Four hundred forty-four seniors received their KS diplomas this evening at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

Graduation highlights included the speeches of  Shaylin Marn and  Atheena Arasoo.  Both received standing ovations from their peers.

Capturing the audience’s attention with a speech in the form of a “letter,” Marn took her classmates down memory lane, especially reminding the audience that they were the only class to go through middle school “entirely through portables.” Marn, who was on the Principal’s List (4.0 GPA or higher) and received an Academic Honors Diploma,  delivered the Salutatory speech.

Arasoo also captivated the audience with her “Go Big” theme, reminding her classmates and the audience about 2016’s “big” accomplishments, everything ranging from track and field to speech State titles.   The valedictory speech also encouraged classmates to “expand the definition of a Hawaiian.”  Like Marn, Arasoo graduated on the Principal’s List and received an Academic Honors Diploma.

Po’okula Earl Kim, who gave his resignation earlier in the year, also received a standing ovation from students and faculty after his emotional speech in which he stated,  “I am who I am today because I met you.”