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We <3 LHS Staff Ariel Pakela Cabrera Custodial Staff “We do it for the kids here.” Read More Mr. Carosso Principal “Be confident, be adventurous, and do not be scared to chase something because you think you are going to fail.” Read More Brandiann Tartios Custodial Staff "Lahainaluna is like a second home." Read More Kawehi Kaina Custodial Staff “be God’s light in the school environment” Read More Monique Blando Custodian “My uncle used to have this job as a custodian,” she said. “I look forward to making him proud.” Read More BJ Alvarez Head Custodian “Be nice to one another.” Read More

Campus Life & Academics List Arts and Entertainment Education Politics Science & Technology Student Government Student Life Student Wellness Traditions Gift Giving Season December 3, 2025 at 7:45:00 PM What do Students and Staff want? Grayson Guzman Do Lahainaluna students care what they get for Christmas? Read More 54.1 Percent Say "No" December 3, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM Lahainaluna on the Santa Kristina Meguro Do you believe in a jolly old man that eats your cookies with a hearty ol’ laugh? Read More “Quite a Juggling Act” December 3, 2025 at 8:15:00 PM Is a Paycheck Worth the Sacrifice Brielle Em-E-Li Ramelb Work means skills, money, and maturity; it costs freedom, time, and teenage experiences. Worth it? Read More "Smart and Capable" December 3, 2025 at 6:45:00 PM Raising the Academic Bar at Lahainaluna Keyla Jimenez Some students feel like they are not being challenged. Read More Are You on the Nice or Naughty List? December 3, 2025 at 9:45:00 PM On Karma, Consequences, and the Gray Zone of Morality Ashlee Hufalar “No one really wants coal” writes Ashlee Hufalar reporting on Lahainalunaʻs Naughty and Nice levels. Read More Growing Up on Campus November 7, 2025 at 8:15:00 PM Maturity and the Road to Graduation Ashlee Hufalar To reach their goals, students need more than talent. They need a change in mindset, how they approach their goals, and the responsibilities that come with all of this. Read More In the Nation's Spiritual Center November 7, 2025 at 9:15:00 PM Lahainaluna’s Annual Celebration of Lā Kūʻokoʻa Grayson Guzman Coleman Riddell Lā Kūʻokoʻa began on November 28th, 1843, commemorating political recognition of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s sovereignty. Read More Replanting Our Legacy November 7, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Boarders Replant Liliʻuokalani's Famous Palm Kristina Meguro Keiko Wegner Queen Liliʻuokalani was here for Arbor Day and to witness one of Lahainaluna’s specialties: the throwing of poi. Read More Haunted Halls September 30, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM The Haunted History of Lahainaluna Kristina Meguro Stories of the supernatural are unsurprisingly common among students and staff at Lahainaluna. Read More The Fair is Back September 30, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Remembering the Past, Facing the Future Grayson Guzman The Maui County fair is back for the first time since 2019. Lunas past and present identify with the fair... Read More In the end, we’re on the same island September 30, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Spirit, Silence, and Conflict Ashlee Hufalar To many students, school spirit has come to represent more than simple rivalry. Read More The Soul of the School is Spirit October 1, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Lahainaluna Celebrates a Powerful Return to Normalcy Seilala Samisoni Lahainaluna has just concluded its 2025-2026 homecoming week after students of all grade levels came together. Read More Upcoming Freshman Elections August 26, 2025 at 10:47:00 PM Many are new to the idea but ready to serve. Ashlee Hufalar Grayson Guzman Elections for Student Council are coming up but many students are unsure of what is happening. Read More The Future of Student Voice May 2, 2025 at 9:45:00 PM Will Student Government Survive? Brianne Lagazo "If students don't feel like their voices will actually be heard...they may not be motivated to get involved.” Read More Can we Stall Any Longer? May 1, 2025 at 10:28:00 PM Students Wonder When Our Bathrooms Will Become Usable Gisele Miller “...change the whole restroom so it would be all fixed. Like the toilets, the sinks, clean floors instead of mud and dirt." Read More "Cruelty is the Point" April 29, 2025 at 10:17:00 PM Inside Maui Prep's Anti-Transgender Policy Brianne Lagazo The issue of trans rights closely connects to an important social and spiritual identity in Hawaiian culture. Read More What Can Student Council Do? May 1, 2025 at 1:00:00 AM Between Aspirations and Impact Jersea Borneman "They can't really pass laws and regulations, but they are the representative branch of school governance." Read More Students are Feeling a Chill April 29, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM What Lunas think about the possibility of immigration officers on