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Every Jr. Bow voice counts. Every one of you is an important part of our history.
Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com . Mahalo.
1950s
Strong Values
Remembering the solid foundation education UH High School provided me, with strong values in dealing with life: use of common sense, work ethic, independent thinking out of the box; moral values and respect for others. This all strengthed my career in the U.S. Army as a GS 13 Management Analyst, and other venues. A great school with good experimental curriculum and a great ethnic mix of students.
- Cozy classrooms in the two old buildings since torn down
- Several UH student teachers in each classroom which helped in answering questions & clarifying instructions
- The gym where the band practiced and basketball team practiced
- The cafeteria where each of us did kp work — good food!!!!
- Constructive guidance provided by UHS staff and teachers
- The spirit of good fellowship prevalent amongst all present
We respected each other and were taught how to think & rationalize. I have fond memories of UHS where I learned a lot toward maturity in a harmonious environment.
At 89 I don’t drive too much anymore but live a healthy life.
— George Cooke ’53
Such Good Memories
Cafeteria! Working with, teasing, and learning from, Miss Kunioka. Best of all: when the schedule came out, getting with your best buds in the other classes, and working trades with classmates so the four of you could be together that day. Fun to work with them, and especially fun ‘cuz you knew those best buds were really good workers, so the work would be done in time for a good game of Hearts. My sophomore year, Martha Marvin, Willy Stanton, and wish I could remember the freshman’s name. Junior year, Amy Lau, Donald Hosaka (and some freshman). Senior year, Hosaka and ?? Speaking of card playing, hotly contested Spades during lunch when it rained. (Volley ball when dry, and at recess.) I was privileged to talk to Miss K on the phone a few days before she died; she was an amazing lady.
Charring the ceiling in chemistry with sodium and water.
The tiny gym (another name I’m not remembering), and the dodge ball games. (I don’t think they let kids do that anymore.) And the challenge for we basketball players to adapt to a full sized court when the season began. (We tied for the regular season championship my senior year, and lost to Maryknoll 2 out of 3 in the play-off. We lost one game during the season when I was sick and couldn’t play; always thought if I’d been there we’d have avoided a playoff.) More basketball memories: 1950-51 season we had the two best players in the league, by far – maybe even in the city senior league — Leonard Fernandez and Frankie Schwinn, but didn’t win the championship cuz we had a terrible coach. He was a swimmer, had never played basketball, and he got rid of the assistant coach, an ex U of H star, because of his ego; never taught us anything. Sad. Next year Coach Himeno, better. ‘52-53 Tommy Kalakakui – better still. (He was the older brother of Sol, who had been the U of H quarterback, and described by the University of Maryland’s football team, who I think ended first in the nation the year they came to Hawaii, as the best quarterback they’d played. Tommy got Sol to come and give advice to our pick-up tackle football team when we challenged a couple of other schools. Those games were fun – played without pads or helmets, it’s probably a miracle we all survived.) Tommy wangled us a pre-season trip to Maui during Christmas break, to play both their school senior teams; beat Lahainaluna, lost next night to Maui High (they were fresh, we were tired, partly ‘cuz of the last night’s game, and partly ‘cuz after that game we’d accepted an invite to see Haleakala, so we didn’t get a lot of sleep); we still managed to make a good game of it. And the school dance afterward, sort of in our honor.
Student government. some good things. Spring of ‘50 or Fall of ‘51 at Principal Martin’s request, considered a dress code, and adopted one . . . so I had to quit coming to school in Zoris. (Wonder if they’re still called that in Hawaii.) Putting out the newspaper. Writing what went under the pics of our graduating class in the yearbook. Student teachers, who were there because they really wanted to teach, and high quality supervising teachers who took real interest in us.
And caring for each other. Good memories.
— Joe Smith ‘53
Lucky
I attended UH Lab school from 7-9 grade and then went on to graduate from Punahou. I remember playing marbles in the front of the classrooms. I went on to major in Home Economics at Oregon State University and taught Tailoring, Advanced Clothing, and Foods at Del Mar High School in the Campbell Union High School District in San Jose. At that time it was the largest high school district in California with new schools that kept opening for years.
I married Ralph Bunje, a UCLA California boy, and we live in the same house in Foster City. We have two children and 3 grandchildren. Our son and his son live in the Bay Area, and our daughter and her two children live on the Gold Coast in Australia.
We still have ties to Oahu as my sister lives there, and we have a beach house in Punaluu. How lucky we were to have grown up there.
— Sarah Cooper Bunje ’57
A Carefree Time
Once upon a time, long ago – 1942, to be exact – I began my school days at what was then called “Teachers College”. By the time I was in 3rd grade, I found that there was not yet a “high school”, i.e., no 10th through 12th grade, ’cause my older brother (8 years older), had to go to Roosevelt to complete his high school education. I believe the first UHS graduating class was in 1951. Because we were still growing into a full-fledged high school, I remember several classes were conducted in quonset huts, erected to handle the growing enrollment.
I remember looking out the window and watching the UH ROTC drilling on the grounds (I would later do the same). I remember the excitement shared with classmates watching an eclipse of the sun (we were quite young then). I remember participating in so many activities as a junior that my grades suffered. I remember with great fondness, working in the cafeteria under the direction of Miss Kunioka, who remembered everyone who ever helped in the “kitchen”, including we three – brothers James, Joseph (’58) and John (’63). I almost always went home with “tin cans” for Mom’s plants and leftovers (loved that Spanish Rice!) for supper.
I remember we weren’t always that nice to the student teachers, some of whom probably decided teaching was not for them. I remember being a terrible swimming student (yet later became a Red Cross certified instructor in “Helicopter Ditching and Water Survival” in New Orleans). I remember band concerts and competitions – one at Punahou sticks in my memory. I remember coming out for football practice, for a team that never was. I remember proms held at Waikiki hotels, bus rides to Hanauma Bay and Camp Erdman (oh, those mosquitoes really got me!), and taking pictures all over the school as a photographer. Many many memories of a time that, looking back, was probably the most carefree of my life. I still get together and communicate with classmates to this day.
— Joseph “Kila” Chong ’58
Barefooted
I started “Lab” School in 1946, preschool (I guess it was called kindergarten?). Miss Snow was our instructor. Before class we had to be inspected – mouth and hands – by a nurse. In our preschool photo the entire class is barefooted and the girls all in dresses.
I am in contact with Joseph Kila Chong, Howard Wiig, and Caitilin Herrick Embree of the Class of 1958.
Dai Ho Chun, Ph.D. was the high school principal. He would regale us with stories about growing up in Waipio Valley, Hawaii.
I correspond with Dennis Hirota ( PhD who, I believe it was in 7th grade, transferred to Punahou). It appears if students left the “Lab” School most transferred to Punahou or went to the mainland — fathers were visiting professors at UH or in the military.
Tina Fong, Class of 1975, remembered Miss Kunioka. Classmates of 1958 also remembered her too – an iconic legend.
— Charlotte Katsunuma Larson ’58
A Seismic Shift
Until the beginning of my junior year, my buddies and I were primarily interested in hot rods and hot women (in imagination only). A miracle occurred when our history teacher turned out to have a hot car too. He brought it onto campus, lifted the hood and showed us other hot features. He appreciated our initiative in building our cars.
Suddenly I had a teacher I could relate to! History became interesting, and the satisfaction of ‘A’s spread to my actually applying myself and getting ‘A’s in most courses. Those ‘A’s helped me get into the revered University of California system and graduate from Cal in an honors course.
The intellectual intensity and political activism at Cal converted me from a laid-back local kid to activism and intellectual pursuits that carried me to an environmental activist job which has reduced and continues to reduce the state’s energy expenditures by tens of millions of dollars—and keeps me on the job and out of the rocking chair.
Thanks teacher with the hot car for creating a seismic shift in my life!
— Howard C. Wiig ’58
Twelve Good Years
The second story is from my senior year as well and it started with an English class assignment writing a short story using “Pigeon English”. For some reason I was most enthusiastic about this assignment and ended up writing “Girls Are They Worth It?”. So, Mr. Harstad our English teacher was quite impressed and submitted “Girls Are They Worth It?” to Bamboo Ridge which was a Local publication, and they accepted it and used it in their magazine. As a result, Mr. Harstad had set up a reading with college students from the UH at the UH. The reading was for an auditorium of students, and I had to get up on stage, stand behind a podium and read my story to them. Something I was not at all comfortable with. A quarter into the story I lose my place from where I was reading, and I basically had to ad lib the remainder of the story which took quite a while and I’m pretty sure it was quite different from the original printed version.
Out of the attic over the stage falls one of my classmates (I prefer not to mention any names) onto the stage! She must have stepped on some drywall up there and down she fell onto the stage. Stood up and walked off the stage like it was nothing. I was in disbelief that she didn’t get hurt and for whatever reason this memory has stuck with me all these years
I was fortunate to be enrolled in the lab school from grades 1 through 12. As the years slip by my appreciation for this ethnically mixed learning environment grows in multiples. Among my many memories are the following:
- Moving from the “lower” to the “upper” campus at the start of second grade, feeling grown-up and encountering Miss Shizumi Kunioka.
- Wearing brand new shoes to school to celebrate the beginning of second grade against the wishes of my mom. And, she was right! Eric Nishimoto, for whatever reason, spilled chocolate milk on my black patent leather shoes with its gross-grained ribbon bows. I clearly remember feeling upset, not so much with Eric (to this day we continue to “talk story” via the Internet) but how I would explain the “accident” to my parents.
- Miss Calabres, from New York, who served as “supervisor” of our fourth grade class walked briskly and in her high heels you knew when she was coming! Our class project was planning a trip to Africa. Classmates were assigned to various committees; three of us worked on transportation. I clearly remember looking up the telephone number of Pan American Airways in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory, and then calling for an appointment. I think it was my dad who picked us up from school and drove us to the Pan Am building but he was told not to accompany us to the meeting. In sum, our class was invited to board a Pan Am plane at Honolulu Airport. The uniformed pilot and cabin attendants explained long distance flying and related matters but what we enjoyed the most was being served cake, cookies and juice on board.
At the end of the school year and prior to Miss Calabres’ return to New York, Roberta Choy’s parents invited the whole class to their home for a farewell Chinese lunch prepared by Roberta’s mom. I can still visualize card tables covered with white table cloths, and remember enjoying an ono lunch and having a good time!
- Fifth and six grades zipped by under the tutelage of Sarah Yang who kept us busy with numerous learning challenges from memorizing the Preamble to the Constitution (or was it the Bill of Rights?) to learning how to make kimchee.
- Seventh and eighth grades? I am grateful for the one-term long, daily typing class which allows me to touch type to this day. I remember student teacher Joshua Agsalud – so good looking and smart!
- Ninth through twelfth grades flew by. Speech class taught by Maggie Inouye was invaluable in passing the required UH speech requirement and becoming confident in public speaking throughout my working life. Shiro Amioka was a strict and demanding supervisor for which I continue to be grateful. There was no advanced placement program back then, but some of us were allowed to walk across the street to the UH campus where I chose a directed reading course with a professor of psychology (soon after my college major).
Above all, Miss Shizumi Kunioka was the red string that tied everything together for me—learning and living strong values. This is the 52nd consecutive year of living outside the U.S. With the exception of a 5-year stint in London, I have continued to live in Japan. Despite the more than half-century long physical distance from Hawaii, my best friends continue to be lab school ohana, including three from first grade.
Aloha and mahalo!
— Ellen (Kojima) Mashiko ’59
1960s
Add your voice
Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com
Notable Contributions
I enjoyed being a University High School student for the following reasons:
In the 1960s the school student body was based on the percentage of the ethnic make-up of Hawaii, which exposed students to Hawaii’s multi-cultures and people.
Every semester, we were taught by ne UH College of Education student teachers, who tried out new teaching techniques. We learned to adjust and be flexible and creative thinkers.
Because University High School was a college preparatory school, students need to be highly motivated and achievement oriented. Most of my classmates were college graduates who had successful careers and notable contributions.
In a small school like University High School everyone gets to know almost everyone in the student body like a close-knit family. Some student contacts became lifelong friends and others were helpful in business and the real world.
— Donald Lau ’60
Dreams and a Winning Design
I spent happy afternoons browsing the periodicals in the airy UHS library on the mauka side of Wist Hall – magazines like Downbeat (a jazz periodical) and Flying which fulfilled my fantasies both of starting a jazz combo and of piloting my own Cessna. I did neither.
In the late 1950s the high school library held a contest to design a library bookplate. My design won – a 3 x 5 linoleum print of a bamboo stalk with UHS running vertically down the stalk. Green ink on white. Does anyone remember it?
— Nicholas Hormann ’62
From Mumps to Momotaro
Preschool:
- Started when I was 2 1/2.
- We lined up every morning for the health nurse to check us out for mumps, ukus etc.
- Preschool was great. There was a good sized sand box in the play area. Playing cowboys was the thing to do . . . Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Wild Bill Hickock were all on radio and soon to be on tv. We wore bandanas. So cool.
- Met a friend, Dennis Sugihara. We played together all the time.
- We would build stuff using large blocks and pieces resembling large Lincoln Logs. Once, we built a “truck” and Spencer Tinker, son of the head of the aquarium, donated a steering wheel with column.
- There was a fairly large tree in the corner and the teachers had attached a rope ladder to it. One afternoon, I climbed the ladder, crawled onto the branch and was just shimmying along when I lost my balance and was hanging on to the branch until I couldn’t. No blood, no foul.
- The best part of the day was when the cafeteria folks would wheel in the lunch on little carts. The smell was always sooooo good.
- We would be able to borrow books in a large manilla envelope with the closure clips. Every kid had their own envelope. I had a mom and brother that would read to me, so I borrowed books all the time. One of my favorites was Dr. Seuss’ To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street.
First grade:
- There was a fountain in the middle of the quadrangle and a couple of times a year, they would fill it with water and let us play in the water.
- There was a big tree that had these pods hanging from it and in the pods were these pellet looking seeds which we used to use to pelt people with . . . the pellets smelled bad.
- In “show and tell”, Bobby Medeiros shared an enema bag . . . that was an interesting trio . . . Bobby Medeiros, Patrick Monahan and Brett McElrath. Bobby didn’t make it past 1st grade.
- While the boys had Bobby Medeiros, the girls had Ingrid Goto. Ingrid didn’t make it through 6th grade.
- One day, the excursion was to the UH Dairy. We were required to wear shoes, whereas most of the time, we were barefoot. Dennis forgot and they wrapped his feet with paper bags so he could go. The bags didn’t hold up.
