Wai'anae High hopes its uniforms benefit everyone

By James Gonser
Advertiser Leeward Bureau

WAI'ANAE — Wai'anae High has become the first public high school on O'ahu to require a "uniform" as a way to create a safer campus and help parents save money on clothing.

Wai'anae High School's principal says she hopes the dress policy will help create a safer environment. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kumasaka, who described the T-shirt requirement as a dress policy rather than a uniform, said having students easily recognizable will help keep unwanted people off campus and create a safer environment.

"It is easier to spot people who might not belong," Kumasaka said. "It will also help (students) to concentrate more on their studies and to not worry about what so-and-so is wearing or who dresses better than who."

Several elementary and intermediate schools state-wide have uniform requirements, but the only other high school in Hawai'i with a required dress is Waiakea High in Hilo.

Three of five elementary schools in the Wai'anae complex and Wai'anae Intermediate School have similar uniform requirements, according to Lanny Busher, chairman of Wai'anae High's School/Community-Based Management Council. In each case, part of the reason was to make buying school clothes less expensive in an area where one in five families live at or below the federal poverty level.

SCBM councils bring together residents and school officials to collaborate on decision making for issues that affect particular schools, and Busher said the standard dress idea has been discussed in the community for several years.

The T-shirts come in the school colors of red and blue, and also a light gray, with prices starting at $4.50. Girls have three other options of ribbed, V-neck or scoop-neck T-shirts. Polo shirts are also available for $13.50.

With close to 2,000 students enrolled at Wai'anae this year, 10,000 T-shirts were printed with the school logo.

"We think they look great," Kumasaka said.

Greg Knudsen, state Department of Education spokesman, said in most schools that require uniforms, T-shirts are commonly chosen, though some schools use aloha shirts and shorts.

"The school is free to create uniform policies ... But it does have to accommodate the First Amendment rights of the students as well," Knudsen said.

"None of the students we spoke with had any concern about free speech issues," Busher said. "A handful have come in with their parents and have received a waiver. As a parent, my goal is to see kids come to school, not fighting, and instill some school pride."

Busher said for many students, living in Wai'anae carries a negative stigma that needs to be changed.

"We have lots of good things that go on out here. Kids out here have won national awards," he said. "But kids have been afraid to show they are from Wai'anae. These T-shirts show some school pride."

Freshman Loretta Fidow wore her T-shirt to school Monday and said she likes the idea.

"It's nice to look all alike, and I don't have to spend money on clothes," Fidow said.

But senior Jerald Stout was against the requirements because it's another way for students to get into trouble if they come to class without the required T-shirt.

"It's stupid," he said. "It's not a uniform like the private schools. It is just a T-shirt."