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| PBA Student Athletes Shine in ILH Winter Sports
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| Dear Readers of the What's New, |
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| The What’s New sports corner is typically Athletic Director Kena Heffernan’s beat, but between the upcoming judo season and Soran Bushi training, Mr. Heffernan asked me to share information about PBA student athletes in winter sports. There’s a lot to share! Please indulge me in a series of first-person accounts from my recent attendance at a whole bunch of high school sports competitions. |
| D3 varsity boys basketball, co-op team with Assets School: v. Hawaii Mission Academy, January 19, 6:30 p.m. I really should have known that fully five guys on the Assets D3 boys vars squad are PBA student athletes: senior Breydon Gono, junior Lycan De Vol, and sophomores Ethan Lee, Michael Shin, and Zachary Yoshida. I was pleased to see an impressive contingent of PBA students on the bleachers for the game. I was even more pleased at the important roles the PBA boys play on the team, Ethan Lee as the main ball handler, Breydon, Lycan and Michael rebounding machines and monstrous on the full court press, and Zach scrappy in clean-up time to end the game. The boys beat Hawaii Mission Academy 38-25 and took over first place in the D3 standings as a result. They kept that standing, it seems, until a more recent loss against IPA. Here’s a picture of Mr. Lee running the point. |
| D3 varsity girls basketball, co-op team with St. Andrews School: v. Mid-Pacific Institute, January 23, 6:30 p.m. |
| Sophomore Kaya Blum’s been flying under the radar with her basketball team participation this year, but I am grateful to have seen her last game of the season, a loss in the girls vars D2/D3 combined tournament to D2 four-seed Mid-Pacific Institute. The game was a tough draw for the SAS girls, but never mind the loss, PBA’s Ms. Blum was one of the main point guards on the court. She’s driving out of full court danger in the shot below. Congratulations on a great |
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| season, Kaya! Pac-Five Soccer: v. St. Louis School, January 21, 9 a.m. I had great fun joining the Matsumoto and Blum families at St. Louis School, as well as a nice group of PBA teachers and admin, all avid soccer fans. It was Senior Day for Pac-Five vars soccer, with two PBA boys getting honors, Brady Blum (Kaya’s brother) and Caden Matsumoto. Sophomore Evan Derauf was also called up to the vars level following the end of the junior varsity season (he competed with fellow PBA sophomore Alex Michibata on the JV squad). |
| I love soccer! I played in high school (though not at the level the game’s played at today), and love watching the action. Brady and Caden have important leadership roles on the Pac-Five team, and it was fun seeing them honored in the celebration following the 3-1 win over St. Louis that followed. Here’s a shot of Caden calling for the ball on the field. |
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| It was also thrilling to see Evan make what has to have been one of the most beautiful, well-paced assists for goal I’ve seen in a very long time, a beautifully paced back pass from near the opponent’s goal line that was smashed into the back of the net. Still get chicken skin thinking about that pass. (Or is it flashbacks? I was center fullback in high school. Defending a cross that skillful might have broken my spirit!) I loved seeing how our boys compete. Pac-Five Swimming: ILH JV Championships, January 18, 5 p.m. Talk about competition. It was a great pleasure getting over to the ILH JV swim championships at Iolani School last week. |
| Freshman Greydan Takara, a club swimmer also, has labored in obscurity much of the ILH season as he is the lone PBA swimmer on the Pac-Five squad. (He is coached, though, by PBA alum Tara Miyashiro, so it was fun to see her at the swim meet.) Greydan competed in the 100 freestyle and 200 medley relay and gave both events his all. Unfortunately, he jammed his elbow finishing his freestyle leg of the relay, and had to scratch for his specialty event, the 100 breaststroke. Mr. Takara is in the black and orange cap, what a great performance! |
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| Pac-Five Wrestling: ILH Intermediate Championships, January 7: 9 a.m. You might not know it to see the young man, but freshman Collin Hanney, all 90 pounds or so of him, was a Pac-Five wrestler this season, and did he ever finish the season on a high note, placing second in the ILH intermediate championships. Here’s Collin near the end of the match. |
| In sum, I want to say thanks to the PBA student athletes and supporting families for all of your hard work. We aren’t able to make it to all of the competitions, but we try our best to get out there to root the students on. Great job!
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| Warmly, |
| Gratitude and Appreciation for Mr. Takazono
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| Beloved PBA art teacher and esteemed colleague Wayne Takazono has announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Mr. Takazono has inspired students since he first came to PBA in 2006 with many graduates going on to pursue careers in the fine arts field. “Mr. Takazono introduced me to art history,” explained Paris Hitchcock (’13). “He taught me about different art movements that I had seen but couldn’t put a name to. I was so inspired and went on to
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| receive my bachelor’s degree in art history from Linfield University.” In the coming months, we look forward to featuring the stories of more alumni in tribute to Mr. Takazono’s influence and legacy. Whether it be Pastels, Acrylics, Watercolors, Exploring Abstract Art, Murals, or Art through the Ages, Mr. Takazono’s classes are a favorite for many PBA students. “Mr. Takazono is the best teacher I’ve ever had,” said sophomore Paulo Sarbida enthusiastically. “He taught me to draw what I see, not what I know. He emphasizes the importance of breaking down the preconceptions of what you think something looks like and draw what’s actually in front of you. I love being creative, and the techniques I learned in his class have made me a better artist.” Senior Lotus Machado plans to study fashion design after she graduates this summer. “Mr. Takazono has shared many stories with us about his friends and how he got to the point in his life where he is now as an artist and person. To me, he’s a mentor whose teachings go beyond the classroom walls,” said Lotus.
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| Many of the stories Mr. Takazono shares come from his background of being a self-employed artist since 1975. Throughout the years, his style has grown through experiments with media such as oil, acrylics, and charcoal. His series of abstract dreamscapes in pastel begin as an idea but, similar to dreams, evolve greatly
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| as he continues to add more to the consecutive pieces. Wayne Takazono art can be found at his studio gallery in the Kaneohe Atrium, Cedar Street Gallery, various ongoing art exibits and on his Facebook and website, which will be online soon. Reflecting on his teaching journey, Mr. Takazono said, “I have enjoyed everything about PBA! The students (well, 98% of the students), the teachers, and the whole staff. I hope students will remember what they were taught. Especially the ‘aha’ moments when the light bulb in their head goes on and they get it. When they get it, it shows on their faces. I also hope they leave my classes with a deeper appreciation for the beauty around them. This includes seeing forms, colors, shapes, and interesting visual juxtapositions that most people won't notice.”
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| Looking forward to the future, Mr. Takazono hopes to spend more time on his outdoor hobbies like surfing and fishing. He’ll also continue his creativity in his studio gallery. “Even now I'm working on a 3' x 4' oil painting, and I have three 40" x 60" canvases ready to be painted,” said Mr. Takazono. “I will also travel more. My partner Cathryn owns two homes on the Big Island, and we will fly there at least once every month. I may also be going to Costa
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| Rica to visit Cathryn's brother at his beachfront home in the summer. Teaching is something that is a part of me, so I will continue to offer art classes to the general public. There is a huge portion of our community that is my age, and they want to keep their minds active by learning new things, art being one of them. I already have scheduled classes at the Mid-Pacific Country Club for the month of July. Last but not least, I can relax when and IF I want." PBA thanks Mr. Takazono for the leadership and creativity he’s brought to the school community for years. As he has shared his excitement for learning with students and colleagues alike, we’re grateful for his time with us and wish him a beautiful retirement!
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