At Kaumana Elementary School’s 100th Birthday Bash a couple weeks back, kindergarten teacher (and Hamakua Springs daughter-in-law) Kris Cabreira said it was “chicken skin” to see the two daughters of the school’s first principal and hear their story.

“We found out that their father used to ride his horse to school,” she said, “and that he decided to find another profession after he wanted to get married but his salary only allowed him to feed his horse.”

Kris, who is married to Richard and June’s son Brian, talked about watching a 70-year-old former student bowing down to his 95-year-old principal. Seeing the composer of the school’s alma mater. Having the Cera family there, who used the event as a family reunion.

She said the day was packed with more people than they expected. There were former and current students, parents, teachers and stuff as well as the community.

Hamakua Springs donated bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce to the celebration, and the kindergartners and first graders sold them in their produce booth to raise funds for classroom supplies and field trips. They sold out of five cases of each product.

There was also a history of Kaumana School memory room, games, food booths, craft booths, a rummage sale, a plant sale, and 100th birthday commemorative t-shirts. Entertainment went on all day with Taishoji Taiko, Dru Kekaualua and friends, and Ho’okoa. In the afternoon, students put on a talent show. The principal, Lloyd Matsunami, a counselor and Gumby took turns in the dunking booth.

“We were surprised at how much this meant to so many former students,” said Kris. “You could see the pride in their eyes. It was a very humbling experience.”