When Mid-Pacific’s preschool and elementary school campus neared completion in 2005, Principal Dr. Edna Hussey saw more than just empty walls — she saw a canvas for opportunity. Around that time, Dr. Hussey was in the lobby of the Kahala Hotel and Resort and noticed a wall of photographs featuring past guests. That’s when inspiration struck. “I just thought, wow, wouldn’t it be great if every single child had a photo taken?,” Dr. Hussey said.
Her vision: A lei of black-and-white portraits of students’ faces that would weave through the school, symbolizing the continuity of generations. That vision soon became reality with the launch of the Mid-Pacific Photo Wall — a now beloved tradition that has continued for two decades.
This year, the Photo Wall is celebrating its 20th anniversary, proving itself a testament to the school’s legacy, growing year after year and continuing to tell the ever-evolving story of Mid-Pacific’s elementary students. “If you were to go to the classrooms now, that’s what you’ll see — these images of kids who have come and gone and they’re still with us,” Dr. Hussey said. “The idea is that we don’t lose sight of our children.”
Since the Photo Wall’s inception, parents have been invited to make a donation to the school in exchange for a professionally taken portrait of their child. These framed, 9-inch-by-12-inch, black-and-white portraits line the elementary school walls, showcasing students from years past.
Proceeds support the Mid-Pacific Fund, which enhances the preschool and elementary school experience by funding additional programs and resources. Tina Rawlins, director of annual giving for Mid-Pacific, explained that tuition covers only about 80% of the actual cost of running the school. The Mid-Pacific Fund helps bridge that gap, supporting special projects that directly benefit students and faculty. In past years, Photo Wall donations have helped fund preschool project books — beautifully designed keepsakes showcasing student projects throughout the year — as well as maker-space carts for each classroom and a large television monitor in the dining room used for presentations. “Our school is so focused on innovation,” Rawlins said. “Technology in the class, in every classroom, is so important, and being able to make sure that our students are constantly keeping up with all the new and latest technology that’s going on is so important for that.”
Families can participate in the Photo Wall by donating $1,908 for the first child and $250 for each additional sibling. The amount is significant — 1908 is the year Mid-Pacific was founded. “Anytime someone hears 1908, I’m hoping they reflect back to the founding of our school. It’s a way to honor the heritage of the history of our school,” Rawlins said.
For 19 years, photographer Tracy Wright Corvo was the creative force behind the photo wall, capturing generations of students with her distinct style. This year, Mid-Pacific alumnus Stephen Kato ’93 takes the helm as the project’s photographer.
Kato, who studied Wright Corvo’s work closely, said his goal isn’t to replace her approach but to build upon it. “I just want to honor the tradition, and I think she did such a wonderful job that I want to make sure that we keep that essence of the tradition alive,” Kato said.
A chiropractor by day, Kato pursues photography as a hobby. As a proud Mid-Pacific graduate, he saw this project as an opportunity to give back to the school that shaped him into the “best version” of himself. “I just love our school,” Kato said. “I’m very appreciative and I want to keep our teachers’ legacies alive by continuing to help… so I want to make sure that this next generation gets that same kind of love and support.”
This year also introduces a new perk for families: a digital copy of each child’s portrait. “Our photographer, Stephen Kato, who is amazing, is generously offering this to families so they can have their own copy,” Rawlins said. ‘It’s completely up to them whether they’d like to have it printed.”
Dr. Hussey noted the sentimental value of the Photo Wall, especially for students who return as they grow older. “When the kids, many of whom have moved on to middle and high school, come up here, they’re always looking for their photo,” Dr. Hussey said. “They’re excited. I think it gives them a sense that they belong. They have a place that they can call their school, their home.”
For Kato, the most rewarding part about the project is giving Mid-Pacific families the gift of a preserved moment in time. “It’s like a time capsule, like you’re stopping time in the early stages of their education,” Kato said. “You can see where they started from to where they end up in high school and then college, and then hopefully, they can look back and say, ‘Hey, that’s where it all started.’”