The energy and volume were pumped up to the max at the annual music event, Aloha Bash, held April 21, at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补. Hosted by the (CCBAC), hundreds gathered at the Andrews Amphitheatre to hear an exclusive live performance by pop singer, MAX.

“The turnout for Aloha Bash was awesome!” said CCBAC chairwoman Sophia Lopez. “We had a national pop artist join us this year, a first in CCBAC history, as well as amazing openers that people were looking forward to, so we were really excited to see so many people come together to enjoy such great music. I鈥檓 so glad people came out.”

The show opened with the artist JOBY! and his four-piece band The Currents, as well as the band Ragamuffs, whose lead singer Hailey Fines is a graduate from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

Supporting act Ryan Siegel of Party Pupils, a duo which consists of producer Siegel and MAX, played future funk remixes of popular hits and original music, getting the crowd excited for headliner, MAX. The pop star sang a selection of his viral hits, such as “Blueberry Eyes featuring SUGA of BTS” and “Lights Down Low,” and gave attendees a chance to hear one of his unreleased songs, “Strings.” MAX will release his next full studio album in fall 2023.

Although the opportunity to see MAX live was huge for many 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students, student media organizations Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi and 惭腻苍辞补 Now got up close and personal with the pop singer in a personal interview and chance to capture close-up footage of his performance.

“I really enjoyed interviewing MAX,” said Lili Hurd, a student in Ka Leo. “He was really down to earth and cared a lot about his craft and his fans. He was passionate about supporting the students at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and just wanted to create a magical performance.”

Lopez extends her thanks to BAMP Project; KT东精影业; 102.7 Da Bomb; Micah Banks from Power; Sodexo; student media organizations Ka Leo and 惭腻苍辞补 Now; the numerous volunteers; and everyone at Campus Center and Student Life & Development for the successful event.

Additional supporters include the Campus Center Board and CCBAC advisors Joshua Ramos, Ashley Nguyen and Sarah Yap. The event was sponsored by Coca-Cola Hawaiʻi and Raising Cane鈥檚.

“I鈥檓 so grateful to everyone who helped put this together because it was such a team effort,” said Lopez. “This wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without them, and I hope we can have more events like these and invite more artists like MAX in the future.”

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 student newspaper earned two national first place awards from the College Media Association. was the nation鈥檚 best in and .

The winning photo was taken by Ka Leo Photo Editor Diego Rivera of a fire that ripped through an apartment complex near 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 lower campus in May 2022. The photo caption on the online post read, “Spectators gather from the sidelines as firefighters take on the blaze.”

The winning feature page was from a November 12, 2021, print edition and featured the top 10 boba spots on Oʻahu. Illustrations created by Ka Leo Design Editor Amy Lowe spotlight a drink from each of the 10 locations. The list and story was compiled by Ka Leo Features Writer Sarah Tomita.

“With all the adversities our staff face in our day-to-day lives, achievements like this make all the difference,” Ka Leo Interim Editor in Chief Noe Nekotani said. “Under the pressure of deadlines, school and life, our staff still manages to pull through with award winning content. I am very proud to be working alongside these staffers and encourage all students to find their potential here at Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi.”

College Media Association’s Pinnacle Awards honor the best college media organizations and individual work. The competition is open to student work produced for any college media organization, including print, broadcast and online outlets, during an academic year.

东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student media programs captured four College Media Association awards in 2021, including first place awards for best video promo/PSA and best general news photo. Here is a list of awards:

• 1st place best video promo/PSA: 惭腻苍辞补 Now
• 1st place best general news photo: Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi
• 2nd place best online ad: 惭腻苍辞补 Now
• Honorable mention best podcast: The Future Accords, KT东精影业

—By Marc Arakaki

staff members celebrated the publication鈥檚 100th anniversary with a print edition on October 3 highlighting some of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 student newspaper鈥檚 milestone stories since 1922.

