COURTESY OF KAHUKU HIGH SCHOOL
Kahuku senior Leilani Relator keeps busy both in and out of the classroom, juggling her schoolwork with roles on the wrestling team and several clubs.
Sweet Leilani
A student body leader displays
a winning attitude as she excels
at academics and athletics
Beep, beep, beep -- the alarm goes off, and senior Leilani Relator awakes to another day of high school life. Relator is a Red Raider with heart: full-time student, good friend, successful wrestler and involved leader in many school activities. A peek into her life shows how exceptional Kahuku students are and that Relator is more than just another teen on campus.
Donna Ramos put it best: "Lei has been an inspiration to me. I have never seen her back down from a challenge. She not only strives for her success, but also for the success of others."
Relator is a member of Kahuku's We the People Team, which has won nine of 10 state debate championships it has entered. In preparation for the mock trial with University of Hawaii law students, Relator could be found researching and studying court cases relating to specific amendments.
When not working with the We the People Team, Relator serves as Student Body Government treasurer. SBG advisor Sunday Mariteragi said: "She is a doer and is on top of her responsibilities as the SBG treasurer. I don't even have to remind her.
"The school has a tight budget this year. If Leilani wasn't here, we would be in trouble," Mariteragi added.
All of these responsibilities combined with her Advanced Placement class homework can be challenging. In her free time she often pulls out a government or We the People book to study for classes. Relator can often be spotted walking around campus with a book in hand or scribbling down notes between wrestling matches.
Relator utilizes time management skills to compensate for a huge workload.
"I try to make the best use of my time, taking advantage of every free minute available," she said. "Sometimes I'll take my study material to meetings or (song fest) practices and go over it when I have a second or two. I'll even be studying while walking to my next class."
Relator remains humble, always crediting those who have assisted her.
"My teachers, coaches and counselors have always encouraged and pushed me to reach my full potential," she said. "They have provided me with ongoing support, even sacrificing their own personal time to give me extra help and guidance."
Relator and Roslyn Maiava are co-captains of the two-time defending state champion wrestling team. Relator also participates in judo. Her wrestling coach, Reggie Torres, said: "Leilani leads by example. She is a hard worker and a sweetheart."
Ranked fourth in the nation in the 122-pound division by the United States Girls' Wrestling Association, she has wrestled her way to runner-up performances in judo and wrestling and has been named to the National All-American Team for the past two years.
Her personality separates her from the usual scholar-athlete. Maiava said: "Lei is a great friend. I have never met someone so positive in my life. What I like the most about her is that she'll never say or do anything negative to anyone.
"Lei is the kind of person who doesn't like being sad," Maiava added. "If someone is sad, then she'll do her best to cheer them up."
Relator's success in and out of the classroom is enhanced by her participation in other extracurricular activities. Each day of the week marks some meeting or activity requiring her attendance.
Glancing into the room of National Honor Society adviser Lorey Ishihara during recess, Relator is sitting at attention while listening to the group's announcements about a tutoring project at the neighboring elementary school.
"Leilani is an exemplary school athlete," Ishihara said. "It is awesome to see her develop leadership abilities through her involvement with NHS."
Relator was also chosen as this year's May Night Queen. Her warm smile caught the attention of the judges, and her graceful hula performance sealed the deal for her.
Being named May Night Queen is a tremendous honor. The event is an amazing experience, featuring authentic costumes and Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian, Fijian, Hawaiian, Maori, Japanese and American dances.
Relator also participates and helps plan Kahuku's cheer fest and song fest. Both are annual events between classes, and both competitions are student-initiated and require hours of after-school practice. Spirit at Kahuku is a huge part of every student's culture, and they take pride in everything that they do.
BACK TO TOP |
Kahuku club keeps
reigning at sport
of kings
These days, it seems everyone has jumped on the surfing bandwagon. But before board shorts and Roxy girls were "in," Kahuku's Surf Team was ripping up the waves.
While many see the Home of the Red Raiders as the Home of the Polynesian Football Players, Kahuku actually houses an accomplished group of intermediate and high school surfers.
"People outside of the surfing community don't really think of surfing when they think of Kahuku, but we've got some really good surfers on campus," said Taylor Bushman, surfing's representative in the Miss Letterman Court and recent champion of the National Scholastic Surfing Association's second event at Turtle Bay.
