On Schools
Waimanalo preschool to become trust's 32nd

By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer

Kamehameha Schools is forging ahead with its promise to provide more education for more Hawaiian children.

As the trust celebrates its 20th year in early childhood education, it is once again building its presence in the field, which was curtailed during the tenure of previous trustees. Later this month, the doors will open on a new preschool in Waimanalo. It will join 31 other Kamehameha sites delivering services to pre-kindergarten children.

This year, the $5 billion trust expects to serve more than 1,300 preschoolers statewide, making it the second-largest provider of preschool services after Head Start.

And there are plans for more. Construction is under way on new preschools on Maui and the Big Island. And further down the road, officials want to restore services to the under-2 age group.

The preschools naturally focus on Hawaiian culture and values, but they also stress language and literacy.

"We are not in the business of childcare," said Suzanne Ramos, dean of Kamehameha's early childhood education division. "We are educators."

The kids think they're just playing — and they are. But they're also laying the foundations for reading and math.

Educators are increasingly focusing their efforts on the early years, when children's brains are wired for learning.

"You really need to pay attention to the younger kids because it's more expensive to try to remediate the older children — and it's less successful," Ramos said.

Studies have shown that children who attend preschool programs are more likely to score higher on standardized tests and graduate from high school. And they are less likely to be arrested as juveniles than children without preschool experience.

Admission to Kamehameha preschools is based on a lottery system. Non-Hawaiian children also may attend preschools that are run in conjunction with the public schools.

Reach Alice Keesing at akeesing@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.