COURTESY OF WAIALUA HIGH SCHOOL Chief Warrant Officer Clarence Kanae explains to freshman Jesse Bradley how to use the controls of a helicopter.

Reaching for the sky

A benefactor with a WWII and
Korean War resume helps
Waialua kids find their wings

When you're flying you're free, there is nothing to bother you. That's what is so great about it," said eighth-grader Joshua Kapika. He and other young aviation enthusiasts are getting hands-on experience through the Waialua Academy of Aeronautics.

Waialua High School Newspaper: The Waialuan Editors: Roxanne Dacuycuy and Victoria Nishikawa Adviser: Gail Kuroda Address: 67-160 Farrington Highway, Waialua, HI 96791 Phone number: 637-8200 Principal: Valerie Kardash Nickname: Bulldogs

This program for students, headed by former World War II and Korean War pilot John Gleeson, is the only one in Hawaii. Gleeson started the program a year ago with the help of glider pilot instructor Steve Lowry and former principal Aloha Coleman. Gleeson is a retiree and commutes from his Waikiki home to Waialua to share his knowledge of aeronautics.

The academy began with the hope of broadening student minds. Gleeson said he wants "to show them things that they may not know about or see. These youngsters' dreams can be fulfilled." He adds, "There are just so many opportunities."

Some members of the academy wish to pursue a career in the aeronautics field. Kapika, who joined the academy when it began, said, "Since I was in elementary school, I was interested in planes." He hopes to become a pilot.

Another member, freshman Jesse Bradley, wants to be a rocket scientist. His skills trainer, Dezra Badiel, said, "His mind is set about it."

Bradley explained, "You have to know aviation to make rockets and work the way you want them to."

As for the other members, many enjoy the chance of flying for free. Sophomore Shelby Rivera said, "I'll always have this experience."

During their weekly meetings, Gleeson teaches these students the basics of aeronautics such as air dynamics. Freshman Ben Pasciyo said, "I am learning about parts of the planes and how to build them."

Kapika added: "It's like another math class but it is more fun. To be flying, you'll need to know math."

Students in the Academy of Aeronautics have gone on several excursions. They have gone on glider flights at the Dillingham Air Field, toured Aloha Airlines' control tower and visited Wheeler Army Airfield, where they rode a helicopter simulator.

Having the chance to fly in gliders has been the chance of a lifetime for the students. A glider is a two-seated plane without an engine. Another plane tows the glider up to about 1,000 feet. What keeps the glider flying are tradewinds and columns of rising air, or thermals.

Junior Erica Tuyay said: "I have always been into airplanes since I was a little kid. I never thought I would get the opportunity to actually fly ... the way that a glider flies ... where I can see the ocean and everything around, not aisles of passengers. Once you are up there, you just glide and enjoy everything around you in silence. You feel like a bird."

Possible future excursions include more tours of major airlines, the Hawaii Air National Guard and the space and aeronautical programs at Windward Community College. Some of these excursions are not available to the general public, and they are certainly not free. The members of the aeronautics academy, however, experience these outings for free courtesy of Gleeson's generosity.

Kapika said: "He's a good teacher. When we do fly (or go on outings), it is really cool that he actually takes money out of his pocket to pay for it."

Robotics team puts
its mettle to metal

It will try to complete designated
tasks with its robot during
a Vegas competition

In just five days the countdown will be over.

After 200 hours of drilling holes, cutting metal and assembling mechanisms, 115 pounds of metal that has been formed into a robot will be shipped to Las Vegas for the 2005 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) robotics competition.

It started on Jan. 8 when robotics team members found out about this year's game, called "Triple Play." Two teams from the mainland will join Waialua to form an alliance. The different alliances will compete to see who can place the most tetras (pyramids made of PVC pipes) on or in tetra goals.

"Creating a robot that can stack tetras on a 7-foot tetra is no easy task," team captain Ryan Bruno said.

Waialua has medaled every year it has entered the robotics competition. The first year, in 2000, it placed second at the regional competition. The two years following that, it came home with gold medals. In 2003 the team came home with silver medals.

This team is unique because of its family atmosphere. Of the 13 students who comprise the team, three come from the Bruno family (Ryan, Jefferson and Rabelle), and two come from the Menor family (Matthew and Malcolm).

They had six weeks (ending Saturday) to construct a fully functional robot. The team will travel to the regional event in Las Vegas, where teams from all over the United States will compete from March 27 through April 3.

COURTESY OF WAIALUA HIGH SCHOOL Junior Malcolm Menor works on the wiring for a robot that the Waialua robotics team will be taking to the FIRST competition next month in Las Vegas.

Working every day -- during school, after school and on weekends, sometimes until 7:30 p.m. -- students gained hands-on learning through skilled mentors in programming, engineering and documentation. Among them is lead engineering mentor Stuart Nishimura.

"Having to work with the kids is something that I look forward to, especially knowing that they are getting hands-on learning," Nishimura said.

One of the first-year students, Kawika Lopez, says he enjoys working on robotics at Waialua. "It has given me life skills, such as teamwork, commitment and responsibility, through creating a robot," Lopez said.

A key faculty member who raised much of the money to pay for the program's expenses retired last year, forcing the temporary cancellation of the program. But with school, community and individual supporters, the program is now back on track.

"We are lucky to have robotics in our school again," coordinator Glenn Lee said. "I feel that this is like no other program we have. Other schools look up to us as an example."

You Asked...

"What is your most
prized possession?"

Jonah Stultz
Senior
"My Nissan Altima."

Maricel Vidad
Junior
"My computer."

Charles Monsell
Junior
"My tennis racket."

Renee Yamada
Sophomore
"My cell phone."

Angela Aquino
Sophomore
"A gold ring my mother gave to me while I was sick in the hospital."

Austin Hartvigsen
Freshman
"My Gamecube."

Linda Quiddaoen
Eighth-grader
"A necklace from my parents."