Hakipu'u school loses quarters

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

KANE'OHE — Five months after the fledgling Hakipu'u Learning Center opened in a building at Windward Community College, the charter school has learned that it will have to find a new home at the end of the academic year.

The building that Hakipu'u occupies was under college jurisdiction when it moved in, but under a long-standing arrangement with Windward, the adjacent State Hospital has regained possession of the facility.

And hospital officials say the school is not compatible with its facility.

Representatives from the school, the hospital and the college were to meet this morning, and Bill Elliott, hospital associate administrator, said the meeting will formalize the request for Hakipu'u to move.

But the hospital will grant the school time to find a new home, Elliott said.

"It's not like I'm trying to put them out on the street," he said.

For years, the college has used many buildings that once belonged to the State Hospital.

As the college builds new facilities, it returns the old buildings that it no longer needs.

Soon after Hakipu'u moved in, jurisdiction over that building returned to the State Hospital.

Two weeks ago, the school was asked to move out.

Elliott said several factors contributed to the decision, including that its building needs about $250,000 in repairs, that a psychiatric hospital and school are incompatible and that the hospital has other plans for the property.

"I hate to be the bad guy and say, 'Kids you have to go away,' but at the same time I don't have, and never had, a plan for a children's school at this psychiatric facility," said Elliott.

College officials could not be reached for comment.

Charlene Hoe, with the charter school, said the announcement is a setback for Hakipu'u and its 33 seventh- and eight-graders because it has enjoyed a close relationship with the college, including the use of some of its facilities.

However, she said, the school expects to survive and even expand next year.

Hoe said the school has begun looking for new space but hopes to remain near or on the college grounds.

The school had hoped for a three- to five-year commitment, but never had a formal agreement with the college or the hospital, she said.

"It's another challenge in a very challenging year," she said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.