Welcome to the KKHS Alumni Association Website!

Aloha! The King Kekaulike Alumni Association is dedicated to the advancement of the King Kekaulike High School community - past, present and the future. We are a growing organization and encourage you to check back often. All alumni are encouraged to sign-up for our alumni registry and become an official member of our association. It is free to join. Imua Kekaulike!
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2014 Alumna of the Year: Dallas Nagata White

Since opening its doors, King Kekaulike has educated thousands of students who have gone on to make unique achievements throughout our community, both here at home and afar. Many go unrecognized, but the successes of Kekaulike alumni are quite amazing and are important to share.

Class of 2014 student, Joebelle Bonete, wanted this to become a reality and decided that the best way of memorializing achievements of alumni and sharing it with the Kekaulike community was through an alumni award. Yearly awards already exist for a Kekaulike Teacher of the Year, Class of the Year, and Student of the Year and an Alumni of the Year award seemed only natural.

Bonete took on the award as her senior project and laid the foundational components for the award, which focuses on recognizing individuals who have demonstrated unique accomplishments following graduation from Kekaulike.

Her hope was that the Alumni of the Year would not only inspire up and coming students to think big in what they can accomplish in their future, but also showcase the value of a Kekaulike education.

Nominations were sought and an alumni award panel vetted each applicant with one finalist being awarded the recognition per year.

In 2014, Dallas Nagata White, a class of 2004 graduate, was awarded the distinction of being named the first recipient of the Alumni of the Year Award.

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Dallas Nagata White.

 

Nagata White, a professional photographer, is well known for her vibrant photos that grace the covers of publications such as National Geographic, Vogue, Huffington Post, Honolulu Magazine, and other renowned publications both locally and internationally.

Most recently, she had the privilege of taking the official photo of newly elected Governor David Ige in his Executive Chambers in front of the seal of Hawaii.

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Official photo of Governor David Ige by Dallas Nagata White.

This however, is only one of many of her adventures. In 2012, one of Nagata White’s photos went viral, as she captured the “Hottest Kiss Ever by Active Lava Flow.” The photo even landed her in the Huffington Post, which showcased the photo and reported the background of the photo. The story goes that when she and her husband were visiting the Kilauea lava flow on the Big Island, they decided to snap a quick photograph. Using a DSLR, tripod and wireless flash system, Nagata White’s photo got an added something special when her husband, ever the romantic, dipped her into a dramatic kiss as the rain started falling.

The photo is quite breathtaking and is only one of many that you can find in her dramatic collection.

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Although much of her talent was built up from experience, Nagata White holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art with an emphasis in painting and photography from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

She was born and raised on Maui but currently resides in Honolulu with her husband Ed. With her newfound reputation, she is now more selective in her projects and considers herself an editorial and commercial photographer.

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Ed White and Dallas Nagata White.

When asked about her being a Kekaulike graduate, she stated that, “I’m proud because it was one of the newer public school in the State of Hawaii but we know we went to good one,” she said.

“It was a good place to come out of and there has been a lot of successful people to come from our school,” said Nagata White.

Despite all her success, Nagata White understands that although getting work done is important, you still need to set aside time for fun.

Her advice for those looking for success is to, “work hard and get your work done. Learning to work hard early really pays off in the long run,” she said.

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“Having the discipline to keep working hard and goof off is good but don’t forget to schedule time to goof off because you’ll need that for a full life and a good experience.”

A collection of Nagata White’s photos can be found online at www.dallasnagatawhite.com.

Nominations for the 2015 Na Ali‘i Alumni of the Year is currently open until Wednesday, April 8. Criteria and the application can be found HERE.

Aloha & Mahalo Mrs. Susan Scofield

An era has ended at King Kekaulike High School. After 20 years of serving as principal, Susan Scofield retired on December 30, capping off an accomplished career of nearly 44 years in education.

She played a vital role in shaping the heart and soul of Kekaulike, and it began even before any buildings on the campus were ever completed.

