Hilo High School
Encyclopedia
| Name | Hilo High School |
| Address | 556 Waianuenue Avenue |
| Municipality | Hawaii County, Hawaii (mailing address: Hilo, Hawaii) 96720 |
| Established | 1906 |
| Community | Suburban |
| Type | Public |
| Principal | Robert Dircks |
| Vice Principal(s) | Erin Williams |
| Grades | 9 to 12 |
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| Mascot | Viking |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Military | United States Army JROTC |
| Newspaper | The Viking (Currently published once per semester) |
| Yearbook | Blue and Gold |
| Distinctions | 17 Academic Decathlon State Championships (1993–2006, 2009–2011) |
| Website | http://www.hilohs.k12.hi.us |
Hilo High School is a public, co-educational
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
of the Hawaii State Department of Education, and serves grades nine through twelve. Established in 1906, its first class graduated in 1909. Hilo High School is near the Wailuku River
Wailuku River
The Wailuku River is a water course on the Island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the longest river in Hawai'i and its course lies mostly along the divide between the lava flows of Mauna Kea and those of Mauna Loa to the south. It arises at about the elevation along the eastern slope of...
in Hawaii County on the Big Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The campus boasts the black marble terrazzo and gray gravel sculpture Matrix by Ken Shutt
Ken Shutt
Ken Shutt is an American sculptor and watercolorist who was born in Long Beach, California. He moved to Hawaii in 1963 and lived there until 1995, when he returned to California in 1995....
. The school is situated at 556 Waianuenue Avenue on across the street from Hilo Intermediate School, one of its two feeder schools, the other being Kalanianaole Intermediate School. Hilo's symbol and mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
and its school colors
School colors
School colors are the colors chosen by a school to represent it on uniforms and other items of identification. Most schools have two colors, which are usually chosen to avoid conflicts with other schools with which the school competes in sports and other activities...
are blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. Hilo High School celebrated its centennial during Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
of 2006. Hilo High School's Crosstown Rivals are the Warriors of Waiakea High School
Waiakea High School
Waiākea High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Hilo, Hawai'i. The school's mascot is the Warrior. It is part of the Hawaii State Department of Education. The school graduated its first class in 1980, and has about 1300 students. It is across the street from the University of...
.
History
Hilo High School was started by the school authorities in September 1905. The idea for a high school is attributed to Josephine Deyo, principal of Hilo Union School. The weak public interest eventually grew stronger as the public realized the benefits from a high school in Hilo, Hawaii. At the time, the only High Schools on the island were Kau High and Pahala Elementary SchoolKau High and Pahala Elementary School
Ka'u High & Pahala Elementary School is a public, co-educational high school, middle school and elementary school of the Hawaii State Department of Education. It serves grades kindergarten through twelve and was established in 1881...
and Honokaa High & Intermediate School
Honokaa High & Intermediate School
Honokaa High & Intermediate School is a public, co-educational high school and middle school of the Hawaii State Department of Education. It serves grades seven through twelve and was established in 1889.-General information:...
, both over 30 miles away in rural sugar communities that were disconnected from most of the island and were only accessible by railroad. Most students who wished to attend high school went to boarding school in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.
The school changed location in 1907 to the District Annex location and was then named Hilo Junior High School, and moved yet again in 1922 to its present location on Waianuenue Avenue. Hilo High School's rival is Waiakea High School
Waiakea High School
Waiākea High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Hilo, Hawai'i. The school's mascot is the Warrior. It is part of the Hawaii State Department of Education. The school graduated its first class in 1980, and has about 1300 students. It is across the street from the University of...
. Hilo High School's sports are usually neck to neck with Waiakea High School's.
Timeline of the 556 Waianuenue Ave. Campus
- 1922- First Building- Makai Building
- 1926- Miss Margaret Way's music class created the Hilo High Alma mater
- 1927- Auditorium Building donated by the Alumni Association.
- 1931 and 1934-Cafeteria built (the old F building)
- 1935- First stage of the Mauka Building built
- 1936- Second stage of the Mauka Building built
- 1939- Third stage of the Mauka Building built
- 1937- Gym and wood shop built
- 1961- Administration Building Built
- 1962- Swimming Pool donated by Mrs. John M Ross and Mrs. Isabel Kennedy
- 1963- The Library and Multi Purpose Room was built
- 1968- The Cafeteria was built
- 1970- R-Building
- 1977- Mauka Building burns down
- 1979- 100-car parking lot finally built
- 1980- C Building built
Hilo High School Foundation
The Hilo High School FoundationFoundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
was formed in 1990, with the purpose of creating and maintaining an endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
fund that would fund educational programs and activities at Hilo High School that would not or could not be funded from State of Hawaii funds. It annually provides the school with the interest earnings for distribution to programs. A committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
designated by the Principal solicits and reviews proposals from faculty for new and innovative programs that benefit the educational experience of Hilo High School students.
To date, the Foundation has distributed a total of over $130,000 to Hilo High School. Its 2005 Financial Report place its assets at $724,063.44.
Class Mascot and Colors
- Class of 2014: Pink PanthersPink PanthersPink Panthers is the name given by Interpol to an international jewel thief network, named after The Pink Panther series of crime comedy films, which is responsible for some of the most audacious thefts in criminal history. They are responsible for what have been termed some of the most glamorous...
