We successfully hosted our annual Kamehameha Schools Education Technology Conference at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall this past week. It was a blast! I especially liked the variety of formats, activities, and session topics. It was a great conference experience, and I truly felt a sense of community.

Our friends from HSTE put on Edcamp Honolulu as one of our pre-conference activities. It is a privilege & blessing to work alongside these passionate educators.

Our high school drumline opened Day 1 and rocked the Pikake Room! (I was also touched that they wore our conference t-shirts under their unbuttoned uniforms.)

We also had student DJs bringing the energy to our conference How cool is that?

Along with Hawaiian crafts, we had a wellness station called “Paws & Relax,” a partnership with the Fur-Angel Foundation who are looking to get puppies adopted.

I also participated in the HSTE AI Slam. I shared about SUNO, a free AI music generating platform. I created the image in Adobe Firefly for a training and needed music for the storytelling component.

One of my conference duties is to do the announcements. My main goal is to make our attendees feel welcome and appreciated!

The highlight for me was hosting Mizuki and Kiyomi先生 from UH-Mānoa. It was great making new friends! But I was also able to experience the conference from their perspective. Sometimes when you plan an event, you don’t get to enjoy it. I saw how wonderful the day was unfolding and got to see their reactions. Everyone at the conference was so friendly and filled with Aloha. I was so happy to see my new friends happy. Looking forward to next year!

Blessed to have had the opportunity to visit Japan during Spring Break. This trip was to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom (mankai) I attended the Ueno Sakura Festa and also strolled along Meguro River & Sumida River. It was also my first time visiting a jazz kissa

Of course, the highlight for me was visiting friends and catching up. Happy memories

The lowlight was experiencing Haru no Arashi or “spring storm.” It was crazy & ridiculous, but fortunately short-lived.

This is my shopping haul. Haha. Usually, I just get snacks for the office. This time, I got an omiyage for myself and picked up a towel handkerchief タオルハンカチ。In Japan there is no napkin culture, so it’s common for people to carry these.

Spoke 日本語 and made new friends on this trip. So looking forward to the next one

My aloha shirt of choice is the Reyn Spooner. Timeless, classic, and part of the fabric (no pun intended) of our local culture.

Reyn McCullough set up shop at Ala Moana Center back in 1959. He later partnered with Ruth Spooner in 1961, and the rest is history. I’m a big fan of the Spooner Kloth (55% cotton / 45% polyester) since it requires no ironing. (I don’t own an iron.)

Some people have amassed huge closet collections. Me? Small kine…

In Hawai’i, aloha shirts are your standard daily work attire. And especially at my school, aloha wear is part of our work culture. Imua

But I’m especially fond of Christmas Spooners. They’re fun, unique, and a big part of local Christmas tradition. I always wear one to Honolulu City Lights each December. Mele Kalikimaka

Spooners are also released in limited editions to commemorate special occasions, places, and sometimes people. This one is for Chinese New Year

OK, OK, but these shirts are premium and can get a bit pricey. How can anyone possibly afford them?

Well, here’s the secret… Shhhh

eBay.

There are great deals to be had! I limit my purchases to around $25. With shipping + tax, it comes out to around $34. The $128 price tag for brand new is way too rich for me

Another option is the Reyn’s Again program where you can trade in gently used shirts for store credit. You can get $20 credit for Spooner Kloth and $15 for 100% cotton. Make sure that there is no fading and that all of the tags are intact. I traded in a few shirts that I hardly ever wore and picked up Kikaida

Finally, at the end of the day, you just sometimes need to treat yourself to a little “liquid aloha.” And you know what? Somehow, someway, it always tastes best in a Spooner aloha shirt

Blessed to have gone to Tōkyō for Fall Break. This trip felt different in that I had more meetups than usual, but that’s a good thing! Got to spend precious time with people who mean so much to me

There was a typhoon nearby, but the weather held up. The yen rate was ￥150 per dollar. I got to try Jiro-kei and Ie-kei ラーメン for the first time I also got to explore new places and ate new things. Of course, the highlight (as always) was the people and the relationships. So looking forward to the next one…

Shohei fan here. And this is my very favorite Shohei Ohtani baseball card (he has tons!) I was in Japan during the Tokyo Series and got to experience a bit of that energy. This card is part of that memory.

