Na Pueo May 2021

na pueo news

The Mid-Pacific commiunity gives a sneak peek into what next year will look like. Find out more.

SNEAK PEEK:

STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR MID-PACIFIC MAY 2021 VOLUME 55 ISSUE 3 NAPUEO.COM

Students and faculty provide hopes and predictions about next school year

By Erin Goya Staff Writer

Page 2

editorial

Goodbyes are bittersweet. Editor pays tribuite to the class of 2021 and sends off Na Pueo for the end of the year.

Page 3

the diamond

Say goodbye to Pac-Five. See students’ reactions to the departure and how it came to be.

Page 6

features

Do you have opposing political views from your parents? Read more to relate to other students’ experiences.

Page 4

back page

Are you bullet journaling these days?

Find out how and why others do.

Page 8

Tap into the Student News Source app to stay up to date with the latest Na Pueo news

Above: Seniors pose for a photo during Mid-Pacific’s 2021 COVID-safe college signing day. Below: A student sanitizes their hands from a dispenser in Scudder Dining Hall.

The Mid-Pacific community provides insight into what next year will look like. Photos by staff photographer Chelsee Sawai.

Enrollment at Mid-Pacific continues to fall due to COVID

By Dillon Balantac Staff Writer

Imagine sitting with students in a crowded Bakken Auditorium. Now picture the first two rows of the center section, empty.

That’s the number of students who Bakken Auditorium has reserved seats in place have left Midfor students to social distance. Mid-Pacific’s Pacific over the last enrollment decreased as COVID-19 pushed two years due to students and their familes away. Photo by staff moving off-island photographer Chelsee Sawai. or COVID-related concerns. from the previous year, Private school enrollment roughly filling the first 13 is down at Mid-Pacific and rows of the center section in across the state, according Bakken. Enrollment is down to data from administration and school leaders expect it and a report by the Hawaii will continue.

Association of Independent “It changes the DNA of the Schools. This year, MidPacific dropped 110 students See ENROLLMENT page 2

Rising seniors hope for changes next school year as the administration decides on a few changes for campus life at Mid-Pacific as guidelines for COVID-19 continue to adjust.

“Unrealistically, I hope my senior year is normal. By normal I mean the preCOVID senior experiences.

I would love to, once again, participate in and experience the annual school events like the all-school picnic, the Christmas assembly, prom, senior camp, senior luau, etc,” said junior Elise Folan.

Some of those events might begin next year, administrators said, with social distancing protocols. In the meantime, one thing that will not continue next year is hybrid classrooms with students attending Mid-Pacific classes from home.

“We are offering a full virtual option but kids have to commit to it for the entire school year. Students would not be in the same classes as their peers,” said Leigh Fitzgearld, vice president of academic affairs.

According to an email sent on April 13th, the virtual option will be from Arizona

State. “The Virtual Learning Option will include online classes from Arizona State University Prep Digital (ASUPD),” said in an email.

However, students still have access to college counseling, academic advising, deans, and Hawaii Center for Children and Families.

Also, students who decide to do distance learning will not be able to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.

According to the New York Times, the Food and Drug Association is preparing to authorize Pfizer vaccinations for 12-15 year-olds around the nation.

Folan hopes that the vaccine will make a difference in the upcoming school year.

“If there are zero cases and most of the Mid-Pacific community has their vaccines, then I believe we should be able to gather without our masks in small groups. For example, a sports team should be able play without masks, but during passing periods or assemblies (if we have any), students will have to wear one,” said Folan.

New and loosened protocols are beginning to take shape for the upcoming year.

Students are only allowed

See SNEAK PEEK page 2

Students receive vaccine

By Tyrael Goo Staff Writer An increasing number of MidPacific juniors and seniors are receiving COVID-19 vaccines as Hawaii moves into phase 2 of its vaccination plan.

Phase 2 of the vaccination plan allows everyone above the age of 16 to receive a vaccine. Oahu was the last of the islands to go into phase 2 on April 19, according to the Hawaii Department of Health.

Over one million cumulative doses have been administered in Hawaii, totalling 35 percent of the total population fully vaccinated, according to the Hawaii DOH. Despite this, some students 16 years and older have already gotten the vaccine due to the number of extra doses at the end of each day.

Senior Alyssa Nakagawa received the Moderna vaccine through Safeway since the vaccines needed to be used by their

A sign outside of Scudder Dining hall reminds everyone of COVID-19 protocols.

Photo by staff photographer Chelsee Sawai. expiration date.

“I wasn’t eligible for the vaccine at the time, but because there’s an overflow of vaccines, I was able to get it,” said Nakagawa.

Junior Sean Walrod received the Pfizer vaccine and experienced some side effects on his

See VACCINE page 2

news

SNEAK PEEK:

to attend virtual classes if there is a COVID-19 related issue such as possible exposure or travel quarantine, Fitzgerald said.

