Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

____________________________________ Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

Chinese lion dancing a way of life for junior

Lancers in the Community

In this issue, Ka Leo shows how Lancers are making marks in the community— from chemists on Coconut Island to singers competing statewide.

On Tuesday, Ho per‐ formed at Sacred Hearts Academy in light of the Chinese New Year. Await‐ ing the brightly decorated lion costumes to come out, students cheered on as the drums and cymbals began to beat.

Ho using the cymbals to keep the drummer on beat during the Chinese lion dance.

Photo by Rebecca Meyer.

By Rebecca Meyer, Reporter

Dance Activity Centre and beach, Ho is busy sharing has been for the past two the Chinese culture with When junior Brianna Ho years. the community. isn't dressed in her Sacred Hearts Academy uniform, The tradition of lion danc‐ She does this both under she's most likely decked ing has been an integral the lion head and over the out in her purple and yel‐ piece to her family history drums, as a dancer and a low frill-laced Chinese for generations. drummer. lion dance costume.

And while most teens Sharing the culture Ho is part of the Nam might spend their week‐ through dance Sieng Dragon and Lion ends at the mall or at the

Teachers were smiling and clapping along to the drums, as the fluorescent pink and royal gold lions roamed the gym floor showing off their tricks and dances.

"I think it is really impor‐ tant that others see this type of performance be‐ cause it can bring a mix‐ ture of cultures together, as well as (teach) some‐ thing new (about) where lion dancing had original‐ ly come from," Ho said.

"It's special to Hawaii…be‐ cause they really believe in the blessings, good luck

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Ka Leo: The Voice of Sacred Hearts Academy | Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

(from pg. 1) and prosperity M a n y c o m m u n i t i e s that is given during per‐ around the world take part formances." in this important Chinese holiday, by feasting on tra‐ She attends two-to-three- ditional foods and practic‐ hour practices every Satur‐ ing conventional customs. day.

Such customs include gau Each practice focuses on making and lion and drag‐ everything from body pos‐ on dancing. ture and synchronization to hand movements while Lion dancing is projected playing the instruments. to represent courage, sta‐ bility and superiority, Ho Ho even practices at home said. on phone books or on her bed.

It is also believed to not only chase away evil "Seeing other people enjoy spirits, with the loud con‐ the entertainment is worth sistent drumming, but Students preparing to test their hypothesis and the hard work," she said. bring good fortune and experiments at the marine research facility. Photos by blessings as well.

Taylor McKenzie.

Surf, sun and science on Coconut Island

Bringing good fortune and blessings

Many households or busi‐ nesses will place bowls of Each lion dance perfor‐ fruit outside of their mance honors the turn of doorsteps as offerings to the traditional lunisolar the lion.

Chinese calendar.

They might also leave red This year, the Chinese cel‐ envelopes filled with mon‐ ebrate the year of the ey. rooster, which is one of the animals in the Chinese zo‐ The lion is to "eat" the of‐ diac. The rooster is be‐ fer ings, Ho explains, lieved to represent fidelity demonstrating the sym‐ and punctuality. bolic act of blessing the lion.

By Taylor McKenzie, Media Editor

Junior Brianna Ho practicing her drumming for the performance. Photo by Rebecca Meyer.

Fresh off the boat, Sacred Hearts Academy students are ready for a day of science and discovery.

Students from Sacred Hearts Academy's Ad‐ vanced Chemistry class couldn't help but squeal, as water spilled into the tiny boat they were riding. It bulleted across Kaneohe Bay, splashing ocean water on those taking selfies in front of the postcard-es‐ que background. Ahead of them was a small island,

surrounded by hues of blue, that seemingly grew from beneath the horizon.

"My favorite thing about the field trip was the boat ride over," said senior Zoierae Hill. "I've only ever been on a motorpowered boat once before, and I didn't get to stand up while I was on it. This time, I got to dance and take pictures and walk around with my friends."

Ka Leo: The Voice of Sacred Hearts Academy | Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

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paratus," she said. "(It will do this) because the more porous nature of the rice coral will allow the acidic seawater to dissolve it quicker."

A team experiments with pipettes to discover how ocean acidity affects coral.

(From pg. 2) Upon reach‐ ing Coconut Island, the group of students carefully stepped out of the boat, and whether realizing it or not, were embarking upon a world of scientific dis‐ covery.

Junior Dorothy Sanidad was eager to test out her hypothesis.