- The milk at lunchtime was from the UH Dairy. They had their own bottles and milk covers. During the POG craze, UH milk covers were going for $30 apiece. I still have a few.
Elementary School:
- Guys wore blue jeans and if your parents had money, you had the matching denim jacket.
- Every grade level had 2 classes. For 4th grade, for the very first time, there was a male supervisor and a male practice teacher.
- It wasn’t uncommon to have some of the wealthier students leave to attend other schools like Punahou. Every year, a couple of students would leave and there would be a couple of new ones coming in.
- From preschool on, there was always an hour set aside after lunch for a nap. Everyone had their own sleeping bag.
- There was also “juice time”. As 5th graders, we would go to the little kitchen area and pour juice in cups and take them back to class in trays.
- In 6th grade, the days were longer. Probably to prepare us for Intermediate school. Instead of ending at 2:00, we now ended at 3:00.
- Each 6th grade class put out a “newspaper”. One was called the “Green and White Star” and the other was called “ Little Peepers”. Elementary School Students would submit a short story, poem etc. and if it was decent, it would be printed in the newspaper.
- Our class raised money by selling honey and home made kim chee. The money was used for a bus trip to the leeward side and a visit to Nanaikapono Elementary in Nanakuli. Those students, in turn, visited our class later in the year.
Intermediate School
- All of a sudden, instead of 2 classes, we expanded to 3 classes for 7th grade. Like us, they came from all over: Kalihi, Kaneohe, Aina Haina but many were from the Manoa area.
- Each class had their own camp at Camp Erdman. Fun times!
- We also started to have dances called “socials” as well as being able to attend the less formal, “canteens”.
- Wide bottom corduroy pants, saddle shoe oxfords and cosmetique were part of most guys’ wardrobe.
- Catching the bus was the way home. We would walk or catch the Woodlawn down to King Street, transfer to the Waialae bus going East and for a few of us, transfer to the little Maunalani bus up the hill. Many of the busses were still the trolly style which ran on the overhead electrical wires. Often at the intersection by the Humane Society, the bus driver would have to get off the bus to get the bus back onto the correct wire. The bus was still owned by the Winebergs and called the Honolulu Rapid Transit.
- While they were building the new showers next to the old “barn”, we had PE across the street, in an old wooden gym, just mauka of Bachman Hall. It was so old, it didn’t even have a name. The gym needed repairs and was the predecessor of Klum Gym. When it rained, we had to take laps around puddles of water. The PE supervisor, Henry Tominaga, caught a friend of mine peeping through a small hole at the bottom of the showers that adjoined the girls’ shower. Rumor has it that you could only see feet, but nonetheless, my friend got a boot from Mr. Tominaga and was still running laps as we were off to our next class.
Miss Kunioka:
- 6th grade was also when we started to work in the cafeteria. As with all rookies, we had the least favorite job of washing out the slop cans.
- As we got older, we graduated to the more glamours jobs of buttering the bread, drying the trays and eventually, washing them.
- I remember during senior year, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving . . . I had completed a written assignment for American Problems but unfortunately, the paper that was due that day was for English. I had not typed the paper yet and was a tad concerned BUT that was Turkey day and I was not going to miss that!! Those days, we could actually order 2 meals, which is what I did and enjoyed every bit of it. After lunch, I jumped into my car, drove home, typed my paper as quickly as I could and dropped it into the teacher’s slot in the office and was just a little late for Speech class. The teacher never asked me why I was late. The English teacher gave me a B+ because of all the typos but it was worth it as I was able to enjoy Miss Kunioka’s Thanksgiving turkey lunch!!
- I remember she served sandwiches and soup on those stormy days.
- My favorites besides the turkey lunch were the Spaghetti, Spanish rice, and Tuna Macaroni.
- I remember she packed some Spaghetti or Spanish rice in a Love’s brown bread wrapper and gave it to me to take home . . .
- One of my most favorite memories was her retirement celebration on the Elementary School field. We thought it was most disrespectful when the underclassmen referred to you as “Kuni”. As everyone went through the reception line, when I finally got to the front, I remember you turning to your sister and telling her that “this is John and he has 2 brothers, James and Joseph”. What was remarkable was that it was probably 20 years since we graduated and we had not been back. How she could remember everyone’s names and faces was just awesome!
Social Clubs:
- In those good old days, there were social clubs . . . lots of them. Some affiliated with the YMCA i.e. Hi-Y, Tri-Hi-Y, Y-Teens and some with YBA, YWCA etc. We belonged to a club named the Destiny’s Hi-Y, affiliated with the Central YMCA. One of the most memorable projects we did was entering the Cherry Blossom Parade. We built a float with the Momotaro theme. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun as well. In our senior year, we took Club of the Year.
— John Chong ’63
Shirt Tails and Wil Kyselka
I remember an issue when the then principal thought male students should tuck in their shirt tails. It became a real issue and our teacher supporter was Wil Kyselka. There were a number of incidents where students were told to tuck their shirts in. We protested and everyone left their shirt tails out. We even wore extra long tails. Finally, the resolution was that shirt tails longer than 8 inches had to be tucked in. That meant that no aloha shirts needed to be tucked in and most dress shirts had tails that were not that long. So, it was a victory of sorts.
— Bill Emery ’64
Proud To Have Been A Part
I have so many memories of school. I started attending UH Lab in preschool. After a sick day off, we had to line up to have our temperature taken by the school nurse in the morning. One day, I handed her my “sick” excuse only to find out it was my bus transfer ticket! I must have given the bus driver the wrong piece of paper!
We had “water splash” days in the cement wading pool in our preschool yard!
Once a year, the school nurse would take our height and weight and test our vision (and probably hearing too).
All of the students got the new polio vaccine in a sugar cube!
In elementary school, we recited the pledge of allegiance and sang patriotic songs like, “America the Beautiful” every morning!
I can remember reading through the elementary library’s entire collection of Caldecott and Newberry books!
So sad that I wasn’t one of the 6th grade JPO’s (Junior police officer) who guarded the crosswalk on Metcalf before and after school!
There was the President’s Physical Fitness test that we endured. We all ran around the empty lot (where the MPB would be built), threw baseballs, (I was a flub), did timed sit-ups and had our overhead bar “hang-time” measured among other fitness tests.
Seems we were often tested, measured, etc. We had our teeth cleaned periodically by aspiring UH dental hygienists. I think I had a hearing test in a soundproof room at UH too!
One study that continued intermittently for the past 60+ years was from the Oregon Research Institute and was called the Lifestyle, Culture and Health Study. They conducted in-person visits, phone interviews, online surveys etc. to evaluate how well I was doing as I aged. My last phone interview was in 2022 and I was given strings of numbers to repeat and re-arrange, lists of objects to remember, among other questions assessing my cognitive functioning, physical health and lifestyle behaviors. Unfortunately, the study has run out of funding and will be concluded in 2023.
In 7th grade, we had to choose between band or orchestra for music. As part of the junior UH orchestra, we sometimes participated in performances with the UH Manoa symphony orchestra. I was probably the worst player. In the last chair, last row and couldn’t play some of the fast parts even in my dreams, but it was fun being a part of it all!
We learned ballroom dancing in “The Barn.” Had bowling classes at Varsity Bowl. Swim and diving practice at the quarry pool across the street on the UH campus. We wore button down white shirts and green shorts for our PE uniforms. I remember a shirt button getting caught and popping off in trampoline class! How about the gang showers after PE class! I was mortified most of the time!
High school brought mixed classes with upper classmen! Special days of cafeteria duty with Miss Kunioka! Industrial Arts where I had to endlessly pound a copper disk to make a copper bowl. Made a pretty enameled pin to take home to my mom. Home Economics saw me taking stitches out of my failed skirt and baking yummy cookies for a tea party. I remember loving the typewriter class and getting silver nitrate spots on my clothes from working in the darkroom.
I didn’t have much cash for treats but sometimes I would wander down to College Inn on the corner of Dole and University to speculate what I could afford to buy.
One school tradition that stopped was the All-School Picnic at Ala Moana Park. Fun team relay games with all class levels involved. Games included balloon toss and wrap the mummy with TP. I was having a grand time until I noticed some older girls huddled together quietly crying. Turns out JFK had been shot earlier that day in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
I graduated in hat and gown at the Andrews Amphitheater and closed a big chapter in my life as I left UHS Lab School for the last time. I’m sure my memories are muddled and not quite accurate anymore, but I’m so proud to have been a part of the Lab School. Thank you to all the educators, classmates and others who helped support my journey through school.
— Jackie “Liu” Chun ‘68
Becoming a Teacher
There are so many positive memories about being a Junior Rainbow! Chief among them are our excellent and inspirational teachers and mentors. They demonstrated kindness and caring every day as they led by example. Their enthusiasm encouraged us to create higher goals and dreams!
To name just a few of these heroes: Mrs. Nakamura, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Conrad, Mrs. Krause, Mrs. Sakamaki, Mr. Kyselka, Madame Hamster, Ms. Kaina, Coach Sakamoto, Ms. Kunioka.
Due to their inspiration, I also became a teacher. I hope I was half as effective and wonderful as they were!
Because of our powerful mentors, many of my classmates and friends became such amazing adults!
— Diane Chinen ’69
Public Service
I remember we talked a lot about service at UHS. I was in the Peace Corps in 1976-1978. I taught English as a Second Language. My first year was in Jinju, west of Pusan. I taught in a girls middle school. I made friends with two teachers and walked about three miles daily to take brush painting classes. The second year I got transferred to Seoul and taught in a university. I had silent days where I would join young women at the department store and ate dok. It was one of the greatest experiences ever.
— Cammie Matsumoto ’69
Leonard
I was surprised to hear of Leonard’s passing. Leonard and I were in the same class at Wailupe Valley Elementary school. When we started the 7th grade at UHS we used to ride to school together in the morning finishing up our homework while being chauffeured to school by my father and/or Dr. Warner who carpooled to the university. We would learn about current events and politics as we sat listening to their conversations.
During Halloween we would throw water balloons at passing cars then retreat to the safety of his house when the cars would stop. His house was strategically located on the edge of a creek and a bridge which the cars would pass over. We could unleash a barrage of balloons then quickly scurry under the bridge to his house. It was a different albeit fun time of harmless pranks . . . “no harm no foul.”
Why does it take the passing of a friend for us to remember the good times, to bring it to the forefront of thought?
— Brian Palafox ’69
Leonard
Yes, Leonard was a special guy with a unique perspective on life and a unique sense of humor. His beliefs certainly influenced the lives of many…myself included.
At the same time, my memories are more personal. Here are some anecdotes from “back then”:
I spent a couple of years at the University of Rochester in upstate New York…blustery and snowy winters (snow on the ground from October through April). Leonard came to visit one Christmas break from Antioch (Ohio). We were both interested in photography and Rochester was home of Kodak. Eastman (Kodak) museum was located there so we decided to visit. Picture two local boys in what we thought was adequate winter gear (army jacket and jeans for me), trying to find this place that was in the middle of nowhere (no Google map in those days). Caught a local bus that dropped us off in the vicinity and we started to walk and walk. First light snow and then it started to really come down. We eventually found it and I think that we appreciated the fact that the place had heat more than the exhibits.
Leonard did an internship or fieldwork in NYC. He lived in Brooklyn and when I went to visit he introduced me to deep dish pizza. Having grown up on Shakey’s this was a revelation.
Lastly, I remember going to a demonstration in NYC with Leonard and a couple of others from Hawaii. We slept on the floor of someone’s barely heated apartment. His sage advice: drink lots of water before you go to sleep so you’ll be sure to wake up early enough to get where we needed to go.
In recent years, I’ve only had the chance to chat briefly with him (and with some of you) at our Temple’s annual Bon Dance.
Rest in peace Leonard. Hope you get some laughs from these reminiscences.
— Dan Watanabe ’69
1970s
Add your voice
Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com
Truly Blessed
The University Laboratory (High) school must be one of the best schools in the islands. We had the best teachers, curriculum and fellow students and as time passes more and more I realize how special and fortunate I was to be a student there.
Though as teenagers growing up we each had our challenges, the open supportive and caring attitude was always there. It would be a shame to take away the lasting legacy or this school.
When others hear what school I am from they all know it is a good school with a solid reputation.
We have had wonderful memories at whatever time we entered the school. No one could have asked for a better school. Much Mahalo to the state and university for supporting us and keeping us in campus. We truly were blessed here. By the Aloha Spirit.
— Diane Hino ’72
Lessons Beyond the Art Program
We were encouraged to use the facilities freely, and we had loads of free time. I remember almost burning off my eyebrows when I was batiking and my pot of wax caught on fire so I put it in the stainless steel sink and turned on the faucet. Whoosh! Loved that. I don’t think I told Mirella Belshe who was my “advisor” at the time. Or maybe I did and it was just a non-event to her? I can’t remember but I can imagine her just laughing it off.
I baby sat for Mirella Belshe’s grand baby once when her kids were visiting from the mainland. She hired me even though I had NO experience. Thank goodness the baby slept through my sit and I didn’t even have to go in to peek at her! I guess I was the closest student living near her. I think it was up Woodlawn in Manoa. It was around 1990 when I last saw her in Washington DC. I was living in Baltimore at the time and happened to be listening to NPR when it was announced she was having a show in Washington DC! So I went down to see her work, and surprisingly she was there, and she got to see my baby!
I must credit Val Krohn for turning me on to weaving. Everything was so exotic to me, my teacher’s lovely German accent, working with sheep wool in the tropics, a loom! We keep in touch on Facebook and she gets to see my Woven Quilts as I post them there. She is still so encouraging!
Shige was admirable but I was pretty intimidated by him. It was Val Krohn who lined me up with a job doing research for his book. I had the job of looking through American Craft magazines for 60’s ceramicists and take photos of the pages for him to review. This was after I had graduated and was across the street at U.H. We hung out in the ceramics lab even after we graduated. Norman Mizuno and Kathy Kuroda were just old enough to be examples of what we could grow into and young enough to hang with. Going to Norman’s parents’ house to see his African art collection was like an unsanctioned school field trip. LOL.
I think only the boys were encouraged to do glass blowing. I loved it in college. But I was way not ready for glass blowing in high school. Glass blowing was a new addition to the art program when we were seniors, 1972. Do I remember correctly people swinging hot glass around with slippers on? Hmmm… yes, accurate or not I have fond memories.
— Betty Jane Lau ’72
Helping Each Other
Long ago we went
To a crucible called school
Forever bonded
Many of our class started as a “Lab Rat” at the age of three and graduated in 1972. As one of them I have since retired and often look back at those 15 formative Lab School years. The school provided a very unique educational experience for us and made friendships for life.
