They stood in a large circle, hand-in-hand — some wiping away tears, all wearing their best smiles.

More than five dozen former classmates and friends, all in their early 80s, sang "Hawai'i Aloha" to cap off a program many wished would never end.

"It's kind of sad that I won't be able to see my classmates again," said 81-year-old Hisao Kiyabu, hesitating between words. "In ordinary life, staying at home, I never get to see them or talk to them. This is the only time we can get together."

Kiyabu, of Kane'ohe, is among the members of Farrington High School's class of 1940, the second graduating class of the Kalihi-area school. The group celebrated its 65th and final reunion last week at Pagoda Hotel's International Ballroom.

"We're all getting old," said reunion organizer Sally Shimizu Matsuyama, 83, of Palolo.

Once a class of more than 500 students, only a fraction attended the recent celebration because many were either too ill or have passed away. Over the years, attendance at the class of '40 reunions have dwindled — 182 at the 50th reunion, 88 at the 60th reunion and 67 at the last assembly.

The celebration was bittersweet for the former students, knowing it would likely be the last time they would see everyone together. But those who did make it made the most of those few hours, reliving school times while catching up on their newest great-grandchildren or latest travel adventures.

Emcee Hung Chee Tom, also a 1940 graduate, began the program with a welcome address from class president Shoso Kagawa, who couldn't make it to the reunion for health reasons.

Tom read Kagawa's letter, highlighting some of their favorite class memories: the school carnival, with its 'ono food, rides and games; the interim school stage with the old desks pushed together for assemblies; football games with classmates and star players Sam Prestidge and Ben Ogden; and, of course, school secretary Martha Yamashiro.

"The boys used to line up in her small office, not only to chat with her, but also to admire this gorgeous beauty," Kagawa recalled. "She certainly was nice to the boys."

The audience — especially the men — responded with laughter.

"Yes, 1940 was a very good school year," Tom read from Kagawa's letter. "We had lots of fun, were carefree and happy, studied hard, but goofed off, too. No worries ... those were the best days of our lives."

'CHICKEN COOP' YEARS

A week before the reunion, Matsuyama tied up loose ends for the big event in her cool, dark dining room. She sat surrounded by a hodgepodge of class of 1940 memorabilia, items she would bring to the celebration: a tattered and yellowed yearbook, programs from previous reunions, and photo collages of past get-togethers.

While rummaging through old reunion programs, Matsuyama recalled the history of Farrington High School and how her class had been dubbed the "chicken coop generation."

The school was named in honor of the late Wallace Rider Farrington, who served as the sixth governor of the Territory of Hawai'i from 1921 to 1929. In September 1936, the school opened its doors to 738 sophomores and 25 teachers.

In the fall of 1937 and 1938, Matsuyama and her classmates were assigned to temporary, wooden cottages nicknamed "chicken coops," Matsuyama said with a trace of playfulness in her voice. "It was fun."

The class of 1940 didn't suffer the chicken coop years in vain — they became the first to graduate from the current high school facility, a half-million dollar complex thought to be one of the most modern facilities statewide at the time.

Back at the reunion, organizers nixed the line-dancing portion of the program because the group preferred to talk story instead; the ballroom buzzed with excited chatter.

"I'm glad that everyone remembered to come here today," joked Ernest Ayala, who also entertained his classmates with "My Little Grass Shack" and "Tiny Bubbles" on his 'ukulele.

Ayala, 83, of Pukalani, said his best high school memories were being part of the school band as a saxophonist, and also serving on the glee club and track team. As an athlete, Ayala earned a varsity letter — an "F" with wings — which he patched onto his olive green polo T-shirt for the reunion.

"I have it at home and I said, 'This time I'm going to wear it,' " he said with a proud, toothy smile.

The reminiscing continued over a lunch buffet, where bright conversations blended with the sweet smell of mahimahi and teriyaki chicken, haupia cake and Kona coffee.

As the Farrington graduates heaped food onto their plates, Matsuyama and Tom studied the faces lining up in front of them.

"So many of them are hard to recognize, yeah?" Matsuyama whispered to Tom, 83, who served as sophomore class president.

"Yeah."

