1946! What an important year that was for us! Fifty-four eager, but naive and inexperienced pupils began their first year of their long school lives at Kaunoa.
With spirits soaring, they trekked to the halls of mighty Kaunoa, eager to begin their learning. Among these first graders were: Nona Among, Susie Baldwin, Katie Baldwin, Michael Bates, Keith Briten, Evelyn Char, Lena Clement, Charlotte Chalmers, Harlan Cram, Valerie French, Mollie Ganiko, Ralph Gilman, Stephen Harada, Joyce Higashi, Astrid Holmgren, Jessie Ishikawa, Sandra Jones, Allen Katsura, Charlotte Kawakami, Barbara Kishimoto, Michael Kitagawa, Carol Koito, Bill Kruse, Lot Lau, Adrian Lee, Leiola Lum Ho, Erin Lytle, Emi Machida, Jeanne McCarty, Donald McDonald, Joyce Miyamoto, Camille Morishige, Sandra Murdoch, Kenneth Nakata, Barbara Nashiwa, Edna Ogata, Pauahi Stern, Julianne Perry, Lon Priest, Natalie Rising, David Rogers, Charles Savage, Jack Semura, Lei Shoda, Royene Shibasaki, Jean Shibuya, Charles Skinner, Karen St. Sure, Robert Stubbs, Melvin Tanaka, Ruth Taura, Robert Urata, David Vincente, and Nanilei Young. Mrs. Levin and Mrs. Brandt patiently took us by our hands and guided us over the many difficult places. They helped us to take a step forward into a newer, more difficult world. A few of our classmates decided to leave us at the end of our first year. They were: Charlotte Chalmers, Ralph Gilman, Adrian Lee, Erin Lytle, Donald McDonald, and Pauahi Stern.
Our second grade year was made pleasanter by the addition of James Davis, Robert English, Robert Erickson, Carolyn Krosnick, Diane Matsumoto, Allen Nakano, Karen Takitani, Thelma Ueoka, Billy Girton, Theodore Yoshioka, and Leslie Winkler. Mrs. Ann Upshaw and Mrs. Evelyn Rego were our teachers for that year. Jeanne McCarty, Robert Erickson, and Carolyn Krosnick left us for more challenging areas.
In the third grade our pilots were Mrs. Harriett Hasse and Mrs. H.L. Pruner. David Gutierres and Arthur Jarret joined us while Daniel Vincente, Jack Semura, David Gutierres, Harlan Cram, and Arthur Jarret left Kaunoa.
Hearing how exciting and wonderful our class was, Paul Matsui, Marsha O'Shea, George Saito, Robert Wassman, and Justine Danilek applied for permission to join us and were welcomed to Kaunoa. Mrs Harriett Hasse and Miss Nina Kirk maneuvered our lives throughout the fourth grade year. Jessie Ishikawa, Carol Koito, Barbara Nashiwa, Robert Urata, and Leslie Winkler left us that year.
Our fifth grade teachers were Miss Leona Golbinec and Mrs. Katherine Hughes. Newcomers into our fold were Roberta Boido, Teresa Correa, Annette Keala, Mary Ellen Van Voast, Walter Nakata, Nevis Hughes, and Thomas Osakoda. We were sorry to see Astrid Holmgren, Barbara Kishimoto, Marsha O'Shea, and Justine Danilek leave us during the course of the year.
Welcoming us in September of our sixth grade year were our teachers, Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Westcott. Allen Shimokawa became one of the gang and so did Mary Martin for a while until she had to leave us. Others who left us were: Bill Kruse, Karen St. Sure, Roberta Boido, Teresa Correa, Annette Keala, and Mary Ellen Van Voast.
When school opened for our seventh year, we were happy to have Mary Ellen Van Voast back with us once more. Joining us last year were Cynthia Duffield, Janice Crossman, and Judy Souza. With only a year to go before graduation, we were indeed sorry to have David Rogers, Robert English, Cynthia Duffield, Janice Crossman, and Michael Bates leave us. Mrs. Alice Walsh, Mr. William Tavares, Mr. Arch Pitney, and Mrs. Mary Lillie guided the flock over the last hump.
September of 1953 found fifty-two proud and mighty eighth graders with Michael Bates back, starting on their final lap of elementary education. Guiding us with patience and understanding were two very determined teachers, Mrs. Alice Walsh and Mrs. Jean Priest. As our last day here at Kaunoa, where we were reared in the traditions of the American Way of Life, fast approaches a cloud of sadness hovers above us.
And yet as we take leave from our Alma Mater, we hold our heads high and are happy in the thought that Kaunoa has taught us to become better citizens of tomorrow. Kaunoa can well be proud of its fifty-two Americans.
Michael Bates - Michaelkbates@aol.com
Lena (Clement) Rasmussen - lkr59@aol.com
James Davis - james.davis1@sbcglobal.net
Nevis (Hughes) deLaveage - nevis&andy@catholicexchange.com
Sandra (Murdoch) Klein - Sandraklein@webtv.net
Lot Lau - lotlau@hawaii.rr.com
Julianne (Perry) Lee - leesatkula@msn.com
Natalie (Rising) Heminger - heminger@goodnet.com