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05 Jun

Director Paul’s Message

E Mālama Pono Kākou—A Deep Mahalo to Our ʻOhana!

Aloha Kākou Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana!

As our 2025-2026 school year has come to a close, we are filled with deep mahalo (gratitude) for every member of our school family. This has been another truly remarkable year, and it is because of the dedication, kuleana (responsibility), and partnership of our learners, families, staff, and Board of Directors that we keep Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School a very special place. We celebrate the accomplishments of our keiki, the hard work of our kumu, and the unwavering support from our entire ʻohana. We sincerely appreciate the community spirit that guides our school, the “heart of it all,” which is strengthened every day by your commitment.

Staffing and Summer Updates:

As we transition into the summer months, our administrative team is working diligently to prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, including finalizing our staffing needs.

We are currently working through the process of extending and securing commitments with offer letters and are focused on filling any vacancies across our campus. As this process continues and commitments are confirmed, we will provide updates to the school community on our faculty and staff via Parent Square. Our goal is to continue providing the highest quality instruction and support to ensure our learners have a strong start this fall.

We wish you a wonderful and restorative break. Enjoy this time to slow down, connect with your loved ones, and recharge for the journey ahead.

Mahalo and malama pono,
Po’okumu Paul

29 May

Director Paul’s Message

Final Week Fun!

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

The school year ended with a wonderful final week of fun activities for our keiki. From 8th Grade to Kindergarten graduation ceremonies, to a huge mahalo to the PTN for making the memorable Waterslide Fun on our last day possible! These exciting events were the perfect way to wrap up a year filled with growth and Aloha. We are incredibly proud of all our learners for their dedication and for finishing the year strong.

We wish all our learners and families a restful, safe, and joyful summer break!

Mahalo and a hui ho!
Po’okumu Paul

23 May

Director Paul’s Message

Walaʻau Weekly Update: Koloa Moku Mural Project

Our campus is buzzing with creative energy as the 4th-grade learners have been painting the Ahupuaʻa Mural outside of our Learning Commons. This beautiful, whole-class project highlights the ancient social system of the Koloa Moku and is the culmination of integrated studies in their curriculum.

Under the guidance of Ms. Cain, Ms. Cheyenne, and Ms. Nicole, the learners have completed initial planning, a gallery walk of their renditions, and wall prep. This week, our keiki are applying their learning in a very real way by scaling the design to the wall—a hands-on lesson perfectly aligned with their study of fractions. We extend a big mahalo for the support and generosity that funded the project supplies through DonorsChoose. We are excited to see this culturally significant artwork unfold!

Mahalo and malama pono,
Po’okumu Paul

14 May

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha Alakaʻi Ohana!

We are proud to celebrate the significant development of ‘ike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) among our 4th-grade learners. This past week, the 4th-grade classes engaged in powerful, hands-on learning, including field trips to the Alakoko fish pond to participate in restoration efforts, fostering a deep connection to our local cultural and ecological heritage. Additionally, our learners demonstrated patience expressed with perseverance (Ahonui) as they worked to build their own hoe waʻa (canoe paddles). Working in teams, they used them to actually paddle out in the water, reinforcing the commitment to project-based learning we value at our school.

Mahalo nui loa for supporting these vital experiences for our keiki.
Po’okumu Paul

07 May

Director Paul’s Message

Walaau Weekly Update: Celebrating Achievement with Aloha!

Aloha kākou Alakai O Kauai Ohana,

As we enjoy this pivotal testing season, we want to recognize the incredible effort and perseverance shown by our learners, staff, and families during SBAC testing week. We believe this time is not just about assessment, but a genuine celebration of the deep learning and achievements gained throughout the year.

To honor this commitment, our campus was transformed into a festive and supportive environment! Learners were greeted each morning with Breakfast in the Classroom, ensuring they were fully fueled and ready for the day. The halls were vibrant with decorations and filled with uplifting music, helping to maintain a positive, low-stress atmosphere for all. The week truly embodied the spirit of celebrating what our keiki can do.

Mahalo nui loa for your continued partnership and for helping us show up and celebrate the great things our learners accomplish.

Me ka mahalo (with gratitude),
Po’okumu Paul

24 Apr

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha Alaka’i Ohana!

We are wrapping up a fantastic Wellness Week, celebrating our 5th annual Keiki Wellness Challenge focused on creating simple daily habits to support a happy, healthy year. It has been inspiring to see all our learners engaged in the many activities offered, including high-energy Keala Foundation Crossfit sessions, calming yoga instruction led by our 2nd graders, time in nature during 1st grade’s Forest Friday, plus valuable health lessons taught by Nurse Meagan.

We capped off the week with our Sports Spectacular Showcase on Friday, followed by Lunch on the Lawn for all our families. The whole community joined us for this celebration of school spirit!

Mahalo nui loa for your continued partnership. Can’t wait to see you at school!
Po’okumu Paul

17 Apr

Director Paul’s Message

Field Trip Focus: 4th and 7th Graders Explore Nawiliwili Harbor

Last week, our 4th and 7th-grade keiki had an incredible opportunity to engage in hands-on learning with the Kauaʻi Sailing Association (KSA) in Nawiliwili Harbor. This field trip allowed our learners to connect with the ocean environment and participate in activities focused on teamwork, navigation, and maritime skills, deepening their appreciation for our island’s natural resources. Special mahalo to KSA for hosting us and providing such a meaningful experience!

Mahalo and malama pono.
Po’okumu Paul

11 Apr

Director Paul’s Message

Wala’au Weekly Update: Swing Into Something New!

We are thrilled to announce the formation of the Alaka’i Golf Club, a fantastic new opportunity for our learners to develop skills, practice sportsmanship, and—most importantly—have fun!

Who Can Join? This club is currently open to parents with learners in grades 4-8. Whether your learner is a seasoned player or picking up a club for the first time, all skill levels are welcome!

What to Expect? The Alaka’i Golf Club focuses on creating a well-rounded experience for our learners, including:

Skill-Building: Engaging activities and golf-centered games to improve technique.
Etiquette: Instruction on on-course awareness and traditional golf etiquette.
Social Fun: A positive environment to meet new friends and enjoy the outdoors.
Real Experience: Official golf sessions will take place at local golf courses.

We look forward to seeing our learners and families “swing” into this exciting new adventure!

Mahalo and malama pono.
Po’okumu Paul

02 Apr

Director Paul’s Message

Wala’au Weekly Update: Rooted in Aloha – Our New School Farmstand!

We are excited to introduce a wonderful new addition to our campus: the Alakai ‘o Kauai School Farmstand! Located right in front of the school, this initiative is a true reflection of our commitment to community, sustainability, and the spirit of Aloha.

The farmstand is free for all learners daily and operates on a simple, heart-led principle: “Bring what you grow, take what you like.” Here is how our ‘ohana can get involved:

Share the Abundance: If your home garden has extra fruit or vegetables, contributions are greatly appreciated!
Enjoy the Harvest: Learners are welcome to take fresh items from the stand to enjoy.
Community First: Please remember that contributions are not necessary to participate—this is a gift for all our learners.

We are so proud to see our school community growing together. Mahalo to everyone who helped bring this project to life and to those who continue to keep it “Rooted in Aloha” with their garden extras!

Mahalo and malama pono.
Po’okumu Paul

27 Mar

Director Paul’s Message

Wala’au Weekly Update: Our First School-Wide Field Trip Ever!

We are thrilled to announce a historic milestone for our school community! On Wednesday, March 25th, 2026, all of our learners embarked on our first-ever school-wide field trip to the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. We were extended a special invitation by the Garden Island Dance Academy to experience a free, world-class performance titled “Every Dancer Is A Star”. This rare opportunity featured the internationally acclaimed Cleo Parker Robinson Dance ensemble from Denver, Colorado.

Why this matters for our learners:

World-Class Artistry: The ensemble is led by Cleo Parker Robinson, a 2023 recipient of the National Medal of Arts—the nation’s highest award in the arts.
Cultural Learning: Learners had the opportunity to witness an excerpt from the metamorphic work “We Rise,” which reflects powerful moments of social change and the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.
Connecting the Classroom: This trip united live artistic expression with themes of cultural understanding, resilience, and creativity.

We were so excited to share this experience as an entire school ‘ohana, using the arts as a catalyst for transformation and hope.

Mahalo and malama pono.

Po’okumu Paul

A school building labeled “Alaka‘i” sits beneath green mountains, with trees, a palm, and solar panels under a sunny sky. A banner about enrollment and a Director Paul's Message are visible on the fence in front.

12 Mar

Director Paul’s Message

Wala’au Weekly Update: Aloha Across America!

What an incredible week we had celebrating Aloha Across America from March 9th-13th! It was truly heartening to see our campus filled with school spirit as we explored the diverse cultures and connections that bind us together from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

Throughout the week, our learners engaged in activities that bridged our unique Hawaiian values with the broader American story. Through creative dress-up days, collaborative projects, and thoughtful discussions on what it means to carry the Spirit of Aloha wherever we go, our learners demonstrated that excellence and kindness have no boundaries.

A huge mahalo to our staff, learners, and families for making this week so vibrant and meaningful. It is through these moments of shared joy and learning that we continue to strengthen our school ‘ohana.

Keep that Aloha spirit glowing as we head into next week!
Mr. Paul, Po’okumu

06 Mar

Director Paul’s Message

Wala’au Weekly Update: A Journey Around the World!

Aloha Alaka’i O Kaua’i Families,

This week, our gym transformed into a global classroom as our 3rd graders hosted their highly anticipated Cultural Fair: Presentation of Learning (POL)! From traditional dress and food to deep explorations of history and geography, our learners brought the world to life. This event was the culmination of weeks of rigorous inquiry in Ms. Chock’s class. Our learners not only studied world cultures—they became historians and storytellers. They researched their topics, drafted and revised their exhibits. They also practiced their public speaking skills to ensure they could share their newfound knowledge with confidence and clarity.

