Reporting assistance by Leif Allgood, Kena Anien Donald Ayon, Alex Azhari and Loraine Tanbalo

McKinley High School principal, Ron Okamura, spoke to The Pinion reporters on Sept.  9 in the newsroom in W123. Guided by editor-in-chief, Cheska Orias, and adviser, Cindy Reves, Okamura answered reporter questions about him as a person and a leader and his thoughts about this school year. 

Principal Okamura is very easy going and fun to talk to. He joked around and laughed with the students a lot throughout the interview. Even though he was late, due to principal duties, he was still able to make it and stayed longer as well. He explained to us that things come up that he has to address and this shows his easy going personality. He used hand motions and eye contact with people to get his points across which shows that he is a good leader who knows how to communicate fluently with the audience. 

Principal Ron Okamura shared that his fulfillment comes from witnessing teachers being acknowledged for their hard work. He views his role as the support, describing himself as “just a guy that sits and supports,” making sure teachers have all the resources they need to succeed.

Principal Ron Okamura explained that what fulfills him the most is “seeing teachers getting    those recognitions.” He added that he sees himself as “just a guy that sits and supports,” ensuring they have “whatever they need to get to that level” where they receive recognition.

At Welcome Back Assemblies, Okamura always encourages the students  to join sports and clubs to make the school year more enjoyable. He then shared that sports were a big part of his experience and that he played football and wrestled in high school. This was in hopes of getting a college scholarship, which he did get for football but ended up refusing because of his small size. Besides sports, he was also in band, the letterman’s club and Boy Scouts. This shows his leadership skills in many different areas. He also expressed how sports allowed him to make great friends for a lifetime. “So I played just about everything. In High School,  I really wanted to focus in on sports so they’ll give me a college scholarship,” Okamura said. He said he is friends with the offensive line to this day. “It’s those friendships and things that make those activities important,” Okamura said

He recalled starting as principal at a large elementary school, where he felt a lot of anxiety because he “had never worked at an elementary school” and “had no kids or experience.” It took him about three months to understand how each grade level worked, from teaching younger students basic skills to preparing fifth graders for middle school.).

When asked what he expected as a principal, he recalled starting at a large elementary school, where he felt a lot of anxiety because he “had never worked at an elementary school” and “had no kids or experience.” It took him about three months to understand how each grade level worked, from teaching younger students basic skills to preparing fifth graders for middle school. When he arrived at McKinley High, he was surprised by how disciplined the students were, recollecting that he stood on the front steps of the A Building in front of 1,800 students wondering, “How the heck am I going to get them to go to class?” To his relief, students here wanted to attend class, which was on the contrast to his time on Maui, where “you had to kick them to get them to go to class.” This shift in school culture was a positive change for him, as students at McKinley respected the rules and were eager to learn.

Okamura shared what motivates him to be a principal at McKinley is all of the students. He said he wants our students to be prepared to move on to the next level, maybe college, career, military. And he also said he always loves Seeing you students start off on your first day  as awkward or scared freshmen and then end as prideful and comfortable seniors to the day you leave this school is what motivates him to be a principal at McKinley High School. Mr Okamura said, “Seeing you guys start off as freshmen and then end as seniors is what motivates me to be a principal at McKinley High School.”

Okamura said that he has been teaching and that when he left high school he wasn’t ready so he decided to help students with it.

“I decided, I better shape up,”said Okamura, ”and that’s what I want to leave with you folks to be prepared for the whole rigorous life after high school.” 

Okamura said his leadership style is that he tends to let people figure out a lot of things on their own. He would give them a goal, show them direction, and then they can do everything else on their own.

“When I was young, I hated being told what to do. So when I came along, I give them the freedom to operate.” Okamura said. 

Okamura said that strategies in place to help students with diverse learning techniques include speaking up and speaking cohesively, learning the language with an interest and not being ashamed of speaking can build comfortability when talking to  others. 

“You might not speak up because you’re ashamed right? And I think that speaking and speaking cohesively is a hard skill to work at,” Okamura said. 

He looks forward to working with the students specifically because he gets to see how they matured and become more integrated with the school and the community. “I think everyone comes in fresh,” he said. 

Okamura explained how the plan every year is to get everyone to pass their classes so they can move onto the next grade. This also proves to be the biggest challenge every year.

“The plans that we put forth every year is to get students to pass all your courses,” Okamura said. “Some of the challenges is getting folks to understand you need to pass every year,”  Okamura said. 

Okamura said that time management and organization is an important quality that students should have. “I mean a good quality to have, you gotta balance and manage your time” Okamura said. 

Okamura said that technology’s role in a student’s education is inevitable. He talked about its convenience and predicaments, as well as the negative side. The principal expressed how he wished for the students to be taught on how to use technology ethically.

“It’s a useful tool. It can also be very dangerous.”

Okamura gave advice to the seniors; students should never stop dreaming. Saying that students should obtain a goal, and stop at nothing to reach it. He wishes for his senior students to learn how to be resilient. “Laters!” He laughed loudly while doing the shaka.

But all of a sudden, he quieted down and said, “Don’t stop dreaming. Set yourself a goal, and don’t let anything stop you from reaching it.” is what he finished his sentence with.

Okamura said that working with students has opened his eyes up and made him realize that nothing is impossible. 

Okamura said to “Not set limits just because you come from some place.”

Okamura said that his main goal for this school year is to ensure that all the seniors graduate.

“Every senior needs to walk the oval,” Okamura said.