Campus evolves
to meet needsThe school’s center for student
activities marks the fulfillment
of a 20-year dream
Hanalani Superintendent Mark Sugimoto coined the term "the master plan" to describe the evolution of Hanalani Schools.
Every strong building or person needs to have a strong foundation to withstand the many trials life can bring forth. From its establishment, Hanalani has relied on God for its foundation.
God has worked many miracles at Hanalani since 1973, when the late Wallace Sugimoto began the process of turning his dreams into reality by opening King's School in Wahiawa, a place for children to receive their education in a Christian atmosphere.
With the success in Wahiawa, Sugimoto's ambitions eventually led him to move the school to Mililani with high hopes of expanding and opening his school to many more students. During the relocation, the school's name was changed to Hanalani Schools.
"Hanalani" is an appropriate name because it means "heaven's work." With the school's construction of its Student Activity Center, one man's dream has become reality, brought by the hand of God.
Although many years have passed since Hanalani was established, there are still projects that need to be done for the "master plan" to be a mission completed. After 20 years of residing in Mililani, Hanalani has blossomed from one building to four large structures. After the completion of these buildings, the biggest and most expensive project was still lingering in the minds of many.
Around 1998, a group of parents, alumni, consultants and staff formed the planning committee that was in charge of producing an activity center for students. Two years later the planning committee received a "Hey, let's do it!" and the c ommencement of the Student Activity Center was made.
COURTESY OF HANALANI SCHOOL
When Hanalani Schools' new Student Activity Center is completed next month, it will house a basketball and volleyball court, a drama stage and a larger library and band room.
"The big project is for the children," said Mark Sugimoto, Wallace Sugimoto's son. A better library, drama stage and gym were the main priorities in planning. With parents, students, staff and the community joining together, building construction started. Students raised funds for the Student Activity Center by selling Zippy's famous chili tickets, Auntie's Ono Cookie dough, Christmas wrapping and Entertainment Books. In fact, each brick being used in the building can be viewed as one chili ticket sold. Also helpful was the bank loan that Hanalani received.
With a total building cost of $4.2 million, students will enjoy a beautiful basketball and volleyball court, much like that of the University of Hawaii; a drama stage, where many great plays will be performed; a bigger library, where students can expound on their learning from the classroom; and a bigger band room.
As the completion of the gym draws nearer, everyone, particularly the basketball teams, is getting excited because they can now play in a gym and call it home.
The many students who attended King's School have also enrolled their children in Hanalani, and they are amazed to see that their efforts in fund-raisers are opening up bigger doors for their children.
Throughout the campus, it is not uncommon to watch fellow alumni look at the gym and say, "I remember selling those chili tickets" or, "Wow, that's what I helped make!" Although there is still one more month or so until opening day, many are getting eager to walk through the doors and make history.
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Hard work helps provide
safe senior send-off
The luau, used to celebrate special occasions such as the birth of a child, a victorious war, a successful harvest and the completion of a new home or canoe, has been a celebratory tradition for hundreds of years in the Hawaiian Islands. While luaus in the modern world may not have the same significance as they did in the past, they are still important and joyous occasions.
With the recent success of fund raising for the Student Activity Center, it was evident that God is working in the heart of Hanalani. Because the school has had great success with fund-raisers in the past, parents of the class of 2004 coordinated fund-raisers to create an alternative for their children on graduation night.
Year after year, many parents experience a horrible tragedy as a result of their teenagers drinking and partying on their festive night. Hanalani parents do not want to experience such a tragedy, so they are coordinating a night for their children to remember and not regret.
Like all projects, there is a price. Because of Hanalani's many blessings, the parents organized a luau to help bring in funds.
COURTESY OF HANALANI SCHOOL
Guests at a recent luau to benefit a graduation party for Hanalani's seniors enjoyed the food, fellowship and Hawaiian entertainment.
Jan. 17 was one of the hardest days of work for the seniors and their families, as each helped with preparation, serving and cleaning. Around 9 a.m., the preparation committee gathered at the school and cooked "onolicious" Hawaiian delicacies. While the food was being prepared, the decorating crew came and built the desired environment.
When the clock struck 2 p.m., the guests arrived and enjoyed the lunches prepared by the seniors. For only $15 the guests were filled with fresh kalua pork, chicken long rice, squid luau, lomi salmon, poke, rice, sweet potato, kulolo and haupia, along with vanilla, chocolate and banana cakes for dessert. As the guests enjoyed their food, they also enjoyed the fellowship and Hawaiian entertainment presented by the seniors and their friends.
By devoting much time and effort, the senior class raised a total of $4,500. All of this could not have been possible without the participation of parents, students and staff. The senior class would like to extend a warm "thank you" to Frank and Carol Catian, as well as Diane Braceros, for all of their hard work in organizing both the luau and Project Graduation.
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About ‘Hawaii’s Schools’
Each week, Hawaii's teenage reporters and photographers tell us about their school. This week's school is Hanalani Schools.
Newspaper: Ni'ele News Staff: Krista Catian, James Eldridge, David Herman, Sheila Simao, Ling Hua Wang, Shaston Yokoyama and Crystalyn Yoshimoto Faculty adviser: Bonnie Willis Next week: Waialua High School Fast facts
Address: 94-294 Anania Drive, Mililani, HI 96789 Phone: 625-1692 Principal: William Hopper Web site: www.hanalani.org Enrollment: 672 Founded: 1973 Colors: Purple and gold
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You asked
"Do you think uniforms make
your life easier? Why?"
Jackie Palola
Senior
"Yes, because I don't have to worry about what to wear the next day, and you don't have to go shopping for new clothes."Philippe Balmilero
Senior
"No, because I like to wear jeans."Rachel Prevost
Junior
"Yes, because there's no different style, but it will also look nicer and up-to-date."Janssen West
Junior
"Yes, because you only wear the same thing."Tara Matsumura
Sophomore
"I guess so, because you don't have to figure out what you're going to wear."Steven Fraser
Freshman
"No, because it messes up my style."Sterling Wright
Eighth grade
"Yes, because you don't have to figure out what to wear in the morning."Daryn Shoji
Seventh grade
"Yes, because you don't have to worry about what to wear the next day."Michael Perry
Sixth grade
"Yes, because you don't have to worry about what to wear and not be scared what to wear."Kaila Onaga
Fifth grade
"Yes, because you don't have to go looking for other clothes and wear things with bad stuff on it."
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