KAHUKU HIGH and Intermediate School on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii did it again. Their elaborate graduation performance has become a legendary tradition and the video of their graduation has gone viral, just like it did last year, and the year before that, and ...
The school was founded in 1897 to serve the children of the sugar cane workers that worked the nearby fields. Today it has about 1500 students from 7th to 12th grades. You'll note from the video that Pacific Islanders make up of about 60 percent the school, almost double the average Hawaiian high school. On May 19, the 2016 graduating class of Kahuku High continued the tradition of grand graduation performances; this year throwing in a tribute to Prince, the Running Man, pop songs and concluding with a powerful haka, a traditional dance and chant from Polynesia that is performed on important occasions.
I don't know about your high school graduation but mine was nothing like theirs. I absolutely love their school spirit and their pride in their heritage. Congratulations to the Class of 2016!
The seniors of Kahuku High & Intermediate School continued the tradition of a graduation performance.
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For more news about Asian/Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.
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.
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.
