{"id":19980,"date":"2026-05-12T16:06:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T02:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/?p=19980"},"modified":"2026-05-12T16:06:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T02:06:29","slug":"2026-kahuku-high-intermediate-tech-coordinator-showcases-elite-lego-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/2026-kahuku-high-intermediate-tech-coordinator-showcases-elite-lego-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"Kahuku High & Intermediate tech coordinator showcases elite LEGO\u00ae talent"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally from Yokohama, Japan, Yusuke Yamana found a home at the Kahuku High & Intermediate School (KHIS) working among the cords, laptops and routers as he moved from classroom to classroom assisting teachers and staff during tech emergencies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYusuke is a brilliant problem-solver who dissects complex issues with ease and approaches every technical challenge with a meticulous, calm and detail-oriented focus,\u201d said Principal Walter Santiago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, Yamana revealed another talent \u2014- creating one-of-a-kind photorealistic masterpieces built out of LEGO\u00ae, currently on display at the Bishop Museum\u2019s Aloha Bricks \u201826: Stories of Hawai\u02bbi<\/a> exhibit. The exhibit features many Hawai\u2018i landmarks, animals, plants and more in LEGO\u00ae form. Another highlight of the Aloha Bricks exhibit is the Middle School Mosaic Gallery. Kahuku Intermediate students, along with 50 other middle\/intermediate schools from across the state celebrated school spirit by building large-scale, two-dimensional logos of their school. The exhibit runs until Oct. 11. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How did you get started creating masterpieces in LEGO\u00ae?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: <\/strong>I joined Hawai\u02bbi LEGO\u00ae Users Group <\/a>(HiLUG) in 2019. My wife, who is the Japanese language teacher at Kahuku High, encouraged me to join a community since I had just moved from Japan. HiLUG is an officially recognized LEGO\u00ae User Group. Through the group, we have the opportunity to participate in local events in collaboration with organizations such as the Bishop Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I joined, I had no experience building \u201cMy Own Creations\u201d (MOC). However, the Bishop Museum was planning a LEGO\u00ae exhibition and needed a model of H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba. As a result, my H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba model became a meaningful way for me to reproduce traditional local culture using modern toy bricks. When a friend told me, \u201cThank you for respecting our culture,\u201d I was deeply moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that experience, the museum asked HiLUG to build something that represents Hawai\u02bbi for an exhibition in 2026. I wanted to create a Hawai\u02bbi icon that was truly loved by the community and I was given the opportunity to build models of Iolani Palace and Bishop Museum\u2019s Hawaiian Hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And through these projects, I realized that LEGO\u00ae building is not just a hobby \u2014 it\u2019s a powerful way to practice design thinking, problem-solving, and cultural storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Do you see a connection between building LEGO\u00ae and building lifelong skills for students?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: <\/strong>I\u2019m not a classroom teacher, but as an IT support staff member, I see a strong connection between LEGO\u00ae creation and skills such as Career and Technical Education, design thinking and problem-solving. In the building process, I use many skills I gained through my 20 years of experience as a system analyst and project manager, along with some graphic design skills. I also ask myself whether the design works both visually and structurally \u2014 whether it looks accurate and is strong enough to be transported and displayed safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How do you translate cultural and historical icons into physical models?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: <\/strong>When I translate cultural and historical icons into LEGO\u00ae models, I focus on four important things: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Respecting the original icon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always imagine how people will feel when they see the model. I don\u2019t want them to think, \u201cOh, it\u2019s just a toy.\u201d I want you to feel the way you would feel when viewing the original inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba represents the continuation of traditional Polynesian navigation using modern knowledge and technology. When you see my model, I hope you can feel both the traditional roots and the future. When you see my model of Iolani Palace, I want you to think about Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s last monarchy and the history behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Deciding what to keep and what to simplify<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When translating a real building or object into LEGO\u00ae, I always have to decide what details must remain and what can be simplified depending on scale, available parts, and schedule. Hawaiian Hall was built in a Neo-Romanesque style in the 19th century. The arched windows are a key feature, and the texture of the exterior walls is also important. Those are details I must keep, even if I simplify other areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Adding a sense of reality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone knows the real place, I want the model to feel believable and familiar. When I designed the wake behind my H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba model, I wanted them to look realistic. I researched the physics and the shape of the wake. A museum visitor told me it looked just like the waves behind her own catamaran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on that experience, I added small realistic details to Hawaiian Hall, such as drain pipes, restroom signs, trash cans, railings and air-conditioning units. If you know the building, I want you to notice those details and say, \u201cOh, I know this place! I see that every time!\u201d Those moments of recognition make the model feel real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Creating a point of view for both adults and children<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes I hide small details in places that only kids can notice at their eye level\u2014for example, hidden treasure in a cove in the H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba model, or hidden artwork in the hallway of Hawaiian Hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also want my work to encourage the next generation. My H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba model has 14 faceless crew members\u2014seven male and seven female\u2014because I want children to feel that the story of voyaging is also their story that they can be part of. I want them to believe that someday, they can also build models like this. I hope my LEGO\u00ae creations help them dream about the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Do you have any words of advice to students?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: <\/strong>Senri no michi mo ippo kara.<\/em> “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Hawaiian Hall was built with over 42,000 pieces \u2014 this is what I told myself while building the model. I would like to tell students to be resilient, keep at your task and one day, you can create something that inspires others, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Yusuke
Go Red Raiders!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Yamana builds an intricate turkey leg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Iconic emojis populate Kahuku High & Intermediate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba’s wake is a masterpiece of physics and art<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
A child’s perspective reveals a hidden treasure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
The Iolani Palace model suspends reality<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Key features of Hawaiian Hall is the Neo-Romanesque style and arched windows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Deciding what to keep and what to simplify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Hidden artwork in the hallway of Hawaiian Hall
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Creating small details for a child’s point of view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Drain pipes, railings and AC units make you say, “Oh, I know this place!”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yusuke
Kahuku Intermediate school spirit on display at the exhibit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally from Yokohama, Japan, Yusuke Yamana found a home at the Kahuku High & Intermediate School (KHIS) working among the cords, laptops and routers as he moved from classroom to classroom assisting teachers and staff during tech emergencies.  \u201cYusuke is a brilliant problem-solver who dissects complex issues with ease and approaches every technical challenge with […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":19982,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"856,888,893,1022,1619,1622","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","wp_popup_display_lightbox":0,"wp_popup_suppress":"","wp_popup_trigger":"","wp_popup_trigger_amount":0,"wp_popup_disable_on_mobile":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":21,"label":"News"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026-yusuke-feature-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Kimi Takazawa","author_link":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/author\/kimi-takazawak12-hi-us\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":21,"name":"News","slug":"news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":21,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":323,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":21,"category_count":323,"category_description":"","cat_name":"News","category_nicename":"news","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-20 10:14:40","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"post_status","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19980"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19980\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20017,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19980\/revisions\/20017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}