Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 12, 1 December 1987 — First 19 Students Accepted Nov. 4 , 1887 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

First 19 Students Accepted Nov. 4 , 1887

'Kamehameha's Name Lives Aaain in the Schools'

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA "From very humble beginnings 100 years ago when the school opened its doors to 19 boys and four teachers, it has grown into an institution serving more than 3,000 students on and off campus and making eontact with more than 40,000 people a year.

In the meantime the staff of four teachers has grown and now teachers and staff of the Estate and Schools number over 1,000 representatives in many categories. "As the years roll by the figure of 19 students and four teachers will grow many times over and the next 100 years will be beyond belief." This is the way Richard Lyman Jr., president of the Bishop Estate Board of Trustees, described it as the Schools observed its 100th birthday Nov. 4 in their own Kekuhaupi'o Fieldhouse. lt was indeed a festive occasion as Kamehameha Schools officially opened its doors to admit its first students on Nov. 4, 1887. One of the first graduates in the Class of 1891 was composer Charles E. King. T wo of his works, "Kamehameha Waltz" and "Imua Kamehameha" were played by the Warrior Band during the program.

Lyman, who was the program's guest speaker, noted that the school and the kingdom of Hawaii, like so many other events in Hawaiian history, had been foretold by Hawaiian kahunas. "It had been predicted that when Kamehameha died his spirit would be taken to the heavens but he would return back to earth. "He had been told that when he returned he would be animated and youthful and he would eonhnue to live again in Hawaii. "He was also told that when he would return he would find that his religion would have changed and that people that lived in high places would eome down and that the eommon people would rise up," Lyman observed. Lyman noted that all of the predictions have been fuifilled and "today his name lives again in the name of the Schools."

The prayer was offered by the Rev. David Kaupu, Kamehameha ehaplain, with weleome remarks by Wayne Chang and Marlene Sai who co-hosted the program. Sai and Kaleinani Brown are the centennial eoordinatqrs for the Schools. Representatives from 10 other private and public schools who have been operating in Hawaii for more than 100 years were also recognized. Only five schools, however, sent representatives and a sixth, Iolani, had a message read apologizing for its non-appearance because of homecoming preparations. lt was noted during the program that another Kalihi school — Kalihi-Waena School on Gulick Ave. — was likewise observing its 100th year. It is interesting to note also that Kamehameha and St. Andrew's Priory are the only two schools in the United States whieh were founded by Hawaiian royalty— Kamehameha by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and St. Andrew's by Queen Emma 120 years ago. 01dest of the schools is Lahainaluna on Maui whieh is in its 156th year. It is followed by Royal School, 148

years; Punahou, 146; St. Louis, 141; Iolani, 124; MidPacific Institute, 122; McKinley High School, 121; St. Andrew's, 120; Haleiwa Elementary, 115; Ka'u (formerly Pahala) Elementary, 106.

FolIowing Lyman s address and recognition of school representatives, a big three-tiered birthday eake eomplete with 100 lighted candles was wheeled into the gym on a cart and Bishop Estate Trustees, students, faculty and guests blew out the candles to the accompaniment of "Happy Birthday Kamehameha." There were birthday games staged by the students and then everyone exited Kekuhaupi'o to get their share of eake individually boxed and to watch the release of

over 1,500 balloons as students sang "Sons of Hawaii." The three-tiered eake and those served to students and guests were the result of the cooperative efforts of Bakers Hilbert Young and Hisaichi Nakamura and Bob 01iveira. There were 60 sheets of eake measuring

18"x24". It took 100 pounds of flour, 120 pounds of sugar, 50 pounds of shortening and 50 pounds of eggs to make the cakes. Students and staff of some 25 off campus Oahu and neighbor island sites were also scheduled to celebrate the centennial birthday with appropriate festivities of their own. Kamehameha Schools also operates educational programs on Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Hawaii.

Balloons are let loose to climax program.

Happy 100th Birthday says this three-tier eake with handsome eeniennīal logo.

These are students on makai side of jam-packed Kekuhaupi'o fieldhouse.

Getting their share of eake are these students who rushed out of Kekuhaupi'o.