Off-campus passes might be more available next school year, high school principal Dwayne Priester said.

“We are still looking at how things are going. Our hope is to be able to provide opportunities for students to go off campus during break or maybe change the owl’s nest a little bit,” he said.

Off-campus passes are usually issued to all students with a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher. However, this year, offcampus passes were granted to seniors for their last quarter on campus.

Senior dean Erin Regua said many seniors and parents were thankful for the off-campus passes. Regua said she felt sad because off-campus passes should be automatically a part

of that experience of getting older.

Along with off-campus passes, administrators are hoping to find ways of eliminating the face shield and change the walkways if COVID-19 improves.

“I know students don’t like the face shield.

We would have to keep the face masks on for a while, but if we can open up, we can maybe change the walkways,” said Priester.

Priester and Regua said that they hope for next year to have a sense of normalcy for the rising students. Whatever that may look like, they hope to slowly begin to return back to normal.

With hopes that next school year will look different, seniors begin to prep for graduation by slowly letting go.

“I was obviously disappointed knowing our senior year wasn’t going to be everything I had hoped for. But through

I’ve come to appreciate the little things and the people I used to often overlook and cherish them more,” Jill Morimoto, senior

lockdown and adapting, I’ve come to appreciate the little things and the people I used to often overlook and cherish them more,” said senior Jill Morimoto.

Many seniors had to get used to not having the normal events, learning in a hybrid environment and adjust to the new and shortened schedules.

“With all the challenges the school has to go through to get us back on campus and everything our class officers have to go through to plan events, I always appreciate the effort to make this year as memorable as possible for all the seniors,” said Morimoto.

Morimoto said she also hopes the vaccine will save next year allowing the class of ‘22 to have lunches together.

Students should look forward to a sense of community and normalcy as the state and count begins to recover from the pandemic, however, Priester said it all depends on the DOH, CDC and prioritizing the safety of the students is the most important.

“I hope the vaccine will be the light at the end of the tunnel.

At the very least, all I want is to have a normal graduation where I can be surrounded by family and friends,” said Folan.

VACCINE:

second dose, being bed-ridden for around two days.

“When I got it, two days before, I was already feeling down, so two days later, when I got the vaccination, it hit me a little harder because my immune system was already screwed up,” said Walrod.

Junior Keiki Pua’a received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine since it is a single-dose vaccine. “[The people giving me the vaccine] asked if you were scared of shots and things, and I said yeah, so they said I think the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is best for you,” said Pua’a.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused in the United States since April 13 due to a small number of people experiencing a rare and severe type of blood clots, according to the CDC. Top officials are saying that the pause will likely be lifted soon due to the lack of continued cases of the blood clots, according to the New York Times.

In addition to teens 16 and older, Pfizer requested to expand their authorization by the FDA to allow teens 12 to 15 years old to take their vaccine.

2 Walrod said that this was the right call for Pfizer to be able to get as much of the population vaccinated as possible.

“The sooner we can get everyone vaccinated and over this the less likely we’ll get mutations and variants, like the one from England. The faster we can act, the less time it’ll have to adapt and change,” he said.

Nakagawa said the emphasis should be on the seniors before they leave for college.

“I just feel like the oldest should get priority, I guess.

I mean, it’s not really fair. I would want to do it by age and highest risk, like how they were doing it before. I think you should vaccinate mostly the seniors before they go off to college,” she said.

Multiple colleges have made the vaccine mandatory for students to return to the campus, according to CBS News.

Pua’a said the most important thing to remember is that, just with masks, getting the vaccine is both for protecting students and their families.

“I just feel like, just for me, to protect my grandparents, because they’re getting to an old age, and I want them to be there for my graduation,” she said.

Enrollment has decreased due to COVID-19 with old. new and international students for the 2020-2021 school year. Infographic by Dillon Balantac, Staff Writer. Source: Mid-Pacific Records Office

ENROLLMENT:

school,” said Myron Seu, high school dean.

Envision a favorite teacher or best friend leaving Mid-Pacific this year due to COVID-19.

At least five faculty members have left the school since the start of the pandemic, said Seu, who is also a member of the Mid-Pacific Teacher’s Association leadership team.

“I don’t think five teachers is normal...they are the heart of the school,” he said.

Nearly half of public school teachers who stopped teaching after March 2020 left because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a national study by the RAND Corporation reveals.

“We experienced fewer teachers,” said Seu. “It is always sad to see a colleague that you’ve spent years with having to leave.”

In adherence to the CDC social distancing guidelines,

many schools have tried to gain staff to accommodate reduced class sizes, The New York Times reports.

