After completing their last exams of 2014, 45 seniors returned to HBA for an evening of fun and relaxation.

Held in festively decorated D201/202 rooms, the Class of 2015’s Rockin’ Christmas Social started off with students eating bentos while enjoying live music by student bands.

Compared to the senior’s last action-oriented Hunger Games social, senior Jarrett Toyama said, “I enjoyed having the chance to just sit back and relax with friends after exams.” A big draw to the social was the appearance of two popular student bands: The Proletarians, and an unnamed band consisting of seniors Jasha Onogi, Evan Sakaguchi, and Joshua Kishaba. Seniors Aaron Wilford, Ian Alesna, Jared Chun, Geoffrey Chen, and Dylan-John Loo make up the Proletarians. The bands played a variety of music from the 60’s to current hits to popular Christmas tunes.

Following dinner, social chair Sara Utsugi announced the next activity: a DIY Christmas treat contest. Pictures of various treats were flashed on a Smartboard as students picked from a variety of ingredients ranging from chocolate chips to candy canes to M&Ms to create their treats. The contest was judged by Physics teacher and faculty advisor Andrew Vitek, who attended the event as Santa Claus. Vitek eventually chose the winner based on taste, giving the victory to senior Jonathan Higa’s group’s creative pile of marshmallow, pretzel, and chocolate. Higa said, “My favorite part was [creating] the amazing mountain of snacks that beat out all the girls’ pretty snacks.” Many also took advantage of Jarrett Toyama’s photo booth and took pictures with their friends and Santa.

To end the evening, the seniors hopped on a bus to see the Honolulu City Lights at Honolulu Hale. Proletarian band member Loo, who is also the class treasurer said, “Socials in senior year primarily serve to strengthen a class’s bond before graduation. They should no longer pose as a waste of a Friday night but rather a way to cherish the time we have left together.” At the Lights, some seniors participated in a photo scavenger hunt with a list of items ranging from “an award winning wreath” to “a selfie with a Japanese tourist doing the peace sign.” Others just enjoyed viewing the holiday decorations and hanging out with their friends.

Photographs by Jarrett Toyama (’15), Danielle Today (’15), and Asia Sheehab (’15).