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A rainbow of learning
By Crystal Kua
at new Kapolei school
Star-BulletinLaughter erupted from the handful of sightseers when they noticed that the color of Maeda Timson's outfit matched the paint on the doors leading to the cafeteria of the soon-to-be completed Kapolei High School.
"I only wear purple," giggled Timson, chairwoman of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale neighborhood board, clad in different hues of purple.
The observation then led Kapolei High Principal Al Nagasako to quip, "I almost flipped when I saw those colors, but then I have to be politically correct."
The purple doors could be seen as a symbol of the connection this school is trying to make with area residents to welcome them in.
"It's our school. It's the community's school," neighborhood board member Martha Makaiwi said. "I'm so proud of this."
Community members and Sen. Brian Kanno (D, Kapolei) were given a sneak peek at the school yesterday as the final touches were being put on the walls, floors, sports fields -- and the doors.
"The high school is going to be the main center of the community," Kanno said. "It's a hub for Kapolei."
Concrete buildings are awash in differing tones of tan and green trim.
Landscaping includes palms, yellow hibiscus and purple bougainvillaea that line planter boxes at the school's entrance.
Heavy machinery was busy moving soil and other objects throughout the construction site on the makai section of campus.
The $51 million first phase of the school is scheduled to open July 26, with a freshman class of 325 to 350 and staff and faculty of about 22.
A new class will be added each year along with more faculty and support staff.
The home of the Hurricanes -- their school colors are teal, black and silver -- is designed for 1,800 students with an enrollment capacity of 2,400. Kapolei is supposed to help alleviate overcrowding at Campbell High School.
The buildings that are completed include the administration quarters, the media center, cafeteria (nicknamed the Forum) and its connected music and band room and the ninth-grade classroom building which is one of four "neighborhoods."
The school's focus will be science, the environment, technology and cultures. The school will open with 190 computers and three performing stages.
"Teachers want meaningful, active learning," said Nagasako. "They are creating as we speak."
A new building to house 10th-grade classes is under construction.
Kanno said he's going to try to get the the additional $43.5 million needed to complete the school next legislative session.
The school's design came from recommendations in the 1996 report, "Breaking Ranks: Changing an American Institution."
The last high school to open on Oahu was Mililani High School in September 1973.
