East Hawaii high schools are still working to finalize graduation plans.
The state Department of Education earlier this month announced that “alternative celebrations” would take the place of traditional commencement ceremonies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
While still in the preliminary stages, Waiakea High School is planning a drive-through ceremony for graduates at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23, followed by a “virtual” video ceremony at 6 p.m.
Principal Kelcy Koga said the high school partnered with a radio station to broadcast the valedictorian and salutatorian speeches and other parts of the ceremony during the drive-through program.
Students will be instructed to be in the passenger seat of each car, with one student per car. For safety reasons, Koga said students will not be allowed to leave the vehicles.
“As close as we can (get) to our traditional ceremony, that’s what we’re trying to do,” Koga said.
This portion of the ceremony won’t be open to all family members. Koga said the school will only allow the student and whoever can legally and safely fit into the car.
However, families can celebrate during the 6 p.m. video ceremony, which will likely air on Na Leo TV. That program also will feature addresses from the valedictorian, principal and others, as well as the names and photos of the graduates.
“We’re saddened we can’t have the traditional ceremony, but we’re trying,” Koga said. “I know students understand we’re trying to get something as close as a traditional ceremony as possible.”
Hilo High School and Honokaa High School are planning similar ceremonies.
Plans were still being finalized as of Wednesday, but Principal Jasmine Urasaki said a “graduate drive-through” will take place from 3-5 p.m. May 22, followed by a commencement video that will be streamed at 7 p.m. Final plans will be provided to students when they pick up their cap and gown, Urasaki said.
The graduate drive-through will not be open to the public, she said.
“Graduation is so huge for everybody, for our whole community, and for it to be canceled … it was very different,” Urasaki said. “… We want to honor the students and our families, but then we want to make sure everybody is safe, so coming up with a plan, coming up with something that will keep everybody safe but will still honor our students, families and our community, we thought this was our only option.”
At Honokaa High, which is also finalizing its plans, Principal Rachelle Matsumura said there will be two ceremonies: one via video from the school library at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, and a drive-through diploma pickup at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23.
During the video ceremony, administrators will be live in the school library, there will be videos of speeches and students and families can watch from home.
And during the drive-through ceremony, Matsumura said students will be in vehicles with parents and family members, and will drive through “with posters and balloons” to pick up their diploma cover from administrators. There also will be music and a professional photographer taking photos.
Input about Honokaa’s ceremony came from a survey sent home for parents and students.
“We are still finalizing details for the programs, but are excited to see all of our 122 students be able to enjoy the programs,” Matsumura said. “Students have asked for a luau or another venue to happen when we are able to, so they can meet with classmates face-to-face and celebrate their graduation.”
Dean Cevallos, principal at Keaau High School, said several plans have been discussed, but his school is still unsure of what the program will look like until final guidelines from the state and federal officials are determined.
Regardless, though, “no matter what, we’re going to give our kids whatever we can,” he said. “They deserve it.”
Cevallos said schools and students are victims of circumstance and that the 2020 senior class was left in a lurch knowing they can’t have a normal graduation.
“We want to do everything we can to give them whatever the parameters will allow us to give them,” he said.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.