Boarding Aides Freshman Transition
Transitioning to Kamehameha is difficult for any student, let alone one who would have to travel a couple hundred miles from home.
Alexis Hilinaʻi Mahiai is a freshman from the island of Hawaiʻi and a boarder in Kapuāiwa Dormitory. As a border, she is held accountable to another set of rules and a completely different schedule from everyday school. This independent lifestyle is new to Hilinaʻi but she believes boarding has made her transition here a lot smoother.
“I think boarding is easier especially if youʻre a new invitee because you get to meet people before you go school.” She said.
Most of Kapuāiwa Dorm’s upperclassmen ‘adopt’ daughters from the freshman and sophomore classes to show them the ropes and teach them how to be successful in boarding. Every class also gets to know each other individualy because certain dorm activities are allotted by grade such as special events and celebrations.
Hilinaʻi said. “It also helps that we have fourteen girls in the freshman class [the largest in the dorm] so I know another thirteen people in school.”
Although she’s surrounded by many new faces Hilinaʻi said, “There’s a lot more people here and everyone’s really different which is hard but I know I am going to meet more amazing people.”
Aloha! My name is Emily Akau and I’m a senior this year. This is my first year in Ka Mōʻī but I am excited to expand my experience as a writer and delve into the world of journalism. I was born in Waimea, Hawaii and raised in Kawaihae under clear blue skies. On the weekends, I enjoy procrastinating with my friends at the beach and writing flash fiction about spooky Hawaiian stories and childhood dreams. If I had one wish in this life, I would wish for the chance to walk among the stars. I’m a total astrology geek and very allergic to ignorance or stupidity. My advice for anyone struggling with their identity is to try everything till something feels right.
