Kaiser HS eNotes
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COUGAR BAND STUDENTS TAKE THEIR TALENTS TO KAGOSHIMA!
Congratulations to Kaiser Band students Ryo Ooi, Kole Pureza and Lucas Magel who played marimba at the Sakurajima Community Festival in Japan last weekend. The trip was motivated by Ryo's previous performance of "Eruption of Sakurajima" at the Niu Valley's Music Olympics in 2024.
In addition to Ryo's encore of that piece, they performed three other pieces:
"Summer" – Ryo & Lucas
"Ashitaka and San" – Kole & Lucas
"Home by Sundown" – Ryo, Kole & Lucas
We're so proud of our talented Cougars who are sharing their musical abilities all the way to Kagoshima Japan!
FRESH-SOPH BANQUET ATTENDEE REMINDERS
Following are reminders for students who submitted forms and money to attend the dinner and dance on February 28, at the Japanese Cultural Center:
- Check-in will take place from 5:30 to 6:30pm.
- Students should be dropped off in front of the main entrance
- Parking is $8 with validation for students who drive and must be paid with a credit card.
- The event ends at 10:00pm, at which time students must exit the venue and be picked up in front of the main entrance.
- Attendees must present a valid photo ID at check-in.
- This is not a formal event; therefore, gowns, gloves, tuxedos, suits, etc. are not allowed. The dress code does not allow t-shirts, shorts, rubber slippers, backpacks, sunglasses, hats, exposed midriffs, see-through clothing, backs that are exposed below the waist, or any exposure of private areas.
- Only clutch-sized bags no larger than 5 inches by 7 inches are allowed. DO NOT bring bags larger than this.
- Only students with prior parent approval on permission forms will be allowed to leave up to one hour early.
Have a great time Cougars!
STUDENT QUALITY SURVEY FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Deadline to complete survey: March 12, 2026
Your feedback is invaluable and will help the Department of Education and school leadership assess and enhance the quality of education in our schools. Thank you for your time.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS INCLUSION BASKETBALL VS. ROOSEVELT
Friday, March 13th , 5:00pm at McKinley High School.
Come out and support our inclusion basketball team as they face Roosevelt. As an extra treat. stay until the end and listen to a free concert by The Vitals!
AUTOSTART HAWAII – AUTOMOTIVE CLASS FOR CLASS OF 2028
Ever wanted to get out of the classroom and under the hood of a car?
We have a unique opportunity for you to take an elective course next year that we don’t offer here on campus: AutoSTART Hawaii. This is a hands-on automotive program where you’ll work with real tools, visit professional repair shops, and learn the technology behind modern vehicles.
The Best Part: Your Schedule
Because this program takes place off-campus in the afternoons (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM), students who are accepted will have periods 4 and 8 as off-campus blocks to allow for travel and class time.
It’s a great way to get a head start on a career while experiencing a different style of learning during your junior year.
Quick Facts:
- What:A no-cost automotive foundations course.
- Where: Training takes place at Kaimuki High School and Honolulu Community College.
- The Perk:Earn high school elective credit, potentially math credit and an Automotive Industry Career-Readiness Certificate.
- The Schedule:Monday–Friday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Starting August 2026).
Next Steps:
To get started, you must follow these specific steps:
- Visit the program website at autostarthawaii.comand request an application directly through their site.
- Talk to us immediately. You must keep your grade level counselor or the CCRC updated on your application status. We need to review your credits to ensure you can afford to have periods 4 and 8 off-campus while still staying on track for graduation.
Ready to shift gears? See your grade-level counselor, Ms. Ishii, and/or the CCRC in H101 to talk about how to make this fit into your junior year schedule!
ATTENTION CURRENT SENIORS IN THE CTE PROGRAM!
If you have previously participated in the CTE Honors Performance Based Assessment, make sure to double check with your pathway teacher or Ms. Tran in F101 to make sure that you will obtain your CTE Honors Certificate upon graduation.
