Congratulations, Class of 2004

Counting the 24 students who will commence on the soccer fields of Island School in Puhi today, the school’s largest senior class ever, there are nearly 750 Kauaians at seven schools who took the leap from student to adult at graduation ceremonies.

The largest Class of 2004 is Kaua‘i High’s 246, and the smallest is Kauai Christian Academy’s class of two. Kahili Adventist School graduated five seniors, Kula High’s Class of 2004 is 12 strong, and at least 21 Kauaians of Native Hawaiian ancestry graduated from Kamehameha School on O‘ahu.

The Island School commencement begins at 5 p.m.

After commencement at Bernice Hundley Gym for Kapa‘a seniors, Vidinha Stadium for Kaua‘i High seniors, and the Waimea High School lawn for the Menehune Class of 2004, many of the graduates loaded onto buses for alcohol-free, drug-free Project Graduation all-night parties.

Kapa‘a’s was at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club in Lihu‘e, but as of last night the locations of the Kaua‘i High and Waimea parties were closely guarded secrets.

Keeping locations secret helps keep unwanted guests away, according to Bill Arakaki, Waimea High School principal.

The Kapa‘a all-nighter included a hypnotist entertaining, and the awarding of a moped to a classmate via random drawing. After the picture-taking and lei-exchanging, the Warrior graduates changed out of their robes into class T-shirts dark in color to resemble tuxedos.

Waimea graduates loaded onto buses between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. after 6:30 p.m. festivities, and a similar loading process took place outside Vidinha Stadium.

Kapa‘a High graduated around 240 seniors, and there were 188 Waimea graduates.