I am sure we all remember the kind elementary teachers, and the challenging intermediate and high school teachers who created new curriculum that allowed us to solve unique problems, and develop your own perspectives on contemporary issues. The assignments were not always easy; we often disagreed on what to do; but we somehow always pushed through; and that was the key. I feel that the facts the teachers taught, though important, were secondary to how they developed our critical thinking skills as it applied to the different subjects they taught. Looking back, the Lab School provided a solid educational foundation in a wide spectrum of subjects for us to partake in. It provided us with the tools to make sense of who we are, our careers, and the world.
Being together for those 15 years, we also built friendships that have lasted a lifetime. As we went on our own pathways after graduation, the shared experiences from the school were always on our minds. Some of us stayed in the islands and other left to far off places, but the class always helped each other when they could. The school was the catalyst in our friendships.
As I mentioned, many of us have retired and as we move on in life, the Class of ‘72 still keeps in touch with each other. It is unique and special relationship among us that only could have happened at our school. Forever bonded.
— Gerald Lau ’72
Notes on Growing up a “Jr. Bow”
Preschool (aka The Four-Year-Old Group): Mrs. Crooker. Pineapple cubes with mint leaves and toothpicks (sharp).
Kindergarten: Miss Snow. I didn’t cry the first day of preschool, but I wailed the first day of kindergarten. Alma Kimura and I vow we will get married. Nick Hormann plays the accordion for us. Sometimes my nap time goes until the end of the day because, Miss Snow says, it’s too hard to wake me up.
First Grade: Mrs. Johnson. Mating our Weimaraner with hers. My dad builds playground equipment for the school. Eating at College Inn. Counting to 100. Learning to ride a bicycle — not the new blue one. The beat-up old rusty green one was always available because no one wanted to ride it.
2nd Grade: Miss Reed: Who ate all the paste? Dick and Jane, and all those harder books. Eating all the paste in the storage room. Who ate all the paste? Breaking the glass lining of my thermos – twice. How do they fit all those paper towel rolls in that tiny storage room? Who ate all the paste?
3rd Grade: Miss Reed again. She has me read (reed) aloud to her, says I’m not reading at grade level, and tutors me after school until she brings me up to speed. Thank you, Miss Read. I earned a PhD in English Literature, Miss Reed. Many, many thanks to you.
4th Grade: Miss Terry/Mrs. Parker: She leaves for winter break single, and comes back in the new year married. The gigantic world map on the wall where we guess the names of places and learn geography.
5th Grade: Mr. Smith. The only teacher whose birthday I remember because it’s on St. Patrick’s Day. Every time I see him, and even now that he’s passed on, I wish him a happy birthday on March 17. Writing a story about The Story of Doctor Dolittle.
6th Grade: Mr. Marino. An A+ report on breeding endangered Nēnē up at Pōhakuloa. Camp Erdman. Kevin grabs a live wire and experiences the joys of electrocution. Rocking the Children’s Opera Chorus with Chappy and Carl. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Learning the Bon Dance and how to play all the instruments. Performing it out at the Sears Kahala parking lot with real Bon dancers.
7th Grade: Sister Edna for science and diagramming sprouting peas. Planting lots of beans. First guinea pigs for the FAST science project. Playing tag and ripping my shirt on a nail. Twice. Two days apart. The same nail. My mom is pissed. The game of tearing “Fruit Loops” off the backs of other people’s shirts. Watching people tear the backs of other people’s shirts because some of the loops don’t come off easily. Japanese with Kiyokawa Sensei.
8th Grade: Valerie Haskins for English. She would be my server at a bar in Greenwich Village seven years later – I shock her by recognizing her. The last opera season for me, Carl, and Chappy because our voices change, mine cracking right on stage at the HIC concert hall in the middle of Carmen.
9th Grade: Lelani Lewis/Welch for English. Writing stories to music. Memorizing passages from Shakespeare: Out, out brief candle . . . Soichi Sakamoto teaches our PE swimming class, and I end up on his swim team. My best event is backstroke. Jean Toyama for French. Getting caught shoplifting with a classmate. My mom is pissed. And, coincidentally, so is his. He and I bond forever over this adventure. He will get me a summer job at Dole Cannery. My first job ever. I constantly saw the record of my SS contributions beginning then. The place is loaded with Jr. Bow summer hires. Jean Toyama for French.
10th Grade: Richard Wing for English. Making a movie at his house in Kaneohe about Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. Reading Walt Whitman’s “Oh Captain, My Captain” aloud. Kevin, Gerald, and I writing lyrics to the melody of Gilligan’s Island. He likes our lyrics, but downgrades us because we didn’t write our own music. Mr. Conrad: segregation and Apartheid, acculturation and assimilation. Mr. Kalibe: Tracking our stocks: Mattel is a winner. Supply and demand. When I work in a record store in Madison, Wisconsin nine years later, I find out he’s teaching Social Studies at Memorial High across the street. 40 of us drinking after games in the high school parking lot. Security is cool about it. Amazing.
11th Grade: Drinking after games in the school parking lot some more. Jim Harstad’s first year teaching English. The best thing that ever happened to the Jr. Bow English Department. We read more than I ever read in my life. A Farewell to Arms. Shige Yamada. Breaking into the art room on a Saturday morning to work on a pot. Mr. Yamada catches me in there and we work on our projects for the rest of the day. I will go across the street to UH as an art major, but I end up majoring in English. I dedicate my PhD dissertation to Jim and Shige.
12th Grade: Drinking after games in the parking lot yet again. 18 becomes the legal drinking age in January. Even more drinking in the parking lot and many other places. Jim Harstad again. We read even more than we read in 11th grade. Sometimes a Great Notion – “never give A inch.” Shige Yamada again. The students are firing the kilns now, too, sometimes around the clock, because we’re producing so many pieces. Graduation. Our class is the first to wear aloha attire instead of caps and gowns, and we inaugurate the lei exchange, each of us calling the name of the following classmate and giving him/her a maile lei. Ours is the first yearbook with COLOR photos. Wow! Senior camp at Timberline: A Lost Weekend. WOW!
How all those 13 years flew.
* * *
In memoriam
Steven Ginoza ’90 and Kyle Arsiga ’90
Not a picture
Of crushing winter
But of summer
Gone to shadows
In rain
* * *
— Lanning Lee ’72
Memorable Teachers
James Harstad
One of my fondest memories of Mr. Harstad is one day in English class, he gave us an assignment to do “free writing”. I think we just sat in the MPB to do our assignment. I wrote a story titled, “The Woodrose and the Daisy”.
After we turned in our assignments, to my surprise, my story was one of the stories Mr. Harstad read out loud to the class.
I remember feeling a sense of pride Mr. Harstad thought my story was good enough to share with the class.
Leilani Welch
Gave us an assignment to read the book Siddartha and told us this book moved her and had an effect on her life.
Patty Marciel
Cool speech teacher. Always positive and encouraging. She invited our class to her house in Kailua for a party.
When I think back on all of the teachers we had at ULS, I’m very grateful for their dedication, the time and energy they put in to teaching us and giving us their best. It’s not easy dealing with a bunch of teenagers like we were!
— Cheryl Otaguro Yamane ’72
Friendships for a Lifetime
My earliest Lab School memory is being in the small bungalow next to the Castle Memorial preschool where I was in one of two first grade classes with Miss Johnson. I’d transferred after attending Kindergarten at Manoa School. I recall Miss Johnson pulling me out during nap time (since I never slept anyway) and teaching me to read with Dick, Jane, and Spot.
Highlights of elementary school include music with Dr. Greenberg, P.E. with Dr. Curtis and library time with Miss Geiser.
Throughout elementary school, there were two classes per grade. Despite adding new students in high school, by the time we graduated, our class was down to 38, one of the smallest classes to graduate.
We are a diverse group that prides itself on acceptance and individuality, like a close-knit family. During the COVID pandemic, I joined a “girl pod” with six of my classmates. We shared information, resources, and support, mostly on a text thread, sometimes via Zoom. It was comforting and reassuring to have each other to lean on during those scary and trying years and now we feel even closer than before.
In 2022 we celebrated 50 years since graduation. But many of us have known each other for over 63 years. That is the reason whenever we get together, we have no problem “picking up where we left off” even after not seeing one another for a while.
At a recent gathering 18 classmates and some spouses met at a restaurant’s lanai to welcome a visiting mainland classmate. After a while, a nearby patron came up and asked me about our group. I thought he was going to complain about all the noise we were making. On the contrary, he said it was wonderful to see friends truly enjoying each other’s company as we were.
Yes, I feel fortunate to have attended the University Lab school and cherish the special bonds of friendships that I formed. But if you ask many other Lab School alumni, they will probably say the same thing.
— Maura Lee Yee ’72
Because of You My Friends
“Eh brah wat school you went?”
“University High School”
“What year you wen grad?”
“1973”
“That was da best, yeah?”
I was so lucky to go to our school: UHS. My best friends to this day are UHS grads. I grew up with a lot of you from pre-school. I guess the small classes and sports teams fostered a camaraderie among all of us. I turned out for sports I never played before (golf, baseball) and got to learn and play with our school’s no-cut policy. Got to make friends with older and younger teammates. Got kind of beat up by Punahou and Kamehameha, but on occasion we would win! I was on the original Pac-5 JV football team in 1971 with Coach Leon Shoemaker. It was motivating that the same teammates and friends that I made with Maryknoll, Midpac and HBA became my foes for basketball and baseball; but it was enjoyable to interact with them in those arenas as well.
I remember Ms. Kunioka’s 25 cent hamburgers and 35 cent lunches. Tuna pizzas. Almond float. Sneaking off campus for plate lunches at Grace’s. Spaghetti, mac salad, and two scoops rice; the anti-low-carb diet. Trying to act casual as a 9th grader using the bathroom in the senior’s smoking lounge. MPB parking lot after-game parties. Graduation at Andrew’s Amphitheater. I am who I am because of you my friends! Mahalo!
“ I tink . . . wat you figgah???”
— Nate Fujita ’73
The Whole School Shut Down
Remember when the class of ‘68 or ‘69 ran a revolt? They locked off the upstairs of the main building and took it over for the day. (Was that about the war?)
And the “peanut patch” behind the old band room?
College Inn on the corner of University & Dole? They had pinball machines which were — for some reason — supposed to be off limits to us younger kids.
I was in 4th grade when they told us Kennedy got shot and the whole school shut down.
— Mike Nelson ’73
Close Friends, Mentors, and Gracie’s
We are about to celebrate our 50th reunion later this month (September 2023) and I have many good memories of the Class of 1973. My closest friends were Nate Fujita and Randy Chang. I hung out mostly with my basketball (Nate, Charlie Thurston, Daryl Mann, and Leighton Wong) and tennis (Randy, Russell Choy, John Fong, David Komeiji, and Jimmy Webb) teammates. We were “ohana” and looked out for each other — all 40 of us.
We had teachers who believed in us. My mentors were Coach Kandelin, Cheryl Ushiroda (Harstad), Ira Gordon, Mitsuyo Woodward, and Pat Robins. They set good examples and taught us well.
When you didn’t want to eat what Miss Kunioka what serving, we headed over to Gracie’s for a plate lunch “with gravy on the rice and kim chee.”
We graduated in Andrews Amphitheatre where we sang “I’ll Remember You” and “Hawaii Aloha.”
— Brent Takemoto ’73
Most Prized
Most of us were nourished at some point by Miss Kunioka during our childhood at ULS. She remembered whose family and siblings were yours, and by extension hers.
Who else who remembers the taste of preschool snacks of triangular oven-toasted whole wheat bread and pineapple juice? And who can remembers visiting the kitchen in Castle Memorial ( which later became part of the UHS art studios) to collect vegetable scraps to feed to the kindergarten rabbit?
Nestled in my memory is Miss Kunikoa and the kitchen staff rolling carts of hot food from the kitchen to the elementary school in pouring rain so her young charges wouldn’t get cold and wet walking to the cafeteria in stormy weather.
No matter how big you got, you had better stand in an orderly line to get your lunch tray. No monkey business!
In high school those lucky enough to have a free morning period (no cutting class!) could hang out in the MPB gossiping and catching up on homework with a burger (25 cents!) and milk (A nickel!)
I remember guys challenging each other to eat a burger in as few bites as possible. (One.) Oh how she loved “her boys.” Some flirted shamelessly with her to get seconds (you know who you are.)
I realized after I graduated that Miss Kunioka was a lighthouse for me during my entire time at the Lab School. Even if I saw her only at lunch times, I felt certainty and safety in her enduring and trusted presence from preschool through high school. I prized her aloha more than her famous ivory pudding.
Mahalo nui loa, Miss Shizumi Kunioka!
— Tina Fong ’75
Dr. Karen Yamamoto
One of my fondest memories was going to the Sumida watercress farm with Dr. Karen Yamamoto and the students of the FAST program. We collected our specimen from the cool bubbling Kalauao spring water that flows throughout the farm. I carried the specimen, a flatworm called planarian, back to the classroom and placed it under a microscope. Following Dr. Yamamoto’s instructions I spliced the planarian open and lo, and behold, it regenerated itself. She then explained what is regeneration and I was absolutely thrilled to learn this.
— Mariko Miho ’75
Dr. Alan Fetterman: Strict and Respected
I wanted to recognize and remember Dr. Alan Fetterman, our band teacher. He believed in us and pushed us to do things we didn’t think we could do. He showed us the world and took us to perform in DC, the east coast, the Marshall Islands. He was a strict teacher and I respected him immensely.
— Jan Takeyama Sullivan ’75
The Fortunate Ones
8th Grade – Intermediate school basketball team with the sport and school that saved my life. My third year in organized basketball during an era when coaches were tough on players and missing practice was not an option, or at best a painful option. My coach, Eric Yamamoto, now ESTEEMED law school professor, was tough, fair, full of integrity and an exemplary role model for whom I had/have the utmost respect.My Dad loved coming to the games and often brought post-game soda for the team, at a time when there was no post-game feasts like they have today, so having soda after the game was a big deal, and the team had an affinity for Dad.
