Why Hawaii People Ask the “High School” Question

[@HelloFromHawaii]

So what school did you graduate from? 🤙

[@99foki]

Waipahu high school Marauders! 07’

[@teddcuizon3964]

Mckinley HS go tigers! I also went Washington like you.

[@cesarcanete3402]

Mililani High School (Freshmen & Sophomore years) & Kalaheo High School ( Junior & Senior years). Class of 09. Go Trojans & Mustangs!!!

[@brewmasuisui2216]

Farrington 05

[@dancermom2]

Kaiser!!! Go Cougars!!!

[@dorayoung1073]

Yes, this island is so small that you tend to find some common connection with everyone you meet, whether it be from school, work, family or friends. Love all your videos! Keep it up!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@valeriepula3478]

Great topic sometime it just help with finding new friends, job searching, information about a place you really know, and many more.

[@LoveOldMusic808]

This is so true. I'd meet someone from Hawaii on the mainland and the first question would be, where you grad from. So much information and connections you get from just that one question. Go Tigers!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@JeffreyDeGuiaGoogle]

Hey bro! Finally this question explained!!! Been here going four years and finallyit makes sense when locals ask me! You gained a sub, love da vids! Keep em up!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Glad the video helped. 🤙

[@reddevilparatrooper]

I graduated from McKinley in 1986. It was exciting for me then growing up. I went into the Army after graduation and my adventure began traveling the world.

[@andrewwang3900]

Thanks for the tour of KCC. I was there when there were only 4 buildings at Diamond Head, and most of KCC was still at Pensacola.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

It was the first time I visited the campus. Very nice. Enjoyed walking around.

[@dennistani1986]

That's interesting because where I'm from, no one cares or knows what high school anyone attends. Here in the San Francisco bay area, it's all about where you went to college. Thanks for sharing your video with us!

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

Yep, very true. And, on the west coast, if you graduated from Stanford or USC, you're in the upper echelon. Not so much because those schools put out more competent graduates than other schools, but more so for the huge web of alumni connections that those schools have on the west coast. In Hawaii, no one cares what college you went to. Our high school is what links us together. So whether you went to college and graduated top of the class at Harvard Law School or you're a LCC Automotive drop out, no mattah, cuz nobody gonna ask, and no body gonna care.

[@joelm3725]

I beg to differ. San Franciscans who were either born here or grew up here always ask that question. They will even ask which part of San Francisco you grew up. When you answer the Sunset, the Richmond, the Excelsior, Bay View, HP (Hunters Point), Jtown as examples then you know you’re talking with a true SF person.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Definitely a Hawaii thing. No one in Colorado cared where I went to high school, other than other Hawaii people.

[@alexcarter8807]

On the mainland it's alllll about where you went to college, except among the actual ruling class, we're not even talking about upper middle class, we're talking about the actual ruling class, with them it's all about where they went to prep school. That will be places like Andover and Hotchkiss and yes, in Hawaii, it's Punahou. I mean, a real ruling-class family even if they have a place in Hawaii won't send their kid to Punahou, they'll send them off to the Northeast to one of these really elite "prep" schools. Then of course they'll go to Harvard or Yale. But they might go to Punahou until they're of "prep" age. It's all about making connections with the right kind of people when you're still a child.

[@nplus1watches35]

@@joelm3725 And of course the only right answer was Lowell. 😉

[@justasummerday3929]

So true! I wish I understood how important this was when I was a kid. I went to Kaimuki Intermediate & my Dad got me into Kalani cause he was HPD & his patrol was Aina Haina, but freshman year I got the crazy idea to go to Kaimuki cause that’s where the other half of my friends went. No shame on Kaimuki but I still kick myself today. Cause when my husband meets people from Hawaii & he says I grad from Kaimuki they say “So she like scrap, eh?” But my brother (who grad from Kalani) gets a more distinguished response. 😂 And yet I’ve never been scrappy as my high school stereotype suggests. As far as how we turned out, we both still did well. He became an attorney, I became a CPA

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Yeah, Kalani and Kaimuki have pretty different reputations. I could have gone to Kaimuki, but decided on McKinley. Tough call, but glad I went to McKinley.

[@zenhuladancingauntie4631]

Truth🤙🏼🙌🏼 My Dad grad McKinley and Mom from Farrington. My brother, sister and I went to school here on the mainland. When you say what high school, you’d be surprised how small the world is and what kind connections you make because of it. It’s may be an ‘aina thing but it’s an awesome thing because I’ve made so many friends and this is because of where Mom and Dad grad.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@byronharano2391]

My cousin is a Farrington graduate. Remember the Noga Family during da 1980's?

[@kithg]

The area I’m from is similar. The high school question follows ‘Where you from?” though. But if you’re local -here - then they’ll ask. And that’s true no matter where you are. I’ve met alumna from my high school in other countries. And you’re right - instant bond.