“The number of students will be slightly smaller in the class,” said Chris Ferry, department chair for English Language Development (ELD). “We probably won’t have as many classes next year or ELD teachers” With smaller class sizes, students may have noticed fewer international students on campus.

Two years ago, the international student population was 84. This year, that number has dropped to 59, a nearly 30 percent decrease.

“We’ve seen a decline in [international students] applying and enrolling,” said Kate Blackburn, assistant director of international enrollment.

Due to visa, travel and testing restrictions, many international students were unable to apply

to Mid-Pacific this year, which resulted in a decrease in applications, said Blackburn.

For current international students from countries like Korea and Japan, a two-week quarantine is required when returning home, regardless of their vaccination status.

“They’ve made a lot of sacrifices not seeing their family and friends during spring break,” said Ferry.

As families debate whether or not to send their child to private school, many face monetary obstacles, which oftentimes, are the ultimate deciding factor.

“It wasn’t that my family couldn’t afford Mid-Pacific,” said sophomore Solana Isgar, who transferred to online school this year. “Would we be using our money effectively?”

Not being able to utilize MidPacific’s resources to its fullest potential played a great role in her decision to withdraw this

year, she explains.

“I couldn’t use my family’s money to benefit me more—so I can grow more,” said Isgar.

Since the nationwide shutdown in March, nearly half the households in America reported facing serious financial pain during the pandemic, according to a poll conducted

by NPR. “There has been a significant increase in families requesting financial aid,” said Leigh Fitzgerald, vice president of academic affairs.

The COVID-19 recession has thrown many families out of their homes and without jobs, causing many people to move out of state, she explained.

To counter the current economic crisis, Mid Pacific created the Owl Strong Response Fund, an opportunity for people to make special donations that provide financial aid for families. The charity event helped exceed last year’s finan-

cial aid fund of $4.5 million to $5.1 million.

We have made some generous offers to families this year…

[Even so,] some can’t invest in a private school education right now, even with more financial aid,” said Fitzgerald.

Though, as students move off-island, some families are actually migrating to Hawaii.

“We are seeing an increase in applications from families who are moving to Hawaii because they know we are able to have in-person students,” said Fitzgerald.

For those capable of affording it, Mid-Pacific offers the on-campus experience many mainland demographics lack.

Next year, Mid-Pacific expects all students to return to inperson instruction.

“When the economy goes down and families do not have the means to make tuition, we suffer,” said Seu.

3

editorial page

Seniors: make the most of your last moments at Mid-Pacific

Senior year is associated athletes dedicate themselves with freedom, where eager to and have to follow through students engage in activities with their commitment. Senior as their high school Paige Ho balanced journey slowly comes cross country, track and to a end. We have field and soccer on top always been warned of academics in her last of the inevitable truth semester of high school. which is this: “High “Part of me wants to school goes by so finish the season strong fast”. Maybe your but another part of me parents have said this is just really excited to Willow Hutchison: get to you before when to summer,” said Ho. they force you to go to Editorial Editor Mid-Pacific homeroom a school dance when teacher Keeley Cestare you would rather be spending reflects on how the pandemic your saturday night at home altered the class of 2021 and watching Netflix. This quote their experience with a “norwill not resonate with you unmal” year. “Online students less you experience it firsthand. are so disconnected with their At times I have scoffed at the peers, and the energy was so notion of four years of educadifferent when people came tion being “quick”. Especially back to campus,” said Cestare. towards the end of one specific The majority of the students school year where I had 5 finals are back on campus as the in one week. During freshman graduation clock ticks with year, the idea of graduating each second. Right now many was a foreign thought floating are taking exams for IB/AP in the very back of our minds. classes and trying to finish the Suddenly, you are a junior year strong. Cestare gives a hit hard with work and stress piece of advice with anyone about your future. who is struggling with looking Senior year felt like it would at the short term responsibilinever come. This is it. During ties. “All the little things people this time seniors want to have are doing for the seniors just fun after all their hard work be- appreciate it now because it fore even more in college and will stick with you for the rest beyond. This turns into a bad of your life,” Cestare. What case of senioritis, which unforcounts is the memories you tunately doesn’t come with a make: big or small. For me I vaccine. In a New York Times treasure the memory of going article, senioritis and its effect to practice with my friends, on students in the second seand when I forgot about my mester was talked about. Espe- worries and just lived in the cially when there is no reward moment, and even the small or motivation students tend victories when accomplishing a to feel like spending studying goal I made for myself. It gets has no point anymore. Lack tough, but remember to always of motivation can also come see the silver lining that will in the form of sports and always be there. extracurricular activities that

