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A newspaper written by the students of Lahainaluna High School in the town of Lahaina, Maui. Ka Lama Hawai'i is named after the first newspaper in Hawai'i, which was also published by Lahainaluna students in the nineteenth century. Welcome to Ka Lama Hawai'i! News writing is kind of a tradition here in Lahaina. In fact, the oldest school newspaper west of the Rockies was published right here, by students, on the campus of Lahainaluna in 1834. Our paper, also run by students of Lahainaluna, is our way of sharing breath with that past and the students that came before us. All said, do you have a piece of writing to share with us? If so, please submit your writing in the form below. We will consider all submissions as long as they are student-authored and appropriate. First Name Last Name Email What's your idea OR what are you submitting? Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Send Thanks for submitting!

Campus Life & Academics List Arts and Entertainment Education Politics Science & Technology Student Government Student Life Student Wellness Traditions Devaki Murch March 11, 2026 at 8:30:00 PM Accidental Archivist Kristina Meguro Kristina Meguro spoke to Devaki Murch about identity, stability, and the "living records" of her survival during Operation Babylift. Read More The Tardy Toll March 11, 2026 at 8:30:00 PM How "Starbucks runs" turn into Senior Ball bans. Christopher Apilado Christopher Apilado looks at the campus-wide discussion about tardiness policies and "unexpected" detention hours. Read More Love on a Budget February 13, 2026 at 7:30:00 PM Why $0 Might Be the Magic Number. Brielle Em-E-Li Ramelb ...students are looking at a familiar dilemma: is love a matter of how much you spend, or is it the thought that counts? Read More The Digital Leash February 9, 2026 at 10:00:00 PM Is Location Tracking a Sign of Trust or a Tool for Control? Ashlee Hufalar It’s not unheard of for teen couples to use such apps to share their location. Read More Gift Giving Season December 3, 2025 at 7:45:00 PM What do Students and Staff want? Grayson Guzman Do Lahainaluna students care what they get for Christmas? Read More 54.1 Percent Say "No" December 3, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM Lahainaluna on the Santa Kristina Meguro Do you believe in a jolly old man that eats your cookies with a hearty ol’ laugh? Read More “Quite a Juggling Act” December 3, 2025 at 8:15:00 PM Is a Paycheck Worth the Sacrifice Brielle Em-E-Li Ramelb Work means skills, money, and maturity; it costs freedom, time, and teenage experiences. Worth it? Read More "Smart and Capable" December 3, 2025 at 6:45:00 PM Raising the Academic Bar at Lahainaluna Keyla Jimenez Some students feel like they are not being challenged. Read More Are You on the Nice or Naughty List? December 3, 2025 at 9:45:00 PM On Karma, Consequences, and the Gray Zone of Morality Ashlee Hufalar “No one really wants coal” writes Ashlee Hufalar reporting on Lahainalunaʻs Naughty and Nice levels. Read More Growing Up on Campus November 7, 2025 at 8:15:00 PM Maturity and the Road to Graduation Ashlee Hufalar To reach their goals, students need more than talent. They need a change in mindset, how they approach their goals, and the responsibilities that come with all of this. Read More In the Nation's Spiritual Center November 7, 2025 at 9:15:00 PM Lahainaluna’s Annual Celebration of Lā Kūʻokoʻa Grayson Guzman Coleman Riddell Lā Kūʻokoʻa began on November 28th, 1843, commemorating political recognition of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s sovereignty. Read More Replanting Our Legacy November 7, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Boarders Replant Liliʻuokalani's Famous Palm Kristina Meguro Keiko Wegner Queen Liliʻuokalani was here for Arbor Day and to witness one of Lahainaluna’s specialties: the throwing of poi. Read More Haunted Halls September 30, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM The Haunted History of Lahainaluna Kristina Meguro Stories of the supernatural are unsurprisingly common among students and staff at Lahainaluna. Read More The Fair is Back September 30, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Remembering the Past, Facing the Future Grayson Guzman The Maui County fair is back for the first time since 2019. Lunas past and present identify with the fair... Read More In the end, we’re on the same island September 30, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Spirit, Silence, and Conflict Ashlee Hufalar To many students, school spirit has come to represent more than simple rivalry. Read More The Soul of the School is Spirit October 1, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Lahainaluna Celebrates a Powerful Return to Normalcy Seilala Samisoni Lahainaluna has just concluded its 2025-2026 homecoming week after students of all grade levels came together. Read More Upcoming Freshman Elections August 26, 2025 at 10:47:00 PM Many are new to the idea but ready to serve. Ashlee Hufalar Grayson Guzman Elections for Student Council are coming up but many students are unsure of what is happening. Read More The Future of Student Voice May 2, 2025 at 9:45:00 PM Will Student Government Survive? Brianne Lagazo "If students don't feel like their voices will actually be heard...they may not be motivated to get involved.” Read More Can we Stall Any