Notable Alumni of Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools, a private educational system in Hawaiʻi established through the will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, has a rich history of producing notable alumni across various fields. The schools were originally established in 1887 as an all-boys school for native Hawaiian children. In 1894, a girls’ school opened and in 1965 the schools became coeducational. These alumni have made significant contributions to society, embodying the values and traditions instilled by Kamehameha Schools. This article highlights some of the most prominent graduates of Kamehameha Schools.
Historical Context of Kamehameha Schools
Founded on the bequest of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, a member of the Hawaiian Royal Family, Kamehameha Schools was created to educate children of Hawaiian descent. Princess Bishop witnessed the decline of her people and sought to provide them with educational opportunities. Her will directed that her estate be held in trust to create the Kamehameha Schools.
After Bishop's death in 1884, her husband Charles Reed Bishop carried out her will. The original Kamehameha School for Boys opened in 1887, followed by the girls' school in 1894. By 1955, all three schools had moved to the current 600-acre campus in Kapālama Heights.
Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees
Neil J. Kahoʻokele Hannahs
Neil J. Kahoʻokele Hannahs, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, is the Founder and CEO of Hoʻokele Strategies LLC, a consulting enterprise focused on restoring Hawaiian values, fostering a thriving environment, generating a robust economy, and promoting social equity. Hannahs received BA and MA degrees from Stanford University.
At Stanford, Hannahs collaborated with Mariane Holu to write “A Proposal for Hawaiian Awareness,” advocating for changes in Stanford’s admissions approach to recognize the persistence of Native Hawaiian youth. From 2000 to 2015, he directed the Land Assets Division at Kamehameha Schools, managing 358,000 acres of agriculture and conservation lands. Hannahs co-founded the First Nations Futures Program in 2006 in partnership with Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and tribal organizations in Alaska and Aotearoa.
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In 1993, Hannahs executive produced the Liliʻuokalani Symphony, composed by Lalo Schifrin, to memorialize the historical pivot point of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Hannahs continues to be active in community affairs, serving on numerous boards of non-profit organizations, as well as the State of Hawaiʻi Commission on Water Resources Management.
Colin Cloud Hampson
Colin Cloud Hampson is a partner in the national law firm of Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, LLP, an organization committed to preserving and expanding the rights and interests of American Indian tribes. This includes his long-standing commitment to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, assisting with their campaign for federal recognition for many years.
Hampson was the Native Community's undergraduate representative to the Agenda for Action in 1989 advocating for an inclusive Stanford education. He championed the establishment of Native American Studies, increased funding for student community centers, and the hiring of Native American faculty. In collaboration with other Native students and Ohlone Tribal leaders, he led the effort to change the name of Lathrop House to Muwekma-Tah-Ruk, or “the House of the People” in 1990. Now approaching its 30th Anniversary, Hampson’s legacy of leadership and partnership contributed mightily to the Muwekma House vision and legacy of Native excellence.
As an attorney, he has advanced the frontier of tribal sovereignty on issues ranging from gaming, to environmental law, to economic development. Acting on behalf of his own Winnebago Tribe, Hampson and his colleagues at Sonosky, Chambers led the negotiations for the transfer of control of an Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital to the Tribe.
Karletta Chief
Growing up in Black Mesa, Arizona, Karletta Chief witnessed the adverse effects of mining on her family’s livelihood. After earning two degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford, Chief continued her studies at the University of Arizona where she received her Ph.D. in Hydrology and Water Resources. She is currently an assistant professor and extension specialist in their Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences.
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Dr. Chief’s expertise has helped facilitate the climate change dialogue between the science and tribal communities with cultural sensitivity. In response to the 2015 Gold King Mine Spill into the Animas River that affected downstream waterways in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah-including the Navajo Reservation-Chief formed a team of researchers who visited the impacted tribal neighborhoods to help those who rely directly on the river.
