2022 December Eagle Eye

HAWAII BAPTIST ACADEMY

VOL 37, NO 2 DEC 2022

To Love and Listen → By Cameron Pien (‘23) EDITORIAL

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’ve always found it interesting that God chose a group of shepherds to be the first recipients of the news of Jesus’ birth. The shepherds didn’t possess any special power or status: They weren’t scholars or kings; they were just ordinary people whose lives were transformed by an extraordinary God. I picture them standing completely awestruck, mouths agape, as the glorious song of the angels flowed down from heaven. In Luke 2:10, an angel says to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” After receiving this message, the shepherds rushed to find Mary and Joseph. Their mundane night was utterly revolutionized by the transcendent truth of the Messiah’s arrival. In the same way that God delivered a surprising message of joy and peace to the shepherds, I wonder if we can do the same for those around us during the holiday season. The world is full of people whose lives we can brighten through acts of love and encouragement.

Gift-giving is a prime opportunity to observe the interests of loved ones and validate their passions. I have a tradition of making handmade gifts for my family and friends. During conversations in the months prior, I tuck away details they mention so I can incorporate them into presents.

Every year at the beginning of winter break, I triumphantly emerge from the aisles of the craft store, equipped with the supplies needed for my creations. At eleven years old, my brother possesses an unabashed adoration for devouring and discussing all forms of starch, so I sewed him a potato plush toy as a Christmas gift last year. I’ve also painted a Hunger Games poster for my sister and made a Pride and Prejudice ornament for my friend, who correctly believes that Lizzy and Darcy are the pinnacle of romance. Witnessing how personalized creations bring joy to others has shaped my belief that gift-giving is a powerful way to cultivate thoughtfulness and empathy. After all, gifts are one of the five love languages, and there’s power in listening to others and in making them feel seen.

Giving presents is a Christmas tradition, but we rarely pause to reflect on why we do it. We obsess over providing a perfect present, sometimes to the point that the process becomes more about proving ourselves than bringing joy to recipients. Gift-giving shouldn’t be a form of peoplepleasing, and I like to remind myself that it doesn’t matter whose gift is a person’s “favorite.” I’d also highly recommend making a gift instead of purchasing one, since handmade presents often have a much more heartfelt, personal feel. Even if the cookies are slightly misshapen or the drawing on the card doesn’t look exactly like what you intended, I promise that the recipient will be honored and gratified that you took the time to create something specifically for them.

Another gift we can grant to others is our time. Christmas gatherings are a chance for us to foster connections Continued on Page 3 with people we don’t usually encounter.

Cover Photos

By Cameron Pien (‘23)

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 Cameron Pien (‘23)

FALL SEMESTER STAFF Cayte Akamu (‘25) Noah Camacho (‘23) Dilan Chock-Makiya (‘23) Noah Hu (‘23) Megan Lee (‘23) Titus Lee (‘24) Fai Steffany (‘24) John Yamamoto (‘23)

ADVISOR Eunice Sim

Follow us @hbaeagleeye on Instagram www.hbaeagleeye.com

Students Create Ornaments for Science → Cayte Akamu (‘25) NEWS

It gets extra festive in the science labs around this time of year as the Science Department rolls out its annual Christmas ornament projects. The project has been a tradition since 2013 and requires students to create ornaments that relate to their field of study.

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For their “ChemisTree Project,” the sophomores were challenged to create ornaments and Christmas cards that represented elements from the periodic table. Sage Shiroma picked tellurium.

He said, “I ended up making a silver origami wolf standing on a present in snow with crystals around it to reflect the LED light overhead. The light itself is powered by a solar panel.” While Shiroma managed to complete the assignment, he wasn’t entirely satisfied by certain aspects of his project. “There weren’t enough crystals, the tail on the wolf was too long, and there was an empty feeling to the ornament, like it needed more,” he said.

Like Shiroma, Samuel Ruan went the extra mile and added lights to his ornament. Ruan’s element was xenon, and he was happy with his pick. “It’s a cool noble gas,” he said. “I learned that xenon is the main source of light in UV lights and photography lamps.

So I made an ornament with a cloud inside, and the cloud lit up like xenon.” He added, “I do wish I could’ve incorporated more photography elements to my ornament and my Christmas card, but other than that, I feel really happy about how it turned out.”