Longer? May 1, 2025 at 10:28:00 PM Students Wonder When Our Bathrooms Will Become Usable Gisele Miller “...change the whole restroom so it would be all fixed. Like the toilets, the sinks, clean floors instead of mud and dirt." Read More "Cruelty is the Point" April 29, 2025 at 10:17:00 PM Inside Maui Prep's Anti-Transgender Policy Brianne Lagazo The issue of trans rights closely connects to an important social and spiritual identity in Hawaiian culture. Read More What Can Student Council Do? May 1, 2025 at 1:00:00 AM Between Aspirations and Impact Jersea Borneman "They can't really pass laws and regulations, but they are the representative branch of school governance." Read More Students are Feeling a Chill April 29, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM What Lunas think about the possibility of immigration officers on campus. Trinity Guiza "I would never tell them a single thing about a single student in my classroom.” Read More Everybody’s Special April 28, 2025 at 9:45:00 PM AP and the Path to Valedictorian Lucia Mejia "...the meaning of valedictorian means less with more and more people achieving that status.” Read More Pipe Problems and Fountain Fixes April 28, 2025 at 6:00:00 AM What’s in Your Hydro? Grayson Guzman According to students, not all fountain water comes out the same. Some favorite fountains include H-Building, the Office, and the Gym. Read More Should I Stay or Should I Go? April 22, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM Students Worry About Where They Should Attend College Keyla Jimenez "It's harder to get into schools in the states because of our education system here." Read More Lahainaluna to Implement Strict Phone Usage Policy April 1, 2025 at 10:22:00 PM Students hate the idea Trinity Guiza "Why now, when school is almost over? That’s ridiculous!" Read More 5% Proficient in Math, 100% Concerned March 17, 2025 at 7:00:00 PM Keyla Jimenez Since 2020, educators and officials have accounted for low test scores by blaming the pandemic, but it’s been three years since then, and the problem is only getting worse. Read More You Can't Always Park Where You Want March 15, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM Limited Space, Rising Frustrations, and Calls for Change Jersea Borneman "...he 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." Read More The Fine Line Between Support and Pressure March 14, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Parental Roles in Student Success Oliana Schur How much parental involvement is too much parental involvement? Read More Valentine's Day February 7, 2025 at 7:30:00 PM High Hopes, Low Expectations Bryson Aquino It's a great day to bake cookies and show love to everyone, not just in romantic relationships. Read More Artificial Intelligence February 7, 2025 at 5:00:00 PM The Future is Here? Trinity Guiza I've used it before, mainly used it for like procrastination. I write down something fast and it writes something for me. Read More It’s Getting Hard to Stay February 6, 2025 at 11:00:00 PM On Our Teacher Shortage Keyla Jimenez The problem gets worse when you consider Lahainaluna’s dwindling student population after the Lahaina fires. Read More Senioritis January 13, 2025 at 7:05:00 PM More than just laziness? Bryson Aquino As freshmen, we have four years ahead of us; as seniors, we face the entirety of our lives. Read More Between School and Extra Curriculars January 13, 2025 at 5:05:00 PM Finding a Balance Jersea Borneman Are students playing or learning too much? Read More Is Procrastination A Good Thing? January 13, 2025 at 5:05:00 PM On the benefits and drawbacks of doing your work on time. Christopher Apilado ...there could be a chance that procrastination could be used in a good way. Read More From the Classroom to the Polls November 1, 2024 at 10:00:00 PM On the Issues, Misinformation, and Parental Influence Keyla Jimenez Lucia Mejia Students discuss the 2024 election Read More Social Emotional Lying October 2, 2024 at 12:30:00 AM Insincere student answers on the Panorama Survey Jersea Borneman “They’re high school students; I do not think they’re gonna answer them truthfully.” Read More School Lunch: Cutting Waste, Cutting Taste September 24, 2024 at 11:45:00 PM Students speak out about school lunch. Bryson Aquino A student looks down at a bright yellow blob of mac and cheese running into a chunky scoop of rice. Read More Do I Have Your Attention? September 4, 2024 at 10:00:00 PM Why students can't put down their phones. Keyla Jimenez Keyla Jimenez investigates one source of student distraction on campus. Read More Homecoming After the Fire May 31, 2024 at 10:00:00 PM At Lahainaluna, It's All About Pride Sequoia Pelletier-Yamasaki The Lahaina Wildfire on August 8th, 2023 delayed the opening of our school for weeks, leaving students with a difficult decision: transfer schools or wait and hope that Lahainaluna would soon open again. Read More Under a Cloud at Lahainaluna May 29, 2024 at 10:15:00 PM Vaping on Campus Trinity Guiza “I don’t feel pressured at all, I’m a good person, not a delinquent like them,” said a Lahainaluna sophomore when asked whether they felt pressured to vape by others. Read More Student Sells Artwork Inspired by the Fire May 27, 2024 at 4:30:00 PM A Symbol of Strength Sequoia Pelletier-Yamasaki Following the Lahaina wildfire, Devyn Gruber, a senior at Lahainaluna High School, decided to “turn that grief into art.” Read More Kids in the Cafe May 13, 2024 at 5:00:00 PM “a relaxing place to be” Jean Martin Alternado Jean Alternado asks if teacher absences impact student learning. Read More Endangered Kāhuli May 13, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM The Chain of Events Trinity Guiza Trinity Guiza describes the huge ecological impact of one of Hawai'i's smallest creatures. Read More Do you have a work of art or a piece of writing to share? April 29, 2024 at 4:00:00 PM Write for Ka Lama Hawai'i Ka Lama Hawai'i Tell your side of things and encourage others to speak up! Read More