The newspaper was called The Hawaii Mirror for its first several issues, before adopting Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi in 1923. The 100th anniversary issue opens with a look back at its first issue on September 13, 1922.

Other noteworthy stories include the welcoming of students from Japan in the 1930s through an exchange program that is still around today; events of the 1950s, including a visit from Barack Obama Sr., father of the Hawaiʻi-born 44th U.S. president; and when Hawaiʻi became the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize abortion in 1970 before the U.S. Supreme Court made its decision on Roe v. Wade.

In the centerfold of the issue, Amanda Dick and Noe Nekotani spotlighted front covers from each of the past 10 decades.

“Our reporters dived into the Ka Leo archives for this 100th anniversary special issue and revisited old stories for updates. This issue would not have been possible without the coordination and leadership of our staff. We hope that you enjoy this special issue for Ka Leo‘s centennial celebration!” said Nekotani, current interim editor in chief.

Ka Leo鈥檚 100th anniversary issue is available on stands around the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 campus.

For more coverage on its 100th anniversary, visit the special centennial page on .

Read more about Ka Leo鈥檚 100th anniversary in this 东精影业 News story

Throughout its 100-year history, Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi, which translates to “The Voice of Hawaiʻi,” has published award-winning content, while serving as a training ground for future professional journalists in Hawaiʻi and around the world.

—By Marc Arakaki

鈥檚 student newspaper, , turned 100 years old this September. Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi, which translates to “The Voice of Hawaiʻi,” has published award-winning content, while serving as a training ground for future professional journalists in Hawaiʻi and around the world.

The newspaper was launched on September 13, 1922 by Henry Bindt, a blind 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student who thought that the university needed a student newspaper. The publication went by the name The Hawaii Mirror for its first several issues, before adopting Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi in 1923. The newspaper printed weekly editions and eventually printed five days a week using an on-campus printing press. In recent years, the number of print editions per semester has been reduced and filled with more online content on its .

Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, East-West Center president, credits the newspaper with giving her “a unique opportunity to fail, learn and grow as a very green journalism student.”

“I started on the copy desk using paper, pencil and an AP stylebook. During this time, I watched the transition from typewriters to floppy disks and computers,” Vares-Lum said. “Being a former managing editor of Ka Leo, I had a unique opportunity to learn about leadership, timelines and pressure! 鈥� My experience at Ka Leo was foundational for me as it taught me about the importance of free, balanced and accurate reporting, and checking facts! More importantly, I learned how to work with a team with different worldviews, and yet build lifelong connections!”

Jay Hartwell, who served as Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi鈥檚 faculty advisor from 1997–2017, credited the university鈥檚 commitment to letting students lead the news program and make its decisions, and sustaining the First Amendment of free speech and a free press at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

“It was a privilege for me to train and advise the people who volunteered to be at Ka Leo and serve 东精影业. They worked daily on deadline with their peers to report, verify, edit, design, illustrate, comment, photograph, video, and post鈥攁ll without course credit,” Hartwell said. “As with any on-the-job training, staff made mistakes and my job was to help them understand why and also how to handle complaints from angry professors, administrators, students or community members who wanted the editor or reporter fired. The students learned and graduated. Many became exceptional journalists or communications professionals. All are better citizens because of Ka Leo.”

100th anniversary celebration

Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi鈥檚 current staff is planning a 100th anniversary print issue on October 3. Other anniversary events are also being planned by the Student Media Board, the governing board which oversees 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student media programs, including Ka Leo.

“We are excited to celebrate 100 years of Ka Leo being the Voice of Hawaiʻi,” said Amanda Dick, Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi editor in chief. “As we move into the ‘new normal’ and work to bring the campus more print issues, we are also boosting our online presence through our website and social media. At Ka Leo, it’s important for us to understand who we speak for, the spaces they are in and what they find important, so we can accurately be their Voice for the next 100 years.”

For more information, visit .

