HAWAII'S SCHOOLS

DARRELLYN MANALO
The Class of 2002 flies to victory in this year's Cheerfest as
they chant, "Look up in the sky -- it's a bird, it's a plane,
it's the senior class."

Spirit Soars

School spirit motivates everyone
to excel in class and competition

Kahuku's strengths show more than muscle
ABOUT THIS PAGE
YOU ASKED

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By Kawai Chee and Cory Estioko
Kahuku Chronicle

"We got spirit! How about you?"

Red Raiders' school spirit flies high at athletic events and student activities, including Cheerfest and Songfest.

"Kahuku's school spirit starts from the community and permeates throughout the school," says teacher and Chess Club advisor Nate Blevins.

The support that Kahuku's football program attains is unrivaled. At every home game, the community fills the bleachers, leaving many spectators standing on the sidelines to watch.

More than 5,000 fans attended this year's homecoming game. Spectators' cheering energizes the atmosphere with the help of the fans' red and white umbrella brigade. Umbrellas twirl triumphantly after every touchdown.

Merekete Smith says, "The amount of energy that is produced at football games is just amazing." Football player Matt Comeau adds, "Whenever we're losing, the fans always get louder, and that motivates us to play better."

Football is not the only sport that attracts fans. The volleyball games are also well attended. Even though there are no cheerleaders, there is never a dull moment in the gymnasium.

"The volleyball players support the football players, and the football players support the volleyball players," says volleyball player Andrew Thompson.

Rachel Tolleson adds: "The crowd could be likened to (having) another player on the roster. They really motivate the athletes to play better."

Kahuku promotes cheering through student activities such as Cheerfest, in which each class from grades 9-12 competes with motions, drum beats and lyrics that they perform at football's Homecoming Pep Rally.

Head football coach Reggie Torres says the best aspect about Cheerfest is "the uniting of the student body as they show their school spirit and support for the football program."

Torres says he enjoys the students' "facial expressions of joy and fun as they do their cheers."

Songfest is another activity that unites the classes with melody and harmony instead of cheering and yelling.

Senior Tanja Elvenia says our Songfest is unique compared with other schools because "we're able to express our creativity through the originality of the songs that we create and remix." She participates in these two events because "it brings our classes together, gives us a common bond."

Kahuku's spirit lures one teacher to make a daily commute from Waianae. Kumu Alexis Maunakea says: "Kahuku's the very best! We have enduring pride and strive for the highest and obtain wisdom. I'm a proud teacher at Kahuku High School."

Our spirit will soar forever.

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SHANTEL KAULULAAU / KAHUKU CHRONICLE
Amanda Baize, a Junior Varsity debater, participates in a
mock debate during a "snake eyes" competition as Ian Tapu,
Alee Thompson and Krystle Corpuz focus on the argument.

Kahuku’s strengths show
more than muscle

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By Shantel Kaululaau and Kealani Ah Puck
Kahuku Chronicle

Kahuku High and Intermediate School has always been known and praised for athletic achievement, from water polo to our state football championship team. But our school has more to offer than athletics.

We have an excellent speech and debate team, headed by English teacher Winnie Graham.

The school held its first tournament on Sept. 22.

"There were 10 Junior Varsity debate teams participating from Kahuku, all being first-timers," said Graham. "All of the teams won at least one ballot or more in all of their competitions."

Amanda Baize, a member of the debate team, said, "It's a lot of work and research, but I love debating my point and feeling that I know what's going on."

"Debate isn't hard as long as you're committed," Ian Tapu said. "You get to 'gong' people when they're wrong."

"Debate is a group of leaders working together," said team president Jessica Savini.

Kahuku also has a group called the "We the People" team, led by English teacher Sandra Cashman. In this class, students apply constitutional principles and historical facts to contemporary situations.

Last school year, they were recognized for their accuracy in areas such as the Bill of Rights and different aspects of government. Recently, they engaged in a performance in which they shared their skills with other students interested in their program. They have come in first place in Hawaii, going on to national competitions in Washington, D.C., every year but one since they began participating in 1993.

We are also proud of our music department. Vocal Motion, the high school select choir, is conducted by choir teacher Beth Kammerer, who was Hawaii State Teacher of the Year in 1997. Vocal Motion Choral Group has won many awards, both in Hawaii and on the mainland.