"(My hypothesis was) if rice coral and lace coral are exposed to seawater with increased levels of carbon dioxide, then the The marine research facili‐ calcium and carbonate lev‐ ty offers world-class lab, els will increase more in field and genetic facilities the rice coral sample's ap‐ to educators and students; it also provides convenient access to a diverse range of marine environments.

polyps grow is made of calcium carbonate. Addi‐ tionally, according to Hill, an increase of carbon in the water causes a decrease in carbonate ions. Thus, making it difficult for coral The students learned that and other organisms, such climate change affects the as clams and sea urchins, planet in many ways. Even to calcify. more surprising to them was the information that "I never thought about the this global phenomenon is fact that islands and affecting their island's coastal places, whose backyard-the ocean. economies rely heavily on tourism, such as Hawaii, "Ocean acidification is one would be greatly affected of the many ways climate by the destruction of coral change is affecting the reefs," Sanidad said. world. The ocean is like a carbon sink, and when too This lab, ultimately, was much carbon is absorbed meant to result in more by the ocean, it causes the than a one-time report. By pH level to become more learning about the effects acidic and drop," Hill said. of global warming on the environment, the students They learned that too learned how small changes much carbon also affects in their everyday lives will coral, since the skeleton have a big impact on the upon which the coral world.

"The students are able to plan and complete an in‐ quiry lab investigation, which would not be possi‐ ble in the 50-minute class periods we have at school," teacher James Bell said.

The students learn how climate change affects coral by testing out differ‐ ent hypotheses. They ex‐ perimented with dead fragments of shells and coral to simulate the natu‐ ral habitats of local reefs.

Senior Justine Kuna Sison weighs pieces of shells, testing out her hypothesis of how climate change affects coral reefs.

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Ka Leo: The Voice of Sacred Hearts Academy | Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

The spirit of ‘Praise and Worship’ unites Lancer community

United in hearts and minds, community members praise God and embrace fellowship at the Academy’s first “Praise and Worship.” Photo by Kailanianna Ablog.

By Kailanianna Ablog, Opinions Editor

'Praise and Worship' is re‐ ally like no other feeling, and there is no real way to describe (it)," Wilson said.

"It was really fun to be able to sing some of my fa‐ vorite praise and worship songs with my friends."

The sounds of joyful cho‐ rus filled Sacred Hearts Academy's St. Mary Mar‐ garet's Chapel early Friday evening, as the LIFE Team hosted the school's first "Praise and Worship."

The "Praise and Worship" included many attendees, Senior Shailyn Makana such as students from Wilson had an enjoyable Kamehameha, Damien experience while at the Memorial School and event.

Waipahu High School, and their families. The teens "The experience I got at spent the night dancing

and singing along to the tunes of Refiner's Worship, a New Christian band formed by parishioners from St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church.

With the support of those who attended, LIFE Team was able to donate $166 to Hoola Na Pua, a local or‐ ganization with a mission to aid female victims of human trafficking.

cookies, hot dogs and juice, provided by the LIFE Team and fellowship.

Wilson believes that ev‐ eryone should experience a "Praise and Worship."

"I would definitely encour‐ age people to go," she said.

"They should come be‐ cause it really is an amaz‐ ing experience. Once you start to sing the songs and see how everyone starts to Between songs, partici‐ interact with each other, pants enjoyed brownies, you will not want to leave."

Ka Leo: The Voice of Sacred Hearts Academy | Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

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Youth wants service to be social

By Taylor McKenzie, Media Editor

The students watched ner‐ vously as the "On Air" sig‐ nal flickered to life-a cue for an orchestra of ringing telephones begging to be answered. It was Hawaii Public Radio's (HPR) semi-annual pledge drive this weekend, and Sacred Hearts Academy students were part of the action.

Galton spent a few hours on Saturday morning an‐ swering phone calls and learning more about how pledge drives keep com‐ munity-supported radio stations, like HPR, in op‐ eration.

Junior Taylor Rayray volunteering with the Leo Club at the Aloha Stadium. Photo by Shelby Mattos.

how young people take ac‐ t ion to cre ate s o ci a l change with data from more than 4,000 adoles‐ cents between the ages 13 But those few hours were and 22. just a small portion of Gal‐ ton's contribution to the "I think service is not al‐ community. So far this year, she has completed more than 100 hours of "Although it was a small service from a range of thing, I feel like I did make events both in and out of a difference for Hawaii school.

Public R adio," senior Mariko Galton said.

And while the satisfaction of giving back to the com‐ As part of the HPR event, munity is appealing to her, so is being able to work alongside her peers-a sen‐ timent echoed by a recent study.

ways about working alone, but with others, who be‐ lieve in the same values you do," Galton said. "It's about being with others and serving a common goal or issue."

Vo l u n t e e r i n g w i t h Friends A survey, conducted by online community service r e s o u r c e DoSomething.org, found that young people are more likely to volunteer if their friends do.

