Kea`au: A Place for Learning

By: Bronte

Kea`au is one of approximately fifty ahupua`a in the Puna district. It has over 60,000 acres of land from the mountain to the sea. Most of the land in Kea`au is used for farming. There are many banana, papaya, and other kinds of farms in Kea`au. At the highest point of Kea`au’s mountain (3,900 feet) the other side is Keauhou, Kona. That’s amazing because Keauhou is a two and a half hour drive away from Kea`au. The name Shipman is common in Kea`au because that family owns a lot of land. A long time ago, they owned the entire ahupua`a of Kea`au.

Kea`au has four new schools that will educate thousands of students in the future. New schools are important because they have up-to-date supplies and computers. They also have excited students and teachers who are ready to work hard because they are so happy to be in a fabulous environment.

Kea`au Elementary School opened in 1998. It is a public school that has about 900 students. These students used to go to the middle school across the street, before their new school was built. The middle school is the only school in Kea`au that is very old. Students who go there are in the sixth, seventh, or eighth grades.

Kea`au high school opened two years ago. It is helping Waiakea High School not to be so crowded. When it is done, it’ll cost over 75 million dollars to build.

Nawahiokalaniopu`u is an immersion school for students in grades seven through twelve. They learn everything in Hawaiian and do a lot of outdoor thinks like grow plants, have animals to care for, and have an imu.

Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus is also in Kea`au. It is a private school for Hawaiian students. It will have students from Kindergarten through grade twelve in four years. Kamehameha Schools bought 300 acres of land from the Shipman family and in a couple of years will have a swimming pool, soccer fields, and two gyms.

With four great schools in Kea`au, lots and lots of children will be learning. Parents will want to live there because they want each of their children to get a good education. Kea`au is definitely – a place for learning.

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