Sacred Hearts School’s sign marks the entrance to its Kaanapali campus. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
Sacred Hearts School’s temporary campus in Kaanapali is blessed and opened for the 2024-25 academic year
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Sacred Hearts School, the Lahaina school largely destroyed by last year’s historic wildfire, marked the next step in its journey of recovery and resilience Aug. 2 as its temporary campus in Kaanapali was formally blessed — just in time for the new year to begin three days later.
Scores of attendees sat beneath large tents set up in what will become the school’s outdoor recreation area, just one of many things that had been sorely missed when the school relocated to Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua.
Students who had to learn in tents set up on the grounds of the mission church now report to brightly decorated classrooms complete with air conditioning. A central pathway features grassy places to gather, and portable units house offices, restrooms and more classrooms.
A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, brought to the new campus from its mother church, Maria Lanakila, looks over a common area.
The blessing ceremony included speeches by the many figures who were critical to the Kaanapali campus’ development, as well as a proclamation from Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen declaring Aug. 2 “Sacred Hearts School Day.”
Michael Capponi, founder of the nonprofit organization Global Empowerment Mission, said that it was clearly God’s work that brought together entities such as his agency, landowners Rodger and Lisa May, and Stable Road Foundation owner Ed Freedman to work with the Diocese of Honolulu and other groups to make Sacred Hearts School’s new campus a reality.
The timeline for the school to return to Lahaina remains uncertain.
From top: Principal Tonata Lolesio thanked the Kaanapali community for its acceptance and support of Sacred Hearts School, complete with an update to the resort’s signage reflecting the school’s new location. Msgr. Terry Watanabe spoke during the Aug. 2 blessing; behind him stood the school’s faculty and staff as well as, from left, Father Peter Laupapa A’asau, parochial vicar of Maria Lanakila Church; Father Ken Deasy, a member of the school’s advisory board; and Father Kuriakose Nadooparambil, pastor of Maria Lanakila and Sacred Hearts Mission Church. A ceremonial lei untying marked the opening of Sacred Hearts School’s new temporary campus; Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, center left, and Principal Tonata Lolesio, center right, held the lei alongside other key figures in the school’s journey, including Father Nadooparambil and Llewellyn Young, right, superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools. A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was relocated from Maria Lanakila Church to the new campus, where it stands in the center of the property. A display on one of the classroom doors reminds students that “Awesome things start here!” A young ulu, or breadfruit tree, from Lahaina symbolizes resilience and growth. (Photos by Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
