About Our School
Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino (KKʻoʻE) is a K-12 Public, School-of-Choice, Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion school) located in South Kona on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Originally the school was known as Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiʻi ʻo Kona while operating as a school within a school. The community celebrated establishing an autonomous campus site in 2002, and the faculty sought a new name to symbolize their identity as a school. With the hope that Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino would be a place for peace and prosperity, it was named after thealiʻi (chief), ʻEhunuikaimalino, an aliʻi that ruled over the South Kona area in the 15th century who was known for these qualities. Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino would likewise be a place to offer growth, abundance, and peace for their students. Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino is therefore translated as ʻThe School of ʻEhunuikaimalino.ʻ
KKʻoʻE is one of 28 Kula Kaiapuni in the State of Hawaiʻi. KKʻoʻE was founded in 1994 through a grassroots effort involving immense community and parent involvement. The school recently celebrated 30 years of Kaiapuni education in Kona in the spring of 2024 at the Lā ʻEhunuikaimalino event.
As a Kula Kaiapuni, KKʻoʻE intrinsically shares in the overall vision and mission of the Papahana Kaiapuni (Kaiapuni Program). It is only possible to understand the context of KKʻoʻE by first understanding the vision and mission of the Papahana Kaiapuni. The Foundational & Administrative Framework For Kaiapuni Education (FAFKE), states the vision and mission of the Papahana Kaiapuni,
“He oia mau nō ka pono o ka lāhui kanaka i ka naʻauao Hawaiʻi”, Based on a quote from Joseph Mokuohai Poepoe, a highly revered Hawaiian scholar, the vision statement has many meanings; therefore, the writers of the program guide chose not to translate it. The important message is that the vision strives for a state where all people can benefit from Hawaiian education. Ka Papahana Kaiapuni's mission is to provide a culturally rich and dynamic learning environment, perpetuating excellence through Hawaiian language, culture, and history, empowering students to self-determine community and familial stewardship.” (FAFKE)
A core belief of the Papahana Kaiapuni is,
““I ka ʻōlelo nō ke ola, i ka ʻōlelo nō ka make.” Without a language, a people and their customs and traditions cease to exist. Therefore, it is imperative that ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is situated at the core of kaiapuni education, since Hawaiian is the language used to engage with our environment. The overall objective is to develop proficient and fully functioning Hawaiian language speakers, (1) in a variety of communicative settings, (2) with high levels of fluency and authenticity similar to native speakers, and (3) as future Hawaiian language-‐speaking parents and community leaders.” (FAFKE)
With regard to these founding beliefs of the Papahana Kaiapuni, students at KKʻoʻE receive standards-based instruction entirely in the Hawaiian language until Papa 5 (5th grade), when English language arts instruction is introduced. Much of the curricular content at KKʻoʻE is Hawaiian culture-based and incorporates Hawaiian arts, customs, music, traditions, and cultural practices into the lesson design. As a K-12 school, KKʻoʻE has the unique opportunity to watch students grow from Papa Mālaaʻo (Kindergarten) students to Papa Alakaʻi (Senior Year) students. The ʻAha Puka Kula (Graduation Ceremony) is particularly important for this reason.
Currently, KKʻoʻE, along with many of the kula in the Papahana Kaiapuni, continue to strive for normalization and revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to support the current haumāna (students) and future Pukana (graduates).
