COURTESY KAIMUKI HIGH SCHOOL The Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center staged "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" last month. Highlights included, from left, Jennifer Kakitani as the mayor's wife, Rachel Okazai as Johann and Andrew Pang as the town mayor acting out a scene.

Performing Arts Center
draws on many talents

Student Q & A
Female athletes chase Mink's dream

---

By Michelle Mace
Kaimuki High School

Mama Will Provide." "Day by Day." "A Hundred Million Miracles."

These are just a few of the songs that have enlivened the Kaimuki High School auditorium.

Year-round, the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center presents stage productions raging from plays to musicals to talent competitions. "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," a fairy tale set in medieval Germany, was the first production, from Nov. 14 to 24. More than 6,000 elementary students and teachers from 17 schools attended one of the nine morning shows.

Auditions for the spring musical, "Once on This Island" by Lynn Ahresm, took place from Dec. 3 to 5.

"It's a really colorful musical with lots of dancing and singing," said Peggy Anne Siegmund, director and producer for the Performing Arts Center. "It's a love story, a little sad but fun."

COURTESY KAIMUKI HIGH SCHOOL Miko Grier, as the town crier, holding up a rat infesting the town of Hamelin.

Teacher M.J. Matsushita and her students are in charge of sets. Teacher Vernon Campbell is dance coordinator, while Nanile Sapascua is vocal assistant. Rehearsals begin after winter break, every day after school. "Once on This Island" will play during the first two weekends of March.

KHSPAC alumni who continue to perform include Michael Ng, Elitei Tatafu, Michelle Abelaye and Jeremy Pippin. Ng and Tatafu were both cast as Jesus in last year's production of "Godspell," with Tatafu performing the first two nights and Ng in the last three performances.

KHSPAC offers four years each of acting under Siegmund, dancing under teacher Deanna Luster, technical theater under Matsushita and vocal performances under Jenny Kimura.

The center opened in 1987 under the direction of Siegmund, who came to Kaimuki High School in 1986.

Other productions include the Shakespeare Festival, which involves performing art classes and the English Department. Eden-Lee Murray, a professional actress and teacher, assists the students in performing scenes from Shakespeare's plays.

The annual Aloha Showcase in May will mark the close of another year. KHSPAC and drama club members are eligible to perform. Students from Oahu public schools who have taken a performing arts class or have been in a KHSPAC production may perform in dance, singing or short scene numbers.

---

BACK TO TOP
|

You asked

What is the hardest thing about high school?

Faryn Watanabe
Freshman
"It's mostly trying to keep a high A for each class and getting along with my classmates."

Blake Murakami
Freshman
"Missing old friends you grew up with and went to elementary and intermediate (school) with."

Taressa Ishimi
Sophomore
"Keeping your relationships with friends, family and dealing with everything else life throws at you."

Randy Soriano
Sophomore
"Budgeting time with all my extracurricular activities and academic classes."

Dena Nakahashi
Junior
"Knowing that these are the last years of being a kid and living off of the government and your parents."

Jeremy Clements
Junior
"Keeping up with all of your classes on a daily basis, and saying goodbye to friends who leave every year."

Julie Tran
Senior
"Maintaining my grades while trying to keep up with school events, friends and family life."

Leighton Kano
Senior
"Getting good grades and knowing that it will help me do good in future college classes."

Michael Viernes
Technology coordinator
"Managing time while juggling tough classes, work, co-curricular activities, friends and peer pressure."

Faith Yokoyama
Japanese language teacher
"To sit still for six hours of lectures in one day."

Click for online
calendars and events.