Valentino Valdez

It’s that time of year again! In celebration of surviving “Black Friday,” we’re announcing our Holiday 2011 Clearance Sale. Only certain items are available in limited quantities, but priced right: more than half off our regular prices in store or at craft fairs.

Check out our KHS Logo Shop for details, but act fast! All orders are first-come, first served.

Have you been putting off your holiday shopping until the very last minute? Well, that minute is swiftly approaching! Fortunately, Kukui High School has you covered. And just in time for Christmas, we’ve added some new products to our logo shop! They include a high-quality jumbo-sized canvas tote bag, perfect for lugging nuts around, and the return of our popular black “Alumni” shirt!

Check out our full line online at KukuiHigh.com, or find a selection of KHS goodies at Butigroove stores (at Ala Moana and Mapunapuna).

You can also find us at this weekend’s Honolulu Gift Fair, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17, 18 and 19, at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. This huge holiday shopping event is one of the last chances you’ll have for great deals on local goodies this year!

By popular demand, you can now get a classy embroidered polo shirt and a sporty embroidered mesh cap featuring the Kukui High School seal. Both items feature quality materials and are embroidered locally (via Threads Embroidery).

Now you can show your Kukui High pride at work, on the golf course, or anywhere you’d like to step up your style.

In addition, these items are the first official charity fundraising items in the Kukui High logo shop. Not only will you look good, you’ll feel good knowing that $5 from the purchase of each of these items will go toward our non-profit partner, the Ko’olauloa Educational Alliance Corp.. You can learn more about our partnership here.

Items are stitched on demand and can be shipped or picked up in-store, usually within 72 hours. Check out these great embroidered items in our logo shop, or head straight over to the Threads Embroidery site.

By the way… you’d look great wearing an embroidered KHS polo shirt at the All-Year Reunion dance party on Nov. 13!

A movement born of a fictional high school has taken a first step in doing real good. Kukui High has entered into a financial sponsorship arrangement with the Koolauloa Educational Alliance Corporation (KEAC).

As a result of this partnership, a portion of proceeds generated through Kukui High merchandise and events will go toward supporting KEAC initiatives. Both parties will also collaborate on dedicated fundraising activities, and develop unique programs that embody the Kukui High spirit.

“We were just overwhelmed by the fun energy and creativity that was inspired by Kukui High, and knew from the start we wanted to channel that toward a good cause,” said Kukui High co-founder Valentino Valdez.

“There was no shortage of worthy causes, but the KEAC seemed like a perfect match, both because we always envisioned an educational focus for our efforts, and because Kukui High and Kahuku High share a very special connection,” said co-founder Ryan Ozawa.

The Kukui High name comes from a line of dialogue in the pilot episode of CBS’ hit series, “Hawaii Five-0.” The fictional school name, invoked as the alma mater of characters Steve McGarrett and Chin Ho Kelly, was changed at the last-minute from Kahuku High School.

Founded in 1996, the KEAC supports students in the Kahuku School Complex, and was one of the first non-profits to link businesses to public schools. Its programs include scholarships, school-to-work training, and KAHUKU.ORG, an online store that fosters student entrepreneurship.

Among the many possibilities being considered for this new partnership are a Kukui High School Scholarship Fund, and grants to schools for entrepreneurial projects.

“Since KEAC and KAHUKU.ORG support Career Pathways education in the Kahuku Complex Schools, linking with Kukui High seemed like an appropriate match since their goals are similar, but cover a broader geographic area,” said KEAC president Keoki Wallace. “We hope this collaboration can develop a program that will serve as a model to help other school and youth groups set up their own entrepreneurial endeavors.”

The partnership was spearheaded by MaryAnne Long, former KEAC president and Koolauloa Neighborhood Board member. Long will serve as advisor and liason to Kukui High.

The first Kukui High event is a “All Year Reunion” dance party being organized by KUMU 94.7, “Hawaii’s Old-School Station.” The 21+ event will feature classic tunes, drinks and pupus, and a great opportunity for Kukui High alumni to meet or reconnect. Kukui High apparel – designed by Valdez and sold exclusively through Butigroove — will be
available for purchase. Butigroove founder B.J. Sabate has committed a portion of the proceeds to KEAC, and other creative fundraising activities are planned. The event will be held Saturday, Nov. 13 at Oceans 808 in Restaurant Row.

