself . “I’ve been able to be more productive, focus on my personal goals, and not feel pressure to live up to other peoples’ expectations of me or to present a clinical, curated image of myself,” she wrote.

of social media’s impact on them and take steps to deal with it. She wrote, “Students should take time to acknowledge that what they are indeed doing is comparing themselves and be reminded that they are most likely comparing themselves to an unrealistic depiction of a ‘perfect life.’ People tend to just post the highlights and not the messy things going on in their lives. Students should dialog with their peers about this subject and let others know how they are feeling.

Another tendency we have when comparing ourselves to others is to find ways that we are better than others. ‘I may not be prettier than her, but I’m smarter.’ My best advice is to embrace your identity as a child of God. The God of the universe values you so much that He gave his only Son to rescue you. You are so valuable that God paid the ultimate price for you.”

While the data shows that social media has negatively impacted girls more than boys, Kyle Kumasaka, a junior, believes boys too can also fall into the comparison trap. He wrote, “I think that the statistics pointing towards teens suffering from depression due to social media are true. Teens compare themselves to others they see or read about online. For example, they may think the other person is better looking or more talented than they are which can lower their self-esteem.”

More recently, Tiktok has also come under scrutiny with the opening of an investigation by a handful of state attorneys general. Like the investigation on Meta, the states are looking into whether “the design and promotion of TikTok contribute to physical and mental health harms for teenagers and young adults.”

Tara Gruspe, a counselor at HBA, wants students to be conscious

14

Virtual tours of the high school include video segments featuring teachers talking about their subject areas. (Left) Math Teachers Aaron Kondo and Terence Li. (Right) English Teachers Dawson Vorderbruegge and Ryan Frontiera. Photographs courtesy of Patricia Chang.

Applications Increase from page 2

year junior Jared Cruz chose HBA for it’s academic rigor. “I wanted to be challenged academically. HBA’s higher academic standard [aided] my decision to apply to HBA,” he said.

For students coming from smaller schools, HBA’s extra curricular options are a big draw. Kinley Williams, a first year senior, writes, “I kind of just wanted an environment where there were a lot of people and events. My last school didn’t really have any school spirit or fun activities/sports, so that’s kind of what helped me choose HBA.” Freshman Kamden Kaneshiro Takeuchi came because of sports.

“The main factor in play was the fact that I could play volleyball for the school with people like my brother under Coach Teoni,” he said.

The new students also appreciate how HBA is small enough where students can easily get to know other students and faculty well.

“It is sort of like a big family,” Cruz notes. Kaneshiro fondly recalls how he got to know English teacher Ryan Frontiera. He writes, “Mr. Frontiera offered me a deal in the first quarter. He told me that if I didn’t keep my grade above an 80 then he would constantly nag me about it outside class and I quickly raised it to an 85.”

For eighth grader He, having a “pod” to belong to has helped her make new friends. She was also helped by her homeroom teacher, who assigned a partner to her to help her navigate the new school environment.

With one semester behind them, the new students report that there have been challenges in adjusting to a new school but that they are also having an easier time in the second semester. Students say a highlight of their transition has been making new friends and exploring new opportunities. However, a common complaint is that they have all experienced an increase in homework and projects.

“The workload is bigger, which is probably to be expected, but it is manageable over time,” Kaneshiro said.

For future new students, He and Cruz suggest getting involved in school activities and clubs. New seventh grader Zoe Lim shared this advice: “I would encourage anyone who is applying to HBA to be aware that it will be hard at first because you’ll be new and friendships may already be established. However, there are a lot of really nice people there and if you just put yourself out there, it will be easier to fit in and make friends.”

ROLL CALL for ROLE MODELS → By Marissa Watanabe (‘23)

FEATURE

15

(Left to right) Marissa Watanabe (‘23) wears a Harry Styles t-shirt; fellow juniors Samantha Cerda and Cori Matsumoto wear merchandise that they have purchased in support of a celebrity. Photograph by Marissa Watanabe (‘23).

Our celebrity role models of today are not the same as those of thirty years ago: standards have evolved, media coverage is wider, and perhaps what makes a good role model is being redefined as a whole.

