50 Years, 50 Voices: The Modern Legacy of Mililani High

1977.

Caroline Hubble

“MHS is where I solidified my love for music, science, and writing. I was inspired to become a music teacher by my experiences in band, under the baton of Mr. Nakasone.”

Edwin Tangunan

“Greatest memories of my youth and some lasting friendships. Football, editor and Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Scholar Athlete of the Year, 1976-77.”

Mark (Randy) Kanter

“We were the first and only class when we started. We chose the Brown and Gold, the Trojans and the alma mater. We created a legacy for many others to proudly follow after

Brad Sakai

“A lot, met my wife there and a lot of life time friends that we still see today. Also, all of our kids are Mililani High School Alumni.”

Fay Kameyama

“My classmates are like ohana to me. Although we don’t see each other that often, it’s always a joy to get together and reminisce our times together.”

After 50 years, Mililani High School has formed at least a part of the lives of thousands of students, but it’s had a different meaning to everyone. As the school continues its 50th anniversary celebrations, alumni return to talk about what Mililani High represents to them, whether it be the school as a place where memories were made, or as a part of the com munity that served as a step ping stone to the rest of their lives.

Roy Ishii

“Good times, good friends and eating from lunch trucks.”

1979. 1981.

Amy Dean Caliboso

“MHS was a wonderful foundation for my life and career. Started dating my husband here and my first computer class was with Mr. Kawana.”

1982. 1983.

“Great memories, life-long friends, teachers and staff who were very supportive and personable, good times with the band - especially marching band, fun times during pep rallies on the front lawn and school-wide activities/events.”

“This is tough to sum up in 1 or 2 sentences. A few ideas come to mind like… PRIDE, HOME, LEGACY and EXCELLENCE.”

“Teachers at Mililani challenged us to achieve academically as well as supported us as advisors and coaches in our co-curricular activities. Mililani encourages ‘School spirit, personal pride.’”

“MHS holds precious memories of my dear friends who I still treasure to this day. Now it’s especially meaningful because my chil dren attend the school as well.”

“I am a proud graduate of Mililani High School and proud to have my 3 children graduated/attend and participate in the Music Program as I did.”

19 86. 1989.

“There’s a reason a lot of my friends and classmates from MHS still live in Mililani. It was a great place to grow up and Mililani was a great school.”

1990.

“School pride, fun class competitions, amazing teachers, lifelong friends, pineapple, bugs and red dirt! MHS taught me the best life lessons and motivated me to work with students to have the same experience and school pride.”

“My past and present, growing and nurturing myself and others, with decades of growing up, rearing others, and watching our community (school and outside community) grow and live together.”

1988. 1987.

“Home away from home.”

“MHS was always a positive experience for me. I have so many great memories of high school friends, teachers, and activities. Returning as a staff member feels like coming home again.”

“It is an extension of my childhood home and all the teachers, counselors, coaches and staff were my family. The students and their families were like my relatives. Even though I don’t see or talk to a lot of the people I went to school with no matter what age if we identify that we are ‘from Mililani,’ it creates a bond.”

Robert

“High school motivated me to work hard in college and find a job as soon as I could. I still communicate with the some of same people I grew up with since 1983.”

“No matter how far we all travel when someone says they grad from Mililani we are instant friends. Classmates have kept in touch over the years and the connection is always there.”

“MHS means family, not only with our graduating class, but other classes and staff too.”

Darin Kimoto

“MHS is home. It is where I spent most of the years that shaped me and challenged me.”

Ken Kawachi

“MHS provided me the foundation for my professional growth & development. I take pride in being a MHS graduate & from Hawaii.”

Kehau Wray

“Mililani High School means

‘home’ to me. It is located in the community I have had the pleasure and honor to live in my

1991. 1992.

Wade Yamasaki

“Mililani High School reminds me of my most memorable experiences and gives me so much pride of where I’m from.”

Brendan Ogasawara

“A place which has provided me lifelong friendship with classmates, teachers and coaches I have met when I attended school. Telling others I’m a proud alumni of Mililani High.”

