KALAHEO — Kalaheo Elementary School hosted an open house and dedication for its new administration building Friday. The new building, which houses the school’s main office as well as offices for the school principal, vice principal and counselors, also houses
KALAHEO — Kalaheo Elementary School hosted an open house and dedication for its new administration building Friday.
The new building, which houses the school’s main office as well as offices for the school principal, vice principal and counselors, also houses the health room as well as several conference rooms and activity rooms.
William Arakaki, the Kaua‘i Area Complex superintendent, said the building replaces the former administration building, which burned to the ground on May 6, 2005.
“This is worth the wait,” Arakaki said. “This is about the students, staff and alumni of Kalaheo School and the continuation of a dream of a school continuing and providing education and experience from a school who cares.”
Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. joined the celebration, which showcased the talent of the school’s own Sunshine Express singing group and its fledging band program under the instruction of Laine Griffith.
“When something bad happens, there is some good which comes out of it,” said Carvalho, who earlier, visited with eager and enthusiastic students.
Erik Burkman, the school’s principal, had been at the helm of the school for three years before the administration building burned.
“One of the lessons which I will take with me out of this experience is a school is not a building,” Burkman said. “A school is people and students who fill the buildings.”
He said on the Sunday following the fire in 2005, staff and parents met at the school’s B Building to plan on how to open the school by Tuesday.
Burkman acknowledged the work of architect Harold Inouye and Brady Edwards of Layton Construction as well as the many people involved in getting the new administration building completed.
“When I spoke with Daniel Hamada, who at that time was the state superintendent, he remembers Erik, only in his third year as principal, and the leadership and guidance he provided,” Arakaki said. “When Mr. Hamada came to visit the school, he remembers how people were crying. He did not know why at that time. People were hurt and hearts were broken.”
In the aftermath of the destroyed building, Arakaki said the Department of Education received a great deal of support from then-mayor Brian Baptiste, the Kaua‘i Fire Department, the state’s Department of Health and many community volunteers, such as Wa‘alani Trucking, which hauled off the debris, erected safety barriers and did a lot of work to get the school open in 72 hours.
“That was in the past,” Arakaki said. “Today, the tears and the broken hearts are mending. Today, a new era begins at Kalaheo School.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
