Cheerleader Mary Joy Galicia (c/o ‘26) cheers on the sophomore class.
Photo by Alexandra Tijerina (c/o ‘26)
Nazaya Love (c/o ‘26) modeling the Tiger Locker merch, wearing a long sleeve that says “Stay Off The Oval!”
Photo by Kena Anien (c/o ‘27)
Isaac Garcia (c/o ‘28) participating in the Pentathalon, hitting the soccer ball between the two cones in front of him.
Photo by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26)
Kainani Reverio (c/o ‘26) competing against Johannah Vilar (c/o ‘27) in musical chairs.
Photo by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26)
The Junior class cheering as they place first in the class level competitions.
Photo by Dominic Niyo (c/o ‘26)
2025 Welcome Back Assembly Recap
by Cheska Orias, Dominic Niyo, Jacky Oasay and Kena Anien
On Friday, Aug. 8, McKinley High School kicked off the new school year with the Welcome Back Assembly in the gym. New teachers, counselors, administrators and coaches were introduced to the school community and returning staff shared words of encouragement. The cheer team brought energy with a spirited performance, followed by a showcase of new McKinley merchandise for everyone to check out.
Students and teachers participated in competitions including musical chairs, where Ms. Naks emerged victorious. The Juniors won a class-level competition against Seniors, Freshmen and Sophomores. The competition was a single event made up of multiple challenges, including hula hoop dancing, scooterboard riding and teamwork activities.
Daphne Nicole Gonzales (c/o ‘27) said the assembly was nice and she felt good to be back with familiar faces as well as new ones who bring new energy.
“There’s a lot of energy going on and that’s really showing tiger pride,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said she was not expecting the Juniors to beat the Seniors during the assembly.
“But it’s good that we won and yeah, it was fun,” she said.
Gonzales said what stood out to her was the singing of Black and Gold and Alma Mater as a whole school.
“I feel like that shows a lot of spirit in us,” she said.
Isaac Garcia (c/o ‘28) said that the assembly had a cheerful mood and it was fun.
Garcia participated in the class relay competition representing the Sophomore class which he said was fun although he said, “I feel like we could have done better.”
Garcia said the Juniors did really well this year, as they beat the Seniors.
“Their teamwork was pretty crazy,” he said.
Garcia said what stood out to him was how hard the student body government and the band worked for this assembly.
Kayla Siarot (c/o ‘26) also participated in the Pentathlon game during musical chairs, volunteering herself to be part of the games when they needed people to play.
“I recommended for the freshmen and sophomores [to volunteer for the games] so they can experience how it feels to be on the court,” Siarot said.
During the game of musical chairs, Siarot said she felt pressured when she was one of the last students standing. Despite it, Siarot said she had lots of fun. Even though the seniors placed second place and the Juniors won, Siarot said she felt disappointed but felt like they did their best.
“Especially those who volunteered for our section. We tried our best. That’s what matters,” Siarot said.
Kaiden Hiwatashi (c/o ‘26) who watched from the bleachers, said that it was great to be back while also being able to see the incoming Freshmen and other grade levels.
“It feels a little weird sitting in the senior section,” Hiwatashi said.
Czarina Asuncion (c/o ‘29) played the clarinet of the band during the welcome back assembly and she said it was really welcoming.
“I like getting to know more about what we do,” Asuncion said.
Asuncion said that the class games made her feel competitive especially with all the cheering for their class.
Lorence Dumalan (c/o ‘26) was also a part of the band during the assembly playing the alto sax.
“It felt good playing Still Fly. It felt like I was in the HBCU band,” Dumalan said.
Dumalan said that he was surprised at how large the Freshmen class was compared to the Junior class, which is one of the smallest classes so far.
“The Junior class looked very sparse and separated while the Freshman class looked densely condensed into one spot,” Dumalan said.
Dumalan said that the games like the relay race were well planned, but there were some moments that the soccer ball came towards the band and almost hit one of their instruments.
Hiwatashi said he enjoyed the energy the other classes brought, from the cheering to the competitive spirit. When it came to the Juniors winning, Hiwatashi said that he expected it since from what he has seen, the class of 2027 is a very competitive class. Hiwatashi said students should be involved with the school this year.
“The one thing that you would regret is not participating at all,” Hiwatashi said.
New Year, New Teachers
Carla Acoba first started teaching science in the Philippines for six years and then taught in Maui for a year before finally coming to McKinley to teach physical science and biology. Acoba came here part of a teacher exchange program, with her objective to share Filipino culture at McKinley then share what she learned here back in the Philippines. “If you see me sharing my culture
Shawn Hamamoto had worked a variety of jobs before teaching SPED Biology, SPED Health, SPED Study Skills and SPED Vocational Skills. Hamamoto started off teaching English in Japan from 1999-2002 before becoming a part time teacher from 2008-2012 for McKinley Community School for Adults, where he teached basic computer skills and GED Math. Hamamoto also has over 23 years working in government such as the
Acoba Seeks To Learn
in the classroom and outside the classroom, that’s because that’s one of the program’s purposes,” Acoba said.
When in Maui, Acoba taught 6th grade STEM. She needed to switch schools to teach her major subject, science, because she wasn’t an expert at STEM. Acoba said she heard there was an opening McKinley, so she applied for an interview and luckily got in.
“I’m enjoying my life here as a teacher in McKinley,” Acoba said. Acoba said when she was young she always had a tendency to teach others. Whenever someone wanted to learn something, she found that she was pretty good at explaining what to do and helping them understand. Acoba leaned towards teaching because she likes helping other people understand things, especially how the world around them works.
“Explaining things about the natural world is just so fun for me,” Acoba said. “And seeing kids, or people understand the things around them-it’s a delight for me.”
Outside of teaching, Acoba likes exploring new places, trying new types of food, watching movies and cooking Filipino food. Some foods Acoba enjoys cooking include sinigang [sour soup] and pork steak. Acoba said she is excited for the activities McKinley has to offer, particularly homecoming. However, Acoba said she is nervous about being the Freshman class advisor as it is her first time doing it at a new school.
“I’m relieved because everybody in the student body is really helpful and offers their help every time,” Acoba said. “It’s a good balance of excitement and nervousness, but I know that I’m gonna be fine.”
Hamamoto Finds Joy In Teaching
Honolulu City Council, Hawai’i State Senate and the Department of Health.
Hamamoto said even though his previous job at the Department of Health had good pay and a good title, it did not feel like it was a good fit for him. Therefore, last year, Hamamoto left his job to do soul searching to figure out what’s going to make him happy.
“Never mind about salary or title, I just have to think about what I can do that’s actually going to make me happy with what I enjoy doing,” Hamamoto said.
