Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 7, 1 July 1986 — Kamehameha Class of 1926 Holds First Ever Reunion [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kamehameha Class of 1926 Holds First Ever Reunion

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Oia O OHA Five of seven surviving graduates of the then Kamehameha School for Boys recently observed their 60th reunion for the first time ever since 22 of them graduated in 1926. The five and their wives met for luneh at the Pagoda Floating Restaurant June 9. Among the five is the only graduate living on the mainland who happened to also be the only one to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. Daniel H. Lansing of Pasadena, Calif., is now an ordained minister with the Faith Congregational Church of San Gabriel Valley. The other four — Henry Young, 89; Richmond Ellis, 82; Paul Keaka, 81; and Harry Chang, 80 — were on hand for the occasion. Eaeh one was asked to give an account of themselves during the past 60 years and many had forgotten what it was like during those early years. The best remembered symbol for most of them was the street car and Honolulu Rapid Transit Co. Ltd. They nonetheless had a lot of fun trying to remember and laughed at eaeh other's sense of recollection. They rapped with eaeh other and found that virtually every one hadn't seen one another for many moons although four of the five live on Oahu. The two who couldn't make the reunion were William Poka, 81, and Daniel McGregor, 80. Keaka organized the reunion, contacted his classmates and did the chronology on eaeh one. Poka and McGregor also live on Oahu. "Up unti! last September, there were 10 of us surviving graduates," Keaka said. "But now we're down to seven because we lost three since then." The three are Humphrey Cummings who passed away Sept. 2, 1985; George Groves, Jan. 21, 1986; and Roger Whitmarsh, May 10, 1986. A brief sketch of what eaeh one did during his active years follows: Harry T. Chang — Teacher, Department of Education. Richmond Ellis — Electrician, Ewa Sugar Plantation and T ripler Army Hospital. Paul Keaka — Assistant Collection and Credit Manager, Board of Water Supply, City and County of Honolulu. Henry Young — Linotype Operator, Honolulu Advertiser. He was also the 1926 class president. Lansing, 82, was also a supervising electrician in the engineering department of Puunene Mill on Maui before going into the Army and subsequently becoming a minister. They all agreed on one thing at their June 9 inaugural reunion and that is they'd like to get together again next year "if we're still around." Keaka said they were supposed to have had this first reunion in 1984 but it fell through because "I eame down sick."

Keaka, a longtime avid bowler, is still active but is down to one league as compared to many leagues not too long ago. "I'm also down to a 12-pound ball now," he quipped. It was agreed by all the reunion was fun. "We all had some good laughs and enjoyed ourselves. It was niee to see eaeh other again and trying to catch up for those many years," Keaka said. Copies of the Class of 1926 graduation photo showing all 22 graduates in military dress and a map of the former campus where the Bishop Museum now stands were distributed by Keaka to his fellow graduates. It is interesting to note the map showed a maehine hall, horse shoeing stable, piggery, ehieken eoop, dairy, laundry, ehapel and dormitories. The campus was bounded by what was then Kalihi Road, King, Houghtailing and School Sts. The Girls' School was located makai of King St. with the Oahu Railway and Land Co. tracks running along one side. Yes, it was a day for nostalgia and despite the fact most could not remember that far back, bits and pieces fell into plaee during the course of conversation. It was a pleasant meeting for these five who hope to be together again in 1987.

These are five of the seven surviving members of the then Kamehameha School for Boys, Class of 1926, as they met for their first reunion ever. From left to right are Richmond EHis, Daniel H. Lansing, Paul H. Keaka, Harry T. Chang and Henry A. H. Young. The two others who could not attend are Dciniel K. McGregor and William Poka.