Micro-celebrities on social media are heavily influencing the younger generation of today, hence their general title, “influencer.” One reason influencers appeal to their adolescent audience is because teenagers can easily identify with these young social media personalities. With a worldwide base of followers, Emma Chamberlain (15.2 million) and Jojo Siwa (11.4 million), actors Zendaya (132 million) and Timothée Chamalet (17.3 million) are just a small sample of personalities captivating the attention of adolescents virtually everywhere. Chamberlain, for example, vlogs about her everyday life in Los Angeles, taking her viewers for a sweaty ride at Soulcycle and later for a cup of homemade iced coffee, all while maintaining a personable and comedic personality. Liked for their youth, relatability, and nonconformity, these celebrities portray an idealized lifestyle for the younger generation and in many ways serve as role models for their fans.

Junior Sarah Kirimitsu believes that “it’s hard not to see some influencers as role models, especially those that are so often portrayed in pop culture and media.” On the other hand, she doesn’t necessarily view social media influencers as “good,” saying, “I don’t think it makes sense to look up to someone who you don’t really know. You might only know one side of them because social media makes it so easy to portray yourself as someone else.” Instead, Kirmitsu thinks that the younger

generation should look towards their communities when searching for role models. “Being able to talk to someone and actually know them definitely makes a world of a difference,” she added.

High school senior and Billie Eilish fan Aaron Yoshida agrees with Kirimitsu’s perspective, stating, “We have a deeper connection with the ones around us compared to the ones we see online.” Regardless, Yoshida’s admires Eilish’s selflessness and ability to “tap into her own emotions.”

Freshman Natali Nomura also believes that good role models can be found within one’s own community; however, she points out that oftentimes “adolescents turn to the media because of the disappointment that ensues after finding out that a person [from your community, who] you thought was perfect is, in fact, imperfect.”

Art teacher Garrett Omoto thinks that young people may resist seeing someone in their community as a role model because it’s much less glamorous than looking up to someone famous. He explained, “I think that generally it wouldn’t be ‘cool’ if you told your friends that your role model was your pastor or your parents.” Growing up, Omoto was a big fan of Clint Eastwood. “I admired him for his roles as a tough guy policeman in the Dirty Harry movies, and because he was always in control of situations, even though they seemed stressful or overwhelming.”

For those who look up to present-day celebrities, “cancel culture” has made celebrity status (and their perceived wholesomeness) even more fleeting. For example, at the beginning of 2021, actor Armie Hammer was “canceled” after being exposed for continued on page 18 his cannibalistic fantasies and accused

Anime Watch

→ By Noan Camacho (‘23)

REVIEWS

Anime has grown in popularity over the years Vinland Saga: and is now popular among people of all ages.

If you enjoy stories from the Vikings era or medieval times, then Vinland I began my anime journey when a friend of mine suggested that I watch the anime Naruto. Since then, I’ve watched around 20 new shows, each with a different story. What got me hooked on anime is the characters that the author creates and the connections that I feel with them, which make the show so much better. With a bunch of new anime launching new seasons and fans coming back to watch their favorite shows and characters, here are the top five anime that you don’t want to miss.

Kimetsu No Yaiba:

The Rising Of Shield Hero: Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you got sent to another world in order to save people from waves of monsters? If so, there is a show called “The Rising of Shield Hero,” that I think you will enjoy.

Unfortunately the show is only available on subscription platforms such as Crunchyroll ($8 monthly) and Funimation ($6 monthly), which I think makes the show less popular than it might’ve been had it been on platforms such as Netflix or other big anime websites.

When a writer is able to make me hate the antagonist characters so much, I know that they’ve done a good job. The Rising Of Shield Hero does just that. In the fantasy world, there are four main protectors of the king: The spear, sword, bow, and shield heroes. These four cardinal heroes are supposed to protect the kingdom from waves of monsters that show up here and there. Dropped into this fantasy world, protagonist Naofumi, the shield hero, thinks his life as a hero is going to be an enjoyable journey until he finds out that everyone in the kingdom despises the shield hero for some reason. As Naofumi is deceived and betrayed, he goes solo on his journey but not before meeting many allies and friends along the way. Will the shield hero gain his respect and trust back from the kingdom and other heroes?

Watch The Rising of Shield Hero to find out.