Some notable Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi alumni:

• Paula Akana (former news anchor, executive director of ʻIolani Palace)
• Larry Beil (ABC7 News anchor, San Francisco, former ESPN anchor)
• Jerry Burris (former Honolulu Advertiser political columnist and author)
• Beverly Creamer (Honolulu newspaper and magazine journalist)
• Robbie Dingeman (HONOLULU Magazine editor)
• Hiram L. Fong (former U.S. senator)
• Daryl Huff (Hawaiʻi News Now managing editor)
• Jason Kaneshiro (Honolulu Star-Advertiser sports reporter)
• Bill Kwon (former Honolulu sports writer and editor)
• George Lee (Honolulu Star-Advertiser photo editor)
• Dan Meisenzahl (东精影业 director of communications, former news anchor, reporter, producer)
• Jon J. Murakami (artist and cartoonist with a comic strip in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
• Kent Nishimura (Los Angeles Times photographer)
• Ryan Ozawa (communications professional, independent journalist, digital storyteller)
• Gordon Pang (former Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter)
• Joey Ramirez (Los Angeles Lakers, associate director, social and content)
• Dave Reardon (Honolulu Star-Advertiser sports columnist)
• Brenda Salgado (Hawaiʻi News Now assignment manager)
• Mark Takai (former U.S. representative and state representative)
• Nicole Tam (KCCI 8 News reporter, Des Moines, Iowa)
• Catherine Toth Fox (HAWAIʻI Magazine editor)
• Michael Tsai (Spectrum News political digital journalist)
• Stephen Tsai (Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter)
• Vares-Lum (East-West Center president)
• Mary Vorsino (Hawaiʻi News Now digital content director)

—By Marc Arakaki

An annual music event at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 was held in person for the first time since 2019. Hosted by the (CCBAC), the 2022 Aloha Bash on April 29 at the Campus Center Courtyard featured hit Hawaiʻi reggae band The Green.

“Live entertainment is always better in person and we have definitely missed engaging with students after these past two years,” said CCBAC Chairperson Ashley Nguyen. “It felt exciting to have put on this concert for the students, especially since the students were eager to see performers on stage again. There were many challenges/uncertainty in the beginning with coordinating this event due to COVID-19, but we are proud of our team for pulling together this successful event!”

Tickets went on sale April 21 and sold out in five days. The Green was formed in 2009 and were among the first reggae bands from Hawaiʻi to extensively tour the continental U.S. and perform in Japan and New Zealand. The band supported many American reggae bands including Rebelution, Iration, SOJA and Damian Marley. Grammy-winning pop superstar Bruno Mars selected The Green to open his three sold-out shows at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in 2014, and his two sold-out dates at Aloha Stadium in 2018.

With much of the live music industry scaled back in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, many musicians enjoyed an extended hiatus at home with family and friends and additional time to focus on their music. The Green sum up their period of self-reflection on their sixth studio album, Brand New Eyes, which is out now.

Nguyen would like to give a special shoutout to Campus Center and Student Life and Development departments for making the concert possible, which included 惭腻苍辞补 Dining Services; Ticket, Information and ID Office; Meeting and Event Services; Campus Center Facilities; and 惭腻苍辞补 Now at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Student Media.

“I felt relieved and ecstatic that students were excited for our event,” Nguyen said. “Our goal as the main programming arm for 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 is to plan events that students look forward to and I believe my team reached our goal with this event!”

—By Marc Arakaki

Members of University of Hawaiʻi student news publications work hard to cover issues on their campus and the pulse of the students, but are facing unforeseen challenges in this pandemic. They are making modifications to their operations due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Most have pivoted to an online delivery method, and some have tailored their focus to COVID-19 content.

Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi (东精影业 惭腻苍辞补)

, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 student news organization, has canceled all of its remaining biweekly print issues since March 10, providing daily online content through its website and social media platforms , and . One of four 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student media programs, Ka Leo is the main content contributor to 惭腻苍辞补 Now, the program鈥檚 award-winning mobile application. The app has a new look for its more than 20,000 subscribers as staff members have transitioned to provide COVID-19 coverage.