Classmate Kellan Imaguchi picked uranium. He explained, “I was fine with my element, but I would rather have had Holmium since the symbol is ‘Ho.’ I would have had a pretty good idea for the Christmas card part of the project. But I ended up making a clay nuclear plant that’s in the North Pole, and it turned out better than expected.” Ree Fukumoto, a former swimmer, picked chlorine. Fukumoto’s ornament featured a miniature pool with chlorine tablets and pool toys. Amanda Tsuha picked calcium, another well-known element. “I liked it because there are a lot of uses for calcium in our everyday lives, especially in health.”

Tsuha created a milk carton ornament out of origami paper.

Students who picked gasses were challenged to showcase the elements via solid items. Natali Nomura, who picked oxygen, planned on using fire to represent the gas, as fire needs oxygen to burn. She also shared what she learned about oxygen, saying,

(Top) An ornament for boron. (Middle) A banana ornament for potassium. (Bottom left to right) Flourine ornament; Beryllium ornament: This element is used in specialized gears and cogs.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CAYTE AKAMU (‘25)

“We really can’t live without it, and it has many different uses that I didn’t expect.”

AP Environmental students participated in “The EcoTree Project,” and their task was to showcase two environmental laws in the US by making an ornament and a Christmas card. As an added challenge, the students had to give a presentation about their projects in class.

Senior Jasmine Chang was assigned to the Montreal Protocol, a law phasing out harmful ozone-depleting substances like HCFC and CFCs. She said, “I made a mini model of the Earth with a hole on the bottom to symbolize the ozone hole over Antarctica, along with the Canadian maple leaf since the international law was established in Montreal.”

For her Christmas card, Chang made a card featuring a nuclear waste bin. “I had CERCLA, [an act] which provides a superfund to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites, accidents, and spills.”

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Classmate Marissa Watanabe represented CERCLA through her ornament. “I recycled some old batteries and dressed them up as Santa Claus and his elves, and I used batteries because they’re considered hazardous waste,” she said. For her Christmas card, Watanabe had to showcase CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species), which protects over 38,000 species of animals and plants from threats of international trade. She explained, “I titled it ‘Dear Santa Claus,’ and inside the card, I wrote to Santa all the things I did not want for Christmas. I told Santa that I didn’t want a giant panda or a green sea turtle, because both are endangered species that shouldn’t be unnecessarily traded and brought into climates where they won’t thrive.”

Science Department Chair Claire Mitchell, who introduced these projects, is always impressed by students’ creativity. “I’ve seen 3D projects, pop up cards, light up ornaments, and even interactive creations. The best projects are those that you could tell the students

A hand-knitted tooth to showcase calcium.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CAYTE AKAMU (‘25)

had fun creating,” she said. The goal of the assignment is to help students apply scientific concepts in a novel way. “I hope they get a chance to learn a little bit more about how elements play a role in their everyday lives and give their creative sides a chance to shine,” she said.

From page 1 “To Love and Listen”

groups of people and make them feel valued by seeking out their advice and company.

Sometimes, if we’re tired, stressed, or just naturally introverted, we desperately want to conserve the energy it takes to approach others and have a conversation instead of giving it away. When I was younger, my parents would often chastise me for hiding away in the corner with a book during Christmas parties. Honestly, I’m still tempted to do that, but I’ve realized that I’d be ignoring valuable opportunities to form new relationships and rekindle neglected connections. I always enjoy catching up with someone I haven’t seen in a while and simply listening to them talk about the experiences and Iessons they’ve gained. Instead of just waving hello, take the time to sit down and have a thoughtful conversation with someone, whether they’re a distant family member or a friend of your parents. Holiday gatherings are chances to nurture relationships with diverse

For many of us, the holiday season is synonymous with noise and activity. We rush to and from Christmas parties every weekend, frantically drive to the mall in search of lastminute gifts, and exuberantly sing along to “Winter Wonderland” in the car. While there’s certainly a unique kind of exhilaration found in those moments of frenetic activity, I believe that Christmas should also be about loving others through quiet moments of listening. In the bustle of the holiday season, we can find ways to be still and gently speak through the noise. Over the next month, I’m planning to create thoughtful gifts, start conversations with old friends, and read Scripture and emulate the times that Christ listened in order to encourage and bless others. During his lifetime, Jesus preached to massive crowds, but he also sat

down with individuals, listened to their stories and cares, and then ministered directly to them.

