Student body comprised of those residing in Mānoa Valley, Makiki, Makiki Heights, Tantalus, Papakōlea, Kalāwahine, Punchbowl, Pauoa, Pauoa Valley, Pacific Heights, and some from Nuʻuanu Valley too. Many students that lived outside of the district and had a GE were from Kāneohe, Kailua, Waimānalo to Wai'anae. There were also students who attended Iolani, Kamehameha and St. Louis, then transferred to Roosevelt. There are some staff and many students with different last names that are related to each other, have attended and still attend RHS. One day one of my grandma's cousins approached me. I later found out she was a cafeteria monitor during the day and custodian after school. Coming to think of it, I have relatives that graduated in the late 1970's till mid 2000's on my maternal side of the family. During Hawaiian studies class, a substitute teacher asked me, "Where do you live? What's your family name?" I responded. Then she said, "I graduated same year with your relative's name." I was quite surprised. There are currently many entrepreneurs, including those married to entrepreneurs so they help with other aspects of thriving businesses, alumni with successful careers in the public and private sector. Let's not forget about notable celebrities listed in Wikipedia. Hawaiian language classes offered and counted as foreign language credits toward college, along with Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and French. I vividly recall signing up first choice: Hawaiian, second choice: Spanish, third choice: Japanese. I remember getting my last choice while my other friends got Hawaiian and Spanish classes. My favorite instructors who definitely made an impact in my life were Mrs. Wells, English teacher who immersed us in reading, writing, grammar, spelling, and working together in class ranging from The Hobbit, Beowulf, Shakespeare, Hamlet, too many to name, and our last individual project and typed essay for the year, Les Miserables. School is known for their language arts. Fine Arts and Cooking teacher, Mrs. Fong. She was the one who encouraged me to consider applying for colleges to arts schools on the mainland. I've also enjoyed learning baked recipes. One of those recipes taught in class was how to make pumpkin pie. We had access to ovens, sinks, and clean counter tops. Fun, practical, and life learning skills. Japanese language sensei, Mrs. Fujinaka for teaching us one of the first things is, "Otearai e itte mo ii desu ka?" Translation in English, "May I please go to the restroom?" Reserved for when really got to go and having a brain fart. Hiragana, katakana, and some of the kanji ingrained in memory. Economics teacher, Mrs. Leung taught us how to write checks which I thought was cool as it applies to signing legal documents till this day. Sports was and still is an integral part of the student body. I remembered running between two to four old football field laps daily after school, where dirt would kick up and if wearing white shoes, would get dirty fast. I vividly recalled running snakes weekly on red and gold bleachers, north, south, east, and west, in no particular order. Legs would get jiggly or charley horse if out of shape. Yet, great cardio, conditioning for the body. Sports practices ended at 6 PM. Games on Saturdays either on or off campus. Loved the swimming pool especially during P.E. Earned school credits while working on a life skill. They're also known for their band. Many clubs offered on campus too. Enjoyed underground cafeteria, choice to eat indoor or outdoors. Cafeteria staff offered a choice of school lunch or chef salad. Limited parking. First come, first get in the morning at 7 AM. Some lessons I don't recall learning and wish instructors taught at that time were study skills, time management, and financial literacy. There were cliques here and there. Now, we're all grown peeps and if we run into each other in public, it's "Hey! How's it going?" followed with a hug and honi on the cheek. read more

I'm sure this is a great school, however, there has been a very loud siren or alarm coming from the high school a few blocks away from where I live. It starts around 11 PM and continues until about 6 AM, making it difficult to sleep. I live over 30 floors up and can still hear it clearly, so I imagine it's affecting many people in the neighborhood. I'm not sure if others have reported it yet, but I hope this issue can be addressed and fixed soon. read more

Congrats to Bruno Mars for more Grammy Award wins to add to his collection! Amazing to know Bruno was born in Honolulu to working class parents and went to public Roosevelt High School, on the hill, just a mile from my parents home. Album & Song of the Year! Not bad for a kid who was told growing up he was too small, not smart enough, and what the f**k are you? He's Puerto Rican, Filipino, Jewish (Ukraine + Hungary)... Now ask yourself... how American is this story?! In conclusion, Roosevelt High School is named after President Theodore Roosevelt and dates to the depression era of 1930's America. What many don't know is how it was almost bombed during the Imperial Japan invasion of WWII... the bomb landed less than 1000 feet away on Mount Tantalus. Another alumni for the older generation is Yvonne Elliman, disco legend, best known for "I Don't Know How to Love Him" a song from the 1970 rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Yup, the amazing talent from Roosevelt High School... a humble public school... on the hill. And as Bruno says... "And when you smile The whole world stops and stares for a while Cause, girl, you're amazing Just the way you are..." read more