“Ka Leo has always served as a student voice for the university, and that has not changed,” Editor in Chief Chavonnie Ramos said. “The COVID-19 situation has helped enhance our responsibility as a news organization to be that voice. More than ever, our peers need a resource to go to view their news and any important information that impacts them as a student.”

Ke Kalahea (东精影业 Hilo)

Several staff members of 东精影业 Hilo鈥檚 student news publication have returned home as classes transitioned online. , like many other organizations, rely on online methods of internal communication and information dissemination. Besides maintaining its website, , and , Ke Kalahea works with to stream content on air, and still prints its monthly issues with changes. Circulation has been reduced by 50 percent due to less foot traffic on campus. Staff members distribute grab-and-go tote bags and merchandise with copies of the issue, student housing helps to distribute bags with issues to on-campus residents, and Ke Kalahea is offering shipping of issues to students away from campus.

“Our mission at 东精影业 Hilo is to uphold the freedom of press, exchange ideas and express the voice of the student body, while providing a forum for journalistic communication and training to students in all areas of the news publication operation,” Editor in Chief Rosannah Gosser said. “With the COVID-19 crisis, our mission has not changed, and we have been doing our best to report on the current crisis’ impacts to our community and illuminate individual student voices affected by the circumstances.”

The Hoot (东精影业 West Oʻahu)

Michelle Zheng, editor in chief for student newspaper, said her staff has adjusted to the COVID-19 situation by conducting interviews through video calling platforms like Zoom. “The good part about doing things digitally was having the details of the interviews recorded for easy access. However, the missing one-on-one in-person contact made it feel disconnected.”

The mission of The Hoot hasn鈥檛 changed. Zheng said her staff still strives to provide an entertaining and informative paper for UH West Oʻahu students. She said when they were first informed of the COVID-19 situation, engagement was the top concern. Staff members still engage their readership through their and pages. And, according to Zheng, since students enjoy reading the physical copy of each issue, the staff ordered copies of the spring issue and will be distributing them once in-person classes resume.

Ka L膩 (Honolulu Community College)

, Honolulu CC鈥檚 student newspaper, had to cancel a festival to celebrate the release of its Art & Soul creative arts magazine. Staff members said they worked hard to plan activities for students like raku pottery making, an art gallery, a musical concert and a poetry reading. They look forward to hopefully hosting the festival in fall 2020. Currently, they are focused on creating new content and videos for their website and , according to staff members Allan Salvador, Kristofel Abella, Alyssa Baligad and Sadie Fetui.

Fetui said the team is able to help out the Honolulu CC community “by keeping students entertained, informed of what’s going on with their campuses and in the world, and maybe even give a little positive hope while they struggle to deal with difficult times and keeping up with their lives.”

Kapiʻo News (Kapiʻolani CC)

Estefania Magdalena, a staff writer, said the organization鈥檚 mission to keep its student community informed has grown stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The student newspaper connects us and is a space of opinion and creativity. Students are interacting more on our social networks, and there are more people who know us.”

The staff maintains its , and pages despite having to modify operations. Interviews are conducted by phone or email, instead of face-to-face, and staff members are no longer working from the office, a place Magdalena said is a comfortable place to work quietly.

Ka Manaʻo (Leeward CC)

, Leeward CC鈥檚 student magazine, has transitioned online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Editor in Chief Gerald Soria said it will release previously designed print pages, digitally, through Leeward CC student life鈥檚 weekly emails to students. Ka Manaʻo鈥檚 staff will publish more content on , and , and has dedicated a new page to . Soria has also worked with his team to fulfill a newly created mission to “promote the rights of free speech in journalism and fostering the growth of students in creative fields.” Many of these changes were implemented after Ka Manaʻo advisor Stanley Lee, Soria and other student editors attended the Associated Collegiate Press College Journalism Convention in San Francisco in late February. There was, however, one challenge that Soria has had to overcome.

