





TikTok, TikTok..
Read about the Supreme Court’s descision and TikTok’s counterpart RedNote! (Page 8)
An inside look at this years’ Junior Commitment Ceremony for the Class of 2026.
(Page 2)
Read about the hit show “Squid Games” that has taken the world by storm!
(Page 6)
By: Kathryn Taylor ('25)
On Friday, December 13, Maryknoll held its annual talent show and Christmas Aloha celebration. The talent show displayed acts from seniors Kevin Corpuz (‘25) and Shaylee Billaber-Ferrer (‘25) hula dancing to the song “Piu Kiona”, the Senate Executive Council dancing to “Touch” by KATSEYE, sophomore Caitlin Jaimes (‘27) singing and playing the guitar to “Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat, senior Rylee Resuello (‘25) dancing, and the Korean Club also dancing to a mashup of popular Kpop songs.
The school was pleasantly surprised when a group of teachers (Mr. Lay, Mr. Ramos, Mr. Prevost, Mr. St. Onge, and Mr. Laumoli) formed a band of teachers called “The Summatives, ”and performed Bruno Mars’ and
ROSÉ’s new hit song “APT”, and got the whole school to sing along in the absence of their singer.
For the Christmas Aloha song contest, the freshmen performed “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, featuring a few of their classmates in adorable christmas tree costumes. They walked in a circle around the trees, joined by Mason Dusich (‘28) chasing people around in a Grinch onesie.
Then, the sophomore class sang “I Want a Hippopotomus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevey, featuring actual hippos! Sophpomores Nainoa Stone (‘27) and Gavin Wong-Hodges (‘27) , donned hippo masks and popped in and out of gift boxes during the duration of the preformance.
Towards the end of the song they did a dance move called “The Worm,” which earned
amused and impressed gasps from the crowd.
The junior class stood and sang “Baby it’s Cold Outside” by Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé, swaping their respective parts.
Finally, the seniors performed a mashup of “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” from the movie Pitch Perfect 2, performed by Anna Kendrick and Snoop Dogg. With selected dancers, a party-like vibe, and almost everyone breaking out sunglasses for the rap section, the winning class was obviously the seniors. With the sophomores following behind them, the freshman, and the junior class in last place.
After, in an intense game of tug-of-war, the seniors once again took home the win.
Nervy? Dont worry! Read these statements about college from alum ranging from ‘22 to ‘24!
(Page 5)
Aloha Spartans,
The school year is MOVING! We have reached the end of quarter 3, with just THREE months left in this school year. We have experienced some incredible school-wide activities, athletic events and achievements, student performances and opportunities to pray and support all members of our school community.
AND…..there is so much more in these last three months! More of everything!!!
As you continue to focus on your studies to finish the school year on a positive note, I encourage all of you to continue to be an active member of your school community. Whether it be a club, athletic team, class projects, or attending mass, be a positive light for everyone to see!
Blessed to be a part of this special school community…
Mahalo, Mr. Dan Nagami
By: Mekauimaluhia Wells (‘26)
On December 3rd, the Hawaiian 3&4 classes, as well as the Modern History of Hawaii class, met in Roger’s Hall and walked over to the grade school. We then went on a bus to ‘Iolani Palace. We took pictures and performed an oli (chant), until it was time to start the visit. Visiting ‘Iolani Palace was both an educational and deeply moving experience, as I had the chance to connect more deeply with my Hawaiian heritage. Walking through the palace, I felt a sense of respect for the sacred history within. One of the interesting things I learned from this experience was learning about the relationship between Hawai‘i and France from the portrait of King Louis Philippe displayed in the palaces dining room. When visiting the palace, I was amazed by the beauty and significance of the throne room. Queen Lili‘uokalani’s iconic butterfly brooch in many of her portraits.
The room that really stood out to me was Queen Lili‘uokalani’s imprisonment room. It was upsetting and amazing to be in the very location where she had been imprisoned during the overthrow. Her unique quilt also stood out to me, which was embroidered with her name and birthdate as a memorial to her love and sacrifice for her people. Being in that room was a powerful reminder of the challenges she faced and her legacy as a leader committed to her kingdom and culture. Being there served as a powerful reminder of the difficulties she faced and her legacy as a leader loyal to her culture and kingdom.