This POL was a brilliant demonstration of our HĀ framework in action. Through their displays, learners showed Responsibility (Kuleana) by sharing their cultures with respect and accuracy, and Excellence (Kūlia) through the hard work of editing and refining their projects. Seeing our 3rd graders take ownership of their learning and lead the way was a proud moment for our entire faculty.

Mahalo to our 3rd-grade ‘ohana for supporting these young explorers, and a huge shout-out to Ms. Chock and our learners for such a vibrant, educational, and inspiring showcase! Next week, we continue our journey of excellence.

Please stay tuned for more highlights from across our campus!
Mr. Paul, Po’okumu

27 Feb

Director Paul’s Message

Wala’au Weekly Update: Lights, Camera, Action!

Congratulations to our incredible Middle School learners for their outstanding achievement at the Kaua’i Student Film Challenge, sponsored by the Kaua’i Economic Development Board! Our talented film crew secured a Second Place finish, showcasing not only their technical skills in cinematography and editing but also their ability to tell a compelling story.

This project was a perfect example of Project-Based Learning in action. To meet the challenge, our students had to manage tight deadlines, collaborate across different roles, and think critically about how to represent our island’s unique perspective through the lens. Their success is a testament to the “Excellence” and “Responsibility” they bring to their work every day. Mahalo to the Kaua’i Economic Development Board for providing this platform for our youth to shine.

Be sure to give our middle school filmmakers a high-five when you see them on campus! We are so proud of your creativity and your commitment to high-quality work.

Mahalo for supporting our learners as they strive for excellence!
Mr. Paul, Po’okumu

Colorful cards with multiplication problems, like 4 × 1 and 9 × 10, scattered on a surface. A green border frames the image, featuring a small owl icon and a message from Director Paul at the bottom center.

13 Feb

Director Paul’s Message

The Numbers Are In!

Aloha Alaka’i O Kaua’i Families! All week, our campus was buzzing with excitement as learners from third grade through Middle School participated in our school-wide Math Facts Competition. From daily “warm-up sprints” to head-to-head battles, our learners have been sharpening their mental math skills while building the fluency and confidence they need for complex, project-based learning.

This competition is more than just a race; it’s a celebration of perseverance and academic grit. By mastering these foundational skills, our learners are better equipped to tackle real-world challenges with “Self-Efficacy”- a core value of our HĀ framework. Stay tuned for next month’s update, where we will announce our Grade Level and School-Wide Champions!

In the meantime, please keep the momentum going at home with a quick round of flashcards or a math game. Click here to visit the website that we used for the competition.

Mahalo for supporting our learners as they strive for excellence!
Mr. Paul, Po’okumu

31 Jan

Director Paul’s Message

Unleashing Our Inner Ninja!

Aloha kākou School ʻOhana,

Our campus was buzzing with incredible energy during the Ninja Warrior Challenge this past Friday! This event was a powerful celebration of Pillar 1 of our Healthy Habits Compass: Physical Health. It was inspiring to see our keiki—from our youngest learners to our middle school leaders—tackle the obstacles with grit, focus, and Kuleana.

Beyond the physical feats, the most heartening part of the contest was the spirit of Lokahi (unity) on display. The cheers and encouragement shared between learners as they navigated the course showed that while we celebrate individual achievement, we rise together as an ʻohana. Mahalo to all the staff and volunteers who helped us “Sharpen the Saw” through this high-energy community event!

Me ke aloha pumehana,
Mr. Paul, Po’okumu

21 Jan

Director Paul’s Message

Every Act of Kindness

Our focus is on building a culture of kindness. Kindness is the bedrock of a safe, supportive, and vibrant learning environment, where everyone feels valued and eager to learn. Every act of kindness, from sharing a smile to offering help, strengthens the tapestry of Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi.

Let us all continue to foster this essential spirit of aloha and compassion.

Me ke aloha pumehana,
The Alaka’i Leadership Team

16 Jan

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: Strengthening Health and ‘Ohana Connections

Aloha Kākou Alaka’i ʻOhana,

As we continue to move through the first month of 2026, our focus remains on the holistic growth of our keiki—both inside and outside the classroom. This month, we are highlighting the first two pillars of our Healthy Habits Compass: Physical Health and Mental Well-being.

True health is a shared Kuleana (responsibility). We encourage our families to find intentional ways to engage with our keiki outside of school hours to reinforce these habits:

Pillar 1 (Physical Health): Take advantage of our beautiful island home. Whether it’s a weekend hike, a swim, or a simple walk together, moving as an ʻOhana is the best way to “Sharpen the Saw” and build physical resilience.
Pillar 2 (Emotional Well-being): Use the evening meal or the drive home to practice active listening. Asking open-ended questions about their PBL projects or their social-emotional goals helps our learners feel seen and supported.

By modeling these healthy choices, we show our keiki that Aloha starts with how we care for ourselves and one another. When our students are healthy and connected at home, they bring their best, most Pono selves to their learning here on campus.

Mahalo for your partnership in nurturing healthy, happy, and engaged learners!

Me ke aloha,
The Alaka’i Leadership Team

A scenic view of a lush, green mountainside overlooking the blue ocean beneath a cloudy sky, with a faint rainbow arcing above the horizon. Tall trees frame the foreground; Director Paul’s owl icon delivers a thoughtful message at the bottom.

09 Jan

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: Navigating the Transition with Care

Aloha kākou School ʻOhana,

Welcome back! As we open our doors for the second semester, we acknowledge that the first week back from a long winter break marks a significant transition for our keiki, staff, and families. While there is much excitement to begin new PBL ventures, we are intentionally prioritizing Pillar 2 of our Healthy Habits Compass: Mental and Emotional Well-being.

Moving from the relaxed rhythm of the holidays back into the structured Kuleana (responsibility) of the school day takes time and focused energy. We encourage our learners and families to practice Akahai and Ahonui—to be kind, gentle, and patient with one another as we find our renewed stride.

In our classrooms this week, teachers are focusing on reconnecting and reinforcing our classroom culture of Aloha. By giving ourselves and our learners the space to transition mindfully, we ensure that we are building the emotional foundation necessary for the deep, rigorous learning ahead.

Mahalo for joining us in making emotional wellness a priority as we start this new chapter together.

Me ke aloha,
The Alaka’i Leadership Team

18 Dec

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: Fueling Curiosity at the Winter Book Fair and Happy Holiday Season

Aloha kākou ‘Ohana!

As we approach our winter break, we were thrilled to host our School Book Fair on Friday, December 19th! Literacy is a cornerstone of our mission, providing our learners with the essential tools to explore new perspectives and strengthen their academic foundation (Pono). Fostering a deep love for reading is a shared Kuleana (responsibility) between school and home. Whether it’s a guide for a future PBL project or a story that builds empathy and Aloha, a good book is a powerful companion for growth. We encouraged all our families to stop by, browse the selection, and help our keiki find a story to enjoy as they “Sharpen the Saw” over the holidays.

Enjoy your holiday season in all the ways that matter to your family, and we will see you all fully recharged in January. Mahalo nui loa for your continued support in building a community of lifelong Alaka’i learners!

Mahalo Nui Loa,
The Alaka’i Leadership Team

12 Dec

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: 5th Grade PBL Craft Fair Success

Aloha kākou! This week, we celebrated a fantastic demonstration of academic rigor and entrepreneurship as our 5th-grade class hosted their annual PBL Craft Fair.

This project was a prime example of PBLWorks Gold Standard in action, requiring learners to move beyond the classroom to meet a real-world need. Students applied their learning in design, production costs, marketing, and sales, and demonstrated the value of Pono (integrity) in delivering a quality product. Every learner took on full Kuleana (ownership) for their booth, learning valuable lessons in responsibility and financial literacy. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and the authentic learning that took place!

Mahalo nui loa to all the ‘Ohana members who supported this learner-led venture!

Mahalo Nui Loa,
The Alaka’i Leadership Team

05 Dec

Director Paul’s Message

December 2025 – Aloha and Holiday Cheer ✨

Mahalo Nui Loa, Alaka’i Ohana!

As we enter the final month of the year, there is a wonderful sense of Lokahi (unity, expressed with harmony) that permeates our campus. December is a short but action-packed month, culminating in our well-deserved Winter Break.

Thank you for your continued support of our unique Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment and for nurturing our learners’ growth. Please remember to check our community calendar so you don’t miss any of December’s important events like our annual Spelling Bee, a Presentation of Learning, or the Lights on Rice parade!

Mahalo Nui Loa,
Alaka’i Admin Team

A teacher leans over a table, engaging with five seated students in a classroom. Behind them, a screen displays Paul's Message under Relationship Skills and Self Management. Classroom supplies are visible in the background.

26 Nov

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: Middle School Alaka’i

Aloha kākou! This week, our middle school learners showcased inspiring initiative and creativity as they shared their PBL (Project-Based Learning) leadership proposals.

🚀 Middle School Leadership in PBL (Kuleana)

Our middle school leaders are currently moving through the proposal phase of their capstone PBL units, which are designed around authentic campus leadership and community improvement.

These projects embody Kuleana (responsibility and ownership) by asking them to identify a genuine problem and propose a viable solution. The rigor and depth of these proposals confirm that they are ready to be leaders and critical problem-solvers. We look forward to seeing these thoughtful projects come to life!

We wish you all a reflective and restorative weekend.

Me ka mahalo (with gratitude),
Po’okumu Paul

Children and adults gather around tables in a gymnasium, participating in games and activities. The atmosphere is busy and lively as the Director shares Paul's Message, inspiring everyone while kids explore items on the tables and walk around.

20 Nov

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: Parent Engagement

Aloha kākou! This week, our campus buzzed with tangible evidence of our mission in action, highlighting incredible learner growth and the vital partnership of our ‘Ohana (family) community.

🤝 ‘Ohana Partnership in Presentations of Learning (POLs)

We extend our heartfelt Mahalo nui loa (great thanks) to the many parents and guardians who attended this week’s Presentations of Learning (POLs).

