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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 27, 2007

Students at Ha'iku are 'moving on the path of success'

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Esther Powers, Valkyrie Hibard and Leelee Rhoades rehearse for a video skit to air on their school's closed-circuit television system.

Sonny Gamponia

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AT A GLANCE

Where: 105 Pauwela Road, Ha'iku, Maui

Phone: 808-575-3000

Principal: Bernice Takahata, five years

School nickname: Ha'iku Riders

School colors: Blue and gold

History: Ha'iku Elementary School is believed to have been established in 1897. At one time, a three-room schoolhouse that was one of a group of community schools was located where Ha'iku Elementary is now. By 1953, five community schools in the area merged with Ha'iku School and all moved to the current location. Notable teachers include former Maui Mayor Elmer Carvalho, who taught sixth grade; Donald Uchimura, a former Mr. Hawai'i; championship boxer Pantaleon Bacos; and recording star Kimo Kahookula.

2006 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, 90 percent; math, 89 percent. Fourth-grade reading, 76 percent; math, 84 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 83 percent; math, 96 percent.

2006 Hawai'i State Assessment test: Listed is the combined percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards. Third-grade reading, 61 percent (state average, 50.2 percent); math, 37 percent (state average, 30 percent). Fourth-grade reading, 67 percent (58.1 percent); math, 33 percent (32.5 percent). Fifth-grade reading, 45 percent (43.5 percent); math, 29 percent (24 percent).

Computers: One computer in each classroom — a total of 21 computers. Also, computer lab has 28 computers.

Enrollment: 449 students

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Just 10 minutes away from world famous Ho'okipa Beach Park is Ha'iku Elementary School, a place where change comes amid a culture rooted in plantation living.

Ha'iku, on Maui's North Shore, is now well known to windsurfers and other wave-riders, but it also contains a storied past of famous names, pineapple and sugar plantations.

"Our community has changed over the years," said Desiree Sides, a Ha'iku Elementary teacher who also attended the school. "Before it was a smaller, local community. Now we have an influx of windsurfers and tourism."

The Maui school has benefited from the changing demographics. The school is a place where staff, parents and members of the community come together to meet the needs of the school. The parent group pays for fine art programs and physical education. The community has paid for repairs to a field house. And one community member, a former school health aide, Becky Lau, has taken on the job of keeping native plants thriving on the campus.

"We always remember that we're all working for the benefit of the children," said Bernice Takahata, Ha'iku Elementary's principal, adding that she's "so proud that everyone remembers they need to work together, pull their load and help whenever they can to move our school further along and keep moving on the path of success."

  • What are you most proud of? "I am most proud of the sense of community at Ha'iku School," Takahata said. "Actually, it's more of a family where individuals and groups of people help out whenever and for whatever needs to be done."

  • Best-kept secret: Having "intelligent people with a passion to help students be as successful as they can be, and to help teachers and other staff members be better educators," Takahata said.

  • Everybody at our school knows: John Cadman. "He's our cafeteria manager who is very charismatic and playful with the children. He provides the kids with a choice of meals — a vegetarian meal and regular cafeteria food."

  • Our biggest challenge: "Is being very creative to make the best use of our finances to fulfill all the needs we have with personnel and materials for the students," Takahata said.

  • What we need: School officials hope to complete a four-year-old plan to rewire a portion of the campus. And since it was renovated, officials want to ensure they keep up on the painting and other routine maintenance, Takahata said.

  • Special events: Family nights throughout the year; the Ha'iku Flower Festival every spring; and the Art Exploratory program, supported by the school Parent-Teacher Organization.

    Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.