Lei-draped pā'ū units will represent all islands at this year's Aloha Festivals Floral Parade. Top right: Aloha Festivals ribbons are on sale for $5. - Photos: Courtesy of Aloha Festivals

Hawaiian schools make benchmark turnaround

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola

Down Kalaniana'ole Avenue, past all the warehouses, fuel depots and the former sewage plant is the Hawaiian homestead community of Keaukaha, nestled between the Hilo airport and the ocean. And it is there that one of the most successful turnaround stories in Hawai'i public schools is set.

78-year-old Keaukaha Eleme-
ntary School, with about 90 percent of its 305 students claiming Hawaiian ancestry, is one of only seven schools statewide that has come out of restructuring under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

“In order for us to succeed, we needed to honor our kūpuna and our place,” said principal Lehua Veincent, who took the reins of the school two-and-a-half years ago. “As a Hawaiian educator, I try to bring a sense of pride to the kids.”

Veincent's background is in Hawaiian immersion education, having taught at the schools since the beginning of the program. Most recently, he helped found Ke Ana La'ahana, a Hawaiian culture focused charter school also in Keaukaha. But Veincent, who was born in Keaukaha, jumped at the chance to help Keaukaha Elementary.

“Most of our students are from or have genealogical ties to Keaukaha. It's important that we honor not only culture, but our unique place,” Veincent said. “There's one road in and one road out. This is our pu'uhonua.”

Keaukaha isn't alone when it comes to keiki 'ōiwi succeeding in school. Last school year, 30 percent – or 12 of the 40 schools with more than 50 percent of the student body claiming Hawaiian ancestry achieved Adequate Yearly Progress. That feat was achieved by 40 percent of all public schools statewide.

In Keaukaha's case, Veincent attributed the school's success to the parents and the community. Keaukaha's students take many field trips, and there are several annual events that draw the whole community into the school.

“We have fun. In education, we have to have fun,” Veincent said. “I don't think our Hawaiian kids were meant to be in a four-wall classroom.”