One day, after practice, I learned my father had a stroke. The next day after school I had to visit him at the hospital and told my teammates to let coach know I would be late to practice due to my Dad’s situation. During my years with Coach Eric, he and my father developed great respect for each other, but in my mind that would not be a mitigating factor in my being late for practice. After visiting my father, I arrive at practice, late,anxious about what awaits me. When I walk into the locker room to change, 3 of my teammates are in the locker room and curiously not practicing with the team. Confused, I ask them what’s going on and they are acting evasive/strange, so I naturally think I’M IN BIG TROUBLE. Headed out to the court, I’m now bracing myself for the worst from Coach, but all he does is ask me how my father is doing and has me join practice – no laps, no punishment. After practice is done, the team gathers in the locker room, Coach acknowledges my father’s situation, and offers prayers. The team then hands me a giant get well card complete with artwork crafted by those 3 teammates.My thirteen-year-old brain is merely thinking “that’s cool,” and appreciative Coach had them make the card. Everyone signs and I return to the hospital to see my Dad. Upon my arrival I hand him the card, and expect him to give his usual laugh and words of gratitude, but now he is silent as he’s looking it over, several seconds pass . . . then I see a few tears stream down his face and it’s the first time I ever see him cry.
Of all the things Coach Eric taught me about basketball and life, and all his traits as an exemplary human being, the thing I remember the most is the way he treated my father with great compassion during a time of distress. As Maya Angelou said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I have never forgotten how he made my father, and all my family, feel on that day.
Fast forward 14 years. I’m now coaching basketball at the school and on this day I’m at pre-game getting my team ready for a big game. I’m 27 years old, life is good, and I’m feeling pretty good about myself and life situation. I look over onto our ourdoor court, my sanctuary, and I see this man shooting hoops by himself. I realize it’s Coach! I have to attend to my team so we don’t have much time to catch up. After we’re done with our all-too-brief conversation, I’m feeling even better than I did before talking with him. Now, it’s one thing to be lifted up by a person of authority when you’re a confused adolescent, but this man was able to take me from a pretty high place, as an adult, to a space even higher, all in a brief encounter! A few days after our game, it hits me how lucky (somehow the stars aligned) I was to have this man in my life during my most impressionable years – someone who not only taught me the important things in life, but by his presence and caring elevated me to a place where I could eventually realize a sense of accomplishment, success and fulfillment.
Fast forward 30 years and I’m having breakfast with Coach. So as not to be redundant, I’ll let you imagine how that visit went . . .
With the Lab School I, as many others, just, got, lucky. Didn’t do anything extraordinary to end up there, but somehow landed in a special place I believe is a portal for extraordinary mentors – remarkably there are others at the school, most prominently, Walter Kandelin, who had a life-altering influence on me – who have, through their unique talents, enriched lives and made this world a better place.
Forever grateful,
— Scott Yamashita ‘76
Ready To Go
One tradition that may no longer exist at University High School is the senior class trip… usually to an outer island.
During my senior year, the senior class trip was scheduled at the end of basketball season. Problem was, we won the division and were the “A” representative in the state tournament for the ILH. That meant that the season was extended and it intersected with the outer island trip!
There were five seniors on the basketball team: Mitch Varney and I really wanted to go since most of our time was spent sitting at the end of the bench. Scott Yamashita and Ronnie Doi would never miss a basketball game, they were starters; “Keek”/Claude Hottendorf, Jr. couldn’t go because his dad was the coach.
So, it fell on me to ask the coach permission. After all, it was an important game, so we probably would not see any court-time as it was the State Tournament. “Coach, the senior trip is on Maui the week before we play in the State Tournament in Hilo. Mitch and I really want to go… to the senior trip, but that would mean that we miss practice the week before. We can meet you in Hilo ready to go.”
He let us go!
Mitch and I partied with the rest of the Class of ’76, minus our more serious teammates. We met the team as planned at the Hilo Airport… but not necessarily “ready to go” after a week of no sleep, partying, playing, activities. We reeked, we were tired and sleepy, we were hurting.
In the pre-game get together in the locker room, I was barely able to keep my focus. My head throbbed, my eye-sight was blurry, I was dizzy. Mitch wasn’t doing any better.
As expected, we were sitting at the end of the bench at the start of the game… which was a good thing. Both of us were too damaged to even focus. I was leaning back with my eyes closed, my head throbbing when I heard, “Wong and Varney, in the game!”
We “played” more than we had in the two prior years combined!
— Newton Wong ’76
Pushups and Four Lunches
I attended University Lab School from grades K-12. While my experience at University High School (my preference) was largely taken for granted, it wasn’t until after graduating that I realized how much UHS had prepared us for life. The small school environment, and dedicated faculty and staff truly wanted each of us to succeed beyond the classroom. This is evident by high graduation rates and a vast array of prolific careers.
To me, the person who best exemplified the culture at UHS was Mr. Walter Kandelin.
Though outwardly tough and strict (due to his military background), his sense of integrity, compassion and humor resonated in all of us. All he required is that we try our best, and not be afraid of new challenges. We knew that Mr. Kandelin always supported us, and we in turn would enthusiastically perform pushups anyplace, anytime, in front of anyone for answering “yeah” instead of “yes”. My wife also recalls Mr. Kandelin pulling my shoulder length hair in fun and referencing me as Alice or Gertrude.
Ms. Shizumi Kunioka and her Cafeteria Team also left a positive impact on us as everyone would pass her watchful eye for lunch. She knew us all by name, and “no cutting” was the game. Ms. Kunioka taught us the value of doing a job responsibly while on cafeteria duty. Beyond “Kuni’s” original and tasty recipes, she could amazingly prepare items to appear as another item. Sometimes, I would eat four lunches.
It always makes me happy and proud to read or hear about success stories of UHS and its students, who are frequently considered underdogs due to its small school size and funding. However, what is not realized is the unity, friendships and purpose have created a family that has literally risen from the ashes.
GO JR. BOWS!!!
— Jonathan Ego ’77
Mr. Walter Kandelin
I went to visit an old teacher of mine recently. Unfortunately it was at Tripler Hospital.
It’s been more than 20 years since I graduated from high school, and he didn’t recognize me. It wasn’t the 20 years or the changes that had come over me. It was Alzheimer’s.
For any student who attended the University Laboratory School in the ’70s and ’80s, Mr. Walter Kandelin was an institution. Through his vision, hard work, and drive, the Junior Rainbows built a small-school athletic program the likes of which had never been seen, and probably will never be seen again.
University High School had never been known for its athletic prowess when he arrived on campus. It had a shoe-string budget and no place to practice, and no uniforms. When he left there was still a shoe-string budget and no place to practice, but we had uniforms. He also had more than doubled our participation in ILH athletics, raised the competitive bar so that the school fielded teams in the ILH I and II leagues, and created an atmosphere where nearly every student on campus from Grades 7 to 12 (approximately 300 boys and girls) participated in some kind of sport.
We also had state titles in diving, basketball (both girls and boys, volleyball (girls), softball, Prep Bow titles (with Pac 5), and even a national championship (girls volleyball, 1988), not to mention numerous ILH titles and incalculable individual honors.
Mr. Kandelin believed that this little school could achieve if they only tried, worked hard, and stuck together.
His style was unique and he knew it. In the hospital on that day I went to visit him, we laughed about how all he had to do was look at a student and open his hand. Immediately, that student would drop to the ground and pump out five pushups. Most of the time this penalty was given for swearing in his presence, being tardy, or saying “ya” instead of “yes.”
However, he’d give pushups Andy time he felt like it, and we didn’t have to be in class! He’d give us five in the hallways, in the cafeteria, at other schools’ gyms, anywhere! If were too slow in getting on the ground, he’d add five more. Once he gave a poor guy five for having hairy legs!
He understood that the most important thing any teenager needed was discipline, and we knew and respected him because we were smart enough to know it was all in fun.
I have many memories of Mr. Kandelin, too many to write about here. Many people will never realize the impact that this man had — not just on a little high school athletic program, but on many facets of local life.
He probably doesn’t realize or remember all of it himself. That’s okay, Mr. Kandelin, even if you can’t remember, the hundreds of us who do will remember for you.
— Nylen Takahashi ’77 (published in the Honolulu Advertiser 11.11.2000)
1980s
Add your voice
Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com
We Cared for One Another
My transition to UH LAB was by accident. My music teacher at Moanalua Intermediate asked if I wanted to try for this school called University High School or University Lab School located in Manoa across the street from the University of Hawaii. She recommended me to the school for music. She told my parents and I it was a school for the arts: music, dance , and different forms of arts.
We applied for this and found myself entering to a small high school located in Manoa.
When I got there for orientation, I remember Tracy Newhart and Irene Diamond introducing themselves to me. They were trying to say my first name and somehow couldn’t remember it, so we landed on saying Hano from my last name Hanohano. So for 4 years I was called Hano until today.
Meeting Dr. Krause as our principal and Ms. Daley as our vp at the time.
Meeting Kuni and her team in the cafeteria.
Funny how names are created and remembered.
What do I remember of this school . . .
It was highly academic, arts driven, goal driven, and sports oriented. Starting school at 7:30am and finishing at 3pm.
Teachers I remember were: Mr. Harstad for English, writing 10 minutes in our diary.
Mr. Conrad, his hard exams.
Learning a foreign language with Mr. Noji.
Art with Mr. Doi in ceramics.
Choral, Ms. Rothchild.
Hula, Olga Kalama.
PE and volleyball coach Ms. Chang.
Science, Mr. Young.
The driving factor during our time was to take tests, test market academics coming from UHS to see if they would be recommended to all public school systems.
It was also a college prep school for before you entered into college.
Being affiliated with the Pac 5 schools allowed us to get to know other students from other schools.
I graduated in 1980 where we had Leroy Lutu, the Morales brothers, and many more outstanding students in the field of sports.
What did high school teach me . . .
Organizational skills, leadership skills, strive to work hard for your goals, impact others around you.
Dr. Krause was a strong arm woman and led all of us with grace, poise, courage and strength to lead this school. She didn’t put up with anything!
She taught me how to be strong, hold your head up high, and stand proud of your school.
In my Jr. year I was class president, then in my senior I was president of the student body. This taught me how to care for an entire student body. At those times we struggled with drugs and alcohol in our school. This was very concerning because being a small school we cared for one another, and it was hard to find help for your friends or to say goodbye because now they were leaving the school.
Writing this article brings back memories and so much more. I miss my classmates I got to know, but at the same time I wonder how they are all doing and where they are all at in this world.
Now we are in our 60s, the 1980 class.
Hope your life has been filled with joy, success, happiness , love, strength and health.
Blessings to all of you,
— Hano – Dorinda Kanani Hanohano ’80
Girls, Are They Worth It?
So, 2 stories I’d like to share with you.
The first one as I recall was my senior year and back then we all congregated in the Cafe for lunch from elementary to high school students. That being said the Cafe was always pretty full and while I’m sitting having my lunch facing the stage at the front of the Cafe.
The second story is from my senior year as well, and it started with an English class assignment writing a short story using “Pigeon English”. For some reason I was most enthusiastic about this assignment and ended up writing “Girls, Are They Worth It?”
So, Mr. Harstad our English teacher was quite impressed and submitted “Girls, Are They Worth It?” to Bamboo Ridge, which was a Local publication, and they accepted it and used it in their magazine.
As a result, Mr. Harstad had set up a reading with college students from the UH at the UH. The reading was for an auditorium of students, and I had to get up on stage, stand behind a podium, and read my story to them. Something I was not at all comfortable with. A quarter into the story I lose my place from where I was reading, and I basically had to ad lib the remainder of the story, which took quite a while, and I’m pretty sure it was quite different from the original printed version.
In addition to the second story, many years later my Son whose name is also Jonathan Kim asked me if I ever wrote a story named “Girls Are They Worth It?” because they were using the story in his English class at Waipahu High School. I was in pleasantly surprised that this English class assignment for me made it as far as being studied in other high schools and into the educational system.
— Jonathan Kim ’80
Chicken Skin Memories
I have very fond and cozy memories of hanging out with my friends before school, and standing in line, especially on a cool Hawaiian morning, to buy one of Miss Kunioka’s simple but amazingly yummy hamburgers.
Miss Kunioka and the ladies that worked with her were always so kind and the lunches they provided were so good. I think a lot of us sort of took that for granted.
I loved her fried chicken, and haupia pudding with chocolate sauce among many other things. Our friend Gwen really loved her chicken, and would go around asking us “Do you want your chicken skin?” I think she often had more than 10 unwanted skins on her plate!
During our time at the Lab School, a lot of us would sit down to eat lunch and socialize, without any cell phones. I remember “sitting on” the large combs we would have in one of our back pockets.
My last funny memory is of my friends Pauline and Stacy in about 5th or 6th grade running back and forth to upper school guys, like Scott Yamashita, and just being silly and cute! I think the high-schoolers probably got a big kick out of them.
Good fun times!
(P.S.)
Lanning!!!! I finally took the time to read what you wrote about the Lab School!
We had some of the same teachers like Dr. Curtis, Dr. Greenberg, Jim Harstad – and of course – Miss Kunioka!!!
I did not realize you were into singing either!
Anyway, thank you for your patience with all of us, and tireless efforts!
I love reading the older entries.
Miss Reed was good wasn’t she?
Did Dr. Greenberg have you sing “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” most every day?
— Laurilyn Butin ’81
Change of Plans
My parents made me do a violin tryout and a short interview. No explanation, no reason. “Put on a nice shirt, it’s right by Mr. Burger,” was all I was told.
The room was at the very end of an old building. We were early and I was peeling a good-sized piece of light brown paint off the railing when the door opened. The violin guy was slightly taller than me. He greeted my mom and dad, smiled and introduced himself as Mr. Harold Higa. I started feeling a little nervous as I took the violin out of the case and put some rosin on the bow. He asked a few questions about how long I’ve been playing, if I enjoyed it, other instruments, blah blah, blah. I wanted to tell him my mom was making me play violin, but kept quiet about that. I played for a bit, and we were done.
We then walked back through what I thought was the oldest wooden building I’d ever been in, the floor creaking with every step we took. I noticed ukulele cases in one window sill and wondered what was behind the other closed doors.
In the main office on the other side of the campus, we then met with a lady who scared me. The name plaque on her desk said Dr. Loretta Krause. I wondered what was up with the “doctor” label. Compared to Mr. Higa, she was way more intense. She spoke with my parents for a while before they brought me in. She asked about my favorite subjects in school and stumped me with the followup of “why”.
I thought this was some orchestra thing that I was being forced to do. It didn’t register that my folks were trying to get me into a new school. I was all set to head to McKinley like many of my Washington Intermediate boys, ready to play football, basketball and track and wear the black and gold.
Dr. Krause told us about University Laboratory School, which sounded to me like a strange name for a school. I asked what the mascot was and she replied “Junior Bows.” I didn’t get it, so she explained. Having attended a bunch of UH basketball games to watch Gavin Smith play, I sort of got it. I wondered where the Lab School gym was.
