Class of 2026 Commencement Information

Class of 2026 Commencement Exercises

Commencement Date: Friday, May 22, 2026 at 7:00pm
Location: Edith Kanaka’ole Tennis Stadium
Graduate Rehearsal: 8:15 am (Report to Edith Kanaka’ole Tennis Stadium)
Grad Nite Attendees: Check-in the bag that you’re taking to Grad Nite (7:15am-8:00am)
Graduate Report Time for Ceremony: 5:00 pm (Report to Aunty Sallyʻs)
Parents & Guests: Doors Open at 6:00 pm

Attire

Girls: white dress & light shoes (heels not recommended due to stairs)
Boys: white collared shirt, black pants, dark shoes
Gold traditional stoles will be worn outside the gown (given at check in at Aunty Sally’s). This will be worn during the ceremony and given back after receiving your diploma
No external adornment may be worn
No modifications to the cap and gown will be allowed
Hang up your cap and gown, it can be cool ironed to get wrinkles out

Tickets (all tickets must be earned)

A ticket is required to enter
If infants (under the age of 1) are held the entire time w/ no car seat, no ticket is necessary
There are NO extra tickets available
Ticket breakdown is as follows:
- Students that paid all dues & fees: 2 Floor Seat Tickets (given 5/22/2026 at morning rehearsal)
- Grad Nite attendees: 1 Upper Seat Ticket
- After school song practice on 5/20/26 at 1:30pm-3:00pm at the pool: 1 Floor Seat Ticket
- Song practices: 5 Upper Seat Tickets
- Senior Parent Night (9/25/2025): 1 Upper Seat Ticket

Aunty Sally’s (Check-in begins at 4:45pm, ends at 5:15pm)

Bring your cap, gown, tassel (can get dressed inside in AC)
Parents/guardians/family/friends - no congregating around Aunty Sally’s
Once inside, graduates cannot go outside
Bring bobby pins to secure your cap
Graduates should NOT be holding any tickets
DO NOT bring phones/electronics (it will be taken) - we want you to look your best, look respectable, represent you and your family the best at all times, throughout the ceremony
DO NOT chew gum
Bring Takaaze Photo order form with payment, everyone’s picture will be taken, free of charge
Be respectful, everyone is there to help make commencement a successful event

Additional Information

Fire Safety Rules PROHIBIT lei boxes, balloons, and pvc pipes in the stadium
On behalf of the County of Hawai'i, NO TENTS ALLOWED anywhere in, or around, the parking area of Edith Kanaka'ole Multi-Purpose Stadium, Aunty Sally’s, or the Civic
Please be respectful - NO air horns
Signs/banners will be allowed, but not inside the seating area. Once inside the stadium, place your sign/banner in the designated area, right side of the tunnel (a faculty volunteer can help you locate the area).
We will not have anyone watching the signs/banners, and we are not responsible for missing/damaged signs/banners. You may get your sign before the end of the ceremony. Only after the alma mater is sung, signs/banners will be allowed on the floor.
Doors Open 6:00pm-7:00pm, Closed 7:01pm-7:30pm (out of respect for our graduates during the processional), Re-Open 7:31pm-8:00pm, Doors will remain closed until 15 minutes after the ceremony ends, then will open to the public
Join the class Instagram page @hilohigh2026 and look on the HHS homepage under the “Parents & Students” tab, or look at the Google Classroom Commencement page for all up-to-date information.
No bags larger than 23” W x 13.5” H will be allowed (similar to large Aloha bag)
Diploma pickup date: Tuesday, June 9 from 9am-1pm in the patio