Class of 2028

Nākoaʻulaʻa

This name has a double connotation.

The word koa holds signifi cance in our culture and ʻōlelo both as the koa tree that towers in our native forests and as the word for warrior. This class demonstrates warrior-like traits, facing challenges head-on with athletic prowess and well-rounded capabilities. Just as the koa tree grows tall and strong, becoming a cornerstone of the forest ecosystem, these individuals possess vibrant life force and commanding personalities that naturally draw others to them.

The word ʻulaʻa, meaning to prod, pierce, uproot, and penetrate, represents the necessary work of cultivation and transformation. The hope for their future is that this class embodies this concept by respectfully disrupting systems that need change, breaking through barriers with the same purposeful energy that Hawaiian cultivators used to prepare soil for new growth. Together, koa and ʻulaʻa create a name that honors both the strength of Hawaiian warriors and the transformative power of thoughtful action.