na pueo REDEVELOPMENT: news
What does communication look like at Mid-Pacific? Learn more about announcements.
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editorial
Where are the women? Flip to editorial to read on the lack of girls in our STEM classes.
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features
How is tourism affecting Hawaii residents since the pandemic? Turn to features to read more.
By Siena Usui Staff Writer
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n their final opening day, things were rather quiet for the restaurants and businesses that once thrived on Ke’eaumoku Street between Liona and Rycroft. Over a dozen of those businesses were forced to close on Jan. 31, with plans for two high rise twin towers to replace
the buildings. A 12-story parking structure, halfacre park, and shops will be coming along as well. “I was so sad because one of my favorite Korean restaurants was right there and I was wondering where it was going to move,” senior Natsu Katayama said. With rising amounts of residents and visitors thirsty to get both the city and island experience, areas across
STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR MID-PACIFIC MARCH 2022 VOLUME 57 ISSUE 2 NAPUEO.COM
Local businesses shut for condos
Hawaii are being reconstructed to cater to this growing demand. “All these businesses are trying hard to get their products out there and succeed, and because of these developments and other things, it just doesn’t work out for them,” junior Reyn Matsuzaki said. Matsuzaki has a part time job at Yoas, a sorbet and aquascapes business that his cousin
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features
How does easing restrictions play out on the field and pool? Hear what athletes feel.
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What is a life without meats? Learn about the vegan experience on the back.
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Photo outside of Hana Hale Marketplace, one of the buisness places closing to make room for condos. Photo by staff photographer Siena Usui.
Students react to new demerit policy By Jackson Keenan Staff Writer id-Pacific’s administration decision to remove demerits in the beginning of the 2021-2022 year surprised both students and teachers, leaving both groups searching for answers. Administration felt like demerits weren’t a good way to change student behavior “The demerits don’t get to the heart of what we’re trying to do with student support,” senior dean Erin Regua said. Mid-Pacific is changing the demerit system to better fit with community expectation. “We’re trying to find the best way to adjust behavior in a way that aligns with community expectations,” Regua said. The change that better fits community expectations is the new concept of individualized student counseling. “Individualized student counseling, like having conversations with students about why certain choices
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are made,” Regua said. This change toward individualized Student Counseling is led by the deans. “What we want to do is rethink the role of the dean as not just a person where you go to get in trouble. But, a person that you can go to for support when things aren’t going well,” Middle and High School Principal Dr. Dwayne Priester said. This change isn’t backed without hours of research done by Priester. “Before making this decision I spent some time doing research as in reading a number of leadership journals and a number of discipline journals related to student discipline. As well as talking to 60-80 principles about the change” Priester said. While many teachers agree that demerits are not a good way to punish students, some teachers feel like there are better ways to hold students accountable than just referral to the dean.
and two business partners run together. It was located in Ohana Hale Marketplace (OHM) but they decided to move after the announcement of closure on Mar. 31. After opening a new location in Kaimuki, they are still currently operating out of OHM as well. “The OHM was really like a close knit community with all the different small businesses. Even the people that went to OHM as customers, they were close to at least 1-2 businesses,” Matsuzaki said. The shutdown of those local businesses for redevelopment is nothing new in Hawaii. OHM, home to approximately 140 businesses, will be redeveloped into a luxury condo tower. Fortunately, there are plans for OHM to
relocate to a currently undisclosed location in Kaka’ako. “I think because of new developments, it might be harder to start businesses, but at the same time I think that [they] will also be able to excel and grow. With all these new developments in areas, more people will come and hopefully try to support these small businesses so that they can continue to exceed and expand,” Matsuzaki said. Head chef at Hana Koa Brewing Company, a brewery that started right before the pandemic in 2019, Chris Wong, said that it’s disappointing to see all the big developments occurring in Hawaii. “When you hear about more local businesses [besides the pandemic],
See REDEVELOPMENT page 2
Mid-Pacific keeps students informed electronically By Kamm Kojima Staff Writer
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uring the 2021-2022 school year information is about school events, accomplishments and health updates informed more than 500 high schoolers. Communication through newsletters, meetings, or on MyPueo is ideal when living a school and work life. “People have lives outside of school that we have to plan around certain events and things like that, where when you don’t know what’s happening at school you can’t plan what’s happening at home,” said senior Jasper Ho. Dean’s newsletters, weekly health reports, high school newsletters, during class meetings, and email, are some ways that information is sent out to students. Other ways are through teachers. “Our main sources of information are our teachers and sometimes See DEMERITS page 2 our principals,” said Senior Educa-
