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Residential Life

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For parents & ‘ohana: What you need to know

The value of a Residential Life experience

We understand that the idea of sending your keiki to attend school on O‘ahu is a big decision for any ‘ohana. We know a big decision requires big reassurance. Our promise to you is that we will help your keiki will grow into the ʻōiwi leaders they were meant to be in a safe and nurturing environment.



The objective of our Residential Life program is to provide opportunities for educational enrichment and social-emotional growth, as well as to nurture mutual respect and shared responsibility.

As part of your child’s Residential Life experience, our hope is that each student sees this community as ‘ohana and creates lifelong, meaningful relationships with others in the program.

Our dormitories are comfortable spaces for our haumāna to study, rest or just hang out with their friends. Most dormitory rooms are shared (two to a room) and each dormitory has laundry facilities and a common gathering area with comfortable seating, televisions and a kitchenette. Healthy, nutritious and balanced meals are served daily in the school cafeteria with ample opportunities for our haumāna to socialize and practice conversation skills and dining etiquette.

And just like at home, our Residential Life haumāna have chores. Students are responsible to keep their own rooms clean and to help keep common areas and bathrooms clean, as well as to help with the dining room and kitchen clean up.

The dorm advisors do a wonderful job reassuring me of my son’s safety and explained in detail dorm life and curriculum. They really do care about my son’s education…I just can’t say enough. Everyone said I’d cry, but after leaving I just felt so blessed and grateful. I loved staying in the dorm, they’re very comfortable. Mahalo NUI!
Kaleiopapa Dormitory parent

Academic Supports for College-prep and Instruction

To ensure that our haumāna are academically successful the Residential Life program has developed and implemented our Papahana Kūlia or Academic Support Program.

Papahana Kūlia is a program aimed at the creation of a living environment that promotes academic success through maintaining student well being. The goal is to build reliable trusting relationships between students and kumu. The structures and process of this program are intentionally built with a focus to provide support and care for the student. Kumu interact and teach students with appropriate grade level goals and structures in mind to help students attain academic success and support overall well being. We believe that strong pilina with students and good overall student well being, will foster motivation for achievement.

To ensure students receive as much support as possible and are able to connect with a trusted adult, a large part of our Papahana Kūlia is our Hui Kūlia. A Hui Kūlia is comprised of a kumu and a small group of students from a hale. This kumu is tasked to meet frequently with this smaller group of students and to provide support through academic checks and coaching. When necessary this kumu is also responsible for leading the development and maintenance of academic support plans for their students.

Another facet of our Papahana Kūlia is our Hui Pūlama. The purpose for this program piece is to create groups and interactions among students from grades 7-12. Kumu and student leaders develop activities to help promote this interaction where younger students have the opportunity to learn from upperclassmen and where upperclassmen are able to build leadership and mentor skills. Community building comes into focus and students are able to build a connection and sense of belonging to Kapālama.

More questions?

Email us residentiallife@ksbe.edu, call (808) 842-8273.