Waiahole Now 125 Years Old: It’s Party Time
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Del.icio.usDeep in a peaceful tropical valley, the Windward side’s oldest school plans to explode with a 125th anniversary party and reunion next month, bringing the whole community together as it often does.
Festivities will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at Waiahole Elementary School. Planned are a produce market featuring the valley’s harvest, luau plates for $10, and entertainment by well-known Waiahole alumni like Olomana, Kurt Kipapa of Na Kani Nui and Daniel Dumadag of Hamma Jammaz.Various hula halau also are donating their time to the party, and a variety of games, pony rides and a petting zoo will keep the keiki entertained.
Principal Jean Davidson invites everyone to come enjoy the day while learning about the school’s rich history.
“There will be photos and school memorabilia - there’s such a long history of this school,“she said.“This is a reunion/celebration of the good times and good people who attend this school. Come and sit on the lawn and just relax and enjoy yourself.”
Parking will be available at Waiahole Beach Park (across Kamehameha Highway from Waiahole Poi Factory) with free shuttles to and from the school - located up Waiahole Valley Road with limited parking space.
Davidson takes pride in the small and inclusive learning environment that comes with having only 70 students - or about 10 per grade. “We want to share the unique ‘smallness’ of this one-room schoolhouse which does not exist anywhere else,” said Davidson who has served as principal for the past five years.
“We have very small classes at this school, so the teacher is really like the mother of the class.”
Waiahole began as a rural, geographically isolated school that offered a farming curriculum and had all grades through high school.
Today, she said, it strives to preserve the old ways of Hawaii and the Hawaiian culture, while equipping its young students to succeed in 21st-century society.
And despite many attempts to close it because of its declining enrollment, Waiahole has overcome the odds and continues to stand strong.
“It is the successful blending of the old and new which has enabled our school to survive so long,“said Davidson.
“The 125-year celebration is a ‘rebirth’ of the school. This is the perfect opportunity to redesign a rural school to keep the traditional ways, but blend it with the modern demands to produce highly literate children.”
For more information on the anniversary celebration, call 429-9573.
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