A student-run newspaper written by and for the students of Lahainaluna High School. Ka Lama Hawai'i regularly publishes student work on student life, education, and the community of Lahaina. I mua, Lunas! Ka Lama Hawai'i Burning the torch of excellence at both ends Arts and Entertainment March 11, 2026 at 8:30:00 PM Devaki Murch Accidental Archivist Kristina Meguro Kristina Meguro spoke to Devaki Murch about identity, stability, and the "living records" of her survival during Operation Babylift. Read More Student Life March 11, 2026 at 7:58:11 PM The Tardy Toll Christopher Apilado Christopher Apilado looks at the campus-wide discussion about tardiness policies and "unexpected" detention hours. Read More History September 18, 2025 at 1:03:52 AM Ka Lama Hawaiʻi Then and Now Keyla Jimenez In 1834, only three years after the creation of Lahainaluna, its principal, Lorrin Andrews, started a student-run newspaper. Read More Student Life August 26, 2025 at 10:17:35 PM The Digital Leash Ashlee Hufalar It’s not unheard of for teen couples to use such apps to share their location. Read More Talk Story News Lunas JV Volleyball Eyes Long-Term Potential After Season Opener Despite the loss, Coach Sarah Eubank believes the match pointed to new potential for the team in later years. Mya Heart Valdez 1 day ago Sophomore PSAT in Early March and Students Aim for Higher Scores as Requirements Return The upcoming sophomore PSAT is set to take place on March 5th, with 30 available spots for whoever signs up first. Ashlee Hufalar Mar 2 Staff Weigh Closure of J-Building Bathrooms Following Fights and Vaping Throughout the first semester, two fights have occurred near the bathroom in J building. Along with these incidents, teachers have also reported issues such as smoking and vaping. Some staff have discussed permanently closing the bathroom to prevent future problems. So far, the upstairs bathroom in J building has been limited to staff only because of these issues. With hundreds of students moving between classes throughout the day, J building is one of the busier areas on cam Kendall Rae Victoria B Pasalo Feb 23 Seasons at Risk The spring season is approaching and like girlʻs soccer last year, both water polo and girls golf are at risk of being cancelled as they do not have enough players. “I think participating for Lahainaluna is a very big honor,” states water polo head coach and agriculture teacher Bradley Mason. While the team currently has “about 10 girls,” Mason said that while “that's enough to have a team,” a roster of “twelve or fourteen (girls) would be ideal.” Without substitutes, the r Keyla Jimenez Feb 9 Student Life & Academics 3/11/26 Devaki Murch Accidental Archivist Kristina Meguro Kristina Meguro spoke to Devaki Murch about identity, stability, and the "living records" of her survival during Operation Babylift. Read More 3/11/26 The Tardy Toll How "Starbucks runs" turn into Senior Ball bans. Christopher Apilado Christopher Apilado looks at the campus-wide discussion about tardiness policies and "unexpected" detention hours. Read More 2/13/26 Love on a Budget Why $0 Might Be the Magic Number. Brielle Em-E-Li Ramelb ...students are looking at a familiar dilemma: is love a matter of how much you spend, or is it the thought that counts? Read More 2/9/26 The Digital Leash Is Location Tracking a Sign of Trust or a Tool for Control? Ashlee Hufalar It’s not unheard of for teen couples to use such apps to share their location. Read More 12/3/25 Gift Giving Season What do Students and Staff want? Grayson Guzman Do Lahainaluna students care what they get for Christmas? Read More 12/3/25 54.1 Percent Say "No" Lahainaluna on the Santa Kristina Meguro Do you believe in a jolly old man that eats your cookies with a hearty ol’ laugh? Read More More Student Life and Academics Articles We LHS Staff Sports The Back Page Social Media Updates Join our community on Instagram

< Back Devaki Murch Accidental Archivist Kristina Meguro Arts and Entertainment March 11, 2026 at 7:37:27 PM “In order to acknowledge a story or experience, you need to understand its boundaries.” Devaki Murch recently said this to a room of Lahainaluna students, admitting that she lacked this knowledge when she started her first project. Murch tours schools and colleges discussing Operation Babylift, a military operation authorized in 1975 to rescue orphans from Vietnam, and her search for details within archives. According to Murch, most of the knowledge she gained about her history found her, rather than the other way around. She claims these accidental discoveries directed her path toward different goals for her first project. Murch described how her first project, which she called “The Secret Ability to Fly,” was about showing gratitude to her caregivers: “I wanted to write letters to all these