"Our T.A.L.E, Our Time"
(Tracing a Legacy of Excellence)

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Check out what's happening for Waiakea's 50th Anniversary celebration!

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Congratulations to

Ms. Saplan as our new WHS Vice Principal!

This month the Kaleo Staff had the great opportunity to interview our newest Vice Principal and we asked her 5 questions to help us get to know her

By Lellalynne Pukahi & Aniese Colon

Question #1: What school were you teaching at before coming to Waiakea? How long have you been teaching for?

Prior to coming to Waiākea High, I was at Waiākea Elementary for three years... One year as a school-wide coordinator and two years as Vice Principal. Prior to that, I was at Keaʻau Middle School - 15 years as a school-wide coordinator and before that, three years as a math teacher. This is my 22nd year in the DOE. This is my first year at the high school level

Question #2: Where did you go to school/college?

University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Question #3: What brought you to Waiakea High School?

Since I had experience with elementary and middle school aged students, I wanted to learn about high school students and what it is like to be an administrator at this level. I also wanted to be mentored specifically by Principal Koga and was fortunate to be hired.

Question #4: In your free time, what are some of your favorite hobbies, interests, pastimes, or TV shows?

I enjoy researching places to travel to, listening to podcasts, and watching Korean dramas.

Question #5: What are you most looking forward to this year?

I am most looking forward to building relationships with students and staff, and participating in as many school events as possible.

The history of 9/11

The idea of turning September 11 into an annual day of service was originally conceived in early 2002 by David Paine, at that time a public relations executive who had grown up in New York City. Later that year, Paine was joined by his friend Jay Winuk to form the nonprofit group One Day's Pay. Winuk's younger brother, Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney at Holland & Knight LLP and a volunteer firefighter affiliated with the Jericho Fire Department, was killed in the line of duty during the rescue efforts on September 11. He died when the World Trade Center South Tower collapsed, and his remains were recovered approximately six months later in the South Tower lobby area alongside other first responders, with a medic kit he had borrowed at the scene.

In 2007, the organization formally changed its name to MyGoodDeed. In 2011, in observance of the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, MyGoodDeed joined with other national service organizations to help organize what was then considered the largest day of charitable service in U.S. history, with more than 30 million Americans participating, according to research conducted by Horizon Consumer Science on behalf of the organization.

In 2023, the nonprofit adopted the name 9/11 Day to align its identity more directly with the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, which it leads. Today, 9/11 Day continues to engage more than 30 million Americans annually in charitable service, including volunteering, donations to charities, and simple good deeds.

9/11: A day of remembrance

What is 9/11 about?

The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance or 9/11 Day is a federally-recognized National Day of Service that happens in the United States on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Originally founded by the 9/11 nonprofit 9/11 Day, the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance later became federally recognized and authorized as a Day of Service under passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which was adopted on a bipartisan basis by the U.S. Congress in 2009. Later that year, President Barack Obama amended the Patriot Day Presidential Proclamation, first established by President George W. Bush, officially designating September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Surveys conducted by 9/11 Day claim that approximately 35 million Americans observe 9/11 Day by engaging in some form of charitable service, making 9/11 Day the largest annual day of charitable service in the United States. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance and Martin Luther King, Jr. 's birthday, are the only Days of Service officially recognized and established under federal law and Presidential Proclamation. According to the nonprofit 9/11 Day, the purpose of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is to transform the anniversary of 9/11 from a day of tragedy into a day of doing good. "We wanted to make sure the terrorists didn't have the last word in forever defining for generations to how America would remember and observe 9/11," said 9/11 Day co-founder David Paine. "We wanted instead to honor the victims and those who rose in service by keeping alive the spirit of unity and service that arose in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks."