God’s gift to the shepherds was the news of Jesus’ birth, and the shepherds proceeded to joyously pass it on to those around them. Often, when we share our love, talents, or time with someone, our gift inspires the recipient to do the same for others. Love always overflows.

Japanese Language Students Head to Japan in Spring → By Noah Hu (‘23)

Sensei Elena Yoo teaches the AP Japanese class. Yoo is reviewing grammar rules students should remember when working on their upcoming eco-awareness project. PHOTOGRAPH BY NOAH HU (‘23)

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This spring break, all seniors in Japanese 4, AP Japanese, and seniors who took Japanese will take their first trip to mainland Japan since 2019. Prior to the pandemic, HBA’s Japanese language program has always taken a biennial school trip to Japan. In fact, many other classes also took school trips to various locations, such as England, Spain, East Coast, Galapagos, and Yellowstone. But due to the recent pandemic, nearly all trips have been canceled or limited in some capacity.

Usually, both seniors and juniors are invited on the trip, but because of the pandemic seniors in Japanese 3 who would have been eligible for the trip never got the opportunity to attend. Next fall break however, HBA still plans to take a regular trip for Japanese 3 and 4/AP students.

The main cities that the students will be visiting include Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo and Saitama. According to AP Japanese teacher, some options that are being considered for the itinerary are various temples and shrines, gardens in Kyoto, Big Buddha in Nara Deer Park, Onsen (hot spring) in Kyoto, Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, Wagashi (Japanese confectionary) making experience with matcha, Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Tokyo, Team Lab Digital art museum & Daiba, Tsukiji Outer

market in Tokyo and Totoro Forest strolling + individual experience like shopping, college visits, etc.

Students most likely won’t be able to visit all of these spots however.

The trip’s cost of $2000-$3000 will determine the length of the trip and the number of attractions they can visit.

Other than visiting for leisure, Yoo hopes that the trip will enhance what students have been learning in their Japanese classes. Throughout the trip students will expand their knowledge of Japanese history, language, etiquette, transportation, fashion, geography, and more.

Yoo also adds, “Even though some students may have forgotten the language, going to Japan will surely bring some of the learned words and phrases back and make them real. Language will literally come alive when we visit the country”. She especially hopes AP Japanese will have epiphanies about the culture they’ve learned throughout the year.

AP Japanese students going on the trip are excited for a variety of different things, from shopping to just spending time with their peers.

Senior John Yamamoto finds going on the trip as a way to reconnect with his heritage. He says, “I would like to learn more about Japanese views on life, as well as things that they celebrate. I would like to learn these things because I am full Japanese-American and would like to get more in touch with my roots.”

Student Film Wins HIFF Audience Award

SENIOR GINO CARUSO’S AGENT ROVER WINS AUDIENCE VOTE FOR STUDENT SHORT FILMS → By Titus Lee (24’) NEWS

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(Left) Senior Gino Caruso (second from left) takes a photo with his Agent Rover crew at HIFF. His sister, Pepper (to his right), a freshman at HBA, was one of the voice actors in his film. (Right) Cinema Poster for Agent Rover. PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF GINO CARUSO (‘23).

Three HBA student-produced films were showcased at this year’s Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) as part of the Student Showcase program. Agent Caruso, an animated film, was produced and directed by senior Gino Caruso. “Remember to Be Considerate,” a PSA, was directed by freshman Lauren Espiritu.

The high school animation class produced a collection of animations full of their own original characters.

At the HIFF, Caruso’s film won the Audience Award for Student Short presented by Hawaii News Now. “The theater was packed; every seat was filled. My heart was beating a hundred miles an hour,” Caruso recalled. Along with the excitement, he found the experience gratifying and appreciated when the audience would laugh at the jokes and applaud at the end. Caruso also enjoyed watching the other movies and meeting their respective filmmakers, particularly animators like himself. “It’s a rare hobby, and I always like talking about it with someone who does it,” Caruso explained.