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll and Funimation When is next season: Spring 2022

Black Clover: In the world of Black Clover, magic is everything. But what happens if you don’t have any? That is the predicament that a peasant orphan named Asta is in. Asta and his friend Yuno are orphans at a church where they both train hard in order to become Wizard Kings. The two friends eventually become rivals on their journey to power. This show is underrated as some viewers have stopped watching due to bad animation and loud voice acting. But as I stuck with the show and gave it a chance, it only kept getting better and better after every episode.

The animation improved, the voice acting drastically got better, and the characters became more likable. I highly recommend giving this show a chance as it is really rare to find a show that keeps getting better.

Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Funimation, AnimeLab What else is coming up?: A movie version in Fall 2022

Attack On Titan: What’s an anime list without one of the most well known anime ever.

Attack On Titan features one of the greatest story lines and has one of the best protagonists ever: Eren Yeager. His morals and manipulative manner is something that a lot of characters don’t have. The show follows a young Eren Yeager, who admires the survey corps, a group of soldiers who travel outside the walls of Paradis to kill Titans—peopleeating monsters— and learn more about them. Eren lives a normal life but seeks freedom outside of the walls and away from the Titans.

One day a massive titan dubbed the “Colossal Titan” breaks the wall and unleashes chaos on the city. Eren loses his mother as a result and has to leave the city. However, he is determined to return for revenge.

Attack on Titan features plot twists, action, and a storyline that will keep viewers wanting more. The show features one of the greatest story lines and has one of the best protagonists ever. Eren’s morals and manipulative manner is something that a lot of characters don’t have. As the final season of Attack on Titan airs right now, fans are excited about things to come but also sad knowing that the journey will be over soon.

Where to watch: Hulu, Crunchyroll, and Funimation When to watch: New episodes of the final season every Sunday

16

One of the most popular anime at the moment is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba. With a successful season 1 in 2019, the show became even more popular with its new movie, Mugen Train, which came out in early 2021. The movie brought hoards of new fans to the show as the movie broke the record for highest grossing anime film worldwide, dethroning Spirited Away. The show follows a young boy with a kind heart named Tanjiro who burned coal for his poor family. That all changed when he comes back from coal burning and finds his whole entire family slain in his house and his sister is turned into a demon.

Determined to avenge his family and find a cure for his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps, whose goal is to protect civilians from demons. With season 2 almost finished, fans are beyond satisfied with how it has delivered. From non-stop action to beautiful fight scenes with amazing animation, the show is sure to entertain and engage all types of viewers. You don’t need to be an experienced anime watcher to watch Demon Slayer so it is a good starter anime.

Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation What’s coming up: Season 3 is confirmed for 2023

Saga is right up your alley. Set in 1013, Vinland Saga follows Thorfinn’s father, Thors. Thors is considered one of the strongest Jomvikings in the land. Always wanting to travel with his father, a young Thorfinn sneaks on to one of his fathers missions. As Thors and his men sail through a narrow valley, they are ambushed by a man named Askeladd who is hired to kill Thors and his men. Thors puts up a valiant fight against Askeladd’s men, killing many of them. However, Askeladd has his men kill Thors from above using arrows. Watching his father die before him, Thorfinn sneaks on to Askeladd’s ship seeking to avenge his father. Viking history has always fascinated me so this anime really captivated me. Also, since most anime are set in Japan, this show, which is set in Europe, was a nice change.

Where to watch: Netflix’s Japan region, Amazon Prime, Youtube.

When is the next season: July 2022

Girls Basketball Crowned State Champs

17

→ By Skylar Takeuchi (‘23)

SPORTS NEWS

Junior Trislyn Maeda attempts to make her way past a Mid-Pacific player. The Eagles lost 37-48 to the Owls, the second loss in a string of three losses at the end of the season. They advanced to the state tournament nonetheless, and took home the championship. Photograph

by Justin Mayeshiro (‘22).

After three years, the Heide & Cook state title has returned to HBA for the Girls Varsity Division II Basketball team. But this season was like no other. Despite injuries, and playing under COVID conditions and restrictions, the girls took home the state title on February 19, 2022, the third in HBA’s history.

The Lady Eagle’s journey this season has been a story of resilience and timing. Opening up the season with a win against Iolani II the girls went on a seven-game winning streak. The streak ended with a loss against Hanalani but they came back to win the following two games.

