BY RYAN OZAWA | Kukui High Courier — As part of an ongoing digital makeover that’s transforming the campus, school administrators today unveiled the new Kukui High School mascot, and announced a new online logo shop.
“KHS has never looked better, and our new mascot captures our spirit perfectly,” said vice principal Rap Bumatai. “The kukui nut is tough, it burns bright… and it’s just a little bit kolohe.”
The re-imagined KHS mascot, affectionately known as “Mr. Nut,” was designed by local KHS booster Valentino Valdez.
“The surfboard says Hawaii,” Valdez said, “But everything else, from his flaming torch of a head to his kukui nut lei, says, ‘Go Nuts!’”
It is hoped the new mascot, pictured without a top hat and monacle, will also resolve a long-standing trademark dispute between KHS and the Planters Peanut Co.
Meanwhile, the new logo shop will allow KHS students, staff, and alumni to show off their KHS pride. Valdezign created a special “Fighting Nuts!” design that specifically evokes the high school designs of years past, and which can now be found on shirts, sweaters, and tank tops.
The shop also offers “Student of the Month” bumper stickers, featuring the official KHS seal.
“With so many of our former students coming together online, we wanted to give them something tangible to wear and share,” Bumatai said.
In celebration of the launch, the KHS logo shop is also offering two free iPhone wallpaper designs. KHS community members and fans can install the striking color images of “Mr. Nut” on their smartphones to carry him everywhere they go.
And Valdez said there are more great KHS logo items to come.
“Shirts for pets, water bottles, underwear… the sky is the limit,” he said. “This is a great start, though, and I hope the KHS community embraces this and helps spread the word.”
Recent designs by Valdez include Abercrombie & Schatz shirts, customized Twitter shirts, and two logos for the Honolulu Twestival. For more information, visit VALDEZign.com.