‘Iolani School -- Celebrating our sesquicentennial!

‘Iolani School -- Celebrating our sesquicentennial!

Birthdays are a time for celebration and reflection. On Jan. 12, ‘Iolani School began its 150th year and is honoring its rich history with a yearlong celebration, "Inspired by Our Legacy, Committed to Our Future."

The cornerstone of the sesquicentennial is the construction of The Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership. A four-story, 40,000-square-foot facility in the center of campus, The Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership, will be completed in the fall of 2013. Its mission is to inspire and support student discovery, innovation and leadership.

Sesquicentennial activities include a speaker series, exhibits and class projects on campus, a gala event in the fall of 2013, and dozens of community service projects by students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends.

We also have commemorative ‘Iolani 150th Anniversary Celebration apparel designed by Reyn Spooner. The aloha shirt, along with other attire and bags, is available for purchase in the ‘Iolani Bookstore or online by clicking HERE.

In addition, we are collecting memories. Please feel free to share your favorite recollection from your ‘Iolani experience or tell us, in your own words, what you feel makes ‘Iolani special. Click HERE to do so.

There are many more events being planned. So please stay connected, get involved and give yourself a hand. ‘Iolani’s celebration is a credit to all of you who contribute and support the school in so many ways!
 

A TOUCH OF 'IOLANI -- 'UNFOLDING THE FUTURE: CELEBRATING 150 YEARS'

The 18th Annual A Touch of ‘Iolani "Unfolding the Future: Celebrating 150 Years" will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3. The event will open at 5 p.m., but the silent auction in the Student Center begins at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 3, 2013
4:30 p.m. -- Silent auction begins
5 p.m. -- Event opens

Ticket Prices
Early Bird Ticket (purchased by June 1)  $65
Regular Price Ticket (purchased after June 1)  $70
Alumni Class Discount Ticket (max. of two discounted tickets for alumni of classes ending in 3 or 8)  $65
Premium Table (10 seats)  $1,500

Tickets can be purchased beginning April 19 at the 'Iolani Fair, Advancement Office, or by phone. (A receipt will be given in lieu of a physical ticket.) In addition, you may click HERE for a ticket form. Tickets can be purchased online on this webpage beginning May 2013. Beginning in June, tickets will be mailed to those who purchase tickets at the Fair or online.
  • To purchase tickets at the Fair, visit the 'Iolani Alumni Association booth near home plate of the baseball field. (IAA booth hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Fair hours are noon to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.)
  • To purchase tickets at the Advancement Office, please visit M-F, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Please make checks payable to 'Iolani Alumni Association.
Mastercard, Visa and American Express are welcome.
Note: Tickets are not tax deductible. Tickets are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Children under 1 are free.
 
Donate to the Silent Auction
We'd love to showcase your business and generosity at our silent auction. Experiences, gift certificates, wines, artwork, and goods are welcome. Fax, email, mail, or walk-in a Touch donation form HERE.

 

Anniversary Celebration Highlights

Sixth graders interview alumni
"As the sixth graders are about to make a major transition of their own to the Upper School, we felt this fit right in with their experience," said Ms. Catherine Fuller '84, who led the project along with fellow sixth grade teacher Mr. Dean Yonamine...
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Fifth graders building Nu‘uanu campus
Under the guidance of Lower School mathematics teacher Mr. David Chun ‘80, computer teacher Mr. Dalton Sue and Information Technology Instructional Coordinator Mrs. Debbie Malilay Yoshino ’84, the fifth graders are studying archival photographs and...
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FAIR: 'Celebration of Generations'
The ‘Iolani Fair 2013 "Celebration of Generations" will take place on April 19 and 20. This year's theme pays tribute to ‘Iolani School's sesquicentennial.
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Evensong at St. Andrew's Cathedral
The service featured the Hōkūloa Singers and was officiated by The Rev. Daniel Leatherman, ‘Iolani Chaplain and Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Hawai‘i. Hymns and Psalms were sung by congregation.
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K-12 Easter Chapel Service
In honor of the 'Iolani's sesquicentennial, the 'Oli Aloha featured past and present kumu hula: Kaipo Kalua, Ed Collier, Lehua Carvalho and Sean Nakayama '93. Kalua, the founder of the 'Iolani dance program, currently resides in Texas.
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Second Graders celebrate sesquicentennial
The Class of 2023 performed its "Families are Forever -- Celebrating Our Heritage" show in St. Alban's Chapel. The second graders paid tribute to ‘Iolani's sesquicentennial, while maintaining the annual focus on the parents and grandparents.
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Speaker Series turns its attention to athletics
Carl Schroers, Wendell Look '78, Dominic Ahuna '93 and Allison Ishii '02 were featured at a Sesquicentennial Speaker Series luncheon on Wednesday at The Pacific Club. The discussion was moderated by Chris Shimabukuro '85.
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Second graders wonder about ‘Iolani's past
It began with a simple question: “What 'Iolani was like 150 years ago?” The Class of 2023 followed up by interviewing dozen of alumni, who told them tales of 'Iolani in their day.
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Remembering Mr. Hamada
When Eddie Hamada graduated from ‘Iolani in 1946, no one could have known that he would return to his alma mater to make a monumental impact on not only the athletic department, but on also the entire ‘Iolani and Hawai‘i communities as well.
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'One Team' lesson from one of Fr. Bray's 'boys'
Ray Wong '49, who played basketball for Fr. Kenneth Bray, visited with second graders to share how Fr. Bray's "boys" learned about the "One Team" spirit from the legendary coach.
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DID YOU KNOW?

NU‘UANU CAMPUS GATE:

The current Lower School autoline gate is the same wrought-iron gate that used to welcome students to ‘Iolani School's old Nu‘uanu campus (1928-53) at the corner of Nu‘uanu Avenue and Judd Street. In between its service on two ‘Iolani campuses, alumnus Grant Harrington '41 discovered the gate in use at a private home on Portlock Road. He convinced the owner to relinquish it and the gate was re-dedicated at its current La‘au Place location in 1991.
 

150 YEARS AGO:

Jan. 12, 1863, is considered the day the first school that can be linked to present-day ‘Iolani began classes, according to "A History of ‘Iolani School" by Ernest G. Villers. Situated at the corner of Nu‘uanu Avenue and Kukui Street, St. Alban’s College (pictured above) opened on that day. Its first term ran until March 28, 1863. Courses offered were Latin, Greek, Euclid, algebra and "the usual branches of an English education." All classes were taught in English "in order that there should be opened to (students) great stores of culture, and scientific knowledge, which will help free them from these horrible superstitions," Thomas Nettleship Staley was to recall. Prior to the arrival of Staley, a Cambridge educated teacher who was consecrated bishop of Honolulu in 1862, the schools for Hawaiians were conducted in the native language.

RELATED LINKS:

Five Years' Church Work in the Kingdom of Hawaii, By Thomas Nettleship Staley (pictured below)

Two sermons by Staley: "The Waiting Isles" (Wesminster Abbey, July 23, 1862) and "Inaugural Sermon" (Temporary Cathedral of Honolulu, October 18, 1862)