Roosevelt High School - Bruno Mars - Roosevelt High School - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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A good school with nice and caring teachers and Sports Coaches but the people in the school can be extremely Nice or just Unforgivably Mean. read more

Roosevelt High School Class of '66. If you wen go Roosevelt High School you wen go intermediate school at e-da Stevenson oh-ah Kawananakoa. I wen go Kawananakoa Intermediate School fo tree yee-ahs. Wen I was in da eighth grade I believe I was da 64th bull of da school. I would have been da 60th bull of da school but day-ah was tree titas from Papakolea dat could scrap dat I neva like fight. Wat? Wat? My friend John was da No. 1 bull of da school. He was one bad ass 17 yea old wen he was in da 8th grade. I used to do all his homework an help him cheat on da exams. Eva-ree-bah-day was scad of John. I was one weak, skinny punk dat was one blue belt in judo back den an eva-ree-bah-day was scad of me wen I was wid John. I was so happy wen I wen learn I was goin Roosevelt afta Kawananakoa. I wen join one YBA club called da Skyliners an all my friends in da club wen Roosevelt. An as fo my friend John, wen I was one jun-ya I hurd he wen go prison. Roosevelt is a school with a long history. The school was established in 1930 and was named after the 25th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. That's why Roosevelt is also known as the Rough Riders. Check this out! I found the first Round-Up for Roosevelt High School at the swap meet. Round-Up is the name of the yearbook for Roosevelt High School. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roosevelt-high-school-honolulu?select=07Nuer1PLWDRg_wQVwvS6Q#07Nuer1PLWDRg_wQVwvS6Q The first principal of the school was Clyde Crawford. Roosevelt was an English Standard School back then. Notice how my English got better as soon as I started attending Roosevelt. When I went to Roosevelt the principal of the school was Wilfred Wong but the enforcer of the school was the Boy's PE teacher and football coach Edmond "Ticky" Vasconcellos. Ticky Vasconcellos was a legend back then. Coach Vasconcellos led the Rough Riders to three straight Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles from 1955 to 1957. His "Boom Boom" series was an unstoppable running attack back then. Roosevelt High School had some really bad ass duds that played football. Even Hawaii underworld kingpin Wilford (Nappy) Pulawa and hitman Roy Ryder (both were RHS grads) were afraid of Coach Vasconcellos. I was so scared of Mr. Vasconcellos. Everyone would shake and cry when he said "BEND OVER!" He had this big paddle in the back of his desk and "KATOOG"; if the principal sent you to Mr. Vasconcellos ...BAM!!! ...you wouldn't be able to sit on your ass for a week. Today the Roosevelt High football stadium is now the Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium. Roosevelt had some great football players: Dante Carpenter, Arthur Hoke, Larry Price, Glenn Shea, Howard Leslie, Mike Lum, Warner Wong and Chad Owens were all Rough Riders. Some things I remember about Roosevelt: I hated PE. We had to shower naked and my friends and I would snap wet towels at each others dicks. OW!!!! I wonder if the girls did the same thing in their shower? Mr. Inaba was my Electronics teacher and I loved his class. We would shoot craps during lunch break outside his class. One time we got caught and WHAM ...we all couldn't sit on our ass for a week. I still remember the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It was the day all the guys ran to the ROTC room and started cleaning the M-I rifles; and all the girls ran to the bathroom to cry and smoke. I remember that the lunches sucked at Roosevelt. I remember that my chemistry teacher, Mrs.Teruya was my favorite teacher. I remember that Miss Okubo was the most hated teacher in school. Turns out she was really nice and sweet in person. I met her a few years after I graduated from RHS. I remember that "Mr. Aloha", Danny Kaliikini was a RHS alumni. Surfing legend Eddie Aikau went to RHS. I remember that the most infamous person that ever graduated from Roosevelt was the Xerox shooter Byran U. High school was an important part of my life. I am so proud to be a Roosevelt Rough Rider.....all hail, hail, hail!!! read more