King Kekaulike saw its start with just Scofield in an office at Kalama Intermediate where she met her first class of freshman when they were still eighth graders.

“The first graduating class was unique. They were always the oldest in the school,” she said. They had to start traditions and create a sense of place, and how to properly act and behave without anyone before them to follow.

Creating a new high school takes time, and Scofield was it in for the long haul.

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She put in the energy and time, many times being the first one to school and the last one to leave.

As a result, Kekaulike slowly began to gain a strong footing, shaping itself into a unique place and establishing its own traditions, from homecoming activities to senior projects. Scofield even can be credited with the founding of this alumni association.

In 2013, under her leadership, Kekaulike was named one of 11 “Best High Schools in Hawaii,” by the U.S. News & World Report and one of 10 Hawaii schools in the Washington Post’s annual index of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools”.

As she ends her tenure at Kekaulike, there is a sense of excitement for her next chapter in life.

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Susan Scofield and Clarence Rivers at a retirement assembly. December 2014.

“There comes a time when you begin to realize that you are getting old and gotta do things,” she said.

Travel is at the top of her mind, especially without having to think about work.

Her mother turns 90 and she wants to spend quality time with her, taking her more often to the ninth-island, Las Vegas, to meet up with family.

“I want to become more healthy and eat better”, she said, describing herself as having “one of the worst eating habits.”

Most importantly, she wants to spend time to really clean her house, after years of putting it on the backburner.

When asked what she won’t miss, she quickly responded, “getting 2 a.m. calls from the police and having to hurry to campus because of alarms going off or some type of vandalism.”

However, even as she leaves the school, its future is still top of mind.

“I look forward to the new auditorium being constructed.” It will be another source of pride for the school and has been a long time in the planning phase.

The master plan called for the auditorium to be located in the quad near the cafeteria, but was relocated to its current location near the locker rooms when it was decided that a pool, as originally planned, would unlikely be built.

“I was worried about having a pool on campus, but now we will have an auditorium that will be easily accessible to the public,” she said.

With a whole new chapter of life in front of her, she now has visions of eating french fries and champaign in retirement. “Champaign is always the best,” she exclaims with her classic smile and laugh.

Mrs. Scofield will be truly missed and we will be forever grateful for all of her tremendous contributions.

Scofield with members of the KKHS Alumni Association, December 2014.

 

 

We need everyone’s help for Foodland scholarships for KKHS students

LET’S KEEP THE MOMENTUM AT HIGH SPEED TO COLLECTIVELY REACH OUR GOAL OF 
5 FOODLAND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 5 DESERVING KING KEKAULIKE SENIORS!

Please continue to tell family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to designate KKHS with their Maika’i Card!  They can be anywhere in Hawaii (not only on Maui) when they designate Kekaulike at any Foodland, Sack N Save or Foodland Farms!

Top 5 schools with the most Maika’i Points are awarded (5) $2,000 college scholarships for awarded seniors!  HELP US FINISH IN THE TOP 5!!  We need more DESIGNATIONS to receive more POINTS!!  

FOODLAND SHOP FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
Rank PLU School Name Designations Points
1 7525 Hilo High School 9972 475,031
2 7545 Kapaa High School 10066 453,093
3 7554 King Kekaulike High School 7862 397,087
4 7535 Kahuku High & Intermediate School 8904 382,824
5 7562 Lahainaluna High School 10269 375,598
6 7570 Maui High School 8641 348,829
7 7552 Keaau High School 6588 347,757
8 7507 Baldwin High School 7951 346,381
9 7527 Honokaa High & Intermediate School 6097 279,673
10 7582 Pearl City High School 6204 270,441
Designate Kekaulike with your Maika’i Card and still earn your personal Maika’i points/awards.  There is no penalty for you when helping King Kekaulike High School earn scholarships!

Support the KKHS Girls Basketball Team

The King Kekaulike Girls Varsity Basketball team will be representing the Maui Interscholastic League in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament.