CASTING CALL FOR TEENS 17 – 28 YEARS OF AGE - NEW SERIES FILMED IN HAWAII
A new O’ahu set teen drama series is now casting in Hawai’i. Based off the popular Norwegian show SKAM, it’s all about growing up in Hawai’i. contact Akemi Bischoff at [email protected] . Production time May – August 2026.
CLASS OF 2026 RAISING CANE FUNDRAISER, MARCH 14TH ALL DAY
Support the Class of 2026 by dining at Raising Cane’s!
GRADUATION INFORMATION NIGHT SLIDE DECK
For those who may have missed the Families Graduation Information night this past Tuesday, please go to: Graduation Information to view the slide deck.
ALOHA IN ACTION, APRIL 11TH
We're excited to announce the third annual Aloha in Action community-wide service event for our Kaiser community is on April 11th! From 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM, all the schools in our community are partnering with different non-profit organizations. This year, Kaiser High is partnering up with the Nation of Hawaii in Waimānalo to help restore ancient lo'i atop our watershed. Please read up on this incredible place here: https://www.nationofhawaii.org/
Cougars and community, please sign up here: Kaiser Aloha In Action
EARTH FEST IS COMING APRIL 17TH. SAVE THE DATE!
Earth Fest is coming back to campus this April! Join us on April 17th, 2026 on the great lawn for an evening of fun. We will be hosting vendors, food trucks, educators, and craft booths. Keep your eyes on this post as we will keep you updated with all the exciting festivities to come!
CLASS OF 2028 IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME AND IB CAREER-RELATED PROGRAMME
Due to continued interest in these two programs, Kaiser will accept applications from current sophomores for our IB DP and IB CP through the end of March, 2026.
IB DP APPLICATION
IB CP APPLICATION
Contact the following for further information:
IB Diploma Programme: Visit kaiseribdp.org and contact Brad Bogard, IB DP Coordinator, at [email protected]
IB Career-related Programme: Visit kaiseribcp.weebly.com and contact Candace Sandstrom, IB CP Coordinator, at [email protected]
IB DP & CP Informational Night Video
For those who missed the IB DP & CP informational night, here is the recording of the event: Recording of the IB Informational Night
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FRIENDS OF KAISER PTSA
FRIENDS OF KAISER PTSA NEXT MEETING:
March 4, 2026, at 6:30PM
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82386328375?pwd=62suLxnfRm9XXh17jLx0l6O2euoMI5.1
Meeting ID: 823 8632 8375
Passcode: 798383
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CAREER & COLLEGE RESOURCE CENTER
Go to Career & College for events, college visits and more!
CONVENTION FOR FUTURE MEDICAL LEADERS
February 28, 2029 @ Hawaii Baptist Academy, 10:00am – 5:45pm
Interested in learning more about careers in the health field? If so, consider attending this free, full-day convention held at Hawaii Baptist Academy on Saturday, February 28th.
Click HERE to register. The deadline to register is February 20, but spaces are filling up fast. See attached for the flyer, agenda and for more information about this event.
KAIMANA SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Deadline to apply Friday, February 27, 2026 at 4:00pm
Just a quick reminder that the HMSA Kaimana Scholarship Program is still accepting applications! We’re excited to celebrate the 21st anniversary of this program and honor outstanding high school seniors for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. 15 scholarships are being awarded at $5,000.00 each, to help students pay for higher education, including tuition, books, computers, and room and board.
Eligible students must:
*Graduate from a Hawaii high school in 2026 with a GPA of 2.75 or higher (verified by a transcript submitted by a school faculty member).
*Have participated in at least one athletic sport during high school that included competition as an individual or as part of a team. Participation could include school sports or club sports.
*Be involved in community service and school activities.
*Provide two letters of recommendation from school faculty, mentors, or coaches that detail your dedication and determination, academic performance, and personal character.
*Write a personal statement and essay.
Applications will be accepted online only at hmsa.com/Kaimana. Direct link to the student application. Completed applications & all required elements must be received through the online application by 4 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2026.