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I was here for the graduation ceremony last night. Their football field is really nice. The stadium and track is one of the best on the island. They have football games, track and field, and other events at this location. I know several companies rented out this site and filmed their commercials here. read more

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RHS, a.k.a ROUGH RIDERS Territory. Be honest, you either loved your few years going to high school, or hated it. Though I heard after I had graduated that academically speaking, this is one of the better public high schools in the state, in the end, I sure was nothing but happy, to leave my time at this place behind. Only enjoyed my senior year here, sorry, but all the rest were mostly forgettable. In retrospect, it was a good thing that I was more of a passive-agressive and quiet student during my time there. If I happened to have the mentality that I have right now, back then, I'm sure I would've undoubtedly gotten into a lot of fights with the ones that pissed me off. Though I'm glad I didn't cause any scenes during my 4yrs there. Just wouldn't be worth it. I do have to point out though, that looking back -- if anything, I am thankful and glad that I went to a public high school on the islands, versus going to one where I live on the Mainland. Unless you are fortunate enough to go to a private school here on the Mainland, the fact is that things are much more rougher and tougher (in all aspects) going to a public high school on the Mainland, than it is going to one in HI. I believe most people who grew up on the islands and had went to a public high school anywhere on HI and now lives on the Mainland, would by observation, tell you the same thing. Time after time again, I see how the kids are/act here and trust me when I say this, they are much worse here, than back on the islands. Random thought: I still remember the time when out of the blue, this huge Rottweiler from who know's where decided to run into a classroom my classmates and I were in - this was one of those classes that were held in those rooms under the bleachers. And then of course there were those big-ass centipedes and creepy orange spiders that be crawling around to pay you a visit every now and then. On a positive note, the only instructor that I still remember to this day from RHS who had such a great impact on me, was my art teacher, Ms. Freitas. I learned so much from her classes and loved them! Ms. Freitas was the best! When she needed to be firm/strict during class though, she was, and I appreciated that as well. read more

Roosevelt HS The updated football field looks good. Many different high school teams do play on this field that aren't even from this school. So it is good to have a field that parents and school mates can watch a game that they would not be able to watch otherwise. Even thought it really is just stone blocks- there is plenty of room to bring in bleacher seats or couch cushions and umbrellas when needed. It is open open air. I am surprised that the caf is so small. There are so many students but I understand that different students get to eat outside- so it is functional and understandable. Different non-profits and sports teams like karate practice in the caf... so it is sometimes open to different organizations. There are smaller indoor gyms. They have cheer-leading and volleyball games events. In the one gym, it is really weird to go to the bathroom that it is really odd. Otherwise- it is normal to have good gyms that are used really well for practice and events. The classrooms are normal. The library is normal. There are different rooms and halls and it does look and feel like a normal high school. Parking though is a pain in the butt. With all the hills and side residential streets - it is hard to find good parking for events like games or other things that are popular. read more

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Older HS. Judo dojo is very nice and big. Lots of room for randori. Ryan Sensei, good job. Your classroom is huge.

BadBadBad memories from 1993 to 1997. I've only kept in touch with about three people (as in, people I would actually consider friends) from my high school days, and none of them are from my graduating class LMAO However ... I am giving the school three stars simply due to the positive influence that one faculty member, Mr. Peter Coleman, has had on my life. Above all other teachers I encountered at RHS, I felt that Mr. Coleman really believed in and appreciated the subject he taught. Never one to cut corners or play the popularity game (the opposite of which quite a lot of RHS faculty were guilty of, BTW), he encouraged and even expected students to excel at everything they did in his class. I respected him, and soon found myself really enjoying the art of writing and reading. As a result, I went on to obtain a double major in English and journalism (with a minor in American studies) at UHM, and also recently self-published two books. *THANK YOU* very much, Mr. Coleman. Otherwise ... Only three stars for RHS because of the limited parking availability, the lack of a tennis court (we had to walk to Stevenson just to practice every day after school), that weird single bridge on campus (the one that gets crowded with two-way foot traffic every time between classes), and all those monstrous hills to trudge up / tumble down. Maybe things have changed or perhaps actually improved since the last time I've been here, but TBH, I'm not going to check anytime soon =P read more

