Operation Manong, one of the first programs at the University of Hawaii to address diversity and equal access to higher education, is celebrating its 45th anniversary.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the UH-Manoa Campus Center Ballroom.

Operation Manong was started in the early 1970s by a coalition of UH faculty and students as well as Filipino community leaders and the Immigrant Services Center. The OM students provided mentoring and tutoring to immigrant children from the Philippines.

The funding for the department first came from a federal action grant and the United Presbyterian Church. In 1976, OM became a state-funded UH program. Numerous programs and services were developed to assist new immigrant public school students as well as students from other ethnic backgrounds, including Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and groups who were underrepresented at UH-Manoa.

OM also prepared students for undergraduate work, assisted with students transferring from community colleges to UH-Manoa, provided scholarships and trained future community leaders and teachers. In 2000, Operation Manong became the Office of Multicultural Student Services to reflect helping all those who were underrepresented.

The celebration will bring together alumni including District Judge William Domingo, media producer Emme Tomimbang, businessman and former insurance commissioner Robin Campaniano, City Councilman Joey Manahan, Office of Hawaiian Affairs board Chairwoman Colette Machado, Farrington High School football coach Randall Okimoto and numerous doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, teachers and social workers.

To attend the anniversary celebration, call 956-7348 or email Clement Bautista at bautista@hawaii.edu.