WAIMEA — Keahi Tucker, Waimea High School Class of 1992, rattled off a string of names Friday from the roster of 170 seniors at the Menehune graduating festivities.
“What do these students have in common?” Tucker asked. “Their parents and I were in school together.”
Tucker was one of a line of special guests introduced by Waimea High School Principal Mahina Anguay that included the newly-chosen state Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi, who arrived with Kaua‘i Board of Education member and former Waimea High School Principal Bill Arakaki, Kaua‘i County Councilmember Billy DeCosta and wife Dreena DeCosta, whose son Bronze DeCosta is a member of the 170-student class. State Rep. Dee Morikawa had just finished with a drive-thru graduation at Kekaha School before taking in the Menehune celebration.
“This is the largest graduating Waimea has had in years, and I’m so grateful and thankful we are able to host this milestone event and celebrate with our families and community, in person, back on our front lawn again — just like the good old, pre-COVID days,” Anguay said.
“With the support of their families, teachers and other community members, this class not only made lemonade from the hand they were dealt, they grew and they thrived. The skills they learned from the setbacks that COVID threw at them have not only made them stronger, it’s made them patient, resilient, resourceful and purposeful — skills that will serve them well in the future.”
Graduating senior Jomina Korn was one who was exited about being part of the in-person festivities that were blessed with blue skies, if not humid conditions, and a warm sunset.
“I’m excited, and very happy,” Korn said. “After all those things we had to work through from the COVID, we made it!”
Korn is planning on moving on the Kaua‘i Community College to study culinary arts. Following two years at KCC, she’s looking at advancing to another two years of study before returning back to Kaua‘i for a career in the culinary arts.
KCC professor Ryan Girard said he was in Waimea to present seven students with special certificates, six certificates of competence in public health, and an academic subject certificate in math, to Joseph Sams, one of the seven valedictorians from the class.
“Kieran Canavan, Macie-Lynn Ramos, Glydelle Valmoja, Hazel Serapio, Casera Silva and Jennalyn Basilio start the last class of their public health cohort Monday,” Girard said. “They started the road to the certificates of competence in public health by enrolling in the fall of 2019, before the COVID-19 hit us.”
Valmoja, another of the seven valedictorians, was joined by Victoria Kate Mendoza in being recognized with the Seal of Biliteracy for having worked in English, Hawaiian and a third language.
Sams, Valmoja, Canavan, Basilio, Kyrie Linoz, Kamalani Goo and Dominic Geronimo have held grade point averages of 4.0 and better for four years while at Waimea High School, Anguay said. They are the valedictorians.
“I’m refreshed,” said graduating senior Joshua Ritch. “COVID was a very good time to refresh, to take a look at what I’m doing and where I’m going. I’m ready. I’m refreshed.”
