The Honokaa Hongwangi Buddhist Temple will host its 61st annual Honokaa High Baccalaureate Service at 5 p.m. today, repeating the special theme “Repay It Backwards.”
The Honokaa Hongwangi Buddhist Temple will host its 61st annual Honokaa High Baccalaureate Service at 5 p.m. today, repeating the special theme “Repay It Backwards.”
The entire community is invited to attend the service at the Honokaa Hongwangi Social Hall, 45-5016 Lehua St., with potluck dinner to follow.
The Honokaa High School class of 2015 will thank their teachers and honor the classes of 1940 and 1965 at the baccalaureate service.
Temporarily assigned Principal Trisha Burns will address the graduates.
This year’s graduates are encouraged to show their gratitude for teachers who helped them along the way by submitting a short statement, thanking a specific teacher. The teacher need not be present, and the student will have the option of personally reading the statement or having it presented by the emcee. Public, private and home-school students, and all teachers are invited to participate or attend.
In addition, the baccalaureate service will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Honokaa High School’s class of 1940 and the 50th anniversary of the class of 1965.
The temple invited alumni who will be introduced as special guests and honorees. The community is encouraged to spread the word to any friends or family they know who were members of these classes.
Honokaa’s commencement is 10 a.m. Saturday at the school gym, where 125 graduating seniors will receive their diplomas.
The baccalaureate service is free to students, families and friends and the general public of all faiths, creeds and beliefs. The New Dharma Band will perform and dinner will be served after the ceremony. Aloha wear or finer; potluck or other donations suggested. Gifts will be presented to graduates, courtesy of the temple and sponsors.
There is an open invitation to all graduating seniors and their families. Home-schooled students are included as well.
RSVP to shingofurusawa@gmail.com.
Inquiries regarding instructions for students, teacher nominations and statements can be sent to Miles Okumura via email atmisterokumura@yahoo.com or info@peacedayparade.org.