[@stacmnx8241]

LOL, this video was just recommended in my feed…and it just brought back so many memories and made me miss home so much. I graduated from McKinley ( go Tigers)… I’m a “townie.”

[@kellifabdandyfinds836]

I grad from Aiea in the 80's.😊

[@chanoah808]

I went to St. Francis High School, but lived in Kailua. For me, the first question asked is where you from, followed by what school you went. These questions are strictly about connection. If there was no connection with my school, there was usually some kind of connection made after finding out where they were from or what school they went, either through my parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunties, or cousins.

[@tracyalan7201]

Spot on! Connections definitely. Hawaii is big, but in this topic, we are still small town thinking. We are so inter-related that many have families spread across the islands, locations that it only increases leaps and bounds as we age and as our family expands via in-laws, cousins, cousin's spouses like an expanding universe. The location is next like you say, like the classmates, who we shared for anywhere from 12 to 3 years with, the location brings out those memories. Worked at a supermarket part time from high school until past college+, I had left to complete a final class and months later, on a vacation visiting family in California, the day I'm leaving and drinking coffee with my brother in law, sister, niece, I'm approached by a young woman who goes, you used to work at XXXX market in XXXX!!! What the heck?? I'm remembered? She goes I lived across the street and went in there all the time. It's as Disney says, "A small world".

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Small world!

[@matthewpulama106]

In my case, it's Leilehua Class Of 2012. And yeah, I get asked that question all the time. But at the same time, it's great since you know where people are from O'ahu or the other islands.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@reginagibson3847]

Leilehua67

[@kerriea3149]

Radford 78, ol school :). Ended up on the mainland working in Virginia with another Radford grad and another co-worker who's wife grad Radford too! It was like finding home.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Wow, all the way on the east coast. 😁

[@jonathanchristopher1099]

True Story: I went to Kaiser (80) and after graduation went to college in San Jose. Met a gal in college, married and brought her to Hawaii for our honeymoon. At the airport, the rental car I reserved was no longer available. We left the line and tried to think of what to do next. Then I had an idea. I got back in line, deliberately spoke pidgeon (college was able to train that out of me) and that this was my honeymoon. The girl thought for a bit, and then she asked what high school (I could tell she was testing me since I was haole). I told her and she said she was from Kalani and she remembered that my school was state football champs in 80. She said just a minute and came back with a car half-price. While she was ringing me up we swapped marching band stories. My new wife was stunned but she thought it was cool, especially since she had never heard someone speaking da kine funny lingo.

[@EvilTheOne]

When living in the mainland and working in the military, asking which state someone came from was the comparison to that question. True, to ask that question leads to other questions, as it leads to the possibility of common friends/acquaintances. As the "high school" question compares to 'states", the "year" someone graduated may compare to which "city/town" mainland people hail from. Just a thought . . .

[@miyakegaijin]

Off Topic I learned that in Japan people are deeply connected to their Junior High classmates and not their high school classmates. They knew each other since kindergarten days but after Junior High they compete to get into high level, middle level, and low level public high school. Those in middle and low level are embarrassed to be associated with that school. Those in the high level are fiercely busy studying to get accepted into University. Some people wish public schools can be competitive for students but be careful what you wish for. A lot of people in Japan have a kind of shitty high school experience. Imagine 33% of the high school student population has a stigma of being in a school for dummies. I loved my public high school in Hawaii. It was challenging for me in a good way and I had a good experience forming friendships with all walks of life in my school.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Mahalo for sharing. 🤙

[@Golgibaby]

Pearl City High. Also a GE, as I was raised in Waipahu. The question of where you went to high school definitely is a significant cultural reference here if you grew up local. I remember introducing myself to a local professional association meeting and intuitively opened with where I went to high school--and I felt I established homegrown credibility favorably. I have mixed feelings about that nostalgia and the sometimes limiting trajectories or social disparities on opportunity based on the school stereotypes, namely with the privilege that comes with private school versus public school education. Appreciate the thoughtful commentary about connection and will look up Seth Godin's book.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

The Seth Godin book is more about leadership and cultivating that tribe, but still interesting perspectives. Hope you enjoy the book.

[@edrictong1350]

St. Louis High (when it was only 9th to 12th grades). My dad and younger bother went there too. I took The Bus from Kailua every day to and from school (1 hour each way). Great school. My grandfather was so proud of graduating from McKinley in the 20s and UH in the 30s. His big claim to fame is that Hiram Fong was his classmate and good friends for life.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Yeah, McKinley definitely has some notable alumni.

[@kennethbriner5390]

I graduated from Aiea 1969.

