KE KULA O NAWAHIOKALANIOPUU IKI - LABORATORY PCS

Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki - Laboratory PCS is a Title I public charter elementary school that is part of the Hawaii Department of Education school district, located in Keaau, HI with about 426 students offering grade levels from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 36 teachers, Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki - Laboratory PCS has a student/teacher ratio of about 11:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

**Ke Kula o Nawahiokalani?opu?u Iki (Nawahi)**, located in Keaau, Hawai?i, is a unique laboratory public charter school that serves as a cornerstone for Hawaiian language revitalization. Founded on the principles of *?Aha Punana Leo*, the school operates entirely through the medium of the Hawaiian language (?Olelo Hawai?i). It is part of a broader educational model that integrates indigenous knowledge, traditional cultural practices, and academic excellence, aiming to produce students who are not only bilingual and biliterate but deeply rooted in their cultural identity and ancestral heritage.

As a laboratory school, Nawahi functions as a research and development hub for Hawaiian immersion education, providing a continuous educational pipeline from preschool through high school. The curriculum emphasizes "place-based" learning, where the local environment—its history, ecology, and community—serves as the primary classroom. By blending modern educational standards with traditional Hawaiian values and pedagogical methods, the school prepares its students to be leaders and stewards of their community, ensuring the survival and growth of the Hawaiian language and culture for future generations.

For more information, contact Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki - Laboratory PCS at (808) 982-4260 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.