Author: Jonah Akina

I’ve always admired people who dedicate their lives to shaping others, and Dr. Carey “Doc” Inouye ’66 is exactly that kind of person. Having walked the halls of ‘Iolani as a student, teacher, coach, and now as Dean of Instruction, Doc’s impact on our community is profound and enduring. When I first met him on…

I’ve always believed that some people leave footprints so deep, you can feel them long after they’re gone. Eddie Hamada ’46 was one of those people. I first learned of him not through headlines or awards, but through stories from teammates, students, and colleagues who still carry his lessons in their hearts. Eddie wasn’t just…

I still remember the first time I heard someone chant “Up, up-down, up-down…” — not at a game, but in a chemistry class. That was the kind of magic Pamela Fujinaka brought into her teaching: formulas turned into rhythms, lessons transformed into memories. Pamela, or simply “Fuj” as her students called her, spent decades shaping…

I remember the first time I watched Kristine Wada ’02 perform the Japanese tea ceremony. There’s something mesmerizing about the deliberate, graceful movements — the way she turns the bowl, arranges the table, and even positions her guests. Kristine calls it ichigo ichie, a Japanese phrase that roughly translates to “one chance, one moment.” And…