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< Back Is Procrastination A Good Thing? On the benefits and drawbacks of doing your work on time. Christopher Apilado Student Life January 13, 2025 at 5:44:59 PM Most students procrastinate, which causes them to stress about their work and academic performance. “You have multiple classes,” said Catherine Apilado, a junior student at Lahainaluna High School, “so the longer you leave out that assignment, the more you’re gonna get more work from different classes.” While this seems like common sense, students are divided. Freshman Hanan Oleiwan says, “get the stuff over with” because putting it off will just cause you more stress than relief. Oleiwan thinks that procrastination causes students to worry about a task that they will still end up having to complete. Finishing the task will at least provide a feeling of accomplishment. She added that there is no upside to procrastination. “If you are gonna, like, push stuff away last minute, I don’t think that is usually, like, a good thing.” Apilado, quoted above, thinks that finishing an assignment can give you the feeling of accomplishment. Everything “is just gonna pile up all your work and it's gonna make you even more stressed out about it.” Finishing the work can make you “feel more accomplished and you feel relieved that it is finally over with.” Some students already feel stressed when they get an assignment. For some students, this stress interferes with completing it. “The stress just causes me to not wanna do it anymore,” said Ka’iulani Balinbin, “so I hold it off till the last minute.” Yet, this creates a cycle for Balinbin because after putting off her assignment, she ends up “stressing even more.” Students who procrastinate in school sometimes also procrastinate at home. Freshman Salvador Chiang offers an example: “I say, ‘I will do the dishes later’ and then I forget about it and then I get in trouble.” He adds that there is rarely a way that procrastination could be positive and that “The only way it is positive is if it’s, again, if you’re doing multiple things and then you do the easy things first and then do the hard ones.” “more ideas to do your assignment” Although some students say that procrastination is bad, some also say that there could be a chance that procrastination could be used in a good way. They argue that in some situations, procrastination can make students more productive. For instance, Jaiden James Versola, a senior, states that procrastinating may help students “drive more for last-minute work.” Some people do better under pressure, Versola thinks, and that procrastination helps students push themselves in completing their work. It even helps them focus and “lock-in” on the task. Differently, freshman Grayson Guzman thinks that putting off an assignment gives students time to reflect as “it could let you have the idea sit in your brain and it’s something you can think about constantly.” Taking the extra time, “is gonna help you in your creativity,” says Guzman. He thinks that it gives you “more ideas to do your assignment or whatever work you have to do.” Sophomore Micah Ganis thinks that there are certain people who should use procrastination. Ganis says “I would probably encourage it [procrastination] for somebody who is like a workaholic.” He feels as though they would use it more wisely than “somebody who's not good at keeping their time well,” because they would most likely just “waste all their time.” “To a certain extent, I agree that procrastination can be used in a positive way,” says Mr. Ancheta, a math teacher. “Allowing your brain to think through the problem and process the information thoughtfully prior to taking action on it” can be helpful. However, he adds that it may have “a significant negative effect on their [students’] academic performance.” Science teacher Judd Levy has a stronger opinion. “...I don’t agree at all,” he said. He thinks that students who say procrastination could have benefits are “just being silly,” and “looking for an excuse to be lazy.” There needs to be a balance” “Giving ourselves some time away from a task allows us to think more deeply on a topic or get information that may not have come right away,” Librarian Tara Nakata says. But she also thinks that “there needs to be a balance between putting something off, and still allowing enough time to complete it satisfactorily.” Nakata added that “There might be something that I need to finish - like cleaning the house because guests are coming over, but I decide to work on a crochet project instead. We all make decisions like this that work against us.” Students are still learning. They all agree that procrastination has a bad side, though some students thought that it could be a positive thing. Freshman Eli Hegrenes sums it up by saying that “It depends,” and that “You can do it sometimes but try not to make it a habit.” Previous Article Next Article Copy link Christoper Apilado is a contributor to Ka Lama Hawai'i and is in his first year at Ka Lama Hawai'i.

