The real question is why locals attach such importance to high schools.  Having lived in many other places, only the most rural areas where there was little hope of children attending college was emphasis placed on which high school someone attended.  Maybe it's because Hawaii has only one credible college and no pro sports teams that locals cling to their high school identity.  Bottom line it's a bogus issue, used to differentiate oneself from ones neighbors in a farcical attempt at one-upmanship.  My kid's high school is better than your kids high school. Nyah, Nyah, Nyah.