tion committee representative, Julian Ibarra. Receiving certain information from teachers students also heavily rely on word of mouth. “I usually hear it through other friends and teachers,” said junior Riko Santos. However, without reading the direct message information may not be accurate. “For me, I hear it from other people so words could be twisted,” said Santos. Students don’t prefer to read a message as it is time consuming. “I don’t really read the dean’s message because it comes out quite often and usually it’s the same thing,” Santos said. With that said, the administration understands that students don’t fully read emails so they try to keep their messages to a minimum when possible. “I tried to be selective about how
See COMMUNICATION page 2
news
REDEVELOPEMENT: mom and pop places getting shut up because of development, it never really settles well,” Wong said. As a worker in the restaurant industry, Wong had first hand experience seeing how COVID-19 affected it, along with other prominent factors. Wong said that a challenge local businesses face unique to Hawaii, is how dependent the islands are on tourism. “Because of the pandemic, we definitely lost and have not really regained the tourism that all businesses, especially restaurants depended on. A market that we were looking to tap into was Japanese tourism, and when the pandemic hit, that’s one big market that was lost and still has not returned,” Wong said. According to Hawaii Life, the state’s luxury market saw a 234.5% increase over 2020 (by dollar value), with total sales in all luxury market segments
above $3 million and reaching $3.698 billion. However in Sept. 2020, Yelp reported that Hawaii was the state with the most businesses closed per 1,000 businesses, with 9.4 permanent closures and 13.4 temporary closures. “It’s definitely more negative than positive [regarding redevelopment]. It’s just hiking up the cost of living and almost all the aspects because these places are really expensive. And the only people that are going to come here are people that aren’t from here, that have that money and income to afford it. It really is only driving the local people out here more and not being able to afford to live here,” Wong said. Kerry Kopp said that affordable housing would produce a better income for Hawaii. Talk about the quote before this. is the co-owner of Hana Koa Brewing Company and also .
“I see it as a mixture of both [negative and positive in regards to reconstruction], but I do feel that we need more affordable rental units. I think that’s more of a pressing community need because it’s difficult to start out here and find an affordable rental unit that’s in line with your pay,” Kopp said. Businesses in Hawaii face an
hopes of involving the students in decisions, an Education Committee representative was appointed. “My job is to take basically what is said at this meeting and then funnel it into a summary document and then share it back out with students,” said Ibarra. Working with decision makers Ibarra notes that occasionally information is not told for a reason. “Making sure that things are still moving on, sometimes that means there are going to be things that can’t be said,” said Ibarra. No matter how information is told, communication that strives are close relationships with their teachers. “I have a really close relationship with a lot of my teachers and it was definitely nice to know that there was somebody there, who would be ready to listen when we were having issues,” said senior Nicole Naferrate. Recognizing that communication at Mid-Pacific is not perfect, Priester works on improving it while using the
resources he can utilize. “It’s not as successful as I would like, but it’s us work-
uphill battle to succeed, but that is not stopping them from working towards their goals. “A lot of people and places are going to find ways to be successful, they’re just going to have to be a little more creative. I worry a little bit, but I think it’ll be okay. I think enough people care,” Wong said.
“A lot of people and places are going to find ways to be successful, they’re just going to have to be a little more creative. I worry a little bit, but I think it’ll be okay. I think enough people care.” - Chris Wong, chef
COMMUNICATIONS:
much information I send out because if you send out too, people will be overloaded and they won’t read it,” said High School Principal, Dr. Dee Priester. Noticing flaws in how announcements are reported under Priester’s administration, the idea of sending messages through student’s iPads is under discussion. “How can we use text as an effective means of communication as opposed to email, so hopefully in the next year or so we will have figured it out,” said Priester. However, COVID-19 does influence and limit in-person meetings which limits students’ attention spans. “Under normal circumstances we would have a chapel, we would have it live. It’s the face to face communication, it’s the short bite size chunks that people are more likely to grab hold of,” said Priester. Despite how information is sent out be it electronically or face to face Mid-Pacific aims for more transparency. In
Photo of Longs Drugs at the bottom of a high rise in Ward. Photo by staff photographer Kamm Kojima. ing in the parameters that we have,” said Priester.
Derrick Kang, director of college counsoling and senior, Kama Higa hangs Higa’s tye-die shirt at senior camp. Senior camp was an event communicated about primarily online, through dean’s letters and zoom classmeetings. Photo by staff photographer Kamm Kojima.
