Super Students
Saturday, November 1, 1997
Name: Daniel Aliksa
Age: 12
School: Iao Intermediate
Favorite subject: Mathematics
Pastimes: Drama
Future: Teacher
Daniel Aliksa remembers a time in the sixth grade at Iao Intermediate when he got into fights frequently. A caring class clown
His life changed after Leiohu Ryder, then a vice principal, took him and other students on field trips to a heiau in Waiehu, where they reflected on the spiritual meaning of life.
"It made me look at things differently," Aliksa said.
It also turned him from belligerence to among the most considerate students in school.
"He's an extremely caring and enthusiastic student," school Principal Elizabeth Ayson said.
Aliksa, son of Fedner and Claudia Aliksa, performs as a clown making free appearances at Maui Memorial Hospital and nursing homes.
He and some of his friends are in a school clown club that meets every Wednesday to decide on their next public-service outing.
"It just makes me feel good," he said.
He's also the co-chairman of the assembly committee for the student council and maintains a 3.6 grade point average.
Outside school, Aliksa enjoys working with a youth acting group, the Maui Academy for the Performing Arts.
Aliksa says he'd like to eventually be a social studies teacher, because he likes history.
He also admires the qualities in Leiohu Ryder.
"She helped me a lot," he said.
Gary Kubota, Star-Bulletin