Your presence is not just support—it is essential participation. By engaging with your child’s projects, asking critical questions, and providing thoughtful critique, you directly reinforce the value of Pono (integrity and excellence) in their academic journey. The skills learners gain by confidently presenting their learning in front of an adult audience are invaluable, preparing them for thoughtful citizenship beyond our campus.

Thank you for demonstrating true Aloha for our school’s educational commitment!

Me ka mahalo (with gratitude),
Po’okumu Paul

14 Nov

Director Paul’s Message

Mahalo & The November Wellness Focus

Aloha kākou! As the weather cools and we move into November, we shift our focus to intentional wellness and gratitude to ensure our learners and staff remain balanced and energized throughout the coming holidays. This month, we are concentrating on key Healthy Habits to sustain our energy and mental well-being.

🧭 Physical Health & Maintaining Balance:

November brings exciting family time and schedule changes, but maintaining routine is key to energy and focus (Pono).

Sleep Schedule: We encourage everyone (learners and staff) to prioritize the Rest and Recharge guideline, aiming for consistent sleep hours even with upcoming days off. A good night’s sleep is the best defense against stress!
Mindful Eating: As we approach this holiday season, we are emphasizing Mindful Snacking and Balanced Meals. We teach learners that food is fuel. We encourage everyone to enjoy holiday celebrations while balancing those treats with nutrient-dense choices to maintain energy and focus.

We wish you all a safe, mindful, and deeply grateful final weeks of November!

Mahalo nui loa for your continued partnership,

Mahalo nui loa for a wonderful week,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Admin Team

31 Oct

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: Ka Piko o ka Wala’au (The Core Conversation)

Aloha mai kākou! Welcome to our weekly update, focusing on the strong foundation we are building in our facilities, student support systems, and community culture as we continue the second quarter of the school year. Every step we take reinforces our commitment to Pono (integrity) and Kuleana (responsibility) for all learners and staff.

🏗️ Facilities & Campus Stewardship

New Classroom Building Progress: Our campus is being upgraded, demonstrating our commitment to providing safe and flexible learning spaces. We are excited to report that the construction of our new two-classroom building is proceeding smoothly! The foundation is in its last stages of work, and the rest of the building will begin to take shape in the coming weeks. These new spaces are designed to support advanced Project-Based Learning (PBL) and will house our Ike Hawai’i and Art Classrooms.

🧠 SEL & Behavior Support Framework

A Focus on Accountability and Integrity (Pono): Our primary focus is teaching learners the skills they need to navigate complex social and emotional situations. We are formalizing our behavior framework to be instructive rather than purely reactive. All staff have started to utilize our new K-8 Behavior Support Process, designed to teach learners Accountability Statements when they make a mistake. We are working to ensure that when a student is corrected, they learn to accept responsibility (“I hear you. I will fix that.”) instead of shifting blame. These efforts align directly with Mental & Emotional Well-being.
🎨 PBL in Action: From Idea to Implementation

The improvement project to resurface the picnic tables, initiated by learners and support staff, is a perfect example of PBL in Action and demonstrates how we foster responsibility, collaboration, and problem-solving. This project moves beyond simple maintenance and becomes a real-world learning experience where learners are responsible for:

Problem Identification: They identified that the current tables were not hygienic and hard to clean and they also wanted to be mindful of keeping the tables free of unwanted markings.
Solution Proposing: They discussed durable, food-friendly resurfacing materials and proposed a low-budget solution to the administration.
Execution: The discussion led the administration and facilities specialists to manage the work schedule, materials, and quality control. Staff even included some learners in the work itself to teach them the value of keeping our tables clean and inviting.This authentic work directly connects to our PBL philosophy by giving learners Kuleana over their learning environment and acknowledging them as important members of our school team.
🧡 Community Care (Pillar 3)

We have a tremendous show of unity and culture-building during our morning piko every day. This daily event reinforces Community & Social Care. Learners participate in the recital of E Ho Mai, a culture and team-building activity that allows us all to find a common voice in a choral recital of the oli. These skills are the foundation of a supportive and empathetic school culture, ensuring all members of our school feel a sense of Aloha.

Mahalo nui loa for your continued support as we prepare for a successful and mission-aligned school year!

Mahalo Nui,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Admin Team

A large group of children and adults, guided by Director Paul, stand in a wide circle on a grassy field outside a school building, participating in an outdoor gathering to share an important message on a cloudy day.

24 Oct

Director Paul’s Message

Weekly Walaʻau: Facilities, Focus, and Feeling Unified

Aloha mai Alaka’i O Kaua’i Ohana,

Welcome to this week’s Walaʻau, our regular conversation about the progress, plans, and priorities across our campus. It’s an exciting time as our commitment to our core values continues to translate into tangible actions in our learning spaces and classrooms.

🏗️ Facilities Update: A Growing Foundation

We are thrilled to announce that the foundation phase of our new classroom building is continuing to progress. Like with children, building a layered and strong foundation is key to all the skills you add to that foundation. Our foundation is strong and will be a great place to support our classroom building.

Next Steps: Once permit approvals are complete, we will proceed to construction, installing professional-grade components into the physical structure of the building.
Goal: The classroom building will serve as a venue for unique learning activities for our esteemed classes in Ike Hawai’i and Art. So exciting!

🧠 Project-Based Learning (PBL) & Mission Alignment

This month, we are deeply focused on ensuring every PBL unit directly reinforces our commitment to critical thinking and intellectual defense.

We are guiding students to move beyond simple compliance and rote answers by asking tough questions like: “How does this process work?” and “What evidence do you have to support that claim?” This emphasis is essential as we keep our curriculum aligned in all subjects to equip students with the intellectual tools needed for thoughtful citizenship and strong core values. We are seeing incredible student engagement as they learn to argue their points with evidence and integrity.

🤝 SEL Focus: Emotional Resilience and Community Care

This week, we highlighted emotional literacy and inclusivity.

For Learners: Facilitators are consistently modeling the practice of using “I” statements to express needs constructively (e.g., “I feel frustrated when…” or “I need a 2-minute walking break”). This is a key resilience skill, especially for our middle schoolers.

For Staff: We encourage all staff to engage in the Culture of Gratitude, taking a moment to acknowledge a colleague daily to help build a supportive and unified school environment.

🧡 Unity Day Review: Reaching Out

Thank you to all the learners, staff, and guests who took part in our recent Unity Day observance, celebrating a culture of kindness and standing together against bullying. It was a powerful reminder of our commitment to inclusivity and empathy.

Our activities emphasized the importance of reaching out to others, especially those who are new or may feel isolated. We focused on the guideline: intentionally invite new learners or colleagues to join activities or conversations. Maintaining this sense of belonging is vital to our school’s mission. We choose to stand up for each other.

We hope you have a safe and restful week ahead!

Mahalo Nui,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Admin Team

Children and adults with backpacks exit a yellow school bus parked on a curved sidewalk surrounded by greenery. Some walk toward the viewer, while others interact near the bus, illustrating the Director's commitment to Paul's Message of community. A purple border frames the image.

16 Oct

Director Paul’s Message

Welcome to Quarter 2: Starting Strong & Building Ahead!

We’re excited to jump into a new quarter full of opportunity, growth, and continued learning. After a well-deserved fall break, our learners are returning with fresh energy and ready minds. As always, we mahalo you, our ʻohana, for your support as we work together to help each keiki thrive.

ʻIke Hawaiʻi & Art Classrooms Coming to Life:

We’re thrilled to share that construction is continuing on our dedicated ʻIke Hawaiʻi and Art classrooms! These new spaces will provide meaningful environments for students to explore culture, creativity, and hands-on learning. We appreciate your patience as we move through the building process, and we’ll keep you updated on progress and timelines as they develop. It’s an exciting time to be growing, both academically and physically, as a campus.

Keeping the PBL Momentum Going!

Project-based learning (PBL) continues to thrive as learners collaborate, create, and dive deeper into their inquiry. As students face new challenges and discoveries in Quarter 2, we encourage families to keep the conversations going at home. Ask your keiki about their group roles, what they’re learning, and how their work connects to the real world around them.

A special shoutout to our 7th-grade learners, who did a fantastic job with their Presentations of Learning last week! They showcased their understanding of the human body systems with confidence and creativity, an impressive example of meaningful, student-driven learning in action. Great job, Grade 7!

Field Trip Fun at the National Tropical Botanical Garden:

Last week, our 7B and 4th-grade classes had the incredible opportunity to visit the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kalāheo! Learners explored the lush grounds, discovered native and endemic Hawaiian plant species, and deepened their understanding of the vital role plants play in our ecosystems. It was a wonderful day of hands-on learning, connection to place, and appreciation for the natural beauty of our island. Mahalo to all the staff and volunteers who helped make this experience possible!

Practicing ʻOluʻolu with Kindness and Care:

Our ALOHA SEL focus this month is on ʻOluʻolu – being agreeable with pleasantness. Learners are discovering how showing kindness, patience, and a positive attitude can help build stronger relationships and a more joyful school experience. Whether working with classmates, teachers, or friends, ʻOluʻolu encourages us to treat others with care and approach challenges calmly.

You can support this at home by encouraging your keiki to use kind words, listen with empathy, and respond to situations with a calm, respectful attitude. Together, we can help make every space a little more thoughtful and pleasant!

Let’s launch Quarter 2 with intention, purpose, and ALOHA. We are proud of the resilience and growth our learners continue to show every day. Here’s to a strong start and an even stronger quarter ahead!

Mahalo Nui,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Admin Team

02 Oct

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

As we wrap up our first quarter and move into Fall Break, may we all take a deep breath of gratitude. We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for, especially with the incredible progress our learners have made in practicing Lokahi (unity), this month’s SEL focus. The spirit of collaboration and community is strong on campus!

This Week’s Focus: Finish Strong & Celebrations:

Lokahi Awards Assembly: Friday, October 3rd
We were excited to host our monthly awards assembly on Friday, October 3rd. This was a special time for us to gather as a whole school to honor the learners who have truly embodied our Social-Emotional Learning theme of Lokahi this month. Learners were recognized for demonstrating cooperation, teamwork, and a sense of belonging within their classrooms and the larger school community.