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“In many schools that have had a demerit system or something similar. They have replaced it with items on the student report card or the transcript so that infractions get reported,” Language Arts teacher Kathy Wheeler said. Other students feel like school policy will become a “free for all” like sophomore Jonah Gillia. Some think having no demerits leaves students the impression of having a no rules at all. “It’s kind of a free for all because people can walk in late and go against dress code and nothing is done about it,” Gillia said. Even though some teachers and students have concerns about accountability, other teachers believe that the deans’ new role of holding students accountable is working. “Our Deans are on it, that they are following up with students,” IB program coordinator and sophomore class advisor Kymbal Roley said. There have been confusions about the change in the demerit removal and student’s punishments. “There hasn’t been a lot of clarity and what is replacing that. We knew of a system and now that’s not a thing anymore,” Regua said. Many students were also surprised when they showed up on the first day of school to find out that administration removed demerits. “I was sort of stunned because, as much as we don’t like them, it teaches us that you need to follow rules and that there will be consequences if you break them,” said sophomore Jonah Gillia. Even though some students were concerned others where glad that demerits where removed like senior Eunice Han. “I’m glad that they [administration] got rid of demerits because I had to go to the cafeteria and clean and stuff,” said Han. Although administration is still working out some of the kinks administration is hopeful for the future of disciplinary action at the school. “I don’t expect any real change in behavior. What I do expect and what I do hope for is that the students don’t see the Deans as a disciplinarian, but as someone who works with them, and will ask questions about what’s happening rather than making judgments about what’s happening,” Priester said.
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editorial
Phone addiction is taking over
Siena Usui & Chelsee Sawai: Letter from the editors-in-chief
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ing! You want to avoid it and focus on your homework instead, but the dangerous sounds of notifications from your phone keep popping up. Yet, the next thing you know, a reply to a text message turns into an hour of scrolling through videos and other apps. We’re ashamed to admit it, but we’re addicted to our phones. With more people spending less time outside than during previous years due to the pandemic, it’s no surprise that teenagers have had an increase in their screen time. According to USA Today, a study conducted by JAMA Pediatrics found screen time outside of virtual school doubled from pre-pandemic estimates of 3.8 hours per day to 7.7 hours. Although Mid-Pacific no longer has online classes, the pandemic has left its mark on us. In fact, our own screen time increased tremendously and staying off the phone is a struggle. Sometimes, our phones are our idea of “the life,” the one object we need to occupy ourselves for hours on end. We realize that we are having too much screen time, but it’s hard to change such a tough habit. Part of the reason why we’re addicted is because of the social aspect of owning a phone. It keeps us connected to the world when we’re at home, away from socializing with other people. Social
Editors-in-Chief
-Na Pueo Staff-
Chelsee Sawai & Siena Usui
Features Editor
Josephine Brewer
Editorial Editor
Charlize Gaudiello
News Editor
Kamm Kojima
Sports Editor
Steven Aspera
Social Media Editor Kayla Tom
Online Editor
Mehana Watanabe
media also fulfills a fear of missing out because you’re up to date with everyone. This makes it hard to stay off of the app, which creates a cycle of unhealthy obsession, allowing an inanimate object to get the best of us. How can we stay off of these apps? Here are some findings: People usually go on their phones because they’re bored or in need of a distraction. Instead of thinking there is nothing else to do, view it from a different perspective. Looking around your house for activities, such as reading, exercising or just doodling on some paper are easy ways to put down your phone. It’s challenging to stop the cycle of continuously scrolling, but using an excuse, like eating a snack, can be a small step in the right direction. Another solution to the dangerous world of phone addiction is setting limits for yourself in small increments of the day. According to The New York Times, a study from researchers at the University of Melbourne alludes that not only does the time spent on your phone matter, but also the specific activities you do on it. Going on Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok can really put you on the path to addiction as these apps are designed to do so. The next time you feel tempted to spend long hours online, shut your phone down when you are studying. Put it somewhere that you don’t have access to or put it on mute. Of course we are not saying to “break up” with your phone forever, but rather to take the time to live in the moments of your life. It’s finding balance that’ll get you towards overall wellness in your life and it starts with putting down that phone!
Backpage Editor
Tia Shimabukuro
Staff Writers
Johnathan Aspera Evan Baron Finlay Curran Grant Hogan Jamie Hiremath Kenna Kaneshiro Jackson Keenan Raymond King Danika Kusumoto Archer Liang Joaquin Mejia Katie Troske
Adviser
Kara Hisatake
Editorial cartoon by Melissa Spencer
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e’ve
Where are the women?
