It’s been 50 years since Moanalua High School opened its doors atop a hill, construction projects still ongoing, students eating lunch in what is now M 105-106.  Starting off as a pretty small school back in 1972, it has now grown a lot over the years.

In honor of its 50th anniversary, the school is hosting a Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 10, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the school baseball field. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the games, food trucks, dances, and activity booths.

Moanalua High School Principal Robin Martin said a range of people connected to the school talked to her earlier this year to organize some kind of celebration

“We wanted to involve the alumni and community… because there are probably people in the community that had their children attend Moanalua High School” who now want to see what the school is like, Martin said.

She also said that some of the school’s first teachers wanted to tour the campus to see how much the school they opened has grown. 

“We just wanted to make it welcoming to as many people as we can,” Martin said. 

The organizing committee has coordinated with athletics, schols clubs, and the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) for the booths. The school’s Media and Communications program (Mene MAC) has produced a video documenting the school’s history that will play in the new Performing Arts Center (PAC). Shirts with a special commemorative logo will be sold at the event as well. Already, the PTSA has advertised a reusable shopping bag that can be pre-ordered on the school website or purchased at the event as well.

“We just wanted to make sure we had one event where the community and the students and the alumni, everybody feels welcome,” Martin said. 

Martin said making the effort to celebrate the school is important because the school is a prominent part of the community. 

“I think [recognizing the school’s 50th anniversary is] very significant because it really shows . . .what it has meant to the community, what we stood for as a school,” Martin said. “I think we’ve only gotten better… I think that’s important for past and current students to know that they were part of that. That’s what makes this school special is because every class that comes through, contributes to how we think about Moanalua.”

Martin said Moanalua deserves the recognition it receives from the community because it is a constant source of strength.

“It’s not just about academics,” she said. “It’s about friend, and community, and athletics, and clubs, and just putting ourselves in to what we are passionate about. It’s a quality school, and people recognize it,” she said.