Announcer: PBS Hawaiʻi Classics is sponsored by The Olson Trust.

Charlotte Simmons: Who has the distinction of having the island of Molokaʻi for a backdrop or foreground, whichever way you look at it, and the soothing, sparkling blue Pacific Ocean almost in their front yard?

Why, Lahainaluna, of course.

What is Lahainaluna?

Well, it's a high school with quite an extraordinary background in history, it's the only public high school in the United States with a boarding department, and it's the oldest school west of the Rocky Mountains.

And since the beginning in 1831, it was considered a special school.

However, when the school became a public high school in 1923, it supposedly was taken off of the special school list, but to all of the students who attended Lahainaluna, their alma mater will always remain a special school.

During the 11th legislative session, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution Bill 719, congratulating Lahainaluna High School on its 150th anniversary.

In addition to the House resolution, Lahainaluna High School received congratulatory messages from many dignitaries, including Governor George Ariyoshi, who also participated in many of the activities, which began as a three-day celebration on May 22, 1981.

Pau Hana Years also participated as our camera followed many of the first day's activities, beginning with registration for the celebration and the open house of the school and dormitories on its first day.

The 650-acre Lahainaluna campus was in full bloom with students attending classes, and also with former students returning to their alma mater.

Only this time, with their families.

Though classes still were in session, present students always found time to assist or accompany the graduates and visitors on a tour of the campus.

Singing: Huli aʻe ʻo Iesū lā Pane aku i ka ʻōpio ʻAʻole aʻe hiki ke kanaka waiwai I ke aupuni o ka lani E hāʻawi, e hāʻawi lilo I kou mau waiwai Huli a hahai mai iaʻu I loaʻa e ke ola mau ia ʻoe E hāʻawi, e hāʻawi lilo I kou mau waiwai Huli a hahai mai iaʻu Charlotte Simmons: The first of the three-day celebration was highlighted with a parade down Front Street, where a banner hung overhead with Imua Lahainaluna, and culminated with the opening ceremony at Malaʻulu Olele Park.

What better way to return to your old hometown than to renew old acquaintances, make new friends, and simply be part of the celebration?

Spring is in the air and summer is here at Lahainaluna and throughout Lahaina, as graduates, friends, families, and many other warm wishers continue to participate in the activities and celebrations honoring Lahainaluna on its 150th anniversary.

Along with the Kaʻanapali Beach Resort, an Amfac development, the Royal Lahaina Hotel, and many others, Pau Hana Years is proud to be part of this memorable occasion as we continue with Lahainaluna's 150th anniversary, Part Two.

Instrumental Music: (Instrumental music) Charlotte Simmons: Sports or the athletic event was one of the highlights of the second day's activities, beginning with an early morning tee-off at the Royal Kaʻanapoli Golf Course.

The greens were covered with specks of red as many of Lahainaluna's alumni gathered to play, compare slices, handicaps, and scores.

Instrumental Music: (Instrumental music) Charlotte Simmons: Going on simultaneously at the Waihikuli State Park were the canoe races.

The Aloha spirit prevailed as many of the local people and out-of-towners turned out to cheer their teams on to victory.

Instrumental Music: (Instrumental music) Speaker: Pick up your strokes, you guys.

Instrumental Music: (Instrumental music) Singing: He aloha mele, e lohe i kamakani Gentle breeze whispering haunting melodies To you softly Charlotte Simmons: Everyone loves to eat, enjoy, and be merry, and without exception, that is just what happened when all of the sportsmen and women and sports lovers gathered at the Royal Kaʻanapali Golf Course Outdoor Restaurant for the buffet sports awards luncheon, honoring both winners and non-winners of the athletic events that were held earlier in the day.

No one was excluded, and all had fun, even Governor Ariyoshi.

Singing: Singing: And the sun will rise again To start a new day He aloha mele Governor George Ariyoshi: You know, I'm a very strong believer that when you play, you play hard, and when you work, you work hard.

Now it's time for us to really play, so I don't want to be very serious and take any of the time.

But I did want to extend to you my aloha, my appreciation for having invited me to participate.

I want you to know my game was lousy but I had a good time.

And it's especially nice to see all of you here.

Aloha and mahalo.

Speaker: Ova hea we pulling em.

Charlotte Simmons: Many graduates and ungraduates alike were bubbling over with the school and aloha spirit, especially Bruce Honda of the class of '44 and the men and their wives who volunteer to climb Mount Ball above Lahainaluna to light the Big L for the evening celebration, even though they wouldn't be there to enjoy it.

Bruce Honda: They needed somebody to light the L since it's a 150th anniversary, so we got some of the graduates together, and I think we should light it since it's our anniversary.

Charlotte Simmons: So does that mean that when at the end of the ceremonies and celebration tonight, it's all going to be lit up?

Bruce Honda: Yeah, it's going to be, we're going to light it up.

We got walkie-talkies going.

Somebody's going to give us a signal down here.

