Uncle
Louis Almodova Jr (the Mayor of Salt Pond Beach Park) found my wife,
Linda, and I at a picnic table as we dried off after a swim last weekend.
He told us about an invitation he had to go to Eleele School and visit
his great-granddaughter's classroom and tell them a bit of history
about the school.
Uncle Louis was
at Eleele School in the early 1920's and it was the only school he
ever attended. He still knew the schools athletic song and sang it
for us at the beach under a palm tree.
Eleele
Sports Class Song
There's
a school on the hill above the sea,
with
a team that knows how to play,
and
when they get the ball,
you'll
have no chance at all,
our
boys are sure to win the game.
Eleele's
name will mark the fame
when
they win in the grand old way.
There's
a school on the hill above the sea,
with
a team that knows how to play,
Eleele,
Eleele is the school that we love,
Eleele,
Eleele, Eleele, black and gold.
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I found a brief
history
of Eleele School on the web and was surprised at how long ago the
school was founded.
'Ele'ele
School, formerly known as Hanapepe School, began in the late
1830's probably as a private school since the Department of
Public Instruction was not established until 1840. The
date 1837 was determined through a 1937 Mo'olelo , the school
yearbook, which celebrated the school's 100th anniversary.
Early records refer to an "outstation" in Hanapepe
during the late 1830's. This was a "place where
people gathered around a minister for informal instruction
in the native tongue, Hawaiian, religious readings, and other
subjects." The first official documentation of
Hanapepe School was in the 1847 Department of Public Instruction
report.
Eventually, by 1860, there were three Hanapepe Schools: Hanapepe
Uka, Hanapepe Kai, and Puulima. However the condition
of the buildings was so poor that the schools were gradually
torn down and consolidated into one school.
When it came time to rebuild, a suitable site could not be
found in Hanapepe, so Hanapepe School was rebuilt on the bluff
in 'Ele'ele on seven and a half acres acquired from McBryde
Sugar Company. Hanapepe School was completed and open
for classes in September 1912. It was officially renamed
'Ele'ele School in 1915. Through further land acquisitions
from McBryde in 1928 and in 1940 the campus was increased
to 14.844 acres.
In 1971 and 1972 the new music building and new cafeteria
were built. Construction of a new administration building
began in 1977 and was completed in 1978. This replaced
the one built in 1912. It was also in 1977 that the
seventh and eighth grades were transferred to Waimea Canyon
School. In 1986 the enrollment increased with the closing
of Kaumakani School (formerly Makaweli School).
Ele'ele School celebrated its 150th anniversary during April
27 to May 2, 1987. A monument with a bronze plaque proclaiming
the sesquicentennial was built on the campus. Enclosed
within the monument is a time capsule to be opened at the
200th anniversary.
Presently, 'Ele'ele School has 14 buildings with 551 students
in 23 homerooms and a professional staff of 36.
Historical information summarized from: "'Ele'ele
School Sesquicentennial, 150 Years of Education in West Kauai,
1837-1987" by Shurei Hirozawa in 'Ele'ele School, 150
Years of Memories, Sesquicentennial Celebration, 1937-1987.
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See also:
The Caretaker of Salt Pond
Uncle Louis remembers the Eleele School Song
Kauai Rhumba Kings
Two Tales from Uncle Louis Almodova
The Legend of the Menehune Fish Pond
The Legend of Spouting Horn
Hanapepe Valley Mochi Pounding
Da Mayor of Salt Pond
Salt Pond Pavilion named for Uncle Louis
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