painted the picture of a modern and inclusive world, yet Katie Troske: the STEM gender gap Staff Writer continues to grow wider as less and less women get involved. Stereotypes and enforced gender roles may sound like a thing of the past, but they still have an effect on children all around the world. Girls are often taught to be obedient and quiet, while boys aren’t made to be afraid of pushing past boundaries. “The qualities that you need to be good at STEM are resilience, because you’re going to have to push through some problem solving. And so, from the very start, we are telling girls that they’re good if they don’t question, and that boys are good if they push through and if they problem solve and are resilient,” middle school Technology Teacher Jana Kaopuiki said. Often, the pressure to conform to those gender roles comes from inside. Many women internalize the things they’re told, and that becomes the roadblock between them and the pursuit of their dreams
and passions. “You understand pretty early on that you’re not the norm; that you are something that looks different, that expresses yourself differently, that takes up different kinds of space. The confidence to know that you can do it sometimes falters because you know that you don’t fit into the role,” Kaopuiki said. According to the University of Houston, stereotypes affect children as young as the age of six, and more than half of the surveyed children believe that subjects like computer science and physics are “boy subjects”. Enforcing and instilling the idea from a young age that STEM is for everyone is crucial to diversifying the workplace and increasing the involvement of women in the STEM field. “By the time I got to college, and I was into the tech stuff, I felt like it wasn’t a big deal that I was a girl. I was like, ‘Whatever. This is what I like, you know?’” Danelle Landgraf, the program head for technology and engineering at Mid-Pacific said. At Mid-Pacific, the ratio of male and female are close, with 51% of the student population being male and 49% being female. Yet the class ratios are dramatically different— some-
times as little as three girls in STEM related classes. “Look at the number of girls on the robotics team, or the number of girls in [Mid-Pacific’s] cybersecurity club. Previous to last year, there’s only ever been one girl on the team. Last year, I had three girls out of 20,” Landgraf said. While efforts are being made to diversify the workplace and schools across the world, there’s always more to be done. Being able to recognize the progress we’ve made while focusing on what needs to be done is the first step towards a world of equality. “I think there’s been a lot of effort involved to break down those barriers, but even if you look at our own CyberPatriot team or Cyber Owls club, it is a male dominated club. So the question is why? And what do we do about that?” Director of Educational Technology Brain Grantham said. The solution won’t be linear, but it’s crucial for girls of future generations to see people like them making changes in the STEM world, and to know that their voices will be heard. Addressing and solving the gender inequality issues in the STEM field will be an uphill battle— but it’s a battle that’s worth fighting.
Information Na Pueo is published by dedicated Mid-Pacific students. Personal opinions expressed by students, faculty and staff or outside guests do not necessarily reflect those of Mid-Pacific. We welcome contributions and feedback and will strive to maintain a high standard of professional journalism. Send letters, submissions and suggestions to: newspaper@midpac.edu Please contact Na Pueo for advertising information and rates. All articles and photographs are copyright (c) Mid-Pacific Institute.
features TOURISM IN HAWAI’I: Waikiki is as busy as ever amid the return of tourists to the state. Photo by staff photographer Evan Baron. By Evan Baron Staff Writer
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awaii is in a pivotal position, as climate change and rising living costs make life more of a struggle for average residents. Bringing Hawaii to the world has had various impacts, ranging from economic sup-
port to altering the cultural perception of what it means to be from Hawaii both to residents and outsiders. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, at any given moment, 10% of the people in the Hawaiian Islands are tourists. The tourism industry accounts for 20% of Hawaii’s income and employs one in four residents. “Tourism is the main driver
MID-PACIFIC LIFE
Lessons learned from COVID-19
of the economy. It controls everything, so we’re kind of stuck with it,” MPX teacher John Cheever said. Aside from its economic impact, tourism has also altered the Hawaiian identity and culture. “It’s made us build around tourism and now we’re known for it,” junior Tyler Leong said. The distinction between Native Hawaiian and being a resident is not effectively communicated to the rest of the world. “To find out you’re from Hawaii, whether you’re Hawaiian or not, first of all, they say, ‘oh, you’re Hawaiian.’ And you’re not Hawaiian,” Cheever said. A more physical impact of tourism is its strain on the daily lives of residents. “Look at Lanikai. In Kailua, the people from there have to completely adjust their lives and their normal routines to make sure that they’re out [of Lanikai/Kailua] before the influx of tourists,” said Hawai-
ian language teacher Shaun Kamakea-Young. Social media has driven even more tourist volume towards previously secluded areas. “With things like Yelp and bloggers posting about “hidden” spots on Oahu, it’s made a lot of those places more well known and frequented,” Young said. Heightened volumes of tourists change the unique sense of place that many locations had around the islands. “It’s almost discouraging for locals to want to go [to “hidden” spots]. The experiences they would have had in those places are now altered,” Young said. Many places around the islands provide specific resources for Hawaiian cultural practices. These places are being jeopardized as tourists search harder and harder for new experiences. “A lot of us are very protective of the resources that we have here. Especially here
