OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.” 1 Corinthians 12:26
Just a year after being displaced from the wildfire that destroyed its classrooms in the historic town of Lahaina, Sacred Hearts School officially opened its brand-new doors at a beautiful Kaanapali campus on Aug. 2.
In a special blessing ceremony, Principal Tonata Lolesio set the tone for the celebration by quoting the above Scriptural passage, emphasizing the importance of all being parts of one ohana in times of suffering and joy.
She graciously thanked the whole SHS ohana for working together through the challenges of the past year, saying: “We were of one heart in the Lord in our response to the needs of others, the true spirit of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.”
This blessing marked a new beginning for the parish school, which was founded by the fathers and sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary 150 years ago, and further developed by the Sisters of St. Francis, who were all profoundly influenced by the lives of St. Damien and St. Marianne.
“Nothing is impossible,” Lolesio said, echoing the spirituality of Hawaii’s two beloved saints. “With God all things are possible.”
Lolesio recalled the past year’s emotional journey of having to pivot to a “temporary” school at Maria Lanakila Church’s Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua just weeks after the devastating fire: “We had to do what we could to help the community, it was the right thing to do, and right away.”
So with the help of the parish, diocese and broader community in Maui, Hawaii and worldwide, SHS was able to welcome students into their temporary school on Aug. 28, 2023. Although many families had lost loved ones, homes and jobs, they found hope and solace in being together as an ohana: “The sight of students learning, laughing and singing was a beautiful reminder of young people’s unwavering resilience and hope, even amid trying times.”
This makeshift school put together inside the church and some temporary outdoor tents became a “home” which “was a source of joy for the students and a true blessing for the parents. We will always cherish Kapalua as our place of healing and fortitude. We are incredibly grateful to our Kapalua community and ohana.”
Lolesio then thanked the Kaanapali community for the warm welcome of the new school campus, recalling the excitement of the day she announced to SHS staff, “We are going to Kaanapali!”
The news sparked a wave of cheers, tears and hugs — an emotional release after almost a year of waiting, hoping and praying. The new campus with four-walled classrooms, offices, a counseling center, air conditioning and a playground was a long-awaited blessing.
Lolesio praised the SHS ohana for its “dedication and resilience,” calling it a “tremendous source of inspiration” with a lasting legacy.
Msgr. Terry Watanabe, vicar forane of the Maui-Lanai Vicariate, and Michael Yee, a member of the diocesan Finance Council who coordinated the Kaanapali SHS development project, extended their thanks for the “miracle of support” from an incredibly long list of public and private donors at the local and national level who made this new campus possible.
For the next three to five years, the Kaanapali campus will serve as a “home of learning” for students, families and staff — a vital part of Lahaina’s future as the town undertakes the daunting task of redevelopment. As Lolesio joyfully pointed out at the blessing, “every story of hope and resilience builds a stronger and more united West Maui community.”
Just days after the Aug. 2 blessing, the Sacred Hearts School ohana gathered once again at the new Kaanapali campus for a special Mass to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires that tore through Lahaina as well as Kula.
They offered a memorial wreath in honor of those who lost their lives, laying it with reverence on the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, which had been relocated from Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina.
This act of remembrance will become an annual SHS tradition, a profound reminder of the community’s shared journey of suffering and joy as one ohana sharing a common home, a living testimony of the Scriptural passage “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.”
SHS remains steadfast in its mission to uphold the tradition of Catholic education in Lahaina, offering an excellent foundation for life. To support this mission and ensure every student has access to transformative learning experiences, a tuition assistance fund has been established to help SHS families, with a goal of raising
$4 million.
Thanks to the remarkable generosity of their growing ohana, $1.6 million has already been secured — a testament to the incredible impact of community compassion. SHS is seeking matching funds to provide essential tuition assistance to those in need. Contributions will help students not only survive but thrive, learning and growing in a nurturing, faith-based environment.
To learn more or to contribute to the tuition assistance fund, please visit the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation at hawaiicatholiccommunityfoundation.org.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
