Dressed in bright aloha shirts, lei, and artificial grass skirts, Maricopa seniors celebrated the important milestone with a powerful “aloha.”

About 100 seniors gathered at the Maricopa Community Center on Wednesday to celebrate the second anniversary with an island-worthy luau.

Participants carried delicious food and competed for a chance to win door prizes.

Jenny Young was among several who won gift baskets of food and other treats in the raffle. She said she appreciates the opportunity to interact at her senior center.

“I love being with the people here and enjoy the events,” Young said. “The Senior Center is a really great place.”

Don Carpenter said he rarely misses an event at the senior center. In just two years, he said, the place has become a go-to social gathering place for adults his age as well.

“It’s a safe place for the elderly to come,” he said. “I attend the event every week and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a place to relax and tease in a safe environment.”

Carpenter said he hopes more seniors will fill the center’s weekly schedule.

“It’s nice to have so many people here today, but I wish this many people would come on a regular basis,” he said.

But the thought did not dampen the feeling. Participants filled their plates, chatted and laughed while tropical music blared in the background.

Chance Love, Maricopa’s community revitalization coordinator, declined to be interviewed during the event.