DEEPER STUDENTS VIEWS UPON SCHOOL LUNCH

track and field helps him with his other sport, football.

“I believe it’s going to help me with my grip because I play offensive lines,” Ramirez said. “I block the other team to stop them from getting the quarterback.”

Ramirez’s experience with other sports allows him to see the uniqueness of track. In football, it is often seen as a team against team, Ramirez said.

“When you join track and field, it’s you against you out there. You have to have that confidence,” Ramirez said.

Joshua Dela Cruz (c/o 2025) is a short-distance runner. His main event is the 100-meter dash—that’s like running across 3.5 basketball courts. He said his event is the most

by Jerome Linear

As the bell rings and the lines form for lunch, the cafeteria staff go through a process that most schools in Hawaii do by preparing and serving school lunch to the students. McKinley’s lunch services are under the Hawaii Department of Education’s School Food Services Branch. The branch has been tasked with serving more than 100,000 nutritionally balanced, affordable meals a day to Hawaii’s students. This branch decides what’s on the menu, not the school.

McKinley’s school lunch manager Mark Miura said, “During COVID it was really hard to find supplies. Almost everything from paper goods to products were very hard to find. Oh, it was crazy.” competitive.

Various ingredients, such as a variety of different vegetables, fruits, and grains establish nutrients in the lunch that are shared through making school lunches.The cafeteria manager simply has to follow these standards, offering students fruits and vegetables every day.

“Every millisecond difference counts in my event, from the moment the gun gets off, your reaction time and every second from then on,” Dela Cruz said.

The team has stressed the tension in the meets, but that does not stop the McKinley Track Team from building relationships with other teams.

“Everyone improved on themselves and friendship as a team—even with other schools, too,” Dela Cruz said.

Before McKinley, Coach Martin was Kaimuki High School’s track and field coach. Over spring break, Kaimuki and McKinley’s track team went over to Kaimuki High School to practice.

“It was different from our practice, but it was a good experience to see the differences in our schools’ training methods,” Dela Cruz said.

This experience has helped his improvement and endurance, Dela Cruz said.

“Practicing with Kaimuki helped me with my endurance. We ran a lot more total distance than what we normally do during practice in McKinley,” Dela Cruz said.

The track and field team has been putting in the effort to advance through the last strides of the season.

“Every meet just got better and better. Everyone improved on themselves, friendships, and as a team,” Dela Cruz said.

In McKinley there are mixed views about lunch. Some students simply eat lunch at the school and some don’t for their own reasons. Some say it is plain, but others say it’s cheap.

“It’s only occasionally good because sometimes the food is low quality but when they have rice and anything with chicken or pork they get it right,” Omar Miller-Seals (c/o 2025) said.

This is completely normal, however, as you would have students who are completely fine with school lunch being the way it is considering it’s free for those who are qualified for the free and reduced lunch program. However, you would also have students who wouldn’t eat school lunch because they have their own lunch or they dislike school lunch.

“School lunch is alright because it’s free and fills you up,” Kirby Alik (c/o of 2026) said.

Still, school lunch is made to meet the nutritional needs of growing teens. Students eating regular, healthy meals is critical to student health and wellbeing, especially for low-income students.

Some students feel school lunches are a way to rejuvenate energy for their next periods.

“It gets me by honestly. I would be drained from classes and tired going into the lunch period. School lunch really sets me back to 100%,” DJ Maluyo (c/o 2023) said.

"Hello Tigers, out of my three years of being in Newswriting, this has been our first semi-normal year. This year's staff has been a fun one and I'm sad to see them go. I look forward to serving The Pinion for my last and final year next year. BANZAI!" Shane Kaneshiro, editor-in-chief.

54th Hawaii High School

Journalism Awards 2023

Most Valuable Staffer - Jade Bluestone

Writing Division 3rd in State

Best Nonfiction Storytelling -3rd place

Shane Kaneshiro

"In my first and only year in The Pinion, I've gained invaluable lessons that can be used anywhere. Thank you for allowing me the space to write what matters to me, and hopefully to others as well." Jade Bluestone, assistant editor.

- Coach Kale Awakens the Tigers

Best Opinion - 4th place

Cheska Orias

- It Still Hurts

Best Investigative Reporting - 4th place

Shane Kaneshiro

- Restoration of Hawaiian Place Names Rejected

Best Breaking News - 5th place

Jade Bluestone

- McKinley Theater Prepares For Return

"Being in the school paper has been a wonderful experience. It gave me many memories and lessons to look back to as I reminisce." Sean Willem Giron, assistant editor.

Best Illustration - 1st place

Cheska Orias

- It Still Hurts

Best Multimedia Presentation - 2nd place

Chloe Cunningham and Jacky Oasay

- McKinley Tigers Hit The Gym

Best Portrait Photograph - 3rd place

Shane Kaneshiro

- Coach Kale

Contest Poster - 3rd place

Cheska Orias

"Writing for The Pinion has been an enlightening experience, introducing me to dedicated individuals such as our adviser, Cynthia Reves. Her skillful mentoring and passion as a teacher has deepened my understanding of both the journalism profession and the English language." Dominic Niyo, assistant editor.

- Free the Press

Best Action/Candid Photo - 5th place

Shane Kaneshiro

- Freshmen Orientation Ski Race