Student safety and well-being are key to academic achievement and at Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha, we are dedicated to fostering safe, supportive learning environments so haumāna thrive. We gathered manaʻo from some of our KS ʻohana about how this commitment helps students reach their highest potential both on and off campus.
KS preschool counselor Patty Nalaielua sees her role as multifaceted, supporting students emotionally, socially and academically.
“When keiki see interactions between their kumu and parents, they feel a sense of trust and security,” Nalaielua said. “When they feel secure, they can focus on learning without anxiety, and we collaborate with families, kumu and community members to make sure every keiki gets the support they need to succeed.”
This collaborative approach, grounded in Hawaiian values, ensures that no child is left without the care and resources necessary for growth. Furthermore, this type of engagement incorporates friendship, listening and responsibility as the basis of healthy behavior. Coupled with critical topics such as body safety, these early lessons contribute to a respectful school culture that carries through to older haumāna.
“We start with preschool, focusing on building a solid foundation through lessons like Kūpono Nā Keiki, where we use puppets to teach keiki about boundaries and personal safety. What we demonstrate in our school setting, we hope is reinforced in the home environment as well,” Nalaielua said.
From the moment keiki step onto campus, KS creates a culture where students are empowered to care for one another and take responsibility for their own well-being as well as the safety of their peers.
At the heart of our counseling program are three core values: aloha, mālama and kuleana. Kumu model these values in the classroom as well as in interactions with families and the community, demonstrating how attention and a laulima attitude surrounds your loved ones with safety.
“At school, we help each other, and that’s our kuleana. At events like football games, we walk as a group so if something happens, we’re there to help and call for an adult or emergency services. When you feel safe, you can focus on learning. You already have a lot to worry about with grades and schoolwork — feeling safe takes away some of the stress,” KS Maui student Lehiwa Lani-Montira said.
Kamehameha provides extensive training to faculty and staff so students, especially those who board on campus, have trusted authority figures to speak with in the event of any concern.
“I’m proud of how we engage with the residential students and their families to foster a sense of belonging,” Lanakila Niles, KS Kapālama dean of student well-being for Residential Life, said. “We are always looking for opportunities to engage the families, so they feel like they’re a part of the student’s experience. We meet with residential students monthly to make sure they’ve identified a trusted adult on campus, and we follow up with them until they’ve identified someone they trust.”
By placing safety at the center of our mission, our keiki feel supported and trust they have a whole community watching out for their well-being. Through this collective responsibility, Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha equips our emerging ʻōiwi leaders to take on the challenges of learning and growing.
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