However, their rebound was short lived; the next three games on the road ended up as losses. With a 9-4 record, they finished second overall in the league and entered the Heide and Cooke HHSAA State Championship with nervous expectation.

This year’s team introduced a total of five new girls to the varsity program, challenging the returnees to become mentors and to find ways to unify the team early in the season. One of the new players, freshman Marisa Nakata, recalled, “Being a freshman on the team was hard in the beginning, since the level of competition and pace of the game was higher. But with the help of returning players I felt more

and more comfortable every practice and game.”

It took some time for the team to build chemistry on the court but it eventually came together. Junior Careah Baitlon said, “It was hard in the beginning because we had new people join our team this year and they had to learn how we do things on our team. As our season went on we were able to have team meetings to share about our goals for this season and all agreed that winning states is our main goal.”

One of the first hard lessons the team had to learn was then their winning streak broke with a 50-45 loss against Hanalani. Junior Trislyn Maeda said, “We were frustrated at the moment…maybe it was supposed to happen.” The girls were able to bounce back to win the following two games against Damien and Sacred Hearts.

Closing out the season, however, proved to be the next tough lesson.

They suffered three losses in a row to Damien, Mid-Pacific, and Sacred Hearts. Maeda said, “Coming out of these losses, we sort of had this chip on our shoulder going into the (state) tournament.” Looking back, senior Emi Wada, the team captain, believes the losses gave them an unexpected advantage. “We started off strong, going undefeated and even beating the #1 in ILH (Damiel), helping us to secure our place in the state tournament. But, after an injury to one of our key players, we went on a losing streak that put us in second place in the league.

Though we didn’t realize it at the time, those losses were pivotal to our eventual success, humbling our team, removing the target from

our backs that come with being undefeated, and motivating us to prove ourselves and beat the teams that once defeated us,” she said.

Determined to put the trio of losses behind them at the end of the season, the girls took advantage of the 11-day break before the tournament, training and recovering from injury. Head coach Robin Yamaguchi expressed his optimism at the time, saying, “We got a good shot at doing well. The key is for us to get healthy and stay healthy.”

As the four-day tournament kicked off on February 16, the Lady Eagles proved they were ready to win by beating Pearl City 53-30. Then they beat Kauai and Hanalani, and all there was left was to beat Sacred Hearts to win the state championship.

The day of the finals brought a large group of supporters for the Lady Eagles to the Blaisdell arena. However, an even bigger and louder group for the Sacred Heart’s Lancers showed up, which gave Maeda the nerves. The girls struggled to find their rhythm in the first quarter but they powered through and took the lead 16-14 in the second.

Maeda said, “I remember our coaches saying that we need to have the memory of a goldfish. You kind of just have to forget about [adversity] as much as you can.”

The rest of the game was all in the Lady Eagles’ favor as they pushed through and went on to beat the Lancers 41-28 to claim the state title.

Junior Joey Lin was named OC16’s Impact Player of the Game with a game-high of 12 points. Seniors Emi Wada and Haley Taka, and junior Careah Baitlon earned all-tournament honors.

of mistreatment by multiple women.

He was swiftly dropped from a major movie role as the internet lit up with dirty laundry on his personal life. Many other celebrities have been “canceled” for less egregious reasons. In August of 2020, renowned singer Adele took to Instagram to share her costume for London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival, which celebrates black British culture. Within minutes, the pop star was criticized and accused of cultural appropriation.

Role Models from page 15

Yoshida believes that his respect for canceled celebrities depends on the severity of their mistakes. If his role model Billie Eilish were to do something he strongly disagreed with, Yoshida said his regard for her would diminish; however, if her mistake were minor, Yoshida believes that his admiration wouldn’t falter.

The publicized lives of many celebrities is fodder for cancel culture.

Celebrities who share details of their private lives with the media often expose themselves to a critical audience. “[They] get scrutinized so often and so closely that it’s not hard for people to reach for something

to ‘cancel’ that person for,” said Kirimitsu. Additionally, Nomura believes that the actions of celebrities carry a lot more weight than those of the average person; every stumble a pop star makes does not go unnoticed. “The more popular you are, the more people are going to hate and like you, and regardless of which side they are on, they’re going to want to dig and know everything about you,” she said.