“Small kid time,” my favorite players were Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. Now as an “old fart,” it’s been Shohei. Part of the affinity is that I’ve been studying Japanese language & culture for more than 5 years now. And Shohei is a national hero. But this blog post is not as much about him as it is about me being a fan.

Shohei started out with the Angels in 2018 as a two-way player, billed as the “Babe Ruth of Japan.” Yup, I was an Angels fan for 6 painful years Nope, never finished reading this book

2nd fave card. 2018 Topps Heritage pays homage to the 1969 set. I’ve been (hardly) working on completing a ‘69 set for over 25 years now Aging myself, but these are the very first bubblegum cards that I ever bought as a little kid. Simple, clean, nostalgic…

If you remember, Shohei donated gloves to every elementary school in Japan back in 2023. I was actually able to play catch with his glove at Keio Yochisha Elementary in Tokyo last November. The principal was kind enough to bring them out to the playground. Hopefully he got ‘um all back

Only regained interest in the hobby after Shohei joined the Dodgers. Now collecting his Topps base card each year. Fun and inexpensive (except for his rookie…)

Got his first Topps Dodger card from a garage sale thanks to my sis. It’s these stories that make collecting fun & meaningful.

And no collection would be complete without his Japanese cards. These are his 2014 Calbee & 2017 BBM base cards.

Last season he became the first 50/50 player and reached superstardom. (If your face is on ITO EN, you’ve made it!) This is what I was drinking in Japan back in March

This is his 1st Dodger Stadium bobblehead giveaway from last May. I’ve been waiting for almost a year to find a good deal on eBay. Snatched it!

Finally… Never thought I’d be “that guy” to ever wear some other dude’s name on the back of a jersey.

I am him

Our Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus had a Japan trip scheduled back in 2020. Unfortunately, COVID happened. Five years later, we were blessed to go and share the gift of aloha through music

I went as a chaperone for a group of 5th grade boys and as a co-emcee (日本語 translation.) A highlight was visiting the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. Grateful for the blessing

But the actual beginnings took place way back in 2005. After joining KS, my buddy (and manager) “D” helped me do a makeover. I wanted to invest in myself, and totally changed out my work wardrobe.

It started out with shoes as the foundation. And it had to be Alden. At the time, it was scary expensive. Looking back, it’s been a sound and rewarding investment.

One brand that I got interested in was Ralph Lauren. (Got this sport coat for 帆花’s graduation.)

So much so, I got a denim jacket, a flannel shirt, chinos, shirts, and a bunch of other stuff.

And I especially like RRL, although it’s outta my league. RRL (called “Double RL”) is Ralph Lauren’s western style clothing line. I got this work shirt, a sweater, and a sweat shirt all secondhand on eBay.

I also got interested in Japanese denim. This is Momotaro Jeans from Okayama.

And also in mechanical watches. Of course, Seiko. “Timeless.”

But my favorite piece of clothing is actually the overshirt. This military shirt is from a Japanese brand called A Vontade. I picked it up at the Beams Store at AMU Plaza in Kumamoto. Also have this navy chore coat from Polo.

Not a fashionista by any means. Haha…

But it’s not a bad thing to wanna present the best version of yourself, at least once in a while…

I had the privilege of accompanying Kaʻāmauloa Pathway’s visit to Keio University & Affiliate Schools on November 19th-20th. The purpose of the visit was to establish an exchange program based on the SDGs. My role was as a guide / “interpreter” / video documenter.

It was a whirlwind 2-day business trip, but we had an amazing time visiting with the students, teachers, and administrators. We went to Keio Yochisha Elementary, Keio Chutobu Junior High School, Keio Girls High School, and the Keio University Mita Campus.

The visit was a huge success, and I’m looking forward to the future & potential of this collaboration. お疲れさまでした。

Went back to Tōkyō during Fall Break. This time, I wanted to explore the 下町。　Shitamachi literally translates to “downtown” but refers to the retro-towns on the outskirts of Tōkyō.

