2023 May Eagle Eye by Eagle Eye

OFF-ROADING

→ By Cameron Pien (‘23) EDITORIAL

Ihave a box full of birthday cards and letters I’ve received since I was a child, and I found a few letters to my future self that I wrote in elementary or middle school. In many aspects, I haven’t changed: I’m still a lover of books, an avid tree climber, and too much of a perfectionist. However, the girl I am today is more attuned to nuance, willing to take initiative, and open to new adventures.

Reflecting on my roadmap over the past four years is a slightly surreal experience, and I can’t help thinking of The Game of Life. The wheel has been spun, over and over, directing my vehicle to various detours that carried me to the person I am today. I’ve realized that many of the important changes I’ve seen in myself are due to learning to thrive in the unknown and see it as a place to be found, not lost.

Cover Art

The cover art is a chalk drawing by Eagle Eye students in the spring semester class. It depicts memorable events that the Class of 2023 has had at HBA from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

EAGLE EYE

Hawaii Baptist Academy

2429 Pali Highway

Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

...the important changes I’ve seen in myself are due to learning to thrive in the unknown and see it as a place to be found, not lost.

I will readily admit that I tend to be a control freak. For most of my life, I was a dogmatically fierce proponent of the philosophy that if I wanted something, I could get it if I just tried hard enough. Time and experience have taught me that I cannot control people or circumstances, and sometimes, what I want most desperately are the things I have the least power over. Faith is found in the seemingly endless waiting periods, the murky and cobwebbed corners of life, the restless nights where I poured out my heart to God, questioning why. Trust is not challenged in placid waters. Oftentimes, only when the storm of unrest starts to rock the boat do we begin to call on Jesus with urgency, and only when I admitted that I didn’t know was I able to run to God and find refuge in the fact that He did. In a society that upholds independence as the ultimate goal, complete dependence on God seems unnecessary and ridiculous, but it’s actually the most freeing and fulfilling way to live.

Unsurprisingly, my most recent and prevalent experience with uncertainty has been the college application journey. After getting rejected from my dream school and waitlisted at another top choice, I somehow ended up exactly where I believe I’m meant to be, and I find myself blinking in astonishment, wondering how I got here. Before this year, I told everyone who asked that I wanted to go to school on the West Coast, and now I’m moving to New York in August. I envisioned myself in the middle of a bustling city, and now I’m attending an institution in a tiny, isolated college town. I had my plans, God rewrote them, and I trust the result. I’ve seen that living on the East Coast will challenge me to step even farther into the unknown, and the tight-knit community of a small town will foster more meaningful, lasting relationships.

Continued on page 18

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Cameron Pien (‘23)

SPRING SEMESTER STAFF

Brendan Aoki (‘24)

Noah Camacho (‘23)

Dilan Chock-Makiya (‘23)

Noah Hu (‘23)

Olivia Kim (‘26)

Megan Lee (‘23)

Natali Nomura (‘25)

Trislyn Maeda (‘23)

Taylor Malinger (‘24)

Calla Pien (‘26)

Jeremiah Seng (‘23)

Brielle Sumida (‘26)

Marissa Watanabe (‘23)

ADVISOR

Eunice Sim

@hbaeagleeye on Instagram

www.hbaeagleeye.com

2023-2024 Student Council Elected

→ By Brielle Sumida (‘26) NEWS

Student Council Elections for next school year took place on Wednesday April 5 after the candidates had a chance to give their election at an all-school assembly on March 31.

Junior Jadynn Wong ran unopposed for the Student Council President’s seat and said that she was inspired to run after working with current president Jolie Wong. Jadynn Wong is this year’s corresponding secretary. Reflecting on her experience on the council this year, she said, “I learned how to talk to basically anyone, along with learning to listen with an open mind. I’ve learned that being a part of Student Council won’t fix everything or get everything done, and not everyone’s going to get what they want, not even yourself. You learn to put others’ needs before your own, to help the student body, not just yourself.”

When she gave her speech during the assembly before voting took place, she said she felt nervous but at the same time felt excited and thrilled. Through her speech, Wong wanted people to know that they could trust her with this position and that their opinions mattered.

This year, a new position was added to the student council: The Executive Officer of Spiritual Life will serve the school by organizing activities that are beneficial to its spiritual mission. This officer will also be in charge of communicating with the rest of the council and the high school Christian Ministries staff. Junior Hannah Cheng was elected to this new position. “I wanted to run for office because I thought that the position of Executive Officer of Spiritual Life was a really awesome addition to the Student Council. The Christian Ministry Team is such an important part of HBA, but it’s often overlooked or forgotten in big school events, so I hope that I can be the voice for the ministry team in the student council,” she said. Cheng is currently the social chair for the junior class.

Sophomore Joshua Legawa won the Treasurer seat. He said, “I wanted to run for Treasurer because I want to use my skills and talents to best serve the HBA student body through a leadership position.

In this position, I hope to manage the budget and money responsibly and effectively. With conscientious efforts, I hope to make all the events that we plan to do in the future a success.” Legawa is also an NHS Co-chair for the Math Challenge Committee. “I came up with my speech by thinking of what I would want out of a treasurer and what I would want to hear them say. I wanted it to be formal, but also personal at the same time, so people could get to know me. The main takeaway from my speech that I hope that students got was that I could be trusted with such an important responsibility. All student council positions should be very important and should be entrusted to people who others believe are responsible and able to do a good job. I wanted to establish credibility to hopefully gain peoples’ support,” Legawa said.

Sophomore Randie Lueder will take on the role of Executive Officer for Public Relations. “I decided to run for office because I’ve always loved being involved in school. I have a lot of ideas for ways students could get more involved and for how we can improve student voice, and running for office puts me in a position to do so,” she said. Lueder hope to continue to grow in responsibility, communication and leadership as she takes on the new role. “Being in a position of leadership forces you to be accountable for yourself because your team is relying on you. You are only leading a team not commandeering it, so it’s important to listen to your team members but to also guide them in the best direction. And I’ve also gotten used to sending informational emails, responding quickly, and overall trying to relay information as seamlessly as possible,” she added. Lueder wanted the students to know that they have an opinion and can always feel free to share their thoughts and ideas.

Junior Winston Yamanaka was elected as the Vice President while sophomore Joshua Higa will take on the Secretary role.

JADYNN WONG President WINSTON YAMANAKA Vice President RANDIE LUEDER Exec. Officer of Public Relations JOSHUA LEGAWA Treasurer JOSHUA HIGA Secretary HANNAH CHENG Exec. Officer of Spiritual Life 2

A JOURNEY LIKE NO OTHER

HOW THE CL ASS OF 2023 EMBRACED AN ABNORMAL HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

→ By Marissa Watanabe (‘23) FEATURE

The journey begins on August 1, 2019, the first day of an atypical four years of high school. Like many freshman classes before them, the Class of 2023 was awkward, scrawny, and at a loss when it came to finding unity and identity as a group. When their first high school Spirit Week came around in January of 2020, they struggled to find cohesion and spirit and, as a result, ended the week behind the eight graders and finished in fifth place. However, like every freshman class before them, they looked forward to having the next few years to improve their school spirit and bond together to become one unified class. Unfortunately, things just didn’t go their way.

A few months following Spirit Week 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic upset the routines and lives of people worldwide in unprecedented ways. For the Class of 2023, their final freshman quarter became their first experience of online school. They went on to spend their sophomore year divided into Alpha-Omega groups and lost staple high school experiences like their sophomore and junior camps, athletic competitions, and Spirit Weeks.

Come August 1, 2022, the Class of 2023 finds themselves at the start of their senior year, facing with the challenge of leading a new generation of underclassmen through a school year without COVID-19 restrictions.

When Spirit Week 2023 rolled around, the seniors were an unproven class; no one could say for certain if they could muster enough unity and spirit to serve as adequate role models for the underclassmen. However, to the surprise of many, the absence of Spirit Week activities from the past two years did not suppress the senior class’ school spirit but stimulated it. Reflecting on her class’ first place win at this past January’s Spirit Week, senior class vice president Trislyn Maeda stated, “This year, our class really understood that this was our last

The senior class cheers for a photo after winning Spirit Week 2023 at the Homecoming game. PHOTO BY BRENDAN AOKI (‘24).

year, and that we had an opportunity to introduce Spirit Week to the other classes and say, ‘This is how we do Spirit Week; this is how you be seniors; this is how you have fun at school.’”

For senior Azure Wasson, one factor that helped the seniors win the Mana Cup was their newfound appreciation for a “normal” senior year. He believes that the pandemic taught his class not to take in-person interactions for granted. Wasson is an extrovert and struggled with adapting to online school as the isolation from his peers adversely affected his grades. “I just could not get myself determined to do anything,” he said. “But, coming back from that, I’ve learned to appreciate things a lot more. [The pandemic] gave me a lot of time to actually think about other people and how I wanted to present myself to other people. Although it was really difficult while it was happening, I learned a lot from it, and it improved my character later on.”

Another defining moment for the class, according to advisor Ryan Frontiera, was their sophomore end-of-the-year social. It was the first time the class was allowed back on campus all together. Although it was a simple, scaled-down social with mini activities like spike ball and s’more roasting, Frontiera remembers the event as a “therapeutic” moment for him and his fellow advisors. “Seeing that visual of [the students] together and laughing was just so nice to go back to,” he said. “I feel like they, as a class, know how to enjoy each other as well as have a lot of light in that sense.”

