Tsai-ko Autobiography:  wafan Hawaii Cattle Call emblemWashington state Cattle CallKaraoke CallPortland/Oregon Cattle Call
Name:  (withheld)
High School:  Damien
Tsai-ko Lunch Size:  Larger
Tsai-ko caricature:  second row, 3rd from left
Other:   President W. Washington Tsai-ko Chapter
 


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From the Warrior Beat blog September 24, 2007:
ST's Intro:
Wafan admittedly has a "strange" sense of humor.
But he is dead serious about his love for his great family and his college-football team.
Here's Wafan:


I have been told I have a very strange sense of humor – I am as sarcastic as anyone I know, and I laugh at just about anything. The lamer the joke the funnier I find it.

Having attended St. Patrick, Palisades, and Highlands; during my 7th grade year I was given the choice to continue on to Waipahu High School or at the all-boy school or the all-men school. Naturally, I choose the school for men – Damien – just as the ILH became the private school league.

I have great memories of growing up in a very close-knit family, summers at the park and beaches, family softball games, picnics, and lots of fun. My earliest memories of being a fan of any team, was of Honolulu Stadium and the Hawai’i Islanders of the Pacific Coast League. We usually sat on the third base line enjoying the boiled peanuts, the game, the atmosphere, and each other (father-son time). Lately, I have had the opportunity to once again enjoy PCL play at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma.

Anyhow, I was never the athletic-type and got involved in instrumental music as an outlet and a way to socialize. As a result I did go to every football and most basketball games in high school. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the band and the rest of the cheering section. Yeah, our teams did not win every game (okay, so we lost just about all of them – except my senior year when we beat both St. Louis and Punahou – yay!) but we did enjoy ourselves. The brothers always tired to impress upon us that if we tried our best and still lost it was okay. No one dared question the brothers unless that person had a death wish, or wanted to spend a pleasantly peaceful Saturday picking up rocks on the field or track. I had a difficult time reconciling that philosophy with the occasional lower grades on tests. The way I had it figured was that it was okay since I had tried my best! Somehow mom, dad and the brothers did not see it that way. But, I did learn the lesson a bit later in life!

I do remember GG’s mom – Mrs. Chung. She was one of two females on campus (I told you it was an all-men school – save for the two women), and she was always smiling. Come to think of it, I wonder if she smiled all the time because she knew what was going to happen if Br. Dornbos or Br. Ford got a hold of our scrawny necks! Maybe it was because she knew none of us would ever touch her daughter. Or perhaps it was simply because she worked in the only air-conditioned room on campus. I suppose my claim to fame at Damien is that I never had to serve afterschool or weekend detentions, never met the strap Br. Ford wielded with definite ferocity, and like my other classmates earned multiple collegiate scholarships.

I did attend some Rainbow football games during high school and became a fan at the Termite Palace – Home of the UH Rainbow/ILH/Hawai’i Islanders. I knew I would never play in the university band because I would not and had no intention of attending the Manoa campus because I had had enough of four straight years of the morning and afternoon commutes. Remember, this was when the Cane Haul Road was still the Cane Haul Road; and Aiea, Pearl City, and Waipahu were really considered to be in the country.

So, off to LCC I trundled intending to transfer to a mainland university. I still attended all of the Rainbow football games at both the Termite Palace and the then brand-spanking-new, Aloha Stadium (for the younger bloggers, the place really was not always rusted and the orange seats were a bright orange -- for the first few years it was a nice looking place). At LCC, I took a bunch of classes and eventually got involved in the music program. Lots of fun times there!

Eventually, I moved to Washington State because, believe it or not, I got tired of the heat and humidity of Hawai’i. I know it sounds strange but I relished the cool overcast and rainy days we see so often. Okay, that is the story we tell everyone so they do not move here – Seattle actually rains less than Miami, FL. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Technology Education (minor in English) at one of the regional Washington universities, then earned a Master of Education in Technology at OSU in two summer sessions. Go Beav’s (except when the Warriors play them). I still take classes at SU, PLU, TESC, UPS, WSU, UW, and on-line just because I feel the need to learn more.