Editorial Cartoon by Archer Liang

Seniors let go of “normal” this year Most goodbyes are anticipatearly mornings spent in Mr. ed. It’s known from the start Chance’s old classroom trying that we eventually have to say to decipher the Odyssey, or goodbye and let go of someone the cafeteria socials when or something. But this year, we were too afraid to say hi the class of 2021 had no idea to the boy/girl that we liked. that we were going to have to The field day tug-of-war and say goodbye, or at least not so Sophomore Banquet under soon. the stars, along with We were forced to the big cookies at the let go of everything snack bar. I realized and anything that we that in-between all thought was going to these years, there be “normal”. The house were so many lasting parties, the stress of memories. finding a prom date, the The class of 2021 Erin Goya: over-crowded senior will forever be known nights and so much Letter from the as the class that was more. We had to say able to persevere goodbye to events that Editor-in-Chief despite the adversity. were promised from the A special thank you first day of freshman to the administration, year. The hardest part of it all teachers and parents for your was not knowing that we were continuous support through going to have to just accept let- this unprecedented time. We ting it go. I know that most of appreciate all the effort everyus are more than ready to get one has put in to make this going with the newest chapter year memorable. of our lives, but this year was To the journalism staff, supposed to be a right of pasthank you so much for being sage to beginning “the best 4 the most fun and enthusiastic years of our lives”. A lot of us group of kids and I am so are looking forward to the new excited to see what the future friends and adventures that lie holds for you all. Sadly, Mrs. ahead, forgetting that we still Hanthorn and I will not be have a little time left here. But returning next year, but I hope who can blame us? This year was supposed to be everything we ever dreamed of, and right Editor-in-Chief when it was about to begin, it Erin Goya ended.

In the beginning, I was heartbroken and so unmotivated because there was no point Features Editor anymore. What was there to Siena Usui look forward to? But then I realized that even though Editorial Editor there wasn’t a winter ball or Willow Hutchison a senior luau, there were so many other simple memories News Editor that I overlooked over the Chelsee Sawai years. I will never forget the

you continue to write with passion and integrity.

Mrs. Hanthorn, thank you for giving me the opportunity and support to lead such an amazing team and for inspiring me to chase after the things that I am passionate about.

You have not only changed me as a journalist, but as a person too. Thank you for everything.

To the seniors, we did it guys. Even when the whole entire world decided to throw obstacles at us, we came back stronger. Most of all, we leaned on each other for support and motivation. Thank you for continuing to be positive even though I know that this year was so challenging for each and every one of you.

I hope that wherever you go and whatever you do, you do it with the biggest smile and create so many lasting memories. If we learned anything from this year, it’s that time is limited. And to the rest of the NaPueo audience, please continue to be happy, healthy and have an amazing summer!

Thank you for everything.

Sincerely, Your Editor-in Chief, Erin Goya.

Na Pueo Staff

Sports Editor

Kamm Kojima

Photo Editor

Chelsee Sawai

Social Media Editor Dillon Balantac

Online Editors

Steven Aspera Amanda Yip

Backpage Editor

Tia Shimabukuro

Staff Writers

Wyatt Cullison Josephine Brewer Charlize Gaudiello Tyrael Goo Liam Higgins Jamie Hiremath Kenna Kaneshiro

Archer Liang Katelyn Oshiro Riko Santos Kayla Tom Taro Tsuji Mehana Watanabe Kaitlin Yoshihara

Adviser

Jessica Hanthorn

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: Na Pueo c/o Mid-Pacific 2445 Kaala St. Honolulu, HI 96822 (808) 973-5000 email: newspaper@midpac. edu Please contact Na Pueo for advertising information and rates. All articles and photographs are copyright (c) MidPacific Institute.

features SPLASHIN’ STYLE:

MID-PACIFIC LIFE

Students’ individuality is seen through their water bottles

By Kayla Tom Staff Writer

Clockwise from left: Freshman Hadyn Saldania-Durbin, freshman Elilai Petko, sophomore Ethan Chang, senior Austin Nishina, senior Sarae Miguel, and freshman Haya Stein pose with their water bottles. Students explore their artistic sides Photos by Kayla Tom, staff photographer.

Expressing yourself through your water bottle. That may seem odd, but a personalized water bottle can showcase your emotions and personality.

At Mid-Pacific, students have unique water bottles that make it personal to them. The water bottle has its own journey, and it may tell the owner’s journey as well.

Sophomore Zachary Orr said that he looked at his water bottle and thought it was boring, so he decided to put stickers on it. His most sentimental sticker is the one he won at a skate camp.

“I won it by eating the most hotdogs in one minute out of a bunch of kids,” said Orr, who uses a black Hydro Flask.

Along with the story it tells, decorating and personalizing

your water bottle can be a fun activity. You design it how you want, expressing what you like, what you strive for, and what you feel.

“I got my water bottle for Christmas and collected the stickers from Pura Vida, a sustainable business. It took a couple months to collect all the stickers, and I definitely want to add more,” said Freshman Haya Stein, who carries a turquoise Yeti.