Looking back at his career and all the stuff he did, Hamamoto said what he enjoyed most was teaching in Japan and working in the community school.
“That told me I needed to be in a classroom and so that’s why I started off as an educational assistant (at McKinley) in the fourth quarter of
last year, just to get my foot in the door,” Hamamoto said.
Hamamoto said he learned about a program where he could get his teaching license, which would have put him back in school. He added that hopefully in a year he will have his teaching license.
“I was fortunate enough to be hired as an emergency hire here at McKinley,” Hamamoto said. “I had a really big career switch, but so far so good. I’m very happy here.”
Hamamoto said that being a new teacher is challenging as he tries to learn all the different rules, regulations and procedures. His first week was overwhelming. Thankfully, Hamamoto has a good supervisor, good coworkers and other teachers who helped him.
“I really enjoy working with students. It’s very rewarding to see them grow and learn,” Hamamoto said.
All teacher profiles and photos by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26)
Brooke Kowalski first taught history for two years in Cleveland, Ohio— where she is originally from—before moving to Oahu at the start of the school year. Now she teaches 10th grade History, Photography and Sociology to Juniors and Seniors at McKinley.
Kowalski said she liked the location because she didn’t know much about the island at first, so seeing that it is in the heart of Honolulu was a big
Kowalski Moves From Mainland to Hawai’i
thing for her.
“I looked through the website and [McKinley] seemed like a great community to be part of. I was really excited,” Kowalski said.
Kowalski said that it is different from the previous school she taught since she used to work on the mainland, where it was just one building and three straight hallways, opposed to McKinley with its open campus.
Outside of school Kowalski does triathlons, and she plans to do a half Ironman in Hawaii next May. Kowalski said she did her first one in 2022 with her sister on a whim.
“We didn’t train a lot, so it was a rough race, but I was hooked, and so I’ve done five since then,” Kowalski said.
Kowalski’s drive to teach comes from wanting to spark curiosity in
younger minds while also sharing her passion for the subject of history.
“It’s really my favorite thing to get to share all of that information with students and really see the growth of everyone over the course of the year,” Kowalski said.
Kowalski is excited to continue to meet everyone at McKinley, to grow in the community and learn about Hawaiian culture, while also coming to watch the sports games such as football and volleyball.
“Show up to school, work hard and make connections. Because if you connect with other people, even if it’s teachers, that can get you far in life. It’s often about who you know rather than what you can do. But once you know those people, you have to work hard in that position.”
Trout Joins the McKinley Family
classroom. Her last teaching assignment was at St Louis High School which is an all boys school.
“I’m very nervous because it’s my first year doing special education, there’s a lot I have to learn,” Trout said. “I’m nervous that I might make a lot of mistakes, but mistakes are always things that help me grow.”
she has a learning disability so it is important to her that her students don’t feel like they cannot be successful in a classroom if they have a learning disability.
Kristin Trout has taught English for 20 years at three different schools on Oahu before coming to teach 11th and 12th grade SPED English here at McKinley. Trout is excited to be teaching in the DOE as it’s been 12 years since she had any girls in her
Outside of school Trout enjoys reading, knitting, hiking, watching movies and crocheting. When it comes to crocheting, Trout loves making bags.
“One of my friends taught me how to knit, I really liked it,” Trout said.
Trout enjoys teaching, while also liking the skills you need or use to teach special education. Trout said
Trout said an important skill is knowing how to make a lesson plan that is not just the teachers talking and that includes visuals, and putting things into students’ long-term memory by accessing things they already know so they can make connections.
“Learning how to show students how to make connections and how to get better at reading and learning skills allows them to be more successful in other classes and not just mine,” Trout said.
Sofia Zarella first did tutoring in college while having a background in summer camps, before coming to McKinley to teach 9th Grade English. Zarella did student teaching under Freshmen English teacher, Jordin Carmichael.
“I actually went to school downtown, not at McKinley, but at a school near here, so downtown is really familiar to me,” Zarella said.
Zarella said she enjoys reading and
Zarella Goes From Being the Taught to the One Teaching
writing while also going out with her friends, trying out new dining spots. A particular thing about reading and writing that Zarella enjoys is how ingrained into humans that there are always stories to tell.
“The stories we tell and how we choose to tell them show us what people value,” Zarella said. “[It also] tells us a lot about the culture and environment.”
Zarella said that her reason for teaching is because she enjoys helping people out. Zarella is aware that English isn’t going to be everyone’s favorite subject, but it’s an important skill to have in your everyday life. Students may not be writing essays in their everyday life, but the organizational skills and public speaking skills help you get jobs.
“One of the things I find cool is see-
ing people discover their passions,” Zarella said. “It’s freshman year, it’s new, and so a lot of people find a place that they click over the course of the year, and I think that’s really special.”
Zarella said she is excited for the Lighting of the M and the various events here at McKinley. Zarella only taught a couple days a week when she did student teaching along with other classes, which led to her missing some of the events. While student teaching she learned a lot, finding it nice to be able to come back to a place where she knew people.
“Like any new environment, it’s always challenging sometimes. But because I’ve been here, I kind of already know the expectations. It [comes] full circle,” Zarella said.
Finding Identity Through ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i
by Dominic Niyo and Kena
After more than twenty years, McKinley High School has restored its Hawaiian language program. Students now have the chance to learn ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i alongside traditional practices like hula and oli [chants].
The class is more than an academic subject. It has become a space to explore ancestry, connect with the community, and foster pride in Hawaiian culture. Students and teachers alike say the program strengthens relationships, restores a sense of heritage and invites those who have felt distant from their roots to reclaim a part of themselves. For Kainani Reverio (c/o ‘26), a native Hawaiian, the class is deeply personal.
“My dad’s side is Hawaiian, and I’ve always wanted to learn more about my culture,” she said. “Connecting through ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i brings
me closer to my family. I can relate to them on a cultural level and even speak to them in our native language.”
Reverio said the class grounds students in Hawaiian tradition through music, chant and dance. Singing Hawaiian songs and practicing cultural movements gives students a sense of connection to the past.
“It keeps us rooted in the original Hawaiian culture and reminds us of Hawaii’s history,” she said. “When we do oli and basic hula steps, I feel especially close to my ancestors. Hula was a way of connecting to them and communicating long ago.”
The program also reaches beyond the islands. Reverio shared her experience performing for Japanese students. “It was really fun. They were so sweet and curious about our culture. They even complimented the gracefulness of our dances and how welcoming we were.” These interactions show how learning Hawaiian
culture can create understanding between communities while reinforcing local identity.
Kimo Kaio (c/o ‘28) said the class has changed the way he sees himself. Raised in a household where Hawaiian traditions were not emphasized, he had little exposure to his culture before joining the program. “Before, I was clueless about Hawaiian culture,” he said. “This class helps me connect
Anien
Kumu Lewis is the Hawaiian teacher.