Deep Dive into Project-Based Learning
Please continue to check in with your keiki about their Project-Based Learning (PBL) projects. While a few projects are nearing their final stages, many are still in their early stages. We want to express our great gratitude to parents and guardians who continue to support our unique place-based projects through volunteer work (like building a chicken coop) and attending POL’s (presentations of learning). Ask your learner about the different roles they play in their groups and how practicing lokahi helped them complete their challenges!

Friendly Reminders & Important Dates:

Fall Break is here!
A reminder that Fall Break begins next week! This is a well-deserved time for our learners and faculty to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with their families.

Coming Up in October: Our Next ALOHA Value
When we return from fall break, we will shift our SEL focus to the next ALOHA value, ‘Olu’olu (Agreeable expressed with pleasantness). Keep an eye out for information on our new theme and how we will be integrating it into our curriculum.

Mahalo nui loa for your continued partnership and support. We hope you all have a fantastic week and a safe, restorative break!

Mahalo Nui,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Admin Team

A collage shows Jog-a-thon 2025 at Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School: students outside, a man doing push-ups, Director Paul getting a haircut, and a student cracking eggs on an adult’s head—capturing the fun and spirit in every school shirt.

26 Sep

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alaka’i Ohana!

It is with a great sense of accomplishment that we mark the end of the first quarter of our school year. These initial months have been a whirlwind of activity, from building strong classroom communities to launching our first engaging project-based learning units. This Walaʻau Weekly serves as a moment to pause and reflect on the incredible growth of our learners, the dedication of our facilitators, and the wonderful partnership that we share with you.

ALOHA value of the month – LOKAHI (Unity):
At our school, we often speak of Lōkahi, the essential Hawaiian value of unity and harmony. It is easy to feel this sense of togetherness in moments of celebration and success, and we cherish those times. However, the true strength of our Lōkahi is revealed when we are tested by the challenges of life. It is during times of disagreement, frustration, or difficulty that our commitment to unity truly matters. This is when we must listen with an open heart, offer grace to one another, and work collaboratively towards solutions. By doing so, we not only navigate challenges more effectively but also model for our keiki what it means to be a truly resilient and supportive community. Thank you, parents and caregivers, for sharing in our unified school mission. We love you all.

Curriculum Moment- 21st Century Skills:
We have completed our annual Jog-a-thon, a long-standing testament to our school’s commitment to building community support and encouraging learners to contribute to the overall well-being of the school. Through this fundraising program with a physical fitness theme, Ms. Shay, our event facilitator, hosted a fun and engaging day of running for learners and school staff. Funds raised will support future field trips, PBL projects, and outdoor education. Check out the pics of Mr. Geordan and Kumu Nouveau getting egged by the highest fundraisers and Po’okumu Paul doing push-ups for all the money we raised – almost $28,000.00- YES!!!

Facilities Update:
Wait time is a good thing. We are in that stage of the building process for the new classroom where we are waiting for the foundation concrete and backfill to set. You will start to see more work on the building very soon.

Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Meetings:
Thank you all for your patience and grace as we held our ILPs this past week and modified the weekly schedule. We are very grateful for the chance to meet with you and your children to set individual learner goals for the coming school year. Super excited to see our learners reach new achievements.

A Friendly Safety Reminder:
The rainy season is upon us, which is all the more reason to be mindful of road conditions and safe driving. Learners also tend to get dirtier during recess in wet conditions. If you have a highly energetic child who may be prone to having a lot of fun when it’s wet outside, consider sending them to school with an extra shirt or shorts, just in case.

As always, for the safety of our entire Kahili Mountain community, please continue to drive slowly (under 15 mph) and with your full attention on the private road leading to and from campus during drop-off and pick-up. Please remain free of all distractions. Your patience and caution ensure our keiki can arrive and depart safely every day.

Thank you for your continued partnership,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Leadership Team

12 Sep

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

As we move through September, it is wonderful to see our learners so deeply engaged in their projects and classroom communities. The spirit of collaboration and discovery is alive and well on our campus! We are so grateful for the hard work, love, and care that all members of our school community contribute to our learners.

ALOHA value of the month is LOKAHI (Unity):
Special mahalo to our families for providing your children with a safe and respectful home. We have great confidence that our learners come to school every day happy and ready to learn. A true testament to the teamwork of home and school. Thank you, parents and caregivers, for sharing in our unified school mission. We love you all.

Curriculum Moment: Kuleana in Action!
Project-Based Learning is in full swing across all grade levels! Our kindergarteners will soon be able to embrace their new kuleana (responsibility) of caring for our new chickens. They will be learning about the life cycle, daily needs, and how to care for living things gently. Meanwhile, our middle schoolers continue to engage in social-emotional learning by setting personal and academic goals, while also developing meaningful friendships. Perfect timing, especially with ILPs just around the corner.

Facilities Update:
You may have noticed the exciting progress being made on our new building! We are thrilled to see this new learning space taking shape and look forward to sharing more updates as the construction continues. Mahalo to our facilities team for their hard work.

Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Meetings Coming Soon!
Please be on the lookout next week for information on how to sign up for our upcoming Individual Learning Plan (ILP) meetings. These one-on-one conferences between parents and facilitators are a cornerstone of our partnership. They provide a wonderful opportunity to discuss your child’s strengths, set collaborative goals for the year, and ensure we are all working together to support your learner.

A Friendly Safety Reminder ☺️
For the safety of our entire Kahili Mountain community, please remember to drive slowly (under 15 mph) and with your full attention on the private road leading to and from campus during drop-off and pick-up. Please remain free of all distractions. Your patience and caution ensure our keiki can arrive and depart safely every day.
Thank you for your continued partnership.

Malama pono,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Leadership Team

04 Sep

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha kākou,

As we conclude our fifth week of school, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who makes Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School such a special place. Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated. Here are some highlights from the past week:

- Curriculum Development: Our facilitators have been diligently working to refine our curriculum, ensuring engaging and effective learning experiences for all learners. Individual Learning Plan (ILP) meetings will soon be open for scheduling. This is a great time to hear about your child’s progress in class. Be on the lookout for your facilitator’s parent square notice to schedule your ILP meeting.
- Student Activities: We had a fantastic Akahai Assembly celebrating “kindness expressed with tenderness.” It is always a joy to see our entire school community recognizing strong values that bring such happiness. Keep an eye out for next month’s ALOHA value—we look forward to celebrating it with you!
- Community Engagement: Big mahalo to our parent-teacher network, Na Hoa O Alaka’i, for providing the school staff with a great treat of snacks and sandwiches during picture day. It was warmly welcomed, and we are all very grateful.
- Campus Improvements: We’ve made great strides in enhancing our learning spaces, marked by the groundbreaking of our new classroom building. We are excited to see the foundation developing as highlighted in this week’s main image.

My sincere mahalo goes out to all our incredible staff – our dedicated facilitators and educational assistants, our supportive administrative team, our tireless facilities crew, our caring student support staff, and everyone in between. Your commitment to our students and school community is truly inspiring.

And to our wonderful families, thank you for your unwavering support, your active participation, and your trust in us. Your partnership is invaluable as we nurture the growth and well-being of our haumāna.

Me ke aloha pumehana,

Paul Zina
Po’okumu / Director
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School

Click here for the PTN interest form.

29 Aug

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

Akahai and a Fantastic Fourth Week! I feel great gratitude every day for the opportunity to work in the best school on the island. As we wrap up our fourth week of school, it’s truly inspiring to see the incredible learning and growth taking place across our campus. The energy and positive spirit our learners, ohana, and staff bring each day make Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi a special place. Please read about recent highlights and upcoming events below:

This month, our school-wide focus is Akahai, which embodies kindness expressed with tenderness.
We continue to witness countless examples of our learners demonstrating Akahai in their interactions, showing empathy and respect to their peers and staff. It’s a joy to see these values in action every day.
To celebrate our commitment to Akahai, we are excited to announce our upcoming school-wide assembly on September 5, 2025, dedicated to this important ALOHA value. We look forward to gathering as a school community to recognize and reinforce the importance of kindness and compassion, while also recognizing everyone’s hard work in academics.
Get ready for our annual Jog-a-Thon! See the flyer below for details. The flyer is also coming home with learners.
Thank you to everyone making the drive in and out of school a slow, safe, and happy ride for our keiki, ohana, and community neighbors up here in Kahili Mountain.
Thank you, Alaka’i ohana, for your continued partnership and support. Your involvement makes a tremendous difference in fostering a nurturing and enriching environment for all our learners.

Remember it is the simple things that make us successful…eat well, exercise every day, get plenty of sleep – 8 hours for school-aged children, and be kind to each other – a heartfelt smile always works for me ☺️).

Have a great week.

Malama pono,
The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Leadership Team

21 Aug

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

It is hard to believe we have already completed our third week of school! It has been wonderful to see our campus truly find its rhythm. Routines are becoming second nature, new friendships are blossoming, and our classrooms are buzzing with the happy energy of deep and engaged learning.

As our learners become more comfortable, we want to share a couple of friendly safety reminders:

Aloha value of the month – AKAHAI: Kindness expressed with tenderness. Let’s continue to find opportunities to showcase our Akahai, a strong thread that runs through our school community and culture. Our Akahai board is filling up with expressions of kindness more and more each day…we love it!
Academic Focus: Please check in with your child daily on their school work. All teachers are leaning into more academics, which can come with a need to balance some stress for learners. Reach out to your teacher should you see any need to support your child.
Love and Logic for Parents and Students: Review the links to our philosophy of behavior management at school. This is a great resource to support parents in addressing children’s behavior in a positive and empowering way.
Playground Safety: Mahalo for reviewing the seesaw guidelines with your children. Continue to talk about communication and teamwork will help ensure the playground is a safe and fun space for everyone.
Safe Driving: A reminder to please drive slowly and with extra caution on the private road leading to and from campus. Your mindful driving is essential for keeping our keiki safe during our busy drop-off and pick-up times.
Overall Wellness: We have noticed a bump in illnesses recently. Please take care of your family’s health and well-being. Eat balanced meals, get some exercise daily, and enough sleep (8 hours for children of school age). Most of all, please monitor screen time, especially social media, which can cause a great deal of anxiety for everyone spending too much time there.

