Island School at a Glance

  

  
OUR MISSION

Island School's mission is to prepare our students to live productive, fulfilling lives as confident, 
responsible life-long learners and contributing members of society; to express fully the talents 
of our faculty and administration through a challenging curriculum that prepares students for 
successful higher  education; to provide a safe, nurturing environment that fosters creativity, 
critical thinking, initiative and respect for self and others.
  
OUR HISTORY

In 1975, seven women decided that Kaua`i needed a top quality,independent school as an 
alternative to the public system; thereupon, Island School was born, January 27th, 1977.
It started with 12 students in grades kindergarten through eight and grew to 22 students 
by May. The next year grade nine was added pursuant to establishing a high school. 
Grades ten, eleven, and twelve were added in the following three years. By then the 
total enrollment had risen to 68. Eight students were graduated during the three-year 
period, 1981 to 1983; however, the time was not right for a high school, and it was 
discontinued in the fall of 1983. From then until 1996, grades kindergarten through eight 
comprised Island School's offerings, with the number of students increasing yearly.



KEALIA TO PUHI

The first 14 years the campus was located at Kealia, the east side of the island. In 1989 the 
Board of Directors entered into discussions with American Factors, Inc., (AMFAC) about 
obtaining land for a new campus. The company agreed to donate 10 acres in Puhi, behind 
Kaua`i Community College, the present location of Island School. Construction of the current 
pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade classrooms took place the following year. Also, Hawaiian 
Dredging donated two large buildings. These were reconfigured into the current Administration
Building and Main Hall. Then three portable classrooms were transported from Kealia. The new 
campus opened in September, 1991. The enrollment was 123 students. 



HURRICANE INIKI

September 11th, 1992, Hurricane Iniki hit. The three portables brought from Kealia were 
demolished, and the roofs of other buildings were either entirely gone or severely damaged. 
Eleven days after the hurricane, Island School reopened. Grades kindergarten through three 
remained at Puhi; grades four through eight used facilities at Kahili. By early December  repairs 
were far enough along to permit students at Kahili to return to Puhi. In March, through the 
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), the unit now known as Brown Hall had 
been moved to its present location (where the portables had stood) and officially opened. A
tthe same time, construction of three new classrooms for grades six through eight was 
underway. By the fall of 1993 all was again in order, with old facilitiesrepaired and new
facilities finished.



HIGH SCHOOL REBORN

Then came a capital campaign and a substantial gift from the Weinberg Foundation. The Weinberg
Enrichment Center was constructed in 1995-96. This same year, the Board of Directors voted to 
restart the high school. The ninth grade was added in 1996-97 and tenth, eleventh, and twelfth 
grades respectively each year after that. In 1998, Purdy Hall was constructed. Also, the Board 
of Directors again entered into discussions with AMFAC, this time about land immediately adjacent
to the campus. This led to the purchase of twenty additional acres in the spring of 2000; half of 
this acreage has become soccer fields and a grass track. Island School began graduating students 
again in 2000. Our students have been accepted to universities and colleges all across the United 
States, the United Kingdom and here in Hawai'i, including: Bowdoin, Colorado College, Creighton 
University, Grove City College, Georgetown University, Lewis and Clark College, Loyola Marymount 
University, Macalester College, Mary Washington College, New Mexico Institute of Mining and 
Technology, Occidental College,Point Loma College, Purdue University, Santa Clara University,
Scripps College,Seattle University, Stanford University, University of Portland, University of
California at Santa Barbara, Wheaton College, Whitman College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

In addition, Island School graduates have chosen to attend institutions of 
higher education including Babson College, Bowdoin College, Chaminade University,
Chapman University, Concordia University, Duke University, Gettysberg College, 
Gonzaga University, Hampshire College, Hawai'i Pacific University, Ithaca College, 
Kaua'i Community College, Linfield College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
Oregon State University, Pacific Lutheran University, Pepperdine University, Pomona
College, Reed College, Richmond, the American International University in London, 
Rochester Institute of Technology, San Diego State University, Southern Oregon 
University, Stanford University, University of Denver, University of Essex in 
Colchester, England, University of Hawai'i--Hilo and Manoa, University of Chicago,
University of Idaho, University of the Pacific, University of Puget Sound, 
University of Redlands, University of San Diego, San Francisco State University, 
University of Southern California, Westmont College and Whitman College.