Among the changed faces was Julia Flores Tsugawa, known by her classmates as the happy, outgoing girl in high school.

Tsugawa, 82, of Kahalu'u, remembered how she enjoyed playing basketball and volleyball as a teen. But what she loved most was going out with her best friend to dance.

A pretty young lady with wavy, pinned hair, Tsugawa (then Julia Flores) and her girlfriend would have a blast doing the fox trot and jitterbug at clubs where cable cars and classic Ford sedans lined the streets.

"We used to sneak into the clubs together when we were in high school," recalled Tsugawa, whose glasses magnified her already big, bright brown eyes. "But that was all in fun."

GRADUATION TO WAR

For the class of 1940, the thrill of starting a new chapter in life after graduation was overshadowed by the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

"When we graduated, I went to vocational training school and then the war broke out," said Ayala, who wore a smart-looking hat over his gray hair.

Ayala had been hired by the HawaiianTel phone company in 1941. As a cable splicer, he and his co-workers worked at Pearl Harbor, Hickam and Barbers Point repairing telephone lines.

"That's where our life was during the war because we were under military rule, too," Ayala said.

Tom, the emcee, joined the army after the war began and was stationed in Saipan and Okinawa. After the war, Tom returned home and went to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa for nearly three years.

"During the Korean War, I was back in service," said Tom, who had a quiet, dignified manner. "This time, it was the air force ... (I served) for four years in Japan. Our unit evacuated the wounded from Korea."

After the Korean War, Tom earned a degree in aeronautics at St. Louis University in Missouri. He eventually found work as a contracted mechanical engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, where he has lived since 1960.

"I worked for about 23 years, then I retired in 1982," Tom said with a slight southern twang.

Despite the war years, some Farrington graduates managed to live a fairly quiet and stable life, such as Matsuyama, formerly Sally Shimizu.

Matsuyama went from being a salesclerk at the popular Fort Street five-and-dime store, Kress, to being a credit union clerk. She would advance to a managerial position and retire after 50 years of service.

In addition to work, Matsuyama married in 1944 and started a family. Although her husband died last month, Matsuyama still recalls, with a twinkle in her eye, the moment she met her husband — a Mid-Pacific graduate from Waipahu — at a picnic with friends.

"When I went to the picnic, I took my 'ukulele and I was playing, and he showed me up," said Matsuyama, who has been an avid 'ukulele player since she was a teen. "He actually was good at it."

WINDING DOWN

After raising families and settling into steady careers, many members of the class enjoyed retirement in the 1980s, when they reached their mid-60s. Since then, they've found many ways to keep busy and to continue living fulfilling, productive lives. (See Words of Wisdom, right)

Tom and his wife, Peggy, have traveled to places such as Greece, China, Japan and various countries in Europe. Lately they've enjoyed line dancing at a local senior center and going to the gym twice a week.

"Start your exercise program early because when you start thinking about your health when you're 60, it's too late," advises Tom, wearing a bright red and white aloha shirt, navy slacks and a white ginger lei.

Despite having to take more than 13 pills each day, Tsugawa — the former clubber and a retired union business agent — finds ways to keep moving.

"I enjoy right now going to the senior center (in Kahalu'u)," said Tsugawa, donning a scarlet blouse that perfectly matched her lipstick. " ... We go on outings, we have get-togethers, we go on picnics and we play cards."

Since retiring from the credit union in 1992, Matsuyama maintained her vim and vigor playing the 'ukulele with a Hawaiian band, singing with a karaoke group and organizing Farrington's class of 1940 reunions.

While Matusuyama enjoyed planning the parties, the process took a lot of time and commitment, and she's ready to close that chapter of her life, she said.

As the 65th reunion began to wind down, Matsuyama and her former classmate Miriam Usui Mita strummed their 'ukulele to "Hawai'i Aloha," encircled by their classmates singing in unison.

A round of applause was soon followed by tearful farewells — hugs and handshakes accompanied with final well-wishes.

"Nice seeing you again."

"Take care of yourself."

"Goodbye."

Even though the classmates have parted, Tom said he'll keep the memories of his school-time pals close to his heart.

"It was good seeing old faces, talking about old times," Tom said, smiling. "We had a lot of good old times at Farrington."

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.