Peter’s Prom promotes acceptance for special teens

Most high school girls prepare for the prom months in advance — picking out the perfect dress and shoes, deciding on a special hairstyle, and anticipating all the details to help make the evening magical.

Marly Garces, a special needs student at Mililani High School, is no different. But the prom she will be going to is anything but typical.

Peter’s Prom, set for Friday at the Hawaii Okinawa Center in Waipio Gentry, is created just for high school students with disabilities.

"Only one more week," Marly said. "I’m so excited."

Her dress will be pink, her favorite color, and she’s been practicing her hip-hop moves.

"That’s all she talks about the whole year," said Marly’s mother, Elizabeth Garces. "From the day it’s finished, the next day she’s looking forward to the next one … And we’re constantly looking for dresses."

Kahea Ilae and Dee Ferrick, who have daughters with special needs, started what was formerly called The Prom Project three years ago to give kids like theirs a chance to experience what average teenagers enjoy.

Parents are invited to watch in the background and can jump in if their teenagers run into any problems, which Ferrick said was her main concern. With so many volunteers as eager dance partners, no one is a wallflower, even those in wheelchairs, Ferrick added.

The first prom was held in 2012. It was renamed in honor of Peter Romano, who died six days after the inaugural event.

In a life filled with struggle, the Kailua High School student had one of his most memorable days at the prom, said his mother, Ula Romano.

Peter, 17, had cardiac, vision and cognitive disabilities, and threw tantrums when he felt uncomfortable.

"He never would have been able to attend a typical high school prom," Romano said.

But at the special needs prom, "Peter was at peace and happy with his friends, who he loved. … The kids are in their glory; they’re happy, they’re dancing. They can be themselves and just have fun. They’re with other kids with special needs and are all accepting of each other."

Peter died from a series of seizures, and because he had not been feeling ill his mother said his death came as a shock to the family.

"We’re so thankful we were able to take him (to the prom) and see him happy," she said.

Ilae and Ferrick both have daughters with Down syndrome who have speech difficulties. Ilae’s daughter Jordan attends Castle High School, where Ilae is a teacher’s aide for a special needs class, while Ferrick’s daughter Chelsea attends Mililani High.

Most of the kids who attended the first prom attended school with Jordan and Chelsea. The budget the first year was $300, largely supplemented by donations from friends, relatives, and businesses — particularly Na Maka O Pu‘uwai Aloha halau, Ilae said.

It was such a hit, more schools were invited to participate.

Although the state Department of Education is not involved in organizing the prom, many of the special needs teachers and skills trainers have volunteered as chaperones, Ilae said.

This year almost 120 students from 14 schools have signed up, and expenses are adding up to $10,000, which hasn’t been fully raised yet, Ferrick said.

"It’s fun to dress up," said Jasmine "Jazzy" Humalon, who attends Castle. "My dress is greenish and sparkly. My sandals are gold and black. I’m excited for the prom; all my friends are coming."

Her mother, Celeste Humalon, said she is happy Jasmine is participating.

"It’s very heartwarming, so satisfying to see her involved in something normal in high school. She’s very sociable and loves to do things other kids her age are doing. It’s so important to her so it’s a good feeling to know she’s fulfilling some of her dream, you know, to dress up and enjoy dancing in the company of her friends, the whole prom experience."

Humalon said a hairstylist and makeup artist will set up a salon in the classroom the afternoon before the prom to get the Castle girls ready for their big night.

"There are so many people more than willing to help out when you tell them it’s special needs kids," Humalon said.

The prom dresses have been provided by Valerie Schmidt, a financial adviser, who gives away gently used formals through her nonprofit The Bella Project.

"Celebrity Tuxedo offers our boys an awesome deal," Ilae said.

A limousine has been hired in the past to pick up the kids from Castle so they can ride down together.

"They have a fun time from beginning to end," Ilae said. "That was so important to me."

This year they’re hiring a bus to accommodate Kailua High students as well.