The Hawaii State Department of Education today announced the dates, times, and formats for public high school graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2021. Alternative ceremony formats will continue for a second year and limit guest access to comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.
“We are so proud of our Class of 2021 graduates for their scholarship, student leadership, and resilience during this very difficult COVID-19 period,” Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto said. “Our high schools across the islands have been working with graduates, parents, and families to plan the best possible celebrations while adhering to social distancing requirements and other health and safety guidelines. We thank our school communities and partners who have been working to make these events truly special.”
Schools are sharing logistics and safety details with parents and guardians. An overview of statewide commencement celebrations is below (as of today’s date). This list will continue to be updated on the Department’s website as more details become available. For more information, families are encouraged to contact their child’s school directly.
Big Island Hawaiʻi
Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pahoa Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Kaʻū High & Pahala ElementaryPrincipal: Sharon Beck Participating Seniors: 48 |
May 21 | School field | In-person with limited guests and vehicles |
Keaʻau HighPrincipal: Dean Cevallos Participating Seniors: 269 |
May 21 | School stadium | In-person with limited guests and vehicles |
Pahoa High & Inter.Principal: Darlene Bee Participating Seniors: 100 |
May 23 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup |
Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Hilo HighPrincipal: Jasmine Urasaki Participating Seniors: 265 |
May 21 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup with virtual ceremony to follow, one vehicle per graduate |
Waiākea HighPrincipal: Kelcy Koga Participating Seniors: 276 |
May 22 | School stadium (two ceremonies) | In-person with limited guests and vehicles |
Honokaʻa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Honokaʻa High & Inter.Principal: Rachelle Matsumura Participating Seniors: 130 |
May 22 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup with virtual ceremony |
Ke Kula ʻO ʻEhunuikaimalinoPrincipal: Keli‘ikanoe Mahi Participating Seniors: 9 |
May 21 | Konawaena High baseball field | In-person with limited guests, virtual ceremony |
Kealakehe HighPrincipal: Glenn Gray Participating Seniors: 300 |
May 28 | School football field | In-person with limited guests with vehicles |
Kohala HighPrincipal: Amy Stafford Participating Seniors: 55 |
May 22 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup with live coverage |
Konawaena HighPrincipal: Shawn Suzuki Participating Seniors: 180 |
May 22 | School football field | In-person with limited guests with vehicles |
Oʻahu
Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Kaimuki HighPrincipal: Jamie Dela Cruz Participating Seniors: 140 |
May 22 | School auditorium | In-person, single graduate at a time |
McKinley HighPrincipal: Ron Okamura Participating Seniors: 300 |
May 23 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup |
Roosevelt HighPrincipal: Sean Wong Participating Seniors: 280 |
May 21 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup |
Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Ānuenue SchoolPrincipal: Christopher Yim Participating Seniors: 23 |
May 22 | School campus | Drive-in |
Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Farrington HighPrincipal: Alfredo Carganilla Participating Seniors: 525 |
May 17 | Aloha Stadium | In-person with graduates and essential staff only inside stadium; limited guests and vehicles outside. |
Kaiser HighPrincipal: Justin Mew Participating Seniors: 300 |
May 22 | Aloha Stadium | In-person with graduates and essential staff only inside stadium; limited guests and vehicles outside. |
Kalani HighPrincipal: Mitchell Otani Participating Seniors: 300 |
May 25 | Hawaii Convention Center | In-person; graduates and essential staff only inside Convention Center |
Hawaii School for the Deaf & BlindPrincipal: Kinau Gardner Participating Seniors: 8 |
May 20 | School campus | In-person with limited guests and vehicles |
Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Leilehua HighPrincipal: Jason Nakamoto Participating Seniors: 375 |