campus. Trinity Guiza "I would never tell them a single thing about a single student in my classroom.” Read More Everybody’s Special April 28, 2025 at 9:45:00 PM AP and the Path to Valedictorian Lucia Mejia "...the meaning of valedictorian means less with more and more people achieving that status.” Read More Pipe Problems and Fountain Fixes April 28, 2025 at 6:00:00 AM What’s in Your Hydro? Grayson Guzman According to students, not all fountain water comes out the same. Some favorite fountains include H-Building, the Office, and the Gym. Read More Should I Stay or Should I Go? April 22, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM Students Worry About Where They Should Attend College Keyla Jimenez "It's harder to get into schools in the states because of our education system here." Read More Lahainaluna to Implement Strict Phone Usage Policy April 1, 2025 at 10:22:00 PM Students hate the idea Trinity Guiza "Why now, when school is almost over? That’s ridiculous!" Read More 5% Proficient in Math, 100% Concerned March 17, 2025 at 7:00:00 PM Keyla Jimenez Since 2020, educators and officials have accounted for low test scores by blaming the pandemic, but it’s been three years since then, and the problem is only getting worse. Read More You Can't Always Park Where You Want March 15, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM Limited Space, Rising Frustrations, and Calls for Change Jersea Borneman "...he way that students park may be sort of haphazard and that might make it difficult for some kids to get in and out as well." Read More The Fine Line Between Support and Pressure March 14, 2025 at 10:00:00 PM Parental Roles in Student Success Oliana Schur How much parental involvement is too much parental involvement? Read More Valentine's Day February 7, 2025 at 7:30:00 PM High Hopes, Low Expectations Bryson Aquino It's a great day to bake cookies and show love to everyone, not just in romantic relationships. Read More Artificial Intelligence February 7, 2025 at 5:00:00 PM The Future is Here? Trinity Guiza I've used it before, mainly used it for like procrastination. I write down something fast and it writes something for me. Read More It’s Getting Hard to Stay February 6, 2025 at 11:00:00 PM On Our Teacher Shortage Keyla Jimenez The problem gets worse when you consider Lahainaluna’s dwindling student population after the Lahaina fires. Read More Senioritis January 13, 2025 at 7:05:00 PM More than just laziness? Bryson Aquino As freshmen, we have four years ahead of us; as seniors, we face the entirety of our lives. Read More Between School and Extra Curriculars January 13, 2025 at 5:05:00 PM Finding a Balance Jersea Borneman Are students playing or learning too much? Read More Is Procrastination A Good Thing? January 13, 2025 at 5:05:00 PM On the benefits and drawbacks of doing your work on time. Christopher Apilado ...there could be a chance that procrastination could be used in a good way. Read More From the Classroom to the Polls November 1, 2024 at 10:00:00 PM On the Issues, Misinformation, and Parental Influence Keyla Jimenez Lucia Mejia Students discuss the 2024 election Read More Social Emotional Lying October 2, 2024 at 12:30:00 AM Insincere student answers on the Panorama Survey Jersea Borneman “They’re high school students; I do not think they’re gonna answer them truthfully.” Read More School Lunch: Cutting Waste, Cutting Taste September 24, 2024 at 11:45:00 PM Students speak out about school lunch. Bryson Aquino A student looks down at a bright yellow blob of mac and cheese running into a chunky scoop of rice. Read More Do I Have Your Attention? September 4, 2024 at 10:00:00 PM Why students can't put down their phones. Keyla Jimenez Keyla Jimenez investigates one source of student distraction on campus. Read More Homecoming After the Fire May 31, 2024 at 10:00:00 PM At Lahainaluna, It's All About Pride Sequoia Pelletier-Yamasaki The Lahaina Wildfire on August 8th, 2023 delayed the opening of our school for weeks, leaving students with a difficult decision: transfer schools or wait and hope that Lahainaluna would soon open again. Read More Under a Cloud at Lahainaluna May 29, 2024 at 10:15:00 PM Vaping on Campus Trinity Guiza “I don’t feel pressured at all, I’m a good person, not a delinquent like them,” said a Lahainaluna sophomore when asked whether they felt pressured to vape by others. Read More Student Sells Artwork Inspired by the Fire May 27, 2024 at 4:30:00 PM A Symbol of Strength Sequoia Pelletier-Yamasaki Following the Lahaina wildfire, Devyn Gruber, a senior at Lahainaluna High School, decided to “turn that grief into art.” Read More Kids in the Cafe May 13, 2024 at 5:00:00 PM “a relaxing place to be” Jean Martin Alternado Jean Alternado asks if teacher absences impact student learning. Read More Endangered Kāhuli May 13, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM The Chain of Events Trinity Guiza Trinity Guiza describes the huge ecological impact of one of Hawai'i's smallest creatures. Read More Do you have a work of art or a piece of writing to share? April 29, 2024 at 4:00:00 PM Write for Ka Lama Hawai'i Ka Lama Hawai'i Tell your side of things and encourage others to speak up! Read More