Agent Rover featured high-speed chases, skydives, and explosions, revolving around the story of a crime-fighting canine named Rover who must track down a cat burglar. Caruso had to create a threedimensional background, add voices and sound effects, and animate complex movements, a laborious process that took five months

to complete. “Animation is hard, especially when you aren’t using shortcuts like puppets,” Caruso said. He added that seeing his ideas eventually come to life in a film was especially rewarding considering the work he put in.

With the experience of making Agent Rover behind him, Caruso is currently working on a sequel. The script has already been finalized and his voice actors have already begun recording some parts. He also has about 30 seconds of animation already finished.

Caruso intends to study film at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

While he’s encouraged to have been recognized as animator at HIFF, he has his heart set on becoming a director. “I would rather be a director that knows how to animate, so I have intimate knowledge of my production and can personally do a scene if I want it a certain way,” Caruso explained.

Senior Gino Caruso (front row, far right) gathers with all the student filmmakers at HIFF. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GINO CARUSO (‘23).

Winter Banquet Is Here → By Fai Steffany (24’) NEWS

This year’s winter banquet theme is “The Snow Queen’s Masquerade.” The banquet will take place at the Hilton Waikiki on December 19. About 300 students have registered to attend, and freshmen are especially excited. Freshman Zoë Naso said, “It’s my first time going to a formal banquet, and I’m excited to have fun after COVID has ended.”

Upperclassmen are hoping to make the most of the last few events they can spend with classmates. Senior Hae Kahana said, “I’m just happy that I get to spend time with all my friends for my last year, and my dress looks really good this year.”

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(Top right) The Winter Banquet poster this year featured artwork

by Kellan Imaguchi (‘25); (Above and left) Upperclassmen lined up during lunch to sign up for banquet tables. This year, the upperclassmen were allowed to go first. Sophomores and freshmen signed up for their tables over the following two days.

Michelle Lee practices with playing cards.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY DILAN CHOCK-MAKIYA (‘23)

SHARING JOY THROUGH MAGIC MICHELLE LEE ON GROWING UP AS A MAGICIAN’S DAUGHTER → By Cameron Pien (‘23) FEATURE

For most people, magic is a mystery. For junior Michelle Lee, magic has been a lifelong companion.

As the daughter of a professional magician, Lee accompanied her father to his performances and grew up behind the scenes of a magician’s world. “I usually just went to help clean up, but I watched from afar.

And I saw that everyone in the audience was so happy, and I wanted to do that for people,” she recalled.

Her father, James Lee, said, “I’ve accomplished my goal of becoming a professional magician, and now, I’m sharing my knowledge of the art of magic with the next generation.” He began teaching his daughter how to do magic when she was four. When she was six, she started performing in shows. As Michelle Lee grew older, she refined her skills by attending workshops and joining organizations for magicians.

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The magician community in Hawaii is relatively small (around fifty to sixty people according to Michelle Lee), and she describes it as supportive and welcoming. She’s part of a worldwide organization called the Society of American Magicians, and one of her favorite memories is performing at the Christmas show for the Hawaii chapter of the group when she was ten. “It had been one of my dreams since I was five to go on the show, and at that time I was still really small and hadn’t done extremely big performances. I was super excited about it since I was the first child of the club to do this show. The club was selling tickets and there were about eight hundred people watching, including newscasters” she said.

Michelle Lee comes from a family of performers who use their talents to serve the elderly community. Her mother is a piano teacher and does recitals at care homes, and so Michelle Lee and her father were inspired to start performing magic for the elderly.

Although many aspects of her act remain the same, Michelle Lee does have to adjust her presentation to suit her audience. “For community service, the audience reaction is sometimes different, because the people are older, so they’re not going to interact as much as if I was doing a show elsewhere,” she said.

Junior Michelle Lee performs a trick involving doves.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Michelle Lee performed in three to four large shows a year, and she’d practice for a couple hours daily during the weeks leading up to the event. Planning for a show involves a number of factors. She said, “[The tricks I perform] depend where I’m going and on the audience. If it’s all younger kids, I can’t do anything they won’t understand. Normally, I’ll use doves…But if I’m at nursing homes, I don’t usually incorporate overly large props, because they’re hard to bring.”