After seeing the inside and walking around the outside of ‘Iolani Palace, we then went to go see Moana 2 at Kahala Mall Theatres. We had some time before the movie to buy lunch, eat, and explore the mall with our friends. We all met up in front of the theaters in time to see the movie and I would say that we all enjoyed ourselves seeing the movie. Many of us for the first time, as we can agree that it was good! This huaka’i was so fun and one to remember. Mahalo nui to administration and especially Mr. Simon for making it all possible.
By: Mandy Ho (‘26)
On February 6th, 2025, the Junior class of 2026 had their Junior Commitment Ceremony. They sang an acapella version of “Weave One Heart” By Marty Haugen, with Myra Pettit (’26) as their class conductor.
The guest speaker, Jacelyn Ho (’20), talked about
her experience as a graduate of the class of 2020, going through the global pandemic due to Covid-19. She recalled the hardships her class went through, and the feeling of the need for closure from their high school experience. Through her speech, she hoped to provide a story that showed the class to cherish their moments while they are here at Maryknoll and
2/12/25
Recognized faculty and staff pose for a photo at the annual Founder’s Day Mass.
We recognize these faculty for their service towards Maryknoll. Ranging from 5 - 35 years. Each person celebrated their respective annversary of teaching and service at Maryknoll.
not take it for granted. During the ceremony, the class also received their class pins. This year, the pins were custom made to include an inscription on the back that says “Class of 2026. Let go and let God,” the phrase being a popular one within the advisories.
The night ended around 7pm, with the class and
assembly singing the school’s alma mater. Shortly following their exit, parents and friends had the opportunity to lei their newly inducted Class of 2026 Juniors.
Advisories: Mrs. Martin, Ms. Corpus, Mr. Lulu, Mr. Simon, Mr. Aiona, and Mr. Moe.
Thank you to Mr. Ramos, the advisors, and the senior class officers for making the ceremony happen!
Class of 2031: ----------------------- Ian Yamamoto & Honoria Haigler
Class of 2030: --------------------Kasey Morimatsu & Bella Apana
Class of 2029: ------------------------Konner Ching & Whitney Sui
Class of 2028: -----------------Graysen Dechamps & Emily Calberos
Class of 2027: -----------------------Nathen Korsak & Destiny Higa
Class of 2026: --------------------Joshua Dela Cruz & Haley Dissayanake
Class of 2025: -----------------------Drake Au Hoy & Jodie Ho
Homecoming King and Queen: -------JV Cabang & Julie Liang
“What
is your favorite thing about your sport?”
Interviwer: Kevin Corpuz (‘25)
“Hi, my name is Joshua and for my winter sport, I wrestle. My favorite thing about wrestling is the specific mentality and mindset that you grow. One thing that I love about wrestling is how it’s an individual sport that requires a lot of discipline and body strength to do. Many people see cutting weight as a bad thing, but it teaches me self-discipline. The conditioning for wrestling is unlike any sport I’ve done in the past, the mental perseverance needed is what keeps me interested. Over the past four years of wrestling, I learned how to stay calm in tense situations. Wrestling has done a lot for my mental health, and it’s like my way to relieve stress.”
- Joshua Dela Cruz (‘26)
“Something you’d say to someone thinking about joining soccer?”
Interviewer: Jayden Mariano (‘26)
“To anyone thinking about joining Pac-5 soccer, I would say that we have a great team bond and it’s a great sport. Before games, I always drink pickle juice to not cramp up during the game. My favorite game was our game against Damien. It was the first game we won.”
- Micah Combs (‘26)
“What’s your favorite thing about your sport?”
Interviewer: Zachary Nelson (‘26)
“My
favorite thing about my sport is playing with my guy friends and having a
good time.”
– Wayne Tsukayama-Hirakawa (‘26)
There’s a first time for everything! The
By: Taryn Yamamoto (‘27)
Lion dancing hasn’t always been apart of my life, but it’s impacted me a lot ever since I joined. I’d watch performances from other schools during Chinese New Year before I joined Gee Yung (Chinese Martial Arts, Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association), and it was always like magic because it really didn’t seem like the lions were people.
It’s not only brought me closer with my culture, but also gave me a type of a second family. My family has always had ties into Gee Yung, and my dad originally sent me to learn Kung Fu to defend myself, but lion dance quickly became something on my mind. I was quiet at first and it showed in my lion and instrument playing, from an outside perspective, anyone could tell I was nervous.