, Black and Pink - Class of 2013: Tigers, Black and Red
- Class of 2012: Dragons, Black and Silver
- Class of 2011: PhoenixPhoenix (mythology)The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
, Black and Green - Class of 2010: PanthersBlack pantherA black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
, Black and Gold - Class of 2009: Sharks, Black and Red
- Class of 2008: Tigers, Black and Silver
- Class of 2007: Dragons, Blue and Silver
- Class of 2005: Honu, Black and Green
- Class of 2004: Tigers
- Class of 2003: Dragons, Black and Red
- Class of 2002: Monkeys, Blue and Silver
- Class of 2001: ElmoElmoElmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash, uses falsetto to produce his voice...
, Black and White - Class of 2000: Honu
- Class of 1972: Super ChickenSuper ChickenSuper Chicken is a segment that ran on the animated television series George of the Jungle. It was produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who earlier had created the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons...
, Red, White and Blue
Alma mater
Miss Margaret Way's music class created the Hilo High Alma mater in 1926.- Beneath the tropic Skies of Hilo
- Stands dear old Hilo High School
- Dearer ever shall it grow
- With the spirit of Blue and Gold
- In our hearts we hold thee
- Alma Mater mine
- Loyalty and Honor
- Shall Forever be thine!
Commencement
Hilo High School's commencement exercises are normally held during the first week of June.Hilo High school has several commencement traditions that stretch back to the school's first graduation in 1909. The graduating class recites a variation of Gaudeamus Igitur with lyrics directly referencing Hilo High, and members of the Hilo High School Alumni Association pass out a lei
Lei
Lei may refer to:* Lei, the plural form of Leu, the name of two currencies. See Romanian leu and Moldovan leu* Lei , a Hawaiian flower necklace* Lei , a Chinese name* Lei, Italy, a town in Sardinia...
to every graduate. This latter tradition is attributed to the patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of the Tong family, who was among the school's first graduates and supposedly gave a lei to a fellow graduate who was without one during their commencement ceremony. The Tong family also awarded the school's Salutatorian
Salutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given, in the United States and Canada, to the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is traditionally based on grade point average and number of credits taken, but...
award and trophy with a cash prize until 2003, when the Salutatorian returned the cash prize out of respect for the family's disagreement with the school's current practice of awarding the Valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
distinction to more than one student. The Valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
trophy is maintained by the Hilo High School Foundation.
Now, with the introduction of AP
AP
A&P or AP or Ap or ap may refer to:-Education:* Advanced Placement, a program that offers college level courses at high schools across the United States and Canada* Ang Pamantasan, a Philippine university student publication...
classes to Hilo High, it is possible for more than one student to become a valedictorian within the same graduating class since AP classes allow the student to get over a 4.0. The current requirements for becoming a valedictorian include getting the distinguished BOE diploma as well as getting a weighted GPA of at least 4.0.
Clubs
Hilo High supports an array of clubs that promotes and supports the talents, knowledge, ambitions and abilities of the students. The clubs also train and prepare students for future professional careers, and allows the school and students to give back to the community through community service events.- Ambassadors
- Creative Factors
- DECADECA (organization)DECA, also known as Collegiate DECA on the college level) is an international association of students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service . DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing,...
- Key ClubKey ClubKey Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
- Leo Club
- Math LeagueMath LeagueMath League is a mathematics competition for elementary, middle, and high school students in the United States. The Math League was founded in 1977 by two high school mathematics teachers, Steven R. Conrad and Daniel Flegler. Math Leagues, Inc...
- Mock TrialMock trialA Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
- National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyThe National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
- Performing Arts Learning Center (PALC)
- Robotics
- SkillsUSASkillsUSASkillsUSA is a United States career and technical student organization serving more than 320,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations. Since 2010, SkillsUSA has had Thomas...
- United States Academic DecathlonUnited States Academic DecathlonThe United States Academic Decathlon is an annual high school academic competition organized by the non-profit United States Academic Decathlon Association. The competition consists of seven multiple choice tests, two performance events, and an essay...
Notable graduates
- Shigeo Yoshida, Educator and World War II Martial Government Ghost Writer and Activist
- James KealohaJames KealohaJames Kealoha, formally James Kimo Kealoha, and also known as Jimmy Kealoha , of Hilo, Hawaii was the first Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii in the administration of Governor of Hawaii William F. Quinn...
(1926), First lieutenant governor of Hawaii - Pat SaikiPat SaikiPatricia Fukuda "Pat" Saiki is an American politician and former school teacher from Hilo in the State of Hawai'i. She served as a Republican in Congress from 1987 to 1991 and then as Administrator of the Small Business Administration under President of the United States George H. W...
(1948), United States Congresswoman - Robert KiyosakiRobert KiyosakiRobert Toru Kiyosaki, born April 8, 1947) is an American investor, businessman, self-help author and motivational speaker. Kiyosaki is best known for his Rich Dad Poor Dad series of motivational books and other material published under the Rich Dad brand. He has written 15 books which have combined...
(1965), Author of Rich Dad, Poor DadRich Dad, Poor DadRich Dad Poor Dad is a book by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. It advocates financial independence through investing, real estate, owning businesses, and the use of finance protection tactics.... - Lois-Ann YamanakaLois-Ann YamanakaLois-Ann Yamanaka is a Japanese-American poet and novelist from Hawaii. Many of her critically acclaimed literary works are written in Hawaiian Pidgin, and some of her writing has dealt with controversial ethnic issues...
(1979), Author - BJ Penn (1995), MMA Fighter
- Malika Dudley (2000), Miss Hawaii 2005, Weather Anchor KGMB9 News