Spent most of my days in shōtengai and evenings in izakaya. Best part was meeting up with my cousin and my language partners who have become good friends. I also got to check out some of the autumn festivals. The luckiest highlight was seeing my close friend from Kumamoto who just happened to be in Tōkyō on a work trip. 楽しみ！Hope to be back soon…

After an absence of 5 years due to the pandemic, our KS EdTech Conference finally relaunched! It was held on June 4th-5th at the Blaisdell Center, and it was a blast! Got to be the morning emcee and donned the “Wings of Innovation.”

We collaborated with HSTE to bring back Edcamp Honolulu as our pre-conference event. How cool is that?! It was great seeing all the familiar faces and reconnecting with great friends.

The energy this year was amazing! Keiki Breaks opened our conference with street dancing.

We added a few new wrinkles to this year’s conference including Dj Jem spinning the music and having food trucks outside It was a nice treat!

One of the overall highlights for me was the participation of the Kaimukī High School W.O.R.M.S. Club. Very inspirational kumu. Here is the list of the other sessions.

I was also able to give a presentation on language learning and tell my personal story in the format of a TED Talk.

There was a great vibe and great moments throughout the 2½ days. This impromptu jam sesh consisted of former KS Designer Gavon, Abe from The Ukulele Collective, and Kona and Cory from our AV Dept. Check out Twitter at x.com/ksedtech for more. #KSEdTech

Love the friendly, intimate, cozy feel of our conference. Learned a lot and had an amazing, amazing time. See you next year!

Takachiho 高千穂、
Kumamoto 熊本、
Amakusa 天草、
Dazaifu 太宰府。

Got to spend time with my best friends だいまんぞく

Stumbled upon a local, Japanese NPO that does a monthly beach cleanup at Ala Moana Magic Island. Thought it would be a great opportunity to make friends and practice 日本語、so I volunteered.

Walking over from home would also be great exercise. What a nice way to spend a morning enjoying Hawaii’s beauty & nature! Mālama da ‘āina!

Unfortunately, I slipped on the rocks and scraped up my elbow! I learned a new word, ころんじゃった As I was receiving first aid, the children lined up (walking sidewards) to get a glimpse of my injuries “Ojisan, daijoubu?” I said, “daijoubu” (I’m fine.) Unfortunately my first day was cut short, and I walked home covered in mud and Band-Aids.

Fortunately, I was able to get all of the stains out! Being that it was Patagonia, I couldn’t toss it. First, I scrubbed it with Dawn dishwashing liquid. Then I rinsed it and scrubbed it with Tide laundry detergent. This took nearly half-an-hour. Then I tossed it into the washer for a normal wash cycle. よかった！

Been enjoying my time helping out and making friends. Now if I can only stay upright…

#ホノルル海さくら

Travel is my passion. And packing light is my mission. I only fly with one carry-on. So I guess you could call me, “a man who packs light.”

This is an update to my post from 2021. Not only have I refined my packing, but I’ve also narrowed down my destination to just Japan in the Spring and Fall seasons.

Why pack light?
1. To eliminate the possibility of lost or stolen luggage. I never check my bag. I just bring one carry-on. Because my vacations are usually short, losing luggage on Day 1 would pretty much ruin the trip.

2. To be mobile. As soon as I deplane, I’m out the terminal. Because my bag is a backpack, I don’t need to drop it off at a hotel or locker. I can go straight to the museum or café. I also do not use a “rolly” bag because of stairs in train stations.

How does minimalist packing work?

Two words, merino wool. Pricy upgrade, but merino wool eliminates the need to actually do laundry. It’s a magical fabric. This allows you to pack less clothes. Still, I bring more than enough outfits because of Instagram. I found a discount code on YouTube and bought the bundle to save money.

The Bag:

I’ve downsized to the Osprey Porter 30 travel backpack. It’s a little bigger than a ランドセル。The 46 liter one that I had previously (largest allowable carry-on at 22″ x 14″ x 9″) became too big and bulky for my needs. I like that the Porter opens fully, allowing access to all of your contents. Comes with stow away shoulder straps. I found a great deal on eBay, new w/out tags.

Packing Cubes:

Packing cubes help keep you organized. They compress your clothes and save a lotta space. I used to place a Bounce dryer sheet into each one, but heard that it’s not recommended for merino wool. And as you can see, I do like Osprey…

Travel Wardrobe:

I wear my bulky clothes on the plane. I rotate two pairs of dark jeans for short trips and three on longer trips. I’ve discovered that light wash jeans are a bit too casual for someone my age in Japan. I also wear my baseball cap on the flight to save space in my bag.