By: Kara Dodge (‘25)
On January 7th, California went up in flames. Many people have lost their homes and are continuing to as we speak. That includes celebrities. All over social media you can see influencers and celebrities sharing about the tragedies. But they have
recieved backlash. Many people believe that just because these people are celebrities, that means that they can just buy a new home somewhere else and everything will be fine. That’s not true.
(Testimonies from previously graduated Maryknoll Alumni)
Q. "How’s your second semester going?"
Dalan Kam ('22) University of Hawaii at Manoa
As time went on, my first Chinese New Years with Gee Yung came around. When I made friends and opened up, it was like opening a can of worms for both me and them. They thought I was quiet and kept to myself but it was the complete opposite after building those bonds. The teachers and my friends that were there longer had helped me become a better dancer. Now I can confidently play the instruments and my lion has become an extension of me. When I play its energetic and playful, jumping around, playing with people and trying to cheer up those I see that aren’t as into it.
Whenever someone is playing the lion head, you can always tell who it is. Not just because their shoes are different, but because their
style of playing is different. You’re able to see the personality of the person playing because it shows through their movements and the way they interact with the people and lions around them. We’re like any other family with trials and tribulations, but we talk and do what we see is right. I know I’m very fortunate to have joined the second oldest school in Hawaii with roots deep in Asia because they’ve seen and learnt a lot so they’re able to shine more light onto our questions. The instructors encourage us to learn more and to push us to our full lion dancing potential, while still making sure we stay ahead in our academics.
A lot of these celebrities posts have been about how much the houses that have burned down meant to them. They could have grown up in that house or even witnessed all their child’s firsts. Those memories can never be replicated. Not in the same way as before. As these people’s houses burned down, so have their memories.
By: Marcus Naito (‘26)
To say that our country is in hot water is an understatement. No matter your opinions on the current situation in Washington, everybody can agree that the nation is entering a chapter of its history many could not have expected. As America looks toward the next few years, the natural question I will pose is: “What is our role?”
"I’m at that point where it’s becoming more important to establish connections for future opportunities beyond college. Being in the right places, whether that be a job fair, trade show, public hearing, or even the same bus stop helps a lot in meeting the right people. The moment you fully internalize the fact that you have absolute free will, a lot more things become possible.”
Elizabeth Van De Water ('24)
St. Mary’s College of California
Lion dancing has changed my life permanently, not only with the people I meet but in the places I go. Almost every place on the island I’ve been to was because of lion dance. Gee Yung also has a branch in San Francisco, so during Chinese New Years our members that are available are able to fly up to help our brother school in parades, and they do the same for us. The most important thing Gee Yung has shown me was that I can accomplish anything with dedication because I will always have people guiding me along my path.
Even though most of us are a couple years off from voting, that does not prevent us from forming our own political opinions and making our voices heard, particularly through social media. Kids Vote 2024 showed a great diversity of opinions at Maryknoll on the presidential election and on certain policies facing our community, state, and nation. I believe in particular that this is an excellent time to develop our voice and and explore our political and civic identities in this rapidly changing world. For our seniors preparing to trek out on their own this June, I ask them to consider their role in America’s political future and use their newly acquired voting power wisely. For our underclassmen –juniors, sophomores, freshmen – remember, it’s never too early to develop your own thoughts.
"My second semester is going well so far! I’m pretty well adjusted now after a whole semester is done, and even then getting the hang of things didn’t take me very long. Going from Maryknoll into college life and studies was a pretty smooth transition, probably because I’m going to a small school. I’m having a great time, learning a lot, and meeting awesome people!"
Chris Ho ('23) OregonUniversityState
"College has been super fun! I’ve had a lot of free time outside of class to meet new people, attend a variety of school clubs, explore shops near campus, and even try rock climbing. If there’s a class or extracurricular activity you think you would be interested in trying one day, there’s a good chance you’ll have the option to learn more about it in college! "
By: Julie Liang (‘25) & Ally Nakagawa (‘27)
The popular Korean television series Squid Game has released its second season on Netflix on December 26, 2024. This dystopian survival thriller show contains 7 episodes and has taken over the internet once again.
