COURTESY OF IOLANI SCHOOL
Last week, I interviewed William Lee and saw him let his hair down ... not past his collar, of course. Dean Lee embodies
highest standardsThe 1953 graduate and ex-teacher blends
» You asked
a quest for excellence with a common touch
» About this pageBy Laura Shiraki
Iolani SchoolMost students know Lee as the dean of students, the disciplinarian, or the man most likely to bust them for an offending shirttail or an uncovered midriff. But there is much more to Lee than his adherence to the dress code.
Biology teacher John Kay describes him as "the epitome of Iolani standards and success."
Lee, raised by a foster family on a farm on Kauai, entered Iolani in the ninth grade on a full scholarship. "I was very proud to come to a school of this caliber," recalled Lee, who worked in the school cafeteria during breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to helping clean the chapel.
Lee was part of the last class to graduate from the Nuuanu campus in 1953. Before long he found his way back to Iolani as a geography teacher, later teaching Asian studies, then served as the registrar and finally the dean of students as we know him today.
As dean of students, Lee and his office handle everything from transcripts and test scores to discipline and even parking assignments, working most Saturdays to administer standardized tests. Up until a few years ago, he made it a point to attend every Iolani sporting event.
"He's got to juggle 27 balls at a time," said Assistant Headmaster Charlie Proctor.
Kay agreed: "It's a real balancing act, his job. He needs to consider the needs of the faculty, administration and school, and at the fulcrum of everything are the kids as well. His job requires sensitivity, honesty, compassion and a closed mouth so that the child, parents and teachers aren't jeopardized."
Tate Brown, a history teacher and the incoming dean of students, recalled that "Mr. Lee's doors were always open. You could come in and talk to him about anything."
Besides his dedication to work and the school, Lee's hobbies include collecting Chinese porcelain and paintings. He also enjoys watching musicals, carving narcissus bulbs, visiting museums and listening to music that ranges from opera to classical to Hawaiian.
Lee says one of the best, most "pleasant and uplifting" parts of his job is being able to go on performing arts classes' trips, which he plans to continue in retirement. Lee has traveled to many foreign countries and has learned an astounding number of languages, including Japanese, Chinese, German, French, Italian and Hawaiian.
Kay has known Lee for many years and has seen him wear many different hats as teacher, administrator, family man and neighbor. "I've been fortunate to have him as a colleague," he said.
Kay recalled playing cards with Lee at night and watching his children grow up, also recognizing Lee as a fantastic cook and his mentor in Asian culture.
"My greatest pride," said Lee, "is that all my children graduated from Iolani. The legacy is here and I'm very proud. I had the chance to come here, and my children had the chance to come here. This school has given me everything in the world."
Lee's four grandchildren will keep him busy in the years to come.
"That's what I'll be doing in retirement: playing with them, taking them around to preschool, practices -- everything," said a bright-eyed Lee.
When asked what he believes was the most significant change to Iolani, Lee picked the switch from an all-male to a coed student body in 1979, though he admitted that initially he "was a member of the all-boys school, the old boys' network."
Now he believes that "one of the most exciting things to come about for the sake of Iolani is the admission of girls. It has transformed Iolani into a first-rate school in Hawaii," said Lee. "Programs difficult to implement with only males, such as the performing arts, have become a very strong part of the institution."
For many years, Lee has been an integral part of the Iolani community, shaping the school's structure, tone and students.
"He went through Iolani, so he understands what values are important to the school," Brown said. "In his job he makes sure he's upholding those values, which allow the school to be as strong as it is."
"Part of Mr. Lee's success is due to the fact that he's out and about," Proctor said. "He's always strolling around campus, interacting with students and getting to know them."
If there's one thing the faculty has learned from Lee, it is honesty, fairness and the value of listening.
"I've been here 41 years and have never known (Lee) to sacrifice the students," Kay said. "There have been some difficult, hard-love decisions, but I've never heard a student speak badly of him in retrospect."
Faculty and alumni will always remember Lee and his contributions to Iolani and its community, just as Lee can never truly leave Iolani behind.
"I owe my life to Iolani," he said. "I am proud to be a part of this institution. I love this school."
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years? You asked
Stephen Franz
Sophomore"I'll be working for the United Nations in international relations."
Mailei Hong
Sophomore"I'll be the CEO of a really big marketing company."
Catherine Greenlee
Junior"I'll be studying law at Stanford."
Scott Robinson
Junior"I'll be a civil engineer, probably in Colorado where I grew up."
Gage Eberlin
Senior"I'll be a financial analyst."
Lindsey Richards
Senior"I'll be an elementary school teacher here in Hawaii, and I'll be married and have one child."
Robert Hsia
Senior"I'll be flying for the Air Force."
Ryan Choi
Senior"I'll probably be working in a hospital doing either neurology or cardiology."
Wes Giswold
Freshman"I will be playing my guitar at the Oakland Coliseum with a famous band."
Cameron Van der Camp
Freshman"Hopefully, I'll be in some professional track organization, a Navy SEAL or a fighter pilot."
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Each week, Hawaii's teenage reporters and photographers tell us about their high school. This week's school is Iolani School. About this page
Newspaper: Imua 'Iolani
Editor: Lindsey Libed and Laura Shiraki
Associate editors: Colin Barrett, Kiyomi Dong, Alyna O'Hanlon, Jessica Kim, Mandy Lee, Adam Maruyama, Ravi Patel, Collin Siu, Sarah Stone and Nicole Tanabe
Faculty adviser: Robert Stern
Raider facts
Address: 563 Kamoku St., Honolulu 96826
Web site: www.iolani.org
Headmaster: Dr. Val Iwashita
Date founded: 1863; at current location since 1953
Name origin: 'Iolani = heavenly hawk; named by Queen Emma
Enrollment: 1,785
Campus size: 25 acres
Mascot: Raiders
Colors: Red, black and white
Famous alumni: Sun Yat-sen, Mufi Hannemann, Hollywood producer Christopher Lee, former University of Hawaii-Manoa athletic director Hugh Yoshida, playwright Edward Sakamoto
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calendars and events.
