Kamehameha Schools Summer Programs

“To erect and maintain in the Hawaiian islands two schools, each for boarding and day scholars, one for boys and one for girls to be known as and called the Kamehameha Schools.”

In 1884, upon her death, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s will demonstrated her generosity and foresight for the future of her people that she bequeathed her entire estate for the education of Hawaiian children. In 1887 the first Kamehameha School opened, and today there are campuses on the islands of Maui, Hawai’i, and Oahu. The Kamehameha Schools offers education for preschoolers through high school as well as summer enrichment programs.

Last year, Chelsea participated in Ho’omaka’ika’i: Explorations a week long boarding program at the Kapalama campus on Oahu. This program for some children are their first introduction to the Hawaiian culture, but Chelsea has been a student in Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawai’i or Hawaiian language immersion program, so the opportunity was more of a refresher and for her to speak amongst her leaders in her first language, Hawaiian.

This year we’ve submitted applications for two programs, Ho’olauna which builds upon the skills and knowledge learned during Ho’omaka’ika’i and Computer Camp. Both are week long boarding programs but we’ve requested her to attend Ho’olauna on the Maui campus while Computer Camp is only offered on Oahu. While I’m supportive of her decision to attend Ho’olauna, I admit I’m a bit biased towards Computer Camp for obvious reasons.

The enrichment programs require the same as the school admissions, registration with the Ho’oulu Hawaiian Data Center. The data center verifies Hawaiian ancestry and I recommend that you complete this requirement as soon as possible. Fortunately, verification is a one-time deal so all that we needed to do was complete and submit the application.

Deadline to apply for all the enrichment programs is February 29.