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MPI WorldQuest team tops in state

A Mid-Pacific Institute WorldQuest team placed first in the state out of 45 teams and will compete in the Nationals in Washington DC. This is the third year in a row the team won first place for MPI.

"It was super exciting. They are all great kids!" said advisor Mary Tanaka. "Many of the parents came and were extremely proud."

Tanaka will chaperone the team and prepare them for the national competition.

The members of the first place Team Hui Na Pueo are Carolyn Pearce ( Sr., third year participant), Melissa Yoshimoto (2nd Year, JR) Elliot St. John, (junior, fourth Year) Jane Moore ( Sr. 1st Year)- These students earned an all-expense paid trip to DC to compete in the Nationals! Punahou entered 10 teams, placing second. At half-time, MPI was in 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.

Team #2 Team Veritas: 3rd Place winners all Sophomores in Honors Asian History: David Liu, Andrew Madey, Chase Vara,Hannah Ross- earned trophies and $50 gift certificates from the Apple Store. Mid-Pacific's team Veritas tied for 3rd place with Education Laboratory School.

Team #3 Team Hoyasaxa 4th Place: Davin Aoyagi, Keith Yamamoto, Mari Tanaka. Megan Lau (all honors sophomores).

The Pacific and Asian Affairs Council was the coordinating organization for this event, and the World Affairs Council of America is the sponsoring organization for the National Academic WorldQuest Competition.

The Pacific and Asian Affairs Council’s mission is to promote greater understanding of international affairs, working to strengthen Hawaii’s role in the Asia-Pacific region.

Posted at 9:07 AM| Permalink

NIGERIA'S ART AMBASSADOR VISITS MPI

IBIYINKA OLUFEMI ALAO, ambassador of art from Nigeria, visited with MPI middle school students Thursday, Jan. 18. He presented his work and shared his perspective on
the art-making process. He is a first-place winner of the United Nations International Arts Competition. After a presentation in Bakken Auditorium, Mr. Alao conducted studio workshops with the 6th grade classes in the art pavilion. Alao travels as ambassador of art for Nigeria. He spent the last year based in Omaha, Neb., and visited many states. He hopes students will gain valuable insight from his hands-on workshops, his stories and his work, which often reflects universal beliefs.

Posted at 3:20 PM| Permalink

Mr. Casupang wins Ola Pono Award

MPI Kumu Hula Michael Lanakila Casupang was chosen as one of the winners of the 2007 Ola Pono Awards (the drug-free, safe and healthy community, unsung hero awards). The awards are sponsored by the Hawaii State DOE, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, HMSA, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii and the Department of the Attorney General. Casupang received the award during Friday, Feb. 9. He donated the $1,000 award to Mid-Pacific for a memorial fund for the late Lynette Pang. From left to right: Joe C. Rice, president; Michael Lanakila Casupang; R. Kevin Doyle MPSA director

“I congratulate Mr. Casupang on his selection for this award,” said MPI President Joe Rice. “You are a wonderful teacher and we are blessed to have you working with the students.”

"To Lanakila, teaching hula -- being the MPI Kumu -- is so much more than classroom instruction," said high school principal Rich Schaffer. "It is his life's mission to use hula as a model, as a guide for life; he does so with a passion and commitment that never fails to inspire."

Posted at 4:25 PM| Permalink

Brown Bags to Stardom

MPI student Aaron Katagiri has played a major role in the new Brown Bags to Stardom show. He originally agreed to produce the introduction, opening closing credits, and weekly template and to do all post production editing. He has since been named artistic director as well, making the call on some shooting angles, backgrounds and segment layouts. He was featured in a recent issue of Midweek.

Emily Luther and Jimmy Heasley have provided technical assistance on video shooting sessions. Other MPI students have worked on editing commercials that will be inserted into the half hour program. Several MPI students are slated to perform on the show.

“No multimedia class in Hawaii has ever had the opportunity to showcase their students and school at this level. I congratulate Mid Pacific Institute and Aaron Katagiri on this project,” said Johnny Kai, Brown Bags To Stardom executive producer.

Here is the television schedule for Brown Bags to Stardom on OC16.

Sunday 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Monday 12:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.; 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday 3:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.; 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Remember to text message your vote!

Posted at 3:18 PM| Permalink

MPI Choir’s Spring Season!

Download MPI Choir spring season registration form

Aloha kakou!

Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support through the year! Mahalo nui for your generous support of our Pizza Hut Pizza Night fundraising projects!

This semester we have garnered a personal invitation from Michael Nakasone to sing with the Royal Hawaiian Band. The elementary ensemble will be embarking on a performance tour of Maui in April, and in July the upper school ensemble will be participating in the Pacific Rim Children’s Choral Festival under the baton of conductor Henry Leck.

Merci beaucoup!

Diane Koshi

Posted at 12:22 PM| Permalink