Here’s How These Ka’u Kids Are Learning Outside Of The Classroom … When things were not looking great for students at Ka’u High & Pahala Elementary School, the teachers took their lessons to the region’s roots — agriculture.
KA‘U, Hawaii Island — Biweekly harvests at Ka‘u High & Pahala Elementary School could contain anything from eggplants and radishes to kalo and cabbage.
The hauls make their way into the Ka’u community first through the students and their families and later via the Naalehu Resilience Hub, where the fresh produce is used in hot meals for the community.
The 545-student school broke ground on its farm at the beginning of 2021 as part of the first class to come through the Kaʻu Global Learning Lab, a school-centered strategy to help make the greater Ka’u area thrive and become a more sustainable community.
And as the state tries to get more local food into schools, this south Big Island school could be feeding itself in the near future, according to program director Aina Akamu.
