HANAMULU — Michelle Valenciano can’t forget the opening of the King Kaumualii Elementary School in Hanamaulu 25 years ago. “I just found out I tested positive for my boy, Stephen, in pregnancy tests,” said Valenciano, the school librarian. “That’s the
HANAMULU — Michelle Valenciano can’t forget the opening of the King Kaumualii Elementary School in Hanamaulu 25 years ago.
“I just found out I tested positive for my boy, Stephen, in pregnancy tests,” said Valenciano, the school librarian. “That’s the same day I signed my contract to become the librarian here.”
Valenciano was one of more than a handful of teachers honored Friday when Principal Jason Yoshida and Vice Principal Fig Mitchell led a special assembly celebrating the 25th anniversary of King Kaumualii Elementary School.
“Jason is only the third principal to serve at King Kaumualii,” said Fred Rose, who served as the school’s second vice principal under Maggie Cox, currently with the Board of Education. “Maggie was the first principal the school had, and she produced a lot of leaders.”
Joining Valenciano as charter teachers of the school, and currently still teaching, were Ann Estrella, Camilla Sone, Sandra Umakoshi, Margaret Chow, and Rose Koerte. Marian Delapena retired last year but was one of the first custodians when the school opened.
“We didn’t have too much equipment back then,” Delapena said. “I remember being on hands and knees to try and scrub away the red dirt. There’s been a lot of changes. Today, we have a lot of equipment.”
Yoshida also acknowledged Shana Takiguchi, a third grade teacher at the Hanamaulu school. She was in the second grade when the school opened.
“I’m not the only one who has come back to school,” Takiguchi said, embarrassed at being announced during the assembly. Contents of the unearthed time capsule were revealed to students who gasped at amazement at some of the items that included lists of students and teachers and lunch menus. “Some of the other King Kaumualii alumnus who are back as teachers include Leslie Ramos, although she was a Labuguen in those days. There’s also Shelley Cassler, who was a Furutani, and Carie Inouye. The school looks the same, and there is the same culture. Even the feeling is the same.”
Yoshida said there is a history of education in Hanamaulu, starting 169 years ago when there was a Hanamaulu School near the beach. In 1908, the school was relocated to the town area and closed in 1963, becoming dedicated as a youth center in 1974. In 1989, the school built in 1908 was demolished and King Kaumualii Elementary School was born in 1990.
Valenciano said there has been a lot happening since the school opened.
“Stephen is now working on his master’s degree in counseling, and he’s working at the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School,” Michelle said. “Placido is on the plane, right now because he is refereeing the First Hawaiian Bank Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Division II football game between Kapaa High School and Radford this afternoon.”
