McKinley had become a symbol of hope, especially to the immigrant families who sent their children to its halls, children who would go on to become some of Hawaii’s greatest leaders.

Burns also noted that many people had no real understanding of the school’s impact on Hawaii’s political, social and economic history.

But the meaning of ambition — of pride, history, tradition — has long been clear to McKinley’s students, alumni and educators. Ask them, as the school marks its 150th anniversary, and they’re not shy about it.

The school, with its stately rows of Chinese banyan trees and historic buildings, has produced U.S. senators, Hawaii governors, war heroes and Olympic champions. But McKinley’s real claim is not its famous graduates. It’s the thousands of young men and women who went on to become productive citizens of Hawaii.