Word of Life Academy has been the educational answer for Wai Lyau and her son.

“;As soon as I gave birth, I said, 'He's going to Word of Life Academy,'”; said 2006 Word of Life graduate Lyau of Kaimuki.

So when Word of Life closed in Kakaako yesterday, Lyau said, “;It's really hard for me. I don't know where to put him.”;

In the courtyard of the Word of Life on Queen Street, her son Ezekiel placed a candy lei around the neck of headmaster Royce Tanouye.

Wai Lyau had hoped her only son could attend the Christian school in Kakaako until he graduated, saying her alma mater helped nurture her during her formative years.

Word of Life's last day after 17 years in operation was bittersweet for many pre-kindergarten to 12th-grade students, faculty and staff.

  Two Oahu private schools close for good

 

Word of Life and Holy Trinity Catholic School finish up their final school years.

 

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Teachers hugged each of their students at the end of the school day as their parents picked them up along Mission Lane. “;We're just one big happy family,”; said Tanouye, who has been the school's headmaster since 1997.

The wilting economy was the main factor for the closure. Enrollment for the past school year was estimated at 240 students, a drop from about 350 students over the past few school years.

Senior Sarai Bullock, who is part of the academy's last graduating class, said she was sad at the school's closure but intends to carry the academy's “;Firebrand”; spirit with her as she enters the real world.

Bullock, 18, plans to attend Azusa Pacific University in California in the fall where she will major in business marketing and mass communications.

While there are no plans to reopen the school, Lyau remains hopeful that she will be able to re-enroll her son in the academy one day.

“;I'm not losing hope. There are still years ahead. When they're ready, we're ready,”; she said.