I have been teaching in Washington since the early 80’s both academic (English, Social Studies, Applied Math, and Civics) and Career and Technical Education (vocational classes – CAD/D, Mechanical/Architectural Drafting, Graphics Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography) over the years. The hardest subjects to teach are the academic classes because the kids come in with an attitude they will not need any of the information in the future – relevance is a big thing! The Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses were a lot more fun simply because the kids used to choose to take them and to have fun. Sadly, with the Every Child Left Behind law the vocational programs are disappearing and with them the opportunities to learn relevance, life, work and job skills.

I am most proud of my kids (students – I do not have any children of my own) as they continue to succeed in life. I continue to teach the message my family and the brothers taught -- that it does not matter how much money you make just so long as you are happy, and you give your all at whatever it is you do. This is the reason I admire Colt and our Warriors. They are having fun, and they are giving 100% doing it. What shining examples of our youth and future inheritors of our society and country! They help to ease my concerns for our future because I know there are a lot more just like them, some waiting for just the right opportunity, walking the halls of just about every elementary, junior, and high school.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share with you. I hope you do not mind, and that I managed to not bore you too badly.

Go Monarchs!
Go ‘Bows! (kimpira!)
Go Warriors!



From the Warrior Beat blog May 5, 2010:
On Seis De Mayo, Liz Kauai writes about wafan:

It is a challenge to write about someone who doesn't share much about himself- unlike me who spills my guts all over blogs and social media every day. So I resorted to the direct approach and asked the usually shy and silent wafan for some bullet points... casually mentioning that if he didn't send them, I would just have to make something up! Of course his predictably self-deprecating response was that the made- up stuff might be more interesting.

I don't think so.

The quiet man whom we know as wafan is actually a very accomplished educator in WAshington state where he continues to be a FAN of the UH Warriors. You can read his autobiography on SteveM's site: wafan

Currently, wafan serves as Curricula writer for Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in the fields of Communication Technologies. Specifically in Graphic Arts, Photography, and Videography. He is a member of the State team for high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) curricula approval and certification, Chairman for district graphics and photography Professional Learning Consortiums and Chairman for district graphics and photography advisory committee.

He has published various brochures (on student leadership, music topics), books (communication technologies, instructional guide and assignments), and articles in juried journals (curricula, manufacturing and employment trends) and has taught for 28 years - 26 in Washington state where the education system still values and funds fine arts programs for its students (sorry, I had to stick that editorial in).

Wafan was 2003 District Teacher of the Year, has been recognized in various Who’s Who national and international publications and is currently teaching digital photography, digital graphics/design, government/civics to high school students.

In our conversations, wafan beams like a proud parent when he talks about the success of his kids in the SkillsUSA program.

SkillsUSA is "a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA helps each student excel". and happens to be headquartered in Leesburg, VA, not too far from Colt Brennan and the Washington Redskins.

After 25 years in SkillsUSA, wafan notes the following accomplishments:
• 89 Washington State officers
• 8 State Presidents
• 2,315 medals earned by students
• 7 national student medalists
•His Chapter is regularly ranked in the top 10 in the nation

He has served:
• 20 years as the Olympic Region Coordinator
• 12 years Lead Judge for Post-Secondary National Contests
•15 years Associate Lead Judge for Washington State Leadership Conference

Also:

• 94% of his SkillsUSA members graduate from a 4-year university
• 2% join the military
• 4% earn a technical degree

Wafan was:
•1993 and 2003 Washington State Advisor of the Year
• 8 years on the National Education Team for Student Leadership Development
• 18 years as the State Officer Advisor

When I was able to pry personal information out of wafan, I discovered that we share the same bucket list item - cruising to Alaska and visiting the glaciers and wilderness areas. Our shared interest in photography put that adventure right at the top of the lists, actually.

I also discovered that wafan has a special way of baking home-made scones. I won't share all of the details (have to keep SOME secrets!) but they may show up at a T-Gate sometime during football season for all to try!

One thing for sure, wafan is an avid Tsai-ko, fully engaged in the "F's" - Food, Friends, Family, Fun, and oh yes, FOOTBALL!

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