115 Years of Gold and White

Corilee Harbottle, Staff Reporter • October 18, 2024

Sacred Hearts Academy proudly celebrated 115 years of all-girls Catholic education this year, marking the milestone with a vibrant display of white and gold decorations across its Kaimuki campus. From festive balloons to eye-catching banners, the school was adorned in honor of the occasion. The weeklong celebration featured spirited dress-up days, allowing students to showcase their school pride, along with sweet treats, including a special birthday cake. However, the highlight for many was the highly anticipated assembly in the gym—a cherished tradition made even more special this year with the inaugural invitation for alumnae to join in the festivities, reconnecting past and present generations of Lancers.

Founded in 1909 by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii, has deep roots in the Catholic tradition. The Sisters’ founder, Father Pierre Coudrin, established the order with a mission to teach young women to live in love and faith, emulating Jesus and Mary. This commitment to empowering young women with education began in 1859 with the opening of Sacred Hearts Convent, a boarding and day school for girls on Fort Street. By 1909, the Sisters expanded their vision, founding the Academy in Kaimuki, where it quickly grew, adding more buildings in the 1920s to accommodate its expanding student body. In 1990, the administration of the Academy was passed to a lay staff, continuing the tradition of excellence in education.

This rich history of tradition, growth and community was honored at this year’s assembly, where students, faculty and alumnae came together to celebrate the Academy’s enduring legacy.

Sister Regina Mary Jenkins and Sister Rose Henry Reeves shared memorable stories about their time at the Academy, including their favorite experiences, reasons for becoming sisters and recollections of what it was like when they went to school as Lancers decades ago. Jenkins also described what the school looked like when she was a student. One memory included a big tree that used to be where the fountain in front of the Performing Arts Center is now located.

Senior and proud daughter of the Academy, Ofa Tuiafitu, took part in a special tradition at the start of the assembly, handing out yellow roses—a symbol of Lancer pride—to graduates as their names were called. As a daughter of the Academy, Tuiafitu has been part of the school community since preschool, growing up immersed in its traditions and values. Many alumnae choose to continue their legacy by enrolling their daughters at the Academy, drawn by the wealth of opportunities both in and out of the classroom. “Handing out roses was an honor because I’ll be an Academy alumna in six months,” Tuiafitu said. “Seeing all the women who made it possible for me to attend (this school) was great.” Tuiafitu is an example of why families return generation after generation, making the most of the Academy’s enriching programs. She serves as a leader in Student Council, Yearbook and Video Productions, while also contributing to the school’s worship team—demonstrating the well-rounded education and strong sense of community that continue to define the Academy.

Let’s go, Lancers! The Lancer cheer team brought energy and excitement to the birthday assembly, spreading school spirit with their enthusiastic performance. Dressed in gold and white, these dedicated athletes proudly represent the Academy at sporting events and recently competed in the state championships for the third consecutive year. Their passion for cheer extends beyond the upper school, inspiring younger students through the school’s pep team for lower school girls, who look up to them as role models. Through their performances, both teams help foster a strong sense of pride and unity within the Academy community.

The band and color guard students also helped boost school pride with a lively performance in the gym, showcasing their talents. Their performance could be heard beyond the Kaimuki campus, reaching the wider community. They can frequently be seen throughout the community, participating in athletic events and parades. “I enjoyed performing for the Academy’s birthday because I loved hearing the different parts of the song come together to create such a beautiful piece,” said sophomore Ally Yokoyama, who is in the front left of this photo. “As for color guard, since it’s something I’m very passionate about, seeing the different techniques we can perform and how far we’ve come as a whole band meant a lot to me.”

Father Jeremy Sabugo closed out the assembly, uplifting the crowd and guiding everyone into a spirit of worship. As the school’s first chaplain, Sabugo took on a special role in the ceremony, praying over each grade level, beginning with the lower school and continuing through to the upper school. Attendees were invited to join in the prayer, fostering a sense of unity and spiritual connection. “I enjoyed being a part of this assembly,” Sabugo said. “It was such a blessing to be able to bless all the students, teachers, faculty and alumni who chose to join us on this special day. It’s important that we were able to bless everyone, praying for a successful school year and for their journeys, both inside and outside of school.”

Following the festivities, the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts Congregation gathered alongside Father Jeremy Sabugo and several Academy graduates, many of whom have maintained strong ties to their alma mater. These graduates have returned to the Academy in various roles—as faculty, staff, teachers or dedicated volunteers who help bring school events to life. Among them is Kehau Bugado ‘97, a proud daughter of the Academy and an Academy theology teacher, who shared what it means to be back. “I feel like I’m at home when I teach here, (especially) being surrounded by my friends that I call sisters and who I also went to school with,” she said. Her connection to the school runs even deeper, as two of her daughters currently attend the Academy, while her eldest recently graduated and now works part-time in the afterschool program.

About the Contributor

Corilee Harbottle, Reporter

Corilee is a first-year Journalism student and a senior at the Academy. This year she hopes to be more involved in the school community and to strengthen her skills in communication and writing newspaper articles about different sports. Corilee enjoys spending time with her family and shopping in her free time. A fun fact about Corilee is that she’s very outgoing and likes trying new things.

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Thomas Amend • Jan 28, 2025 at 8:39 pm

Sacred Hearts Academy assemblies like the one described so thoroughly in your amazing piece, may be unsurpassed in combining spiritual energy with pageantry, sacred symbols, and ceremony.

It’s very telling in a wonderful way how generational the SHA family is; two, three, and even four generations of girls-to-women educated and nurtured spiritually, socially, and intellectually to go out and bless✨ the world!


https://kaleo.sacredhearts.org/2024/10/18/115-years-of-gold-and-white/#comment-486448
ayla • Dec 4, 2024 at 12:57 pm

Great photos, they captured the events of the assembly very well.


https://kaleo.sacredhearts.org/2024/10/18/115-years-of-gold-and-white/#comment-486440
Joy Gora-Aina • Dec 2, 2024 at 2:10 pm

Great article!! showing all the alumni and sisters come together and celebrate the school and how it is thriving and continuing the legacy.


https://kaleo.sacredhearts.org/2024/10/18/115-years-of-gold-and-white/#comment-486422