180 days of instruction. 1080 student hours. About 2000 students walk across campus and pass places that were once dirt.
Moanalua High School came to be with the help of administrators, HIDOE (Hawaii Department of Education), and many more important contributors. Our school was intentionally crafted for the students: every building, every walkway, and every classroom.
The cafeteria, gym portables, and M building were the only buildings that, at the time Moanalua High School was founded, stood on our campus. Current principal Ms. Martin gave a brief synopsis of our school’s history.
“Moanalua High School opened with a sophomore class and they graduated in 1972, [which] was the first class. The first principal was James Kim. He had input into how [our school] was created. The last time we had our buildings renovated was between January 2008 to 2012. It took them a couple years,” Martin explained.
M building was one of the first buildings constructed at Moanalua High School. In earlier years, sections of M building were home to the SA (Student Association) room and the lunch room. Most classrooms were originally located here, which is why some of Moanalua’s classroom numbers today end in 6. M building has three floors total and consists of teachers instructing in many subjects including math, English language arts, history, science, and different world languages.
The cafeteria was another one of the first buildings constructed. The bronze sculpture that is currently mounted on the outside of the Performing Arts Center was originally located on the exterior until around the 2000s where there had been an attempted theft of it. The design and construction of the cafeteria took a total of approximately 5 years. Lunch is served on the first floor where most tables are, while the exclusive senior lounge is located on the second floor. Between the senior lounge and the second floor of M building connects a bridge, providing quick functionality for seniors who may want to access the lounge from the connecting M building.
The most recent addition to the Moanalua High School campus is the Performing Arts Center (PAC), which opened in March of 2021. The design and construction took about 5 years to complete. It seats up to 694 people total. The PAC is the first building that visitors see when entering our school from the student parking lot entrance off of Ala Ilima Street, and is a visual embodiment of adaptability and creativity. Beside being available for the public to rent, everything from school plays to orchestra performances occurs here, as it is a representation of the students and community here at Moanalua. On the southern face of the PAC, is the abstract bronze sculpture titled “Moanalua” designed by artist Bumpei Akaji. It represents the 2 hills that the area of Moanalua rests on.
The school gymnasium is where indoor sports practices and games are held and where school assemblies take place. There are 15 bleachers in 10 sections that can seat over 2,000 individuals. In November of 2016, plans were drafted to disconnect old wires and replace them with new ones. With the privilege that the seats are electrical, it’s able to retract flush against the wall. The bleachers hold scoreboard control outlets and microphone jack boxes. It allows for easy connection for microphones and scoring benches for judges during sport season, especially during televised sports events.
In March of 2021, plans for the baseball and softball field were drafted for the first time. Students now play on turf, but games were once played on dirt and grass. It features Moanalua High School’s mascot, the Menehune. This year, a new addition of batting cages have been installed for the boys’ JV and varsity baseball team. The batting cages provide skill development and structured practice.
Our school holds a history unique to our campus. It’s what shapes who we are now and who we’re becoming. What a privilege.
Reporting for this article included interviews with Mrs. Martin, Mr. Achiu, and information from Mrs. Morita. Information about student bleachers were provided by Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting.