< Back Endangered Kāhuli The Chain of Events Trinity Guiza Science & Technology April 17, 2024 at 12:09:42 AM Last year 2023 was officially dubbed as “The Year of the Kāhuli” in Hawaii. Kāhuli is the name of the Hawaiian land snail in ‘ōlelo Hawai’i, the Hawaiian language. Tiny creatures that have many different shapes, sizes and colors. When asked, a handful of Lahainaluna students offered the following associations with the word “snail”: “slow,” “slimy,” "gross,” “annoying,” “cute,” ect. Though they may be slimy and annoying, they are also responsible for maintaining the lush environment of these islands. That is, Hawai‘i’s ecological health rests on the tiny “shoulders” of snails, more specifically the land snails endemic to the Hawaiian islands. Kāhuli have always been prominent in Hawaiian culture. They feature in their own stories wherein they sing beautifully in the trees. Their shells were used in lei and jewelry that was of great importance to Hawaiian people of status. Queen Lili‘uokalani once owned lei pūpū kuahiwi ("Land Snail Shell Lei") made of the shell of many different land snails, including the Achatinella land snails. This lei is currently held at the Bishop Museum in Kalihi, O‘ahu. Achatinella along with the Partulina genus are kāhuli belonging to the Achatinellidae family. Many know them as O‘ahu tree snails or pūpū kani oe. They have many different names and come in many different sizes, patterns, and colors. Both generally have smooth and glossy shells, which are conical (like an ice cream cone) shaped, and both play critical roles in Maui's ecosystem. Kāhuli are nocturnal and known to live on land in the trees, bushes, and the forest floor of the mountains and valleys on our island. They live on one tree their whole life, not once leaving their trees unless they are blown away. All 40 or so species of the genus Achatinella are listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered. Despite this fact, little can be done to regulate the tide of their main predators in the islands, namely, rats, Jackson's chameleons, and Rosy wolf snails. These predators were all introduced to the Hawaiian islands with the arrival of foreign trade and biocontrol against other invasive species. Kainoa Pestana, conservation manager at Pu‘u Kukui Watershed preserve (PKW) said that he tries to help people understand the ecological importance of the snail with the catchy slogan “No snail, no whale.” He explained the whole chain of events that will damage the Hawaiian ecosystem if these snails were to go extinct. First the kāhuli eat and clear the leaves while their feces acts as nutrient rich fertilizer for the plants. Without the obstruction on the leaves the plants can photosynthesize better and produce more plants effectively. If the snails do not do their job, the plants will soon die off. If that were to happen there would be no roots to hold the dirt together in the valleys and mountains. When it rains, dirt would runoff into the rivers and oceans. The debris from the run-off would prevent new limu growth, leading to the small fish having no food. Without the small fish, there is no food for the bigger fish. Long story short: “no snail, no whale.” Pu‘u Kukui Watershed preserve’s job is to protect and maintain a steady supply of fresh water “so that there is enough water in 500 years from now for us to drink and use” Kainoa stated. The threat to snails, again, is a threat to native Hawaiian plants. Kainoa mentioned an important Hawaiian proverb “Hāhai nō ka ua i ka ulu lā‘au,” which he translated “the rain follows the forest. No forest then no rain.” Without rain the island will become just like any other rock in the middle of the ocean. When people think of extinction they imagine it happening over a long period of time. But all of this could happen in a single lifetime, and after the loss of a single organism: the kāhuli. To stop this from happening the Pu‘u Kukui Watershed preserve on Maui protects the fragile native Hawaiian rainforests by protecting native fauna and flora, endangered or not. They are the largest preserve on the Hawaiian islands with more than 9,000 acres of regulated and protected land. The division of forestry and wildlife in the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in the State of Hawaii has authorized $2,080,000 in funding for Pu‘u Kukui Watersheds 2024-2030 long range land management plan. This is part of the Natural Area Partnership Program (NAPP) which encourages the management of private lands that contain some of Hawai‘i’s most intact ecosystems and endangered species. The PKW has built a snail enclosure to protect the rare native tree snails from predators and habitat destruction. One of PKW’s management plans is on Pu‘u Keka‘alā‘au at an elevation of 2,358. This is one of many special ecological areas for the land snails. PKW continues to give these kāhuli a fighting chance by joining with SEPP (Snail Extinction Prevention Program) to save these endangered snails and record the emergence of new species. SEPP encourages the reproduction of hawai‘i's rare land snails by providing predator-free living conditions with optimal laboratory controlled enclosures. Kalena Lee-Agcaoili said, “Part of our work is to make sure that these kāhuli get to do what it does, to give them the space they need to live.” During the 2022 Lahaina wildfire that went above the L at Pu‘u Pa‘upa‘u, some snails went extinct . Most people believe nothing lives up there, that fires don’t reach the rainforests, but the kāhuli does.Because these snail species are on the endangered species list, every snail could cost upwards of 20,000 dollars for their loss. The way the PKW and SEPP calculate the worth of these snails is by going up there and walking through the forests to survey and collect data on how many there are and where they are. The fewer there are, the higher their worth. To help save the kāhuli, you people can make a small donation to the Pu‘u Kukui Watershed preserve. It’s also helpful to simply just recognize their presence and to talk about them with others. Like the kāhuli, impact has little to do with visibility. If creatures as small as these Kāhuli can make such a difference, then think of how big of a difference you can make. If we don’t acknowledge the importance of the kāhuli, the next generation may not grow up to see or hear them singing again among the trees. Previous Article Next Article Copy link Trinity Guiza is a staff writer at Ka Lama Hawai'i.