Maeda also holds a special place in her heart for the Class of 2023’s first in-person sophomore social, claiming it to be one of the council’s “biggest successes.” However, she credits a big part of her class’s growth to the senior advisors. “We have the best group of advisors, and I think all of our class agrees with that,” she said. According to her, the advisors are an experienced group of teachers and counselors, who “understand what it takes to create a great class and make the officers’ jobs so much easier.” The senior class vice president also appreciates how the advisors have given her and her fellow officers opportunities to lead while also providing them with lots of coaching and support. Instead of giving up on class activities during the pandemic, the advisors, according to Maeda, took the time and effort to organize them and set up “a foundation for [the officers] to be involved and make an impact on the class.”

To underclassmen class council officers seeking advice on how to lead their grade well, Maeda shared this insight that she learned from her advisors: “It’s really easy to get mad when things don’t go right, or the class isn’t really responding in the way that you planned, but instead of getting on them or talking as if you’re an authority, you have to speak to them as if they’re your peers and lead in a positive way in which they can respond well to.”

From her experiences from leading the Class of 2023 for the past three years, Maeda has grasped the importance of getting to know her classmates outside of her circle of friends. “If you’re a class officer, you’re elected by your class,” she said. “They’re your classmates, first and foremost, so if you’re going to represent them well, you have to get to know the kind of people that they are.”

The graduating class of 2023 “is definitely a class that will be remembered for a long time,” said senior advisor Sean Shiroma. He believes that the seniors have made an impact on HBA in their efforts to interact with and develop friendships with other grades. From accidentally breaking glass doors with fidget spinners to fishing tilapia out of the Nu’uanu Stream, the Class of 2023 has always taken advantage of every opportunity to have fun. “As much as it sometimes rubs me the wrong way, I do appreciate them just wanting to lighten the mood,” admitted Shiroma. “Whether that’s clapping in chapel to a super slow song or the boys doing crazy things… They make every day a unique day, and I think I might miss some of that next year.”

As they depart from HBA and enter adulthood, Frontiera hopes the Class of 2023 does not lose their distinct spunk and positivity that they’ve kept since their freshman year. “When you go to your different colleges and communities, make a point to build community and gather people around you,” he advised. “Don’t just hole up in your dorm room and play infinite hours of video games or make your small group of friends. Try new things and explore. And still keep some of that joy, optimism, and enthusiasm that you guys have always had.”

Senior class advisors (left to right) Ryan Frontiera, Tara Gruspe, Aaron Kondo, and Elena Yoo pose with “Stanta Claus” at the Class of 2023’s junior Christmas Social. Advisors not pictured: Sean Shiroma, Sean Malinger, and Lynne Nakano. PHOTOGRAPH BY MARISSA WATANABE (‘23) Senior class officers (left to right) Marissa Watanabe, Lisa Zheng, Rachel Tsuchiya, Lauren Toda, Trislyn Maeda, and Kylie Rivera pose with the Mana Cup after winning Spirit Week 2023.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LAUREN TODA

This March during spring break, the Chinese language class traveled to Taiwan in order to practice speaking Mandarin and experience authentic Chinese culture by visiting famous landmarks, enjoying Chinese cuisine, and mingling with the locals.

The Longshan Temple, built in 1738 by subjects of the Qing Dynasty, boasts of intricate architecture and rich history, blending Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian traditions that draw worshippers in for festivals, prayers, and rituals. Each building’s roof is adorned with vibrant dragons and phoenixes, and magnificent pillars depict myths with carved men and creatures. At this temple, there is a juxtaposition of exhibition and private worship: the main temple’s entrances are roped off, only allowing people to observe rather than use the empty kneelers at the foot of each altar. At the same time, people who want to worship can line up in front of each blocked doorway, waiting their turn to pray to the statues they can glimpse in the depths of the vacant temple. Visitors, especially those who are still single, are sometimes enticed by their tour guides to pray to Yue Lao, or the Chinese Cupid, as they admire the temple.

Taipei 101 Observatory, the tallest building in Taiwan, offers a 1,667 feet high view of the city as well as an up close encounter with the world’s largest damper ball, a pendulum that absorbs seismic energy and stabilizes structures during earthquakes, an essential feature for Taiwanese buildings since close to 4000 earthquakes occur every year. Visitors can explore the 5-floor shopping center before riding the Taipei 101 elevator to the 89th floor where vibrant floral displays, neon lights, and aesthetic seating areas provide the perfect setting for Instagram-worthy pictures.

The Guang Xing Paper Mill is the last company in Taiwan that still handmakes its paper. The outdoor mill houses several machines that aid the process, but most of the work is done by the employees. After obtaining fibers from a variety of plants, a machine pours a scalding pulp-water mixture onto a screen where a worker smooths the wet substance into a thin sheet of pulp. This wet sheet is then transferred onto a hot steel drum that dries out the sheet, and transforms it into a sheet of paper. Visitors have the opportunity to create their own prints on this special paper, and they can also learn how to fold and decorate their own paper fans.

Food is one of the most defining features of Taiwanese culture. From Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice to handmade boba prepared before one’s very own eyes, Taiwan cuisine is extensive and often instantly available, with restaurants and snack shops on almost every corner. However, most notable are the night markets, which feature bustling alleyways packed with a vast array of food stalls. Sweet and savory scents fill the air here as people jostle each other in their eagerness to enjoy all the market has to offer.

On Shifen Old Street along the Pingxi Rail Line, which was used to transport coal during the 1900s, visitors can stand on the old train tracks and release Chinese paper lanterns. Each color lantern symbolizes something meaningful – for example, red for health, orange for love, and purple for an upcoming exam. The lantern shop supplies customers with thick brushes and paint to write a message on their lanterns. When done, the customers carry their lanterns onto the railway tracks to light and release them, and watch its bright folds and fiery insides disappear into the hazy skies above.

During the 60s, coal mining was an important industry in Taiwan until imported coal prices outcompeted locally sourced coal, closing mines and ending the brutal labor. At the Pingxi Coal Mine Museum, a mine tunnel simulation and several displays of timeworn tools and poignant photographs allows visitors a glimpse into the lives of miners and the grueling work the laborers endured. One

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS & ILLUSTRATIONS BY TAYLOR MALINGER (‘24) 8

Japan Trip 2023

→ By Jeremiah Seng (‘23)

JOURNAL

This past spring break, I went away with the seniors of HBA’s Japanese Language class on a nine day trip to Japan. After four years of studying, I finally got the chance to put my not very fluent Japanese to use. I sadly can’t go into depth on everything our group did, but I’ll do my best to share the really cool parts of my experience. These are some of the best photos I could put together from the trip. I hope you enjoy them!

Our first major destination on our tour of Japan was Universal Studios in Osaka. We spent the whoe day there an it was fun, despite the absurdly long lins for every ride.

the whole day there and it was despite the absurdly long lines for every ride.

PHOTO PHOTO JOURNAL

train ride into the mountains around Kyoto brought us to Sagano Bamboo Forest, a delightful nature spot on the edges of the region. The atmosphere of the place was slightly disrupted by the unbelievable number of people making their way down the wooded path, but that wasn’t really an issue as long as I kept looking up at the trees.

A scenic train ride into the mountains of around Kyoto brought us to Sagano Bamboo Forest, a delightful nature spot on the edges of the region. The atmosphere of the place was slightly disrupted by the unbelievable number of people making their way down the wooded path, but that wasn’t really an issue as long as I kept looking up at the trees.

Following our stay in the ryokan, our group paid a visit to Kinkakuji, a Buddhist temple wrapped in a 1-3/10000 mm thick layer of gold. Although Kinkakuji is impossible to touch without damaging its delicate golden surface, I was more than satisfied to enjoy the view from the bank of its beautiful moat.

Straight out of the bamboo walkway was a beautiful town, packed with food stands and shops. The group would be staying at a ryokan here, a traditional Japanese inn. This inn offered some very, very traditional food, and a relaxing experience in its indoor and outdoor baths. On top of that, I even got to walk around in a yukata (a type of kimono often worn in ryokans and at festivals).

(Right)

This deer is a resident of Nara Park. He’s friendly, if a bit pushy, and spends his days bowing respectfully to passers by in exchange for crackers. After buying a pack of deer crackers from a nearby stand, our tour group enjoyed getting to know our new furry friends, who were just as eager to get to know us.

(Above)

Here is Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. A few friends and I were lucky enough to explore this place on our first night in Tokyo. The late hour meant the temple grounds were far less crowded, making the scene look right out of Spirited Away.

This was one of my favorite stops: Team Labs in Tokyo. Here you can enjoy spectacular, immersive exhibits and experiences. The featured artworks made use of water, lights, inflatable balls, flowers, mist, and mirrors. Beautiful as the artworks were, the rooms where people took off their shoes and wiped their feet periodically took me out of the immersion by assaulting my nostrils. All considered, however, I would definitely recommend Team Labs to anyone visiting Japan. Just make sure you bring a mask with you.

Our last day in Japan was spent at the Tokyo Sky Tree. Towering 2,080 feet above Tokyo’s streets, the Sky Tree offered stunning views of the city scape. Streams lined with grass and cherry blossom trees in bloom added a great deal of life and color to each neighborhood. Beyond the many skyscrapers, mountains loomed in the distance. Past the gift shop at the bottom of the Sky Tree was a mall packed with things to do. My friends and I stumbled upon Lovely Animore, a cool little indoor zoo.

