Ho'okako'o Corporation
Teaching the Whole Child
Grant amount: $20,000
When a community comes together to take on common challenges, wonderful things can happen. This was the case in Wai‘anae, where parents wanted more than just more of the same for their children’s education in a community that has a high concentration of Native Hawaiian residents and one of the highest concentrations of poverty in the state. The parents spearheaded the drive to convert Kamaile Elementary School to a charter school, Kamaile Academy.
With the help of a $20,000 Campbell Family Foundation grant, they are reshaping Kamaile into a village school that focuses on “whole child learning” — one that stresses a rigorous academic curriculum and nurtures strong connections to Hawaiian culture, family values and community.
“Our parents wanted an environment where the style of hands-on learning plays to their children’s strengths, where school is fun, and where education will be their doorway to bright futures,” said Glen Kila, Kamaile’s chief operating and educational officer, and one of two principals including Clarence De Lude.
Pua Gomes, parent of two Kamaile students, agreed, adding that “our community is unique and our families face a lot of challenges. By converting to a charter school, Kamaile is able to meet the needs of our children by providing a more meaningful education that is focused on the whole child.”
The whole child approach takes many different forms at Kamaile. It’s giving kids a wealth of experiences, from strong academics to learning how to plant and tend a garden that will actually help to feed them (Kamaile is converting the campus into gardens where families can grow food). It’s having as a matter of course such “luxuries” as the arts, music, and physical fitness. It’s providing free uniforms so that every child can feel equal to their peers. It’s making sure that the homeless child can find a sanctuary where they can be safe from the hazards of a vulnerable life, have a meal, stay clean, be engaged in before and after school programs, and have free tutoring. It is creating a village school where parents can come together to share in activities with their children and be a part of creating a school community.
Kamaile Academy is the largest charter school in the state, and is one of three conversion charter schools under the Ho‘okäko‘o Corporation umbrella. A non-profit organization, Ho‘okäko‘o was formed with support from Kamehameha Schools to focus on conversion charter schools, early childhood education programs, and other innovative education services.
Teaching the Whole Child
Grant amount: $20,000
When a community comes together to take on common challenges, wonderful things can happen. This was the case in Wai‘anae, where parents wanted more than just more of the same for their children’s education in a community that has a high concentration of Native Hawaiian residents and one of the highest concentrations of poverty in the state. The parents spearheaded the drive to convert Kamaile Elementary School to a charter school, Kamaile Academy.
With the help of a $20,000 Campbell Family Foundation grant, they are reshaping Kamaile into a village school that focuses on “whole child learning” — one that stresses a rigorous academic curriculum and nurtures strong connections to Hawaiian culture, family values and community.
“Our parents wanted an environment where the style of hands-on learning plays to their children’s strengths, where school is fun, and where education will be their doorway to bright futures,” said Glen Kila, Kamaile’s chief operating and educational officer, and one of two principals including Clarence De Lude.
Pua Gomes, parent of two Kamaile students, agreed, adding that “our community is unique and our families face a lot of challenges. By converting to a charter school, Kamaile is able to meet the needs of our children by providing a more meaningful education that is focused on the whole child.”
The whole child approach takes many different forms at Kamaile. It’s giving kids a wealth of experiences, from strong academics to learning how to plant and tend a garden that will actually help to feed them (Kamaile is converting the campus into gardens where families can grow food). It’s having as a matter of course such “luxuries” as the arts, music, and physical fitness. It’s providing free uniforms so that every child can feel equal to their peers. It’s making sure that the homeless child can find a sanctuary where they can be safe from the hazards of a vulnerable life, have a meal, stay clean, be engaged in before and after school programs, and have free tutoring. It is creating a village school where parents can come together to share in activities with their children and be a part of creating a school community.
Kamaile Academy is the largest charter school in the state, and is one of three conversion charter schools under the Ho‘okäko‘o Corporation umbrella. A non-profit organization, Ho‘okäko‘o was formed with support from Kamehameha Schools to focus on conversion charter schools, early childhood education programs, and other innovative education services.