Waianae High School

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Waiʻanae High School
Established

1957
School Type

Public High School
Students

2,000 approx.
Grades

9–12
Name

Waiʻanae High School
Address

85-251 Farrington Hwy.
Town

Waiʻanae, Hawaiʻi 96792
Community

Rural
District

Leeward
Complex

Waiʻanae
Mascot

Searider
Colors

Red and Blue
Motto

"Imua Makou O Waiʻanae"
Military

United States Army JROTC
Literary Magazine

Ka Wai ʻOla
Newspaper

Ka Leo O Waiʻanae
Yearbook

Ke Ahe Kai
Television Program

Searider News
Principal

JoAnn Kumasaka
Website

www.waianae.k12.hi.us

Waiʻanae High School is a public, coeducational secondary school in Waianae, a town on the leeward (western) coast of Oʻahu, Hawaii, about 40 miles northwest of Honolulu. An average of 2,000 students are enrolled annually in grades 9-12. Wai‘anae High School is part of the Leeward School District, under the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Contents

[edit] Campus

The 40-acre campus is located at 85-251 Farrington Highway between the towns of Mākaha (to the north) and Waiʻanae (to the south). Wai‘anae High School is situated on the coastline; the Pacific Ocean is directly west of the campus. Farrington Highway borders the school on the east. A canal used by the school's marine science program runs through the campus.

Famed surfing spots Makaha Beach and Yokohama Beach are several miles north of the school.

The school's football field is named after the school's first principal, Raymond Torii. The school usually holds its annual commencement ceremony on Raymond Torii Field, its football field overlooking the ocean.

[edit] History

Wai‘anae High School was established in 1957.

[edit] Curriculum: Academies

Wai‘anae High initiated its self-contained career academy program in 2004, although it is certainly not unique to Wai`anae High School. According to the school's website, the academies provide students work-based education in addition to a core college preparatory curriculum. Each of the four career academies has several hundred students enrolled. Groups of teachers serve in teams in each academy.

[edit] Arts and Communications

Students considering a career in the arts and communications field sign on to this academy. Related activities include band, choir, fine art, video production, cinematography, and print and broadcast journalism.

[edit] Business/Industrial Education and Technology

Students in this academy prepare for careers in business, technology, and related fields.

[edit] Health and Human Services

Aspiring nurses, doctors, educators, and other like jobs participate in this academy.

[edit] Natural Resources

In the Natural Resources academy, students prepare themselves for careers in agriculture, aquaculture, and reforestation.

[edit] Ninth Grade Success Academy

In addition to the career academies, the Ninth Grade Success Academy helps freshmen make a smooth transition from intermediate school and into high school.

[edit] Extracurricular Activities

[edit] Athletics

[edit] Hui O Na Opio O Waiʻanae/Hawaiian Language Program

Through the school's Hawaiian language program and its associated club, Hui O Na Opio O Waiʻanae, students have the opportunity to learn about the language and culture of the ancient Hawaiians. Students engage in hands-on activities, including cleanup and reforestation projects in the community.

[edit] Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)

Waiʻanae High's JROTC program has been ranked the top in the state.

[edit] Marine Science Learning Center

The high school's Marine Science Learning Center is Hawaiʻi's official marine science educational program. Participating students cultivate fish and ogo, a type of seaweed, in large aquaculture tanks on campus. The fish and ogo are sold to community grocery stores, families, churches, and fishermen.

[edit] Searider Productions

Searider Productions (SP) is the largest high school journalism and multimedia program in the state of Hawaiʻi, enrolling an average of about 300 students every school year. The locally and nationally renowned program was established in 1992 by teachers L. Candy Suiso and Norman Chock as a video production program. It is the only student media program in the state to integrate video production, print and broadcast journalism, yearbook publishing, Web publishing, and music recording.[1] The Hawaiʻi Publishers Association deemed Searider Productions the state's Best Overall Journalism Program in 2006.

[edit] Alma Mater

Hail to thee, O Waiʻanae
Set against the radiant sky.
From the beaches still and cool
Come the breezes toward our school.
From the mountains to the ocean
We all stand in firm devotion.
Waiʻanae Alma Mater,
Waiʻanae Alma Mater.

Forward then, O Waiʻanae
With your colors waving high.
Led by both the red and blue
We will always fight for you.
Let our hearts be filled with spirit,
Love of wisdom, pride and honor.
Waiʻanae Alma Mater,
Waiʻanae Alma Mater.

[edit] Notable Alumni

Listed alphabetically by last name, with graduating class year in parentheses.

  • John DeSoto (1965) - Honolulu city councilman
  • Kurt Gouveia (1985) - professional football athlete
  • Big Teeze (Terrence Hallums) (1990) - Radio Personality/Recording Artist
  • Mike Kahikina (1968) - Hawaii state representative
  • Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (1977) - renowned recording artist
  • Fiamalu Penitani (Musashimaru) (1989) - sumo wrestler [2]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gonser, James (March 22, 2001). Community always there for Waiʻanae High. The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved on 2006-06-18.
  2. ^ Photo Finish. Honolulu Star-Bulletin (February 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.