This trip was a whole lot of fun and an unforgettable experience. For those taking Japanese right now, you have something really great to look forward to! Study hard. Talking to people was one of the best parts of this trip for me.Also don’t quit. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity.

- JEREMIAH SENG

SAVE THE KAHULI

→ By Brendan Aoki (‘24) FEATURE

2023 has officially been named after a snail in Hawaii, but thankfully it is not due to the stagnant economy.

“The Year of the Kāhuli’’ was proclaimed by Hawaii Governor Josh Green in late February to raise awareness on native snail conservation. According the the Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Snail Extinction Prevention Program website, “there were once roughly 750 species of kāhuli, or Hawaiian land snails” in Hawaii. However, “60% have now been lost forever.”

This decline in native snail populations has concerned environmentalists who say that native snails are only the first victims in a new wave of native species extinctions. The decline in native tree snail populations has been caused by a multitude of factors, including the rise of predators like Jackson’s chameleons (a result of the pet trade), rats, and Rosy wolfsnails (an invasive, predatory snail), along with climate change and habitat loss. Since native tree snails can only eat fungi from native shrubs, the life of native ecosystems and native tree snails are inextricably linked. This intimate relationship between the kāhuli and the rest of the environment is the reason why native tree snails are considered the canary in the coal mine for native ecosystems.

Explaining the implications of this loss of snails in Hawaii, AP Environmental teacher Claire Mitchell wrote: “This is especially problematic as all 209 extant (existing) species are endemic to Hawaii; they’re found nowhere else. So once they’re gone here, they’re gone forever. This means the valuable ecological and cultural services they provide are also lost and cannot be replaced by other species, which could be devastating for the entire ecosystem as everything is so intricately connected. As the saying goes, “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone.” Mitchell added that Hawaii is known by scientists as “the extinction capitol of the world” because 25% of the United States’ endangered species are found in Hawaii,

Environmental Club hosted an Earth Day Fair on April 18 at the high school. Students had the opporunity to meet representatives from conservation agencies including NOAA, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response team. There was a also a bake, craft and plant sale by Environmental Club members.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CRAIG CHANG.

which makes up just 0.3% of the United States.

Mitchell believes that people are overall not doing enough to protect Hawaii’s native species but she remains optimistic that there is still time to ake a difference, and that public education is key. “The more people who hear about the kāhuli,” she said, “the more people who can put pressure on their governmental representatives to pass important legislation that can give plants and animals legal protections and funding to enforce those laws and regulations.”

The need for public awareness along with funding is what led HBA’s Environmental Club, which is advised by Mitchell, to hold an Earth Day t-shirt fundraiser this past April. All proceeds from the fundraiser went to support Hawaii’s Snail Extinction Prevention Program. The club also held its first full-sized annual Earth Day Fair in the past few years on April 18, selling a variety of things, from mud-themed rice crispy treats to thrifted clothes. AP Environmental Students also presented their projects to their peers at the fair. Professional ecologists and conservationists were also there to answer any questions about Hawaii’s natural resources and the threats they face.

According to Environmental Club president, senior Jasmine Chang, the fair “was a way for students who are a tiny bit interested in the environment to come in and become curious on what the Earth and our community has to offer.” Chang hopes that the fair helps connect students with conservation groups in Hawaii. She believes that getting students interested is only the first step; the second

is getting students to take action either at home or through club programs. According to Chang, students have many opportunities to be environmentally conscious in their daily lives through recycling, using reusable bags, composting, growing their own food, and going on a more environmentally-friendly diet. “Many times the solution to reducing your own environmental footprint is to spend less,” she added.

On going beyond acts of service for the environment, Mitchell advised, “Don’t take the place we live in for granted. Most of the plants and animals we see on a daily basis—giant snails, mongoose, pigeons, etc.—are not native to our islands. Take the time to learn about what plants and animals are native and endemic and what local efforts exist for their protection and preservation and how you might get involved with them. And share that knowledge with others to spread the awareness and increase the involvement of the community.”

The

I Love Matcha So MATCHA !

→ By Trislyn Maeda (‘23) REVIEW

The aesthetically pleasing and instagrammable drink of matcha has risen to popularity in recent years through social media.

We’ve entered an age where healthy eating, fad diets, and superfoods have become prevalent topics on social media, which has a global reach and millions of users. The matcha tea drink has become one of these health trends. According to sites like Matcha. com, matcha provides benefits such as a clean, jitter-free energy source, high amount of antioxidants, and improvements in skin and heart health. Matcha is a powdered type of green tea made from dried tea leaves and has been a staple product in countries like China and Japan. With the globalization of food in the world due to technological advances, matcha drinks can be found on many cafe menus, and matcha-focused stores are popping up all over the United States.

PŌ’AI by Pono Potions - Iced Matcha Tea Latte

Pō’ai by Pono Potions is located on Smith Street in Chinatown and it is by far the most unique and pleasantly surprising coffee shop I’ve been to all year. Upon entering, you are welcomed by the calming tones of the shop as their background music plays softly and the cafe design is very open, with a mix of white, wood, and brick walls, and Hawaiian accents all around.

Pō’ai is a locally-owned business and features home-made beverage syrups that aim to capture the natural flavors of Hawaii. These include Honey Lilikoi, Maika’i Macadamia Nut, Waialua Honey Ginger, Moloka’i Hibiscus, and more. The shop sells the syrups separately as well as selections of locally made Hawaiian crafts, jewelry, glassware, and clothes.

Pō’ai has two set matcha drinks on their menu, the Maddie and Meli Matcha ($6 each). But customers may also choose to substitute espresso in any of the signature coffee drinks for matcha. I decided to go with the Maddie, which is a matcha tea latte with lavender syrup and lemon zest. The barista will ask you if you would like the drink with oat milk. Though you may replace it with an alternative milk, for the Maddie, I recommend sticking with the oat because of its neutral taste, which lets you enjoy the rest of the drink’s flavors. The latte is served ombre style, with matcha on top and milk on the bottom. Though it looks like your average matcha latte, the Maddie is anything but that. At first sip, the lavender and lemon zest combination creates an unexpected but pleasant, floral explosion in your mouth. The flavor is reminiscent of basil; however, the oat milk adds a creaminess that rounds it off. I absolutely loved the drink. It is a must try! Pō’ai’s offerings stand out because of their uniqueness, and I highly recommend it as a place to study, hang out, or to simply enjoy a well-made beverage.

Morning BrewIced Matcha Tea Latte

Just a few doors down from ARVO is another cafe, Morning Brew Kakaako. It serves a variety of brunch dishes from belgian style waffles with fresh fruit to my personal favorite, a breakfast burrito with their famous yogurt dipping sauce. I went to try Morning Brew’s iced matcha tea latte to compare it with ARVO’s. And while I’d order matcha again at ARVO, unfortunately, I would not at Morning Brew. The drink was $5.30, which is close to what most lattes cost. However, the matcha had a more grainy texture, which I did not like. This drink is good for people who don’t like overly sweet flavors, but that is only if you also don’t mind its chalky consistency. While I would not recommend going for its matcha latte, I do suggest going to Morning Brew for a brunch outing as they serve many tasty food selections. They also have plenty of seating for its customers as there is both outdoor, indoor, and a loft area in the cafe.

ARVO - Iced Matcha Latte

One of the most Instagram-worthy cafes on island, ARVO now sits in the center of the SALT Kakaako complex, attracting customers who seek a snapshot and taste of their popular toasts and lattes. The name itself, “arvo” is slang in Australia for “afternoon.” The Aussie-inspired shop has a tagline that says “A good ARVO begins with a good morning.” And I have to say with its pretty and delicious menu options, and airy outdoor venue, ARVO is a great place to start off one’s day well.

I usually come to ARVO for their loaded avocado toast, which is topped with cherry tomatoes, arugula, feta, and edible flowers that add to the food’s aesthetic. However, most recently, my friends and I went to try their iced matcha latte, and we were not disappointed. We ordered two matcha lattes, one with whole milk, the other with oat milk. A size small by itself costs $4.90 and with a milk substitute (oat, almond), the price goes up by $1. The matcha latte is so smooth and is sweet but not too sweet. However, I recommend (if your stomach can handle it) the whole milk option because though oat milk is usually bland, ARVO’s oat milk was a little too sweet to go with the matcha’s distinct flavors, thus overwheleming it. With whole milk, ARVO’s iced matcha fulfills the ideal classic matcha latte, one that is creamy, light, and aesthetically pleasing. ARVO also has another location in Waimea.

ALL MATCHA LOVERS ASSEMBLE

Daily Whisk Matcha - Iced Stawberry Matcha Latte

If you follow food-related accounts on social media, Daily Whisk Matcha has probably appeared on your media feed at least once. This Kaimuki cafe has become a popular spot for matcha connoisseurs as it uses quality Uji matcha from Japan and checks all the boxes when it comes to aesthetic picture perfect vibes. I’ve tried their signature matcha lilikoi soda for my previous review on innovative twists in Asian cuisine, and I was pleasantly surprised by its unique combination. This time, I returned to check out their new menu addition and customer favorite, the strawberry matcha latte. Daily Whisk layers the drink with a strawberry puree on the bottom, a milk of your choice, and a hand-whisked matcha to top. Though its presentation was certainly pretty, the drink was nothing special and not worth the $7.85. With the heaviness of the strawberry flavor, I could hardly taste the matcha and didn’t enjoy the latte as much as I had hoped. However, the drink is very smooth, and I would recommend it to those that are new to matcha and want to try something a little different from the classic matcha drink.