There are three main types of magic: stage, illusions, and close up.

Michelle Lee explained, “Stage and illusion go together. But usually professional magicians, like David Copperfield, will perform illusions,

which are tricks like cutting people in half or tying people up. For stage magic, some people will also talk during larger card tricks so everybody in the audience can participate. But in my opinion, stage involves not talking, so you have a more elegant act. It’s just more appealing to the eye. Close up is smaller hand tricks with cards or silk that can be done in a shorter amount of time.”

Michelle Lee’s speciality is stage magic, and her favorite trick is the final one in her act. “Prior to it, I produce four doves from different places, and they’ll be in a big birdcage. I cover the cage, then throw it up and make Continued on Page 13 it disappear,” she said.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MICHELLE LEE (‘24)

Perseverance Pays Off

(Left) Senior Katie Chen plays her guzheng at home.

She records videos of her own performances for her online concerts.

(Right) Junior Keenan Kim practicing his ukulele at home. Photo courtesy of Keenan Kim (‘24).

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF KATIE CHEN (‘23) & KEENAN KIM (‘24)

STUDENT MUSICIANS IN PURSUIT OF MASTERY

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→ By Megan Lee (‘23) FEATURE

In the early mornings before the school bell rings, you may hear the sound of a violin above the chatter of student activity in the high school mall. The violinist is sophomore Tobi Watanabe, and you will find him practicing his music among the chaos of students socializing before the start of the school day.

Watanabe began playing the violin when he was three years old.

Little did he know, he would continue playing for twelve and a half more years.

Music is no foreigner in the Watanabe family. His grandpa is the former band conductor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and his mother is a violinist. It was Watanabe’s mother who made sure he learned the violin at a young age, and it was only later in his life that he discovered a passion for it. “I found pieces that were fun to play for me and started practicing more and more,” he said.

In addition to regular private lessons, Watanabe practices around thirty minutes to one hour every day. He also performs at least once a year, and his private teachers enroll him in a local performance festival where students play their instrument and receive grades from professional judges. Watanabe also plays in the Hawaii Youth Symphony (HYS), where he has earned the first chair position in his first and second violin sections. “My favorite moment playing [the] violin was my first HYS concert as it was the first time I had played in a large, organized string orchestra, and I had a blast playing with everyone there and a few friends,’’ he said.

Like Watanabe, senior Katie Chen is also a string instrument musician.

Chen began playing the guzheng when she was six years old after hearing her music teacher at Chinese school perform. “I thought the

music sounded so beautiful, so I asked her to teach me,” she said. “I still play because it’s a way for me to feel connected to my culture, and not many know how to play traditional instruments since they aren’t as mainstream.” The guzheng is a Chinese plucked string instrument that sounds similar to a harp.

Because the guzheng is not as common in Hawaii, Chen faced difficulties finding a teacher that not only has the ability to play the instrument but also has the availability and willingness to teach. Nonetheless, Chen still plays intermittently, currently practicing for around an hour before her weekly lessons despite busyness with school and extracurriculars. She especially enjoys “[mastering] a new technique or [memorizing] a particularly difficult line.”

Chen mainly does recitals for her teacher or entertainment at family events, but her most memorable performance was at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza during Lunar New Year several years ago. After years of playing the guzheng, Chen believes that her music has taught her to keep trying even when she makes mistakes.

Unlike Watanabe and Chen, junior Keenan Kim is a self-taught musician. Two years ago, he began to play the ukulele because he wanted an outlet to express his creativity outside of school, and he thought string instruments looked enjoyable. Kim practices for around an hour every day and occasionally performs for family and friends.

(Right) Recently, senior Noah Hu spent six hours recording a video of his own piano performance, which was sent to the National Guild of Piano Teachers for judging.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF NOAH HU (‘23).

“My favorite moment when playing my instrument came when I thought about how fluidly I was able to switch from one chord to the next and how soft the strings felt on my fingers,” he said. Kim appreciates how playing the ukulele has helped build his dedication, rather than “wasting [his] day through other means.” Music has also taught him the value of patience, practice, and hard work.