Photo by Kena Anien (c/o ‘27)
to my roots and understand where I come from.” Kaio said he believes learning the language can strengthen bonds between students.
“Everybody develops chemistry. It is not just good for this class. It helps build a sense of community across the school,” Kaio said.
Kumu Lewis, the program’s teacher, emphasized the role of education in shaping cultural understanding.
“This class is about more than just speaking ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i,” he said. “It helps students understand their identity, the history of the language, and how Hawaiian culture can connect them to the wider community.”
Lewis said that students often discover new perspectives on family, heritage and community by exploring the language alongside traditional practices.
Both students and Lewis emphasized the pride that comes with learning Hawaiian. Kaio reflected on the history of the language and the work required to preserve it. “I think about how our ancestors shaped ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i. Singing the Hawaiian anthem and performing dances makes me feel proud and powerful.”
Reverio said she sees the class as part of healing a history of suppression. “Ever since Queen Lili’uokalani was overthrown and our culture was
banned, bringing Hawaiian back to one of the oldest schools is healing. It connects people and creates lāhui, which means unity. It gives us a way to be part of something bigger than ourselves.”
The class is also inclusive and welcomes students from every background. Reverio said she encouraged others to take part.
“Everyone should take this class. It is educational, fun, and unique. Living in Hawai’i, everyone should know the culture, no matter their race.”
Kaio added that the program could inspire future students to preserve the language.
“I hope our class encourages others to learn more about ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i and Hawaiian culture,” Kaio said. “It helps students find a connection to their heritage.”
Lewis said that students’ engagement often inspires families and the wider school community.
“When students share what they learn, whether through chants, hula, or conversation, it creates a ripple effect. Their families start asking questions. Peers begin to notice. It strengthens cultural awareness across the school.”
For students who have not been
close to their ancestry, the class can become a tool for discovery. Reverio said that some Native Hawaiians are not deeply in touch with their heritage, which can be isolating.
“Taking this class helps them reconnect. They might even find something new about themselves, like a hobby in hula or learning a part of their family history.”
The course also shows the value of Hawaiian culture in real-world contexts. Reverio said that during a cultural exchange with Japanese students, she felt proud to represent her heritage.
“We got to talk about our lives, our culture, and theirs. It made me realize how much our traditions matter and how important it is to share them,” Reverio said. Lewis said that these experiences reinforce the idea that culture is not just to study, but to live.
Both students and Lewis said learning Hawaiian language and culture is more than an academic pursuit. It is a way to see oneself reflected in history, to celebrate the people who came before and to create connections with those around.
“It is powerful to learn a language that was once suppressed,” Reverio said. “This class helps heal that trauma. It gives students a way to feel connected, to feel part of a community, and to take pride in who we are.”
Lewis said the program is laying a foundation for future generations. “These students are carrying the language forward. They are creating a stronger sense of identity for themselves and their community.”
Through lessons, chants and hula, MHS Hawaiian program has become more than a classroom. It is a bridge between past and present, between personal identity and shared history. For students in this class, ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i is not just a subject. It is a living heritage. It is a way to speak to ancestors, understand the stories that shaped their families, and create unity in a school community. By reviving the Hawaiian language, MHS is offering students and the community a chance to belong, to learn, and to carry their culture forward.
Kumu Lewis teaches a lesson.
Photo by Kena Anien (c/o ‘27)
Chicken Finds Home With McKinley’s Band
by Jacky Oasay
Agroup of Band and Orchestra students stayed afterschool on Freshman Orientation Day to clean up the band room. When most of them were packing up to leave, they opened the doors to a friend—a chicken.
Liane Dumalan (c/o ‘28) was inside but heard a commotion outside.
“I looked to see what they were screaming about, and there’s a chicken right at the door,” Dumalan said. “I just started laughing because everyone was freaking out, but the chicken was trying to jump on everyone.”
Upon the first sighting, Dumalan said the chicken “looked like he got into five million fights.” A distinct feature this chicken has is its absence of a mane, as it is cut off. This aspect made some students question the chicken’s gender. The chicken’s appearance was also “very dull [and] skinny.” Other students also described him as “bald and beaten up.”
Gabriel Hussey (c/o ‘28) compared the chicken to a little Malay—which is a chicken often used for fighting.
Dumalan named the chicken when someone asked, “What’s his name?” She shouted the name “Gilbert” and it stuck.
Since then, the band members started taking care of him, giving him water and even attempting to train him to do tricks.
“That’s why he’s kinda fat now,” Dumalan said. Students even created a social media page dedicated to pictures of Gilbert.
Gilbert has become accustomed to living around the band room and is often greeted by the students. He is often found perched on the yellow bench outside the band room, which is called his “pooping corner” by the students, as there is a pile of his poop underneath the bench.
The chicken has been found slip -
ping into other parts of the students’ lives. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the marching band practices for their upcoming performances on the baseball field in front of the band room.
“During marching rehearsals, Gilbert would come onto the field and march with us,” Marvin Nakamura (c/o ‘28) said.
Although the exact reason Gilbert keeps coming around the band room and has decided to make it his home is unknown, Dumalan said that it is because he keeps getting fed.
Furthermore, students believe that Gilbert has become a unifying figure to the program. Dumalan said she believes he brings the students together. “If someone has beef with someone else, but they both love Gilbert, that’s something in common.”
Nakamura also said everyone greets him daily. “Every time someone walks in, they say, ‘Oh, hi, Gilbert,” he said.
However, Gilbert’s presence and behavior has raised some concerns. Dumalan noticed that Gilbert sometimes runs away from the students,
which she thinks might be a sign of abuse. Hussey and Nakamura said one time, a student tried to feed Gilbert chocolate. This made them wary of feeding the chicken, as doing so does a lot of harm—especially when ingesting chocolate.
She said he will always come back though, since he knows the band will care for him.
The first instance of Gilbert not appearing at the band room was on Sunday, Sept. 8 after their marching band rehearsal. Students reported that they were not able to find Gilbert and searched through trees, bushes, and W Building. The social media page dedicated to the chicken created a “missing poster” and students in the program reposted it on their own pages. The next morning, Gilbert was found again around the band room.
Although Gilbert’s future with the band is uncertain, students continue to care and look after him as he remains a daily fixture at the band room. “Gilbert is part of our ‘ohana,” Dumalan said.
