Welcome Letter from the Poʻokumu
Aloha e nā ʻohana o Nā Wai Ola,
It is with great aloha, gratitude, and hope that I welcome you and your ʻohana to the 2026–2027 school year at Nā Wai Ola Public Charter School.
This school year marks an exciting new chapter in the history of our school. We celebrate the beginning of our expansion into high school, welcoming our inaugural ninth-grade class while continuing to strengthen the educational foundation that has made Nā Wai Ola a place where culture, community, and academic excellence thrive together. As we grow into a K–12 school, we remain firmly grounded in our mission:
Nā Wai Ola Public Charter School’s staff, parents, and community are dedicated to the intellectual, personal, social, emotional, and physical growth of students. Our highly qualified and skilled staff recognizes the value of professional development to rigorously challenge students. Our teaching practices are grounded in Hawaiian culture, values, and traditions, and are reflective and responsive to the needs of our students. Through our Hawaiian-focused, project-based learning experiences and opportunities, our students discover their potential, achieve readiness for their life’s journey, and succeed in a safe and caring environment.
We provide a Hawaiian culture-based, project-based education that empowers students through ʻike Hawaiʻi, fosters academic excellence, develops leadership, and inspires lifelong stewardship of our communities and our ʻāina.
At Nā Wai Ola, we believe every haumāna is born with purpose and the capacity to make meaningful contributions to their ʻohana, community, and the world. Our responsibility is to provide a learning environment where students discover their identity, strengthen their character, deepen their knowledge, and develop the confidence and leadership skills to thrive while remaining grounded in Hawaiian values.
This year also launches our enhanced Hawaiian Culture-Based Project-Based Learning (PBL) Program, where learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. Rather than simply studying concepts from textbooks, our students investigate meaningful questions, solve authentic community challenges, and create projects that have real-world impact. Every project is intentionally connected to our culture, our communities, and our environment.
Our curriculum is rooted in the wisdom of our kūpuna and guided by the traditional Hawaiian Ahupuaʻa system. Through the interconnected learning landscapes of Uka, Kula, and Kai, students explore the relationships between land, water, people, and natural resources while developing academic skills in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, financial literacy, Hawaiian language, agriculture, and the arts.
Throughout every grade level, students will experience:
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Authentic project-based learning grounded in Hawaiian culture and ʻike kūpuna.
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ʻĀina-based education that transforms Hawaiʻi Island into a living classroom.
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Daily integration of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, oli, mele, moʻolelo, and ʻike Hawaiʻi.
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Collaborative learning experiences that build leadership, communication, creativity, and problem-solving.
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Opportunities to serve our communities through meaningful stewardship and civic engagement.
For our new high school students, this journey becomes even more meaningful. As they progress toward graduation, they will participate in increasingly rigorous interdisciplinary projects focused on community leadership, career readiness, entrepreneurship, Hawaiian agriculture (mahi ʻai), financial literacy, and college preparation. Their culminating senior capstone will demonstrate not only academic mastery but also their commitment to serving their communities with aloha and kuleana.
Our school’s culture continues to be guided by our Ka Wai ʻIhi values that define who we are and how we learn, lead, and serve:
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Aloha – Showing love, compassion, kindness, respect, and empathy in all of our relationships.
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Haʻahaʻa – Practicing humility by remaining teachable, honoring others, and recognizing that learning is a lifelong journey.
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Kōkua – Serving others through cooperation, generosity, and a willingness to help strengthen our school and community.
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Kuleana – Accepting responsibility and accountability for ourselves, our learning, our actions, and our contributions to our community.
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Lōkahi – Fostering unity, collaboration, and harmony by working together toward shared goals with mutual respect.
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Mālama – Caring for our people, our culture, our environment, and all that has been entrusted to us.
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Pono – Choosing what is right by acting with integrity, fairness, honesty, and moral courage.
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ʻIke – Pursuing knowledge and wisdom through curiosity, critical thinking, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning.
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ʻOnipaʻa – Demonstrating perseverance, resilience, determination, and steadfast commitment when facing challenges.
These values are lived each day through our classrooms, schoolwide protocols, cultural practices, community partnerships, and service-learning experiences.
We know that the success of every child depends upon a strong partnership between school and home. Your engagement, encouragement, and participation are essential to your child’s educational journey. We invite every ʻohana to actively participate in school events, Lā ʻOhana, cultural celebrations, exhibitions of learning, volunteer opportunities, and community projects as we continue building a thriving learning community together.
As Poʻokumu, I remain deeply committed to ensuring that Nā Wai Ola Public Charter School is a safe, inclusive, innovative, and culturally grounded place where every student is known, valued, challenged, and inspired to achieve their fullest potential.
Mahalo for entrusting us with the privilege of educating your keiki. Together, we will continue to honor our ancestors, strengthen our communities, and prepare the next generation of leaders who will carry forward the ʻike, values, and traditions of our lāhui while confidently navigating the opportunities of the future.
As we begin this exciting school year, let us continue to paddle together with one purpose and one heart.
May this be a year filled with discovery, growth, resilience, and success for every member of our Nā Wai Ola ʻohana.
Me ke aloha a me ka mahalo,
Francis Kapuaoiokepamemaile Francisco
Poʻokumu (School Director/Principal)
Nā Wai Ola Public Charter School