< Back You Can't Always Park Where You Want Limited Space, Rising Frustrations, and Calls for Change Jersea Borneman Student Life March 15, 2025 at 6:43:48 PM “This campus was designed before the idea of having so many students and staff,” said Vice Principal Christopher Webber. “As we’ve grown, we just don’t have the infrastructure to accommodate everyone.” To park at Lahainaluna in the paved lot, there are rules. According to Uncle Tommy Akima, all students who park in the upper lot must have a parking pass, which costs fifteen dollars. To get this, they must present their vehicle’s registration, driver’s license, proof of insurance, and school ID. “Without a parking pass you parked on the lower dirt parking lot.” Yet, not every student who has parked on campus has had a pass. Some have parked with much less. Also, recently, parking spaces have become harder to find. Again, the main parking lot is for the drivers who purchase a parking pass. Seniors get priority for parking, but lately this hasn't been happening. “Even though I paid fifteen dollars for my sticker when I get to school sometimes there isn't enough spots,” senior Anuhea Coon said. One reason for this, offered senior Stasia Pililani, is because “a lot of sophomores are getting their licenses, and so then once they get their license, they think that they can park up top.” She thinks this is unfair and that “the freshmans and sophomores need to just stop parking in our parking spots and we'll be fine.” There is currently no requirement for where to park based on grade level. Yet, if all the spots are full, the dirt lot is an alternative. Some students may even choose the dirt lot for other reasons. An anonymous senior admitted that “when I was a sophomore and a freshman and I was driving with no license, I would park down in the dirt because I didn't want to steal a spot—If you don’t have your license you don’t have a spot.” Unlicensed students may be contributing to the fact that the dirt lot, according to some students, has also become full. Junior Giana Pogni offers another reason: “over winter break everybody got cars so now there's like ten times more cars then there were.” Junior Isabella Higgins relates the difficulty of parking now in the dirt lot since “You need to park between a lot of cars and there's usually not a lot of room.” Parking in Restricted Areas Without a pass, students should be in the dirt lot. Yet, Uncle Tommy observes that “nobody wants to park in a dirt parking lot.” Students like Coon have started to find other places to park, such as the gravel area by the portables. She says, “I’ve had to park in the dirt lot and then I've also like resorted to parking in the upper lot. Not like the staff lot but like the upper grass lot.” Vice Principal Webber has noticed students are starting to try to park in the trainers’ lot next to the trainers’ room. This has led them to close off the area. This is not the only off-limits place they are parking. “Students are taking the initiative,” says Webber, “to park just below borders field.” Uncle Tommy has seen students parking in the administration lot as well. Japanese teacher David Esselburn says that sometimes when he goes up to the library during the day, he “will see student vehicles up there.” More Cars, More Problems “It’s hectic to go out of the parking lot,” says Isabella Higgins. Webber thinks a reason for this is because “You’ll be in line trying to get out and some people will just cut in front of you.” “We don’t actually have assigned parking spaces,” Webber notes. “So the way that students park may be sort of haphazard and that might make it difficult for some kids to get in and out as well.” Junior Higgins thinks, “We need to expand the parking lot to get more parking so everyone can fit.” To this, Webber notes that “we cannot magically make more parking spaces on campus,” but he thinks that “maybe we can designate proper like parking spaces, chalk out some lines, and maybe that will have people park more orderly so that we can fit people in better.” There was a time at our school when we had this. Webber recalls, “Two or three years ago we had designated spots for each student in the student lot. You had your spot with a number and you as a senior, you could even decorate it.” Webber admits, “We have talked about maybe doing that for next year again.” Previous Article Next Article Copy link Jersea Borneman is a staff writer for Ka Lama Hawai'i.

< Back Panliligaw Lyndsay Sultan Sculpture The Work My theme is about Filipino courtship, called panliligaw . Panliligaw is the process where a man tries to woo a woman into dating, eventually leading to marriage. There are many different customs and disciplines that are part of Filipino tradition. Usually, the man tries to show his commitment by giving gifts, writing letters, and even performing harana. The woman remains disciplined, showing no emotion until the man demonstrates an act of true love. In my theme, I often showcase harana because it is very common, where the man sings to the woman outside her balcony or window. I chose this theme to highlight more of my culture. During an art comic project I created in my sophomore year, I watched a documentary about harana. I learned how older generations still remember the songs they sang to their significant others. However, they mentioned how panliligaw has largely faded because our generation is more reliant on technology. I wanted to illustrate the contrast between the past and present in Filipino courtship. The Harana The Harana project is made out of cardboard, modeling clay, ribbon, colored paper, and acrylic paint pen. I was trying to interpret how harana is shown as (without the balcony). I wanted to interpret how harana is shown. Fun fact, there is an option to have either one or two friends to play an instrument while the man can sing to the girl who he is courting. The harana project is made out of cardboard, modeling clay, ribbon, colored paper, and acrylic paint pen. I was trying to interpret how harana is shown as (without the balcony). I wanted to interpret how harana is shown. Fun fact, there is an option to have either one or two friends to play an instrument while the man can sing to the girl who he is courting. The Bulaklak Shop The Bulaklak shop is made out of cardboard, acrylic paint, air-dry clay, ribbons, and marker. I wanted to make this project to create a small replica of the flower shops in the Philippines. I traveled to the Philippines this summer and saw multiple bouquet shops stuffed with flowers. I decided to look more into the costs and the translation to have it put onto the display. The Bulaklak shop represents a good place to get flowers for the person you are going to court. The Aroma The Aroma is a project I made out of modeling clay, cardboard, ribbon, colored paper, paint, and an acrylic paint pen. I wanted to show a girl receiving a bouquet, which is one of the acts of Filipino courtship. I learned that it is one of the ways, and I wanted to show it in a little showcase box. She is leaning closer to the bouquet to smell the aroma. Maniligaw For this project, I decided to go back to using traditional clay. I used the pinch technique on most of the parts and blended them together. I added more clay to sculpt more of the head. I wanted to show the top part of the man wearing traditional clothing. I also wanted to use traditional clay to emphasize the “traditional” aspect. I aimed to create a head sculpture with the top part featuring the man’s traditional clothing. Online Ligaw I decided to make a present project showcasing how dating is now in the present. I used air-dry clay, watercolor paper, ribbon, cardboard, and acrylic paint. Online ligaw means online dating. I wanted to showcase the connection between two phones connecting across the earth, especially with the two points of view where the girl is talking during the day and the guy is talking at night. I was also trying to interpret what long-distance relationships are like. About the Creator I am a Lahainaluna student who strives to think outside the box. As an artist, I experiment with new mediums such as ceramics, drawing, painting, and more. I enjoy exploring different techniques to create art pieces with meaning, often showcasing that meaning indirectly through my work. My goal is to become an animator and share my culture with the world. Previous Next Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Send Email

< Back Brandiann Tartios Custodial Staff “The People.” That’s what Brandiann Tartios, a custodian here at Lahainaluna, said when asked what she likes about working here. Confidently but with a serious tone, she added that without the people, Lahainaluna would be “Just another place to work.” Tartios thinks that “The people here make Lahainaluna.” Tartios has worked here for over 10 years. She jokingly emphasized the amount of time by mentioning that she’s worked under 7 principals. Originally from Oahu and a town somewhere between rural and urban, Tartios prefers being at Lahainaluna, an “Isolated from town." She enjoys the fact that it’s “kind of laid back.” Community is important to her and that’s why she likes Lahaina and Lahainaluna so much. “Community makes Lahaina. Period.” Tartios spends most of her free time with her family. She explained that she is passionate about “appreciating who I have in my life.” Like others at Lahainaluna, she lost a great deal in the recent fire. Like many in Lahaina, she’s also “passionate about trying to get back home and try to rebuild.” I asked her again what she is grateful for and she said that she’s “Grateful for waking up.” Even though she now drives from Kihei to come to work, she uses this time to reflect and “concentrate and think about the past, you know, and what I'd like to accomplish in the future.” “Lahainaluna is like a second home,” said Tartios. Keyla Jimenez is a former staff writer for Ka Lama Hawai'i. She is ajunior and currently the president of the Lahainaluna Newswriting Club.

