American
William Richards founded the missionary station in Lahaina in 1823. In June 1831,
Lorrin Andrews was chosen as first principal of a
seminary for boys and young men. The site was named Lahainaluna for "upper Lahaina". On September 5, 1831, classes began in thatched huts with 25 Hawaiian young men as students, including former royal historian
David Malo. The second principal was
William Patterson Alexander, who served from 1843–1856. The school eventually became part of the public school system in Hawaii. The post-secondary program later became developed as part of the first
University of Hawaii. Lahainaluna has a boarding program where students from the
outer islands (including students from the "other side of the island") can live and study at either of the campus dormitories. In return, they do various jobs around the campus, such as maintaining the landscape, tending to the farm animals, and making student meals at the cafeteria; they work 18 hours per week. Initially and exclusively for males, the boarding program became coed in 1980. The two dorms are David Malo Dormitory for the boys and Hoapili Dormitory for the girls. Previously, Hoapili housed both genders. Lahainaluna is one of very few public boarding schools in the nation. There is an 30-ft "L" on the mountain-side overlooking Lahaina at the 2,000 ft elevation mark. The "L" stands for Lahainaluna and has been there since 1904 according to some sources. However, according to
Lahaina News and
Flux Hawaii, the landmark was determined to be built in 1929, based on interviews conducted by Lahainaluna High School. Twice a year, the boarders at Lahainaluna lay a fresh coat of white lime on ''Pu'u Pa'u Pa'u.'' The boarding students must carry sacks of lime to the site, clear the weeds, and clean up the site. Added to the "L" are embellishments of the year and athletic championships for the previous year. On a clear day, the freshly limed L can be seen from the island of
Molokai. It is located at coordinates . Lime is used because it's natural and does not interfere with the ecosystem. After the students have completed restoring the "L", they lay fresh leis at
David Malo's gravesite, chant, sing and pray. Historically, on graduation day, alumni hike up the "L" and light up torches that line the "L" to symbolize the graduates who have received their diplomas. The school celebrates David Malo Day annually. That day a feast is served and the Hawaiiana Club puts on a performance. Members and coaches of the Lahainaluna High School
football team partook in the pre-game coin toss ceremony during
Super Bowl LVIII after the
2023 Hawaii wildfires left much of Lahaina destroyed. ==Hale Pai==