LAHAINA – The Lahainaluna High School Class of 2018 celebrated graduation on Sunday evening for 242 seniors (see photos starting on page 8) on a picturesque evening at Sue D. Cooley Stadium on the historic campus.

Senior Class Advisor Vyna Orong reported that an impressive 17 valedictorians led the commencement march for the class, joined by 100 cumulative academic honor students.

They included 35 Summa Cum Laude for a 4.0 grade point average or better; 31 Magna Cum Laude for 3.5 to 3.9; and 51 Cum Laude for 3.0 to 3.4. Orong added that 28 graduates were National Honor Society members, and 38 seniors received commendations for excellence in the school’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Program.

Lahainaluna College and Career Counselor Kristy Arakawa reported that 65 percent of the graduating seniors will attend colleges, universities or technical career schools both here in the islands and on the Mainland.

In this regard, Arakawa added that an impressive $2.5 million in scholarship aid, including renewable grants for the future, were awarded to graduating seniors.

Also, some 75 percent of the class fulfilled the criteria in the areas of Business and Management and Technology, Industrial and Engineering Technology, Arts and Communications, Natural Resources, Health Services, and Public and Human Services.

The Class of 2018 also impressed in athletics, technology and the arts.

The Lahainaluna football team won its second consecutive state championship and 11th straight Maui Interscholastic League title led by a stalwart group of four-year seniors on the roster.

The Lady Lunas made it four straight trips to the HHSAA final four in basketball while extending its MIL unbeaten streak to 135 games and 12 straight championships.

Both the boys and girls wrestling teams won state titles and MIL championships spearheaded by several four-year performers.

The LHS Music Department continued as one of but two marching bands in the MIL, and several senior musicians participated in the Maui All-Star Band concerts.

Their year was highlighted by the annual Aloha Concert in the Jimmie H. Greig Gymnasium to celebrate an eventful year and to salute the 33 seniors in the program.

The commencement ceremony featured a change in the congratulatory lei-giving events, as the Class of 2018 was able to have the nostalgic and joyful experience in the stadium.

In years gone by, the tradition was held on Boarders’ Field.

This year, the senior class was able to celebrate along the track with signs designating by alphabet the graduate’s location for family and friends to share the aloha of the occasion.

Congratulations to the Lahainaluna High School Class of 2018!