Celebrating the 8th Graders

Photo by Abby Chai

As Molokai’s eighth graders walked into the cafeteria, they couldn’t help but smile. Their parents had been hard at work, transforming the space into a dramatic night sky for the annual Eighth Grade Banquet.

Kui Adolpho, a parent as well as member of the parent planning committee, explained that the parents wanted the night “to feel a little more special.”

“We’re celebrating that they are getting older,” said Adolpho. “Getting the opportunity to dress up, it’s different for Molokai kids. They don’t really get that opportunity that much.”

The banquet, on Saturday March 16, started with a dinner, followed by ice breaker games and then a DJ.

“They’re a little shy when it comes to dancing in front of their friends,” said Adolpho, “so we wanted to have an ice breaker.”

The banquet was also a chance for Molokai Middle School families to bond.

“It connects the kids and the families as well,” explained Hamau Howe, Parent Community Networking Coordinator for Molokai Middle School.

“Many hands were put into it,” she said. “We transformed the cafeteria into a beautiful ballroom…it was a big surprise for them…As a parent I’ve never thought that a banquet could bring so much closeness with one another. If I wasn’t involved with it, I wouldn’t have experienced it.”

Over a week after the banquet, Howe said her daughter was still talking about the event.

“It brought us all together,” said Howe.