Our History and Traditions About History In 1834, only three years after the founding of Lahainaluna, its principal, Lorrin Andrews, started a student-run newspaper called Ka Lama Hawaii , or “The Hawaiian Luminary.” The paper’s first issue explained the importance of knowledge. “In enlightened lands,” wrote its editorial staff, “it is believed that the spreading of knowledge is a good thing. When wise people ponder and come upon good new thoughts not known before […] they then desire to disseminate it abroad, and not hide it, so that all men may know” (61). Andrews narrowed Ka Lama ’s purpose to three goals. The first was to “give the scholars of the High School the idea of a newspaper [and] to show them how information of various kinds was circulated through the medium of a periodical.” The second goal was, generally, “to communicate to them [students] ideas on many objects.” Thirdly, it was designed as a “channel through which the scholars might communicate their own opinions freely on any subject they chose" (Qtd in Silva 109). Almost two centuries later, Lahainaluna’s current principal, Richard Carosso, sees Ka Lama as a space where students are “discussing among yourselves,” or where student voice is amplified. “It’s one of our only resources for students to voice their opinions and to get the input from, you know, their classmates about what's going on at school,” said Carosso, adding that the paper also brings student voices to the school’s administration so the school’s leadership “can tell what matters to you guys.” Historians remark that the original Ka Lama was mostly a way to send messages from missionary leaders to students; in 2025, it does the opposite. Both then and now, however, Ka Lama Hawai’i has encouraged discussion and literacy on campus while letting students engage with unfamiliar topics... Read More Ka Lama Hawaiʻi In 1834, only three years after the creation of Lahainaluna, its principal, Lorrin Andrews, started a student-run newspaper. Read More LHS History and Traditions: Coming Soon! Greetings from the Ka Lama History team! Read More The Boardersʻ Clock Boarders would punch in at the clock every morning and every night until the clock broke in 1976. Read More

The students of the Lahainaluna Band & Choir (BAC) held their annual winter concert on Saturday, December 13. This year, the winter concert featured three ensembles: concert choir, concert band, and symphonic band, who all performed new sets of holiday-themed songs after rehearsing for only a month and a half. They usually need to rehearse for two months or more. The director of the BAC, Jalen “Mr. B” Baraoidan, described the challenge. “We had 4-6 songs per group but only had 6 rehearsals to prepare.” Students use their personal time in order to attend rehearsals because “not every kid in band or choir is in the class… trying to hit that balance between those who are in the class versus not in the class… and to get them caught up is challenging within a short amount of rehearsals.” Another big challenge was the song list, which featured unique, harmonic, and newly introduced melodies. Nevertheless, the concert band students were pleased with many songs. They talked about “Serengeti Dreams” by Robert W. Smith, and the majority of the symphonic band members said “March Chagu Chagu” by Satoshi Yagisawa was their favorite piece. Most of the choir members said that they enjoyed the harmonic song list and didn’t have a single favorite, but “Katakataka” by Santiago Suarez, arranged by Donald Dilley, might be the most liked. Precious “Zen” Pante, a junior and president of the BAC, is in all three ensembles. She is also a student conductor who conducted two concert band pieces for the winter concert. Pante worried about her performance, noting how conductors influence the band through their stature. During the performance, she said she worried about her self-presentation and wanted to seem “a lot more confident.” Yet, Pante says she was able to pull through the concert and presented herself as confident as a conductor should be. The time crunch was only worsened by the number of new pieces presented to the BAC this year. Senior Thrisean Japh “TJ” Lorenzo compared this year’s lineup to past winter concerts and notes that “the pieces are much more mellow in difficulty but there is a plentiful amount.” When they perform throughout the year, the ensembles wear their formal attire. During the winter concert, though, they add a holiday twist. Students donned Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and elf ears. Brielle Ramelb, a freshman and a first-year in band, said, “I feel like it gives us more freedom to express Christmas and the holidays.” Baraoidan added that the winter-related additions make everyone “very enthusiastic, cheehoo!” In addition, the officers