Island School is a private, co-educational, independent school (pre-kindergarten through high school) on the island of Kauai

Kauai

Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...

 in Kauai County

Kauai County, Hawaii

Kauai County is a county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It consists of the islands of Kauai, Niihau, Lehua, and Kaula, in the state of Hawaii. As of 2000 Census the population was 58,463...

, Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The school is located behind the University of Hawaii's Kauai Community College

Kauai Community College

Kauai Community College is a public, co-educational commuter college in Līhue, Hawaii on the island of Kauai. It is one of ten branches of the University of Hawaii system anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and...

 campus near the community of Lihue.

History

In January 1977, Island School began with 12 students ranging up to eighth grade. Within four years, enrollment was up to 68 and its high school had been established. But by 1983, Island School had graduated only eight students and the high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 was disestablished. But in 1996, the high school was re-opened due to rising enrollment. Island School began graduating seniors again starting with the Class of 2000. Today, Island School is a fully accredited college preparatory institution. Graduates are accepted at such institutions as MIT, Yale, Wheaton, Babson, and Ithaca in the East; Oberlin, Denison, Purdue and Creighton in the Midwest; Stanford, University of Southern California, Pomona College, Reed, Gonzaga, Lewis and Clark, University of the Pacific, University of San Diego, Loyola Marymount University, University of Idaho, and the University of Nevada in the West; the University of Hawai`i, Hawai`i Pacific University and Chaminade in Hawai`i.

In September 1991, the campus was moved from Kealia (on the east side) to its present location in Puhi. Island School used several portable classrooms at the Puhi campus, all of which were destroyed by Hurricane Iniki

Hurricane Iniki

Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. state of Hawaii in recorded history. Forming on September 5 during the strong El Niño of 1991–1994, Iniki was one of eleven Central Pacific tropical cyclones during the 1992 season. It attained tropical storm status on...

 in September 1992. Other buildings were obliterated or severely damaged by the hurricane. The school re-opened 11 days later by utilizing various off-campus facilities scattered around the island. The permanent campus at Puhi was entirely restored within two years.

Academic Program

Island School’s academic program takes its impetus from Howard Gardner’s ideas of multiple intelligences. In other words, in addition to verbal and mathematical knowledge, each human is capable of realizing his or her potential in music and art, in self-understanding and social interactions, in physical strength and coordination (as in athletics), and in making discoveries (as in science). Island School divides its school year into three trimesters. In High School there are a variety of classes to choose from. For example, math classes range from Algebra through Calculus 2.

Hawaiian Studies

All students receive instruction in Hawaiian Studies. This includes the culture, language, history and music of Native Hawaiians as well as Hawaiian geography. The value of aloha

Aloha

Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, peace, compassion and mercy. Since the middle of the 19th century, it also has come to be used as an English greeting to say goodbye and hello...

is extended to include akahai (kindness), lokahi (unity), oluolu (pleasantness), haahaa (humility) and ahonui (patience). Participation in Native Hawaiian sports is emphasized during Makahiki (Thanksgiving).

As early as fifth grade, students take overnight trips to the Big Island of Hawaii

Hawaii (island)

The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...

to study pre-contact Hawaiian culture (before the 18th Century arrival of foreign influences).

External links

• Island School