JunbiGuava Matcha Fresca & Yuzu Dragon fruit Matcha

You do not want to skip the newest matcha spot in Waikiki. Junbi is a matcha and boba shop, located in the Royal Hawaiian Center, below Island Vintage Coffeehouse. Originating from the mainland, Junbi in Waikiki is its first Hawaii location. Junbi serves an assortment of matcha beverages from lattes to frescas. Their menu also includes a variety of non-matcha tea drinks. The shop uses their own premium matcha powder and sells it separately in tin cans on their website.

My friends and I went to try the guava matcha fresca ($6.98, add $0.99 for boba) and their yuzu dragon fruit matcha ($7.49). Junbi’s drinks only come in one size—a large—so you are getting a good amount of matcha for your buck. The guava fresca was absolutely delicious. It tasted like a guava nectar drink with a splash of matcha. Though the boba’s texture is both yummy and chewy, the guava matcha is enjoyable on its own so I’d say the boba is optional. I ordered the fresca at half sweet while my friend had hers at regular sweetness. At fifty percent, the drink tastes lighter and the guava flavor is not very strong. If you do order it at full sweetness, however, I don’t believe the sweetness will overwhelm the beverage.

The yuzu dragon fruit matcha is an odd combination on paper; however, the flavors surprisingly blend nicely together. The yuzu, dragon fruit, and matcha compliment each other well, yet still hold their individual flavors

All of Junbi’s drinks are very light and would make for the best after-beach beverage. My friends and I felt refreshingly cleansed and energized after our Junbi treats, and I recommend a Junbi drink for those that want to eat a heavier meal to follow. Check out Junbi. You won’t regret it.

Yuzu Dragon fruit Matcha

Guava Matcha ILLUSTRATIONS BY TRISLYN MAEDA (‘23) CURVED ARROW BY MADISON FROM NOUN PROJECT (CCBY3.0)

EDITORIAL “Off-Roading”

Continued from page 2

On the topic of relationships, I definitely wouldn’t have predicted some of the bonds I now have with people I’ve encountered throughout high school. Growing up, I was a true introvert, but as I started to actively reach out to my peers instead of passively expecting people to approach me, I began to befriend people who had different passions and personalities, which expanded my view of the world and helped me to develop greater empathy. In addition, joining an intergenerational Bible study at my church has provided me the opportunity to receive mentorship from a variety of people and gain perspective beyond the oftentimes falsely world-consuming sphere of high school concerns.

Here’s a rapid-fire list of other unexpected developments and their results: The pandemic taught me the value of intentional periods of rest, starting a podcast showed me that everyone’s voice should have a chance to be amplified, not reaching a certain point in my dance progress revealed that a prideful quest for perfection is always destructive, and a series of personal disappointments led me to stop depending on myself and seek the mentorship of wiser adults.

By all means, have a plan; it won’t do to close your eyes and throw yourself completely unprepared into life. However, when God alters the course of your life, don’t succumb to overwhelming panic. Even if you don’t believe in a higher power, unexpected events are still opportunities to adapt, grow in resilience, and see the beauty that change can inspire. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time in high school, it’s to accept failure as a necessary part of life and to stop trying to control everything. There are many unsolved mysteries that we may never know the answers to. When you are wandering in the wilderness, Jesus the shepherd comes to bring you to Him. I know my words may ring false or overly optimistic when you’re in the midst of suffering: I understand, I’ve been there. Bring your frustration to God, cry out to Him, and trust His promise that He will provide for you. God’s power is made perfect in weakness. As I sign off for the last time, I pray that you would see what happens when you trust Him to work in the unknown and believe that He is good, always.

Even if you don’t believe in a higher power, unexpected events are still opportunities to adapt, grow in resilience, and see the beauty that change can inspire.

Fresca

& PHOTOGRAPHS

SENIORS

Congratulations. During your time here, you guys made my classes very entertaining.

THANKS, KYLE (‘25)

TO THE PADDLING GIRLS

Thank you so much for making this year of paddling so fun. I love you guys so much and appreciate you guys a lot. I will miss you guys so much. You guys are so amazing, and thank you for everything you do for us and for making us feel so involved and happy. I love you guys for that. I hope you get to make the best memories and experience so much more on this next chapter of life. I’m so excited and proud of you guys I could cry. <3 AALIYAH ITO (‘25)

TO MY XC AND TRACK GIRLIES (PLUS SHANE AND CHRIS) CONGRATS ON GRADUATING! I’m so blessed to have known you all as friends and teammates for the past two years. You’re all like my older sisters (and brothers) that I never had. I’ll miss the late dinners, talking on long runs, and my days as a passenger princess hehe. Tysm for being the most supportive, caring and most awesome team in the whole world. I hope you all get everything you ever want and know that I’m always there to support you through it all. LOVE YOU GUYS <3 NATALI (‘25)

DEAR MOCK TRIAL SENIORS

Thank you for your guidance, hard work, and most of all for the memories. I would have been so lost my first year without you guys and I hope I can be as helpful to the team as you all have been. I really appreciate all of you and wish you the best of luck for the future.

ROBERT NORDIN (‘25)

DEAR STUCO, I’ve never been more grateful for having the best student council I could ever ask for. You guys have become some of my top role models, and I strive to demonstrate the same kindness, support, and leadership that you’ve shown to me. I’m so grateful I could also call you guys friends, not just business partners. I will dearly miss you guys and the fun memories we made this year, but I wish the best for your guys’ next chapter in college. You guys were the best team, so thank you again for everything that you have done. Farewell and best of luck!

SINCERELY, JADYNN :) (‘24)

GOOD LUCK JAKE, TYLER, AZURE, AND TREY!!

Thanks for always being my friends and making me smile and laugh. I’ll miss having those hilariously dumb conversations with you guys! Keep in touch.

NICHOLAS N NIWA (‘25)

SOL SENIORS

Thank you for being the greatest brothers and sisters we could ask for. You are such inspirations to all of us and we’re extremely grateful for your careful mentoring and intimate friendship. We are a true family and we will miss you all immensely. Have an exciting time in college and God bless you!

P.S. - Remember to bring food when you visit!

SOL JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES

TO THE SENIOR CLASS

You guys are full of so much energy and life, and I hope that you carry that energy onto the rest of your life, no matter what happens and what lies ahead.

SAM (‘25)

TO THE VARSITY SENIOR TEAM

Thanks for joining the team so that we could have a full lineup. Your presence on the court during practice and the games were very enjoyable to the rest of the team. Hope you have a fun time in college and congrats on completing high school.

IAN (‘25)

D1 VOLLEYBALL SENIORS,

Congratulations, you made it. Thanks for all the memories this season. I know you guys will go on to succeed in anything that you do in the future. Thanks for being great leaders for the team and for teaching me cool things.

JOSEPH GILES (‘24)

TO TREY AND JAKE

Thank you guys for such a fun and amazing year. Although I only met you guys this year, I have spent a lot of time with you guys and it’s been a lot of fun. Please continue to have a good time in college, and I wish you the best of luck!

JOSHUA H (‘25)

DEAR SKYLAR

Thanks for being a leader in volleyball and a brother at home. I’m not very sentimental so that’s all I have.

SINCERELY, KAMDEN (‘25)

TO MAXWELL LEE,

I wish you the best of luck in future, whether it is college or even after that, I hope that you find and pursue what makes you happy. I also thank you and your family for always being so kind and thoughtful to me.

CONGRATS ON GRADUATING, LIAM (‘26)

I LOVE YOU HA’EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Thanks for always standing up for me and being there for me when things were rough. I am going to miss you with my whole heart.

NADIA (‘26)

TO MY CHERISHED VOLLEYBALL TEAMMATES

Whatever you do in college, do it with and for God out of love (so don’t be stupid.) Don’t forget us and Let’s Go!

PRESTON G (‘24)

TO MOMMY K (KALYSTA)

I love you so much and I will miss you from the school. It’s a shame that we only became friends this year because I would’ve loved to have been your friend for a lot longer like this. I hope to see you around and please don’t lose that amazing personality that you have always lit up my day with. Stay awesome and weird. Luv ya for the billions of memories to come <3

~TWIN A~ (‘25)

TO JAKE

Thanks for doing all three sports seasons with me, and thanks to the paddling guys for being competitive with the JV guys and me. I know you all will go great places.

DREW LOHR (‘26)

JOLIE

Thanks for being such a great president and helping out the Winter Banquet Committee!

KATIE,

You were a great Winter Banquet Committee Chair! Banquet was great thanks to you.

LOVE, TAYLOR (‘25)

TO ALL THE SENIORS THAT MADE ME LAUGH AND FEEL WELCOME

Thank you. I hope you guys continue your good work in the journey ahead of you. Be strong and courageous!

MICHELLE LEE (‘24)

HEY 114 STATE CHAMP ELISHA LUM

Come back to coach me like the other State Champ.

EZEKIEL LUM (‘24)

DEAR BASKETBALL VARSITY SENIORS

Thank you for the wonderful season as a team and for all the fun we had. It was a great season win and us underclassmen will be sure to carry on the streak for you guys as well as get the State dub. Hope to see you all again soon!

SAMMY (‘25)

MINORI BATARA

Heyyy I hope you don’t freeze at college and have a great time meeting new people, who will love your personality as much as I do. You can always call if you need someone to talk to. I might not answer right away but I will call you back. Wish you best of luck.

BROOKE ICHIKI (‘25)

TO ALL THE SENIORS WE HAVE MET AND HAVE NOT MET

Congratulations in surviving HBA, We hope for the best in your journey to adulthood.

