About Us

Kaunakakai Elementary School is located at the eastern fringe of Kaunakakai, Molokai’s main town. The town and the school support a rural community rich in cultural diversity and deeply rooted traditions. The 270 students who make up the preschool through sixth grade population include students of the only Pre-K legislative-funded program and the only preschool Special Education program on the island. The school represents a multicultural spectrum.

We are  known to be a school with heart.  We strongly promote our K-L-H (Kuleana-Responsibility, Laulima-Cooperation, and Hoihi-Respect) Hawaiian Core Values.  We live by these values daily to ensure that our campus exemplifies a place where students feel welcomed, safe, along with a sense of belonging.

To help all students grow socially and emotionally, we have a school-wide Positive Behavioral Support System (PBIS)/Multi-Tiered Support System (MTSS), a Student Council that allows student voice, a School Counselor, a Behavioral Health Specialist that work together to support our students and their needs.  Our Parent Community Network Coordinator (PCNC) helps to connect families with the school offering a wide array of community engagement activities.

To support student attendance, we are part of the K-12 Molokai Attendance Program (MAP) that tracks student attendance in meeting the state’s goal of reducing chronic absenteeism in all schools.

Academically, our school’s Leadership Team tracks the implementation of our Academic Plan.  We meet bi-monthly to ensure that what we are monitoring our progress and adjusting the plan to meet our goals and objectives.  Our Response to Intervention (RTI) system identifies students with academic and social emotional needs and target specific supports and services.  Data Teams meet to collaborate and review and use student data to inform instruction. Teachers analyze their class data and together they address the learning needs of their students, from low, average and high achievers.   Our goal is to do what’s best for all of our students.

We have been granted Six-Year Accreditation Status with a mid-cycle visit by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) through June 30, 2023. This accreditation status is based on all of the information provided by the school, including the self-study report, and the satisfactory completion of the on-site accreditation visit.

Our school is blessed with community partners who provide support through funding, on-site and off campus learning connected to real life experiences. We want to thank:  Lahaina Arts Association, Maui Dance Council, Maui Realtors Association, Maui Economic Development Board, Friendly Isle United Way, Molokai Police Drug Abuse Resistence Education (DARE) Program, Alu Like, Molokai Drugs, Inc., Kaunakakai Parent-Teacher Organization (KPTO), and our families and friends who've always supported our school Ohana throughout the years.

Our school-wide motto is, "Ha'aheo O' Kaunakakai, The Pride of Kaunakakai!"