She seemed to know my dad taught across the street at UH. As I looked past her at the cars on University Avenue, I wondered if the waves were good and when this thing would end.
She mentioned one final thing about the school that brought me out of my daydreaming: “The football team is a part of a group of small schools and they play a lot of the games at the new Aloha Stadium,” she said. My mom said she didn’t want me to play football. I thought to myself, McKinley, here I come . . .
Later that summer, my folks sang out, “You’re going to University Laboratory School!” We argued. I said no way. I tried to avoid this major life change, but no deal. They made me go to Lab School, and it was the best thing ever.
— Burt Ramos ’81
Lost Retainers and Washed Lunch Tickets
I forgot my retainer on the lunch plate when I dumped everything into the trash and about 30 minutes later I remembered. I told Miss Kunioka and she, along with her staff, searched through the trash because I had to go to class, and they found my retainer. I had it wrapped in a napkin so they said it was still clean and thank goodness they found it otherwise I would have been in trouble with my mother since that would have been the second time I lost it.
The other thing I remember is Miss Kunioka sorting and putting together my crumpled up lunch ticket, similar to doing a puzzle of my lunch ticket that I washed. I forgot to take it out of my pants pocket and it was just a ball of paper and Miss Kunioka took the time as she always has for other students, to put it together.
— Nadine Nishioka ’82
Jim Harstad
It was my senior year, and I was failing English. I was very involved in our Polynesian/Hawaiian class/group. We did many performances outside of school including a trip to Laguna Beach which was by the way, a lot of fun. Anyway, a five page essay was due and most of our grade depended on it. Of course time was running out for me and it was brought to my attention that my situation was serious.
I always brought my guitar to school and Mr. Harstad used to like to jam a little bit. He had a 12-string guitar that he would always ask me to tune for him.
My time was just about up to turn in the essay. Mr. Harstad sat me down and told me that if I could write a song about our class/classmates and our time at UHS, with three verses, a chorus and a bridge with all the correct grammar and punctuations, I could probably get a passing grade. He said if you sing it for the class I’ll give you extra credit. So I did. He gave me an A++ which brought me up to a D! I wish I could remember how it went?
I write songs for a living now and am a record producer/recording artist. I don’t know if I was ever able to thank him . . . so thank you Mr. James Harstad from the bottom of my heart!!!
— Jeff Rasmussen ’82
Fueling That Fire
I remember having lunch with Dr. Krause every day during the last half of my senior year. It was supposed to be Japanese period, but Dr. Krause felt I was a bit too disruptive and my time would be better suited with her. So thatʻs how it was. Every day. She would buy me a soda and we would talk. To be honest, mostly I would talk, and she would listen. She always looked interested in my thoughts. It seemed strange to me, because I was just a young kid babbling. Lost. Searching. She told me one day that there was a power in my voice and to keep fueling that fire. It was the first time someone ever told me that. First time someone believed in me. Little did I know then, how right she was about me.
I think about that time a lot as Iʻm older. A moment that was meant to be a punishment, but was used as a time for empowerment. A moment that sparked a young boy’s dreams.
— James Sereno ’84
Sledge Hammers, the Matchbox, and Fake Radio
I think when you became a senior, you could go off campus for food. The Pizza Hut just opened on the corner and the Personal Pan Pizza just came out, so I remember everyone getting that for lunch.
Acting in plays up at Mid-Pac . . . I played a cigar-smoking movie mogul in a play called Stage Door.
When the new drama teacher, Mr. Law, came to assist Mrs. Almy, we were rehearsing in the Matchbox building. Every student was clomping around on the wooden stage, so he made it a point to have us not do that. He jumped down off the stage onto the lower platform to make a huge sound as in “Don’t do this.” Well, the next morning he showed up in a cast and crutches. I guess he broke his foot doing that. I also put a nail through my foot on that same stage. Had to go to the doc on that one. That place was a deathtrap.
A friend and I used to roam around UHS on Sundays and shoot random stuff on my Super 8 camera, but nothing came of it.
School dances waiting for that first brave soul to go on the dance floor first.
Ms. Kuroda was a really cool teacher.
Shige Yamada was a perfectionist and wouldn’t allow you to get away with cutting corners. My mom still has one of the raku bowls I made.
That one old lunch lady, Ms. Kunioka, who was a staple there forever, ran everything. She was such a sweet lady. If you didn’t have money or your lunch card was expired, she would just say, “Take it, no worries.”
One time a student stole a tray of cookies they had cooling off on the counter and brought them to the senior room. I remember that as a big deal. Everyone was looking for them.
At some point, UHS was doing construction, and they needed helpers to break down walls in a few rooms. The shop teacher, Mr. Garret, asked if we wanted to make some money coming in on a Sunday to tear out walls. It was me and I don’t remember who else, but that was so much fun. Swinging a sledge hammer and smashing walls.
Mr. Garret had a pointed mustache. Also a very cool guy.
In Mrs. Paul’s class — she was very strict — I was combing my hair with a Goodie comb which was very popular at the time amongst us teen folk. She said, “Bring it to me and you’ll get it at the end of the year.” I turned around and said, “I have two,” and made the peace sign V symbolizing the number 2. Well, I got sent to the Principal’s office immediately and couldn’t figure out why. It turns out she thought I said, “F**k you” and flipped her off because of the peace symbol I made. Anyway, it got resolved somehow.
Hanging out in the senior room listening to KTUH . . . Mr. Southworth made a fake radio station and called it KUHS. We would broadcast from another room and were allowed to play music, only we also had to read something scientific. But nobody wanted to do that. We just wanted to play music.
— Kimo Easterwood ’85
The Bond Is Even Stronger
She stood there, a bit frail yet with so much dignity. She was, so patient and so kind. She’d pick the royal poinsettia flowers that fell down from the huge tree that shaded the playground and put the pua behind her ear. We then gathered the monkey pods off the ground and she taught us all a song and dance using the monkey pods. I can still hear her sweet shaky voice singing this Hawaiian song, “I luna la, I luna, na manu o ka lewa,…”
It would be months later that we all brought our swimsuits to school, and we were going swimming in this huge pool in the middle of the playground! As some of you may recall, Castle Memorial had a fountain that really worked! Years later, I realized that that this water feature was less than a foot deep and not a swimming pool at all!
The prominent woman? Mrs. Lieb. I believe I was about 1st grade, and I made lifelong friends.
We say, LOTOT (last of the old timers) as we all shared memories from long ago and with our great friends that joined us along the way in middle and high school. Each person, totally unique in their own way, made us the incredible class that we were all a part of. My fondest memories included our Volleyball State Championship team, basketball teams, riding on the zodiac and sailing on Kaneohe Bay, School Dances (The start of the Lil’ Rascals – you know who you are!), Polynesian Dance trip to Sunnyvale CA. with Aunty Olga (Love this lady for teaching me so much and loving us so much!), Camp Erdman senior trip, Mr. Fudge, Homecoming, losing the Senior Room, May Days, Dr. Krause stopping on University Ave., asking a bunch of us girls if we needed a ride back to campus (we were for sure late for our next class and piled in without hesitation). So many memories I could go on . . . . .
Sadly, we lost very good friends that will always be a part of our ’85 Ohana. Kenny Tano, Donna Thornley, and Maia Forman. They will forever be in our hearts, especially mine.
Lately, our class has been trying to reconnect and gather more often – Shout out to Nicole and Monica for making it happen! We see each other when we can and we help one another when needed. And when we come together . . . . . it’s like we really haven’t been apart.
Our hugs are longer, we’ve missed each other, and the bond is even stronger. We’re still unique in our own ways. Though our paths all went separate ways, we know in our hearts that we have that Junior Bows spirit that lives deep down inside. Thanks for the memories my dear friends! Go Bows!
— Sheri Wong Gallagher ’85
A Pleasant Welcome
One of my first memories of the Lab School is Nicole Coleman, Class of 1985. She introduced herself, along with some of her classmates, and welcomed the freshman class, my class, to the school. It totally made my first day pleasant.
— Jimmy Burghardt ’86
Mr. Williams and Mutual Respect
Mr. Williams was famous for his commanding, militaristic style and his insistence on respect in the classroom. He was also a jokester, but make no mistake: he didn’t mess around. One day, he approached me to ask if I wouldn’t mind giving him feedback on a piece he’d written. I was flabbergasted. He wanted me, his lowly student, to read his work? I wasn’t used to adults soliciting opinions from me; back then, kids were seen, not heard. But that day, my English teacher treated me as an equal. I will never forget it. Turns out it was Mr. Williams who’d respected us all along. And we didn’t even have to insist on it.
— Lisa Heiberg (Horiuchi) ‘86
A Warm Welcome and Learning Forward
Geez!! Where do I begin??
Starting high school can be daunting, and my experience was no exception. I began my journey in high school as a freshman at UHS, feeling incredibly nervous on my first day, primarily because I didn’t know anyone there. Thankfully, that changed when Teri Moritomo extended a warm welcome, quickly making me feel more comfortable. She introduced me to others, including Tammy Yamashiro, Tracy Yokuochi, Elizabeth Lee, and Peter Lee, helping me feel part of the class. I discovered I was one of 25 new freshmen joining the Class of ’86. Thankful and grateful to the Class of ’86 for the unforgettable memories.
Dr. Lanning Lee served as both our English teacher and class counselor. During senior year, he shared a piece of wisdom that stuck with me: “In the business world, mistakes are often pointed out, but successes can go unnoticed.” His insight proved to be accurate as I ventured into my career in the world of business (legal administration), where his words echoed true in my experiences.
When I grew up and had kids of my own, I passed on a valuable lesson I learned from Dr. Lee starting when they were five years old. He once advised, “Avoid starting consecutive sentences the same way in a paragraph, as it will bore the reader. Aim to capture their attention instead.” Although I don’t recall the specific example he used, I often shared my version with my children: “Jane is wearing a red dress. Jane has green shoes.” This advice seemed to resonate, as their teachers frequently praised their writing skills during parent-teacher conferences, especially highlighting their ability to engage the reader. I’m grateful to Dr. Lee for this helpful tip.
Finally, Dr. Lee imparted to our class the significance of being a “well-rounded” student for college admissions. He clarified that beyond academic prowess, colleges value students who contribute to their community, engage in sports, or partake in extracurricular activities. Inspired by his advice, I encouraged my children to embrace a balanced approach, blending their academic pursuits with a variety of interests. This strategy not only enriched their personal growth but also played a pivotal role in their academic achievements. Consequently, each of my children was accepted into their preferred colleges – USC, UNR, and USD/Loma Linda University – and went on to earn Master’s Degrees in Electrical Engineering, Behavioral Psychology, and Public Health with emphasis in Bio-Statistics, respectively. This outcome affirmed the importance of fostering a well-rounded profile in achieving both educational and professional goals.
Thank you Dr. Lee for all of your advice!!
— Jocelyn Izumigawa ’86
Math Memories
I’ve had many memorable teachers over the 13 years I spent at ULS. Adults that shaped my opinions, behavior and knowledge that I carry to this day. Even lessons that I only now realized I learned while at ULS.
One of those lessons is that fun and competition is a strong motivator. I remember being in third grade and racing through my math worksheet because Vince and Peter were faster than me. Mrs. Berg would then complain that she had to go get more worksheets from her office because we zipped through what she had planned for the day. In my 8-year old mind she also invented math soccer that pitted one half of the room against the other in an exciting competition of math skills. We got so excited when she busted out the 2-dimensional paper soccer ball and clipped it to the top of the chalkboard. She made math fun and exciting, inspiring us to excel in my favorite subject.
Fast forward 7 years and my elementary school math teacher was back and teaching high school math! When did Mrs. Berg shrink? She was so tall before and now I was almost her height. Were we going to play math soccer? Of course, maybe math soccer did not have the same nostalgia for my new classmates, but that was okay, my love for math was going nowhere. That was also the time that I found out Mrs. Berg had a life outside of ULS. She was in the Hawaii Air National Guard. She came to school once in her uniform and that’s when I realized that teachers were not just here for us. They have real lives outside of school and do meaningful things outside of educating the egocentric youth of Hawaii.
My love for math motivated my choice of study in college, Mechanical Engineering, because everyone said that if you are good at math go into engineering. It also had something to do with Mr. Garrett telling me I could make a lot of money doing mechanical drawings, but when I got to UH, I quickly learned, mechanical drafting had nothing to do with mechanical engineering. Anyway, it all worked out and many math classes later, I got my degree.
Now as a manager at a large general contracting company in Hawaii, math touches my life every day. Not just calculating how much material to order, but what is that cost, how are we performing and finally how much profit are we going to make. I can’t explain the mental block I have on anything related to tax returns, but that’s another story.
So, circling back to the lesson, fun and competition as a motivator. Yes, I believe that having fun at your job is great. Does that fun come from getting a favorable outcome out of a negotiation or winning an award, OF COURSE. Using all my abilities to represent the company I work for in a competitive market is what I do every day. Do I have work life balance, NO WAY, but am I complaining, NO. The fun and competition are still motivating me. Thank you to ALL the math teachers at ULS, I remember ALL of you and appreciate the love of math that you fostered and developed in me.
— Teri Moritomo ’86
Do Your Homework
On my very first day of school in August 1980, as a new, fresh-faced seventh grader, I happened to be walking between classrooms when I was suddenly hollered at from across the courtyard by this huge twelfth grader. By the way, when I say huge, I really mean HUUUUUGE! This 350-pound Samoan teenager was named Saleva’a Fuauli Atisano’e, and he eventually became a world-famous 600-pound sumo wrestler in Japan (a.k.a. ōzeki-ranked Konishiki Yasokichi, but that’s for another story!).
“Eh kid, come over here,” he ordered, in a loud, booming voice. I was obviously scared, but walked over to him nonetheless. Really, did I have a choice?
Then he pointed directly at my face and said, “Eh you, kid. Make sure you always do your homework!”
“Yes sir!” I immediately replied and ran off.
From that day onwards, I always made sure I did my homework every day, and after I graduated in 1986, I went on to attend Harvard University, later got my doctorate, and the rest is history, as they say. Mahalo nui loa Sale Atisano’e!
— Sean O’Harrow ’86
Even Those of Us Who Weren’t the Closest
Our senior class picnic was great. I loved being at the beach with everyone and seeing how we all had such a great time. Even those of us who weren’t the closest to each other. It was a fun filled day with lots of laughs.
— Patricia Kaua ’87
In the Aggregate
In 1981 the Army assigned my father to Fort Shafter. I was 11 at the time and this was my 8th move in those 11 years. I took for granted the nomadic lifestyle of a military brat where you never really unpacked your room, formed temporary friendships and only saw family once every few years. Synonymous with all of this was a haphazard academic existence with teachers and schools changing each time we moved. We were perpetually in transition and at the time, it was my “normal”.