< Back Should I Stay or Should I Go? Students Worry About Where They Should Attend College Keyla Jimenez Education April 22, 2025 at 5:51:09 PM “I always dreamed too that I would go off to an ivy league, or a UC, but I think I realized that I could make an impact in any school I go to,” says senior RJ Arconado who explained his reasons for staying in-state for college. “So far a lot of people I know are going in-state,” he said, since it allows them to be “closer to home, while gaining our independence.” Arconado, like other students’, are hyper aware of the decisions they have to make in the last two years of high school. After all, these decisions may determine what happens for the rest of their lives. One of the most important of these decisions is where, why, and if they are going to college. As many describe, these questions are connected. The Cost of Isolation Hawaii's pool of 16 colleges is small. Within this pool, only 2 rank in the top 1,000 universities nationally . Compare this to Connecticut that has a smaller land area but over 100 colleges and universities, 7 of which rank in the top 1,000. This is discouraging to some students who were hoping to find opportunities suitable for their interests close to home. According to Jessica Terrel for Honolulu Civil Beat, “Half of students leaving Hawaii’s public schools are moving to the mainland,” as of 2022. “College-industry data available to admissions offices across the U.S. shows that Hawaii students are one of the most likely to leave the state for college,” says Roxie Shabazz , Director of Admissions at University of Hawai’i. “Hawaii’s isolated island geography” she observes, “leaves many students wanting more than the state can offer.” Ethan Luck agrees. Because Hawai’i is so small, there are “less places to go to" in-state and students are presented with "less opportunities” in the future. There are big costs for Hawaii's students attending mainland schools. Those who leave the state are hit with high costs for relocation and out-of-state tuition. Many will need to take out student loans that will follow them throughout their lives. Kameron McNair for CNBC reports that Americans currently hold a total of $1.6 trillion in student loans and, as Sandy Hario Livingston for KHON2 reports , Hawaii residents make up approximately $4.5 billion of that total. “The biggest obstacle to attending college on the mainland is affordability,” states College and Career Counselor Ginny Yasutake. “[For] those who aspire to attend a mainland institution,” she advises, “there are ways to reduce your cost of attendance through scholarships and financial aid.” Yasutake wants students to consider the opportunities in-state schools can provide even though she acknowledges that “It is difficult for students from Hawaii just because of our location.” The WUE, or the Western Undergraduate Exchange program, is another option she mentioned. In WUE schools on the mainland, students pay a reduced tuition rate that is lower than out-of-state tuition. Sophomore Giana Bayudan feels “a little intimidated” by the costs of college. “If I were to want to go out of state, I'm gonna have to work really hard in school to get the scholarships to help me pay for it, or else it's not gonna be paid for." Cost is everything for some. An anonymous senior plans on “going to trade school at UH Maui college.” When asked why, he simply stated “because it’s free.” This is a reference to the recent extension of free tuition at UH to LHS’s class of 2025. “They don’t have that here” Some students are looking for colleges that meet their very particular needs and future plans. Bayudan recognizes this problem, stating "whatever you want to specialize in, in college, whatnot, you can find a school for that [here]. But even then, it might not be the best option.” “I want to wrestle in college, and they don't have that here,” says Sophomore Safirah Ladore who also wants to be a lawyer. She was disappointed to see that “They only have like, one law school here.” Ladore is referring to The William S. Richardson School of Law at UH, which currently ranks #99 in the US, according to US News and World Report . The University of Hawai’i schools that include: UH Mānoa, UH Hilo and UH West Oʻahu, rank in the top 1,500 4-year schools, Acknowledging these concerns, Yasutake want’s students to know that Hawai’i has much to offer. However she also hopes students take that risk of going to a mainland school if they decide to. “UH Manoa is considered one of the few land-, sea-, and space-grant institutions in the country,” she pointed out and noted that UH Hilo also has a new Pharmacy program. BYU-Hawaii provides a “unique work-study opportunity to help pay for tuition and room and board.” This was a reference to the Polynesian Cultural Center where students may give culturally Hawaiian performances for visitors for money. She also noted that the Chaminade Forensics program has internships with the Honolulu and Guam Police Departments and UH Maui College has “an amazing” culinary program and a new creative media degree. According to Yasutake, Kapiolani also has the only Rad Tech program in the state. Arconado said that he personally has found great opportunities here with “The Direct Entry to Nursing Program” which he describes as “huge” since “last year the acceptance rate was 3.7%.” "We're at a disadvantage” "We're at a disadvantage,” says sophomore Emma Batson who feels that she may be a less competitive candidate on the mainland because of the quality of education in Hawai’i. She feels “It's harder to get into schools in the states because of our education system here." The worry among some students is that being educated in Hawai’i may lead to other problems that aren’t directly connected to geography or what programs are offered. According to US News and World Report Hawaii’s public schools rank #33 overall in the country. As UH Manoa takes 58% of its students from Hawai’i schools , some may even fear that this drop in rigor could impact higher education institutions. Yasutake doesn’t think so. She believes that “UH Manoa and the other colleges in Hawaii have improved their programs to be more competitive and locally committed.” Nevertheless, she added, “If you are passionate about a program of study, and your dream school is on the mainland, I do hope students take a chance and see what the future holds.” Previous Article Next Article Copy link Keyla Jimenez is a former staff writer for Ka Lama Hawai'i. She is ajunior and currently the president of the Lahainaluna Newswriting Club.