Unfortunately, the HHSAA and the Department of Education do not fund all the travel expenses. These hardworking and committed student athletes are in need of financial assistance. They are requesting the Kekaulike community’s support through any type of donations. If you are willing to assist, any checks can be made payable to: King Kekaulike Girls Basketball.

Donations can be sent to:
King Kekaulike High School
Attn: Girls Basketball Team
121 Kula Highway
Pukalani, Hawaii 96768

For more information, you can contact head coach Cy Peters at (808) 893-5977.

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Read the official letter.

The HHSAA Division I Girls Basketball tournament being held this Friday and Saturday nights, February 7 & 8.

In first round action Friday:

At McKinley:

5 p.m. — King Kekaulike vs. Moanalua
7 p.m. — Hilo vs. Leilehua

In Regional Quarterfinal action Saturday:

At Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu:

3 p.m. — King Kekaulike-Moanalua winner vs. Punahou
5 p.m. — Hilo-Leilehua winner vs. Roosevelt

At Kealakehe High School, Kailua, Kona:

6 p.m. — Mililani-Radford winner vs. Konawaena

At Lahaina Civic, Lahaina:

6 p.m. — Maryknoll-Kailua winner vs. Lahainaluna

Saturday’s Regional winners will advance to the semifinals Feb. 14 at McKinley; the semifinal winners will play for the championship at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Blaisdell Arena.

As a reminder, unlike past years, there will be no consolation bracket games except for the third place game (5 p.m. Feb. 15 at Blaisdell Arena).

Learn more about the new HHSAA regional format.

Honoring Class of 2005 Graduate Reed Nakamura

By: Anthony Perreira – ’05

Reed Yoshio Nakamura of Kula passed on January 24, 2014, after a nine month battle with cancer. Reed attended Kula Elementary School, Kalama Intermediate, and graduated from King Kekaulike High School (KKHS) in 2005.

While at KKHS, Reed was an active member of the band, playing the trombone with great prowess. Reed was also an active member of the Kiwins Club holding various officer positions.  He was also quite the scholar taking many AP classes including, AP Chemistry, AP Psychology, among others. While in school, Reed enjoyed working on his family’s farm, playing airsoft, and watching anime (some of his favorites were: Bleach, Initial D, Dragon Ball and Gundam).

After graduating from KKHS, Reed attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and studied Information Computer Science. Reed created his own club named SCIO (Shogi, Cosplay, Ichigo, Otaku) in which he and his friends would film cosplay, play various Japanese games, and watch anime. Reed served as the President of the SCIO club and through it, developed many friendships.

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Reed graduated in four years with a Bachelor of Science in Information Computer Science. After college, he stayed on Oahu and worked at the Outrigger Hotel as a computer programmer.

Karaoke, happy hours with friends, hiking, and playing tennis were some of his favorite pastimes. Reed was taken from us all too soon.  He was a humble, friendly, and kind individual…he also rocked an awesome Okinawan afro.

Reed’s funeral will be held at the Makawao Hongwanji on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM.

Editors Note: Anthony Perreira is a fellow Class of 2005 graduate and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa with Reed.  Since Reed’s passing, the Class of 2005 has honored their classmate by raising over $1,500 for his  family.  

Winter 2014 Alumni Association Newsletter

The 2014 Winter Edition of the King Kekaulike High School Alumni Association Newsletter is here! Check it out!

CLICK HERE TO READ

Here are a few of the features:
Alumni Association Updates
SAVE THE DATE: KKHS Senior Project Judging
Alumni Spotlight: Sam Cyr
Class of 2004 & Class of 2005 Reunion Updates
Alumni Profile: Will Weston
Fall 2013 Alumni Association Contributions
Retired KKHS Teachers Hold Gathering
Alumni Association Photos
Alumni Updates

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Alumni Spotlight: Sam Cyr – Professional Golfer

Living out of a suitcase and traveling to places such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand within a matter of weeks sounds like a once in a lifetime college backpacking trip, but for Sam Cyr, a class of 2005 graduate, it is just another day at the office.