They're going to light the birthday candle here, and we'll light the L at the same time up there.

Charlotte Simmons: Can you tell me how you’re going to light the L?

Bruce Honda: Well, we've got soda cans and got rags in it.

We put it in holes that we dig up there, then put diesel in it, then we light it up with torches.

Charlotte Simmons: Does everybody stand around the L and then when you get the sign?

Bruce Honda: Yeah, yeah.

We position everybody certain areas, and then the signal comes.

Everybody goes.

Cliff Corniel: Cliff Corniel, 1971 grad.

I was a board up here.

I came up in 1967.

I got a lot of pride for this school.

You know, it done a lot for me, so I want to do something in return.

Mike Remocaldo: I'm Mike Remocaldo.

I'm from class of 1970, and the reason I'm going up to the hill because I've got invitation to go up there, and because I got so much aloha for all these braddahs that going up there, I like be part of the whole thing, you know.

Gerard Shim: I'm Gerard Shim.

I'm a 1975 graduate.

I just feel it's a part of my life.

You know, this school has done a lot for I guess all of us over here, and we feel that it's in the spirit to come and cook.

Daniel Rosario: Well, my name is Daniel Rosario.

I'm from Honolulu.

I graduated from Lahainaluna, class of 1979.

And today I'm going up to light the L because the school has done a lot for me.

So, like, I was a boarder, and we used to go up and line the L. So, like I'm just going up to go light the L. Like some of my classmates cannot make it, so I'm going up, and I feel a lot of aloha for the school because it's helped me a lot.

So that's the reason why I'm going up to the L, and we hope that it'll light up, and the spirit of Lahainaluna, you know, will come out and overwhelm the people and all.

So, it's a big thing.

So, we just want to make it a special event for everybody.

That's why we're going up.

Johnny Cabanting: Oh, I'm Johnny Cabanting and I'm from Molokaʻi.

The reason why I'm going up is most of my friends, since I moved in Maui, are all Lahainaluna grad, and I used to play against these guys, and half my brothers all graduated from Lahainaluna.

Speaker: I'm going up because my husband's going up.

Charlotte Simmons: So, you’re gonna miss all the?

Speaker: Yeah, but that's fine because wherever he goes, I'm gonna go.

We'll probably have a better view of everything that's happening.

Be so crowded down here.

I'm going with my husband.

We were invited.

This is an opportunity to climb to the L. I feel lucky.

Brett Kukigo: I’m Brett Kukigo.

I'm going up to the L because I know everybody over here, and I promised my wife a wedding present.

This is it.

Charlotte Simmons: Charlotte Simmons: What class are you from?

Brett Kukigo: Brett Kukigo: I’m not from here.

Charlotte Simmons: But you’re going up, and you're volunteering.

Brett Kukigo: Mm huh.

Chico Gomes: I’m Chico Gomes, class of ’73.

Charlotte Simmons: And what made you decide to go up and light the L, the big L?

Chico Gomes: Well, I like the school very much, and I think I devote my life and time to this school, so I decided to pitch in and help this school out by lighting the L tonight.

Charlotte Simmons: Does that mean you're going to miss something like the, all the ceremonies?

Chico Gomes: Well, the Hawaiian food you can have any time, and lighting the L is just once in a year occasion.

So, I took the opportunity to go up tonight.

Charlotte Simmons: Lotta heart, huh?

Chico Gomes: A lotta heart, for the school.

Charlotte Simmons: After talking with the volunteers, who were Instrumental Music: (Instrumental music) quite aware of the fact that they'd missed the evening Singing: (Singing in Hawaiian) celebration when they decided to climb Mount Ball and light the Jim Luckey: It's such a pleasure to be here this afternoon on such a glorious day.

We want to welcome you all on behalf of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and the many other people in this community who banded together to assure the restoration of this magnificent old structure, Hale Paʻi o Lahainaluna.

The efforts to get this movement underway began over a year ago officially, but it goes back many years in efforts to, to find the money and the energy to restore this big L, I couldn't help but think now that's what you call all building.

I must give particular credit in these efforts to the Friends of Hale Paʻi, a, a local organization which banded together to Influence the, the efforts toward the funding, and I'm happy to report that one year ago, our, our legislature, the State of Hawaiʻi, responded, appropriated the money for the restoration of this building.

The foundation then offered to do all of this work without any charges of overhead, of any kind, so that every dollar that was appropriated by the State of Hawaiʻi is going directly into the restoration of the brick and heart and the true spirit of aloha.

As they left, others were the mortar and the fabric of this magnificent structure.

And then, the final happy event occurred last September the 10th, when Mr.

Susumu Ono appeared here in this very spot for the inaugural blessing and groundbreaking for the restoration of Hale Paʻi, and presented us with the initial check from the State of Hawaiʻi from funds which have been released by the governor.

It has been a long, arduous battle.

It seems to us, 10 years of striving to get this work going.

But consider the age of this building, built in 1837.

