NEWS RELEASE

Hoʻokahi Ka ʻIlau scholarship to provide tuition assistance for more native Hawaiian students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HONOLULU, HI - (April 23, 2018) – With a new agreement in place, Aka‘ula School and Kamehameha Schools are partnering to provide more children on the island of Moloka‘i the opportunity to attend the school which serves students from grade 5 through 12. The Ho‘okahi Ka ‘Ilau (wield the paddles together) scholarship will provide tuition and support services for students who demonstrate some degree of financial need.

The memorandum of agreement between the schools is just a recent example of Kamehameha Schools’ efforts to collaborate and support schools deep in island communities to provide educational opportunities to students not served on KS campuses.

“Today is going to be a game changer for our school,” said Dara Lukonen, principal for Aka‘ula School. “This partnership with Kamehameha Schools is going to allow us to offer opportunities to students we have not been able to reach yet.”

Kamehameha Schools’ long-term vision to see a thriving lāhui in 25 years is at the core of its decision to align and partner with likeminded institutions. Through collaborations like these, new innovative ideas can take flight while rooted in culture and identity, ultimately leading to cutting-edge partnerships with schools like Aka‘ula where 70-80 percent of its student body are native Hawaiian.

“It is our kuleana to give every native Hawaiian child the opportunity to experience an educational journey that will foster the strength and ambition they can only obtain through quality Hawaiian culture- based education,” says Jack Wong, chief executive officer of Kamehameha Schools. “Our strategic plan challenges us to do more. This partnership will allow us to deliver on that challenge because every native Hawaiian keiki is a child of Pauahi.”

“We have a lot of families that would like to send their students to our school, but they are unable to,” added Lukonen. “The collaborative effort with Kamehameha Schools is going to allow us to reach out to those families.”

Ho‘okahi Ka ‘Ilau is a three-year commitment between the two schools. New enrollees of native Hawaiian descent at Aka‘ula School will be eligible for the tuition assistance program, beginning with the 2018-19 school year.

About Aka‘ula School

A small independent school on the island of Moloka‘i, Aka‘ula School is in its thirteenth year of transforming young lives. Through its award winning environmental education program and rigorous academic standards, its students learn to be accountable, persistent, and to create meaningful lives based on their passions and abilities.

Since opening in 2004, Aka‘ula School has provided an oasis of opportunity for its diverse student body.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Ahana (808) 384-9610 elahana@ksbe.edu