Sept. 28, 2026

At a KS Preschools’ Waiʻanae Region ʻOhana Hui meeting, the room buzzes with conversation and laughter. Parents, preschool leaders, and young keiki gather over bento breakfasts to reflect on a busy and meaningful school year. Large sheets of chart paper line the walls, covered with colorful sticky notes capturing parent manaʻo about the many activities that filled the year — a food drive, Halloween Trunk or Treat, Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea celebration, the Prince Kūhiō Parade, and much more.

The group spends the morning reviewing the past year together, discussing which activities should continue, sharing ideas for improvement, and celebrating what they accomplished as a community. For some parents whose keiki are graduating from preschool, this is their final ʻOhana Hui meeting. Together, ʻohana, kumu, and staff from five Kamehameha Preschools sites created a year of learning, service, friendship, and community growth on Oʻahu’s leeward coast.

“The ʻOhana Hui really allows families to be engaged and make the preschool experience so much more special, by engaging with other families outside of your classroom and in the community too,” shared Alex Thurston, KSK’12. “Our favorite part is how active they are in the community, especially in our Waiʻanae region.”

Kaila Lui-Kwan, KS Preschools hope poʻo kumu for Waiʻanae Region I, has witnessed firsthand the positive impacts of collaborating with the ʻOhana Hui. 

“The hui is helping shape the experiences and memories their keiki will carry with them for years to come,” Lui-Kwan shared. “Over time, the hui becomes more than a planning group. It becomes a true support system rooted in aloha and shared kuleana that embodies E Ola! Watching our families show up for one another, serve their community, and pour so much heart into everything they do is incredibly inspiring.”

That spirit of collective care drives the Kamehameha Schools Preschools ʻOhana Hui. Families do more than volunteer for school events; they actively continue Ke Aliʻi Pauahi’s legacy by serving their communities and enriching opportunities for keiki. Through service projects, cultural celebrations, and school activities, ʻohana model KS Preschools’ core values of aloha, mālama, and kuleana.

For Bernadette Bayoden, whose fifth keiki now attends KS Preschools Māʻili, participating in the hui deepened her appreciation for the planning, teamwork, and care behind every preschool experience.

“It was a very rewarding experience,” Bayoden shared. “To see how the events come together and then watch the keiki enjoy participating in them is really cool.”

The hui also strengthens the connection between home and school. Families gain insight into what keiki learn in the classroom and bring those lessons home through cultural practices, family projects, and everyday conversations.

Kimie Korenaga-Kepoʻo shared that KS Preschools helped her entire ʻohana grow together in ʻike Hawaiʻi.

“Kamehameha fills that gap for us,” Kepoʻo explained, describing how the preschool supports cultural learning not only for her daughter, but for the entire family.

Service projects have become another powerful way families live out KSP’s values. Kamele Kapana reflected on organizing a food drive through the hui and the support she received from fellow parents.

“I reached out to the hui, and they were like, ‘We got you,’” Kapana shared. “It took a weight off my shoulders to have that support.”

Keiki benefit from those experiences in visible ways. They watch their parents volunteer, collaborate, and care for others alongside kumu and staff. They see adults build relationships, solve problems together, and contribute to the community. Through the ʻOhana Hui, families create a strong kahua for future generations while carrying forward Ke Aliʻi Pauahi’s vision through service, pilina, and collective care.

“I would definitely recommend being a part of the ʻOhana Hui. It’s just a great learning experience. Get your feet wet. No one expects you to jump in and be a leader and lead every activity. Just more hands helping  make an event go smoother and helps everything get done quicker,” Kapana said.