Namahana School Receives Special Use Permit for Campus Development

Critical Milestone Paves the Way for Construction to Begin in 2024

PRESS RELEASE, DECEMBER 14, 2023 — On Dec. 12, Līhue Civic Center echoed with the voices of North Shore community members expressing their support for Namahana School’s Special Use Permit (SUP) application. The SUP, which was approved by a unanimous vote of the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission, grants permission for the school to develop its campus on 11.3 acres of agriculturally-zoned land adjacent to Kīlauea Town. 

“The outpouring of support for our SUP application was just incredible,” commented Namahana School Leader Dr. Kapua Chandler shortly afterwards. “As they have done since the beginning of our school story, North Shore ‘ohana came together to raise a collective voice for the future of our keiki.”

The school site, which sits on the future main access road to Kīlauea from Kūhio Hwy, was purchased by Namahana Education Foundation in August thanks to a fundraising campaign with strong community participation. The SUP will allow Namahana School to carry out educational activity on agriculturally zoned land (while preserving the rural characteristics established by the Hawai‘i zoning code), and is a necessary first step for obtaining construction permits. 

Sixty individuals submitted either oral or written testimony in favor of Namahana School’s application, including representatives of 26 local community organizations and businesses, as well as elected officials and residents from other parts of the island. Many testimonies emphasized the acute need for a middle and high school closer to home that would eliminate the lengthy commutes most North Shore children undertake after sixth grade.

“The children who are commuting to Līhu‘e and Kapa‘a from the North Shore are spending a significant portion of their lives in traffic,” wrote District 16 Representative Luke Evslin. “I coach North Shore students who have to wake up at 4:00 AM to make it on time to our regular workouts before school in Līhu‘e. This lengthy commute has been compounded over the last few years due to a statewide shortage of bus drivers. Even in the best of circumstances, the commute takes away from time with their families and time that could be used for studying or extra-curricular activities. It also contributes to congestion on our overburdened infrastructure.”

Regional planner and assistant to the director of the nonprofit Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana Billy Kinney, who hails from a multigenerational local Native Hawaiian family, described his difficult journey to obtain a quality education: “Being born and raised in Princeville, high school was this grueling commute away, and it absolutely felt like torture to spend up to four hours sometimes on the bus. Because of that, I probably had one of the worst truancy streaks of any Kapa‘a High School graduate. I didn’t have the privilege of a car, I wasn’t in any clubs, I didn’t get to play football. I really believe we can’t subject students to this any longer. It’s time for a middle and high school in our community.”

Many people highlighted the benefits that Namahana’s unique educational vision will bring to the community. Some noted that the school’s ‘āina-based curriculum, designed to foster environmental awareness and stewardship, is well aligned with the area’s agricultural heritage.

Yoshito L’Hote, president of the Kīlauea Neighborhood Association and executive director of the Kīlauea Community Agricultural Center (ʻĀina Ho'okupu O Kīlauea), said: “Namahana School’s focus on agriculture and sustainability is consistent with our North Shore communities. For many years, Kīlauea was a center of agriculture on Kaua‘i and that legacy is still evident in the number of small farms across the North Shore. We are very excited about the potential to have an ‘āina-based school where we’re developing more direct connection to the land and creating pathways to make viable jobs – not just in agriculture, but in the environmental, social and cultural needs of our community.”

Other testimonies emphasized that the school’s mission, which is rooted in the North Shore’s social and cultural heritage, will also contribute to Kaua‘i’s future resilience. 

“Kaua‘i’s North Shore and Kīlauea are rich in culture; a public charter school can integrate local traditions, history and language into its curriculum, fostering a stronger sense of identity and community among our students,” said Gary Pacheco, a multigenerational Kīlauea resident and the town’s “honorary mayor.” “Establishing a public charter school allows for increased community involvement in the education system. Parents, community leaders and local experts can contribute to the curriculum, ensuring it reflects the needs and values of the community.”

“Now that we’ve passed this critical milestone, we can focus on the concrete tasks of planning and permitting for our first phase of construction,” said Namahana Education Foundation Executive Director Melanie Parker. “We still have a significant amount of work ahead to build a campus that reflects our aspirations, but so far we’ve managed to hit all our target goals thanks to the unshakable commitment of our community.”

Namahana Education Foundation is currently fundraising for the initial phase of its campus construction, with a $500,000 match campaign through the end of the year. The school plans to break ground at its new site in summer 2024, with temporary facilities ready to welcome an initial cohort of students in grades 7 and 8 in fall 2025.