Shoes:

I only bring one pair. I know that this is the deal breaker for some. Although white sneakers would be best for a minimal, capsule wardrobe, I’m afraid that they can get wrecked on a trip. I opt for a comfortable pair of waterproof trekker shoes. Versatile for walking the city or exploring nature.

Jacket:

Japan is quite comfortable in October, so I usually just bring two overshirts (see top photo.) March, however, is still cold in Japan. I’ll wear a light jacket and layer with Uniqlo HeatTech. I recently scored a Patagonia Nano Vest on eBay at half-price.

Dopp Kit:

I finally downsized to a sleaker toiletry kit from Aer. It has great organization and enough room to keep medicine and vitamins all in one place. This kit has a hook for hanging in case there’s no counter space.

Daysack:

I pack a light, collapsible daysack inside of my backpack. I always have an umbrella with me. I hate rain. The external water bottle compartment doubles as storage for a wet umbrella. I also carry toilet paper, just in case…

Tech:

My iPhone is the only device that I travel with. (And I work in tech!) No need for AC adapters in Japan. The only other “tech” I bring is a bottle opener.

The 3-1-1 Liquids Rule:

For carry-on luggage, you can only bring one quart size bag with travel-size containers up to 3.4 oz or 100 ml. Anything larger will need to be checked-in or be confiscated.

Tips & Hacks:
• I print a copy of my passport for my bag, and I also email a copy to myself.
• I have the AT&T International Day Pass for my iPhone. It costs $10 per day.
• Fill out your travel information on Visit Japan Web and save time at Customs & Immigration.
• Bring extra sanitizer wipes for the flight and instantly make friends with the passenger sitting next to you.
• I have the electronic Suica IC Card on my Apple Wallet. Highly recommend!
• I bring an ample supply of Airborne vitamins to stay healthy.
• I pack spare disposable masks in my backpack and daysack in case the one I’m wearing breaks.
• ChapStick & sunscreen are must-haves. Don’t forget the imodium!
• No need to bring a water bottle or heavy flask. Vending machines are available everywhere.
• Notify your bank that you’ll be using your ATM & charge cards abroad.
• TSA pre√ is well worth the money. Take the express line and never take shoes off again.

Minimalism:
Part of what makes you a minimalist is “doing without.” I do sacrifice a few things that a lot of people wouldn’t. I don’t bring slippers, shorts, or an iPad on my travels anymore. I also don’t go shopping on my trips. I’m too poor. All of my spending money is for food.

Conclusion:
This kind of packing is not for everyone, but it does work. It’s so “freeing.” You should try it. Pack light…

Went to Tōkyō during Fall Break and had a great time! Went to see Mt. Fuji and visit my 先生 & language partners.

Ueno will always be my home base in Tōkyō. Can’t wait to go back.

…was the most fun I’ve ever had watching baseball in my life! Who will ever forget the showdown between Trout & Ohtani, 3-2 count in the bottom of the 9th of the championship game? And the energy in every stadium for every game was electric! It was truly the “World Cup” of baseball.

Being that I’ve been immersing myself in Japanese language & culture for a few years now, I was rooting for Japan In fact, I’ve started a little card collection. Because I grew up with Topps cards as a little kid, it’s the sentimental choice for me. And because Topps flagship is the cheapest and most affordable, I went for PSA graded cards.

• Rōki Sasaki, the top prospect in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball,) had the backstory of pitching on the anniversary of the earthquake/tsunami that took the lives of his father and grandparents.
• Two-time MVP Munetaka Murakami is from Kumamoto and had the walk-off hit against Mexico.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto is probably the most decorated/accomplished pitcher in NPB history and will be coming over to the MLB.

• Masataka Yoshida was clutch all tournament long and was arguably Japan’s best hitter.
• Lars Nootbaar (mom is Japanese) became an overnight sensation and fan favorite! NOOOOOOT
• And Shohei is the best to ever play

Looking forward to the next WBC in 2026! If they need me, they can get a hold of me via LINE or txt message…

Let’s go Samurai Japan さあ行こう！！！

I actually moved to Makikiキリスト教会 about a month before the pandemic in 2020. I moved from Inspire Honolulu because I felt called to attend a Japanese service. After only a few Sundays, everything got shut down due to COVID.

