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Reporting & Writing
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Learning kindness through comics
While being a teacher's assistant for the lower school librarian, I would ask her all about the exciting projects her class would do. One day, she brought my attention to the sixth grade class that was creating student-made comics, inspired by the book Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld, a book that personifies shapes to explore the highs and lows of friendship. Featuring each group in the class’s comic, I highlighted each of their unique concepts into a fun feature that shows the creative minds of the future upper school students.
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Coconut Girl in a high fashion world; the time I spent at Vogue
After attending the Vogue Fashion Summer School in New York City, I wrote a photo essay piece to share the experience of being the only girl from Hawai'i, leaning into my discomfort and pushing myself to represent Hawai'i the way I knew only I could, with aloha. I paint the setting and tasks I was given: analyzing current fashion trends, collaborating on editorial content with the editors, and creating my own mock-up brand and presenting it to the entire student body, as well as the professionals we worked with. The article dives into sticking to my identity, carrying my local roots into the global fashion world.
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Click the link below to read the full article:
Power outage disrupts campus but learning continues
When a sudden power outage hit Sacred Hearts Academy’s campus, I ran to the newsroom and grabbed equipment with first-year journalist Zaydi Epstein. I gathered real-time information and interviews from faculty as well as my peers to explain what happened, but more importantly, how we adapted. This article focused on clarity, verification, and having a quick turnaround to show that even when something unexpected struck, the Academy was able to quickly adapt and overcome.
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You're not getting enough protein. Here's how to fix that!
Noticing peers around me were exhausted, and realizing most students don't realize the importance of conscious health choices, I decided to write a piece to convince others to eat more protein using scientific research. The article breaks down the scientific reasoning behind the importance of protein and provides accessible ways for people to get the recommended amount of protein every day. Showing that no matter your budget or time, there's a way to eat enough protein to better your health.
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Cutting Down The Last of My Childhood
In this personal essay blog, I detail my father cutting down a tree in front of our home, using it as a metaphor for growing up and being ripped away from your childhood comforts. By layering memories, dialogue, and some internal reflection, I show the bittersweet and abrupt transition from childhood to adulthood that you never feel prepared for.
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Two sisters carve their path into figure skating
This feature profile follows two sisters, Karys and Khloe Shimizu, who train in figure skating and represent Hawai'i on national stages. Through interviews with the sisters, their family, and their coach, I dive deep into the commitments behind their routines and how their bond is stronger than ever from their shared passion for figure skating.
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Full Circle Moment: From student to President of the Academy
For this feature article, I profiled the new president at Sacred Heart Academy, Dr. Brandy Ann Sato, who is an alumna and was incredibly excited to step into her role. I combined a detailed interview with archival research to trace her journey from student to president. The piece describes her experiences at the academy, and the importance of living out our motto “orare et laborare” throughout our entire life, and the importance of giving back to our community, as it has shaped us.
Later, Dr. Sato wrote me a letter of recommendation when she heard I was entering this contest, focusing on my overall impact on campus, and enthusiastically endorsing my nomination for Hawai'i Journalist of the Year. She highlighted my leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Ka Leo (earning First Place Best Newspaper 2023–2025), along with my individual achievements like Mental Health America’s Student Voice Award and my internship at Vogue.
To view Brandy Ann Sato's Letter of Recommendation, copy the following link and paste it into your search engine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sMcJW6JtOoi4v1xsrh5IjTD3qkXNH0tb/view
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Later, Dr. Sato wrote me a letter of recommendation when she heard I was entering this contest, focusing on my overall impact on campus, and enthusiastically endorsing my nomination for Hawai'i Journalist of the Year. She highlighted my leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Ka Leo (earning First Place Best Newspaper 2023–2025), along with my individual achievements like Mental Health America’s Student Voice Award and my internship at Vogue.
To view Brandy Ann Sato's Letter of Recommendation, copy the following link and paste it into your search engine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sMcJW6JtOoi4v1xsrh5IjTD3qkXNH0tb/view
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Off-the-beaten-path of Japan
When I went to Japan, I decided to explore outside of Tokyo and see all the beauty the country has to offer. When we were figuring out where we should visit, we knew we wanted to experience the usual city life but also wanted to see what it would be like off-the-beaten-track, in areas that are more personal and quaint. I focused my piece on giving others the courage to explore outside of the regular spots.
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Click the link below to read the full article:
Lower School's basketball team remains undefeated
This sports article follows the Academy’s lower school basketball team's undefeated season, from interviews with the coach, Hunt Meadows, and players Kortne Ibrao and Hailey Meadows, sixth graders who have been there for the two years that they remained undefeated. This piece was to highlight the fun, but also the discipline of elementary sports.
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Click the link below to read the full article:
Folding Love into Every Roll
This feature piece focuses on a well-known local Filipino family bakery, Nanding’s Bakery, and follows Cassandra Morete, one of the family members, while she juggles work at the bakery and school at Sacred Hearts Academy. The location she works at, on Kapahulu Avenue, has been a staple in the community since 2001 and produces 2,400 Spanish rolls daily, alongside many other pastries such as pan de sal and pork adobo rolls.
Later, after the article I've written, Morete became a staff reporter at Ka Leo and wrote a heartfelt letter of recommendation for my work from the perspective of a staff member, classmate, and someone I once wrote about, and the positive effects that piece had on her bakery.
To view Cassandra Morete's Letter of Recommendation, copy the following link and paste it into your search engine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J78YdGDIsHsEoy_iYVmE56BkL5_iPerv/view
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Later, after the article I've written, Morete became a staff reporter at Ka Leo and wrote a heartfelt letter of recommendation for my work from the perspective of a staff member, classmate, and someone I once wrote about, and the positive effects that piece had on her bakery.
To view Cassandra Morete's Letter of Recommendation, copy the following link and paste it into your search engine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J78YdGDIsHsEoy_iYVmE56BkL5_iPerv/view
Click the link below to read the full article:
Lancer community helps Maui fire victims
After the tragic Lahaina fires, within 24 hours of the event, Sacred Heart Academy’s parent organization planned a donation drive at the front of the Kaimuki campus. This news article is focused on documenting the Academy’s donation drive and the school's island-driven unity to help Maui. I did interviews with parent coordinator Natasha Haukea Ho ’97, volunteers like Kaila Teves, and sophomore Lillian Kaleikini-Thompson (whose family sent aid directly to Lahaina relatives).
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Click the link below to read the full article:
Flowers speak more than words
With this feature article, I use my early passion for flowers as an unspoken language of love. I traced stories such as purple hyacinths to Apollo’s tragic myth, forget-me-nots to Eden lore, gardenias as secret admiration, and ambrosia for mutual love. Using the book “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, I researched and dove into the importance of meaningful and purposeful choices when giving someone flowers.
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Click the link below to read the full article:
Playlist to warm your heart
Drawing from my own playlist of love songs, I dive into this entertaining article to share these love songs to show that love is everywhere and is experienced by all. The importance of appreciating the little things in life starts with how you live your life and what media you consume.
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Click the link below to read the full article:
Bionic Lancers Video
This video, “Believe It or Not, I Care,” which aired on PBS Hawai'i’s HIKI NŌ program, is about B.I.O.N.I.C. Lancers, a team of Sacred Hearts Academy students that reaches out to peers who might be facing challenging times. It dives into the impact they make around campus, while following testimonies from students who were helped by them. From the video, I went on to be recognized and win the Student Voice Award at the Mental Health America reception during my freshman year.
Click the link below to watch the video on YouTube:
Click the link below to watch the video on YouTube:
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