Senior Noah Hu started playing the piano at five years old, encouraged by his parents to follow in his older brothers’ footsteps of learning the instrument. Along with weekly lessons, Hu practices around an hour every day. He also performs in recitals organized by his teacher three to four times a year. “It’s given me a lot more discipline to do work because I have to sit at my piano and just play and practice. Especially when there are hard passages, I sometimes play one measure of music 50 times in a row without stopping,” he said.

Hu’s consistent efforts paid off, earning him both the National Guild of Piano Teachers High School Diploma and the Paderewski Medal. The High School Diploma presented by the American College of Musicians requires students to perform a repertoire of music and receive a passing evaluation based on technique and overall competence. The Paderewski Medal is an achievement given to a musician who plays and masters 10 piano pieces for 10 years. Hu was recently awarded a $500 music scholarship because of these two recognitions.

Despite playing music that requires specific parameters, Hu still enjoys the musical freedom of certain pieces like George Gershwin’s jazzy “Rhapsody in Blue” rather than Johann Sebastian Bach’s classical fugues. “I really like how once you learn a piece you can put your own spin on it. You can play with the expression of the music,” he said.

Hu’s most memorable moment playing the piano was during a recent recital. “I made my teacher cry, which has never happened before. The piece was called ‘Liebestraum,’ and it’s slow at the very end and has a lot of slow chords,” he explained. “I think she thought it was really nice—the way I was playing. I’ve been her student for so long, so I think she was proud of how far I’ve come.” Hu hopes to continue his musical pursuits in college by minoring in piano.

All of these student musicians embrace a common experience; they have worked diligently to master their instrument, and they continue to strive for further improvement. Watanabe summed up a sentiment shared by them. He said, “Playing [the] violin has improved my learning and patience skills, as well as teaching me an important lesson, that sometimes, even if we don’t like something, we have to learn to love it as time passes.”

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(Left) Sophomore Tobi Watanabe plays his violin in the high school mall. Taking every opportunity to practice, Watanabe often plays his violin during breaks and lunches at school. PHOTOGRAPH BY MEGAN LEE (‘23)

The History of

Random Christmas Things → By John Yamamoto (‘23) FEATURE

Christmas is a season riddled with interesting characters and traditions.

While the origins of Santa Claus are pretty well-known, few people know how fruitcake became the classic holiday dessert or why the Japanese celebrate Christmas by eating KFC. So if you’re curious or want to brush up on your Christmas trivia, read on to learn more about some random Christmas things!

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MISTLETOE Did you know that the name of the beautiful evergreen plant you hope to kiss your lover under this Christmas season translates to “poop stick” in Anglo-Saxon language?

While often overlooked among other Christmas icons, mistletoe actually has a rich history and is quite a peculiar plant. According to CoolGreenScience, mistletoe is a leafy evergreen semi-parasitic plant with waxy white berries that is planted in trees via bird poop. As it grows, the plant attaches itself to its host tree through an appendage that it uses to steal water and nutrients. In a way, the mistletoe “kisses” its host, although it is far from romantic as the host begins to die. The Romans revered mistletoe as a symbol of peace, love, and understanding, and they would hang it over doorways. The first instance of lovers kissing under the mistletoe actually occurred during a Roman celebration called Saturnalia, where you might guess from the name, they honored the god Saturn. According to Ambius.com, the mistletoe tradition also comes from Norse

FRUITCAKE mythology. In those stories, the goddess Figg loses her son Baldur to his weakness, an arrow made from mistletoe. In response to her son’s death, Figg vows to kiss anyone who walks underneath mistletoe, as long as the plant is no longer used as a weapon. Fast forward a few hundred years, mistletoe became a sign of vitality and fertility at Christmas time in early Christianity. This may have been because the parasitic plant stays green and healthy even after its host’s passing. In the 1700s, the lower class people of England brought the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe as a Christmas tradition. The tradition grew in England and soon spread to all classes and America.

Ever took a bite of fruitcake and wondered why it even exists?

Some say that the infamous Christmas dessert was first created as an energy bar made by the Romans who needed sustenance while out in the battlefield.

However, according to PBS.com, the modernstyle fruitcake that we now know and mock likely originated from the Early Middle Ages.