Cyr is a professional golfer on the Asian Tour, the principal men’s professional golf tour in Asia.  Host countries include India, Myanmar, Philippines, and South Korea just to name a few.

“The Asian Tour has been a good opportunity, it’s definitely opened up some doors,” said Cyr, who has flown more than 100,000 miles over the past two years.

Although Cyr is living his childhood dreams, it hasn’t always been what he exactly imagined.  “My path has been different in the sense that I had a dream to play collegiate and professional golf,” said Cyr.  He just never pictured how it would look like.

ISPS Handa Singapore Classic - Day One

Courtesy of the Asian Tour

“I thought I would be playing in the United States, but I am so blessed looking back at the experiences that I have had over the last few years playing on the Asian Tour.  I am traveling the world and learning so much. …It’s been a crazy road for me for sure, but it’s been awesome,” he said.

As a Kekaulike student, Cyr was known for his golfing skills, winning the Maui Interscholastic League individual boys golf championship title during his senior year.  His talents also helped to lead the KKHS golf team to win three MIL championships during his high school career.

He attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, earning a business administration degree and playing on the men’s golf team.  While in college, Cyr was a four-time All-American, won 12 tournaments and two NAIA national championships (2008 and 2009).

Cyr’s first pro win came at the 2010 Mid-Pacific Open, by two shots over PGA Tour winner Dean Wilson. His second and third came the next year, at the Hawaii State and Maui opens.

During the 2013 season, Cyr made $97,271 in tournament earnings, ranking him 39th in the Order of Merit, a ranking of player winnings for the Asian Tour.

Courtesy of the Asian Tour

Courtesy of the Asian Tour

Reflecting back on high school, Cyr gives practical advice about success, “I think that the decisions we make each day do influence our tomorrow. High school is a great time to set your future up and make your goals for the upcoming years,” he said.

Still single, Cyr is adapting to his increasingly busy life, “ I am learning how to balance my life with travel and business obligations,” he said.

Cyr’s ultimate dream is to one-day play on the coveted PGA Tour and with his track record of achievement, he is well on his way of making his dreams a reality.

Cyr was recently featured in a Star Advertiser Sports Feature.  Check it out at:
www.kkhsalumni.org/cyr-gets-featured-in-star-advertiser

Alumni Profile: Will Weston, Entrepreneur

Will Weston, a class of 2002 graduate, has traveled quite a bit in the 11 years since graduating from King Kekaulike.  Western Europe, China, New Zealand, Japan, and Vietnam; these are a handful of the countries where he has ventured.  He attributes his love for travel from the fortune and limitation that came from growing up in Hawai‘i.

“We were lucky, yes, and people will remind us that for the rest of our lives every time they ask us where we came from, but it was also challenging to feel as though we were connected to or knew anything about how the rest of the world worked,” he said.

His journey thus far has been filled with balancing conventional decisions about his continued education, with growth and exploration through travel and music.  Choosing to attend the University of Colorado and briefly studying abroad in Europe, he earned his BA in English with a focus on creative writing.  After graduation he traveled across the United States by train and bicycle before settling down in San Francisco to acquire his Masters of Fine Arts with a focus in creative writing.

Will Weston, the traveler.

Will Weston, the traveler.

“It should be said that I really stayed in school more to give myself more time to think about what I realistically wanted to do than to follow a specific career track in writing.”

Since completing his formal education, Will has gone on to pursue a new adventure. This adventure requires more grit, fearlessness and determination than his travels across the globe – entrepreneurialism.

“I made the right connections with the right people and ended up in the right place at the right time working for an older guy who was ready to retire and sell his place,” said Weston.

“I formed a partnership with three other guys, took out the loans, and bought the place. We’ve run it for a year and a half now, and turned it into one of the more interesting, eccentric small live music venues in downtown San Francisco.”