Thank you for your continued partnership. We are building a fantastic year together!

Malama pono,

The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Leadership Team

14 Aug

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

As we move into our third week, the incredible energy and excitement from our learners continue to be a joy to witness. It is truly wonderful to have our school filled with the sounds of friendship and discovery every day. This past week was filled with exciting developments and a continued focus on building our vibrant school community:

Deepening Connections: We are deeply grateful for the dedication of our faculty and staff, who continue to prioritize building strong relationships with our learners and with one another. This commitment is the foundation of our supportive learning environment.
Digital Citizenship: Our facilitators have been diligently completing CommonSenseMedia.org lessons with their learners, fostering important digital literacy and responsible online behavior. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of the great guides offered to assist them with managing their child’s use of digital media at home.
Enrichment in Full Swing: This past week marked the start of our engaging specials classes, with learners enjoying Physical Education (PE), Art, Ike Hawaii, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Mahalo to Ms. Jessica, Ms. Nicole, Kumu Noe, and Ms. Kate. The children love each of you and are always excited to participate in your classes!
Smooth Transition: My time in the role of Director continues to be smooth and rewarding. I am so appreciative of the warm welcome and am enjoying getting to know our school community more and more each day.

Friendly Reminders:

Our school-wide focus this month is Akahai, which means kindness expressed with tenderness. We are already seeing so many examples of our learners showing Akahai to one another, and we encourage you to talk about this value at home.
A friendly reminder to our ohana about driving on the private road leading to and from campus. For the safety of our entire community, especially our keiki, please drive slowly and with extra caution during our busy drop-off and pick-up times. Less than 15 mph on the road should feel extremely slow. We ask that you remain free of all distractions and be mindful of learners and staff who may be walking as you approach the school buildings. Your cooperation is essential in keeping our campus a safe place for everyone and being a great neighbor to everyone in the Kahili Mountain community.

Thank you, ohana, for your partnership in making this week so smooth and successful. We look forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth together, keeping each other happy and healthy along the way.

Mahalo and malama pono.

Paul Zina
Po’okumu / Director
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School

08 Aug

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

What an incredible first week back on campus! The energy and excitement from our learners have been a joy to witness, and it is wonderful to have our school filled with the sounds of friendship and discovery once again. We kicked off the year with a fantastic week of relationship building, plus our Welcome Back Assembly on Friday. It was a pleasure to introduce our amazing staff and celebrate our summer birthdays. We also had the chance to introduce important themes for the year: ALOHA Values, Kindness Matters, and Attendance Matters. A big mahalo to Ms. Malissa and Ms. Kate for leading these initiatives!

Our school-wide focus this month is Akahai, which means kindness expressed with tenderness. We are already seeing so many examples of our learners showing Akahai to one another, and we encourage you to talk about this value at home.
A friendly reminder to our ohana about driving on the private road leading to and from campus. For the safety of our entire community, especially our keiki, please drive slowly and with extra caution during our busy drop-off and pick-up times. Less than 15 mph on the road should feel extremely slow with no dust trail behind your vehicle ☺️. We ask that you remain free of all distractions and be mindful of students and staff who may be walking as you approach the school buildings. Your cooperation is essential in keeping our campus a safe place for everyone and being a great neighbor to everyone in the Kahili Mountain community.

Thank you, ohana, for your partnership in making this first week so smooth and successful. From the Open House to the first day drop-off, your support makes all the difference. We are looking forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth together.

Malama pono,

The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Leadership Team
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School

01 Aug

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi ʻOhana,

Welcome back, learners! We hope you are enjoying the final beautiful days of summer! There is a wonderful sense of excitement on campus as we prepare to welcome our learners back to school this Monday, August 4th. Remember Monday will be a half day for students. Kindergarten will be on a modified schedule as well to support a smooth transition to school for our little ones. Ms. Ellen will contact parents directly for that. The campus feels quiet without the cheerful energy of our keiki, and we cannot wait to have everyone back to kick off another amazing school year together.

Our entire staff has been hard at work this week, diving deep into professional development to ensure we are ready to provide the best possible learning experience for your children. We were especially energized by our collaborative staff book study on “Love and Logic.” This approach helps us build positive relationships and foster a classroom environment where students feel empowered, respected, and ready to learn. We are all excited to bring these supportive strategies into our daily interactions.

As we count down the last few days, here is a quick checklist to help ensure a smooth and successful start for everyone:

School Supplies: Please double-check the grade-level supply list to ensure your learner has everything they need for a great first day.
Label Everything:Please label all personal items, including water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, and jackets, with your child’s name. It helps us make sure lost items find their way home!
Review School Procedures: Take a moment to review the drop-off and pick-up times and procedures (page 7 of the handbook) to help our parking lot flow smoothly and safely.
Update Information: If any of your contact or medical information has changed, please be sure to update it with the front office as soon as possible.
Healthy Fuel: Remember to pack a healthy, hearty lunch and a couple of snacks to keep your learner fueled for a full day of fun and discovery.

We are looking forward to a year of growth, discovery, and community. Thank you for your partnership in making Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Charter School such a special place. See you all on Monday morning!

Mahalo and malama pono,

The Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Leadership Team
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School

A charter school building with solar panels on the roof, green grass, and trees in front; a rainbow arcs over distant green mountains under a partly cloudy sky. A sign reads Alakai O Kauai Charter School—Director Paul shares a welcoming message.

26 Jul

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha e ka ʻohana o Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School,

Ke Ala o ke Kula (the path to school begins)! The quiet hum of summer is beginning to mix with a new, exciting energy on campus! While our haumāna (learners) enjoy their last few days of vacation, our kumu (teachers) and staff are returning, and the campus is buzzing with preparations. You can smell the freshly cleaned campus and hear the faint sounds of classrooms being lovingly arranged. This is the time of hoʻomākaukau – of making ready – and we are so excited for the journey ahead.

Based on the walaʻau in our email inboxes and the dates filling up our calendar, below you will find what you need to know as we prepare for a wonderful 2025-2026 school year!

He Lā Koʻikoʻi – Important Dates Ahead

Mark your calendars! The first couple of weeks are full of important events to ensure a smooth and positive start to the school year.

Monday, July 28-30: Kumu & Staff Campus Preparation and Professional Development Days (Campus closed to the public).
Friday, August 1: Meet Your Kumu & Campus Open House from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. This is a wonderful, informal opportunity for all students and parents to see their new classroom, drop off class materials and connect with their teacher.
Monday, August 4: First Day of School for Learners! School begins at 8:45 AM and ends at 12:30 PM. This is a half day of school for students. Please plan accordingly to pick-up your child.

Ho’olaha No Ka Pule – Announcements for the Week

We’ve received many great questions from you all! Here are some key announcements to help you prepare.

School Supply Lists: For those of you asking, the 2025-2026 school supply lists for all grade levels are now available on our website. You can find them here: https://alakaiokauai.org/supply-lists/.
Finalizing Registration: If you have not yet completed your child’s online registration or submitted updated forms (e.g., health records, emergency contacts), please do so as soon as possible. Our office will be open Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. A big mahalo to the many families who have already completed this!
E Komo Mai! Welcome to our New Staff: We are thrilled to welcome several new members to our school ʻohana this year. This week, we want to give a special aloha to a few new educators: Ms. Jennifer Cain, our new 4th Grade Kumu, Ms. Ellen Wegner, our new Kindergarten Kumu, Ms. Pamela Tipton, our new Special Services Kumu, Ms. Nicholle Alfaro (EA), Ms. Brenda Kuwamura (EA). We know they will be a fantastic addition to our community!
Parking and Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures: A reminder that our drop-off and pick-up procedures will be the same as last year. A detailed map and instructions can be found here: https://alakaiokauai.org/opening-plan/. Please help us keep our keiki safe by following the established routes.
A special note: Please help us be a great neighbor in the Kahili Mountain Community by driving slowly in and out of campus on the private road. The acceptable speed limit is below 15mph. Enjoy the beautiful time to slow down. ☺️

Ka Manaʻo o ka Pule – A Thought for the Week

Our thought for this week is centered on the value of Kuleana (Responsibility, Privilege). As we begin a new school year, we are all reminded of our shared kuleana. Our teachers have the kuleana to create a safe and inspiring learning environment. Our students have the kuleana to be active and respectful learners. And as ʻohana, we have the kuleana to support our children on their educational path. It is a privilege to share in this important work together.

We are filled with anticipation for the year to come and can’t wait to see all of our students’ shining faces on campus again. Have a great week!

Mahalo and malama pono.

Paul Zina
Po’okumu / Director
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School

16 Jul

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha kākou!

As we plan for the rhythm of a new school year, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for being an integral part of our incredible school community. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and aloha spirit truly make our school a special place for learning and growth.

Campus Clean-Up Day

We’re excited to announce our upcoming Campus Clean-Up Day! This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, beautify our school grounds, and show our collective pride. Please remember to sign up using our Sign-Up Genius link [1st Shift, 2nd Shift]. Your participation, big or small, makes a significant difference!

Mahalo to Our Board of Directors

We extend our heartfelt mahalo to our dedicated Board of Directors. Their tireless work and unwavering commitment are invaluable in supporting our school with all our governing needs. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a passionate group guiding us forward. Please be assured that our school community is truly represented in the best possible way by our diverse and skilled board members.

Welcome New Staff!

We are thrilled to share that we’ve been busy bringing on some amazing new talent! We’ve successfully hired a number of new teachers, educational assistants, and substitute teachers. This is a true testament to the high quality of our program and the vibrant learning environment we’ve cultivated, which continues to attract exceptional individuals to our team. We’re confident they will be wonderful additions to our ‘ohana.

Important Student Information Update

Parents, please take a moment to stop by or contact the office to update any new information that may have come up over the summer for your children. This includes changes to contact information, medical conditions, emergency contacts, or any other details that could affect our records. Keeping our student information current is crucial for their safety and well-being, and ensures we can reach you quickly if needed.

