KAPA‘A — A rainstorm couldn’t dampen the spirits of the resilient Kapa‘a High School seniors, who graduated at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex Friday evening.
Hundreds of family and friends of the graduates gathered under cloudy skies to celebrate the 238 seniors walking the stage at the school’s first fully in-person graduation since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were able to walk the stage in last year’s graduation, but families had to watch from their cars.
The rain, which had threatened all day, began shortly before the ceremony started, and picked up as the evening went along, leaving Principal Tommy Cox relieved that the school had purchased umbrellas for the graduating class.
“It’s what’s underneath the umbrellas that matter,” said County Councilmember Bernard Carvalho, a ‘79 alum, who served as the master of ceremonies for the event. “We haven’t had a normal graduation since 2019 — I think it’s safe to say we’re more than happy to be here tonight to celebrate our seniors.”
Like the other challenges they faced, including a global pandemic that threw a wrench in their education, the students took the rain in stride. Student Body President Wendell Marc Soriano emphasized perseverance in his speech to the graduates.
“Be ready for whatever the world throws at you, and keep going, because contrary to what the world keeps trying to tell you, you don’t need to have all the answers right now,” said
Soriano. “From what I’ve seen and what I know, you all have the ability to conquer anything.”
Cox listed the achievements of the class, which included numerous academic accomplishments, their first state football title and their first state softball crown just last week. In addition, he reported that about half of the class is continuing education after high school.
“The pandemic forced us to face challenges that we never thought existed,” said Cox. “And each of you overcame those circumstances to get to this point in your life.”
Keynote speaker Mayor Derek Kawakami delivered an emotional speech to the graduating class, which included his own daughter Hailee, from the perspective of a parent watching his child grow up.
“Doesn’t it feel like just yesterday when we were dropping off our kids at the first day of school? Where does the time go?” asked Kawakami.
“I know at times it can feel like we are smothering you, but it’s all based on love. The type of love, with no strings attached,” he said. “120 hours ago, I started to put down on paper all of these thoughts — but this speech began 18 years ago.”
A special tribute was given to two members of the class who tragically passed away in a 2019 car crash, Ryder Kaui and Max Jonah.
“They will never be forgotten and will always be remembered as a part of the Class of 2022,” said Cox.
For the first time, two students earned associate degrees from Kaua‘i Community College along with their high school diploma — Top Valedictorian Jessica Drent and Valedictorian Natalia Orner.
“We are the future,” said Drent, who will be attending Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts in the fall.
“And the future begins now.”
Along with Drent and Orner, the 26 class valedictorians included: Gillian Altman, Taylor Bradley, Nalu Brede Jr., Hakalau Bungula-McCarthy, Thomas Capelli III, Madhav Collins-Doijode, Amber Cotter, Kahiwa Dato, Alexander Henriques, Ryan Adam Himongala, Rhandi Hiranaka, Katharine Hoesel, Sara Hudcovic, Meah Jensen, Sailor Keahiolalo, Alexia Kenney, Callum Meredith, Liam O’Connor, Eve Ohai, Haley Overmyer, Taryn Ramil, Wendell Marc Soriano, Isaiah Squire and Tyler Tanaka.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
