Patricia Hatch helps daughters Rose, left, and Lillian prepare
for their first day of school yesterday at Kamalii school.
Photo by Photographer, Star-Bulletin

"So far, it looks really great," said Patrick Verhagen, whose son Dallas and daughter Ashley previously attended Emmanuel Lutheran School. "I think with all the kids wearing the same clothes there's a lot less peer pressure."

Attracting more than 100 students from private schools on Maui, Kamalii Elementary quickly filled its roster of 588 students on opening day yesterday.

The styles included oatmeal and wine-colored T-shirts, khaki shorts, skirts and jumpers.

Prices were about $6-7 for a T-shirt and about $11 for shorts.

Three students requested waivers from uniforms.

The $17.9 million school - with library, cafeteria, administrative offices and 40 classrooms - cost less than anticipated and was finished several months early by the developer, Dowling Co.

Verhagen and other parents said they made the switch to Kamalii not only because of the uniforms but also because of the state-of-the-art campus. Classrooms include air-conditioning, computers, and have an ocean view.

Kamalii was meant to relieve the overcrowding at Kihei School, where enrollment was about 1,300 last year.

Kihei School is expected to have an enrollment of 825 when it opens in September.

"There were a lot of good feelings about going to school today. Parents were extremely happy," said Ralph Murakami, the Maui District superintendent.

Board of Education member Kelly King whose third-grade son attends Kamalii said she likes the uniforms.

"I think it's great. I did all my son's back-to-school shopping on one form. It was cheaper for me and it saved me a lot of time," she said.

Jenny Mae, whose daughter Ariel attends first grade, estimates her family will save at least $300 this year on clothing.

Parents say school uniforms also simplify morning life.

"It's easier to wake up in the morning and get what you want," said Clayton Miyazono, whose two children, Chelton and Carrie-Anne, are enrolled at the school.

Fourth-grader Danielle Travis said the colors of the uniform were nice. "I liked it very much."

Teachers were as excited about the new school.

Of the 35 staff members at the school, 22 teachers transferred from Kihei School.

"It's exciting. It can't compare," said Susan Lussier, a remedial-reading teacher, who taught at Kihei School for six years.

Lussier said that at noon without air conditioning, temperatures in portable classrooms in Kihei School soared to 91 degrees.

"It's like their brains are frying. You can't teach them," she said.

But Kamalii, built to relieve overcrowding at Kihei School, is a rare exception not likely to be duplicated soon, school officials say.

While building new schools may be desirable, it isn't practical under the state's current financial crisis they say.