School Closure: ‘It Ain’t Just Money’
Nostalgia, community and history dominated Monday night’s public hearing about whether to close Queen Lydia Liliuokalani Elementary School in Kaimuki.
The Hawaii Department of Education estimates it would save annually by closing the little Kaimuki school, which reportedly was dedicated 100 years ago by the queen herself. The school has 102 students — less than half its capacity of 242. Only 16 of the 24 classrooms on campus are being used for teaching.
Of the last six schools considered for closure, only two were closed. The pleas that spared the other four sounded much like those submitted Monday — except for two new themes that emerged: Queen Liliuokalani’s legacy, and the Hawaii State Board of Education‘s delinquency.
Many of those who testified on behalf of the school spoke with emotion about the queen’s ties to the school and its upcoming centennial. But some also scolded the Hawaii State Board of Education for not following the school consolidation protocols outlined in the .
Thirty-three members of the public testified on behalf of keeping the school open — many of them parents, students, substitute teachers and even one former principal. A few other big names to join the passionate chorus included Hawaii House of Representatives Speaker Calvin Say, District 19 Rep. Barbara Marumoto and Honolulu Councilmember-elect Stanley Chang. Not a single person advocated for closing the school.
Nearly all who testified spoke of the emotional ties a community builds around its neighborhood school, and many spoke of Queen Liliuokalani’s investment in the school, the keiki and the cultural arts.
“It is the only school in the United States to be personally dedicated by a monarch,” said Dwight Synan, a member of the Palolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 and a member of the Friends of Queen Lydia Liluokalani Elementary School.
Some alumni spoke of fond memories they have of their years in the intimate learning community. Some asserted with conviction that Queen Liliuokalani is not just any school — it’s special.
History and tradition should argue more loudly than dollars to keep the school open, stated Rep. Marumoto.
The resounding theme of the night’s testimony was, “it ain’t just money,” as summed up by Wayne Watkins, director of the .
But reason had its place at the meeting in the Kalani High School cafeteria, too. Parent representative Brian Kang reprimanded the board for not meeting the deadlines laid out both by and for the board in state law. The Hawaii Administrative Rules require the board to authorize a public hearing to be held within 60 days of its receipt of the school consolidation study from the Hawaii Department of Education. The board received the study on Sept. 16 — nearly 90 days before Monday’s hearing.
“That is not a trivial issue,” acknowledged Randy Moore, assistant superintendent of School Facilities and Support Services for the education department.
Moore conducts the studies and holds the hearings on behalf of the department. He said the hearing had been held up by the board, which never did formally authorize Monday’s hearing. He instead received a memo last month from board chairman Garrett Toguchi telling him to “go ahead” with the hearing.
Moore said he would consult with Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi about how to proceed.