Adding stickers will definitely make your water bottle easier to identify. Some people like the idea of adding stickers to make their water bottles distinctive.

“My water bottle has stickers on it from shows that I like, like anime. Some of my friends bought me the stickers on it, and my water bottle is plain white so I wanted to add some personalizations to it, although I do want

See WATER BOTTLES page 5

Clashing political views with parents creates tension among families

By Jamie Hiremath Staff Writer With so much time locked inside, teenagers’ relationships with their parents never looked more complicated.

In an eventful year full of chaos and surprise, teens became more involved than ever before in politics, activism, and finding their own identity.

With this rise in the younger generations voice came conflict. For most, it sat between their opposing political and social views to their parents.

Junior Lukas Mathews felt this was nothing entirely new for his family, because most conflict had arrived with the 2016 election.

“We didn’t really talk about it. We knew mom and dad disagree on politics and me and my brother knew that, but we didn’t have that advanced understanding of it. When the election happened, my family dynamic changed in a way that when we brought up political issues, we would be very careful with what we said,” said Mathews.

14 out of 50 students responded yes, when asked the question “Do your parents have opposing political or social views to you?” In a survey done on Na Pueo’s Instagram.

For a fifth of U.S. teens, 21 percent are “more liberal” than their parents and

seven percent are “more conservative,” which showed in a study done by the Atlantic.

Changing times didn’t always mean changing people and that’s where many teens values don’t align with their parents.

Senior Jenna Louie felt this meant she had to maintain a somewhat restricted relationship with her parents in order to peacefully coexist with them.

“Politics is a topic we avoid talking about because there are a lot of opposing views and since our generation loves to talk a lot about what’s happening in the world, it can be kind of hard sometimes,” said Louie.

Not only politics, but our identities and the things we stand for have become very prevalent in a teenagers’ day to day life.

In an email interview with freshman Naiya Siple, she said there is a gap in her and her mothers understanding of right and wrong.

“She says things like ‘people are so sensitive nowadays you can’t say anything’ instead of just understanding that it makes a large group of people uncomfortable and it’s so easy to avoid saying it,” said Siple.

Having to confine one’s true feelings can take a toll on one’s mental health.

Dean Jennie Purvis said she has had

Illustration by Rell Uehara a lot of students come to her who feel their values are different from their parents, and sees that as typically the root of all conflict.

“If everyone could press pause, take

a breath, and ask each other the why why do you want to do this, why is this important, and listen to each other, then

See OPPOSING VIEWS page 5

features

5

Social media sends mixed signals about side effects

By Kenna Kaneshiro Staff Writer

At any regular day at Mid-Pacific, many students roam the halls walking from class to class, with their heads tucked downward towards a dimly lit phone screen.

Within the past few decades, social media has become a social norm; however, it carries both pros and cons.

“It was really pressurizing as a high school student especially, because that’s how we communicate- through social media,” said sophomore Kylie Cortez.

A 2019 study revealed that more than 12,000 13-16 year olds in England found that using social media more than 3 times a day can predict a poor mental well-being in teens.

“The biggest thing that I can see in terms of an impact on students, stemming from social media is almost like an inability to detach to the point where it becomes more than a distraction,” said senior Illustration by Melissa Spencer class dean Erin Regua.

According to a 2013 study from the Mayo Clinic, adolescents who used the platform to communicate with others and view the posts of their friends didn’t experience a decline in life satisfaction.

“Social media has been a positive experience

OPPOSING VIEWS:

situations with the reminder of her parents’ upbringing.

“I’m always the one who has those differences turn into comto give up. If I can’t show them munication and understanding,” why something is wrong, there’s said Purvis. no point in fighting it. I have Louie says most of the time to remind myself they grew up her parents listen and try to differently and society wasn’t as respect her, but age is a huge adaptive and welcoming as it is contributing factor to not being now,” said Siple. taken seriously.

There has been a forever say“Older generations might ing to avoid the topics of politics see what younger generations and religion at the are doing, as far as dinner table, but activism, and think “I have to remind Purvis thinks now it’s bandwagoning more than ever, you because we are myself they grew up should be includinfluenced a lot by differently and ing those topics in social media and conversation. what our peers do,” society wasn’t as “Before you get said Louie. too angry or rebel Whether it is adaptive and or let your thoughts because your parents welcoming as it is tumble out into said you can’t do this or to stop believing now” -Naiya Siple dark places, try to cultivate a good in this, Purvis says relationship with that parents are your parents so that when these more similar to their children harder topics come up you have than they might think. that foundation and that feeling “The challenge is that we of safety,” said Purvis. don’t often reflect on our own Siple had some advice for parunderstanding of our values,” ents, giving a new perspective on said Purvis. how they should start acting.

