For schools that begin in August and end in June, the 2025–26 school year is almost over. That means that here at Kaʻiulani Elementary School in Honolulu, HI, we’ve already started planning our promotion ceremony. It’ll be a celebration that unites our Hawaiian ‘ohana (family) with a unique blend of history, hula, and chocolate haupia pie.
Our school is named for Princess Ka’iulani, the Hawaiian princess, who was an activist during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the late 1890s. Although she died at just 23, she used her eloquence and diplomacy to stand for her people. Ka’iulani Elementary School was established in 1899, the year of her death.
In keeping with Hawaiian tradition, our graduation—which we call a promotion—is centered around a hula mount, which is like a stage surrounded by banyan and palm trees for shade. We set up chairs for the students and welcome parents to bring their own chairs and umbrellas for the celebration. I always invite our local dignitaries, so sometimes we have a state senator or representative in our audience.
When you have so many young children, you may think you have to forego meaning just to keep things moving, but I haven’t found that to be the case. Instead, we honor our heritage and our history with a celebration that makes everyone feel connected and engaged. Here’s how we do it and how your school can do it, too.
1. Invite past graduates back. My staff is amazing and for the third year in a row, they have tracked down all the kids who graduated from Ka’iulani Elementary and are now graduating from high school. We call it the “Senior Walk” and invite them to wear their caps and gowns to our promotion ceremony. They high-five the fifth graders as they leave the stage with their certificates, share stories with the younger kids, and reconnect with some of the teachers who were special to them a decade ago.
2. Food makes everyone feel welcome. My cafeteria manager uses some money we have set aside to make the ultimate Costco run. We have a lot of pupus (finger food), which invites families and teachers to relax, enjoy, and connect. Even if your budget only allows for a sheet cake, it’s enough to signal that graduation is a celebration.
3. Make it beautiful. No matter where you live or what your weather is like, you can transform the dullest cafeteria with balloons and decorations. I’m lucky that one of my creative teachers, Melissa Ching, was the brainchild for this idea and helped with the coordination. It’s always worth the time to make your graduation event feel special with flowers, and homemade signs.
4. Honor tradition. Each class has a chance to perform at our promotion ceremony. Our graduating class of fifth graders have the biggest job of performing meles (traditional songs) and hula, which is a form of storytelling through movement. Inviting history and culture into our ceremony has a way of making everyone feel connected.
5. Plan ahead. We begin planning in March for our ceremony in May. We have a small school, so we all pitch in. Who will take charge of invitations? Who else wants to prep the kids, get the cake, make the banner, or buy the balloons? It’s a lot of work but it’s so beautiful. It may take hours to make it that way, but it’s so worth it to see our students and families enjoy it. Last year, families stayed for about two hours after promotion ended, just talking story, taking photos, and eating. It will be a special memory for all who were part of it.
For more on planning graduation ceremonies, check out School of Thought posts like this one.
