5/26: UNLESS SOMEONE CARES...

Ryan and HaRim work on the LC banner.

Alumni and officers lead the opening ice breaker.

Participants actually DO the ice breaker!

Interactive Method workshop.

Suzanne and Susan lead some "Risk Takers!"

Let's "Communicate" better!

Music video fellowship!

All together now!

The eventual winners:  "Lorax" group!

"Shape maker" team game!

Don't fall off the island!

Hajime!  "Ultimate Ninja!"

A final pose for the camera!

SENIORS!

The annual SA Leadership Conference kicked off this coming school year with the theme:  "Unless Someone Cares..." borrowed from the animated movie "The Lorax."  We felt it was appropriate, however, because as student leaders, we need to care about out school and community, and try to get everyone else on board, too.  The conference included over 60 leaders from Moanalua High, Moanalua Middle and Kamehameha Middle Schools.  In addition, ten Moanalua alumni leaders came back to help facilitate the groups.  Thanks go out to all of them as well as the SA Officers and advisors who helped chaperone:  Mrs. Renae Villa (MMS), Mrs. Gail Vannatta (KMS), Mrs. Lachelle Sablan (MoHS c/o 2015) and Mr. Reid Tsumoto (MoHS c/o 2016).

5/11: AWARDS ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL YEAR!

New SA officers are sworn in....
Rachel is cut off!

Colonel B proudly poses with the
AFJROTC winners!

Art winners proudly hold their awards!

Business reciognized the most students!

FCCLA winners pose with Ms. Hashizume!

Mene MAC and drama winners!

"The Prodigies" do their thing!

Special Olympics winners are recognized!

Senior of the year:  Meshelle Hirashima (left)!

Teacher of the year:  Erik Kubota!
(apologies for the side view)

Organization of the Year:  LEO Club....
for the seventh year in a row!

Co-Menehune of the Year:
Haley Pendergast and Wai Sam Lao!

The Awards Assembly topped a great year at Moanalua that saw numerous individual awards, sports individual and team championships including a boys' golf and boys' judo state titles, a marching band sweep of all major tournaments, and academic individual and team titles including a Mock Trial Team that was so good this year that both the A and B teams matched up against each other for the state title.  Winners from all departments were recognized, and this year the number of winners almost doubled!  We do not usually like to "toot our own horn," but hey, it's OUR blog, and our students deserve recognition.  Unfortunately not pictured above is the jubilant SENIOR class who won Class of the Year!

5/3: SENATE AWARDS LUNCHEON HIGHLIGHTS SA's BEST

First-year Senators!

Second-year Senators!

Third-year Senators!

Fourth-year Senators!

SA Officers also receive medals!

The annual Senate luncheon recognized senators, committee chais and officers who truly helped make activities happen this past year.  Senators were given colored medals depending on years of service while all committee chairs who actually completed their committee were presented with certificates.  Finally, SA Officers received medals for their work this past year.  There were many more senators than pictured above.  Unfortunately, not all were able to attend.  Still, those who did were rewarded!

4/30: CDSC COMES TO AN END!

Present CDSC Representatives extinguish their flames, symbolizing the end of CDSC.

CDSC Chair Kelly Zakimi (far left) administers the oath to incoming HSSC representatives.

Posting district news on this blog is not something normally done, however, in this case, it is an important mark in history.  The Central District Student Council (CDSC) will cease to exist starting next school year.  The Central District is made up of six schools:  Aiea, Leilehua, Mililani, Radford, Waialua and of course, Moanalua.  On this year's CDSC, Moanalua representative Kelly Zakimi was also the chair, while both Hawaii State Student Council (HSSC) members from central were also from Moanalua.  While district council may be missed, it is hoped that the newly restructured HSSC, now Hawaii State Student CONGRESS, will serve district students in the same capacity as each school is now required to send one representative to congress.  Representation will now be spread fairly across the state.  Thank you to all present CDSC Representatives for your hard work and dedication this year and best wishes for all your futures!

4/27: MAY DAY CELEBRATION ONE OF THE BEST EVER!

The culminating activity for Ethnic Week is the annual May Day Celebration put on by the Polynesian Dance club and classes.  Kumu Claire Manutai always gets her students to put on a great show, and this year has to be the best so far.  But not only was it the culminating activity for Ethnic Week but in a way, the culminating activity for Kumu's dance classes as well, almost like their "final exam."  There are not many finals that students can claim where they must perform it in front of all their classmates as well as their parents (dress rehearsal the night before the assembly), and get INSTANT feedback!  To all performers....you passed!

4/24-26: FIRST ETHNIC WEEK A LEARNING EXPERIENCE!

The Japanese Club featured taiko drumming.....

.....and some food samples!

The Spanish Club featured displays and food samples!

Students also had a chance to play Balero where you try to place a ball on a stick!

The Korean Club showed Korean videos.....

.....and of course, food samples!  Was there a trend?

After years of trying to get an Ethnic Week off the ground, we FINALLY were able to have one, thought the timing was very short for participants.  Still, three groups:  Japanese, Spanish and Korean, managed to get something together for students.  Each ethnicity took a turn on one day, and the week culminated in the annual May Day Presentation (see separate blog entry).  While it was a learning experience for everyone involved this year, NEXT year's Ethnic Week has already been established!