The show features Korean childhood games such as red light green light, ddakji, flying stone, gong-gi, spinning top, jegi, and mingle. If you haven’t noticed, some students around campus have also started to play these games, specifically gong-gi. Senior Kyden Sato-Sugimoto (‘25) describes his feelings about playing gong-gi: “At first it’s a struggle and it’s easy to feel defeated, but you get addicted fast and you wanna keep playing.”
In the show, players face life-and-death situations as their victories or losses determine their fate, raising these seemingly simple childhood games at higher stakes. The increasing popularity of the Korean childhood games in Squid Game not only introduces the audience to aspects of Korean culture but also introduces fun activities for people to play with on their own time and allow them to bond with
others, just like the students at school playing gong-gi with each other. If you enjoy thrilling shows while being comfortable with a bit of gore, Squid Game Season 2 would be the perfect show for you to watch.
Here is everything you need to know about Squid Game 2 with a short recap of season one.
When the main character, Gi-Hun (player 456), is introduced, he is a broke and struggling gambler who is in severe debt. In addition, Gi-Hun must provide for his daughter (Jo Ah-in) to maintain a stable relationship. He is invited to play games to ultimately win prize money at the end, but at what cost?
Gi-Hun is faced with the unexpected during the games but fortunately wins the game and secures the prize of 45.6 billion won ($31.5 million in USD). In season two, Gi-Hun is invited to the games again and tries to stop the games. But putting an end to the games was harder than expected.
As Gi-Hun arises, he is awoken by a familiar tune and realizes he is reliving the same experience he once lived so long ago. Gi-Hun meets his old friend who once was his gambling buddy, Jung-bae. As the games are played, the players are met with a decision to either choose to keep playing or stop the games. This causes sectional tension between the group of players. Ultimately, there is a brutal and gruesome fight between the players that becomes violent. Gi-Hun takes advantage of this violence and starts an ambush. The players pretend to play dead and steal the guards’ weapons. At the end of season two, there are many deaths and unexpected plot twists. There is a season three expected to be released around early summer of this year.
By: Journey Hahn (‘26)
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. It was a star-studded night filled with notable award wins and thrilling performances by some of the best artists in the world. Along with Chappell Roan and Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter was a first-time Grammy nominee. She was one of the most nominated
artists. The Short n’ Sweet creator received six Grammy nominations, including the four major categories (“The Big Four”), and took home two awards. She won Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n’ Sweet and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Espresso.” Her unique signature style and catchy tunes helped her rise to the top.
In her first performance on the Grammy’s stage, Sabrina graced the stage in a sparkling baby blue bodysuit putting on a comedic performance. She sang a mashup of two of her biggest hits of the year, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” Her performance was elaborate and theatrical, receiving a standing ovation. The vibe of the performance was old Hollywood/jazz filled with quirky bits.
By: Samantha Wu ('26)
Some news from Team Cherry: After fans were waiting for the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the developers have finally declared that it might release in 2025. Fans have been waiting for Silksong for about 7 years. Hollow Knight is a platformer RPG with most of its NPCs as insects and organisms that live underground. It was released on February 24, 2017. It was praised for its twisting story and world building.
Another game many more people might care about is GTA 6, which was announced to be released in 2025. The GTA series is well-known for its…violent gameplay, with the main character committing several crimes, the most common being GTA. It has been 12 years since GTA 5 was released, and Rockstar Games, the developer of this series, always claimed that they will only release new games into the ongoing series if there is something to enhance. And they don’t just release new games for the money, they want to make the fans of this series proud and give them a good experience.
The last notable release is not a full game, but rather a DLC for a recent game. Lies of P, released on September 18, 2023, is already getting an update in the form of a new patch and a DLC in early 2025. Neowiz Games, a Korean game publisher made Lies of P out of the love they have for soulslike games. The story of Lies of P is heavily based on the story of Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi. Once you get any of the endings, after the credits, you will see a teaser for the DLC, which is the mention and showing of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Many fans speculated that the DLC or possible sequel game will be based on the Wizard of Oz in some way.