< Back A Step into the Mind of Peace Cath Apilado Painting The Work When I was painting it, I wanted to paint a fountain, I guess. I was looking through Pintarest to find inspiration--to see how people painted fountains. I found one. There was grass, like in my fountain picture, but the Pintarest fountain was nothing like what I painted--it was a different kind of fountain. I used watercolor because I like painting with watercolors. I painted a butterfly because I like butterflies. And I guess I just like painting nature stuff. About the Creator Cath Apilado is a sophomore at Lahainaluna High School. She has been painting for 8 years, but she sees painting only as a hobby right now. Cath's favorite kind of media is watercolor and her favorite color is purple. Previous Next Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Send Email

< Back BJ Alvarez Head Custodian He’s a chill man riding around in a golf cart, in a red t-shirt, blue work jeans, work boots, camo hat, and sunglasses. He's calm and familiar. He’s BJ Alvarez, the Head Custodial Supervisor at Lahainaluna High School. Since 2009, the year he began working at Lahainaluna, Mr. Alvarez has woken up before his children. He now has three: 3, 6, and 11-years-old. Two of them, his 6 and 11-year-old, are enrolled in Hawaiian immersion. As Head Custodian, Mr. Alvarez directs the custodial crew of 6 who maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of our school. When he’s not at work, he’s probably at the beach, a barbeque, or both. He’s also a musician and enjoys the fluid and laid-back feeling of island reggae music. For Alvarez, playing music “helps with coping.” In turn, listening to music “helps other people cope.” Alvarez described music as “medicine.” Alvarez is the keyboardist for the local band, Lahaina Grown. Their self-titled 2005 “Lahaina Grown” took on a new significance for Lahaina locals after the recent wildfire. Alvarez grew up listening to Lahaina Grown and is now one of their newest members. Alvarez said that, to him, “Lahaina Grown” “represents home and the struggles people are going through. If you listen to the “ Plantations ” song in the Lahaina Grown album, you can see that this song still has meaning in current problems, we are still fighting our fight.” His favorite song to play is “He Iwi” from the same album. Mr. Alvarez has a few gigs lined up with them for graduation parties, so if you want a sick graduation party when you graduate, then try getting Lahaina Grown to play. In 2021 Alvarez received the Kimo’s award for his outstanding work managing the cleaning and sanitation at our school. He was also acknowledged for his positive attitude, hard work, and for caring for the community. He graduated in 2004 from Lahainaluna, where, according to him, he was just a “normal local boy, you know, getting into trouble now and then.” He remembered two teachers from his school years, Mr. Fujii and Mr. Pizano, who were both part of the SMC (Special Motivation Center) for students who misbehave. SMC was before the ALC (Alternative Learning Center), a program designed to promote the success of at-risk students. The SMC program was housed in P12. Alvarez claims he “never got bad enough” to advance to the ALC program. That’s probably because Mr. Fujii was “a scary guy.” Despite that, he still remembers his number. When asked about the students in our school and if they are respectful, he said “they're awesome, but you will always have a few disrespectful ones now and then who make a mess.” This just makes more work for Alvarez and his staff who are also required to handle the landscaping on campus. Between this chore, he said, in addition to “cleaning the bathrooms, landscaping, and irrigation, there isn't enough of us to pick up after the disrespectful students.” He proudly said that this school is one of a kind and he wouldn't change a thing, but he wouldn't mind having more custodial staff to maintain the school. Speaking as a former student and an employee, Mr. Alvarez has a message for current Lunas: “try and be nice to one another, you might not know what they are going through. Do the basic things like cleaning up after yourselves and respect the rules like no eating in the classrooms, that's just more trash in the rooms.” The next time you see Mr. Alvarez or any other custodial staff around campus don’t forget to say “hi.” Trinity Guiza is a staff writer at Ka Lama Hawai'i.

