Campus exudes old-school aloha

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Education Writer

Ni'ihau's tiny public school is like no other in Hawai'i, and serves a unique community with true old-school aloha, say officials who oversee it.

Students at Ni'ihau High and Elementary School have been described as among the best-behaved in the state. "It's a beautiful setting, and the kids are wonderful," says school principal Bill Arakaki. Advertiser library photo • March 31, 1998

Classes are taught in three rustic wooden buildings, and under a nearby shade tree on especially hot days. A larger building serves as a meeting hall and cafeteria.

Six students graduated from the school this year: Chelsea Kanahele, Kawaihoola Kanahele, Stacy Kelley, Stephanie Pahulehua, Thomas Niau and Racine Shintani.

The Ni'ihau dialect is the primary language of all students, and differs somewhat from the Hawaiian spoken on other islands. Students also speak English, and classes are taught in both languages, said school principal Bill Arakaki.

The students have often been characterized as among the state's best-behaved. Disciplinary problems that other schools constantly grapple with are virtually unheard of on Ni'ihau, and Arakaki said there has not been a single serious disruption in the six years he has served as principal.

"It's a culture that's very supportive, and the kids are quite different," he said.

The school, and all of Ni'ihau, are strictly off-limits to outsiders unless they have special permission from the island's owners, the Robinson family, whose forebears purchased Ni'ihau from King Kamehameha IV in 1864.

The Robinsons have been very helpful and cooperative regarding the needs of the school and those responsible for it, said Arakaki, who administers the school from Kaua'i, where he is also principal of Waimea High School.

"It's a unique situation because we have a public school on a private island," Arakaki said. "It's also a remote island, so there are many challenges for the students and the community there. There's no running water or (constant) electrical power. We don't have the luxuries of what we have here on Kaua'i or on O'ahu."

The school's water comes from catchment basins, and roof-mounted solar panels create electricity to operate three computers.

"We're trying to meet the challenges for the school, as far as the basic needs that most schools take for granted," Arakaki said.

Arakaki visits Ni'ihau's school an average of twice a year, and communicates regularly with its two on-site teachers, Jennifer Kaohelaulii and Lulubelle Kelley, who are from Ni'ihau and speak the local dialect. The school also has three educational assistants and a cafeteria helper, also from Ni'ihau.

State schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto has visited Ni'ihau's school three times since she was appointed in 2001, most recently for the 2005 graduation ceremony, a major event for the island.

"I find Ni'ihau School to be a school that's the center of a community that cares about and supports education, and wants children to be literate and to be able to access choices, should they choose to leave Ni'ihau," Hamamoto said. "The desire to learn is strong, and education is greatly valued on Ni'ihau."

Like many schools, Ni'ihau High and Elementary faces challenges with new teacher qualification requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Hamamoto said the state strongly supports efforts of Ni'ihau's teachers to meet those requirements, and that she regards the teachers highly.

"They care about the students and ensure they get their work done," Hamamoto said. "They push them when they need to, and they don't accept excuses."

The larger Ni'ihau community also deserves credit for students' successes, she said.

"It's a very supportive environment," Hamamoto said. "For all its remoteness, we're proud of the work that they do, by making education a priority for their children and their community. It speaks well for their community."

In many ways, visiting the school is like experiencing Hawai'i's past, Arakaki said.

"It's a gem," he said. "It's a beautiful setting, and the kids are wonderful. It just takes you back in time. ... When you come to civilization, as they call it, you've got all these problems and things. When you go to Ni'ihau, it's like you're in a different world. You wish you could stay in that era, and it's something that refreshes you and makes you say, 'This is nice.' "

What are you most proud of? "They preserve the history and culture of an island community that should be respected," said Arakaki.

Best-kept secret: The school itself; visits to the privately owned island are rare.

Everybody at our school knows: Teachers Jennifer Kaohelaulii and Lulubelle Kelley.

Our biggest challenge: Things other schools take for granted, such as electricity and telecommunications.

What we need: Various resources to help students in their studies.

Special events: Winter assembly and graduation. The whole community comes out for these great celebrations that include music, dancing and oration in English and the Ni'ihau dialect.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.