on Oahu, where the native resources are so limited. You don’t want any Tom, Dick and Harry just going up there and being careless about the way in which they take things,” Young said. Rising living costs have forced families that lived in the same place for generations to relocate due to the state of economic exclusivity brought on by the publicity that tourism brings to the islands. “In places where families traditionally would have resided for generations in the same place, people have become a lot more transient,” Young said.“Rather than growing up in the same area that you probably would have lived in for generations, now, a lot of people, their first generation in those places.” Even considering the known negative impacts of the tourism industry, there are benefits. “Having tourists is one of the reasons why we’re able to succeed as
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Young love through the screen By Jamie Hiremath Staff Writer
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odern technology and the communication that stems from it is infamous for its anonymity; a quality that both damages relationships and fuels young love. Hiding behind a screen, teens feel more capable of having adult conversations–even if they aren’t ready to properly have them. Freshman Dean Cynthia Kinnear notices that teenagers are a lot braver because they don’t have to be face to face when asking for inappropriate favors or having risky conversations. “Bullying has gotten worse because of it and also sexual harrasment,” Kinnear said. With the downsides to digital communication, one might wonder: why are teenagers so infatuated with it? For some, it is an addiction, and for others, it is an opportunity to get to know people they would be otherwise afraid to speak to in person. Junior Sarah Jung says that social media and our phones can be the easiest way to converse and avoid confrontation. “I feel like so many of us are so scared to voice our opinions in person and hiding behind a screen makes it easier,” Jung said. Social media in its many forms has reached audiences as young as elementary schoolers, but can consist of the same content and usage regardless of age. Kinnear has seen communication evolve in her
daughters, students and even her own friendships. “In a way I don’t think kids have as strong of connections with each other because they are not getting face to face time,” Kinnear said. With platforms that allow for so much freedom, adolescent minds have taken advantage of the internet to change the way intimacy works. In Jung’s early stages of social media she felt a huge transition in the way she viewed herself and others. “I was definitely more in people’s lives, like I knew what they were doing compared to before when I had no electronics. I didn’t know what people were doing so I just saw them when I saw them,” Jung said. Senior Tyler Devere thinks that social media is misused within younger and older relationships for image purposes. “People have a sort of fake relationship on social media because they wanna portray the best of themselves,” Devere said. Senior Sierra Kato can say from experience, that communicating solely over the phone can be damaging to a relationship because of all the misinterpretation. “I look at it [messages from her significant other] and forget to respond and then they would get mad and say why didn’t you respond?,” Kato said. Not only were things misunderstood from Kato’s part, but her significant other struggled to be clear on his intentions when they couldn’t talk
Illustration by Melissa Spencer. See RELATIONSHIPS page 5
features
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Working towards a sustainable future By Josephine Brewer Staff Writer
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eat waves, destroyed habitats, extinct species and trash covered streets; four things that could happen if people don’t care for the planet. Students and teachers at Mid-Pacific care for the environment in a variety of ways, and one of them is the effort to live sustainably. Some Mid-Pacific students have joined the Leaders of Environmental Action for the Future club as a means to learn how and help others live sustainably. LEAF club president Eli Stein said his passion for protecting the environment started since he grew up surfing, paddling and being around the ocean. “I was very captivated by the fact that our planet is being destroyed by this issue [pollution and climate change]. So I wanted to first look at ways that I could help out within our school,” Stein said. The club works together to make small changes towards a more sustainable Earth. “As we continue to get older and time elapses, global warming and climate change will prevail as an issue that impacts not only our generation, but the future generations to come,” Stein said. So we need to take the steps right now as soon as possible to prevent those future consequences.” Classes also offer another way to live sustainably. One of the high school science courses offered at Mid-Pacific is aquaponics, which is taught by ‘96 alumnus Gregg Kaneko.
TOURISM:
Aquaponics is the growing of fish and vegetables in a closed system. It’s a circulating system where the fish waste fertilizes the plants and the plants clean the water for the fish. “It’s very water efficient. It uses 90% less water than traditional farming or gardening, because it’s recycling the water,” said Kaneko. Another way people make their lifestyle more eco-friendly is by shopping sustainably which can be important in reducing pollution, plastic waste and saving natural resources. Sales worker Leah Salindong has been working at Keep It Simple, a zero waste store located in Kaimuki and Waikiki. She has worked there since January this year but has shopped there since the store opened. Salindong explains what it’s like to work sales there on the daily. “I keep it simple. Just [explaining] the reasons why you want to buy sustainably or why maybe buying bulk refills might be better for your family, just introducing it,” Salindong said. She says there is more to her job than selling organic and non-polluting products. “I think educating people is a big part of this job too. Telling people why it’s better to choose eco-friendly products and just choosing to be more friendly to the environment in general,” Salindong said. People can also shop sustainably outside of zero waste stores. “My family and I try to buy food from local farmer’s markets...In that sense, you don’t contribute to the need to transport food from the mainland,