Mathews said that his parents’ “Listen to your child as if they upbringing plays a big role in are an adult. They probably their political views today. know more about these types “At first it was why don’t you of topics than you do, and just do this, but at the same time, I because we’re younger doesn’t also saw his points because he mean we’re stupid or incapable. is my dad, and the main thing Being close minded won’t get we could do was to find a happy you anywhere in life and won’t median where nothing was unget you anywhere with your compromisable,” said Mathews.

Siple has the same understand- child,” said Siple. ing, as she’s learned to approach

WATER BOTTLES: to buy a cover for it,” said Sophomore Logan Ruth, who carries a white Yeti.

Every water bottle is different, whether it has a little dent in it or a scratch, or if it has customizations by whoever owns the water bottle.

Sophomore Elilai Petko likes her water bottle because it’s very unique and particular to her taste.

“I really like how different my stickers are. I have a water polo sticker and I want to advertise water polo. I also have a very personal sticker, it’s a sticker from Kiel, a city from Germany, where I’m from and where my grandparents live. The sticker represents that city and draws a connection back to my family,” said Petko, who carries a red Hydro Flask with a blue cap and turquoise handle.

Junior Isabella Muzzi said that if she was going to carry a water bottle around, then she would want to personalize it.

“Stickers are always a good decoration. Certain stickers I have are unique because I got them when I traveled, so it’s probably unlikely that I would see someone at school with the exact same ones,” said Muzzi who uses a white

for me, but sometimes it can be stressful with all that’s going on in the world. Especially since you constantly see violence such as police shootings and global rioting and whatnot, on different apps all the time,” said junior David Robinson.

It is important to set reasonable limits, encourage face to face interaction, and talk about social media to keep yourself safe from negative thoughts that may arise from being on the platform.

“Breaks do wonders for your mental health, especially if you’re addicted or love to just endlessly scroll through Instagram and what not, you usually learn that your time can be spent better doing other things, like your missing assignments or household tasks or hanging out with friends,” said Robinson.

According to Insider, scrolling more than needed on social media can intensify feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. By taking breaks, you allow yourself to prioritize self care, and make time for the activities you enjoy and improve your mental well being.

“How you see yourself if the most important thing, and at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter to anyone else and that’s hard for young people because the sense of belonging is such a basic human need, acceptance and belonging, but I think before that you have to come to terms with your own self identity,” said Regua.

Hydro Flask.

Senior Sarae Miguel said that she just wanted to make her black water bottle less boring and more identifiable.

“Some stickers are from places I’ve visited or given to me by friends that thought would represent me. My Mid-Pacific sticker was given to me by my dad which he saved from the 70s, but my favorite part is the frame sticker because it’s kind of funny,” said Miguel.

Sophomore Logan Ruth showcases his Freshman Hadyn Saldania-Durbin said personalized water bottle. Stickers are used that she’ll never really to express creativity. Photo by Kayla Tom, staff be finished with her photographer. water bottle because bottle that I could hold clean she would eventually water in. The most unique add more stickers on as they part of my water bottle is the peel off. sustainable part of it, that “My favorite feature to my it’s up-cycled from nature. water bottle is the stickers, Although, I do like how tall however some of these stickers I don’t like, so I’m looking and wide it is to hold a lot of water,” said Chang. forward to changing them,” Designing your own said Saldania-Durbin who carries a turquoise Yeti. water bottle gives the owner Sophomore Ethan Chang a chance to have their own has a very different water creativity. bottle, one that not many oth“Putting stickers on my er people would have. He got water bottle is a form of the idea from his hula class, expression and I enjoy it beand he handcrafted it himself, cause I can use creativity and made out of bamboo. personalize it to my liking,” “I just wanted a water said Muzzi.

the diamond

MID-PACIFIC SPORTS

Swinging into baseball season Liam Higgins Staff Writer

The crack of an aluminum bat connecting with a ball echoes throughout the silent field, void of its usual cheering fans.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on school sports this year, including a shortened season and strict safety rules.

“It’s awkward, I guess, because we can’t give high fives and we have to just say good job,” said senior baseball player Cayden Okada.

It has been hard on some players since they aren’t having their normal baseball experience.

“It’s just simple stuff like not being able to meet after games or innings,” said varsity player Jackson Keenan.

The athletes have had a difficult time since team bonding is not the same this season.

“COVID has affected us because we are not able to enjoy each other’s presence as much and we can’t get our teammates hyped. It’s not as

See BASEBALL page 7

Top: Bryson Ho takes his last run around Mid-Pacific’s field with Junior Varsity players cheering him on. Bottom Left: The team’s lucky charm watches their game with athletes in the dug out. Bottom right: ZB Kong is honored during the senior baseball drive thru.

Photos by staff photographer Archer Liang.