A Bright Year Ahead

With the continued help and collaboration of our entire school community—our students, families, faculty, staff, and board—we are confident that we will have a truly great year. Your partnership is essential to our success, and together, we will continue to foster an environment where every child can thrive.

Mahalo and malama pono.

Paul Zina
Poʻo Kumu (Director)
Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Charter School

image of beautiful mountain with a cloudy blue sky in the background

11 Jul

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha kākou!

As the summer days fly by, our campus is buzzing with activity, all thanks to our incredible staff who are diligently preparing for a fantastic new school year. Before diving into the amazing work happening around campus, I want to extend a heartfelt mahalo nui loa to our Vice Principals, Geordan and Nouveau, for their invaluable support in ensuring my smooth transition into the role of Po’okumu. Their guidance and collaboration have been truly appreciated.

A huge mahalo also goes out to our facilities specialists, Mr. Jon and Mr. Adam! They have been doing an outstanding job getting all our classrooms ready for the learners’ return. From making sure everything is in tip-top shape to tackling those last-minute fixes, their hard work will ensure a welcoming and productive learning environment for everyone. Their efforts also extend to the exciting early stages of securing contractors for our new art and Hawaiian studies classrooms. We’re thrilled to see progress on these vital additions to our campus, which will undoubtedly enrich our learners’ educational experience.

We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Patricia in the front office. Their tireless dedication is truly the backbone of our school operations. They’ve been working diligently on budgeting, ordering essential supplies, and expertly setting up classes. Furthermore, their invaluable support for our new teachers and Educational Assistants joining our ʻohana has been instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition for everyone.

It is through the collaborative spirit and hard work of individuals like Mr. Jon, Mr. Adam, Ms. Jennifer, and Ms. Patricia that our school continues to thrive. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated professionals on our team!

For this week’s image, I’m sharing a bit of the beautiful view of the drive to campus everyday. ☺️

Mahalo and malama pono.

Paul Zina
Poʻo Kumu (Director)
Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Charter School

image of Paul Zina, new AOK Director with AOK facilitators

04 Jul

Director Paul’s Message

Aloha mai kākou, Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Charter School ʻOhana,

It is with a heart full of excitement and gratitude that I introduce myself as the new Poʻo Kumu and Director of our wonderful school. I am truly honored to be joining this incredible community. From the moment I first learned about Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi, I was inspired by the commitment to project-based learning, the dedication to nurturing the whole child, and the strong sense of ʻohana that is woven into the very fabric of the school.

In the short time I have been here, I have been met with nothing but kindness and the most genuine aloha from everyone. The warmth and welcoming spirit of the staff, parents, and learners I’ve had the pleasure of meeting have already made me feel right at home. It is clear that this is a special place, built on a foundation of mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared passion for learning.

I am eager to get to know each of you and to listen and learn about all the things that make Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi a beacon of education on our island. I look forward to partnering with our Board of Directors, talented facilitators (teachers), dedicated parents, community business partners, and, of course, our amazing learners to continue the great work that has already been established.

Thank you for the incredibly warm welcome. I am thrilled to begin this journey with all of you and to support the continued growth and success of our school. My door is always open.

Me ke aloha pumehana (with warm regards),

Paul Zina
Poʻo Kumu (Director)
Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Charter School

4 images of AOK happenings. one of directors Paul Zina and DJ Adams

28 Jun

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, and we hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we move towards the end of June.

Mahalo for your patience in the last year as we worked through the proper authorities to commence construction on the new building located on mid-campus. Our great gratitude to “Dr.” Jon (we are sure he has a PhD in Fixology) for his perseverance in obtaining all the needed permits and for his expertise during this lengthy process. All the permits are now in place and we have commenced the construction of the new building that will house both our Art and ‘Ike Hawai’i programs. We are currently searching for quality subtraders to work on the construction. If you know anyone interested, please have them contact “Dr.” Jon to submit a bid.

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, July 26th which will be our annual Campus Cleanup Day at Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. This fun annual event gives everyone in our learning community an opportunity to come to campus and volunteer to help us make the last minute preparations for the start of the 2025-2026 school year in early August. A SignUp Genius will be distributed so you can find specific times and tasks that suit your ohana. It will also give you a perfect event to meet our new Director Mr. Paul Zina.

A warm welcome to Director Mr. Paul Zina who has already started on campus and helped ensure a silky smooth transition. It is wonderful to see our learning community come full circle as Mr. Paul helped write the original application to the state of Hawai’i Charter Commission for Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. Mr. Paul is a perfect addition to our school and will do a fantastic job as Director.

My great gratitude to you all for the opportunity to serve as your Po’okumu for the last five years to help us build the fastest improving public school in the state of Hawai’i. It is a great honor to move my service over to the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School in an Advisory role on the Board of Directors.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images of AOK staff Ms Patricia working in the office and at AOK

20 Jun

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community and hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness during the annual Summer Break. While it may be Summer Break for most everyone at Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, there are several dedicated 12 month employees who work diligently in June and July to keep our school operating at a high level. One such dedicated person is Ms. Patricia who looks after the challenging duel portfolio of Human Resources and Finances.

Ms. Patricia is a rare gem of a person and we are extremely fortunate to have her guidance at Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. In addition to a highly successful multi-decade career in the banking system, Ms. Patricia has served our school in multiple roles over the years and she is a pillar of strength in building our school success. Most people probably are unaware that Ms. Patricia started at the school working as an Educational Assistant, specifically with a keiki with high needs. Ms. Patricia skillfully and patiently worked effectively in this role and brought great joy and success for this student.

In addition to her wonderful work with the keiki, Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School also recognized the talent, experience, and precision in Ms. Patricia’s background and we asked her to fill a new role. At that time our school was moving away from off islands service providers to creating both Human Services and Finances on campus. Ms. Patricia once again stepped into a new role and basically built both programs from scratch into the high functioning operations that they are today. Much of Ms. Patricia’s work is used as a model for our colleague charter school as a true credit to the quality of her work.

Even with all this high level service, Ms. Patricia still finds the greatest joy being with the keiki. She routinely volunteers to come out front and help with the daily greeting our students. She is always willing to step in and volunteer with Special Events on campus and has been known to be the school mascot (Pueo), which is a prime example of her willingness to serve others.

Our great gratitude to Ms. Patricia for sharing her incredible array of skills and talents with our learning community. We would not be the fastest improving public school in the state of Hawai’i without her work.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.
DJ Adams

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

4 images of AOK staff Ms Jennifer working as various events

13 Jun

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, and we hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness as we reach the midpoint of June.

Mahalo nui kakou to all the dedicated individuals who work at the school as twelve month employees. They are truly the glue that holds our school together. Their tireless efforts over the summer ensure that school is ready to roll once we arrive back in late summer.

Ms. Jennifer has been one of the steady pillars of strength throughout Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School’s history. Most of you know of her friendly and helpful disposition infused with a hefty amounts of perseverance and talent. Ms. Jennifer has skillfully supported our school through her amazing work in the Main Office. Early in the start of the school, Ms. Jennifer routinely worked 70-80 hours a week without extra compensation to ensure that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School remained viable. There is little doubt that our school would not have survived those early days without her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to improving education. Ms. Jennifer has successfully moved Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School from surviving to thriving and we are deeply appreciative of her work.

As we continue to move into our bright future the background historical knowledge that Ms. Jennifer has of our school has proven invaluable. Ms. Jennifer does an incredible job of connecting all parts of our learning community together and keeping us moving towards positive growth.

Next time you come to campus please consider taking the time and effort to thank Ms. Jennifer for her work in helping to build our unique charter school.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images of "Dr." Jon working on various projects on AOK campus.

06 Jun

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community and hope this message finds you all enjoying the first days of your Summer Break. Mahalo nui to the dedicated staff members who are 12 month employees as they quietly work on campus all summer to ensure that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is ready for the return of students and the rest of the staff in August. One of the people we wish to highlight this week is “Dr”. Jon.

The visionary and talented “Dr.” Jon was the very first staff member to walk on campus seven years ago. We understand that we have many doctors in our learning community from a number of varied backgrounds but we respectfully suggest that “Dr.” Jon has his PhD in Fixology!

Most people may not realize that “Dr.” Jon walked onto a campus that had sat vacant for over six years. The jungle had reclaimed much of the property. The rats and mice had moved into the vacant buildings and the toilets were literally falling off the walls in the bathrooms. “Dr.” Jon quickly moved into action working alone to get the school up to operational status for the start of school. Ironically, despite all his amazing efforts, the school started one day late due to flooding from Hurricane Lane. “Dr.” Jon was the steady pillar of safety as he guided people away from the massive flooding over the road to campus.

Over the next seven years we have seen Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School move from surviving to thriving. This remarkable transition would not have been possible without the skills, talents, and expertise of “Dr.” Jon and we wish to extend our greatest gratitude for his tireless contributions.

We are thrilled to share that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is in the final stages of the Building Permit process due to the leadership of “Dr.” Jon. We hope to commence construction this summer on the planned additional building that will house both Art and Hawai’ana classes.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images of AOK learners enjoying outdoor activities

30 May

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community and hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness as you commence your summer break.

Mahalo nui kakou for your support of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School which has been the fastest improving public school in the state of Hawai’i over the last three years. This week’s photo collage goes all the way back in time to my modest start at our unique charter school. Coming to campus each and every day over the last five years to be with our incredible learners has been pure joy. It is simply so much fun to be with our learners!

In my role over the last five years as Po’okumu there have been hundreds of thousands of decisions that were made and I know that some of them may not have met your approval. My apologies to anyone in our learning community who felt that their voice was not valued or respected. At the front of any decision sat the moral compass of serving our keiki first while staying in alignment with our school Mission Statement. All the years, we have all come together to successfully create a top quality free public education for the keiki of Kaua’i and my great gratitude to you all for turning a dream into a reality.