Gilbert the Chicken rounds the column by band room. Photo by Kena Anien (c/o ‘27)
Bus Fares Increasing After EXPRESS Holo Card Changes
In a survey conducted by The Pinion with 157 respondents, 42% of the respondents disagreed with the EXPRESS Holo Card requirements and/or bus fare surcharge proposal. 21% of students generally agreed or had positive things to say about the policies. 37% of respondents had no opinions. Photo by Rose Ganotisi (c/o ‘28)
by Laurie He
Last school year (‘24-’25), the requirements for Hawai’i public school students who want a free EXPRESS Holo Card changed. Students must live at least 1.5 miles away from school and attend the school in their original school district to be eligible. According to a survey done by Pinion staff last year, 70% of students were unable to get a free Holo Card that year or were unsure about the rules. Subsequently, a surcharge on TheBus cash fares has been proposed, which according to a survey this year, has upset students at McKinley, as the change in requirements have led some students to have to pay for bus fares on their own, and the potential surcharge will add onto that.
Prior to the ‘22-’23 school year, only students who met the Hawai’i Administrative Rule 8-27 were given free Holo Cards. The Expanding Ridership to Educate Students in
Schools (EXPRESS) program was founded in the ‘22-’23 school year by the HIDOE to address the school bus driver shortage, providing all high school students with a free TheBus Holo Card to use as their mode of transportation to school during the ‘22-’23 and ‘23-’24 school year, which changed during the ‘24-’25 school year. As of July 2025, the City and County of Honolulu proposed a twenty-five cent surcharge for cash fares in order to encourage Holo Card usage in hopes of a more efficient fare collection and reducing costs for operating the cash collection process. If implemented, the price of a single cash fare will be $3.25 for adults and $1.75 for youth.
Daniil Shirinov (c/o ‘29) lives less than 1.5 miles away from school and uses TheBus almost every day to get to school as it is convenient, especially when it rains, and saves him time. Shirinov uses a Holo Card and feels that bus fares should be free or cheaper for students as he said even a small increase can add up over time.
“ … increasing bus fares would make it harder for students and families that depend on it every day,” Shirinov said. “I also think public transportation should stay affordable so everyone should have access.”
Thomas Favors, an English teacher for the Business Academy, rides TheBus to school himself every day using a monthly pass on his Holo Card. Favors said he thinks the requirements for the EXPRESS Holo Card are pretty reasonable, but understands that students who are not inside the district might have a problem.
Favors said he thinks the surcharge on cash fares would not affect him or too many other people, as he imagines that people who use TheBus often would have a Holo Card. At the same time, he questions the lack of service improvements and occasional technical issues with the Holo Card website where they cannot load money and would have to use cash.
“I feel like they’re taking advantage of people who don’t use their services that often. And when you get to my age, you start thinking, if you’re going to raise your prices, you better do something to make it worth that,” Favors said. “Nothing has really improved. That’s a concern that I do have.”
Jerushah Freyr Calalang (c/o ‘29) is a Geographic Exception (GE) student and commutes to school via TheBus almost every day, as she does not have convenient transportation yet and has tennis matches and practices on weekends. Calalang pays with cash and feels that all students should be able to apply for an EXPRESS Holo Card, especially GE students as they live farther away, noting how it could be more expensive for athletes.
“ … If you’re an athlete, you have to go back to school and go home … even at weekends. So that’s like, at least $21.00 every single week … that might be a little expensive for some people, even me,” Calalang said.
McKinley’s JROTC Color Guard presents colors at the Welcome Back Assembly.
Photo by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26)
A panda mascot welcomes freshmen into the gym for the Welcome Back Assembly.
Photo by Alexandra Tijerina (c/o ‘26)
Crochet Club officers, their Club Day
Teasers
McKinley Marches Into Second Year of Competition
by Alex Azhari
Club
Day
by Elle Kakuda
AI Teacher Training
by Ellie Gonzaga
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McKinley’s marching band winds play the clarinet on the baseball field. Photo by Kena Anien (c/o ‘27)
officers, Katherine Tu (c/o ‘26) and Natalie Kwong (c/o ‘26), at Club Day booth. Photo by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26)
Vietnamese Club Returns to McKinley
by Nhi Nguyen
Vietnamese Club, started this school year by president Tammy Nguyen (c/o ‘27), is a newly revived club that aims to share the Vietnamese culture to both Vietnamese students and anyone who is curious about Vietnamese culture. Club meetings take place every even Friday after school in E201, where members will get a chance to learn the Vietnamese language, as well as Vietnam’s history and geography.
McKinley High School has had a Vietnamese club as early as 1996, but that stopped being the case for several years until its comeback this year.
Club treasurer Josey Le (c/o ‘27) said he has heard many people talk about how they want to start a Vietnamese club, but Nguyen was ultimately the one to take action.
“[Nguyen] … not only decided to start up again under a new adviser, but decided to take charge, and she needed help,” Le said. “I decided that maybe it’s best that I help her, not only … to benefit myself, but to benefit the start of a new club.”
Nguyen said she started the club in order to help Vietnamese students at McKinley connect with their culture. Nguyen said she feels many students, including herself, do not know much about Vietnamese language and history due to their focus on American education.
“I visited there every summer until,
you know, COVID happens. But I wouldn’t say I’m [very] in touch [with my culture],” Nguyen said.
She said despite frequently visiting Vietnam, she feels like an outsider to the culture of Vietnamese people who grew up in Vietnam because of her American upbringing and lack of exposure to Vietnamese customs in families outside of her own. Nguyen said she also feels distanced from other Vietnamese people because she is not familiar with its history or what it is like growing up in Vietnam.
“I’m just like … a tourist when I go to Vietnam, not really a person from Vietnam,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen’s sentiment is shared by Le. Le said his family members frequently speak Vietnamese to each other but never took the time to teach the language to him. Consequently, he said he currently does not feel a strong connection to his family and their culture. In helping to lead Vietnamese Club as an officer, Le said he hopes to help underclassmen learn about the culture, cuisine, and what it means to be Vietnamese, all while improving his own knowledge about the culture.
“I thought that maybe, although I am a leader, I could take this as an opportunity to learn about my own culture by myself, with the help of all my peers around me,” Le said.
Caroline Dinh (c/o ‘27), the club’s vice president, was born in Vietnam and is a first-generation immigrant. However, she was raised in Ha-
waii and said she has felt less connected to her culture throughout the years.
“I notice when I go to Vietnam, it feels like a completely different world from the environment, culture, transportation, education, and more.”
Dinh said she is excited to be able to strengthen her connection with her culture again and get to know others who share her culture and the similarities as well as the differences in each student’s experiences, including through the unique traditions and cultural characteristics the different regions of Vietnam can have.
“I want to just learn more about Vietnamese culture and hear about everyone’s experience and diversity, especially with the different parts of [Vietnam],” Dinh said.