VANESSA AND CAYLEE (‘26)

HELLO TREY

Hope you still remember Benji from Robotics class. You were a great building partner with great personality. You will be an outstanding guy out there. Use your talents and knowledge to make a difference.

GOOD LUCK, BENJI (‘24)

JAKE AND TYLER

I really hope that when you are able to graduate from HBA, that you are going to be the try your hardest upon your graduation in college or just whatever you do. Now, please note that I am not exactly the best at having good notes of goodbye but I thank the both of you for helping me when I had first joined the bowling team, be it cheers or things to bring my morale up, I am forever thankful for it. All in all, CONGRATS! and don’t give up fully on bowling in any possible way!

FROM DEREK CHEUNG (26)

HELLO TRENT

Congrats on making it through high school! I hope you do well in Japan and become really successful in life. It already seems as though you have a good handle on your life already so I am happy for you. It was fun this year bothering you at home and at school. I am going to miss you when you are at college because there won’t be anyone to bother when I come over. Thank you for being a friend

SINCERELY, KEENAN KIM (‘24)

PAC-5 PADDLING SENIORS

Your dedication, spirit, and overall presence in the boat has led me to want to be like you. I want to individually thank each paddler; Noelle for her awesome steering and smiles for days, Hailey for her long reaches in seat one and loving personality, Lauren for her long stamina and supportive words, and Kylie for her super strong arms and funny jokes. Every moment with you ladies felt like I was your younger sister and I appreciate the laughs with Coach David & Aunty Kristi. I know you’ll all do wonderful things in the future! MUCH LOVE,

TAYLOR GONSALVES (‘24)

DEAR AZURE, HA’E, JEREMIAH, JOHN, HANNAH, AJ, MAXWELL

I wish the best for your transition from HBA to college. I appreicate the friendship that you all give me, and the time that I was with you all. It really liked talking to all of you and getting to know every one of you. I pray that God guides all of your paths and that you all learn and/or keep trusting in God for your future endeavors.

AZURE,

Thank you for the friendship that you have given me. I really appreciate all the memories of being a middle schooler in Cross Country and talking with you about becoming famous YouTubers. I’m so excited for where your passion as a musician takes you. It really makes me happy that you feel self fullfilled making music. Never give up to achieve your artistic ambitions! I want to let you know you’re one of the few people that I can really connect with through your love of music, so it means a lot to have someone like you on campus. Keep up the uplifting attitude!

YOUR FRIEND, TY (‘24)

TO AARON MURAI

Congratulations on graduating! Have a great summer and good luck in college. I hope life is good to you.

FROM, SEAN T (‘24)

HEY THERE!

Hey there! It was such a pleasure getting to know some of you and I loved spending time with you. I’ve learned so much from you all and I’m lucky to have such strong bonds with many of you. To all the seniors in theater, It was such an honor to share the stage with you, and may you continue to bring light into the lives of others.

LOVE, ZOË NASO (‘26)

SO LONG SENIORS and good luck on your future endeavors :) Shout out to Ashley Kodama aka my cousin. She’s very cool.

TYLER Y (‘26)

HI TENNIS SENIORS!!!!

It was such an honor for all of us to be playing tennis with you guys! Y’all made this the most fun and memorable season ever! We’re going to miss you girls so much! Thank you for being an inspiration to us and for great friendships. We wish you well in whatever journey lies ahead of you guys after high school. This is truly just the beginning! God has great things in store for all of you!

Love you!!

<3, THE 2023 VARSITY TENNIS TEAM

TO THE BOWLING SENIORS

Congratulations on an incredible season this year being the ILH Champs and Runner ups at States! Thank you for all of your encouragement and help throughout my bowling career. Things will never be the same without you guys. Good luck in college and never stop striking. Hawaii Bowling Academy #1. Btw Storm > Motiv.

KOBE CHAN :) (‘25)

MOMMY KALYSTA

Thank you for being your fun self and always showering us with your humor and quirkiness. It didn’t matter if you were tired you always tried to cheer everyone up.

You are always so welcoming and always make me smile. Thanks for being such a good mom. You better come back and visit. Love you

Congrats on your first year of air riflery and thank you for joining both seasons with me! The whole team and I will miss you, but we all hope the best for you as you pursue air riflery in college.

LOVE, YOUR FAVORITE WEIRD FRESHMEN (LAUREN E, LIANA, AND KYLEE)

DEAR SENIORS IN CALC BC CLASS

Congrats for making it through high school! You guys are the true definition of “lead by example,” and my journey in high school wouldn’t have been so wonderful without you all. Good luck in college—strive for greatness! I will miss you guys.

YOYO (‘24)

HEY TIMOTHY!

Thank you for giving me a memorable first year of Wind Ensemble. You’re an amazing person and a talented musician. I hope you’ll remember to have fun and study hard. I wish you the best of luck at Princeton!

KIANI S (‘25)

TO THE SENIORS

SENIORS

Mahalo for making this season such a memorable one. It was awesome to get closer with you all! Thank you all for keeping us smiling us go through our ups and downs this season. Congratulations on finishing high school! I hope you all do well in college and in the future. Keep in touch!

ALYSSA KAULEINAMOKU (‘25)

Thank you all for being role models, lights on the hill, and wonderful friends. You will do great things and I pray that you become all that God has planned for you to be!

TO PRISCILLA,

You are capable of everything life throws at you. Be courageous! I am so glad I have been able to be your friend and I wish blessings on this new chapter of your life!

Psalms 31:24

LOVE, ABI (‘24)

Road To

ELLA LIM

College: George Fox University; Nursing

I would like to give a shout out to Mrs. Rae. Mrs. Rae invited me to eat lunch with her one day, and she showed a genuine interest in getting to know me. She created a safe space for me to share with her, and I have really loved having her as a mentor and Godly woman in my life since that special lunch time. I am definitely going to miss spending my independent periods with her, attending her core group, and her heartfelt check-ins with me.

“I think that

good

they

are very

KYLIE RIVERA

performers who make good music and I admire them for their talent, hard work and dedication to always being their best, not just for themselves but also their fans. Because I listen to a lot of groups I have probably spent over $300 on albums.”

College: Point Loma Nazaren University; Graphic Design Major with a Marketing Concentration

- Natali Nomura (‘25)

I am most definitely looking forward to senior trip! No stress, no work, just a fun time hangin out with the class!

Senioritis on a Scale from 1-10: Right now during our last quarter, I would rate it a 6. It’s tolerable but some days I rather sit home and watch Netflix.

ABIGIAL SUMIDA

Major: Biomedical Engineering

I’m most worried about the journey that follows high school graduation. The idea of going to college is scary yet exciting. I want to graduate, but at the same time, I almost want to stay in high school forever.

I’m looking forward to the senior celebration the most, because it’s a chance for me to travel with my friends, even if it’s just to a neighbor island, and I can’t wait to spend quality time with them.

KYLE KUMASAKA

College: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Marketing

I am most worried (but excited) about starting a new chapter in life. It seems very intimidating to me to go off to college and start all over again. I have been at HBA since kindergarten so going to college will be a whole new experience for me. I am also sad that I may never see some of my classmates ever again because we will all be going down different paths in life.

JOHN YAMAMOTO

College: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Computer Science

I chose UH because it gives me the opportunity to stay home with my family and have their support while watching my siblings grow up. I also believe that UH is an excellent deal from a financial perspective, as it is around a fourth of the tuition of some mainland colleges.

LISA ZHENG

Major: Architecture

I’ve decided to leave Hawai’i for college, so I’m worried about having a difficult time from leaving my friends and family. But I also know that leaving and growing up is the point of leaving for college.

I’m looking forward to our senior trip to Big Island because it’ll be after all the exams and graduation, so we can finally fully relax and just have fun.

Graduation

JEREMIAH SENG

Major: Global Studies

Seniorities on a scale from 1-10: 5

I wanna give a shout-out to Mr. Frontiera. You’ve been awesome to talk to and you’ve always been good at lightening the mood and making things interesting. I’m thankful to have had you as a teacher and friend.

RYAN FUKUI

“I think that they are very good performers who make good music and I admire them for their talent, hard work and dedication to always being their best, not just for themselves but also their fans. Because I listen to a lot of groups I have probably spent over $300 on albums.”

College: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Buisness Managment Informational Systems

- Natali Nomura (‘25)

I worry about not being able to hold relationships with friends after high school, but I am looking foward to the senior trip to the Big Island.

Mr.Kondo, I love you.

BLU WONG-OGATA

College: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Art Major

Something that worries me is not being able to see my friends as much and just starting college.

Im Looking foward to the senior sendoff and project grad.

Seniorities on a scale from 1-10: 7

LYNDSY MASHINO

Major: Pharmaceutical Sceince

I’m looking forward to the senior trip because it’ll be fun and a great way to say goodbye to people.

Mrs. Nakano has impacted my life because she helped me to have a deeper relationship with God and navigate my perfectionism. I’m so thankful for her and how I could always be open with her. She really made a big difference in my life and helped to shape me into who I am today.

MEGAN LEE

Having a good balance of my academics and social life worries me the most. I know that I will have to devote a lot of effort to studying for AP exams and finals if I want to end well academically. At the same time, I want to hang out with my friends more as we make our last high school memories.

Hi Mr. Duncklee, If you are reading this, I really enjoyed being your student these past 2 years, whether it be learning lessons on Newton’s laws or life advice in general. Also, thank you for putting up with our A Period class’s chaos and craziness.