After not attending church for a few years, I decided to finally go back on April 2nd (since April marks the start of “new beginnings” in Japan.) I learned that the only I friend that I made at MCC had left. Still, everyone is so nice. The 日本語 will be difficult for me, but I hope to make friends and find a new home here.

よろしくお願いします

I finally got to visit my best friends in Kumamoto 熊本 It was a long, long wait (Japan was the last country to open to travel,) but that made it even more special. I can’t even express how happy I was to see them again

ゆめ Dream come true

Last year was a really difficult time for me, so I treated myself to a nice present on my birthday. I got a watch! First time in a long time…

All of my friends (and co-workers) have Apple Watches. About 100%! But because I’m so passionate about 日本、I really wanted a Japanese watch.

The very first watch that I ever owned (as a kid) was handed down to me by my dad. It was a Seiko. なつかしい。。。

The first watch that I ever purchased in my life was on my high school band trip to Japan. It was a Seiko…

So of course, this had to be a Seiko. And the 62MAS Diver was the right one for me.

Being an automatic watch, it’s not quite as accurate as a quartz watch. But it’s all good. It’s a few seconds slow, just like me. Everyday my watch seems to tell me, 「アラン、がんばってね。」

うん！がんばろう

I love ラーメン！So much so, that it’s become a weekly ritual. My go-to ramenya is Menya le Nood on Pensacola. I’ve tried almost all of the ramen shops in town, and this one is my absolute favorite. Kuriさん is the best! さいこう！Here is my Yelp review:

You can find me there on Saturday mornings at opening. Look for the table near the door, next to Nezuko.

いただきます

お茶会 (おちゃかい / ocha kai) translates to “tea party.” We really don’t have an equivalent term here in the states, perhaps “afternoon tea.” It’s all about friends hanging out at a cafe and enjoying good conversation.

My story is about how a language exchange blossomed into an amazing, amazing, lifelong friendship. After meeting on the first day of a Saturday Japanese language class at UH-Mānoa, we somehow discovered that we lived in the same condo. I say “somehow” because at the time, my friend could only speak a little English, and I couldn’t speak 日本語 at all.

We started to meet weekly at a boba tea cafe in our building. Soon her daughter joined in, and I met the entire family. Everyone was so incredibly kind, and we got along so well. This led to dinner at a nearby microbrewery, barbecue in our condo’s shared space, and lunch in my unit.

The turning point was actually the city’s lockdown order due to COVID. Social gatherings were not allowed. We were still able to take walks together. We bonded and became the best of friends. When things opened up, we were able to go on outings around the island. Because my friends were here in Hawaiʻi for a limited time, it created a sense of urgency. Every bit of time was extremely precious.

Now I will talk about what we did at お茶会。Because we’re all students learning a second language, we often had questions regarding grammar & vocab. We also realized that there is “school” language and “real” language, so we tried to learn what a native speaker would say. For fun, we answered survey questions (アンケート) and learned a lot about each other.

In the last few months, we started journaling in our target languages ジャーナル。This was a great practice. You had to compose sentences, write them, read them (speaking & listening,) get feedback, and work on pronunciation. Here are my journal entries (from newest-to-oldest.)

In the beginning, we just wanted to learn a new language. But thanks to お茶会、we became family.

Mahalo to TED-Ed. Never imagined that a million YouTube views would be possible. Thank you for allowing me to think big, dream big… #reimagine

We have found picnicking to be most enjoyable and relaxing. Good food, great friends, and Hawaii’s beautiful nature & weather make for a perfect day. There are really nice beach parks, mountain parks, and botanical gardens to visit. And buying takeout helps to support the local restaurant scene.

In these difficult times, it is important to take care of ourselves by doing positive and healthy activities. And in these difficult times, you can still have the happiest of memories.

This coronavirus pandemic is one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever been through. Hawaii’s stay-at-home orders have in effect become “isolation” for me. Now I love living alone here in my tiny Kakaʻako condo (been doing it for eleven years now.) But this has been tough.

