King Kamehameha III Elementary receives $25,000 donation for classroom supplies

Still rebuilding in the wake of the August 2023 wildfires, King Kamehameha III Elementary School has received a $25,000 gift of essential classroom supplies from Subaru Hawaiʻi in partnership with the national nonprofit AdoptAClassroom.org.

“We are honored to give back in a small way to the rebuilding efforts in Lahaina,” said Lance Ichimura, senior vice president of Subaru Hawaiʻi. “As part of Subaru’s Love Promises, supporting our communities and enabling learning for our keiki are areas we are committed to making a difference in.”

The funding will help students, faculty and staff at the school’s temporary West Maui campus site after the school’s original Front Street campus near Lahaina’s famed Banyan Tree was destroyed in the wildfire disaster.

Since March 2024, the school’s 362 students and staff have been operating out of a temporary location at Pulelehua makai of Kapalua Airport. Public discussions about a new school site are ongoing with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education. The process of finding a permanent site and building a new school is expected to take three to five years, according to the news release from Subaru Hawaiʻi. 

The donation, which was officially presented to school faculty and staff on May 27, has been used to equip the school’s library and media center. The funds were donated in late 2024, with AdoptAClassroom.org facilitating the ordering and delivery of the supplies.

Michael McCloskey, the principal of King Kamehameha III Elementary, expressed his deep gratitude for the support from Subaru.

“It provides comfort during this crucial shift from crisis response to recovery and rebuilding, assuring many that our efforts extend beyond reconstructing our community — we’re actively building a brighter future for our keiki,” he said.

Ann Pifer, executive director at AdoptAClassroom.org, said the donation is meant to help meet the ongoing needs for support in Lahaina.

“Donations like these alleviate the financial burden so both students and their teachers can focus on learning in the best environment possible,” she said. “While we’re no longer in the immediate aftermath of the natural disaster, Lahaina schools still need support. We are grateful that our partners such as Subaru Hawaiʻi are committed to the future of their communities.”

For over a century, King Kamehameha III Elementary School has been a cornerstone of the Lahaina community. Its motto, “No Ka Pono O Na Haumana” (It’s All About the Student), continues to guide its mission, even in its temporary home.To learn more about how to support teachers and students through AdoptAClassroom.org, visit its website at AdoptAClassroom.org.