She has also made a tremendous impact on the Stanford community by organizing regional alumni events, co-chairing and volunteering for her 10th and 15th reunions, welcoming the next generations of students to the Stanford family through admit receptions, and hosting an Alternative Spring Break for students to show the Colorado River and its impact on energy, water, and regional and national significance.
Donald K. Warne
Donald Warne is re-imagining and revitalizing the legacy of healing crafted by his Oglala Lakota ancestors. Drawing upon constructs of wellness in his own community, he acknowledges “traditional American Indian healing methods-meditation, prayer and healing ceremonies-can help the treatment and recovery processes, but modern health care often leaves those powers untapped.” His research, practice and professional leadership roles embrace culturally relevant values and methods in tandem with modern health and medical practices.
Warne currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Public Health at North Dakota State University, where he founded the first Native Public Health graduate program in the country, and is an adjunct faculty member at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law specializing in American Indian Health Policy. He is the Senior Policy Advisor to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, and the first American Indian physician to be appointed to the American Cancer Society National Board of Directors.
Troy Walter Barbee, Jr.
Earning her B.S. in Biology from Stanford in 1981 and subsequently her M.D. in 1987, Jachowski completed her Pediatric Residency at Stanford University Medical Center in 1990. She worked in a variety of clinical settings and in 1997 founded a solo pediatric private practice on Maui that grew into a thriving clinic providing care for children from birth to eighteen years of age.
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Through the experience of teaching biology in a public high school, she gained insight into adolescent and attention deficit disorder patients. Jachowski returned to clinical pediatrics in 2006 at Andrews Air Force Base as a civilian pediatrician and was appointed Assistant Professor ofPediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Hebert School of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland.
Prominent Figures in Entertainment
Auliʻi Cravalho
A newcomer to the field of acting, the Honolulu-born actor originally attended Kapiʻolani Community College with the goal of studying music. Being cast for the role of Moana at the age of 14, Cravalho was thrust into stardom at an early age. Initially not planning to try out for the role, an Oʻahu talent agency found her singing at a charity competition and urged her to audition.
Tia Carrere
Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo, professionally known as Tia Carrere, made her big break on the American daytime soap opera General Hospital before starting a Grammy Award-winning music career.
Yvonne Elliman
Born and raised in Mānoa, on Oʻahu, singer-songwriter Yvonne Elliman topped the charts with her hit disco song, “If I Can’t Have You,” and released other chart-topping hits like her cover of Barbara Lewis’s “Hello Stranger” and her own original “Love Me”. She’s also a Roosevelt High School alumni and even played in the school band on standup bass and violin.
Kelly Hu
Kelly Hu is a famous alumni from Kamehameha Schools.
Notable Athletes
John Florence
Starting from humble beginnings on Oʻahu’s North Shore, Florence holds the current title of two-time World Surf League Men’s Champion. The surfing community knew Florence had potential when at the age of 13 he became the youngest surfer ever to compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Max Holloway
Fighting out of Waiʻanae, Oahu, 26-year-old Holloway stands as the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship Featherweight Champion.
Kolten Wong
Kolten Wong - Class of 2008, Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Other Prominent Alumni
Ellison Onizuka
The oldest son of Masamitsu and Mitsue Onizuka, Ellison Onizuka is one of the most prominent figures to come out of sleepy Kealakekua on Hawaiʻi Island. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in June 1969, and a Master of Science degree, Onizuka entered the airforce where he was on active duty as a test pilot and flight test engineer. Then selected for the astronaut program, he completed a total of 74 hours in space during the Space Shuttle Discovery mission of STS 51-C-becoming the first Asian American to reach space. Tragically, he passed during his following mission on the Space Shuttle Challenger, which was destroyed after a flame jet leaking from a solid rocket booster ruptured the liquid hydrogen fuel tank 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members.
Barack Obama
Another Punahou School graduate and probably the biggest name on this list, Barack Obama, who served as the 44th president of the United States, was born and raised-mostly-in Honolulu.
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