Nearly four years after the 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed the campus of the Kua O Ka La New Century Public Charter School, it has rebuilt its programs and improved classrooms at the Nani Mau Gardens and in Nanawale through the concerted efforts of staff, students, and members of the community.
“It’s been challenging,” said Principal Kapoula Thompson of both the 2018 eruption and ensuing COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve been fortunate we have a resilient group of staff and students.”
Grades pre-K–6 transitioned from the 600-acre Puna campus to the Nani Mau Botanical Gardens in Hilo after signing a multiyear contract. Recently, Kua O Ka La secured an extension and plans to continue utilizing the space for the foreseeable future.
“It was very hard to find a space for 282 kids at the time,” said the school’s Founder and Development Director Susie Osborne. “When we lost our campus in Puna to the eruption, we had some transitional sites, but settled at the Nani Mau Botanical Gardens.”
The former location of Connections Public Charter School, Nani Mau Gardens required several updates before students could attend. Several organizations stepped in to help, including the Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset, several statewide clubs, and the Hiroshima Rotary Club in Japan collectively raised over $80,000 to restore the campus.
“They actually saved our school,” said Osborne of the organizations that also contributed two-weeks of in-person assistance.
Getting the campus up to code required adjustments like legally compliant walkways and updates to classrooms. The renovations were funded in part by a $500,000 Kilauea recovery grant from the county.
Despite a new location, several programs continue to thrive, including a greenhouse renovation project that occurred over the summer via a Kupu grant.
Five interns and several community volunteers restored the greenhouse on campus over a six-week period, while several smaller grants helped to rebuild an imu (underground oven) and several murals lost at the original Puna campus.
“It was a massive project, and the hope is we’ve now ended up with an elementary-friendly space that is multifunctional,” said Osborne. “Including places for our agriculture and culinary programs.”
The Hipu‘u Virtual Academy, a hybrid program for students in grades 4-8, continued through the eruption and benefitted Kua O Ka La during the pandemic. Started nine years ago, the program offers students several opportunities including the chance to produce news stories for the PBS “Hiki No” program. Students gain a variety of television production experience like writing, directing and editing while covering environmental issues.
“The stories have been award-winning,” said Education Opportunities Coordinator Kaimi Kaupiko, who helps students produce their Hiki No programs. “These projects are something the students feel very proud of and empowered by.”
Acclaimed episodes cover Maunakea and the traditional fishing practices and culture of Miloli‘i.
“Advocacy is huge,” Kaupiko said. “Our students are even giving testimony for our management plan in Miloli‘i to protect the ecosystem from overfishing and pollution.”
Kua O Ka La is back to in-person plearning following COVID-19 protocols and continues to offer a hybrid program via Hipu‘u Virtual Academy.
“They’re blazing the trail for hybrid online learning,” Osborne said. “As well as for culturally-based rigorous education opportunities.”
Kua O Ka La is enrolling students at its Nani Mau campus for grades pre-K–6 and for pre-K students in Nanawale. The Hipu‘u Virtual Academy also is enrolling grades 4-8 throughout the island.
Enrollment information can be found at www.kuaokala.org or by contacting the office directly at (808) 981-5866.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.