Ka ‘Umeke Kā‘eo Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School (PCS) in Keaukaha
succeeds Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i o Keaukaha (KKHK), the Hawaiian Language
Immersion “School-within-a-School” program at Keaukaha Elementary School (KES)
located in the heart of the Keaukaha Hawaiian Home Lands community of Hilo. KKHK
was one of the first two Hawaiian language immersion public elementary schools in
the state since 1898, having begun with one K-1 class in 1987. It eventually grew into
a full K-6 elementary school program and became a leader in indigenous immersion
education.
In 1999, the New Century Charter School legislation in Hawai‘i allowed for the creation
of up to twenty-five start-up and conversion charter schools. The incentive to pursue
becoming a charter school was that as a School-within-a-School, KKHK lacked the
local control necessary to provide a flexible and responsive educational program that
recognizes the unique learning styles of its students.
In a broad-based and collaborative effort, the stakeholders of what would become Ka
‘Umeke Kā‘eo – teachers, parents and community members – identified the vision, the
mission and the general goals of their public charter school for the new century, and
made the commitment to ensuring a quality education for their children.
Ka ‘Umeke Kā‘eo PCS received its approval as Hawai‘i’s 12th New Century Public
Charter School on April 19, 2001, as an action of the Hawai‘i Board of Education.
The momentous first day of instruction was August 2, 2001.
Ka ‘Umeke Kā‘eo continues to share the campus and facilities of KES and endeavors
to be a prime motivator for Hawaiian community development through culturally-
significant education in the medium of Hawaiian language.
| The History of Ka ‘Umeke Kā‘eo |
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