Meanwhile, plans are in the works to stage a full-scale “Kukui High Winter Ball,” featuring all the charms and cheesy trappings of a real high school prom. For more information, visit KukuiHigh.com.

About Kukui High

Kukui High was launched Sept. 21, the day after the “Hawaii Five-0” premiere, and quickly found over 3,500 fans on Facebook and over 750 followers on Twitter. It has also been featured in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, on HawaiiNewsNow, on several local radio stations, and across several blogs. It’s the latest collaboration between Valdez and Ozawa, who previously worked together on other projects inspired and driven by social media. The pair have finally made their partnership official, last week forming a company to house their unique style of geeky creativity: In Real Life, LLC.

Calling All Nuts! The Kukui High School Alumni Association, in association with 94.7 KUMU, is thrilled to announce the Kukui High All-Year Class Reunion! Join us on Saturday, November 13 at Oceans 808 in Restaurant Row.

The fun-loving, creative, and talented KHS community has set off an amazing explosion of school pride, and we are way overdue for a real-life get together. So come on down to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and relive (or reinvent) those high school days!

We’ll be playing your favorite old-school songs to bring back those KHS memories, and your $15 admission includes a great mix of delicious pupus. Of course, Oceans 808 will step things up with great food and drink available for purchase from the bar and sushi counter.

And if you haven’t yet picked up your cool Kukui High apparel, you’ll be able to pick some up at the reunion. This stuff makes great stocking stuffers!

This all-year reunion is for ages 21 and over. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the party goes all night! Stay tuned to KUMU for more details and your chance to win tickets and other prizes!

And yes, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity in support of educational initiatives. Details to be announced soon.

See you there, and… GO NUTS!

Celebrated island entertainer Jimmy Borges is one of Kukui High School’s proud alumni. He penned the school’s controversial alma mater (who can forget the infamous nut-throwing incident of 1988?). Today, he recorded a rousing — if not arousing — personal performance of this infectiously catchy tune. It is our distinct honor and pleasure to share this brilliant piece with you. Go Nuts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V03hOPonkFI

The much-anticipated, long-overdue Kukui High School All Year Winter Ball is coming! Tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4, the event will be a fun, semi-formal gala with live music, good food and drink, and of course great people from throughout the diverse KHS community.

We hope all alumni, friends, and fans will seize the opportunity to go out, dress up, and relive (or reinvent) their glory days. If you missed your high school prom, or wish you had, here’s your chance to do it right.

Even better, the Winter Ball will bring everyone together for both good times and for a good cause. In the next few weeks, we will be able to announce the details of our charity partners, which will specifically benefit youth and education in the Aloha State.

But a great event needs great people. Volunteers are now needed to help organize the Winter Ball. If you can help make the Winter Ball happen, please send an e-mail to info@kukuihigh.com. We’ll soon be looking to connect with vendors, sponsors, and other partners, but first we need people who are willing to work on the nuts and bolts behind the scenes.

On the brink of Kukui High School’s national television debut, the KHS Alumni Association is proud to announce that it has partnered with leading local apparel shop Butigroove to offer a striking, simple Kukui High T-shirt at its two retail locations as well as online.

Buoyed by the resurgence in school pride sparked by the recent appointment of two KHS grads to Gov. Pat Jameson’s newly formed crime task force, the Butigroove deal makes it easier for fans to get their hands on quality KHS gear.

“We printed a few on our own through a friend, but quickly sold out, and we were nearly overwhelmed with the challenges of inventory and fulfillment,” said lead designer Valentino Valdez. “Working with B.J. [Sabate] at Butigroove is ideal, as he’s got the talent and the cred to help take things to the next level.”

The first shirts are coming hot off the press today, just as the third episode of CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0″ hits the airwaves. In tonight’s episode, the task force investigates a shocking crime on the KHS campus.