people that have influenced and supported me.” She did this until she realized that not everyone was as fortunate as she was. “Number one,” she said, “when I started talking to people, [I realized] regarding the letters of gratitude, not everyone is grateful for being over here.” Murch talked a lot about stability and her gratitude for being raised by a supportive, loving family. As she changed her focus, she realized how important it was to have “people that will be there to catch you.” “That, to me, is the huge thing,” she added, “and I'm finding that a lot of the adoptees don't have someone there to catch them and they never have. And I didn't know that.” Her project never caught on. While everyone she talked to shared a connection to the Vietnam War, they did not share the same identity or experience of growing up. Through listening to so many perspectives, Murch realized that “gratitude” was not the right word and shifted to questions about memory and connection. “When I think about it,” she said, “what do we have to pass on and how do we relate to things?” The Details That Are Never Shared Operation Babylift was one of the largest emergency child evacuations in history, leading to the evacuation of over 3,000 children. In April 1975, President Gerald Ford authorized the operation to evacuate orphans by aircraft, sending C-5A Galaxy cargo planes to pick up infants, toddlers, and their caregivers to rescue them from the fall of Saigon. One of 314 passengers, Murch was on the first C-5A Galaxy plane to arrive in April. She and others were put in the plane’s upper level, while older children who could walk were put in the lower level. Twelve minutes into the flight, the rear cargo door blew out due to broken hydraulic locks, causing the plane to make an emergency crash landing near the Saigon River. Pieces of the plane were scattered across nearby rice fields. Only 175 out of the 314 passengers on board survived. After her first moment of good fortune, Murch and the other children were rescued a second time and eventually reached San Francisco, where they met their adoptive families. Murch’s family was from Kauai, where she would spend her fortunate childhood. Growing up on the Garden Island, Murch felt that she fitted in, at least in appearance. “When you walk around, I look like all the other kids. We donʻt have a lot of Vietnamese in Hawaii... people just always thought I was like a Filipino or something just like that." This sense of belonging provided the comfort and stability every child needs. “In order for you to question your history and your origin,” she said, “you have to have a place to stand on. If you don't have a place to stand on, you have no bandwidth for uncertainty.” "Records are Alive" Later in life, Murch used her extra “bandwidth” to reflect on the difference between who we are born to and who raises us. She now prefers the term “First Family” over "birth family" because “it might not be birth. It might be truly this collective larger multi-generational family that you were raised [in]... it's much more encompassing.” As Murch got older, the pieces of her past seemed to be drawn to her. A friend’s dad found an old newspaper article in an attic. A reunion attendee gave her a piece of the metal from the plane crash. “The newspaper article found me. The piece of the plane came and found me… it was not me searching out any of this. But to me, records are alive and they came and found me.” She described that it was kind of weird but it was all those pieces that urged her to tell her story. Murch’s good fortune has not ended, though it’s not always as obvious as something that was handed to her like the newspaper piece. For instance, before interviewing Murch, my research lead me to an interview she had done with Thoa Nguyen on PBS. This led me to wonder if she ever looked back to past interviews or thought about what she would have said differently. Murch said that she does not look back at interviews often, but she does take feedback from her audiences that help tell her story more effectively. “The way that I present, the way that I share the story has completely changed from yesterday to today,” she said. She had spoken at UH Maui College the day before she visited Lahainaluna, and says that she had prepared a completely different slideshow, based on feedback from the students at UHMC, for when she came to Lahainaluna. Yet, to her disappointment, the USB she used contained an outdated presentation, so she wasn’t able to put the advice to good use. And yet, it could be argued that this was another lucky break since, without the new slides, she was caught off-guard and forced to speak from the heart about her unique story. Murch could’ve decided not to present her ideas at all, but her choice to present, even with the wrong slides, may have changed the performance and gave he more to reflect on. To her, these opportunities are always not a one way street at all. She had taken from them "not only what I need to communicate, but the perspectives and the impacts that we have, [...] understanding what we can actually do to make change, [...] the power that all of you have by doing these interviews and making change and recognizing our past, and where we're going with what you're learning and what you are recording.” Previous Article Next Article Copy link Kristina Meguro is a sophomore and a staff writer for Ka Lama Hawaiʻi.

