Iolani School - '07-'08 Stories

Sparkplug (4/4/08)
After student body election speeches in the Lower Gym, the Proconsuls, Senior Prefects, and Senior class had a special presentation for the first ever `Iolani Sparkplug Award. Senior Taylor Wong is an inspirational young man. He has the most creative dress day outfits (one year he was Dean of Students, Mr. Brown, for Halloween and walked around with his hands behind his back, scouring the campus just as Mr. Brown would do), is as reliable as one can be, takes initiative, and has had some of the most memorable random acts of kindness ever. The Student Council showered Taylor with meaningful gifts, including the first ever Sparkplug Award. In recognition of Taylor's SPARKISH ways, the Student Council will be giving all future senior classes $100 to choose their own Sparkplug. Taylor also received a Fungi for the Fun Guy Trophy (pictured below), a signed picture of the entire senior class (pictured below), a coat with a sparkplug on it and ever senior's signature, an art set, and a $50 Apple gift card. Go Raiders and Go Sparkplug!

March Movie Madness & Ronald McDonald House
Members of the Kokua-On Campus Community Service Committee coordinated an `Iolani-Style Netflix and also cooked dinner for the Ronald McDonald House. Students, faculty, and staff could bring in DVD or VHS movies and exchange them with other people's videos. Any left over movies were donated to a local charity. In a separate project, students gathered in the school cafeteria and made spaghetti with mushroom tomato sauce for the Ronald McDonald House in Manoa. Thank you to co-chairs Kimi Hashmiba, Lauren Tsugawa, and Erin Nakashima for coordinating the projects. Go Raiders and Go Kokua!

Valentine's Day (2/14/08)
Love was certainly in the air on Valentine's Day. Faculty and staff were treated to the fifth annual "Raider Wake-Up Call" in the Faculty Lounge. Starting at 6:30, adults enjoyed assorted fruit, pastries, waffles, and heavenly music. The world's greatest harpist (WGH), Mrs. Connie Uejio, filled the lounge with some of the most recognizable and beautiful love songs. The students had their own fun with a special Valentine's Dress Day and Flora-Gram give-away. Go Raiders and Go Cupid!

Pop Day (2/8/08)
What has become somewhat of an SAO tradition, the students of the Upper School celebrated another third quarter, completely random day! The Proconsuls, Homecoming co-chairs, and Spirit co-chairs coordinated a POP DAY extravaganza. Students competed in a Pop Your Collar dress competition and were treated to pop goodies all day. Popcorn, popsicles, lollipops, ring pops, push pops, Otter Pops, Pop Tarts, papaya, soda pop, pop rocks, corn pops, and Papa John's Pizza were distributed throughout the day. The senior class won the $500 grand prize in the Guess the Pop Stars' Eyes Quiz. Oh yes, and let's not forget the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, whose music filled the Center Courtyard throughout the day. Go Raiders and Go POP!!!

Winterball (12/18/2007)
More than 750 students gathered at Sheraton Waikiki Hotel for a night of fun, food, and fellowship...and oh yes, DANCING! Under the leadership of Proconsul Chase Kurokawa and co-chairs Laurie Nitta, Robert Tamai, Kyla Teramoto, and Elyse Tom, "Winter in Waikiki" was a blast. Along with hula skirt props, a dance competition, and loads and loads of chocolate, free Waiola's Shave Ice was a definite crowd favorite. Everyone had a ball at the Ball! Go Raiders and Go Winterball!

Upper School Secret Santa (12/14/2007)
Spirit Co-Chairs Hedee Kim and Katie Cannell organized an all-Upper School Secret Santa gift exchange. With a strong publicity and recruiting push, they surpassed their goal of 300 participants. Students got creative with the $10 limit and everyone had a great time. After Christmas Break, students found out who their Secret Santa was and wrote thank you notes to them. We're hoping to do it again next year with 400 participants! Go Raiders and HO HO HO!

Raiderlicious Chow Down (Homecoming 2007)
Homecoming Co-Chairs 2007 (Elissa Minamishin, Oli Fatongia, and Kate Ikehara) got SPICY this year. Everything this year was related to food and it was DELICIOUS! Not only did we have our annual dress days, lunch assemblies, lip sync assembly, and cheerfest competition, but we also had a school-wide barbecue (raising over $500 for charity), collected over 2000 cans for the Hawaii Foodbank, had a high school costume contest with kindergarten judges, invited alumni from Great Harvest Bread, Tamashiro Market, Hee Hing, and Big City Diner to be celebrity judges, and held a pumpkin carving contest on Halloween. Undoubtedly, a great time was had by all...it was certainly RAIDERLICIOUS! Go Raiders and Go Chow Down!

