Posted on: Thursday, January 12, 2006
No shortage of challenges at Pu'uhale
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
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Principal David Hanaike, who says he's proudest of the feeling of 'ohana at Pu'uhale, reads a story to some of the school's younger pupils.
DEBORAH BOOKER | The Honolulu Advertiser
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AT A GLANCE Where: 345 Pu'uhale Road Phone: 832-3190 Principal: David Hanaike, since September 2004 School nickname: Panthers School colors: Purple, white Enrollment: 362 pupils, which will drop to about 310 next year when the sixth grade is moved to middle school. Testing: Here's how pupils at Pu'uhale Elementary fared on the most recent standardized tests: Stanford Achievement Test: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils scoring average and above average, compared with the national combined average of 77 percent. Third-grade- reading, 76 percent; math, 75 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 62 percent; math, 86 percent. Hawai'i State Assessment: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils meeting or exceeding state standards, and a comparison with the state average. Third-grade reading, 32 percent, compared with state average of 51.8 percent; math, 3 percent, compared with 28.5 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 30 percent, compared with state average of 55.6 percent; math, 18 percent, compared with 25.5 percent.History. Pu'uhale opened in 1929. The first school burned down in 1972, but a new building was already under construction and opened that same year. Computers: Pu'uhale has a computer lab, computers in the library and in every classroom. |
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If there's one major shortcoming at Pu'uhale Elementary School, it's the location.
The school, which opened in 1929, sits next to what is now busy Nimitz Highway, across the street from the O'ahu Community Correctional Center and under the flight pattern of jets landing at and taking off from Honolulu International Airport.
But Pu'uhale is the closest public school for many immigrant families that find affordable housing in the Kalihi Kai industrial area makai of Nimitz Highway, and that's where their children attend classes.
"It can be dangerous getting to and from school," said Principal David Hanaike. "Nimitz is very dangerous."
Nothing can be done about the highway with O'ahu's growing traffic problems, but in 1972 a two-story concrete, air-conditioned school was built to keep out the noise and heat. Security systems have been added to lock down the building — it holds all the classrooms — and cameras monitor entries to protect pupils in the event of a prison break, Hanaike said.
The school's large immigrant population comes with other challenges for the educators at Pu'uhale. Of the 362 pupils at the school, about 35 percent have limited English skills. Nearly 80 percent of the pupils receive free or reduced cost lunch, a common measure of poverty.
"Many of these students are from Micronesia and small Pacific island nations where they may not even go to school," Hanaike said.
Hanaike said some pupils report to school saying they are in the third grade, but are old enough for the fifth grade, and test for the first grade.
"We have a type of student in kindergarten — latchkey ESL," Hanaike said. "They were raised here, but their parents don't speak English very well. They come to school and don't know their native language and very little English."
To help these pupils, a Head Start program was placed on campus this year. The federal preschool program for low-income families now has 20 children learning reading and language skills.
For older pupils, a new academic plan is being pursued to give teachers more support with ESL pupils.
What are you most proud of? Hanaike says that through everyone working together, a feeling of 'ohana has developed at the school.
Best-kept secret: Almost every wall in the building has been decorated by custodian /artist Mary Nakano. Many walls have murals and some classrooms have multicolor walls painted by Nakano during her off-duty hours.
Everybody at our school knows: Julia Gututala, the Parent, Community Network coordinator. Her three children have all graduated from Pu'uhale, yet she stays on to help the school. "She and another parent put together our Halloween event," said Vice Principal Miki St. Laurent. "Our kids can't safely go from house to house, so they planned 'trunk treats,' in our parking lot. The kids could trick-or-treat from car to car. That little touch gives normality to our kids who wouldn't have had that opportunity."
Famous alumni: Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and former Gov. Ben Cayetano.
Our biggest challenge: Raising test scores.
What we need: Playground equipment. The old playground equipment was removed seven years ago and never replaced. The Department of Education plans to install new equipment this summer. "The current sixth-graders have never had playground equipment," said St. Laurent
Projects: Extracurricular activities include a choir, a hula halau, afterschool tutoring, an early morning reading program and 'ukulele classes.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.
