Hilo High School

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Hilo High School
Name

Hilo High School
Address

556 Waianuenue Avenue
Municipality

Hawaii County, Hawaii (mailing address: Hilo, Hawaii) 96720
Established

1906
Community

Rural
Type

Public
Principal

Robert Dircks
Vice Principal(s)

Dean Cevallos, Chad Farias
Grades

9 to 12
Accreditation

Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Mascot

Viking
Colors

Blue and Gold
Military

United States Army JROTC
Newspaper

The Viking
Yearbook

Blue and Gold
Distinctions

15 Consecutive Academic Decathlon State Championships (1992-2006)
Website

http://www.hilohs.k12.hi.us

Hilo High School is a public, co-educational high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education, and serves grades nine through twelve. Established in 1906, its first class graduated in 1909. Hilo High School is near the Wailuku River in Hawaii County on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is situated at 556 Waianuenue Avenue on across the street from Hilo Intermediate School, one of its two feeder schools, the other being Kalanianaole Intermediate School. Hilo's symbol and mascot is the Viking and its school colors are blue and gold. Hilo High School celebrated its centennial during Homecoming of 2006.

Contents

[edit] History

Hilo High School was started by the school authorities in September 1905. The idea for a high school is attributed to Josephine Deyo, principal of Hilo Union School. The weak public interest eventually grew stronger as the public realized the benefits from a high school on the Big Island. The school changed location in 1907 to the District Annex location and was then named Hilo Junior High School, and moved yet again in 1922 to its present location on Waianuenue Avenue. Hilo High School's rival is Waiakea High School. Hilo High School's sports are usually neck to neck with Waiakea High School's. However, Hilo High School's academics usually fall far below Waiakea High School's.

[edit] Timeline of the 556 Waianuenue Ave. Campus

  • 1922- First Building- Makai Building
  • 1926- Miss Margaret Way's music class created the Hilo High Alma mater
  • 1927- Auditorium Building donated by the Alumni Association.
  • 1931 and 1934-Cafeteria built (the old F building)
  • 1935- First stage of the Mauka Building built
  • 1936- Second stage of the Mauka Building built
  • 1939- Third stage of the Mauka Building built
  • 1937- Gym and wood shop built
  • 1961- Administration Building Built
  • 1962- Swimming Pool donated by Mrs. John M Ross and Mrs. Isabel Kennedy
  • 1963- The Library and Multi Purpose Room was built
  • 1968- The Cafeteria was built
  • 1970- R-Building
  • 1977- Mauka Building burns down
  • 1979- 100-car parking lot finally built
  • 1980- C Building built
The school's original building on the campus of Hilo Union School.
The school's original building on the campus of Hilo Union School.

[edit] Hilo High School Foundation

The Hilo High School Foundation was formed in 1990, with the purpose of creating and maintaining an endowment fund that would fund educational programs and activities at Hilo High School that would not or could not be funded from State of Hawaii funds. It annually provides the school with the interest earnings for distribution to programs. A committee designated by the Principal solicits and reviews proposals from faculty for new and innovative programs that benefit the educational experience of Hilo High School students.

To date, the Foundation has distributed a total of over $130,000 to Hilo High School. Its 2005 Financial Report place its assets at $724,063.44. [1]

[edit] Class Mascot and Colors

  • Freshman: Phoenix, Black and Green
  • Sophomore: Panther, Black and Gold
  • Juniors: Shark, Black and Red
  • Seniors: Tiger, Black and Silver

[edit] Alma Mater

Miss Margaret Way's music class created the Hilo High Alma mater in 1926.

Beneath the tropic Skies of Hilo
Stands dear old Hilo High School
Dearer ever shall it grow
With the spirit of Blue and Gold
In our hearts we hold thee
Alma Mater mine
Loyalty and Honor
Shall Forever be thine!

[edit] Commencement

Hilo High School's commencement exercises are normally held during the first week of June. Dane Nelson, former Academic Decathlon coach, supervised commencement exercises for nearly a decade until 2004.

Hilo High school has several commencement traditions that stretch back to the school's first graduation in 1909. The graduating class recites verses from Gaudeamus Igitur in Latin, and members of the Hilo High School Alumni Association pass out a lei to every graduate. This latter tradition is attributed to the patriarch of the Tong family, who was among the school's first graduates and supposedly gave a lei to a fellow graduate who was without one during their commencement ceremony. The Tong family also awarded the school's Salutatorian award and trophy with a cash prize until 2003, when the Salutatorian returned the cash prize out of respect for the family's disagreement with the school's current practice of awarding the Valedictorian distinction to more than one student. The Valedictorian trophy is maintained by the Hilo High School Foundation.

[edit] Clubs

Hilo High supports an array of clubs that promotes and supports the talents, knowledge, ambitions and abilities of the students. The clubs also train and prepare students for future professional careers, and allows the school and students to give back to the community through community service events.

[edit] Notable graduates

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hilo High School Foundation Fiscal Report

[edit] External links