Beneath the shade of the banyan tree, generations of Sacred Hearts Academy students gathered, learned and created memories that continue to shape campus traditions today. For alumnae and educators Katherine Francis Miller ’57 and Leilani Asuncion-Tagupa ’91, those memories reflect not only campus traditions from decades past but also the values of faith and community that remain central to the Academy as it continues to grow and change.

From campus gathering places and religious traditions to school events and attire, many Academy traditions have evolved over the decades, reflecting how the school community continues to balance its history with the needs of modern students.

“We have to bridge these traditions together,” Asuncion-Tagupa said. “We need to do that because it helps support our Academy’s mission.”

Gathering places and early campus life

One of those gathering places was the banyan tree, which once stood prominently between the basketball court and the performing arts center. Programs and events were held beneath its branches, creating a shared space where students, faculty and the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts came together.

Although the tree itself no longer stands, parts of it still live on within the school today. According to Asuncion-Tagupa, wood from the tree was preserved and used to create the oratory that is now classroom A210.

“Just as the tree grows and spreads throughout the islands, so will the school’s faith spread,” Miller said.

These traditions date back to the Academy’s earliest years. Founded by French sisters who maintained communication with the French government, the school once had a pier with a dock reserved for large sailing ships. Through invitations extended by the sisters, ship captains would visit campus, prepare special programs and offer training opportunities for students interested in becoming sailors.

While the Academy maintained connections beyond Hawaii, daily student life remained grounded in shared responsibility and community. When Miller attended the Academy as a student, the campus included an entire farm where boarding students worked together to grow vegetables and fruit and raise livestock such as rabbits and chickens.

Students gathered eggs from the chickens, which were then cooked and served at breakfast. According to Miller, these experiences helped students understand the value of caring for the land and for one another.

“There’s that connection with being able to produce something that will benefit people,” Miller said. “So you’re also taking care of creation.”

The farm area was later cleared to make space for the lower school buildings and today remains a grassy area near the student center.

Alongside daily work and shared responsibilities, faith also played a central role in student life.

The sisters once lived in the chapel and rotated every half hour during adoration. They wore red mantles, a sight that left a lasting impression on Miller when she was a student.

Although many of these practices belong to earlier decades, the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts continue to influence the Academy today. Many of the sisters now reside at Regina Pacis Convent across from campus on Fifth Avenue and remain closely connected to the school community.

Asuncion-Tagupa noted that campus facilities have also evolved as the school continues to grow.

“We’re already in one city block,” she said, explaining that renovations and expansions often depend on available space and specialized resources. For example, restoration work in the chapel requires a stained-glass specialist to repair the original windows.

Traditions and ceremonies through the years

As the campus evolved physically, many traditions also continued through ceremonies and school events. One example is the tradition of alumnae weddings held in the St. Margaret Mary Chapel, located at the front of the school. Asuncion-Tagupa married there on July 9, 2005, which is also when the Catholic community celebrates the feast day of Our Lady of Peace.

“The date was chosen by my husband,” she said. “If you think about it, only graduates can get married here. It’s special because our wedding is stacked upon other memories that I’ve had while growing up.”

Other traditions have changed over time. The Junior Ring Ceremony, where students receive their junior rings or pins, remains a milestone celebration for upper school students.

School events such as Life Walk have also evolved. In earlier years, students walked from campus through Kahala neighborhoods and toward lookout points before returning. Seniors often ended the day with a beach outing.

Today, the route is shorter. Upper school students walk about 20 to 25 minutes to Kapaolono Community Park, where grade levels rotate through games such as basketball, volleyball, tug-of-war, relay races and ships and sailors.

The event continues to emphasize community building while adapting to current safety and logistical considerations.

Beyond schoolwide events like Life Walk, mentorship traditions have also played an important role in shaping student life, such as the Big Sister–Little Sister tradition. As a way to welcome incoming freshmen to high school, the tradition pairs junior “big sisters” with freshmen “little sisters.” In earlier years, big sisters frequently checked in with their little sisters and organized activities throughout the school year.

Today, the program continues with structured monthly check-ins and shared activities. The Freshman Initiation assembly has become the highlight for many. Big sisters help freshmen learn a choreography to a song medley. The freshmen perform the dance in front of the school, while big sisters cheer them on with decorated signs.

Religious processions were also once common on campus. Students participated in ceremonial events that included decorated floats and floral displays carried from the administration area to the grotto, reflecting the strong Marian traditions of the school.

Music, Mass and performing arts traditions

Music has also long been an important part of the Academy’s religious traditions and campus gatherings.

When Miller was a student, Masses featured songs in Latin and French performed in three-part harmony. At the time, students were required to learn Latin and French.

Over time, the style of worship music has changed. Miller noted that today’s students often prefer a more energetic style of worship.

“The young people like things like praise and worship, where they sing a lot of songs and jump up and down,” Miller said.

In the past, she explained, the style of worship was more formal and quiet. Despite those changes, Miller said the spiritual purpose of Mass has remained the same.

“It’s the same in the sense that it is still the inner spirit of the person trying to reach God, and God reaching down into the spirit of the person,” Miller said.

Morning adoration was once held in the chapel, and students sometimes received demerits if they forgot to bring their songbooks, tams or berets.

As enrollment increased over the years, monthly Masses transitioned from the chapel to the gym to accommodate larger groups of students. The chapel continues to be used for singing practices and graduation ceremonies.

The Academy also holds a Second Friday Morning Mass in the chapel, which is open to the community. Lower school students celebrate a separate monthly Mass.

Music in the chapel also carries a long-standing tradition through its historic organ.

Changes in school attire

Traditions at the Academy have also been reflected in how students dressed for school and religious events. In earlier decades, students wore more formal clothing on campus. Business attire often included a blouse, jacket and skirt or pants with heels. During Mass, they wore tams or berets.

Today’s dress code offers more flexibility while maintaining a sense of school identity. From Monday through Thursday, students typically wear blue skirts with closed-toe black shoes. On Fridays, students may wear khaki pants and polo shirts. Division t-shirts are occasionally worn during school activities.

A campus seen beyond the classroom

Beyond school traditions, the campus itself has also become recognizable outside the Academy community. Scenes from the television series “Lost,” which aired from 2004 to 2010, were filmed on campus, including scenes inside the chapel. The series “Hawaii Five-0” also filmed scenes in the front parking lot and near the upper school offices during its early seasons.

Although many aspects of campus life have changed over the years, alumnae and educators say the core values of faith, community and tradition continue to connect generations of Lancers.

For those who remember gathering beneath the banyan tree or participating in earlier traditions, Miller said those memories remain an important part of the Academy’s history and remind students that the past continues to shape the present.