Andy Tran, who teaches Spanish at McKinley, is Vietnamese Club’s adviser. He learned Spanish through college and studying abroad in places such as Argentina and Spain, where he got a chance to earn hands-on language experience. Tran is one of a few teachers of Vietnamese ethnicity at McKinley, and said he feels a responsibility to help the Vietnamese Club come to life for this reason. Although Tran was born in Hawaii, he has spent a lot of time in Vietnam, where his family lives. His wife is also from Vietnam. Tran said he plans to use his knowledge to help students learn about the language and culture.
“I have learned a lot about my identity and my roots, so I have a lot to
Vietnamese Club promotes themselves during Club Day. Photo by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26)
offer,” Tran said.
Tran said another reason for students to join the club is because of McKinley’s sizable Vietnamese population. Tran said he thinks the island as a whole does not have many Vietnamese people, but that McKinley has a lot of Vietnamese students because of the many Vietnamese who live in nearby areas such as Chinatown, Kalihi and Ala Moana.
“This is like the premier Vietnamese school, the same as if Farrington and Waipahu are for Filipinos,” Tran said. “So McKinley is the epicenter of Vietnamese students in Honolulu or in the whole state of Hawaii.”
Evon Le, an English teacher at McKinley who is Vietnamese, said
she is glad Vietnamese Club has come back to McKinley.
“We have a large population of Vietnamese students so I am excited they can be represented more at McKinley. I hope to see the club grow and stay for a long time,” Le said.
In future Vietnamese Club meetings, Nguyen plans to have games and lessons on Vietnamese culture, including geography such as neighboring countries and history. She said she is uncertain about the attendance rate of members and how many at McKinley are interested in joining, but to recruit members, she plans for the club to have a mini lunch event during Lunar New Year. Vietnamese Club also hosted a booth during
Club Day where students could sign up. Nguyen is most excited to fundraise at the Lighting of the M during homecoming week as well as Christmas Village during the 2nd quarter.
“I’m excited to ... show the world what Vietnamese Club is,” Nguyen said.
Although Vietnamese Club aims to help Vietnamese students learn more about their roots, anyone who is interested in the language and culture is encouraged to join, even if they are not Vietnamese themselves.
“I know a lot of you guys love our cuisine,” J. Le said. “Try to learn about the origins of how we make it and where it comes from and join the Vietnamese Club.”
Repping the Black and Gold
by Keilana Yandall
On the weekend of Aug. 15-17, the McKinley girls red varsity volleyball team hosted the annual Black and Gold pre-season tournament at McKinley High School’s gymnasium. This tournament was just the beginning of a new start with a fairly new team for the 2025-2026 season. The tournament had schools coming from all over the island, even from neighboring islands such as Maui.
Ajae Baldomero (c/o ‘26) is the setter. She said, “I think the tournament was a good way to gauge how our team works, especially since it’s a generally new team with a bunch of upcoming JV and a couple freshmen.”
“During the tournament, it was a little hard and a lot of mixed feelings about it, but now I can confidently say that we’re a good team and we just have more to work on, but we do work together,” Baldomero said. As time progressed from the start of the season to the end, the team found themselves building team chemistry and working together to be the best they can as a team.
“It was a little hard because the tournament was only a couple weeks after our team started practicing together as a whole with everyone, so I didn’t feel as familiar with the
girls yet,” Baldomero said. “Chemistry is important in a team sport and because we didn’t have much time together before the tournament we didn’t really have much chemistry. It’s important to know your teammates’ tendencies, what sets they want (as a setter) and the best way to lift up each player individually. It’s also important to know your teammates on a personal level outside of sports. Because our chemistry wasn’t strong at the time it made it harder to be a cohesive team.”
Friday, Aug. 15 was the first day of the tournament, and McKinley was originally set to play against a school from another island and Waipahu’s white. However, due to the fact that they didn’t show up, the coaches had to conduct a meeting and redo the bracket. Instead, the girls played against Waipahu’s white first and La Pietra’s varsity. The girls pushed and triumphed in both games, winning each one 2-0.
Kaohulani (Ohu) Pimental (c/o ’28), who starts as an outside hitter said, “Our tournament helped me feel confident that we have a chance this season. I know we all have potential and we’re gonna do great.”
On Saturday, Aug. 16th, the girls competed against Waianae’s and Nanakuli’s white. When they played against the girls from Waianae,
Waianae took the second set which forced them to go to a third set. Despite the slight hiccup, McKinley pulled through and won the last set, causing them to win the game.
During the Nanakuli game, Mckinley had both won and lost a set. Again, they went to a third set. After fighting and hustling after a long day, the girls managed to successfully bring home another win.
On the last day, Sunday, Aug. 17, the team experienced their first feelings of loss and disappointment that day. The first game of the day consisted of them going up against Farrington’s varsity. They had lost both sets to Farrington, and although they were dealing with the hardship of the loss, they still had three more games to go.
When McKinley played against the Maui Sabers and the Mid Pac owls, they learned a lot from the tournament due to losing 2-0 in both matches. However, despite these losses, they ended the night on a good note. They played against Waipahu’s white Marauders once more and won 2-0.
The team ended up leaving the tournament with a record of 5-3 and a rank of 8th out of the 18 teams that were in the pre-season tournament. This record does not affect their sea-
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Repping the Black and Gold
Continued from pg. 13
son record because it is pre-season. A lot of people have different opinions on what the team needed to work on most because of the results of the tournament. Erica Pimental, (c/o ‘26), who has been on the red varsity all four years of her high school career said, “Some things I think my team could work on is having more team bonding outside of volleyball. Whether it’s doing things together and not all go separate ways so that way it could make us stronger on the court.”
Since it was an all day event, the girls had a sleepover to build chemistry and bond with one another. Most of the girls slept upstairs in the wrestling room throughout the tournament. Some brought cots and tents, while others slept on the mat with blankets and a pillow. They slept over Friday and Saturday night, doing different sorts of activities such as making a candy salad, playing games, volleyball and karaoke.
“My favorite part of the sleepover was definitely the games we were playing past 11 P.M to 2 A.M.” said
E. Pimental. The girls had played several games ranging from line tag, to granny to imposter.
The girls have a long journey ahead of them, and this tournament was just the start and a sneak peek of what is to come this season. Everyday they train and put in the work after school to improve and become the best version of themselves.
“My favorite memory from volleyball is getting to meet these amazing girls & being able to call them my teammates and even family,” said Pimental.
After forfeiting every game last season because they could not field a team, the Tigers are starting fresh this year with a new softball coach. Francis Takasaki, who taught strength training since 2009 and coached softball at Kapa‘a High School since 2016, recently retired
and moved to Oahu. News of his move spread quickly, and several schools expressed interest in bringing him to their athletic program. Takasaki told The Pinion he rejected an offer from ‘Iolani after hearing of an opening at McKinley.
