OUR SCHOOLS • KALIHI ELEMENTARY
Pupils benefit from community's commitment

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

At Kalihi Elementary School, children each morning hear announcements on the public address system, say the Pledge of Allegiance and hula to the school's alma mater.

Kalihi Elementary School fifth-graders Angela Santiago, left, and Ely Pagaduan, both 10 years old, hula to the school's alma mater before reading the morning announcements on the public address system. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Written by a former student, the alma mater represents to educators what is so special about the school: the campus is the center of the community, and alumni like the one who wrote the song remain attached to the school years after they've graduated.

In a school where about 85 percent of the students qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program, school officials say the riches are in the children.

"The students here are very nice children. They're very respectful," said school clerk Judy Moniz. "Every time we go on a field trip we get complimented on how well-behaved they are. I think there's a misconception about low-income schools and low-income neighborhoods. Sometimes people don't expect as much of Kalihi."

But the school has been creative in trying to pick up where state financing leaves off to provide a well-rounded education.

While most public elementary schools in Hawai'i lack art, P.E. or music programs, Kalihi Elementary has them all.

Kokua Kalihi Valley has donated time and money to help the school develop a band program — a highly unusual offering at a public elementary school.

An anonymous $10,000 donation through the group helped purchase new musical instruments. Fourth- and fifth-graders have a chance to participate in band on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a volunteer teacher from Kokua Kalihi Valley.

In the past, Assistance League of Hawai'i provided two sets of clothes, shoes, slippers and school supplies to 50 of the school's neediest children.

School officials say they are grateful to the Downtown Rotary, which has adopted the school. Business leaders come to read to the children every week and have even taken kids on field trips. At Christmas in recent years, the group has given a hardcover book to every child. "Lots of our parents don't read English, so the kids might not have their own books at home," said Principal Kevin Mann.

Nestled against the side of a mountain, the school has 10.5 acres of property, about half of which remains untouched forest. At times custodians have had to shoo wild pigs off campus, but plentiful rain means that everything head custodian Myong Hui Janiko plants — from roses to sweet potatoes — flourishes. The school also enjoys a view of downtown and the Pacific.

"We always won the beautification award," said counselor Monita Brown.

The ridge-side location also means an uphill climb on campus. It takes 100 stair steps to reach the classrooms at the top, and staff members joke about being on the weight-loss program if they have to go up and down several times a day.

Crews are wrapping up a $2 million renovation of the campus that has brought fresh paint and new windows, floors, doors, electrical wiring and plumbing to the school.

• What are you most proud of? Kalihi Elementary will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. School officials are most proud that for so many years they have provided a stable, home-away-from-home environment for the students, many of whom are immigrants or live in nearby public housing. "We've always felt that our staff has provided a real nurturing environment for the children," Mann said.

• Best-kept secret: The Kokua Group. It's a school-wide parent organization independent of the national PTA. The Kokua Group holds fund-raisers throughout the year to help subsidize field trips, support school activities and purchase things that the school cannot afford. The organization also runs a school supply shop where parents and children can buy supplies at deep discounts. The group is trying to raise money through the sale of Portuguese sausage tickets to buy new curtains for the stage in the cafeteria.

• Everyone at school knows: Judy Moniz, the school's clerk, who has been at Kalihi Elementary for 20-plus years. Moniz, who lives in the community and got involved in the school when her own children attended, helps run the Kokua Group. She is usually the first person people see when they walk into the school, and she helps organize events such at student-parent field trips, trips to the bowling alley or potluck and relay races at a park.

• What we need: Playground equipment is at the top of the school's wish list. Most of the students live in public housing and do not have easy access to open, green spaces. Although the school is on the list to receive playground equipment, there's no guarantee of when that will happen. "There's no park nearby and no playground in the public housing," Mann said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed." The school would also love to have air conditioning at least in the rooms that front Likelike Highway to keep out noise and dust. "These are at-risk kids to begin with," Mann said. "The environment should be as nice as possible."

• Special events: Alumni and former teachers are encouraged to call the school so they can be included in a 50th anniversary celebration, planned for this time next year.