Class of 1954
50th Anniversary Reunion
Reported by Paul Won

Fellowship that Endures - Celebrating our 50th
For the past fifty years, the class of 1954 has staged a reunion every five years to continue the fellowship that sustained us through our school years as students, teammates and friends. It is no surprise that we have become an incredibly tight-knit class. The weekend of May 28-30, 2004, proved that our fellowship has indeed endured.

Reunion tees off
Our golf tournament event on Friday, May 28th, drew 37 early risers who met at the Hawaii Kai Golf Course. Edwina Siu, Doreen Vicens and Jane Yasui joined the guys. Congratulations to Cecil Farin, high gross, and Richard Kawamura, low net. Mahalo to Art Keola for our special fees and tee times.


Albert Ayers, Lawrence Chang, Stanley Siu & Chubby Vicens


Stags party on
Always a popular event, "stag night" followed golf that evening. About 70 classmates filled the Crusader Lounge at the Alumni Clubhouse for an evening of reminiscing, camaraderie and full-on good fun. Suddenly everyone was eighteen again, at least in spirit. What was advertised as a heavy pupu event, turned out to be a full dinner buffet. Everyone received a 1954 Crusader souvenir mug and reunion nametag with their senior portrait, which proved to be an essential, often hilarious, visual aid for many throughout the evening. Our Alumni graduation coordinator, Bob Takei '58, coaxed our euphoric band of merrymakers into the unfinished hall for a group photo in a setting curiously resembling the London blitz. We were happy to have our former English teacher, football and swim coach, Mario Valdastri, join us. Kudos to Albert Ayers and Rodger Fraine for staging a super "stag night".


Class of 1954 in the Clubhouse Banquet Room - construction area

 
Presenting the Golden Graduates
At 12 noon on Saturday, May 29th, most of our Golden graduates and their guests met on campus where two Roberts Hawaii air-conditioned buses whisked them off to Blaisdell Arena. Altogether, 68 Golden graduates were admitted for presentation. Seated and waiting for commencement to begin, some must surely have remembered a similar scene in McKinley auditorium on May 30, 1954, when 253 gentlemen of the class of 1954 proudly received their diplomas, never imagining some of us would come together again 50 years later to re-live that experience. Suddenly the robust, melodic voices of the 130 gentlemen of the class of 2004 heralded their proud entry, chanting E na koa Kalaepohaku (The valiant of Kalaepohaku), composed especially for them by Bro.Franklin Pao. Soon it was time for the presentation of the class of 1954. Each 50 year graduate received a school silk lei, and as their name was announced, proceeded across the stage to headmaster, Fr. Allen DeLong, who placed a golden medallion depicting the school seal on each of us and presented our Golden Anniversary Diploma. The class of 1954 gratefully thanks Saint Louis School for this memorable experience and congratulates the graduates of the "Unstoppable" class of 2004.

Peter Schubert accepts his Golden diploma from Fr. Allen DeLong, Headmaster

A beaming Les Murakami is assisted by Stan Nakamura after receiving his Golden diploma, medallion and silk lei

Al Yasui, Paul Won, Chubby Vicens, Vernon Teves & Calvin Tam

Ralph Mesick, Ted Mauliola & Ed Mahiko


Joe Tseu & Vernon Teves
Hele mai 'ai
After graduation we returned to Kalaepohaku and Gerber Fieldhouse for our class luau, hosted by the Saint Louis Alumni Association. There were many precious Kodak moments and we even managed to assemble everyone on stage for a class photo. The Akau family prepared the ono
Hawaiian kaukau and fed over 138 of us. They also kept our spirits up with their well stocked bar. A Hawaiian trio provided music during dinner. Borrowing a ukulele, Wil Sibayan sang a number for us. A successful heart transplant recipient, Wil is convinced the heart he received seven years ago must have belonged to a redneck who loved to sing. He claims he has become a compulsive singer ever since. Many interesting and humorous experiences were shared when certain individuals were asked to comment on what their years at SLC and the Brothers meant to them.

Class of 1954 at Luau


Chubby Vicens


12 year classmates shown on our beautiful baseball infield
S. Hong, P. Schubert, C. Lee, E. Mahiko, M. Tsushima, N. Ho, D. Poepoe, A. Akau, C. Lui, R. Mesick, & S. Siu


Cathedral School grads
Front: Bernard Vierra, Clifford Moniz, Jose Gonzalez, Don Lee, Calvin Tam, & Al Yasui - Back: Twins - Daniel & Donald Chong, Vernon Teves, Lowell Hu, & Francis Leong

Francis Leong, Mayor of Haslet, Texas

Pump Searle


Jimmy Kinimaka & daughter

Bro. Frank Pao & Musicians

Chubby Vicens’ Inspiration Testimonial

Front: Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kawamura & Harold Wong
Back: Peter & Verna Schubert & Roger Fraine

Pacifico Sabio, David Yoro, Harold Wong & Archie Akau

Mel Hardy

Richard Niimi


Stanley Hong


Wil Sibayan and Musicians

 

We remember
On Pentecost Sunday, 73 of us met in the Mystical Rose Oratory on campus for our traditional Memorial Mass. Norman and Monica Ho decorated the sanctuary with 60 red roses for our 60 departed classmates. Stanley Hong read each of their names during the prayer of the faithful. Cal Lui sadly announced the sudden passing of Harold Lee in Henderson, NV, on April 9th. He had planned to be at our reunion. We were happy his wife, Myrna, joined us that morning. Bro. Franklin presented her with Harold's silk
lei, medallion and Golden diploma later at brunch. Mark Tsushima, Joseph Kau and Harry Goya presented the Offertory gifts and Cecil Farin was Eucharistic minister. Bro. Clarence Chew led us in the singing of the Alma Mater hymn.

 

Brunch on the beach
After Mass, about 81of us met at the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki for brunch. What a wonderful spread awaited us, including complimentary champagne and wines, donated by Cal Lui. Many lingered afterward enjoying the gorgeous beach setting, the ambiance, and the pleasure of each other's company. The perfect ending of a weekend many are proclaiming "da best reunion evah".


Bro. Frank Pao, Theresa & Newton Nakamoto


The Lana'i Experience
On Wednesday, June 2nd, 20 traveled to Lana'i and checked in to the beautiful Manele Bay Resort & Spa for an exclusive two days of fun and golf. After lunch, golfers headed upland to Greg Norman's Experience at Koele while the others enjoyed playing tourist. That evening everyone was shuttled up to The Lodge at Koele for dinner. More golf on Thursday morning, this time at the stunning Challenge at Manele. Alas, all good things must end as they departed, some reluctantly, late Thursday afternoon. Mahalo to Chubby Vicens for arranging this fabulous "five star" event.


Al Yasui at Koele Experience’s amazing 8th hole

Save the date
In response to many requests echoed throughout reunion weekend, your reunion committee has started planning for our first "annual reunion" to be held on Friday, May 14, 2005. Plans include a morning golf tournament followed by a Chinese banquet that evening. Watch for details.

 
Let's meet monthly
The second Tuesday of each month is class night at the Crusader Lounge located in the Saint Louis Alumni Clubhouse. Everyone is invited and encouraged to "just show up" and continue the fellowship. Our first class night will be on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 at 5 pm. and continues every second Tuesday of each month.

Las Vegas? Reno?
A trip to Las Vegas or Reno, to include golf, before the end of the year is being planned. And guess what? Us Hawaii guys are finally meeting you mainland guys halfway. Watch for details.