“I really felt it was better for me to give my time to the public school
system,” Takasaki said.
Takasaki said the situation McKinley has faced in recent years—struggling to field a team and recording few or no wins—is similar to what he encountered at Kapa’a in 2016. Before he arrived, Kapa‘a’s softball team had gone 28 years without a single win. After he took over the program, however, the change was immediate. The team went undefeated that season, 12-0, won the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation championship, and advanced to the state tournament, where they finished as runnerup playing at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Oahu.
“Every year after that, we just didn’t look back. We kept winning back to back to back KIF championships and [making] state appearances ending anywhere from second to fourth place,” Takasaki said.
At McKinley, one of Takasaki’s first steps was transforming an old storage room into a locker room for his players. This process started in May of 2025 when he met with players who were on the team the past year. During this meeting he encouraged them to start recruiting girls so that
Coach Francis Takasaki at softball practice. Photo by Kena Anien (c/o ‘27)
they could start practicing. Practices began at the end of May and returning players were pleasantly surprised to see the once cramped and dirty storage room transformed into a locker room with cubby holes for their equipment.
In the locker room, Takasaki put up motivational quotes which show his mindset towards success and his way of coaching.
“[They serve as] a constant reminder for players and individuals to understand that there is no elevator to success, you gotta take the stairs. It’s one step at a time,” Takasaki said.
“The younger teenage generation believes that they can Google anything they want and get an answer immediately. That’s not the way it works in sports,” Takasaki said. “The way you get success is you have to put in the work.”
Since May, Takasaki has held at least one softball practice per week, increasing to three practices per week once school resumed. He said he has been having a great experience so far coaching at McKinley.
“The players that signed up are enthusiastic and hungry to learn. The school staff and administration have all been so very supportive,” Takasaki said.
He said he is sure McKinley will be able to field a softball team this year, having 19 recruits registered. Yet, the biggest challenge he said he sees the program facing this year is that 95% of the recruits have never played nor ever put on a glove or threw a ball before. Takasaki said, typically,
an incoming freshman that’s going to play softball usually already has about seven to nine years of club ball experience under their belt.
Takasaki said, “The great thing is, at McKinley we have players that are willing to meet the challenge.”
Another challenge is pitching, since it usually takes at least three years to develop one. Takasaki said they are trying to pull off a miracle by developing a pitcher in three months. He said fortunately he has players who are up to this challenge. Takasaki and the assistant coaches, Mikki Morihara and Myles Yamaki, have been working hard mechanically with these players, supporting them on their pitching journey.
Airi Matsuka (c/o ‘28), one of the pitchers, said Takasaki is a coach who pays attention to the miniscule details. “He’ll come at you for a bunch of things, but I think that’s good,” Matsuka said.
Matsuka describes Takasaki as being very talkative, serious and real. “He won’t lie to you. He’ll always be true about how you are doing.” Matsuka said.
Janderella Santos (c/o ‘26), one of the pitchers and a returnee who began softball her sophomore year, said she could tell Takasaki was a good coach after just a few practices. She said he focused on small technical details other coaches might overlook.
When describing Takasaki, Santos said, “He’s a chatterbox, but he talks about the important things.”
She also said Takasaki is a very determined and persistent coach.
Santos encourages other students to sign up for softball, even if they have no prior experience. She said that when she first joined, she knew nothing about the game, but going to practice consistently helped her improve.
“Now, I’m way better than I was before because I took a step of faith and tried. You never know until you try,” Santos said.
Students interested in joining can stop by A119 to meet Coach Bob, the athletic director, and pick up the required forms.
Softball locker room. Photo by Rose Ganotisi (c/o ‘28)
Maylea Sakura (c/o ‘26) and Ome Billimon (c/o ‘28) field at practice.
Photo by Kena Anien (c/o ‘27)
In Memoriam: Leif Allgood
by Rose Ganotisi
Leif Allgood was born on May 19, 2008, in California. Nine months after they were born, they moved to Hawaii. They passed away on September 6, 2025 at Queen’s Medical Center.
Leif’s presence on campus was unmistakable. Leif was known for their creativity, individuality and fierce sense of self. They lived boldly and authentically, leaving a lasting mark on everyone who knew them.
Leif’s brother Aiden Reyes (c/o ‘21) said while siblings can be annoying at times, he feels privileged to have stood beside Leif as they grew up.
“Witnessing this human-eing develop, discover passions and talk endlessly about them was an absolute
blessing,” he said.
Fashion was one of Leif’s favorite forms of expression. They often wore pants they had sewn themselves, using dental floss as thread, taking pride in rejecting fast fashion and repurposing items into something original.
Alex Azhari (c/o ‘26), Leif’s friend since 9th grade and a fellow Pinion journalist, said what made Leif’s fashion stand out from other alternative kids at school was how they stuck to punk principles. They rejected fast fashion, were against overconsumption, and believed in the idea that one should consume less and create more.
“This DIY ethic was evident in their hand-sewn patches and glued-on studs,” she said.
Jacky Oasay (c/o ’26), said Leif was one of her first friends at McKinley as they bonded over the same interests in their shared Ignition group freshman year. They became more acquainted as members of The Pinion staff their junior year.
“I remember advocating for one of their articles to be in the print paper because I think they worked really hard. It was the punk band article. It was really good, and I saw a lot of
their personality in it,” she said.
Viktor Cambe, Leif’s friend since 8th grade, said one of the things he’ll always remember Leif for is their “love for fishing even though he never caught any fish.”
Leif’s mother, Alicia Reyes, shared that fishing had become a recent hobby. On their days off, Leif would often take the bus to Kaneohe Bay, where they found time to sit, reflect, and enjoy the quiet when they weren’t with friends.
Music was another passion that defined Leif. They enjoyed sludge punk and crust punk music. Leif played in the punk band Mother of All Bombs (M.O.A.B.), which performed at Skull Face bookstore Dec. 21, 2024. Azhari, who said a shared love of groups such as Minor Threat sparked her friendship with Leif, recalled that M.O.A.B.’s December show was only five dollars, and it was for all ages, “which is a conviction,” she said. Friends recall the energy and dedication they brought to performing.
Cambe, who attended M.O.A.B.’s December show recalled going into the pit together and hitting each other several times in the excitement of the mosh pit.
“Superman” Review: Kindness Is the
by Leif Allgood
Editor’s note: The article below is the last draft of the “Superman” movie review that Allgood wrote, included in this issue in honor of their work for The Pinion and all of their incomplete projects. The gold text shows the copy edits The Pinion made. We chose gold for our school colors and to represent kintsugi, the Japanese art that uses gold to repair objects, and the gold becomes a part of the object’s beauty.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Superman! The man of steel, symbol of hope, humanity and the indomitable human spirit,
despite him being an alien. The story of the famous K ryptonian has been adapted thousands of times over 80 years, whether it be on the page or the big screen. T hrough the fantastic and the flops, people continue to love Superman after all this time. This 2025 “Superman” is fantastic; just off the bat, an overwhelmingly fantastic movie that made me reappreciate the superhero movie genre and Superman as a whole.
