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KS Kapālama school year commences with convocation

August 26, 2015

More than 3,200 Kamehameha Schools Kapālama haumāna from kindergarten to 12th grade, recently assembled at Kekūhaupiʻo Gym for the campus’ annual beginning-of-school-year convocation.

“Bear Good Fruit” is this year’s spiritual theme, challenging staff members and students to improve themselves and to help others. Poʻo Kula (Head of School) Earl Kim shared his manaʻo on the topic at the all-campus gathering, inspiring attendees to take stock of what they have been given and to honor those gifts by helping others.

Each campus shared a musical offering, KS founder Princess Pauahi was honored, and the traditional passing of the torch – Nā Kūkini Lama – from one grade to another was run once again to the cheers of the entire student body.

KS Photographer Michael Young was on hand to capture the highlights of the event.

A member of the KS Kapālama Honor Guard, Adam Camara, a junior from Kauaʻi, stands guard over the portrait of Kamehameha Schools founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.




KS CEO Jack Wong, center, chats with Kapālama campus Poʻo Kula (Head of School) Earl Kim and his wife Kit before the campus convocation begins.




Executive Vice President for Education Dr. Holoua Stender and first grade teacher Joelle Lee get reacquainted. Stender used to be the principal at KSK Elementary School.




The start of the campus convocation is signaled by the blowing of the conch shell and the shofar, a ram’s horn, symbolizing the joining together of Christian and Hawaiian values at the beginning of the new school year.




Student Body President Elisha Fronda (left) and Senior Class President Nainoa Barlan served as emcees for the convocation. Junior Colby Jardin took his turn at standing guard during the proceedings.




The elementary school students and staff offer a song and and hula for their part of the convocation.




Elementary school music teachers Gayla Traylor and Lynell Bright strum along on their ʻukulele and Vice Principal Sandy Tuitele lends her voice to the schools' musical contribution.




Business Administrator Patti Matsumoto, Summer School Director Kela Park and Transportation Dispatcher Mike Hooper prepare to present hoʻokupu (ceremonial gifts) to honor the memory of school founder Princess Pauahi.




Pakalana Agliam, Kuʻulei Kekoa, and Paige Chang along with the high school Concert Glee Club sing “Praise His Holy Name,” by Keith Hampton.




“Bear Good Fruit” is this year’s spiritual theme, challenging staff members and students to improve themselves and to help others. Poʻo Kula (Head of School) Earl Kim shared his manaʻo (thoughts) on the topic, inspiring attendees to share their God-given gifts with others.




The Middle School Ensemble sang “E Kolu Mea Nui” as their offering to the convocation.




Kim hands the symbolic Torches of Knowledge to seniors Dayton Dano and Anuhea Burns. The torches will be passed to representatives of each grade in a relay run around Kekūhaupiʻo Gym. The passing of the torch symbolizes the enlightenment received from the legacy of Ke Aliʻi Pauahi which will endure for generations to come.




Seniors Ian Imamura and Lia Tom, KSK students since kindergarten, carry kindergarteners Maddox Sharrer and Talia Otake to the finish line on the final leg of the relay.




The 2015 Kapālama campus class representatives in the Passing of the Torch Relay Run.




The portrait of KS Founder Princess Pauahi with her favorite flowers - red roses - and hoʻokupu presented by student and staff representatives.




Security Guard Mark Victorino and Security Captain Michael Moses get down to eye level with some of the younger students as they board buses back to the lower campus after the convocation.