Vivinavi : Hawaii : (United States) Hawaii

• とめ
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 08:32
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My daughter is currently in 11th grade, so things may have changed in elementary school by now, but I think students start having opportunities to use computers around kindergarten.
Furthermore, if either parent is Japanese, even if the child is fluent in English, there’s a high probability they’ll be encouraged to participate in ESL classes, and computers were used in those classes as well. Computers and tablets were provided by the school; students weren’t allowed to take them home.
She’s in private school now, and while the cost is technically included in tuition, the devices are provided by the school. Of course, since she uses them for homework, she’s now been given one to manage on her own.
I completely understand the concern about not wanting children to use them from too young an age.
However, since I can’t very well tell the school, “I’m worried about screen time, so I don’t want them to use it much,” and then have them stop using it altogether, I think the only option is to manage screen time at home and make adjustments there.

• Mido
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 17:20
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Thank you for your post, Tome-san. ！
You mentioned you’re not familiar with the current elementary school system, but I understand that students use tablets in ESL classes at school. I believe my daughter’s first language is English, but since I’m Japanese, I’m worried she might end up in an ESL class.
Since tablets are so easy to use with just one finger, I’d prefer it if they recommended using computers instead. I’m worried that if she starts with the easier option, she might have trouble transitioning to a computer with a keyboard later on. It’s fine if she only uses the tablet for studying, but I’m worried she might get addicted if she finds out she can use it for YouTube or games.
If we end up using a tablet at home, I’ll have to make sure to monitor it closely so she doesn’t use it for anything other than her studies.

• Mahalo
• mail
• 2026/07/15 (Wed) 10:03
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I’ve taken lessons at Virtuoso Violin.
Everyone from young children to adults seemed to be enjoying their lessons.
Please feel free to check out their website.

https://virtuosoviolinhawaii.com/

• バイオリン
• 2026/07/22 (Wed) 18:42
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Thank you for letting me know. So there is a Japanese teacher there. I’d like to get in touch with them.

• HIRO
• 2026/08/04 (Tue) 09:32
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I think you'll also find them at the music school in Ala Moana.
https://www.reneesmusichawaii.com/japanese/teachers/

• ALIKA_HNL
• mail
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 00:43
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There’s a female instructor who was born in Japan and raised in Hawaii—a graduate of the Austrian 🇦🇹 National Academy of Music—who gives piano and violin lessons to students of all ages.
She offers lessons in Japanese, English, and German, so why not search for the following and get in touch? ？
SEVEN SEAS MUSIC STUDIO
The studio has two locations: Kaimuki and Ewa Beach.

• バイオリン
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 10:40
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HIRO and ALIKA_HNL, thank you for the information. I'll reach out to them.

• 通りすがり
• 2026/08/31 (Mon) 10:56
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They say, “If everyone crosses at a red light, it’s not scary,” but I suppose Taro wants to build a group like that.
As Copilot pointed out, this is a violation of the Nationality Act—a “Black” case.

Regarding OP’s question:
It has been reported that visa and green card processing is backed up under the current administration. You mentioned that nothing has happened for a year since you applied, but I think you should take the initiative yourself.
A long time ago, I personally handled the application process for citizenship—including my family members—after holding a Green Card. After submitting the N-400/N-600 application forms, I received a confirmation of receipt within about a month. I assume you’ve received this acknowledgment of receipt (I’ve forgotten the form number), but if you haven’t, that’s a problem. A few months later, you’ll receive a notice via the same form regarding your photo and ・ biometric (fingerprint) collection. I’ll assume you’ve reached this stage. If that’s the case, I think it’s best to refer to the process ＃ outlined in the documents you received (the application acceptance notice or the biometrics notice) and call the toll-free number to check on your status. Once the biometrics process is complete, you should receive a notice for your interview within a few months.

Although passport applications were being accepted at the naturalization ceremony venue, it was crowded, so I applied for my passport at a nearby post office where I had made a reservation in advance. I think the passport will arrive in about three weeks even if you do not choose the Expedited Process, which requires an expedited fee.

• 太郎
• 2026/08/31 (Mon) 21:33
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Drunk driving is absolutely out of the question—it puts other people’s lives at risk. It’s completely unacceptable.