Upon arriving in Hawaii, my mom sought out the Lab School hoping to find an environment that would help me grow academically and socially. Up to that point, I had struggled to make friends and was a poor student. Luckily, Ms. Daley and Dr. Krause agreed to take a chance on me as a student and I was admitted to the class of ‘87 for my 7th grade year. At the time, I had no appreciation for the gift I had just been given.
My first day with my new classmates was complete culture shock. I was conditioned to thinking that every school was like the ones on base and that all students took a modular approach to relationships and classes as no two schools had the same curriculum. This was so different. Everybody knew each other and it was obvious my classmates had formed their bonds over many years, in most cases starting in kindergarten, or first grade. How foreign . . . Additionally, every teacher started the first day of class by referring to where they had left off heading into the summer break. I was at a complete loss.
As the weeks and months went by, I slowly started to make friends. Little did I know, some of them would become lifelong. I also noticed how self-aware all of my classmates were even at that young age. We were all still just kids, but everyone had a set of critical thinking skills that I had not encountered up to that point. Our teachers challenged us versus just ensuring we made the grade, which I was still not doing. We were treated like young adults instead of children and expected to conduct ourselves accordingly. I would get home to our military housing area and have completely different stories about my day as compared to all of the kids in my neighborhood. I realized that I was experiencing something very different and quite special. I was growing in every sense of the word and I could feel it. Lab School norms such as journaling where I was being truly honest with myself for what felt like the first time were epiphanies for me.
We stayed in Hawaii through my freshman year and then my dad was reassigned to Texas. Just as suddenly as it started, my experience at the Lab School was over and I went back onto the merry go round. My high school in Texas was huge (3600 students). It was so very institutional. After two years, dad decided to retire from the Army and he and my mother decided to move back to Hawaii. Luckily, in spite of my horrible academic performance both in Hawaii and Texas, I was allowed to rejoin my UHS class. This time I knew it was a gift and couldn’t have been more grateful to know I would be spending my senior year with the only real friends I had ever known.
Upon my re-entry to UHS I continued to underwhelm academically, but I learned from every class and experience. Though my grades didn’t show it, I was gathering the skills I would need to be successful in both my professional and personal life. Many of the most powerful lessons came from my classmates who continued to demonstrate an ever increasing level of emotional intelligence. As we went through the college application process as a class, I was fortunate to be accepted by three different universities. This was for the most part thanks to the advice, support and unwavering advocacy provided by the UHS faculty. Problem was dad wasn’t going to pay for any of it . . .
About that time an Army recruiter called and asked if there was anything I would like to do in the service. I flummoxed him when I said that I had always wanted to be an aviator. His response was to share that only officers could be aviators and that took college. We hung up amicably. He called back the next day and shared that there was an obscure program called “High School to Flight School” but that it was extremely difficult to get into. Knowing I had few choices, I told him I was all in and would do whatever it took to apply. This took time and played out parallel to the last 4 months of the school year and beyond. One by one my classmates wrapped up the summer of 1987 and started to make their way to college. I felt left behind, but knew it was a situation of my own making.
Just before my 18th birthday the call came. I had threaded the needle and been given a flight slot. Upon arriving at flight school it became obvious that there was no option but to perform academically as well as in the cockpit. Knowing this was my “fight or flight” moment (no pun intended), I channeled every skill I had been provided during my time as a Junior Bow. All of my fellow candidates were at least 5 years my senior and each was competing to be at the top of the class. There were zero freebies. For the better part of two years I fought and scraped to survive that gauntlet and at the end, I miraculously did just that. I would spend the next 25 years flying for the Army and enjoying a very prosperous career in uniform. The only reason I was successful and even provided that opportunity in the first place was because of the Lab School.
As I sit here writing this I know that I owe everything I have accomplished to UHS and what it stands for. Many have cited individual teachers, classmates and instances in their recollections. I have so many fond memories in each of those categories, but what is most powerful for me is the recognition of what the Lab School represents in the aggregate. It was the turning point for me that might have never come if not for my incredible mom. I am beyond thankful that it was there for me, maybe not in the way intended given my grades, but it saved me from a very different future nonetheless. I continue to be served by the life skills given to me by our school and those I attended it with, faculty and classmates alike. To all of you, I am eternally grateful for the life I am so blessed to be living.
Brendan Kelly ’87
What Lasts
As I sat and thought about all the memories I have of attending UHS, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow! I did a lot s#*t during my years there!” So I pretty much boiled it down to two significant memories.
First one: Orientation Day as a 9th grader. Being in a room of complete strangers. Actually, I knew one person, and it helped with the anxieties. Not sure how it happened, but I gravitated to what would be my lifetime friends. A group boys, all athletes, and we all hit it off right from the start.
What would happen in that first year really shaped what my high school years would be like. A lot of firsts.
First crush, first broken heart, first school sports, first dances, first time getting sent to Ms. Nielsen’s office for being kolohe, first time learning to drive (yeah, it was one of my classmates who let me drive his car to learn) – just trying to fit in and have friends. All good, all memorable.
The second significant memory: Senior year/graduation. When my daughter, Kayla (c/o ‘23), became a 9th grader, I told her to embrace those upcoming 4 years till graduation. “Because it will go by fast!”
I told her, from experience, because of my Senior year, that I realized how close I’d become with my classmates, other students, and even some teachers.
What were firsts in 9th grade became lasts that Senior year. Last dances, last prom, last athletic games, and the last time I might ever see these same classmates on the UHS campus.
In those 4 years I saw friends winning State Championships, I went to California to dance hula and Filipino tinikiling. Meters, Matchbox, Kalamas, and house parties. Fun Fair, craps, ‘Ohana Circles.
So many memories.
I am just so happy to see most of my classmates on social media, having families, careers, traveling, and just living life! I love seeing their accomplishments, their kids’ successes, and sharing their lives.
The class of ‘87, what a fun group. We may not be as close as we could’ve been, but that last day, in May of 1987 we walked together as one class. Wearing our “shades” because our future was so bright.
The way I see it, it couldn’t have been more true.
Love you Class of 1987!!
— Shawn McDonald ’87
Kati Kuroda
Kati Kuroda was a force of nature. I remember my very first Kati experience – sitting in her art classroom as a third grader (I believe it was third grade) in a building that is now long gone (burned down). She led our classroom with strength, humor, and utter confidence. It was clear to all of us that this was going to be a very exciting art class.
I remember on open house night walking in to that same classroom with my Mom to be greeted by Kati (my teacher) wearing a bright colorful dress – like super colored floral patterns…and as she introduced herself to to the parents, also informed us that her dress was actually a table cloth she fell in love with earlier and had to wear!
She was one of the most impactful teachers for me. Art. Creativity. Drama. I soaked up these disciplines and know that they helped guide me to where I am today . . . I still play with crayons. And I’m grateful for Kati and the Lab School and many of the teachers who invested in our well-being by challenging our preconceptions.
— Adam Woltag ’87
Win-Win-Win
It was the 8th of May in 1986. I was a sophomore, and the Pac-5 football team had just won the Prep Bowl in November of “85. We were riding high. Unfortunately, that did not necessarily translate into working very hard in the classroom.
Specifically, the band room.
Now, I know that the entire band did not consist of football players, but there was a pretty good number of us in there. On this particular Thursday, we were supposed to perform our annual Spring concert at the Central Union Church on Beretania St, an historic church which has been there since the 1940’s. As such, we were there in the early afternoon performing our final rehearsals.
WE WERE TERRIBLE.
We were so bad, I remember actually contemplating not showing up for the performance. Although I knew in my heart that I would never let my bandmates down like that. If you were a trumpeter or a trombonist, no one would really notice a significant difference if one out of 4 or 5 instruments wasn’t there. I, unfortunately, was the first seat percussionist, and played the snare and tympani drums, so if I didn’t show up, people probably would have noticed. A very significant conundrum in my mind. At some point, I remember praying to God in that historic church to help me find a way out of that horrible evening where our parents would have to witness the fruit that we had so carelessly bore.
To my complete surprise and relief, God answered.
That afternoon, at 2:01 pm PST, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning to the city and county of Honolulu because of an earthquake that had occurred at the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, triggering a an evacuation of Waikiki and surrounding areas which ultimately cost the state a whopping 40 million dollars.
Obviously, the concert was called off (Thanks again God). So what did I do? A teammate and I grabbed a 12-pack of Bud Light and headed up to the Tantalus lookout to witness said tsunami. Fortunately, it was a false alarm. He had answered my prayers. On top of that, nothing was destroyed, my buddy and I got to have a few beers instead of play a horrible concert, and our parents didn’t have to bear witness to a complete letdown by their offspring.
Win-win-win if you ask me.
— Charles Arakaki ‘88
Hōkūle‘a and Spaghetti
I remember following the Hōkūle‘a on a map with push pins on its first voyage to Tahiti. We sat in a circle and our teacher, I think it was Dr. Hinze, added the day’s new position along the route.
My second memory was making a poster and learning “On Top of Spaghetti” for Mrs. Kunioka and the rest of the staff. We walked from the classrooms to the cafeteria and performed it for them.
— Shanta Kaneshiro ’88
Lavalava
ULS’s reputation has always been its ability to build strong men and women of character. The people that I have encountered and continue to encounter under the Lab School umbrella serve as a continuous reminder of how truly special this little school is. My collective memories of ULS live in its history of nurturing teachers and diverse student body. A student body, where growth and development are equally established in its teachers and upperclassmen mentoring underclassmen.
I first arrived onto the ULS campus as a 6th grader in the fall of 1982. I can remember experiencing a lot of “news”. New school, new teachers, new friends, and new experiences. Like the walking giants that left Mr. Samasoni’s Samoan language class. High fiving us tiny 6th graders as we crossed paths to learn social studies from Mr. Samasoni. Jeff Hunt ’83 would always tell us, “Rain or Shine, just Grind!” I remember PE assistants Nathan Sol ’84 and James Sereno ’84 letting us 7th graders play tackle football behind the old Match Box building. “Tackle football builds character,” they would say. Great times. I remember art assistant Frank Sanchez ’85 teaching us 8thgraders how to throw ceramic bowls. “When you shape this clay, handle it with precision, with thought and you will be happy with your result no matter if your bowl is a little crooked.” Wise words beyond your years Frank! I remember weightroom assistant Jud Yamane ’86 teaching us freshman how to lift weights and Darren Yoshioka ’86 teaching us how to beat box in the weightroom. The debates that Jud and Darren had in the weightroom were entertaining. I remember Jonathan Ramos ’87 making band class as sophomore fun! “It’s a lonely world down on this end of the trumpet section . . .” We were respectively last and second to the last chairs in the trumpet section.
Rewind back to 6th grade. Nothing compares to my memory of my first school assembly. Entering the MPB, which was decorated with various metal forks stuck in the ceiling, were two gentle giants. They made their way to the MPB stage wearing skirts. Well, at the time, I thought they were colorful designed skirts. Please forgive me in advance. As a new 6th grader to the Lab school, I never saw grown men wearing skirts before and thought to myself, why were these two grown men, Afros the size of beach balls, wearing skirts? Hmmm? Later that afternoon these same two men, who I discovered were senior students at the school, named Joe Onosai ‘83 and Rodney Leota ‘83, performed a traditional Samoan slap dance at the school assembly. Shirtless, with muscles from head to toe, ti leaves tied around their arms the size of my legs, and yes, those same skirts. On that day, their Samoan slap dance was the coolest and most exciting performance of the school assembly.
Later that night, my mother asked me how my day went. I told her it was a pretty good day. We had a welcoming school assembly where two seniors danced for us wearing skirts. My mother chuckled and explained to me that those are not skirts, they are called lavalavas. They are traditionally worn by Polynesians. “By the way” my mom told me, “if I were you, I wouldn’t call them skirts ever again, Got it?!?!” . . . “Got it mom.” New lesson learned peeps, lavalavas are not skirts!
Fast forward to the fall of 1988. My senior year playing varsity Wolfpack football. One of those senior men wearing the lavalava, was now a pastor and the offensive line coach for Pac-5. Coach Joe Onosai and many of his ‘83 classmates (Rodney Leota, Jeff Hunt, Kimo Harpstrite, Matt Takata, Eric Au, Nappy Napoleon, Tony Akioka) that won the 1982 Prep Bowl, along with the class of ‘86 (Wade Thoemmes, Jeremiah Onosai, Kahi Kaonohi, Kimo Leong, Deron Spencer, Darren Yoshioka, Greg Ichimura, Jud Yamane, Nathan Weems, Alan Gilbert, and Chu Han Kim), that won the 1985 Prep Bowl, had inspired a lot of us younger underclassmen to play football and try to win a championship of our own. Coach Joe was respected and a mentor to many. He would articulate the most impactful pre-game prayers and speeches that were just as powerful and exciting as that Samoan slap dance that I had witnessed as a newbie ULS 6th grader! Mahalos Coach Joe and all the ULS upperclassmen for their endless mentorship and memories! Always an appreciative Jr. Bow! Go Jr. Bows!
— Todd Clark ’89
To Wrap Things Up
I attended UH Lab School from preschool through 11th grade. Approximately 1975-1988. What I admire most about the Lab School was the way they had music and art daily, integrated into the regular schedule for all students.
I too remember those large, rectangular pools made out of black lava rock (sealed with cement) outside in the elementary school play yards. It was a rare and exciting event when they filled one with water for us to splash around in. There was a life-sized, white statue of a woman sitting on a throne, outside of the preschool. It was hidden in a corner under some low trees. I would sometimes sit in her lap during recess, when I didn’t want to be found. The preschool staff always played the same song at the beginning of nap time, conditioning us to connect it with sleep. I don’t remember exactly what song it was, but I do remember hearing it years later and finding that it still had the power to make me think about taking a nap.
There was a soothing continuity between the University of Hawaii and the UH Lab School. In preschool and elementary, college students came over to observe our classes and administer series of tests to us (IQ tests). We knew that “they” presented learning materials to us, before approving them for state-wide use. In 5th grade we performed a play at a UH theater that was in the newspaper. In high school there were often college students seen cutting across various fields of the Lab School. We occasionally had classes at UH, including swimming and science. Lab school upperclassmen would take college courses there, such as calculus. We sometimes held basketball practices in their gym. For me in particular, I had family members that taught there.
