If you have participated in class competitions or activities such as Spirit Week, then you may have heard about The Jackie Ku Spirit Mace. Are you probably wondering who Jackie Ku is? Why is the Spirit Mace named after her? How can you win the Spirit Mace? 

According to Char Watson, NHIS teacher and 8th-grade class advisor, Jackie Ku was an amazing woman who embodied the NHIS spirit. Jackie Ku passed away in 2021.

Ku worked at NHIS as an Educational Assistant (EA). “Aunty Jackie” always supported school groups, such as athletic teams such as Football, Volleyball, Paddling and NPAC, Robotics, and many, many others. 

“She was known for ‘Hawks Bebeh!’ You could hear her in the bleachers, at volleyball games,” said Watson with sadness in her voice as she spoke at the memory of the cherished Aunty Jackie. “She was a huge Golden Hawk.” 

The class of 2028 was given the spirit mace as they won Class of the Year last year. The class was handed the mace during the Welcome Back Assembly. Watson said “We are so honored to have won the Spirit Mace and carry on Aunty Jackie’s legacy”

Lorna Mandac NHIS SASA said, “She was the queen of the school.” 

Aunty Jackie was so admired that the EAs even planted a Kukui Nut tree next to B building in her honor and memory. She always worked hard to get students involved and even put together the athletic banquet. She created the athletic banquet to uplift the athletes and encourage them to have school pride. 

“She bled back and gold,” said Aunty Lorna.

Robin Kitsu, the NHIS Student Activities Coordinator, explained that a class can win the Spirit Mace by participating in class competitions/activities. “In memory of Jackie Ku, we give the Spirit Mace to the class right after they win a class competition to decorate with a ribbon and tag to state what they won. Seniors win a spirit week? They get to put on the next ribbon! 8th graders cheer the loudest at the pep rally? Activities like Spirit Weeks, Penny Wars, Lip Sync Battle, and other activities throughout the year all count! The goal is to be the class with the most ribbons on the mace.” 

The Jackie Ku Spirit Mace is then awarded at the end of the year to the overall Class of the Year. Student Government then replaces the mace with a new one to start the process again. The plan is to showcase each of the Jackie Ku Spirit Maces somewhere on campus.

Let’s pay tribute to Aunty Jackieʻs memory through our student activities. Start prepping because the next event will be the Homecoming Spirit Week from September 30 to October 4.  Make sure to bring you Lava Lavas, find those flowers, dig out that aloha shirt, borrow a floatie, and make sure to wear those class colors with pride! The winning class will get $100! 2nd place will get $75, and 3rd place gets $50! Make sure to bring your all. And in the words of Aunty Jackie, “Hawks Bebeh!”