Mar. 7, 2018

Contributed by Elizabeth Ahana

St. Andrew’s Schools and Kamehameha Schools have teamed up to provide more children of Hawaiian ancestry with a quality Hawaiian culture-based and college preparatory education.

The “Ke Ali‘i Collaboration” will provide $500,000 in tuition assistance for new and enrolled Native Hawaiian students at The Priory (girls K-12) and The Prep (boys K-5) who demonstrate financial need.

The memorandum of agreement between the schools honors the legacy of their ali‘i founders, Queen Emma and Princess Pauahi, who both understood that the future of Hawaiʻi would be decided by the quality of the education it provides its keiki.

“Our schools share the belief that innovative, collaborative partnerships within our state build a network of students, faculty, administrators, and alumni who thrive at the intersection of education, culture, faith, and opportunity,” said Dr. Ruth Fletcher, head of schools for St. Andrew’s.

“We are grateful to our partners at Kamehameha Schools for their commitment to the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture-based education, curriculum we know encourages dynamic growth of our students while instilling enduring values and preparing them for college as critical and creative thinkers, confident learners and impactful servants of greater good.”

KS Chief Executive Officer Jack Wong is pleased that the trust has another opportunity to put keiki first.

“It is our kuleana to give every Native Hawaiian child the opportunity to better understand who they are and where they’re going through quality Hawaiian culture-based education. Through this shared educational commitment and because keiki are at the center of all we do, we are honored to partner with St. Andrew's Schools through the Ke Aliʻi Collaboration.”

The Ke Ali‘i Collaboration is a three-year commitment between the two schools, which includes the intent to continue beyond the initial term. New enrollees of Native Hawaiian ancestry at St. Andrew’s Schools will be eligible for the tuition assistance program, beginning with the 2018-19 school year.