Bryson’s Blog

Sustainability is the foundation for all living things. With the way Hawai’i is now in comparison to back then, we have done a complete 180 in terms of how the land is up-kept and morals are valued. Sustainability comes from the tiniest of things from weeding vegetable gardens, to releasing hundreds of fish, knowing that you do not need them. Sustainability does not even need to be an action, but something as simple as showing respect to the land, the animals, or other people. Through sustainability, we can continue to carry traditions and sustain land for future generations to come. 

Efforts to care for a place should be made everyday and everywhere. That is how we can truly upkeep places and keep them running and sustainable for years to come. Sadly, those efforts have dwindled over the many decades, and some places are now inhabitable.  It is sad to think that people have lost their homes due to the fact that they no longer have access to their ancestral lands. No matter the place, home size, or property size, a home is built through the love and roots that are grown when a family decides to call that place home. It’s unfathomable to think that a place like that could be ripped away from them.  A news story that made headlines for the past few years was the TNT Mauna Kea Telescope project where Hawaiians fought (and are still fighting) tooth and nail to keep production off the sacred land. To me, that is effort shown to help keep that sacred land sacred. While no one can live up there, it shows that there are still measures in place to keep land meaningf...

 When asked about the most meaningful places in our lives, a couple of places automatically come to mind. Whether it be the place you call home, a place where a loved one lives, or a place in your community, we all have those special places where meaning lies.  I feel that a multitude of reasons can lead to making a place meaningful, but one that stands out to me is the time we spend there. If we spend time there doing things we love, then we tend to create better connections to those places. I hate to use this example, but kids nowadays don’t like going to church because they are usually bored and hot in their church outfits. This sadly creates a bad connection to the actual place itself and it’s because they sadly don’t enjoy the time they spend there. On the flip side, kids tend to have a deeper connection to their favorite cousins house who they spend time hanging out with and playing with. Whether that be playing video games and having sleepovers, it allows them to create...

When we think of Waikiki now, we think of “tourists” and “whitewashed” areas that most locals do not like to visit. Kuleana has not be maintained in that area, as well as many other areas on the island. Even though Kuleana has not been maintained there, we still can connect to the area through other ways.  For me, Waikiki was always a sore spot. I hated going there due to the rude tourists and the overcrowded shopping areas. Places from Ala Moana, International Marketplace, and Kuhio Shopping Plaza were all places that were avoided. But, during my senior year and the summer after, it has become places that are filled with memories and laughs. My friends and I often found ourselves at those areas, shopping and hanging out. It turned from a unvisited place, to a place that I can always look back fondly on. My family has also taken many staycations out there recently, and there is always a sense of comfort returning to those areas, remembering all the good times and the fun we had. I ...

     When it comes to talking about time spent and resources spent within my community, the first person that automatically comes to mind is my good friend Kaden Loa. While there are a few more members in my “community”, he is one that truly stands out. Often times, I find myself giving him rides to places, especially to Walmart and Target, where we like to shop.      While superficial things like gas and money go towards him to take him places, one of the most valuable resources that I spend the most on him is my time. I often find myself staying the night at his house at least once a week, where we stay up and play video games and talk throughout the night. I also enjoy learning about different hobbies that he picked up as a kid, and he has definitely got me into some of his hobbies. We often go together to coach the Castle JV and Varsity football teams on Friday nights, so I spend around seven to eight hours with him on a weekly basis under those “Friday...

       I feel that at some point, everyone has been affected by COVID-19 in some way. Whether it was not being able to see friends and family for a long duration of time, or family members and close friends getting sick, or even you yourself, we all have at some point been affected by COVID.      When I think about COVID, I think about the time loss and the memories that were never made due to the fact that we lost out on so much due to the pandemic. Something that immediately came to mind was the loss of my junior season of football in high school.      I played football since my seventh grade year, so I was not one of those kids that had been playing since they learned to walk. Because of the horrible coaching staff for those first two years, I really only began to learn and develop during my freshman year. So for me, it really felt like I had an opportunity to really learn and grow during my four years of high school ball, which meant...

     When thinking of a person that has influenced me in a positive way, my father instantly comes to mind. Whether it be through sports or academics, I can say with 100% certainty that he has been the most influential individual in my life. When starting sports, he instilled in me the mindset/value that we follow through with everything. He would never let me quit, and that is a mindset that has carried with me six years later. He also took time out of his life to make sure that I was adequately prepared to play, as he would spend time researching methods to help better my performance on the field. After all that hard work he put into me, it really pushed my decision to work as hard as possible to earn that starting varsity spot and to play at a high level.      My father is also a teacher, so naturally academics is a big part of my life. From a young age, he taught me the importance of a good education and has pushed me to excel in everything I do. Those ...

 As you watch fictional sports movies, such as Remember the Titans, you get a glimpse into the brotherhood that can be created through the sport of football. I can tell you firsthand, that the brotherhood depicted in the movies are realistic. After attending elementary school on another part of the island, I was forced to make new friends and find my new clique. Through sports, I was able to do so. My football ‘community’ has helped and shaped me in so many ways. Through football I created lifelong bonds with my friends, and it provided me with life long memories.