Waiakea High School

Waiākea High School
Waiākea High School
Address
	155 W. Kawili Street; Hilo, Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi 96720; United States
Information
Type	Public
Established	1976
School district	Hawai'i Department of Education (Hawai'i District)
Superintendent	Keith T. Hayashi
Principal	Kelcy Koga
Faculty	77.00 (FTE)
Grades	9-12
Gender	Coeducational
Enrollment	1,297 (2022-23)
Student to teacher ratio	16.84
Color(s)	Blue White
Athletics conference	BIIF
Team name	Warriors
Rival	Hilo High School
Accreditation	WASC
Newspaper	Ka Leo Koa
Communities served	Waiākea
Feeder schools	Waiākea Intermediate School
Website	waiakeahigh.k12.hi.us

Waiākea High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Hilo, Hawaii. The school's mascot is the Warrior. It is part of the Hawaii State Department of Education. The school graduated its first class in 1980, and has about 1300 students.^[2] It is across the street from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The campus boasts the sculpture Landscape on the Ocean by Satoru Abe. Waiākea High School's crosstown rival is Hilo High School.

Athletics

Athletic Director: Kalei Namohala^[3]
Assistant Directors: Donn Yamamoto, Michael Smith, Sharyn Kodama, and Dayton Uyeda^[3]
Athletic Trainers: Sharyn Kodama and Dayton Uyeda^[3]

Waiākea is a member of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation and has won state athletic championships in several sports, including 11 in boys golf, most recently in 2003. The boys Air Riflery team also took the state championship in 2004 and in 2010.^[4]

Boys Soccer BIIF champions
1984
1996
2020

Baseball BIIF champions
1982
1984
1996
1998
1999
2000
2001
2003
2004
2005
2007
2008
2011
2012
2014
2016
2016

bold denotes HHSAA tournament champions

Girls Swimming
2002
2003

bold denotes HHSAA tournament champions

In 2003, the girls' swimming team took the State Championships in both freestyle and individual medley relays.

Boys/Girls Judo

Boys	Girls
2002
2003
2005
2006
2007	2007
2008
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
	2016
2017	2017
2018	2018

In 2008, Ryan Higa took first place in state for his weight division for wrestling and took second in Judo.

Boys Wrestling
2011
2012
2013
2014
2020

Boys Track and Field
2011
2015
2016
2019

Cheerleading
2003
2009
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

In 2003, 2009 and 2014 the cheerleading team placed second at the State Championships. In 2012 and 2015 the cheerleading team placed second at the JAMZ National Cheer & Dance Competition.

Football
1994
1995
1996
1997
2001

Cross Country
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

Principals

Waiākea High School has had a number of principals over its history. They are as follows in chronological order: Robert Bean, John Sosa, Danford Sakai, Michael Tokioka, Patricia Nekoba, and currently Kelcy Koga.

A Honolulu Star-Bulletin article (published Monday, February 18, 2002) states, "Since its beginning, Waiākea has had six principals: Robert Bean, John Sosa, Danford Sakai, Michael Tokioka, Patricia Nekoba and currently Judith Saranchock. It has had three principals and two interim principals in the past four years." It is uncertain if all "three principals and two interim principals" were included in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's list.

The current principal, Kelcy Koga, returned to Waiākea High School after the retirement of Dr. Patricia Nekoba, who left in December 2006. He previously served as Vice Principal until his departure for Haʻaheo Elementary School.

Restructuring

Waiākea High School in 2003 began restructuring itself into Smaller Learning Communities from money allocated through a federal grant. These Smaller Learning Communities (more commonly referred to as SLCs) include a Freshmen Academy for 9th grade and career academies for 10-12th graders. These academies include Arts & Communications, Industry & Technology, Health Services, and Public Services.^[5]

Waiākea has also added a Mentorship program, which is required for all upper level students. Students are placed into a mentorship based on academy preference.

A new all weather track and football field were constructed in 2008, replacing the original aging track and football field.

In 2002, a fire started overnight in building R and caused an estimated $400,000 in damage. The building was restored and reopened in 2005. ^[6]

In 2006, another fire broke out, purportedly started by an arsonist, causing a purported $1.5 million in damage. ^[7]