In celebration of 100 years on its Manoa campus, Mid-Pacific Institute brought back one of its most cherished traditions: Kite Day!

On Thursday, May 1, 1,500 elementary, middle and high school students gathered on the football field to loft hundreds of colorful kites in various competitions: Most beautiful, most unique, most comical, and smallest (must be able to fly 25 feet in the air). These categories are based on the historical categories used for the Kite Day competitions in the early 1900s.

Kite Day was a huge event at Mills School (one of the three schools that combined to form MPI) in the early 1900s. Traditionally, there were no classes on that day, and people from all over the community attended the event. The school even has a letter from President Herbert Hoover recognizing the event and congratulating the school for its success. There are a number of Kite Day trophies proudly displayed in the MPI Alumni House.

During the 2007-2008 school year, MPI has celebrated 100 Years in Manoa by incorporating school history into classroom activities and alumni events. MPI theater students even devoted a scene in the play 100 Years in Manoa to Kite Day.

Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts presents

WIND of a THOUSAND TALES

Folk Tales from Faraway Places
By John Glore
Music and Lyrics by Diane King
Published by I.E. Clark Publications (www.ieclark.com).

For ages 5 and up

PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED WITH ORDER by Friday, April 25

May 2-4 & May 9-11

Fridays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.

TEA brings teachers from Eurasian and South Asian countries to the U.S. for a six-week stay, where they learn about education and how to better their teaching skills. At the end of their six weeks, the U.S. teachers meet up with them at a conference in Huntsville Alabama where they exchange teaching ideas and practices.

The Mid-Pacific ‘Ohana kicked-off Spring Break 2008 with the seventh Annual Ho’olaule’a Friday, March 14. To sum up: Lots of food, family, friends and fun… not to mention, musical performances by Ooklah and the Mok, Natural Vibrations and Black Square! MPI students enjoyed a student talent show, a paintball adventure, fun inflatables and games. The event was sponsored by the MPI SGA.

March 8, 2008, 8:30 - 11:30am
Mid-Pacific Institute Preschool & Elementary School

How do we honor the strengths of each child, while at the same time prepare her to be a reflective thinker and positive participant in the community?

Each child has unique patterns of thinking that can be revealed by careful observation of how he plays and explores a wide variety of media such as blocks, clay, drawing, or acting out a pretend scene. These media are part of an expanded definition of literacy, which can be viewed as a type of fluency in representing one’s own thoughts. When a child can represent and revisit her own thinking, this process enables her to rethink her assumptions about how the social and physical world works. And when teachers document a child’s thinking, they too revise their assumptions about what she knows and gain a new basis for high-level conversations with her.

Read the article in the Honolulu Advertiser

(Left to Right): Standing row-Dane Furutani (Mgr), Gabriel Fernandez, Daniel Wagner, Rigel Sestak-Hart, Brendan Wesley-Smith, Jonathan Chikamoto, Cody Sullivan, Lucas Sun, Ronson Shiigi, Iain McCoy, Kennedy Spencer, Karl Liang, Adam Bailey, Kelsey Morihara, Michael Wong, Matt Walker (Mgr); Kneeling row-Brandt Kuioka, Justin Masuda, Joel Saito, Taylor Chong, Tristan Hiraishi, Rex Meier, Marc Obando; Front row-Jared Domingo and Ryne Shimabukuro.

A special one-night performance of Shades of our Journey by Lion King cast members, including Moya Angela and Jeremiah Tatum, enchanted the audience Nov.26. These talented performers and musicians were showcased in a cabaret setting at the Cupola Theatre in the Honolulu Design Center. The show reflected the different shades of each performer's personal experience. For the performers, this was a way to give back to the community for its support of the Lion King. The $1,750 proceeds of this performance were donated to Mid-Pacific Institute during a recent visit to campus.

As a community service project, the student council also used this opportunity to share their holiday spirit with some soldiers in Iraq. Shaun Marie Aquino, an 8th grader here at MPI and her mother Kalsie and brother Jaron joined us as the council members packed boxes of gifts and aloha to send to her dad, SSG Maurice Aquino. He has been there since April and will not be home until August. Council members brought macadamia nuts, Hawaiian calendars, li hing mui, and all kinds of goodies to help their holidays go a little smoother. The 16 boxes should be arriving in Iraq any day!

This year you will see the 100 Years in Manoa logo on our web site, on all major school publications and around campus on a set of new banners. It's our way of commemorating a century (1908-2008) of fine work on our beautiful Manoa campus.

Reflecting on our history, we celebrate the joining of three fine schools--Kawaiaha'o Seminary (1864), Mills Institute (1892), and Epiphany School (1937).

These three distinct and vibrant school traditions created the foundation for what Mid-Pacific is today: a truly unique and inspiring preschool through grade 12 school.

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Does Star Trek appeal to kids today?

Meeting Leonard Nimoy

When: Monday, November 26
Time: 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Cupola Theatre, Honolulu Design Center

Admission: $25 ($30 at the door)
Students $10

Order your tickets at: 973-5022

A special one night performance by nine Lion King cast members featuring Moya Angela, Jeremiah Tatum and friends. A way to give back to the community of the city they are performing in. All proceeds for this performance will benefit Mid-Pacific Institute.

See these talented performers and musicians in a cabaret showcase reflecting the different shades of their experience and backgrounds. A truly special performance!

USA Weekend Best High School Musical Contest

Fame the Musical, presented by Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts, was honored with a USA Weekend Best High School Music Runner Up Award. The show was submitted for consideration by Linda Johnson, director.

William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Linda Johnson, is set for October 12-21 in Kawaiaha'o Recital Hall. The show will be staged in a modern-day context, with modern costumes. Reserved seats are $20 each, adult open seating is $10. Students, seniors and MPI students and staff with ID are $5. Please call 973-5066 for reservations. Friday and Saturday performances start at 7:30 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m.

Prospective students and their parents—from preschool to grades K-12—are invited to attend Mid-Pacific’s Annual Open House Saturday, Oct. 27, on our beautiful Manoa campus.

For grades 6-12, the 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. sessions begin in Bakken Auditorium with a MPI music ensemble performance. After starting off the day on a high note, parents and students will enjoy a campus tour led by current students. Refreshments will be provided. Middle school and high school faculty, staff and department heads will be available to talk with parents and students during the day. Visitors can enjoy demonstrations of art, technology and science. Parents and students are encouraged to stay on campus and chat with Mid-Pacific faculty and staff for as long as they wish.

Prospective preschool and elementary students and parents will meet at the MPI Elementary school for a self-guided tour of the elementary campus. Preschool and elementary parents may speak with the associate director of admissions, the elementary principal, as well as current parents and students. There will be demonstrations of the elementary school's Peer Mediation program. Refreshments will be provided. Parents and students are encouraged to stay on campus and chat with our 'ohana for as long as they wish. Session times are set for 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Please call 973-5005 for information and reservations.