of the BAC decided to decorate the audience railings this year. They arrived early that day and wrapped garlands, taped bows, and added a bow to Baraoidan’s podium. To Kelani Gonzalez-Gonzalez, a senior, the decorations were festive. “It’s Christmas!” she exclaimed, adding that these touches are what makes the concert special. Before and during the concert, Baraoidan repeated his need to give credit to the students who are “working really hard… I hope people come to our concert to see that, see how much they’ve grown. People take it for granted, in my opinion.” “Come to the winter concert!!” said Ramelb, adding, “Although this is gonna be published after.” If you couldn’t make it to the concert, the videos of the winter concert are up on the Lahainaluna Band and Choir YouTube Channel: @lhsmusic1

Lahainaluna High School held its annual Kalikimaka Craft Fair on Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boarder’s Field. The event brought together students, families and local vendors for a day of food, entertainment, and holiday shopping. The fair also served as a major fundraiser for Papa Hula o Lahainaluna, which is raising money for a cultural exchange trip to New Zealand in March 2026. This year’s fair was the first one organized by Papa Hula advisor Kumu Ewa, who helped coordinate vendors, activities, and student-run booths. She explained that the event’s success depended on people coming together to support the school. “Anything that we do here at Lahainaluna can only be successful through community support, so everyone can thrive in our community,” she said. The funds raised will help Papa Hula travel to New Zealand, where students will learn through a cultural exchange and experience what it is like to be around native Māori speakers. According to Kumu Ewa, opportunities like this are rare and meaningful for students who want to deepen their cultural understanding. Papa Hula performer Mina Nagasako said she enjoyed seeing the fair bring people together. “I’m excited to see everyone share aloha and the community come together,” she said. Mina explained that the fair helps show what Papa Hula contributes to Lahaina. “This event is important because it puts our name out there and shows what we contribute to the community, which is our culture, and showing what aloha is,” said Nagasako, adding that it felt “really fulfilling” to see so many people show support. Many vendors participated, including Lahainaluna alumni. Nohili Hong, who graduated in 2019, sold her handmade clay pua kenikeni leis. She said events like this help keep the community connected. “I think it’s great to be a part of the community, especially in Lahaina.” Current students also joined as vendors. Cy Yasutake, president of the Lahainaluna Aloha Club, sold handmade Christmas ornaments like painted wooden designs and crocheted ornaments. He says, “I think events like this matter for Lahainaluna because it acts as an opportunity for our vendors to get together and make an impact.”   According to Yasutake, a significant number of  alumni participated. It was meaningful, he said,  “to see current students meet those who have made an impact on our school.” As the day went on, the fair offered live entertainment, food trucks, giveaways, and dozens of craft booths. Even though the event only lasted a few hours, it brought the community together in a strong way and helped Papa Hula move closer to their 2026 New Zealand trip.

Jean Martin Alternado’s “Kids in The Cafe” (5/13/24) points out the pros and cons of having classes in the cafe here at Lahainaluna High School. At one point he includes a 2021 Study by Hansen and Quintero that reported that for every teacher’s absence, students have a reduced 3% chance of not taking the course information. Yet, overall, the article seems to suggests that most students favored being in the Cafe as a way to have a study hall. Those opinions have come from just a handful of students whilst the article does mention that so many students spend time in the cafe not doing their course work. From data gathered on the 2022-23 Smarter Balanced Test, Lahainaluna has been scoring below the national average with most students scoring in the 30% percentile. As of 2022-2023 U.S News has reported that at Lahainaluna only 84% of enrolled students end up graduating; for the 1,037 students enrolled at the school only 871 would graduate. With an increased amount of teacher absences, classes are increasingly held in the cafeteria and are given online materials rather than in-person instruction. The information is conflicting in itself since a student-paced study hall in the cafe is determined by what the students do themselves. Classes in the cafe are not a reliable solution. The only solution to a part of the problem would have teachers accommodate big classes--but a lack of teachers is part of the reason why students are in the cafe. This solution would only be temporary as it would only increase the already heavy workloads of Lahainaluna’s teachers.