THE SOUNDTRACK TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL LIFE

→ By Olivia Kim (‘26) and Calla Pien (‘26)

BTS:

- Natali Nomura (‘25)

BTS debuted in 2013 as a 7-member boy group, consisting of members Jin, Suga, RM, Jimin, Jungkook, j-hope, and V. All of them had come from different, countryside regions of South Korea. BigHit Entertainment, the company that owns them, held an audition for a new boy group, which was where and how they auditioned. Some of them auditioned to be a part of this group, but most of them had no intention of becoming singers. Actually, a couple of them wanted to be music producers, another auditioned just because his friend was auditioning, and one member was scouted on the bus and was told to sign with the company. Since the company was very small, and not well known, they didn’t get as many opportunities as other groups. But, by 2017, they won many of the awards in all of Asia, and even began to win awards here in the U.S. In 2020, shortly after the beginning of the pandemic, they released their song “Dynamite” and in 2021, they released “Butter”, which blew up the charts, and shot them to worldwide fame which won many fans’ hearts. When COVID hit, they had to stop all of their promotions, including a world tour that they and their fans were patiently counting down. During the pandemic, they were struggling with not being able to do anything, and knew that their fans were struggling as well. So, they created their album “BE”, which was made to give their fans hope about how they will be able to see each other again someday. As people started to listen to their music more and more, people began to find comfort in the deep meanings of their songs, and a fandom was formed, named ARMY.

Music is a substantial part of teenage life. More now than ever, earbuds have become a school necessity. Whether it be walking to your next class, or maybe even sneaking in a few of your favorite songs during your class period, intentionally or not, we have a running soundtrack as we go about our daily tasks. For some people, it almost acts as a background noise, while for others, it brings back an emotion or memory that they want to remember again. After sending out a survey to the HBA high school students, here are some of their favorite musical artists.

K-pop first started gaining attention after Seo-Taiji and the Boys debuted. They were one of the first Korean groups known for both their music and their in-sync dance moves. Soon after they gained national popularity, more groups and soloists in the same style began to debut, resulting in a new genre of music called K-pop, short for Korean pop music. As the industry reached a global audience, attention began to fall on how these groups are discovered and formed. Production and entertainment companies hold auditions all over the globe, and millions of people sign up for them. The extremely selective process is only the first step in becoming an idol. After they are chosen, they have to go through harsh training, that trains them in not only singing and dancing, but manners, and personality lessons, as well. At the end of every month, they have an evaluation, which was a way for them to check and see which trainees were doing well, and which were not. Lately, more idols have been speaking up about their experiences as trainees and the mental health issues they have to deal with as a result of this emotionally intense experience. One of the most recent heartbreaking wake-up calls was when Moonbin, a member of the boy group ASTRO, was found dead on April 19. He was 25. His sudden death has led to speculation about whether or not he’s another victim of the pressures of being a K-pop star. Currently, K-pop has been continually topping the charts and breaking global records.

“I love SZA’s music because it’s calming while still being upbeat... I think the thing that really makes her music good is the beat behind the songs, it’s catchy and her voice matches the style of her songs really well. #szanation4L

- Myla Bajema (‘26)

FEATURE

“I like them because they inspire me and I relate to their lyrics.”

Madison Ogawa (‘26)

Taylor Swift:

Taylor Swift’s career began in 2006, when she released her first “Top 40” hit single, “Tim McGraw,” with Big Machine Records, as well as a self-titled album. Her second album, “Fearless”, received even more praise and attention, as the album’s hits, “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me,” quickly became a nationwide favorite for its charming lyrics and hysterical music video. Between 2010 and 2012, she released two more albums, “Speak Now” and “Red,” and in 2014 she released her first but certainly not the last album of her “pop princess” era, titled “1989.” Hits that came off the album like “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” became worldwide sensations, racking up a couple billion views on YouTube. She was inactive for three years, then reappeared in 2017 with the release of her sixth studio album “Reputation.” Her seventh studio album “Lover” came out in 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the obvious setback of not being able to leave her house, the pandemic did not stop Swift from composing two more albums, titled “Folklore” and “Evermore,” both released within five months of each other in 2020. She also re-recorded two of her previous albums, renaming them “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” and “Red (Taylor’s Version).” Her most recent, brand-new album, “Midnights,” was released on October 21, 2022, with its title track “AntiHero” quickly reaching over 100,000,000 streams on Spotify within 9 days. Currently, Swift is on her 6-month “Era’s Tour,” spanning across North America and Europe.

The Weeknd:

“I really like the Weeknd because of his awesome singing and music beats. His songs and style of singing are different from other musicians which makes him unique.”

Kyle Kumasaka (‘23)

Thirty-three year old Abel Tesfaye, or most famously known as The Weeknd, was born in Toronto, Canada. His parents were immigrants from Ethiopia, but when he was young, his father left their family. According to an interview with The Guardian, in his junior year of high school, he decided to drop out of school and live with his best friends, where they lived a lifestyle full of partying. When he got his first job at a clothing shop called American Apparel, he began to anonymously upload his songs onto YouTube. As his music began to grow more popular, he decided to make a career out of it and self released his first mixtape, “House of Balloons”, in 2011. In 2015, he released his second single, “The Hills”, which peaked at number one on the Billboard 200. Afterwards, his musical career rocketed, earning him collaborations with established artists such as Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Drake, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar. Earlier this year, he released a remix of one of his songs, “Die For You”, which was another collaboration with Ariana Grande, after she was featured on “Save Your Tears”, which once again topped the Hot 100 chart.

Continued on page 34

SZA:

Grammy Award winning, R&B/pop singer, SZA, whose actual name is Solána, was a competitive gymnast before she got her first break as a performer. She signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013, and eventually, 4 years afterwards, she joined RCA Records as well, which is owned by Sony. In 2021, her song, “I Hate U”, went viral on TikTok, which boosted her career to new levels. Shortly afterwards, she released a song in collaboration with Doja Cat, called “Kiss Me More”, which gave her her first Grammy win. Later in 2022, she released her second album, “SOS”, which was the first album released after her debut album in 2017, which included songs such as “Kill Bill” and “Snooze”, that topped the Billboard 200 charts and broke records.

Use toothpick or metal scribe to drag colored dots into white icing.

Add sprinkles or edible decorating pearls to finish the design.

THE RETURN OF LIVE MUSIC

→ By Megan Lee (‘23) FEATURE

“I was in the presence of Harry Edward Styles.

I think just knowing that I was watching the performer of this song live and in-person, it’s just insane. It’s just the way that the music kind of bounces off the walls, and it’s super loud. You’re screaming the lyrics. He’s screaming the lyrics. Everyone’s screaming the lyrics,” senior Marissa Watanabe reminisced, as she recalled seeing Styles perform live during his “Love on Tour” performance in Florida.

Watanabe’s memories from the concert are still fresh in her mind, even though it took place in October 2021. The trip was a surprise from her parents, who started the planning a few years prior. When “Love on Tour” was first announced in November 2019, Watanabe’s father managed to secure tickets for the tour that was initially set for 2020. Despite two postponements in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Watanabe’s father decided to keep the tickets, and fortunately, the tour officially launched a year later.

\Watanabe started listening to Styles’ music in middle school and fell in love with his self-titled debut album. “It’s not entirely pop, and it’s not entirely rock or indie either. It’s like a mixture of alternative pop and modern rock in a way,” she explained. After Watanabe realized that her parents had driven her to Amway Center, where Styles was set to perform that night, she was ecstatic, frantically texting her friends about the exciting news. Despite not having made any preparations for the concert, Watanabe was just as ready as any Styles’ fan at the show. Hours spent listening to Styles ensured that she had memorized every lyric to his songs.

Many fans shared Watanabe’s enthusiasm for his live shows. According to Billboard, “Love on Tour” surpassed $400 million in ticket sales, granting the English singer-songwriter the tenthhighest-grossing tour of all time as of April 2023. “When it’s live and you’re around people who are there to hear that music too, it’s just this whole different feeling,” Watanabe added.

Along with Styles, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift charted record-breaking ticket sales with her 2023 “The Eras Tour,” her first concert tour in five years. Since performing her “Reputation Stadium Tour” in 2018, Swift has released three studio albums and two re-recorded albums. Such additions in her discography during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted her to embark on “The Eras Tour” in support of all of her studio albums, rather than the usual singular album.

“The Eras Tour” received unprecedented demand for tickets, with 3.5 million people registering for Ticketmaster’s presale. Although

the ticket broker’s platform faced many website issues on the first day of the presale, over 2.4 million tickets were sold for the tour, which marked the most concert tickets sold by an artist in a single day.

During a last-minute trip this past spring break, sophomore Asia Dela Cruz and her mother attended Swift’s “The Eras Tour” performance in Las Vegas, managing to snag tickets two weeks before the show. The set list featured 44 songs from her 10-album career, and since the tour’s first show in Arizona in March, many Swifties (Swift’s official fandom name) have praised the tour’s production and Swift’s caliber as a performer, her vocals and stage presence twofold. Dela Cruz said, “The Taylor Swift concert was amazing with all the lights and dancing. Even though it was three hours, it was a really unforgettable

experience.” Dela Cruz’s favorite moment from the show included “screaming and singing with [her] mom.”