May 21 | School stadium field | In-person with limited guests |
Mililani HighPrincipal: Frederick Murphy Participating Seniors: 600 |
May 16 | Aloha Stadium | In-person with limited guests and vehicles |
Waialua High & Inter.Principal: Christine Alexander Participating Seniors: 100 |
May 22 | School football field | In-person with limited guests |
Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Aiea HighPrincipal: David Tanuvasa Participating Seniors: 220 |
May 19 | Aloha Stadium | In-person with graduates and essential staff only inside stadium; limited guests and vehicles outside. |
Moanalua HighPrincipal: Robin Martin Participating Seniors: 430 |
May 21 | Aloha Stadium | In-person with graduates and essential staff only inside stadium; limited guests and vehicles outside. |
Radford HighPrincipal: James Sunday Participating Seniors: 260 |
May 21 | School gymnasium | In-person with limited guests on staggered schedule |
Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Pearl City HighPrincipal: Joseph Halfmann Participating Seniors: 380 |
May 15 | Aloha Stadium | In-person with graduates and essential staff only inside stadium; limited guests and vehicles outside. |
Waipahu HighPrincipal: Keith Hayashi Participating Seniors: 640 |
May 20 | Aloha Stadium | In-person with graduates and essential staff only inside stadium; limited guests and vehicles outside. |
Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Nānākuli High & Inter.Principal: Darin Pilialoha Participating Seniors: 155 |
May 29 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup |
Waiʻanae HighPrincipal: Disa Hauge Participating Seniors: 370 |
May 21 | School campus | In-person, student-only, with drive-through diploma pick-up the following day |
Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Campbell HighPrincipal: Jon Henry Lee Participating Seniors: 650 |
May 22 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup |
Kapolei HighPrincipal: Wesley Shinkawa Participating Seniors: 480 |
May 21 | School stadium | In-person, limited guests |
Castle-Kahuku Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Castle HighPrincipal: Bernadette Tyrell Participating Seniors: 408 |
May 22 | School campus (two ceremonies) | In-person, limited guests, live-streaming |
Kahuku High & Inter.Principal: Donna Lindsey Participating Seniors: 203 |
May 20 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup with live stream, one vehicle per graduate |
Kailua-Kalaheo Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Kailua HighPrincipal: Stacey Oshio Participating Seniors: 200 |
May 22 | School campus | Drive-through diploma pickup with virtual ceremony |
Kalāheo HighPrincipal: James Rippard Participating Seniors: 200 |
May 28 | School campus | In-person on staggered schedule |
Olomana SchoolPrincipal: John Secreto Participating Seniors: 10 |
May 21 | School field | In-person with limited guests |
Maui
Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Baldwin HighPrincipal: Keoni Wilhelm Participating Seniors: 290 |
May 21 | War Memorial Stadium | In-person with virtual ceremony |
Kekaulike HighPrincipal: Amy Strand Participating Seniors: 220 |
May 20 | School stadium | In-person with limited guests and vehicles |
Maui HighPrincipal: Jamie Yap Participating Seniors: 430 |
May 22 | War Memorial Stadium | In-person with graduates and essential staff only inside stadium; limited guests and vehicles outside. |
Lānaʻi
Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanai-Molokai Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Hāna High & ElementaryPrincipal: Christopher Sanita Participating Seniors: 28 |
May 22 | School campus | To be announced |
Lahainaluna HighPrincipal: Jeri Dean Participating Seniors: 216 |
May 23 | School stadium | In-person, more details to be announced |
Lāna‘i High & ElementaryPrincipal: Elton Kinoshita Participating Seniors: 40 |
May 22 | Palawai Field | To be announced |
Moloka‘i HighPrincipal: Katina Soares Participating Seniors: 66 |
May 22 | School football field | To be announced |
Kauaʻi
Kapaʻa-Kauai-Waimea Complex Area
| School | Date | Location | Details |
Kapaʻa HighPrincipal: Thomas “Tommy” John Cox Participating Seniors: 240 |
May 21 | School campus | Drive-in |
Kaua‘i HighPrincipal: Marlene Leary Participating Seniors: 290 |
May 21 | Vidinha Stadium | In-person with live stream |
Waimea HighPrincipal: Mahina Anguay Participating Seniors: 135 |
May 21 | School campus | In-person with limited guests and vehicles |