A FUN-FILLED TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES WHO ATTENDED HAKALAU SCHOOL
AND/OR LIVED IN THE HAKALAU PLANTATION COMMUNITY.
AND/OR LIVED IN THE HAKALAU PLANTATION COMMUNITY.
2024
Hakalau School and Community Reunion
The 2024 Hakalau School and Community reunion was held in Hilo on September 28, 2024. Coming out of the COVID pandemic, which put the reunion on hold for five years, the reunion was a one-day event compared to the previous two-day reunion. There were 150 attendees, which is an increase when compared to the 2018 reunion. There were attendees who only attended Hakalau Elementary, saw people moving out of the plantation camps, and the tear down of the plantation homes. It was nice to see them getting together, talking story, and taking group photos. There were several children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces of people that lived in one of the plantation camps from Wailea to Ninole that were first time attendees. Many of the regular long-time attendees were present who came from the states of Hawaii, California, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and Georgia. Sadly, several of the regular long-time attendees have passed or were unable to attend due to health reasons.
The day began with a morning tour through the former Hakalau plantation town locations. There stops at Wailea and Hakalau School with a ride up Chin Chuck Road all the way up to Chin Chuck Mauka. The tour stopped at the Hakalau Jodo Mission for lunch before going back to Hilo. Later in the afternoon and evening, at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo, there were viewing of the displays, talk story time, dinner, and entertainment.
A special thank you to Iris Higa, who is Clayton Yugawa’s daughter, for being the Chairperson for the reunion committee. Thank you for the whole Yugawa family for being the drivers of the tour vans and hosts behind the banquet refreshment counter. Thank you to those who helped with the setup, serve dinner, and cleanup at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale. Thank you to the Hakalau Jodo Mission for hosting the tour luncheon. Thank you for the generous donations that helped make this reunion a successful one!
Overall, everything went smoothly as planned and everyone had a good time. It was really great to see everyone again and to meet those who attended for the first time!
There is only the group photo at the Hakalau Jodo Mission currently in this website, see below. If you would like to share any photos, please contact Susan Forbes via the Contact Us! feature on this website. Instructions will be sent to you for photo submittal either by US mail, email, or text.
The day began with a morning tour through the former Hakalau plantation town locations. There stops at Wailea and Hakalau School with a ride up Chin Chuck Road all the way up to Chin Chuck Mauka. The tour stopped at the Hakalau Jodo Mission for lunch before going back to Hilo. Later in the afternoon and evening, at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo, there were viewing of the displays, talk story time, dinner, and entertainment.
A special thank you to Iris Higa, who is Clayton Yugawa’s daughter, for being the Chairperson for the reunion committee. Thank you for the whole Yugawa family for being the drivers of the tour vans and hosts behind the banquet refreshment counter. Thank you to those who helped with the setup, serve dinner, and cleanup at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale. Thank you to the Hakalau Jodo Mission for hosting the tour luncheon. Thank you for the generous donations that helped make this reunion a successful one!
Overall, everything went smoothly as planned and everyone had a good time. It was really great to see everyone again and to meet those who attended for the first time!
There is only the group photo at the Hakalau Jodo Mission currently in this website, see below. If you would like to share any photos, please contact Susan Forbes via the Contact Us! feature on this website. Instructions will be sent to you for photo submittal either by US mail, email, or text.
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Many thanks to Cal Motoda and Norma Yara for identifying all but 6 individuals above. For your ease, identification of individuals is presented in groups below.
Group 1: Far left, front
Front: Elizabeth (Keanahele) Gustavus from Umauma Back from left to right: UNKNOWN; Ken Shimozono; Shimozono son; Shimozono daughter; Shimozono wife-- relatives of Sachiko (Imaizumi) Shimozono from Wailea. Sachiko recently passed away but the family receives the reunion emails and it's their first time at the reunion and tour. |
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Group 2: Front row, from left to right
George Motonaga from Wailea and his, Irene; Jimmy Toyama; two ladies next to Jimmy are from the Chong family, relatives of Dango Kimura from Wailea and it's their first time at the reunion; Lillian (Yoshida) Uedoi and Elaine (Yoshida) Takahashi from Down Camp; Lillian (Kitagawa) Sakae from Kamaee Mauka; Clyde Mizuguchi from Up Camp.
George Motonaga from Wailea and his, Irene; Jimmy Toyama; two ladies next to Jimmy are from the Chong family, relatives of Dango Kimura from Wailea and it's their first time at the reunion; Lillian (Yoshida) Uedoi and Elaine (Yoshida) Takahashi from Down Camp; Lillian (Kitagawa) Sakae from Kamaee Mauka; Clyde Mizuguchi from Up Camp.
Photo courtesy of Easten Tanimoto.
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Group 3: Far right, cluster from left to right
Susan Barcena (Jose's wife) and Jose Barcena from Spanish Camp, Norma Yara from Chin Chuck Camp, Peggy (Kitagawa) Yoshizumi from Kamaee Mauka, and Carrie Ann Tsutusi daughter of Peggy (Kitagawa) Yoshizumi. |
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Group 4: Back row(s) from left to right--IGNORE THE FRONT ROW HEADS!
Joyce Unoki from Hakalau Iki; UNKNOWN woman; Warren Chong; Gary Yoshizumi from Down Camp; Joan (Sunahara) Chong from Up Camp, Calvin Motoda from Down Camp; Kenneth Sakae; UNKNOWN man; Joanne (Uehara) Toyama from Chin Chuck Mauka; Henry Chong; Bobby Fujimori from Chin Chuck Camp; UNKNOWN man with ball cap.
Joyce Unoki from Hakalau Iki; UNKNOWN woman; Warren Chong; Gary Yoshizumi from Down Camp; Joan (Sunahara) Chong from Up Camp, Calvin Motoda from Down Camp; Kenneth Sakae; UNKNOWN man; Joanne (Uehara) Toyama from Chin Chuck Mauka; Henry Chong; Bobby Fujimori from Chin Chuck Camp; UNKNOWN man with ball cap.
More photos provided by Ruby (Yoshizumi) Iwamoto from the evening gathering at Aunty Sally's:
Derick Kurisu (Up Camp), Master of Ceremony with Arlene Yonamine on stage
Cal Motoda and Gary Yoshizumi (Down Camp)
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Irene Motonaga (Wailea), Sumie (Yamasaka) Fairburn (Wailea), George Motonaga (Wailea), sitting Josephine (Mamhot) Yokoyama (Down Camp)
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Violet (Lacuesta) Ferreria (Up Camp) with Arlene (Goto) Yonamine (Chin Chuck) singing the Hakalau School alma mater
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Sitting, George Kunihiro (Down Camp), Maria (Simeon) Kunihiro (Kamaee), Gary Yoshizumi, Ruby (Yoshizumi) Iwamoto. Standing in back, Harold Fujii (Wailea) Sitting in back is Mary (Bumanglag) Tomas (Down Camp) with husband James.
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Ruby Iwamoto, Jimmy Toyama and Joanne (Uehara) Toyama (Chin Chuck Mauka)
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Previous Reunions
Click below for information, presentations and photos from previous reunions: