WAIMEA — The 2010 graduates of Waimea High School celebrated a joyous occasion at Friday night’s commencement ceremony, getting plenty of good advice and words to reflect on — much of it from within their own class.
“Today is the end of something great, but the start of something better,” said class president Bronsen Hiraoka.
Nely Caberto, Waimea High School principal, welcomed the family, friends and alumni in attendance to the event for this year’s 147 graduates. She then turned the proceedings over to Hiraoka, who called attention to groups of previous graduating classes scattered throughout the audience.
Hiraoka advised his classmates that though they would be moving on to different ventures, “we know there are 147 others we can go to for support.”
After the presentation of the class portrait, keynote speaker Keahi Tucker of Hawai‘i News Now took to the podium.
“On O‘ahu, they say ‘you went to Punahou, yeah?’” he said. “That’s racial profiling. I’m from Waimea, that’s a badge of honor.”
Tucker, a 1992 Waimea High School graduate told the students that no matter who they have been in the past, every new day brings a fresh start.
“You can be a loser at various points in your life and still come out alright,” he said.
Tucker reminded the graduates that when encountered with life choices, they should envision how that decision will affect their lives 20 years down the road.
“The waves will always be there,” he said, telling the students to consider important matters when they arise. “There will always be another swell.”
While moving away from the high school lifestyle carries with it plenty of new responsibilities, he said the experience only gets better.
“You’re going from the merry-go-round to the roller coaster,” he said. “A real life thrill ride.”
While much of his advice was wide-ranging, Tucker did impart one specific gem.
“Don’t marry someone for their looks,” he said. “Everybody gets old and ugly.”
After he completed his keynote speech, the Class of 2010 sang its Hawaiian song, “One Foot on Sand.”
Jackie Matsumura then acknowledged the members of the National Honor Society, followed by Julie Kellogg’s roll call of the Spanish Honor Society.
Vice principal Liko Pereira followed with the reading of honor students in the cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude categories, determined by the students’ overall grade point average.
The five valedictorians — Natasha Abadilla, Hiraoka, Arlene Valmoja, Rouben Buyat and Bessie Jane Baclig — addressed their classmates with memories of their four years together, while a soundtrack representative of those experiences played in the background.
The class then stood as one and sang its English song, R. Kelly’s “World’s Greatest.”
The evening did include a special recognition of senior Keli‘i Shigematsu.
“You will always be in our hearts,” said Abadilla. “We love you.”
Finally, each individual had his or her moment as the roll call of names and presentation of diplomas preceded one final Waimea High School Alma Mater.