January-Amuseables
April-Amuseables
July-Amore
October-Amuseables
There
The
Frogs
By: Sachie Theuriet (‘26)
Following the official January 17th Supreme Court ruling, TikTok was slated to be banned for American users on January 19th, due to a threat of Chinese mass user data theft through the popular social media platform. The case was heard a week prior to its decision and was subject to endless critiques and protests. This sparked massive amounts of user devastation and outrage and talks of American purchase from TikTok’s parent company ByteDance began, but after a ban lasting a mere few hours, President Trump’s promise to issue an overriding executive order allowed for the platform’s reinstatement. One of the most shocking reactions prior to the short-lived ban was the mass user migration from TikTok to popular Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, or in English, RedNote.
One reason for the platform’s sudden success was the paradoxical humor in migrating from a social media platform that was banned for the threat of data theft by the Chinese government to a platform that is primarily a Chinese social media app. The platform is tailored for Mandarin-speaking users and, prior to the ban, was practically unknown outside of China. When the TikTok ban was announced, RedNote skyrocketed to the top of the free apps list on the Apple app
store, even beating out the download rate of TikTok. While the app does have some English-supportive features, the primary language used is Mandarin.
This, however, didn’t stop the self-named “TikTok refugees” of RedNote, as popular languagelearning app Duolingo experienced a sudden spike in American users beginning to learn Mandarin. The most significant shock of all, however, was the positive interactions between American and Chinese users through the platform. Chinese users posted things such as, “Is life in America similar to how it looks on Friends?” and even asked Americans for help on English homework.
Of course, there are still culture clashes, but so far, interactions have mostly been positive. As a result, TikTok users have since been emphasizing their lack of care towards potential data theft, and while the belief is understandable, the threat is still feasible and, as amusing the transition has been, the potential for data theft despite those positive interactions may not be one users should overlook.
While the fate of TikTok in America due to that possibility is yet to be determined, the intercultural exchanges between the two seemingly contrasting niches of users has proven to be a shocking yet incredible result of the U.S. TikTok ban, and regardless of the outcome of the platform’s legal struggles, TikTok combined with RedNote may ultimately come to strengthen the international bond of social media users.
(As of February 13th, Tiktok has reutrned to the App Store.)
By Dominic Bruyere
Best Motion Picture – Drama: The Brutalist
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Emilia Perez
Best Performance in an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Adrian Brody, The Brutalist
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Sebastian Stan, A Different Man
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: Demi Moore, The Substance
Best Director – Motion Picture: Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture: Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Best Original Score – Motion Picture: Camille and Clément Ducol, Emilia Pérez
Best Original Song – Motion Picture: “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez)
Best Motion Picture – Animated: Flow
Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language: Drive My Car (Japan)
Television Categories:
Best Television Series – Drama: Shōgun
Best Male Actor in a TV Limited Series, Anthology Series, or TV Movie: Colin Farrell, The Penguin.
These wonderful people who made entertainment at it’s finest deserve such big awards and having to compete with their amazing nominees. Its been a wonderful year with its highs and lows on cinema but they worked hard on what they but their hearts to.
The Team: Advisor: Mr. Ramos • Editor-in-Chief: Mandy Ho • Chief Advisor: Mia Xu-Sugahara • Head Reviser: Sophia Etscheit • Head Photographer: Mason Canali • Head Layout Editor: Kathryn Taylor • Head Information Specialist: Julie Liang Aulani Domingo • Ayden Malacas • Ella Quemuel-Labrador • Haley Dissanayake • Heidi Libkuman • Jayden Mariano • Journey Hahn • Kara Dodge • Kevin Corpuz • Samantha Wu • Tia Hernandez • Zachary Nelson • David Lee • Dominic Bruyere • Kaitlyn Napoleon • Marcus Naito • Sachie Theuriet • Taryn Yamamoto • Valili Tulikihihifo • Yara Ghuloom
This Issue's Contributors, Writers, and Photographers: Ally Nakagawa • Aulani Domingo • Ayden Malacas • Chris Ho • Dalan Kam • Dominic Bruyere • Elizabeth Van De Water • Ella Quemuel-Labrador • Jayden Mariano • John Andre Flores • Joshua Dela Cruz • Joshua Theuriet • Journey Hahn • Julie Liang • Kathryn Taylor • Kevin Corpuz • Maluhia wells • Mandy Ho • Mason Canali • Micah Combs • Samantha Wu • Sophia Etscheit • Taryn Yamamoto • Wayne Tsukayama-Hirakawa
thanks to Mr. Ramos, Mr. Nagami, Mrs. McGivern and Maryknoll Athletics!