KAPAA — Jasmine Candelaria paused while gathering her graduation garb long enough to share a selfie photo with her mom, Danielle Candelaria. “This is my oldest graduating,” Danielle Candelaria said. “I brought heart balloons because that’s what it’s all about.”
KAPAA — Jasmine Candelaria paused while gathering her graduation garb long enough to share a selfie photo with her mom, Danielle Candelaria.
“This is my oldest graduating,” Danielle Candelaria said. “I brought heart balloons because that’s what it’s all about.”
For Jasmine Candelaria and her classmates from Kapaa High School, though, Friday night was about celebrating.
Hundreds of people packed the Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapaa Friday night to support the graduates. They brought with them a hodgepodge of inflatable inner tubes, balloons and lei to celebrate.
With the first hints of sunset, the graduates proceeded onto the field about 6:45 p.m.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. congratulated the Class of 2017 on a job well done and addressed the class, around 230 members strong.
Class President Lehuanani Refamonte and Student Body President Bailey Bernabe also addressed the grads on finally crossing the finish line, in cantor with their class motto “What feels like the end is often the beginning.”
“We made it,” said Darlyn De La Cruz, one of Kapaa High’s graduates. “Today’s about getting together and having that day finally, when we graduate.”