Our main teacher in K-2nd grades was Mrs. Libe. She hated to see food get wasted, and we had to stay at the table with her until our lunch tray was finished. On days that they served watercress with lunch, I tearfully sat for the entire mealtime. I was fascinated and a bit horrified by the fact that, when she ate fruit, she would always eat the entire thing, including the apple core or the orange rind (my mom guessed that it was due to her having lived through the Great Depression).
I remember playing Chinese jump rope before school started in the mornings. There was a girl in my class that could complete every level with the rope, up to the height of our necks. Chinese jump rope reminded me of one of the Polynesian dances we did in hula using two long parallel wooden sticks. We would hit the floor with them twice, and then together once, and the person in the middle had to not get their foot caught. We also played jacks and Chinese jacks. Years later, whenever I have to count pills at my job, I often flash back to playing Jacks in elementary school.
Once in seventh grade (ish), we had a special PE class where we all met in a regular classroom. There were two PE teachers present, both a male and a female. We were told that they had decided to attempt to teach us sex ed. That first class was mainly to introduce the topic, set ground rules, and allow us to ask questions. They made a big deal about there being nothing that was “out-of-bounds” for our questions; which, in my experience, is never a good idea! I remember one kid pretty much took over the whole group, asking odd things in a too-loud voice that got all of us giggling. The teachers really tried to maintain an open and respectful environment where anything could be brought up, but you could tell that they were getting more and more uncomfortable as the class went on. I was about 98% sure that the kid asking all of the questions was trying to be funny, but there was that unsure 2% of me thinking, “I don’t know, maybe he really does want to know what a “douche bag” is?” Sex education class was canceled after that one single day, and they did not attempt it again while I was a student there.
In middle school, I remember going to the JV basketball games with the school van full of my teammates. Singing songs, laughing, and being completely silly.
In eighth grade, as an assignment, an upper classman made a script for a play out of the book, The Scarlett Letter, and in the play I was the adulteress, Hester Prynne. I guess that the writer/director couldn’t find someone willing to be the cruel husband, because somehow our own Mr. Lee got roped into doing it. He completely stole the show! He was surprisingly good at playing a bad guy. “Good” like, the-villain-in-a-James-Bond-movie-stroking-his-cat good. It was absolutely hilarious. During our last performance, almost at the very end of the play, I was kneeling next to my “lover” (a classmate) as he lay dying. He whispered up to me, so softly that I could just barely hear him, “Cathy I . . . I forgot my line!” At which time, of course, my mind went completely blank. The only thing I could think to do in that moment was to start fake-crying over him until we were basically pulled off the stage.
There are a couple of songs from chorus classes at the Lab School that are apparently imbedded in my brain for life. “Sun Catcher,” which was mostly okay musically, but the topic was so ridiculous that it felt embarrassing to sing it. It described a person by comparing them to a sun catcher in a window. Thanks to chorus class, I can also still recite most of “The Night before Christmas,” but only if I sing it.
I remember the last school assembly of my junior year. The excitement from knowing that the current seniors would be graduating and moving on, and we would be in their shoes the next school year. We had a sort of back-and-forth cheer battle with the class of 1988. I don’t remember their class cheer, but ours was, “We are bad, we are fine, we’re the class of 89!” (Also imbedded in my brain for life).
I went to a different school in California for my senior year. Having spent my entire school history prior to that at the same place, I felt a bit unfinished missing my senior year at the Lab School. I occasionally have a dream where I am getting ready in the morning to go to the start of my senior year there. Even though I’m usually aware in the dream that I already have a high school diploma. My brain is convinced that I still need to go spend another year there to wrap things up.
— Cathy Naughton ’89
1990s
Add your voice
Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com
Speech: The Full Circle
If you met me today, you might not believe that when I was in high school, I didn’t feel very confident, I didn’t feel assertive and sometimes I just felt awkward and shy. But something possessed me to join the speech team my senior year. I probably thought, “This is my last chance to try something new before high school is over.”
Turns out, it was one of the best decisions I could have made, and I never fully realized until much later, how much it has shaped the work that I do today. I know more so than ever, that attending UHS for high school was the right choice for me.
I didn’t want to do humorous or dramatic interpretation, I wasn’t emo enough for poetry, and debate seemed like so much work with having to quickly research a topic. Now original oratory? You mean I could come up with a topic, write a speech and have people listen to me? Now that was something I could do. Of the limitless topics a 17 year old could choose? I chose to talk about sexual assault.
My coach Bill Teter was incredibly supportive. Mr. Teter once told me that I seemed to take delight in making people uncomfortable! Haha! I know I did want to have a message that got through to people and if it shocked them, that’s fine! I didn’t know why I did that back then, but I do now. Sexual assault isn’t something that people generally want to talk about or hear about. Trauma usually happens in private and when it remains in the dark, it continues. I think this was me starting to turn on the lights.
I remember the early speech tournaments and being so nervous that my hands were shaking, I hoped I wouldn’t pass out, and I could literally see my heart beating under my clothes. I wondered if anyone else could tell. It was hard, and I questioned my sanity as I got up in front of strangers and shared my speech. I worked on it and improved. I shared my thoughts and people listened to me.
Working through that nervousness and insecurity did a lot for me. It made me good at interviewing, it helped me to develop rapport with people easily, and I knew I could speak in front of a group.
Many years later, I moved to the Bay Area. I had some experience working in the domestic violence field providing advocacy, and upon moving to California, I convinced a manager interviewing me that I was comfortable with public speaking. I became an outreach and education coordinator. In that job, I did so much public speaking; I spoke to small groups, large groups, high school students, teachers, survivors, substance abuse treatment groups, and I facilitated a state mandated domestic violence certification.
When I returned to Hawaii, years later, I continued the domestic violence work and in the different jobs I have had, I’ve presented to medical staff, foster parents, spoke in front of a city and county finance committee, Ladies Night with the UH football team, facilitated support groups, helped train new staff, and was even in a video being shown where I talked about supporting victim rights. If you told me when I was in high school that I had all those opportunities, I would never have believed you.
None of these opportunities to speak would have happened if I hadn’t learned that I have a voice, that I can get up and speak in front of people without fainting, and that bringing light to a serious problem can make a difference. What gave me confidence in the first place was that Mr. Teter believed in me and my message.
At my mom’s funeral, I got up and spoke. Mr. Teter found me afterwards and told me he was proud of me. That really meant a lot.
And what happened to that 17 year old that decided on writing an oratory on sexual assault? She became a licensed marriage and family therapist that works with survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence victims.
It came full circle for me. I wish I could go back in time and tell that 17 year old that all she needs to do is breathe, that she will make a difference to people, and that the world needs more light.
— Kiri Siu ’90
Bunch of Turkeys
It was the summer of 1986, and I was an incoming Freshman taking summer school classes at UHS with a bunch of other incoming Freshmen, as well as a handful of soon-to-be Sophomores. Our teacher for that summer school session was Mr. Williams. I don’t recall what his first name was, all I remember is that he was an older (maybe early 60’s) Caucasian male that resembled a character from an old country western movie. He’d often refer to us as a “bunch of Turkeys”.
I recall one of my first encounters with Mr. Williams went a little something like this:
“Hey, Turkey”, said Mr. Williams while standing over my desk. The scowl on his face let me know immediately that he wasn’t pleased with whatever was happening at the moment.
“Um . . . yes”, I replied. My voice cracked like a typical adolescent male going through puberty. Just then, an eruption of laughter ensued as my peers couldn’t resist the awkward and abrupt octave change in my response.
“You forgot to put your name on your assignment”, said Mr. Williams.
“Oh . . . (ahem!) I’m sorry, my bad”, I replied. This time, I made sure to clear my throat so that my response would sound more assertive, and . . . well . . . more manly. This triggered another round of laughter.
“So . . . you think you’re a funny Turkey, don’t you?” asked Mr. Williams. He then continued, “I don’t have time for funny Turkeys”, and walked back to his desk.
A third round of laughter followed by my fellow peers, but this time it was tempered and somewhat muffled as everyone knew that Mr. Williams wasn’t playing any games.
That evening, I went home and pleaded with my folks to let me transfer out of this miserable school.
“The teacher is mean, he calls us names”, I explained. “He called me a Turkey”.
“Too bad, suck it up!” they said in unison.
To this day . . . I’m so glad I did.
Forever a Jr. Bow!!
— Ryan Tong ’90
Brady Louis
Like so many of us that graduated from this ‘little school that could,’ we were given the opportunity to learn so many things — from weaving to advanced calculus at the University of Hawaii, to choir, to computer lab — and it was no exception for Brady who took the Music and Secondary Language program and ran with it! He was essentially the heart and soul of these programs — as we heard him singing down the hall while busting into the running man (because he was Brady!) and speaking Japanese to order his lunch at the lunch wagon just to practice what he had learned the day before. He was so proud of this program — really ULS in general — it truly touched his life in a profound way, and in Brady-style, he shared it with everyone that he came into contact with. We are honored to call Brady a classmate, a friend—an inspiration.
— Lisa Adams ’91
Deep Ties
When my kids ask me what it was like when I was in school, the day-to-day things that stick in my head are how we used to obsessively play trumps outside the classrooms in the mornings (How long did that last and when did we stop doing that?); how someone was always playing a ukulele before/after school and during lunch; how I became buddies with Lisa and Chris in the 6th grade waiting for the same bus in front of what used to be the Pizza Hut (this is a cumulative hours and hours of our lives, waiting for the bus!); how I once passed out in learning lab class and Mr. Lee had to carry me downstairs to the office, which prompts the question, “what is learning lab?” and the thing I most remember about that was studying all those SAT words, some of which I still use today just to impress people, also, we actually learned grammar back then in English class!!; how I got to play basketball and volleyball with some amazing athletes; how we had art class every year and I was always in clay sculpture with Mr. Doi which was basically therapy time when you got to squish clay and talk story all period; how whenever you dropped something on the floor and had to pick it up, people would pounce on the opportunity to say, “bendinover” in that weird voice; AND, most of all how the Lab School stretched all of us to form deep ties with a bunch of kids that were so different from each other. Even though I am terrible at keeping in touch, this is what I most appreciate now, looking back, that I got to know all of you and your families!
— Junko Bryant ’91
Our English Teachers
I have fond memories when I think back at my time at the Lab School. My Classmates, Teachers, Friends from other grade levels, and Staff is what made it memorable for me. The Lab School was a life altering experience from Day 1 of mandatory summer school to this day. Everything I have is from the great foundation the Lab School instilled in me. I am forever thankful for my Parents for their unwavering support to push me to attend.
Our English teachers Jim Harstad, Bill Teter, and Lanning Lee have a special place in my heart. Mr. Harstad welcomed us to the Lab School in our mandatory freshmen summer school. We learned what was expected of us during those summer weeks.
Bill Teter was the new teacher at the Lab School in 1987. He would become one of the closest friends with all of us throughout the years. I am proud to be a part of his first classes and a member of his first Speech Team.
Lanning Lee is a teacher I greatly respected. I didn’t want to let him down. I didn’t want the intense Korean stare coming my way. We all knew that Lanning is a proud graduate of the Lab School. Through the years I would come to know how closely tied he is to the school and the Alumni. Lanning in my humble opinion is the heartbeat of the Alumni. We would not have this platform to write and share stories if it were not for his dedication. I’m pretty sure he started this website in the 90’s and it has only grown through the years. Thank You for everything you’ve done and continue to do, Lanning! I hope you know you are greatly appreciated by all of us Alumni.
— Mike Jocson ’91
Quality Time with Dr. Krause
Most of my memories are being able to say that I was probably the only student who spent more time with Dr. Krause. So honored to have had you folks as my family. Should’ve been better and I apologize and will forever be grateful for being a graduate of this school.
— Randy Rowan ’92
Goofy Stuff
I just have goofy stuff to share, like Ari dancing on his car in the school parking lot, or singing “A Whole New World” with Tina and Todd down at Ala Moana Beach park during lunch.
— Tonya Penebacker ’93
The Freedom To Just Be Yourself
It feels like it was so long ago, almost like a separate life, so I may not remember much, but I am thankful for the solid academic foundation our teachers built in us.
I remember reading classic novels aloud in English class, which built confidence, developed our voices, and taught us how to bring the text to life. Mr. Teter modeled such good reading that sometimes I had to look up to see if he was speaking to us or reading from the book.
Experiences in drama, chorus, and band magnified the effect. We really had a lot of fun, didn’t we? The Music Man, The Wind in the Willows, a trip to the Grand Canyon, All State High School Honor Choir, Math Team, ceramics, and wood shop all carry fond memories.
Then there was the bus crew that hung out in front of Burger King to wait for the bus. Oh, we had a grand time talking story and playing tricks on one another.
In history class, we loved it when we got Mr. Cohen talking on a tangent. I feel like we learned more about the world when he just told us of his global experiences, which were far more interesting than just learning the history we were “supposed’ to learn.
In science, I remember Ted Brattstrom’s bearded face, magnified by the Fresnel lens, then using the lens to magnify the power of the sun. Did we melt a penny on the sidewalk?
We cut an orange peel off of an orange, with precision, when learning about global map projections, and to this day, I still peel my oranges in one piece.
One day, when it was raining cats and dogs, since we were already soaked, we took advantage of the mudslide that formed alongside the MPB. The experience of running and sliding in the mud was well worth the reprimand we received.
When I needed some solace or a quiet place to read, I used to climb up the drainpipe to sit on the roof of the covered walkway fronting the MPB.
It was nice to have such rich learning experiences with so many unique and caring characters, and then to have the freedom to just be yourself.
— Heidi (Jackson) Soleymani ’93
To Be Heard and Seen
There are many memories that I have at ULS, from saimin bowls for breakfast to singing and playing ukulele outside the lockers at lunch.
One of the more profound memories that I have was being in English class with Mr. Teter. He was so big on two things: free writing for at least 5 minutes at the very beginning of class and of course, I am sure my classmates also remember the infamous “SDI”. The whole “I can write, I can write, I can write” has been instrumental in all my writing endeavors, even now as I am in the thick of writing a book. As for those SDI’s, that is something I am passing on to my kid, and sometimes I chuckle to myself, “That Mr. Teter sure had us trained, and thankfully he did.” Those SDI’s are forever ingrained in my brain, lol.
There is indeed something very special about being a part of a small ohana, especially at ULS. I think because of that smaller population you are able to establish a culture where each student can feel like they matter because that environment allows for all students to be heard and seen. That is a huge gift that I know I walked away with and that has made such a difference on how I have moved through life.
I am so grateful to have been a part of ULS history and am proud to always be a member of such a beautiful ohana.
