Freshmen spread Christmas spirit
Photo by Courtesy of Mrs. Laepa’a
The freshmen line up in front of the performance stage to sing to shoppers at the Maui Mall.
The freshman class ventured outside the campus on Friday, Dec. 4, to spread some holiday spirit.
They started their day of service by caroling at Kamehameha’s ʻAʻapueo Preschool, located next to the football field on campus. Then they traveled to Hale Makua, Maui Mall Shopping Center, and Punana Leo o Maui. The finished by stopping at a Maui Memorial Park Cemetery to pay respects to the late Poʻo Kula, Lee Ann DeLima.
They even did a surprise performance at ʻĪao Valley for tourists who were enjoying their lunch there. At each location they sang Kana Kaloka, Jingle Bells, Mele Kalikimaka Iā ʻOe, and Mele Kalikimaka Iā ʻOukou.
“One of the best things that happened was that the class got to unexpectedly Christmas carol for tourists from New Zealand at ʻĪao Valley, and when the students finished, one of the women came to thank us and even hugged Marcus Ayau. As we were leaving ʻĪao Valley, students even voluntarily helped tourists back to their cars,” said Mrs. Kalena Laepaʻa, freshman class adviser and Papa Kākoʻo teacher.
The class of 2019 began practicing their carols on Monday, Nov. 30, but overall the field trip was an extension of their Pōʻalima ʻUlaʻula activities, when they made lei and Christmas ornaments. At each location, the class gave lei and ornaments. The ʻAʻapueo preschool also received seedling plants.
Sentiments among the students were mixed. Some students said that although they were grateful for the experience, the weather was hot, they had to walk “a ton,” and they didn’t enjoy singing the same songs over and over again.
However, Jordan Mitsumura said that he still enjoyed Friday’s field trip and was touched by the gratefulness of the elders at Hale Makua.
“I’m glad that our class was able to come together and make people of all ages happy,” he said.
All in all, the teachers of the ninth grade hoped that the freshman class learned something about giving without the expectation of getting anything in return.
