Top: Missionaries of Faith Sister Monica Ja Len presented the St. Mother Marianne Award to Erica Domogma. Bottom: Urijah Jhedon Ragudo, left, seventh grade teacher Brittany Adams, valedictorian Mac Rinell Garde and salutatorian Gisele Miller were all smiles after Sacred Hearts School’s graduation ceremony May 29 at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua. (Photos courtesy Sacred Hearts School)
Hawaii Catholic Herald
After a school year filled with tragedy and challenges — as well as resilience and faith — 12 eighth graders graduated from Sacred Hearts School May 29 at the school’s current temporary location, Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua.
Sacred Hearts School’s campus in Lahaina was severely damaged last August by the deadly wildfire that tore through the historic Maui town. Principal Tonata Lolesio acted quickly to relocate the students and staff to the mission church’s grounds, where for the past 10 months students have gathered outdoors beneath large tents to continue their education.
The students, who received diplomas marking their fulfillment of the course of study laid out by the Diocese of Honolulu, received special honors including subject awards, honor roll awards, legacy awards, the Happy Heart Award, the St. Damien Award, the St. Mother Marianne Award and the Principal’s Award.
The parent of one graduate expressed gratitude “for all the amazing teachers and the support that got him to where he is now,” according to a press release from Sacred Hearts School.
Cara Sherman, whose son Cruz had attended Sacred Hearts School since kindergarten, said this year was “particularly challenging, but the school did an incredible job bringing the kids together and getting them back to school as quickly and as normally as possible following the wildfire, which also helps the parents tremendously.”
“Sacred Hearts School is like the students’ second home, and we are all one ohana,” Principal Tonata Lolesio said, according to the release. “Our journey has been challenging, but it has also brought us closer together and strengthened our community. Our faith has guided us through, and we look forward to our school’s new chapter as we relocate to our beautiful new campus in Kaanapali Resort starting this fall.”
The eighth graders who graduated are: Jack Clapper, Erica Domogma, Mac Rinell Garde, Meanelaokalani Leinaala Hatfield, Ashlee Grace Kimie Hufalar, Gisele Miller, Christopher Wallace Moran, Urijah Jhedon Ragudo, Iqui Sanchez-Udave, Channing Cruz Sherman, Kahiona Kamalani Silva and Tatiana Elizabeth Vehikite.