— Nicole Arguinzoni-Gil ‘94
Independence
Here’s something I’ve been flashing back to as my Kindergarteners are becoming great readers this year:
As a Lab School lifer, an early memory is of my first feeling of independence. In Mrs. Leib’s K-2 class (this is the late 80s), at a certain age we got to leave the classroom alone to fetch her mail from her box around the corner and down the hall. First, we had to remember how Leib was spelled. I after E. And we had to remember to take the papers from the proper box. Above or below her name label, I don’t remember now. Also, who else remembers the feel of the freshly mimeoed lunch menus? Anyway, we then had to come straight back to the classroom. I remember one of my first times on the job and the nervousness and thinking, “There’s no grown-up with me? Or watching me?!”
— Regina Johnson ’97
In our Senior year, more than half the class got several days of detention after we had a little adventure. We spent our first session of detention sitting quietly in a classroom after school.
At some point, someone proposed we finish the rest of our detention days cleaning the courtyard in front of the school office. Our proposal was accepted. We spent the rest of our many afternoon detention sessions in the courtyard, cleaning, weeding, transplanting ornamentals, and getting a lot of dirt on our hands. The improvement to the courtyard seemed impressive at the time.
I think the class felt that although we had regrettably made some of our teachers pretty angry with our adventure and ended up with a lot of detention, we were happy to turn our detention into an opportunity to clean up our campus and make another memory at our school.
— Ian Robertson ’98
Mr. Teter
Bill Teter is one of the most influential people in my life. He taught me more than how to construct a proper sentence, the difference between “their” and “they’re,” when to use “I” and “me,” and all the regular English teacher stuff. He fostered my love of reading when he put life into Kafka’s Metamorphosis and in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which, in turn, expanded my imagination and the way I view the world in general.
I fell asleep in class one day, and I was surprised when class was over that he hadn’t thrown an eraser at me like he did normally for the sleepyheads. I felt compelled to apologize even though he possibly hadn’t even seen (by the way, that’s impossible when the class size is 20 or less). I’ll never forget him saying, “Alyson, you’re one of the few who NEED to fall asleep in class every once in a while.” It was then I realized that I work TOO (not “to”) damn hard sometimes. I’ve reflected on that a lot in my life. In October of last year, memory of this conversation is what helped me decide that I needed to take a leave of absence from work. This decision actually saved my life.
I shared with Mr. Teter . . . that I penned the most badass resignation letter a few weeks ago, and I credit my writing skills to him and all the amazing English teachers I encountered at the Lab School. What I didn’t share is that letter started with a 5-minute journal session (if you know, you know)!
Mr. Wong says it best . . . : It’s the end of an era.
So many of us are eternally grateful that you stayed on the Ewa side of University Ave. as a “fake” English teacher!
— Alyson Grace ’99
2000s
Add your voice
Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com
Everything It’s Made Me
Being a “Lab Rat” has been one of the greatest titles and means so much and so many things to me. I have the best memories of amazing teachers and now, lifelong friends. From the mornings in the MPB before school started, perfecting our grammar and spelling in English every day, to learning how not to sing flatly in Choir, and arguing skills in Speech and Debate. It’s all stuck with me in some shape or form and I’ll forever love the school and everything it’s made me.
Specific memories would be the traditions like Christmas concert, where the seniors sing “Merry Christmas Darling,” and dancing with your partner at graduation. It’s so hard to choose from so many wonderful memories.
— Rhegan (Liwanag-Luat) Wada ’01
All Meant To Be
Okay . . . time stamp as I write, according to my phone: May 25, 2024, 12:44 AM, Eastern time, in Knoxville, TN. Wow. Where does the time go?
I happened to be scrolling randomly on Facebook and found some birthday wishes left for me –one of them from Dr. Lanning and his request to share a memory or two for the Jr. Bows memory project. It’s hard to ignore Dr. Lanning’s request especially with his passion to keep us Lab Rats connected! Wowzers. I’m always in awe and admire his passionate endeavor . . . I wonder who will continue this ever growing ongoing project?
Btw (by the way), I ran into Dr. Lanning throughout my undergrad years in UH Manoa. “Hi, Dr. Lanning!” I worked part-time as a Notetaker for KOKUA. What a small world . . . I mean island!
So fun to read through many stories and memories of being a Lab Rat. I get it. Every Lab Rat/Jr. Bow matters — I believe it! I related to one of the many alumni stories because I was also forced to attend UH Lab (wait . . . what happened to the other name Education Lab? Lol!) in 6th grade. I was devastated to be the only one going to a different school. Why God, whyyy?!?
But it was all meant to be. From lifetime friendships, memorable teachers and staff, learning challenges and the fun times, daily journal writings and reading, art, music, food (I always tell my mainlander friends how our cafeteria food was da bomb!), PE, fancy proms in Waikiki, speech and debate, project grad, and just so much more. The good Lord knew what He was doing, always, and I love it. Mahalo so much, God!!! I am truly so grateful for my UH Lab life. From this tiny school from a small island to exploring the mainland.
It is all meant to be.
Love & Blessings & Aloooha~
— Yoona Conrad (Hwang) ’05
The Wiser Years
Thinking of memories comes easily when thinking about the many different corners of the campus. Hanging out after school in Mr. Wong’s air conditioned band room. Kimono culture students trying to cram into Sakihara-sensei’s tiny but cozy cupboard of a room. Sitting around in the matchbox, half expecting to get a splinter from the old wood. Staring at the Senior year lockers, thinking one day I will have a locker there too. It still feels like the years before me were somehow wiser. I like to think the years after us thought of us that way, too.
— Rachael Ing ‘05
Trick Shots & Hide and Go Seek
Thinking back about my time at UH Lab brings back so many fun memories. I was always around the campus at a young age even when I did not go to the school yet since my dad was there for many years has the athletic Director.
As I’m sure you can imagine a lot of my memories were based around sports and the athletic facilities on campus.
From a young age, I was playing in the gym or in the old matchbox before the fire happened. I can clearly remember playing on the stage in the matchbox and doing trick shots off the old wooden walls. We would also play hide and go seek throughout. The drama room and halls of the old facility. The matchbox was a place that I spent countless hours as my dad was working.
When I grew older and attended the school, making a bond with classmates and teammates in the small niche setting was exactly what stands out to me. So many other friends I had at other schools did not know the names of half their classmates, but for us at UH lab it was a close family.
So grateful and happy to have been part of the UH family.
Go Bows!
— George Bukes ’07
2010s
Add your voice
Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com
The Last Waltz
It was the night of my graduation, May 2010. We got to the MPB early to practice our waltz. Marc Uy and I were waltz partners and we were joking around, practicing our dance. It felt silly at the time, but once it came time for the actual waltz, it hit me that this was the last night, and last big set of events as a class. Although I haven’t seen all of my classmates since graduation night, the experiences and memories of my 13 years as a lab rat live on.
— Marissa Hatch ‘10
Howzit from La La Land, Jr. BOWhana!
I hope this finds you well! Though I took my years growing up in Hawai’i for granted, I’ve since taken the time to look back with much gratitude. Mr. Miller once told me in draw & paint class after I proclaimed that I’m getting my butt off the island in the middle of the Pacific, “You don’t know what you have until you have it.” That quote will permanently remain with me because Mr. Miller is certainly right. It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite memory or two, but I’d like to share things that I miss about the Lab School now that it has been over 11 years since I last passed through the halls on campus.
I miss the morning rush of getting ready hoping I didn’t have to beg Ms. Betty for a tardy slip, putting something decent on, running to 7-11 on Dole Street before & after school, and hanging out by the MPB lockers as we just talked story. Other things that I miss about the Lab School are: the thrilling victories and heartbreaking defeats at Klum Gym (both as a player and spectator), Aunty Deborah Kelsey’s class (she loved us up and broke us down, but she made sure we practiced good habits and etiquette – I always cover my mouth when I yawn because she drilled it in our heads!) and Mr. Teter’s Speech & Debate elective.
As someone who does a lot of public speaking engagements, Teter’s class taught me the value of preparation because failing to prepare is preparing to fail. I learned how to engage an audience through the many public speaking competitions – making eye contact throughout the audience, using hand gestures to emphasize points, and never beginning a speech with “okay, so.” Oh, that would drive Teter crazy!
Finally, I can’t forget to mention the Neighbor Island Tournament at Parker School in Waimea. I will always be an ʻEwa Beach boy, but Hawai’i Island has a special place in my heart – it was truly something that you just needed to be there to understand. So many wonderful friendships and memories were made during MLK weekend every year!
My four years as a Junior Bow were life changing, and I am forever grateful for the many friends and memories made. Mahalo for everything, Lab School!
Hail Green and White! We sing to thee. Our hearts and hands will serve you true! Hail UHS our high school dear. All hail! All hail! Long may thy name be praised!
— Matthew Ganibi ‘13
Dedicating this piece to: James Whalen, we miss you buddy. Go ‘Bows!
Such Great Educators
When I think about my time at the Lab School, I remember my teachers so fondly. We had some pretty great teachers who always saw our true potential. Mr. Darren was the one who showed me I could be athletic if I tried by making me one of the 6th grade relay race runners for field day. Mr. Wong believed I could be an even better trombone player with lessons (sorry!) Ms. Cottongim (Mama Laura as we referred to her during our senior year) understood I was struggling with bio in the first semester and encouraged me throughout the second. Ms. Sakamoto nearly forced me to join the speech team because of my writing. Mr. Teter brought me out of my shell in speech and made me believe I was capable of even the hardest things with his pep talks (I used to have a huge fear of public speaking). I owe a huge part of where I am today to such great educators and for that, I am forever thankful.
— Jelwyn Agabayani ’14
A Triple Hit and First Up
Being a lab rat (kindergarten to 12th grade), I saw many students come and go. However, a couple memories still come to mind instantly to this day.
In 4th & 5th grade, Mr. Doyle was quite a fun yet serious teacher. He made everyone sing and play the ukulele and called students by their first and last initials, and we referred to him as MD. His reward system was enjoyable, with candy and frozen otter pops as prizes. By saying, “Hit on the jar!”, MD bestowed upon that student the opportunity to retrieve 1 piece from the jar of candies. A “hit on the freeze” equaled 1 otter pop from the freezer. As a 4th grader, I stole an answer from 5th grader Macy Yue when MD was asking the combined 4th & 5th grade class about the white and black lines on the perimeter of a map. For a couple minutes no one produced the correct term that MD was looking for. Then, I overheard Macy whispering to another classmate, “Degrees”, so I stuck my hand up and announced, “Degrees.” MD replied, “Triple hit on the freeze!” I’m sorry Macy for not giving you credit or sharing the reward, but those 3 otter pops were pretty good!
High school flew by and I liked getting good grades and being friendly to my classmates. I attempted to bridge the gap between being a nerd and being popular, and I guess it worked. It helped my social skills to be amicable and willing to assist others in understanding schoolwork. Toward the end of senior year, it was a surprise that I was picked to speak first at graduation and on behalf of the Japanese class. I underwent a decent amount of rehearsal and it was a blast to end my speech with the Japanese class standing and yelling, “Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!”
— Justin Yamamoto ’14
It Would Change My Life
All of the best memories I’ve had were on the Speech and Debate Team coached by Mr. Teter. I took the elective not really knowing what to expects and little did I know it would change my life. Now, most of us (including our close colleagues from other schools who graduated around our time) work in either the legislative or executive branch together. It’s nice to see how everything has come full circle.
— Mālie Adams ’16
The Yearbook As History
One of the most memorable experiences at UH Lab was working on the yearbook during my junior and senior year. If you opened that MPB door during either lunch, you would find us packed into that tiny room, editing photos from the latest school event, poring over page designs, and triple checking names in copy. I was terrible at pretty much all of it, but I was so proud of what we were able to create together — a history of the school, one year at a time.
— Zachary Trevorrow ’16
Emotional and Beautiful
One time that we had a sleepover for our grade it was really fun because late at night us and the boys went to the bathroom and we were just monkeying around.
My other memory is from our graduation day. We went to the beach in the morning after having been up all night. And I remember it just being very emotional and beautiful.
— Elijah Joell ’19
2020s
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Please send me a few words about a memory or two, LanningLee@gmail.com
Our Friends
August 1985 to August 2016, 30 years of wonderful memories
I am not an alumni but always felt like one!
I was truly blessed to have been at the Lab School for 30 years as a Teacher, Athletic Director & even a VP for a couple years. I have So MANY wonderful memories I can’t begin to list them.
I truly loved my job. It never felt like work, well almost never. I always felt so very lucky to have been hired by UHS.
I am forever indebted to Dr. Krause & Tom Stone for bringing me to the Lab School. I want all the students, faculty & coaches from that era to know how much you meant to me. You gave me purpose in my life & I give you thanks for that.
I loved being your Athletic Director at the best school ever. The Athletic Office felt like home & you all felt like family.
I send my love & Aloha to all & my heartfelt thanks for a wonderful 30 years at such a wonderful place!
And for all the great memories!
With Love & Aloha,
— Jim Bukes
Bill Teter and the Speech & Debate Team
One of my great memories of teaching at ULS, so far, was attending Bill Teter’s post-season Speech & Debate Team potluck dinner and performances at the end of the 2022-23 school-year. This was not only the culminating event of the year for the team, but also of the experience of the team’s fantastic seniors who each made us laugh, cry, and think during their final speeches. What’s more, the event was Mr. Teter’s last team event at ULS, as he had decided to retire after decades of teaching and coaching. I felt honored to be there. My own children were also in attendance, and I vividly remember my 6 year-old son shaking with uncontrollable laughter throughout one of the duo performances. Unforgettable!
— Alex Fox
Alum by Heart
I wish I was an alum, but I didn’t grow up on Oahu. I’m only Lab School alum by heart. I love ULS, and started coaching at Lab because of my wife Dayna Thom, who is a ’96 grad.
Jim Bukes hired me to coach the 7th grade boys team, and I fell in love with the school and have coached various teams ever since. 2 yrs at boys intermediate, 2 yrs at girls jv, 2 yrs as girls varsity asst, and girls varsity head ever since.
I just love what the school stands for and how unique the students are. There’s no place else I’d rather be. I had opportunities to coach elsewhere in the past, but I always turned them down because of what ULS means to me. Even after a tough season like this one, that feeling hasn’t changed. I still love coaching here.
— Kenny Kitamura
Add your voice
Share a memory– please send it to me, Lanning Lee
And . . .
Some of you may remember Dr. David Sherrill, now a retired professor of Education Psychology. He was an institution all by himself. He sent this letter to the College of Education family. A great read.
University Lab School * University High School * Junior Bows Alumni * Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 