Features – The Pinion

LaFave likes to help others

An Vo, reporter

December 1, 2019

Senior Kaia LaFave is band president and drum major. LaFave said she first began her journey as a musician on the flute but switched to the oboe. “I just really did not like playing the flute,” she said. “An opportunity came about where I could play the oboe so I took it and decided to ...

Pila begins new chapter

An Vo, reporter

November 15, 2019

David Pila joined McKinley High School’s ohana as a vice-principal in August to begin a new chapter in his career. He had experiences from working with other schools before he came to McKinley. Principal Ron Okamura said Pila comes with a wealth of experience from working on a district level. ...

Arakaki joins MHS ohana

An Vo, reporter

September 25, 2019

Imagine the school as one humongous jigsaw puzzle. Everyone and everything has a part to play to unify the pieces. Five new teachers have arrived at McKinley High School as the new members of the puzzle (staff). One of the new teachers, S. Ku'ulei Arakaki, works as a special education teacher. Arakaki i...

Jeremy Johns joins MHS staff

Wynn Dang, reporter

September 25, 2019

New teacher Jeremy Johns is looking forward to winter break. That’s when he gets to spend time with his friends and family on the mainland. Johns taught at Waianae High School. He lives in town and used to have to drive all the way to Waianae He became a teacher because he likes to work with ...

Susan Pacada looking forward to being back at McKinley

Kelly Cheng, reporter

September 25, 2019

Susan Pacada left McKinley High School but has come back this year to help students who need special education. "I'm very happy for her to be back here," said Principal Ron Okamura. Pacada said she is looking forward to getting to know the students that are freshmen and meeting the upperclassmen a...

Justin Collado starts teaching at McKinley

Nyler Acasio, reporter

September 25, 2019

Justin Collado started his first full-time teaching year at McKinley High School. After finishing his student teaching last year at McKinley, Collado is ready to take on real teaching duties. Collado teaches trigonometry as well as business management. He said he is looking forward to growing as a teacher...

Lance Fukuhara returns to McKinley

Joesph Brown, reporter

September 25, 2019

Lance Fukuhara was born and raised in Honolulu and graduated from the University of Hawaii Manoa. He has taught multiple subjects at McKinley and currently teaches business. Fukuhara said he is looking forward to getting to know all the new students and meeting the new teachers and staff members. He...

Kristi Auyong excited to teach at McKinley

Cheng Hong He, reporter

September 25, 2019

Kristi Auyong is a new teacher at McKinley High School. She teaches art. "She is very excited to be here," Principal Ron Okamura said. In Auyong’s classroom, students artwork is displayed and there are art posters around the room. There are also a few sinks and a ton of paintbrushes and palettes....

Scott Takata returns to McKinley

Thai Bui, reporter

September 23, 2019

Scott Takata left McKinley last year and returned to McKinley to teach yearbook and the arts communication class for 2019-2020. You can find him in T2. “I enjoy helping kids and just enjoy teaching,” he said. He said he is looking forward to all the exciting things that come with advising th...

Cooper returns to McKinley

Nickolas Castillo, reporter

September 23, 2019

Damien Cooper is an English and special education teacher that left McKinley, but then came back. She started teaching because she has worked with kids before in the past and since teaching is a “family career.” This year she is looking forward to seeing her senior students graduate and go to ...