HAWAII'S SCHOOLS
New principal devotes time to meeting students
Kamehameha veteran Julian Ako requested a homeroom and hopes also to teach
By Kristen Nipp
Kamehameha High School
Julian Ako, former interim head of Education Support Services for Kamehameha's education system, was named the new high school principal for the Kamehameha Schools' Kapalama campus. And after only a few months, he's been a perfect fit.
Kamehameha Schools
Name
Kamo'i
Faculty adviser
Lionel Barona
Editor
Lindsay Wilhem
Address
249 Konia Circle, Honolulu 96817 (Kapalama campus)
Principal
Julian Ako
Mascot
Warriors
Enrollment
1,900
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Ako, a 1961 Kamehameha graduate, was selected by Kapalama campus headmaster Michael Chun, with the help of students, administrators and teachers.
"I was looking to provide the high school with good, effective, nurturing leadership," said Chun.
Ako officially assumed his new role on July 1.
According to Chun, principals are key people, even more important than the president or headmaster.
"They're responsible for the curriculum ... for the staff -- teachers, administrators; they're responsible for making sure that students, teachers and curriculum all come together so that good learning happens," Chun said.
Although Ako understood the magnitude of the position, he was not nervous about starting his new job. "It's an awesome responsibility, but I feel up to it," Ako said.
He not only knows most of the staff, but is also very familiar with the campus. He graduated from the Kamehameha School for Boys in 1961 and has worked for the Kamehameha Schools for more than 25 years.
While Ako has a lot of experience with both the staff and the school, he said, "I don't expect people to respect me because I have a title. ... I need to merit and earn their respect."
Ako plans to do that through his plans and actions. "In terms of my ... vision for the school," he said, "I'd like to provide leadership strengthening for our school, as a Hawaiian school, ensuring everything done is seen in sense of our mission: to improve the capability and well-being of Hawaiian people through education."
As a way of staying in touch with education, Ako requested and received a homeroom for the school year. He also hopes to have a Hawaiian class to teach in the future. If possible, he would also like to leave Fridays commitment-free to get to know students.
"I think it's important for me to spend time with students," he said.
Ako recently accompanied the senior class on their community service project in Waimanalo, an area heavily populated by Hawaiians. Ako worked in Waimanalo Stream with his senior homeroom students, removing invasive foliage and accumulated debris. "I don't want people to see me as being special. I need to experience the life of the school just like other teachers," said Ako, who is also not afraid to share his dancing and musical talents with students.
Bryson Chun, who is in Ako's homeroom, was impressed by the principal's willingness to work alongside students: "It was very rewarding to work with Mr. Ako. It felt as though he was one of us."
"Reliable, honest, and courageous," added in describing Ako.
"He's one of us" should be added to Chun's list.
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Navigating the storm
Students gain empowerment through facing their fears over a court case
By Keahiahi Long
Kamehameha Schools
With the ruling in early August of a 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals panel against Kamehameha Schools and its Hawaiian-only admissions policy, the campus has been in a state of confusion. Questions like "What's going to happen to the schools?" and "Are haole people going to be allowed to come here?" echo through the halls.
To help students cope with the ruling, school trustee Nainoa Thompson sat down with students in an informal roundtable discussion. Approximately 20 students, mostly from Principal Julian Ako's homeroom, met with Thompson at the Aug. 25 gathering.
Thompson began the discussion by posing several questions to students: "How do you guys feel? And what do you think we ought to do? How do we act, especially when we're angry?"
The questions were met with a few seconds of silence.
"I had to think about that one a little bit," said senior Shalysse Gramberg, reflecting later about the discussion. "There was just so much going on in my mind. I had so many emotions inside."
Senior Elijah Isaac was the first to answer. "It just feels so wrong," Isaac said. "(Kamehameha Schools) is kind of our last hope as Hawaiian people to further our education."
Senior Isaac Kamoku agreed with Isaac: "I feel hopeless. We're fighting the best we can, (but) no matter what, we lose."
JOSHUA TENGAN / KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS
Seniors Isaac Kamoku and Brittni Dilwith share their feelings about the John Doe case with trustee Nainoa Thompson and other seniors in a recent forum.
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That feeling of hopelessness seemed to particularly affect Thompson as he related a haunting personal crisis -- the disappearance in 1978 of his close friend, Eddie Aikau, at sea -- and how the trustee felt during his ordeal.
"Guilt. Denial. Sadness. Helplessness. And the worst is hopelessness," said Thompson.
The trustee then shared how he grew from that experience. He said he found his strength in one of his heroes, his father.
"He said to me, 'The only way you're going to hold yourself through those challenges is to make sure that you have a common set of values that define your vision, and hold on to them. Don't compromise them,'" Thompson said.
Taking that into consideration, the attitude of the students, all seniors, seemed to shift away from hopelessness to optimism. When asked where they saw themselves in 20 years, many of the students had little trouble sharing with the trustee their dreams and aspirations.
"I think I want to go into film," said senior Bryson Chun.
Senior Elijah Isaac answered with, "You can find me on my taro patch in Waimanalo."
Regardless of the occupation, the common theme expressed in all of the responses was a resolve to give back to the community.
Said Thompson: "Sounds to me like you want to improve communities, want to be a productive part of making the world a better place. To me, that's hopeful."
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YOU ASKED
A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel, in the court case John Doe v. Kamehameha Schools, recently ruled in favor of an anonymous non-Hawaiian student in his fight against the school's admissions policy. In light of the 10th Commandment, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods," how would Moses react to the John Doe case?
Kiana Choo, 16, Kaneohe: "He would say, 'What Pauahi wanted is what she should get.' (Non-Hawaiians) do not have the right to take the will's power away unless it is harmful, which it is not. I don't see why (Pauahi) shouldn't get what she intended for Hawaiian children, because it doesn't hurt anyone."
Charles Morgan, 56, Mililani: "He would wonder why a society considers it wrong for a trust to focus on helping one group of people."
Bertha Chong, 78, Aiea: "He would think, 'Why compare oneself to others?' Because it's useless to live a life comparing what you have to what others have."
Momi Morgan, 11, Mililani: "He would feel bad because the non-Hawaiians keep on wanting the little privileges that Hawaiians have."
Shalysse Gramberg, 17, Waimanalo: "I feel that Moses would be hurt about the John Doe case because so many Hawaiians are not educated and caught up in drugs and alcohol, and still non-Hawaiians keep on attacking those few Hawaiians that need the opportunities to take part in society and lead a better life. Kamehameha gives Hawaiians those opportunities from Pauahi's estate, not the state's money."
Keola Ibbara, 17, Kaneohe: "If I was Moses, I would inquire about (John Doe's) jealousy towards Hawaiians and would point out the 10th Commandment, asking him if he'd also apply to Saint Francis because girls are his neighbors."