Kohala Elementary School

Hawaii Department of Education
54-3609 Akoni Pule Hwy
Kapaau, HI 96755
381 Students
Elementary School Pre-K - 5th
School Overview
Kohala Elementary School is a public school located in the historic town of Kapaau on the Big Island of Hawaii. Serving students from kindergarten through grade 5, the school operates as a central pillar of the North Kohala community. Its curriculum is deeply rooted in the local culture, often incorporating the rich history and unique environment of the Kohala district into its academic programs to foster a sense of place and pride among its student body.

As part of the Hawaii State Department of Education, the school is dedicated to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment that emphasizes both academic growth and character development. The campus environment reflects the tight-knit nature of the rural community it serves, focusing on strong teacher-student relationships and active parental involvement. Through various programs and initiatives, Kohala Elementary strives to prepare its young learners for success in middle school and beyond, while ensuring they remain connected to the heritage and values of their island home.
381
Total Students
26.0
Full-Time Teachers
14.7
Student/Teacher Ratio
55.9%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • Hispanic
    118 (31.0%)
  • Pacific Islander
    98 (25.7%)
  • Two or More
    90 (23.6%)
  • White
    40 (10.5%)
  • Asian
    33 (8.7%)
  • American Indian
    2 (0.5%)
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)889-7100
Grade Range: Pre-K - 5th
Total Students: 381
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 26.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 14.7
NSLP Participation:1 Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch: 168
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 45

* 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 9
Kindergarten 58
Grade 1 67
Grade 2 65
Grade 3 67
Grade 4 66
Grade 5 49
Gender Ratio