During this time, baking with sweet spices

such as cinnamon alongside fruits and nuts in cakes was a sign of culinary sophistication because spices were expensive. Because of its status, the fruitcake became a popular delicacy in Europe and was later introduced to America by the European colonists. In 1913, with the addition of the Parcel Post Service to the U.S. Post Office, mail-order foods became a common way for people to access oncerare delicacies. Fruitcake’s unrivaled shelf-life made it the perfect food to send through the mail, and this convenience quickly made fruitcake iconic in America. By the 1950s, it became a Christmas tradition; millions of fruitcakes would be sent to friends and family each holiday season.

Fun Fact: Fruitcakes have an extremely long shelf-life without the need for refrigeration. The secret lies in the seasoning: making a fruitcake involves brushing it periodically with a distilled liquor and storing it in a cool dark place for several months.

Want to try a fruitcake for yourself this holiday season? Pick one up from your local Costco or Safeway, or for even more of a traditional feel, get a mail order one from Amazon or Goldbelly.com.

FIGGY PUDDING

recipe—a pudding composed of breadcrumbs, eggs, sugar, suet, raisins, currants, and candied orange peel. The pudding was actually banned in England in 1647. Figgy pudding was a Christmas tradition in Britain at the time and it is said that the thirteen ingredients used to make it represent the twelve disciples plus Jesus. The Puritans who sought to remove any practices not directly associated with the bible, outlawed the flavorful dessert. Figgy pudding lovers later rejoiced when King George I reinstated their beloved food as a Christmas pudding.

KFC IN JAPAN In Japan, Christmas is marked by time for family, spectacular Christmas light displays, and Colonel Sanders.

Yup, you heard me right. Each year at Christmas, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families indulge themselves in the crispy, warm, and flavorful delight of KFC chicken. According to japanRailPass, people pre-order their meals up to six weeks in advance in order to guarantee themselves a finger lickin’ good Christmas. This tasty tradition started with a KFC employee named Takeshi Okawara. It was Christmas in the year 1970. A foreigner had gone into a Japanese KFC to buy chicken because he couldn’t find a turkey to celebrate Christmas with. Okawara overheard the customer’s grievances and came up with the idea for a KFC “Christmas party bucket”. In 1974, KFC did a massive marketing campaign in which they sold a bucket of chicken and a bottle of wine.

They proposed the idea that chicken at Christmas is not only for kids, but enjoyable for adults as well. KFC used the slogan “Kentucky for Christmas,” and the Japanese people soon got into it. Colonel statues dressed like Santa would welcome passersby at start of the Christmas season to get people excited for “Kentucky for Christmas.”

Figgy pudding made its debut in the 14th century as a fasting meal eaten to prepare for the Christmas season.

At this time, it was a lot different from our current sweet pudding; it was actually more of a savory soup-like dish, made from cooked meat, dried plums, wine, and spices. It was also known as plum pudding, which actually makes more sense than figgy pudding, as figs weren’t even an essential ingredient during this time. When the 16th century rolled around, fruit became more plentiful, and figgy pudding evolved from a savory meal to sweet dish. It was around this time that poor carolers decided to have some fun when performing at more-affluent houses. They added their own line onto the song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and the second verse requesting figgy pudding was born. As time went on, the recipe evolved into its modern day

History teacher Robert Weismantel and his wife take a break from eating the traditional Japanese osechi ryori during New Year’s to gobble down some finger linkin’ good chicken.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ROBERT WEISMANTEL. MISTLETOE PHOTOGRAPH BY ANNIE SPRATT; FRUITCAKE BY BRETT JORDAN; FIGGY PUDDING BY HELLO I’M NIK; COAL PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEY HARRIS

COAL IN STOCKINGS

From page 8 “Michelle Lee”

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‘Tis the season for irrational fear about our behavior!

This tradition has a number of origin stories out there, but here are a few popular ones.

According to Italian legend, a witch named La Befana sought to give presents to Jesus when he was born. However, she couldn’t find him, and to this day at Christmastime she still travels the earth, searching for the recipient of her gifts. Along the way, she gives good presents to children she deems worthy, and lumps of coal to naughty children.