Iris Kahaulelio, a biology teacher at Kahuku and a skilled water athlete, created the club in 1995 with hopes of putting the raw talent of students into a focused competition atmosphere.
"Linda and Richard Robb (former NSSA Hawaii directors) came to me with the idea," Kahaulelio said, "and it just grew from there."
Since its start, Kahuku's surf team has championed the high school competition circuit. The 2003-04 season has been dominated by Kahuku: The club has won every competition so far.
"It really helps to live on the North Shore where the best surf spots on the island are all lined up next to each other," Kahaulelio said.
That advantage would explain the plethora of talented watermen from Kahuku. Surfers Kalani Robb, Makua Rothman and T.J. Barron attended Kahuku, along with Garret McNamara and his brother Liam. The Pipeline Hansen's Energy Pro contest's final heat was no stranger to Kahuku: 2001 graduate Mikey Bruneau placed second, edging out fellow alumni Pancho Sullivan and Fred Pattachia.
JIM RUSSI / KAHUKU HIGH SCHOOL
Kahuku sophomore Kayla Fitzgerald surfs a wave on the North Shore.
While the easy beach access seems to help, Reis Harney, a Kahuku senior and six-year Surf Club member, attributes their success to something besides geographical location.
"We have some really good surfers, but so do other schools," Harney said. "I think it's the Kahuku competitive spirit and school pride that carries into the competitions and makes us a better team."
With all this success, one might think the Kahuku team would take a break and relax during the off-season.
No chance.
The surf team recently ventured into the world of public policy making. Kahaulelio rallied the club to lobby the state Legislature to vote yes on naming surfing as an official Oahu Interscholastic Association sport.
In September the team trekked to the state Capitol, signs in hand, to sit in on the state hearings. Lunches were sometimes spent in Kahaulelio's classroom writing letters to legislators.
"I think the team exceeded the expectations of any person in how involved we are in the process," Harney said. "No one would think a bunch of surfer kids would go and try to change something."
A decision on surfing as an OIA sport has yet to be reached.
The surf team at Kahuku is a well-rounded bunch of teens. Members are part of the paddling, swimming and water polo teams, as well as the National Honor Society and the Environmental Club.
The North Shore's surf culture is no new thing to the kids at Kahuku -- it's been around for a while. The Surf Club is working to continue their success and involvement in the surfing community.
"We want to keep winning," explains Bushman, "and keep surfing going at Kahuku."
BACK TO TOP |
About ‘Hawaii’s Schools’
Each week, Hawaii's teenage reporters and photographers tell us about their high school. This week's school is Kahuku High School.
Newspaper: Kahuku Chronicle Editors: Cory Estioko, Iwa Hartman and Roslyn Maiava Faculty adviser: Lori Tanaka Next week: Iolani School Red Raider Facts
Address: 56-490 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, HI 96731 Phone: 808-293-8950 Web site: www.k12.hi.us/~kahukuhs Enrollment: 1,811 students Faculty: 296 School colors: Red and white Mascot (unofficial): Indian head Origins of "Red Raider" nickname: Kahuku's first name for athletes was the Kahuku Ramblers. Donated uniforms were given to the school with the name Red Raider. From this point on, teams became known as the Red Raiders of Kahuku. Notable alumni: >> Pancho Sullivan (champion surfer) >> Jack Johnson (musician) >> Sam Choy (chef)
BACK TO TOP |
You Asked...
What makes being a part of
the Red Raider family unique?Sunny Fitzgerald
Seventh grade
"I think that Kahuku is unique because of its school pride."Ethan Gali
Eighth grade
"The friendly people here make it special."Alix Roberts
Freshman
"The diversity in backgrounds and cultures that come together and share a dream. Also, we have limited resources and facilities here, and yet we use them to the fullest and excel in an assortment of different activities."Jokke Kokkonen
Sophomore
"We have a sense of unity that binds us together into a school of academic scholarship and athleticism. We are a family of overachievers."Amanda Baize
Junior
"I think we have so many activities that are able to get different awards. Not only is our school about the football team, but we have an award-winning debate team, drama department, athletics program, and service organizations that help out statewide."Hapaki Kaululaau
Junior
"The diverse cultures and the well-rounded school -- academically and athletically."Roslyn Maiava
Senior
"Kahuku may not be the smartest school or have the greatest facilities, but the students still seem to display excellent athleticism and have academic qualities like any private school student."
Click for online
calendars and events.
