Kaua‘i High School shared the Homecoming Royalty with the community ahead of the traditional Homecoming game Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.
Homecoming Queen Kate Nakamura and Homecoming King Ka‘omea Inouye and their entourage was shared by the Red Raiders at the school’s Homecoming Pep Rally/Parade Thursday afternoon around Kukui Grove Center.
“Following the trying times of the pandemic, schools across the world are fully returning their students back to in-person learning, including Kaua‘i High School,” said Angeli Tolosa, one of the parade announcers. “As all of us are slowing adapting to having normal lives again, so are our school events.”
“It is in our greatest pleasure to bring this event back to life and have you all join us for it,” said Trishelle Calzada, the second parade announcer. “We really appreciate you taking the time to be here to celebrate this event with us.”
Joining the king and the queen for the 2022 festivities, Keilee Salud was announced Miss Victory, escorted by Haka Bukoski and Vilbert Oligo.
Khiani Garcia, escorted by Austin Renaud and Reyson Goias-Abrigo, wore the Miss Raider sash, and Ayzia Aceret Coloma, escorted by Khyler Cabebe and Joshua Ibaan, was graced by the Miss Football sash.
Leina Kanei, frantically trying to string lights aboard her raised pickup steed, was named the Class of 2023 representative, escorted by Po‘okela Barroga and Kaimana Janick.
Mikayla Pacheco-Villanueva, escorted by Sage Javinar and Quentin Caveiro, represented the junior class, and sophomore class representative Carly Dela Cruz was escorted by Kyzen Bisarra and Kaidin Lopes.
Freshman Kamaile Manibog, escorted by Kaimana Inouye and Keanu Padrones, represented the Class of 2026 in the parade, where Xarica Casticimo, a student at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, and an alumnus of the Class of 2021 was announced as Miss Hawai‘i Filipina, a title she won after being named Miss Kaua‘i Filipina during the Hawai‘i Filipino Community Council convention.
The Kaua‘i High School band greeted the parade revelers at the food-court stage following the walk around the shopping center that included the Kaua‘i Youth Football Lihu‘e football teams and their accompanying cheer squads, and several of the school’s fall Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season teams, including the cross country and air riflery teams and the school administration team.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
