Kīhei Charter School Projects Late August 2018 Opening

Construction continues to pick up pace as the Kīhei Charter School plans for a late August opening and a student enrollment of 700 kids in grades K-12.

Construction continues to pick up pace as the Kīhei Charter School plans for a late August opening and a student enrollment of 700 kids in grades K-12.

In an effort to meet county shade tree rules ahead of the opening, and no additional funds to invest in the purchase, administrators looked to the community for help.

Four Rotary clubs (Maui Rotary Club, Upcountry Club and the Kahului and Wailuku clubs) raised $3,000 each for a total $12,000 donation for the purchase of 35 mature trees to plant on campus.

The trees will include native Milo and Palm Yellow Trumpet, among others.

Representatives of the four central Maui Rotary Clubs: the Maui Club, the Upcountry Club and the Kahului and Wailuku clubs and the Rotary Hawaii District Governor (in black at far right of photo) gather to present South Maui Learning Ohana CEO Gene Zarro (center) with a $12,000 check to plant 35 trees on the new campus of the Kīhei Charter School.

The donation is part of an effort by Rotary International to promote the planting of 1.2 million trees in 2017-2018, or one for every Rotary Club member in the world.  The Maui Rotary Club had been trying to figure out where they could plant trees on Maui to help meet the international goal, when the opportunity at Kīhei Charter School arose.

Derrick Solomon a realtor and arborist with the Maui Rotary Club learned about the need at Kīhei Charter School  through a discussion with Gene Zarro, CEO of the South Maui Learning ʻOhana, the founding organization for the school.

“We could not have met this challenge without the help of the four Maui Rotary Clubs and their commitment to help us open our school on time and provide the funds to purchase the trees. Money we did not have in our budget,” said Zarro.

The 35 trees will not only provide shade and cool the campus, but school administrators say it is estimated that each tree will remove 48 pounds of Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere each year. The 35 trees will remove 1,680 pounds of Carbon Dioxide annually and a total of 16,800 pounds over a 10-year period.

Nick’s Fish Market Restaurant Plans Saturday, August 25, Kīhei Charter School Fundraiser

Nick’s Fish Market at the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel will celebrate its 20th Anniversary with a food, wine and spirits event fundraiser for the grand opening of the Kīhei Charter School.

“We have always given back to the community wherever we lived,” said Aaron Placourakis, president and CEO of the Tri-Star Restaurant Group. “The dedication of the people behind the charter school is incredible. Everyone said it couldn’t be done and they made it happen in spite of the odds. We would like to be part of that effort.”

One hundred percent of the profits will benefit the Kīhei Charter School with the goal of raising $25,000 to go towards the opening of the new school.

Menu offerings includes favorite and signature dishes from Nick’s Fishmarket, Sorento’s on the Beach, Manoli’s Pizza Company and Son’z Steak House.

A silent auction will feature private chef dinners and staycation packages at the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.

Limited seating is available.  Click here or more information or call (808) 879-7224.