Garden Island Pride

Football champions set the tone as students excel at extracurricular activities

Most people in Hawaii may dismiss Kauai High School as a small school far from the center of what's happening. But Kauai High is proud of its multi-talented students, their competitive spirit and their enthusiasm for school activities.

Kauai High School Name Making Waves Faculty adviser Lindsay Kamm Editor Mari Graham and Kelsie Nakamura Address 3577 Lala Road, Lihue, HI 96766 Phone number (808) 274-3160 Mascot Chicken Hawk Enrollment 1,290 Faculty and staff 100

Winning the Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship in football sets the tone for school and for the year. It is the first sport played and it is the biggest team sport, so everybody gets pumped up.

Head coach Keli'i Morgado said, "Football at Kauai High has changed because for my first year, in 1999, there were only 18 varsity boys, and now there are 45. At first the boys did not understand what was expected ... but now they are comfortable and the JV champions move up to become the varsity champions."

After losing to Waimea for 12 years, the Kauai High football team turned it around in 2003, winning the KIF and placing seventh in the state. In 2004, Kauai High placed third in the state tournament. The Raiders won the KIF 2005 title and played Maui Division II champions Kamehameha-Maui on Friday, losing 14-7.

On the boys air riflery team, top scorers Aaron Braun and Kendall Kusaka went to Honolulu on Oct. 31 for the state competition. Kusaka said, "States was long, but we shot our average. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough to beat Punahou."

Cross-country competition has grown on Kauai in recent years, and Kauai High has a team of 30 girls and 30 boys. The current star is junior Chelsea Smith-Wishard, who placed first in KIF and 10th at the Iolani Invitational this year. Kauai High has won the KIF five times in the past 10 years.

Since 2003, Kauai High cheerleaders have competed at the HHSAA/Zippy's State Cheerleading Championship. The school is recognized as having one of the largest co-ed squads in the state, with eight boys and 23 girls. Last year's team was the first from Kauai to attend the National Cheerleaders Association U.S. Championship. They traveled to Buena Park, Calif., in March 2005 and captured the championship.

Accomplished athletes Other recent achievements of Kauai High athletics: Boys varsity volleyball: KIF champs in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004; placed fifth in state tournament in 2004 Girls varsity volleyball: KIF champs in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004; placed fifth in state tournament in 2001 and seventh in 2003 and 2004 Boys bowling: KIF champs for past five years; placed 10th in 2005 state tournament Girls bowling: Won the KIF title three times in recent years Boys riflery: 2004-05 KIF champs Girls riflery: 2001-02 KIF champs

"All of the long hours and never-ending practices were worth it," said coach Carrie Naka'ahiki-Young. "The expressions on their faces were priceless and worth all that we went through."

Students are also involved in non-sports activities. Kauai High's award-winning band sent 100 students to march in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day. Members also will perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City this week. The band program is under new leadership this year with alumnus Darryl Miyasato.

The Honor Choir develops and enhances the musical skills of public and private school students across the state. One of Kauai High's 18 members, Kehau Medeiros, said, "There are no winners or losers when it comes to Honor Choir. The winners are the people who go."

In Mock Trial, students play out real-life courtroom dilemmas. Kauai High has won the state competition eight times in the last nine years and came in second in the nation in 2005. Six Kauai High students have received national recognition in recent years.

The Future Farmers of America club received top honors at the 2005 Hawaii Conservation Awareness Contest. FFA member Aleisha Yamaoka advanced to the national competition in public speaking and said that she enjoyed meeting people from different states.

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2 school clubs offer chance to give back

Leaders of the future are learning how to make a difference in their communities participating in two major volunteer clubs at Kauai High School: Leo Club and Key Club.

Leo Club's motto is to "provide young people with a chance to excel, to develop character traits, and to receive recognition for their contributions to the community." This fall, the club's 40 members have established a schoolwide recycling project, helped recruit volunteers for the Red Cross and logged hours at the Kauai Food Bank. During the year, they will visit with seniors at Wilcox Hospital Long Term Care, clean up beaches and help with the Lions Club breakfast.

Dorothy Hoe, teacher and adviser, said, "Students find that helping the community is a reward in itself."

Nicole Gaetjens stated that the best thing about Leo Club is that "you're helping the community and doing it with friends." Leo Club is affiliated with the Lions Club International, which has served communities since 1917.

"To develop competent, capable and caring leaders through the vehicle of service" is the Key Club motto. Key Club members have developed a literacy program called Key Kids for the students at King Kaumualii Elementary School's A-Plus Program, where they volunteer once a month; pick up trash in the Adopt-a-Highway program; and walk in the United Way Walk-a-Thon and the Relay for Life.

Club President Kassy Morishige said, "The most amazing thing we have done is raise over $15,000 in the past two years for the American Cancer Society."

Kauai High is home to three state officers of Key Club. Senior Shantelle Kubota is lieutenant governor, senior Lauren Chun is divisional secretary and senior Harrison Yamamoto is the divisional assistant.

Chun said the most rewarding part about being in Key Club is that "it feels like you're actually making a difference."

Kauai High's club, with 102 members, is a part of Key Club International, founded in 1925 in Sacramento, Calif.

By participating with affiliated senior clubs, students are learning the values and rewards of service to their community and will continue to contribute in the future.

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What do you hope to accomplish after high school?

Noa Howatt
Freshman
"Be a successful person, not a bum."

Gabriel McMullen
Junior
"I want to go to Africa and help with AIDS, then become a kindergarten teacher."

Kelsea Reich
Senior
"I'm going to be famous, I don't know what for, but I will be. I want to be a star!"

Maliana Hamada
Sophomore
"Go to college, play volleyball, and try to be in the AVP Beach Volleyball Tour."

Brad Ramos
Freshman
"To go to San Francisco State University and be a photographer."

Robert Fain
Junior
"Pump gas, brah!"

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