< Back Senioritis More than just laziness? Bryson Aquino Student Wellness January 13, 2025 at 5:44:59 PM The first use of the term “senioritis” appeared in a 1907 article published in the Chicago Alumni Magazine . It offered the first diagnosis of the condition: “When we were freshmen, we looked forward to being sophomores; when we were sophomores we desired to be juniors; when we were juniors we wished to be seniors; and now that we are seniors we long again to be freshmen.” As students step into their final year, many lack motivation and drive. They wish to go back to simpler and less stressful years. Seniors may also fear what is to come: the unknown. As freshmen, we have four years ahead of us; as seniors, we face the entirety of our lives. When senioritis hits, student grades start dropping. Ambitious students start missing deadlines, zoning out in class, and losing interest in loved extracurriculars. People usually chalk it up to laziness, but there could be a deeper reality to senioritis than we usually know. According to students, counselors, and mental health experts, there's more going on than simple slacking. Environmental Causes Some students feel like senioritis stems from mental illness. Yet, as senior counselor Darcie Webber notes, those on the outside looking in may find it “difficult to make that distinction between mental issues and laziness.” Webber suggested that some of the symptoms may be attributed to fatigue as well as connected to things in the environment. “Junior year is what should have been your (seniors’) most academic year,” said Webber. Instead, she continued, “It became your most emotionally learning year. Students were incredibly distracted due to a community torn apart, the fires.” “It's a lot to pile on a kid. It's an awful amount to pile on anyone. A lot of these responsibilities are intended to set up students, but in reality, it can really bring one down.” In the wake of the fire, many students are having to work harder than before to put themselves out there. “I wouldn't call it traditional senioritis,” said Webber. For what it is, it may be fatigue – and it's justified.” Seniors themselves at Lahainaluna are split on the issue. “Senioritis can be a lack of motivation for sure,” said senior Kayla Mabalot. But, she added, “the main factor that causes it, is the mental toll school has on us.” While senioritis lacks a formal medical definition, the symptoms of senioritis are real, says researcher Adenna Young-Jones who characterizes senioritis as the “lack of enthusiasm, fits of irresponsibility, and a generally depressed affect punctuated by occasional outbursts of irritability.” Looking at the effects of environmental senioritis, they note an optimal learning environment is critical to provide “conditions that support students as individuals,” as that will “help them feel in control of their own achievement and more likely to achieve academic success.” Science teacher Jackie Ellis notices that “seniors typically will have more of a sense of urgency.” Acknowledging the variety in students' personalities, she continued: “you have a mix of students that are usually scrabbling to make sure they have enough credits to graduate. Then you have the students who are already set – that tend to think about the minimum effort they can do to get by. That tends to be the laziness.” Senior Tyzo Kaska agrees. He feels like he has what he needs to graduate. “I don't think my lack of motivation is from something deeper than anyone thinks, I'm just lazy.” Kaska explained, “I’m not that pressured, as long as I'm getting decent grades.” “Senioritis is caused by laziness and a lack of motivation,” said senior Dhennico Cabading. “But I think it has to do with fatigue from school for me. I am just tired of constantly doing work.” Causes Senior Vi Nguyen goes back to the fire to explain the seniors’ lack of motivation. “In terms of workload, everything was a little bit postponed because of the fires.” But getting back to normal is a struggle. “Now we’re at a normal pace, …some seniors might be struggling with keeping up because we were so used to slowly getting back into things and now that we are, it’s like we’re still trying to find that normalcy that we used to have.” “I’m still displaced and I am still trying to find a stable living situation, which causes a bit of anxiety and unrest within me,” Nguyen stated. “On top of that, I have to focus on schoolwork and college applications.” “It's definitely laziness and a lack of motivation but it can go deeper than that,” said Senior Alexa Torres Perez, who said that seniors may feel “We aren't given the same opportunities as the class of 2024, which unmotivates people to complete things like senior projects--especially since we were also still suffering the effects of the fire.” Cures? It's important to be able to differentiate between laziness and deeper issues stemming within when it comes to senioritis, as well as understanding why it happens without undermining the consequences. While not a formal diagnosis, the fatigue, anxiety, and motivational struggles are real. With the help of a support system, consisting of counselors, teachers, and peers, students can find strategies to manage stress and maintain focus. Dhennico adds, “I noticed the amount of effort I have put in has decreased over the four years, but being surrounded by friends and making my family proud have kept me going.” Previous Article Next Article Copy link Bryson Aquino is a senior at Lahainaluna. He’s a student reporter interested in shedding light on and writing about problematic issues on campus. He likes to interact with school institutions. A movie that he really resonates with him is called Not Without My Daughter because its main idea is how one person will go so far just for someone they love. A funny fact about him is that high blood pressure is hereditary in his family, so don’t make him mad!