a state. Our jobs, our incomes maybe increase trade with other rely on them,” said junior Laustates,” Leong said, when asked lea Haga. how the state could pivot away For such a core industry, from tourism as our sole means tourism is a fragile enterprise of survival. that’s at the whim of nature, Retraining some of the workincluding viral force to participate in pandemics. “More and more emerging professions The COVID-19 is another way to [of] Hawaii’s pandemic illustrated diversify. just how reliant the “We’re the cyber economy is state is on the toursecurity capital of the becoming tied Pacific, but we don’t ism industry. In the with tourism,” - have enough people worst months of the pandemic, the state Hawaiian Language to fill these jobs, so discussed diversifythey’re having to bring Teacher Shaun people from the maining the economy to make the economy Kamakea-Young land,” Cheever said. more resilient Efforts to diversify instead of reliant on the economy encountourist numbers. tered many challenges, even “Even with the drive to before the pandemic. Cheever diversify the economy, during attributes this to a lack of politiCOVID, there were a lot of cal appetite due to the contribuwords but not a lot of action,” tions that lawmakers receive Cheever said. from the tourism industry. A possible alternative to be“The tourism industry ing a pure service economy is to contributes to their [politicians] foster interstate commerce. campaign funds, so they take “I think that we could their meetings and whenever
which really contributes to global warming and pollution,” Stein said. For some, shopping more thoughtfully is Shop Sustainably! the only option as zero Knowing where the products you buy came waste products can be from and what's in them can be a great way more expensive than to care for the environment. It gives you the using what people opportunity to buy more eco-friendly already have at hand. products. “Some people have maybe more important things to worry about. Recycling! If you have financial issues, I mean, that’s Reusing plastics or other products going to be more of a produces less waste and reduces the concern than trying to destruction of habitats. live sustainably right. Trying to pay our bills Eating Less Meat! is probably more imBy reducing your intake of meat, you can lessen some of the impact the meat portant,” said Kaneko. industry has on our planet. As it is one of Feeling like there are the biggest contributors to pollution and other things to worry climate change. about or simply forgetting about seeking Infographic by staff writer Josephine Brewer. out a more eco-friendly lifestyle is not uncommon. respect the environment, principles Although one person living sustainfamiliar to Hawaii in Malama ‘Aina. ably doesn’t make much of a difference “The land is giving to us. You can’t over all, as more people make more just like take and take and take without sustainable lifestyle choices, Earth’s giving back,” Salindong said. future slowly gets more viable. It can be difficult to get started but “This is a problem that impacts taking a crack at a more sustainable everyone. And it’s not an easy issue to lifestyle can be an act of responsibility. tackle at all,” Stein said. “In order to “Earth is home to us. And we forget create change, we need to have the disthat because we get lost in how big the cussions to become aware of the issue world is. But if we can take care of our to discuss the solutions, and ultimately communities and take care of a place to come together as communities and that we call home, that’s the best thing as one to solve the issue.” you can do,” Salindong said. Salindong says it’s important to
there’s a bill that’s going to do something like curb tourism, those things get shot down,” he said. Cheever theorizes that to reform itself, the tourism industry should focus on attracting more responsible clientele who will contribute to the economy more meaningfully. “It comes down to what tourists spend per day. If they want to target a higher end of the market instead of going for volume, they wouldn’t need as many people,” he said. As Hawaii continues to see greater volumes of tourists, and as climate change makes it harder to live, the problems that face Hawaii will only grow, and the squeeze will be felt by residents. “More and more [of] Hawaii’s economy is becoming tied with tourism. And so even though people don’t want to be as invested into that industry, they’re almost forced into it as a means of survival,” Young said.
Ways To Live Sustainably
RELATIONSHIPS:
in person. “It [talking] was often over the phone or text because he went to a different school. He would tell me certain stuff he would be doing but the sad part is I know he was hiding stuff,” Kato said. It’s no secret, online relationships can be dangerous. “It is easier to manipulate someone online and take advantage of them,” Jung said. At previous schools, Kinnear observed privacy being jeopardized when student relationships ended poorly which could be dangerous because of the kinds of things teenagers shared with each other over the phone. “Now boys will say pretty inappropriate things to girls and ask them for pictures back in my day nobody did that because you would have to walk up to the girl and say ‘hi,’” Kinnear said. Kato sees social media as another way to be
dangerously codependent to your significant other because it is so easily accessible to communicate no matter the distance. “You think that they have to live up to a certain expectation [of constant updating and communication] because everyone our age does it,” Kato said. Even with its many negative aspects, Kinnear is reassured that it really depends on the kid and how they choose to use their technology. “I think over the years we are starting to learn our lessons, like once it’s out there it’s out there,” Kinnear said. “Other people’s opinions on certain things that you post can kinda create drama so being clear with your significant other on what you’re doing and making sure you have privacy in your life is the way to do it,” said Devere.
