Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 8, 1 August 2014 — UPWARD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UPWARD

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As these young Hawaiians prepare for their freshman year at some of the nation's top colleges - Yale and Dartmouth among them, they're anticipating greater knowledge, expanding their horizons and cold East Coast winters. At 18 years old, their goals range from becoming a writer and traveling the world, to retuming home to inspire the next generation of learners. In addition, Aaron Dela Cruz, a Maui native entering his sophomore year at Stanford shares what he has learned about himself and adapting to life and learning at an elite university. Among the best lessons he has learned? Asking for help when he needed it. There are times, he says, "when it's probably the best thing you ean do."

Knowing she wanted to attend a college on the East Coast, Elizabeth Kalei'ohunaikalani Akau's college counselor at Punahou suggested she eheek out Dartmouth. Akau's reaction? "Oh wow, that's an Ivy League school. I don't know if I ean get in." Intrigued, she sought out help with the application process. Akau's counselor at Kamehameha Scholars introduced her to the native outreach admission officer at Dartmouth, who along with College Horizons, a nahonal programthat helps native students succeed in college, guided her through the application process. She decided to visit the college during spring break of her junior year. "I really loved it. I felt at home there. I was glad he recommended it, because I would have never thought of going there." And then, last October Dartmouth Hew her up to the Hanover, New Hampshire, campus, where she stayed for SEE AKAU QN pAfiE 24

For most students, preparing to leave for college ean often be a stressful transition, but for 2014 Kamehameha graduate Nakoa Farrant, it's just another stepping stone in his goal to giving back to Hawai'i and its people. "Eventually, I hope I ean eome back to Hawai'i and work in the community, just doing something that I love," says Farrant. The well-rounded former Warrior eompeted in soccer, cross country, science fairs and even found the time to enter mulhple triathlons in his senior year. But even more impressive was Farrant's ability to maintain a 4.4 GPA, whieh eamed him the honor of class valedictorian. Farrant exemplifies hard work and the ability to manage his time wisely. Not surprisingly, he had his ehoiee of Ivy League colleges, but when one of the most prestigious schools eame calling, only one word could describe his reaction, SEE FARRANT QN PAGE 24

^ e authentic," says Kekoa Morris, W who will be attending Princeton University this fall. That's his advice to college applicants. "I think (colleges) ean see through people who just try to stack their applieation and make it seem like they're a really broad person. "I think when you really are passionate about something and dedicated to something, it shows through in your application. So, find a passion early and stick with it and heeome as involved with it as you ean rather than spread yourself SEE M0RR|S 0N PAGE 24 E kala mai > This article has been corrected. Kekoa Morris is an 'Iolani School graduate. He was described as attending another high school. KWO regrets the errors. ■

Elisabeth Kamaka says she can't wait to live and study on the East Coast, "because I've lived in Hawai'i my whole life." Bryn Mawr is just 1 1 miles outside Philadelphia, and a train ride from New York and Washington, D.C., offering history, culture and new experiences. "I really like history, especially learning about American history," says Kamaka, who as a senior was awarded 'Iolani's Economics and Entrepreneurship Award and a headmaster's list certificate for academic achievement. 'Iolani is a "supportive and generous community . . . and I feel like I'mprepared for college because of them," says Kamaka, a great-granddaughter to Samuel Kamaka, founder of Kamaka 'Ukulele, an island institution since 1916. Her musical bent includes playing 'ukulele, eello, piano and dancing hula for, kumu hula Coline Aiu's SEE KAMAKA 0N pAQ£ 24

AHEAD 0F THE CLASS

Haylee Kushi isn't happy with just one language. She speaks three, but is more interested in numbers as she prepares for her freshman year at Yale. "I attended a Hawaiian immersion school from first grade through seventh grade and college was something I never thought of. I didn't think I would leave the Big Island," she says. "But when I started at Kamehameha Schools, I got really passionate about academics." Kushi's No. 1 ehoiee of university was Stanford until a Yale recruiting team visited the KS-Hawai'i campus at the beginning of her senior year. "Stanford was my dream school, then the Yale presentation really caught my attention," Kushi says. "I liked how they talked about the tight-knit community and how they really support you from being a freshman and even when you graduate. I like the vibe, but I haven't even visited the campus." Kushi was accepted by Stanford and Yale, and offered full hnaneial aid at both schools. "By then, my heart was set on Yale. I'm looking forward to the change of paee," she says. "But the cold winters, &tt Ru:>m m KflhL ^

Kalae'ōla'a Trask-Sharpe always thought he'd attend a mainland university and relished the idea of an aeademic challenge. "With my family, it's kind of expected of me to put my best foot forward in class and in life in general," he says. "As a Native Hawaiian, I have a responsibility to my people and my family. That was instilled in me from a young age." Dartmouth wasn't on Trask-Sharpe's radar until he attended a leadership eamp in his junior year. "I found out Dartmouth is one of the top schools for indigenous people and that's what drives me, that's my foundation," he says. "I got to visit campus and I loved it. I met some of the people in the Native American program and I got a great feeling." Trask-Sharpe hasn't settled on a major yet, although he has been accepted to the Native American program and is SE TRASK-SIURP£ ON P«GE 24