Our History and Traditions About History In 1834, only three years after the founding of Lahainaluna, its principal, Lorrin Andrews, started a student-run newspaper called Ka Lama Hawaii , or “The Hawaiian Luminary.” The paper’s first issue explained the importance of knowledge. “In enlightened lands,” wrote its editorial staff, “it is believed that the spreading of knowledge is a good thing. When wise people ponder and come upon good new thoughts not known before […] they then desire to disseminate it abroad, and not hide it, so that all men may know” (61). Andrews narrowed Ka Lama ’s purpose to three goals. The first was to “give the scholars of the High School the idea of a newspaper [and] to show them how information of various kinds was circulated through the medium of a periodical.” The second goal was, generally, “to communicate to them [students] ideas on many objects.” Thirdly, it was designed as a “channel through which the scholars might communicate their own opinions freely on any subject they chose" (Qtd in Silva 109). Almost two centuries later, Lahainaluna’s current principal, Richard Carosso, sees Ka Lama as a space where students are “discussing among yourselves,” or where student voice is amplified. “It’s one of our only resources for students to voice their opinions and to get the input from, you know, their classmates about what's going on at school,” said Carosso, adding that the paper also brings student voices to the school’s administration so the school’s leadership “can tell what matters to you guys.” Historians remark that the original Ka Lama was mostly a way to send messages from missionary leaders to students; in 2025, it does the opposite. Both then and now, however, Ka Lama Hawai’i has encouraged discussion and literacy on campus while letting students engage with unfamiliar topics... Read More Ka Lama Hawaiʻi In 1834, only three years after the creation of Lahainaluna, its principal, Lorrin Andrews, started a student-run newspaper. Read More LHS History and Traditions: Coming Soon! Greetings from the Ka Lama History team! Read More The Boardersʻ Clock Boarders would punch in at the clock every morning and every night until the clock broke in 1976. Read More

The Back Page Filter by Category Select Category Number of recipes found: 6 Painting A Step into the Mind of Peace A painting of a fountain that never existed. Painting How We Believe The World Sees Us In today's society with the growth of social media also comes higher beauty standards. Sculpture Panliligaw "The process where a man tries to woo a woman into dating, eventually leading to marriage." Painting Memory of the Disaster From a collection of pictures about the Lahaina wildfire. Philosophy The Downfall of Human Competence How AI Threatens Our Thinking Comics "A shame I had to deactivate her..." A comic short about love and androids.

We <3 LHS Staff Ariel Pakela Cabrera Custodial Staff “We do it for the kids here.” Read More Mr. Carosso Principal “Be confident, be adventurous, and do not be scared to chase something because you think you are going to fail.” Read More Brandiann Tartios Custodial Staff "Lahainaluna is like a second home." Read More Kawehi Kaina Custodial Staff “be God’s light in the school environment” Read More Monique Blando Custodian “My uncle used to have this job as a custodian,” she said. “I look forward to making him proud.” Read More BJ Alvarez Head Custodian “Be nice to one another.” Read More

< Back The Tardy Toll How "Starbucks runs" turn into Senior Ball bans. Christopher Apilado Student Life March 11, 2026 at 7:37:27 PM The detention room, currently room K-101, is empty. The chairs and tables are circled, facing blue walls on which posters display the official detention rules. Computers with dark screens fill the tables, and a sign-in sheet sits heavily on one of the tables in the middle of the room. The AC is quiet because many of the students who were supposed to be here serving detention are missing (again). At the front of the room, a rolling whiteboard displays a suggested reflection: “Why I have detention today,” and “action plan to improve so it doesn't happen again.” It seems most students will not follow what is recommended for them to do. On March 6, 2026, no students showed up for their detention hours. However, whenever there are students present, Vice Principal Nicole Heinlein, who hosts detention, “feel[s] proud of them for doing what they need to do and taking care of their responsibilities.” 7:45 AM The problem often starts in the morning. As the bell rings at 7:45 a.m. for the first period of the day, most students head to class in a timely manner. Others, like junior Tayana Faiva, saunter in late, long after the tardy bell. Everyone has five minutes before the second bell at 7:50 a.m. One or two slips are fine, but constant tardiness eventually adds up to detention. This is how Faiva began the process of working off her detention hours. After going through it, she planned to “try my best not to [get detention hours].” But she added, it still isn’t certain she’ll be on time. As of December 19, 2025, according to Heinlein, there have been 201 detentions assigned. Students are assigned detention hours, she said, when “they receive a behavior referral from a staff member.” The school is required to follow Chapter 19, the State of Hawaii’s Discipline and Behavior Code. The purpose of this, states Heinlein, is to “teach students that negative behaviors have consequences. It is also a time to reflect.” Beyond encouraging reflection, Heinlein also shares tips with students about how to be proactive learners and how to maintain “a good relationship with your teachers and speak with them if you have issues with tardiness or class cuts.” The Awareness Gap Faiva knows very well about detention from having had it. However, some students, like junior Willem Alden Palacio, claim to have never heard of it. “Wait, can you explain what detention hours are?” Palacio asked. Many students know what detention is, despite having never had it. Yet, they do not know all the norms. Questions like how do you get detention hours, how do you check if you have them, and where do you go to work them off remain a mystery to some. This