While many music artists like Styles and Swift halted their performances due to the pandemic, the Korean-pop group BTS (also known as Bangtan Boys) organized several pay-per-view virtual concerts so that fans could still enjoy their shows remotely. Within these live stream concerts, BTS tried to make the experience as immersive and accessible for their global following—including a virtual audience displayed on LED screens, a six-camera multiview option, subtitles in four different languages, and a chat feature for real-time fan reactions. Senior Miya

Continued on page 34

Yukumoto viewed all of BTS’s virtual (Above) BTS fans’ lightsticks illuminate the stands with rainbow colors, hearts, and the words “ARMY” and “BTS”. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MIYA YUKUMOTO (‘23). (Opposite page) Styles and Swift in concert. PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ASIA DE LA CRUZ (‘25) AND MARISSA WATANABE (‘23) (Right) Senior Joy Yukumoto and Kacie Agena in front of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where they watched BTS perform. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MIYA YUKUMOTO (‘23).

AP Class Rankings

→ By Noah Hu (‘23)

HBA offers about 16 AP classes to its students, from AP Studio Art to AP Calculus. While students are motivated by the offer of future college credit, they sometimes struggle with the hours of work and studying that is required of AP courses. Here is what teachers and students have to say about the courses available at HBA.

AP CHEMISTRY

Teacher: Mrs. Mitchell

Average hours per week: 5.5

Average difficulty: 9

AP BIOLOGY

Teacher: Ms. Mishima

Average hours per week: 3

Average difficulty: 6.5

AP PHYSICS 1

Teacher: Mr. Duncklee

Average hours per week: 2.5

Average difficulty: 7

AP PHYSICS 2/C

Teacher: Mr. Duncklee

Average hours per week: 4

Average difficulty: 9

AP ENVIRONMENTAL

Teacher: Mrs. Mitchell

Average hours per week: 3

Average difficulty: 7

AP CALCULUS AB

Teacher: Ms. Ota / Mr. Mukai

Average hours per week: 3

Average difficulty: 8.5

AP CALCULUS BC

Teacher: Mr. Kondo

Average hours per week: 4.5

Average difficulty: 9

“AP Chemistry is equivalent to a 2-semester introductory college-level chemistry course. This course will challenge and stretch you academically yet is one of the most rewarding courses you will take and one that will truly prepare you for courses at the next level. This class is one you should strongly consider if you are thinking of majoring in any science and/or pursuing a career in the medical field.” - Mrs. Mitchell

“I enjoy AP Bio when we do labs and do team work because getting to work with other classmates to finish work is both enjoyable and gets the job done faster. However, AP Bio has a lot of homework as we have labs and other assignments due weekly along with AP Classroom videos we have to watch almost every day and take notes on.” - Noah Camacho

“AP Physics 1 covers mechanics and is equivalent to a 1st semester algebra-based college course. The class is challenging in the way it forces students to apply mathematical approaches to realworld problems and dives deep into conceptual understanding of these introductory physics concepts. “ - Mr. Duncklee

“I enjoy how AP Physics 2/C is similar to AP Physics 1 in the sense that it’s more hands-on lab work rather than lecture-focused. For AP Physics 2, the topics are more interesting than AP Physics 1 but slightly more difficult because it builds on the previous AP Physics 1 content. For AP Physics C, it’s more computational rather than conceptional, so you need to have strong math skills or the time and willingness to self-study.” - Megan

Lee

“APES applies to our real current life. I think a lot of times, as people, we tend to ignore the reality of our world--the fact that our world is dying at the hands of humans. However, the whole point of APES is to learn about this hard truth and also ways we can tackle and prevent this, sort of, impending doom. It’s A LOT of content, but what we learn is good, meaningful, and crucial to being good inhabitants of this world. ” -

Marissa Watanabe

AP Calculus AB uses mathematical tools for problem solving that help us to analyze change. Surprisingly, some students find that they are better able to grapple with abstract calculus concepts than with what they must do with concrete precalculus functions. Calculus challenges you to think about mathematics in four dimensions: algebraically, verbally, numerically, and graphically.” - Ms. Ota

“I find the content of AP Calc BC to be fascinating and really intriguing, and while the pacing and difficulty of it all is a challenge, I like how it pushes, grows, and humbles me. The bad thing, though, is that it’s all just really difficult, and it takes me a lot of time just to do good.” - Timothy

Shimizu

AP STATISTICS

Teacher: Mr. Mukai

Average hours per week:3.5

Average difficulty:

AP COMPUTER SCIENCE

Teacher: Mr. Lee

Average hours per week: 4

Average difficulty: 5

AP LANGUAGE

Teacher: Mrs. Ustare

Average hours per week: 3

Average difficulty: 7

AP LITERATURE

Teacher: Mrs. Taylor

Average hours per week: 2.5

Average difficulty: 6

AP WORLD HISTORY

Teacher: Mrs. Hamaguchi

Average hours per week: 4

Average difficulty: 7

AP ECONOMICS

Teacher: Mr. Herder

Average hours per week: 2.5

Average difficulty: 6.5

AP PSYCHOLOGY

Teacher: Mr. Weismantel

Average hours per week: 2.5

Average difficulty: 5.5

“I like AP Stats because it’s one of the more practical math and can be applied in everyday life. However, I also don’t like it because it’s not like a regular math class with numbers and calculations. There is a lot of reading and writing and it took me some time to get used to the class.” -

Kyle Kumasaka

“AP CSA is personally a fascinating subject to me because its foundations and applications are extremely relevant in today’s modern, technologically heavy society. We use websites, mobile devices, computers and even smart-devices on an hourly basis, really, and they all have software/ hardware interfaces that are rooted in programming concepts which AP CSA introduces.” - Mr. Lee

“Your experience will be like an amusement park ride. The ride ends sooner than you expect. After unbuckling, you shakily get to your feet. Staggering from the station, you look up and again read the name of the ride you just braved: AP English Language and Composition. Laughing to yourself, you feel satisfied, tired, energized, weak, stunned, and yet stronger, all at the same time.” - Mrs. Ustare

“I’ve been teaching AP Literature for 11 years, and I also score essays for the national exam every summer. I love teaching AP Literature. The curriculum is designed to help students think and write critically and efficiently about literature. The majority of the assessments are done in class, but there is quite a bit of reading that students need to do outside of class. AP Lit: it’s gonna be “lit”!”

- Mrs. Taylor

“AP World History is definitely a challenge with the amount of content we learn and the depth of analysis required to be successful, but my goal is for students to work together to understand it all. We help each other become better readers, writers, and scholars!” - Mrs. Hamaguchi

“Micro and Macro Economics is about understanding human behavior, how we make our choices, and how to make us more efficient. It’s about real life. The fast-paced course covers two topics, tested separately by the AP, so one can possibly get college credit for two courses.” - Mr. Herder

“AP Psychology is SEL on steroids. You learn why you do what you do and how to apply it to your daily life. That is why Psychology should be a required course.” - Mr. Weismantel

AP JAPANESE

Teacher: Yoo Sensei

Average hours per week: 3

Average difficulty: 7.5

AP ART AND 2D DESIGN

Teacher: Ms. Ota

Average hours per week: 3.5

Average difficulty: 6.5

“Listen y’all, I got a class to sell. AP Japanese, it’s gonna be swell. Don’t need no fear, we’ll conquer this together. And by the end, you’ll speak to the peak, no matter the weather. Let’s go Nihon-Go, it’s gonna be fun. We’ll eat Japanese food, watch Anime, and run. We’ll use it or lose it, that’s the key. And if you like matcha, I gotcha, come with me!” - Yoo Sensei

“The hardest part about AP Art is definitely the time constraints and art block, but the creative freedom is worth the experience. I used to only make art when I had a spark of inspiration and a lot of time to work, but taking the class has forced me (in a good way) to come up with ideas on the spot and experiment with styles I’ve never tried before..” - Lauren Chee

Ready, Set, States!

→ By Natali Nomura (‘25) SPORTS NEWS

Since January, HBA’s track athletes had been training in hopes of competing in this year’s state championship, which was hosted on Maui on May 6. The team returned with three medalists: Senior Shane KawakamiWilliams won the 100-meter and 400-meter state championship titles, senior Jordy Davenport took home the second place medal for the 400-meter dash, and senior Ashley Kodama won the bronze medal in both the 1500-meter and 800-meter dash. The Eagles finished 9th overall for the girls and 8th for the boys out of 29 schools.

Kawakami-Williams had his eyes on the state championship all season. “For the first time since I’ve been in high school, we get to have States on another island, so we get to go on a trip,” he said at the start of the season. He and fellow senior Zachary Oka also competed in long jump during the regular season. HBA had not participated in a field event since 2018. Although neither of the boys were able to qualify for the event at States, they were very excited to try something new this season. “I really want to show to kids from HBA that maybe want to jump in the future that you can do anything that you put your mind to if you try hard enough. You don’t have to be limited by what school you come from or what you know; just teach yourself,” KawakamiWilliams said.

Senior Shane Kawakami-Williams starts off a 4 x 400m relay. PHOTOGRAPH BY CORI MATSUMOTO (‘23)

Senior Chris Wu tries to stay ahead of the pack in an 800m race. PHOTOGRAPH BY CORI MATSUMOTO (‘23)

The track team trained six days a week, rain or shine. Practice ran from 3:30 to 6:00 pm and meets ran for five hours or more. Sophomore Jared Crestetto said he spent about 20 hours a week going to both practices and meets. He believes in being disciplined both inside and outside of practices. “Throughout the season, I generally try to get enough sleep each night and hydrate regularly to help with recovery and to prepare for workouts,” he commented.