the diamond
MID-PACIFIC SPORTS
Athletic COVID rules share the same fluctuation as the cases themselves
By Chelsee Sawai Staff Writer
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nduring a set of ever-changing pandemic restrictions over the last two years, senior athletes work within the rules to maintain passion and love for their sport. The latest set of COVID rules comes from an email sent by Scott Wagner on Jan. 10 regarding spectators. However, with the number of virus cases shifting everyday, athletic rules have been in a constant flux. Athletic directors across the state of Hawaii have been meeting weekly since the beginning of the pandemic, sometimes multiple times per week. Mid-Pacific enforces their restrictions on athletes in conjunction with other schools in Hawaii in order to get ideas and be on the same page safety-wise, said Wagner. “We try to mirror from school to school the best that we can but ultimately, it’s up to our school administration to give us the rules, and we work within those rules too,” said Wagner. “Although we might differ a little bit in school acts, we as athletic directors are trying to work together to offer
similar practices.” The following are restrictions as of Jan. 10, 2022 for Mid-Pacific athletes, and the overarching moods of athletes affected. RESTRICTION: SPECTATORS – There are four spectators allowed at any sporting event per each athlete participating. MOOD: Grateful – Senior and Girls Varsity Soccer player Mackenzie Nitta said she’s thankful for the new, eased up restriction of audience members because it makes her feel one step closer to what was once “normal.” The Girls Varsity soccer team had their senior night on Feb. 7, the first crowd the soccer players have seen since the start of the pandemic. “On senior night I think it’s just great that there’s going to be people to watch the game for the first time in a very long time,” said Nitta. Wagner said letting people attend events in such numbers is refreshing, and a little closer to pre-pandemic spectatorship, when Mills Gym had been filled with hundreds. “We’re starting to see some more smiles on the sidelines, which is really great and we hope to continue that,” said
Wagner. As a senior, Nitta strives to be a role model for her teammates, especially the underclassmen, applying the positive treatment she received when she was in their shoes. “One of my personal goals this season was to support my teammates and be there for them when they needed anything and to act like this big sister figure in a way whenever they needed anything,” said Nitta. “It makes me think back to like all the memories I made and how I want to treat those underclassmen so that they have a memorable year with us as seniors.” RESTRICTION: COMPETITION – Games and other sporting events are allowed to happen as long as participants and guests abide by the safety rules. MOOD: Eye-opening – Senior and Boys Varsity basketball player Kyle Zeng compared his experience with games this year compared to the seniors last year who had stricter senior experiences. “The seniors last year didn’t really have a senior night and it was basically a scrimmage within our school so it was team versus team,” he said. “It wasn’t as significant as the
Senior Ashley Okinaka, plays soccer in the rain while wearing her mask. Photo by Dillon Balantac. other years, so they had to make a lot of sacrifices, so I’m very thankful that we were able
to have one of our own this year.”
See COVID RULES page 7
Swimming into action By Kenna Kaneshiro Staff Writer
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wimming and water polo seasons are in action this school year, however, COVID-19 restrictions and new regulations still apply. “We’re a sport that has to be unmasked, so we don’t have that luxury of being able to have something to mitigate the disease,” Head Coach of Boys Waterpolo, Swimming, and Diving, Kaz Yoshiwara said. Guidelines have been ensured by Mid-Pacific that apply to all student athletes, which includes wearing masks on the pool deck, and maintaining some type of social distance while swimmers are in the pool. “Just the fact that we’re unmasked, and especially with water polo, how it’s definitely a close and a contact sport,
that makes it challenging and when they start to put in different procedures and protocols it usually affects them and their ability to practice,” Yoshiwara said. The swim team has been split into two separate cohorts, labeled A and B to implement an ability to social distance throughout the practice. “Instead of it being just one big group, it’s kind of good that we’re split into little sections and cohorts because the coach can help you more, and more one on one time,” freshman Alexia Roberts said. Junior Varsity and Varsity swimmers, both boys and girls, began the season on December 13, and continued till their last scheduled swim meet on Friday, February 11. “We had to space it out more so there’s less people in your
lane,” junior Sebastien Kiyabu said. “You have more room to swim, instead of swimming in
Girls’ junior varsity swim team perform the freestyle stroke. Photo by Dillon Balantac. a cramped spot, where a few times you’ll have to move over
a little bit when you’re trying
See SWIMMING page 7
sports
COVID RULES: The Boys Varsity basketball team had their senior night on Feb. 5 against Maryknoll School, which ended in a full house in Mills Gym. Since the number of players on a team correspond to the number of spectators present at an event, Zeng said audience attendance can impact the game. “I feel like support can do a lot to change the flow of a game so usually, they’re like, sometimes there’s as little as 10 people on a team and the average number of people on a team is usually around 13 players, so that’s around 50 spectators,” said Zeng. However, the average turnout for a game changed the night of senior night, shocking the entire basketball team. “Both teams had about 20 players on their team, so there were around 80 spectators per team,” said Zeng. “Honestly, it wasn’t like the most well thought out rule, I thought, but as our coach says, it’s something to be grateful for, to even have that option available.” Additionally, games are streamed on Youtube and Facebook Live for those who can’t come to the games due to this restriction, but the concept may be here to stay even after the pandemic. “The fact that they can still watch it on social media, almost anyone can watch it. I feel like [that is] something that might happen as a result even after COVID,” said
7 Zeng. Wagner acknowledged that senior athletes are still being restricted from the pre-pandemic norm, but they’re trying their best to abide by safety while still being optimistic too. “One thing that’s been really hard is knowing that we’re restricting that senior experience, that high school experience,” said Wagner. Gratefulness is a key in the sport of basketball and motivates Zeng to persevere throughout the season with his teammates. “Our coach really emphasizes life lessons and he really stresses on how important it is just to be grateful for what we have, because we never know
“It’s just something that I’m just grateful for in a way because having friends and family there just to support you means everything.” - Mackenzie Nitta, senior
SWIMMING:
to swim a specific stroke,” he said. Water polo players began in the fall, where the boys’ season started on Sept. 7, and ended on Oct. 22. The girls’ water polo season will begin in the spring. “Since we can only have a limited number of people in the pool, we don’t really have as much pool time,” sophomore Hoapili Kukea-Shultz said. Swim meets have been limited to no more than two spectators per participating swimmer, and have been broadcasted online by the hosting school.
