In recent years, Wai'anae High School has been experiencing a decrease in clubs.

At Wai’anae High School clubs are an outlet for teens to express themselves. They’re places where students can come together and share their ideas and common interests.

“I wanted my students to have a place to belong,” said former Spanish Club adviser, Candy Suiso.

Yet over the past 12 years, Wai’anae High School has experienced a decrease in clubs and organizations. Currently, there are only two, the Math Team and the Travel Club.

In order to form a club, a teacher must be appointed the adviser.

“Advising a club takes on more energy - after school hours, weekends, holidays... with no extra pay,” said Suiso.

The extra work without extra compensation is not very appealing to potential advisers. Although some may not be up to that challenge, there are still those who are willing to go that extra mile for their students.

Sarah Bright, Travel Club adviser, said, “I just felt like it was a really important thing to get our kids out into the world and let them see what’s going on out there.”

Brent Yamagata, coach of the Math Team, said, “It was really spurred on, really started by the students.”

Whether or not these clubs continue depends not on the adviser, but the students themselves.

“I plan on doing this as much as there’s interest with the kids. So, if there’s a student who always has interest, then I’ll plan on doing it,” said Yamagata.

With this type of attitude and dedication, it allows the continuation of clubs to be possible. Ms. Bright, did take into consideration whether or not her club would be more of a burden than a blessing.

“It’s more than a hobby and you feel like you have to do it but it’s because you want to,” said Bright.

Currently, these advisors are doing it out of their kindness of their hearts and passion for the club itself.

These clubs face different problems, ranging from the lack of student participation to the lack of paper work actually being completed on time. For the travel club adviser, the outcome does indeed pay off.

“It’s definitely worth all of the trials and challenges throughout the year to finally take the kids on the big trip out of the country,” said Bright.

There is not a single cause for the diminishing number of clubs on campus. The only sure thing is that clubs are in danger of disappearing all together if current trends stay the way they are. Yet even with the lack of paper work being turned in or the enthusiasm missing for club spirit, students fight to keep what little interests they do have. From spurring a teacher into action, to managing fundraises themselves, they’re dedicated and committed to sustaining the few clubs there are left.

*Date Of Publication: September 16, 2011