May 26, 2006
Contributed by Liz Ahana
On Hawai'i Campus in Kea'au, 143 seniors will take part in commencement exercises slated for Saturday, May 27 beginning at 7 p.m. at the school's Koai'a Gymnasium.
On Maui Campus in Pukalani, 138 seniors will take part in graduation ceremonies at Kana'iaupuni Stadium on Saturday, May 27 beginning at 4:30 p.m.
This morning, senior classes from Maui and Hawai'i visited the Royal Mausoleum at Mauana'ala in Nu'uanu, the final resting place for more than 50 members of the Kamehameha and Kalakaua dynasties. Kamehameha
Schools founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop is entombed at Mauana'ala as well.
The students also attended a worship service at the Bishop Memorial Chapel on the Kapalama Campus and visited Kawaiaha'o Church as well.
"Today's gathering of seniors from Maui and Hawai'i was as meaningful as it is historic," said Dr. Rod Chamberlain, former Maui Campus headmaster and now Kamehameha's vice president for campus strategies.
"Students paid their respects to our ali'i, and for most of them, this was the first time they have been on the grounds of Mauna'ala. But today was more – it was about linking the revitalized vision of Kamehameha Schools serving more Native Hawaiians with its history. The future and past met here today."
Kamehameha Schools opened its neighbor island campuses to students in grades K-3 at temporary facilities in Pukalani and Keaukaha in 1996, with each site enrolling 80 students. In 2001, Kamehameha began operating permanent campus sites in Pukalani and in Kea'au just south of Hilo.
A small portion of the neighbor island graduating classes will include students who were third-graders when the temporary facilities opened in 1996.
"We're sure Pauahi is smiling broadly as the first graduating class at Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i Campus strikes out into the proverbial real world this coming weekend," said Hawa'i Campus headmaster Dr. Stan Fortuna.
"Thanks to the support and encouragement of our trustees and leadership, and the hard-working contributions of much-talented faculty and staff, these young men and women will all hit the ground running."
Kapalama Campus graduation ceremonies are scheduled for Sunday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at the Neal Blaisdell Center arena. The Kapalama senior class includes 445 students.
More than 21,400 good and industrious young men and women have graduated from Kamehameha Schools since its inception in 1887.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
