Congratulations Kahuku Class of 2015; one of the coolest graduations you'll ever see

WOW! I wish I had attended that high school! I especially love the "Kaipahua Kura," Maori haka near the end as the students embrace their Pacific Islander roots of many of the students. One of the coolest graduations I've seen.

Video by MoStreet Productions

If you've ever tried to control 300 high schoolers, you'll appreciate the amount of work that went into this performance.

The haka was created specifically for the Kahuku High School. Kahuku High is located on the windward (north) side of Oahu and has about 2000 students, the majority of whom are Asian American and Pacific Islander. It is located only a few miles from tourist-clogged Waikiki but it is a world away culturally and economically.

Their mascot is the Red Raider and as you can see, it is  one of those Native American images we have problems with. There has been and continues to be some debate about changing the mascot, but that is another story. Let's not let that mar our appreciation of this ceremony.

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Members of Kahuku High's football team performed a haka at their graduation ceremonies.

The translation for the haka follows:

Ko Wai Matou? Kaipāhua Kura
Who are we? We are the Red Raiders
Ko Wai Matou? Kaipāhua Kura
Who are we? We are the Red Raiders
Ko Wai Matou? Kaipāhua Kura
Who are we? We are the Red Raiders

Eke ake Hi
We will move Onward and Upward
Eke ake Hi
Through this team then on to the next challenge
Eke ake Hi
Forward Never backwards and Upwards never down
Eke ake Hi
We will go On and then Up through the season
Eke ake Hi
We will always strive to go Onward and Upward (The boys respond with Hi to say “Yes” or “I Agree” “I will do my part”)

Kei te papa pakanga
On this battlefield – Our Football Field
He iwi kotahi
We are unified we are one
Mo nga iwi Whanui
For our families and Community (Who have been through much)
Tangata kairakau
We will stand as Warriors (For them)
Tangata Maia
We will stand Brave
Tangata Wehi kore
And We will never retreat, there will be no surrender
Kaua ka mate wheke
We won’t die like Octopus (Retreating from Danger)
Ka Mate Ururoa Kaipahua
But we will fight with courage like Hammerhead sharks, Like the Raiders of the past.

Ruturutu – Hi
We will Tackle Hard
Makamaka – Ha
We will Play as a unified Force
Ruturutu – Hi
Tackling Hard
Makamaka – Ha
We will play as a team

Ko Wai Matou? Kaipāhua Kura HI
You may wonder who are we? We are the Red Raiders (We Continue the legacy)

Pretty cool, huh? The entire senior class was into it, even those who were not Pacific Islander or Asian American. More about the haka and its creator can be found here. The video has gone viral with over a million downloads.

To the graduating class of Kahuku High: Well done! Always remember where you came from.

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