Others believe that the tradition of giving coal to naughty children originated in 19th century England. There was a widespread belief that poverty was punishment for sin. The kids of affluent families would get candy and toys for Christmas, while the impoverished ones would get coal because that was all the parents could afford to give. However, people interpreted that to mean that the children didn’t deserve anything better than coal.

The last story originates from German and Dutch folklore.

Sinterkklas, more commonly called St. Nicholas, was a mythic character who left presents in boots and socks left out on Christmas Eve. There was also Krampus, Sinterkklas’ beast-like counterpart who would leave coal in the boots and socks of kids who didn’t deserve Sinterkklas’ gifts.

Personally, I would be more afraid of having the Krampus visit my house than finding coal in my stocking.

Lee describes herself as naturally shy and introverted, so overcoming her reserved nature while performing was initially challenging. She said, “As a child, I hated smiling on stage, and I couldn’t stand still, so I would get scolded by other magicians. I was not confident in what I was saying at all. I thought it was fun, but I wasn’t confident.” However, over the years, she learned to recognize the finesse and dedication that magic requires, which helped her to become more confident on stage. Being recognized at competitions, such as the 2017 Brown Bags to Stardom talent show, also boosted her courage. “Standing on stage and being able to do what you can do requires a lot of confidence.

And not everybody has that,” she explained. Her father added, “She’s very brave and never afraid of big audiences…I’m very proud of her.”

The communication skills Lee exercises while performing have also transferred over into her social life. She credits her magic training with her increased ability to make new friends and confidently navigate conversations instead of feeling hesitant or anxious.

For aspiring magicians, she has these tips to offer: “Be confident in what you want to do, and then don’t perform magic just for the sake of performing it but for your audience. You may think it’s boring, because you know the secret, but you have to remember that the audience doesn’t know.” Though magic is cloaked in secrecy for its spectators, its practitioners simply see it as a way to inspire wonder and delight.

Lee added, “I do magic because I want to make people happy. Other performing arts disciplines can do that as well, but for me, there’s just something different about magic.”

Lee performs a trick with her father, James Lee. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MICHELLE LEE (‘24)

PERSONALIZED

GIFT IDEAS → By Dilan Chock-Makiya (‘23) FEATURE

DECORATED COOKIES

Buying gifts for friends and family can be pricey so here are some holiday ideas that won’t break the bank. Plus these ideas allow you to personalize your presents, making your gift more meaningful.

GET CRAFTING

Senior Cameron Pien loves to give personalized presents to friends and family. Pien has sewn a stuffed animal for her brother and painted a movie poster for her sister.

If you’re not one to create something from scratch, the Clay Cafe has everything you need to create a custom pottery gift.

From plates, mugs, animal figurines to Christmas ornaments, there are many options on which to paint your personalized designs. The cafe will fire and glaze your pottery, but that means you’ll have to wait at least a day before getting your finished piece. The cafe is located at McCully and Kapiolani.

If you’re a baker, cookies baked and decorated with personalized designs are always a hit. Senior Caylie Takahashi loves to bake a variety of cookies for her friends and teachers. She adds a personal note on a card and wraps it all up in a cute little package.

BUTTER MOCHI

It’s the first dessert to run out at every potluck so you can’t go wrong giving away freshly-baked butter mochi.

Here’s a recipe from BiggerBolderBaking.com:

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar and baking powder.

Add eggs, followed by the milks, butter and vanilla.

Using an electric mixer or by hand whisk together to form a smooth batter.

Pour mix into prepared pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden on top.

Set aside to cool down completely before cutting into squares.

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INGREDIENTS 1 box (16oz/450g) Mochiko flour 2 cups (16oz/454g) granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 4 large eggs (room temperature) 2 cups (16floz/450ml) whole milk 1 can (13floz/400ml) coconut milk ¾ cup (6oz/170g) butter, softened 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

CUSTOM T-SHIRTS

Create a keepsake for a friend or friend group by designing a custom t-shirt with a witty or catchy phrase. If you’re trying to keep your costs down, iron-on transfer paper will do the job. Print your design onto the paper and iron it onto a shirt.

If you want a longer-lasting print job, look up some local t-shirt printers. They usually have plain t-shirts for sale too.

Merry Christmas

from the Eagle Eye 2022