[@Errr717]

I graduated from St Louis long time ago when some of the teachers still remembered with fond memories when classes were at McKinley during WW2. That was when the military decided to take over St Louis for their hospital.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Didn't know about that St. Louis/McKinley connection. 🤙

[@byronharano2391]

I agree. Becomes most important after graduation. I met some classmates aboard US Carriers I served on. Hana hou!

[@biafra-bi4nt]

Great video with an interesting topic. Enjoyed that you walked around KCC!!!!!!!!!!!! Haven't been back there in like 23 years lol. Still looks great. BTW I graduated Kailua High School.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@melanieathwal4038]

Graduated from Farrington HS in the dark ages. Went there for two years. Junior year full time, Senior year part time. I had lots of credits and chose to be a working student. Spent most of my years in being indoctrinated in Catholicism until I rebelled! No one where I live cares about what school I went to other than a friend who has the same last name. They’re more interested in where I worked and where I’ve been since leaving Hawaii. Went to two reunions. It was interesting to see people in the same impenetrable cliques. Some grew beyond High School. Sadly, some did not. Hadn’t really thought much about High School until seeing your video. The famous question “what school you grad?” put a smile on my face because it’s so typical of Hawaii!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Mahalo for sharing. Haven't been to a reunion, but it's coming up, I think. Would be interesting to see how everyone grew up.

[@TheKdunn57]

The one thing I loved About locals in Hawaii is the closeness of Family multiple generations in one home was Common. Its not common here and Discouraged it seems Toobad for The keiki. Hawaii is so great through and through when I lived at Dr Satos apartment side his house he explained this to me. I was very lucky living there and my first job at Macy’s Kahala such a super local store. I learned so much from my coworkers. So wonderful I miss it all

[@alexcarter8807]

This is something you'll find all over once you get out of the USA. A friend of mine's wife is from Iceland. She's working here but I have no doubt she'll retire back there. She says, "In Iceland we do things together, here everyone does things alone".

[@TheKdunn57]

Exactly my mum tried to get Me To be in Groups all the time or with my coco family :) I think that what turned me to doing things on my own. Don’t like people along excuses and waiting on someone drive me crazy. So here is where I’m going if want to come text me.

[@just_inhawaii]

I graduated from Castle and the most common reaction I get from others is, “oh, you don’t seem like you went to Castle.” It’s a reaction made of surprise, a dash of pity, and a pinch of “ glad you made it out”. 😂

[@HelloFromHawaii]

lol. I guess that's a compliment 😆

[@alexcarter8807]

My impression was always that Castle was tough because of all the transplant military kids. Not locals - other than the locals had to toughen up too because the transplant military kids always wanted to scrap.

[@leavingcube5]

I always found it funny how some schools were just always enemies. My mom grad Kamehameha and my dad St. Louis, and my mom always talks about her Kamehameha friends first reaction to her dating a St. Louis boy (obviously very confused). One of my friends went from Punahou to Kamehameha but every time we hear Punahou we look at him like “we don’t wanna hear it”

[@HelloFromHawaii]

😁 Those local rivalries

[@seymourbutts4463]

Bruh my neighbors is St. Louis and I’m kahuku, talk about rivals. Lol

[@kelvinyschun]

Great video. I attended 2 high schools and taught at 5 high schools, 3 elementary schools, complex and district, and traveled to statewide schools. I saw the similarities and differences! They all have tribes ... students and teachers! Student tribes: Athletes, Band, Academic Clubs, Social Clubs, etc Teacher tribes: Department and grade levels

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Great insight. Didn't know about teacher tribes.

[@kelvinyschun]

@@HelloFromHawaii There are administrative tribes also ... Principals meet with each other and discuss school vision and teacher development training

[@calejuice]

As a local born and raised in Hawaiʻi, the one thing that I always found odd here was the obsession with high school prestige. We are literally the only state where if you ask someone "aye, what school did you go to" the expected answer is supposed to be your high school rather than your undergrad institution lol It is so cringey... the status that Punahou, Iolani, Mid-Pac, etc. hold in our workforce is ridiculous. It is just weird thinking about how corporate elites in their fifties in Hawaiʻi are judging people's work ethic based on the high school they graduated from. It gives off this vibe that is similar to the high school all-star quarterback who grew up to be a nobody and refuses to not let go of his past haha Grown men are bragging that they went to private school instead of public school at Mai-Tai's bar - cool bro, no one cares. I have theories on why this is... I think it is rooted in heavy Asian influence in our mixed pot culture. Us Asians like to compare themselves to others and are prestige obsessed to the point that is unhealthy so I assume that cultural influence plays a role into the cringe we deal with LOL

[@teddcuizon3964]

I get what you mean. I feel better when private school kids from k-12 end up at UH Manoa. Nothing wrong w/ UHM but if you went private school all your life, why cant you afford Brown or some ivy league college

[@HelloFromHawaii]

It's something that will probably continue in the workforce. I believe it's been there since missionary times. Just part of the culture.

