PUHI — Wednesday marked the first day keiki could enjoy a new playground, and students at the Kawaikini New Century Public School did not need a reminder.
“This is the first time since the school opened 13 years ago that the school has a permanent playground for its elementary students,” said kahu Jade Wai‘ale‘ale Battad during the short blessing ceremony attended by just a small group of students, parents staff and project volunteers.
Na Hulu Makua, the school’s parent committee, spearheaded the entire $12,000 project.
“That was two years ago,” said Jade Moss, Na Hulu Makua treasurer. “The equipment sat under the tree for two years — see the footprint where it sat? Unlimited Construction provided the labor to install the two major pieces of the playground, and we really want to mahalo them.”
Na Hulu Makua undertook a multi-year fundraising campaign to raise funds for the playground. Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala, with kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, and talent from the Kawaikini student population, headlined the fundraising lu‘au for two consecutive years to raise about $20,000.
“The remaining fundraising came from smaller-scale events such as the ice-cream booth at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair, food booths at the Coconut Festival presented by the Kapa‘a Businessmen’s Association, an Instagram auction coordinated by Misha Anuhea Laney of Aloha ‘Aina Juice Cafe, and T-shirt fundraisers,” Moss said. “Most charter schools are underfunded, but we make it happen at Kawaikini because of our hardworking staff and generous island community.”
Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School was established in 2008 with the vision of building a thoughtful, knowledgeable and healthy community where the language, beliefs and practices of the Indigenous people of Hawai‘i become instinctive.
“The playground is definitely a kakou thing,” said Amanda Cabebe, a parent of Kawaikini students in the third and fifth grades. “A great effort was made by so many parents, some who don’t even have students here anymore.”
The school’s educational program promotes a multi-faceted learning environment for its 180 students in kindergarten through grade 12. The program immerses students in the Hawaiian language, teaches values and traditions of Hawaiian culture, and fosters an increased level of hands-on experiential learning.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