A question for Copilot. How many times have you crossed at a crosswalk while running a red light? ？ Can you answer honestly, with your hand on your heart? ？ Ten times? 20 times, or even more? ？

Yes, Under Articles 7 and 120 of the Road Traffic Act, the penalty is a fine or administrative fine of up to 20,000 yen; for cyclists, it is imprisonment for up to three months （ custodial sentence ） or a fine of up to 50,000 yen. Additionally, for violating the reporting obligation, the penalty is imprisonment for up to three months, or a fine of up to 50,000 yen

If you’re the kind of person who lives that meticulously, it’s not too late to come forward and report it yourself. I doubt they’ll take you seriously, but in that case, why not donate the amount of the fines you’ve accumulated so far to a good cause? And make sure to truly reflect on your actions—you mustn’t run red lights (illegal acts) ever again.

I rarely run red lights. But when I’m absolutely running late, I might occasionally run across the street—though I don’t feel guilty about it, since so many people run red lights…

You lose your Japanese citizenship the moment you acquire U.S. citizenship. However, unless you file a notification of loss of citizenship, it’s impossible for the Japanese government to know about it. This is a gray area in a sense, and the Japanese government also bears some responsibility for the ambiguous laws and for turning a blind eye. In fact, it seems that even at the Japanese Embassy in the U.S., they say with a laugh, “Please choose one or the other,” just like how a police car uses its loudspeaker to tell someone who ran a red light, “Please don’t run the red light.”

By the way, please be aware that if you travel back and forth using a U.S. passport (without a visa), you may be stopped at a Japanese airport and barred from entering the country for a long time. This happened to someone I know.

• 勉強中
• 2026/09/01 (Tue) 17:20
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Watching this exchange from the sidelines is a great learning experience ！

As I understand it, the term “gray zone” refers to a situation—such as the debate over Article 9 of the Constitution and the capability to strike enemy bases—where
“a state in which legal interpretations and judgments regarding illegality are themselves divided.”

In reality, as Taro-san pointed out, I learned that
the “grey zone” refers to “a situation that is difficult to detect in practice because, although it is clearly defined as illegal under the law, the administrative enforcement system hasn’t caught up yet” is what is called the “gray zone”—and it was a real eye-opener for me. ！

The final story—about “an acquaintance who was stopped while attempting to enter the country on a U.S. passport and was subsequently barred from entry for an extended period”—is also very realistic and compelling.
You even shared a valuable example of how, the moment a gray-area situation is actually detected by authorities as a clear violation, it instantly turns black—I learned a great deal from that ！

• Copilot
• 2026/09/02 (Wed) 15:19
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To the thread starter and Taro

Yesterday, I simply notified the consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about this post.

• tama
• 2026/09/03 (Thu) 09:44
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Thank you, Passing Stranger, for the detailed explanation.

• ローゼン
• 2026/06/02 (Tue) 15:28
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Wow ！ Iolani has zero ⁇ from Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford ！
I thought there were a few Iolani who went to MIT every year.
I thought there were a few people going to MIT every year in Iolani. UC schools like UCLA and UC Berkeley are not as common as in Punahou, but UC San Diego, Davis and Irvine are more common.
My son is studying for the middle school entrance exam, and Tutor told me that the SSAT passing line for middle school is also 10% higher than Punahou.
Iolani is also good for Kinder because it's easy to get in, but if you look at their graduation record, … it's not as good as Punahou.
Punahou is still a good choice.
Thanks for letting us know the latest status of Iolani.