[@Lopezflies888]

I noticed that girl in the news whose last name is Lum always always has to put in somewhere that she graduated from Maryknoll 🙄

[@Lopezflies888]

@@HelloFromHawaii I'll remindmy son to put down McKinley 😆

[@JoeSexPack]

1) Social class/$$$/prestige 2) Geographic tribe (island/city) 3) Genetic tribe (race/ethnic affiliation)

[@kshiosaki]

My mom went Aiea and my dad went Pearl City… the rivalry still brings out laughs in our household since we split- the girls are Na Ali’i and boys are Chargers… It’s true, we really do care about what school you went!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Big rivalry there. 😆

[@tonisanoedelacruz9754]

Aiea mo bettah....

[@alexcarter8807]

It's to find out what social class you are, and to some extend who you might know (who'd be understood to be the same social class). Hawaii is race and class obsessed but there's good news: The mainland is, also, in fact even more so. So the high school you went to is a pretty good indication of what social class you are. Kahuku, where I went for a few years (final year at Kaiser of all places, then actually graduated by taking the GED all at one sitting, because I could not afford to work) is about the bottom of the barrel, and Punahou the upper crust. Now, most of Hawaii is pretty damn normal. By normal I mean, people act like they do pretty much everywhere in the world. Parents want their children to get a good start in life, and when the parents get old, the kids look out after them. Extended family are present in the children's lives, and the whole ohana works together. However, one "wild card" you'll run into in Hawaii is, haoles. You know, white people. White culture works like pretty much no one else. Everyone is on their own and a lot of haoles brag about "working since they were 14" and "ran away from home (or were thrown out!) at 15". Everyone. Is. On. Their. Own. Parents cant hardly wait for the kids to leave at age 18 or they throw 'em out sooner if they can. Kids are on their own to find a job, decide on a career, go to college or trade school etc. This is why white Americans complain so much about school loans. Locals in Hawaii get family help and don't need to borrow money to go to school or if they do, it's a minor amount. Another thing haoles do is something that goes way back in British/European culture called "primogeniture". What this long word means is, generally if the parents help any of their kids, they ONLY help the oldest. Hence, my older sister, the oldest of us, actually got to go to, and grad from, Punahou. She's set for life. The rest of us, parents and even extended family didn't care if the rest of us graduated high school or had jobs or became homeless or anything - again, this is a strong norm in white culture. This answers in my own case how I can have a sister who went to Punahou, while only 2 of the other 4 of us have real high school diplomas and I had to take the GED myself. It's how whites do things. Hell I'm not even all white, my father was, my mother not, but her family were immigrants to the mainland long ago and were ashamed of themselves so they wanted to do things the way my father did - dog-eat-dog. Why am I writing all this? Well, first it's a chance to talk stink about white culture because it sucks. Secondly, unless the Hawaii persons you're dealing with are white, they're going to act like Hello From Hawaii's wonderful family. They're going to care about each other and really care they they are all doing well, not just one or two. Only expect this hyper-individualism "raised by wolves" background with haoles. Thirdly, if you are a white mainlander, and I know about 5 million of you want to move to Hawaii, this is one of the ways you're going to find it different, as in very different. In Hawaii, people work together. They are not constantly looking for ways to screw over and back-stab the other guy to "get ahead". There's much more emphasis on the group doing well, on your friends doing well, and in turn they help you if you are a good person. It's pretty much 180 degrees the opposite of white mainland culture. Chances are you're not going to "get" it, and when you try being dog-eat-dog in Hawaii, not too many people are going to like you, and this is how we get people not fitting in and moving back to the mainland in a few years. Lastly I'm going to say to you 5 million mainland people who want to move to Hawaii, why? From San Diego halfway down the coast of S. America, and from the Carolinas to Florida to the East Coast of S. America and the Caribbeaen, you've got the coconuts and palm trees and warm weather, at 1/4 to 1/10th the price of Hawaii. You've got visits to mainland friends much closer. You've got better scuba diving and sailing than Hawaii in a lot of those places. You can be pretty poor and still buy and own land. Hawaii's great, don't get me wrong, but there are soooo many places as good or better for the things mainland people move to Hawaii for, why not take a serious look at those?

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Mahalo for sharing and the thoughtful comments. Sounds like you should have done a vlog about living in Hawaii 😁 Appreciate what you said.

[@exlahainagirl]

Your white culture and mine were/are totally different. Although I did work from the time I was 14, but it was because our family needed the extra monies. We were always encouraged to excel at school. I can't think of one haole friend of mine that ran away from home or was thrown out of their home. Our extended family were supportive of us. Our family was always gathering together. We always had a house full at dinner time. Sometimes, we didn't even know some of the ones that ended up at the house to eat. :-) I am sorry that you grew up in a family that didn't care for you.

