COURTESY OF KAMEHAMEHA HIGH SCHOOL
Kimlynne and Jim Slagel, who have tie-dyed everything from their clothes to bedsheets and house curtains, have established a reputation as being Kamehameha's "wild and outgoing couple," said senior Randi Morita-Sunada.
Dye-namic duo
Teachers Jim and Kimlynne Slagel
have a "wild" reputation
Not all high school students look forward to going to their Advanced Placement English or AP calculus classes.
But here at Kamehameha, the odds are very high that they do, especially when Jim and Kimlynne Slagel are teaching.
Covered from head to toe in their everyday, tie-dyed apparel, the Slagels have established a 16-year reputation as being "the wild and outgoing couple of our school," according to senior Randi Morita-Sunada.
They tie-dye anything and everything in their possession, from bedsheets, pillowcases and house curtains to bags, T-shirts, socks, even shoelaces.
"I just love bizarre colors and feel naked when I'm not wearing tie-dye," Jim Slagel said.
The couple met 18 years ago at previous teaching jobs at Mount Eden High School in Hayward, Calif.
"We were assigned to teach in the same classroom, and she fell for me immediately," Jim recalled.
"I was attracted to his fairness and patience," said Kim.
"For the 17 years that we've been married, we've never fought or raised our voices to each other," Jim said.
"Working with Jim is a real plus because we are both on the same schedule, and I don't need to defend him since all his students like him," Kim said.
In 1991 the Slagels began an Amnesty International club in which members wrote letters to the government regarding their opposition to specific unjust, worldly issues.
"Amnesty eventually evolved into a community service-oriented program," Kim Slagel said.
Amnesty continues to host monthly meals for the homeless at the Church of the Crossroads. The club also conducts schoolwide fund-raisers, donating the majority of its proceeds to the Amnesty Peace Award. This award donates money to outstanding individuals or organizations who have made a positive impact on the community.
Amnesty has participated in the AIDS Walk along with the People with AIDS Coalition and numerous beach cleanups, blood drives and post-9/11 fund-raisers, and has helped needy children in various Hawaii hospitals.
Though the Slagels do not have any children, they do have many animals, including a rabbit, two cats, a dog and a flock of ducks. Their animal-loving ways have made them notable members of the Hawaiian Humane Society, where they adopted all their pets, except for the ducks.
Aside from teaching AP calculus and pre-calculus, Kim Slagel has advised the class of 1992, several clubs and the math team. Jim Slagel, an AP English and American Satire teacher, advises the newly formed Buddhist Club in addition to Amnesty.
"Mr. Slagel is my favorite teacher because he is laid-back," said senior Jerard Taira.
"Mrs. Slagel's energetic attitude encourages me to learn about math," said senior Keola Kaluhiokalani.
With recent controversies at Kamehameha regarding the admission policy, Kim Slagel spearheaded the month-long petition drive in support of Kamehameha's current Hawaiian-preference admission policy. The drive collected more than 83,000 signatures.
"I think I was fairly instrumental in the petition drive, and apparently that (petition) had some impact on U.S. District Judge Alan Kay's ruling," Kim said.
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Legal fight only makes
school ties strongerStudents remain loyal to officials
and the school's founder
Despite recent controversies surrounding its schools, the Kamehameha ohana remains, as junior Po'okela Napolean said, "connected by a special respect for our princess (Bernice Pauahi Bishop)."
"Even after this case, we (Kamehameha Schools and the Hawaiian community) are staying together," she said. "It's not in Hawaiians to abandon each other."
The past year's events, especially Kamehameha Schools' latest legal affairs, have made an indelible impression on the Hawaiian community.
On Dec. 4, U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra approved a settlement in Mohica-Cummings vs. Kamehameha Schools, allowing seventh-grader Brayden Mohica-Cummings to continue his education at Kamehameha Schools' Kapalama campus through Grade 12 as a boarding student, provided he abides by student conduct rules and meets minimum academic requirements.
The decision stirred protest among people inside and outside the school. Anticipating such a response, Kamehameha Schools' trustees and legal team set out to explain the logic behind their decision.
"It was important for us to protect our (Hawaiian) preference policy and defend the rights of thousands of Hawaiian children, born and unborn, to attend our school," said trustee Nainoa Thompson.
