Monday message 02.19.2024

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community, and I hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we move deeper into the year 2024 together.

Last Friday, our school was treated to a top-quality Makahiki Games right here on our beautiful campus. It was our third annual Makahiki Games, and this year was the BEST by far due to the selfless contributions of volunteers from our community. Mahalo nui loa e Kumu Norman and your team for coming to our school and deeply enriching the educational experience for our learners.

In April 2020, it was my great fortune in life to sign a contract to serve as your Director of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. In those almost four years together we have been able to accomplish an incredible amount of successes. Some of the high-level feats would include a five-year charter renewal, the addition of a Middle School, financial strength and stability, signing of a lease directly for the school, reduction of education service contracts, greater movement towards autonomy, and safely moving out of a pandemic. Our school population has moved from 92 students in March 2020 to quickly approaching our maximum capacity of 250 learners. It should come as no surprise that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School has been recognized as the fastest-improving Elementary school in the state of Hawai’i as well as the fastest-improving charter school in the state of Hawai’i over the last three years.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School has moved from surviving to thriving, so the time has come for me to pass the torch of stewardship to a fresh Director. My last day of work at our unique charter school will be around ten months from now, on December 31st, 2024. The Board of Directors hopes to have the new interim Director start on July 1st, 2024, so we can spend many months together in collaboration and learning. Mahalo nui kakou to the dedicated people on our Board of Directors who have allowed me to join the Board in an advisory capacity starting on January 1st, 2025, once my employment at the school has ended.

Mahalo nui kakou for all the valuable lessons you have all taught me about life and for gifting me the opportunity to serve in a role that helps benefit our beautiful island for hopefully decades ahead. This school has sincerely been a labour of love for us all who care deeply about the success of our keiki.

My home will remain in Kekaha, where my career will shift over to continued work on improving the quality of education in Hawai’i, the United States, plus the world. In addition, my next adventure in life will also include embracing my newfound role of being Tutu Kane, projected in mid-July.

Our Board of Directors Vice Chairperson was kind enough to create a video message from the Board of Directors about the transition, and the link is included here:

Alakai Transition Video 24.2.9

I am looking forward to seeing how far we can push continued improvement at our unique charter school in the next ten months. Hopefully, my dream to live “E hele me ka pu’olo ” (Make Every Person, Place, or Condition Better Than You Left It Always) has been fruitful as we built Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School together.

Malama pono.

DJ Adams
Po’okumu (Director)
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School
Koloa, Hawai’i