Kula Elementary School celebrates its 50th Anniversary! Kula Elementary School originally opened as a K-8 school in September of 1964. It was constructed at the same time as Kula Highway. The lot where the school was constructed was intended to build homes, but Elmer Cravalho was an important advocate for the building of the school. Cravalho encouraged fundraisers and even donated the flagpole in memory of his father. It wasn’t until 1989 that the school became a K-5 school for the Kula community. Today, Kula Elementary School boasts a student enrollment of 450 students.
The establishment of Kula School has a rich history. The present Kula Elementary School is a consolidation of several schools on the slopes of Haleakala – Makena, Ulupalakua, Keokea, and Kealahou. **These small schools experienced growth and subsequent decline in enrollment, leading slowly to the closure of the schools. Time brought many changes, and people began thinking about one centralized school for the Kula area. In 1955, by legislative action, this dream became a reality.
Families are invited to a Luau fundraiser in celebration of the school’s 50th Anniversary. There will be Hawaiian food catered by Takamiya (Danny’s Catering), live local entertainment, and a historic display of yearbooks and photos throughout the years. The Luau will take place on Saturday, September 6th at Kula School (lower field) from 3PM – 7PM. Tickets are $20 per person. Come celebrate Kula Elementary School’s 50th Anniversary!
