Two Special Visitors - Mr. Haga and Mr. Rumford

Today’s assembly featured two very special guests. 

 

As part of our "100 Years in Manoa" celebration, the elementary school students will be putting on an opera in conjunction with Hawaii Opera Theater.  The opera tells the legend of Kahalaopuna and is based in Manoa Valley.  To help our students understand the legend better, we invited author/illustrator James Rumford to speak.  Mr. Rumford has written and illustrated a number of children’s books, including a book entitled Kahalaopuna.  Mr. Rumford read Kahalaopuna to the students and even showed us his original watercolor paintings that were included in the book.  It was amazing to be able to see the original work of art and how that original piece was transformed into printed form.  The students are even more excited to get started on planning the opera!

Our second special guest was Mid-Pacific alumnus Mr. Samuel Haga.  Mr. Haga came to celebrate his 106th birthday with us!  This was a special time for our entire school and especially our class since Mr. Haga’s great-grandson is class member Justin Schatz!  To illustrate to everyone the significance of turning 106, Mrs. Hussey had one child stand up for each of the years Mr. Haga has been alive.  By the time we were done counting, almost half of the students were standing up!  We then sang Happy Birthday and gave Mr. Haga cards and posters we had made for him.  We feel honored to have been able to share this special birthday with Mr. Haga and his family - the Koikes and the Schatzes.