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< Back Social Emotional Lying Insincere student answers on the Panorama Survey Jersea Borneman Student Wellness October 2, 2024 at 9:10:57 PM “Well firstly, I don’t really want to get put into like a psych ward,” said sophomore Grace Anderson while reflecting on her SEL survey answers. “If you are honest on that survey,” she said, “your counselor tells your parents or the school or whatever, and they take it to the extreme.” The Panorama survey has eight categories: “Supportive Relationships, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Perseverance, Growth Mindset, Emotion Regulation, Sense of Belonging, and Self-Efficacy.” According to Vice Principal Nicole Heinlein, the survey’s purpose is to “make our school a better place for students” by telling its administrators “what the students think.” The data from each of these sections “lets us know areas where we are doing well as a school and areas that we need to improve,” said Heinlein. Heinlein says that “the survey results help drive professional development for teachers, topics we focus on in Po‘okela, and assemblies we might schedule for the year.” The Hawai’i Department of Education has been giving student perception surveys since 2011, but the Lahainaluna Panorama survey has been used at Lahainaluna since the 2019-2020 school year. Misidentifications While the survey is meant to reflect student perceptions, Mia Lee complains that it distorts her feelings. “I’m not depressed,” she said, “but like those questions make it look like I am.” “You either look like you are a robot and have no feelings or you’re depressed. I personally feel like there is no in between.” Sophomore Jaeyln Galasinao thinks that these distortions are to be expected. “They’re high school students; I do not think they’re gonna answer them truthfully.” She is sure that “no one tells the truth on them. Most of the time they just quickly click through it because they want to get it done with and move onto whatever they’re working on in Po‘okela or whatever.” Freshman Eli Hegrenes thinks the survey falls short in other ways. “[The questions] don’t relate to students’ actual life at school,” he said, “most of the questions don’t even apply to that student.” Eli suggests that “if there was diversity in the questions depending on how the students answered them, then students could feel more compelled to answer them truthfully.” “I think some of them are good because they do reflect, like, me, but some of them are, like, actually stupid,” says Lee. “Do you think people at your school understand you?” she said, mocking one of the questions. Faking Happy “Everyone’s just answering to make the school look better,” said sophomore Kaliyah Cutty, who worries about getting “called into the counselors or something like that because my answers on a survey.” “We see trends,” says head counselor Darcie Webber. “We see information that, you know, would help us, ostensibly, to be able to support kids that have a need for support, not individual names.” Asked about bringing flagged kids in for questioning, “I’m not gonna say that we can’t,” Webber said, “but I don’t know that we can. So I never have.” “I think where the confusion might be coming in is that last year, after the fire, the state came in with some other kind of survey,” Webber said. “Those children were brought in for individual counseling sessions, or at least interviews because they were flagged as children that needed immediate attention and support.” “There is the possibility, rather, that there are kids who went through that experience and conflated that SOS training and survey with the SEL survey.” Results from the spring 2024 SEL survey report that 35 percent of students agreed with the statement that they belong somewhat at the school and 8 percent of students said they feel like they belong a little bit. This data could suggest that a significant number of students don’t feel connected to other students at our school or that they don’t feel accepted. It can also suggest that our school is doing something good because more students than not have a positive sense of belonging. Yet, student opinions on the data could be the result of students clicking random answers to get the survey done and avoid a visit to counselors. Galasinao says she just wants “to get it over with. I have stuff to do and that’s just an extra burden.” She says that Po‘okela “helps because it’s right after one of my most stressful, heaviest work-loaded classes.” Nothing Changes Students like junior Cora Gruber have taken the option to opt out of the survey, explaining that “my mom doesn’t want me to do it because she thinks it’s a waste of time.” Cora says that her mom “would rather have me do school work and something more valuable like learning.” She thinks it is isn't valuable because “what I say doesn’t matter and the school doesn’t change anything.” Senior Zhi Clark states, “I don’t think they’re really effective. I don’t really see a lot of change happen, like socially.” The only growth in the survey results was “sense of belonging,” up 1 percentage point from 41 percent in winter of 2024. Clark feels that “at the end of the day, no matter how I say I feel about teachers, nothing really changes.” Previous Article Next Article Copy link Jersea Borneman is a staff writer for Ka Lama Hawai'i.

< Back Gift Giving Season What do Students and Staff want? Grayson Guzman Arts and Entertainment December 3, 2025 at 7:01:57 PM “It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas–everywhere you go,” as the song goes. Decorations are put up all around, with big tall christmas trees decorated with sparkling ornaments, laced ribbon, colorful christmas lights twinkling topped with a bright shining star. The days are getting colder. Waking up in the morning, you may feel a cool breeze and chill in the air. On campus, you may see more students walking around wearing jackets, sipping crimson and emerald banded holiday Starbucks cups with rich warm hot cocoa or coffee, and getting into the holiday spirit. For many students, all of this leads to one question: What do you want for Christmas? “What do I want for Christmas this year…” A total of 165 Lahainaluna students and staff were surveyed and asked what they want for Christmas. Responses ranged from new AirPods to, as one respondent requested, “a boyfriend.” Of those surveyed, 22 were staff (13.3 percent), 31 freshman (18.8 percent), 40 sophomores (24.2percent), 44 juniors (26.7 percent), and 28 seniors (17 percent). The gifts they wanted fit into ten categories: “Books, Toys, & Games,” “Clothes & Accessories," “Electronics,” “Experiences,” “Food & Drink,” “Leisure/Hobbies,” “Money,” “Music/Instruments,” “Pets,” and “Vehicles/Auto Parts.” The responses that could not be fit into those categories were given to “Other.” Of all the categories, what students wanted the most were “Clothes & Accessories,” including things like new shoes, cute shorts, purses, earrings, and a hoodie. This category was dominated by freshman, sophomores, and juniors with over 34 responses. Freshman Jayda Eide wanted a swimsuit “so I can look cute at the beach.” Sophomore Brycen Acio said he wanted a pair of basketball shoes and football cleats “because, my shoes are lowkey kind of broken already, so I really need some new pairs of boots.” Also, he mentioned that basketball season was coming up so “I really hope for a new pair of basketball shoes, 'cause I [was] planning o[n] playing basketball for the club team at Lokahi in the summer.” Freshman Sofiya Cartagena listed several things including “a MacBook, more rings, like golden rings, and last, new AirPods.” Cartagena mentioned this because “my AirPods got ran over, and, I feel like I need them, and they're, like, way smaller than carrying my Beats around.” 