Beautiful Kaua’i will continue to be our primary residence while my wife and I split our time here and with ohana on the mainland. My mo’opuna is almost one year old and love my new role as Tutu Kane. My service will now shift to remote professional triathlon coaching as my background is fortunate to include being a former Canadian National Triathlon Champion (Age Group) along with 16 World Championship appearances including the Ironman World Championships in Kona.

Additionally, deep appreciation to our Board of Directors for granting me the opportunity to remain involved in an advisory capacity as an Ex Officio member of the Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Charter School Board. It will be a great privilege to continue to serve our learning community albeit in a much different role.

I look forward to seeing you around island and sharing happy stories about the success of our keiki. My sincere hope is my life will continue to mirror “E hele me ka pu’olo ” (Make Every Person, Place, or Condition Better Than You Left It Always)

Best wishes to you all for a splendid Summer Break. Malama pono.

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

4 photos of learners at annual Hawai'iana wrap-up event, Ho'ike at AOK

24 May

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School and hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we enter the last week of the 2024-2025 school year.

Mahalo nui for your amazing support of our annual Hawai’iana wrap-up event entitled Ho’ike on campus last Friday. Once again Ho’ike served as a wonderful opportunity for our learning community and the entire island of Kaua’i to come together and celebrate the beautiful culture of the islands of Hawai’i.

The absolute stars of the day were our talented keiki who dazzled us all with their performances in front of a massive audience. As a socio-emotional learning school it is wonderful to see even the most shy keiki step up to the microphone. As a project-based learning school, it is fantastic to see everyone come together in collaboration to support the learning of our learners. As a school that celebrates perpetuating Hawai’ian cultural traditions and values, it is inspiring to witness the learners sharing their knowledge of the space we share on beautiful Kaua’i. Our deep gratitude to Kumu Noe for her dedication and leadership in teaching Ike Hawai’i again this year, and for her tireless efforts in putting together another incredible Ho’ike for our learning community.

A helpful reminder that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School will be closed tomorrow, Monday, May 26th, in observance of the federal holiday of Memorial Day. We applaud and appreciate the contributions of those selfless people who have served our country.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images of AOK learners enjoying various field trip outside

15 May

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. We hope this message finds you well and happy as we approach the last few weeks of the 2024-2025 school year.

Mahalo nui kakou for your support of our unique charter school, which includes the amazing adventures commonly known as Field Trips. Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School deeply embeds Field Trips into the cultural fabric of our school. Last week alone, both Grade Three classes, Grade Four, Grade Five, and both Grade Six classes all headed off campus to explore new learning.

Over the school year, our students have headed over to Pearl Harbor for three days, staying two nights on the USS Missouri to learn about history in Hawai’i. Our students have traveled to Koke’e for three days and two nights to find out much more about the flora and fauna of beautiful Kaua’i. Our Grade Four students have continued our school’s commitment to help restore the Alakoko Fish Pond. We have even seen our students head off on a charter boat experience and interact with the creatures of the ocean. These are only a handful of the many Field Trips our learners enjoyed this year.

We offer our great gratitude to our dedicated staff for providing these opportunities for our learners. In addition, mahalo nui to the countless parents who volunteered to help during these exciting excursions. The supportive people on our Na Hoa O Alaka’i Parent Teacher Network have generously donated the cost of busing to and from all these adventures, and we greatly appreciate their kindness.

We look forward to continuing the fun of Field Trips in our bright future, knowing that they broaden both the experience and learning for our keiki.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images of learners participating in school activities outdoors

10 May

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community, and we hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we rapidly approach the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year. One of the supportive cornerstones of the incredible positive growth at our school has been our amazing parents. A happy example of the contributions from parents can be found by looking at the countless volunteer hours provided by our Na Hoa O Alaka’i Parent Teacher Network.

The Na Hoa O Alaka’i Parent Teacher Network supports our learning community throughout the school year. Their work begins with the energetic Campus Cleanup held in late July, marking the start of the next school year. Each month, this dedicated group returns to campuses to provide Hot Lunch Days for our school. These incredible individuals also donate a massive amount of time and energy to the annual “Lights on Rice” Christmas Parade entry. Remember Jog-A-Thon? Once again, the Na Hoa O Alaka’i Parent Teacher Network helped run this lively event. Last weekend, the group stepped up again to help with our annual Keiki Activity Station at the Kaua’i Charity Walk. These are just a few examples of the many, many ways that the Na Hoa O Alaka’i Parent Teacher Network supports our school community.

Ms. Kalina has been the diligent and enthusiastic leader of this group for the last number of years. She consistently goes above and beyond to provide support for Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. We wish to express our great gratitude to all who have helped out at the school, and most notably Ms. Kalina, who has faithfully served as President of Na Hoa O Alaka’i Parent Teacher Network.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images AOK learners. 3 in classrooms and 1 decorating with chalk participating in Hawai'i Charter Commission visits.

02 May

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, and we hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we enter the final month of the 2024-2025 school year. Mahalo nui for your incredible support of our unique charter school, especially as we prepare to celebrate the learning of our amazing learners.

In the last five years, we have witnessed continued academic success at Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School as verified by the annual mandatory state of Hawai’i testing results. Each public school in our state is required to write the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) tests, which provide a direct comparison to other schools across beautiful Hawai’i. As you probably already know, Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School performs academically above charter schools, public schools on Kaua’i, and public schools in Hawai’i in Science, Language Arts, and Math.

We wish to express our gratitude to our dedicated and talented staff for helping our learners create this amazing success story. Our staff consistently goes above and beyond to provide a top-quality free education for the keiki of Kaua’i. A perfect example of this work can be found through the tireless efforts of Ms. Malissa in her role as Assessment Coordinator. The positive energy and support she brings to our campus uplifts us all.

We look forward to sharing the results of the 2025 SBAC assessments. Please note, however, that this process may take several weeks. Each school in the state can choose to write tests on their timelines, meaning that statewide averages may not be available until late May.

We also wish to express our appreciation to you as parents for making the choice and commitment to attend our school. It is refreshing to work in a learning community that has such a strong bond of collaboration between the home and school.

Best wishes to you all for a marvelous month of May. Malama pono.

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

25 Apr

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community and hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we quickly approach the end of April.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is a proud member of the state of Hawai’i Charter School system and we are deeply supported by the dedicated staff who work at the state of Hawai’i Charter Commission. In addition to our great gratitude for this helpful staff, we wish to share appreciation for the volunteers who serve as the state of Hawai’i Charter Commissioners. They selflessly give hundreds of hours to help improve education in the beautiful islands of Hawai’i.

The staff at the state of Hawai’i Charter Commission routinely visit our school to support our work in meeting the expectations of Charter Commission Contract 4.0. Last Wednesday we hosted Executive Director Dr. Ed Noh and Deputy Executive Director PJ Foehr at our school. They were eager to learn about the miraculous improvements at our unique charter school over the last five years.

The state of Hawai’i Charter Commission Frameworks Compliance Team visits our school in-person twice per year to work with us on meeting the expectations of Charter Contract 4.0. These dedicated professionals also facilitate an annual review complete with a scoring system for each of the 40+ charter schools in the state of Hawai’i.

We are pleased to share that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School earned a remarkable 109 points out of a possible 73 points on the state of Hawai’i Charter Commission Academics Performance Framework. That is not a misprint, our school earned bonus points based on academic success multipliers.

We are also pleased to share that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School earned an amazing 39 points out of a possible 42 points on the state of Hawai’i Charter Commission Organizational Performance Framework. These results are further verification of the fact that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School has been the fastest improving public school in the state of Hawai’i over the last three years.

Mahalo nui kakou to everyone who has contributed to this wonderful success story at our school. Let’s continue to work together to support a high quality FREE public education for the keiki of Kaua’i.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images of AOK learners playing spots in the AOK gym.

19 Apr

Director DJ’s Message

Hau’oli La Pakoa to the good people in the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, and I hope this message finds you enjoying the conclusion of the Easter Long Weekend.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated and talented staff who go above and beyond to share their expertise with our learners. A perfect example of this work will be on full display on campus on Friday, April 25th, at our annual Sports Spectacular Showcase in the gymnasium. You may already be aware that our school offers girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, and cheer teams to our learners free of charge. The showcase will feature volleyball this year since we added the Volleyball Club this winter. All these sports will be part of the Sports Spectacular Showcase this Friday.

Great gratitude to Ms. Kate, Kumu Nouveau, Ms. Cheyenne, Ms. Leia (Board of Directors Vice Chair), and Coach Dan (Board of Directors Treasurer) for their countless hours of volunteer service to these programs. Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter Schools outperforms any other Elementary or Middle School on the island by offering these free opportunities for our learners.

Please feel free to come to campus and enjoy this special annual event with us. The games will begin at 11 am, and everything should conclude by 12:30 pm. Mr. Paul Zina, our incoming Director for the 2025-2026 school year, will also be in attendance, so you can have an opportunity to meet him as well.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

14 Apr

Kinder Flag Promises 2024-25

2 images of AOK learners participating classes and 2 images of recent improvements to AOK campus.

11 Apr

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community, and we hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness as we approach the middle of April. Mahalo nui kakou for your incredible support of our unique charter school and helping us become the fastest-improving public school is the state of Hawai’i over the last three years. There’s no question that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is gaining prominence as a school of choice with over 150 new learner applications for only about 25 available spots next year.

Ho’omaika’i to all of our amazing athletes who participated at the annual Mayor’s Track Day held on April 5th in Hanapepe. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Ms. Jesica, our dedicated Physical Education teacher, who taught the events to our learners then supported them on site that day. Great work by all involved!

It was wonderful to witness a wonderful virtual lesson on bees in the grade one class ALL the way from the east coast of the United States. Ms. Charton has done an outstanding job of bringing on-island experts in addition to accessing world class educators remotely to build deeper learning for her learners. We love that we now have active bee hives (located just off campus by the orchards) thanks to Ms. Charton’s work and leadership.

We greatly appreciate the terrific improvements we enjoy on campus that happen each and every day due to the talents of Dr. Jon and Mr. Adam. We have begun retiling the bathrooms on Main Campus- just one of their many meaningful contributions to improve our school.

