Juniors from Henry J. Kaiser High School traded classrooms for the dance floor on May 2nd as the 2026 Junior Prom, “A Night in Full Bloom,” brought students together for an evening of music, games, food, and celebration at the Hyatt Regency Beach Resort and Spa in Waikiki.
The ballroom featured floral decorations, pastel colors, candles, and bouquets placed at every table to match the spring-inspired atmosphere. Junior Lauren Khen shared her thoughts on the theme. “I thought the theme was very fitting to Hawaii…and especially for spring.”
“The theme was really cute, especially right after May Day,” agreed Junior leadership student, Madison Iwata.
Iwata and the Junior leadership class helped to offset the cost of tickets, helping to raise over $4000, lowering ticket prices through the Early Bird Admission pricing, making the event more accessible for students. Students who turned in their forms a week early would access these funds through a ten dollar discount.
Students filed into the ballroom at 6:00 for check in and began mingling with their classmates. The night’s program began with the court’s dance. Prom King Dillon Hall and Queen Sophia Mayo danced to “Kiss Me” by Sixpence.
“We picked the song because we wanted to dance to something cute, but also just a good song in general,” said Mayo. “We had quite a few rehearsals in the month leading up to prom, but it was definitely worth it and I had a lot of fun.”
The prom court was followed up by a series of games led by the class leadership. Junior Zoe Tanabe believed that, “the games were a nice break from dancing and were a good interactive element.” The first game of the night was the paper dance, where a pair would stand on a paper that would get smaller each consecutive round.
“I thought the [paper dance] was a little impractical because you had to move, and we were all in formal wear,” said Khen. “The bingo game, however, was a lot more inclusive and exciting.” The students competed as tables in a combination game of gimme’ gimme’ and bingo, with the winners being able to eat first.
Dinner consisted of Lumaconi pesto, Fettuccine Alfredo, and manicotti marinara as entrees, with Caesar salad and POG on the side. Students also had a dessert of chocolate tiramisu and cheese cake.
“This was the best meal I’ve ever had for a school event,” said Mayo emphatically. Tanabe agreed, citing the wide variety of pastas as her favorite part of the dinner. However, Junior Matea Pampulov disagreed, arguing that the food was “a little bland” and “not her favorite.”
After dinner, guests entered the dance floor as DJ Chris Young turned up the music to mixed reviews. Junior Miya Darnall liked the DJ’s selection, believing he kept the energy up and played a good mix of songs.
“I feel like the DJ was okay, however I thought the transitions between songs were pretty rough,” said Khen. “I did like the song selection though.” Iwata agreed, referencing how many students walked off the dance floor when a song they didn’t like started playing.
However, many students credited DJ Young for playing their favorite tracks, such as “Clarity” by Zedd, “Flex” by Cupid, “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, “Love” by Keyshia Cole, “Baby” by Justin Bieber, and even “Gangnam Style” by PSY.
The professional photography station and photo booth also remained busy throughout the evening as students took pictures with their friends and dates. Overall, the Junior class had a great night, but they also had suggestions for how to make their Senior prom even better.
Many students wished for greater music variety, along with more options for drinks besides water. Other students had ideas for future themes, such as a masquerade or a “Great Gatsby” styled night. A quieter seating area was also suggested, away from the dance floor for those who want a break from the chaotic dance floor and thumping music in the ballroom.
The night concluded with an impromptu performance from Kaiser’s May Day students who took to the floor after DJ Young put on one of their songs. The attendees formed a circle around them and cheered as they sprung into a hula dance from the previous night.
This night blossomed into an unforgettable experience that left the Juniors looking forward to their Senior prom as they exited a prom that brought the class together for one unforgettable night.
