Hilo High School
556 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI, 96720-2522 - Map Map

School Overview:
Definition of Terms
Hilo High School
School Level High school
Grades Offered Grades 9 - 12
County Hawaii County, HI
Students & Faculty
Total Students 1558 students
% Male / % Female 52%  /  48%
Total Classroom Teachers 101 teachers
Students by Grade
Grade 9 - 487 students
Grade 10 - 447 students
Grade 11 - 312 students
Grade 12 - 305 students
Grade Not Listed - 7 students
This School
(HI) School Average
Teacher : Student Ratio 1:15 1:16
Students by Ethnicity
This School
(HI) School Average
% American Indian 1% n/a
% Asian 71% 76%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Black 1% 1%
% White 20% 20%
Additional Student Information
This School
(HI) School Average
% Eligible for Free Lunch 32% 26%
% Eligible for Reduced Lunch 9% 9%
% Migrant Students Enrolled n/a n/a
School Performance:
(HI) Statewide Testing Performance
School Statewide Performance View Education Department Test Scores
School District:
School District Name Hawaii Dept Of Education School District
This School's Agency
(HI) District Average
Number of Schools Managed 285 0
Number of Students Managed 183,079 students n/a
District Total Revenue $2,274,166,000 n/a
District Expenditure $1,765,805,000 n/a
District Revenue / Student $12,422 -
District Expenditure / Student $9,645 -
District Graduation Rates 79% n/a
In the News:
View all past news stories
School Notes:
  • Hilo High School is a public, co-educational high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education, and serves grades nine through twelve. Established in 1906, its first class graduated in 1909. Hilo High School is near the Wailuku River in Hawaii County on the Big Island of Hawaii. The campus boasts the black marble terrazzo and gray gravel sculpture Matrix by Ken Shutt. The school is situated at 556 Waianuenue Avenue on across the street from Hilo Intermediate School, one of its two feeder schools, the other being Kalanianaole Intermediate School. Hilo's symbol and mascot is the Viking and its school colors are blue and gold. Hilo High School celebrated its centennial during Homecoming of 2006.
  • History
  • Hilo High School was started by the school authorities in September 1905. The idea for a high school is attributed to Josephine Deyo, principal of Hilo Union School. The weak public interest eventually grew stronger as the public realized the benefits from a high school on the Big Island.The school changed location in 1907 to the District Annex location and was then named Hilo Junior High School, and moved yet again in 1922 to its present location on Waianuenue Avenue. Hilo High School's rival is Waiakea High School. Hilo High School's sports are usually neck to neck with Waiakea High School's.
  • Timeline of the 556 Waianuenue Ave. Campus
  • 1922- First Building- Makai Building
  • 1926- Miss Margaret Way's music class created the Hilo High Alma mater
  • 1927- Auditorium Building donated by the Alumni Association.
  • 1931 and 1934-Cafeteria built (the old F building)
  • 1935- First stage of the Mauka Building built
  • 1936- Second stage of the Mauka Building built
  • 1939- Third stage of the Mauka Building built
  • 1937- Gym and wood shop built
  • 1961- Administration Building Built
  • 1962- Swimming Pool donated by Mrs. John M Ross and Mrs. Isabel Kennedy
  • 1963- The Library and Multi Purpose Room was built
  • 1968- The Cafeteria was built
  • 1970- R-Building
  • 1977- Mauka Building burns down
  • 1979- 100-car parking lot finally built
  • 1980- C Building built
  • Hilo High School Foundation
  • The Hilo High School Foundation was formed in 1990, with the purpose of creating and maintaining an endowment fund that would fund educational programs and activities at Hilo High School that would not or could not be funded from State of Hawaii funds. It annually provides the school with the interest earnings for distribution to programs. A committee designated by the Principal solicits and reviews proposals from faculty for new and innovative programs that benefit the educational experience of Hilo High School students.
  • To date, the Foundation has distributed a total of over $130,000 to Hilo High School. Its 2005 Financial Report place its assets at $724,063.44.
  • Class Mascot and Colors
  • Class of 2013: Tigers, Black and Red
  • Class of 2012: Dragons, Black and Silver
  • Class of 2011: Phoenix, Black and Green
  • Class of 2010: Panthers, Black and Gold
  • Class of 2001: Elmo, Black and White
  • Alma Mater
  • Miss Margaret Way's music class created the Hilo High Alma mater in 1926. Beneath the tropic Skies of Hilo Stands dear old Hilo High School Dearer ever shall it grow With the spirit of Blue and Gold In our hearts we hold thee Alma Mater mine Loyalty and Honor Shall Forever be thine!
  • Commencement
  • Hilo High School's commencement exercises are normally held during the first week of June. Dane Nelson, former Academic Decathlon coach, supervised commencement exercises for nearly a decade until 2004.
  • Hilo High school has several commencement traditions that stretch back to the school's first graduation in 1909. The graduating class recites verses from Gaudeamus Igitur in Latin, and members of the Hilo High School Alumni Association pass out a lei to every graduate. This latter tradition is attributed to the patriarch of the Tong family, who was among the school's first graduates and supposedly gave a lei to a fellow graduate who was without one during their commencement ceremony. The Tong family also awarded the school's Salutatorian award and trophy with a cash prize until 2003, when the Salutatorian returned the cash prize out of respect for the family's disagreement with the school's current practice of awarding the Valedictorian distinction to more than one student. The Valedictorian trophy is maintained by the Hilo High School Foundation.
  • Clubs
  • Hilo High supports an array of clubs that promotes and supports the talents, knowledge, ambitions and abilities of the students. The clubs also train and prepare students for future professional careers, and allows the school and students to give back to the community through community service events.
  • Key Club
  • KIWINS
  • Math League
  • National Honor Society
  • Model United Nations
  • DECA
  • Mock Trial
  • SkillsUSA
  • Robotics
  • Notable graduates
  • Malika Dudley (2000), Miss Hawaii 2005, Weather Anchor KGMB9 News
  • Robert Kiyosaki (1965), Author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad series
  • BJ Penn (1995), MMA Fighter
  • External links
  • Hilo High School Official Website
  • Hilo High School Official Moodle
  • Hilo High School Alumni
  • Hilo High School Foundation
  • Hilo High Robotics Official Website
  • Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
  • Add/edit information about this school (e.g., awards, news stories, notable alumni, fun facts)
 
School Zip Code:
About This Zip Code (96720)
School Zip (96720)
(HI) State Average
Population (Approximate) 42,916 people 1,193,096 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree 35% 30%
Population Average Age 39 years old 36 years old
Average Household size 2.7 persons 2.8 persons
Median Household Income $39,290 $52,016
Avg. # of Rooms in Household 4.8 rooms 4.5 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure 36 years old 36 years old
View Current Housing Listings View current housing listings in this area
Median Value of Housing Unit
Zipcode (96720)


Zillow Median Value of Housing Unit
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Zillow Median Value of Housing Unit
% Owning / % Renting 62% / 38% 56% / 44%
School Map:
1. Waiakea High School - 1113 students - 1.9 mi. away - view location
2. Ke Ana La'ahana Public Charter School - 98 students - 4.1 mi. away - view location
3. Keaau High School - 867 students - 8.0 mi. away - view location
View all schools in: Hilo, Hawaii County, Zip 96720 
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Note: Data has been gathered from several government and commercial data sources. School data reflects 2006 statistics (most recent year available).

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