Named after industrialist and philanthropist Henry J. Kaiser (who founded the Honolulu community of Hawaiʻi Kai), the school opened its doors in 1971, four years after Henry J. Kaiser's death.[2] Although enrollment has fluctuated throughout the years along with changing community demographics, the school currently serves approximately 1,100 students in grades 9–12. The school's mascot is the Cougar and the school colors are blue and gold.
With a graduation rate of 88.0% in 2013, the majority of students successfully complete high school; however, a noticeable percentage of the student body failed to do so. Compared to the Hawaii Department Of Education district, Henry J Kaiser High School has achieved a higher graduation rate by about 6%. Moreover, relative to the Hawaii average graduation rate, this school is ahead by 6%.
Kaiser is situated in Hawaiʻi Kai, a small upper-middle class suburban community in East Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu. The open-air campus, built on a series of hills has six multi-story classroom buildings. Additional buildings include a number of trailers, an office, library, cafeteria, gymnasium, track, football/soccer field, baseball/softball field, tennis courts, and swimming pool. The driveway leading up to the school is lined with large palm trees, a distinctive feature of the campus. Koko Crater, a dormant volcano, rises up near its east side and is featured on its seal.
Entrance to Henry J. Kaiser High School
Curriculum
The school's curriculum emphasizes college preparation and incorporates the Hawaiʻi Content and Performance Standards as well as national content standards.
Notable aspects of the school include: a School Community Council; comprehensive athletic and non-athletic co-curricular activities, the latter particularly focusing on community service; student government and leadership classes; an athletic complex, serving both the local community and the state; a Communications Arts & Technology learning center; Project Hoʻolokahi, a program working in conjunction with the Polynesian Voyaging Society; Air ForceJROTC; AP and Honors courses; a music program, the Kaiser Cougars Band (consisting of both marching and symphonic band) and Orchestra ; a four-year Guidance Program (KAP); and a code-of-conduct and attendance policy.
This school manages the AVID program as an elective course for the student who has a GPA between 2.0 and 3.5. The 8th to 12th grader can take an AVID class, and it is driven by the WICOR method, which stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading.[6]
Current Principal
Justin S. N. Mew has a master's degree from University of Hawaii at Manoa. He was awarded the Hawaii Middle School Principal of the Year in 2011. He received the Outstanding Library Service Award School Administrators Honoree.[when?]
The performances of the students
The students showed the average score 3.1 in reading and the average score 2.6 in mathematics. The percentage of proficient disadvantaged students are 57.8 of total disadvantaged students. The gap between disadvantaged and Non-disadvantaged students is -13.6.
The students' Advanced Placement (AP) participation rate is 34% of total number of the students, and the participant passing rate is 44%. The exam pass rate is 37%, and quality adjusted participation rate is 15%. The students' International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) participation rate is 19%, exam pass rate is 52%, and IB Diploma rate is 35%.[7]
(Data based on the 2013–14 school year)
Athletics
The school participates in the Oahu Interscholastic Association for athletics. The football program has had a number of coaches begin their coaching careers here, such as Kim McCloud,[8]Brian Ah Yat,[9] and Joe Seumalo.[10] Notable head coaches also include Kaiser alumnus Rich Miano, and former Weber State standout Cameron Higgins. The football program caught the national eye in 2017 when they cancelled their season after tensions between parents and Kaiser head coach Arnold Martinez led to altercations at both the school and Martinez's home.[11][12] Martinez resigned a week later.[13]
Notable alumni
Listed alphabetically by last name (year of graduation):
Rich Miano, two-time all-Western Athletic Conference pick during his college career at the University of Hawaiʻi, Miano was drafted in the sixth round by the New York Jets in 1985 and enjoyed an 11-year career in the National Football League. Miano has coached eighth seasons as an assistant coach on the UH Warrior football staff, Miano has coached seven all-WAC selections in six seasons at UH.