Activities during this day

Activities by volunteers on this federally-recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance have traditionally happened largely on a grassroots level across the nation, through service projects organized by local nonprofits, employers, and faith groups and others. Many people share their plans and messages through social media on 9/11 using the hashtag #911Day. Additionally many schools and students now engage in service-related activities as part of lessons about the history of 9/11 Day. Beginning in 2016, MyGoodDeed started organizing its own, large-scale service projects in major cities. These events are known as 9/11 Day Meal Packs, where volunteers from local organizations and companies spend time during the day on 9/11 assembling non-perishable meals for people who are food insecure. Over 20,000 volunteers participate to provide more than 6 million meals for those in need.

Labor Day: Recognizing the Working Class Spirit

By: Eliza Caton and Elsie Corrigan

Labor Day: A Brief History

Labor Day falls on the first Monday of every September. This year, Labor Day will be celebrated on the 7th, allowing a 3 day weekend for students. Labor Day is an average holiday to most, best known as the “unofficial end of summer”. However, it’s much more important than a simple mark of the start of fall. Labor Day is a holiday meant to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and hard work of all laborers in the country. But how did it start?

Around the late 1800s, during the peak of the Industrial Revolution in America, the average US citizen was working 12 hour workdays, 7 days a week, in exchange for minimum wages. Despite restrictions in certain states, children as young as 5 years old were enlisted to work in factories or mills, alongside adult laborers, earning only a fraction of their salaries. The workplaces were often unsafe and unsanitary, and limited breaks were given. As manufacturing demand rose, workplace conditions became harsher. Stations were dangerous and unsanitary, poorly maintained, and workers were given limited breaks. Unable to stand working this way any longer, worker unions began to increase in amount and intensity. Through organized protests and strikes, laborers began to negotiate wages and work hours. One famous instance of these rallies occurred on September 5, 1882, in which 10,000 took their unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square, located in New York City. This is recognized as the first Labor Day parade in US history. Over time, the idea of a laborers holiday began to catch on, and many states passed legislation acknowledging it as an official holiday. However, Congress wouldn’t recognize the holiday until 12 years later, on June 28th, 1894. On that day, Labor Day’s legitimacy was authorized by President Grover Cleveland, and it was decided that the date would be celebrated every first Monday of September.

Labor Day: Who came up with the idea?

More than a century later, the true founder of Labor Day remains a mystery. Many believe Matthew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union, first proposed the holiday. Others credit Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, brother to Matthew Maguire. So who deserves credit? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, recent evidence suggests that Matthew Maguire may be the person behind the creation of Labor Day. Legend says that Peter McGuire stood before the New York Central Labor Union on May 12, 1882, to propose the idea of setting one day aside each year to honor and celebrate laborers. However, new evidence suggests otherwise. Recently uncovered from the New Jersey Historical Society, information has been revealed that Matthew Maguire was the proposer of Labor Day. In the 1870s, Matthew led various strikes to bring light to the mistreatment of workers throughout the country. According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the holiday into law, it was stated in a paper that the credit should go to Matthew. “The souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday”.The same editorial piece also referred to Matthew as the “Father of the Labor Day Holiday.”

Overall, evidence points to Matthew as the founder, but many still believe that Peter Maguire is responsible for the holiday. Who do you think founded Labor Day?

Labor Day: An Impact

So why does the holiday still matter, in 2026? What lasting impacts have Labor Day made that still affect us today? To start, there are now much stricter labor laws surrounding workers. The Fair Labor Standards Act states that a minimum wage of $7.25 must be distributed per hour. The Act also requires overtime pay for those who worked over 40 hours. Additionally, employers are now obligated by law to provide a healthy and safe working environment free of hazards, due to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, another product of the Labor Day movement.

Overall, Labor Day has had a huge impact on us all. It is the reason why workers have safe conditions and reasonable pay. Labor Day marks a day of reform and change, new opportunities. What are some ways you can appreciate Labor Day and celebrate it? You could spread the word on Labor Day’s History, or even do some research yourself. Tell a worker you appreciate their hard work, or offer to help a laborer with their job. The ways to celebrate are endless!