With the buildup to the movie, I was fairly excited to go watch it because t he last superhero movie I watched was The Batman back in
2022 . When I went to go watch it with my dad, we both had very different expectations of what it was going to be. He was expecting it to be a regrettable experience since he isn’t a fan of Superman in the slightest. My expectation of it was that it was going to be decent, nothing substantial, but overall just okay. We were both proven wrong in the best way possible. The movie is just flat out amazing and perfectly captures what Superman is and what he stands for, while giving it a refreshing twist on the franchise. Superman has always been a character about hope, kindness and
Courtesy of DC Studios via EPK.TV
Photo by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26).
“It was so fun and then afterward I got to see him on stage and it was a really good performance,” he said.
Leif’s mother also told The Pinion about Leif’s passion for music and that they were in several bands.
Referring to the December concert, she said, “They blew the crowd away.”
Outside of school, Leif worked as a shift manager at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers, a job they took pride in and often mentioned in class. They dreamed of becoming a civil rights lawyer, a goal that reflected their determination to stand up for others.
“They were vehemently straight edge—no drinking, no smoking, no drugs. They despised racism, fascism, and capitalism,” said Leif’s mother.
Leif also had a distinctive sense of humor that many classmates appreciated and will remember. Devan Coloma (c/o ’26) shared that one thing they bonded over was the show Family Guy. “There isn’t anything deep about the
unusual interest, it’s just something we both knew and found funny so we’d bring it up a lot and connect it to other things,” he said.
Leif’s mother also appreciated their humor. Alicia said they were “always quick with a joke and funny face, making others laugh constantly.”
Though their time was cut short, Leif’s passion and individuality live on through the memories they left behind.
As Andre Kam (c/o ‘26) said, “Leif won’t be forgotten as part of the Class of ’26.”
A final memory shared by Cambe was one of his lasts with Leif. He recalled working on an essay outline for English class and struggling to come up with a title when Leif turned to him and said, “the Fast and the Studious,” since he was writing about how someone can write fast. Cambe found it hilarious.
“That was one of our last conversations together, and I’m glad it was funny and I’m glad that I had that memory,” Cambe said.
Interview credit - Alexandra Tijerina
New Punk Rock
good will towards everyone, and the movie perfectly captures it, putting emphasis on the “man” in Superman.
With the mentions of counterculture with the use of the song “P unkrocker ” by Iggy Pop and the Teddybears, the movie brings up a wonderful point: punk rock , a culture born from oppression and about injustice, is kind; that kindness and being human is the most punk.
With features from lesser known characters such as Mr. Terrific, Green Lantern (Guy Gardener) and Metamorpho, it’s a mess and hodge podge of the DC universe in the best way possible. Every person in their roles in this movie gives their absolute all. I felt like they gave their absolute best performances possible and that nothing felt half baked. Nicholas Hoult as the nefarious Lex Luthor was the true standout performance for me; just the utter emotion and hatred you feel in his performance captures the true pettiness of the character displayed in the comics. Superman also touches on some important political issues in the real world such as militarism, immigration and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Why Our School’s Blood Drive Matters More Than You Think
by Johan Ocampo, guest writer
Every two seconds, someone in Hawai’i needs blood. Yet, only 2 percent of Hawaii’s residents donate even though the Blood Bank of Hawai’i is the only supplier for all 18 civilian hospitals in the state. To maintain a safe supply, Hawai’i needs 150-200 donations every day, but during summer and holiday months, donations can drop by 15% or more, leaving hospitals with as little as a one-day supply. That’s dangerously low for an island community that can not rely on mainland shipments in emergencies.
That’s why our McKinley High School Blood Drive this November is so important. It is not just another event on the calendar, but our chance to step up for the community in a direct, life-saving way. As students, we may not be able to volunteer at hospitals or perform surgeries, but we can donate blood. And each pint has the potential to save up to three lives.
Of course, many people hesitate because of myths: “It is too painful,” “I’ll feel weak afterward,” or “I don’t weigh enough.” The truth is the process is safe, relatively quick, and most people are back to normal activities the same day. Even if you can’t donate, you can still support the cause by spreading awareness, encouraging classmates, or volunteering at the drive.
As a first-time Blood Drive Ambassador, I’ve realized this work is about more than hanging up posters or passing out forms. It is about building awareness, debunking myths, and helping our school community understand that this one small act can make a life-changing difference for someone else.
So here is my ask: when November comes around, if you are eligible, sign up to donate. If you are not, be part of the movement by encouraging others to give. Together, our school can help keep Hawai’i’s blood supply strong and ensure that when emergencies happen, our hospitals are ready. This is not just about saving lives in general. It is about saving lives right here at home.
Opinion: Human Artists Have Passion; AI Has None
by Cheska Orias
Since I wrote the article “Artist Vs AI” in March 2024, AI has become more prevalent than ever. The programs used to create AI art have become smarter as they feed off of art uploaded online, while also becoming harder to spot AI programs can even create videos, music and lines of codes now. Despite it getting smarter, it still lacks one important thing when it comes to art: passion.
Being An Artist With AI On The Rise
Being a digital artist and seeing AI art almost everywhere makes me question: “Why do people still use AI?”
Making art is not easy, but the joy I get out of it makes it worth all the while. From the first idea forming, looking for references, sketching, the line art, inking to finally rendering, adding the background, shadows and light-it can take hours to finish an art work and for some people even months. As much as I hate some parts of the process, seeing the finalized piece brings me so much joy.
With AI, on the other hand, all people have to do is type in a prompt and less than two seconds later, an image is made. The way these images are made is by feeding the AI models art, which the artists did not consent to be used this way, taking different aspects of their art to make an image out of stolen artwork.
Some websites like Lovart and Artlist allow users to input images so AI can use it as “inspiration.” Not only do they make it easy to steal other art work to pass off as their own, but artists with that art style get accused of using AI for having an art style that AI trains off of.
These artists try their best to show
proof that they did not use AI art programs with speedpaints [accelerated recording of an artist’s creative process, a common term in the digital art community], but AI is able to fake speedpaints now as well.
Artists and writers have tried to sue AI companies for using their art to train AI models with which is copyrighted material, but not many see results due to copyright law. In one such case, the New York Times sued OpenAI for using various articles to train their GPT models. OpenAI stated in a response that “Training AI models using publicly available internet material is fair use, as supported by long-standing and widely accepted precedents.”
