Seniors enjoy successful lūʻau
Photo by Maile Sur
The Keanini and Kokobun family enjoy the entertainment at the Senior Lūʻau on March 6, 2015, at Nāmāhana Dining Hall.
March 7, 2015
The senior class of 2015 celebrated their senior lūʻau last night, March 6, 2015, at Nāmāhana Dining Hall.
Mr. Ka’imi Gilliland, father of senior Ka’imi Gilliland, was the chairperson for the event.
“I’m a parent who just wanted to be involved,” Mr. Gilliland said.
Because the weather had been unpredictable in the past couple of weeks, the class decided to keep the event indoors to be safe.
The room was decorated with ti and lauwa’e leaves, and little boxes with Hawaiian salt and Hawaiian words wrapped in ti leaves functioned as centerpieces, as well as goodies to take home.
“The decorations are beautiful,” senior Brandy Takiguchi said. “And I like learning all of the Hawaiian phrases I didn’t know before!”
808 Grindz catered the event with everything from kalua pig to squid lūʻau, chicken long-rice, lomi salmon, and more.
“I think everyone was happy with the food,” Mr. Gilliland said, “and we have to give credit to [Ms.] Lucille [Castro] for making all of the desserts. It was wonderful.”
The night was full of entertainment, including performances by members of the Palakiko family, Zenshin Daiko, and Hawaiian Ensemble.
Mr. Gilliland talked to senior class president Shai Ibara, and brought up the idea of having as many talented seniors perform as possible. This led to a hula danced by only senior women during one of the Hawaiian Ensemble songs.
“I loved it!” senior dancer Samantha Hill said about dancing with her fellow senior girls. “The girls are wonderful to work with… and the bonding during practice and performances are so much better.”
To add to that, the senior student government created an awards show to highlight certain seniors. Some awards included “Big Men Linemen,” which went to Aaron Kokubun and Brennon Aloy; “Pitch Perfect,” which went to Destinee Murray and Jonathan Lum Lung; and “God Squad,” which went to Macie Tawata and Kelsey-Ann Ota.
“I don’t know why I got the ʻPitch Perfectʻ award!” Lum Lung joked.
There was also a slideshow that highlighted every senior and the memories made over the years.
“The point of Senior Lūʻau is to honor the seniors through a very casual, yet fun evening,” Mr. Gilliland said. “I hope that you folks enjoy these last few moments together…these are your friends for life.”
