Hawaii’s public schools unveil plans for Class of 2020 graduation celebrations

30-Apr-2020

HIDOE public and charter high schools have announced alternative celebrations for the class of 2020 according to safety concerns and social distancing guidance.

​Public high schools across the state today announced the dates, times and formats of their respective alternative graduation ceremonies. The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced last week that traditional ceremonies at public and charter schools would be replaced with alternative celebrations for the class of 2020 due to safety concerns and social distancing guidance. 

“Determining the appropriate ways to honor our graduating class of 2020 has been one of the top priorities for my leadership team over the past several weeks,” Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami said. “While we are disappointed that traditional commencement ceremonies cannot be held due to COVID-19, the thoughtful innovation and care with which our schools and community partners have come together has been inspirational. Mahalo to all of the individuals and organizations who are continuing to work behind the scenes to make the 2020 graduation ceremonies truly special.” 

Schools have started to share logistics details with parents and guardians. An overview of statewide commencement celebrations is below. The list will continue to be updated on the Department’s website as more details become available. For more information, families are encouraged to contact their child’s school directly.

Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area


School
Date
Commencement ModelAdditional Details

Kaimuki High

Principal: Jamie Dela Cruz

Senior count: 143

May 23
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Virtual ceremony streamed and aired on select media outlets.

Security will be in place.

McKinley High

Principal: Ron Okamura

Senior count: 356

May 24
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Virtual ceremony will be livestreamed.  

Security will be in place.

Roosevelt High

Principal: Sean Wong

Senior count: 309

May 20
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Virtual ceremony will be livestreamed.  

Security will be in place.

Anuenue School

Principal: Christopher Yim

Senior count: 18

May 23
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.

Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area


School
Date
Commencement Model
Additional Details

Farrington High 

Principal: Alfredo Carganilla

Senior count: 556
May 23
Virtual.
Virtual ceremony will be livestreamed and broadcast on select media outlets.

Kaiser High

Principal: Justin Mew

Senior count: 277
May 22
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Virtual ceremony  streamed via select media outlets.


Security will be in place.

Kalani High

Principal: Mitchell Otani

Senior count: 304
May 30
Virtual. 
Produced video will be streamed via select media outlets. 

Hawaii School for the Deaf & Blind

Principal: Kinau Gardner

Senior count: 9
May 27Virtual.
Livestreamed via select media outlets.

Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Leilehua High

Principal: Jason Nakamoto

Senior count: 332
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place. 

Mililani High

Principal: Frederick Murphy

Senior count: 638
May 17Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Waialua High & Intermediate

Principal: Christine Alexander

Senior count: 100
May 23Drive-in theater program and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place.

Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Aiea High

Principal: David Tanuvasa

Senior count: 256
May 20Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place.

Moanalua High

Principal: Robin Martin

Senior count: 510
May 22-24Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place.

Radford High

Principal: James Sunday

Senior count: 294
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Pearl City High

Principal: Joseph Halfmann

Senior count: 370
May 30Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Livestreamed via select media outlets.

Security will be in place.

Waipahu High

Principal: Keith Hayashi

Senior count: 607

May 29Virtual.
Aired on select media outlets.



Nanakuli-Waianae Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Nanakuli High & Intermediate

Principal: Darin Pilialoha

Senior count: 142
May 31Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Livestreamed via select media outlets.

Security will be in place.

Waianae High

Principal: Disa Hauge

Senior count: 370
May 22 and May 26-28.




Virtual on May 22 and drive-through diploma packet pickup from May 26-28.
Livestreamed via select media outlets.

Security will be in place.

Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Campbell High

Principal: Jon Henry Lee

Senior count: 687
May 15Virtual.
Livestreamed via select media outlets.

Kapolei High

Principal: Wesley Shinkawa

Senior count: 460
May 31Virtual.
Livestreamed via select media outlets.

Security will be in place.

Castle-Kahuku Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Castle High

Principal: Bernadette Tyrell

Senior count: 253
May 23Virtual.

Kahuku High & Intermediate

Principal: Donna Lindsey

Senior count: 211
May 21Drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place.

Kailua-Kalaheo Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Kailua High

Principal: Stacey Oshio

Senior count: 202
May 23
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place.

Kalaheo High

Principal: James Rippard 

Senior count: 186
May 26-27
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place.

Olomana School

Principal: John Secreto 

Senior count: 0

No seniors this year.

Kau-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Kau High & Pahala Elementary

Principal: Sharon Beck

Senior count: 42
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Keaau High

Principal: Dean Cevallos

Senior count: 233
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Pahoa High & Intermediate

Principal: Darlene Bee

Senior count: 85
May 24Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Security will be in place.

Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Hilo High

Principal: Jasmine Urasaki 

Senior count: 265
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Virtual ceremony will be livestreamed.  


Security will be in place.

Waiakea High 

Principal: Kelcy Koga

Senior count: 336
May 23Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.

Virtual ceremony will be streamed via select media outlets.

Security will be in place.

Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Honokaa High and Intermediate

Principal: Rachelle Matsumura

Senior count: 120
May 23Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

​Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino

Principal: Keli‘ikanoe Mahi

Senior count: 10
​May 22
​Diploma-cover pickup.

Kealakehe High

Principal: Glenn Gray

Senior count: 229
May 23Virtual.

Kohala High

Principal: Amy Stafford

Senior count: 58
May 23Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Virtual ceremony will be livestreamed. 

Security will be in place.

Konawaena High

Principal: Shawn Suzuki

Senior count: 187
May 23
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Virtual ceremony will be livestreamed. 


Security will be in place.

Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Baldwin High

Principal: Keoni Wilhelm

Senior count: 292
May 21
Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.
Livestreamed via select media outlets.

Security will be in place.

Kekaulike High 

Principal: Amy Strand 

Senior count: 242
May 20Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Maui High 

Principal: Jamie Yap

Senior count: 420
May 17Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup. Security will be in place.

Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanai-Molokai Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Hana High & Elementary

Principal: Christopher Sanita

Senior count: 23
May 23Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Lahainaluna High

Principal: Jeri Dean

Senior count: 209
May 24Virtual and pending details for additional plans. 



Streamed via select media outlets. 


Lighting of the "L" on Puʻu Paʻupaʻu on May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Lanai High & Elementary

Principal: Elton Kinoshita

Senior count: 39
May 23Virtual. 


Seniors will be pre-recorded for graduation video.

Molokai High 

Principal: Katina Soares

Senior count: 73
May 23Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Kapaa-Kauai-Waimea Complex Area


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Kapaa High

Principal: Thomas "Tommy" John Cox

Senior count: 234
May 22Virtual and drive-in theatre program followed by diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place. 

Kauai High

Principal: Marlene Leary

Senior count: 272
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Waimea High

Principal: Mahina Anguay

Senior count: 155
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.

Charter Schools


SchoolDateCommencement ModelAdditional Details

Connections PCS

Principal: John Thatcher

Senior count:  26
TBDPostponed.

Hakipuu Learning Center PCS

Principal: Michael Nakasato

Senior count: 4
TBDPostponed.

Halau Ku Mana

Principal: Keolani Noa 

Senior count: 14
May 23Virtual.

Hawaii Technology Academy PCS

Executive Director: Stacey Bobo

Senior count: 122
May 23
Grab and Go diploma ceremonies.

Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS

Director: Steve Hirakami

Senior count: 55
May 22Virtual.

Kamaile Academy 

Principal: Paul Kepka

Senior count: 31
May 21Virtual.

Kanu O Ka Aina PCS

Principal: Allyson Tamura

Senior count: 13
TBDVirtual.

Kanuikapono PCS

Principal: Kanoe Ahuna

Senior count: 3
TBDVirtual.

Kawaikini PCS

Principal: Kalae Tanaka

Senior count: 6

Canceled.

Ke Ana Laahana PCS

Principal: Mapuana Waipa

Senior count: 7
May 24Virtual.

Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau PCS

Director: Meahilahila Kelling

Senior count: 2
May 23Virtual.

Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha PCS

Director: Tia Koerte

Senior count: 2
May 26Virtual.

Kihei Charter School PCS

Head of School: Michael Stubbs

Senior count: 48
May 29Virtual.

Kua O Ka La PCS

Principal: Kapoula Thompson

Senior count: 5
TBDVirtual.

Kula Aupuni Niihau PCS

Director: Hedy Sullivan

Senior count: 1

Canceled.

Laupahoehoe Community PCS 

Director: Kurt Rix

Senior count: 12
May 22Virtual.

Myron Thompson Academy

Principal: Diana Oshiro

Senior count: 25
May 29Virtual.

University Laboratory School

Principal: A. Keoni Jeremiah

Senior count: 48
May 22Virtual.

West Hawaii Explorations PCS

Director: Heather Nakakura

Senior count: 34
May 22Virtual and drive-through diploma-cover pickup.Security will be in place.



Contact Information

Communications Branch

Phone: (808) 784-6200

Email: doeinfo@k12.hi.us

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