Posted on: Thursday, July 26, 2007
School's new site in Makiki needs work
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
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Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School Principal Keola Nakanishi says money is needed to finish building temporary facilities by the start of the school year. "A lot of schools don't have what they need," he said. "But if they need to paint a building, we need a building to paint."
JEFF WIDENER | The Honolulu Advertiser
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AT A GLANCE
Where: 1201 Makiki Heights Drive Phone: 945-1600 Web address: www.halaukumana.org Principal: Keola Nakanishi has headed the school since it opened in August 2001. He is also executive director. School nickname: HKM Navigators School colors: Red, yellow and green History: Planning for Halau Ku Mana started in 1998. In December 2000, it became one of the first two startup charter schools approved on O'ahu. The school opened in August 2001, using space at the Center for Hawaiian Studies at UH-Manoa. It moved to the Atherton YMCA in 2002. Two years later, the school moved to a site in the back of Manoa Valley. With its lease expiring this month the school has moved to vacant land in Makiki. Testing: Here's how Halau Ku Mana students fared on 2006 standardized tests. School-by-school results for this year have yet to be released. Stanford Achievement Test: The combined percentage of students scoring average and above average (compared with the national combined average of 77 percent): Sixth-grade reading, 60 percent; math, 80 percent. Seventh-grade reading, 84 percent; math, 78 percent. Eighth-grade reading, 65 percent; math, 42 percent. Tenth-grade reading, 75 percent; math, 50 percent. Hawai'i State Assessment test: The combined percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards: Sixth-grade reading, 20 percent (state average, 47.5 percent); math, 10 percent (state average, 27.6 percent). Seventh-grade reading, 36 percent (state average, 47.3 percent); math, 29 percent (state average, 29.1 percent). Eighth-grade reading, 35 percent (state average, 38.6 percent); math, 0 percent (state average, 25.1 percent). Tenth-grade reading, 33 percent (state average, 42.8 percent); math, 0 percent (state average, 18.4 percent). Computers: The school has 20 computers, used by students and staff members. Enrollment: 105 students in grades 6 to 12 are registered at the school.
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A new school year starts next week at Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School, but there's not enough money to finish building temporary facilities at its new site in Makiki.
Through fundraising efforts and careful budgeting, the school has collected $850,000 over the past seven years. But it needs an additional $150,000 to finish the job, which includes building a halau — or meeting place — and a small kitchen.
Currently, the school has eight classroom trailers, some that are only big enough to house a few desks. And much of the 5.3 acres the school is leasing from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is overgrown with non-native and invasive plants and trees, some of which pose safety hazards. (The school was located in the back of Manoa Valley until its lease expired this month.)
For weeks volunteers, staffers and students have helped to clear out the site just above the Makiki Pumping Station to get the campus ready for the 2007-08 school year. In addition, they've painted trailers and built walkways and ramps.
Principal Keola Nakanishi couldn't be more appreciative of the support and volunteer efforts. But he wishes it didn't have to be this difficult for charter schools to get help.
"Every hour and every dollar comes at the expense of focusing on our kids," Nakanishi said.
What are you most proud of? The school's graduation rate is consistently at or near 100 percent every year, Nakanishi said. He's also proud that his students show significant gains in reading and grades, learning through projects that are community-, culture- and environment-based.
What makes this school unique? The school uses a cultural and community approach to learning. At any given time, about half of the students are off campus, working in a fishpond in Kane'ohe or learning about navigation aboard a sailing canoe.
Nakanishi said this kind of hands-on experience enhances their learning.
"And it gives them incentive," she said. "If they want to sail on that canoe, they gotta do their homework."
Best-kept secret: The school produced "Mana Maoli," a double CD that features Hawai'i professional and student artists. Proceeds benefit the state's 12 Hawaiian public charter schools.
More than 200 artists are featured on the CD, including Jack Johnson, John Cruz, Go Jimmy Go, Natural Vibrations and Ho'onua. Cost, $20. For more information, visit www.halaukumana.org.
Everybody at our school knows: Everyone knows everyone, Nakanishi said. That's part of the school's philosophy, to create an atmosphere of 'ohana. The student-to-teacher ratio is about 8-to-1.
Our biggest challenge: Money. The state provides about $3,000 per student in funding for Halau Ku Mana; other non-charter schools receive about $13,000 per student to cover education costs. In addition, charter schools get a fraction of funding for operating costs, services and facilities compared to non-charter schools.
This has forced Halau Ku Mana to seek funding through grants, fundraisers and efficient budgeting.
"A lot of schools don't have what they need," Nakanishi said. "But if they need to paint a building, we need a building to paint."
What we need: Enough money to finish building temporary facilities by the start of the school year — at least $150,000. For permanent facilities, it will cost between $10 million and $15 million.
"We can't live out of these trailers forever," Nakanishi said.
Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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