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Lahainaluna hosts annual Maui HOSA contest

By Staff | Mar 4, 2010

From left, Stephany Flores-Ramos, Abby Okazaki and Josie Gomez won awards at the fifth annual Maui Regional Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Conference.

LAHAINA — Nearly 200 students recently gathered at Lahainaluna High School’s Samuel Kamakau Library for the fifth annual Maui Regional Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Conference.

These aspiring healthcare workers came from four Maui high schools: Baldwin, Kamehameha Schools Maui, Lahainaluna and Maui High School.

HOSA is a national organization for secondary and post-secondary students interested in pursuing an occupation in the healthcare field.

Students competed in 26 different events ranging from speaking and skills events to teamwork events to written tests. After competing, students were able to relieve stress back at the library through the latest Latin-American dance craze, Zumba. Once hearty appetites were worked up, students walked over to the cafeteria for a delicious lunch.

After lunch, everyone returned to the library for an inspirational and touching speech given by guest speaker Paul Asuncion from Heald College. Finally, it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for: the awards ceremony.

Students sat on the edge of their chairs as they awaited the results of their competitions. Most of them have spent months studying, preparing and practicing for this day to try and earn a spot at the Hawaii State HOSA Conference scheduled for March 22 in Honolulu. As the first, second and third place finishers were announced, cheers and applause filled the room.

Lahainaluna was the very first school to ever host a HOSA regional conference. Its district qualifiers would then advance to the state level on Oahu. From there, the first, second and third place qualifiers would have an opportunity to compete at the national level.

Since the conference that first took place four years ago, Baldwin, Kamehameha Maui and Maui High have each hosted a conference. This event has come full circle as Lahainaluna not only hosted the fifth conference, but hosted the largest regional conference up to date. This year, in collaboration with advisor Malia Shimomura, senior Josie Gomez eagerly became the conference coordinator for her senior project. 

None of this would have been possible without the continuous support of the HOSA community. Many judges and proctors return each year to not only score each event, but also mentor students when their events are completed, whether it’s through written or verbal feedback. This year, many new judges and proctors volunteered. Volunteer emcees Noelani Wayas and Ailani Miller kept the crowd alive with their enthusiastic personality. Lahainaluna Principal Michael Nakano sponsored a delicious lunch for everyone who attended. Pineapple Grill provided drinks for the event, while The Plantation House Restaurant provided the judges with continental breakfast.

Lahainaluna High School Foundation provides community service opportunities for the students of Lahainaluna HOSA Chapter, and also provide grant funding that assists with costs to travel off-island to the Hawaii State HOSA Conference and the National HOSA Conference.

State HOSA Coordinator Ada Toyama, “Mother of Hawaii HOSA,” also flew over from Oahu (as she does each year) to provide the exams and tabulate the scores. 

Below are the students who achieved the three highest qualifying scores in the events: Dental Spelling — Chelsea Parado of Baldwin, Kalei Tamashiro of Kamehameha Maui and Val Acoba of Baldwin; Medical Spelling — Jasmine Garde of Lahainaluna, and Noel Alonzo and Ronelyn Ganir of Maui High School; Medical Terminology — Maui High School’s Kahana Kaneyasu, Maria Cu and Jayne Badua, Jensine Domingo and Dwayne Karlo Manzanillo (all tied); Medical Math — Josie Gomez of Lahainaluna, Abby Okazaki of Kamehameha Maui and Stephany Flores-Ramos of Maui High; Human Growth & Development — Danielle Aruda of Kamehameha Maui; Concepts of Healthcare — Brandy-Lee Badayos of Maui High; Nutrition — Tyra Borja of Maui High; Biotechnology — Joveline Ollero of Baldwin, Ty Nakama of Kamehameha Maui and Michelle Seiki of Baldwin; Medical Assisting — Fredeliz Misay and Shannel Ulep of Lahainaluna; Sports Medicine — Amanda Arakawa of Lahainaluna, Samantha Uu of Maui High and Micah Arcangel of Lahainaluna; CPR/First Aid — Cameron Yee/Kainalu Yen of Kamehameha Maui, and Heather Paranada/Cherry-Ann Parubrub of Baldwin; Extemporaneous Health Poster — Kevin Quitoriano of Lahainaluna, Chelsea Rabagao of Kamehameha Maui and Kristine Saguid of Maui High; Extemporaneous Speaking — Argus Aningat of Maui High; Extemporaneous Writing — Teisha Zablan, Kimberly Canosa and Leilani Bensan of Maui High; Medical Photography — Gabrielle Berce, Lavinia Sagario and Laura Almonte of Maui High; Job Seeking Skills — Rowena Buted of Maui High and Lyka Marie Sarian of Lahainaluna; Prepared Speaking — Jennie Visitacion and Vanessa Banaag of Maui High; Researched Persuasive Speaking — Kamaehu Alboro and Heather Azcueta of Lahainaluna; Community Awareness — Maui High’s Maysel Agatep, Shamira Coloma, Sharent Topino and Apple Solis; Career Health Display — Annastaceya Acangel/David Arcangel of Lahainaluna, Vanessa Damo/Keo Del Cruz of Maui High and Kathleen Batulayan/Sharmaine Pasalo of Maui High; Public Service Announcement — Jamal Garcia, Donna Paz and Shyramae Piso of Maui High.