Kite Day returns to Mid-Pacific
In celebration of 100 years on its Manoa campus, Mid-Pacific Institute brought back one of its most cherished traditions: Kite Day!
On Thursday, May 1, 1,500 elementary, middle and high school students gathered on the football field to loft hundreds of colorful kites in various competitions: Most beautiful, most unique, most comical, and smallest (must be able to fly 25 feet in the air). These categories are based on the historical categories used for the Kite Day competitions in the early 1900s.
Kite Day was a huge event at Mills School (one of the three schools that combined to form MPI) in the early 1900s. Traditionally, there were no classes on that day, and people from all over the community attended the event. The school even has a letter from President Herbert Hoover recognizing the event and congratulating the school for its success. There are a number of Kite Day trophies proudly displayed in the MPI Alumni House.
During the 2007-2008 school year, MPI has celebrated 100 Years in Manoa by incorporating school history into classroom activities and alumni events. MPI theater students even devoted a scene in the play 100 Years in Manoa to Kite Day.
Posted on May 6, 2008 1:46 PM | Permalink