Wai'anae, Hawai'i
In Wai’anae High School students are able to choose the classes they are interested in and want to learn more about. For senior Briahna Rivera, the choice was always a simple one and in 9th grade she chose the path of JROTC. “I wanted to learn leadership skills and to learn things at a high level,” said Rivera.

For Briahna, her goal of learning the ropes of a leader paid off in her senior year when she became Battalion Commander for all of Waianae High School cadets.

“Based on my leadership skills and things I did, they looked at my test scores and I had high test scores and that’s how I got my position,” explained Rivera.

With a top position, comes hard work and for Briahna that’s what she went through for JROTC’s biggest event in the state. The Waianae Adventure Challenge (WAC) is hosted by Waianae High School’s very own ROTC program and is a three day challenge with over 80 teams from schools all over the island. Cadets compete in challenges such as water crossing, swimming, physical tests, rope bridging and other physical events. This year marks the 9th challenge and battalion commander Briahna, plays a big part in her school’s participation. During WAC, Rivera’s job is to make sure all cadets are in right order. Sometimes ordering around cadets is a hassle, since there are so many teams to look over.

“My struggle is just making sure that everyone ends up in the right place,” said Briahna.

From water crossing to rope bridges to various obstacle courses, certain Wai’anae High School cadets figure out the key to success and getting the job done.

“You can’t do everything by yourself, you can’t let others rely on you, you have to work together to get everything done,” said senior Alavoni Tukunaga.

At the closing ceremonies, Wai’anae high school went home with three trophies. Boys took home first for rope bridge, girls took home for tug of war and mixed took home second for tug of war. Even though one of the trophies wasn’t the Golden Eagle, which went to Kapolei who was the best overall team performance. At the end, Briahna has learned a lot about herself and what she can bring back home.

“From WAC I gained more leadership skills, you are in charge of 400 cadets,” stated Rivera. For Briahna wherever her life ends up is not something she is afraid of. Stepping into the field of presenting yourself in the outside world is what she is used to. WAC is not only a challenge of personal strength, but also mental endurance and how far you can motivate your team and yourself.

"Motivation during WAC is like a key to everyone, if you don’t have motivation you won’t get your events done,” Tukunaga states.

Briahna's next obstacle is to succeed at the obstacles that college has to offer her.

Wai'anae, Hawai'i
According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii is among the highest teen suicide attempt rates in the nation at 12%, twice the national average. Reasons include parents struggling to make ends meet, a high homelessness rate, and substance abuse. This is especially high in Waianae, a rural city on the island of Oahu, where many teenagers live with heavy weights on their shoulders, whether it’s poverty or your typical adolescent’s troubles.

Motivational speaker Nick Vujicic was born with Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a disorder where one is born without all four limbs. Waianae High School was his next destination. He travels around the world, delivering motivational speeches about life without limbs, hope, and finding value in life.

“I just want everyone to know that there’s beautiful things that can come from their work of pieces, just give their broken pieces a chance,” he said.

On March 28, 2014, two assemblies were held at Waianae High School for Nick to convey his message. He promoted an anti-bullying campaign and spoke out against it, letting students know that regardless of what others say, they have value in their lives. Many students were moved by his words, hearts being captured and tears being shed. By the end of the assembly, majority of the crowd stood up and vowed to stop bullying.

The speech did not just make the students want to change their actions, but also their perspective on life. “He made me look at all the bad I’ve done and made me wanna change it,” said sophomore Kaike Kaniaupio.

Sometimes, all it takes is a few good words, and Nick delivered just that. “Another girl couldn’t say a word, but she just cried on my shoulder for about a good 10-15 seconds,” he said.

“That’s the greatest thing, to see people being changed and transformed by the message.”

Nick’s speeches may not necessarily lower the teen suicide attempt rate, but it’s a start. Students at Waianae High School were implanted with a new sense of faith in themselves. “I think that no matter what school we go to, wherever it is in the world, everyone’s looking for hope, everyone’s going through something.”

Wai'anae, Hawai'i
November 25, 2013 - Wai'anae, Hawaii

According to bigstory.ap.org, almost a third of this year's high school graduates who took the ACT tests are not prepared for college-level writing, biology, algebra or social science classes. “Compared to other students in the state, I don’t feel like I’m ready,” said Wai’anae High School senior Gloria Baniaga.

The state of Hawaii offers two types of diplomas, a regular high school diploma and the Board of Recognition Diploma. The Board of Recognition Diploma not only holds students to the same elements as the regular high school diploma, but also requires students to pass the Algebra 2 end of course exam, complete a senior project and earn one more credit of math.

“I know that this is a challenge for me, but I want the BOE recognition diploma because I work hard in class so I want to be recognized for all my hard work,” said Wai’anae High School senior Alyssa Jade Grande.

Although students struggle to meet these requirements, teachers and staff hope that a little added pressure will help prepare students for college. “I think a healthy bit of struggle is important because if you’re not struggling you’re not expanding and challenging yourself basically you’re just cruising and doing assignments in class,” said Wai’anae High School Academic Counselor Shane Nakamura.