Academy students at the Hawaii Public Radio station. Photo Courtesy of It was the first comprehen‐ Cleo Eubanks. sive national survey on Infographic by Shelby Mattos.

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Ka Leo: The Voice of Sacred Hearts Academy | Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

However, most students seek out opportunities themselves. According to the survey, 66 percent of youth volunteers are more likely to get involved by talking to people than by referring to social media or websites.

"I agree with this statistic because those 66 percent of youth volunteers reached out to a 'medium' in which they were com‐ fortable with and (could easily) access," junior Tay‐ lor Rayray said.

Rayray has earned more than 300 hours of service this school year and says she typically learns about service opportunities from members of her church.

She serves as a Catechist Assistant and helps with The goal of the survey was the youth ministry pro‐ to gain insight on how to gram. She also volunteers close that gap. at school, as a member of the Leo Club and the Na‐ At the Academy, Eubanks tional Honor Society. and teachers from the the‐ ology department helped Both Rayray and classmate to lessen the gap. They su‐ Galton enjoy the social as‐ pervised more than 33,800 p e c t of v o lu nt e e r i n g service hours for students alongside peers, stating last school year. that it is what helps youth to become more connect‐ "(Students volunteer as) ed to each other and the ushers for school plays, community they serve. student guides or helpers for school events, like ad‐ "Putting oneself out there missions events, open may be a risk," Rayray houses or the Science said. "But the social con‐ Symposium," said Leilani nections that (we're) mak‐ Asuncion, a teacher for the ing with the world and theology department and other people…are what Want to find out more the advisor for the class of connect us all, in one way about volunteering as a 2019. or another." student? Scan the QR code to watch a video!

Infographic by Shelby Mattos.

(From pg. 5) At the Acade‐ my, Director of Student Activities Cleo Eubanks assists with coordinating service projects. She was also supervising the group of students at HPR's pledge drive this weekend.

"I think it is less intimidat‐ ing to show up at a volun‐ teer venue when you know someone there (because) it's also a lot more fun," Eubanks said.

Closing the Gap According to DoSome‐ thing.org, 93 percent of teens say they want to vol‐ unteer but only a small percentage does.

Ka Leo: The Voice of Sacred Hearts Academy | Special Edition: Lancers in the Community

Choir sings its way to state festival

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In addition to supplying a venue for school choirs and mass ensembles, the festival provides each choir guidance by a na‐ tionally renowned clini‐ cian.

choir will perform two of their own songs.

"I think it'll be a lot of fun for my students because we get to meet choirs from all over the state and learn from their techniques," This year's clinician is Dr. teacher Zachary Moore Karen Kennedy, an asso‐ said, excitedly. ciate professor and direc‐ tor of choral studies at the Along with his students University of Miami Frost learning how to enhance School of Music. their singing skills, Moore finds this as an opportuni‐ Students from the concert ty to learn new teaching and select choirs will be‐ styles. gin the festival by partici‐ pating in workshops and With the festival just days singing rehearsals. They away, each choir member will complete more than is making their last25 hours of singing, with minute pitch adjustments 350 students from around in order to make this festi‐ the state. val the best one yet.

They are then given the opportunity to sing in the presence of adjudicators, demonstrating their music-reading abilities.

For those interested in at‐ Concert choir students preparing for the Nā Leo Hou: tending this harmonious Hawaii All-State Choral Festival. Photos by Rebecca event, the festival will be Meyer. held on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m at the Central

By Rebecca Meyer, Reporter festival yet are looking for‐ Union Church in Honolu‐ ward to the new experi‐ Along with the six songs lu.

In recent weeks, lively ence. they will sing with other voices could be heard students, the Academy echoing down the halls of "I honestly have no idea Sacred Hearts Academy, as what to expect, but I'm ex‐ the choir prepares for the cited to learn new ways of annua l Nā L e o Hou: singing and expressing Hawaii All-State Choral myself through song," said Festival. freshman Keanaimauliola Char.

"I'm looking forward to the new pieces we will get C o-sp ons ore d by t he to learn and the different Hawaii chapter of the teaching styles the new di‐ A m e r i c a n C h o r a l rector will bring," said se‐ Director's Association nior Bonnie Chapman, a (HI-ACDA) and Hawaii returning festival partici‐ Yout h O p e r a C hor u s pant.

(HYOC), the festival pro‐ motes collaboration, so‐ Sophomore Anne Castro and freshman Brooklyn Yano Others in the choir who cialization and coopera‐ warming up their voices to “My Bonnie,” a commonly haven't participated in the tion between singers. used voice warm-up exercise.