KAPOLEI (HawaiiNewsNow) – Parents and community members are searching for alternatives after the Hawaii State Department of Education cut the Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion program at Kapolei Middle School, citing an inability to fill two teaching positions before the start of the school year.
In a July 6 letter, principal Daryl Agena informed parents the program would not continue, writing that “over the past several weeks, we have worked diligently to recruit qualified Kaiapuni teachers,” but that “both Kaiapuni teaching positions remain vacant, and we have not been able to secure qualified teachers in time for the start of the school year.”
Program served West Oahu students in 7th and 8th grade
The Kaiapuni Program at Kapolei Middle School allowed 7th and 8th grade students to take core classes in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
Advocates said the program enabled west side students to participate in Hawaiian language immersion while also taking part in HIDOE extracurricular activities such as sports and English-speaking electives…