lack of clarity may cause last-minute chaos for students as they try to work off their hours before they are allowed to participate in school events. Lena Granillo, a senior, feels that students should be better informed about detention hours. Some of her peers around the time of senior ball “were completely unaware that they had detention hours they needed to work off.” She offered an example of a classmate who discovered well after the fact that she “had two hours from freshman year that she didn’t know existed.” Despite this, Granillo claimed, the student was still able to attend one prom but not the other. “Why was she able to go to junior prom with those hours but not senior ball?” she asked. “How are we supposed to serve those hours if we don’t know we have any?” “If I do have some, I am not aware of them,” says sophomore Kristina Meguro. “I don’t know the rules of detention hours.” Heinlein, however, is sure that “students ARE well-informed about their detentions, actually.” Whenever she issues a detention, she says, “I email the student and send the parent a TalkingPoints message.” TalkingPoints is a messaging app that sends communications directly to parents’ phones. She adds that students could also find out about detention policies via the student handbook, the notices taped to her door, or the signs hanging in K-101. She added that herself, Principal Richard Carosso, and Vice Principal Christopher Webber are available to answer any further questions. Real-World Roadblocks Knowing about detention is one thing, but avoiding it is a real challenge for Granillo, who thinks that the school should be more lenient and “make it more understanding for first period classes.” Getting to school in the morning is hard, she explained. “It can be annoying—between younger siblings, picking up friends, and having your parking spot taken!” Faiva agrees with Granillo about younger siblings, noting that “I had to drop off my little brothers in the morning… I missed a little of the first period.” Yet, she believes it still shouldn’t be an excuse because “I feel like it is something I could have, maybe, planned for earlier.” “I Think It Is Stupid” Students are split on whether detention hours are an effective way to teach responsibility. Some say they don’t need to go that far since some don’t take it seriously, while others from difficult homes might not want to share the real reason they are late. Others say it is a good way for people to take ownership and learn from their mistakes. “I think it is stupid,” says senior Hailey Jade Napora. When it comes to detention hours, she thinks the school should replace them with a “warning from my teacher.” “They texted my parents that I would have gotten detention hours if I kept doing that,” said Napora, who claimed the warnings were enough to help her show up on time. While it can be an opportunity for students to learn responsibility, Granillo also understands that “not many students take it seriously,” and they “end up stressing because it’s prom soon and they have four detention hours they need to work off in a week and have no time.” Asked about unexpected detention hours, Faiva says she “would deal with it by figuring out how many hours I have, and then figuring out what days I could do them.” She would use this time to be productive and “do homework.” Likewise, sophomore Judson Talana, who has gone through the process of working off detention hours, feels “it’s a good way to catch up on work,” but it is also “really boring and really quiet.” When asked if he reflects during detention, he stated, “no, not at all.” Ms. Heinlein understands that “detention doesn’t work for everybody... so, if you guys have other ideas, we’re open to hearing it.” Some students' reluctance to share the real reason they are late creates an environment where students are being punished for personal reasons they are not comfortable disclosing. Math teacher Andrew Akahi says that if people are late and they don’t wanna share why, they should “try to build a strong relationship with at least one current teacher or counselor.” While teachers and staff “are compassionate about special cases,” says Akahi, “students also need to take ownership and understand that walking in 25 minutes late because ‘the Starbucks line was long’ isn't an acceptable excuse.” Meguro wraps it up, saying that “if they have a ton of unexcused absences, I think they deserve it... I hope they learn from their mistakes and strive to be better for the future.” 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 The Downfall of Human Competence Ari Abut Philosophy The Work Seventeenth-century philosopher, René Descartes, famously wrote the words “Cogito ergo sum,” "I think, therefore I am” in his 1637 Discourse on the Method. By this, he meant that thinking is the only thing that is guaranteed to be true in this world and that maybe a person’s worldview shapes the identity of the person themselves. Unfortunately, AI demotes thinking to something optional, something that isn’t necessary when AI is doing the thinking for them. In this way, AI may stunt the development of the people using it, countering the development of self. Researcher Helms Potter claims that “individuals who have been exposed to high cognitive demand tasks throughout their lives tend to exhibit higher intellectual abilities." This means that people who have been assigned hard tasks that require a large amount of thinking are more likely to be intelligent individuals and can solve problems more efficiently. Yet, AI creates a situation in which intellectual tasks do not need to be solved by people. As researcher Umberto León-Domínguez argues , the use of AI deteriorates how humans process information, as AI can easily contextualize it in a more digestible way, making people use fewer of their intellectual resources. He describes a concept, “cognitive offloading,” through which the action of relying on an external resource (in this case, AI) to complete a cognitive task, such as memorizing dates or creating lists, makes individuals less reliant on their own brain to organize these tasks. As he states, “a risk remains that for a certain segment of the population, the pervasive use of AI