“While our football games do get heated at times, we’re sure the viewing public is smart enough to know that there aren’t shootings in the stands,” said Vice Principal Rap Bumatai. “If not, well, hopefully they’ll blame the ‘Kukui Kings’ instead of the ‘Fighting Nuts.’”

The first run of “Kukui High 5-0” shirts are red on white, 100% alstyle preshrunk cotton tees and are available for $25. Plans are in the works for additional varieties, including sports apparel and other logo items. Butigroove has the first exclusive license to make and sell items under the KukuiHigh.com brand.

“We’ve already seen other Kukui High stuff out there, and to be sure, anyone can make a shirt,” Valdez said. “But we hope people look for officially licensed KukuiHigh.com gear as a sign of quality, school pride, and affection for nuts.”

For more information, contact Butigroove at (808) 589-2884. Store locations are at 500 Piikoi St., across from Ala Moana Center, and at 2960 Mokumoa St. in Mapunapuna.

BY RYAN OZAWA | Kukui High Courier — As part of an ongoing digital makeover that’s transforming the campus, school administrators today unveiled the new Kukui High School mascot, and announced a new online logo shop.

“KHS has never looked better, and our new mascot captures our spirit perfectly,” said vice principal Rap Bumatai. “The kukui nut is tough, it burns bright… and it’s just a little bit kolohe.”

The re-imagined KHS mascot, affectionately known as “Mr. Nut,” was designed by local KHS booster Valentino Valdez.

“The surfboard says Hawaii,” Valdez said, “But everything else, from his flaming torch of a head to his kukui nut lei, says, ‘Go Nuts!’”

It is hoped the new mascot, pictured without a top hat and monacle, will also resolve a long-standing trademark dispute between KHS and the Planters Peanut Co.

Meanwhile, the new logo shop will allow KHS students, staff, and alumni to show off their KHS pride. Valdezign created a special “Fighting Nuts!” design that specifically evokes the high school designs of years past, and which can now be found on shirts, sweaters, and tank tops.

The shop also offers “Student of the Month” bumper stickers, featuring the official KHS seal.

“With so many of our former students coming together online, we wanted to give them something tangible to wear and share,” Bumatai said.

In celebration of the launch, the KHS logo shop is also offering two free iPhone wallpaper designs. KHS community members and fans can install the striking color images of “Mr. Nut” on their smartphones to carry him everywhere they go.

And Valdez said there are more great KHS logo items to come.

“Shirts for pets, water bottles, underwear… the sky is the limit,” he said. “This is a great start, though, and I hope the KHS community embraces this and helps spread the word.”

Recent designs by Valdez include Abercrombie & Schatz shirts, customized Twitter shirts, and two logos for the Honolulu Twestival. For more information, visit VALDEZign.com.

BY KEYSER SOZE | Kukui High Courier — As the KHS community recovers from the tragic loss of historic Freeman Hall earlier this year, the school yearbook program is seizing the opportunity to evolve beyond its once-a-year hardcopy history.

“The school finally got a website this year, and finally got onto Facebook and onto Twitter — the future is now,” said yearbook advisor Momi Lomilomi. “Why do the same old thing, when we can put everything online faster, and update it more frequently?”

Although construction of the new and improved Freeman Hall is well ahead of schedule, the old building took with it over half a century of records, including rosters of past students, staff, and alumni. Lomilomi and her students have embarked on an ambitious project to reconstruct the history of KHS on the web.

“We’re putting out the call far and wide to anyone who was ever part of the Kukui High School family,” she said. “Send in your information, and we’ll put it in our new online yearbook as soon as we can.”

Some of the earliest yearbook entries include former yearbook staffer turned journalist Erika Engle, long-time dance star Elizabeth Ahana, and former football quarterback turned airline pilot Will Lee.

The virtual KHS yearbook can be found on the new KHS website at KukuiHigh.com. People are invited to send in their names, their graduating year (or the years they attended), and a list of any school clubs they were in, or any awards they have won.

“We’d also love to know what our graduates are doing now,” Lomilomi added. “And extra credit for including a photo!”