when something may suddenly just stop,” he said. RESTRICTION: COVID TESTS – Athletes must complete a COVID test and submit their results two days prior to their game/competition in order to participate. Mid-Pacific provides the tests for athletes to take home and later submit their test results via honor system. MOOD: SCARY – Nitta feels nervous to even have to test, but she knows it’s for the
sake of hers and others’ well-being. She doesn’t like taking these tests, especially the process and how frequently it needs to be done. “I don’t like taking COVID tests personally, because it’s scary and nerve wracking, but at the same time, it’s for the safety of your teammates and the people you’re around,” said Nitta. The provided COVID tests are ones that players can do themselves and they are responsible for submitting their results up until the day of the game/ competition. “The swab thing in your nose, I just don’t like it. But the one we use is kind of cool, because you just have to put your swab Junior Taro Tsuji takes a breath while performing the butterfly stoke. Photo by Ethan in this liquid and then and Chang. then the test tab turns pink requirement as something that love every student athlete that and shows you the results. it’s is reasonable, especially since we have, it’s really hard to be pretty fast,” said Nitta. students already have to do so the one who has to constantly Nitta said her senior season during the school day. remind people that this is has gone better than she The swimming team is what we expect of them,” said imagined. required to wear a mask Wagner. “That’s not only for “We are able to finish our immediately after getting out their safety..but to make sure senior year and our senior seaof the pool, however, they do that we’re keeping everybody son off with a great group of not need to wear one while eligible to play because they’re people and I think that we’ve swimming. healthy.” all just been trying to have a “It’s easy to follow, is someWalrod said he’s glad to parpositive attitude and mindset thing we can all do. At the take in a sport he is passionate the entire time,” she said. same time, it can be suffocatabout, but considers swimRESTRICTION: MASKS ing, but as long as you just ming a sport that is competing – Masks are required to be wipe your face off first after against one’s self. worn at all times not just durgetting out of the pool, you’ll “It is called a swim team, but ing games/competition and be fine,” said Walrod. at the end of the day,you’re impractices, but all the way till Wagner said having to tell mersing yourself and pushing athletes get into your vehicle people to constantly wear their yourself to become better. It’s leaving campus. mask properly actually preslike this continuous chain of MOOD: REALISTIC/ ents him with a challenge. wanting to do better than each SUFFOCATING – Senior “The hardest part for me is other, which is like a friendly and Boys Varsity Swimmer the fact that I have to be the kind of competition that you Sean Walrod sees the mask mask police and as much as I have,” Walrod said.
“For us in particular we were also dealing with the issue of time and space, but I think with teams who have the time and space, it’s a good chance to kind of implement different training tactics and ideas,” said Yoshiwara. Although there were some difficulties, Yoshiwara found a more positive way to look at the situation. “It forced me to adjust the way I try to plan for the swim season, it allows you to be a little creative,” Yoshiwara said.
A Mid-Pacific swimmer competes in their lane at a competition. Photo by Dillon Balantac.
“Animal agriculture is one of the highest leading causes of climate change so switching to a plant-based diet after realizing these sad truths were my main reasons for going vegan.” Calcium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12, and zinc levels can become low in some plant-based diets. Be sure to get the
- Senior, Faith Rawlins
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“I don’t think that kids should be vegan or vegetarian, just because protein is so important for growing
recommended amount by
bodies.”
eating:
- Sophomore, Kendall Clark
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“I did it [went vegan] for the health reasons. It really helps your digestion, it’s easier to feel full and understand what that means.” - AP Environmental Science teacher, Sarah Vasconcellos