[@pcdude2394]

I was raised up from a poor family and went to a crappy high school here in San Jose, California. My High School had a bad reputation in the district for fighting every single day, especially the cholos going at each other. This was back in the late 80s. When my wife asked me what High School I graduated,I told her the name of my school. Her reaction was, how did you survive and finish college. I told her when you’re poor, you don’t have much of a choice . You make the best of it and college was and still is a must to get out of poverty. BTW, I graduated from Yerba Buena HS in San Jose Ca. Class of 91. On of the students from that school just got shot by another student 2 weeks ago.

[@dasfreshyo]

I'm the same age and i know SJ pretty well. You're fr a tough place. I know kids fr Indy, (late 80s and early 90s) SF schools and east bay. The whole Bay Area was wild back then. I was never in a gang, but i dodged bullets and beatings often.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Mahalo for sharing. 🤙

[@alexcarter8807]

Let me guess, "East Side Represent?" Yeah East side San Jose can be rough. Glad you got out. And yeah I believed college was the way out of poverty too. It kind of was, except I went into something with hardly any jobs and low-paying - electronics. I hope you didn't make that mistake.

[@pcdude2394]

@@alexcarter8807 I have a computer science degree, but almost got into electronic engineering. Glad I didn’t. I still live in San Jose. Bought a house in a more affluent neighborhood so my daughters don’t have to attend ghetto high school. I wouldn’t be surprised those thugs are still living in my old neighborhood making minimum wage and collecting welfare checks at the same time.

[@dukeloo]

I went to PCHS, but also attended Kawananakoa Middle School, and Nuuanu Elementary. SO I grew up with a diverse background.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Wow, great schools, though. Must have been interesting to transition from Kawananakoa to PCHS.

[@theway3058]

Great topic. Anouther would be sports. Soccer Football. People assume everyone surfs but there is great history in other sports. I surfed all my Dayz but my daughter plays high level soccer on the mainland. We go back and forth. Family is everything. Thanks

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Sports is a great topic. I'll add that idea to my list.

[@rayage777]

Isn't the reason McKinley HS has so many notable alumni, because that was one of the few high schools locals could go to in the early days (30s). My Dad and uncle went to McKinley and my other uncles went to Roosevelt.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

It was considered Tokyo High, so plenty of Japanese went there.

[@jktk648]

@@HelloFromHawaii True. Also, donʻt forget the egalitarianism of Principal Miles Carey (who ensured a rigorous and uplifting education out of a heart for local people) and Governor John Burns (who spoke up for the Japanese community--including many of his own friends and associates, including Lt. Gov and future Gov George Ariyoshi--during WW2, fighting for them instead of allowing full-scale unjustifiable incarceration in "internment camps"). Both McKinley and Roosevelt were multiethnic and multicultural, although the large Asian population did lead to the moniker "Tokyo High" for McKinley. Also interesting in Hawaiʻi history is that Roosevelt became an "English Standard School" which students had to test into based on English, written and spoken/pronounced. Some joked that Punahou was the Roosevelt Wanna Be, while others joked that Roosevelt was the Punahou Wanna Be. (Theyʻre both in Makiki with a generally higher socioeconomic population. Roosevelt boasts more Kānaka Maoli [Native Hawaiians] as it is within Papakōlea. Both have consistently high test score averages. One is free. The other now costs $20,000/year per student, a price that ensures a rigorous education with a lifetime of graduates who network in the working world. But networking also happens between public school alumni as well.) McKinley High was once Honolulu High, with even earlier names starting from 1833, during the Hawaiian Kingdom. One sad note about becoming "McKinley" and about Roosevelt becoming an "English Standard School" was the intentional erasure of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian language, as well as any other language than English. My parents in elementary school were physically struck across the hands with wooden yardsticks or other sticks if they spoke their mother tongue. Sadly, for my mother, it erased her ability to speak her mother tongue with her own mother. My mom was a McKinley Tiger too when Hawaiʻi was a Territory of the U.S. and not yet a state. My father was a Farrington Governor through the Great Depression era. Iʻm a proud Campbell Saber. Even though "townie" ʻohana would tease us for being "country bumpkins" in what was a very rural area, all my siblings and I, as well as many friends, went on to graduate with masterʻs or doctoral degrees. In the end, we all end up as part of the community that is Hawaiʻi and work alongside everyone who graduated (or not) from anywhere. But certainly, we end up asking, "What high school you went?" It is because ʻohana surpasses the boundaries of high school and we all can make connections because we know someone from the "other" school or we know something about it. It is also because education, public or private, is a connecting common experience we can all relate to.

[@drewy412]

Love your videos. So informative.