Michael Petersen

“For me, MHS has created a great foundation to my life, guiding me to where I am today. My lifelong friendships created at MHS have the greatest meaning to me.”

Kim Vincent

“Mililani High School represents the pride I feel as a lifelong member of the community I continue to call home.”

Melvin Oliveros

“MHS has always been full of great stories and personalities. I reflect upon my current goals and past successes as well as the accomplishments of my peers to drive me on a daily basis. ”

Lance Machida

“A place of a lot of good memories, lots of friendships made and a school I’m proud to have graduated from.”

Kyle Aoki

“Great times with great people. There’s no other school or community that I’d rather have been a part of.”

1993. 1997.

Duke Tomimoto

“It was where my sister and I literally grew up, in the 80’s and 90’s. I’ve been around the athletic department and faculty since before I could walk. Those associated the faculty, staff, and players treated me like family and they still do. My sister and I called them uncle and aunty and they truly were. It was unreal cool.”

Kristi Molina

“It’s like that childhood tree, where you have so many memories and has been a part of your life for so long.”

Reid Nonaka

“MHS was my home away from home. There were adults here on campus that I knew I could turn to.”

2000.

Jamie Ludwig

I am thankful for this school/ community for allowing me to be a part of this TROJAN family.”

Rachel (Deveraturda) Cooksey

“A school that was filled with diverse students, surrounding a supportive family approach, that was tight knit within our community. ”

1998. 2001. 2003.

Danielle Bass

“Mililani High School means community leadership to me, as the center point for our town, the school helped us grow, strengthen relationships with friends and neighbors, and brings people together.”

While the school itself continues to educate students each year, the students that leave the school have taken their own paths in life, with some returning to the school and community, others never leaving, and furthermore, those who choose to go out into the world. Whether they return or not, Mililani High remains a uniting factor between alumni, but for the returning alumni there will be a celebration for them this year with the 50th anniversary gala in July, open to all past students of MHS. Despite the evolution MHS has undergone to transform into what its become today, the spirit of Mililani’s Trojans has remained ever-present amidst a sea of changes. The symbolism of the Trojan mascot is that of a warrior, one that the school strives to embody. For many, MHS created an idea of home, a place of transformation and the bonds forged from lasting memories. It is the hope and wish of many alumni that the same legacy continues on for years to come.

John Sandvig

“Excellence. Tradition. Pride.”

Jaydonn Arakawa

Westin Saito

“It was a great place to cultivate my education and school spirit. My time at MHS has strived me to work with Trojans even after my graduation as an educator.”

Roann Gatdula

“MHS means the world to me. It’s a place where you write your first page into finding who you really are and who you want to be.”

2005. 2007.

Geneva Esguerra

“No matter where I go, Mililani will always feel like home to me. It’s a place that holds a lot of good memories and where I get to create even more amazing ones day after day.”

2011. 2009.

Hideki Aoki

“Mililani High School made me who I am today and I am thankful for that.”

2012.

Rylee Maldonado

“MHS is my alumni and I had great memories and good academic exposures during my time there. My graphics teachers Mr. Yoshida and Mr. Fake were the best and I enjoyed doing SkillsUSA competitions with their help ”

“Mililani High School taught me the value of creating meaningful, long lasting relationships. As a teacher at MHS, I am able to impact students the same way my teachers did for me.”

Ingrid Kieffer

“It’s a place where I was able to learn how to respect Indigenous peoples & the land. It was also a place where I got to experience all different types of people and learned how to respect others no matter our differences.”

2017.

Akoni Pasoquen-Castillo

“Mililani School means a lot to me. It’s a place that I call home, a place where I have learned and grew into the person I am today. It’s a place of warmth filled with memories and experiences.”

2014. 2018.

Christopher Gouveia

“Mililani High School to me means integrity, boldness, strength, and opportunity.”

2016. 2022.

Samantha Ramiscal

“MHS is a place to comeback and relive memories and legacies. Time is continuously advancing but it stands still for our Trojan Nation to be remind of where all of our accomplishments started from.”

Tanner Aoki

“Mililani High School is a place where you can learn but still have fun with your boys.”