“Safety is paramount during this pandemic. While many roles in a publication can be done online, photographers are at most risk in times of a pandemic. While some would risk going out to take photos for a news article, it is imperative that extreme precaution is taken as well as consent from the photographer,” Soria said.

Hoʻoulu (东精影业 Maui College)

Despite COVID-19, is sticking to its mission: “to be a source of community and campus information for our students.” To fulfill it, 东精影业 Maui College鈥檚 student newspaper has made a few changes, according to Editor Sarah Gudmunson. Because campus events have been canceled, writers need to pitch other story ideas and interview subjects via email instead of in-person. Staff members also had to postpone taking over a campus bulletin board to broadcast updates.

Hoʻoulu still maintains its online newspaper, and pages.

Ka ʻOhana (Windward CC)

, Windward CC鈥檚 student newspaper, will publish its final spring issue on April 28 through its website, as classes have moved online and foot traffic has decreased across campus. Ka ʻOhana is a monthly publication by journalism students, that covers both campus and community news. Kimberlee Bassford, journalism instructor and Ka ʻOhana advisor, said it hopes to return to hard copy issues this fall.

Staff members also engage their readership through Ka ʻOhana鈥檚 .

—By Marc Arakaki

student newspaper, , was named Most Outstanding Community College Newspaper for 2017–2018 by the (ASPA). It also received First Place with Special Merit in ASPA鈥檚 annual scholastic newspaper awards, a designation given to a publication that scores more than 950 points (out of 1,000) and, in the opinion of the judges, was an “outstanding overall example of a scholastic publication in format, content and presentation.”

In its award letter, the ASPA reviewer commented, “The time and effort of a staff coming together regularly to represent the school and local community is a monumental task, and I congratulate you for your fine effort.”

The newspaper is produced through the JOUR 285V Newspaper Lab course with support from student publications funds. It is published monthly, eight times a year, with a hiatus during the summer. Ka ʻOhana is available online.

“I鈥檓 so proud of our student staff. We had a small staff this year, but the students were incredibly dedicated and enthusiastic,” said Kimberlee Bassford, journalism instructor and Ka ʻOhana adviser. “While each student had to pitch his or her own story ideas, go out on campus or into the community to do the reporting and take the photographs, and then do the writing and layout, they also supported one another and became friends along the way. Our publication鈥檚 name is so fitting as the staff really came to embody that ʻohana spirit.”

—By Bonnie Beatson

东精影业 student newspapers (Honolulu Community College), (Leeward Community College) and (东精影业 Mānoa) were recognized at the 32nd annual .

School newspaper excellence

• First place
  鈥↘a Leo O Hawaiʻi, 东精影业 Mānoa
• Second place
  Ka Manaʻo, Leeward CC

Student story

• First place
  鈥↘a Leo O Hawaiʻi, 东精影业 Mānoa
  “Former 东精影业 Foundation Employee Claims He Was Fired After Raising Alarm About a $165K Website That Didn’t Work”
  Alex Bitter, Alden Alayvilla, Noelle Fujii, Victor Ong, Courtney Teague, David McCracken
• Second place鈥�
  Ka Lā, Honolulu CC
  “Finally Ready to Take on the Whole World”
  Vania Graves

Student photography

• First place
  鈥↘a Leo O Hawaiʻi, 东精影业 Mānoa
  “Slacking Can Be a Hobby鈥�”
  Antonina Javier
• Second place
  鈥↘a Manaʻo鈥�, Leeward CC
  “Lanterns”
  鈥∕arcel Saragena/li>

Student design (Print)