[@lynsuzs]

I get the same reaction when people ask me where I grad from. “Whoo, sorrrry, huh???! So rich!” I grad from Kaiser. Then I have to explain that the Hawaii Kai wasn’t the Hawaii Kai that is today. I grew up in Hawaii Kai when Lunalilo Home Road had California grass on both side of it. And the farther down you went on that road, it was mostly dirt roads and lots of farms (lots of pig farms) which my parents were one of them. And we weren’t rich. We lived in a Quonset hut type of house. I remember that road (Hawaii Kai Drive) that goes to Sandy Beach was a dirt road and didn’t connect to Kalanianaole Highway. I don’t know how far it went up that hill at that time because I was too scared to go past a certain house that they said a man hung himself and it was haunted (vacant old house). We only were able to continue living in the area because Bishop Estate provided a valley just for the farmers (which still exist till this day).

[@HelloFromHawaii]

lol. Yeah, typical reaction. Mahalo for sharing how things used to be in the area.

[@alexcarter8807]

This. Hawaii Kai was not that high muck-a-muck back in the day. Yes, there were rich people. But there were some def. working class people too. It sounds like you lived there in the really old days. I moved there when I was like 5, and they just had that one Foodland, and were just building the rest of that Koko Marina place. Back in the valley, we used to go and catch little tilapia with nets, go out on the Portlock Pier and try to hurt ourselves, etc. And there was a "haunted house" right on one corner on Portlock Road.

[@amma2x310]

Radford wayyyy back, in 82 when the Rams were undefeated and Coach V. died right before a playoff game. I know someone remembers that. Everything was big news back then.

[@pkkimjanis6146]

I wen grad from St.Andrews Priory but lived in Waipahu. Does that already tell you something? It was really a rough school and my mom pulled me out of Waipahu and sent me to St Andrews. I had an opportunity to go to Kamehameha since I have koko but when I was growing up in Hawaii there was some sort of racial discrimination. You right growing up thats what we asked.

[@gilbertahsam643]

I'm from Kailua high school but now retired living in Ohio and living my best days of my life. Life is good and blessings from Jesus Christ 🙏 is awesome 👌

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@middsmx5595]

I to graduated in Kailua in 1970 and got drafted and ended up in Northeast Ohio for 40 years before retiring and moving to Kentucky. Go Surfriders!!!

[@nwboarder253]

Even after living on the mainland for many years I still do it when meeting someone from Hawaii. It’s the easiest way to know a lot about someone really quickly. Red and blue til death.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@theroadrunnerjarhead4109]

Leilehua a long time ago. Me and my friends would cut school and visit other schools like radford high school. There were a lot of kids from the mainland whose fathers were in the military from bases like wheeler Air Force base or schofield army barracks. The haole girls liked the local boys.

[@snailgirl6]

Me: *homeschooled* Also me: doesn't really care... But I "get" why people who are familiar with the social groups. I think it's a "traditional" way to identify local prestige and pride....

[@Mimi-bh3yo]

I remember boys came and asked me “ what school did you grad?” at night clubs. And they went ….. when I told them I was from Tokyo. Old days :)

[@HelloFromHawaii]

😂

[@suitcase6698]

Kailua high grad here! Now living in Utah!

[@cstgraphics8420]

I'm a Washington middle/McKinley grad that lived in Aiea... not sure if McKinley still does this, but no other school I've seen had a PE program that allowed you to walk to Hawaiian Brian's to play pool lol.

[@Macau1]

Thats crazy to hear haha

[@doris3594]

Graduated Kailua High School ! Go Surfriders! I would move back from the mainland but can no longer afford Hawaii….

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@ashleylangas120]

Same here!

[@wanderlustfarm]

I went to Kailua, too. I was back visiting last week after being away for 22 years. Now you say you grad from Kailua and people think you rich. In the 90's KHS kids were from Waimanalo and Enchanted Lake. Plenty kids came from no money.

[@trip3009]

I noticed a lot of my local friends would ask that same question - and immediately ask it they know someone in the school. Often times they would…

[@ms.annethrope7670]

Makawao School guavas🤙🏼then Maui HS iykyk

[@kuuleiikawekiu7086]

Graduated Kamehameha. It is so true, I have lived all over the world and whenever you run into locals the first question is always where u wen grad?

[@bigkanak797]

Kamehameha so you work Hawaiian Airlines?

[@maxfit68906]

“Upper Farrington” 😎

[@kuuleiikawekiu7086]

Soo funny! NOT!!

[@maxfit68906]

@@kuuleiikawekiu7086 Just kidding! I went to Farrington 🤙🏽

[@kuuleiikawekiu7086]

@@maxfit68906 no worries I wasn't replying to u wen I said not funny lol. I have family that went Farrington

[@frankballungayjr.1979]

Born and raised in Waianae, but never attended any Waianae school Districts.. From K-5 I attended St Joseph School in Waipahu because my mom worked at Waipahu Intermediate.. So I walked to my mom's school after school.. 6th - 12th grade I attended Mililani school district, attended and graduated from Mililani High School, because my dad worked in Mililani, and after school I would walk to his work place.. Left the Islands in 1994 and resided in the Pacific Northwest.. As far as what school you attended growing up it doesn't matter.. Its what you make of yourself after high school and later in life.. I know people that graduated from Waianae High School and they are in the medical field..

