Waimea High’s 129 graduates endured pandemic

WAIMEA — Javis Niheu-Naka‘ahiki said graduation means he’s reached one of his goals.

“It’s a celebration with my classmates of 12 years of hard work,” said Kiana Carvalho Friday while waiting for his 128 classmates graduating from Waimea High School to take seats in the bleachers for a class photo it had never done this year before Friday.

“This year was definitely hard with the COVID-19 getting between us and school,” she said.

Kepler Niccore, one of 11 valedictorians, said this was a bleacher-full of unstoppable people who had taken the individual strengths of the group and tied it into an incredible body of individuals.

“In a year that can only be described as tumultuous, turbulent, and at times soul-crushing, this class of seniors demonstrated over and over a steadfast commitment to carving out opportunities to create lasting memories of their final year at Waimea, and to establish themselves as a class to be reckoned with,” said Principal Mahina Anguay. “We’ve never had 11 valedictorians before, even in the good ol’ pre-pandemic days. Yet here we are tonight, celebrating their outstanding academic achievement.”

Valedictorians, maintaining a grade point average of 4.0 for four years of high school, included Wyatt Hartsell, Kay Pasion, Ariell Siliado, Morgan Igaya, Julie Jane Remigio, David Rickards, Kaye Serapio, Pauline Ragus, Zsa Zsa DuBose, Braelyn Cayaban — also the class president — and Niccore.

“With the support of their families, teachers and the community, this class not only made lemonade from the hand they were dealt, they grew and they thrived,” Anguay said.

“The skills they learned from the setbacks that COVID-19 threw at them have not only made them stronger, it’s made them patient, resilient, resourceful and purposeful — skills that will serve them well in the future.”

Shelby Erdmann, one of two instructors who presented diplomas to the graduating seniors and their allocated pair of guests, said she watched these students grow from the first day they entered the Menehune campus.

“This class is extra special to me because I have witnessed your resilience and grit in the face of some of the most challenging circumstances in history,” Erdmann said.

“You have survived a pandemic. You have survived a year-and-a-half of distance learning. You have survived missed events that every other senior class has had the privilege of enjoying. You have stood strong, stayed positive and made the best of a situation that would break most.”

The “near-normal” graduation, eerie in the lack of family and friends crowding the ropes on the front lawn and buzzing in the athletic field below the campus, is the latest to join the list of achievements that include “so many Menehune earning athletic scholarships to play at the next level,” according to Anguay, “never having anyone taking first place at the state Health Occupation Student Organization competition, and earning two of the three coveted $20,000 scholarships that Grove Farm awards annually.”

Other feathers in caps include hosting a class drive-in movie, a virtual May Day of which Ariell Siliado chaired, and celebrating a senior Homecoming honor court.

“Your senior year has been an adventure to say the least,” said Heather Kidd, the second Menehune instructor to present. “It has been a year that has presented you with many challenges and opportunities to grow. I have loved watching your resilience in adapting to online classes, and the continuous fight against poor internet connections. Although this year hasn’t been exactly what you were expecting your senior year to be, it has taught you so many valuable lessons that will help you succeed as you begin to follow your dreams and realize your potential. This evening, as you walk across the stage, I want you to know that I and Waimea High School will always have your back, and we will always be cheering you on.”

Joyce Evens, the program emcee, described the graduates as “ready to attack the world — with a touch of Waimea!”