The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-06-06
Hawaiian Delegate
To N.E.A. Convention
Earned Education

William X. Hoopii, delegate at
large from Hawaii to the National
Education Association Convention at
Boston will soon sail for the mainland
He was awared the honor after a
contest between Maui, Kauai and
Hawaii after the closest kind of
race between the Valley and the Gar
den Isles The understanding was
that the delegate at large should be
Hawaiian and Hawaiian musician
as well as a teacher and Mr.. Hoopii
answered all the requirements.
1t is an interesting fact that the
delegate at large worked his way
through the schools to get an educa-
tion and he is an example of what
a Hawaiian boy can do once he fixes
his determination on success.
VIM. X. Hoopii was born at Maka-
laukalo, Lahaina, Maui, and received
his early education in the Lahaina
Schools, attending first the Halea-
loha school and then the Luaehu
school on the site of the present Ka-
nenameha III School building. Thele e
he finished the fifth grade work and
then his principal Mr.. Henry Dick
enson sent him up to the Lahainaluna
School. There he was a student for
three and half years wehra ow-
inG to the death of mis- father the
month he entered that institution, he
was compelled to work his way
through school.
He started to earn money for books
and tuition by working for the teach
ers, first as yard boy for the first
veal earning only 25 cents week.
The second year he worked as a kit
chen and house boy, earning so cents
week up to December and from
January to June of the same school
year, earned about rs cents a week.
The last year he became a cook for
one of the teachers whose name is
Mr.. Fred Rosecrans, who is now
Manager of the Paia Store. at $1.00
a week.
When nearing the end of his school
life there he was given position in
the Lahaina post office as an assis-
tant for the Steamer evenings and
Saturdays until summer, earning
$1,000 a month.
He was graduated from the Lahai-
naiuna School in 1900
He worked that summer in the
Post Office Department but h. was
paid only $500 a month and so re
signed that position and accepted
new work at the Olowalu School as
a principal.
The old Olowalu School was only
small hall next to the old Hawai-
ian church and when he had worked
there for two years, the school grew
larger until a new school was put up.
Of n1nxry In
was his selection for the school in
spector of those days. Olowalu start
ed with a one room school and CON
tinued for two years on the present
site, and then another room was add
ed.
He was a principal for IA years at
the Olowalu school and from there
was transferred to the Kahakualoa
school, which position he held for
three years. He has been actively
indentified with the educational work
in the territory ever since he became
principal of the Olowalu school with
the exception of two and half years
in business at the Kahului Railroad
Co., office at Kahului.
In April 1920, he was called back
to his old job as one of the assistants
for the Kahului school by Mr.. II. NJ.
Wells, supervising principal Ct Maui
and in May of the same year, he was
appointed acting principal for the rest
of the term by school commissioner
Mr. d. c. Lindsay.
He attended the summer school af-
ter that, and asked for place either
at the Kahului or Olowalu schools,
but to his great surprise was appoint
ed principal of the Kahului, which
position he now holds. Under his
leadership, the school at Kahului has
made great progress and growth The
school grounds and buildings have
been enlarged and beautified, and he
has worked hard to bring The school
to such a condition.