ILDC (10/7-8/2007)
Ms. Mel Soares and Mr. Kirk Uejio held the second annual `Iolani Leadership Development Challenge at Camp Timberline and Palehua Cabin. Donned in their colorful AIE (Attitude is Everything) shirts, 36 9th graders spent 24 hours together learning about leadership, taking risks, and supporting each other. Go Raiders and Go ILDCers!

Won Gift (10/5/07)
The co-chairs of this year's Faculty Relations - Individuals Committee got creative for their first project of the year. IN order to do something nice for AV Head Mr. Cyrus Won and English teacher Dr. Joe Won, they collected Korean Won (Korea's currency) and made leis and picture frames for the two Wons. It was Won gifts for the Wons! Go Raiders and Go Wons!

Flag Football (10/5/2007)
Members of the Intramurals Committee organized the first event of the year, a faculty vs. seniors flag football game at lunch. A spirited crowd (including the pep band) gathered around the Art Building Lawn to cheer on these Raider athletes. Led by the intensity of PE teacher Ms. Kyla Evers (2 interceptions, fumble recovery, 3 toucdowns), the teachers eeked out a 21-14 victory! Go Raiders and Go Footballers!

Club Day (9/18/07)
Students in grades 7-12 headed to the Lower Gym for the annual Club Day. Over 60 clubs participated in the event and offered students the opportunity to learn more about each organization. Club participants ranged from Lacrosse to Anime to Key to Latin to Harry Potter. Thank you to everyone who participated. Go Raiders and Go Clubs!

Back to Top

Community Service Fair (9/12/07)
On September 12, the Upper School students had the opportunity to gather information and signup as volunteers with various community service organizations. Seto Hall was filled with eager and anxious service-oriented students during the lunch period. Off campus organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, HUGS, Kuakini Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Palolo Chinese Home, Honolulu Botanical Gardens, and on-campus groups such as Interact, Acolytes, Key Club, and American Red Cross had colorful displays getting the students excited about their organizations. Thanks to Kokua On Campus co-chairs, Lauren Tsugawa, Erin Nakashima, and Kimi Hashiba for organizing the event. Go Community Service!

Back to Top

Prefect and LC Sleepover (9/2-3/07)
The self-proclaimed "Menehune Prefects" and sophomore Leadership Class gathered together for some fun in the sun. After the Leadership Class participated in some of their own activities at the school cabin, they met the Prefects for a lively community service project at the Hawaii Nature Center. The group weeded, washed, painted, moved rocks, and got a little dirty. After a sack lunch, the students put their leadership skills into action with a series of ROPES challenges at Camp Mokuleia. After an exhausting yet rewarding 4 hours, the group headed back to school. The Leadership Class headed home while the Prefects stayed for dinner and a few hours of planning and bonding. Go Raiders, Go Leadership Class, and Go Prefects!

Back to Top

Locker Give-Away (8/23/07)
In order to kick off their theme, DELICIOUS MIXED PLATE, the Proconsuls randomly selected 50 lockers in the Upper School. The owners of those particular lockers were treated to a free plate lunch from the school cafeteria. YUMMY! Go Raiders and Go Proconsuls!

Prefect Phone Call and Picnic (8/21-22/07)
This year's group of 22 Senior Prefects certainly started the year off on a high note. The students gathered on campus before the first day of school to call all new Upper School students as well as new teachers to wish them luck as `Iolani's newest Raiders. On the first day of school, the Prefects also invited those new students and teachers to an informal picnic to help spread the Raider cheer. Go Raiders and Go Prefects!

Back to Top

Senior Breakfast (8/22/07)
Seniors started filing on to campus before the sun rose. By 5:45 a.m., more than 75 seniors gathered under the library to prepare for the annual bench selection "ceremony." The Headmaster welcomed the seniors to school, urged them to have a safe and fun year, and the chaplain offered a blessing. At 6:30 a.m., all seniors were invited to have a free breakfast to get the school year off on the right foot. Go Seniors and Go Raiders!

Faculty Relations Starts Off Right
The Faculty Relations Committee started things off right before the first day of school even started! On Admission Day 2007 (August 17), they surprised the Admission Office with some snack goodies and a book of drawings. The committee also made goodie bags for all new Upper School teachers as well as substitute teachers. Those packets of Advil and earplugs will certainly come in handy! Go Faculty Relations Co-Chairs!

Back to Top

Student Council Seminar (8/15/07)
The Student Council gathered during the last week of summer to get ready for the new school year. The group participated in bonding, leadership, and planning activities. The Proconsuls also presented their theme for the year, "Delicious Mixed Plate." This year's group, the largest in recent memory (78 members), will plan events throughout the year such as Homecoming, Winterball, Community Service, Proms, Spirit, May Day, dress days, lunch assemblies, and other fun activities. The Student Council also wrote postcards to all Upper School faculty and staff, which were sent during the summer, getting them ready for a GREAT new year. Go Raiders and Go Student Council!