Part of it was having to cancel two Spring trips to Japan. I came into this situation already sad. Then I started to see all kinds of cancelations taking place; graduation, Song Contest, community events, and even my Saturday 日本語 class. I felt the grief of everything around me.

Like everyone else, I started making adjustments. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work from home. It’s been crazy, but the new normal is beginning to set in. We’re still able to go grocery shopping and exercise outdoors, practicing social distancing. I’ve even learned how to cut my own hair in the mirror (see top photo in this post.) Not too bad…

But my saving grace through it all has been my friends from Japan. We live here in the same building, and we get together weekly. What started out as a language exchange has turned into a lifelong friendship. When this is all over, I just might say that this has been one of the most special things that I’ve ever been through.

“POW! WOW! HAWAIʻI IS A GATHERING OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS THAT ENGAGES WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY IN THE PROCESS AND CREATION OF ART.”

Been a big fan of POW WOW since the beginning when it was held at Fresh Café + Loft in Space. Every February, all eyes are upon Kakaʻako. The art, vibe, and energy are all incredible. Knowing cofounder Kamea Hadar made it personal. And now, having a friend who paints at POW WOW takes it to another level.

Derick, a.k.a. @7sketches, just painted his 3rd POW WOW mural, Pineapple Totoro! (こんにちは Anna!) It was a huge hit, especially with our Japanese visitors.

What was so cool was that he let his friends paint. Being unartistic, I volunteered to touch up any of the splatters. I also got to practice 日本語 with some of the visitors. And we had dinner together from Pioneer Saloon. Too fun!

Got to see the final product at the POW! WOW! Hawaiʻi Finale Block Party @ HNL Night Market. Mahalo Derick for allowing us to take part. どうもありがとうございました。This was my best POW WOW ever…

Background: After reposting the same New Year’s Resolution from 2008-2012 without success,  I had to rethink it. I replaced my resolution with a bucket list in 2013. I went from incremental goals (i.e. lose 10 pounds) to life-changing goals.

Preface: At 12:05am on January 1st, 2013, I was lying face down in a cul-de-sac in Mililani Mauka after a fireworks accident (don’t ask.) I was thinking, sheesh, can 2013 be over with already? Unlikely as it seemed then, I was blessed to meet up with my Compassion sponsored child in the Philippines and walk across the Great Wall of China by year’s end. All things are possible.

I believe that there is intentionality in writing things down. And in putting it out there…

Life Goals:

• Seek after God’s heart
• Learn to speak Japanese
• Appear in a TV commercial
• Go snowboarding
• Own my dream car, a vintage VW bus
• Change the world

School Goals:

• Tie a kihei
• Run an international TED-Ed student speaking event

Ministry Goals:

• Go on a missions trip to Japan
• Start up a friendship ministry in Kakaʻako

Travel Goals:

• Visit Kumamoto
• Dim sum in Hong Kong
• Attend Taikai in Okinawa
• Eat phở on a plastic stool in Vietnam
• Sunday roast in London
• Get lost in Istanbul
• Travel to Angkor Wat in Cambodia
• See the Taj Mahal
• Witness the Aurora Borealis
• Attend a World Cup Soccer match

Completed Goals:

√ Visit my sponsored child in the Philippines
√ Travel to Machu Picchu
√ Walk across the Great Wall of China
√ See Gaudí’s work in Barcelona
√ Pasta at a sidewalk café in Rome
√ Ride the trains in Tokyo
√ Hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa
√ Visit koalas in Australia
√ Witness the haka in Aotearoa (NZ)
√ Enjoy the busking in the streets of Seoul
√ Learn to surf
√ Ride an elephant in Thailand
√ Learn to skateboard
√ Take a solo (YOLO) trip to Paris
√ Visit my “homeland” of Okinawa
√ Find the best bowl of ramen in Hawaiʻi
√ Launch a homeless outreach ministry in Chinatown
√ Run a TEDxYouth event at school
√ Play guitar in a café
√ Talk on the TED stage in New York City
√ Own a condo near Ala Moana Beach (lifelong dream)

I am so grateful that I have been blessed with things that I never even imagined.

あけましておめでとう & God Bless