Ka Wai Ola Staff

Founded in 1930, Keaukaha Elementary School in Hilo, Hawai'i has been a place of learning for generations of homesteaders in Keaukaha, one of the first Hawaiian homestead communities established in 1923. Since then, the community has grown (and subsequently shrunk thanks to Hilo International Airport expansions), as has the school.

Keaukaha was one of the first two schools in the state to offer a Hawaiian language immersion education in the 1980s. In 2001, Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Keaukaha converted from a program within Keaukaha Elementary School into a public charter school, Ka 'Umeke Kā'eo, now with grades K-7.

Also in 2001, the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation founded Ke Ana La'ahana, a Hawaiian culture-based charter school in Keaukaha for grades 7-12. Later, grades 7-8 were moved from the Ke Ana La'ahana campus to a building near Keaukaha Elementary.

While other schools across the state now opt to hold performances later in May, some without a Hawaiian focus, students from all three schools joined to celebrate May Day on May 1, a Keaukaha tradition. Enjoy this video of the festivities courtesy Wendell Ka'ehu'ae'a of Nā Leo O Hawai'i Community Television.