The current requirements for the BOE diploma have been in effect for the graduating class of 2013, 2014 and 2015, but this too did not have the effect that officials hoped for. “Out of all the students who graduated from Waianae High School 10% got accepted to a four year university and 20% got accepted to a two year college,“ said Nakamura.

In the year 2016 the requirements are to change yet again. There will be four types of diplomas, the basic high school diploma, the Academic Honors, the CTE honors and the STEM honors. “So they’re really upping the standards,” said Nakamura.

Some students strive for these requirements. “Boe Recognition diplomas are important because it shows you took the effort to accomplish more than your peers.” said senior Alissa Cateil

Others feel that receiving this diploma is nothing more than just the icing on the cake. “I don’t think getting BOE Recognition Diploma is important because colleges don’t require it.” said senior Jonathan Dannog.

“Boe Recognition diplomas are important because it shows you took the effort to accomplish more than your peers.” said senior Alissa Cateil

Although the requirements for recognition diplomas require more rigorous standards, it is the challenge students need to prepare themselves for college level courses.

Wai'anae, Hawai'i
November 28th, 2013

According to the center for disease control, obesity has doubled in teens and tripled in adolescents in the past thirty years. This growing number of overweight youth in the United States indicates that today’s youth are not getting the exercise they need.

Waianae High School’s (WHS) students are required to take one semester of physical education in the four years they attend. This is nowhere near the recommended amount of physical activity for teens. Students can get added exercise by walking or biking to campus. The majority of the WHS community live within a five to 10 mile radius of the school. Making biking a healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to the bus or being dropped of. “I bike because it helps me stay healthy and I don’t want to pollute the atmosphere”, said English teacher Lawrence Dreyfuss.

Biking as a transportation activity is being denied to WHS students by the simple fact that they can’t securely park a bike at school. "They should have racks to encourage kids to ride bikes", said Daniel Bruening Plop.

Biking to school could be faster and safer than walking because of how much quicker you could get to your destination. “I get here pretty fast and safely using my bike”, said AP english teacher Mr. Dreyfuss.

Mr. Dreyfuss is an AP teacher that has had a couple of his students in the past have issues with Waianae not having bike racks. "One of my students had to put his bike in my class because he thought that it was gonna get stolen", said Dreyfuss. Daniel is a WHS Senior that rides his bike to school and chains it to the tree in the parking lot. This lack of a secure space actually prevents some students from using a bike even when they can. "I would bike but there are no bike racks”, said Junior Damien Dean.

“There are many benefits to having bike racks but we just don’t have the resources to obtain it”, said Shane Nakamura.

Shane is the counselor for the WHS Searider Productions academy. Shane believes that there are many reasons we should have bike racks but he also knows that there is no budget at WHS to pay for the cost of bike racks. “It all comes down to the money”, said Shane.

Transportation may be a problem for students and that is why Shane feels that there should be bike racks to not only compensate those who are willing to ride but maybe to also get some other people to start riding their bikes.

Biking could provide the exercise help students need to be more physically fit by having them be more active everyday when they have to ride their bike home rather than having to catch the bus or drive. Also this combined with Waianae’s selection of healthy food could benefit the students in a healthy way. By Waianae adding bike racks it could encourage students to be more healthy and ride bikes. “ I would ride if there were bike racks because thats way better than catching the bus or walking”, said Dean.

For students at WHS there is no way to guarantee that they get the exercise they need but bike racks may create the opportunity they need to start living a healthier life.

Wai'anae, Hawai'i
October 29th, 2013

The Waianae High School bell rings, marking the end of another school day. Students file out of classes, ready to enjoy a relaxing three day weekend. However, hardly anyone moves a muscle in the Searider Productions building.  The atmosphere is anything but relaxing. The students are only hours away from producing a project that usually takes five-weeks in the next 24 hours.

Abilities are tested and limits are pushed in the race against time. The hunt for stories began earlier in the week. New mobile journalists and veterans alike found ways to ensure the success of their project despite running into crippling obstacles.

“I used to use procrastination as my crutch, but that’s not really an option in SP,” says SP Student Marcela Bator.

Some could argue that giving up precious weekend time is a questionable price for a completely optional event.

“Maybe if it were something I were passionate about, then I would probably stay. But you guys are crazy, just jumping right into it like that,” said Waianae High School student Lester Aquino. 

Still, there are others that believe in the power of new experience.

“This is something I want to do,” said Bator. “I’d say that they’re missing out, ‘cause we are here learning about work ethic and this is probably the toughest assignment we’re gonna get.”

Maybe not the toughest. The reason for the camp was also in preparation for Student Televison Network, a competition held in March to find the best of the best in the nation.

“I don’t wanna just meet, I mean, that would be nice, I’d like to not fail, but I’d also like to be one of the best,” added Bator. 

But under all the self-improvement that is emphasized, the real goal is to get the students to bond and interact. Twisted Twenty-Four knocks social barriers that might prevent the SP members from working together as a team.

It turns out that the purpose behind these hocurs aren’t so “twisted” after all. Exposing young adults to time pressure, social interactions, and real life career challenges isn’t just for kicks. How efficiently you perform with school work can tie directly in to your work ethic as a successful working adult.

At the end of the day, it’s the new wisdom that stays once the last laptop closes, marking the end of the day for a job well done.