Homeless charter school leases space
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School, which has struggled to find a home ever since it was founded six years ago, has entered into a 25-year lease agreement to share space with Wailupe Valley School, according to information released Thursday by the state Board of Education.
The charter school's administrative offices and digital center will be located at Wailupe Valley, in Hawai'i Kai.
At the same time, Halau Ku Mana has secured a 30-year lease from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources and will move in June to Makiki, where it will share space with the Hawai'i Nature Center and base its classes.
The school plans to bring in portables until it can raise enough money to build a permanent home.
Halau Ku Mana has had trouble finding a home and has been forced to move four times in its brief history. It is currently located at Paradise Park, where its lease has been extended through June.
The Board of Education's charter school committee expects to take up the issue of lease agreements to make sure it's appropriate for a charter school to step into a long-term lease. State Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto told the board there is precedent for other uses of school property.
Wailupe Valley School Principal Jean Hartmann had been considering inviting a charter school or preschool to use some of the space that has been freed up at her school because of declining enrollment.
Halau Ku Mana officials are asking for monetary and in-kind support to help them in their move. For more information on the school, see www.halaukumana.org or call 988-8998.
Staff writer Mary Vorsino contributed to this report.Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.