Season of Transitions

What a lovely day to close a full week! We welcomed our 8th Grade home after their culminating, multi-day class trip to Hawaiʻi Island to bring together their learning in History, English, Science, and Hawaiian Studies. We are grateful for the Island School faculty and staff who gave their time to lead our students on this immersive study and class bonding trip and to the families who trusted us to know how meaningful a learning opportunity this was, particularly as they get ready to transition to high school.

And today ended with two lovely traditions, Lā Lei and the Senior Cap and Gown Parade. The morning of May 1, or Lei Day, is one of my favorites in the school year. I got to see so many students and adults submit their special creations for the 3rd Annual Sabra Kauka May Day Lei Contest. What a beautiful way to celebrate the meaningful practice of lei making! And then, we enhanced a long-standing tradition of celebrating our seniors when they receive their cap and gown in preparation for graduation. Historically, this tradition means they seniors unpack and try on their cap and gown, unwrap their forever-eye-lash lei in gold, and walk through campus where students and adults cheer them on as they take one more step towards graduation. This year we added a new element. Our 5th Graders began making the forever-lei months ago in preparation for the big day in order to honor the seniors and wish them well. It was a meaningful moment to watch the seniors further engage in the transition to graduate and the 5th Grade get ready to leave elementary school and step into their place in the upper school next year. And so Grades K-11 gathered in the Elementary Quad, the original piko of our Puhi campus, to cheer on the Class of 2026. What a joy!