Coming into school this year, many students were troubled by rumors they had heard over summer vacation: something major had happened to homecoming.

“I was disappointed because as [a senior] I have looked forward to them announcing the Class of 2016 as the winners after the parade at the football game, and for that to be taken away our senior year made me sad,” senior Ayla Forsythe said.

But there was still good news for her and the rest of the school–none of the spirit week activities were being taken away. They are just moved to the spring spirit week, which is scheduled at around the same time that ʻAha Mele practices will begin.

Traditionally, spirit week, with all of its competition, took place during homecoming week in the fall, and a second spirit week of dress-up days and non-competitive activities took place in the spring.

The homecoming spirit week in the past consisted of daily dress-up days, Battle of the Bands, Boys Cheer, Class Step, Class Cheer, and Class Float. All of these events–except for the class float, which will still be paraded non-competitively during halftime at homecoming–will be moved to the spring spirit week.

According to Ms. Naomi Ashman,  one of several reasons that the Associated Students of Kamehameha Schools Maui agreed to move spirit week to the spring is that homecoming would’ve been so early this year.

“Homecoming [was] 6 weeks from the time that school started,” she said.

Homecoming this year is significantly earlier than last year, being that a later home game falls on Maui County Fair weekend, and the last home game is played during fall break.

“The spring spirit week will coincide with the beginning of practices for ʻAha Mele,” Ms. Ashman said.

It is hoped that this will ignite class pride in the all-school song competition.

In this 2015- 2016 school year, all three Kamehameha Maui campuses have been celebrating 20 years of its existence, and that was another factor in the change.

“When we met this summer, the student council met with vice principal [Mr.] Leo Delatori and [9-10] Principal [Mr.] Lance Cagasan and just thought, ‘Well, you know, maybe this is the year to start new things’ in relationship with the 20th anniversary,” Ms. Ashman said.

Though students were wrong about spirit week being taken away, they were right about homecoming changes being made.

Changing homecoming has been a reoccurring topic of discussion with administration as “teachers felt it was too competitive, and that it was not bringing together unity,” Ms. Ashman said.

The goal for homecoming is to bring class unity and reunite with alumni. A large issue with previous homecomings was that class competition played a larger part than school unity.

According to Ms. Ashman, homecoming week did begin with class pride, but throughout the years there were problems, like damaged class floats and hard feelings about the judging.

“Rather than concentrating on school unity, it’s been more about classes,” she said.

“…maybe this is the year to start new things…

–Ms. Ashman”

A rumor of homecoming week being changed to “unity week” also made the rounds, but it was confirmed false by Ms. Ashman.

“At first people were kind of upset over the fact that we got rid of the competitions, but when we explained the change and that we would still be having them, they started to accept it,” student body president Mauliola Gonsalves said.

To clear everything up–

homecoming week will take place Monday, Sept. 14, through Saturday, Sept. 19, with dress-up and activities as listed:

Monday: Monday Blues–dress up in all your blue clothes and enjoy the live entertainment!

Tuesday: All-out Athlete–dress up in your favorite sports apparel and enjoy some good ol’ flag football!

Wednesday: #SQUAD–dress up outfits that match a bunch of your friends, and look forward to some Wii at lunch!

Thursday: Tie-Dye Thursday–get decked out in head-to-toe tie-dye, then sip on a cool Jamba Juice smoothie (don’t forget to bring $5).

Friday: WHITE OUT! White out in your new homecoming t-shirts (which will be given to you during the week) and get ready to get pumped up at the pep rally! Keep the spirit going for the intense girls volleyball game against upcountry and league rivals King Kekaulike in Ka’ulaheanuiokamoku gym that night at 6 p.m.

Saturday: WHITE OUT! Come in your homecoming shirts and enjoy a day of Warrior fun! Before the game, everyone’s welcome and encouraged to attend the carnival on the practice field across the gym. The first 50 alumni to show up and check in at the alumni tent will get a free homecoming shirt!

There will be games, food, tattoos, prizes, an alumni concert (featuring alumnus Dane Lum Ho), and all things KSM.

Then, cheer on your football Warriors at their game at the Kamehameha Maui stadium at 7 p.m. against Maui High.