Courtesy of Bobby Fujimori

2018 Hakalau School and Community Reunion in Hakalau

Reunions are a good time to remember nicknames and the names of favorite places. 
The 2018 Hakalau School and Community Reunion in Hakalau on September 28 and 29 was attended by approximately 140 former Hakalauans and their families. Highlights of the reunion were visits to Hakalau School to witness the cleanup and restoration in progress, visits farms of John Cross and Clyde Chinen, both with long histories in Hakalau, a wonderful Thai lunch at the Hakalau Jodo Mission, and a bus ride to the Plantation Museum and to Hilo Coast United Church of Christ in Honomu as well as some old haunts. Of course, dinner gatherings in Hilo at Auntie Sally's provided lots of opportunities to swap stories.
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Hakalau tea farmer, John Cross, explains the finer points of growing and picking tea. Photo courtesy of Norma and Robert Yara.
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Clyde Chinen shares the history of his farm and the details of his current crops: lychee, logan, rambuton, and mangosteen. Photo courtesy of Susan Forbes.
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Akiko Masuda shares the story of reviving Hakalau School...the next stop in the day's activities. Photo courtesy of Susan Forbes.
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A magnificent lunch prepared and served by Luckana, Dao and Ubon at the Hakalau Jodo Mission. Photo courtesy of Norma and Robert Yara.
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Rest stop at the Hilo Coast United Church of Christ in Honomu. Robert Yara, Eugene Sunakoda, and Cal Motoda. Eugene is a church member from Honomu and attended Hakalau School. Robert is one of Eugene's first students at Hakalau School. Photo courtesy of Cal Motoda.
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Akiko Masuda explains the transformation of Hakalau School as the attendees tell her about their memories of these classrooms. Photo courtesy of Norma and Robert Yara.
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Lunch was a delight thanks to our Thai Angels, Luckana, Dao and Ubon! Photo courtesy of Norma and Robert Yara.
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Dinners at Aunty Sally's provided lots of opportunities to catch up with friends. Photo courtesy of Robert and Norma Yara.
Click below for information, presentations and photos from previous reunions:
For the Hakalau Kuleana, our responsibility is to care for the land, the people, and the culture. We are guided by cultural values of YESTERDAY: Engage in collective effort. Look out for each other. Honor hard work. Show respect for those who came before us. Aloha and Mālama `Aina. In 2021, Akiko Masuda added two more values to the list: Consistently show up. Whatever has to be done, jump in and do it!