A hinge retaining mechanism for a fluorescent lighting system. A portable fluorescent lighting system which utilizes an extremely lightweight corrugated plastic panel made into 5 subpanels. At each end of the panel a U shaped channel is attached that forms the center panel and the opposing adjacent two panels into a trough or recessed pan. On each of the two remaining panels is attached another U shaped channel. Each of the U shaped channels includes a mechanism for supporting a high-tension mechanical hinge. The mechanical hinge is designed to float freely within the adjacent channel brackets. One part of the hinge is mechanically retained to the channel to prevent inadvertent removal of the hinge.