For senior Ashley Kodama, who was last year’s 1500-meter state champion and this year’s third place medalist in the 1500-meter and 800-meter dash, injury prevention is another important part of a healthy runner’s daily routine. “I usually also spend about 15 to 45 minutes before or after practice to work on some prevention—so I don’t get injured—and recovery—rolling out, hypervolt, etcetera,” she explained. Kodama also put a lot of effort into preparing for meets days in advance. “I usually like to have things organized before the track meet so I don’t have to stress before I leave the house. Sometimes, depending on my mood, I listen to music or talk to my friends to help me get into the mental mindset of racing. I also visualize to help me calm my nerves down. As for the actual preparation, about 30 minutes before my race, I go down to the track to do my pre-race routine that my coaches gave me to help ensure that I am properly warmed up and ready to run!” she said.

These athletes will also say that running is as much a mental game as it is physical. For Crestetto, the competition is what makes him stronger. “I like to remind myself that there’s always somebody out there working harder than me right now, and I tell myself that I don’t have to run; I get to run!” he said. For other runners, anxiety is the biggest hurdle when competing. Davenport, who won the 400-meter state title last year, admits that her achievement had become a bit of a burden. Before the state championship, she said, “I know that people will be watching me, especially at the state meet, and I’m scared to see how I’ll do. Everyone has gotten so much faster this season compared to last year, and I might not be able to win States again,” At this year’s race, she finished in second place with a time of 58.84 seconds, a mere second behind ‘Iolani junior Mia Shepard, who set a new personal record of 57.13 seconds.

When it comes to the most enjoyable aspects of the sport, runners on the HBA team consistently bring up the community feel of the group. “A really great part of competing in track is probably the atmosphere that surrounds it. It’s a little tense, but everybody’s really excited to race, compete, and exhibit the hard work they’ve put in. Another great aspect of track is the team; it’s a really great community with a lot of cool people who are really supportive,” Crestetto said.

When it comes to team events—the 4 x 100m and the 4 x 400m—a sense of camaraderie is crucial to team chemistry. Davenport explained, “[The relays] are all about teamwork. In sprints, runners run in their own lanes and have no physical contact with one another. There can be lots of heats of the same distance, so it’s not common to run with your teammates all the time. In distance, runners have a greater chance of running with teammates, as the heats tend to have a lot more runners in them.” Although Kawakami-Williams only competed in individual events, he said, “I don’t think I would be anywhere at all without my teammates in track. I cannot run alone. For me it’s necessary to have a team to not only practice with but also race with.”

The competitive aspect of the sport is also a highlight. With the intermediate season recently completed, eighth grader Rylee Sato reflected, saying, “The best part about competing would have to be seeing who the competition is, and making friends from other schools.

I like to pace with people from meets to help me find paces that are comfortable for me since I don’t really know my own pace. Also when there’s like a medal or some kind of recognition, it is really cool too because you get to be known as one of those people. One day I think it would be cool to be one of those people that others are scared to race against since you’re really fast.” Kodama finds that racing is what makes the whole season worth it. “Racing gives me a sense of peace and freedom. Throughout this track season I have learned that running is my way of worshiping God. Every practice run and every race I compete in is ‘for him.’ The best thing about racing is to run for God and trust his plan always,” she stated.

As the seniors end their high school running career, they have some advice for incoming runners. “Put in the effort. Many freshmen and sophomores turn to track to fill their second sport in getting exempt from P.E., but just because you run track for the P.E. credit doesn’t mean you have to slack or not give any effort to the workouts or races,” Davenport said. Kawakami-Williams agreed, adding, “Stay consistent and go 100% in everything. If you really want results, you need to do more than just show up to a race. Take care of practice, take care of recovery, take care of races, and you’ll be fine.”

(Top) Senior Ashley Kodama takes her place number as she finishes first in a 800m dash; (Bottom) Senior Jordan Davenport prepares to start a 4 x 400m relay race; PHOTOGRAPHS BY CORI MATSUMOTO (‘23)

Freshman Golfer Makes Name For Herself

→ By Noah Camacho (23’) SPORTS NEWS

The HBA varsity golf team has achieved numerous accomplishments that have positively impacted HBA Athletics over the years. However, after coming off of a successful season, the varsity team has had many seniors graduate last year, with the boys team losing two players and the girls team losing three. While this may be an unfortunate blow to the team, there are still upcoming underclassmen who may be able to fill the shoes of those who have left.

One of those underclassmen is freshman Jacey Kage. This will be Kage’s first year as a high school golfer, and Kage is already on the Varsity 1 team. She has played golf from the age of five, and out of all the sports she has tried, it is the only sport she has stuck with. “I chose to play golf because I always seemed to excel at the sport, and I also picked up interest in the sport,” said Kage. “I was starting to really enjoy being out there on the golf course and [participating in] competitions.” However, when Kage was younger, she did not always enjoy playing the sport. “I thought that it was boring and nothing useful, and [I] was thinking of quitting. As I got older, I started to mature and decided to stick to golf more,” Kage explained. Kage’s family has been a part of her golfing journey and has influenced her to play the sport. “My dad and grandpa were always involved with the junior golf community,” said Kage. “My grandpa was on the board and knew a bunch of people who were involved with junior golf. My dad also played golf since he was very young, too, so my

dad wanted to carry on the ‘golf tradition’ so he taught me and my brother.” Kage’s father, who is also her coach, signed her up for her first tournament when she was seven years old in order for her to gain more experience with tournament play.

With an average of 75, Kage is fourth overall in scoring average for the ILH girls division. Currently, she has the lowest scoring average out of both the HBA boys and girls Varsity 1 teams. “I have a few goals for the season, but one goal that I am going for is to place well in states, maybe top 10,” Kage said. Kage’s spot for the state tournament—which will take place on Kauai—is already locked in as only 15 girls in the ILH can qualify for the state tournament. Kage will have many more opportunities to showcase her skills for high school golf as she is only a freshman. “What I hope for in future seasons is to do better than in previous years and to make a name for HBA and also myself in golf,” Kage explained. “I enjoy the competitions and [meeting] other junior golfers. I also enjoy the different places that we get to travel [for] golf and the new experiences.”

As the season nears its end, Kage reflected on her first season as a high school student. She said, “Some of my favorite moments in the golf season were [playing] fun games with the team during practice and also winning one tournament for HBA.” Kage believes that she made the right decision to play golf and thinks that the sport has really helped her to grow. “Golf has taught me in so many ways. I learned how to be honest, hard-working, and also patient. I have also begun to be a little more open minded when it comes to certain things,” she added.

Freshman Jacey Kage hitting drives at Hoakalei Country Club (left) and Oahu Country Club (right). PHOTOGRAPHS BY RANDY COLLINS

FEATURE

“The Soundtrack to our High School Life”

Continued from page 26

Keshi:

Keshi, a Vietnamese-born-American alternative R&B singer songwriter, got his start on Soundcloud in 2017, and soon caught the attention of label deals for his unique and distinct tone and style of music. He later signed with Island Records in 2019, and released a trilogy of EPs under the record. Two songs that he had released a year before in 2018, titled “2 soon” and “like i need u” are still among his most popular songs currently, with over 288 million streams on Spotify combined. In 2021, after the pandemic, he released “beside you, which became another hit song. More recently, in March of 2022, he released his first full-scale album titled “GABRIEL,” which includes popular songs like “LIMBO” and “SOMEBODY.” Keshi’s real name is Casey Luong, and the stage name “Keshi” came to be after he met his fiance’s parents. Her parents are of Japanese descent, and since English is not their first language, they would always pronounce Casey’s name as “ke-shi”.

“The craziest thing I’ve done for Keshi is probably listen to him everyday for 6 months straight. I’m surprised I never got tired of listening to his music even though I have around 20,000 streams for Keshi.”

Caylee Lucas (‘26)

The boys and girls state championships were held at the Wailua Golf Course on Kauai in May. There were not enough girls to qualify for a team score for HBA, so Kage was playing for an individual score instead. The tournament was held for two days, with Kage shooting an 81 on the first day and a 79 on the second day to finish with a tie for 16th place.

FEATURE “The Return of Live Music”

Continued from page 28

concerts, oftentimes hosting a watch party with her other ARMY (BTS’s official fandom name) friends. With the easing of coronavirus restrictions, BTS announced a series of live performances for their “Permission to Dance on Stage” stadium tour, the group’s first live shows for an in-person audience since 2019. Yukumoto and classmate Kacie Agena jumped at the opportunity to see the South Korean boy band at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium in April 2022, which drew in around 200,000 in-person attendees and a total of 620,000 people between their in-person and online audience.

Yukumoto was not only impressed by the group’s charisma and stamina throughout the three-hour set, but also the raw quality of live music. “You get to see the artist put more of their feelings into the song while they’re performing live. You’re able to feel and physically see their emotions. Especially [with] emotional songs, it just hits a bit deeper,” she explained. Yukumoto also commented on the awe-inspiring fan scene, saying how she “[got] chills” hearing a whole chorus of people singing in the stands when BTS would pause mid-song.

For first-time concert goers, Watanabe suggested fully charging one’s phone or bringing a portable charger. Dela Cruz advised arriving at the venue at least an hour early. Yukumoto summarized a shared sentiment, “Just be excited and yell as much as you want because you never know when you’re going to be able to do it again. Live concert life to the max.”

Freshman Jacey Kage (middle) with her varsity teammates and coaches. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RANDY COLLINS