Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 9, 1 September 2004 — Hālau Lōkahi bus [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hālau Lōkahi bus

At a ceremony in early August, students and staff at Hālau Lōkahi charter school received the keys to a muehneeded mini-bus that will transport kumu (teachers) and haumāna (students) to outdoor learning sites around O'ahu. OHA and Bank of Hawai'i teamed up to provide a combined $35,000 toward the purchase of the bus.

Hālau Lōkahi serves 100 students from grades K-12, infusing Hawaiian culture, values and language into its curriculum. The school is currently based at Pālama Settlement, but is looking for a permanent home. Hālau Lōkahi Director Laara Allbret said, "We are very blessed with OHA and Bankoh to eome to our aid. [Our students] attend community events all the time and generally walk everywhere. This bus will be a welcomed respite." OHA awarded a $25,000 administra-tor-approved grant for the bus, whieh was purchased from AJA Bus Sales, who also painted and provided signage for the vehicle.

OHA and Bankoh officials present the new school bus to Hōlau Lōkahi StudentS and Staff. Photo: Sterling Kini Wong.