Even so, cancel culture hasn’t impeded the proliferation of pop culture role models. From twenty-one year-old singer Willow Smith to actor and singer Joshua Bassett, who is donating all proceeds from his new song “Crisis” to numerous mental health organizations, young celebrity personalities are winning the admiration of fans all over.

Omoto points out that celebrities function as role models whether or not they like it. He believes their status should create “a sense of responsibility for them to be the best people they can be.”

18

(Left) Senior Emi Wada, team captain, makes a shot against MidPacific. Photograph by Justin Mayeshiro (‘22).

Spirit Weak → By Megan Lee (‘23) COMMENTARY

For most students, we have grown used to the words “canceled” or “postponed.”

From school dances like the Winter Banquet or athletic games like Spike Nite, all of which are no longer held or face several modifications due to coronavirus restrictions.

However, one of my biggest disappointments includes a long-held tradition: HBA’s Spirit Week. Looking back, I feel as if Spirit Week is a rite of passage for seventh graders entering their upcoming years at the upper campus. I remember sitting in the bleachers in awe when the juniors and seniors (the class of 2019 and 2018) battled with ferocious stomping, piercing yells, and swinging ti leaves. After watching the spirited chaos unfold, a flicker of shame crossed my and my classmates’ minds as the rest of the upper grades remained unimpressed but sympathetic at our subsequent weak cheers. With a few years of Spirit Week experience up my sleeve, I now recognize the embarrassment of wide-eyed seventh graders and the enthusiasm of ruling upperclassmen as HBA tradition.

As I near my last years as a high school student, the end of my coming-of-age movie definitely feels anticlimactic. Without the annual student festivities, I’m not surprised if people are losing interest in school spirit. Face masks shield most visible signs of emotions while table occupancy limitations prevent gatherings among different friend groups. These safety protocols have become the dreaded, ubiquitous phrase: the new normal. As we grow accustomed to the present social impacts of a worldwide pandemic, I can’t help but wonder if some things will ever return to the way they used to be.

For example, current middle schoolers have no recollection of a true HBA Spirit Week.

The first five school days in January–when the event usually takes place–do not elicit the typical feelings of eagerness and pride in one’s class. The same competitive drive I witnessed as a seventh grader does not translate to my junior year. As I think about

the rising high schoolers and middle schoolers, I feel sympathetic towards their version of a “full” experience that remains limited to pictures in yearbooks and fading memories from teachers and older students.

For those who do remember, these changing times also beg the question: Do we all want to be social again? During the hybrid schedule of last school year, I would happily log off of Google Meet at the end of class and climb into bed out of exhaustion. The inconvenience of having to communicate only through text for some of my friends was unappealing, so I often found myself choosing “me” time, whether it be baking cakes, reading books, or watching Netflix movies by myself. I grew comfortable with the freedom and solitude of quarantine life, so the transition back into fully in-person, in addition to coronavirus restrictions, was difficult to say the least. Everything felt so foreign again, and being back in school revealed the height of our class’ disconnection. Like many people, I can agree that the constant changes were tiresome. I often pondered on how I could possibly think about school–let alone school spirit–when there was so much chaos in the world.

Because we have been isolated for so long, returning to class or attending a schoolbonding event requires us–especially for all the introverts out there (myself included)–

to exercise a muscle we have not used in a while. However, putting in the effort to participate, whether it be a class Valentine’s Day waffle breakfast to Saturday gardening for the Environmental Club, has shown me glimpses of how great it is to connect with others in school. I know it may sound cliché, but one of the greatest lessons the pandemic has taught me is to simply be present. I’m thankful for the chance to eat lunch with my friends, albeit socially-distanced. I look forward to holiday-themed school dress up days or the chance to spend time with my class during our on-campus Christian Emphasis Wednesdays.

Although it is hard to admit that things may never be the same, we can only look towards the future. Even with the absence of loud cheers or collective student gatherings, I’m still hopeful that school spirit is not entirely lost. Instead, I believe we have the ability to create a new version of it. For those who feel tired, who can’t be bothered to socialize, or don’t even know what school spirit is like, I challenge you to be willing to give it a chance.

When the time comes, don’t be afraid to jump in and join the group. Like all new situations that seek to push us out of our comfort zones, they may feel out of place at first, but I can assure you that they will be worthwhile in the end.