chatbots may diminish specific cognitive skills—particularly if individuals do not utilize the freed cognitive resources for other tasks that pose cognitive challenges.” In short, individuals who don’t overuse AI to offload tasks will likely be intellectually inclined. As technology advances and becomes more competent, human abilities will decline in response. In the modern world, this process is already happening. Humans often use AI for assignments and tasks. And as humans realize tasks can be done effortlessly and quickly with AI, they will eventually start relying on it entirely. Anything that is considered difficult is dumped onto it, leaving users with all the easy tasks. As humans grow more incompetent and find out the AI can take care of such tasks, they will put those minor tasks on the AI as well. The cycle repeats and spirals until humans are unable to do anything at all. Most people view AI as a revolutionary program. It learns by itself, can mimic human behavior, and even create art and literature on its own. Many companies use AI to edit their work, generate ideas and business pitches. It molds itself to fit the preferences of customers, and even increases productivity in the workplace. This, it is thought, will result in the human employees needing to do less work. Yet, it is more likely that company revenue will increase while employee pay decreases. As AI gets exponentially better and better, it will become more competent and efficient than most humans, resulting in higher unemployment rates. The rich (who own companies and the new technology running them) will become richer, and the poor (out of work) will become poorer. It becomes a cycle in which fewer people are able to hold their jobs, and could result in exponential recession and unemployment. While AI has its merits, it still has the potential to hurt the way we function as of now. Perhaps in the future, when we as humans (our brains specifically), evolve to coexist with modern technology without hindrances on both ends, we can incorporate AI more effectively into our lives without the cost of our own humanity. Since 1995, it seems, Albert Einstein has been associated with the quote "It’s become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity." Yet, there is no evidence that he actually said this. In fact, it comes from a 1995 movie called Powder . Despite being associated with Einstein, they are actually words spoken by Donald Ripley, played by Jeff Goldblum. The film builds itself on the premise of embracing what is not perfect and how human bias and bigotry (mental laziness) can get in the way of that. Einstein’s actual quote goes like this: Our world faces a crisis as yet unperceived by those possessing power to make great decisions for good or evil. The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe. It comes from a New York Times article published in 1945 where Einstein described humans as ignorant and sadistic individuals with the power to enact that cruelty onto others. He asks: why would we trust anything with that capability to humans? Similarly, AI represents a scary combination of voluntary ignorance and danger. For those who ignore information, technology takes on that burden for them. However, this can result in the distortion of information in the world, reducing authenticity to something a computer came up with. The misattribution of the Einstein-Goldblum quote is an allegory for how humans are easily misled, and how false information can be spread disturbingly quickly. This, some people warn us, is what AI will do. Without recognizing the importance of using our own intelligence to create our own conclusions, that ability will eventually diminish until AI replaces it entirely. About the Creator Communication is not my strong suit. I would like to interact with you, but I must admit that first meetings are almost guaranteed to be awkward. I enjoy philosophical and psychological discussions and finding out more about how people work. I also enjoy analyzing media such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Madoka Magica . If you’re interested in either of these masterpieces, contact me immediately. I look forward to hearing your insights. Previous Next Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Send Email

< Back Memory of the Disaster Angela Tumpap Painting The Work Major events in life can impact and alter the way you view the world around you. My sustained investigation explores the idea that it's your choice how you want to view the world. Through this journey, I illustrated my efforts trying to overcome the grief that came from the loss of my hometown and how it changed my perspective on life. Healing isn't linear; there will be setbacks along the way. How you handle them is what makes life beautiful or cruel, depending on how you choose to see it. The five stages of grief was how I wanted to display this investigation at the start. However I soon let go of the idea since grief is much deeper than that. With my artworks I drew the progress I was making, whether it be that I fell back into sorrow or obtained moments of peace. You can see the moments where I improved as well as where I was faced with challenges. Later projects show signs of life becoming softer in my eyes, even revising an artwork I made when I was low spirited. As the end approaches, I am delighted to say, I am happy. About the Creator Angela Tumpap is a senior at Lahainaluna and a multi media artist practicing expressionism through art. She aims to evoke emotional responses in every piece she creates. She has a brother and sister and wants to go to art school at UHMC. Dan Schultz is her favorite teacher of all time when all her teachers in all subjects are taken into account throughout all her years of schooling. Previous Next Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Send Email

