The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
Siri Kolanupaka

Siri Kolanupaka, Opinion Editor

Siri Kolanupaka is the Opinion Editor for her second year on the Portola Pilot. She is excited to be able to write about current events. In her spare time, she likes spending unnecessary amounts of time window shopping and trying different coffee shops with her friends to see which one has the best drinks. Her favorite drink at the moment is matcha (she’s not performative though, she promises!)

All content by Siri Kolanupaka
Voters fill out their ballots with the Orange County Registrar at the Central Library in Huntington Beach. Due to controversy that illegible citizens were voting, the Orange County registrar has faced scrutiny. “We have a very good registrar of voters,” Irvine City Councilmember Kathleen Tresseder said. “And we have lots of voters in the county, probably around 800,000. The fact that they found 17 folks on the rolls that may not be eligible to vote, I think it is very small.”

[Photo] The Department of Justice Sues Orange County Over Voter Records

Sruti Allani, Back Page Editor | October 15, 2025
Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, “Man’s Best Friend,” has a diverse array of songs that pay homage to older production styles while also showcasing Carpenter’s experimentation.

Sabrina Carpenter’s New Album “Man’s Best Friend” Is Spunky and Retro In All The Right Ways

Sruti Allani and Siri Kolanupaka | September 12, 2025
Students eagerly receive face paint at the back-to-school tailgate. “The tailgate is definitely a good way to welcome the students of Portola and bring people together,” junior class president Lauren Slade said. “Seeing all of these people have fun makes me feel good as a member of ASB who put a lot of work into this event.”

Beach-Themed Back-to-School Tailgate Launches Bulldogs into New School Year

Siri Kolanupaka, Opinion Editor | September 9, 2025
Irvine is seeing major developments with the upcoming Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum and T&T grocery store, while UC Irvine and Portola High School earn prestigious awards. The city’s recent growth reflects a commitment to culture, education and sustainability, bringing more diversity to the city, according to IUSD.org and UC Irvine Digest.

News Recap: Irvine Grows as a Dynamic City

Siri Kolanupaka and Nicole Lu | June 3, 2025
Kali Uchis released her fifth studio album entirely in English on May 9, marking this as her first project recorded solely in one language.

[Photo] Kali Uchis’ ‘Sincerely,’ Hits All the Right Notes on Love and Life

Olivia Ganes, Assistant Sports Editor | May 15, 2025
Dance Company members and sophomores Seraphine Chen and Sophie Lai choreograph and perform an emotional duet to the song “Streetcars” by Daniel Caesar. Their graceful, fluid moments paint a picture of agony and longing, wowing the audience.

Dance Department Concludes Year on ‘Bittersweet’ Note with Full Audience

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | May 9, 2025
Despite the recent popularity of the USC Speak Your Mind Challenge, there is a lack of people addressing the original reasons behind the movement. While new trends continue to spread, students need to pause and ask themselves, “Why does it matter?”

[Photo] More Than a Trend: Mental Health Deserves More Than a Bucket of Ice

Sruti Allani, Staff Writer | May 14, 2025
Playboi Carti’s long-awaited third album, “MUSIC,” has fans divided. Although all 30 of its songs charted on the Billboard Hot 100, some say it's bold and innovative, while others cannot get behind the chaotic production.

Playboi Carti’s New Album “Music” Drops, but so Does Interest

Sruti Allani and Siri Kolanupaka | March 28, 2025
Valentine’s Day was an opportunity for students and staff to celebrate all kinds of relationships. “Valentine’s Day is just a fun and easy holiday,” science teacher Michael Tang said, “It’s good for the economy. It’s good for people to go out and spend money on others.”

How Bulldogs Spent Their Valentine’s Day

Siri Kolanupaka and Sruti Allani | February 21, 2025
For Valentine’s Day, new cups line the shelves of the coffee chain; an assortment of pink cups lined with flowers, pictured on the left of the shelf, are available for a limited time in various designs. Some come in a cup shape with a reusable straw, while others are tumblers without a straw.

Starbucks’ Valentine’s Day Menu Brings Vibrant Flavors to Life Through Drinks and Desserts

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | February 21, 2025
Defensive midfielder and junior Garan Gurusinghe holds up a strong front as attackers surround him outside of the penalty box during the first half. “There were times throughout the game where they did exactly what we talked about during practice when setting up plays,” head boys’ soccer coach Benjamin Jordon said.

Boys’ Soccer Plays with Passion Despite Losing Close Match Against Northwood High

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | January 14, 2025
“Moana 2” rehashes the original film in an uncreative way, falling flat in plot structure and storytelling despite captivating visuals and upbeat songs. Unlike the original “Moana” (2016), the sequel included songs that were eerily similar to the first and shallow new characters that fail to entertain.

“Moana 2” Is a Sequel that’s Lost at Sea

Siri Kolanupaka and Sruti Allani | December 9, 2024
Dance 4's dazzling dance to the song “All That Jazz” from “Chicago the Musical,” choreographed by dance director Samantha Gardner, uses chairs as props to emphasize the different shapes and lines that naturally exist in motion. The ambient lighting and orange background contrast with the dancers' dark clothing, emphasizing the impact of their movements.

Student Dancers and Pop Musicians ‘Shimmer’ at the Fall Dance Concert

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | December 5, 2024
Democratic candidate Dave Min faces off with Republican candidate Scott Baugh for the open seat for California’s 47th District in the House of Representatives. Baugh has retained a three-point lead ahead of Min for the district, according to the latest poll by WPA Intelligence.

A Breakdown of Dave Min and Scott Baugh: Two Critical Candidates for California’s 47th District Race

Parmin Zamani and Siri Kolanupaka | November 5, 2024
Senior Hau Le takes the lead as the students featured in the fall play ‘Puffs’ introduce themselves while clad in yellow costumes, configured by Tech Theatre. “Closing night, the audience was fantastic. I remember the end scene, the battle scene, people were screaming, people were laughing,” Sally Perks and sophomore Coco Marshall said.

Portola High Fall Play “Puffs”: A Silly Spin On the Story of Hufflepuffs at Hogwarts Charms Audience

Siri Kolanupaka and Sruti Allani | October 24, 2024
After Hours Vocalist and sophomore Coco Marshall makes the audience scream “woohoo!” during “Only Angel” by Harry Styles. “My absolute favorite part of performing is getting to really let loose and have fun on stage,” Marshall said. “I love all the little stupid bits my band and I do throughout and in between songs and I love bringing my silliness and energy to the stage to connect with the audience.”

[Photo] A Showdown for the Ages: Student Bands Rock the Stage

Claire Liu and Annie Xiao | October 15, 2024
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The student news site of Portola High School
Siri Kolanupaka