Yesterday was the first day of school — literally — at Keone'ula Elementary in 'Ewa Beach as the spanking new campus opened to its inaugural classes.

Students spent the first part of the year at 'Ewa Beach Elementary while the new school was completed. And yesterday they were introduced to the school whose name means "the red sand" and which includes a student services center, faculty centers in each classroom building and breakout rooms between every two classrooms, built as mini computer labs for 12 computer stations. The entire school is computer networked and equipped for closed-circuit television and a multifunction phone communication system. All buildings except the 400-seat cafetorium are air-conditioned.

Keone'ula has a playing field at every corner, and includes a two-story, 21-classroom building; two one-story, 10-classroom buildings; an administration building; and a library.

But for the kids, what mattered most were the warm welcomes and cool treats — ice cream for everyone!