Lahainaluna High School students walk the stage after enduring rough 4 years

HONOLULU (KHON2) — It all started in March 2020, when Lahainaluna High School’s class of 2024 entered high school.

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Classes were cut short and students were forced to spend the rest of their freshman year learning from home.

While school returned to normal for a few years, these students faced yet another challenge that would significantly impact the remainder of their high school years.

The Aug. 8 Maui wildfires halted life for all Maui residents. For Lahainaluna’s class of 2024, the fires held the start of their senior year of high school.

Two graduating seniors told KHON2 the highlight of their four years was the first Lahainalna football game after the fires.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after high school but after Aug. 8. becoming a firefighter was set out to me,” said Morgan Montgomery, Lahainaluna senior class of 2024. “I’m going to school on the Big Island to study fire science and then come back here and try to become a firefighter.”

For Lahianaluna senior Sanalio Vehikite, the sense of community is what made their season special.

“Thanks for this community because they helped us,” explained Vehikite. “Without them, we wouldn’t have had a season.

The graduation ceremony was streamed on the school’s website.