Alumni News – Class of 1974 Journal, 35th Class Reunion

Class of 1974

Thursday, July 2, 2009: Our first night together talking story and sharing memories with a BBQ  at hosted by Wallace Hanog and ended the evening at Kent Tamashiro’s home.  We revived our dance moves when everyone got up to do the Electric Slide & Cha-cha…Wow! some folks still can move!

Friday, July 3, 2009: Adventure called as classmates Wallace Hanog, Natalie (Cabuslay) Avilla, Kent Tamashiro, Lola Tanodra, Anthony Parinas, Randy Sanches & Jennifer (Palolo) Lichter  sailed out of Manele Harbor on the Expedition to Lahaina escorted by a pod of delightful dolphins. Gaylien Kahoohalahala was aboard enroute to the mainland to await his 16th grandchild.

Lahaina Train

Joy (Hokama) Helle joined us in Lahaina for our class Sugar Cane Train ride.  Alvin & Karen Akiyama chaperoned us  (Alvin Akiyama was our Class Advisor since 9th grade).  Dolly Hinau aka Darlene Akuna also met us there with an unexpected classmate, Mary Lynne Urpanil-Loughran.   They had stopped at absentee classmates Denise (Yoshikawa) Yamamoto & Nancy Nakoa’s work place to take their pictures and share with us!

At the Sugarcane train depot we met another Lanaian, Lionel Mano who works on the train.  It was an enjoyable one hour ride despite a few sleepyheads.  One unnamed person was napping and left behind!  Lunch time found the boys and the Akiyama’s at Genki’s Sushi and the gi rls at the Outback Steakhouse…so many choices!

We had so much fun enjoying each other’s company that we almost missed the boat back to Lanai.  Tony Parinas had a sweet surprise on the boat as he met up with his daughter Aubrey and grandchildren.  Meanwhile back at Hulopoe Beach, Julianne (Caluag) Mochchew reserved a choice picnic spot for our class party…and we partied on!

Saturday, July 4, 2009: Another early morning breakfast at Coffee Works before our caravan tour to see:  Petroglyphs, Mormon Monument, Solar Farm, picture-taking at the last pineapple picking machine #l on the island, Bomb Hill, One Stone (Honopu), Lolo Hill, Kanepu’u Reserve, and Garden of the Gods…it was red dirt galore!!!

The class reconvend later at the Pineapple Fest -music, food, people – and marveled at the huge community spirit!  We topped the evening with more music with classmate Garek Eligado and his band at Wally’s house till 2 a.m…by now we were seriously sleep deprived!

Sunday, July 5th, 2009: Our aloha class luncheon at the Challenge was attended by Lola Tanodra, Glenda Obado-Ito, Natalie (Cabuslay) Avilla, Stanley Turqueza, Anthony Parinas, Kent Tamashiro, Wane Ayonayon, Wallace Hanog, & Alvin Akiyama.      Special mahalo to Natalie and Stanley who shared a video of Lanai when it was still the largest pineapple plantation in the world…our good old days!

Our class will meet again on July 14th at Ige’s in Honolulu to plan our next reunion as well as bid Natalie aloha as she heads home to Las Vegas.

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