WAIMEA — More than 50 local residents ranging in age from 6 to 83 gathered Saturday for the centennial celebration of Waimea School’s historic N Building, now known as Isaacs Art Center. The structure housed the elementary school classrooms from
WAIMEA — More than 50 local residents ranging in age from 6 to 83 gathered Saturday for the centennial celebration of Waimea School’s historic N Building, now known as Isaacs Art Center. The structure housed the elementary school classrooms from 1915 until the early 2000s, when it closed in a state of disrepair.
“The N building was moved in 2002, restored in 03-04, and opened as Isaacs Art Center in Oct. 2004,” said Mollie Hustace, director of Isaacs Art Center, who spoke at the event.
Graduates attending the commemoration shared fond memories of their days at Waimea School in between bites of birthday cake.
“Right now, I’m standing in the fifth grade classroom and I’m amazed at how tiny it is because I always picture it so large,” Pat Lewi remembered, who attended Waimea School beginning in 1947, the first class to return after World War II. “There was no kindergarten so we went straight into first grade. All of the teachers had different personalities. Those were momentous days. I always treasure these early memories.”
N Building was assembled as Waimea’s first public schoolhouse in 1915-16 by the Territory of Hawaii, and served generations of Waimea children. The building is now on both the National and State Register of Historic Places.
Alexianne Blake attended Waimea School as a kindergarten student in 1951 and returned to teach her own students in the same building years later.
“I’m glad they saved the building,” she said. “I actually taught the GT class here in 2001.”
Memories are still fresh for Mary-Alice Kawai-Nogues, who attended kindergarten there in the early 60s.
“I started at Waimea School in 1961 and my grandmother was my teacher. It was wonderful, with toys and a green piano,” she said. “I stayed in this building through fourth grade and I’m a teacher now at HPA. There was a tremendous amount of rearing that took place back then with teachers who cared a great deal. I also remember having homemade buns for our hamburgers and hot dogs in the cafeteria. In the morning you could smell them baking and homemade shortbread cookies too.”
Stennis Hirayama attended fourth grade in the N Building in 1990.
“I remember I had speech class at the very end of this building. It was very old,” he said. “It looks like a brand new building now. It’s nostalgic. I’ve never been back in this building before today.”
The 100th anniversary event began with a blessing ceremony led by Anna Kalea Kuwalu. Community oral historian Jan Wizinowich, who worked last year with Waimea Middle School students and kupuna to gather oral history research about their days attending Waimea School, shared an overview of her new book, “Small Kid Time: Waimea Schoolhouse Stories” that includes interviews with 10 Waimea School students including Blake, June Coelho, George Cochin, Eva Kealamakia, Charlie Kimura, Lester Kimura, Lewi, Leiola Michell, Leila Staniec and Janet Stevens.
The book may be available for purchase at a future date.
Info: janwiz@gmail.com