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Mahalo for sharing. I have friends from public school who are highly successful. I think it comes down to what a person wants to do and how hard they are willing to work for it.

[@haircole]

I’m an old white guy from the mainland. I really enjoy guessing, I only know a couple schools. My Hawaiian friends always laugh when I ask if they went to Punahou. Back in the day 1960s

[@HelloFromHawaii]

😆

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

Chris, I am enjoying reviewing watching this video as I do watching many KZbinrs' videos. I am curious to know, please, the following: 1) Why isn't the COLLEGE question asked more of people in HI? I am guessing that it is because people go away for college, maybe leaving the islands? 2) McKinley HS was called "Little Tokyo", back in the days. Is this still the case? Just curious and not wanting to perpetuate any stereotypes, if there are any.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

I think the high school question says more about you than college. And it's definitely not Little Tokyo these days. It's more mixed.

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

@@HelloFromHawaii Huh! For real? College says a fair amount about someone, I think but that is not the case in Hawai’i so … there we are. Maybe, come to think about it, college says a lot about what your family / your parents can afford, so maybe HS is more the equalizer in Hawai’i? And, thank you for replying about McKinley HS. Someone I know (from Oahu) told me that it was called Little Tokyo, so … because you said you went there, I thought I would ask an expert. Mahalo for any and all responses, Chris.

[@eileentaba960]

🙋🏼‍♀️Washington and McKinley! Go tigers!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@ru1ru0ru]

Yep - MidPac from Kailua side. 85 express bus to UH

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@Ironmonk036]

I didn't graduate from Hawaii High School but I did teach at Pearl City High School for 3 years.

[@SeahawkMoments]

Hooooooo Buddy!!! Crusaders!!! ‘93 here (only went 7,8,9 grade before moving to Seattle but they still treat me as alum)

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@nicholaschang2035]

Yup yup McKinley Tigers C/O '06

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

This Haole went to Campbell….and Leeward CC

[@l-200uv2]

Kalaheo 👑👑

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@paulkarl5302]

Places that care about your high school tend to be backward, insular places with little mobility or opportunity (e.g., New Orleans, Cincinnati). It's about being in the club that divides the small plate of spoils amongst its members.

[@cesarcanete3402]

You're from Kaneohe?! For reals?! That's awesome!! You're close to me. I'm from Kailua. Well, split my time between Kailua & Mililani growing up, so you're from one of my hometowns lol

[@HelloFromHawaii]

96744 😆

[@cesarcanete3402]

@@HelloFromHawaii 96734 or 967 "tree" 4 cuz we smoke dat pakalolo lol 😂😂😂😂

[@cesarcanete3402]

@@HelloFromHawaii Just joke. I'm grew up really sheltered & didn't do any of that stuff. The Mililani part of me doesn't roll that way lol.

[@haunaniriley1894]

Grad from Waianae high 1971 . But I'm fron. HILO MAHALO F9R. ASKING .

[@alanyoung159]

Roosevelt, Rough Riders! Me and you can't get along, you went McKinley =P Where's this filmed? my best guess, it looks like KCC, but not really.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

Our rivals! 😁 Yeah, it was at KCC.

[@mikethompson3534]

I think it’s so immature for people to cling on to the past who cares if you graduated from a public or private school . I grew up on the big island in the 1970’s but when I moved to Honolulu people would ask me that question where you grad and when I tell them they would look surprised as I would be considered as a hillbilly like any country school on Oahu maybe more but a lot of them that I know their careers choices were less than desirable and they barely could afford financially stay afloat and moved back with their parents to this day even though they graduated at punahou,St Louis and other private expensive schools I graduated from a simple public school and did really well in my career and have more than enough wealth to show for my hard work so it doesn’t matter where you came from it’s what you made out of it

[@KM-rl1ml]

I graduated from McKinley too, go 🐯

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@Millie-qf8nr]

Castle '73. Go knights!

[@mattmiller3244]

I left the islands to join the military and neve moved back cause of price of paradise. Rolled into the islands a couple times in the last 30 years. No one has ever cared where I went to High school. Or even college. It just doesn't matter.

