Kamehameha Schools Kapālama

Our E Ola! commitment

E Ola! is our commitment to provide a personalized educational journey for all students ensuring they are prepared for the future – empowered with post secondary success and career and life choices. E Ola! learning environments nurture the well-being of the whole child and match learnersʻ social, emotional, and academic needs to help haumāna thrive and understand their role as valuable contributors to our lāhui. E Ola! is our promise as we raise and nurture our next generation of ‘ōiwi leaders.

KS Kapālama vision

To inspire our haumāna to ho‘ōla lāhui

KS Kapālama mission

Empowering our haumāna in a safe and nurturing environment to be confident ‘ōiwi leaders with the agency to advance their ‘ohana, community, ka lāhui, ka pae ‘āina o Hawai‘i, and ka honua.

ho‘ōla. To save, heal, cure, spare; salvation; healer; savior.

lāhui. Nation, race, tribe, people, nationality; great company of people; species, as of animal or fish, breed; national, racial.

The vision of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama is to inspire our haumāna to ho‘ōla lāhui. While the Hawaiian dictionary by Pukui and Elbert may define the word ho‘ōla as “to save or heal,” perhaps the best way to interpret its significance is by understanding the root word ola, which means “life, health or well-being.” The act of promoting good health and well-being is an act of invigorating something important. The word lāhui, in the most general sense, refers to a nation or a group of people connected in a profound way. For kānaka, it is simply the term we use for our Hawaiian people.

When the two words are used together, the term ho‘ōla lāhui is an instance where the total is greater than the sum of its parts. When we ho‘ōla lāhui, we are breathing life into a rich cultural legacy. When we ho‘ōla lāhui, we are revitalizing the ancestral practices and wisdom of generations of kūpuna. When we ho‘ōla lāhui, we are actively contributing to the advancement of all kānaka maoli.

There is no single way to ho‘ōla lāhui. It is not a pre-determined path lined with prescriptive actions. Instead, it is a common purpose and unifying goal. Every individual must determine for themselves what their contribution to this vibrant lāhui will be. We believe that with self-reflection comes the agency and power to be the protagonists in our own stories.

The E Ola! graduate

Every one of our haumāna is on a journey to become the best version of themselves. The learning experience at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama positions these future ‘ōiwi leaders to be academically prepared, culturally aware global citizens who are deeply rooted in their identity as Hawaiians.