< All Candidates Lucia Mejia Treasurer ⭐ PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES: Do you have ideas regarding how to provide development opportunities to students (i.e. college fairs, scholarships, and campus policies to promote clubs and student involvement)? If so, explain: I believe that providing development opportunities for students is vital for not only their academic growth, but also their personal growth. Students need to be further informed on college and career opportunities. I feel that hosting college fairs on our campus will inspire more student initiative because it will be an easily accessible opportunity for them to learn about colleges and what they offer. Currently (that I know of) there is only one college fair offered to all grade levels by our school and it is not during school hours at Kamehameha Schools Maui which is at least an hour away from Lahaina. Another opportunity that may provide more college and career readiness is mentorship programs for all grade levels. If we can establish opportunities for internship or job shadowing students will have firsthand experience which may help them prepare for their future. Thirdly, providing more literacy to financial support, scholarships, etc. is so important to students wanting to apply to college. We need to ensure that financial barriers do not hinder students involvement and ability to attend college. Lastly, promoting clubs and student involvement is so important for our students and campus overall. Implementing campus policies that require or strongly advise in joining a club will encourage involvement. Promoting clubs through events open to anyone whether in the specified club or not may allow for students to get a feel for how the club works and whether they would be interested in joining or not. Leadership workshops also foster skills for students wanting to lead clubs or for students in student council. These are just a couple ideas regarding these subjects on our campus. EVENTS PLANNING: If you were elected to student council what school events do you deem important and why? I believe we need more school events involving our campus life and our community. Lahainaluna has so much pride and I believe we need to strengthen that by providing events that tie our community (whom many are past alumni) and our students together. Looking at schools across the island and on other islands I have garnered ideas that we may possibly want to look into in the upcoming year. For example, King Kekaulike is hosting a Spring Pa’ina in late March. I believe something similar to this would be an excellent event for our campus and community. It could also be a creative fundraising opportunity. I am running for treasurer for our junior class which means I will have the role of our finances for our junior prom. Keeping receipts and records for our purchases and creating fundraiser opportunities are very important steps to ensure a successful junior prom. Not only do I find importance in having a victorious junior prom I also believe it is equally important to create fundraiser opportunities to help finance this event. These are the three main things I deem most important for next year.I would like to make parking more organized and fair to students. Although there is a policy in place to reserve permits for the parking many students do not have a permit. Whether this be because of the cost, not wanting to sign up for one, or not having their license. By regulating that people have parking permits we can ensure safety when parking and driving through our parking lot. PARKING: If you were elected to the position you are running for, what changes would you want to make on the parking and car policy? I would like to make parking more organized and fair to students. Although there is a policy in place to reserve permits for the parking many students do not have a permit. Whether this be because of the cost, not wanting to sign up for one, or not having their license. By regulating that people have parking permits we can ensure safety when parking and driving through our parking lot. ENVIRONMENT: If you were elected to the position you are running for, what changes would you want to make to the appearance, cleanliness, or safety on campus? I am very interested in the beautification of our campus. I believe we do have a littering a problem and I aim for that to change. I am not entirely sure on the details but I did sign up to be informed on the creation of the surfriders club (excuse me if I am wrong about the name) which I believe is an environmental club focused on cleaning our community and campus. This club could be amazing for service projects focused on the beautification of our campus and I would love if student council could partner with this club to bring attention to this issue and the importance of it. I don't believe our safety is an issue that should be worried about on our campus considering we have a fairly safe environment. We have an extremely beautiful campus and the way we treat and respect it should be a priority. PHONE POLICY: If you were elected to the position you are running for, how would you change our phone policy? If elected, I would work towards a balance phone policy that acknowledges benefits and distractions accompanied by phone use in class. While I do understand the value of having access to phones for educational purpose and emergencies, I also recognize that they can be a major distraction, including for myself. However, simply enforcing a stricter policy may not be the best solution, as students may not follow the rules (especially if it is such a sudden jump from no phone policy to a strict one). I feel the best approach is classroom based. Therefore teachers have the flexibility of managing phone use according to their teaching style, student behavior, or lesson plan. SCHOOL LUNCH: If you were elected to the position you are running for, what would you do to improve the quality of student lunches? Our school lunch is a vital issue that I have closely looked at with another fellow student council member, our grade level president, Brianne Lagazo. This is in response to Bryson Aquino's earlier article in Kalama Hawai'i that discussed our school lunches and what can be done to improve them. Sophomore president Brianne Lagazo and I created a petition (that garnered student council signatures) to ask for more nutritious, bigger portioned, and more appetizing lunch. I hope to delve deeper into this issue this year or in the next year to ensure our students are provided a good lunch! Previous Next