Mid-Pacific will end PAC-5 sports in 2023

By Kamm Kojima Staff Writer

In 2004 Jared Ellis ‘07, battled in his first wrestling match with his PAC-5 coaches and teammates. Now, the head coach for PAC-5, Ellis, is coaching his wrestlers to show no mercy against his alma mater.

After taking a break from PAC-5 in 2020 because of the pandemic, school president Paul Turnbull announced in March that Mid-Pacific would be ending their soon-to-be 50year partnership with PAC-5 in 2023, and only athletes who currently compete can participate during the next two school years. However, PAC-5 wrestling has ended as MidPacific starts their inaugural season next year.

Turnbull said in the an-

nouncement that Mid-Pacific would be leaving PAC-5 due to budget changes and low participation rates.

“It’s certainly more than a thousand dollars regularly [per athlete] every year to participate in PAC-5 football,” said Scott Wagner, athletic director.

Wagner adds PAC-5 athletes needed to show their support by encouraging other athletes to join the sport.

“The way you show that you want to participate is by signing up for the sport, and we have seen a significant drop out of the PAC-5 sports in the last few years,” said Wagner.

Those who compete in PAC5 are excited to return to the league, even for only two more years.

“It’s really pleasing to my ears to know that there’s some-

thing ahead, there’s something to work for, ” said Nikki Fujii, junior competitive cheerleader.

Although all current high school football and competitive cheerleading players will finish their high school career with PAC-5, students say they are disappointed that PAC-5 will be coming to an end.

“We weren’t expecting them to pull out of PAC-5, so that was really heartbreaking news,” said Ian Ishibashi, senior hula dancer and former PAC-5 football player.

“We were a room for everybody. We had every possible skill set, gender, ethnic background, anyone who wanted to compete in a sport for whatever reason, had a home with us,” said Ellis.

Being a team for anyone, Ishibashi adds how ending

See PAC-5 page 7

Six volleyball seniors to play at collegiate level

By Steven Aspera Staff Writer Even with a losing season, Mid-Pacific’s girls varsity volleyball team held strong with six of their nine seniors committed to play in college.

Six of the nine seniors will continue their volleyball careers across the nation and compete at all levels. Two players will compete in NCAA DI, one will play in D2, two will participate in D3 and one will play in NJCAA. “I had the option to play division three or division one, but I decided to play in division three because I wanted to focus on my academics,” said Luna Suzuki, senior volleyball player who committed to New York University.

The girls varsity volleyball record is all losses and no

Senior Alyssa Muraoka serves the ball during her senior game.

Photo by staff photographer Kamm Kojima

wins or draws. However, each game had close scores and were very tight matches, players said.

“We can do better, it’s just that we haven’t played in a long time,” said Keiki Pua’a, a junior girls varsity volleyball player.

See VOLLEYBALL page 7

7

Sports

PAC-5:

PAC-5 permanently limits students like him who want to do a PAC-5 sport but chose to attend Mid-Pacific for their school of the arts program.

“You’re taking away this opportunity for kids that want to go to Mid-Pac, that like the art program, like dance but also likes to do [PAC-5 ] sports,” said Ishibashi.

Despite the sunsetting of PAC-5, there was no Zoom meeting after the decision.

Unlike when Mid-Pacific suspended their 2020-2021 season for PAC-5 football, competitive cheerleading and wrestling.

“That’s initiated by the students and parents, and that has not been requested, so there’s been no meeting,” said Wagner.

As for the upcoming season, athletes are excited to be back.

“I will definitely be happier because cheer is something that makes me who I am. It builds me to the character that I am,” said Fujii.

Fujii is also hoping to accomplish the goals she had for this past canceled season.

“Iʻm looking forward to fulfilling those goals I had personally, with my team and with my coach,” said Fujii.

Helping athletes accomplish their aspirations, Mid-Pacific wrestling is organized by three coaches.

“I was incredibly impressed with how they could still represent the sport of wrestling,

in how they pracitice without getting inside six feet,” said Wagner.

Mid-Pacific wrerstlers can now workouts out in the weight room, unlike during PAC-5.

“The whole team now can come in and use the weight room, so I think that’s a good thing compared to PAC-5,” said Jonah Gillia, freshmen Mid-Pacific wrestler.

However, with advantages, there are also consequences.

Mid-Pacific had around 10-17 wrestlers show up for their past practice-only season, making it harder to gain points by competing in five weight divisions.

“Mid-Pacific doesn’t produce as much as heavyweights as the other schools do,” said former PAC-5 wrestling team captain and judo player, CJ PascualTabuyo ‘19.

Some predict that MidPacific will have a difficult time placing in ILH championships as a team.

“If you can’t put out at least five kids per competition level, you can’t even compete in a dual meet season,” said Ellis.

However, in the past, MidPacific has placed in ILH championships individually during the first year of being an independent team.

