The Kaua‘i High School Class of 1958 originally wanted to present a cement bench to the school, but Principal Linda Smith suggested a planter box instead.
Class member Anthony Silva set out to construct the large planter that now encircles a monkeypod tree at the campus “patio.”
Smith said the area between the school’s library and one of the classroom buildings is a highly used area by students.
But its current “patio” look was not always so, she said. At one time, there was no concrete — just dirt which turned to mud during the rainy season.
“The concrete and the various artifacts that lend itself to the patio look came from different parent groups and organizations such as yourselves,” Smith said. “Your contribution definitely makes a difference.”
The class originally wanted to contribute a bench because they felt the students needed a place to sit and “hang out” between classes, recess, and other school breaks.
Silva was able to procure four plaques, one facing each direction, west, north, east and south, to identify the planter’s donors, and the presentation was just the start of a weekend of festivities celebrating the class’s 50th reunion.
Jori Jasper, the Kaua‘i High School student body vice president, had a group of student body officers on hand to present each of the visiting alumni with a red sponge hand.
That was to be used later in the evening, when the class attended the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football game between Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a high schools.
The game followed a large tailgate party at the M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises location in Pua Loke.
In an e-mail from the Class of 1958, about 110 classmates, spouses and former teachers celebrated the class’s 50th reunion at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center where Peter Rayno, one of the class members, was the master of ceremonies with entertainment headlined by William Sasil and his ‘ohana, Sasil being another of the class members.
The weekend was capped with a special tour of the National Tropical Botanical Garden Sunday.
