Charlie Cagampang
Class of 1975
I am a proud graduate of the KHS Class of 1975. The youngest of six boys, I was born at Kona Hospital in Kealakekua and was raised in Kainaliu, Kona. My mother and father were coffee farmers for the most part. I’ve been married for 36 years to my wife Susan and have two children, now married adults, that I adore and love dearly.
Since 1984 I have made “The Evergreen State” – Washington, my home. I live in Puyallup, one of many cities surrounding Seattle. I love many things about my adopted home state. The vast amount of natural beauty rivals even Hawaii’s. Two distinctive mountain ranges with trees, crags and waterfalls, nearby Mt. Rainier, countless rivers and lakes, and over one hundred islands in the Puget Sound to view and explore. Another reason I love Washington is the contrast in the four seasons of winter (snow and rain), spring (flowers and rain), summer (sunny and less rain), and fall (colorful fall leaves and rain). There are also all kinds of top tier artists and concerts to see at world class venues. I am also a true blue and green “12”! After forty years living in Washington, I love rooting for my Seattle Seahawks and also University of Washington’s athletic programs and sometimes even for the Seattle Mariners. Enjoying life and having my Ohana around me makes it all worthwhile.
After graduating from KHS in 1975 I played music professionally for nine years. In 1984, I left the Hawaiian islands to start anew and made the move to Seattle, Washington. I immediately got a job working in the plumbing wholesale industry. I worked in the warehouse to start, then worked in sales for twenty plus years, ending up as a Branch and Operations manager at two different locations in the cities of Seattle and Tacoma for the last 14 years. After thirty six years of serving the plumbing supply business I announced my retirement. I’ve been happily retired since 2019. What I love most about KHS was the tremendous amount of forever friendships that I made and continue to have even to this very day. Of course, I also harbor deep fond feelings for the band and choral departments.
My advice to today’s young Wildcats is that you should work hard, love hard, and live harder. Find your purpose in every day and don’t let anything or anyone stand in the way of achieving your goals and dreams.
The last time I was at the KHS campus was for a football game in the late 80’s. I have driven around the campus on a few of my visits back to Kona. I love the flash backs I get when I see places that bring great memories of my home in Kona.
“Hail Konawaena, Hail to thee”
Konawaena Alumni gathered in Honolulu to record Konawaena Alma Mater
Lyrics by former principal Clyde E. Crawford
Recorded on July 13, 2019 at Billy V's Studio by
Class of 1983: Susan Morigawara Suzuki & Billy Van Odol
Class of 1984: Noelle Ching Hasegawa & Raymond Koshi
Recorded on July 13, 2019 at Billy V's Studio by
Class of 1983: Susan Morigawara Suzuki & Billy Van Odol
Class of 1984: Noelle Ching Hasegawa & Raymond Koshi
(Honolulu, Hawaii) Dec 27, 2019 - From Susan Morigawara Suzuki: Band Program has been non-existant from Konawaena High School for some time. Getting it back has been an ongoing endeavor, but it takes many steps and time to get the right people to give their thumbs up "go" for the program and more. No Chorus program either. Current Principal Shawn Suzuki (Susanʻs husband) knows the value of the band program and is in full support, but once again the process is long to get it back. One of the many effects not having the band program has had, is the non-use of the Alma Mater. There is no band which means no playing of the Alma Mater after school events and athletic events. So with the Alma Mater out of use, it has kind of gone by the wayside. The football team picked up the pieces and was singing it at the end of football games, but it sounded more like a chant than singing according to Susan. So she has been re-introducing it into the elementary (she teaches at Konawaena Elem) and they are familiar with it, but at the high school level, not so much. Some of us alumni are getting together to bring it back. Back in the 80ʻs and portion of the 90ʻs, Konawaena took a page from the Kamehameha Schools and also started a song contest. We used to sing one song usually in Hawaiian, then the Alma Mater was our second song. Both would be judged individually. Classes sang it in 4 part harmonies. We are also bringing that back as Donald and Virginia Isbell had arranged the music. During that time Chorus teacher Mary Jane Kahanamoku worked with all of the classes to assist them in their musical endeavors. Mrs. Kahanamoku was the choral music teacher for more than 20 years at Konawaena. We are hopeful to bring the Alma Mater to a sense of pride for the current and future students of KHS, like it was for us as we grew up and went to school in Kealakekua back in our day. Hail Konawaena!
Konawaena High School Alma Mater
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Hail Konawaena, Pride of Hawai‘i
We Thy Children sing. Daughter of Pele, Mauna Loa Cradled, Make us worthy of thy Name. To Thee Oh Jewel of the Konas, Jewel within the Island Jewel. We Thy Loyal Sons and Daughters, Pledge Our Lives, Our Hopes and Aims. May the Light of Truth You've Kindled, Burning Bright as Pele's Fires Lead us on throughout the Ages. Hail Konawaena Hail to Thee. |
Hulō Konawaena, Hulō Ia ‘oe
Hulō Konawaena Ha’aheo Hawai‘i Mele Kākou nei Kaikamahine ‘o Wahinekapu Kapu ‘ia kou inoa! Iā ‘oe ka heke o nā Kona Kai ‘ōpua i ka la’i Kūnou mākou i ko ‘alo ‘Ōlelo ho’ohiki mau. Ipu kukui lamalama I ke Ahi wela ē ‘Alaka’i a mau loa, Hulō Konawaena, Hulō i’ā ‘oe |