"We understand the anger and the pain. In the last two weeks since making the decision to settle, we have spent many hours talking to people, trying to help them understand why we made this decision. But more importantly, we have listened and tried to understand their feelings."
On Dec. 10 and 11, Thompson and attorney Crystal Rose came to the Kapalama campus to discuss the settlement with the students during three class periods. They were joined by Headmaster Michael Chun and Kamehameha lawyer Paul Lucas on Dec. 11.
Around 200 students and faculty members attended the discussions held in Midkiff Learning Center.
Senior Kelsey Pavlosky said: "The trustees have shown up to everything important and more. Trustee Thompson stands out because he tries to understand what it's like to be a student here. He made a connection with us and was willing to expose himself to our intense emotions about the settlement. It's obvious that he really does care about what we feel."
The efforts of the Kamehameha trustees and administrators to continue the fulfillment of Pauahi's mission are complemented by the determination of the students.
"I was a proud Hawaiian before the case settlement, and I continue to be one after it," said freshman Pua Fujimori. "No court case can take away my determination in doing what Pauahi wanted me to do."
Senior Tricia Terao said: "Kamehameha's strength lies in the students' understanding of what Pauahi has given to us. We need to keep strong on what the trustees decided because it was in the best interest for Hawaiians."
Terao explained that whenever there is discussion about the case settlement and its "so-called negative effect on Hawaiian unity," she listens to the different opinions and does not resort to persuasion.
"I want to understand them first and then provide reasons for the settlement. It's important to inform people of the full story, but I believe our cause is strong enough without my telling people what to think," she said.
Chun said: "I am tremendously proud of the students of Kapalama campus for a couple of reasons. First, they have stepped forward and said they wanted to be a part of the solution and to understand all the aspects of the situation. It's exciting to see such wisdom come from the students. They know that a person needs to see all sides in order to understand the final decision.
"Second, they are treating Brayden with respect and making this experience one of the best he's ever had."
Chun himself, after a "knee-jerk reaction" to the settlement proposal, struggled with the final decision.
"I knew I had to get through the emotional matter and try to understand the intellectual side of it," he said. "No matter what, our focus has been perpetuating Kamehameha's legacy. It always has been and always will be."
According to junior Kimo Kaona, the case settlement was an "awakening" for the Hawaiian community.
"I realize now how some people want to see Hawaiians break apart and lose our strong bonds, but the Kamehameha ohana should not let such petty things come between us and perpetuating the will of our founder Ke Ali'i Bernice Pauahi Bishop," Kaona said. "These rough waters should only strengthen us, not break us apart."
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About this section
Each week, Hawaii's teenage reporters and photographers tell us about their high school. This week's school is Kamehameha High School.
Newspaper: Ka Mo'i Editor: No'u Revilla Faculty adviser: Elizabeth Truesdell Next week: Waldorf High School
Warrior facts
Address: 1887 Makuakane St., Honolulu 96817 Founders: Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and Charles Reed Bishop Founded: 1887 (boys), 1894 (girls) High school principal: Anthony Ramos Other Kamehameha campuses: At Pukulani, Maui, and Keaau, Hawaii Mascot: Warriors School colors: Blue and white
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You asked...
What effect does a sense of Hawaiian unity have on the social climate of Kamehameha Schools?
Mele Pang
Hawaiian language teacher
"In general, we are all connected. We realize that we share the unconditional support from the Hawaiian community outside of Kamehameha."Pili Keala
Junior
"I feel that we are able to express our feelings about being Hawaiian and Hawaiian issues more openly. We can unite and be proud of who we are as a people."Tia Orian
Junior
"Because we are a minority, the school acts as a sanction despite our diversity."Keo Wright
Junior
"It does bring us closer together, but if we don't take the initiative to support other Hawaiians, it's useless."Kealohi Lucas
Sophomore
"I think we have cliques just like any other school. There are definitelysome of us who are more involved in the culture."
Kea Smith
Sophomore
"It's more of a family environment."Akilah Kim
Freshman
"It's a common ground for all of us. It allows us to connect easier."Cody Valeiros
Senior
"I think it's easier for us to identify with each other."Vicen Akina
Freshman
"We have our differences but our culture binds us."
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