• ABC
• 2026/06/03 (Wed) 20:42
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My daughter graduated from Iolani. Naturally I was a fan of Iolani.
After hearing your opinions, I looked into it in detail. I can conclude that Punahou and Iolani are the best choice for Punahou.
Looking at the situation in Kinder today, it will not change in the next ten years. No, it is likely that the difference will be even greater.
Conversely, if you cannot pass Punahou, Iolani is the only choice.
Even though we are taking the Kinder exam, in the end we want to get them into a good college.
In the U.S., college entrance exams are based on school grades, teacher recommendation letters, essays, interviews, etc.
I applied to 11 schools, 3 were memorial exams ？
2 were stop-losses, and as a result, I received acceptance letters from 7 schools.
I failed the 3 schools that the school said I couldn't go to. The one school I didn't want to go to even if I was accepted was also a no-go.
I passed all the other schools that I thought I might be able to get into.
I have the impression that Iorani's support for university entrance exams was very good.
I was told that it was impossible, but it was still impossible.
The problem was just beginning: tuition and living expenses.
There are merit-based and need-based scholarships.
Families who go to Punahou or Iolani are unlikely to have need-based.
Every college has given me merit-based scholarships. But 1 ． 50,000 ～ 2 ． $50,000.
Education ： about $70,000, living expenses ： about $20,000, I can't do very well.
State universities have lower tuition, but if you are not a US citizen, you will not get preferential treatment in California.
I know there are many people whose only option is UH for these reasons.

• ABC
• 2026/06/04 (Thu) 15:04
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I will write some more to add.
If you want to go to college in the Mainland, you need at least $70,000/year.
This also goes up every year.
If this is not financially feasible for you, you should not choose Punahou or Iolani in the first place ？
There are 12796 students at UH. That's about 3200 students/year.
There are about 50 people in total who go to UH from Punahou and Iolani.
Mid-pack and others combined would not be 100 people.
In other words, an estimated 3,100 are enrolled from Public.
I think there is an option to go to UH while getting top grades at Public instead of choosing Punahou or Iolani from the start.
This would save about $400,000 over 12 years.

If you are accepted to the college you apply to, you will be notified of the cost and the scholarship you will receive after the acceptance letter.
I thought I would get a few scholarships even on a need-based basis.
In fact, it was merit-based only.

In the end, I had the painful experience of convincing my daughter, who was accepted, that it was financially impossible.
The good thing about going to Iolani is that I got accepted to a lot of good colleges even though I couldn't go, and I made a lot of good friends.

• ぷ
• 2026/06/10 (Wed) 13:23
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Indeed, a certain number of students from Punahou and Iolani go to UH each year.

Many then transfer to prestigious universities or go to prestigious graduate schools.

I don't have data, but my sense is that Punahou and Iolani graduates are far more likely to do so than Public graduates.

• りんご
• mail
• 2026/08/30 (Sun) 22:33
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My daughter is currently attending Iolani Elementary. She didn’t have any homework in kindergarten or first grade. I think that’s because they cover the material thoroughly in class.
As for the counselor, I believe teachers have their own jobs to do, so personally, I think it’s better to leave any issues to a professional counselor. As my daughter has also mentioned, I think the students generally resolve their own problems.
As for the incident, it was the actions of a few students, and I think that sort of thing can happen at any school. I don’t think we should get too worked up over it.
My daughter absolutely loves Iolani.

• Zion
• 2026/08/19 (Wed) 15:08
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Masami

I live in Hawaii, but since things vary greatly depending on the lawyer and the time period,

it’s wise to ask an AI. For details like what they’re like or how old they look, I think the experiences of people who’ve recently used a lawyer would be helpful.

• Hibi
• 2026/08/19 (Wed) 16:30
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If you have a spare room, I’d recommend considering a live-in babysitter （ Au Pair ） as one of your options.
There’s a placement agency called “Au Pair International,” and Hawaii is one of the areas they cover. ！

• rak
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 14:07
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I'm not up to date on the latest information, but I believe you could also get one at the service counters of Foodland and Time’s Supermarket at Ala Moana Shopping Center.
You can also have multiple accounts under your own name.

• タコ
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 14:12
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You can't get HOLO cards for children at places like Foodland.

• rak
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 16:17
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My apologies.
It seems you need a photo ID (such as a passport) to get the children’s discount.
It seems the locations are limited to
Satellite City Halls (except Ala Moana Center)
TheBus Pass Office (Kalihi)
Online (see form below)
.
Since I’ll probably be taking the bus with my child to school, this was very helpful.

• アリラン
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 20:14
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https://www.thebus.org/Fare/FareTran_Youth_Japanese.asp

#4 You're absolutely right, rak.
I'll post the URL here for reference.

• トピ主です
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 21:32
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Thank you, everyone.
Satellite City Hall operates by appointment only and had no openings until the second week of next month. … It looks like I’ll have to go to the Karihi Transit Center. Thank you for the information.