"People are surprised by the professionalism of the group," Kammerer said.

"It's helped me to see a bigger picture. I need to think about music, dance and the overall effect. ... It's fulfilling to work with motivated students who work for excellence."

Her son, James, a member of Vocal Motion, said, "It's really fun, and it is a great opportunity for people of different aspects of life to come together and share music with people."

The Kahuku Marching Band consistently brings home championship trophies for their excellent field and parade routines. They have been invited to perform at the Florida Citrus Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Rose Bowl and Tournament of Roses Parade.

In March our school won the Magnet E-Academy's Tech challenge. The tech crew's advisor was Wayne Haia, and members included Isaac Gale, Josh Ropert, Matthew Martin, Seton Sun and Keilani Yang. They showcased their skills involving hardware, software, and networking installation and troubleshooting problems.

A new school Web site, Kahuku.org, just opened up in August. A class was organized for the construction of the site. People of the community are also involved, writing many articles and other information that the public would like to know about our school. Every week, the Web site is updated with new information about sports and other school events.

Lastly, students have repeatedly excelled at both the state and national levels of History Day, a multimedia project competition centered on themes such as reform and frontiers.

Kahuku High has fulfilled its motto as "Pride of the North Shore" through many activities, but mainly through academics, illustrating mind over "muscle matter."

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ABOUT THIS PAGE

Each week, Hawaii's teenage reporters and photographers will tell us about their high school. This week's school is Kahuku High and Intermediate.

Newspaper: Kahuku Chronicle
Editors: Kealani Ah Puck & Kawai Chee
Faculty adviser: Sally Cole
Next week: Leilehua High

The statue "Spirit of Kahuku" by Jan Gordon Fisher symbolizes
the nobility, strength and courage of the staff and students of the school.

KAHUKU HIGH AND INTERMEDIATE

Address: 55-490 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku, HI 96731
Phone: 293-8950
Principal: Lisa DeLong
Vice Principals: Donna Lindsey, Pauline Masaniai and Deborah Voorhies
Student Activity Coordinators: Sunday Mariteragi (9-12), Jimmy Leonardi (7-8)
Athletic Director: Linda Semones
Colors: Red and white
Type of Schedule: Only trimester school in the state
Facts: First organized as an independent school in 1893 with 19 students
>> The campus sits on 21 acres
>> Kahuku means "guardians of Ku, keepers of the Red Heavens."
>> In 1988, elementary students moved to their own campus.

BY THE NUMBERS

1,950: Students
130: Staff
17: Sports
24: Clubs
12: Dances throughout the year
21: Red picnic tables
23: Portables
12: Buildings
1 in 4: Ratio of students in music program
1 in 3: Ratio of students in athletics
29: Alumni teachers

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YOU ASKED

Are you a leader or a follower, and why?

Keilani Yang
Senior
"I am a leader. Followers are copycats, and the last thing we need in this world is a copycat."

Nathan Tidwell
Senior
"I think that I am more of a follower. I usually have to have people ask me to do things before I will do them. I am always happy to help, but you just have to ask me first."

Jared Hanson
Junior
"I'm both. When I don't know what's going on, I choose to be a follower. When I feel that there's a need, I take charge and I'm a leader."

Kaelin Cabral
Junior
"Both, because I do things for myself, not for people's approval, but if I see someone doing something I've never tried before and seems fun, then I'll follow."

Andrew Thompson
Sophomore
"I'm a leader because I don't like following. I like to start my own trends, and I like when people look up to me."

Natasha Faalealea
Sophomore
"A leader because I feel that everyone should be different because everyone is different in their own ways."

Devina Waugh
Freshman
"I'm a leader because I go the way I know is true, and when someone tries to make me go another way, I don't listen, and they end up coming my way!"

Euta Lightsy
Freshman
"It depends. To my friends I'm a leader, but to older people I'm a follower. I look up to them, but altogether we get along."

Jake Vreeken
Intermediate
"Leader, because I'm not influenced by what others think or say."

Lani Huish
Intermediate
"Both. Sometimes I set my own trends and don't care what people think, but when I think people will laugh at me, I follow because I care what they may think of me."

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Compiled and photographed by Kealani Ah Puck, Kawai Chee, Cory Estioko and Shantel Kaululaau

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