Feel free to share these details with students, faculty, and your community contacts who could benefit from this information. Thank you for working with us to recognize the hard work of the students, faculty, and administrators to improve the health and well-being of our communities.
Please email [email protected] or call Jenna Akiona at 808-948-7503 if you have any questions, or visithmsa.com/Kaimana for more information.
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OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTESTS
SUMMIT EDUCATION: 2026 SUMMER PROGRAMS IN STEM AND RESEARCH
Summit Education organizes virtual summer programs for high-achieving students. In 2026, students have the opportunity to apply to the following programs:
*Summit STEM Fellowship (SSF): SSF empowers the next generation of STEM leaders by helping students explore a wide range of STEM fields and career pathways while building leadership and life skills. The program requires a flexible 10–15 hours per week, allowing students to attend alongside other summer commitments.
*Summit Research Scholars (SRS): SRS equips students with the tools to conduct original research, covering essential research methods and technical skills. At the end of the program, students complete a Research Capstone and practice applying their skills to solve real-world problems.
Applications for Summer 2026 programs are now open. Admissions are rolling, and students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For more information, please visit www.summiteducation.org.
Last year over 4,500 students applied to this program from over 100+ countries. They accepted 900 students from 50 countries.
HAWAII INSTITUTE OF MARINE BIOLOGY REMS PROGRAM
Applications are now open for current Juniors and Seniors
HIMB REMS (Research Experiences in Marine Science) is an advanced, inquiry-driven, and experiential marine biology early-college course that builds science and natural resource literacy skills for Hawai‘i high school students and recent graduates. The goal of the program is to provide students with the foundation to be successful members of rapidly growing science and technology career fields through an authentic undergraduate research experience that strengthens skills, builds confidence, and fosters professional networking.
The course will be located at Moku o Lo‘e (Coconut Island) in Kāne‘ohe Bay and utilize the expertise of HIMB researchers whose specialties include world-renowned marine science research technologies and knowledge as well as evidence-backed teaching and training practices for young scientists.
Complete this form to receive more information: HIMS REMS summer program
OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR INTERNSHIP
Summer 2026 - Open to all high school students
Deadline to apply, April 15, 2026 at 11:59pm
This in-person, five-week summer internship is designed to provide Hawaiʻi high school
students with meaningful exposure to state government, civic leadership, and public
service. Interns will work directly with the staff in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at
the State Capitol, gaining hands-on experience in research, communication, teamwork,
and professional conduct, while learning how state government serves the people of
Hawaiʻi.
Information and applications for this program can be found at:
https://ltgov.hawaii.gov/internship/.
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KAISER COUGAR ATHLETICS
STUDENT AND PARENT PARTICIPATION FILLABLE FORM
For Upcoming Games Go to Event Calendar
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KAISER COMPLEX AND COMMUNITY
MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT FAIR VENDOR CALL
In collaboration with the Kaiser High School foundation, the Hawaii Recreation and Parks Society’s Mother’s Day Craft Fair is back for the 2nd year. For more information and to register, please go to Mother’s Day Craft Fair.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Mahalo,
Ann Olson
ʻOhana Engagement Liaison
Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Hawaii State Department of Education (Department) and its schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion. This requirement extends to all of the Department’s programs and activities, including employment and admissions as applicable. Please direct inquiries regarding the Department nondiscrimination policies and/or complaints of prohibited conduct to the Civil Rights Compliance Branch as follows:
Civil Rights Compliance Branch
Hawaii State Department of Education
P.O. Box 2360
Honolulu, Hawaii 96804
(808) 784-6325 or relay
[email protected]
Beth Schimmelfennig, Director
Rhonda Wong, Civil Rights Compliance Administrator
Krysti Sukita, ADA/504
Anna Tsang, Title VI
Alphonso Braggs – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Blue Kaanehe, Title VII
Nicole Isa-Iijima, Title IX
Dana Takahara-Dias, Title IX – Gender Equity in Athletics
The Department’s non-discrimination policies and grievance procedures may be located at:
https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/Organization/Offices/Pages/CRCO.aspx
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