Eye-Opening Homecoming for 25th Reunion Class

Six members of the silver anniversary class spent the better part of the day back on campus. Each of them shadowed a senior from the Class of 2012, sitting in on classes and spending time together during free periods.

It wasn’t a time for the young Raider to ask the old “Red Raider” questions about careers or college. It was quite the opposite, an opportunity for the 42-year-old to ask the teenager about what it’s like to go to the ‘Iolani School of today.

The Class of 1987 alums — Dean Nakagawa, Janelle (Rinnan) Saucedo, Corey Shibata, Daniel Shiu, Sandy (Plummer) Stroud and John Tamanaha — couldn’t have been more impressed by their alma mater and gracious Class of 2012 hosts — Stephen Jordan, Kienen Koga, Iris Kuo, Micah Lau, Darin Poei and Jen Rasay.

“The hospitality of the seniors was incredible,” Janelle (Rinnan) Saucedo said. “They really went out of their way to include us in their day.”

And what a day it was.

“The whole atmosphere at ‘Iolani is very positive, challenging and safe,” Dean Nakagawa said. “Besides the fact that the campus is a 21st century cutting-edge environment, the school is populated with so many good people. That’s what makes it such a special place.”

Corey Shibata was amazed by the energy on campus during the penultimate day of Homecoming, which meant a large majority of Upper School students were participating in the Thanksgiving themed “dress day,” while many others were preparing for the “Lip Sync Contest” assembly that wrapped up the day.

“The students were always on the go,” he said. “It was organized chaos and they all took it in stride. I was really impressed. The students are so well-rounded and really supported each other, even outside their own grade levels, and in and outside of class.”

Sandy (Plummer) Stroud was particularly impressed by ‘Iolani’s excellence in the arts.

“I’m awed by how collegiate the academics and arts are at ‘Iolani,” said the proud graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. “It’s a blessing to see ‘Iolani grow into an even greater powerhouse in personal performance, sports, arts and academia.”

Even for Saucedo, Daniel Shiu and John Tamanaha, who are not strangers to the ‘Iolani campus these days, the special visit was illuminating. In particular, the opportunity to sit in on Upper School classes was a mind-blowing experience.

“The quality and passion of the teachers is amazing,” said Shiu, who currently has a pair of sons in the Lower School (Dylan ’18 and Jordan ’20). “Many of the teachers I visited were teaching way back in 1987, yet they haven't lost their zest for teaching.

“It was such a wonderful opportunity to be able to reflect on my own educational experiences,” added Shiu, who served as senior class president back in 1986-87. “It reminded me of how much I learned at ‘Iolani.”

Whether it was reconnecting with history teacher Mr. William Milks ’90, who was a freshman known as “Woodie” back in the day, or experiencing eccentric calculus teacher Mr. Michael Park for the first time, the in-class experience was something to cherish.

“My memory isn’t so good these days, but I don’t recall practicing for a Kikaida flash mob before being excused from math class,” said Tamanaha, who has been the school’s Director of Interactive Media since January 2011. “And that’s besides the fact that the instructor was soaking wet and still had mashed potatoes on his face from a lunchtime eating contest.”

There was, however, one thing missing for Saucedo.

“It was interesting that I never managed to run into my own kids, no matter how hard they claimed to have looked for me,” she said, referring to her two daughters in the Upper School (Sunshine ’15 and Mahina ’17). Physically, the campus was considerably different back in 1987. Never mind the state-of-the-art Weinberg Building; a quarter-century ago, there wasn’t even a Nangaku Building. Nor was there any air conditioning in the Student Center or Lower Gym. There’s more room to swim in the pool and many more benches under the library. The list goes on and on.

“And now there’s parking and lots of it,” Saucedo exclaimed. “Wasn’t there tennis courts around there somewhere before?”

Besides the fact that the food in the cafeteria is much improved, Shibata noticed something else.

“The newest building in our time was the Castle Building, and even that got an extreme makeover.”

Of course, some things were exactly the same as they were back in the mid-1980s.

“I got busted by Ige Sensei for chewing gum,” Nakagawa said.

1. 

   S. Tu Ngonethong on 2/12/2012 at 1:31am

   Hi classmates,

   I am proud of all of you and I am looking forward to make it back from Laos to our 25th Reunion!

   Iolani no ka oi,
   S. Tu Ngonethong

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