KILAUEA — A fundraising effort to secure a permanent campus for Namahana School received a substantial financial boost when anonymous donors committed $420,000 to the endeavor.
The gift, which matches subsequent donations dollar for dollar up to the committed amount, was announced by the school on Tuesday, May 16.
The donation was a major step forward for the school’s leadership team, who are trying to raise $1.08 million by June 9 in order to buy an 11.3-acre Kilauea Town property on which the charter school would be built.
“This generous gift truly took our breath away,” said Melanie Parker, executive director of Namahana Education Foundation, in a statement. “We are tremendously grateful to this donor for making their own generosity a rallying cry for the community by literally doubling the impact of other donors.”
The Namahana Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization, which manages fundraising for the school.
Should the gift be fully matched by June 9, the organization will be able to move ahead with its purchase. The total cost for the property is estimated at $2.4 million, which includes the cost of financing.
The donor couple, who most recently became full-time residents of the North Shore after having been part-time residents for years, said they were pleased to help.
“We know the challenges faced by North Shore families, having to send their children to middle and high schools quite far from their homes. The idea of the charter school is something that we had hoped one day be a reality, and wanted to help in any way possible,” the couple said in a statement.
“When we read in The Garden Island newspaper of the opportunity for Namahana School to purchase the property in Kilauea Town, we contacted the Namahana Education Foundation. Our gift, with its matching aspect, we hope will inspire others.”
The possibility of purchasing the Kilauea Town property surfaced after the school planned to occupy 8 acres at Wai Koa Plantation through a renewable land lease.
But when the Kilauea Town property became available, the organization pivoted to that site.
Namahana School, a tuition-free Hawaii public charter middle and high school, is scheduled to bring aboard its first group of students (seventh and eighth grades) in 2025.
The plan then calls for adding a new grade each year until reaching full capacity in 2030.
For more information about Namahana School visit www.namahana.org.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
