Kalāheo High School Foundation and Alumni Association’s 50th Anniversary Lūʻau
Former students gather for the Kalāheo High School Foundation and Alumni Association Luau. PHOTO COURTESY MARTHA ROBERTSON
Above: Paula Ress serves pū-pū to her grandson, Connor, and his parents, Clare Connors and Alex Ress, at the Kalāheo High School Foundation and Alumni Association Lūʻau on Aug. 20; (Far right) Old yearbooks were popular at the event; PHOTOS COURTESY MARTHA ROBERTSON (Below) In attendance were some of the original legacy teachers and staff. (Pictured from left) are James Schlosser, Martha Robertson, Kay Johnson, Apolonia Stice, Fred Hilliard, Karen Kanda, Lewis Fuddy, Sharon Erhorn, Sarah Fincke, Judith Saranchock, Carin Goo, Ernesta Masagatani, Carol Devenot, Mel Pang, Jean Noguchi, Gail Fujimoto and Rita Careaga. PHOTO COURTESY MARGARET PEEBLES
The Kalāheo High School Foundation Foundation and Alumni Association Lu’au on Aug. 20 kicked off a year of events celebrating the school's 50th anniversary.
More than 200 people convened in the school gymnasium where the walls are covered with banners extolling athletic accomplishments. Tabletop displays described the foundation's contributions to student achievement and academic excellence, photo collections honored faculty retirees, yearbooks since 1973 prompted memories of days gone by, and free alumni T-shirts were offered.
Enhanced by traditional 10'au food, music and dance, the evening was a rare opportunity for the Kaläheo High 'ohana to come together, for alumni to reconnect with their teachers and classmates, and for all to marvel at how quickly time flies.
Other events are scheduled throughout the 2023-24 school year. Previous events included Alumni Night on Aug. 30 and Homecoming Week Sept. 1-8 with the theme "Past, Present, Future."
Kalaheo High's campus was originally built as Kaläheo Hillside Intermediate School, which opened in 1966. The conversion to a high school began in 1973 and was prompted by changing demographics and the 3,000 students at overcrowded Kailua High School.
As the school prepared to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 1998, the first high school principal Moss Ikeda - who was there in 1976-77 - stated that his task was to quickly build a school that would offer all aspects of a sound education, including a full and challenging academic program, strong arts classes, and a co-curricular program - the latter essential for students to experience a real high school and ensure a well-rounded educational experience. Ikeda also acknowledged the late vice principal Dennis Hirose who was acting principal during the 1975-76 school year while Ikeda was on military leave.
As facilities grew, Ikeda's educational vision produced students who, in addition to athletics, excelled in academics and won district and state competitions.
Instead of being known as "the other Kailua high school," Kaläheo High developed a unique identity, pride of place and a positive perception within the Kailua community.
Eighteen years after the conversion and during the tenure of principal William Tam, who served from 1981-82 and 1994-95, Kalaheo High School fulfilled the promise of its name which means "the proud day."
Through the U.S. Department of Education's School Recognition Program, Kaläheo High was designated a National Blue Ribbon School for 1990-91.
The faculty voted to use the $4,000 award as seed money to establish the Kaläheo High School Foundation. In addition to Ikeda, Tam and current principal James Rippard, other past principals include Rosemarie Warriner, Cynthia Chun, James Schlosser and Susan Hummell.
Among Kalaheo High's graduates, many have achieved excellence in various fields, including recipients of the Foundation's Alumni Honor Award. They include leaders in business, university academics, medicine, military, the environment, music and more.
"While high achievement is admired and honored, I do believe that teachers are proud of all their former students who, in myriad ways, become productive citizens and positively contribute to their communities," states Martha Robertson, one of the original 1966 faculty members and the last to retire after 43 years.
For more information, Visit kalaheofoundation.org.