Chapter 214: Anela

Wednesday, July 14, 1971

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have been cleared for take-off. Please be seated and fasten your seatbelts. Stewardesses, please secure the aircraft for take-off,” the voice over the intercom announced.

Most of us were still a little bleary-eyed, as we scrambled to find a seat and get buckled. Yesterday had been a very full day with a trip out to Oahu’s North Shore, where we explored the Waimea Valley, including a botanical garden and the beautiful Waimea Falls. That was followed by swimming and a picnic on Waimea Beach.

On our way back to the hotel, we had stopped to visit the Kapālama campus of the famous Kamehameha School. Ileana’s mom, Queen Kalani, had made the request of us when she found out we would be laying over in Honolulu. The campus had been referred to her by Secretary of State Rogers during discussions of a similar campus to be built on Tapato.

“Aloha. Welcome to Kamehameha School,” said the young lady who greeted our coach. “My name is Makani, and I am the assistant to the administrator. I am sorry she could not be here to greet you personally, however, she asked me to share our fine school with you and try to answer any questions you might have.”

I introduced myself and my mate, Ileana, and then the rest of my family and thanked her for allowing us to interrupt their school day.

“Nonsense!” Makani laughed. “Did you not relish an interruption of your own school day? Besides, it is not every day we are visited by royalty.”

A half dozen students surrounded Makani as she spoke. The girls curtsied and the boys bowed when Makani introduced Ileana and I, then, dividing our large family into smaller groups, we set out on our tour.

Makani was the guide for my group which included Ileana, Eve, Izzy, Jessica, and Hanna. Several students, ranging in age from about seven or eight up to mid-teens also accompanied us. They were all talking excitedly among themselves as we walked across the campus, but quieted when Makani began to talk to us.

“The Kamehameha School was established in 1887 as an all-boys school, under the terms of the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, a descendant of Kamehameha the Great and a member of the House of Kamehameha. The 600-acre Kapālama campus opened in 1931 and became coeducational just six years ago, in 1965, merging with its long-established girls school.

“As one of the most well-endowed schools in America, (the school’s endowment is rumored to surpass the endowments of Harvard and Yale – combined!), our self-sufficiency as a private boarding school allows us to restrict our admissions to only Hawaiian students. And while we teach our classes in English, focusing primarily on college prep, we try to enhance those curriculums with extensive teachings in Hawaiian culture, language, and practices; preserving and encouraging the continuation of Hawaii’s traditions.”

As we continued our tour, I felt a nagging sensation in the back of my brain, but dismissed it as Makani stopped us to tell us the story of yet another building. As we resumed, I forgot all about it.

“This seems like such a huge campus for so few students,” Jessica noted.

“Oh, we’re in the midst of our summer break. However, we do offer a scaled back curriculum for students who choose to stay the summer,” Makani explained.

“So these students stay here all year round?” Izzy asked.

Makani knelt and hugged two of the younger students to her bosom. “Unfortunately, some of them do not have families to return home to,” Makani said sadly. “So our school becomes home for them, and our faculty, staff, and other students become their ‘new’ family. Others prefer to stay in this environment than to return to their homes, for a variety of reasons.”

“You mean some of these guys actually choose to stay at school?” Eve asked.

“For many, going home means toiling from sunrise to sunset in the pineapple fields or on fishing boats, alongside the rest of their families, usually with only meager amounts of food to eat, and little in the way of creature comforts. There’s little leisure time or recess in working families. It’s not a very fun way to spend your summer,” Makani explained. “Sometimes, returning to their families means that their brothers and sisters have to get by on even less as their inadequate amount of food is shared out with the ‘visiting’ sibling. Other times, they know if they return home, they might not get to come back to school.”

“But, why?” Eve asked.

“Some will become too valuable as a worker or bread winner to be allowed to return. Maybe a parent has become sick or injured. Maybe the family has grown, or their needs have changed, requiring the young person to work instead of returning to school. Sometimes, a girl might have to marry in an arranged marriage to fulfill some kind of family plan or even financial obligation.”

I could sense the girls wincing as they considered what Makani was describing.

“You make it sound like they’re being sold!” Izzy protested.

Makani paused, looking down at the ground, then slowly she said, “I’m sure it can seem that way...”