We have gathering for the rededication of Hale Paʻi, the printing house made many interesting discoveries.

We have found very ancient rats' nests here and there within the structure.

We have found a shaft which runs in the south end of the building for no apparent reason whatsoever.

And just last week, we removed a large timber from inside the building, which would appear to be a large, the largest piece of hand-hewn sandalwood that we've ever seen.

So, when you get a chance, come and visit us.

The work, of course, will be going on for a long time.

We have just ordered the shingles for the roof, as a which was built in 1837 and now being restored in 1981.

Even little item of interest.

Only one place left in the world that makes the same kind of shingles that was used on this building, and they're coming from British Columbia, very shortly, and we will have to rebuild the roof structure.

So, we're very happy to be undertaking this project.

I must say that the building is a friendly building.

It is responding well.

I am sure today it and all the people that share its heritage are smiling on us all today.

Charlotte Simmons: Among the many items that were placed into the time capsule during the ceremony were the February 17th network television sports personality Dick Enberg was and 23rd issues of the Honolulu Star Bulletin and the May 23rd issue of the Honolulu Advertiser.

Also placed into the time capsule were the Maui News issues of April 24, May 20th, and 22nd, and the Maui Sun's December 10, 1980, and May 20th, 1981 issues.

The Lahainaluna in concert record album was also included, along with the 150th anniversary commemorative book and the 1981 Lahainaluna High School yearbook.

Several business magazines found a place, also a bumper sticker, medallion, and keychain, all commemorating the anniversary.

Items worn by the celebrators-a T-shirt, aloha shirt, and sun there, along with our governor and lieutenant governor.

visor-were also placed into the time capsule.

And for the school's athletes, the interscholastic championship sports awards, along with House Resolution 719 and messages and copies of speeches of dignitaries.

And film and tapes and pictures of the 150th anniversary festivities, and what's a celebration without music, kalua pig, poi, long rice, lomi salmon, and all the other delicacies that makes a gathering a lūʻau.

By 6 p.m.

a multitude of more than 3,000 people had arrived at Borders Field on the Lahainaluna campus, located at the base of Mount Ball, for the sesquicentennial lūʻau.

Singing: (Singing) Now the moon is shining bright And the sun will rise again To start a new day With the grace of her hands She can tell you that a star Lamalama i luna ka ‘ōnohi lā Kāhiko uakoko ‘ula lā Ka hō‘ailona kapu o ke kama lā He ēwe mai nā kupuna Ahāhā, ua nani ka wahine lā Ahāhā, ka nohona i ka la‘i Ahāhā, ua hele a nohea lā Pua ha‘aheo o ke aupuni Ki‘ina ka wehi o ke kama lā I ka mokupuni o Mano Ka hala o naue i ke kai lā Laua‘e ‘a‘ala o Makana Ahāhā, ua nani ka wahine lā Ahāhā, ka nohona i ka la‘i Ahāhā, ua hele a nohea lā Pua ha‘aheo o ke aupuni (Singing in Hawaiian) Charlotte Simmons: Though no close English translation has been recorded.

The verses of the alma mater refer to the legends of long ago, with echoing thoughts of the beauty of Lahaina's mountains and valleys.

The chorus alludes Lahainaluna as the leading star of the Pacific, whose everlasting light can never be extinguished by the fierce winds of Kauaula.

As the celebration and festivities come to a close, the memories of perhaps the happiest and warmest times are only beginning.

Along with the Kāʻanapali Beach Resort and AMFAC development, the Royal Lahaina Hotel, and others, Pau Hana Years extends our warmest aloha and congratulations to Maui's pride and joy, Lahainaluna, on their 150th birthday anniversary.

A school that firmly believes e mālama no pono o ka ʻāina i nā opio, the traditions of a people are perpetuated by its youth.

Charlotte Simmons: has been recorded.

The verses of the alma mater refer to the legends of long ago, with echoing thoughts of the beauty of Lahaina's mountains and valleys.

The chorus alludes Lahainaluna as the leading star of the Pacific, whose everlasting light can never be extinguished by the fierce winds of Kauaula.

As the celebration and festivities come to a close, the memories of perhaps the happiest and warmest times are only beginning.

Along with the Kāʻanapali Beach Resort and AMFAC development, the Royal Lahaina Hotel, and others, Pau Hana Years extends our warmest aloha and congratulations to Maui's pride and joy, Lahainaluna, on their 150th birthday anniversary.

A school that firmly believes e mālama no pono o ka ʻāina i nā opio, the traditions of a people are perpetuated by its youth.

Singing: (Singing) Ka ‘oē nenehe ike aumoe (‘Olu ē) ‘Au ‘au nā manu o ka uka (‘Oka uka weli) Ho ‘olono i ka leo pelekani ‘O Lāhainā, Lāhaināluna nani Ka hōkū hele ho‘i o ka Pakipika Ipu kukui ‘a ā mau (Pio ‘ole) I ka makani Kaua ‘ula I ka makani Kaua ‘ula