Dr. Jon is also continuing his work on getting the required building permits so we can get started on the construction of the new building on campus. The new building will be located mid-campus between our Middle School located on lower campus and the Main Campus just north of the walkway. As you may recall, this building is going to house the Art and Ike Hawai’i programs that are currently push-in teaching in classrooms.

A helpful reminder that Friday, April 18th is Good Friday and our school will closed in observance of this state holiday.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images of AOK learners participating music and art classes.

03 Apr

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community. I hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness as we sail deeper into April.

Mahalo nui kakou for entrusting our unique charter school with the opportunity to provide top-notch FREE public education for your Keiki. In the theme of continuous improvement, we wish to share our intentional attempts to live our Mission Statement.

One component of the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School that we wish to examine is the teaching of the arts. Our school is extremely fortunate to have the ever-amazing Ms. Nicole as our incredible art teacher. We greatly appreciate her flexibility in teaching a push-into-the-classroom art program this year. We are excited to get started on the new buildings on campus soon, so that Ms. Nicole will have a dedicated Art Room once again.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School continues to work with outside organizations to bring a greater depth and exposure to music. Last Wednesday we were treated to a talented trio of musicians who shared their amazing musical skills on the violin, cello, and keyboard. We have been thrilled to have a drumming program visit campus and spend eight sessions teaching our learners about drumming from around the planet. We love when Kid Pan Alley comes for their annual work to support our learners in composing and performing their music. Heading into 2025-2026, we will continue to find greater opportunities to enhance all the arts on campus for our talented keiki. If you know of a community organization that could come and work with us at the school, please let us know how we can get connected.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

31 Mar

New Honeybee Hives

29 Mar

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, and I hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness as we approach the month of April.

Five years ago to the month, it was my great fortune in the journey of life to join Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School as Director. Those were challenging times in the history of the school. The state of Hawai’i Charter Commission had just issued a Notice of Concern about closing the school due to financial instability and dwindling enrollment. Fast forward five years and we are now recognized as the fastest improving public school in the state of Hawai’i with strong financial health and waitlists to get into our school.

Mahalo nui kakou for the opportunity to serve as your Director and your support to make this amazing transformation together in the best interest of our learners. It was a great honor and privilege to work in this capacity and make transformational educational changes on Kaua’i and perhaps even in the state of Hawai’i. As some you may know my beautiful and talented wife, Pamela, has semi-retired and we welcomed our first moopuna into the world last year. Thus, the time has come for the torch to be handed to a new Director for our school.

Our dedicated and selfless volunteers who serve faithfully on the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Board of Directors have been diligently searching for a new Director for well over one year now, and have the following announcement to share with our learning community:
————————————————————————–
Dear Alaka’i O Kaua’i community,

We’re thrilled to share that Paul Zina will be the new director for Alaka’i in the 2025-2026 school year.

While we had many criteria that were important for the new director, the three things we aimed for were:

A person on island who understands the culture of the school and our community
A person who has extensive experience as an educator and administrator
A person who can elevate our school to new heights especially around our burgeoning middle school program

After careful consideration, we found Paul to be the perfect fit.

With over 24 years of experience (as an educator, vice principal, principal and complex area superintendent) on Kauai, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to Alaka’i. Paul’s leadership will build upon the strong foundation previous Directors have laid, while also bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to guide our school forward. He is passionate about fostering a collaborative and supportive environment where every learner will thrive. As parents, we’re excited about the future of our children’s education under his leadership.

The official handover from DJ to Paul will be on July 1st, but you may see him around before then. We will be organizing opportunities in the near future for you to meet him and to learn more about his vision for our school. Please join us in warmly welcoming Paul to our school and community.

Together, as a strong and supportive ʻohana, we will continue to empower our students to become lifelong learners and contributing members of our community.

Warm Regards,

The Governing Board of Alaka’i O Kaua’i
————————————————————–

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

22 Mar

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. We hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness as we return from the annual Spring Break. We look forward to seeing everyone back on campus on Monday, March 24th, for a couple of days. We will then be away from campus on Wednesday, March 26th, in observance of Prince Kūhiō Day.

The incredible person Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole was born on March 26, 1871, right down the road from the school in the Kōloa District of Kaua‘i to High Chief David Kahalepouli Pi‘ikoi and Princess Kinoiki Kekaulike, the youngest daughter of Kaumuali‘i, the last King of Kaua‘i. By the age of 13, he was named a Prince by a royal proclamation from his Uncle, King Kalākaua.

Prince Kūhiō is best known for his work for the people of Hawai’i as he acted as the Republican candidate for delegate to Congress. He served as a non-voting delegate from Hawai‘i to the House of Representatives in Congress from 1902 until he died in 1922. As an active statesman, Prince Kūhiō shaped the foundation for Hawai‘i’s modern government structure. Prince Kuhio was responsible for instituting the county system still in place today, and he sponsored the first bill for Hawai‘i‘s statehood in 1919.

Just a few of his significant accomplishments include a $27 million appropriation for dredging and construction of Pearl Harbor, the establishment of the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse, the build-out of the Territorial building, the Hilo Wharf, the establishment of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea National Park, and construction of a hospital at the Kalaupapa Settlement for lepers. To help further perpetuate and rehabilitate the Hawaiian people and their culture, Prince Kūhiō helped form the first Hawaiian Civic Club in 1918, a movement that now boasts over 50 distinct organizations across Hawai‘i and the United States.

Prince Kūhiō also re-established the Royal Order of Kamehameha I in 1903 and served as Ali‘i ‘Ai Moku until his death on January 7, 1922 at his home in Waikīkī. A few days before his passing, Prince Kūhiō urged his friend to continue fighting for native Hawaiian rights and “to stick together and try to agree to the best of your ability to meet the most important problem: the rehabilitation of our race.”

Hopefully we can all find some time on Wednesday to reflect on the many incredible contributions and accomplishments of Prince Kuhio.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

4 images mourning the loss of AOK learner, Paxton

15 Mar

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School and hope this message finds you in a place of peace during some difficult times in our sphere. As many of you may know already, it is with a heavy heart that I sadly share the passing of Paxton, a learner in Grade Three. Paxton was an incredible young person who left us far, far too soon and he is deeply missed on our campus. We share great admiration for his strong battle against leukemia and he is a shining role model of courage for us all.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is incredibly blessed to be a Socio-Emotional Learning school where we live into our Mission Statement and sincerely care about each other. We are filled with sadness and grief because Paxton was loved at our school, as you can see in this loving memory video for Paxton.

We have come together as a learning community during this difficult time in IKAIKA (strength and power) for Paxton, his ohana, our keiki, our staff, and our learning community. Our creative learners named our school pueo mascot IKAIKA so it seems natural that we support each other with strength and power to move forward in this journey of grief.

Mahalo nui kakou for your amazing efforts to support our learning community. We fully respect and understand the difficult impact that this loss has had on our learning community. Please look after each other and seek resources as needed, especially when emotions seem too much to process. Below are a few suggestions to support challenging conversations:

1. Acknowledge and Validate Feelings:

Create a safe space: Let your child know it’s okay to feel sad, angry, confused, or any other emotion related to the loss.
Use open-ended questions: Instead of asking “Are you okay?”, ask “How are you feeling about this?” or “What’s on your mind?”
Share your own feelings: It can be helpful to share your grief or sadness, but be mindful of your child’s emotional capacity.
Reassure them: Remind them that their feelings are valid and that you love them no matter what.
Acknowledge the specific loss: Talk about the classmate and their relationship with them, and acknowledge the pain of the loss.

2. Provide Information in an Age-Appropriate Way:

Be honest and clear: Avoid euphemisms or vague language, especially with younger children.
Answer their questions directly: Address their concerns and questions with sensitivity and honesty.
Explain death in simple terms: For younger children, you might say something like “They are not here anymore, and they won’t come back,” rather than using complex language.
Reiterate the permanence of death: Make sure children understand that death is final.

3. Encourage Remembrance and Support:

Talk about the deceased: Share positive memories and stories about the classmate.
Attend memorial services or events: If appropriate, attend the funeral or memorial service with your child.
Create a memory box or scrapbook: Encourage your child to collect photos, drawings, or other items related to the classmate to help them remember.
Engage in activities that honor the memory: Consider planting a tree, donating to a charity in the classmate’s name, or doing something else meaningful.
Provide ongoing support: Check in with your child regularly and offer continued support as they process their grief.
Connect with other families: If appropriate, help your child connect with other families who knew the deceased.
Seek professional help if needed: If your child is struggling to cope with their grief, consider seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor.

Please reach out to us at the school if we can assist in any way. We are planning to plant a tree on campus in Paxton’s honor, and a Memorial Service is being put together for him in April.

Best wishes to you all for a peaceful Spring Break and we look forward to seeing everyone back on campus on Monday, March 24th. Malama pono.

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

4 images of AOK learners participating the outdoors Lunch on Lawn event

05 Mar

Director DJ’s Message

Aloha mai kakou to the good people in the learning community of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. We hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we approach our annual Spring Break.

Mahalo nui kakou to everyone who graced our campus last Friday for the March School-Wide Assembly, Learner-Led Conferences, and Lunch on Lawn. We were thrilled to see the large number of people from our learning community who took the time and effort to celebrate the work of our students.

We are excited for our upcoming Spirit Week, celebrating “Aloha Across America”. Our great gratitude goes to Mrs. Shay and Ms. Kate who worked together to plan all the fun events. There is no question that one of the highlights from last year will be replicated this Tuesday with the creation of a giant lei on campus. We are asking all our learners and staff members to bring one carefully and respectfully harvested flower to school, and from everyone’s contributions, we will create one giant lei. Last year we placed the school lei on the school sign out front and finished by singing the school song together.

For more precise details, please check out the flyer that came home in the Green Folders and was also distributed via ParentSquare.

This is a helpful reminder that our annual Spring Break will be March 17th to March 21st, with no school for our learners during that time.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

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

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