KAHULUI, Maui — With more than 200 children squeezed into less than two acres in busy Kahului, the staff and families at Emmanuel Lutheran School are looking forward to the day in the not-too-distant future when students can flex their minds and muscles at a spacious new campus.

The school, which has 175 students in grades K-8 and nearly 40 preschoolers, will be moving to 25 acres off Honoapi'ilani Highway, below Wailuku Heights, in the next three to five years, said principal Zach Brewer. The first phase of expansion, estimated at $10 million to $11 million, will see construction of a new school, a multipurpose gymnasium and playing fields.

The second phase will allow Emmanuel Lutheran to add a second class to each grade level, bringing enrollment to 400, and build a new church sanctuary. The church now shares its property with the school.

Brewer said money for the project will come from grants, a capital campaign, low-cost loans from the national church and the sale of the Kahului property.

With limited private school options on Maui outside the Catholic school system, Emmanuel Lutheran has long been seen as an elite feeder school for Seabury Hall and Kamehameha Schools' Maui Campus. Enrollment at Emmanuel Lutheran has grown by 20 students in each of the last three years. Brewer said he doesn't have to advertise and must turn down applicants.

He said parents like the school's "spiritual, Christian environment and strong academics." Another attraction, he said, is the friendly and devoted staff. "This is a ministry. We don't see it as a 9-to-5 job, so teachers are willing to spend the extra time."

In addition to core academic subjects, fifth-graders take an introductory band class to see if they might like to continue music in middle school and beyond. Middle school students who don't take band participate in a new journalism program.

Seventh- and eighth-graders similarly take a Japanese-language class, and Brewer hopes to be able to offer Spanish in the future. There also are classes in physical education and yearbook, and interscholastic sports.

What are you most proud of? "I am proud that Emmanuel Lutheran School has extremely dedicated teachers who openly share their love for Jesus in our school," Brewer said. "We also have an excellent track record for preparing our students for other schools such as Seabury Hall."

Best-kept secret: The student body. "Unless you attend Emmanuel, you may not realize how blessed we are to have such wonderful students."

Everybody at our school knows: Pastor Milton Fricke, who has served Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School for more than 30 years. "The students go to him for counseling and spiritual advice," Brewer said. Fricke also leads chapel for students.

Our biggest challenge: Space — a problem that will be solved in coming years as the new campus is built.

What we need: "The prayers and support of our community as we plan to take on this new 25-acre venture."

Special events: The annual Pumpkin Fest fundraiser, this year Oct. 21 to 22; annual spring Fitness Fest.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.