Parents, teachers, family and friends crowded into the BYU-Hawai‘i Cannon Activities Center on May 31 as almost 300 Kahuku High seniors in the Class of 2007 marched in procession, took their seats and prepared for their last official ceremony together — graduation!
Like many Kahuku graduations before, this was a wonderful occasion filled with fun and enthusiasm, noise, patriotism, beautiful flower leis and gifts, lots more, and even a few tears.

This year nine valedictorians — Johanna Akina, Diane Chen, Shannon Ching, Ariana Forgerson, Kendra Ho Ching, Victoria Hurst, Noell Kamauoha, Megan Marler and Kanoe Tani — represented the highest academic achievement and collective memories of their classmates.

“Thanks to my teachers, parents and friends, I am confident I have the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle college,” one said. She added she also learned “not to wear slippers on rainy days.”

“Most of all, I would like to thank this community,” another said, “for teaching me the true meaning of being a Red Raider for life,” which drew loud cheers.

Following the class song, the audience discovered the Class of 2007 had collected just under $1.5 million in scholarships — with more expected to come in over the summer.

Red Raider Awards

Kahuku Principal Lisa DeLong then presented the Red Raider Awards, most of which are funded by the James and Abigail Campbell Foundation and by custom are first publicly announced during graduation. Though the awards are modest monetarily, they reflect the school’s traditional values. In addition to the valedictorians, the awards went to:

I Dare You, Ryan Kelly; Activities, Ceres Esera and Kanoe Tani; Service, Tirzah Yadao, Diane Chen and Noell Kamauoha; Leadership, James Bashford; Scholar Athletes, Shannon Ching and Ira Casey; Principal’s Award, Rebecca Fonoimoana, Richard Torres, Krystle Manguba-Glover, Tyrell Nihipali, Avery Thompson, Charles Feldman and Paul Muti.

The Outstanding Red Raider Awards, for those who qualify in three categories, went to Shannon Ching, Luçie Wilson and Kendra Ho Ching.

The traditional Hamashige family foundation awards, which have benefitted Kahuku graduates for decades, were also presented. These included the “teacher of the year” award, which went to Mrs. Leialoha Finai.

Diploma time

Then the real fun began…as each graduate individually received a diploma. It was a time of dignity for some, and unusual exuberance for others. For example, there were lots of celebratory shaka signs flashed; a couple of guys clicked their heels; lots of other made various hand gestures and exchanged knuckle taps; one guy did a fairly decent cartwheel; another rolled on the stage to the presenter; quite a few embraced — and several even picked up the presenters, while a few felt compelled to rub the shaved head of presenter, Mr. Abey Qureshi; and one guy walked on his hands.

Then there were the chest bumps, the hand slaps, hugs, lots of kisses blown and, of course, funny faces. It was also interesting to note most of the grads dressed traditionally under their robes, but some came barefoot while others wore slippahs.

Audience response was widely varied, too: They cheered a lot and shouted names, while their air horn blasts broke through all other noise. The audience also responded favorably to some of the unusually long Hawaiian and other Polynesian names.

After all had received their diplomas and the excited died down, as depicted in the picture at the head of this article, Complex Area Superintendent and former Kahuku principal Lea Albert uttered her classic line, “You are now and forever graduates of Kahuku High, the Class of 2007.”

The cheers by the graduates began in earnest before she finished. Soon after the newly matriculated graduates reprised the senior medley that they first presented at Cheerfest, then they filed out of the CAC to meet family and friends.

All of that was soon overshadowed by mountains of leis and people trying to find graduates outside the CAC.In short, it was a typical — and wonderful — Kahuku High graduation. Congratulations, Class of 2007.

— by Mike Foley

Memories, memories

The Kahuku High graduation ceremony on May 31 sparked a few people in the audience to recall memories of their own graduations in years past.

For example, head class advisor and Japanese language teacher Mr. Mark Woolsey, who graduated from Utah’s Jordan High in 1978, recalled his graduation was held outside on the bleachers of their football stadium.

“I was relieved, especially since I didn’t have to speak. After, we went home. There were no parties. Today’s graduation is a big production and the kids are really honored. Hopefully they remember who actually did a lot of work for them,” he said.

Mr. Woolsey added that his youngest son, Isaac Woolsey, and nephew, Rayton Rowland, who lives with them, are part of the Kahuku Class of 2007.

Career and College Coordinator Raynae Cortez Fonoimoana, who graduated from Kahuku in 1968, remembered “it was definitely different than today’s ceremony. We didn’t have Songfest and Cheerfest, but we had a class song and we all participated. After, everyone just went home and partied there.” She added they graduated in the gym.

“We were cool, but I like how graduation has progressed. It adds more to the ceremony.”
Grade 11-12 math teacher Toa Leiataua, whose daughter Tabitha Leiataua graduated this year, finished high school in Samoa in 1977. There and then, he recalled, “there was no graduation ceremony for us. We just took a test, and that was it. So, I really enjoy Kahuku graduations.”

Retired Hau‘ula Community Park worker Annette Santiago, whose six children all finished at Kahuku, graduated from Kamehameha in 1958. “We had it at the school’s old gym. It was very nice and family oriented. I loved it. We had a lot of leis after, same thing like now.”
She added that after, because she was a boarding student, she just went back to her dorm. “There were no parties, like now.”

But DOE Windward Complex Area Superintendent Lea Albert, who graduated from South Pasadena High in California in 1964, remembered they had something like Project Grad: “After, we were put on a train and sent to San Diego, where we were bussed to a restaurant and spent graduation night.

“But it was nothing like Kahuku’s graduation,” she said. “This beats all graduations; and I’m very proud of Kahuku, as always.”

Principal Lisa DeLong, who graduated from Kailua’s Kalaheo High in 1977, recalled she was part of a “very warm and nurturing class, just like we have at Kahuku.” She added she went to a Chinese dinner afterwards with her family and relatives from the mainland.

“But there’s nothing that can compare with what we’re doing here today, especially with Project Grad. Kahuku’s graduation is unparalleled.”