One Week Away from Taiko Festival! 

Dear Readers of the What's New, 

While our campus is always bustling with new student activities, field trips, and special guest speakers, this year’s lead up to spring break feels extra busy. Perhaps it’s because nearly every student in the school is experiencing the taiko festival the way we used to do things before the pandemic. I remember the first Taiko Festival program held at the McKinley High School auditorium. It was great then. It has persisted and evolved. There is a lore to it. We relish the event.

We do our best here to explain logistics such as the schedule and environment of the Moanalua High School Performing Arts Center for those who haven’t seen the stage and to students new to the buzz, but in the name of show biz, nothing we say can truly prepare students for the energy and excitement of the live performance.  

It has always been a favorite experience of mine to watch the wide-eyed freshmen, running on adrenaline, smile after the audience applauds their first number. All their dedication, using break periods to practice in the band room, taiko dojo, Founders Hall, editing logo options for programs and t-shirts, memorizing notes and drumming patterns, finally pays off as they accomplish a performance to remember.

We’ll spend the next week of school prepping for the big day with adjusted class schedules to make time for run-throughs, ironing costumes, and filming interviews for news stations. At the same time, the school sangha readies for the HAIS/WASC accreditation visit, as the 17th Annual Taiko Festival serves as our introduction to the school community. Our students are so excited to present their hard work and talents. We hope you can join us at the Moanalua Performing Arts Center located on the Moanalua High School campus on Sunday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. to enjoy our taiko, Sōran Bushi, and rock band groups. Information including how to buy t-shirts and tickets can be found on our school website here.17th Annual Taiko Festival Tickets!

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Exclusive 17th Annual Taiko T-Shirt

A limited quantity of Taiko t-shirts will be sold at the taiko festival. Arrive early to secure your uniquely designed t-shirt! 

PBA Students Join Leadership Camp on Oahu’s North Shore Sponsored by the Rotary Club 

Last weekend, 13 PBA students attended Oahu’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp at Camp Homelani in Waialua. They joined 50 high schoolers from around the island for the busy three-day schedule. Guest speakers included Amanda Ellis from the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, Tracy Wiltgen from The Meditation Center of the Pacific who spoke on conflict resolution, and Nainoa Thompson from the Polynesian Voyaging Society. 

"I am very glad that I was given the opportunity to attend the RYLA camp,” said sophomore Sean Fitch. “I enjoyed making connections with students from other schools and would love the opportunity to return next year as a group leader.” Sean is a member of PBA’s Eco-Interact Club in partnership with the Eco-Rotary Club of Kaka`ako. “The more I learn about Rotary, the more interested I become in volunteering and community service,” explained Sean. 

One act of service the students participated in at RYLA was a beach cleanup with Sustainable Coastlines that was featured on Hawaii News Now. “During the Waialua Beach cleanup, we learned what happens to ocean life when we leave trash behind,” said sophomore Addison Hernandez. “Sustainable Coastlines also showed us what to do if we see an animal in danger. Overall, we learned about all sorts of things on how to be a great leader.” You can view the short clip on Hawaii News Now’s website here. HNN Rotary Leadership Camp

Freshman Kent Sekine, who enrolled in PBA just last month, was one of the many PBA students hesitant to apply to RYLA. “I asked Ms. Megan a lot of questions before signing up because I can be really shy meeting new people sometimes. At camp, the leaders broke us up into ‘`Ohana teams,’ which separated us PBA students into groups with kids from other schools. I ended up making close friends through all of the games we played together in our groups. Former Shriner’s Hospital Chief Surgeon Dr. Kent Reinker gave a presentation on leadership styles, and I got to take a photo with him because we’re both named Kent! I had such a good time that when the RYLA bus dropped us off back in town, I asked my sister if I could continue spending the rest of the day with my classmates. I learned from Dr. Kent that shy students can be leaders in their

own way.” 

The camp ended with a graduation ceremony for friends and family led by commencement speaker and incoming District Governor Mark Merriam. RYLA 2024 is scheduled for February 16-18 at Camp Erdman and is open to local public, private, and home-schooled students. More information can be found at rylahawaii.org.

Student Activity

Congratulations to our Pac-Five boys soccer team for placing 2nd in the HHSAA D2 Championship!

Students visit former PBA science teacher Mr. Velasco's lo'i farm for a community service project.

Hyaku Sen Ki Kai Taiko put on a spectacular performance for the SEEQS student body. 

Summer School Registration Open!

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