OUR SCHOOLS • KAIMUKI CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Campus, students show off a new look

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

KAIMUKI — Sandwiched between an elementary school, a public library and several homes is a small school with big plans.

Kids have fun on new playground equipment at Kaimuki Christian School. Principal Mark Gallagher said building the playground and inserting slides into the hillside of the campus cost $190,000. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

After three decades in a single two-story building, the campus last year underwent a transformation. First came the acquisition and renovation of an adjacent house that was turned into Kaimuki Christian's middle school.

Then the school launched an extensive playground renovation.

And finally came the acquisition of a property on Harding Avenue that will become part of the school's campus and eventually the site of its high school.

In all, Kaimuki Christian has spent nearly $4 million in the past two years. Some of the money came from fund-raising efforts with the church, others from grants from the Atherton Foundation and Castle & Cooke.

The playground project was a long time coming, and the goal was to have play equipment that would amuse as well as instruct students from preschool to eighth grade on a surface that was safe — all under a giant mango tree, Gallagher said.

"Before, the playground was an embarrassment," Gallagher said. "I used to rush parents right by it. Now, it's really nice. The playground was a step of faith for us."

Building the playground and inserting slides into the hillside of the campus cost $190,000, he said. It involved blasting through rock, building retaining walls, building up the sloping playground and designing play equipment. But with a $50,000 matching grant by one of the school's grandparents and Parent Teacher Guild fund-raisers and other grants, the playground became a reality.

Students also began wearing uniforms last year. The idea came from a parents' initiative, Gallagher said, noting that the uniforms have helped create school pride. Students wear blue or white T-shirts and preschoolers have blue and white aloha print shorts.

"There's pride in our school now and it also eliminated the middle school dress code," he said.

• What are you most proud of? "The middle school has seen significant improvements and changes in discipline during the past three years. The students who are there now want to attend the school, eliminating most discipline issues."

• Best-kept secret? The school. "Many have passed by the school at the corner of Koko Head and Harding avenues, across from the Kaimuki Public Library and are surprised upon visiting the campus to learn that its up-to-date playground and middle school computer lab and preschool facilities extend to the back side of the block."

• Everybody at our school knows: Lynn Yokomizo, who teaches kindergarten and oversees afternoon study hall programs. "She has been at the school for 28 years. She directs our summer fun program each year, organizes our scholarship walk-a-thon and provides countless job references for former summer staff workers."

• Our biggest challenge: To expand the school to include a high school. The goal is to add a ninth grade by 2007 on land recently purchased next to the school.

• What we need: "More land to expand our campus and some sound equipment to replace the stuff that was stolen about two weeks ago from the sanctuary."

• Projects: The school just completed its $190,000 playground renovation around a giant mango tree and this school year will begin tying all the computers into a network. Students are selling chili and Aloha Diners Club coupon books to raise money for the networking.

• Special events: Friday morning chapel services, including puppet plays for preschoolers to third-graders.