The Lahainaluna High School Foundation recently honored its 2022 Legends of Lahainaluna for their significant contributions to the “oldest school west of the Rockies” at an awards banquet on Dec. 7 in the school's Hale Pa'ina. Receiving the recognition were, from left: Glen Pascual, Class of 1989; Dr. Patti Endo, who accepted the posthumous award on behalf of former Principal Ralph Murakami; Penny Wakida, retired English teacher; Clifton Akiyama, Class of 1962; Mark Vieth, editor, who accepted the business partner award for Lahaina News; and Walter Chihara, active parent volunteer and sports journalist. PHOTO BY JON SHIGAKI.

LAHAINA — After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lahainaluna High School Foundation was able to hold its annual “Legends of Lahainaluna” awards banquet on Dec. 7 in the school’s Hale Pa’ina.

The evening recognized the significant contributions made by the honorees for Lahainaluna High School and the West Side community.

The 2022 recipients were presented with their plaques from foundation President Mark Tillman and received lei, a school cap and congratulations from board members who were able to attend: Susan Yap, Rob Shelton, Betty Sakamoto and Joel Navarro.

A perpetual plaque bearing the names of all recipients since it started in 2011 was also on display.

The 2022 Legends of Lahainaluna are:

Clifton Akiyama, Class of 1962, for his years of dedicated service, especially in the areas of electrical needs. Akiyama played a major role in providing quality lighting for the school’s graduation and annual David Malo Day programs, and he assisted in rewiring the campus and installing air conditioning. Among a host of other school projects, he also contributed his time and talent with community services with the Boy Scouts of America. Akiyama is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He and his wife, fellow 1962 classmate Patricia, have two children who are LHS alumni, Julie and Troy, who traveled from the Mainland to support their father on his award. Also in the audience to support their classmates were many members of the Class of 1962.

Walter Chihara is remembered for his voice as stadium announcer at home football games at the Sue D. Cooley Stadium as well as the owner of the white truck that always parked along Lahainaluna Road vividly displaying his “Imua Lunas” banner. Chihara also is a sports journalist and publishes a human-interest column focused on community members who made a difference for the West Side community. Chihara and wife Monica had all four children graduate from Lahainaluna (Audrey, Carson, George and Jade).

Glen Pascual is a lawyer by trade but a gifted sports photographer when not in the courtroom. Pascual, the youngest of five brothers who are all Lahainaluna graduates, is with the Class of 1989, where he got his first taste of law by being part of the 1989 District Mock Trial team under the guidance of then-senior English teacher and fellow Legends recipient Penny Wakida. That team won the Maui District title and received a star (asterisk) on the school’s famous “L” for it academic championship to go with the athletic bars on Pu’u Pa’u Pa’u (aka Mount Ball). “Uncle Glen,” as many of the students call him, is honored for his dedication in recognizing the accomplishments of student-athletes through his sports photos. He not only shared them freely with the Athletic Department, the athletes and their families, but shared with the school yearbook, newspaper and social media. He covers many other sports and age groups involving teams from Lahaina. His wife, Madelyn Dulay Pascual, was unable to attend due to a prior planned trip, but his mother, Natividad of Lahaina, witnessed the moment.

Penny (Seaver) Wakida is a retired English teacher who remains active in school and community affairs. She assists with the school’s Archives Committee and chairs the foundation’s Scholarship Committee, amongst other events and tasks. She has also been active with Theatre Theatre Maui, sings with Maui Chorale and volunteers with Lahaina Restoration Foundation. She and husband Clyde, an LHS alum, have two children, Alexa and Nicholas, who also graduated from Lahainaluna.

The Business Partner Legend was awarded to Lahaina News, with current Editor Mark Vieth accepting. His wife Mhel, an LHS alumnae, was also in attendance. The local West Side paper was recognized for its dedicated effort to assist the school whenever the need was to publish school events and recognize accomplishments. The process was always smooth, convenient and essential. Editor Vieth was applauded for his dedication and service in being a source to communicate with the West Side community. Among the many articles and press releases was the annual Senior Graduation Tabloid, where all Lahainaluna graduates were featured with their photo and name. It was noted that probably there are no other high schools that have their local paper provide a full tabloid of the high school senior graduates.

The 2022 Legends of Lahainaluna Posthumous Award was presented to the memory of Ralph Murakami, former principal. His daughter, Dr. Patti Endo, and her husband, Randall, accepted the plaque. Murakami was a firm administrator who was loved by all and had a strong impact and working relationship, not just with the staff but with the student body. He is attributed for establishing the long-running spring program, David Malo Day, which honors the school’s first graduate in song and dances of the islands featuring hula dancers from the Hawaiiana Club and the voices of the Boarders’ Chorus. Principal Murakami was a previous recipient of the National Principal of the Year Award and the Milken Foundation Principal of the Year. Besides his role at Lahainaluna as principal, he also served at Lihikai Elementary and as Maui District Superintendent of Schools.

The evening included music by Na Hoku Hanohano Promising Artist recipient Derek Pono Murray and sons Pono Jr., a 2017 Lahainaluna alumnus, and Ku’hao, a Class of 2023 senior. Hula auana was also performed by wife and mother Leimomi Murray.

The prime rib dinner was prepared by school Cafeteria Manager John Alexander and his crew. An array of dessert delights was created by Culinary Art students of Colin Delos Reyes, who also served as table waiters and waitresses. Centerpieces and decorations were prepared by 1993 graduates Laurie (Kam) and Alton De Gama. Check-in was handled by Marianne (Leong) Rickard (Class of 1975), and Tyler Tuipulotu (2011).

Master of Ceremonies was new foundation Executive Director Art Fillazar with welcome addresses from Principal Richard Carosso and Foundation President Tillman. Fillazar is no stranger to the campus, as he was the school’s Student Activities Coordinator (SAC) and yearbook advisor for 30 years before he retired in 2014. He and Ivy (Shimomura) Huerter, Class of 1977, co-chaired as volunteers at the last Legends in 2019 and coordinated the 2022 event.

Student volunteers also included members of the Student Council, Boarding Department, and freshmen from the Early College Program, which the foundation sponsors through grants.

Adult staff and alumni were also part of the coordinating team.

The nonprofit foundation’s mission is to support the Lahainaluna High School community by providing opportunities and resources, and to preserve and perpetuate Lahainaluna’s unique culture, history and tradition.

For more information, contact Fillazar at lhsf08@yahoo.com or leave a message at (808) 661-5332. A new upgraded foundation website will soon be unveiled.