Posted on: Thursday, October 28, 2004
Hawai'i Kai campus marks 50 years
By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i Kai was a rural agricultural community when Koko Head Elementary School opened in 1954.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser To mark the school's 50th anniversary, a celebration with Hawaiian lu'au, live entertainment under the stars and a special showing of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" will be held on campus Nov. 10.
Rita Hanohano, the volunteer chairwoman for the event called "Moonlight over Koko Head," said the faces of the children look the same today as they did 50 years ago, but the fashions have changed dramatically. Hanohano dug through the school's archives and has put together a display showing some of the first students, school plays and other significant events.
"They are wearing the different styles from the '50s and '60s," said Hanohano. "The big flowery prints from the '60s. It was kind of neat looking over all the pictures."
• What are you most proud of? The way students and staff are determined and committed to helping one another, Principal Cecilia Lum said. • Best-kept secret: That the Friends of Koko Head have donated more than $80,000 to finance technology upgrades, a physical education teacher, teaching materials and magazine subscriptions for the library. • Everybody at our school knows: Auntie Leolani Pratt, teacher of Hawaiian culture, language and music. • Our biggest challenge: To instill in students the need to always to their best. • What we need: The time to do everything we want to accomplish. • Projects: Working with the Rotary Club to install a school sign and preparing for a $1 million renovation in the spring.
• Special events: 50th Anniversary Celebration Nov. 10. The lu'au dinner is $10 and a special T-shirt will be sold for $10. For information, call 397-5811.
Koko Head was the first public school in the area, and more than 1,100 children quickly filled the classrooms. Except for the bigger trees, the campus looks almost exactly the same today as it did when Dwight Eisenhower was president. Since then, more than 20,000 pupils have attended the school.
With cameras in hand, Miyuki Inuma, left, and Vernalani Keb are ready for the moment their children receive awards during an assembly at Koko Head Elementary School.
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| AT A GLANCE
• Where: 189 Lunalilo Home Road, Hawai'i Kai • Phone: 397-5811 • Web address: kokohead.k12.hi.us • Principal: Cecilia Lum, since 1981 • School nickname: Cobras • School colors: Green and yellow • Enrollment: 300 students, and with extra classrooms used for other DOE programs. • Testing: Here's how Koko Head students fared on the most recent standardized tests. Stanford Achievement Test: Listed is the combined percentage of students scoring average and above average, compared with the national combined average of 77 percent. Third-grade reading, 98 percent; math, 95 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 100 percent; math, 98 percent. Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards tests: Listed is the combined percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards, and a comparison with the state average. Third-grade reading, 68 percent, compared with the state average of 46.7 percent; math, 29 percent, compared with state average of 26.7 percent. Fifth-grade reading: 91 percent, compared with state average of 49.9 percent; math, 73 percent, compared with state average of 22.5 percent. • History: The oldest public school in Hawai'i Kai, opened in 1954 with about 1,100 students. • Special programs or classes: A variety of special education classes plus a Headstart class. • Computers: Computer lab with 30 PCs and at least three computers in each classroom. |