“We had I think three [individual] state champs,” said Micheal Valentine, science and head judo coach.

Pascual-Tabuyo does see potential in winning as an individual championship.

“I have hopes for them even placing in an ILH title, for an individual ILH title,” said Pascual-Tabuyo As for the team expanding, judo and water polo are examples of how Mid-Pacific’s team grew after its inaugural season away from PAC-5.

“We went from eight to 72 [players],” said Valentine.

However, Mid-Pacific could also lose wrestlers, as some might not sign up next year.

“The motivation you have to go to the team, to go to the practices, it wasn’t there,” said Nathan Morrice, who attended some Mid-Pacific wrestling practices after competing with PAC-5 but will quit wrestling.

If Mid-Pacific was to rejoin PAC-5, PAC-5 would always have a home for the athletes.

However, on the mat, PAC-5 and Mid-Pacific are opponents.

“Number one, just scrap, concede nothing, but most importantly, we’re going to try to beat you,” said Ellis.

Meanwhile, Mid-Pacific will use the former PAC-5 storage room for sports gear and are currently coming up with ideas to occupy the football field.

“We are looking into adding some X.L.P [extended learning program],” said Wagner.

PAC-5 will always hold a special place at Mid-Pacific, but a new journey is yet to come.

“It’s the fact that you get to meet new people that you probably wouldn’t even talk to your whole life,” said Ishibashi.

VOLLEYBALL:

Volleyball season is usually in the Fall, but it was postponed this year due to COVID. Other players believe they didn’t have enough time to build their chemistry among each other.

“I think we are all doing pretty good, we have each other’s backs, but I think we could have worked harder and trained harder,” said Suzuki.

Along with these college commitments, OC-16 sports televised a game against Iolani on March 30.

“It was kind of crazy to think that we were on TV and having my friends be able to watch me from anywhere,” said Sarae Miguel, a senior varsity volleyball player.

With such a big senior class, the Owls will have a young team next year, who also have to adapt to a new coach. The varsity coach resigned at the

Girls Varsity played their senior game on April 25. Emotions arose after the seniors last set ended. Photo by staff photographer Kamm Kojima end of this season.

“I have a lot of faith in our underclassmen. They really do push us and challenge us upperclassmen in practices and in games.” Miguel said.

Their last game was on April 26 against Le Jardin where the owls battled in a 3-set thriller against the Bulldogs, only to lose in the last set 26-28.

However, during that game, there was a mixup in the lineup

costing the owls six points.

The seniors said they were frustrated with the outcome and miscommunication throughout the match. However, they are excited to begin their college careers.

“Even though our record didn’t reflect it, we had a great season. The ending was so bittersweet,” said senior player Erin Goya.

SENIORS’ LAST WATER POLO SPLASH

Aiden Morris ‘22 takes a shot at the goal during the senior water polo scrimmage. Photo by staff photographer Taro Tsuji. Scan the QR code above for more water polo photos.

BASEBALL:

Mid-Pacific pitches during the senior baseball game against Damien Memorial on May 1. Photo by staff photographer Archer Liang. fun, but we still find ways to many players at a time,” said make it fun,” said junior varsity Okada. player Jerren Lum. However, sometimes practicPlayers also can no longer ing can’t beat luck. The varsity congratulate each other and baseball team keeps a dinosaur have an enjoyable time in the around as their lucky charm, dugout like they used to which believing it brings good luck. takes its toll on the players.

“Baseball is very supersti“It is very important, espetious so if you have something cially in baseball, because you and you keep winning you are going to fail continue to use it,” a lot of the time “You always said Keenan. and you always The regular baseneed good have to lift up ball season was cut in your teammates due to COVID, support to pick half or you’re going to usually consisting have a hard time of 14-15 games per people up, winning games. season. This time especially if You always need around there are good support to only seven games they’re pick people up eswith four elimination pecially if they’re games. Given that struggling,” struggling,” said usually have Jackson Keenan they Keenan. double the amount They may not of games, it is a lot be able to have more important to as much fun in the dugout win games. how, however players now find According to current standother ways to make the games ings, varsity baseball holds fun like being more verbal and a 5-2 win/loss record with a less physical. recent win against PAC- 5.

“When my teammates do Junior Varsity is 3-2 coming off something good we have a recent loss against St. Louis. to cheer them on a lot more “I think we have more success verbally instead of physically to come this season,” said congratulating them more,” Lum. said Lum. “The coaches are frustrated Another benefit is athletes because Mid-Pacific practices have more one on one time all year long and they kind of due to being in small cohorts, have to start from scratch. And making it easier for coaches to after a 6 month break and havpoint out their mistakes and ing to build up the team with improvements. shorter practices it is much “Since we are in cohorts the harder for the coaches,” said coaches can work with so Keenan.