Sharing the Joy of Reading

‘Iolani and neighbor Ala Wai Elementary School, as neighbors celebrated the Thanksgiving season with a “Readers are Leaders” book fair on November 23 in Seto Hall.

The fair was an ‘Iolani School kindergarten through sixth grade service learning project to directly benefit Ala Wai Elementary. Hundreds of ‘Iolani students and families held drives to collect books for the fair. Ala Wai School students in pre-kindergarten to sixth grade received certificates that allowed them to select and take books home with them. Each Ala Wai student went home with at least five books.

‘Iolani parents, faculty and staff  volunteered at the fair. The ‘Iolani student storytellers club entertained. Other highlights included door  prizes, refreshments, and an arts and craft station where students made book marks.

‘Iolani School and Ala Wai Elementary School have been longtime partners for different projects. ‘Iolani students and alumni helped clean and paint Ala Wai Elementary on October 2. ‘Iolani students also serve as tutors for Ala Wai students.

Entrepreneurs Bring On the Challenge

‘Iolani held its first annual Entrepreneurship Challenge in Seto Hall with five teams competing on October 7. Each team submitted a 20-page business plan and made a 15-minute presentation on an original product or idea. For the plans, judges looked at their innovation and creativity, technical soundness, organizational plan and management structure, and projection of financial performance. For the presentation, teams were judged on delivery, time management, and a question and answer session.

Volunteers from the community served as Team Mentors, including: Jason Brand, Robert Dawson Jr., Caroline Kim, Kevin Sakoda ’82, Peter Wheeler. Judges included Trevor Benn ’92, Nelson Chun ’70, Kimi Frith ’92, Leighton Ige ’01, Bryant Park, Thomas Park ’96, and Peter Tomozawa. The Event Sponsor was  Cellular Bioengineering, Inc. and Hank Wuh ’77.

The winning team (Mark Grozen-Smith ’11, Zalman Bernstein ’12, and Guthrie Angeles ’12) was Team Oasis Wristbands which invented a “cooling bracelet dedicated to providing athletes and everyday people with the necessary means to stay comfortable during strenuous exercise and workouts.” Each member received an iPad donated by event sponsor Skai Ventures / Cellular Bioengineering, Inc. The other teams were Team Omniscient Trent Nakamura, Cameron Dye, Andrew Ito; Team Swoop Loop Jamie Takayesu, Dustin Shigaki, Reece Buffington; Team Valez Richard Chang, Hao Chen, Andrew Wu; Team Vita Eun Ah Cho, Stratford Goto, Zhaotong Xu.

Team Oasis will now represent ‘Iolani in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Entrepreneurship Challenge. ‘Iolani School thanks all students, mentors, judges, and sponsors that participated and made this competition a success.

Ritsumeikan Science Fair

It was a real world, life-changing experience. Representing Hawaii and the United States, physics teacher Dr. Mark Lindsay and four students in early November attended the Ritsumeikan Super Science Fair in Kyoto, Japan. They presented research on artificial reefs. The science fair attracts top science students from 45 countries to an international atmosphere of scientific and cultural camaraderie. ‘Iolani students (Farron Choe ’11, Logan Davis ’13, Kyle Flores ’13, Erin Main ’12, and Bradley Wo ’13) were selected from a school-wide application process supported by Headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita. They conducted research on artificial reefs off Waikiki and placed by Atlantis Submarines.

Last summer, ‘Iolani hosted a team from Japan by showing them local science sites, including Coconut Island, the Waikiki Aquarium, and Atlantis Submarines.

The Crucible Conjures Deep Thinking

The ‘Iolani Dramatic Players and theater teacher Rob Duval made a powerful statement with their exceptional staging of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at Diamond Head Theatre on November 3 to 6. Based on the Salem witch trials of 1692, the play has been studied by generations of students.

‘Iolani presented it with reverence and authenticity, leaving audiences enthralled, entertained and a bit disturbed. Rightly so, the topic is heavy and deals with paranoia and faith, yet it is also hopeful in that goodness, somehow, softly triumphs in the end. Bravo!

Spirit of Giving

In support of the Lokahi Giving Project, students, faculty, and staff adopted and donated gifts for 240 children, seniors, and Ala Wai School students to help make the holidays brighter for those in need. The gifts included much needed school supplies, slippers and shoes.

Up in the Air

Through the generous support of the Tam & Young Arts Chair, ‘Iolani students were treated to an unprecedented multi-dimensional performing arts event on December 1. “Aerial Dancing & Live Music on the Lawn” was coordinated by dance teacher Lisa Lee Simon ’88. The performance featured Andrea Torres, the original featured aerialist in ‘Ulalena, the award-winning Maui Theatre production. Torres displayed two extraordinary aerial dancing techniques including rings and silks rigged on a monkey pod tree in the Lower School. Acclaimed local musicians Bruce Hamada ’75 (bass) and Fumiko Wellington (violin) were joined by ‘Iolani Jazz Combo standouts Jana Dagdagan ’11, Sean Mitchell ’12, and special guest Logyn Okuda ’22 to provide live music for this unique performance.

Campus Candids

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