Schools prepare to honor graduates with a unique lock-in parties

HONOLULU(KHON2)– Graduation season is just around the corner and many high schools are opting for Project Graduation events to give the seniors a safe, drug and alcohol free environment to commemorate the occasion.

High school graduation is a major milestone and many schools, like Mililani High School, are organizing Project Grad events for the class to celebrate the right of passage together in a safe environment.

“I think it’s a really important event for the kids to just decompress,” Mililani High School Project Grad Committee Chair Trisha Zentkovich said. “After all the hard work and the studies, and then they can come together just have a good old time with their friends.”

Mililani High School is one of dozens of schools in the state hosting Project Grad this year. Since attendance is voluntary, Zentkovich said they’re expecting 345 out of the 672 Mililani graduates.

Putting it together is a major undertaking. Their committee of 20 parents has been working on this since last June and it isn’t cheap.

“With the economy, it was a little challenging this year,” Zentkovich explained.

The price tag is ultimately why some schools, like President William McKinley High School, opted not to hold Project Grad, but Zentkovich said they did a lot of fundraising, got donations and parents helped cover some of the costs.

“I really wanted to make this event special for my daughter because I didn’t get the opportunity to go,” she said. “So I’m just hoping that she appreciates all the time and effort that all of these parents have put in to make this a really, really special event.”

Part of what makes it so special — its a surprise.

“The venue is a secret,” Zentkovich added. “So a lot of people have been asking me where is it at, but we’re trying to surprise the students. So we’re trying to keep it hush.”

One very popular Project Grad venue is Dave & Buster’s, hosting 10 Project Grad events this year. And they already have schools booked for 2025 and 2026.

“I love it,” Dave & Buster’s Senior Corporate Sales Manager Kendra Murray said. “I just think it’s a great way to keep the seniors safe in a really fun environment.”

According to Murray, they’re hosting 10 project grad events this year. And they already have schools booked for 2025 and 2026.

The location has everything in one spot. Murray said they work with the schools to make it unique and they have the venue all to themselves.

“My favorite thing about project grad is seeing the seniors come in and they’re hooting and hollering, this is like their last hoorah,” Murray said. “I know that they’re super excited to graduate, but this is a great way to end that graduation year.”

For a list of graduation dates and times, visit the Hawaii State Department of Education’s website.