Nineteen-year-old Aaron Dela Cruz describes his freshman year at Stanford University variously as "tremendous" to "the hardest thing I've ever had to do." Taking courses in calculus, chemistry principles, psychology and writing, Dela Cruz, who will start his sophomore year in September, says one of the toughest hurdles he had to overcome was learning to adapt to lectures of 200 more students, whieh aren't as amenahle to discussion and asking questions. Preferring the critical-thinking and discussion-oriented format of his THINK 25: Evolution on Earth class "where the teacher often asks open-ended questions where there's no wrong answer," Dela Cruz had to leam to adapt, "because that is what are you there for. You're there to leam, and if you're set in your ways about how you learn and what you want to learn and why, then it'll be really, really difficult to piek up new information." He also learned the power of asking for help. "There comes lots of times when it's probably the best thing you Iean do; I didn't realize that until almost too late in the year," !;eS',otn,S W bet!erTin ® DELA CRUZ ON P«GE 24

B0UND

mo'olelo nui • cover feature NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org

From left, Elizabeth Kalei Akau, I Nakoa Farrant, Kekoa Morris and ' Elisabeth Kamaka are about to embark on the education of a lifetime. - Photo : He!son Gaspar

tiizaoetn Kaiei AKau HIGH SCH00L: Punahou School C0LLEGE0R UNIVERSITY: Dartmouth College MAJ0R: Undecided DREAM J0B: One that she's passionate about and challengesherevery day LIFE ASPIRATION: To know that her life has purpose

Nakoa Farrant HIGH SCH00L: Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama C0LLEGE0R UNIVERSITY: Harvard University MAJ0R: Biology DREAM J0B: Environmental Management LIFE ASPIRATION: To give back to Hawai'i and its people

Kekoa Morris HIGH SCH00L: 'lolani School C0LLEGE 0R UNIVERSITY: Princeton University MAJ0R: Undecided DREAM J0B: Writer LIFE ASPIRATION: To travel and draw inspiration from various places

Ehsabeth Kamaka HIGH SCH00L: 'lolani School C0LLEGE 0R UNIVERSITY: BrynMawr College MAJ0R: Undecided, but interested in economics DREAM J0B: To help herfamily business, Kamaka'Ukulele LIFE ASPIRATION: "Right now, l'm hoping that when I get to college lcangetgoodgrades"

Haylee Makana Kushi HIGH SCHOOL: Kamehameha Schools-Hawai'i COLLEGEOR UNIVERSITY: Yale University MAJOR: lnterested in a mathEnglish double major, linguisticsoreducation DREAM JOB: College professor LIFE ASPIRATION: Teach students academic Ilessons along with life skills. Inspire passion for learning for a valuable purpose and for its own sake

Kalae'ōla'a Trask-Sharpe HIGH SCHOOL: Kamehameha Schools-Hawai'i COLLEGEOR UNIVERSITY: Dartmouth College MAJOR: lndigenous studies DREAM JOB: Something withmusic that connects to the Hawaiian people LIFE ASPIRATION: To help Native Hawaiians progress

Aaron Dela Gruz HIGH SCHOOL: Kamehameha Schools-Maui, Class of 2013 COLLEGEOR UNIVERSITY: Stanford University MAJOR: Undecided but interested in sports physiology DREAM JOB: None at the moment LIFE ASPIRATION: ln the short term, graduatingfrom college

AKAU

Continued from page 18 three days to see first hand what the school had to offer. She will be attending the prestigious Dartmouth College this fall. At Punahou, Akau worked as a marine biology teaching assistant, helping seventh-graders in the Partnerships in Unlimited Educational Opportunities program, or PUEO, whieh strives to inspire middle and high school students from neighboring puhlie schools to prepare to enter and complete college. "In the PUEO program they really, really push college," Akau says. "It opened my eyes to the importance of education. How important it is to go to college and how important the PUEO program is. At PUEO, college is the goal. It is such a great opportunity and program for everyone involved in it." Indeed, the hands-on experience was as eye-opening for her as for the middle-schoolers. The group went snorkeling - and also dissected a squid and a shark. "It was awesome," Akau says. "I'd never done those things before." And she got paid for it. "It was my first job. I hope I ean go back next year." Akau draws her motivation from her role models - her family, who she says all work very hard, going back to her great-grandparents, who were plantation workers. ■

FARRANT

Continued from page 18 "Excited," said Farrant. He plans to study biology at Harvard, in hopes of pursuing discoveries in environmental science to find solutions to better manage Hawai'i's environment and natural resources. When Farrant completes his bachelor's degree, he plans to move westward and take graduate courses somewhere on the West Coast or Hawai'i. Farrant leaves for Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Aug. 17,justone day after he competes in the Kawela Endurance Triathlon. He plans to join Harvard's Triathlon Club, and when asked whieh is more difficult,

an exam or a triathlon, he replies: "Although triathlons plaee more strain on my mind and body than exams, I always have a greater sense of accomplishment after a race because I've conquered a ehallenge that I chose to take on." ■