[@bigkanak797]

If you went King and Castle you’d be good at rolling dice and chicken fight.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

😆

[@dasfreshyo]

I'm on da mainland. Last week at a coffee shop a guy was there with a Hawai'i sweatshirt. I was chatting w him telling him how I love visiting Oahu and said "what school you went grad?" He wen Kapolei HS 🤙

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@richard85121]

Kaimuki, McKinley and grad Kalani 💪😎🤙

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@exlahainagirl]

Needless to say, if you look at my name, I graduated from Lahaianaluna High School (way, way, way back many years ago.) Oldest school west of the Rockies. Imua Lunas!

[@nplus1watches35]

Lahainaluna is public, and boarding too, right? Definitely a very cool combo.

[@Puna_G]

That's a fact! You already know (generalized) what kind of person, how they act, and even personality and values. LOL Then the next question, "what year you grad?" For age and generation you grew up. 😂 Waiākea High School (Hilo)

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@apachekeawe-aiko4900]

Olomana/castle high/youth train 97🤙🌴🌊

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@kalihipalama1762]

I went to Farrington! Why? A: What high school did you go to? B: I went to Farrington! A: Ooooooooohhh! End of conversation! I attended KCC Diamond Head in the last 70s, the school had only 1 two story building for classes but look at it now! Nice!!! Has to be one of the most beautiful and scenic campus in the world!

[@HelloFromHawaii]

lol. I had family that went to Farrington back in the day. 😂

[@Threewolfs-]

Wai’anae 😜🤙🏼, X and son went Farrington (best KFC hot wings next door 😝). Aloha 🤙🏼❤️🇺🇸 (one day they put Hawaiian Flag 🥰) 🤠.

[@andrewlink537]

Lahainaluna...class of 81😁

[@nomuramai]

kaimuki! what about the second, kinda more important question..."what year?"...

[@teddcuizon3964]

I went McKinley and Washington like you & now youre at my college

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@alisoncabanatan7171]

I graduated from Hilo high school

[@Threewolfs-]

Always want da ask, were you get “Hello from Hawaii” shirts? Ahead Mahalo, Aloha 🤙🏼❤️🇺🇸🤠

[@HelloFromHawaii]

I had the shirts printed for myself, but haven't made them available yet. Still trying to find the right shirt printer due to quality concerns.

[@Threewolfs-]

@@HelloFromHawaii let me know, I’ll be the first. Need in multiple colors now, especially red 😜👍🏼. Mahalo, Aloha 🤙🏼❤️🇺🇸🤠

[@donnabotelho2195]

Nanakuli 😎🌺🤙🏽 I do the same thing.

[@eromson1]

Baldwin H.S., (Maui) GO BEARS!!🤙

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@johnson4940]

I love your topic 👍👍👍

[@Alturnative-kl4de]

Ima be going campbell soon

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@DragonNinja]

How do you feel about home sellers saying you have to be x% Pacific Islander to buy their home? I see how it can be right and wrong. I understand wanting to keep the sense of community strong, but at the same time I couldn't imagine anywhere on the mainland getting away with that kind of thing with any race.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

I'm assuming that the home is not on Hawaiian Home lands, since that is a different story. It's too bad that that kind of thing happens, but not surprised. Land is precious.

[@DragonNinja]

@@HelloFromHawaii it was called "Princess Kahanu Estates" in Waianae. It says you have to be at least 50% Hawaiian to buy. You're right though. Land is precious, especially with such a small amount of available livable space on the island being bought up by the rich. Still, it feels strange thinking of if I was buying a house, and it said I had to be half German to buy it.

[@DragonNinja]

Just realized using German as the example connects to some not so great imagery, lol. I only chose it because I'm about 75% German.

[@evalina98000]

Wen Catholic school, parents worked plenny, fo pay HS tuition, 2nd jobs. Den mo kuleana fo kids, make dinner, do laundry fo familia. Go restaurant a treat, had 1 kula store bought uniform, got other 1s @ discount stores &/or homemade, sewn. School & parents had mo academic, behavior expectations & wen we fool round, lower grades & get grounded. Ae, where we grad made a dif n r lives. 😜

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@keoni37]

Hawai't Prep '65 Go Ka Makani !

[@hazelpiaoed10]

Local people always ask and when I say I grad from Kamehameha they normally say, k den. We always talk story and we both just miss home more than before.

[@HelloFromHawaii]

😆

[@maxsoto5296]

Yessah! Go Tigers 🤙

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@lylytorrence4890]

Hilo high... go vikings!!!

[@eddiea1120]

Farrington High School🤙🏽...class of 31 years ago😑

[@derekho6750]

Kaimuki H. S…now reside in the Bay Area.

[@da808straybuilt6]

They ask for see where you stand and if they see if they can punk you 😂 and if so they either learn the hard way when they take your kindness for weakness(school you from)

[@yukiwithrp4945]

a very good episoď, very deep and very nice, thanks

[@HelloFromHawaii]

🤙

[@sandrita808]

McKinley Go Tiger

[@OkiP0wer]

Go Chargers!