27 students wanted “Electronics,” which was made up mostly of new AirPods, or headphones. The main reason for their requests–theirs was broken or was lost. One category that was unexpected (personally) was “Vehicles/Auto Parts” with 21 responses. The majority were guys who wanted things like subwoofers or sound systems for their cars. One respondent shared “I want two 12” subs and a full rack because I want my car to scream.” Others wanted to have one or get a brand new car and even a bike or even accessories for their bikes like lights or a seat cover. For “Money,” people wanted things like gift cards, to restaurants and stores like Taco Bell and even just straight up cash. When asked why, respondents shared things like because they are broke or they want to save up money to go to college whereas senior Kaedon Nakata exclaimed, “Cash? 'Cause it's cash! Who doesn't love cash?!” One more category I would like to touch on is “Books, Toys, & Games.” Some things I wanted include cookbooks to learn to cook for college, but most wanted toys. Mainly plushies like Jellycat plushies, but one respondent shared “I want a Darth Vader neopixel lightsaber because I could have lightsaber battles with my friends.” Staff answers were different. They often wanted things like money, a car, and a house. But the majority of them did not want material items, valuing experiences such as a vacation and peace and happiness to everything else. “What do I want for Christmas this year is... maybe sports equipment for my son,” said Hulita Faitua, the current 12th grade counselor. For herself: “I would love to have, perhaps, um, free airline ticket to, um, somewhere of my choice internationally.” Mari Finn, our school's Technology Coordinator, “would like a lot of rain, so that our aina can be replenished, and not as dry. And I would also like... It's never gonna happen, but world peace, for our Hawaii, to be at peace with the government, and our funding not to get cut. And no hate.” Finn, who became somewhat emotional during her interview, thinks, “it would bring me peace if there was more happiness and love in the world, and who wouldn't be fighting. And less discrimination.” “...I can see the happiness of people's faces.” Staff and student responses were mixed on whether they preferred giving or receiving gifts. And many, like Frosty, an anonymous sophomore, predictably preferred to receive gifts . “Receiving? No, my God, I don't want to be, like, greedy, but like, yeah,” they said. “I mean, I'm not gonna lie,” answered senior Nakata, “Receiving.” Nevertheless, many students revealed more excitement about giving. Junior Ethan Luck likes giving gifts because “it makes me feel good,” even though he also likes receiving them “because, you know, you get the item.” Freshman Jayda Eide also likes both: “it's fun, like, shopping for people. And it's also fun to see what others bought you.” “I don't know, I like to see people's reactions,” says Junior Gracie Dean who strongly prefers giving. “I also give, like, very thoughtful gifts,” she added. “Like, not even necessarily, like, expensive, but, like, things that I know people wanted for, like, a really long time.” “I'm a firm believer that if you give love and presence,” said senior MJ Vasquez, who became abstract about the question, “that is the best form of love and the best gift that you can ever give someone.” Finn admits that she hasn’t “been in the holiday spirit in a long time.” She prefers giving to receiving gifts because “I don't expect anything, like, not even from like Santa. But I think giving is a better feeling for me, because I can see the happiness of people's faces." “Togetherness… that's the main foundation” Some students look beyond the presents, reporting that they valued the time spent with family and friends more than material things. Sophomore Christopher Apilado, shares that people look forward to receiving presents and instead of not looking forward to what the actual purpose of the holiday is, which is having a great time with the people around you… [which] is something I cherish and value.” He gives the notion that sometimes we mistake the feeling of the holiday with the feeling of receiving presents. Adding on to the idea, Apilado continues, “kids, they know Christmas is the time for presents and gifts and although that is true, they are more excited for that instead of the actual purpose.” Mele Faleta, a sophomore, remembers “one of the best Christmas gifts I got was seeing a family member. Yeah. One of my older brothers, because I haven't seen him in, like, a long time when I was little. And he finally came back, and it was really nice to be next to him again.” Through wanting and gifts from others, everyone interviewed put a main value on family, friends and spending time with others. Frosty said they valued “seeing family, and getting to see my sister from college.” Freshman Jonathan Mau said what he values “is that everyone gets together for the holidays, especially when it gets super cold, everyone is all together, everyone's talking stories, everyone's sharing memories. And I think it's a good and jolly time, because you're all with your family and friends. Jowy Langaman, a senior, valued “Togetherness, you know. I think that's like the main foundation of things like holidays and stuff, you know?” Though most celebrate the holiday, for Christmas time, some have never celebrated Christmas. Senior Mia Palacio said “Well, I've never celebrated Christmas. It's, like, against my church, but I love those places, my favorite holiday. What I like most about Christmas is, um, the music and just how everyone's so jolly. I am not allowed to have Christmas, no. But it's my favorite holiday. I value family, being with them. Especially... in this day and age. I often take loved ones for granted, and then reality hits." Similarly Finn said, “I'm not religious. I know some people are, and they looked to God during these holiday times, because of, you know, Jesus and stuff. But I think just being together and sharing that personal bond with others is the most important thing. And then, you know, there's no hate. There's love.” Previous Article Next Article Copy link Grayson is the current 2028 student council Vice President and is running for a second term as sophomore Vice President.