M0RRIS

Continued from page 18 out too thin." Morris' interest in Princeton began in the 10th grade. His teacher at Iolani School was a proud Princeton alumnus, with banners and various college items prominently displayed in class. "It sounded like my dream school," Morris says. "I didn't think I had a great ehanee of getting in, but it had everything that I wanted." Morris put a great deal of effort into preparing for the scholastic aptitude test and the essays. "I think that that helped me a lot to get into the school," he says. In the past, Morris competed in track, paddling, wrestling and soccer. At Princeton, he plans to join intramural sports clubs for fun, structured competition and exercise without pressure. "At a certain point in high school I thought I would (play in eollege), but I realized school definitely comes first. Sports help to have fun and enjoy yourself, but I would never put it before my education." He's undecided about his major but says, "I definitely want to be a writer." Down the road, he'd like to travel and find inspiration in new places, and then write about the topics he enjoys. ■

KAMAKA

Continued from page 18 Hālau Hula o Maiki. Playing music, Kamaka says, is "a stress reliever for me with all the homework that we get." But, she says, she dances hula because it is meaningful to her as a Hawaiian. "It's something that's been passed down from my kumu and my ancestors, and it's part of my Hawaiian culture." She chose the private college for its small 1,300 enrollment, liberal arts focus and its "good and generous scholarship."

"And also I found it interesting that it was a women's college that started because colleges like Harvard and Yale only accepted men at the time," she says. "So they made Bryn Mawr and the Seven Sisters, whieh were these all-women's eolleges. They were built because they wanted to give education to women as they did to men." ■

KU3HI

Continued from page 18 actually, I'm really, really worried about that." Although Kushi is eyeing a mathEnglish double major and wants to return to teach at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, she admits she has

trouble narrowing down her focus. "My interests are so scattered. I want to be a math college professor, but I really love to write so I might study some journalism. And linguistics, too." Kushi speaks English, Hawaiian and Japanese.

"I love how culture and language are intertwined," she says. "I'mpassionate about Hawaiian culture and coming home to share my knowledge. I can't see living on the East Coast my entire life. My idea is to get my degree and eome back to UH-Hilo to teach. It's powerful to inspire the next generation." ■

TRASK-SHARPE

Continued from page 18 science and indigenous peoples. "I want to learn about different people, so I ean expand my world view," he says. "I want to get good schooling and show the world we ean progress forward as a people." Trask-Sharpe's family has set an example for him to follow. His sister is attending Stanford and one of his aunts, Mililani, is seeking an at-large trustee position at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. He also credits his extracurricular activities with helping prepare him for college.

"I was on the wrestling teamand that made me a hard worker. It's good because you are part of the team, but it is an individual thing. It made me healthy as a person and I learnedleadership skills and humbleness," he said. "But really music is my greatest passion. I started piano when I was 5 and now I do everything - bass, 'ukulele, singing. Music opened up my mind and showed me how to communicate. It definitely gave me confidence." Trask-Sharpe admits he will miss his island home and is steeling himself for an East Coast winter.

"I'm getting my snow gear ready now, so I think I'll be OK," he says. "I'm very excited." ■

ŪELA CRUZ

Continued from page 18 classes) than I was doing, but I didn't know how to. ... Eventually I went to office hours, and I was amazed how mueh the teachers want to help and I started understanding things a little better."

At Stanford, he says, he found himself surrounded by highly achieving classmates who owned start-ups, or like his roommate, who made apps for Apple. At first, he didn't feel like he belonged in such accomplished company, citing his greatest achievement as eaming Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. After talking to his dorm leader, he eame to see that others may be struggling too, even though they seem OK on the surface. Dela Cruz's advice to incoming college freshmen? "Know who you are. ... Be comfortable with what you did and know that schools like Stanford, like Harvard, Princeton, they chose to accept you for a reason. You may not understand that reason, but there is a reason." Among the highlights of his freshman year? Joining the Stanford taiko club and living in the freshman dorm. That provided a sense of belonging and home away from home. "You feel like a family," he says of the dorm. "A big, 90-person family." ■

www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

Elisabeth Kamaka played the eello in 'lolani School's orchestra. - Courtesy photo

Haylee Kushi, right, speaks English, Hawaiian and Japanese. - Courtesy photo

At his high school's hō'ike in March, Kalae'ōla'a Trask-Sharpe portrayed Kalanimoku in a production of The Battle of Kuamo'o, about the breaking of the kapu system. Kalanimoku fought for the ali'i seeking to change the ancient religion to Christianity. - Courtesy: Jasey Frasco

Aaron Dela Cruz, center, in front of his dorm, Rinconada, on move-in day at Stanford. - Courtesy: Aaron Dela Cruz