OUR SCHOOLS • MAUKA LANI ELEMENTARY
Little school in Makakilo improvises

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

MAKAKILO — Space has always been an issue at Mauka Lani Elementary School.

Mauka Lani Elementary School, built in 1973, used to be known as Makakilo II. Hidden on the hill above Kapolei, it's still not widely known. About 25 percent of its pupils are Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

As part of a redistricting plan for the Leeward District drafted in 2001 to deal with crowded schools, nearly 100 Mauka Lani students were sent to Barbers Point Elementary.

That brought enrollment at Mauka Lani down to a manageable 600.

But the school just got word this year that 450 more homes are expected to be built in Makakilo in the next two years, potentially pushing enrollment to well over its 700 capacity.

"We're very concerned about that," said principal Heather Wilhelm.

Before the transfer of students to Barbers Point, teachers and administrators found creative ways to deal with crowded conditions.

Two small offices were turned into classrooms. The Parent-Community Networking Center used the Junior Police Officers' room. And one teacher was holding tutoring sessions in a stairwell.

Built in 1973, the school had just one permanent classroom building. Plans called for three permanent buildings on campus — two classroom and one administration.

The administration building wasn't completed until five years ago. The school is still waiting for its second eight-classroom building. In the meantime, Mauka Lani, a Title I school, has 17 portables and has requested more.

"We were using rooms not intended as classrooms," Wilhelm said. "This is the first year we moved those classes out. But next year, we'll be all full again."

• What are you most proud of? Wilhelm is most proud of the commitment and involvement from parents and the community. The school's Parent-Teacher Association — consistently one of the largest on O'ahu, with as many as 400 members — has raised significant amounts of money to help the school. In the past few years it has collected $50,000 to buy playground equipment and $30,000 for a schoolwide telephone system.

• Best-kept secret: Hidden on the hill overlooking Kapolei, Mauka Lani is its own best-kept secret. "We're 30 years old, and people are still like, 'Mauka what?' " said Harriet Jorgenson, curriculum coordinator.

The school has also started several arts programs that have been adopted by the entire Kapolei complex. It has a strings orchestra, drama group and Hawaiian music ensemble.

Another little-known aspect of Mauka Lani is its notable Hawaiian and military population. About 25 percent of the students are Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian, making up the largest ethnic group at the school. Second is Caucasian, at 21.6 percent. About 15 percent of the students are military, which has allowed the school to qualify for money from the Department of Defense for textbooks and computers.

• Everybody at our school knows: Even though Kumu Dreena Kane has been the music resource teacher at Mauka Lani for only a year, all the students know her, Wilhelm said. "She has so much joy, and she shares that with the children," she said.

The students also know Darcie Mikami, an educational assistant who works in the primary school adjustment program, which helps youngsters who have behavioral problems. "She goes beyond identifying children with behavioral problems," said vice principal Laura Koide. "She may scold them, but they just love her."

• Our biggest challenge: With enrollment expected to rise in the next few years, the school must find enough space for classrooms and offices, Wilhelm said.

• What we need: More money and space for additional classrooms.

• Projects: The state will install fire sprinklers in the portables because fire trucks can't reach those classrooms. In 2005, Mauka Lani should be providing total accessibility to disabled people.

• Special events: The school plans a 30th anniversary celebration later this year. It will also be writing and printing a cookbook to sell as a fund-raiser.

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At a glance • WHERE: 92-1300 Panana St., Makakilo • PHONE: 672-1100 • WEB ADDRESS: www.k12.hi.us/~maukalan/ • PRINCIPAL: Heather Wilhelm, in her second year. • SCHOOL NICKNAME: Mountain lions • SCHOOL COLORS: Red and yellow • ENROLLMENT: 609 • TESTING: Here's how Mauka Lani Elementary students fared on the most recent standardized tests. • Stanford Achievement Test (listed is the combined percentage of students scoring average and above average, compared with the national combined average of 77 percent): Third-grade reading, 79.4 percent; math, 90.2 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 85.7 percent; math, 84.9 percent. • Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards tests (listed is the combined percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards, and a comparison with the state average): Third-grade reading, 45 percent, compared with the state average of 42.3 percent; math, 18.7 percent, compared with state average of 20.2 percent. Fifth-grade reading: 41.3 percent, compared with state average of 43.4 percent; math, 11.1 percent, compared with state average of 21.8 percent. • HISTORY: Originally called Makakilo II, Mauka Lani was built in 1973, with a dirt road leading to campus. • COMPUTERS: Every classroom has at least two computers. The school's lab has about 30 computers.