Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate School

27-330 Old Mamalahoa Hwy
Papaikou, HI 96781

234 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate School is a public school located in the small, scenic community of Papaikou on the Big Island of Hawaii. Serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the school is deeply rooted in its local environment, often drawing from the neighboring plantation-era communities north of Hilo. The school is named in honor of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana?ole, a pivotal figure in Hawaiian history and a former Congressional delegate, reflecting the school’s commitment to preserving Hawaiian culture, values, and local heritage.

As a K-8 institution, the school plays a central role in the lives of North Hilo families, fostering a close-knit, community-focused educational environment. The curriculum emphasizes academic development while integrating place-based learning that reflects the unique geography and history of the Hamakua Coast. By serving both elementary and intermediate students, the school provides a stable transition period, aiming to prepare students for the academic and social demands of high school while maintaining a supportive and culturally responsive atmosphere.

234

Total Students

19.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

55.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate School
Demographic	Student Count
White	18
Hispanic	49
Asian	41
Two or More	43
Pacific Islander	83

Pacific Islander
83 (35.5 %)
Hispanic
49 (20.9 %)
Two or More
43 (18.4 %)
Asian
41 (17.5 %)
White
18 (7.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Hawaii Department of Education
Phone:	(808)964-9700
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	234
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	19.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	124
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	5

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 6

Kindergarten 18

Grade 1 32

Grade 2 28

Grade 3 18

Grade 4 28

Grade 5 28

Grade 6 24

Grade 7 33

Grade 8 19