The fear of what’s next for high school seniors after they leave school and move on to their next endeavor tends to be heightened in the final weeks before graduation. Finals, pep rallies, senior nights, graduation planning and practices fill the hours. All while they navigate their emotions around leaving something so constant in their lives; the friends, the classmates and the teachers they’ve spent some of their most pivotal years with.
As part of a special project, HPR's DW Gibson asked 10 seniors at Kapolei High School to keep an audio journal documenting their thoughts during the weeks before graduation. One of the main sentiments was that it all went by “so quickly.”
Students shared special moments such as seeing their teachers one last time, receiving recognition or awards, opening up their yearbooks, and taking part in the tradition of senior portraits and posters displayed on the fence. Here's what they had to say:
"I’m … the oldest child, so it's first time for parents to have a kid leaving, my first time, you know, existing and leaving at the same time. And my sisters, they're not going to have me around much anymore. We've already come to accept that. Got a decent amount of money saved up. It's kind of weird being the first one leaving. I'm so used to seeing older classmen leave, or leaving just to go to another high school since my dad's military, but like I said, week of firsts, right?" said Kapolei senior Israel Alvarez-Giron.
“The best part of my week was when my teacher, Mr. Peter, noticed that I was changing as a person and was doing better in school because I used to be a troublemaker and not really listen to nobody and start problems with a lot of people. But he noticed that I was changing as a good person and getting more things done and respecting more people as a result of that. ... All throughout my years here, I've just been goofing off and not doing my work. But ever since the start of the year, I started to do more work, pay attention in class more, and be more respectful towards others. And I've really started to enjoy school because a lot of people are actually making an effort to talk to me now. Because back then I used to be, I used to cut off everybody, from girls to boys to teachers to friends, family, because I didn't want to deal with nobody's problems," said Kapolei senior Ezekiel Kimo Gonzales.
“I wish I started going out with my friends more often earlier, because now that I've been able to hang out with them almost on a daily basis this week, it makes me miss what I could have had like in previous semesters or even quarters ... because we're all going our separate ways after graduation," said Kapolei senior Faith Madison Antonio.
"My journey of being a high school student was a bit different. In my freshman year, I was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's Burkitt's lymphoma. It's a type of cancer that's rare and that affects lymph nodes. ... I didn't really get to experience a normal high school teenager life that most kids got to experience. Instead, I spent mines in hospitals, doctor visits, going to school in a wheelchair, wearing a mask 24/7, worrying about my health, and eventually dealing with bullies. Thankfully, after multiple rounds of horrific chemotherapy treatment during my sophomore year, I was able to beat cancer and ring the bell. As of today, I'm now three years in remission and excited for graduation — and if you told me I was graduating soon, freshman year wouldn't believe you whatsoever," said Kapolei senior Kyra Lee Matsumoto.
"It's just beginning to dawn on me, especially with this, that, you know, high school's wrapping up. I'm a senior, soon to be a freshman, and really, I just really appreciated my time here at Kapolei High School. I really think, you know, as you work up through the grades, like you're not as, like, connected with the teachers and the other students yet. But as you, as you work up, then you really just feel this incredible sense of community, and you know, like, I didn't know I would be such good friends with my engineering teachers in the end, because I really enjoy my time, like even TA-ing for Mr. Calamara, and working with the sophomores, in addition to my other engineering projects," said Kapolei senior Nalupio Ledward.
"To my surprise, I ended up getting the award for 'Hurricane of the Year.' As the final weeks of senior year are approaching, I'm feeling very nervous about the life I'm going to leave behind once I graduate. But I'm also very excited for what lies ahead for me. I am not going to be staying in Hawaiʻi after high school, as I am committed to Purdue University to major in motorsports engineering this fall. So, moving to a new state and not seeing familiar faces will be a challenge for me. But as my journey continues, I will face it with confidence, moving past my final year of high school, keeping the guidance my teachers have given me, and the life lessons I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else," said Kapolei senior Tara Lyn Siy.
"Seeing our senior portraits get put up on the fence, that's kind of like a known tradition for our school that we just put up our posters along that fence that goes along the front of our school. I think seeing that was kind of like surreal, because it's like, yup, it makes it more real. I think this part was like another big step that was kind of taken to put into perspective how close we are to graduation. So I think that thing is also like very exciting, and just kind of, again, nerve-wracking. But it was very cool, seeing it get put it up. They actually put them up pretty quick, so I thought that was also cool too. Right now, still feeling a little scared, but still like happy that, like, we're going to be graduating, but also just a little sad. Still kind of bittersweet, I think. The more closer we get, the more excitement and the more sadness kind of builds," said Kapolei senior Heidi Herrera.
This segment is part 1 of a two-part series highlighting experiences, emotions and thoughts of Kapolei High School seniors in the weeks before and after graduation. Click here for part two.
This story aired on The Conversation on June 3, 2026. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. Tori DeJournett adapted this story for the web.
