HISTORY

 The educational work of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Hilo first began in 1897 by H. Brand who, with his wife, established the Hilo Chinese Mission School as a branch of the Anglo-Chinese Academy on Oahu (which later became Hawaiian Mission Academy). In 1926 E.H. Giddings, pastor of the Hilo Seventh-day Adventist Church started a one-room school with 18 students. Mrs. Mildred Avery-Jared arrived in October 1926, to be the first teacher and remained until 1930.

The school was known as the KINOOLE STREET PRIVATE SCHOOL or HILO CHURCH SCHOOL and was located on the present site of the Hilo Farmer's exchange. To accommodate the growing enrollment, the school increased to three classrooms, an exchange was made for the property at 172 Kapiolani Street on June 20, 1938. The schoolhouse and church were relocated to the new site. The old schoolhouse was placed in the back Puna corner of the property and provided the needed space for future expansion.

The present site on Kapiolani Street overlooks the city and commands a beautiful view of Hilo Bay. It is of historical interest, and is known as the Nawahi property. Joseph Kaho'oluhi Nawahi, educated at Hilo Boarding School, became a legislator after serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs in one of Queen Lili'uokalani's five cabinets. Emma Nawahi was one of the few surviving members of the old monarchal order of Hawaii, being the daughter of Kahaole-au and Tong Yee, a Chinese businessman and one of the first important figures in the sugar industry in Hawaii.

In 1948 the school complex was enlarged with the completion of the gymnasium, which also housed classrooms, kitchen, and dining facilities. It was during that same year that publication commenced on the school's official newspaper, "Mauna Loa Rumblings." Mauna Loa School was given its name by Clifford Hansen, a pastor-teacher in Hilo from 1942-1944. It is said that he had a great love for the gently sloping, beautiful Mauna Loa, which erupted, during his ministry in Hilo; thus, naming the school after the volcano. In 1956 plans were laid and construction began to bring about a complete transformation of the Nawahi Property, paving the way for Mauna Loa School's present facilities. Four new classrooms with storage and office space were added.