Who doesn't like a rough ridah?! They need more parking but fully renovated football field and auditorium so I guess it's a winners. LOL Very Local student body here and they're big into their sports. An oddly set up campus because it's on a hill but I have to say very memorable. The cafeteria is an underneath the main building lol strikes me as odd. lol They have a swimming pool too on the side of the football field. The teachers here are very uninterested in their students majority but there's is that dwindling few that are present. I'm lazy to type but you catch my drift. read more

i disliked going here. I only go back because I have to pick up my little brother. At least he's doing ok school wise. Their sports teams, not so much. They absolutely suck at football. The only sports that are good are the girls sports. Everything else they are pretenders. As for my experience, I went for summer school in 2000. Lots of punk kids, some girls that think they are better looking than they really are, and that the campus was pretty much run down. Also no parking! I feel bad for the students of the new generation but at least they have a good track/field & football field. read more

5 stars for the new football field and the track. Great place to walk/run in the morning. Probably a 1 star for education. I bet 99% of the kids there don't even know why they are the Rough Riders. read more

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oh high school.... brings back unwanted memories. i guess this is a good school academically wise.. for a public school that is. but all i remember is it being filled with pot heads in the bathrooms and pregnant teens.. you know the usual. read more

Mike, class of '71 here. I just stumbled upon this RHS Yelp site looking for something else. Its really funny reading all the posts. Like everyone else I have good and not so good memories from my high school daze. Here are some quick tidbits: Tantalus was a great escape then; 340 Plymouths, Chevelles and 442s burning rubber up Mott-Smith; Mayfair; Miss Okubo, and yes, coach Tiki was still there(at least when I was a sophomore), Surfline aloha shirts, Japanese zori slippers; The Calientes(best band there ever was); Yvonne Elliman; weekly dances at UH Hemenway Hall, Nuuanu Y; Manoa Grill, I don't think McDonalds was even here yet; Rough Riders still played in the ILH; 10 cents for ribbons for the weekly football games like Beat The Puns, Smash The Tigers; the OIA was those country schools like Aiea; surf films in the auditorium; the cutest girls were at Kalani and Kaimuki, guys at Kaimuki and Kalani thought it was Roosevelt. Funny the Rolling Stones are still playing and class reunions are still occuring and the campus remains the same today as it did upon graduation. Remember, there are two kinds of locals, Rough Riders and those that wish they were. Take good care Riders wherever you are! read more

Seriously, why are high schools on here? Roosevelt was great, was very laid back and casual, but this was many moons ago.

Their football field is really nice now. Too bad they got it the year after I left. I have bad memories of walking up that long hill past the band room to get to Ms. Chun's physics class. read more

Ahhhhhhh, what can I say; daze at Roosevelt was good, I had a good time, 10th and 12th grades were the best, I had teachers that meant business, Okubo was one I liked, she didn't go by the book, we had to go out to places and get the info. talk to people. There were lots of bands and cool clothes and flower power! Dress code was wear what you want, we had to fight for it so thank us, underclassmen! Lots of kids had cars and would cut class to go surf, even surf before school , yeah surfboards on all the cars on campus, cool, our class was close and we had a ball! Roosevelt was one of the "In" schools and a lot of kids would come to our dances and try to get in cause we "The school" along with McKinley and Kaimuki. Everyone had friends from one of these schools cause after intermediate school a lot of the kids went to one of these city schools. We had so much spirit especially at football games, we were the loudest cheering section Our Senior Luau was packed with our classmates, we went to everything the school put out, proms were awesome, we'd go to see the SOS and hang out down Waikiki who cared if we were underage, .... so many memories, smoking in the bathroom, sneaking into each others classes, .......... it was a Gas.....our reunions are great too, can't complain, we just like to get together, all hail, hail, hail!!! read more

Gym facility could use some repairs. The school is huge and the football field is one of the better playing spots for a public school.

This is my favorite high school great activities and clubs and academics and great looking school and still ranked #1 school in the state!

As an alumni, I find this school to be pretty good. I liked the education here and the atmosphere here. I am a former member of the football team. Most of all, I could never some of the teachers here such as Coach V, Coach P, Mr. Kano, Gushiken and so forth. read more