KAPAIA — Malia Kerr has been appointed as the interim executive director of the Kaulu I Ka Pono Academy, said William “Bill” Arakaki in a Wednesday announcement by the KIPA.
“We are most pleased to announce the appointment of Malia Kerr to lead us to an exciting new beginning for this wonderful facility that is very much needed,” said Arakaki, who is the KIPA Board of Directors chairman.
“Our goal is to open the facility in phases starting in the next couple of months.”
The Kaulu I Ka Pono Academy, at 4240-C Ma‘alo Road, is the site of the adolescent drug treatment and healing center.
The new nonprofit was established in 2022, and has received Internal Revenue Service approval as a charitable organization.
Arakaki said there are multiple services envisioned for KIPA, including residential services, intensive outpatient, outpatient, after care, family therapy and counseling, cultural and life experiences, and the state Department of Education’s Alternative Learning Center with two classrooms providing year-round education.
“Malia, in her role as interim executive director, will be managing the numerous providers and organizations involved in the KIPA services,” Arakaki said. “She will report to the KIPA board for strategic guidance.”
The announcement states that Kerr has “extensive background in this field, having experienced first-hand the ravages of substance abuse. Having gone through that, she has the empathy, experience and passion to bring to this exciting opportunity.”
Kerr has dedicated her life to helping others with similar life challenges. She is trained and certified in this field, and has an extensive network of agencies, organizations and governmental groups that are integral to success, Arakaki said.
“We are anxious to finally open the doors in a few months, and are pleased that Malia has agreed to take on this impactful position that will benefit our kids and is the No. 1 emotional behavioral concern for Kaua‘i,” Arakaki said.
“This place has been needed for decades, and we are moving closer to finally fulfilling our island’s needs.”
For individuals or organizations interested in helping with KIPA, contact Kerr through email at mkerr@kauluikaponoacademy.org.
Any financial and resource assistance is greatly appreciated, said Arakaki.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Malia will make a good interim but the real question is why has this place sat empty for so long? Those in charge on Kauai are the issue. No where else in the world does it take years to build an extra lane of traffic (coconut marketplace to coco palms). That’s a six month project max! Construction workers that visit must get a kick out of the time it takes to get anything done around here. “That’s the way we do on Kauai.” It’s a lame excuse and those that think that way would not survive anywhere else in the world. Keep electing the demorats to office and keep getting the same results. Do the same thing over and over again expecting a different result is absolute insanity. But, ho brah dat’s Kauai and how we do round hea, yeah?