His profession is also closely intertwined with his passion, music.  Having pursued music in various degrees of seriousness since childhood, his current occupation has allowed for continued creative growth.  “I’ve chosen a career path that allows me the freedom to create my own schedule in the hopes of pursuing things like this with as much heart as I have for it.”

Weston released his debut album “Quiet Sirens” in 2012 and has utilized his formal education in creative writing to compose rock/funk/blues/jazz inspired songs with great lyrics.

Will Weston is the owner of Café Royale on the corner of Post & Leavenworth in downtown San Francisco.

Will Weston is the owner of Café Royale on the corner of Post & Leavenworth in downtown San Francisco.

When asked about his years at King Kekaulike High School he says that although it now seems a lifetime ago, he remembers it very fondly.  He speaks kindly of retired teacher Mrs. Weeks. Expressing that she, “held people accountable” and “was definitely an extremely valuable asset to a number of people in our graduating class.”

Like many, the details of high school are now obscure, but he recalls fights across the street and playing in his band for pep rallies. The sort of memories many hold on to about that time of adolescence.  Not a lot of particular detail, but memories that speak to those wonderful childhood freedoms.

With combined conventional, as well as real life knowledge, it wasn’t a surprise that he offered a few words of advice for current students to consider.

“Have patience, and not to emphasize too much importance on what transpires in those insanely confusing developmental years. There is so much more comfort in the years ahead, as you learn about who you truly are and who you want to be in the world.  If you’re kind to people, if your intentions are good, it’s rare that you won’t be rewarded in some greater sense in the long run,” he said.

If you would like to hear and purchase some of Will Weston’s music, please visit www.willweston.bandcamp.com, or if you so happen to be in the downtown San Francisco area, stop in to Café Royale, on the corner of Post & Leavenworth, he’ll gladly extend a kama‘āina discount to fellow King Kekaulike alums!

Retired KKHS teachers hold gathering

Thought you were happy at graduation when your years at KKHS were coming to an end?  Take a look at the smiles on this gathering of retired teachers from King Kekaulike who met together for lunch last November.  Eleven of the 15 teachers/counselors/administration who have retired from our high school met together with principal Susan Scofield at the Bistro Casanova in Kahului.

As teachers are prone to do, they talked the entire time catching up on each other’s whereabouts since leaving KKHS.

Seated:  Marilyn Nomura, Susan Scofield, Janie King  Standing:  Ed Enomoto, Warren Liu, Carolyn Johnson, David Fukuda, Ron Pisciotto, Dennis Dias, Trisha Grimley, Cary Honda, Kurtis Saiki.

Seated: Marilyn Nomura, Susan Scofield, Janie King Standing: Ed Enomoto, Warren Liu, Carolyn Johnson, David Fukuda, Ron Pisciotto, Dennis Dias, Trisha Grimley, Cary Honda, Kurtis Saiki.

Ron Piscotto expressed concern that all the stories had been told and there would nothing to say at the next gathering.  Then he realized at this group’s age, everyone would probably forget everything they heard by the January get together.

 

Winter 2014 Alumni Association Photos

Alumni Association members at the Kekaulike Karnival.  David Quedding - ‘03, Troy Hashimoto - ‘05, Joe Wilkinson, David Tanaka - ‘02, Kalo DeLeon - ‘ 02, Ronnie Kihara - ‘03.

Alumni Association members at the Kekaulike Karnival. David Quedding – ‘03, Troy Hashimoto – ‘05, Joe Wilkinson, David Tanaka – ‘02, Kalo DeLeon – ‘ 02, Ronnie Kihara – ‘03.

Alumni Association Booth at the Kekaulike Karnival.

Alumni Association Booth at the Kekaulike Karnival.

ASKK President Joebelle Bonete and Student Activities Coordinator Janina Kennedy at the Kekaulike Karnival.

ASKK President Joebelle Bonete and Student Activities Coordinator Janina Kennedy at the Kekaulike Karnival.

2013 Kekaulike Karnival Santa station.

2013 Kekaulike Karnival Santa station.