• First place
  Ka Lā, Honolulu CC
  “Art & Soul鈥�”
  Nekemiah Williams, Tiera Spencer, Vania Graves, Alyssa Baligad, Steffanie Sobitz
• Second place
  鈥↘a Manaʻo鈥�, Leeward CC
  “Winter 2016”
  鈥↘a Manaʻo Staff

Student video

• 鈥‵irst place
  鈥↘a Leo O Hawaiʻi, 东精影业 Mānoa
  “A ‘CLEAR’ Path From Student Debt”
  Agatha Danglapin, Andrew Menor鈥�
• Second place
  鈥↘a Lā, Honolulu CC
  “Art & Soul”
  Tiera Spencer, Nekemiah Williams, Alyssa Baligad

“Without support and feedback from our readers, we would not be able to make award-worthy publications. Mahalo for the continued patronage,” shares Chris Garcia, Ka Lā staff writer.

, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s student-run newspaper, took first place in the Best of Show competition at a recent national convention for college journalists.

“This is the first time in 17 years of entering the competition that Ka Leo has won,” said Alex Bitter, editor-in-chief. “The win is a tremendous testament to all of the desk editors who have worked hard.”

The newspaper, which has been published continuously for 92 years, entered its October 20, 2014, issue in a category for four-year university, weekly tabloids. The Best of Show contest was administered during the / held October 29 to November 2, 2014, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The nation’s largest college journalism convention was attended this year by 1,700 students and advisors from 300 university, college and community college publications and websites.

At least 10 universities entered in Ka Leo’s category. The 东精影业 Mānoa entry beat tabloids produced by student media programs at the (4th), (6th), and the (8th).

Ka Leo’s took fifth place in the Best of Show competition for news websites at large schools, placing behind schools such as the (1st), (2nd) and (4th).

The Student Media Board allocated resources to send two Ka Leo staffers, web editor Alden Alayvilla and associate copy editor Zebley Foster, to 鈥媋ttend the conference with faculty advisor Jay Hartwell.

More honors

Editor-in-chief Bitter is a junior at 东精影业 Mānoa, earning a double major in political science and journalism. The Hilo native is the winner of summer internships at HONOLULU and Hawaiʻi Business magazines.

Earlier this year, Ka Leo’s advertising team earned two first-place honors, a second-place award and two third-place honors at the convention held in March at Austin, Texas.

For more, visit the .

Editor in Chief Will Caron won first place in a national competition for an editorial cartoon he created, which ran in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in May 2011. His cartoon depicts U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House John Boehner and a Mad Hatter caricature representing the Tea Party.

Judges from the organization picked Caron’s work from 10 finalists for the award, which was announced October 30 at the National College Media Convention in Orlando, Florida.

“My goal was to make clear the connection between the core Republican strategy of fear mongering and hysteria-cultivating, and the subsequent creation of the Tea Party,” said Caron via email. “Fox News and other media outlets who bought into this strategy only raised the stakes and helped snowball what was once a grass-roots movement that no one took seriously into a full-fledged political entity, ripe with ultra-conservative values that have been tearing voters away from the Republican core ever since.

“Boehner and the Republican ‘wise-men’ sought to play off the ignorance and fear that all too many Americans feel in these difficult times—in order to sway their opinions—but ended up creating a monster they still have yet to tame.”

See a larger version of the cartoon, as well as the accompanying “recipe” .

There were 212 entries submitted in the cartooning awards in two categories—editorial cartoon and cartoon panel/strip. Cartoon entries were judged based on reader impact, community importance, artistic quality, originality and clarity of message.

Caron, a senior major at the Mānoa campus, is serving his second term as editor of the student newspaper, which distributes 10,000 issues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“I’m hoping to use works like this to boost my portfolio in order to land an illustrating or comics industry job either in the U.S. or in Japan,“ said Caron.

Caron, of Kahaluʻu, is a 2007 graduate of ʻIolani School. He is the son of 东精影业 Professor of English James Caron and stained glass artist Michelle Caron, who also teaches French at Hanahauʻoli School.