Rotating through various stations set up around the Waimea High campus and nearby Cook Field, Waimea Kakou rebuilt the unit’s strength on Friday.
Mahina Anguay, principal of Waimea High School, defined “kakou” as “being together”, as in everyone.
Waimea Kakou is a student-generated project designed to bring back the unity and spirit of working together that has been overshadowed by the concerns of the COVID-19 virus.
Participants who included the entire student body rotated through different stations, some featuring alumni and others being competitive events, building stronger relationships with each rotation.
Kyrie Linoz, Kahealani Pacanas, Clarenz Ringor and Kimberly-Ann Vidinha form the team behind Waimea Kakou.
“Our idea for this day was to show and explain how important school pride is,” Linoz said. “My team chose this topic because we believe it is important for students and staff to be proud of their school. We believe that Waimea Kakou can bring all of Waimea together – not just students or staff, but even the community.
Several Waimea High School alumni – Kyle Linoz, Kim Frasco, Kaina Makua, and Melinda Santella established stations where, as alumni, they spoke about the spirit of the school. Waimea High football coach Kyle Linoz didn’t have to say much as the senior class students got the message and silently gathered for a group photo minutes before the rotation for recreation.
“We miss the strong unity working together before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Pacanas said. “One of our alumni, Ms. Frasco, works with sophomores in new cheers and sings alma mater.”
Similar to HA/La May Day coming Monday, students rotate through class, stopping at the various stations which on Friday centered on sporting events like volleyball, flag football, hoops, kickball and Moreover. They end the day in competition with teachers, followed by a gathering of all the schools.
“Ms. Santella’s coffee stop involved people working together to form words using letters they held in their hands,” Pacanas said. “It’s HA blast to work together. On Monday we have a lot more culture as students will alternate between stations featuring shodo and origami, ‘ukulele, horseshoes, tinikling, fishing net throwing, konane, ramming, fire knife dancing, taiko and more.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 safety protocols observed by the state Department of Education, HA/La May Day is limited to attendance by student families.
Anguay said later this week, the school’s student ambassadors, mostly lower-grade students, will showcase projects they’ve worked on to improve the school with help from the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Some of them will be featured on Hawai’i News Now.
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Denis Fujimotowriter and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or [email protected]