Although OpenAI and many other platforms allow opt-out options [the choice of not participating in something], most users are not aware of the option. In some cases, platforms like Instagram make it impossible to opt out. Digital/traditional artists, photographers, writers, musicians and even film makers are not safe from this.
The Damage It Brings
Those who use AI to create art do not seem to understand the damage it brings or defend using it by saying things such as “It is much cheaper than paying an actual artist.” This makes artists, including myself, wonder if one day we will be put out of a job in the creative field.
The Pinion conducted a survey this quarter with 157 responses from McKinley High School students and staff, and 80.9% said they believe AI will or might take creative jobs away. Some respondents reason that it is more cost effective and gets things done faster.
While using AI programs does get things done quicker and faster, it sacrifices authenticity.
Seeing artists lose jobs in the industry makes it disheartening for aspiring artists wanting to join. In one such case, the company Activision used AI to make some assets in their game Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Fans of the games noticed how the loading screens and art had telltale signs of being AI generated after the release of the Season 1 Reloaded update in Dec. 2024. It does not help that some of the items cost in game points, which are bought with real money.
What makes it sadder is that AI has been in the creative industry for longer than you can believe.
In a video [the video had closed captions translations] taken eight years ago, Hayao Miyazaki, one of the co-founders of Studio Ghibli, was shown a presentation of a basic AI model designed to mimic human movements in a grotesque and uncanny manner. Rather than be impressed, Miyazaki was appalled. When Miyazaki gave his thoughts, he said that seeing these videos made him think of a friend who has a disability which makes things harder to do and that he cannot watch the AI video and find it interesting.
“Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is or whatsoever. I am utterly disgusted,” Miyazaki said in the video. He goes on to say how he would never use it in his own work and strongly feels that it is an insult to life itself.
Fast forward into the future, there is an AI filter to just to mimic the Studio Ghibli style, which is something that goes entirely against Miyazaki’s philosophy and what he stands for.
As AI gets smarter, it gets harder to spot it, blurring the line between reality and fiction.
On a TikTok Jul 26, 2025, a video of bunnies jumping on a trampoline
was uploaded to the site. It soon became viral with 235 million views and 25 million likes. Yet, it is AI. Looking into the comments one may find many disappointed viewers who thought the video was real. Some even wished the video was real.
Not only has it been deceiving people, it is slowly worming its way into history. The Netflix documentary “What Jennifer Did,” which is about the truth behind Jennifer Pan’s plot to murder her parents, had allegations of AI being used for a picture. The picture in question features Pan giving the peace sign to the camera with a shelf in the background that had objects looking misplaced or deformed. The only response from any of the creators on the documentary comes from Jermy Grimaldi, executive producer and crime reporter for Pan’s trial, who denied the allegations of the photo being AI generated and assured that is it real.
Real or not, it raises concerns about trust and authenticity with viewers questioning whether the photos they are presented are real or not. AI makes it hard to trust sources that are supposed to provide us information. Even if you think you can spot AI, when does it come to a point where we cannot tell anymore and start believing in fake news?
Supporting The Real Artists
Who are the real artists? It is the ones who continue to create despite every failure they encounter during their journey; who use those experiences to continue practicing and mastering their craft. The ones whose passion pushes them to do better, to create something out of
nothing.
Those who defend AI art often bring up arguments such as “It helps people with disabilities create art.” Yet when you look back in history and the modern era, there are many examples that prove this wrong. Despite suffering from disabilities, physically or mentally, people still continue to create art.
In the past we have Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist in the 1900s who suffered from polio, mobility issues and chronic pain. Despite the pain, Kahlo continued to paint. Another is Ludwig Van Beethoven, a German composer and pianist born in the 1770s, slowly started to lose his hearing in his mid 20s, yet he continued composing.
When it comes to the present examples, we have John Bramblitt is a painter who is blind; AlanDeconArt who is an artist online who suffers from Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis; Manami Ito, a violinist who lost her arm in a traffic accident yet still continues to play; and Luren Hana Chai, a painter in Hawaii, who deals with the ongoing trauma and loss of her missing mother and still continues to paint and create art. That does not even scratch the surface of the many talented disabled artists out there.
AI defenders also bring up the argument “I don’t have the resources or tools to make art” when that is not true. The tools to create art are all around you. Draw in the dirt with a stick, pen and paper, use free apps online and etc. The best example I have seen yet was a song composed by a 5th grader using a free app
called Medly. Upon first listen, you can feel the passion and love put into it. When I first listened to it, I could not believe it was made with a free music app, but I slowly fell in love with the song.
The only limit in art is your own creativity.
When I first started my art journey as a kindergartner, all I had was leftover school supplies and access to the internet, which is all I needed to get started. Once I was done with homework, I would be at the table in the living room, watching a tutorial on how to draw eyes. It did not look like an eye at the end, but I still continued to draw and practice.
At any chance I was given, I would make little doodles in the margin of my notes and draw on leftover invoice paper my parents gave me and paint with cheap acrylics I got for Christmas. Bit by bit, I would see improvement in my art and would be proud of myself-proud of how far I have come from when I first started.
A person doesn’t need much to get started. As long they have the passion and drive to get better, they will create something amazing.
In the end, I will always support human artists no matter what. No matter if they have been doing art for years or just started out, I will always support their work; painters, musicians, dancers, writers and the many other creative mediums out there. I rather commission an artist who will put effort, time and passion into their piece and talk with me about the process versus a machine that frankensteins a piece made of stolen art in less than a second.
From left to right Kaiden Hiwatashi (c/’26), Hayun Kim (c/o ‘26) and Alex Sisavang (c/o ‘28) Photos and art by Cheska Orias (c/o ‘26)
Visit mhspinion.com to see a video interview with three artists I’ve commissioned art from and read the article on the website to see their art featured there!
The Pinion strives to provide and maintain accurate, entertaining and informative news for the students, staff and alumni of McKinley High School. We strive to show diligence in creating all our content so we can make a positive contribution to the public.
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The Pinion’s Crossword Game
ACROSS
2. Who did Riverio perform for as part of the ‘Ōlelo Hawaii program?
4. One of the three places Tran lists where many Vietnamese live by.
5. What was one of the games the varsity volleyball team played during their sleepover?
8. What did Siarot participate in?
10. How many new teachers are featured in this issue of The Pinion?
DOWN
1. Which generative AI model did the New York Times sue?
3. What does the R in “EXPRESS” program stand for?
6. A chicken used for fighting, which Husssey compared Gilbert to.
7. Which school did Takasaki get an offer from, but later reject?
9. What month is the next McKinley High School Blood Drive? Visit W123 or a Pinion reporter to see if you got the right answers!
