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? 

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

“She was known for ‘Hawks Bebeh!’ You could hear her in the bleachers, at volleyball games,” said 8th-Grade Math Teacher and Class of 2029 Advisor Char Watson. “She was a huge Golden Hawk.” 

The NHIS Student Government awards the class with the most points at the end of the various events like Homecoming and spirit weeks, the “Jackie Ku Spirit Mace.” Each winning class gets to tie a ribbon onto the mace to commemorate their win. At the end of the school year, it is awarded to the overall winning class. Last school year, the Class of 2029 won the spirit mace. Watson said, “We are so honored to have won the Spirit Mace and carry on Aunty Jackie’s legacy.”

Jackie Ku, who the Spirit Mace is named after, was an avid supporter of all programs and students.

The NHIS EAs planted a Kukui Nut tree next to B-building in her honor and memory. Aunty Jackie worked 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 black and gold,” said NHIS SASA Lorna Mandac. “She was the queen of the school.”

At the start of a new school 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 on campus.

“Jackie epitomized what school spirit and pride should be. She supported not only athletics, but all programs at NHIS and all students,” said Student Activities Coordinator Robin Kitsu.

Aunty Jackie’s memory continues to live on as different classes in both the present and future generations get to hopefully tie a ribbon the “Jackie Ku Spirit Mace.”