E Ho'ona'auao

Ka Hale Ipukukui Hawaiian Studies Program at Ha‚aheo Elementary School, Hilo Hawaii Aloha Mai Kakou! Kamehameha was a believer in hard work.  He himself  tilled  his fields with his own hands and expected his chiefs and people to do the same.  On one occasion, Kamehameha commanded his subjects to perform the formidable task of planting with kalo (taro) on a broad and fertile strip of land sloping gently upward from the sea cliffs toward Mauna Kea - extending from the stream of Waiala near Honoli'i gulch, to a hill near Wainaku and above the present road.  After his subjects had toiled for many hours, Kamehameha ascended the hillside, now occupied by a school.  There he stood, clad in his royal feather cloak and helmet, surveying his toiling people.  Suddenly there was a pause; then a shout of triumph broke from the multitude, swelled and died away.  The work was done!  When Kamehameha saw that his people has succeeded, he assembled them about him and spoke to them with joy and pride:  "Ha'aheo wau i ka 'oukou hana, a i kapa 'ia keia wahi 'o Ha'aheo" (I am proud of your work!  This place I name Ha'aheo, pride)" This story was from an article written by Theodore Kelsey and published  in the Hilo Tribune, Sunday, April 4, 1920 The taro fields later became sugar cane fields which are now abandoned leaving behind a rich agricultural heritage.  Ha'aheo School was founded in 1888 to educate the children of the sugar plantation workers.  With a breathtaking view of both Mauna Kea ma uka and Hilo Bay i kai, the school school continues the work of educating students in grades K-6. Ha'aheo means humbled with pride ha'a - humble, humility,  heo - to show off, to boast Even though we are a small school - community, we are proud of the accomplishments and contributions of the school and of each individual.